Chapter Fifteen:

The group got on the bus. There was still plenty of snacks left over and since lunch had ended up getting passed without a break, the group was all getting hungry again. Mark good-naturedly teased Sota about his mishap, tapping the bag of pretzels Sota was eating from.

"Don't worry, I know the Heimlich maneuver."

Sota threw a pretzel at him while the rest laughed.

/Aibou, Erica seems to be very nice,/ Yami said as he chewed on a cookie. /And I know you are still concerned about that diner scene. Perhaps you could ask her to remove it./

/Oh, no, I couldn't do that! Someone worked really hard on that script and they're all set up. To ask them to change it now…/

/I understand. Then perhaps you could talk with Rin instead. I am sure she is also nervous./

Yugi doubted it, himself. He had a feeling that Rin was actually a bit pleased that it was Yugi who she was paired up with, on top of not seeming to be the shy type. It made him feel strange. For years, he'd been the tiny, young-looking kid who was outpaced by all of his fellow students. He'd been the one who was ignored if not outright bullied. But since meeting Yami, everything for him seemed to have changed. People had noticed him for better reasons. He'd gained friends and he'd even been flirted with by beautiful girls like Mai and Vivian. It was Yami's personality and confidence they'd all seen, but it was his body. He wondered what it meant.

They were taken back to the Inn where any personal belongings had been stored. Then they all went home, but Yugi and Joey opted to catch a ride back to hotel with Tristan, Tea, and Yami.

"What do you guys think is going to happen next?" Tristan asked, as they drove.

"Erica said we couldn't spoil anything," Yugi said.

"Aw, come on, man."

"You heard him," Tea said. "They're on a contract. They have to keep quiet."

Knowing that Joey had been about discuss anything and everything, Yugi looked at him sternly and said, "That's right."

He frowned and sighed. "Sorry, Tristan."

"Man, that stinks."

"We have been invited back," Yami pointed out. "Although Aibou and Joey know the next scene, you will not have to wait long to find out."

Yugi had forgotten he'd just told Yami about the next scene himself. He guiltily looked at his shoes.

"Yeah," Joey agreed. "Besides, we only know up to the end of the first Act anyway. She's keeping it all secret from us, too."

"Is that normal?" Tea asked. "I thought actors got like the whole script to read before they decided on accepting."

"It's not normal, it's Erica's way. Remember, she just picked us by looks. She told us we only get the first Act until it's all filmed. Said that way, we won't get upset knowing that it's our character who gets killed off first and quit."

"But you'll see the second Acts anyway, right? So, if you do end up being one of the deaths, what's stopping you from getting upset then and quitting after she spent all that time filming you for the first part?"

"I don't know," Joey admitted.

"It seems to work, at any rate," Yugi said. "She's done over twenty movies. There was a girl who disappeared once during filming, Katie Macklin-"

"Mackey," Joey corrected.

"-Mackey, and Erica still got the movie made."

Tea turned around in her seat to stare back at him. Yami, too, was staring at the side of his head. "You said that before, at Candy's. That there were a lot of accidents and stuff."

"Don't start on that again," Joey said before Yugi could respond. "Tristan and I know all about this stuff, don't we, Tristan? There were some accidents and a couple of people died-"

"Died!"

"-that probably would've died anyway," Joey went on, now speaking very firmly. "One was a chick who got cheated on, killed herself and her boyfriend. He was already cheatin' and she was already nuts-"

"She killed herself, Joey, you could have some compassion!"

"-and so it probably would have happened anyway." Joey's voice was even harder. "One died in a plane crash. One died in a car accident. Those ain't Erica's fault. And I bet some of it's made up anyway. Just hype to make people want to see the movie even more."

He'd said the same thing to Yugi. He also had mentioned a lot more accidents to Yugi than he was to the others. But he was also right; the only two deaths that Yugi remembered happening directly at the sets were the car crash and the girl who was hung. Both were accidents, stunts gone wrong. Yugi also knew that stunt actors died during their scenes in other movies, too. They were stunt actors; they did dangerous things for a living and sometimes it didn't go as planned. Joey was being insensitive, but not incorrect.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that it seemed like an awful wide swath of blood trailing Erica Lynch's movie company.

