Now, finally it's done. Took me a while…

I hope that you guys will like it and I also hope the Queen of Shandyliciousness will be gracious to me ;)

Enjoy!

The something blazed up for the briefest of moments and Stephen felt his leg being pulled towards Randy ever so slighlty, but a trace of bitter sadness washed over the other man's face at the same time.

"Huh… I can't even remember the last time someone said something like this to me," Randy replied barely audible as his gaze broke away and Stephen blamed himself that he hadn't told Randy this before. "You know, at the time you asked the captain to partner us up I had reached a point... It's not that I believed them that I'm a bad person, but I felt… worthless…" Slender brows furrowed over the grey eyes which still not looked back at him. "There are times when I'm on my way to the department and I'm scared to go in there," Randy adds but suddenly a tiny, happy and relieved smile pulls at his lips. "But then I tell myself that you're there and…" He didn't end this sentence, said instead: "Silly, I know."

"No, it's not silly," Stephen replied quietly, guiltily. "Why haven't yer told me tha before?"

Maybe he should have felt it. They were spending so much time together and as Randy's best friend he should have known it, should have felt that the wounds Randy had sustained over the time wouldn't heal that quickly.

"Didn't want to bother you with it."

Giving Randy a half-hearted kick with his free foot, Stephen leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table and quirked an eyebrow at the other man.

"Nothing tha has to do with yer bothers me," he chided him softly, seeing the other man duck his head a little. "Don't think tha. Ever. Okay?" Almost hesitantly Randy looked back up to him, those precious silver orbs deep again… and Stephen fell into their depths. "Yer have no idea how much yer mean to me," he heard himself say while he still fell, deeper and deeper…

There was the faintest of blushes on Randy's cheeks and diamonds in Randy's eyes, and while he kept falling he reached out to those diamonds, holding them close to his heart.

… more… a voice within him whispered.

And maybe, just maybe… Randy heard it. Once more there was a change in his friend's eyes and the knees closed even tighter around his leg. For any reason he suddenly felt as if he needed to wrap his arms around Randy and never let go of him again because there was something pulling at that bond between them and it was strong, pulling him closer to the other man.

"Let's go home," Randy said suddenly, dropping his gaze to the floor and shaking his head softly no as Stephen frowned at him in question.

Confused Stephen followed suit as his friend stood up to leave the pub and as Randy passed him, a faint breeze of Randy's aftershave filled his nostrils. A scent that always caused the warm feeling of being home in him. His own fingers brushed over the other man's wrist briefly and he felt an itch in them to just pull Randy right back and into his arms.

… best friend… brother… protect him at all costs…

A mantra that echoed throughout him, every day, every minute and second ever since the day Randy had become a part of his life.

They didn't come far though. They hadn't even reached the exit as someone stepped right into their way, pushing Randy back.

"You…" he heard a familiar voice slur, the single word spoken threatening and with it came another push.

Stephen's feet moved before his brain shook the surprise and disappointment off, but Randy's outstretched arm stopped him from reaching the owner of the voice.

"Beckett?" Stephen murmured, gently pushing Randy's arm out of the way to step closer to his former partner.

"Just leave it be, Beckett," Randy replied very calmly, pacifying even, while doing his best to keep Stephen from passing him.

Another push.

"What the hell, Beckett?" Stephen growled.

"We were partners, Farrelly! And you replace me by this fag just like that! Is this piece of scum letting you have his ass? Huh?" his former partner hissed while his eyes stayed fixed on Randy the whole time. "The next time you won't get away that easily, Orton."

Stephen watched as Beckett lifted his balled fist, aiming for Randy… and something in him snapped. Pushing Randy aside, he stepped between the two men, stopping his ex-partner's fist mid-air. His fingers wrapped around the other man's hand in a crushing hold while he twisted the hand to the outside. There was the sickening little sound as his own fist collided with Beckett's nose, sending the man back against a table, but Stephen was right there, grabbing him by his shirt to send another blow that caused his ex-partner back onto the table.

