Phoenix (6:56:50 PM): He had caseloads up the arse and they wanted to start him in on another? He'd said he'd at least talk to the bloke. Then it was his discretion on whether he took it or not. So he sat at his desk, tapping a pen on the blotter and waiting.
Adrion (7:05:34 PM): Adrion didn't want to do this. He didn't want to do anything. He wasn't sure what it would solve other than giving the family justice. His parent's were lawyers... how could he ever win against them if they were to defend themselves against his allegations? He couldn't. Not in his wildest dreams. But still, there the small man stood... waiting for someone to direct him.
Phoenix (7:07:00 PM)
: Phoenix immersed himself in other work as the time ticked by. At the front desk a young female officer looked up, noticing Adrion and asking him what he was there for.
Adrion (7:07:55 PM): "I..." he wasn't sure how to word it exactly, "The officer whose t-taking care of the Kelman Murder?"
Phoenix (7:25:25 PM)
: She nodded a bit. "Down that aisle there. Last door. Detective James."
Adrion (7:26:09 PM): "Thank you..." a small, nervous, smile, and he shuffled away.
Phoenix (7:35:20 PM)
: Rubbing at his forehead, Phoenix stared at the clock, giving the block a few more minutes, then he was going to close shop.
Adrion (7:36:19 PM): Adrion came to a door and knocked, hands deep in his pockets.
Phoenix (7:52:15 PM)
: Phoenix quirked a brow, wondering if this was his witness. "Come in."
Adrion (7:53:50 PM): He stepped into the small room, the musty scent of papers invading his sense.
Phoenix (7:58:12 PM)
: "You Adrion Greene?" Phoenix asked, barely lifting his head.
Adrion (7:59:11 PM): A delicate nod and he sat down in the chair.
Phoenix (8:04:05 PM)
: "All right, Mr. Greene." Phoenix leaned back in his seat, propping up his feet. "Tell me about what happened to you."
Adrion (8:05:33 PM): "My parents..." putting his hands in his lap, "T-They had her over... you know? To discuss their case..."
Phoenix (8:06:36 PM)
: Phoenix nodded, jotting things down. "Take it slow, I'm here for you."
Adrion (8:07:46 PM): A little nervous laugh escaped his lips. Right. Here for him. No one had ever been there FOR him. "It was late... I got home from football... and her car was there. I heard them all talking... then yelling..."
Phoenix (8:09:08 PM)
: More notes and Phoenix listened intently, tapping at his jaw a bit.
Adrion (8:10:46 PM): "The maids... their driver... everyone was asleep downstairs. So no one heard it. But she stopped yelling and... then I could hear them talking..."
Phoenix (8:12:14 PM)
: Phoenix nodded, clenching his jaw a bit. "Did you see them do anything?"
Adrion (8:13:22 PM): Adrion reluctantly nodded, "But first... they were talking about what to do w-with her..."
Phoenix (8:15:06 PM)
: Phoenix frowned, lips pursed. "Go on."
Adrion (8:17:47 PM): He looked around a moment, "Shouldn't I be telling this to someone else?"
Phoenix (8:18:56 PM)
: Phoenix paused in writing. "Like who exactly?"
Adrion (8:19:34 PM): "Just... isn't there usually more than one person?"
Phoenix (8:22:47 PM)
: "Not usually. We keep it down to people that need to know. If we have to have more people in on it, then fine. This isn't an interrogation. Unless you'd like me to find someone who'll play the bad bobby."
Adrion (8:23:48 PM): "Thought that was for suspects?"
Phoenix (8:24:25 PM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "You very well could be if we went on who was there at the time."
Adrion (8:26:38 PM): Adrion shook his head and looked down, "N-No... I was upstairs... and they started yelling at each other about her... and my dad... he put her in her car... My mom... she followed him. I don't know what they did... but they came back and spent 2 hours cleaning the study..."
Phoenix (8:29:49 PM)
: A nod. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Adrion (8:31:12 PM): A snort. "That’s what you think." He lied, but the detective got the essential truth. His parents were murderers. He swallowed hard, keeping down the images of the girl...the blood... what he watched them do.
Phoenix (8:35:49 PM)
: Phoenix's eyes darkened. "Oh you have no idea what I think."
Adrion (8:37:45 PM): He clenched his jaw, "That wasn't so hard, was it?" his voice was mimicking.
Phoenix (8:41:00 PM)
: Phoenix smirked. "That'll be the day when some person walks in here and gets one over on me. I'm not stupid, Mr. Greene, so don't think you're pulling the wool over my eyes. I'll be issuing a polygraph for you."
Adrion (8:41:35 PM): "What’s the point? Can't use it in court."
Adrion (8:41:48 PM)
: "I told you what I saw."
Phoenix (8:44:50 PM)
: Phoenix rose his brows. "What do you mean, what's the point? I know more about this law system than you do."
Adrion (8:45:47 PM): "My parents are lawyers, remember?"
Phoenix (8:49:22 PM)
: "Yeah, so that makes you an expert, huh? You know everything? So why not investigate this yourself, and hell, be your own lawyer while you're at it, smartass."
Adrion (8:50:43 PM): Adrion thought he was an asshole, "I didn't say that. I just know that polygraphs don't hold up."
Phoenix (8:54:32 PM)
: Phoenix nodded. "Then stop fucking lying."
Adrion (8:55:51 PM): "What am I lying about?"
Phoenix (9:02:31 PM)
: Phoenix shook his head. "Oh fuck it. I'll take your statement. You'll hear from the captain."
Adrion (9:03:50 PM): He fidgeted a bit. He didn't want to go back home. They'd seen him watching... and he'd been hiding for the last three days.
Phoenix (9:07:13 PM)
: Shutting his folder, he eyed Adrion. "Anything else?"
Adrion (9:07:40 PM): "N-No... nothing else..." he couldn't ask for help.
Phoenix (9:16:24 PM)
: Phoenix eyed him for a long moment. "You sure?"
Adrion (9:19:17 PM): He was up now, and then looked at the other man, "I don't trust them."
Phoenix (9:20:28 PM)
: Phoenix took that in for a moment. "Ah, I see. So do you wish to be placed somewhere then?"
Adrion (9:22:38 PM): "C-Can I?"
Phoenix (9:23:11 PM)
: "You can do whatever you wish. If it's what you want, we'll get it for you."

Adrion (2:00:46 AM): The small man bit his lip, looking at the detective, "What sort of place would I be placed in?"
Phoenix (2:03:55 AM)
: Phoenix shrugged lightly. "Depends, I guess on whether or not they think you're high risk. If not you get placed in a group safe house, if yes you get supervision and a place of your own."
Adrion (2:05:00 AM): "I want to do it..." he didn't want to go back to his house, the very thought brought back thoughts of what his father would do to him.
Phoenix (2:12:08 AM)
: "All right, let's go see what they suggest then, eh?"
Adrion (2:13:04 AM): "Right now?"
Phoenix (2:15:08 AM)
: "Well what would you rather do?"
Adrion (2:16:24 AM): A small nod, "I just didn't know it'd go fast."
Phoenix (2:23:46 AM)
: "We're here to protect you. It's supposed to be that way." Phoenix got up from his desk and led Adrion down the hallway to the captain's office.
Adrion (2:26:38 AM): He fidgeted once more, listening to the detective as he described what Adrion had told him.
Phoenix (2:27:27 AM)
: Phoenix waited as the captain went through the file, nodding every so often and muttering things.
Adrion (2:29:37 AM): Adrion's span of attention was always short, looking out the window.
Phoenix (2:31:16 AM)
: The captain cleared his throat. "Mr. Greene. How have you been holding up exactly these last few weeks?"
Adrion (2:32:04 AM): "You mean after?"
Phoenix (2:33:47 AM)
: The captain nodded. "Yes after."
Adrion (2:34:50 AM): "Same as always..." he didn't know what the man was hinting towards.
Phoenix (2:36:11 AM)
: "No nightmares. Change in appetite? Anything mentally?"
Adrion (2:37:06 AM): "The first one is normal. The second... I don't eat much to begin with..." as for mentally, he shrugged.
Phoenix (2:38:38 AM)
: The captain shared a look with Phoenix and he nodded curtly. "I think you may need supervision, just in case."
Adrion (2:39:21 AM): Adrion could only nod. He didn't care where he'd be put. But a place alone with a stranger... almost scared him as much as being with his parents.
Phoenix (2:40:55 AM)
: "I'll get right on assigning someone to him, sir," Phoenix spoke up, turning to the door. "Oh that won't be necessary, James. I already know who'll be supervising him. You." Phoenix's hand stopped on the doorknob.
Adrion (2:43:16 AM): He looked between them and had a feeling that was an insult to the detective.
Phoenix (2:44:50 AM)
: Phoenix turned, jaw clenched a bit. "You already have me on three assignments, sir." The captain shrugged. "So now you're off of them. This young man is your main priority.
Adrion (2:45:10 AM): Another nervous fidget, foot to foot.
Phoenix (2:47:26 AM)
: Phoenix nodded and went over, taking back the paperwork. "Where am I taking him for tonight then?"

 

 "You will take him with you until we find a place to settle him. Dismissed.
Adrion (2:48:40 AM): He'd found a speck on the wall and had been inspecting it.
Phoenix (2:49:55 AM)
: Phoenix nodded, then stalked out of the office.
Adrion (2:50:11 AM): He followed, quietly, and said nothing.
Phoenix (2:51:43 AM)
: Phoenix got his bag, thrusting things inside and locked up his office, making his way out of the building to the parking lot.
Adrion (2:52:32 AM): "You would think I'd be an easier job than what you were working on."
Phoenix (2:53:57 AM)
: "No murder case is ever easy,” Phoenix snapped, unlocking his car.
Adrion (2:54:17 AM): "I'm not a murder case. I'm one person."
Phoenix (2:58:57 AM)
: "I was talking about the other cases." He slid into the driver's seat.
Adrion (2:59:39 AM): "Right. That’s why I said I'd be easier." Adrion looked confused.
Phoenix (3:05:44 AM)
: "Sorry. I'm a bit scatterbrained." Phoenix sighed, rubbing his head. "You have a car or you riding with me?
Adrion (3:06:12 AM): "I don't have a car."
Phoenix (3:08:19 AM)
: "All right then, get in."
Adrion (3:10:59 AM): He did so without another word, holding his messenger bag tight.
Phoenix (3:12:43 AM)
: Phoenix pulled out of the lot and headed towards his home in silence.
Adrion (3:15:14 AM): "So... they're making you house me?" Adrion had no money on him... no clothes... nothing but his prescriptions.
Phoenix (3:15:32 AM)
: "Yeah. For now. I suppose."
Adrion (3:19:43 AM): A few moments later of driving quietly, "I don't have anything."
Phoenix (3:20:29 AM)
: "Is there anyplace we can stop?"
Adrion (3:22:56 AM): "For what?"
Phoenix (3:24:24 AM)
: "For things for you, of course."
Adrion (3:25:22 AM): "You don't get it... everything of mine is theirs." he wanted to say all his credit cards... bank accounts... were all shut down. But then he'd have to explain what reason they needed to do so.
Phoenix (3:27:26 AM)
: "Right. Then we'll go buy you some things to tide you over."
Adrion (3:27:59 AM): "No money."
Phoenix (3:33:44 AM)
: "We'll put it on the police tab." And with that, he drove to a store.
Adrion (3:34:30 AM): "There’s a police tab?"
Phoenix (3:36:51 AM)
: "There is when it's needed." He pulled up shortly outside a Shoppe. "There you go."
Adrion (3:37:21 AM): He glanced up and over at the guy, sighing and getting out.
Phoenix (3:40:27 AM)
: Phoenix sat back, waiting and tapping his fingers on the armrest.
Adrion (3:41:11 AM): "Aren't you coming?"
Phoenix (3:43:19 AM)
: "Should I? I thought you'd want to shop alone."
Adrion (3:44:02 AM): "I don't have any money.” He repeated. "Am I supposed to just say, 'Hey, put it on the police departments tab'?"
Phoenix (3:46:27 AM)
: "Ah, right." Phoenix rubbed his forehead. He'd had a long day. Getting out of the car, he made his way inside the Shoppe.
Adrion (3:47:02 AM): Adrion stayed close to him, heading inside the Meijer’s they'd come to (?).
Phoenix (3:51:32 AM)
: Phoenix shoved his hands in his pockets and waited for Adrion toget what he needed.
Adrion (3:52:21 AM): He tried not to care about what he picked up, a pack of boxers... pair of black sweatpants, jeans, and a t-shirt or two.
Phoenix (3:53:18 AM)
: Phoenix saw people eyeing them but didn't say a word.
Adrion (3:53:49 AM): Carrying it all in his arms, deodorant stick too, he went to a line.

Phoenix (4:43:28 PM)
: Standing there waiting, when the woman rang it up, he passed her a card.
Adrion (4:43:48 PM): He looked around, fidgety as ever.
Phoenix (4:48:40 PM)
: Taking the bags, Phoenix headed right back out to his car and got in, starting it once more.
Adrion (4:51:43 PM): Quietly sliding in, he set his messenger bag on his lap.
Phoenix (4:55:29 PM)
: Phoenix took off to his house and stared straight ahead in silence, gripping the steering wheel hard.
Adrion (4:56:55 PM): He tapped his fingers against his leg, looking outside with his hair in his eyes.
Phoenix (5:01:54 PM)
: Finally coming upon his house, he parked in the driveway and got out, going to unlock the front door.
Adrion (5:03:29 PM): He didn't move for a moment, then opening the door and grabbing the few bags, his own slung over his shoulder.
Phoenix (5:08:38 PM)
: Stepping aside, Phoenix scanned the street as he let Adrion go in first.
Adrion (5:10:01 PM): Toeing his shoes off, he stepped onto the living room carpet and waited.
Phoenix (5:41:18 PM)
: Phoenix shut and locked the doors, glancing at Adrion a bit. "The guest room's down the hall to the left."
Adrion (5:41:51 PM): "Alright..." he walked quietly in that direction, the sun low outside.
Phoenix (6:23:00 PM)
: Phoenix went to make himself a drink, his head throbbing.
Adrion (6:24:03 PM): Shutting the door quietly behind him, he glanced at the small guest bathroom. Digging into his backpack, he pulled out a few pill bottles and took one from each.
Phoenix (6:32:16 PM)
: Sipping the Jack Daniel's, he made his way into his bedroom and dressed down to what he considered pajamas. Usually he was naked, but that wouldn't go over well with his new houseguest.
Adrion (6:34:18 PM): He stepped into the bathroom and smiled at the small Dixie cups... It surprised him that this guy would bother with a detail such as that... and he started swallowing down his pills. After all six were down, he sighed, looking at the mirror.
Phoenix (6:38:57 PM)
: Once more comfortable, he curled up on the couch, drink in one hand as he rested a sketchpad on his knees and made small lines with his pencil, beginning a new picture.
Adrion (6:40:03 PM): Lifting the front of his hair, he looking at the redness at his hairline. The bruise there had gone a nasty shade of purple and red. He ached everywhere imaginable, much worse than before.
Phoenix (6:42:50 PM)
: His mind drifted as he became immersed in drawing, letting the tension flow out of him.

Adrion (7:42:09 PM): He wondered what he was supposed to do... sit on the bed and stare at the four walls? So he left the room.
Phoenix (7:52:01 PM)
: The drink was soon gone and he set the empty glass aside.
Adrion (8:02:47 PM): He stood in the doorway between the hall and living room, biting his lip.

 

 

Adrion (1:06:51 PM): [-has curled up under the blanket in the guestroom-]
Phoenix (1:09:16 PM)
: He finally gave in, going to the phone and calling the escort service, pacing in his study.
Adrion (1:09:50 PM): He tugged his beanie off and tightened up into a ball, hugging the pillow against his cheek.
Phoenix (1:15:32 PM)
: Sighing, Phoenix slumped into a chair in the front room and waited.
Adrion (1:17:06 PM): He felt the overwhelming urge to throw up... and he did, over the side of the bed and onto the wood floor.
Phoenix (1:25:33 PM)
: Phoenix heard a car pull up momentarily and felt slightly guilty
Adrion (1:29:46 PM): He pressed his cheek against the comforter, his head spinning. Then it happened again, harder and more painful.
Phoenix (1:39:53 PM)
: Phoenix paused at the door, hearing something from down the hall. He forgot all about the person most likely waiting outside and hurried to the guestroom. Stepping inside, he grimaced. "Oh shite." Moving over to the bathroom, he got a towel and then came back, kneeling beside Adrion.
Adrion (1:41:24 PM): "Fuck..." he pressed his lips against the back of his hand, stomach aching.
Phoenix (1:43:55 PM)
: Handing over the towel without a word, Phoenix went to get more to clean up the mess.
Adrion (1:44:32 PM): Adrion wiped at his mouth and sat up a little... as much as he could. "S-Sorry..."
Phoenix (1:47:50 PM)
: Phoenix shook his head as he cleaned up. "Don't be."
Adrion (1:49:33 PM): Tucking his legs beneath himself, he felt dreary and horrified.
Phoenix (1:52:05 PM)
: "Are you going to be all right?" Phoenix asked quietly.
Adrion (1:52:47 PM): "I don't know." He really didn't, looking up briefly.
Phoenix (1:58:58 PM)
: Phoenix caught his eye. "Do you want to go somewhere?"
Adrion (2:01:58 PM): Shaking his head a little, he knew it wouldn't do any good. It was just the after effects.
Phoenix (2:06:38 PM)
: "All right..."Phoenix faintly heard the doorbell. "I'll be back."
Adrion (2:08:07 PM): "Okay..." he had a faint feeling he wouldn't be but hoped he was wrong.
Phoenix (2:10:50 PM)
: Phoenix went to the door, telling the young guy there that he didn't need his services, paid him and watched him go. Sighing, he made his way back to the guestroom
Adrion (2:11:13 PM): He'd made it to the bathroom, washing out his mouth and then coming back to lie down.
Phoenix (2:18:39 PM)
: Phoenix stood in the doorway. "You need anything?"
Adrion (2:19:16 PM): "I'm alright..." he slid off the bed, trying to escape the smell that now was potent in the room.
Phoenix (2:25:09 PM)
: Phoenix moved out of the way and then went over to the windows, pulling them open.
Adrion (2:27:14 PM): He walked out of the room quietly and into the living room, arms around himself.
Phoenix (2:32:57 PM)
: Letting the room air out, he made his way out to his study.
Adrion (2:36:09 PM): Adrion really was sorry. He didn't like other people to clean up any sort of mess he made.
Phoenix (2:44:09 PM)
: Sitting down at his desk, he went through things and rubbed at his forehead.
Adrion (2:47:51 PM): Rubbing the inside of his arm, he looked around. Before disappearing back into the guestroom for his pills, he peeked into the study.
Phoenix (2:49:03 PM)
: Phoenix had his head hung, hand on his forehead as he scribbled notes
Adrion (2:52:52 PM): He chewed his lip and took out the meds... then slipped in an extra pill with the design of a heart on it.
Phoenix (3:04:05 PM)
: Frustrated, he grumbled under his breath.
Adrion (3:10:26 PM): Tucking it all back where it belonged, he took the pills two by two.
Phoenix (3:12:45 PM)
: Knowing he needed food or something, he got up and went to make something
Adrion (3:15:30 PM): He plugged his nose as he passed through the room once more, shutting the door and letting the windows take the smell away.
Phoenix (3:31:59 PM)
: Getting out some steak and stuff, he made fajitas, humming to himself.
Adrion (3:35:48 PM): "Food?" Adrion was always quiet and had stepped into the room without a sound.
Phoenix (3:42:29 PM)
: Phoenix startled a little, then turned and laughed. "Yes, food."
Adrion (3:58:55 PM): "Smells good."
Phoenix (4:07:09 PM)
: "Maybe it'll taste good too,” he laughed
Adrion (4:07:42 PM): "We can hope." he sat down at the island.
Phoenix (4:14:25 PM)
: Phoenix smirked and went about cooking the vegetables.
Adrion (4:29:55 PM): He felt the familiar content warm go over him, sighing and leaning his cheek on his hand.
Phoenix (4:36:07 PM)
: Once the veggies were finished, he focused on the steak, flipping it in the pan.
Adrion (4:38:59 PM): His head moved down and clunked against the table, feeling content and sleepy... and maybe horny
Phoenix (4:43:27 PM)
: Phoenix rose a brow but didn't say anything, finishing up the food and making some tortillas, then putting a plate in front of Adrion.
Adrion (4:43:49 PM): He smelled the food come closer to him and the plate clunk and lifted his head, smiling contently.
Phoenix (4:58:12 PM)
: Phoenix made his own plate and took a seat at the counter as well.
Adrion (4:58:40 PM): "Thank you." He picked up a piece and started in, realizing just how hungry he felt.
Phoenix (5:07:39 PM)
: "No problem." Phoenix ate quietly, sipping some wine.
Adrion (5:09:44 PM): "You drink a lot..."
Phoenix (5:12:13 PM)
: Phoenix quirked a brow and glanced to Adrion for a moment. "Thanks for pointing that out. I'd never have noticed."
Adrion (5:14:19 PM): "So, you an alcoholic or is that because you can't get laid?"
Phoenix (5:22:07 PM)
: Phoenix's eyes narrowed. "You're an invasive little bitch, you know that? Mind your own damn business."
Adrion (5:24:49 PM): "I was being completely serious. I told you that you could have me, if that’s why."
Phoenix (5:27:25 PM)
: Phoenix narrowed his eyes. "I'd rather go without."
Adrion (5:27:56 PM): "If you're sure, then." he shrugged, looking down at his food.
Phoenix (5:32:42 PM)
: Phoenix grumbled. He wasn't being some teens charity case. He could get sex just fine if he was allowed to havea life
Adrion (5:36:00 PM): "Just thought you could do a guy a favor before he ends up dead."
Phoenix (5:38:30 PM)
: Phoenix clenched his jaw. "Oh don't you use that on me."
Adrion (5:43:02 PM): "Oh, I wasn't using it on you. I just wouldn't mind getting fucked at least once before I go."
Phoenix (5:46:20 PM)
: "Well then go find someone to fuck you." Phoenix stabbed a piece of steak and bit into it.
Adrion (5:48:20 PM): "That doesn't work."
Phoenix (5:59:34 PM)
: "Too bad then. Guess your hand will be your best friend." He swallowed the food and took another sip of his drink
Adrion (6:01:05 PM): Those words both unsettled him and made him angry. He was so scared of dying... either by the hand of cancer or his parents. He stopped eating, sitting back in the chair.
Phoenix (6:12:20 PM)
: Phoenix glowered at the plate. A kid who barely knew him had to shoot off his mouth like he was god's gift, and then got pissed when Phoenix turned him down?
Adrion (6:16:09 PM): It did this to him more often than not. He would be in the perfect mood and then suddenly be reduced to tears. With a shaky voice, he got up to leave, "Thank you for dinner..."
Phoenix (6:20:49 PM)
: Phoenix looked up briefly. Why'd he have to get the unstable witness? "You're welcome."
Adrion (6:21:22 PM): He didn't go back to the bedroom, heading to the back door.
Phoenix (6:25:46 PM)
: Eating quietly, Phoenix frowned. He'd been an arse and he knew it.
Adrion (6:26:18 PM): Adrion didn't know what was back there, nor did he care. Sitting down on a bench, he looked out across the yard and then at the California sky.
Phoenix (6:37:42 PM)
: Dumping out the uneaten food, he went to take a bath.
Adrion (6:48:40 PM): He stayed back there as the sun started to set, arm around his stomach.
Phoenix (6:57:12 PM)
: Leaning in the bathtub, Phoenix lazily cleaned himself.
Adrion (6:59:34 PM): Tears started to well up and fall over his cheeks. What was he going to do? He was going to be kicked off their insurance anytime now... his bank account... even the money he'd put in there himself... all gone.
Phoenix (7:07:28 PM)
: Sinking below the surface, he kept wondering to himself why they'd picked him. Why of all fucking people?
Adrion (7:12:03 PM): And next to it, he was going to die alone. He was going to end up in a government paid for casket. He'd wanted to be cremated and wondered, faintly, if a note in his pocket would give them the hint.
Phoenix (7:17:19 PM)
: Sitting back up, dripping, he got out and toweled himself off. Seeing this kid was like a slap in the face every minute he was with him.
Adrion (7:18:47 PM): He finally pulled himself up and stepped back into the house, locking the door and going to sit in front of the TV.
Phoenix (7:25:46 PM)
: Getting on a t-shirt and boxers, he headed down the hall and went to his weight room to do some preps.
Adrion (7:31:40 PM): Drained and lonely, he curled up and watched A WALK TO REMEMBER.
Phoenix (7:39:26 PM)
: When he'd succeeded in getting himself sweaty all over again, he went to get water, quirking a brow at Adrion's movie choice.
Adrion (7:40:07 PM): The part where he'd protected her in the lunch room made him want to smile and crumple at the same time.
Phoenix (7:53:04 PM)
: Phoenix just shook his head, grabbing water and wiping himself with a towel as he went to sit in a chair.
Adrion (7:55:28 PM): He felt the taller man step into the room and switched the channel, "so, are they going to put me up somewhere safer?"
Phoenix (7:59:50 PM)
: Phoenix rose a brow. "If you want to leave here, you can request it and I'm sure they'll find you a nice group home."
Adrion (8:02:11 PM): "No..." he whispered softly. He wouldn't go back to anything that resembled an orphanage. "I just meant... I thought they were putting us up somewhere, yaknow? Anyone can find out where a detective lives."
Phoenix (8:05:57 PM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "They won't be putting me up anywhere."
Adrion (8:07:55 PM): "Okay..." he had a bad feeling... in his gut... it wouldn't go away.
Phoenix (8:10:39 PM)
: "But you...they'll probably have a place for by tomorrow."
Adrion (8:11:49 PM): "In a group home?"

