There was a loud noise somewhere outside the window.

Alex stopped suddenly. He had been following the man for a while but now it looked as if he was trying to sneak into a house. He didn't know if he should follow.

Actually, for what the man did next, Alex was pretty sure he shouldn't follow.

Alex cringed as he watched the man pick up a metal object and throw it through the window. He heard it crash in to something inside and he always heard someone curse... quite loudly. The man seemed to ignore it though and he jumped through the window, now holding another weapon.

John felt the metal object collide with his head rather forcibly and cursed loudly. He put his hand to the place where it had hit him and pulled it away to find blood, just as the man jumped through the window.

Alex stood outside debating whether to go in or not. He really didn't want to but...

John's eyes widened as he saw that the man was holding a blunt object that looked to be heavy. Whirring around, he grabbed the first thing he saw, which happened to be a fireplace poker.

Alex ran to the window and looked around for something. He wasn't supposed to be seen but he couldn't just let this guy go into some random house and attack people. There might be an innocent family in there. Jumping through the window Alex instantly looked around for something to use.

John looked round as another man jumped through the window. Obviously, today was just not his day. Random people jumping through his window and hitting him in the head with metal objects. Honestly.

Alex didn't even take a moment to take in the scene. He grabbed the closer object (a plate) and threw it at the guys head. It shattered

Well, this was a change, John thought as he watched the first man crumple to the floor, before rounding on the other. "Erm... What's going on?"

Alex looked at the man about to reply when he blinked. He hadn't actually looked when he first came in. He had jumped in thinking there might be innocent people here, even though he was specifically told not to be seen. He narrowed his eyes though when he saw the man. This was not good. The guy had a tattoo on his shoulder-blade, the only reason Alex knew this was b/c the man wasn't wearing a shirt. He cursed in his head. This guy was the enemy! Alex could only hope the man didn't recognize him. According to his tattoo though he seemed to be pretty high up and if he was then he probably knew most of his enemy which meant he would know Alex. If Alex could hurt this guy though the people on his side would definitely be happy.

John didn't recognize the man, although the evil smirk that he was wearing now seemed familiar. Maybe he was a merchant? Ah, well. Whatever he was, his gaze was fixed on the tattoo on John's shoulder. Well, that can't be good, he thought. "Who are you?"

"Huh? You don't know?" Alex mentally hit himself. That was a great thing to say. "I-I mean... I'm nobody! Yep, nobody! I should be going." Alex took one more look a the tattoo. He wished he had a weapon then he could give this guy what he deserved! Wait... He did have his weapons... Why hadn't he thought of that earlier!?

"Nobody. Uh-huh. Sure." John rolled his eyes. "And why are you looking at me like that? I hope you're not a cannibal." Cannibals? Randomly jumping through peoples windows? Why was he babbling so?

Wha--?" Alex was confused. This guy was almost acting like a normal person. Well, Alex knew he wasn't! He knew what kind of people his side were! They shouldn't even be called people! Alex reached down to where he kept his knife. He was wondering how good this guy was. He hoped he wasn't to high up, Alex knew he wasn't good enough to fight one of them.

Suddenly, it all clicked. John narrowed his eyes as he watched the man's hand slide down to his boot, and the hilt of a knife peak out. "If you'll excuse me." He said casually, before leaving the room as quickly as he could. Where had he left his sword? He knew it was around here somewhere... He really shouldn't have had that ale earlier.

Alex blinked as the man just walked away. What the--? Was he that dumb? Maybe Alex had gotten it wrong. Maybe he wasn't as good as Alex was making him out to be.

As silently as he could with his slightly- intoxicated mind, he snuck up behind the other man. Apparently, he needn't have been silent at all... The man seemed too locked in his own musing to care. Quickly, he ran his sword over the back of the man's neck. "Do not move."

Alex tensed up instantly. He hadn't even noticed the other man! When had he snuck up behind him!? How had he snuck up behind him!? Gulping Alex tested the man. He made the tiniest movement just to see what the man would do and he flinched when the blade pushed down harder. He was so screwed.

"Who are you and who sent you?" John hissed, closed to the other man's ear. The man flinched visibly. Good, he thought, at least he was frightened. Rookie.

Alex clinched his fist then slowly unclenched them. "Why the hell would I tell you that?" The instant he said the words the blade pressed down even harder than before this time drawing blood. This was really not good!

"Because," John said simply. "You don't want to die, do you?" Wow. Under the usual circumstances, he wouldn't have been this straightforward, but the alchohol was doing funny things to his mind. He saw the blood seep from the side of his blade as it dug into the other man's neck.

Alex really didn't know what to do. He had never been in a situation like this. Sure he had done a lot of jobs for his side but he had never had to deal with people who had more skill than him. He guessed he had always had it easy and now it was coming back to bite him. He bit his lip and stayed quiet. He was not going to tell this man anything, he was not a traitor or a coward and he was not going to act like one.

