Warning: Some mature themes and language.

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Quinn, in all of his glory, was standing in front of the open fridge hand on the back of his bare neck, cigarette hanging from his bottom lip and, of course, stark naked. He was staring, as if taking inventory. He grabbed a bottle of orange juice and opened it, pouring out a glass and yawning.

Dirk was known for his lack of modesty, so he was lying on the couch, one leg draped across the back, the other slumped to the side and his foot was on the ground. His hands were behind his head and he was taking a bit of a cat nap. A slow smile curled his lips as he dreamed.

A rattle of keys at the door was all the warning either of them was going to get as Genny let herself in. She'd known they were back the moment her hand had touched the door itself, shrugging back into her gloves before opening up. "Hey, Dirk, is it okay if I - oh god!" Spotting Dirk stark naked on the couch was bad enough, but she spun around to avoid staring and found herself with an eyeful of Quinn as well. "Bollocks!" Both gloved hands went over her eyes pretty damn fast.

Quinn slid a hand to cover himself. And then the other. Hey, he wanted to make sure. He canted his head to the woman and smiled brightly. "Well, how are ya?" He looked to Dirk and nodded. "I'm guessing this is your Genny." He grabbed a dish towel and tossed it over Dirk's more personal bits with a smirk. "I'll go grab us some pants."

Dirk woke with a start when Genny exclaimed. "Where, whose?" He shook the sleep off and sat up, tossing the dish towel aside. "Oh yeah, Genny, this is Quinn, Quinn, this is Genny." He got up with a grin and walked over to the fridge. He was very unashamed of his now nicely tanned body. "Beer anybody?"

She didn't dare take her hands away from her eyes as Quinn spoke, muttering under her breath about too much skin. "Um, yeah, I'm Genny. Hi." With relief, she heard him move away, and had begun to lower her hands when Dirk sauntered into view. Up went the gloves again. "Dirk, please put some pants on," was pleaded in a very small, very embarrassed voice.

Out of the bedroom, in plaid lounge pants came Quinn. He tossed a pair to Dirk at the fridge and whispered to Genny, "I'll let you know when all is safe on the sausage front. Darling, please put on the pants, Genny doesn't want to see your piece."

"What? Oh." Dirk took the pants that hung from the door of the fridge and slipped them on as the door closed behind him. "Sorry, it's habit. And it's not like she's not seen it before." There was a chuckle as he sauntered over to press a kiss to Quinn's cheek. "So when're you moving in, Gen?"

"Thanks," she whispered back to Quinn through her hands. "Just because I've seen it before when I was drunk doesn't mean I want to see it again, Dirkus Maximus." She really was picking up too many habits from their colleagues at the deli. Lowering her hands finally, she peeked at them with one eye, her blush still prevalent. "Oh, well, I ... I didn't want to move in straight away," she stuttered awkwardly. "I mean, it's a lovely offer and all, it's just ... well Quinn spends a lot of time here, don't you?" Her eyes turned to Quinn. "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Quinn nodded gently and his stubbly cheek nuzzled against the kiss with a smile that brought those quick silver eyes to life."I live here, so yes, I spend a LOT of time here. Sometimes I?m back home, and the place is pretty empty because I drag my sexy model with me. Tell me, Genny, have you ever been to Rio?" He peered at her and relifted his glass of orange juice, downing half of it and opening the fridge again. He opened a bottle of champagne and poured it over the orange juice with a smile. "As for uncomfortable, I don't think that it's possible."

(Taken from live play by permission by all players involved.)

The allusions to Russ? clean up job on the flat made Genny smile back to Quinn with warmth. "No, it's fine, really," she assured him. "I can cope if I can put things into context; it helps knowing what you feel like, too." She nodded merrily, glancing to Dirk. "Seriously, there really isn't much to move. None of the furniture's mine, so it's just my bits and bobs. I can do it, if you two would rather, you know, waste another ten hours shagging."

He peered at Dirk and the thought made him shift from one foot to another. He was being an ass and he had to push that thought out of his mind. "I'll get dressed." He turned and headed straight for the bedroom. Pulling together a pair of Calvin?s, a white tank top, purple silk button down, his briefs and a pair of Yohji boots. Into the bathroom he went to shower and get dressed.

