It took them about 15 minutes to get back to JC’s apartment, the couple silent, the crackling of the stereo the only noise.

Justin hopped out of the car, squinting into the morning sun, still wary of his surroundings. He stalked up the stairs and JC followed him with tired; yet amused eyes.

Justin was waiting patiently by JC’s door, his hand extended when he reached the top.

JC wordlessly reached in his pocket and fished out his keys, tossing them to Justin who turned and let himself in, putting a foot behind him to keep the door open.

JC gave him a groggy thanks and the two walked in silently. JC reached the closet and opened it, looking out of the corner of his eye at Justin who was fishing through his refrigerator. He rolled his eyes and grabbed a blanket and looked in his room, plucking a pillow from his bed easily. He walked back to Justin who was fixing himself a bowl of cereal.

"Here." He pushed the contents in his hands to Justin, who took them with a spoonful of Capn’ Crunch in his mouth. "If you still wanna sleep or whatever. I’m gone." he said and trudged to his bed, closing the door softly.

Justin watched for a moment longer, just staring at the closed door before finishing off his cereal in silence, the pillow still in his lap.

It was mid afternoon, about 3 or so when JC emerged from his bedroom, greeted by an asleep Justin on the floor, wrapped in the blanket, the pillow still on the couch. JC smiled and chuckled to himself, heading for the bathroom.

There was a knock at the door while he was brushing his teeth, and he opened it with foam in his mouth.

"Hm?" He opened his eyes fully and suddenly he was well aware of his surroundings. And Justin. Who just happened to be half naked, bare chested mind you, and sleepy.

"There’s um... there’s someone here to see you. Some woman."

JC nodded, though his eyes stayed on the body of the young man. When the blonde put his arms over his chest, JC looked up guilty, straight into the dark blue of Justin and he realized he was caught.

"Oh." he mumbled and bent down, spitting out the toothpaste and rinsing quickly, running a quick hand over his mouth. "Let me.. Alright." He ran a hand through his hair, wincing as he realized he was probably a mess.

He walked over to the living room and saw Officer Camme sitting comfortably in his chair, her eyes scrutinizing the small apartment. She looked up when he approached, a tight polite smile on her lips.

"Ah, so you’re actually up. Rough night last night?" There was humor in her tone but her face showed nothing.

JC’s brow screwed up and then he looked to Justin who was lounging at the table, watching them over his drink and then to himself and shook his head rapidly.

"N-no." He was blushing and Camme gave him a real smile, though he didn’t see it, his head bowed.

"Well, never mind that. I’ve come to see how you are coming along." JC could basically see Justin’s ears raise. He looked over and caught the young blonde’s eyes. He nodded towards the bedroom, and Justin who smiled and raised his eyebrows in confusion gave him an innocent smile.

JC shook his head and pointed to the bedroom. Justin scowled and downed the last of his milk and walked to the bedroom, mumbling.

JC began once the door shut.

"You see him right there?" He pointed to the bedroom and Camme nodded while he took a seat. "He’s in one of the gangs. Block 118, actually." JC was somehow proud when he saw Camme’s satisfied smile.

"And how did you get him in your bed?" she asked, a scandalous grin on her face and JC paled.

"No! I mean, that’s not how it was. I... well, you know how I was talking about that man that just couldn’t stomach me?" Camme nodded, crossing her legs. "Well, that’s him. He was in some trouble last night and I helped him out. So now he’s staying here for a few nights-"

"You just let him stay here? A stranger?"

JC wanted to tell her that he wasn’t much of a stranger anymore but he bit his tongue. "Well, he’s staying only under the condition that he helps me-"

"Doesn’t seem too foolproof Chasez-"

"I know, but it its better than standing on the outside with nothing." JC interrupted and Camme nodded. "So, I guess he’s supposedly hired to help me. Just to get the word out that I’m, we’re not here to pick sides or to lower either sides. I’ve told him that once, but he’s like everyone else out here. So, I’m hoping with him we can actually get somewhere."