His third punch though only hit thin air as arms wrapped around his middle from behind, forcefully pulling him back and away from Beckett who still lay on the table, covering his ruined nose with a hand. Blood was flowing from it, staining clothes, the table… and there was blood on Stephen's fist, too, the rich red standing in a stark contrast to his pale skin.

Like a warning.

His name was said calmingly while the arms stayed tightly wrapped around him, holding him back and it took Stephen a moment to get a grip on himself. Long seconds there was no sound except the still playing music and Stephen's and Beckett's harsh breathing.

This was a local for cops but as he looked around, their colleagues only looked at them, some of them nodding at him, some of them looking at his ex-partner with an expression that said, I'm on your side but sorry, this is your fight. None of them was trying to intervene though.

Randy's hold on him loosened a little but never let go of him as he stepped around him, blocking his view on the lying man. There was a touch on his chest then and fingers wrapping around his wrist, but it was the soothing expression in the grey eyes that grounded him.

"Come on, Stephen. Let's go home, okay?" Randy said quietly, gently steering him backwards and away from the still lingering tension.

The cool nightly air hit them like a clearing breeze, yet it couldn't silence the urge in Stephen to go back in there and finish this, but hands closed around his shoulders and steered him a few meters further away from the door, before he was free again.

"Yer should have let me end this farce," he growled, gazing back to the pub. "This goddamn bastard…"

He felt Randy grab his wrist and lift his blood-stained hand.

"I can't allow that you get into trouble for shit," Randy murmured, wiping the blood off of Stephen's hand.

There was a painful little tug at his heart as he gazed back to Randy, finding a deeply worried expression etched to his friend's face and with a sigh he reached out, laying a hand on the back of the other man's neck to pull him in.

"Listen, this is not shit," he said, resting their foreheads together. "This is about yer. I know yer always try to take the wind outta their sails by staying calm, but I can't allow a piece of shit like him to treat yer like tha."

This time it was Randy who sighed.

"You broke his nose."

"If yer hadn't stopped me, it wouldn't have been only his nose," Stephen replied lowly. Randy closed his eyes while gently running his thumb over the sore knuckles of Stephen's hand, the small gesture bringing a soft smile to Stephen's lips despite the still lingering angriness. "Stop worrying, okay? Nothing will happen. Beckett's not gonna go to the captain because he knows tha there is a dozen of people who will not hesitate to confirm tha he started it." The thumb stopped brushing over his knuckles then, the hold on his hand becoming firmer instead. "Was he the reason yer wanted to go?"

There was no answer, but the lack of response was answer enough for him. Ever since he'd asked the captain to partner him up with Randy, Beckett had done everything to make Randy's life uncomfortable… to put it in nicer words. Stephen had never really liked Beckett and he doubted that Beckett liked him as much as he pretended to, but he knew that his ex-partner had… problems… with homosexuality. He'd often enough witnessed the other man act or comment inapropriate when it came to that topic. So the fact that he'd been replaced by a… fag… was for sure enough reason for Beckett to take it out on Randy.

The worst thing was that Stephen had thought the whole time that the situation had calmed down while it obviously hadn't.

"What has happened?" he asked.

"Not important," Randy muttered and pulled back, but Stephen's hand on the back of his neck held him close.

"Randy…" he urged softly. "I promise I won't go back in there, okay? But I need to know what has happened."

Again a sigh, heavy, defeated. And also a bit relieved maybe.

"Two days ago he and two of his friends caught me off in the basement garage and had me cornered." Randy's voice was very quiet as he spoke. He let go of Stephen's hand, only to curl his fingers in Stephen's shirt. "He asked me if… if I'm your slut… Huh. Then someone came in and they let me go. Don't know what would have happened…"

"Fuck…" Stephen breathed shocked. "Fuck, Randy, why haven't yer told me…?"

Curling his arm around his friend's neck, Stephen pulled him into a tight embrace while his mind swept back to the day before yesterday, blaming himself that he hadn't noticed anything, that he had been that blind. And he tried not to think about what could have happened if someone hadn't come in…

"He's not worth it, Stephen. One day you'll get yourself too deep into trouble for me and I can't let that happen. I just can't, okay? I can't lose you, not as my partner, nor as my friend."

