Chapter 2
The journey to the airport was long and dark. Doug had made some excuse to Ste about needing to clear his head from everything that had been happening to them recently. Ste was not impressed, but said that he could handle everything on his own for a couple of days. As long as Doug was only away for a couple of days, no longer, Ste promised he would be fine. But this did not stop Doug from feeling guilty, although he had left him on his own all the same.
It was an early flight, even though Doug still had no idea where he was going. Brendan was already at the taxi rank waiting for him. A cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth, hands tucked halfway inside his pockets, his suit immaculate with the top button of its white shirt undone (as usual), a suitcase sat crooked by his knee. A pair of blacked out sunglasses covered his often mad eyes.
"Nice of you to show up," Brendan said, removing the cigarette from his lips and carelessly throwing it aside.
"Well I wasn't not going to," Doug said, keeping a hand on his own suitcase.
"Oh a double negative," Brendan said sarcastically and grinning, "Clever boy. Now, let's get the luggage out the way and get a drink."
"Don't you think it's a bit early to start drinking?" Doug said as they started to walk into the airport.
"Probably," Brendan answered, walking close next to him, lifting his suitcase as he did so rather than pull it along behind him, "But flying makes me nervous. And you'll be having a drink with me, of course."
"Of course," Doug sighed as they disappeared into the airport.
Hours later, Doug woke up with a pulsing pain in his head and stomach. It took him a while to take in his surroundings. He did not know where he was. Once everything around him had stopped spinning, Doug managed to sit up in the bed. He turned his head and noticed a quietly snoozing Brendan in the bed next to him. It was then that he remembered what the plan had been.
"Ah," Doug croaked as he leaned back down in his bed.
Brendan's eyes opened immediately upon hearing this moan. Doug closed his eyes to try and trick Brendan into thinking he was still asleep. It did not work.
"Good morning Douglas," Brendan said, getting out of bed and chucking his pillow onto Doug's head, "Or is it afternoon? Anyway, it doesn't matter."
Doug felt the springs in his cheap hotel bed creak under some extra weight. The hand that shook him violently came as more of as shock.
"Come on sleeping beauty, I know you're awake," Brendan said, slapping him on the forehead.
"Ouch!" Doug cried, sitting up with the intention of pushing Brendan off the bed- but he was already up, "Alright, I'm up."
"Good boy," Brendan said, his back to Doug, crouching over to find some clothes to wear in his suitcase. Doug could not help but notice how toned Brendan's behind was.
"Busy day today," Brendan continued, only half aware of the attention his backside was receiving, "So I want you dressed quickly."
"You're the boss," Doug said, climbing out of bed, becoming worried by the fact that he had just realised that he was not wearing any of the clothes that he had remembered wearing at the airport and that instead he had been changed into a pair of plain pyjama bottoms. But Brendan's harsh glare warning him to hurry up did not let his mind linger on this thought for too long.
