Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 15:18:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: stone king <obsidian_hunter@yahoo.com>
Subject: Duckblind part1

Duckblind
By Obsidian_Hunter
Obsidian_hunter@yahoo.com

Before I begin perhaps a little information is in order, This might be a
long one so get comfortable or skip ahead. The format I use in this story
might be odd, but this is how it came to me. I just write the story as it
appears in my head. I don't know why it jumps around, why history comes
after the present, or why I leap from person to person. It might be
confusing at first (It was when I wrote it) but I hope you will be able to
get the tempo without to much difficulty. As I once said to a teacher, "I
just write the damn thing, I don't try to control it, I just let it go, and
if it works I am happy. All I can do is hope to please others, or to get
others to think." For those of you who see mistakes in the story, I am
sorry, I know little about duck hunting, less about slang, and even less
about everything else. I don't know why duck hunting was the theme to this
story, It came to me in an idea and I ran with it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy
this little story, and if you have any comments (nice ones preferred, thank
you) please let me know. Oh... one last thing I wish to dedicate this story
to the one who understood me when I was standing in the fields and shadows
and learning what it was to be an Obsidian_Hunter. That will make no sense
to anyone but the person I intend it for, so don't ask. Enjoy.  O_H.

Dedication revised: I would also like to thank two very special people for
their help, humility and support, be it passive or active. Meg for
pretending to love my writing, and Ardveche for his role in reminding me
how bad a speller I am, and for the work he does that keeps my interests
active.  O_H.

**********

The smell of the open marsh, the weight of the rifle in his hand and the
smell of the gunpowder; that is what kept Mark coming back to the sport of
Duck hunting. Personally, Mark did not like shooting ducks, he had raised
some as a child and his father still kept some down on the ranch. Today
though was a special day, Mark was not here to hunt with his rifle, he was
here with his camera. Mark had the idea of putting together a small book of
duck pictures for his niece Amy. She was only six but had a fascination
with ducks and would spend hours looking at the mounted birds at his
house. Mark was sure she would be a duck hunter one day but Amy's Dad
(Mark's brother Jacob) said that she was not allowed to touch a rifle till
she was "responsible". So Mark was up at five in the morning in his
family's duck blind armed with his camera and his trusty .38 pistol he
jokingly called marsh monster, waiting for some good shots.

Mark had been coming to his duck blind since he was a kid and his dad had
been hunting there since he was a kid. The original duck-blind was built by
Mark's great-grandfather shortly after he purchased this very sizable piece
of land back in the early 20's. but the old one was all but abandoned for a
newer one Mark's dad built when he was twelve. Mark could see the old blind
from the new one, in fact he spent a great deal of time in the old one
especially if he had a friend with him. The old blind was more like a small
cabin, it had the main "shooting room" and second room to sleep or store
gear, but it was really cramped to walk around in, you had to crouch a
little as the shooting room was only big enough for maybe two guys their
rifles and a dog who didn't move around too much. The extra room was more
spacious you could lay down and still have room for a little gear.

Mark looked around, all the world was still. God's creation was here before
him, and he was there too. Life has it's unexpected good
things. Well... maybe for a little while.


**********

Headlights... He had seen those same headlights on his wall, five days a
week ever since he was born. They would slide across his walls through the
shades, filling the darkness with light. Why didn't he react when he saw
those headlights? No it was too early for those headlights.

Rumbling... The rumbling of that engine, the sound that always shook the
windows. the sound that comforted him when he thought he was alone, the
sign that his dad finally came home. Why didn't he hear that engine?

The date... It was his birthday, even on his birthday his dad came home at
his usual time, never earlier. His dad would come in, wake him up and they
would share the pecan pie his dad always bought. Why would he change that
routine after sixteen years?

Time... Three hours before his dad was supposed to be home, one a.m. that
was the time His dad came home. But it was ten, not one. Why would his dad
be home at ten?

Dad's voice... Calling out from downstairs, "Son I'm home." Because dad
knew he would wake up when he got home. "Surprise! I got off early tonight
for your sixteenth, bud." Why didn't he move?

Warmth... The warmth from his bed, never had he felt it as warm and
soothing as he did at that moment. The warmth off another body, that's what
was new. The warmth coming off Corey's body was that what kept him from
reacting?

Dad... Standing in the doorway, Pie in hand with sixteen glowing candles
ringing it.  "Happy Birthday..." He yelled moments before the pie slipped
from his fingers and smashed to the floor. then the rage that shot through
his face. Why didn't he take action? Why?  Why?

