It were the early hours and that meant he was on his phone, half the time. Gypsies had a whole network which was in need of tending, especially during those hours. It was gettin' close to Christmas so all were jockeying for this and that to happen. Word was that a pig, a whole pig, was tah be bought and buried and shared between the flames of three campsites, the Barlows bein' the main one. After the back and forth about that, he was off the phone and pushing out of his camper. Was time for some fresh breath. It were cold but he didn't mind it. The same ratty pearl Jame long sleeves shirt with holes in it on from the night before. Messy dark locks went down his brow. He had a toothbrush and a cup of water in his hand as he worked over his teeth.


Quinn woke up next to Levi and an arm snaked out to brush against his cheek, he listened carefully and made sure no one was up in the RV. He pressed a kiss behind Levi's ear and got up slipping out of the room as if he had never been there in the first place. A t shirt was pulled from the drawer and then subsequently pulled over his head. Breakfast, no, smoke before breakfast. He peeked in on Gerry and Keirra making sure all was well before he pulled on his coat and stepped outside barefoot. Cigarette brought to lips and lit before he closed the door of the RV behind him. He didn't need Ko to scream about her shriveling nipples or Gerry's shrinking manhood. A smirk until he looked up and saw Mark. Busted.


He were naht the unfriendly sort, but he tended to get agitated by an unknown face which was campside. Ask Ger. It made him think of cops and of the wanna-be gypsies that lurked about, treatin' there life like it was some silly run-away to the circus kinda thing. So it was that he saw this guy, square on, and narrowed his eyes a bit. Naht like he meant to do him wrong, but the question of... who. the. hell. Was there. Mark was, more or less, the junkyard watch dog. Gerry was part of that pack, now. He was protective of the hearts that beat in their campers. His blue eyes pinned this unfamiliar face to a board, figuring it out as he considered whether or not tah show him the way out. For now he just said, "Oi, hey." Morning, sort of.

They had been introduced the night before, but it was so busy and he lifted the cigarette holding hand to wave, the lycan was bad with confrontation. He could smell the inquisition and he took a long drag and pointed to the RV behind him. "Hey...Mark right?" Quinn knew well who it was, always the observe "Levi's best friend yeah?" He offered the none cigarette hand over to him. "Quinn."

"I also run this campground." It was said in a manner which was more like a warning than anything. He werne't just some buddy o' Levi's and some dude hanging around. For better or worse, he was king of the trash pile and that weren't tah be misunderstood. Quinn. Right. Last night, when he was near rib-stitched tah Billie til she left. The recognition made his shoulders ease, just slightly. Fine, let's do this introduction the right way. "Mark." Hand went into Quinn's, squeezed it like a body hug from a snake and then let him. The ice, the edge, the chill, to him was easing off. Mark weren't there cause he let weirdo strangers in and just let things happen. Maybe folks didn't like him as the gatekeeper all the time, but the generally liked knowin someone was lookin' out for their backs, "Yah mind me askin' yah how you ended up here?" There was a glance, just a second, but it was the moment which told Quinn that he knew he was barefoot and not far from a camper as shelter.

The firm shake was returned. Where he came from that was a sign of respect and for Mark, Quinn had a boatload of it. Looking around the camp he nodded, a lot of people would have seen it as a make shift trailer park, most people weren't from Rio though, where Gypsies were nearly as prevalent as everyone else. Their festivals traveled the country, all the way up through central america. Hell, even so far as Europe. Quinn remembered seeing them at a saints festival on a tiny island off the coast of Portugal. He admired them, considering his lifestyle, it was amazing to see people living the exact way they wanted to. " Of course." A long drag taken and he exhaled the smoke away from them before continuing. "I pulled Levi's ass out of the fire a couple nights ago...Icer had him cornered after the whole incident with...Well with your sister I suppose. I was the one tailing you two back the other night. Big black pickup." He pointed over to it.

"It's not right this instant." Mark waved at him to follow him to his camper. The door opened and he climbed inside. It was important to note that he was a bachelor, so all signs of that being the case were so. Maybe a few relics of Molly lurked at the corners, but it overall looked like the camper a single man occupied. The kitchen table had an array of papers on it, most of which had his chicken-scratch handwriting on. So far, no hunting accidents. That was a big step, wasn't it? Mark leafed through the pages there and then offered one to Quinn, "Since yous and Levi be such great pals, I got someone who needs tah be dug outta a whole. Chris' uncle's wife's sister's son got into it deep with the police, somethin' about a felony. Claims he naht done it but I'm pretty sure he didn't pull the trigger, just sit on the wayside of it." The paper given a wag, "Get tah lookin' around, get this boy outta hot water and then I got Chris in the owe of me and he got somethin' I want. I was gonna look into it, but it seem I need tah be here in town." Maybe for Billie, maybe for somethin' that had to do with Roy and that mess. It were something he'd have to give Keirra and Gerry a look for. Had some promise, nah doubt.


Quinn followed right after him, upon entering he stuck to his Mom's old little saying. If you're not there to clean it, pay it no mind. She had always said it when talking about the clutter in her kitchen. He was glad to not be shot yet. The papers did catch his attention though and soon one was being pushed to it. Oh good reading chicken scratch. Quinn had once needed readers, but that was before the wolf and as it was wagged he took it and looked it over. "So, this is a legal dispute then?" He could throw vast sums of money at the situation, but he had lawyers to do that kinda...Oh Levi...Law, it clicked and he nodded. "Anyone at the station able to me greased?" Flipping over the paper and looking at the back. A caravan with a lawyer and a wealthy corporate backing? That spelled trouble. Fun trouble, but trouble.