"Maybe he's not worth it, but yer are, yer goddamn stubborn idiot."

Randy pulled away again, not far though, just so that their faces where only a few inches apart as he said hushed: "You can't hover over me like a guardian angel the whole time, I…"

"I can," Stephen cut him off, his voice a mere whisper. "And I will." Those words passed his lips and they were nothing more and nothing less than a promise he would keep, even if it was the last fucking thing he would do in his life. "I don't wanna find yer beaten up one day." Randy opened his mouth to say something, probably to tell him that this wouldn't happen, but no words left his lips. They both knew it could happen. "Randy… I don't know what I would do if something happened to yer…"

Stephen's words were breathed away as Randy took a deep breath and suddenly it was back, that humming, filling the little bit of space between them. He loved Randy. This man was his best friend, his family. Yet again there was something else, lacing heavily into the moment. It drew him in…

It was the sound of the door to the pub being opened that made Randy step away from Stephen and the pang of regret Stephen felt about it mirrored on Randy's face before they wordlessly began to walk to the car. Their ride to Randy's apartment was quiet, too, and more than once Stephen looked over to his friend who was looking out of side window with a somewhat distant gaze, yet there was a faint smile on his lips. Obviously Randy was lost in thoughts and he let him have his peace.

The way wasn't long and soon they reached their destination. Too soon... and maybe he wasn't the only one feeling like this, because after the motor died down, they both sat there for a moment in silence, just looking at each other. No, the evening wasn't supposed to end so soon…

"Can I crash on yer couch?" Stephen asked quietly, because he really didn't want to go yet and there was this feeling in him that demanded to be near Randy tonight.

"Yeah," Randy replied as quietly, a please lingering underneath.

In the fuzzy light of the streetlights which barely illuminated the room around them, Randy's eyes seemed to be liquid silver with a veiled burning lying in them, but the expression on his face was unfamiliar shy and here Stephen sat and all he could think of was to touch Randy's face.

His hands twitched a little…

... bronze skin... shimmering softly in the sunlight... the glistening of a thin sheen of sweat...

His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath...

... cat-like movements... chiseled muscles flexing under sun-kissed skin...

It was getting stronger again, that humming...

... the faint and warm scent of fresh sweat and aftershave and something uniquely Randy...

Slender eyebrows furrowed over silver orbs just a little bit... before Randy shook his head ever so slightly, turning away from him to get out of the car. A second later Stephen followed, scrubbing his hands through his face while walking behind his partner, looking without really seeing because his thoughts still clung to the vivid memories which kept invading his mind over and over again. Unlocking the door, Randy let him pass. The only light in the apartment was the one which was falling through the big glass windows, bathing it in a soft nightly robe. The door fell close. And Stephen turned around.

Blue met grey. The world around them faded out as Stephen watched that grey darken, the veil lifting from the burning in them and it blazed brightly... bright enough to set him on fire. His mind... stepped back...

Lips crashed in a kiss that was fierce, demanding and needy, tongues battling for dominance as they moved towards the bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind, ripped off of each other by eager hands, roaming, tugging, digging, feeling... pushing... holding close...

A groan escaped Stephen's throat as Randy nipped hard on his bottom lip, before he was being shoved backwards. His quiet grunt as his back hit the mattress had barely the chance to be heard, because it got stuck in his throat as his eyes found back to Randy who was still standing there, looking at him like a starving man while he peeled out of the last few pieces of clothes. The dull light seemed to cascade down the chiseled body, the sight picturesque to the eye and although it was a cold light, it fuelled the fire in Stephen. He'd never really considered having sex with a man and maybe the fact that he was turned on by a man should have been at least odd… but he wasn't thinking. He was feeling... wanted... he fucking needed to feel him, to be buried inside this piece of art… to hear that fucking sexy voice moan his name.

"Like what you see, big guy?" Randy said, the low rumbling voice husky and fuck, yes, forbidden sexy.

"Fuck, yeah…" Stephen breathed, his eyes wandering over the mouthwatering sight.

