Chapter Text
Despite all the state’s misgivings to him on a personal level, Ethan liked Louisiana. The scenery was beautiful, the culture was nothing like what he had grown up around, and the food was to die for. That being said, Slaughter was a small town of less than a thousand with empty storefronts and gravel drives. To say he felt out of place was an understatement.
It was nearing eight o'clock, and the last rays of sunlight were already obscured by the dense forest just off the state route. If he were to wander too far past the treeline, he'd be in a bayou. The thought of just walking into the swamp and never returning often captivated him… He did his best to avoid ruminating on the recurring urge.
Ethan was out here for a date. He eased off the gas pedal of his Mazda as he entered the town proper and from there the bar was easy to find. True to Heisenberg's directions, all he had to do was take a left off the main road and go all the way until the road dead-ended into a gravel parking lot.
Marguerite's was in a nondescript, brown building from the sixties or seventies with blacked-out windows and a rusting sign. The only thing illuminating both the lot and the road were the security lights along the eave of the building. Darkness and the sounds of wildlife consumed everything else outside the circle of light; it made Ethan's stomach squirm.
His watch told him it was eight on the dot. There were a handful of cars in the parking lot–mostly trucks and one riding mower–and that was as much a comfort as it was anxiety-inducing. Turning off the car, he slid out of the leather bucket seat and hoped Heisenberg was the punctual type.
The inside of the bar was intimate, with low, warm lighting and quiet conversion. While a hush didn't exactly fall over the crowd, all eyes certainly were on him when he entered. They lingered too, as if to say “how did you end up here ?” rather than anything outwardly aggressive. Thankfully, the locals returned to their own business just as an older, balding man with glasses, and a grey beard called to him “Seat yourself, menus and orderin’ at the bar.”
He nodded to the bartender, and scanned the room, swallowing when he didn't immediately locate his date. There was an empty spot in the far corner, and Ethan started for it, but he heard “Where d'you think you're goin’?” on his way past the table nearest the door.
Ethan had only meant to glance over his shoulder, expression hard and ready for a fight, but what he saw was so bizarre that he stopped in his tracks. The man looked more ready for a Midwest Dad Convention (MDC for all the dad enthusiasts), than Louisiana in a wide-brim, leather hat, khaki cargo shorts and a faded, palm frond-printed button-up. The clothes hung off him, the legs of the shorts far too wide and the shirt oversized… Even odder, he wore a pair of circular sunglasses at night, inside a dark bar.
What a freak . He thought.
Sizing him up with a cold look, Ethan asked “Excuse me?”
“ Mreow , kitty got claws.” The stranger tipped his head back to see past his hat and lifted the lenses off his nose to expose his dazzling green eyes. Ethan realized his mistake with an embarrassed smile.
“Heisenberg, sorry, I…”
“I'd expect nothing less.” Heisenberg's expression softened and he motioned to the unoccupied seat across from him with a gloved hand. He took a deep breath in through his nose and added “Especially from a fellow creature of the night. This is a surprise.”
“Uh, what's that supposed to mean?”
Heisenberg's confused stare in response was not at all illuminating. Their mutual silence did, however, highlight a growing tension inside the bar; Ethan wasn't imagining the silence this time. Pulling out his chair to sit, he stole a surreptitious look around, even the bartender was unabashedly staring.
Placing his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, Heisenberg murmured “one moment,” before resting his chin on his curled fist and pivoting his head to face the rest of the bar. “Can I help y'all?” He purred in a silky-smooth, edging on sinister voice while his grin became nothing short of malicious.
Ethan pretended to be interested in the ceramic salt and pepper shakers.
The air of the bar felt like a rubber band about to snap. Most people backed down from Heisenberg's threat display in a hurry and conversation resumed, but some eyes boldly refused to leave for longer than Ethan was comfortable with. The tension made all his scars itch, but he was well-practiced in not giving in to the urge to scratch or letting fight or flight convince him to throw the first punch. Or the first salt shaker.
“That's what I thought.” Heisenberg said, more to himself than the other patrons. He chuckled low in his throat and returned his attention to Ethan, “So, I don't see many like you out here.”
Still wound tight, Ethan found Heisenberg's rejoinder thoroughly uncharming.
“Maybe because you're wearing sunglasses inside,” he then raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him. “It's a little dark, don't you think?”
Heisenberg sat up straighter in his chair, brows turning down while his lips twitched. Whatever the townsfolk thought of the bearish man in his too-roomy clothes didn't matter, Ethan wasn't intimidated by him.
“Hmm,” was the only sound Heisenberg made for a second, then his smile from earlier returned, tempered by the sweet lilt of his voice “I like you.” He took his hat off along with his glasses and plopped them onto the empty section of the table.
The non-sequitur successfully derailed Ethan's defensiveness. With a snort, he let a smile curve his lips despite Heisenberg's foot-in-mouth syndrome, “I'm still deciding.”
“Deciding what?” Heisenberg asked, fishing a black elastic out from under the cuff of his tight leather glove to pull his hair up.
“If it's mutual.” Ethan cooly stated as if he wasn't suddenly fantasizing about licking over the curves of the other man's biceps.
“Still playin’ hard to get, eh?” He didn’t sound the least bit discouraged, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“You said you like challenges.” Ethan reminded, relaxing back in his chair with a playful smirk.
“Hm, that I do.” Heisenberg tapped his bottom lip, drawing Ethan's attention to the scar that interrupted the pink of the skin, “You're fascinating.” His expression made Ethan feel like a bug under a microscope, something that needed to be studied and broken down to its base components.
Doctors looked at him like that too. It soured his mood again in a hurry.
“ I'm fascinating?” Ethan made a show of glancing at the hat and glasses, then up and down his date’s body, “I’m not the one dressed like Crocodile Dundee.”
Heisenberg blinked, more confusion evident in the lines of his face before he said “Cool your jets, that was a compliment.” His version of one, perhaps. “‘Sides, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, Buttercup. You're out here in full-length jeans and long sleeves in July . ” Before Ethan could even rebut, he moved on, “Now, want a beer?”
Yes, Ethan was on a date , the earlier aggression of the bar towards Heisenberg notwithstanding, he could stand to calm down. Not everything was a dig at him. Heisenberg wanted him here. At least, he hoped so.
“Yeah, actually,” he put aside his irritation with a breath, “what do they have?”
Heisenberg rolled his eyes, “We're uncultured out here, so don't expect anything fancy.”
“I'm more of a wine guy, not picky about beer.”
“Oh no, I hooked me a wine snob.” The jab had no venom, it could have even been called fond.
Ethan chuckled “Blue Moon if they have it, if not, I'll make do. Want me to buy the next round?”
Heisenberg held up a finger, wagging it in the air “Ah-ah, remember, you're here to do the driving and look pretty. I'll take care of everything else, and that includes the tab.”
“What a gentleman.” Ethan conceded, but not wanting to insinuate that a second date was already being considered. His eyes followed Heisenberg's back up to the bar, he was positioned close enough to hear his conversation with the bartender while he poured their beer.
“Tony in the kitchen?” Heisenberg asked.
“Why?” The bartender sat both beers on the scarred wood and folded his arms over his chest.
“ Easy , Jack, I just need to see him for a second. No trouble."
Jack's brows pulled down into deep furrows, and he held Heisenberg's gaze for ten whole seconds. Then he gave a minute nod and Heisenberg grinned.
