Act of Desperation
Title: Acts of Desperation
Chapter: 13
Fandom: Jackass/Viva La Bam AU
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Ryan/Bam
Warning: Twelve year age difference between main characters…
Disclaimer: Fiction. Learn it, live it, love it.
Word Count: 6380 (Yes, six thousand!)
Summary: Ryan Dunn is a truck driver who chances picking up a hitchhiker…
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12
“So… did your mom say anything else?” Ryan asked breaking the silence that had spread over the last half hour as they trudged slowly down the busy interstate. “… Bam?”
Knees bouncing in agitation, Bam cleared his throat. “Just that she’d keep my stuff in the PT Loser as long as she could…” He sighed loudly. “She acts like any of her little offers actually help…” He scraped at the window distractedly and continued. “You know… I use to watch her and Phil work their asses off day in and day out for me and Jesse… and I swore that if I was ever able to… I’d make sure they’d never have to worry again…”
Letting his hand leave the gear shift, Dunn reached over and ran the back of his fingers over his cheek. Bam flinched at the unexpected touch, but quickly nuzzled into it with a tiny smile. Ryan flashed a small grin at him before redirecting his attention to the road
“So…” He attempted again. “September 28th?”
“Huh?” Bam glanced at Dunn. “… oh. Oh!”
“Well?” Ryan quirked an eyebrow.
“Birthday…”
“17 not 18?”
“Yeah…” Bam frowned.
“Good cover with Spence back there….”
“Shouldn’t fucking matter…”
“But it does.”
“Especially to you.” He sniped.
Clenching his jaw, Ryan looked for the next rest area to pull into. “You’re saying it shouldn’t matter at all? Think about it. When I was your age you were barely in Kindergarten!”
“So… I’m not in fucking Kindergarten now…”
“You’re only 17...”
When the truck had come to a complete stop at the rest area, Bam finally replied to Ryan. “Yeah… I’m only 17... I’m also on my own! I couldn’t go home if I tried. Seems to me that my age should have stopped being an issue as soon as that fucking door slammed shut behind me…” Dunn started to speak, but Bam raised his voice and spoke over him. “I know I ain’t got a job or an apartment or any of that shit that…” Fingering quotations in the air, he emphasized his words. “…adults… got. But beyond your god-damn charity, the world has made it pretty fucking apparent that I’m on my own.” By the end of his tirade, Bam’s face was red with anger and frustration. He pointed at Ryan. “And you, don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful as hell and I know I’d probably be dead or worse without you… but sometimes you treat me like that fucking number makes me incapable of the smallest decision.”
Finally cutting him off, Dunn yelled. “Did you ever stop to think it might not be about you?!” The retort on Bam’s lips died; his silence allowing Ryan to continue. “It’s a bit of a mind fuck, you know? Looking at you… and remembering what I was like at your age… knowing I’ll never be that young again… that we’ll never be the same age…and yet all I want to do is kiss you so damn bad that I can hardly think…”
“Then don’t fucking think.” Bam spat and climbed into the sleeper letting the curtain fall behind him.
“Get back up here… I can’t sit at this fucking rest area all god-damn day, Bam!”
“Fuck off…”
Cussing to himself, Ryan shifted gears and pulled out of the rest area and back onto the interstate. Every few minutes he’d let his attention drift from the road and focus in on the slow movement back in the sleeper. It technically wasn’t safe to drive with Bam back there, but he really didn’t have the time to waste in his schedule after taking those two days off in Knoxville. Dunn was so distracted that he almost didn’t see the roadside sign indicating that the upcoming DOT weigh station was open. Shit. Shit. Shit. “Bam, get your ass up here… Now.”
“Fuck, can’t I have thirty god-damn minutes to myself?”
“Fine, after you get your ass up here and we make it through this DOT check point you can have as many god-damn hours as you want… just get your ass up here fast.”
In all but five seconds, Bam slid into the passenger seat without protest. A deep frown was clearly etched into his face. But despite his anger at the trucker, his eyes kept flickering from the weigh station and back at Dunn.
***
“Shit, man… that was intense. Are they always such jerks?” Bam asked with wide eyes. The DOT cop had wigged him out a hell of a lot more than anyone they’d ran into yet. He was sure that their gig was up when Ryan had been asked for Bam’s paperwork. In all the excitement of the last couple days, the passenger authorization signed up in Pennsylvania had been completely forgotten. Yet again, he found himself playing the role of Dunn’s sister’s kid.
“Actually, sometimes it’s worse. We passed…” Ryan motioned towards a truck and trailer parked on the wayside. “That guy didn’t. They’re probably sending out some other truck or driver to finish the load on time…”
“Shitty.”
“Are we okay?” Dunn asked. Bam sighed and slumped in his seat. It almost caused Ryan to smile at the familiarity. “Well, are we?”
“Depends…”
“Does that mean you’re gonna spend the whole afternoon being pissy?”
“No.”
“Could I talk you into making me or us a sandwich?”
Arching around the seat, Bam flipped open the icebox and pulled out the necessary supplies. He was just finishing slapping Ryan’s sandwich together when he finally couldn’t take it any longer. “Shit, Ry… I don’t want to go back even if it is to pick up my stuff… it’s just going to be this huge ass drama… Vito’s gonna stomp his fat ass around and scream and yell until Ape’s crying… and fucking Phil… he didn’t use too jump on Vito’s fucking bandwagon… I don’t even know how Jesse’s going to act…”
“Especially when they see me…”
Bam snorted. “In comparison to some of my other friends, you look pretty normal… actually.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or be a little insulted….” Ryan smirked trying to lighten the mood.
“Seriously, do you think your company would load you back towards PA?”
Dunn glanced from the road to his face momentarily. “Grab the Qualcom…” Pulling the keyboard onto his lap, Bam awaited directions. “Hit start then macros and page down until you see an option labeled ‘looking for a load to’… and put and X by it”
“Okay… hang on…” Eyes squinted in concentration, Bam fiddled with the keyboard until he managed to accomplish the directions. “Now what?”
“Type in your home town… then hit enter…” A shrill beep sounded in the cab. “…and now we wait and see what load they offer me after we deliver in Texas.”
“How come you don’t decide where you drive?”
“Because I’m just a driver… I don’t own this truck… Missing Link… he’s what’s called an owner operator… he owns his truck and is an independent contractor… I’m not… I can’t fucking afford to be.”
“Oh…” Bam set the Qualcom back between the seats and looked out his window. “… hey, sorry about being such a bitch earlier…”
Ryan sighed softly. “You had a point though… some of that shit had to be said…”
“I’m trying to apologize here…”
Cutting his eyes at Bam, Dunn pressed his lips together and nodded. “Apology accepted then… can I have my sandwich now?”
A small giggle escaped Bam’s lips as he handed the food to the trucker. “Can I listen to some music?”
“Uh huh…” Ryan mumbled between bites. “Eat something when you get hungry…”
“I will…”
***
“Shit, I hope they have a place to park the truck…” Dunn was throwing his entire weight into turning the wheel as they entered the Pilot truck stop. The lot was a sea of 18 wheelers.
Pointing towards a narrow looking spot between two dry box trailer, Bam asked. “Hey, can you fit there?!”
Eyes sizing up the spot, Ryan looked over at Bam. “You’ll need to help guide me in… go out and stand on the left of the spot way far back…” Bam scrambled out of the truck and started waving Dunn in. After a good half hour of maneuvering, the truck was finally parked. Climbing out of the cab, Ryan rolled his shoulders. “Jesus Christ, I never want to fucking do that again…”
Bam walked up beside him and started to rub his shoulder but quickly changed it into a pat. He forced a silly grin before nodding towards the Pilot. Side by side they headed towards the store. Halfway there, Dunn’s eyes fell an Black GTO. Smiling ear to ear, he made a bee-line to check it out. Bam snickered at him, but quickly followed.
While Ryan was busy lusting over the car, Bam found a spot a few feet away on the sidewalk where he could hear the radio playing in the store and sat on the edge of the curb singing along silently with it. That is until a couple people started to approach Dunn. Bam had thought he wore a lot of make up but the guy and girl stepping up beside the GTO made him look damn near rural.
Ryan was practically itching to get his fingers on the hood and look at the engine, when the female of the couple spoke. “Can we help you?”
“Uh… just checking out your car… it’s a 1965, right?”
