Two updates in two days? Man I must love you guys.


1 hour

Desmond was at one of the many corner, Cuban run, deli and markets. He'd been walking a bit and found it and needed food and water. So he'd bought a big bottle of water and a cheese bread. As the cheese bread was cooking he chugged the water and tried not to look at the windows.

After the initial adrenaline of leaving Altair's house had passed he realized how much he fucking hated the sun. He was hung over, but could function, though function was subjective at this point. He checked his phone and saw he'd missed a call from his mom earlier this morning. His parents knew he'd been going to a party and that Shaun was driving, his mom liked Shaun and knew he'd get her boy home safe. But he hadn't come home last night. So she was checking in on him, though it wouldn't be the first night he'd just crashed at Clay's after a party since he lived in Key West, not where he even was, or fuck where Desmond even lived. It was easier and faster to just go to Clay's after parties or movies, and sleep it off. Her mom wasn't the biggest fan of Clay, but at least he didn't try to get Desmond into drugs.

So he stepped to the side of the store, he could smell his cheese bread and his stomach rumbled hungrily, and called his mom. She picked up on the second ring. "Hey baby," she said into the receiver.

"Hey ma," he said back, squinting in the light, "I'm not dead. This is not a call from the great beyond."

She laughed, he loved making her laugh, "Have fun last night?"

"Tons. My phones ganna die though and I'm waiting for a call from Clay and I-

"Mirda, cheese bread," the Cuban lady behind the counter called, her accent so awful he almost couldn't understand her.

He moved over to saying, "I'll be home soon."

"Okay baby, be safe."

"I will," and he paid for the water and cheese bread with cash as he hung up. He got a text while waiting for his change. 'Outside.' Thank god. He thanked the woman, who ignored him, and went outside. Clay's car was waiting against the street and his friend leaned over to unlock the door for him as he shoved some of the flat cheese bread into his mouth. It tasted like heaven. He slid into the passenger seat. "How'd you find me?" Desmond asked around his food.

"I could smell the shame on you from a mile away," Clay said, he glowered at his friend who just grinned widely at him. "I was passing by and saw you in the window, duh," he said and put the car into drive only once Desmond had put on his belt. "So where to?"

"I need to get my bike," Desmond said and rubbed his face.

"So Ezio's?"

"Yeah," he grumbled and took another bite of his butter and cheese heaven. He had to hand it to the Cubans, their food was fucking amazing. "So, you know what happened to me-

"Hardly-

He didn't even stop talking, "How'd you end up?"

"Got drunk, made an idiot of myself, Shaun shoved me in his car and took me home. I think other then you he's the only one who got laid."

"Lucky git," Desmond muttered.

"What?"

"What?"

"What?" Clay gave him a look.

"What?" Desmond gave him a slightly bewildered one back as his teeth dug into the bread.

"What are we even talking about?'

"Fuck if I know."

"Also that's not your shirt."

"What?" he'd said that word way too much in the past fifteen seconds.

"That shirt you're wearing, it isn't yours. Not the one you were wearing last night at least."

Desmond looked down. He was wearing a buttoned shirt. "Oh fuck," he muttered.

"Is that Altair's-

"Shut up Clay!" he yelled. Clay just laughed, loud and obnoxiously.

"That is so Altair's shirt! Oh my god Desmond you fucking dope," and he smacked the steering wheel as they waited for the light to get on US1.

"Shit," Desmond said looking at the shirt, it was a bit small on him too which was the weird part, but bigger shouldered. How the fuck? "Fuck," he said again.

"Wanna go back and give it to him?"

"Fuck no!"Desmond yelled and Clay just laughed harder. A car beeped at them as the light was green and Clay turned right onto US1 to head off Stock Island.

"Well, at least now it doesn't look like you're going back to Ezio's in the same clothes," Clay said helpfully, stopping laughing so he could focus on driving.

"Guuuh," Desmond groaned and looked at his cheese decided he didn't want to talk anymore and just wanted to eat his feelings. He shoved the cheese bread into his mouth without further comment.

Clay didn't speak again till they were on Boca Chica. "So," he started. "Wanna talk about it."

"No. Fuck you," Desmond grumbled.

Clay smirked widely, "Aw, c'mon buddy, what's an embarrassing one night stand story between friends?" he asked cheerfully. "You said he was good. He give it to ya?"

"No," he muttered.

"Oh? I didn't know Altair was like that. So you-

"No," Desmond did not want to have this conversation. The fact that Clay could do so with such nonchalance was creepy as all fuck too.

Clay eyed him as they passed the adult store that was one of the only buildings on the Key other then the Naval base where Desmond lived and Rockland Key near the bridge that connected Boca Chica to Big Coppitt. "You did get laid last night didn't you?" he asked.

Desmond glowered at him, "You're not going to be happy till I tell you are you?"

"Fuck no," he said cheerfully. "So just make it painless and tell me on your own, cause you know I'm not above ripping out teeth."

Desmond crammed the last bite of his cheese bread into his mouth as they crossed the bridge onto Big Coppitt. "Fine," he said, crumpling the bag his bread had been in and dropping it onto the floor of Clay's car. "We were both really drunk, neither of us could get it up. I got some really good head out of the deal and learned that Altair's ticklish. The end."