"It's not wasted time." He was confused by Quinn's glance, but didn't pursue it. "I just took a shower so I'll just get dressed. Yeah." He got off of the couch and put his beer onto a table. "I'll be right back, Gen. Have a seat and we'll be ready in no time." He turned and disappeared into the bedroom.

Genny opened her mouth to apologise for what she saw as her own comments making them both uncomfortable, but they were gone. "Oh. Right." Chewing on her lip for a long moment, she then hunted about for a piece of paper and a pen, scribbling a quick note. It was stuck to the fridge with a magnet, an explanation for the hasty exit she then made. Sorry to duck and run, I didn't want to intrude. Have fun! Genny ~

Quinn got out of the shower and got dressed. He pulled his watch off of the counter next to the sink and pulled it onto his wrist. Sitting on the edge of the counter, he slipped into his boots and then out of the bathroom. Sliding his way into the living room with a: "How do I Loo..." He cut himself short and looked around, no Dirk and no Genny. "Genny?"

Dirk had heard the door shut behind Genny and he sighed heavily. "Fuck." Pulling on his blue jeans, Green Day concert shirt and a pair of steel toed boots, he walked out into the living room. "She took off while you were in the shower." He didn't say much more and grabbed his beer off of the table. "What do you want to do tonight, babe?"

"...Find out why the hell I scared off your friend." Quinn raked his fingers through that mess of curly chestnut hair. He flopped down onto the couch and rubbed his brows. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm not very social. I didn't mean to make her uncomfortable." Right back to rubbing at the back of his neck. He did this when he was thinking, a subconscious little tick.

"Hey, stop that." Dirk walked over and pulled Quinn's hand from his neck as he squat down in front of him. "You'll get to know Genny. She's a bit shy and you did nothing wrong." He directed his gaze to Quinn's eyes. "Stop doing this kind of thing to yourself. You beat yourself up over things that you have no control over."

"I'm not very good at being a homo in the open yet. I still make straight women uncomfortable." He tried to make that sound like a joke and then shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think it helped that I met her at the door with my dick out. But all in all, at least I haven't been charged with indecent exposure yet. But here's the question. How's the poor thing going to be happy here if I make her uncomfy? We can't get her drunk all the time." He laughed, still trying to keep the serious questions as light and joke laced as possible.

Dirk found himself smiling and he sat, cross legged in front of Quinn. "I just know it'll work out. I worked with Genny for months before we became what could be remotely considered friendly. She's very shy, babe, but she's trying. And I'm sure she'll come to find out the very beautiful man hiding inside of my very beautiful man." He lifted his chin and gently suckled on Quinn's lower lip.

Returning the kiss with fervor, Quinn smiled and gently brushed the backs of his fingers over the length of Dirk's jaw. He trotted down the stairs after a moment of staring and unlocked the truck, opening Dirk's door and holding out the keys to him.

Dirk smiled as their eyes met and then he was quickly following Quinn down to the truck. "Naaa, you drive." It was a huge sign of trust; Dirk rarely let anybody else behind the wheel of his truck. "I'll just give you directions. I think I know where she lives."

Quinn raised both brows and smiled. Rounding the car, he walked to the passenger side and opened the OTHER door for his love. Waiting for him to get in, he would shut the door behind Dirk. He contemplated hood sliding like the Duke boy across the truck but didn?t. He got into the car and buckled. It was no time at all before Quinn was driving and taking instructions.

Dirk buckled up once he was inside and he turned his head to watch as Quinn drove. He was in no hurry and thought it was a good time to voice the concerns that had plagued him before Quinn asked that simple question. "Baby, do you regret coming to Rhydin?"

"I can't think back on a single thing in my life that I regret. Every messed up thing I did led me to where I am today. Why? Do you regret me coming to Rhydin?" Quinn's eyes shifted to one side and then went back to watching the road.

Dirk nodded, he felt the same thing about his own past. "Oh, no, not at all. I'm glad you came to Rhydin. More importantly, I'm glad you were at that bar that night. It was my first time there." He canted his head as he watched the road go by. It seemed like it was time for twenty questions. "Do you find it hard to say I love you?"

"Not hard, just not natural. I mean, there are times when it is perfectly natural. And that's only been with you. But sometimes I worry that I will be saying it at the wrong time." Quinn looked over to Dirk for a second. "Does that make any sense at all? Or do I sound like an idiot?"