That's all Max kept thinking as he moved through the darkness, Corey was
driving slowly and silently, His tuxedo jacket was resting on Max's
shoulders in a vain attempt to keep him warm and comfortable. Around them
the dark wooded roads swallowed up the lights coming off Corey's
headlights.

"Max?" Corey said from the driver's side. "Max, talk to me."

"About what?" Max asked.

"Are you okay?"

"No... Why didn't I wake up?"

"Max don't blame yourself..."

"Don't blame myself? What the hell do you mean? don't blame myself? Who
should I blame?  You for giving me love? Or my dad for showing me that he
loved me?" Max said sadly in to the window.

"Max... It's okay, in a couple of days your dad will be okay."

"Okay? It will never be okay... You heard what he said... He's never said
anything like that, I have never seen him this angry before."

"Look Just wait, I promise you it will be okay."

Max smiled weakly as he looked over at Corey who's full concentration was
on the road.  "You know you are the worst liar I know."

Corey smiled "You know I don't lie."

"No, you cant lie, well you can't around me. that's how I knew that when
you told me you loved me it was true."

"Well I do, and I swear it will be okay." Corey took one hand off the wheel
and laid it gently on Max's lap "It's okay."

Into the night they went.

**********

Corey stood at the door in the finest tuxedo Max had ever seen, in his hand
were clutched sixteen roses. "Max? You sure you want to do this?" Corey
asked.

"You going to tell me you got all dressed up and came over here, just to
take no for an answer?" Max said in his best coy voice.

Corey chuckled. "Well it would be a waste of this really nice tux, if I
did..."

"You always surprise your boyfriends with tux's and roses on their
birthday?"

"Only when I know I am going to get lucky" Corey said as that mischievous
smile of his spread across his face.

"Oh? And what makes you think I am that easy to "get lucky" with?" Max said
as he moved closer to Corey.

"Because It took a limo as well to get in Jimmy Bennigan's pants." Corey
said with A wide smile.

Max's jaw fell to the floor. "YOU SLUT!" he yelled jokingly.

"Hey, It maybe easier getting into your pants, but the reward is a lot
better." Corey said as he moved only inches away from max.

"Well at least I got roses out of this deal. But what do you think my dad
will say if he sees them?"

"Tell him it was from a girlfriend." Corey chucked as his face grew
dangerously close to Max's

"You are friendly, but hardly a girl..." Max said as his lips grew even
closer to Corey's.

Corey smiled "That's true... So?"

"So? So what?" Max asked strangely.

"So... where's the cake?" Corey asked as he took a step to his right and
walked past Max in to the kitchen.

**********

Breathe... Steady your hand... Breathe... Finger on the
trigger... Breathe... Line the shot... Breathe damn it... Ready... Breathe
in... Steady... Breathe out... Pull trigger...

Click...

Mark smiled to himself, it was a good shot, Had he brought his rifle
instead of his camera he would have bagged a nice plump duck.

Mark set up for a second shot, a nice drake was moving right in to a
perfect spot. Clean shot, easy "kill", Mark thought as he raised his camera
to his eye.

The drake swam lazily into mark's view finder, "smile baby..."

BANG! The drake exploded in to a cloud of feathers and blood. The sky was
suddenly filled with a swarm of marsh birds and plaintive cries. Mark threw
himself on to the floor of the blind as a natural reaction.

Mark looked up, but did not move, he listened for any sound of life. Then
he heard the sound of a voice. "You got him!"

Then another voice. "Was there any doubt? No more spagettios for us."

"How about duck A'la spagettios?"

Mark heard splashes in the water in front of the blind and the second voice
was now closer. "I never want to eat that stuff ever again."

The splashes then moved away. Mark rose to his knees and crawled his way to
the opening to the blind. He could see the old duck-blind, there he saw two
boys. One had the drake's limp body in his hand and the other was coming
out of the blind with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

Mark recognized them, well maybe he did... One of them was the Miller
boy... ummm...  Casey? Kevin? Conor? The other was Max... yeah Max, Max
Kantrell. He was old man Kantrell's grand-son. The Old man kept a picture
of the boy in his shop and pointed it out every time Mark was in there
buying Machine parts for his dad's ranch. His dad was Philip Kantrell,
Mark's best friend, Mark went to school with him and was at his wedding
sixteen years ago and at his wife's funeral ten years ago. The Boy did not
stop crying at the funeral, the only time he stopped was whenever Phil held
him.

