The vacation had once again taken another sudden and terrible turn. Paul froze on the spot. He could not take his eyes away the drunken man who held a knife to his partner's throat. Riley swayed slightly and Shawn moved nervously with him. It could not have been happening, Paul could hardly believe the situation they were in. Nearby, Kate remained seated and curled into herself.
"No sudden moves," Gaz ordered. Paul looked at the bearded man and sighed. The man had a handgun drawn on him. A drunk man with a gun and drunk man with a blade. Paul pushed his arms slowly into the air and then spread his fingers.
"I'm not going to do anything stupid." Paul's eyes darted to Shawn's helpless tear filled ones. "Please… just take that knife away. He's too drunk to have it that close. Please. We don't want any trouble."
Beth threw her head back and laughed. "You've wanted trouble since the minute we got here. But…. you've got a point. Riley, cool it."
Riley lowered the blade from Shawn's throat but kept it close to Shawn's heaving chest.
"Don't move…" Beth hissed as she approached Paul and the bag that had caused all of the trouble. She looked in, satisfied that everything was untouched and then zipped the bag back up. She heaved it over her shoulder before she spun back to face the group. "We're good. He's seen though so it won't take him long to piece it together."
"I say we kill them." Barked Riley. Shawn's face scrunched up and his hands curled into tight little fists by his sides.
"The bitch takes us to Driftwood. Those guys…?" Beth looked between Shawn and Paul with a look of disinterest.
"You boys rich? Two queers and no kids. I bet you make a pocket, right?" Riley sneered. He raised the point of his knife and scrapped it gently yet gradually over Shawn's collarbone. Shawn shut his eyes and mouthed a few soft words. Probably praying, Paul thought sadly from his position on the floor.
"What does it mean to you? Are we supposed to pay for our lives?" Paul demanded.
"It's an idea. Why else would we lug around two potential hazards? We're just trying to give you reason to remain alive," Beth turned to Gaz and said something Paul could not quite make out. He nodded, handed her his gun and then went back to where their supplies were.
"Well? Give us a reason to keep you alive." Beth cooed. She removed the safety and cocked the gun. It was the loudest noise imaginable. It cracked over the crickets and his own heavy breathing. Paul looked at Shawn and then back at Beth.
"I work at the WWE. I wrestle part-time and I'm the Vice President for Talent/"
Their eyes lingered on Paul. From the look on their faces; Paul knew they were not quite sure if they believed him or not. From across the grass Paul watched as Riley held Shawn a little tighter to his chest. Too tight as it made Shawn murmur in discomfort. Paul felt his nose twitch as his defence mechanism began to kick in.
"Is this when you tell me you're the president?" Riley growled. He pressed the knife firmer against Shawn's collarbone. A small puddle of blood began to bubble and pool under the blade.
"I'm retired." Shawn hissed when the knife grazed his skin. "Google it for fucks sake. We're not lying!"
"Okay, so you can pay your way out of captivity. Well done boys. Once we get to Driftwood, you'll hand over your details and then you'll sit with us for a few days until our desired money is transferred. Then… we let you go."
The plan was floored but Paul was not going to be the one who pointed it out. They were amateurs. That was not to say Paul had met professionals but he had seen enough crime dramas to know their plan would leave a trail. Regardless, he could play the game. Paul nodded his head with his arms still raised high above his head.
"Of course. Take as much as you want; just don't do anything you'll regret."
"The same goes to you. Fuck with us and we'll put a bullet in your heads. We don't need your money but we won't say no to it." Beth said just as Gaz returned from the supply bags. He whispered something into her ear again. All this secrecy was driving Paul over the edge.
"Right. This part is simple. Get your ass over here and put your hands behind your back. Just you first, Lurch. I get the feeling you want to be a superhero."
