This is a new series. Loosely related shorts in no particular order, taking place during the NSA tour.
Digital Getdown: Buddy List
by Karen and LB
© 2002
How did I let myself get talked into this? JC wondered. When they had decided to add a second bus, JC had been as enthusiastic as anyone. Then the other shoe dropped. "We want you and Lance on separate buses. It's better that way." So here he was, trapped in this tin can--okay, a very luxurious tin can--mere yards away from his boy, but as separate as if miles lay between them.
Unnoticed by JC, Chris and Justin looked at him and rolled their eyes in perfect unison. "Great," Chris muttered. "Another night of sulking."
"Really," Justin agreed. "Do you see me sulking because I can't be with Brit every waking moment?"
"I can hear you." A flying pillow punctuates the remark.
"Good. You've got to snap out of it, C," Chris counsels. "You're not Romeo and freaking Juliet. You'll see him in a matter of hours."
JC gets up and tries to storm over to the table where he left his laptop, but the bus is rather small for storming, so it doesn't make much of an impression. He logs on and waits for his buddy list to come up, hoping that Lance will be on.
*****
It's not that Lance doesn't feel bad about this, but he knows it's for the best. It's hard enough working together and trying to see each other; it's good that they're giving each other space, even if only during traveling time. So Johnny's suggestion that they ride separate buses isn't such a bad thing. Or so Lance tries to convince himself. Besides, as he told JC, JC likes to sleep while he likes to stay up and so does Joey, so it works out fine. Right now, though, Lance just wants to log on to his email and see if there are any messages from his friends.
JC was about to log off when he hears his buddy list signal Yes!
SNGWRTRJC: Hey you.
Lance blinks at the screen. He looks back at the bus, knowing JC is only a few cars back, but still, he smiles at this unexpected surprise.
IMNOTPUFU: what r u doing awake?
SNGWRTRJC: Missing you. :-( I hate this. I hate not getting to wind down with you.
IMNOTPUFU: you'll get used to it. it's only for a few hours anyway. this way, you'll want it more. :)
SNGWRTRJC: If I wanted it any more, I might explode.
IMNOTPUFU: really? so you want it now?
SNGWRTRJC: Right now. I wanna crawl into a bunk with you right now.
IMNOTPUFU: their small. u think we could both fit?
SNGWRTRJC: I know we could both fit. 'Cause we fit so well...
IMNOTPUFU: like 2 peas in a pod. but it's kinda tight in there. We'd have to squeeze 2gether.
SNGWRTRJC: Of course, if we took our clothes off, it would save valuable bunk space.
IMNOTPUFU: true. I'm wearing a lot of layers. what r u wearing?
SNGWRTRJC: What would you like me to be wearing?
IMNOTPUFU: nothing. well, maybe just those sexy underwear you bought last time we were in LA.
SNGWRTRJC: With Chris and Justin here? No way. Only for you.
IMNOTPUFU: you're no fun. if i was there I'd throw you down on the floor and rip your clothes off.
SNGWRTRJC: You would, would you? Right here on the bus?
IMNOTPUFU: heck yeah. wouldn't u?
SNGWRTRJC: You know I would. Even if Chris trips over us.
IMNOTPUFU: what about justin? he might start to get lonely and miss brit.
SNGWRTRJC: That's his problem. He was just being all annoying with me because I was bummed being apart from you. He says HE doesn't sulk like I do. Brat.
IMNOTPUFU: aw, you're sulking? don't sulk. it's only like another hour or so. talk to me until we get there. it's better than playing sega with joey and steve.
SNGWRTRJC: I'm not sulking. I wasn't sulking. I just miss you. But it's better when I can talk to you. And think about what I'm gonna do when we're alone.
IMNOTPUFU: tell me.
SNGWRTRJC: Well, we've got to do something about all those layers.
IMNOTPUFU: like what?
SNGWRTRJC: I've been working on learning how to unbutton things with my tongue...
IMNOTPUFU: tongue? wow! that takes a lot of skill. what would you do then?
