A/N: Hey! And thank you once again for reading :)
Right, as promised, next chapter immediately.
More of the same, flashback, slash etc...
And, again, and still, I own none of these boys :)
Chapter 12 - … You Animal
To say he'd thought about that night would be an understatement. To say he couldn't get that night out of his head would be a lot closer to the truth. Fun Ghoul knew Party Poison had caught him staring a few times. He'd ignored it. Fun Ghoul didn't know if he hated him or loved him for that.
Eventually, there was no ignoring it anymore.
Fun Ghoul was outside, with Jet Star. They'd gone out to practice their shooting. Jet Star had been the slowest to pick it up, at first, but now his accuracy was damn near as good as Party Poison's or Kobra Kid's (both of whom made perfect shots pretty much every time) And Fun Ghoul had been better than him. Today though, Fun Ghoul was missing every target. "Fuck." He muttered, after yet another shot went way off. "Ghoul." Jet Star said, gently. "Yeah?" Fun Ghoul's voice was a weary one. "Something's up. What is it?" Fun Ghoul just shook his head in response. "Don't tell me 'nothing' Ghoul. We get that from Poison enough." Fun Ghoul inwardly winced. So, he hadn't been the only one to notice? Party Poison was getting distant, again. Too focused on being their leader, again. No 'off' switch. A brief invasion of Fun Ghoul's thoughts: Skin on skin, touching, caressing, pleasing, lips to his ear, a quiet, but certain command. Fun Ghoul closed his eyes, tried to push the thoughts away. They'd agreed it'd never happen again. That was it, one time thing. Then he thought of the past month, how Party Poison seemed to be getting further and further away, again. Thought of the times he'd seen Party Poison's fists clenched so tight it looked painful. Thought of the hard look he seemed to have permanently in his eyes. His eyes should never look like that. They should be open, kind, like they always were. When was the last time he'd seen Party Poison smile? Then Fun Ghoul thought about his own personal hell. It'd been getting worse. Now every time he even looked at Party Poison, even thought about him… Fucking hell, he was a teenage girl with a fucking crush… Fuck. He had to do something about this. Jet Star was still looking at him, waiting for an answer, clearly concerned. Had he noticed that there'd been some correlation with Fun Ghoul's lack of concentration and Party Poison's distantness? Fun Ghoul hoped not. "Poison's inside, right?" Fun Ghoul asked. "Yeah. With Kid, but Ghoul-""I've just gotta speak to him." Fun Ghoul had disappeared inside before Jet Star could stop him.
Inside, and he found Kobra Kid and Party Poison together in the diner area, sitting on opposite sides of the table, clearly in a fairly deep discussion. Fun Ghoul wasn't quite sure why he felt so nervous. "Poison." He waited for Party Poison to look up, and then continued, quickly, "Can I talk to you a second?" Party Poison nodded, and, seemingly getting the hint this was meant to be a private conversation, stood up. "Oh. Right. And what am I meant to do?" Kobra Kid asked. Party Poison shrugged, "I dunno. Go practice your shooting with Jet." Kobra Kid frowned. "But I'm already good." Then, with a ghost of a smile, Party Poison told him, "Never hurts to get better, little brother." Kobra Kid rolled his eyes, and headed outside. Then Party Poison followed Fun Ghoul into the bedrooms. "Ok, Ghoul. What is it?" Party Poison had barely closed the door when Fun Ghoul, suddenly alarmingly close, pinned him to the door and kissed him. Shocked, and on pure instinct, Party Poison pushed him away. "What the fuck?" He demanded. Fuck, that'd hurt, Party Poison pushing him away like that. But he didn't care, he wasn't backing down now. "This past month?" Fun Ghoul started, refusing to step back any further than the couple of paces he'd been forced to stagger. "It's been driving me crazy. Please, Poison-" But Party Poison was shaking his head, not listening. "No." He said, determinedly "No! We talked about this. What happened…" Brief pause, Fun Ghoul knew he was thinking about it. "Happened. But that was it. We forget it, we move on." Party Poison was trying to get past Fun Ghoul. "What happened to not denying it?" Fun Ghoul asked. "I'm not!" Party Poison protested, still trying to get away. But Fun Ghoul was having none of it, hands on his arms, holding him still. "Poison, stop. Just… Stop for a second!" A pause, and Fun Ghoul frowned, absently licked his lips, thinking. "Alright. Tell me. Really tell me 'no'. Tell me… You haven't thought about it. Haven't thought about-" He'd