Title: Just another day in Harsh Realm
Author: AnitaB
Author's notes: Well, any of you all that bought the complete Harsh Realm series on DVD might have some ideas about what our sweet soldier boys get up to after the end of 'Camera Obscura.' They won't tell me just how they got to the beginning of this piece of fanfiction… but they really like where I'm taking them. Anyone else notice that Hobbes must own Pinocchio because he manages to take more gold from the man than anyone else would ever survive. Here they get around to actually talking about the events in New York.
Graphic romantic slash ahead of the Hobbes/Pinocchio variety.
Just another day in Harsh Realm
By AnitaB
Chapter one: A surprise on patrol
Soft and warm. The lips against his own were unbelievably soft and warm. And kissing him back with equal desperate urgency. The hand at the back of his neck was combat-roughened, yet so gentle, holding him closer as the kiss deepened. Wet, sweet, and eager, Mike Pinocchio met each stroke of that tongue with one of his own. His fingers opened, sliding along a scruffy edged jaw to keep those lips on his, just a little longer. //Hobbes,\\
He was kissing Tom Hobbes. And, more shocking to Pinocchio's brain, Hobbes was kissing him back. //What the hell…\\ Weakly pulling away Pinocchio found himself helplessly searching Hobbes' face.
Warmth. Acceptance. Maybe even more than a little need. But not a damn trace of shock or surprise was written on that handsome face. That hand stayed warm at the back of his neck as those eyes touched his lips. Hobbes knew… //What the fuck…\\ "How…." Trying again, Pinocchio spread his fingers, weirdly comfortable with how much he liked the feel of 5 o'clock shadow on his skin. "How long have you…"
Hobbes smiled at him. "Known… about four minutes. Suspected?" The smile changed, widening with a faint edge of smugness. "Since New York, when you let me take gold from you … twice."
He was smiling back, wasn't he, leaning closer against a lean chest. "Three times," At a cocked eyebrow on that handsome face, Pinocchio almost laughed and pulled him closer by the hand on his jaw. "McKinley promised me fifty pieces to lead 'em in battle. 'Gainst you."
"And you said no." Hobbes laid his other hand warm against his ribs, leaning in.
"And then he offered me a cut of the whole take." Pinocchio knew he was leaning in too. His hand was reaching out, fingers sliding over thin cotton and hard muscles.
"Hmm… four times…" Those lips were so close to his as they smiled. Almost the same curve of lips from that car trunk in New York. But so much closer, so damn much more tempting. "So I guess you're stuck with me, huh." Hobbes leaned in again. And even knowing it was coming, Pinocchio was still surprised by just how right it felt. At just how good those lips felt claiming his. //Hobbes,\\
But this time it was Pinocchio's hand tight against the back of a neck. It was his turn to taste and explore, to make this man groan and arch in his arms. And he might even know how. Leaning harder against that body, Pinocchio dragged caressing fingers up a muscular ribcage. He wanted to see this, to watch Hobbes' response. But to give up this kiss… Nibbling at that lower lip, Pinocchio pulled back with a groan. That was need written on Hobbes' face, a lot of it. And the sound of a groan on those lips… "Hobbes," He watched the tip of a tongue stroke over those oddly gorgeous lips, groaning again.
Thin, well-worn cotton outline hard muscles under his fingers, muscles that twitched and tightened. It didn't even try to hide the stiffened peak from seeking fingers. //You want this, Hobbes. You want me.\\ He watched with fascinated eyes as Hobbes arched and moaned in his arms, teeth sinking into a lip. The stretched line of that neck lured him in, leading Pinocchio's lips to brush along a collarbone to the hollow of his throat. The tip of his tongue stroked as his fingers pinched and teased. And Hobbes arched, hands tightening on his back and neck. "Mike…"
//Yes.\\ This felt so good. Hobbes sounded amazing groaning his name, tasted so good under his tongue. Helplessly, Pinocchio pressed closer into those arms, pinning Hobbes harder against the wall. And against his body. //Oh, yes… Hobbes…\\ Tom Hobbes was hard, pressed tight and firm against his hip. "Hobbes," Pinocchio leaned up, claiming those delicious lips as his body helplessly pressed closer. "This is…"
"Crazy, I know." Warm fingers stroked over his lips as Hobbes arched to rub that body against his own. "That mean you wanna stop?"
//Hell, no…\\ Pinocchio felt nerves all over his body react to the thought, clinging tighter to Hobbes. A gasp passed his lips as his hips rubbed forward. "No, I don't wanna stop." The smile on Hobbes' face as he leaned in warmed something inside Pinocchio. Even as the world around them intruded just a little. "Not here."
