"And in real life endings aren't always neat, whether they're happy endings, or whether they're sad endings." - Stephen King

A lone man sat out on his back porch, sipping away at a strawberry flavoured water. Since Haley had agreed to his terms, with a bit of complaint and barbed words, she immediately fell into her role. When Eric had reached for a beer, Haley ripped it from his grasp and poured it down the sink's drain, then offered him the water.

It seemed they would be working towards putting him onto a healthy diet, seeing as he had been eating nothing but fast food and pop for a while.
Eric might have missed the easy meals, but a part of him was glad he'd be turning back. This new lifestyle made him feel slower, and considerably not in control, and that's something he couldn't live without.

He settled himself further into his coat, watching as snowflakes drifted from the stormy clouds, and make their way down to the ground below. The water was freezing when it made its way to his lips, but he didn't care. The sensation of nerves tingling with the liquid, proved he was still alive and functioning.

The door to the back opened, almost muffled as it came to a close. Eric didn't bother to see who it was, he was already certain the visitor was Haley, checking on him for the hundredth time again.

"I already told you I was fine." Eric mumbled, taking another lengthy sip from his drink.

There was a pause before a voice answered him, sweet on the cool breeze.

"I wanted to check on you anyways."

Eric spun around, sputtering out his drink as he beheld Kyle standing not too far from him.

"What are you doing here?!" Eric choked, wiping at the water that dribbled down his chin.

Kyle shifted his weight, uncomfortable with this high tension moment and the clothes Stan had lent him. He was a few inches taller than Stan, but he was lanky where Stan was filled out with physical labour. And so the clothes he wore were a size too big on him. He pulled on the sleeves with his fingers, eyes locked with Eric as he stood there.

It took him a while to realize what he wanted to say, and after a sigh, he sat beside Eric. Overlooking the expanse of the yard, a blanket of snow lay on-top the grass and trees.

"We need to talk, that is, if we want to..." He waved his hand, "settle this."

Eric snorted, setting his drink to the side, "First you break my nose by throwing glass at me, now you want to talk? Or do you just want to settle this by a brawl on the yard?"

Kyle caught himself staring at the taped off portion of Eric's face, and quickly he glanced away.

"I deserve that, but you have to admit. You haven't been the best to me either, considering.." He yanked his sleeves up, ignoring the goosebumps that rose from the flesh being revealed to the cold weather, showing his bruises from the rope.

The other's expression darkened, and without a word, he reached a hand out to them. Lightly his fingers traced the outlines, raising even more shivers from Kyle with his warm grip.

His eyes met Kyle's, "I had nothing to do with this" he whispered.

Kyle nodded, breath caught in his throat as he remembered how easily he'd been taken right from his home, "I know. Kenny told me on the way here. It was her..wasn't it?"

Eric removed his grip as if he'd been burned, rivaling that expression was the cold exterior he donned.
"Yes, but it's been taken care of."

"How, were the police told?"

A second passed, and any possibility of Eric having a cheerful attitude with it. His brows knitted together, and Kyle was sure he struggled with not breaking the redhead's own nose. And yet, with this space in time, Kyle was the first to fill in the divide.

Green eyes tore from brown, fixated on the distance ahead of them; bare tree branches swaying with the current of wind.

"I didn't come here to fight, but to thank you. I know you're the one to gather Kenny and Stan, so thank you. But can I..." Kyle sucked in a breath, hurriedly casting a glance to Eric, "...can I ask you something? I'll forget about Haley if you answer me this."

The brunette nodded, solemnity mixed with a dollop of concern and curiosity.

"What's the purpose of it?"

"I don't get what you mean."

Absently Kyle rubbed his hands together, "Buying companies, throwing families to the curb with their pay. It's chaos; before, you warned me about it. You said you were a pawn, and I want to know why."

With a large groan, Eric ran his fingers through his hair, "Of all of the questions you could ask, it had to be that!? Not, 'what does the future hold for us?', or 'will I ever find someone else who is as good at sex as you are?' Typical."

Kyle snorted, "You said you'd answer it."

"But that was before I-! Oh, whatever. Have it your way, you sneaky Jew."

Patiently Kyle waited until Eric managed to relax enough to begin speaking.

