Cold Dish

Hello! This was just a story floating around in my head that I wanted to share. If you're familiar with Gravity of Love—even better, Tricky History—then you'll be quite familiar with the two boys. For those of you who are this takes place about a year after Tricky History begins. Mannix is now 18 while Ren is 19 years old. And for those who haven't read aforementioned stories, no worries; you don't need back story to get everything but it certainly does help.

A/N: I feel it important to place a little warning here since not everyone has the same tolerance for things. The nature of the fic is dark and deals with issues of rape and murder and does have its bloody and violent moments. A little warning just in case there are a few people who aren't hip to that kind of jive. If it doesn't matter and you're wondering why I bothered to warn you, then please read on!!

S'agapo, K



There wasn't much to the loud click that filled Mannix's apartment. It was soft, comforting almost in the near dark recesses of his room. In the background he vaguely heard his phone ringing in the living room. He ignored it with no intention of answering it. That one sound now was all that mattered. Like a blanket he wrapped it around him and he closed his eyes as he held on to that moment, held on to the feeling. Moonlight fought to leak past his thick velvet curtains and only barely did the pale light creep inside to push back some of the shadows. That suited Mannix just fine, it gave him just enough to see what he was doing and just enough so he couldn't.

He looked at the gun that he held gingerly in his hand, and sat down on the bed. He had been struggling with the idea for an hour now, calling himself a coward or just plain stupid. He had to go through with it. What was holding him back? The small sound of the magazine clicking into place seemed to make his will stronger, setting him up for what he knew had to be done. Loaded and ready to go, the Beretta in his hand seemed so much heavier than a little over two pounds. It was a comforting weight and with a stronger resolve his grip tightened around the black metal, his index finger resting on the trigger. It would have to be done tonight. He didn't know if he could wait any longer. The longer he waited the more it would eat at him and then things would only get worse. What made him hesitate? Pity? Fear? Laziness?

He was allowed to avoid that question when he heard the slight whirring of the main elevator that stopped on his floor of the building. He glanced at the clock and 3:45 blared at him in big red numbers. Pretty damn early in the morning for a guest and it let Mannix know exactly who it was. Moments later he heard the door open and slam shut. Mannix knew he should have locked the door behind him when he first came in.

"Why the fuck aren't you answering your phone? Why'd you hang up?" A voice called loudly. Then, softer with a touch of concern. "Mannix?"

In here, Mannix wanted to call but his voice had evaded him. He was starting to feel dark and cold, like the deadly machine in his hand. He smiled. How fucked up that must seem, to compare oneself with a gun. Again the man's voice called him again, getting closer to his bedroom. His bedroom door was ever so slowly being pushed open as if the man on the other side was afraid what he'd find. He stood in the doorway and squinted, cursing as he willed his eyes to adjust to the sudden dark. He finally spotted Mannix's still sitting form on the bed and went over to him.

"Sitting quiet in the dark, what the fuck is—" He was cut short when he was a few feet from Mannix, the moonlight reflecting off of Mannix's cold eyes and the gun in his hand. "What the fuck is this?" he blurted out instead.

"Nothing, Renold," Mannix muttered, using his friend's full name instead of his nickname to possibly anger him into leaving. "It's nothing."

"A gun is hardly nothing," Ren returned curtly. "What are you doing?"

What am I planning to do? Mannix mused. Is that what you really want to know, Ren? Think I'm going to blast my brains to oblivion?

"Nothing you need to be concerned about," Mannix replied instead. "It's something I need to do alone."

"And that would be?" Ren spoke as if highly irritated. A mask to cover the growing concern, of course. Mannix had abruptly ended their conversation only a mere hour ago when Mannix had opened up an envelope his boss, Ethan, had given him and told him not to open it up until he got home. They were discussing the mysterious package while Mannix opened it, teasing that it could be money or something silly. They laughed but Mannix's had soon stopped after he pulled out it's contents. Renold, curious, asked what it was. Mannix put the phone on the receiver without another word or goodbye. Remembering that tid bit of information Ren's eyes quickly scanned the room and found the envelope in question sitting opened on the dresser. He went over to it and dug inside it. A piece of nicely folded paper, clearly that fancy watermarked parchment kind. He glanced back at Mannix to see what reaction going through his personal things would get him. Not a one, Mannix just looked at the gun and then at him. He quickly unfolded the paper, holding his breath.

