Tristan Reinhardt opened up the cupboard of DVDs to show Rene for their sleepover. There was nothing newer than from 4 years ago which was maybe a little odd since he had collected series and seemed to stop. For instance, it looked like they had every Marvel movie Ironman 1, 2 and 3, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers:Age of Ulton, Ant Man, Captain America Civil War, and Dr. Strange. But then it cut off at the 2017 releases. There was no Guardians of the galaxy Volume 2, no Black Panther, no Thor Ragnarok, no Avengers: Infinity War. It almost looked like Tristan had lost interest partway through the series which was odd because half his t shirts were Marvel images so he still seemed like a hard core fan. There were a lot of other movies that were older but that was an obvious timeline. They had all the Die Hards, Men in Black, A section of Disney Pixar films, The Harry Potter movies, Star Wars but again ending at Rogue One, nothing after 2017….no Solo, no Last Jedi. “Hey anything from here we can watch or Netflix….” He casually picked up all the D&D stuff and put it into a little box while Rene looked if he wanted to.
Rene looked at the options. “We could binge watch …” he begins. “No … you don’t have the end of … anything?” he considers. “I could stand to watch Infinity War again … I mean we can get it on Netflix, but …” he turns his head to look at Tristan, curiously.
Tristan set the box aside on the floor by the wall and then hearing Rene, turned and looked self conscious “Oh yeah we...uh…..we don’t have them all.” He realized he had no real explanation that would make sense to someone who hadn’t lived through the fog. “But yay for Netflix right?” He shifted his mouth sideways, looking awkward before saying “Popcorn?” As if to distract with it.
Rene still looks curious. “Well … I guess. Did you at least get to see it in theatres? I went with my friend Trey to see Black Panther. What did you think of it?” he does brighten at the mention of popcorn. “We have to pick a movie first but … I can make it … if it’s microwave.”
Tristan looks increasingly awkward “You know shit happened in my family...I missed some. I didn’t see Infinity War or Black Panther….did you like them?” He beckons Rene to the kitchen and pulls a box of microwave popcorn out and hands it to him “Only microwavable?” He teases a bit, hoping the gap in his Marvel movies isn’t a topic that leads to a complicated topic.
Rene beams. “Yea... Both fucking fantastic. Ok ... let's watch Infinity War on Netflix.” he decides. He takes the box. “Yea … I’m kinda grounded from the stove. You burn ONE little grilled cheese sandwich.” he rolls his eyes. “In my defence, it didn’t help that Cath panicked and called Sasha like the place was on fire .. the fire didn’t start until Sasha was actually there.”
Tristan looks both pleased and relieved and then listens to the grilled cheese fire story and his eyes go wide before he laughs “Oh man Rene. That’s brutal. My mom would ground me too if I did that. OK, let me go set up the movie to play….” He walks to the TV and clicks around on the remote and then frowns and types in a search string “Titles related to Avengers Infinity War? Did Netflix take it off? Ah come on….”
Rene chuckles. “Gen abandoned me off in French and my mother was about ti, I’m sure but my Dd stepped in. He’s the calm one, I guess. He pops the bag of popcorn int he microwave and starts it. “Oh yea. Disney Plus. Marvel AND Pixar movies.” he looks at Tristan oddly. “Didn’t you know that?”
Tristan frowns “Disney plus? They have their own thing now…..fucking Disney…” He looks it up on his phone and is very much revealing that for some unknown reason he seems to have been living under a rock. He clicks around on the apple TV remote “We don’t have a button for that channel...this thing must be too old. Plus I’d have to convince my mom to use her credit card and that….yeah after just doing a playstation subscription thing I better not push my luck…glad you didn’t get in huge trouble for your little fire incident.”
Rene watches Tristan look up information on old news. He is about to say something when Michael comes out of the bedroom, rushing a bit. He heads into the kitchen, opens the door and pulls out the microwave bag of popcorn. It’s brown and smoking.
Michael looks at the boys, from one to the other. Finally, his detective’s eyes land on Rene. “You’re like my damn nephew.” he shakes his head and gets another bag of the microwave stuff. “Well, he could manage microwave popcorn, at least.” he tosses a new bag in and starts it, then points to Tristan. “Keep an eye on it. Next time your mother comes out. None of us wants that.” he chuckles and heads back to the bedroom.
Tristan jumps up off the couch when he sees and now smells the burning popcorn “Oh shit….” He had been distracted by the marvel thing. He watches his Dad deal with it and looks between him and Rene “Sorry.” Then he hangs out in the kitchen as the next one pops and can’t help but chuckle at Rene “I’m beginning to understand the grilled cheese story.”
Rene blinks when Mr Reinhardt suddenly comes out and deals with the microwave popcorn fiasco. He faces the bigger man. “Sorry ….” and when he’s gone he turns a magnificent shade of red. He goes into the kitchen too. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiote.” he shakes his head. Then he laughs. “Well … in my defence .. you distracted me.”
Tristan feels bad when Rene insults himself about it and pats him on the arm “You’re not. It happens man. No worries. My Uncle Ryan can’t cook and someone eventually married him anyway. I think she may have taught him how to safely boil things now.” Then Rene says Tristan distracted him and Tristan laughs and blushes a little “Yes I’m very distracting.” He jokes. The popcorn is down now and Trsitan takes out the second bag. “We could watch something old….or I think Ant Man and the Wasp is still on Netflix. Disney hasn’t locked it down yet I guess. Whatever you want. Gaming, Youtube….I’m cool with anything.”