"Yeah, sure," that was one way to put it. Most of the things he wanted Levi for had something to do with that. Levi knew the talk, knew the walk, could dress the part and often had actually been the part. It hadn't been long ago that the man's silver tongue and pleasant smile had spring him from the clink. There was the question of greasing to which he frowned, "Possibly, but I think if you and Levi find somethin' about it, you won't need the money. Kid said he was no where near the store when robbed, but that's a lie," Mark weren't nothin' much, but he knew bait and traps when he saw and tasted it, "but he's truthful about naht bein' the one tah have shot the clerk." His hand lifted and he tapped at the name, "Security footage went missin'. Chris got a ransom note yesterday sayin' it would show back up if he put 15k in that PO box. I call BS. Naht a whole lot of folks got access to the footage so I think you and Levi can narrow that game down and if naht... Levi probably got the tongue tah make it disappear. I got a mind to have Chris in my pocket so gettin' the situation resolved," now his attention went back to Quinn's face, "is important tah me. The kid's name is Steve Connelly and he naht more than twenty, anyhow. Get Steve outta tha water and we get Chris in our pocket. Yah think you can manage?" Maybe Quinn shouldn't have offered.

Now he was speaking Quinn's language. This was a lot more simple than it was being presented. "If we put the money in the box, sit on the box, and wait we can get the messenger, press the courier and work backwards from there. Unless, they decoy the tape, which, would mean you're getting f****ed anyway." The more important questions were, who was mad enough to do it, or cared enough about the other guy to set up Steve. "Yeah. I can do it. I'll let Levi decide how this is handled. He's better at this kinda stuff I'd assume." Tapping the paper he eyed the door and nodded. "I'm going to go thaw out. Start looking into this. Thanks man." As if Mark had done him a huge service, which of course, he really had.


"However the hell yah wanna do it, honestly. I'm naht gonna sot those details. Do it fast, do it clean, make me happy. We'll see what happens from there." Mark went to the door of his trailer and opened it, "Get on tha trail, then. You got my blessin' to be campside if you don't screw this up." Mark looked at him more meaningfully, "You get into trouble you don't bring it around here, yeah?"

"I don't know you, never heard of any of you and I have lawyers on retainer that will make sure that sticks."A nod as he was out, he set back to the RV. Smoking a butt along the way, reading all the notes on the situation, if Mark said Steve didn't do it, then Quinn was inclined to believe him. As flicked and page turned over. A squint at the handwriting and he hoped Levi was better at getting his handwriting set. A smirk and he had a feeling this was going to be a lot harder than just tossing around some cash. But Detective Quinn was on the case.

As they pulled out of the camp, Levi felt excited about spending the next few days alone with Quinn. They were on a mission and if all went well, Mark would get a favor owed to him, Levi would be able to curry favor with the camp once again and the relationship with Quinn would be solidified. It was terrifying and exciting and altogether overwhelming how quickly he was falling for the dark haired, silver eyed wolf man. He kept the secret tucked away and as he watched Keirra in the rearview mirror he felt the first pangs of homesickness. That was new to Levi. He'd lived in several places, but Keirra was home.

Quinn ALMOST missed how sad Keirra was in the rearview, but he tried to push it from his mind but somehow couldn't. "She's going to be okay right?" What was he saying of course she was going to be okay. A deep breath and he looked back to Levi. "Okay well, what would you like for you amazing date to be?"

Levi looked back when Quinn questioned about Keirra and then turned back in his seat to face forward. "I better shoot her a text," he murmured and brought his phone out of his pocket. "You mean my ten thousand dollar dollar date?" he smirked as he tapped out the message. "I don't know, I really don't," he protested. "I've never been on a date with a guy before."


A shrug of shoulders and he peered to Levi a moment before nodding. "Well, I suppose it's no different than a date with a woman, and to warn you I am pretty rusty with it, it's been the better part of five years now." Was he talking about the date or the roll in the sheets. Maybe both. He had made them reservation and an adorable bistro. Levi didn't seem like the five stars and champagne type. He seemed like the charming family staff and low candle light sort of guy.

"I have all the faith in the world in you," he smiled and then slid the console up and away so he could scoot over and leaned against Quinn's side. "I have to warn you. I was a bit of a man whore when I lived in Loiuse City. So women might be coming out of the woodwork like cockroaches."


"Can I eat them?" He wrapped an arm around him possessively, it wasn't fierce or angry. It was merely a show of what he hoped was only his. "Because I wouldn't mind eating them." Leaning his head on the smaller mans shoulder, all the while trying to keep his eyes only on the road. It was sort of difficult to do though with Levi so close.

"So long as you don't get blood on the carpeting," he smiled and lifted his chin to kiss Quinn on the cheek. "Keep your eyes on the road," he chuckled. He then fell into a comfortable silence. He watched his finger as he drew intricate patterns on Quinn's thigh. When he spoke, it was thoughtful and quiet. "Tell me about you. Not the abbreviated version that you tell everyone else. I want to know you."


Oh sure try to explain to keep his eyes on the road. Had he seen himself lately. The soft touch of patterns drawn against his thigh, the comfortable cuddle that felt so natural. A deep breath and he laughed. "Okay, I was born November 17th, I was seven weeks early which caused my mother to have a life long obsession with never letting me out of her sight. I am an only child, I am..." A clearing of throat as he continued to speak. "Forty three years young, but I was turned in my late thirties so what you see is what you get basically forever. I have been kicked out of six prep schools, and my college fraternity." This seemed more like fun facts than his life story but on he babbled.





