((Chapter heading is taken from the song Beat a Drum by R.E.M. I had something else before but wasn't entirely happy with it, and now my playlist helped me out. The mood of the song fits this extremely well.))

Chapter 5
Halfway from Coal

They had two hours before they had to leave for Johanna's wedding. Adam organised a car for them and in the meantime, Francis armed the room with cameras. If they got caught, they'd have quite some explaining to do, but the hacker had placed them so ingeniously that the only way someone might find them was by actively looking for something.

All this had taken them about a quarter of an hour. After that, they had time to admire the apartment. It had one central room with a large television and a couch that looked extremely comfortable. It was all soft, velvety cloth, even the armrests were cushioned rather than wood. To the right and the left, there were bedrooms for two. The one with an actual double bed looked out to the Danube. The central room even had a fish tank with colourful tropical fish. 'If you decide to start a fight with me, there's plenty of room to evade,' Adam commented, joining Francis on the couch and finding out that it was every bit as comfy as it looked.

Francis gave him a wry glance. 'What makes you think I'm the one who's going to pick a fight?'

'Years of knowing you?' When nothing but a non-committal sound came for an answer, Adam looked at him. 'Are you all right? You were weird on the bus, you know.'

'First I get screamed at, and then I'm the one who's weird.'

'Those two weren't weird. They're crazy. Francis. Talk to me.'

The other man swallowed and looked at him. He reached out and brushed his fingers over the hexagonal mark on Adam's forehead. 'Every time I look at this, there's this voice saying … he could have died. And if he had, you wouldn't even have known what a wonderful man he is. You'd have lost him, and you wouldn't have cried a single tear.'

'Francis …'

A slow smile formed on his face. 'I'm good. You're here. Only sometimes I need to reassure myself. That's when I touch you there. To remind myself that you're okay and that I can never, not even for a second, stop appreciating how much it took for us to find each other.'

Adam swallowed. He knew that Francis was sometimes mesmerised by that particular souvenir from the attack on Sarif industries, but he hadn't thought that there was more to it. Lost for words, Adam leaned closer and kissed Francis, brushing their lips together almost cautiously. Francis's hands tugged at his clothes, pulling up his shirt, seeking the skin of his chest, his sides. His searching fingers found his nipples, pinching gently, and a moan escaped Adam. Almost hastily, he shed his shirt and pulled Francis's off over his head, too. He hoisted the other man onto his lap so that he was straddled by the hacker's lean legs. Panting slightly, Adam held him close, caressing his back and kissing his neck. 'I have no doubts at all about how you feel,' he told him. 'I've never felt so loved in my life, Francis.' He brought his lips to Francis's ear and lowered his voice to almost a whisper, a deep rumble in his chest. 'I've also never felt so wanted. That's quite surreal, but still a fact.'

'It's not surreal.' Francis pulled away a little so he could fiddle with Adam's fly. 'You're so beautiful, Adam, I could stare at you for hours. And God, I love your scent. And your voice. Your voice is enough to either arouse me or to calm me down when I'm restless. You're my rock, Jensen, and that I am yours, too, makes me so insanely happy.'

Francis blushed, but since Adam had opened his trousers and was palming his cock through his underwear, he was uncertain if the cause was his arousal or the admission. Careful not to hurt him, Adam pulled his hairband away, loosening the dark strands so that they framed his face. He brushed through them with his fingers, feeling the slight bumps on the side of his skull, betraying the cranial augmentations that were completely hidden from sight. Francis slipped off Adam's lap and ditched his clothes. He knelt by his suitcase for a moment and returned with a bottle of lube. Adam chuckled. 'You planned seducing me?'

'I had no intention to be abstinent for more than a week. I've had enough abstinence before we got together.'

Adam was torn. He wanted to make love to Francis, to kiss him and lose himself in him. But he also wanted to take advantage of the fact that Francis volunteered information about before. He rarely did, evading most questions. It wasn't so much that Adam needed to know everything, but he had a feeling that there was some detail that he wanted to say but didn't know how. It wasn't the first time Francis gave a vague hint, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time he backpedalled before he said anything substantial. 'Why was that? You don't do one-night stands?'

'That … no. More than enough. And I wasn't being all that careful about my own health. But don't worry, I was lucky enough not to get myself infected with anything gross.'

'I know that, we've had that talk.'