What were they doing here? Phil would have asked him to use the blind, and
would have told him that the boys were out there if he had known. What was
going on?

The Kantrell boy was the one with the blanket, He held the blanket tight to
his body. he smiled weakly and seemed very tired. The other boy seemed more
energized, more free and happy. What was going on?

"See Max a little bit of good luck and a lot of good aim, gets you a good
breakfast."

Max smiled as he pulled the blanket tighter. The other boy rested the duck
on a log then disappeared in to the blind, he came out a minute later with
a portable Sterno stove and cooking gear. Max sat down at on the log near
the duck as the other boy prepped the stove.  Mark watched quietly as the
boy started cooking a breakfast of duck and powdered eggs, the whole time
Max sat unmoving and silent.

**********

"Where are we going?" Max asked.

"Well we can go to my house." Corey replied.

"No... My dad must have called your dad by now." Max said in a very worried
voice.

"Okay, then you tell me."

Max thought for a minute. " Well I know a place where they won't look for
us."

"Really where?"

"It is over on the Copper River Ranch, In the Marsh area."

"You want to go on to the Dupre ranch?" Corey said suddenly with a tone of
surprise and fear.

"Yeah, It's in the back woods and Mister Dupre doesn't go shooting anymore
so it will be abandoned."

"But Old Man Dupre shoots trespassers! Remember Frankie Harsy?" Corey asked
with even more concern in his voice.

"Frankie Harsy was robbing the house at the time, and he was only hit in
the arm. This place is miles from the house and no one goes there except
for Mister Dupre's son."

"I don't know..."

Max was surprised, Corey usually was the confidant one, now Max was taking
the lead. "I cant go home... And I can't stay with you... Look if your
scared then drop me off outside the ranch and I'll make my way down there
on my own."

Corey sighed heavily, The sign that he had made a choice he thought was
wrong. "Okay WE will go down to the Dupre place, but let me stop by my
place for some gear and supplies."

"But won't your dad see you?"

"Hell no! I have snuck in and out of there like a ghost, even with my dad
sitting on the front steps. Trust me I'll get the stuff."

Max smiled. "Okay, just be careful."

**********

The phone rang in Will's office, as town sheriff he was responsible for
every petty, stupid and pointless incident that happened. If the dog next
door took a dump in your rose potter, well shit... call Will... and Will
was good at his job, granted if the people of his town would use a little
common sense then he would be out of a job, so why screw with a good thing?

The phone rang again. Will's office also acted as his part time bedroom,
when he was on duty he slept there because his wife hated those late-night
calls from people bitching about music or drunks. So Will used his sofa as
a second bed, granted he would rather be pressed up to his wife at 3am.

Again the phone rang. Will slowly lifted his head from the pillow he had
been drooling into, Grunting a short chorus of profanities he sat up and
looked around for the phone.

Ring number four and five. Will reached over to the phone that sat just out
of reach which meant he had to get up, and he tried really he did...

Ring Six. Will managed to reach the receiver, and not without a Herculean
effort he was able to mumble, "Yes?"

"Will? Is that you? It's Philip... you awake?"

"No Phil, I am just answering phones in my sleep, it's just one of my many
strange habits."

"Look I'm sorry Will, but it's important."

Will wiped the last of drool from his lip "Sorry, bud, you know flying the
sofa skies makes me cranky, what's up?"

"Will, have you or any of your officers seen my son? He ran away tonight
and hasn't come back."

"Oh shit? What time was this?"

"About ten, he was with Corey when he left."

"Why did he leave?"

Silence...

"Philip? you still there?"

"Yeah... we had a fight, I said a few things, and well he left."

Will rubbed his eyes. "You two never fight. What the hell could you two
have been fighting about?"

"Look Will, It's not important... he's gone, he's not at Corey's house and
there is some gear missing from Corey's place."

"Really? Maybe they went camping to blow off some steam."

"I hope not..."

"What?"

"Never mind... look If you find him please, please bring him home."

"You got it Philip, And don't worry, He will be okay."

**********

"Look Phil, It's cool. Just grab your shit and come over to my house around
six tonight.  okay?"

"Yeah okay. Your sure your dad is cool with this?" Philip said.

"Give me a break... my dad is cool with it." Mark was a little frustrated
with Philip's hesitation.

"Well all right, do you want me to bring the beer?"

"Shit yeah! If my dad saw me with it he would ship me off to military
school." Mark smiled wide.

"Okay Mark, I'll get us what I can find." But there was hesitation in
Philip's voice.

"Look, why are you worried? We're just going hunting."

