It was nine in the morning and Set had already performed all his morning rituals and checked out the entire apartment and office suite in his search for Li.
Without findind him.
Then he remembered. He was so stupid sometimes. He had a GPS and Li's frequency.
He sat Indian-style on the bed in the guest room and stared at the GPS display. That bastard! That fucking bastard was at Tian and Chris's place. He had probably even spent the night there. How could he be so cold and uncaring like that? How dare he act like that after all that they had shared?
Set ground his teeth and his hand reached down to touch Nancy. Maybe he could use Nancy to his advantage.
He jumped off the bed and hid the GPS putting it on the white photo album that had found a place at the bottom of his bag.
He went out of the guest room and went into the kitchen. He directed his bare feet towards the sink where there was a toolbox in the cabinet under the sink.
Thirty minutes later he was still sitting on the kitchen floor but the toolbox was now cleaned away and Set's hands sported some scratches while Nancy lay opened beside him.
He didn't know how the thing worked and frankly he didn't care but he suspected that right now somewhere within Li's proximity there was something beeping or flashing. He leaned with his elbows on his thighs and palmed his chin and -- he waited with his heart wedged in his throat.
There was a sound of feet rushing up the stairs and a door opening. Then somebody's voice yelled: "Set!"
Li. Set inched back toward the cabinet. His back hit the hard surface and the handle pressed into his spine. Maybe he should wait… maybe it was too soon, things were too fresh. He should calm down, he should give Li some time, wait a day or two…
"Set!"
With his toes Set pushed the bracelet away.
"SET!"
It was too late for that, wasn't it? He put his palms over his heart like they could help to calm its frantic beat. Like the simple gesture would give him strength. "In here."
Lucas appeared in the kitchen, his cheeks flushed and his fair hair in wild disarray. He looked slightly out of breath. Closing the distance between them he leaned down, grabbed Set's upper arm, fingers digging into the flesh and pulled Set up. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing." Set looked at Lucas, his jaw set. It was a little surprising Lucas hadn't sent Chris. "You didn't come home. Where were you?"
Lucas released him and stepped back. "Working."
"All night?" Set stepped closer, his eyes narrowed.
"No. Not all night."
Set's fingers grabbed the folds of Lucas's shirt. "Why didn't you come home? Why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you."
"Yes, you are. How can you deny it? Just tell me -- Why? What have I done to you?" Set needed to know, to resolve this, because only then could he confront Lucas about the past and maybe… Just maybe work things out.
"Set."
"What have I done?" The fingers dug into the fabric. "What. Have. I. Done?"
"You scared me, okay? I have never been so scared in my entire life."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Set wanted to lean his head on Lucas's chest and just forget about everything. About Lucas being Li, about the the anger that was directed towards him. He wished for things to be as they were just a few days ago when Lucas had been just Lucas and when Set's presence had been accepted with open arms. If only wishes came true. But they never did, did they, because if they did, Li would have never left.
"I'm glad that we worked this out." Lucas's hands grabbed Set's shoulders and removed him from his person. "Now I have work to do." He turned.
"No! You are not leaving." Set grabbed Lucas's arm. "We still have things to --"
"I don't have time for this!" Lucas swatted Set's hand away.
"Then make time. This is important."
"I really don't have time for this." Lucas went out of the kitchen.
Set followed him into the hallway. "LI! You better make time."
Lucas's body stiffened and his step faltered but then he straightened his shoulders and continued striding toward the entrance door.
"So that how it's going to be? You walking away from me again." Something squeezed Set's insides and he leaned on the wall for support. "Wasn't your ignoring me enough? You have to leave me again too?"
"Set." Lucas turned. "I never left you."
"Yes, you did. You just walked away." Apparently that was what Li did best. Set slid down on the floor. He didn't know why he was even trying. "You just don't care."
"That's not true." Lucas stepped toward him.
"Yes it is. You left me."
"I didn't leave you. I moved away and you cut me off. "
"You left me!" Set cried. "You left me! And then when you came back you didn't come to see me! Didn't visit! I meant so little to you?" Set bended his head. "And I missed you, so much. You should have known and come back. But you didn't. And even now…"
"Set." Lucas kneeled down. "I can't do this right now."
"… you are always walking away. I should be the one to walk away. I'm not the one in the wrong here."
Lucas reached out.
Set tilted his head away from Lucas's fingers. "Don't touch me! You don't have the right to touch me!"
"Set."
"Stop repeating my name!" Set pulled his knees to his chest and turned his face away from Lucas.
"I love you."
"How dare you!" A loud smack was heard when Set's palm connected with Lucas's cheek and he jumped up.
"I have always loved you." Lucas stood up, his arms framing Set, preventing his escape.
"That's why you moved away, right?" Set tried to wiggle his way out. "That's why you never came back!"
"You cut me off." Lucas leaned on Set and pressed him to the wall. "Didn't want to hear about me. But I never stopped loving you."
"Stop it!"
"I love you."
"Stop saying that! It's not true!"
"I do love you. I always will."
"Yeah, right!" Set tried to kick or hit Lucas. "That's why you ignored me? That's why you wanted to walk away?" His voice broke again. "I hate you. I hate you so much."
Lucas's grip on Set became tighter, he held him close. "Calm down!"
"I don't want to." Set's eyes were two narrow slits, his gaze on Lucas. "Let go! Now! Damn it! You fuckin --"
Lucas bended down and pressed a kiss onto Set's mouth, cutting off whatever Set was about to say.
Set's hands pushed at Lucas's chest. There's no way he was going to let him….
Lucas pushed his tongue into the rift between Set's lips. He swept it in fast, delirious strokes over his teeth and tongue, tasting Set like there was no tomorrow.