Phoenix (10:52:15 PM): "No, not a group home. They said they'd get you your own.
Adrion (10:52:39 PM): "By myself?"
Phoenix (11:09:50 PM)
: "Yes, by yourself."
Adrion (11:16:58 PM): The thought scared him, "And why wouldn't you come with me?"
Phoenix (11:23:43 PM)
: Phoenix looked over to him. "Why in the world would you want me to?"
Adrion (11:33:04 PM): "Why would I want to be alone?"
Phoenix (11:37:07 PM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "Hell if I know."
Adrion (11:41:27 PM): "That’s what normal people want."
Phoenix (11:42:43 PM)
: "Not everyone's normal then."
Adrion (11:56:13 PM): "I'd feel safer if someone was with me."
Phoenix (11:57:30 PM)
: "Well I'll be sure to let them know that then."
Adrion (11:58:17 PM): "I'm sure you will."
Phoenix (12:00:15 AM)
: Phoenix arched a brow again. "What is it you want from me, hmm?"
Adrion (12:06:53 AM): Adrion looked up at him, "What?"
Phoenix (12:08:40 AM)
: "Why do you care if I'm the one looking over you or not?"
Adrion (12:11:41 AM): "Because I'm used to you."
Phoenix (12:14:16 AM)
: "Used to me. Ah, I see. Well I'm sure that'll g o over well with them."
Adrion (12:19:02 AM): "Why would they take you off it?"
Phoenix (12:22:02 AM): "Because I'm going to ask them to."
Adrion (12:22:10 AM): "Why?"
Phoenix (12:24:26 AM)
: "Because."
Adrion (12:24:43 AM): "Not an answer, " he'd shut off the TV now.
Phoenix (12:25:21 AM)
: "I didn't want this case in the first place, so therefore, I'm asking to be taken off of it."
Adrion (12:32:22 AM): "Alright." he whispered now.
Phoenix (12:33:36 AM)
: Phoenix nodded and gazed away.
Adrion (1:03:46 AM): The silence grew too intense for him and he pulled himself off the couch, brushing past Phoenix to leave the room.
Phoenix (1:11:22 AM)
: Phoenix watched him go, and then turned his attention to a book.
Adrion (1:12:05 AM): He was frustrated, but he had a plan. He went down the hall farther and opened the unfamiliar room, slipping onto the top of the covers.
Phoenix (1:17:01 AM)
:  He sat there for a bit, reading the book and then becoming upset, he went to his bedroom only to stop abruptly. "What in the hell are you doing?"
Adrion (1:17:37 AM): "Invading your privacy."
Phoenix (1:21:31 AM)
: Phoenix clenched a jaw. "Get out."
Adrion (1:22:23 AM): "No."
Phoenix (1:28:32 AM)
: "Fine. Then I'll put you out."
Adrion (1:31:01 AM): "Why? Why can't you just pity me?" he asked quietly.
Phoenix (1:31:41 AM)
: "Because I don't do pity."
Adrion (1:32:46 AM): "Okay, then do it because you want to."
Phoenix (1:35:06 AM)
: Phoenix laughed a bit. "Who says I want to? You're about ten years too young to be my type."
Adrion (1:35:42 AM): Lying back against the pillows, he pulled his legs up. "What does your type have to do with fucking me?"
Phoenix (1:38:43 AM)
: "You're barely seventeen. I'm twenty eight. I don't fuck teenage boys."
Adrion (1:39:52 AM): "Barely eighteen," Adrion muttered.
Phoenix (1:41:05 AM)
: "Oh cuz that's so much better?" Phoenix shook his head, dressing down into his boxers and moving over to the side of the bed. "Go on. Go."
Adrion (1:42:28 AM): "I don't want to."
Phoenix (1:43:19 AM)
: Phoenix grumbled and pushed Adrion over, moving aside covers and lying down.
Adrion (1:43:48 AM): He smirked and took the covers out of Phoenix's hands, sitting on them.
Phoenix (1:44:53 AM)
: Phoenix glared. "What is it with you?"
Adrion (1:45:50 AM): "Fuck me or I'll leave."
Phoenix (1:46:10 AM)
: Phoenix snorted. "Go ahead and leave then.
Adrion (1:46:35 AM): "Right." Adrion slid off the bed. Leaving would only make things worse.
Phoenix (1:47:25 AM)
: Phoenix glowered after him, then stared up at the ceiling.
Adrion (1:47:59 AM): He took his one bag with him and left the house, making his way towards the lights of the beachside city.
Phoenix (1:48:35 AM)
: He knew he was going to be in trouble. But he wasn't going to let the son of two people he despised get the best of him. No matter what.
Adrion (1:50:43 AM): Two hours passed and then... something happened he would later not be able to recall. The thing he remembered next was oxygen tubes in his nose and an IV jabbed into his arm
Phoenix (1:51:42 AM)
: His phone buzzed and rang incessantly and he picked it up. The irate voice of the captain bellowed over the line and he found myself driving to the hospital to make a report.
Adrion (1:53:27 AM): He wanted to sleep, but they told him no. The contusion on his forehead from days before was faded, but still visible, another covering the back of his neck in dark purple circles.
Phoenix (1:54:21 AM)
: The captain was there, eyes narrowed as he pulled me aside, screaming at me. I tried to explain, but he said he didn't care if Id fucked the kid black and blue, right n ow he was in a hospital because of my lack of common sense.
Adrion (1:55:06 AM): Adrion was still trying to get used to being able to breath, his throat felt constricted.
Phoenix (1:56:12 AM)
: "You are stuck with him, James. Deal with it!" He shoved paperwork at me and told me the room you were in. "You will be stuck to that kid's side like fucking glue, got me?" I nodded and made my way to the room.
Adrion (1:57:08 AM): Looking out the window, he sighed.
Phoenix (1:57:40 AM)
: I made my way into the room, papers in my arms and stepped over to the far wall, sitting down in a chair there.
Adrion (1:58:19 AM): He caught the color of hair just inside his line of sight, "Pft."
Phoenix (1:58:56 AM)
: "Oh don't even. I don't particularly care." I opened up the folder and went through it.
Adrion (1:59:43 AM): "Oh, I already know that you don't car.e"
Phoenix (2:00:54 AM)
: "Good. Now that that's established, I can go about my job and not have to worry about stupid kids trying to push their way into my bed.

Adrion (4:58:33 PM): "Oh, you don't have to, eh?"Adrion sat up, his neck exposed to the officer.
Phoenix (7:04:43 PM)
: Phoenix rose a brow, scrutinizing the bruises there and pursing his lips.
Adrion (7:06:47 PM): He scratched his hair a little, unaware of the marks and just how obvious they were.
Phoenix (7:12:04 PM)
: Sitting back in his seat, he crossed his arms over his chest.
Adrion (7:13:06 PM): "Why are you here, anyhow?
Phoenix (7:14:00 PM)
: "Because I was told to come here."
Adrion (7:17:02 PM): He pushed the blanket off his lap and put his legs over the sid eof the bed.
Phoenix (7:22:04 PM)
: "What are you doing?"
Adrion (7:23:46 PM): "Taking a piss. Wanna watch?" He dragged the IV with him on its rollers.
Phoenix (7:26:42 PM)
: Phoenix glowered. "No thank you.
Adrion (7:29:25 PM): "Didn't think so." He held the bar with the IVsclose behind him, ducking into the bathroom and shutting the door.
Phoenix (7:32:44 PM): Phoenix glared down at his papers, going through them and feeling slightly guilty.

Adrion (8:09:58 PM): Shutting the door with a soft clunk, he did what he said he was going to do and washed his hands, looking in the mirror at what of his neck he could see.
Phoenix (8:12:25 PM)
: Phoenix set aside his papers and rubbed at his head, the headache coming back.
Adrion (8:16:20 PM): Frowning deeper, he sighed. They looked like some sort of hideous hickeys. Opening the door, he came back out.

Phoenix (11:07:16 PM): Phoenix had his head in his hands, eyes closed. The headache continued to throb incessantly.

Adrion (12:13:18 AM): He sat down on the small hospital bed, looking at the closed, and probably locked, door.
Phoenix (12:15:50 AM)
: "You can't leave, ye know? Not without an escort."
Adrion (12:18:36 AM): "So you have to come with me?"
Phoenix (12:26:45 AM)
: "Yes, unfortunately I do."
Adrion (12:27:45 AM): "Good." He chanced it, pulling his IV out and pressing the edge of the blanket to the small hole.
Phoenix (12:40:31 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head, looking up at the ceiling.
Adrion (12:41:18 AM): "Where are my clothes?” He saw they no where in sight.
Phoenix (12:50:17 AM)
: "Hell if I know."
Adrion (12:52:04 AM): He tugged the gown off, walking about in boxers and socks and looking.
Phoenix (12:54:52 AM)
: Phoenix leaned back in the chair, watching him with a smirk.
Adrion (12:56:04 AM): Opening one of the drawers, he pulled out his jeans and an undershirt, looking at the bloodied up over shirt.
Phoenix (12:58:11 AM)
: Glancing at his watch, Phoenix wondered if he'd be able to get anything to eat before being on baby-sitting duty.
Adrion (12:59:29 AM): He tossed the useless shirt in the basket, tugging the black wife beater on and showing off what little muscles he had still from his years playing rugby overseas.
Phoenix (1:04:18 AM)
: Phoenix got to his feet, gathering up his papers. "Ready?"
Adrion (1:05:19 AM): "Yeah. I'm ready."
Phoenix (1:08:04 AM)
: Nodding, he went to the door, knocking and the guy outside unlocked it.
Adrion (1:22:19 AM): Adrion stood just behind him, rubbing his arms.
Phoenix (1:25:12 AM)
: Heading out, Phoenix led him to the counter to sign out.
Adrion (1:29:00 AM): He signed out quietly, and then looked at Phoenix. "I want to head to a barber."
Phoenix (1:32:29 AM)
: Nodding, Phoenix led him out to his car.
Adrion (1:35:16 AM): He smiled a little when the detective didn't question him, sliding into the car.
Phoenix (1:39:00 AM)
: Getting in the driver's side, he started the car then drove off towards the local town.

Adrion (7:00:05 PM)
: A long sigh left his lips and he looked around, hair down in his eyes.
Phoenix (7:06:16 PM)
: Pulling up outside, Phoenix parked. "Well there you go."
Adrion (7:08:02 PM): "Thanks," was all he could say.
Phoenix (7:26:36 PM)
: Phoenix nodded. "I'll wait out here."
Adrion (7:27:17 PM): He thought for a moment. He still have a few dollars in his messenger. Picking it up, he got out of the car.
Phoenix (7:34:51 PM)
: Phoenix watched intently, making sure there was no one suspicious around.
Adrion (7:38:58 PM): Opening the door, Adrion signed his name at the small paper on the counter. The place was mostly empty and he was called over in a minute.
Phoenix (7:50:16 PM)
: Looking down at his lapful of papers, he made a face and sat back, keeping his gaze focused on the barber shop.
Adrion (7:55:03 PM): He didn't care what they did, as long as his hair was buzzed short and dark. They finished fast and he paid them, waiting for Phoenix to unlock the door.
Phoenix (7:57:14 PM)
: Phoenix glanced up, grinning a bit at the new look and unlocked the door.
Adrion (7:59:27 PM): He pulled his bag into his lap and shut the door, pushing the lock down.
Phoenix (8:05:48 PM)
: "All right. Anything else you need before we go?"
Adrion (8:17:15 PM): "I'm good..." his voice soft.
Phoenix (8:26:27 PM)
: "Okay then." Phoenix pulled out directions and kept glancing at them as he drove.
Adrion (8:28:51 PM): "So... where are we going?"
Phoenix (8:32:24 PM)
: "The safe house. It's in Winchester."
Adrion (8:43:56 PM): "Okay." He'd somehow become more submissive.
Phoenix (8:48:36 PM)
: Phoenix arched a brow for a moment but said nothing else, making his way along with the directions.
Adrion (8:52:34 PM): "Are we eating?"
Phoenix (8:57:40 PM)
: "If you'd like. You see a place, point it out."
Adrion (8:58:48 PM): "Doesn't matter to me." He gazed out the window and wondered what he was supposed to do now. The hospital that he'd been taking treatments at was over 2 hours away.
Phoenix (9:03:01 PM)
: Phoenix sighed. "Well you're the one that's hungry. Pick a place."
Adrion (9:05:40 PM): "You're not hungry?"
Phoenix (9:07:18 PM)
: "No, not really."
Adrion (9:09:10 PM): "Well, I'll eat when you ea.t"
Phoenix (9:12:33 PM)
: Phoenix sighed. "You just said you wanted to eat. Don't worry about me."
Adrion (9:15:11 PM: "I'll order something."

Phoenix (1:07:51 AM): "All right, that'll do it."
Adrion (1:13:39 AM): He shut his mouth again and opened the window, enjoying the breeze.
Phoenix (1:16:42 AM)
: Once they were in the right neighborhood, he pulled down a street and came up to the house. "Well, there's your place."
Adrion (1:21:47 AM): "Your place to, isn't it?"
Phoenix (1:27:36 AM)
: "Yeah, technically, sure." He turned off the engine and got out.
Adrion (1:34:25 AM): Carrying his bag close to him, Adrion followed as always.
Phoenix (1:42:42 AM)
: Phoenix made sure he looked around, and then let Adrion come inside.
Adrion (1:47:41 AM): He wondered why no one had asked him anything... why the bruises on his neck weren't a big enough sign that he'd been attacked by someone who was obviously out to hurt him.
Phoenix (1:49:27 AM)
: Once in, Phoenix locked the door. "Stay here. I need to check the house."
Adrion (1:50:46 AM): Adrion did as he was told, looking around the front room… at the cathedral ceilings.
Phoenix (1:51:47 AM)
: Phoenix did a thorough search, top to bottom and then came back to Adrion. "You can have whatever room you like."
Adrion (1:53:43 AM): "Which one are you taking?"
Phoenix (1:56:36 AM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "Probably the one in the middle. Close enough to the front and back doors."
Adrion (2:08:33 AM): "I'll take the one next to it... farther from the doors..."
Phoenix (2:11:05 AM)
: He nodded a bit. "Go ahead and get settled. I have some phone calls to make."
Adrion (2:11:48 AM): "Oh... okay..." He held his bag and left off down the hall, grateful for the mindless box in the room. Flicking it on, he watched TV.
Phoenix (2:18:59 AM)
: After his calls were made and arrangements and all that, he came to his room and settled in, getting on pajamas and lying down watchign the news.
Adrion (2:19:49 AM): Adrion fell asleep fast and hard, head at the foot of the bed and hugging the fresh pillow to his cheek.
Phoenix (2:25:45 AM)
: It was a long, sleepless night, and he fell asleep around dawn.
Adrion (2:33:49 AM): He always slept long hours, waking up and feeling like shit. Groaning a bit, Adrion sat up in bed.
Phoenix (2:52:06 AM)
: Sprawled out in bed, after having shed all my pajamas, tangled up in the sheet.
Adrion (3:10:38 AM): He rubbed his shoulder and grumbled, eyes dark beneath.
Phoenix (3:11:08 AM)
: The phone rang but I was too dead asleep to even notice, this time rolling over onto my stomach.
Adrion (3:12:53 AM): Adrion looked at the phone on the wall and didn't answer it.
Phoenix (3:13:24 AM)
: The sheet fell lower on me as I got more tangled up, head under the pillow and pulling it down hard over me.
Adrion (3:15:24 AM): Stomach churning, he tried to ignore the feelings pulsing through him.
Phoenix (3:16:36 AM)
: Letting out a grumble, I curled up in a ball. I hadn't slept in days. All Iwanted was peace.
Adrion (3:18:33 AM): He felt nauseous and off balance, touching the wall and sliding down it.
Phoenix (3:19:06 AM)
: But it was to no avail. I couldn't sleep anymore if I tried. Tossing aside the pillow, I wrapped the sheet around my waist and made my way out of the room.
Adrion (3:20:05 AM): His body wasn't made to take the radiation and a beating on some dark street corner.
Phoenix (3:20:48 AM)
: I looked around, then w ent to check on him. "Hey...."I knelt down, touching his shoulder.
Adrion (3:22:01 AM): "What?" his voice cracked, but was quiet.
Phoenix (3:22:35 AM)
: "You look like you're about to pass out."
Adrion (3:25:54 AM): "Maybe I am."
Phoenix (3:26:47 AM)
: I frowned, gently helping him to his feet. "C'mon, let's get you back in bed."
Adrion (3:27:04 AM): "I was just in bed..." but he followed.
Phoenix (3:27:48 AM)
: Helping him up onto it, I gently pulled up the sheets around him.
Adrion (3:28:23 AM): Adrion sighed and looked at the detective.
Phoenix (3:29:28 AM)
: "Do you need anything?" I searched his face curiously, keeping a hold on the sheet wrapped loosely around my waist.
Adrion (3:30:34 AM): "Would you stay in here? I mean... its a big bead and everything... I just don't want to be alone."
Phoenix (3:31:18 AM)
: A soft smile and I nodded. "All right." Moving over to the other side of the bed, I crawled up and positioned myself against the pillows there.
Adrion (3:32:14 AM): His stomach started to settle and the anxiety slowly faded, but the weakness remained.
Phoenix (3:32:50 AM)
: I leaned against the headboard, watching him for a moment, all too aware that we were sharing the bed and I was naked beneath the flimsy sheet.

 

Phoenix (4:07:37 PM): Phoenix furrowed his brows. "Because all I am is a glorified bodyguard."
Adrion (4:17:49 PM): "And your point is...?
Phoenix (4:22:38 PM)
: "That I'm supposed to protect you when need be, not stay in your bed."
Adrion (4:25:54 PM): "Who says that’s not protection?"
Phoenix (5:01:00 PM)
: Phoenix pursed his lips. "Oh would you come off it?"
Adrion (5:01:27 PM): "What? It made me feel safer."
Phoenix (5:25:53 PM)
: Phoenix arched a brow. "Are you serious?"
Adrion (5:29:33 PM): "yeah, actually."
Phoenix (5:41:01 PM)
: Biting his lip, Phoenix looked a little sheepish. "Well, I didn't realize."
Adrion (5:41:53 PM): "Doesn't matter." he shrugged and went to find the phone and a carryout place
Phoenix (5:45:36 PM)
: Sighing, Phoenix laid back down and lost himself in thought again.
Adrion (5:47:29 PM): He got frustrated fast before a phone book fell out of the last place he looked, the tallest shelf in the front closet. A huff and he swears, his leg throbbing from where it hit.
Phoenix (5:49:40 PM)
: Phoenix blinked when he heard the loud thunk, grimacing a little.
Adrion (5:50:19 PM): "Motherfucker." he said louder, sitting down on the couch and flipping through-
Phoenix (5:53:48 PM)
: Biting his lip, Phoenix came out of the room and stood in the doorway. "Having problems out here?"
Adrion (5:56:43 PM): "I'm fine," he grumbled, flipping the pages with anger.
Phoenix (6:01:19 PM)
: Phoenix frowned. "Sure doesn't seem like it."
Adrion (6:01:53 PM): "yeah, well, the book fell on my ankle."
Phoenix (6:06:28 PM)
: "I'm sorry bout that. If we were at my place I'd have a drawer full of carryout packets you could've just looked through."
Adrion (6:09:06 PM): "Probably would of gotten paper cuts."
Phoenix (6:13:20 PM)
: Phoenix bit his lip, not wanting to laugh cuz he knew it wasn't supposed to be funny.
Adrion (6:17:01 PM): He pulled his legs up and dialed for a pizza.
Phoenix (6:20:33 PM)
: Going to the kitchen, Phoenix got a beer from the fridge.
Adrion (6:21:33 PM): "Bring me one!" he knew already what the older man was going for.
Phoenix (6:28:04 PM)
: Phoenix smirked, grabbing another and coming back out, dangling the bottle in front of Adrion's face.
Adrion (6:28:47 PM): "Thanks," another thing he found odd about the detective. He was definitely not 21.
Phoenix (6:34:33 PM)
: Phoenix popped open the tab on the beer and swigged a drink. "I figure you got enough shite going on in your life without having to worry about the drinking age."
Adrion (6:35:55 PM): "I don't worry about any other age." Or anything illegal.
Phoenix (9:12:56 PM): Phoenix nodded a bit. "Then nevermind me."
Adrion (9:14:25 PM): "I wasn't." He looked at him, "So you protect me but I can drink myself horny?"
Phoenix (9:21:09 PM)
: Phoenix furrowed his brows. "I'm only letting you have one."
Adrion (9:21:25 PM): A sigh, "What’s the fun in that?"
Phoenix (9:25:06 PM)
: Phoenix smirked. "We'll see how it goes."
Adrion (9:30:42 PM): "How what goes?"
Phoenix (9:33:31 PM)
: "If you can hold your liquor."
Adrion (9:36:08 PM): He knew he couldn't. He couldn't hold anything unless it was something to kill pain... then he could take loads. "Right."
Phoenix (9:41:05 PM)
: Phoenix nodded and flicked on the TV.
Adrion (9:46:53 PM): "Just the one, then." His eyes on the outside.
Phoenix (10:03:41 PM)
: "That's what I thought."
Adrion (10:05:44 PM): He glared at him now. He had no idea... he didn't know... "Oh fuck off."
Phoenix (10:11:29 PM)
: Phoenix looked to him. "I wasn’t being condescending."
Adrion (10:13:21 PM): "Yes, you were."
Phoenix (10:28:11 PM)
: "I was not. I've seen a lot of teens try to boast about being able to drink and they end up wrapping their cars around the trees."
Adrion (10:30:28 PM): "Do I look like I have a car?"
Phoenix (10:59:11 PM)
: "That was not how I meant it."
Adrion (11:02:26 PM): "How did you mean it?"
Phoenix (11:06:53 PM)
: "I meant that most people brag when they shouldn't is all, and the end results never pretty."
Adrion (11:09:32 PM): "So why am I only getting one beer? I don't care if I can't handle it."
Phoenix (11:15:48 PM)
: "I care."
Adrion (11:20:46 PM): "Oh what the fuck does that matter? I want to drink myself hazy, I will."
Phoenix (11:21:58 PM)
: "Oh you think so?"
Adrion (11:27:53 PM): Adrion just looked at him. It was that or the little white pills. And, right now, he wanted them both.
Phoenix (11:36:24 PM)
: "I am still a cop. This is bad enough.
Adrion (11:37:09 PM): "What? Worried they'll come check on us and I'll be doused in beer?"
Phoenix (11:40:34 PM)
: "No, I do have morals, ye know?"
Adrion (11:41:58 PM): "And I don't."
Phoenix (11:52:40 PM)
: "That's fine for you.
Adrion (11:53:09 PM): "You don't get it, do you?"
Phoenix (12:47:41 AM): "What am I supposed to get exactly?"
Adrion (1:01:20 AM): "That I don't really care much for being conscious."
Phoenix (1:08:00 AM)
: "Right. Well fine. Do whatever the hell you want then.
Adrion (1:08:56 AM): He smiled at that, sipping the last of his beer. When he got up, his ankle throbbed like a bitch still and he limped to the fridge.
Phoenix (1:27:24 AM)
: Phoenix watched him with a sigh, then went back to the program on the TV.
Adrion (1:31:02 AM): Coming back, he popped the top and opened the door as the pizza guy knocked.
Phoenix (1:32:40 AM)
: Phoenix looked over his shoulder. He loved how Adrion just opened the door without even checking.
Adrion (1:34:33 AM): He took the pizza and gave the money, shutting the door.
Phoenix (1:35:18 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head a bit, reminding himself to bring up that point later.
Adrion (1:37:25 AM): Adrion locked the door and didn't bother with the plate, sitting down with the box on his lap.
Phoenix (1:38:10 AM)
: Phoenix smelled the overwhelming scent of the pizza and turned to face the television more.
Adrion (1:44:03 AM): He took a slice and at it quietly, not all that hungry for anything in particular.
Phoenix (1:48:16 AM)
: Laying out across the chair, Phoenix tapped his hip over the bright ink there.
Adrion (1:48:30 AM): "You want some?"
Phoenix (1:50:01 AM)
: "Mmm, nah I'm good. Thanks though.” Phoenix looked at him upside down over t he side of the chair.
Adrion (1:52:08 AM): "Alright." He swigged more of the beer and ate.
Phoenix (1:52:49 AM)
: Watching the senseless show, Phoenix got a little smile on his face.
Adrion (1:57:33 AM): Adrion set the pizza box aside and sighed, finished with it.

