On The Run

Brody shook his head as he walked back to his patrol car. He was thinking about what had just happened. Hank's attempt to get his rocks off had really rattled Nico. The guy was in trouble and Brody was determined to get it out of him. Why had he left home?

As he approached the car he could see Nico leaning forward, his face covered by his hands. He was clearly upset and Brody wanted to help if he could. He paused just outside the door, unnoticed. After a few seconds he tapped lightly on the window. Nico jumped and then looked up at him. Tears again. What was wrong?

Brody opened the door. “Please don’t arrest me”, Nico pleaded. He slowly got out of the car and stood in front of Brody. “I swear I didn’t do anything”, he said. “Please. They can’t find me.”

“Whoa”, Brody said. “Calm down. He’s gone. It’s all good.”

“What?” Nico asked. He looked to where the truck had been parked. “Where is he?”

“I could tell that you were being truthful”, Body said, reassuringly. “I gave him a load of bull to scare him off and he made a quick exit.”

“Oh my god, I could kiss –“. Nico caught himself. He felt himself begin to blush in embarrassment, but recovered with “I can’t believe it’s over.”

Brody suppressed a smile. “I just need to call this in. Give me a minute.” He went around to the driver’s seat and got on the radio.

Nico could hear Brody saying something, but it wasn’t clear. He didn’t care at that point, and he felt good about Deputy Mathews. He felt lucky that he had been the one to respond to the call. Had it been another officer, who knows how it might have turned out?

Brody was back quickly. “Well, that’s that. Checked it off as a misunderstanding. Nothing to report.” He looked at Nico and was struck with just how attractive he was. He had full features; big lips that cried out to be kissed. Brody fought the urge to stare into Nico’s beautiful eyes. He towered over Nico, who looked up at him in awe. “Thank you”, Nico said softly. He glanced around and noticed that there were no other cars at the stop. He looked back at Brody. “Can I give you a hug?”

Brody also looked around and noticed too that they were alone. “I’m not sure that’s appropriate”. He paused. “But I like hugs, so sure.” He looked at Nico and smiled. Nico reached out and slowly, wrapped his arms around him and Brody returned the hug, his big arms above Nico’s. Nico leaned in close and rested his head on Brody’s chest. It was a lingering hug; very much an embrace. He felt safe in Brody’s strong arms, something he needed at that moment. Brody felt Nico’s body tremble as he let out a soft sigh of relief.

And then Brody’s gaydar went off. Funny that he hadn’t noticed before. Interesting. The plot just got much more interesting. Brody’s horniness also woke up. He could feel his cock stirring again and he pulled away, not wanting to give the wrong impression. As much as he’d love to climb into the car with Nico and have his way with him, it wouldn’t be right, especially knowing what he’d just gone through.

“So, I guess it’s time to get out of here”, Brody said. “My day is done. Are you hungry? My treat.”

“You don’t have to do that”, Nico replied. “Maybe I can call Uber or Lyft?”

“Ha! Yeah, good luck with that”, Brody said, laughing.

“Well I don’t know! I’m not even sure where I am”, Nico said with an embarrassed smile.

He was just starting to realize his situation. He hadn’t gotten that far from home when Hank picked him up. He now found himself in the middle of completely unfamiliar territory.

The sun had set and it was getting darker by the minute. Brody put his hand on Nico’s shoulder and said “Seriously, let me get you off the interstate. I’d like to buy you a meal. We can talk and figure what to do next.”

“OK sure, but you don’t have to buy. I have money.” Nico didn’t want to appear helpless, even though he was feeling more that way by the minute.

Brody looked into the car and noticed that the front passenger seat was full. “Here, let me move this stuff to the back”. He reached in to pick up the contents of the seat and looked back at Nico with a wry smile. “Unless you want to ride in the back”.

“Front please”, Nico quickly replied.

Nico got a quick glance at Brody from behind as he leaned into the vehicle. With all that had been going on he hadn’t really paid attention to much else. “Damn”, Nico thought. Brody’s broad shoulders narrowed down to a tight waist, and bending over emphasized his ample muscled butt. Nico drank in the view; staring unabashedly at Brody’s ass, but quickly turned his gaze as Brody finished.

“All ready for you”, Brody said and gestured for Nico to take a seat. None too soon they left the rest stop and were on the road.

“There’s a local dive just off the next exit. They’ve got a pretty good menu. We’ll be there in less than ten minutes.” Brody looked over at Nico. “You OK?” He asked. “Yeah, I’m good. It’s just been a crazy day.” Nico sighed and looked at Brody. “You’re my hero right now, you know?” He reached over and pushed the palm of his hand against Brody’s thigh, letting it rest there for a few seconds. Then, leaning toward the passenger door, he put the side of his face against the cool glass. He gazed at the stars shining in the evening twilight sky and then closed his eyes, wondering what he was going to do next.