Levi listened, a soft smile on his face. "I missed your birthday," he chuckled. Those patterns were still being drawn as he lay his head on Quinn's shoulder. "And I'll be old and fat and gray and you're still going to be perfect and gorgeous." Lifting his head, he gazed into Quinn's profile. "You are beautiful, did you know that?"


"You will be beautiful when the last touches of red leaves your hair and your pants get snug. I promise, that fact, won't change." A laugh as he thought about it. He flushed about the cheeks and ears as he spoke of him. "Thank you." He didn't know what else to say. Instead he squeezed his hand lightly.

Levi laid his head back down onto Quinn's shoulder and he turned his eyes to the road. "Do you want to know why I bid on you?" He didn't look up this time and his voice was hushed, almost shy with how quiet he was being.


Quinn was interested in that but hadn't wanted to prod the situation. A sideways glace, reaching up to gently rake fingers through his hair and down his cheek, over and over. "I have been trying to figure that out for a bit now. I will go on a date with you every night for as long as you'll have me."

He smiled and closed his eyes at Quinn's touch. "I thought..." he started and then stopped. His cheeks blooming roses and the tips of his ears turning red. "I thought that..." and he stopped again. He laughed nervously and then he shook his head. "Naa, it's dumb. You'll laugh at me."


"I might laugh yes, but to be fair, I may also continue thinking you're the most adorable man I've ever seen." A light laugh and he leaned over to press a kiss to his temple before turned onto another road still heading to the portal. "So, you should tell me. Because I am seriously dying to know."

Levi laughed softly, despite himself. "Ok, ok." He took a deep breath and then exhaled a sigh. "I just thought that I'd come out to Mark that way. You know, rush to the stage and give you a kiss once I'd won." He shrugged then and his smile faded from his voice. "But Mark looked so mad and Ko was pissed so I backed off. Too late, but..." he shrugged.


"That would have been adorable, and you would have broken a heart or two." He laughed thinking back to the ladies who tried to bid war with Keirra. He blamed it on the eyes. "But, that isn't silly, that is adorable. Just as I predicted. I have a knack for knowing these things." As far as Levi was concerned though, it was a pretty safe bet that he was going to be adorable.

"You think he'll ever accept me the way I am?" It was weighing heavy on Levi's heart and he was feeling torn between his best friend and Quinn. It was all in his head, neither were putting pressure on him. "We grew up together. My mom and his parents traveled together and we were inseparable. Until they sent me to school." He shrugged then and nuzzled Quinn's neck with his nose. "Because I'm tired of pretending."


"When Lauren was bitching about it, he didn't seem too worried about it. Then again maybe he didn't understand her. Cajuns, I have such a hard time understanding them. It's not french, it's not english, it's...A mess." He shrugged his shoulder. Oh wait he'd gotten off topic. "As for Mark, I think he's more upset that he's got a stranger in his camp. As for having a fag in camp, I am sure he's heard by now about me. Your family isn't too quiet." A laugh now.

Lauren's name brought a scowl to his face. Levi sat up and reached behind him for a cold drink. He pulled two cans of soda from the cooler and then turned back in his seat. The console was slid back and he put the cans into holders before opening his up. "You're not his best friend, though. I used to have a crush on him," he snorted and shook his head before taking a sip. "How sad is that?"


A mock look of shock on his face as if he was reading from the guide on how to be a young gay man. There was a rumble of sadness as the warmth of the smaller male against him. The soda was little consolation in this the injustice of it all. He reached over and popped the top on his and shook his head. "That is a tale as old as time Levi. We fall for a straight guy before we even know what we are doing."

"Yeah, well," he took another sip and put the drink back into the cup holder. "Funny part of it is, later on we became wingmen for each other. A chick get too precious in a bar or club and the other would sweep in with the gayest gay you've ever seen," he chuckled. "I've probably kissed him more than any women has."


"I dunno, I have know some pretty gay men..." He completely brushed over the whole kissing Mark thing. He wasn't feeling nervous or jealous at all. That's silly. A clearing of throat and he hid it behind the can as he took a sip. "Sounds complicated with having feeling on only one side there."

"I don't think he even has a clue. I slept with enough whores and sorority sisters to keep the suspicion down." He shrugged then and wanted to be close to Quinn again but those cans were in the way. "You don't have to worry," he looked to Quinn with a smile. "He's been with Molly. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole."

Levi listened, watching Quinn's mouth move while he spoke. He could see by the shine in his eyes and the way he lifted his chin to speak that though the hurt was there, Quinn would never admit to it. "What matters to me, is you," he said quietly and reached to touch Quinn's shoulder for a gentle and reaffirming squeeze. "I want to know how you feel, how you felt."


"Me? I was broken, completely destroyed and I didn't know how well I was going to manage." He spoke softly and realized no amount of deflecting could help him avoid the actual question. "We were over, I could handle that. I could even handle knowing that we would never be anything romantic again, that I had come to terms with. But his mate is half rabid," he paused and shook his head. "Not rabid, just young, and possessive and quite hell bent on tearing out my throat." He cleared his throat as his voice was failing him. "It wasn't the loss of a lover that hurt so bad, it was the fact that there was the only person I could trust, the only one who can help me, the only person I had left..." His voice cracked slightly and he once more cleared his throat. "That was family. And I couldn't even stand 10 feet away from him without death threats. I never thought for one instant I'd come back to him being a lover, but I could never have prepared myself to have him as no part of my life. And that may make you feel really strange but you can't understand how sacred the sire bond is...was...Is supposed to be."


