Friday, March 29, 2024

82 – This Gift, This Curse

 

 

"This would be easier if one of us had a car," Will said, turning away from the Realtor's online site to look at Mira and the others.

 

"I have one," Mira said. "Unfortunately it's halfway across the country at the moment, so we'll have to rent one." She leaned over his shoulder again to look at the house he'd pulled up. "Not bad."

 

"But no swimming pool," Kevin said, looking over Will's other shoulder. He grinned when his mother rolled her eyes.

 

Mick sat on the sofa observing them, not feeling left out because he could have been right there with them. It was more that he liked watching the interaction between them. They're a real family.

 

Mira took control of the mouse to click on the next house, muttered, "No way," and moved to the next one. "Now this one I like," she said, after scrolling through the pictures and the details. "What do you all think?" She looked at the others and apparently realized Mick wasn't standing there too. Turning, she saw him and went over to sit beside him. "Why aren't you over with us?" she asked quietly.

 

He shrugged. "No room?"

 

"Mick," she replied with a smile, "there's always room for you. You're as much a part of this as the rest of us now."

 

"Not really."

 

"Yes, really. You're Will's second son, to hear him tell it. Maybe not biologically, but in every other way. That makes you my second son too, and Kevin's… okay, I don't think I'll go there, all things considered."

 

Mick chuckled. "Yeah, probably shouldn't." He looked at her, head cocked in question. "Do you really feel that way?"

 

"Absolutely!" Standing again, she grabbed his hand, urging him to get up. "So come over and give us your two-cent's worth. But"—she glanced at Kevin who had obviously been listening to them—"no swimming pools."

 

"Well, shoot." Mick grinned, following her back to the desk.

 

Kevin put his arm around Mick's waist, pointing to the screen. "So what do you think?" he asked. Then he whispered very softly, "See, what did I tell you? You're family."

 

"You didn't actually say that," Mick whispered back. "But yeah." He smiled happily, murmuring, "But you are so not my brother."

 

Kevin grinned. "Not even a distant cousin twice-removed."

 

"I got it. I'm a changeling, left on the doorstep in a wicker basket."

 

Will turned to look up at him. "What the hell have you been reading?"

 

Mick smirked. "That fantasy book you found in the dumpster a while back."

 

"Knew I should have left it there," Will muttered, before going back to what they were doing. "Okay, we like that one." He bookmarked it. "Now, what about this one?"

 

After kissing Mick quickly, Kevin looked. "Not as bad as some of the others, but there's still…"

 

"No swimming pool," Mick said the same time Kevin did. Then they broke out laughing.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

81 – This Gift, This Curse

 


While Will and Mira were talking to Captain Newsome, Mick was having a conversation of his own with Kevin.

 

"If I move in with you guys, I'm going to want to pull my weight."

 

"And this is a problem why?"

 

"No job, no education."

 

"Once you get your GED, you'll have both."

 

Mick snorted softly. "A piece of paper that claims I'm reasonably competent in areas most high school students spent four years learning. And that's if I even pass the test to get it."

 

"Hey now, why are you suddenly questioning what you can do? You're smart and self-sufficient; you just have to believe in yourself. You'll get it, and then get a decent job. If you want to, you can go to college."

 

"The job, yeah. Now that I've got proof I'm me so I can get a copy of my Social Security card." Mick pointed to the letter from his mother containing his birth certificate, which had come the previous day. "But the other…" He shook his head. "College is great, if you can afford it. And don't go telling me I can get a scholarship. You know that's not happening."

 

"We'll figure something out."

 

Mick smiled wryly. "What if there is no 'we'? What if you get tired of having me around?" He held up one hand to stop Kevin from saying anything quite yet. "Yeah, right now we're close. Real close. But we barely know each other when you stop to think about it. I've spent the last four years just surviving. If it weren't for Will, I'd still be doing it. You? You grew up in a loving environment. You're educated, in school… you've got everything a guy like me could want and can't have."

 

"Okay, enough!" Kevin said sharply. "Yeah, you've had it rough and you know what? It's made you one hell of a person. So stop putting yourself down. As for my getting tired of you, as you put it, isn't that a chance everyone takes when they get involved with someone? You could just as easily get tired of me. Shit happens, as they say. That doesn't mean you give up on everything you've been working for because you're afraid we might not make it as a couple."

 

"I guess," Mick replied. His mouth tightened when his gaze fell on the letter again.

 

Kevin must have seen it because he asked, "Is there more in there than your birth certificate? Is that why you're so down on yourself now?"

 

Instead of answering, Mick picked up the envelope, took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Kevin.

 

Kevin read it, shaking his head. "What a bitch. Sorry. I know she's your mother, but what a bitch."

 

Mick grimaced. "Yeah, I agree, but still… I mean if my own mother thinks I'm worse than useless, how can anyone else see me differently?"

