Crisco is for Sissies[M]

[TruthSayer]

"I wouldn't mind meeting him," Raa said, shrugging, then grinned. "Although I don't know if I could handle another one of you."

"Me, neither," Julian said, leaning on the island and looking like he'd been there for a while. "How's your arm, jock strap?"

"Fine, grunt swipe," Raa snorted, turning toward him with Marcus still in his arms. "What are you doing in my house?"

Julian quirked a small grin. "Two things. First, Coach is pissed you didn't come practice this morning-"

"I am not going practice when I can't play," Raa cut in, frowning.

"The second, is I have a present for you, but I'm not unloading it by myself, so get your lazy ass outside and I don't want any crap about you being hurt."

Raa, who was caught between surprise that Julian brought him something and whining that he was hurt and therefore shouldn't be expected to lift anything other than Marcus, snapped his mouth shut and followed Julian outside to the back of his Bronco, mouth dropping open when he saw what was inside. Grease-stained boxes full of grimy gears, broken carburetors, and an old set of rust-pocked drag handlebars were laid out around a large metal frame, but what had caught Raa's attention was the V-Twin engine.

"That's a 1948 Panhead," he said flatly, pointing at it. He turned to Julian, who was actually grinning. "That's a 1948 Panhead! Marcus! That's a 1948 Panhead!"

"I can't even change the oil in my truck, but uncle thinks I can do something with all this junk," Julian said, cocking his hip against the bumper of his Bronco. "So I thought I'd give the problem to you."

"This is not junk!" Raa corrected, aghast that Julian would imply such a thing as he climbed into the back of the Bronco and started going through boxes. "Panheads are classic Harley Davidson, and that engine right there could sell on E-Bay for $1,300 easy and it's nothing but a shell, and that frame? Don't even get me started on that frame!"

"We're not parking in the garage any time soon, are we?" Kendall asked, peaking over Julian's shoulder.

"Nope," Raa said, holding a cracked piston to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Kendall rolled his eyes to heaven, but went to tell Aban to move his SUV.

[Tammika]

Marcus wiggled his fingers at Julian, just as surprised as Raa at his sudden appearance. "I'm not hard to handle. I'm a simple guy, really." he gave his best innocent face but knew it wasn't believable in the least.

Marcus followed behind Raa holding his hand and slipping an arm around his waist when they stopped at the back of the Bronco. Marcus didn't know much about them but he did recognize it was a motorcycle, though he would have never been able to tell you what kind it was. The fact that it was old was obvious, the fact that it was special was obvious from Raa's response.

"Whee! A Panhead!..." Marcus threw his hands in the air then let his 'excitement drop to a deadpan, confused face. "What the hell is the significance of that? I have know clue what specific bike that is but I'll take your word for it that it is awesome?" he giggled.

He listened as Julian explained the story on how he got it and nodded his understanding when Raa rambled excitedly about it being a classic Harley.

"So you can make this all pretty and take me for a ride, Raa?"

[TruthSayer]

"Hm?" Raa asked, distracted as he dug through one of the boxes, cataloging what he was going to need to start the build, and how much it was going to cost him. He'd have to get just about every part, a great deal of them second hand, meaning he'd spend a great deal of his time digging through the local motorcycle graveyards, junk yards, and online searching through Craigslist and Ebay until he found what he needed. It was possible that even if he depleted his savings, it would take months to get it road worthy, let alone looking brand new.

Julian thumped him on his arm. "He asked you a question, Hakesh?"

"Ow..." Raa muttered, rubbing his arm as he shot Julian a dirty look before looking at Marcus. "What?"

[Tammika]

Marcus rolled his eyes and laughed at Raa, obviously mesmerized by all the not so shiny grimy bike parts. He leaned over Raa' s shoulder. "You fix, we ride? Yes? Simple enough for you?" If he knew sign language he would have used it, but instead he mimed the actions while speaking to Raa as if he was a four year old.

[TruthSayer]

Raa grinned. "Oh yeah! Ah, baby, wait until I get this thing on the road! We're gonna fly-"

"Wear a helmet," Aban said, reaching between Julian and Marcus to pick up a box, handing off to Kendall behind him before grabbing another one and handing it to Julian.

Raa snorted. "Have to." Under his breath, he added, "Until 21."

"Raa, please. I do not wish to receive call that you have died because you do not wear helmet," Aban said, handing a box to Marcus.

Raa raised his hand, looking solemnly at his uncle. "I promise I will wear a helmet."

Aban nodded, content with the promise, and dragged the engine to him, grunting under its weight as he hefted it into his arms and lugged it into the garage.

"Until I'm 21," Raa amended when Aban was out of earshot.

[Tammika]

Marcus took the box from Aban but leaned close to Raa before taking it to the garage. "Some how a tramp stamp has just become more appealing."

