Resonant Frequency

Thermodynamics

York peered around the radio room one more time, just to be sure. Okay. All alone. Safe to proceed. He lifted the microphone to his muzzle while watching the door furtively. "This is Lap Dog. Come in, Puppy."

He was met with a few seconds of static. Maybe his pal was running a little late. At least they had these code-names to ensure no one else could intercept the messages. He frowned and then spoke in a near-whisper again: "This is Lap Dog, come in, Pu--"

"Agent York."

York's eyes slowly widened. A chill ran through him; all the cruelest tortures of the House couldn't compare to the dread of that voice. He stared at the microphone as his muzzle hung partially open, a droplet of sweat beading at his temple and slowly running down along his muzzle to hang from his chin, before it spilled down onto his wrist to shake him out of his terror-induced state. "Uhh. Nelson. 'S-sup, du--"

"What the fuck do you need, lap dog?"

"How do you know my codename??" he hissed into the microphone with another wide-eyed stare.

"...I came up with it, you jackass," she snarled, and he swore he could feel her spittle through the receiver. "What do you need Wurlitz for?"

York blinked a few times and then whined loudly: "How do you know his codename??"

"Gee, I wonder," she replied dryly. "I'm just going to assume this is a drunken call and that it's safe to hang up. Always a displeasure, Agent York."

"N-no, wait!" he blurted out, clutching the microphone carefully in both his massive hands as he turned away from the open door to again whisper sheepishly: "Can I, um. Please talk to Sammy? Ma'am?" He remembered a moment too late she hated that title and he winced in anticipation of the long-distance back-hand against his head. "Um. Sorry, uh, Mama Nelson. It's about..." He glanced over his shoulder again and finished in an even softer voice: "Sampi."

He had to suffer four or five more seconds of muted static as he peered at the microphone and tried not to imagine her figuring out how to transport herself over the radio waves. Her gravelly voice finally came through again, oddly reminiscent of when Wash was reaching his point of maximum annoyance. "You two are such fucking children," she muttered, her voice continuing to grumble as she moved her own microphone away. York heard the sounds of shuffling as she continued in a low tone: "Give me a second. I'll allow you two panty-waists a few minutes to yourselves."

York beamed and was immediately glad no one could see. "Heh, thanks, Mama-"

"Call me that one more time and I'll cut something off both you and Wurlitz, since it's no more fuckin' endearing coming outta his redneck-ass muzzle!" she growled. "Now give me a fucking second."

York found himself sitting on the chair like an obedient student, legs pressed together and back straight. It took him a few more seconds to remember she couldn't actually see him and he huffed softly...though didn't really relax until a familiar drawl sang out over the receiver.

"Ayyyy, Lap Dog! This is Puppy!"

York's face was instantly plastered with a cheerful smile as he relaxed into the chair with a groan. "Holy crap, buddy, I was scared for a second, there! I didn't think Nelson would be on the radio today!"

"Yeaaah, she's been all sortsa everywhere lately, you know how it goes," Samael replied. "Good thing we got these sweet codenames, though!"

"She knew which one was which, though!" York whispered urgently. "I think she's psychic!"

"Awww shit, she might be. Damn, we picked good'ns, too. Ooh, we should come up with one for her!"

"Oooh, yeah!" York's face lit up before he shook his head firmly. Business first. "Uhhh, but, right, I uh. I actually wanted to see if. Um. We could do some catching up." The usual easy-going attitude he had with his pal was, for once, a tad hard to cling to. "We haven't chatted much since the, uh. Big party, and, um. I dunno. I need a, uh. A picnic."

Good thing they'd picked a few other codewords, too. ...Even if Nelson apparently knew what they did during their picnics. Christ, maybe she was psychic!

Samael's voice was laced with excitement. "Aw, hell yeah! You got it, man. Just gotta know the usual -- ya want hot or cold, shine or wine?"

York tapped the microphone against his chin in thought. His strange friend was so thoughtful sometimes. "I'm gonna say hot and wine. It's, uh. We got lots to catch up on."

He practically heard Samael's smile. "Heh, a'right, big fella. I'll arrange fer a boat."

"...You gonna steal one?"

"I'm probably gonna steal one, I got at least...ten minutes to escape if I block Nelson in with that filing cabinet again."

"Sweet. You're the best, pal."

"Girl, I know! Tomorrow, middayish work for ya?" He paused and York could hear his muffled voice like he was partially covering the microphone. "Gawddamn, ya rollin'-thunderbitch, I'm wrappin' it up, gimme jus' a few more seconds, lawd!"

York snickered and replied quickly: "Sounds like you're about to get in trouble. That works -- I'll see ya then, buddy. Lap Dog out!" He set the microphone back before sighing in relief and running a hand through his mane. Okay. Now just to actually go through with it instead of pretending it was just one of his usual get-togethers with Samael. Which sucked, since he honestly enjoyed his usual get-togethers with Samael, whether or not sex was involved.

The insane redneck was surprisingly easy to talk to, and it helped that the two of them shared a ridiculous amount of personality quirks. They'd hit it off long ago when they'd first met, and they'd been a regular presence for each other more often than most rebels in different factions. Samael had helped him out with a few missions, and listened to his far share of drunken ramblings about his past. And York had been there for Samael at what he was sure had to have been one of the guy's lowest moments, when things between him and Andee had seemed to be practically impossible to repair. He was a good friend, someone York was glad to have in his life.

...But how the hell was he supposed to ask him for blowjob lessons?

York hopped off the four-wheeler and pulled the camouflaged tarp over it. A decent-sized bag hung down from one shoulder -- he'd decided to bring along a few things that he hoped would make the awkward proposition less awkward. Things Samael would appreciate, like a freshly-acquired maintenance kit for his rifle. And some shorts that were so short they probably wouldn't even fully cover whatever they were meant to cover.

...York wasn't sure if it was traditional to barter for oral sex knowledge with gifts, but. He was prepared either way. Even if Samael was partially to blame for the whole thing...hell, Sammy practically owed him since it was his dumb goading that got York into this mess in the first place!

He flopped down on the sandy shore of the river to wait for his friend's arrival, taking a moment to look around the area. It was a fairly remote section of Timae...not that most of Timae wasn't fairly remote. He and Samael often chose this spot to meet up -- plenty of room for boats to maneuver, lots of places to tuck away whatever York 'borrowed' to get out here. He sometimes wondered why they didn't just hang out here...but then he smiled to himself. All the sand, wasn't it? It did tend to get everywhere.

Normally York's thoughts weren't so scattered, but he was admittedly a little nervous. It hadn't been as hard as he'd thought it would have been, when he'd first talked to Samael about how things had, uh. Evolved with Wash.

...Although he supposed it helped that Samael caught them in the aftermath of their little event in the boat when the redneck had taken them back to Lactan after the eventful trip to Sampi. And Samael knew about Sampi now, too, anyway, since they'd talked about it while gathering the party supplies for the celebration at Xulod. Which, of course, Samael learned about while he and York were out on the sailboat. And naturally that conversation led to York's, uh...less-than-perfect moment of oral sex. Kind of funny that every time York and Samael discussed something intimate about their respective partners, something new and exciting seemed to happen with Wash soon after. He'd have to keep that in mind.

York smiled slightly at that memory, despite its imperfections. It had been a little impulsive, but god, hadn't it felt nice to share something with Wash that wasn't steeped in a life-or-death situation, or drowned in booze and emotional discord? It was the first time the two had shared something so intimate -- even if brief -- that wasn't precluded by some argument or life-threatening mission. The thought made York happy somewhere deep inside, savoring the idea that he and Wash maybe could find something that wasn't just a convenient burst of passion.

It wasn't more than thirty minutes of waiting or before he heard the high-pitched whine of twin engines in the water. York grinned slightly as he cocked his head and then peered toward the distant bend in the river -- whatever Samael had taken out of the Sidewinder wet dock, it certainly wasn't a run-of-the-mill motorboat. But then again, Samael wasn't a run-of-the-mill redneck.

A slender pink boat roared around the steep rock face and York could already feel the toothy grin of the cheerful bastard behind the wheel as a spray of water was thrown across the opposite shore. The high-performance craft cut around the corner like a knife through butter and then darted toward him with an accompanying scream of what had to be illegally modified motors.

...Oh wait, the whole thing was probably illegally stolen to begin with.

Samael's teeth gleamed as brightly as his sunglasses -- he was a goddamn disco ball in the blinding Timae afternoon, bits of sunlight glinting off the crimson aviators, jaw studs and tail piercing like a swarm of cheerful pyreflies that had possessed a speedboat for a joyride. York couldn't help his own grin broadening as he stood up and brushed off his pants, adjusting the duffel bag at his side while shielding his eyes to watch his buddy's approach. Okay, maybe this wouldn't be so hard after all. He sometimes forgot how goddamn lackadaisical Samael was with life in general. He had a more intense side, for sure. But York was well aware it was buried neatly under several layers of bravado, effervescence and charm thick enough to make molasses step back and whistle in appreciation.

Wasn't like anyone he knew at all.

Samael waited until he was almost upon York's spot on the shore before he whipped the wheel hard to the side and killed one of the engines so that the remaining prop shredded the river mercilessly to send the stern carving around in a perfect half-circle. York's eyes widened...but of course the maneuver was executed with all the breezy chill in Sampi, causing a swell in the water that just washed up to York's toes to tease his claws. He tossed out a laugh and a middle finger as Samael leaned against the windshield and pushed his sunglasses down to return a wink at him. "How's it goin', ya crazy midget??"

Samael chuckled and slid out from behind the wheel to approach the side of the boat, reaching down to tap his knuckles against York's. "Aw y'know how it is! I was just thinkin' the other day, man, been a hot minute since my big-ass pal come knockin' at my door!"

York snickered amusedly before saluting sharply. "Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted fer both," Samael drawled with a smirk, holding out a hand. "Want me to get yer purse for ya?"

"Hey, I come bearing gifts, be nice!" York chided playfully while he shrugged off the bag and tossed it up to Samael, who caught it with an excited coo.

"Oooh, ya have missed me!" he announced before dropping it onto a padded bench seat and leaning down to offer his arm again. "Up ya go, ya giant fuck!"

York snorted but didn't question it, taking a step back and then throwing himself toward the side of the boat. He grabbed into Samael's arm and the little chupa's muscular limb bulged but held him easily so he could plant his paws against the hull and then shove himself upward and over with a helpful tug from his pal. "Now see there, ya ain't even givin' me a chance to get ya wet, all business today!" Samael chirped as he patted York's chest before jerking his head toward a basket on the opposite side of the boat. "If yer feelin' peckish, I ain't gonna be mad fer ya diggin' in early, so treat yaself!"

York blinked before laughing. "Sammy, it ain't much of a codeword if you make it an actual picnic!"

