Sage paused outside the closed door staring at his hand on the knob. From the other side he could hear the soft snoring, proof that his friend was still asleep. It was his turn to wake him again, but everytime he found it harder to keep his composure. This was Rowen, after all. He took a few reasuring breaths before turning the handle and entering.

And there he was. Sage watched his slowly rising chest in the pale light that filtered through the closed blinds. He held his breath, listening to the rhythm of Rowen's. He resumed breathing and advanced cautiously toward the bed with all the stealth and caution of a ninja. He crept close enough to pull the covers back from his entire slumbering body. Sage started, then all of his composure fell, as he feared it would.

"Precious little...angel!"
He colapsed to the floor, twitching uncontrolably and laughing hysterically.

Rowen cracked open his eyes. He tried to sit up, but was entangled from head to toe in his twisted clothes. His hair stood straight up as he frantically tried to free his limbs. He wound up getting an arm back into the wrong sleeve, but got no further as he slid out of the bed and landed with a loud 'thud' on his butt-and on Sage.

"Well, that stopped your laughing...What's so funny, anyways?"

Sage was breathless from the impact on his stomach, but his face was still beet red and sported a huge goofy grin.

"Nothing. I just thought of how adorable you are in your sleep. You know, when you're drooling, and snoring, and mumbling, and all twisted like a bendy toy..."

His voice died out as he saw Rowen looking at him, not at all amused.

"Like you sleep like a porcelin doll..." He mumbled under his breath as he got up.

Sage sighed and smiled, interlocking his fingers behind his head.

"We're all getting ready to go. We're just waiting on you."

Rowen jumped and spun around facing Sage.

"That's today!? I have to go take a shower first!" Sage shrugged.

"Okay, go ahead. We'll wait a little longer..." Sage drew lazy circles on the floor with his index finger while sneaking meek glances up at Rowen. "Like, I don't know, thirty minutes?"

Rowen snorted as he gathered his sheet about him like his dignity and strode for the door.

"Noooo, Sage. We have to leave as soon as possible. I'll take this one alone."

Sage nodded, a little disappointed, but understanding.

"And 'cause of your little fit there, any number of future ones..."

Sage jumped up with a pitiful pout on his face.

"I'm sorry! Don't say that! Please, I'm so-ho-rryyyy..."

His pleas fell on deaf ears as Rowen shut the bathroom door behind him. One of Sage's favorite pastimes was showering with Rowen in the mornings, coming up with new ways to make him bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Sage fell on his rear, crossed his arms and frowned at himself. He would have to find a way to make Rowen forgive him, and fast. Who knew what other fun he would be excluded from. But he picked himself up and walked downstairs, confidant he could manage something at the picnic.

He chuckled. For the past week everyone had been reminding Rowen that the trip to the park was today, and every day, Rowen forgot. But this was still something they were all looking forward to. A nice relaxing afternoon in the largest park around.

"Rowen! No food in the car!"

"But I'm hungry, Cye!"

"I don't care if you're wasting into dust! I'm the one who has to vacuum all the crumbs up!"

"Hey, just because I eat as much as Kento, doesn't mean I eat as sloppily..."

"Buttface! Leave me out of it!"

Rowen downed the remaining half of the roll, what he considered three good bites, in one mouthful, glaring balefully at Cye in the rearview mirror.

"Don't glare like that, love, you look like a puffer fish."

Rowen simply swallowed and stuck his tongue out at Cye. Ryo shook his head as he chuckled to himself.

"At least he swallowed first."

Sage smiled.

'He always does...'

Cye drove, Ryo sat in the passenger seat giving (horrible) directions, while Rowen, in the middle in the back, screamed at Kento to move over for the umpteenth time in five minutes. Sage smiled to himself, absently noting that Cye looked about ready to slam on the breaks and knock their skulls together.

After slipping into a meditative state, Sage's mind drifted to sweeter things. He pictured Rowen's reaction to his carefully orchestrated surprise.

'Oh, Sage! How sweet of you!'