"I know... But... I... ummm..."

"What's the matter? You don't want to go?"

"It's not that... See... I don't know..." Philip looked down at his feet.

Mark didn't quite understand. "Look, don't worry. It's just another hunting
trip, Okay?"

Philip nodded. "Okay."

Mark smiled. "Okay see you tonight."

**********

The room was humid and uncomfortable, all the heavy breathing was making
the room more unbearable every minute. Or was it Philip who was getting
uncomfortable? Philip didn't know... He didn't understand, all he knew was
at that moment he was not happy. He had been hunting lots of times. He and
Mark went twice a month every season for the last six years.  Shit they
bagged their first birds together when they were twelve. Why was he so damn
uncomfortable now? Maybe it was because of what had happened the night
before. Well, he was drunk... He was not even sure it had happened, if it
wasn't for the fact that his shorts were laying inches from his head and he
felt a small breeze blowing across his crotch, he would have been sure it
was all a dream. A bad, uncomfortable, and at the same time pleasurable
dream.

There was a light snoring coming from Philip's right side, but Phil did not
look, He knew who was there, he had woken up to that snoring countless
times. But this time it was different so damn different. What had he done?
Why? He knew how and what he felt, and this was NOT the way he thought or
felt. Mark was his best friend, but he would never have thought he would
have... he knew what he had seen a few days before, but it could not have
really been real, but here he was...

Snoring... The soft snoring of his best friend.

Philip stared at the roof of the duck-blind.

**********

Mark watched from the blind, He still could not understand what was going
on. There was something unusual about the way the two boys were acting,
they seemed more comfortable and open than Mark was used to. The Miller boy
seemed very self-assured and yet seemed to be taking care of Max. Max
always seemed a little weak, but not in a bad way. It was just that he
never talked in public, he always kept to himself. Even when he spent
weekends helping at his grandfather's shop he would only come out of the
storeroom to drop something off then would return to the back without so
much as a whisper. Mark knew that Max and his dad Philip were closer than
Mark and his dad could ever be. Phil always looked out for his son and
regretted the fact he could not be with him all the time or the fact that
Max had lost his mom at an early age.

But here and now Max seemed to open up, he was still a little quiet but
there was a glow about him, he smiled, even if it was weakly. There was
something in that smile... Max's eyes followed the Miller boy's every step
and action, was that in the smile? Yes... yes it was. It was in the
smile...

Was that the smile of a best friend? No... Wait... Mark had seen that smile
before. Where?  Mark looked farther back in to his memory, that smile, that
weak loving smile. "Oh shit..." Mark whispered to himself.

**********

"Are you sure?" Mark mumbled below his breath.

"Damn it you are to damn unsure of yourself! get a spine man, You are going
to be fine!"  Mark half yelled from across the room.

"I know, but what kinda date is it when your parents set you up?"

"It is called a desperate last maneuver." Mark chuckled.

Phil looked in to the mirror and was suddenly uncomfortable again.

"Look no one is expecting you to fall in love, get married and have a dozen
kids with this girl, they just want you to go out and have fun."

Phil fidgeted with his tie for the sixth time.

"You know you are the most nervous person I know."

"How nervous was I that night?" Phil asked absentmindedly.

"What? When?" Mark asked in a confused tone.

"You know what I mean." Phil added as he reached for a bottle of
aftershave.

"Oh shit man!" Mark knew what Phil was asking and it still pissed him
off. "That was like four month's ago, It was not your fault and it hasn't
happened since. So why in the hell do you always have to bring it up?"

Phil put a small amount of aftershave in his hand and slapped it to his
face.

Mark got up from the bed and walk over to his friend. "Look it doesn't make
you gay, okay?  We were drunk, and I admit it, I took advantage of our
condition. I didn't mean for it to happen like that, but it did. Man you
know you are my best friend and I don't ever want you to be upset. So
please stop dwelling in the past, please... please let it go, okay?"

Philip dropped his eyes for a second then looked back up in to the
mirror. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay bud."

Just then the doorbell rang downstairs, Philip's body suddenly went stiff.

Mark just laughed at his friends sudden reaction.

"Philip?" Up the stair came the voice of Phil's mom. "Philip honey your
date is here."

Phil shot a worried glance at mark. "How do I look?"

Mark smiled, "You look great, and you smell even better." Mark added with a
chuckle.

The two boys stepped out of the room and walked downstairs. At the bottom
of the stairs was Phil's mom and the cutest girl both boys had ever
seen. She was about seventeen, she had shoulder length golden red hair and
a beautiful pair of jade colored eyes.

