Title: Tug of War

Author: Cannibal Jello

Rating: I think this will be an R. =3

Warning: Mild yaoi/Shounen-ai (nothing graphic)

Disclaimer: I will never own anything as cool as Resident Evil/Biohazard. Capcom owns those. And of course I'm not making any profit. If I thought I could, I wouldn't be posting it on fanfiction.net, now would I?

Notes: Aw shit, haha, I had posted the unedited form of this. Thank you ComedyMagmar for making me notice. XD

Great, when I thought I couldn't be more of a dork, it happens! Ach, ahhahaha.

REVIEW damn't, or I shall write no more! :O!

= = =

"You couldn't if you tried!"
"I could!"
"Could what?"
"He thinks he can down a beer, Cindy."
"He can, can't he? Who can't?"
"Jim counts the number of times he chews his food, he wouldn't dare do it."
"Shut up Alyssa!"

Yoko studied the ongoing saga with interest, despite its stupidity. After all, she was bored. She had nothing better to do than watch Alyssa knuckle poor little Jim into a corner. Lately, Alyssa had been rather keen on gambling. Perhaps it was Kevin's fault - he liked to add a little spice to weekly football matches on TV. Instead of pepper or cayenne, Kevin had his own favorite ingredient - money. When mixed with differing opinions, it was most tasteless, yet desirable recipe (if one was to win). On the other hand, if a person failed to play their cards right, they'd play themselves empty of their wallet. The amount of money that could be made was undoubtedly the lure to a well place bet.

Then again, making a generous bet was as sure fire as Russian roulette. Whether it backfired or not, no one could say. It had undoubtedly backfired on Officer Ryman, for he'd lost the wage after the football match. Sourly, he'd given his money - one twenty and three tens - to the enthralled journalist. Not only would he be feeding her hungry stomach for the next week, but he had also struck a newfound craving in the woman. When in a zoo, don't feed the animals. The same could have been said around money hungry females. Kevin had created a monster.

Still, it was believable that Alyssa Ashcroft had 'confident' for a middle name. If there was anything that woman was, it was valiant. And poor Jim, the young subway worker, had been unwillingly set in those cobalt eyes, sighted as bait for Alyssa's gambling games.

"Come on," the strawberry blonde taunted. "It's just a harmless little bet. Or are you too cheap? Is that it, Chapman, can't play a man's game?"

Cindy, having been attracted to the scene like a moth to a lamps light, laughed. "Oh Alyssa, that's cruel!"

Although he enjoyed the feminine company, Jim wasn't sure of the odds stacked against him - two females, one male. While Yoko knew Mr. Chapman couldn't turn down a lady - certainly not two - from some offers, but she had a feeling that this was certainly not one of them. Instead, Jim sat silently at the dining room table.

Alyssa wouldn't be diverted. She loomed over the seated young man, tall on her feet. She had her hands splayed across the table's edge, arms straight as she leaned over Jim's thin form. "Have a little confidence in yourself, Jim! You said yourself that you could do it. So show me! What's a little money lost?"

Jim looked skeptical, but his pique of interest was getting the best of him. The young man was playful - he couldn't deny it. "How 'little' money are we talkin'?"

The journalist tilted her head in thought. Then a smile curled her lips. Alyssa didn't look innocent. In fact, she was beginning to resemble the Grinch. "How about...ten bux."

Jim's jaw dropped. "For drinking beer? Come on, woman! You ever heard of bein' reasonable?"

The front door of the rented house opened and closed. Heavy footsteps approached, marking the arrival of David before he even entered the room. He'd come back from fetching the news, with the paper tucked beneath one arm. Yoko smiled, looking him up and down, studying the tightness of his white tank top, and the blue denim of his jeans.

Instead of a welcoming "hi", David decided to jump right in on the conversation, working off the only line his ear caught. "Women are never reasonable, Jim."

