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Grease Monkey
by YaoiKitten

Raziel snuck into the barn, tip-toeing as quietly as he could in his platform boots. Little tufts of dust kicked up with each step, that combined with the musty smell in the air was almost enough to make him sneeze. Sunlight poured into the barn through open windows and large slats in the walls and ceiling. Axolotyl roamed along one wall, his whiskers twitched when he picked up the scent of some field mice.
Raziel made a wide arc around the old, beaten up car that sat in the middle of the barn. They had found it neglected shortly after they had moved into the big farmhouse and it had become Gavrael's pet project. The click of metal and tools clanging together made Raziel smile. He gingerly lifted himself up onto the work bench and sat, quietly watching Gavrael work on the car.
All he could see was Gavrael's lower body sticking out from underneath the old chassis. He watched a bead of sweat roll down Gavrael's stomach and into his bellybutton. Gavrael couldn't do anything athletic or mechanical without taking his shirt off - something that Raziel was very happy with. His studded belt glinted in the sunlight and black denim stretched over hips and thighs. Raziel was staring.
"What do you want, brat?"
Raziel frowned. "How did you know I was here?"
"I saw your boots sneaking around out of the corner of my eye," Gavrael said. He scooted down his work mat until Raziel could see his grease-smeared face. "So what do you want?"
"I was bored." Raziel said.
"Go play with Newt."
"Newt is sleeping in Hanael's lap right now. I didn't want to wake him."
Gavrael scooted back up under the car. "I'm busy," he pointed out.
"I just want to watch. Maybe I can help you?" Raziel asked hopefully. Any excuse for him to do anything with Gavrael was welcome. He felt like they hardly had any common interests sometimes.
"Not unless you know anything about corroborators," Gavrael said.
Raziel hopped off the bench. "What good am I to you then!?" he asked, the tone of his voice rising with every word. "If I can't do anything for you, why do you keep me around!?"
Gavrael pushed himself out from under the car and sat up, leaning against its heavy frame. "What are you talking about? I'd think that'd be obvious."
Raziel turned red all the way up to his ears. He didn't know whether to be mad or hurt. He settled for both. "That's great, that's just great. Good to know what I'm good for!"
Gavrael's brow furrowed. "Huh?"
"Screw it, I'm out of here!" Raziel said and stomped toward the barn door. "You just play with your little car then!"
Gavrael bristled. Little car!? "Hey brat, get back here!"
Not even the affectionate nickname could make him turn around. Raziel was out the door and halfway to the house by the time Gavrael could even stand up.

#

Zafkiel knew that something was wrong. For days Gavrael and Raziel had not spoken to each other. On the fourth day he went to the only other person that knew both of the men well enough to have any inkling of what was going on - Kael.
Kael was lounging in the library, his sunglasses covered his eyes and he appeared to be sleeping. The built-in shelves in the room were full of dust and empty of books: it would take the house's new occupants decades to accumulate enough books to fill it. Zafkiel approached quietly, bending over to see if his brother really was asleep. His braid fell over his shoulder and hovered inches from Kael's chest.
Before Zafkiel could even realize what was happening Kael reached up, wound the braid around his fist, and gave it a sharp tug to pull Zafkiel down on top of him.
"OUCH! Tzadkael!"
Kael smiled behind his sunglasses and let go of Zafkiel's hair. "Trying to sneak up on me?"
"No, I just didn't want to wake you if you were sleeping!" Zafkiel sat up and brushed his hair back. He reached out and removed the sunglasses from Kael so that he could see his face. The two brothers looked eye to eye.
"You've gotten so much bolder around me," Kael complained. "I think I liked it better when you cringed and trembled every time I came around."
Zafkiel looked away. The truth was he still hated to be around Kael. He still cringed and trembled; only he had learned to hold it inside instead of letting his brother see it. "Yeah, well I've gotten more used to you since you won't go away."
Kael smiled. "Yeah, and I'm sure that a certain red-haired lynx had nothing to do with it."
Zafkiel turned back to him. "This has nothing to do with Mikael. I came to ask you about Raziel and Gavrael."
"Still not talking, are they?"
"You know what's going on, don't you?" Zafkiel asked. "Raziel's been sleeping in your room lately..."
"It's not me, if that's what you're thinking." Kael sat up and brushed his fingers through his hair. "I already said once that I like the kid, and Gavrael isn't half bad. They have a good thing, and I'm not going to mess with it."
"So you haven't slept with Raziel?" Zafkiel asked.
"Gods no. The kid is cute, and I've thought about it a number of times, but I'm not going to ruin what we have when there are so many other outlets for my libido."
Zafkiel reflexively blushed. He knew more than he wanted to about Kael's libido. "Then, do you know what it's about?"
"That poor kid," Kael said. "He really needs to get himself a job, or a hobby or something. Playing mommy to a couple of cats hardly counts."
Zafkiel wrinkled his nose. "What are you talking about?"
"He probably feels very worthless right now. He hasn't done much since you've returned from Japan. His lover hardly gives him what he needs..."
Zafkiel thought very hard about what it could be that Raziel would need from Gavrael.
"He can't really do anything for him, you know. Gavrael doesn't really need Raziel for anything." Kael continued.
"He...feels useless?" Zafkiel ventured.
"That would be my guess."
"But he's not!" Zafkiel stood up and faced a surprised Kael. "They're together because they give each other EXACTLY what the other needs! Gavrael gives him love and attention and Raziel gives him encouragement and motivation! Their relationship is based on mutual acceptance of each other!"
Kael smiled. "Maybe they need to be reminded of that?"
Zafkiel nodded. "Right."
Kael put his sunglasses back on and leaned back on the couch, stretching out like a cat. "Gavrael told me that he had a basketball game today at four in the park," he said lazily.
Zafkiel nodded and he was halfway to the door before he thought to turn around and say "Thanks."
He could not see the smug look on Kael's face.

