C&C will hatch more plots.

<Part 1>
 

    Ninja lay back on Chub's couch and watched Pest and Chubby embelish the facts about what happened while he was being held as colateral by the Scottish mob. He still couldn't believe that Pestario had done that! but then looking back it was just the kind of thing Pest always did. Not that any of them minded . . . much. It just hurt sometimes that the con artist talked to Chubs like a brother and turned to Ninga only when the mood hit him and he needed help getting out of something.

    It did take away some of the sting to know that he wasn't the only one. The German hunter's son, Himmel, was now one of their group and in the same boat that he was. Pest had used his feelings for him to con the other boy into disobeying his father and finally severing all ties to him. Yeah, Gustav had been a psychopath, but he was still Himmel's dad. Pest didn't realise how much he hurt others with his cons.

    At the moment, Himmel was stretched out on the couch as well. His legs hanging over the arm and his head resting just short of Ninga's thigh.

    "And then Gustave brought all thirty of his goons into the boat and. . ." Pest continued.

    Himmel hid a snicker and looked up at Ninga calmly, "Him and Lar were the only ones there."

    "And we kicked their collective butts back onto deck!" Chubby crowed.

    Ninga looked down at the blond beside him and Himmel shook his head and whispered, "They got him mad by yelling at him and running until he went back on deck and threatened the hostages."

    The latino snickered and Pest's face lit up at the attention he thought was being given to his story. "So Me and Chubs kick'deded through the bad guys and smashed Gussie right in the face!"

    "They tricked him and threatened him from ten feet and one level away."

    "And Himmel says, 'no fucking way I'm shooting a stud like that!' and joins the good guys right Himie?" Pest grinned and Himmel blushed bright.

    "Actually I said This was wrong and father would have to shoot me too."

    "Yeah yeah well anyway. . . That was mad excellent! MAD excellent!"

    Ninga yawned theatrically, "Sounds great Pest, listen I'm heading out 'k?Work tommorow an' all."

    "Work." Pest snorted and grinned, "Sure. Teaching little ningas."

    Ninga shrugged, "Whatever." He stood and grabbed up his jacket, "Yo Himmel, wanna ride?"

    Chubby spit out his drink laughing and  Pest warned, "In the car Himmel, just in the car."

    Ninga blinked, "Huh?"

    "Sure." Himmel quickly stood and wiped his tear away in the guise of pushing his hair out of his eyes.

    Ninga tried to ignore how sexy that simple motion looked.

    "Watch out for your snake Bruce!" Chubby warned and doubled over in laughter again.

    Once they shut the door behind him Ninga frowned, "What was all that about?"

    Himmel blushed and hid his eyes behind his bangs, "You don't know."

    "Know what?"

    "I like boys."

    "Oh yeah. I mean you came on to Pest so it's kinda a given."

    "He told you about that?!"

    "He wasn't very lucid at the time ya know? It came out something like 'Son of the white devil' and 'hi kiddo pet my snake.'"

    They looked at each other a moment before both gave into laughter and Ninga started his jeep.

    "Dude that must'a been wrough, your dad makin' ya hunt human beings an' all."

    "I got used to it. He couldn't see that I was a complete sissy."

    "Nah, you're not a sissy, I mean anyone in that situation would be a little freaked but you handled it real good ya know?"

    "No. I don't know. He would have ended up killing me. I wasn't what he wanted in a son. Whatever I did I could not please him. He regretted me and I could do nothing about it."

    "Nah dude, he would have been that way to anyone. He was nuts!"

    "That doesn't mean I didn't fail him."

    "Well who cares right? I mean you got us now. We'll take care 'a you 'k? I'll even teach you how to fight."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah, I teach martial arts at the children's center. No problem."

    "I. . . Would like that."

    "Yeah." Ninga smiled and looked back at the road.  "I would too." They didn't speak again for a while, then Ninga glanced over at his passenger, "Dude, were do you live?"

    Himmel didn't answer.

    "You don't have anywhere do ya. And Pest took all of your dads cash."

    "It's no problem, The weather is warm. . . I'll sleep on the beach."

    "Nah, I'll take you ta my place, you can stay with me."

    Crystal blue eyes widened in shock. "You. . . You would let me stay with you?"