Upon seeing Yoko, David flashed her a small smile as he tossed the paper onto the table, as if he owned the place. Well, technically, they all did. Shortly after the Raccoon incident, the survivors had been drawn together after the horrors they'd survived by each other's sides. It seemed as though an invisible loop had been strung around each of the eight people, then drawn to bring them all hip to hip. Of course, after what they'd been through, it was reasonable enough.

Each of the survivors had chipped in what money they had from remaining bank accounts and pocket change to rent a four bedroom house on the edge of New York. Here, they would be away from the most bustling city life, yet each individual would have no problem continuing their careers. Everyone stayed in the same business, more of less. David remained a plumber, Alyssa snatched a job at the local paper, and Cindy was a small diner waitress. Mark had kept his job as a security officer and worked at a museum fifteen minutes away, figuring he'd track down his family as soon as life had settled down.

Kevin had wisely put distance between him and the police force. After all, if Umbrella had been tracking down the remaining few survivors from Raccoon, having Kevin land a job directly involved with the government would have been a surefire was to get tracked. Why not just prance into the corporations arms with signs that read: 'Come and get it!'?

George, with his easygoing nature, had taken a job in a family medical care business. Quite the opposite from before, George now worked with children. Cindy was enthralled, since the two had began to date shortly after the outbreak. Everyone else winced; hoping the grinning girl wasn't getting the wrong ideas. Once, jokingly, Alyssa had voiced her concern. "You can fix pipes, create weapons, and fix a god damn tank, but do you know how to do tubule legation?" she'd asked David. Yoko had never seen him so red before.

David certainly wasn't red now. In fact, with the suns summer rays, he had become a rather nice shade of tawny brown. Yoko frowned at her own opaqueness.

Cindy, by far the palest of the group, looked at the plumber frowning. "Hey, not all of us, Buster!"

Jim raised a finger towards Alyssa. "Just her."

"Hey, it's not nice to point!" Alyssa snapped, then said, "Especially when you can't put your money where your mouth it."

By his flat expression, Yoko knew David expected what was coming. Still he had to ask, "What?"

"Alyssa's betting Jim that he can't chug down a can of beer!" Cindy chirped helpfully. Jim nodded. David sighed, walking over to collapse on the sofa next to Yoko. She smiled as he did.

"Oh no, not this shit again," he groaned. "Can't you give it a rest?"

Alyssa set her sights on David. "I'm only just beginning, mister. You wanna have a go?"

Was that a challenge to a bet? Yoko was surprised Alyssa had the nerve to provoke David again.

She should have learned her lesson by now. David is no lightweight, and he certainly doesn't back down - not even when confronted with a tub of Nairs wax and cloth strips.

Yoko could have laughed aloud at those memories. One day David had come across a very sore and agitated Alyssa, cursing about "the damn things women do to make themselves attractive" as she ripped layers of skin from her legs with melted wax.

He'd laughed, shaking his head. "Can't take a little pain, huh?"

Alyssa glared daggers. "A little? Like you would know anything about it, you bastard!"

"It can't be that bad," David retorted. And that's when it all began. Fifty of Alyssa's paycheck said that David couldn't survive a leg waxing. Fifty of David's said he could.

Perhaps David had gotten the better bargain - a little pleasure with his pain. Kevin had nervously joked that perhaps David enjoyed the torture too much. Some of the expected groans of pain sounded suspiciously like moans of tormented pleasure.

You learn something new about someone every day.

David had left the room with the smoothest, finest legs Yoko had ever seen on a man. In fact, she'd been jealous. Most women would have died for those long lithe thighs and calves, along with his natural olive skin. It was unfair, really, how nature favored some and neglected others.

Maybe Alyssa had shared the same flashback, because she suddenly dropped her challenging gaze towards David. Instead, she shifted it towards Jim.

"Take it of leave it, Bub. Five dollars says you can't chug a can of beer, hands down."

Both David and Yoko rolled their eyes, and smiled at each other. They had become pretty close since Raccoon that their relationship resembled that of a brother and sister, so when David scooted closer to slip an arm around the young Japanese girl's shoulders, it was nothing more than a friendly gesture.

His gravelly voice asked her gently, "Do you think he'll do it?"

