Broadway Battle

"You miss your grandma?" Tony asked softly.

"Yea, but when I make the soup for boys, it's like she's with me still."

Tony and Ty shared a emotional look. So sweet.

"How'd the blog go?" Ty asked, before Tony teared up.

"Tony's gonna get bleeped. He said a bad word."

"He's always getting bleeped on the blog," Ty said dryly.

"Not as much as you do," Tony insisted.

Adam served up some soup, although it was a huge vat which he insisted would freeze really well. They chatted about the show and caught up on news.

Tony actually managed to eat more than half a bowl, which was extraordinary. But was flagging by the time Adam said goodnight. It was already 10pm, quite late for Tony these days.

Ty sent him on to bed as he showed Adam out and asked the security team at Engagement to see him into a cab.

"Thanks for the soup, that'll be easy when he's struggling to eat."

"He said stuff tastes weird."

"Yea, not actually metallic, but just slightly off. Soup's easy and that is packed full of nutrition, I appreciate it."

"We want him back," Adam hugged Ty goodnight. "It's not the same without him and much as I'm enjoying playing Tim, I can't rock the songs like he does."

"Don't try. You do your Tim and enjoy it. Don't feel bad about that."

"That's what Randall said," Adam admitted.

"Then take the advice." Ty grabbed another quick hug before he went back up to Tony.

Something melancholy about hugging ex boyfriends. Paths untaken. What might have been.

Still, when he slipped in next to a crashed-out Tony, despite everything they were dealing with, he was still happy with his choices.

-X

Ty stood on the sidewalk, in jeans and a T-Shirt, checking his phone. The morning sun was warm on his skin.

Tony, wondering where they going and why he was not still sleeping, huddled further into his jacket and shivered. Sure, it was nice to be out of the apartment, but why was he?

A sleek black car pulled up in front of them. Tony recognized Cal's driver, and then the door opened and Cal himself waved them in.

Ty dumped the mystery bags he had on the floor and got in first. Tony followed, sitting on the opposite side to Cal. "Hey Thomas, how are you?" he asked the driver.

"I'm very well, Mr Thomas. How are you feeling today?"

"Truth or lie?"

"Truth is always best, I find, young man."

"Well, I feel exhausted all the time and everything hurts."

"I'm sorry, Mr Thomas, but things will improve."

"I hope so."

"Thomas. Don't you think you know us well enough to call us Tony and Ty, by now? It'll be less confusing."

"Of course, Mr Maka," Thomas winked at Tony in the mirror, making him laugh.

The car pulled out and they said Hi to Cal, who would not be drawn on where they were going.

"It's a surprise," Cal said. "And as much as possible I want you to use Thomas and the car. If he's not available that's different, but if he is, until you're well again then please make him your first port of call for these trips."

"Thanks, Cal. We really appreciate it," Ty said. Right now, Tony picking up an infection was his worst nightmare.

After a short ride, hardly time to chat, they pulled into a private parking lot at a very exclusive address on Park Avenue.

Ty hustled Tony out of the car, then turned to grab the bags that Cal handed him. Bags that were most definitely not Park Ave standard.

"Cal, I know you're not short of cash, but really?"

Cal just laughed and motioned for Tony to go ahead. The door was opened by a security guy who smiled at Cal.

"Mr Beniot. Good Morning."

"Hello, Kabi. How are you?"

"I'm well, thanks."

"This is Ty and Tony."

"Good to meet you, welcome."

Tony noted that Kabi didn't approach them to shake hands like he did Cal. Obviously he knew to keep his distance.

"Do you mind if I get a quick head shot?" Kabi asked. "Just in case you come when I'm not on duty. It'll be logged on our security here, it's very secure."

"That's fine," Ty agreed and grinned into the phone camera. Tony just shrugged and worked up a smile. Sort of. He had no clue why he was here.

"Elevator this way," Kabi said and walked them over, using an access card to enter and keeping as far from Tony as he could, although giving him a friendly and reassuring smile.

"So," Cal said. "The agreement is you leave the place as you found it and don't go poking about. Oh and no blogging. I told Henry you were too polite to be nosing around his apartment."

"Of course," Ty agreed as the lift doors opened, directly into the most luxurious apartment Tony had ever imagined in his wildest dreams.

"You just call the elevator like any other," Kabi said, pointing at the button. "The apartment will be secured behind you, but you'll need security to access it."

They were walking through the apartment now, Tony's eyes wide. He spotted what he swore was a Rodin, just on a shelf, in the open. Cal caught his eye and laughed.