 

"I can think of five people right off the top of my head who do—me, Mom, Dad, Sue, and Charlie. And that's just the beginning. Once you start meeting other people, they'll think the same way we do, that they're damned lucky they know you." Kevin balled up the letter, throwing it into the wastebasket. Then he put his arms around Mick. "Don't let one poor excuse for a human being screw with your head. Okay?"

 

"Okay," Mick whispered. Looking at Kevin he said, "You really do think I can do this. The GED, the job—maybe even college."

 

"I know you can. And for what it's worth, I'm going to push you hard to make sure it happens."

 

Mick chuckled softly. "You are definitely your father's son."

 

"And that's not a bad thing, I don't think."

 

"Nope, it's great."

Monday, March 25, 2024

80 – This Gift, This Curse

 

 

"You realize," Kevin said, "you're going to have to buy a house."

 

Will nodded, taking another bite of his pancakes.

 

"With at least three bedrooms."

 

"Three?" Mira looked at her son. "Why three?"

 

"One for the two of you, one for me, and one for Mick."

 

"Ah, I see." She glanced at Will. "Makes sense to me."

 

"Definitely," Will agreed.

 

Mick appeared shocked as he said, "You're serious?"

 

"Well, if you'd rather not." Mira smiled at him.

 

"I… I…" he stuttered. "I don't know what to say."

 

"'Yes' works," Kevin said, grinning. "Or better yet, hell yes."

 

"Hell yes," Mick echoed.

 

"Good, then it's a done deal." Will patted Mick's shoulder. "Now we just have to hope the captain wants me back. I know he'll love having Mira on the team."

 

"We hope," Mira said. She grinned a bit. "If not, we're going to be racking up frequent flier miles big time."

 

The frequent flier miles became a moot point an hour later. Captain Newsome told Mira enthusiastically that he was more than willing for her to transfer from her police force to his. "In fact, I'll do everything I can to facilitate the move."

 

Will hugged her as he waited for the other shoe to drop.

 

Captain Newsome looked long and hard at him. "You know I want you back, but are you certain you're ready?"

 

"Meaning, can I handle it after being gone for eighteen years."

 

"Yes. A lot's changed in that time—new laws, new rules and regulations. You'd have to get updated training, pass the physical, and be recertified to use your weapon."

 

"And then I'd be back on the street as a beat cop."

 

"Only for as long as it takes me to pull you out of it for undercover work. You're too good at it for me not to use you."

 

"I was. There's nothing to say I still am," Will countered.

 

Newsome nodded. "True, to a point. But—" he smiled slightly, "—technically, you spent the last eighteen years 'undercover', despite various attempts to find you, so I'd say you've still got the knack."

 

Will looked at him in surprise. "You tried to find me?"

 

"Hell yes. We don't like losing a good man, no matter why he walked away."

 

"Well, I'll be damned." Will chuckled. "Maybe I do still have the knack, as you put it."

 

"That's what I'm counting on," Newsome replied seriously. "Are you willing to do everything it will take?"

 

Will looked at Mira before nodding. "Yeah, I am."

 

"Good. Now here's what we have to do."

 

Twenty minutes later Will and Mira left Newsome's office. As she linked her arm with Will's, Mira said with a grin, "You look a bit shell-shocked."

 

"I feel it. Still"—he smiled—"I also feel better about myself than I have in a long time."

 

"You should," she replied seriously. "You're back to the life you were meant to live."

 

"Which includes you." He put his hands on her waist, gazing at her. "You made this happen."

 

"Me?" She shook her head.

 

"Yes, you. I would have walked away once Kevin was safe, but there you were, telling me you cared. Telling me you still loved me. It made me feel like I was worth something, in spite of everything."

 

"I just…"

 

Will stopped her words with a kiss and then said, "Shall we grab the guys and go house hunting?"

 

Mira smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I think that would be a lovely idea." Then she kissed him.

Saturday, March 23, 2024

79 – This Gift, This Curse

 


Kevin shot straight up in bed when he heard someone knocking on the apartment door. It took him a second to realize he wasn't alone.

 

Mick grinned up at him. "You going to answer that or should I?"

 

"We both can. We know who it is. But"—he looked at Mick, all of him, since the covers were pushed back—"first, we get dressed."

 

"No kidding," Mick replied. "But not until…" He kissed Kevin quickly. "Now, we can get dressed."

 

They did and then went out to open the door. Will and Mira stood there, smiling.

 

"You have to learn to dress faster," Will said, chuckling. "And jeans would have sufficed."

 

"May we come in?" Mira asked.

 

Kevin and Mick quickly stepped back so they could.

 

"We're going out for breakfast, to celebrate," Will told them, looking quite serious now.

 

"Celebrate what?" Kevin asked.