"Aw shucks, if ya just wanna sip booze, chat 'n bone like usual, I'm down, but figured we'd go big if ya got so much on yer mind!" Samael replied, firing two easy fingerguns before he sauntered back to the cockpit. "Found us a nice li'l spot in the lake -- ya mind the trip, or ya wanna settle somewhere closer?"

York squeezed into the other captain's chair next to Samael, giving his pal a half-smile. "Heh, you got a place in mind, I'm down. We can, uh. Chat on the way." He squinted up at the sun, tossing a hand over his brow again. "Damn, didn't plan ahead so great."

Samael smiled back before shoving his hand into the supply pack on his hip for a few seconds, then producing a pair of dark, mirrored sunglasses with another generous wink. "I did."

York guffawed and took them gratefully, lightly punching Samael's arm before placing them on his muzzle with a happy sigh. "Anyone ever tell you you're a good friend?"

"Hell no, it's always 'oh fuck please stop it's sore' or 'goddammit, Wurlitz, on the cleaning supplies again?' or 'unnghhh gawwwwd', no one ever appreciates all the nice shit I do!" Samael complained as his eyes danced in entertainment. He shoved the twin throttles down and the boat jumped forward with a snarl as the two friends were thrown back against the chairs with matching idiotic grins. "Let's tear it up, son!!"

There wasn't much a chance to talk for the first hour or so -- Samael was in his element, one hand on the wheel and the other teasing the throttles as he ripped up the river with zero regard for any kind of nautical safety or general sensibility. But York was probably one of his few passengers who wasn't going to complain. He spent the whole time grinning even with his iron-like grip on the windshield railing to keep himself stable while Samael treated the boat like an ornery spitting horse, simultaneously coaxing it and beating the shit out of it to twist around the various bends, outcroppings and rapids.

They were both covered in a fair amount of spray once Samael finally reached the start of the calm stretch that flowed from Vossler and York shook his head with a laugh as he wiped his sunglasses off on his pants. "Well, ya managed to get us both wet in the end, Sammy."

"Always do," Samael replied coolly. "Can't help it that we seem to got ourselves a thing when it comes to bein' on boats together." He let himself relax in the chair again, propping one leg up on the railing as he dropped the other paw lazily on the steering wheel so he could lace his fingers behind his head and smile over at York. "A'right, champ. I done my distractin', yer turn to show'n tell." He winked again. "Don't mind which one."

York snorted but slowly let himself lean back as well as he dangled his legs over the opposite railing. "Later, uh. Yeah, later, we can do some showing." He wasn't sure why he was still nervous about asking for...help. He knew damn well Samael viewed sex both as easily and importantly as he did. He already knew the guy would have no problems with teaching him some pointers. Once he got all his friendly laughter out, at least.

"Ah, then tellin' time it is," Samael rumbled. He reached down blindly to his side, where he apparently had a small cooler stowed away. York heard the clinking of glass and ice cubes and he smiled bemusedly when Samael produced a pair of dark green bottles. Samael grinned back and tossed him one. "Don't worry, still got our girly-ass wine fer the picnic proper."

"There is absolutely nothing girly about enjoying a good merlot with your friend," York replied wisely as he popped the lid off his bottle and then reached over to tap it against Samael's. "While he's got his nose buried somewhere in your fluff," he added with a playful poke of his tongue between his jaws.

"Nothin' girly at all 'bout the way I handle yer fluff," Samael tossed back before taking a long swig from the beer.

York smiled slightly again. "Can't disagree there," he admitted. The chair reclined slowly with his weight as he rolled his head back and quietly clutched the bottle between both hands, making it all but disappear between his thick fingers. He had a few things on his mind that he wanted to get out before he got to the real purpose for this little outing with his pal. "So...so stuff with Wash."

Samael gazed over at him, resting his own bottle against his bare chest. "So how are things goin' 'tween you'n the pine cone, eh? We ain't had no deep conversations 'bout no gay shit since we went sailin'."

York chuckled quietly and worried the bottle, looking down at it for a few seconds before smiling awkwardly back toward his friend. "I mean. I dunno. They could be worse? Um..." He exhaled and then turned his eyes out across the quiet river stretching out before them. "We've had...a moment or two since you 'n me last chatted." He smiled slightly. "One that I'm totally blaming you for...but we'll get to that one later." Samael arched an eyebrow with an inquisitive grin, and York flicked his tail idly at him. "Another that was all me. Both were...both were nice, though. So we've...done some stuff. Even if we haven't talked as much as we maybe should."

"Actions louder'n words 'n all that shit," Samael acknowledged even as he grunted quietly. "But I think I know what ya mean, hon. Sometimes you gotta talk. I learned that shit the hard way, too."

"Yeah." York tapped his claws against the bottle, then lifted it for a deep guzzle. His feelings for Wash had done nothing but bubble and expand in the last couple of weeks, which brought back all sorts of memories. Wash wasn't just his best friend, he was his combat buddy, someone he'd trudged through mud, blood and tears with, long before the Movement, even before Freelancer. Their bond was something deeper than most, and the last quarter or two had done nothing but emphasize just how intense yet complicated that relationship was. "Sammy, it's...do you..." He grumbled but the redneck was eternally patient, his eyes locked on York with that infuriatingly smooth blend of tenderness and understanding. He knew he didn't need to be frustrated with his words, and that he had time to pick them out.

It could be easy to forget that in the world they lived in.

He sighed and then glanced over to meet Samael's gaze. "Do you...love Andee?" Samael's head cocked, as if it was a silly question, though his expression didn't contain even a trace of accusation. "Nothing...nothing at all against you two, but...two weeks was how long you spent with him, yeah? From the moment you first met him?"

Samael smiled a bit and for a moment, his eyes lingered on York's key pendant. But he eventually nodded and then looked down at his own bottle. "I do, York. Gawddamn, I really do. Hell, I'm pretty sure I was in love 'fore the first week even went by, it just...it was summin' that hit me hard, hit me deep. But I love the little bastard and there ain't an easy way to explain why, I just know I do. I know I'd do anythin' for 'im. What's up, pal? You wanna know if I think that's silly?"

York blinked and then shook his head. "Naw, not at all -- I don't think it is, either. I, uh. My...first. Um." He exhaled slowly, self-consciously reaching up to rub a thumb against his necklace before closing his eyes. No. Still not the right time. "I think I can relate. But...but with Wash, it's like I told you before. I'm scared 'cause it isn't just a few weeks, or even quarters for us. I've known him for years now, and we've had that time to become so close, and have such a tight, crazy friendship. All I can think of is what I told you last time we were out here, Sammy." He glanced over to his friend again. "I'm terrified of losing that 'cause...everything we've gone through, everything we've done...I don't want it all to go away if we try to make it something more and. It falls apart."

Samael was quiet for a few seconds. York wasn't sure if he should be scared of that or not -- neither he nor Samael were really known for pensive silence. But he trusted his pal to be honest with him, at least more often than most. "I got the feelin' that no matter what happens 'tween you two, hon...it ain't gonna be easy. Yer Wash, he's...he's a li'l different. Shit, I guess so's Andee, but then again, look at how we happened. That wasn't no typical thing, neither."

York released a little puff of air upward to make his bangs squirm. He shifted his weight and the padded chair squeaked softly in protest. "Alright, so. Here's the thing." He took a deep breath and then polished off his bottle before setting it aside carefully. He opened his muzzle to continue, only to find a fresh beer waiting for him in Samael's grip. He paused and smiled over at his pal before nodding to him and snagging the bottle as Samael prepared another for himself, as well. "Me and Wash, our uh. Our 'moment' in the cave in Sampi, that...that wasn't actually our first."

Samael arched an eyebrow but did an impressive job keeping himself collected even as the paw resting on the steering wheel caused the boat to rock slightly. "Ooooh? Now do go on, hon..."

York snorted but felt himself relaxing all the same as he stretched his legs out over the water while taking a moment to enjoy the gentle spray tickling his toes. "Y'know, it's easy to talk to about these things because you're one of the few people on this ring who doesn't make me sound, or feel, like a huge whore." He paused and he and Samael turned their heads simultaneously to grin at one another. "Since you're the biggest whore around."

"Uh yeah, who else was gonna come 'round 'n make ya realize how much you needed some dick in yer life??" Samael retorted with a wink, his jaw piercings glinting playfully in the sun. "Had to be an even bigger slut than you!"

York chortled as he settled into the comfortable chair and popped the lid off his bottle. "You know that's right," he fired back before his smile softened and he let himself reminisce. "Anyway, it was...lord. Feels like forever ago now. So I've toldja bits about how we were partners way back in Specials, even before Freelancer."

"Yeah, he was yer, uh...'battle buddy', right?"

"Yeah, that's right." York smiled again -- the memories were bittersweet, but it felt good to talk about. For all the bad moments of those days, the beams of light that pierced through were always worth remembering, especially with Wash. "It was pretty rough for Wash. I mean, he's still a little guy now, but back then, he was even scrawnier. Butt of every joke, target of every hazing. I pretended like it was fine because he was my buddy, so it was cool that I teased him and played all the jokes on him since, y'know. I was doing him a favor, toughening him up and all that..." He felt Samael's smile, and could tell it wasn't entertained...but instead soft, sympathetic. He knew exactly where York's head was. "Yeah, it was pretty messed up. And for a long time, I told myself it was just fine, that it was helping to make him stronger. We didn't talk much for the majority of our time together in Specials...or rather, whenever we did talk, it was mostly me talking, and him being silent and...Wash-y."

York paused before grinning to himself and twisting around to look at Samael for a moment. "Oh right. Shit -- so. You know that 'Washington' and 'York' are just...codenames, right?"

Samael cocked a half-grin back to him, tilting his head a bit. "Fuck, man, yer already ahead of me -- 'Lap Dog' is just a fuckin' codename of a codename, ya fuckin' bastard!" He laughed as York snickered in entertainment, the redneck waving a hand playfully. "But yeah, yeah, I know. Y'all just kept that shit from Freelancer, yeah? I never did really ask 'bout it, guess I just s'posed it was what y'all were used to."

"It is, and...that's what we're comfortable with now," York replied as he leaned in a bit closer. "But uh. Back then, we used our real names." Samael grinned curiously, leaning closer as well so that their muzzles were practically end-to-end. York surreptitiously held the bottle alongside his maw as he whispered: "Alright, you gotta promise not to tell anyone...but my name's Gabriel...and his is David."

Samael blinked before beaming enormously and whooping with delight. "Gabe 'n Dave?!? Awww, shit! You two's a fuckin' regular pair'a fuckin' goddamn cuties, a gat-damn match made in heaven! Ya ain't shittin' me, that's for real?!?"

York tried not to giggle as he nodded solemnly. "Hand to my dick, it's the truth. But you can't tell anyone, and you better not call Wash that, ever!!"

