Title: "Romeo & Juliet Were Italians" (1/6)
Author/pseudonym:  Mistress Marilyn camelotslash-2 at qwest.net
Fandom:   'Magnum P.I.'
Pairing:  Thomas Magnum/Rick Wright
Rating:   NC-17, although there may be parts without graphic sex
Date:    Written in the early 1980s
Archive:  Yes, contact me first
Series:   Six-part novel
Category: Slash
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, not to me. Just borrowing them and speculating on their fictional lives.
Summary:  Magnum and Rick become lovers and deal with the outcome, including the reaction of their friends and their own feelings. This story was evidently set during the first season of 'Magnum P.I.' and references many characters from that series.
Warnings: Explicit m/m sex and some violence.

     "Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
        Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops . . ."

The air was clear -- clear, brightening and silent. The early sun had obliterated the last moisture from the ocean, and the grass was now firm and springy where two large dogs ran. The dogs, well grained and well bred, seemed to look around from time to time almost nervously, afraid of having their morning game seen. Not two hundred yards from where the dogs soundlessly romped, the guest house of the large estate looked "make" -- toward the sea.

Inside, Thomas Magnum rolled over and stretched one arm high above his head. He yawned, still filled with sleep, wondering for a second what had awakened him. Then, rubbing his itchy eyes, he began to remember the preceding night and to separate actual events from the erotic dream he had just left.

He and Rick were lovers. Rick, his longtime friend, comrade in arms in the memorable, forgettable 'military action' in Southeast Asia called the Vietnam War. Rick, the "little bulldog" -- the man with the practicality to run a large, exclusive private club, and the imagination to lift both his name and much of his persona from the classic character in 'Casablanca.' Rick, with a myriad of connections in the underworld, and a backbone honed by the United States Marine Corps. He and Rick were lovers.

Rick had entered Magnum's home the night before, loaded down with groceries and smiles. After cooking Magnum a marvelous, spicy dinner, he had filled them both with expensive wine, and then with German beer. Now, instead of awakening with indigestion, Magnum found himself with a new lover.

Magnum turned and reached out for Rick. The bed was crumpled and warm, but empty beside him. He sat up, alarm and disappointment filling him. He knew he hadn't dreamed his involvement with Rick -- or that at least he hadn't only dreamed it. It had happened. Now, with the Hawaiian morning sun just beginning to peer through the cracks of the blinds and light the bedroom, Magnum felt his stomach constrict with new worry. It was the damnable morning after, the first test that could make or break a young relationship. And Rick was gone.

Magnum heard the shower burst on. He leaned back, relief trickling through him. Rick was not gone -- just showering to prepare for the day's work. Now Magnum wondered if he would have the patience to lie and wait for Rick to finish. He suddenly wanted to know -- very badly -- exactly how Rick felt. They both had been more than a little drunk when the whole thing started; admittedly, they had had several hours of strenuous activity in which to sober up. Still, Rick might feel different now. He might even regret last night's passion.

Magnum rolled on to his side, allowing himself to ponder his own feelings. Did he have any regrets? He knew instantly he would only feel regret if Rick did. If Rick now wished that last night hadn't happened, Magnum would wish the same, only because it would be so painful to have to live with the knowledge that something could be so good for one of them, and not for both.

It had been so good. Magnum could feel the heat beginning between his legs as he remembered. It had started out as horseplay, as a joke, and Magnum had to admit to himself that Rick had been the instigator. Then the foolish, half kidding caresses and kisses that Rick had given him had begun to warm him, achingly; and he had found himself holding on tightly to the smaller man, pulling the giggling, fidgeting Rick hard against his chest and silencing his jokes with a long, heavy kiss. When his tongue had found Rick's, the rest of his body had come entirely to life as well, and the game was over. Even with his morning doubts and fears, Magnum could remember that Rick had responded avidly, without hesitation. Rick's sudden desire had quieted Magnum's initial embarrassment over his own.

