Slow Burner

In spite of what their tv personas might have you believe, it's Bradley who never knocked, never called first, never gave any indication that he was coming over. He just opened the door without so much as a 'hello'.

Colin never locked it--not that it would've done much good if he had. Bradley wasn't the sort to give up and eventually Colin would have to go answer the door anyway.

"What are we watching tonight?" asked Bradley, breezing into Colin's hotel room like he owned it.

"Nothing you'd want to see. It's about nature." Colin was seated on the not-so-comfy hotel couch in front of the telly. He scooted over so that Bradley could move in next to him. Bradley slid his arm along the back of the couch. The radiant warmth of his arm made the tiny hairs on the back of Colin's neck stand up.

"Why do you watch those shows? They always end in extinction," said Bradley, his mouth twitched in his ironic smile before he added, "Colin?"

"It's the only thing on in English. Besides, they don't all end in extinction. This one's about lemurs. There's still lemurs. They're not extinct, not even close." Colin rolled his eyes at Bradley's sigh and grabbed the remote to turn it up. Not that he was that interested in lemurs, but he knew it would get Bradley's back up.

He knew what Bradley wanted. He wanted what he always wanted. He was an ex-footballer and got restless cooped up in his hotel room--even after a long day of action scenes. Colin preferred a more subdued end to his day with a bit of telly, maybe some reading before nodding off. He wasn't sure when he'd become Bradley's partner-in-crime or why Bradley chose to knock on his door every night. Perhaps he was the only one who bothered answering. He wondered if he shouldn't revisit that strategy.

"What's so funny?" Bradley asked, obviously dropping the last conversation as he wasn't going to prove lemurs extinct, though Colin knew he wanted to. Colin rather liked when Bradley's wit painted him into a corner and left him flustered and rambling nonsense.

"Nothing's funny," said Colin, looking at him sideways.

"But you're smiling. I know that smile. You've got something devious on your mind." Bradley tapped his finger to his temple and said, "You can't fool me, I know you too well."

That notion made Colin chuckle. He wasn't intentionally stand-offish, and most would probably characterize him as very personable, but he had very few friends he'd call "close" and the notion of an ex-footballer knowing him well at all conflicted with his self-image as an outsider. Still, he had been thinking something devious. He wondered if he was just that transparent.

"If you know me so well, then you know that I just want to watch my programme," Colin shot back, slumping against the cushions. The back of his neck brushed against Bradley's arm and he flushed at the contact--innocent as it was.

Keen-eyed Bradley hadn't missed that if his raised brow as any indication. "Oh, is that all you want, Colin?" he asked, using the familiar bullying theme of emphasizing his name.

Colin wasn't sure what that was all about, but he did know it was making him a bit edgy. Perhaps they'd just been working together too much.

"Yeah that's all I want! I just want to relax and be peaceful for one night! I don't want to manipulate Angel's door sign or hide Tony's DS where 'he'll never find it.' For once I just want to watch the telly and not perform some silly prank!" It was rare that Colin was that direct or sounded exasperated and Bradley looked as surprised as he did wounded.

"Oh," he said. He didn't actually stand up, but Colin could feel him withdrawing. Bradley pulled his arm back to his side and he stared at the screen with a slight frown.

At least, until the screen presenter said, "Hailing from the island of Madagascar, the ring-tailed lemur is poised on the brink of extinction..."

Colin pressed his lips together in an attempt to look grim at the news, but Bradley's shoulders were shaking with laughter.

"Oh shut it," said Colin, punching Bradley softly on the shoulder. At that, Bradley laughed out loud, throwing his head back in a cackle. Colin rolled his eyes and folded his arms, but he couldn't contain his broad smile that reached his eyes. "Prat."

Bradley ruffled his hair, leaving it a blond mess, as he often did. One of his more endearing qualities was that he was so handsome, but seemed not to care at all. He was aware of it, he made everyone aware of it in his own way, but at his root, he was a boy with a ready smile and an inclusive nature. Colin thought he could do worse for a friend.

"Anyway," said Bradley as he bent forward, his hands on his knees, ready to stand. "I'll get out of your hair. Leave you to your furry death and destruction."

Colin couldn't contain his surprise, or his disappointment. "What? You're leaving?" He wondered why he'd asked, or why he cared. Colin was fine with being alone. He'd never been the clingy sort. Inwardly he cringed at how needy that sounded. It wasn't like him at all.

That fact was reflected in Bradley's surprise.

"Oh. I thought you..." Bradley pointed at the telly and shrugged.

"I didn't say you had to leave. Just that I didn't want to muck about." Colin felt a little guilty at seeming like he was trying to run Bradley out of his room, which he had, in fact, been thinking about doing. But there was comfort in having Bradley there and Colin found himself wishing that Bradley would just settle in against the couch again. The thought was slightly distressing.

"Aww, do you want me to stay, Colin?" Again the mocking tone, but Bradley slumped against the couch, his arm resting along the back of it again. "Do you like me, Colin?"

"You're a prat. I don't like you. I like the telly." Colin kept his eyes on the screen, watching the monkey-cats clambering through the trees in the exotic isle of...somewhere.