Samael continued laughing even as he held a hand up. "Hand to your dick, too, I promise it stays 'tween us, buddy...but awww, goddamn." He gave his own giggle as he settled again and let his free arm rest over his stomach while he lifted his bottle for a sip. "Gabriel's a good name. Strong, but handsome. Kinda like you." York huffed and flushed despite himself while Samael inclined his head slightly. "And 'David'. Yeah, that's fittin', too. People always underestimate a 'David', kinda like they always do yer li'l pine cone. An' it's always a mistake." He winked and then gave a firm nod while gesturing with his bottle. "Secret's safe. But jus' know that I'm sad fer ya both that ya ain't been a couple for way longer, y'all were just made to be in every way."

York laughed softly, a strange little bit of weight off his chest as he relaxed back into his seat as well, reversing his crossed paws over the water. "Maybe. Anyway, it definitely didn't seem that way back then. I was girl-crazy and...hell, not homophobic, but, y'know how jocks can be."

"Gee, my big ol' pal York a jock, I'm just fifty-five shades of surprised," Samael deadpanned, reaching over to playfully tap York's bicep with his bottle. "You were the cool, confident guy, Wash was yer shy, awkward sidekick, lemme guess?"

"Heh, close enough. Or at least I treated him that way, it was...it was a mess, and he deserved a lot better." York let the memories wash over him, both good and bad. "But the guy worked hard. He really did, Sammy, I mean that. He put everything he had into training, and into the missions. He got a lot stronger, a lot tougher, and I was stupid enough to take the credit, or to just keep carrying him...but lord, he didn't let me half the time. He fought every step of the way to make sure he pulled his weight and it paid off. I might have been a little too stupid to realize it at first, but I still knew that I trusted him. Trusted him to have my back."

He grunted and then let himself have a long, thoughtful sip of the beer while Samael returned to listening quietly. "Anyway, we were out on a mission together. Just before Recruitment Day." York paused, then smiled when he realized he didn't need to explain that. "Oh yeah. You do know what that is, sorta. Heh."

"Yeah, I got me a taste of a non-official one...right 'fore that fun time we had in Blarganthia," Samael replied with a coy grin, his tail twisting around to lightly slap York while emitting a soft tinkle that sent a shiver along York's spine. "When ya finally admitted to bein' gay."

"Bi, ya dick-addled redneck," York teased even as he smiled and adjusted his sunglasses so he could gaze across the water again. "So we were on a recon job. Usual deal, Wash was busting his ass off to follow every regulation and expectation, spending every minute staring through the scope while I was being awesome and an asshole all at once, same as it always was back then. We, uh. We got drunk in the motel room later on, though. And...well." York rolled his eyes innocently as Samael tried not to grin too broadly. "Somehow we got onto the subject of sex and jerking off, and how he probably never did it, and one thing led to another, we, uh." He cleared his throat. "We jerked each other off. Right there on the motel bed. Drunk as hell, awkward as hell, but lord it felt good as hell, too."

Samael laughed, though not nearly as raucously as he could have. "Awww, shit...that's kinda fuckin' cute -- how weird was it after, though?"

"Christ, don't even get me started," York mumbled. "We both promised not to ever talk about it again, even though I sorta...wanted to. But the little guy was even more sensitive about being touched and talking about that kinda stuff back than, worse than now, and...yeaaaah. We kinda both wrote it off as a drunk mistake, y'know? Never figured it'd come up again, just two guys stuck together on a mission, plastered and kinda horny."

Samael smiled quietly as he studied York for a moment. "Huh. I kinda wonder who thought 'bout it more, afterward, since it sounds like y'all were both a li'l different back then..."

York nodded slowly, a small but thoughtful smile on his own features. "Heh. Yeah. I had a different girl in my bed every night, and Wash...I'm, uh. Geez, I'm pretty sure that was his first time doing anything remotely 'intimate' with anyone. And he got stuck with drunk-ass, cocky-ass me. Probably not the best introduction to the world of sex."

"Aw...bet it wasn't the worst, neither, though," Samael replied softly. "I ain't sayin' ya weren't an asshole, York -- I know how people change, so I'm sure you were kind of a douche even if everyone loved ya." He waited long enough for the huff and scowl to pass on his friend's face before continuing with his own gentle chuckle. "But yer heart din' come from nowhere. You told me back at Lake Highguard that you felt shitty fer all them excuses you came up with when you were figurin' things out 'bout yerself. Even if you were in denial, you weren't no monster to me 'n all the comin'-on I did to ya, hon. I seen guys react a thousand times worse to somethin' like that, no matter their true desires."

York snorted even as he rubbed sheepishly at his neck. Now those were some memories, too. "Lord, Sammy, don't get me started on that whole...thing with you."

Samael grinned, both teasing and gentle. "C'mon, it ain't so bad to remember the weird, painful adventure of makin' you realize ya liked dudes."

York pursed his lips even as a smile twitched at it. The drunken blowjob he'd gotten from Samael was pretty rough...but it also made him think of the not-drunk blowjob he'd given Wash. Yeah, now he kinda knew how that must have been for poor Sammy. But he skirted it for now -- there'd be time for that, eventually. "You just like remembering what was probably the hottest closet sex you've ever had," York replied playfully.

"Shit, hottest you've ever had too, don't you go lyin' to yerself," Samael shot back with a wink. "Not to mention we probably broke a ring-record or two with that crazy shit above Highguard -- you were an unleashed beast, my friend, it was pretty fuckin' epic."

York couldn't help the laugh even as he waved a hand dismissively. "Goddamn you, Sammy, I'm still blaming the fact you're an insatiable dick-monger, at least partially."

"Yeah, only partially, you know yer a sucker fer a good time, too, pal, 's why we get along so well."

He wasn't wrong. York snickered and then gave another half-sheepish smile as they glanced at one another again. "So. So there was actually another time. With, uh. With...Wash," he began, even as his fingers crept toward his necklace again. Samael noticed, but was kind enough to stay silent. "We were just gettin' started in Freelancer. We were partners, but it wasn't official yet. And I was...lord. I was head over heels for someone else. Wouldn't stop talking about her to poor Wash, never really thought about how it probably felt to be him, listening to me go on while the poor guy's still got only me and CT as his only friends, while he's still gettin' hazed and stuff from the guys at Freelancer..."

He exhaled, gently pushing past the darkness as Samael reached over and gripped his arm reassuringly. It was welcome. "Kinda funny, it was a real similar situation. Two of us in a motel room, gettin' drunk together because it was maybe better than trying to talk about serious stuff." York rubbed at the back of his neck with a half-smile. "He was in his ruff. I noticed, and, eh. I told myself it was just...guys being guys."

"Bros being bros?" Samael offered with his own quiet smile.

"Yeah, exactly. In my...drunk, I figured I was just helping my buddy get off. And I was even more obnoxious this time with the whole...'no homo' thing, it. Ugh. I sometimes still think about it, if...if Wash was into it, even if he wasn't into me, and here I am just ranting about how it's not gay, it's not gay, it's just friends helping each other out..." He sighed and peered into his bottle, but the beer only reminded him there was no changing the past. He took a drink anyway. "God, it was. It was good, Sammy. It was really good and I felt really, really good doing it, but the whole time, just...deny, deny, deny. To the point that afterward, I...I was a real asshole. I mean, bad, I essentially tried to remind him that I was the reason he was in Freelancer, that he only had me to think, which...god, it wasn't even true. Yeah, he got in because of the way we worked together, but he did that himself." York clenched into the bottle with a heavy sigh.

"He busted his ass, and I shit all over that, and. It broke his heart. He was pissed, not that I blame him, and...yeah, that should have been it. We were friends, but that should have broken it forever. It would have, too, if..." He took a slow breath, and forced himself to remember the sight of Wash gasping for air while bleeding out around the knife. "He got hurt, real bad, when we went out for the mission after we woke up." Samael's fingers squeezed gently into his arm and he glanced over with a faint smile of gratitude. "Got him back to HQ, and he was laid up for a week or so in the infirmary. I thought he'd be done with me forever, but. We...I was lucky. He let me try again. To be his friend, to be a good partner. We had a lot of long, late-night conversations while he was recovering. We didn't talk about the, uh. The intimate stuff. It didn't come up because I think...we were just trying to figure out how to be friends. And we did." He nodded silently. "We did. Because it didn't take long for shit at Freelancer to start getting bad, and...if he didn't see me as a friend, if he hadn't been there for me, I...I dunno..." He trailed off as Samael squeezed his arm gently again.

"That's why y'all never did nothin' together fer so long, huh?" Samael murmured. "Shit got too real, and ya both needed a friend more'n you needed a lover."

"Yeah. He was there for me when I needed him most, and when we left to join the Movement, that's what we leaned on. Being friends, being battle-buddies. Being partners in every way except...that way." York smiled a bit before grumbling and rubbing at his features for a moment. "Which I still feel so dumb about, ugh, god, I guess thanks for letting me know I liked dick, ya damn horndog redneck, otherwise who knows if me'n Wash would have ever...y'know. Figured things out."

"Sounds like ya two still are figurin' things out," Samael replied with a small smile. "That ain't a bad thing, long as ya know ya are."

York nodded and then lifted his bottle to look at it for a few seconds. "I know we are. And I think Wash knows it, too. We...we talked a little after what we shared at Xulod." His smile grew fainter and Samael seemed to notice immediately as he sat up somewhat, his paw dropping off the steering wheel as he gripped it loosely with his free hand. York gazed at him and then blew out a little puff of air. "He said that it would...take some time. Which...which I get, I do, Wash is..."

Samael shifted his hand up to grasp into his shoulder and their eyes met again. A thousand thoughts flowed between them and York felt himself tremble despite his efforts to remain stoic. Samael's eyes were too soulful, too piercing. They saw far too much and York finally had to clear his throat and look away as his friend's drawl came out, husky with his own unmasked emotions. "Y'all may not have much time," he murmured.

York would have laughed if the pang wasn't so real. "Same thing I said to my pine cone," he replied quietly, reaching with a long, slow exhale to grip silently into Samael's hand. "Goddammit, Sammy, this thing...it...it isn't fair. I didn't care about it before, it was just. Just a part of my life, something that would eventually be over with and I'd be gone and everyone else's life goes on."

He swallowed thickly and Samael squeezed into York's fingers. York didn't want to look, because he knew Samael's eyes would be full of feelings that he didn't deserve to suffer. It was bad enough to think of Wash dealing with it -- his other friend shouldn't have to shoulder it, as well. But that was Samael, to his very core. York ran his tongue across his lips before finally, painfully dragging his eyes back to Samael's. The unshed tears, visible even past his ridiculously red sunglasses, sent another tremor through him. "It's there now, though. It's in the back of my mind, all the time now. Between that, and...and the lives we lead, the fact that any of this could end at any moment. But things with Wash, they make me want to push through. Even with the risk of losing him, I think about how good things could be." He gave a ragged sigh and they were silent for a moment or two before Samael finally leaned back over to his side and gave his hand one more tight squeeze. "It isn't fair," he repeated in a whisper.