A burned out building with a Republican guard due by on patrol was no place to go about not stopping. Watching Hobbes' eyes actually focus and move to the tree line behind him gave Pinocchio a weird sense of pride. He had forgotten where they were. Mike Pinocchio had distracted Hobbes that much. "Where to?"
Those lips were too close to let him concentrate. Pulling back a few more inches, Pinocchio tried to remember where the car was. Still too close… Breathing a soft groan, he forced his hips back. "We didn't check out yet."
"Sim-Roach Motel. You drive." Hobbes smiled before leaning forward and brushing a soft, short kiss over his lips. "Let's go."
Then his chest was cold as Hobbes slipped effortlessly out of his arms and started off through the trees. Pinocchio helplessly watched the lean, strong lines of that body as he moved. "It's my car," he tried to sound less breathless than he knew he was. And knew he failed, mindlessly following those shoulders through the woods.
000
It was hard not to touch him. Impossible not to look at him. Good that he wasn't the one driving right now. //Mike…\\ The sight of those hands fisted against the wheel made his own shake. Pinocchio's fingers on his jaw, stroking up his ribs. Hobbes curled his fingers into the seat to keep from reaching out. Pinocchio was driving and a car crash wouldn't get them back to the room any faster. Wouldn't get those strong arms around him any faster. But when those eyes glanced at him across the seat, Hobbes had to remind himself not to distract the driver. He found his eyes helplessly locked on those lips as Pinocchio spoke. "Almost there,"
Pinocchio's kiss… the way those lips felt against his own… Hobbes buried a groan in the back of his throat and dug his nails into the cushion. He couldn't reach for him yet. Not yet. "Make it fast, Pinocchio."
The smile that curved those lips made nerves twitch up and down his back. Oh, the plans Hobbes had for those lips… "In a hurry, Hobbes?"
"What do you think, Mike?" He could hear the near growl in his voice, loved watching the shiver move along Pinocchio's arms. The shiver seemed to travel through lean muscles until a foot floored the gas pedal. //Guess I'm not the only one in a hurry.\\
He didn't see the road, barely saw the parking lot. But Hobbes could have described their motel room's door blindfolded. Hobbes couldn't wait to peel the vest and t-shirt off of the lean, strong lines of that chest. To run fingers and lips over them. Dragging his eyes off the cracked paint, Hobbes met an odd mix of emotions on Pinocchio's face. Need and hesitation with just a hint of self-doubt. "Hobbes?"
The things this man could do to his pulse. Biting back a groan, Hobbes forced himself out of the car and towards the motel door. They had to get inside… before he lost control. "Are you coming inside, Mike?"
Lips moved silently a moment as fingers twitched. "Yeah, Hobbes, I'm comin'"
Hobbes wrapped his fingers around the doorknob, watching breathlessly as Pinocchio climbed out of the car and walked toward him. The hesitation and doubt were gone by the time he stopped so close to Hobbes' chest that both their breaths caught. Lips touched his, pressed and separated. Hobbes helplessly opened to the sweet invasion of Pinocchio's tongue. //Mike…\\ Winding his fingers into the edge of that vest, he pulled that lean body tighter against his own. "Open the door… Tom,"
//Yes…\\ The smile on that handsome face sent heat trembling along his nerves. The sound of that voice saying his name, his first name was certainly not helping his muscles work. //Oh, Mike… please.\\ Fingers found themselves at the back of a neck, dragging those lips to his own as the other hand fumbled at the door. Hobbes tilted his head for a better angle at those lips, groaning at the taste.
Pinocchio leaned closer, his fingers slowly trailing down every muscle in Hobbes' arm to meet his around the knob. "Inside, now," Dragging Pinocchio inside by the vest, Hobbes ran both hands up that gorgeous chest to cup that strong jaw. "Come here, Michael."
It was his turn now. His turn to press Pinocchio between his body and the wall. It was his turn to feel those hands clutch at his back, to drink a low groan ff those delicious lips. The vest had to go. Fingers found and opened every stubborn catch up his chest, sliding down strong arms to shove the vest away. Thin cotton outlined warm, hard muscles, leading eager hands right to them. Pinocchio felt so good under his hands, digging blunt nails into his back. Breaking the kiss to groan his name. "Hobbes, please."
