LONGEST CHAPTER thus far! But I promise, it's WORTH IT peeps! *smiles wickedly*
Thank you for your patience, as like they say, good things come to those who wait. Hehe!
(Or at least, I hope you peeps will enjoy this chapter.)
Chapter Eleven: Keeping in role, or keeping it real?
(Rex and Noah investigates the club)
It was late, and the streets were empty, and dark except for the street lamps and the few apartment units that still had the lights on. Still, it felt like the night was still young as there was a long queue outside the club. 'Staizer' –her name was in bold, fluorescent lights hanging above the door of an otherwise, run of the mill commercial apartment in a run-down part of town. One wouldn't think there was anything entertaining going on in these parts if there wasn't the excited line of people or the neon lights.
The queue moved pretty quickly so it didn't take long for them to reach near the stairwells down the entrance.
Noah seemed to have relaxed since coming from the concert hall, apparently resigned to Rex finding out god knows what. Annie was in excited chanter the whole way through after she joined them in the queue. She rushed down in a cab, surprising Rex and prompting him to tease her as a party animal.
She laughed boisterously at that and didn't deny it. He tried getting some details from her about what she had heard about the club, but she remained tight-lipped, only smiling evilly and saying that she wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.
Then Rex noticed two ladies at the back of the queue, necking one another.
Rex pointed at them with his chin.
"Wow, pretty passionate, aren't they? And right in the open too."
Rex supposed club goers were liberal and wouldn't care, even if there was still that stigma towards same sex couples.
Annie flashed another evil, knowing grin, annoying him again, whilst Noah blatantly pretended that he hadn't heard anything, whistling away to himself.
Rex shot Noah another suspicious glare, getting more anxious by the second that the both of them seemed to know something terrible that they were about to walk themselves into, yet acted like they'd survive it, and he wouldn't.
It didn't help either that Noah had insisted that they go back to his dorm to change before coming over, saying how their suits wouldn't blend in with the crowd and might hinder their investigation. It made sense, but somehow, Rex felt uncomfortable looking at Noah in that jaw dropping, eye popping outfit. It was so tight, Noah might as well be wearing a skin tight bodysuit. Needless to say, Noah's clothing didn't look thick enough to protect against the chilly night air. As for Annie, she was back in her earlier get up and god only knows how her skimpy clothing could protect her from the cold – but Rex wasn't about to comment on that least she gives her roll of the eyes.
Rex was the only one in a sensible outfit – a simple tee and jeans – courtesy of Noah, since Rex had nothing else to change into. Noah was slighter than Rex, so the sleeveless black tee was a snug fit. The dark jeans were a bit tight, but it was kinda stretchy, so it felt more comfy the longer he wore it. Anyway, as long as he didn't need to do splits, he figured the pants were just fine.
"Oh Rex, this is mild. This should be the first time that you set foot in this sort of club, so you better be prepared for the action."
"Hey, I'm not a party animal like you, but I'm no greenhorn either. I've been clubbing a couple of times with Noah –" Rex paused for a while – "and my ex. Just ask him."
Annie chortled. "Oh but not this one, Rex. Seriously, prepare to be mind fucked."
When finally they descended down the steps and into the dark club filled with flashing lights and bobbing people, Rex finally understood what Annie meant.
Bodies melded into bodies awashed in pyrotechnic lights streaming all over the dance floor, with hazy white mist curling around people's feet –the standard clubbing staging.
There was just one thing –they were all either guy on guy or girl on girl, rocking their bodies and lips together.
It was a gay club. Oh lord. No wonder Noah was against him coming here. But then again, why would Noah agree to accompany Annie to a place like this?
Rex would have remained rooted on the sidelines if Annie didn't drag him along while laughing her head off, taunting him as a greenhorn.
Rex was too shocked to react to that either, because a guy just smacked Noah –
–In. The. Ass.
And Noah only shrugged it off, barely giving that creep a second glance. But before Noah could step past him, the creep curled a possessive arm around Noah's hips and held him back.
"Nice ass, you think there's space in between for me?"
Rex struck out and landed a punch on the guy's jaw before he realized what he had done. Doesn't matter anyway –the prick deserved it.
"Rex!" Noah snapped and pulled him aside, "What do you think you are doing?"
The creep hurled some incomprehensible vulgarities at Rex while nursing his lower jaw with a palm. Rex guessed the fellow would have a hard time talking and eating for weeks –well, good, Rex thought to himself wickedly.
Then the creep got up and stood toe to toe with Rex, while Noah wrapped his arm across Rex's shoulder to hold him back. Annie, meanwhile, had retreated a way off from the fight.
"C'mon Rex, let's just walk away. I'm fine, so don't make a scene," Noah tried to calm him down, but Rex ignored him, ready to punch the lights out of this guy.
"Vat da hell? Vie da ya hit me? He's not vours, is he?" the guy snarled.
"Shut up you perv! That was gross. Keep your filthy mouth shut and your hands to yourself, bastard!"
The guy made a face and fumed, muttering and swearing but left them.
Noah dropped his arms and when Rex spun around to check up on him, he found the most pained expression on Noah's face.
"Noah, you okay?" Rex tentatively asked, reaching for his shoulder.
Noah smacked his hand away in a surprising, cold manner.
"I'm fine," Noah spat, tone edgy, "Just remember what we are here for. So rein in your punches or we'll get kicked out."
Rex gave him an incredulous stare.
"How could you keep complete cool over something like that?"
Noah shrugged and his usual smirk crept back –a relief to Rex.
"Acting classes. It's all about keeping in role, being a chameleon."
"Right," Rex dragged out his reply, still in disbelief, following after Noah and Annie who led the way along the walls where it was less crowded.
"So, meaning, I have to pretend to be gay?" Rex deadpanned.
"Yes, probably," Noah flashed him that wicked grin of his, "Unless you don't think you're good enough for this investigation, then you can sit it out."
Buttons pushed, Rex scoffed.
"Yea right, as if I'll leave all the fun to you two. Fine, I'll keep a calm head, but don't expect me to pretend to be gay."
"Maybe a couple of drinks will put you in the mood," Annie suggested, brows wagging, exchanging wicked looks with Noah, who laughed. Rex really didn't like this, but followed them anyway.
As they weaved through singles and groups who hung around outside the central dance floor, one douchebag after the other kept hitting on Noah.
Shock couldn't even begin to describe how Rex felt.
Annie was certainly right about the mind fuck.
He could hardly believe how the other guys they walked passed wolfed Noah down with their hungry eyes, and came onto his best friend. They touched his shoulder, his back and grabbed his waist or butt, so the three of them were stopped more times than a heavy traffic at peak hour.
"What the hell is this? I don't believe this!" Rex muttered incredulously under his breath, watching the bad movie play out in front of him, lagging a few steps behind Noah.
It was like Noah was the sheep, walking into a den of hungry wolves.
Annie was right next to Rex and laughed when she heard him.
"It's his pheromones, Rex, you just never noticed."
"Right, of course not, unless he was female," Rex deadpanned, prompting another laugh.
He tried to figure out what possessed those wolves to fondle Noah's ass. Noah couldn't walk five steps without someone molesting his bum. It must be due to Noah tight tank top and pants that stretched over his body like second skin –Rex couldn't exactly see the attraction, but obviously the other gay guys here did.
"Seriously, what's so great about a guy's ass? They aren't boobs!" Rex exclaimed.
Annie gave a hoot and patted her hand on his shoulder.
"Not unless they are like Noah's. You gotta admit, Noah has a great tush. I mean, just look at it."
Rex stared at her like she was crazy.
"Why the hell would I ogle at my best friend's ass?"
She must be going bonkers, but he tried to put it into perspective. The lighting in the club was specifically contrived to give emphasis on silhouette, painting a racy, heart pulsating appeal. So Rex could see Noah's pants stretched taut across his ass, well emphasizing his curvy mounds.