Too goddamn beautiful... a voice in the back of his mind whipered as Randy moved to crawl on to the bed to kneel between his legs, the gaze of those intense grey orbs piericing deep into him before Randy leaned down to run his tongue along the length of Stephen's rock-hard but still boxers-clad cock. A shuddering breath passed Stephen's lips, anticipation and arousal spiking throughout him. Lifting his head a little, Randy gazed up to him, the gleam in his eyes possessive, the expression on his face predatory… like a cat ready to pounce. Fingers hooked under the waistband of his boxers, pulling them down and in a blink the piece of fabric landed somewhere in the semi-darkness.

A groan ripped from his throat as Randy leaned back in and wrapped his lips around his cock, going all the way down. Teeth gently grazed the sensitive flesh as Randy began to bob his head, sucking, licking, deep-throating the throbbing flesh, sending the fire running through Stephen. One of Stephen's hand fisted the sheets while the other found to Randy's shoulder to anchor himself somehow and it was all he could do because he was caught in the sight and lost in the sensations Randy was causing in him.

He breathed a disappointed hiss as Randy drew back. His heart was pounding hard in his chest as he watched the other man retrieve a small bottle from the bedside drawer, squeezing some of its content on his palm.

There was a quiet voice deep in the fog that engulfed his mind that said that they hadn't lost about who would top, but the voice drowned somewhere in the mist as Randy quickly spread the cool gel on Stephen's member, growling: "I need you... now."

Stephen's long, low groan as Randy straddled him and impaled himself on the hard flesh mingled into Randy's moan, the dull pain of blunt nails digging into the skin as Randy braced on his chest, his fingers clawing into the thick muscles, made the wave of pleasure that surged through only stronger. His hands found to Randy's thighs, holding on to him as he tried to catch his breath.

"Holy shit… Randy… yer are so tight…"

Randy's eyes were closed, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. There was barely grey left in his eyes Stephen noticed as the other man slowly opened them again, the dimness that engulfed them making them look even darker and endlessly deep. In those depths… there was something raw…

"Fuck, Stephen… so big…"

Randy's hands stayed on the broad chest as he began to move his hips back and forth, slowly in the beginning but soon the pace got quicker. Randy's breathy noises, those mewls and moans which dropped from his lips rained down on Stephen, trickled into his own sounds of lust and the other man rode him harder, faster, the hot walls clenching around his cock. The tan skin glistened sliver in the the dim light, slick with a thin sheen of sweat and in the blind need to feel more, Stephen reached out, running his hands over the heated skin, feeling, mapping, caressing, taking in how the muscles flexed under the smooth skin.

Blood buzzed in Stephen's ears, pumping a wildfire through his veins, bright hot and consuming and bringing his hands to Randy's hips, he grabbed them to pull him down while thrusting up hard. The whorish moan he drew from Randy shot straight to his cock, making it throb wildly in the quivering body above him that seemed to greedily suck at the hard flesh.

Bracing on one hand, Stephen pushed himself into a sitting position, his free arm wrapping around Randy's back to hold him close as he latched on his neck, sucking and nibbling on soft skin and one day old beard stubble. One of Randy's hands dove into his hair, curling into the red strands to tug his head back and his low growl was swallowed down as Randy claimed his mouth in a rough kiss.

"You feel so fucking good in me…" Randy panted against his lips as the kiss broke, dropping a hand dropping to his neglected dick.

Again Randy brought their lips together for a rough, demanding kiss, angling his head to devour Stephen's mouth as he slammed his hips down hard and fast, again and again, while Stephen thrust up, driving deep into the tight, clutching heat. Waves of searing hot pleasure rolled through him and the feeling of that solid body moving against him, around him caused jolts of lust to spread throughout him until he felt a tension build up in him that pulled him down into a haze as it got stronger with every passing second, with every breathless moan Randy was gracing him with.

Breaking the kiss, he searched the other man's eyes. Eyes which were hodded, dazed and burning with lust. It was pulling him in, that sight, kept him prisoner, carrying closer to his release. Too soon he felt his body tingle under the pleasure, felt bright hot pleasure coil up in his stomach.