She raised a drawn eyebrow at him. “1967…” Her face was painted with a defensive mask as she huddled beside the passenger side door.
Silently Bam stood and walked over to Ryan’s side. “Well, ask ‘em… you know you want to…”
“Bam.”
“What?!” He rolled his eyes at Dunn. “He wants to peek at the engine…”
“Bam….”
“You do! You’ve been practically drooling…”
The guy of the couple looked between them. “No smart ass shit about this?” He motioned at his and his girl’s general appearance.
“Fuck no…” Bam replied then held out his hand. “I’m Bam… this is m… this is Ryan.”
Dunn waved shyly at them and quickly diverted his attention back to the vehicle not wanting to get caught staring.
“Bethany…”
“Colin…”
“Cool…” Bam replied then nodded at Ryan’s back. “Seriously, he’s probably not going to be good for conversation until he gets his eyes on your engine…” He laughed and rammed his shoulder into Dunn’s.
The levity of the encounter was soon soured as a group of guys walked by. “Hey freaks, go back to California…” Followed by a chorus of, “Yeah, faggots…”
Dunn’s head jerked towards the group but he kept his cool until they were out of earshot. “Fucking assholes…” He mumbled and turned his attention back to Bethany and Colin. “I’d apologize for their shit… but I ain’t from Texas…”
“We are… sadly.” Replied Colin before walking up to the front of the car and popping the hood.
Bethany quickly started up a conversation with Bam when both Colin and Ryan became distracted. “So… he seems more like the type to yell that shit at us…. What’s his story?”
Shrugging, Bam smiled at her. “Surviving I guess… Hey, I need to pay for parking… want to walk in with me? They’re going to be a while, I think.”
“Sure…”
Bam walked up beside Dunn and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. Ryan shot him a startled look but said nothing. “I’m gonna go pay for parking… want anything else?” He asked.
“Uh…nah…”
As they headed towards the store, Bethany shot a look over her shoulder back at Dunn just in time to catch him watching Bam walk away. Cocking her head to the side, she raised an eyebrow at Bam. “So… is he your boyfriend or something?”
Holding the door open for her in silence, Bam didn’t reply at first. He ducked down and aisle and grabbed a bottle of water before finally meeting her eyes. “Would that bother you?”
“Hell, no…”
“Really?”
Bethany frowned at him. “Really. Why do people normally give you two trouble?”
“Kinda…”
She quickly changed the subject. “Do you guys like music?”
Fingers fiddling with the merchandise on a nearby snack rack, Bam shifted on his feet. “Yeah… I guess.”
“There’s a really kick ass club across town… Colin and I were just on our way in to go there actually…”
“I… uh… probably couldn’t go…”
Whispering as she leaned closer, Bethany inquired. “He wouldn’t let you?!”
A snort erupted from Bam’s nose before he could hold it back. “No, he wouldn’t care… but I’m probably not old enough…”
She looked him up and down. “You don’t have to be 21 to go… they’ll stamp your hand with a huge ass no drinks symbol though…”
“Still probably couldn’t go…” Bam shrugged and pretended to be interested in a rack of chips.
“C’mon… we know the owners… we’ll get you guys in. Wait… are you a minor then?”
“If by minor you mean… not 18... Uh…yeah?”
Bethany wrapped an arm around Bam’s tense shoulders and squeezed. “You can calm down, you know… I’m not going to freak out…”
“Most people would…”
“I’m not most people…” She squeezed his shoulder again. “So, you want to see if… R…”
“Ryan…”
“Ryan… would be interested?”
“Maybe… I really need to pay to park the truck…”
“What’s that about anyways? Why would you have to pay to park?”
Bam pointed out the window. “Truck parking…”
Her eyes flickered from Bam to the semis outside. “You two are truckers?!” She asked in shock.
“Uh… Ry is… I don’t actually drive or anything… but I try to help out.”
“Whoa…”
The corner of his mouth quirked at her reaction. He stepped up to the counter with his water. “Truck parking for one night, please… E-12...” The cashier handed him a voucher and change. “Thanks…”
Bethany cut her eyes at him again. “You guys really are in one of those trucks…?”
“Yeah…”
***
Ryan was bent across the side of the car seemingly checking out the details when the two of them walked out. Motioning Colin over, Bethany left Bam to meet up with Dunn. “Hey…” He said quietly as he slid up beside him.
“What’s that about?” Dunn nodded at Colin and Bethany.
“She invited us to go with them to some club in the city…” Eyebrows shooting up, Ryan stared at Bam. “I told her we probably couldn’t go… she kinda figured out that I’m a minor…”
“Shit, do we need to leave?”
Shaking his head, Bam replied. “No… at least I don’t think so… I was about to walk back out to grab you so we could book it… and she acted like it wasn’t a big deal…”
Just then Colin approached them. “So… Ryan, what do you think? Bethany says she invited the two of you to join us…”
“Uh… no offense, but I’m probably not dressed for it…” Dunn replied cautiously.
“You can change… you guys have extra clothes in your truck, don’t you?” She asked.
Upon seeing Ryan’s hesitation, Colin quickly added. “You don’t have to wear make up or anything…”
Bam’s shoulders shook in laughter earning him a light shove from Ryan. “Smart ass…” He paused and waited for Bam to look up at him. “So… you want to? It’s not like we can go anywhere for at least 10 hours…”
“Sure!”
Returning his attention to Bethany and Colin, Ryan nodded. “Sure… but our truck’s that way…”
Colin grinned. “I’ve never seen a big rig engine before…”
“Oh god…” Bam mumbled before slowly starting towards the truck.
Bethany once again took a place at Bam’s side. “Men, huh?” She teased.
Smirking, Bam nodded. “Yeah… I’m not much for car… or truck talk. But he’s having the time of his life talking about turbos and shit with your boyfriend…” He kicked a rock out of his path. “What should we wear…?”
“Well, I can’t see… your boyfriend?… being the type for something over the top… honestly… something black would work for him… what are you going to wear?”
Bam shoved his hands into his pockets. “Probably change my shirt and put on some…” He paused for a moment before answering. “Jewelry and make up or something…”
“Cool…”
“Heh…” He responded nervously. “You seriously aren’t freaked out by our age difference?”
She grabbed Bam’s bicep and pulled him to a stop. “It doesn’t look like he’s trying to control you or anything… he seems kinda smitten with you… just don’t do anything you don’t want to…”
“Shit, now you sound just like him.”
Bethany laughed and released his arm. “Well, go on… get ready… we’ll wait out here…”
***
Inside the cab, Bam let out a shaky breath after they entered the sleeper. “You really okay with this?”
“If they’re cool with us… hell yes, I’m fine with this… it’s something different… I’ve been on the road so damn long barely speaking to anyone… it’s nice to do something beside watch TV all night…”
Bam inched up against his chest and standing on his toes pressed a kiss on Dunn’s mouth then retreated with a smile to grab his bag. “Bethany said you could probably get away with just wearing something black…”
Sliding his arms around Bam’s waist from behind, Ryan whispered in his ear. “They going to freak out if I can’t stop myself from kissing you?”
Bam shivered and let his eyes drop shut. “She asked if we were together, actually…” He breathed in reply. Tilting his head, he exposed his neck to Dunn, sighing when lips gently pressed a kiss to his flesh.
Dressing quickly, Ryan was the first to exit the truck. He’d taken Bam’s advice and pulled on his cleanest black t-shirt which exposed more of his arms than he was use to, but he went with it. The closest thing to a pair of black pants he had were a pair of dark gray carpenter pants so he’d pulled those on.
Bethany smirked at his bandana. “You might want to take that off…”
Ryan’s shoulders fell. “You’re serious?” She nodded. “Bam’s going to give me such shit…”
“Why?!” Colin asked with a laugh.
“Headband…”
Giggling Bethany smiled at him. “You can wait until we leave if you want then…”
“If any of these assholes care… it’s their own damn problem… besides… when he’s finished… along with the two of you… I won’t really be the focus of attention anymore.” Dunn smirked.
Bethany glanced at the truck’s cab. “He really…” She motioned at herself and Colin. “Wears make-up and what not?”
“Sometimes…” He looked up at the truck for a minute before darting his eyes between them. “So… you already talked to Bam… does he know?” He motioned at Colin.
