EXT. HOME BASE - EVENING
The sun hovers just above the trees, turning them shadowy
and black. The van's tires squeal as Jamie makes a hard turn
into the driveway and slams on the brakes, parking it at a
haphazard diagonal.
He slams the door on his way out and opens the rear door
with the same vigor.
JAMIE
C'mon, buddy. We're home. Can you
stand?
Daniel props himself up on a shaky elbow.
DANIEL
i got it.
JAMIE
Here, take my arm.
Daniel sits up fully, refusing his arm, and scoots to the
edge of the seat. He moves as slow and haltingly as a
glacier.
DANIEL
i can walk.
Jamie puts an arm around Daniel's shoulders anyway. Daniel
can't help but lean in to his touch, bracing himself on
Jamie as he staggers inside.
INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING
Warm, yellow light still reaches the inside, although it's
slowly growing dimmer. It's as messy as they left it,
despite Daniel's best efforts, but at least the clutter is
theirs. Makes it feel like home.
Jamie carefully sits Daniel down on the couch. Daniel groans
quietly and leans his head back.
JAMIE
Sit tight, okay? I'm gonna-- I'm
gonna take a look.
DANIEL
(weakly)
yeah. sure.
Jamie pulls out a bottle of prescription painkillers from
their medical kit - not his, but his now - and offers two to
Daniel, along with a bottle of water.
JAMIE
Here. I-I found some painkillers
earlier. The good stuff. It'll
help.
DANIEL
thank... you.
Jamie kneels at Daniel's side, and coaxes him to lie down
flat on his back with a firm hand on his chest. He peels up
the hem of Daniel's hoodie, wincing at the sight of
blood-soaked bandages underneath, shoddily plastered to his
abdomen.
JAMIE
(quietly)
Oh, God.
Daniel winces, too, as Jamie hesitantly pulls back his
bandages. Underneath lies two deep cuts, slowly oozing
blood, their edges ragged where they'd started to heal
before being jostled open again. The skin is a bright,
violent red, and sensitive to the touch.
JAMIE
Christ. This looks infected.
DANIEL
(strained)
feels like it.
JAMIE
(looking up at him)
Why didn't you say anything
earlier?
DANIEL
kinda... bit of a fast. situation.
figured i'd just...
JAMIE
...Deal with it. Right.
Jamie douses a rag in rubbing alcohol.
JAMIE
(voice unsteady)
This is gonna hurt.
DANIEL
(staring straight up at
the ceiling)
do your worst.
He brings the cloth to Daniel's wounds, gently rubbing
around the edges; Daniel's entire abdomen tenses.
DANIEL
(through gritted teeth)
fuck!
JAMIE
I know. I know.
Daniel's fingers dig into the couch cushions. His face is
screwed up tight, his teeth bared in a grimace. He caves in
and vocalizes at last when Jamie pours some of the alcohol
directly into the wound.
DANIEL
jesus christ!
JAMIE
Sorry! I'm sorry--
DANIEL
(strained)
it ain't you, jamie!
Daniel pants into the open air. Jamie's eyes search him,
eyebrows knitted in deep concern. After drying him off,
Jamie makes a decision, and slips that little nip of Old
Forester out of his pocket.
JAMIE
Here. Drink this.
Daniel peeks at him through one narrow eye. He considers it,
then gratefully accepts.
DANIEL
thank you.
He throws it back in one go, then lolls his head back
against the armrest.
JAMIE
(nervously)
I don't think I can-- I don't know
how to do stitches.
DANIEL
me either.
JAMIE
I can bandage you up again. That's
the best I can do.
Daniel nods. So Jamie tapes more gauze to his stomach,
fastening it in much the same way as his own. It's
embarrassing, almost, realizing that he's been given the
same treatment over just a little scratch or two. While
Daniel's been bleeding out.
Jamie smooths back Daniel's hair with a shaky hand. Daniel
cracks his eyes open, then closes them again.
