Title: But For Love p11

Author: Mair Technosage

Pairings: T & B

Disclaimer: I do not own them. I just play with them, mess with their heads, make them take off their clothes; make them do things they may not normally do and put them back when I'm done.

Hospitals are not good places for Kotetsu Kaburagi. They are places of boredom and bad memories. Keeping him in one for two weeks was one of the hardest things Barnaby Brooks had ever done.

The first week after being hurt was relatively easy to keep him still. Kaede's uncle had brought her school books to her so she could work independently so during the morning hours they focused on her school work. Between her homework and Kotetsu's pain meds the time was easily spent. Kotetsu had officially lost interest that second week and given that his pain had diminished enough for him to not be forcibly doped up all the time he'd taken to unintentionally interrupting school hours with attempts to be entertained.

As much as Barnaby loved Kotetsu, it drove him nuts that the only thing that would get him to settle down for any length of time was the old recordings of Hero TV from Legend's years on the show. Of course, then he'd have to put up with the comparisons, rantings and anything else that came to mind regarding Legend.

In the afternoon one of the hero's would show up and eventually manage to drag Kaede away to spend time out of the hospital. Barnaby would then give him half an hour by himself. Once back in the room they would return to their planning and reading of the news. Barnaby talked about returning to college to get some additional education.

Kotetsu talked about trying his hand at construction or helping his brother with the bar. He talked about Kaede and his family.

They both avoided the subject of the current status of their friendship/relationship.

When the release papers were finally signed off and Kotetsu was free of stitches in favor of a lot of bandages, the trio went back to Barnaby's place. Then Kaede finally started to relax. Their first night in Barnaby tried to make fried rice with Kaede's help, but true to form she experienced a flare up of her NEXT ability and Barnaby's wok was officially deceased. That night they ended up with Thai.

Kaede's infatuation with Barnaby faded and after a week of staying with Barnaby she got back on the train to her home.

It was dark by the time Barnaby returned from seeing Kaede off and he was surprised to see Kotetsu seated on the window seat. He joined him at the window and sat down facing Kotetsu.

"I miss her already. Kaede…Sternbuild…" Kotetsu's over shirt hung loose on his bandaged frame. During the day time he'd started wearing tank tops to keep the bandaging secure and give some added support. It still wasn't warm enough to stay in for early January, so an over shirt became part of his ensemble.

"Do you really have to go?" Barnaby asked quietly. "You can't move here with Kaede?"

Kotetsu's eyes focused on Barnaby, dragged away from the glittering city by his words. "Bunny…Here I see a place where I become one of the protected instead of the protectors. I would see old friends have to fight for me and not be able to help them. I'd still have my mask in my back pocket even though it wouldn't be me any more. It also wouldn't be fair to take Kaede from her school, friends and the family that's helped me raise her for the last five years. Here she would be the daughter of Wild Tiger, and there she's just Kaede Kaburagi." He sighed. "I've done important things, but I've neglected her."

"And what about me…us?"

Kotetsu faced him, his face serious. "I love you. I've loved working with you. I also know you. I know the country. You wouldn't be happy out there and I am too raw at this point to stay here. You've also been looking into additional classes. There isn't a university in my home town."

Barnaby dropped his gaze from Kotetsu to the white bench that made the window seat. Fingers touched his hair and fluffed it before dropping to his hand and taking it. Barnaby laced his fingers with Kotetsu's.

"It's not fair for me to make you put your life on hold just because I want you to stay in mine."

Barnaby blinked and looked up at Kotetsu. "I don't accept that. I want you. You may be right about the country, but why should either of us have to choose? You still wear your wedding ring and I've had my head messed with since I was four. Why can't we take this slow?"

"Bunny, you're talking to me about slow when you just got back from taking Kaede to the train. This is the first moment we've had officially alone since that morning when we went to the mall in December. This is not a "slow" pace. When you think about it we've even been living together, unfortunately minus the benefits of that, for the last three weeks."

"Then why don't we take it to the next level and meet up on breaks from school and our new jobs?" Barnaby's face darkened. "I got a glimpse of what life would be like without you three weeks ago and I don't want that."

"Bunny-chan…"

"I don't want to have any regrets with you." Kotetsu's eyes had a suspicious shine to them when Barnaby met Kotetsu's gaze. Keeping their fingers entwined, Barnaby got to his feet and leaned over Kotetsu and kissed him.

The kiss was no simple peck on the lips. It may have started out as a relatively simple kiss but Barnaby moved it out of the range of "simple" pretty quick. Tongues tangled as Barnaby did his best to communicate his apprehension, affection and desperation into that one kiss.

It was Kotetsu that freed his fingers from Barnaby's, but those fingers didn't leave Barnaby. His hand slid up Barnaby's arm, stroking and caressing before sliding over his shoulder to curl around the back of his neck to better deepen the kiss.

Time took a hike as they made out on the window seat. Kotetsu shifted until his back was to the window, sliding a leg neatly between Barnaby's thighs. Barnaby pushed against Kotetsu, cursing softly at the lack of stimulation for his growing arousal before once more seeking out Kotetsu's mouth.

