I am a strong, brave, confident straight woman who was THERE in the early 1980's when AIDS was a mere whisper. I kissed and hugged and touched the first AIDS patients in my community hospital.
Even in the 2000's, I couldn't have done what Michael did. I would have been too afraid. Condoms aren't enough.
I don't write Michael/Ben fics as a rule, but I was reading yet another "Mikey hate" fic and just HAD to open up a Can of Superhero Michael WhoopAss.