JAMIE
Don't do that to me again, man. No
more secrets.
DANIEL
woulda... been fine. if i had.
thought ahead.
JAMIE
(laughing weakly)
You're way too fucked up to be this
stubborn. Just... for my sake,
Daniel. C'mon.
Daniel grunts. His head leans a little into Jamie's touch.
DANIEL
jesus. what a day.
Jamie lets out another nervous laugh.
JAMIE
You sound like you're doing better
already. Nice to see a little
attitude.
DANIEL
(woozy)
it's aaall kickin' in.
JAMIE
Good. Good.
DANIEL
just gotta... take it easy. for a
bit.
Jamie swallows.
JAMIE
Don't scare me like that again,
man.
That gets Daniel to open his eyes for real.
JAMIE
(shakily)
If something happens to you, I
don't know what I'm gonna do. Might
as well just fucking pack it in.
DANIEL
hey. hey, now. don't talk like
that.
JAMIE
(suddenly angry)
How else am I supposed to talk? If
they get you, I don't have fucking
anybody!
Daniel sits up suddenly to yell at him, like he's already
forgotten that he's hurt. He winces and gasps before laying
back down.
DANIEL
don't. fuckin' talk like that.
JAMIE
(wide-eyed)
Fuck. Jesus. Sorry.
Jamie wrings his hands.
JAMIE
If you wanna yell at me, just--
just do it from there. But
Daniel... Look. I don't have--
Nobody-- Nobody's called me.
Nobody's texted. And my phone's
about to die anyway.
Daniel listens to him without interrupting.
JAMIE
(darkly)
I don't think anybody's left that
*can* call me.
DANIEL
maybe they just... shut off the
cell towers. keep word from gettin'
out.
JAMIE
That doesn't seem much better.
DANIEL
...yeah. it ain't.
JAMIE
So just-- If you die on me--
DANIEL
i won't.
JAMIE
(voice high, trying to
keep himself from crying)
Good. Don't. Or I'll drag you back
and kill you myself.
Daniel laughs a little, and Jamie can't keep a weak smile
off his face.
After a moment, Daniel sits upright and scoots over.
DANIEL
hey. c'mere. sit down.
Jamie stiffly takes the seat next to him, keeping all his
limbs as close to his body as possible. Daniel turns his
head to look at him.
DANIEL
we're gonna be careful. ain't gonna
get caught... unawares. again.
alright?
JAMIE
You'd better not.
DANIEL
i ain't givin' up just yet.
Jamie sits quietly and stews over it. Daniel leans into him,
just a little. More of a nudge than anything. Jamie relaxes
into it.
JAMIE
If you're feeling any better
tomorrow... what do we do? We can't
just sit around.
Daniel thinks.
DANIEL
...i have. an idea. butcha can't
laugh.
JAMIE
(smiling)
Can't make any promises, bud.
DANIEL
there's... that friend a'mine. had
a lil' pond he liked to go fishin'
at. near here.
JAMIE
You wanna go fishing?
DANIEL
we ain't got any gear... but i
reckon we could. sharpen some
sticks. go spearfishin'.
JAMIE
(nudging him)
Not as stupid as I thought it was
gonna be, given the, uh. Lead up.
DANIEL
it's real quiet out in them woods.
shouldn't be much in the way of...
y'know.
He gestures limply with one hand.
DANIEL
make a campfire. have another
cookout.
JAMIE
I don't see why not.
DANIEL
(smiling a little)
sounds like a plan. gotta say...
wasn't too sure you were the
fishin' type.
JAMIE
Never really considered myself as
much, no. But, you know. Something
something, desperate measures.
Jamie meets his smile with one of his own. The light has
waned into something dim and intimate. Darkness is imminent.
JAMIE
What do you say we get this stuff
on the grill before it gets too
late?
DANIEL
*we*?
JAMIE
(teasingly)
Oh, *now* you're too hurt to
function. Okay.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Night falls. They return to their room after dinner, fed and
watered with their recent gains. Daniel walks stiffly behind
Jamie.
