Bent Part 6
Title: Bent
Author: Concupid
Pairing: Howard/Vince
Rating: R(ish)
Warnings: mild violence, angst, language. I’m not sure how to warn for it, but there’s some pretty unhealthy attitudes about sex being discussed.
Summary: Vince and Howard try to negotiate what they both want.
Howard watched Vince kick the sign and swear. He kept replaying Vince’s words in his head, trying to preserve each inflection.
“I like you the way you are, Howard. I don’t want you to change.”
“No exceptions.”
It was what he’d always longed to hear from someone, that he was okay the way he was.
“I hate this fucking adventure!” Vince wailed. “It’s so stupid!”
Howard looked around at the beautiful forest, full of woodland creatures. He and Vince would set up camp that evening, and share a tent under the stars in an untouched Eden.
Howard closed his eyes and imagined Vince kissing him and touching him and doing whatever it was people did between kissing and sex that led to sex. It made Howard anxious to think the practical details of getting two people naked, much less the other foreplay activities.
But Vince knew what to do, and he would take charge.
“There has to be a short cut. Where’s the wood nymph with a magic hat that transports us to the goddamn lake?” Vince yelled, holding out his hands as though the imaginary magic hat he just made up might fall into his outstretched arms.
“Let’s just set up camp and start fresh in the morning,” Howard suggested, already imagining how he and Vince could spend the evening. If they waited until after they found the lake, they’d be back to their usual selves and nothing would ever come of their sexual tension.
Howard was no good at being a man. If they were going to make love, it had to be before they found the lake.
“I’m not spending the night in this stupid forest,” Vince snapped. Then he stopped and looked at Howard. Howard ducked his head. He felt suddenly exposed, like Vince could read his thoughts.
Vince ran his hands up Howard’s arms to his shoulders.
“Maybe now would be a good time to let off some steam…”
Howard glanced at the sky. It would be hours until nightfall.
“We could make some dinner, tell stories,” Howard suggested. “I brought marshmallows to toast. Then later maybe…”
“Or maybe now,” Vince suggested in a husky tone that made Howard feel light-headed.
“Well, I think later with a fire would be more romantic.”
Vince moaned dramatically, “I’m going to stick my cock in your ass, Howard. It’s not going to be romantic. Guys fucking is not romantic.”
Howard refused to be baited by Vince’s harsh words. He took the path of least resistance.
“Maybe two guys wouldn’t be so romantic, but two women?” Howard argued with a weak smile. “Surely, women can be romantic.”
“Is that actually what you think is happening?” Vince asked. “For real? You think we’re both acting like women? I’ve been your fucking wife for a decade. You don’t even blink when people say it. I was a woman, now I’m a man.”
Howard smirked at the very idea that Vince acted like a woman. Vince wasn’t mysterious. He didn’t know how to do things like pay college loans, buy real estate or organize events. He didn’t know how to fix things with nail polish, he just used it to paint his nails. Maybe Vince was a bit girlish, but not a woman. The thought was absurd.
“I’ve been batting my eyes at you and giving you compliments and casually touching your arm while making eye contact for years. I’ve done everything Cosmo told me, and I haven’t gotten anywhere. It’s bullshit, Howard. Let’s just throw a blanket on the ground and save this disaster of an adventure.”
Howard recoiled from Vince’s hostile tone. Howard wanted to ignore his reaction, to tuck it down deep so he could just go ahead and follow Vince’s lead. He wanted to be able to ignore his feelings again.
“Vince, I want to make you happy…”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot. Just say what you want to say.”
Howard didn’t know how to react. He didn’t know what Vince meant. Everything he said made Vince angry and he didn’t know how to stop it.
“Fine,” Vince snapped. He went to the back of the van and pulled out some of the supplies. “Here,” he yelled before throwing the tent to Howard. “Set up the love palace, Miss Romance.”
