Fuel
by Velma
It was two days later that Kevin and Howie came over, ostensibly just to talk, but Chris could tell just from shaking Kevin's hand that the deal was as good as done once they got lawyers involved. The three of them, joined by Lance, sat out on the back porch and Chris found if he closed his eyes, he could imagine it was years ago, when they'd just been starting themselves, good friends all. Maybe they could be again.They were in the middle of arguing playfully about naming rights - Chris was adamant that it be Kirkpatrick-Richardson, Incorporated, and he was pretty sure Kevin didn't care all that much, but the two of them had always gotten off on fighting with each other and this was no different - when Justin's truck pulled up. Chris squinted at the car, swatting irritably at Lance as the other man leaned over him, trying to get a closer look.
"I think he brought someone with him," Lance hooted.
"No way," Chris said. "I told him meaningless sex. Not get-so-attached-you-bring-them-back-to-your-place-to-start-a-beautiful-friendship sex. Really, I was very clear on that point."
Howie laughed. "God, I've missed you, Kirkpatrick."
Chris craned his neck, watching as Justin hopped out of the truck. Shirtless. "Kid's tan," he said as nonchalantly as he could. "Must have gotten some sun."
"Nick went to the beach," Kevin said absently."
"I guess Justin did, too." Hearing the smirk in Lance's voice, Chris turned to look again, Kevin following suit, the two of them watching as Justin's also shirtless companion got out of the truck. It was Nick. Nick Carter, laughing at whatever Justin had said as he grabbed their gear from the back. They moved together with a familiar ease, up the stairs to Justin's apartment, Justin throwing his arm around Nick's shoulder as they went inside.
"Yeah, uh. Well, then." Chris cleared his throat.
Kevin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Doesn't look like those two will have any objections to a merger."
"If they haven't merged already," Chris grumbled under his breath. "Ow, Jesus! Lance," he scowled at his partner, rubbing the side of his head.
"Might as well talk to them now, while we've got them both here," Howie said. "Not that it's their decision, ultimately, but it'd be nice to have everyone on board."
"Right," Chris said. "We should do that." He looked around the table, saw three pairs of eyes staring back at him. Lance's eyebrow quirked and he cleared his throat expectantly. Chris sighed and pushed away from the table, pulling himself to his feet. "For the record," he looked pointedly at Kevin, "I am not whipped. My legs just get stiff. I need to stretch them. I'm just going to stretch them in the direction of Justin's apartment."
To his credit, Kevin nodded and kept a reasonably straight face.
Chris made his way to the apartment and knocked. Loudly. Then knocked again.
Justin appeared at the door a few minutes later, flushed and dripping wet, a towel wrapped around his waist. Chris tried not to stare.
"Um. Am I interrupting something?" Chris asked.
"Huh?" Justin grinned. "Just got back. Taking a shower. What's up?"
Chris's eyes slid past Justin and inside the apartment when he heard a door open. To Nick Carter, who was also wet, flushed, and wearing a towel that covered even less of him than it did Justin. Nick grinned at Chris and waved, leaning in the alcove. "Uh," Chris said, his own face pinking. "We have things. Um. Things. At the house. Talking about things. You two, when you're ready. Or whatever. When you're done. Or dry. Whichever. You should come done to the house. To talk." He took a step back.
"Sure," Justin's eyebrows furrowed. "You sure you're okay, CK?"
"Fine," Chris said, taking yet another step back. "Good. Great. Fabulous, even. Just fine. See you in a bit."
"Yeah," Justin said, flashing him another smile before starting to close the door. "Just gonna finish up that shower."
Chris tripped.
His cheeks were still burning when he got back to the porch. Lance grinned evilly. Chris hated Lance. A lot. Howie had the decency to hide his own smile behind his hand, while Kevin just looked at him quizzically.
"I need a drink," Chris said, and headed inside.
Justin and Nick didn't act like anything was going on when they showed up, although it had taken close to an hour from the time Chris had hightailed it away from Justin's apartment for them to get cleaned up enough to put in an appearance. They were shocked to see Kevin, yeah, but they weren't gooey or hanging all over each other.
Chris thought maybe he hadn't seen what he'd thought he'd seen. Maybe the reason they had taken so long was that they were taking turns. And Justin used up all the hot water, so they had to wait for the tank to refill. Or something not at all resembling hot, steamy bathroom sex. Not at all. He took a long pull off his beer, not noticing Lance lean in close to him.
"So doing it," Lance whispered, his breath hot on Chris's neck. Chris choked.
"As I was saying," Kevin said, shooting Chris a look, "we're seriously considering a merger."
"Seriously considering being Kevin-speak for done as soon as we sign," Howie interjected, shaking his head at Kevin.
Kevin nodded his head in agreement. "Anyway. You two think you could race for the same team?"
Nick shot a look at Justin, leaning back into his seat. "I suppose I could put up with the pretty boy over there."