“Excellent.” Heisenberg leaned a little closer, laying down a handful of bills. He grabbed both pints into one large hand, and tucked a menu under his arm.
Returning to Ethan, he held out the two drinks “Take your pick, only the finest pisswater.”
Ethan chose to not ask about the odd exchange and carefully took a glass while Heisenberg dropped the menu down in front of him, “Thanks.”
Half of Heisenberg’s beer was gone in the time it took him to sit back down, settling in with his legs splayed. Crooking an elbow over the back of the groaning chair, he said “So,” and tipped his head back with an unreadable gleam in his eyes “where you from? Y’got family?”
They were normal first date questions, but not ones Ethan expected given Heisenberg's brusque nature.
“I'm from Illinois, went to college in California, got married as soon as I graduated, and moved to Texas, and stayed there until last year.” He detected burgeoning curiosity in Heisenberg, and the types of things he would doubtlessly ask weren't first date subjects, “It's just me now. I can't say I love Baton Rouge in comparison to LA or Austin, but I can't imagine moving into New Orleans.
“Uh, my parents still live up in Springfield,” he struggled for anything else to say there. “My brother is in Chicago. I see them for holidays, but…” He wasn't telling Heisenberg that freezing temperatures made it hard for him to breathe; he could draw his own conclusions as to why Ethan avoided visiting his family, the further off-base the better.
“Huh.” Heisenberg's eyes drifted to the ceiling and he sucked on his tongue as if Ethan had given him a crucial piece of some puzzle. “Northern boy that prefers the heat, I see.” He stroked his well-kept beard, “Bet you run cold, eh?”
A stab of anxiety went through him; there was something knowing in Heisenberg's smirk, it was best if he didn't know how correct he was. So, Ethan changed the subject, asking “What about your family? You sound like a local.”
Heisenberg's curious expression fell to one of disdain, “I don't want to talk about them.”
Ethan scoffed, “You're joking.”
“Trust me, I ain't.” His eyes narrowed, pupils catching the meager light in the bar strangely. It was almost like they were shining, the beads of a predator in the dark. It was just his imagination.
Undeterred, Ethan reasoned “I told you about my family, now tell me about yours.” He punctuated the demand with a sip of his beer.
“I'd prefer less family talk and a little more ‘show me yours, I'll show you mine.’” To say that Heisenberg was “smiling” would imply that there was any mirth in the curvature of his lips.
“Remember when I said you'll have to actually put effort in for that?” Ethan raised his brows at Heisenberg, satisfaction blooming when he saw him straighten up again. “I'm not a fan of talking about my family either; don't dish out questions if you don't also want to answer them.”
They held each other's gazes, Heisenberg's expression seeming to say “are you worth this?” For a second, Ethan thought he was going to refuse, decide he couldn't be bothered, but instead he said “Mother’s the president of the parish,” and snorted bitterly. “Same thing as being superintendent of a four-kid school district.”
Ethan had to stifle his laugh, “She really self-important?”
“You betcha, bordering on a god complex, wants to run for governor. Thinks the sun shines out her ass.” He made a guttural sound of disgust, “They all do. Brother's a self-important piece of shit because he got to go to college, one of my sisters is a total nutjob, and ach, Alcina…” His thick fingers rhythmically thudded on the rough wood of the table while he shook his head and sneered enough to show a flash of his bright, white teeth. “Y’know, none of us are blood-related, but Alcina couldn't be more like Her if she tried.”
While Ethan didn't regret asking about Heisenberg's family, he didn’t like the picture he was being painted either. The name Alcina though… It wasn't a common name, and yet it rang a bell. Where had he heard it before?
“She got a little bit of musical success in New Orleans and now everyone is the scum of the earth beneath her Louis Vuittons.” Heisenberg was still monologuing, it seemed Ethan wouldn't have to think too hard about much of anything if he just let him talk. “ One of her brats is fine, though.” He chugged the remainder of his beer then.
“She wouldn't happen to be in Miss D and the Pallboys, would she?” Ethan amicably questioned.
Grumbling, Heisenberg confirmed “yeah,” and stared into the bottom of his empty glass.
“I like jazz.” He continued on, despite Heisenberg's evident disinterest.
“Of course you do. Goes well with being a wino.” Okay, so Ethan was avoiding all talk of family or jazz in the future.
Was he even enjoying this night out so far? It was too early to tell his exact enjoyment of his company, but he also still wanted Heisenberg's callused hands on his hips while he blew his back out against a wall…
“What kind of music do you like?”
Spirit seemingly renewed by Ethan's change of subject, Heisenberg set his glass aside and curled his fingers into a gun shape, pointing at Ethan with a smirk “I actually want to see what you think my favorite genre is.”
Ethan hummed, sipping his beer again while he looked for anything on Heisenberg's body that could help. He also just wanted to stare, imagining the muscles he only had a single photo of that were hidden underneath his outfit.
“Hm, Jimmy Buffett?”
“Hah!” Heisenberg's exclamation was loud enough to quiet the bar and draw eyes to them again, “Not, exactly a genre.”
“I have a few dad friends who would beg to differ.”
“Well, they’re not here right now, so it’s your vote against mine and mine is the correct one. Not a genre, try again.”
“With that mature display, I’m about to guess Kidz Bop.” Ethan jabbed with a quirked eyebrow.
“Ha-ha, I’m beginning to suspect you just don’t know any.”
“Fine, Emo?”
“A fine flavor, but no.”
Although still ruminating on the question, Ethan examined the menu. It was mostly bar fare, everything either fried to golden brown or smothered in a delicious roux sauce; keywords were “heavy” and “greasy.” Neither were great options for a night of having his guts rearranged.
Remembering he was playing a game, he didn't look up as he guessed “Country?”
“That's stereotyping and I am offended.” Heisenberg chuckled and opened the top two buttons of his shirt, getting Ethan's immediate and laser-focused attention. His hand disappeared into the opening, expression sly as the fabric nudged ever so slightly to reveal the shoulder strap of a holster.
Ethan's lust was momentarily forgotten with a jolt of anxiety, but what Heisenberg pulled out was not a gun. Instead, the disposable camera that was brandished at him came with a new fear. He didn't have any time to react before the light of the flash blinded him.
Holding in a growl of irritation, he covered his eyes after the fact, “The fuck ?!”
“Thought you'd be down for me shooting you.” His grin was smug, shit-eating, rakish, obnoxious and Ethan wanted to climb over the table and shove his tongue down his throat about it.
In lieu of giving in to his base and somewhat confusing desires, Ethan told him “I'm not a fan of photos, actually.”
“Hm, really?” Heisenberg's thumb was already winding the camera to its next exposure. “You were generous Tuesday night.”
“Why do you have that? I know you have a phone.”
“Never know when one’ll come in handy.” He crossed his legs under the table to nudge Ethan's leg with the steel toe of his boot. The contact came as a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. “I've just decided you're so perfect that I needed a photo.”
Ethan spread his legs open a little wider to press into the insistent boot, again, flattery never hurt. With a glance at the empty space in front of Heisenberg, he asked “Aren't you hungry?”
A rumbling hum came in response before he said “I figured you'd be the hungry one.” Then he leaned in, beckoning Ethan with a finger. When Ethan complied, he spoke in nearly a whisper “I’d much rather have you for dinner, personally.”
