Back to Index Chapter 8

Steve stirred slightly, stretching his arms up over his head. The small figure entwined with him burrowed further into his chest, murmuring inaudibly. Steve yawned and pulled Brian closer, before allowing his eyes to droop once more. He drifted off again, content to doze the day away while holding his little one--the door slammed open and Steve shot upright, gripping Brian to him in a death hold. There was a squeal from Brian, as he woke in surprise, finding his face crushed against Steve's ribs. Steve's wide eyes fell on Gypsum who had staggered back into the room and was now blinking rapidly at him. Brian squirmed out of Steve's grasp, attempting to figure out what had happened, and then spotted his roommate.

"Gyp!" He squeaked. "What--what're you doing back already?"

"Already?" Gypsum stared at the two for reasons beyond the obvious. "I live here

"I know!" Brian stammered, hastily trying to cover up Steve--as if he could hide him with his minute stature. "I just thought that you and Geo would be out getting high and shagging." Gypsum rolled her eyes.

"Oh c'mon Brian. We did! That doesn't mean I'm going to be out of it for more than twenty four hours." Brian frowned.

"What time is it?"

"Coming on four."

"Fuck!" Brian scrambled out of bed, tossing the blankets on top of Steve in the process. Brian grabbed a bundle of clothing and raced out the door. Steve pulled the blanket off his head, and instead bundled it up over his very naked hips. Gypsum was eyeing him with interest, and there was a light in her eyes that made him uncomfortable.

"Um--hi?" Steve attempted to sound nonchalant but failed, as Brian streaked past, struggling to get his legs into his pants.

"Hi." Gypsum said, grinning ferociously. Steve swallowed. In the background, Brian shot past the door again, garbling in high frantic tones. Gypsum dropped the bag she was holding, and sauntered towards the bed. Steve swallowed hard. Fluttering her eyelashes, Gypsum settled down on the edge of the bed. The drummer attempted to slide away, but Gypsum had already laid her head on his shoulder. "You have a nice stomach." She said sweetly, trailing her fingers across his stomach. Steve swallowed again.

"Um--thanks?" She was attractive, but not Steve's type--she was scaring him now with that feral gleam in her eye...

"You're very welcome." Gypsum's fingers crept lower, until she was tugging at the blanket, with a small pout.

"Um I think I need a shower!" Steve exclaimed, leaping to his feet, and knocking Gypsum off the bed in the process. Hastily wrapping the blanket around his waist, and refusing to look at Gypsum, Steve zoomed from the bedroom. He nearly collided with Brian on the way. Brian was dragging a comb through his hair and had thrown his shirt on but it appeared backwards. Brian caught Steve by the elbow.

"Stevie, love, I've got to go. I've got a meeting with my parents to decide whether or not they're going to give me any more money. And if I don't show up, I'm completely fucked for the rest of my life!" He glanced down at himself and frowned. "Oh fuck it! If I show up like this, they'll know I'm a sodding Junkie!" Brian eased past Steve and zipped back into his bedroom. Steve frowned, now understanding the meaning behind what Brian had said that first night at the club. So they needed the money for drugs. Steve bit his lip and wrinkled his nose, frozen in the hallway.

He shouldn't be getting mixed up with druggies--couldn't afford it. Smoking weed was one thing--he did it every once in a while himself--but a junkie? Steve sighed and trudged on towards the bathroom. What was Brian like when he couldn't get his drugs? Steve closed the door and faced the mirror. Junkies were unreliable and sometimes violent--But Brian? Steve just couldn't see Brian as being violent. He should give him a chance at least, Steve reasoned. If Brian didn't do anything outrageous, there was no point in turning his back on him.

****

Brian hummed lightly to himself as he placed his gig guitar in its case. "Poor Stevie." Brian mused out loud. "Having to get his kit to the Empress on the tube." Gypsum chuckled.

"Big man like that? Don't worry, babe. I'm sure he'll handle it just fine." Brian raised his eyes at her.

"Big man, Gyp?" Gypsum shrugged gracefully as she tucked the keyboard under her arm.

"What can I say, Bri. He is rather delicious looking." Brian stared at her.

"I would never have pegged him as your type, Gyp." He giggled.

"Yours either, Bri." Gyp pointed out.

"True that, but I guess we both agree that he's gorgeous."

"Agreed--so does he play for your team?" Gypsum asked curiously. Brian shook his head ruefully.

"Nah."

"But you and him--?"

"Oh we were just fooling around, but he still prefers women."

"Aw, I'm sorry, love." Brian shrugged.

"It's ok, 'cuz he doesn't mind me hanging on him." Brian beamed at no one in particular. Gypsum smiled to herself. She knew how much Brian needed affection from people, whether it was sexual or not.

"Are you sure he's not gay, love?" Brian shook his head.