Phoenix (3:27:03 PM)
: He let out a little chuckle, feeling relaxed for the first time in days.
Adrion (3:27:39 PM): "You sure you don't want some?"
Phoenix (3:32:22 PM)
: Phoenix glanced over again. "Nah, really, I'm good."
Adrion (3:34:40 PM): "Okay." He pushed the box to the other side of the couch, absently rubbing his stomach.
Phoenix (3:39:06 PM)
: Back to watching the show, Phoenix glanced down and casually inspected the tattoo on his hip, wondering how much it'd take to re-do some parts of it.
Adrion (3:39:46 PM): He watched him... quietly... and followed his eyes.
Phoenix (3:44:32 PM)
: Touching over the ink, he scrutinized a portion of it right over his hipbone and made a mental note to give the tattoo parlor a call in the morning.
Adrion (3:46:30 PM): "I only have one of those."
Phoenix (3:47:53 PM)
: Phoenix glanced over again, giving a small smile. "I had only one about.....four years ago."
Adrion (3:48:36 PM): "I didn't get that far," he said didn't and not haven't. Adrion wasn't sure he'd make it to another tattoo.
Phoenix (3:52:37 PM)
: Phoenix rose a brow at the choice of words and decided to remain quiet on that subject.
Adrion (3:53:50 PM): "Always think about it, though."
Phoenix (3:56:07 PM)
: "You should keep it in mind then." Phoenix nodded firmly and flicked the channel to a cartoon network.
Adrion (3:58:20 PM): "Yeah... maybe..." he got up slowly, picking up the box and heading for another beer.
Phoenix (4:00:36 PM)
: Grinning at a cartoon on, he leaned his head against the back of the chair, easily amused.
Adrion (4:02:25 PM): Setting it into the fridge, he bottle another top and went to sit down.
Phoenix (4:04:12 PM)
: Phoenix found himself giggling, actually fucking giggling.
Adrion (4:04:46 PM): Kicking out a recliner, he laid back.
Phoenix (4:05:56 PM)
: Phoenix covered his mouth and tried to keep himself in check.
Adrion (4:07:14 PM): "What the fuck did you take?"
Phoenix (4:07:29 PM)
: Phoenix blinked a bit. "Huh?"
Adrion (4:08:03 PM): Sipping the beer, "You're laughing at the Powder Puff girls."
Phoenix (4:10:01 PM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "I'm easily amused."
Adrion (4:11:40 PM): "By the gay trans devil?"
Phoenix (4:16:52 PM)
: "Yes." Phoenix nodded, lips twitching at the corners.
Adrion (4:18:25 PM): "He's cute."
Phoenix (4:20:03 PM)
: Phoenix quirked a brow. "Yeah, sure. In a Rocky Horror Picture Show way."
Adrion (4:21:25 PM): "I like his voice."
Phoenix (4:22:51 PM)
: "Mmm yeah, creepy." Phoenix laughed.
Adrion (4:23:31 PM): "mm.." the third beer was gone and he set the empty bottle down.
Phoenix (4:25:16 PM)
: Phoenix barely even noticed as he drummed his fingers on his stomach, goofy grin on his face.
Adrion (4:37:00 PM): Curling up, he tucked his hand under his cheek and closed his eyes.
Phoenix (4:44:55 PM)
: Looking over, he shook his head. The kid was gonna fall asleep, huh.
Adrion (5:01:26 PM): He turned a bit and coughed.
Phoenix (5:03:48 PM)
: Phoenix lowered the volume a little and watched quietly now.
Adrion (5:04:31 PM): Adrion rubbed the back of his neck, sighing.
Phoenix (5:13:56 PM)
: Getting up, he readjusted his shirt and headed into the kitchen, this time getting a water before heading out of the living room and to his own room.
Adrion (5:15:54 PM): "Bye."
Phoenix (5:17:59 PM)
: Phoenix paused in the hallway. "You were falling asleep."
Adrion (5:18:35 PM): "Not really... the beer made me relax."
Phoenix (5:19:22 PM)
: "Oh...well then I'm gonna go change, I'll be back in a minute."
Adrion (5:20:59 PM): He wondered what he needed to change for and looked at the TV.
Phoenix (5:22:09 PM)
: Phoenix dressed out of his jeans and stuff, putting on drawstring pants and kicking off his shoes, stretching a little as he slipped out of his shirt too and came back out, plopping into the seat.
Adrion (5:23:25 PM): His eyes were hazy and droopy, feeling a tightness in his stomach as his thoughts flitted around.
Phoenix (5:24:58 PM)
: Pulling up a leg, he flipped onto a menu to look through movies.
Adrion (5:30:33 PM): "Probably nothing on..." a long yawn.
Phoenix (5:32:06 PM)
: He shrugged. "Nothing else to do."
Adrion (5:32:53 PM): "mmm... yup..." a stretch and he scratched his side.
Phoenix (5:35:16 PM)
: Finding an old movie, he flicked it on and sat back.
Adrion (5:35:49 PM): Sitting up more, Adrion felt like everything was moving slow. Trails of light from things that weren't even moving...
Phoenix (5:39:11 PM)
: Scratching his head, Phoenix propped his cheek against his hand and watched the movie in silence.
Adrion (5:42:34 PM): He sighed and said something under his breath, trying to sit up straight.
Phoenix (5:48:38 PM)
: Phoenix heard him mutter something but paid no mind.
Adrion (5:49:32 PM): Giving up, he flopped back again, "Can you get me another beer?”
Phoenix (5:52:42 PM)
: Phoenix rose both his brows. "What? I'm your maid now too?" But he got up and snagged a beer, tossing it onto Adrion's lap.
Adrion (5:53:56 PM): He grinned and popped the top off it. "No, I just didn't want to fall on my face getting it."
Phoenix (5:59:18 PM)
: "Ah, right. That's always pleasant."
Adrion (6:00:40 PM): A little giggle and he drank more. He was hazy, yes, but it wasn't good enough to still know where you were.
Phoenix (6:06:19 PM)
: Phoenix shook his head. That kid was gonna be drunk in moments.
Adrion (6:07:12 PM): Adrion laid back, head flat against the couch cushions, and bent his knees so his feet touched the cushions.
Phoenix (6:17:34 PM)
: He would even bet that he'd be passed out soon.
Adrion (6:22:07 PM): "Second thought. This isn't going to work."
Phoenix (6:23:30 PM)
: Phoenix furrowed his brows. "What isn't?"
Adrion (6:24:04 PM): "the beer."
Phoenix (6:27:44 PM)
: "Ah, well I tried to tell you, but you didn't listen."
Adrion (6:29:14 PM): "No, you told me I wouldn't be able to handle it. I can handle it fine. I'm still completely aware."
Phoenix (6:33:22 PM)
: "Right. Well if you wanted to be in a daze you should've went for the hard liquor."
Adrion (6:35:47 PM): "Where's that?"
Phoenix (6:39:51 PM)
: Phoenix smirked. "Not here, sorry."
Adrion (6:41:52 PM): "What a help you are."
Phoenix (6:47:58 PM)
: "Well this isn't my place."
Adrion (6:48:17 PM): "I'll go with you if you buy me some rum?"
Phoenix (7:01:08 PM)
: Phoenix snorted. "And why would I do that?"
Adrion (7:01:35 PM): "I hurt," was all he said, voice soft.
Phoenix (7:04:48 PM)
: Phoenix let out a sigh. "Fine. Let's go."
Adrion (7:06:02 PM): He was surprised that the older man took that as incentive to drive to the store, sitting up.
Phoenix (7:10:28 PM)
: Phoenix slipped his shoes back on and went to get a shirt on, coming back out with his keys.
Adrion (7:11:01 PM): Adrion leaned against the wall before following him out.
Phoenix (7:16:05 PM)
: Going to his car, Phoenix unlocked the doors and got in, starting it up and making his way out of the driveway and towards town.
Adrion (7:16:36 PM): Everything flew by and he felt hazy... but more depressed, not less.
Phoenix (7:20:01 PM)
: Pulling up outside a small store, he parked and got out. "I'll be back in a minute.
Adrion (7:20:44 PM): He didn't get a chance to answer as the door shut.
Phoenix (7:24:34 PM)
: Phoenix made his way inside, going over to the counter and rattling off a little list of what he wanted.
Adrion (7:24:58 PM): Adrion toyed with the radio and finally shut it off.
Phoenix (7:28:59 PM)
: Coming back out with a few paper bags, he got into the car and set them on Adrion's lap.
Adrion (7:30:39 PM): They were heavy and he looked up, "what'd you buy?
Phoenix (7:34:31 PM)
: "A load of shite. You're not the only one that wants to drink."
Adrion (7:35:09 PM): "Okay." he nodded and unscrewed the rum bottle, sipping it while it was in the bag.
Phoenix (7:36:59 PM)
: Phoenix pulled away from the curb and made his way back to the house.
Adrion (7:37:29 PM): It burned hard down his throat and he made a face.
Phoenix (7:43:31 PM)
: "Yeah, nice isn't it?" Phoenix smirked.
Adrion (7:51:11 PM): "It's alright. If you're drinking to get drunk."
Phoenix (7:53:18 PM)
: "Well is that what you're doing?"
Adrion (7:54:04 PM): "Yup." and he took a longer swing, breathing hard through his nose.
Phoenix (7:58:10 PM)
: Phoenix nodded and came back upon the neighborhood, pulling up into the driveway and stopping.
Adrion (7:58:49 PM): Adrion bundled up the bottles and took them to the front door, overprotective of them.
Phoenix (12:23:13 AM)
: Getting out, Phoenix followed Adrion up to the door and unlocked it, letting him i n first.
Adrion (12:23:53 AM): He took the step up into the house and tried not to wobble.
Phoenix (12:35:00 AM)
: Shutting the door behind him, Phoenix tugged one bottle out of the bag in Adrion's arms and then went over to the couch.
Adrion (12:35:25 AM): He set them down on the small coffee table and took up the rum again, nursing the bottle
Phoenix (12:42:51 AM)
: Tipping back some of the whiskey, Phoenix had to smile. He needed this more than he'd ever admit.
Adrion (12:43:13 AM): "You stole the only Jack."
Phoenix (12:56:00 AM)
: "So sorry. I paid for it, come and get it if you want it so bad."
Adrion (12:56:33 AM): He set the rum down and sighed, coming and sitting on the arm of the chair.
Phoenix (12:57:08 AM)
: "Ah guess you did want it." Phoenix held out the bottle.
Adrion (12:57:51 AM): Straddling it, he settled his knee to the side of Phoenix.
Phoenix (1:04:56 AM)
: Phoenix watched him almost curiously, brow arched.
Adrion (1:07:59 AM): Adrion drank what he could of the whiskey, which ended up being several long gulps.
Phoenix (1:11:32 AM)
: Raising both brows, Phoenix gently coaxed the bottle away. "All right, that's enough."
Adrion (1:12:22 AM): "Taste better than the rum," his voice slightly slurred
Phoenix (1:27:07 AM)
: "Yeah, a bit, eh?" Phoenix knew he was almost shit-faced and he was amused.
Adrion (1:27:27 AM): "More than a bit."
Phoenix (1:38:42 AM)
: "Right." A nod and Phoenix was almost waiting f or him to fall over.
Adrion (1:39:15 AM): "mmm..." he tried to get his leg back from where it was squished next to Phoenix, sighing.
Phoenix (1:44:34 AM)
: Phoenix helped him out, lifting his leg for him and smirking.
Adrion (1:45:11 AM): "Thanks," his voice was definitely that of a smashed person and, better yet, his body was numb.
Phoenix (1:50:05 AM)
: Phoenix held back a laugh. "No problem, mate."
Adrion (1:50:55 AM): He got up from the chair arm but didn't want to make it to the couch, sitting on the floor and laying back on the thick carpet.
Phoenix (1:53:39 AM)
: Phoenix gazed down at him, then started to chug down t he bottle of whiskey.
Adrion (1:54:34 AM): "How come you get to finish the bottle?"
Phoenix (1:55:18 AM)
: "Because I bought it."
Adrion (1:57:40 AM): "Mmmph." he protested.
Phoenix (1:59:19 AM)
: Phoenix dangled the bottle over his head. "come and get it."
Adrion (1:59:56 AM): He sat up with difficulty, sighing and grabbing for it.
Phoenix (2:01:30 AM)
: Phoenix held it back just out of his reach.
Adrion (2:02:48 AM): "Come on!" On his knees, he reached up.
Phoenix (2:13:09 AM)
: Again he held it back, wickedly amused by this.
Adrion (2:13:45 AM): "Fuck you," he laid back down.
Phoenix (2:17:13 AM)
: "Oh jeez. Lighten up."
Adrion (2:17:46 AM): "I am lightened up. I'm just too lazy... to work for that bottle."
Phoenix (2:21:17 AM)
: "Fine, fine." Phoenix leaned down. "Here you go."
Adrion (2:21:53 AM): A grin and he grabbed it, wrapping lips around the neck of it and drinking.
Phoenix (2:26:51 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head. "You little lush." he laughed.
Adrion (2:27:25 AM): "Mmmph." was his only response.
Phoenix (2:30:42 AM)
: Leaning back in his seat, he just watched him.
Adrion (2:31:06 AM): The bottle was empty soon and he sighed, bringing hislips off it.
Phoenix (2:51:19 AM)
: Phoenix had turned his attention back to the tv, tapping his stomach.
Adrion (2:52:05 AM): "Okay... I'mmmm done."

Phoenix (4:40:26 PM): "Yeah...and you'reeee drunk."
Adrion (4:46:27 PM): "I was drunk before."
Phoenix (4:53:22 PM)
: "Well then you're smashed now."
Adrion (4:53:53 PM): He held a hand up and pointed a finger at him, "Exactly."
Phoenix (5:08:30 PM)
: Phoenix smirked, shaking his head. "I think someone needs to go sleep it off."
Adrion (5:09:19 PM): "If I wanted to sleep things off, I would of just went to sleep and said fuck the alcohol."
Phoenix (5:25:53 PM)
: Laughing, Phoenix nodded. "All right, never mind that."
Adrion (5:27:01 PM): "I like being conscious most of the time."
Phoenix (5:33:46 PM)
: "Well apparently not much so now.”
Adrion (5:36:34 PM): "I'm still conscious."
Phoenix (5:44:02 PM)
: "But for how much longer?
Adrion (5:44:53 PM): "Don't know," Adrion looked up at the ceiling and scratched his side.
Phoenix (5:55:44 PM)
: "I'd take a bet on not even a half-hour."
Adrion (5:57:29 PM): "I don't have anything to bet you with."
Phoenix (6:03:03 PM)
: Phoenix laughed. "I was only joking."
Adrion (6:10:22 PM): "I have a question for you."
Phoenix (6:11:42 PM)
: He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "What's that?"
Adrion (6:17:44 PM): "Why did you let me leave last time?"
Phoenix (6:22:28 PM)
: He frowned for a moment. "Because I didn't think it mattered. Obviously I wasn't someone who should've been watching you."
Adrion (6:23:21 PM): "Should of fucked me," his voice was sad.
Phoenix (6:26:29 PM)
: Phoenix sighed a bit, running a hand through his hair. "I wasn't going to do it just cuz you threatened me, Adrion."
Adrion (6:27:01 PM): "I didn't threaten you just so you'd do it."
Phoenix (6:27:46 PM)
: Arching a brow, Phoenix gazed at him. "No?"
Adrion (6:31:21 PM): "No," it had been because he really wanted it. The detective didn't understand because Adrion wouldn't tell him, but he wanted to be with someone just once.
Phoenix (6:34:49 PM)
: Nodding a bit, Phoenix licked over his lips. "Well, I’m sorry that I didn't give in...because I never wanted you to get hurt."
Adrion (6:36:00 PM): "I just want to be with someone," his voice quiet.
Phoenix (6:39:59 PM)
: Those words broke Phoenix's heart. Cracked it right down the middle. He found himself slipping down to kneel in front of Adrion. Touching the kid's cheeks, he looked him in the eyes. "Then be with me..."
Adrion (6:41:50 PM): The touch surprised him and he looked up, "You're drunk, too."
Phoenix (6:45:27 PM)
: "It'd take a lot more than that to get me drunk."
Adrion (6:46:37 PM): "mmm..." he looked up at him.
Phoenix (6:49:31 PM)
: Phoenix stared at him for a long moment, then closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to Adrion's.
Adrion (6:53:26 PM): Adrion brought his head up and sighed, letting his lips fall open.
Phoenix (6:55:12 PM)
: Cupping the back of his head, Phoenix deepened the kiss.
Adrion (6:57:04 PM): His arms went up and he wrapped them around Phoenix's neck, taste the whisky and rum between them.
Phoenix (7:02:35 PM)
: Pulling the boy into his lap, he slipped his tongue in between Adrion's lips, tasting him.
Adrion (7:07:52 PM): He adjusted his legs against him, straddling his hips happily.
Phoenix (7:16:45 PM)
: Phoenix reached down, cupping Adrion's ass and trailing his lips down the boy's throat.
Adrion (7:18:58 PM): "mmmph..." he sighed and tilted his head to the side, touching his chest.
Phoenix (7:27:01 PM)
: Phoenix sucked at the bump of his Adam’s apple, rubbing against him.
Adrion (7:29:38 PM): Adrion's fingers went up into his hair, his stomach a jumbled mess of emotion.
Phoenix (7:39:17 PM)
: Nipping at the skin, he rocked against him, hands at Adrion's thighs.
Adrion (7:42:24 PM): "Fuck me... please..." his voice breathless.
Phoenix (7:52:16 PM)
: Phoenix didn't respond, just laying Adrion back on the carpet and slipping him out of his pants, t hen easing out of his own, kneeling in between Adrion's parted legs and fingering him.
Adrion (7:56:25 PM): His fingers went down and gripped at Phoenix's shoulders. He'd done it plenty of times to himself... but never had it done by someone. Groaning, he pushed down.
Phoenix (8:05:34 PM)
: Pressing the fingers in deeper, he curved them, watching the expression on Adrion's face as he stretched him.
Adrion (8:06:30 PM): His mouth parted and he let out a quickened breath, parting his legs more.
Phoenix (8:11:36 PM)
: Scissoring his fingers, Phoenix leaned down, crushing Adrion's lips beneath his.
Adrion (8:13:27 PM): His breath hitched a bit and he closed his legs, trapping Phoenix's arm there.
Phoenix (8:15:14 PM)
: Phoenix laughed a little at that, moving his fingers as best he could.
Adrion (8:16:03 PM): His hands both came up and touched the other mans cheeks, licking his lip.
Phoenix (8:17:02 PM)
: Phoenix swirled his tongue over Adrion's and pushed open his legs again, pulling fingers out and pressing up against him.
Adrion (8:17:44 PM): He opened his mouth to say something and closed it again, continuing the kiss.
Phoenix (8:19:01 PM)
: Phoenix pulled back after a long moment, breathless. "Go ahead...what is it?"
Adrion (8:19:51 PM): "Nothing... I just... be careful..." his voice timid.
Phoenix (8:20:41 PM)
: Phoenix smiled softly. "I wouldn't be anything but,” he whispered, touching Adrion's cheek gently as he moved in slowly.
Adrion (8:22:10 PM): He felt an overwhelming urge to push him back out... to pull away... but he knew he wanted it, and waited for that invasive feeling to fade.
Phoenix (8:23:12 PM)
: Phoenix stroked Adrion's cheek softly, leaning down and giving him a tender kiss, not pressing in any harder, just rocking his hips slightly.
Adrion (8:28:39 PM): He laid there for a few moments, letting him do the work while he let himself adjust.
Phoenix (8:32:24 PM)
: Phoenix trailed his lips to the side of Adrion's neck, lifting his legs just a bit and changing angle as he pressed in deeper.
Adrion (8:35:32 PM): Opening his eyes again, he groaned and rolled his hips.
Phoenix (8:42:41 PM)
: Holding his legs there, Phoenix moved in and out steadily, eyes lustful as he stared down at Adrion.
Adrion (8:46:34 PM): He licked his lips and let out a shaky breath, his whole body following suit.
Phoenix (8:47:49 PM)
: Phoenix watched him intently, then brought up a hand, sliding it over Adrion's cock.
Adrion (8:49:25 PM): Another shiver and he groaned, low and sexy.
Phoenix (8:50:04 PM)
: Smirking, Phoenix jerked him in rhythm to his thrusts.
Adrion (8:53:22 PM): His back arched up and it was almost too good for him to handle, features riddled with pleasure.
Phoenix (8:54:44 PM)
: Licking over his lips at the expression on Adrion's face, he thumbed over the cum-soaked tip and gripped him hard in his fist.
Adrion (8:57:18 PM): Adrion's hips arched, hard and needily.
Phoenix (8:58:02 PM)
: As Phoenix probed deeper, his cock hitting resistance, he slid his hand down t o the base and gripped tight.
Adrion (8:59:33 PM): "Phoenix...." his voice was a heated whisper.
Phoenix (9:01:44 PM)
: His name on Adrion's lips made him buck into that spot, groaning loudly.
Adrion (9:04:47 PM): He brought his hands down and gripped at Phoenix's ass.
Phoenix (9:12:36 PM)
: Thrusting just a bit harder now, pressing into the spot, he jerked up and let go, then gripped again.
Adrion (9:13:13 PM): He sought his mouth out and covered it with his own, groaning harder now.
Phoenix (9:23:39 PM)
: The kiss was heated, hungry, and wet, mixed with tongues and he kept rocking into him faster.
Adrion (12:29:27 AM): His moans were shaky and incoherent, the carpet beneath him burning at his back.
Phoenix (12:34:38 AM)
: Phoenix wanted to make him cum, long and hard. Make him shake and shiver.
Adrion (12:40:45 AM): He reached about and found Phoenix's hand, wrapping it around his cock and stroking him off with fingers between his.
Phoenix (12:41:27 AM)
: At that, he smirked and gripped Adrion tighter, jerking harder as he shoved in past resistance.
Adrion (12:43:46 AM): Sucking in his stomach tightly, he felt himself release across his stomach and their hands.
Phoenix (12:44:28 AM)
: Phoenix gently let go of Adrion's cock and lifted his hand to lick at his palm as he kept moving inside him, eyes rolled back a bit till he came.
Adrion (12:45:06 AM): Adrion felt his cum fill him and let out a soft breath, closing his eyes.
Phoenix (12:53:22 AM)
: Breathing in and out heavily, Phoenix braced himself over him.
Adrion (12:58:16 AM): It felt too amazing to pull away... too satisfying.
Phoenix (1:00:48 AM)
: Hanging his head, he closed his eyes and tried to calm his beating heart.
Adrion (1:02:02 AM): "You have no idea what you just did for me..." his voice soft.
Phoenix (1:08:10 AM)
: Phoenix opened his eyes and looked down at Adrion. "Ditto."
Adrion (1:09:48 AM): He looked back at him and gave a shaky smile, head swarming from the alcohol.
Phoenix (1:12:52 AM)
: Slowly Phoenix slid out of him and hovered there, touching a hand to his cheek.
Adrion (1:13:53 AM): A little sound of discontent left him at that.
Phoenix (1:16:58 AM)
: "What?" Phoenix stroked his cheek lightly.
Adrion (1:17:19 AM):  "Guess I just liked that feeling."
Phoenix (1:18:01 AM)
: "Oh..."Phoenix nodded a bit, understanding.
Adrion (1:27:43 AM): He reached around for his boxers and lazily pulled them on, not much energy to do anything else.
Phoenix (1:28:43 AM)
: "Want me...to take you to bed?"
Adrion (1:30:09 AM): It was a sentence he wished he'd heard more often. Usually, there was a blowjob and jerking involved... and if he fell asleep, the other guy would jab him awake to walk himself to bed. "Yes..." a small nod, smiling a bit.
Phoenix (1:34:16 AM)
: Phoenix carefully hoisted Adrion up, aware now just how fragile he was now that he had him in his arms, and carried him to the bedroom, laying him down tentatively.
Adrion (1:34:53 AM): He curled up to his chest before being set down, smiling to himself. If he died right now, that would be fine by him.
Phoenix (1:36:46 AM)
: Phoenix debated on staying, then thought to hell with it and crawled up into the bed, pulling Adrion close.
Adrion (1:38:29 AM): He took a moment to get comfortable against him, "you didn't leave."
Phoenix (1:41:55 AM)
: Phoenix rubbed Adrion's back lightly. "Didn't want to."
Adrion (1:42:52 AM): "Good... because I didn't want you to, either," he sighed and let him rub his back.
Phoenix (1:46:22 AM)
: Phoenix smiled softly and rested his cheek against the younger man's hair. He was in so deep now, he didn't know if there was any getting out.
Adrion (1:49:26 AM): "Thank you."
Phoenix (1:52:15 AM)
: "Mm, don't thank me," he whispered, pressing a kiss to Adrion's temple.
Adrion (1:56:10 AM): "I wanted to."
Phoenix (1:57:54 AM)
: "All right...fine." Phoenix chuckled and rested his hands on Adrion's lower back, closing his eyes. "Goodnight, Adrion."
Adrion (1:58:51 AM): "Night..." he said softly.
Phoenix (2:01:26 AM)
: Phoenix held the boy in his arms and rocked him to sleep, feeling a connection now he couldn't place.
Adrion (2:02:06 AM): "Mmm..." the soft movement helped him fall asleep, any pains or worries gone.
Phoenix (2:03:44 AM)
: Phoenix watched him sleep and smiled to himself before he too drifted off.
Adrion (2:04:30 AM): The next morning was lazy and painful. The alcohol had made him invincible... now his body ached with all its normal pains.

