25 Strip Mall

Dandy was snoring and rolled over onto his other side. He was deep in a dream, slowly breathing as it played out.

It wasn't anything unusual. Quiet alien hunting on a beautiful planet, probably one he had seen in his past. His eyes watched stars shooting across the sky. Then, he felt a touch and looked over.

It was JP, looking tired as if he had been chasing Dandy up a hill. He was silent, his lavender eyes locked onto Dandy's. Then, a flash of lightning stuck behind them.

Not a single bolt of white light hit them. The lights danced around the two as they moved in closer. Nothing can stop us, Dandy spoke in his sleep. Then, a bright pink bolt crashed between them, giving off an intense heat. He held onto JP's hands, wincing.

He was afraid to look. Was JP still there? What would he see if he did look? Just before be could see what happened, Dandy woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes, turning back over to see JP. Moving to touch the racer, Dandy yawned

"How long was I out?"

JP was awake and looking at Dandy as he slept. He was still snuggled up to the alien hunter but apparently had pulled his shirt back on without disturbing Dandy's sleep. The only thing missing was his belt but that was in the seat beside them. "I don't know but it's day out. Last night I didn't pay attention to any business names but you're in luck." He smiled, "There's a cafe here named Lestat's and a little clothing store we can pick up a shirt for you."

No one had come up to their car during the time that JP had been awake and it seemed that the part of the parking lot that they were are was the unpopular spot. "Are you hungry yet?"

Dandy rubbed his eyes, hearing JP mention that it was day. That short dream lasted all night? Huh. He stretched, his back popping as he twisted. The driver's seat wasn't the worst thing he had ever slept on. The backseat might have been a better pick...

JP then grabbed Dandy's attention with the name of a cafe. There was also a mention of clothes and food? Dandy grinned, his hair a mess. He looked like he had been through hell, but he honestly felt great.

"Always~" Dandy chuckled and shifted to the end of the seat. He opened the car door, stepping out, and looked up into the light. That fresh air felt fantastic and it smelled so much better than the stuffy rental. He then looked in the mirror, his jaw dropping.

"JP! JP!" He shouted, nearly toppling back. Dandy jumped back inside the rental, looking around. "Where's your comb? I can't go out into public lookin' like this! I look like I've been mugged!" Dandy whined, looking all over the floorboards and the seats.

When Dandy got out of the car, JP took it as his chance to stretch his back. He grabbed into the headrest and arched his back, using his weight to get that stretching feeling. When he felt satisfied, he reached over to start threading his belt back into the belt loops of his leather pants. The fresh air coming in through the door was refreshing, "My comb?" He stopped.

It was in his jacket and that was in the old man's garage. He looked at Dandy, "I...don't have it." He watched as Dandy searched but to no avail. He wouldn't be able to find it.

Dandy whined, looking into the rearview mirror. He moved his hand over the strands. He had to make a choice: either rock a half-ass pompadour or just let it down until he could restyle it.

The last idea made him frown. No. Hell no.

"We gotta go to the clothing place," Dandy looked at JP. He leaped back out of the car, thoughts coming into his mind. What if people saw him? He looked like hell and he couldn't look bad around JP. Then, Dandy had a plan if anyone noticed them.

"We'll get me and you a new shirt. Ya know, I actually need a couple clothes," Dandy rubbed his chin and smiled at JP. "After you saved me from gettin' my ass kicked, you wanted ta live up to your name and be real sweet ta me~" he tilted his head, telling JP his lie. "If anyone asks, that's our story. That's why I got blood on me and that's why my hair looks like a mess. Also explains your bruises and the blood on our clothes!" He was a genius. A shitty liar, but god he felt good about this plan.

JP's eyebrows pinched together, "Uh sure? I mean.. it is not like you look that bad...I think you look hot like this." He shrugged, "But if you want that to be our story then I'll play along." He looked back at himself in the rearview mirror and turned around to sit the right way around on the driver's seat. "but what about my hickeys. What kinda thug does that huh?"

He climbed out of the car and ran his hands along the sides of his head in an attempt to fix up his own train wreck of a hairdo. "I'll fi-" He turned around, tucked his flaccid dick in, and zipped up his pants. He turned to Dandy once more, "I'll find you something nice to wear don't worry about it, love. You want to wait here or...?"

Dandy watched JP get out, seeing him having to tuck himself into his pants. The alien hunter looked up, a bit embarrassed that he had caught a glimpse. Not that it really mattered, right? It's not like he hadn't seen it before.

"I wanna go in with ya," he moved over, placing his arms around JP's. He had a smile and nodded his head towards the store. "I need to use the bathroom anyway. Wash my face, ya know," he chuckled. It seemed like this man was in a really good mood this morning as he playfully tugged on JP's arm.