"None of this shit is," Samael replied quietly as he shook his head a few times, not seeming to care about the brief trickle along his cheeks. He lifted his bottle and took a long drink from it before sighing and then clearing his throat. "But that just means it is worth it, hon. An' you can't go givin' yerself no excuses. You gotta go fer it, it ain't a question no more 'bout whether or not y'all got feelin's together. You told me last time you were jealous'a Tex, right? Why? It ain't 'cause what they got is somethin' magic, is it? Ain't like she's treatin' yer boy like a king, is it?"

York's laugh was garbled as he swallowed his own emotions and sniffed loudly. "You know it's not, you short dick-muncher. It's...it's because what they have is safe. No strings attached, or at least...at least not like the ones he and I have." He took a deep breath and found his composure again. "But I'm trying. I really am, which is actually part of the reason I wanted to have our little picnic today." It was easier to gently massage the rising melancholy back down, a genuine smile crossing his features again. Samael himself seemed to perk up almost instantly, the smaller male giving him a curious smile of his own. "It's like you said. We might not have much time, regardless of what the reasoning is, so. I, uh. I've been more bold. I wanna...I wanna show Wash it's worth it. Even if I made the stupid decision to totally fall for my best friend, who I know has the emotional brain of a dumb teenager who's never been in love..."

"Heh, we'll that'll match yer mental brain, at least," Samael teased.

"Oh, shut up, ya jackass," York replied affectionately, smacking Samael with his tail again and returning to clutching his beer with both hands. "I guess I get some of it from Wash. With everything else going on around us, thinking about trying to have a serious relationship...egh. I suppose it can seem silly." He frowned at his bottle, his eyes glancing briefly at the key buried in his chest fur. He didn't think it was so silly, but he wasn't Wash.

"Shiiiit, that ain't silly," Samael rumbled. York was somehow not shocked Samael agreed with him and he gave a helpless smile. "Jus' a matter'a personal opinion. I'm guessin' it's Wash who ain't sold on it, but yer a lovesick puppy wantin' him to reciprocate."

York tried not to smile a second time, reaching over to poke Samael's arm. "Hey. You're supposed to be the puppy here, not me."

"Uh huh. You shoulda been Lap Pup from the start, Nelson was only half-right," Samael replied with a wink before he waved his bottle a bit. "Hey, if it's any consolation, Andee...he..." It was Samael's turn to falter slightly as he nodded a few times. "That came up 'tween us, too. The thought of...y'know. Makin' a real commitment, what with all the shit we get ourselves into. Me more so than him."

York knew Samael probably wasn't ready to talk about it yet -- he was sure it was still raw, no matter how he and Andee seemed to be on good terms at Xulod. But curiosity was a bitch. York quietly drew his thumb over the rim of his bottle and then lifted his eyes back to Samael. "Hey, uh...Sammy." His friend gazed at him with a tiny smile, as if he already anticipated the question. "Was...that what you two fought about? In the car?"

Samael sighed, and it strained York to hear it. Wasn't a typical sound from his bouncy little pal. "Yeah. Mostly, it...yeah. It's like what I toldja in yer room after we..." Another faint smile. "Worked out some of my feelings."

York chuckled quietly. That was putting it very mildly. Only time he'd ever seen Samael cry after sex...christ, that was a helluva day. "Andee was upset because he doesn't want to watch you die?" York paused and then grimaced. "Oh lord, how much of that was my fault? Was he...was he mad it was me you were covering?"

Samael winced and then shifted his weight. "I...I don't...aw, York, c'mon, nah, I mean. Maybe a little, but...don't do that to yerself, Andee woulda been fired up no matter who it was." He took a quick breath and then glanced at York again. "He knows we're pals, he knows we watch each other's backs. I'm sure it ain't jealousy, just...he don't wanna end up dealin' with the shit of losin' me. An' maybe it's selfish of him, or maybe I'm the crazy one fer not bein' afraid of that. All I know is I can't change who I am so easy...he can't neither. 'S why I know we're still...y'know. Still workin' on it."

York nodded a few times. "Guess it's the same for me and Wash, too. We're so different, but...I just want to be closer to him. I want to be more than just best friends, and I guess maybe that's selfish, too."

A smile whisked back onto Samael's features as he sat up a bit, the edge of the Vossler coming into view ahead of them. "Maybe." They both fell into a comfortable silence while Samael took a more careful control of the wheel and steered them out of the mouth of the river and into the Vossler proper. York did his best to relax, closing his eyes and trying to put his mind on better thoughts. Catching up with Samael was always nice...and he still had a few tales to tell. Here was hoping he didn't wuss out, because he knew Wash might not care...but lord, he'd never let himself hear the end of it. His honor was still on the line, after all.

...Also he kinda wanted to do something else better than Tex, too, dammit.

"Heh."

York was stirred from his reverie and he glanced curiously over at Samael, who was guzzling the last of his beer. "Maybe all four of us are kinda selfish in our own stupid ways." He tossed his empty bottle into one of the back seats, plucking out two more from the cooler without a word to hand one to York. "Y'know...Andee 'n Wash..."

York eyed him even as he pried his lid off. "Don't say it, ya damn redneck," he warned with a playful lilt. "Don't even say it."

"Look, son, I'm just sayin'. They got some shit in common." York groaned and pulled a hand across his face as Samael laughed softly. "Sorry, I know, I know, don't ever tell 'em that, but...c'mon, good lawd, the way they're both afraid of commitin', the way they both ain't ready to deal with the risks of puttin' yer heart into somethin' just fer it to get ripped away..."

"No, I just hate that you're right, Sammy," York mumbled, peering through his fingers at his friend as they gave helpless smiles to one another. "How the hell did we end up being such good pals with so much in common, then also fall for guys both about the same amount of grumpy and about as different from us as it gets?"

"I 'unno, man, shit's gotta way of rollin' out that way, I guess," Samael replied with a shrug before he reached over with his bottle tilted slightly. York smirked and then tapped his against Samael's. "Here's to us bein' big squishy fuckers who like havin' our asses kicked around by angry fellas half our size, eh?"

"Heh. Not much else we can do but go with it, huh?" York and Samael took matching sips before the smaller chupa grunted in agreement.

"I know I wouldn't change nothin' in Andee, whether or not it'd make life easier," he murmured, letting his eyes drift back to York. "An' I'd bet the same's true fer you with Wash. We love 'em for who they are, not 'cause they're easy to love."

York gave a small smile back to his friend. It was a test. One he was ready to answer, though. He took a breath and then nodded firmly. "I...I do love him, Sammy. I really do. And I want things to work out between us because, scared as I am, he's the reason that I push myself to do better, to live another day. To never just give up to fate, or be completely reckless. Little guy's my reason to always make it back in one piece."

God that felt good to say aloud. A warm flutter rose up through his chest and he closed his eyes for a moment to savor that wonderful sensation. He could all but feel the approving smile from his companion at his side.

"Shit, hon, now yer just preachin' to the choir," Samael replied softly as he tapped the side of his muzzle. He glanced over the bow before making a slight correction to the wheel as they roared toward a tiny island ahead of them, standing by its lonesome in the calm waters of the Vossler among several dangerous-looking rocks thrusting out from the sea around it. "All that jus' tells me is that yer on the right track, York. You jus' gotta keep at it, brother. Don't let them fears talk ya outta doin' what you gotta do."

York smiled sheepishly and ran a hand through his mane. "Heh. Yeah, maybe not. But...I am trying, now!" Samael eyed him with a small tilt of his head. "Told ya there were two, uh. Moments, more recently."

"Ayuh, an' I'm still waitin' to hear 'bout 'em, ya two-ton cocktease!" Samael responded with a playful dig of his elbow into York's side. They both glanced ahead when a shadow sprawled across the boat, both wincing as one of the spires of jagged rock loomed dangerously close to the speedboat.

"...Yeah, I'm gonna tell ya after you avoid sinking us this close to your new weird sex island," York insisted as Samael laughed.

"Hey! It ain't a sex island yet," Samael protested even as he tipped his sunglasses down with a grin so he could focus on steering the boat while he brought the throttle down to a whisper. "But we are definitely gonna hear 'bout yer li'l adventures once we're anchored 'n got our totally-manly picnic set up over 'ere by that lovely patch'a wildflowers," he added as he started to maneuver carefully around the nasty-looking rock formations.

York snickered even as his cheeks flushed a bit while he gazed at the island -- it was a cheerful splash of green and yellow against the deep blue of the Vossler. Do or die now...lord, this was gonna be fun. At least for Sammy, who was no doubt going to lose his shit over this one...

Samael tied the boat up to one of the nearest rock structures while York made the leap to the shore of the small verdant island. From there, it'd just been a matter of Samael tossing things to York before simply flinging himself into the air with a whoop.

...York impressed even himself a bit when he managed to keep the picnic basket and duffel bag held in one arm as he caught Samael with the other. His friend smiled amusedly as he pressed close to his chest for a moment, then muttered a few choice words against his neck before sliding out of his one-armed embrace with a wink to take the basket and wander off, leaving York to stare after him with a dumbfounded grin.

Geezus, was his friend a huge whore.

They found a smooth, relatively flat patch of grass overlooking the sea, half-surrounded by several bunches of wildflowers. And like it was the most normal thing in the world, the two friends spread out the red-and-white checkered blanket, pulled a bunch of wrapped packages from the basket along with a bottle of wine and, of course, a pair of engraved crystal glasses.

York lifted one of the wine glasses to squint at through his shades before he grinned at Samael. "Uh. Sammy, whose initials are these?"

"Fuck if I know, I yoinked this shit from some asshole in Omegrad few weeks ago," Samael drawled as he grabbed one of the foil packages and tossed it to York with a wink. "Here, made this'n just fer you."

York lifted his brow curiously and unwrapped it as Samael produced a corkscrew and went to work on the bottle. Whatever it was, it smelled delightful. His nostrils flared and he closed his eyes for a moment, then peered down into the foil. His eyes widened at the sight of a miniature banana cream pie and he gave an enormous grin to Samael, who winked back at him. "Holy crap, you remembered?"

"Shit, hon, I got a thousand lovers but only 'bout four folks I c'n call 'friend', ain't too hard to remember a couple details," he replied dismissively before he leaned in to whisper conspiratorially: "If you wanna do dessert first, promise I won't tell yer Washy-kins. I won't even make ya eat yer veggies!"

York snorted and -- tempted as he was -- he carefully set the pie aside with a half-grin. "Like you even brought any vegetables."

"Hey! I got uhhhh...I got some taters in 'ere somewhere..."

"You know as well as I do those aren't vegetables."

"Yeah, but. They got like. Fuckin' sauteed onions in 'em, those're vegetables. I think I got some fried mushrooms in one'a these things, too..."