Clay didn't say anything, but just watched the road. They passed the Circle K in silence, there were several boats there, filling up for a day on the water. "That's it?" Clay asked as they came up on Shark Key.

"I'm not giving you the nitty gritty so you can save your breathe," Desmond huffed. "Fuck you should really worry about your own sex life and not other people's Clay."

"Yeah see I would, but I don't have one," he said as they turned onto the long and narrow Key.

Desmond squinted at him, "You're fucking dumb," he said.

"Hey!"

"You get a kiss last night? At least?"

"The only person I kissed last night was you, Dessy buddy."

Desmond groaned, "Man, we're going to have to have a talk," he said.

"Sure, whatever you say," Clay rolled his eyes.

"I'm serious. We're having a talk. Lunch at El Seboney, got it?"

"Mmm, you paying?"

"No, you can pay for your own food, I'm not your boyfriend."

"Too bad," Clay sighed. Desmond eyed him, "What? Don't look at me like that," he made a face at Desmond who made a face right back, one slightly pinched and skeptical. "You're good boyfriend material," he shrugged.

"So are you."

"So why aren't we dating?" Clay asked, pulling into Ezio's driveway.

"You know why," Desmond said as he put the car in park. "Cause you drive me fucking insane," and Clay laughed. "And cause you're my best bud and the last thing I want is to actually see you naked," he made another face. Clay grinned. "Now wait here till I get my bike keys and helmet," he said and slipped out of the car as Clay nodded.

He padded up the stairs to the first floor and knocked. The scary black haired man answered, his hair pulled back into a tiny bottle brush pony tail. Federico's boyfriend, Vi, short for something no doubt. "Hey," Desmond said.

"Can I help you?" he asked, he was surprisingly polite actually. That wasn't how he remembered it last night.

"Uh, I came to get my keys and helmet for my motorcycle," he said, "it's down in the garage."

"Okay, come in," he opened the door a little wider. The man closed the door, "Your helmet's in the closet, I'll go get the keys," he said and left him in the foyer. Desmond stepped over to the closet and opened it.

"Uh…" he stared at the kid who was actually sleeping in the closet. He leaned down, grabbed his helmet and then softly closed the door. He turned back around as Vi was coming back.

"I think these are them?" he asked, holding the round key out to him with the star key chain on it.

"Yeah, that's it. Thanks," Vi was a lot less scary today actually. Maybe he'd just gotten some last night. Damn it seemed like everyone except him and Clay did last night. He took his key back, "Also, there is someone sleeping in the closet there."

Vi's eyes got sharp, "Oh. Thank you I'll take care of it," Desmond so did not want to know what that meant at all. "I'll open the garage for you," he added.

"Yeah, thanks," and then was going for the door. Vi pressed a button by the door as he left and closed the door after him. Below the garage door was rattling open as he pounded down the stairs. From the front seat Clay waved at him as he went into the garage, pulling on his helmet and clipping it into place. He wheeled his baby out of the garage and wondered where his sun glasses were. Damn he'd have to buy another new pair. Once she was in the middle of the driveway he threw his leg over her and sat comfortably before leaning down and fitting the key in. She ticked three times before rumbling into life. He gave a thumbs up to Clay who did in turn and pulled out of the driveway.

Before kicking up the kick stand he sent Clay a text with the last juice of his battery, 'el Seb at noon. Be there or I am ganna beat your skinny white ass.' Then he kicked the kick stand up and fiddled with his leather jacket a second before sending her as quietly as possible out of the driveway. As soon as he hit pavement he gunned it, switching up into second gear with a roar and shot down the street, wind whipping in his face. He passed Clay in his beach cruiser, and his friend honked after him. There were no cars when he reached the stop sign at the end of the road and turned right onto US1, back to Boca Chica.

It was a simple matter in getting home, flashing his ID to get past the guards and onto the base. He took a few turns and then was pulling into the drive. The cutting of the engine made everything sound suddenly so quiet.

With a groan he got off his bike. He needed a shower and when they got to El Seboney he was getting a strong cup of Cuban coffee. The door was locked, his parents weren't home. He unlocked the front door and shoved it open.

The house was military issue for the most part, though his mom had since painted the walls blue- Sea Sky Blue. Or some other sort of stupid name- and saved them from the bland military white and cream walls that really he was used to by now anyway, It happened when you were a military brat, you tended to get used to boring white and beige walls. There was a note on the fridge, 'Gone to Marathon'. He wrinkled his nose. Why the fuck did they go to Marathon? Friends maybe, or something to do with the base there, something like that.

But that meant he had the house to himself, which was always good. He hung his jacket up in his room and took off his clothes, and Altair's shirt. He held the shirt up and frowned at it before tossing it into the hamper. He'd give it back, maybe, if he ever talked to Altair again. As it was it looking like a 'I don't even want to know you exist let alone talk to you' sort of meeting last night. He went and took a shower wondering if he could just drown himself instead of having to face Monday.