Suddenly, John very much liked the power he had over the other. Even though the man didn't want to admit it, John did have control. He was the one with the sword. He almost laughed. Almost. "So, you're not going to talk, are you?" He leaned in close to the other man. "Well, then, I'm just going to have to talk it out of you, aren't I?"

Alex shuddered. This was definitely not good! He had heard about some of the things these people did! He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself from shaking. Why was he acting like a coward!? He was not one! "I-It doesn't matter what you do. Nothing will work." Alex cursed the fact that his voice had wavered at the beginning. At least he had sounded strong towards the end.

John laughed slightly, still close to the other's neck. He could see the struggle with the man. He was trying to stop himself from shaking. And nothing would work, eh? Well, John had experience with these kind of people. All that was needed was a little bit of intense applied pressure, and they would be putty. "You're so sure?" His voice was almost teasing.

"Y-Yes..." Alex swallowed steadying his voice. "I am! Your tactics won't work. I won't tell anything to demons like you!" Alex was making himself angry now. He couldn't decide if that was good or not. Being angry clouded your judgement but it was better than being scared.

John snorted, enjoying the little shudder the other man gave when his breath touched the back of his neck. "Demon, am I?" He laughed again. "I'm afraid you have me all wrong."

"Sure I do!" Alex was getting even angrier now and his fear was almost completely gone. "I know all about you and your stupid side! Greedy, ungrateful, demons, the lot of you!"

Good. The man was angry. This would make it easier, in the end. "You know all about us, you say. I could say the same thing. I know all about your side, and the cowards that they hire." He could tell the man was getting angrier by the moment. He wasn't afraid anymore. This was good.

"Cowards!?" Alex almost turned around but the man seemed to sense that and he grabbed his arm to keep him still. Alex glared at the wall imaging it was the man. "We are not cowards! Who the hell do you think you are!?"

"Well," John said, carefully sliding his hand up the mans arm and pushing his shirt-sleeve back to where it revealed his shoulder. "From the looks of it, someone in a higher position than you."

Alex tensed at the insult. He tried to calm himself down but the fact that the man was there was ruining his plan. He tried to shake him off but it didn't work. "Let me go!"

"No, I don't think I will." John glared at the small tattoo on the man's shoulder accusingly. "Not until you tell me your purpose here. And why you so rudely broke through my sitting room window. And who the man is that's currently laying on my floor." John grinned a little. "In fact, I think its best that you explain everything to me, or you're not getting away." He applied a little more pressure to the blade, and loved the feeling of the man tensing under the pressure. He was enjoying this.

Alex hated the fact that he was still afraid, even through his anger. He was not going to let this man be right. He would not act like a coward and by showing fear that was what he was doing. He needed to pull himself together; he had been trained better than this. "It's obviously none of your business." He bit the words out. He hated this. He could not believe that he was so helpless in this situation. He had thought he was better than this. If he lived through this he was definitely going to have to do a lot more training.

“Well, then. I think I must resort to more mundane means of persuasion." John really was enjoying this. The way that the other man tensed, even though he was trying not to seem afraid. The way he was being difficult. There was much more to do before John was totally out of resources.

Alex searched the room with his eyes. He had to find something to fight with and quick. He did not like what this man was hinting at. Not. At. All. He looked around and saw a knife on a table. If he could grab that... The problem was he couldn’t. He needed to get out of this mans grasp. Maybe he could lie. Maybe he could make the man think he would tell the truth. It might just work.

John thought that the man should be searching the room right about now, looking for a weapon that he could use if he could get away. He knew that the man would lie to try to get away. He had been trained himself much in the very same way.

Alex breathed in deeply trying to steel his nerves. "I-I changed my mind. If I tell you will you let me go?" Alex cringed, he felt like a traitor just saying those words.

John grinned. So predictable. "I'll think about it. If you're information is satisfactory, I'll let you go. But you must speak first." The man cringed. He actually cringed? This was better than he thought.

Alex searched his mind. He had to think up something that sounded a little reasonable. Something that would satisfy the man yet at the same time not gives him too much information. "Uh... Freddie sent me. He... He. He sent me so that..." Alex thought frantically he couldn't think of anything! Maybe the man would think that he had faded off out of guilt.

Freddie? Seriously. "So that what?" He paused for a moment, allowing the man to think up another lie. He applied pressure to the blade. "So that you could stand here and lie to me? I know that you're lying; I can feel your pulse quicken. You want me to believe that you feel guilty. I'm afraid you leave me no choice. I will make you tell me the truth... I can make the experience quite painful, I'll have you know. But that's only if you struggle.

Alex knew he had no other choice now except to fight back. He cursed his luck. Breathing in he held it. He then lunged outwards pulling his neck away from the blade. Surprisingly the man didn't seem to expect this and he managed to get out of his grasp. Either that or the man let him go for the fun of it. Alex really hoped it wasn't the latter. He grabbed the knife on the table and took the one out of his boot. He knew he probably wasn't a match for this guy but he wasn't going to run away.

Well, this was getting interesting. John watched with mild interest as the man held a knife in each hand, looking to be ready for a battle. The man lunged, and John stepped away casually. And he was supposed to be the intoxicated one. John just grinned.