With their faces so close, Ethan could smell toothpaste on Heisenberg's breath, but also a spicy and almost woodsy cologne that tantalized his nose. His presentation wasn't the best, and his personality left much to be desired, but there was an unmistakable animal magnetism to Heisenberg he couldn't ignore. The boot caressed his leg and Ethan took a sharp inhale through his nose, he heard a low sound of amusement from Heisenberg and he let his eyes close, a warm stirring beginning between his thighs.
“So, are you hungry?” Heisenberg lazily drawled.
Ethan’s imagination was running wild with thoughts of being bent over the hood of his car right in the parking lot. Yes . He was so hungry in a way he hadn't known in years. His mouth felt dry, his heartbeat in his ears, he parted his lips to speak, but it wasn't his own voice he heard in the next second.
“Refill on your beer, Mr. Garou?” Jack stood at the edge of their table, a beer gripped in one hand.
Ethan flinched back into his chair, face flushing. As much as the urge in his stomach wanted him to abandon all human senses of decency, this was not the venue to live out his sluttiest dreams.
“Thank you, kindly , Jack.” Heisenberg grabbed the proffered beer. “Now, mind gettin’ lost?” The aggressive growl in his voice did something filthy to Ethan's already rustled nethers and in that exact moment, he decided that maybe he didn't need to like Heisenberg as a person… He could be young and reckless, just this once.
Jack shot Ethan a glance, but he nodded to Heisenberg and stepped away.
“So,” Ethan coughed into his hand, “is Garou your first name, or…?”
“No.”
He didn't elaborate, so Ethan asked “Is Heisenberg your first name then?”
His date remained tacit, shaking his head, lips pressed into a line.
Sighing, Ethan shrugged, “Look, man, I get that you know you’re sexy, but give me something here. Is it just a nickname?”
Heisenberg averted his eyes to the grain of the table and Ethan swore he heard him mutter “fuck it” before he looked back up at him “My first name is Karl, but no one calls me that. Jack and I have known each other a long time, so Garou is his own… Special name for me,” his eyes flicked to the elder man behind the bar as he finished.
“My last name is Winters.” Ethan supplied even though he hadn't been asked.
Heisenberg's attention pulled back to the table with bright curiosity, as if his last name was some kind of gift rather than banal information. With the barest smile, he curled his purring lips around the name “Ethan Winters.” His unwavering eye-contact, the slow, comforting southern drawl of his deep voice, and the slight softness in the crows feet of his eyes all painted a tantalizing picture against the dark night.
It did things to Ethan. He wanted Heisenberg moaning his name by the end of the night, his dick buried inside his body. Fuck , he wanted to screw the man until he could say nothing else.
Unsurprisingly, Ethan's jeans felt a little tight.
Heisenberg's brows pulled inward for a moment and he seemed to be smelling for something. The previously confused eyebrows climbed up to his hairline and he gave Ethan a curious expression, “Are you–”
“I want to get out of here.” Ethan stated.
Heisenberg's surprise was momentary before the rest of his glass was drained and he stood, “Head out to your car then, I'll meet you in the lot.” He grabbed his hat and placed his glasses on his face.
Ethan opened his mouth to say more, but Heisenberg shouldered his way into the restaurant’s kitchen like he owned the place and was out of sight. Acutely aware of being alone in a bar of strangers now, Ethan likewise finished his beer and stood. He returned the glass to the bar, but before he could step away to the door, a hand shot out and grabbed his forearm.
“Hey!” Ethan jerked his arm back, but the grip held firm and all the eyes in the bar went to him. It was Jack, the lines of his grave face drawn and serious. Trying to remain calm and not punch the glasses straight off the older man's nose, Ethan tersely ordered “Let go.”
“Boy, I don't know what you're doing out here,” Jack spoke quickly, his voice low as he leaned across the bar, “but I suggest you run far away and never come back.”
A bolt of fear shot through Ethan's body and he jerked his arm back again. This time, Jack let him go and Ethan cast a glance around the rest of the bar. Two men had stood up from their seats, arms crossed over their chests and eyes mean. Feeling his fight or flight gear up, Ethan spat “This that southern hospitality I've heard about?”
“You don't belong out here.” Jack sighed, shaking his head “He's nothin’ but trouble.” He then ended the short interaction, also disappearing into the kitchen.
Ethan beat a hasty retreat to the door, careful to make sure he wasn't being followed. He had no intention of waiting for Heisenberg forever, and hopefully he wouldn't have to flee the tiny town for his life.
The sky was clear of clouds, and the abundant stars fought for attention against the moon's brightness; within two days time, it would be full. In the city, Ethan rarely got to respect how beautiful the night sky was, if only leaving the city didn't come with so many hazards. He leaned against his car, wary to put his back to anything else. Thinking that waiting on Heisenberg was probably the best time he would get all night to check his phone, he pulled it from his pocket and traced the unlock pattern. He only had about a bar of service, so he made a mental note to consider changing carriers.
Starting at the top, he chuckled under his breath as he noticed Heisenberg had sent him an email about fifteen minutes before he arrived. The email only had one sentence in it and without having already seen Heisenberg’s attire for the evening, it certainly wouldn’t have helped their earlier awkwardness. It read “I look like I’m wearing wallpaper from a Florida timeshare.” Yeah, he did.
Closing the email, Ethan glanced up at the parking lot, no sign of Heisenberg or trouble, but he wasn’t fully convinced those weren’t the same thing. Anyway, he had missed a call from his sexy, but emotionally unavailable caseworker. With a grumble, he dialed his voicemail, just wanting to get rid of the notification.
“Ethan, it's me again. I'm calling to remind you to make an appointment with that doctor in New Orleans. If his office says they don't have any appointments immediately available you can just tell them Chris from the CDC sent you. ”
As he listened, Heisenberg appeared from the shadows of the building, an imposing figure straight from a long night with Benadryl in his hat and glasses. Ethan raised a hand and waved to him as Chris’ message concluded with “I expect you to have at least made the appointment by our check-in next month. Take care.”
“There's the pretty boy.” Heisenberg tittered with good humor while Ethan put his phone away. He had something in his hand, a paper food-service boat filled with golden brown nuggets. He popped one into his mouth and offered the steaming food to Ethan “Want one?”
“What is it?” Ethan sniffed the air, but all he could detect was Heisenberg's cologne again–had he really laid it on so thick? In spite of telling Heisenberg he wasn't hungry, he thought the gesture of getting something to go was thoughtful.
“Catfish,” he then wiggled the container at him “there's mushrooms tooooo.”
“How did you know I liked mushrooms?” Ethan chuckled, grabbing a fat nugget and gingerly taking a bite. They were fresh out of the fryer and nearly burned his sensitive tongue, but osing his tongue would have been worth it.
“Call it a hunch.” Heisenberg laughed conspiratorially and Ethan felt like he was missing something.
“Damn, these are insane.” Ethan had lost his taste for most red meat after contracting his blood disease, but he had really come to crave seafood and all manner of mushrooms when it came to sources of protein. He reached for another and Heisenberg pulled the boat away.
“Hey, I asked if you wanted one .” He actually bared his teeth at him and Ethan scoffed.
“You made it sound like you got the mushrooms for me!”
“Yeah, I did, but you were grabbing for the catfish.” Heisenberg groused and rearranged the selections in the greasy cardstock to make the mushrooms and fish nuggets more easily distinguishable, “This fish is from my buddy Tony’s property, I'm not a fan of sharing.”