"You're probably wondering why we decided to buy that dumpy mine, right?" Kyle nodded "Well let me give you a brief history lesson. In 1859 the mine was first used for gold, during which was the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. However, ever since then the gold has dried up. My use is for the sandstone rock deposits."

"Sandstone rock deposits?"

Eric hummed under his breath, "You can mine uranium from them. Which, along with the petroleum mined, we'll use it for..."

"For...?"

"Military purposes, time travel. You know, government issued and researched."

"Wait a fucking second!" Kyle called out, "Did you just say time travel?!"

"Yes, Kyle!" Eric hissed, "Why don't you say it any louder, you fucking idiot!"

Scoffing, the red haired man slapped the side of Eric's arm, frowning at the jab.

"Obviously we're just in the beginning phases, more research than anything. But still, there's a lot of money invested in it. Very hushed stuff."

"That's why you bought all of those electrical companies?"

Eric broke out into a large grin, "Found out about that, did you?" His broad shoulders rose in a lazy shrug "We shift the previous employees from the companies, and transfer them to new ones. Obviously we condition them, just to make sure they don't suspect anything and begin talking to their families or friends. Nothing like brainwashing, but to be sure they don't notice a large sum of their produce being shipped elsewhere. The hard part is to begin moving them, so we use multiple ways to set the wheel in motion. How does that saying go...? Loose lips.."

"...sink ships." Kyle quickly finished for him, "...But that doesn't make sense to me. That mass movement must cause a lot of uproar, but I haven't heard of it? Shouldn't this make headlines in the news? Or at least something?"

"It should. Then again, the government has a lot of sway in the media. As for myself, I haven't gotten this far by letting strings knot. Their new jobs and benefits usually put an end to their wailing. But sometimes they need additional force, that's when we look into their backgrounds for blackmail."

Kyle realized something with a start, and a frown locked into place as he said, "Is that why Mr. Barrett and Mrs. Morton decided to drop their charges against your company?"

Reluctantly Eric nodded, "It didn't take a lot of digging to yank their skeletons out of their metaphorical closets."

The older of the two shook his head in disbelief, this was certainly a lot to process. Still, there was something that bothered him. Summing up what remained of his nerves, Kyle faced Eric once more. "If what you're telling me is true, I don't have to worry about those families being without their pay and benefits for long. But there's...When you warned me, did you know it'd be Haley?"

With greater hesitance than before, Eric shook his head.

"I knew your desire for the truth would rouse someone's attention, but I never thought it would be Haley's. My presence for this project is more for the ability to slid under the radar, and get people who are qualified to make it come to fruition. When I...warned you, I thought it was because of a high-status official would notice. As hard as it is to say, I'm thankful it was Haley that kidnapped you." As if his mouth was dry, Eric grabbed his glass and downed the remainder of his beverage. Quenching his thirst, then he continued, "She's just testing her claws in this world, so I knew it wouldn't be hard to find where you'd been. If it was one of my sponsors, well, let's just say we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

It was a chilling thought for Kyle, but he knew it to be truthful. With a nod, which spoke very little of his swirling thoughts, he rose to his feet.

"That's all I wanted to know, thank you." He spared Eric a quick glance before he made his way to the door, only to stop because a hand had been placed onto his shoulder.

He couldn't stop staring at the wood of the door, held in a trance by the warmth of the grip. From its connection, the hand was sending jolts to his trembling nerves.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, slowly Kyle turned around. Eric was a lot closer to him than he expected, wearing a strange expression on his face.

"...Yes?"

The brunette opened his mouth, desperate to convey the wave of emotions that crushed his innards. Instead, he was distracted by the reddened complexion of Kyle's cheeks, a massive contrast to the lawyer's tan skin. He wasn't entirely sure if it was because of the cold weather, or maybe...

Without thinking he rubbed his thumb against the contour of the flushed flesh, skimming over the sharp detail of Kyle's cheekbone. He made a path down to the soft surface of the other's lips, slightly chapped from the climate. With the smallest of pressure Kyle's mouth parted.

The movement had the air electrified between them, breathing shallow and heated. As if entranced by a tug, Eric brought his own closer.

