Fic: No Win Situation
Title: No Win Situation - Chapter Three
Pairing: Michael/Ned
Rating: Through to NC-17
Summary: Michael and his mom have moved from the big city to a small town, will he be able to bury his ghosts with a little help from his neighbour? Or will he always feel the shadows around him...
Chapter One | Chapter Two |
“Michael!” his mom called from the family room, he jumped in from the garden, a pair of home-made jorts on his legs, a grey vest top hanging out of his back pocket and a smile appearing on his face as he saw his mom pushing on her sunglasses. “I’m nipping into town, would you like anything?”
“No thanks.” He grinned, stretching and bringing his arms on the top of his head, his body covered in a light tan. “Do - I mean, do you think there would... I - never mind,” he whispered and turned around, heading back to the patio doors.
“I can see if I can set your subscription up to your magazine again,” she watched him carefully as he turned slowly; he smiled and nodded, “Thank you.” She moved over to him and pressed a kiss to his forehead as she left him to go back into the garden, his music playing quietly, singing along under his breath.
He started fixing up the shed his mom had brought a few days ago, the instructions being held down by his iPod dock, a glass of water and a hammer, so far, he was having a hard time fixing it together and was about to give up, he was wrapped up in his own thoughts that he barely heard the doorbell go, he turned his music down and headed towards the door, opening it slowly, smiling nervously as Ned stood in front of him, grey jeans clinging to his muscular legs, a black and white checkered shirt, opened halfway down his chest. Michael had to mentally kick himself to stop himself licking his lips.
“Hey Michael,” he smiled cheerfully.
“Hey... You just missed my mom...” He wiped sweat from his brow, wishing he had a towel to wipe himself down as a light spray of sweat stuck to his body.
“Oh...” he nods, looking at Michael’s chest, watching as a drop of sweat rolled down his forming abs... “What are you doing then?”
“Attempting to put up a shed,” he laughed nervously.
“Would you like some help?” Michael looked relieved at the question, he nodded slowly.
“If you don’t have anything better to do, I would love it. I think I need someone stronger, to be honest.”
“I’m not so sure about strong, but I can give it a go, if you would like?”
“Please?” he smiled, looking between his and Ned’s arms, although Michael was built up, he sometimes lacked the strength he would have normally had. Michael opens the door more and lets Ned in, their bodies brush against each other, Michael shivers, biting his lip, he closes the door and leads Ned out into the garden, his hips naturally swaying temptingly, Ned’s eyes running down his back, resting on his ass, he sucked his bottom lip, looking away, knowing that was wrong. He was older than Michael, by six years; he was happily married, with a child. He looked away and focused on the shed, the metal one, he smiled at Michael’s half finished attempt at a shed before moving over, bending over and picking up one of the sheets of metal. Michael suppressed a whimper as he stared at Ned’s ass, he moved over to him to help him and soon they were working together to build a shed.
“So, you like music, I gather?” Michael blushes and nods slowly, “What sort of music?”
“All sorts,” he shrugs, “Mainly rock... Classic rock.” Ned grinned, helping Michael move the shed over slightly to where it was supposed to go.
“I’m a big AC/DC fan,” he smiles.
“I own everything they have ever put out - even some of their unreleased stuff,” he grins, starting to put the gardening tools in the shed, along with a red mountain bike. “Don’t forget Journey, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen... So amazing.” Ned watched him; it had been the most he had smiled since he had met him.
“Do you play any instruments?”
“Guitar and drums...” He looks down and starts putting the tools in the shed, folding the instructions up and putting them in a drawer full of manuals for household appliances. His music left outside, two sun loungers set up. Ned didn’t ask him about music anymore, he watched him potter around, tidying up the smallest of messes, his tongue poking out the side of his mouth.
“Why did your mom choose here to move to?” he asked softly, sitting next to him on the sun lounger.
“It was far away from there.” Silence lapsed them, if it wasn’t for the music, it would be awkward. “I need to renew your prescription again...”
“Oh... Yeah... Do I have to go for a physical? My mom went for hers and, I know my doctor sent you over all my stuff and that, do I have to go in and get weighed and have my blood drawn and pee in a cup and all that glamorous stuff? Or can you take my word for it that I am mental?” He looked down, picking at his jorts slowly. Ned let out a hefty sigh.
“You’re not mental, Mike.” He patted his knee softly, looking up at him. “You’re the complete opposite of mental.” Michael looked at his hand; he bit his lip and walked inside, his manners out of the window when he felt like he couldn’t breathe. He scratched the back of his neck, welts cut deep in his skin, he grabs two glasses, trying to control his hands as they shook almost uncontrollably. Ned walked in behind him, taking the glasses away from him, putting them on the side.
“Anything else that you need help with?”
“I only really needed help with that, thank you...”
“Are you sure?” Michael nods slowly, sighing, he turns to face Ned.
“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to get snappy.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it, it’s hot outside and you’re stressed, it’s going to be okay now.” He smiled, moving closer to Michael, watching as the young boy jumped on the side, chewing his lip, rubbing his ragged hair more.
“Okay... Do you want anything to drink?” Michael looked at the glasses on the side, not sure why he had got them out.
“A water would be fine, thanks.” He watched Michael jump off the side, he walked over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle and pouring it into the two glasses, he handed one to Ned, their hands brushing as he took the glass. “Thank you.”
Michael gasped, nodding slowly, a nervous smile on his face. “You’re welcome.”
watched Michael jump off the side, he walked over to the fridge, pulling out a bottle and pouring it into the two glasses, he handed one to Ned, their hands brushing as he took the glass. “Thank you.”
Michael gasped, nodding slowly, a nervous smile on his face. “You’re welcome.” He took a step back, blindly finding the recycling bin. Ned smiled softly, watching him completely.
“Later, I was going to take Molly to the park, would you like to come?” Michael’s face lights up, the remnants of a child still left in him, rather than his eyes looking broken, he nodded.
“I’d love to.” He jumped back on the side.
“I’m glad, you are good with her.” Michael blushes softly. A look Ned deemed he would like to see more. They lapsed into silence for a good five minutes, it was comfortable, Michael liked it, they drank peacefully before Ned broke the silence.
“So...” he chuckles, resting on the side next to Michael. Michael bit his lip, he was close, his head was right next to his heart and Michael didn’t want Ned to hear how fast his heart was beating. Ned ran his thumb over the rim of his glass, his fingers running over the condensation slowly. As Michael watched him, he could only think that Ned was teasing him, his fingers glazing over the glass sensuously. Michael bit his lip, watching them, his eyes trailing the patterns.
Ned looked up at him; he tilted his head, smiling. Michael has to catch his breath as he sees just how beautiful he was, his body almost involuntarily moving closer.
“What are you going to do now that the shed is finished?” He asks, watching Michael’s embarrassed expression.
“I - I don’t know...” he stutters, looking down.
“Do you want me to leave you alone?” Michael willed himself to not say no, he shrugged, looking at him.
“It’s up to you... Sure you are busy doing things and stuff...”
“What if I want to stay?” Michael’s breath hitched, he looked up at him, nodding, he could get them both into trouble for whatever he was feeling and thinking about doing with his neighbour.
“Then you stay,” he whispered, looking up at him nervously, sucking his lip. Ned smiled, his tongue licking over his lips slowly.
“Then I’ll stay.”