Dandy started to lead JP across the parking lot, seeing that there weren't very many cars in the lot. Probably only employees and early birds were in the shops this morning. "I wanna try on whatever you find for me, baby," he added. This man might not have a lot of clothes, but he had a love for them. Trying on new outfits, seeing how good he looked in every single one. Dandy was smiling at the thought.

And to think that JP would be the one to pick them out. He didn't think this man could disappoint.

JP had to admit something when Dandy said he wanted to wash his face. "Yea you gotta wash your face coz I was kissing you all over while you were asleep and I kinda licked your cheek too. Sorry if you feel gross. I couldn't help myself." He looked away with his eyes and tried not to smile. He sucked in his lips and bit them a little. "I wasn't thinking." He laughed.

When the two men entered the small clothing store the cashier looked up from their newspaper and stared at them for a while. "What happened? You two look like you were dragged out the back of a truck."

Dandy slowly turned his head, looking at JP as he spoke.

"There is a lot to unpack there, but we'll talk about that after I get changed..." he shook his head, letting out a little chuckle, and followed JP into the store. When the cashier spoke up, Dandy blinked.

Oh shit. His lie. What was it again? Dandy pointed his finger at JP.

"He started it."

"He started it? Aren't you two dating?" The cashier pointed at what they were reading that had some speculative article about the couple. "...is this some domestic abuse kind of thing..."

"No no!" JP held his hands out to stop the cashier's train of thought, "I would never hit him!"

"So Dandy beats you!?" The cashier put their paper down and leaned forward on the counter, their hands slamming on the glass countertop. "You're all bruised!"

Placed his hand over his mouth, trying to not laugh. The other day he was so worried about these assumptions but now, in his frame of mind, he couldn't even believe someone would this that to be true.

"No no! You got it all wrong!" Dandy was shaking his head. "I'm sorry, the opportunity was there," he walked up to the counter. "There were a couple guys that came after us this mornin'. They tried ta mug me and Sweet JP managed to stop them," he looked back at JP. Dandy's bluff sounded genuine, like as if he believed it himself.

"I shouldn't have teased. I'm just," he took a shaky breath. "Just really shook up by it still. Jokin' ta cope, right?" He looked at the cashier. "He's here ta get me some new clothes. The muggers did take my money," Dandy reached into his pocket, taking out an empty money clip. "JP took most of the hits so I could get away," he rubbed the back of his head. God this lie was pretty good, especially for Dandy. The tone he had did sound believable. Then, he pointed at the hickeys on JP's neck.

"Now I did do those. Those marks are mine," Dandy smiled and walked back over to JP. He held the racer's hand. Dandy glanced down at their hands and then back up into his partner's eyes. Then, looked back at the cashier.

JP nodded as Dandy explained sometimes he nodded bigger and sometimes just quick little ones. He kissed Dandy on the cheek, "I gotta take care of my boy. No matter what it takes." He started walking with Dandy further into the store, "Let's get you something nice to wear. I don't want you eatin' breakfast in bloody clothes."

It seemed that Dandy's pants had been spared by the bloody sneeze. So JP thought of simply getting Dandy a few shirts. He set his eyes on the dress shirts and went to them. They weren't the best but they would look good on Dandy's body for sure.

Dandy looked back at the cashiers as they were moving deeper into the store. He took a breath when they were out of listening range.

"I haven't bluffed so damn hard in my life," he rubbed his forehead and smiled. Then, he noticed where JP was leading him. There was a nice selection of dress shirts, some that looked like Dandy's now also bloodied pink one. He was thumbing through them, holding up some to his chest.

"Red or black?" He asked, a bright smile on his face. Before he even put them down he was already looking at more colors that were on display.

JP looked through the shirts and pulled out a white one that had faint stripes on it due to the way the fabric had been made. "I like this one." he pointed at the red shirt that Dandy held in his hand, "and that one too." He gave Dandy the white shirt. On closer inspection, it was actually a very light blue when compared to other white shirts.

He wondered if he could find a tie for Dandy here too. Something satin for a bit of shine around the alien hunter's neck. He wandered around, finding where the ties were hung, and began to sift through them.

"Oh?" He looked over the faint blue shirt, puckering up his lips and nodding. "Not bad, not bad," he approved and rested it on his arm along with the red dress shirt. He put the black one back as he continued to look. Then, he saw a section of suits.

He remembered back, JP mentioning how the suits made him think of his ex. Dandy bit his lip, his eyes drawn to the jackets and how sleek they looked. He did like suits and back on the ship he had a nice white one he wore for a special occasion.

Dandy saw the beautiful black tuxedos as he wandered around, moving towards more of the wedding part of the store. His eyes were locked onto the suits, his fingers feeling the fabric.