At home, he and Joey had a quick dinner. As they were preparing for bed later, Joey drew Yugi's attention.

"So, spill, Yug'. What's got you all out of sorts?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Spiky, I know you. You got something on your mind. What's up?"

Yugi hesitated, then said, "Well, there's that scene in the diner's bathroom…"

Joey blinked, clearly not remembering for a second. "What, washing up?"

"No. The one with Yuki. Rin's character."

"Wha-Oh! Oh, yeah. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Joey, I'm supposed to try to flirt! On camera!" He almost added 'with a girl' but it wouldn't have mattered if Rin was a man. Both Yugi and Joey were both bisexual, but had been together for so long that he sometimes almost forgot. Rin was beautiful, she was nice, she was smart, but even if Yugi hadn't been devoted to Joey, he never would have been able to flirt with her or anyone else. That was not his forte. He hadn't even been able to flirt with Tea back when he'd had a crush on her and she wasn't a stranger.

"Well, just-"

"Don't tell me to pretend I'm talking to you, because I wouldn't be able to do that. Yami already suggested it and I know it won't work."

"Hang on." Joey left the bedroom and trotted downstairs. Yugi heard him rummaging in the drawer of the sideboard where they kept all their paid bills, tax forms, old checkbooks, and other paper detritus before he came back. In his hand were the two copies of script. He held Yugi's out to him. "We're going to practice."

Yugi took his script, but looked at Joey dubiously. "Practice?"

"Yeah. I'll read Rin's lines and you read yours. Not only will you hear it all out loud and can see how you sound, but, you know, maybe hearing ME say the lines means you will be able to pretend it's me."

Yugi was still doubtful, but he appreciated Joey's attempt. Taking a breath, he flipped to the page in question and read the set up. Jason was standing at the sinks, washing the blood from his face and hands. Yuki came in, startling Jason.

"Why not go into the bathroom, Yug'?" Joey asked. "Set it up the right way."

Well, it made sense. Yugi walked into the bathroom next to the bedroom, but didn't turn on the faucet. He just pretended to be washing up. After a moment, Joey walked in, holding the script up in his hand. Yugi had memorized his lines, though he still had the script set on the toilet tank where he could read it.

"Um, this is the men's," Yugi recited, trying to sound embarrassed.

"The ladies' is full," Joey said. He smiled at Yugi's reflection in the mirror. "You don't mind, do you?"

"N-No, of course not. I'll just be one more second."

"Oh, don't worry, I can wait," Joey said. He stepped up closer behind Yugi, the way Rin was supposed to.

Yugi looked back down at the sink, pretending to hastily be washing his hands.

"You weren't too badly hurt, were you?" Joey murmured.

Yugi felt a blush start on his cheeks. He suddenly couldn't remember if Jason was supposed to blush and he didn't look. Joey's voice had lowered to a low, rumbling pitch. A flirting pitch.

"No," Yugi said. "You are okay, too, right?"

"I'm fine," Joey said softly. "Just a little shaken up."

Yugi nodded and turned around.

"It was very nice of you to take my brother and me here," Joey said. "But we don't have a way to call for any more help. You know, there was an Inn Akira and I passed before the accident. Do you think maybe you and your friends could take us there? We could get a room if we needed to."

Yugi felt his cheeks heat up further. He knew what the line had meant, but what Joey had made it sound like…

"Sure. I mean, it's only fair."

"You're so nice," Joey cooed. His hand came up and pushed back Yugi's bangs, his eyes on his forehead like he was looking at the wound Yugi's character would have. Then he dropped his gaze to Yugi's. "And I'm really glad you're not hurt."

Yugi completely forgot what was supposed to come next. He twisted to the right, fumbling for his copy of the script. He almost dropped it, caught a page, and raised it, going back to the correct scene. He scanned the lines before finally finding the next part.

"I'm glad you're not hurt either. I would feel terrible."

He looked up again and saw Joey grin wickedly at him. "You have the prettiest eyes," he said in a horrible, screeching falsetto.

Yugi gaped at him, then started hitting him with his script while laughing. Joey fended him off, backing up.

"That doesn't help!" Yugi said indignantly, still smiling. "She actually says that and now I'm going to be picturing you saying it that way!"

"Sorry," Joey said without the slightest trace of remorse. "But you were blushing like a tomato."

