Starfire

Chapter Three:: Haven

The days had gone slowly, things just were always too damn slow when it involved moving shit and getting your mech suit to Owen without getting seen or checked out by every fucking cop and army man around. Holy shit, they're like.. all over fucking creation when you don't need em. But only when you don't need 'em.

Having Bitch and Suzanna quartered in Owen's hangar with a heap of BP's shit that he thought he needed (man, the guy was more like a woman sometimes than ... well, fuck, the guy was all man, but you know how it is. Just all cranky and shit while his stuff was getting moved.) and they are finally able to head to the old pad.

He pushes open the door and smirks, letting BP's eyes meet the foyer first.

When he'd said it was worth the money, he wasn't kidding. He's been putting every fucking cent into the place. "Shit.. I got the place almost paid for, in a way. I shoulda bought the place, but then I figger.. what the hell am'I gonna do with five rooms and shit? I could rent it out to a buncha hotties and have'm around all the time but what if I get tired of them? Then what?" and it sounds much as if he gets "tired" of them rather quickly.

The foyer is rich, golden wood and a textured stone floor that leads to a second opened room with a small fountain with running water in it, fluttering in the center of the room.

"So.. c'mon in!" he grins at his new found roomie.

Oh yeah... Tyrin wasn't going to deny it... He was a bitch when it came to his shit... But he's not so bad, really... He is just particular about having the equipment he made fucked with or handled carelessly... And Tex was right about the army and police... The bastards were like New York cockroaches... All over the place... But with some luck they got past all that shit and here they are...

Tyrin sets down his bag of clothing to give the place an eye... The same eyes widen...

"Shyit!"

He exclaims before giving a whistle...

"Gah damn this is fucking -sweet-! Man, I'll never doubt a word you say ever again!"

Tyrin walks into the spacious apartment, hands running delicately over the furniture before feasting his eyes on the fountain... Damn this place was beautiful... Fitting for a king... hell, he could only see Tex like that now... "Women are nothing' but trouble, dude," he agrees. "Last thing we need in here are live-in dames... trust me on this... besides... I'm sure you like the satisfaction of telling them to get out if they do become tiresome."

Tex nods and grins. "Nah.. I like the satisfaction of leaving before the morning laaaht, ya know what I mean?" he brushes his hands down his pants, not looking in the least bit like he should be here, covered in dust and grime and sweat, it's been weeks since he's had a shower. Grimacing, he lets his pack drop in the middle of the foyer and waves his hand. "Lemme take you on the grand tour, m'fellow roomie!" he states grandly and sidles off through one of the doors that lead from the foyer and hall.

Tyrin slowly walks around the fountain, smiling all big, like a kid let loose in a candy store...

The side rooms are more grand than the foyer, but with a little bit less of the elegance and a bit more of the comfort that one might wish for. Here are plush leather couches of black and paintings that show a surprising amount of recognition of what is worthy and not just fashionable. If Tex had had another calling, surprisingly enough it would have been interior decorating.

He waves his friend around, the living area, dining area, then on the other side of the hall, library (a grand experience in and of itself - Tex being an avid reader - though you'd never know it from how he carries on his life), and a green house complete with large tomatoes, enormous broad leafed ferns, and miniature trees as well as a few other fountains, more stone like and less grand than the one in the center of the foyer, and some shiny mobiles dancing light from the ceiling.

It was just incredible... beautiful damned place Tex had here... he followed his roomie around, peeking through all the rooms, whistling in a cat call...

"Dude this fucking place is -hot-!"

He says softly, with wide eyes... It was impossible to give it the once over... he had to do a few takes to get everything... From the floor to the ceiling, it spoke of sexiness... Hell yeah it's a sexy place... Oh, Tex did look like he belonged here, even if he didn't think so... Tyrin thought Tex was the sexiest man in this damned universe, so it was only right and proper to have an equally sexy place...

Past the foyer branches off to two rooms on either side of the hall and the last one at the far end. Tex grins. "That one's mine.. you can pick any of the others ya want. That one's the best though.." and he points to the one at the end of the hall.."

Tyrin found himself wanting to examine Tex's bedroom... It's strange, but you can tell a lot about a man from his bedroom... But that thought was cut short by the offer of the best bedroom... Tyrin raises a brow and smiles...

"Hey... Thanks man... For everything... This is thousands of times better than that drifter colony I was on... Damn I can't get over how great this place is!"

Tex shrugs and laughs. "Yeah.. well, fuck, half of it is yours now, so have at it, man!" he walks to the far room and opens it, jerking his head through. "Go on.."