JAMIE
How are you holding up?
DANIEL
better. much.
JAMIE
(sighing)
Thank God. I was worried about you
taking those stairs.
Daniel sits down on the bed with a winded grunt, then starts
to clumsily kick out of his jeans.
DANIEL
not, uh. not up to one hundred
percent. yet. reckon i ain't about
to bleed on the sheets, at least.
JAMIE
(blurting it out without
thinking)
Do you need a hand with that?
Jamie's face burns in the dark.
DANIEL
(also turning pink)
uh. i can-- i got this.
It takes him some struggle, but he does, in fact, got this.
Daniel looks at the wall, refusing to meet his eyes.
DANIEL
(quietly)
if... if you're offerin'. to help.
i, uh.
Daniel trails off, uncertain.
JAMIE
What's up, man?
DANIEL
it's my arm. it's... can't you help
me with my hoodie? i can't quite.
twist.
JAMIE
'Course. Lemme just...
Jamie kneels on the bed next to Daniel. His fingertips graze
the skin on Daniel's belly as he carefully lifts up the
hoodie. Daniel's stomach jumps at his touch.
JAMIE
(softly)
Tell me if I pull on anything.
DANIEL
(staring directly ahead,
voice a little rough)
you're good.
Up and over. Jamie tosses it on a chair in the corner.
DANIEL
thank you. jamie.
Jamie remains where he is, still looking at Daniel, keenly
aware that he's stripped Daniel down to nothing, eyes
tracing the crease where those pale, hairy legs meet his
hips. Daniel glances at him, but quickly looks away.
JAMIE
...Okay. Yeah. No problem.
Jamie stands up. The bed creaks loudly underneath him.
Daniel stiffly tucks himself into bed, frowning - he gets
the distinct feeling that he's missing something.
When Jamie heads to his side of the bed and remains
standing, facing the wall, Daniel speaks up.
DANIEL
jamie?
JAMIE
(tone unreadable)
I'm gonna ask you something. I just
want a yes or no answer. No
questions.
Daniel remains silent.
JAMIE
Can you look away for a moment?
Daniel hesitates, unsure how to proceed.
DANIEL
uh.
JAMIE
That's the question. Just to be
clear.
DANIEL
...yes.
He rolls away to face the wall, giving Jamie his privacy.
JAMIE
Stay put.
Behind him, a rustle of clothes. Jamie quietly strips
himself down to his boxers... then removes his shirt. And
finally, his binder. Daniel stays put, obedient.
Jamie breathes deep for the first time in days. The shirt
goes back on. Then, at long last, he slips into bed and tugs
the sheets up to his shoulders.
JAMIE
Okay. You're good.
DANIEL
...alright.
Daniel rolls back over to face him, worry evident on his
face.
DANIEL
jamie?
JAMIE
What's up?
Daniel hesitates, mouth parted on a stalled word. He waffles
between "he's hiding a zombie bite" and "I made him feel
weird", both warring in his mind until he gives up.
DANIEL
...never mind. let's just get some
sleep.
JAMIE
(yawning)
'M already halfway there, man.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM - DAY
Jamie tosses and turns in his sleep, but ultimately ends up
latching onto Daniel. Again. This time, however, Daniel's
facing him; he sleeps like the dead, much more hurt than he
let on, and peacefully unaware of his head being buried in
Jamie's chest.
The sun streams through a gap in the curtains. Jamie bats
his eyes open in response. He makes a quiet, sleepy sound,
and snuggles back into the blankets.
Then he realizes. His eyes fly open.
Jamie very, very carefully tries to disentangle himself. His
heart thuds with terror. Their limbs, all of their fucking
limbs are tangled in each other, which would be great--
feels great-- Daniel's bulge pressing against the seam of
his thigh, too, solid and warm-- except for the fact that
his tits are out, and Daniel's face is in them, and--
And Daniel mumbles in weak, sleepy distress. Jamie freezes.
