#john+rick

The apartments were re-purposed warehouses, doors punctuated the walls along the halls that were once either old offices or open space. Making drywall and acquiring lumber to flesh out rooms wasn't difficult, it just required manpower and resources. Plumbing materials were also easily salvaged from abandoned neighboring buildings outside the settlement proper. The complex was warm and well lived in, muffled voices from within the different units barely reached their respective doors. Meanwhile, assertive footsteps echoed through the hall as they thumped against wood floor panels.

Two pairs of feet stopped at a lone door at the end of this corridor, a pair of faded leather oxfords and an aged set of knee high cuffed boots. A single gloved hand balled up and laid three firm knocks on the door, quick and abrupt as they rapped against the surface. Soft taps of hammering from within the room came to a stop and quiet steps approached, the occupant was quick to answer.

This door was unlocked and a disheveled Rick appeared on the other side. He seemed surprised to have received visitors with the manner in which his pale eyes lit up at the sight of a bundled up Hancock and a well dressed Watchman that loomed a step behind his shoulder. Already, the ghoul was pulling off his leather gloves to stuff into his crimson coat pocket and turned to his escort to dismiss him with a quick, “I think we're good, Tommy...”

The large fellow offered a small 'alright boss' before he turned and departed down the hall.

Feeling a little giddy about this particular company, Rick stepped aside and held the door open as Hancock drifted past the threshold to allow it to be shut in his wake. It was a sweet ritual, John made sure to quickly unbutton the front of his coat and held out his arms where Rick easily fixed himself within like they were two pieces of a puzzle. Rick’s arms slid under that red coat to firmly embrace his partner around his chest while Johnny draped his arms over the other man’s shoulders; faces nuzzled into shoulders as the two briefly grappled one another affectionately.

If there was anything that would guarantee butterflies in Rick’s tummy, it was getting a solid hug from John. Whether the ghoul was vaguely perfumed by a warm cologne or the scent of sweetly flavored cigarettes, it had become a comforting fragrance of familiarity. Those hugs were also something he eagerly anticipated, especially at the end when John would give a firm squeeze before he released; it was a finishing touch that made the whole interaction feel wholesome and genuine. Good enough to make an attention starved man hungry for more.

As John let go of Rick, he turned toward the room to have a look around. It was a studio unit so the dimensions were just large enough for up to two people; the frame of a bed was already set up nearby with a relatively clean mattress propped up against the wall, a small kitchenette was tucked to the right side of the room with a small dining table and the doorway to a tiny bathroom was tucked nearby.  The dining table had an old miter saw with a wooden mount sat securely on top, sawdust from cutting lumber was scattered on the floor below. That would have explained the sweet scent of burnt wood in Rick’s scruffy beard.

“How are things coming along,” John asked as he moved toward the bed and peered down at the wooden slats that were already fixed into the frame, “I see you’re getting your furniture worked on?”

Rick rolled down the sleeves of his hoodie as he followed after John but moved past him to fetch the mattress, which he grabbed and guided the cushion into the bed frame- a perfect fit. “Yeah, i just need some proper bed sheets and it’ll be good to go. Fortunately the heater is working pretty well, so it hasn’t gotten too cold in here.” With that, he gestured toward the free standing oil radiator that was poised near the bedside, plugged into an outlet in the wall which emitted a detectable aura of warmth.

A small smile tugged at Rick’s lips while he watched Hancock as he unraveled his scarf and tossed it onto the bed, it looked like he was getting comfortable and that meant he was most likely going to stay longer than just a quarter of an hour.

“Did ya get with Fahrenheit about the vendor permit yet?” Hancock inquired as he began to slip out of his red overcoat and soon gently tossed the garment on top of his scarf. His light frame was accented by the baggy sleeves of his button shirt and the embroidered vest that hugged his torso.

“Uh, not yet.” Rick answered shortly. He shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets as he hesitantly explained, “I’m still trying to figure out what might be most lucrative to sell. Been considering just trying to supply the local clinic and nearby settlements with medical supplies.”

“I know you’ve been wanting to play the long game.” John nodded as he untied his star spangled sash, folded it a few times and topped his coat with that and his sheathed knife that was clipped at his belt until this moment. The final item was his leather tricorn, and as he pulled it from his crown and flung it onto the pile, that assured he would be staying for a while.

While the skin along John’s scalp was marred and disfigured, his actual head was shapely and aesthetically pleasing when one overlooked it’s uneven and unsightly textures.

