Day 328, Friday, November 28th

[papalobo]

[It's weird, to end up at a home that's not home. He's spent more time there than anywhere else this year, but that says more about his transience than anything. If told five years ago he would live such a lifestyle, he'd have believed that, but not the part about most of those multiple places being not just six but seven, eight figure abodes.

And yet it's Jessica's home (still probably the nicest one he'd lived in as an adult, before Ash swept in) they're doing Thanksgiving in. Maybe it's a fear of being upstaged on her part if it's in such a house; such a naive thought is, while unvoiced, just more proof of Ash's suspicions, that Max's mind is on something, something Ash had likely been trying to put his mind on for months. Because with even half of his braincells to put to it, he'd suspect the worst sooner.

It's not until they're pulling up to the house and there are two other cars there that he remembers the hell of Thanksgiving is not only family, but family you don't normally have to see. And thanks to Michael, Jessica's family is still his family.


And their ride is a taxi. It's not like they can turn around. Though Michael coming out to greet them right away in a hurried excitement would've made it impossible in anything.]

...Maybe she decided to start investing in cars. But not especially good ones. To be more undercover. As a journalist.

Day 375, Friday, December 14th

Comments

[jadedlynx]

[ That is the look Ash should have. He should also be glaring at the man who makes it sound like Ash just tried to prostate himself before the entire bar.

And yet his actual look has the man exclaiming something very different.]

You a-- you set me up! You get off on this kind of thing!

[ He doesn't. Ash really doesn't and yet, at the accusation, he understands the man's reasoning.

Immediately, he looks forward instead. ]

[papalobo]

How'd he set you up, huh?

[Shoving him back into the floor, a forearm goes up under his chin.]

The hell do you think he said or did?! Hasn't anyone actually wanted sex with you before to know?!

[jadedlynx]

[ Finally, finally, the man raises his arms in surrender but he shoots a look full of venom.]

Okay, whatever. Keep him, but if it's not me tonight, it'll be somebody else tomorrow.

[papalobo]

[Like hell he'll stop just because he gives. He won't go for the face, but he will pull his arm down and give a good sharp push with the heel of his palm into his sternum.]

You keep saying that without saying where it's coming from!

[jadedlynx]

My eyes, damn it! You're attacking a man who's not fighting back now!

[ Everybody sees it. The man speaks with the confidence of someone who believes the crowd will take his side.]

[papalobo]

You getting turned on 'cause he's hot doesn't mean he's asking for it, you whack-job!

[A palmn pushes into his face while his other hand holds back to Ash fully expecting to just be handed some liquor to pour right on said eyes.]

[jadedlynx]

[ But instead, two guys are heading toward Max with annoyed looks on their faces. ]

Okay. We let you get a few hits in for saying that about your guy, but it's over now.

[ And finally, Ash tries to urge him away. ]

Let's call it.

[papalobo]

[Max's eyes narrow at Ash. Is he really going to make him call it? Because Max could keep going. He's already crossed a line... But, if Ash does urge, he'll go, though it takes concentrated effort not to spit in the pervert's eye. His eyes, where Ash was apparently begging for it.]

This fucker probably thinks the strippers really like him, too...

[jadedlynx]

Is that even an equal comparison?

[ Ash was doing no stripping after all.

Instead, as the guy grumbles behind him, the blonde is urging Max toward the bathroom. Through each sex has their own, the bar is small enough for them to be private as opposed to having stalls. ]

[papalobo]

I don't gotta piss. Get the drinks.

[jadedlynx]

You're not 12. I'm not taking you in case you forget your potty signals. Just come on.

[papalobo]

[He'll come, but he's not happy about it. Even if that punch has him with a bit of a nosebleed, it's not like he's in the mood to care right now.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Considering the situation, it isn't especially off to see the two slip into the bathroom together; the entirety of the bar was witness to the fight, and Max is openly bleeding even if it's minor.

Th door closes behind them.

Locks.

And then it's Max being assaulted as Ash all but pushes him against the wall. Lips are immediately searching for the bigger man's, not at all mindful of the nosebleed. ]

[papalobo]

[Here comes the lecture. The door closes and Max steels his poker face, starts forcing that heat down. The door locks and he's already back to stone-faced. Then Ash is assaulting him and for a minute he wonders if it's not literal, being pushed back and face to face before he can figure out that he's being kissed, and hard, and hungry. It takes almost a full second and a half for his hands to end up on Ash's shoulders, not exactly sure what's going on but deciding to go with it, if confused, rather than fight it.]

[jadedlynx]

[ If Max pushes back, Ash will stop, but if there's no resistance, arms wrap around the bigger man with one hand digging into his hair to curl around Max's head.

Outside, it went too far. Max didn't need to beat the man into the ground and then attempt to torture him slowly. It was stupid, brash, and more akin to a caveman than someone with sensibilities.

And it made Ash glad that he opts for loose jeans. ]

That was...

[ As Ash pulls back, he sounds almost breathless, but not from lack of exertion. There's something a little deeper, a little huskier than usual. ]

...stupid.

[ But then Max is being devoured again as Ash pushes against him in a way that doesn't hide what started to form outside.