Knowing what was to happen, Kyle's eyelashes fluttered to a close, unconsciously tilting his head at the intimate position they shared. Warm breath skated along the other's, mingling as only a sliver was between.

Haley opened the back porch's door, holding a cell in hand.

"Sir, there's a-" She came to an abrupt stop, eyes widening comically at the sight.

Just as quickly as it had happened, Eric and Kyle peeled themselves from one another with a jolt. Hands were pressed to themselves, and throats were cleared.

"What is it Haley?" Eric snapped; both were ashamed to be blushing profoundly, and accordingly it left no imagination to the blonde what was about to occur. It still hurt her terribly to see the pair together, but for both her own sake, along with Eric's, she dashed away the sensation.

"You have a call to take." She waved the cell, and couldn't help the chortle that bubbled from her lips.

Eric snatched the device, gesturing for Haley to leave. Unfortunately the damage was done, though Kyle purposely wouldn't acknowledge the physical form of Haley, he mumbled a "I have to go" all the same. Fleeing before Eric could gather his wits, Kyle brushed shoulders with Haley before he let himself out.

As the last of Kyle's springy red curls left his field of vision, Eric groaned a loud. His hands were quick to thread through his messy hair, "Fucking lovely" he grumbled.

Accusingly he glared at his assistant/family member, flashing her a middle finger in annoyance.

She leaned against the door frame, hand upon her hip as she grinned like a Cheshire, "Does that mean you'll be having dinner now?"

Grunting, Eric pushed past her, "Only if you're slow cooked over a grill."

Haley closed the door with the back of her heel, ever so eager to follow the brunette down the hall, "I'll get the barbecue sauce."

Three hours later...

The sun was long gone, and the only thing to hint its passing was the streaks of violet and orange in the seething sky.

After Kyle had been dropped off by Kenny, he immediately searched through his fridge for something to eat. It had been a long day filled with suspense, and he was absolutely famished. Luckily he had enough meat and kosher pickles to have a quick sandwich, or four. He was just on his second when the door was knocked upon.
The sound had him bristling with the familiar blade of terror, slicing with tender anxiety and anticipation. Quietly he placed his plate aside, and rose to his feet. Breath caught in his throat, he made his way to the front. As he came upon it, he paused, and he silently opened the closet reserved for coats and shoes. Against the corner was a bat, and he withdrew it.

Armed, Kyle held it above his shoulder in striking position as he unlocked the door and inched it open. The drop in his stomach readied the redhead for this spontaneous fight, and the potential of being kidnapped again.

As Eric met his glare, he only gave a seconds notice before he was a couple of feet back.

"Wait, wait! It's just me! I just wanted to talk!"

Kyle just as quickly dropped his weapon, regret dousing him.

"Oh my God! I'm so fucking sorry!" He cast a glance behind him, then meeting Eric's eye once more, he gave a sheepish smile. "Um, won't you please come in...?"

Darting forward so the redhead wouldn't change his mind, Eric entered his home with a wary expectation.

Kyle moved back inside, tossing his bat to the side of the hallway. After the door was shut and locked, Kyle was surprised to find Eric's retreated form head towards the living room. Fuelled by curiosity, Kyle raced after the tall brunette.

To his silent delight, Eric lounged on the lawyer's couch, fitting all too well in the room. It was almost like he belonged there.

Rubbing his hands together in worry, Kyle made his way over. Unlike the usual instances when they met, Eric wasn't wearing a tailored suit. Instead he wore dark jeans that were rather tight in the groin area, but not the legs. And to go with the pants, his dress shirt a flattering shade of dark purple, was neatly rolled to his elbows.

They were so unlike Kyle's own attire, baggy but warm pajama pants covered in snowflakes(something his mother had bought him), and a plain t-shirt. Something that wasn't classy, but perfect for relaxing in after a rough day. Even his Star Wars themed socks made him feel low about his clothing.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Well I..." Eric broke off, and after squinting for a second, continued once again, "I'm going to be honest, I came here to finish what Haley interrupted."

"Oh..." Kyle mumbled, and with everything considered, he'd been wishing for the exact thing. But that didn't mean he was prepared for this unexpected twist of events.

Heartbeat picking up, along with the sweat arriving on his hands, Kyle closed the small distance between them.