Yoko sighed. "I hope he doesn't, but he probably will. Alyssa is the queen of intimidation."

"Do you wanna make that a bet?" David joked. Yoko slapped him on the chest, grinning.

Cindy perched herself on the edge of the table, crossing her legs daintily. She joined Alyssa's intent stare at Jim.

His nervousness cracked. "Okay! I'll do it! Just stop sharkin' me, will ya?"

The two girls laughed gleefully. Alyssa ran into the kitchen to snatch up a can of Miller. She didn't bother to bring her purse along. "Here ya go, Jimmy. Have fun!"

Cindy clapped. "Go Jim! Chug that beer!"

Another voice called from another room. "Did I hear the word beer?!"

Kevin Ryman hurried into the room, hair a rat's nest, standing on end from night's worth of sleep crushed against a pillow. Unshaven and suffering a slight hangover, Kevin stumbled over his own foot once or twice before gaining his bearings. "What'd I miss?" he panted, standing behind the couch.

No one else besides the Alyssa, Cindy, David, Jim, Kevin, or Yoko was home at the moment. Duty called for the remaining few, who grumbled at those who were granted with a day off or two. For Yoko, it was simply the weekend which she had free, since remained a University student. No one expected her to hold a job - yet.

David leaned his head back against the headrest of the cushions, exposing his strong neck as he looked up at Kevin. "Alyssa's following your examples, again. Really, we should kill you for doing this to us."

"What? What'd I do?" Kevin asked innocently, tilting his head to one side. "I haven't done anything!"

Yoko smiled and Kevin laughed as David said, "You've created a witch."

It might have been okay for Alyssa to self-proclaim herself as such, but it certainly wasn't for David, or anyone else, for that matter. She made it quite obvious when she swept the rolled newspaper from the table and approached the couch. She welded her weapon as a law enforcer would a truncheon, patting it against her empty palm. Then, when she was in range, the brought it down with a thwack!

David yipped and Kevin yelped as a barrage of swings thumped their heads, raising their hands in hopeless defense. Yoko ducked behind a sofa pillow; thankful she wasn't facing the wrath of the journalist's scorn. But unlike males, females typically thought before they spoke.

"That's Ms. Witch to you, you knuckleheads. Treat a lady with respect!" Alyssa snapped.

Kevin either didn't hear, or didn't care, and he obviously didn't learn his lesson from the beating. "You're no lady!" he laughed.

As Kevin became the focus of Alyssa's attacks, David took momentary advantage of the distraction. He raised one hand and tugged the paper away from the manicured hands. Alyssa attempted to snatch it back, but she was too slow. She growled in frustration when David lifted himself and sat on the weapon of choice.

"Enough," he hissed.

Kevin sighed thankfully, rubbing his sore head. By the expression on Alyssa's face - defiant and flushed with anger - Kevin thought she'd attack again. Like a dog, she sensed his uneasiness, and lurched forward to swat at the groggy man. He jumped back and threw his hands up in surrender.

"All right, all right! Cool your jets, lady."

Alyssa smiled arrogantly. "Yes, that's right. Did you hear that, David? I'm a lady - Kevin said so!"

David muttered something beneath his breath. Yoko giggled. "Watch it, Dave," she warned.

The journalist glared at David. "You should be more obedient. Maybe then you'd get a girl, once in a while."

She'd manage to catch David's attention. "Say what?" he asked.

Alyssa grinned devilishly. "You heard me. You haven't had a girlfriend for a while, am I right?"

"So what if you are?" David retorted. Yoko watched his face with interest, but she couldn't quite put a finger on what she saw. Irritation? Dismay? Aggravation? Only David knew.

Alyssa, never failing to find ways to amuse herself, kept bating David for a fight. "...You know what else I think?"

"What?" David asked, remaining S (passively)

"I bet you haven't gotten laid for a long time."

Yoko flushed at the thought, expecting David to do the same. Everyone's full-on attention was focused on the couch, awaiting David's comeback.