But Daniel doesn't stir.
He lets out a shallow breath, then tries again.
Daniel's face scrunches up... and then he releases Jamie and
rolls over.
Jamie lays still for a long, tense moment, before quietly
slipping away and out of bed and grabbing his clothes and
bolting.
INT. HALLWAY
In his haste, Jamie takes the first door on the left instead
of the second.
INT. HALL CLOSET
He fumbles for a light switch, but doesn't find it where he
expects it. After some frustrated slapping, he gives up and
sinks back against the door.
He's so warm. Like a little space heater.
Jamie presses his thighs together tightly and feels wetness
smear between them.
And already hard, even when he's dead asleep. Morning
wood... or just his body's unconscious response. To him.
This cannot be happening. He cannot allow this to happen. It
is a foregone conclusion that this cannot fucking happen.
And yet...
...A faint, slick sound wells up in the cramped space.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
Daniel wakes up slow and alone. He blearily picks up his
pants, then stares at the crumpled, bloodstained hoodie on
the chair. Thinks about strong hands stripping him out of it
last night.
His eyes drop to his groin, suddenly aware of his boner.
Daniel tentatively palms himself through his briefs, sparing
a guilty glance at the closed bedroom door. He shouldn't.
And yet. He's only human. So he stands and quietly locks the
door.
INT. HALL CLOSET
Jamie muffles heavy breaths into his fist. He's gotta stop--
Daniel's gotta stop. Looking at Jamie like that. Eyes all
wide and dark...
He wants to make them go even wider.
He buries two short, useless fingers inside of himself.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
Daniel leans back on the pillows and closes his eyes. He can
be quick. Jamie won't know a thing. He'll just-- he'll just
say he was getting changed.
Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, he pushes his
waistband down just enough to free his dick. It springs out,
already hard. Then he quickly strokes himself, one eye on
the door. A hand trails down his stomach. Feeling the soft
hair. Avoiding the bandages. Thinking about hands on him,
right there, making his stomach jump. Again.
Jamie's so handsy. Always touching. Always wrapping himself
around Daniel. Warm and strong and all-encompassing.
Daniel brings that hand back up to his mouth to muffle a
soft noise. Don't take much.
INT. HALL CLOSET
The slick noises come faster. Jamie visualizes--
Daniel curling his big, broad fingers like *that* and
staring at Jamie like he's hungry--
--and rubs himself off so fast that it's a miracle Daniel
can't hear it.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
Cum spills onto Daniel's tank top with a muffled little
noise.
INT. HALL CLOSET
Jamie bites his lip, hard, stifling a sound through his nose
as he comes around his fist. He pulls it out with a filthy
sound, flexing his fingers to catch the faintest glints of
light on all that slick.
JAMIE
(whispering)
...gross.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
Daniel lolls back his head on the pillow, winded. Then he
pulls the front of his tank top up from his body. There's no
salvaging it - it's been a long couple of weeks, all pent
up, and it's a mess.
He wrestles it off as best he can. His first thought: shove
it in the armoire. So he does, underneath some of those...
interesting outfits.
DANIEL
(frowning at it)
well.
INT. HALL CLOSET
Jamie wipes his sticky hands on the inside of his shirt,
then dresses himself and heads back out.
INT. HALLWAY
Jamie hurriedly smooths down his hair on the way back to the
bedroom. He's flushed pink and frazzled.
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
He nearly trips when he opens the door and sees Daniel
awake.
DANIEL
(wide-eyed)
uh. hey.
Jamie makes a strangled noise.
JAMIE
(voice unnaturally
pitched)
Hey, man.
DANIEL
you, uh. you're up early.
JAMIE
Hah, yeah. You know me.
Daniel frowns. He's not sure he does.
JAMIE
You sleep okay?
Daniel nods. Realization dawns on Jamie's face, and he paws
at his pockets.
