Their fingers were intertwined, though not quite in a friendly way. No, Jake’s ragged fingernails dug into his knuckles, his full weight pressing down onto his palms. The boy above him grunted and steadied himself on his knees.
“Give up yet, Strider?”
Dirk bared his teeth. No, of course he wasn’t going to give up. Jake wasn’t as big and strong as he thought he was. The blonde pulled a dick move, jabbing his boney knee right into the other’s lower stomach. English yelped and sagged, and Dirk quickly gained the upper hand by shoving Jake up and off of him. On his back, the brunette wheezed as his head cracked against the hardwood flooring of Dirk’s living room.
“Shit,” Dirk muttered, settling beside him instead of his intended plan to sit on his chest and make him beg for mercy. “You okay?”
Jake grimaced and rubbed the back of his sore head. “I believe so…”
“Sorry, bro.”
Jake offered him a toothy grin, tugging him down and wrapping him up in a hug. “It’s quite alright, chum! What’s a rumble without a few nicks and bruises?”
Dirk rolled his eyes, lazily throwing an arm over his friend’s stomach. His head settled on his chest, forehead pressed to Jake’s warm cheek. They both were still trying to catch their breath, sweat dripping off their heated skin. Post-wrestling cuddles were quickly becoming a normal occurrence for them.
“It’s too hot for this,” Dirk grumbled. “And you smell gross.”
“I suppose I do. But you smell just about the same, Dirk.” He chuckled airily. “When’s your brother going to be home?”
“Dunno. Soon.”
Jake squeezed him again, laying a quick kiss to the top of his head. “I guess I should get going then, hm?”
“Nah. You make for a nice pillow.”
"If you insist," he replied seeming not to mind sticking around. Although Dirk's brother scared him witless he didn't want to leave his friend's side.
"And I do insist." Dirk closed his eyes and smiled contently to himself. It was relaxing, aside from the smell, to be cuddling up after a brawl. Feeling a yawn coming on he sat up and stretched his arms above him letting the yawn take full blow.
Gadzooks was that adorable, Jake was having a hard time not gushing over it. Sitting up himself he wrapped his arms around Dirk's stomach to pull him back. Dirk had let out a small noise of disapproval, and somewhat surprise, but made no attempt to squirm away. Jake rested his chin on Dirk's shoulder and nuzzled his neck affectionately. He responded by resting his head on Jake's.
A loud banging from the door slamming open startled both of the kids. Dirk seemed to shake as soon as the looming shadow crossed over them. "Dirk," the silhouette spit coldly.
"Y-yeah?" he responded timidly. Jake had never seem him so nervous; nervous enough to crack and stutter. The very idea that this man unnerved his friend this much made him filled with fear as well.
"To your room. Now," commanded the brother as his head slowly turned to face Jake. "And you, get out."
The welcoming aura of the room dropped, perhaps he should have left. He knew Dirk would get in trouble... but he had stayed anyways. It made him feel selfish and ashamed, but both were in the shadow of his fear.
"Bro, no! Why does he have to go?" Dirk implored with a tint of fear. "He didn't do anything wrong."
"I said go to your room, Dirk."
"Dammit don't push me, kid! I told you to go now go." Bro seemed to only be getting more upset, but the way he was talking slowly made it seem like he was a little fearful himself. But what of? Jake was becoming uncomfortable even sitting here.
"Why? So you can get drunker than aunt Roxy?" Dirk was dead set on not letting it go this time. There was still a hesitance to his words, as if he knew he shouldn't push his luck.
"What? That isn't it at all." There was a frustrated sigh, as if he was being strangled. "Look, if you want him to stay and be put in danger fine."
Both of them were taken aback. Harm? Dirk stopped completely for a minute, worry twitching at his lower lip. Jake didn't know what was going on, but he was starting to get that Bro didn't mean for either of them to get hurt and was just trying to help the best he could, even if it was starting to make things worse.
