A month later, Vic was lounging on the twin bed of Henry's single dorm room. All around him were piles of hay, a small hayloft door painted bright red with a bold white "X" frame, an old metal milk can, and a variety of photos of chickens and roosters. Henry entered from the hallway and Vic grinned. "I love what you've done with the place."

Henry smiled back. "I figure there's one or two things the theater classes will never miss. Besides, you sure seem to fit in." Victor was dressed in a new pair of stonewashed bib overalls, and a crisp new straw hat he'd picked up at a novelty joke shop. he was barefoot and shirtless, as he had been for so long before his liberation from Herbie's mind control.

"Well, I wasn't kidding Herbie when I said I felt at home like this. It's just nice to enjoy it without the mind-control mental manacles."

Henry mounted the tiny bed and sat astride his boyfriend. "Say that three times fast." Ever so gently, he kissed Victor on the forehead, then on the lips. Looking in his eyes, Henry said, "Aren't you going to ask me about the progress of my patent?"

Vic rubbed Henry's arms. "How's the progress of my patent?", Vic said, mockingly.

"Looks like it's gonna go through."

Vic sat up, hugging Henry tight. "Henry, that's great! When did you find out?"

"Just a little while ago. Looks like the Henry's Heat Hypnotizer will be ready for medical testing by spring. I say we go celebrate. But if we do, you gotta wear shoes."

"Deal", Vic agreed. He pulled Henry close to him and kissed him long and lovingly. After several moments in their embrace, they slowly separated and Vic said, "Man, I am so glad I came out. And I am so glad you were there waiting for me." Henry raised one eyebrow, looking impish. Vic wondered what that meant. "What?"

"I'd like to know how you stopped Herbie's patents long enough for mine to go through, is all."

Vic raised an index finger. "Ah! I merely showed him application forms for patents. I never said I sent them in."

The duo rubbed noses. "My design's way cooler looking, anyway", Henry bragged.

"The advantages of being an industrial designer", Vic commented. "You just redesign the outer casing, which, if I may say so, looks far spiffier yellow than red."

Henry kissed him again. "What say we go out and get to that celebration?"

Vic yanked off Henry's shirt. "I've got a better idea. What say we get to that celebrating--" and he reached over to the side of the bed and produced a second straw hat, which he placed upon Henry's head. "--but we do it right here, farm boy."

Victor began to tickle Henry, who giggled like a hyena under the assault. "Off with them cords!", Vic teased. "Into some bibs!" Henry protested to no avail, until the laughing, tickling, horse-playing boyfriends tumbled off the side of the bed and into a mound of hay. They saw no reason to pull themselves out of it for another hour and a half.