The far room is, to be sure, exquisite. It's a miniature apartment in and of itself, with a bathroom, den, and enormous bedroom. The wall of windows looks out onto the space station and the lights and glory of earth below shines up in golden green. Here too, is the perfect taste that he'd shown elsewhere, comfort mixed with something almost... sexy, but in a way that an old bathrobe on a fine woman is sexy. Or a pair of worn jeans on a gorgeous man is sexy (depending on one's point of view as to what is sexy.) It has the obvious tone of come to me and relax, be here, be yourself, and don't worry about feet on the divan.

"Oh. My. Fucking. GODS!" Tyrin says as he follows Tex into the room he's chosen, eyes widening all over again... he couldn't -believe- it... "Am I dreaming? I have to be asleep somewhere..."

Tex leans back, watching Tyrin's eyes and body language as he goes through the rooms. Then when Tyrin is at the windows he walks up behind and chuckles low. A rustle of cloth and a sniff. "Shit.. I reek.." his face in the shirt he's dragged off of his body, his chest almost hairless, but definitely covered in grime and sweat. He stares out of the windows. "The button over there tints them so you can see out and get the sunlight but no one can see in. You can't really tell that they're tinted 'less yer used to it. Like now they are.. but fuck if you could tell just walking in.." he shrugs and hits Tyrin's arm with the shirt. "C'mon... let's take a shower and then head to dinner. I gotta call up the help. They've been off fer a month now."

He listens to Tex a moment later talking about the tinting of windows... Even that impressed him... Tyrin takes a moment to look at his bed... A -big- bed... Hell, it's a fucking -bed-! He walks over to it, leaning down to test the firmness and nearly purring as he feels the utter comfort...

"Hell yeah, dude... I am fucking dying for a decent shower... Oh man... This is just too damned sweet... A'ight, lemme go grab my clothes from the door and shit... You go on and get yer shower first, so I have a chance to get my shit put away..."

He couldn't help it... Damn... Tyrin's mind jumped right into the nearby gutter as Tex spoke about a shower... Damn, he'd love to wash that sexy body for him... he'd love to see Tex dripping wet... he'd fucking -love- licking every single fucking inch... His breath catches in his throat a moment... The room is unusually warm... he has to make sure he was turned away so he could bite down on his bottom lip... Fuck! How the hell is Tyrin gonna survive living in this beautiful palace without thinking dirty thoughts about having Tex in his bed?!

He lets out a long, but quiet sigh as he gathers his wits enough to turn around, heading towards the door to get his things... Oh yeah, he caught a whiff of Tex... But that only served to turn Tyrin on even more... He made his way out of the room quickly, almost getting lost in the cloud of his desire... he coughs quietly and moves back to the foyer, grabbing up the bag he brought with him and waiting a few seconds to make sure Tex had gone to his own room... he couldn't let his roomie see him like this... he's not sure Tex knows of his sexual preferences, but he sure as hell didn't want to lose they guy's respect...

Tex laughs softly, watching Tyrin walk out of the room and then crosses the room to the side of Tyrin's bedroom, opening the door and leaving it wide open. He walks in, turning on the hot water and then some, a minimal some that is, cold, and lets the water fill into the tub. Then, turning, he drops in some bubble bath and grins at the sight. It'll take a long time to fill, but by then Tyrin will be back and have found the open door and the bathtub is damn hard to miss just beyond the door, sunken into the floor. Looking over his shoulder at the slowly filling tub, he shakes his head. "Shit.. he'd fuckin' do me, when he sees this, he'll be so happy.." and then with that, he shrugs his shirt over his shoulder and walks into the hall. Gazing down at his roomie getting his stuff he calls past the fountain. "I got a shower in m'own room... I'll meetcha in the living room when yer done."

Tyrin looks up... When Tex speaks to him... Everything seems to stop when he speaks... he gives a nod to the first part... About having his own shower... Aw, bummer... That made his heart sink a little, though he didn't know why... he shook that feeling off... "Yeah, that's cool... See ya on the flipside..."

But then, Tex said something else...

"And hey, BP?" Tex gives a half grin, "Take yer time, k? It's not like we can't enjoy this." And with that he slips into his own room, closing the door behind him.

The way he says that... Gods, it's enough to melt Tyrin's heart... But he had to shake that off too... Man... It's going to be damned near impossible for him to be a good boy... To not have delicious dreams about that man... To not get hard when he fucking comes in the -room-!

But by the time he gets to say anything, Tex has retired to his own room and Tyrin sighs softly, throwing the bag of clothing over his shoulder, walking back down the hall and into his new room, taking in the utter beauty of it... Gods... It's just -perfect-!