JAMIE
Oh, hey. Here. Your key.
DANIEL
(taking it back)
thought you did pretty good.
drivin' it an' all.
JAMIE
(slight smile)
Ha, thanks. I've tooled around in a
van a time or too.
DANIEL
shows.
Jamie rubs the back of his head.
JAMIE
So, uh... About that fishing hole.
You still feeling up to it?
Daniel rolls his shoulders.
DANIEL
sure. should be quiet. ain't that
far away, neither.
Jamie pauses for a moment to look Daniel over. He's a little
wobbly on his feet, but he's upright, at least. There's more
color to his cheeks. A healthy flush.
JAMIE
You're looking a lot better than
yesterday.
DANIEL
yeah. i'm practically healed.
JAMIE
(smiling crookedly)
Don't get cocky on me, man.
Daniel smirks back at him.
EXT. MULDRAUGH, KY - DAY
Jamie and Daniel hop out of the van, where Daniel's parked
it on a dirt road in the middle of the woods. Just as Daniel
had predicted, the area - not very densely populated at the
best of times - is clear. Insects buzz, cicadas and
mosquitoes both. Jamie slaps at his arm.
There's a footpath through the woods, but the further in
they go, the darker and dimmer their environs becomes. A
fog's rolled in and caught them by surprise.
DANIEL
it's just through here.
JAMIE
(shuddering)
It's so dark in here. Are you sure
nothing's gonna-- I don't know,
sneak up on us?
DANIEL
(turning his head with an
ugly little smile)
oh, i dunno. maybe there's wolves
in these here woods. maybe a bear.
JAMIE
(whiny)
A bear? Come on, man!
DANIEL
better stay close.
Jamie walks closer to Daniel, fully aware he's being fucked
with but a little nervous nonetheless.
The footpath fades. Their trail is occluded with branches
and gnarled bushes, their roots and tendrils sneaking across
the path.
DANIEL
careful now. don't get scratched
up.
JAMIE
Great plan - if I could fucking
see!
DANIEL
here.
Daniel holds out a pocket flashlight.
JAMIE
Where'd you get that?
DANIEL
i been diggin' around.
Jamie takes it and turns it on, lighting the way ahead. But
not by much.
EXT. POND - EARLY MORNING
The brush thins, opening the way to a small clearing. In
front of them lies a good-sized pond rimmed with cattails
and rushes, deep enough to swim in, but small enough to be
circumnavigated easily. Its surface is placid and dark.
JAMIE
Huh. It's kinda cute.
Daniel removes the spears from his back. He'd whittled them
down before they left, silent and meditative in his task;
they're a few feet long and sharp as daggers. Jamie takes
one and rubs his finger over the tip appreciatively.
JAMIE
You sure you're gonna be good?
DANIEL
'm sure.
JAMIE
I'm just saying. I spent awhile
fixing you up, I don't want you to
mess up all my hard work trying to
stab a fucking fish.
Daniel huffs out a laugh.
DANIEL
yeah, yeah.
He rolls up the bottom of his jeans to knee length. Jamie
can't help but watch - his bare legs are still an unfamiliar
sight, even now. They're so pale. So lean.
And they're stepping into the water. Jamie blinks and
follows suit.
DANIEL
sit still. wait for 'em to come
back.
JAMIE
(readying his spear)
Okay...
They stand there for a moment, stock-still. Fish tentatively
swarm back around their ankles. Jamie has to bite back a
laugh - one brushes against him, and it tickles, and he
twitches just enough to frighten it back away.
Finally, Daniel strikes. The spear barely makes a noise as
it slices through the water.
He pulls it back up, and... nothing.
JAMIE
Shit.
DANIEL
(strained)
ain't done this before.
JAMIE
(grinning crookedly)
No? Where'd you get the idea, then?
DANIEL
(looking away)
survival guide. started readin' em.
Jamie takes aim, and also catches nothing.
DANIEL
you gotta aim above 'em. 'cuz the
water... distorts it.