“Food motivated, huh?” Ethan teased, grabbing a ‘shroom and putting it in his mouth. It was phenomenal.
“Hardly, but,” Heisenberg shrugged, “guess I would kill a man over Tony’s gator bites.” He threw a few more of his nuggets into his mouth and loudly chewed. Ethan pretended to not be bothered by the sounds, and he also wanted to pretend that the thought of eating alligator didn't sound exquisite.
“Hm,” Ethan settled back against his car again, changing the subject, “it's not ska, is it?”
Heisenberg stared at him from behind his dark lenses, catfish nugget frozen just before his mouth, “What?”
“Your favorite music genre?”
Finally catching up, Heisenberg grinned “No, but getting closer.” He finished the catfish and handed the paper boat off to Ethan, “Now, want to get on with our night?”
Eating the remaining handful of mushrooms, Ethan chewed and swallowed quickly, “You made it sound in your post like you already had ideas for tonight?”
“And you've made it more than clear what you want.” Heisenberg chuckled and Ethan gasped as his gloved hand groped him through his pants.
“Whoa,” Ethan dropped the crumpled cardstock and braced his hands on Heisenberg's chest to give him a light push “We're in a parking lot!”
“So?” Heisenberg tipped his head to the side, taking his glasses off his face and slipping them into a pocket. “Seemed to me you were raring to go inside.”
Had he really been that obvious? Yes, he was horny, but he thought he was controlling himself well, “I don't know what you're talking about… You must have imagined it.”
All further thoughts on the subject were suddenly dashed when Heisenberg's body pressed into his and he softly asked “Was I now?”
The hand left Ethan's crotch to reach up and thumb his bottom lip. Under such intense scrutiny, Ethan’s brain became little more than scrambled eggs when those green eyes raised to meet his and their noses nudged together. For a second, Heisenberg's focus went back to Ethan's lips, “C'mon, you know you want a taste.”
Oh , he did. A prickling sensation built in Ethan's spine and he took Heisenberg up on his offer, bringing their mouths together. They both sighed into the kiss, Heisenberg's breath coming out as more of a pleasant rumble. The hand that had been teasing his lower lip slid around to cradle the back of Ethan's neck and the other possessively gripped his hip.
“Wait,” Ethan broke their kiss. “Is it safe for us to do this here?”
“Hm?” Heisenberg looked around as a group of men exited the bar and shrugged. “Why wouldn't it be?” The question seemed quite genuine.
“Uhhhh?” Ethan leaned to one side to see the small collection of people smoking under the eave. He recognized two of them as the disgruntled gentlemen from his earlier exchange with Jack.
“Don't worry,” Heisenberg puffed up his chest with a proud smile “I'll protect you from all the scary locals.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, suppressing a smile as he pushed his date back from him, “Beginning to think I should be asking who's going to protect me from you.”
“Hm, how good are you with a gun?” Heisenberg asked while Ethan squirmed out from under him.
“Damn good shot, actually.” Ethan cooly responded to the admittedly odd question. “I did live in Texas for a few years.”
“Oh?” With a playful growl, Heisenberg made a grab for Ethan's waist, which was easily avoided with a bit of footwork. “Good to know; you'll be fine.” He assessed with a stroke of his beard.
Ethan, meanwhile, pointed to the car “Get in and tell me where we're going.”
“ Yessir .”
Ethan allowed himself a suggestive smirk “Careful with that unless you want me to start bossing you around.”
“ Homina-homina , Winters.” Heisenberg waggled his eyebrows at the “threat” and climbed in as instructed, Ethan followed suit. The doors hadn't been closed a second before Heisenberg was leaning across the console, hands pawing at the thin fabric of his white button-up. His mouth found Ethan's quickly and his tongue assaulted his lips for entrance .
It all came as a surprise, Ethan gasping and opening his mouth wide enough for Heisenberg to take his chance. Their tongues met and Ethan found resistance difficult to manage. He was warm and solid, his smell filling Ethan's senses, but he tasted like the remains of beer and catfish with the baked-in aftertaste of cigarettes. Not exactly delectable.
“Heisenberg,” He groaned against his lips after the arduous task of disentangling their tongues. “I thought you–ah!” Ethan sucked in a breath as Heisenberg’s attention diverted from kissing to biting the tender side of his neck. He gave Heisenberg a modest push, but it was ignored with a stronger shove back against Ethan's body.
Having had enough, Ethan applied real force and threw him back, leaving his hand fisted in his shirt linen, “That's enough!”
Heisenberg was panting, an eerie glow in his eyes as he ran his tongue over his teeth. Not sounding the least bit contrite, he said “Sorry, lost my composure there.”
“Don't do that again.” Ethan warned, his face gravely serious.
“Or what ?” There was a distinctly sinister note in Heisenberg's tone.
“I'm leaving your ass on the side of the road.”
Heisenberg frowned, “Well, that's not sexy at all.”
“It's not supposed to be!” Ethan released him and took a breath before continuing, “I wasn't playing games, Heisenberg.”
“I was.” The other man reached to his mouth as if to pick his teeth, but stopped short as he appeared to remember he was wearing gloves.
“Then communicate that next time.”
“Didn't think I had to with your little stunt in the bar.” The larger man was definitely sulking now.
“I have no idea what you're fucking–you know what? Forget it.” Ethan sighed, it was a miscommunication, not malice. “Just… I'd like some warning if you're going to…” He let out a nervous laugh, “get rough like that.”
“I can't figure you out, Winters.” Heisenberg muttered, “I'm not sayin’ I won't do that, but I'm getting some mixed messages.”
“Um, okay? I'm sorry? I'll try to be clearer too?” Though, he couldn't fathom what Heisenberg was talking about.
“You know the Dollar General out on the main road?”
“The one I passed on the way here?” Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“The same, head there.”
“You want to go to the Dollar General?”
“You said tell you where to go, so get goin ’.”
Ethan didn't bother to check if Heisenberg was wearing a seatbelt, he pushed the car's start button and floored it out of the lot. The boisterous laugh he received in response was a treat, but he wasn't about to go full Tokyo Drift out on gravel. He slowed to take the turn onto the main road, but quickly gained speed again.
“Nice car, what kind of engine she got?” Heisenberg asked, reaching into his shirt.
“Uh, a normal one?” Ethan blushed, “I don't really know a lot about cars. I can change a tire, my oil, and check my fluids, but…” He glanced across the console to Heisenberg in time to register that the disposable camera was pointed at him again, but not in time to do anything before the flash went off.
Ethan slammed on the brakes, swerving on the road while Heisenberg's laughter returned. Blinking away the black spots in his vision, Ethan shouted “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
“Easy, easy, I won't let us crash,” Heisenberg's hand was already on the wheel, guiding it with precision to take them to what served as the road's shoulder.
“Are you fucking crazy?!” Ethan lunged to grab the lapels of Heisenberg's shirt, but his seatbelt choked up, keeping him strapped to his seat. He just had to seethe and take his smug-ass laughter.
“For you? Hell yeah, Buttercup.” Heisenberg's grin was manic, pupils wide with interest as he watched Ethan struggle against, and eventually take off his seatbelt.
“Are you trying to get us killed?!” Ethan was across the console in the blink of an eye.
“We’re fine ,” Heisenberg said coolly, his hands up in a non-threatening gesture, “nothing would have happened.”