So, he's undressing now, peeling off the clothing he's had on for the last few days... Oh yeah, he reeks too and he can't wait to feel hot water on his tired body... Tyrin leaves the bag on the floor as he looks around for the bathroom, catching a light on the side of the room... A tilt of his head and he makes his way there, like a moth to flame, pushing open the door to see...

"Oh... Oh my gods..."

He whispers to himself, the soft, delicious scent of lavender and other sweet smells drowning his senses... he walks deeper into the room, eyeing the tub full of bubbles... Jaw's dropping open... Eyes wide as fucking saucers... Tyrin looks to the door and then back at the tub, feeling his heart pounding in his chest...

"He... he did this for me? I..."

It made him happy all right... Damn, he was about ready to -cry-... No one has ever been this nice to him before... he feels like a king for the first time in his life! Tyrin steps into the water, whimpering at the hotness of it against his skin... So, so good... Tex had to have been reading his mind when he did this.

It's in that bath for a while... Soaking his tired body and then using the sweet smelling soaps over and over again... Feeling tears of utter happiness sliding down his cheeks.

The shower is hot, like Tex enjoys it, and there's no lack of hot water, that's fer sure. He groans as he lets the water wash away grime, ease muscles. And finishing far faster than he'd expect the bath to go, he closes the shower door and heads into his own room, naked as a jay bird.

His room is much like the other, except it's smaller, it hasn't got the enormous windows, and it's got a smaller bed, smaller everything. In fact, his room is plain compared to the rest of the apartment. This one is ... small, comfortable without that sexy edge to it. He doesn't take women into his room. It's sacred to him. Oh.. and it's got the other fountain, a small one with stones around it, and it splashes over the sides all the time and the shower has glass bricks in it so that the light filters into it. And it's got a small window for greenery, so he takes advantage of it by putting plants there.

He's clean, in jeans and a raggy shirt and socks when he goes to slump on the couch, turning on the news and watching intently, waiting for his pard to come about. They've been too far away from society, it's about time to catch up on the world.. or the universe rather.

It was an hour and a half before Tyrin got out... And once he did, he sighed, content, clean and smelling so good... he dries himself and picks out a pair of jeans and a long sleeved pullover shirt and black socks... he dresses with that same content mien before -finally- slipping out of his room, padding down the hallway and into the living room where Tex is sitting, looking damned good...

"Hey..."

He says softly, combing his fingers through the mess of red hair...

Tex lifts a finger and points it at the television screen. "What the fuck. Did you hear about this? The Halid continent is starting to consider their natural rights to the Galdrium moon. Bull shit if you ask me. Those fuckers didn't do a fucking bit of mining on that piece of rock. And now they're saying that they're gonna bomb us to kingdom come if we don't cough up half of the goods? Fuckers..."

"Aw, shit... "

Tyrin says, crossing his arms and looking at the screen before him...

"That's not good at all... Well... if we're gonna go to war and all that, at least -we'll- be prepared... They ain't got shit on us..."

Tex reseats himself and looks over at Tyrin, grinning suddenly at the difference. "Damn.. you clean up good, man! I'll have ta hook you up t'morrow when we go out, yeah?" he rubs his hand on his thigh and then goes to gather up the remote, lowering the volume some. "Liked that bath, eh? That's the shit, I'm tellin ya. There's nothing like one of those fuckers. I took one every night for the first five months I had this place. I practically lived in that fucking place..."

Tyrin plops down into a chair, damned happy that it isn't the hard plastic he had in his workshop... he looks over to the utterly beautiful Tex, grinning sheepishly at the compliment...

"That bath was heaven, DS... It really was and I can see why you did that... I didn't want to get out, that's for damned sure..."

He was going to say something about the fact that Tex made that bath for him... But then decided against that and said, "Thanks, man..." Fighting the blush wanting to surface... It was very hard to contain himself... Hard to keep his cool around this man... Hard to do -any-thing, really...

Tex shrugs off the gratitude. "Shit man.. I know what it's like. I'll be heading to the bath m'self later. But I've come to be able to wait a bit.. you know, delay satisfaction and shit? It helps build character.."

Tyrin can't say anything... he's lost for words...So Tex takes bathes now and again, eh? Tyrin purrs very inwardly at this point, thinking that if he's a good little boy, he'll get to feast his eyes on Tex's sexy form one day... Maybe even later... Ooooh, the very thought is enough to get him hard as a rock... Though he does better at keeping it at bay...

Tex rubs his hand through his hair and stretches. "Okay.. so... we need food, man. I never go shoppin first thing. I clean up and watch news and listen to music and maybe get a girl or two. So what kinda take out you want?" He has his head crooked back, grin sidelong and his hair falling in a pool at the back of the couch, out of it's small band that generally holds it to the back of his skull.