Alex flipped around and glared at the man. He knew he was outmatched and the man knew it as well. He didn't know what he was going to do. This was suicide. If he stayed here the man would just play with him until he got bored. He had to think of something.

John didn't want to hurt the man. It was too much fun watching him squirm. He had to think of something... He couldn't let the man get away, no matter what he wanted to do. But he couldn't kill him... not really. He didn't want it to end. Maybe just hurt him enough so that he couldn't get anywhere... Yeah, maybe that. He raised his sword and lunged forward instinctively, pushing the point into the spot where the tattoo was on the other's shoulder.

Alex choked from the pain. He hadn't even had the chance to try to block. He fell to his knees and reached up to his shoulder. He barely kept himself from crying out when the man pulled his sword back out. His breathing was heavy but slowly he stood back up. He would not let this man beat him!

John watched the other man stand up. He noted how bloodless the man's face looked, and how much blood he was losing through his shoulder wound. The man was like a caged animal, he thought. So busy was he in his observing, that he barely noticed the careful lunge the man took, and the carefully placed thrust that slashed open his own side. He gasped, and looked down at the wound. This wasn't nearly so fun anymore.

Alex glared at the man while repositioning the knife in his hand. He was pretty sure he had just gotten lucky there but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had managed to hit him. That was something he felt good about. "Not so high-and-mighty anymore huh? How does it feel?" Alex spit at the man. He was losing to much blood and he knew it. It would take another lucky shot for him to be able to do anything. Maybe he could get one in.

"How do you think it feels?" John asked quietly, raising his sword to defend as he desperately thought of a way he could stem the flow of blood from his side. Lucky shot, that was all. There was no way that the other man was ever getting one of those again.

Alex lunged but once again it was blocked. Even injured the man was so much better than him. Alex jumped back and tried to catch his breath. At this rate he was going to pass out. He was wasting too much energy. He blinked as his vision started to blur. Shaking his head he got it under control but now he knew that he needed something to happen and soon.

John came to the sudden realization that the man was going to pass out soon if he continued to fight like this. That wasn't good, for some reason. Slowly, he made his way over to him, one slow agonizing step at a time. "Listen. We're getting nowhere fighting like this. You're going to pass out anytime now. I'm not too much better off if I go at it for too long. How about we call it a truce?"

Alex blinked, surprised. Was this man really offering what Alex thought he was? No. Alex must have been hearing things. "What?" Oh. Great reply. "I said. Let's call it a truce." Alex frowned. There had to be something he wasn't seeing here, but really he had no choice. "...Fine. If you are calling a truce then I am leaving."

John felt like laughing hysterically. Maybe it was just loss of blood. "How far do you think you'll be going? You're not going to hold out much longer with that shoulder. They'll find you in the street in the morning. Besides, I can't let you leave. You're my enemy. You have information about where I'm located now."

Alex wanted to yell at the man about how he was a liar and other things that made no sense. He couldn't though. He knew he was telling the truth. He just couldn't decide if he had a better chance here with this man, or out there. It was bad either way. "And you think you could keep me here? Look at you. One hit from someone of a lower level and you are lowered to accepting a truce. You really are pathetic."

John smiled grimly. "It's not for me that I'm willing to call a truce. We're not all demons on this side. You're about to pass out. If you can't stand and fight like a man, then me killing you holds no honor. And as for me... I could go on for longer than you think. But, I digress. It's you who needs to stop, not me."

Alex glared at the man. He was going to insult him again but he was hit with another dizzy spell. He fell to the floor but managed to catch himself. Good thing there was a table next to him. He sat in the chair and held his arm. "This is stupid. It makes no sense. It's all your fault anyway. You are just going to kill me the instant you are better, whether I am or not.”

"You think so? You really have got me all wrong. Still, there's no reason for you to trust me, nor I you. So, either you go on fighting, or you stumble out into the night. Either way, you'll die. Isn't much of a choice now, is it?" John thought that maybe this compassion was misplaced. "I promise you though, that if you do decide to nurse your wounds in peace, I will not touch one hair on your precious little head until you're ready to pick up the fight again."

Alex stared at the man for a moment wondering if he should trust him. He knew he shouldn't, and he didn't, but he knew he had no choice. He was going to have to stay here. No matter what he was dead. "...Do you have any bandages then? And something to stop the bleeding?"

The man laying on the floor stirred ((Sorry, I couldn't resist!!)), and groaned a little. John jumped and rushed over to the man. "Well, you're in bad shape." A moment later, he took the pommel of his sword and banged it against the back of the man's head, knocking him out yet again. Quickly, John hurried into the next room and came back with a bandage and some soapy water. "Let me see it," he instructed the man, dipping a cloth that he had brought with him into the water.

Alex jerked backwards. The man just looked at him waiting. He bit his lip and slowly moved forward so that the man could reach him. When the man reached forward he moved backwards again. He really didn't trust this man at all. There was no telling what he would do. "I can do it myself." He said reaching out his uninjured arm for the items.