Magnum heard the bathroom door open. He shut his eyes, wanting Rick to think him asleep, although he wasn't sure just why. As he heard bare feet padding across the room, he fought the desire to look up and see Rick. He had to know what Rick would do if spared a confrontation.

The bed next to him depressed. A warm, damp body brushed against him. He felt a hand on his face.

"Thomas? You still asleep?" Rick spoke in a near whisper.

He pried his eyes open, looking up at his friend's handsome, youthful, now irresistible face. "Now completely," he said.

"Did I wake you with the shower? I tried not to."

"I think it woke me when you got up. I'm not sure."

"I gotta go to work in a few minutes. I thought it might be a good idea to get at least one layer of scum off before I drive home." Rick grinned, crookedly, and Magnum reached for him.

Pulling Rick close, Magnum could smell his own soap on Rick's skin. He buried his face in Rick's neck, running his mustache under Rick's chin. He felt Rick's hands in his hair. He sighed, happily.

"You hung over this morning?" Rick asked.

Magnum stretched his long legs in answer, pulling Rick down on the bed, still closer. "Not from booze."

Rick giggled. "Me either. I never felt better in my life."

Magnum released him, so he could pull back and look at the man's face. "You're not . . . sorry, or anything, are you?"

"You kiddin'! No way, Thomas. I've waited a long time for this. I guess I just didn't even know how much I wanted it."

Magnum reached over and kissed him, tasting his own toothpaste. He pulled back, imagining what his own mouth must taste like after all that food and drink and time.

He moved away, rolling off the bed. "Just a minute. Let me catch a shower, too."

He walked to the bathroom basin, turning the water on as he reached for his toothbrush. Rick was beside him.

"I used it," Rick said, matter-of-factly. "I hope you don't mind."

"No.  Of course not." He smiled over at Rick. "I could hardly complain about getting your germs, could I?"

Rick grinned. "Well, some people are funny about that sort of thing, Thomas. You always were one of 'em."

Magnum squirted toothpaste on the rush and shoved it into his mouth. As he vigorously brushed his teeth, Rick replaced the cap on the toothpaste tube, and returned it to its holder. Magnum grinned at Rick's neatness through the white foam in his mouth.

Magnum rinsed his mouth under the tap, enjoying the clean taste of the water. Rick handed him a small towel when he had finished, and he mopped his face gratefully.

"Just let me catch a shower," he said again. "I'm a mess."

"Who do you think you're with -- Princess Diana? I don't give a damn, Thomas. This is silly."

Magnum grimaced. "I'm a very clean person, believe it or not."

"You think you're so clean that I've never smelled your sweat before? And since I was lapping up your come all night, I doubt it'll taste too much worse a few hours older." Rick stood with his arms folded in front of his bare chest.

"Rick!"

"Come on, Thomas. I have to get going in a few minutes. This is Rick, your old buddy -- not some lady you just picked up in a bar."

"I guess it is a little silly. It just seems more important now."

"Well, it's not. Actually, it's less. Come on. Let's go roll on the bed for a while before I have to leave."

Magnum followed Rick out of the bathroom, looking down at the man's swaying buttocks. "You're naked," he commented, noticing that Rick didn't even have a towel covering him.

"Most people shower that way, right?"

"I guess I hadn't really looked at you -- at least not at your body."

Rick giggled. "I can't say the same. I haven't taken my eyes off you. You know, you look great in the morning, Thomas."

Magnum sighed, easing down on the sheets. "This bed feels scratchy. I guess I'm gonna have to change these sheets."

"No kiddin'. You must have sweat two gallons last night, among other things. Let's mess 'em up real good if you're gonna change 'em."

Rick climbed over next to Magnum, his body warming noticeably, his penis swaying upward.  Magnum stared at it, pleased.

"Now kiss me Thomas. Now that you're all clean and fresh."

Magnum complied, opening his mouth as Rick's descended on him. His arms went up around Rick's back, pulling him as close as possible. They kissed for several minutes.

"God, Thomas. You are one hell of a kisser," Rick said, as he finally pulled away. "I could come just like that."

Magnum rubbed his nose against Rick's. "Don't you dare."