Hey kid,

Around five in the morning, he won't be in town very long. ALONE.
5765 Gorthern Street
Old warehouse in the hacked up district

It's basically a set up that he may or may not know about. (Dumb as bricks, that one, so I doubt it) I'm sure you'll make the most of it.
I honor my promises, kid, and this I was promising you for a while. Do what you feel.

Talk to me in the morning,
Ethan

Ren's face wrinkled in confusion. What the hell was going on here? Ethan gives Mannix an address and it's supposed to hold some significance? Ren didn't know what the fuck the note meant, but he knew what type of situation it had created. A severely withdrawn Mannix with a loaded gun in his hand with his finger playing with the trigger. Yeah, you'd be nervous as hell too.

"It's HIM," Mannix said softly.

"Huh?" Ren simply replied. "The address?"

Mannix nodded. "It's him. Ethan kept putting me off but he finally delivered."

"Is the gun part of the present?" Ren asked carefully.

Mannix lifted up his gun and stared at it as though he could memorize it. "Nah, I had this for a while now."

"Why do you need it?" Ren asked a bit harshly.

"Because guns kill, Ren," Mannix replied.

Ren swallowed hard, the line of conversation bothering him. "And who do you want to kill?" He asked carefully. He inched closer to Mannix thinking he might be able to snatch the gun out of Mannix's hands if he needed to. He took a closer look and spotted that the safety was 'on', a fair chance if things got worse.

"HIM," Mannix hissed.

"Alright," Ren said a bit easier, satisfied that Mannix wasn't going to turn the gun on himself, "who is 'him'?

Mannix didn't say anything and Ren was about to repeat his question when Mannix finally spoke. "Remember what I told you what happened a few years back?"

"Gotta be a tad bit more specific," Ren said.

"My…."Mannix trailed off and seemed to shrink into the very shadows of the room. His head lowered from a remembered shame and his eyes closed from a pained vision. He shook his head as if he could will them out of his head, cursing that spot that haunted him in his dreams sometimes. "My debt."

It was Ren's turn to become silent and—one of the rare occasions in his life—was left speechless. Mannix trusted Ren enough to tell him of his dark past, a past that sometimes he wished he didn't know about but was eager for the inside look to who Mannix was. It took a lot for his friend to share it that day and he refused to take it for granted. Rape was never something easily discussed, no matter how close you may be to a person. So gang rape was understandably worse. It was a rape at the expense of another, a debt that Mannix unwillingly paid with his body. Being only fourteen just made it worse and time had yet healed that wound. It's like showing an ugly scar, opening up a piece of yourself, a shame that you'd rather keep hidden. It was four years ago but the way Mannix clutched that gun and drifting away on his own thoughts, it was obvious that the pain was still fresh. Fresher than Ren was led to believe. Ren dared to say the name.

"Saburo," he whispered. Mannix's head jerked up as Ren uttered it, as if Ren had just spat out the worst curse possible. To Mannix, maybe it was. Ren looked back at the paper in his hand and things became a bit clearer to him. Ethan had found Saburo (or knew where he was the whole time and was just now telling Mannix) and set him up for a fake meeting, a meeting that would place him in the open and unprotected. Easy pickings to be taken advantage of. Just how Saburo had picked Mannix up. Ethan had gone out of his way to set up Mannix's revenge. How sweet of him.

"Is that what you're planning to do tonight?" Ren asked, pointing towards the gun. "Kill him?"

"YES," Mannix hissed through clenched teeth.

Ren backed up a little from Mannix's ferocity of it, temporarily unsure of how close he should be getting to Mannix at the moment. He went to sit on the bed next to Mannix, still deciding if he should try to pry the gun from his hand until the time came. He decided against it. Mannix radiated with pent up tension; if he made the wrong move Mannix could turn the gun on HIM.

"You've got time," Ren said instead, trying to turn his voice calming. "Just relax a bit."

