GLITTER GULCH

Chapter 12: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Where the fuck is he? Sage stumbled into a wall. Several of the prostitutes stared at him as he brushed off his shirt and muttered a curse. "Watch out. There's a wall there," he slurred as he pushed himself off.

Where did those walls keep coming from? This place was a maze of secret doors and moving walls. And couldn't they keep the floor still for one second? One would think they were hiding gold in here, not whores. One thing they are hiding is Rowan. That's for damn sure. "ROWAN! Ryo's awake, Rowan! Come on! I know you're up here somewhere. I can hear you!" Most of what he heard was moaning and "oh gods", but the voice was unmistakably Rowan's, and he couldn't get it out of his head. A wall materialized out of nothing right in front of him. He didn't have time to turn away and ran into it face first. Goddammit! Where are these walls coming from?!

Sage had searched for what seemed like hours for the blue-haired man, calling his name at the top of his lungs. He'd even tried that mind-thingy Ryo'd used. Maybe I didn't do something right… Concentrating all the energy he had left, he tried mind-shouting Rowan's name again, but all he got was silence. What if I can hear him, but he can't hear me?

Sage shook his head. There's that warm, fuzzy feeling again. That's gotta be Rowan! Maybe I can follow it and find him. He swallowed the cloying saliva that had built up in the back of his throat and stepped away from the wall. If they'd only stop moving the floor, I’d be all right! He groggily took a few steps and paused. The fuzzy feeling was incredibly strong here. He veered to his right and smacked into a door. "How'd that get there?"

He started pounding on the door and shouted, "I know you're in there, Rowan! Come out! I won't shut up until you open this door!" He whacked his head on the door. "Rowan! Rowan, come out! We've gotta get Ryo! He's up! We gotta go!" He needed to get Ryo home so he could take care of him. After all, he was the Indian's guardian angel. He'd proved that last night by scaring away those bad things with his angel fire. Of course he wasn't much use after that last night, but all he needed to do was practice. I could start right here, right now! I just lift my sword and…My sword! Where is it? His hand fumbled for his saber as he spun to look for it. His feet refused to budge and his legs twisted around one another. Throwing out his arms to catch himself, he lost his balance and careened into the door, knocking it open with his continuing descent to the floor. He landed with a thud that knocked the wind out of him, soundly thwacking his head on the hard wood floor. Dazed and seeing stars, Sage blinked his eyes to clear his vision. "Ow."

"Are you better now?"

Sage looked up and saw gray eyes and blazing red hair. He tried to focus. "I know you. You're that no-good, lousy…" Rough hands pulled him to his feet, dragged him inside the room, and slammed the door in one brief, fluid motion. "Hey! Now lookie here. Who the hell do you think you…"

A hand tapped him on the shoulder. "Sage..."

"Just a minute. I'm talking." He ignored the tapping. "You're that…"

"Sage!" The hand tapped again.

"All right, mister! You've had it. I'm busy right now and I haven't had a very good day…" He pivoted on his heel to face the insistent tapper. His eyes lit up. "Rowan! I knew you were in here!" He hugged Rowan tightly, grabbed his hand, and dragged him toward the door. "Come on. We've gotta go get Ryo."

"Wait a minute. How d'ya know that Ryo's up?"

Sage blinked. "He told me."

"What d'ya mean, he told ya?"

"He used that mind thingymajig you're always talking about. You know. Tella-patsy."

Rowan snorted. "Telepathy?"

"Yeah. That's what I said, tella-patsy. Like this." Sage scrunched his eyes shut and balled his hands into fists. He summoned all his strength to mentally yell, "Rowan!" and let it go.

Rowan covered his ears and fell to his knees. "SHIT! That was you?!"

"Neat, huh?" Sage was incredibly pleased with himself. The mind-shouting thingy worked.

Rowan shook his head. "I thought that was…" He glanced at Anubis. "Um, I didn't know what that was." He looked at the floor.

Sage stared at Rowan's buttonless shirt, then glanced at Anubis and noticed his pants weren't buttoned right. He rolled his eyes. "Are you two fucking?"

"Sage!"

"Well, are ya? 'Cause Rowan, you really oughta think about saving your money. It won't last forever you know."

"Sage, what the hell are ya talkin' about?"

"You know…" He elbowed Rowan in the ribs and pointed at Anubis.

"No, I don't know. What?"

