First Valentine’s Day

28

Starsky want’s to do something special to celebrate their first Valentine’s Day as a couple.  Hutch doesn’t want to… or does he?

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“This Thursday is Valentine’s Day,” Starsky remarked one day in February of 1980 after he and Hutch woke up in their bed.

Hutch looked at him sideways. “What about it?” he asked suspiciously.

“We gonna’ do anything special?”

Hutch snorted. “Why would we do anything special for Valentine’s Day? It’s worse than Christmas for euphoric sentimentality. It’s a creation of Hallmark cards and the candy companies. And we’ve never done anything about if before.”

“Yeah but things are different this year. We’re different this year.” Starsky gestured to the bed.

“Okay, yes, things are different,” Hutch admitted. “And I am happy they are. But that’s no excuse for overweening romanticism. We can have a completely normal day, with no forced sentimentality.”

“Aw Hutch, you’re no fun,” Starsky pouted.

“No fun at all,” Hutch agreed complacently. “Now get up, it’s time to get breakfast, and get to work.”

Starsky grumbled, but complied.

He was working desk duty after recovering from Gunther’s shooting, so he went to work separately and didn’t see Hutch until they went home that night.

He didn’t forget the subject though. When they were home from work, he brought it up again.

“I think we should go out for dinner on Thursday,” he said.

“Thursday? Valentine’s Day?” Hutch said. “Starsk, all the restaurants will be crowded with couples trying to prove something. We don’t need that. Besides, we shouldn’t be seen out as a couple on that day, if we want to keep this a secret.”

Starsky sighed and didn’t say anything. But he kept thinking about it. Finally he decided that, no matter what Hutch thought about it, there would be some sort of Valentines Day recognition. After all, he reasoned, it was their first Valentines Day as a couple. That should be celebrated.

He had to agree with Hutch, though, that they probably shouldn’t be seen going out for a romantic dinner on Valentines Day. Not so long as they wanted to be in the closet from Dobey and Internal Affairs. And they did want to stay closeted for the time being. So staying in made the most sense.

But there was still a lot that could be done staying in, and Starsky surreptitiously began making preparations.

First he found time to get away on his own to a card shop, and he picked out a Valentines card for Hutch. Of course there were no cards from a man to a man, but he chose the mushiest “To my sweetheart” card that he could find. He carefully hid it in his underwear drawer.

Then he informed Hutch that it would be his turn cooking dinner on Thursday. Hutch looked at him narrowly.

“This isn’t some sneaky way of getting us out on Valentine’s Day, is it?” he asked. “Claim that dinner got ruined somehow and we have to eat out after all?”

Starsky demurred with perfect honesty. Although he had to admit it was actually a good idea, he had other plans.

Over the next few days he made the rest of his preparations. He hid more things in his underwear drawer, and in other places.

Finally the day came. He had arranged secretly to leave work somewhat early so he could get home before Hutch. Then he started his setup.

He pulled some red candles out and set them on the table ready to light. He put a good bottle of wine in the refrigerator to chill. He wrapped the present he had gotten Hutch. He put a heart shaped box of chocolates on the table by Hutch’s place. He signed the Valentine, and set that by the chocolates.

Then he started preparations for dinner, so it would be ready when Hutch got home. He had gotten a steak, that the butcher had cut in the shape of a heart.

The heart shape had been a spur of the moment addition, when he went to the supermarket that day, and saw them for sale, and he wondered if it was just a little bit too much. He had to admit to himself that he wouldn’t have gone to this much effort for a woman he was dating, not even Terri.

But, after all, this wasn’t a woman, it was Hutch. More important to him than anyone. Worth more to him than anyone. Loved more than anyone. So why not?

As he ruminated about that, he heard the sound of Hutch’s car outside in the driveway of the small cottage they were house-sitting together while Starsky recuperated. He put a skillet on the stove to start the steak cooking, then went to greet Hutch at the door.