Just as Brody had said, they arrived within minutes. “Here we are. Ned’s”, Brody announced as they parked. The “dive” sat alone on a stretch of narrow country road. Soft light emitted from the inside, and there was a small neon beer sign on the front of the nondescript building. A light mounted onto a tall pole dimly lit the parking area. Beyond that it was bordering on pitch black outside. The sky and the stars were more visible than Nico had ever seen. He stared up in disbelief. “Pretty amazing, huh? It took me some time to get used to it”, Brody said as he also glanced upward. “C’mon. Let’s see what they’ve got to eat tonight.” Brody placed his fingers around the back of Nico’s neck and squeezed slightly, as if to motion him toward the door. Nico felt a chill down his back at Brody’s touch. He smiled at him and then moved forward. Brody’s hand dropped away. He wanted to caress Nico’s back; to let his hand fall and rest on his full ass. Damn. The temptation.

“I need to go to the restroom”, Nico said as they entered. “Over to the left, in the back”, Brody responded. “I’ll get us a table.” Brody caught the attention of a waitress. “Hi Jill. How’s it going?” “Kind of slow tonight Deputy Mathews”, she said. “C’mon now, none of that deputy stuff”, Brody replied. “I need a quiet table. Maybe one of those booths in the back?” Brody smiled at her. “Take your pick. One of us will be with you in a few”, Jill said and went about her way.

Even with the small crowd, Brody wanted a private booth so maybe he could get Nico to tell him what was going on; why he had left home. He grabbed a couple of menus and found a quiet spot; leaving the menus on the table and also headed to the restroom. He met Nico on his way and pointed to the booth. “Be right back.” When Brody returned, Jill was at the table. She took their orders and then they were alone.

At first it was a bit awkward, as neither of them knew what to say. They both looked around the room and then they looked at each other. Brody smiled and said “I have to say, this is not the usual way things end up after a call.”

“Yeah sure, I’m special”, Nico said, laughingly.

“I think you are, and maybe you just don’t know it”, Brody said. “I also think that you’ve got more to tell me”.

Nico looked down at the table and then looked at Brody. “Smooth. Maybe you should be an interrogator”.

“Well actually”, Brody replied. “But let’s stick to the subject at hand. I didn’t press it at the rest stop, but you said a few things that need to be cleared up. Obviously the leaving home thing and then something about not wanting to be found. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“There’s nothing to tell”, Nico said as he tried to avoid eye contact.

“Look at me”, Brody said softly. “I’m here to help”. He stared at Nico, watching him squirm in his seat and not looking back at him for more than a second. Brody felt for him. He could clearly see Nico struggle with holding back his story.

In a sympathetic tone, Brody continued. “Let me help you sort this out. I’ve seen and heard quite a bit in my few years as a cop. I know you’ll feel better getting it off your shoulders.

“I don’t know about all that”, Nico replied.

“I hope I’m not sitting across the table from someone who should be behind bars”, Brody said firmly and surprised himself by saying it. “That was harsh. I apologize”.

“I’m gay”, Nico interjected.

Brody continued with “I just want to help. Wait, what?”

“I’m gay”, Nico repeated.

“Tell me something I don’t already know”, Brody said under his breath.

Nico took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and softly said “I can’t believe I just said that. Wait, what did you just say?”

Jill arrived with their orders and they both sat there, looking at each other. “Anything else I can get for you?” She smiled and paused.

“That was quick. I think we’re good”, Brody said. Another smile and she was gone.

Brody looked at Nico. He paused and smiled, then asked, “Did you just come out to me?”

Nico looked stunned and replied, “I think I did. I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“Am I the first person you’ve told?” Brody knew what he was going through.

“I don’t know why. I barely know you.” Nico felt his heart racing.

“It’s OK. I’m happy that you felt comfortable with me. I was thinking that I’d be pressing you for info, and then this. Wow. But you still haven’t told me why you’ve left home. What’s the problem?” Brody asked.

“That’s just it.”

“Because you’re gay?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not a crime.”

“It is for me.”

“You’re not making sense.”

“It’s my family. They wouldn’t understand.” Nico’s voice was getting louder.

“OK, shh. Unless you want to announce it to the world, I suggest you lower your voice. Things are pretty chill around here, but they don’t know about me.”

“What about you?”