"Uh, you two really ought to get going." Anubis grabbed both of them by the elbows and led them to the door. "That is if your friend truly needs you." Rowan gawked at Anubis. Sage jerked his arm free.

"Get your…!" Sage nodded and felt something break loose inside his head. He pinched his eyes shut. "Yeah, we gotta go get Ryo. Come on, Ro." He tugged on Rowan's sleeve.

Anubis held Rowan's arm. "When will I see you again?"

Rowan grinned. "I know where ya live. I'll be back."

"Rowan, there's something I've got to tell you."

The floor rolled again, and Sage stamped his foot. "Hold this goddamn floor still!"

"Later," Rowan said and kissed Anubis' cheek.

"Dammit! Now this door won't open." Sage was tugging on a built-in coat rack prong. "Who made this place? Monkeys?"

"I gotta get him home before he starts shootin' things." Rowan waved as he steered Sage toward the door. "I'll be back, promise!"

Anubis smiled meekly and waved back. As he watched Rowan guide Sage around a corner, he put his hands on his hips and hung his head. "I've got to tell him…" He ran his fingers through his hair and walked into his room. "…before someone else does." The bartender closed his bedroom door, shutting out the world with a faint click.

Cye was enjoying the walk home. He chanced a sideways glance at Kento who was whistling to himself as he walked along. The mountain man was carrying a burlap bag stuffed with school supplies. They'd stopped off at Smitty's and got whatever Cye thought he'd need for class tomorrow. Luckily, Smitty had them; things like slates and chalk. Kento told him to put it on the city's tab. Cye didn't think Mayor Sekhmet would like that too much, but Kento assured him that it would be fine. And if Kento said it was all right, it was all right. Actually, Cye believed everything Kento told him. The big guy was likeable, laughable, charming, and…downright sexy.

He admired the bulging muscles in Kento's arm. He loved the way those arms felt when they hugged him and held him close. It was like a giant, comforting envelope of warmth and tenderness. He found himself daydreaming about more than just the friendly touching and hugs. After all, he was available again. Philip didn't want him anymore.

He sighed. That still hurt. Not only the fact that Philip dumped him but also that he didn't have the guts to tell him face to face.

"What's wrong, teach?"

Cye looked into Kento's big brown eyes. "Uh…" Should he tell Kento? He didn't know how Kento felt about male/male relationships. What if he was repulsed by the idea? He definitely wouldn't want to share a room with him anymore. Then again, what if Kento liked the idea? He'd caught Kento watching him a few times. And yesterday morning he could have sworn Kento had his face buried in his pillow and was having a good wanking.

"So are you gonna tell me or do I have to tickle you 'til you confess?"

"Pardon?" Cye queried. Kento dropped the burlap sack and advanced on Cye, his hands mimicking claws clenching and unclenching. "Kento, what are you…" Then Kento began tickling Cye's ribs, teasing the sensitive spots. "Hey!" Cye giggled. "Cut that out!"

"Not 'til you tell me."

Cye tried to get away, tripped backward over a stone, and he and Kento tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Kento twisted his body so he landed first with Cye sprawled on top of him. "Are you okay?" Cye gasped.

"Oh, no. You're not getting off that easy." Kento rolled Cye over and straddled him. Cye blushed at the seemingly intimate contact. Kento started tickling again.

"All right! All right!" Cye laughed and grabbed Kento's hands. His face was bright red, and he was panting. "Okay, you can get off me now." But he didn't want Kento to get up. He wanted him to stay right where he was.

"Huh-uh. Not until you tell me what's bothering you besides Ryo and Sage. " The mountain man's eyes darkened. "What was in that note?"

"What note?" Cye tried to let go, but Kento held his wrists. But if I tell him what the note said…

"Stop avoiding the question and tell me what was in that note."

"Kento, don't you think…"

The big guy bent over until he was nose-to-nose with Cye. "The. Note." He could feel the mountain man's breath on his lips, and the caramel brown eyes absorbed every single coherent thought he had.

Cye twisted his head to avoid Kento's penetrating stare and started to squirm. Firm leg muscles tightened to hold him still. His chest was heaving and his body temperature began rising. He feels so bloody good. I could stay like this forever. I don't want to tell him because then he'll get up.