He laughs softly, leaning back in the chair, getting himself more comfortable, "Hmmn... Hook me up eh? Nah, you don't have to do that, but I am hungry... What do you like to eat? I'm up for anything as long as it's dead and cooked..."

Tex rubs his hand over his chest languidly, then with a soft groan, stretches one last time and stands. "Dammit.. I wish I could order it telepathically."

He wanders from the room, leaving Tyrin and the television and the news reports alone with one another while he goes to order. And when he's done with that, he doesn't go directly to the living room, but knocks around some in the kitchen, muttering out lists that he puts on pieces of paper and going through his fridge, cleaning it out, throwing out things that shouldn't be there anymore. He hadn't meant to be away as long this time. Done with this, he gets a couple of beers from the side door and popping the caps, exits, heading across the hall.

"Heh.. I'd like to do a -lot- of things telepathically..." Tyrin calls after Tex as he heads out of the room, leaving Tyrin by himself... he wasn't listening to the news... Wasn't watching it.. Wasn't even paying any attention to it now... he had sex on the brain... Sex that's probably taboo to his new roomie... Aw, damn... That's just his luck! How come all the totally hot guys are fucking straight?!

He groans quietly and stays where he is, stretching out, turning and resting his back and legs on the arms of the chair, lounging lazily like a pleased cat... Thinking of that man... Thinking all kinds of dirty and debauched things... Of being tied up while Tex teases him to hell and gone... Of being on his knees, sucking that luscious cock until he comes all over the place... Of being held against the wall while that same cock violates his tight tunnel over and over again... Daaamn... It's just that Tex is so sexy... His body screams of it...

He would be very hot and very bothered by the time Tex got back.

The front bell rings and Tex goes to it with the beers under his arm. "Hey Lilith.." his grin sexy as he takes the bag out of the blonde delivery woman's hands. "You got a special delivery for me or this regular business?"

The woman laughs in a throaty way that promises much. "I'm still on the clock, babe.." and once the bag is out of her hands, she steps in, pushing her hip into his groin and kissing him, his arms out at either side, full with bags and beer. Then she pulls away and looks down at his hand and a pout comes to her lips. "Dammit, you got someone here already? Fucker.. you're fast nowadays..' but she doesn't seem too upset.

Tex laughs. "Nah.. got me a roomie, sexy.." he jerks his head and leads her into the living room. "Tyrin, man.. this is the delivery girl.." he grins at her. "We call her Lilith.. but she screams all sorts of shit in bed you can call her.."

The woman's eyes widen and she laughs, without the decency to blush. She only hits his ass and shrugs. "I'm a busy girl.." and she lets her eyes brush hotly over Tyrin's lounging form. "Hi Tyrin.." giving him an open smile that offers a lot more than just a smile.

Ah, food's here... Tyrin listens to the way Tex talks to the woman who came in... So he knows her... And his voice... It seemed like melted caramel... So delicious... he must have been flirting with the woman... Tyrin rolls his eyes quietly before they both enter the living room...

"I... think... I'll just.. Uh... Keep calling her Lilith... Hey, how are you?"

He sits up from his position, but makes no move to stand, or to even look her over...

"It's nice to meet you, Lilith..."

He doesn't notice her smile... The one that screamed 'I'mma slut and I love it!' He simply smiles at her politely slipping his hands into the long sleeves of his shirt, lowering his head in obvious discomfort, though he made sure to make it look like nervousness or shyness...

Tex looks at Tyrin in surprise but holds his comments, turning to grin at Lilith. "Anyway.. the gorgeous hunka man flesh on my couch is my roomie and for the moment he's all mine, sweetie.. though if you want, we could share later.." he's joking, the way his kind do, and he's got his hand around her waist and draws her close. She purrs and leans her head back to nibble at his neck. But he, with a frown, pulls back. "Not here, babe.. c'mon.. have some class, k?"

Lilith's eyes are all over Tyrin by this point. She smiles at him, her eyes bold as she takes a few steps toward him. But Tex's arm arrests her movement. She looks back and stares down at the hand, somehow her arm and the end of the bag are all in one palm. "That's why I love you so much, Texxie, baby.." she murmurs and cocks a hip. "Damnit.. okay.. I gotta get back to work. You guys want company tonight?" She smiles at Tyrin though as she asks.

Tex answers for them both, his frown dissipating and a casual, man-like look of nonchalance dancing over everything. "Nah, babe.. no coochy t'night. We got work to day this next few weeks. But if we need some stress relief and the bath ain't doin' it good enough, we'll call ya, k?" he doesn't smile, just moves her toward the door.

