By Tabby
(rated PG-13 for pre slash, R/PT)
"The arrogant little cuss." Rawhide growled. Their newest and youngest Cavalier had done it again. All Rawhide had wanted was a midnight snack. and all he found was Perfect Tommy's midnight mess!
"Every damn night." Rawhide continued to growl as he stared at the sandwich fixings left scattered on the counter top. Even the mayo was left lid-less... again. "I'm Perfect Tommy. Find me." he mimicked as he tossed a dirty butter knife into the sink. "He'll be sorry if I ever do find him."
Perfect Tommy had been nothing but trouble since Buckaroo had introduced him to the guys only days earlier. Starting out with that ridicules introduction, he proceeded to pick a fight with every male member of the band, and make the moves on every female member. It took him a total of ten minutes to successfully alienate himself completely, and then he just shut up and did his thing. Like he'd did what he had set out to do, and that was that.
Rawhide shook his head at the mess. "Boy doesn't eat a thing all day, then swallows the kitchen come dark." he grumbled. With a sigh he shook his head. "Scared to death of us."
Choosing to ignore the mess this time, Rawhide snatched a beer and stepped out the back door and out onto the patio. He paused a moment, getting used to the cool night air. He was only warring a robe, boxers, and his stetson. But he grew up on the range and a little chill was nothing new to him. In fact there was something about night air on bare skin that felt kinda homey to him. Like outside was where he was meant to be all the time in all (or none) of the ware.
He rolled his big shoulders, allowing the robe to fall open. "Damn kid." he growled, his thoughts still on the new comer even as he lifted the beer bottle to his lips. He stopped and lowered the bottle. Squinting, he peered through the darkness. "Kid? Perfect Tommy?" he called softly.
A shadowy ball on the corner of the patio jerked. A head lifted and turned to look at him.
"Boy, what are you doing out here?" Rawhide wanted to know. Funny how, when he finally found the source of his irritation, he completely forgot about the mess in the kitchen. "You okay?" He took a step towards the youth.
Perfect Tommy leaped off the corner of the patio and stumbled back and away from the big man.
Rawhide froze, suddenly weary. He wasn't sure if he had just snuck up on a coiled rattler, or a scared pup in need of a save. Either way, frightening him was not going to help the matter. "Woe there, buddy. Didn't mean to spook you." he assured, talking calmly, softly.
Perfect Tommy turned away, wiping at his cheeks. "You didn't spook me." His voice shook slightly. So, turning back defiantly, he tried again. In a stronger, challenging tone he declared "Nothin' spooks me! Seen it all, done it all, heard it all. There's nothin' left that hasn't tried."
Rawhide sighed. Same ol' tough act. Well, maybe he could crack the kid's hard shell and get at bug up his ass. Maybe they'd finally get some peace if he did. "So, you just jumpin' 'bout for warmth, eh?" He took a swig of his beer and stepped closer.
Again the boy stepped away. "Yea, well... I do what fits the mood."
Careful not to make any sudden moves, Rawhide crouched down so he might be eye level to the boy.
It was dark, but the lights from the house was just enough that if glistened off those big, bright eyes, revealing the tears he tried so desperately to hide.
"You an' I are due for a chat, boy."
"Boy?" Those eyes narrowed into a week imitation of his usual dangerous look. "I ain't your boy." Perfect Tommy growled. With that, he stomped back toward the house.
But Rawhide's big hand snapped out and caught his arm. With one yank, he had the boy tight against his side, half sitting, half kneeling on the patio. "I said you an' I are due..." Rawhide stopped when he looked down at Tommy.
The boy's eyes were big as a full moon, scared to death. Rawhide could feel him shivering in his grip as he desperately tried to pull away. Instead of holding his hands in the offense as the big cowboy had expect, they were held up in the defense... as if he thought Rawhide was gonna...
Rawhide's grip softened. He turned to face him, taking him by the shoulders. He still held him firmly so that he couldn't run, but his hold was gentle now. "Perfect Tommy, what is it? Why are you so afraid of us?" he wanted to know, his eyes searching for some answer.
Perfect Tommy's eyes dropped and he tried to twist free. "I'm not afraid of anything!" he snapped. "Just leave me the fuck alone!"
"I've been doing that all week." Rawhide snapped back. "Quite frankly, I'm gettin' sick of it. Look at me, damn it!" He jerked his captive until those wild eyes snapped up to glare at him. "I'm a fuckin' psychologist! You think I don't know scared when I see it?"
Perfect Tommy's jaw set, refusing to answer.
Not completely realizing what he was doing, Rawhide jerked him closer. `Damn it, do anything to make his fears go away.... whatever they were.'
Perfect Tommy braced his small hands on the big cowboy's chest trying to push away. But, truth was, he was too tired to fight any more. He'd been fighting his whole life. It was all he knew. And he was just too fucking tired to fight any more. Shaking his head, he dropped his eyes again, sniffing back his tears. "Why are you playin' with me?" he whimpered almost too softly for Rawhide to hear.
"What?" Rawhide released one shoulder so that he could capture the boy's chin and turn his face up.
Perfect Tommy closed his eyes, fighting the tears. "Just do it and get it over with."
"Do what?" Rawhide was confused at the boy's words. And then shock slowly crept in. He still wasn't sure EXACTLY what he was talking about, but it was becoming painfully clear that this child had been abused beyond imagination. He was afraid of everyone because he expected them to treat him the same.
