I. Sloth

Dave wakes up around 8:00 am every morning. He rubs the sleep from his eyes, combs his fingers through his unkempt hair, and tries to convince his body that he doesn't need to take a piss, he needs sleep much, much more. His body is never fooled. It propels him with pressing insistence from the bed, still half-dazed and blurry-eyed, to stumble through the narrow lane between bunks to the claustrophobia-inducing confines of the bus's bathroom. Halfway there he trips over a Discman, a stack of books, a mountain of clothes, it changes every morning. And he quietly hates Todd.



II. Envy

Beck plays the guitar like most people brush their hair. Like it's automatic, requiring no thought; an extension of himself. Eyes closed, head tilted to one side, fingers dancing over the strings; as easy as breathing. The music starts in his heart, moves to his head, and leaves his fingertips as liquid shimmering sound.

Todd watches Beck run through the piece perfectly the first time, while his own fingers trip over the sounds, finding the wrong frets and tangling the chords. In a matter of hours he'll have it down pat, but never the first time. Never perfectly.



III. Pride

He'd had his misgivings going into this thing. They'd both entered into this with open eyes, fully aware of their own history. Still, in those drowsy days of summer, with Beck's mouth on his neck and his hands in the short, dark hair, it was hard not to be optimistic.

It's been three days since they've spoken directly to one another. If you ask Beck, he'll say he's waiting for an apology, but Todd will maintain that he doesn't owe him a damn thing. In truth, neither remembers the original argument. They just won't be the first one to break.



IV. Lust

The first time, Beck corners him in the kitchen, and it is hard and fast and so hot his head swims. Those searing lips and guitar callused hands are everywhere, rough and demanding, touching everything Todd wants him to touch. There is no give-and-take, it is all a game of siege and conquer, and Todd thinks that he likes it this way. Fighting Beck for dominance, the taste of copper in his mouth as they wrestle and share a bruising kiss. Stomach burning against the carpet, or pressing Beck into the floor, Todd thinks this could be enough.