Pairing: Chris and Justin
Words: czar; playful; smoochie; leverage


Justin shifts restlessly from foot to foot.  "All I'm saying is we
don't have the leverage to put the bus back up."  They're crouched
in the lee of a rock, staring at the bus.  It's one of those things
that happens, sometimes.  Buses flipping over and drivers being
killed.  Pop stars being stranded in the wilds in winter when it's
cold.  JC riding the bus of sex, the bastard, and taking all their
cells with him.

"Oh, yeah.  Like that matters.  Even if we could, there's the whole
blown out tire thing, then the stuck-in-a-snowdrift thing, and the
don't-know-how-drive-a-bus thing."  Chris eyes Justin playfully,
'cause otherwise he's going to go stark raving mad and, well, he's
the adult.  More or less.  "If it wasn't fucking freezing, I'd say
you should strip down and we could pimp your ass out on the highway
for a lift.  Couldn't take too long."

Justin laughs.  "If the fucking door wasn't on the goddamn bottom
now, I'd take you on the bus and let you have your wicked way with
me.  As it is, though.  Um.  What do we do, really?"  Justin still
licks Chris's nose, though, just because he's a dork.

Chris settles his hands more firmly into Justin's pockets. 
Strictly for warmth.  Or for cuddling if Justin's understandable
shock overwhelms him, of course.  "I see two possible courses of
action here, each equally stupid.  We can either break back into
the bus somehow, even though it's guaranteed to be rock and
fan-proof, or we can start walking and hope somebody who isn't an
axe murderer or a stalker happens along."

"Walking," Justin says.  He looks at the road for a moment.  It's
all slick and icy and Justin's not wearing good shoes like Chris
is.  He sighs.  "Gimme a smoochie and I'll walk."

"Always knew you couldn't resist my manly charms," Chris teases,
and then kisses Justin.  Reassuringly, all
hey-I'm-here-and-it's-not-all-right-but-at-least-neither-of-us-is
-alone.

Justin kisses Chris back and means it.  He always means it, but
tries not to let it show.  He thinks that this time, it probably
shows.

Chris kisses Justin's forehead when he's done.  It's not much of a
reach; Justin tends to slump down to be nearer Chris' height when
they're together.  "It'll be all right.  And if it isn't, it'll
still be all right."

Justin laughs.  "Freak.  Let's start walking."  They get up. 
Justin gives Chris one of the pairs of gloves from his coat.  Chris
remembered his good boots.  Justin remembered multiple pairs of
gloves.  Since Justin would rather have his feet freeze off than
his hands, it works.

Chris resists the urge to grab Justin's hand and skip off singing
'Follow The Yellow Brick Road'.  There's just too much ice and snow
around for that.  It feels crunchy under foot and not dangerously
slick, but you never knew.  "So, I'm thinking that, since there's
a road, it probably goes somewhere.  And, given that it goes
somewhere, we should either end up there, or end up running into
someone else trying to go somewhere, who's hopefully better
equipped and using a faster mode of transportation."

"Indeed.  Also, our bus was on the road, going this way.  I don't
know *where* the other bus is, but our bus was going this way.  All
alone.  With no one else from the tour."  Justin's scowl grows
progressively darker.  "Um.  Maybe we should go the other way?"

"Don't think so.  This way is downhill.  I.e., out of the snow,
rather than into it.  So that's one good reason to head this way." 
Chris is talking as they walk.  Justin didn't argue about the
choices, but the only way in which this is a smart idea is if they
keep moving.  Stopping even to make up their minds would be the
dumb thing to do.  "Plus, you're right about the busses.  I mean,
there should've been a couple more by now.  Only thing I can think
of is that the pass was closed behind us.  Or that another one of
the busses got into trouble behind us and the road's closed because
of that.  Or something.  In which case, when they try to contact us
and can't get us, they'll then try to get a hold of the Bus of Sex,
and they'll come back for us.  And if there's nothing wrong,
they'll catch up to us from behind."

"Yeah.  Okay, yeah, that makes sense," Justin says, relieved.  They
keep walking.  It starts snowing, just a little.  "Y'know, this'd
be pretty if we weren't in it."

