Do It One More Time

* * * * *

"You got us a room here?" Joxer exclaimed in
surprise as a few minutes later, they approached
the Egio Seaview Inn. It was only the nicest
hotel in the town--in fact, one of the nicest in
several surrounding towns. All of the festival's
most renowned performers and its wealthiest
supporters were supposedly staying here, and the
place was, Joxer had heard, usually booked solid
for the week of the festival over a year in
advance. "How did you...?"

"The owner's an old friend of mine," Autolycus
explained. "I did him a few favors a while ago,
so he did one for me this time. You know I like
to travel in style."

That was true, Joxer knew from experience,
although he had to ask as he took in the
expansive lobby of the hotel, the well-dressed
guests and staff all around, "What were you
planning on doing, impressing me back into your
good graces?" Joxer said it mostly as a joke,
but he saw the thief flinch slightly and
regretted saying it soon after the words were
out of his mouth.

"It's not like that, Jox. I just thought if
things worked out, we should enjoy somewhere
nice and all--"

"--I know, I was kidding, Auto," Joxer told him
quickly. "This is great, really... especially
compared to where I've been staying the past few
nights."

"Didn't look like you were minding the company
that much."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, just that you and Gabrielle seemed to be
having a good enough time together."

Joxer paused and turned around, playfully
accusing, "You were jealous?"

"Me? Nah. Not really." Under Joxer's continued
stare, he confessed, "Okay, kind of. But I
figured I deserved as much. Guess I just wished
it was me you were having a good time with,
instead of me being the one you were running
away from."

"I would have been having a better time with
you. So no more running away from any problems,"
Joxer promised, "and no keeping secrets, if
something's wrong. Deal?"

"Deal," Autolycus agreed, taking Joxer by the
arm and heading up the stairs. "Now how about
we, as they sput put this deal to bed."

A few moments later, Joxer's eyes widened in
surprise as Autolycus opened the door to their
room. Stepping inside, he took in the sight of
the luxurious decor, the huge bed dressed in
fine silk, and the large windows that opened
onto a balcony overlooking the sea. "Wow...I
haven't stayed somewhere this nice since...ever,
I think." He shrugged off his bag and carefully
puwn hwn his new lute on a chair near the door.

"Sometimes it's worth living it up, you know?"
Autolycus remarked after closing the door.
Stepping up behind Joxer, he enfolded him in his
arms and added, "Some people are worth
it...definitely worth it."

Joxer closed his eyes and leaned back against
the thief, welcoming his strong embrace, the
missed feeling of being this close. He could
have cared less where they were; as long as
Autolycus was with him, that was all
m
mattered. Still, he had to admit as he opened
his eyes and admired their surroundings once
more, this place definitely beats that old
stable, and that bed does look comfortable...

"I'm gonna make sure you know how much I want
you here, Joxer," Auto said softly against
Joxer's ear, so close the hairs of the thief's
moustache tickled Joxer's skin. "You, and only
you." Warm, heavy breath against his neck turned
into warmer lips, working their way up to his
earlobe, then teasingly sucking on it. The
sensation left Joxer weak in the knees and
thankful for the strong body behind him, keeping
him on his feet when his own legs no longer
seemed up for the task.

He sighed as the persistent mouth traveled back
down his neck, working its magic on his
sensitive skin. As much as his body craved this
attention, this erotic touch, more than anything
his heart and his spirit felt free again--free
to enjoy the love they shared once more.

Auto's hands did not rest for a moment, instead
proceeding to strip Joxer of his clothing with
ease, if not speed. No, Autolycus seemed to be
enjoying taking his time, slipping agile fingers
through the loops and freeing the buttons of
Joxer's vest, then the cuffs of his shirt. As
each piece of attire fell softly to the floor,
Joxer shivered with building anticipation and
delight at the feel of those fingers now
touching his bare skin. The thief even slid down
onto his knees, to unlace Joxer's boots, urging
Joxer to then step out of them. Joxer's pants
and shorts were soon to join the rest of his
discarded clothes, leaving him to wonder just
what Autolycus had in store for him next.

"Gods, I love the way you look, the way you
feel..." Auto told him, running his hands over
Joxer's smooth calves and thighs. He kissed the
back of Joxer's right knee unexpectedly, which
caused the standing man to start giggling and
nearly fall to the floor, it tickled so much.

"Auto!"