He shrugged passively. "Not all men are mindless sex machines like Kevin."

"Hey!" Kevin snapped loudly, despite his hung-over ache. He winced after the effort.

Everyone ignored Kevin's outburst. They were staring at the boxing ring as the plumber and journalist circled each other, verbal fists cocked.

Alyssa glared down at her lounging opponent, curling one corner of her mouth audaciously. "Perhaps you're just a coward."

When David didn't take the bate, she turned her back and sighed in exasperation. "What's wrong with you guys? Is no one man enough to stand up for themselves around here?"

David sarcastically proved her wrong, for he up-righted himself from the sunken cushions to stand. Hands on his hips, he smirked at Alyssa. "Are you happy now?"

"Spare me your sarcasm, Dave." Alyssa said, sighing. Yoko tried to the smile tugging at her lips. She assumed Jim and Cindy were struggling to do the same. Kevin was grinning full-fledged.

You think Kevin would have learned his lesson by now, Yoko thought to herself. He's lucky Alyssa didn't punch those teeth into his face.

Despite Alyssa's sassy attitude, David wasn't one to be intimidated. He could sass back with the best of them. But perhaps he was making the best move. Instead of punching back with an insult or remark, he simply folded his arms quietly. If there were two things Alyssa couldn't stand, it was being ignored or receiving the silent treatment and David was laying it on thick.

Alyssa was unnerved, obviously. She stepped right up to David, nearly breast to chest, staring up to look into his gray eyes between the distance of their heights. All the other survivors held their breath, and she spoke.

"I'm starting to think you aren't a man, David."

"Goin' straight for the uppercut," Kevin whispered into Yoko's ear. "But will she go for the K.O?"

The ex-RPD member had sunk behind the couch, resting his stubble-riddled chin against the headrest. She giggled slightly, feeling his warm breath on her skin. She could smell last night's alcohol on his breath.

"You haven't brushed, have you?" she asked. It felt awkward speaking among the silence of the others, so she pitched her voice low.

Kevin twisted an eyebrow. "Not yet. Why?"

"No reason," she smiled. "Just make sure you use some mouthwash – and a ton of it."

Yoko let Kevin mow over what she'd said as she turned her attention back to the plumber. Still and unvoiced, David stood his ground. He stared down straight down his nose at the strawberry blonde.

Alyssa made the first physical move. One nimble hand slid between their two bodies, resting on David's stomach. The plumber looked confused. Everyone held their breath, except for Alyssa who grinned like a shark, hand grasping the hem of David's jeans. "What have we got here?" she purred sensually.

There was no hesitation as she pulled, separating the worn fabric from David's firm stomach. He made a small noise of surprise as Alyssa looked down between them, down the openness of his pants.

Everyone else was slack-jawed. It took David a moment to regain his composure before he slapped her hands away. Alyssa laughed with a high, gleeful pitch as David adjusted the jeans.

As he did, he growled, "And to think this is the only day I didn't wear a belt."

Jim laughed - the tense air of the room broken. Cindy was giggling like a hyena, pink in the face. Yoko noticed her own skin was flushed hot, as behind her, Kevin stood up and slapped his knee.

"The things that go on in this house!" he chuckled.

Cindy looked at Alyssa. "So, what's the verdict?" she asked.

Alyssa coyly smiled at David, eyes dangerously fierce. "He's a man, all right. Pity he's proper. I was wondering if he even wore anything beneath those jeans."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but that I remembered this morning." David smirked. "Catch me on a Tuesday, and you might have better luck."

Yoko was about to ask what was so special about Tuesday, but she thought better of it. David was like a brother to her, not a boy toy. Knowing might have changed that.

On the other side of the room, Jim looked relieved. The subway worker believed he was free of Alyssa's torment. Alyssa may have forgotten after the display that had taken place, if it hadn't been for the beer can standing tall on the table. Jim grimaced, fumbling to hide it, but lucked out in the end.

"I saw that!" she cried, stomping over to the table. Behind her, David plopped and slumped against the couch again with his long legs splayed leisurely before him. Kevin, eager to be around anything involving beer, circled his was around the couch towards the table.

