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Two hours had been and gone, and Jintesh was starting to get worried even more than he already was, when the door creaked open just a little bit. He sat up, alert at once, and he was aware of Taisho becoming alert beside him, but his attention was focused on the door itself. Messy silver hair appeared, and then Krispin's head peeked around.. two bright eyes blinking at them. One grey, one vivacious green.

Relief hit Jin, even as Krispin was bouncing into the room, all but leaping onto the two of them. He landed in Jin's lap, his legs stretching out across Taisho.

"All done! Miss me?" He beamed at both of them. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful," Jin breathed, the relief still flooding through him. And Krispin did. That green eye was the finishing touch that gave his pale face the uniqueness it deserved.

"Ready to go out and break a thousand hearts," added Taisho, and Krispin began to giggle. Jin grinned at the singer.

"Guess I'm too beautiful to go out, then. I'd better stay at home for the rest of my life." Krispin squirmed in Jin's lap, and Jin grabbed him, holding him still. This was not the kind of place he wanted to get horny in.

"You want to get out of here yet?" He asked the boy. "I know I do."

"Absolutely! It's too dark." Krispin bounced to his feet, already at the door before the other two had even stood up.

As they walked down the dark hallways to find the door again, Jin took Krispin's hand in his own.

"Krispin, you should go home with Taisho," he said, even though he wanted nothing more than to keep the boy with him. Krispin blinked up at him in surprise, and then realisation swept over his face.

"Oh, yeah. The corp gig is tomorrow, isn't it?" The boy turned to Taisho. "Tesh told me all about it. I'm glad you got him to help. They'll adore us tomorrow, I bet."

"Of course. So long as you're actually there this time." Taisho grinned as Krispin stuck his tongue out.

"I'll be there! I'll go with you now, to prove it." They'd reached the front of the building, stopping as soon as they got outside, and Krispin turned to look at Jin.

"It'll be good tomorrow, and if they like us we'll have to throw a big party to celebrate! You'll come, won't you Tesh?" Krispin's eyes were wide and begging, and Jin couldn't help but grin. As if he'd do anything else.

"You don't need to use your tactics on me, you know I will."

Krispin's beaming grin had a satisfied look to it. "Awesome! I'll thread you as soon as we get back, okay?"

"I'll be waiting." Jintesh started to let go of Krispin's hand, but the boy took hold of both his hands, pulling him close for a sudden kiss, hard and promising. Jin closed his eyes, submitting just for a moment, and then Krispin was pulling away again.

"Tomorrow!" The boy grabbed Taisho's hand and ran off down the street towards his streambike, forcing the singer to run as well. Jintesh watched them, smiling. His lover, and his friend. Life wasn't so bad these days.

"Good luck!" He yelled after them, and then he turned and began the walk home.

It was almost eight when the datathread warbled, and Jin unhooked from the looms and all but leapt across the room to answer it.

"Tesh! Tesh!" Krispin's exuberant face was split by the broadest grin Jin had ever seen. "We did it! They love us and they're gonna make our discs and they're gonna pay us money to play music!"

"Awesome!" Jin echoed Krispin's sentiments of the previous day. "So you're going to be rich, and all you have to do is play bass." He found himself beaming as well. He had spent the whole day restless, wondering, hoping that things would work out.

The boy laughed. "Yeah! Life's perfect. We're gonna party, starting right now! Everyone we know is invited. And you said you'd come, right?"

"Yeah. All you gotta do is tell me where to be."

"Ah! You got no transport. Shit." Krispin frowned briefly, but his grin reappeared. "It's okay, I'll come get you."

"I can get him, if you like." Taisho's voice echoed faintly through the speaker, and Krispin turned away from the camera in surprise.

"Really?"

"Sure. You want to set the place up, and you want to thread everyone, don't you? You know a lot more people than I do, after all. And you're better at hiding the breakables." Taisho's voice held a hint of amusement.

"Yeah." Krispin was still grinning as he turned back to the thread. "Is that okay, Tesh? It's not so far, and then you'll be here with me."

"Sounds fine." Jin grinned at the boy's excitement. "You get busy telling everyone, and I'll see you soon."

"Alright!" Krispin cut the thread, and Jin leaned back, stretching. Krispin's news was wonderful, just what the boy needed.. what all five of them needed. And now, a party. He shivered suddenly. It'd been a long time since he'd been to a party, not since he'd been with her. After that, parties had seemed cloying, and shallow, too many people packed into too small a place, and all of them making fun of each other. And him.

But this would be different. Krispin would be with him, and these would be Krispin's friends. That had to make a difference, surely. He could have fun tonight.