Rene hears about Uncle Ryan and tilts his head. “So I am not doomed to a life living in my parents’ house in a tank and five o’clock shadow?” he watches Tristan take the popcorn out. “Anything, eh?” he asks and pauses. “Then explain to me how someone as into these movies as you are didn’t see them in theatres.” he looks around the house. “It’s like those strange sayings .. like your Dad saying after three years your mom suddenly goes back to canned fish? I hear a lot of people saying stuff like that. Three years this and three years that. I’m not spying but you overhear a lot slinking in the trees looking for wildlife…”
Tristan laughs about the tank and five o’clock shadow “Actually that’s oddly kinda hot….” He blushes again and shakes his head around and then laughs some more until Rene’s big question. Then he hands him a bag of popcorn “OK. There’s some stuff. But it’s going to sound insane. Please promise to still be my friend if you think I’m crazy after I tell you everything?” Rene was too smart and tuned in to keep trying to bullshit. But as much as he was beginning to notice Rene in ways he was still denying, he really liked hanging out with the guy and didn’t want to lose a new friend.
Rene grins at the idea that he would be hot in a tank. But he takes the bag of popcorn and listens. “I am French .. insanity is a relative term for us.” he looks at Tristen and nods. “Je promets. I promise,” he says twice in both of his tongues.
Tristan chuckles and then looks comforted by the double promise “OK come sit down. It’s a long story.” He gestures to the loveseat and sits at one end, opening his own bag of popcorn but not eating right away. When Rene is seated too he begins “Two towns, two earthquakes, 2017. I was born in a place called Cedar Point. It was a sister town to this one. We always had these weird wicked earthquakes no one could explain, like worse than the rest of BC. Anyhow, we had one, the big one on May the 7th, 2017. It destroyed the town completely. A lot of people died, yes died, it was that bad…” Tristan looks a little emotional now “My Grandpa Hiro, My Uncle Garrett and his boyfriend Ziven…” He closes his eyes for a minute and then inhales “We moved here, pretty much all the survivors because we were connected through families and relationships, friendships….anyways you’ll meet a lot from Cedar Point here. Mason and Mabel and their family but they were newer. Then shit happened here on June 21st….again same year, 2017. Another quake but here! It was super scary. The town wasn’t totalled but a bunch of people died here. And then just this fog….but not like weather. We got…..and if it wasn’t weird already, hang on because this is some X-Files level shit. We got cut off from the world. In every way, phones, internet, the ferry, no one could leave or get here. It was like we just vanished. But we were here, isolated and we figured shit out. That’s why we had no canned food past a certain point. Well except what we canned. We became really self sufficient. I mean look at all the gardens, the solar panels, we survived. But yeah there are gaps that we missed from out there…” He gestures in the direction of the ferry port. “Your family and some of the other recent ones are some of the first new people to live here in 3 years. I’m not sure I even expect you to believe me. I know how it sounds. I lived it and it’s unbelievable to me.” He exhales and nervously waits for Rene’s reaction.
Rene sits on the couch with Tristan, facing him. He plans to eat some popcorn but completely forgets as Tristan tells him an incredible story. As it’s told, Rene looks at Tristan’s face and its expressions. Then the story ends and Tristan is watching him. Rene looks at him for a long time and thinks about all he has heard, over in his mind. There is evidence of the truth of the tale in the gardens in nearly every house. He even noticed that every house on Tristan’s side of the street had blackberry bushes in the front. Not terribly decorative. And the part of him that loves nature loved Alexandra because it had so much solar and wind power … enough to be self-sufficient if it wanted … or needed to be. He glances down at his uneaten popcorn and licks his lips, trying to think of the words before they come spilling out of his mouth. Finally, he looks at Tristan, maybe even into his eyes. “I know you are not a liar, Tristan.” he begins. “And it explains so much.” he inhales slowly. “Forgive me, I think in Catholic and God a lot.” he half grins. “Especially when the science lover in my head can’t make sense of something … like a whole island vanishing for years on end.” he blows out a breath. “So I think in my head that God chose you … this island, I mean .. and you of course … For what, I do not know.” he shrugs and drops his eyes. “I am not a priest and ... I will never be one. But …” he looks into Tristan’s eyes again. “I believe you.”
Tristan meets Rene’s gaze as he replies to him. He starts to visibly relax at the words I know you are not a liar. He listens intently to the rest looking both curious and quite touched by the god aspects. That this god Rene puts faith in chose the island, and him somehow, It was a beautiful idea. He dismisses the idea of ever being a priest and that’s curious too because this is the most sense anyone’s ever made of the Catholic perspective for him. But at the words I believe you his eyes unexpectedly fill with tears and he blinks hard “Thank you. That means a lot.” He presses the heel of his hand into the right eye where the tears won’t behave and stay put. “Shit…” He laughs “For the record you probably would be a good priest. I actually got what you were saying.”
Rene puts his free hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “It is the truth, mon amie.” he grins and watches the tears, physically restraining himself from wiping them away, but his hand does move to Tristan’s neck from his shoulder. Then Tristan laughs and suggests he would be a good priest. “Never happen. Well, probably never happen.” he grins, but a little sadly. “I do not agree with everything the Church teaches. That isn’t really required, I’m told. But …” he shrugs. “I am young. I still have time to .. sort out my .. self. But there is no D&D in seminary school. And some say it is a pathway to Satan.” he rolls his eyes, then softly claps Tristan’s neck and sits up straight.
Tristan feels the warmth of Rene’s hand on his shoulder and it comforts him greatly. When the hand moves to his neck he feels an oddly deeper connection between them and it unseats him a little. He finds himself leaning a little into the hand for a moment and then self consciously straightens and Rene claps him and lets go. “No D&D? No man you can’t give that up...you’re way too good.” He laughs “You know I’ve never been to church. In Cedar Point we had a building that was like a multifaith everything centre. I mean I went to weddings and funerals there, some religious I guess but not a full on church service. My family doesn’t really do that. My Grandpa Hiro was raised Buddhist but he didn't really teach me any of it. Except this one time I asked him if I could interview him for a paper for school. I decided to write about Buddhism. So instead of letting me ask him questions he took me to a Buddhist temple. He had called ahead. It was actually really cool. The monks were really kind and they gave us a tour and then we meditated. My feet fell asleep 5 minutes in and it was hard not to twitch. Then there was this tea ritual thing where they just kept pouring it over the pot. It was interesting and the tea was good. My Grandpa seemed really happy that day so that was the best part. So I guess if I was going to pick a religion it might be that one...which some people say is actually a philosophy not a religion.”
