WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT IN THIS CHAPTER

DON'T LIKE-DON'T READ

"Well well..." Almrez observed the absence of David at Jim's table. He watched the young man barely eat a thing before getting up to go. "This should be interesting." He rose from his seat and walked with two friends to follow Jim as he left. "Hey Hawkins." He threw a clawed hand onto Jim's shoulder. "Where's Davey?"

Jim tried shoving him off but Almrez moved his whole arm to wrap it around Jim's neck. "Gone again huh? That's a shame." He looked over his shoulder to make sure the hall was basically clear before he and his buddies dragged Jim into an empty classroom.

Jim pulled free from Almrez and backed away. "You know, for someone who hates gay people, you've been touching me a lot."

"Oh common I don't hate gays." Almrez laughed quietly as he walked toward Jim. "I just hate you." Almrez's friends came on his sides to help him back Jim into a corner.

"Really?" Jim noticed their maneuver and did his best to get them to circle so he'd be closer to the door. "Could've fooled me. Taunting others while trying to torture me? Pathetic." Almrez's eye twitched. "Why don't you leave them alone and just bother me if you hate me so much?"

"Call it art of war." Almrez shrugged. "To go after an enemy you've got to get their attention by removing the obstacles. For you that's your loved ones. The more I bully them the angrier you get and the more isolated you become."

Jim tried to conspicuously eye the distance to the door. "You're not very good at this, you know. Telling me your strategy" he tsked. "Not a smart move."

"If I knew you better -"

"I'll stop you there, Hawkins. I don't care for your word games." He approached faster now. "No distracting me by trying to piss me off. I'm already pissed off."

"It doesn't matter if I tell you what I'm going to do. Because I'm going to get away with it anyway."

"What makes you say that?" Jim eyed Almrez's friends closing in toward him.

"Well," he chuckled. Walking past the classroom was a group of lieutenants and commanders. They opened the door. "I've done it before so what makes you think I won't beat your face into the ground."

"Officer!" One of the commanders barked.

"Oh.. yes sir?" Almrez gritted his teeth. He turned.

"I need you all to come with me." He curled his finger toward himself. "Let's go, gentlemen."

The Commander Jim was talking to took off his glasses and set them on the table. "Officer Hawkins. What were the events leading up to this confrontation?"

"I was leaving the cafeteria when Officer Uriratha put me in a headlock. Then he and his friends came up and they pulled me into the empty classroom. My assumption," he smoothed the bottom of his shirt. "Based on our conversation I believe they intend to do me harm." He met the eyes of the commander. "However, I don't want protection at all. That seems extreme considering these have been schoolboy threats. But if it escalates than yes I believe I would be in a position where I'd need some kind of," he looked down at the table feeling a bit ashamed. "Help."

The Commander nodded. "And why do you think he threatened you?"

"He had said that he hates me. More than once. I've done my best to avoid him but he continues to pursue me." Jim furrowed his brow and did his best not to clam up and get angry. He hated feeing like he was weak. He didn't want to admit that he might be weak. "I have yet to find out why he hates me but it doesn't matter. He doesn't want to talk it out, he just wants to be angry."

"What about you, threatens him, do you think?"

Jim almost scoffed at that. Respectfully though, he replied. "I don't know. I haven't given him any reason to hate me." He threw his hands up with a shrug. "Sir, I've never done anything against him in my life."

Almrez was sitting with his arms crossed, tapping his fingers on his bicep. The door opened, and the Commander came in and sat down across from Almrez. He folded his arms and sat them on the table.

"So, tell me about what I heard when I walked in on you in that classroom."

"With all due respect, Sir, I don't know what you heard. I had a confrontation with Hawkins but it wasn't serious."

"From what I heard it certainly sounded like a threat." He lifted a piece of paper of the table and read from it. 'I've done it before so what makes you think I won't beat your face into the ground.' What about that isn't a threat, Officer?" He set the paper down. Almrez sighed. "This is very serious, Officer. Do you know that?"

"Yes sir." The alien bit the inside of his cheek.

"Do you now? Because," he flipped to a different page of his papers. "I have other incidents listed here. Threats of fights, confrontations with other officers, and I'm going to have to put this incident on your record." He looked at Almrez, trying to get a reaction from him. "Do you understand how detrimental this is to your career here?"

"No sir." Almrez sat up. "There's no connection to any actual violent incidents and these confrontations. That's all they are, is going head to head with others. There's no physical evidence of harm, Sir. To me this seems like something that would get me a warning." He leaned toward the Commander. "So sir, if you want to try and slap some kind of demotion on me, I suggest you check with your peers." He leaned back with a smug smile on his face. "That's all I have to say, sir."

