Warm lips, burning touch, grey-streaked stubble. Soft words whispered.
V woke with a start, almost hoping. His bed was empty and the tent was freezing. The clan had set up somewhere in Eastern Arizona. The nights were even colder than when they were outside Night City.
"Ker," he whispered. He turned up the heater and laid back down. His holo-phone was getting low on battery but it didn't matter. It hadn't been able to find a signal in over a week. He scrolled through old messages and smiled at some of the pictures.
It had been almost two months since the Aldecaldos set out on the road again. V was happy. But he missed Kerry. The fight they had before the convoy left burned in his mind. What he wouldn't give to take it all back.
That was when it hit him. He wanted to go back. He needed to. He got up and started packing his few belongings. But how would he tell the others? He frowned.
"V?" A quiet voice came from just outside.
"Shouldn't you be asleep, Pan?" He pulled back the door and she walked in.
She frowned. "I could say the same about you." Her eyes landed on the bag at V's feet. Clothes were spilling out. "Everything alright?"
V sat on his cot. "Panam, I love it out here. But…" he felt tears burning behind his eyes. "I miss him. I miss him so much."
"Kerry?" She sat next to him.
V just nodded, the tears falling. "I feel like such an asshole. The things I said to him before we left."
She put her arms around him. "It's ok, V."
"I have to go back, Pan. I can't let this go. I'm dying and- and-" he just sobbed into her shoulder.
Panam just held him, letting him cry himself out. Then a soft silence fell.
"I'm sorry, Panam." V sat up and looked at her. "I'm the reason Saul is gone. And here I am, about to run off."
"V," she whispered. "You have nothing to apologize for. We knew what we were getting into. Whether you're here or in NC, you're still an Aldecaldo. You're still family." She gave him another hug.
"I've got some extra fuel set back for your bike. I'll give you the route while we fill up." She stood up and held out her hand. "Come on."
He took her hand, "what about the rest of the clan?"
"Don't worry about them, I'll take care of it in the morning."
They filled up the bike and Panam packed a small care package for the road. They were several days from Night City.
"Take care of yourself, V." He could tell she was holding back tears. "Especially if this is the- the last time."
"Shh…" he pulled her into a tight hug. But he was afraid too. The last time they'd see each other. "Thank you, Panam. For everything. Call the next time you're near NC. Alright?"
She nodded and they parted. V straddling his bike, his bag strapped to the back.
"Good luck, V."
He nodded and fired up the bike, taking off into the night.
Kerry beamed as he gave one last bow to the audience after his encore. The roar of the crowd was almost deafening. He'd been on the road for a couple of weeks doing promo shows for his new album.
The path between the backstage door and his limo was lined with fans. He shook hands and signed autographs as he walked. Plenty of cute boys were flirting with him. Kerry flirted back a bit. Normally he'd pick one up for fun but, for some reason, since V left he hasn't really wanted anyone else.
He gave a final wave out the window as his limo pulled away and started driving to the hotel. NorCal wasn't terribly far from Night City, but it was far enough that a hotel was a necessity. Besides, it meant he didn't have to go back to his empty mansion just yet.
He hated to admit how much he missed V. They'd been separated longer than they'd technically been together.
"I'm taking someone home after the Seattle show in a couple days," he vowed. He was going to get over this one way or another. If that didn't work, he'd call Khian and disappear to Tangolan for a couple months.
The first thing Kerry did when he got back to his penthouse was take a shower. He set it hot, soothing his muscles. His body hadn't quite adjusted to being back on the road and was sore as hell.
He dried off a bit and wrapped the towel around his waist. On the tablet in the living room, he ordered a drink from the bar. The balcony offered a breathtaking view of the city. He walked out and leaned against the railing. He wondered what V was doing. Was he even alive? He'd tried to message him to give the new album a listen before he released it. But that was almost a month ago.
A cool breeze was picking up when room service delivered his drink. So Kerry went back inside. Before he touched his whiskey, he threw on some clothes. He had forgotten to pack his favorite shorts but the silk ones he did pack were almost as comfortable. There was something off about the t-shirt he grabbed. Kerry's clothes fit him like a glove. This shirt was too broad in the shoulders, the sleeves a little more stretched. His breath caught in his throat. It was one of V's.
He frantically pulled it off and stuffed it back in his bag. With a huff he returned to the living room shirtless and took a drink from his glass. Just then, the intercom rang.
Kerry sighed and ignored it, probably some label exec wanting to talk about the show. He refilled his glass and plopped onto the sofa.
The intercom rang again. Whoever it was was insistent.
"Alright, alright," he grumbled as he stood and walked over to the panel. "Yeah?"