Hunching over so their faces were near, Kyle hastened to press their mouths together. Though the warmth of Eric's lips against his had Kyle's chest squeezing, a grunt of pain had him pulling away. He eyed Eric in concern, "Are you okay?"

Lightly Eric's fingertips brushed his taped off nose, "No, I keep forgetting its broken." A few more pained grunts escaped him, causing Kyle to swell in guilt and despair.

"I guess we shouldn't-"

Sensing the other's train of thought, Eric snatched Kyle's arm, and pulled him back down for another kiss. Just as the red haired man began to sigh into his mouth, Eric moved back once again.

"Arg, your nose isn't helping things either!"

Straightening his spine once again, Kyle frowned, "My nose...?"

"Well yeah, cause it's..." Eric gestured to the prominent nose, trying to get his point across.

Just as Kyle crossed his arms, waiting for Eric to elaborate(which would land him into somewhere of no return), the brunette back-pedaled.

"Forget about it, this isn't going to work out."

Kyle dropped his arms, watching in disbelief as Eric climbed to his feet and begun to walk back towards the door. Fearful that this visit and night would be at an end, Kyle stilled him by grabbing Eric's elbow, "Wait! Where are you going?"

Tossing him a glance over his shoulder, Eric shrugged, "Home."

"You...you don't have to go home tonight."

That had Eric turning around fully, smile stretched across his face, "Why, Kahl, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Kyle chewed on his bottom lip, "Don't make me regret this."

"Have I ever?" Eric sung with that smirk of his, ushering Kyle into a trek to the bedroom.

They had barely entered the room when Kyle begun to yank his t-shirt off and toss it to the other side of the room, along with his socks. Hooking his fingers under both his pajama pants and underwear, Kyle twisted around to watch as Eric finished the last buttons of his dress shirt, and drop it to the ground.

He waited until Eric was unzipping his jeans before he leaned over, kissing the expansion of the other's shoulders.

Shivering, Eric gave Kyle a toothy grin before his pants were pooled around his feet. Stepping out of them, he pulled his boxers down as well, unlike Kyle who still had his fingers holding the layers of fabric together.

That didn't last long, as Eric jerked them down for him. As soon as Kyle was just as bare as the day he was born, Eric drew him to the bed as they flopped onto it.
With Kyle on top, Eric nipped at any flesh he could reach, careful of his nose as he did so. The effect had Kyle groaning in pleasure, slightly swaying as he sat in the other's lap.

To steady himself, his hands curled around Eric's shoulders, squeezing until his blunt fingernails made flushed lines on the flesh.

"Does this remind you any fond memories?" Eric purred, voice heavy with his lust as he spoke around the skin of Kyle's clavicle.

"Some." Kyle admitted through clenched teeth, shuddering at the erection pressed against him. Removing one of his hands, it trailed down to his own belly and finally to his arousal, giving it a few rough yanks. He gasped at the feeling paired with teeth scraping against his chest and the quick swipes of Eric's tongue on the irritated areas.
"I'd be faster if I were you." Kyle hissed, trembling with pent up desire. For the longest time he was left with only his memory and his hand, a pale second to having Eric with him in the flesh.

"So impatient." Eric mumbled, but still reaching a hold of himself.

The sight had Kyle eagerly leaning to the side, and sliding the drawer to the nightstand open. As he shifted through the contents, looking for a bottle of clear liquid, Eric skimmed his fingertips over Kyle's thighs.

Finally he grabbed a hold of it, handing the lube to Eric. Within a second Eric popped open the lid, and poured a generous amount into the palm into his hand. After smearing his sticky hand over the tip of his penis, then he moved onto the body hovering above him.

Kyle whined at the cold prodding fingers, teasing his entrance as the first one barely sunk in. Eric's index finger had only slipped in to its first knuckle when a second was added, stretching Kyle in a most delightful way. He groaned a loud, eyes sliding shut as he rocked himself on the digits.

Chuckling under his breath, Eric briefly curled his fingers before he slipped them out once again. Immediately Kyle groaned with the loss, eyes opening so he could lift himself enough so Eric could press the head of his throbbing erection against Kyle's asshole.

Bracing his trembling legs, Kyle slowly lowered himself, becoming impaled by the rock hard length. Moaning as he was filled up, the redhead could barely hear Eric say, "And greedy too."