Hands gripped the steering wheel and he looked straight ahead. "Then I came back here, and we got shitfaced and that only lasted so long, before I was up all night talking with Keirra, and I realized that maybe, I could have new family. That maybe she needed me as much as I needed her. And things weren't so terrible..." He was fighting back tears and chewing on his lip. "That night though, I had nothing, absolutely nothing left. My entire family was either dead, or wanted nothing to do with me. It still hurts to know that I have no advice on how to handle being the way I am in civilized society, we stayed away from anyone and then I was, I was on my own and not anywhere near anyone, and now I am going to have to figure this whole wolf shit on my own again."

Levi's expression softened and he reached to put a hand to Quinn's shoulder. He listened, really listened to the anguish that poured forth during the telling of the tale. Levi had been thrust into the world on his own, too. But he knew he always had a home to come to and the backing of not only his circuit but of teachers, mentors friends and colleagues. Never once did he feel alone. Quinn's story gave him a glimpse into that life and it was nearly unbearable. How Quinn managed to smile and carry on was beyond Levi. "Pull over," he requested, quietly. "Please?"


He did as was asked of him and pulled to the side of the road. Those intense eyes were focused ahead of them at some point. It was a way to keep from crying maybe, or perhaps he was just lost somewhere else but after a moment he was more calm and turned towards Levi before strumming fingers on the steering wheel. "You okay?" Classic Quinn, he was the one raw and yet, Levi was more of a concern at the current moment

Once the truck was stopped and Quinn was looking at him, Levi moved the console out of the way and scoot over to put his arms around Quinn. "I don't know about the wolf stuff," he whispered as he held him tightly. "But you're not alone, Quinn. You won't be alone as long as you'll have me."


Melting into the embrace he nodded. "I know that now, but at the time, with the way things were, and now with the way that I am, and the fact that I am going to miss Christmas, oh and being dead, I just wanna give him a call and try and work some of that out, but, then I deal with the bullshit of it all and it's tough." He sighed and rested his head on Levi's shoulder. It was a lot to handle, but he was managing as best he could.

"Miss Christmas?" Levi rubbed Quinn's back and held him as long as Quinn would allow it. "But we're having our own Christmas." He leaned back and gazed into those troubled quicksilver eyes. "You're a part of me, my family. You're not missing anything. And we'll get in touch with him when you need his kind of help. I'll do everything I can to keep those eyes smiling."

Levi kissed Quinn's neck, an open mouthed kiss that ended with teeth grazing his skin. His arm twisted and his hand cupped and squeezed that growing bulge. He could feel the heat radiating from Quinn and he knew by touch that Quinn was about to lose all sense of reason. He flicked his tongue against Quinn's earlobe and gave another gentle squeeze. "I have to use the bathroom."


A breath sucked in as teeth met tender flesh of neck, that simple show of affection, was one of ownership, one of possession and it had Quinn reeling with the need for more. He was pressing hard against his jeans and he looked to Levi with that squeeze and then, bathroom. Wait what? Oh that tease, a clearing of throat and he nodded. "Yeah, Bathroom, yes...You go ahead and go to the bathroom and I will wait here and I will be right here when you return from the bathroom."

He smiled against Quinn's neck and then leaned back to look at him. "You have to stop the truck, not going to pee right here." There was a smile on his face and laughter in his teasing eyes. "Unless you want to bend me over the seat?" The squeeze turned into a rub and a curling of his fingers to press against his balls. "Because that's doable."


"That...That is not going to help you pee...That will stop you from..." Another hiss of a breath as those fingers ran over his balls. A clearing of throat and he pulled over. There would be certain need for adjustment, as scraping his zipper was not the most comfortable feeling. Putting the truck in park he listened carefully. "You're good. Although, there's a rabbit or some such down that way." Oh good, mister bionic ears could find bugs but was having an issue keeping his head straight because of a whimsical redhead.

Levi was heady with the power he felt he held over Quinn. Suckling on his earlobe, his hand left the heated crotch and moved back to resting on Quinn's thigh. With a kiss, he let go of Quinn's earlobe and reached to open the passenger side door. "Oh, do you need to hunt?" He glanced around and there was nothing to be found. No buildings, no lights, just the pitch of night dotted with spots of sparkling stars. "I didn't... you don't have to because I..." he slowly pushed away from Quinn towards the opened door. "I mean..."


Quinn felt like he was kicked in the chest with that look from Levi. He wondered now if he was frightened and he shook his head. "No, I..." A long pause and he was shaking his head again. "No I am fine, I had the Elk, and I made sure to see Saila before we got going...Levi, I won't hurt you, I won't let myself." There was sigh and he sat perfectly still. You would think in such a serious time as this one, his erection would take a hint and screw off, but of course not. Because it was way cooler to stick around.

Levi felt like an idiot. The fear had been there and to tell the truth, hadn't completely disappeared. It had been Quinn's fear at first, and now it was Levi's. "I'm sorry," he murmured and leaned to kiss Quinn's cheek before he crawled out of the truck. He didn't travel far to relieve himself. Steam rose from the stream of urine and it splattered mud onto his shoes. Mr. NeatFreak didn't even notice. He shook off, tucked it in and climbed back into the truck. "Portal's not five minutes and when we're on the other side there's a place we can stop and grab a bite if you're hungry."


Oh lets play the, I wasn't inches away from being face down in your lap game. Quinn was game and he adjusted himself completely pushing his erection off to one side so it would stop being so aggressively in the way. A nod at Levi's apology and he just pulled back onto the road as if they hadn't been having a wonderful time, followed by a heartbreaking one. "Yeah that sounds awesome. I could use coffee."

The tension was back and Levi was now feeling like an asshole. He didn't know if Quinn would want him back against him so he stayed where he was. The soda was picked up and sipped on. "Yeah. Sounds good."