Howard felt angry and embarrassed and completely unable to express himself. His emotions as a man had been like an eight pack of crayons, and now he had one of the 120 packs. He used to have anger and sadness but now he had sad-angry and angry-sad and seven other emotions between them and he felt them all at once.
He threw the tent on the ground in frustration and it popped up fully put together.
Vince slid his hand over Howard’s backside, “Finally, something is going right.”
Howard closed his eyes and thought about all the times he’d wanted to touch Vince but had been afraid. Now, all he had to do was let it happen.
When Vince kissed him, Howard had a nagging thought that Vince was acting like the man Howard was supposed to be. He was being a man of action. Vince knew what he wanted and how to go after it. He didn’t need approval or romance or any of the other unmanly things Howard had always longed for.
Howard passively allowed Vince to take off his jacket and cardigan, but he hesitated when Vince started unbuttoning his shirt. After his shirt, he only had his vest and then he’d be half naked in a magical forest.
“We should go in the tent,” Howard whispered, although they seemed as alone as two people could be.
“Afraid a squirrel will see your tits? The creatures of the forest ain’t interested, ‘cept maybe a fox…”
“That’s an ugly rumor and I know you started it,” was Howard’s automatic response.
“Don’t try to make this all romantic and special,” Vince warned. “You’ll only end up disappointed. It’s just fucking, just enjoy it.”
Howard closed his eyes and tried to shut his mind down. If he missed his chance with Vince, he wasn’t sure there would be another.
After all, Howard wasn’t getting any younger.
Xxx
Vince tossed the sleeping bags on top of each other to give them extra padding. Howard was going to be uncomfortable enough without a rock poking him in the back.
He tossed his tee-shirt and flares on the ground. He felt skinny and frail in just his pants and tried to rush Howard out of his remaining layers, but Howard remained shy and awkward.
“I’ve seen it all, Howard. Christ, you showed me nude photos of yourself.”
It had the opposite of the desired effect. Howard crossed his arms over his chest and looked scandalized.
“Yes, I did and you screamed and ran away.”
Vince had honestly forgotten that part. He’d thought about it many times (and the different ways he could have reacted that might have led to sex). He barely remembered what actually happened, but clearly it was not a fond memory for Howard.
“I was just acting up,” Vince explained as he stroked Howard’s arms. “I love your body. Remember that loin cloth you had on Xooberon? You’re lucky I didn’t abuse my powers as the Chosen One.”
“You turned me into a human table and ate your dinner off my back.”
Vince laughed at the memory.
“That was genius. But that was just being silly. I didn’t do any of the things I really wanted to do to you in that tent.”
“Why not?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vince asked as he tried to fight back the anger already blurring his vision. “I’m not a rapist, am I? I’m not going to force you to suck my cock just because I’m horny, I’m a decent human being. I’m not fucking Kodiak Jack or your mermaid boyfriend…”
Howard covered his ears and closed his eyes like a child.
“Don’t start that shit,” Vince barked as he pulled Howard’s hands down. “We’ve talked about all this, already.”
They’d talked about how Kodiak Jack came at Vince all horned-up on owl beaks like a grizzled Pepe Le Pew. Howard had looked so horrified, Vince ended up laughing the whole thing off and pretending it hadn’t been a big deal. In the end, he was more upset by Howard’s stricken expression than being manhandled by a crazy freak in the woods, or even by Howard’s betrayal.
Howard shook his head, his eyes still squeezed shut.
“Seriously, Howard. I’m tired of making you feel better about being an asshole to me. Stop it.”
Pre-genderswap potion, Vince went between wanting to kiss Howard and throttle him, but now his desires to fuck and smack Howard were constant and overlapping. He hated Howard for being near tears, but he was turned on by having Howard so needy and clingy.
Vince wrapped his arms around Howard and rocked him back and forth, “Calm down, Howard. It all worked out in the end and this will work out, too. Just try to relax and enjoy it.”
Said aloud, the words were surprisingly creepy to Vince’s ears, but Howard nodded almost frantically and began pulling off his remaining clothes.
