Okay, so he wasn't exactly expecting this.

Seeing Thrax again was far too much for him to handle. Ozzy couldn't remember the last time his heart had jumped into his throat so suddenly. They stood in the cold of the square, with Thrax's arms wrapped around him, trench coat shielding him from the chill. People walked by them, completely oblivious that they could be privy to the most pure sight of all. Thrax looked down at the man in his arms, the man who so willingly fell into his hands and opened his heart to him. Watery eyes looked into his own, so full of hope and something else.

"I love you," he repeated softly.

A smile tugged the corner of the taller mans mouth, and he breathed out slowly to compose himself. "I love you too, baby." This time the ex-cop grinned from ear to ear, and he laughed at the ease with which this was all coming. He pushed up from his toes, wrapping his arms around Thrax's neck and let out a puff of air against his lips. Ozzy wasn't usually one to let someone else make the first move, and he wasn't about to start now. Without further ado, nor care for the public, he pressed his lips firmly against his mans. Thrax was responsive the second they made contact, his hands coming up to card through the shorter mans hair and rub gentle circles into his temples as he did. The kiss last only a heartbeat, and yet Ozzy felt like it was the most meaningful they had ever experienced. They parted, though Thrax followed his mouth down a little in an attempt to keep it going. He smiled fondly at the man, and in return Ozzy stuck out his tongue.

"So, you're coming to Russia then?"

"Oh I don't know. I think I need some time to decide. Of course! I said so, didn't I?" He leaned up and kissed him again, just a quick peck on the corner of his mouth. Thrax put an arm out for him to take, and Ozzy took it, for once shoving all thoughts of image down into the dirt. He didn't need an image anymore. "Well, our flight is in a week. I am staying at a hotel. I'm selling most of my properties. That's a talk for later though, I imagine." They began walking, not brisk and not hurried. With leisure. As though he wasn't the great crime lord and Ozzy hadn't just lost everything and gained it all back.

A silence followed, companionable and easy. They walked the winding streets until they came to a grand hotel, which Ozzy couldn't be bothered to remember the name of. Thrax took him up passed security to his suite, which as it turned out, was the entire top floor. Ozzy wasn't about to complain. He had nothing to complain about. Though grief was still a large part of his conscience, he has Thrax back again. And this time he wasn't about to let him get away. This time, he was going to fight for what he wanted. No way was anything going to take that away, no sir. Not from Ozzy Jones.

Thrax opened the door for him and proceeded to close it after they had both entered, heading straight to the bathroom. Ozzy tossed his jacket on the chair in the hall, and kicked off his shoes. The place was pleasant enough, though it practically oozed the whole 'rich people stay here' vibe. The floors were legitimate hard wood and the rugs were all bright and soft. The walls were cream and had paintings of various things on them, all very neutral so as to be appreciated by all sorts of guests. Why anyone would find flowers in a watering can nice to look at was beyond Ozzy. He headed towards the bathroom to see what Thrax was doing and oh. Oh my.

The man was already naked. His dark skin practically glowing in the light. Ozzy's mouth went dry when his eyes wandered ever down to the dick between his legs. Thrax was not erect, but still large none the less. The last time anything had happened he was inebriated, and he could only vaguely remember the sex. He knew it was good of course, his sore ass was a testament to that.

"Ahem."

Ozzy swallowed thickly and looked up, a blush gracing his cheeks. Thrax was smiling, and Ozzy was surprised at the lack of lust radiating off him, given the situation. "Take a bath with me." It was a phrase, though a slight inflection could have meant it was a question. Ozzy didn't know what power on earth could have kept him from taking a bath with this man. Ever really, but especially now. He nodded and hummed in agreement, before stripping and watching Thrax run the bath. The ex-cop got a fine view of the mans ass when he bent over to turn the taps on, and his own cock twitched at the sight. He could appreciate a fine behind when he saw one. He was pulling his shirt off when Thrax came to stand in front of him, no shyness and all hot skin. Ozzy raised an eyebrow when he did nothing other than put his hands on his waist, massaging small circles into the grooves on his hips. The look in his eyes suggested something other than sex was going through his mind. For once Ozzy wished it was lust instead of anything else, quite the opposite compared to him a few months prior.

"Is something wrong?"

Thrax pressed his forehead against Ozzy's, still watching his eyes with reverence. "No, nothing is wrong baby, it's just..." He grasped the mans hand in his own, easily eclipsing it, and bringing it to his mouth to kiss the knuckles. "I just can't believe I have you again."

The emotion behind the sentiment is what really got to Ozzy. The rawness of it all. The pain and relief and happiness and sadness all at once in his tone. He looked away, unable to handle the intensity of the gaze. "I'm the lucky one here. I mean," he shrugged, still not daring to look, "There are people who would literally kill to be with you." He looked up again, to see Thrax still looking at him. His brow was furrowed now though, eyebrows knitted. "Are you saying you wouldn't kill for me?" Now Ozzy mimicked his partner, and scowled, "I wouldn't kill for anyone. I don't want any part of that now." And suddenly he realises that what he agreed to, going to Russia with Thrax, meant that he was now part of something criminal. Something where people died all the time, like... Ozzy swallowed. He couldn't think about that now. But... but he was. Any arousal faded instantly, and the hot skin in front of him didn't seem so inviting. Thrax noticed the change and turned to shut the water off, having filled the tub high enough to meet his standards.