John shook his head, and looked as if he were talking to a naive child. "From the way you were holding your knives, and the way the cut in my side is angled, you're right handed. The shoulder that's injured is the right. Therefore, you can't."

Alex just glared at the man. "That means nothing. I might be able to use both hands and you just aren't smart enough to tell." He knew though that he wasn't convinced. "Fine!" Alex quickly pushed his arm out towards the man and kicked himself for it when pain spread through his body.

John tittered slightly and reached toward the other man's shoulder. He was sastified that the other man didn't pull back, and he carefully pushed the material of the man's shirt off of his shoulder. Unfortunately, though, the stab wound had hit too high up to be reached by just moving his sleeve. He sighed, and shook his head. It was too late for this. "Well, then... Take it off."

Alex looked away but nevertheless he took the shirt off his uninjured arm and then he slowly pulled it off his injured arm. He couldn't believe he was doing this. It was worse than death, it was worse than torture. This was just wrong on so many levels! He stared at the wall as he waited for the pain he knew was about to come from cleaning the wound.

John raised the soapy cloth once again, lowering it gently onto the wound. He heard the other man's sharp intake of breath. John tried to be gentle, though, and applied pressure slowly and steadily. When finally, the bleeding had stopped and all the blood had been cleaned away, he instructed the other man to rise up slightly so he could wrap his shoulder. The man was looking a little green around the edges, so to speak.

Alex waited as the man wrapped his shoulder. He wasn't only feeling bad but he was also confused. He had expected the man to make it as painful as possible but he hadn't. It had actually seemed like he was trying to clean it with as little pain as possible. Alex didn't even want to start thinking about why. It would only confuse him more. He saw the mans wound and frowned. He then reached out for the cloth again. "You want me to help?"

John heaved a great sigh of relief. No matter how shallow the wound was, it was starting to throb painfully. "Are you sure? I mean, with your shoulder and all..."

Alex glared at the man and grabbed for the cloth with his good arm. "Stop acting like you are actually human." He then pulled the man closer but he made sure not to hurt him. All the man did was tense up he didn't pull away like Alex had. Alex did the same thing the man had done it surprised him that he didn't want to hurt the man. This made no sense. When he was done cleaning it he pulled back. He might have some trouble wrapping it with only one arm. "Um…"

"Don't worry about it. I'll get it." He grabbed a second bandage off the table and raised the arm on the injured side into the air. "Er... Could you...?"

Alex rolled his eyes. This was stupid. They were acting like idiots. He grabbed the other end and both of them working together (which was surprisingly easy) managed to wrap his wound. When they were done Alex looked around uncertainly. Would the man let him leave now? He had said earlier that he couldn't but now, maybe...

"So," John asked conversationally, "What are we going to do about that man?" He pointed to the man that was still lying on his floor. He actually wasn't that far from the window... Without thinking, John walked over to the man and flung him over his shoulder, before forcibly throwing him back out the window. It was painful, lifting something so heavy after such a recent wound, but it wasn't much. He'd had worse wounds than this before.

Alex blinked then glared. He was kind of wishing he had just killed the man, and then he wouldn't be in this mess. And if the man got away Alex was going to have a lot to explain later. He didn't think they would understand the situation either. Alex had no clue why he was still here. This was so unlike him. This man had just tried to kill him! He stood up; it was definitely time to leave.

"And what, may I ask; do you think you're doing?" John asked as the other man stood up, looking determined.

Alex just ignored the man. He was not going to listen to this man. He quickly walked through the doorway looking for the door that would get him out.

John sighed, picking up his sword again. "And we were getting on so well, too..." He muttered to himself before following the man out of the door. Carefully, he snuck up behind him as the man was looking around, and gently knocked him in the back of the skull with the pommel. The man fell to the floor, and John sighed again as he hefted him up on his shoulder and carried him back into the sitting room.

Alex groaned as he opened his eyes slowly. He was laying on something. It took him a moment but slowly what had happened came back to him. He knocked me out! That-- That-- How dare he! Alex's arm hurt more now that it had been a while. How long he didn't know... Where was that asshole?

John yawned widely and rolled over... right onto his bad side. He yelped quietly, and tried to sit up without straining anything. He looked down at the wound... Blood was seeping through the bandage. Sighing, he went into the next room (which was the sitting room) to try to find more of them. What he found, however, was a very awake and annoyed man glaring at him from the couch.

Alex felt some pleasure from seeing that the man was in pain. He felt bad afterward though which only confused him more. This man was the enemy! Alex stood up and moved toward the man. He noted that he couldn't move his arm very well he knew thought that that was only b/c he had strained it the day before. "I should kill you! I can't believe you would do that! Why don't you just let me leave and we can both forget this ever happened!?"

"I've told you," John scowled, rather irritably. The pain in his side was giving him a headache. "I can't let you leave. You know where I am, and you'll tell someone. I can't deal with that right now. So you're staying here. End of story."

"I..." Alex wasn't expecting him to be so blunt. "I am not staying here! You are the enemy! I can't just sit around at your house! I will be accused of going traitor!"

