After the fires before the flood, my sweet baby, I need fresh blood

[47redbirds]

Mike is a number of things. Secretive, oddly retentive about the chore wheel, Brigg's second-in-command, and smart as a whip. He also trusts Billy. Maybe not implicitly, but he does. It's been a while since Billy's first task, and while he still stays by Mike's side for the most part, the crew's beginning to respect him, too. Not just Johnny--Jakes had made a point to shake his hand after a particularly hairy getaway between him and the Chechens.

Mike starts drinking with Billy after a good run. He's damn good at pool and can hold his beer for someone who looks so straight-laced, even with scruff. Boy-band or not, the only personal thing that wound up causing a stir outside what they do is Mike punching someone in The Drop because they were harassing a girl. For a criminal, he's oddly well put together.

It's one o'clock in the morning when Mike texts him. It's nothing but an address to a motel and a room number, but when Mike texts it's mandatory Billy shows up. Another exercise, maybe. Another deal. The whole Graceland group had been very careful with Mike--most of the stuff he was a part in he either never got to actually see the transaction or it was far too minor. Not all the heat is off of him, it seems, but he's trusted. Mike trusts him enough to send him the text. It's the room to the corner, and it's run down and shitty. When Mike opens the door, it looks like he hasn't slept in days despite the fact that Billy was asked to get him out of bed since Paige wasn't there. He's also smoking, which is both disconcerting and never seen before.

There's something else, though, and it's not just his hair pushed back from his face. The white tank top he's wearing is spattered with red liquid, as is his chin. His hands are covered, even the one holding the cigarette while he exhales and lets the other in. It's blood.

Once Mike closes the door, it's immediately apparent why: there's a girl in the bathtub, the tiles covered as someone stabbed her more than a few times, and on the bed a man. What is probably a man judging from the fact that he's naked--his face has been mangled, it seems, by a rather large number of bullets to the face as well as a champagne bottle.

Mike takes another drag of the cigarette.

"Thanks for meeting me here."

Comments

[47redbirds]

Mike frowns, finally finding the clock. Immediately he groans, and for a second he thinks he's channeling Johnny by his first thought being 'I want to sleep in' rather than 'I want to chase a clue.' Then again, with the daily stress of the household's lives, most of them either slept in light spurts or just lay practically comatose for over 10 hours.

"This is your fault," He accused, though judging by his small smile on his face and sleepy eyes, he actually doesn't mind as much as he thought he would. Alarming. Or would be, if he cared at the moment. He was wrapped around Billy, or rather Billy had been wrapped around him, or something like that. The point was they were close and Mike had to barely talk so the other could be heard. It was nice, resting his voice. It was nice resting period.

"I think it's around dinner time...Ugh." That would mean going downstairs and dealing with people. Right now, all he wants to do is lay in bed and do pretty much nothing. Even though he definitely, definitely should.

[heroeswork]

Billy's smile grew at the accusation, broad and warm and completely unapologetic. The smile of a man who knew exactly what he was doing, even if he got caught in his own trap. "Might've been intentional..." he murmured.

He shifted, moving more onto his side so he could nuzzle closer to Mike. Dinner could wait. Because dinner meant moving out from under the covers. And after the night before, and the roller coaster of his thoughts since he'd woken up, the warm bliss beneath the blankets was quite possibly the best feeling in the world right then. "I'll buy everyone pizza," he offered, tucking his head against Mike's shoulder.

[47redbirds]

"You gotta tell Briggs that," Mike murmured, bringing his body away from the other just enough so he had room to rub at his eyes and yawn rather loudly. He even left his belt on, if undone, not realizing at all how he'd actually just knock himself out.

"Shit," And suddenly he sits up, or at least, half-attempts to. He doesn't get very far, mostly because of Billy, and thumps back down with a thunk that sounds oddly hollow for someone build like him.

"I actually have stuff I need to do, too." More like 'wanted to be there in case people fucked up,' but that was fairly obvious knowing Mike's personality. He doesn't hover per se, he...

No, no he hovers. He definitely hovers.

[heroeswork]

Billy reached up to run his fingers through Mike's hair as the other dropped back down. He just smiled, letting Mike making his complaint. "What exactly do you gotta do, hm?" He raised both eyebrows. "Apart from staring at a map until you go cross-eyed?"

Billy's fingers trailed down Mike's neck and over his chest. "I'm guessing you already know the details inside and out. The answers'll come to you, I have no doubt of that."

In that Billy realized that maybe this wasn't just about helping Mike find the answers. If he kept the other distracted there might not be more bloodshed for a little while. If he kept Mike off track for a little bit, his team could hopefully use his report to find whoever killed Whistler. Handle it legally and without murder.