Author: Concupid
Pairing: Howard/Vince
Rating: R(ish)
Warnings: mild violence, angst, language. I’m not sure how to warn for it, but there’s some pretty unhealthy attitudes about sex being discussed.
Summary: Vince and Howard try to negotiate what they both want.
Howard watched Vince kick the sign and swear. He kept replaying Vince’s words in his head, trying to preserve each inflection.
“I like you the way you are, Howard. I don’t want you to change.”
“No exceptions.”
It was what he’d always longed to hear from someone, that he was okay the way he was.
“I hate this fucking adventure!” Vince wailed. “It’s so stupid!”
Howard looked around at the beautiful forest, full of woodland creatures. He and Vince would set up camp that evening, and share a tent under the stars in an untouched Eden.
Howard closed his eyes and imagined Vince kissing him and touching him and doing whatever it was people did between kissing and sex that led to sex. It made Howard anxious to think the practical details of getting two people naked, much less the other foreplay activities.
But Vince knew what to do, and he would take charge.
“There has to be a short cut. Where’s the wood nymph with a magic hat that transports us to the goddamn lake?” Vince yelled, holding out his hands as though the imaginary magic hat he just made up might fall into his outstretched arms.
“Let’s just set up camp and start fresh in the morning,” Howard suggested, already imagining how he and Vince could spend the evening. If they waited until after they found the lake, they’d be back to their usual selves and nothing would ever come of their sexual tension.
Howard was no good at being a man. If they were going to make love, it had to be before they found the lake.
“I’m not spending the night in this stupid forest,” Vince snapped. Then he stopped and looked at Howard. Howard ducked his head. He felt suddenly exposed, like Vince could read his thoughts.
Vince ran his hands up Howard’s arms to his shoulders.
“Maybe now would be a good time to let off some steam…”
Howard glanced at the sky. It would be hours until nightfall.
“We could make some dinner, tell stories,” Howard suggested. “I brought marshmallows to toast. Then later maybe…”
“Or maybe now,” Vince suggested in a husky tone that made Howard feel light-headed.
“Well, I think later with a fire would be more romantic.”
Vince moaned dramatically, “I’m going to stick my cock in your ass, Howard. It’s not going to be romantic. Guys fucking is not romantic.”
Howard refused to be baited by Vince’s harsh words. He took the path of least resistance.
“Maybe two guys wouldn’t be so romantic, but two women?” Howard argued with a weak smile. “Surely, women can be romantic.”
“Is that actually what you think is happening?” Vince asked. “For real? You think we’re both acting like women? I’ve been your fucking wife for a decade. You don’t even blink when people say it. I was a woman, now I’m a man.”
Howard smirked at the very idea that Vince acted like a woman. Vince wasn’t mysterious. He didn’t know how to do things like pay college loans, buy real estate or organize events. He didn’t know how to fix things with nail polish, he just used it to paint his nails. Maybe Vince was a bit girlish, but not a woman. The thought was absurd.
“I’ve been batting my eyes at you and giving you compliments and casually touching your arm while making eye contact for years. I’ve done everything Cosmo told me, and I haven’t gotten anywhere. It’s bullshit, Howard. Let’s just throw a blanket on the ground and save this disaster of an adventure.”
Howard recoiled from Vince’s hostile tone. Howard wanted to ignore his reaction, to tuck it down deep so he could just go ahead and follow Vince’s lead. He wanted to be able to ignore his feelings again.
“Vince, I want to make you happy…”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot. Just say what you want to say.”
Howard didn’t know how to react. He didn’t know what Vince meant. Everything he said made Vince angry and he didn’t know how to stop it.
“Fine,” Vince snapped. He went to the back of the van and pulled out some of the supplies. “Here,” he yelled before throwing the tent to Howard. “Set up the love palace, Miss Romance.”