"You know..." It was painful to talk about but hell wasn't that what this car ride was all about anyway? "You're smart to be afraid of me." Reaching over he pulled the glove box open and there was the user manual, and a 9mm. He reached under his seat and handed over a magazine. "Know how to use one of those?" Oh this was turning strange now wasn't it.

"No we travel in packs." A nod and he strummed on the steering wheel. "Well. I mean most of us do, I don't have one. Never did, I think Dirk was kind of a lone wolf and then there was me and so we were kind of a two wolf pack. Now I am the lone wolf.?

"If he asked you to join him?" Levi looked out at the road, then to Quinn's fingers on the steering wheel. There was a comfort in the quiet confidence that Quinn projected. "I mean, as a pack? Would you join him?" He didn't even want to think of Quinn being with anyone else in the same capacity as they were in now. As far as he was concerned it was Dirk's loss.


"No." He spoke with extreme clarity. "As much as I am bonded by blood to him, it was made very clear by his mate that he's no pack of mine." He wouldn't go as far as to say that it was anyone's loss, but it was certainly his gain. Fingers squeezed at Levi's again. "I have a place to belong, I think that's just as good as a pack." He meant it too. It made his smile creep up to his eyes.

"If I could crawl into your lap I'd give you the best lap dance right now," he laughed. It was good to see the smile back on Quinn's face and the comfort level was at the snuggly warm mark. "But I guess you'll just have to wait until we get to the condo. It's not much of a shag pad but it'll do."

The portal loomed closer and Levi squeezed his eyes shut. "I hate this part."


"I am sure it will be spotless and who said that I was planning on shagging you in the condo? Maybe I have a romantic grand gesture to prove to you how much you mean to me?" WHo was he kidding they would be lucky if they made it through the front door before he was hilted, the sexual tension was thick between them, but he was well worth the wait. "Unless you pull another grand tease..." Eyes shifted to the portal and he winced. Yup, he hated this part too.

"Romantic grand gesture?" he chuckled and that made the trip through the portal just incrementally better. If every fiber and molecule of your being getting ripped apart, scrambled and then put back together could get any better. When they were on the otherside, Levi was clutching Quinn as if his life depended upon it.


Quinn looked downright sick, almost peaked, which was strange for the lycan. He pressed his forehead to the steering wheel and just sighed before pulling over to the side of the road. Eyes locked on the smaller male clinged to him. "You okay? Do you need to vomit? A lot of folk vomit..."

Levi shook his head. No, he didn't have to vomit. "I think we've seen enough puking," he joked, laughing lightly before coughing into Quinn's shoulder. "No, but it hurts like a bitch," he groaned. "It'll be alright." Quinn looked paler than usual and Levi leaned back just enough to feel his cheeks and forehead. "Are you alright? You look like you're about to hurl." He pointed to the driver's side door. Please hurl that way.


There was thought that he would and then he shook his head. Of all the things in the world that body could handle that portal wasn't one of them. At the touch of that cool hand he sighed. He thought he was going to be sick and then the touches seemed to ground him. "No more soda for me. And we need to find a fairy on both sides. I hate these portals."

"A fairy?" He blinked rapidly and then frowned a bit. "That's not very funny." He smoothed the hair from Quinn's face and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Two gay men sitting in a truck and you want to find fairies? Right here?" He snorted a laugh then and shook his head. "Actually, that kind of is."


"No as in the kind who dance around the in forest...They have..."He laughed at the conversation heading to the way of gay men and fairies. "Some can transport with less icky I've been told. I was saying we should get one. I was talking about actual creatures. Not other men, I am a one man kinda guy."

"Oh, well, thank God. So am I." The truck was stopped and they were just sitting there, recovering. And the fact that they were in each other's arms? Perfect opportunity. He gently turned Quinn's head so that he could kiss him, right and proper. His mouth melded to Quinn's and he tried to wriggle his way into Quinn's lap.

"I told you, sex is sort of my forte...Seconds, thirds, fourths, hell fifths if you'll have me." A deep breath taken in of the mingled scent of them. It lingered in the air around them and he was almost upset to see it get muddled up by the smoke. Taking the cigarette he cracked the window and leaned back taking a long drag. Blowing it towards the cracked window he peered to Levi. "So, what do you think? Big bad buffet." A bearing of teeth in a playful manner before he flicked ash out the windows.

Levi leaned back when Quinn did, laying his head upon Quinn's shoulder. His legs were spread, straddling Quinn's thighs. "Sounds like we're going to need energy drinks," he chuckled and then blew smoke out of the opened window. "Big bad buffet," he shook his head and nuzzled his cheek to Quinn's. "Sounds like I'm for dinner."


"No, that shit will wreck your swimmers." He was speaking of course of the energy drinks. Not that they needed swimmers for each other but perhaps there would be a need in the future. He peered up at Levi, eyes groping every pale inch of him and he smirked. "And breakfast, lunch, wait what was this trip for? Because right now I am thinking you brought me here so I could fuck you in every single inch of that condo."

He stated the obvious, "What do I need those for anyway?" There was more than a question there. It was a statement. After Billie's miscarriage and the scare with Keirra, he had no interest in having children. But Quinn was quick to help Levi to push that negative to the furthest corners of his mind. "Well, that was part of the plan," he looked up with a grin and a kiss to the corner of Quinn's lips. "Knew it wasn't going to happen with guests constantly in the RV."


"Listen, just because something terrible has happened, doesn't mean that it will last forever." A whisper brushed his ear and then there was a laugh. "I will fuck you in every inch of the camper too. Trust me, the second we are public, I will be sure to make Keirra run off from how disgustingly adorable and perfectly depraved we are." He was sure he was right too, Keirra couldn't handle the lovey dovey.