"That would be hard to get stains out of..." he mumbled to himself. The idea of wearing a suit during a date. The events after that date. Him looking his best for JP...

He was lost in thought, not even thinking about where JP might be in the store.

JP showed up again with two ties for Dandy. It wasn't had hard to find his boyfriend after all the racer was pretty tall and could look over the racks easily.

He held out a graphite and black colored one with white paisley patterning to Dandy first. Then he showed a black and red jacquard tie to match the red shirt. "I think these will go nicely with those shirts, stardust. What do you think?" He placed them around the hangers of the two shirts so Dandy could appreciate the combination.

Dandy jumped a bit when he heard JP. He quickly turned, seeing the ties, and nodded.

"Those'll work, soda pop!" He beamed as JP placed them on the hanger. Dandy was looking them over, seeing the intricate paisley design. "Didya find anything for yourself?" Dandy asked as he walked towards the fitness selection of the store. He was needing new tanks after this one was stained.

What he was looking for was folded up on a counter, the prices marked down. He was humming a bit, thumbing through the sizes, and looked over at JP. Dandy grabbed a couple, placing them on his arm along with the hangers and ties.

"I didn't look for myself. But huh..maybe I should. Something simple?" JP picked out a black tank for himself, he'd put this on after he bought it just so he wouldn't be wearing something with dried blood on it. "I think we're set right? We can look for more clothes later. For now, I just want to get us some breakfast." Not to mention getting to a bathroom. Now that he was walking around did he notice how badly he wanted to get to a urinal. He didn't think this clothing store would have a public bathroom but he knew the cafe needed to have one. "Let's hurry, please."

"Good point!" Dandy grinned and headed towards the checkout. He waited for JP at the checkout, rocking on his heels as he looked over the selection. Oh yeah, he was excited to try these out while he was with JP. The date nights they were going to have were going to be picture perfect.

Dandy set his clothes on the counter, tapping on the glass with his fingers in a rhythm. He was also really needing to use the bathroom, his foot tapping now as he waited for JP to pay the cashiers.

The worker rang out their shirts, telling the two the total. Dandy didn't flinch at the price. He really felt like JP had no limit on his bank account. With all the races he had won in the past, to Dandy, that man practically had a black card.

JP paid as usual. He never minded prices. To him, money had nearly lost its value. The numbers were so big and varied plus the things Frisbee would buy and show him have skewed what he saw as cheap or pricy. He never had to worry. 'As long as he drove and raced' Frisbee told him. 'You'll have a life of leisure and luxury.''

He signed his name and waved a quick goodbye at the worker. "Let's put what you don't need into the car before we get our food." he dug into the bag to pull out his black tank and quickly switched shirts as they walked. The form-fitting shirt clung to his body and showed nearly its contours even the ones of his chest's piercings. He tucked the shirt in around his pant's waistband. "Does it look good?"

Dandy was also quickly changing, switching the bags in his hands while he took off his dirty tank and swapped it for a clean one. When they made it to the car, Dandy got a good look at the tank. He saw how it clung, to him, matching how well his leather pants gripped his ass.

"It was like it was meant ta be, baby~" Dandy winked and opened the driver-side door. He hit the button on the side of the driver side seat, letting it rocket up and into place. Dandy tilted his head at JP. "That' what you do to my dick," he then chuckled and placed the bags into the front seat.

"A'right! Ta food!" Dandy cheered and grabbed JP's bicep, nearly running to the cafe. "That and I really gotta take a leak!" He laughed and looked back at JP. This man was grinning, having a great morning with the new love of his life. Once they made it to the cafe's front doors, Dandy quickly swung it open.

"Where's your bathroom?" Dandy pointed at the woman behind the counter. He was looking back and forth, trying to see a sign. Before she could even say hello, Dandy pointed in the direction of the bathroom. "We'll order after we're done!" He exclaimed, nearly sprinting towards the door.

Dandy opened it, seeing it was a single sink and toilet bathroom.

"Oh," he looked to JP. "Uh, you go first?"

"Good. I like to see it go up." JP laughed and tossed his bloody shirt into the car. He ran with Dandy to the cafe, this time he didn't end up panting and nearly overheating from the heat that got trapped under his whole leather get up.

"It does sound like you really need to go." He could see how Dandy looked around looking for a sign. The man was about to burst for sure. He even ran to the door! The racer followed and saw the same thing Dandy did. A one toilet bathroom. "Me go first? Why? We're both guys. We can piss in there at the same time. Duh." JP pulled Dandy inside and locked the door.

Dandy looked at JP and then looked at the toilet.