"Night Tyrin.." she smiles back at the man on the couch, taking in the perfect turn of muscle under his shirt. "Talk to you soon.. I'm sure.." and she giggles, licking her teeth and snapping at Tex who rolls his eyes and shoves her out the door. He steps into the hall for a moment and a murmured conversation slips back, but the words are muffled, lost. Only a hint of irritation in Tex's voice can be discerned. Then a laugh and she's gone. He closes the door behind him and returns to the living room, picking up the bag as he goes. "Shit.. that girl..."

Tyrin didn't like her... Not one bit... She -certainly- doesn't deserve Tex... Oh, -hell- no... He closes his eyes and rolls them around in his fucking head before looking up at the commotion between the two... Ew... She's fucking disgusting... No class... She looked like the type to spread her legs for anything with a dick... That immediately turned him off, not to mention the fact that she's sleeping with Tex and then offering herself to another man... Ew, gods... he had to fight not to give her the gas face before Tex finally ushers her out of the apartment... he sighs for the few moments he's alone shaking his head...

What was Tex thinking, he wondered... Obviously, he thinks she's hot, and Tyrin could only guess that he was supposed to feel the same... For right now, he felt it best to just lie and keep himself away from any situation that may come up, if this ever happens again... because he can't do the alternative... he can't tell his friend and partner that he's gay... 24th fucking century and there are still people who think being gay is wrong... Still, he doesn't want to lose what he has... he doesn't want to lose Tex as a friend... He's the only one the red head has...

He gives Tyrin a grin and hands him a bottle of the beer as he sits alongside, dragging the coffee table nearer to them with the tip of his foot. He goes about the preparations swiftly, easily, having done it time and time again. Turning down the television, turning up the music in the background, some good, dinner music in the way of it not being too disruptive but neither is it romantic, just.. comfortable, and the packets all put out, chinese this time, chopsticks held out as a final offering, before Tyrin's nose. "Dig in.." his grin as he looks side long at his partner. "Shit man.. you wanna get every girl I get in to play grab ass with you? Yer gonna have to quit with the shy guy routine.."

Tyrin gulps on his beer to get the wretched female out of his mind... he watches quietly as the other sets up dinner and then, finally sitting up straight he takes the chopsticks offered, breaking them apart and rubbing them against one another a few times... he laughs quietly at Tex as he speaks...

"Nah, man... I don't like to take what's easily given... Nothing but trouble follows, man... I like to go after what I want... Just the way I am..."

Tex looks over at Tyrin and laughs, shakes his head. "Shit.. y'er really not interested, huh? That's prolly why they're gonna hang on you. I'll have to stop taking gals home, or I'll be losin' em all to yer door, man.." he smiles, not bothered in the least by the implication that he likes em easy.

Maybe because some things are just recreation and if one were to ask Tex about the difference between when he's made love and had sex with women, he'd say something to the effect of, "Sex? I just fuck'em." So in the end, there's little difference between a bottle and a woman's body to him. Of course, he also didn't go for the good girls, but the ones that were just as likely to be out for the fun of it. And there wasn't much to worry about in the disease department, seeing the medical advances of the last century. He's not all too worried at all sticking his dick in anything that passes him by, so long's it can get it's ass out and walk out of the room before breakfast. He doesn't like dealing with cuddling and that shit. Nah, that stuff was for the real thing and he was too busy having fun dabbling to try and find anything real right now. Not when his life was so close to the wire all the time.

"Oh great..." Tyrin says dryly, rolling his eyes again... "Nah, no interest in anything but my Bitch... She's the only girl for me..."

He laughs, throwing back a swig of beer before setting it down on the table in front of him, digging through the bag for an egg roll. "I'll be sure not to steal your groove, buddy... Trust me... Too many other things to do rather than sticking my dick in some nasty woman..."

Could he make it more clear that he didn't like women? Tyrin doesn't even like his mother, but that's too long a story to go into... He sits back quietly on the couch and sighs, grabbing a packet of duck sauce, pouring a little on the top of the roll, before taking a bite... And then another... Hmn... Tyrin must be hungry...

Tex sighs. "Fuck.. I hate that woman. I mean.. she's a good fuck and all.. but she's damned irritating. Thinks she can get it whenever she wants." He rolls his eyes and picks up a carton, laying back against the deep cushions and tucking in so to speak. He stares at the food for a bit and then gives Tyrin a wicked grin over his shoulder. "So if you like the hard to get ones, you gotta have some seriously good stories, man.." his hands waving the chopsticks in the air. "Not that you'd tell, huh?

