Force of Friendship

For some reason this keeps getting placed under Phantom of the Opera, but this is not from Phantom, but a movie called The Pest. I'm sorry about the error but don't know how to fix it.
Anyway, on with the fic. . .
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Ninja lay back on Chub's couch and watched Pest and Chubby embelish the facts about what happened while he was being held as colateral by the Scottish mob. He still couldn't believe that Pestario had done that! but then looking back it was just the kind of thing Pest always did. Not that any of them minded . . . much. It just hurt sometimes that the con artist talked to Chubs like a brother and turned to Ninga only when the mood hit him and he needed help getting out of something.

It did take away some of the sting to know that he wasn't the only one. The German hunter's son, Himmel, was now one of their group and in the same boat that he was. Pest had used his feelings for him to con the other boy into disobeying his father and finally severing all ties to him. Yeah, Gustav had been a psychopath, but he was still Himmel's dad. Pest didn't realise how much he hurt others with his cons.

At the moment, Himmel was stretched out on the couch as well. His legs hanging over the arm and his head resting just short of Ninja's thigh.

"And then Gustave brought all thirty of his goons into the boat and. . ." Pest continued.

Himmel hid a snicker and looked up at Ninga calmly, "Him and Lar were the only ones there."

"And we kicked their collective butts back onto deck!" Chubby crowed.

Ninja looked down at the blond beside him and Himmel shook his head and whispered, "They got him mad by yelling at him and running until he went back on deck and threatened the hostages."

The Japanese/Latino snickered and Pest's face lit up at the attention he thought was being given to his story. "So Me and Chubs kick'deded through the bad guys and smashed Gussie right in the face!"

"They tricked him and threatened him from ten feet and one level away."

"And Himmel says, 'no fucking way I'm shooting a stud like that!' and joins the good guys right Himie?" Pest grinned and Himmel blushed bright.

"Actually I said This was wrong and father would have to shoot me too."

"Yeah yeah well anyway. . . That was mad excellent! MAD excellent!"

Ninja yawned theatrically, "Sounds great Pest, listen I'm heading out 'k? Work tommorow an' all."

"Work." Pest snorted and grinned, "Sure. Teaching little ninjas."

Ninja shrugged, "Whatever." He stood and grabbed up his jacket, "Yo Himmel, wanna ride?"

Chubby spit out his drink laughing and Pest warned, "In the car Himmel, just in the car."

Ninja blinked, "Huh?"

"Sure." Himmel quickly stood and wiped his tear away in the guise of pushing his hair out of his eyes.

Ninja tried to ignore how sexy that simple motion looked.

"Watch out for your snake Bruce!" Chubby warned and doubled over in laughter again.

Once they shut the door behind him Ninja frowned, "What was all that about?"

Himmel blushed and hid his eyes behind his bangs, "You don't know."

"Know what?"

"I like boys."

"Oh yeah. I mean you came on to Pest so it's kinda a given."

"He told you about that?!"

"He wasn't very lucid at the time ya know? It came out something like 'Son of the white devil' and 'hi kiddo pet my snake.'"

They looked at each other a moment before both gave into laughter and Ninja started his jeep.

"Dude that must'a been wrough, your dad makin' ya hunt human beings an' all."

"I got used to it. He couldn't see that I was a complete sissy."

"Nah, you're not a sissy, I mean anyone in that situation would be a little freaked but you handled it real good ya know?"

"No. I don't know. He would have ended up killing me. I wasn't what he wanted in a son. Whatever I did I could not please him. He regretted me and I could do nothing about it."

"Nah dude, he would have been that way to anyone. He was nuts!"

"That doesn't mean I didn't fail him."

"Well who cares right? I mean you got us now. We'll take care 'a you 'k? I'll even teach you how to fight."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I teach martial arts at the children's center. No problem."

"I. . . Would like that."

"Yeah." Ninja smiled and looked back at the road. "I would too." They didn't speak again for a while, then Ninja glanced over at his passenger, "Dude, were do you live?"

Himmel didn't answer.

"You don't have anywhere do ya. And Pest took all of your dads cash."

"It's no problem, The weather is warm. . . I'll sleep on the beach."

"Nah, I'll take you ta my place, you can stay with me."

Crystal blue eyes widened in shock. "You. . . You would let me stay with you?"

"Yah, sure."

"But I. . . don't I make you nervous?"

"Why would ya?"

"Because I. . . like males."

Ninja chuckled, "Hey no problem. You're a good lookin' guy. I'm not 'that' narsasistic. Just 'cause you're gay doesn't mean you'll jump any guy's bones right? Anyway, no one'd choose me over Pest. So we can just be friends huh?"

"Really?"

"Sure. We'll have ta share the bed but it's big enough."

"You are ok with it?"

"Yeah. Like I said, you're a good lookin' guy, why would ya hit on me?"

"You aren't hard to look at either."

Ninja grinned, "Thanks but I know my limitations 'k? Don't flatter me."

Himmel was quiet.

"So? You staying with me or what?"

"Yes. I would like that very much."

"Good deal man. It's messy but you'll like it. Feel free ta help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. Mi casa es su casa."

"Th. . . Thank you."

Both of them smiled all the way back to Ninja's apartment.
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The place was small and in a tough neiborhood, but it was well kept and the man watching the door gave ninja a grin and tossed out a few Spanish words. Ninja tossed back his own and soon they were mock sparring and laughing. Himmel smiled. He had forgotten that people could smile so much.

"Dude this is Himmel, he's shackin' up with me now 'k?"

"You know I'm not supposed to let two people live here for one person's rent."

"Yeah but I'm the 'good' tenant 'member?"

Himmel was shocked when the other man laughed a great belly laugh and shooed them on. "Is it really ok? I wouldn't want to. . ."

"Ya, it's fine." The man waved his off with a punch to the shoulder, "I'll put your name on the door plaque too 'k?"

"Ah I. . ." He tried not to rub the bruise he was sure was forming and looked from the man to ninja in a lost manner.

Ninja grinned, "Excellent man. Thanks."

Himmel opened his mouth to protest as ninja dragged him away, "Ninja! People will think we're. . ."

"In this neiborhood, it's good if they think you're taken. Less risk then. You don't mind people thinking you're with me do you? I can tell the gossips that we're not and they'll spread the word."

For the second time that night Himmel was shocked. Ninja was gorgeous! Why would he think anyone would be ashamed to be his?! "No, I don't mind."

He smiled and Himmel's knees went weak. "Great! Here we are."

"It says Bruce."

Ninja chuckled, "My real name is Bruce Enrique Chavis-Yuri. Ninja's just my nick name."

The German blushed again, "I though it was an odd name but Pest is too and. . ."

"Hey, I don't mind." He shrugged and opened the door, "Call me whatever you want."

Himmel got his first look at his new home, "Hurican Yuri?"

"Hey I TOLD you it was messy."

"Seeing is believing in this case." Himmel laughed. "And I'm not sure there's a floor under all that, is it safe to walk on?"

Ninja growled playfully and stepped inside. he slipped and fell to his knees.

"Guess not."

"Funny. I'm laughing. Come on Smart ass. Welcome home."

"I. . . that is. . . this. . ."

"You're welcome."

He smiled. Everything would be all right.