Through the haze of his arriving peak he faintly felt Randy's movements become erratic and it was the only warning he got before Randy breathed: "Stephen… 'm gonna…"

The words faded over in a loud, drawnout groan as Randy came, spurting his cum over their bellies, his body clenching tightly around Stephen's cock, pulling him over the edge. With shuddering moan Stephen let go, let himself fall as the pleasure within him unfurled, his orgasm ripping through him. With one last thrust he buried himself deep in Randy's ass, shooting his cum deep into the hot body.

They stilled and for long seconds the world around them stilled, too. Soft jolts of electricity kept fleeting through him, causing his skin to prick and shivers to run down his spine. Everything narrowed on this moment. Stephen's heart was still pounding hard in his chest and through their touching chests he could feel Randy's heart beat as hard and fast as his own. Opening his eyes, he was met by clouded grey ones, their gaze a bit distant even, but there was the heavy glow of contentment lying in them. And wasn't there a small smile ghosting on those perfect lips? Another shiver ran down his spine as the fingers in his hair moved, brushing through it in a gentle caress and with Randy's name as nothing more than a sigh on his lips, Stephen buried his face in the crook of his friend's neck, holding on to he heated body in is arms tighter while still riding on the waves of the aftermath. He felt Randy rest his cheek against his hair, felt him wrap an arm around his shoulders while the other hand stayed in his hair.

The moment was too perfect, felt too good to let it end and for long moments they just held on to each other.

But eventually they had to move. With reluctance Stephen let go of the other man who moved to sit on the edge of the bed, reaching for his boxers which were lying beside the bed to wipe the his cum off both their bellies. Randy was ridiculously pliant as Stephen pulled him down to lie beside him, their shoulders touching lightly as they both lay on their backs. Turning his head a bit to the side, Stephen let his eyes roam Randy's face. His friend's features were smooth, his eyes hooded while he gazed up to the ceiling and it was still there, this oh so faint smile.

The silence which had settled over the room was a comfortable one. One that didn't need to be filled with words. After a moment Randy moved again, turning onto his side, facing Stephen. His forearm was touching Stephen's arm as he leaned a bit closer and that contented glow was still there in the grey orbs, shining a bit brighter as Randy graced him with a smile so warm and affectionate that it made Stephen forget how to breathe for a moment, before Randy closed his eyes.

Minutes passed while Stephen kept gazing at him, his own mind pleasently empty while he was feeling warm and happy. Eventually he heard Randy's breathing become slow and shallow and closing his eyes, he allowed the soft sound to carry him towards sleep…

X

Conciousness whispered to him while the velvet fingers of sleep tried to lure him back down, the gentle back and forth leaving him drifting in a twilight between being awake and being asleep. A soft tingling of contentment and happiness was running through him. There was a wonderful warmth pressed all along his side, the quiet sound of calm breathing and the nice feeling of a hard yet soft body in his arm.

Cracking his eyes open, he looked down. And he smiled. Randy looked so peaceful and young, so free of any worriy. A rare sight. He'd seen it a few times before, only the briefest of moments though because he'd never dared to gaze at his sleeping friend longer. So… he could use this chance now. They've had sex, so gazing at a sleeping Randy was okay, wasn't it? Nothing creepy about it.

There was a soft sigh as Randy shifted against him, wrapping an arm around Stephen's middle while hooking a leg over his own and with a whisper on Randy's lips that carried Stephen's name, he nuzzled his face against the broad chest his head was resting on.

"Gonna keep yer safe, Randy. Promise…"

Lost in his thoughts, Stephen sat at the kitchen table with a steaming coffee in his hands, his eyes fixed on the tasty breakfast he'd prepared, yet he was gazing back to the last night and the memories left a silly grin on his face that morphed to a soft smile, as his mind jumped to those moments after he'd woken up. It stayed there for a while because having Randy lying plastered all along him with his head resting on his chest had made him feel good. So good in fact that it had taken him a few minutes to realize that he'd been running his fingertips in a gentle caress over Randy's back. But that, too, wasn't creepy, was it? They had always been tactile with each other and okay, it had reached a new level now with a richer quality.