Howard felt angry and embarrassed and completely unable to express himself. His emotions as a man had been like an eight pack of crayons, and now he had one of the 120 packs. He used to have anger and sadness but now he had sad-angry and angry-sad and seven other emotions between them and he felt them all at once.
He threw the tent on the ground in frustration and it popped up fully put together.
Vince slid his hand over Howard’s backside, “Finally, something is going right.”
Howard closed his eyes and thought about all the times he’d wanted to touch Vince but had been afraid. Now, all he had to do was let it happen.
When Vince kissed him, Howard had a nagging thought that Vince was acting like the man Howard was supposed to be. He was being a man of action. Vince knew what he wanted and how to go after it. He didn’t need approval or romance or any of the other unmanly things Howard had always longed for.
Howard passively allowed Vince to take off his jacket and cardigan, but he hesitated when Vince started unbuttoning his shirt. After his shirt, he only had his vest and then he’d be half naked in a magical forest.
“We should go in the tent,” Howard whispered, although they seemed as alone as two people could be.
“Afraid a squirrel will see your tits? The creatures of the forest ain’t interested, ‘cept maybe a fox…”
“That’s an ugly rumor and I know you started it,” was Howard’s automatic response.
“Don’t try to make this all romantic and special,” Vince warned. “You’ll only end up disappointed. It’s just fucking, just enjoy it.”
Howard closed his eyes and tried to shut his mind down. If he missed his chance with Vince, he wasn’t sure there would be another.
After all, Howard wasn’t getting any younger.
Xxx
Vince tossed the sleeping bags on top of each other to give them extra padding. Howard was going to be uncomfortable enough without a rock poking him in the back.
He tossed his tee-shirt and flares on the ground. He felt skinny and frail in just his pants and tried to rush Howard out of his remaining layers, but Howard remained shy and awkward.
“I’ve seen it all, Howard. Christ, you showed me nude photos of yourself.”
It had the opposite of the desired effect. Howard crossed his arms over his chest and looked scandalized.
“Yes, I did and you screamed and ran away.”
Vince had honestly forgotten that part. He’d thought about it many times (and the different ways he could have reacted that might have led to sex). He barely remembered what actually happened, but clearly it was not a fond memory for Howard.
“I was just acting up,” Vince explained as he stroked Howard’s arms. “I love your body. Remember that loin cloth you had on Xooberon? You’re lucky I didn’t abuse my powers as the Chosen One.”
“You turned me into a human table and ate your dinner off my back.”
Vince laughed at the memory.
“That was genius. But that was just being silly. I didn’t do any of the things I really wanted to do to you in that tent.”
“Why not?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vince asked as he tried to fight back the anger already blurring his vision. “I’m not a rapist, am I? I’m not going to force you to suck my cock just because I’m horny, I’m a decent human being. I’m not fucking Kodiak Jack or your mermaid boyfriend…”
Howard covered his ears and closed his eyes like a child.
“Don’t start that shit,” Vince barked as he pulled Howard’s hands down. “We’ve talked about all this, already.”
They’d talked about how Kodiak Jack came at Vince all horned-up on owl beaks like a grizzled Pepe Le Pew. Howard had looked so horrified, Vince ended up laughing the whole thing off and pretending it hadn’t been a big deal. In the end, he was more upset by Howard’s stricken expression than being manhandled by a crazy freak in the woods, or even by Howard’s betrayal.
Howard shook his head, his eyes still squeezed shut.
“Seriously, Howard. I’m tired of making you feel better about being an asshole to me. Stop it.”
Pre-genderswap potion, Vince went between wanting to kiss Howard and throttle him, but now his desires to fuck and smack Howard were constant and overlapping. He hated Howard for being near tears, but he was turned on by having Howard so needy and clingy.
Vince wrapped his arms around Howard and rocked him back and forth, “Calm down, Howard. It all worked out in the end and this will work out, too. Just try to relax and enjoy it.”
Said aloud, the words were surprisingly creepy to Vince’s ears, but Howard nodded almost frantically and began pulling off his remaining clothes.