"Funny how that is.  All you Southern boys think this is so pretty,
but you notice that all of us Northern boys moved South as soon as
we could."

Justin laughs and slings his arm around Chris's waist.  It turns
out to be good timing, as Chris slips a little and Justin's there
to catch him.  "Yeah, yeah.  I already knew you were smarter than
me," he says as Chris regains his footing.

"Nah.  I'm not smarter.  I'm just better at being a smart ass."

"And what a nice ass it is," Justin mumbles, the wind whipping his
words away.

They walk on in silence for about an hour.  At least an hour,
because when Justin looks at his watch, the hands have stopped. 
"Chris, my watch froze," he says.  It feels strange to talk because
he's had his jaw clenched for so long.

"Coulda told ya that kind of watch isn't any good.  You need one of
the old-fashioned wind up kind.  Or a space watch.  Something like
that."  Chris gives Justin a sidelong look.  The ends of Justin's
hair have frozen and his cheeks are -- and Chris hopes he's
imagining it -- are no longer quite as red, but more pale now.

Justin nods.  "Maybe Lance has one," he says, or starts to say. 
He's hit an icy patch again, and this time ends up sitting on his
ankle.  It's worse than the four times he's landed on his ass so
far because his sock slouches and his pants pull up.  "Fucking
snow," he grumbles, and digs his hands out of his pockets to push
himself back to his feet.

Chris bends over Justin, hooking his hands under Justin's armpits. 
"Easy does it.  You ever think shortness is a positive evolutionary
trait for cold weather?  Like maybe your gawky long legs are making
you more vulnerable to predators or something?"

"Probably, yeah.  You're a tricksy bastard, Kirkpatrick, keeping
all the good evolutionary traits to yourself."  Justin stamps, but
still can't feel his feet.  He shrugs.  "I seem to be good to go." 
Except for the strange little hitch his ankle keeps giving.  But as
long as he can walk, it's all okay.

"You could, like, lean on me and stuff.  Or, since it seems like
I'm the predator in this situation, you don't have to."

Justin laughs a little.  "Thanks, man, really.  But I can't keep my
balance now.  I think I'll just end up on my ass a-- hey!  Is that
a house?"  He points off to the side of the road.  A little
house-like building is pushed way back behind some trees.

"Definitely something structure like."  Chris is relieved.  Even a
leanto sounds like a good idea right now.  Some place to get warm
again.  But an actual house, with phone service and food and
warmth?  That'd be better than all right.

Justin goes first, smashing a trail through the snow.  Off the
road, out of the wind, it's up to his knees.  "Fucking winter," he
grumbles.  The door is locked, but the lock is crap, and they get
in without too much trouble.  Justin's the one who spots the notice
just inside the door.  "This house is for sale.  If we get saved,
I'm buying it."  He nods toward the flyer.

"After what you did to the lock, you better," Chris says and flips
the light switch a couple of times.  Nothing happens.  "No power,"
he says, sighing.

"Wood-burning stove," Justin reads.  "And running water.  And!  A
generator out back.  I'm gonna go start that.  You start the stove,
huh?"

"Yep."  Chris heads greedily toward the source of future warmth. 
There's a nice stack of wood inside already.  Score!

Justin stumbles out and around.  The generator is new.  And it's
like the ones at Johnny's house, so it only takes a couple tries to
get it going.  "Hot water," he reminds himself, heading back
inside.

By the time Justin gets back, Chris has something resembling a fire
going.  It's busily burning through the kindling, but the real heat
won't come until the logs catch.  "Hey, c'mere."

Justin does, standing as close to the fire as he can.  "Hey."

Chris gathers Justin close, rubbing his re-gloved hands over
Justin's back.  "It's gonna be a while yet before it gets really
warm in here, but you should warm up some all the same."

Justin hugs Chris close, unzipping both their coats so they press
chest to chest and share heat.  "We'll have hot water in a bit," he
offers.

"I'm all about that.  But I want to see your cheeks all rosy again
first."

Justin gives Chris a weird look.  "Okay."

"Just humor me," Chris says.