Phoenix (1:57:24 PM)
: One arm tucked under his cheek, Phoenix laid with his hair over his face, his other arm lazily splayed over Adrion's side.
Adrion (1:58:40 PM): He turned onto his back and sighed, feeling all his muscles stretch a bit.
Phoenix (2:01:03 PM)
: Phoenix let out a small groan and curved his arm up to his chest, nudging his head under the pillow.
Adrion (2:02:46 PM): Adrion slipped off the bed and knelt down next to his bag, almost falling over but gripping the mattress as he sought out his everday meds.

Phoenix (2:05:17 PM): The phone rang out in the livingroom but Phoenix merely mumbled something and shoved his head under the pillow.
Adrion (2:05:48 PM): He got his normal glass of water and drank them down, throwing in an extra pain pill as he looked at the phone on the small nightstand
Phoenix (2:07:03 PM)
: And still it rang and Phoenix reached out blindly, yanking it from the nightstand and under the pillow. "Ello?"
Adrion (2:07:28 PM): Tossing the paper cup out, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
Phoenix (2:08:39 PM)
: "Yes. Yes, I know. All right. Yes. Bye." Phoenix tossed the phone aside and lifted himself up a bit, shoving the pillow off his head.
Adrion (2:08:52 PM): "who was that?
Phoenix (2:10:55 PM)
: He rubbed his face and looked at Adrion with a yawn. "My boss."
Adrion (2:11:59 PM): "And?"
Phoenix (2:15:06 PM)
: "And I have to get my arse up and come in and bring you with me."
Adrion (2:16:01 PM): "Already?"
Phoenix (2:20:05 PM)
: "I can't leave you here now can I?"
Adrion (2:20:51 PM): "Oh..." he nodded. He only wanted to take him in because he couldn't be left alone. "Alright."
Phoenix (2:21:59 PM)
: "I wish I didn't have to go and we could stay here, but when he says jump, unfortunately I have to say how high. But I can get you some breakfast before, how's that sound?"
Adrion (2:27:41 PM): "Oh..." he nodded. He only wanted to take him in because he couldn't be left alone. "Alright."
Phoenix (2:30:15 PM)
: Phoenix slid off the bed, tousling Adrion's hair with a grin and went to take a shower.
Adrion (2:31:08 PM): He sat and waited so he could take his own shower.
Phoenix (2:32:53 PM)
: After a quickie, he got out, toweling off and making his way to his room to change.
Adrion (2:33:23 PM): Adrion watched him go by quietly before standing up to go into the bathroom.
Phoenix (2:35:21 PM)
: Getting on normal work clothes, he towel dried his hair and got his bag, holstering his gun in the small of his back.

Adrion (3:16:55 PM): He took his time, letting the hot water work at his muscles before getting out and getting dressed. He hated these clothes... they weren't like him at all. They were plain and said nothing about him.
Phoenix (3:18:11 PM)
: Phoenix waited at the door, leaning against the wall.
Adrion (3:19:09 PM): He searched around and found a pair of scissors and a permanent marker, fucking up the pair of jeans so they felt more like himself. Tugging his shirt on, he went out into the front room.
Phoenix (4:12:24 PM)
: Phoenix arched a brow. "Very nice." He smirked.
Adrion (4:12:48 PM): Adrion looked up at him, furrowing his brows up.
Phoenix (4:17:22 PM)
: Phoenix gestured to his little ensemble with a playful smile.
Adrion (4:18:51 PM): "Oh... yeah... Clothes were making me uncomfortable..."
Phoenix (4:24:00 PM)
: Nodding, Phoenix opened the door. "It suits you now."
Adrion (4:26:04 PM): "Not enough." he looked at his tshirt and followed him out of the house and into the car.
Phoenix (4:27:19 PM)
: "Maybe I'll have to iron something on that later." Phoenix remarked with a knowing smirk, sliding into the car and pulling out of the driveway.
Adrion (4:28:01 PM): "Cheaper than the real thing. Same message." he slid into the car and sighed.
Phoenix (4:30:08 PM)
: Heading towards town, Phoenix glanced over at him. "what do you want for breakfast?"
Adrion (4:31:49 PM): He hooked his arm around his head and scratched the back of his neck, "Um... Pancakes?"
Phoenix (4:34:00 PM)
: Laughing, Phoenix smiled. "Pancakes it is."
Adrion (4:44:34 PM): Adrion toyed with the frayed material on his jeans and looked down.
Phoenix (4:48:43 PM)
: Pulling up at a restaurant, he parked and got out.
Adrion (4:50:50 PM): Following, they sat down and ordered their food, Adrion looking at him.
Phoenix (4:52:01 PM)
: Phoenix fiddled with a fork, raising his head to meet Adrion's gaze.
Adrion (4:55:49 PM): "I don't like you so much dressed up like that." he pointed to the clothes.
Phoenix (4:56:25 PM)
: "Well when I'm not off-duty this is what I have to wear."
Adrion (5:02:50 PM): "Oh, I know. I as just saying. You looked less like an asshole in street clothes..." he grinned a bit, joking with him.
Phoenix (5:03:43 PM)
: Phoenix smirked. "Why thank you. I'm so flattered."
Adrion (5:04:09 PM): "You should be. Some cops always look like their job."
Phoenix (5:04:50 PM)
: "I couldn't stand that. I have my street clothes. What I'm comfortable in. Fuck this shite." He gestured at himself.
Adrion (5:21:59 PM): He smiled and sat back a bit, sipping his drink when the food was set down.

Phoenix (11:41:35 PM): Phoenix gave the waitress a small smile and dug into his food, checking his watch.
Adrion (11:42:09 PM): "So... what do you have to go in for?"
Phoenix (11:43:17 PM)
: "Some stupid lead he said another street officer seems to have."
Adrion (11:46:15 PM): "Did he tell you what it was?" he finished up his food fast/
Phoenix (11:53:37 PM)
: "No, see if he did that I could come up with an excuse not to come in."
Adrion (11:54:36 PM): He looked at the bill before handing it over, sipping his drink. "Better get going then."
Phoenix (12:00:23 AM)
: Phoenix grumbled under his breath. "Yeah yeah..."He grabbed the bill and pulled out money for it, then got to his feet.
Adrion (12:01:15 AM): Adrion got his drink in a to go cup and waited behind him at the register.
Phoenix (12:04:04 AM)
: After paying, Phoenix turned and left the restaurant, heading back into the car and making his way in the direction of the station.
Adrion (12:04:48 AM): He sighed and watched out the window, sliding down into the seat. He didn't want to go back to Santa Cruz.
Phoenix (12:06:16 AM)
: Following the signs, Phoenix bit at his lip and found himself getting agitated all over again.
Adrion (12:07:23 AM): "Do you think you could drop me off at the hospital? I want to get my results back."
Phoenix (12:12:40 AM)
: "Drop you off?" Phoenix looked at him. "What part of I have to keep an eye on you don't you get?"
Adrion (12:13:41 AM): "Its a hospital, what could happen?"
Phoenix (12:16:09 AM)
: "Don't ask that question..."Phoenix pressed his lips together.
Adrion (12:16:54 AM): "Can another officer take me, then? When you're talking to your boss?"
Phoenix (12:18:46 AM)
: Phoenix sighed. "Sure...I'll see what I can do."
Adrion (12:20:15 AM): A small smile, "Thank you."
Phoenix (12:22:31 AM)
: Nodding, he turned onto the interstate and finally they were pulling up onto the street of the precinct and Phoenix parked in back. He searched around for an officer that was free. "Daniel, hey! Yes, you. C'mere a minute."
Adrion (12:23:02 AM): He waited at his side, looking at the other officer.
Phoenix (12:27:47 AM)
: Tall and lanky, with dark hair and bright blue eyes, Officer Danvers came over, scratching the back of his neck.

 

"Yes'sir."

 

"You need to escort Mr. Greene for a bit while I'm in a meeting with the captain."

 

"Okay, sir." Danvers turned to Adrion, giving him a sheepish grin.
Adrion (12:28:15 AM): Adrion smiled just a little bit before being lead out to a squad car.
Phoenix (12:30:47 AM)
: Phoenix made his way to the captain's office and Officer Danvers made his way to his squad car, unlocking it and slipping in. "So er..where to?
Adrion (12:31:56 AM): "Sutter..." his voice quiet, he named off the hospital and got in.
Phoenix (12:32:56 AM)
: Daniel nodded and pulled out of the lot, heading towards the local hospital.
Adrion (12:33:40 AM): "I have to get some results back... see the doctor... shouldn't be too long..." he was lying, of course, but hoped it sounded plausible. He didn't know how he could lie about the next chemo he needed to be in for.
Phoenix (12:40:11 AM)
: Daniel looked at him a bit with a raised brow. "I'll put a blanket in the back for you after everything's done. It should take an hour or so, right?" He said nonchalantly. He'd had a sister that'd went through this. He knew what people that went through chemo looked like.
Adrion (12:40:47 AM): He knew what he was saying but pretended he didn't, "What are you talking about?"
Phoenix (12:46:54 AM)
: "Okay, so you pretend I don't know and I'll pretend I don't know, and meanwhile I'll get things set for when you get back."
Adrion (12:50:29 AM): "What is it that you think you know, officer?"
Phoenix (12:52:45 AM)
: Daniel cocked his head. "You're taking chemo. I know what the signs are. My sister went through it enough for me to tell the signs. So just go do what you have to do."
Adrion (12:53:25 AM): Adrion clenched his jaw a little. "I could be a recovering drug addict. Or recovering anything, for that matter."
Phoenix (12:55:57 AM)
: Daniel shook his head. "That's all different. I've seen plenty of those too. Are you going to really argue a fact with me or go to your appt?"
Adrion (12:58:13 AM): "I don't have one," his voice was quiet, "I was hoping they would take me in because I missed my last one."
Phoenix (1:00:05 AM)
: Daniel tapped his fingers on the wheel, then nodded. "C'mon. Let's see if we can fix this." He slid out of the car and nodded for Adrion to follow him.
Adrion (1:02:43 AM): He sighed and shut the door. He didn't want to tell people. It was bad enough he'd gotten hurt once on the street by God knows who... but if they knew, he'd turn into an even bigger liability. "I don't... I don't know if they'll take me, either... insurance...

Phoenix (1:05:04 AM)
: Daniel nodded. "I know. But we'll see. It's not your fault shit happened." He opened the main door, letting Adrion go in first them made his way to a familiar counter, talking with a nurse he'd known for years.
Adrion (1:05:48 AM): Adrion sighed. What did insurance companies and hospitals care about his lack of insurance. It meant he couldn't pay.
Phoenix (1:12:06 AM)
: With a nod, Daniel got out his wallet, talking with the nurse still then slipping a card across the desk to her before signing a slip of paper.
Adrion (1:19:22 AM): "How is that supposed to work?"
Phoenix (1:22:58 AM)
: Daniel glanced over at him. "It's called pulling strings. Do you want your treatment or not?"
Adrion (1:24:39 AM): Adrion looked at him like he was an idiot. "That’s like asking if I want to die."
Phoenix (1:26:56 AM)
: Daniel shrugged. "Some people do."
Adrion (1:29:18 AM): He'd thought about it, of course, "Not this way, I don't."
Phoenix (1:30:33 AM)
: Daniel nodded and gestured to a seat. "Then plop that ass of yours down on a chair and wait your turn."
Adrion (1:37:15 AM): Adrion sat down quietly and waited, "I didn't want them to know. Makes me look weak. I don't want them to think I can't do my job in this."
Phoenix (1:38:15 AM)
: Daniel clasped his hands and looked over at Adrion a bit. "There have been people on oxygen tanks that were witnesses. Having something like this doesn't make you weak, it makes you human."
Adrion (1:39:09 AM): "I don't want them to know, alright?"
Phoenix (1:39:41 AM)
: A nod and Daniel sighed a bit. "All right, I won't say anything."
Adrion (1:43:10 AM): "Thank you." his name was called moments later and he got up, leaving his bag with Dani.
Phoenix (1:43:55 AM)
: Sitting back, Daniel closed his eyes. What a day this was turning out to be.
Adrion (1:44:34 AM): He spent the next hour with machines and a talk with his doctor, slipping back out and walking quietly over.
Phoenix (1:45:39 AM)
: Daniel got up, touching his arm lightly. "C'mon," he said softly, leading Adrion back out to the car. And just as he'd promised, there was a blanket and pillow in the backseat.
Adrion (1:46:11 AM): "You just carry this around... with you?" he laid himself down, bag near his feet, and the door shut.
Phoenix (1:48:05 AM)
: Daniel slipped back into the front seat and started the car again. "I had to escort my sister once or twice."
Adrion (1:48:44 AM): "What did she have?"
Phoenix (1:50:14 AM)
: Daniel drove along, lips pursed. "Leukemia."
Adrion (1:50:43 AM): "How is she?"
Phoenix (1:52:49 AM)
: Daniel tensed up a moment. "She's dead." He turned a corner, coming back around towards the precinct.
Adrion (1:54:44 AM): And here he was hoping he'd get some sort of miracle story. Instead, his mood dropped to a new low. "I'm sorry..." and he meant it.
Phoenix (1:55:42 AM)
: "It wasn’t because of the cancer though. She was in remission." He pursed his lips together, pulling back up into the back of the precinct and shutting off the car.
Adrion (1:56:59 AM): So what he was saying was that Adrion could live, but fuck knows if he could get killed by a random accident. Sitting up, he looked at him through the bars to the front seat.
Phoenix (1:58:46 AM)
: Daniel met his gaze in the rearview. "Her and Detective James's wife were good friends. They went out a night to celebrate and boom, they get carjacked...raped...and murdered. All when life was supposed to be so damn good."
Adrion (1:59:59 AM): He chewed his lip a little and looked away from the locked gaze. "I'm sorry..."
Phoenix (2:00:53 AM)
: "Don't be. It's the shitty side of life me and him have seen every day."
Adrion (2:02:25 AM): Adrion waited for him to let him out, feeling as sick and woozy as normal.
Phoenix (2:02:47 AM)
: "Maybe you should lay back there for a bit."
Adrion (2:03:57 AM): "He's already going to wonder why I was gone so long."
Phoenix (2:04:41 AM)
: "If he had, he'd of called. He's probably still in with the captain and lost track of time. He does that a lot lately."
Adrion (2:05:14 AM): Adrion sighed and moved to lay back down.
Phoenix (2:06:32 AM)
: Sitting sideways in the front seat, Dani rubbed at the back of his neck, gazing outside.
Adrion (2:07:25 AM): "Can you roll your windows down?" he asked softly, knowing the back ones didn't.
Phoenix (2:08:22 AM)
: "Sure." Dani rolled down the front two windows and felt the cool breeze waft in.
Adrion (2:09:33 AM): He hugged the pillow and closed his eyes, not feeling up for falling asleep but for talk, actually. "I have a tumor..." his voice quietly, "One they don't want to operate on..." and pointed near his spine and just mere inches from his brain.
Phoenix (2:11:02 AM)
: Dani looked down into the backseat at him and frowned a bit. "So they wanna see if they can shrink it, hmm?"
Adrion (2:12:16 AM): Adrion nodded a little, gazing at the back of the seat.
Phoenix (2:13:13 AM)
: "Well, I'll hold out for you then, seeing as I'm the only one that has a clue around here."
Adrion (2:13:37 AM): "Hold out for me?”
Phoenix (2:14:44 AM)
: "Yeah...say a prayer...give out good thoughts...it's what I used to do for my sister. She lied to me and said it worked, made me feel better."
Adrion (2:15:46 AM): "No one ever bothered to do any of that for me..." his voice soft, "I don't think they did it when I was seven, either."
Phoenix (2:16:17 AM)
: Dani bit his lip. "Then I'll try to make up for as much as I can." He winked, smiling softly.
Adrion (2:19:11 AM): "You don't have to do that... but thank you...." he smiled a little and looked at him.
Phoenix (2:20:41 AM)
: "You're welcome." He met Adrion's eyes briefly, then looked away, fiddling with a strand of dark hair at the back of his neck.
Adrion (2:22:48 AM): "Are you gay?" his voice quiet and he regretted the question, hating how awkward it felt.
Phoenix (2:23:37 AM)
: Dani let out a laugh. "I swear Raine was right when she said I should put a rainbow patch on my uniform."
Adrion (2:24:20 AM): Adrion shook his head, "Actually, not many people would pick it up.. I mean, you seem relatively normal... I just... can pick it up most the time."
Phoenix (2:25:00 AM)
: "Normal, eh?" Dani quirked a brow. "And what is this normal of which you speak?"
Adrion (2:25:49 AM): "Meaning you're not flicking your wrist and talking like what everyone thinks a gay man sounds like."
Phoenix (2:26:26 AM)
: "Ah, I see. But I can so do that one, honey." Dani flicked his wrist. "Pish." And then burst into laughter. "God that was awful."
Adrion (2:27:46 AM): "You can't even do it right." he smiled and laughed a bit.
Phoenix (2:29:30 AM)
: Dani shrugged. "Guess I'm not a gay man's gay man. If that made any sense." He smirked, blue eyes twinkling.
Adrion (2:30:11 AM): "Oh, I think you are. No gay man would look at you and not want you."
Phoenix (2:30:53 AM)
: "Is that so?" Dani chuckled a bit. "And do you want me?"

Adrion (3:10:34 PM)
: Adrion paused a moment and laid his head back against the seat, "Sure."
Phoenix (3:11:36 PM)
: Nodding a little, Dani just smiled and rested his head against the side of the car.
Adrion (3:14:27 PM): "You're hot enough. And you don't look like an asshole in uniform."
Phoenix (3:16:17 PM)
: At that, Dani laughed. "Well that was my goal"
Adrion (3:16:55 PM): Adrion smiled a little, his eyes closed.
Phoenix (3:25:12 PM)
: Gazing around, then down at the boy in the backseat, Dani ran a hand through his messy hair and chewed at his bottom lip.
Adrion (3:25:35 PM): "Do you know what he wanted to talk to Detective James about?" quietly.
Phoenix (3:47:02 PM)
: "Something about an old case being reopened."
Adrion (3:47:47 PM): "Oh." He'd thought it would be something important like evidence or something. So far all they had was Adrion's word.
Phoenix (3:49:36 PM)
: Dani sighed. "I have a feeling which one too."
Adrion (3:51:18 PM): Adrion could only guess from what he'd told him not too long ago.
Phoenix (4:01:17 PM)
: Running a hand through his hair, Dani felt his heart tug a bit.
Adrion (4:02:42 PM): "What does that have to do with this case?"
Phoenix (4:11:47 PM)
: "Same people acquitted the guy that did it."
Adrion (4:15:36 PM): "what people?"
Phoenix (4:16:04 PM)
: "The man and woman that are suspects in the murder case Detective James is working on."
Adrion (4:17:45 PM): "Oh..." he chewed his lip and looked out the window.
Phoenix (4:19:13 PM)
: Dani turned back around completely and rubbed over the steering wheel, waiting for a phone call from Phoenix.
Adrion (4:19:46 PM): "We should go back in."
Phoenix (4:21:06 PM)
: "Yeah." Dani nodded and rolled up the windows, then got out, opening the backdoor.
Adrion (4:23:24 PM): Adrion settled his bag around him, adjusting his tshirt, and followed the officer back into the building.
Phoenix (4:25:50 PM)
: Opening the door leading into the building, Dani let Adrion go in first before following him inside and shutting and locking the door behind him
Adrion (4:27:13 PM): He fidgeted a bit, sitting down.
Phoenix (4:28:45 PM)
: "Well....I'll see you later then." Dani gave him a soft smile.
Adrion (4:29:22 PM): "I hope so..." quietly.
Phoenix (4:44:04 PM)
: Dani glanced at him a bit and quirked a brow, then with his smile a bit brighter, he walked off.

Adrion (7:00:03 PM): Adrion sat there and waited, his head back against the wall and his eyes closed.
Phoenix (7:09:06 PM)
: It was another half-hour before Phoenix stepped out of the office looking worn and weary.
Adrion (7:13:09 PM): He'd fallen asleep despite all the noise, curled up between three chairs.
Phoenix (7:14:05 PM)
: Rubbing over his face, Phoenix came over and touched Adrion's shoulder.
Adrion (7:14:51 PM): He blinked a bit, startled, and looked up.
Phoenix (7:16:59 PM)
: "Hey...we can go now."
Adrion (7:19:36 PM): A small nod, "alright," and he followed him.
Phoenix (7:26:17 PM)
: Back in his car, Phoenix started it and made his way back towards the safe house.
Adrion (7:26:42 PM): "Anything interesting?"
Phoenix (7:29:51 PM)
: Phoenix looked over at him. "Nothing I can discuss with you."
Adrion (7:31:15 PM): "Won't I hear it in court?"
Phoenix (7:32:30 PM)
: "No." Phoenix took a turn a little fast.
Adrion (7:33:26 PM): Adrion blinked a bit and touched the door handle, "Oh."
Phoenix (7:34:03 PM)
: "It won't make it to court. None of it's viable, so they say. Fucking bastards." Phoenix slapped the wheel angrily.
Adrion (7:36:11 PM): "I thought you couldn't talk about it."

