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Asa liked trains, and Anthony liked Asa – which was fortunate, since they were married – so that was the mode of transport they used to travel from London to Newcastle.
Anthony had been there already quite recently, giving a talk on ‘Understanding The Sun’ at Newcastle University (unfortunately the title had caused some confusion, and his audience had consisted mainly of media studies students eager for insights into the world of tabloid newspapers.) So he’d been able to scout out the place to ensure his angel would have a wonderful experience in the North.
“Why eye pet?” Asa enunciated now, in beautiful Received Pronunciation. He had reached the ‘Dialect’ chapter of the Visitors Guide that Anthony had bought him.
“Angel, please don’t ever say that again.”
“But when in Rome, Anthony–”
“When we were in Rome you took me to an oyster bar and insisted on speaking dreadful Italian from a phrasebook even though all the waiters spoke English.”
They sat in sullen silence a while, but Asa’s irrepressible enthusiasm didn’t allow him to remain quiet for long. By the time they reached their destination he was happily burbling away, complimenting passengers in their now-packed carriage on their colourful outfits and fabulous make-up. The two of them hung back a little to allow the train to spew its excited and youthful contents before disembarking, and he hustled Anthony gently into a quiet corner of the station.
“Are you quite all right? I know it’s your first Pride.”
Anthony grunted. “’s fine. Just – y’know. All those teenagers in rainbow leggings on the train. Dunno if we’ll fit in.”
Asa rummaged in his satchel and produced a copy of a ‘queer zine’ he’d bought from one of the youths on the train while Anthony was staring out the window. He held up the front page, which said in bold lettering: PRIDE IS FOR EVERYONE.
“It doesn’t say ‘everyone except Asa and Anthony’, does it? I do believe we are included.”
Anthony gave an uncertain nod.
“And don’t worry, I’ll protect you from any scary Northern fellows that want trouble.”
Anthony gaped at him. “Unbelievable!” He offered his arm, which Asa took. “One, I’ve told you, the entire world North of Peterborough isn’t populated by angry hooligans.” They headed for the ticket barriers, and then out onto the street where loud bebop could be heard playing a few streets away. “Two, I would be the one to protect you from– stop grinning, I’m being serious…”
* * *
“Do you love somebody?” The lead singer of Killer Kweens shouted from the stage.
“Yes,” Asa replied, nodding sincerely.
“I said, Do! You! Love! Somebodyyyyy!” she hollered.
“Yeah!” the audience screamed in response. Several of the young couples around them began snogging.
Asa and Anthony exchanged glances. “You know,” Asa said, “I’ve always thought, since we didn’t meet til we were already middle-aged, that–”
“At least we never embarrassed ourselves together like this lot?” Anthony chuckled. “Yeah, I was thinking that too.”
The sad ‘Oh,’ from Asa, barely audible above the band launching into their rendition of ‘Somebody To Love’, told him that perhaps that hadn’t been what Asa was thinking at all.
The plaintive look in those beautiful blue eyes confirmed his suspicion.
He gathered Asa into his arms, and bowed his head down so their noses touched. They gazed fondly at one another for a moment, then he shifted again so that Asa’s warm, tender lips were pressed against his.
He felt Asa’s satisfied sighs resonate through him as they kissed. His husband was tender at first, but then a spark seemed to light in him and he pressed his tongue inside Anthony’s mouth, exploring him with a fiercer passion than they’d shared for a long time.
When they parted lips to draw breath, Anthony murmured into his husband’s ear, “Your love for me – our love – it’s… it’s…”
Asa understood. It was hard to put into words. In fact, there was only one word he could think of, which somehow felt right.
“Ineffable?”