"Okay, so he has a great ass," Rex conceded to Annie, "But they still aren't boobs."
Annie rolled her eyes.
"Oh heavens, I wonder how the poor sob gets stuck on a guy like you," she gave him an unfathomable look, confusing him with her words, then continued, "Anyway, forget about it. At least be glad that they're into him, and not you."
"Right," Rex said blandly, though he felt no relief.
And he couldn't understand how Noah looked at such ease, seemingly enjoying the attention. Noah even flirted back with a few of them, kissing their cheek before smoothly spinning out of their slimy arms.
Then right before they reached the bar, Rex felt someone grab his ass and he jerked violently. He spun around and would have punched the animal and sent him flying to kingdom come, if Annie didn't quickly sandwich herself in between and push Rex forwards.
Rex closed the remaining few strides and nearly collapsed onto the stool. He felt so nauseated, he needed a drink to get drunk so that he could forget all that ever happened. However, Noah ordered for them something mild, since they were technically, still on a mission, albeit an unofficial one.
Rex raised his brows when Annie ordered hers. She caught his look and laughed lightly.
"I'm a strong drinker, Rex."
"Yea, funny I've never noticed before."
"Because you've never went clubbing with me," she threw over her shoulder and snorted at the obvious answer as she took up seat on Noah's other side.
"Right, so how come Noah's always the one who acts as your chaperone?"
Noah suddenly coughed into his drink and while Annie took a big swig of her drink before answering.
"Dunno, guess it's cause he used to be Claire's ex, and my mom trusts him."
"Huh? That doesn't make any sense. You mean your mom trusts the guy who broke up with your best friend?"
"Look, don't make me sound like the bad guy here," Noah punched his arm slightly, crooking a brow, "It was a mutual break up, remember?"
"Yea, I know, but I'm just saying, it doesn't make sense."
Annie gave a small sigh.
"Well, she's met Noah and knows we hang out a lot. I think she wishes we were an item."
It was Rex's turn to cough and sputter his drink. He recovered with a few deep breaths but skipped asking because he felt disgusting paws –okay, hands actually –creep up his back and he knew without looking that it wasn't Noah.
Rex spun round on his stool and grabbed the pervert by the collar of his shirt.
"Go find yourself another meat, creep," Rex warned through clenched teeth.
"Oops, sorry, my mistake," the guy held both hands up in a defensive pose, "Seriously, just chill man."
Rex released him and continued to bear laser beams into his back, fuming.
"This place is dangerous," Rex muttered agitatedly and rested his back on the counter, deciding to face the crowd so that he could see when the next creep was coming.
Annie and Noah both cracked up.
"C'mon Rex, even more than EVOs and evil maniacs?" Annie teased, "I thought the Great Nanite Generator is brave and infallible."
"Yea," Noah added, "besides, it couldn't have felt all that bad, right?"
Rex gave a visible shudder.
"Seriously, a tarantula crawling over my back would have felt better."
Noah smirked.
"You mean like this?"
In a mind-boggling move, Noah was walking down Rex's spine with his fingers, starting from his nape. Rex bolted upright and was too surprised to react besides that.
Tingles rippled across his back from Noah's fingersteps, the sensation ticklish and so strange that it made his toes curl.
Finally, snapped out of his trance, Rex lightly smacked Noah's hand away.
"Quit it Noah, don't play act gay stuff with me."
Noah stiffened right that instant, face contorting.
Oops, was that too harsh?
Rex knew that Noah liked to play practical jokes and kid around. Hell, they've even kissed and it never had any 'gay meaning'.
Before he could say anything, however, the guy sitting beside Rex cleared his throat loudly, prompting their attention.
"This sure is hilarious –a straight guy showing up at a place like this. Makes me wonder why."
Rex glared at the guy with a brow piercing, and folded his arms.
"Hey, Noah and I are both –"
"Oh, he's just curious," Noah interrupted before Rex could correct him, unceremoniously pushing his head aside and leaning forward to address him.
The guy made a harrumph.
"Poor sob, I suggest he better scuttle outta here for a scene that suits him better."
"Actually," Noah had a deviant smile playing on his lips then, and he hopped down his stool and squeezed in between Rex and the other guy, "My friend is only tagging along because we heard some of our friends talk about the other scene."
Then Noah dropped his voice and threw an arm over the other guy's shoulder.
"The one where you can get the stuff to heal injuries, and feel strong. You don't happen to know anything about it, do you?"
The guy curled his lips slowly in a devious smile, eyes glinting with something almost feral.
"I should tell you to go to the hospital for that. But I thought you might ask something like that, since there's no other reason a Stiff like him would be here."
"A Stiff?" Rex was offended, "What do you mean, Stiff?"
Annie laughed from behind.
"It just means 'straight.'"
Suddenly, it hit Rex that someone like Coach wouldn't be caught dead entering a gay club like this unless there was something he desperately wanted. And since this guy here said it the way he did, Rex realized that he could possibly be their lead.
Noah seemed to catch onto the same thing, as he pressed on.
"So, you do know where I can get the stuff."
The guy let out a throaty laugh and stared at Noah with a sickening gaze that made bile rise up Rex's throat.
"I have my connections, but not just anyone can get the stuff, you know? They have a fairly strict policy…unless, you can offer something in exchange."
"How about a dance?" Noah said suggestively in a tone that Rex had never heard before, while sandwiching himself between the man's thigh.
The other guy let out a crude snicker.
"You have to try better than that."
"I'm a good dancer. Or better yet, let's ditch this place and go somewhere, private."
Rex restrained himself from pulling his friend away. He knew what Noah was doing –cajoling with the other in order to get information. But it felt so wrong, and it was excruciatingly hard to watch as Noah practically climbed onto the guy's lap and flirted with him, letting the guy roam his hands all over Noah's back.
And again, there was the ass grabbing.
Rex could barely keep himself in the seat, every muscle tensing with the urge to rip the bastard's arm off.
Then Noah finally managed to convince the bastard, pulling him to his feet and dragging him off to the dance floor.
Rex had every intention to follow, but Annie held him back.
"Don't –just let him do his thing."
"You mean letting him offer himself up for sacrifice?" Rex gave her a look of utter horror at her suggestion.
Annie snorted.
"I thought you guys are here to get information. Noah can handle himself. Besides, it's just a dance, Rex. Not a satanic ritual."
"He's being feasted on –how is that any different?"
Annie gave him the eagle eye.
"I think you're overreacting. If it bothers you this much… are you jealous?" Annie teased with a twinkle in her eye.
Rex was about to say that it was the most absurd thing to suggest, when her phone rang.
"Shit!" she cursed aloud, "It's my mom."
Annie gave a look that begged for pity.
"Yes, Mom, I'm with Noah…well he can't talk right now, he's dancing…with someone else, duh…What? No way I'm not going to do that.. Yes! He did accompany me! –"
Annie sounded annoyed, like she was having a tough conversation then she put the phone to Rex.
"Help me out here, Rex. Tell her that you and Noah are with me, but Noah is dancing so he can't come to the phone."
Rex was perplexed with the strange demands of Annie's mom, but did as Annie asked. Convinced, her mom finally hung up.
"Phew, that was close, thanks Rex."
"Anytime, but can you please tell me why your mom has such a strange rule?"
Before Annie could tell him, a leggy, red-haired bombshell in hot pants and combat boots snaked an arm from behind and squeezed Annie's waist.
"Hey, I got your text and came as soon as I could –I'm sooo glad you could make it," the bombshell cooed against Annie's neck in between plastering kisses.
"Me too," Annie replied breathlessly, then turned to meet the other woman full on the lips.
Rex watched another jaw dropping, eye-popping episode, this one featuring Annie, making out with another girl.