Rene smiles. “Then for you, Tristan, I will not join the Priesthood.” he quips. He listens about Buddism. “I like hearing about other religions. I have a new Father Confessor here that tells me that ignorance is not bliss and I should learn more about other religions. Some are more accepting than others, I know … but I don’t know if I could leave the Church. My aunt would blame my mother … my grandparents would blame my mother … and my mother has nothing to do with my … thoughts on the church.” he snorts. “Maybe I should become a philosopher.”
Tristan laughs “Oh geez no pressure. Don’t let me hold you back for D&D. I’m joking of course. Do what makes you happy. I think religion is fascinating. There are so many. How did all we humans come to all these ideas? And I mean some have parallels. That’s actually the most interesting part for me. Especially if it’s like two totally different parts of the world in history coming up with the same ideology by different names with different deities. Then is it religion or just humanity?” Tristan can be a deep thinker when he gets going. “Father Confessor? That sounds daunting.” He blinks. “Well and your aunt doesn’t get to choose for you...or your mom. I mean our parents can make us go to school, go to bed at a certain time...but they can’t choose what we believe. From what I’m hearing though, you believe in god, but you don’t like the rules. I mean would it be awful to choose one with different rules? I mean I know a bit about the Catholic thing from Dad….I think he still kinda believes but it sure as hell didn’t all work for him.” He leans a bit so he can look down the hall “He’s not my bio dad….but he is my dad. But before my mom….he had relationships with men. Which I guess makes him bisexual? Or something. But I know the Catholics have a thing about that. So it’s not just D&D.” He chuckles.
Rene laughs. “D&D is worth it.” he listens further to Tristan who gets deep and Rene loves it. “It feels like all religions come from the same tree. Like so many languages come from Latin.” he grins. “Yes, I guess it does. Father Goddard is one of the priests at my old Church... it’s online only now and I avoided that like the plague. Then I met Father O’Keeffe here and he told me I could confess to his face or he could think of a way not to see each other, like in the confessional. I chose to just say it to him because he seems very relaxed and cool. And he is. He also doesn’t give out penance like peanuts.” he chuckles. When Tristan mentions his Dat, Rene’s eyes grow large. The word bisexual only makes them larger. He seems to bring himself back to the present with a will. “Yes … Catholics … have a thing … about … that.” he tightens his jaw and drops his eyes. “It’s not right.” although its a little hard to say what he thinks is not right.
Tristan smiles and nods “I’ve heard of Father O’Keefe. He’s my Gran’s friend and priest, on my Dad’s side. Everyone apparently thinks he’s a Reinhardt.” He laughs “Red hair and tall although he’s really tall. I mean I’m one too now and I look nothing like them. But yeah all those redheaded people are in my family. He’s cool though. I don’t really get the confession thing but I respect that’s what you do. I mean if anything can be absolved, could you shoot someone and just be forgiven?” Then he sees Rene reacting to the church’s homophobic issue and misinterprets him “Oh Rene...I’m cool. I’m comfortable with my sexuality, well as much as I can be at 13 so it’s a lifelong process. But i don’t feel like you or your family are going to be jerks about it. In fact this town is a really safe place for LGBTQ2 people. We’re really diverse and accepting here in all ways, everywhere, school the cops even. There’s a lesbian couple, one of them is one of my mom’s best friends. They’re getting married and everyone’s just happy for them. They’re both cops. And one of them is a teacher part time at the school.” He laughs a bit and pats Rene’s arm casually “So don’t be self conscious, please.”
Rene initially laughs. “Most Reinhardts have red hair like your dad, then.” he guesses and then takes in a deep breath. “Sin … is complicated. It has levels to it. It’s harder for the priest, really. Now say I am your father confessor and you confess that you murdered someone. As your confessor, I have to encourage you to turn yourself in and, of course not do it again and then I guess five you a hundred Our Fathers and Hail Marys and maybe make you do something good for penance. God won’t forgive you I don’t think unless you do your penance and mean it? I’m kinda county on that part.” he admits. Then the panic hits him and Tristan tries to soothe him, but on the wrong issue in a way. “I … you should be comfortable with your … with your sexuality. And this sounds like … a .. a great place to be … to be …” Then Tristan pats him on the arm and Rene freezes. Around other people, he tries hard to fit in and be casual and cool. But he and Tristan are alone. He places his hand on Tristan’s and then pulls it away, looking down at the space between them. His voice is a whisper when he speaks. “I … think I … might be …” he inhales and it is shaky .. like he is afraid, as much as he joked and made innuendos in front of his friends he trusts. “I mean … I .. am …” but he has never said it. Not aloud and only in the last few months in his own head.
Tristan nods about the red hair “Pretty much.” Then he listens with actual interest to the complexity of sin and confession. It’s a curious thing. Rene suddenly seems to be reacting with discomfort to the topic of him talking openly about being gay. But he notices Rene says I and then you. Then after he pats Rene’s hand he sees and feels Rene’s hand briefly on top of his own only to feel the movement of air as he yanks it away and gets even more uncomfortable talking about himself. Tristan has an aha moment in his head and gives a little gasp of awareness. Some of the jokes during D&D...his own struggle with the church’s views, not about Tristan “Oh Rene...I’m an idiot. Sorry…” He softens his voice “It’s ok to tell me. It helps to tell someone. I’m here for you Rene…..” He hopes that’s enough to help him say what he needs to say.
