Justin leaned up on one elbow, watching JC as he scribbled on the paper in his hand. He scooted closer, pressing his groin against the old man’s hip. “What’cha doing?” Justin asked. JC shot him a look. “The crossword puzzle,” he said simply, jotting down an answer. Justin scooted a bit closer, the heat of JC’s body starting to excite him. He dropped his hand into JC’s hair, twisting the curls with his fingers. “Wouldn’t you rather do me?” he asked, leaning into JC and whispering in his ear. JC batted away Justin’s hand, looking at Justin with annoyance. “No,” he said, returning to his puzzle. Justin blinked. No? JC had never, ever…wait. “Is this about this afternoon?” he asked. “Is what about this afternoon?” “This,” Justin waved at JC’s puzzle. “You. Refusing, you know. Sex.” Justin scowled. “I did apologize, you know.” “Did you?” “Yes, I did,” Justin nodded. “And you accepted my apology.” “Did I?” “Yes, you did,” Justin affirmed. “So, why are you still mad at me?” “Am I?” “God, I hate when you answer with a question,” Justin said through clenched teeth. “Do you?” “AAARRRGGGHHH!” Justin threw himself back onto his pillows. “I don’t get it. I said I was sorry. You accepted my apology. Why are you still mad at me?” Another scratch of pen on paper. “I’m not still mad at you,” JC explained, then shifted away when Justin prepared to pounce. “But I’m still annoyed, and therefore, not really in the mood to have sex with you.” “Annoyed? Why?” “If you have to ask,” JC replied, “then there’s no point in discussing it.” Justin sat up in bed. “What…I don’t…what the fuck does that mean?” “It means,” JC said, putting away his puzzle and laying down. “That I’m still annoyed with you, and don’t want to have sex.” He punched his pillow. “Until you figure it out, that is.” He glared down at JC. “I never thought you’d be one who used sex that way.” JC turned to face Justin. “I’m not using sex. I just don’t feel like fucking someone I’m annoyed with. If you can’t understand that…” Justin watched as JC scrunched up his pillow again, holding it close as he lay on his side. “Jayce, baby,” Justin said, laying a hand on the older man’s arms. “We need to discuss this, to work it out. We should never let the sun set on our anger.” JC’s shoulder’s shook with laughter. “Oh, god, you have got to stop watching the Lifetime network.” “No way,” Justin snorted. “It’s the best place to learn how to deal with you.” JC flipped over, looking up at Justin. “Deal with me?” he asked. “What am I, a girl?” Justin shrugged. “If the panties fit,” he quipped, then immediately regretted it when he saw the reaction on JC’s face. “No, I didn’t mean it that way.” “You…I only wore them because you asked me too!” JC said, sitting up and shoving Justin a bit. “Now you throw them in my face?” “Jesus, Jayce, that’s not what I meant!” He grabbed for JC’s arms, trying to hold him but the other man slipped out of Justin’s grasp and left the bed. He watched as JC pulled pillows and a blanket from the closet, throwing them at Justin. “What’s this?” “For you,” JC said, opening the door. “Go. Now.” “You’re kicking me out of bed?” JC nodded. “I can’t deal with you now. Just go.” Justin released the pillows and blanket. “I’m not going anywhere.” “Fine.” JC walked over to the bed, picking up the bedding and heading to the open door. Justin moved quickly, running to block JC’s exit and shut the door. “Please move.” “No.” Justin took the bedding from JC’s arms, throwing it back into the closet. JC stood by the door, arms crossed, frowning at Justin. JC refused to budge when Justin tried to move him back to the bed, standing firm by the door. Justin just sighed, bent half way, and tossed JC over his shoulder. Two quick strides, and JC was dropped onto the bed. Icy blue eyes glared as Justin stood next to JC on the bed. Justin ignored them. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do.” He knelt on the bed, straddling JC and sitting lightly on the other man’s thighs. “We’re gonna stay here, like this, until you’re over whatever it is that I did that pissed you off. If I have to apologize a thousand times, I will. But.” He leaned down, his hands on either side of JC’s head, his nose inches from JC’s. “I want it over. I love you. You love me. This little stuff shouldn’t matter. Not if we love each other. So, let’s end it now, because it’s starting to scare me.” JC eyes Justin quizzically. “Scare you?” Justin nodded, sitting back onto JC’s legs and avoiding his gaze. “You’ve never…not without me. I mean, sleeping. Without me. Or me without you. Not ever in our own home.” “And that scared you?” “Not the sleeping alone itself, but, the idea of it, yeah.” Justin played with the hem of JC’s shirt. “I don’t ever want to be without you.” “It was just an argument, Justin,” JC said, holding Justin’s hand still. “Just a fight.” “I know.” He looked JC in the eyes. “But you told me to leave. Even if it was just to the couch, it…” “…scared you.” Justin nodded. “So, I want it over. Whatever it is that I did, I’m sorry. Whatever I said, panty remark included, I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re a girl, and I do think you’re hot when you wear them.” JC struggled to sit up, tumbling Justin off of him. Justin grabbed JC’s hands, but soon realized JC wasn’t going anywhere. “Justin. We’re going to fight. I can guarantee it. And not everything can be solved with ‘I’m sorry’.” JC moved their hands until it was JC grasping Justin’s. “But I will never tell you to leave our bed again. I promise.” “And you won’t leave either?” JC smiled. “No, I won’t leave either.” “Good.” “But…” Justin shook his head. “No buts.” “Justin,” JC said, holding up his hand as Justin started to argue. “Listen. What I said before is true. We’ll have fights.” Justin shook his head. “Idiot. You can’t stop it. We’re two pretty strong-minded people. We’re bound to clash. And when we do, we’ll fight. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. In fact, it’s probably good for us.” “Good?” Justin asked. “How could fighting be good?” “Because not all fights end badly.” JC laid down on the bed, pulling Justin down with him. “Because we’re still learning about each other, and sometimes, we learn the most when we’re fighting.” Justin propped his chin on JC’s chest. “What did you learn from this fight?” “That you’re still, even after all this time, not one hundred percent sure of me.” JC smiled at Justin’s telltale blush. “And that I need to think before I say things.” JC held Justin close. “What did you learn?” “That even if I apologize, doesn’t mean it’s over,” Justin said. “And I should think before I speak, too. That is, if I want you to ever wear panties again. “Anytime you want, lover,” JC laughed. “That’s what I like to hear.” Justin reached up, stroking JC’s cheek. “So, does that mean we can have sex now?” JC lifted his own hand, covering Justin’s and removing it from his face. “No.” “No?” Justin leaned up, looking down at JC. “But I thought…we talked…and you’re annoyed again?” “No, I’m still annoyed. From before.” “I don’t understand,” Justin complained. “You don’t have to,” JC replied. “Just go to sleep. We can have sex in the morning.” Justin turned out the light, spooning up behind JC and pulling the other man close. “You are such a bitch,” he murmured in JC’s ear. JC smiled in the dark. “I love you, too.”