Jamie waits for the fish to return, then tries again.
Nothing.
DANIEL
also. maybe aim for the fish.
JAMIE
(laughing)
Fuck off!
The buzzing in the air increases as the air warms up. Jamie
takes another stab at it, and this time, he pulls something
up.
JAMIE
Holy shit! I did it! I got
something!
DANIEL
attaboy.
When he lifts his trophy up, however, he discovers that he's
landed... a sock. A wet, dirty sock.
JAMIE
Oh god damn it.
DANIEL
reckon that's a good... ten inches.
JAMIE
(flushing)
Shut up, man! At least I caught
*something*!
Their bucket of fish slowly grows - a perch here, a bluegill
there. Daniel takes his leave early to start up a campfire.
At least, so he says; his stiff gait and occasional hiss
through his teeth belies the true reason.
As he tends it into a full blaze, Jamie hoots out in the
water.
JAMIE
Hey! Daniel! I got one! And it's
big!
He holds his spear up, and true to his word, it's a big one.
When Jamie comes back to shore, Daniel shows him how to
properly fillet a fish, laying their catch out on a broad,
flat rock. Jamie's attempts are a little uglier, but they
smell just as good once they're crackling over the fire.
Together, they pick small pieces of fish away from the bones
and pop them into their mouths.
JAMIE
This is really good.
DANIEL
ain't gotta sound so surprised.
JAMIE
Well, I've never roasted fish over
an open fucking fire before, so cut
me some slack.
DANIEL
nothin' better'n fresh fish.
JAMIE
(through a mouthful)
You like fishing, Daniel?
Daniel shrugs.
DANIEL
it's quiet.
JAMIE
I guess. If you're not fishing with
me.
Daniel's eyes slide over to him, but he says nothing. Their
pile of bones and waste grows bigger, and the fire dies down
to a smolder.
JAMIE
God, I feel like I couldn't eat
another bite...
Daniel grunts in assent. Jamie flops backward on the ground.
JAMIE
It's getting hot.
DANIEL
fire'll do that.
JAMIE
Yeah, okay, smart-ass. I was
thinking about going for a dip.
Daniel glances at the pond, but quickly returns to his
hands, unimpressed. While he's focused on washing them off,
Jamie toes off his shoes and wades deeper into the water.
JAMIE
(in the distance)
Feels good!
DANIEL
hey, now. keep it down.
JAMIE
C'mon, hop in!
Daniel makes a little sound of displeasure and doesn't
budge.
JAMIE
Don't you wanna have some fun?
Remember what that was like?
Daniel's mouth purses. Jamie ducks his head under the water
and pops back out with a yelp, all wet and gleaming under
the sun.
DANIEL
...why the hell not.
He strips out of his clothes, leaving him in just a pair of
boxers with big, garish hearts on them. Jamie slings wet
hair out of his eyes, then looks down at his own sopping-wet
clothes, feeling like an idiot.
JAMIE
That's the spirit!
Daniel wades in next to him, wincing at the temperature.
DANIEL
it's freezin' cold, jamie!
JAMIE
It's good for you!
DANIEL
freezin' my ass off is good for me?
JAMIE
Builds character!
Jamie splashes him a little, making Daniel sputter and
flinch.
DANIEL
what the hell?
Jamie laughs, mouth split in a wide, toothy grin.
DANIEL
(squinting)
think you're funny?
JAMIE
Aw, c'mon, it's just a little
water.
DANIEL
(splashing him back)
fuck off.
Jamie yelps. Daniel chuckles to himself.
JAMIE
(incensed)
Oh, it's on now!
He sends a massive splash Daniel's way, cresting and
breaking over his shoulders. Daniel takes it full in the
face, leaving him looking like a sad, wet animal. He doesn't
speak for so long that Jamie sucks in his lips, suddenly
guilty.
JAMIE
...It sure would suck if somebody
splashed me back super hard right
now. Since I'm all defenseless...