been about to say 'me', but he was interrupted, when Party Poison kissed him. "Fuck." Party Poison breathed. Fun Ghoul couldn't help but smile, he'd finally come to the realisation Fun Ghoul had weeks ago. "Yeah. Fuck." Fun Ghoul replied. "What… What should we…?" Fun Ghoul rolled his eyes, "Shut the fuck up, would you?" And then he kissed him again, no backing away this time. Heat and passion intensifying quickly. Found themselves on one of the beds, Party Poison on top of Fun Ghoul, until abruptly, he stopped. "Ghoul?" Fun Ghoul didn't answer, just tried to pull Party Poison back down, who struggled against it. "No. Ghoul. Wait. This is…" He seemed embarrassed, and Fun Ghoul had a horrible feeling about what might follow. He needn't have worried. "We're on Kid's bed." Fun Ghoul smiled, pleased to find that was what was worrying him. "Whatever's… About to happen, I'd rather not do it on my brothers bed." Fun Ghoul laughed, pushing Party Poison off him. Then he went and stood beside his own bed, shrugged his jacket off, let it fall to the floor, then pulled his shirt off, letting it join the jacket. "What makes you think something's going to happen?" He asked, with an innocent smile. Party Poison clambered from the bed he was on to Fun Ghoul's, knelt on it in front of were Fun Ghoul stood. Looked up slightly, told him, quietly, "Keep going." Fun Ghoul's hands went for his belt, slowly unbuckling it, undid the top button of his jeans. Stopped. Party Poison's eyes were transfixed on Fun Ghoul's hands. But now they were still. "Keep going." It was almost a moan. "Oh, no, Poison. I'm not gonna be the naked one, with you fully clothed, again." One of Fun Ghoul's hands under Party Poison's chin, forcing his gaze up, "your turn." Moving away so Party Poison didn't try to take matters into his own hands, Fun Ghoul headed to the foot of the bed, stood there, waited to see what Party Poison would do. He turned, facing Fun Ghoul again, and, finally, after a very long time, it seemed, he took off his jacket, threw it on the floor, his shirt following seconds later. "Now do I get more?" Fun Ghoul smiled, as if he could deny him? Slowly unzipping his jeans, then, instead of taking the jeans off like Party Poison had expected, he instead put his hand down inside them, and started gently rubbing himself. Party Poison could only stare, his eyes once again transfixed. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore, moved up even closer, took Fun Ghoul's hand away, then pulled him down on to the bed, on top of him. Kissing him, touching him, Party Poison not only finishing undressing himself, but Fun Ghoul too. Fun Ghoul laughed, "Do it for you, did it?" Party Poison nodded. "Oh, God, Ghoul, I-""Don't call me that." Party Poison stopped, surprised, and looked at Fun Ghoul, who looked completely serious. "Not here. Not now. Don't call me by my fake name." And Party Poison understood, completely. "Frank." He said, carefully. "I want you, Frank, I need you." Fun Ghoul grinned, "I know you do, Gee." Party Poison frowned, just slightly, until Fun Ghoul whispered in his ear, "I need you too." Then he managed to shift so he was beneath Party Poison. When Party Poison started to move down, Fun Ghoul sighed, frustrated. "Gee. When the fuck will you get the hint I'm trying to be submissive?" Party Poison paused, and grinned. "So be submissive and shut the fuck up." Again, Fun Ghoul made a vaguely frustrated noise, but this time a little more whimpered. "Oh." Party Poison said, grin widening. "I see. Want me to fuck you, huh?" Party Poison's hand just barely touching Fun Ghoul, fingertip touching and dancing delicately, making him whimper more. "Am I right, Frank?" Party Poison teased. "Oh… God, Gee." Party Poison chuckled, lightly. "Yes. Yes I… Please, Gee." A sweet smile, and a passionate kiss, then Party Poison lifted himself up enough to allow Fun Ghoul to shift onto his front. Following a similar pattern as Fun Ghoul had, last time, Party Poison was, if anything, more careful. And Fun Ghoul knew it, that's why he bit back any and all exclamations that tried to force their way out of him. Now he was just waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting for Party Poison to really get started. Party Poison took his hand, fingers entwined, and gripped tight. Then, finally, Party Poison moved, gentle and careful as he could, into him. Fun Ghoul couldn't quite hold back his outcry. Fuck. He'd known it'd hurt, but still. "I'm sorry." Party Poison told him. "I promise, it get's better." Fun Ghoul knew that too. And soon he was able to join in with Party Poison's gasps and moans.