    "Yah, sure."

    "But I. . . don't I make you nervous?"

    "Why would ya?"

    "Because I. . . like males."

    Ninga chuckled, "Hey no problem. You're a good lookin' guy. I'm not 'that' narsasistic. Just 'cause you're gay doesn't mean you'll jump any guys bones right? Anyway, no one'd choose me over Pest. So we can just be friends huh?"

    "Really?"

    "Sure. We'll have ta share the bed but it's big enough."

    "You are ok with it?"

    "Yeah. Like I said, you're a good lookin' guy, why would ya hit on me?"

    "You aren't hard to look at either."

    Ninga grinned, "Thanks but I know my limitations 'k? Don't flatter me."

    Himmel was quiet.

    "So? You staying with me or what?"

    "Yes. I would like that very much."

    "Good deal man. It's messy but you'll like it. Feel free ta help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. Mi casa es su casa."

    "Th. . . Thank you."

    Both of them smiled all the way back to Ninga's apartment.
_____________________

    The place was small and in a tough neiborhood, but it was well kept and the man watching the door gave ninga a grin and tossed out a few Spanish words. Ninga tossed back his own and soon they were mock sparring and laughing. Himmel smiled. He had forgotten that people could smile so much.

    "Dude this is Himmel, he's shackin' up with me now 'k?"

    "You know I'm not supposed to let two people live here for one person's rent."

    "Yeah but I'm the 'good' tenant 'member?"

    Himmel was shocked when the other man laughed a great belly laugh and shooed them on. "Is it really ok? I wouldn't want to. . ."

    "Ya, it's fine. I'll put your name on the door plaque too 'k?"

    "Ah I. . ."

    Ninga grinned, "Excellent man. Thanks."

    Himmel opened his jmouth to protest as ninga dragged him away, "Ninga! People will think we're. . ."

    "In this neiborhood, it's good if they think you're taken. Less risk then. You don't mind people thinking you're with me do you? I can tell the gossips that we're not and they'll spread the word."

    For the second time that night Himmel was shocked. Ninga was georgeous! Why would he think anyone would be ashamed to be his?! "No, I don't mind."

    He smiled and Himmel's knees went weak. "Great! Here we are."

    "It says Bruce."

    Ninga chuckled, "My real name is Bruce Enrique Chavis-Garcia. Ninga's just my nick name."

    The German blushed again, "I though it was an odd name but Pest is too and. . ."

    "Hey, I don't mind." He shrugged and opened the door, "Call me whatever you want."

    Himmel got his first look at his new home, "Hurican Garcia?"

    "Hey I TOLD you it was messy."

    "Seeing is believing in this case." Himmel laughed. "And I'm not sure there's a floor under all that, is it safe to walk on?"

    Ninga growled playfully and stepped inside. he slipped and fell to his knees.

    "Guess not."

    "Funny. I'm laughing. Come on Smart ass. Welcome home."

    "I. . . that is. . . this. . ."

    "You're welcome."

    He smiled. Everything would be all right.

    Himmel woke up warm for the first time since his mother had passed away when he was six. He let a contented murmur slip from his lips and slid closer, reveling in the unusually good feeling, until he realized that the body he was  currled around was both too hard and too male to be his mother.

    //Ninga!//

    He gasped and tried to inch away but his arms were caught and held tight. "Ninga. . ."

    "No. Warm. Stay." He mumbled and fell back to sleep.

    Unsure, the german boy slowly settled back down. When no accusations or blows came from the other boy, he smiled and allowed his body to relax. This was ok. It was real. And Ninga wouldn't push him away.

_____________________

    When Ninga woke up he yawned and tried to stretch as he did every morning, but was stopped by an arm around his waist, a leg over his hips, and a body up against his back.  He tensed at the feeling of something hard pressed against his boxers. . . between his thighs. . . from behind. . . "Wha. . .?"

    It took him a moment to remember.  //Himmel// As his memory unclouded and he woke up a bit more he sighed and lay back again. //He had to share the bed. It's just morning wood.//

    Gently extracting himself from the embrace he sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the boy he'd befriended and brought home. Ninga wasn't surprised at how young and innocent Himmel appeared, especially in sleep. He knew that the boy was nothing like his father. It made him wonder what his mom must have been like for him to have turned out like he did.