"Yeah I don't think so," he said as he moved to the door and pressed his backside against it. "You go. I'll wait over here," he rested his hands in his pockets. "And please make it fast, dude. I really, really gotta take a piss," Dandy was tapping his foot, practically bouncing in his spot.

"Fine whatever. You do you. It's not like our dicks didn't already touch." JP walked toward the toilet, unzipping his pants. He whipped out just a bit as he had done the previous days and started. Immediately he screamed as he pretty much missed the toilet and some of it dribbled down the piercing and onto one of his pant's legs. "OH NO," He shuffled closer and pulled out the rest of his flaccid length. He was standing nearly on top of the toilet. "Shit..."

Dandy was just whistling and looking at the ceiling when he heard JP shout out. He whipped his head around, seeing JP nearly standing on the toilet.

"What the hell? Do ya need me ta hold your dick for ya or somethin'?" Dandy didn't move from his spot. He looked at JP and then looked at the toilet, then back at JP. "You gonna be okay over there buddy? I don't do bathroom stuff," he frowned, turning his head away, trying to give JP privacy again.

"N-no! I just had a little problem! It's fine!" Honestly, JP was embarrassed. He couldn't believe he had forgotten how his piercing affected this part of his everyday life. It was a sacrifice he had to live with. "I'm fine I promise." He looked over his shoulder to look at Dandy and then refocused on the task at hand. He didn't want to rush it. He nearly never did. He was taking his sweet time.

Dandy was tapping his fingers on the door, whistling and glancing back at JP. Was he done? Nope? Okay, back to whistling.

He didn't want to focus on what was going on, he wanted to just look around the room and try to take in what they had on the wall. Oh, what was that a picture of, Dandy asked himself as he looks over on the wall. Ah, a waterfall.

"Typical..." Dandy glared and looked back over his shoulder. JP was still going. "I don't mean ta pressure you but, like, could you piss a lil faster?" He frowned as he looked back at the wall in front of him.

JP looked back at Dandy, "Hey don't rush me. I was holding this back for a real long time. I watched you work allll day and then we left.." Wait..why hadn't he gone last night at the burger place? Oh, he remembered. The perverted fan girl. He had been afraid she'd pop in there somehow. "Relax, Dandy. I'll be done when I'm done."

He decided to make some small talk. "I learned how to hold it for a long time for races you know? They go on for hours and it's not like I can just hop out of the Trans Am and take a leak. I gotta keep it in." He closed his eyes and sighed, "Then there are those 24-hour endurance races...I usually take some empty bottles in the cockpit with me. It's brutal."

Dandy rested his head on the door, slightly tapping it on there while JP was talking about his endurance tests. God. God, please stop, Dandy thought as he closed his eyes. He didn't mind the small talk, but it was about something that he really didn't want to hear about at this moment.

"Could we talk about, I dunno, somethin' not piss-related while I'm sufferin'?" Dandy looked over at JP, a kicked puppy look on his face. He caught of glimpse of JP's stream and then went back to placing his forehead against the door. No. No, he wasn't going to go over there. He refused to be next to JP during this.

"Please hurry, please hurry..." Dandy was practically singing that to himself as he waited. "Please hurry I gotta piss..."

"WHOO what a relief." JP was finally done, he made sure to shake off any drops and dried off his pant's leg while he was at it with some paper. He stepped away from the toilet, pressing the level down to flush "Alright your turn. I gotta get a little cleaner." Once by the sink, he used a bit of soapy water to clean up his pant leg once more but also to clean off the piercing at the tip. He washed his face and rinsed his mouth out too. "So you wanted coffee and doughnuts?"

Dandy was running over to the toilet when JP announced he was done. Without hesitation, he whipped it out and started to go. He placed his hand on the wall, trying to focus.

While JP worked on cleaning himself up, Dandy heard the racer mention breakfast. Finished up, zipping up and walked over to the sink.

"Yeah coffee sounds good," Dandy said cooly. After washing his hands, Dandy grabbed a paper towel and worked on washing his face. Making sure any bit of blood from the night before was wiped clean off. He looked at his pompadour, using his fingers to try to make sure the style was still holding up.

JP had shut off the water while he poked around at his hair with his hands, trying to fix it up. He would hear the sheer volume of the stream as it hit the toilet's water to his left. It was more than whatever the water faucet was putting out. At least it sounded like it. His eyebrows raised and he coughed. "Why is it so aggressive over there!?" He looked at Dandy and how he stood. The alien hunter was braced.

He squinted at Dandy when he arrived by his side while he was still fixing up his looks. "You did all that fuss and you're already done!?" He took a step to the right, leaning back with a look of incredulousness.

"Uh, yeah?" Dandy looked over at JP. "I don't mess around. I just get out and go," he shrugged and headed towards the door. He opened it for JP, letting the racer walk out before him. "So yeah I guess the next time we gotta share a bathroom," Dandy thumbed at himself. "I will go first because by the time you get done pissin'--!" He stopped, seeing a woman with her girlfriend at the counter, staring at the two.