After, both beautifully and blissfully spent, they laid, side by side. Out of breath, beaded with sweat, eyes closed and smiles on their lips. "Thank you, again." Party Poison eventually said. "I would tell you to shut up your sentimental nonsense, but I'm too worn out." Party Poison laughed at that. A few more seconds of contented silence and then… "Oh fuck!" And Party Poison sat bolt upright. Lifting himself up on his elbows, Fun Ghoul asked, "What?" Party Poison looked at him, wide eyed, "Did you forget, as I clearly did, that this time we're not the only ones here?" Realisation and horror quickly taking hold, Fun Ghoul said, "Oh fuck. You don't think? They can't have heard us?" Already getting up and practically throwing his clothes back on, Party Poison replied, "Well I'm certainly not waiting for them to find us here like this." Fun Ghoul agreed with this, and hurried back into his clothes too, paused briefly to watch as Party Poison pulled his shirt back on. Soon, fully dressed, Party Poison just zipping up his jacket. Quick look over one another, did they look right? Normal? Like they hadn't just been fucking? They guessed so, went out.
Kobra Kid and Jet Star were still outside, despite the dimming light. "Where the fuck you two been?" Kobra Kid asked. Party Poison shrugged. "We had some things to talk about, that's all. Why the fuck are you two still out here?" Jet Star came in for this one, "Someone thought it would be a good idea to try shooting in the dark." The way his eyes narrowed at Kobra Kid quite clearly indicated whose idea it had been. "I'm pretty good too." Kobra Kid announced, proudly. He then proceeded to show off said new talent. Party Poison smiled (a genuine, actual smile, they all noticed it) "Not bad, Kid." He said. No one noticed the slightly suspicious look Jet Star gave Party Poison and Fun Ghoul.
A little later, and a brief moment as Party Poison and Fun Ghoul marvelled at what they'd got away with. "Fuck, I was certain that…" Party Poison trailed off, a slightly shaky smile on his lips. "Anyway. That's it now. We can't risk it again." Fun Ghoul nodded. "Sure."
It was a lie, of course it was. And they both knew it, even as the words left their mouths.
So it became… Not exactly a relationship, exactly, more of a… (Though that was exactly what it was) It was a way to make things a little… Easier. Better.
One thing they agreed on. And stuck to. Neither Jet Star or Kobra Kid could know. Not that they wanted to keep secrets but… It would only complicate things. They liked how simple, how free it was.
"Poison, can you just check on this?" "Ghoul, can I have a word?" Easy excuses to be alone.
A door shut, locked. Cramped cupboards and empty rooms.
A fake errand. "No, Jet, you guys stay here, we'll be back before nightfall."
Party Poison drove, of course. Fun Ghoul in the passenger seat next to him. They'd barely left the safe house when Fun Ghoul placed his hand on Party Poison's leg. And, very slowly, started moving his hand up and down. Party Poison tried tell him to 'fucking stop it' but he didn't. Kept on smirking, kept on teasing.
Finally, at a reasonable distance, Party Poison stopped the car. He snatched up Fun Ghoul's hand, turning to him. "You are gonna fucking pay for that." He promised, then kissed him, fiercely.
Then there was the time they couldn't get away easily, but needed it so badly. A different safe house, no place to disappear to. A restless night spent waiting for the other two to fall asleep. Then Fun Ghoul had slipped under Party Poison's covers, hidden beneath them, while Party Poison laid there, still as he could. Bleeding at the lip as he physically bit back his gasps.
