"Feeling better?"

"A lil."

"Just a little?" Moore whispered and nuzzled Nero's neck.

"Mmm, maybe more than a lil," Nero murmured. "Love you."

"Love you too, kid."

"Moore?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever think 'bout the future?" Nero asked.

Moore propped himself up on his elbow and looked at Nero with curiousity. "Whatcha mean?"

"The future... you know..."

"You mean us?"

"Uh huh."

"Sometimes," Moore said. "Why?"

"Just wonderin'," Nero replied quietly.

"Kid," Moore whispered. "Talk to me. You came over here all upset and wouldn't tell me what was wrong."

"I just needed to be with you," Nero whispered.

"I'm right here... now, talk to me... please."

"My dad never came home last night," Nero said.

"Uncle Scott?"

Nero nodded. "He told my pop that he met an old friend, had too much to drink, and couldn't drive home."

"Why didn't Uncle Jeff just go pick him up?"

"Cause he was too busy talking to Taker... Mark."

"About?"

"That he was visiting him in his hotel today."

"They probably just wanna catch up, that's all," Moore said softly and stroked Nero's cheek.

"No!" Nero replied angrily as tears pooled in his eyes. "I heard him tell Mark he loves him."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"You probably heard wrong."

"I hate when you fuckin' do that."

"Do what?" Moore asked. "Try and comfort you?"

"No," Nero hissed as he climbed out of bed and picked up his jeans. "When you treat me like a fuckin' kid."

"Well then stop fuckin' actin' like one, Nero."

"Fuck you," Nero snarled and buttoned his jeans. "Oh wait... did that already."

"Christ, Nero," Moore sighed. "Would you just stop for a damned second?"

"Why?"

"Because you're upset," Moore said and reached for Nero's hand. "And it's not at me. C'mere."

Nero reluctantly took Moore's hand and looked into his eyes.

Moore quickly pulled the younger boy into his lap and wrapped his arms around him. "I love you."

"I know," Nero whispered. "I'm sorry."

"S'okay."

"It's not okay," Nero said. "My parents are cheatin' on each other and it's my fault."

"What?"

"They've been fightin' a lot 'cause of me."

"How do you know it's 'cause of you?" Moore asked.

"I just do."

"Even if they have been fightin' 'cause of you, which I doubt," Moore said. "That doesn't mean they're cheatin' on each other."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Moore replied. "There's no proof."

"Help me get some."

"Kid, have you been using Uncle Jeff's hair dye again? 'Cause I think it's affected your brain."

"Fuck you," Nero snorted. "Are you gonna help or not?"

"Depends on what you wanna do."

"Go to Mark's hotel room."

"You really are out of your fuckin' mind."

"Moore..."

"No, Nero," Moore said. "No fuckin' way am I goin' to a hotel to tell a six foot eight, three hundred pound former wrestler to stop messin' with my uncle. I love you but not enough to be snapped in half like a toothpick."

"Fine," Nero said. "But at least drive me over there."

"No... wait ... how do you know where he's stayin'? Never mind, don't answer that."

"All right, I'll ride my bike."

"Fuck, you're a stubborn little bastard, aren't you?"

"Are you gonna give me a ride or what?" Nero asked.

"Oh, I'll give you a ride," Moore smirked and flipped Nero on his back.

"That's not what I meant," Nero grinned.

"I know," Moore whispered and kissed the pulse point on Nero's neck. "I'll think about it."

"Thank you," Nero murmured.

"Welcome, kid," Moore said softly. "Welcome."

--

"Thanks for the lift."

"Don't thank me," Jim said.

"Maybe I want to, asshole."

"You really wanna thank me?" Jim smirked and slipped his arm around Scott's waist.

"Jim..." Scott whispered placing his hand on Jim's chest.

"I know."

"You don't," Scott said taking a step back. "What I told you last night was only part of what's going on?"

"So why don't you tell me the rest?"

"I can't... not now."

"When?"

"I don't know," Scott replied and pulls his car keys out of his pocket. "I have to get home. My family's expecting me."

"You weren't so worried about your family when you were in my bed last night," Jim said bitterly.

"Fuck you," Scott snarled. "I have to go."

Scott turned and started to walk away, but Jim grabbed his elbow.

"Let me the fuck go."

"No."

"Damn it, Jim!" Scott hissed. "I'm not doing this with you... not here..."

"Not now," Jim repeated. "Yeah, I fuckin' heard that."

"Fucking asshole."

"Yeah well, this fuckin' asshole cares about you," Jim said.

"You've got a pretty funny way of showing it."

Jim rolled his eyes. "Christ Scotty, you sound like a god damned woman."

Scott tried to yank his arm away. They struggled, but Scott found himself dragged over and pulled against Jim.

"I hate you," Scott whispered.

"No, you don't," Jim breathed in his ear.

"Damn you for coming here."

"I just realize what else you do like a woman," Jim smirked.

"Do I want to know?"

"Mmm," Jim murmured and traced Scott's jawline with his tongue.

"Wh...what?" Scott stuttered as a shiver ran down his spine.

"Talk too fuckin' much," Jim whispered and pulled Scott into a heated kiss.

Scott slid his arms around Jim's waist and eagerly returned the kiss.

Jim backed Scott against his car then slid his hand between their bodies until his hand hovered over Scott's zipper.

"Jim..." Scott panted when he broke the kiss.

"Shhh..." Jim whispered as he pressed his palm against Scott's cock, rubbing it through the denim.

"Not here," Scott whimpered softly and buried his face in Jim's neck.

Jim pulled back, took Scott's keys, then pulled him towards the studio.

--

Nero double-checked the room number he'd scribbled down on a slip of paper. This was it. He was about to knock on the door and find out if Jeff really was on the other side. He wiped his sweaty hand on his pant leg and raised his hand. Did he really want to do this? Did he really want to know the truth? Maybe Moore was right; maybe this was a bad idea. He forced himself to push all doubts aside and quickly knocked. When there was no answer, he turned around and was about to walk away when he heard a familiar voice.

"It's about..."

Nero froze. "Dad?"

*~*End*~*