Been reading here.  Lots of memories come back. I grew up near the city of |EDITED|.  You had to be tough - to survive.  it was no "Hell's Kitchen", but the zip code wasn't 90120 either (More like 911-20).  Far as I could figure - I musta been dropped on my head when I was a kid.  Everything worked - mouth & fists - & often as a team.  Problem was, I was all about my buddies.  Once I decided you were my friend, I wasn't afraid of noth'n or nobody to keep you safe.  Shit talk was disrespect & I didn't take any.  Could you believe I had a reputation that tended toward violence?  Me neither...

To this day - I think I had the attitude because my old man - he'd back me.  He just assumed I was right & operated as if that was true until it proved otherwise.  If it ever proved otherwise - & it did a couple of times - it wasn't pretty.  Kick the piss out of me while crying his eyes out.  I didn't know what hurt worse - his fists or the fact I'd hurt his feelings by betraying his trust that I'd do the right thing - always.

When I was 10 years old - I'll never forget it - Dad went on unemployment because he kicked the snot out of his boss.  Turned out his friend Tony had been shit-canned from the job.  I didn't figure it out at the time - why the boss had a problem with Tony's roommate (nice guy named Hank), - but the story goes that the boss caught wind of the fact their apartment was a little small for 2 men to share in the normal sense -& gave Tony a pink slip.  In those days, the unions didn't have noth'n in writ'n about thit kinda stuff (not that I knew at the time what that stuff even was).  Turns out that dad knew Tony & Hank real good & when he found out, it hit the fan in the boss's office.  Dad didn't come home for 3 days because it took that long for mum to get "bail". 

Mum - she was a ticket alright.  From the bad side of town - she never had noth'n.  Got her GED when she was 20 - only because she met dad when she was 18.  She always swore that dad was the best thing that ever had happened to her & always said that you could take her stuff & she be happy if all she had was him (& me).  She never had eyes for another guy & when things got tough - mum stuck by dad.  Sure - they'd argue - sometimes loud.  Dad put plenty of holes in the sheetrock while he was pissed, - but never hit mum.  They luved each other second to nuth'n else & would crawl through busted glass on all fours to bail the other out of life's miseries if need be.  Sometimes I wondered if they were the same person - just in different bodies.

By the time I was 13, I knew pretty much what it was OK to open a can of whoopass on someone & dad would back me.  13 was the age that dad found the mag with naked dude photo's in it under my mattress.  He never said a word.  How I found out that he knew was that one occasion when I reached for the mag - there was a book on ancient Greek art there.  I'll never forget that feel'n of knowing I'd been busted scoping nude dudes.  That weight in the pit of my stomach began to lift though as I went through that book & looked at the pictures - lots of them of young guys being close & tender on other guys.  Sometimes it was putting on or taking off armor - or bandaging some sort of battle wound.  Some of the stuff was thousands of years old.  Then I read about General Alexander the Great & his best friend & lover Hephaestion.  What I read & saw showed me a picture of men - who gave everything to their fellow men - & didn't give up being men or become a bunch of pussies (fags, queers, fems, drag-queens - pick an insult).  Richard Simmons they weren't.  What was totally obvious was that the entire "gay pride" thing I saw on TV was majorly phuck'd up.  I can't visualize any of those Greek dudes having anything to do with that display.  What they had was totally phuck'n personal & like a sacred bond with other dudes - not some special "orientation" they needed to flaunt.  Oh - & of all the art I scoped - not one couple of Greek guys was doing the butt-nasty.  That's all a dude would need - to get Chlamydia or worse because his cock had been up another guy's chute.  That would be quite an army - a bunch of dudes who took more time to piss than a woman because everything burrned com'n out.  Even I figured out that the ass play that was so "gay" was not in these Greek's vocabulary.  It wasn't in mine either & it wasn't gonna be.  That book was my old man's way of letting me know that I could be a man who happened to be warm on other men - without needing to become a butt-slut or any other freak I saw on TV who claimed to be "gay". 