There was that feeling again, looking Heisenberg in the eye and the most unadulterated desire bubbling to the surface. Ethan never thought himself into unhinged individuals, but the wild expression on Heisenberg's face got his blood pumping. Or maybe it was just the near-crash experience of a few seconds ago. Either way, Ethan felt just as liable to kiss the fuck out of him as he was to punch him. He resisted both options.
“You might want to do a better job keeping your foot on the brake and less fucking me with your eyes.” Heisenberg's amusement was palpable, but Ethan still put himself back in the driver's seat to stomp the brake.
“We're done if you pull another stunt like that.”
“Loud and clear.” Heisenberg wound and stowed the camera back inside his shirt, affecting a much more innocent smile. “Bet that one's gonna be a good one.”
Grumbling, Ethan pulled back up onto the road, “Do you like… Have a thing for taking pictures?”
“If I said yes would you think it's sexy?” All over again the most lascivious smile was back on his face.
“No. Well, I wouldn't hate it, or think it's weird, but I'd still like some warning. I already told you I don't like having my picture taken.”
“Why not?”
“Don't change the subject.” Ethan wagged a finger at him, focused on the road.
“Hm, don't worry, I don't get my rocks off on taking photos. I don't get to see many new people out here.”
His words struck a chord in Ethan's soul, “Ever think of coming into BA sometime?”
Heisenberg was quiet at first, guarded even, but did eventually answer as Ethan pulled into the parking lot beneath the glowing, yellow sign.
“It's not that I don't, I've been to Splash a few times in the last few years.” He stared out the window at the barren lot as he spoke, “The city is loud, it smells awful , and it's so goddamn bright at night.”
Picking a spot, Ethan put the car in park, just listening.
“It's a lot for me. The club itself is even worse, it takes a lot of energy for me to enjoy it at all.”
Ethan took a moment to reframe what he knew about Heisenberg. One, he was an asshole. Two, he was a lonely asshole, even if he hadn’t outright said it. Three, he was a lonely, gay asshole that ostensibly didn't have a car–or just couldn't drive–that lived out in the middle of nowhere in a red state, surrounded by people who didn't like outsiders. All that along with a hostile, self-serving family, Ethan could guess where his lack of people skills came from.
It occurred to Ethan that he had let the end of Heisenberg's explanation hang too long, because the man gruffly asked “Got nothin’ to say to that?”
“I feel isolated from other people too, sometimes.” Ethan admitted in lieu of an “I'm sorry” or a “that sucks,” both statements felt either overbearing or dismissive. Wanting to make sure Heisenberg understood where he was coming from, he lifted his hand and rested it on the top of his date's thigh, “Just… Since…”
Since Mia died? Went missing? Since the mud… He couldn't say any of those things. They were either too much or just made him sound crazy.
“Since being on my own again, everything feels different. The club isn't my scene either. I was married, um, to a woman before I moved here. We were both so young when we got together that I never really did much club-going. Or even…” He looked up from his hand on Heisenberg's hairy leg to his surprisingly interested face “Or even much of this .”
Heisenberg stared at him for longer than Ethan was comfortable with. He seemed to be searching for something on Ethan's face and was confused by what he saw. Again, Ethan felt like he was a puzzle to be solved, someone else's toy instead of a man with an incredibly fucked-up life. He moved to take his hand away, but Heisenberg's caught his, hard as raw marble, but his grip was gentle.
“You said you went to college, what did you go for?” His voice was soft as he asked, the question seemingly unrelated to anything they had been discussing.
“Computer science.” He doubted Heisenberg would really understand what it exactly was he did, so he gave him the simplest explanation of his job, “I'm a systems engineer.”
Heisenberg nodded with a quiet hum, “I'm something of an engineer myself.” Why did he sound so uncomfortable? “In my garage, anyway. I like… Like working on machines, cars, appliances, you name it. But I never made it past high school.” He cleared his throat “ Mother always said it wasn't meant for me.”
“Your mother sounds like she's a bitch.” Honestly, it just slipped out before Ethan could think about it.
“Hah!” At least Heisenberg wasn't offended, “You dunno the half of it.” His discomfort subsiding, he gave Ethan a mischievous little look “I know we ain't college kids or nothin’, but how ‘bout we do some more of this, ” he squeezed Ethan's hand for emphasis, “on a nice walk through the woods?”
Oh no. No. No, no, no! Ethan laughed nervously, “Um…. I… I don't know. It's dark already and–”
“ And I have excellent night vision, and I brought a flashlight.” He reached into one of his many pockets and pulled out a small Maglite. “You asked what I had planned, and a walk in the woods is part of it.”
“O-Oh, I…” Could he really refuse? It was either bite the bullet and deal, or trauma dump on his date all the reasons why just wandering off into a bayou scared the shit out of him. He had been given a real glimpse of Heisenberg and the last thing he wanted was to be a wet blanket.
“C'mon. If you're really that scared–”
“I'm not!” Ethan interjected, really not helping his case.
“Oh, please .” Heisenberg leaned in, sniffing the air around him for a second, “I can smell it on you. Whatever it is that's got you rattled, don't worry about it. I can even hold your hand if you want.” His last statement, while sounding like a taunt, actually sounded more like he was hoping Ethan would take him up on the offer.
“Think I'm good.” He said instead.
“Great, then let's get goin’!” Heisenberg climbed out of the car, making a beeline for the edge of the blacktop.
“Hey! Wait a second!” Ethan quickly left the car, fumbling with his keys to lock it before following. He caught up to Heisenberg in a flash, “I'm really not dressed for this.”
“Eh, you got long pants and closed-toed shoes, bare minimum is fine tonight.” Heisenberg waved him off as if Ethan should have known better than to wear nice clothes on a date. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he entered the treeline, his boots crunching through dead twigs and leaves.
Meanwhile, Ethan was having a less than zen experience. The closer he got, the more acutely he felt the uncomfortable sensations he tried not to think about. The urge to enter the bayou at war with his anxiety. It was wet against his skin, beckoning him deeper in slow, rhythmic pulls, like being swallowed. His family was inside, Mia was…
Mia is dead. Ethan reminded himself, quickening his pace, to keep Heisenberg close.
“Here.” Heisenberg handed the small, but powerful flashlight to Ethan, “I don't really need it.”
“Are you sure? You can see where you're going?” Accepting the flashlight, he focused its beam on the ground directly in front of him. The thought of accidentally stepping on a snake wasn't pleasant.
“I've been traipsing all around these woods since I was fifteen, Winters. No one knows the land out here like I do.” There was a swell of pride in his words, but also the flair of arrogance. “Keep up.”
“Are we going somewhere in particular?” Ethan swung the light around at a noise, watching a bullfrog disappear into the body of water the path followed.
“Relax, just enjoy nature for a few minutes.” Heisenberg lifted his hands to pat a streamer of moss hanging from a tree branch they passed.
“Uh-huh, yeah.” Ethan swallowed, trying to track every little movement in his peripheral vision. “I guess I'm, uh, a bit more of an indoor animal, you know?”
Heisenberg was suddenly turned towards him, making Ethan collide with his chest “You gonna quit your whinin’, or what?” The annoyed edge to his voice was very real and the lines of his face were made harsh by the flashlight's underlighting.
Ethan straightened up, “I'm not… Okay, I am on edge–”
“Clearly.”
“I can't really help it, I don't want to talk about it.”
