AN: Before the chapter starts I wanna thank mulzypops for leaving me a comment! Thank you! :)

Music tip:
Havana – Vita Bella
youtube: watch?v=XJznj2CEwDE

Lovers of Freedom

Chapter 18:
No Invincibility

Loud music echoed through the discotheque that Microsoft had booked completely for the after-show party. Thankfully Mitch wasn't surrounded by the same group of old investors and company bosses from the launching event, but instead there were a lot of younger representatives of famous game producers, various companies and Microsoft itself.
The launching event had been over quickly, after Adam had brought Mitch back to their friends inside. Now they were sitting in a secluded area on one of the higher levels and had a perfect view onto the dance floor. It must have for sure been one of the more expensive discotheques. The lights were placed perfectly to give the guests a mystical feeling and they helped Mitch a lot with getting invisible if he wanted to. He knew that Murphy was here as well with Nadella, but they had lost sight of each other when Mitch had pulled Team Crafted in the opposite direction of the CEO.

The music was helping him to get rid of the anxious feeling and instead another one flared up that was new to him. Revolt. It was new for him, but Mitch enjoyed every second of it. Being Murphy's bitch was sickening and he desperately needed something to let go of the tension. Mitch took another sip of the glass in front of him. The alcohol probably had something to do with it as well.

"It's amazing here, have you looked at this place?!"
Jason and Ty returned from a little tour through the club and sat down again with flushed faces. "I still can't believe we're some kind of VIPs here, it's so unreal!" Half of the group agreed and laughed, while Mitch replied before taking another sip, "You better enjoy it while you can, buddy!"

"Don't you think you drank enough, Mitch?"
Jerome was sitting on the couch near Ian and held a glass in his hand, but he seemed to be more worried than relaxed. Of course he had to spoil the party and with a sigh Mitch leaned over the armrest of the couch he was sitting on. "No I don't think so. Come on Jerome, don't be such a baby and give me a rest."
His best friend tried to answer him, but somebody else was faster than him. "Exactly! He still has to show me how to drink Tequila," the person near Mitch slurred and put an arm around his waist to pull him back into the warm body. "Tonight he belongs to me, you get him back tomorrow. Promise! …probably."

"And how in the world did this happen?! I thought you two were about to murder each other some days ago," Ty asked amused and looked over to Mitch and Adam. "Nope, we're buddies again, aren't we Mitchy?" The smirk on Adam's face was adorable and Mitch had to laugh, before he tried to answer with a pitiful look towards Ty, "Others are worse."

"Hey, I'm not that bad!"
Adam pouted and the group began to laugh hysterically, while Mitch patted his cheek. "Alright, alright, you're not."

To be honest Jerome probably was right.
Not in a million year would Mitch have allowed himself or Adam to be so close to him after what had happened, but famously enough alcohol made people overcome their inhibitions quite simply. It just felt nice to be so close to someone again and to feel the other's tight embrace, because somehow it reminded Mitch of their former friendship. They had been incredibly close as well, certain photos from their trip in Europe were evidence enough, before the group had fallen apart.
Nonetheless he could understand Jerome's concern. He knew Mitch's behavior under the influence of alcohol. It usually took him some time, but once Mitch was drunk there was no going back. His best friend already had to endure enough stupid ideas from a drunken Mitch in the past to know better.

But the feeling to just forget everything, Murphy, Microsoft, Nadella, the threats and the pain…
Just for one night he wanted to forget.

The waitress for their table came and brought a silver plate with little glasses, a bottle with amber liquid, some salt and a little plate with lemon slices. He was the first to cheer, while Jerome groaned "Oh dear god, not Tequila! Count me out." and leaned back with a weary smile on his face. Quentin was as excited as Mitch, Jason was in as well and Adam still held on to Mitch's waist possessively. Ian stated he would volunteer to be one of the more sober guys to get them home later together with Jerome and Ty was still talking to the pretty young waitress.

"So how is it done?!" Adam asked excitedly and looked from Jason and Quentin to the plate and then to Mitch. He felt the cocky smile on his face, but couldn't care less, as Quentin filled four glasses and put them in front of the participants. Mitch grabbed a slice of lemon and then Adam's hand.

"You begin with the salt…"
He spread some of the lemon juice onto the back of Adam's hand, who grabbed his waist a little bit tighter and sat completely still, while Mitch carefully put the salt onto the wet spot. With a short look into the other's dark eyes Mitch licked the salt off of his hand.

