An Advent Calendar - 6. Door#6 - To Fly

To Fly

“Is this really okay?”

“I’m fine, Anna.” Cameron smiled at his sister. He could see she was itching to be with her friends.

“You’re warm?”

Cameron patted the reflective blanket he had draped over his knees, then lifted the to-go mug with hot cocoa. “I’m good.”

“And you won’t get bored?”

“Jesus, Anna. You’re worse than Mom. Go!” He winked at her. “Show off your fine ass in those new jeans.”

“Cam!” Putting her fists on her hips, she pretended to be scandalized, but then she laughed and wiggled her butt. “Fine ass indeed!” She quickly bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek, then waddled off to the rink on her skates, where she immediately huddled with her girlfriends. Some boys called Anna’s name and made kissy faces when she looked up. The girls giggled, then promptly turned their backs to them, feigning disinterest. Seeing this, Cam rolled his eyes and grinned. Girls.

Fifteen minutes later, when Cameron was sure Anna was properly distracted, he wheeled his chair over to the second rink where his school’s ice hockey team was practicing. This was why he had agreed to accompany Anna: to watch them chasing each other over the ice, hunting for the puck at breakneck speed. As always, it was only a matter of time until his gaze was glued to the tall figure of Ben Miller. He was by far the fastest player on the team despite his size, and when he pumped his fist in the air, whooping loudly after he scored once again, Cameron’s heart beat wildly in his chest.

This was when Cameron imagined himself racing over infinite ice, with Ben behind him, pushing him. Wind in their hair, they would go faster and faster, and as their eyes teared up from the cold air, he would spread his arms and yell at the top of his lungs. He would fly.

After practice, some of the players went over to the public rink and mixed with the skaters. They grabbed squealing girls by their hips and sped them over the ice, stealing kisses at the end. But never Ben. He always smiled at Cam and then disappeared into the locker room.

Cam was making his way back so Anna wouldn’t notice he was missing, when he heard hasty steps behind him. “Cam! Wait!” He turned around and saw Ben running toward him, a large sports bag bouncing against his side. With his face flushed red, he pointed at the concession stand. “Wanna have a hot cocoa with me? I believe they even have those tiny marshmallows.”

***

“Where are we going?”

Shaking his head, Ben looked into the rearview mirror and, when he spotted a gap, pulled the car from the curb into the traffic. “Nu-uh. It’s a secret.”

Cameron wheedled. “Come on. Gimme at least a hint.”

“Nope. As a matter of fact, I want you to close your eyes and put some headphones on.” He grinned when his boyfriend grumbled, but still pulled out his phone and put the little blue knobs into his ears. After closing his eyes, Cam muttered, “This better be good.” And after a short pause, “And doesn’t take long.”

Ben couldn’t stop looking at Cam, now that he wasn’t aware of it. Wearing a purple slouch beanie over tousled black curls, his lips in full pouting mode, dark eyebrows pulled together in a frown, he was beautiful. Even though he wore thick, interlined pants, they couldn’t hide his thin legs, which were in stark contrast to his strong arms and upper body, a testament of having to sit in a wheelchair or walking with the help of crutches. Ben would always think of the day when he finally grabbed his heart in both his hands and asked Cam out to drink cocoa after training, as their first date. For the last four years, the younger man had become his world and when one drunken night Cam had confessed his dream, Ben had known he would do everything he could to grant Cam his greatest wish. Now, finally the time had come. Today he would make him fly.

Ben slowed down the car. “Keep your eyes closed, birthday boy.” When Cam didn’t react, Ben rolled his eyes at his own stupidity, before he pulled out one of Cam’s earbuds and repeated his words.

“Yeah, yeah. Just hurry with whatever we’re doing,” Cam mock-grumbled. Ben grinned, because he knew in reality Cam loved every minute of this.