Levi's eyes fluttered shut to the whisper and he wished he hadn't said anything about it. The whisper was a soft, comforting gesture but Levi was sure that he'd just spoiled their moment. That is until Quinn's voice tickled his ear once again. The worry melted away and a smile appeared on his face. "How'd you know I was talking about her?"


"Because she is the other half of me." A deep chuckle and he laughed. Keirra and Quinn were sort of attached at the hip. It wasn't a secret. He owed quite a bit to the tiny Rogue. but, that was neither here nor there at this current moment. A deep breath and he was pressing a kiss to the back of his neck.

Levi was relatively new to this game, and the last time he'd played he'd been burned. The jock was Guy, the cheerleader was Loraine and Levi was the jerk that fell for the flirtations and sensual touches in the dark. He learned quickly that by the light of day things were completely and totally different. Somehow, it felt like that when Quinn said that Keirra was his other half. "Oh, well," he didn't know what to say. So he laughed and slid from Quinn's lap. "We should get going. Loiuse City is another four hours or so away."


"Yeah...Okay." There was a weirdness suddenly and Quinn nodded he opened his door and stepped out of the car. Wandering off, rather nude, to find a place to piss. Quinn was really good at awkward weirdness. He seemed to make it happen wherever he went. There was a great deal of steam that came from that stream when he finally got to the treeline. A flick of ash, and he sighed. Lovely, weirdness was awesome. Always good to have weirdness right after sex. He walked back to the truck and grabbed his jeans off the floor. Pulling into them he made sure the rest of the clothes were on the seat before he got in and adjusted his mirror.

And while Quinn was attending to himself, Levi gathered his clothes from the floorboard. The shirt was a total loss but the jeans, shoes and socks weren't injured. He got dressed and pulled a t-shirt from his bag to put it on. When Quinn got back into the truck, Levi was tapping messages out on his phone. "Hey," he didn't look up.

Levi took the pack of smokes, but didn't tap one out. Instead he simply held the pack in his hands and ran his thumbs over the smooth cellophane. "Please be patient with me." He looked up at Quinn and the pleading tone in his voice was a duet with the begging his eyes were doing. "Because you're it for me. I don't want anyone else."


"Fuck..." He whispered it. Levi was right. He wasn't being fair. "You're right, I got angry, you don't deserve to be on the other end of that. I didn't mean to lose it like that. I just, I really care." He strummed on the steering wheel. He reached over and rested a hand on his thigh squeezing gently. "We have each other."

Levi put his hand over Quinn's and gave a gentle squeeze. "It wasn't fair for me to think that you were like Guy or what we'd have was anything like that." He attempted a smile and it almost got to his eyes. "We do have each other, and I'll ask instead of assume from now one. Promise."


Arm opened up for him to scoot closer while he flicked an ash out the window. "To be fair, I was that jock, well, I was the high priced business playboy who would fuck someone at night and then pretend that I didn't know who he was in the morning." A nod and he took another drag. "Thank you, that is all I ask. We need to talk to each other or this will never work."

Levi scoot closer and lay his head on Quinn's shoulder. His hand rested upon Quinn's thigh and he began drawing the invisible, intricate patterns once again. "It was for the best, though. They treated guys like us terribly." He sighed then and pressed a kiss to Quinn's cheek. "And I want this to work. I really do."

"The what doesn't kill us makes us stronger and more prepared for tomorrow theory," he smiled and let the tension drain from his body. "I like that one better than the into each life a little rain must fall theory." Quinn was very warm and Levi was glad he'd put on a t-shirt and not a sweater. "Loiuse City is in the middle of nowhere. Yet they have just about everything. Skyscrapers, megamarts, a football stadium and all the soft, warm pretzels you can eat."


"Are we talking like small town and small minded...Wait...Harvard law?!" He was slow as fuck and waving a hand around as if he was shooing away all the other words and thoughts. "What are you doing slumming with some state university business major?" He looked to Levi now clearly impressed. "Too bad we are so spaced out in age, I went to Umass, Lowell, party school. I basically acted like a whore and played lacrosse."

Well look who finally caught up. He smiled wryly, ears turning pink. It wasn't something he flaunted because, well, in the circles he traveled in it got him into more trouble than not. "I thought you were going to ask what I was doing slumming in an RV in the middle of nowhere," he chuckled. "The circuit put me through college and pre-law. I got the rest of the way myself. And I was the biggest nerd, ever. Pocket protector and everything!"


"Quelle surprise..." A smirk to him and he shook his head. "No, the RV I get, there's a lot of love in that camp. Back to Harvard law though, what about this nerdy Levi. Are we talking socks with sandals nerdy orrrrr suspenders and glasses nerdy or sexy comic book reading video game playing beats off six times a day nerdy?" That strumming of thumbs on the steering wheel had started up again. Oh good Quinn was being extra annoying.

"Oh God!" he laughed out loud. "I had no idea there were so many categories of nerdism." He cleared his throat and furrowed his brow to think for a minute. "The sandals and socks is the old man nerd and I didn't fit into that one. I did the suspenders and horned rimmed glasses," he admitted freely. "Never had time to read anything but text books, cases and dockets. But I did beat off quite frequently." Completely unabashed.


"So what you're saying is that you were a class all your own. Also I wouldn't mind seeing you in glasses, it sounds pretty hott." Quinn had worn glasses once too, but since the change they made everything look distorted and strange. "You don't have a drawer full of ascots do you?" This question seemed to hold a great importance as he still couldn't see the point of the ascot. Scarves sure but ascots?"

