Notes: this fic is just fun. And also very much planned out- and the planning kinda took me by surprise. My brain put in plot twists that I never intended, but now they seem pretty rowdy. Just be aware that, for a change, I think everyone is going to be portrayed in a happy kind of way. No bashing, no evil people- but there will be angst! Because without angst, where would we be?

Warnings: yay for yaoi! Yay for… other things… eh heh, yeah…

Disclaim: I'm po'. So po' I can't afford the other "o" and the "r" to complete the word. If I owned the show, do you really think I could claim that? Honestly.

The Free Fall- 2 Hungover & Gooood Lookin'!

Daisuke opened his eyes the next morning to find that being awake was a horrible idea. The scant amount of light that was in the room made his brain want to explode and ooze out of his ears. Curled up in a quilt on an unfamiliar bed, he tried rubbing some alertness into his eyelids. And found out that too was a horrible idea. Still not daring to sit up, he arched his back in a stretch and groaned.

"Fuck," his voice was raspy and cut through the silence of the room. It was quiet for another few moments before he heard a sleepy sounding murmur from somewhere nearby. In fact, it sounded like it was right… next… to him… Daisuke sat up too quickly and looked to his left. Sure enough, there was someone curled up in the quilt with him. Now if he could just remember who it was…

His stomach dropped out as the figure rolled over and mumbled, "Turn off the sun. It's fucking bright and making me want to die."

A quick recollection hit Daisuke. Shit. He was a dead man. Miyako would definitely see to that. Swallowing back the fuzziness in his throat he managed to reply to Ken. "The shades are already closed, Ken. This is as dark as it's going to get."

It was almost comical to watch Ken's reaction to his voice. Two indigo eyes snapped open and the genius bolted upright in the bed. "You!"

"Well, I'm not Miyako- that's for god damn sure." Daisuke finally realized he was naked as he got out of the bed. He shrugged and started looking for his clothes.

Meanwhile, Ken was burying his face in his hands. "Shit. She's going to fucking kill me! Oh fuck Daisuke, what did we do?!"

Pulling on his jeans, the other boy shrugged again. "You just answered your own question." He eyed Ken for a minute before bending down to get his shirt. Pulling that on as well, he sat on the bed again- dangerously close to Ken. "You okay?"

Ken shied away from the warm touch of his best friend. "I don't really know," he answered as cautiously as he could.

For his part, Daisuke only nodded before leaning closer to kiss Ken on the cheek. "Let me know when you figure it out okay? For whatever it's worth to you, I'm not sorry about what happened. But right now I need to go home, pop a few Tylenol, take a shower, and go back to sleep. So, you know where I'll be. Call me later." Without waiting for an answer he stood up and left.

Once the bedroom door closed at his back he stopped and took a breath. It was actually ridiculously early- still single digits. A few of the others were sleeping on the couches and chairs in the living room as he walked out, trying not to think. He knew. He already knew what Ken was going to do. Ken was going to say it was a mistake, go back to his girlfriend and beg forgiveness, which she would grant on the stipulation that he never see Daisuke again. That was exactly what was going to happen. Because Dai knew what Ken was already thinking. That he had gotten it out of his system. The lust that had been there had been burned, or better yet fucked, away. Tying his sneakers, Daisuke bit his lip and tried his hardest not to cry. By the time he was in the stairwell he lost the fight and tears were flowing like a river down his face.

Life just wasn't fair.

***

Yamato was slowly coming to the conclusion that life just wasn't fair. After Miyako walked in on her boyfriend and his best friend in bed together Taichi had grabbed the blond and the duo made a beeline for the door. It was an insane drunken walk that brought them back to Taichi's apartment where they slept for the night. Before Yamato woke up with the hangover to end all hangovers and an unconscious Tai sleeping on top of him. Talk about awkward positions. Blushing and thinking for a good fifteen minutes yielded one conclusion: Yamato had to pee. Gently rolling Taichi off, the blond got up and stalked to the bathroom.

Upon his return, he couldn't help but notice how cute Tai looked all curled up on his couch with a dreamy smile on his face. But, it was nearing noon and they had plans. Yamato gave Taichi a gentle shake trying to rouse him out of dreamland.

When the brunette opened his eyes, he issued one plaintive statement: "I feel like I'm about to fucking die."

Yamato chuckled. "I can understand that feeling right about now. But get your lazy ass up, we've got to meet your sister for lunch in half an hour."

Tai simply pulled a pillow over his face. "Motherfucker. Think she'd be understanding of the situation and let me cancel?"