She placed her hand on Colin’s forearm and leaned over into his ear whispering. His eyes went wide at first then he shrugged. He met Dunn’s gaze. “It’s cool, man… this club we’re going to is mixed by the way…”
“Mixed?”
“No one will care about…” He motioned between Ryan and the truck. “You two…”
“Oh…” Dunn’s attention was suddenly drawn from their conversation as Bam climbed out of the cab. In addition to the expected make-up, jewelry, and scarf, he’d pulled on the shirt he’d been wearing when Ryan had picked him up. It didn’t look half bad clean, Dunn thought. He suddenly recognized the symbols on it from the symbols on the HIM CD he’d bought back in Knoxville. Grinning, he nodded towards Bethany and Colin. “Let’s go…”
Back at the GTO, Colin flipped his seat forward to let them into the back seat. Bethany grinned evilly back at them. “Hope you boys like Mindless Self Indulgence…” Ryan quirked an eyebrow at Bam only to catch him smiling and nearly bouncing in his seat.
“What album?!” Bam quickly asked her.
“Frankenstein girls…”
Dunn laughed at Bam’s widening smile. When Colin started the car and the stereo blasted loudly, he was shocked to hear music of such high energy start playing. “And here I thought you only listened to melancholy shit…” He teased Bam.
“MSI’s an exception…”
“Apparently…” There was a gentle smile on Ryan’s face as they pulled out of the lot. He discreetly wove his fingers through Bam’s hand before directing his attention outside. It had been damn long since he was a passenger in a vehicle and he was going to enjoy the scenery.
In the front seat, Bethany pulled out her cell and made a call. A few minutes she turned and flashed a smile at Bam. “You two are on the list with us… you won’t be ID’d but you’ll get your hand stamped…”
Her words drew Dunn out of his trance with the outdoors. She knew then about Bam’s age if his ID was being specifically made a non-issue. He needed to have a word with her at the club. He was about to return his attention back to the window when he noticed the lyrics to the music. Smirking at Bam he pressed his knee against his. When the kid looked over at him, he shook his head and smirked. Widening his eyes as if to say what, Bam looked momentarily confused before noticing the lyrics himself. He started laughing.
“You’re such a dork…” Ryan teased.
“Fuck you, grandpa…”
Laughing out loud, Dunn couldn’t help but smile when Bethany turned around and gave them a strange look. He leaned over and whispered into Bam’s ear. “Hey… I’m going to take off my bandana… you can’t give me shit…”
Bam’s eyes twinkled as he leaned in to reply. “Why would I?” He thought for a minute. “Oh… you have that headband on under there don’t you?!” Ryan forced a mock glare. Shaking his head, Bam whispered back. “No shit… I promise.”
***
Dunn smiled shyly at Colin before climbing out of the GTO’s back seat. Across the hood, Bethany hollered out. “I get one spot on Bam’s dance card you!!”
Upon seeing Ryan’s eyes widen at the word dance, Bam cracked up. He quickly fell to Dunn’s side. “You don’t have to dance if you want…”
“We’ll see…” He grabbed Bam’s wrist and held him back a few steps “Do you care if I have a few drinks?”
“No… go ahead…”
“If you don’t want me to… just let me know…”
“Okay…”
At Colin and Bethany’s side, they quickly made it inside. The club was quite a bit more over the top than Ryan had expected. But when he saw explicit proof that public affection with Bam was not going to be a problem he started to relax. When Bethany approached the bar, Dunn left Bam with her boyfriend and walked with her. “So…” He spoke as quietly as he could over the music into her ear. “You’re cool with… Bam and I?”
“He bitched that I sounded like you earlier when I told him not to do anything he didn’t want to… so yeah, I’m cool with it.”
Ryan smiled at her words. At the bar, she quickly ordered a drink for herself and Colin. Dunn asked for a coke and a long island ice tea. This caused Bethany to smile wider. “What?” He asked when the bartender had left to mix his drink.
“You bought him a coke… See? Further proof that you’re cool. You’re not buying him shit he shouldn’t have.” She smiled.
“You’ll kick my ass if I let him smoke, won’t you?”
Bethany laughed, but shook her head. “His choice… Colin has smoked since he was fifteen.”
The bottom of Ryan’s stomach fell out when the approached the booth Bam and Colin had taken up residence at. Colin’s arm was draped over Bam’s shoulder. Frowning, he sat down next to him. Immediately, the arm disappeared. Colin, however, had seen Ryan’s reaction and was quick to explain. “Some asshole wouldn’t leave him alone… we improvised…”
Bam mouthed sorry and scooted closer to Dunn. His eyes fell on the drink in front of him. “A coke, Ry?” He leaned over and whispered in his ear with a laugh. “Thanks, daddy…”
Ryan elbowed him as he nearly choked on his first sip of his drink. “Fucker…”
Laughing, Bam smiled and let his eyes wander around the club. Bethany and Colin eventually excused themselves to hit the dance floor leaving the two of them alone in the booth.
After a few songs, Bam finally heard one he knew and started singing along with it. “How is it that it’s came to be that everybody’s gone but me… I don’t want to have to face the end alone…”
The lyrics hit Ryan’s ears and he found himself staring at Bam with new eyes. The kid never just sang the entire song ever… he always ended up singing just a few lines or bars. And Dunn was starting to see a pattern in the lyrics that Bam had either consciously or unconsciously chosen. That realization and their argument earlier that day began weighing on his mind. Amidst the crowd he reached out and cupped Bam’s face.
“What are you doing?”
Ryan leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. “Not thinking.” When their lips met, he mourned the loss of hearing Bam whimper as it was drowned out by the music. Swiping his tongue over his bottom lip, Dunn sought entrance and was quick to intensify their kiss when Bam’s mouth fell willingly open. Pulling away he spoke. “Let’s dance…”
“… okay…”
Watching Ryan stand and shuffle his ass out of the booth, Bam smirked but joined him immediately. The further they stepped into the crowd, the less nervous both of them became. By the time they got to the bustling center of the dance floor, Dunn’s hands were clasp tightly over Bam’s hips. As they ground their bodies together to the beat, Bam ran his hand up and over Ryan’s arms. He smiled as inch after inch of tattoos were exposed in the club’s pulsating lights.
Once again, Dunn found himself smiling as Bam mouthed the occasion lyrics. They were playing the same artist from earlier. He was going to have to ask who they were later, but for now he was content to observe Bam sing along like nobody was watching.
“There’s so much on my mind, we’re given so little time. There’s no way to hold on as it passes by, so lead me into denial… help me forget for awhile… stay with me, please don’t go… though some say I will heal over time it doesn’t seem too likely…”
Ryan lifted his hands from Bam’s hips and pulled the boy into a kiss upon hearing the sadness behind the words he sang. When Bam’s fingers dug into his biceps, he only deepened the kiss. Most of the dance floor had started to move as the beat to the next song sped up, yet they stood there barely moving as Dunn dipped his tongue deep into Bam’s mouth wanting nothing more than to remain there with him in his arms.
They pulled apart when the overheated air from the club and a lack of oxygen became an issue. Bam smiled shyly up at Ryan. “Booth?” He mouthed. Dunn nodded and grinning ear to ear watched as Bam danced his way back towards Colin and Bethany.
The music wasn’t much quieter when the got back and sat down across from their hosts. Ryan leaned over and halfway yelled. “Who is this?”
Grinning, Bam took a large gulp of his soda before answering. “Celldweller…”
“Where are they from?”
“Detroit.”
Laughter spilled from Dunn’s mouth earning him a playful punch. “Ow…” He teased. “Just asking, they could have been from Finland…”
Bam rolled his eyes, but the smile he flashed as he took another drink from his soda was more than refreshing.
***
Five Long Island Ice Teas later, Ryan was lying on his back across the booth seat with his head nestled in Bam’s lap. “Sing for me…”
Blushing, Bam glanced over at Colin and Bethany only to notice that they were more interested in each other than them. He waited for another familiar song to begin playing. “Inside this fantasy, it seems so real to me. Synthetic ecstasy, when her legs are open…. True love behind a wall… where men and angels fall… a fading memory when my mind is frozen…” He took a drink of the second coke that Bethany had brought him back earlier before continuing. “I can see a frozen point in time where her figure still awaits. Tongue of fire tracing lips, outline where frozen breath originates… with one motion of her waiting eyes, she strip everything away. This one moment is intensified and the colors all fade to gray…”
Ryan sat up enough to press his lips to Bam’s and kissed him drunkenly before grabbing his cigarettes off the table. He lit one and reclined back on Bam’s lap. When he released a mouthful of smoke, Bam slipped the cigarette from his fingers and took a puff before pressing it back to Dunn’s mouth. His fingers grazed his lips as Ryan inhaled. For the next few minutes they smoked in silence sharing a single cigarette. Neither of them noticing when Colin and Bethany had stopped kissing and taken to watching them.