Case file: 44523

The state vs Steven Connelly

1 count of armed robbery
2 counts of aggravated assault
1 count of larceny
1 count of manslaughter

Transcript:

The honorable Judge Henry Johnson called the court to order at 9 am on December 15 2015.

Asst DA Rita Meijers Opening Statement:

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: You have been called her to determine the innocence or guilt of the defendent, Mr. Connelly. On the night of September 23rd Chris Slaten kissed his wife and children goodbye and headed off to work at the Quicky Mart, just like any other day. Only this time, he didn't make it home. We will prove that the defendent, Mr. Connelly, along with an accomplice, did plan and execute an armed robbery of the Quicky Mart which, in the end, left Julia Slaten a widow and shattered the lives of her two little girls. Thank you.

Public Def. Levi Clark Opening Statement:

Good morning, jury. You're going to hear quite the fairy tale from the District Attorney's office about magically disappearing video tapes and people who can suddenly see out of the back of their heads. Listen closely, it's going to be an interesting story. But that is all it's going to be. You see the District Attorney's office has the burden of proof on their shoulders. They have to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that my client, Stevie Connelly, actually committed the crimes that they've charged him with. They have to build up a case with evidence so compelling that you have no choice but to find Stevie guilty. It's on you to determine whether or not they have done that. You have been charged with a great responsibility. I, for one, do not think that you will be fooled by the District Attorney's magical tale. Thank you.


Officer James McNeal sworn in.

R. Meijers - Officer McNeal please state your name for the record.
J. McNeal - James Fitzpatrick McNeal
R. Meijers - And your title and position with the Loiuse City Police Department?
J. McNeal - Detective second class. I was first on the scene.
R. Meijers - Can you describe for the court what you saw at the Quicky Mart on September 23rd?
J. McNeal - My partner and I were dispatched to the Quicky Mart after a 911 call stating that there had been gun fire and that a man was down. Upon arrival we secured the crime scene and contacted the crime scene investigative team. Mr. Slaten was laying behind the counter. There was a single gun shot wound to his chest and after checking for vital signs it was discovered he was deceased. There was a large amount of blood on the ground, and it soaked his clothes. The cash register was open and emptied. The man who put in the 911 call, Johnny Abrams, was questioned briefly. He states that Mr. Slaten and another man came into the store with guns in their hands, demanding that everyone get to the ground. He maintains that he did as commanded and kept his head down. That he was scared that he'd be shot if he looked up. In his statement Mr. Slaten maintains that he could hear the conversation as Mr. Connelly and his accomplice demanded the money in the register and that there was a scuffling sound and then a shot fired. He didn't get up until the door chime and the sound of a car's tires squealing. He called 911 upon finding Mr. Slaten shot in the chest.
R. Meijers - Thank you Officer McNeal. What happened next?
J. McNeal - The crime scene guys showed up and did what they do. They brought in a sketch artist and Mr. Abrams gave a description of the suspects.
R. Meijers presents the bench with prosecuting exhibit 1. A detailed sketch done by R. Mathers Loiuse City sketch artist.

R. Meijers - Is this the drawing, Officer McNeal?
J. McNeal - Yes.
R. Meijers displays the drawing to the jury, then returns it to the bench.
R. Meijers - Thank you, Officer McNeal.

L. Clark - Good morning Officer McNeal.
J. McNeal - Good morning, Mr. Clark.
L. Clark - According to the witness, there were two men with guns, correct?
J. McNeal - That's right.
L. Clark - The witness also states that they were face down and too scared to look up. Is that also correct?
J. McNeal - Yes, it is.
L. Clark - Thank you, Officer McNeal. I have nothing further.

R. Meijers - I call Johnny Abrams to the stand.

Johnny Abrams is sworn in.

R. Meijers - Johnny, you were there the night that the Quicky Mart was robbed at gunpoint by the defendant.
L. Clark - Objection. Speculation
R. Meijers - What?
L. Clark - How could the witness know if my client robbed the Quicky Mart if he had his face to the ground?
R. Meijers - Your honor, he was there!
H. Johnson - Over ruled. You'll get your chance in cross, Mr. Clark
L. Clark - Yes, your honor.
R. Meijers - Mr. Abrams, you were there that night that the Quicky Mart was robbed?
J. Abrams - Yes ma'am.
R. Meijers - In your statement you said that the defendent and another man entered with guns. You saw the guns?
J. Abrams - Yes ma'am. They were pistols. I-I'm not sure what kind though.
R. Meijers - That's alright, Mr. Abrams. Did you hear or see anything else?
J. Abrams - I saw that guy holding his gun and saying that I needed to get down. That my life weren't worth what was in the register. So I got down.
R. Meijers - Thank you, Mr. Abrams.
J. Abrams - You're welcome, ma'am.
L. Clark - Mr. Abrams on the night that this occured, do you remember what Stevie was wearing?
J. Abrams - Yes sir.
L. Clark - Could you describe it to the court?
J. Abrams - Well it was kind of dark. The lights were kinda flickering.
L. Clark - Just do your best, Mr. Abrams.
J. Abrams - Yes, sir. They was wearing those hoodies with the hoods up on their heads.
L. Clark - So the lighting was bad and they had their hoods up, shading their faces. Ok. So he told you to get down. What did you do?
J. Abrams - I got onto the floor and put my hands behind my head.
L. Clark - Why did you put your hands behind your head?
J. Abrams - Because the other guy told me to.
L. Clark - Sounds frightening. What happened next?
J. Abrams - They were roughing up the clerk some. Heard the clinking of the money hitting the ground. Then some more roughing and then the gun went off. It were quiet then for a second. Then, like they didn't know what they done, one said, "he's dead!" then they both ran off.
L. Clark - Did you see them during all of this?
J. Abrams - No sir, I had my head down. They was going to shoot me if I looked up.
L. Clark - Thank you, Mr. Abrams.
H. Johnson - You may step down now Mr. Abrams

Short recess called by Judge Johnson for lunch.

