"To scare a homophobia and pretend to date a handsome boy? I'd do that for free." That was all he was going to be thinking about for a long time now. Different ways to scare those assholes, pretending that he and Hartley were together, pretending to hold hands and kiss and -- Axel giggled and tried to push on with the talk and not think about what he'd never have.

"I would pull off drag. I used to dress as a girl when I was little. I went a few times and everyone called me young lady." So there. He had references. "You've got to let me do this some day. As payment, I get to hold the ratties!"