'You really like it?'

'Do I!? Oh Sagey, I'm so sorry I was so mean before...Here, let me make it up to you...'

'Rowen! I didn't know you could do that!'

Rowen looked at the stupid grin on Sage's face.

'Yeah, that's it baby...A little to the left-oh, god yes! Mhmmmnn...OW!'

"I said, WAKE...THE HELL...UP!!"

"God, and I get heat for not waking up! We're here!"

Rowen sighed in exasperation as Sage rubbed his nose and climbed out of the car. Ryo was already scoping out a spot and setting up, and Cye was already beating Kento away from the basket of carefully crafted goodies. Sage walked over to the nice shady spot on the hill and gracefully sat down next to the trunk.

"Hey Ro, you wanna play some football?"

Sage thought, and decided it was safe to left Rowen leave for a while. After the stunt in the car, Sage was content to let him wait for his gift.

'Two can play this game...'

This also gave Sage time to get the surprise out of the trunk. But later. Right now Sage had time to finish his pleasant proceedings after the unveiling.

"God, he's got that stupid look on his face again...I'm coming Kento. You coming Ryo?"

"Nah, I'll stay here."

Cye blushed as Ryo slid closer to him and put an arm around his waist.

"Suit yourself."

"Yeah, you may act like you wanna stay an' cuddle, but we all know you're just afraid to get whooped by me."

"Gosh. You are so right Kento. My secret is revealed. How will I ever look at myself in the mirror again."

Kento grumbled and decided Ryo was picking up too many sarcastic traits from Sage and Rowen. The two left for a low plain nearby, partly obscured from view by trees.

"Haha! Ryo! Please!"

"You know you like it..."

Sage was rudely snapped from his pleasant dreams by Cye squealing from Ryo's tickling fingers. He groaned, half in contempt and half in jealousy, and decided to go for a walk. Sage could never do that to Rowen. He always turned it into a personal attack, and in the end, one of them wound up hurt, usually Sage, and the other wound up mad, always Rowen. He just couldn't seem to get the hang of actually enjoying being tickled. Sage breathed in the deep air, sighed forlornly, and started walking towards the park.

"C'mon, Kento, I didn't hit you that hard."

"H-hard? You freakin' body slammed me! I got shoe prints on my chest!"

Rowen crossed his arms and mumbled derogatory statements under his breath.

"Hey, you look like you could use some more players."

Rowen and Kento turned to see two older men walking towards them. One was shorter, pale, with tan hair that hung to his shoulders. The other was very tall. Rowen guessed he was Latin, judging by his complexion, brown eyes, and silky black hair held loosely at the back of his neck by a hair band.

"Hi." The short one spoke again, extending his hand to help Kento up and shake his hand. "My name's Louis. This is my friend Marshall."

The taller man shook Kento's hand then took Rowen's.

"Wanna play a little two on two?"

"Whatta ya say, Ro? Should we show these guys how to play?"

Rowen considered for a moment, still shaking hands with Marshall.

"Yeah. Let's do it."

Marshall grinned, showing off long pearly teeth.

"Good. And perhaps you shall learn a thing or two as well."

Rowen giggled nervously, trying to extract his hand from Marshall's grip. Louis did it for him, cutting between them holding the ball, with Kento close behind.

Sage seethed.

'That JERK! How DARE he glomp all over my Rowen like that! Why I oughta-'

Sage sucked in a sharp breath and tightened his already balled fist on the branch he was gripping, bark falling off around his fingers.

'He's looking at his butt! He's burning a hole right through Rowen's jeans! I KNEW he shouldn't have worn such tight jeans. And he's all muddy, and sweaty, and his hairs all sticking up, and his face is flushed...Gods he's sexy...'

Sage shook his head to get his derailed thoughts back on track.

'The point is, that guy's looking where he shouldn't!'

He thought about going down there to show that guy who really had the goods, but another thought struck him.

'Doesn't Rowen notice? He's standing so close to him, now he's smiling at him...how can he NOT NOTICE...'