Rene bites his lip and winces at the gasp. This is it. Then he chides himself. Tristan just broke up with his boyfriend .. of course, he wouldn’t be judgemental. But he as still scared to say what he’s never said before. He swallows hard and sets his popcorn bag aside. Then he clasps his hands, almost as if in prayer. “I … like …” and he sallows. “I’m attracted to … “ he looks up at Tristan for half a second and his flash of attraction makes him look down again. “Guys. Mostly … girls sometimes … but mostly … guys.” he blows out a breath. “There .. I said it.” she this time a tear comes from his eye. “Fuck that shit is scary …”
Tristan has absolute compassion for what Rene is going through trying to talk about this for the first time. He feels a jolt when Rene is saying he’s attracted to guys and looking at him. But this is bigger than any inkling he might be feeling for Rene. This is big life identity shit and he’s been there, not with the Catholic stuff hanging over him though which would be way harder. Tristan lets Rene get all the words out and sees the tear and nods “It is scary. I know…...but you did it and you’re amazing.” He looks both honoured to be confided in and proud of Rene. “Can I give you a hug? I totally know how you're feeling right now.” He reaches out ready to hug him but will also accept if that’s completely too much for him.
Rene looks up, finally. He knows someone who totally understands and gets it. Well, partially gets it. “Sil vous plait.” he breathes and goes for the hug. It is a friendly hug, but Rene knows he is shaking like a leaf. Suddenly he laughs slightly. “I haven’t even told Father O’Keeffe.” he admits. “And my family … never.” he nearly vows. “Thank you for being here. You are a gift, Tristan Reinhardt.”
Tristan has enough French to know sil vous plait is please and hugs Rene with one hand around the shoulder and one hand around the back of his ribs.He can feel Rene shaking and hugs him a little tighter in a bit of a squeeze. He doesn’t let go until after he laughs and talks. As he does let go he backs up, leaving on hand on Rene’s arm “Well it’s up to you who you tell and when but I’m sure your family love you. I mean you could start with a brother or sister if you’re nervous about your parents. I know how lucky i am that way. I have parents I didn’t really need to come out to...I think they seemed actually more weirded out by the fact that I had a boyfriend in Australia with a weird name than that I was dating a guy.” He laughs a bit “But if you think it would help….hell my parents would probably be willing to talk to yours if they’re not being...understanding. That might actually be an awkward idea...they’re a little blunt…” He laughs a bit at the idea of them telling off someone’s potentially homophobic/biphobic parents.
Rene calms a bit during the hug. “I could tell Sasha.” he sniffs. “And my father.” he blows out a breath. “My father sat us down and told us about an uncle we never knew he had. He was gay .. and my grandparents on my fathers’ side disowned him. He … fell into sex and drugs and killed himself…” he doesn’t share yet about his mother’s confession, but feels so close to Tristan it may well come up soon. Besides, it isn’t part of this conversation. “That is why my father was so supportive of Sasha’s gay friend who had to move away.” he sighs. Then Tristan suggests that his parents talk and, at first it is beyond awkward. But then he considers. “Your dad … was gay … right? But now he’s with your mother. Is he cured? Is there a cure?” he looks like he doesn’t know if he wants there to be one or not. A cure would certainly solve some of his issues like with his aunt. “My aunt MC … she would say I am burning in hell .. nothing can absolve me of a sin against God and Nature.” he sighs again and drops his head against the back of the couch.
Tristan nods supportively about telling Sasha and his dad and then looks pained about the uncle he never knew. Then he looks hopeful about their family already having been supportive of Sasha’s gay friend. “Shitty that he had to move.” Then he looks unsure how to address the suggestion that his father was cured. “Rene it doesn’t work like that. I think in truth he was just bisexual not simply gay. I mean it’s like a spectrum and maybe it’s not even static. I mean my Uncle Garrett had an off again on again thing with a woman, one of my mom’s friends actually and then suddenly later in life he had a boyfriend. You said you mostly like guys and some girls.” He draws a line on the couch to make his point and then a tick at one end “So say this is liking guys…..” He makes another tick really close to that end “That’s me...for example. I don’t think I’ve ever had a crush on a girl. I’m not ruling it out. I can notice when a girl is pretty but then I don’t think too hard about it.” He makes a tick at the other end “This is liking girls.” He makes a middle tick “So here’s I dunno Tony, Mason, maybe like my mom, your parents unless they have stuff they’ve never told you.” Then he ticks between center and liking guys “Here’s you…” He ticks a little further towards center “My Dad...maybe.” But then he goes up and down the line “But maybe some are travellers.” He looks up again at Rene “And in my opinion, although lots of full on self proclaimed hetero folks would freak, we all might travel a bit in our lifetimes.” He thrugs “Even your bible thumping burn in hell ranting aunt. Although she’d likely never admit it.”
Rene sighs, having known that there was no cure. He nods and looks at the line Tristan makes on the couch. “My aunt … no, she would never admit it. Oh no never ever ever.” he chuckles. “I’ve never had a crush on a girl either. Guys, yes. But girls like me.” he sighs. “No, that’s never confused the fuck outta me … no pun intended.”
Tristan laughs at his pun and then says honestly “Well I’ve never done that. Not ready, at all. Heck I never even kissed Banjo aside from on our avatars in VR Chat….or we described them.” He blushes “Apparently I write a good kiss so if anyone’s writing a cheesy romance novel I can help.” Then he gulps “Banjo wanted more after a while and I said no. I thought maybe that’s why he stopped talking to me. I mean maybe it was, he’s a little older.” Then he smiles “Girls like you. I bet guys too they’re just not saying it. You’re likeable Rene.” It’s hopefully coming off as a confidence builder but he knows in his heart he means it in more than one way.
Rene arches his brows. “Me either .. girl or guy .. never been kissed. How do you write a good kiss? Never mind … ELA isn’t my best subject. Solid B.” he rolls his eyes. “More? Like … more more?” and then he’s told girls like him. “I’m nice. Sasha is too. He found a girlfriend like … fast. And now he’s hardly ever home, because he's with her…” his eyes widen. “That kind of ‘more’?” it suddenly hits him. But he smiles. “Thanks Tristan. I appreciate that. I really need a friend who gets me, you know. So I can work this shit out.” he sighs. “I should confide in my brother, eh?”