But it wasn't enough. Smiling against those gasping lips Hobbes dragged both hands up the gorgeous chest under the shirt, skin to heated skin. Watching those eyes fall closed and that neck arch was … beautiful. Almost as breathtaking as the feel of him. "Pinocchio…" Forcing himself back from those lips, Hobbes jerked the t-shirt off over his head. //Damn gorgeous,\\ "You are…" Words escaped him and the only response he could manage was a harsh groan as he leaned in for a kiss.
A low sound passed Pinocchio's lips as his tongue met Hobbes' stroke for eager stroke. He breathed a low groan as Hobbes sent agile hands exploring his chest. Such gorgeous sounds were on those sweet lips. //Yes, Michael, groan for me.\\ Hobbes smiled into the kiss. It was his turn now, his turn to watch this man arch and tremble under his touch. Just another minute of this man's kiss first. "Tom, please,"
//That's it, Mike, beg for me.\\ Biting his lip to resist leaning in for another kiss, Hobbes placed both hands flat against a flat stomach. So warm and strong, and tightening under his fingers. He adored the way Mike arched into his touch. "Shh, Mike, I know," A long, slow drag upward led to a gorgeous sound on Pinocchio's lips and stiffened peaks under his circling fingertips. "You feel so..." //Perfect,\\ Hobbes needed more than touch. "Delicious." Bending, he kissed and licked his way down an arching neck. A bead of sweat rolled over Pinocchio's collarbone, leading eyes and lips lower.
"Damnit, Tom, please!" Hands clenched in his hair and the back of his t-shirt. The body in his arms arched and trembled. //That's it, Mike…\\ Sliding both hands to Michael's hips, Hobbes smiled against hot, smooth skin, pressing that gorgeous body harder against the wall. Closing his eyes, Hobbes found that stiffened peak with lips, tongue and, very lightly, teeth. The hips in his hands arched up off the wall in perfect time with the most beautiful sound in the world.
"Oh, Fuck, Thomas!" //That's the plan, Mike.\\ Pressing that lean body tight against his hips, Hobbes nipped and nibbled his way across that chest, loving each and every sound his Michael made. Then long fingers closed around the back of his neck. "Thomas, enough … now."
"Mike---" The sound cut off as Michael dragged him up for a bruising assault of a kiss. Opening to the invasion, Hobbes clung to broad shoulders to reinforce his knees. //So damn good, please.\\ Hands, warm and rough, dragged up his ribs, holding him close against hot skin and hard lines. //Yes,\\ An erection rubbed hard into his hip and Hobbes groaned helplessly into the heat of this kiss. And then he couldn't breathe at all.
"It's my turn, Tom." Those breath-taking hands slid under his shirt, dragging heat up his ribs. Hobbes groaned against gorgeous lips as those fingers rubbed along eager skin. //Michael,\\ His own hands tightened on those shoulders to stay standing. Michael was so close, so warm and yet not nearly close enough. Hobbes needed more, needed all that warm skin against his own. Now. Trying to breathe, he fought to open his grip. "Tom, arms up."
"Mike…" Weakly leaning into those arms, he helped those hands rid him of the t-shirt with a breathless gasp. "Closer, please," Capturing those delicious lips with his own, Hobbes wrapped both arms tight around strong shoulders, fingers spread wide against that hot, smooth skin.
Michael was pressing closer, hot and hard against his chest and harder against his hip. And groaning into his lips. "Damnit, Tom." //Oh, fuck, yes!\\ Hobbes fought for breath as that hard body crowded him backward against the bed. Hands pushed at his shoulders as hips ground hard into the front of his own. "You need me, Tom. And I need more."
//Yes, please,\\ On their own, Hobbes' fingers moved to lead those delicious lips back to his own. Only to lose their way. A dizzy moment later, Hobbes looked up the long, lean lines of Pinocchio's body from his own position flat on his back on the bed. "Mike?"
Since when were those fingers quite that nimble. Mere seconds and Michael had stripped off both of his securely tied army boots and leaned closer. "I wanna touch you, Tom," Hobbes fought to breathe as that body crawled up his until their lips nearly touched. "Really touch you. Can I?"
//Breathe, at least enough to answer.\\ "Fuck, yes, Mike, please." He couldn't have said which of them closed that small distance first. But then Hobbes really couldn't have said anything at all around the plunge and dance of Pinocchio's tongue in his mouth. He delighted in the heat and strength of the body pressing down against all of his. He lost himself in the feel of so much of Mike pressed against so much of him. Until all that heat pulled back. "Mike?"
Hot eyes burned over his face as a finger across his lips silenced him. "Sh, Tom, I still get to touch you." That hand trailed down his neck and wandered over his chest and stomach. To his belt. //Yes, touch me, please.\\
000