"What? You're leaving?" The only thing more insulting than Bradley throwing his own words in his face was the falsetto voice Bradley said it in.

"You can leave now, if you'd like," said Colin, but Bradley wasn't going anywhere. In fact, he was leaning in, playing the bully by getting in Colin's face. "Seriously, you can leave whenever you like."

Bradley was smiling. "Make me."

The beginning strains of a new programme were starting. Something about lions in the wild. Colin didn't need any more prompting than that.

His arms shot out hard against Bradley's shoulders, shoving him back against the couch. Seeming to anticipate that, Bradley had grabbed a hold of Colin's shoulders, and dragged him with him. Any normal boy would've flopped against the couch, but this was Bradley-the-athletic, and so in a quick and disorienting flip, Colin found himself winded on his back on the floor with Bradley pinning him down.

"Is that all you've got, Colin?" Bradley asked.

Colin nodded in faux defeat and went limp, dropping his head down in a despondent look. As soon as Bradley's grip on Colin's wrists slackened, Colin twisted them away and he slammed a fist into Bradley's shoulder. Colin was pretty sure he didn't hit him that hard, but nevertheless, Bradley flailed backwards, grabbing his shoulder. He backed off to sit on the floor against the couch, nursing his shoulder frowning.

"Oh. Oh I'm so sorry," said Colin, scrambling to his knees to crawl over to Bradley. "Do you need some ice?"

As soon as he saw the expression on Bradley's face change, Colin realized his mistake.

"Bast--!" he started before Bradley grabbed him by the neck and put him in a headlock, leaving Colin to flail and smack his hands uselessly on Bradley's firm arm. Finally, he gave up and rested his chin on Bradley's thigh and sighed, figuring that he might as well get used to this position, as he probably wasn't going to get out of it until Bradley was tired. Or if he asked Bradley for mercy, which he wasn't going to do.

However, from this proximity, it was impossible not to notice some things, and once Colin had noticed the bulge, he couldn't stop looking at it and wondering if it was that or just the jeans. He wasn't sure why he cared, or why it wasn't repulsing him. At this point, he was just curious as to what exactly it was. How he'd deal with it hadn't even crossed his mind. Impulsively, he tilted his head closer. His cheek and nose came in contact with something very warm and very solid.

"Hey!" said Bradley. He released Colin and left his hands up in the air as if he were being mugged.

Colin remained completely still, just looking up at Bradley, not sure if he was going to be told off or hit or both.

Instead, Bradley was quite contrite, blushing and sputtering that he was sorry about that, that it hadn't happened before, and he wasn't sure why it had and that he should probably go to bed.

Seeing as he wasn't going to be abused, Colin just rolled over so his head was still on Bradley's thigh. He just looked at him, watching him sputter and make excuses. They were getting more and more outrageous, but all Colin could really do was just watch this spectacle curiously. Finally, he shrugged and said, "It happens."

Colin tilted his head to the side and darted his eyes to his own tented trousers.

For once, Bradley appeared truly at a loss for what to say. His mouth fell open as if he were going to speak, but then he determinedly closed his mouth again and appeared to be groping for a response. Smirking, Colin rolled to his side, pressing his ear to Bradley's thigh. Bradley was looking down at him, holding his breath. He actually looked a bit scared. It filled Colin with a strange confidence to see him so disadvantaged and he brought his hand up to smooth over Bradley's jeans, watching his expressions change.

At first, it was shock and Bradley just stared at Colin's hand with his mouth agape. His face was flushed red, but at least he was breathing again. Bradley started to twist away, but Colin stiffened his fingers and Bradley's eyes rolled back at the more aggressive grip.

"Is that all you got, Bradley?" Colin whispered, smiling as Bradley opened his eyes again, catching the dare in the mischief.

Within seconds, Bradley's cocky smile was back and he reached for Colin, sliding his palm over the bulge--lightly at first, but as he became more sure of himself, and as Colin started to up the ante, his hand grew more sure. It was Bradley who advanced the movements to fingering Colin's waistband. Colin sucked in his breath while titling his hips forward, both calling Bradley's bluff and an invitation.

They looked at each other again, both breathless and flushed from the touches. Bradley swallowed hard and then started unfastening Colin's belt. Colin wasn't sure if it was the prospect of being touched or the game that kept him playing. At the moment, he couldn't think. It was far too exciting to have someone other than himself touching him. He wasn't at a loss for companionship, but he didn't really speak French and didn't have much time to make friends outside of the set. Though the notion of having it off with a castmate had certainly flitted over his thoughts, he'd never imagined that the one he'd be doing it with would be Bradley.

It didn't bother him that it was. He wasn't sure why. He hadn't really thought of other boys in this way before and he wasn't sure he would anyone else.

Bradley's fingers were rough when they finally touched him. And just a little cold. Colin giggled, breaking Bradley's concentration and he looked for a moment like a deer caught in headlights.