"Philip, I would like to introduce you to Lisa Price, her family just moved
to town last month." Phil's mom said, ignoring Mark entirely. Not that that
was intentional but after all she wanted Lisa to meet Phil not Mark.

Lisa shot a small weak, loving smile at Phil, and Phil just stared in to
her eyes silently.

**********

"Do you Philip Alexander Kantrell take Lisa Elizabeth Price to be your
lawful wedded wife?  To have and to hold... for Richer, for Poorer, in
Sickness...

Mark Stood silently next to Phil, He could see that Phil was just about
ready to either pass out or make a solid break for the door. Mark
remembered everything the three of them had done in the last two years,
graduating High School, starting at the local college, Mark's proposal to
Lisa... Lisa becoming pregnant about two weeks ago... Mark knew Phil was
very excited about losing his virginity (to a girl, the past did not count)
but to jump the gun two weeks was not usually Phil's style.

"And do you Lisa Elizabeth Price take this man to be your husband?"

Mark smiled broadly, these two were meant for each other. There was not a
question about it. But Mark did wonder how he managed to get Phil all the
way up here without Phil puking all over the church. Mark glanced around,
Nearly the whole damn town was here, Mister Kantrell, Lisa's family
(including her damn cute younger brother, ahhh to be sixteen again), Shit
even Sheriff O'Neil and his son William were here. Mark shot a quick smile
to Will without Sheriff O'Neil noticing. Will blushed a little and shot a
quick smile back.  Mark glanced over at his own dad, There he sat silent
and unmoving, the perfect picture of a human statue, he did not even flinch
as Mark's brother Jacob bumped his dad with his elbow when he turned to
wave to his girlfriend (only God and Jacob could remember her name).

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! You may
now kiss the bride."

But Phil was frozen for a second, he only stared at Lisa's jade eyes
through the thin elegant veil. With one slow breath he reached out to her
lifted the fragile covering. Lisa had that same smile she had when she
first met Phil, that weak, loving smile.

**********

That weak, loving smile... could it be? Could They be in love?
No... well... it would explain some things...

The Miller boy continued to cook the food as Max sat still and silently.

"Hey Corey?"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing... Never mind."

Corey! that's the other boy's name Mark thought.

"Just checking to make sure I am still here huh?"

Max smiled weakly and turned his head away, "Yeah I guess so."

"Look Like I told you I ain't going anywhere." Corey replied as he stood up
and walked over to Max with two steaming plates in his hands.

Corey handed Max a plate then leaned in close. "I promise." And gave Max a
long kiss gently on the lips.

"Oh shit..." Mark blurted out as his hand slipped on a rock it was resting
on and he fell face forward into the cold morning dirt.

**********

 Mark was kissing dirt, he could taste it in his mouth, he heard
laughing. Mark pushed himself up from the ground, "thanks for helping me
out ass wipe."

"Hey I warned you... you were... are drunk." replied a very liquor laced
voice of Will, then he followed it up with more laughter.

"I am.. am.. not... you's the one who'sssss dwunk."

"Dwunk?" Will fell over laughing. He continued to laugh uncontrollably as
he tried to get back up on to the log he had been sitting on.

"Oh sssshut up." Mark said as he staggered his way towards the
duck-blind. "I'm going to bed."

Will managed to pull his top half up on to the log, "Otay I's gots to piss
a race horse.  Be right there."

Mark stumbled in to the dark room, outside he heard Will pissing a long
stream in to the bushes. Mark reached over to the lantern and turned it
on. Mark was not quite as drunk as he let on, But he was sure Will
was. Mark knew he was gay a few years back, but you try and be gay in this
town, Ain't going to happen. But it was okay to "experiment", most boys in
his town did, shit it was one of these boys who's "experiment" made Mark
realize he was into guys. This was the easiest of the games to get in to
another guy's pants. get liquored up, get far away from everyone else and
let it happen. Shit what seventeen year old guy doesn't have sex on the
brain (Well Phil, but that's different) and once you get them liquored up
then all the gates open and sex comes out. God bless the man who invented
booze.

Mark undressed quickly he took off everything except his shorts and climbed
in to his sleeping bag. Will Finally stopped pissing, and Mark could hear
him stumbling towards the blind.