His eyes were sliding shut as Ryan smiled up at Bam. “I’m so drunk… I’m about to fall asleep right here…”
Laughing, Bam put out their cigarette. He glanced up and noticed two sets of eyes on them. “I didn’t think he’d drink that much…”
“I didn’t!” Dunn protested from his lap. “I just haven’t drank in almost two years…”
Bethany reached across the table and patted Bam’s hand. “We were thinking about heading home soon anyway… we could drop you off at the truck stop…”
Nodding from his place in Bam’s lap, Ryan fished out his keys and handed them to Bam. “The one with the red tag is to the truck…”
With great effort, Dunn sat up and stood at the edge of the booth waiting for Bam to climb out. When he did, Ryan collapsed on his shoulder and arm in arm they followed Bethany and Colin out of the club. They weren’t even out of the club’s parking when Dunn fell asleep curled up in the back seat.
“Is he going to be okay to drive tomorrow?” Bethany turned and asked.
“He gave me the keys… I won’t let him unless he’s sobered up.”
She nodded then gave Bam a meaningful look. “Are you two okay? Even out there on the dance floor… you guys just seem so… sad.”
Bam sighed and let his eyes drift over Ryan. “It’s a long story…”
Colin finally piped in. “It’s long drive…”
“I don’t know about Ryan… but the truck is my only home… with him… One of his trucker friends made a comment about him not going back to Med… Ohio where he’s from… he hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s just as unwelcome at home as me…”
“Why?!” Bethany gasped.
“My family kicked me out because I’m gay… I don’t know about Ry… and as you can imagine… not everyone is so accepting of us… especially in his line of work.”
No one spoke for the next couple minutes. Bethany leaned across the seat and pressed a slip of paper into Bam’s hands. “If anything ever happens and you need a place to stay… give us a call…”
“Thanks, but I can’t…”
Bethany refused to hear it. “Bam, please… you seem like a sweet kid fallen on hard times… if you find yourself … on the streets again or something… call us… okay?”
“Okay…” He relented and smiled sadly at Ryan’s sleeping form.
When they pulled into the truck stop, Bam gently shook Ryan’s shoulder. “Hey, Ry… we’re back at the truck… wake up…” He was answered with a small grunt. He shook a little harder. “Ryan! Wake up!” Bam ran his fingers through his own hair in frustration.
Ryan pried his eyes open and smiled warmly at Bam. “Hey, babe…”
“How many of those drinks did he have?” Colin asked arching to turn around in the driver’s seat.
“I think five…” Replied Bam
“Damn… I’m surprised he didn’t pass out at the club… those things are potent.”
“Ryan…” His voice soothing, Bam asked. “Can you make it into the truck?”
“Yeah…”
Looking at Bethany, Colin shrugged. “I can help you get him into the truck…
“That’s okay, I think we’ll manage.”
Stumbling out of the car, Dunn grabbed onto Bethany’s open door and waited for Bam to exit. With a quick hug, Bam waved good bye to the two of them and proceeded to tuck Ryan’s arm over his shoulder and walk the few feet to the truck’s cab door.
***
White noise flooded Ryan’s ears. His mouth felt dry as hell, and his face was pressed against something warm and soft and… breathing? Eyes flying open, Dunn was relieved to find himself in his sleeper. What was unnerving was to find himself curled up with his head in Bam’s lap. He glanced upward and found the boy still asleep despite his cramped position on the bunk. Bit by bit the fogginess left his brain, and the events of the previous night flooded in.
Bam’s make up was smudged and his scarf a twisted mess. It only made Ryan smile wider. He reached up and caressed his cheek. Dunn watched in amusement as the initial morning confusion swept over Bam’s face before he looked down at Ryan. “Hey…”
Dunn shifted until he was facing the top of the sleeper and replied. “Hey…”
“Feeling okay?”
“Surprisingly… yes. What time is it?”
Squinting at the clock, Bam moaned in surprise. “Shit, it’s only like 3 am… I’ve only been asleep for a few hours…”
“I think I’m still a little drunk…”
“Ya think?” He laughed.
“Yeah, I do…wait… you told me to stop thinking…” Breathing out a light laugh, Bam did his best to not to cry at that statement. Ryan’s brow was furrowed as he continued to gaze up at the boy. “Bam…?”
“Uh huh?”
“I want to kiss you…”
“You don’t have to ask permission…”
“But I’m drunk…”
“I don’t care…”
Pushing himself up into a sitting position, Dunn clasp his hand around the back of Bam’s neck and pulled him forward. Their mouth slammed together. Ryan moaned into the kiss as he remembered just how hot Bam had looked just days ago kneeling in front of him asking if he was doing everything alright…as he remembered the shy smile and flushed cheeks in the store… and the tears he’d fought back waking up in a dark hotel room.
Dunn wanted to kiss, lick, nibble and touch Bam until every unhappy thought in his head was forgotten. It was about more than the physical reaction he could draw… about more than having Bam writhing and trembling beneath him. He wanted Bam to feel safe, loved and most especially… wanted.
His kisses gentled. Collapsing onto his back, Ryan pulled Bam on top of him. Both gasped at the weight of their bodies pressing together. Fingers dancing over Bam’s shoulders, Dunn lazily swiped his tongue over the ridges of Bam’s teeth before curling it around the boy’s tongue. Lips wide, he pressed up into Bam’s retreating mouth, whimpering when the kiss ended.
Exposing inch after inch, he lifted Bam’s shirt and scarf up and over his head. His next assault focused upon the stretch of pale flesh along Bam’s neck. Lips pressed against pulse points, Ryan bucked gently but still managed to lift Bam off of the mattress with his thrust.
Bam slid his hands under Dunn’s shirt and slowly traced them upwards, letting the fabric roll up on his wrists. The soft curls of Ryan’s happy trail left feather light kisses upon his bare stomach. Bam swallowed loudly only to have Dunn nip at his bobbing Adam’s apple. “Shit, Ry…” He gasped before pulling back just enough to peel the trucker’s shirt the rest of the way off.
When Ryan reached out to pull him back, Bam wove his arms underneath his and clutched his broad shoulders. Lips inches apart, they stared into each other’s eyes. Even in his drunken state, Dunn’s dusty blue eyes were gently seeking out any telltale signs of discomfort and unease. Meanwhile, Bam’s crystalline eyes tried to piece together the affection emanating from Ryan. He couldn’t’ explain why this man cared about him so much, but he was beyond caring. With a playful smile Bam nipped at the tip of Dunn’s nose before pressing their lips together again. Spreading happy, little kisses from one corner of Ryan’s mouth to the other, he giggled when a quiet moan erupted from him.
Snaking a hand down between their bodies, Ryan began unbuttoning Bam’s jeans. Much to Bam’s surprise he wasn’t pushing them down over his hips, instead nimble finger wove through the maze of jean, zipper, and boxers to wrap ever so gently around him before guiding his cock back out of the labyrinth of clothes.
Panting against Ryan’s mouth, Bam moaned loudly only to end up with a whimper on his lips when Dunn’s hand left his cock to attend to his own zipper. His brain had barely caught up with what was happening when Ryan pressed their dicks together and wrapped his hand around them tightly. The urge to thrust that Bam had been fighting could no longer be held back and with his fingers digging roughly into Dunn’s shoulder he rammed hard into his fist.
Ryan found his voice and began moaning. “Shit… oh, god…” Bam’s lips were everywhere. Each kiss nip and kiss bringing Dunn to the edge before rapidly retreating. Having this somewhat timid and usually scared as fuck young boy stretched out over him, literally fucking his fist like a natural top was almost more than Ryan’s drunken mind could take. Pleasure curled down his spine quite suddenly as he erupted all over his fist. Above him, Bam’s neck was arched as his eyes rolled back in pleasure. A few thrusts later, he laid gasping for breath over Dunn’s chest. In the cool night silence, neither of them moved to clean themselves up and soon sleep overtook them…
Chapter 14
Chapter: 13
Fandom: Jackass/Viva La Bam AU
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Ryan/Bam
Warning: Twelve year age difference between main characters…
Disclaimer: Fiction. Learn it, live it, love it.
