In Dreams He Came

by Trina Lane

  “Jesus Christ, Mason, my ears are bleeding in here!”

  Gabe recognized the sound of Klousak’s voice and started laughing. Nick joined in, and soon, they were rolling around on the bed, peals of laughter replacing the shouts of rapture.

  “GABRIEL ALEXI MASON. Highest distinction, History.”

  At the sound of his name, Gabe started across the stage of the Greek Theater. The backdrop was a stone edifice of a Greek temple, hence the name of the theater. Between the stone columns, banners in blue and gold billowed in the breeze. His perpetual shades protected his eyes from the bright California sun that decided to shine bright on the happy graduates. He stepped up to the Dean and accepted the leather-padded diploma folder with the school name imprinted across the front.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Congratulations, Gabe. See you in the fall.”

  “Looking forward to it.”

  Gabe looked out to the crowd, trying to find Nick, Lauren, and his parents, but it was impossible in the sea of faces, which stretched up the bowl-shaped amphitheater and out across the upper lawn area. Balloons in school colors floated over the crowd, and Gabe gave in to the moment and waved at everyone.

  When he got back to his seat, Gabe felt his pocket vibrate beneath the black gown he wore. He dug out his phone and found a text from Nick. His partner had caught the redeye home from his most recent competition to be there for Gabe’s graduation. He knew Nick must be tired, and it made the day that much more special to know Nick put forth such an effort in his support.

  u look hot! wat ru wearing under dat robe?

  Gabe couldn’t hold his laughter in and looked around to see if anyone gave him an evil eye. What he found almost made him laugh harder. Nearly every graduate had a phone or an iPod out and was doing something other than listening to the litany of names parading across the stage. Some of the girls around him were blowing bubbles and at least three beach balls flew over Gabe’s head, or maybe it was the same beach ball over and over.

  y dnt u cum dwn here nd find out, he typed back

  A few seconds later the phone buzzed again.

  u little tease. jus wait till I gt u home 2NITE

  Gabe smiled at the word home. He’d formally moved in with Nick the previous weekend.

  No teasing wld be if I told u dat I'm wearing ma favorite plug nd imaging it iz u.

  Gabe chuckled while he waited for the response to that little bomb. While so far, moving in with Nick was everything he’d dreamed of, Gabe had admitted to Nick that it was a little strange waking up and not seeing Phil’s face in another bed across the room. Or not hearing Dan and Dom’s voices in the kitchen as they made breakfast. When Nick had left for his meet, the apartment had been so quiet without the chatter from any other roommates to fill the space, Gabe had ended up turning on some music. There would be benefits to having only Nick as a roommate, besides the obvious. Gabe would have an easier time of studying in the more peaceful environment.

  On the phone the other day, Phil had confessed that he was having a hard time adjusting as well. His friend was leaving for a six-month trip to paint in Italy, funded by the sale of several of his pieces. It would be difficult not seeing Phil for six months, but such was life. Gabe’s phone shook and he looked down to find Nick’s response.

  OMFG r u really?

  U-L hav 2 wait nd c

  I sure hpe u used lots of lube B/C in a couple hours ur ass iz mine

  Promises…promises

  Gabe wiggled in his seat. Beneath his robe he straightened his cock, which had started to harden at an awkward angle. It was a good thing the voluminous covering disguised the result of his and Nick’s banter.

  A new text message popped up in the window from Lauren.

  I'm goin 2 tell mom & dad that UR sexting during ur graduation.

  Gabe snickered. Dnt look at me. I'm as innocent as the purely fallen snow

  Give me a fukin break. ur bf iz squirming lyk he has ants in his pants nd i definitely caught sme adjusting goin on.

  Stop ogling ma bf nd find ur own!

  AFTER the ceremony ended, Gabe and Nick decided to take a walk through the botanical garden on campus. They held hands as they strolled through the different continental regions. Gabe’s favorite was the Japanese exhibit with the waterfall and pond. They found a quiet little corner in the shade and sat in the cool grass.

