Later that night.

Looking at the arm around his shoulders, Rocky then turns his gaze to the face of the owner of those arms. Protective, strong, soft arms that belong to Robbie. His Robbie. For one week. One, short, week he gets to feel this security and happiness and yet fear courses through him every time they're alone like this.

Why do I shake when we're alone? Why can't I let him touch me in private without feeling like I'm committing sin? I care about Robbie, that's enough, and it should be enough for everyone else too; so what if he's a male like me? I don't feel like a woman because I'm with him or this. We're just two guys who care about each other in a strong way to show it both emotionally and physically. So then why can't I stop shaking when we're alone. Robbie touches me in public I don't feel anything but companionship and good buddy nature but when we're alone...

He frowns when Robbie takes in a deep breath before snuggling him closer to his bare chest. I can't stop feeling like I'm gonna lose myself... and like it. Should I just stamp the label: Gay on me? I know what it means to me but to everyone else it means well- everything else and it shouldn't. They won't take it well. Robbie was beaten up just for admitting he liked me; imagine what would happen if they found out I like him back. They'll think I'm corrupted- that he made a mess out of me because I'm fragile. He could feel himself making air-quotes around the word. Rocky feels anything but fragile and he sure as hell isn't gonna let people call him a faerie or something else nonsensical.

Rocky's hands come up into Robbie's mess of a hair style to twist at the half-curls with his finger. I just wish I didn't like it so much when you touch me, this would be easier to break off if you weren't affecting me this way.

Rocky took a whiff of the male's slow rising chest. It doesn't smell like anything really, but there is a hint of his own scent on him from when he... Anyway, Rocky peeled Robbie's arms from around him then turned around so that his back is facing the other male. After a second thought, he turns back onto his other side; with a brief shove he pushes Robbie onto his back, straddling him once this is done. He wants this from me... I know he does I can feel it everytime we kiss. To be on top would mean control... control... I do what I want.

Even now Rocky feels his heartbeat picking up from the thought of taking the lead and giving rather receiving. The bundle in his chest comes alive with thoughts of what he would do to the male beneath him, how much pain he would cause.

Shaking his head, Rocky removes himself from Robbie's hips resting back on his side of the, shoved together, twin beds. "Stop thinking like that, Douglas," he whispered into the darkness around him, "you don't wanna hurt him. He's not Maria; there is no payback to be had for someone else's wrongdoing." His dual colored eyes turn a gaze to the sleeping figure. He moved the blanket away revealing Robbie's naked body. And yet... If I wanted to hurt him, he would let me. His finger traced down Robbie's side to his hip.

Robbie's hand came up to Rocky's face, cupping his cheek with it.

Not acknowledging the hand in the least, Rocky says in a flat-tone. "You would let me, wouldn't you?"

"..." Leaning the male down to him, Robbie placed a gentle kiss to the blond's lips, then moved him away and whispers. "Yes."

Eyes tearing, Rocky sniffles back a running nose before he let's himself cry.

The next day. Neither boy spoke to the other since last night. They showered, dressed, then went to their classes. Rocky spoke a great deal during his P.I. class; they had a lab that day in an old storage hold setup to look like a crime scene. Rocky caught every obvious forensic item that a normal investigator would catch and all the ones that would go overlooked, such as asking the labs to run a check on a bullet mark that hit the frame of the bathroom door. A ballistic would identify the gun model which will shorten the search process due to registery of the firearm. Granted the gun is registered. But when returning to the room he shared with his part-time lover, the most he offered him was a nod of a hello before he left for his next class. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Robbie its just that... after last night he kind of feels like he's going to do or say something wrong.

Hn. What could be more wrong than wanting to hurt someone you care about? He thought, keeping an ear open to the instructor. He said 'Yes' to my unasked question. I didn't say it through my gift, it was just normal thinking and yet he answered me, like he knew what I was thinking on his own. How can he say something like that? Does he feel like he owes me? Does he feel guilty for what Maria did to me and thinks it's only fair I take it out on him? He typed into his electronic notebook when the instructor finishes her lecture. I wouldn't actually do it, would I?