One thing needs to be clear. This was not an every day thing. Or even an every week thing. Random intervals would elapse between each time. When one of them needed it, the other was always more than willing to oblige.
Of course, secrets never remain that way forever.
It'd been a particularly long time since the last… Encounter, and Fun Ghoul was starting to worry. That is, until Party Poison practically dragged him to the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them. "Not worried about Jet and Kid hearing that?" Fun Ghoul asked, with a smirk. "They're messing with the car. They won't hear a thing." Party Poison assured, kissing him. "It's been a while, Poison. Starting to think you didn't want me anymore." Fun Ghoul teased. "Shut the fuck up and kiss me." Party Poison told him, shoving him against the wall, holding him there. But then Fun Ghoul turned his head to the side. "Maybe I've decided I don't want you anymore." He said. Party Poison's hand, firm grip on his chin, forcing Fun Ghoul to face him. "Don't make me take control." Then, whispered in Fun Ghoul's ear, "That's not what I want today." Smirk turning a little more wicked, Fun Ghoul said, "Oh. I see…" His hand moving slowly but deliberately between them. Party Poison shifted slightly to allow him access. "I guess I got the wrong idea…" Now working on Party Poison's belt, jeans. Paused. "I mean, You are the one pinning me to the wall." Party Poison's eyes were closed, anticipation building. "Ghoul…" He moaned. "What?" Fun Ghoul asked, innocently. "I'm just…" And finally, with a loud gasp from Party Poison, Fun Ghoul slid his hand inside Party Poison's underwear "Taking control." He finished, with a kiss to Party Poison's neck. And then his lips, where he found an overwhelming amount of passion and lust. Everything started moving quickly then. Fun Ghoul reclaimed his hand to push Party Poison's jacket off, who in turn did the same for him. Then, with a little difficulty, Fun Ghoul tugged down Party Poison's jeans. "Fucking hell. I wish you didn't wear such tight jeans all the damn time." Fun Ghoul complained. "Yes you do." Party Poison told him. "Means you get a good view of my ass." Fun Ghoul's hand going to previously mentioned body part. "Maybe I take what I said back." Then, "Let's move this along. We don't know how much time we have." And, moving his hands to Party Poison's shoulders, Fun Ghoul, not quite gently, pushed him down on to his knees. Party Poison didn't need telling. He was undoing his jeans, while Fun Ghoul leant back, as comfortable as he could against the wall, one hand resting on Party Poison's shoulder, the other held flat against the wall. He felt Party Poison kiss him, through the fabric of his underwear, he shivered. "For fucks sake, Poison get on with it." He didn't. Instead he felt Party Poison's tongue, pressed against him then slowly trailed up. Again, all still through the highly unwanted barrier of fabric. Fun Ghoul groaned, then chuckled. "Fucking hell, Poison. You fucking slut." Fun Ghoul's hand moved to the back of Party Poison's head, his fingers caught up in his hair. "C'mon, Poison, please, I want-"
That was when they heard the door bang open.
Party Poison instantly fell back, and Fun Ghoul's eyes opened and turned to the door. Both were scrambling to fix their clothes as soon as they saw who was standing in the door way.