[47redbirds]

billy talking to him link this, giving him some sense if normalcy.... It was nice. Really nice. Mike doesn't bother to hide his smile.

"We should go on a date," he says suddenly. "A real, honest to god date. Whenever your next day off is, I'll pick you up at eight. Flowers and shit, you know."

[heroeswork]

The suddenness of the proclamation made Billy blink. A date? That was a rather sudden and extreme leap to make. And not at all what he'd been prepared for. Had his ploy for the nap and the subtle effects been stronger than he'd planned? He just wanted Mike to feel something good after everything with the night before. Was he so starved for such things that he automatically leaped to such dramatic things?

"Won't the bossman be troubled, losing his bodyguard and chauffeur for a whole night?" He meant it as a joke, but also to sidestep the need to tell Mike to slow down. One step at a time. Mostly, Billy didn't want to get too involved and have to break Mike's heart when this all came crashing down.

[47redbirds]

"I'm not a fucking prophet," Mike states, but he's not actually angry at the other. It's more of a resigned tone, eyes closing for a few moments. Billy was right. He needed to step away from it.

"Sometimes I think this house is burning," He says quietly. "And it's up to Briggs and I to keep putting out the fires." That much was true, no matter which way you looked at it--for as much of a family as there were, there was an incredible tone of drama. Almost too much in Mike's opinion, even though sometimes Mike started it himself.

He pats the other's cheek before forcing himself to sit up, yawning.

"Which is what I have to do. I figure soon enough you're going to get caught in some form of crossfire, too."

[heroeswork]

A small smile formed on Billy's lips, soft and warm. Objectively, he knew he shouldn't be touched by those words. That he just needed to fake it, to get into Mike's good graces, to get closer to Briggs. All for the mission. But the way he felt, it felt far too real.

Billy sat up as well, leaning back against the headboard. "And if I do," he said reassuringly, "I can handle myself. It wouldn't be my first time being in the crossfire. Literally or metaphorically."

His hand came up to take Mike by the chin as he leaned over to kiss him. Soft and gentle.

[47redbirds]

Mike looks surprised, if only for a brief moment, but he kisses back with the same sort of odd tenderness the other had. Whatever they had now, it was strange, but it worked.

For now.

He's waiting until it blows up in his face, just like everything else. "I hope so," He mumbles, and it takes him a few more seconds before he's stood up. Not going to take that advice, it seems, and he stretches languidly before moving to the door.

"You coming?"

[heroeswork]

Billy watched Mike get up, not budging from his spot on the bed. He had to admit that the view was certainly nice, and found his thoughts wandering. To what the view might look like without so much in the way of clothes. It was almost strange to think of such things so casually after all they'd been through so very recently. But he liked to think he could let those things roll off him like water off a duck's back. He certainly wasn't just forcing them down and forgetting them. Not even a little.

"Might be better if I wait a bit. Wouldn't want to raise any suspicions before we've...consummated anything, would we?" His eyebrows lifted suggestively, but his tone was almost teasing.

[47redbirds]

"Sure, sure, but I'm fairly certain after everything you've done? No one gives a shit who you fuck." It's meant to be nice and casual--Mike smiles, widely, and sort of half-waves since the other says he's not going to be moving.

He leaves, but not without a faint smile at his bed.

Yeah. He can get used to this.

[heroeswork]

Billy was so accustomed to seizing opportunities when he saw them that he leaped on this one before he thought it through completely. It was clear to him that Mike wanted it. Between the kiss out on the peer and everything in the bedroom before they slept. He read the situation and ran with it, trying to tell himself his own feelings had nothing to do with it.

"Hey," he says as Mike starts to step out the door. "They might not care, but they still talk. Might as well make whatever rumors they're gonna cook up at least somewhat based in reality." He folded his arms behind his head, giving a suggestive wink.

[47redbirds]

Mike had opened the door, at least, before turning around at the other's words. His eyebrow raises, a small grin not quite forming but not leaving his face, and he slowly closes the door.

"This is coming from the same guy that just wanted me to take a nap," He states, and it's a little hard to tell if he's teasing or serious about his apprehension.

[heroeswork]

Billy gave a shrug, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. He could just let it go. Dismiss the whole scenario and let Mike get back to work. But this was the opportunity he'd been waiting for, wasn't it? A chance to solidify his place in Mike's good graces through his core skill set. It had nothing to do with anythign at all personal.

"Maybe I just wanted you well rested for my own nefarious purposes." A smirk played over his lips. Nevermind that it had been Mike who had been so pushy for such a thing before they napped.

[47redbirds]

"Your own nefarious purposes," Mike echoed, and reaches behind him to actually lock the closed door. He looks at Billy, hair mussed, laying on his bed, and while the other mock-frowns he can't help but actually grin, pleased at this whole thing.