Phoenix (10:16:46 PM)
: "I didn't really talk about it did I?"
Adrion (10:18:03 PM): "Forget it."
Phoenix (10:18:51 PM)
: "I'm trying to." He drove with his eyes staring straight ahead.
Adrion (10:23:21 PM): The ride stayed silent for a long while before they finally entered the neighborhood. As Phoenix pulled the car up, Adrion opened his mouth again. "It was my parents, wasn't it? That’s why it ties together."
Phoenix (10:24:29 PM)
: Parking, Phoenix let his gaze land on Adrion. "What are you talking about? What ties together?"
Adrion (10:26:43 PM): "What’s going on right now and what you were talking about with your captain. They're the lawyers that got off the guys that killed your wife. They get everyone off no matter if they did it or not." he got out of the car.
Phoenix (10:28:35 PM)
: Phoenix sat there for a long moment, then his hands gripped the wheel tight and he let out a curse of obscenities. Stalking out of the car and up into the house, he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Dani's number. "You stupid sonofabitch!" He yelled into the phone, going into his room and slamming the door shut.
Adrion (10:29:57 PM): Adrion didn't care much that he didn't want him to know. Know he knew why Phoenix was so resistant to him.
Phoenix (10:31:48 PM)
: After raging at the top of his voice, he just flung the phone across the room, seething.
Adrion (10:34:12 PM): He sat down in the front room quietly and looked at the walls. He wouldn't bother to pursue him... Adrion didn't want to push anymore.
Phoenix (10:49:02 PM)
: Coming out of the room, Phoenix grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down in a chair in the living room.
Adrion (10:50:56 PM): He flinched a bit when Phoenix sat down, waiting for him to yell.
Phoenix (10:53:16 PM)
: Taking a sip of the beer, he stared across the room and said nothing.
Adrion (11:02:24 PM): He couldn't take it anymore. It was too intense. "Why didn’t you tell me?"
Phoenix (11:15:32 PM)
: "Because I didn't."
Adrion (11:16:37 PM): Adrion rolled his eyes. "Obviously you didn't."
Phoenix (11:25:06 PM)
: "So it doesn't fucking matter."
Adrion (11:26:37 PM): "It does. Because I found out and now you're pissed.
Phoenix (11:27:06 PM)
: "Yes, because tall, pretty, and stupid had to open his big mouth.
Adrion (11:27:50 PM): "Because he could talk to me and you can't."
Phoenix (11:34:01 PM)
: "Because I don't NEED to tell you things about my past."
Adrion (11:36:47 PM): "When it's about my parents, you do."
Phoenix (11:38:11 PM)
: "No, I don't."Phoenix took another longer swig.
Adrion (11:41:08 PM): "It would of helped me understand why you're a prick to me without a reason."
Phoenix (11:41:40 PM)
: "I'm not a prick to you! I...god, I slept with you. I took care of you. When was I a prick?!"
Adrion (11:46:55 PM): "In the beginning. And you did it because of them. I know you did."
Phoenix (11:50:09 PM)
: He sighed and clenched his jaw. "Fine...maybe I did. But you're nothign like them."
Adrion (11:54:58 PM): "You noticed that too?"
Phoenix (11:56:17 PM)
: "Of course I noticed that. You have a conscience."
Adrion (11:57:30 PM): "They didn't really raise me..." he shrugged
Phoenix (12:00:49 AM)
: "I could've figured that out from the different last name and how cold they are."
Adrion (12:06:19 AM): "That wasn't really what I meant."
Phoenix (12:11:38 AM)
: "Yeah I know how you meant it."
Adrion (12:15:27 AM): Adrion looked at him. "So do you just sleep with guys because you miss your wife? Or are you really gay?"
Phoenix (12:17:15 AM)
: Phoenix laughed bitterly. "I was both, thank you. I loved her with all my heart, and before her I dated a guy."
Adrion (12:31:29 AM): "Alright..." he nodded, "Its just... lot of guys think its easier to get some kid into bed than a girl. They're more work."
Phoenix (12:33:08 AM)
: "Well I'm not a lot of guys."
Adrion (12:35:34 AM): "You don't have to say that. I know."
Phoenix (12:36:15 AM)
: Phoenix nodded. "So long as you do."
Adrion (12:54:57 AM): "They've done worse..." his voice soft.
Phoenix (12:56:08 AM)
: "Oh I'm sure they have."
Adrion (12:58:22 AM): "I don't hear of a lot of it... I was never home, you know?"
Phoenix (12:59:43 AM)
: Another nod and Phoenix fiddled with the empty bottle of beer.
Adrion (1:02:02 AM): He got up and quietly came over, "I hate them as much as you."
Phoenix (1:02:38 AM)
: Phoenix looked up at him and sighed. "Guess we have something in common then."
Adrion (1:03:44 AM): "Thought maybe there was more than that."
Phoenix (1:08:46 AM)
: "Well...."Phoenix smiled. "I'm sure there is."
Adrion (1:12:21 AM): A quiet moment. "You're friend Daniel is pretty sexy."
Phoenix (1:13:08 AM)
: Chuckling, Phoenix nodded. "I thought so too for about.."He counted on his fingers, "Two and a half years."
Adrion (1:14:19 AM): "Ever with him?"
Phoenix (1:16:54 AM)
: Phoenix smirked. "That's what the counting was for." He winked.
Adrion (1:17:30 AM): "Ah... didn't work out?"
Phoenix (1:20:48 AM)
: "We were too good of friends. It just...got in the way."
Adrion (1:25:17 AM): "How does that get in the way?"
Phoenix (1:26:33 AM)
: "Because he went in one direction and I went in the other, and even if we cared about each other, we weren't in love or anything. I met my late wife and he got a boyfriend."
Adrion (1:27:57 AM): "He's good to talk to, too."
Phoenix (1:29:10 AM)
: "Yeah, that he is. A sweetheart, ol' Dani, even if he can't keep his mouth shut." Phoenix smirked.
Adrion (1:29:42 AM): "I liked that about him."
Phoenix (1:30:17 AM)
: "Of course. I'll have to tell him that, see him blush ten shades of scarlet."
Adrion (1:31:26 AM): Adrion smiled a bit. "I'll tell him. Maybe it'll be 20 shades."
Phoenix (1:31:43 AM)
: "Ooo, there we go. That'd make my day."
Adrion (1:32:44 AM): "Think he would go for a threesome? Or am I too inexperience for that?"
Phoenix (1:33:12 AM)
: Phoenix snorted, leaning back in his seat. "Oh he'd go for it, if he were persuaded."
Adrion (1:34:17 AM): "You think so?" Adrion sat a moment and wondered if he would, knowing what he did.
Phoenix (1:36:50 AM)
: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure he would."
Adrion (1:38:11 AM): "Think I'm any good?" Adrion asked.
Phoenix (1:41:22 AM)
: "Oh I think you're plenty good."
Adrion (1:43:29 AM): This was making him smile, "Think he'd fuck me?"
Phoenix (1:44:19 AM)
: Phoenix cocked his head. "He'd be daft not to."
Adrion (1:45:11 AM): "I was getting that vibe from him. Thats how I could tell. He was too nice to me."
Phoenix (1:46:38 AM)
: "Too nice? There's such a thing as too nice? That's just Dani."
Adrion (1:46:59 AM): "I just meant that people don't usually talk to me and NOT like that."
Adrion (1:47:11 AM)
: [and when they do, not like that-]
Phoenix (1:48:19 AM)
: Phoenix nodded. "Well that's him."
Adrion (1:49:00 AM): "You should invite him over... talk to him about it... I'll pretend I'm asleep so he doesn't feel pressured." Adrion joked.
Phoenix (1:52:32 AM)
: Laughing, Phoenix shook his head a bit. "Yeah, I'll think about that one."

Adrion (1:54:42 AM): "It would be fun."
Phoenix (1:21:51 PM)
: "Oh I'm sure it would be....I didn't say it wouldn’t.” Phoenix curled up a leg to his chest and gave Adrion a coy smile.
Adrion (1:25:13 PM): He smiled and sat up from the arm of the chair. "I need a nap," and stretched a bit before leaving the room.
Phoenix (1:27:33 PM)
: Phoenix didn't even have a chance to respond, just nodding as Adrion left the room and he picked up a book off the table.
Adrion (1:31:29 PM): Adrion went for his meds first before crawling into the bed, sighing and closing his eyes.
Phoenix (1:36:01 PM)
: Turning on music softly, Phoenix read one of the many books he'd neglected in the past month or so.
Adrion (1:42:36 PM): Sleep.
Phoenix (1:43:28 PM)
: Going into the kitchen, Phoenix made himself a stiff drink, and then before he knew it, he'd drinken the whole bottle down in a span of a few hours.
Adrion (1:45:21 PM): He curled up against himself a nd slept soundly, the pills fading everything.
Phoenix (1:47:55 PM)
: Phoenix got more drunk then he'd gotten in a while and then made his way to his room, falling on the bed and drifting into a drunken sleep.
Adrion (1:54:55 PM): Adrion slept a lot longer than he'd meant to, waking up w ith a sickening feeling in his stomach and a craving for food.
Phoenix (1:55:33 PM)
: Phoenix was half-sprawled across the bed, his phone going off beside him but he was dead to the world.
Adrion (2:02:15 PM): He ignored the phone... it wasn't his job to answer it... and went about making spaghetti.
Phoenix (2:08:32 PM): Phoenix knocked the phone aside and it went silent. And then the livingroom phone started to ring and soon the answering machine clicked on and Dani's voice filled the air.
Adrion (2:09:08 PM): Adrion sighed and went over, plucking the phone up.
Adrion (2:09:15 PM)
: "Hello?"
Phoenix (2:09:40 PM)
: "Phoenix has got to be there. Can you tell him I need to talk to his dumbass?"
Adrion (2:10:40 PM): "yeah, hold on..." and he went into his room, tossing the phone on his stomach. "Phone for you."
Phoenix (2:11:16 PM)
: Phoenix let out a grunt, mumbling obscenities and blindly reaching for the phone, shoving it up to his ear. "What?"
Adrion (2:12:24 PM): Adrion went back, quietly, to making his food.
Phoenix (2:14:57 PM)
: After listening to Dani, head throbbing, Phoenix hung up and headed out of the room to get something to drink.
Adrion (2:15:18 PM): "Do you want something to eat?" quietly.
Phoenix (2:18:59 PM): "No....I'm fine." Phoenix grumbled, instead pulling out a carton of orange juice and swigging from i.
Adrion (2:19:23 PM): "Okay..." he gazed briefly at him, combining some noodles with the sauce in a bowl.
Phoenix (2:20:44 PM)
: Phoenix slumped at the counter, head in his hand and set the carton beside him.
Adrion (2:21:10 PM): "So... what did he want?" sitting down beside him.
Phoenix (2:23:12 PM)
: "He seems to have a sixth sense of when I'm wallowing. Wanted to berate me...the usual Dani shite."
Adrion (2:24:01 PM): "Mm..." a nod and he twirled noodles on his fork.
Phoenix (2:24:59 PM)
: Sipping more orange juice, he reached above his head and found the aspirin, popping three.
Adrion (2:25:55 PM): "You smell like you went swimming in it instead of drinking it.”
Phoenix (2:27:10 PM)
: "Why thank you. I don't really care what you think."
Adrion (2:29:50 PM): "You don't know what I think. Thats just what I smell."
Phoenix (2:31:13 PM)
: Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Fuck off." He stumbled up from the counter. "You're 17! You don't know ANYTHING about me. If I want to drink, I will. I don't need fucking comments from you!"
Adrion (2:43:35 PM): Adrion looked at him, eyes locked. "Go back to bed. You're a lousy drunk."
Phoenix (2:44:47 PM)
: Phoenix laughed. "And you're a lousy fuck too. Don't see me throwing that in your face. Only reason I'm a drunk is because your parents were fucking monsters!"
Adrion (2:45:50 PM): A hurt look crossed his features and he slid off the counter, leaving the kitchen and his food behind.
Phoenix (2:46:35 PM)
: Phoenix stood there, lips pursed, feeling bad for just a moment, then saying to hell with it.
Adrion (2:47:31 PM): He didn't cry because he knew it was just drunken ramblings... but it still hurt... it hurt a lot. Shutting his door quietly, he sat on the bed.
Phoenix (2:48:24 PM)
: Slouching down against the wall, he drank the last of the orange juice, feeling that familiar tingle in his nose when he knew he was about to breakdown.
Adrion (2:49:09 PM): He looked at the phone and picked it up, flipping through the numbers. Landing on the last one, he let it ring.
Dani (2:50:39 PM)
: Dani was in his apartment, cleaning up a mess he didn't even remember making when the phone rang. Picking it up and cradling it between his ear and his shoulder, he started shoving things into the garbage. "Ello?"
Adrion (2:50:56 PM): "Hey... Dani?"
Dani (2:51:35 PM)
: "Yes, this is him." He tied up the bag and kicked a pair of shoes aside against the wall.
Adrion (2:51:53 PM): "It's Adrion..."
Dani (2:52:35 PM)
: "Oh hey." Dani found himself smiling, then slapped his own cheek, furrowing his brows. "What can I do for you?"
Adrion (2:53:28 PM): "Nothing, really... I just figured maybe you wouldn't mind talking me out of knocking your friend out.”
Dani (2:54:02 PM)
: Dani let out a sigh. "He’s that bad again, huh?"
Adrion (2:54:30 PM): "Well...uh... he wasn't exactly... being nice, if that’s what you mean..."
Dani (2:55:11 PM)
: Looking up the ceiling, Dani cursed under his breath. "I should've warned you. He...just....stay away from him. He'll be better tomorrow. He has his days...."

Adrion (2:54:33 PM): Adrion nodded to himself. "Alright... and you? Can I talk to you... or should I leave you alone?"
Dani (10:08:43 PM): Dani bit back another smile. "You can bother me all you want."
Adrion (10:11:42 PM): He sat down on the bed and tucked his legs under. "I'm sorry I outed you... about what you told me..."
Dani (10:16:55 PM)
: Moving to sit down on his couch, Dani chuckled. "Ah, it's all right. I'm immune to his ranting and raving."
Adrion (10:19:03 PM): Adrion leaned back against the headboard. "Its just that... it's my parents... would of been helpful."
Dani (10:27:17 PM)
: Licking over his lips, Dani sighed. "Yeah...well, shit happens the way it does. People keep secrets."
Adrion (10:38:17 PM): "Yeah... I know..." he wrapped his arms over his legs, "So... what are you going?"
Dani (10:38:53 PM)
: "I was just cleaning up some messes around here. Haven't been home much lately. Other than that....not a damn thing."
Adrion (10:39:10 PM): "Are you... allowed to come out here?"
Dani (10:46:02 PM)
: "Erm...I was never told not to, if that's what you mean."
Adrion (10:48:44 PM): "I made spaghetti..." with a small smile.
Dani (10:53:45 PM)
: "Spaghetti. Sounds a hell of a lot better than a frozen meal."
Adrion (10:54:09 PM): "Yeah... I didn't get a chance to eat it yet... So you'll come?"
Dani (10:56:32 PM)
: Dani debated it for a long moment, chewing at his lip. "All right...sure."
Adrion (11:01:29 PM): "Good... because I think I might go crazy with him acting the way he is... do you know where it is?"
Dani (11:02:08 PM)
: "Yeah, I know." He got up from the couch and pulled the phone away as he stifled a yawn.
Adrion (11:05:49 PM): Adrion smiled to himself. "Alright... I'll see you."
Dani (11:08:48 PM)
: "Bye." Dani hung up and got his shoes back on, along with his jacket and grabbed his keys, making his way out to his car and turning on a cd for the long-ish drive out there.
Adrion (11:41:56 PM): He sat on the couch and waited, feeling a little better.
Dani (11:43:51 PM)
: Once he pulled up, Dani did a check around before approaching the house, knocking lightly.
Adrion (11:51:31 PM): He almost tripped as he jumped up so fast, opening the door after checking the peephole.
Dani (11:55:44 PM)
: "Hey there." Dani grinned and shuffled from one foot to another.
Adrion (11:58:41 PM): He opened the screen and gestured him in, smiling brighter than before.
Dani (12:01:03 AM)
: Stepping inside, Dani had to hold back his own grin and shoved his hands in his back pockets.
Adrion (12:07:42 AM): "Come on..." and he lightly tugged Dani's sleeve twice before going to the kitchen.
Dani (12:08:21 AM)
: Dani had to smirk at that. The kid was relentlessly energetic and it surprised him as he followed him into the kitchen.
Adrion (12:09:57 AM): The sauce was still on low on the stove and he made up a plate for Dani, popping his own from earlier into the microwave.
Dani (12:10:44 AM)
: Sliding up onto a stool, Dani watched him as he twirled noodles around his fork.
Adrion (12:13:00 AM): Smiling a bit, he faced the microwave and tapped his fingers on the counter.
Dani (12:14:11 AM)
: Dani ate a bite, chewing in silence and wondering where Phoenix had gone off too.
Adrion (12:19:11 AM): "He's in his bedroom.. I mean, if you want to go talk to him..." he was thinking about him, even if Dani wasn't.
Dani (12:19:56 AM)
: "Ah, I think I'll let him have his time alone. He's been in these moods before."
Adrion (12:25:20 AM): "You said that..." quietly, he sat down with his own plates.
Dani (12:28:01 AM)
: "Right.. well...reiterating.” He trailed off and ate more food.
Adrion (12:28:55 AM): "So does he always think his world is more tragic than everyone else’s?"
Dani (12:30:49 AM)
: "No. Not usually. It's just mostly when the captain has to b ring up the past."
Adrion (12:34:52 AM): "What did he say? I mean... about that case?"
Dani (12:36:33 AM)
: "I don't know exactly. And I can't say even if I did."
Adrion (9:23:38 PM)
: Adrion sighed to himself and looked at Dani. "I wish I knew. They haven't said anything about court dates yet... nothing."
Dani (9:25:50 PM)
: "That's because I don't think they even have anything about that. We can't even get a search warrant."
Adrion (9:26:16 PM): "Why not?"
Dani (9:30:25 PM)
: "Because they keep finding ways around it."
Adrion (9:31:37 PM): "Like...?" Adrion was getting sick of the short sentences from everyone. He wished someone would just explain it.
Dani (9:36:31 PM)
: "They're lawyers, Adrion. They know ways to fuck about and not get questioned. We go around one corner and they've already found a way to block it."
Adrion (9:37:55 PM): "A way to block out that I heard what they did? Isn't that reason enough?!"
Dani (9:43:54 PM)
: Dani shook his head sadly. "I wish that it was, Adrion. I really do. But people have gotten off before with more evidence than that."
Adrion (9:44:54 PM): He clenched his jaw a little. "All the evidence is in the fucking study," he hated, always had, that they were so above the law.
Dani (10:30:09 PM)
: Dani chewed at his lip and sighed. "And we can't get to anything..."
Adrion (10:33:54 PM): Adrion was getting frustrated now. He never thought straight when he got frustrated. "But I heard it! I watched them put her in the car and leave! How is that not ENOUGH?!"
Dani (10:51:45 PM)
: Dani rose a brow. "You never said anything about seeing them."
Adrion (10:54:30 PM): "How else would I know they put her in the car? I didn't see what they did to her. I heard it..." Adrion couldn't, honestly, remember what he'd lied about and not lied about before. He was sticking to not seeing them murder her, despite the fact he had seen it all.
Dani (10:56:43 PM)
: Dani nodded a bit, scrutinizing him. "You should get your lies straight."
Adrion (11:01:52 PM): He got up to clean his plate off, rinsing it and putting it into the dishwasher. "I was up in my room. Why wouldn't I look out my window when they were slamming the front door?"
Dani (11:05:35 PM)
: Arching a brow, Dani sat back a bit, looking him over. "Right...of course. Then why didn't you say that before?"
Adrion (11:10:04 PM): "I thought that was implied when I said that my Dad put her in the car and drove off somewhere with my mom following him?"
Dani (11:15:09 PM)
: "It doesn't even matter. They found a way around that one too."
Adrion (11:37:14 PM): Adrion clenched his jaw again and shook his head. "How about someone trying to kill me? Why would they do that if I didn't know the truth?"
Dani (11:39:08 PM)
: Dani hung his head. "Trying to act like it's unrelated. You wouldn't believe the shit they come up with."
Adrion (11:42:02 PM): "Bullshit," he hissed. They got under his skin like no other. He regretted them everyday since the first tumor they'd found.
Dani (11:43:52 PM)
: "You can say that again." Dani frowned.
Adrion (11:45:11 PM): "They always get out of things they should be doing. Or out of being punished for everything they do wrong." he rambled a little.
Dani (11:46:59 PM)
: Dani looked up at him. "Phoenix is determined...so don't give up just yet."
Adrion (11:47:19 PM): "Determined to drink every ounce of alcohol in the place, maybe."
Dani (11:51:12 PM)
: Frowning again, Dani scratched his hair. "Cut him a break, all right? He just had to look at pictures of his dead pregnant wife for hours on end."
Adrion (11:56:02 PM): "I thought you weren't supposed to tell me."
Dani (11:58:30 PM)
: "I'm not supposed to do a lot of things. Like this." He gestured between himself and Adrion.
Adrion (11:58:46 PM): "What? You're not supposed to talk to me?"
Dani (12:02:49 AM)
: "I'm not supposed to get involved past my own duties...which sort of stopped once I left the precinct."
Adrion (12:11:04 AM): "Guess that’s both of you, then."
Dani (12:13:46 AM)
: "All right, if you hate him so much, just ask for someone else."
Adrion (12:19:10 AM): "Oh, I don't hate him," quietly.
Dani (12:20:17 AM)
: "Then if you think he's so wrong for this, go ahead. See who else will waste the hours he has doing this thankless job."
Adrion (12:22:50 AM): "That wasn't what I meant by saying he was past his duties."
Dani (12:23:16 AM)
: "Then what did you mean, hmm?"
Adrion (12:24:11 AM): "Well, if you sitting here talking to me is past your duty, then imagine what he's done to go past his." Adrion sat on the counter.
Dani (12:26:16 AM)
: Raising both brows, Dani scrutinized him for a long moment. "He...no fucking way..."
Adrion (12:33:25 AM): "It's not a big deal."
Dani (12:36:36 AM)
: "Oh of course it's not." Dani shook his head a bit.
Adrion (12:40:55 AM): "It’s more about the fact I didn't want to die before I got a chance."
Dani (12:42:28 AM)
: "Right." Dani pressed his lips together.
Adrion (12:42:53 AM): "Don't look at me like that..." quietly.
Dani (12:46:35 AM)
: "I'm not looking at you like anything."

Adrion (3:43:16 PM)
: "Yes, you are. You’re looking at me like I did something wrong. Sleeping with him," he pointed at the room, "Isn't really wrong, if you ask me."
Dani (3:45:15 PM)
: "Oh no, not at all. Because detectives always sleep with their underage charges." Dani retorted.
Adrion (3:46:40 PM): "I'm only underage here." he hated that coming back from school meant he was no longer privileged in anything but driving a car.
Dani (3:49:49 PM)
: Dani snorted. "And that makes a difference? Here is where he works."
Adrion (3:50:45 PM): He sat back against the cabinets behind him. "What’s it matter? He won't do it again and," he pointed to Dani, "I know for a fact that you won't run off and tell them."
Dani (3:51:44 PM)
: "You're damn right he better not do it again. And you think you know me that well that I wouldn’t?"
Adrion (3:53:04 PM): "Why would you? To get him into trouble? Because he doesn't drink enough?"
Dani (3:53:40 PM)
: Dani shook his head. "He drinks for various reasons. And maybe he's better off back home."
Adrion (3:54:12 PM): "I don't know. At least this way he can't go out for alcohol unless I follow along."
Dani (3:57:25 PM)
: "Ah yes, because that really stops him."
Adrion (3:57:58 PM): "He hasn't left without me yet."
Dani (3:59:44 PM)
: "I'm not saying he will. He's already witnessed what happens when a detective neglects their duty."
Adrion (4:00:29 PM): Adrion was quiet now, sipping at a glass of unknown substance.
Dani (4:05:01 PM)
: Dani looked away, letting out a sigh and hearing a thud from the other room, he grimaced.
Adrion (4:05:32 PM): "Sounds like Prince Charming has woken."
Dani (4:09:45 PM)
: Dani rolled his eyes. "Yeah...guess so."
Adrion (4:23:32 PM): Adrion slid off the counter and took up his empty plate, putting it in the dishwasher.
Dani (4:24:36 PM)
: Dani glanced down the hall, then got to his feet. "Maybe I should get going."
Adrion (4:26:23 PM): He glanced at him. "Please don't..."
Dani (4:58:25 PM)
: Dani stopped mid-step. "Um....okay."
Adrion (4:59:21 PM): "Go talk to him. You're his friend..." he shrugged a little and sipped his drink.
Dani (5:04:43 PM)
: "He told me to sod off the last time I talked to him. I don't think right now he wants to speak with anyone."
Adrion (5:06:03 PM): "He told me a lot more than that. Just go check and make sure he didn't knock himself unconscious?"
Dani (5:10:43 PM)
: Dani rolled his eyes again and with a grumble, went down the hall to the bedroom Phoenix was in. He found him tangled in sheets on the floor, still asleep. Sighing, he scooped him up and placed him on the bed, this time with pillows surrounding him.
Adrion (5:14:08 PM): He ventured into the front room, wrapping up into himself on the couch.
Dani (5:21:57 PM)
: Dani watched Phoenix for a long moment before kissing his forehead and heading out of the room.