"Sorry..." the thief apologized, although he
didn't sound very sincere. He slowly rose from
his knees, hands tracing along Joxer's sides as
he did so and leaving Joxer's skin tingling in
their wake. Standing again, Autolycus turned
Joxer to face him, taking a moment to appreciate
his body. Joxer looked into the dark eyes when
they rose to his face, surprised by the
intensity of Auto's gaze. The thief spoke
slowly, pausing often as he seemed to struggle
with his words, "Jox...it ain't easy sometimes,
for me to tell you things. Like, how glad I am
we've got each other. How much you mean to me.
How, sometimes...I feel like every time I see
you, or hold you...it's like, I feel like I'm
falling in love with you all over again. I'm
just not used to saying things like that...even
when I want to, and I know you deserve to hear
it, and know it, the words...they get all mess up up in my head and don't come out the way they
should. Like right now."

"Auto, You don't have to say anything; I know,"
Joxer assured him.

Autolycus shook his head and insisted, "No. If
you really knew, you wouldn't have doubted me.
You would have known I could never want
anyone...anyone but you."

Joxer didn't know what to say. It was so rare to
hear Autolycus speaking so openly, and Joxer was
finding it difficult to hold in his own
emotions. He ended up deciding the best response
was to simply pull Auto close, and kiss him with
every ounce of passion and love that he could
muster. His tongue ravished the welcoming mouth,
meeting Auto's tongue and searching out the warm
depths, then pulling back to trace over the
sweet lips. He pulled the thief's bottom lip
between his own and sucked heavily, until the
other man moaned against him, clutching harshly
at his naked body.

"Mmmmph..." Auto murmured, when Joxer finally
let him come up for air some long time later.
With a grin, his eyes glistening brighter than
usual, Auto remarked, "Maybe I really oughtta
work on this communication stuff some more, if
that's the kind of response I get."

"I'm all ears, any time you want to practice..."

"I'm sure you are."

"You know, it seems like a real shame to be
standing here when there's that big, comfy-
looking bed right behind us," Joxer suggested,
running his hand down along the other man's
back.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Auto agreed,
following Joxer as he walked towards the bed--
until Joxer stopped him with a firm hand to his
chest.

"Get undressed first," he insisted, and added
with a smile as he laid down, "slowly."

Autolycus looked at him with equal parts
frustration and desire. "Slowly, huh?" the thief
asked, loosening the buttons on the sleeves of
his blouse.

"Mmm hmm," Joxer agreed, sprawling out lazily on
the soft sheets and settling into a comfortable
position that granted him the best possible
view.

Autolycus rolled his eyes and asked, "Want me to
do a little dance while I'm at it?"

"Just take your time. I like watching you." He
couldn't help it, he simply loved watching the
handsome thief strip, gradually revealing that
delicious body. Joxer bit his lip to keep in a
sigh as Auto's black shirt fell to the ground,
revealing his tanned and well-defined chest and
shoulders, the trail of dark hair that lead down
to his waist.

Auto kicked off his boots and then started
unlacing the front of his pants, his eyes on
Joxer the whole time, watching his reactions
with obvious amusement. "Slow enough for ya?"
Auto asked, pausing for a moment to rub his hand
over his groin. The sight was enough to make
Joxer squirm; if watching Autolycus strip made
him hot, watching him touch himself was enough
to make hiel oel on fire.

"Yeah..." Joxer breathed, struggling between
wanting to just watch him and aching to touch
him instead. A whimper nearly escaped his throat
as Auto finished unlacing the top of his pants,
sliding them down his legs damnably slowly,
revealing his swollen cock and firm naked
thighs. Gohow how can someone so incredible be
mine? he wondered as he took in the
breathtaking view.

As soon as the pants were kicked aside,
Autolycus descended upon Joxer with a low,
"Enough foolin' around," then claimed Joxer's
mouth for a harsh kiss. Autolycus' body covered
him, warm flesh rubbing against his own with
every movement, every caress. It was such an
incredible a feeling, he couldn't get enough of
it. Ever. His hands ran over the smooth back,
down to the firm curve of the thie ass ass.
Autolycus in turn ground his hips against him,
pressing his cock against Joxer's in delicious
friction. Nothing could ever be better than
this, Joxer thought dreamily, except if there
was some way to make it last forever...

"I want you so bad..." Auto groaned. "I want to
make you feel so good."

"I'm feeling real good right now."