DANIEL
...sure would.
Daniel splashes back as hard as he can, so quickly that it
catches Jamie off guard. Daniel barks out a laugh.
JAMIE
(sputtering)
Okay, very funny!
They devolve into a full-on splashing fight. Daniel starts
coughing and backing away, having laughed at the same time
he caught a splash to the face, but Jamie doesn't hear him
through the sluicing water and tackles Daniel at the waist.
Daniel goes under and flails, arms and legs akimbo. Jamie's
head bursts back up from the water and he's beaming,
cackling, utterly delighted.
JAMIE
Gotcha!
Daniel struggles to right himself, but eventually pops back
up, coughing and panting. Jamie slaps him on the back.
DANIEL
(coughing)
careful, man. don't-- i ain't good
at--
JAMIE
(grinning)
Ain't good at what? Roughhousing?
DANIEL
not what i--
JAMIE
(wide-eyed with
realization)
Oh, wait, shit, your bandages!
DANIEL
that ain't--
JAMIE
Crap, I wasn't even thinking about
it-- oh God, you're gonna get
infected--
DANIEL
(irritated)
jamie, for god's sakes, i can't
swim!
Jamie's mouth snaps shut. His eyebrows hitch up.
JAMIE
You *can't*?
DANIEL
(muttering)
ain't really the type.
JAMIE
Daniel, I don't think there's a
type.
DANIEL
well, there is, and i ain't.
Daniel rights himself and starts to stagger out of the
water.
JAMIE
How does a 30- or 40-year-old man
not know how to swim?
DANIEL
(eyes narrowing)
it ain't that unusual. cricks back
home ain't that deep.
Jamie lets out a baffled laugh, but follows him out
nonetheless. He's still bearing a bright smile, and his
clothes are plastered to his skin, and Daniel means to say
something a little bitter, a little mean, but it gets stuck
in his throat. He's transfixed.
Suddenly, Jamie shivers.
JAMIE
Ohhh, man. Maybe that wasn't a
great idea. I'm f-f-fucking
freezing.
DANIEL
(shivering as well)
wasn't that bad.
JAMIE
D-Do you think we should light the
fire again?
DANIEL
(perplexed)
ain't got no more fish.
JAMIE
I-I mean-- Ugh, never mind!
INT. KITCHEN - EVENING
The walk back home has dried Daniel off a good deal, having
carried his clothes back home, but not so for Jamie, who
drips all the way inside. Daniel watches him with a wrinkled
nose.
JAMIE
Do we have a clean fucking towel
anywhere?
DANIEL
dunno.
JAMIE
Thanks, man! Really helpful!
DANIEL
(irritated)
what's your problem?
JAMIE
I'm *chafing*, is the fucking
problem!
DANIEL
(muttering)
don't know what you want me to do
'bout it.
INT. HALLWAY
Daniel follows him upstairs, but gives him a wide berth, his
mood soured. He's got to change his underthings (and his
bandages), so he steps into the bathroom while Jamie stomps
into the bedroom and slams the door.
He does it so hard that the door doesn't latch closed,
bouncing open instead.
Daniel's head peeks back out of the bathroom, halfway
through his hoodie. It's just a crack, but it's enough to
catch his attention. Make him curious. He finishes pulling
it over his head and steps back into the hall, quiet as a
mouse.
Through the crack... he watches Jamie tug off his shirt. His
shorts. His underwear. His binder, which falls to the ground
with a wet plap.
Daniel's eyes go wide. His breathing slows.
Jamie disappears for a second, then reappears, towel in
hand, to furiously dry his hair. Daniel stares like he's
trying to burn the sight to memory--
His underbelly's so pale. Tan stops halfway up his thighs.
Big. Strong. Ain't got nothin' hangin' between his legs, but
there's hair, dense, dark hair that Daniel can't see past--
Daniel takes an involuntary step backwards, tripping over
his own feet. His steps are too heavy. Too noticeable. He
bolts back into the bathroom and grips the sides of the sink
with trembling hands.