"Owwy owwy owwy!!!"

"Kento man, I'm seriously embarrassed to know you right now..."

"Dude, he shouldered me right where you kicked me! It's still tender!"

"I'm sorry," Louis pulled Kento up and supported him as he walked to a tree. "I guess I ruined all the fun."

"Nonsense. You just sit with him until he feels better. Me'n Rowen can keep playing for a while."

'Gee. Thanks for nominating me, ballknob.'

"Actually, I'm feeling a little tired. Why don't we call it a day?"

"Are you afraid you'll lose?"

Marshall spun the ball on his finger and smiled tauntingly at Rowen.

"C'mon. Let's just go 'till the next person scores, okay?"

Rowen sighed and looked over his shoulder at where his friends were, hidden behind trees.

'I'm hungry, tired, sore...I just wanna snuggle with Sage.'

"Fine..."

Marshall either didn't notice the lack of enthusiasm or chose to ignore it as he tossed the ball to Rowen and went further down field.

"I'll stay back here...give you more of a chance."

'This'll be quick...'

'Now it's just the two of them! I swear to God if that guy tackles Rowen and isn't up in one second flat, I'll carve him to itty bitty pieces!'

"Sage? Sage! Come here, would ya?"

Sage jumped about a foot, then spun around to shush Ryo.

"Dammit! Can't you see I'm busy!?"

Ryo looked over his shoulder and smiled.

"Busy what? Watching that guy grope Ro?"

Sage whirled on his heel, eyes darting back and forth across the field, finally landing on where the man was walking slowly away from Rowen, who was holding the ball.

Sage slowly looked at Ryo from the corner of his eye.

"Get..."

Ryo didn't wait for him to finish, running back up the hill laughing and blabbing to Cye.

Sage shook his head and resumed his scouting.

Rowen was running and dodging like a real pro. He was untouchable. The only way he'd be brought down was if he was suddenly distracted. It wouldn't be easy to distract him, but Ryo calling Sage from somewhere nearby was adequate.

"Oooff!"

Rowen landed heavily with a crunch, while Marshall grinned happily from on top of him.

'Jerkoff...'

Then, an idea snuck its way into his scheming, crafty, dirty little head.

'So...Sage is hoping for a show. I won't disappoint him, little peeper!'

Meanwhile, Marshall was getting up, looking quite pleased, having misread Rowen's sudden bout of giggles and wide smile.

"Shall we continue?"

"Only if you promise not to do that again. You're so big and strong, much moreso than me."

'Hope that was loud enough...'

Rowen stuck his hip out to his side and smiled sheepishly with a little pout.

Marshall smiled, once again showing off long pearly teeth.

"Sure thing, doll."

Sage then spiraled into a self-pitying tunnel with no apparent means of escape. He wanted Rowen to be happy. He wanted Rowen to be with him. He wanted Rowen to be happy with him. But his overwhelming sense of undying love overrode his sadness.

'Well, I'm not giving him up without a fight!'

Sage took a pose, looking like Bruce Lee after he tasted his own blood. He then promptly fell over as he heard Cye and Ryo behind him laughing.

"Go Goku! Ka mei ha mei hahahahahahaaaa!!!"

Sage growled, tossed his hair devilishly (which immediately fell back over his eye) and started sneaking around the tree line to get a better view of Rowen and the man he must kill.

"Let's go, angel. You still have forty yards to get to the goal, and you have to get past me."

'Thanks for the news flash, princess!'

Rowen plastered on a smile for the sake of the audience he knew was slinking around somewhere and made a break for the goal. He was running straight for Marshall. Knowing he would expect Rowen to dodge, he did exactly the opposite and stayed true to course. Marshall must have been one of those people who expected Rowen to expect him to expect he would change direction. (Confused?) So, the end result was a bone crunching meeting between Marshall's broad chest and Rowen's shoulder and head.