SNGWRTRJC: Well, unbuttoning's only half the battle. I'd still have to take the clothes off.
SNGWRTRJC: With my teeth.
IMNOTPUFU: what if you swallow something? by accident, i mean.
SNGWRTRJC: You might have to give me mouth-to-mouth
IMNOTPUFU: you bet. i think i'd have to probe your mouth to make sure there's nothing in there that shouldn't be.
SNGWRTRJC: It's the only way to be certain. You'd have to take your time, too. Be thorough.
IMNOTPUFU: i'd take it real slow. in fact, i'd have to do a full-body cavity search.
SNGWRTRJC: Depends on your bedside manner, babe.
IMNOTPUFU: aw, now don't be like that. i'll be as gentle as you want. unless you don't want me to.
SNGWRTRJC: I always want you to.
IMNOTPUFU: right now?
SNGWRTRJC: Right now. Open the door and the next time we pass you I'll jump in.
IMNOTPUFU: and you'll go splat on the highway. no thanks. i am NOT going to my boyfriend's funeral.
SNGWRTRJC: I'll borrow Joey's Superman cape...
IMNOTPUFU: joey's on my bus. and he won't let anyone borrow his cape. sorry, babe, we're stuck until the next stop. but man, i want u bad.
SNGWRTRJC: Me too. How are we gonna do this for the whole tour?
IMNOTPUFU: it'll make being 2gether that much more special. think how horny we'll be by the time we see each other.
SNGWRTRJC: Has anyone ever died of extreme horniness?
IMNOTPUFU: i sure hope not, cause i'd be dead right now.
IMNOTPUFU: HI JOSHY!!!!!!! JOSHY I MISS U SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! I WANT YOU SOOOOOOOO BAD!!!!!!
IMNOTPUFU: brb
IMNOTPUFU: joey can be such a jerk sometimes. r we there yet?
SNGWRTRJC: Nope. What's Joey, anyway, twelve?
IMNOTPUFU: right now, 8. i told him if he doesn't behave i'm taking away his video games. speaking of games, where were we?
SNGWRTRJC: Mouth to mouth...probing...body cavity search...terminal horniness...
IMNOTPUFU: oh yeah. oh yeah! let's hope it's not terminal though cause i want to make it at least until the next stop so i can have my way with u.
SNGWRTRJC: Ooh, i like the sound of that. Tell me more.
IMNOTPUFU: first, i'm gonna push you up against the wall and kiss u. and use my tongue. i'm gonna kiss my way down your neck and slowly take off your shirt. then i'm gonna touch your chest. every inch of it. then i'm gonna lick your chest. every inch of it.
SNGWRTRJC: I like this already. Am I pinned, completely under your control, or do I get to play, too?
IMNOTPUFU: if u r nice u can play. what would u do?
SNGWRTRJC: I would pull you back up so I could kiss you again, then I'd turn you around and pull you back against me, hard. then I'd kiss your neck and lick your ear and whisper naughty things while I slowly unbutton your shirt.
IMNOTPUFU: naughty things? like what?
SNGWRTRJC: I can't tell you everything now. You won't need the real me if I do.
IMNOTPUFU: i always need the real u. right now in fact. i mean, RIGHT NOW.
SNGWRTRJC: Right now what? what do you need the real me to do.
IMNOTPUFU: take care of this chubby in my pants.
SNGWRTRJC: Ooh, poor baby. You want me to kiss it and make it better?
IMNOTPUFU: yes!!! now!!! it's killing me. i don't think i can stand up right now and joey's bugging me to get him a drink.
SNGWRTRJC: Let Joey get his own drink. You're way to cute to wait on him. How much longer till we stop? and how much time do we have when we get here?
IMNOTPUFU: shouldn't be long now. i hope. man, i hope. ugh, joey just threw a sock at me. ARE WE THERE YET? we better have time, because right now i really want to kiss you.
SNGWRTRJC: Where?