"Then you drink…"
Quickly Mitch grabbed the small glass and downed the content. He still had Adam's hand in his own and unconsciously clutched it tightly, as the burning sensation of the strong alcohol spread in his body. With a deep breath he put the glass back down and picked up the lemon slice again.

"…and finally the lemon."
Mitch put the soft flesh of the lemon in his mouth, bit down and sucked to taste the bitter juice of the fruit. Immediately he screwed up his face, the group began to laugh and he placed the used slice onto a clean plate. All three flavors combined were a delectation and Mitch enjoyed the aftermath in his body, when Adam's look woke him up from his rush.

From the corner of his eyes he could see Jason and Quentin doing the same, the rest of the group started up a conversation again, drowned out by the beat of the music. The chocolate brown eyes staring at Mitch had visibly darkened and with a glimmer in his eyes that Mitch didn't know Adam grabbed his hand. "Let's see if I got that right, shall we?"
He wasn't able to formulate an answer, so he simply nodded.

"The salt."
Adam carefully spread the lemon juice onto his hand, then the salt. Without breaking their eye contact Adam raised Mitch's hand, but instead of licking the grains of salt away, he placed gentle kisses onto the back of his hand and then licked the salt from his lips. He took the lemon slice again and asked "Can you hold that for me, please?", before he put it in between Mitch's lips.

The smirk on Adam's lips should've been forbidden and Mitch's heart stopped for a second, until Adam grabbed the Tequila glass and downed the liquid as well. He stopped breathing as well, when Adam's dark eyes landed on Mitch's lips. A whisper.

"The lemon."
And then he leaned forward again and placed his lips on Mitch's, while biting down onto the slice sticking out of his mouth. He couldn't hold back a sigh, as he closed his eyes and felt the juice running over his bottom lip. Before it could drop down, Adam intensified the kiss a bit and Mitch could feel him sucking on the slice. Mitch followed suit, took a short and ragged breath and felt himself grabbing Adam's white shirt. Distantly he could make out voices and the deep rhythm of the song, but he couldn't care less as Adam managed to invade his mouth with his tongue.

Mitch didn't remember a single kiss that was so…
unique.

He could taste the salt, the drink and especially the lemon, while they battled for dominance and deepened the kiss even further. Adam's hands were on his back, his hips and then in his neck and on his cheek, caressing his skin and bending his head carefully to Adam's liking. Finally they had to stop and catch their breaths.

Mitch leaned against the backrest of the couch and closed his eyes, due to the spinning room around him, while Adam got rid of the lemon slice. For a moment it was quite expect for the music, then Jerome asked, "The fuck, Mitch? I told you that you had enough!"

"Screw you," he replied and winced at the sound of his raspy and slurring voice. Opening his eyes again he looked at Adam and returned the grin on his face. "We're just having some fun… right?"
"Absolutely right. Didn't know Tequila could be so much fun," Adam replied and pulled Mitch closer again, as some of the guys began to cheer. "You're in for another round?" Mitch asked and bit down onto his lip. The heat was overwhelming, nonetheless he yearned for more.

How long has it been, since he had been able to enjoy such a kiss? An embrace? The tension?
Mitch couldn't remember.

And to be honest Adam probably felt the same, didn't he?
Alesa and Adam had just broken up, he felt hurt, alone and in need of some closeness. He needed to feel alive again and somehow Mitch understood him. Maybe they really were closer than predicted. Maybe they could move on from the memories lurking in the back of their minds.

"You don't even have to ask, honey."
They made eye contact and came to a silent agreement.

In the next moment Mitch took the initiative, threw caution to the winds and straddled Adam's lap, who immediately laid his hands onto his hips again. This time Mitch leaned forward and closed their lips for a kiss. It was slow and sweet, but not less emotional than the previous one. Both took their time to find out what the other one liked and in doing so they began to help each other more than anticipated.

Adam's scars began to heal, slowly but steadily.
Mitch forgot the pain and the fear in rediscovering pure and raw emotions.

"Don't let Murphy see that, or he'll murder you."
A laugh. A warning. Half in earnest, half in jest.

Mitch tensed and broke the kiss.
Adam was confused and absentmindedly tried to ease the tension in his clenched muscles. Mitch's eyes were clouded with emotions he didn't want Adam to know about, but he didn't seem to mind. With an angry and shaking voice he replied without turning around, "I don't give a fuck." Adam's thumb stroked his bottom lip, then they kissed away the dark thoughts lurking in the back of their minds.