Mannix let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Relax a bit? I'm not about to go shopping, Renold, I'm going to go kill a man. I don't WANT to relax. I want to go now. I want him bloody. I want him beaten. I want him scared. I want to see his brains splattered across the fucking floor—" By the time Mannix finished his little ranting, his hands were shaking slightly, his body unable to hold up to or contain Mannix's building rage. It was at the moment Ren decided that there was no way in hell he was going to let Mannix go by himself.

"Let me come with you," he said softly.

Mannix looked at him and genuinely laughed. It was a rumbling chuckle, shocked into laughter. "You? Come with me? You've never seen a man killed much less killed one yourself."

Ren shrugged. "Like that matters? I'm not afraid if that's what you're implying, Mannix. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think I could take it."

Mannix studied Ren's face before finally nodding. "Alright. I just want to do this so bad right now…NOW."

Ren sighed and carefully put a hand on Mannix's, still feeling that slight tremor running under the skin. If Mannix didn't calm himself down not only would he miss Saburo but Saburo could turn the tables and kill him. He'd have to get Mannix to relax, one way or the other. The hand on Mannix's traveled up his arm, caressing the skin, his fingertips trailed along the muscles. Mannix watched Ren's hand as if it was some foreign thing or like a bug that was crawling along his skin uninvited.

"You've got time," Ren said.

"Too much of it," Mannix hissed.

"Just enough," Ren muttered and brought his head forward to lightly brush his lips against Mannix's. Ren would be lying through his teeth if he said this was just for Mannix out of the goodness of his heart. Not true. He also did it out of the goodness between his legs that was slowly stirring the longer he stayed close to Mannix. Ren kissed the other man softly, pressing their lips together and slowly slipping out his tongue. Ren knew that right now he'd have to be careful with Mannix, tip toeing with his actions. He and Mannix had been friends/fuckbuddies for over a year now and Ren managed to know him more than people he had known longer.

"What are YOU doing, Renold?" Mannix whispered against Ren's lips.

"Nothing," Ren murmured and turned his attention to Mannix's jaw line; he trailed his tongue along the skin following the bone underneath until the tip of his tongue flicked at Mannix's earlobe. Ren heard Mannix sigh and, thankfully, made no moves to stop him. Satisfied that Mannix would let him continue Ren inched closer but was met with something cold and hard digging in his upper thigh. Ren froze; he knew Mannix wasn't that happy to see him. He looked down; Mannix's hand still gripped on the gun like it was an extension of his hand.

"Give me the gun," Ren ordered and put his hand on the one that held the gun. Mannix quickly snatched away and narrowed his eyes at Ren.

"Why?" His voice was heavy with suspicion. He smiled but it was an empty one that didn't reach his eyes. "Is it scaring you, Ren?"

"No," Ren snapped. "I can't get close to you with that in your hand. I don't want to keep it, you put it down if it makes a difference to you."

Ren frowned when he realized that Mannix wasn't going to let go. He was clearly using the gun as an anchor for something emotional. While seeing deeper into Mannix was always interesting as hell he had decided he'd seen enough for now.

"Give me the gun," Ren repeated, his voice softer this time. "You have time, Mannix, just let go of it for right now." Mannix didn't move. "Let it go, Manny." Ren's voice lowered to a bare whisper and used their private nicknames in hope that Mannix would pay attention to that. To realize that it was Renny he was dealing with—Ren still hated that nickname a bit, but for right now it was necessary.

Mannix looked down at the gun in his hand and moved it so he was now gripping the muzzle and handed it to Ren, handle first. Ren took it away from Mannix slowly and set it on the floor out of Mannix's sight. He slid down the bed until he was on his knees and in front of Mannix. The room was barely lit but Ren saw the intensity of Mannix's gaze upon him and it sent a small shiver down his back. He didn't concentrate on the feeling long enough to decide whether it was a good or bad one. His fingers went to Mannix's jeans and yanked the button apart and grasped the small metal zipper, pulling it down. Mannix tore his eyes from Ren and stole a glance at the clock, still itching for the upcoming moment. 4:02. He concentrated on the red numbers as if he could will them to change or to speed up time. Warm hands slid inside his pants and fingers soon wrapped around his dick, freeing it from the confines of his jeans. He was suddenly no longer concerned with the time and his eyes fluttered closed and for the moment he let himself feel the growing heat. Ren stroked quickly as Mannix's dick became harder in his skilled hand. He pulled harder as if he demanded Mannix's attention; he wanted those hazel eyes on him not the fucking clock.