He could not argue with her. Not when he had two other lives to think about as well as his own. How did he get himself into these situations? Not wanting to keep his drunken captors waiting, Paul lifted himself from the ground and walked to where Beth and Gaz stood. As instructed, he put his hands behind his back. He hissed when a heavy weight behind his shoulder made him fall to his knees before his hands were bound together. He twisted at the material that kept his wrists together. Thin rope. It must have come from Kate's supply bag. Shawn was then pushed down beside him on his knees before his own hands tied. He offered Shawn a sympathetic smile. Shawn just shied away from the look and kept his eyes on the grass below his knees.
"You weren't to know." Paul whispered to his lover.
"I'm sorry…" Whispered the broken Shawn.
Paul shushed him just as Kate was forced to her knees on Paul's other side. Their usually brazen guide was shaken. Her eyes were blood red and tears rolled freely down her cheeks as her body shook. This was a first time experience for all of them apparently. Above them, Paul heard the sound of another beer can being cracked open. His own body shook. This time, it shook with fury. The loud slurp was proverbial the cherry on top.
"I'm sorry it had to turn out this way," Riley said with a huge smile on his face. He took a gulp from his can before he shrugged his shoulders. "But if you had all just kept cool we could all be enjoying a cold one together. Unless, you do fancy a little bit?"
Paul scowled at the younger man. He flexed his wrists from behind him, testing the thin ropes to see if he had any chance of making them give. Riley was soon on his knees. Nose to nose, their eyes locked. Paul growled, he was not going to be intimidated by this kid.
"Do you think you're a big man?" Riley whispered. His breath reeked off cheap beer and a general all around lack of teeth brushing. He swayed slightly, his grin twitching on his face. He forced the beer under Paul's nose. "Do you think you could take me, Lurch?"
"Untie me. Then ask me that."
"If I untie you, I'm afraid Gaz might want a round with you."
"Then I'll put him on his ass as well." Paul hissed.
Gaz and Beth broke out into unrestrained laughter. The beer was snatched from underneath Paul's nose. The red haired man shook with anger and a small vein protruded on his forehead. They glared each other down, daring one another to do it. Riley then shook his head.
"I don't need to untie you to kick your ass. In fact, I don't even need to touch you to make you cry." Riley pointed his finger at Paul's nose. "You're mine. That girl is mine and your boyfriend is mine."
"And I actually thought you were going to be the more reasonable of the two." As Paul spoke, he could see the temper of the younger man bubbling over. Riley snatched a cruel glance at Shawn and then quickly brought it back to Paul. The cold, calculating look on his face made Paul's stomach twist in a knot. "Leave him out of this."
As soon as the warning had flown out of Paul's mouth, Riley had Shawn's ponytail twisted around his hand. Shawn swore loudly and his eyes clenched shut. His head was forced backwards uncomfortably. His neck was taut and his Adams apple bopped in his throat Riley had his eyes on Paul ensuring they never wandered from his furious hazel eyes. The young man lifted the can of beer, pulled Shawn's hair even more and tipped the can over his face. As the liquid poured, Riley pulled again which in turn made Shawn open his mouth to gasp out in pain. The cold, sticky liquid filled his mouth too quickly and forced him to cough. It had been a while since he had tasted the sticky beverage.
"I said leave him out of this!" Paul roared as he struggled with his restraints. He made a move to get up, standing on one foot until he heard the familiar cock of a gun behind him. He did not need to see it to know it was pointed at the back of his head. It was agonising. He remained there watching Shawn splutter on the golden liquid until the can was empty. Riley released Shawn and pushed him face first into the ground. Soon after, he threw the can at his head. The dull hollow clang of metal against skull echoed through the night air. He pointed his finger at Paul.
"That's your final warning. I only need one of you so I'm not afraid to make you a widow," Riley pushed Paul back onto his knees so he slunk like a wounded dog. "He needed a drink anyway."
Paul shook with ferocity as he looked down on his husband face down in the dirt and covered with beer. He did not need to see Shawn's face to know how humiliated his other half was. The familiar twang of alcohol arose from Shawn's sodden clothes. Despite their argument, Paul would have given anything to just pick Shawn up from the floor and wrap his arms around him. When your life hung in the balance; the little things really were just little things.