"And yet again," John rubbed his temples, "I'll explain it to you. How can they accuse you of going traitor when they don't know where you are? Think about it." He walked toward the other end of the room, trying to find a bandage in the drawers and cupboards along the wall.

"Still..." Alex faded off. This wasn't right. He couldn't just stay here, but it seemed this man wasn't going to just let him leave either. This was not going to work out. He sighed. He felt like just giving in and doing what the man said. There was definitely something wrong with him. "How long do you plan on making me stay here?”

John ignored the question, still ferreting around for bandages in the sitting room. Instead, he decided to ask one of his own. "What is your name, by the way?"

Alex wanted to yell at the man about how it was none of his business. He really did. "Alex." Obviously his mouth wasn't listening to his mind. "You never answered my question. "You can't just leave me here. You have to either kill me or let me go. I'm not some pet you can keep for the fun of it."

Yet again, John ignored this question. Maybe if he ignored it, it would go away? "You can call me John." He said, tiredly, as his endless search for an effing bandage led him out of that room and into the next.

Alex glared at the man's back as he walked away. Did he think he was actually going to call him by his first name? Like they were friends? What was with this guy. He stood up to follow him. "Hey! I asked you a question! You can't just ignore me!" When the man just kept on looking around he growled and walked up behind him he grabbed his arm and turned him around, he was surprised when the man didn't fight back. "You can't act like I don't exist! And you can't keep me caged up here! Stop acting like we are damn buddies and make a decision on what you are going to do!"

"Ignoring? Who said I was ignoring you?" John said absently, rummaging through the door with renewed vigor. Of course, he hadn't heard a word Alex had said.

Alex was just a little angry. No, really. But he was obviously angry enough to want to hit John... The man! He would not call him by his name. Even in his head. Before Alex actually knew what he had done he had lashed out and punched him.

John nursed his bloody nose. Bugger. But now he was angry. "Listen, you. I have already explained everything to you. You are going to stay here, or you die. Critical choice, no? From now until you make your choice, you're going to stay locked in a room." He shouted, grabbing the sword that was never far from him and pressing the point lightly to the already inflamed shoulder wound. He applied gentle pressure, until Alex cried out in pain. Taking this to be an invitation (and knowing that it wasn't), he grabbed Alex by the arm and hauled him to the kitchen, where a trapdoor led to the basement. Groaning with the strain on his side, he opened the door while keeping a firm grip on Alex and frog-marched him down the stairs. He closed the door over him, putting something heavy atop it to make escape inevitable with a bum arm.

Alex glared at the trapdoor. Actually, he had been doing that for a while now. He couldn't have been down here for more than an hour or two but it was enough to make him extremely bored. When he had first been so rudely shoved down here he had tried shoving on the door, all that did was cause him pain. He had then tried to make John open the door by yelling, but that hadn't worked either. He sighed and with his good arm moved some hair out of his face. He was going to kill John. He was. "Let me out of here! You asshole! You can't keep me locked down here!" Maybe yelling would work. Alex didn't think it would though, why work now when it hadn't worked earlier?

John waited until the screaming faded away before he could change the bandage properly and go back to bed. He had one hell of a headache and didn't want to deal with spoiled-little nancy boys. Hmm, he thought as he finally found the bandage, Maybe I'll sleep for four straight days. That sounds rather good right about now.

Alex glared at the door and sighed. He gave up! This was stupid. This was getting him nowhere! Is that what he wanted to hear? Alex hit the door once more and leaned back against it. "I..." He breathed in deeply. "Hey! John! I get it! I give up. Now will you let me out!?"

John snorted in his sleep and rolled over.

Alex finally got that John wasn't going to come and open the door. Dangit. He slowly stood up and walked down the stairs. There was nothing in the basement. He sighed dramatically. He then sat down in a corner., making sure, of course, that his shoulder didn't hit the wall. He then leaned his head back not even noticing that he was falling asleep until it was too late.

When John woke up again, it was dark. Sighing, he figured that at least Alex would have to eat. Groaning, he stood up and stretched. At least the tender area on his side was getting better, if only by a little. He walked to the kitchen and moved the heavy thing off the trapdoor with some effort. He crouched down and pulled the metal ring, before yanking it up and calling into the darkness. "Yo, Alex. Are you hungry?"

Alex stirred slightly but otherwise he did not wake up.

John shrugged and put the heavy thing back, before making himself some food.

Alex opened his eyes for the second time and once again he felt anger renew towards John. He moved up the steps and hit the door. He better open up

Grinning, John heard the banging and removed the heavy thing again and pulled the trapdoor open. An angry face met him. "Ah, I see the angel is awake. Care for some food?"

Alex glared at John... for like the hundredth time. He then shoved past him. "About time." Alex then remembered what he had said. "And don't call me that. It's degrading. Especially hearing it from your enemy."

John grinned. "You think it's degrading? Well, then, I should use it more. Food?"

Alex just blinked a few times. Of course, that was when he realized he was actually hungry. When he had food in his hand he decided to bring up the bad subject again. "You know, you can't just force me to stay here."