Camme was silent, though her eyes were studying JC intently, her fingers tapping lightly on her navy blue skirt.

"You’re a quick one." Her voice sliced through JC’s thoughts and he blinked back at her.

"Thanks...?" he chuckled and she nodded.

"That’s a smart thing. That’s a good way to get on the inside." She nodded again and stood, her hand outreached and JC stood also, taking it in a firm handshake. "A good handshake too." She winked and then started for the door. "I’ll call to check up tomorrow. Keep up the good work." And with one final tight smile, officer Camme was gone and JC smiled, satisfied.

"So, that you’re boss?"

JC turned around quick and ran his eyes over Justin again, forcing them to stay on Justin’s face this time.

"Oh, yeah. She-she was just checking up on me-"

"She thought we were lovers." Justin had a sultry smile on and JC swallowed nodding.

"Y-yeah, but ya know." he stammered and then turned into his counter. "Shit." he cursed and Justin laughed from beside him.

"Hey, can I get one of my boys to drop off my stuff."

JC shrugged and shuffled through his cabinets, finding the cream of wheat he had been craving for the past 5 minutes.

"Sure, whatever."

Justin nodded and stood by the bathroom entryway, staring. By the time JC looked over, the blonde had been staring too long to notice.

"What?"

Justin blinked quickly and clearing his throat and shaking his head. "Um... where are the, um towels?" JC smiled. Was Justin actually blushing?

"In the bathroom maybe."

Justin’s eyes narrowed and he called JC a smart ass before closing the door leaving JC to eat in peace, his eyes straying to the door, silently wishing he could see through walls.

It was weird. That’s what JC decided during the whole 15 minutes of Justin’s shower. It was weird to have Justin living in his own house. He thought they were enemies. Or that’s how he felt.

And now Justin was living with him?

Why would Justin live with him? Out of all the people to run to, why would he go for JC?

JC bit on a hangnail, trying to figure out the answer. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the young man... JC shook his head. Maybe that was it; maybe it was that he didn’t trust the young man. He had known him for how long? And their interactions weren’t of buddies to say the least and now he was living in his house? Wow, so this was blowing his mind.

A door opened and JC’s head turned towards it automatically, part of his brain wishing he hadn’t because Justin emerged from the steam wet and slick, looking like a god of some sort. The tiny towel tied to his waist left nothing to the imagination as it slipped off, Justin’s hands quick to bring it back up. JC couldn’t tear his gaze away even if he wanted to.

Justin stood, a sly smile on his face as he waited for JC to stop staring him down with hungry eyes. He couldn’t help but bask in the attention.

When JC finally came to and his whole body was flushed with pink, he cleared his throat and stared at the pillow he had placed in his lap.

"Thanks." Justin said softly and JC nodded to his legs. Justin continued. "Umm... I know this is weird but... I don’t have any clothes." JC clamped his eyes shut tightly and tried not to imagine Justin naked but that seemed to be the only thing on his mind.

"U-uhm, well, I-I’ve got some you c-c-could wear-"

"They’d be skin tight. I might as well be naked anyway." Justin chuckled and enjoyed a stuttering JC. Power was addictive.

JC, though, wasn’t having any fun and he took a deep steady breath, his heart pounding against his rib cage.

"It’s rude to not look at someone when they’re talking to you." Justin said softly, a hint of a smile in his voice and JC looked up slowly, narrowing his eyes at the young man’s stance. His legs were spread wide and his hand rested right below his belly button, the other behind his head.

"Oh." JC faltered and Justin smiled. Power was very very addictive.

"Can I use your phone?"

Just like that, Justin wasn’t posing vulgarly anymore, his eyes slightly wide with hope. JC let out a breath he hadn’t known he had been holding.

"Sure." he breathed and Justin nodded, walking past the couch to the kitchen area, and JC was about to turn around, blaming it all on his undersexed mind but when Justin looked at him again, the glint of mischief was too noticeable and JC turned around with a huff, angered that this man... no, boy could affect him as much as he did.

Part 8
Tricky Index