A finger on his shoulder, tapping it caught his attention. Turning his head, he smiles kindly to a tan-toned girl name, Ellis he believes. He met her once in the cafeteria but they only spoke for a second because she was asking him about the homework having noticed him in her class. She's a pretty girl: dark brown hair with no highlights, curly yet, loose. Her big brown eyes are too cute for words the way she bats her lashes over them with that puppy dog look on her heart shaped face. Most guys don't notice her really because her breast are nothing special but she's fun to be around, and from what Rocky knew she has a boyfriend because someone picks her up from class every other day. They must be going out together.

"You wanna go out for pizza sometime with me?" she asked, her voice low so the teacher doesn't hear her.

So much for my boyfriend theory. Thinks the ninja. "With me?" He says playing dumb.

"No, the guy next to you." She rolls her eyes. "Of course you. It'll be fun." Nudging him with her elbow, she adds. "I haven't seen you really getting back out there since that whole thing last year and it's kind of breaking my heart."

Great, I'm a rescued puppy case. Thinks Rocky. Although, with her as my girlfriend it would keep people from thinking about the bigger picture of Robbie and me sneaking around like we do. It'd be nice to have someone once the end of the week comes. It will be lonely... if only a little.

"I can tell you're thinking about it." Ellis cuts into his thoughts. "Do you have an answer- I mean, there's no rush or anything." She shakes her head; ponytail swinging as she does this, waving her hand. "I was just asking."

"...C-... can you give me a week to think it over? I'm not sure I'm ready to date just yet."

"I don't blame you," Her hand comes down onto his shoulder compassionately. "I heard it was really scary."

What, watching a screaming woman get dragged into a basement by a nutcase while a house burns down around you, no what could scary about that. Thinks the Sin in him.

Rocky likes to separate those thoughts from his own. He doesn't want to be a sarcastic bastard like Sin, or full or snark like Colt. Not that he wants his brother to change, he's used to him being that way and it isn't like he's always like that its just when he gets really excited over something.

"Thanks for understanding." Says Rocky then returning to his work.

Ellis seemed pleased with that and began her work as well.

"I know being accepted into college is the key thing here but part of me is wondering what would it hurt to take a year off." Says Colt's girlfriend Olivia, tapping her straw in and out of her McDonald's cup, the straw makes a screeching sound as it's pulled up and down, before its lifted from the cup and dangled over the raven haired girl's titled head to release the captured soda within.

Colt, who is listening to the girl, barely, taps his finger to the table hoping for the best result to come from what he's about to say. Clearing his throat, he looks the girl straight in the eye then says firmly. "Olivia."

"Hmm? What?" Setting her straw down she takes her boyfriends hand into her own, looking into his hazel eyes with passion. "What is it?"

"I think we should break up."

Colt had this planned from the get-go. Whomever he is with before his college days begin he would dump them so that he could be a free agent when the time comes and not be weighed down by his highschool days. So whether he cared for Olivia and her chatterbox, mainly skirt sporting ways, its over between them. Hopefully. And he got his answer, as his sweet girlfriend lifts her root beer soda from the table and tosses it into his face.

"You're a creep." She says before storming away.

"I still wanna be your friend too." Colt comments while wiping down his shirt with a handful of napkins.

This is just what he needs, to walk around with soda stains on his clothes. She couldn't drink Sprite or Seven-up like normal people. A girl a table away laughs at Colt, shaking her head in dismay. She may not have heard the conversation but she can guess what happened. A break up. Colt looked up at her, smiling into a laugh himself. It must look pretty funny actually.

"Bad day for a white t-shirt, huh?" He says to the girl.

"I'll say." She replies.

With a gesture of his tilted head, he says. "Care to join me? Or do you prefer voyeurism?"

"No, the view is fine over here. But, since you look so pathetic." She says getting up, bringing her left over fries over with her. Taking a seat at the table, she holds out a hand. "I'm Maggie."

"Colt. My real name is Jeff, but I prefer Colt." Colt shakes her hand.

"Oh, nickname or are you just nuts?"

"Nickname, but I am nuts though." He laughs, smiling that Maggie laughed as well. "So how come I haven't seen you around before- you just move here?"

"Nope, lived here all my life. I go to the other school if that's what you're asking."

"Oh."