#

Gavrael did not socialize much. He liked playing basketball though, and forming a team required socializing. Gavrael's strategy had been simple, go to the park where other people were playing and see if he could get invited to play a game. 3-on-3 and teams of five were the most popular, so he could usually make that third or fifth person if he waited around long enough. Eventually he recognized some of the regulars, they recognized him, and they began to always play together. They started setting times to play, and started playing against other teams.
"Hey Gavie, you're spacing out there buddy!" one of his teammates said, slapping him on the back. They hadn't started the game yet; the other team was still waiting on one more player to arrive.
Gavrael looked back at him and offered a smirk. "Just getting psyched for the game."
"O hoo! Hello ladies!" Another teammate said out loud. He pointed to a group that was settling down to watch the game with what looked like a picnic basket and blanket.
Gavrael squinted his eyes against the sun. "Uhm, those aren't ladies. That's my boyfriend and his friends." Gavrael never felt the need to hide his relationship with Raziel from his teammates. They seemed to appreciate his honesty and accept him just fine.
"No kidding!" the guy said. He watched Rafariel tiptoe around the edge of the blanket in his heeled boots before settling down. "Which one?"
"The one with the blue hair," he replied.
"No kidding," the guy repeated.
The conversation was cut short when the missing player for the other team arrived. Since there was no referee a game of rock-paper-scissors decided which team got the ball first. Gavrael barely had any time to focus on why Raziel, who hadn't spoken to him in four days, was suddenly there watching his game.
Across the lawn, Zafkiel was setting out snacks from their picnic basket. They had selected a spot under a tree to spread out their red fur blanket and watch the game. He had invited Raziel and Rafariel out to the park, but he had neglected to mention which one and that Gavrael would be playing.
Raziel was pouting. "Why did you bring me here?"
Zafkiel looked at him. "Because Gavrael's playing."
"Why would I want to watch a basketball game...?" Raziel muttered.
"Oh look, he took off his shirt," Zafkiel said matter-of-factly.
Raziel couldn't help but look up. The game had started and Gavrael had already stripped off his shirt and tied a black bandana around his head.
"That," Zafkiel continued, taking a drink from his bottle of soda, "is why we're here."
Rafariel seemed absorbed in his bottle of ginger ale. He looked up every once in a while but for the most part just stared into his soda.
Despite himself, Raziel was soon absorbed in the game. Gavrael was playing exceptionally well, and his teammates seemed to respond well to his directions and passes. It was not hard to see that Gavrael was leading the team.
After half an hour of game time they stopped for a halftime break. Zafkiel handed Raziel a couple bottles of cold water from the basket. "Why don't you take those up and see if any of the players need them?"
Raziel stared at him. He knew what Zafkiel was trying to do, but he went along with it anyway. He rose and made his way over to the court.
Gavrael looked up and he couldn't help but smile when he saw Raziel standing by the edge of the court, the condensation from the water bottles soaking through his shirt. He looked uneasy, but he smiled back at him.
Gavrael trotted over and took the bottles from Raziel. He ruffled his lover's blue hair. "Thanks, squirt."
Raziel blushed under the attention. "You're welcome."
"I'm glad you came. I play better with you watching me," Gavrael confided in him before turning away to rejoin his team.
Raziel stumbled back to the blanket in a daze, his cheeks heated by Gavrael's kind words and sweaty body. He sat back down and looked between Rafariel and Zafkiel.
"Did you guys make up?" Rafariel ventured. He picked at the blanket with his fingernails instead of looking up.
"Yeah, I think we did..." Raziel began, a slow grin spreading across his face.
"Good," Zafkiel said. He handed Raziel a plate. "Have a cookie."