'Jensen, get out of those trousers. They're in my way.'

Adam did as he was told, eyes locked on Francis's. 'At the risk of repeating myself, talk to me, love.'

Francis sighed. He ran a hand up Adam's arm, resting it on his shoulder with splayed fingers. He did that a lot, touching him where skin and augment joined. 'I will. But not now. Okay?'

Adam relented. 'Whenever you're ready. We've got all our lives.' He steered him to the couch, plucking the lube from him and squeezing a generous amount onto his left hand. He sat down and reached between Francis's legs for his entrance with slick fingers. As he slid them into the warm opening, he sucked Francis's cock into his mouth. He was rewarded by a moan and gentle fingers stroking his scalp. Francis stopped him soon, his breath already ragged. 'I want to come with you inside me,' he said.

Adam nodded. He spread more lubricant on his cock, and Francis lowered himself on top of him with closed eyes. He moved slowly, kissing Adam, cradling his head in both hands. Adam supported him with his hands on his buttocks, pulling them apart a little. Francis pushed himself all the way down, moving in small circles, keeping Adam buried to the hilt. Adam's jaw slackened and he groaned, hands falling limp at his sides, relishing the feeling of being as close to the other man as was humanly possible. He could hardly breathe, the sensation soon becoming too intense. He sat upright and stood, pulling Francis with him without slipping out of him.

'God, you're strong,' Francis said, looping his arms around Adam's neck.

Adam pressed their foreheads together. 'You're a feather.' He moved to the side of the sofa and placed Francis on it, his butt elevated slightly by the armrest. 'And you're gorgeous.' He set a faster pace than before and closed his hand around Francis's cock. 'And I love you so much.'

Francis had his eyes fixed on his again, his hair fanned out around his head. Propping himself up a little to watch Adam sliding in and out of him, he caught his free hand and linked their fingers. Adam's thrusts were starting to lose their rhythm, and Francis grinned up at him.

Adam saw the glint of mischief and nodded. 'Have at it. Before you choke on whatever it is.'

Francis's grin widened. 'Come on, Jensen. Make me pregnant.'

Adam snorted. 'Gonna do my best, up to you what you do with it.' He closed his eyes and let go of Francis's hand and his sex. Instead, he lifted his legs up, holding them together at one shoulder, and leaned down a bit for better leverage. Francis gasped at the sensation. A while ago, Adam might have been worried that he'd hurt him, but by now he knew that this was a sound of pure ecstasy and an indication that he was very close to finishing. His balls slapped wetly against Francis's butt, once, twice, three times, before his release hit him. He ground against him, remaining deep inside, pulsing his seed into Francis's gut. His partner followed him with a sharp intake of breath, clenching Adam tightly and milking the last drops from him while his finger groped almost helplessly about the fabric of their sofa.

Adam fought to catch his breath. He pulled Francis's legs apart a little and placed them on either side of his head. Francis chuckled, bent his knees a little and framed Adam's face with his feet. The augmented man placed a kiss on each big toe, smiling down at the normally neat man who was now in complete disarray. 'Stay like that. I'll fetch a towel.'

Francis did as he was told, legs in the air. He folded his arms under his neck and contemplated the ceiling with a mock-casual expression. 'I feel ridiculous, lying around that way, you know.'

Adam found what he looked for only a few steps away in the closet. 'You look like a sex god, if that's any comfort.'

'A little. Jensen, stop staring at me, we don't have that much time left.'

'We could tell Johanna we fell asleep.' Adam obeyed anyway, placing a towel under Francis so he could move without ruining the sofa.

'Best make a video call with your sweaty face and sex hair. She'll certainly buy that.'

'Point taken.' Adam chanced a look at the clock on the wall. 'We've still got time for a shower. An efficient one, sadly, but still.'

'Let's be efficient together, right?'

'Right. Saving water is important.'

'Very. Jensen?'

Adam took Francis's hand and led him to the bathroom. 'Hmm?' He let the water run, waiting until it warmed up enough for comfort.

'I love you, too. Just so you know.'

Adam closed the shower stall behind them both and placed a chaste kiss on Francis's lips. 'I'm one lucky bastard.'

((This was totally an accident. I didn't mean for the chapter to go where it went. I wanted to fade out. Honest! Well. At least, it's out of my system. o.O))