Adrion (8:15:34 PM): He flicked through the channels, quietly, and sighed when he found nothing on... as usual.
Dani (8:16:43 PM)
: Dani came back into the kitchen, but Adrion wasn't there, so he ventured into the living room and there was the younger man on the couch. "He's still asleep. So er...I think if he sleeps it off, he'll be fine in the morning.” Scratching his head, Dani chewed at the side of his lip. "I'll see you then..."
Adrion (8:17:47 PM): "You'll be back in the morning?"
Dani (8:18:31 PM)
: Dani furrowed his brows. "Why would I be back in the morning?"
Adrion (8:19:18 PM): "You just said he'll be fine in the morning and that you'd see me then. Or did you mean that as an awkward brush off?"
Dani (8:20:29 PM)
: Dani pressed his lips together. "I wasn't planning on being around here in the morning, so you can make your assumption from that."
Adrion (8:23:04 PM): "Right..." a sigh, not looking at Dani, "Bye, then."
Dani (8:24:19 PM)
: Dani frowned. It wasn't like he particularly wanted to go. But with the awkward conversation and them on different sides concerning Phoenix, he just felt like he should. "Yeah...bye..."Tugging his keys out of his pocket, he made his way around the couch t othe door.
Adrion (8:25:38 PM): "He called me a lousy fuck, you know?" Adrion glanced up and back at Dani. That was what had him so bitter about the detective.
Dani (8:25:59 PM)
: Dani paused for a moment, keys in hand. "He was lying."
Adrion (8:26:20 PM): "How would you know?"
Dani (8:27:30 PM)
: "Because Nix would never fuck anyone unless he thought it'd be worth it."
Adrion (8:30:00 PM): "Right... well... that doesn't mean he wasn't disappointed."
Dani (7:33:59 PM)
: "He says stuff he doesn't mean all the time when he gets like that, you shouldn't take it personally."
Adrion (7:37:31 PM): "I'm trying not to."
Dani (7:38:39 PM)
: Dani scratched his head a bit. "He really is a great guy..."

Adrion (8:06:10 PM): "You said that already..." Adrion slumped back into the chair in front of the TV, back facing Dani.
Dani (8:08:45 PM)
: "Right..." Dani sucked his lower lip into his mouth.
Adrion (8:11:57 PM): "I'll see you around."
Dani (8:18:30 PM)
: Dani just zipped up his jacket and made his way out the door quietly, arm around his stomach.
Adrion (8:19:15 PM): "Goodnight, officer."
Dani (8:22:50 PM)
: At that, Dani cringed, and shut the door behind him without a response, making his way to his car.
Adrion (8:23:28 PM): He spent a good 6 hours in front of the TV, glued there.
Phoenix (8:29:52 PM)
: Phoenix finally woke up, staring blearily at the ceiling, head throbbing a little but not as bad as earlier as he moved out of the cocoon he'd been put in and stumbled from the bedroom.
Adrion (8:30:48 PM): He fell asleep in the large recliner chair, curled up with a blanket.
Phoenix (8:48:24 PM)
: Phoenix came out, looking around and frowned when he saw Adrion. Coming over, he gently lifted the kid into his arms and carried him to his bedroom.
Adrion (8:49:25 PM): Adrion wiggled a bit in his arms, discontent.
Phoenix (8:50:53 PM)
: "Hey, now now, shh." Phoenix got him to the room, carefully laying him down.
Adrion (8:55:08 PM): As soon as he was set on the cushioned surface, he curled up instantly like a slug who'd been doused in salt
Phoenix (9:02:38 PM)
: Phoenix pulled the blankets up over at him. "I'm sorry,” he whispered before heading out of the room.
Adrion (9:03:47 PM): He nudged his head under the pillow and kept it there until he couldn't breath right.
Phoenix (9:07:08 PM)
: Phoenix slouched onto the couch, feeling like a dickhead and vowing to properly apologize tomorrow.
Adrion (9:08:04 PM): Adrion didn't stay asleep too long, pulling his head back from under the pillow to breath and slipping off down the hall for the bathroom.
Phoenix (9:10:07 PM)
: Leaning his head back, he rubbed at his forehead and let out a disgruntled sigh.
Adrion (9:14:34 PM): He left the door open and took a piss, washing his hands and running wet fingers over his face.
Phoenix (9:18:03 PM)
: Phoenix heard the water running and furrowed his brows, wondering if he should go talk to him now.
Adrion (9:21:04 PM): Glancing at himself, he thought he looked pretty horrid. Sighing, he flicked the tap off and just looked.
Phoenix (9:42:38 PM)
: But deciding against it, he just sat there.
Adrion (10:10:38 PM): He wandered out into the house and into the kitchen, warming up a cup of water and pulling out a thing of hot chocolate.
Phoenix (10:12:26 PM)
: Phoenix listened for a long moment, his thoughts raging.
Adrion (10:13:20 PM): Finally finished with it, he walked into the living room and quietly sat down, sipping his drink and glancing at Phoenix.
Phoenix (10:15:19 PM)
: "I'm sorry...about all the things I said earlier...I...I never meant to be a prick like that."
Adrion (10:18:41 PM): "You were drunk."
Phoenix (10:21:43 PM)
: "I know I was...but that wasn't an excuse."
Adrion (10:39:24 PM): "I didn't say it was..." he was quiet, looking at the wall as he drank.
Phoenix (10:50:16 PM)
: "Right...well, you don't have to accept my apology, but I meant it."
Adrion (10:52:29 PM): "I know... thank you."
Phoenix (10:54:20 PM)
: Phoenix looked to him just a little, with a soft smile and nodded.
Adrion (11:02:02 PM): "Didn't hurt your head, did you?" he looked at him a bit.
Phoenix (11:06:56 PM)
: Phoenix furrowed his brows. "Hurt my head?"
Adrion (11:11:46 PM): "You fell off the bed."
Phoenix (11:22:17 PM)
: "I did? Oh..."He frowned a bit.
Adrion (11:32:19 PM): "Yeah, you did..." he nodded and licked the chocolate sauce off the edge of the mug, setting it aside.
Phoenix (11:34:21 PM)
: "Well...no, I didn't hurt my head. My arse, maybe."
Adrion (11:37:51 PM): A small nod, putting his hands in his lap.
Phoenix (11:43:53 PM)
: "So....I think I remember Dani being here."
Adrion (11:44:24 PM): "yeah... he was here."
Phoenix (11:56:10 PM)
: He nodded a bit and leaned his head back again.
Adrion (12:00:02 AM): "You fell asleep and I wanted someone to talk to. I think I pissed him off though."
Phoenix (12:01:04 AM)
: "You pissed Dani off? Damn you're good."
Adrion (12:02:13 AM): "Well, I don't know... I annoyed him, at least."
Phoenix (12:05:25 AM)
: "Even that's a feat. He's as laidback as they come."
Adrion (12:06:00 AM): A sigh. "Well, I don't know what I did. He seemed disappointed or something."
Phoenix (12:07:21 AM)
: Arching a brow, Phoenix looked at him. "Disappointed?"
Adrion (12:10:50 AM): "Yeah... I don't know. Never mind."
Phoenix (12:11:20 AM)
: "All right." Phoenix let him brush it off.
Adrion (12:11:46 AM): "Have to ask him..." quietly. "Why didn't you tell me that they can't even get into my parent's house?"
Phoenix (12:15:53 AM)
: Phoenix sighed. "God, he really does have a big mouth."
Adrion (12:16:36 AM): "Because he's telling me things you should?"
Phoenix (12:20:49 AM)
: "I don't have to tell you anything."
Adrion (12:21:44 AM): "YES you do!" he was frustrated again, "I'm obviously in danger if you've tucked me into a safe house. I'm a witness. I deserve to know what’s going on! And they’re my PARENTS!"
Phoenix (12:26:14 AM)
: Phoenix crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you ever stop and think, oh well HELLO this is a police investigation, we have no obligation to tell you jack shite unless you NEED to know."
Adrion (12:27:07 AM): "I put myself on the line to help you guys put them away for what they did and now all you can do is put me in the dark? Bullshit."
Phoenix (12:31:59 AM)
: Phoenix shrugged. "Yeah, sure it is. And the bullshit is keeping you safe, not letting you know more than you should. Except for DANI who keeps running off at the mouth just cuz he thinks you're cute."
Adrion (12:34:12 AM): "Keeping me safe? Why is that? Am I going to run off and do something with what I know?"
Phoenix (12:37:02 AM)
: "Who the hell knows?! For Christ's sake you're a suspect!" Phoenix instantly clamped his lips together.
Adrion (12:39:12 AM): "A SUSPECT? Why would I want to kill her?!"
Phoenix (12:43:34 AM)
: "Hell if I know."
Adrion (12:44:04 AM): Adrion sat back in his chair. He was insulted. Him? Kill someone? Hurt someone? No.
Phoenix (12:48:01 AM)
: "They brought that up, I didn't."
Adrion (12:48:37 AM): "I didn't say you did."
Phoenix (12:58:52 AM)
: "I'm just letting you know. I am on your side."
Adrion (1:01:35 AM): "Alright..." quietly.
Phoenix (1:03:37 AM)
: Phoenix rubbed his face and sighed, pulling up a pillow and pressing his face to it."
Adrion (1:04:48 AM): "I...." he opened his mouth and closed it again...

 

 

 


Phoenix (1:13:59 AM)
: Phoenix had been at the office in the early morning, relinquishing Adrion over to a desk officer as he went out into the field, coming back later that day looking exhausted.
Adrion (1:14:56 AM): He spent most of his time playing with a Nintendo DS that he'd shoved into his messenger bag upon leaving his house. Now he was curled up on a couch after yet another chemo appointment.
Phoenix (1:16:07 AM)
: Phoenix shared a look with Dani as they both came into the precinct, Dani going one way and Phoenix going the other, over to Adrion. "Hey....we can go."
Adrion (1:16:34 AM): He was completely passed out and didn't hear a word of it.
Phoenix (1:17:48 AM)
: Sighing, Phoenix knelt down, nudging him. "Adrion...
Adrion (1:18:28 AM): "Mmmpph..." he swatted at the air, looking pale and tiny.
Phoenix (1:21:11 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head a bit, then gently scooped Adrion up, frowning a little at the way he felt so child-like in his arms as he carried him out to the car.
Adrion (1:21:41 AM): He didn't move, just let Phoenix carry him without a word.
Phoenix (1:23:43 AM)
: Unlocking the car, he tenderly settled Adrion down in the passenger seat, buckling him in and then going to the driver's seat, putting the car into gear and driving away.
Adrion (1:24:18 AM): He slid more towards the window as the ride went on, cheek on the glass.
Phoenix (1:26:34 AM)
: Phoenix glanced at him once, then back to the road, making his way to the safe house and when he got there, he went over to Adrion's side of the car and lifted him into his arms again.
Adrion (1:29:03 AM): This time Adrion was half-awake, jostled by the car ride, and wrapped his arms around Phoenix's neck.
Phoenix (1:30:02 AM)
: Phoenix smiled just a little as he got into t he house, then made his way to Adrion's room and lowered him onto the bed.
Adrion (1:33:00 AM): He stretched out little and opened his eyes, "Hey..."
Phoenix (1:35:01 AM)
: "Hey there..."Phoenix scratched at the back of his head a little.
Adrion (1:36:47 AM): "Did you get in?"
Phoenix (1:37:34 AM)
: He nodded a bit and his hand fell to his side.
Adrion (1:41:53 AM): "Find anything?"
Phoenix (1:43:50 AM)
: Phoenix looked at him. "Like I can tell you that. C'mon, Adrion, cut me a break.
Adrion (1:44:16 AM): "I didn't ask what you found..." he snuggled under the covers.
Phoenix (1:44:48 AM)
: "Well I was cutting you off before you could. But yes, we did."
Adrion (1:45:22 AM): "Okay... that's all I wanted to know..." quietly.
Phoenix (1:45:39 AM)
: Phoenix nodded and went to leave.
Adrion (1:47:50 AM): Adrion watched him with a childlike gaze... quiet, tired, glossed over.
Phoenix (1:48:22 AM)
: Stepping out of the room, he went to change out of his work clothes.
Adrion (1:55:15 AM): Snuggling under the blankets, he looked at the door as if he expected him to return.
Phoenix (2:03:57 AM)
: Once in pajamas, with ruffled bed head, Phoenix returned to check up on him.
Adrion (2:04:39 AM): A grin lit his face up a bit.
Phoenix (2:06:04 AM)
: The smile made Phoenix's heart flutter. "You doing okay?"
Adrion (2:06:43 AM): "Yeah... I was waiting for you to come back."
Phoenix (2:09:11 AM)
: "Oh I see." Phoenix chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed.
Adrion (2:10:45 AM): "Did they say anything... my parents, I mean? Ask where I was or anything?"
Phoenix (2:11:34 AM)
: "Yeah, they did. But of course no one told them."
Adrion (2:12:18 AM): A small nod. Adrion had expected them to say nothing... or to pretend they didn't have a son...
Phoenix (2:13:45 AM)
: Phoenix messed with his hair and glanced at Adrion, then before he knew it, he was brushing hair off Adrion's forehead.
Adrion (2:14:34 AM): "So... it's late... you want to sleep in here?" softly.
Phoenix (2:16:04 AM)
: Phoenix bit his lip for a moment. "Sure." He moved over on the empty side of the bed, lying down.
Adrion (2:17:07 AM): Smiling to himself, that childlike glossy look he had was still there.
Phoenix (2:17:54 AM)
: He pulled the blankets over him and smiled up at Adrion a little.
Adrion (2:19:33 AM): Adrion curled up to him instantly, sighing.
Phoenix (2:20:53 AM)
: At that, Phoenix smirked a bit and wrapped his arms around Adrion gently.
Adrion (2:25:08 AM): He buried his head in the older mans chest and sighed.
Phoenix (2:25:51 AM)
: Phoenix looked down at him, stroking his back lightly.
Adrion (2:31:31 AM): He was falling asleep already, tucked up against the warmth of someone else.
Phoenix (2:32:25 AM)
: Phoenix brushed a kiss to his forehead and closed his own eyes, exhausted and falling into a fitful sleep.

 


Adrion (2:33:27 AM): The days went by before it turned into almost a month, Adrion attached to the simple fact of sleeping beside Phoenix every night.

Phoenix (2:34:32 PM)
: He woke up and found himself watching Adrion for a long moment, stroking through his hair and wondering how a kid so fucking young had to go through so much.
Adrion (2:51:23 PM): Adrion sighed at the soft touch, nudging up against Phoenix's hand.
Phoenix (3:00:26 PM)
: He'd let himself get so attached. Too attached for his own good.
Adrion (3:07:20 PM): The alarm went off for them to get up... get dressed... go to court... and Adrion curled up closer with a huff.
Phoenix (3:08:27 PM)
: "C'mon, love...we have to get up." Phoenix whispered.
Adrion (3:13:37 PM): Stretching a little, he looked up at Phoenix.
Phoenix (3:14:51 PM)
: Giving him the best smile he could muster, Phoenix touched his cheek for a moment, then got off the bed and made his way to his own room to get dressed and ready.
Adrion (3:15:28 PM): Adrion slid off the bed and went into the shower, cleaning himself up a bit and doing his hair before tugging on the dressier clothes they'd gotten.
Phoenix (3:17:33 PM)
: Staring in the mirror, Phoenix let out a sigh and slipped his badge around his neck and his gun in its holster before leaving his room
Adrion (3:18:26 PM): Fiddling with the dress shirt, he frowned at himself in the mirror. It definitely didn't suit him.
Phoenix (3:19:26 PM)
: Sitting on the arm of the chair, Phoenix rubbed his hand over his forehead. He knew what the questioning was going to be like. They were going to try to rip Adrion to shreds.
Adrion (3:23:20 PM): Sighing a little, he stepped out into the hall and made his way to the living room.
Phoenix (3:24:53 PM)
: Phoenix looked up at Adrion, then silently headed out of the house to his car.
Adrion (3:26:34 PM): He was worried but he couldn't say anything. What if he slipped? What if he had to tell the truth to make sure they got put in jail? Would they even believe him?
Phoenix (3:29:38 PM)
: Driving towards the courthouse, Phoenix's hands were tight on the wheel.
Adrion (3:36:04 PM): He watched the detectives demeanor and he could tell by just that that today was not going to be easy.
Phoenix (3:37:18 PM)
: Pulling up outside the court, he stopped and looked at Adrion. "Whatever happens in there, just...stay strong, all right?"
Adrion (3:37:48 PM): Clasping his hands in his lap a little, he chewed his lip. "Right."
Phoenix (3:38:54 PM)
: Phoenix touched the tops of Adrion's hand, gripping them for a moment in reassurance, and then got out of the car.
Adrion (3:40:13 PM): Adrion knew he'd need a lot more than that to get through the day. Following along, he kept his head down.
Phoenix (3:46:31 PM)
: Phoenix escorted him inside and to the right room where people were crowded.
Adrion (3:55:43 PM): Sighing, he sat down where he was told to and then the judge came in... Then it started.
Phoenix (4:01:50 PM)
: Phoenix sat back in his seat, rifling through papers as the prosecutor went through their questioning of other witnesses, until finally Adrion was called to the stand.
Adrion (4:04:44 PM): Wiping his hands on his pant legs nervously, Adrion got up and went ot the stand. After being sworn in, he was asked to repeat what he'd told the officers over a month ago. He waited for the hard questions to come.
Phoenix (4:13:13 PM)
: The defense attorney watched him for the longest moment, a hardness in his eyes. "So, Mr. Greene, you claim that you saw your parents put the deceased into a car and drive off, yes? Where were you now at this time?"
Adrion (4:13:43 PM): "Upstairs in my bedroom. Right over the driveway."
Phoenix (4:15:39 PM)
: "How convenient." He sneered, coming up to the podium. "So you saw this whole thing. Your parents, two highly esteemed lawyers disposing of a body. For what reason, hmm?"
Adrion (4:16:29 PM): His hands still in his lap, he sat back a little to avoid the guy being right in his face. "Because they killed her."
Phoenix (4:22:16 PM)
: "Oh is that so? They killed her. And yet you're the only witness. An insolent son that never listened. Was always selfish. Why should we believe you over them?"
Adrion (4:23:57 PM): "Because everything you just said I was, I'm not. That's why you should believe me over them."
Adrion (4:26:27 PM)
: Adrion wondered why the other lawyer hadn't asked for that to be stricken from the record. It wasn't even true.
Phoenix (4:29:41 PM)
: Phoenix watched this with a sadness, knowing this lawyer, having worked against him before. "So getting kicked out of your school had nothing to do with being a delinquent?"
Adrion (4:30:40 PM): He was truthful, "No, actually. It didn't." Adrion had gotten himself kicked out for the reasons any kid like him would have: he was receiving chemo thousands of miles from home and his parents couldn't even pretend to care by bringing him home.
Phoenix (4:37:12 PM)
: "So explain to me then, boy. You want us to believe you."
Adrion (4:38:13 PM): He didn't want to. "Tell me exactly what you want me to explain for you."
Phoenix (4:47:11 PM)
: "How about the bloody shirt found in your hamper. What does that say about such a model person?"
Adrion (4:48:01 PM): Adrion tried to keep his composure, "What bloody shirt?"
Phoenix (4:49:57 PM)
: "Don't play dumb, boy. It's here in evidence if you'd like to see it." The defense attorney went over to the table, bringing back a plastic bag and shoving it in Adrion's face. "This bloody shirt."
Adrion (4:51:44 PM): He couldn't explain it without contradicting himself. Tears tried to push past and his nose tingled. "I... I.... they were screaming at her... and I came downstairs... it was on the floor... it was on the wall..."
Phoenix (4:53:31 PM)
: Phoenix felt his heart clench in his stomach at this. He knew that the attorney was going to pull Adrion apart. "You said you hadn't seen anything! What was on the floor and the wall?"
Adrion (4:54:27 PM): "Blood," his voice quiet, looking at the floor past the edge of the podium.
Phoenix (4:56:04 PM)
: "And explain to me how you could see this blood if you'd only heard things, as you told a detective James? Huh. Maybe you were in there. Maybe you were the one that had something to do with this girl's death. Maybe you finally snapped." Phoenix looked to the prosecutor that had gotten to her feet. "Excuse me! Objection, he's badgering my witness!"
Adrion (4:58:24 PM): Adrion looked at the attorney, his eyes moist, "I didn't even know who she was... I didn't... I didn't know what was going on."
Phoenix (5:01:12 PM)
: "Oh of course not. That's your excuse is it? You're the one with blood all over your clothing, and yet you did nothing. You just happened to see them cart off her body. Maybe they did it to save you, hmm? To keep you from jail time?"
Adrion (5:05:48 PM): His eyes hardened a bit. "Save me? Them? SAVE ME? The wouldn't even bring me back home from boarding school when I was on chemo! Do you honestly think if I were to kill someone, they would risk themselves?!"
Phoenix (5:07:42 PM)
: "So it's a possibility then? You wanted to get back at them for supposedly neglecting you."
Adrion (5:08:50 PM): "No. It's not! They wanted her dead! She was in their way!"
Phoenix (5:10:55 PM)
: The attorney rose a brow. "I don't think anyone should believe a word that comes out of your mouth. All you've done is lie."
Adrion (5:11:46 PM): Adrion sat back and said nothing, as he wasn't asked to. He had lied. He hadn't of wanted to remember what he'd seen... what his father sad the minute he realized Adrion was watching.
Phoenix (5:12:25 PM)
: "That's what I thought. No further questions, your honor."
Adrion (5:12:52 PM): He waited for the prosecutor to approach him... not looking at the jury.
Phoenix (5:14:07 PM)
: She glanced at Phoenix and he shrugged, letting her step forward. "Adrion, you have a chance here to tell me the truth. The real truth. What happened that day?"
Adrion (5:15:08 PM): Adrion looked up at her, "I can't..." a small glance at his father. He always looked so composed... chill...
Phoenix (5:16:36 PM)
: She stepped up to the podium. "No one can hurt you up here. Tell me."
Adrion (5:18:47 PM): He sat back a little and talked, "I just got home from boarding school... I don't even think they noticed that the driver came back with me. It was late... maybe 11pm... and Ms. Kelman came by.. I didn't know who she was. I let her in... all the help in the house goes to sleep around 10... and she went to the library to meet them. I didn't even go back upstairs like I told Detective James...." quietly
Phoenix (5:20:34 PM)
: Phoenix let out a sigh and rubbed at his forehead. This whole web of lies that Adrion had weaved wasn't going to look good for him. The attorney nodded, giving him an encouraging smile. "Go on..."
Adrion (5:24:20 PM): "They were in there over an hour... until they started digging into each other... yelling. If you've been in our library, it's practically sound proof if you're not standing right against the door... and my mother... she left the room to get drinks... I hid by the stairs. She didn't see me at all... and when she came back to the library... she left the door open and... and I went to stand by it... I wanted to know what was going on... and they were talking about how she was going to ruin their case... and I don't think... she didn't even know what was going on... but I could tell..."
Phoenix (5:25:36 PM)
: A nod, and the prosecutor paced back and forth. "Did you see what they did, Adrion?"
Adrion (5:28:08 PM): He nodded a little and the next time he spoke, it was shaky, "They cornered her... and she was scared... she tried to push her way past my mom.... but he got to her first..." he didn't want to remember. Adrion had never seem someone die... not like this... murder was so much different.... "He hit her over the head... right at the back... with one of the bookends on the shelf...." he touched the back of his head to show what he meant. Just above the top of his spine.
Phoenix (5:30:49 PM)
: Another nod and she looked at him sadly. "What did they do once she was dead?"
Adrion (5:33:55 PM): Adrion didn't look at her... he looked at his parent's. "He saw me... and he handed my mom the bookend.... grabbed me..." he wiped his cheeks helplessly, hating that he couldn't stop the tears, "and he told me not to tell... that I couldn't tell... he'd do the same thing to me and no one would notice... no one would care... and he just kept... shoving me against the wall... screaming at me and hitting me against it.... He let me go and I couldn't... I couldn't stand up... I sat there and watched them pick her up... take her to the car that was still parked outside the front door... and she followed him. I went upstairs before they could get back..."
Phoenix (5:35:39 PM)
: "So the bloody shirt...?"
Adrion (5:36:30 PM): "He had blood all over him... all over his arm..." quietly.
Phoenix (5:37:07 PM)
: "No further questions." She gave him one last look before turning back towards the table.
Adrion (5:37:54 PM): The entire place was quiet and Adrion picked himself up, slowly making way back to sit beside Phoenix.
Phoenix (5:39:44 PM)
: Phoenix didn't look at him, just kept his head bowed as he wrote in a notebook on the table, but his other hand discreetly touched Adrion's own for just a moment before setting it on his own lap.
Adrion (5:40:27 PM): He wiped at his eyes and his cheeks, never feeling as uncomfortable as he did now.
Phoenix (5:41:16 PM)
: The trial went on till the judge called a recess until the next morning.
Adrion (5:41:52 PM): Adrion couldn't of been happier to get out of a place, ignoring the daggers his "parents" shot at him.
Phoenix (5:42:41 PM)
: Phoenix made his way through the crowd, hovering next to Adrion and getting him safely to his car.
Adrion (5:43:31 PM): He slid into his seat and felt like throwing up when pictures were being taken of him through the window.
Phoenix (5:43:56 PM)
: Phoenix did a quick u-turn and sped out of the lot.
Adrion (5:45:15 PM): There was a lot that he'd said on that stand that he'd lied to Phoenix about and he was feeling resentful.
Phoenix (5:46:53 PM)
: Phoenix drove in silence towards the safe house, eyes trained on the road.
Adrion (5:48:55 PM): The car stopped and he got out, waiting at the door.
Phoenix (5:52:55 PM)
: Phoenix locked the car, looking around, hand on his gun, then came up to the door, unlocking it and letting Adrion go inside first.
Adrion (6:00:20 PM): He sat down away from the window and sighed.
Phoenix (6:05:48 PM)
: Locking the doors and checking around the house again, Phoenix went to the kitchen and made a shot of Jack, bringing it over to Adrion. "Drink it."
Adrion (6:10:02 PM): Adrion took it into his hands and sighed, "So I can be drunk when someone kills me?"
Phoenix (6:11:59 PM)
: "Just drink this one. It's to calm your nerves has nothing to do with getting drunk.'
Adrion (6:12:43 PM): A sigh and he drank it down, handing the shot glass back.
Phoenix (6:15:18 PM)
: Phoenix nodded and took the glass, heading into the kitchen and dumping it in the sink before coming back.
Adrion (6:15:39 PM): He sat forward on the edge of the couch, hands clasped in his lap.
Phoenix (6:18:42 PM)
: Perching on the arm of a chair, Phoenix just looked at him for a long moment.
Adrion (6:19:30 PM): His hands shook and he only kept them still by putting them between his knees.
Phoenix (6:24:02 PM)
: "I'm sorry for all that...I really am."
Adrion (6:27:24 PM): "What for? It wasn't your fault."
Phoenix (6:30:48 PM)
: "I know it wasn't...but you shouldn't have had to go through that."
Adrion (6:31:13 PM): "I lied, didn't I? I deserved it."
Phoenix (6:34:47 PM)
: "You lied because you were scared, Adrion. People have lied for worse reasons."
Adrion (6:35:42 PM): "They can still pin it on me."
Phoenix (6:38:25 PM)
: He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Maybe...maybe not."
Adrion (6:39:02 PM): Adrion sat back and pulled his legs up.
Phoenix (6:40:10 PM)
: sighing, he slid into the chair and dangled his legs over the arm.