He wasn't in love with Randy but fuck, yes, he loved him and he liked having him close like that. Friends with benefits…

The quiet sound of naked feet on parquet reached his ears and called him back to the here and now and only a second later Randy entered the room, slowly walking in. Smiling, Stephen looked up to him, but his smile died at the expression he found on Randy's face. He didn't even have a name for what he found there, but there were traces of guilt, sadness, apology...

Stephen was about to ask what was wrong as Randy said quietly: „You're still here..."

It wasn't really a question, yet in a way it was one.

"Where else should I be?" Stephen asked puzzled as he got up from his chair, stepping up to Randy who stood in the middle of the kitchen. And then a thought crossed his mind… what if he doesn't want me to be here, after what last night has happened? What if Randy felt uncomfortable now having him close? His heart clenched painfully. What if he had destroyed the best friendship of his whole life by giving in to his craving for his best friend? But everything had been okay before they fell asleep… "Or… do you want me to go?" he added, his voice unfamiliar small to his own ears.

The grey eyes widened a bit.

"No!" Randy whispered, reaching out to curl his fingers into Stephen's shirt as if he could suddenly vanish if he didn't. "No… I just... when I woke up and you weren't there, I thought that you've… left. I thought that I've ruined it…" He took a shaky breath, closing his eyes briefly. "I love you, Stephen, but not that way. You're my best friend… I shouldn't have let it happen, I…"

With a sigh Stephen brought a hand to the back of Randy's head, leaning in to rest their foreheads together.

"Hey, stop worrying. We're not in love with each other but we had sex. So what? We had some fun and tha's okay. It changes nothing, we're still best friends," he murmured reassuringly. "Yer are still the most important person in my life." Randy's other hand came up to fist into Stephen's shirt, too, pulling him closer. "It was amazing, by the way."

A tiny, breathless laughter passed Randy's lips.

"Yeah, it was," he breathed, any trace of what Stephen had seen on his face fading quickly

"Can we do tha again?" Stephen whispered, wrapping his arm around the lean waist to hold the other man tight against him while gently steering him backwards towards the counter.

Perching on it, Randy hooked his feet behind Stephen's knees and drew back a bit, his eyes roaming over his face. There was a sparkling in them.

"So… you really want us to have some fun again?" Randy purred.

"Oh yeah… Do yer have any idea how godddamn hot yer are, Orton?" Stephen growled softly, brushing his lips over Randy's in a featherlight touch, taking a deep breath that filled his senses with the well-known scent of Randy's aftershave and… Randy.

"Pretty hot I guess if a straight man wants my ass so badly, big guy…" Randy smirked while one of his hands travelled up to his friends hair, gently grabbing the red strands.

Wanting to steal a kiss, Stephen tilted his head a little, but the hand in his hair stopped him from following Randy as he drew back again with a nu-oh on his lips. It made him want that kiss only more.

"Maybe I'm not as straight as we both thought?"

"Or maybe I made you gay?"

"Yeah, maybe… can live with tha…" Stephen murmured, again trying to steal a kiss. Without success. "I swear, Orton, if yer don't give me tha kiss right now, then..."

The smirk on Randy's lips grew.

"Then… what? You gonna fuck me raw?"

Tease…

"No, then I'm gonna leave you sitting here to take care of this alone," Stephen growled, dropping his hand to Randy's already much interested cock, receveing something between a low hum and a stifled moan. "Or yer give me tha kiss and we can talk about tha fucking yer raw thi…"

He never managed to end the sentence. Lips sealed over his own in a kiss that took the breath right out of him, while the hand in his hair held his head in place. Shifting a little, Randy lifted his legs to wrap them around Stephen's waist and there was a spark of electricity as their cocks pressed against each other. He got lost in Randy's taste on his tongue, in his scent filling his nostrils… in the feeling of this perfect, warm body pressed up against him and maybe it should have felt weird, but it didn't. This maybe wasn't love, but it was safe to say that he was addicted and fuck, he didn't regret anything.

… speaking of fuck…

Lifting Randy from the counter, he began to walk over to the living room, felt the legs around his waist tighten, felt Randy's other arm wrap around his neck while Randy kept devouring his mouth.

Breakfast could wait… because first he had something much more delicious to taste…

Got some words for me? *makes puppy eyes*