"You, Billy McGee, are a terrible liar," He announces, crossing to the foot of the bed, His arms move down to the corners, gaze firmly on the other. "Your purposes aren't nefarious in the least. You think sex is scandalous?"

[heroeswork]

Billy did what he always did when it came to this sort of thing. He shut off the part of his mind that rang alarm bells that this wrong. He was willingly offering himself to the body guard of a powerful mob boss. Logically, that seemed like a bad plan. But it also shut out any warnings of personal conflict. Really, that's how he ended up so deeply involved with a pyromaniac who ended their relationship by burning everything he owned, including the four walls that contained it all.

"Well, that depends," Billy said as he pushed himself off the headboard, leaning toward Mike. "If sex is just sex, then it's not," he pushed up onto his knees, crawling closer. "It all depends on your...tastes."

[47redbirds]

"Mm-hmm," And as Billy moves closer, Mike leans down, faces inches away from the other. Eyes narrowed, but not with their usual curious paranoia. It's something else entirely--the same look he gave the other earlier, dragging him up to his room.

"My tastes are pretty simple, McGee. I like beer, I like money... And I like a nice ass to grab once in a while. You gonna have a problem with me grabbing your ass, Billy? I'd hate for that to be the case."

[heroeswork]

Billy slid his arms over Mike's shoulder's curling loosely around him. His smirk was playful and teasing. Come on, Mike. He needed more to work with than just that.

"Of course not. But if that's all you've got in the way of taste, you're a far simpler man than I've assumed you to be." He leaned closer still, enough for his breath to be felt over the other's lips.

[47redbirds]

Mike laughs. He can still be the play boy, the tough guy, the marine--which was a complete lie, as he's sure Billy knows by now--but when it comes to stuff like this?

Well. He's no virgin and he doesn't like pussyfooting around this shit, no, but the teasing he could probably do forever. Honestly, he could care less who tops and who bottoms, but he's sure as hell gonna make Billy work for it regardless.

So what, he's a slave driver. Sue him.

That breath over the lips does it, though, and as Billy curls around him Mike is immediately kissing the other, hard and needy but alarmingly sensual, taking his time with every single kiss as his hands move to run up the other's arms.

[heroeswork]

That gave Billy all the information he needed. A blatant invitation to have anything he wanted, but it was mostly to confirm what he'd seen before. He'd run across some people in the past who acted like they wanted control at first but did it only because it was expected of them. But he preferred to allow his target to always take control first. Sure, it was the more dangerous route for him, but when it was trust he was trying to gain, it was always so effective.

So when Mike suddenly closed that distance, he let Mike guide it. He kissed back, matching him every step of the way. As those hands ran over his arms, his own hands shifted, teasing into Mike's hair. Not shifting or changing anything, just running his fingers through those thick locks as they kissed.

(From Mike cause Kat's net blows)

[heroeswork]

Billy kisses back and it's invigorating, like he's just been fully woken up from a deep sleep. He's sure as hell awake now, and as those hands run through his hair as they kiss, he makes a small noise in the back of his throat in appreciation.

He moves Billy's shoulders, though there's a not so gentle shove towards the bed so he's laying on his back. Mike crawls onto him shortly after, straddling the other's hips, pulling his shirt off.

"Go," He motions to the other, signifying he should at least busy himself with his pants.

[heroeswork]

Billy let himself be pushed back, watching Mike with a broad smile as he hit the bed. He certainly looked pleased as Mike climbed on top of him. Something obvious so he didn't have to show just how well he could read Mike.

"So, that's your taste," he remarked. Without hesitation, he set to working Mike's pants free. He dragged them down, along with whatever he might be wearing underneath.

[47redbirds]

"I just think you're attractive when your hands are busy," He muses, and it would be a cold tone except he looks almost amused, peeling off the other's shorts as well.

It's not a lie at all. Mike had been incredibly distracted watching the there's hands on the wheel before. This is no different.

[heroeswork]

Billy lifted his hips to help facilitate the removal of his own before slowly dragging Mike's the rest of the way down. Billy had not noticed Mike's attention on his hands in the car, but he was often too focused on getting them out of one form of danger or another to pay much attention to where Mike's eyes were.

Once Mike's shorts were to his knees, Billy's hands slid back up to his hips, long fingers teasing over ever contour. "And just what should I busy my hands with, next?"

[47redbirds]

"Me," He says simply, and there's not so much wickedness as there is mischief in his eyes, enjoying those hands on his hips. Then again, Billy could touch anywhere and Mike would be perfectly content.

As it was he moves his mouth down on Billy's, not bothering to hide how much ferocity he had, how much he wanted Billy, right then and there. His own hand moved down Billy's treasure trail, stopping just short of the other's actual cock, still preoccupied with biting on the other's lip as he pulls away for more air.