"I uh," Dandy went quiet. He stayed behind JP. "I'm so sorry," he whispered and looked down at the floor.

"Maybe you should take it slow," JP said despite him being the one who was all about speed. He looked up from adjusting the rings on his fingers and frowned that they were being stared at by the two women, "What!? Don't stare! We're not staring at you!" his face blushed and he moved around the lady-couple to get in line.

"Tell me later. If you remember." He crossed his arms and rubbed his bicep. "I'm thinking of getting a matcha soy frappe and a croissant sandwich like that lady over there." He pointed with his pinky finger.

"It's not worth remembering, it was going to be a joke," Dandy mumbled as he stood beside JP. He looked over at what JP wanted to order. "I want a café au lait," he was looking at the food options. "And, I dunno, the same sandwich you're gettin'? That does look good," Dandy added. Once the couple was out of the way, Dandy walked up with JP.

He was looking around the cafe, noticing that everyone seemed to be pretty quiet. No one was looking at them, no one even batted an eye that Sweet JP and Space Dandy was in their presence.

It wasn't that people weren't looking. The people were writing, texting, whispering. They took little pictures and videos of how the two men stood by each other. Some people zoomed in on their hands, others to their faces.

The line wasn't all that long but the two ladies in front of them had taken a while with their order. Pssh. JP already knew what they wanted, this would be quick. He stepped up to the counter, hand on his hip. "Can I order two croissant sandwiches? One Café au lait and a matcha soy frappe." Make the two drinks medium. The large seemed too big and the small too small.

Some of the people in the cafe were murmuring that the racer had ordered. Was that his favorite order? Which drink was his?

One older lady in the background gasped and expressed her dismay, "Oh by the heavens...he's gay!" Her personal fantasy would never be fulfilled like this.

It was time to pay and just like he had done many times, he fist-bumped the keypad's tap-to-touch area and got ready to sign.

Declined.

JP frowned and tried again.

Declined.

He smiled and laughed nervously, "Whoops, I guess when I fought those guys my chip got messed up." He looked back at Dandy. What had happened? This never happened. It...what was wrong!?

Dandy was in his own little world until he heard the beeps of the scanner declining JP's ring. He heard that nervous laugh and tilted his head.

"I guess so..." Dandy squinted. He looked back at the cashiers. He knew all too well what it meant when there was a decline. "Sorry, baby, looks like we're gonna have ta get that ring looked at," he said as he patted JP's back. Dandy looked to the cashier. "Now do we go to a jeweler or a bank, am I right?" He gave a fake hardy laugh and then dragged JP out of the cafe.

Once they were a good distance away from the building, Dandy looked at JP.

"You're broke now, aren't cha?" He raised eyebrows, his hands in his pockets. With the way JP was throwing around money, it was only a matter of time. Dandy rubbed his forehead and started heading towards the car. "Look," he glanced back at JP, reaching out for his hand. "If there's anything I know it's how ta be dirt poor. We'll make it through this," he said with a cute smile.

"Haha, yeah..." JP looked at his ring and turned around. He let himself be pulled out by the arm. The cafe began to grow louder when they realized what had happened. Sweet JP's card had been declined. He couldn't believe it. Declined? He hadn't seen that word...in...ages. He walked with Dandy but his mind was just. Out of there.

"I can't be broke! There's no way! That machine didn't work!" He looked back at the cafe and then at Dandy. He was beyond embarrassed. To think the celebrity racer couldn't afford breakfast? In front of those people! Worst of all, it happened in front of Dandy. There was a glistening in his eyes and he blinked a few times. He looked away and put on a rather serious expression and crossed his arms. "Take me back to the garage. I'm not hungry anymore..."

Dandy saw that look in his eyes, the little glisten of a tear. He tilted his head with a pout as JP looked away.

"A'right, a'right," Dandy sighed and moved his arm around JP's waist. He lead the racer back to the car, opening the passenger door for his partner, and kissed his cheek. "I'll be okay," he smiled cutely and then kissed JP's forehead. "I promise."

He then moved to his side of the car and started it up. Without a problem, they pulled out of the parking lot and started heading towards the junkyard. There was silence, awkward silence, as Dandy drove into the next town.

"You know, I might have a couple woolongs in my jacket pocket back at the garage," Dandy reassured JP. "If you want, we can drive to a gas station and get some sorta coffee from a cooler there." Gas station. When was the last time they had filled up this rental? He thought for a moment and then felt the car starting to slow. Dandy looked down, seeing the needle on red.