Court called back into order by Judge Johnson.

R. Meijers - I'd like to call Dewayne Parsons to the stand.

Dewayne Parsons is sworn in.

R. Meijers - Mr. Parsons can you state your name and occupation for the record?
D. Parsons - Dewayne Parsons. I own the Quicky Mart franchise in Loiuse City. We have four stores.
R. Meijers - Thank you Mr. Parsons. Can you tell me about the security systems you have set up in your stores?
D. Parsons - Yes ma'am. We have state of the art closed circuit, color cameras in each store plus a security guard that checks each store and the headquarters. He starts his rounds at the top of the hour and completes it in 45 minutes.
R. Meijers - Pretty impressive, Mr. Parsons. Do you keep copies of the CCTV videos?
D. Parsons - Yes ma'am, we do. Each store has a safe where they keep the tapes.
R. Meijers - Do you keep a copy of these tapes at your headquarters?
D. Parsons - No ma'am. That would be too easy for them to steal all of them at the same time.
R. Meijers - Of course. Can you tell me about the video from the night in question?
D. Parsons - No ma'am. It seems the bastards made off with the tape, too.
R. Meijers - Thank you Mr. Parsons. No further questions.
L. Clark - I have no questions for this witness.

R. Meijers - Your honor, at this time I'd like to enter into evidence the bullet casing and bullet extracted from Mr. Slaten's body. People's 2 and 3.

Judge Johnson accepts the articles into evidence.

R. Meijers - I'd like to call Rick Vieta to the stand.

Rick Vieta is sworn in.

R. Meijers - Mr. Vieta can you state your name and occupation for the record?
R. Vieta - Richard Vieta. I do ballistics and run the evidence room for the LPD.
R. Meijers - Thank you Mr. Vieta. Did you run the ballistics tests on the casing and bullet, Peoples 2 & 3.
R. Vieta - I did.
R. Meijers - And what did you find?
R. Vieta - The casing and bullet were from a 9 milimeter Glock hand gun. There were no fingerprints evident. Whoever loaded the pistol was wearing gloves.
R. Meijers - Th-that's not! I see. Thank you Mr. Vieta. You do understand the penalty for perjury?
R. Vieta - Yes, I do.
R. Meijers - Did you tell me that there was a partial print on the casing?
R. Vieta - No. I did not.
R. Meijers - Your honor! I'd like to strike this witnesses' testimony from the record. There has obviously been some mistake.
H. Johnson - The testimony will stand.
R. Meijers - But!
H. Johnson - I have gone over the ballistics reports. I did not see any evidence of tampering with the record, Ms. Meijers.
R. Vieta - Thank you, your honor.
R. Meijers - Nothing more.
L. Clark - I have no questions for this witness.

R. Meijers - The state rests it's case.

L. Clark - I'd like to call Steven Connelly to the stand.

Steven Connelly is sworn in.

L. Clark - Mr. Connolly, in your statement to the police, you admitted to being at the store when it was robbed?
S. Connelly - Yes sir, I was there.
L. Clark - Can you describe what happened?
S. Connelly - I was about to go inside when I saw two men with guns. I ran to my car and left. I wasn't about to get shot for a loaf of bread.
L. Clark - So you didn't actually see any shooting?
S. Connelly - No sir.
L. Clark - Do you own a 9 milimeter Glock handgun, Mr. Connelly?
S. Connelly - No sir. I don't like guns much.
L. Clark - Thank you, Mr. Connelly.

R. Meijers - Mr. Connolly, when you were picked up by the police, they found gun shot residue on your hand. Can you explain how it got there?
S. Connolly - Yes ma'am. My friend Joe has a few guns. He is trying to teach me how to shoot.
R. Meijers - If you don't like guns, why would you want to learn to shoot?
S. Connolly - Well my house was robbed and my wife was attacked. I have to protect what's mine.
R. Meijers - You were wearing a black hoodie when you were picked up.
S. Connolly - Yes ma'am.
R. Meijers - Why were you wearing a black hoodie at night?
S. Connolly - It was cold that night.
R. Meijers - If you say so, Mr. Connolly. Did you shoot and kill Mr. Slaten?
S. Connolly - No, I-
R. Meijers - Did you shoot and kill Mr. Slaten for the forty two dollars and sixty three cents that you stole from the-
L. Clark - Objection! Badgering the witness.
H. Johnson - Sustained. Ms. Meijers, watch yourself.
R. Meijers - Yes, your honor. I have no further questions.
H. Johnson - Then the witness may step down. Mr. Clark does the public defenders office have anything else?
L. Clark - No, your honor. The public defenders rest their case.
H. Johnson - Very well. This court is in recess for one hour. Then we'll hear closing arguments.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS:

R. Meijers: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: we have sat here for two days detailing the crime that was committed by Mr. Connolly against Mr. Slaten and his family. You must see that he has no remorse over the death of a good, Christian family man. You must do what is right and give justice to this family who so richly deserves it.

L. Clark: From the beginning I instructed you to listen with both ears and to watch with both eyes. The state has the burden of proof. It is up to you to decide whether or not they have met this burden. And as you go into that deliberation room I want each of you to ask yourself if the state has proven, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this man, Stevie Connolly, shot and killed Mr. Slaten. Thank you.