“Good, I don't either.” Heisenberg moved to stand beside him and put a firm arm around his shoulders, guiding him forward in step. “There ain't nothin’ out here I can't handle, so trust me for just a few minutes.”
“Even a bear?”
Heisenberg chuckled, “I'm the only bear out here you should be concernin’ yourself with.” He made another of his playful growls and was treated to a real smile for his trouble.
Taking a breath and trying to relax, Ethan leaned into Heisenberg as they walked, “So, fifteen?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. Been out here a long time, not by choice, but it's home, I guess.”
“Never thought of moving somewhere else?”
“Mng, that's a complicated topic, I'm not talking about it.”
Great, more stonewalling.
“Are there things you like about living out here?”
“Not really.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, resigning himself to silence. It didn't turn out to be too bad of a plan, it allowed him to actually listen to the sounds of the forest. The bugs chirping in the underbrush, the frogs at the water's edge, the wind through the trees and, most importantly, the sound of Heisenberg breathing. He also couldn't help but notice while pulled against his hot body that Heisenberg was absolutely drenched in sweat. Anything beneath seventy degrees edged on chilly for Ethan, but it seemed that Heisenberg was the exact opposite.
His scent hung in the moist air and clouded Ethan's thoughts with some raunchy images. Heisenberg propping Ethan against a tree and railing him, the bark of the tree digging into his back. Or maybe Ethan tripping him and fucking raw and hard in the undergrowth for all the little forest creatures to see… What the fuck was wrong with him tonight?
Heisenberg took in a deep breath through his nose, “Mmm, if you want any semblance of privacy while we're out here, don't do that.”
“Don't do what?”
He clicked his tongue, “Forget it. Look, we made it.” With a sweeping gesture, he indicated a wooden dock ahead, lit by a lone kerosene lantern.
The lantern's flickering light cast a warm, welcoming aura in the darkness. It almost made the dock feel like a safe haven. Moored to the wood was an old boat with a small, outboard motor on the back. The yellow paint on both the engine and the rim of the boat had seen better days, but neither looked to be in bad condition.
“Did you have this setup here for tonight?” Ethan asked, his heart thudding in his chest; the swallowing sensation was stronger here and many things were sending up red flags in his mind. The last time he did something like this with someone, he had been the sole survivor of the ordeal, but he doubted he would be able to find his way back on his own.
Heisenberg gave him a handsome, full smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes “Maybe I did?” Releasing Ethan's shoulders, he stepped onto the dock, the wood groaning under his weight. He picked up and carried the lantern to the two-person craft and hung it off a small, attached pole before planting one foot in the boat and leaving one on the dock. “C'mere city boy,” he held a hand out to him, “and don't worry, I won't let you fall in.”
“Hm, when you say it like that, it sounds like a trap.” Ethan stood next to him and took a second to check his watch. It was half-past nine, he couldn't say anything like “it's getting late” to avoid this, his only option was just to eat it and try to have fun. So, against his instincts telling him to run, he took Heisenberg's hand, maneuvering himself into the boat.
Once Ethan was seated and comfortable, Heisenberg situated himself in the back by the engine and nodded to the flashlight in Ethan's hand, “I’ll drive just this once if you’ll care to be my light in the darkness.”
Ethan snorted, “that was corny,” and held the light forward.
“What was that I said earlier about glass houses, Winters?” Heisenberg released the boat from its mooring and tossed the rope to the floorboards. He then pushed away from the dock and pulled the motor's cord until it roared to life. “And we're off.” Taking hold of the rudder's handle, he steered them out of the placid inlet and into the main river.
Trying to relax, Ethan closed his eyes and enjoyed the wind on his face, the warm air and the taste of the bayou. What had he been so afraid of? A strong pull of the swallow bid him to open his eyes and look down into the river as it flew by. There was something about it that made it look inviting, he extended a hand, fingertips brushing the surface of the water before Heisenberg’s voice cut through the peculiar episode.
“Light up and keep your hands inside the boat.” His words came with strong enough urgency that Ethan winced.
“Sorry, just… Got into the moment.” Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, he kept his eyes forward, “are we going somewhere special?”
“You can say that.” Heisenberg dismissed at first, but added in a softer tone “personally think the journey there's the best part.”
“Hm, yeah?” Ethan let his gaze veer a little, but there was little to see past the bubble of light around the boat. The shore was far enough away that he couldn't see where the water met the land. “Is this place your favorite?”
“Hah, no. Every little place out here does have its charms though, I like the solitude of this one,” slowing to a stop in the middle of the river, Heisenberg cut the engine, “also the view. Turn off the light.” He snuffed the flame of the lantern at the same time Ethan clicked off the flashlight, plunging them both into darkness.
Anxious, Ethan groped for anything solid, hands alighting on Heisenberg's arms as the boat rocked with the other man's movements. He was sure this time that he wasn't imagining the shines in Heisenberg's eyes as he drew closer, reflecting the moonlight in ways humans’ weren't supposed to. The hairs on Ethan's arms stood on end as his smiling face came into focus around the floating lights, his heart began to race, and maybe the thing he sought comfort from was actually what he needed to be afraid of. A cold sweat broke out over his body, his heartbeat was in his throat. He felt like he was in a horror movie. Again.
“Look up,” Heisenberg softly directed, pointing at the sky that was visible between the banks of trees.
“Whoa.” Ethan breathed, letting his mouth fall open just the slightest bit in awe. The view had already been impressive from the parking lot of Marguerite's, but the envelope of full night made every star all the brighter. The whole milky way wasn't visible with the moon so large in the sky, but it was still breathtaking.
Tipping his chin down a little, he discreetly took in Heisenberg's face beside his. It was hard to put aside the real fear that coiled in his gut about being alone in a swamp with a very unpredictable man, but it wasn't like he was dangerous. Right now, he was being damn near romantic for someone who had posted in all caps "CASUAL FWB” on Craigslist. His staring wasn't a secret for long, but he didn't care that he had been caught. Squeezing Heisenberg's arm, he leaned in, letting out a pleased sound when their lips met.
This was nothing like their earlier bout of necking in the car. Their mouths moved slowly together, Ethan tipping his head to one side and turning the rest of his body into Heisenberg's. Every movement was languid, savored to the fullest, from Ethan's little moan when Heisenberg pulled him against his thigh, to the way Ethan dragged his nails down Heisenberg's back. The fire was there, burning low and hot inside them both.
“Mmm,” Heisenberg ground his growing erection against Ethan's body and sighed “I think I'm in trouble.”
“Are you?” Ethan shifted his leg, in part so he could control his pace better, but also to press against Heisenberg that much more, “didn't think you'd be so easily undone.”
“Well, with your talents, I never stood a chance.”
“I still don't know what you're talking about, but I'll take it.” Ethan leaned his body more into Heisenberg, surprised when the man moved to lower himself down onto his back. He propped his head up on a seat, but didn't appear too uncomfortable.
“We can't get too rowdy unless you want to end up in the river.” Heisenberg warned as Ethan crawled down to stride his hips. “This is quite a view though.”
Lowering himself down to Heisenberg's chest, Ethan found his throat with his mouth. Something that sounded like a warning growl vibrated Heisenberg's Adam's apple, but Ethan pressed on, lavishing the sweaty skin with kisses. The other man's protests died down quickly as Ethan began to move his hips, the friction between them agonizingly slow and deliberate. Heisenberg's hands climbed Ethan's form, fingers pressing into the muscles of his back while a frustrated gasp filled the air between them. Ethan traveled lower with his mouth, nuzzling his nose into the coarse, grey hairs of Heisenberg's chest. A bassy groan met Ethan's ears and he smiled, running his tongue along the raised plane of a scar.