Digging handfuls of Eric's shoulders, Kyle began to ride the brunette, moans drifting into the air as a mouth was at the joining of his shoulder and neck.

The slow pace climbed into a hurried gallop, catching the pair in a frenzy. As Kyle's voice built into one loud moan after another, borderline screaming, the bed's headboard crashed against the wall with each thrust.

"Fuck!" Kyle called out, sweat pouring from his forehead and dripping down to his tan chest. With a spare hand he moved Eric's mouth from his throat and to his own, crashing them together so he could tangle his tongue with the other's. Meshed long enough so he could become drugged on the taste of Eric, Kyle pulled away, remembering the complaint said earlier about a certain nose.

From beneath him, Eric cursed under his breath, thrusting with all the strength he possessed into Kyle's tight heat. There he searched until he brushed against it, only knowing when Kyle cried the loudest moan to date, something that Eric smugly realized was his name.

With a husky chuckle, he then specifically aimed for the discovered cluster of nerves, Kyle's prostate. With the raise in Kyle's volume, which was repeatedly Eric's name, the apartment upstairs thundered in anger. The widow, whom Kyle would remember much later in humiliation after an encounter tomorrow in the hallway, shouted "Shut the fuck up!"

Only Eric seemed to hear her, and in retaliation, pounded into Kyle harder. With each contact with the nerves, and the hot breath of Eric's pants on his chest, quickly Kyle found his climax.

"Ahhh! Oh my...Eric!"

Eyes rolling to their whites, Kyle's breath hitched as he spasmed above Eric, only managing to hang on by clinging to his lover. The coil in his belly sprung into a quake of pleasure that shot down to the tips of his toes as he sprayed his semen onto the stretch of Eric's chest.

He gasped as Eric took a few more deep thrusts, until he too came. Groaning with his much needed release, Eric panted as he filled Kyle with his warm seed.

Licking his lips until they became wet, Eric peeled his eyes open to flash a satisfied smile at Kyle.

Loopy with his own pleasure, Kyle shared the smile, reached a hand to brush Eric's sticky hair from his forehead. Content and incredibly relaxed, he leaned forward to place a gentle kiss onto the side of Eric's face.

Hesitant, Kyle lifted himself off of Eric's now flaccid length and laid down on his back beside him. The lights from the living room barely kept the bedroom dim, and now the pair struggled to see one another in the near complete darkness of the room. But they didn't need to see one another, not really.

Each listened to the sound of their mixed breathing and the howling of the wind and snow outside, it had sleep creeping upon them. As Kyle fought to stay awake, enticed by the warmth radiating off of Eric, he was surprised to hear the other's deep drawl fill the room.

"I think I know what I've been feeling."

"What?" Kyle whispered, tilting his head to face Eric's.

The man beside him paused, and Kyle inched a bit closer so he could hear better, nose twitching with the scent of vanilla, smoke, musk, and now sex wafting off of Eric.
"There's definitely attraction there, but..."

"But...?"

"..."

"...Eric...?" Kyle whispered once again, worry nagging his sated nerves.

"I think I love you, Jew."

Kyle's breath was caught in his throat, and unsuspecting, he was caught in a tidal wave of feelings. He didn't think he'd ever speak again, but eventually he found his voice. His hand sought Eric's in the dark, and soon enough he found it, large and firm with its heat.

"I love you too, you big asshole."

Their hands squeezed each other, and Kyle couldn't help but notice his once lonely and large bed had quickly been filled up. It wasn't by Stan as he had originally expected, but he couldn't find it within himself to care about the difference. And neither could Eric, whom for once didn't feel like he didn't belong.

The End.

The Final Author's Note:

While this story was considered "complete" before I posted it on FFN, I thought it still necessary to include a final note from me as I did on AO3. It was a wonderful experience to relive that moment of people reading After Hours(or any of my stories for that matter)for a first time and genuinely enjoying it.

And because I'm a huge fan of feedback, I just want to thank everyone who has read this story, beginning to end, reviewed, favourited, and followed it, etc.

You awe inspiring and polite readers are what keeps me going, so thank you. Keep on shipping and reading!

- BookishTea(Clara/Claire) xx