"So, who popped your cherry, Vince?" Nathan asked before taking another sip of his beer.

Vince put up a hand in protest. "I don't want to talk about that," he pleaded.

"That's the rules, Vince," Hazel reminded him. "Course, you could just take the shots." Vince, Stuart, Alex, Hazel, and Nathan were sitting in Via Fossa, conducting their own private drinking game. At first, Vince had thought it was a childish idea, but they were having a good time of it so far. Stuart's rules, of course. They took turns asking each other personal questions, and you could either answer or take as many shots of scotch as the questioner demanded. And if your answer wasn't entertaining enough, you still had to take a shot. Needless to say, they were all getting very pissed.

"I'll take the shots," Vince said. His first shag wasn't exactly a pub tale - in fact, no one but Stuart had ever even heard the whole thing. "Better to be pissed than that embarrassed. In front of me Mum, no less!"

Stuart laughed at him. "No ye won't," he said, slipping in and out of his Irish brogue as he lost control of his tongue to the alcohol. "You'll be telling it, or I'll tell it for ye."

Vince looked at Stuart in shock, "You wouldn't."

Stuart just gave him a cheeky grin in response.

"Fine," Vince sighed, knowing he was defeated.

Stuart laughed again, a playful giggle this time. "It's not all that bad, Vince. Pretty fucking funny, actually."

"C'mon, then," Alex urged, "I wanna hear this."

"Yeah, Vince," Nathan said. "If you're putting up a fight, it's got to be good."

"Shut it, chicken," Vince said playfully. He began his story. "Well, I was nineteen - Stuart had gone off to Uni already, and I was on the Street alone."

"Nineteen - you were old before you even started!" Nathan teased.

"I said shut it," Vince reprimanded. "I'd fooled around a lot before that - had one of the best mouths on the street, I was told. I'm still told, actually. I'd just never gone for the full shag."

"Oh, modest, aren't we, Vinnie?" Alex asked.


Vince gave his mate a friendly glare before continuing. "Well, I was here in Via Fossa, must have been late October, because everyone was talking about costume parties up and down the street. And, this one bloke, it seemed he decided to dress up early. Full Robin Hood costume: leather pants, silk shirt, and a lovely long sword at his side. At least, the scabbard. We all assumed it was fake. It was odd, though - he was the only one dressed up."

"Oi, pulling the crazy ones even then?" Nathan asked with a laugh.

"I'm never going to finish telling this if you two keep interrupting," Vince told them pointedly. Seeing that they were properly silenced, Vince continued yet again, "Didn't much matter how he was dressed, though. Well, except maybe for those tight brown leathers. That was a nice touch. Still, he was the hottest thing on the Street that night, or at least he seemed to be. I was right surprised - and not half chuffed - when he asked me to come back to his.

"Well, we get back to his, and there's renaissance paraphernalia everywhere - tapestries, swords and axes mounted on the wall, even a suit of armor at the entrance. Small flat, too - I suppose he spent all his money on his renaissance stuff. Real anorak, really."

"Now, that doesn't sound familiar, does it, Vince?" Stuart asked. He just couldn't keep from taking the piss.

Vince ignored him. He continued on his story, making sure not to look at Hazel. God, but he couldn't' believe he was telling this in front of her. He must really be pissed. "Well, we're in his bed, snogging like there's no tomorrow. Eventually we get our kits off, but as he's taking his off, he starts to show me all the weapons he had on him. Daggers in his boots, one in his belt, and then his sword. Bloody thing was real! And sharp, too - he cut his thumb on it, bragging about it. He thought it was the sexiest thing ever, and asked to keep it out on the bed while we shagged. Stupid chicken that I was, agreed.

"The shag itself wasn't bad - he was a bit rough about it, and he kept stroking the bloody sword as we went, but I didn't know any better, did I? I thought the sword thing was a bit odd, but it wasn't a huge deal, right?

"Well, after the shag, that's when he got real odd. Started taking out more blades, showing them off and what. I was getting a bit uncomfortable, so I told him I had to go - work in the morning and all. He looked disappointed, but started to walk me out. Snogged me a good one as I was leaving, so I had my eyes closed and all, couldn't see where my feet were going when I moved to get a bit more comfortable. Seemed that suit of armor wasn't as sturdy as it looked, because when I accidentally kicked it, it came crashing down on us. Right heavy it was, too.

"We wound up in hospital, me with a broken arm and him with a concussion. The whole time, he was telling me I was brilliant, and that he had to see me again. Apparently he thought I did it on purpose, and all that knight stuff turned me on, too.

"I wasn't out of the cast until after Stuart came home for Christmas break. He took the piss for months about that one."

Stuart was still laughing about it, it seemed. "Couldn't help it, could I?" he asked. "It was too good an opportunity to pass up."