Dad's new job had him taking home more money (A friend of Hank ended up hiring him).  Anyhow - dad got this home gym that took up lots of floor space.  He & mom had it out.  They finally reached an agreement that we could keep it if Dad bought a house with a basement to put it in.  15 months later, we had our house & I had a new school. It was tough leaving my old School - but I'd still be able to hang with my friends from time to time.  My Jr. year began really well.  I found out when tryouts were & ended up hook'n up with some pretty great guys.  Managed to get into one good fight every away game it seemed.  They just liked to push my buttons & I pushed back.  Hey - it was a contact sport.  So we made some more contact after the game!  Soon, I had this group of guys who knew I'd cover their backs & open numerous cans of whoopass if people crossed us.  It came right back at me & we were like this clique - I guess you could call it - of guys who'd do anything for each other & the only thing that could hurt us - was each other.  Things were going great - except English.  I was having a hard time with some of the literature shat they were making us read.  I HATE Shakespeare - to this day I HATE that puss pad.  But, I had to pass it so I asked guidance for help.  Turns out, one of my team-mates was an A- average. 

Axe (Real name: Alex Meltaris) was a real quiet guy.  Yeah - he'd get roudy - but never as loud as the rest of us. Anyway - turns out he had a brain & stuff.  I hooked up with him after practice & asked him if he'd let me borrow his nerd decoder ring - & if not - if he could show me how to understand how to Shake my Speare.   He lived 3 blocks away so we decided to hook up over the weekend & a movie (all on me) & he's save my illiterate arse.  When I showed up at his place, his mom led me to his room where he was in some obviously deep thought as he leaned back on his seat with his legs propped up on his Yamaha keyboard.  There was a big beanbag chair right behind him & I couldn't resist the temptation to knock him off his high chair & stuff the bean bag with him - just as a friendly way to say "hello".  It totally shocked the snot out of him for a second & then he was one big laughing grin - ear to ear as we fought for position on the beanbag.  His mom shut the bedroom door behind us (because of all the racket) & Axe & I just went at it for a good 15-20 minutes until we were all worn out.  The guy had a really well developed body - but there was something about the way he moved & the expressions that crossed his face that I thought were totally phuck'n ballsy.  Oh, & he'd say shit - jok'n around that was like a total kick in the balls - but funny (big time funny) in his own way - but if you weren't think'n, you'd totally miss the jab.  Oh ... and impressions.  The guy could do impressions - of almost anyone & do them good.  He did it at home - but never at school.  He was talking about coach & began to do an impression & I was laughing so hard I almost broke a blood vessel or something.  My laugh'n like that busted him up & he'd lose it & have to compose himself to continue.  Axe was the deep, quiet guy who - for whatever reason - I could make come out of his shell.  And make him I did.

Well, hanging out with Axe that weekend attached me to him emotionally - big time.  I made way for him at lunch so we could sit together & on the bus - when we went to away games.  I always watched him out of the corner of my eye.  Oh, and I goaded him into doing impressions at school.  I could write a book in itself in the turmoil we eventually caused with that talent of his.  I think I figured out that I had made some progress just that weekend while we were going over a sonnet in English that Friday.  The question was: What does this sonnet say? 

I read the thing about 10 times over 5 minutes.  It just didn't make sense...unless...unless...

"So what do you think it means, Mr. Capone?", the teacher's gaze fell on me.  At least he'd used my nickname I gotten for my reputation of being a "not to be trifled with guy of Italian heritage".   I focused on it.

"It's a joke - kick in the crotch...", I replied.  You could have heard a pin drop.

"Quite right.", teach replied.  "Why?"

"Because he's using poetry to describe, eh, someone who's not the kind of person who you'd write a sonnet about.  Just the opposite, actually.", I continued.  Even Axe was impressed.