Hutch was carrying a large paper bag when he came in, which he carefully set down so he and Starsky could hug.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Babe,” Starsky said after they had kissed. “I know you didn’t want to celebrate, but there’s just a little celebration.”

“Aw, Starsk, you shouldn’t have…” Hutch began, picking up the bag.

Starsky ushered Hutch to the table, where the candles were lit, and the wine was out. “Yeah, I should have, and I did,” he said firmly. “Here, sweets for the sweet.” He handed Hutch the chocolates.

“Well, about that,” Hutch said, blushing a little. “I stopped at the store on the way home, and, well, they were on sale.” He pulled an even bigger heart shaped box out of the bag he was still carrying. “Here. Now we have more chocolate than we need.”

Starsky shook his head. “No such thing as too much chocolate, Hutch.”

Meanwhile Hutch had picked up the Valentine’s envelope. “A card, Starsk?” he asked. Starsky just nodded firmly. Hutch opened the card and began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Starsky growled.

Hutch reached into the paper bag again and pulled out an envelope which he handed to Starsky.

Starsky suspiciously opened it. Inside was the exact same mushy Valentine that he had gotten for Hutch. “Two great minds thinking alike I guess,” Hutch said, still laughing.

“You got me a card, you rat!” Starsky cried. “You said we weren’t going to celebrate Valentine’s Day!”

Hutch shrugged. “I knew you would do something no matter what I said.” Just then the doorbell rang.

“Who could that be?” Starsky wondered.

“You answer it,” Hutch said with a grin. Starsky gave him a look, but hurried to the front door and soon returned with a bouquet of roses.

“Flowers, Hutch?” he asked.

“Red roses. The traditional Valentine’s Day offering, isn’t it?”

Starsky grinned. “Yeah. You romantic you. No euphoric sentimentality here at all.” Then he added “Hey, I don’t even know if we have a vase for these, though.”

“I’m sure the Jacobs’ have a vase in the kitchen somewhere,” Hutch said dryly, ignoring the rest of the comment. “They’ve had everything else we’ve needed.” The Jacobs were the couple they were house-sitting for.

Sure enough, a vase was soon procured and the roses were sitting on the center of the table.

“Now I have to get to making dinner,” Starsky said.

By now the skillet was very ready for cooking on, and it didn’t take more than a few minutes to have the steak cooked and plated. There was also a salad, green beans, and baked potatoes. Starsky poured the wine, and served the steak.

“A heart shaped steak, Starsk? Isn’t that a bit much?”

Starsky shrugged, a little embarrassed at having his own thoughts mirrored. “It was the Valentine’s Day special. Now shut up and eat!”

So Hutch did. Starsky was a good cook, and everything was delicious. When they were done, and the dishes cleared, he brought out dessert, a chocolate cake from a local bakery.

“Aw Starsk, you didn’t have to do that too,” Hutch said as Starsky put it down with a flourish. In red piping it said “Happy Valentine’s Day” on it.

“If you’re going to do something, do it all the way,” Starsky said firmly. He cut large slices for them both. He had made coffee too.

Eventually the dessert dishes were put in the sink, to be done later, Starsky brought out the finishing touch, his wrapped present.

“Oh no, Starsk!” Hutch said in real distress. “I didn’t get you anything. Just the candy, card, and roses. I never thought you’d go this far.”

“That’s OK, Hutch. You can make it up to me later tonight,” Starsky said with a salacious grin. “Besides,” he added more seriously, “This is sorta’ a present for us both.”

Hutch unwrapped the small rectangular package with some trepidation.

It was a VHS tape of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. “To remind us we can always give up everything and go be bank robbers in Bolivia if it all gets to be too much.” Starsky explained. “We can watch it tonight before we go to bed.” The Jacobs had been early purchasers of a VHS player, and Starsky and Hutch had gotten well-versed in its use in the time they had spent there, though they had always kept their watching to rentals rather than purchases.

