they do to us… that inside thing. Makes you wonder how the hell you lived before they got to you.”
“Yeah, that,” Sionn agrees. “What’s next?”
“Do we hear wedding bells for either of you?” I consult my notes. “The reader asks if it might take place at St. Patrick’s church?”
“Marriage?” Sionn exhales hard. “Too…. God, that’s a scary word. I can tell you right now, Saint Paddy’s is out. Catholic, you know. They’re not ready and willing yet to marry two men. It’s hard sometimes, being Catholic and gay….”
“Always hard,” Kane interrupts. “You’ve got to remember, the Church changes so slowly, but it’s a part of who we are. Who our families are. I’m not going to turn my back on God. Sionn probably isn’t either, but we’re going to always push for the Church to change and accept everyone who wants to be there.”
“Agreed,” Sionn says as he taps his beer bottle against Kane’s in a short salute.
“Next question, how about kids?”
If marriage made the men perplexed, I’d have put down their reactions about children as a cross between horror and fear.
“No,” Sionn speaks first. He’s the one with more horror and fear in his eyes.” Just… no.”
“I think it’s too early to be talking about children.” Kane’s response is gentler in tone, but there’s definitely an edge to his voice. “I think Miki’s not even considered kids. He’s not at a place in his life where he can think about them. Maybe in ten or fifteen years. Honestly, while I’d like a kid or two, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. I’d rather have a happy Miki than a worried one. He’d stress out over baggage he’d bring to any kid.”
“Damien too.” Sionn shrugs. “Shite and Hell, I can’t say I’d be good for any kid. Kane would be. He’d be a good dad.”
“Had the best one growing up.” He grins widely.
“Git.”
“Arse.”
“Next to the last question, and then I’ll leave you two to your days. Where would you like to go—anywhere in the world?” Their answers are swift and simultaneous.
“Ireland,” both men say, then laugh.
“I’d want to take Miki home. To see my kin. I think he’d like it,” Kane begins.
“Damie would love the music,” Sionn remarks. “No pub would be safe from the two of them. They’d be into everything, but it would be fun.”
“Yeah, I’d have to say Ireland.” Kane nods. “And the last?”
“Where do you see yourselves over the next year? With your respective lovers?”
“Ah, I’m kind of hoping Miki will agree to see someone about his past,” Kane murmurs. “I think he needs to talk that out a bit, but it’s not up to me. That’ll be his choice. His decision.”
“Damie wants that too,” Sionn agrees. “I think I’d just like to get Damien settled in his own place. We’re all sharing Miki’s warehouse for right now, and there’s some talk about shifting things around. Privacy on both sides would be nice.”
“It’ll be hard,” the other man says softly. “They need to be with each other for a bit. I don’t want either of them to feel like they can’t wake up and find the other immediately. It’ll be a few months or so before it sinks in that they’ve found each other again. I don’t want to take that away from them. Not now. Maybe not ever. Love one….”
“And you’d better really like the other.” Sionn laughs. “They’re good. Really, nice guys. Even if we weren’t involved with them, they’d be friends.”
“I don’t know about that.” Kane chuckles. “I’m a cop. They’re none too fond of cops.”
“Criminals at heart.”
“Pirates at least.” Kane nudges the dog, disdainfully picking up the sopping wet rib bone. “Want this?”
“Oh no, you’re getting a doggy bag to take that home with you or he’ll be tearing up the place looking for it.” Sionn shook my hand and stood up when I reached for my bag. “Thank you for coming by. It’s was good to talk to you.”
“It was great having both of you sit down with me.” I take a step and my sneaker flops loosely around my foot. Looking down, I see the reason why and sigh. “Now, can either one of you find my shoelace? Or are we going to have to go to the vet’s and see if Dude actually ate it this time?”
Not All Knights Carry Swords
“I CAN’T believe you got us arrested,” Sionn complained at Damien from across the tiny cell they shared. His lover glanced over, blue eyes still and steady even though