"Gotta get a front row seat," Kevin smiled apologetically, passing Yoko's offer to sit with her and the plumber. She nodded and watched his back as he walked.

Jim looked like a weak animal cornered by its predators who had caged him in his seat at the table. He swallowed hard, perhaps having second thoughts about the bet. It was then that Yoko remembered that Jim had never been much of a beer drinker. "He's more of wine cooler kinda guy," David had joked once before. If one thing was sure, it was that Jim was no heavyweight, and he certainly couldn't live up to the drinking abilities of their beloved domestic drunk. It didn't take a genius to point that man out.

Said man was eyeing the can of Miller that stood proudly on the table. He smiled. "Hey Alyssa, why didn't you bet me over this?"

Alyssa blinked, then scoffed. "I'm not that stupid," she said, before pointing an accusing finger at David. "Don't you dare say a word!"

The plumber chuckled and his mouth remained shut. Yoko thought she could hear his mind ticking.

Jim sighed, rolling his eyes. One brown hand wrapped around the silver can, as the other popped the lid. He sniffed the contents inside and retracted immediately as though a snake had struck. His face was crunched up in obscene distaste.

"Oh my god, hell no! No way I'm drinkin' this shit! What is this, piss in a can?"

Alyssa smirked. "No, you'd only have to worry if Kevin had given you the beer."

From the couch, David laughed in a single hard exhilaration. Yoko mentally praised David for being so efficient – by sitting on the newspaper; he had saved himself from further beatings. If he hadn't, Kevin would have surely leapt at the plumber with the paper cocked and ready. All was safe, for now.

Instead of snapping, Kevin simply glared at Alyssa. Not even his look of death could wipe the silly grin from her face. It turned to an expression of triumph as Alyssa extended an open palm to Jim.

"Pay up, sweet cheeks! Give mama five sheets of green!"

Jim slammed down the can, shaking the table. He stood up but made no move to find his wallet.

"Like hell!" he cried. "Give a guy a chance, will ya? I can't stand this cheap shit!"

Cindy got up from her seat on the table. "You want me to find something better?"

Jim rolled his eyes at the blonde. "Yes!"

"I don't think there is anything better," David muttered from the couch, then teased, "Didn't Kevin drink it all?"

Kevin clenched his fist and began to approach the couch.

This can't be good, she thought, picking up her shield of a pillow. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

David, on the other hand, didn't have anything to protect himself when Kevin started running at the couch. Instead of waiting for the punch, David swung himself over the nearest and scuttled to get out of the way of the charging bull.

"No you don't, you ass!" Kevin barked, lurching for the plumber. David yelped, dodging one before he stumbled a few feet away from the fiercely grinning cop, before he leaned into an attack stance.

"This ass is going to kick your ass," David snarled, returning the insane stare.

Across the room, Jim sighed. "Here we go again! Can't you guys refrain from tearin' each others throats for one day?"

Yoko wanted to ask the same. She couldn't deny that she found it funny. It seemed once a week David and Kevin would make playful jabs at each other, then run around chasing their tails. Many a lamp or potted plant had been broken during the rampant sessions. Yoko had the feeling she'd be picking up the dustpan pretty soon.

"Boys will be boys, Jim," she smiled, watching the two other men in their stand off. Tension crackled between them, winding their bodies up like coil that would undoubtedly spit shrapnel when it finally snapped.

One drawled second. Two. Then the detonator blew.

There was a flash of movement as David took off full sprint out of the room at top speed. Thundering close behind was Kevin, who shouted in primal excitement. The floor shook as the two grown men flew through the room, leaping over a random shoe of Jim's sprawled on the floor, dodging table and lamp.

"Watch it!" Alyssa yelled as David flew past her, too fast for her to react. Then a scream she saw Kevin, racing towards her and steaming like a bull. Behind her, David was laughing like an insane man, lost in the adrenaline, too enthralled to see the oncoming furniture -

Crash!