When Annie finally pulled away, breathless and looking dizzy with happiness, she gave Rex a sly smile.
"Sorry Rex, I didn't introduce you earlier. This is Alexa, we're kinda going out."
"Pleasure," Alexa raised a fist and held it in front of him.
Still shocked with the sudden revelation that Annie was gay, Rex blankly stared at it for two seconds before returning with a retarded fist bump.
"Nice, so you two have been dating?" Rex asked again, as if he hadn't heard right.
Annie elbowed his ribs while Alexa laughed.
"I've heard all about you. Thanks for the cure, dude. Otherwise, I would have remained stuck with eight squid like arms."
Annie lovingly rubbed Alexa's arms.
"Mmm… I wouldn't have mind. Then I would have eight arms wrapped around me."
"You naughty kitten…"
They laughed and kissed again before Annie breathlessly announced that they were going to hit the dance floor.
"Sure, enjoy yourself," Rex called after them in a stunned manner.
Talk about discovering the most epic things about his friends.
Not that he had any problems with Annie being gay, but it came as such shock because he hadn't the slightest clue. This explained why her mom was on her case –probably found out about Annie being gay, and must have preferred that Annie date a regular guy like Noah than stick with a girlfriend.
And as for Noah, well, it was the shock of Rex's life to find out his best friend was also on the list of 'guys whose ass gays most wanna grab.' He recalled the kissing both at Noah's school fair and realized in ire, that Noah was popular among the gays on campus as well.
Rex didn't know what to make of that. Though Rex was not homophobic, if it were him, he'd still probably freak and bash the creeps who tried to touch him. But it was only natural, wasn't it? As a straight guy, Rex would get the hibbie-jibbies if another guy came onto him. So why does Noah seem completely cool with it?
Rex remained at his seat, mulling over it while he chased off guys who appeared mildly interested with him, with his deadly, menacing glare. Finally, restless and unable to sit still, he got up and squeezed through the crowd on the dance floor, trying to find Noah. God knows why Noah's taking so long to get Intel out from the guy. Rex imagined that since Noah had the acting chops, it should be a breeze.
Rex muttered his curses at the hands that brushed him, not sure if they were accidents, or deliberate. He shook off his discomfort, focusing on finding Noah.
Then he did, and felt his blood run cold.
Noah was a vision of errant euphoria, body swaying in a carnal dance with the guy whom he was supposed to get leads from. He had his back plastered against the chest of the other guy, shamelessly grinding his bum against the other's rabid humping like they were animals in heat. The guy had both hands travelling all over Noah, then they crept under Noah's shirt, stopping at his chest and doing something to him that drew out a loud, throaty moan. Rex got the unpleasant feeling that the guy was fondling with Noah's nipples.
And Noah was enjoying it.
Rex was dumbstruck and filled with an overwhelming feeling he couldn't place, that surged within his chest, threatening to burst. He never imagined that Noah could behave in such a sleazy manner, or go so far with his acting.
Noah had his head thrown sideways, eyes shut and mouth gasping in ecstasy under the guy's ministrations. The other took advantage and feasted on Noah's exposed neck, lips going up the side of his neck, then down along his jaw towards his mouth.
Then the guy grabbed Noah's jaw and angled him further sideways so their mouths could touch. Rex unrooted from his spot that instant, terrible trance broken, seized by an intense need to save Noah from this sordid exchange of saliva.
Just as Rex was five steps away, Noah suddenly put his hand in between his and the other guy's lips.
"No kissing," Noah said laughing, then his laughter promptly died when he saw Rex.
A torrent of emotions ran past Noah's face then –shock, fear, shame, distress –but it was only for a few seconds, before his wayward mask slipped back into place.
It was enough to tell Rex that Noah still had his wits about him and wasn't reducing himself to a slutty creature without reason.
Rex boiled inside, pissed that the other guy was dirtying Noah and more pissed that he let his best friend pretend to delight in what should otherwise account as rape. The blood throbbed madly in his temples, threatening to burst his veins.
"That's enough," Rex all but snarled, voice shaking with anger that he was struggling to control.
He gripped the guy's bony wrist and wretched it away, tearing a curse from the guy's lips.
"Rex!" Noah hissed and grabbed the arm that attacked the other guy, "What are you doing?"
"Getting you out of this sicko's arms."
"Let off, Rex, don't spoil my fun," Noah snapped and gave him a threatening glare.
"Yea, fuck off, Stiff. Don't stick your nose into other people's business. If you don't like what you see, then get the hell out," the other guy spat vehemently.
Rex was incensed and would have told Noah to drop the act and that they would find another way to get the Intel, when Noah softened his gaze and gave him a pleading look.
Damn! Rex cursed inwardly. He was never able to go against that.
Rex reluctantly held back, releasing the guy's wrist and biting his tongue to keep from exploding and ruining Noah's efforts.
"Humph! The spoiler," the guy spat angrily, nursing his wrist. Then pretending like Rex wasn't there, he grabbed Noah's waist and pulled him flushed against him, eyeing him with his disgusting perverted gaze.
"Now, why don't you and I head to the back rooms for more privacy, eh?" the guy pinched Noah's chin, "If you don't want to kiss, then let's put your mouth to work elsewhere."
Only Noah's pointed stare at Rex that begged him to remain calm, saved the disgusting asshole from flying across the room from Rex's nanite fist. Rex had to settle for playing it out in his mind instead.
But he couldn't let Noah go along with such a revolting suggestion, pulling him back just as the other guy started dragging him off. The guy threw back a pissed look at Rex and gave him the middle finger.
"Whatever, it's your call, blonde. If you want to know how to get the stuff, you know where to find me."
Then he pushed through the crowd and was quickly swallowed by the mass of rocking bodies.
"Rex, c'mon, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me," Noah said softly.
"Noah, this is crazy. I'm not gonna let you-" Rex paused and struggled to find the words without choking, "There has to be another way. There's no reason why you should take such a drastic approach. I could easily take him outside and scare him, force him to talk."
Noah sighed.
"I've thought of that, of luring him outside, I mean. But he didn't want to go out, so I was stuck here dancing with him. Think about it, for an illegal nanite enhancing patch to be circulating without Providence knowledge, it must mean the smugglers have an extensive network. There must be several others like him around the club, keeping an eye out and scouting for potential buyers."
Rex frowned, mulling over Noah's words.
"Okay, so you're saying that we can't just drag him out or resort to force, or we will alert the others."
"Right," Noah nodded, "Then they'll probably pack up and flee before we have the chance to nab the ones who actually have access to the patches. I bet they work with several links in their chain of command, so even if the small fry is caught, he can't rat out the big fish because he might not even know who it is."
"This… sounds like a complicated operation," Rex realized in chagrin, "We could be getting in out of our heads here, especially you."
Noah gave a smirk.
"Don't fret, Rex, didn't I tell you? I'm pro at this. Now let me go."
Rex squared his jaw, hating this.
"Let me follow you, Noah."
"What? Are you crazy?"
It was now Noah who stared at Rex with balled eyes.
"Why not? You seemed to handle it fine –I don't want to leave you alone with that creep."
Noah vehemently shook his head.
"Rex, the back rooms are not for you. I mean it, don't follow me, or you will sorely regret it," Noah warned with a critical eye, tone grave.
Rex mutely nodded and made his way back to the bar, dissuaded by the dead serious gaze in Noah's eye that meant business. Rex was usually stubborn and insistent, but there were times when Noah would give him that look that he couldn't refute. So he let Noah have his way, but god damn how his throat and chest burned like fire, and it wasn't because of the glass after glass of beer that he was chugging down.
"Woa, you know you're gonna get a hangover tomorrow."
Rex gave half a turn of his head to acknowledge Annie who had come back to the bar.