"You're hard, Thomas," Rick commented, unnecessarily. Magnum nearly gasped as Rick's fingers rubbed over him "It's hard to believe you could get it up so many times last night, and still get hard this morning. I wish I could make some kinda bet with T.C. about it, and maybe take a fifty."

Magnum stretched back, closing his eyes. "It's never been like this for me," he said.

Rick's fingers stopped stroking him. "Me either," he said. Magnum opened his eyes and looked into Rick's serious face.

"Come here, Rick." He pulled Rick very close again, running his fingers through the thick brown hair. "Stay with me this morning. Don't go to the Club. I don't even care if we make love. I just want you to stay."

"Okay, Thomas. I'll just have to call."

"Later."

"Yeah, after. Bring that mustache here so I can chew on it again, okay? Then I think I'll work on some of my other oral techniques." Rick's grin was irresistible.

Magnum felt himself shudder with happy anticipation. He gave his mouth up to Rick, allowing the man to take the lead for a while. Then he pushed his lips hard against Rick's and rubbed his tongue forcefully along the even row of Rick's teeth. He could feel the change in Rick's response. Rick groaned and clawed at Magnum's back, fighting for air. Magnum did not let up for a few seconds; then he allowed the gasping Rick to pull away.

"Oh, God, Thomas. It almost got away from me that time. I almost blew right there."

Magnum rolled over on top of Rick, easily manipulating the limp limbs of the smaller man. "I want you to," he said, lowering his mouth over Rick's again. He pressed his thigh against Rick's crotch, feeling the burning lump twitching into his skin. He calculated that it only took two minutes of passionate kissing for Rick to begin struggling against him and for the hot hardness to erupt against his leg. Pleased with himself, he pulled away, crawling down to taste the last of Rick's passion on his tongue.

Rick's breath seemed to rattle through him. Magnum listened to the sound of it, rubbing his cheek against Rick's pubic hair.

"You've really got me where you want me, don't you, Thomas?"

Magnum looked up at him, smiling through his mustache. "In my bed. That's where I want you."

"That's where you got me. Just try to get me out."

Magnum giggled and crawled up Rick's body, lowering himself slowly over the small man.

"Keep climbin'," Rick instructed, urging Magnum upward. Magnum understood, and moved higher, his hands gripping the brass rungs of his bed, his strong arms pulling his body up. When his knees were resting on either side of Rick's chest, he stopped, waiting for Rick to take him. He closed his eyes expectantly. When he felt Rick's warm mouth, he made a sound something between a growl and a purr. He was completely content.

*   *   *   *   *   *

"Hey, Thomas, you hear me?"

Magnum looked over at his friend, T.C.; for a moment he had been unaware of the man's presence.

"What did you say, T.C.?"

"I said, 'Rick looks pretty chipper today, don't he.' That's what I said. Where are you, anyway?"

Magnum shook his head, smiling. "I was thinking the same thing, believe it or not." He glanced toward Rick again, who stood over fifty feet away, oblivious to his two friends. Then he looked back at T.C. and past the large black man; he could see the sunlight glinting off the Pacific Ocean. The day was perfect, and the King Kamehameha Club was the ideal frame for the portrait of a moment in paradise.

T.C. was still studying Rick. "He must have some new fox on the string, what?"

Magnum focused his attention on his friend. He nodded. "I think so."

"What you grinning about?"

"Nothing. Really."

T.C. pursed his lips. "Somethin' is goin' on here that I don' know about. But you can bet old T.C. is gonna find out." He stood up, stretching his muscular legs. "If Rick's movin' on somebody that I should know about, I'll let him tell me."

Magnum sat back and watched T.C. walk across the dining area of the Club to where Rick stood conversing with one of the members. He felt curious about what Rick would say, and almost wanted to join the two. But a sense of calm stayed him; he was sure that Rick would handle the thing properly, probably by telling T.C. the truth. He wanted to watch T.C.'s face and judge exactly when Rick had told him. He looked impatiently around the obscuring figure of a passing member.