Jim walked with his head down back to his dorm. He was defeated, exhausted, and needed to sleep. He walked into his dorm and took off his jacket and shirt. He folded them, along with his pants and set them on top of his side of the dresser. The door to the dorm opened behind him and closed. He ignored it and slunk over to his bed.

"Jim?" David looked at him with concern.

Jim slipped into his bed and closed his eyes. He felt David sit on his bed and put a hand on his shoulder. Jim swallowed at the lump in his throat.

"Jim? Are you alright?" He sighed. "That was a stupid question. I know, that I hurt you. And I'm so sorry for that." He rubbed at Jim's shoulder. "I didn't mean what I said. I didn't mean that we aren't normal. My dad just, makes me so crazy!" He leaned forward to try and see Jim's face. "Can you forgive me, Jim?"

Jim took a shuddering breath. "Are you going to keep seeing her?"

"Just until my dad is gone. The plan-"

"Okay." Jim breathed. "Just go."

"But,"

"Please, go." Jim snapped.

"We'll talk later." He squeezed Jim's shoulder. "I," he cleared his throat. "I'll see you."

He was restless, so Jim just went to his next class early to get away from the thoughts in his head. Classes and training still didn't quiet his mind, not even when the day was over and he crawled back into the dorm. Jim remained in his bed until David came back later in the evening. It was then that he got up and went for a run.

David changed into some comfortable clothes, and running shoes, and followed Jim out onto the track. At first, he kept his distance, doing a few laps separate. He tried to catch up to Jim, but the younger brunette heard him and started sprinting. "Oh, come on." David groaned and sprinted after him. "Jim!" He called. "Jim!" His lungs were screaming as he stressed to get within a few feet of Jim. "Jim please!"

Jim started slowing down and reduced his run to a trot. "What do you want?" He yelled back at David. David slowed to catch his breath. "I want to talk."

"Well, you're talking."

"We need to talk, together." He reached out for Jim's arm. But he pulled away.

"Fine. What." Jim couldn't make eye contact with him.

"I said I was sorry. What else can I say? I am so sorry for what I said."

Jim shook his head. "You can keep saying that. It doesn't matter. You chose her."

"What?!"

"You panicked and chose Catherine. She'd what you need- you need to be normal, right? Then go be normal with her. Instead of stepping up and telling the truth, you jumped at the chance to hide us from your dad."

"Jim, you heard that phone call- I couldn't get a word in. I panicked." David tried to get Jim to slow down with him, but Jim kept moving out of his reach.

"I get it, you have a bad father. So do I. You gotta do what you gotta do."

"Jim!" David groaned and started slowing down.

"If you need to be with Catherine to make your father happy, then do it." Jim came to a stop and turned to face David. "But don't drag me along. Don't tell me you want me. I won't be some hidden, side friend with benefits. That's something I won't do." David looked heartbroken. Like he was horrified at Jim's words. "Don't look at me like that," Jim's voice cracked. "I'm used to not being wanted. Just please," he held up his hand when David walked toward him.

"Jim…"

He just shook his head. "I'll find another roommate if I have to, that's fine with me. If you're struggling coming out to your family, that's understandable. I get it. I just, I won't," he covered his eyes to keep from crying. "If you don't want me," he looked up at David with tear-stained eyes. "Then please tell me." David took Jim's cheek in his hand. When Jim flinched, his heart hurt.

"I'm sorry. So, so sorry." He took a shuddering breath like he could cry. "Jim, I don't want anyone but you." He whispered. "I'm crazy about you." He pressed their foreheads together. "You're right about my father. I need help dealing with that. I should've never gone to speak with Catherine. I-" he hesitated but shook his head. "Fuck it. I'm falling in love with you."

Jim looked up at that. "What?" David just nodded slowly.

"That's right. I said it." He smiled. "I'm falling in love with you, Jim."

Jim gave him a small, choked laugh. "I've fallen…" he swallowed. "Fallen hard. I'm sorry." Jim whispered back. "That I was so angry with you."

"It's alright."

"No, it isn't."

"You can come to me when you're angry. I won't run away." He hugged Jim to him. "I'm not going anywhere." Jim took a long deep breath and held David close. "I'll forgive you if you forgive me." He heard a muffled "Deal" before he kissed the top of Jim's head. "Wanna go make up?" he smiled. Jim nodded gently before the two broke apart and walked back to their dorm. "You gonna stay angry if I…kiss you?" David started obnoxiously kissing Jim all over his face.