After he got the wheelchair out and unfolded it, he brought it over to the passenger door, opened it, and took Cam’s hand to place it on the armrest. Amazed, he watched Cam glide into it with practiced ease. Ben grabbed his backpack and the birthday gift and then pushed Cam along a steep, bumpy path to the bank of the lake.

“Goddamn, Ben! Where the hell are we?” Luckily though, Cam’s eyes were still firmly closed.

Ben couldn’t help the warmth he felt at his boyfriend’s trust. He bent down and nipped at his earlobe. ”Soon.”

When they reached the bank of the lake, he put his finger on his lips to shush their friends and family, who were already waiting for them, covered in warm jackets and coats, holding colorful, wrapped gifts in their hands. There was even a cake.

He pushed the chair over a small ramp his brother had built right onto the ice, then put the metal contraption he had been carrying along on the ground. Carefully, he maneuvered the chair into it and then two metallic clanks sounded over the lake. Ben sat down on a boulder and quickly put his skates on, anxiously watching Cam, who was visibly impatient now. He glided over to him and grabbed the chair’s handles, just when Cam pulled out his earphones. “Ben! I’m opening my eyes now.”

“Do it, baby!” Then Ben took up speed. He knew exactly when Cam’s eyes were open.

“Oh my God! Ben! OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod! We’re on the ice!” And seconds later, “Everyone is here!”

Ben grinned. “Surprise!” He cruised around leisurely before he stopped and opened his backpack. “I’m going to put a helmet on your head now, Cam, and fasten a seatbelt.”

Blue eyes stared at him knowingly. “Ben?”

“That’s right, baby. We’re gonna fly now.” Ben curled his hands around the handles, and then sped up. The lake was large, and the ice acceptable even; he had tested it several times. His heart still beat like crazy when the wind tugged at their hair and their eyes started tearing.

Cam whooped and laughed the whole time. As he said he would, he spread his arms, pretending to fly. When they finally stopped in the middle of the lake, his eyes were glistening with tears of joy.

“Ben! How did you do this?”

Ben skated around Cam until he was in front of him. “It’s called an ice-glider. Originally, I planned to build something like this for you with my buddy Frankie, but then I found this on the Internet, already tested and fairly safe. It comes from Switzerland.” He kneeled down and took Cam’s face into his hands. “I knew this has been your greatest wish for such a long time. I could finally make it come true for you.” Then he searched for cold lips and kissed them warm. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“I can’t believe it. You really made me fly.” Cam threw his arms around Ben’s neck and pressed their foreheads together. “I love you so much.”

They stayed like this for several minutes, then Ben took in a deep breath. “Of course, I have your usual gift as well.” He pulled a stuffed Santa from his coat pocket. “Your yearly Christmas tree ornament.” He watched Cam take it from his hand. “Wanna share a tree with me this year?”

“W-what?”

Ben looked pointedly at the little ornament and knew exactly when Cam noticed the ring Santa was holding in his hands.

“Shit!”

Ben blinked a moment, then grinned. “Marry me?”

Cam slapped a hand over his mouth. “B—“

Ben shook his head, not letting him finish the word. “No more buts. We already discussed all of them to exhaustion. All I want to hear right now is yes,” he swallowed visibly, “or no.”

Cam stared at him with watery eyes. Ben was right; he had checked the boxes of Cam’s every ‘but’ many times over. Looking at the man watching him with an anxious expression, he finally understood that true flying meant leaving the security of solid ground and spreading his wings. Ben was the wind that was carrying him. Before Cam knew it, he whispered, “Yes.”

Ben hesitated only seconds, before he ripped the ring from Santa’s hands and put it on Cam’s finger. Then he yelled across the lake, “He said yes!” And the loud cheering from their family and friends answered him.

Thank you for reading what's behind Door#6! Today we're making it a seeeecret again.   Who wrote it? Thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Please, share them with us here, or at the story thread.
Oh, and it's St. Nicholas Day around here. I polished my boots last night, and guess what? I found something nice and chocolaty this morning. :D