"Mr. Eurodyne, you, um, have a guest? Apologies, we didn't know you were expecting anyone."
"Who is it? I wasn't expecting anyone." Kerry was sure it was someone from the label now.
There was a pause on the other end. "His name is Vincent. He claims to be a friend."
Kerry frowned. He didn't know anyone named Vincent.
"Mr. Eurodyne? Shall I- hey, where are you going? You don't have permission to use that elevator! Security!"
"Let him up. If he's that insistent, sure."
"Are- are you sure, sir?"
"Yeah," Kerry's heart was pounding. He took another drink to calm his nerves. "Someone this bold deserves a chance." He chuckled and turned to face the elevator. The door slid open.
V stepped out. His bright green eyes locked with Kerry's blue ones. Kerry inhaled sharply, placing his glass on the bar cart much harder than he intended. V for Vincent.
"Kerry," V closed the distance between them in a handful of steps and wrapped his arms around his former lover. "I'm sorry. So fucking sorry."
Kerry's mind was buzzing. The warmth of the embrace, the scent of motorcycle exhaust, leather, and a splash of Kerry's favorite cologne.
V let go and took a step back when the other didn't return the embrace. He looked around the room, at the ground, anywhere but back at Kerry.
"So that's your real name then," Kerry smiled but it failed to spread past his lips. He was desperately trying not to throw himself back into V's arms.
"Yeah," V rubbed the back of his neck. "I really am sorry, Ker. Any chance you can forgive me and we can at least walk out of this as friends?"
By now, Kerry was sure his heart was pounding hard enough that his necklaces would have been rattling against the cybernetics in his chest, if he'd been wearing them. The sadness behind V's eyes hit him harder than he expected. There were dark circles under his eyes, Kerry guessed he hadn't slept recently.
"Come here, kid," he pulled V into a tight hug, resting his chin on the other's shoulder.
V returned the embrace. "I missed you. And the day I left… I think about it all the time."
"I missed you too, V." He hadn't noticed when V hugged him the first time, but he was shaking. "You're shaking, you alright?" He reached up and touched V's face. His cheek was damp.
"Kerry." It was barely a whisper, coupled with a squeeze. His stomach flared at sound. Damn his emotions.
"It's ok, V. I'm here." He gave a light squeeze back. "And I forgive you."
V pulled back from his ex-input.
Kerry hardly had time to process the other's face before his lips crashed into his own.
Desperation, regret, loneliness, joy. Every unspoken emotion was wrapped up in one, simple action.
He couldn't help but return the kiss with just as much gusto. The floodgates broke and tears streamed down Kerry's face. All the emotions he'd refused to feel came flooding out.
"Ker?" V pulled back and took the other's face in his hands, softly stroking his cheek.
He just stood there. His tears turned to laughter and Kerry threw his arms back around V and kissed him again. It was soft and slow. Like he wanted time to stop, just for a moment.
V's arm went around his back in a sort of protective embrace as he kissed Kerry back. His body wanted nothing more than to be touched and tasted by the rockerboy. His rockerboy.
Kerry traced his tongue over V's bottom lip before nibbling gently. He smiled at the gasp it garnered. V paused just long enough to shed his Aldecaldo jacket and move towards the sofa. Kerry sat down, legs spread slightly and held his hand out.
V took it and straddled the other. His lips feathering kisses over Kerry's jaw.
"Christ, V," Kerry curled one hand into V's hair and dragged his inputs lips back to his. V was rocking his hips slowly. The friction of his jeans against Kerry's silk shorts making him dig his nails into V's shoulders. He could feel a smile on V's lips when he opened his mouth a little. V's tongue tapped his own, the sensation like electricity through his body. He pulled V's shirt over his head, taking note of the extra muscle tone across his abs. As well as a few new scars.
"You been working out, V?" He chuckled between kisses and ran his fingers lightly over his chest.
V bit at Kerry's neck, earning him a sharp breath and quiet moan. "Like the new look, do you, Ker?" He breathed.
He got a low growl in response. The next thing he knew, he was on his back, Kerry on top of him, trailing kisses and nips down his jaw and neck.
"Like it, V? You were hot before. Now you're fucking beautiful." His mouth continued its journey southward, tongue tracing every scar along the way. V's fingers curled tighter into his hair the closer Kerry got to his target.
V was straining in his jeans by the time Kerry finally pulled them off. He tried to reach for Kerry's shorts but his hands were intercepted and pinned above his head, Kerry's face an inch from his.
"You'll get your chance, V. Just, relax a minute." The grip on his hands relented and the rockerboy traced his fingers down his sides, goosebumps forming across his skin. V kept his hands firmly in place. "Good boy."