"Stop it." Jim smiled.

"What? I thought we were making up!" he bit at Jim's ear and pulled him against him. "Don't tell me kisses make you mad?" He wrapped both his arms around Jim and lifted him off the ground. "You're smilin' – can't be mad if you're smilin'!" He kissed at Jim's neck and made a sort of rush to the building.

"No! put me down!" Jim tried to hiss but it came out as a giggle. "Someone's gonna see us!" David did so, but he and Jim did hurry to their dorm. When they walked in the door, both their roommates were doing some late-night studying. They looked up at Jim and David, which is when David noticed a tie sitting on Vinny's side of his dresser. He walked over and picked it up. Vinny chuckled.

"Can we borrow this?" David made a loop and hung it on the bathroom doorknob before he and Jim went inside together. "Thanks." David winked and closed the door.

WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT AHEAD

Jim started the shower and held his hand under the water until it was a good warmth. David turned on the speaker and put on some music, whatever the radio had to offer was good enough for him. Jim pulled his shirt over his head and pulled David to him. David wrapped his arms around Jim's waist and kissed him. Then kissed his neck, and down along his clavicle. They stepped into the shower together, and pulled the curtain closed. The water was beating on David's back, some of it trinkling over his shoulders and on to his chest. Jim watched the water slip down to that 'v' between his hips. Jim bit his lip and pulled David's mouth to his. Jim slid a hand down between them and palmed at David between his legs.

"Gods," David breathed as he took Jim's face in his hands. Jim rubbed and squeezed David, earning satisfying moans from his partner. David moved his hands to grab the soap, lathered it between his hands, and began running them all over Jim's body. Jim in turn, took the soap and washed David's hips, and thighs, before setting it aside and turning them so that Jim had the water on his back. He kissed David again and got to his knees. "Jim, you don't have to-"

Jim looked up and just smiled, his hair now soaked and slicked back, water splashing onto his face. He took David's erection in his hand and slid his mouth over it. David moaned and slid his hand into Jim's hair.

"Oh," David's breathing hitched in his lungs as Jim placed a hand on David's hip. "Oh gods!" he hissed. Jim looked up at David the whole time, even as David's hand pulled him forward, to the apex of his thighs. Jim slowly pulled back, then pressed forward again, until he got a rhythm that had David gasping for air. David had to brace his other hand against the tile wall, scared that his legs would collapse. "Jim," he groaned and started twitching, trying to avoid thrusting forward. "Just a bit longer," At this admission, Jim picked up the pace, getting throaty gasps of pleasure from his partner. "Okay!" David wheezed. Jim did one more long, slow pull until his mouth was free to breathe again. "Com'ere." David helped Jim up so he wouldn't slip before bending him over to lean against the shower wall. David kissed at Jim's neck, his back, and put one hand on Jim's hip. With the other, he pressed himself against Jim. "Hey," He whispered, getting Jim to look over his shoulder. "I love you." He pushed forward, joining them together.

"Ohh!" Jim hung his head between his shoulders, pushing his hips back against David's. They moved slowly at first, but the water helped them move at a faster pace. Jim was gritting his teeth, bucking his hips back and forth to get a good angle. It didn't take long. He let out a throaty moan when he got David to hit the right spot, sending him into an instant ecstasy that had him panting. He arched his back, trying to give David better access before looking over his shoulder. David was staring intensely at the spot of their joining, but when he saw Jim's hazy look of arousal, he bit his lip.

"Fuck, Jim. If you keep looking like that-" He did a particularly hard thrust, which made Jim moan so loud. The look on Jim's face was absolutely sinful, David thought. Panting with his mouth open, soaking wet from the shower, David couldn't take it. He wanted to see that look on Jim's face every night for the rest of his life. He was so close, he grabbed between Jim's legs, and started rubbing him.

"Day-" Jim gasped. David looked up at his face. "Day, I- Ohhh!" He moaned as his pleasure found him, sending shivers down his spine. David felt his pleasure shoot through him and finished almost instantly, pulling back, and leaned against the tile wall. Jim stood up and hugged the wall on the other side under the shower head. The two of them panted in silence, unable to move. David rubbed at his skin, cleaning it before washing his face with some soap. Jim did the same, before David pulled him by his chin into another kiss.

The turned off the water, and the radio and went into the room in night shorts. They both climbed into Jim's bed, and cuddled next to one another. Jim kissed at David's jaw gently. "I was trying to say.." he whispered. "That I love you, too."