It was Max. It was Max on a level that he hadn't seen in earnest for some time. Ash doesn't enjoy fighting or overreacting, but after spending so much time looking for the man he met years before, seeing the flash of him lit a fire inside. The flame eats at his nerves in a way that surprises even him. ]

[papalobo]

[Max doesn't really have a thing for getting insulted or chewed out; if he did, probably even Ash wouldn't be able to compete with Jessica. Putting aside his other questionable tastes, he doesn't seem to mind being called stupid like this nearly as much as he should.

If he intended to break away to give some sarcastic retort, feeling Ash's response has him think twice; he may be stupid, but he's not that stupid, Ash doesn't exactly get it up often. And he hadn't had a drink yet, so it wasn't as if someone, somehow, slipped him something already and Max is the lucky beneficiary. So as he pulls those slender hips forward against him, Max can come to only one reasonable conclusion: Ash likes stupid at least as much as Max likes crazy.

Later, unironically, he will definitely think "Take that!" towards Blanca and Eiji. For now, however unusually, neither is on his mind, even to gloat.]

[jadedlynx]

[ If he could analyze it with a clear, unbiased eye, Ash would conclude he likes that Max's logical brain wasn't consulted when he heard Ash insulted so shamelessly. The man can still possibly press charges. He could have been hurt. Ash is sure that he didn't stop to consider any of those things.

Max isn't actually stupid. Ash throws the word around easily, but there's a reason he was a partner against Dino more than just someone to protect. Had he died at Arthur's hands, it was Max who he trusted to finish Banana Fish.

Yet, he'd go to jail for Ash's honor. He'd sport a broken nose or black eye if it meant the man would hurl one less profanity.

Ash isn't analyzing. He's slightly annoyed to find how turned on he is at an action he'd otherwise discourage, but he also has no intention of fighting it. Not even a little.

His hips roll as he greedily devours Max. There's skill, but Ash would actively try to fail for there to be no skill. But, he takes as much as he gives.

It'd been a relief the first time Max managed to get hard without medication, but that was still connected to the brain. Now, he's allowing his body full control. ]

[papalobo]

[Since the bathroom's locked, there's not a lot of reason to be shy about it being a semi-public place, is there? His hand goes right for the bottom of Ash's shirt, ready to strip him down and enjoy the view. And yet, a blue eyes strays to that door, locked, and yet beyond it, some asshole who'd accused Ash of getting off on this.

Whatever Ash's getting off on, it's not what that guy thinks.

But instead of pulling off the shirt, he gropes under it, only hungrier for the restraint, suddenly demanding a wetter, probing kiss since Ash is so obliging right now.]

[jadedlynx]

[ Even that seems to come shamelessly. Ash has always been an odd mixture of shamelessness and restraint. While acting, words flow from his lips as if he's simply living in an erotic movie. However, he's normally more aware of himself when sincere.

Yet now, he's urging Max away from the wall and toward the toilet. It's hardly sanitary, but Max is going to be bottom so he isn't worried.

He needs to feel Max. Now. Ash needs his hands to run across the expanse of a body he's explored but while being driven by a man he's so sorely missed. The kiss is almost impossible to deepen, but he follows Max's direction and slides one hand beneath the shirt to allow his hand direct contact with skin. ]

[papalobo]

[Down he goes without a fight, legs spreading to pull Ash down into his lap, even freeing a hand from under his shirt to reach and pull one leg over his, to get him into place and be body to body, getting friction as they move against each other with less energy set to balancing, to standing up.]

[jadedlynx]

[ As if the two are engaging in a well-planned dance, Ash slides into his lap without hesitation; it was always the plan.

His weight rests heavily on Max's legs, but Ash doesn't hesitate to lean more into his body. All consideration of limitations and injuries is gone.

A year prior, Ash wouldn't have made out in the bathroom of a bar. Last night, he'd have said there's no one who can't wait to be kissed, but now, he treats their kiss as oxygen: precious and necessary.

Despite his erection being present between them, he has no plans on having sex here and now, but he's already planning a place to park to finish what they start here. ]

[papalobo]

[A heavy, thick hand settles right over that erection, confirming it, kneading it, all but gloating in it while their chests rub together, breaths mingling along with lips and tongues. The opposite hand runs through Ash's hair, cupping his face and then running to the back of his neck, a flurry of motion not sure how far to go when both of them know that this isn't the place for penetration; and yet, neither wants to stop to move, either.]

[jadedlynx]

[ The kiss breaks when Max's hand rubs along the erection, earning a moan muted only by necessity but even while quiet, the sound is shameless and wanton. ]

Damn it, Max.

[ The three words sound like complaint only for their lack of followup.

The solution is simple. ]

Car.

[ They need to relocate. ]

[papalobo]

Little more... [The frustration in his voice mirrors that complaint, but not enough to break off just yet. The hand over his groin kneads, grips, then rubs as he pants into the kiss, breaking and reconnecting, shifting on the less than comfortable toilet seat, not feeling any of it but Ash himself, and too taken with that to appreciate the benefits of any change of venue.]

[jadedlynx]

The problem is that I want a lot more.

[ Despite being overcome with lust, Ash still manages full sentences. His body rolls into the hand, encouraging Max while simultaneously trying to pause their situation. ]

We can't do it here, but you have a big back seat.