He cast aside his anxious thoughts as best he could and headed for the bathroom. If he was going to go out, he might as well make an effort to look good.

In the time it took Taisho to pick him up and return, Krispin's apartment had already begun to fill with people. Jin stared around in surprise as they walked in. Krispin and Taisho may have lived in the same kind of slums as he did, but their apartment was surprisingly large. The main room alone was probably as large as his whole apartment.

And it was already dotted with groups of people, laughing and talking. All the furniture was pushed back against the walls, and music throbbed from huge speakers hung in each corner of the room.

Almost as soon as they entered, Taisho was surrounded by several people, all grabbing hold of him and congratulating him, each completely unmindful of the rest. Taisho threw Jintesh a helpless, amused look.

"Krispin'll be over there, by the thread," he said, pointing, and then he gave in to the masses and let them drag him away. Jintesh stared for a moment, feeling suddenly very glad that it wasn't him. Then he turned to see where Taisho had pointed.

At the far end of the room, he spotted a wild mass of silver curls, and he headed in that direction. Sure enough, Krispin was in front of the datathread, talking animatedly to someone, while several other people hung around, absorbing his presence.

Jintesh found himself stopping and staring when he realised what the boy was wearing. A tight tank top of silver mesh, that revealed more than it hid, and that shone a faint green when the light hit it. And the tightest white pvc shorts that Jin had ever seen. They clung to Krispin, glued to every curve, not hiding a damn thing. Jintesh felt a sudden rush of desire, and it took him every shred of control to clamp down on it before it embarrassed the hell out of him. He tried to think of something, anything, other than that.. but goddamn, Krispin looked good.

He stood still, calming himself, and waited until Krispin had cut the thread. Then he tapped the boy gently on the shoulder.

Krispin spun around, and his already beaming face lit up even more.

"Tesh! You're here!" He leaped on Jin, throwing his arms around his neck, and Jin staggered back in surprise, only just managing to keep his balance. He returned the embrace awkwardly, and he heard Krispin giggling in his ear. "I missed you, Tesh! You took too long, I swear." Hot, dry lips pressed against his, a tongue thrusting into his mouth, and he felt the desire that he'd tried so hard to control sweeping up again as he returned the kiss.

He heard another giggle, a girl's giggle, from nearby, and he remembered suddenly where they were. That was enough to freeze his desire instantly, and he pulled back, staring down at Krispin. What he did with Krispin was his business. It had nothing to do with these people.

"You want a drink, Tesh? We got plenty. Oh, hey, I should introduce you around! There's so many people to meet. Ooh, that reminds me, I gotta thread Miya! She's gonna freak." Krispin was bouncing, hyperactive, leading Jin first towards one end of the room, then another, then back to the datathread. Jintesh laughed.

"Why don't you get all your threading out of the way first? I can look after myself for a little while, I'm sure."

"Okay! I won't be long, honest. Hey, y'know Zeth, don'tcha? He's already here too. You could talk to him for a bit, if you want." Krispin pointed across the room, and Jin spied the guitarist.

"Yeah, I do. I'll be over there, then." He started to turn, then paused. "Hey, Krispin?"

"Yeah?" The boy was still holding his hand, and Jin pulled him closer for a moment, to kiss him gently.

"You look beautiful." Jin felt the need to say it, and Krispin's pleased expression made him glad he had.

"I wore it just for you!" Krispin kissed him again, a quick kiss. Then two more kisses. And then he ran, laughing, back to the datathread. Jin headed towards Zeth, feeling lighter. He'd been right, he could have fun. Tonight would be a blast.

Krispin's wild, delighted mood persisted all night through. Jintesh almost felt tired just from watching him bounce around the room. The boy was in his element, as he jumped from group to group, talking, laughing, and basking in the attention.

Jin had no doubt that Krispin was high on Haze; the wildness in his eyes said it all. He didn't know what to think of that. He had a million conflicting opinions about Haze itself, about Krispin medicating himself with it, about Krispin using it for recreation. In the end, it made his head spin, and combined with all the alcohol he was drinking, he didn't think that was a good idea. So he settled on the opinion that he was glad Krispin was having fun.

Krispin spent as much time running to and from Jin as he did with him. But Jin couldn't feel neglected, or jealous; he could see how delighted Krispin was, and he knew he couldn't keep up with the boy for very long. So he was content to watch, and to let Krispin drag him to and from various other people to keep him entertained.

Krispin had some fascinating friends. It seemed he did indeed attract interesting people into his life. He also attracted plenty of lousy hangerons, but thankfully he didn't introduce Jin to many of them; and those that he did, Jin found excuses to get away from fairly quickly.