Word Count: 6380 (Yes, six thousand!)
Summary: Ryan Dunn is a truck driver who chances picking up a hitchhiker…
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12
“So… did your mom say anything else?” Ryan asked breaking the silence that had spread over the last half hour as they trudged slowly down the busy interstate. “… Bam?”
Knees bouncing in agitation, Bam cleared his throat. “Just that she’d keep my stuff in the PT Loser as long as she could…” He sighed loudly. “She acts like any of her little offers actually help…” He scraped at the window distractedly and continued. “You know… I use to watch her and Phil work their asses off day in and day out for me and Jesse… and I swore that if I was ever able to… I’d make sure they’d never have to worry again…”
Letting his hand leave the gear shift, Dunn reached over and ran the back of his fingers over his cheek. Bam flinched at the unexpected touch, but quickly nuzzled into it with a tiny smile. Ryan flashed a small grin at him before redirecting his attention to the road
“So…” He attempted again. “September 28th?”
“Huh?” Bam glanced at Dunn. “… oh. Oh!”
“Well?” Ryan quirked an eyebrow.
“Birthday…”
“17 not 18?”
“Yeah…” Bam frowned.
“Good cover with Spence back there….”
“Shouldn’t fucking matter…”
“But it does.”
“Especially to you.” He sniped.
Clenching his jaw, Ryan looked for the next rest area to pull into. “You’re saying it shouldn’t matter at all? Think about it. When I was your age you were barely in Kindergarten!”
“So… I’m not in fucking Kindergarten now…”
“You’re only 17...”
When the truck had come to a complete stop at the rest area, Bam finally replied to Ryan. “Yeah… I’m only 17... I’m also on my own! I couldn’t go home if I tried. Seems to me that my age should have stopped being an issue as soon as that fucking door slammed shut behind me…” Dunn started to speak, but Bam raised his voice and spoke over him. “I know I ain’t got a job or an apartment or any of that shit that…” Fingering quotations in the air, he emphasized his words. “…adults… got. But beyond your god-damn charity, the world has made it pretty fucking apparent that I’m on my own.” By the end of his tirade, Bam’s face was red with anger and frustration. He pointed at Ryan. “And you, don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful as hell and I know I’d probably be dead or worse without you… but sometimes you treat me like that fucking number makes me incapable of the smallest decision.”
Finally cutting him off, Dunn yelled. “Did you ever stop to think it might not be about you?!” The retort on Bam’s lips died; his silence allowing Ryan to continue. “It’s a bit of a mind fuck, you know? Looking at you… and remembering what I was like at your age… knowing I’ll never be that young again… that we’ll never be the same age…and yet all I want to do is kiss you so damn bad that I can hardly think…”
“Then don’t fucking think.” Bam spat and climbed into the sleeper letting the curtain fall behind him.
“Get back up here… I can’t sit at this fucking rest area all god-damn day, Bam!”
“Fuck off…”
Cussing to himself, Ryan shifted gears and pulled out of the rest area and back onto the interstate. Every few minutes he’d let his attention drift from the road and focus in on the slow movement back in the sleeper. It technically wasn’t safe to drive with Bam back there, but he really didn’t have the time to waste in his schedule after taking those two days off in Knoxville. Dunn was so distracted that he almost didn’t see the roadside sign indicating that the upcoming DOT weigh station was open. Shit. Shit. Shit. “Bam, get your ass up here… Now.”
“Fuck, can’t I have thirty god-damn minutes to myself?”
“Fine, after you get your ass up here and we make it through this DOT check point you can have as many god-damn hours as you want… just get your ass up here fast.”
In all but five seconds, Bam slid into the passenger seat without protest. A deep frown was clearly etched into his face. But despite his anger at the trucker, his eyes kept flickering from the weigh station and back at Dunn.
***
“Shit, man… that was intense. Are they always such jerks?” Bam asked with wide eyes. The DOT cop had wigged him out a hell of a lot more than anyone they’d ran into yet. He was sure that their gig was up when Ryan had been asked for Bam’s paperwork. In all the excitement of the last couple days, the passenger authorization signed up in Pennsylvania had been completely forgotten. Yet again, he found himself playing the role of Dunn’s sister’s kid.
“Actually, sometimes it’s worse. We passed…” Ryan motioned towards a truck and trailer parked on the wayside. “That guy didn’t. They’re probably sending out some other truck or driver to finish the load on time…”
“Shitty.”
“Are we okay?” Dunn asked. Bam sighed and slumped in his seat. It almost caused Ryan to smile at the familiarity. “Well, are we?”
“Depends…”
“Does that mean you’re gonna spend the whole afternoon being pissy?”
“No.”
“Could I talk you into making me or us a sandwich?”
Arching around the seat, Bam flipped open the icebox and pulled out the necessary supplies. He was just finishing slapping Ryan’s sandwich together when he finally couldn’t take it any longer. “Shit, Ry… I don’t want to go back even if it is to pick up my stuff… it’s just going to be this huge ass drama… Vito’s gonna stomp his fat ass around and scream and yell until Ape’s crying… and fucking Phil… he didn’t use too jump on Vito’s fucking bandwagon… I don’t even know how Jesse’s going to act…”
“Especially when they see me…”
Bam snorted. “In comparison to some of my other friends, you look pretty normal… actually.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or be a little insulted….” Ryan smirked trying to lighten the mood.
“Seriously, do you think your company would load you back towards PA?”
Dunn glanced from the road to his face momentarily. “Grab the Qualcom…” Pulling the keyboard onto his lap, Bam awaited directions. “Hit start then macros and page down until you see an option labeled ‘looking for a load to’… and put and X by it”
“Okay… hang on…” Eyes squinted in concentration, Bam fiddled with the keyboard until he managed to accomplish the directions. “Now what?”
“Type in your home town… then hit enter…” A shrill beep sounded in the cab. “…and now we wait and see what load they offer me after we deliver in Texas.”
“How come you don’t decide where you drive?”
“Because I’m just a driver… I don’t own this truck… Missing Link… he’s what’s called an owner operator… he owns his truck and is an independent contractor… I’m not… I can’t fucking afford to be.”
“Oh…” Bam set the Qualcom back between the seats and looked out his window. “… hey, sorry about being such a bitch earlier…”
Ryan sighed softly. “You had a point though… some of that shit had to be said…”
“I’m trying to apologize here…”
Cutting his eyes at Bam, Dunn pressed his lips together and nodded. “Apology accepted then… can I have my sandwich now?”
A small giggle escaped Bam’s lips as he handed the food to the trucker. “Can I listen to some music?”
“Uh huh…” Ryan mumbled between bites. “Eat something when you get hungry…”
“I will…”
***
“Shit, I hope they have a place to park the truck…” Dunn was throwing his entire weight into turning the wheel as they entered the Pilot truck stop. The lot was a sea of 18 wheelers.
Pointing towards a narrow looking spot between two dry box trailer, Bam asked. “Hey, can you fit there?!”
Eyes sizing up the spot, Ryan looked over at Bam. “You’ll need to help guide me in… go out and stand on the left of the spot way far back…” Bam scrambled out of the truck and started waving Dunn in. After a good half hour of maneuvering, the truck was finally parked. Climbing out of the cab, Ryan rolled his shoulders. “Jesus Christ, I never want to fucking do that again…”
Bam walked up beside him and started to rub his shoulder but quickly changed it into a pat. He forced a silly grin before nodding towards the Pilot. Side by side they headed towards the store. Halfway there, Dunn’s eyes fell an Black GTO. Smiling ear to ear, he made a bee-line to check it out. Bam snickered at him, but quickly followed.
While Ryan was busy lusting over the car, Bam found a spot a few feet away on the sidewalk where he could hear the radio playing in the store and sat on the edge of the curb singing along silently with it. That is until a couple people started to approach Dunn. Bam had thought he wore a lot of make up but the guy and girl stepping up beside the GTO made him look damn near rural.
Ryan was practically itching to get his fingers on the hood and look at the engine, when the female of the couple spoke. “Can we help you?”
“Uh… just checking out your car… it’s a 1965, right?”