"Sorry... ticklish a bit..." said Colin, lighting up with a blush. Still, Bradley's hand was frozen and Colin had the sick feeling it was about to get completely awkward. So he did all that he could think to do and reached up with both hands for Bradley's trousers, fingering them open quickly. He pulled out Bradley's prick and only then did he pause to think about what he was doing. He dragged his fingers over it, relishing its warmth and worrying that maybe his hands seemed cold. He brought his fingers to his mouth to blow on them, trying to warm them. The proximity of his mouth to Bradley's prick was such that his breath ghosted over him and Bradley moaned, his head finally falling back against the cushions.

Colin felt a strange surge of power that he could elicit such sounds from Bradley and had a desire to do so again. Still, he wasn't sure if he could put his mouth on it. He'd certainly never considered such a thing, though he'd had girlfriends and put his mouth there. After a moment of indecision, Colin stretched his tongue out, just touching it to Bradley's member. It didn't taste bad. It didn't taste like much of anything, really. Perhaps a little salty from sweat, but nothing so slick as the way a girl tasted. He ventured a longer lick this time and Bradley went limp against the cushions, his hand falling from Colin's cock.

At that point, Colin wasn't sure if he could or even should go through with this. He had to keep working with Bradley either way and he supposed that things had gone well past the point of civil avoidance. But the calculating part of his mind quailed at the inherent unfairness of sucking Bradley off when he wasn't even going to get a handjob out of it.

Bradley slid his fingers through Colin's hair and whispered, "I'll do you if you do me."

The right thing to say at the right time. Collin parted his lips and felt the warm press of Bradley's prick in his mouth. He tried madly to remember all of the things he liked, and the things that he didn't. Cover your teeth. Move your tongue. Doesn't have to go deep, just keep moving, for the love of god.

He bobbed his head until he felt the strain. Then Bradley held the back of his head and tilted his hips forward, taking his mouth carefully, slowly. Colin appreciated the consideration.

Bradley's hand tightened in his hair and his thrusts grew a bit more aggressive until he pushed Colin back and pulled his t-shirt over the tip of his cock, groaning as he came into the fabric. Colin was glad of Bradley not leaving that decision up to him, as he wasn't sure what he would've done. Though he was a little disappointed that he didn't get to watch him come.

Before he could say anything, Bradley gently rolled him back against the floor, so he was sprawled out on the carpet. Colin looked down at his purpled cock, feeling the frustrated pounding of his pulse coursing through his body. He wasn't going to last long and the thought embarrassed him a little. Bradley surprised him by pinning him to the floor again and then kissing him before he crawled down his body, settling in between his legs.

Colin sat up on his elbows, watching Bradley look at his cock, obviously trying to sort out how to do it. Colin smiled at his boyish confusion, remembering how just minutes ago, he was so uncertain himself. But then Bradley was licking him, testing the taste and Colin closed his eyes, wrapping his arms up over his face, afraid he'd make too much noise and others in the hotel might hear and wonder.

Just as he'd suspected, he didn't last very long and worse, he hadn't had the grace to control himself in the way that Bradley did. He'd completely lost himself in the soft sucking, in twisting his head to the side to see Bradley's lips wrapped around him. He lost it, giving little more than a grunt in warning.

Bradley choked a little and then started coughing. He sat up and grabbed his t-shirt off the floor. He dabbed his mouth with his shirt and then over the mess that his spittle and Colin's come had made of Colin's pants.

"Now who's the prat?" Bradley asked, smirking in that irritating way that he did. But it was, perhaps, a little cute. "All you had to do was exercise a little control...Colin."

Colin laughed, relieved that they were back in the familiar territory of teasing. "How was I to know you were such an effective cocksucker?"

Bradley blushed, but managed to sputter, "I'm good at everything I do."

"I'd noticed," said Colin, amused at how he could make Bradley squirm.

"Well had I known that this was what you meant by 'watching the telly' I would've been more amenable to it at the start." Bradley looked down at his opened jeans, his prick hanging out and sticky. He cleared his throat and tucked himself away.

"Oh really?" Colin raised his brows, which sent Bradley into another spiral of babbling. "So if I'd proposed that you suck my cock, you would've gone along with it?"

"That's... that's not what I meant..."

Colin grinned wolfishly, "That's what you said..."

"But it's... I mean... it just..."

Colin couldn't hold back any longer and started to snicker.

Bradley rolled his eyes. "And you call me the prat. That's harassment, you know."

As he tucked himself away, Colin said, "File a complaint."

Bradley snorted, but then they lapsed into a comfortable silence, watching the nature show, though neither of them was paying attention to it. Colin sat up and nudged up next to Bradley in front of the couch. They didn't cuddle, just leaned together and remained quiet until the show ended.

Colin was shocked, he hadn't been able to recall a time that Bradley had been quiet for so long. When he turned his head to say so, he noticed Bradley's eyes were closed and his mouth was open, his breathing slow and regular.

"Well, at least I know how to shut you up," Colin whispered to himself. He slipped away, leaning Bradley against the couch just long enough to grab the duvet. He spread it out over them both after he'd resumed his position and kissed Bradley's head goodnight.