"You know…" Kotetsu was silenced by a kiss. "…there are better places to do this…"

"Mm…" Barnaby hummed into Kotetsu's mouth. A flirty kiss later, "like the bedroom? Or better the chair over there?"

"Chair would be good. Jarring isn't good. …69?"

Barnaby backed up so Kotetsu could get to his feet before kissing him again. "No…I'm going to need more than that…" He ground against Kotetsu in order to show how much.

"Jeez, are you really that hard?"

They stumbled toward the chair. Kotetsu let the over shirt drop to the floor before carefully sitting down on the recliner.

"Please?" Barnaby asked as he smoothed a hand over Kotetsu's firm crotch. "I just want to know that I'll have at least this memory. This time is for me. You can lay back and I'll do all the moving, the work…"

Kotetsu's head fell back, exposing his throat to Barnaby who ghosted his lips over the offered flesh. "And what if I wanted to do you?"

"That's what I'm asking for Kotetsu…" Barnaby unbuttoned Kotetsu's pants as his lips seized Kotetsu's. Hands eased his pants lower revealing green shorts this time.

Cool air chilled Kotetsu as Barnaby removed just enough clothing on him to reveal his prize. Two additional strokes brought Kotetsu's dick to full attention. Barnaby ditched the leather jacket onto the floor near Kotetsu's shirt before carefully maneuvering out of his pants and underwear. He went to the small desk and grabbed a condom out of the drawer and the lube. He ripped open the condom and smoothed it down onto Kotetsu's cock.

Kotetsu watched with feverish eyes as he watched the mostly naked Barnaby straddle his legs and uncap the lube. Additional strokes by Barnaby applied more lube to the condom surrounding his dick. His mouth went try as he watched Barnaby carefully prepare himself. Finally, and with a small moan, Barnaby pulled his fingers out and slid up Kotetsu's body and positioned himself carefully over Kotetsu.

Slowly Barnaby lowered himself down onto Kotetsu. The hot length burned and stretched as it entered him. Finally fully seated, he could feel the cock pulse as Kotetsu fought to keep control. Carefully, he lifted himself up then slid back down. Kotetsu's hands slid over his trembling thighs, caressing what ever flesh they could reach before one of those fiendish hands slid over his own cock. His eyes shot open as he looked down at Kotetsu.

Kotetsu smiled up at him and stroked again. That was all the encouragement Barnaby needed before he was bouncing up and down on Kotetsu's dick. Lube covered hands attempted to keep Kotetsu's hips in position while he picked up the pace. Kotetsu shifted his legs, opening them more and Barnaby found the sweet spot. Spots danced before his eyes as Kotetsu's cock struck his prostate with the minor adjustment. He clamped down on Kotetsu as the spot was hit again. The cock inside him got impossibly even harder and the third strike was all it took and he cried out arching back as Kotetsu's hand and cock brought him to the edge of ecstasy.

Barnaby's thighs trembled as he raised himself up. As he slid down the cock inside of him struck gold and with one last stroke on his cock Barnaby came. He clenched around the hard length inside him and Kotetsu ejaculated inside him making his satisfaction complete.

Barnaby's legs began to cramp and he pushed himself back to a sitting position on Kotetsu's lap. He, somehow, lost track of when he relaxed down between Kotetsu's legs. He then leaned forward, mindful of the fragile chest beneath his own balanced on his forearms and kissed Kotetsu for all he was worth.

Hands pushed the whisps of damp hair back from his face as their tongues caressed. It was too much, the gentle touch combined with the caring and passion reflected in the kiss. Suddenly tears burst forth out of him and Kotetsu's hands left his face to slide over him—arms collecting him into an embrace.

"Shhh, Bunny, shhh…it's ok…" Hands stroked the back of his head and back. "What's this all about…?"

"Stupid old man..." Barnaby sobbed out. "It's your fault. I thought you'd died."

"Hey, is that what this is about Bunny? Destroying the android?"

"You told me to fire and I nearly killed you."

"Shh. Not your fault. It had to be done."

"But…"

"Not your fault. It was the only choice. And I didn't die."

"Kaede must be so mad at me for hurting you."

"Well there's a mood killer. She doesn't. She knew from the funky nosed guy that none of us were supposed to survive."

Barnaby tried not to sniffle as his tears slowed and faded. "I should get us cleaned up…" He carefully raised himself up and Kotetsu slipped from his body. He swung his leg over and got off of his knees to stand only to wobble in place.

Kotetsu smirked and raised the recliner to a sitting position. He divested himself of the full condom, neatly tying it off and handed it to Barnaby. "Come on Bunny-chan. Toss that and let's make it to your bed and call it a night." He stood up and secured his pants. Barnaby hadn't moved yet. Kotetsu pushed some of the hair back from the side of Barnaby's face before grabbing his chin to hold it still and make his mouth easier to kiss.

Kotetsu's kiss was slow, sweet, loving and somehow reassuring. Their tongues twined in mimicry of what they'd just done a short while ago. He broke the kiss then gave Barnaby a light quick kiss before letting him go. He watched Barnaby wobble off to the kitchen and then wobble back. He put an arm casually around Barnaby's waist and they went into the bedroom—the door closing softly behind them.