Oh, god. Set's senses went into overdrive. His hands were on Lucas's shoulders, he didn't know if he was trying to push him away or pull him closer.
Lucas's hands were suddenly everywhere. Under Set's shirt they caressed, stroked, teased.
Set's heart was hammering in his chest and he shivered from the electrifying lust that pumped through his veins, faster and faster, and all the blood gathered in his loins. His arms wrapped around Lucas on their own.
Lucas's knee intruded between Set's legs and nudged them apart.
The kiss ended.
Set, panting, tilted his head to the side. The leg that forced its way between his legs rubbed against his crotch and made him feel dizzy. How could somebody take away his ability to think so easily, to make his body burn with so little effort?
Lucas's lips started to suck on Set's neck and his hands grabbed Set's ass as he lifted him up.
Set's legs wound around Lucas's waist and he held on tight because there was nothing he could do besides that.
To hold on tight while he was carried into Lucas's room.
To hold on tight while he was laid down on the bed.
Lucas's hands unclasped the tight hold of Set's arms.
Set closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. Please, just hold me. Show me that you care.
Set's T-shirt was taken off of him. His pants unbuckled and pulled off together with his boxers.
The next thing he heard while he was laying there naked on the bed, warm light caressing his skin, was the sound of stripping.
The mattress dipped under Lucas's motions and then the greedy hands started exploring his body. His fingertips slid in quick teasing movements over his skin, making Set gasp, moan and writhe under the sensual caresses.
"Set." Lucas climbed over Set, spread his legs open and positioned himself between them. "Look at me."
The skin to skin contact tore a moan from Set's throat. He opened his eyes and looked in those deep intense aqua orbs. And then he was lost, even more lost then before. He loved Li so much.
Something popped open, not that Set heard, and Lucas's groin began to rub against his.
Set fisted the folds of fabric beneath him with his eyes wide open .
"I love you." Lucas's face swam out of focus. He entangled them into a sinfully voluptuous kiss and something pressed in.
Set pushed out and a slick finger found its way in.
Oh. Oh. Then another. He broke the kiss. "Lucas."
"Li," Lucas corrected him, his shaking fingers stretched and slicked Set over and over again. Another finger joined the first two.
"Li," Set moaned. "I'm not…. I don't…" know if I'm ready for this.
"Shh. It's alright." Lucas's fingers pressed against something.
"Ahh." Set's back arched. And then again. And again.
Lucas's fingers withdrew and then there was something hard.
Set knew what he needed to do. This was something he had been afraid to do but here he was and fear was the last thing on his mind. He pushed out and wrapped his arms around Lucas's neck.
Lucas plunged in and with one single thrust buried himself to the hilt.
A hushed cry escaped Set's lips. His body arched. So full, so full and it hurt. He tried to shrink away from the burning pain.
But Lucas didn't let him. His arms held Set in a gentle, but firm embrace.
"Li. Please."
"I'm sorry." Lucas held him. His lips slid over Set's jaw.
"Li?"
"I'm sorry." Lucas withdrew and then pushed back. His hand lifted Set's leg high and hooked it around his waist.
Set tilted his head to the side and pressed his cheek against Lucas's shoulder.
Lucas's palm soothed Set's side. Sliding between them, his fisted hand wrapped around Set's flesh and imitated the motion of his hips.
There, beneath the pain, the first hint of pleasure was flaring up.
Lucas plunged deep and rolled his hips.
"Nnah." Set's body arched and silver flashed before his eyes. He needed more of that. "More."
Lucas obliged and the pain was quickly ebbing away leaving only hot delight.
The ardent swirls of pleasure lifted Set higher...
...And higher, the silver rain falling down on him...
...And higher, the white light flashing before his eyes...
...And higher, moans and voices of pleasure filling the room...
...Until there was nowhere left to go and he fell…with his breath laboured and his vision blurred.
An eternity passed before Set's heart slowly calmed down and his breath became normal again.
There was a soft caress of fingers on his cheek before the weight that was on him withdrew out and off of him and the matress dipped.
Set winced at the slight burning sensation.
Lucas sat on the edge of the bed. His bare back glistened in the dimmed light coming through the half opened window blinds. His elbows were on his knees and his head was in his palms. Then he lifted his head and looked at Set over his shoulder. "I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be like this."
Set sat up. He wrapped the edges of the sheet beneath him around himself, his face grimaced from the pain that shot up his spine.
"It's my fault." Lucas turned, his fingers went through his hair. "I'm sorry. It's should have been different. I should have --"
"Stop apologizing." Set closed his eyes for a moment . He didn't need this. He wouldn't have anymore regrets. No more. Not this time. There were more than enough of them already. If Lucas - If Li had them, then so be it, but Set would not listen to them.
"Set." Lucas reached toward Set and caressed his cheek with his fingers. "We'll work this out. I --"
Something started to vibrate and Lucas stood up. He picked up his jeans and reached inside the pants' pocket with his hand, pulling out his phone. He looked at the display before opening the phone. "I know. I know. I'm coming. I'll be there in fifteen." He closed the phone, went toward the nightstand, pulled tissues out from the drawer, cleaned himself, picked up his jeans and underwear and put them on, looking at Set. "Things are a little complicated right now, with Geb's thing and all, but…
Set stared at Lucas. What was going on? He wasn't about to leave, was he?
"… as soon as I get back we will sit down and talk."
"You are not leaving, are you?" Set inched toward the edge of the bed.
"I'm afraid I have to." Lucas quickly pressed a quick kiss on Set's cheek.
"Don't you dare." Lucas was supposed to hold him close. Set was supposed to be able to feel Lucas's heartbeat on his skin, but instead -- a knife was stabbed in his gut and twisted -- Lucas turned his back on him. Was he so unimportant?
A last glance from the doorway. "I'll prepare a bath for you before I go."