She raised a drawn eyebrow at him. “1967…” Her face was painted with a defensive mask as she huddled beside the passenger side door.
Silently Bam stood and walked over to Ryan’s side. “Well, ask ‘em… you know you want to…”
“Bam.”
“What?!” He rolled his eyes at Dunn. “He wants to peek at the engine…”
“Bam….”
“You do! You’ve been practically drooling…”
The guy of the couple looked between them. “No smart ass shit about this?” He motioned at his and his girl’s general appearance.
“Fuck no…” Bam replied then held out his hand. “I’m Bam… this is m… this is Ryan.”
Dunn waved shyly at them and quickly diverted his attention back to the vehicle not wanting to get caught staring.
“Bethany…”
“Colin…”
“Cool…” Bam replied then nodded at Ryan’s back. “Seriously, he’s probably not going to be good for conversation until he gets his eyes on your engine…” He laughed and rammed his shoulder into Dunn’s.
The levity of the encounter was soon soured as a group of guys walked by. “Hey freaks, go back to California…” Followed by a chorus of, “Yeah, faggots…”
Dunn’s head jerked towards the group but he kept his cool until they were out of earshot. “Fucking assholes…” He mumbled and turned his attention back to Bethany and Colin. “I’d apologize for their shit… but I ain’t from Texas…”
“We are… sadly.” Replied Colin before walking up to the front of the car and popping the hood.
Bethany quickly started up a conversation with Bam when both Colin and Ryan became distracted. “So… he seems more like the type to yell that shit at us…. What’s his story?”
Shrugging, Bam smiled at her. “Surviving I guess… Hey, I need to pay for parking… want to walk in with me? They’re going to be a while, I think.”
“Sure…”
Bam walked up beside Dunn and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. Ryan shot him a startled look but said nothing. “I’m gonna go pay for parking… want anything else?” He asked.
“Uh…nah…”
As they headed towards the store, Bethany shot a look over her shoulder back at Dunn just in time to catch him watching Bam walk away. Cocking her head to the side, she raised an eyebrow at Bam. “So… is he your boyfriend or something?”
Holding the door open for her in silence, Bam didn’t reply at first. He ducked down and aisle and grabbed a bottle of water before finally meeting her eyes. “Would that bother you?”
“Hell, no…”
“Really?”
Bethany frowned at him. “Really. Why do people normally give you two trouble?”
“Kinda…”
She quickly changed the subject. “Do you guys like music?”
Fingers fiddling with the merchandise on a nearby snack rack, Bam shifted on his feet. “Yeah… I guess.”
“There’s a really kick ass club across town… Colin and I were just on our way in to go there actually…”
“I… uh… probably couldn’t go…”
Whispering as she leaned closer, Bethany inquired. “He wouldn’t let you?!”
A snort erupted from Bam’s nose before he could hold it back. “No, he wouldn’t care… but I’m probably not old enough…”
She looked him up and down. “You don’t have to be 21 to go… they’ll stamp your hand with a huge ass no drinks symbol though…”
“Still probably couldn’t go…” Bam shrugged and pretended to be interested in a rack of chips.
“C’mon… we know the owners… we’ll get you guys in. Wait… are you a minor then?”
“If by minor you mean… not 18... Uh…yeah?”
Bethany wrapped an arm around Bam’s tense shoulders and squeezed. “You can calm down, you know… I’m not going to freak out…”
“Most people would…”
“I’m not most people…” She squeezed his shoulder again. “So, you want to see if… R…”
“Ryan…”
“Ryan… would be interested?”
“Maybe… I really need to pay to park the truck…”
“What’s that about anyways? Why would you have to pay to park?”
Bam pointed out the window. “Truck parking…”
Her eyes flickered from Bam to the semis outside. “You two are truckers?!” She asked in shock.
“Uh… Ry is… I don’t actually drive or anything… but I try to help out.”
“Whoa…”
The corner of his mouth quirked at her reaction. He stepped up to the counter with his water. “Truck parking for one night, please… E-12...” The cashier handed him a voucher and change. “Thanks…”
Bethany cut her eyes at him again. “You guys really are in one of those trucks…?”
“Yeah…”
***
Ryan was bent across the side of the car seemingly checking out the details when the two of them walked out. Motioning Colin over, Bethany left Bam to meet up with Dunn. “Hey…” He said quietly as he slid up beside him.
“What’s that about?” Dunn nodded at Colin and Bethany.
“She invited us to go with them to some club in the city…” Eyebrows shooting up, Ryan stared at Bam. “I told her we probably couldn’t go… she kinda figured out that I’m a minor…”
“Shit, do we need to leave?”
Shaking his head, Bam replied. “No… at least I don’t think so… I was about to walk back out to grab you so we could book it… and she acted like it wasn’t a big deal…”
Just then Colin approached them. “So… Ryan, what do you think? Bethany says she invited the two of you to join us…”
“Uh… no offense, but I’m probably not dressed for it…” Dunn replied cautiously.
“You can change… you guys have extra clothes in your truck, don’t you?” She asked.
Upon seeing Ryan’s hesitation, Colin quickly added. “You don’t have to wear make up or anything…”
Bam’s shoulders shook in laughter earning him a light shove from Ryan. “Smart ass…” He paused and waited for Bam to look up at him. “So… you want to? It’s not like we can go anywhere for at least 10 hours…”
“Sure!”
Returning his attention to Bethany and Colin, Ryan nodded. “Sure… but our truck’s that way…”
Colin grinned. “I’ve never seen a big rig engine before…”
“Oh god…” Bam mumbled before slowly starting towards the truck.
Bethany once again took a place at Bam’s side. “Men, huh?” She teased.
Smirking, Bam nodded. “Yeah… I’m not much for car… or truck talk. But he’s having the time of his life talking about turbos and shit with your boyfriend…” He kicked a rock out of his path. “What should we wear…?”
“Well, I can’t see… your boyfriend?… being the type for something over the top… honestly… something black would work for him… what are you going to wear?”
Bam shoved his hands into his pockets. “Probably change my shirt and put on some…” He paused for a moment before answering. “Jewelry and make up or something…”
“Cool…”
“Heh…” He responded nervously. “You seriously aren’t freaked out by our age difference?”
She grabbed Bam’s bicep and pulled him to a stop. “It doesn’t look like he’s trying to control you or anything… he seems kinda smitten with you… just don’t do anything you don’t want to…”
“Shit, now you sound just like him.”
Bethany laughed and released his arm. “Well, go on… get ready… we’ll wait out here…”
***
Inside the cab, Bam let out a shaky breath after they entered the sleeper. “You really okay with this?”
“If they’re cool with us… hell yes, I’m fine with this… it’s something different… I’ve been on the road so damn long barely speaking to anyone… it’s nice to do something beside watch TV all night…”
Bam inched up against his chest and standing on his toes pressed a kiss on Dunn’s mouth then retreated with a smile to grab his bag. “Bethany said you could probably get away with just wearing something black…”
Sliding his arms around Bam’s waist from behind, Ryan whispered in his ear. “They going to freak out if I can’t stop myself from kissing you?”
Bam shivered and let his eyes drop shut. “She asked if we were together, actually…” He breathed in reply. Tilting his head, he exposed his neck to Dunn, sighing when lips gently pressed a kiss to his flesh.
Dressing quickly, Ryan was the first to exit the truck. He’d taken Bam’s advice and pulled on his cleanest black t-shirt which exposed more of his arms than he was use to, but he went with it. The closest thing to a pair of black pants he had were a pair of dark gray carpenter pants so he’d pulled those on.
Bethany smirked at his bandana. “You might want to take that off…”
Ryan’s shoulders fell. “You’re serious?” She nodded. “Bam’s going to give me such shit…”
“Why?!” Colin asked with a laugh.
“Headband…”
Giggling Bethany smiled at him. “You can wait until we leave if you want then…”
“If any of these assholes care… it’s their own damn problem… besides… when he’s finished… along with the two of you… I won’t really be the focus of attention anymore.” Dunn smirked.
Bethany glanced at the truck’s cab. “He really…” She motioned at herself and Colin. “Wears make-up and what not?”
“Sometimes…” He looked up at the truck for a minute before darting his eyes between them. “So… you already talked to Bam… does he know?” He motioned at Colin.
She placed her hand on Colin’s forearm and leaned over into his ear whispering. His eyes went wide at first then he shrugged. He met Dunn’s gaze. “It’s cool, man… this club we’re going to is mixed by the way…”
“Mixed?”