"Nope. But not the least bit homophobic." Brian happily closed the guitar case and gave it a loving pat. "I quite like him."

"I'm glad, Bri. He seems like a nice guy. I was just wondering, because he actually seemed quite scared of me." Brian glanced up.

"Gypsum, you have to remember, that some men are afraid of you." He smiled sympathetically. "That's just life. I think you're a little to headstrong for them."

"Brian if anyone in this room is headstrong, it would be you." Brian giggled.

"Stop flattering me!" Gypsum rolled her eyes.

"Trust me, it wasn't intended to be flattering."

"Aw Gyp, are you jealous that he fucked me and not you

"Of course not." Gypsum huffed.

"Right."

"Shut it midget boy."

"Ouch."

*****

"You were brilliant Stevie. Thanks so much." Brian grinned and hugged the drummer tightly. "We owe you one." Steve grinned.

"Don't worry about it, man." Steve hoisted his rucksack over his shoulder, stuffing the drumsticks back in his back pocket. "It's all good."

"No seriously! You saved us! We would have gone arse up if you hadn't stepped in." Steve laughed.

"If you say so."

"I do say so." Brian hummed lightly to himself as they walked out the backdoor of the club.

"How 'bout a nightcap?" Steve asked throwing his arm around Brian's shoulders companionably.

"Sounds great. Gyp always gets really horny after gigs, and I don't much feel like being tied up tonight." Steve frowned.

"Tied up?" Brian nodded.

"Yeah--you gotta watch out for her. She likes the whole bondage thing."

"Really?"

"Yup."

Seriously?" Brian laughed.

"Yeah--why?" Steve cleared his throat.

"Oh--no reason." Brian chuckled.

"You like being tied up Stevie B?" Steve shifted uncomfortably, making Brian squirm closer. "You do!" He squealed excitedly.

"Ok maybe occasionally." Steve conceded grumpily. Brian giggled in devilish delight.

"Aw you should have told me! I rather enjoy tying people up." He sent Steve a glance full of smouldering lust. Steve shook his head.

"Nope. Man you got your chance...Who knows though--handcuffs might have swung me your way." He teased. Brian looked mortified.

"You mean I could have had you all to myself if I'd handcuffed you to the bed?"

"Riding crops are good too." Brian made an unintelligible gurgling noise. Steve laughed uproariously.

"Stilettos...leather...corsets. It's amazing what those can do for a man and his libido." Brian clutched at his arm.

"Bastard! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Down boy."

"Steven Hewitt, you are by far one of the cruellest persons I've ever had the misfortune to meet." Chuckling, Steve poked Brian's arm.

"Aw don't say that, Bri. You know you love me." He leaned in as Brian muttered something.

"What was that?"

"I said that's debateable right now." He huffed.

"Oh." Steve nodded. "Ok." He was quiet a minute, as they strolled along the darkened street. "How about now?"

"Huh?"

"Do you love now?" Brian rolled his eyes.

"No."

"Damn--how about now?"

"No!"

****

Steve set the can of beer down in front of Brian before plopping down on the couch. "So what do you think?" He asked somewhat nervously. Brian looked around, tucking his legs underneath him.

"Oh I like it! It's charming. Has a very masculine touch." Steve laughed.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you can actually tell that a man lives here." He grinned. "When you first walked into my place, was it immediately apparent that a guy lived there?"

"Well yes." Steve said frowning.

"How?" Brian's eyebrows knitted together (in a cute way of course).

"Because you opened the door in just your skivvies."

"Oh. But that doesn't count!" Brian pouted. Steve laughed again, taking a drink of his beer.

"How 'bout you tell me what you wanted to hear, and then I'll say it." Steve offered. Brian thought about this a minute.

"Alright. I wanted you to say that you couldn't tell a man lived there. And that the atmosphere was decidedly feminine. And how surprised you were to find that gasp! that gorgeous woman that you fell in love with was really a man, and now you have to ask your self some essential questions about your emotions, and that maybe, just possibly, you might be a teeny tiny bit gay." Steve rolled his eyes as Brian beamed. "Now you repeat." He urged.

Steve cleared his throat and adopted an exaggeratedly poncy tone. "Well upon entering your rather posh apartment and ignoring the fact that it's owner appeared more than happy to see me, it was not immediately apparent that it was inhabited by a male persona. And then I found out that the tetchy little midget woman whom I hopelessly wanted to shag was indeed a man. The end."

Brian glared at him. "I am not tetchy, and I am not a midget.And you didn't mention yourself being gay."

"But remember mademoiselle midget that I said the woman I wanted to shag. Woman. Not man." Brian folded his arms.

"You suck."

"That insult would be more appropriate directed at yourself Molksy." Brian made a face.

"Ew. Don't call me that."

"Why not?" Steve queried, draining his can. "I think its rather endearing. I mean if you get to call me Stevie-B, don't I get to come up with a nick name for you?"