The idea of flying down the road on the back of Raa's bike was a thrilling one to say the least. He had ridden with his dad before he sold his when he was younger and had ridden a few times on his uncles bike.

A corner of the garage was starting to fill up as they unloaded the contents of Julian's Bronco. It was light work, but only a few days ago he wouldn't have been able to handle it. Now he was moving with not a care as he laughed at Raa's grumbling over a helmet.

In the middle of all the work his phone rang. After a brief conversation he hung up and gave Raa a sad look, complete with sticking out his bottom lip. "I have to go. My dad is on his way now."

[TruthSayer]

Raa was still sitting in the back of the Bronco with the piston in his lap when Marcus received the call. A lot of the excitement and contentment that had built up over the last day-and-a-half deflated, along with his grin. He plunked the piston down and climbed out of the truck, running his thumb over Marcus' bottom lip.

"Why? Can't you stay longer?" he asked.

[Tammika]

He kissed Raa's thumb. "I'm sorry. I forgot about dinner at grandma's. It's a once a month family thing on Sunday's. She will seriously cry if I don't show up, especially since I was in the hospital last weekend. And there is no way to fight grandma guilt." He did not want to leave Raa, but at the same time he really needed to go see his grandparents. He would probably spend the whole afternoon with his head in her lap on the back porch swing but that sounded like the best thing if he couldn't be lounging in Raa's lap.

"Maybe next time you could come too? Meet my grandma and more of insane family." He leaned close wrapping his arms around Raa's waist. A familiar black ford pulled up to the curb, Sam hanging out of the window.

"Eww. Break it up, people, you're in the front yard for crying out loud!"

"Put a cork in it, Imp." He did back off a little when his dad leaned forward and stared at him. He wore shades but it still felt like he was stabbing a hole in him. "Gotta run, babe. I had an awesome time. Thank you so much. You do spoil me rotten you know that?" He kissed him, ignoring Sam's squeals, and moved towards the truck.

[TruthSayer]

Raa caught his arm and pulled him back, kissing him again despite Sam's squeals, and the blank look on Mr. Davenport's face that was more of a warning than words could ever be. But who gave a fuck? Fuck Mr. Davenport: Raa was going to kiss his boyfriend no matter who was looking. Raa knew it wasn't because Marcus was gay, and he had also come to understand that it wasn't his choice in partner, although he wasn't sure how Mr. Davenport really felt about it; he was sure that finding out your child was homosexual would be a shock to any parent, and a major adjustment. After all, Marcus would never have children, would never do his part to carry on the family name, and in Lebanon, at least, that was an awful, amazingly disrespectful and dishonorable thing to do.

He broke the kiss, smiling at Marcus as he ran his thumb over his bottom lip again, catching some of the wetness there. "See you Monday," he said, not commenting on meeting Marcus' family. He wasn't leery to do so, although the all at once factor had him a little nervous.

[Tammika]

Marcus couldn't help but giggle at Raa pulling him back possessively, nearly falling against him for the parting kiss. As flashy Marcus could be most of the time it still made him embarrassed when Raa did things like that, but he didn't hate it in the least. He was more self conscious about his reaction to him, they were usually flashes of the real Marcus that he was slowly beginning to show more of since he met Raa.

When he hopped into the front seat of the truck he was still grinning, his dad and Sam exchanged looks and raised their eyebrows as she crawled into the back, but didn't say anything at first.

"What was that look for?!"

"Ooooh nothing," Sam replied with a cryptic grin on her face, but her eyes darted to her father again. Marcus' face redden more than his excited flush. "What is the deal?"

A smile tipped the corner of his dad's mouth, "You just seem rather... energetic after staying the night at Raa's. Is there anything I should-"

"No, dad."

"Marcus who's shirt is that? It's not the one you wore yesterday."

"Who do you think it belongs to? Now quit bugging me." Sam pulled on the shirt a little as she asked the question a sharp intake of breath only Marcus could hear had him gripping her leg on the other side. She saw the marks raa left on his shoulder and neck. "Let.. go.. of my shirt, ...Samantha."

"Ooo full name, I'm so scared... ow! That hurts, let go!" Marcus tighten his grip and Samantha squirmed and swatted at his hand, but she couldn't get enough leverage to pull away. "Okay okay!" Sam squealed. He understood what she was okaying but his dad seemed to not notice the real reason for the play fight. Marcus let go.

"Quit messing with your sister, Marcus."

"She started it."

"Did not. Actually- Ow! Quit pinching me!"

***************************

Marcus was dreading getting in the pool this week. It would be his first time since his stay in the hospital since the coach let him rest a few weeks. He wanted to get in the water bad but he had been enjoying the lazy times with Raa after school , hanging out at either his house or Raa's, even Derrick and Julian's house on occasion.

