Ben was pissed. Frustration coursed through him fraying his temper. There was no sign of Ohm or the runt. No signs of a campsite despite being on the highway. No recent trash. No sounds of a motorcycle. They had heard a few gunshots several days ago but it was behind them. Ohm had a full day's travel on them. He was far ahead.

'Where the fuck did they go?' Even his mental voice sounded furious. "I didn't misread him. Ohm is an A to B guy. I know where he started but where is his B? Where is he going?'

The Knights were watching Ben as he sat on his bike, eyebrows furrowed, lost in thought. His temper was vicious and he was fast to use his fists but the man's evident frustration made it worse. Several of them sported bruises. They were losing confidence in Ben as he chased Ohm instead of trying to find The Electrician.

Great was standing by his bike giving his aching butt a break. Ben would ride like the devil himself was after them then randomly just sit for thirty minutes or more apparently thinking. Great was pretty sure Ben was losing it.

A sigh. It had been a bad choice to come with Ben but, by the time he had made his decision, the others were already gone. It was Ben or nothing. Great just wanted to be out of this mess. Living alone was looking better and better.

~~~~~

They had been on the road for three days. Ohm was steadily heading in the same direction but he wasn't in a hurry. After the tension of living with Boss and the mob, it damn near felt like a vacation.

Fluke was happily immersed in cooking. Wearing a pink apron that said 'Ah! Paris!', he smiled as he stirred the simmering pot.

"Almost done! The Kraft parmesan isn't freshly grated and evaporated milk isn't cream but I think it tastes okay considering the circumstances..." Fluke held a spoon toward Ohm. "Want to taste test the Alfredo sauce?"

He was wearing that smile. The one Ohm couldn't get enough of. Obediently, Ohm opened his mouth. The sauce was rich, creamy, and decadent. He was going to have to do more push ups to work this off but it was worth it.

He moaned. 'That's wonderful!" Fluke blushed.

"Can you wash us off two plates then I'll drain the pasta? We can put them under the colander. Should rinse the soap off and sterilize them. Just in case there were rodents on them." Fluke looked quite proud of himself. He might not know much about guns (though he was learning) or parking structure acoustics but he knew and loved kitchens. That was where he excelled. It would be his major contribution to their well being.

Soon, the table had two plates loaded with generous amounts of Fettucini Alfredo. The room smelt wonderful. Mouth watering.

Ohm jumped as he heard a soft pop. Fluke turned around with an open bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other.

"May I interest you in a glass of wine? It seems to be okay." He sniffed the bottle's contents again. "Doesn't smell like vinegar..."

"Where did you find wine?" Ohm was truly surpised.

"Same house we found the evaporated milk." Fluke grinned rather smugly.

"You are sneaky, Fluke. Like a mouse." A smile. "I would love a glass of wine, Noo."

Fluke froze then smiled all over himself. Noo. Ohm was calling him 'little mouse'.

Ohm was calling him 'little mouse'.

Fluke poured the wine and fought the urge to squeal.

There wasn't much talk over dinner. The food was too good. Ohm was comfortably stuffed. He swirled the wine in his glass and glanced at Fluke.

There was a question that had been nagging at him. Asking was the right thing to do but he was nervous about the answer. He cleared his throat.

Fluke looked up from his contemplation of the wine glass. "Yes?"

"Umm... well... this isn't the camp. You don't have to sleep where I do to keep safe." Ohm shifted awkwardly in his chair.

Fluke's face dropped. "Oh." He was quiet for a moment. "Of course." His smile was strained. "I'm sure you'd like a bed to yourself. I can understand that. " He tried to make the smile more genuine but it wasn't really working.

Ohm wasn't quite sure what to say now. "No. I... I want you in my bed. I..." Ohm went an impressive shade of scarlet. He was beyond embarrassed as Fluke's head jerked up to look at him in surprise. And perhaps hope?

'I'm going to crawl under the table and stay there.' Ohm rubbed his face. "This isn't coming out well." he confessed. A quick peek at Fluke. Now the man just looked confused.

"Just say it, Ohm!" he yelled internally. A deep breath.

"Yes. I want you in my bed BUT it should be your choice. I don't want you to feel like you have to. I think we're far enough away now so you can sleep in another room if you want to and be relatively safe, Noo." Ohm was using his 'cop voice'. Falling back into safe territory. His face, however, was still so red Fluke was worried the flustered man would end up with an embolism.

Fluke shook off his anxiety and looked Ohm dead in the eye.

"What does 'wanting me in your bed' entail?"

There couldn't be any misunderstandings on this subject.

Ohm's mouth gaped. 'Is he suggesting what I think he's suggesting?' He downed his wine. 'Why am I so nervous? I've always been confident with this sort of thing.' In the back of his mind though he knew why.

Fluke was important. He cared about him.

He stood and went to Fluke's side of the table. Kneeling on one knee, Ohm cleared his throat. He wanted them to be on the same level and face-to-face.

"Where this goes is up to you, Noo." The 'cop voice' was gone replaced with a gentle vulnerability. "But I would love to kiss you. May I?"

Fluke was lost and he knew it. He could only nod.

Ohm stood and pulled Fluke up with him. Gathering the slender man into his arms, Ohm tenderly kissed him. It was everything he thought it would be and more. Warm and soft. A perfect first kiss.

For Fluke, the world disappeared. All that existed was the two of them in that moment. In that kiss. In that beginning.

Ohm slowly pulled away albeit somewhat reluctantly. He looked down at the man he held so close. Fluke's eyes were still closed, but a smile graced his lips.

"Noo?" The tone delicately asked so many things.

Fluke opened his eyes. "Can we go slow? I want to do this right." His voice held warmth and affection.

"Yes." A whisper.

Fluke's smile was all the answer Ohm needed.
~♡~♡~♡~

Another update!

Hope you have someone who makes you smile!!

Peace for All

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