V's cock twitched.
"Mm, like praise do we?" Kerry chuckled and ran his tongue over V's swollen head before gently taking it in his mouth. His fingers wrapped around the shaft, stroking slowly.
A low groan escaped V's lips. His back arched slightly as he urged his lover to take him farther. But Kerry knew exactly what he was going for and moved with him, keeping just the tip in his mouth. His tongue circling it, his hand shifting lower to cup his balls.
Finally, after another agonizing minute, Kerry slid his lips down the shaft and back up. Setting a decent pace, spit quickly coating it.
"Oh, fuck, Ker," he couldn't stand it, his hand slipping into Kerry's hair, adjusting his pace. "Just like that. Shit." He let his hips lift to meet his lover's mouth, sending him just a little deeper.
V was positive he was going to explode if this kept up. But he wanted to get his hands on Kerry first.
"Ker, stop," he said breathlessly.
Kerry did, his eyes flashing with fear for a second. "Everything alright, V? I'm sorry if-"
V pulled his face to him and kissed him again. "Yeah, just not ready to come just yet. Haven't gotten my chance to touch you yet. Wouldn't be fair." He coaxed his input onto his back and slid his shorts off.
Just like Kerry had done to him, he kissed down the jaw, giving his neck a nice bite. The rockerboy moaned, his nails digging lightly into V's back. He stayed in that spot for a moment longer, licking and biting. There would be a pretty little mark there in the morning.
He kissed down his chest, flicking a nipple with his tongue.
Kerry let out another low growl when V took his cock into his mouth. So warm, wet. Fuck he'd missed the feeling.
V wasted no time in taking the other's cock as far as he could. His throat resisted the invasion but he fought back his gag reflex, taking it all the way in.
"Fucking hell, V," his fingers curled in V's hair and he rocked his hips. V groaned against his cock, the vibration reaching every nerve in his body.
He started thrusting faster and V groaned again. Kerry was fast becoming overwhelmed. His emotions were in overdrive and V's mouth was as perfect as ever. He slowed and urged his lover's face back up to his. Their tongues entwined, hands caressing each other.
"Bed?" Kerry rasped.
V nodded and stood, taking the rockerboy's hand and pulling him with. He laid down and Kerry dug through one of his bags, pulling out a bottle of lube.
"May I?" he asked as he walked back to the bed.
V wiggled up farther on the bed, spreading his legs. "Thought you'd never ask."
Kerry smiled and knelt between the other's legs. He put a glob of lube on his fingers and coated them. He wrapped his other hand around V's cock and stroked it.
He prodded at the hole, slowly sliding a finger in. It never ceased to amaze him just how tight his partner was. After a moment, he added a second finger. V was already starting to rock his hips in time with Kerry's fingers.
"Ker, please," he whined, begged.
Kerry smiled and withdrew his fingers. He wiped them on the sheet and grabbed the lube. It was cool on his cock and the sensation sent shivers to all the right places.
V's closed his eyes as the tip of Kerry's cock entered his hole, relishing the burn as he stretched.
The rockerboy bent down, a hand on either side of V's head. He kissed him with everything he had as he slid home.
"Fucking missed you, V. Missed this," he pulled out and slammed back in, wasting no time in establishing rhythm.
A growl tore out of Kerry's throat when his input wrapped his legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper. He could feel V's cock rubbing against his stomach and reached his hand between them.
"Shit, Ker," breathless, he was close. So painfully close.
Kerry seized the opportunity and nipped at his shoulder.
"Do it," he whispered. "Come for me, V."
"Fuck, Kerry," V half growled, half moaned. His orgasm shot through him, coating both of their stomachs in thick cum.
"Mm, that's a good boy. Now ride it, V. I'm so, fucking, close," he grunted, picking up the pace, desperate for his own release. His cock hitting V's sweet spot with every pass, making him moan louder and louder.
"God, yes. V," Kerry threw his head back, his cock pulsing, buried deep.
He collapsed next to V, immediately wrapping his arms around his lover. For a moment, they just laid there catching their breath.
"Ker?" V turned slightly to face his input. "Thank you."
He chuckled, "for what? Fucking your brains out?"
"Well, that too. But thank you. For letting me back into your life."
Kerry kissed him on the cheek. "Just promise me something, V."
"Name it, and it's yours, Ker."
"Stay with me."
V leaned over and gave him a long kiss. "I'm not going anywhere, Ker. Not making that mistake again."
Finally, Kerry felt his body relax. The two drifted off locked in each other's embrace. And, for the first time in ages, both slept soundly.