York couldn't help the laughter. Spending so much time with Wash was rubbing off on him. "Sammy, I don't know what to tell ya, but. None of those count."

Samael huffed, then gave a victorious sound as he yanked the cork out of the bottle. "Ahhhh, oh well. Guess it's just tasty shit 'n wine, in that case!" He swept an arm wide while bowing forward. "If that's okay with you, my dear."

"Oh geez, I guess I'll just deal," he replied playfully as he started to open a few of the other bundles while spreading them out around them both. Samael poured a generous amount of the wine into both glasses, and he and York clinked them together with matching smirks before they promptly sprawled out on their sides opposite one another. "You bring Andee out here yet?"

"Naaah, not yet, I just found it a coupla days ago runnin' Neb 'n Vinny back from a li'l job they had on the other side'a Honkal," Samael explained as he reached for a few bits of cubed steak to pop them into his muzzle. He chased it with a gulp of wine and added: "Yer the first to see this new li'l hideout!"

"Honored, as always," York answered with mock graciousness as he tipped his head forward and then shamelessly shoved his fingers into some of the aforementioned potatoes to simply scoop them into his maw. He imagined what Wash would say...and the horrified look he would have given...and it made him snicker under his breath.

He looked up to see Samael watching him, the smaller rebel gnawing thoughtfully at a rib bone. "What? You didn't bring any utensils!"

"Heh, I din' say shit," Samael retorted before he winked and reached over with the bone to gather some of the potatoes for himself, shoving them into his mouth with the improvised spoon. "I just ain't no savage, neither."

"Sez the guy who had sex with his cousin," York fired back teasingly before sipping daintily from his glass.

"Cousins, plural, c'mon now, gimme some credit," Samael sang out. York nearly snorted his wine back out and his companion chuckled while pointing the rib at York. "But 'kay, c'mon now. Whatever happened last week's been on yer mind this whole time. You gotta spill 'fore we end up fuckin' all over this picnic 'n forgettin' how to use words all proper-like."

"A damn poet, Sammy, you're a damn poet," York chortled, trying to play off that awkward tickle again. He had to remember this wasn't just for him. This was for Wash. Also, admitting he wasn't that great at something would maybe be a little liberating. He grumbled and slowly shifted into a seated position, which was already enough to make Samael smile curiously and peer over the top of his sunglasses.

York huffed very purposefully at him before removing his own shades and setting them carefully aside. He glanced down at the wine remaining in his glass, then downed it quickly. He wondered idly if Samael had stolen it alongside the crystalware. It was a very smooth merlot, and it went down with no fuss. Unlike him. "Uh. Okay, so. I was in the ruff last week, and --"

"Awww, man, just missed it!" Samael exclaimed, earning another huff and half of a grin from York. "Sorry, sorry, you go on, now," the cocky redneck added with a wink, still lounging on his side while gazing intently at his pal.

"I will," York replied in a biting tone that contained precisely zero bite. "Anyway, uh. So I decided to do the whole...being forward thing. You know, since. Wash wasn't exactly running to me for, uh."

"Sweet, sweet York-lovin's?"

"Exactly. I got him back to my room and, well. This is the part that's your fault, pal!" Samael faked a shocked gasp, putting a hand to his chest. "I uh. I kinda wanted to give 'im a blowjob."

...That got Samael to quickly sit up as his eyes widened excitedly. "Heh. Shiiiit, my li'l pep talk 'round yer dick on that sailboat really stuck with ya that much??" York pouted as Samael grinned and stretched out a leg to poke his friend's leg with a toe-claw. "C'mon, I'm touched!"

"You're about to get touched right over the cliffs and into the Vossler!" York threatened playfully even as he huffed and squirmed a bit. "Anyway, yeah, I guess I sorta took it as a challenge and. I was determined and." He grumbled while Samael reached for the bottle, and York didn't even have to ask, simply holding out his glass for the stocky chupa to refill before he topped off his own. "So yeah. Told him I wanted to. You know. Give him a blowjob."

Samael smirked and lifted his wine to his muzzle. "You worded it jus' like that, too, ain'tcha? Ya smooth sailor."

"Juuuust like that," York confirmed with a sigh that was less morose and more...wistful. "It, ah. It took him a minute to agree."

Samael almost choked on his wine as he fired an amused grin up at York. "Hot damn, jus' how repressed is yer li'l butt-buddy, eh?? Who's gotta think 'bout gettin' some head!? Answer's always 'yes' or maybe 'hell-fuckin'-yeah', ain't no trick question."

York puffed his chest out. "Hey, Wash is just. Uh. You know, he's...he's not as experienced as we are, and things between us are, well. They're..." He deflated a bit and even he almost missed how quickly Samael's demeanor changed, the playful grin smoothly transitioning to a soft smile as he reached across the blanket to pat York's knee. York smiled back a bit and his disheartened spirits hesitantly crept back. "I probably was being a little awkward and forward and stuff, but..."

"But that's what you gotta do with the poor guy," Samael murmured with a nod, his eyes reassuring. "Only way yer gonna find out how things really lie 'tween y'all."

York nodded and then rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I. I was really into it. Like. I threw him onto the bed. I threw him onto the bed and I had his pants off and all that, poor guy was pretty much speechless..." He buried his muzzle into his glass sheepishly and took a deep swallow of the wine.

But Samael only smiled encouragingly as he crossed his legs and propped his head up with one arm. "I would be too, big fella like you so anxious to get on my jock."

York was pretty sure he pouted again even if he didn't intend to. "Look, I, uh. I just wanted to show I could, since...w-well, I figured it was nothing major. Something I could do, and...I mean. I did! He finished and everything." York tapped his claws awkwardly against his glass as Samael all but cooed with delight while watching him with absolute rapture. "It uh. It was pretty intense, he. He got. Pretty intense."

"Well then what's the big deal?" Samael replied with a soft laugh. "Sounds like it was a helluva good time for ya both!"

"Yeah, well, I talked funny for like a day and I'm pretty sure Wash got a nick or two," York mumbled into his wine, almost afraid to glance up. But Samael's grin was only mildly playful. "All I'm sayin', you giant...oral...whore is that it's totally your fault that he face-humped me and made me look like a damn virgin!"

Samael was all grins as he threw his free arm out to the side. "Like I ain't gonna proudly take credit fer that! Awww, c'mon, don't make that face!" he laughed as York fixed him with his huffiest puff. "Hey, look, I'll totally make it up to ya, eh? C'mon, soon's we're done eatin', I'll deep-throat ya 'til ya can't walk straight!"

York gave a stupid giggle despite himself even as he cleared his throat and held up his own hand. "W-well. There...there is one more thing. Uh. So." He shifted on the picnic blanket before grinning lamely as Samael peered at him intensely. "About a week later, this time Wash was in the ruff."

"Oooh?" Samael all but purred, scooting a bit closer on the blanket as he cradled his wine glass in both hands while his tail flicked with intrigue, that damn piercing ringing gently over a shoulder.

...Thank god York had something to focus on other than the tantalizing sound. "So...I know him and Tex are still...y'know."

A slight cloudiness drifted over them both but Samael forced his smile as he reached over to pat York's knee. "It's a'right, hon. Like ya said, ain't that they're havin' sex that matters, right?"

York nodded a few times and exhaled. "Exactly. And besides that, I knew Wash had been in the ruff longer than she'd been gone from the base, soooo...I kinda figured he hadn't, uh. Been...taking care of himself."

"Not even with them lessons in those hotel rooms, eh?" Samael teased, his eyes tender despite the playful tone.

York smiled and nodded again. "You know it. I know my silly pine cone, and...I know he doesn't really, uh. Treat himself...properly. So, well. I did what any good best friend would do!"

"I'm...guessin' it ain't as simple as just offerin' to get him off this time?" Samael ventured with a half-smile.

York grinned sheepishly. "Nope. I told him I was gonna give him lessons! On...you know. How to, uh. How to. Jerk off."

Samael nearly choked on his wine again and he gave a guffaw after a moment of gagging, grinning up at York again with his expression bursting with delight. "Oh hell naw, you did not!!" When York only grinned awkwardly again, Samael threw his head back with a laugh. "Fuckin' fantastic!! Oh shit, how the hell did that go?"

"About as goddamn weird as you'd think," York chortled, taking a moment to enjoy a bit of merlot before he, too, was forced to spit it out. "He put up a fight, but uh. I guess I was convincing --"

"--Or at least annoyin' enough," Samael supplied with a wink.

"...Definitely that," York agreed, snickering even as he playfully tossed an empty food container at Samael. "Anyway, I uh. I think I did a decent job, he was actually paying attention and..." His smile became warmer as the memories returned to him. For such a strange moment, it had ended up being incredibly emotionally satisfying. "We, uh. He...he let me help him finish. And...good lord, Sammy. I loved it, I loved how that felt, and he looked so happy, and I didn't even like...want to get myself off afterward."

A bemused smile crept across Samael's features as he leaned forward a bit. He looked...intrigued. Maybe something more, too. York looked down at him for a moment before smiling a bit. "You...you probably know what I mean, don't you?"

"Yeah...I think I do, sweetie," Samael murmured before gesturing with his glass. "But go on, I'm guessin' this has gotta lead to somethin', 'cause ya been dancin' around it this whole trip." He winked again. "Not that I mind playin' the long game with you, ya hunky fuck-monster."

York snorted quietly before taking a moment to hurriedly finish his wine and set the glass aside. He smacked his lips a few time and then met Samael's inquisitive gaze. "Alright, so. After. After that, when. He was done and we were just sorta. Y'know. Enjoying the...moment. Uh. W-Well, he said I should kinda get. My own lessons. Uh. Blow...blowjob lessons." Samael's brow arched slightly. "He. Kinda said I should get them from you."

And there went Samael's eyebrows, shooting up to the other side of the damn ring. York cleared his throat loudly again as he waved both hands in front of himself. "Look! I'm sure he was just joking, but um. I mean. At the time, I was pretty damn sure I didn't need them since...I mean, a blowjob is sex, and...I'm...you know..."

"Yer the York!"

"Yeah!! I'm the York!" he agreed with several nods before he huffed. "I. I thought I'd be able to figure it out from all the times you've done it to me, but...then I thought back to my first attempt and how that went and...ugh." He puffed his cheeks out as his hands fell into his lap. "Here we are."

Samael laughed, though it didn't feel like he was mocking him...more that he was just enjoying the sheer absurdity of it all. "Awww, York! Hell, don't feel bad! It took me a long-ass time to figure out what I was doin'...shit, ya remember our first time? You think it was just you bein' rough that made that awkward? Fuuuuck no, I was still learnin' tricks, myself." York continued to pout, but he smiled a bit all the same to hear that admission. "An' besides, I'm tickled y'all thought'a me!"

"Well...you know Wash isn't a huge, um. Fan of you, so I dunno how serious he was, but. I just. Dammit, I don't get it." Samael tilted his head and knocked back the last of his wine. "I've never seen you choke after that first time! And I've never seen you spit any of it back up...even on accident!!"