IMNOTPUFU: first on your mouth. then your chest. then lower.
SNGWRTRJC: Ooh, baby, you know what I like.
IMNOTPUFU: if you like that you'll love what I'll do after that.
SNGWRTRJC: Details...
IMNOTPUFU: can't. steve keeps looking over my shoulder. you'll just have to wait. we're almost there anyway. i just saw a sign.
SNGWRTRJC: I'd rather wait for the real thing. And I guess it's better if we're able to walk sort of normal. Can't wait to see you.
IMNOTPUFU: see u in 5.
SNGWRTRJC: Love you.
IMNOTPUFU: love you more.
Lance logs off and shuts the cover to his laptop, grabbing his belongings hurriedly as the bus pulls into the hotel driveway.
"Yo, Scoop, what's the hurry?"
"Just tired of being on the bus, Steve. Need to move around."
"Need to move around your boyfriend is more like it."
"Shut up." But even as Lance throws an empty bag of chips at his friend, he's smiling in anticipation of seeing JC again. It wasn't until they decided to ride on separate buses that Lance realized how much he needed JC.
JC manages to make it to the bathroom, where he splashes cold water on his face, knowing that's not where he needs it. He's ready to get off the bus before it's rolled to a stop, once again ignoring the rolling eyes of his friends.
What JC can't figure out is people who talk about how after they've been with someone for a while, the desire, the magic, wears off. For him, the longer he's with Lance, the more he wants him.
As soon as the door opens, Lance is off the bus. He smiles to the crowd who always somehow manages to mysteriously show up at their "undisclosed" locations, but his head is whipping around looking for the other bus, which has just pulled up behind the first one. Lance is about to run over to greet JC, when Lonnie pulls him into the hotel.
JC barely catches a glimpse of Lance before Lonnie escorts Lance quickly into the hotel. What's up with that? he wonders, hurrying forward.
"No time for autographs tonight, boys," Wes declares, hustling JC and Justin into the lobby. "You guys have an interview upstairs. MTV or something."
"What interview? No one told us about an interview." JC looks around for agreement. Melinda calls out from behind. "It's part of the behind-the-scenes film. They want some footage of you in your hotel room."
"In our rooms? And no one thought to TELL us? Look, Melinda, I know you work hard, but don't you think this is a tad bit intrusive without even warning us?"
"JC, this isn't the first time we've done this. What's the big deal? They shoot some tape, we head off to the venue, no big deal. The room's already set up. What, didn't you get any sleep on the bus?"
"We always know about it in advance is the big deal. And no, I didn't sleep in the bus, because I was supposed to be able to sleep here."
"C'mon, you'll sleep later. It's nothing you haven't done before. And I told you guys about this. Lance is the only one who seems to keep track of these things."
"He didn't know about it either, or he would have told us."
"Look JC, I know this isn't easy for you, but if this relationship is gonna get in the way of business, you'd better get it together. I promise, you'll have time tomorrow."
"That's got nothing to do with this, Melinda. We need to know about this stuff. It's not fair springing it on us."
Justin walks over. "He's right, Melinda. This is the first we heard of this. You think I would have worn THIS?"
"You look fine. No one expects you to be wearing Armani. Okay, maybe I slipped on this one, but it's really no big deal. Half hour, 45 minutes tops."
"Fine. C'mon, C." Justin looks back as they walk away. "Don't do this to us again, okay?"
Lance and Joey are already in the room next door to where MTV has set up the cameras, having make-up applied and being briefed on what to say. Lance keeps glancing at the door, expecting JC to walk in any minute. He's still annoyed at not having been told sooner about this, but he knows it's part of the job. He had been counting on a little quality time with his boyfriend, however, and now it looks like they won't have much of that until long after the show tonight.
"Hey," JC says, dropping into a chair next to Lance. "This sucks."
Lance smiles. He knows the only way they'll get through this night is with a sense of humor. "I'd rather be sucking you," he says, keeping his voice low.
"You like torturing me, don't you."