  Gabe sat in front of Nick and leaned against Nick’s chest. “Thank you for coming today.”

  “Of course I came. This is a big day for you. I wouldn’t have missed it.”

  Gabe tilted his head back and kissed the underside of Nick’s jaw. “I know you must be tired. We can go home and take a nap together.”

  “As long as I get to hold my sweet prince in my arms, that’s all I’ll ever need.”

  “Love you, Nick.”

  “Love you, Gabriel.”

  Epilogue

  London 2012

  “OH MY God, this is so cool!” Gabe exclaimed.

  Nick stood behind Gabe, who’d plastered his body to the glass of the capsule of the London eye. They floated over the Thames, the city of London stretched out before them. It seemed to go on forever. The skyline was a series of cathedral spires, modern architecture, and flat roofs with chimney tops. Nick thought about that scene in Mary Poppins with the chimney sweeps. As impressive as the wide scope was, Nick’s eyes were drawn to the immediate vicinity, the golden Gothic facade of Parliament and the majestic rise of Big Ben. He could see the dome of St. Paul’s and the towers of Westminster Abbey.

  Nick and Gabe had been in London for three weeks, but with his schedule during the Olympics there’d been no time to play tourist. Now that the games were past, Nick felt as though he could relax and enjoy a very well-deserved vacation. He’d swum well and added a few more medals to his collection. It had been a little over a year since his public outing and much to his relief not much had changed. He continued to swim his races, and the endorsements and sponsors had stood behind him. Nick suspected that their continued support was due to the fact that he kept winning.

  Occasionally, Nick dealt with a snide comment from another swimmer or probing questions from a news reporter, but his and Gabe’s private lives had remained private for the most part. What had surprised Nick was the rise in his popularity with the public.

  He and Gabe had spent the past year planning this trip. They were scheduled to spend the next four months touring all of the United Kingdom and Western Europe. It would be partially a working vacation for Gabe, as he planned on doing some research for his dissertation. In fact, Gabe’s commitment to doing research had been the only reason his professors had let him take the extended leave from Berkeley.

  Nick had come up with the idea that they only stay in lodgings that were historic or had historic designs. After Gabe had picked his jaw up off the floor, he’d tackled Nick. The next several hours Nick had lain beneath Gabe and been thoroughly rewarded by his prince for the suggestion.

  Nick had moved out of the athletes’ village the day before, and then he and Gabe crossed town to check into their hotel opposite of Buckingham Palace. The wing they stayed in had a royal theme. The interior design was extremely opulent, as one would expect to find in a royal palace, and highlighted the lives of British monarchs through the ages. When they stepped into the corridor, Nick had sworn Gabe’s head spun on its axis trying to study everything.

  This morning, Gabe had woken Nick with sweet kisses followed by a blowjob that had sent Nick into the stratosphere. His partner had then turned his beguiling green eyes on Nick and begged to be taken out to explore the city.

  Nick snuggled up to Gabe and kissed the side of his throat. “Having fun, sweetheart?”

  “Are you kidding? This is amazing. Everything here is so much richer. Not money wise, but so complex and steeped in tradition. Ancient history right at our fingertips.”

  Gabe turned and put his arms around Nick’s neck. “Thank you... thank you… thank you.” He punct
uated each phrase with a kiss.

  Nick’s hands rested on Gabe’s hips. “I love seeing you so happy. If a little trip across the pond will put that kind of smile on your face, consider this half of the world our playground for the next fifty years.”

  “What do you mean put a smile on my face? I smile all the time.”

  “You have different smiles. There’s the ‘I finally found the answer buried in this massively thick book I’ve been searching for’ smile, and the ‘Phil said something outrageous but I can’t help but laugh’ smile. I have to say, up until now my favorite was the ‘I’ve been fucked senseless and now I’m blissed out on pleasure’ smile. I’d classify this smile as, ‘I’ve discovered a new world and I get to share it with the man I love’. Definitely one I hope to see the rest of our lives.

  Nick leaned down and kissed his prince. The soft chaste kiss lasted a few heartbeats. Afterward he turned Gabe around so they wouldn’t miss the sights below.