"Hey," she softened her tone and sidled up to him, putting her hand on his shoulder, "Rex, I know from Noah you don't usually drink. You okay? What happened?"
"Where's Alexa?" Rex ignored her question.
"She left," she gave a small sigh, "She's a little upset with me because she wanted me to spend the night with her. But I gotta get home, you know? Or Mom will get suspicious. And Noah has to send me back."
Rex cast an incredulous gaze.
"Seriously? She wants him to nanny you so far? But wouldn't it be late by that time?"
"Yea, well, that's my mom. She's a bit hard to deal with."
"Couldn't you just talk to your mom about this? Just accept the fact that you're gay and move on?"
Annie cast him a defeated look.
"You don't know my mom. Her prime concern is how I'm not going to be able to give her any grandchildren."
"Well, you could always try surrogate," Rex joked lightly, drawing a tiny smile from her.
"Yea well, she's a bit more traditional. Anyway, I should count myself lucky that she didn't throw me out the house. That happened to some people I know."
Rex felt his mind churn, wondering why that sounded so familiar. But before he could ask her to clarify this nagging feeling he had at the back of his head, she returned to her initial question.
Rex bit his lips and tensed, gripping the beer glass so hard it suddenly cracked, the jagged line running down the side.
"Woa," Annie commented, then plucked the glass out of his hands, "C'mon tiger, talk to me. Let out your steam or you'll blow."
When Rex remained stubbornly silent, she pressed him again.
"This is about Noah, isn't it? You saw how the other guy was all over him?"
Rex jolted like lightning struck him, and immediately flared up on seeing the scene play out in front of his eyes again.
"It was completely gross! I mean, how could Noah stand that guy t-touching him like that. It's sick. And the bastard even asked Noah to –to –"
Rex lost his nerve to speak.
Let's put your mouth to work elsewhere, Rex recalled those offending words and grinded his teeth. He knew full well what that meant. And it was outrageous that Noah seemed okay with such an appalling act.
Is Noah really going to do it? Give that bastard a blowjob?
"Argh! How could he take his acting so far?" Rex lamented in agony, feeling tortured for his friend.
Annie remained silent for a long stretch, and when she finally spoke, she said something that made Rex question how much did he really know, about his best friend.
"Oh Rex, you really don't know anything, do you?"
Rex returned a questioning gaze, bewildered.
Then he caught sight of Coach and straightened, all senses on full alert.
"He's here," Rex commented and quickly pushed all his agonizing thoughts aside, remembering that he have to focus on the mission. Now that Coach was here, if Rex could quickly solve this case, he could quickly save Noah from hell.
Annie looked confused and asked, "Who?"
Rex turned her shoulders to face Coach at the far wall.
"You mean Coach? I don't see him."
Rex remembered then that normal people didn't have his vision, so he took off his goggles that was sitting atop his head and handed it to her.
"Oh, now I see him. Woa, this is really close up, like a binoculars, and the place looks brighter," Annie commented as she looked through the lenses, "But you could spot him without this? You weren't wearing them just now."
Rex nodded. It wasn't a big contrast, but he could see further and had better sight in the dark compared to most people. Holiday had run a couple of test and confirmed that his photoreceptor cells were more sensitive to light compared to the average person, giving him superior vision.
Even so, he still relies on his high-tech goggles since it gave him better visual by at least three to five times.
"So, aren't you going to catch him?"
Rex shook his head, remembering Noah's words.
"No, we need to lay low and check things out first."
"Hmm, not being as brash and impatient as you usually are, huh?"
Rex gave her a smirk.
"It depends on circumstances. Now c'mon, I need your help. Lend me some cover."
Then Rex dragged her across the club, closing the distance to Coach, who went right up to a bouncer guarding the door close to the second bar. Rex noticed the bouncer nodding to a guy sitting by the bar before letting Coach in.
Rex promptly stopped and pulled Annie onto the dance floor so they wouldn't look conspicuous, but remained at the edge so he could have a clear view.
Noah was right –there likely was a group of people in the club involved in the illegal trade. The key was rounding out their leader.
Annie put her arms around Rex's neck as they danced in a slow spin. He swept a sharp gaze across the club, trying to spot other suspects.
Moments later, Coach exited the room, and shiftily looked around before hurrying out.
"He's leaving, aren't you going to follow?"
"There's no point. If we wanna stop Coach, we have to cut off the source. I bet the leader is inside that room."
"Great, so are you going to bust in?"
"No, not until I get word from Noah."
As if on cue, Noah showed up, and Rex tensed, trying hard not to imagine what Noah was doing the last thirty minutes. He could swear that Noah's lips look puffy and swollen. He felt bile rise up his throat but he forced it back down.
"Any news?"
Noah grinned and revealed a few pieces of patches from his back pocket, confirming that the trading was taking place.
"Good," Rex nodded woodenly then pointed with his chin, "We saw Coach enter that room. I think the transaction takes place there."
Noah glanced in that direction.
"Must be the VIP room. I saw a couple of people going in and out through a connecting door. But I don't think this is their only operation place. I weaned info that they've got a couple of set ups like this across several bars, all around Brooklyn."
"Wow, Mr. investigator, how did you come by those info?" Annie arched a brow and gave a bland look.
Noah shrugged.
"People say all sorts of things when they're sexually excited to a certain level. Clouds their judgement."
Rex forced himself to not think about what Noah did to sexually excite the fellow. Instead, he focused on contemplating their options.
This meant they couldn't just bust the operations here, as the rest of the ring would be alerted and would scramble to shift their operations. Even if they managed to get a few squeakers, they don't really have a clear idea exactly how big the trading ring was and how many people were involved. If they don't target the main bosses of the operations, the trade ring would just hide and repeat itself elsewhere.
One look at Noah, and Rex could tell that he shared the same opinion. Which meant only one thing –they would have to continue investigations here. It was a dreadful plan. But there really wasn't any other choice.
"So? What's the plan? Are we going to just hang around here doing nothing?" Annie asked with a slight irritation to her tone.
"There's nothing else we can do. We need more info –so we'll have to come back. Or rather, they're expecting us to. They gave me exactly three patches, one for the each of us, for free. The trader warned the limit is only one every twenty-four hours. And I bet it's just a free sample to make us addicted to it, then they'll start weaning money from us," Noah elaborated.
"Right, so we'll have to come back for more tomorrow," Rex deadpanned, lips tight.
Oh hell.
It was really late, a few hours past midnight so the trains had stopped running. Rex and Noah accompanied Annie home first, with Rex giving them a lift. He created a small seating box that dropped down from his regular turbine wings, so they could sit safely inside. As he moved through the dark sky, he glanced down frequently to check that they were okay.
Nevermind that flying at his speeds this late in autumn, was like jumping into a lake in winter. The cold didn't seem to bother Annie. She was a riot all the way back, hooting and laughing and exclaiming it was the best thrill ride she had been on, prompting Rex and Noah to exchange a couple of amused smiles. Noah had been through more heart-stopping aerial stunts with Rex but they kept it to themselves, least Annie wanted Rex to try anything drastic and jinx it.
Noah on the other hand, was rubbing his hands furiously over his upper arms, shoulders curled inward like he was cold. Noticing that, Rex extended his nanites to form a sort of shelter cocooning around Noah, leaving only his face exposed.
Noah shot up a grateful smile at him, whilst Annie burst out laughing, commenting that it looked ridiculous. Rex arched a brow and duplicated the extension over Annie, prompting Noah to laugh at her in return.
When they reached Annie'a place, Noah frantically urged Rex to help them make a quick getaway, but Annie's mom opened the front door before he could, looking more like a zombie. She had bags around her red eyes, hair all frizzy and messed up, like she had waited up all night.
"Mom, did you stay up again? I told you not to wait for me and just get to bed first."
Her mom brightened instantly like a light bulb switched on.