"A friend of mine owns this place," he explained. "He's in Dubai for the next six months and he's happy for you to use," he broke off as Kabi opened a door and let them into a warm room. "The pool."

Tony walked in slowly. It wasn't a huge pool. About twenty five by fifteen feet, but he could feel the heat from the water already. He looked from Ty, to Cal, to Kabi. It was Kabi who explained, as the other two were just grinning at him.

"The pool's been cleaned. No one else will be using it, so you don't have to worry about picking up an infection. We will unlock the lift for you and send you up, so it's as safe as it can be." He looked at Tony's frame. The struggle between fitness and frailness clear even through his jacket. "Do you think it will help?" he asked kindly.

Tony could only nod. He was completely choked up.

"Right, well you can find your way out. Give Thomas a few minutes warning, the car will be waiting for you."

Cal and Kabi hurried out. Ty gently tugged Tony's jacket down and off. Then his sweatshirt. It was tropical in the pool room. His jeans were already starting to cling.

Then he just pulled a sobbing Tony in to his arms. "Alright, it's alright," he rubbed his back.

"S-sorry, It's just everyone is, so-so k-kind and it's so m-much," he hiccupped and coughed.

"Hush," Ty soothed. "It's okay, sweetheart." He squeezed Tony as tight as he dared. Knowing that he hurt all over. Bones, muscles, even his skin felt tender at times.

"People are happy to help if they can because they think a lot of you. And Cal's friend who owns this place clearly thinks a lot of him. We've got good friends."

"We really do."

"Let's get you in the water."

The bags it turned out contained towels and trunks. Ty watched Tony walk carefully down the steps and sink into the warm water with a look of bliss on his face.

"Feels good?"

"Oh my God, yes."

"Thought it might, the amount of time you've been spending in the shower."

He followed Tony in and watched carefully as Tony swam slowly to the far end and back. "Careful, I'm not as strong a swimmer as you. Don't make me do a rescue."

Tony came back, he was slightly breathless. "That's ridiculous. I should be able to do fifty laps before I get breathless."

"Tony. You're sick, you need to take it slow."

"Jesus." Tony looked frustrated. Tony had never mentioned it, but Dan had told Ty that when he was sixteen, Tony had pretty much had to choose between swimming or dancing. His swim coach had been thinking state championships and hadn't been happy with his choice.

"It's not about exercise anyway," Ty told him. "Not yet. Float and come over here."

Ty sat on the steps so the water was almost over his shoulders. Tony floated and allowed Ty to pull him in. "What am I doing?"

"Just let me and the water hold you. You can properly relax, and look," Ty pressed a switch that was under the water, and the lights dimmed a little. "Cool huh?"

Tony couldn't help but smile. The warm water felt so good. Ty's arm slipped under his waist so he was supported, his other hand just resting on his midriff. He relaxed and felt tense muscles start to unwind. He could almost see them heaving a sigh.

"This feels amazing," he blinked up at the ceiling.

"Why don't you close your eyes and do one of those body scans, like Charlotte taught you?" Charlotte was one of his cancer support nurses.

"In the water?"

"Why not?"

"Okay." Tony closed his eyes and started the scan. From his toes, up through his body. He was actually really good at it, which Charlotte thought may come from being a dancer and knowing his body so well.

He couldn't help but smile when he reached his stomach. The feel of Ty's large hand covering his abs was both comforting and arousing.

Ty sat in the warm water and patiently watched Tony's face. (Mostly his face. I mean he had nearly naked hunky wet husband to ogle, keeping his eyes only on his face would take superhuman levels of willpower.) Occasionally a slight frown would appear as he reached a more tender spot, but then it would relax again.

The clock on the wall showed an hour and a half had passed. They were going to look like prunes.

Tony's long eyelashes flickered on his cheeks and he smiled slightly. "I'm not asleep."

"I know." Ty had been enjoying the feeling of Tony's breaths under his hand, but he knew he wasn't sleeping.

Tony opened his eyes and smiled fully. Ty just had to kiss him.

Tony let his butt sink into Ty's lap. Linking his arms around Ty's neck and deepening the kiss.

Finally they separated.

"That good, huh?" Ty teased.

"I feel like I could jog back to the apartment," Tony claimed, and then laughed at Ty's raised eyebrow. "Okay, maybe not. But please can we go home and make love, and then I can sleep for the next two days."

"You have to fit eating in there as well," Ty insisted and Tony grimaced but nodded, letting Ty pull him to his feet and out of the pool.

He looked at his hands as Ty started drying him. "Look, I'm all wrinkly."

"This is what I have to look forward to," Ty said and they both started giggling.