Mark got comfortable in his sleeping bag. Mark had pulled this trick on a
few guys, Jim from Chemistry class, but he was easy, he was gay to begin
with (too bad he moved to Texas), Derek the boy who worked for Mark's dad
during the summer (God what a summer that was) and Phil, that one should
never have happened (Mark's only "failure"). But Mark wished silently it
had worked out, but gave in to the fact that his best friend was straight
and would always be so, no mater how much Mark loved him.

Will crashed noisily into the room and plopped down on top of his down
filled sleeping bag. He rolled over on to his back kicked off his shoes,
and jerked his pants off with one grand move. Then he just lay there, All
he had on was his tee-shirt and a pair of blue jockey shorts, a spot of
wetness was clearly seen on the spot where the head of his crotch was
pressing. Either Will did not piss it all out or he was wet with pre-cum
(it happened to Mark when he was drunk so it was possible), in either case
Mark was getting excited.

The light from the lantern was all the light in the room and it was on
Will's side of the room. Mark watched Will's breathing carefully, He was
not breathing hard (a sign of stress or excitement) he was breathing gently
(a sign of comfort). Mark timed his move carefully just as Will began to
breath in, Mark reached over will towards the lantern and made a gesture of
turning it out. At that moment Mark's chest was pressed to Will's, Mark
froze for a second and let the feeling linger. but he noticed that Will
held his breath, he did not exhale he held it, he allowed their chests to
stay together for a few seconds. Mark felt Will's heart quickly speed up
and pound through the tee-shirt. Mark then turned off the lights and
returned to his side of the room. Now wait...

"Mark?" Came a whisper in the darkness.

"Yeah."

"You ever do it in here?"

Good question, it meant he was thinking about sex. "Yeah, why?"

"How was it?" Hmmm... usually it was "with who?" not "how was it?"

"It was good, why?"

"Just wondering." There was a moment of silence. "Mark?"

"Yeah."

"You ever jerk off in here?"

"Yeah sometimes when I am really horny."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Ummm... would it be okay if I did it?"

Mark smiled in to the darkness. "Sure, I was thinking about doing that
myself."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"So it doesn't make me a freak or anything if I jerk off with you in the
room?"

"Huh? Hell no, So long as you don't go around telling people."

Will laughed just a little. Mark heard Will sliding around a little on top
of his sleeping bag, he knew he was pulling off his jockeys.

Mark opened up his bag and rolled out then moved on top of it.

"Mark? What are you doing?"

"Well I didn't want you to feel like you were the only one who wanted to do
it."

Will chucked, "Pervert."

"Hey your the one who wanted to jerk off."

Mark heard a soft rhythmic sound, he knew it was Will staring to jerk
off. He had seen Will's prick a lot of times in Phys. Ed. so he could
imagine it in Will's hand now, sliding around between his clutched
fist. Mark began his beating off in earnest, he wanted to keep in step with
Will.

The two boys beat off slowly for what must have been three or four minutes,
Mark could hear Will's breathing and wiggling on the sleeping bag. The soft
scraping of flesh on the nylon cover made a gentle swishing sound. Will
suddenly stopped, but his breathing remained hard. "Mark?"

Mark did not/could not stop jerking off, "yeah?" he gasped as his hand
pistoned away in the darkness.

"Have you ever been sucked off?" Mark stopped dead.

"Yeah.  Why?"

"How does it feel?"

"It feels great, why?"

"Well... do you know how it feels to suck some one?"

"What are you asking?" Mark slowly began to pump again, in hopes of finding
out what Will had in mind.

"Well, promise not to tell anyone?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Can I taste your ummmm.."

"My what?" Mark added without missing a beat.

There was silence.

"What is it you want to do?"

"Well could I..."

"You want to taste my cum?"

Weakly and ashamedly Will whispered "Yes."

Mark smiled in the dark.

**********

Max smiled in the dark.

Max and his dad had finally managed to get a free weekend, so they went
hunting. Well Max's dad hunted, Max watched, Max was a little too afraid of
guns to use one, but he loved the sight and sound of a rifle. Plus, now Max
and his dad could be together, they had always been alone since his mom
died. His dad never remarried and didn't even date.  Max figured it was
because he never wanted anyone to come between them.

Max heard his dad snoring in that slow rhythmic way. But Max's mind drifted
back to Corey.  Max could see that beautiful face smiling gently at him, he
could see the moments they managed to steal at school. He thought about the
first time they kissed. He half wished Corey was there now.

But what would his dad say? He couldn't very well go camping with them
both, At one moment be "Dad's son" and the same time be "Corey's
Boyfriend". And the idea of dad having a gun within arm's reach, well
forget that idea.

Maybe Dad would understand? Yeah and wrestling is real.