"And who do you think this opposite kind of person is, Mr. Capone?"

I hesitated.  "I think he's writing about a black guy.", I concluded.  The class was in hysterics.  People were laughing so hard they were crying.  One guy fell out of his chair.  Almost everyone thought it was a joke.  Almost everyone.  Axe wasn't laughing & neither was the prof.

The teacher waited for the laughter to die down.  "Analyze it outloud, Mr. Capone", he asked.

"Well.  Axe showed me where Shakespeare likes working with opposites.  When it dawned on me that he was making a joke out of the sonnet as a form itself, I reasoned that - why would he be content to stop by using a black chick as the object of affection?  As you read through it - he describes someone who lacks all feminine traits of his day: Dark eyes instead of blue, pale lips not red, dark breasts - meaning they're not there, dark coarse hair, no red in the cheeks, no purfume, gravel voice, & this person walks like a man.  Finally, in the last verse - he lays it in the open by saying that he's using false comparisons.  Mistress is a Mister."  More laughing erupted - but not nearly as much.

"Mr. Capone.", prof began, "I take back almost all of what I ever thought about you. Your take on this sonnet shows a level of thinking that I have yet to see - until today in this class.  It's ironic that you'd pick up on such irony ... but maybe that's the sort of gift your own wit has provided you with.  Up until today, I wondered if I might not be seeing you again next year.  Your answer - on par with some grad school English students - has just moved your grade up two letters."

"Yooo hoooo!", I shouted as I stood on my desk in triumph.  The class was shocked.  I'd been right!  Axe was beaming.

After class, I hooked up with Axe & high-5'd him.  "Hook up this weekend Bro!". 

"Gotta be at my place - parents need me to watch the house while they're away.", he responded.  His answer was music to my ears.  Alone with Axe all weekend...  My imagination was beginning to wrap up in that already."

The week went great.  We won every game we had.  I got a C+ on the English exam; - & Axe was beginning to open up some around me as I egged him on.  Watching that smile cross his face as people around him busted out laughing at one of his impressions made me feel good.  Friday couldn't have come soon enough.  We had an away game.  We whooped 'em.  We left there late & had a 2 hour bus ride ahead of us.  At least we got to use the away site's facilities to shower before hitting the bus.  It was fall & the nights were getting colder.  I had a fall breaker packed in my bag.  The heater on the bus worked like shit - so about 10 minutes into the ride, coach told everyone to make sure all the windows were up tight because it was gonna be a cold one.  Axe was sitting with me up back & I took my coat off - real casual like - while nobody was watching (it was dark too), & I put it over me & once it was part way over Axe, I reached under it & tugged him toward me some - so he'd get the 'hint'.  I got him pulled right up against me - sideways so his legs went across the aisle some & his feet rested on the edge of the seat across that aisle.  I tucked one side of the coat in between me & the inside wall of the bus's interior & Axe had the other side around him pushed into the seat behind his left arm.  His upper body was laid part way across me - the back of his head supported by my neck & collar-bone.  I turned a little bit to my left so I could get my left arm around him.  He cuddled into my hug casually & locked my arm around him by placing his right hand on my forearm.  Another 15 minutes passed & I could see my breath in the dim light & people began to complain about the cold & whine at the driver as to why there was almost no heat.  My legs have been warmer, but from the groin up & I was warm beyond words.  I felt an awesome connection to my bud Axe & his big bag of muscles that we had lean'n against mine. 

About 40 minutes into the ride, I felt his body relax completely as he drifted to sleep.  Like a sentry, I kept one eye open on traffic, on the driver & on everything else that might possible present an 'issue' as my bud slept in my hug.  I liked the feel of his heart beat & breathing as the life moved thru him.  He was warm & firm & pliable & his hand on my arm felt - amazing.  Every so often, he'd move his head on my shoulder a little - pushing up against me & into my collar area as he slept.  A few of the guys noticed Axe & me snuggled up & I caught a few comments whispered between them such as, "Say that a little louder & you'll probably be a stain on the school grounds Monday.", & "Dare you to say that to his face!", - but my favorite was: "What, are you jealous?  Grow up!".