“No one will care about…” He motioned between Ryan and the truck. “You two…”
“Oh…” Dunn’s attention was suddenly drawn from their conversation as Bam climbed out of the cab. In addition to the expected make-up, jewelry, and scarf, he’d pulled on the shirt he’d been wearing when Ryan had picked him up. It didn’t look half bad clean, Dunn thought. He suddenly recognized the symbols on it from the symbols on the HIM CD he’d bought back in Knoxville. Grinning, he nodded towards Bethany and Colin. “Let’s go…”
Back at the GTO, Colin flipped his seat forward to let them into the back seat. Bethany grinned evilly back at them. “Hope you boys like Mindless Self Indulgence…” Ryan quirked an eyebrow at Bam only to catch him smiling and nearly bouncing in his seat.
“What album?!” Bam quickly asked her.
“Frankenstein girls…”
Dunn laughed at Bam’s widening smile. When Colin started the car and the stereo blasted loudly, he was shocked to hear music of such high energy start playing. “And here I thought you only listened to melancholy shit…” He teased Bam.
“MSI’s an exception…”
“Apparently…” There was a gentle smile on Ryan’s face as they pulled out of the lot. He discreetly wove his fingers through Bam’s hand before directing his attention outside. It had been damn long since he was a passenger in a vehicle and he was going to enjoy the scenery.
In the front seat, Bethany pulled out her cell and made a call. A few minutes she turned and flashed a smile at Bam. “You two are on the list with us… you won’t be ID’d but you’ll get your hand stamped…”
Her words drew Dunn out of his trance with the outdoors. She knew then about Bam’s age if his ID was being specifically made a non-issue. He needed to have a word with her at the club. He was about to return his attention back to the window when he noticed the lyrics to the music. Smirking at Bam he pressed his knee against his. When the kid looked over at him, he shook his head and smirked. Widening his eyes as if to say what, Bam looked momentarily confused before noticing the lyrics himself. He started laughing.
“You’re such a dork…” Ryan teased.
“Fuck you, grandpa…”
Laughing out loud, Dunn couldn’t help but smile when Bethany turned around and gave them a strange look. He leaned over and whispered into Bam’s ear. “Hey… I’m going to take off my bandana… you can’t give me shit…”
Bam’s eyes twinkled as he leaned in to reply. “Why would I?” He thought for a minute. “Oh… you have that headband on under there don’t you?!” Ryan forced a mock glare. Shaking his head, Bam whispered back. “No shit… I promise.”
***
Dunn smiled shyly at Colin before climbing out of the GTO’s back seat. Across the hood, Bethany hollered out. “I get one spot on Bam’s dance card you!!”
Upon seeing Ryan’s eyes widen at the word dance, Bam cracked up. He quickly fell to Dunn’s side. “You don’t have to dance if you want…”
“We’ll see…” He grabbed Bam’s wrist and held him back a few steps “Do you care if I have a few drinks?”
“No… go ahead…”
“If you don’t want me to… just let me know…”
“Okay…”
At Colin and Bethany’s side, they quickly made it inside. The club was quite a bit more over the top than Ryan had expected. But when he saw explicit proof that public affection with Bam was not going to be a problem he started to relax. When Bethany approached the bar, Dunn left Bam with her boyfriend and walked with her. “So…” He spoke as quietly as he could over the music into her ear. “You’re cool with… Bam and I?”
“He bitched that I sounded like you earlier when I told him not to do anything he didn’t want to… so yeah, I’m cool with it.”
Ryan smiled at her words. At the bar, she quickly ordered a drink for herself and Colin. Dunn asked for a coke and a long island ice tea. This caused Bethany to smile wider. “What?” He asked when the bartender had left to mix his drink.
“You bought him a coke… See? Further proof that you’re cool. You’re not buying him shit he shouldn’t have.” She smiled.
“You’ll kick my ass if I let him smoke, won’t you?”
Bethany laughed, but shook her head. “His choice… Colin has smoked since he was fifteen.”
The bottom of Ryan’s stomach fell out when the approached the booth Bam and Colin had taken up residence at. Colin’s arm was draped over Bam’s shoulder. Frowning, he sat down next to him. Immediately, the arm disappeared. Colin, however, had seen Ryan’s reaction and was quick to explain. “Some asshole wouldn’t leave him alone… we improvised…”
Bam mouthed sorry and scooted closer to Dunn. His eyes fell on the drink in front of him. “A coke, Ry?” He leaned over and whispered in his ear with a laugh. “Thanks, daddy…”
Ryan elbowed him as he nearly choked on his first sip of his drink. “Fucker…”
Laughing, Bam smiled and let his eyes wander around the club. Bethany and Colin eventually excused themselves to hit the dance floor leaving the two of them alone in the booth.
After a few songs, Bam finally heard one he knew and started singing along with it. “How is it that it’s came to be that everybody’s gone but me… I don’t want to have to face the end alone…”
The lyrics hit Ryan’s ears and he found himself staring at Bam with new eyes. The kid never just sang the entire song ever… he always ended up singing just a few lines or bars. And Dunn was starting to see a pattern in the lyrics that Bam had either consciously or unconsciously chosen. That realization and their argument earlier that day began weighing on his mind. Amidst the crowd he reached out and cupped Bam’s face.
“What are you doing?”
Ryan leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. “Not thinking.” When their lips met, he mourned the loss of hearing Bam whimper as it was drowned out by the music. Swiping his tongue over his bottom lip, Dunn sought entrance and was quick to intensify their kiss when Bam’s mouth fell willingly open. Pulling away he spoke. “Let’s dance…”
“… okay…”
Watching Ryan stand and shuffle his ass out of the booth, Bam smirked but joined him immediately. The further they stepped into the crowd, the less nervous both of them became. By the time they got to the bustling center of the dance floor, Dunn’s hands were clasp tightly over Bam’s hips. As they ground their bodies together to the beat, Bam ran his hand up and over Ryan’s arms. He smiled as inch after inch of tattoos were exposed in the club’s pulsating lights.
Once again, Dunn found himself smiling as Bam mouthed the occasion lyrics. They were playing the same artist from earlier. He was going to have to ask who they were later, but for now he was content to observe Bam sing along like nobody was watching.
“There’s so much on my mind, we’re given so little time. There’s no way to hold on as it passes by, so lead me into denial… help me forget for awhile… stay with me, please don’t go… though some say I will heal over time it doesn’t seem too likely…”
Ryan lifted his hands from Bam’s hips and pulled the boy into a kiss upon hearing the sadness behind the words he sang. When Bam’s fingers dug into his biceps, he only deepened the kiss. Most of the dance floor had started to move as the beat to the next song sped up, yet they stood there barely moving as Dunn dipped his tongue deep into Bam’s mouth wanting nothing more than to remain there with him in his arms.
They pulled apart when the overheated air from the club and a lack of oxygen became an issue. Bam smiled shyly up at Ryan. “Booth?” He mouthed. Dunn nodded and grinning ear to ear watched as Bam danced his way back towards Colin and Bethany.
The music wasn’t much quieter when the got back and sat down across from their hosts. Ryan leaned over and halfway yelled. “Who is this?”
Grinning, Bam took a large gulp of his soda before answering. “Celldweller…”
“Where are they from?”
“Detroit.”
Laughter spilled from Dunn’s mouth earning him a playful punch. “Ow…” He teased. “Just asking, they could have been from Finland…”
Bam rolled his eyes, but the smile he flashed as he took another drink from his soda was more than refreshing.
***
Five Long Island Ice Teas later, Ryan was lying on his back across the booth seat with his head nestled in Bam’s lap. “Sing for me…”
Blushing, Bam glanced over at Colin and Bethany only to notice that they were more interested in each other than them. He waited for another familiar song to begin playing. “Inside this fantasy, it seems so real to me. Synthetic ecstasy, when her legs are open…. True love behind a wall… where men and angels fall… a fading memory when my mind is frozen…” He took a drink of the second coke that Bethany had brought him back earlier before continuing. “I can see a frozen point in time where her figure still awaits. Tongue of fire tracing lips, outline where frozen breath originates… with one motion of her waiting eyes, she strip everything away. This one moment is intensified and the colors all fade to gray…”
Ryan sat up enough to press his lips to Bam’s and kissed him drunkenly before grabbing his cigarettes off the table. He lit one and reclined back on Bam’s lap. When he released a mouthful of smoke, Bam slipped the cigarette from his fingers and took a puff before pressing it back to Dunn’s mouth. His fingers grazed his lips as Ryan inhaled. For the next few minutes they smoked in silence sharing a single cigarette. Neither of them noticing when Colin and Bethany had stopped kissing and taken to watching them.