"I know! How am I supposed to do this with Rin when I can't even do it with you?"

"Yug', come on, relax. It's just fake." He reached out and pushed Yugi back into position. "Just don't blush so much. Jason seems caught off guard, but you're acting like a school girl with the quarterback."

Yugi glared at him. "You used to blush all the time around Mai."

Joey cleared his throat. "That wasn't fake. Come on, try again. If you practice it, it won't be so embarrassin'. Even if you got Rin with you. Do it with me again, and you'll see; it'll be like you were just dueling me."

That was not at all what it would be like, but Yugi sighed and turned back to the sink. They ran through the scene again and Yugi just couldn't help it. He pictured Rin coming up behind him the way Joey was and it just made him blush. His mind raced. How close was Rin supposed to get? Oh, god, what were their characters supposed to do later?

Joey grinned at his reflection again. "You're still blushing."

"Maybe if you weren't so close," Yugi said through his teeth.

Joey laughed and stepped even closer. Yugi gasped, because Joey was near enough now that he could feel his pelvis against his rear. There was a pause as Yugi stared at Joey in the mirror and Joey stared back, sobering.

"You're supposed to turn around here, Yug'," Joey murmured.

Yugi did so and Joey was very close. His boyfriend towered over him a bit more than Rin would. Even leaning back a little against the sink, Yugi's nose was about six inches from Joey's chest and his hips were a lot closer than that.

"I…I don't think this is part of the script," Yugi said weakly.

"Maybe we can improvise," Joey said, leaning closer.

Yugi fumbling grabbed the edge of the sink for balance and shivered as Joey kissed him. He let go of the sink with one hand and cupped the back of Joey's head, kissing him back as Joey pressed against him. The script in his other hand crumpled in his grip against the edge of the sink, but he didn't pay any attention.

Joey's tongue pushed into his mouth and he moaned. He dropped the script and reached for the hem of Joey's shirt with both hands, pulling it up and over Joey's head and down his arms as they broke apart briefly. Yugi tossed the shirt down on the floor and ran his hands along the blond's muscled chest, pressing his mouth to a pec before he stood on his toes for another kiss. Joey pulled down the zipper on Yugi's pants, his hand pushing in without even undoing the button and belt. Yugi groaned as Joey rubbed him through his underwear, his other hand groping his backside, his tongue in his mouth again. Rubbing his hands along his back, Yugi scratched his nails and felt Joey shiver. Yugi tilted his head back in invitation. Joey bit at his neck through the collar with a frustrated growl and Yugi hastily reached up to undo it and let it drop behind him into the sink.

"Don't leave a mark," Yugi gasped as Joey ran his tongue up the length of his throat. "We're on camera again in two days."

"Hide it with your collar," Joey responded, but his teeth were gentle when he nibbled.

Yugi reached down and grabbed Joey's belt buckle, undoing his pants and pushing them down his legs. He undid his own fastenings and stepped out of his pants. Joey reached under his thighs and lifted him up, turning around and walking with Yugi to the bedroom. He muttered an apology when he accidentally bumped Yugi into the doorjamb.

Joey laid Yugi down on the bed and crawled up over him as Yugi pushed himself up. He cried out as Joey suddenly bent and mouthed him through his boxers. As Joey sucked on his balls through the cotton, Yugi closed his eyes and rolled his head back against the mattress, one hand tangled in Joey's hair, the other skimming over his own chest, rucking up his shirt.

Joey hooked his fingers in the waistband of Yugi's boxers and pulled them down his legs before backing off the bed to take off his own. Yugi rolled over onto his hip and then twisted his torso to reach for the drawer of the nightstand on Joey's side of the bed. He rummaged in the eclectic mess of junk to grab the lube.

The bed shook as Joey crawled back up, on his side and pressed against Yugi's back. Yugi turned his head and Joey kissed him, reaching to take the lube. He set it in reach on the bed and then grabbed the hem of Yugi's shirt, pulling it up. Yugi took over and got it off, tossing it carelessly off the end of the bed. Then he pulled his uppermost leg up to his chest, reaching back to grab the back of Joey's head, sucking on his tongue as Joey popped open the lube and poured some on his fingers. He stretched Yugi languidly, despite the need burning through them both, working his way down Yugi's neck again before biting his shoulder. Yugi moaned as the first finger slid in, closing his eyes and focusing on the sensation. A second finger was gently added and they both stretched him, sliding lightly in and out while Yugi rocked slowly against them. Three fingers and they curled against his prostate, making him quake. Yugi kissed the side of Joey's head, feeling the fingers push as deep as they could get.