“That’s perfect,” Hutch said, a little choked up. “Remember when we first saw it? When it was in theaters? I’m glad we can see it again.”

Starsky kissed him then. “I’m glad you like it, Hutch,” he said after they separated.

“Wasn’t it expensive though?”

“Of course. But I figured we wanted to own this one, not just rent it. And you’re worth it, Hutch.”

Hutch smiled and kissed Starsky again, deeply and passionately and pulled Starsky into a tight embrace. Starsky broke the kiss first. “Oh no, Hutch, don’t start now! We want to do the dishes and then go watch Butch Cassidy. Then when we go to bed, you can pay me back!” He winked.

Hutch nodded. “OK,” he said in mock resignation. “Let’s do those dishes.”

The dishes were done in record time, as were some other evening chores, and soon they were in the living room cuddled together in front of the TV. The movie was as good as they remembered, and Starsky was even a little teary eyed by the final scene.

“That’s how I wanna’ go, when I do. Together with you, Babe.”

“Hopefully not so apocalyptically though,” Hutch said dryly. “Going out in a blaze of glory is all well and good in a movie, but not something to do in real life.” His face darkened briefly. “But I hope we do go together. It’s hard being the one left behind.”

Starsky nodded, knowing Hutch was thinking about the dark days Starsky lay in a coma after the shooting. “I promise I’ll never leave you behind again if I can help it. Me and Thee together forever.” He snuggled into Hutch and kissed him, first gently and then with deepening heat.

Hutch responded hungrily, then pulled back. “Let’s take this into the bedroom” he suggested.

“Oh yeah,” Starsky murmured.

So they did, leaving a trail of shed clothing on the floor. By the time they reached the king-sized bed, they were both naked and hard.

Hutch pushed Starsky back onto the bed and, without any more ado, went down on his throbbing cock, sucking and licking furiously, while Starsky moaned and writhed under his attentions.

Soon Starsky was near coming, but Hutch slowed down then, dragging out his efforts, slowing everything down til Starsky was almost begging for release. Finally, with a last round of deep-throating, he brought Starsky to a sobbing, panting climax. Starsky lay, limp and flushed, while Hutch lay down beside him, panting slightly from the exertion,

They lay like that for several minutes, until Starsky had recovered. Then he rolled over on top of Hutch and kissed him gently but thoroughly. Hutch responded enthusiastically, pressing up against Starsky’s body, as Starsky ran a line of kisses down his throat and chest.

“Oh yeah,” Hutch mumbled as Starsky first gently and then harder sucked on his nipples. He nibbled with his teeth carefully, then slid his mouth down Hutch’s stomach.

He reached his groin, and ever-so-softly nibbled his way around the base of Hutch’s cock, while Hutch bucked his hips frantically. Finally he took Hutch’s erection into his mouth, and began to suck and kiss him, running his tongue around the head, and deep-throating him.

Hutch moaned wildly, and gasped as he came down Starsky’s willing throat. Starsky swallowed his load, and fell back on the bed. He grinned at Hutch. “Good?” he asked.

“Oh yeah, you’re the best, Starsk,” Hutch sighed.

“No complaints about overweening romanticism, or euphoric sentimentality?”

Hutch considered. “Well, maybe the heart shaped steak was a little over-the-top,” he said thoughtfully.

Starsky punched him, gently and playfully. “Shut up, Hutch, I told you, it was a special.”

Together they pulled themselves up to the top of the bed and crawled under the covers. They snuggled up together. “Love you, Starsk,” Hutch murmured, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Love you too, Hutch. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Soon Hutch was asleep. but Starsky was more wakeful. He ran over the events of the day in his mind. It was, he thought, a very successful first Valentine’s Day, and he was glad he had gone ahead with his plans. Next year, Hutch should be more amenable to the idea, and willing to join in planning something special.

In the meantime, all was well, and he soon slipped off to sleep himself.