Oh, gods, Tyrin didn't even want to talk about his encounters with sex... He'd been a whore long ago... he was a fool that thought sex was love every time a boy took him to their beds... Just to do the same thing Tex does to women... Split it, hit it and kick him out... To be quite honest, he hadn't -had- sex in some years now... At least two... He found something better than the humiliation of being -used-... He found that suit sitting in Owen's hanger... That machine that had been built up from nothing... In two years, Bitch became a force not to fuck with, as Tex obviously saw out on the battle field the other day...

"Nope..." He says simply, grabbing a box of chicken lo mien, jabbing the chopsticks into the noodles and then out again, stuffing it in his mouth a moment later. "No, no stories to tell... Other than the fact that I was once a whore... Got burned too fucking much to give a shit about it now... I just jack off before bed and I'm fine..."

He smirks quietly, taking another bite of the noodles. "Man, I'm hungry as fuck..."

Tex stops, his sticks to either side and gazes at his newfound buddy. The food sits in his mouth, waiting for him to chew it. But he's busy staring at Tyrin.

I mean, fuck.. look at the guy. He's..

He stops. "Damn.." a soft sound.

Then as if he can't leave it behind, chews his food, setting his carton on the table and leaning forward, staring at Tyrin. "Fuck.. you don't look like you'd let anyone stick it to you.. know what I mean? I can think of plenty of women who'd pay a high class dollar for ya, but whores.. they gotta take men too.. and I can't think of a single fucking man who'd be stupid enough to get his dick around you for fear you'd cut the fucker off.." he shakes his head and laughs. "Fuck! You musta got some serious thrill seekers, man.."

And then, as if recognizing what he said, he stops and sobers. "Shit.. sorry man...I got a fucking big mouth sometimes..." and stands, swallowing hard and putting his sticks down beside the carton. He stands there, a bit lost as to what to say before sitting down again, albeit a tad heavily. "Here.." and drags out the chicken. "Almond chicken man.. this shit sticks to your ribs.." and offers the carton, finding that the topic for discussion is not one that he need continue on, considering where it puts Tyrin.

It's not like.. well, you know. Damn. Foot in the mouth and shit.

Then, gamely, "Bitch is just that too, one serious fucking bitch.. Owen's crowing about all you done to her. He called me the other day, freaking out about the shit he's seeing and wondering if we don't mind if he goes over some shit he wants to do."

Tyrin felt his heart sink a little at what Tex said to him... Tyrin is actually an emotional wreck... he got it stuck to him more times than he could count... And he never got paid for it... Never... Not even a fucking -beer-... All he got was cum in his mouth, a sore hole and a broken heart... It's all he ever got out of sex with men... he had to get away before he fell apart... he had to do something with his life, lest he just shriveled up and died... For a while, after he stopped having sex altogether, he felt so empty... So hollow and null... It was like a black hole, a vacuum consuming his sanity...

He had to change.... For himself... And so he put his heart and soul into his machine... he put all the love he could have had for someone and put it into making her... The only girl that's been good to him... And good for him... She never used him... She never hurt him or belittled him or made him feel worthless... hell Tyrin adores her, just as Tex adores his Suzanna...

He purses his lips a moment, waiting for this sunken feeling in his chest to calm before taking the carton of almond chicken, jabbing it with his chopsticks... Taking a bite and nodding to its taste, he listens to what Tex says about his girl...

"Heh... yeah, she sure is..."

A brow raises as Tex speaks of Owen though, "Oh yeah? Hell, we can go for it... I did a lot of work on Suzanna while you were out cold... I wonder if Owen saw that... Hell, if we have to go to battle anytime, you, my friend are going to be -ruthless- with the hook ups I gave you..."

He nods with a smile and eats more out of the carton before passing it back to his friend, taking up the beer again...

Tex takes the carton and switches it with some other shit, the takes enough for himself, losing his mind in the act of eating for right now. But it's dry...tasteless, like cardboard. "Yeah? Shit.. that's awesome.. nah.. I only talked to him a minute or two. While you were in the shower and shit.. and he'd just opened up your baby.. he thinks he knows all about Suzanna.." he grins. "But maybe he don't no more.. I'll get a fucking call from him t'night as some stupid hour of night." He chuckles. "Ill try and get ready for it."

If Tex had suddenly changed tactics, it can't be noticed. But then, he's not obvious about things.. ever. So when he does change how he acts it comes as a natural shift. And he's not so free suddenly as he was before, having a care for his new wing mate. Tyrin doesn't need him to be all fired up and shit. He needs to take a break from that shit anyway. He was getting himself worked up. Not that he'd have shown it. He was damn good at showing that he wasn't worked up. You get that way, when you have to kick women out of your bed every fucking morning.

Still.. he feels that he's not doing enough. Not yet.

