Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 15

A stethoscope, pilfered through slight-of-hand with the paramedic, joined Will's bag. He didn't feel good taking it, not only stealing but not knowing if he could pull it off. The justification came from the need to hear Massaru and Louis, even in brief intervals. They gathered their belongings in the handicapped stall again, hoping their "luck" would continue and no one would walk in on them. Louis' duffel took up the space in the middle, Massaru held his own bag by the handle, and Will propped his suitcase on top of the toilet seat, triggering it to flush every couple of minutes. A crowded stall, but it would do.

Massaru handed Will a hot paper cup from the building's café.

"I shouldn't drink anything while you guys are in there," said Will.

"Hot water and honey; more honey than water," said Massaru, lifting the cup's lid. "To help you get us down in lieu of your usual gel."

Will looked to Louis, wondering his opinion on the improvised lubricant, but the blond kept silent, taking his shoes and jacket off and stuffing them into his duffel.

"Thanks," said Will, placing the cup on top of the toilet paper dispenser.

Louis motioned to Massaru. "Let's do this."

Will took a final look around the bathroom before locking the stall, empty but for the three of them and the constantly flushing toilet. He nodded and pressed himself against the locked door, as far from Louis and Massaru as possible. Louis sat astride his duffel and Massaru did the same, holding his large blue suitcase to his chest like a child with an oversized Christmas present. Louis wrapped one arm around the Indian doctor, and took his shades off with the other, eyes still closed. He held Massaru tighter and then opened his grey eyes, looking straight at Will and the fluorescent lights above him.

Like waiting for a camera to flash; for a few seconds nothing happened and then Will saw damp tile where Louis' head had been.

Louis and Massaru had shrunk, as had the duffel, but Massaru's suitcase remained normal sized, teetering on its side corner.

Will grabbed the luggage before it fell, hearing faint curses from the floor, and set it aside, banging his left arm against the stall in the process, making him hiss. Louis and Massaru, each no bigger than the bathroom tiles, had scrambled back from the suitcase.

"Fuckin' shit!" said Louis.

"Forgive me. I should have had a better hold of it."

Will knelt. "Are you guys okay—"

The bathroom door opened and all three hushed. Two men walked in, chatting about the explosion as they approached the urinals.

"Didn't expect an this when I touched down. It's like an action movie."

Will set his hand down for Louis and Massaru. The toilet flushed again. Holding the two men steady, he picked up the cup of honey and water and held it by his palm.

Louis glared up at him and shook his head. Will jerked his head, wanting to just drop his partner into the drink, but refused to commit such abuse when Louis couldn't fight back. Massaru went first, Louis reluctantly after, and Will put the lid back on.

"Especially in San Francisco. My brother won't believe this."

"Yes he will cause the news team is going to town about a possible terrorist bombing."

Media attention. That was the last thing Will needed if he wanted to get out of the airport. He scooped up Louis' shades and hung them from his shirt collar. Wedging Massaru's suitcase against the long handle of his own luggage, Will walked out of the stall and straight to the exit, cup held carefully in one hand and luggage dragged behind him in the other.

The two men were still talking. "If this is an action movie then which one of us is the hero?"

Me, mouthed Will, walking back into the sunlight and chaos. And the two guys in a paper cup.

News vans dotted the parking lot, each crowding around the police tape as a crew examined the wreck. A few of the soccer players were being interviewed by the news reporters, bright lights in their faces as they told their view of the explosion.

A man dashed by Will, nearly knocking the cup out of his hand. He held it close to his chest, feeling more than hearing Louis' frustration. Massaru remained eerily quiet. Will had to take care of them. Better now than later.

Will sat on a curb away from the vans, and took the top off the cup. The two tiny men stood chest deep in a light gold liquid. Of course, Louis looked like he wanted to tear something apart. Massaru looked blank.

"Time to go in," Will whispered. He held the cup up to his lips, tilting it just enough for the near hot liquid to gather under his tongue. Will grimaced, Massaru hadn't been kidding when he said it was more honey than water, almost too sweet for him to stand. But it had a molten, soothing feel, like hot syrup. He hoped it would help get Louis down. He felt tiny hands reach into his mouth, finding purchase on his bottom teeth, and then a body, shaking and wet, climbing in. At least the syrup covered Louis' coffee taste.

Once he felt Louis in the right position, legs towards the back of the mouth, Will took a deep breath, closed his lips, tilted his head back, and swallowed.

It felt like swallowing a fist sized hunk of taffy. Will massaged his sternum and swallowed the residual sweetness as Louis twisted down. The It was strange not hearing Louis, the groans and gasps of his partner as he moved deeper, but he could definitely feel him. A final, wrenching, twist at the end, and Louis was in. Will sighed, rubbing his forehead, sweat at his temples, and then looked down at the cup.

Massaru had watched the whole process and stood frozen in the honey water, eyes wide even in his tiny size. Will gently put the cup down beside his leg, suddenly self-conscious. He couldn't even look at Massaru. How horrifying was it to see someone swallowed by a giant and know they were next?

"If there were another way to do this I would," said Will.

"I believe you."

Will was surprised he could hear Massaru at all over the chaos of police and news crews.

"Are you okay with this?"

Massaru shrugged, but it looked forced. "I survived it once. I can do it again. Any advice?"

"Go feet first. Not much else to say since I've never been on your end."

Massaru nodded and Will took that as a sign the Indian doctor was ready. At least one of them was. His throat was going to hurt bad after this. Will raised the cup again, waiting as Massaru took his time slipping towards his mouth in the honey water. Through sweet water and salt, Will tasted something unique.

Is that... curry powder? Will made a note to tell Massaru to lay off the spices the next time he cooked, or at least to wear protective gear.

A few seconds of waiting for Massaru to adjust, and then Will tilted his head back, swallowing.

"Hey!" A hand clapped on Will's shoulder.

Will's chest seized in surprise, and the lump in his throat turned into a burning stone.