"I know, I mean, tell me what you want.
Anything," Autolycus urged, kissing his way
along Joxer's neck. "Anything to make you
happy."

"Mmm...well that's pretty nice," Joxer murmured,
content enough to let the thief do whatever he
wished.

"How about this?"

Joxquirquirmed and gasped as the Auto moved down
lower and flicked his tongue lightly over one
nipple. Apparently satisfied by Joxer's
reaction, he continued circling the sensitive
flesh with his tongue, then teasing it between
his teeth. The sensation was so intense--Joxer
couldn't quite decide if it was intensely
pleasurable or painful, but he didn't want Auto
to stop.

"Nice?"

"Oh yeah!"

"And this?"

Cool fingers brushed the length of his hard,
throbbing cock, while Auto continued working his
way down Joxer's body. When the fingers were
replaced by moist lips, sucking hungrily on him,
swallowing him deeply, he clutched at the
bedsheets and struggled to maintain some small
degree of control. Otherwise, he was going to
come in no time, and it felt much too good to
let it be over so quickly.

"Auto..." he sighed after a time, when he knew
he couldn't take it any longer, "please..."

"Please what?"

"Please...I want you...inside me," he begged,
wanting to do something that would satisfy them
both at the same time, wanting to feel that
union of their bodies more than anything in the
world.

"Well, you won't hear me refuse a request like
that," Auto answered him, quickly sitting up and
reaching for the small vial on the bedstand. He
poured out a generous pool of oil into his hand,
applying some of it to himself and then rubbing
the rest over Joxer's ass. Joxer sucked in his
breath as a slick finger slipped inside him,
then a second, working him gently until the
thief was satisfied he was ready.


r>
Joxer cried out when Autolycus entered him
moments later, but it was a cry of joy, only
briefly of pain. He loved the incredible feeling
of having Autolycus inside him, filling him;
Auto's blissful expression as he sunk fully
within him, then found that rhythm that was
uniquely theirs; the pleasure as Auto hit, again
and again, that spot that sent Joxer soaring to
a place somewhere higher than Olympus.

"Joxer...oh gods, Joxer..." Auto groaned, until
words were no longer possible, only heavy
breaths and building moans.

Auto's cries were echoed by Joxer, until the
younger man could take no more and he came fast
and hard, shaking and struggling for breath. Not
long after, he felt Autolycus shudder against
him, coming with a final assault of deep thrusts
and a harsh cry of his name.

"Jox, oh yeah, mmm..." Auto sighed, easing
himself down and pulling Joxer against him for
one more kiss. "Mmm," he practically purred
against the younger man's neck, "damn but I've
missed this."

"It's only been a few days, hasn't been that
long," Joxer added teasingly.

I've been with you without feelin' guilty
about...well, you know."

"Yeah. Guess so. Forget about it now," Joxer
insisted, stroking Auto's soft hair, slowly
coming back to down to earth. "I want to forget
about Jett. I want to forget about the last few
days, and go back to the way things were
before."

"I hear that," Auto agreed. "I just wish
sometimes...Hades, I don't know..."

"What?"

"It's...Jox, you turned the whole world upside-
down on me, you know? I told myself a long time
ago that I couldn't get involved with
anyone...it wasn't worth all the trouble...the
pain. I was perfectly happy with that...until
you came along. Now...now the only pain that
bothers me is what I've managed to cause you,
'cause I don't know what I'm doing with this
relationship half the time."

"So? I don't think I know any better than you.
And we can't be doing that bad, I mean, we made
it through this situation all right, right?"

"True," Auto said. Peaceable silence settled
over the room for a while, until the thief said,
"Hey, so, when do I get to hear what you can do
with that fancy thing over there?"

"The lute?"

"Yeah. I paid for part of it; I think that
entitles me to a little entertainment."

"Right now?"

"Sure, why not? I'm curious. I mean, you looked
like a guy who'd just been handed the Golden
Fleece when you bought that thing, I wanna know
what's so special about it."

"Okay, sure...but I'll need to fuss with the
tuning."

"Whatever."

Joxer got up and took a moment to clean up a
bit, using the basin of warm water and soft
towels provided in the room. He then retrieved
the instrument, truthfully somewhat eager to
give it a real try himself. He settled on the
edge of the bed to fiddle with it for a while,
testing out some chords and tightening the
strings until they sounded right to his ears.

"Let's see...any requests?" Joxer asked.