They were still smiling as they got back in the car. Thomas pulled away, giving them a pleased look. "You seem to be moving a little easier, Mr Thomas."

"Thomas, Thomas!" Ty complained under his breath.

"It's really loosened me up," Tony told him. "I'm sorry we were so long."

"It's fine, I got a good chunk of writing done."

"That's right," Ty exclaimed, his interest perking. "You write books don't you? Cal told us, but not what you write."

"Well I write under a pen name, so it's a secret."

"So, when you are stuck waiting for Cal, you write?" Tony asked.

"Yes, it works well for me."

"What sort of books do you write?" Ty demanded. Huffing when Thomas came back with, "That would be telling!"

"Chick lit," Tony guessed. "Oiled up babes and dudes on beaches and lots of sex."

Thomas just smiled.

"Crime stories," Ty tried. "The hero with a drinking problem and he never gets the girl."

Thomas carried on smiling.

"Or boy," Tony told Ty, who nodded in agreement.

"How about fantasy," Tony suggested. "Witches and fairy's and," he stopped as Thomas' smile slipped slightly and a slight blush appeared along his cheekbones.

"Oh, is it fantasy," Ty asked, looking excited.

"It might be you're getting closer," Thomas conceded, and then mimed zipping his lips.

"Oh, but."

"I'll tell you what," Thomas said, looking at Tony in the mirror. "You get yourself well, and back on that stage, and maybe I'll tell you."

Tony grinned at him and Ty, "It's a deal."

-X

By the time they got back into their apartment, Tony was fading. A little bit too relaxed.

"It's okay," Ty reassured him. "The whole point of the pool is to try and help with your aches and pains. If you're relaxed now you will get better sleep."

"I feel like all I fucking do is sleep."

"Come on," Ty helped Tony undress and directed him to lie face down on the bed. Despite the circumstances it was unusual for Tony to get 'bitchy-tone' so he was clearly feeling hard done by.

"Why don't we try this?" Ty suggested, and started to gently stroke Tony's skin.

Tony lay, long and lean, draped over the bed his head pillowed on his arms and watched Ty sleepily as Ty explored his body. "That feels nice."

"Good," Ty shifted so he could add his lips to the gentle stroking. It wasn't a massage. Just a light coasting over the dips and curves. Across his ass, one finger trailing over Tony's entrance which made his butt quiver and he growled low in his throat.

Lips against the curve in his back. Tracing the muscles and spine.

"I think I'm waking up a bit," Tony admitted, and Ty smiled against his shoulder blade before moving back.

"Flip over then."

Tony flipped, and sure enough he was half hard. With the travel, swim and extra showers, dressing and undressing, that he still had the energy was impressive.

Ty was in position above Tony's pecs, so he started there, with kisses and licks as Tony mumbled and shifted under him.

His hands ghosted over Tony's stomach and hips, currently far too bony, before caressing and rolling his balls.

"Mmmmm, yes," Tony moaned, as Ty followed with his mouth.

By the time Ty felt Tony's pubic hair ticking his nostrils, his cock was pointing at the ceiling. Well, pointing at the corner of the ceiling like the leaning tower of Pisa, but it was a result. Once which would drain Tony of energy very fast.

"Fuck it," Ty muttered and took Tony in his mouth. A long, hot slide.

"No, no. Stop," Tony tugged at Ty's hair. Ty relented and pressed his forehead against Tony's lower stomach.

"Don't. It's not safe."

"Okay," Ty pressed a kiss to Tony's skin again. "Okay, sorry, Baby. I just wanted to taste you."

"Please don't," Tony's voice broke a little and Ty quickly moved up his body. Kissing him and soothing him.

"I won't. I promise. I'm sorry, I just miss you." He kissed Tony again and took his cock in a gentle grip. "You ready? Can you cum?"

"Uh huh," Tony nodded, gasping as Ty stroked him.

Ty smiled and kissed Tony. Continued to kiss him even as he brought him off.

Tony was flushed, panting, and smiling by the time Ty released his lips.

"All good?"

"So good," Tony muttered, still smiling even as his eyes fluttered closed. "Go wash your hands."

"Yes, Sir," Ty teased. Giving Tony one last kiss before he went to clean up. And jack off.

-X

Blog 10:

"Hey blog watchers," Tony gave a tired wave to the camera. "So today's quite emotional. I guess the team will edit it to make it fit, but I've hit a well-known and familiar chemo hurdle."

The camera panned over to Ty who was stood holding a towel. On the towel was a mess of hair.

He placed the towel on the side and walked back over to where Tony was sat on a chair.