...Except for that moment, when Samael gagged again and this time bowled over with muffled laughter, spraying merlot over them both. "Oh, lawd, York, yer gonna kill me!!"

York couldn't help his own laugh as he wiped at himself, blushing furiously. "C-C'mon! Don't laugh! I'm serious, like...it's just a dick, it shouldn't be that hard--"

"It should absolutely be hard!" Samael wheezed out between his hacking.

"...Okay, I hate you, but listen!" York insisted as he tried not to laugh himself, dabbing at a few more spots of wine on his chest while smiling down at Samael. "I just wanna get some pointers, okay?? And you're pretty much the master of dicks, so. I'm asking for your help."

Samael was still giggling even as he wiped at his muzzle and smiled up at York, a tear rolling down his cheek from the wine he'd briefly choked on. He seemed to take a moment to study York's mixed features, which reflected both his awkward nervousness and his own hesitant amusement. York wanted to laugh, but he also couldn't deny how much this mattered to him. Which sounded so dumb, but...

Samael's tittering soon faded into a soft sigh and his eyes were suddenly back to tender as he reached over to poke a finger gently into his friend's broad chest. "You know I'mma help ya out, big guy. But I wanna know why."

"Uhh..." York flushed again beneath his tan fur. "Because...you're my friend, and also I brought you presents?"

Samael blinked and then snickered. "Ya big ol' dork, nah, I mean...why do you wanna learn my gay kung-fu?"

York tilted his head before finding the answer more easily than he thought he would. "I, uh. I really like seeing Wash so happy. I want to be able to make him feel good. Like." He huffed softly. The words weren't hard to find, they just felt weird. "I get off to...him. Getting off. I did during the blowjob, and the handjob lesson and...I dunno. I like seeing him feel all that pleasure and. Don't laugh."

Samael looked to be about as far from laughing as he could be, however, as he smiled and tossed aside his wine glass before pushing the little packages of food aside so he could scoot up to York on his knees. "I ain't gonna laugh at that, hon. That's sweet as hell, an' now you got a li'l taste of how I see things." He reached up and gripped gently into York's thick biceps, meeting his gaze with a wink. "That's a good reason to wanna learn. A damn good reason. Consider class in session."

It was York's turn to blink in surprise as his muzzle opened and then slowly shut. "Uh...l-like...now?"

Samael's hands were already at his waist, gently undoing his belt with movements so smooth that York wondered how he'd ever thought he was slick. He barely even heard the whisper of the leather along the bar...geezus. "I kinda figured ya wouldn't mind, unless ya wanted to eat that pie first," Samael teased low in his throat as a hand dove down the front of York's loosened pants.

York's eyes bulged and he realized he probably had mewled for Samael at least once before, considering that just his hand gripping into his sheath was enough to elicit a long, needy whine. "The pie can wait," York breathed out as his arousal very rapidly jumped out to greet Samael's fingers. "Ooh...damn, Sammy..."

Samael smirked as his fingers lightly closed around the stiffening flesh as his other hand moved to tug down his friend's pants. "You got it, big guy," he rumbled, licking his lips and glancing up at York's face for a moment. York almost forgot this was meant to be a lesson and he cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Should, uh. Shouldn't...I be the one..."

"Hush up, now, we'll get to that," Samael replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "Fer now, jus' lemme get you all ready fer the demonstration..." His gaze flicked back down as York's malehood breached into the warm, briny air, the piercing on his tail giving a little jingle with his innate delight. York would have been a damn liar if he didn't acknowledge that sound was becoming a trained moment for him. It always meant his pal was near...and it usually also meant some manner of dick-related activity was near, too.

As many times as they'd done this, the implications behind this were different. York felt strangely frozen in place, his hands hovering at his sides as he remained in his half-kneel. But bless Samael, the little bastard glanced up at him with a soft smile, wordlessly forgiving his sheepishness. "A'right, big fella. Let's get started." He leaned back and York winced when those skilled fingers drifted away from his flesh. "Best way to learn is fer yer partner to be sittin'. Makes it so they can't start goin' nuts with their hips if ya ain't ready."

York thought back to Wash in his bunk. "Heh, yeah, Wash started on his back..."

Samael grinned up at him. "Cute. But I'm sure ya learned some of the downsides. Plus he don't get to enjoy the view so much."

York flushed again as he glanced away for a moment. "I uh. I wasn't ready for him to watch," he admitted sheepishly as he tapped two claws together. "But...by the end, it, um. Well. It didn't really matter, I guess."

Samael snickered quietly and then ran a finger briefly down York's arousal to make him stiffen up in every possible way. "That's a'right, hon. Comes with practice." He then inclined his head toward York with a smile while rolling onto his back to rapidly shed his own snug shorts. "Go on, then, I c'n see yer ready, get them pants outta the way."

There was a command York could quite easily follow. He let out a giddy chuckle and quickly followed suit, standing up and shoving his trousers down the rest of the way before kicking them away and dropping his hands on his hips, offering Samael both his winning grin and his winning erection. His friend smirked but took it smoothly into stride, gliding up to his paws and sauntering up to him as he gripped firmly into York's malehood and made the larger chupa gasp softly. "Hey, now, y'gotta listen," Samael purred, giving a leisurely stroke as his other hand traced up along his chest and then flicked the bottom of his muzzle. "Now sit yer big ass down."

York cleared his throat but didn't argue, waiting for Samael to release his erection and then promptly dropping onto his butt with a soft thump on the edge of the blanket. "Better," Samael replied with a wink, moving like liquid back into a kneel. "You know what yer doin' when yer in control...the thing 'bout a blowjob is, ya gotta share that control. I ain't know much 'bout Wash in bed, but I'm gonna take a stab an' guess he ain't the quiet, nervous li'l kitten everyone thinks he is." As he spoke, he was automatically moving York's legs, shifting them into a wide angle while positioning himself between them.

York gave a lame chuckle. "I, uh. Yes and no. When he gets into it, lord." The grin came back. "He's a damn machine. It's actually pretty awesome."

Samael grinned back. "'Kay I'm a li'l jealous now. But that's both good 'n bad news fer you! As it sounds like ya already learned," he added with a sly wink. "You c'n control things up to a certain point, but eventually yer buddy's gonna wanna go hard. So puttin' him on his butt like this is a good start."

"You say that, but. This was the position we moved to on the bed and." York cleared his throat again, trying not to moan as Samael reached down to massage along his arousal. "Hng. He, uh. He ended up like. Screwing my face. Like, you don't get it, Sammy. It was a little scary."

Samael paused and lifted an eyebrow, letting his hand rest around York's shaft while squinting up at him. "A'right, now I ain't sayin' you din' experience a li'l somethin'-somethin' from Wash, but dude. Do you wanna know what Andee did the first time I went down on him?"

...The number of scenarios that quickly flashed through York's mind was, quite frankly, terrifying. He didn't often give much thought to what sex with Andee must be like...but now he was. "...N-Noooo?" He stared down at Samael as his friend peered back up at him, his fingers flexing oh-so-gently around his stiff flesh. Oh goddamn his curiosity. "...Okay, yes?"

Samael barked out a laugh, his teeth flashing cheerily while he gave York another casual stroke while his features drifted into what must have been one helluva memory. "Shit, you talk about a face-fuckin'...lawd, son, I'm pretty sure it looked like I was wearin'a gat-damn bat mask! Those dewclaws ain't just fer show, he used 'em like fuckin' spurs."

York's eyes widened in what might have been actual horror. "Oh...christ, Sammy, what the...hell? What is wrong with you two?"

"Fuckin'...fuck if I know," Samael replied with an easy shrug, looking almost sheepish while he licked his lips. "Heh, as if you thought any kinda sex 'tween him 'n me would be normal, anyway!"

"Hell, I guess that's true," York muttered, suddenly glad his little pine cone at least wasn't bipolar and armed with far-sharper claws. Plus wings...lord, all the places Andee could get to that even Wash at his most nimble wouldn't be able to...oh lord.

Samael's touch brought him back and he quickly shook his head as the smaller male chuckled and then poked his stomach lightly with his other hand. "Point is, there's a few ways you c'n work with that, no matter how crazy yer boy's bein'. You jus' watch, I'll show ya some basics." He winked again, that grin giving York the usual shiver of anticipation. "Then you'll try 'em on me."

York nodded stupidly a few times and carefully leaned back onto his palms as he watched Samael shuffle close and then lower his head toward his twitching flesh. His thick tongue slid out and cradled the bottom of his shaft, eliciting a soft moan as he struggled to not close his eyes in pleasure. "This...hooo, this part I th-think I got. Tongue-stuff."

Samael pulled back just enough to smile up at him. "Good. It's yer secret weapon. You c'n use it to stimulate, but! It c'n also be a way to keep yer buddy from pushin' too deep, too fast."

York tilted his head, now genuinely curious despite the complete absurdness of this lesson. "Wait...how?"

...Samael's grin was terribly excited. "Observe." His jaws parted again and he suddenly dove down to take York into his maw entirely. York's eyes bulged and he couldn't help the hand that flew to the back of Samael's head in time with the low, rumbling groan he gave. But he did his best to focus, not just on the pleasure but on the sensations he felt.

And a few seconds after finding his bearings in the rush of ecstasy, he could feel Samael's tongue, curled around his member. It felt amazing but it also gripped it surprisingly tight. He took a few quick breaths and then carefully peered down again...to find Samael grinning back up at him around his arousal. Both his hands were out to the sides as if showing off a magic trick. York smirked despite himself, idly shoving Samael's head down...but blinking as it only budged by an inch or two. "Huh..." He grinned playfully. "Bet you wished you knew this back when you went down on me the first time, huh?"

Samael's snicker was muffled as he loosened his tongue and then slowly, slowly lifted his head again, making absolutely sure to tease every inch of York's sensitive flesh on the way up. "Oohh-my-god, Sammy, ya, hngh! -- damn tease..." he muttered, already breathing a bit harder.

"Haw, you be careful now, teasin' a man while yer dick's all up in his jaws. But a'right. One more li'l trick -- kinda basic, but some folks forget it," Samael explained as casually as showing someone how to drive a stick-shift. Heh. Driving a stick--

"Gah!" York gasped again when Samael took a firm hold of his knot, one finger resting just above it. He inhaled sharply and then exhaled shakily, almost embarrassed by the trickle of fluid that rolled out. "Helluva trick, Sammy," he mumbled, his tail switching back and forth as his tongue raced over his lips.

"Always cute when my big ol' confident friend takes over the puppy imitation," Samael teased before he gave the lightest squeeze of his companion again. "But hey, if yer tongue ain't doin' the job, make a hard stop." He grinned again while pulling on York's member, making him grunt in surprise as he automatically shifted up to his knees. "Good boy. Go ahead, go hog."