With a swallow he picks up an egg roll and completely unconsciously, wraps his mouth around it and sucks on it's end, pulling the juices out of it after nibbling at the very end. It was a bad habit, he should have used a fork, but he wasn't good at having table manners which was why he ate at home more often than not.

Drawing the egg roll out of his mouth, still uneaten but for the small hole he had put in the end, he licks at where some of the juice has seeped out and sighs, looking down, more caught up in his thoughts than in what he's doing to the stupid food.. "Shit.. Tyrin.. I'm fucking sorry.. I'm such an ass.." and he lays his hands to either side of him, the egg roll in one, lifting his head to stare at Tyrin. "I swear man.. I really stuck my foot in that one and I know better. But I don't wanna just act like I wasn't a fucker, ya know? I mean.. I'm not stupid. I need you to trust me, man.. and you can't trust a guy who dicks around with your feelings, ya know?" he isn't sure that's the thing to say. Tyrin looks like a man who'll put a hole in your skull for saying he has feelings. But.. Tex has to try, make assumptions that he CAN hurt Tyrin, because if he has.. then he's got a lot to make up for.

"Don't sweat it, man... I made some awful fucking mistakes back then... I was a fuckin' fool... A big one... But that part of my life is over and done with... And... I trust you with my life... You're the only friend I have... For real..." Tyrin says softly, taking another gulp of beer, sitting back more comfortably on the couch, a hand idly tugging at the paper on his bottle, pulling it off slowly, he keeps his eyes there on the dark brown bottle for long moments. Fighting as hard as he can to keep from just bursting into tears... Gods, Tex would definitely look down on him if he showed even a remote amount of weakness. Just remembering how dumb he'd been. How easily manipulated he was. How he felt, pushed out the door, half naked.. Damn. That was the most fucked up part of it all; those men. They didn't even respect him enough to let him get the fuck -dressed. And couple that with just -bad- sex. The one minute men, the disgusting, don't give a shit men... It was easy to want to fall into himself. Thrill seekers - yeah, right, he had some of those that liked to take their frustrations out on him. Hit him, slap him. Call him god awful names. Some thrill seekers they were.

He lowers his head thinking about that. About just how fucking -stupid- he was. How truly lonely he's been all this time. How he never -really- had friends. He never had companionship, or love. Not even from his parents.

It hurts. Still. It hurts fucking bad enough that he's thought of the easy way out of things. Suicide...

Thank the gods he didn't do -that- shit...

Bit still he felt the acidy sting of tears in his eyes, and though he does his best to push the sob that sits in his throat, he couldn't stop the tears, even as he blinked several times, to keep them back.

"I hated myself for a while. For a long, long time, I loathed waking up in the morning. I just got tired of feeling like shit all the time, you know? So one day, I really woke up and said to myself 'You need to get your fucking life in order before life kills you...' And that's what I did. I walked away from that old life and turned it into mercenary work. Building my life from scratch, just like my Bitch. I'm okay now. I really am and I really appreciate your friendship and honesty. I mean that man.

He nods, and wipes quickly at the tears, fucking amazed his voice didn't crack or he didn't just break down. He takes a deep breath before exhaling slowly, finishing off his beer and sticking the paper he pulled off the bottle into the opening before setting it on the table.

Tex's beer is still there, waiting to be picked up. He stares at it, anywhere but at those tears and nods, silently. Then, with a strangle in his voice that he can't get around, he chokes out. "Want another?" and stands, heads to the kitchen without waiting for an answer.

"Yeah..." Tyrin nods quietly, cringing a little at that voice. It's plainly uncomfortable. Tyrin could see it, but he nods quietly as Tex walks off and into the kitchen. While Tex is gone, Tyrin lets his head fall back as he looks up to the ceiling. A fucking -high- ceiling. He really didn't really want to have all this come out... But he knew it would one day. Better to get it out of the way now, he guessed. Lifting his head again to look at the repeat of the news on tv.

Once in the kitchen, Tex leans on the fridge, staring into it, at the line of golden bottles, and wonders how in hell he's got himself into this mess. Shit.. Tyrin crying like a baby out there and him, feeling like a fuck up for putting the strongest man alive into that position. Oh yeah, fuck, of course it wasn't HIM putting Tyrin into that position, but he had his hand in dredging the shit up! That counts. That counts as a fuck up.

Taking a deep breath, he drags out a bottle.. then remembering he had meant to get one for himself, grabs another, forgetting about the other on the table, and reenters, running the rims of the bottles along the tail of his shirt as he does so. He's not really certain what to do, but he's gotta do something and things are good.. even if they're bad. "Well.." he grins as he enters, "You sure did a number on Bitch... And fuck.. if that shit got you here.. then it saved my fucking ass and so what the hell are friends for, right?" He flops back into his chair and holds the beer out to Tyrin. "So as much as I'm like.. sad that shit happened, I'm glad that it got you here, ya know?" Always trying to find the optimistic side of stuff, that's Tex.