His-- his tits. Bouncin' outta his underthings. Didn't even
notice Daniel standin' out there. This is what he's been
tryin' to hide, ain't it? Underneath all the clothes...
He's seen something he shouldn't, he thinks. His dick throbs
in his jeans, in time with his pounding heart.
He grips harder. His knuckles turn white.
DANIEL
(loudly)
jamie? you decent?
There's a very long pause.
JAMIE
(from the bedroom, voice
cracking)
I'm good!
INT. MASTER BEDROOM
Daniel hesitantly pushes the door all the way open. Jamie's
fully dressed, just as he said, wearing an uncharacteristic
mix of a hoodie and the biggest, baggiest pants he could
find.
They make eye contact with one another and freeze in place.
It's obvious: Jamie knows that Daniel knows. And now Daniel
knows that Jamie knows. He tries not to stare - tries not to
trace the shape of Jamie through the hoodie - and fails.
DANIEL
uh. hey.
JAMIE
(interrupting him)
I'm gonna-- I'm gonna take the
couch tonight. I think.
DANIEL
(blurting out)
i didn't see nothin'.
Jamie's mouth opens, then closes.
DANIEL
and if i saw somethin', it don't--
it don't change nothin'.
A very ugly, blotchy flush crawls up Jamie's face.
JAMIE
(haltingly)
I'm. Good. Whatever you saw or-- or
didn't see. It doesn't. Have to.
Daniel's face also takes on a dark flush. Jamie doesn't
move, pinned in place by Daniel's dark-eyed stare.
DANIEL
you ain't gotta go. i can-- i'll
take the couch.
JAMIE
You're not gonna--
His mouth snaps shut mid-sentence with an audible click.
DANIEL
it's fine.
Jamie groans, pushing his hair back with both hands.
JAMIE
Don't you have anything to say?!
Doesn't it-- Aren't you-- Quit
fucking staring at me and-- and--
DANIEL
(stepping closer)
jamie.
Jamie goes rigid.
DANIEL
(voice low)
it ain't gotta change nothin'.
s'still you 'n' me, right?
Jamie remains quiet, staring past Daniel. Not quite at him.
Daniel frowns, but, sensing that this isn't going well,
turns to leave.
JAMIE
(behind him)
...Wait.
Daniel stops.
JAMIE
Just fucking-- Just look at me,
man.
Daniel turns back around, looks him in the eyes, and
swallows, hard.
JAMIE
(very quietly)
I'm not going to talk about it.
Daniel nods, silent. Jamie opens and closes his mouth a few
times, struggling to speak.
JAMIE
I don't want to have a-- a fucking
*discussion* about it. I don't need
to explain myself to you.
DANIEL
(quietly)
right.
JAMIE
(gesturing around himself
at their room, their
house)
If this is what we're doing-- all
of this-- you're just gonna have to
live with it. Okay?
DANIEL
(still pink)
i ain't got no problem.
Jamie stares him down, looking for something in his eyes.
JAMIE
(after a pause)
...Good. Okay. Here's what we're
going to do.
Daniel hunches down under his gaze, hard and guilty about
being hard while he's in the middle of this
extremely-fucking-serious conversation and shouldn't be
thinking. About other things. During it. While Jamie's being
so intense.
JAMIE
(voice low and somewhat
threatening)
We're going to lay down. Just like
before. And we're going to sleep.
DANIEL
(stiffly)
yeah. yes, sir.
A strange warmth curls in Jamie's belly at the affirmation.
Daniel hesitates, not sure if the conversation is over just
because Jamie's stopped talking.
Jamie slips under the covers, just like always, and stares
straight up at the ceiling. Daniel does the same, awkwardly
trying to hide his boner, and furiously wills it away by
counting bits of popcorn on the ceiling.
JAMIE
...Good night, Daniel.
DANIEL
g'night, jamie.