= = =

"You know what would help ease the pain, David?"

"...Alcohol?"

Kevin grinned, patting his friend on the shoulder as he looked at the resting man splayed on his bed. Yoko was surprised that Kevin didn't receive a serious punch to the face. Perhaps he would have, if David's hands weren't occupied, clutching an icepack to his right hip. He'd been shed of his pants, but that was nothing. The only thing besides his long legs he exposed was the rubber ducky print of his boxers.

"I was thinking along the lines of sex, but if you insist!" Kevin said, holding the previously abandoned can of Miller in his hand. He took a drink, grinning from ear to ear. Yoko watched her friend as he drank from her place on the bed next to David. She sat, legs criss-crossed, besides the lanky plumber and was fondly playing with his lengthy hair.

Yoko thought it was quite cute that he was attempting to humor his friend. But that was little compared to what it would take to patch the anger between the men. David could hold a grudge with the best of them, and he was certainly expressing one now.

Cindy walked into the room shaking her head. As she did so, her blonde ponytail swayed from side to side. Adorable was a word to describe her.

She laid a nurturing hand on David's leg. "Okay Dave, let's take a look at it."

Alyssa piped up from her place standing in the doorway. "Strip, baby!" she giggled, then added, "Wow, this is the second chance today I've had to see it, Dave."

The plumber wasn't amused. "I didn't take the table corner into my crotch – thank god!"

"If he had, he probably wouldn't be alive right now," Kevin joked. David's eyes exposed his boiling anger as Cindy removed the cold pack, effectively shutting Kevin up as if he'd been gagged. The former cop took a step back.

"Ouch," Cindy hissed beneath her breath. "And to think crap like this only happens when George is gone."

Jim laughed suddenly before he asked, "Is there a doctor in the house?! We got a dipshit in need of medical attention!"

"Alyssa," David grumbled, waving her over to him. She nimbly trotted over and leaned down to David as he whispered gravelly in her ear. Jim's humored expression faded. A conniving grin warped her lips as she pulled away from David to walk out of the room. On her way, she snatched up the ice pack.

"Come on Jim, let's go toss this in the freezer," she said. Though Jim was suspicious, he knew it was best to trust a woman. There was little worse than a woman's scorn.

But there were some things.

"What are you doing?" he asked, laughing nervously. There was no reply for a few seconds. Suddenly, there was a yelp, a shout for help – and a window-shattering shriek.

"What the hell?!" Kevin cried, flying towards the bedroom door like a gust of wind.

Behind him, David shook with laughter. He was clutching his heaving stomach until he was out of breath. Cindy, unsure what to do, had held her hands up and off of the humored man.

Beyond the room, Jim was swearing like there was tomorrow. "What in the hell is up with that, you bitch! God! David! You bastard – fucking piece of shit, you're dead! DEAD!"

There was laughter further into the house, obviously Alyssa's. She became the target of Jim's rage. "And you! YOU! You're going down with him, bitch! I'll bury you fuckers together, you evil rotten, little -!!! ERGH!"

Kevin leapt back from the doorway as a very unhappy Jim stomped inside, fuming. Behind him, a cackling Alyssa trailed. She stepped into the room behind him.

"Not so hot now, eh, Jim?" David joked. "Of course not, that 'ice down the pants' trick works wonders! Ahah, how are ya feelin'? Is there any pain, or are you numb? Maybe you shriveled so small, the fucker snapped off!"

Kevin was the human catching mitt as Jim lunged towards David. Kevin held the subway worker back. "Woah there, I think he's been battered enough today, don't ya think?"

"Not nearly," Jim snarled. Kevin fought to hold the young man still until Jim was a panting, gasping bundle. His battery had run low.

"Anyway…" Cindy began, wanting to divert the conversation from it's surely doomed course. She traced one hand lightly over David's swollen side as she asked, "Does this hurt?"

He shook his head. "No, but it's too numb from the ice. Can't feel a thing."

Cindy smiled. "I guess that's a good thing. You're going to have one hell of a bruise."