"Sometimes. But you know it's torturing me too. We HAVE to find some time tonight."
"We sure do. I'm pissed about this. And I'm pissed at Melinda giving me attitude about ME needing to get it together."
"She didn't mean it. She's overworked too, JC. She really feels bad. She doesn't realize how horny we are."
"Okay, yeah. But if she's not doing her job, it's not fair for her to accuse me of not doing mine."
Lance leans over and whispers in JC's ear, "I know a job I'd like to do right now."
"Okay, now you're just being cruel," JC says, but he's smiling.
"Gotta be cruel to be kind. Isn't that what they say? Besides, I don't want you being all grouchy later."
"That's why I'm being grouchy now. To use it all up..."
"All right guys, they're ready for you," the PA announces.
They're herded next door, where they talk about being on tour and what this concert will offer audiences, etc., etc. And then it's off to the venue. JC puts his frustrations aside. It's not the audience's fault; they deserve his all. But he manages to smack Lance's butt when he runs by him. And the intro to This I Promise You has those in the know rolling their eyes at the looks he and Lance exchange.
It's the only time during the show he and JC really connect. So Lance makes the most of it. If it were up to him, he'd throw JC down on the stage and make love to him right then and there, so charged is he. But the 30,000 or so quite possibly underage audience members might not get it. So Lance resigns himself to the fact that he'll have to wait. Until later. As they're herded to the buses to take them back to the hotel, Melinda heads them off. "Change of plans, guys. You've been invited to a party. VP at Microsoft. Sorry."
Everyone turns around to stare at her. "Since when?" Chris says quietly.
"Really." Joey chimes in. "We were supposed to have some downtime today."
"You'll have plenty of downtime tomorrow. I've rearranged things. But this guy is important and Johnny says to make an appearance, so let's go."
"As long as there's food. I'm starving," Joey says.
"You're such a party whore, you know that, Joe?" Chris says, laughing.
Lance shakes his head. He looks over at JC and sees the disappointment in his face. With a smile barely detectable, he starts to follow the others, then staggers, catching himself on the wall. "Ohhhh," he moans.
JC is at his side instantly. "Baby? What's wrong?"
"I-I don't feel so good. I feel kind of dizzy," Lance replies, weakly, with a wink.
"What's going on? Oh no, not again. Call an ambulance!" Melinda shouts, panicked.
"No, no--I'm okay, I just need to sit for a while."
JC practically carries Lance to a chair, managing to squeeze his ass in the process. Melinda and Joey both offer bottles of water.
Lance takes one from Joey, giving him a pleading look.
"Oh, hey, you know, Lance didn't have anything to eat today," Joey says. "He was working on his laptop the whole way here. No wonder he doesn't feel well."
"Shit, Lance, you know after last time this happened that you're supposed to take care of yourself," Melinda remarks, exasperated.
"I'm fine, really. I just need to lie down for a while. And take my pills. I think they're back at the hotel."
"Lance, you KNOW you're supposed to carry them with you," JC scolds, his eyes twinkling.
"Okay," Melinda says, desperately trying to assert some order. "Wes should take Lance back to the hotel. And the rest of you guys should come with me."
"Aw, but we can't leave Lance alone when he's like this," Joey insists. "JC should stay with him."
"Yeah. He won't be any good at the party anyway, if he's all worried," Justin adds.
"Fine!" Melinda gives up in exasperation. "Lance, you go rest. JC, take care of him. Wes will take you both back."
"Can we take the bus? I really need to lie down now."
"Yeah, whatever. It's only one party, right?" She turns in a huff and walks away to collect the others.
Justin sidles up to Joey. "I didn't know Lance takes pills."
"He doesn't."
Justin turns back to watch Lance walking weakly, unsteadily to the bus, supported by JC. "Man, I'll never make fun of his acting ability again."
Once inside the bus, Wes takes a seat up front. Lance heads to the back of the bus, making sure to keep his steps slow and easy. He really feels like leaping to the large, wraparound couch but he doesn't think that would go over well with Wes. When they finally reach the back, Lance shuts the door. "Alone at last."