"Don't I always?"

"No.  Most of the time you just stare at me like I'm an alien life
form."

"You are, but that's not the point."  Justin sits, pulling Chris
along with him.  "I still can't think of anyone I'd rather be
stranded with."

Chris sits in Justin's lap.  It's only sensible.  He's still not
really warm, and he's concerned about Justin.  Because Justin's
bigger and therefore has more body to be colder with.  Right.  "How
about someone with a cell phone and chocolate in their pockets?"

"Nope.  Cause they wouldn't know how to make me feel safe."

Chris draws back, giving Justin a startled look.  "I make you feel
safe?"

"Yep."

"Great," Chris mumbles.  "I'm a teddy bear."

"No, it's just that you've been keeping me safe for so long now,"
Justin says sleepily.  He settles his head on Chris's shoulder and
closes his eyes.

Chris shakes Justin, then gets up and pulls him to his feet.  "Hey,
no falling asleep yet.  Not until we're both warmer.  Go find
something to put in our hot water so we aren't drinking it plain
when we get it."

Justin stumbles.  "No, ow."

"No?" Chris questions, turning back to Justin.  "What's wrong?"

"I'm tired.  I don't wanna move until it gets warm.  And my feet
hurt."

"You *have* to keep moving until you get warm.  If you don't, you
could die."

"Chris, we're inside now.  We're safe."  Justin frowns and pull off
his glove, reaching out to touch Chris's forehead.  Maybe Chris is,
like, delusional.  "Jesus.  You're burning up!" he says, pulling
his hand away.  Chris's skin feels like flame.

"No, babe.  You're just that cold.  Seriously.  Look for something
to go in the water."

Justin bites his lip.  Chris called him babe.  Not baby, like he
was making fun of Justin, but babe like he meant it.  There's
definitely something wrong with Chris.  But... maybe something warm
to drink will help?  It's probably just because Chris is so cold. 
It better be.  Justin has no idea what to do if it's something more
complicated.

Hunting through cupboards, Justin comes up with instant apple cider
and a few cans of soup.  Plenty to survive on.  He keeps an eye on
Chris, and sure enough, Chris is shivering really hard.  So it must
be the cold that's making him all delusional, because Justin's not
shivering at all.

Chris feels himself starting to shiver as he warms up.  Outside,
he'd been too cold to shiver.  Justin still isn't shivering.  Chris
is worried about him, but as long as Justin keeps moving, he'll be
fine.

He turns down the bed, glad that it's a one-room cabin.  He doesn't
think they have the time to wait for the whole place to warm up. 
Justin's too impatient for that.

Justin bangs his ankle on the little table in passing, and it
suddenly explodes in pain.  He sits down right there on the floor
without making a sound, too stunned to scream.

Chris finishes with the bed and looks for Justin, who's sitting
down.  "What'd I tell you about that?" he says, kneeling down next
to Justin, ready to help him up.

Justin says, "My ankle.  I hit my ankle on that table.  It hurt."

"Hell."  Chris kneels down.  "C'mon.  Let me help you up.  You can
get in bed and warm it up for me."

Justin reaches out and tugs his pant's leg up.  His ankle just
looks odd.  It takes him a minute to actually see the bruise, it's
so faint.  "Huh.  It shouldn't hurt that much."

"Be happy that it hurts at all."  Chris pulls the blankets, cold as
they are, up around Justin.  "I know it's fucking freezing.  Let me
put some more wood on the fire and get something to drink and I'll
get in there and make it better for you."

"Chris, it's not that cold.  You really need to get in here more
than I do."

"Justin, it's exactly that cold."

Justin frowns.  "I don't understand."

"You're so cold, you can't tell it's cold anymore," Chris says,
heading for the fire.  It's caught on nicely.  He puts a little
more of the small stuff in, with another of the larger logs.  From
the fire, he heads over to the sink.  From the cabinets above it,
he gets cups, then puts in the apple cider Justin found earlier. 
He fills them with hot water, grabs two spoons and heads for the
bed.  He hands one of the mugs to Justin.  "Can you hold that
without it burning your hands?"