"Not a chance in Hell, Tai."

"Shit." He threw the pillow off his face.

"My sentiments exactly." Yamato watched as the brunette tried to get up from the sleeper couch they had moved in the day before. He moved with that dreading calm that was a sure signature of a hangover.

"How long have you been awake?" Tai coughed to try and kill the furry creatures that seemed to have taken up residence in his throat.

"Not long. I woke up a few minutes before I got you up. Why?"

Looking back over his shoulder at Yamato, Taichi frowned. "Because you sound downright chipper. Try to at least sound as crappy as I feel, all right?" Wincing, he managed to stand up and keep his brain from flying loose of his skull. "Ugh. Where's the Advil?"

Sighing, Yamato stood as well. "You're out, I already checked."

Taichi thought he was going to cry. "I am not going outside until I get some form of headache killer in my body. And I'm sure as hell not putting up with my sister when I feel like ass." He put a hand to his head. "Jesus, why did we drink so much last night?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time." Yamato shuffled his way across the room towards the door. "Come on, you lazy ass. Get in gear- we're down to twenty minutes."

As the blond left he heard Taichi give an indignant, if not completely hungover cry of, "Fuck you and all you stand for!"

"Yes, curse me and my damn punctual habits!" The blond called back to his friend, smiling and trying to find some food. Cabinets: empty. Fridge- empty. As a last desperate attempt… drawers? Empty. "Tai, how can someone eat as much as you and not have any food in their apartment? Tai!"

The brunette stood in the doorway. "You don't have to shout, I'm here. And I don't even want to know what talking so loud just did to your brain cells."

Yamato shook his head. "I killed off whatever cells were left last night. Fuck you and your idea of one fifty-one."

Taichi's mouth quirked. "Yes, curse me and my desire to try and make you happy instead of bitter." He held on his hand. "You want a pair of these? I have a feeling we may need them."

The blond slipped the sunglasses on. "Let's roll."

Mirroring his friend, the brunette gave a half-hearted grin. "Roger that, we are G to go."

As the pair sauntered down the street, Taichi finally spoke up again. "I can't believe Dai and Ken slept together last night."

Yamato snorted. "Screw that, I can't believe they're still alive and that Miyako didn't kill them."

After purchasing the pre-requisite drugs for a headache the conversation resumed as they approached their meeting place. "Yeah, they've got a lot going against them, don't they?" Yamato was glad his eyes were hidden.

They sat outside and waited for Hikari. Taichi was silent for a long time before responding to his friend. "Not like us, you mean?"

Surprised, to say the least, the blond removed his sunglasses. "What are you talking about? Like us…? They aren't the least bit like us-"

"Dude." Tai gave the other young man a deadly serious look, pulling off his glasses. "You know what I mean. After last night, I can't keep pretending there's nothing there, Yama. I mean-"

"You want to give it a try then? Us, I mean?" Wow. Yamato was astounded that it was all happening so easily. If he had known that it would be so simple he would've asked Tai out years ago!

Taichi smiled, despite his splitting headache. "I thought you'd never ask." Leaning forward, he kissed his best friend and long time love…

Only to hear a high, feminine shriek a second later. "Is every guy I know freaking gay?!" Hikari stood, staring, with tears in her eyes.

"Good to see you too, 'Kari," Tai replied, voice dry. "Could you keep it down though? I've got a nasty fucking headache."

Her only response? She glared at her brother and promptly gave him the finger.

***

Close to noon, Daisuke was still trying to take a nap while his head was calming down. It felt like a herd of elephants had used his cranium as a trampoline. Thankfully, his family was nowhere to be found so he was left to suffer in peace. At least, until the doorbell rang. And was followed by a lot of pounding. And yelling…

Dai managed to trudge his way out to main door of the apartment and open it without ever checking to see who was so intent on being pissed off. He was rather surprised to see who his visitor was. "Iori," he said slowly. "How you feeling right now?"

Instead of answering with words, the younger boy broke down into quiet sobs right on Daisuke's doorstep. "I hate my life," Iori cried. "I fucking hate my life!"

Eyes comically wide, Dai pulled his friend inside. Depositing the crying boy on the sofa, he ran to get some tissue. At the sound of Iori's wailing, Dai redoubled his efforts- make that, a lot of tissue… Upon returning to the spot where he had deposited his friend he noticed a few things. Not the least of which was that Iori was still wearing the same clothing from the previous evening. Also, he was acting odd- to put it lightly. Sitting down, Daisuke tried to keep his voice as gentle as possible. "Have you been home yet?"

