Part 15

“And him?” JC clicked a photo and it enlarged before Justin’s eyes.

“Uh, Mario Wilsons. He’s no one special.” Justin shrugged, his chin on JC’s shoulder, eyes darting to the page as JC clicked some more.

“What about him?” The picture was of Slim, all dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes and Justin’s chest tightened. JC turned and stared at Justin’s face. “He important?”

“Look, you ain’t gonna like... send us to jail, are you?” Justin asked warily and JC sighed.

“I don’t wanna force you with this. I’m more than grateful that you’re doing this now, and if you don’t wanna tell me shit, you don’t have to. But at least trust me. I’m not gonna hurt you, or your block or the other block for that matter. I’m just trying to help.” he finished softly and Justin was picking at the inside of his cheek, staring at the screen. His legs, which outlined JC’s thighs, stretched out and JC sat back slightly against Justin’s chest.

“Slim. He’s... he’s like the head of the group. Look, don’t fucking go rat me-”

“I already promised this was in all confidentiality.”

Justin grunted behind him and JC felt the low rumble against his back. He closed his eyes slightly, sighing when Justin’s arm slid around his waist.

“This is crazy. Who woulda ever thunk it.”

JC giggled and scooted back, getting more comfortable, his head falling onto Justin’s shoulder. “Thought. Thought it.”

“Shut up. Thunk is a word.” Justin pinched JC’s side, the brunette squirming away slightly.

“This is crazy though.” His hand idly ran over the downy hairs on Justin’s arm, his knuckles grazing against the hard muscle.

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“Hope ya know I don’t know what I’m doin’.” Justin whispered and JC opened an eye.

“Huh?”

“With you... I don’t... I ain’t like this with other people, I don’t got relationships. It’s either sex or it ain’t. This different. I just wanna warn you.”

JC’s lips slowly curved into a smile, his eyes squinting in the way Justin loved and he leaned up, capturing Justin’s lips in a soft kiss. The brunette shifted as Justin’s hand spread over JC’s belly, bringing his T-shirt up.

“Mmm--”

Both were stunned still as there was a loud boisterous knock at the door and JC hopped up from in between Justin’s legs and cleared his throat. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Justin who closed the laptop and reached for the controller.

“JC!” Another loud knock. “It’s Joe! Open up!” JC opened the door and leaned back, as Joey was about to knock once more with a smile.

“Hey there, stranger.” Joey said with a grin. The Italian peeked more and saw Justin flipping through channels. “Ah. Not interrupting, am I?”

JC shook his head quickly. “No, no. I was just... hangin’ out. Come in.” He left the doorway and closed it behind Joey who smiled at the show on the TV.

“So, what are you doing today? I got this tight ass movie premiere package and it’s for that girl... Angelina Jolie’s new movie. You’re coming. Bring a date. Ooh, did you go grocery shopping yet?”

Justin raised his eyebrows at JC who rolled his eyes with a smile and followed Joey into the kitchen.

“Hold on, when is it again?” JC asked and moved around Joey to get the milk. The brunette was currently going through their cereals, leaning against the counter.

“That’s the guy?” he whispered and JC looked over his shoulder, Justin sprawled out on his back.

He smiled. “Yeah.”

Joey looked again and shrugged. “You can do better. He’s probably stealing your money.”

JC rolled his eyes and turned towards Justin, setting his elbows on the counter. “Fuck you.”

“Hey.” Joey raised his hands in defense. “Just remember who told you you were going to get-”

“Why the fuck would I get hurt? So he’s from the fucking... ghetto or whatever. That makes him more liable to hurt me?” JC was raising his voice and Justin bit his lip, stretching up from the couch. He grabbed his jacket from the couch and cleared his throat. Two sets of eyes looked to him.

“I’ma go out for a while. I’ll see ya later.” he said, talking to JC giving Joey a brief glance before he was out the door.

JC sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t get it.”

“There’s nothing to get. He’s probably-” Joey stopped when he saw the worry lines in JC’s forehead crease even more, his frown deep. “Never mind. Well... wanna go to that thing? Maybe it’ll get your mind off of... things.”

Justin walked down the familiar street, grinning when he saw the same faces he had known for years sitting at the steps they all frequented.

“Ey yo!” he shouted with a smile and five faces turned towards him, grins bright.

“What up white boy?!” Slim greeted him, pulling him into a hug. “What you been up to?”

Justin shrugged and turned around, giving another guy, Dee a man hug. He smiled at Marcelle who was laughing, shaking his head.

“Nothin’ man. It’s been borin’ as shit! There ain’t nothing to do these days.” He took a seat and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, taking one for himself.

“Damn, we not tryna sound like faggot ass bitches but we missed you, J.” Dee said and Justin laughed, puffing slightly as he lit up.

“Yeah, boy. Where the fuck you hidin’?” Manny, another dark skinned man asked, reaching for his own cigarettes.

“Just around.” he smiled and scratched at his braids. “So, what y’all been up to?”

Slim leaned back and picked up a beer. “Nothin’, man. It’s been slow ‘round here. Ey, you know Veronica?” Justin nodded. Veronica was Slim’s on and off girlfriend. It was a match made in hell and Justin knew they would be the death of one another someday. “Well, she’s pregnant.”