"Bastard," Vince shot at Stuart. Then, to Nathan, "So, was that a good enough story or do I have to drink anyway?"

"I think after telling that you'd need a drink," Alex laughed.

"Nah, I think that was enough suffering," Nathan said. "Your first shag brought you to hospital? That must have been awful."

Stuart laughed again, as if just realizing something. "Vince, you and the chicken have got something in common, then. Never though of that before."

"Shut it, Stuart," Vince said, though he couldn't help but laugh himself.

"I always wondered what really happened when you wound up with your arm in a cast that night," Hazel said. "Always knew you were hiding something from me."

Vince could feel himself blush as he buried his face in his hands.

"Oi, it's my turn!" Alex squawked excitedly. He turned to Stuart. "This one's for you, Chocolate. What's you're biggest regret?"

"That's easy," Stuart said. "Nothing. I don't do regrets."

"Come on," Nathan urged. "You've got to regret something."

Stuart gave him a mock glare - of course, Vince was the only one who could really tell that he wasn't serious. "I regret ever taking you home, Chicken," he said.

"That doesn't count," Alex said. "Go on, have a shot, then, if you're going to be like that, Shitface."

Stuart smirked and poured himself a rather large shot of scotch before gleefully downing it in one. Vince cringed at the sight. He knew he would be the one taking Stuart home tonight when he was pissed out of his mind.

"Your turn, Vince," Nathan pointed out.

Vince smiled. He had the perfect question to get a laugh out of everyone - well, everyone but Hazel, of course. "So, Hazel," he asked, "What's your real hair color?"

***

As predicted, Vince found himself taking Stuart home that night, pissed as could be. "Vince," Stuart moaned, leaning against him as they staggered into the flat. "I'm tired."

"Just a few more steps and you'll be in bed, Stuart," Vince told him, fighting off the effects of his own drinking. He would be crashing here tonight, it seemed. Luckily Stuart had a soft enough sofa, once that horrible, sticky leather was covered with a blanket.

He sat Stuart down on the bed and began to undress him for bed. "Raise your arms," he directed tiredly after toeing out of his own shoes.

"I lied tonight, Vince. Don't lie often," Stuart told him as he raised his arms.

"Bollocks. You lie all the time," Vince told him. "You're in PR."

Stuart giggled. "Y're right Vince, but this time was different." Vince nodded patronizingly as he pulled off Stuart's pants. "Don't forget my shorts," he said.

Vince sighed. That was just what he needed. To see Stuart starkers, in this state. He wouldn't be sleeping tonight. Still, at Stuart's continued insistence, he pulled them off.

Stuart really was a beautiful sight, even drunk off his head and barely in control of his body. Vince drew in a deep breath at he took a moment to stare at his inebriated mate.

"Don't you want to know what I was lying about?" Stuart asked, falling back into his bed.

Vince wasn't sure he wanted to, but as he pulled the covers over Stuart's body he said, "Course I do."

Stuart pulled him down onto the bed with him. "Sleep here with me, like when we were lads?" Stuart asked, wrapping his arms so tightly around Vince that he couldn't have escaped if he wanted to.

"I'll take the couch, Stuart, really," Vince said.

"Bastard," Stuart pouted. "Stay here with me."

Vince chuckled at his friend. "Alright, then, just let me breath, will ya?"

"I lied tonight, Vince," Stuart repeated as he loosened - but didn't relinquish - his hold on Vince. "I told you all that I don't regret anything. It wasn't true."

"Don't you think we knew that, Stuart?" Vince asked around a yawn. "Everyone has regrets."

"Want to know mine?" Stuart asked. Before Vince could answer, he leaned over and gave Vince a sloppy kiss on the lips. "I wanted to pop your cherry, Vince," he said. "I wanted to be your first - and your last."

"Stuart, do you even know what you're saying?" Vince asked, his voice shaky with shock. Suddenly he felt very, very sober.

"Course I do," Stuart said before planting another kiss on Vince's lips. "You're mine Vince - I want you to be mine."

Vince didn't know what to do. Never in sixteen years had Stuart been drunk enough not to know what he was saying - and drinking only made him more honest, truth be told. It was drugs that made him tell stories and make false proclamations of love. Had Stuart taken something tonight while Vince wasn't looking?

"Go to sleep, Stuart," Vince said, soothing his curls. His heart broke at the rejected look that Stuart gave him, but really, he knew his mate would thank him for it in the morning. "We'll talk about it in the morning, yeah?"

"Alright," Stuart said with a pout. "Night Vince."

"Night," Vince said, but it fell on deaf ears. Stuart had already closed his eyes and was dead to the world.

***

Stuart woke up that morning with his head resting on something soft and warm. Ignoring his headache for the moment, he nuzzled into Vince's chest, stroking the soft hairs with one hand. Sometime during the night, Vince had unbuttoned his shirt, leaving his chest exposed.