Tristan looks a little surprised that Rene hasn’t been kissed as he thinks Rene is pretty damn cute at this point. But he’s not about to say that to him. He blushes at the question and laughs “Well if it ever comes up in ELA I’ll show you….since we’ll be in the same class.” Then he makes a face “Yeah...more more. I wasn’t ready, even virtually or in text.” He nods about the brother “Well make a plan with your brother if he’s not home all the time. I mean you and Icould meet him somewhere. Maybe it would be easier not at home because you won’t be afraid everyone will overhear before you’re ready? And I’m here anytime…” He looks like he means it “We should pick a movie. But I’m really glad we talked. Thank you for trusting me Rene.”
Rene nods. “I’d appreciate that. And if you ever need help with science, I’m your man.” he blinks. “You’d really be with me when I talk to my brother? Seriously? Because … yea … that would help me to tell him.. You know … before I hit 50 or so.” and then he jumps, remembering they were going to watch a movie … a hundred years ago. “Thanks for being trust WORTHY, Tristan.”
Tristan pats his shoulder again but this time it’s obvious comradery “Yeah I’d talk to Sasha with you if it helps you have an ally in your own family. You need that. I’m not bad a science but I might hit you up for French.” He chuckles. “Anytime. Hey listen if I’m going to catch up on Marvel after 2017 would you be up for a rewatch of Captain America Civil War? Because I know it has a lead in for Black Panther and Infinity and I want that a little fresher in my head going into those. I have been reading up a bit.” He walks to the DVDs and holds that one up looking hopeful.
Rene nods. “I will help you with French anytime.” he promises and grins. “I’d love that. And Black Panther … ooooo a MUST watch.” he insists with a more confident glint in his eye. “Let's do it!”
Tristan puts the DVD in and cues it up “Hey do you need a drink? I’m grabbing a ginger ale. We have Coke, more of those fruity water deals...just tell me and I’ll grab you a can.” He looks at Rene in his jeans “And if you want short later for sleeping I can lend you some. You look about the same clothing size as me.”
Rene nods and smiles. “Ginger ale sounds good.” he nods. “Yea. Shorts would be easier for sleeping in. That or just my underwear.” he hadn’t really thought about what he would sleep in aside from Tristan’s bed.
Tristan tries to answer casually “Hey whatever works.” But the thought of Rene sleeping in his bed in his underwear makes him never want to wash his sheets again after. He clears his throat and nonchalantly passes Rene a can of ginger ale. Then he presses play on the movie. He finally starts in on his popcorn he had neglected before. He leans back into the loveseat and puts his feet up on the coffee table, crossing one over the other. As the movie goes on he comments now and then “I dunno I’m kinda with Captain America in the not letting the government get under your suit and reveal your identity. Which I know is a contradiction to things I said earlier today…” He laughs and then grins “But I’m having trouble being Team Cap when Tom Holland is on the other side….ya know.” He happily sighs a bit.
Rene takes the ginger ale and sits back with his popcorn, ready to watch. It gets interesting and he grins at a lot of Tristan’s comments. “That’s ok, I know what you mean.” and then he considers the comment about Cap and Tom Holland. “Well … Spiderman is a little closer to our age.” he grins and licks his lips. “Thank god for spandex….” he murmurs, leaning back and sticking his legs out on the coffee too finally.
Tristan laughs and laughs “A byline for Marvel movies to come. Spiderman 3 : Thank God for Spandex. God i have to catch up on Spiderman movies too. Have you seen Into the Spiderverse? I know it’s a different Spiderman. Although I loved the Miles Morales comic books.” He looks at both their legs and feet side by side and can’t help but be both amused and also find it kind of sweet.
Rene laughs. “Yea … man these movies .. I really should confess a lustful thought sin or two. I might with Father O’Keeffe .. I don’t think he’d be too hard on me … um .. no pun intended, of course.” he nods. “I loved Into the Spiderverse. They took it in a different direction and I loved it.”
Tristan now looks incredulous with his mouth stuffed full of popcorn. He holds up a finger while he chews and swallows “You have to confess THOUGHTS?” He chuckles and blinks “And if someone cute….makes you...react? Because Dude, that’s like basically confessing puberty right?” He nods after about Into The Spiderverse.
Rene snorts. “Yea … there's the sin of impure thoughts and the sin of lustful thoughts. And yea … I mean I don’t have to give details like ‘I had lustful thoughts about that guy in my class’
But … yea. If you even THINK about it, its a sin. A venial minor sin, but definitely worth a Hail Mary or two. And if you follow that up with lustful ACTS …. Yeaa …. Sometimes being Catholic sucks …” he shrugs.
Tristan nods slowly and exhales “Wow yeah. So is that one of those dancing leads to sex things? Thinking leads to doing...I mean we think all kinds of things at random. We can’t even police it. And not all of it is even stuff we want to do. It’s complicated.” He glances back at the screen “Black Panther really does have the coolest suit.”
Rene nods. “Yea but dancing is allowed. But like if you think of kissing a girl … and believe me that’s all boys could ever think about.” he rolls his eyes. “You might kiss that girl. And if you kiss her you’ll feel her up and if you feel her up you’ll have sex.” he sighs. “Sex is not allowed before you get married, no divorce, blah blah blah.” and he drinks of his ginger ale deeply. “Gay sex is one of the mortal sins, I think. One of the ones God will never forgive you for.” he tightens his jaw. “Once I found that out I knew I’d never be a priest so I gave that idea up. But there are gay Catholics … but never gay priests. They’re kind of … just .. rogue.” He looks at Black Panther. “Just wait till you see his movie, man. It's incredible.”