Rick smiled as T.C. approached. Magnum watched Rick's left hand go up around T.C.'s muscled shoulder. He felt a sense of possession at the gesture, as though he could keep Rick's hands entirely away from anyone but himself, if he so chose. He watched Rick talk animatedly to the large black man, unable at first to look to T.C. at all, much less gauge his expression -- it was difficult not to simply stare at Rick's face. He had found if difficult all day to look away from his new lover; he was surprised that T.C. hadn't noticed it. Now he forced himself to see both men.

T.C. grinned and turned away, saying something behind his back to Rick. He didn't look particularly shocked, or even surprised. He didn't even look up at Magnum as he re-crossed the room. Magnum decided with disappointment that Rick hadn't told him. He wondered why not.

"Hell, that Rick. He is one cagey sucker." T.C. grunted as he took his seat, reaching to pick up his beer.

"Oh?"

"He's one cool cat, Thomas, when it comes to the ladies. I'd sure love to get a close look at his black book."

"Did he say he had a new girlfriend?"

"He said he found somebody who gave --" T.C. looked around quickly, then sat forward and lowered his voice. "He said he found somebody who gave him the best blow job of his life last night. He also said that he had about three hours of sleep, and still hadn't made it to work until after noon. But he thought it was worth any shit from Higgins. Now, what do you say to a guy like that? He's had women all around the world, and he's still gettin' surprises."

Magnum took a swallow of beer. "I wouldn't say that he'd had women all over the world. Vietnam and the states aren't all there is to the world, T.C."

"Thomas, I didn't say all 'over' the world. I said all 'around' the world. There's a subtle difference there."

"Oh."

T.C. stood up, finishing his beer with one last pull. "Well, I gotta be off. Hope I get lucky tonight. Maybe I should ask Rick who to call."

Magnum laughed loudly. T.C. looked suspiciously toward him.

"Hey ... you two were in on it last night, weren't you - together, I mean?"

Magnum nodded, still chuckling. "You might say that."

"Man, Thomas! You never even liked that kind of action in Nam! I can't believe it."

"Believe it."

"Was she as good as Rick said?"

"It was good. Better than Rick said."

T.C. shook his head disgustedly. "Shee-it! Some friends. You find somethin' like that and you don't even share it with your best buddy. I call that loyalty."

Magnum trembled with laughter. "Next time, T.C.," he choked out. "Next time we'll give you a call."

"Forget it. You two can have each other!" T.C. waved a hand at Magnum, turning to leave.

"That's right. I damn well intend to see to it," Magnum said.

T.C. walked a few steps, then turned back. "Say what?"

"You heard me, T.C."

T.C.'s expressive face went from puzzlement to amazement, finishing with a large grin. Magnum enjoyed watching it.

"Hell, you cagey devils. This calls for another beer! Hey, Orville! Bring Thomas and me another round! And don't send one of your Hawaiian lackeys, brother. Get your butt over here yourself!" T.C. sat down, chuckling to himself. "Well, I'll be. You and Rick. Get that! That is something I'd like to see." He looked up at Magnum, his face turning serious for a moment. "Hey, Thomas. Why didn't you ever tell me you could do a blow job like that? You been holdin' out, T.M.!"

Magnum laughed again, looking up at Rick who stood over the table, two beers in hand. "Sit down, Rick," Magnum said. "For a minute."

"What's the panic over here? And what the hell's so funny, Thomas?" Rick's face held amused curiosity, his gray eyes twinkling. Magnum smiled at him.

"It's T.C.," he said, taking one beer and handing the other to T.C. as Rick pulled up a chair. "He's really getting to me."

T.C. sat forward, leaning toward Rick. "Hey, Orville. Why didn't you just come right out and say what you meant? Your best friend shouldn't be the last to know."

Rick's expressive eyes darkened, flicking in Magnum's direction. Magnum smiled reassuringly, nodding at T.C.

"It's okay, Rick. T.C. would find out sooner or later."

Rick's face was cold, stiffened. "I didn't know you wanted to tell anybody."

