Everything is Perfect

The Post-Religious Jitters

The front door swung open.

"Hey, I'm home."

Varian looked up from the couch he'd literally just sat down on. "Oh, Hugo! How was work?"

"Good. Hey, were those two women out there at the apartment? They looked like they were just leaving from here."

He considered him for a moment then groaned. "Ugh, yes. They left like maybe a minute ago. They came to see if I was going to church."

"Again?" He shed his coat and hung it up in the nearby closet. "Weren't those two men literally just over the other day?"

"Mm hm. I told you: church people are like sharks. But! You'll be glad to know, I told them off, like you said I should."

"Oh, for real?" He came and sat down beside him. "So, what happened? What'd you tell them?"

His cheeks grew hot. "Uh, let's just say there's no longer a question of if I'm a member or not. They shouldn't come around anymore. Honestly, I'd be surprised if they did." Once word spread to the church leaders that Varian was entertaining a gay relationship, they were likely to put him on the no-contact list and that would be that.

The surprised expression morphed into a grin. "Damn. No mercy, huh?" Varian grunted when he was put in a headlock. "That's great, Var! Really proud of you."

Struggling, he wriggled like a distressed cat in Hugo's arms. "Thanks. I'm flattered really. Please let me go. Hugo. Hugo!" He was released and Hugo patted him on the back. 

"Can't believe you really did it, and so soon too... Makes me look like a lil bitch in comparison, snoozing on the whole issue with my buddies."

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. I never would have even thought about saying what I did today a year ago. Being here, away from my family... I'm a lot braver." 

The soft punch to his arm made Varian smile. "Look at you. Being so confident. It looks good on you, Var."

He blushed, rubbing the back of his arm sheepishly. "So, uh, did you finally figure out what you want to do for your birthday today?"

"Mm!" His face lit up. "I sure did! There's this really nice gay bar I've always wanted to go to called: The PussyFoot Lounge. They're hosting a drag performance tonight too, which I've always wanted to see."

"Oh." Varian blinked back at him. "And you want me to come with?"

"Well, duh." He placed a hand on his knee; the touch adding butterflies to Varian's stomach. "You think I wanna go by myself on my birthday? 'Course you're invited. Er, unless you don't want to—"

"No, I do," he assured, "but, uh, don't you have to be gay to go to a gay bar?"

"What?" Hugo laughed. "You don't have to, but I don't see why that would— Oh." The humor quickly left his face. "I mean, I didn't mean to assume or anything. It's just..."

Varian hit him lightly on the arm. "Dude, I did admit to you about watching all that gay porn that one time... I like men, but I-I also like women, so am I really gay or..."

"Oh." Something clicked. "I see what you mean. Well, in the sense that you like men, I would say, yes, you're gay. If you also happen to like women, that doesn't make you any less so, at least, that's how I see it. Hey, if it makes you uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else."

"No, no way! This is your birthday, and we're gonna go to this thing! Seeing a drag show sounds amazing." He stood, turning to Hugo as he added, "When should we leave?"