Looking at the door where the departed girl just left to, Maggie asks with a raised red eyebrow. "So, to sate my curiosity, did you and your friend just break up or was it a fight?"

"Depends on what you're asking."

"Come again?"

"Did we break up- I'd like to ask you out?" He indicated. "Or, did you break up, you're a cheating creep?"

"The former- wait, don't get me confused." She blushed a pretty shade of pink. "I was just wondering; I like to stay in the loop of life's little soap operas."

"Oh. Well, we just broke up. No special reason behind it. I just thought we were going in different directions that's all."

Maggie nods. The two of them look at each other for a moment, almost lost for words until the girls watch beeps jarring them back to where they are. "Shoot, I got class. See you around Colt." She let his ninja name dangle like a set of house keys she's teasing him with.

"Class?" he questioned. "Now?" But school's out for the summer, how is that possible?

"Yeah, college class. Lit 103." She explained. "So long." Her red hair swayed across her back as she walks out of McDonald's.

"College." Colt grinned.

I wonder why Rocky's been giving me the silent treatment. Robbie comes up to the door of his dorm room. Sounds from the other end alert him to the ninja being on the other side. Is he mad at me? He wonders turning the knob. Hn. Robbie smiles walking into the room, closing the door after himself. Sliding his laptop carryall from over his head he lays it onto his bed, keeping a glance at Rocky while doing so.

Rocky is busy packing his suitcase to leave with him later to Connecticut to see his parents and go to the wedding of his uncle. Robbie couldn't believe Rocky agreed to come with him. He'd expected laughter, a scoffed out 'no' at the most. But the ninja said he'd think about it and he agreed to come.

Here's the problem with being bisexual. Thinks Robbie retrieving his own suitcase. The moment you do the gay part of it you find the cutest guy in the world and can't seem to control yourself from touching him. And its because of that straight people think gays are only after sex and the next hot ass that walks by. But what I don't get is why its ok for them to do it.

He dropped the suitcase on the bed, unzipping it, pushing it open so he can pack his things. Straight guys can't seem to be with one person for more than two days without turning their head to watch a cute female tail walk by; or worse groping them in public as if anyone really wants to watch that-... then again, older guys with a youth fetish might, people who like to watch the slightest bit of human contact will stare- quite frankly I would never make a public display of someone I love, its just ignorant.

Looking over at Rocky he smiled. I hope I didn't do anything wrong, I can't remember if I did... He sure is cute when he's not talking, though, Rocky's pretty cute doing anything. Hmhm, I love the way he moves his lips without saying anything, kind of like he's talking to no one or sorting something out in his head but he can't seem to do that without moving his mouth. The way he laughs, is adorable; its so dry, but I know I can get something bigger from him if I work at it. After all I'm hilarious.

Robbie's dreamboat walked past to get to the bathroom but his journey was cut short by Robbie grabbing a hold of his wrist.

"Rocky?"

Rocky didn't say anything, he didn't attempt to snatch back his wrist, just lowered his eyes to the floor like something interesting were there.

"Have I done something wrong? Did I hurt you last night?"

"No."

"Than what's with the silent treatment?"

"Its not something you did... its something that I did?"

"You? What could you have done in such a short amount of time?" Robbie asks walking around to face the ninja. "Unless you tried to gut me in my sleep, I'm fine."

Rocky didn't meet Robbie's icy gaze, he kept his eyes lowered to the floor. "I feel like... I feel like I don't deserve to b with you."

"Why?"

"Last night I was thinking about us and... and you need to be with something that will make you happy and can love you like you want them to."

Taken aback, Robbie releases Rocky's wrist to take his hand. "How do I wanna be loved?" He asked with humor behind his voice. "Tender, hard?"

"Its not funny. You need someone that you can appreciate outloud, someone that can be appreciated outloud and I'm a tightwad and can't give you that."

Blinking, Robbie's lips wrinkle back and forth trying to hold back a laugh but it slips out anyway. "Ahahahaha!"

Looking at him, Rocky frowns, brows knit together in anger. "What's so funny?"

