The challenge was to write something less than 1000 words.
“Leif? Are you ready yet?”
Josh rounded the corner to the bedroom and stopped short at
the sight of his boyfriend, sucking in a little breath as he came face to face
with the most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen. “Wow, that’s stunning.”
Leif, dressed in a long, flowing silver cape with a wide
collar the colour of burnt umber, frowned.
“Stunning?”
Josh grinned, stepping up close to get a better look at the
costume. “Yeah. You look so… real.”
“Real?” Leif tipped his head to the side, the frown marring
his perfectly made-up face. Josh couldn’t quite believe the difference a few
strokes of eyeliner would make.
“Did you put in contacts?” Josh looked closer, surprised to
see pale blue eyes looking at him instead of the usual brown.
“Contacts?”
“Your eyes, Leif, you’ve changed their colour, and why are
you repeating everything I say?”
“Who’s Leif?”
Josh rolled his eyes. So, Leif was going to play that game,
was he? Every time Leif dressed up, his whole personality changed. It was like
he wasn’t the same person anymore, which was a little disconcerting at times.
“You are,” Josh answered, not playing along.
“I’m Tallon.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m Tallon.”
Josh turned to face his very exasperating boyfriend. “Fine,
you’re Tallon. I don’t really care, but if you want to make the party, we have
to get going.”
“Party?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Leif. You know I don’t like it when
you do this.”
Leif tilted his head to the side again. It wasn’t a normal
characteristic for him, and Josh wondered if he was using it as part of his
‘Tallon’ persona, but it was such an odd mannerism, nothing like Josh had ever
seen Leif do before.
“I’m not Leif.”
Maybe it was the tone of voice, or maybe it was the shot of
blue light from a long-fingered hand that finally convinced Josh he wasn’t
talking to Leif anymore.
“Fuck!” Scrambling backward, Josh slammed into the wall.
“What have you done to Leif? Where is he?”
“Gone.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Leif can’t be gone.
He’s mine!”
Tallon’s lips thinned. Josh knew Leif’s were full, and no
matter how pissed off he was, Leif could never get them to thin out the way
Tallon did. Somehow, Leif’s bodily form was changing the longer Tallon
possessed it.
“He wasn’t yours. You never bonded.”
“Bonded?” Now it was Josh’s turn to repeat what Tallon was
saying.
“You never gave him a ring.”
Josh’s stomach twisted as he remembered the look of
disappointment on Leif’s face when Leif had asked him for a ring, and Josh
hadn’t thought it necessary. “I don’t have one,” he whispered, feeling sick.
Holding out a hand, Tallon turned it palm up. Nestled in the
middle were two rings, intricately designed, intrinsically beautiful. “Maybe
you both need one,” he said.
It was more than awe that had Josh reaching out, it was the
knowledge that what Tallon was offering was not just a gift of rings, but Leif.
As he touched one of the platinum circles a tingle flowed into his arm causing
him to almost recoil, but this was for Leif. He would do anything for Leif.
“I’m not sure this costume suits me. It’s too… I don’t know.
It feels wrong.”
Startled, Josh stared into warm brown eyes. “Leif? Is that
you?”
“Of course it’s me.”
Profound relief had Josh pulling Leif into his arms and
holding on to him with all the strength and love he possessed. “Oh my god,
Leif! I thought you’d gone.” Leif’s beautiful eyes were back, and so were his
beautiful, kissable lips. Josh smothered them with his own, tasting Leif,
devouring him.
“Hey!” Leif pulled back, though by the look in his eyes he
was more surprised by Josh’s enthusiasm than by the kiss itself. “Are you all
right?” Concern edged his voice, one which Josh wanted to alleviate
immediately.
“Leif, I love you, you know that, right?”
“Of course I know you love me. I love you too.” Leif’s
concern still hadn’t abated if the frown he wore was anything to go by, but
Josh felt so much better hearing those words from him.
“Well, I think it’s time I did something to prove to you how
much.” Josh opened his hand and showed Leif the rings.
“Really?” Leif’s face lit up, his frown disappearing.
“Yes, and I’m so sorry I didn’t realise how important it was
to you.” He moved Leif to sit down on the bed. He picked up one of the rings,
feeling the tingle flare up again. Searching Leif’s face, and seeing no sign of
Tallon, Josh smiled. He held onto Leif’s left hand and placed the ring on the
third finger. “With this ring I bond my soul to you,” he said, not sure where
the words came from, but knowing they were right.
Leif’s grin warmed Josh’s heart, but what set it on fire was
when Leif picked up the other ring and slipped it onto Josh’s finger.
“With this ring I bond my soul to you,” Leif repeated.
Leif’s gaze riveted Josh, the love in them unquestionable.
Josh hoped Leif was able to see the same love in his eyes because he never
wanted Leif to question it or think otherwise.
“Josh?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think I want to go to the party now.”
“Good, because I don’t think I ever want to see a costume
again either.”
The End