"Well, shit!" Dandy shouted as the car rolled to a stop in the middle of the road. He looked behind them and then in front. He hopped out of the car. "Could ya sit in the driver's seat for me, honey? I gotta push this thing over to the shoulder," he sighed.

The racer sat down and looked up at Dandy. "Yea..." JP kept his bitter expression the whole drive. He was upset. He was angry. Disappointed. So many things at once. For multiple reasons. Honestly, it felt almost overwhelming but he tried to keep it together. He was Sweet JP and Sweet JP always kept his cool even under pressure. He...he was always smooth and suave. He took in a deep breath and sank in his seat a little.

Then things took a turn for the worse. The car was out of gas. He sat up and looked around and into the mirrors. "No. you stay in here. I'll push it." He unbuckled his belt and got out. He slammed the door. The car rocked a little from it. He went behind the car and placed his hands on it. Finally, he had something to funnel his emotions. He pushed on the car, his serious expression breaking into one of anger.

"Well, uh," he stepped back into his seat and set the car into neutral. The slam of JP's door made it Dandy's turn to sink into his seat. Oh boy. This man was always bad at keeping an eye on the fuel gauge no matter what he drove and now his boyfriend was behind the car and pushing it.

Dandy looked into the rearview mirror, seeing how pissed JP looked while pushing the rental. He moved the mirror away, his stomach turning a bit. And what made it even more frightening was how past the car was going thanks to JP's pushing. Dandy was able to turn the car, letting it move onto the shoulder of the long two-lane road. He put this hand out, signaling JP to stop pushing. Putting the car into park, Dandy stepped out and walked back to JP.

"You gonna be alright, baby?" He asked, placing his hand on the back of the car. Dandy looked ahead, his pompadour casting a shadow over his eyes as he tried to think of what they should do now. He looked back to JP. "I guess we gotta start walkin' back," Dandy offered the racer his hand, a little sympathetic smile on his face. "Come on."

When Dandy told him to stop pushing he did. JP made two fists and hit the top of the trunk. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn't things just go right!? He looked down at the yellow paint job like he wanted to bore holes into it with his glare alone. It looked blurry and distorted. He grit his teeth and after another blink watched a watered-down red drop fall onto the car's trunk lid. He wiped it off the surface of the car and looked up at Dandy. "There's no use staying here as it is." He tried to smile but couldn't pull off a convincing one. Not with his teary eyes.

He took out the bag that had the stuff they had bought and he stuffed their bloody clothes inside. Since they were leaving the car behind, there was no use keeping anything inside it. He didn't want to hold hands at the moment but he would walk beside Dandy even if he was just a little behind.

Dandy didn't even have a chance to speak when JP shrugged of his offered hand. He saw those tears in his eyes, distracting him from something else that was dripping. The alien hunter placed his hands in his pockets, watching JP grab the bag of clothes and then head off away from the car.

"I remember that followin' the river will help us get a lil closer to town," Dandy explained. He was leading JP, crossing the road, and walked over to the riverside. Once in a while, Dandy would glance over to his left to see JP following behind him. His eyes looking down at the bag and then back up at his teary-eyed partner.

Dandy gave JP his space, not trying to force a conversation or to force him to stay right by his side. He made sure to stay ahead, his mind trying to remember where to go after the river.

JP had taken his dirty black shirt out of the bag of clothes to blow his nose from time to time. "Yea and how many miles is that?" He scoffed and bent over for a moment to pick up a rock and throw it. "We'll get there when it's sundown again." He sniffed and brought the black shirt back up to his bloody nose. All that sniffing and blowing and snorting...he saw the red all over that shirt. He kept walking in his relative silence, it was just their footsteps, the sound of the river, and his own breathing. He felt like he had to swallow a lot. Salty...irony...it made his stomach turn. He didn't know how long he had been trying to wipe his nose clean but the black shirt was full of red.

He felt a strange sensation like floating. He nearly tripped over his own feet and felt like the ground below his feet was being pulled out from under his body. He felt his eyes not want to focus all that well and like it was going dark around the edges. He stopped walking to catch his balance only to fall onto his knees, thankfully he wore kneepads which absorbed the impact, and he fell forward onto the pavement.

"I don't know how many miles," Dandy huffed, rolling his eyes. "And yeah, it probably will be sundown by the time we get there. So what? Got any other grand ideas?" He frowned. Dandy was hearing a lot of blowing and sniffing behind him. Ah, JP wanted to walk a bit behind him to cry. Not like he hadn't seen Dandy cry before. Why try to hide it by this point?

Then, he heard silence and then a thud. Dandy turned around, thinking that JP had just sat down and given up.

