The Hospital
Joshua sat perfectly still, holding Devon’s hand. After being on blood thinners for the last few years, he wore a jacket because he could never get warm—except in Devon’s arms. In Dev’s arms, he always felt warm, even after sixty-two years together.
How could this happen? How could some random bullet take you? Sixty-two years, motherfucker. After Vietnam? Is this what’s gonna take you from me?
Devon was his rock and wasn’t going to make it. While Joshua’s eyes cried silent, stoic tears, his mind and heart cried out to God.
All I can do is sit here and watch you die after the war and all these years. It had to end sooner or later, but I’m not ready to lose you! God, please don’t take him! Take me instead! What am I supposed to do? I won’t have a life. I won’t know how to live without you, Dev.
The soldier in him, never dormant, reared its head, or maybe it was God – He needs you, Okie. This isn’t about you; it’s about him! You’re here for him! Be here for him!
Squeezing Devon’s hand tightly, Joshua watched over the greatest man he had ever known - his best, lifelong friend, and his lover - as Devon slipped back into a coma. Back into his life in Vietnam…
Vietnam 1963
Josh had just arrived in country from Camp Pendleton, CA, after finishing his Sniper training. Reporting to the Sergeant, he received his assignment and found his bunk in the hooch. It was tough getting through boot camp and then Sniper training. The training seemed easier compared to keeping his dick under control around all the men. It was more challenging than he expected.
Josh had known he was gay since he was nine. He vividly remembered seeing his neighbor across the street mowing the grass, shirtless, his sweaty muscles shining in the bright, hot sun. He could only stare, enamored, at his masculinity. The tingling in his groin made itself known even back then.
He remembered playing with his pecker while watching TV with his mom and dad. He kept a pillow over his lap and was in his pajamas. He was hard and unobtrusively rubbed himself through the soft material. It felt so good, he kept doing it, and suddenly a powerful tingling hit him, and his little cock jerked and twitched. The feeling was so incredibly intense, he didn’t want it to stop. His balls weren’t producing cum yet, but the nerves were there, and the muscle attempted to ejaculate it anyway.
At thirteen, he remembered the first time he produced cum, and his orgasms felt even better. Remembering those days, he grimaced. He knew his mom had to smell his room. He jerked off every night in bed and wiped the cum onto the hem of his bedspread. The material was heavily stained and yellowed.
I was such a dumbass. Thank God for mom. She knew and never said a word.
High school was tough, too. Josh was a physical stud and a star athlete. He focused on his body. He wanted muscles like the neighbor he admired as a boy. He desired other men to look at him the way he looked at his neighbor.
The sound of a duffel bag hitting the floor snapped him back to the present. His eyes went wide, and his dick twitched at the sight of the stud standing beside his bunk. A big hand waited for his in greeting.
“PFC Kincaid. Looks like we're not only bunkmates, but you’re my spotter. Call me Dev. Short for Devon.”
Sweet Jesus.
Devon’s hand was strong, and his bicep bulged, clearly visible even through his fatigues, and his thick neck held one of the most handsome faces Josh had ever seen. His smile made Josh weak in his knees. Shaking Devon’s hand, he squeezed back just as firmly.
“PFC Brennan. Joshua, but call me Josh.”
The air was thick and humid; Vietnam had a particular smell about it. They were practically in the jungle, and the dirt and banyan trees smelled different than anywhere in the states he had ever been. Both men sweated heavily.
Some of the tension in Joshua’s stomach eased with the handshake. He wasn’t afraid of being in Vietnam. He was a fucking Marine, trained as a warrior, but he was in a war zone, and even in the base camp he couldn’t completely let his guard down. Danger was ever present, and he was alone, with no friends.
At least not yet. I want to know this guy. In the biblical sense.
Dev asked, “So where you from?”
“A little town in Oklahoma, called Sapulpa, outside Tulsa. How about you?”
“I’m from LA. That’s Lower Alabama to you Okies.”
Josh laughed and gave Devon a head-to-toe look.
“What the hell did they feed you in Lower Alabama, big fella?”
Dev deadpanned, “Corn. Lots of corn. I got strong working on the farm with my dad, but I got big by wrestling.”
Josh grinned, “Don’t you mean ‘Wrasslin’?”
Dev punched Josh in the arm and said, “Fuck off, Okie. You’re attempt at Lower Alabaman sucks.”
“Lower Albaman isn’t a language.”
“Yes it is. Go there and find out.”
The two men bantered while they emptied their duffel bags and organized their foot lockers.
Dev asked, “You want top or bottom?”