Kevin chuckled, before he said, "Well why don't you give it a kiss?"

"I'll tell you what you can kiss," David growled.

Kevin cocked an eyebrow and stepped closer. "Bend over Bub and I'll plant a big sloppy one."

Cindy was giggling, Alyssa was intrigued, and Yoko was embarrassed.

"That's probably the most action David would get in a long time," Alyssa said. She sat, combing her hair with the fingers of her left hand.

"Oh god, that again?" the plumber groaned. "Can't you give it a rest?"

Alyssa shrugged, dropping her hand to her side. "I have nothing better to do."

"Well…" David said, smiling at Jim. "You could always finish your bet with ol' Blue Balls over there."

Jim's jaw dropped and he looked at the plumber; eyebrows plunged in a V down his nose. "You..!"

"That's right!" Alyssa laughed, clapping her hands. "Let's go get us a drink! I've been waiting for my five new friends. I got five places in my purse for them – One for George, another for George, then-"

"We get it!" Kevin cried, gripping his head.

Cindy frowned from her sitting place on the bed next to David. "I don't think we have anything here besides Miller."

Kevin's grin couldn't get bigger as he took center stage in the room. "So it's settled, then! Off to a bar we go!!"

There was a collective groan amongst the other survivors.

"Who's game?" Kevin asked, bouncing from foot to foot. It didn't take a genius to assume his opinion on the matter.

Alyssa smiled. "I'll go. I'm going to collect my tab no matter what, isn't that right, Jim?"

"But I don't want –"

"You're going," Alyssa snapped. "That's final."

Cindy tilted her head to one side in thought for a moment, before she smiled. "I don't see why not. Sure, I'll tag along."

Yoko's choice was a definite as Kevin's. She was a minor, only 20 years old. She didn't belong in a bar, and she wouldn't try. This fact influenced David's decision, as he shook his head slightly.

"I guess I'll stay behind," he said, shifting against the bed.

Kevin wasn't having any of that. "Oh come on, Dave, you gotta follow! How else are ya gonna get laid? I bet you could nab some fine looking ladies at the bar, no sweat!"

The plumber frowned, patting Yoko on the head with one large hand. "I don't feel like venturing out into the cesspool tonight. Besides, who's going to watch over our little underage friend? She's the most important gal to me, hands down."

Yoko flushed, her cheeks pinkening. She was always bashful when being flattered. Despite the sweet smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she managed a slight frown. "You don't have to ruin your fun around me, Dave. I don't mind staying behind."

Her frown was infectious, and David was easily defiled. "No, really it's okay. Who needs a lady when you've got the best gal waiting at home?"

Alyssa rolled her eyes. "Oh stop the mushy crap. Yoko, what do you want Dave to do?"

"I want him to go and enjoy himself," the young woman answered.

Kevin jangled the car keys. "Okay. Then come on Dave, let's go."

= = =

Kevin was drunk.

No surprise there, Cindy thought, watching the man down his sixth shot of liquor.

It wasn't a surprise either, when Kevin stood on unsteady feet. Like usual, Kevin was the only one who was really hammered. Cindy, like Jim, wasn't much of a drinker, so she understood when Jim lost the bet.

He'd been so close! About half a glass of wine down and his gag reflex triggered. But Cindy doubted the mess he made was the most damaging blow to his ego. He'd look pretty defeated as his five dollars were yanked away. Really, Cindy would never understand men.

She definitely didn't understand David.

The plumber had taken a seat in the corner of the room, deep in the dim bar shadows. All of the other survivors assumed he'd rather be alone than in familiar company. There goes David and his inherited melancholy.

Cindy had a depression of her own. Being in such a familiar scene, in such an unfamiliar place tended to bring back memories she'd have rather forgotten. Memories of Raccoon, memories of Will –

Stop.

Jim, Alyssa, and Cindy had stuck together like a school of fish, albeit a very small gathering. Just moments ago, Jim had retreated to the restroom – to wash out his mouth, Cindy guessed – leaving the waitress and journalist alone.