"What was in the note, Cye?" The voice was huskier, deeper, which made Cye's breath hitch and his heart race. I can't tell him, can I? What if he…What if he doesn't like me anymore? Cye tried to wriggle free. Kento tightened his grip. He felt like his world would come crashing down around him if Kento rejected him. Out of all the people who had helped him here in Glitter Gulch, Kento was the one he felt the most comfortable around. Sure, the others had helped him, but Rowan got frustrated when he cried and Ryo…well, he just wasn't Kento. Kento was like the pillow that you hugged when you cried or the blanket you wrapped yourself up in to feel safe. If he lost that now, he didn't know how he was going to make it in this brutal country. But what will Kento think? Can I tell him? He chanced a glance at Kento's face. One look into those trusting, beautiful eyes was all it took. "Phil…Philip left me," he blurted.

"Who's Philip?"

"My…my lover." Cye stammered. His heart skipped a beat and was pounding so hard, he thought his chest would burst.

"Excuse me?"

Cye took a deep, shaky breath. "Philip was my lover in England." He closed his eyes so he wouldn't see the disappointment and disgust. "He wouldn't come with me to America and told me he found someone else in that note. A note that I found in the breast pocket of one of the shirts he bought me."

"Bummer." Kento didn't move, and Cye could feel a blush spreading across his cheeks. His stomach was tied up in knots, and he grimaced.

"Can I get up now?" What was Kento trying to prove? If the big guy didn't move soon, he was going to lose it. He'd already cried enough since he came to this country and frankly, he didn't want to do it again. Everything was so confusing!

"You're better off without him."

"Oh, really?" Suspicious, Cye snuck a peek at Kento.

"Yeah. Sonuvabitch didn't even have the balls to tell ya in person. That's gotta suck. He's a moron." Cye caught his breath as Kento placed a hand lightly on his chest. It sent delicious shivers through his body.

He squirmed. "Thank you, Kento, but…"

"But nothing! Who in their right mind would want to leave you? I mean, look at you. You're perfect. You're handsome and take good care of yourself. You're polite and well mannered and a great cook!"

Cye was blushing furiously. He was fully aroused, and it wouldn't be long before the big guy knew about it. "Kento, I…"

"I bet it was about money."

"Pardon?"

"Yeah. It had to be about money. He realized you weren't going to be around to support him anymore, so the bastard cleared out and found someone he thought would."

"Kento, this really isn't..."

"I bet he wasn't even that good of a kisser, was he?"

"I beg your pardon?!"

"I bet I kiss better than he does."

"Kento, I'd really like to get up now." Cye's mind swirled with emotional baggage. He could still feel Philip's lips pressed against his own and smell Philip's cologne. The last kiss they'd shared lingered in his mind, filling him with desire and want for his lover. Former lover. Remember?

Kento bounced a little to get Cye's attention. "So, was he?"

"Was he what?"

"A good kisser."

"Who?"

"Philip. Was he a good kisser?" Kento was staring at him waiting for a response. Cye looked away. "Uh, yes, I suppose so."

"Was he or wasn't he?"

"Yes! Yes, he was, but I don't think…mmmmph!" Kento placed a gentle but firm kiss on his lips. The big man had Cye's hands locked in his stretched out to either side of their bodies. Cye blinked in astonishment. His face was crimson. Kento pulled back.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Am I a better kisser?"

"Kento, I don't know what you're doing but…"

"I guess I'll just have to try it again." Kento leaned in again, letting his tongue flick across Cye's lower lip. He then thrust his tongue between the pliant lips and let his tongue savor the sweet taste of Cye's mouth.

Cye saw stars. At least that's what he thought they were. His mind didn't seem to be functioning anymore. The kiss sent jolts of pleasure coursing through his body that culminated in a whirling pool of pleasant sensations in the pit of his stomach. He moaned as he struggled to regain his senses, but the soft noise incited Kento into a flurry of breath stealing kisses that left Cye dazed and his body aching for more. He wanted to bury his hands in Kento's hair and crush their lips together, but the big guy still had his hands pinned. Kento unexpectedly pulled away and Cye whimpered.

"So what's the verdict?" Stunned, Cye stared at him. His mind was whirling with unanswered questions and desire.

Kento shifted a little and grinned as he stood up. He extended a hand to help Cye up. He winked. "My chair was getting a little too hard." Cye jerked back his hand and huffed as he stood up. "Guess I got my answer though." The big guy leered at Cye's erection.

"Kento!" Cye squealed as he slapped Kento's arm.

The mountain man chuckled and picked up the burlap sack. "Yep. I've still got it."

All the way home, Kento beamed, and Cye desperately wished that the butterflies that had taken up residence in his stomach would bugger off.