“Yeah, recreational chems sell easily but… I kinda want to get out of that scene.” Rick added.

“Well,” John stated kindly, “I’ll support you in whatever you decide…”

It was true, as much as Rick held his own when it came to selling chems on the street, it was still a burden to wade through the tide of the unscrupulous population to earn a living. Sure, Rick was a user but there were certain scenes of the drug world that he just didn’t fit into and he didn’t want to get tangled with people he couldn’t shake later. Rick wanted to be a supplier and he wanted to make some effort to help the destitute, so medical supplies and pharmaceuticals felt like a more rewarding alternative.

If only he could get a proper lab in order, he’d be in business…

By now John sauntered over to meet with Rick at the bedside, his marred face vaguely drawn with a smile, an expression that sat more comfortably at his eyes than his mouth. Anytime they were face to face, Rick’s gaze was drawn toward the ghoul’s eyes; there was something about those pitch orbs that caused him to fix his attention within their seemingly endless depths. They were creepy but hypnotizing.

“Oh,” Rick’s mouth hung ajar for a beat, “Did you uh, wanna get high or something? I mean, I have some stuff we can do--”

John’s smile opened just a bit as he let out a small audible huff. Then Rick felt those hands as they reached for the zipper of his hoodie and slowly pulled down to open that garment. Always easy to spur his anxiety, Rick’s breath hitched just a bit as tactful hands pressed against his chest and palms slid their way toward his shoulders.

“I was thinking,” John quietly murmured as he leaned closer, his voice warm and husky, “We could do that after we do something else first?”

That pale brow rose up, Rick seemed interested and a tad amused. “Oh?” He chirped, “What do you have in mind, hm?”

As abrasive of a front Rick sported on a daily basis, it never failed to entertain John how sheepish and bubbly Rick became when he laid his hands on him in any sensual manner. Even now, when John’s hands drifted down and fingers nimbly unbuttoned the front of the other man’s shirt, Rick couldn’t hold back a playful scoff as the touch sent shivers across his skin, there was even a slight tremble from the man.

“I was thinkin’ something with just you and me,” John suggested quietly. 

Then his arms slipped around Rick’s waist to pull him close, lips moved to press a few firm kisses against the smooth pale skin along the side of his neck. For the longest time John could only enjoy such supple skin from a distance until recently. This was enough to make Rick squirm but his own hands, compelled by the invitation, crept out and took John by the hips.

“We can get a little more comfortable.” John breathed into Rick’s neck.

“And then…?” Rick mumbled.

“Then we get you out of these clothes… and try something new this time.” John smoothly answered.

A small nervous chuckle tumbled from Rick’s throat at that suggestion. His words stumbled with the same uncertainty, “I uh, I dunno- I mean if you want to.”

“Of course I want to, why would I bring it up if I didn’t?” John retorted, his tone playful. Then he withdrew to meet Rick face to face. “You’ll like it,” he quietly added, “I’m sure you will.”

Gray eyes fluttered a moment as that ghoulish visage drew near, then his eyes closed as he anticipated a kiss that soon pushed against his lips. It was easy enough to follow his lead, John was an adept kisser and as their lips kneaded against each other, Rick would find himself again acquainted with the man beneath the ghoulish skin. Heads tilted slightly as lips rolled against each other and hands roamed tentatively against warm bodies, a lover’s embrace.

While the aftertaste of smoke on his breath wasn’t the most pleasant, it did wear away with a bit of oral manipulation and John’s hands moving to unfasten his belt did well to serve as another distraction. At least the faint berry taste of Mentats still lingered on his tongue. The two had shared enough intimate encounters that by now these engagements had a tendency to move quickly once they were initiated. Before sensual kisses could grow more fervent, John broke away to begin unfastening the few cords on his vest and work on his shirt below, Rick did the same with his own shirt.

“Do you think you could keep up this time?” John teased as he caught his breath with a quick inhale.

“I’m ganna fuckin’ try.” Rick answered a tad breathlessly. His eyes were already glazed over and dreamy with lust.

“Good.” John firmly stated as he peeled away his royal blue vest and tossed it aside onto the bed and Rick did the same with his sweater. Neaty tucked shirts were yanked out from the hem of their respective jeans and soon bare chests met and arms grappled one another in a passionate embrace. John was always cooler to the touch, but Rick’s warmer body would easily balance out that deficit.