“I always forget this part,” Dee grumbled, pushing limp hair back from his forehead, only to have it flop back into place a moment later.

“Huh?” Ryo gathered his scattered braincells and frowned at his lover. Someone wasn’t making sense, but he didn’t think it was him. He could be wrong of course; his brain was about fried from the heat, making it hard to be sure about anything.

“It’s hot.”

“I know,” Ryo agreed. That much he WAS sure of.

“I spent all winter wishin’ for hot weather, and now it’s here, and it’s too much, ‘cause I forgot just how hot a New York summer can get. I’ve lived through thirty of ‘em, and it still takes me by surprise, every frickin’ year. I think I’m meltin’.”

“Same here. If I don’t get something to drink soon, I’m gonna die of thirst. I should’ve brought a bottle of water with me.”

Dee shook his head. “No good doin’ that, it’d be all warm and nasty by now, if it didn’t evaporate in the heat first.”

“Even warm water would be welcome right now. As long as it was still wet, I wouldn’t care.”

“I guess, but cold water would be better. And a bag of chips for the salt.” Dee pointed across the street. “Corner store! Told you there was one around here somewhere!”

“Is it open?” Ryo stepped off the curb and Dee pulled him back.

“Traffic! I know you’re thirsty, I am too, but gettin’ flattened won’t do either of us any good. ‘Sides, jaywalkin’ may not be a crime anymore, but cops should still set a good example. That’s what you’re always tellin’ me.” Dee steered his lover towards a pedestrian crossing. “Let’s get there in one piece, ‘kay?”

“As long as I get a drink.”

As soon as the lights were in their favor, they trudged across the street and into the store, making a beeline for the cabinet of cold drinks. Dee snagged a couple of bags of chips on the way past, they both grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the cabinet, then headed to the counter to pay.

“One thing’s for sure,” Ryo said as they left the store and leaned against a wall in the shade, sipping their water and munching chips.

“What’s that?”

“I’m driving to work tomorrow. Taking the subway in this weather is sheer torture.”


The End