"I'm not goin' to hurt you, Tommy." he breathed. He released the other shoulder so he could gently wipe the tears from the boy's cheeks. "No one here's ever gonna hurt you."
Perfect Tommy stopped breathing. `He's lying. They always lie before they hurt you the worse.' But the soft rub of thumb over his cheek, the warm gentle grip on his chin, the quiet words full of reassurance, the hot flesh under his own hands... Perfect Tommy's eyes fluttered open. "You don't know anything about me." he warned in a barely audible whisper.
Rawhide licked his lips. Exactly when did the need to kiss him pop into his head? "So, tell me something about you." he challenged.
He immediately regretted it as Perfect Tommy's hands pulled away. Wrapping his arms tightly around himself, he turned away.
`But,' Rawhide noted, `he wasn't moving away.'
"You... you don't want to know anything about me." the boy whimpered.
"I asked didn't I?" Rawhide adjusted just enough so that he could pull the boy back against him. He was stiff in his arms, but, he didn't resist. Sadly Rawhide concluded that this perfect child had resigned to his fate, whatever that might be. And it was breaking his heart. `Damn it, what is he doing to me?' his mind screamed, though he knew.
Perfect Tommy shook his head, his harsh, bleached hair rubbing against Rawhide's bare chest. He couldn't bare to speak it, to say it out loud, to let anyone know... His entire life, he had been used. First because he had been a beautiful little boy that perverts just couldn't seem to keep their hands off. Then they found out that he was smart too. And then it was fix this or you'll get hurt. Fix this and pretty boy will be getting a big reward. Even women... especially women... when I thought I had made my escape to MIT, they were waiting for me, and I had to run all over again. And then Egypt... in prison..." He stopped suddenly, wondering when he had started talking. He had never told anyone about any of this! Why was he...
Rawhide's big, strong arms wrapped around him and held him close as if he could protect him from the entire world.
The way his warmth seemed to engulf Perfect Tommy, as if his own ora simply included the shivering boy as part of him, Tommy wondered if, perhaps, Rawhide really could protect him.
"You're safe now." Rawhide whispered in his ear, his lips so close they brushed against sensitive flesh. He was almost thrilled when, instead of stiffening even more, his captive seemed to relax in his arms, rolling his head back against his chest.
`Instincts... everything was all about instincts now.' Rawhide told himself as he lowered his face until his cheek rested against the boy's temple.
"I... I don't want to fight any more. I don't want to run any more." Perfect Tommy turned in his arms until he was kneeling in front of the big cowboy, their chests pressed together. His fingers gripped the robe as if it was his only life line. "Please.... please tell me I don't have to leave here." he begged, gazing up at those big, brown eyes, always strong, always sure, always there.
Rawhide shifted just slightly so that he could better reach the small figure he held so desperately to him. "Never... I'll never let you go." he assured, though he wasn't entirely sure why he said "I" rather than "we." Just as he wasn't sure why he was doing what he was doing... lowering his head until his lips lightly grazed those perfect....
Perfect Tommy's fingers suddenly wrapped into Rawhide's hair, pulling his head down until their lips smashed together in a fierce, passionate, all-fear-releasing kiss.
Rawhide's big hands cupped Tommy's head, tilting it slightly, as he plunged his tongue down deep into the sweetness of his mouth, exploring, tasting, taking in every bit the boy had to offer.
Perfect Tommy moaned against his mouth, melting in his grip, completely surrendering to this man. The only man, the only person, he had ever surrendered to... and he wasn't hurting him. Oh, god, he wasn't hurting him!
Finally the need to breath force their mouths apart.
Gasping, Perfect Tommy collapsed against the big man's chest. He could feel Rawhide's heart smashing against the inside of his chest as it beat out of control.
"Tom..." Rawhide whispered after a moment. "I will never let you go, I will never let anyone ever hurt you again. I swear it!" he promised, his voice thick and husky. "But... you don't have to do anything you don't want to. I ask nothing in return." Though his mind screamed to know just exactly what was he wanting in return, his body responded in its own way. Every inch of him was so damn hard it felt as he was going to rip free of his very skin. Damn, it was a good thing he wasn't warring jeans... that would be right out painful...
Not that he hadn't been with men before. Hell, he was a world wise man!
But, the heat, the protectiveness that suddenly exploded in his chest for this boy... THAT was new. And THAT was something he suddenly could not live without. But he would not be like everyone else who had ever entered Tom's life: forcing themselves on him, hurting him, taking from him, then getting rid of him when they got bored. No, if this was going to happen, it would be because they both wanted it.
But Perfect Tommy snuggled into him, his arms wrapped around his neck. "I want to." he breathed, his hot breath playing havoc with the tiny hairs on Rawhide's neck. "For the first time that I can remember.... I want to."
Overjoyed almost beyond words, Rawhide secured his arms around the slim waist. "Hold on, love." he whispered, then rose up from his crouch, lifting Perfect Tommy up with him. Still latched onto one another, Rawhide started to lead him back to the house.
"Where..." Perfect Tommy started, but Rawhide stopped him, lifting him up, so that he could whisper in his ear. ** "Its alright." he assured. "Goin' to my room where we can be sure of some privacy." He cradled Tom with every once of gentleness he had to offer. "We' won't do anything you don't want to."
Perfect Tommy ran light gingers down Rawhide's rough jaw. "Will we do everything I want to?" he asked flirty.
Rawhide grinned.
All he had wanted was a midnight snack.
All he found was a mess.
Looked like he was gonna get that snack after all.