Tristan listens to what Rene’s saying about the dogma and the progression “I don’t want to dis your faith but yeah that’s a whole pile of shit right there. “Ok first of all, the assumptions of if you think it you’ll do it. Or if you do this tiny part of it you’ll have to do it all. I call bullshit. That;s basically assuming everyone’s some kind of rapist or something. What about self control, consent, communication. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for two people to just kiss for like as long as they want that with nothing else hanging over them.” He takes a sip of his ginger ale too and nods “Marriage, divorce, gays...bad..” He laughs a bit and shakes his head “I’m sure there are gay priests who just don’t talk about it. I mean if you’re a priest you kind of give all that up regardless right?” He smiles about Black Panther “Next on my list for sure.”
Rene nods. “It’s like walking a tightrope. And well IF you get divorced there's some kind of something … so God will forgive you but basically they want you to stay married.” he pauses. “My parents … they went through some stuff as it turns out. Like 20 years of secrets stuff. It all boiled over and my father was sleeping in the garage. But they’re both in therapy now, I know that much and my father started sleeping in their bedroom just before my mother left.” he sighs. “A guy raped her. My mother.” he murmurs. “And it messed them up. My mother got pregnant, and my father told her parents it was his because they were gonna throw her out … yea I come from THAT kind of Catholic family. She lost the baby but they stayed married.” he bites his lip. “If nothing else … I know now they love each other more than anything and someday I want that with someone … without the bullshit.” he blows out a breath. “Sorry … I really didn’t mean to go down that road …”
Tristan had been casually listening but attentively. As soon as Rene started talking about what happened to his mother years ago he paused the movie and turned, moving his legs down and one bent on the loveseat to face him. First his hand went over his mouth in horror and then he slid it up Rene’s arm to rest on his shoulder “Holy shit…..that’s a lot of stuff. Don’t apologize. I mean they’re in therapy but you probably need to talk about it too….now I’m really glad they’re working it out. Just wow Rene. Her parents…..you have a tough family,,,well extended family anyway. I get why it’s harder for you to tell them things about who you are now.”
Rene also turns towards Tristan and nods when Tristan touches his arm. “I am.” he said. “Well sort of. I’m talking to Father O’Keeffe about it. He’s on my parents side, it feels like. And yea …” he sighs. “My aunt … and my grandparents. At this point I’m okay if I never see them again.” he groans. “But I probably will.” he rolls his eyes. “Father O’Keeffe is really saving me, if that makes sense. He’s even sometimes said he doesn’t know why the Church stays with these antiquated thoughts. He’s championed for stuff like birth control and all … man … He's probably always in shit with his superiors but … its not like they can fire him, I guess.”
Tristan squeezes the shoulder and then lets go. He’s been very touchy with Rene and vice versa. It dawns on him he might want to calm that down around their other friends since he doesn’t do that nearly as much with them. He does hug friends though so there’s that. For some reason Rene just draws out more. He knows the reason but he’s still fighting it. “Well good thing you moved here. And Father O’Keefe did too, maybe so he can say what he wants without getting in shit? I mean we’re remote. Who’s checking on him right? He sounds like a good priest for you, and your family. I know Grandma Kaitlin adores him.”
Rene was greatly comforted about the shoulder squeeze. Now he looks at Tristan. “Yea .. this island is something else.” he agrees. “And yea … Father O’Keeffe is a rare bird and I’m glad he’s here.” he grins and taps on Tristan’s arms, having the realization that they are very touchy feely together now, but they are friends. Sure Tristan was hot, but right now neither of them needed to go any further than supportive friends. He’d just had a breakup and Rene had just effectively come out of the closet. And, thinking about that, he smiles. “OK, now let's stop talking the Church and priests and start talking more spandex.” he smiles and winks.
Tristan, smiles, listening and then a bit more feeling the tap on his arms. It was sweet. It was comfortable. It was low pressure. And they were friends. He laughs about the spandex and unpauses “As you request.” It pans in just as Captain America leaps up and onto someone with his butt featured in the screen “Well there ya go.” Tristan teases as he leans back and puts his feet back up.
Rene happily goes back to watching. As Captain America’s butt comes on the screen, he takes his legs off of the coffee table, puts his feet on the floor, straightens his back and salutes dramatically. “America’s Ass!” he proclaims. Then he resumes lounging with his feet on the coffee table.
Tristan cracks up “Well I guess that’s one way to put it. Who’s Canada’s ass then Ryan Reynolds?”
Before Rene can answer, Stephanie passes by on her way to the fridge “I’ll say.” she chimes in, not knowing the first part at all. She takes two fruity fizzy waters out “Hey Rene, I put out an extra toothbrush we have still in the package for you. You’re the dentist’s kid right? I mean what kind of assholes would we be if you got a cavity sleeping over at our house.”
Rene is laughing when Stephanie comes in. He turns around a bit and chuckles. “Merci, Mrs Reinhardt.” and he sort of shrugs. “Yea, Papa might get upset. If our teeth get messed up, I think he loses reputation … and he’ll fill our cavities without novocaine.” he mock shudders. “You’re safe, being a paying customer.” he grins. “I was just going to use those blackberry leaves out front, but I like your idea a lot more. I’ll have to be good so I can stay over more to make use of it.” and then he smiles, showing his, admittedly, immaculate teeth.
Stephanie chuckles “I like you kid. And call me Steph.” She sees the perfect teeth and looks impressed “Wow…..dentist’s kid indeed. We have Crest in the medicine cabinet and floss even. Sorry to talk over your movie..” She smiles at Tristan who sometimes gets cranky about that with her.
Tristan smiles back, amused by the banter and glad she likes Rene. “Thanks Mom….and we’ve seen this one so it’s ok. I’ll floss too.” He chuckles.
Steph calls back “You better.” and heads back into her bedroom with Michael.