When we got within a mile Axe's place, I gently shook him awake.  He seemed to come-to fast enough.  A couple of minutes later, we were off the bus & inside his house.  We stored our gear in his closet & made a couple of TV dinners (each).  We were each pretty tired - so we didn't talk as much as usual.  We secured the house & Axe shut down the main lights. 

"Where did you want me to crash?", I asked - almost fearing the answer would be anyplace other than his room.

"Sleep in my room.  I've got one of those beds with the air pressure control on each side of the mattress.  That way, you can get a good night's sleep...", He responded almost needing to explain the air pressure thing in such a way as to dispel any concerns I'd have about sleep'n with a dude,  "Besides, I don't snore.", he continued with a smile.

"I know you don't.", I continued - letting him know that I'd noted that fact on the bus ride home.  

"I've never been asleep with you...", he replied with a brief wink.  A wink!  My mind got turning.  If he wasn't asleep, then all that getting relaxed & collapsing into me.  What was all the snuggling his face into my collar about them?  My heart started beating faster - continuously.

We went into his room.  He vanished into the bath talking about brushing his teeth.  I called "next", even thought there were only the 2 of us.  He came out in just a night robe & flipped on the TV.  I went into the bathroom & scrubbed my choppers, & borrowed some of his mouthwash.  Walking back into the bedroom, the main light was off & the TV dimly lit the room from it's almost totally blue screen - satellite menu.  Sitting on the bed - totally in the raw, Axe was smiling at me.

"I sleep in the nude, bro ... Hate to get dirt & stuff in my bed.  Hope that's OK?", he asked in a real humble tone.

Then I totally lied: "Man, I'm glad.  I hate sleeping with any clothes on.  Have since I was a kid..."  My heart was running laps & I was just standing there - playing it kewl. 

"Nothing on TV tonite...I think I'm just gonna go to bed.  You?", he spoke.

"Yeah ... I'm beat...", I responded.

I walked to the far side of the bed & back to - I stripped to the raw & without turning all the way around, I pulled the blankets back.  He slid in & relaxed into his 'air setting'".

He turned the TV off as I slid into the sheets ... wait .. half way into the sheet. I kicked my feet some & then realized: This guy had shortsheeted my half of the bed.  "Why you dirty dog...", I began; - & as I did, Axe began to laugh.  There I was - buck naked & was gonna have to remake my half of the bed.

I got an idea.  "That's it ... I'm sleep'n on your side of this boat of a bed!", I announced as I lunged for Axe in the dark.  The room wasn't pitch black - so I could make out some shapes.  I guessed well & ended up with his arm pinned up over his head as I slid my right leg across his lower bod to hold him down.  He struggled some - but he was laughing too hard to really resist.  I could make out his general outline in the dark & see where that hair of his had fallen away from his face some.  His body was warm & he was not struggling for very long.  It was then I could feel something warm & firm pushing into the back of my right hamstring.  Being a guy, I knew what it was.  I relaxed my grip on his left arm & brought my face a little bit closer to his - as I slid my whole body across his so that he could feel that I was not completely 'soft' either.

"Any objections to me sleeping here?  Right here?", I prodded.

"I kinda like the feel of the weight...", Axe swallowed hard. 

Without a second thought, & reached around & pulled the covers up over us - as I slid down some - resting my knees in the space between his separated legs.  My cock'n balls docked right up against his hardness.  Meanwhile, he fluffed a pillow & put it on his left pec & shoulder - as I brought my head down beside his onto that pillow.  I was hesitant about letting all my weight down - but he wrapped his arms around me & told me to relax into him.  I felt his strong feet & ankles slide up over each of my ankles as he wrapped himself up in me.  I relaxed into him & a strong throb hardened my luv tool. 