Tyrin stares at the blaze in space before Tex returns, handing him his beer, "Yeah. I was just thinking that too. And.. You ain't gotta tiptoe, all right? It's cool.

Tyrin grins and gives Tex a nudge with his elbow, sitting back and running fingers through the still moist mess of red hair on his head.

He props a foot on the end of the coffee table and picks up the carton, fisting his sticks and staring into it. "Shit.. this stuff sticks t'yer ribs but you still are fucking hungry as an ape, ya know?"

"Ha, ha... Hell yeah... It's really true... Makes me laugh thinking about it... Almost like fuckin' eating air, huh?"

Tex smiles over at Tyrin and shrugs. "Wanna head to Owens t'morrow? I wanna get a chance to sleep first. I'm knocked sideways with all this shit that's been goin' on. And m'head still hurts like a mutherfucker."

Tyrin laughs again and works on his second beer, feeling better; he felt better when he came in this place. "Yeah, we can do that. It'll be fucking nice to sleep in a real bed for once. But, we'll get on Owen tomorrow. Is he good, by the way? I don't want him fucking up my Bitch."

Tex stretches languidly in relief, enjoying for a moment, the sheer joy in the moment. Yeah.. he'd not pussy foot around the subject, not any more. They've weathered probably the worst storm they had in their hands. And they'd come out okay on the other side. Then he uses the edge of the table to pop the top off and grins at Tyrin. "Owen? Nah.. he's gonna fuck her until she's wetter'n a slipn'slide, man... she'll be sweet... but he'll never touch your baby without your permission. He doesn't dink with Suzanna without asking me first, ya know? He's got respect."

"Ah, good... I'll just have to see what he can do then, eh?"

Tex closes his eyes, patting his stomach. "Shit.. I'm not full but I'm sure as hell not hungry.. fuck it.." and he puts the box on the table and stares at the television for a moment, then reaches over and plucks the remote box and touches a soft green button. The t.v. flickers and turns off. And in the ensuing silence, Tex gives a grim smile. "Owen ususally can get my electronic signature changed over in a week and a half. Dunno how long it'll take to do two. But when he's done, I wanna do some shit to those fuckers that set me up on that flight."

"Aw damn... That was real fucked up what they did too... hey, if you need any back-up, you know ya got me, buddy... I installed a therm-optic sensor... Kind of like an old cloaking device... MAN... Those bitches won't see you comin' and they sure as hell won't see ya leave..." Tyrin nods proudly... He always liked to talk about shit like this... The things he does to machines... It's like talking about the best sex one could ever have!

Tex rests his hand on his forehead and laughs, head back, the long pillar of golden neck rising to the strong curve of his chin as he stares at the ceiling before closing his eyes. "Fuck... " a low groan and chuckle. "I'm tellin ya... that's sweet enough, man. Yeah.. I'm all for that.. the cloaking shit. I'll get Owen to do some cloaking of signatures that we can turn on and off.. it'd help. Don't know why I've not thought of it til now. But this is the second time he's had to change sigs for me.. I'm pretty sure fucking careful about it.. not getting on the wrong side of the military dawgs." He grins and his chest expands with the sudden air he drags in. "Damned assholes... almost got us killed.. What the fuck you think was in there anyway?"

"Shit... I'm not sure... But if the military's going all out to get that shit back, it must be something -big-... Real big... Something like drugs... or weapons they got their hands on illegally... Hmmm... That's a good fuckin' question... I say we find out after we fuck 'em hard like they almost did us..."

Tyrin nods firmly and downs some beer, setting it on the table, before looking at the cartons of food still left... "Want me to clean this up for ya? You really need to rest with that head of yours...

"Ya know? I think I'd like that too. Finding out what they're dicking around with? Then I'm always in for a hard, hot ride.. more so when I can take the fucker and shore him up in oblivion, ya know what I mean? Fucking jerks.." and he laughs softly, triumphantly, even as he shakes his head in response. "And nah.. leave this shit til the morning.. you need to rest, ya know? You haven't had it easy neither, man."

He lifts his head and with a groan stands, running his hands flat on his thighs to clear them, puts his beer on the table and jerks his head. "C'mon.. get to bed.. " he laughs softly. "Talk to ya in the mornin." And with that, he turns and pads silently into the hall and turns toward his room, letting it close quietly behind him.

He's not aware he's sleeping, that he's fallen asleep the moment his head hits the pillow.

((next chapter: Someone pays a little visit and Tyrin is forcibly ejected out of the closet.))