A hissed curse fell from Mannix's lips and his hips were quickly thrusting up, craving more sensation. It was when Ren's warm mouth replaced his hand that Mannix's body bucked and his hips jumped from the bed, aching to lose himself to the wet cavern of tongue and teeth. Ren sucked him down without hesitation, Mannix's dick filling his mouth and bumping the back of throat. Mannix was always a bit easy to distract and tonight was no exception as he leaned back, bracing himself on the bed as he fucked Ren's mouth. Ren had pulled down Mannix's jeans to mid thigh and was groping at his bare ass cheeks, pulling Mannix ever forward, sucking him down a hole that Mannix tumbled down gladly. Taking a few fingers, Ren lined them up with Mannix's ass and let them probe between the ass cheeks until they rested right at the puckered hole. With each time Mannix would draw his dick out of Ren's mouth, he pushed more of Ren's waiting finger inside him. Ren was rewarded with a soft cry and Mannix changed his pace so he could feel all he could. Up to Ren's mouth, down on his fingers, up and back down, his mind was a mess of sensation and the drive to keep it going.

"Ren," Mannix gasped with a shaky breath, "oh..fuck yes."

Mannix's semen shot hot and thick into Ren's mouth and down his throat. Mannix had his eyes closed so tight that when he opened them he saw tiny white spots in his vision and he settled back on the bed breathing as if something was fighting its way out of his ribcage. He smiled as he felt Ren's tongue gently lapping at his dick, his body jerking from the touch of his sensitive flesh. He felt oddly calm as Saburo came to mind, the rage, for the moment, not screaming in his head. For now he was content listening to the hammering of his heart and to feel Ren touch him as his body recovered from orgasm. He figured that this was Ren's way of "relaxing" him, and he could say, without a doubt, it had. Ren stopped lapping at him and climbed on the bed, straddling him.

The moonlight reflecting off of Ren's emerald eyes made the green softer, like a plain of grass as it bathed in the coming dawn. Those eyes were watching Mannix as if he was waiting for something. Waiting for a reaction, maybe. To see if Mannix was going to slip back into his frightful apathy or swim back up to the asshole he'd come to get used to. Maybe more than just get used to, but Ren never thought about that; if he didn't acknowledge it existed it simply didn't. Ren relaxed a bit on top of him when he saw Mannix's full lips curl into a smile.

"Am I relaxed enough for you now?"

Ren brought down his upper body so their chests were touching and he kissed Mannix softly. "You feel better, yeah?"

Mannix stretched beneath Ren, enjoying the weight of the other man on top of him. It surprised him a bit that Ren wasn't trying to get his own satisfaction now but Mannix was glad and a bit disappointed at the same time. Ren simply giving and not wanting anything back was a bit unnerving to Mannix. Ren slid off him and started pulling Mannix's jeans back up as Mannix raised his hip, positioning his semi-hard cock behind the zipper carefully. Mannix finished zipping himself up and sat up, the room still had that weight of silence, the heaviness of the shadows cast by the moonlight but it wasn't so bad anymore. He concentrated on those soft green eyes and it anchored him, yanked him out of his own dark hole.

Ren broke eye contact just long enough to find the gun on the floor and he carefully picked it up and set it on Mannix's lap. Mannix slowly took it, letting his fingers caress over Ren's.

"You ready?" Ren whispered.

Mannix glanced back at the clock. 4:20. If they left now they would make it with time to spare.

"Ready," Mannix whispered back. As they left, Mannix was being attacked with several emotions at once and he was having difficulty understanding them. So naturally Mannix did the next best thing and simply ignored them, shutting his feelings down and away until he could think about it later. Just how were you supposed to feel when you were off to basically murder someone anyway?

*Peeks around* that's it for now. Let me know if you like it and I'll keep posting. It's a bit different from what I usually do but man, was it breath of fresh air to write! Like I said before I'm a slave for feedback and even a question or two. Till next time.

Later, Peccavi