#

Gavrael headed for the barn as soon as he got home. He only had a couple hours left of daylight and he didn't want to waste any of it. Raziel watched him walk to the barn from the kitchen window before following him out there.
Raziel's chest was tingling as he entered the barn; a strange kind of elation came over him. Gavrael was under the hood, his shirt lay on the bench and he still had his hair tied back in the black bandana from earlier. He straightened up when he saw Raziel approach. "I think I almost got this thing runnin'," he said. He wiped at his forehead with the back of his hand. "Can you grab that bottle of coolant there on the bench for me?"
Gavrael turned his attention back under the hood of the car and Raziel shifted uncomfortably. He grabbed the plastic jug on the bench and brought it over to Gavrael.
"Is this it?" he asked.
Gavrael glanced up. "Yeah, now you just pour it in there," he motioned to a tank next to the engine by tapping it with his wrench, "until it's nice and full, okay?"
Raziel nodded and unscrewed the cap on the tank and then poured the fluorescent green liquid in. "All the way to the top?"
"Just below the rim," Gavrael clarified.
Raziel screwed the caps back on the jug and the tank. It was such a little thing, but he felt so good to help Gavrael somehow.
"Okay, now the keys are in my pocket. I want you to try and start it up for me," he said.
"You want me to start it?" Raziel asked.
"Yeah, I need your help with this. I gotta stay with the engine so I can see what it's doing."
Raziel smiled and slid his hand into Gavrael's right pocket, fishing around for the keys.
Gavrael grunted. "Wrong pocket, brat."
"Oh, sorry." Raziel slipped his hand into the other pocket and pulled out the keys. He got behind the wheel and tried to start the engine.
The engine turned over and died right away. Raziel felt disappointed that it did not start.
"That's okay," Gavrael said. He held some wires together with his hands. "Okay, try it again."
Raziel turned the key and after several tries the ignition started up. "Good, good," Gavrael said. "Gun the engine a couple times."
Raziel pushed the gas pedal three times to the sound of the engine roaring. Gavrael was affixing some wires with electrical tape when Raziel got out and came around the front of the car. The engine was running clean and Gavrael looked at his work proudly.
"Now I'm going to have to teach you how to drive," Gavrael said. "Since we have a car now."
Raziel felt giddy all over. "I'd love to learn! I want you to teach me something about cars too."
Gavrael closed the hood of the car and turned to Raziel, gathering the younger man in a bear hug that lifted him off the ground. Raziel laughed and wrapped his legs around Gavrael's naked waist.
He sat him down on the hood of the car and kissed him. Raziel wrapped his arms around him - it had been far too long since they had shared a kiss. Gavrael was pushing him back on the hood of the car, and soon he had climbed on top as well.
"You can't!" Raziel gasped as Gavrael's hands traveled up his shirt. "We'll dent the hood of the car!"
"Then I'll fix it," Gavrael said, kissing along his neck. His fingertips found perky nipples and clamped onto them. "I'm gonna take you right here," he whispered into his ear.
Raziel giggled at the purr of the engine beneath his back. "This reminds me of the time we had sex on top of the dryer," he said.
Gavrael was already stripping off Raziel's shirt. "That was fun, wasn't it?"
The hard metal and glass pressed into Raziel's back, but he didn't care. Gavrael was going to have him, and that was all that mattered. Well practiced fingers stripped away boots, black denim, and studs until the only thing between them was a thin layer of sweat and dust.

#

Kael watched the two men from the doorway of the barn, a smirk on his face and a hand on his hip. After a minute it became obvious that there was no way they would notice him standing there. With the hum of the engine they had not heard him approach, nor would they hear him leave.
He turned and walked back up to the house. Zafkiel and Mikael were sitting on the front porch swing, watching the sun set. Zafkiel turned to him when he approached.
"Did they make up?" Zafkiel asked.
"Yeah, they're 'making up' all over the hood of that old car," he said.
Zafkiel's jaw dropped. "Seriously?"
Kael crossed his arms, jutted out one hip, and smiled. "Go see for yourself if you don't believe me."
"That's okay," Mikael cut in. He still wasn't looking at Kael. "Leave them be."
Kael smiled to himself and went inside. Maybe he could find Rafariel to harass or something.