Now it seemed like it was back to work. He had state finals to get in shape for and it was starting to nag at him. Everyone seemed convinced he could place this year, his first year. He had even been interviewed at school and a few guys on the team had started calling him superstar. The nickname was cute, but the pressure he could do without. It was all months away but it was already a daily thing with coach. The training was gonna be brutal once he started.

He was so lost in thoughts of swimming he didn't even notice Raa come out of the house at first. He was waiting in the driveway in his mustang, staring at the steering wheel, mind wandering from one thought to the next. It was cold and he still wore Raa's jacket to school a pink hoodie peeking out from beneath it. Hell yeah, he was rocking a breast cancer awareness hoodie with loopy cursive wording and a pink ribbon on the front. 'I'm wearing pink for my aunt.' His aunt was a survivor and had given it to him a few days ago.

[TruthSayer]

"You have lunch?" Aban asked.

Raa stopped in the doorway, took a deep breath, and turned to face his uncle. "Yes, for the fifth time."

"You are certain?"

"Yes," Raa said again, voice adopting the same put-out patience parents were known to use with annoying children.

"Ah," Aban said, holding up a large paper sack from behind his back. "This must mean it is mine, then."

Raa patted his backpack, slung over one shoulder and resting against his side, and slumped, holding out his hand for his lunch.

Aban grinned, handing it over. "Work more on the motorbike, and you will leave your mind at home, also."

Raa rolled his eyes, thanked his uncle, and headed outside.

It was true that since Julian had dropped the parts off, he'd been... occupied. Kendall and Aban had to remind him to go to sleep, eat, and had dragged him out of the garage more than once to force him to do his homework. His grades suffered lightly in the three weeks since it had come, he knew, and Marcus showed marked patience with him when texts and calls went unanswered for hours at a time. His bank account had taken several hundred dollars worth of hits from him ordering things online despite the fact that he had managed to find quite a lot at salvage yards, and he'd been tempted more than once to dip into the cash he'd set aside for Marcus' tattoos, but had refrained from doing so through sheer force of will; that, and that he'd given the envelope of money to Aban for safe keeping, and had no idea where his uncle had stashed it.

It wasn't as easy as it normally would have been, either. Raa was still in his cast, with another three weeks left to go, although they had given him a smaller one that only went to just below his elbow. His black one, despite the color, had been drawn all over in white sharpie and whiteout by the second day he'd been back in school, and this one, black again, looked no different. Stickers, pot leaves, peace signs, hearts, and dirty jokes decorated it. Coach hadn't been pleased, giving Raa a thorough rundown on how he was still representing the school and the team when he'd been called into his office after missing three games in a row, to which Raa responded with a tactfully delivered fuck you. Both hands were stained with grease, grit, and grime, and smelled constantly of gasoline, motor oil, and paint, despite the fact that he scrubbed with pure acetone to get the muck off.

Now, his homework was half-done as he tapped on the passenger side window before opening the door and climbing in, throwing his bag over the seat into the back, and he'd foregone his daily run and showering to enable him a couple more hours in the garage, but he had at least remembered to brush his teeth, hair, and wash his face.

"Hey," he said, turning a grin on Marcus. "I'm hungry. Let's grab something to eat."

[Tammika]

"Hey yourself." he leaned in for a kiss. Sam had made waffles but he only had three, his bottomless pit of a stomach could go for a bit more so he nodded in agreement. It would guarantee to take him though the day to lunch. "Sounds like a plan. I didn't eat much so that works for me." he could tell by the faint smell that Raa had been hard at work on the bike already and he just smiled knowingly and shook his head as he backed out and headed towards the school.

"Where do you want to eat? I'm all for the coffee shop across from school. They have this new monstrous cinnamon roll cream cheese thingy that if I try one more time I'm sure I can duplicate. Oh God it's so good! I can taste it already."

[TruthSayer]

"Sounds good," Raa said, although he would not be having the cinnamon roll; they had blueberry muffins the size of two of his fists put together that melted in the mouth when he slathered them in butter. Plus, he'd forgotten to have some coffee this morning, the realization automatically making him a lot more tired than he was a moment ago.

"Ready for swimming?"

[Tammika]

Marcus groaned. "Yes and no. I have practice after school every day until state. I miss the water but I have one week to decide which events I'm going for for state. Coach probably wants me to do four but I'm not sure I can handle it or if I have the training time to shave a few tenths of a second off my laps. Aaand, I'm rambling. I'll stop now. too early for a Marcus ramble." He tried to joke it off but he was worrying about it.

"Did you finish your biology homework? That shit was hard. I barely got it done but I had fun experimenting with the recipe from CA class. I figured out the critical error in mine. What kind of recipe did you get?"

They approached the coffee shop and Marcus pulled in and slowed to a crawl. "Inside or drive through?"

