This is far from my best work but I figured if I didn't get it written today I probably wouldn't write it at all so I'm posting it as is.

Danny threw his bag down haphazardly in an out of the way corner of the motel room and tentatively joined Ethan who was sitting on the edge of one of the twin beds. The coach had begun to suggest that it might not be entirely appropriate for them to share a room, but Ethan had smoothly talked his way out of the situation, his subterfuge leaving Finstock momentarily baffled as to which twin he was actually talking to at least long enough for the boys to grab the keys and make a quick exit from the lobby.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Danny asked. "I mean, it looked like Isaac got some pretty good hits in and-"

"-looked being the operative word," Ethan cut in reassuringly. "Do I look hurt now?"

Danny studied Ethan's face carefully. He didn't look hurt, not in the slightest. Danny was sure he'd seen the beginnings of some pretty spectacular bruises immediately following the attack, but there was no trace of any injury now. What he did look was weary.

"I guess not. Sorry, I don't mean to coddle you or anything, I just can't help worrying."

"It's okay. I like that you care." Ethan managed a soft smile, and it was one of the rare, brief moments where Danny felt the other boy's words were entirely truthful. With Ethan, he always felt as if he was only getting half the story. Actually he felt like that with a lot of people these days.

"What the hell is wrong with that guy? This is the second time I've see him attack you for no reason."

"Oh, he has his reasons. It's complicated."

There it was again, another of Ethan's cryptic non-answers. The most mystifying thing was how Danny was falling so hard for a guy he knew almost nothing about.

Perhaps Danny's frustration at being kept in the dark was showing because, after a slight hesitation, Ethan continued, staring down at where his hands were clasped in his lap. "Look, I know that you know that I'm not telling you everything, and I'm sorry about that but... right now there are things in my life that are kind of messed up and volatile and on the verge of spinning out of control. And you..." Ethan's eyes took on an uncharacteristic softness as they connected with Danny's. "You're kind and genuine and basically the opposite of all that, and when I'm with you I can almost forget about everything else. So I'd kind of like to keep it that way for as long as I can. I'm not saying I'll never tell you about it all, I'm just asking you to be patient. If that's okay."

"I guess I can do that." Recognising that he wasn't going to get any more information on that particular topic, Danny cautiously approached the other reason he was concerned about Ethan. "Did you... did you hear back about your friend?"

Ethan sighed sadly. "Yeah. Not good news."

"I'm sorry."

"You know what, I just... I really don't want to think about it right now."

"Okay, well how about you tell me what you do want."

That brought another genuine smile to Ethan's face, and a mischievous glint to his eyes. "I want this." He leaned in to capture Danny's lips in a searing kiss.