The snoring stopped. Max sighed and closed his eyes.

**********

Phil woke up to find himself in that small room he remembered, even down to
the slight breeze coming under the door. as he slowly opened his eyes he
heard his son let out a long sigh.

Phil missed these moments. It was rare that he could find the time to do
things with Max.  He worked hard to earn enough money for Max's future. All
the money he earned went right in to a savings fund for when it was time to
go to college, and with the 4.0 GPA he had he damn well better get into a
good one.

Phil knew he could never be the type of dad Max deserved, Max was a reader,
he read everything he came across, and Phil was not in to reading. Max
watched all those nature and history programs (his fascination with World
War II amazed Phil), while Phil watched Football. Phil did all the things
that interested Max, even at the risk of being bored into a coma. But he
never complained, he would go to a interactive display on the making of
Latex gloves if it meant Max would be happy and they would be together.

Phil wanted Max to have everything he had and more. Phil and his dad had a
great relationship, they were the best of friends, and they talked every
chance they had. That's what Phil wanted with Max, and for the most part he
had that. But there was something Max always kept tucked away. There was
always a barrier that he kept up, something he never shared.

Phil knew Max was a little different, more like his mother then he could
ever know. Shy, quiet, and there was that smile. That lovely smile, the
smile his mom had when ever Phil was near, that smile she had when Max was
born, the smile she had when she kissed him goodbye on her death bed. That
was Phil's smile... And Max was blessed with it.

Phil loved that smile, and he never wanted to see it fade.

Phil closed his eyes took a deep breath and he slowly drifted into sleep's
warm arms.

**********

"Just lay there Mark, don't move and they won't see you." Mark said
silently to himself.  But he lifted his eyes towards the two boys. The look
on their faces... then he saw the Miller boy... Corey? glance towards the
shotgun that was laying against the duck-blind.  But Mark knew what that
meant, if he went for it he would have to be faster. but hope he does not
go for it.

No luck... Mark saw the boy dive for the shotgun. Mark pushed up with his
left hand and swept his right hand down to his belt. One swift yank and the
pistol was in Mark's hand and swept upwards towards the Miller boy. The
Miller boy managed to get to his shotgun and raised it to his shoulder but
he was too slow, Mark had him dead to rights before he could even start to
chamber the next round. Holding himself up with his left hand (God bless
the one handed push-ups Coach Willon made Mark do in college) and the
pistol was aimed directly at the Miller boy.

"Don't Even think about it boy!" Mark yelled at the now frozen Corey. Mark
glanced over at Max, he was stuck to his seat with a look like he had just
seen Death himself. "Put the gun down, boy! I won't hurt you." Mark held
the gun there, but his left arm was getting very tired and his left knee
was on a very sharp rock.

"Please Corey put the gun down!" Mark heard Max yell. "Mister Dupre Please
don't shoot him!"

"I don't want to shoot anyone. Put the gun down and I'll put mine down."

"How do I know you won't shoot us?" Corey yelled back.

"Cuz if I wanted too, I would have already!"

Corey looked unsure.

"COREY, PLEASE!"

"Yeah come on Corey put the gun down." Mark said through his teeth, his
knee was hurting from the rock it was laying on and his arms weren't doing
much better.

Corey looked at Mark, then Mark's gun, then at Max. Mark knew he was going
to give up. But he was going to take his time about it.

**********

"Hurry up will you!" Will whispered loudly as he held Philip up on his
shoulders. Phil's boots were grinding in to his shoulders. Phil grabbed the
large branch that was barely above his head and pulled hard to lift himself
up.

"Shut up they'll hear you!" Phil hissed back.

Phil crawled along the wall till he reached the oak tree on the inside of
the wall, jumped on to one of the lower branch and then dropped down to the
inner grounds. In the distance he heard two dogs barking and they were
getting close. Phil dropped to his knees and pulled out two dog biscuits
from his pockets just as the two German Shepherds (Panzer and Faust) came
running up barking and snarling. "Hey, boys, only me." Phil whispered as he
tossed the biscuits to the two guard dogs. with happy yelps the dogs
grabbed up the snacks and ran off.

Phil crouched low and ran as fast as he could towards the house. Mark said
he had a date, Mark let it slip out and he was hell of embarrassed he
mentioned it and shit if Phil had ever seen him with a girl. So it was
worth the risk of getting an ass full of Mister Dupre's buckshot just to
see what kinda girl would date Mark. Plus he did not want to wait for the
hunting trip they had planned to find out who it was.