York blinked a few times. "Go...you suuuure--ooh gawd!" Samael's muzzle wrapped around him again and the sudden warmth was enough that his hips gave their own thrust. He quickly caught himself...and then the little whore rubbed his thumb along the bottom of his knot while tugging forward lightly again. York instantly groaned and grabbed the back of Samael's head, starting to helplessly pump himself back and forth...but as his senses slowly came back to him, he realized despite the strength of his thrusts, only the top half of his malehood was disappearing into Samael's all-too-skilled jaws, the hand wrapped around the base preventing it from going any further.

It took a visible strain from them both to pull apart as Samael's eyes danced excitedly, flashing that damn grin again as drool ran down his chin. York stared down at him and forced his chest to stop heaving...or at least tried, but holy hell keeping the lesson on track was gonna be difficult. He slowly dropped back onto his haunches while his arousal flexed angrily, his malehood seeming to curse the sudden lack of stimulation.

The pleased rumble in his friend's throat was enough to remind York he was, in fact, dealing with someone who might have been better at something sex-related than him. Maybe. York met his eyes, a hint of nervousness tickling back into his features as he flashed an awkward grin. "So...my turn?"

"Your turn," Samael murmured with a gentle nudge against York's waist with his paw as he shifted to sit up opposite his pal. He apparently needed zero assistance -- that damn blue flesh was all but gesturing to York and that anxious twitch returned to the massive chupa. "Jus' try what I did. I promise I'll be nice to ya."

"Gee, thanks, Sammy," York mumbled while he dropped forward and crawled toward his companion, eyes locked onto the unique cerulean flesh. "So...piercings."

Samael smirked but only leaned back on his hands, presenting himself with the shame of an all-star stripper. "Yeah, you only seen pictures, eh? Go on, take yer time. Sure I don't gotta tell you this, but guys like havin' their junk checked out. Maybe a macho thing, but maybe just a friendly thing." York remembered the way Wash had reacted when he'd merely slid a finger over his little buddy's arousal. Yeah. He didn't need to be told twice.

He puffed out a bit of air, then nodded as he lowered his head to peer curiously at Samael's...situation. Just like Wash, the damn midget had more length and girth than he deserved...not that York minded all that much. Made things more interesting. His eyes locked onto the two deep-red bands of metal, set into the bottom of Samael's shaft. They looked imposing at first, but when he reached out with a finger to poke one...it was smoother than he expected. Samael gave the softest grunt above him, but he only continued to smile down while watching appraisingly.

York grumbled a bit but shuffled closer and took careful hold of his friend, rubbing the pad of his thumb along one of the piercings. It wasn't rough at all -- the edges were ridiculously well-rounded, almost seamlessly meeting with the warm flesh beneath. Someone had taken great care with these damn things. "Huh."

"Toldja, I ain't tryna rip my friends a new one," Samael teased gently. He was still resting back on his palms, but York didn't miss the quickening of his breath. "I promise yer gonna be okay."

York nodded despite his quiet huff. He wrapped his hand around Samael and gave a few slow, measured strokes -- this at least he had plenty of experience with. Lots of times he had to take care of his own needs, after all. Especially lately. When he'd not really wanted to spend time with anyone other than Wash.

But whatever his own confidence, Samael clearly approved -- his friend let out a slow, rattling groan as his thick fingers moved upward, thumb grinding lightly over and between the two piercings, and then slid back down with the same steady motion.

No turning back now.

He licked his lips and then lowered his head, his broad frame barely fitting between Samael's thighs. He could feel Samael's eyes on him, but nothing about it felt judgmental. If anything, it only helped to boost his confidence. York's jaws parted and he gingerly took his friend in while quickly trying to wrap his tongue around in a similar fashion to Samael's demonstration.

...It sorta worked, but his eagerness got the better of him when he quickly pushed forward and almost instantly gagged as Samael's length slid along his tongue and prodded the back of his mouth. He winced and hurriedly pulled back, gritting his teeth and immediately looking ashamed as he tried not to look up at Samael.

But he felt gentle fingers on his muzzle and he slowly looked back to find Samael's eyes full of kindness, not mockery. "Easy, big dude. Don't rush. Explore, take yer time. Remember, you got part'a the control. You make it feel good enough, they'll forget about jus' poundin' in to get it finished."

York scowled despite himself, hating that the advice made sense, and hating more that he never thought of it. Well. He supposed he could make the concession that he usually didn't spend this much time focusing on pleasing guys. Samael wasn't exactly an exception, but he certainly was one of few York spent any regular intimate time with. And prior to now, they'd always comfortably shared moments that normally put York in charge. ...Or at the very least as the one putting the thing in.

But he nodded and smiled sheepishly. "Okay. Uh. Sorry, I'm..."

"Shh -- quit apologizin', buddy. Yer doin' fine, the fact ya wanna learn's gonna drive yer man more insane than anythin' else, trust me on that," Samael explained as he let his weight fall back on his palms again, giving York all the power.

York smiled a bit at that thought, then dropped his head with a determined grunt. He kept his hand around Samael's base and combined it with the awkward but improved movements of his tongue. He tasted the small burst of fluids and his tail arched happily when he realized he caused that. He let his eyes close as he started to bob his head steadily, combining everything Samael had shown him his far.

And sure enough, he only gagged softly once or twice as he controlled just how far Samael's erection went. The strange sensation of those piercings was fascinating, and served as an odd distraction as his tongue continuously roved over them, or his teeth lightly clinked across one. He lost himself in the act, drawn to thinking up new things to do with his jaws, with the position of his head, with the flicks of his tongue.

He almost didn't register the light poking against his muzzle and his eyes snapped open in confusion before he slowly stared up at Samael. The grey chupa was grinning, but a pleased flush was visible beneath his cheeks. "Hot damn, York...hot damn, that ain't bad at all...pull on up, gotta give ya a li'l more of a lesson 'fore ya get to the finish line."

York leaned back, not wanting to admit how much he kinda regretted doing so as Samael's slick member slid out and then slapped firmly against his stomach. It oozed its appreciation and York gave a stupid little grin. "Heh. Wow."

"Yeah, dude, yer on the right track," Samael rumbled before he gripped York's shoulders and helped push him back onto his haunches again. "Most guys ain't gonna last long when you give 'em all those sensations, which ain't a bad thing! So let's talk handlin' the closin' number."

York smirked down at him, still enjoying the way Samael looked so very enamored. "Haw, yeah, okay -- guess it wasn't very flattering to cough up all over Wash."

Samael winked. "Understandable situation, but yeah, somethin' we frown on 'round these parts." York started to grin again but Samael reached down and grabbed his sheath before he could complete the cocky expression, his face darting back to a twisted mess of pleasure and surprise. "Oh hey, yer still pretty ready to rock -- damn, son, you do like givin' a thrill, I'm proud of ya..."

"Hey, shaddup," York chided around his twitching and groaning. "The York is all about his partner's happiness."

"Can't deny that," Samael chuckled before he started a casual stroking to ensure York was at his fullest attention. "A'right, so finishin' yer guy off. You got options. If ya ain't sure 'bout yer skills, ain't nothin' wrong with goin' all-hands. Some guys like it!" York peered down at him with a look and Samael immediately grinned back. "Aight, you ain't no pushover, I get it. In that case, you gotta be ready. Especially if yer lettin' yer partner go wild."

He reached around with his other hand to grip York's rump firmly and the larger chupa squawked in surprise before automatically coming to a full kneel. "Hey, hands!"

"Oh, like you care," Samael cooed, letting his fingers dance up along a muscular buttock to tease the base of York's tail, His claws drifted along the spines that had grown fully erect and York couldn't help the shuddering moan as his toes clenched behind him. "You wanna get everythin' down with the least amount'a struggle, find a position that puts yer jaws in line with the rest'a ya."

York tilted his head, again drawn into the lesson despite all of the everything he felt boiling in his lower half. "Uh..."

Samael knelt across from York, sitting on his haunches so York's trembling arousal was in front of his muzzle. "Jus' watch," he instructed softly before leaning forward to take York in again. York's eyes slid shut for a moment, a whimper sliding out against his best attempts. He reached down to wrap a hand around Samael's head and was eventually able to gaze at him again with a slow exhale to continue forcing as much self-control as he could.

It was easier to see what Samael meant, now. York's hips thrust lightly forward but Samael's position had his jaws in line with his shoulders and lord, he could feel the way his malehood moved smoothly into Samael's throat with nothing to slow it down. He almost didn't realize he'd completely buried himself and he took another moment to exhale sharply as his claws dug lightly into Samael's skull. "Ffffuck," he murmured, the rare curse lost in his bubbling ecstasy.

Samael's skill had never been so effortlessly on display and York's vision swam at the onslaught of bliss when a light squeeze of his friend's fingers against his hip encouraged him to start moving his hips steadily again. He felt his tongue sliding and curling around him, but it was no longer holding his flesh back. York eventually leaned forward with a groan, his pulse increasing with each long, slow push into his companion's seemingly-endless muzzle.

He felt Samael start to pull back but he couldn't help himself as the fire ignited and overwhelmed him. His eyes widened and he clenched his teeth together as his hips quickly worked into a frenzy. It had been one second too long inside Samael's jaws, and he was helpless to stop now.

But Samael was ready, simply shifting both hands to York's hips for stability as he let his companion act freely. York shoved forward harder and harder as his tail curled almost painfully, his back curving and his claws driving into Samael's head as he gasped through clamped jaws. "Hnghh, Sammy-gonna-come!"

He was fairly certain the warning wasn't needed. Samael's own tail arched in delight, the piercing jangling just in front of York's muzzle as his orgasm hit powerfully. His hips were a blur, the entirety of his malehood locked past Samael's maw as the short, rapid thrusts sent several bursts down his companion's throat.

Lord, he tried to process the sensations, barely feeling how Samael's muscles contracted and flexed with each outpouring of his fluids. The guy was a whirlwind of oral talent and by the time York's motions finally shuddered to a stop, he knew not a drop had been spilled. Samael took a moment to keep his shaft held in his jaws, his body thrumming with that weird whorish vibrancy while he swallowed the last of York down and then, at last, pulled back with a long sigh.

York could only stare numbly for a moment as he wobbled and then dropped back onto his haunches with a mumble. "God...damn, Sammy. How."

Samael ran his tongue along the end of his muzzle and found only a small string of something to pull back in before he winked up at York and reached up to stroke a hand along his broad chest. "Practice, son. Lots of practice an' lots of excited guys." He took a deep breath and then grinned when York only continued to stare down at him blankly. "Aw, c'mon, you've had a blowie from me before, ain't nothin' new."

"Forgive me for never properly appreciating it before," York mumbled sheepishly, his arousal still hanging around like it was waiting for an encore. "I uh. I never thought about. What goes into it."