"Oh baby!" She ran to Annie and cupped her face, "I was so worried you wouldn't come home. Lord knows how your father's spirit will get a seizure if you run off to some other woman's house."
"Mom! Dad is already rested in peace. He won't notice me. Besides, I didn't –I came straight home, like you asked."
"Annie, your father is watching over you, over us, from heaven. And unless you want him to return to his body and rise from the dead, you had better keep yourself clean."
Rex couldn't help snickering under his breath –Annie's mom sure say some funny shit. No wonder Annie said her mom was hard to handle.
Then Annie's mom looked up and caught his stare. Her brows raised in surprise in recognition.
"Rex? Rex Salazar? Is that you?"
Rex gave his best smile while he heard Noah give an audible sigh from behind him.
Back while they were double dating, Rex had sent Annie home a couple of times, so she might have remembered him. It was surprising though, that her attitude changed so much. Back then, Annie's mom barely took a second glance at him, except to exchange 'hellos.'
Annie's mom rushed over, looking Rex up and down and started gushing over how much more handsome and taller he had become. She even circled him, making him feel extremely awkward and self-conscious, as if he was a pet on display.
Rex felt his face heat up over the exaggerated praises that she peppered him with, all of which seemed to have come out of nowhere. It was worse because she'd dragged Annie to him and kept nudging Annie to acknowledge his greatness. Annie looked heavenward and folded her arms, looking like she would rather be anywhere else.
"Annie, what's wrong with you, at least look interested. Rex is a fine young man who would be perfect for you! In fact, why don't you two try to date?"
"Mom!" Annie cried and looked mortified.
Rex was sure he looked the same way.
Noah then quickly made some excuse that they had to leave and elbowed Rex hard in the ribs. Rex took the cue, and brought out his Slyder, pulling Noah up behind him and zipped off before Annie's mom could suggest anything more ridiculous, like them getting married.
Rex slowed after they were a distance away, so the cold wind wouldn't be slapping so harshly against them, and so that Rex could better balance the board. Rex usually liked speeding, and wasn't afraid of falling over since the hover board was technically attached to his feet. But he was considerate of Noah, who balanced behind him with his arms around his shoulders.
Then Noah suddenly cracked up, laughing against Rex's back.
"You know, right up till last week, her mom had been trying to convince her to date me."
"I can imagine," Rex said dryly, "I guess her mom has problems accepting that she's lesbian."
He felt Noah tense slightly behind him.
"So you found out?"
"Yea, she introduced me to Alexa. Turned out Alexa had wanted to meet her at the club, which was why she got so mad before, when she couldn't go."
He could feel Noah's heavy breathing, chest rising and falling sharply against his back, and could tell Noah was nervous.
"And you're cool with it?"
Rex laughed lightly.
"Yea, sure, I mean, I was surprised, but it doesn't really matter. Doesn't change who she is, to me."
Noah's breath turned shaky now. At that point, Rex suddenly had a clarity of mind.
The things Annie said, Noah being close friends with her, his problems with his family and how he had acted so coolly and naturally at the club.
It was like a bomb dropped into his head, and Rex slowed down further, least he loses control of his Slyder.
"Noah, back at the club, you weren't really acting, were you? You're really gay, right?"
Noah's breath hitched, and his hand that went around Rex's shoulders for support, clenched, fisting his collar. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Rex didn't have to turn to see his friend to know his reply. Rex just knew the answer. And he wasn't sure what to feel about it. He knew he should just be cool about it, but somehow, Rex just couldn't take it as easily as how he accepted Annie.
A dozen, a million, questions whizzed about in Rex's mind. Like how he had never noticed. How he, as Noah's best friend, hadn't known. What were the signs he had missed? How could he not have known? Why, did Noah keep Rex in the dark? And does this mean Noah was okay with guys like for real? It should be, judging by how easily he handled the other gays at the clubs, right?
Rex was still very disturbed with the night's happenings, and couldn't stop wondering either, about how many guys had Noah fooled around with since he turned gay. But then again, could someone just suddenly become gay? Hadn't Noah also flirted with girls? Hell, he chased Claire for almost two years, dated her even! So what gives? Noah couldn't have been gay right from the start, could he? If so, what changed? And why? Since when? How long has he kept this from Rex?
Suddenly feeling a slight tremor against his collarbone, Rex glanced down and noticed Noah's trembling fingers. It made him more flustered, because it showed that Noah was shit terrified and Rex wasn't really sure how he should react. Really, what good use was watching eight seasons of melodramatic soap opera if none of the episodes taught him how to cope with a friend who had just come out as gay?
Still, forcing himself to calm down, Rex quickly put his thoughts into perspective and tried to think of something to say to control the incoming drama.
"…So then, Claire… that's why you two broke up, over two years back. You realized you were gay then, was it?"
Noah gave a small, shaky sigh. "Yea, I guess. I couldn't lie to myself anymore, nor to her."
"So… right from the start, you were actually gay? Why didn't you tell me?"
Noah loudly swallowed a huge breath of air, arms trembling faintly.
"You hate me now. You think it's gross. You said it was disgusting."
Rex remembered the angry words that he had thrown earlier, at those creeps who had put their hands on Noah.
He laid a gentle hand over Noah's to let him know he didn't find Noah repulsive. No matter what, he was cool with Noah –he was his best friend.
"No, I don't. I'm just kinda… shocked, because I've never noticed. And duh, those perverts were gross. I would have thought the same way even if you and Annie switched places," Rex tried to assure him. "It's just, I thought you liked Claire. I mean, you did have genuine feelings for her, right? Or… were you just pretending and forcing yourself?"
"…Yea, I really did like her," Noah croaked after a long pause, "It's just… I don't know… along the way, something changed, I guessed. I just… well, it's complicated."
"Okay… well, so it's just, like, only guys will do for you now? Or are you still okay with girls?"
Noah took a sharp intake of breath and exhaled in an exhausted manner, breath hot against Rex's nape.
"Only guys," Noah answered, voice sounding small and weak.
"Right," Rex acknowledged as calmly and nonchalantly as he could. But really, who was he kidding? He knew he would be up all night trying to digest this piece of info about his best buddy whom he thought he knew inside and out.
Really, why couldn't Noah have told him earlier? Noah had even been dreading that Rex would realize the truth, as was obviously seen when he tried to talk Rex out of going to Staizer. Once in it, there was no way Noah could hide the truth, or pretend otherwise, and a part of Rex was perplexed that Noah would let himself be cornered that way instead of being forthright from the start.
An even bigger part, was hurt that Noah couldn't be open enough to at least give him a clue. Rex thought that they shared everything with each other. At least on Rex's part, he kept no secrets from Noah.
"You didn't answer my earlier question," Rex began again after another minute of silence, "Why did you keep it from me? You know you can tell me anything."
Noah took another big gulp of air.
"You can't be serious," Noah's voice was slightly raised in disbelief.
"What do you mean? I'm serious when I said you should have told me. I mean, we're tight man, I thought you knew that," Rex reiterated, throwing a quick head turn sideways.
"Well I… it's not that easy," Noah sounded defeated, "I mean, I was scared, Rex."
Noah took a huge breath before continuing.
"I mean, look at my folks –they found out and look what happened? My dad drove me from home," he choked out, voice thick with emotion.
In that instant, Rex felt his heart go out for Noah. He chided himself inwardly to stop the finger pointing at his best bud. This wasn't the time to get upset over secrets. This wasn't about him – it was about Noah and his feelings, about what Rex should do to help Noah cope with such a difficult position. Because for sure, not everyone was on the same, open page on one's sexuality. Same sex relationships was still a big no-no for majority of society. Noah was gonna have a hard time, and was probably already having a hard time.
This, was the time for Rex to lend him a shoulder, to show his support.
