Chapter Text
September 20, 1981
“Jesus Christ, Whizzer,” Marvin says, teary-eyed. “You can’t just leave me here.”
Whizzer smiles, a devastating, wonderful smile. The smile that Marvin hates so damn much, but would give anything to see.
“Death is a fickle friend, darling.”
“I’m not letting you leave me here.”
“You can’t control everything, Marvin.”
“I can try.”
Marvin looks at Whizzer, his Whizzer, in the hospital bed. Pale under the fluorescent lights. The shorter of the two had always believed in God, like any good Jew. But how could there be any higher power causing Whizzer to end up like this? Whizzer, who had been the only one out of a thousand other men his son would allow? Whizzer, who loved his cat like a family member? Whizzer, who wouldn’t kill a fly because, “what if it has a family at home?”
A silence settles upon the room. A heavy, suffocating silence, filled with words that will stay forever unsaid.
Finally, Whizzer speaks. “Marvin…I’ll love you forever and always.”
“I’ll love you until the stars burn in the sky.”
Dr. Charlotte walks into the sterile hospital room, then starts to back out again after seeing Marvin and Whizzer clearly sharing an emotional moment.
“Should I…come back later?” Dr. Charlotte asks.
Marvin laughs awkwardly. “Uh, no! No need to do that. Do you have any good news for us, Char?”
The dark-haired doctor sighs. “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
Marvin says, “the bad news” as Whizzer says, “the good news”. They look at each other, and Marvin nods at his lover.
“The good news.” Whizzer says, still holding onto Marvin.
“The good news is that your health seems to be improving. You’ll probably be able to return to normalcy soon.”
“And the bad news…” Marvin prompts as Whizzer inhales sharply, eyes wide. Marvin is absolutely ecstatic inside that Whizzer is no longer in immediate danger of death, but determined to stay stoic, to not let anyone know that he cares. He cares so much about Whizzer, more than he should, more than is safe for a person like him. A person who pushes everyone away in the end.
“The bad news is that Whizzer will be weak for maybe a year after he gets discharged.” Charlotte says, reading off of her clipboard.
“Marvin! I’m gonna be okay!” Whizzer wraps his arms around Marvin, jumping into his lap and kissing him furiously. Marvin, shocked, reciprocates the kiss with equal ferocity after a minute, squeezing Whizzer in a hug. Dr. Charlotte awkwardly stands in the doorway, witnessing a scene clearly meant for behind closed doors and under bedsheets.
“Um. Whizzer? Marvin? As much as I’m glad that Whizzer is getting better, and that you two are still as…passionate….as ever…I’m still here, and Whizzer is still weak. Be careful with him, Marvin.”
Whizzer would normally be outraged at such a statement. Marvin being careful with him? Like he was some kind of doll? But the elation lasts, and he nods. Absolutely nothing could have put a damper on his mood at that moment.
“Whizzer still needs to stay in the hospital for another week. After that, you two can go home. But you’re sleeping in separate beds,” Dr. Charlotte glares at them. “Whizzer won’t be able to participate in any strenuous activities for a while, and I don’t trust you two in the same bed together. Doctors’ orders.”
Despite their promises of chastity, Charlotte won’t take no for an answer, and it doesn’t bother the pair that much. Marvin is just happy to have his Whizzer back. And Whizzer is so sick of hospital food he would kill to get out of that godforsaken place.
After the doctor leaves, Marvin cups Whizzer’s face in his hands.
“I have never been more happy in my entire life.” He says, tears in his eyes.
“I could say the same for myself.” Whizzer responds.
And they’re kissing, and Marvin doesn’t normally believe in fairy-tale endings, but for that moment, in their sealed-off bubble in that hospital bed, he thinks that everything will be alright with Whizzer, with his Prince Charming by his side.