  When their capsule reached the unloading area, Nick took Gabe’s hand and exited their magical sightseeing bubble. “Are you ready for our next adventure?”

  Gabe pulled a piece of paper out of his back pocket and unfolded it. Nick looked down at the list they’d made of all the places they wanted to visit while in the city. Naturally most of them had some historic significance or other, but Gabe had agreed to toss in a few contemporary popular attractions.

  “Let’s go to the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs.” Gabe turned and smiled at Nick. “That way I get to hear about Druid, Viking, Roman, and Victorian history and you get to laugh hysterically as the undead make me scream like a little girl.”

  “It also means I get to hold you close in the dark tombs when you plead with me to save you from the evils held beneath the city.”

  “Assuming we survive, we can visit the HMS Belfast, which is conveniently moored east of the bridge. Then we can take a quick spin by All Hallows, and finish the day up with a tour of The Tower of London.”

  “We sure will get our money’s worth out of those passes you suggested.” Nick placed his hand on Gabe’s lower back to guide him toward the bus as it arrived at the stop. “Between the deferred costs of the admissions and travel, I’ve calculated that by day’s end we’ll have saved nineteen pounds each. That’s roughly sixty U.S. dollars.”

  Gabe looked back at Nick as he climbed the steps into the iconic red transporter. “I always look out for you, Nick.”

  Nick stepped up into the bus behind Gabe. “I know, sweetheart. Now remind me again what All Hallows is.”

  Gabe walked down the center aisle, talking over his shoulder. “All Hallows is the oldest church in the city. Founded in 675 A.D. That’s three hundred years before a single stone was laid for the Tower of London. There’s still a surviving arch from the original Saxon church, but the really awesome part is that back in the 1920s they discovered Roman pavement beneath that arch. You know what that means?”

  “The Romans used good cement?”

  “Yes, love, but even more significant, it’s evidence that there has been some form of active civilization in this spot for over two thousand years!”

  “And I bet you know exactly which Roman achieved such a feat,” Nick said, smiling.

  “Well, the Emperor Claudius began the campaign to conquer Britannia in 43 A.D.”

  Nick put his arm around Gabe’s shoulder and pulled him close. He placed a kiss on Gabe’s temple. “My little encyclopedia.”

  Gabe ducked his head and fiddled with the map in his hands. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound pretentious.”

  Nick squeezed Gabe closer and placed his lips against Gabe’s ear. “I think your intelligence is extremely sexy. I love listening to you talk about your passion for history almost as much as I love watching your tight body slice through the water during our workouts.”

  SEVERAL hours later, Nick had a hard time containing his laughter as Gabe shyly corrected their Yeoman Warder, who served as a tour guide, on a fact regarding the history behind the origin of the infamous Tower of London. He saw a couple fellow tourists roll their eyes at the perceived know-it-all American. Nick was about to come to his prince’s defense when another one of the beefeaters came up to their group.

  “Pardon, sir, but I couldn’t help to overhear you a moment ago. My thanks to you for setting my man straight. We’ve been telling this tale for several years, and yet no one has corrected us.”

  Gabe’s eyes went wide. “Oh, I mean no offense, sir. I don’t want you to think… that is… I only meant to help. It was a slight error. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn, I apologize.”

  Nick couldn’t stand the dejected sound of Gabe’s voice. He stepped up behind Gabe, placing his hand on his partner’s shoulder.

  Gabe gestured to their tour guide. “He’s told the tales of the Tower fantastically. Knowing the facts is one thing, but I’m actually learning quite a bit from him in how to relate the events to a group of people. I’m a doctoral student, specializing in ancient and medieval history. If it’s okay with you I’d like to take some of these tales back to the States with me to share with my classes.”

  “Young man, we’d be honored. I appreciate your thirst for knowledge and respect.”