Bro tensed and turned to look at the window. "Look, either both of you leave and hide somewhere safe until I find you or you go in Dirk's room where you should be safe, okay?" He hadn't turned to face them but continued to watch the windows and door.
Speechless Dirk took Jake by the hand, squeezing it tightly, and helped him stand. Together they made their way to his room, unsure what any of this meant. Neither knew what the danger Bro had mentioned was, but that was nothing they needed to think about now.
Pulling Jake towards the bed Dirk bit his lip. "Well, guess you'll be stuck here. Sorry..." He wasn't sure what he had just dragged him into, but he was worried. There was a bitterness to the way he moved, regret.
"Hey Dirk, it's alright." Laying his free hand on his shoulder he offered his toothy grin once again. It wasn't working, Dirk looked more grim than he had ever seen him. "Come on, buck up. We'll both be just fine." The attempts were getting him nowhere at all.
"Let's just settle in, alright?" he whispered as he tugged Jake up onto the bed. "I'm thinking we'll be here for awhile." Jake followed suit and joined Dirk on the bed, curled up next to him. Without so much as another word Dirk matched the curve of Jake's body with his own.
It was then that they heard the clamor. Something was happening in the living room, something big. Guns were starting to go off, not pistols that was for sure. There was terrified screaming that made Dirk tense and shake. Jake did his best to comfort him, squeezing him close to his body, which was the least he could do.
Silence rang out when the scream stopped. No noise at all. The guns were no longer firing and the clashing noise, most likely swords, was gone. Was it over? Neither dared to move in fear that whatever it was would spot them. Luckily they didn't have to move. It was already coming their way.
Without question Jake found his pistols he always carried and Dirk grabbed the katana he kept at his bedside. Both of them clambered off the bed to face the door, shaking with fear. This was unusual for both of them but seeing Bro so upset and distressed had offset them.
The firing started up and the bullets began to eat away at the door. Dirk shouted something to Jake, but the other was unable to make sense of the sentence. Stepping back from the door Dirk looked for any possible escape. Before he could find a suitable hiding spot something hit him in the chest and knocked him back. Looking down he saw the blood drizzling from his side.
Before he could spot the source of the bullet another one pushed him into the wall. Sliding down as slowly as he could he rested a hand over the other wound, his shoulder. Gazing up, feeling faint, he saw a blurry figure loom over him. Two guns. Jake. Jake had shot him. But why? Opening his mouth to ask what this was about the barrel of a gun was thrust into his face.
"They'll think you dead. I don't want you to die, mate. These'll heal up nicely with care..." There was a pause. Jake seemed nervous, but so strong at the same time. "I didn't mean to drag you and your brother into this. I'm sorry Dirk, I'm so sorry." He rubbed tears away and turned from his friend. "I-I love you too much... I should have left." Wiping away the rest of his tears he left Dirk to pass out.
Leaping from the bedroom window he sailed into the night just as the men broke in. Dirk was already out cold and the men paid him no heed. Their target had escaped and they did not want to let him get too far without injury. Quickly evacuating the area one left a nice little present behind.
Jake caught hold of a branch and slowly let each one soften his fall. Landing with a thud on the ground he looked back up at the apartment. He'd caused this mess. If only he hadn't played so dumb. Biting his lip he tried to force back the tears. Because of him he had killed Bro and had to shoot his own friend. Shaking his head he got to his feet.He had too little time to get going, he needed to bring the men away from the apartment.
A loud boom shook the ground beneath Jake. His eyes darted back to the apartment, eyes wide, as he witnessed the entire top three floors go up in flames. "No," he mouthed in disbelief. Dirk... was gone. He'd never see him again. He'd killed his best friend. Falling to his knees he continued to stare at the wreckage. Gone.
A click sounded behind him, the loading of a gun. "Your done boy, give up." Jake didn't even stand, the shock had caused him to be paralyzed. As the trigger was pulled the boy fell face fist into the ground. "It's all over," the voice muttered grimly as the crew left the scene.