Something important had happened last night, but Stuart couldn't seem to remember what. Slowly he lifted his aching head and reached for the nightstand where he knew Vince had left him a bottle of water and some pills for the headache. He looked down at his sleeping mate as he swallowed them.

God, what he wouldn't do to wake up like this every morning. Well - maybe without the hangover, but he loved the feeling of waking up with Vince in his bed.

Feeling his headache start to subside, he laid his head back down on Vince's chest and started to think. Whatever it was that happened, it had to do with that silly game last night. Alex's question - about what he regretted most. And before that, Vince's story about losing his -

Shite. He had told him. Told Vince how he felt. Hadn't said he loved him, exactly, but he had spelled it out pretty clearly. Course, he could always play the coward. Pretend he didn't remember. He was pissed enough last night that Vince would believe that. Vince was probably even hoping for that. He could just not mention it, and he was sure Vince wouldn't.

But the damage was done by now. Vince knew. He only told Vince the truth when he was that drunk - Vince knew that.

So he would take his second option. He would seduce his best friend.

"Vince," he said, lifting his head to so that his eyes would be the first think Vince saw when he woke up.

Vince's eyes batted open. After a moment's shock at seeing Stuart's face so close to his, he asked "What's wrong, Stuart?"

Stuart bent down to kiss Vince full on the lips. "Time to wake up," he said with a cheeky smile. "You said we could talk in the morning."

"I - what?" Vince obviously wasn't expecting this as soon as he woke up. Not that it mattered.

"Last night, you told me to go to sleep and we'd talk in the morning," Stuart reminded him again.

Recognition, then shock, then, finally, fear all flashed across Vince's face. "Stuart, you were pissed off your head last night," Vince said, his voice shaking just like it had last night. "I didn't actually believe any of what you were saying."

Stuart bit back his anger and disappointment. After all, didn't Vince have every right to doubt him, especially as drunk as he was?

Instead of snapping, he began nipping at Vince's nipples. "I meant it, though," he said between bites. He lifted his head to look Vince in the eyes again. "I want you. Want to be your last, Vince - your only one."

He laughed as the shock on Vince's face melted into a disbelieving smile. He had his twat. Now he just had to convince him he was serious. Fortunately, that was the fun part.

Starting at his lips, Stuart began kissing, nipping, and licking his way down Vince's body, cataloguing all the most sensitive areas in his memory for later usage. The nipples -those made Vince's back arch up - and his sides - those made Vince make the most amazing sounds.

He stripped Vince as he moved, so that when he found his cock, it was already naked and waiting for him. Vince must have been in shock, because he didn't protest at all until Stuart's tongue started to lick up his length.

"Wait," Vince panted out, pulling Stuart back up to look at him. "Wait. Are you sure, Stuart? We can stop right now and go back to how things were, but if we go through with this, it's going to be serious. There's no going back after this."

Stuart smiled indulgently. "I don't want to go back to being mates, you silly twat," he said. "I told you. I want you."

He swooped down to steal another brilliant snog before returning to the task at hand. Vince tasted absolutely delicious, and Stuart savored the feel of the hot, heavy member in his mouth as he surreptitiously found a bottle of lube and greased up his fingers. Using one hand to raise Vince's hips, he slipped one finger, then two into his hole, scissoring them to stretch him.

"I'm going to fuck you now, Vince," Stuart said, finally raising his head.

He smiled at the whimpering state he had reduced his friend to. All Vince could manage was, "Please."

Then again, Stuart realized as he slipped a condom on with trembling fingers, he wasn't in a much better state himself. This wasn't going to last, but it was going to be brilliant.

He pushed himself into Vince slowly, giving him plenty of time to adjust, before coming to a full stop, completely in. He took a deep breath himself, using all his will to hold off his climax at least until he was thrusting.

"Move," Vince told him. "Now. Please."

Stuart smiled as he pulled out then pressed back into his friend. He was right. This was bloody brilliant. Vince was the best shag he had ever had -

No, not shag. There was something more here than just sex. He looked into Vince's eyes and saw the love there. Love he knew was reflected in his own eyes.

The sheer magnitude of the moment caught up with him, and he came hard in fast, hot spurts. Vince was coming, too, spraying their chests and stomachs.

A moment later, Stuart found himself collapsing on top of his best mate. "That was brilliant," he said, reaching down to take care of the condom. He found the box of tissues beside the bed and cleaned them off before settling between Vince's legs.

"Absolutely brill," Vince breathed out, still looking a bit dazed.

"Partners, then?" Stuart asked.

"Haven't we always been?" Vince asked with a smile. "Now we've just got the shagging down."

"It would have come a lot sooner if I knew it would be like that," Stuart told him. He smiled mischievously before asking, "Now, how do we tell everyone else?"