Fantasizing about what Devon looked like naked, and how he would feel on top of him, Josh stammered, “Oh, the bunk. It doesn’t matter. Take your pick.”
“Then I’ll take the top.”
You can top me anytime, country boy.
Dev wiped his sweaty face on his sleeve and said, “Fuck, it’s hotter than a gnat’s ass. I’m gonna find the shower.”
Josh slowed what he was doing to watch Devon undress.
Jesus, his legs are tree trunks!
To Josh, Devon was masculine perfection. Not only was he drop-dead handsome, but he was built. His muscles were big, but defined, showing a physical maturity not many guys his age possessed. His shoulders were broad and capped with two big, rounded balls, and even relaxed, his lats appeared wide. His abs were clearly visible, though he wasn’t lean enough to get the deep cuts, but they were sexy as hell. A light dusting of hair on his chest came to a point that turned into a perfect treasure trail.
The last thing to go were his boxers, and Josh’s jaw nearly hit the floor at the flaccid cock that flopped around, nearly six inches soft. To accentuate everything, his deeply tanned skin shone with sweat, and his musk filled the area now that he was naked.
No one gave a moment's notice to the Greek god standing naked in the hooch, except Josh, who quickly turned away and said, “I saw the shower and the latrines on my way in. Take a left out of the hooch and you can’t miss ‘em.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll be back in a few. You wanna grab some chow when I get back?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
<><>
Fuck, it’s going to be hard being around him, but I’m glad we got paired up. I hope he shoots as good as he looks.
Devon was one of those people who radiated an aura of extreme capability, as if he could handle any situation that might come up. Besides his incredible looks and physique, he seemed like a great guy.
I hope he keeps that. I hear this place can tarnish you. I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen to either of us.
After Devon got back and dressed, they found the mess, chatted, and learned more about each other and some of the guys in the hooch. A few of the guys who had been around for a while were very standoffish, even churlish, which reinforced Josh’s earlier thought.
Under his breath, Devon said, “Ignore them. They probably don’t want to get attached. They think we’ll get ganked by some Charlie, but we’ll show them, right partner? You and me are gonna prove them wrong.”
After leaving the mess, a Lance Corporal came to find them and said, “The Sarge wants to see you two.”
Making their way to the command tent, Sergeant Mills saw them and said, “Come in.”
Once inside, they both gave him a crisp salute and said, “Reporting as ordered, Sergeant.”
“At ease. One of you close the flap.”
Josh moved to undo the ties, and the flaps dropped down. It was as private as the structure allowed.
I’m glad you two are here. My last sniper shipped out a week ago, and his spotter is back home on leave. He’s already been reassigned and won’t be here when he returns. That leaves you. On paper, you look exemplary. I hope you live up to it.
“Your gear is waiting for you in the supply tent. Requisition anything else you want or need. If anyone gives you trouble, let Cpl. Tillis know.
“You aren’t familiar with the area yet, so I’m giving you access to the map room, and I have a jeep and driver at your disposal. Learn the area. We’re having some problems I need you to take care of.”
Both Devon and Josh said, “Yes, sir. We’ll get the job done, Sir.”
They both picked up on the undercurrent of the Sergeant's concern.
<><>
Following orders, Dev and Josh familiarized themselves with the area, with Josh drawing his own maps in his notepad. While Dev was the shooter, Josh was the spotter. His eyesight and memory were exemplary, and he scoped out vantage points where they could set up. As the sniper, Dev made the decisions, but he valued and insisted on Josh’s input.
Being around Dev got easier over time. He was great eye candy but also a good guy. They quickly became best friends, hung out, and gave each other shit.
One night after chow, lying in their bunks clad only in their boxers, Dev said, “Fuck I can’t wait to get my first overnight pass. I’m gonna head into Saigon to find some pussy.”
“That’s just gonna get you crabs, country boy.”
“Man, I have to get off soon. Why don’t you seem on edge about it?”
“‘Cause I jerk off. A lot. There’s a spot to the south of the camp in the woods where guys go, if they aren’t jerking in their bunks. Your ass can sleep through anything. Don’t you hear it?”
“Fuck! No. Are you shitting me? For real?”
“No lie, country. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hear some guys back there will swing on your dick if you let them. It’s all on the down low, but it happens.”
“No way!”
Josh laughed at Dev’s naivety.
“I don’t wanna get too heavy, but some of the guys have been here for months with no relief. The pressure builds up. They go out on patrols, get shot at, and hope they don’t get killed. It has an effect. You really don’t see it?”
Dev stayed quiet and then mumbled, “No. I never thought about it.”
Josh said, “We’re doing what the Sarge wants us to do, but in between assignments, we’ll probably have to go on patrols. Have you ever been shot at?”
