A/N I am taking requests for Eric and Adam stories, I'm running out of OTP ideas!
A/N: Borrowing characters from the television show "The shield"
A/N: Strong Language.
He stares in the bus window, hoping, well praying that he looks good enough. He's showered twice. Paid a barber to make his buzzcut look more modern. Dressed in new Khakis that his lieutenant had tailor made. He brings his rucksack up to his chest. The army bag containing every letter Tromboner had ever written him. Sure they'd been easy going on Tromboner's side and boring on his, but that's only because Adam was sure the letters were being checked.
After that detention, he could understand why Tromboner's letter's were light-hearted and funny. Never scratching below the surface, never asking the tough questions. Tromboner was only being cautious. But now he was back for a brief holiday he was sick of being cautious. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about him since he'd left. Truth be told in military school, he hadn't been able to stop wanking over him either.
That detention blow, one of the best decisions of his life. Every time he saw Tromboner, he froze. In the past he'd been unsure of how to approach him. How to talk to him without calling him a fag. How to describe his skin without sounding like a racist prick. How to touch him without shoving him or hurting him. He just wanted to punch the old Adam in the face. All that time he'd wasted making both of their lives a misery.
An early presumption. He now knew what misery was, stuck at military school. In the early days he'd been dragged out of bed and beaten up. Made to make the other boy's bed's and do their laundry. One night he'd fought back. A ear pierce and a dislocated arm later, he'd gotten most of their respect. He became close friends with a teen called Eli locard. They clicked and hung out together, whenever they could everyday. Eli even recommended him to Vic Mackey to be a part of the strike team. With Eli's sweet talk finally he got in! Within Three months he was sharing a room with boys he could actually say were his friends.
Real friends. That was a first. But they were cheap silver in comparison to Tromboner, who shined like a golden star in his dreams. When the going got tough, his smile forced him to carry on. When it finally got easier the need for the french horn player became even worse. He wanted to bring him here, hold his hand under the table, help him through military training, share a bunk bed with him.
He couldn't understand why. Eli, and the gang where notoriously homophobic and the poison that they spat out about black people, made his ears bleed. In his mind, he could juggle both sides of his life. Now, back in Moordale, the juggling balls could stop. He could knock on Tromboner's door feel that ray of sunshine smile and finally spill his guts. He doesn't bother going back to his parents. His mum will awkwardly fuzz over him [despite never sending him letters] His Dad will only complain about why he's back so late.
He asks to get dropped off at the bus stop and walks to Tromboner's address. It feels like a weird walk as he gets to the door, but he wants this to be a regular thing. He grabs the knocker and gently taps it against the wood. He knows he's alone tonight, his last letter revealed that he'd have the house all to himself. He stands up army straight as the door opens.
"Tromboner!" He's missed saying that word. More than he can describe.
"Hey? Adam! How you doing mate?" Eli stands there, pretending to be oblivious.
"Ummm...E...Eli?" He can barely say his name. Feeling a terrible sickening feeling in his stomach. It's entirely possible that Eli, one of his best friends and room-mates at the school, came to look for Adam and got lost. The door opens wider and Tromboner tiptoes out from behind the teenager.
"Adam! You're back man! Come in!"
His voice is so warm and happy that Adam just wants to take off his jacket and swim in it.
"Hang on. What the fuck is this?" He asked pointing an accusing finger.
"Oh Eli? Well...it's early days Adam! Remember when I visited? Eli started writing me letters. Saying he had a tough time in there. He really liked my fashion sense. To cut a long sexy story short, he sent me his number and we started chatting" Eric explains.
"So you're just chatting tonight on the sofa? While your whole family's out?" Adam crosses his arms.
"Yes. It's a cute date! What kind of boy do you think I am?" Eric chuckles.
"The kind that will fuck anyone behind close doors. Get that fucker out of your house Tromboner!" Adam snaps. He takes a step back when Eric's smile disappears. He whispers something to Eli, who stares at the boys both in confusion, before going back into the house.
"For christ sake. That was uncalled for!" Eric whines.
"What's uncalled for is you shagging one of my best mates from military school! So I guess all those letters meant fuck all?"
"They meant something! You mean everything! Then you told me that you started to like it there. That you might not be coming back for the holidays. You threw in some shots about trying not to cry over you. You also never stopped writing about how you had more friends than me, now you had your little army squad. Then you stopped writing me back Ad. I guess I wasn't good enough for you anymore?"
"Nah that's not..."
"What? I'm too black, too dark, too much of a pathetic fag? I'm too uncool to visit you? I wasn't even worth another letter Adam. So don't you dare come storming over to my fucking house trying to change the rules!"
"I came here FIRST! Tromboner, in military school, all I dreamt about was this moment right now!"
"You ruined that way before you got here!"
"Tell Eli to fuck off! I'm...I'm sorry about the last letter. We had a few parties in there. I must have scribbled that while being pissed off my head"
"Bullshit man. You're selfish, but you're not stupid. The only reason you're knocking on my door is because Moordale still thinks you're a flashing weirdo, your dad still can't stand you. And you're too disappointed in your mum" Eric looks at him sadly.
"My mum?" Adam mutters that word like he's entered a Korean language class for the first time. "What the fuck do you mean?"
"She never contacted you in military school did she?"
A broken pause fills the air as Adam fumbles around for cigarettes, which are no longer there. He had to kick the habit in military school. Now he's home, he's angry, guilty, feels like shit, and needs that nicotine.
"Eli's a knob"
"He's treated me better in a month, than you have in four fucking years" The truth startles the both of them. Adam let's go of that hurt and decides to just be honest.
"I missed you. Being able to stare at you in fucking person. I've...I've missed this" Adam admits scratching the back of his head. He ignores Eric's blank expression as he turns away and storms off home.
Eric shuts his door, before he can even turn around he can feel Eli's body, pressed against him.
"Do you think he bought it? Us as a couple?" Eli asks leaning on the hallway wall with a grin.
"Yeah, he always gets bitchy and distant when he gets jealous. Thanks for being my boyfriend for the night. Dad says it's okay for you to crash. Your bus is super early tomorrow right?"
"Yep! Five fifty fucking five! It's a shame I can't stick around. I wanted to see Adam's face when I shoved my tongue down your throat all over town!"
"Cupcake that would NEVER happen!" Eric shakes his head as he playfully pulls him away from the wall. They go back into the living room where three of Eric's little sisters are watching America's next top model.
"Why? I'm not good enough for a kiss now?" Eli pouts.
"I'm just not into you man. The whole point of this was scare Adam for a bit. Make him sorry then win him back, that's the plan!"
"Sometimes plans get fucked up" Eli shrugs, then smiles as Eric's sisters stare in shock from the swearing. "Ladies relax, Tyra banks does a hell of a lot worse on this show!" Eli grins pointing at the TV.