Tony sighed, "So that's about two days of pillow and shower hair. Pretty gross."

"It's not gross, it's just hair," Ty said, pushing his fingers into Tony's still thick looking locks.

"Hmm, well. So we have Daisy here," he motioned in a lady who came into camera range grinned and waved. "Who works with me on the show, and has agreed to take me a little shorter for now."

Ty kissed Tony's head and moved aside so Daisy could stand behind Tony. She slung a towel around his shoulders and started to play with his hair, lips pursed.

Ty was sat just inside camera range. "So, Daisy usually keeps you trimmed into your 'Tim' style. Which is just a little tidier than your normal mop hair."

"I don't have mop hair," Tony scowled.

Ty looked at the camera, "Yea, he does."

"I keep it longer so if I'm cast it can be grown or cut as needed. I hate wigs."

Ty just rolled his eyes.

"It's only because my Mom called my hair a mop. You got that from her."

"Yea, well. I happen to agree with her," Ty grinned.

"You have a lovely head of hair," Daisy told him. Making Tony pull a face at Ty and Ty to laugh. "There's no need to shave it all off, but as it's thinning quite quickly I'll take it quite short. Easier to take care of and less upsetting."

"You do what you think best, Daisy."

"Well, it'll be a bit of a shock, but you'll get used to it." She started to cut and soon hair was falling around Tony like rain.

There was no hiding the pain and unhappiness and Ty leaned forward to take his hand.

"So, Daisy. Your sister lost her hair during chemo, didn't she?"

"Yes, I think they are going to edit in some before, during and after pictures, but yes, my beautiful little sister had breast cancer and she lost all of her hair during chemo."

"She's well now?" Ty asked.

"Yes, she's been well now for over five years." Daisy's smile was huge.

"Do you think it's harder for women, perhaps. Going through that?" Ty asked.

Daisy brushed away the hair she had cut and then picked up the shaver. Tony winced and closed his eyes. Smiling slightly when she squeezed his shoulder.

"Maybe in general, but it depends on the person as well," she said wisely. "I don't think it's easy for anyone. Hair is part of identity."

"But men quite often lose their hair as they get older. We recede," Ty pointed out.

"But that's a slow process," Daisy replied. "This is fast and shocking and happens suddenly when you are already feeling vulnerable and unwell."

Ty nodded in agreement. "Tony," he asked gently. "Do you think you can tell us how you're feeling at the moment?"

Tony opened his eyes and looked at Ty. Grateful as he had asked Ty to push him on this, he hadn't wanted to back down. "Like I don't want to look in the mirror," he admitted. "Like I'm going to spend all night crying, and that makes me vain."

Ty lifted his hand and kissed it. "It doesn't make you vain," he said. "It makes you human."

"I think you're very brave," Daisy said. "I know my sister found videos of people going through what she was, and was in a support group. She said how much it helped, knowing that she wasn't alone."

"You're not alone either," Ty reminded Tony. Who rewarded him with a wobbly smile, as a tear slipped down his cheek.

-X

"I think that's going to be a really moving episode," Ty said, coming up behind Tony who was stood looking in the mirror. "Hopefully it will reach people who need to feel less alone."

He grinned at Tony who was frowning. "Problem?"

"I look like a marine!"

"I don't mean to be rude, but right now you're a little skinny to be a marine."

Tony half laughed, and then sighed as Ty lips pressed against his back, his hands travelling around his hips and stomach.

"And you're still fucking sexy."

"Not so much." Tony gasped as Ty spun him around and pressed him back against the wardrobe mirror.

"Fucking sexy," he insisted and took his mouth even as his hand slipped into Tony's pants.

"Ah shit, Ty."

"Christ, Tony. I want to fuck you. Can I?"

Tony just nodded and waited while Ty quickly spread a towel on the bed, before he crawled on. At his point in time he didn't have the energy for aerobics. He would just lie there and take it.

"What?" Ty asked as he came back into the room and saw Tony's smile.

"I was just thinking how tough my life is. Getting pampered and serviced by my husband."

Ty snorted and uncapped the lube.

Sex was certainly different these days.

There had been a time when Ty and Tony couldn't keep their hands off each other and it didn't matter much where they were. Stuff just happened.

They still couldn't keep their hands off each other, but half the time Tony would pass out from exhaustion before they got very far.

When they did make it through, condoms were a must, to protect Ty and the support team had told them lots of lube and keep it gentle.

It wasn't that Ty couldn't fuck Tony. He could, and did at every available opportunity. But he bruised so easily, and a small abrasion, could become an infection.