Rowen bounced off, but Marshall wrapped his arms around him and the both landed in a heap with a loud groan. Rowen was nose to nose with who he felt was a human obstacle to his enjoying the day.

"Nice play, sweetie. Wanna try again?"

'Ass monkey...'

"I think I broke my, um, something...So get off me."

Marshall smiled, nodded, and got up, pulling Rowen up as well. Rowen dusted off his pants, wincing when he strained his left shoulder. Marshall was a beefcake, he had to give him that much. But Rowen preferred his svelte Sage much more. Besides the fact that looking at Sage and smiling didn't require a forklift.

Sage's top blew when he saw Marshall laying on top of Rowen, in no hurry to get off.

'And Rowen in no hurry to get him off...'

Sage's eyes turned as green as his armor as he stomped down the hill towards his love and his enemy. They didn't notice him coming, being too involved with each other.

"I had no idea you were so strong." 'smelling.' "How did you ever come to be so big?" 'headed.' "I don't think I've ever been so impressed." 'at how moronic someone can be.'

Marshall smiled a winning smile and put his massive arm around Rowen's shoulders and squeezed him close.

"Well, hard work, dedication, and the pleased comments from sweet little things like yourself."

'Sweet little thing...if only you knew...if only I could *personally* show you. Now, I'm feeling nauseous. Where is Sage...'

Sage walked closer, still unnoticed. Walk is bad word...Sage stomped over so hard there were 'Dr.Martin' labels in the grass where he had been. He was only a few yards away, and could clearly hear the dialogue between the damned and damned good looking. (How can Sage stay mad at such a sexy blue haired thing!?)

"Well, I guess it all paid off in the end." 'Peon.'

"Yeah, I guess so..."

Marshall whispered as his hand slid lower, cupping one of Rowen's buttocks. Rowen's eyes grew three times in size. Marshall was feeling him up and Sage coming over. Sage looked more pissed than the time Rowen slipped purple food coloring in Sage's shampoo. Or the time Rowen switched the labels on Sage's toothpaste with the label on the tube of petroleum jelly. Or the time he helped Kento hang all of Sage's tighty whities (and other assorted colors) from the flag pole in front of the police station. (At least his name wasn't on them.) Even madder than the time when Sage woke up finding himself duct taped to the couch after an innocent nap. Or-you get the idea. Sage was pissed and ready to take someone's head.

'Hope it's not mine...'

But Rowen played it cool. He would not show fear in the face of adversity. He would not be weak! (Watching too much Gundam Wing...) However, he had no qualms about freaking out when Marshall's hand slipped between the backs of his thighs and started massaging Rowen's crotch. He obviously didn't see Sage, and Sage luckily didn't see this action.

Marshall then wrapped his other arm around Rowen's waist and started in for a kiss.

"Bwah! What're you doing!? Are you trying to get us killed!?"

"C'mon, honey. You know you want me. I've never been wrong about body language."

"How's this for body language?"

Rowen flipped the bird. Marshall's mind was in the gutter, and took that as an invitation. He pushed Rowen on the ground and started to molest his mouth and unbutton his shirt. Rowen flailed and cussed, but Marshall was too heavy and was swallowing all of Rowen's profanities. Rowen wrenched his mouth away and glared.

"My boyfriend is right behind you and he's gonna kick your ass if you don't get off me right now!"

Marshall turned his head and smirked at Sage.

"Wuss. I can take him. After, of course, I take you. *KISS* What's a babe like you doing with a cake boy like that, anyway? " *SLURP*

Sage twitched violently then took a flying leap, lading feet away from the two. He cocked a fist back and was ready to deliver a dental damaging blow, when Marshall suddenly took a nosedive. Rowen stood up, steaming mad and red in the face. He stalked to Marshall and grabbed his leg. He picked him up and started swinging him, releasing him when he had built up enough momentum.

Marshall flew around eight feet then skidded to a halt in the mud with a gross squish that sounded suspiciously like mud seeping into underwear.

Rowen turned and looked at a slack jawed Sage. Rowen huffed, buttoning his shirt.

