Disclaimer - I do not own The Song of the Lioness Quartet or any of the characters. If I did it would not be a young-teen book. And Jon would have a kinky, kinky mind...

RPOV

I'd really just wanted to help him, really that's all it was at first.

I'd felt awful when he'd stared out the window in my room, I'd resolved to help him any way possible. The empty expression on his face, the pain and guilt in his eyes, it was too much.

I'd put my arm around his shoulder and attempted to comfort him. "Gary, tell me what's wrong." He shook his head. "Please, tell me, I want to help." At this he'd looked up at me with tears in his eyes – actual tears.

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course." I'd replied instantly. "You're my friend Gary; I can't help but want to help you."

The expression on his face was enough to break your heart.

"Friends." He murmured. I hadn't understood – and he just repeated himself. "Friends." He looked up at me (he'd looked down when he was speaking), crying openly.

I pulled him closer. "Gary, don't cry. Mithros, Gary. Please don't cry." He just sobbed more, tears rolling down his face like rain. "Please Gary, what's wrong with being friends?"

"That's just it, Raoul!" He was bawling against my chest. "That's the problem."

I wrapped both of my arms around him and put my head near his. "I don't understand, please Gary, I hate not understanding and I hate it when you cry. Help me understand." Gary pulled out of my arms and stared into my eyes.

"Raoul." He whispered.

"I-" I stared at him.

"Am-" He was shaking, pale, sweating.

"….Gay."

GPOV

The second I said the words I felt a wave of relief. I'd gotten it out. However Raoul reacted, I'd done my part and now I just had to let it play out.

Raoul stared at me with his amazing dark eyes and his voice came out in a whisper.

RPOV

I didn't know how to react at first. Gary - gay? It just didn't work. How could Gary – smart, strong, chivalrous, masculine Gary – be gay?

But I'd already resolved to help him however I could, I couldn't change my mind now. So I said it, said those two little words. That little lie, that's what it'd been. A little, two-word lie.

"Me too."

Gary had frozen at that – frozen solid. "Wha – what?"

I really didn't want to say it again. But I did. And Gary flew into action. Sweet, passionate, action.

I pressed one hand against his face, against that muscular, rugged face. His lips pressed against mine, his tongue glided around the cavern of my mouth, leaving a tingling feeling behind it. His chest pressed against mine and I could feel every tiny bulge of muscle in his body. His eyes had been so alive, so very alive and happy, that I would have continued forever just to keep that look in his eyes. Just like I would have continued forever just for the taste of his lips or the feel of his hard, muscular body (well, hard other things as well.

But I mean it, I'd started out just wanting to help my friend.

--

Please Reveiw. It won't kill you. But it might kill you if you don't review. Weigh the odds. And be patient. Smut is coming.

El Jugador