"Well, I didn't plan to. But I wouldn't want to keep it from T.C. Besides, I couldn't. It shows."

Rick leaned forward, toward Magnum. "Well, turn down the pilot light, will ya'! I can't have everybody around here knowin'."

Magnum's heavy brows moved together. T.C. sat back, watching with interest.

"It's not an announcement in the Star-Bulletin, Rick," Magnum said. "It's our best friend, T.C. Remember?"

"Sure, I remember. Just remember that the Board of Directors can kick my butt outta here for any misconduct that comes to their attention, and kindly keep your locker room reminiscing for someplace out of the Club!"

Magnum sat forward, his face coloring. He felt the palms of his hands start to burn. "We're not talking about any misconduct. And if T.C. has it straight, you were the one who first brought up good blow jobs!"

A few people looked over at the threesome. Rick glanced around, nervously. "Thomas! Please. Don't blow a fuse."

Magnum stood up, towering over Rick. "Poor choice of words," he said in a near hiss. "Let's continue this talk elsewhere, T.C.!" He motioned to T.C., then turned and stalked from the room, not waiting to see if his black friend followed. His ears were roaring, but he could faintly hear the click of heels behind him -- not T.C.'s.

"Thomas! Hey, Thomas! Wait up!"

Magnum hurried across the parking lot, reaching for the door to the Ferrari, his car keys already in his hand. He stopped when he felt the hand on his arm. He stared straight ahead.

"Thomas, for God's sake. Cut it out, will ya'!"

Magnum stood next to the car for a moment, still simmering. His left hand twitched. He stuck the keys back in his pocket and walked slowly after Rick. Rick quickly opened the door to his living quarters and motioned Magnum inside.

Magnum smiled sarcastically at Rick as he passed. The artificially cooled air of the room brushed his cheeks lightly. He sighed, his hands going to his hips as he came to a stop in the center of the room. "Aren't you afraid what people might think, seeing me walk into your apartment? Don't you think you made kind of a scene, running after me like that?"

Rick shut the door. He stood with his back to Magnum for a moment.

"Well?" Magnum said, impatiently.

Rick's right foot kicked against the door. "Shut up, Thomas!"

"I'll be glad to, since that seems to be what you want."

Rick turned around. "Thomas, please."

"If I had known that you didn't want T.C. to know, I wouldn't have said anything." Magnum became alarmingly aware of an ache in his hands, signaling emotional pain, and he balled them into fists. As his anger eased his hurt grew.

"Thomas, it's not that. I just was caught by surprise. Hell, T.C. and I were Marines together!"

Magnum let his breath out in a rush. "So you are sorry about us! You wish we hadn't!"

"No way! I'm not sorry, Thomas. I just have to go slow. I have a lot more at stake here than you do."

Magnum moved a step toward Rick, wanting to look down at the man, to feel some sense of control. "You have a lot more at stake than you know," he said, hoping that Rick would catch the meaning in his tone.

"Thomas."

Magnum reached down and took Rick's face in his hands. He slowly lowered his lips to Rick's, pressing carefully, gently against him. Rick tore up at him eagerly. Magnum allowed him to drag at his tongue and lower lip. After a few seconds he pulled away.

"Rick ..."

"Thomas, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you mad. I don't want you to think I regret it. I don't. Hell, I liked puttin' T.C. on. I'm just not as secure as you are. You gotta help me with that."

"I will. But I won't pretend to the people who matter to me! I don't care what anybody thinks myself, but I sure don't want you to lose your job. It's rotten that it works that way, but I'll play by the rules. Only not with everybody. Hell, Rick, I want to be able to hold you and show you off sometimes, even if it's only with T.C.!"

Rick backed to a chair and sat slowly down. His face looked set and solemn. Magnum moved to him.

"Are you okay?"

Rick nodded. "I'm just scared, I think."

"I felt that way this morning, Rick. I know." Magnum kneeled in front of him and took one of his hands, the right one, where Rick wore his team ring. The gold Cross of Lorraine glinted up at him. "I felt it just now, too. In the long run, the only really important thing is how we feel, Rick. You and me."