    Himmel pursed his lips in his sleep and rolled over into a ball benieth the covers. He was cold it looked like, odd since it was summer and already 80 degrees outside with the sun just up but. . . he tossed two more blankets on the shivering German and began to clean up a little.

    Yeah, sure, his house was usually a wreck of a bachelor pad, but he had company and he respected Himmels cleanliness.

    It had been funny to see the boy's face at the first look into Ninga's home. He'd been trying so hard not to seem out of sorts or disgusted, but he was used to house maids and servants to clean and living as only the rich could. Ninga knew his pad wasn't a pent house but at least he could make it look like a home.

    Three hours later the kitchen was clean and Ninga's resolve was wavering.

_____________________

    The sound of pans clanging together woke Himmel up and he blinked sleepily, finding himself alone. A quick search found his clothes and he stumbled into the living room. "Bruce?"

    "In the kitchen." Came the muffled reply.

    Himmel walked in and stopped cold, his mouth hanging open.

    "Hungry?"

    "You cook?!"

    "Sure. I live alone, or did live alone any way. If I couldn't cook then I'd starve or go broke buying those microwave things that taste like cardboard."

    "It's clean!"

    "Cardboard?"

    Himmel gave him a look.

    "Oh, the kitchen, well I had some free time."

    "You don't have to clean on my account." He said softly. "I'm not really a guest or anything."

    "I invited you to stay didn't I?"

    "Of course, I. . ."

    "So you're a guest." He shrugged, "Sides, it's nice. I never knew that the kitchen tiles had a pattern on 'em."

    Himmel made a face and moved to the sink, "Well I'll do the dishes ok?"

    "Wanna eat first?"

    He blushed and nodded as his stomach rumbled.

    A plate of pancakes was slid accross the small table and Himmel smiled. //He cooked for me.// A slight blush covered his face and he quickly looked down at his plate and began to eat.

    Ninga sat across from his friend and also started eating his meal with gusto, unaware of the thoughts running through his new roommate's mind. But very painfully aware of his own thoughts. //I could love him.//

    "Are you ok?"

    "Huh?"

    "You look kind of warm. Are you ill? Do you need anything?"

    "No, 'm fine." He looked at Himmel and quirked a brow, "Um. . . not that I don't like the Charlie Brown shirt and jeans look, but are those the only clothes you own?"

    He nodded shortly and bit his lip.

    "We'll go shopping later. Probably tomorrow since I work all day today, but you could probably fit into my clothes until then, I have a belt you could use."

    Himmel blinked, "I have no money to pay for. . ."

    "Hey. You'll get a job soon right? Call it a loan or something."

    "Ok."

    They both smiled shyly and not another word was said until the meal ended.

_____________________

    Pestario and Chubby arrived later that morning. Not even bothering to knock, both boys just walked right in like they lived there.

    "That is very rude you know." Himmel admonished them from the sink where he was finishing up the dishes.

    "Uhuh, sure is, so where's the Ninga? You two have a mad excellent night last night? Bet you were his bitch huh."

    "I do not appreciate what you're insinuating. Bruce was kind enough to let me stay here since I have no home and no money to claim as my own."

    "Sure snake boy, you just keep up with doing all this domestic shit a'ight?"  Pest swung the bathroom door open and threw the shower curtain to the side, "Hey Ninga! Amigo! Waz up bro? You up to some women now that you've tasted the other side?"

    Himmel blushed at the clear view of a very naked Ninga and spun to face the other way, scrubbing the dishes with vigor and trying his best to keep his breathing even. //Instructing martial arts has built him very well!//

    "PEST!" Ninga pulled the curtain back into place and swore. "I have a guest!"

    "Awe, you know he enjoyed it." The latino laughed and walked out into the living room. "Man the place is clean! Gay living does a houshold good?"

    "Pestario I already told you that. . ."

    "Yeah yeah yeah, nothin' happened, right sure. So are you coming with today or are you sleeping in you naughty naughty boy you?"

    "Niether, I have work today. I told you that last night remember?"

    "Play before work my brother, play before work."

    "No pest, work before work before sleep."

    "Before sex?" Chubby asked, suddenly interested.