“Just once, by my Grandma.”
“What the fuck?”
“She was aiming at Grandpop, but she’s almost blind and nearly got me.”
Josh stood up and saw the grin on Devon’s face and knew he was fucking with him.
Laughing, he said, “You shit.”
After a short pause, Dev asked, “So, you’ve really been back in the woods?”
“Yeah. You wanna go now? I can show you.”
Fuck let him say yes.
“I don’t know, man, it sounds kinda gay.”
For the first time, Josh’s voice turned cold, and he said, “It’s obvious you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Jesus, Dev, fuck off, you arrogant prick.”
Josh stormed out of the hooch, and Dev sat up with a shocked look on his face. He and Josh hadn’t argued over anything yet. It was bound to happen eventually, but he really didn’t understand why Josh was so upset.
<><>
Josh was so mad he saw red.
What an idiot. He doesn't understand what the other guys go through because he’s a prima donna sniper. He’s probably never faced fear in his life and doesn’t realize what it does to you.
Josh’s mind filled with the memory of getting beaten almost to death by a rival team one night after a game. He got caught sucking off the other quarterback and ended up in the hospital. If some of his own teammates hadn’t intervened, he might have died, and he remembered that fear. Way more than the pain.
Josh trembled, partly with anger and partly with fear. He reacted on instinct, but he didn’t want to alienate Dev. He admitted it was mostly because he was so damn good-looking and such a stud, but he was also the only real friend he had made so far and didn’t want to fuck that up.
Making his way into the woods under the moonlight, Josh’s body shone with sweat, and he looked even hotter than the neighbor in his memory. He felt a hand on his shoulder and stiffened.
“Hey. I’ve seen you in the hooch. You’re on the new sniper team. You here for some action?”
Turning, Josh saw a guy he recognized from the mess. He was decent-looking. All the Marines were in good shape, and the guy touching him was no exception. His hand moved down from Josh’s shoulder to his chest as he walked around and knelt down. Josh hadn’t been touched in a while and his hand felt good. It made him hard.
The young Marine fished Josh’s cock out, pulling it through the opening in his boxers, and took his full length down his throat. Moaning, images of Dev, naked and hard, filled his mind, and he wished it were him on his knees sucking Dev. His fantasy was so vivid that it excited him to the point that he exploded quickly, filling the guy's mouth.
Before Josh said anything, the guy said, “Thanks. Anytime you need that, find me. You have a nice cock.”
Josh started to head back to the hooch when he heard Dev’s voice.
“I’m looking for someone. What the fuck? Wait! Don’t… don’t do that.”
The guy who just sucked off Josh was on his knees trying to get Dev’s dick out of his boxers, too. Dev was so horny he only half-heartedly tried to stop the guy when he froze and gasped, “Oh, fuck.”
Josh crept over from the shadows to see Dev, his muscled, sweaty form shining in the moonlight, getting his cock sucked. His big arms bulged as he held the guy's head while he skull fucked him. His entire body was flexed, and Josh watched the muscles of his back and ass undulate as he thrust his load down the guy's throat in a loud series of grunts.
The Marine on the ground cleaned Dev’s cock up of any excess cum and Dev stumbled a few steps away, as if he was unsure of what just happened. When he turned, he saw Josh looking at him, but Josh could only stare at the dick sticking straight up and beyond Dev’s navel, shining just like his body in the moonlight, wet with spit.
Josh almost felt sorry for Dev, but he was still angry and turned away, going back to the hooch.
<><>
At 0500 the next morning, Josh lay wide awake. He woke with a hardon. The image of Dev’s sweat-sickened body, shining in the moonlight, and his cock standing at full attention, wouldn’t leave his mind. He couldn’t help himself and started stroking his cock. A few other guys were doing the same. He was as quiet as he could be, and when he finished, he got up to go to the latrine, but Dev was wide awake and staring at him.
He usually said “Good Mornin’ Okie” but remained quiet. It was still dark with only one dim light, and Josh couldn’t read the expression on Dev’s face. Wanting to smooth things over between them, he said, “Mornin’, Country.”
Dev sounded hesitant, “Hey Josh….”
“What?”
“Man, I’m sorry for whatever I said that pissed you off.”
Fuck, I’m not, because I got to see you in all your fucking glory.
“It’s okay, man. I’m sorry, too. I overreacted.”
Josh held out his hand, but Dev made a face, “I ain’t touching that. I know what it just did.”
They both laughed and shook their heads at one another. Nothing was mentioned about them both being naked in the woods, and what they saw, but they seemed to be back on track, and each of them, in his way, was deeply relieved.
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