The crying boy only shook his head. It was all just so unfair. Life was some sort of joke, it had to be. Why else would he be able to get so close to someone so beautiful… only to be pushed away.

Daisuke decided to try again. "You wanna tell me what happened?"

Iori calmed himself and grabbed some of the tissue his friend had brought out for the occasion. Sniffling a little still, he decided he had to tell someone. Daisuke was going to find out sooner or later anyway. "I talked with Takeru."

Digesting that fact, Dai smiled first and then winced. The younger boy wouldn't be crying if things had gone as dreamed. "Shit. You wouldn't be at my door crying if this story had a happy ending. What did he say?"

Two jade eyes turned to the second leader of the Chosen. "You know he broke up with Hikari?" There was a watery smile. "He did it because he's in love with someone else. And after last night with what happened with you and Ken, I guess I was just feeling confident, you know?" Breaking off, Iori shook his head. "I'm so foolish."

The words were painful to hear. A boy who was in mentality already an adult and renown among his friends for his intellect calling himself stupid. Something in that one idea was infinitely sad to Daisuke. "You're not foolish, Iori," he said quietly and pulled his friend into a hug. As he rubbed soothing circles onto the smaller boy's back he continued. "It's not your fault that he's afraid of his own feelings. And it's not your fault for admitting the truth, even he didn't want to hear it."

"I guess," the reply was muffled by layers of cloth. After a short while, the crying slowed. Pulling out of the comforting embrace, Iori sighed. It would be so easy if Takeru would admit the truth to himself. However, he had come out to one of his closest friends… as a way of breaking up with her, no less. Perhaps it was a tall order to expect the blond to plunge headlong into a new relationship. Biting his lip, he hesitated a moment before asking his next question. "What was it like?"

Daisuke had settled back on the couch, watching his friend with a careful gaze. "What was what like?"

"Being with him. Being with the person you wanted."

Ah, yes, that. Indeed. How to explain something so wonderful that ultimately would remain eternally superficial because of outside circumstances? "It was amazing. No, more than amazing. It was better than anything I could have dreamed of. Having him in my arms and hearing him cry out my name…" Words failed him and his voice dropped away. The next question caught him completely off guard.

"Could you… show me?" Iori wasn't surprised to see Daisuke's head whip up as the other boy gaped at him.

"You can't fucking be serious!" There was just no way. But, he was nodding…

"I'm very serious, Daisuke." He let his jade eyes drop for a moment as he licked his lips. "Takeru doesn't want me. No matter what you say or what anyone else tells me. And… Ken… you don't know what's going to happen there. And, I trust you, Dai," he looked up again, trying to put all of his conviction in his eyes. "You know I care about you. I trust you." Looking away again, he whispered, "I just want to know what it feels like."

"Feels like?" Did he mean solely on the physical basis Daisuke thought he meant? Because that could just end up being really weird.

Iori nodded. "To feel cherished like that. To be held. To be the sole focus of someone else's world." Going quiet again, he asked the only other question he truly wanted an answer to at that moment. "Was Ken your first?"

It took Daisuke a few minutes. This was one hell of a situation to be hit with so suddenly. Once his mind finally grasped what his friend was asking, he was able to supply an answer. "No. No, Ken wasn't my first. But I still don't under-"

He was cut off by Iori's mouth closing over his. And as much as he knew he should push the other boy away, it just felt so good. To be wanted. To be trusted…

***

Yamato snapped his cell phone shut and closed his eyes. Why did it seem that his small group of friends was hellbent on creating as much drama as possible?

"Takeru?" Taichi's voice was soft, his eyes knowing.

The blond nodded and glanced carefully at the female in their party. "He was pretty upset. Guess he thinks he made a huge mistake."

Hikari snorted. "Well, not with me he didn't. As much as I want to be pissed off at the bastard, he did have the balls to be honest with me."

The young men stared at her with open shock. Tai finally managed to strangle his way through a reprimand. "'Kari! I can't believe you just called your best friend that!"

Sighing, she sipped her third cup of coffee. "Sorry. Yamato, I'm sure you can understand." The blond nodded at a total loss for words. "It's not that I hate him or anything, I'm just really hurt right now. I mean, if he knew he was gay why did he have to freaking date me? Why couldn't he have just told me up front? It's not like I would have told him he was going to burn in Hell for all eternity or something!" The last was said with acute bitterness. Picking up her cup again, she muttered, "Cruel little prick."