"So… how did they know? You told them?" Rex asked softly, giving Noah's hand a gentle squeeze.
Noah heaved a heavy sigh before answering, "No, I brought a guy home, and they caught us with our pants down –like literally."
The image of Noah standing in his briefs with a faceless guy suddenly appeared in Rex's mind. The instances where he'd seen Noah in nothing but his briefs when they hung out at each other's room, was too many to count. It didn't seem to matter then –they were both guys, and buddies, and all they did was just have a quick change of clothes.
Rex found it hard to imagine Noah doing something else with another guy while their pants were off.
So they were having sex? Kissing and sucking and –
Rex immediately cut his thoughts short, wondering where the hell that even came from. He felt horrified with himself –Noah's hanky panky was his own business.
Rex's long silence must have given Noah the wrong impression, because Noah started fidgeting, arms shaking again.
"Look, it's okay to say you're disgusted with me or something, because yea, I know you're cool with a kiss, but for me, I went all the way."
Rex pulled to an abrupt halt, causing Noah to yelp in surprise.
In a flash, he turned around on his hover board and gripped Noah's shoulder, staring at Noah dead in the eye.
"Noah, you could be a transvestite, for all I care. Doesn't change who you are, to me. Our friendship doesn't change."
Against the dark sky, Noah's eyes were bright and glistening, wet like he was holding back tears. And his irises were trembling like he was scared. He bit his lips, anxious and timid.
How long had Noah kept this a secret?
How long had he worried about Rex treating him differently if he knew?
There was so much anxiety, worry and fear. Noah's pain tore at Rex's heart.
Don't be afraid.
How was Rex going to put it across to Noah? To make Noah understand that he really didn't care that Noah was gay?
Without thinking about it, Rex pulled Noah in, curling his arms round Noah's back. It was just but one simple action. But that was really all that was needed between best friends. The point that Rex wanted to put across, reached Noah in that moment.
Rex's simple, unquestioning acceptance all but freed Noah from his fear. Relieved, Noah sagged against him, head burying into the crook of Rex's neck, arms climbing around his shoulders. Noah released a long, shaky breath, as if letting out all his fears, all his uncertainties and all his anxiousness.
Minutes passed. Could be an eternity, for all Rex could care.
They stayed that way, bodies warm against the cold, frosty air, breaths quiet but in rhythm with each other. Thoughts were overwhelmed, but supported by one another's quiet reassurance.
Rex wasn't going to run from his friend in spite of the unexpected revelation. Granted, it would be hard to get used to knowing it, but he was determined not to let it get in the way of his friendship.
And Noah needn't fear losing his precious friend. Finally the hurdle has passed and though abundant fears still gripped him, he was convinced more than ever, to fight to keep this friendship.
Noah sighed again, but this time, it was small one, of relief, of contentment.
"Thank you, Rex."
His words held oceans of emotion, and Rex understood that it all but held one meaning. Noah was thankful to have Rex here, by his side. And honestly, so was Rex.
Rex nodded, hands still stroking Noah's back. Then he felt Noah's chest bubbling with laughter.
"And well, you sure you wouldn't mind me looking like a tranny? Like, even if I look freaky, you'd still hang with me?"
Rex laughed, relieved that Noah was feeling better, glad that Noah had the burden lifted from his shoulders. Noah was joking again, and that was a good sigh.
Rex released him and gave a lopsided smile.
"Dude, if I remember correctly, you actually kinda rocked the long *wig you wore while we were protecting *Feakins."
"You have to be freaking kiddin' me," Noah replied in an amused tone.
Then they both cracked up on remembering.
Really, being with Noah always feels good. All the good times they had. And how they always got each other's joke. It was like their friendship bond was entwined tightly with the threads of fate.
Come hell or high water, Rex was sure that nothing could change their friendship. Because Rex never, ever, want it to change.
Rex couldn't believe his eyes.
He must be lying someplace in between heaven and hell. Because this couldn't be real.
Noah was kneeling above him shirtless, fondling and pinching his own nipples and begging for Rex to help him. Rex was too dumbfounded to react, except to succumb to the throes of his cock that was mercilessly grinded against Noah's.
This was wrong, it shouldn't be happening, he shouldn't be doing this with his best friend.
But Noah was a transfigured deity, devilishly diving his hands into his own pants and stroking himself while looking so beautiful, gasping and mewing and aiming large, angelic eyes at him.
Rex thought he was going crazy while he watched Noah do porno acts. He couldn't keep himself from thrusting upwards, rubbing his hard, aching cock against Noah's, wanting to reach the heights of nirvana while plummeting into the fiery gates.
Then without warning, he fell and crashed heavily, possibly in the deepest burrows of hell for daring to defile his best friend.
He blinked and surveyed his surroundings.
Erotic Noah was gone, and most surprisingly, he was lying on clean, white floors in a familiar room.
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty, you're supposed to head over Brooklyn, remember? To some club or whatever. It's already late afternoon."
Rex couldn't reply straightaway.
He was momentarily confused, staring blankly at Bobo's face that appeared overhead. Then he remembered that in the wee hours of the morning, after sending Annie home, he sent Noah back to his dorm since he had a project with his schoolmates that day. And right after he returned to his room, exhaustion suddenly overpowered him so he promptly crashed on the couch. It had to be because of the mountainous new discovery he made last night, that suddenly wore him down.
Noah was Gay.
Rex had witnessed his best friend transforming into a blond falate and just killin' the other gays in the club. And Noah was forced to admit to it since there was no use denying it after the obvious show.
Sure, Rex assured Noah that he has completely accepted it – as to be expected of their incredibly tight friendship – but certainly, Rex still has a lot of internal muscling to do. And the proof of how much internal mulling he would have to do, was how it plagued his dreams.
Realizing he had such a… corrupted, perverted dream about Noah, Rex grew embarrassed and his face warmed. He blamed it on decadent show of how Noah cajoled with the guys in the club.
He sighed heavily.
That was some crazy investigation alright.
No wonder Providence Intel never found out any news about the trade ring –cajoling with the perps the way Noah did, wasn't exactly Providence forte –they were better trained at battle expeditions and rescue operations.
And dear lord –his temples continued pounding like a sledgehammer was going through his head. Bloody hangover.
Rex sat up slowly, cradling his forehead, then looked down on himself, feeling an odd stickiness and dampness in his pants. His eyes balled in horror and he cursed when he realized he had come.
Luckily, Bobo had moved away so Rex quickly grabbed the cushion off the couch and held it over his groin, trying to hide that dark, damp patch. It was amazing how wet his thick, navy jeans had become and Rex wondered in chagrin just how much he had ejaculated.
"Right, how can I miss it," Rex finally replied in a weak voice.
Damn! I can't believe I was out so long. Rex cursed to himself, upset that time had passed so quickly. He was going to have to leave for Club Staizer again, like he and Noah had planned –but he really wasn't ready to go through a repeat of yesterday's show. He was going to have to stomach the sight of Noah getting cosy with pervs a second time –and Rex just hated even the thought of it.
"Well, I wouldn't know, since you were so engrossed in your dream you wouldn't wake no matter how many times your alarm rang. Which was why I kicked you out of the couch," Bobo paused and turned round, giving him a critical eye that sent the hairs on Rex's neck to stand on its ends, "You must have had some crazy time last night, huh?"
Suddenly, Rex had a bad feeling and asked shakily, "Uh, Bobo, how long have you been in here?"
"Long enough to know you're at my beck and call unless you want me spilling your dream to Noah or anyone else," Bobo answered with an evil grin.
Rex wasn't sure if he could look at his best friend straight in the eye after such a sinful dream. It plagued Rex whilst he changed into fresh clothes. And all through the flight over, his throat was dry like chalk and his hands were clammy with nervousness. Rex forced himself to calm his nerves for over the thousandth time that night, but he still couldn't keep himself from jumping when Noah called out to him.