"What are you doin', JP--!! JP!" He saw JP face down on the pavement, the bag of clothes dropped to the side and the bloody shirt still in his hand. "Oh god! Damn it! I knew this was going to happen!" Dandy whined, practically skidding onto his knees over to JP. He looked around, not seeing a car in sight.

Where was all this bad luck coming from? Dandy lifted JP into his arms.

Blood. There was blood pouring out of JP's nose. Dandy couldn't put the two together. Why was his nose bleeding right now? They didn't do anything to cause this! He sure the hell didn't do anything to cause this!

"Come on, baby! Wake up!" He shook JP, trying to see if he could make the racer come to. Dandy placed his head on JP's chest, hearing his heart pounding and feeling the chest rising and falling. He got to his feet, getting an idea of how to solve this situation.

Dandy undid his belt for a moment, slid the handle of the bag onto the black band, and then placed it back through his belt buckle. Now that took care of the clothing bag situation. Next was the bloody mess on JP's face. Dandy reached into the bag, finding his white tank, and placed it under JP's nose. He did his best job to clean it off, even using his spit a bit to try to clean off the blood.

"Please... please wake up, James..." Dandy pleaded. "I can't do this on my own."

Passed out, the racer was heavy and unwieldy to move around. He was still breathing. About a minute after he passed out he came to and scrambled to get back up. He flipped over from being on his back to getting on his hands and knees. The quick movement made him feel it again and his head drooped back down, his arms giving up under his weight. He felt faint again but he managed to say Dandy's name.

Dandy blinked, excited for a moment, and then saw JP showing signs of passing out. Faintly, he heard his name.

"Don't waste your energy," Dandy shifted, carefully lifting JP onto his back. He had carried Scarlet in the past and JP was only a little heavier than her in Dandy's mind. The racer's legs we placed around Dandy's waist, his hands under JP's backside.

Now they were moving, heading along the river and towards town.

"Are ya still with me, JP baby?" Dandy asked, wanting to keep his partner as aware as he could. "Can ya see me? Is it all black? Work with me, soda pop." Maybe Dandy underestimated himself. Maybe he could do this on his own.

JP made a soft whining sound. He didn't feel all that great. His heart was pounding but it wasn't going fast... He held onto Dandy tightly with his hands. That dirty white tank pressed between his face and Dandy's neck. He wasn't very angry anymore. That blackout had changed it to fear but now that his chest was pressed to Dandy's warm back he didn't have to fear what his body was doing. He felt like Dandy would take care of him. "I-i can't tell," he thought it looked black, grey, and white all at once. He felt tired. "Can i...sleep..."

"I need ya to try ta stay with me," Dandy spoke. Then, he started to pick up his speed to a jog. So JP was conscious still. That was a relief. He needed the racer to continue to cling to his back.

In the distance, he saw the outskirt of the town.

"Finally," Dandy panted. Instead of slowing down, he picked up his speed. He was breathing through his mouth, sounds of labored breathing escaped him. At one point, he nearly tripped over his own feet. No, no I got this don't slow down, Space Dandy, he thought. James is counting on you.

He found himself finally in town, his panting sounding more aggressive and frustrated. Sweat was pouring down his face and his legs were feeling weak.

Cars drove by him but by this point: he already felt betrayed by no one showing up to help.

"Where is that, ah that damn junkyard??" Dandy whined, JP's body heat getting to him. He was gasping for air as he stood by a four-way stop. "Why, ah is it so, ah far away?"

JP buried his face more into Dandy's neck and the shirt. He never expected this to happen. All of this. But...he felt each step that Dandy took and heard the man's labored breathing. The racer moved his head and kissed Dandy's jawline. He tasted the salt in that sweat. His voice sounded tired and he spoke slowly, "Mmmm you uh- smell so good...taste so...good..."

A car noticed the pair and slowed down beside Dandy. The window rolled down. A Dorothinian woman was driving, when it came to earth dogs her face was similar to a mini schnauzer's. Her fur was silky and white with taupe markings. Some of it was tied up with a pink bow. "Do you need a ride handsome? Looks like you're in a pinch."

Dandy felt JP kiss his face and compliment him. He glanced over at him from the corner of his eye. What really caught his attention was the dog-faced woman that greeted him. He stopped, panting.

"Ah, yes, please," he nodded and showed JP. "My, ah my boyfriend collapsed," Dandy walked up to the car. "His friend is, ah at the junkyard, ugh down south from here," he shifted JP, lowering the racer to his feet. He kept JP's weight on his back, making sure he was supported.

Dandy reached for the backseat door, feeling his body shaking a bit.

"Thank you," he breathed as he looked to JP. "We both thank you."

The woman waited for the boys to be seated before she began to drive, she looked back at JP in some worry and then at Dandy. "You're that celebrity couple aren't you. Very cute. I never knew Sweet JP would fall for a man." She took a turn to head south. "Speaking of falls, do you know why he collapsed? He looks paler than I remember. I thought he was very hardy? I know it takes a lot to drive how he does."