His head was full of cotton, but he wasn't afraid this time, it felt natural, he wanted to touch as much of Heisenberg as he was allowed. He felt his partner’s erection, insistent against his groin, and couldn't resist anymore. With deft fingers, Ethan sat up and reached to unbelt Heisenberg's pants, stilling when hands wrapped around his wrists.
“What did I just say?” His tone was sharp, but not upset.
“We can go slow.” Ethan assured him.
“Speed isn't the problem here, it's location. Have you ever fucked in a boat before?”
“Uh, no? I'm up for new experiences though.”
“Hah, good, there will be plenty of those tonight, but this won't be one of them. If you really wanna fuck in some muddy water I can make that happen, but if you don't, I suggest a little more dryhumping.”
Ethan wrinkled his nose at the thought of bayou mud up in all his unmentionables, “I see your point. What about all those other new experiences?” He bucked his confined erection against Heisenberg's, a thrill running through him once more as he hissed in pleasure beneath him. The slower he moved, the more desperate his partner’s noises became, Heisenberg tried to angle himself more directly at one point, but Ethan lifted his hips in time to deny him the satisfaction. The nearly infuriated sound that came from his throat was exactly what Ethan wanted.
“ Oh , you're really askin’ for it, ain't ya?” His hands grabbed Ethan's waist, clamping him down and holding him still as he rutted upwards. Both of them moaned in unison, joining the chorus of other animals in the summer wind.
“If we keep going…” Ethan panted and Heisenberg took the hint, releasing him from his hold. He climbed off and Heisenberg reached to reignite the lantern, dialing the flame up to a modest size.
Still getting his breath back, Heisenberg took his time sitting up the rest of the way. Ethan watched him stare up at the sky in the flickering lamplight, memorizing the soft lines of his strong body. The man almost looked vulnerable, lips swollen and chest flushed while a revolving door of conflicting emotions played out across his face. Heisenberg glanced at the water, then his groin, and then to Ethan, “Hey, I…” he trailed off, just silently staring at him.
“Yeah?” Ethan laid a hand on his stomach, making slow circles with a finger over the linen.
Something in Heisenberg's demeanor shifted then, “Want to see me wrestle an alligator?” He sat up, reaching for the laces of his boots.
“What?” Ethan was hardly a thinking being at that moment in time, was he serious? The boots and his socks were already off…
“Do you,” Heisenberg enunciated clearly, but he was unbuttoning his shirt, and so had about a fifty-fifty chance of Ethan actually understanding him. “Want to see me,” the shirt was off and he shrugged out of his shoulder holster too. “Wrestle an alligator?”
“Not really.” Ethan answered flatly, drool pooling at the corner of his mouth. “Hey, hang on!”
Too late, Heisenberg was standing, his cargo pants were off and dropped to the floor. His erection still tented the front of his trunks and Ethan thought for just a second to beg him to put it in his mouth. That was the last thought he had before Heisenberg lept from the boat and into the water. Ethan scrambled to the center of it as it rocked back and forth, calling out “Heisenberg?!”
At the edge of the lantern light, the brown water thrashed, splashes sending arcs of water into the air. Heisenberg was standing, chest fully out of the water with something in his hands. When he turned back to face Ethan again, triumph written on his face, he was holding an adolescent alligator, only about three feet in length.
“Wha…” Ethan’s eyebrows pulled together and Heisenberg slogged through the silty water back to the boat. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Didn't say how big the alligator was, but I still wrestled one for you.” He laughed, one hand keeping the reptile's mouth closed and the other pressing its flailing body against his chest. In the firelight, Ethan could make out in detail all the long scars that criss-crossed his torso–was stupid shit like this how he got them? The horny little goblin in the back of his mind yearned to map every last one of them with his tongue. His brain was so preoccupied with the fantasy that Heisenberg's question of “Wanna pet it?” was nearly unintelligible.
Ethan sat back from the edge of the boat as Heisenberg thrust the alligator up at his face. It squirmed in the iron vises of his hands, but couldn't break free, it seemed safe enough. Still hesitant, Ethan ran a knuckle along the alligator's armored back, in spite of how crazy this was, he smiled, “I've never pet an alligator before, but is this really okay?”
“If you don't like him, I can throw him back.” Heisenberg offered with a shrug.
“No! I mean, it's cool,” his eyes were more drawn to Heisenberg's muscles than the reptile. He bit his lip and was totally not considering climbing down into the mud with him. Nope, not even a little bit.
“I'll put him back.” Heisenberg nodded, “we need to get a move on anyway.”
“Do you need me to–Heisenberg!” Ethan didn't get to finish his question before the man literally threw the innocent creature ass-over-tea kettle through the air and out of sight, the only thing indicating it still existed at all was the sound of a distant splash. “That was so mean!”
“He'll be fine, just need him to be angry over there and not in the dick-bitin’ zone.” He explained, then made a shooing motion at Ethan, “Other side of the boat, need to counterbalance.”
“Oh, right, yeah.” Ethan did as told, bracing himself as the other man grabbed the side of the boat and pushed hard up out of the mud. His experience in the maneuver was evident in how the boat didn't capsize immediately, but Ethan still felt like he had to cling for dear life.
“There should be a towel in the trunk under your seat.” He instructed, picking up and moving his things out of his body’s drip radius. The glint of metal in the holster caught Ethan's eye as he retrieved the ratty towel, and he couldn't help stealing a look. The disposable camera was on the right side in a waterproof bag, but strapped into the left side was definitely a gun. A large revolver at that.
Trying to pretend he hadn't seen it, he tossed the towel to Heisenberg and settled back down. He kept his eyes respectfully to himself while the other man dried and got dressed, instead using the time to run circles in his brain about why Heisenberg brought a gun on their date. It could have been as simple as he didn't think it was a big deal, but the gun hadn't looked like any ordinary sidearm. Should he address it? Was it none of his business? The holster had had quite a few little bags attached by carabiners on it to boot, what else was Heisenberg carrying literally on his chest?
“All right, good as that's getting.” Heisenberg announced before sitting back down, fully dressed and firing up the engine again. He kept the towel on the floor to soak up the puddle he had left as he somehow had managed to avoid getting his hair or hat wet while “wrestling” with the alligator. “Got places to be, look alive, Winters.”
Not saying a word, Ethan located and clicked on the flashlight, shining it straight ahead. The red flags were really building in the back of his mind, but he had no choice but to sail onward into the darkness.
Not much further up the waterway was another dock. It was made of a light, shiny metal and had a slick layer of algae climbing up it. During times of heavy rain, it must have spent a significant time submerged beneath the water level. Heisenberg steered their craft up alongside it and moored the boat, “This is our stop.” He climbed out onto the squeaky metal and offered a hand to Ethan which was readily taken.
As it turned out, getting out of the boat wasn't Ethan's issue, it was going to be getting off the dock. As Heisenberg stepped away, the smooth sole of Ethan's dress shoes located a patch of the rampant algae. With an undignified yelp, his foot slid out from under him, the dark water rising up to meet him. He squeezed his eyes shut and prepared for a wet impact.