"Yeah?"

"Good.  Stir it and take sips."  Chris sets his down and clambers
over Justin, shivering as he climbs in.  This reminds him
unpleasantly of growing up.  When he's in, he gets his mug and lies
down.  It's pleasantly warm and he just holds it for a while before
sipping.

Justin does.  It feels incredibly hot sliding down his throat and
his stomach feels funny with the warmth in it.  Still, at least
Chris is sitting down now, and Justin's close enough to watch him.

Chris stirs his after a sip reminds him that he's forgotten. 
"That's the stuff."  He looks over at Justin.  "You can snuggle in,
you know."  With a grin, he adds, "It's not any gayer than anything
else we've done so far."

"Like I care."  Justin shifts closer, sliding his arm over Chris's
shoulders and holding him close.

"Well, y'know.  You've been acting like I'm mentally damaged and
resisting the snuggle."

"You're acting weird."

"No, you are," Chris says, settling in comfortably.

"You."

"You."

"Dork."

"You know it, babe."

Justin frowns a little.  "See?  You never say that unless you're
teasing me."

"Serious?"

"Yeah."

"Huh."  Chris sips his cider and thinks.  "You absolutely sure
about that?"

"Yeah."

There's only a little left in the mug.  Chris swigs it, deposits
the mug where it won't roll into them and curls in closer to
Justin, tangling his legs with Justin's and covering as much
available surface as he can.  "I'm not teasing now.  Much."

Justin finishes his drink, too, and turns to Chris.  He winces as
his ankle drags across the bedding, but still manages to lay down,
holding Chris.

"Any warmer yet?" Chris asks quietly.  "Or colder?"

"Hurt," Justin grits out.  When the fresh pain passes, he says,
"Colder.  That's fucked up, isn't it?"

"Nope.  I got colder and then I got warmer.  When you get really
cold, you reach a point where you stop noticing or you even start
feeling warm again even though it's just as cold.  So it makes
sense that you'd shiver as you got warm, because it means you're
feeling the cold again."

"Oh."

"But it's not like I know crap.  Still," and Chris' voice turns
teasing, "I'm gonna get all hot now that I have Justin Timberlake
in my bed."  He adds a little squeal at the end.

Justin giggles sleepily and lays his head on Chris's shoulder.  "I
kinda love you a lot, man," he murmurs.

"Love you, too, babe," Chris says.  "Stay with me, okay?  It's not
good to fall asleep yet.  Plus I'll get all scared if you go to
sleep and leave me alone."

"I definitely love you best," Justin continues in the same drifty
voice.

"Out of all the best friends who've dragged you into bed with them,
you mean?"

"Best of anyone."

"Better than all the pretty little boys and girls?" Chris asks.  He
slips his hand under Justin's shirt.  Just for warming purposes.

"What pretty boys and girls?"

"Britney.  Nick.  Lance.  JC."  Chris is suddenly aware that his
list is almost all male.  "Um."

"Britney isn't pretty any more, not for me."

"Well, other pretty people then."

"Yes, then."

"How're you feeling now that you're warming up?  Can you feel
everything?  Is your nose still there?"

"My ankle hurts a lot.  I think I might've broken it.  But I can
feel my nose and my ears and my fingers.  Toes're still sort of
phantom, but there.  How are *you*?"

"Good.  My fingers feel stiff, but definitely there.  My feet are
fine.  Extra socks, y'know?"  Chris suffers from terminally cold
feet and never wears one pair of socks if two will do.  "Wish I'd
had a hat, but it's not like anyone would notice if my brain'd
frozen."

"I would.  Lance would."

"You'd only notice 'cause you'd finally beat me at video games." 
Chris grins into Justin's chest.

Justin shakes his head.  "I love you best.  I'd notice."

"Oh, c'mon.  Admit it.  You love me for my fantabulous body, not my
mind."

"Mmmhmm."  Justin's so tired.  He hopes Chris'll let him sleep
before he starts to really feel his ankle.

"So did you see anything that looked like a phone when you were
looking for tasty drinks?" Chris asks.  Justin's slowly and
inevitably sliding into unconsciousness.  Chris knows he can't stop
it.  He's just hoping he can prevent it long enough.  The problem
is, he doesn't know what long enough is.