Yamato and Taichi glanced at each other, neither being certain how to handle the situation at all. Because they both loved Takeru and could understand his choice. But, Hikari did have a point. A rather valid one at that.

"I don't know what to tell you," Yamato offered. "I wish there was something I could say to make it all better. I really do."

She set her cup down again and rubbed at one of her eyes- as though trying her damnedest not to cry. "Yeah, Yama, I know. Friendship and all that, right?"

"Well, yeah," he shrugged and glanced at Taichi for some sort of help.

Tai, of course, was so flabbergasted by hearing his sister talk complete and utter trash about someone that whatever signal in his brain dictated tact was cut off. "Did he tell you who?" Almost immediately he regretted speaking, or even being born. The withered look 'Kari sent his way made him want to shrivel into a ball and die.

"Why, yes, darling brother, he did tell me. And no, I'm not about to divulge that information." If she were to be honest with herself in that moment, Hikari would have admit a sense of satisfaction at her brother's blush and obvious mortification with himself. "Well, I won't tell until you buy me some chocolate anyway."

Hook, line, and sinker! Taichi instantly snapped his fingers trying to hail down a waiter. "GarV on! We need some cake, stat!"

***

Despite the protestations, despite the fact that they both knew it was a bad idea- on so many levels- Daisuke and Iori found themselves falling victim to the trademark lust of hormonal teenage years. The couch in the living room belonging to the family Motomiya had never seen so much action.

Although, even in the rage of pheromones, Daisuke still had enough peace of mind to check in, repeatedly. He wanted to be certain that there were no doubts and no misunderstandings between the two of them. Iori needed this and so did Dai. They could have gone to other people for the sort of physical comfort and contact they wanted. But they trusted one another. Enough that they were willing to have sex and maintain their friendship. Because they both knew it was an act of friendship. Daisuke would never hurt Iori, nor would he ever expect the experience to come back and haunt either of them. It was simple really, once it was broken down. Iori needed a friend more than anything else, a friend who would do whatever necessary to mend a broken heart. Daisuke was just the person to go to.

They moved on the couch, actions quickly ranging from tentative to exploring to desperate urgency. Somewhere in the midst of it all, they chose to ignore the exact implications of what was happening. Had Daisuke looked at it… he probably would have been ashamed. Two boys in less than twenty-four hours, both of whom had been virgins before Motomiya was on the scene. Such is life. Although, Ken certainly hadn't protested- in fact, he'd asked. So had Iori. And once they were actually engaged… the younger boy seemed rather glad he had made the request. At least, that's what Dai liked to think. His assumption was accurate, and Iori was grateful. Because let it never be said that Daisuke was a bad lover.

Still, if they had been paying attention they would have noticed the third party. Someone who had gone to seek Daisuke's counsel. A friend who had heard noises inside the apartment and only wanted to make sure no one was dead or dying. A boy who trusted both Iori and Daisuke to never hurt him… and who felt the burning agony of betrayal at what he witnessed. And it was only when Takeru started to cry that the other two noticed his presence.

Post-coital and trying to calm down, Daisuke heard it first. Iori heard the noise only seconds later. They both looked up to see the blond angel of Hope with tears streaming down his face. "How could you?!" The accusation stung and it hung in the air as Takeru turned and fled the apartment.

"Son of a bitch," Daisuke muttered as he rolled onto the floor. "I'm never sleeping with anyone ever again. I can't seem to do this without hurting everyone I care about."

Quiet and thoughtful, Iori had to shrug as he glanced at his friend. "Yeah, but at least he got jealous."

Dai looked up at that remark. "Dude, that sounded bitchy even to me. I think we've been spending far too much time together."

"Probably," the younger conceded. When a small heap of clothing was placed on his stomach he moved to redress. "So, what do we do now?"

Daisuke thought for a moment. His life had just gone from bad to worse. Now there would be two people out for his head. Two of the scariest people he knew: Miyako and Yamato. He was going to die. "You go try and catch up with Takeru and I try to find Yamato to explain my sorry ass before he guts me."

"Sounds like a plan to me," was all Iori said.

As they left the apartment both moved slowly with heavy hearts. Really, it had been a good idea at the time. Hugging each other again they headed out in opposite directions. As Daisuke walked away, the other boy's parting words rang in his head.

"Thank you for being there when I needed you."

Thank you indeed. But how would he ever explain the situation to Yamato?

*************

I said beware the random pairing(s), didn't I? Don't ask how Daiori wound up happening. With me writing it no less. Even I'm freaked out by it. Um… review? And don't worry, this mess will get more interesting as the fic continues!