 

Mira grinned. "We're getting married, finally."

 

"Holy shit," Mick exclaimed. "Damn. Congratulations!"

 

Kevin was a little more restrained, only saying, "It's about time." Then he hugged both his mother and Will enthusiastically.

 

"What do you mean, about time? Just consider it a very long engagement," Will told him.

 

"Uh-huh. Right. So when is this happening?"

 

"That's a good question. First your mother and I have to go have a talk with the captain."

 

"You're getting married on a ship?" Mick asked with a straight face. That earned him chuckles from everyone else, and a whispered, 'That was bad,' from Kevin.

 

"Actually," Mira said thoughtfully, "that could be fun."

 

Mick shook his head. "I get seasick."

 

"And who said you'd be coming along?" Will asked with an arched eyebrow.

 

"Oh, well, yeah," Mick replied, looking crestfallen.

 

"Will, honestly." Mira shook a finger at him before giving Mick a hug. "Of course you'll be at the wedding, no matter where we have it."

 

Mick immediately perked up. "Why are you seeing Captain Newsome, if that's who you meant?"

 

"It is. We're going to see if he needs us."

 

Kevin cocked his head in question. "You're moving out here, Mom?" Then he said, "Well duh, I guess."

 

"Yeah, 'duh'. Like your father said, a long-distance marriage isn't really a good idea. The commuting costs would be prohibitive."

 

"Well, in that case, get moving and go see the captain. Or, wait, breakfast first, so we can celebrate."

 

"Only if the two of you put on shoes and socks," Will pointed out. "It's a bit cold for bare feet. Oh, and Kevin, you might want to put on a turtle-neck if you have one," he added with a grin.

 

Mick looked at Kevin's neck and laughed. "Yeah, you should."

 

Kevin turned bright red as he hurried to the bedroom to change shirts, with Mick trailing behind him, still chuckling.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

78 – This Gift, This Curse

  

Mick's mouth descended on Kevin's in a way that was far from gentle. Hungry was how Kevin would have described it if he'd been able to think beyond the first two seconds before he returned the kiss. He opened to Mick, savoring the feel of his tongue as it swept over his teeth and plunged in deeper.

 

It seemed to take forever for the kiss to end. Forever… and too soon. Kevin gasped when they broke apart then dove in for another one. Mick's hands slid down his back. He felt his shirt pull free from his jeans then Mick was caressing his bared skin. Without hesitation, he did the same, never breaking the kiss as he pulled Mick's T-shirt up enough to run his hands slowly up his back to his shoulders. Then he inched them around front, tracing the lines of his ribs.

 

Mick giggled, pulling back. "That tickles." Quickly he pulled his shirt off, and just as quickly unbuttoned Kevin's, sliding it off his shoulders. With an impish grin, he flicked one of Kevin's nipples.

 

From there, nature took its course until they were lying naked in Kevin's narrow bed.

 

"Have you ever…?" Mick looked at Kevin as if trying to find the answer to his unfinished question in his face.

 

Kevin shook his head. "Dreamed about it. Daydreamed about it since meeting you, but…" He shrugged.

 

"I don't suppose you have…" He glanced at the nightstand.

 

Kevin shook his head again. "And we promised Dad…"

 

"Well we didn't exactly promise him, but yeah." Mick grasped Kevin's hardness in one hand, stroking him.

 

Kevin gulped and did the same to Mick's thick erection.

 

"I guess…" Mick managed to get out.

 

"I suppose," Kevin agreed, as he brought his gaze back up to Mick's face. Using his free hand, he cupped the back of Mick's head and kissed him. As the kiss deepened, he hardened even more and felt Mick's trembling increase with each stroke of his hand.

 

Suddenly Mick pulled away and Kevin thought he'd done something wrong until he felt spurts of cum hit his chest and heard Mick shout out his release. Seconds later, Kevin's balls tightened and he was coming as well, gasping as his orgasm roiled through him.

 

"Well, it wasn't perfect," Mick managed to get out when he could actually speak again.

 

"But for a first time, and with no other option, I'd still say it was better than…"

 

"If you say 'the average bear'…" Mick growled.

 

"Nope. Wasn't going to." Kevin grinned happily.

 

Mick cocked an eyebrow in question as he pulled Kevin tightly against his chest.

 

"Ugh, sticky," Kevin muttered.

 

Mick snorted. "You expected otherwise?"

 

"No." Kevin laughed and kissed him soundly.

 

A few minutes later, they disengaged themselves long enough to go clean up.

 

"Next time," Mick said, as they crawled back into bed again.

 

"We make sure we've got protection. I so want to go down on you… among other things."

 

"Put that on your shopping list," Mick replied with a laugh. "That—and lube."

 

"Planning on it." Kevin smiled. "Tomorrow."