"Come on, baby."

He helped Ozzy into the tub, sitting in the corner and pulled the man into his lap. The sat facing the same way, and soaked quietly in the bubbles. Thrax ran fingers through Ozzy's hair in a comforting gesture, that was not working so well, though Ozzy knew it was the thought that counted. If he was going to do... whatever this was with Thrax, he was going to see people die. He was going to be a big part of it all too. He couldn't let himself forget what the man had done and what he planned to do. So far as he knew, Thrax had people everywhere. Why was Russia such an impossibility? It wasn't of course. It was entirely plausible. Ozzy didn't know if he could handle death anymore. Reese had been the final straw.

Oh god Reese was dead, wasn't he? The tears welled up unwillingly, and though Ozzy had thought he had passed this stage of grief, clearly his heart proved him wrong. His chest was tight and his throat hurt with the stress of trying not to release a cry. Thrax pulled him tighter against his chest, inhaling the scent of his hair. "Shhh," he murmured softly, and Ozzy came to know that he was crying outright. The water rippled as he shook and the noises of his moans, for once not in pleasure, bounced off the tiled walls. "Talk to me baby, please? Let me help you," Thrax implored. But Ozzy was too far gone, and simply leaned into the embrace and let it all go.

It took a long time for him to calm down. The water was no longer hot, just lukewarm, and he was starting to prune. "Thrax? Can we go to bed?" It came out sniffled, if a bit quiet, but Thrax still heard. "Of course baby. Let me wash you up first, okay?" Ozzy nodded once, and allowed the man to do his work. He started with his hair, putting a penny sized dot of shampoo and working it into his dark hair expertly. It was a head massage, and he cupped water to pour over him gently in order to wash the suds out. It felt good, Ozzy decided, being taken care of. He just wished... but wishes were silly. Wishes were for people who had faith. At the moment Ozzy was not one of them.

Thrax stood and dried himself off first, before opening a fresh towel for the man in the tub. Ozzy got up slowly, his muscles no longer aching from being out in the cold all night, and he stepped into the fluffy fabric with a gentle sigh. Thrax dried his body in such a way that might be considered worshipping, and ensured his tears were wiped away. Wordless, he took his hand and lead him to the bedroom.

It was immaculate, though lacked all sense of personality. As a hotel should be, Ozzy supposed. The sheets were not starched too much thankfully, and nor were they scratchy. He climbed into the bed without a care, and snuggled into the soft down comforter without looking back. The bed dipped a fraction as Thrax crawled into it, lifting the blankets as he did. The cold air on Ozzy's back so suddenly made him shiver, but then there was skin and he didn't have the effort to complain. Thrax kissed his shoulder blades and wrapped him in his arms, simply holding him. "Baby," he murmured into Ozzy's hair, "I'm sorry."

Ozzy rolled over, to look into golden eyes. "Yeah. Me too."

The crime lord let his eyes drop, and his breath turned slightly ragged, as though he was trying to keep himself in check. It took a long time for the silence to break, and by then Ozzy was near asleep. "I couldn't save him Ozzy. I was too late. It isn't your fault."

His eyes flew open to look back at Thrax, the mans own yellow eyes gone watery. He thought it was his fault? Maybe before Ozzy would have given anything to hear that confession. But he wasn't upset about fault and blame anymore... just for the loss. Reese was someone special. A very special man indeed, his best friend and brother in the force. Losing him so suddenly and being thrown into this vortex of chaos was not something Ozzy relished. But it happened, and there wasn't much else to say on the matter. Still, that was logic, and the logical part of his brain was slowly being taken over by emotion. "Thrax," he responded, lifting a hand to the mans face, "I just... I just need time. I can't... I love you. But I won't be a part of anything you do. I can't. Re-" he swallowed thickly, "Reese was the only thing I had to lose. And now it's you. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, too."

Outside in the street cars broke the silence, the daylight still streaming through the window. Yet here he was, exhausted and ready to sleep away the day with his man. The quiet was too much, and Ozzy continued on. "I want you to stop everything. If you really want to be with me. You have to stop."

Thrax kept his eyes shut, and Ozzy felt nerves begin to knock. What if Thrax left him? He was the only one left now. Not that Ozzy was good enough for him anyway. It was laughable that he thought he could be what Thrax wanted.

"I know."

Now it was Ozzy's turn to lower his gaze. Would he really leave?

"That's why I told you earlier. I'm selling it all. I can't keep up with everything anymore." He clutched at Ozzy's middle desperately, as though he was afraid it was all a mirage, "I don't want to be without you."

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A/N: GUYS. I know it was short. I know. Believe me. I do. But I wanted everyone who follows this story to know that I am back! I will be working on a rewrite of this one and a sequel as well. It will follow both Thrax and Ozzy and Ariadne and Shar. If anyone has any ideas, by all means leave a review with them. Anything specific you'd like to see.

I will be exploring Thrax's family ties, as well as a bit more sex. I haven't ever written anything hardcore, but I definitely think I want to put some in here.

Anyway, this was just one of those things that I wanted to put in so that people were notified to be on the look out. I sincerely thank all of you for staying with me along the way! I love you all! See you in the sequel!