Dandy rested JP along the backseat, being careful of his head. Then he took the front passenger seat, shifting the bag of clothes that hung from his belt.

"Yeah," he simply replied when she asked about being the couple on the news. Dandy glanced back at JP while the women asked more questions.

"He has a bleeding problem," Dandy explained as he took the bloody shirt off from around his neck. He placed it on JP, just in case he woke back up. "It's weird. I don't really..." Dandy started to think. "I don't really know why he has them. It's a daily thing," he rested his back against the seat. The comment about JP's job made Dandy smile a bit. "It really does. He's pretty damn amazing."

He looked out the window, seeing familiar buildings passing them. Dandy pointed towards a turnoff.

"You can drop us off here," he moved his hand back to JP, grabbing his knee. "JP, baby. JP we're here."

"A bleeding problem...I've seen it during races. The poor guy." She looked ahead and took the turns when Dandy said so. "Take care of him, sir. I like watching him when he shows up on tv." The corners of her mouth turned up and her perky ears lowered a little. "Besides, I have a daughter that really looks up to him and wants to be a racer too." She stopped the car after the turn off and turned to look back at the two men.

JP crawled across the backseat and reached up for Dandy's arm to grab it and pull himself up to his feet. He was feeling better than before but wasn't at his 100% yet. "Thanks for the ride. I'd love to meet your daughter someday. I bet it'll make her very happy."

Dandy quietly nodded as he exited the car. When JP got to his feet and spoke up, there was a feeling of relief that swept over Dandy. Once the lady pulled away, Dandy turned to JP. He had a furrowed brow and a perfect frown to match.

He moved in, embracing the racer.

Dandy was silent, holding him close.

"Don't..." He said quietly. "Don't ever. Don't ever drop on me like that again," he was shaking a bit from fatigue. Dandy pulled back, his heart pounding as he looked back at JP. He couldn't get himself to smile. Even if he wanted to, his feeling wouldn't allow it. "I don't know what the hell happened back there," he pointed off into the distance. "But I'm gonna make sure that never," he swung his finger to point at JP's face. "Ever happens again. Once we're in space, we gotta get you looked at."

JP's smile faded when he saw that expression on Dandy. His heart sped up when the alien hunter came to hug him. He heard what he felt was a stern voice that was reprimanding him. He winced at the various times Dandy's voice said 'don't'. Each one felt like a jab. He turned his head ever so slightly at the 'again' and even more, so that emphasized 'ever.' He watched that hand came towards his face.

JP flinched and brought his hands up as if to protect himself. He closed his eyes tightly and seemed to wait.

Dandy noticed that flinch, his eyes going wide. He looked at his finger and then at JP's reaction. The racer had thrown his hands up to protect himself.

"Baby..." Dandy felt his heart sink and then moved to hug JP again. Right. Right, this was why Dandy wasn't rough with JP. That man had been through some shit. With Johnny and Meow, Dandy could rough house and dropkick those two.

But with JP.

Dandy clung to him.

"Holy shit I am so sorry," he apologized. Dandy rubbed his face against JP's neck. "I am so, so sorry."

With JP, Dandy was careful. He had never treated a man so cautiously.

JP had brought his hands to touch his own face. He didn't know what it was that Dandy had called him out for. "I won't do it again. I promise. I'm sorry- I swear!" Was it because of his card? Because he didn't want to talk or hold hands? Because he had gotten angry? Was it his crying? Was it because he passed out? He tried pushing any tears down and away in case that was what had gotten Dandy upset. He felt the hug and didn't know what to feel. Afraid? Safer? "I won't do it..."

"Okay good," Dandy let out a sigh. "I don't want you gettin' hurt. The next time I say 'I got this' or somethin', let me do it, okay?" He moved his arm around JP's back, leading him to the garage. "This all started after you pushed that car," he commented and looked down at the ground. "Until we get you checked out, I want you to take it easy."

He looked over at JP.

"You are one in a bajillion, baby," Dandy said softly. He tilted his head at JP, that sweet smile coming back. "Trust me. I've seen it all," he felt an ache as he spoke. "I have been all over the universe and I never met someone as sweet as you."

He took a breath.

"I don't want the greatest man in existence to get hurt on my watch."

It was safer. JP smiled a little and shook his head. God those words. The soft tone. "Dandy. You're so sappy." He finally hugged Dandy back and hung from him a little. "I'm sorry about breakfast. I want to make it up to you. You'll have to work on an empty stomach..." He let go of his boyfriend and let himself get led to the garage.

Space 🌟 Himbos

25 Strip Mall

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