Note: Rumour has it that Karl does have a girlfriend but I have no clue as to her name so for the purpose of this fic I have plumped for Jane.

‘Ok, ready?’

‘Ready.’

‘On the count of three…’

‘1…2…3…’

*lick, gulp, bang, suck*

The four men round the table grimaced at the sour taste of the lime and then looked at each other and grinned.

‘Keep ‘em coming Benny boy.’ Karl instructed.

Ben needed no further telling and picking up the still uncapped tequila bottle refilled the now empty shot glasses.

It had been a long afternoon of rehearsals and the assembled men had but one intention on their minds; namely to get as ratted as possible with several rounds of slammers seeming to be the quickest option.

They were all in the process of re-loading their hands with salt when the door to Lee’s room opened and in walked Darren.

‘So this is where you are all hiding.’ He exclaimed.

Drawing up a spare chair he flipped it round and straddled it backwards. Looking up at the blank faces of his band mates he countered their expressions with, ‘Well, count me in.’

‘Do you think that’s wise?’ Daniel asked.

‘After the kind of day I’ve had it’s not only wise, it’s a bloody necessity.’

It might have been a day of rehearsals for the musicians but for their singer it had been a day dominated by a very tiring photo shoot.

‘Well, if you’re sure.’ Lee got up and fetched another glass from the mini-bar. Setting it down, Ben proceeded to fill it and then pushed it across the table to Darren.

‘Right.’ Darren licked the back of his hand and shook the salt on.

The others finished doing likewise then on Lee’s count they all went through the familiar ritual.

Daniel eyed Darren warily. He hadn’t been drinking again long and tequila slammers were hardly the best way to ease back into alcohol. But then as he continued to study his face, Daniel could see the weariness in the other man’s eyes. He knew Darren would deny it but the day had obviously got to him. His very presence at the table indicated as much. Oh well, Dan concluded, Darren was old enough to know what he was doing – he hoped, and made a mental note to dig out some painkillers before he finally crashed tonight. Darren would need them in the morning, they probably all would.

‘Come on Danny – you’re holding everyone up.’ Ben admonished.

Obediently Daniel threw back his shot and reached for the plate of limes.

Unaware of his friend’s concern, Darren continued to match his band mates shot for shot.

They finished the first bottle and it was quickly replaced by a second.

Three rounds further down the line and Darren was just about to lick his palm when he felt strong fingers wrap themselves around his wrist and a wet tongue languidly coat it for him.

‘Um, thank you.’ The singer was unsure quite what to say as the fingers quickly released him and turning his head he found himself looking into the eyes of their drummer. Eyes that were filled with something that Darren couldn’t quite place, playfulness yes but there was also something there that looked remarkably like lust.

Their exchange, however brief, had not gone entirely unnoticed. 

Looked over Daniel caught Darren’s eye and raised his eyebrows in questioning. Darren merely shrugged his shoulders, he was none the wiser as to the reason behind this than Dan. Was this simply Karl larking about? It was a bit out of character for him if it was, he was always such the serious one of the group, or was there a deeper meaning hidden behind his actions?

There was one very certain way to find out.

Darren’s bisexuality was nothing new to Daniel. Darren had told him about shortly after they had first started sharing the flat. One of those mellowed out late night conversations that they quickly seemed to develop a habit of having. Not that it had really been much of an issue considering that Darren was dating Colby at the time but Daniel knew that since their break-up there had been a few short lived dalliances with various guys. There were, as Darren had bluntly put it one day, some times when only a dick would do.

They both thought that the rest of the band had their suspicions but nobody was going to say anything which suited Darren just fine.

But Karl? Karl was straight. He had been with his girlfriend forever. So what was this in aid of? Drunken curiosity?

‘Right!’ Darren declared with a giggle, ‘fair’s fair.’ and grabbing Karl’s wrist he ran his tongue over the drummer’s lower forearm, keeping a tight grip of it as he sprinkled on the salt.

Daniel watched Karl’s face as Darren did this and he could have sworn he saw the other man’s breathing speed up.

Ben and Lee were oblivious to all this, too concerned with trying to co-ordinate, with some difficulties, their own salt preparations.

Without letting go of Karl’s wrist Darren reloaded his own forearm and then raised it towards him. ‘After you.’

Daniel raised his own hand to his lips, Ben and Lee drunkenly doing the same. Ben now perched precariously on only the back two legs of his chair.

Nervously Karl kicked his lips as the full realisation of what he was about to do hit him then swallowing hard he darted out his tongue and licked the salt off of Darren’s skin.

So overcome was he with the sensation that it was only the harsh taste on his tongue that made him reach for his shot glass and down the fiery liquid, grabbing quickly for a slice of lime.

‘My turn.’ Darren proclaimed gleefully and making sure that he had full eye contact with Karl he slowly bent his head and licked his arm. Grimacing he hurriedly downed his own shot then pulling Karl’s free hand towards him sucked hard on the piece of lime that he was still holding between his fingers.

Any further interaction between the two was brought to an abrupt halt by an elongated cry of ‘Fuuuuccccck!’ closely followed by a resounding crash as Ben lost his battle with gravity and toppled backwards onto the floor, his chair accompanying him. ‘That hurt.’ He complained hoisting himself back up to the table, one hand rubbing ferociously at his arse.

‘Awwwwlllllll want me to kiss it better for you?’ Lee enquired, trying unsuccessfully to make a lunge for Ben.

Ben’s reply was short, sweet and non-verbal.

'Time to call a halt eh?' Daniel suggested, picking up the empty bottle of drink and scrutinising the dregs 'We're all done here anyway.' He tipped the bottle upside down, the last few drops trickling onto the littered table. 'Yep - it's empty,' he declared forlornly.

'Yeah, alright.' Lee slurred, got up and started to weave his way to towards the door. 'I'm off to my room, night all.' He flung his hand around haphazardly in dismissal.

‘Umm, Lee.’ Ben hiccuped, still rubbing his rapidly bruising behind.

‘Yeah what?’

‘This is your room man.’

‘Oh yeah.’ Lee stopped, changed direction and immediately fell onto his bed, landing heavily in a drunken heap

Some how, between them, Daniel and Ben managed to manhandle Lee's legs round and pull the duvet over him.

'Come on you two.' Daniel beckoned to Darren and Karl. 'Bedtime.'

Holding onto Karl for support, Darren shakily rose to his feet and then snagging the reminder of the second tequila bottle, slung an arm around his friend's shoulder, lurching towards where Ben was holding the room door open for them.

How drunk are you really? Daniel wondered as the two men stumbled past them out into the corridor.

'You going to be alright?' he asked, catching Darren's arm and forcing him to look at him.

'Yeah we'll be fine Jonesy.' Darren replied, a look passing between the two men that went completely over the head of their companions.

'Just…' awwwwl fuck it he was too drunk to try and figure out what Darren was up to, if anything, 'just…' he repeated.

'Danny, Danny, Danny,' Darren reassured him, 'you worry too much.'

Only about you, Daniel thought with a sigh.

'Oi Jones, give us a hand,' Daniel turned to where Ben was futilely trying to insert his keycard into the slot, 'I seem to have a slight probl…' His voice trailed off as he finally succeeded in getting the little light to blink green and with a crash fell into his room.

When he looked back Darren and Karl were already disappearing down the corridor towards their own rooms. Too pissed and too weary to care any longer, Dan let them go, summoning up his last few shreds of concentration in order to do battle with his own lock.