Adrion (7:07:47 PM): "We should throw a party."
Phoenix (7:13:47 PM)
: Phoenix furrowed his brows. "You're joking right?"
Adrion (7:23:10 PM): "It was code for 'Call Dani and maybe we can have fun because I need something to forget'...." and he didn't really mean the threesome, he meant people to keep his mind off it.
Phoenix (7:28:00 PM)
: Phoenix nodded and got out his phone out, calling Dani and talking to him for a minute.
Adrion (7:28:42 PM): He didn’t feel much different than five year old asking his older brother to play with him and his friends.
Phoenix (7:31:28 PM)
: Hanging up, Phoenix gave Adrion a smile. "He said he'll be here in a bit."
Adrion (7:31:55 PM): He grinned a bit, "Do you think... you could ask him about um..." he gestured better them.
Phoenix (7:33:28 PM)
: Phoenix smirked. "You are relentless."
Adrion (7:35:52 PM): "Am not. I haven't even slept with YOU in a month."
Phoenix (7:40:34 PM)
: "Yeah, I know that. I didn't mind it though."
Adrion (7:41:17 PM): Adrion smiled a bit and looked at him.
Phoenix (7:42:13 PM)
: "Actually...it was the best fuck I'd had in years."
Adrion (7:43:18 PM): "I would say the same thing but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't count for much..." he joked a little.
Phoenix (7:45:13 PM): Phoenix let out a laugh. "Probably so."

Adrion (12:21:14 AM): "You being my only one to compare you too..."
Phoenix (12:23:13 AM)
: Another smirk and then Phoenix blinked a little. "You mean...wow..."
Adrion (12:24:14 AM): Adrion pulled his legs up. "I told you... it was something I wanted to do... you know? When you're just so sick of not having it..." quietly.
Phoenix (12:25:35 AM)
: Phoenix rubbed at the back of his neck. "Right...I guess I just...didn't realize..."
Adrion (12:29:49 AM): "Thought I just wanted to get you in bed, didnt you?"
Phoenix (12:31:51 AM)
: He shrugged. "Er....actually....yeah." He looked sheepish.
Adrion (12:33:38 AM): Adrion just shook his head a little, listening to the doorbell ring, "I'll be in my room..." a small smile.
Phoenix (12:35:03 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head a bit and went to get the d oor, Dani slipping in looking haggard.
Adrion (12:35:34 AM): He went into his room and let Phoenix do whatever he wanted about it. It wouldn't surprise him if he said no or if he thought Phoenix was joking.
Phoenix (12:37:01 AM)
: "So...Adrion wants to have a threesome," Phoenix said nonchalantly as he sat down again and Dani rose his brows.
Dani: "Are you serious?"
Phoenix: "Yep."
Dani: "No."
Phoenix: "Why not?"
Dani: "Because...I.Said. No."
Adrion (12:37:32 AM): He flicked on the TV and waited, hearing the mumbles on the other side of the wall.
Phoenix (12:39:20 AM)
: "Dani..."
Dani: "NO."
Phoenix: "Dani, c'mon."
Dani: "N.O."
Phoenix: "Why?"
Dani: Dani looked frustrated. "BECAUSE HE'S IN CHEMO SESSIONS STILL, YOU WANKER!" Then he fell silent as Phoenix just looked at him incredulously.
Adrion (12:40:50 AM): He heard one of them yell something, the muffling getting a little louder, and had a feeling it wasn't going to well.
Phoenix (12:42:08 AM)
: "I..."
Dani: "Another thing he's lied about. I won't...no, Nix. He's fragile....and YOU shouldn't have even had sex with him, but you did. And I won't be responsible if he collapses because we pushed him."
Phoenix: "I....yes....all right...."
Dani: Dani pursed his lips together, looking guilty.
Adrion (12:47:18 AM): He spent five minutes on a cartoon before peeking his head out the door and quietly coming into the other room.
Dani:  Dani looked up at him. "So that's why I was asked over, huh? For a fucking orgy?!"
Adrion (12:58:09 AM): He showed himself, "No... "quietly, "I really just wanted you to come over... but we talked about it before... so I asked after he’d hung up..."
Dani: Dani looked to Phoenix with narrowed eyes. "You talked about it BEFORE?! What the fuck?" He shook his head. "Are you kidding me?! He's SEVENTEEN! SEVEN-TEEN. As in eleven years younger than you! As in JAIL-BAIT! Why in the hell would you even think I'd do it?"
Adrion (1:00:03 AM): Adrion opened his mouth and shut it again. His birthday was in two days. "He was just humoring me."
Dani:  He looked to him and rolled his eyes. "No he fucking wasn’t! If I'd of said yes he'd have done it in a heartbeat. GOD! You two are something else."
Adrion (1:03:18 AM): "I really did want you to come over... seriously..." he looked at Dani.
Dani:  He shook his head. "Well that's nice, and now I'm going." He got to his feet and muttered under his breath.
Adrion (1:05:21 AM): "Please don't go..." he stepped in front of him and the door.
Dani: Dani clenched his jaw. "Get out of my way."
Adrion (1:07:26 AM): "I didn't want you to come jus t for that..."
Dani: He pursed his lips. "Yeah, funny that I have a hard time believing you anymore."
Adrion (1:09:15 AM): His whole stature hardened a bit. "You'd lie too."
Dani: Dani snorted. "I'm not you.'
Adrion (1:10:11 AM): "Fine... leave then..." quietly, he stepped away and went to his room.
Dani: Dani looked at Phoenix and glared. "Unfuckingbelievable." He stormed out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Adrion (1:12:42 AM): Sighing, Adrion went and sat back on t he bed, clicking the channels on the TV.
Phoenix (1:14:34 AM)
: Phoenix hung his head. That wasn't how he had expected it to go. Maybe for Dani to laugh and say he was stupid, but not that.
Adrion (1:15:16 AM): He laid back in the pillows and let his muscles relax a bit, undoing the stuffy dress shirt and flinging it to the floor, wearing only the undershirt.
Phoenix (1:15:58 AM)
: Lying down on the couch, he put an arm over his face. Somehow he felt the whole outburst of Dani's went a lot deeper.
Adrion (1:16:46 AM): Adrion wondered why Phoenix didn't come to talk to him, frowning a bit to himself. Maybe he'd rubbed them both the wrong way.
Phoenix (1:17:42 AM)
: He let his arm fall and stared at the ceiling for a long moment. Yes, Adrion had lied to him. Yes, this was one more thing to add to the list, but he understood. Of course he did, well, a part of him anyway. Another part was just plain hurt.
Adrion (1:18:36 AM):  Adrion changed it to a music channel and toed off his black shoes.
Phoenix (1:20:37 AM)
: Sighing, he got up and made his way to his room, flopping onto his bed and curling up there.
Adrion (1:21:09 AM): He heard Phoenix shuffle by and go into his room, fighting with himself a moment, "Phoenix?"
Phoenix (1:21:43 AM)
: He let out a disgruntled sigh. "Yes...?" he called out, staring at the ceiling now.
Adrion (1:22:00 AM): "Come here... please?"
Phoenix (1:22:26 AM)
: Phoenix rubbed over his face and slid off the bed, going to the doorway of Adrion's room. "what?"
Adrion (1:23:45 AM): "I don't want to talk to you from the doorway..." he touched the foot of the bed
Phoenix (1:27:03 AM)
: Phoenix pressed his lips together and sat on the very end of the bed.
Adrion (1:27:52 AM): "Are you pissed off at me now, too?
Phoenix (1:28:47 AM)
: Phoenix glanced at him and shrugged. "Not mad. Disappointed."
Adrion (1:29:54 AM): "About what?"
Phoenix (1:30:45 AM)
: He shook his head and looked at the wall. "You're still on chemo. Still, as in going and I didn’t know."
Adrion (1:32:58 AM): "He told you that, did he?" quietly "You're right. Can't keep his mouth shut about anything.... I didn't want you treating me like I was dying."
Phoenix (1:35:24 AM)
: Phoenix pressed his lips together again. "You have no idea how I would've treated you."
Adrion (1:37:03 AM): "I know that. I just know how I DIDN'T want people to treat me... alright? And I didn't want you to turn out to be one of those people... not that anyone has ever treated me like that..." Adrion thought, sometimes, that he WISHED someone would treat him how he felt... instead of yelling at him over the phone that he was perfectly capable of completing the year at the boarding school. When some days he just laid in his dorm and cried because he couldn't move... he tried but he couldn't bear to do anything but lay there.
Phoenix (1:38:23 AM)
: Phoenix looked at him and his eyes were sad. "I'd treat you like you, Adrion. Like you're someone I care about, not just a body that's in pain...or someone I don't know."
Adrion (1:39:08 AM): "You DIDN'T know me."
Phoenix (1:39:28 AM)
: "Right...and I still don't. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to go lie down."
Adrion (1:39:44 AM): A small frown, "Can I come with you."
Phoenix (1:40:04 AM)
: "No, Adrion. I'd rather sleep alone tonight."
Adrion (1:40:48 AM): "It doesn't feel safe, though..." quietly.
Phoenix (1:42:21 AM)
: Phoenix rubbed at his temples. "A lot of things don't...but I need my space tonight, please."
Adrion (1:43:11 AM): He only nodded a little. Adrion didn't want him to go, really, and the minute he left, he got into the shower again to calm himself down. It was all in his head.
Phoenix (1:44:27 AM)
: Phoenix shuffled back to his room, undressing and putting his gun on the table beside him.
Adrion (1:45:59 AM): Laying on the bed with the pajamas sticking to still-wet skin, Adrion closed his eyes and sighed.
Phoenix (1:48:49 AM)
: Phoenix put an arm over his face and knew he was in no mood for sleeping, but he just couldn't be around Adrion at the moment.
Adrion (1:50:56 AM): He was too deep into sleep, really, to hear someone messing with the screen on his window.
Phoenix (1:54:24 AM)
: He fiddled with his gun, swinging it around his finger and stared at the shadows on the ceiling.
Adrion (1:55:15 AM): A guy crept  in through the window and Adrion only woke up when someone put a cloth with chloroform on it over his mouth. He kicked at something and, luckily, knocked the guy into the lamp.
Phoenix (1:56:30 AM)
: Phoenix lurched up out of bed at the crash, clicking the safety on his gun to the off position and scrambling out of bed, rushing to the room. "HANDS UP! NOW!" He rose the gun, aiming, a fire in his eyes.
Adrion (1:57:04 AM): He stopped what he was doing, surprisingly enough, but Adrion was already out from the chemicals.
Phoenix (1:57:30 AM)
: "Move away from the kid, now," he growled, gun aimed right at the guy's heart.
Adrion (1:58:07 AM): Slowly, he did so, even putting his hands up... but he was moving towards the door.
Phoenix (1:58:31 AM)
: "I wouldn't even dare if I were you. You'll be dead before you get there. So make this easy or hard."
Adrion (1:59:58 AM): The guy said nothing, features dark, and waited.
Phoenix (2:01:49 AM)
: "Lower yourself to the floor, slowly, and put your hands behind your head."
Adrion (2:02:24 AM): Doing as he was told, slowly, but before he gets to the ground, he lunges at you easily.
Phoenix (2:03:03 AM)
: Phoenix didn't think. He pulled the trigger, repeatedly.
Adrion (2:04:00 AM): The only sound after was the ringing through the room that only lasted an instant, the guy dead on the floor in a heartbeat.
Phoenix (2:04:52 AM)
: Phoenix put the safety back on his gun, lowering his hand to his side. He took a shaky breath and went over to Adrion, checking his vitals before calling the police. Telling them he needed an ambulance and a coroner, he cradled Adrion in his a rm, stroking his cheek. "C'mon, love, wake up. please." He sighed, laying Adrion out on the floor, smelling the chloroform and wrinkling his nose.
Adrion (2:15:41 AM): He was limp there, laying completely still.
Phoenix (2:16:29 AM)
: The sirens sounded soon and people were rushing into his house. EMT's to get Adrion onto a stretcher and the coroner to zip up the perp in a body bag.
Adrion (2:17:11 AM): Adrion breathed softly, shallowly, and they carted him into the ambulance.
Phoenix (2:17:47 AM)
: Phoenix watched it all, then talked with a fellow officer, scratching the back of his head and letting out a sigh.
Adrion (2:18:50 AM): There was really nothing they could do but monitor him and wait for him to wake up.
Phoenix (2:19:10 AM)
: He got clothes on and made his way to the hospital, sitting in the waiting room. The police came there and he was told to go to the station, Dani being called in to stay in Adrion's room.
Adrion (2:21:48 AM): He wasn't hooked up to anything but oxygen to help the splitting headache that was sure to come with the drug he'd been put to sleep with.
Phoenix (2:22:46 AM)
: Dani sat back in the chair, watching him quietly, hands steepled under his chin.
Adrion (2:23:13 AM): An hour in the room they'd put him in and he finally started to wake up.
Phoenix (2:23:53 AM)
: Dani perked up, sitting forward when he saw Adrion stir.
Adrion (2:26:46 AM): A discontent sigh and he opened his eyes, looking around blearily.
Phoenix (2:27:24 AM)
: Swallowing a bit, Dani bit at his lip.
Adrion (2:30:16 AM): He couldn't sit up, really he didn't want to, and his eyes landed on Dani, confused.
Phoenix (2:30:53 AM)
: "H-Hey..."he said quietly, licking over his dry lips.
Adrion (2:33:28 AM): "What happened?" quietly.
Phoenix (2:34:58 AM)
: Dani sighed. "A guy tried to get in the house and take you....Nix, well, he intervened. You were knocked out with chloroform."
Adrion (2:36:52 AM): Sitting up a little, "Where’s he?"

Phoenix (7:24:30 PM)
: "At the station getting questioned"
Adrion (7:24:52 PM): "Oh... is he coming back?"
Phoenix (7:26:05 PM)
: Dani shrugged. "I have no idea. I would think so."
Adrion (7:30:02 PM): " Okay..." quietly, sitting up. He was glad to see no IVs in his arms.
Phoenix (7:32:54 PM)
: "Just don't move around a lot."
Adrion (7:38:23 PM): "Why not?" he looked at Dani, putting his legs over the sid eof the bed.
Phoenix (7:41:57 PM)
: Because you had an overly powerful dosage of that stuff running through your system. You need to relax."
Adrion (7:44:41 PM): A sigh and he fell back on the mattress, legs over the side,
Phoenix (7:46:21 PM)
: "Thank you." Dani actually smiled a little.
Adrion (7:48:10 PM): "I didn't do it because you told me to," quietly, he closed his eyes, head spinning.
Phoenix (7:52:25 PM)
: Dani rolled his eyes. "Whatever then." He sat back in his chair, glancing at his watch.
Adrion (7:58:07 PM): "Thanks, though..." he closed his eyes against the lights.
Phoenix (8:01:26 PM)
: "Mmhmm." Dani rubbed at the back of his neck and glanced around the room a little.
Adrion (8:05:03 PM): "Why did you have to tell him?"
Phoenix (8:07:19 PM)
: "Because he kept pestering me about the goddamned threesome."
Adrion (8:08:51 PM): "What does that have to do with me being on chemo still?"
Phoenix (8:14:41 PM)
: "Because I know how fragile people are during that...and I just...didn't think it was a good idea."
Adrion (8:18:14 PM): "And you know it might not work and I'll be in even deeper shit? And that I could die?"
Phoenix (8:19:23 PM)
: "Yes, I realize that too."
Adrion (8:22:43 PM): "So don't tell him what you don't think he should do with me, alright?" quietly.

Phoenix (12:03:47 AM): "Fine. Whatever."
Adrion (12:05:07 AM): "Well, what would you do if you only had so long to live? I mean... if I make it through this a second time... great... wonderful... but if I don't, I don't want to be laying around knowing I never had fun."
Phoenix (12:06:35 AM)
: Dani nodded and stared off through the window.
Adrion (12:15:36 AM): Time went by slow and Adrion laid there, finally pulling himself to lay correctly on the bed.
Phoenix (12:17:00 AM)
: Dani finally looked up when someone knocked at the door, telling him that he was free to leave now.
Adrion (12:40:14 AM): Adrion glanced up and sat up, sliding off the bed. Before Dani could leave, he gave him a short, tight, hug.
Phoenix (12:41:54 AM)
: Dani looked down at him a long moment, before hugging him back and placing a soft kiss on the top of his head. "See you later, kid." He grinned, winking and stepped out of the room.
Adrion (12:42:41 AM): He smiled a bit and waited just inside the door for the other person to come in, hoping it was Phoenix.
Phoenix (12:44:30 AM)
: Phoenix straggled down the hall, looking more tired than he ever had. Hair a mess, still in pajamas, and abrasions from the gun kickback covered with bandages on both of his hands.
Adrion (12:45:26 AM): He peeked out and waited for him to come in, hoping he had some kind of plan from the department to keep him safe. As he stepped in, Adrion locked the door.
Phoenix (12:46:43 AM)
: Phoenix looked at him, eyes with dark circles beneath them and rubbing at his arm.
Adrion (12:47:59 AM): Adrion smiled a little and hugged him, too, only this time much longer.
Phoenix (12:50:43 AM)
: Phoenix held onto him, resting his cheek against his hair and closing his eyes.
Adrion (12:52:00 AM): He was tiny, as always, against him and buried himself a little against Phoenix.
Phoenix (12:53:58 AM)
: Phoenix felt his heart break a bit at the feel of Adrion in his arms again. He squeezed him, not wanting to let him go.
Adrion (12:54:54 AM): "So... where are we going?"
Phoenix (1:13:38 AM)
: "A chateau in Ireland. Belongs to Dani's family."
Adrion (1:14:08 AM): "Isn't that a bit far from the trial, though?"
Phoenix (1:15:31 AM)
: "They'll handle things. We'll be there for tomorrow, the rest is deliberation."
Adrion (1:16:08 AM): "so where are we staying tonight?"
Phoenix (1:16:48 AM)
: "Dani's place."
Adrion (1:18:03 AM): "So we can leave now?"
Phoenix (1:18:40 AM)
: Phoenix nodded, slowly letting him go. "Yes."
Adrion (1:19:08 AM): Adrion let go and sighed, waiting for him to lead the way.
Phoenix (1:19:49 AM)
: Taking his hand, Phoenix led him out of the room towards the front exit.
Adrion (1:20:05 AM): He smiled a little at the hand on his and followed.
Phoenix (1:21:20 AM)
: Taking him out to a car that was not his jag, Phoenix let him in first then slipped in the driver's seat.
Adrion (1:28:55 AM): He tapped his fingers on his knees, looking out the window.
Phoenix (1:32:00 AM)
: Driving towards Dani's apartment, Phoenix didn't speak.
Adrion (1:35:19 AM): "Is he coming with us?"
Phoenix (1:36:45 AM)
: "With us? You mean to Ireland? Yes. He knows his way around."
Adrion (1:37:21 AM): Adrion nodded a little, "And... um... what about... I mean I have to see my doctors...."
Phoenix (1:37:42 AM)
: "You will. There."
Adrion (1:38:42 AM): "Okay...." he went quiet again, waiting.
Phoenix (1:41:06 AM)
: Phoenix pulled up into a covered garage and parked, getting out and waiting for Adrion.
Adrion (1:42:33 AM): "Do you have my bag?"
Phoenix (1:44:34 AM)
: "It's already up in Dani's apartment. C'mon." He lead him inside and up the stairs t ill he stopped in front of a door and Dani answered in nothing but slouchy pajama pants that hung on his narrow hips.
Adrion (1:45:11 AM): Adrion tagged close behind Phoenix and offered Dani a light smile.
Phoenix (1:46:32 AM)
: Dani nodded at them both, smiling and shutting the door. "I made some food if you guys are hungry. I need a shower." Phoenix set down his own bag and looked at Dani. "I'll be back in a bit, there's some essentials I have to get." He nodded at Adrion and then slipped back out of the apartment. "Make yourself at home, I'll be out in a minute."
Adrion (1:47:29 AM): They both moved away from him very fast and he sighed, slouching down with the food and making a small plate, his bag beside him on the floor.
Phoenix (1:48:17 AM)
: Dani headed down the short hall into the bathroom, turning on the taps and slipping out of his pants, getting in and taking a nice, hot shower.
Adrion (1:49:03 AM): It was almost 2am and it showed by looking at him. Shoulders slouched over the table, he poked a piece of chicken.
Phoenix (1:49:43 AM)
: After his skin was red from the water beating down on him, Dani got out, towelled off, wrapping the towel around his waist and came back out.
Adrion (1:50:39 AM): Ten minutes went by and he wondered where Phoenix was, his head on the table.
Phoenix (1:51:45 AM)
: Dani sat in the livingroom, flipping through the tv and the door to the apartment opened, Phoenix coming in. He sat a bag down and came into the kitchen behind Adrion, setting a box riddled with holes in front of him.
Adrion (1:52:26 AM): He didn't look at the box, but at Phoenix, "What is it?"
Phoenix (1:52:46 AM)
: Phoenix smiled. "I thought you could use a companion." A whimper could be heard from the box.
Adrion (1:53:54 AM): Adrion touched the top and picked it off, peeking inside.
Phoenix (1:54:49 AM)
: Phoenix bit his lip, scrutinizing his expression.
Adrion (1:55:23 AM): A smile touched his lips, pulling out a tiny Labrador puppy with a pink collar.
Phoenix (1:55:52 AM)
: At the smile on Adrion's face, Phoenix felt his heart swell.
Adrion (1:57:46 AM): Adrion pulled her close and cuddled her against his chest, petting her paw. "She's so cute..." softly.
Phoenix (1:58:35 AM)
: "I was shopping and I passed the pet shop. I saw her in the window and she gave me these big ol' puppy dog eyes, so I thought....why not."
Adrion (1:59:29 AM): She looked up at him with huge blue eyes contrasted with the black fur and Adrion grinned. "Thank you..."
Phoenix (2:00:24 AM)
: "You're welcome." Phoenix glanced into the living room behind him, noticing Dani flopped there and saw his arm moving, blinking a little and then smirking.
Adrion (2:01:06 AM): He abandoned his plate of food and kissed Phoenix's cheek. "Will you help me take care of her?"
Phoenix (2:01:24 AM)
: Phoenix grinned. "Of course I will."
Adrion (2:01:54 AM): Adrion knew he couldn't even take care of himself... once this was all done... after they were in jail... he didn't know where he would stand.
Phoenix (2:02:28 AM)
: Phoenix touched his cheek. "You won't be alone. I won't ever leave you alone."
Adrion (2:03:41 AM): "You say that now..." a small smile, petting the puppy in his arms.
Phoenix (2:04:42 AM)
: Phoenix shook his head. "I don't say anything I don't mean."
Adrion (2:05:36 AM): A tiny nod. "Can we go to sleep?"
Phoenix (2:05:52 AM)
: "Sure. Let's...erm...go thataway."
Adrion (2:06:26 AM): "What way?" there was only one way out of the kitchen.
Phoenix (2:07:20 AM)
: "Umm...never mind." He'd been thinking of the house and the two exits. Leading Adrion out of the kitchen, he shielded his view from the living room.
Adrion (2:07:46 AM): Adrion caught on, though, and stopped.
Phoenix (2:08:21 AM)
: Phoenix gave him a look and nodded to the bedroom.
Adrion (2:11:14 AM): He didn't move, though, watching quietly.
Phoenix (2:12:24 AM)
: "Adrion," he hissed. "C'mon." He tugged his elbow, while on the couch, Dani lay against the back cushion, legs splayed open and hand moving feverishly over his cock as the other kneaded his sack.
Adrion (2:13:19 AM): "But he's..." Adrion didn't look away.
Phoenix (2:14:10 AM)
: "I know what he's doing...that's why I said we should go. Let him...wank in peace." Dani let out the softest moan, eyes fluttering as he slid his hand up, thumb rubbing cum over the tip of his cock.
Adrion (2:14:50 AM): "But..." he looked at Phoenix and back again.
Phoenix (2:15:06 AM)
: "But what?" Phoenix sighed, biting his lip.
Adrion (2:16:20 AM): He nodded to Dani.
Phoenix (2:16:40 AM)
: "Yes, and what's the big deal? Blokes wank all the time."
Adrion (2:17:09 AM): "I know that." but the last he'd seen was his flat mate in the dorms... he it wasn't so out in the open like this.
Phoenix (2:17:56 AM)
: "So let's go to bed and let him-"Phoenix was cut off as another moan fell from Dani's lips and it twisted his stomach in knots.
Adrion (2:18:57 AM): Adrion was hard now and, despite how tired he was, it ached. Setting the puppy down, he let her scamper off.
Phoenix (2:19:26 AM)
: Phoenix swallowed a bit. "Can we go before he notices we're watching him?"
Adrion (2:20:02 AM): A shake of the head. "His fault."
Phoenix (2:20:34 AM)
: Phoenix rolled his eyes. "It's his flat. He can do what he wants. Now..come on..."He tugged Adrion's sleeve.
Adrion (2:21:32 AM): He flushed a bit and followed, finally, with the perfect image in his head.
Phoenix (2:22:14 AM)
: Phoenix took him to the guestroom and pushed him inside, shutting the door. He kicked off his shoes and climbed up into the bed after stripping down to his undershirt and boxers.
Adrion (2:22:59 AM): The puppy seemed to know what she was doing, curled up already on the floor. "I um... don't know if I can go to sleep..."
Phoenix (2:23:42 AM)
: Phoenix looked to him and chuckled. "He got you that hot and bothered, hmm? I say you go out there and make him fix it."
Adrion (2:24:36 AM): "Were you watching the same guy jerk off?" Adrion climbed into bed, already rubbing at himself through the boxers.
Phoenix (2:25:07 AM)
: At that, Phoenix smirked. "I've seen him do it before. Plenty of times."
Adrion (2:25:34 AM): "Yeah, well... I haven't." and he laid on his back, putting his fingers down into his boxers now.
Phoenix (2:26:01 AM)
: Phoenix glanced at him. "Oh seriously...you're going to make me lie in this bed while you jerk off?"
Adrion (2:26:28 AM): "What? Do you want to do something about it?" Adrion was too tired to do anything about it but get it done and over with.
Phoenix (2:27:04 AM)
: "No. Forget it." Phoenix waved his hand in the air and turned over onto his side, looking away from Adrion and clicking off the light.
Adrion (2:27:46 AM): Adrion closed his eyes and fisted himself, slowly feeling all the little twitches and surges of pleasure.
Phoenix (2:28:04 AM)
: Phoenix felt the bed move and made a face, getting up without a word and leaving the room.
Adrion (2:29:03 AM): Phoenix left and he came soon after, wiping his hand on the material of his boxers before turning on his side and promptly passing out.
Phoenix (2:29:31 AM)
: Phoenix went and sat in the study, curled up on the chair and didn't sleep the entire night, just feeling at a loss.
Adrion (2:30:51 AM): The puppy soon took Phoenix's place, curled up against Adrion.
Phoenix (2:31:57 AM)
: In the morning, Phoenix didn't speak to Dani, didn't say a word of anything, just grabbed his bag of things and told Dani to escort Adrion to the courthouse, before leaving the apartment with a loud slam of the door.
Adrion (2:35:04 AM): He slept as long as aloud.