Rick nodded again. "Sure."

Magnum studied Rick's hand for a moment; then he kissed it, tenderly.

"Thomas, I loved last night, and this morning. And I love how I feel when I look at you. God, it was the best sex of my life! But this is so much heavier than I thought!"

Magnum looked up at Rick, holding the gray eyes with his darker ones. "Yes. It's a lot heavier than just good sex. I'm in love with you. I realized it this afternoon, sitting watching you at the Club. I kept thinking, 'mine, mine.' It was wonderful for me. I don't want to just go to bed with you. I want to be with you, completely. I haven't felt this way since 1975, when I first fell in love with Michelle. If I could, I'd ask you to marry me."

Rick shook his head, breaking the eye contact. "Thomas, this is too much for me."

"Probably right now, but I think after a while it won't seem so extreme."

Rick pulled his hand away. "What if I never can handle it? What then?"

"Rick, don't worry about it. It's okay. Everything's fine right now. You're happy, aren't you?"

Rick nodded uncertainly.

"Well, I'm happy. I haven't felt as happy as this for over six years. There's nothing to worry about!"

Rick looked at Magnum, his brows a furrowed vee. "Thomas, I couldn't do that to you -- what she did.. I couldn't hurt you like that!"

"Rick! Nobody's gonna get hurt! Will you calm down!"

"I saw you in there, Thomas. Your temper! You were boiling. I thought you'd never want me again. It scared me."

"Well, Rick," Magnum said with a little laugh, "I've just told you that I love you. Doesn't that tell you that I still want you? Sure, I get mad, but that doesn't mean anything. We both have tempers." He rubbed his jaw, "and the scars to prove it."

"I don't ever want to lose your friendship, Thomas. That's all."

"You never will. Just because you're my lover, it doesn't mean you're not my friend. I won't let it."

Rick sighed. "Yeah. Okay. I'll try not to worry. But go easy on me, will you, Thomas?"

Magnum reached out a hand and rubbed Rick's rough face. "I'll try. But I can't make any promises."

"I love you, too, Thomas. You know that. But I just don't know if I'm ready to give so much."

"I can wait. Do you want to go upstairs now, or do you have to go back to work?"

"Fuck work! Let me grab some things from upstairs and get a few items out of the kitchen, and let's run out to the estate. I think an instant replay of last night's in order."

Magnum grinned, helping Rick to his feet. "I hope you don't mind if things go just a little differently. I've been thinking of some things I'd like to try today."

The left side of Rick's mouth went up. "Sounds fine to me, Thomas. Just hold the thought."

Magnum stood and watched Rick scurry up the stairs. He sighed, tension easing slowly from his mind and body. The first crisis, he thought. There had to be one. How many more would there be? How many problems could such a relationship face? Considering all the drawbacks to any normal, heterosexual pairing, he imagined that his love affair with Rick would not be easy much of the time. But maybe not that hard, he thought. The fact that he and Rick were friends might help, and that they knew and understood one another away from the candlelight and the bedroom. And his own determination might be the key. He intended to make it work. He knew he had been well trained to make a decision and stick to it. As he had sat in the Club that afternoon, watching Rick's every move, smile, gesture, he had known that he had somehow stumbled on something that could make a huge difference in his life; he had felt himself give way inside, completely, for only the second time in thirty-six years. He doubted very much that something like this would come more than twice. For the first time he had been able to close the chapter of his life called Michelle -- the chapter that had been reopened when she suddenly appeared, risen from the dead, and then walked away again, with nothing but a few words and one night to remember. Michelle was memories. She was the past. Rick was potential memories. He was now. Magnum had resolved to have that -- to hold on to now and to make it count. He had made a decision, and he knew that his own stubbornness could make it work, if he stuck to it. He intended to.

As he stood, hands on his hips, watching Rick descend the stairs and hustle into the kitchen, he felt a wave of pity. Poor Rick. It wasn't going to be easy on him. And he was almost sorry for not caring.

End Part One