Chapter 22

(Murdoc's POV)

This was fine. This was how the rest of this went until the pirates arrived. Until the robot was done. Until the others came.

Until Stuart almost died.

And then things slipped back.

Not to when things were bad, or even stressful. To the time before we sat like hiding ducks on an island. Like back at Kong. We went back to treating each other like distant friends, though with less of a bock between us. Less lonesome with the others around. Life more stable around others we could actually talk and interact to.

Neither one of us talked about what happened on the island. The only evidence of those experiences actually happening where shone through unhealthy mixes of aloof and longing glances.

We didn't touch one another after the plastic beach album released. Not even when we released The Fall later that year.

But we had finally started to comfortable talking to one another again.

Grazes of skin on skin, chaste touches.

I had mentioned trying things again, but he denied me every time. Though not right away. It seemed like every time I asked, the pause between my question and his answer had gotten longer. He thought more about it every time I brought it up.

One night, after a long day, he even said, "I'll think about it." And again, he admitted, "I've thought about it..."

Nothing ever came of these interactions, aside from thoughtful looks and confusing stares.

I've screwed a few birds since we had got back. Not many. None ever felt the same.

None ever even tried to dominate me. No one had ever thought they could. No one could get enough under my skin to do so.

No one could make me feel, like he could...

The bruises he had left around my neck had long faded, almost as soon as I had finished Cyborg. But maybe...

Maybe soon...

I can get him to leave more.

-------------------------

Thus ends this story, for I favor another at the moment.

One with more violence and blood and drugs, check out all the problems I got  in my other books!