Re: Travis/TJ
"I would," TJ said simply. For all the noble ideals of everyone here, Travis had been the one to reach out to them, to him, despite how difficult TJ made it to get close to him. And, TJ knew how difficult that was. He wasn't under any illusions that he was a nice man or an easy person with whom to get along. "And I keep telling you, you're far too good, far better than I deserve."
Smiling he let his eyes rove over Travis' chest admiringly, followed by his hands once they were laying down. There might have been a little laugh in there as well because TJ might be a hedonist, but Travis didn't usually need much nudging to go along with things. "Parts of that man are still in here, Travis. I still care about social strata, even if I don't talk about them as much. And, okay, I do finally believe you won't be disgusted kissing another man. But, I'm still that arrogant bastard. The difference is I care about making you proud, now. I still don't think I'll ever be as good as you think. But, I like seeing this smile on your face. And, I didn't hate the amusement park, not really. You were having so much fun and you were so adorable with that shooting game. I still hate Disney, don't get me wrong. But, I was happy that day. I'd almost forgotten what that was like until you came along to remind me."
Cupping his fingers along Travis' jaw, he leaned up to capture his lips in a kiss that started soft and almost sweet, before turning raw and fierce, the kind of kiss that could easily have been the prelude to sex if it wasn't more of a testament to something else that didn't need a name. "I love you, too. And I'm glad I don't trip over those words now. I don't have a favorite color yet...but I have possibilities, preferences, colors that bring up memories instead of statistics when I think about them." He stopped for a moment to think, then smiled. "Or, maybe I do...but you have to promise not to laugh...or tease."
TJ brought his other hand up to frame Travis' face. "I don't want you to be my bodyguard," he said seriously. "Bodyguards put themselves between their charge and the bullets. I don't want you shot. I really, really don't want you shot. Do you understand me?" Staring into eyes bluer than his own, eyes that never lied or tried to manipulate him, he pushed the thought of Travis getting shot aside and changed the subject. Sort of. "Know at the end of the month it will be six months? If you don't count the brownie incident. Six months since I knowingly took anything: blow, E, weed. The only time I've ever gone that long without using was when I was with Sean and too busy trying to live an impossible faerietale to notice. This is the first time I'll have done it when I'm actually trying to stay clean, when I've found the strength to ignore the cravings. I wouldn't be able to do that, wouldn't have made it this long if it wasn't for you."