"Yeah, but Molksy? C'mon Stevie. Give me something more fitting to my stature of masculinity." Steve frowned.

"That made absolutely no sense, you do know that don't you? Seeing as said stature of masculinity is the same height as you are--about two foot seven." Brian scowled.

"If you don't give in to my demands I shall be forced to tie you up and rape you." Steve brought his hand up to his mouth in mock terror.

"Oh no! Anything but that!"

"That's right." Brian said smugly. "And you will enjoy it." Steve paused.

"Bri man, I don't think it's rape if the other enjoys it." Brian shrugged.

"I'll still tie you down."

"I would like to see you try, midget man!" Brian launched himself at Steve, catching the drummer completely by surprise, and tackling him to the floor. Steve yelped as Brian landed hard on his chest and the can of beer spiralled away. Within seconds however, Steve had flipped Brian over, pinning him down with his knees. "Ha!" Brian writhed under Steve, waving his arms.

"Not fair!" He complained. Steve grinned.

"Your fault you know." Brian pouted and then began wriggling his hips. Steve frowned.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Well as long as you're straddling me Stevie B..." He grinned ferociously, attempting to get his crotch in contact with Steve's. Steve merely rolled his eyes.

"Well fine then!" He rolled off of the smaller man and sat up, adjusting his jacket.

"Aww." Brian moped.

"Careful, your face might stick like that Molks--oof!" Glowering, Steve removed the pillow from his face to see Brian blinking innocently at him.

"That's it! You asked for it!" He growled. Brian squealed and attempted to get to his feet as Steve pounced. The drummer caught Brian around the knees and yanked him back down.

"No! Steve no! Ack! Get off!" Brian's voice raised an octave as Steve's fingers found his ribs, tickling him madly. "Noooo!" Brian squirmed helplessly, his face contorted with laughter. "Steve--stop--no--argh!" Finally, Steve sat back on his heels. Brian flopped back on the floor panting.

"You're just--evil." He gasped. "But now in order to protect my ribs I've decided I can live with the name Molks." Steve laughed.

"Good, cuz it's sticking."

"Fine. But in return for my cooperation, you are required to come shopping with me." Steve frowned.

"What?"

"Well I need a few ahem items, and Gypsum has a yoga class." Brian wrinkled his nose in distaste. "So I have no one to go with." He stared at Steve with the largest puppy dog eyes the drummer had ever seen. "So I've decided you're to be my chauffer--because I don't have a car you know. And you're so terrifying that you'd scare off all of the big bad creepy men who might try and take advantage of me if I were to be all on my own." Steve blinked.

"Your what?"

"My chauffer." Brian said batting his eyelashes, folding his arms over his chest.

"I dunno Bri--And I'm not terrifying." Steve muttered more to himself than Brian. Shopping was definitely not his thing. Brian's face fell, his lower lip trembled. "Oh Jesus Brian! Don't look at me like that--it's just shopping for fucks sake--oh alright, fine." Brian hugged the drummer tightly.

"Squee!" Steve grimaced. "Thanks a ton Stevie-B. It'll be great! I'll take you to all my favourite stores, and you can help me pick them out." Brian grinned.

"Pick what out?" Steve asked, frowning.

"You'll see." Brian said mischievously before yawning and hopping to his feet.

"I'm knackered. Off to bed." He planted a wet kiss on Steve's cheek and skipped down the hall. It wasn't until Steve heard the door open and close that he remembered that they were still in his apartment--meaning Brian had just closeted himself in Steve's bedroom.

"Hey!" Steve struggled to his feet. "Brian!" Steve stalked down the hall and opened his door. Brian was already snuggled up in Steve's bed, the comforter pulled up to his chin. Steve just stared. "What are you doing?"

"Shush naughty boy, I'm sleeping!" Brian admonished. Steve scratched his head.

"In my bed?"

"Yes. Now bugger off!" Brian turned on his side, curling up in a tiny ball.

"But it's my bed!" Steve protested. Brian opened one eye. "Don't you have your own somewhere?"

"Yes, but its alllll the way across town. And I'm much too drunk to function properly. Now turn off the light." Raising one eyebrow, Steve put his hands on his hips.

"Are you going to rape me if I get in it?" Brian sighed in exasperation.

"Stevie Bean, I'm much too tired and or smashed to rape anything right now. I'd probably end up fucking your bellybutton." Steve's eyebrows disappeared into his flyaway hair. "So, be a love and turn off the bleeding light." Rolling his eyes, Steve stripped off his shirt and then flicked the light switch, throwing the room into darkness. There was a soft floomp and then Brian's slightly muffled voice. "Hey! What the fuck?! Steve is that--are those your shorts?! EW!" Yes! Steve thought triumphantly. Even in the dark, his aim was impeccable.

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