Rene beams at being liked by Tristan's mother and chuckles when Tristan says that he’ll floss too. Then he gets question in his head. “What did you guys do for toothpaste and floss wiring … that three years?” he suddenly wonders. “I mean my father is amazed by all of the cavities, but it feels like it should be a lot worse, if that makes sense.”
Tristan snorts at his question “Well it was gross and you really had to rinse because ingesting it was a poison hazard. Basically they saved the real toothpaste at some point for little kids….but for older kids and adults we did something called activated charcoal. It’s pretty much what it sounds like. We also grew a lot of mint for fresh breath. We didn’t really floss once it ran out but there were some homemade mouthwash things so brushing and tons of rinsing. Also, we didn’t have a ton of refined sugars. We had honey but honestly we didn’t drink pop. We made our own fruit drinks, teas, some fermented stuff like kombucha. Basically we were like hippies on a commune. And island commune. Do you think your folks know about the fog? We kinda gauge who we tell. Not everyone would take it well.”
Rene listens, his eyes wide. “Mon Dieu…” he breathes .. a couple of times. “I understand it was a nightmare, but .. that sounds .. fascinating. I mean the activated charcoal part is kinda gross but … the honey part .. and no pop … that’s a lot like how we live at home. My parents aren't hippies, but when your father is a dentist … you miss out on a lot of things.” he considers. “Well, my father is friends with the eye doctor … so .. probably not because they move in around the same time we did. But my mother’s talked about some of her friends. Colleen and before she left about Dante’s foster mother Lydia … Dante is dating my sister Gen. I think all of them have been here a long time and so .. through the … Fog you call it? Yea. I understand how some might just think everyone was insane or bullshitting.”
Tristan nods and listens “I could see them being strict about sugar when they fill cavities all day.” He smiles “Colleen?” He grins “You’re mom’s friends with Colleen? She’s my aunt. And I kinda know Lydia….the Alvin house. So your sister is dating Dante Mendoza then? That’s the only Dante I know of. He….uh…..he gets in trouble sometimes….at least that’s what I’ve heard. And yeah we call it the fog. So now you know the code word if you happen to hear it.”
Rene nods. “Small towns.” he grins. “I heard a little bit about Dante, but when we met him, he was kinda cool. He’s got tattoos on his knuckles that say Fuck Life … but he said the meaning of them is changing from a bad thing to a good thing. And Gen … well she isn’t a terrible person .. maybe she’s good for him. I mean your dad’s a cop .. so you’d hear .. well some of it, right?” he nods. “Got it .. the fog.”
Tristan agrees “Well rumours. Can’t judge a book by it’s cover right.” The credits begin to roll but with Marvel movies there’s always an end credits scene. It plays out and Tristan rolls his head sideways on the back of the couch to look at Rene “So basically setting up Black Panther...got it…..” He stretches “How tired are you? Do you need to crash or do you want more screen time? I can go either way.”
Rene nods. “Right..” he watches the end credits leaning back and turns to look at Tristan. “Yup … killer movie …” he watches a bit more. “But … Aunt May is like 75 .. she is NOT to be used as masturbatory fodder for young hetrosexual males. I’m sorry but .. no … just .. nope.” and then he looks at Tristan and he mostly cuts off the words in his head. “Are you up for another before we go to bed?” yea … that sounded okay … right?
Tristan takes out his phone and looks something up with a cheeky grin “God I love having the internet again. Marisa Tomei is 55.” He holds out his phone to her IMDB page “So Rene….” He snickers “I’d say she’s more fodder for…..your dad.” He sort of ducks just in case. But then blushes a bit at Rene’s question “I could be. I’m pretty...energetic.” He blushes a little again and clears his throat and his voice cracks on the next question” How about Ant Man and the Wasp?”
Rene smiles as he watches Tristan enjoy having the internet at his disposal .. and then he makes … that comment. Rene drops his feet to the floor and drops his head in his hands. “OH God! My eyes! I can’t unsee that! Jesus …. UGH!” and then he cracks up and takes a mock swing at Tristan. Then Tristan answers his question and he swallows hard. “Um … yea …” apparently they are both paying a quick visit to the early days of puberty.
Tristan laughs and laughs and starts the next movie. It’s a good one too and he’s getting caught up. This one he hasn’t seen so there’s less banter. He’s actually looking like he’s drifting off a bit through the credits trying to make it for the end credits scene as he finally sits up and fast forwards. The after credits scene is a major spoiler for Avengers End Game and his jaw drops as he puts a hand on Rene’s arm almost as if to steady himself “Oh god….that’s what’s coming isn’t it?”
Rene gets through the end of the movie, not even thinking of the end credits, so when he sees them he is almost expecting Tristan’s hand. “Shit .. yea. Sorry I should have remembered and not let you see them.” he sighs deeply. “We'll watch it soon, I promise.”
Tristan takes his hand back but not rapidly and then puts his fingers to his head and does a mind blown gesture with a little explosion sound “It’s ok. I have read lots of these comics but still, they mess with things right. OK now I’m tired.” He gathers up the popcorn bags and drink cans “Let’s go to bed?” He blinks at his own wording “I mean I’m not asking you to my bed….oh wait I am” He snorts “But not like that.” The awkward is funny now. He’s feeling comfortable with Rene. He drops the cans in the recycling and the bags in the garbage and then turns out some lights before they head to his room. Tristan’s room is a typical teenager room with posters on the wall, mostly old minecraft ones. He has a single bed and a dresser and a side table and a small desk with his laptop on it. It’s a little crowded with the air mattress on the floor. He gestures around “Mi casa su casa….that’s all the spanish I know from TV.” He opens a drawer and offers out a pair of black sweat shorts and then grabs his own pj shorts from the same place “Um I’ll go brush my teeth first to give you some privacy if you want to change.” He says respectfully.