Justin smiled. “Well, congrat...” He drifted off when he saw Slim wasn’t smiling. “Damn, it ain’t yours?”

Slim shook his head sadly. “Fuckin’ hoe. She just needs to keep her god damn legs closed.” he grumbled and Justin sighed.

“So you movin’ back to the block or what?” Marcelle asked and Justin shrugged uneasily. They had told him that he could come back, but his house had been destroyed so he’d have to get another one. It wasn’t a big problem, but Justin, and he wouldn’t admit this to anyone but himself, didn’t want to move back to the block. Especially now, with this thing with JC starting.

“Uh, yea. I’m workin’ on finding one.” he lied and took a long drag. When he looked over, he saw Slim giving him the eye. He cleared his throat and tried to ignore it, smoking his cigarette.

Justin opened the door quietly, peeking in and shutting the door just as softly. He looked over to the couch, seeing a lump rumpled in sheets. He narrowed his eyes and ambled to the bedroom easily.

He opened the door with one hand, the other working on his jeans. When he shut it behind him, his eyes darted to the bed, smiling at the image of JC with his legs wrapped up in sheets, the covers on the floor, his nude chest heaving, dark brown lashes fluttering every once in a while. Now, he wasn’t one to call a man pretty, but JC was damn near beautiful like that.

He lifted off his shirt, shimmying out of his pants. He lifted off the covers and slowly, slid in beside JC, sighing when he cuddled closer to the warm body.

JC moved to his side and Justin got in behind, spooning the older man. He sighed into JC’s hair, the tender smell of his Herbal Essences shampoo filling Justin’s nose.

“Mmm.”

JC stretched and pushed back, his hand closing around Justin’s waist. “Hi.” he said, clearing his throat. His voice was burly with sleep, and he turned with half closed eyes, giving a small attempt at a smile.

“Hey there.” Justin smiled and JC turned all the way around, settling on his other side, his right arm slipping over Justin’s side, the other curling up to his chest.

“Time?”

Justin peeked over and yawned. “2:30. Y’all go to that thang?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“He on the couch?”

JC nodded.

“Why? Don’t he have his own-” JC put a hand to Justin’s mouth, his palm heavy on the pink lips.

“Shh.”

Justin lips moved against JC’s hand, though no words came out. He wanted to say that the last person who told him to shut up had a fat lip. He wanted to tell JC that he was gorgeous when he slept. He wanted to say so many things he couldn’t begin to try. He kissed JC’s palm lightly instead before closing his eyes, JC’s hand slipping from his face.

“Good night.” JC mumbled into his neck and Justin nodded.

“Night.”

“Justin?”

Justin blinked a few times before shutting his eyes again, spreading out on the bed. He felt around, feeling no JC beside him and peeked open one eye slightly.

“Justin.”

Who the hell was calling him? It didn’t sound like JC. All he saw was a big blur.

“Wha?” he asked and rubbed the crud from his eyes, blinking a few times. His knuckles scrapped against his cheek and he breathed.

“JC’s gone to um, work or whatever. He told me to tell you before I left and I’m leavin’ now.” Joey was standing in the entrance way, looking just a little peeved.

Justin nodded, not really caring. He hated waking up; it was always a bitch.

“So um... yeah. Bye.” Joey said and closed the door behind him, Justin rolling over to stare at the mirror beside their bed--

Their bed? Justin didn’t know. He had never shared a bed with anyone except for that time he had to hide in Marcelle’s room because someone was after him.

“Ugmmm.” he moaned and sat up slowly, his head pounding at the move. He went to the bathroom, turning on the water for a shower. He’d think about JC later.

“Chasez, what the hell are you doing?”

JC bit his lip and kept his head bowed. He felt as if he was back in elementary school and was being scolded for playing with the scissors.

“You’ve been on this for how long? And you haven’t even been to the other block?” Camme was tapping her foot against the side of her big desk and the sound was unnerving. “We are paying you a shit load of money to do this. Don’t bullshit your way through this case. The progress report is due Friday. Today is Wednesday.”

“I have some names.” JC added quickly, hoping to redeem himself. Camme shook her head. “We know who’s in the block, Chasez. We have reports on all of them. You’re not here to investigate anymore. You’re on the inside already. We need you now to be persuasive. What have you been doing? Screwing around with that boy?”

JC’s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding against one another, the motion shown through his cheeks. “No.” he said sternly, a little defensive. Camme looked at him for a minute longer before shaking her head.

“Get your ass in gear. Soon, Chasez. Or I won’t have a problem taking this case from you, understand?”

JC exhaled deeply and nodded tightly. He stood out of his chair and headed for the door, and once his hand was on the doorknob Camme called him.

“Yes?”

Officer Camme tapped her pen and looked at him firmly. “And leave the boy alone.”

JC turned and was out the door, his chest slightly tight. It was one thing to criticize him on his work, or lack thereof, but it was another thing to tell him what to do with his personal life. And what was she running on? Assumptions. JC rolled his eyes at the ground of the elevator.

No one could tell him what to do, or who not to see. And if he wanted to see Justin, then everyone else could fuck themselves.

Part 16
Tricky Index