"I knew something was going on with you two!" Jet Star said, staring at them both, frowning slightly. Fun Ghoul, as the first one presentable, opened his mouth to attempt to explain. "Jet! We…"
"I don't think 'this isn't what it looks like' is gonna cut it, do you, Ghoul?" Jet Star interrupted, gently. Party Poison, finally standing, finally sorted asked, "How long have you known?" Disappointed to see Party Poison was practically on the other side of the room now, Fun Ghoul had kinda hoped they'd stand together on this one. Jet Star shrugged, "A while." Then, before Party Poison could ask the next question, Jet Star cut in, "Kid doesn't suspect anything. Or. If he does, it's by himself." Then, with an obvious look of regret, "Guys. This needs to end. Now." Indignation immediately flaring up, Fun Ghoul argued, "You can't-""Ghoul." Party Poison cut in, gently. "But Poison-""That's enough." Fun Ghoul didn't like this, he didn't like how Party Poison wasn't looking his way, no matter how hard he was staring back. Jet Star was talking again, still sadly, gently. "Guys, honestly, under… Normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a problem. But, Poison. You're my leader, and I trust and respect you. But I need to know you're focused and not-" Again, that anger flared up. "What are you worried about happening, Jet?" Fun Ghoul demanded. "That Poison would do something, or not do something that might put you, put any of us in danger? He would never do that! And neither would I." A sigh from Jet Star. "I'm not saying it'd be intentional. But…" It was obvious he was getting to the bit he most didn't want to bring up. "I've seen the way your moods swing lately, both of you. Tell me that's not got something to do with this." Fun Ghoul felt his face turn hot. Oh God, had they been that obvious? He thought only he and Party Poison had been able to read the signs in each other. Deeply embarrassed, but also annoyed, "It's not-""It gets better." Party Poison said, quietly. He was finally getting involved, it seemed. Though… This was strange to watch, his head was slightly bowed, his hair hiding most of his face. "After…" He glanced at Fun Ghoul, looked quickly away again. "After this. That's when it, when we get better." Jet Star tried for a smile at them both. "That doesn't sound too healthy to me." He said. Then, "Alright. Guys, it's your decision, but…" He shrugged and turned to leave. Fun Ghoul knew what had been at the end of that sentence. But… This needs to end. As soon as Jet Star was out the door, Fun Ghoul started up, "He can't do that. It's bullshit. He can't tell us, he certainly can't tell you-" mid rant, he turned to Party Poison, hoping to see at least a spark of the same indignation as he had. Party Poison hadn't moved, his head still bowed, he was silent. "Poison!" He prompted. Then, stepping closer, oh God, all he'd wanted to do since Jet Star had started, get closer to Party Poison. Not even in that way. He'd just wanted to be close. Somehow he sensed he shouldn't get any closer. Fun Ghoul tried again, quieter, "Poison?" And, finally, again quietly, Party Poison said, "What if it'd been Kid?" Fun Ghoul frowned at him, he wasn't getting it. "What if it'd been Kid who… Found out." Oh God… Fun Ghoul shook his head. "He's your brother. Sure, he'd be… Surprised but, he'd be happy for you." Party Poison looked up then, eyes meeting perfectly with Fun Ghoul's, who had the sudden urge to look away. "Is that why we've been hiding it?" No, please, don't be suggesting what I think you are… Fun Ghoul scurrying for words that would fix everything. "We hid it so we don't complicate things. But, Poison, if-""I'm not so sure." Party Poison said, shaking his head, looking away again. That scared Fun Ghoul so damn much. "Poison…?" Somehow, Party Poison knew it was a question, and he knew which one it was too. Again, Party Poison shook his head. "I don't know." He said, simply. But he did know, and so did Fun Ghoul. Just neither wanted to admit it. Not now. Finally, in a decisive, easy movement, Party Poison stepped closer, breaking the strange barrier that'd gone up between them, closing the gap between them finally. A possessive hand curling around the back of Fun Ghoul's neck as he kissed him. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right, Party Poison shouldn't be using this like he was, it shouldn't be… Fun Ghoul tried to shut his mind up for a second. Just appreciate what was happening. Just feel Party Poison's hand on his neck, commanding, but gentle. Feel their bodies close. Feel Party Poison's lips on his, soft, gentle right now. Just letting himself relax into it, just raising a hand to draw Party Poison closer, when he suddenly broke away. Then, in Fun Ghoul's ear, "I'm sorry. Frank. But I don't know." Fun Ghoul closed his eyes again. Let Party Poison leave.
Why the hell had that all felt so much like a goodbye?
It's felt like that because that was exactly what it was. A beautiful, horrible, kind, cruel goodbye. After that, nothing like that had ever happened between them again. They still cared about each other, obviously, but in the same way that they cared about all the Killjoys. And every now and then… Just looks. That was all. Just looks. It'd taken them both a little while to get comfortable with each other again, but eventually…
Fun Ghoul thought about the day before. Thought about finding Party Poison, seeing him so scared. How Party Poison had let him comfort him. How natural, how easy it'd been to do so. That was how it'd been, for a long time now. Easy.
Fun Ghoul buried his face in his hands. What the fuck was he gonna do if they didn't get Party Poison back?