Over the past few days Heath had become pretty good at brushing his teeth with a busted mouth. He wiped his face and looked in the mirror to examine the damage once again. Most of the swelling had gone down and the split on the left side of his top lip had knitted together fairly well. The bruise had been purple but was heading towards brown now, which wasn't as cool, but did mean he was healing. It was still tender to touch and Heath couldn't help poking it, just to feel the swell of pain it brought. It reminded him that Murphy wasn't a pushover and that he was worth the effort. Heath's 'accosting Murphy at work' plan wasn't working, so Heath decided to seek the other man out elsewhere, and this time he was determined to make Murphy talk to him.

Heath found Murphy on the beach, sitting in the sand in his jeans, seriously, who wore jeans, boots and a jacket to the beach? Without a word, Heath plonked down in the sand beside him. When Murphy turned his head and saw Heath he immediately moved to stand but Heath grabbed his arm and held him down.

"What's the rush Murphy?" Heath said challengingly. Murphy levelled his cool gaze at Heath and spoke in that cold, detached voice.

"Let go of me."

"Say please and maybe I will," Heath returned just to be irritating, anything to get a reaction.

"Now," was all Murphy said, his tone remaining the same.

"No," Heath stated, "not until you talk to me properly." Murphy didn't say anything, just held that cold stare, but then he started to relax. Heath relaxed a little too, loosening his grip on Murphy's arm, pleased that he was getting somewhere. For a moment, Heath turned his attention to the water, to gather his thoughts, and when he did Murphy wrenched his arm away and quickly stood up. He only got a few steps before Heath caught up with him. Heath stood in front of Murphy to stop him getting away, his frustration increasing when Murphy wouldn't even look at him.

"Look at what you did to me," Heath said, indicating to his bruised face. Murphy's eyes met Heath's but he didn't look at Heath's mouth. "You could at least say sorry..." Heath ranted, crazy at this emotionless Murphy, saying anything that might get a reaction. He wanted Murphy to tell him he deserved it, or ask why he should apologise when Heath had done the same thing to him and had never apologised for it. Something, anything...but Murphy kept quiet. "Maybe you'd rather feel it than look at it," Heath suggested. For a split second he saw Murphy's eyes flick down to his mouth, but when Murphy looked back at Heath it was with that infuriating detachment. Heath couldn't stand it, he wanted annoying Murphy back, he wanted fiery Murphy back, he wanted his Murphy back. Well if talking wasn't gonna work, he'd have to try something else. Briefly Heath considered kissing Murphy, right here on the beach, but the language Heath knew how to speak best was violence. He shoved Murphy, egging him on, wanting the other man to snap and fight back. He wanted to see fire in Murphy's eyes. Murphy accepted the blow passively so Heath shoved him again.

"C'mon Murphy, hit me, I'll bet you're just dying to shut me up," Heath taunted. Suddenly there was a hand on Heath's chest and Heath was being pushed back from Murphy.

"Stop it Heath," Brax ordered, "what's gotten into you?" Heath didn't answer, he was too busy glaring. Brax turned to Murphy. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Murphy answered.

"Good," Brax said, "you go on then, I've got this." Heath struggled against Brax but he held him back as they watched Murphy walk off without another word. Brax looked at Heath now.

"What was that about?" his brother questioned.

"Nothing," Heath spat as he watched Murphy walk calmly away.

"Right," Brax said, though he didn't sound convinced. "Stay away from him till you've had a chance to cool off," Brax said, pushing Heath in the opposite direction to Murphy. Heath pulled his singlet straight.

"That won't be a problem," Heath told Brax, "I never want to see him again."

"That might be a little hard in a small town like this," Brax said with a hint of amusement.

"Shut up," Heath said before walking off.

Heath played it all over again in his head as he walked along the beach. Only once did Murphy's eyes flick down to Heath's mouth, and the mess he'd made there, but at least that was something. Heath was at a loss. Murphy drove him crazy with their constant bickering, but even crazier it seemed, when he ignored him. Heath didn't wanna be crazy, what the hell was he gonna do?

xxx

Yesterday, and today, it had taken everything in Liam to maintain his indifference towards Heath. This morning he'd only achieved that with Brax's help, but this fight would be worth it. It would get easier to ignore Heath and eventually he wouldn't have to try, his feelings would just be gone. He wondered how long Heath would keep this up for, if he knew anything about Heath it was that he could be persistent when he wanted to be and that he was not a good loser, he would try hard to win this battle, just to say he'd won. Heath seemed to lack that deeper level of thought or feeling that told you to stop when something had passed beyond a joke, that something was really serious and enough was enough. Liam persisted with the fight because he knew one simple fact; that Heath would never change, and if he stupidly let Heath creep back in, he'd have to face being hurt all over again. All this was good in theory but it was exhausting to fight what you wanted, even though you knew it would be better for you in the long run.

"Hey mate," Romeo said, leaning on the bar.

"Hey," Liam returned, a little absentmindedly.

"You ok?" Romeo seemed to be asking him that a lot lately. And then Liam had a solution for it. In the past Liam might've turned to pills in a situation like this but not this time. He would not let Heath do that to him, Heath wasn't worth it.

"Yeah," Liam said brightening, "I'm taking a week off. I'm gonna hit the road on my bike, head up the coast, maybe even write a few tunes." Liam made it up as he went, but it felt right. He needed to get away from here, and the thought of this trip had lifted a weight from him already.

After his shift Liam sorted out the time off with Brax and then he went home and packed. First thing in the morning, he would hit the road.