His eyes were sliding shut as Ryan smiled up at Bam. “I’m so drunk… I’m about to fall asleep right here…”
Laughing, Bam put out their cigarette. He glanced up and noticed two sets of eyes on them. “I didn’t think he’d drink that much…”
“I didn’t!” Dunn protested from his lap. “I just haven’t drank in almost two years…”
Bethany reached across the table and patted Bam’s hand. “We were thinking about heading home soon anyway… we could drop you off at the truck stop…”
Nodding from his place in Bam’s lap, Ryan fished out his keys and handed them to Bam. “The one with the red tag is to the truck…”
With great effort, Dunn sat up and stood at the edge of the booth waiting for Bam to climb out. When he did, Ryan collapsed on his shoulder and arm in arm they followed Bethany and Colin out of the club. They weren’t even out of the club’s parking when Dunn fell asleep curled up in the back seat.
“Is he going to be okay to drive tomorrow?” Bethany turned and asked.
“He gave me the keys… I won’t let him unless he’s sobered up.”
She nodded then gave Bam a meaningful look. “Are you two okay? Even out there on the dance floor… you guys just seem so… sad.”
Bam sighed and let his eyes drift over Ryan. “It’s a long story…”
Colin finally piped in. “It’s long drive…”
“I don’t know about Ryan… but the truck is my only home… with him… One of his trucker friends made a comment about him not going back to Med… Ohio where he’s from… he hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s just as unwelcome at home as me…”
“Why?!” Bethany gasped.
“My family kicked me out because I’m gay… I don’t know about Ry… and as you can imagine… not everyone is so accepting of us… especially in his line of work.”
No one spoke for the next couple minutes. Bethany leaned across the seat and pressed a slip of paper into Bam’s hands. “If anything ever happens and you need a place to stay… give us a call…”
“Thanks, but I can’t…”
Bethany refused to hear it. “Bam, please… you seem like a sweet kid fallen on hard times… if you find yourself … on the streets again or something… call us… okay?”
“Okay…” He relented and smiled sadly at Ryan’s sleeping form.
When they pulled into the truck stop, Bam gently shook Ryan’s shoulder. “Hey, Ry… we’re back at the truck… wake up…” He was answered with a small grunt. He shook a little harder. “Ryan! Wake up!” Bam ran his fingers through his own hair in frustration.
Ryan pried his eyes open and smiled warmly at Bam. “Hey, babe…”
“How many of those drinks did he have?” Colin asked arching to turn around in the driver’s seat.
“I think five…” Replied Bam
“Damn… I’m surprised he didn’t pass out at the club… those things are potent.”
“Ryan…” His voice soothing, Bam asked. “Can you make it into the truck?”
“Yeah…”
Looking at Bethany, Colin shrugged. “I can help you get him into the truck…
“That’s okay, I think we’ll manage.”
Stumbling out of the car, Dunn grabbed onto Bethany’s open door and waited for Bam to exit. With a quick hug, Bam waved good bye to the two of them and proceeded to tuck Ryan’s arm over his shoulder and walk the few feet to the truck’s cab door.
***
White noise flooded Ryan’s ears. His mouth felt dry as hell, and his face was pressed against something warm and soft and… breathing? Eyes flying open, Dunn was relieved to find himself in his sleeper. What was unnerving was to find himself curled up with his head in Bam’s lap. He glanced upward and found the boy still asleep despite his cramped position on the bunk. Bit by bit the fogginess left his brain, and the events of the previous night flooded in.
Bam’s make up was smudged and his scarf a twisted mess. It only made Ryan smile wider. He reached up and caressed his cheek. Dunn watched in amusement as the initial morning confusion swept over Bam’s face before he looked down at Ryan. “Hey…”
Dunn shifted until he was facing the top of the sleeper and replied. “Hey…”
“Feeling okay?”
“Surprisingly… yes. What time is it?”
Squinting at the clock, Bam moaned in surprise. “Shit, it’s only like 3 am… I’ve only been asleep for a few hours…”
“I think I’m still a little drunk…”
“Ya think?” He laughed.
“Yeah, I do…wait… you told me to stop thinking…” Breathing out a light laugh, Bam did his best to not to cry at that statement. Ryan’s brow was furrowed as he continued to gaze up at the boy. “Bam…?”
“Uh huh?”
“I want to kiss you…”
“You don’t have to ask permission…”
“But I’m drunk…”
“I don’t care…”
Pushing himself up into a sitting position, Dunn clasp his hand around the back of Bam’s neck and pulled him forward. Their mouth slammed together. Ryan moaned into the kiss as he remembered just how hot Bam had looked just days ago kneeling in front of him asking if he was doing everything alright…as he remembered the shy smile and flushed cheeks in the store… and the tears he’d fought back waking up in a dark hotel room.
Dunn wanted to kiss, lick, nibble and touch Bam until every unhappy thought in his head was forgotten. It was about more than the physical reaction he could draw… about more than having Bam writhing and trembling beneath him. He wanted Bam to feel safe, loved and most especially… wanted.
His kisses gentled. Collapsing onto his back, Ryan pulled Bam on top of him. Both gasped at the weight of their bodies pressing together. Fingers dancing over Bam’s shoulders, Dunn lazily swiped his tongue over the ridges of Bam’s teeth before curling it around the boy’s tongue. Lips wide, he pressed up into Bam’s retreating mouth, whimpering when the kiss ended.
Exposing inch after inch, he lifted Bam’s shirt and scarf up and over his head. His next assault focused upon the stretch of pale flesh along Bam’s neck. Lips pressed against pulse points, Ryan bucked gently but still managed to lift Bam off of the mattress with his thrust.
Bam slid his hands under Dunn’s shirt and slowly traced them upwards, letting the fabric roll up on his wrists. The soft curls of Ryan’s happy trail left feather light kisses upon his bare stomach. Bam swallowed loudly only to have Dunn nip at his bobbing Adam’s apple. “Shit, Ry…” He gasped before pulling back just enough to peel the trucker’s shirt the rest of the way off.
When Ryan reached out to pull him back, Bam wove his arms underneath his and clutched his broad shoulders. Lips inches apart, they stared into each other’s eyes. Even in his drunken state, Dunn’s dusty blue eyes were gently seeking out any telltale signs of discomfort and unease. Meanwhile, Bam’s crystalline eyes tried to piece together the affection emanating from Ryan. He couldn’t’ explain why this man cared about him so much, but he was beyond caring. With a playful smile Bam nipped at the tip of Dunn’s nose before pressing their lips together again. Spreading happy, little kisses from one corner of Ryan’s mouth to the other, he giggled when a quiet moan erupted from him.
Snaking a hand down between their bodies, Ryan began unbuttoning Bam’s jeans. Much to Bam’s surprise he wasn’t pushing them down over his hips, instead nimble finger wove through the maze of jean, zipper, and boxers to wrap ever so gently around him before guiding his cock back out of the labyrinth of clothes.
Panting against Ryan’s mouth, Bam moaned loudly only to end up with a whimper on his lips when Dunn’s hand left his cock to attend to his own zipper. His brain had barely caught up with what was happening when Ryan pressed their dicks together and wrapped his hand around them tightly. The urge to thrust that Bam had been fighting could no longer be held back and with his fingers digging roughly into Dunn’s shoulder he rammed hard into his fist.
Ryan found his voice and began moaning. “Shit… oh, god…” Bam’s lips were everywhere. Each kiss nip and kiss bringing Dunn to the edge before rapidly retreating. Having this somewhat timid and usually scared as fuck young boy stretched out over him, literally fucking his fist like a natural top was almost more than Ryan’s drunken mind could take. Pleasure curled down his spine quite suddenly as he erupted all over his fist. Above him, Bam’s neck was arched as his eyes rolled back in pleasure. A few thrusts later, he laid gasping for breath over Dunn’s chest. In the cool night silence, neither of them moved to clean themselves up and soon sleep overtook them…
Chapter 14