"Donkey dick licking son of a pig sucking whore! Teach him to bad mouth my Sage."

Sage stared.

"I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. I was angry about this morning and you spying on me. I had no intentions of getting 'friendly' with the roach over there."

Sage stared.

"...Did I steal your thunder? No knight in shining armor to carry me off?" He smiled hopefully, taking Sage's silence as anger.

Sage stared.

Rowen face vaulted.

"...um, Sage? What is the malfunction? I said I was sorry. I promise," He stroked a proud pose with his left hand over his heart, thought for a second, then put his right hand over his heart instead. "I *promise* I will never trifle with your delicate feelings or easily molded thoughts."

Sage stared and nodded.

"...You stole my thunder...I was suppose to save you and make you come crawling back to me...wha-what did I do wrong?" He asked absently.

"You let me watch too much pro wrestling!" Rowen smirked. "Who wants to see me kiss my heroic lover hard and long. Say 'Hell yeah!'"

"Hell yes!"

Sage wrapped his arms around Rowen and dipped him back, stealing his breath and his thunder back.

'I'll get him later...'

Cye sat up and straightened his hair.

"Well, lunch is over, and it's getting dark. Let's get Kento and head home, hm?"

"Why? So you can do what you were just doing only in bed?"

Cye flushed and Ryo nodded emphatically.

"Hey guys, don't wait up on me. I'm catchin' s ride home with Louis!"

Kento ran off happy as a lark and slipped into a pick up truck, with Louis half on his lap.

"Interesting to see how they're gonna drive that thing..." Ryo muttered to no one in particular.

Ryo and Sage packed the stuff back in the trunk and jumped in the car. Ryo, ever the explorer and adventurer, tried to drive home from being halfway on Cye's lap. Sage and Rowen in the back seat just looked at each other uncomfortably. At least Rowen was. Sage had that stupid look on his face again.

'Even better! Here's a bed!!'

'Man, he must be really steamed. That whole fiasco didn't turn out the way I planned it. Maybe I should have let him rescue me after all...'

They pulled into the mansion driveway and unloaded and went in. Immediately Cye and Ryo disappeared and left Sage and Rowen to put away the leftovers. (Without Kento, there were some.) Rowen pouted as he put things away, feeling like he had permanently altered his relationship with Sage for the worse.

Sage, meanwhile, was having lewd thoughts and wondering when to spring the surprise. Rowen was so naughty, he really didn't deserve an apology present from *him*, but he looked so forlorn and alone. Sage could tell he was regretting the day. But he wasn't. Sage had a good internal chuckle when he thought back. An evil smile swept across his features and was gone when he turned to Rowen.

"We're done. Let's go to your room. We need to...talk."

Rowen shuddered. He didn't like the way that sounded. He trudged slowly up the stairs and into his bedroom. In a few minutes, Sage followed with something behind his back. He walked over to Rowen and sat on the bed next to him, still hiding his surprise.

"Rowen, what you did today to me was wrong. When I saw you with that guy I thought you weren't interested in me anymore. But I know that was just the green eyed monster rearing it's ugly head, because you would never be so shallow."

Rowen's eyes sparkled with hope and love, and Sage almost couldn't continue.

"But thinking it over, it's no big deal. I'm not angry at you for getting back at me. One good turn deserves another."

Rowen nodded happily and leaned in for a kiss with a seductive look on his face. He closed his eyes and parted his lips slightly. He leaned further and felt something soft, silky, and wet slip into his mouth. His eyes snapped open.

"Olf fof olaf!?"

"You surely don't think I want to kiss you after the things you said!" Sage grinned and lead Rowen to the bathroom by the wrists so he couldn't remove the pearly pink Oil of Olay bar from his mouth.

Sage turned on the light and watched Rowen cross his arms over his chest and pout. Sage fought down the bubbling laughter and looked at the comical Rowen in all seriousness.

"If you expect me to forgive your ungentlemanly words, you have to keep that in your mouth...until it dissolves."