He steeled himself as he turned around to meet his friend, forcing back the erotic face he had seen in his dream earlier that afternoon. At least Noah was wearing his favorite green jacket, looking more like his usual self, otherwise, Rex wasn't sure where to look without being reminded of Noah's sexy side.
Noah could tell his smile cracked, because he frowned and asked if there was something wrong.
"Nothing, just that we're walking into the dog pound again," Rex quickly gave an excuse. Well, not like he could actually admit to Noah that he had a wet dream about him, which was odd. It must be that the revelation of Noah being gay was still a lot to take in, which was why Rex had such a crazy dream.
"Where's Annie?" Rex asked, noticing she was missing.
"Last minute project meeting, so she couldn't come."
"Oh, she must be pretty bummed."
"Not really," Noah shrugged, "Alexa wasn't free to meet her anyway, at least, that's what she told me."
Rex was suddenly curious if Noah had hung out with Alexa before. Were Annie and Alexa his only gay friends? Who else did Noah know?
Noah gave him a lopsided smile when Rex asked.
"What is this? An interrogation?"
"I guess, I mean, I wanna know how it's like for you people."
Noah made a face.
"Hey, don't say it like we're a different species, okay? We're just regular people, only attracted to the same sex."
"Okay, I got it," Rex shoved his hands into his pants and smiled sheepishly.
They talked as they waited outside in the queue, which was longer than yesterday. Rex was relieved things seemed completely normal between them, and that he could hold himself properly instead of stuttering all over like the bunch of nerves he was feeling inside. It seemed almost like yesterday's melodrama of confessions, tears and hugs were a faraway dream that had never happened.
Fat chance though. It had happened. But as how it always was with the both of them, Rex seemed to be able to just naturally accept it and didn't make a big hoo-ha out of it, just as easily as how Noah accepted him being an EVO freak.
Rex almost calmed down as the wait continued. When they finally got in, Rex was wowed by the Saturday crowd, which seemed to cram every corner of the club.
Standing on his toes, Rex could see above the sea of heads that the bar was full.
"Damn! No escape for me."
Noah laughed, reading his mind.
"C'mon then, let's just join the dance."
Rex was hesitant.
"I don't want any ass grabbing or get molested again."
Noah smirked and started unzipping his green bomber jacket.
"Silly, that's only going to happen to me."
Rex took a sharp intake of breath, eyeing Noah with an incredulous gaze as he unveiled his fuck-me top that was full of holes.
Rex pointed a shaky finger and stammered incomprehensible words, trying without success to string a proper sentence that would express suitable outrage over Noah's fishnet tee.
Finally, after gulping enough intakes of air to extinguish the flames that sprung within this chest, Rex found a suitable comment.
"What the hell are you wearing? It's either the fisherman threw the net over you thinking to catch a merman, or you just walked right into one."
Noah narrowed his gaze and lightly smacked his shoulder.
"Shut up, Rex, don't make fun of me. I didn't want to wear this stupid top either, okay? I'm just trying to get in with the traders. You can't expect them to set up operations in a gay bar and not be gay."
Rex felt worse hearing that Noah was hoping to seduce more of them. Rex cast a look of utmost disapproval at Noah's tee, imagining that no doubt, the plentiful holes would give those pervs easier access to his nipples.
Oh god. On that thought, Rex immediately averted his gaze from his chest, where Noah's nipples played peek-a-boo under the netting fabric.
"Noah, I wasn't making fun of you," Rex said in exasperation, struggling to find the words, "It's just I've never seen you like this. Are you sure you are completely cool with this? I know you're gay, but it can't mean that any guy is fine by you."
Noah stared at him like he was stupid. Then came the clout on Rex's head –the one where Noah gave in extreme cases of annoyance at Rex's stupidity.
"Are you an idiot? Of course not!" Noah hissed, "You think I'll shake my hips to any Tom, Dick or Harry? C'mon!" Noah scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"If it wasn't for the fact that this is the only way to get the leads we need to bust the trading ring, I wouldn't have dressed up like a man-whore."
Rex promptly burst into laughter at that point, finding it absolutely funny how Noah described his immoral dressing.
"Man-whore? Is there even such a person?" Rex asked, waggling his brows.
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it," Noah deadpanned, head shaking.
"Anyway, c'mon, are we gonna dance, or what?"
Rex swallowed hard, suddenly nervous. He hadn't exactly got himself ready for this. Noah probably just wanted to pass the time until they spot the trader from the day before. But Rex wanted to avoid dancing with Noah because his overactive imagination was playing out an erotic Noah humping against his hips. Hell fire would rain down on him if it happened for real and he was worried shitless.
Then minutes passed and reality settled in, so Rex relaxed.
There was no humping, no roaming hands, no gluing their bodies together, no kissing and definitely, no moaning.
It was just a casual, regular dance between buddies, with Noah and him bopping heads and shaking their shoulders and bodies with decent space in between them. They'd danced like this when they went clubbing before at other places, so it felt so normal that Rex nearly forgot they were in gay club.
He was only rudely reminded by it whenever wicked hands found their way to Noah's bum or over his chest. Rex was quick to smack them off, bare his teeth at them and spin Noah out of their reach. Noah howled in laughter every time that happened, prompting Rex to laugh along with him.
Rex had such a good time, he didn't even think twice about putting his arms around Noah's waist when a slow song came on. Noah's arm went around his neck and they started rocking together in sync, faces drawing closer.
Rex had hung out with Noah so many times, getting close, having their arms over one another, or hugging, that this didn't make him feel uncomfortable. In fact, it felt so natural, that Rex was amused with himself for getting so worried in the first place.
Then he jolted, attacked by a creepy hand on his shoulder. Rex only shrugged it off lightly, refraining from any violent displays of rejection. As Noah had said before, the less conspicuous he acted, the more they could find out about the trade ring.
"Hey there, buddy, I've never seen you around," the guy who sported a piercing on his eyebrow, was undeterred, sidling up next to Rex and standing so close that he could smell his cigarette breath.
Rex wrinkled his nose and turn sideways slightly.
"Yea, we're first timers. Just came to check out the scene."
"Hmm, yea? Well, do you like what you see? Because I sure am."
Rex felt a shiver of disgust run through him under the other's snaking eyes. The guy snaked another hand towards him, but Noah smacked it away and sandwiched himself in between them.
"Sorry, but hands off –he's with me," Noah snapped in an icy cold tone.
Over Noah's shoulder, Rex saw the guy lower his gaze towards Noah's chest then back up at level with Noah's face. His gaze hardened.
"You lie, he isn't into a slut like you. And neither am I."
Rex bristled and wrangled the neckline of the guy's tee.
"Listen, don't you dare insult my friend again or I will put your lights out. And F.Y.I, I'm non-gay, so I'm not into creeps like you, or anyone else here, so buzz off."
Rex released him, pushing him off, glaring at him with an incensed gaze.
The guy stumbled a bit but quickly regained his footing. Then he gave a small laugh, crooking an eyebrow.
"Oh, a Stiff, I see, so you're here for something else."
Rex straightened on his words and flickered a gaze to Noah.
Another trader? They exchanged a wordless guess.
The guy closed the gap to Rex.
"Well, consider this your lucky day, or in fact, my lucky day. I know where to get the patch, if you want, for a small price."
Noah snorted and turned to go, grabbing Rex's arm with him.
"We don't need it. I've already got ours from a friend."
"Oh ho, I know where you get it from. From the guys in the VIP room, right? Well, those guys don't sell cheap. But I have a direct connection –can get you twice the product for half the price."
Noah froze and exchanged another look with Rex.
Boy, were they truly lucky –another trader, closer up the chain to the direct supply.