"Man, do you always have to ruin the moment?" John asked, ignoring the subject yet again. He didn't think that was necessarily the best thing to do, but Alex would come around eventually (or so he hoped).

"Ruin what moment! You are acting as if you weren't trying to kill me one day ago!" Alex didn't like the fact that he kept on ignoring his question. He would not be kept in this man's house for who-knows-how long.

"Au contraire, my protégé. You were the one that busted through my living room window and tried to kill me. I was merely defending myself."

"I was not trying to kill you! I thought there were innocent people in here! I was trying to follow that man that you so rudely threw out your window!" Alex stopped and mentally hit himself. He had just given something away that he shouldn't have. He didn't think it mattered much though; there was no way John would have enough information from just that alone.

"Oh ho! You were following that man, were you?" John smiled. "I told you I'd talk it out of you eventually. Kind of amazing how annoying I can be, innit?"

Alex just ignored him and sat down at his table. This man was innfuriating! He was attacking him one second, helping the next, ignoring the next, then being all buddy buddy after. It made no sense!

John walked to the table and took a seat beside Alex, holding the sandwich in his hand aloft.

Alex looked at him like he was mad. "What are you doing! You are supposed to be my enemy! What is wrong with you!"

John thought that there were only so many responses a question should be allowed to have. "Me? I'm hungry. And I think I'm may be just a tiny bit raving. But that's all good, innit? I think the real question here is... What crawled up your arse and died?" John smiled politely and took a large bite out of his sandwich.

Alex gaped at him. There was no way this was the same man from the other night. There was no way! This all had to be some elaborate trick or something. Maybe Alex should just grab a knife, stab the man, and walk away. It seemed so simple at the moment.

Very suddenly, John looked down at his poor sandwich in distaste. There was something else he wanted... Something more... He stood up and threw his sandwich in the garbage, before walking to the very back pantry of the kitchen. He pulled out a large, frosty bottle of some clear substance and brought it back to the table. He pulled the cork out with his teeth and took a long swig.

Alex looked at John curiously. What was all that about? He tried to read what the bottle said but he couldn't. When John took another drink from it he frowned. "What is that?"

John set the bottle down on the table with a loud thunk. "Vodka. I have a friend who owns a brewery... Best stuff on this side of the world. Want some?"

Alex looked at the bottle disgusted. He had heard that all Vodka was good for was to get you totally plastered. He really didn't think he liked the idea of John drinking that. But then, on the other hand it might put him so out of it that he could finally leave. "Um... No thanks."

"Are you sure? Alright then, if you insist." There was silence for the next ten minutes, as John drank.

Alex watched worriedly as the bottle became emptier and emptier. John was going to feel horrible tomorrow. When he was pretty sure John was well past being drunk he stood up quietly intending on trying to leave

John felt Alex leave the table. Even his highly pie-eyed brain could figure that one out. "Hey! Where're you going?" He pulled Alex by the hand back toward the table.

Alex couldn't believe his luck! Even when John was on a bun he could tell when Alex was trying to leave! What was with this guy! "I... I was just going to the bathroom." Alex tried to pull his hand away but he couldn't. It was a good thing John had grabbed his uninjured arm.

"Well, then," John said, wagging a finger of his free hand in front of Alex's eyes. "It's a good thing I stopped you. The bathroom is that way," He gestured back over his shoulder. "Even I know that. Everyone knows that!"

"Uh, yeah, right." Alex looked toward the way john pointed. He knew that if he went that way that there would be no way out of the house. "You know. How about I go look around? I haven't gotten a chance to yet."

"Uh..." He looked like he was concentrating rather hard on something. "I don't think that's such a good idea. I'm not supposed to be letting you leave, 'member? You know what?" Alex looked fearful for his sanity. "You're purty."

He was what? There was no way that this guy would say that. He watched as John raised the bottle intending to take another drink the evil man still had a hold of him though. He reached out and pulled the bottle away. "You know what? I definitely think you have had enough."

"Really? What an interesting observation. I think that you've not had enough. Stop taking yourself so seriously, man. And give me the bottle back." John reached for it, and Alex tugged it out of his grasp.

"Seriously. I am doing you a favor. You will understand later... I doubt you will remember though." Alex looked around. The grip John had on him was tight and annoying. "Hey, maybe you should get some sleep or something."

John's conveniently flying mind picked up little to none of this. The only thing that he heard was sleep. "Sleep? Sleep?! How do you expect me to sleep?"

"Look. Just... Come on." Alex pulled John up, no small task. He then preceded to practically carry him to his bedroom. John was muttering things the whole way. "There. Now I am sure if you just lay down you will be able to go right to sleep."

"No! Wait!" John was near hysterics as he grabbed Alex's hand again. "Don't leave."

"What the!?" Alex tried to pull away he already knew it wouldn't work though, even drunk John was a lot stronger than him. This time though John was squeezing his wrist and it hurt. "Let. Go!"

"No. Not until you promise that you won't leave."