Samael chuckled and then stood up with a playful smile. "Don't think too hard 'bout it, but it do help to realize yer mouth is more'n just a place for a dick to hang out. You got all kindsa tools at yer disposal. But...hell, above all else, if yer serious 'bout makin' it a good experience fer yer boy Wash--"

"I am," York interrupted, but with a hesitant smile of his own. "I...really am."

Samael beamed quietly. "Good. Then all you gotta do is enjoy it, yerself. If yer gettin' into it, he's gonna love it that much more."

York took another quick breath before his eyes inevitably drifted down to Samael's crotch. Yeah, he was still at full mast, too. The gay bastard. "Oh boy," York muttered as he scooted forward. Samael's erection was somehow more intimidating now...maybe it was because of how effortlessly Samael had treated his own arousal. Maybe it was the way his friend stood over him with a quiet smile. Or maybe just because he hated how much he was enjoying all this. God, he'd really need to convince Wash to spend more time with him.

Samael remained quiet, his only movement to bring a hand down and stroke lightly through York's mane when his head came close enough. York glanced up at him and found the reassuring expression, allowing some of his tension to melt into the aftershock of his own orgasm. He had this. The York didn't run away.

He started with a hand around Samael's base, just as he'd done before. He couldn't help but notice the way the flesh seemed to engorge further with his friend's excitement. Okay. He didn't need to be scared. After all, Wash had very much still gotten off last time. He wasn't bad, he just needed to get better. He nodded to himself and nuzzled briefly against Samael's unique malehood, which brought out a soft, delighted murmur from above. Just enjoy it.

...Nothing gay about that. Just two pals, palling around. With their dicks.

He lolled his tongue out to let it trace over the bottom of Samael's shaft and it was met with a rumble of approval. York smiled to himself. Yeah, alright, whether or not Samael did that purely to encourage him, it worked. He exhaled slowly over the twitching flesh, then parted his jaws and moved forward.

As soon as his muzzle made contact with the first metal band, that curiosity and need to explore overtook him again. He didn't think Wash would ever consider such, ah, modifications on his own body...but he still made a mental note to take his time with Wash next time.

Geezus, he was pining. He wanted a 'next time' far more than he could ever start to explain.

He'd begun to move his head back and forth without even realizing it thanks to the thoughts of Wash, and it didn't seem to bother either of them. He kept his gentle grip around Samael's knot so his friend's malehood only went as far as he could go without gagging. The result was instantaneous for them both, as the smaller chupa whispered quiet praise while York felt his self-esteem rapidly billowing. It was a rewarding experience, one he'd have to thank Samael for later.

...Well, if the blowjob wasn't enough.

He knew Samael was holding back -- the motions of his hips were soft, nearly tender in the way they swung steadily back and forth in time with the bobbing of York's head. He appreciated it. His head was already swimming as he rode the tail end of his own climax while mixing everything he could think of doing with his muzzle, trying to deal with crazily-thrusting hips at the same time would have been overwhelming. It did give him the opportunity to think about all he was attempting -- the swirling, twisting movements of his tongue, the careful suction of his muzzle, the way he pressed Samael's erection to the top of his maw. He was more aware of what he was doing than he'd ever been before, and he realized this was what Samael meant about enjoying it, about getting into it.

Samael's thrusts were slowly increasing but each pass was still careful, still measured. How he managed to keep such an intimate moment still so friendly was a conversation for a later time. His quiet drawl spilled out over the sounds of their grunting and York's oral attentions. "Ho-hoooly shit, York, you got it, buddy, oh fuuuuck you got it..."

York brightened and opened his eyes, glancing up and pulling back partially to speak around Samael's member: "Oo wike it? Eh feelth goo?"

Samael blinked and then stifled a laugh as he met York's eyes with a playful squeeze of his skull. "Sweetie, we don't talk with our mouths full, that's considered rude even in the gayest'a circles." York looked awkward and Samael winked as he brought his other hand up to cup York's lower jaw. "But yeah. Real good, hon. Ain't gonna be long -- you ready?"

"Fe York doefn't fpit," he mumbled with a squint before focusing on his companion's stomach again as he doubled down but still kept his hand around Samael's knot. He was determined to finish this without looking like a damn virgin, even if it meant he wasn't gonna bury that whole thing. There was always next time. He could hear Samael chuckle deep in his chest while keeping both hands secured on either side of York's head, murmuring his acknowledgment as his hips picked up in speed and power.

He felt kinda dumb for not thinking about this 'trick' before, but whatever. He knew it now. And he was glad for it, since he didn't feel like he couldn't handle it, it gave him so much encouragement that every ounce of him flowed into giving his friend as much pleasure as possible. His muzzle was slamming into the top of his fist each time, and York hesitantly let his fingers slide back just a bit so another inch or so of Samael could rush forward into his jaws.

When he gave that light squeeze to Samael's knot, it must have been the button. His friend gave a loud groan above him and bent forward, clutching harder into his cheeks and jaw as his waist pounded forward faster. York could feel the pointed tip moving into his throat, but it didn't bash against his sensitive tissue or cause him to start gagging and choking. He was absolutely delighted with himself -- who would have thought his dick-centric pal would give accurate advice about not suffering while having another guy halfway down your throat?

They moved together as Samael's bliss built higher, and while it didn't quite have the sheer, raw passion of what York felt with Wash, there was still a natural tenderness from the stocky chupa. That had always been their thing, though -- weird friends who rarely said no to a quickie in a supply closet, and other than their first couple of awkwardly rough times together, they'd found a comfortable groove in each other. After all, for everything awkward about getting this lesson, York knew there was probably no one else he could ever even pretend to talk to about it.

...Right, the dick in his mouth.

The light patter of salty warmth let him know how close his pal was. York fought with himself but kept his fingers in place...and it didn't seem to matter for Samael, since even without having his whole length taken in, he was racing to his peak. The soft cursing built up to a sharp series of cries before he felt Samael's entire body arch and stiffen like a goddamn bird-of-sex spreading its wings to take flight. He jammed forward one final time and then released the first burst with a howl of bliss.

York was ready this time, his eyes shut tightly as his other hand curled tightly into Samael's waist to keep himself steady. His throat worked quickly and he kept his upper body bent forward against his friend so that each subsequent blast barely even had time to settle in his jaws. He could feel the warm fluid firing directly down his throat and it was like having someone reveal the goddamn secrets of the universe as he gave only the smallest cough while opening his jaws wide to suck in a quick breath of air.

Samael groaned loudly, his back still arched before he let himself slump as his hips slowed to a near-crawl. "Hh...fuckin' hell, son..." he panted, glancing down as York looked up with his malehood still partially lodged in his muzzle. Samael grinned despite himself, winking and letting a slow breath out while lightly bucking forward to urge a tiny bit more from the tip. York squirmed in surprise and squinted up at him, even as he dutifully worked his tongue and jaws again to swallow it down. "Heh...gawddamn, Wash a fuckin' lucky bitch if this is what he gets to look forward to," Samael rumbled.

York could feel Samael's legs trembling slightly and he opened his muzzle to free his companion. God, he hoped Wash would see things the same way. He smiled back and then paused to quickly run his tongue over the bottom of Samael's glistening member, cleaning some of the excess and maybe finding just a bit more childish fascination with those stupid piercings. "Haw...y-yeah, I hope that's in the cards," York replied as he waited for his own pulse to slow while reaching up to grab Samael's wrist. "Get down here, ya asshole."

Samael snickered but didn't hesitate, dropping down to his knees and then swinging himself around to flop against York's side. York tossed a huge arm around his shoulders as Samael slid one around his waist in return. They took a moment to glance at the other's crotch before smirking between themselves. "Heh, hard to tell who enjoyed that more," Samael purred.

York snorted, then shrugged easily as they both lowered themselves onto their backs to gaze up at the sky together. "Hell, you're not doing it right if everyone's not havin' a good time," he reasoned, making Samael chuckle at his side.

"You ain't talkin' shit, that's some good truth," he murmured with a nod. "I guess that concludes lesson one."

York blinked and peered over at him before looking at the sky again with a half-smile. "Oh, I need a follow-up?"

"Hey, man, I'm tryna make sure Wash ain't gonna be stuck with no drop-out, you gotta get yer degree 'fore I letcha out into the real world to give blowjobs willy-nilly. Can't have no uncredited fucker givin' me a bad name."

York chortled and squeezed his friend's shoulders firmly. "You keep this up, I'm keepin' your presents."

"Heh, like I wouldn'ta done this for free, ya big dingleberry." They shared another quiet laugh and enjoyed a few moments of peaceful silence.

Samael eventually nudged York's leg with his own. "Yo, if...listen, bud." He turned his head and York glanced over to meet his eyes. "If...shit with Wash gets rough, no matter which way it goes, you know you c'n talk to me, yeah?"

York smiled a bit. "You're not trying to steal me from him, are ya, Sammy?" His eyes were playful, however -- the thought hadn't crossed his mind yet, despite how well the two worked together.

"Lawd, as if. Andee wouldn't tolerate none'a that, plus I'm pretty sure you don't fit into half the places we go in Xulod, you probably bust the weight limit on half them buildings, son."

"Heh, you know how well I can fit into any space I choose," York boasted with a gentle elbow. Samael laughed again and shook his head before the two tipped their muzzles toward each other to meet gazes again. "But...I do appreciate it, Sammy. Both that and listening to all my baggage with Wash and, uh. You know. This lesson."

"We'll set a date for a follow-up," Samael replied casually before reaching up to flick York's muzzle. "I'm proud to call ya my best friend, York. Jus' know you c'n reach out to me 'bout whatever. I got yer back, pal. No matter what Nelson says."

"Even if I'm a dirty ex-Freelancer?"

"Aww, I'd say especially 'cause of that," Samael answered mockingly. "Y'know how much I love danger, eh??"

York grinned slightly before he suddenly reached over to scoop up Samael and hop to his paws. "Oh good, then you'll love this!" he announced. Samael blinked in shock as he wrapped an arm around York's neck before blanching as York sauntered to the other end of the small island, which ended in a sheer drop over the calm sea below. "Time to clean up!" he called out before quickly pulling Samael off his neck and then tossing him unceremoniously over the cliff.

Samael's eyes bulged and he squawked while flailing wildly at the air. "YOUSONUVABIIII--" he squealed before splashing into the water and disappearing below the surface as York laughed heartily.

"So much for getting over that fear!" York hollered before taking a step back and then leaping into the air with a whoop to throw himself toward Samael as the spluttering chupa surfaced with a string of curses, cannonballing into the water next to him to send a wave of water over his head.

"You dirty fuck-bag, I'm tyin' yer hands next lesson!" Samael shouted before diving after York as the two started to wrestle playfully in the warm water, their moment of sincerity set aside as easily as the rest of their picnic. Neither one of them would have it any other way, though.

Boys would be boys.

Red vs Blue © Rooster Teeth. Halo © 343 Industries. Concept by Myshu, assisted by The Department of Chupapology.