Joey withdrew his fingers and shifted, lining up. Yugi turned his face forward, eyes still closed, and whined as Joey pushed in slowly, deeply, all the way. Joey gripped the back of his knee and pulled his leg more out instead of up, giving himself a little more room. He began to undulate his body behind Yugi in as good a rhythm as he could with them both laying on their sides. Yugi reached down and grasped his cock, stroking himself in a lazy counterpoint to Joey's thrusts.

"Nngh, fuck, Yug'," Joey rasped against his shoulder.

Yugi arched back into him, squeezing himself and moaning. Joey's angle was perfect, the rhythm slow and gentle as they simply enjoyed each other. Yugi turned his head and nuzzled Joey until he lifted his head and kissed him. They made out while moving lazily, the bed barely making any noise. The hand behind Yugi's knee pulled his leg out a little more and he groaned into Joey's mouth.

Yugi let go of himself to reach down further between his legs, teasing where they were joined, running the pad of his finger around the stretched rim and making himself whine and shudder. Joey gasped as he clenched, dropping his face back against Yugi's shoulder. His breath was hot against his skin.

Yugi stretched as far as he could and palmed Joey's balls, making him growl and buck against him. Then Joey withdrew and rolled onto his back, turning and pulling Yugi up over him. Yugi situated himself on his hips, reaching down to grasp him, giving him a couple pumps and a squeeze, grinning at his expression, before he guided him back inside and slid slowly down. Biting his lip with his eyes on Joey's, he began to lift and lower himself over him, bracing while Joey held his hips and steadied him. Yugi smiled, allowing his gaze to travel Joey's body. His golden lover, from his shaggy blond hair all down to the tips of his toes. Only his eyes were dark, and getting darker as he was ridden slowly.

He coaxed him to a faster rhythm and Yugi complied, riding Joey more quickly. The sliding union was building inside of him, sending pleasure shooting through every inch of his body. He whined desperately, grabbing at Joey's wrists and arching his back. One of Joey's hands left his hip and starting stroking him.

"Joey," Yugi whined, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth.

Joey murmured praises and swear words alternately, thrusting his hips up against Yugi as he came down, increasing the force. Their pace became hectic, the bedsprings creaking beneath them. Yugi moaned and panted, sweat sliding down his back. Then Joey's thumb roughly rubbed the tip and Yugi keened and then cried out as he came.

Joey waited until Yugi stopped shuddering, then gripped his hips and rolled them over until he was on top again.

"Think you can this time?" he asked.

Yugi nodded mutely, grasping Joey's shoulders and holding on as he began to thrust again. He was grunting, bangs sticking to his face, eyes locked on Yugi's. Yugi dug his nails into his skin, then let go with one hand to reach down and grasp the erection that hadn't flagged much, stroking as Joey pounded him. He was going to be able to come again the way Joey wanted, he knew it, and felt his toes curl, eyes squeezed shut of their own accord, biting his bottom lip again.

He felt Joey's lips on his, but he could do little more than pant into Joey's mouth as the pressure built all over again. He wrapped his free arm around Joey's waist, clutching desperately at his back. Joey's rhythm faltered and his thrusts turned short, sharp, and quick. Yugi jerked his head to the left, feeling Joey's breath stirring the hair at his temple. At last he groaned right in Yugi's ear, hips jerking sporadic and rough as he started to come. Yugi squealed and arched under him, head tossed back as he followed him, pulsing against his stomach, fingers digging bruises into Joey's back.

Joey collapsed on him, both of them panting harshly in the humid air. Sweaty and sticky and aching, Yugi kissed Joey's temple. Joey lifted his head enough to kiss Yugi gently on the mouth before he rolled off, the two of them settling on their backs in the mussed sheets. Drowsy, Yugi took one of Joey's hands and idly played with his fingers, then laced his own through them and sighed. He drifted off almost immediately.

tbc...