"No dial tone," Justin says.  He breathes deeply and tries to stay
awake for Chris.  "Um.  I think it's turned off."

"Makes sense."  Chris kisses Justin's chest.  "Can't decide whether
to wait to see if anyone comes looking for us here, or to wait
until we warm up and start walking again, or maybe just to wait
until spring."

"Stay here for tonight, anyway.  Worry about the rest in the
morning."  Secretly, Justin thinks he won't be able to stand in the
morning, let alone walk.  But he doesn't need to tell Chris that,
just in case they *have* to walk.  He doesn't want Chris to feel
guilty.

"Well, yeah, duh.  I'm talking to keep you awake, not because I'm
a witty and brilliant conversationalist.  Not that I'm not, because
I'm totally the czar of zingers, but I do have ulterior motives
here.  So.  Wanna have sex?"

"You and me?"

"Yup."

"Together?"

"That's the general idea, yes."

"Oh.  Yes, I want to."

"Wow.  I didn't think it'd be that easy."

"I love you best."

Chris closes his eyes.  He really should have seen that coming. 
His hand strokes circles on Justin's stomach.  Now is precisely the
time to tell Justin he wants to keep Justin awake til he's warm and
that this is Chris' best plan.

He levers himself up and leans over Justin, looking down at him. 
"I love you best, too, baby," he says, and kisses him.

Justin kisses Chris back.  He's wanted, off and on, to kiss Chris
since he was sixteen.

Justin's lips are chapped, and Chris' too, probably.  He doesn't
care.  "Love you."

"Love you, too," Justin says.  His hands reach up and hold Chris's
face.  "I really do."

"I know, babe."  Chris rubs his nose against Justin's.  They're
both cold as hell.  "I'm a slow learner, but I know that now."

Justin smiles.  "You are not."

"Are so.  Otherwise, why did I wait this long to wreck the bus,
kill off our driver--" even joking about it makes Chris shudder,
"and get you all off by your lonesome to seduce you?"

"I feel really bad about Pete," Justin says.  "I never saw anybody
die before."

Chris drops his head into the curve of Justin's shoulder, still
lying on top of him.  "I have, but it doesn't make it any better. 
Not for me anyway."

Justin kisses Chris's hair.  "This is so bad.  I mean, *this* is
good.  But the situation is bad."

"The situation's not so bad.  Not anymore.  The only one who's
still out in the cold can't feel it."  Chris kisses the side of
Justin's neck.  It feels right.  "You're going to be all right. 
That's what matters to me."

"Of course.  I'm Divalake."

Chris blows a raspberry on the side of Justin's neck.  "Okay.  You
can go to sleep now.  I'm sure you're back to normal."

"I knew you'd do that."

"Do what?"

"Ask if I wanted sex and then not offer it.  So I'm offering it. 
If you want, we can have sex.  Now."

"I'm trying to be noble or something.  I think."

"Okay.  But..."  Justin shakes his head.  "Nah, nevermind.  I get
to sleep holdin' you, and that's better than good enough."

"Look.  I offered 'cause I wanted to get you warmer.  Getting to
have sex with you is like a bonus to the plan.  Only you're all
normal now and I'm disgusted by my base motives or something like
that."

"Well.  We'll have sex later, then.  Once we're somewhere with
lights and heaters.  I wanna see you."

"I'm not, y'know.  Hearts and flowers gaga like you."

"I know.  You're new tires and doing the dishes.  I like you like
that.  It keeps me normal.  Sort of."

"Oh."  Chris isn't sure how he feels about that.  His first
reaction is to shout 'yippee' and stick his hands down Justin's
pants, but when it comes right down to it, he's exhausted and it's
warm in the cabin now and he just wants to go to sleep.  "Okay."

"Okay."  Justin tucks his nose into Chris's hair.  "Pull the covers
higher, please?"  Chris does and suddenly everything is comfortable
and good.

"Night, baby," Chris says, not opening his eyes.

"Ninigh', Chris."