Stuff Happens

Mike and Danny

by Rock Lane Cooper

Genres: M M Romance

online fiction

Reviews

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*
- Apt title indeed:-)


Danny has now been working as a teacher for two years, and is a good friend of his colleague Barry. In this story,there is finally some more interaction with the „outside“ world for Mike & Danny as a couple. Barry and his wife Priscilla invites Danny to a BBQ, and ask him to bring Mike. Suddenly it gets clear for Danny that other people might know about them.
This has not really played a big part in the earlier stories, but that it enters now of course mirrors what is happening in their lives. With only the two of them at the farm in their love-bubble, it was no wonder that they (or particularly Danny) managed to avoid thinking a lot about it. The only people they interacted with were also gay, or family. I loved how Danny is reflecting on his apprehension, it made sense:

”Look at it this way. It was 1971 and everybody knows there are no queers in Nebraska. Never have been, never will be. And I felt no resentment about this. Just a kind of safety in being invisible. I was used to it, and that was fine with me. Now suddenly, two people outside our scattered circle of friends were offering to treat us as more than that--a couple. It felt strange. Judging by my stampeding heart rate, you could say I was scared out of my socks.”

And my “Awww Danny”-moment:
”I'd realized at that moment what I was really afraid of--not just people knowing that I was having sex with this man, but that I loved him, too.”


Barry is the school councellor, and he asks Danny for advice regarding a male student who has a crush on his roommate. And like that, another lost sheep finds his way to Mike and Danny’s (more or less) welcoming arms. Again, Mike is this wonderful man who shows he can deal with anything coming his way, be it a broken engine, or a broken teenager.

Virgil, is a somewhat naive, innocent and lost young man, with no parents and living with his aunt. He has been in love with his friend, and now roommate Brian for a long time. Unfortunately, Brian suspects what Virgil feels, but does not reciprocate.
Through a brief stay with Danny & Mike, Virgil gets a first look at what two men together can be.
Heh, and poor Danny has to have another sex talk (he also had to do the honor for Kirk. Of course there he gave practical guidance as well...)

Danny telling Virgil about BJs:

”What if the other guy--you know,’ he said and made a gesture upward from his crotch that could also have described a skyrocket.
‘Well, you can swallow it,’ I said, ‘if you feel like it.’
‘No shit,’ he said. He fell backward on the bed like the amazement was too much for him. Then he sat bolt upright again, effortlessly. I thought he must have steel bands for abdominals.
‘What's it like?’ he wanted to know. "It must be unbelievable," he said, answering his own question. And he looked at me with an eager grin on his face, like he was fired up and ready to try out what he'd just learned.”

But Danny is not as forthcoming this time around, so Virgil will have to wait…
Luckily, he does not have to wait long. Kirk comes for a visit on his way to Don’s farm, where he occasionally works.

This is the point where the story really started to grip me, and it was an amazing, emotional, ride from here on. What I love with this series, is that it is like a break away from other romance stories Everything that happens, happens. There is no great drama, except for that of life. Everything feels so wonderfully realistic, which makes me feel even more for each and everyone of the growing circle of characters being introduced.
Kirk, who I always considered as a bit of a shit, is still a shit. Since dumping Rich, he doesn’t need anybody but himself, and the sexual encounters he has, he keeps brief and to the point.

”The guy probably wanted some help blowing his load, but Kirk had nothing to do with other men's cocks. He didn't care to touch them or get touched by them. Ever since he'd been big enough and strong enough to keep it from happening. Better to give than to receive, he liked to say with a wink..

I think this was hinted at in an earlier story, and it is confirmed here that Kirk has a pretty bad experience when hitchhiking with a not-very-nice truck driver.

Virgil decides spontaneously to come with Kirk to Don’s farm and work there for a while, to get away from anything to do with Brian.
And slowly, Kirk the loner starts feeling again, starts having more than a “wham bam thank you man”-attitude. Virgil is a virgin, and something about Virgil makes Kirk feel less threatened.

”That all seemed long enough ago now. And Virgil--goofy, trusting, still new to it all--he wouldn't hurt a fly. Hell, Kirk thought, he could keep his rules if he wanted. This time hardly even counted.”

But sadly, Virgil is not falling in love with Kirk. Instead, he stills thinks of Brian, and goddammit, but I felt so bad for Kirk. I don’t care that he wasn’t himself very loving towards Rich….

Virgil: “Lying in bed with a naked man, he thought, drained and so tired he could not keep his eyes open, skin against skin, sticky with cum--this had to be the best of everything possible.
Except for one thing. The other guy wasn't Brian.

And where Kirk is breaking all his rules (i.e. receiving instead of taking) Virgil is instead slowly starting to have second thoughts.


"Yeah, in a couple places."
"You'll get used to it," Kirk said. "You still got some catching up."
Virgil looked at him and wondered if that was what he truly wanted. Experience seemed to take a toll. Innocence, he knew, was its own burden, but maybe it was OK to put off knowing some things.

In the end, Virgil decides to go back to college, This was somewhat sad, but at the same time the ending was very satisfying, Through meeting Virgil, Kirk finally developed a bit, and opened up for emotions he has buried deep inside. Kirk actually hooks up with a divorced guy, Owen, in a drunken attempt to stop thinking about Virgil, and Owen seems much more Kirk’s type:-).

Kirk’s interactions with Owen were so different from how Kirk was in the beginning of this story, so I have hope for him meeting someone he can feel truly comfortable with, even though he is a self-proclaimed loner. And I really hope Owen, yet another fascinating man, will return.

Again, this story deals with unrequited love in such a moving way, I find myself crying. Not a big bawl mind, just this silent, gentle tearing up, as is also fitting to this “saga” about men wanting to find what is missing in their lives and hearts.

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was mad because Kirk hurt Rich and I should be happy that Virgil left him. But damn it I'm not. I feel bad for Kirk because he truly cares about Virgil.