  They returned to the tour, and when it was finished, Gabe was swarmed with other tourists who started engaging him in discussions and asking questions. Nick let Gabe enjoy the moment. He wandered a few feet away, always keeping Gabe within his sight, and stood against the trunk of a tree. The green canopy overhead diffused the late summer sun. It was going on four in the afternoon. The Tower grounds would close in thirty minutes, and most of the visitors had vacated the premises. Nick slipped his hand into his pocket and rubbed the small case inside. He saw the beefeater from before coming toward him.

  “The young man from earlier? He’s your partner?”

  “Yes.”

  “I recognize you, from watching the telly during the games. Six medals is quite a feat, congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  Nick looked up at the east wall and then back at the tour guide. “I was wondering if you would allow me a small favor?”

  “Depends. What sort of favor are you asking for?”

  Nick lifted the small box from his pocket and opened it. “Any way we could have a few moments alone on the east wall by the broad arrow tower?”

  The Warder smiled. “I think I can arrange that. Something special about that place? It was originally built by Henry III, and used as part of the garrison, you know.”

  Nick nodded. “Gabe told me. He… well, that is we…. He’s my prince and I’m his knight. I thought it would be appropriate.”

  Nick knew that beneath his tan he was actually blushing. But this was important and if it took a little bit of vulnerability and supplication to make his plans come to fruition, then he’d do it. Hell, he’d even be willing to pull the Olympic hero card to make his sweetheart’s dreams come true.

  “Follow me. I’ll get you set up and then send your man to you.”

  The Warder pulled one of the other guides aside and whispered in his ear. A huge smile spilt the other man’s face. He nodded and then headed in Gabe’s direction. Nick followed the Warder and they entered the one of the other buildings. Nick lost track of the different hallways they traipsed down.

  “Um, can I ask where we’re going? I thought the stairs to the walk were outside.”

  “They are, but first we must get you to your knighting ceremony.”

  Nick stopped in the middle of the hallway. “Huh?”

  “Trust me, you and your partner will love this.”

  Nick had no idea what the Warder was up to, but if it made the occasion all the more special for Gabe, Nick was willing to do anything. They eventually made it into what appeared to be a storage room. Nick’s eyes went wide at the display of full armor suits on display.

  No way! He can’t possibly mean….

  “Now, I believe your man said he was specializi
ng in medieval history.” He walked over to a suit arranged on a pedestal against the wall. “This particular getup dates to the year 1550. A little past the Middle Ages but quite impressive all the same.”

  Nick waved his hands. “No way! I couldn’t possibly. It’s too―”

  “Bloody hell, laddie. It’s a replica, not the real thingamagig. We use them for reenactments. Look at the size of this thing. It would swamp a man of that era. Back then most men topped out around five-foot-six.”

  Nick fell back against the wall, trying to recover from his near heart attack. He stared at the conglomeration of metal shields with hinged joints that would fit over his chest, abdomen, hips, and arms, a full head visor, metal gloves and plates for the legs. It was then that it really hit him. The Warder would turn Nick into an actual knight. He laughed and rubbed his hands together.

  “Let’s get started.”

  GABE didn’t know what was going on. One of the Yeoman Warders had offered to take him on a private tour of the towers. When Gabe had asked to wait until he could find Nick, the guide had told him that his partner would meet him in a little while. Gabe hadn’t agreed to follow the Beefeater until he got a text message from Nick saying to go ahead, everything was fine. The tour had been awesome. Gabe got to hear a lot more stories, and he was even taken to areas not open to the public.

  They’d made their way back to the entrance to the east walk, and the guide stopped.

  “I shall leave you here. It’s a lovely evening. May I suggest a stroll along the east walk?” He held out his arm to indicate the stairs.

  It was actually the one place he hadn’t visited yet that afternoon. Gabe entered the Salt Tower. He passed through the narrow arch and started to climb the extremely narrow stone steps of the tower. When he reached the upper chamber, Gabe traced the carvings on the wall left centuries ago by prisoners. The heartache, hopelessness, and in some cases, unwavering faith of their carvers leached from the stone even today. In his mind he was no longer Gabe Mason, doctoral student, he became Gabriel, Elizabethan supporter, trapped within the stone confines of this prison.