    Pest grinned, "Hot, butt stuffin' monkey sex huh?"

    "Pest. . ."

    Before Ninga could say anything else, Himmel took aim and shot Pest and Chubby with the spray nozzel on the sink.

    "Hey!"

    The slim German forcably pushed both of the backwards and glarred to rival any thug. "This is HIS house and you have NO right to speak to him like that in his own home! Bruce has to work today, he can't play, come back tomorrow and FUCK OFF!"

    He slammed the door on their stunned faces and turned around only to spin back. "Uh. . . "

    Ninga stood in shock, staring at the door and his roommate in wonder.

    "Bruce!"

    "huh?"

    "Clothes!"

    He jumped when he realized that he was still naked and dripping from his shower, "Good idea, uh. . . yeah. Thanks."

    Himmel shivered and squeezed his eyes shut tight. Obviously someone hated him or loved him an awful lot to place him in this position, with such sweet temptation. //No. He was kind enough to take you in and you are not going to make him regret that. Even if he looks like the statues of Gods shown in antiquity, and even if he has the heart of a wounded angel and the face of  a rembrant. . . NO! Focus!//

    "Himmel?"

    He swallowed and spun round with a smile, "Ja?"

    Ninga smiled and Himmel's insides melted to sentimental goo. "You coming?"

    "Where?"

    "To work with me. Said I'd teach you to be more than a sissy didn't I? I meant it."

    "I wouldn't want to be a bother. . ."

    "No bother, come on, I'll be late."

    "How. . . ? Isn't the jeep. . . ?"

    "The Jeep is mine. I'm the only one of the gang that has a good and steady job."

    "They use that without mercy don't they."

    Ninga shrugged, "Well what are freinds for?"

    The German looked away, "More than that."

    "Yeah, well. . . can't win 'em all can I."

    "You could." Himmel sighed.

    "What?"

    "Nothing."

    With one last look at his passenger, Bruce started the jeep. He didn't press for clarification. Something told him he'd know when it became important enough to his new roommate.
 

    Bruce Garcia's freinds had no idea who he was. Himmel decided that after watching the other boy in the dojo he taught for. Ninja was fast, strong, cleaver and sure of his abilities, of his skill. He definitly had a right to be. The young martial artist was good! Very Good! //He does well to hide his skill from his 'freinds' least he become bodyguard 'and' piggybank.// Himmel thought. Still. . . under all of that, was the knowlege, //He is showing this to me though. He is trusting me.//

    The blond watched untill all classes were over, delighting in the play of ninja's muscles and the snap of his Ji as he struck out in instruction. Once the dojo was clear of all but them, Ninja grinned. "Well?"

    "Well what?"

    "Come on, lets teach you some moves!"

    Himmel blushed.

    Ninja blushed back. "I didn't mean it like that!"

    "I know."

    "Well?"

    "I am a lost cause."

    "I like lost causes."

    They sparred and and laughed and enjoyed the rest of the day until the setting sun made them stop. "There's no good lights in here." Ninja began to pack up the gear and lock the cabenets, "We probably should get home."

    //It feels so very nice, to call somplace home.//

    "Himmel, you gonna stay here or you wann acome with me?"

    "I'm coming." He smiled, "The word home jsut caugh me off guard."

    "Well get used to it."

    "Won't be a problem." He smiled brighter.

    They climbed into the jeep sweaty and exhausted but happy.

    "First dibs on the shower!"

    "No way Bruce, I fall first!"

    "We could share it."

    The blond began coughing. and gasped in air.

    "Himmel? You ok? I was just kidding yo!"

    //I know you were Bruce.// A tear rolled unnoticed down him cheek. //That's why it hurts so much.//

    "Dude are you ok?"

    He smiled and nodded, bangs covering his eyes and tears, "Fine."

    "You can have the shower first."

    That made him laugh, "No, that's ok, you called it."

    "So you wanna tell me what the tears are for?"

    "I'm not used to this dry climate. My eyes are watering."

    "Did I say something wrong?"

    "No, you said everything right."

    Ninja's brain clicked and his lips opened in a small 'o'. "And then I said I was kidding."

    "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

    "I. . . I don't think I should be driving while we have this conversation."