"You really do worry about the smallest things. Its really cute." Says the Canadian. Wrapping his arms around the ninja's shoulders, he turns them so that Rocky is standing where he was and he is standing where Rocky was then walking toward him he backs the blond to the wall. Pressing his forehead to Rocky's, he rubbed the other male's back. "You wanna know how I'd appreciate you outloud?" He asks in a whisper. He can feel Rocky begin to tremble against him. "I'd make you laugh, I'd talk to you... I'd do all the things we do in privacy minus the making-out and touching you in naughty places and I love loving you like that. Rocky we don't have to hold hands or kiss in public to feel like a real couple, we just have to be together and that's more important to me than any make-out session with some girl I'm dating."

"But what if I hurt you... I mean physically. What if I damage your brain with my gift out of spite for your Aunt? What if I..." He trails off.

"What?"

"...What if you want me to be, you know, on top and I... end up raping you."

That he didn't expect. "Ro-... Rocky, it wouldn't matter." He says quietly.

"How can you say that?"

"Because I'm me and I know what I want... how much I can take... If you wanted to hurt me, or rape me than you're allowed to. I will let you."

"But why?"

"Because its you. I'd give you anything I could." He kisses Rocky chaste on his lips.

The air in the room grew so thick around them it was as if the world didn't exist, as if nothing and no one is alive but them, right there in that one spot they're standing at.

"If you want the shirt off my back," Robbie continues to whisper sweetly, he's caressing Rocky's neck and jawline with his finger tips. "a kidney... to hurt me. I will give it to you." He kisses him again. "Because its you."

Rocky's breath stutters out when Robbie's kiss moves to his neck. "Its wrong to think like that."

"Maybe. But I don't think so... There are so many ways to love someone, this is my way of loving you."

Legs weak, Rocky leans into the male arms wrap tightly around Robbie's waist. If only he could live like this forever.

A loud knocking at the door separated them as if a fire had brewed between their bodies threatening to burn them.

"I'll get it." Rocky says pacing over to the door. Turning the knob, he's a bit shocked to see Ellis standing there smiling at him. Smiling back, though, maybe not as strongly as the young woman, he says. "Yes?"

Robbie walks over to his bed, pretending to continue with his packing but he's actually looking out the door to see who came by. He's never seen this girl before but judging by the way she's looking at Rocky he can guess her intentions. He knows he shouldn't be jealous, but he can't help feel a tightening in his chest.

"Hi, I wanted to know if you wanted to get some pizza with me and some friends." Ellis asked, hardly able to keep her cheeks down from smiling. "We're having Pizza Hut, but if you like Domino's or something else, I'm sure the guys'll go along with it."

"I can't. I mean, I'd like to but I can't." Rocky says half heartedly. "Robbie and me are kind of going on a trip; can I take a rain check though?"

Downtrodden, she asks. "Where are you going?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll be back in a week, we can hang out then." He offers.

Brightening again, she claps her hands. "Okay, great! A week. I can wait that long, and in the meantime can you think about what I said?"

"I will."

Giddy, she slaps him on the shoulder then peeks past him to Robbie waving a goodbye/hello to him before dashing off. Closing the door, Rocky shakes his head.

"I feel bad. I might be leading her on, I'm not sure if I wanna date at all really, and now Ellis comes along." He heads to the bathroom to snag his toothbrush like he planned to before. He went from feeling so great to feeling like a creep in two seconds flat.

"She certainly is hungry, isn't she?" Robbie comments. "I mean, when did she talk to you?"

"Just twenty minutes ago." He drops the brush into his bag then zips it up.

"Mmhmm. Hungry."

"And you're not?"

"I'm allowed to be we're dating."

"Not for long, then you'll go right back to sneaking kisses from me like you did before."

Offended though not really, Robbie turns around. "Hey, we both loved it when I snuck kisses from you. Otherwise we wouldn't be here today."

"Whatever." He laughs. "Is there anything I should know before we get there? Eye contact to avoid, words to say?"

"No, we're freaks. You should fit right in like one of the family."

"Thanks."

Robbie snickers to himself. Bag packed, he sighs in question. "What now?"

"Airport. I told Colt to tell Mom why I won't be here when he comes, I hope he remembered." Hoisting his suitcase from the bed, he walks to the door. "I've got everything, are you ready?"

"Yup. I'll call the cab on the way down." Turning off lights and closing doors and the window; Robbie follows the male out the door.