Noah turned back around and Rex watched with a mix of horror and fascination as he switched to seductive mode, lids lowering and lips curling into a deviant smile.
Noah curled his fingers around the other's wrist and pulled it to rest behind his back.
"Well, why didn't you say so earlier? I'd be interested to know how much you're selling for."
The guy smirked and pulled his hand away.
"Nice try, blonde, I have to admit, you're hot, but I'm into tall, tanned handsome types, especially if they're Stiffs."
Rex felt his blood run cold on those words, and was flabbergasted when the guy turned back his leery attention on him.
"So what do you say, Stiff? A dance?"
"Oh great, the type who digs non-gays," Noah muttered frustratedly under his breath, combing his hair back.
"Just lay off, my friend isn't going to entertainment –"
"Sure," Rex cut in on Noah's agitated remark, "Just one dance, then you'll show me the goods."
Noah shot Rex an incredulous look. He flattened himself against Rex and pushed him backwards, whispering harshly into his ear.
"Rex! What the fuck you think you're doing?"
"Same thing you did. I can't leave you to do all the sacrificing on your own," Rex pointedly replied in a soft tone so the other guy wouldn't hear.
Looking at the big picture, Rex forced himself not to think of it as a big deal.
"No Rex, you don't get it. Guys like him –they're sick. They love to torture straight guys. Once they pick their target, it's not going to end up a simple dance," Noah said softly through clenched teeth.
"Right, got it, I'll play along and see how it goes. I mean, if you could do it, so can I."
Noah fisted Rex's jacket, face contorted with worry.
"Rex, I'm serious, listen to me –he is going to play with you, break you and fuck you upside down."
Rex squared his jaw.
"Well then, I'll just have to use the ace in my sleeve before that happened."
Minutes later, Rex was regretting his bravado.
He clenched his teeth and bit his tongue to keep from swearing and crying out over the sicko's abuse. Rex had never felt so humiliated in his life –he'd been grabbed, pinched, fondled and smacked all over.
And the guy was panting heavily like a pig, breathing against Rex's face so he was subjected to the foulest cigarette stench poisoning his lungs, disrupting normal airflow to his respiratory tract. Rex was sure he was going to suffocate and die before he gathered any lead from him.
Heaven remind him why he allowed himself to be violated in such a revolting manner. Then he remembered –because he promised to help Gabe and Michael, and because busting the trade ring would be a good cause for the rest of the population that was still infected with nanites.
God damn it, Rex should be awarded with a Samaritan award for the lengths he would go through to help people.
The worst was that Noah was a couple of steps away, watching him. It was like their fates had exchanged from the previous night, and it would have been ironic and funny, if it weren't for the painful expression plastered on Noah's face.
Just facing Noah's anguished look was enough to make Rex feel like he was fucked ten times over by a runaway train.
Stop looking at me that way.
Rex thought miserably to himself, tormented by his friend's agony. Yet at the same time, it was the only thing he could draw from to console himself, knowing that Noah was equally miserable to see Rex suffer such violation.
Then the lecherous trader from last night reappeared, cupping Noah's ass. Noah had nary a second to throw Rex one last worried look before he was waltzed away.
Rex could read it clearly in Noah's gaze. Be careful.
Well, perhaps someone should warn the other guy instead, because Rex was just about running out of patience.
"Heh, looks like your friend got the attention he wanted. Too bad for him, spreading his thighs will only get him a small return with that group."
Rex's senses prickled, picking up on the guy's words.
"That group? Aren't you all friends?"
The guy snorted.
"They're a new gang trying to muscle their way into the trade. But if you ask me, they've got too many possy –gives smaller cuts, you know? But cut away all the middle men, and you get the lion's share."
"Huh, like you?" Rex pressed.
"Yup," the sicko announced proudly.
"Daring, aren't you? Don't you worry that they'll catch you poaching their customers?"
The sicko snorted.
"I could shit all over on their turf without them noticing."
Rex couldn't help but chuckle.
Noah was right, people really do have their wits clouded when they were sexually excited.
"Anyway, now that our audience is gone, why don't we move on to the good part," the sicko gave a leery smile, disgusting Rex further, "Ever been to the back rooms?"
Rex felt his skin crawl, but he managed a false smile.
"Well, you don't say. No, I've never. But if you can show me where you get the goods, I might be in a good enough mood to show you some private time."
About an hour later, Rex was seated along the barricade alongside the road, in the middle of an empty street, about ten blocks down from the club, waiting for Noah to join him.
At the sound of running footsteps, Rex turned his head and dropped his feet to the ground, waving and smiling at him.
"Rex, what is going on? You said it was an emergency," Noah said between pants, bending over and resting his palms on his knee.
Then hearing some muffled noise to the side, he turned his head into the alley behind them and found the sicko whom Rex had gagged and tied up.
Noah gave a look of dread.
"Crap, Rex, what is this?"
"Relax, I didn't do anything to jeopardize our investigation," Rex assured him on hearing the panic in his tone, "This guy had let on earlier that he was working alone."
Rex briefly filled Noah in. The guy had direct connections to the main supplier and didn't operate in the same group as the others. Also, the group operating in the club were not aware that he was also a trader like them. Hence, Rex could lure him out without worrying about alerting the others.
Instead of going to the back rooms with the sicko, Rex very subtly, manipulated his nanites, and influenced the guy to walk right out the club and down the street till Rex could finally move in with his threats.
And boy, though Six was no fun to get stuck with, it pays to grow up under him –Rex has picked up a few tricks on intimidating people and getting them to talk.
It was underhanded and awful but Rex didn't have a choice –desperate times called for desperate measures and there was no way in hell he was gonna let the sicko continue to do disgusting things to him.
Rex was worried that Noah would criticize his actions, but Noah nodded approvingly and smirked, offering up a hand for a hi-five.
"Great work, Rex, now we can head straight for the big guns and send this perp to prison."
Rex nodded.
"Too bad the rest of the trade circle will still be on the loose. If only we can get them all in one swoop."
Noah patted his shoulder.
"Hey, at least if we catch the main supplier, the rest of them won't be able to continue the trade. Besides, I secretly took pictures of their faces. We can pass that on to the police."
Noah showed a nifty camera he'd clipped onto the collar of his tee. Rex was amazed, never having realized it. He thought it was a pendant of some sort.
"Where did u get it?"
Noah laughed. "I won it off a card game from Bobo."
"Right, and he probably swiped it or cheated it out from the weapons development team."
They shared a few sniggers at the mention of their mischevious friend before Rex turned around to face the sicko, planting his hands on his hips.
"Now, where did you say the manufacturing factory was again?"
DO YOU LIKE IT? Hehe, I thought it was about time to add some naughty bits here and there. I know it's not full blown, but the full smex will come later, I promise! La la la~
Sorry about the revelation thing with Noah... as in like, making him 'gay.' Maybe some of you prefer that he is only 'gay' for Rex and that he should be 'pure', only doing stuff with Rex etc etc. But this serves an important role in the relationship development in this story. Which you will see as the story progresses... so pls be patient to read more!
And just to give a better illustration, the club is supposed to be similar to those from the show, QAF, so like yea... hehe my Noah here is also a bit more raw and 'liberal' in his 'hook ups'. But ultimately, he's still a regular guy - can't expect them to be celibate monks lol.
…Also, I made Annie lesbian, hur hur. Sorry if any of you didn't like it, but it fit more naturally in this story this way.
Footnotes:
*Feakins / Wig :
He's the guy who can nullify the active powers of nanites. He appears first in "Deadzone", episode 48. Rex and Noah coincidently bumped into him and went on a run with him to keep Black Knight from capturing him. They ended up wearing disguises and Noah was dressed up as a blonde chic, which I thought was a terribly, slashable piece of morsel! 3 *hints* hints* Which means I may include this point again in later chapters… heh heh.