Justin snorted. "Right, because you're soooo hardcore, Carter."
Nick just smiled, his legs falling open into a wide, lazy v.
Chris's eyes met Kevin's over the table, and they both grimaced.
"Seriously," Justin said, apparently aware now that there were others in the immediate vicinity, "it would kick ass. Workiing together, man. There's not a team out there today that's going to be able to stop us."
Nick rolled his eyes. "It'll make us more competitive, so yes. A good thing."
It was pretty much settled then. The group of them shook on it, on Chris's back porch in the rising dusk. There were papers to sign, contracts to be drawn up, all kinds of formalities, but both Chris and Kevin lived by their word, and the handshake was all they really needed. As the sun disappeared on the horizon, the six of them raised their bottles together and toasted to Kirkpatrick-Richardson, Incorporated, the best damn racing team NASCAR would ever see.
It was late by the time Chris saw Kevin and Howie off, later still by the time he and Lance managed to get everything cleaned up and plans worked out for how they'd proceed, the two of them tumbling into bed together.
He was apparently too excited to sleep, though, and even sex hadn't calmed him down. He could tell his tossing and turning was keeping Lance awake, so he rolled out of bed and headed downstairs. On his way into the kitchen to get a glass of water, he was sidetracked by muted laughter coming from outside. Chris walked the back door, pulled it open quietly and waited for his eyes to adjust to the light.
The noise was coming from somewhere on the back porch, that much was obvious, and it didn't take Chris but a moment to pinpoint the exact location. Justin and Nick were on the swing, the small light above it casting them in a soft yellow glow.
Justin was sprawled out, his head in Nick's lap, Nick's hand idly carding through Justin's tight curls as the two murmured back and forth to each other. Chris thought absently for a moment that they looked pretty together, then shook the thought out of his mind. They were clearly insane, the two of them. Chris's property was big, there were gates and security and relatively little traffic, especially not at two in the morning, but Jesus, it's not like it wasn't possible for someone to sneak in and see…
Chris swallowed as Justin shifted up, pulling Nick to him. He swore he could hear the sound of them kissing, see the pink of their tongues as they slid against one another. He knew he wasn't imagining Nick's soft moan, or the red, swollen look of Justin's lips as he dropped his head back into Nick's lap.
Nick's eyes drifted toward the back door and Chris stepped back quickly, closing it was a loud click. There was no way they couldn't know he was watching - that someone was watching. He shook his head again and made his way back upstairs. This couldn't be good.
Lance rolled over and settled against him as Chris slid beneath the covers. "You okay, baby?" he yawned, pulling Chris close.
"Justin and Nick are making out on the porch swing," Chris said, eyes on the ceiling.
Lance opened one eye and looked at him. "I told you they were doing it."
"Yeah, but I didn't need to see it."
"So why were you watching?" Lance smirked.
Chris was silent for a minute, chewing on his lip. Finally, softly, he rolled his eyes and turned to Lance. "Wouldn't you?"
Lance chuckled, deep and low, and rolled on top of Chris. This time, he had no problems falling asleep.
There was no sign of Nick when Justin showed up in the kitchen the next morning, sniffing around and poking at what Chris was cooking.
"Lay off," Chris growled, watching Justin from the corner of his eyes.
Justin held up his hands, backing away from the stove. "Sorry, man." He poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the sink, unusually quiet.
"So," Chris shifted, flipping the eggs. "Nice weather we're having, huh?"
Justin snorted. "Right."
Chris hadn't heard Lance come down, but when he turned to get plates, there Lance was, leaning in the entryway, smirking at the two of them. "You two are so cute," Lance said, coming in and planting a kiss on Chris's lips before he crossed to Justin, hip-checking him. "Carter, huh? Not bad, J."
Justin blushed, scuffing his toe along the floor. "It's. We're just fooling around. Nothing serious or anything."
"Sure looked serious last night," Chris mumbled, and Justin's eyebrows shot up.
"So it was you," he said, crossing to Chris. "Nick said someone was standing at the door watching us for a good long while."
"It wasn't a good long while," Chris grumbled, putting the eggs on plates. "I heard a noise. I thought there might be an intruder. Or a rabid raccoon. I had to investigate."
"Right," Justin said. "Likely story."
Lance was laughing as he took the plates from Chris. Chris couldn't really tell if he was laughing at him, Justin, or the two of them, but he decided he didn't like Lance anymore.
"I don't like you anymore," Chris said to Lance. Who laughed harder. Bastard.
"You don't need to worry, Chris. We've got it under control," Justin said, sitting down at the table.
"It's my job to worry, Justin. And I'm not. Jesus, kid, it's not like I'm in any position to lecture you about this, but be careful. Just. Be careful."
Justin nodded and the three of them ate in silence for several minutes before Chris finally broke it, shaking his head. "Nick Carter. Shit, J, you sure do know how to pick 'em."
"Yeah," Justin grinned. "Yeah, I do."
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