He was both surprised and very pleased several hours into the evening when he ran into Laran at the bar.

"Jin! I was hoping I'd see you here somewhere." Laran grabbed up two drinks and guided them both away from the bar before the crush behind them got too intense.

"You know the guys? I didn't even stop to think you'd be here." Jin took the drink Laran handed him and leaned against the wall, glad to be out of the mob piling up to get at the alcohol.

"I know Naiya vaguely." Laran grinned. "Talked to him when they first gave out their discs, and met him again at that gig. And since they literally invited everyone they know.."

Jin laughed. "It's a madhouse, isn't it? But it's worth it, for them."

"Yeah, Naiya couldn't stop grinning when he threaded me about it. And I get the impression he doesn't smile all that much."

"Same here. You bring Rhys?"

"Of course! I believe she's having an intense.. discussion with several other hackers over there somewhere." He waved vaguely across the room. Jin laughed. He could imagine what an earful Rhys could be giving them right now.

"So, where's your Krispin?" Laran studied him for a moment, but he grinned.

"Find the bright silver streak dashing about the room, and you got him."

"Things are good, then?" Laran asked the question lightly, but his eyes were serious, and Jin suddenly realised how long it had been since he'd talked to Laran.. and how upset he'd been when he had. He suddenly felt guilty for not letting his best friend know that he was okay.

"Damn. I'm sorry, Laran, I should've threaded you -" he started to apologise, but stopped short when Laran held up a hand.

"You're a bastard and I hate you," Laran spoke seriously, but a moment later he broke into a grin. "Are you kidding? C'mon, Jin, you know I'm just glad you're okay. And I know that you'll thread me if you really do need me. You've done it before."

"Next time, though, I swear I'll thread you and let you know I'm okay."

"You said that last time." Laran laughed at Jin's dismayed expression. "Forget it, Jin. You're too drunk. Just tell me the latest."

"Ahh, I never can win with you." Jin knocked back the last of his drink. "Things are good. Krispin is a dream come true." He grinned. "What a cliche. I don't know, I just know that he's wonderful and he needs me just like I need him. And he's messed up, but what the hell, so am I. We're a perfect pair of mental cases." He raised his bottle to Laran, then realised it was empty. "I'd drink to us but I'm out of drink."

Laran laughed again. "You're right about the mental case part. Things sound good, Jin. I hope they stay good. It's nice to see you smiling and having fun."

"Yeah, I think so, too. Hey, I should introduce you to him." After all, he knew Krispin's best friend, so Krispin ought to know his best friend. "He's hazing, but he's coherent enough. He'll slow down long enough to say hi."

"Hazing?" Laran frowned slightly.

"Don't ask now, Laran. I'll explain it one day when I'm sober. I can deal with his Haze for now."

"Alright." Laran nodded, his eyes searching Jin's face for something. Then abruptly he grinned again. "So, think we can actually catch him?"

"We can but try!"

It took some chasing, but they caught up with Krispin, and as soon as he spied Jintesh he leaped on him again.

"I was just going to look for you! I was starting to miss you again." Krispin's arms clung possessively about his neck, and he grinned; he was Krispin's and Krispin was his. He'd missed this kind of attention, and he'd missed being able to give this kind of attention.

But this time he'd actually chased Krispin down for a reason.

"Krispin! I brought someone for you to meet. My best friend."

Krispin giggled. "I didn't know you had any friends, Tesh." He poked Jin in the ribs, and added, "I'm only teasing," before Jin could even so much as pull a face.

"I know. Krispin, this is Laran. Laran, this is my freakboy." He dislodged Krispin from his neck. Laran offered his hand, and Krispin shook it cheerfully and vigourously.

"Hi! Laran. Cool. Well, Tesh has such selective tastes, I know you gotta be awesome." He beamed up at the dj, who chuckled.

"Well, I could say the same for you. Especially since you have such a good effect on him."

"Me? Damn, what stories has he been spinning about me now?" Krispin giggled, wrapping himself around Jin again.

They managed to hold Krispin's attention for a good ten minutes before he got restless and bounced off after someone else who he just had to talk to. When he was gone, Jin turned to Laran, one eyebrow raised. He dearly hoped Laran liked Krispin; the dj's opinion meant a lot to him.

"He's completely insane." Laran said, and then grinned. "I like him. Wild as they come, but he cares, too. And he's all over you." Laran raised his drink, downing the last of it. "What's he like minus the Haze?"

"Practically the same." Jin grinned at the expression on Laran's face. "You can keep his attention for longer though."