"That was quite a performance."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Lance growls, backing JC up against the door.
"I'm pretty desperate."
Lance captures JC's mouth in his own. He thrusts his tongue inside, probing the warm, moist mouth, before pulling back. "Desperate for that?"
"Oh, yes." JC grabs Lance's head in both his hands and pulls him close again, plunging his tongue past lips and teeth to plunder Lance's sweet mouth.
Practically melting in his arms, Lance presses his body against JC, knowing that the bulge in his pants is quite obvious at this point. He presses his palms against the door for balance, his heart beating wildly.
Never breaking their kiss, JC pushes away from the wall, and pulls Lance with him to the floor. "You're supposed to be lying down, remember? Wouldn't want to lie about that."
Lance tugs at JC's shirt. "Take this off."
JC complies, then pulls off Lance's shirt as well, letting his fingers linger over then skin he's exposed.
Lance lays back on the carpeted floor, the vibration of the bus stimulating him even more than he already is. "Take off your pants."
"Demanding, aren't we?" JC grins as he reaches for his waistband. "You just gonna to lie there or are you gonna help?"
"I'm gonna watch." Lance folds his hands behind his head, bends his knees, and places one foot at JC's crotch.
"How am I supposed to get my pants off with your foot there?"
"Sorry. Reflex. Okay, try it now." Lance returns his foot to the floor, but his knees bounce open and closed in anticipation.
JC sits up to remove his shoes and socks, then quickly unbuttons and unzips his jeans and slips them over his slender hips and off. "Everything meet with your approval?"
"Almost," Lance replies, a twinkle in his eyes. "There's one more thing that has to come off."
"Lance, you know I never take my pendant off."
"I'm not talking about the pendant, Josh. The shorts. Lose them."
"Oh, those." JC smiles at his impatient boy and removes the shorts very slowly. Lance sighs up at the beautiful body before him. He kicks his shoes off while still lying down, and brings his foot back up to JC's now exposed member. Rubbing firmly, he smiles. "Much better."
JC closes his eyes and practically purrs. "Oh, yeah. Much better. But aren't you overdressed?"
"Maybe. What are you gonna do about it?"
"I don't know. You're giving the orders around here."
"I just wanted to see you naked. What you do after that is up to you."
"Good." Pushing Lance's foot aside, JC crawls up next to him and, and as promised earlier, begins working the button on Lance's jeans with his tongue.
Lance giggles and rolls his eyes at the ceiling. "You'll never get it open that way."
JC pops the button out and grins up smugly at Lance. "Oh, won't I?"
"Did anyone ever tell you how talented you are?"
JC is too busy lowering Lance's zipper with his teeth to answer. Lance tries his best to hold still, but JC is not making it easy. He's just glad he's not wearing his button-fly jeans. His erection strains against his boxer-briefs through the opening JC has created. "Have you been watching Joey's porn movies?"
JC looks up. "Nope. I promised you tongue and teeth and I'm delivering on my promise."
"You're so honest. Promise to make love to me?"
"I promise. Oh, I promise." JC nuzzles his face into the opening of Lance's jeans. Lance curls his knees up and reaches down to touch JC's sweat matted hair, then he props himself up on his elbows to get a better view and smiles. He finds he constantly is reminded how lucky he is to have JC in his life, and not just for sex.
"Okay, I'm gonna, um, compromise a little. If I actually try to take your jeans off with my teeth, we could be here all night. And I can't wait." JC uses both hands to draw Lance's pants off.
"Good. Because if you tried to use your teeth I don't think I could wait. If you know what I mean."
"I know what you mean." JC runs his hands up Lance's legs and pulls down Lance's boxer-briefs.
Lance takes a deep breath as he erection springs up from the confines of the shorts. "Come here."
JC crawls up the length of Lance's body then slowly lowers himself on top of him. "Here?"