Alex scowled. He really really hated this guy. "Fine! I won't leave happy! Now let go!" Alex was definitiely leaving now. The instant John let go he was out of there.

"You're just going to leave when I let go, aren't you? Come here so I know that you won't leave.”

Alex looked at the door then back at John. What was the worst he could do? Really he had no choice. Sighing he moved closer to John hoping that would be that.

A few moments passed in silence. "It's cold." John pronounced loudly. "Keep me warm."

Alex's eyes widened. Oh no. He was not doing this. He tried to pull away again this time with more force. "I am not keeping you warm!"

"Why not?" John tightened his grip. "Come on, you can't deny that's it's freezing in here. I know you're cold. You're shivering. Come on.”

"N-No way!" Alex looked around frantically. "Just let me go! You are way past drunk!" Alex desperately pulled at his wrist but he overbalanced. The instant John felt that he pulled him towards him so that he fell on John.

"'S better," John said, sighing contentedly, even though Alex was struggling.

Alex pushed against John's stomach but when he heard an intake of breath he quickly stopped. He hadn't meant to hit his wound. Wait. Why did it matter? When John pulled him closer Alex tried to pull away. "This isn't right! Let me go! Please!"

Even through his heavy inebriation, John felt the pain and knew that he would feel it even more later. In fact, he was so distracted by the pain and the funny little way that it made his left foot twitch even though it was manifested in his side (or was it?), that he didn't hear Alex's pleas or realize what he was doing.

Alex fell against John as his shoulder started to go numb. He had been using it to much it seemed. He breathed in and out slowly. "John... Please let me go."

"Mmmmh. I don't think I will. This feels nice." John shifted slightly.

Alex groaned. How could he make John let go of him?

Sighing in contentment and his alcohol induced illusions; he slowly trailed his hand up Alex's bare back, which, of course, made Alex tense.

Alex's eyes widened as John's hand moved slowly up then back down. Not meaning to he shivered and then he silently cursed when it seemed that John had taken his shiver as acceptance.

That delicious little shiver encouraged John; even though he was in orbit. He stroked the smooth skin softly, hoping to elict more delicious little shivers.

Alex bit down on his lip. He was not going to encourage John any more than he already accidentally had. Unconsciously though he had squeezed John's shoulders in his attempt to keep his body still. He hadn't noticed he was even doing it.

In his normal state of mind, John would have thought this occurrence odd, if not a little endearing. Or, at least, that's what he thought he would have thought. Surprisingly, though, his drunkenness was ever so slowly starting to ebb away. His normal mind frame, although excruciatingly slowly approaching, did not think this odd, or endearing, for that matter. He didn't know what his normal mind frame thought, for he was giving up thinking for the moment. Of course, John took the gently squeezing of his shoulders for more encouragement as his hand wandered farther upwards to tangle in Alex's hair.

Alex whimpered. He gave up trying to keep John from thinking the wrong thing. He had already screwed that up. He tried to lift himself back up but as he raised his head he found the hand in his hair pushing him back down. Not where he originally was, no. The next thing Alex knew was John's lips crashing into his own.

The kiss was slow and innocent at first; John was surprised that Alex hadn't pulled away. But it grew in intensity from being innocent to being rough. John found that he was sliding his tongue out ever so inconspicuously and running it along Alex's bottom lip, asking for permission to enter.

Alex had been telling himself to pull away the entire time. He wasn't though and he blamed it on the fact that he knew it wouldn't have gotten him anywhere. Without meaning to he had shut his eyes and now he had slightly opened his mouth. He didn't know why he was doing this but he knew that John was quite good at it.

The rational part of John's brain was starting to make it self known more and more. He thought that it should at least be asking what he was doing. It was doing nothing more, however, than being perfectly content to sit back and watch the good bout of ballroom dancing that they seemed to be doing with their tongues.

Alex had officially gone insane. Instead of pulling away he found himself pulling himself closer. He was trying to get as close to John as possible. Switching from their earlier predicament, Alex's hand went to John's hair and John's hand was back on his back. This time he didn't tense up though. This time he only moaned into John's mouth. He didn't know why but he had done it before he could stop himself. He had lost all control.

John found that he very much liked Alex's enticing little shudders and moans and squeezes. There was no rationality to this anymore... John liked it. Without much preamble, John gripped Alex's waist as he gently rolled them over as not to hinder either his side or Alex's shoulder. In this process, he found that he was ever so gently nibbling on Alex’s lips. He left them for a moment to trail kisses up his jaw and unto his ear.

Alex pulled John's mouth back toward his. He hadn't even noticed that he had flipped them over. He was too preoccupied. When John was kissing him again this time Alex took his chance. He wanted to see what John tasted like. John let him, but only for a moment, it seemed the man did not like not being in control. Once he took back over Alex raked his fingertips slowly up John's uninjured side, he was rewarded with a shudder of his own. He broke off the kiss for much needed air while smirking at his small victory.

John took Alex's pause for air as an opportunity to plant little butterfly kisses down his jaw line and suck on the delicate skin of his neck.