Alex whispered, "Hey, do you know who Hephaestion was?".

At his question, the warmest invisible cords of love, respect & a common bond shot through my ribcage to his heart - reeling me into his soul."

"Alexander, ... I AM your Hephaestion...", I whispered in reply...

At that, Alex pulled me a little tighter & I felt his warm lips slowly crush into my jaw line below my right ear.

The position had moved his left ear inches from my mouth & I whispered, "and I would be willing to die for you.".  After saying the words, I backed my head away some to lock my gaze with his.  What I saw were his thickly browed eyes locked with mine in an intense gaze that gradually became 2 shallow pools of tears that drained over the outer corner of each - as his hands gently moved up to my neck.  As they reached it, they pulled my head down & Alex turned his head slightly to allow our lips to soft-dock.  As they met, he closed his eyes & pushed out the growing well of moisture in the form of 2 large tears that streamed out over his temples. 

The feel of his strong body against mine & the way his responses to my words broke him to tears in front of me - another guy ... I realized that I had the most valuable thing in all of creation -- right here in my hug. 

"Be mine...", I whispered.

His warm & intense gaze projected his words as he spoke, "And mine..."

"Until the end...", I answered.

"Until.", Alex confirmed.

As I slid my face beside his & rested my head on the pillow I had set earlier - the pressure that had been building in our groins began to get more intense as our luv-shafts encouraged each other in an increasing measure.  We each gave soft vocalizations to each quick little twitch & movement - as we intimately anticipated the feel of the other getting closer to that moment of each being what men are known as men for doing. 

Soon, Axe began to groan steadily as I felt his hardness grow to it's fullness.  His back began to arch some & the process slid his anxious fullness against mine.  The feel of my soulmate in his condition was an intoxicating luv potion that caused my balls to fill & cock to stiffen as I spit out a sigh - & then a long whispered groan as our luv-sticks rhythmically throbbed & attested - in a signature of melded manseed - the confirmation that Axe & I were now a joined as single-heart inhabiting 2 bodies.

So this was love's fullness - in mind, body & soul...  The intenseness of the process forced the water from my eyes as if I had seen the face of God, and been struck with a revelation of awesome-beauty that is too holy for a mind to know & live long afterward. 

The part of the event that sticks-out in my mind was not that feeling of the gush of warm mess exploding out of the end of my seizuring dick.  No ... what made this cumming different from all other times - was the incredible depth of feeling & the unbreakable connection I now had inside my core - for 'my Axe'.  I was completely vulnerable in a new place.  My emotions extended to him.  His pain was now mine & I would revel in the things that filled him with joy.  So this was love's fullness - in mind, soul & heart...  Who could have thought up such a thing!  Indeed ... WHO!

Axe & I spent every weekend & vacation together at my house or his until the end of school.  Before graduation, my father remodeled the basement into an apartment & Axe & I stayed on at my parents house paying rent.  My dad hooked us both up with jobs at his company & we went to college part time until we each had our degree. 

'We both eventually moved to |EDITED| because the US government seems to believe that its own Constitution is due lip-service & nothing else.  See, we were technically "married" in the exchange above shown in dark blue text. The US Supreme Court ruled some time ago that the formation of PARTNERSHIPS is a natural result of simply living; -- & therefore is antecedent to government - & not subject to regulation thereby.  It is part of the unlimited right to contract guaranteed within the US Constitution.  Obviously then - a government that even suggests that it has any legal authority whatsoever to regulate 'marriage' (domestic partnerships) - is lying on its face.  Furthermore - any government that insists that it must 'by "law"' become a party to marriage (I.E: statutory marriage) - is a government that wants to seize an interest in the most private & inviolable of human affairs; -- & such a government needs to be sanctioned or abolished - because it is fundamentally lawless.' - AXE (Can you guess what my degree is in?)