Except it never happened. What did happen was a hand fisted in the back of his shirt and his top button popped open. Realizing a bit late that Heisenberg had grabbed him, he let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you.”
Heisenberg didn't say anything and he also wasn't immediately trying to pull Ethan upright. He was just leaving him to hang there, perilously close to the dirty water and in no position to correct himself.
“Uh, Heisenberg?” Ethan turned his head, trying to meet his eye and found him sporting a ghoulish smile. His blood ran cold, be feared for his watch and saw the life of his new cell phone flash before his eyes, “Don't you fucking dare .”
Heisenberg giggled , “What will you give me in return?”
“Me not destroying your fucking balls with my foot!”
With raised eyebrows, Heisenberg conceded “fair enough,” and hauled him back from the water to drag him off the dock onto solid ground with surprising ease. If he wanted to, he probably could have thrown Ethan around like he weighed nothing. “Hand me the flashlight.”
“Thought you had amazing night vision?” Ethan teased, holding out the Maglite.
“I do, but I'm looking for something specific tonight.” He took the light and started on a trail “Keep close, I'm not saving your ass from falling in again.”
Ethan followed along, his hands going to close his shirt the rest of the way and finding only disappointment “You ripped one of my buttons off.”
“Wish it had been all of them.” Heisenberg commented under his breath.
“You would have owed me a new shirt.”
“What? You can just sew the buttons back on.”
“I don't know how to sew.” Ethan admitted, pushing his hands into his pockets.
“I swear, you city folk get less self-sufficient by the day.” There was an implicit eye roll in his words. “Helpless without your little modern marvels.”
“Well, do you know how to sew?” Ethan fired back.
“I have to patch my work clothes frequently, so, yes .” Okay, point to Heisenberg.
Ethan had no rebuttal that wouldn't have just been embarrassing to admit, so he pivoted. “What do you do for work?”
“Odd jobs mostly.” The flashlight beam landed on a dead, gnarled tree and Heisenberg mumbled under his breath “Seems right.”
“Must be interesting then, never doing the same thing for too long.”
“It really is.” He grumbled, taking a few more steps off the path into the undergrowth.
“Have any good stories from them?” Ethan heard Heisenberg mutter something, his shoulders hunched. “Sorry? What was that?” He followed him into the brush, having to step over several large roots to do so.
“Hrmg, fuck.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Heisenberg snarled, “I'm trying to concentrate!” Straightening up, he said “Just give me five goddamn minutes of silence.”
All right then. Ethan folded his arms over his chest, pissed for sure, but not willing to start a shouting match in the woods. He let Heisenberg continue searching for whatever it was and turned to go back to the path. Eyes unadjusted to the dark, he stepped carefully around the roots of the dead tree and even then, he still managed to catch the toe of his shoe on the hard edge of something. Stumbling forward, Ethan hit the wet earth with a muted thump, his elbows sinking into the soft mud.
“Fuck,” he murmured, pushing himself up to his knees. Mud saturated the sleeves of his good shirt, and maybe he was starting to regret coming out into nature. He unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling the sleeves up past his elbows and tucking them in. Sure, dinner and a movie was boring and traditional , but at least it didn't end in getting bit by snakes, covered in leeches, or hacked to pieces by–
“Where the fuck is this goddamn thing?!” Heisenberg roared from somewhere on the other side of the tree. Whether or not Ethan was actually the source of his frustration didn't matter anymore, he was determined not to help him. Except, well, when he looked behind himself, the ambient glow of the flashlight caught on the surface of something metallic.
Standing up and brushing debris from his knees first, he put a hand on the object hidden in the roots. It was covered in sticks, leaves and rocks, and upon removal of all its camouflage, he realized it was a metal attache case. The odds of it being what Heisenberg was looking for were pretty high. So, he had two options, not tell the asshole and let him find it himself, or he could expedite the end of their date and tell him…
“Hey, asshole! Is this what you're looking for?” Ethan took the handle of the case, finding it strangely heavy.
“What?” The beam of the flashlight pointed directly at Ethan's face, out of reflex, he lifted his bad arm to block the light from his eyes.
“Christ, can you not shine that in my eyes?!”
“Sure, care to strike a pose for me?” The flashlight did not lower.
“Huh? No, I'm not posing for a picture, Heisenberg.” Ethan squinted, trying to make him out past the flare.
“Come ooooon, you found what I was looking for. I want to commemorate the moment.”
“Maybe if you weren't such a dick earlier, I would!”
“I've had it with you!” Heisenberg growled and Ethan heard the shutter of the disposable camera click. “Now, give me the fucking case, Ethan .” He closed the distance between them in a couple strides, an unlit cigarette poking from between his clenched, sharp teeth. There was something crazed in his expression, that hint of danger he had sensed on the river laid bare.
Not expecting Heisenberg's mood to be worse after locating what must've been a lost personal object, Ethan meekly handed the attache to him. His presence felt so different than it had even minutes ago. The playful man he had made out with like a teenager in the boat was beyond his reach, replaced with whomever this man was.
“Good boy.” Heisenberg praised, as if he was proud Ethan could listen to basic directions. Under most circumstances, the phrase would have lit a fire in Ethan's loins, but said like that, it mostly made him want to slug him in the jaw. “Get on your knees.”
“Fuck off.” Ethan went to take a step back, but Heisenberg dropped the flashlight in favor of grabbing his scarred forearm in a punishing grip. He gasped, the sudden pressure sending zingers of nerve pain up his arm while Heisenberg pulled him close to growl in his ear “I tell you to do something you listen, understand? I'm not playing games, Ethan.” A rough shove forced him to his knees, his joints throbbing in protest. The gun in Heisenberg's holster had been a bad sign.
Rather than also kneel, Heisenberg squatted down in front of Ethan, setting the case on the ground, “Now, do me a favor and open it.”
A flame of defiance still burning in his chest, Ethan squared his shoulders with a hard expression “Why can't you do it yourself?”
“I could, but you see, this is a night of new experiences, isn't it? I'd rather you open it.” The same cold grin he had turned on the patrons of the bar was now pointed at him. He would have been crazy to not be afraid, but he must have lost both his wife and sanity in the swamp four years ago.
“Go to hell.”
“You got balls, I like that about you, but I'd prefer this to not have to get ugly.” A pen knife was in his palm, blade extended. “It's just a suitcase, not a bomb. I promise.”
Gritting his teeth, Ethan could see no further reasons to stall. He also didn't want to test if Heisenberg was bluffing or not. His thumbs flicked the clasps of the case open with a series of soft clicks. Both men peered inside after Ethan lifted the lid, revealing a series of tightly-packed, vacuum-sealed white bricks. Ethan's breath caught in his throat, his ears beginning to ring, and Heisenberg picked one brick at random, stabbing the pack with the pen knife to unseal it.
“Heisenberg… Is this… Cocaine?”
The man ran the pad of his index finger over the small hole he had created, a fine white powder coming away on the black leather. He put the finger into his mouth, rubbing the substance into his gums and after a second, he said “Hell yeah it is!” His pupils, while already large in the darkness, had nearly consumed all the green of his eyes when he turned his attention back to Ethan. “It's five kilos of pure, driven snow, Buttercup.”
Five… Kilos…? The cold sweat from earlier returned in full force, his heart was racing, his hands were shaking and he barely registered Heisenberg's voice at all as he said “And you're going to help me smuggle it out of the state, Ethan Winters. ”