    Himmel nodded and sat in quiet misery until they got back the Ninja's building.

    The walk up the stairs was quiet and subdued and when they finally closed the door behind them, Himmel made a beeline for the kitchen. "Would you like a beer?"

    "Himmel. . ."

    "I. . ."

    "Don't block me out okay? I'm tired of being pushed out of people's lives."

    The German boy looked startled. "What are you talking about? Did you even see how those people looked at you today? You touched the lives of every student you taught."

    "Touched them maybe. But I'm never a part of them. I'm just. . ."

    Himmel frowned. "Collateral."

     He nodded, "Until what they want comes along." 

    "You're not."

    "Prove it." He insisted, "What's wrong?"

    Himmel's shoulders sagged and he closed his eyes. "I do not want your kindness to turn to contempt."

    "It won't."

    "How do you know? You don't even know what I'm going to say."

    "I have a guess." Ninja admitted, meeting Himmel's startled gaze. "But I want to hear it from you."

    "I. . ."

    "Yo! Ninja!" Pest burst into the room in a flurry of shimmering robes and a turban. "This scam is fool proof!"

    Himmel blushed and walked into the bathroom leaving a distracted and disheveled Bruce to stare at his freind. "Pestario?"

    "I am going to be the sultan of scams the pharoh of fabrication the . . ."

    "Pest, it's ten O'clock at night!"

    "What better time for a wandering gypsy fortune teller to be out and about? I can read peoples minds."

    Bruce glarred, "Then read mine."

    "I see. . . I see. . . why Ninja you horney little. . ."

    "Pest!"

    "Come on! Money is the root of all evil and I need to get back to my roots!"

    "I. . . Himmel. . ."

    "He'll be fine by himself for a little while. Just leave out some sappy musicals and Streisand tunes and he'll be in Heaven. Maybe you shoud buy him a snake. Chubs an' me need a ride to the boardwalk. Come on."

    Ninja sighed. "Himmel?"

    "Go." He mumbled from the other side of the door.

    "But I. . ." 

    "I'll do some more cleaning. We might be able to see if the bedroom has a carpet or if it's just a thick layer of dirt."

    Bruce smiled and then sighed, "We're going to finish that conversation."

    "It's better that we don't."

    "Himmel!"

    Chubby walked into the apartment and looked from Ninja, yelling to someone through the bathroom door, to Pest. "Honeymoon's over already huh?"

    "Pest the boardwalk is only a mile away. Walk."

    "You're ditching us for snake boy?!" Chubs gasped.

    "Gypsies don't ride in jeeps, it would ruin your scam." Ninja reasoned.

    Pestario thought a oment and looked at Chubby, "He has a point." He thought again then decided, "We need to find a horse and buggy!"

    Ninja watched the two of them leave in faint disbeleif. He hadn't realize that pest could get any weirder. Finally when he was sure they were gone, he locked the door and walked back to the closed bathroom. "Himmel? They're gone."

    The door didn't budge."

    "Come on, what good is hiding going to do?"

    "It will save me from further humiliation."

    "I don't want to humiliate you."

    "What was your guess?"

    "Huh?"

    "You said you had a guess about why I was upset. What was your guess?"

    Bruce slid to sit with his back leaning against the door and sighed. "I thought maybe you wanted to pet my snake."

    The door flew open and Bruce fell onto his back and stared up into angry blue eyes. "Don't patronize me!"

    "I wasn't. It got you to open the door."

    "That was not very nice."

    "Neither was locking yourself in the bathroom."

    "I'm homosexual. Therefore I am a slave to dramatics." He scoffed.

    "Himmel. . ."

    "Would you get off of the floor?!"

    "No."

    "Why not?"

    "Because then you could shut the door again."

    "Oh, mein Gott." Himmel stepped over the prone boy, coming very close to certain tender parts with the heel of his shoe, and flooped back down on the couch.

    Bruce followed him and sat beside him, neither of them saying a word.

    Himmel finally couldn't take the silence anymore. "Now that the living room is cleaned out I could sleep on the couch."

    "I don't mind sleeping with you."

    Himmel blushed. "You mean sharing the bed." He corrected.

    "No, actually I didn't." He leaned forward a capture the German's pale lips with his own.

~tbc~