[TruthSayer]

"You'll do great," Raa said, reaching over to twine his fingers through Marcus'. "Just remember that you're doing swimming because you like to swim, not for a few tenths of a second."

Raa was instantly proud of himself when Marcus mentioned biology, knowing that he'd spent a good amount of time the night before working on it and that his efforts should bring him at least a B. He blanched a little at the mention of Culinary Arts, though. "Recipe... shit," he muttered, closing his eyes as he laid his head in his hands, scrapping his fingers back through his hair.

[Tammika]

"Mmm, that's dangerous when I'm driving." He didn't bother pulling his hand away though. Raa had a way of taking his mind off of the trivial stuff and setting it back down where it needed to be... on him. "Yeah you're right, but try telling that to my coaches." He could almost hear his coach shouting at him already above the splashing of the water.

"I take that as a no." He tried not to laugh at him. He knew it was because of the damn bike but was getting a little worried at his obsessiveness over it. "Eh... Just give it to me and I'll figure it out before class and text it to you or give it to you at lunch." He pulled in a parking spot to get out of the way, since Raa didn't answer him about here or to go.

"The drive through line is long anyway. Let's go in and eat. We have time. I'll look at it now for you." He pulled Raa's hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle.

[TruthSayer]

"Really?" Raa asked, lifting his head, offering Marcus a relieved smile. "I would appreciate it, thanks. Mrs. Collins already thinks I'm a total loss as it is without me not handing in... homework..." His brow creased, a thoughtful look passing over his face as the thought crossed his mind that he might not have his CA homework him. He pulled his bag out from the backseat and unzipped it, digging through the black hole of crumpled papers, crushed books, and loose pens and pencils, giving a sigh of relief when he pulled a wadded up, slightly torn piece of paper from the bottom of his bag, smoothing it out over his leg to reveal a typed recipe for Eggplant Parmesan. The assignment was a relatively simple one, if one knew what they were doing, which Raa didn't, so left pretty much all CA homework to the last minute, anyway: find the mistake in the recipe. To him, the teacher could have put mint flavored toothpaste in the recipe list, and Raa wouldn't have seen a problem with it.

He climbed out of the car, tossing his bag on the seat before slamming the door, and said, "Fuck the coaches. They get into your head and psych you out, and you're going to mess up. So don't listen to 'em. You know what you're doing."

[Tammika]

"Yo Davenport! You getting your delicate ass in the water today? If you don't I'm throwing you in!" A small white pick up truck with a member of the swim team hanging out the passenger side window grinning at them, drove pass as they crossed the parking lot on their way in.

"You gotta catch me first, Jacobs!" Marcus flipped him off.

"That's his job not mine!" Kevin yelled pointing at Raa as the truck sped around the corner then onto the road.

Kevin Jacobs was a rival when it came to acting stupid or sometimes a partner in crime, that drove the entire team insane with laughter on many occasions. The coach often lamented out loud something to the effect of both of his top swimmers being mentally deranged after a few of their combined stunts.

"The dude is insane. And you think I'm crazy? Don't answer that." Raa's simple words and Kevin's stupidity had him smiling again. "And you are not a total loss. I actually think you do well in that class. It takes a little bit of extra time with it but I think you do fine. Think about it though, most students that take the class already have an interest in cooking, but you are starting from scratch, pun intended. I'm sure Mrs. Collins is very impressed with your progress." He pulled open the door and walked into the crowded shop. "I'm gonna cry if they are out of that roll." Raa and food, in that order, are always a given distraction for Marcus.

[TruthSayer]

"Hm," Raa mused, looking around the shop as he shoved his hands in his pocket and took his place beside Marcus in line. He didn't think their preferred order would be out; they were well known in this coffee shop, and over-the-counter friends with just about everyone who worked here, but it was still a gambit that the staff would remember to put their order aside when it was this busy. "Maybe we should think about leaving earlier.

"Either way, though," he said, shrugging as he returned to the topic of Mrs. Collins, "I really think she's getting tired of me. I've been bugging her to help me with something, but she keeps touching her eyebrows and saying she doesn't have the time. Flashbacks to the fire, I think. If she doesn't give in soon, I'm going to have to ask Kendall for help, and I hate cooking with Kendall."

[Tammika]

"Are you trying to kill me? If I get up any earlier my breath taking beauty will suffer from it. Energetic Marcus needs his energy and beauty sleep." He was known for getting up fifteen minutes before he walked out the door. Enough time to shower get dressed and snatch something edible from the kitchen and then hop in his car. That would change next week when he would begin serious training. He would eat sleep and breath water and spend most of his extra time in the pool, either at school or at home.

"Um hello? I can help you." he turned to wrap his arms around Raa, not even paying attention to the strange looks sent their way from a few that didn't know them, or maybe did and were disgusted. "You can come and do some cooking with me. I'll teach you everything you need to know and then some."