Phil did his best commando dive/roll, well his dad called it a commando
roll, over the row of neatly planted flowers. Of course Phil landed on his
ass on top of what once was a small patch of daisies. Phil then crawled
over to a window that looked in to the living room.

OKAY, two shadows by the fireplace, was that an elbow? Two forms rolled
around a bit. DAMN IT! Get in to the light damn it! Okay whispers, whispers
were good, maybe he could get a voice. No... damn windows. FOR GOD SAKE GET
IN TO THE DAMN LIGHT! Okay, now that was definitely an ass, but who's?
Okay, one head, short hair... must be Mark. Okay head number
two... umm... short hair too... ummm... okay... that's weird, must be that
Campbell chick from over on Oakdale. Okay now, wait, ahhh okay is that a
dick? yeah, must be Mark. Lucky bastard look at her go... okay now she's
standing up, um where are her tits? Mark was dating a flat chested girl?
Dummy... ummmm.. what the hell is that?!?!?!?!?!?! Now that looks like a...

"OH SHIT!" Phil yelled as he jumped up and bolted towards the wall.

Phil used every ounce of strength as he leapt up and grabbed the branch of
the oak tree.  he pulled himself up but he had grabbed the wrong branch,
the one he had was not quite strong enough to hold his weight, with a loud
snap the branch gave way just as Phil lifted himself up. The sound of Phil
cursing and the branch breaking was sure to get Mark's attention.

Still injured and bleeding Phil Forced himself up on to the good branch
just as he heard the front door opening. With a mighty leap Phil threw
himself up on to the wall just as he heard Mark's voice call out "PANZER,
FAUST, ATTACK!" But the dogs were not really a concern as Phil scrambled
across the wall. Just as he reached the place where Will was waiting, his
hand slipped off the wall and Phil fell off in to a rather large decorative
plant.

"Who the hell is out there?" Mark yelled form the other side of the wall.

Will was about to answer when Phil managed to throw a dirty, bruised and
bloody hand over his mouth and mouthed the word "NO!" then grabbed Will's
arm and ran/limped off into the darkness.

On the drive back to Will's house, Will kept asking Phil who was with Mark,
but all Phil did was stare in to the darkness.

**********

Corey was staring into a big black hole on a big black gun. All his
instincts were screaming, he just couldn't get his thoughts straight. Max
was screaming, this guy with the gun was screaming. "Oh shit." He whispered
to himself. In the time it took to chamber the next round, he was toast. If
he managed to get the round in with out getting shot then he would have to
aim, then he would have to fire and hope Max was not hit in any cross fire,
too many factors. But if he didn't do anything and something happened to
Max he would kill himself. Corey allowed himself one quick glance at Max,
for that moment he saw someone who he had to protect no matter what.

"Please Corey put the gun down!"

God those words hurt something down inside, but it would be no good if he
was dead, then there would be no one to protect max. Corey adjusted his
grip careful. Sweat was falling in to his eyes.

"OKAY! OKAY..." Corey said as he slowly lowered the shotgun. He could see
the relief in the eyes of both Max and the man. Corey placed the shotgun on
the ground and let go. The man let out a clear sigh and lowered his own
pistol.

Damn it, he thought, if this guy hurts Max I will kill myself.

**********

Mark let out a clear sigh as he saw the shotgun barrel drop, only when it
was on the ground did he put down his pistol. Mark tried to recover for a
second, he looked at Max, the poor boy looked like he was about ready to
crap in his pants, if he hadn't already.

Mark Still on his hands an knees looked up, "You boys ought to know better
than to come hunting and not tell me. You two could have gotten hurt or
something." Mark decided not to touch the subject of seeing the boys making
out just yet.

Max and Corey just looked at each other confused, they were probably trying
to figure out if Mark had seen them kissing. But then Max's eyes began to
tear up... oh shit, this kid's emotional thought Mark as he stood up and
began to wipe himself clean. Corey looked like he was going to go over to
Max but every time he tried to step forward he would look at Mark and back
down.

Mark started moving towards Max but as he did Corey suddenly went stiff,
like a dog ready to defend his master, and like someone lit a fire under
his ass he finally bolted to Max and began to caress him gently and whisper
to him.

Mark looked down at his feet, that's all he could do, this was not exactly
the time to be watching them.

**********
End part one

Hope you enjoyed that, there is more to come. This is my first "published"
story so advice, corrections and positive notes are appreciated and can be
sent to Obsidian_hunter@ yahoo.com

Good Hunting.
O_H.