"You must get worn out trying to keep up. Tell me, does he always wear practically nothing?"

Jin began to laugh. "All the time."

"Oh well, it makes the taking clothes off part pretty easy, I guess." Laran grinned, eyeing his empty bottle. "Shall we brave the bar and drink to your good fortune?"

"A wonderful idea!" Jin turned for the bar, pushing his way through the neverending stream of people. He was glad he'd finally been able to see Laran again, and introduce him to Krispin. It made everything complete somehow.

The night went on and on. He and Laran got drunker and drunker together. He and Krispin turned the already loud music up and started dancing, turning half the room into swaying bodies rather than packed bodies. He came across Rhys and several other netjunkies, and got involved in a very drunken debate over the virtues of cybersex and whether or not you would need protection if you wore a full bodysuit.

And finally, he ended up half collapsing onto a sofa on one side of the room, worn out from the alcohol and the action and needing at least a small break. He rubbed his eyes briefly and watched Krispin bouncing. Where did he get all that energy from, anyway?

"Krispin too hard to keep up with?" The amused voice startled him, and he turned in surprise.

"Taisho!" He hadn't even realised the singer was sitting beside him. "How long have you been there?"

"I was here first, actually." Taisho looked calm, as always. Except that he was actually grinning. Jin leaned closer and peered into his eyes. The intensity was dampened slightly by a cloudy, dreamy look.

"You high?" Jin wondered.

"Yeah."

"Haze?"

"No. I'm trying to get off it. I'm on Lucid tonight."

"Ahh." Jin couldn't help but be relieved to hear it. Lucid was a recreational drug, a safe drug. He worried enough about Krispin's Haze habit, without having to worry about Taisho's as well. He hoped the singer could successfully get Haze out of his system.

"And you?" Taisho's question forced him to try to think again. His brain's ability was coming and going in waves, and he paused to contemplate.

"Drunk," he said finally. "Extremely."

Taisho chuckled. "We're a bad influence on you. This is the second time in a week we've gotten you drunk."

"Not a problem." Jintesh waved his hand reassuringly. "I used to get drunk all the time. It's fun. I could use a bit of fun in my life."

"Maybe we're a good influence then." Taisho's gaze seemed sharper again, and Jin wondered why. He met the gaze head on, too drunk to be shy about it.

"Very good influence," he agreed. "Don't know what I'd do without you all."

"Stagnate?" Taisho suggested, and Jin's brain fumbled a moment with the word.

"Stagnate. Yeah, probably. I need new experiences."

"I'm pleased to hear it." Taisho's gaze flicked past him a moment, and then returned to meet his, and the singer smiled slowly. Jin tilted his head, wondering just what Taisho was thinking.

He stopped wondering a moment later when Taisho's lips pressed against his. Somehow it felt right, and he gave in to his first instinct, closing his eyes and submitting to the kiss. Taisho's tongue snaked its way into his mouth, its feel different to Krispin's, and Jin suddenly realised what he was doing.

He pulled back, eyes wide, to find Taisho's face scant inches from his; the singer's brown eyes were as intense as ever, this time filled with lust, and focused on him.

He felt hands on his shoulders, and a familiar body pressed itself against his back, pushing him forward into Taisho's kiss again.

"It's okay, Tesh." Krispin's voice was whispering in his ear, Krispin's teeth nipping gently on his earlobe, as Taisho's mouth took control of his once more. The singer's kiss was deep, as intense as his gaze, and Jin groaned into his mouth, his eyes falling shut. Krispin's fingers were caressing his shoulders, sliding down his back and slipping under his shirt, and the boy's lips feathered trails along his neck, and he didn't know what to think.

Krispin and Taisho were seducing him together? He groaned again as Taisho's mouth finally let him go, only to move down and assault his neck instead, teeth nipping and pulling at the tender skin. He felt Krispin shifting behind him, and then the boy was kissing him, barely giving him time to recover, a familiar, teasing kiss.

Jin couldn't think straight. He'd had far too much to drink, and his brain refused to function. But his body was functioning just fine, and it was telling him how much it was enjoying this attention. Who was he to refuse, to resist? Krispin was his, and he was Krispin's, and Taisho was Krispin's too.. right? It made some sort of sense.

He gave up on thought and pulled Krispin closer, kissing him harder. And with his other hand he reached out, tentatively, and ran his fingers through Taisho's chestnut hair, surprised to find it thick, and silky to touch.

Almost as one, the two of them pulled back slightly to stare at him. He stared back, at Krispin's hopeful gaze, at Taisho's vivid one.

"What did you stop for?" he asked, and he grinned at them, feeling wicked and wildly horny.