Alex moaned at this new sensation. He tilted his head to the side trying to give John more neck. He liked John being in control it felt good.

John was emboldened by that sastified little moan. He continued his exploits, nipping and sucking all along Alex's neck until he stopped on the little pulse point there.

Alex had never felt like this before. And he could definitely say he liked what John was doing. He wanted more though. Forcing John's head back up and kissed him again. This time he didn't just let John control, he fought. He didn't know why he was acting like this, he knew that it should only be John not him. John was the drunken one. At this thought Alex almost pulled away. He shouldn't be doing this. But that was before John bit down on his lip making him gasp and moan at the same time.

John captured his mouth again in a rougher, more demanding kiss.

Alex relaxed completely into John. If he had been thinking rationally (which the fact that he wasn't was john's fault) then he would have wondered what the hell he was doing. This was supposed to be his enemy not... Not whatever this was! Alex tryed to pull himself back together but John was making it a little hard.

Somehow, John could feel Alex's hesitation. Hadn't he been demanding only a moment ago? The more that John's normal mindset came back, the more that Alex seemed to be coming back to reality. This wasn't good however. Someone's first reactions didn't lie, and hadn't Alex's first reactions been good ones? Or had he read all of the moans and the shivers and the squeezing wrong? Then, John thought that just maybe when you're half-drunk half-hangover hell you shouldn't think so hard. He decided that he would refuse to think, and just feel. Maybe that would work...? Slowly, John took the hand that wasn't underneath Alex and ran it down Alex's chest, feeling and raking and making Alex shudder.

Once again Alex lost the control he had tried so hard to get back. But it was like John was testing something because the next thing Alex knew the hand that had just felt so wonderful was gone. Alex whimpered from the loss and he quickly pulled himself up while trying to pull John down. He wanted that feeling back. He knew John understood but it seemed he wasn't done torturing him, the next thing Alex knew John's mouth was gone. This Alex wouldn't take. He opened his eyes, which were glazed over, but he still managed to glare at John. He couldn't be that mean could he?

John hoisted himself up a little, hovering over Alex and leaving no point of contact. This made Alex whimper and glare, but they were gone a moment later when John kissed the place directly below Alex's belly button.

Alex savored the renewed contact. The problem was it was in a new place once again. Couldn't John just pick a spot and stay there! Alex suddenly felt hands on his hips holding him down. At first he felt frustrated but then he could feel fear settling in. He didn't know if he liked this anymore. What was he doing anyway!?

John felt Alex tense for about the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes. Could he not decide whether or not he liked it?! Sighing, he thought maybe he just needed a little more reassurance. Maybe that would help. Of course, there was a great chance that it would not help... but he didn't want to think about that. Sighing slightly, John raised himself again to kiss Alex reassuringly, while his hand still lingered somewhere below Alex's navel.

Alex welcomed the kiss. Screw rational thought, he could worry about enemies and politics later. This was more important. John slowly made his way back down to Alex's navel kissing him all the way. He seemed to be waiting for some sort of resistance. Alex wasn't going to give him any though. He was going to trust John with whatever he was doing. It had felt perfect so far why stop because of a little fear now?

John began to gently rub the burgeoning pouch at the front of Alex's pants with a thumb while he nipped at the skin right below his navel. Alex moaned loudly and arched up, making John grin. He liked that.

Alex looked down at John through lust covered eyes. He threw his head back and bucked his hips when John looked up at him, smirked, and grabbed a hold of him.

John teased him like this for only a while longer, before slowly undoing the button on his pants and pulling the zipper down with antagonizing slowness. Alex bucked and arched, begging for the friction again. He raised himself into a kneeling position and pulled at Alex's pants by the leg, sliding them off and throwing them onto a puddle on the floor.

Alex looked up at John who was ghosting his fingertips over his skin as if to tease him more. He moaned and grabbed John to where he fell on top of him. Alex crushed his lips to John's and was granted instant access. He could tell that John at least hadn't expected this. That fact thrilled him slightly. Alex raised his hips against John's creating more much wanted friction he groaned in need when John reluctantly pushed him down and held his hips in place with his own legs. It seemed that John didn't like not being in control. John was leaning over him with his arms on either side of his head. Just for the pleasure and just so he could see John's face Alex forced his hips up one more time and grinded them against John's. This time it was him that moaned in need.

John moaned at the new sensations that crept their way into his stomach and made his head spin. He groaned, and grabbed Alex's hips, grinding down on them fast and hard in renewed need. "Ergh... maybe your side isn't so bad after all..." Well, shit. He hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Alex's eyes shot open almost instantly. His mind was still fuzzy but any need he had felt was gone now. Reality had just come crashing down on him faster and harder than ever. "Get. Off. Me." He shoved John off of him ignoring the pain he had just caused himself. He knew the only reason he had actually succeeded in that was because John was still slightly surprised. Alex quickly stood up. How could he have been such an idiot!? "You and your whole side are bigger assholes than I ever imagined! If I ever see you again, you better be ready because I will kill you!" He was then gone, he had finally gotten out of that house.