BANE

CHAPTER SEVEN - BROOD (Part 2)

Holden felt refreshed after sleeping through most of the movie. He leaned up against the wall of the bar with Corbin and took a sip of his fourth beer. "Well, what do you think?"

"It's so clean."

"Anything looks clean compared to that dank little demon bar you usually go to."

"It's not a demon bar."

Holden chuckled. "Well, whatever you are."

"You're not exactly excluded from that category anymore, either," Corbin set down his drink and turned to his boyfriend. "Kiss me in public."

"That's a bold request. This has been a liberating day for you," Holden turned, pinning Corbin against the wall by his wrists and kissing him. "This is the reverse of the last time we were in a bar together..." He slid his tongue up Corbin's neck and they kissed again.

"No biting this time," Holden let go of his wrists and Corbin gripped a handful of his boyfriend's blond hair as their kissing deepened. One hand slid down Holden's back while the other remained tangled in his hair.

"Jesus Christ, that's hot..."

"Oh my god, no way!"

Holden grinned, breaking their kiss. "I think we might have an audience..."

"Then let's put on a good show," They kissed again. Holden began to grind his hips against him when Corbin felt a vibration. "That's a new development..."

Holden laughed. "It's your phone, you idiot. You're getting a text," He reached into the front pocket of Corbin's jeans and retrieved his phone. He resumed kissing his boyfriend's neck while Corbin checked the message.

"It's from Trevor?"

"What about?"

"What the fuck?" Corbin held Holden back so that they had roughly six inches between their bodies. He held up his phone to show a photo of their recently interrupted make out session. "He's here?"

Holden scanned the crowded room for the familiar face. "So much for not seeing anyone we know..." He spotted Trevor grinning next to the bar and gave an awkward wave to their young co-worker.

Trevor walked over while shaking his head in disbelief. "I didn't realize you guys showed so much restraint at work, holy shit!" He laughed raucously. "This is hilarious!"

"What are you doing here?"

"Um, drinking. I feel like that's obvious."

"But, here?" Holden gestured to the bar filled primarily with men.

Trevor sipped his drink. "Why so surprised? Did you guys think you were the only queer people I know? Come on, I'm eighteen!" He laughed more. "I'm here with my friend Kelly, who's..." He turned to point out where his friend had last been, ordering a drinking from the bar. "Nowhere to be found, apparently. Well anyway, they've been my best friend since junior high. We're here literally every weekend."

Corbin finally spoke, but only to excuse himself from the conversation. "...I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

"He's not really himself today," Holden explained. "His brother and sister are in town right now and he's acting out a bit... and drinking a lot."

"Ya think?"

"Hey, Trevor? If anyone asks, Corbin and I were at work all evening, okay?"

"Okay sure," Trevor nodded. "Wait! There was someone. Jenna told me someone was asking about you guys, but I wasn't in the room at the time. Sorry I don't have any details. There was a blonde woman by the bar for a while, maybe it was her?"