"No, here." Lance brings his lips to JC's and kisses him, parting his lips and letting his tongue taste the sweet, soft lips of his lover.
JC sinks into the kiss, letting it deepen and grow as he moves his body over Lance's, bringing them closer together and then separating, like a pulse, a heartbeat. Lance falls back to the floor, one vertebra at a time, pulling JC with him. His hands play over JC's smooth skin, his thumbs circling the small, erect nipples in unison.
JC lifts his lower body enough to allow him to rub his erection against Lance's, feeling the heat heighten between them. He keeps kissing Lance, hard, as if he were starving and Lance sustenance.
Fighting the urge to come as JC's thick organ brushes his own, Lance pinches JC's nipples lightly while his tongue traces the outline of JC's lips. "I want you so bad," he murmurs, his breath fanning the older man's face. "I've wanted you all day."
JC smiles, his lips so close to Lance's that Lance can feel the movement. "You've got me." Lance grabs JC's rock-hard ass and pulls him close while capturing JC's lips with his mouth. He grinds his hips upward, his almost painful erection pressing hard against JC's abs.
JC lifts himself up enough to snake a hand between their bodies, grasping the hard, hot flesh and stroking it firmly and slowly. Lance groans and grips JC's biceps, thrusting his hips in time with JC's hand.
That groan right into JC's mouth almost undoes him. He needs to be inside Lance NOW. "Don't move," he growls, and jumps up to locate the small bag he'd brought on the bus with him. With a minimum of fumbling he locates the tube of lubricant and returns to Lance's side, opening the tube as he goes.
When Lance told the others he wasn't feeling well, it was only a half lie; right now, he physically aches for JC. He caresses JC's face as JC concentrates on his preparations, his fingers playing lightly over the soft lips.
"Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait," JC murmurs against the caressing fingers as he coats himself with the slippery substance, then takes a fingerful and slips it into Lance's opening. Without any further preparation, he raises Lance's legs and plunges into him.
"Oh shit!" Lance cries out, arching his back against the sudden penetration. "More, Josh, c'mon, more!"
JC pulls back and plunges in again, crying out in triumph as he's surrounded by Lance's tightness, his heat. He drops his head so his mouth is against Lance's ear, his breath hot against Lance's neck. "So good, baby, so good."
The tingle in Lance's neck shoots all the way down to his toes. He writhes under JC's weight, clutching the firm muscles of JC's ass and pushing him in deeper, gasping for breath as his mind explodes in pleasure.
JC pumps smoothly into Lance, egged on by the little symphony of sounds emitting from his lover. One hand finds Lance's erection and strokes it, eliciting more delicious sounds.
Lance whimpers as his hardness is surrounded by the warm hand, and his head whips from side to side as JC fills him. His hands reach up to JC's chest, pressing against the toned flesh and rubbing the sensitive nipples.
JC moans into Lance's ear, wondering how much more stimulation he can take before he explodes. His thrusts become deeper and faster and his hand on Lance's hardness keeps pace.
Squeezing his eyes shut and burying his head in JC's shoulder, Lance comes, hot and fast. He muffles his cry against JC, sending the vibration of his voice through JC's long, lean body.
Conscious of Wes in the front of the bus, JC, too, tries to hold in his cry as he comes, still thrusting into Lance. He practically collapses onto his boy, quivering, whimpering.
"Oh my gosh, JC, if this is what happens when we ride on separate buses," Lance moans, trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah, this almost makes up for missing you. Almost." JC nuzzles his face into Lance's hair as they feel the bus roll to a stop.
"Maybe we should miss each other more often," Lance says quietly, then reluctantly rolls them over so they can collect their clothes. He dresses hurriedly, and just as JC slides on his shirt Wes calls out, "We're here."
Lance opens the door, and keeping his head down, walks slowly to the front of the bus. Wes puts an arm on his shoulder. "Hey, you're all red. You gonna be okay?"
Lance bites his lip to keep from smiling. "Yeah, Wes, I'm gonna be fine. Just a little worn out."