Rene still feels a little bad at the spoilers. But Tristan's next words make him grin, even though Tristan is tripping all over them. He smilies and makes an exaggerated ‘darn it’ snap and then helps with the cleanup if he can. Looking around the room, he likes what he sees. It’s a tiny bedroom, but still very nice and cosy. He takes the shorts and tosses them on the bed. In his own tiredness he just starts taking off his jeans right there. Tristan is speaking at the same time and Rene looks up as he steps out of his jeans. “Oh … right … privacy.” he blushes and most of the pale skin under the dirty blonde hair turns slightly pinker. “Sorry .. I room with my brother and we just change in front of each other ...” he sighs. “Um .. I'll finish while you’re in the bathroom.”
Tristan smirks and even though he’s trying not to look, he does for a second “Hey I was offering it for your comfort so if you’re cool. I’m cool. Only child so spoiled for privacy. So i’ll be right back…” He blushes fiercely as he walks to the bathroom carrying his shorts with him. He does his stuff, bathroom needs, teeth, flossing even and then returns smelling minty. “Next.” He chirps as he crawls into this air mattress bed on the floor.
Rene grins. “Number three of four here. I still can barely spell privacy.” he watches Tristan go and sighs. He drapes his jeans and underwear over the chair and then slips into the pajama shorts. Then he sits to wait on the bed. When Tristan returns, he takes his turn un the bathroom, perhaps taking a few more seconde out of his lifelong tooth brushing training. But finally he is done and, wondering if Tristan is totally crashed, comes back in the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Tristan is still awake but lying comfortably “Do you need anything? Glass of water? Teddy bear?” He jokes “I can tuck you in.” He teases and laughs.
Rene arches his brows. “No water before bed or I’ll wet it.” he snarks. He stands and turns off the light. “And something to snuggle sounds nice. You offering those last two?” he crawls into the bad and lays on his side, propping his head up with his hand.
Tristan laughs “Don’t pee my bed!” He protests. And then the light is off but he can still see a bit and he knows his room. He blushes in the near darkness at Rene’s retort. Something to snuggle? Tristan smacks an image hard from his mind of him just crawling in and pulling Rene right into his arms. Stop that now. It takes him a moment to gather his wits and he opens up his covers and stands and walks to his desk where there’s an old plush Minecraft Creeper. He clears his throat and walks up to Rene and lays it down against him and then jovially pretends to tuck him in badly. He’s laughing and goofing around and then he remembers something “Oh shoot I was going to switch the pillows...I uh….i kinda dove into that one when I got the text from Banjo and cried into it. But now i’ve been laying on the other one. Turn it over maybe...sorry.”
Rene makes a put upon sound. “Fine. I won’t.” He can see Tristan's form moving and then he has a plush and is being tucked in. Rene chuckles with him and holds onto the plushie to keep from grabbing Tristan. Then Tristan mentions that he cried into that pillow … all the more reason not to grab the guy. Rebounding is a bad thing. He turns his head and puts it in the pillow, inhaling and closing his eyes a second. Then he turns his face back to Tristan. “It’s not wet. No need to apologize. I mean it sounds like you were expecting it but .. heartbreak is heartbreak … especially when someone is being a dick. So to speak.”
Tristan settles back down into his air mattress but keeps talking “OK…” He had seen Rene’s head turn to face the pillow and smiled a bit. But talking about Banjo again made him feel hesitant with Rene too. Timing. He sighs “Yeah it still hurt to read it even though I already knew it. It’s a little scary watching someone’s feelings for you just disappear…..” He trails off. He had risked it and lost. Life lessons.
Rene sighs softly. “I bet.” he doesn’t know but it sounds painful. “But dude was rude anyway. Yes, I know we’re friends but I’d really like a minute with him.” Rene is built like nearly all of the males in his family … thin and muscular, although his body was still more thin and less really muscular as young as he was. “Teach him some manners. Jesus you just don’t do that to people.”
Tristan is touched by Rene’s wish to defend him “Apparently ghosting is trending in psychological studies. I started reading about it when I realized that was the deal. There are whole studies about it. So yeah people do. I wouldn’t, especially after this. But maybe...I dunno maybe something happened. Maybe he ….I wondered if he met someone else. Or got Covid...or I dunno just lost his mind..” He laughs a bit but then sighs bitterly. “But I’m ok. Honestly thanks to you, and Tony and Mason and my parents. I’ll be ok.”
Rene blows out a breath. “So he’s a trendy ass…” he shakes his head. “I wouldn't either .. that shit is rude. And … What IF something happened? He lets you worry and a month that he’s got Covid and is in the hospital some damn where? I vote for lost his mind.” he smiles in the darkness. “Good to hear that.” he says. “And even though you’re going through your own shit .. you helped me through a hard time of my own.” he pauses. “I can’t ever thank you enough for that, Tristan.” he says softly.
Tristan nods towards Rene whether he can see it or not. He made valid points. And then he pulls his covers up around him a bit and Rene thanks him again for being there for him about coming out as bi. “You don’t have to thank me Rene. And I’ll always have your back about that, always. That’s a path no one should ever walk alone. So let’s walk it together.” He means as friends but he does realize it could be taken as something else. But he really does mean friends above all else because on this Rene needs a friend.
Rene keeps his head propped up for a moment. “Well, thank you for giving me someone to walk with.” He smiles at the idea of walking together and thinks of it in both ways. But right now neither of them is ready for anything like that. He drops his head and pulls the covers up. “Together.” He agrees. “Good night, Tristan.” He keeps his eyes open for now. Comfortable, tired but thinking.
Tristan really is tired after 2 movies and an emotional day. He smiles as he hears the word together parroted back from Rene. He lets out a little sleepy “Hmm..” as he rolls onto his side and slides his hand under his pillow. In his exhale he murmurs “Goodnight Rene. Sweet dreams.” He begins to drift off a bit into his own. For some reason he’s with Spiderman and then Spiderman pulls off his mask and he’s Rene smirking and saying “No, I have Canada’s ass.”
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