Brody smiled. “Seriously? You haven’t picked up on it?”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. What’s so wrong with your family?”

Nico paused and said “I have a dangerous family; I mean a really dangerous family that wouldn’t want the world to know that the youngest son didn’t fit the mold”. He pointed to himself with both hands and said, “Especially this way”.

“Dangerous. What does that even mean?” Brody asked.

Nico leaned in across the table and slowly said in a hushed tone “My family is Mafiosi. Being gay is a big no.”

Brody’s eyes widened. “Oh. Geez, you’re full of surprises.

“Why am I telling you all this? What is it about you? A cop, no less.” Nico looked at Brody with a bemused smile.

“Maybe it’s because we’re alike”, Brody said. He looked into Nico’s eyes.

“How so?” Nico asked.

“You really don’t know, do you?” He looked at Nico for a few seconds and smiled. “Let me just say, you don’t have the best gaydar.”

“Oh. OH!” Nico suppressed a smile. “No way”, he said. “This is crazy.”

“No doubt”, Brody said, staring into Nico’s eyes. “I think we should eat while it still might be warm”.

They ate in silence, looking at each other sporadically between bites and in just minutes their plates were empty. “That was good”, Nico commented. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.” “Me neither”, Brody replied. “Yeah, the food is pretty good here.” The bill came and they bickered over it, with Brody insisting that he would cover it. They made their way outside and back to the patrol car. In their seats, they sat again in awkward silence.

Brody looked at Nico. “When did you realize…that you were gay?”

“When I got involved in sports in junior high. I started checking out the guys; kept finding myself looking and trying not to get caught. And then in high school, the guys got bigger and they got hotter. The locker room was the worst.” Nico sighed. “It was rough, trying to keep from looking; listening to the shit they’d say and tossing the word faggot around. There was one guy on the soccer team that I think knew about me. I think he would’ve made a move if I showed any interest, but I just couldn’t risk it”.

Nico rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands and then looked directly at Brody. “With the Mafia, gays go missing”, he said, fighting back tears.

“So what happened? What made you leave when you did?”

“There was this guy”. Nico closed his eyes.

“I’ve heard that before”, Brody said, trying to lighten the moment.

His eyes still shut, Nico smiled. “There was this guy.” He let out a chuckle, opened his eyes and continued. “I was doing a tour of some colleges. At Cornell it so happened that I was the only one touring the campus that afternoon. Tyler was his name; my guide. Really cute. The heat between us was just, well… Long story short, Tyler came on to me. I did NOT resist. He was the first guy that I had any sexual contact with, and I wasn’t going to miss the chance. We were in an empty office and before I knew it he was on his knees in front of me, opening my pants.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I just knew you were going to tell me that you were the one on your knees”, Brody said.

Nico looked over at Brody. “Thanks a lot”, he said. “But actually, given the chance, I would have done just that. Anyway we must have been making too much noise, because a security guard showed up out of nowhere and saw us. The guard and I made eye contact and I recognized him. Mafia. This guy was bottom-rank; probably took the guard job for some extra cash. All I knew was that word could spread quickly. Guys like him spread crap to earn points with those above them in the ranks. It’s all such bullshit, but very real. I got out of there and made it home as fast as I could. That was just a few days ago, and here I am.”

“This is just surreal”, Brody said.

“I know, right?!?”

“But couldn’t your family just deny it for you, or protect you in some way?” Brody asked.

“I don’t think it’s that simple, but I wasn’t going to wait around and find out the hard way. I did leave a note for my mom to find, to let her know that I was leaving and that I’m OK.

Brody stared at Nico.

Nico stared back and said “That’s pretty much it. I feel like I’ve been to confession.”

Trying to keep a straight face, Brody said “Funny, at one time I was going to become a priest.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

Brody paused and then asked “I have to know. Did you finish?”

“Finish?” Nico looked confused.

“Tyler. On his knees?”

Nico’s eyes widened. “You perv!”

With a slight smile and unblinking eyes Brody asked again. “So? Did you?”

“If you must know, NO. He didn’t even put his lips on my dick before the guy showed up. It was Mafia interruptus”.

“I guess that still makes you a virgin”, Brody said with a playful tone.

“Yeah, I guess it does”, Nico replied. “Sucks”.

“Maybe sucks is not the best word”, Brody said. More laughter.

Brody started the car. He put both hands on the steering wheel, leaned in and looked over at Nico. “I guess you’re coming home with me”, he said.

Nico wanted to respond, but didn’t know what to say. What else was he going to do? He sat silently as they left Ned’s and drove out into the night.

End of Chapter Two