Rowen's eyes nearly popped out of his head and he started to protest and plead around the disgusting intruder in his mouth. [1] Sage just tilted his head to the side, threw up his hands, and left the room. He sat on the bed and picked up a nice long book to read. This was gonna take a while.

Hours later, Rowen, looking quite green and displeased, exited the bathroom and swayed unsteadily over to Sage, who was nearly done with the book. He tossed it aside carelessly and stood next to Rowen, a twinkle in his eyes. The twinkle faded when Rowen only looked at him like a seven year old after their first cigarette. [2] Sage turned pale and took Rowen's head in his hands.

"Wh-where is it? Rowen...you didn't...*eat* it, did you!?"

Rowen nodded and collapsed on the floor, resembling blue and green Jell-O. The visual made him want to puke. Sage frantically ran into the bathroom and back out again, and knelt beside Rowen, propping him up against his shoulder.

"Ro! You weren't supposed to eat it! You were only supposed to suck on it until-" Sage shook his head in distress. "Ro-kun, are you okay?" He asked sincerely.

Rowen looked up at him with glazed eyes and slowly nodded after thinking.

"I-urp. I wasn't...until the end...when I found..." Rowen sat up and smiled, though still looking green, and holding up a silver ring. "This!"

Sage let out a burst of breath before Rowen leaned over and kissed him.

'Hm...his breath smells wonderful...'

Sage wrapped his arms around Rowen's waist and started to pull him closer, but Rowen pulled his lips away and ran into the bathroom. Sage cringed as he heard his love spilling his guts into what he prayed was the toilet, and not the floor.

"I think I put the wrong end in his mouth..."

Sage rolled over and looked at his sleeping lover. His hand was laying limply beside his face, and Sage could see the silver band with a dark blue star with a green crescent moon surrounding it. After Rowen had finished *ahem* relieving himself, Sage did it proper, kneeling down on one knee and slipping the ring on Rowen's finger. (Who happened to be sitting on the toilet seat.) Rowen agreed to be lovers forever with Sage, and the two went to bed and fell fast asleep, Rowen still to sick to do anything...strenuous.

Sage smiled to himself and held his own hand with his own ring up to brush hair out of his love's face. It didn't turn out quite like his fantasies, but he still had his dream lover. Rowen awoke and smiled sleepily into Sage's face, then frowned.

"I have the worst taste in my mouth right now..."

Sage smiled and Rowen slipped out of bed and headed to the shower. He looked seductively over his shoulder.

"Waiting for an engraved invitation?"

Sage leapt out of bed and slammed the bathroom door behind them. Ryo sighed and rolled over.

"Now we'll never go back to sleep..."

"Don't complain. You're the one who insisted on staying up and playing all night!"

"But Cye, I was on the last level!!!" [3]

Ryo sighed in defeat and snuggled closer to Cye, brow furrowed in thought.

"What, love? Worried about Kento?"

"Nah. He can take care of himself..."

"Well, what is it then?"

Cye looked at him worriedly, and Ryo cocked his head and scrunched his face up.

"I wonder what happened to that other guy..."

"Would you like some help?"

Marshall groggily stared up into onyx eyes looking at him. His vision cleared and he laughed a little at the Chinese boy leaning over him.

"A cute little thing like you? Help me? Hah."

Black eyes narrowed and a growl escaped his throat. The youth stood up and looked down on the larger man with evil contempt. A look so deadly, it could melt metal. [4]

"You saying you think I am weak?"

Moments later the police arrive to find a splatter on the sidewalk inside a gaping hole the shape of a foot. [5]


The End.

[1] I ate soap when I was little. Irish Spring's not so bad! Hehe-...hm...So that's why I'm so messed up...

[2] I in no way condone kids smoking. Do what you want people, I only thought the visual was pretty ideal for the situation.

[3] Heheh...Provided the bucket *and* the cold water to that little scene!

[4] Like oh, say,...Gundanium??

[5] Justice!!!