Two Weeks Later
I looked up at Hamish on the platform, and nodded. "Okay, you ready?"
Hamish nodded excitedly. "I think so. Holden and I talked about it awhile after you showed it yesterday." Automatically he reached out to touch his brother's hand. Holden and I had demonstrated the technique of assisting each other's breathing during a pair-hanging yesterday. Hamish had looked on in absorbed concentration, and asked a lot of questions. "And I think I can handle the weight. I did all those exercises, hanging with the extra weights, like the Dean talked about in that letter he sent." He blushed. "I'm sorry, I think of it as him sending it, but Holden tells me you wrote it."
I nodded and laughed suddenly. "I assume the Dean found a way to word it so it didn't imply you were admitted already."
Hamish laughed. "Well, as far as the wording, yeah. I didn't know how else to take it, though. I knew it had to be connected with Holden being here, and something he wanted me to get ready for. Especially the hanging with the extra weights. Holden never got anything telling him to do that while he was waiting."
I smiled. "I figured you wouldn't be fooled, but the Dean was just covering himself. He didn't want to get some sort of general early admission policy started."
Both boys were naked, of course. That gave me another way of telling them apart, besides the newly-arrived glittery monograms attached to their collars. Both had identical reddish-orange bellyfur, but Hamish's was denser. There hadn't been time for electrolysis of the extra hair yet. Aside from that, Hamish's exercise program over the past year had kept his body looking essentially identical to Holden's. I remained on the lookout for subtle differences in habitual gestures or expressions that would help me distinguish them. There was still a touch of the familiar-friend-and-occasional-lover look on Holden's face when he looked at me that was absent from Hamish's, but that difference would fade away soon.
Each dropped a noose over the other's head, adjusted it and tightened it, and waited for me to tie their hands behind them. They kissed each other — their faces were already only inches apart — but postponed any further intimacies to concentrate on the business at hand. It was obvious that Hamish took hanging as seriously as Holden, and Holden set a standard that was hard to match.
I nodded. "Okay, Hamish, I just want you to get a feeling for the breathing itself. Like I said yesterday, Holden and I have worked out some moves, part of a routine, in fact, but we were just showing you the basics to start with. We can work on some choreography in a few days, once you've got breathing mastered." I gestured downward. "Hamish, move both of your feet just a few inches left. You'll be able to put your right leg between Holden's with less fumbling from there. While the platform is sinking, think where your knees are in relation to his."
Hamish nodded briefly, and I pulled the lever, starting the platform downward.
As soon as he lost contact with the floor, Hamish quickly reached out with his feet, but banged them against both of Holden's ankles. He knocked his right knee against Holden's left, but then managed to push his right leg between Holden's thighs and lock both his thighs around Holden's right.
On Hamish's first push upward, I saw a familiar problem arise. I quickly pushed the lever, raising the platform.
As soon as Hamish could breathe, he voiced an exasperated growl and stomped his feet on the platform. He looked at Holden with a pleading expression. "I'm so sorry, I can't believe I..."
Holden covered Hamish's mouth with his own, stifling the apology, and quickly said, "I did the same thing, the exact same thing, the first time. You have to get the balance just right. Push straight upward, and try not to lean back."
"It's just that I never screw up a..."
I reached up and stroked Hamish's hip. "Shhh, it's okay. Hamish, I know you can hang. But this is different. As you practice you're going to work out a new set of reflexes you haven't needed before. It just takes time. You saw Holden do it yesterday. You'll get there."
Hamish took a deep breath. "Okay. Can we try again?"
"Sure." I spoke softly, going for a calming note. "Close your eyes and stand there a minute. I'm not in a hurry. Just breathe for a minute. Tell me when you're ready."
Hamish breathed in and out a dozen times, then nodded. "Let's go."
I pulled on the lever.
Hamish pushed his right leg between Holden's again, much more smoothly this time. He lifted himself, took a few slow breaths, then felt Holden's double thigh-squeeze. He relaxed his upper body, and tightened his thighs still further to allow Holden to lift himself.
On Hamish's third lift, he twisted his upper body slightly to rub his chest against Holden's. Holden duplicated the move on his own third lift.
I pushed the lever. As soon as he could stand, Hamish hopped excitedly in place. "Okay, okay, I've got it now! Can we do it again?"
I laughed. The boy was just way too much like Holden. "After you rest about ten minutes. Your body's more fatigued than you know, right now."
"Okay." He grinned at Holden. After a quick kiss, they leaned into each other, their chins each resting on the other's left shoulder, rubbing their heads softly together.
I shook my head slightly. I've never seen lovers more in tune with each other. They always make complementary moves, always know what the other is about to do and what the other wants. Not me and Maverick, not anybody.
I had a feeling they'd be like that, I reminded myself. But expectations aren't much of a preparation for seeing it happen.