Phoenix (6:58:45 PM): Dani came to the doorway, knocking on the door and already dressed in his uniform.
Adrion (7:00:34 PM): Adrion rolled over and sighed, the puppy waking up beside him.
Phoenix (7:01:27 PM)
: "Get up, Adrion!" Dani called out, coming over and bopping him on the head with a pillow. "We have to be out of here in a half-hour."
Adrion (7:02:15 PM): Adrion sighed and crinkled his forehead up, the puppy standing now on his stomach. "You didn't have to hit me."
Phoenix (7:03:08 PM)
: Dani rolled his eyes. "Oh it was barely a tap. The mood Phoenix was in this morning, he might just have dragged you out of bed, consider yourself lucky I was being playful."
Adrion (7:05:06 PM): He sat up and cradled her in his arms, scratching behind her ear before finally moving to get up
Phoenix (7:05:45 PM)
: Dani left the room and made a quick little breakfast, coming back and setting it on the nightstand for Adrion.

Adrion (2:21:12 AM): He was half dressed, working on getting his tank top on as Dani stepped past him to put the food on the table.
Phoenix (2:25:56 AM)
: With barely a glance, Dani stepped out of the room.
Adrion (2:26:44 AM): "Is he pissed off at me?" he looked at him as he was about to head out the door.
Phoenix (2:28:58 AM)
: Dani stopped at the door. "Why would he be?"
Adrion (2:31:58 AM): "Because he left and didn't come back last night."
Phoenix (2:33:02 AM)
: "Ah, he's angry at the world, Adrion. Don't take as anything about you."
Adrion (2:37:51 AM): "If you say so..." Adrion shrugged his over shirt on and followed Dani out, eating a pop tart.
Phoenix (2:38:31 AM)
: Dani just shook his head, irritated, and grabbed a bag near the door.
Adrion (2:40:10 AM): The puppy tagged along on her pink leash. "So we're gone... right after the courthouse?"
Phoenix (2:43:25 AM)
: "Yeah, something like that." Dani hoisted the bag over his shoulder and left the apartment.
Adrion (2:44:17 AM): "What’s that mean?" curiously.
Phoenix (2:45:41 AM)
: "That means, yeah, we should be gone. Who knows what the captain will finally decide."
Adrion (2:46:16 AM): "Oh... alright..." He got into the car, letting the puppy get into the back.
Phoenix (2:48:26 AM)
: Dani slid into the driver's seat and drove towards the courthouse not speaking.
Adrion (2:49:27 AM): He had to bring it up. "You know, you were pretty open about jerking off in your living room where anyone could see you..." quietly.
Phoenix (2:50:19 AM)
: Dani glanced to him and shrugged. "My apartment, my life. Don't wanna see it, there were plenty of other rooms to go into."
Adrion (2:54:00 AM): "Interesting, really, becaus emost people would of had the decency to go into their bedroom and do it," Adrion looked out the window, thinking that was a pretty rude way of putting it. Who thought it was decent to jerk off while a guest or a friend was 4 feet away and not behind a closed door?
Phoenix (2:55:16 AM)
: Dani rolled his eyes. "You know what, you are a pain in the fucking ass. And all you've done is make people miserable around you. So pardon me if I don't fucking feel bad for jerking off WHEREVER I damn well please in my home after dredging bodies of water for the damn girl your parents killed!"
Adrion (2:56:27 AM): "Am I supposed to feel guilty for something they did?"
Phoenix (2:57:40 AM)
: "I don't give a bloody fuck if you feel guilty or not, Adrion. I'm tired and on edge, so stop fucking with me."
Adrion (2:59:23 AM): "I'm not fucking with you. I just don't see why you have to be so rude about the fact you were jerking off out in the open. Not to say it bothered me, really... but whatever..." his voice was quiet. He wasn't being a brat, really... he was talking... and apparently his mind and thoughts got him into trouble.
Phoenix (3:01:05 AM)
: "No, Phoenix said you had a nice jerk off of your own. So I don't really feel bad. I've got bigger things on my mind then whether you saw my cock or not, coming from the fucking kid that wanted a threesome."
Adrion (3:02:56 AM"I know you don't mind. If you had, you'd of found somewhere else to do it." Adrion looked out the window and the puppy crawled into his lap. Everything about the last day was... confusing... and he was still not quite right after telling the courts what he'd seen and almost being kidnapped.
Phoenix (3:03:50 AM)
: Dani pulled up into the court parking lot and slammed into park. "Here's your stop.'

Adrion (4:37:31 PM): Adrion winced a bit and opened the door. "Watch her for me?" he held the end of the leash out with a small smile.
Phoenix (4:39:20 PM)
: Dani nodded and took the leash, the puppy instantly scampering up into his lap and he allowed himself the slightest of smiles. "Good luck in there." He knew Adrion was going to need it.
Adrion (4:40:40 PM): "Thanks..." softly, and then h e turned and headed inside, alone.
Phoenix (4:41:12 PM)
: Dani watched after him until he was safely inside and then he drove off.
Adrion (4:41:51 PM): There were plenty of people there and he looked around, biting his cheek.
Phoenix (4:43:41 PM)
: Phoenix was in a corner, huddled together with the prosecutor, making hand gestures and talking in an almost excited whisper. The attorney's face lit up.
Adrion (4:44:00 PM): He came over and sat on a bench,quietly watching.
Phoenix (4:45:15 PM)
: Phoenix nodded at her in response to a question, handing over a pile of papers. She suddenly hugged him and he had a brilliant smile on his face.
Adrion (4:45:41 PM): Adrion fiddled with the tie around his neck, sighing.
Phoenix (4:46:44 PM)
: They returned to the prosecutor's table and Phoenix saw him, giving him a wink.
Adrion (4:47:26 PM): Adrion only caught the wink before looking down again.
Phoenix (4:48:07 PM)
: Phoenix turned back to the prosecutor and they shared a knowing look before the bailiff came in to swear in the court. Everyone stood until the judge came and was seated.
Adrion (4:49:00 PM): He glanced around and waited, wishing this was done.
Phoenix (4:51:57 PM)
: The prosecutor got to her feet, sauntering up in front of the court. "I'd like to enter new evidence into the court that our studious police department has procured."Her eyes swept over to defendant's table, boring into the eyes of the defense attorney. "The results of the autopsy."
Adrion (4:52:53 PM): He clasped his fingers in his hands and ran tips over the nails out of nervous habit.
Phoenix (4:53:34 PM)
: She made her way over to the defense table and slapped down a stack of papers. "Skin cells and dried blood under fingernails says a whole hell of a lot in court."
Adrion (4:55:07 PM): Adrion listened intently to what was going on... knowing this meant they couldn't get around it.
Phoenix (4:56:25 PM)
: She leaned down and smiled. "I don't need anymore witnesses. And you can no longer pin this on an innocent seventeen year old boy."She took the papers, handing them to the bailiff. "As far as I'm concerned. That right there, was my closing argument."
Adrion (4:56:57 PM): He tried not to smile at the looks on their faces.
Phoenix (4:57:52 PM)
: Phoenix glanced at the prosecutor and she nodded. The judge looked stern as he said that it was time for the jury to go deliberate.
Adrion (4:58:26 PM): Adrion looked at Phoenix, wishing he'd come over to sit with him while they waited. He was sure it wouldn't be long.
Phoenix (4:59:53 PM)
: She came over to the table after a moment, touching Phoenix's hand. "My sister would have been proud of you,"she whispered, pecking him on the cheek. He gave a little nod and pushed open the small gate, coming over to kneel in front of Adrion, taking his hands. "It'll be over soon."
Adrion (5:00:32 PM): "I know." he smiled and looked at him.
Phoenix (5:01:47 PM)
: Phoenix gripped Adrion's hands tightly and ignored the near chaos that was ready to erupt at the defense table.
Adrion (5:02:02 PM): "How long do you think it'll take?"
Phoenix (5:03:08 PM)
: "Well, hopefully this jury doesn't need much else than that and can come to a decision within the hour."
Adrion (5:03:58 PM): "Alright..." he looked at the defense table and met the eyes of his father.
Phoenix (5:05:01 PM)
: "Don't look over there,"Phoenix whispered softly, rubbing his fingers.
Adrion (5:21:25 PM): But he did, still, for a moment, before looking back at Phoenix and wiggling his fingers a bit in his.

Phoenix (9:55:23 PM)
: Phoenix flashed another smile before gently letting go of his hands
Adrion (9:56:48 PM): He went to but Adrion reached for them.
Phoenix (10:30:47 PM)
: Phoenix glanced at him again, searching his eyes and then his smile widened.
Adrion (10:37:41 PM): "I don't know what to name the puppy."
Phoenix (10:42:34 PM)
: Phoenix laughed a bit, shrugging. "I have no clue."
Adrion (10:51:49 PM): "You have to help me later, then."
Phoenix (10:55:40 PM)
: Nodding, Phoenix played with his fingers. "That I can do."
Adrion (10:56:58 PM): "Are we still going to Ireland?"

Phoenix (12:26:20 AM): "Yeah, for a bit. Just until things die down, I suppose, no matter what the verdict is."
Adrion (12:39:06 AM): A small nod and he saw a door open. "Think they're back already?"
Phoenix (12:47:05 AM)
: Phoenix looked behind him and furrowed his brows. "If they are, then that's pretty damn quick."
Adrion (12:51:57 AM): It wasn't them and Adrion sighed, sitting back. "Maybe I'll name her Natasha... after that girl..."
Phoenix (12:52:31 AM)
: Phoenix pressed his lips together a bit. "Mm, nice name."
Adrion (12:53:15 AM): "Maybe not..." a sigh.
Phoenix (1:04:14 AM)
: "Or not...."Phoenix didn't quite know what to say about that.
Adrion (1:08:32 AM): "I'll think of it..." and he looked down.
Phoenix (1:27:00 AM)
: Another nod and Phoenix got up, stretching his legs.
Adrion (1:29:32 AM): "Why do I have to be here?"
Phoenix (1:33:10 AM)
: "You don't...not anymore."
Adrion (1:34:01 AM): "Can we leave?"
Phoenix (1:38:39 AM)
: "Hold on a moment." Phoenix went over to the prosecutor, talking to her for a minute and she nods. He came back over and nodded at Adrion. "Let's go."
Adrion (1:39:03 AM): Adrion got up and looked at his parents, smiling a little.
Phoenix (1:41:48 AM)
: Phoenix smirked, escorting him out of the courthouse.
Adrion (1:43:45 AM): They only sneered in turn and he still smiled, following him outisde.
Phoenix (1:44:55 AM)
: Taking him over to his car, Phoenix allowed himself a smile too.
Adrion (1:45:36 AM): "Where did Dani go?"
Phoenix (1:46:50 AM)
: "I think he went to pack, probably."
Adrion (1:47:18 AM): "Oh..." he nodded and sat down in the seat.
Phoenix (1:51:18 AM)
: Phoenix looked over at him a bit. "What?"
Adrion (1:51:57 AM): "Nothing," a shrug.
Phoenix (1:54:37 AM)
: Phoenix pulled out of the lot and headed towards his house now.
Adrion (1:57:30 AM): Adrion snuggled into himself, almost, and let the warm wind blow through the window at him.
Phoenix (1:59:47 AM)
: "Ireland will be nice. Dani's parent's place is something else."
Adrion (2:02:54 AM): "And it's summer there, too..." softly... smiling at the thought.
Phoenix (2:03:32 AM)
: "Indeed it is." Phoenix grinned, pulling up at his place.
Adrion (2:07:53 AM): As they pulled to a stop, Adrion got out and came up to Phoenix's side.
Phoenix (2:09:21 AM)
: Phoenix arched a brow, then got out and looked at Adrion a bit. "We'll get our things and meet Dani at the airport."
Adrion (2:09:48 AM): A nod, letting him lead the way.
Phoenix (2:11:46 AM)
: Heading in the house, Phoenix hurriedly got some things together.
Adrion (2:12:16 AM): He hurried but Adrion only had his one bad, really, and stood there in the doorway, licking his lip.
Phoenix (2:13:56 AM)
: Phoenix zipped up the bag, coming back over and stared down at Adrion for a long moment. "Let's go then."
Adrion (2:14:24 AM): "Okay..." but he stepped forward and leaned up, lightly kissing the detective
Phoenix (2:19:06 AM)
: Phoenix's eyes fluttered shut as his hand touched Adrion's lower back and he returned the kiss.
Adrion (2:21:35 AM): A long moment went by and he sighed, parting his lips just slightly and pressing them to his bottom one before pulling back. "You save my life... and I haven't thanked you yet..."
Phoenix (2:24:09 AM)
: Phoenix licked over his lips. "I don't want thanks."
Adrion (2:25:08 AM): Adrion cut into his last word with a whisper. "Thank you..."
Phoenix (2:28:31 AM)
: Phoenix smiled a bit and nodded. "You're welcome."
Adrion (2:30:31 AM): Licking his lips a little, Adrion stepped back so they could leave, eyeing Nix.
Phoenix (2:31:32 AM)
: Phoenix gave him a wink and moved out to the car again, getting in and heading to the airport.
Adrion (2:32:37 AM): The flight itself was like all of them. Long. Boring. Full of sleep.
Phoenix (2:40:06 AM)
: Phoenix talked with Dani most of the time while Adrion slept. Mid-flight, he got a message about the verdict coming in "Guilty"
Adrion (2:40:44 AM): He felt the plane jolting as they were beginning to land, raising his head up.
Phoenix (2:44:17 AM)
: Phoenix had a brilliant smile on his face as he leaned over, whispering one word in Adrion's ear. "Guilty."
Adrion (2:45:40 AM): Adrion sat up straighter. "I wish we knew how long..." knowing there would be a separate trial for that.
Phoenix (2:46:25 AM)
: Phoenix nodded a bit. "Oh if Alyssa has any say, it'll be life."
Adrion (2:48:07 AM): "Me too... if I had any say..."
Phoenix (3:02:01 AM)
: "They'll get theirs, Adrion. Rest assured."

Adrion (5:33:41 PM): Adrion smiled to himself... happy they'd gotten through that flinght... and now they were here in this place..
Phoenix (5:34:24 PM)
: Phoenix scratched behind the puppy's ear as she scooted up to him, nudging her nose to his cheek.
Adrion (5:48:14 PM): "I still don't know what to name here..." sitting down in the grass beside him.
Phoenix (5:49:18 PM)
: "She's quite affectionate,” Phoenix laughed, pushing away her invading tongue. "Name her Sweets,” he joked.
Adrion (5:58:40 PM): Adrion laughed a little. "Brownie?" jokes
Phoenix (6:01:41 PM)
: Phoenix puckered up his lips at her, squishing her face playfully as she yipped excitedly. "What d'ya think, pup? Wanna be a Brownie?"

Adrion (7:08:02 PM): "I don't have the heart to call her brownie..." he grinned a little.
Phoenix (7:10:56 PM)
: "Aww, well I'm sure you'll come up with something."

Adrion (11:39:53 PM): "To much innuendo..." he was still a teenager, afterall, and was sometimes immature, of course. "Licorice? Or Snickers..." Adrion scratched at her stomach for her.
Phoenix (11:43:09 PM)
: Phoenix chuckled. "Ah yes, those are loads better."
Adrion (11:43:58 PM): "Well, come on... brownie?" he smirked.
Phoenix (11:45:42 PM)
: Phoenix winked. "Right right...I actually like Licorice."
Adrion (11:46:36 PM): "And she's not brown..." a small grin, "Yeah.. me too."
Phoenix (11:52:41 PM)
: Phoenix nodded, playing with her and letting her scamper up onto his chest.
Adrion (12:04:19 AM): "Licorice it is. The kind with the pink on it... the cubes... " he couldn't think of the name.
Phoenix (12:06:38 AM)
: "I know what you're talking about but I have no idea what they're called."
Adrion (12:07:10 AM): He laughed and stroked a hand down her back, smiling a little.
Phoenix (12:07:37 AM)
: Phoenix gazed at her, then up at Adrion, feeling finally content.
Adrion (12:09:58 AM): A long moment went by, the wind soft and warm. "Do you think... they'll get death...?" quietly.

Phoenix (12:58:54 AM): Phoenix let his gaze fall on Adrion and pressed his lips together. "That's all up to the jury."
Adrion (1:08:48 AM): He looked at the grass for a long moment. "I don't know if I want that for them... I should, shouldn't I?"
Phoenix (1:11:00 AM)
: "Maybe not. You have a conscience. Me, I'd rather see em rot in prison."
Adrion (1:14:42 AM): "I'd rather not see them at all..." he smiled a little to himself. "I like knowing they're always going to blame me for it, though... because now they'll sit there and think about me more than they did when they should have."
Phoenix (1:16:32 AM)
: Phoenix looked at him a bit sadly and just nodded, touching the puppy's head gently.
Adrion (1:18:16 AM): "I should make another appointment soon..." quietly, unaware of what that situation is only that you said he would be covered.
Phoenix (1:20:12 AM)
: "Right. All the information for the local hospital is inside."
Adrion (1:30:17 AM): "Okay..." softly, playing with a blade of grass.
Phoenix (1:31:18 AM)
: Phoenix watched as Licorice ran off across the yard and he propped himself up onto his elbows.
Adrion (1:46:39 AM): Adrion laid back completely and looked up at the clouds.
Phoenix (1:48:49 AM)
: A warm breeze wafted over him and Phoenix smiled, turning his face up to the sun.
Adrion (1:50:09 AM): "Its almost as good as being home..." Adrion may of hated his parents... but California was still his home.
Phoenix (1:52:23 AM)
: "I never liked California much. Maybe now I can move back to London."
Adrion (1:57:47 AM): "I just liked the weather..." he shrugged a little bit.
Phoenix (2:00:20 AM)
: "I'm cold-blooded. California was wicked.” He chuckled.
Adrion (2:01:42 AM): "So sad." Adrion smirked.
Phoenix (2:03:31 AM)
: "Oh you don't care, you little brat.” He joked, tickling Adrion's side.
Adrion (2:04:29 AM): "Of course I don't. I'm warm blooded... maybe even hot blooded..."
Phoenix (2:07:08 AM)
: "Yes, you are definitely hot-blooded,” Phoenix chuckled.
Adrion (2:11:19 AM): "If I could, I'd always be outside." absentmindedly.
Phoenix (2:18:04 AM)
: Phoenix looked to him for a moment, but said nothing, just reached over and touched his hand.
Adrion (2:21:21 AM): He smiled a little and wiggled his hand.
Phoenix (2:27:49 AM)
: Phoenix brought his hand up, kissing his fingertips.
Adrion (2:33:43 AM): "I thought I was too young for you, still?" joking softly.
Phoenix (2:34:12 AM)
: Phoenix smirked. "When did I say that?"
Adrion (2:36:43 AM): He thought a moment. "Right. That was Dani."
Phoenix (2:39:14 AM)
: "Exactly. I don't lend much to age."
Adrion (2:39:44 AM): "Good to know..." softly, glancing at you.
Phoenix (2:41:33 AM)
: Phoenix smirked and leaned up, brushing his lips to Adrion's.
Adrion (2:44:55 AM): Adrion pulled him over, bringing him above him as he still laid flat.
Phoenix (2:46:12 AM)
: Phoenix hovered there, arms braced on either side and kissed Adrion softly.
Adrion (2:51:32 AM): His stomach fluttered hard and fast, pure chaos, as he tilted his head, lightly feeling the blades of grass touch through his short hair.
Phoenix (2:52:20 AM)
: Phoenix's hand grazed Adrion's cheeks as he deepened the kiss, losing himself in it.
Adrion (2:55:11 AM): One arm went up, hand over Phoenix's shoulder, and he let a soft noise of content leave his lips.
Phoenix (2:56:21 AM)
: Phoenix pecked Adrion's lips lightly before pulling back a bit and gazing at him.
Adrion (3:01:06 AM): His cheeks went a little pink, smile on his lips lightly.
Adrion (3:01:09 AM)
: light-
Phoenix (3:02:30 AM)
: Phoenix stroked Adrion's cheek and leaned down again, brushing his lips to the younger man's.