"I think it makes sense. Like you're still afraid that if the wrong person hears you saying it to me that they'll ruin everything you've ever worked for." Dirk nodded, remembering that feeling.

Quinn took a deep breath before his eyes went back to focusing on the road before it. "I don't deny loving you. I'll tell everyone if it would make you feel better. I just, I am not used to it is all."

"You have to be comfortable with it, Quinn. I can't force you to say it. If I did, then it wouldn't be really how you felt." He reached over and gently pats Quinn on the shoulder. "And I want it to be how you really feel when you say it."

Quinn's foot slammed on the brakes and he was glad they were both buckled. The car came to a complete and total halt and he turned to look at Dirk as if he had just been slapped across the face. "Is that what this is about? You are not sure if I love you?"

"Whoa! What the f*ck?" Dirk threw his arms up to shield his face and was relieved when the seat belt locked and held him into place. "Are you crazy?" He stared at Quinn with his jaw dropped. "Why would you think that?"

"What do you think I feel when I tell you I love you? I feel like I'm in love with you!" Quinn turned the keys in the ignition and pulled them from it, dropping them onto the dashboard. "I don't know what else I am supposed to feel." He opened the car door and peered in at Dirk before he slammed the door.

"It scares me. I don't think I'd make it if I lost you." Dirk was being honest as well. In such a short period of time, he'd found what he was searching for; and it had taken an entire lifetime to find him. He fell into a silence and listened to the sounds of nature. However, he could pinpoint where that cricket was and he could smell the trout sleeping in the river that ran lazily nearby. And that rustle in the leaves was a family of squirrels hunting for their winter's supply of nuts and seeds.

"Can members of the same gender marry here in Rhydin?" Quinn looked off into the woods while he asked the question, gently stroking his fingers over Dirk's scalp. He knew there were parts of the United States where he could have married a man, but nowhere in Brazil would it be legal.

"I think so." Dirk answered lazily. When the implications of the question dawned on him, the possibilities of a question asked, but not asked, Dirk's eyes flew open wide. Slowly he lifted his head and stared down at Quinn. "Baby, what are you asking?"

"I hope so." Quinn stared right back at Dirk with those gentle silver eyes, his pupils dark and spreading. It was not as easy for him to see in the dark as it was for his partner. "I am asking if gay marriage is allowed in Rhydin." And praying that the wedding band in his leather jacket hadn't been dropped in the process of claws and stripping. He was pretty sure that would have been worth it though.

Dirk blinked rapidly and sank back down. He hid his face in Quinn's shoulder, trying to still his rapidly beating heart and to hide the disappointment in his face. He sighed and merely nodded. "Yes, there are places here that cater to gays."

"Oh, baby, I?m gonna run to the truck and grab the sleeping roll out of the back. You wait right here and I will be right back. Ok, darling?" Quinn prayed that of the times Dirk had to be protective this wasn?t one of them. He had to check his shredded jacket for Dirk's ring.

Dirk kissed Quinn's cheek and rolled to his back. He knew the most dangerous thing in this little meadow was lying beside Quinn. "Sure thing baby. Just don't take off on me," he joked, "the keys are still in the truck."

Quinn peeked up at the stars and thanked god that Dirk was opting to stay behind. He grabbed the door to the truck and smiled as the interiors went on. He searched the ground and found the parts of his coat....No ring. A very quiet expletive was uttered until he moved his hand and felt the velvet of the box. A sigh of relief. Again, he thanked god. He was kneeling beside the car, on the opposite side from where Dirk was. "Baby, can you come here? I dropped my phone and can't find it."

Dirk had put his hands behind his head and had crossed his feet at the ankles. Watching the moon and stars, he sighed heavily. The wind blew and it sent a chill along Dirk's skin and gooseflesh popped up everywhere. When Quinn called him over, Dirk got up and he walked over to the truck. "You mean it's under the truck?"

"Yeah, kinda." Quinn pulled the velvet box from under the truck and opened it up for him. He held it up to Dirk with a worried look on his face. "Listen, I know that I am not great at being out, but I promise you I will be. I don?t want to spend another minute without the world knowing I'm yours. And vice versa. I wanna make you my husband. Dirk Stevens, will you marry me?"