Both of them sat, saying a couple words in bursts whilst stirring their drinks absentmindedly. Not much was going on in the bar, which was an unusual thing. Kevin was the type to make a scene – it had happened plenty times before – but luckily, he wasn't going to tonight.

Uh-ho, spoke too soon.

Cindy bit her lip, watching as the hunk of a man staggered from his stool at the bar. Everyone knew his attitude well enough – even when shit-faced, Kevin insisted he was in control, despite the fact that he couldn't walk in a straight line. So instead, he made a bee track straight towards – Who else – David King.

David should have seen it coming. After all, he could have been pinned the father figure of the group. He'd taken the role upon himself to take care of any problems, and – more often than never – keep Kevin from becoming the problem, himself.

At the moment, Kevin didn't seem like much of a hazard. In fact, he looked as harmless – and helpless – as a toddler did. Even more so when he cooed, "Daa-vid!"

Cindy laughed at the expression the plumber wore as he turned towards his friend. She could read it clearly: Oh hell, not again. She felt the same, although she figured everyone already knew without her announcement.

"Oh my god," Alyssa breathed, attention attracted to the two familiar men. "Is he dribbling?"

Cindy laughed. "Which one, David or Kevin?"

Alyssa snickered, taking a sip of her Bloody Mary. The blonde waitress could smell the Tobasco from where she sat. Apparently, Alyssa liked it hot.

"I think he is!" the journalist cackled, slapping her thigh. She only got louder when Kevin promptly hiccuped and fell over, toppling to the ground at David's feet.

From their table, the girls could just hear Kevin speak when he whinged David's name again and held up a thick hand. "Help me up?" he pleaded.

David, like the father figure he was described as before, obliged. He had a smile on his lips as though he were laughing and enjoying his friend's helplessness. The expression faltered for a moment – the time it took David to pull Kevin to his feet – and then he relaxed again.

"You're a heavy bastard, you know that?" he asked, the question sounding rhetorical.

Kevin hiccuped again, then leaned towards his friend. "Not too heavy to do this," he slurred.

Both girls watched, slack jawed as Kevin hopped on the plumber's lap, wrapping his arms around David's neck, past his ponytail until his two hands met. David was shocked, even more so when Kevin pressed his face close to give his cheek a hard kiss. The plumber looked at Kevin, mouth slightly opened.

"My god," Alyssa breathed.

Cindy began to titter.

"For earlier," Kevin grinned, letting out a very non-masculine giggle. "I told you'd I'd give you a big, sloppy kiss, though I expected it to be on some other cheek." Then Kevin tilted his head, looking at where his mouth had met. "Woah, when I meant sloppy, I didn't mean literally!" he laughed. One arm was raised to wipe David's cheek off with his sleeve. "Didn't mean to drown you in spit."

Up until then, David remained nonplussed. He finally managed to shake himself and laugh. "Don't worry about it," he said. Then he frowned mockingly at the man seated on his lap. "Damn, how am I suppose to get a girl now?" he asked. "The entire bar probably thinks we're gay."

They weren't the only people who shared that path of thought.

Cindy leaned over closer to Alyssa, mouth still tight with a smile. "Hey, you know how you tried to that bet with Jim?"

It took the journalist a moment, but she understood soon enough. "Oh, that one about Dave getting laid?"

"Yeah," Cindy nodded. "I'll take you up on that."

"Really?" Alyssa gasped, feeling the rush of adrenaline a gamble gave. "And are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin?"

The waitress smiled. "Fifty bux says David gets laid. Fifty more says it's by Kevin."

Alyssa clapped her hands gleefully. "You are SO ON!"

"Let's calculate the chances, shall we?" Cindy asked, after the two had shaken hands. The deal was sealed.

"All righty," Alyssa began, placing a thoughtful finger on her chin. "One, Kevin's horny."

The younger woman giggled, adding, "Two, Kevin's drunk."

After a beat, they both said in unison, "Three...Kevin's horny when drunk."

Then they began to laugh.

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TBC (Only if you review)