Autolycus shrugged, propping himself up with his
hands under his pillow. "Don't know much about
music myself; just play whatever you want."

Joxer thought for a while, and then an old song
came to mind that seemed somehow appropriate and
not too difficult for his out-of-practice
fingers. He hummed along with the melody, not
quite remembering the words to the simple song
at first, and feeling a little self-conscious
about singing them when he did. But when he
looked over to see Autolycus' encouraging smile,
he went for it, his voice uncertain at first but
building in confidence which each verse.

"Here am I,

Who whiles away the mornings

Since you've gone

Too long have I lay alone

Not knowing which way to turn

And there you are

Quite sure that you were right

Knowing full well

That I'd be the first one

To go down

The day you left

I think you knew you'd not be back

Well at least it would seem that way

Because you never said goodbye

But when it comes around to you and me

I'm sure it will work out all right.

And you'd be the one who was laughing

And giving me something I don't need

And you know I'd always hold you,

Keep you warm

Oh, more fool me

But when it comes around to you and me

I ask myself,

Do I really believe

In your love?

Yes, I'm sure it will work out all right."

Joxer finished at that, apologizing quickly,
"Well, it's been a long time since I played,
that wasn't very good..."

"Hey, I'm not complaining! I'm no expert or
anything but that sounded real nice to me."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, compared to everything else I've
been hearing around town the past few days, I'd
say you're just as good as the rest of 'em out
there."


\>
"I used to be better," Joxer admitted, running
through some chords and exercises absently.
"It's going to take a lot of practice for me to
get really good at it again."

"Well, everything takes practice. I didn't just
wake up one morning and know how to pick
Athenian triple-reinforced locks in under a
minute, you know. Everything takes time to get
right."

"I suppose," Joxer said, putting aside the lute
again so he could lie down against Autolycus.
"Even things like you and me."

"Yeah," Auto agreed, pulling him close, "like
you and me. Think we'll ever get that right one
of these days?"

"I think so," Joxer answered. "We've made it
pretty far already. And there are definitely a
lot of things I don't mind practicing...as often
as possible, in fact."

"Oh really?" came the wry reply. "Got something
in particular in mind?"

"Mm hmm. If you're up for it."

Autolycus chuckled and told him, "With you
around, that's one problem I never seem to have,
Jox."

* * * * *

"And first place in this year's Bards
Competition goes to...Gabrielle of Poteidaia!"

"Whoo hoo!"

"All right, Gabby!"

"Yeah! You did it!"

The bard ran for the stage, the enthusiastic
cheers of her friends and everyone else in the
crowd urging her on. She was practically
bouncing up and down in delight as she took the
award from the announcer, putting the golden
medal around her neck and joining the other
winning bards and poets on stage.

"It's a good thing she's back on her feet so
quickly and didn't miss this," Autolycus
remarked.

"Are you kidding? I had to force her to stay in
bed all night and get some rest. She wasn't
goingmissmiss the awards for anything," Xena
told him.

"I'm glad everything worked out," Joxer added.
"Jett's back in jail, everyone's okay, and Gabby
won the competition."

"...and I take it you two have worked out your,
um, problems?" Xena added with a half-smile.

Autolycus shot Joxer a look, as he quickly
answered, "Um, yeah, I guess you could say
that."

"That's good to hear." As soon as Xena turned
her attention back to the stage, where Gabrielle
was making a brief thank-you speech, Autolycus
whispered harshly to Joxer, "What did you tell
her?!"

"I didn't tell her anything! Gabrielle must have
told her."

"Oh. Gabrielle?!...Wait a minute, what did you
tell Gabrielle?!"

"Well, you know...nothing much...she just wanted
to know why I was so depressed when she met up
with me..."

"Oh, great. Next thing you know, our love life
is gonna end up in one of her scrolls, just you
wait. Hades, she'll probably enter that one in
next year's competition!"

"I kind of like that idea. You and me, we'll be
legendary heroes. Or, a legendary thief and
minstrel, at least."

"Hmph," Autolycus answered, unconvinced but
knowing it was pointless to argue about it now.
"Well, I guess it's not so bad. As long as
whatever she has to say about me is properly
embellished..."


End


(The quoted lyrics in the part above are (c) 1973 by
Genesis, from the song "More Fool Me". I
absolutely suck at writing poetry/lyrics myself
so I had to resort to pilfering some. :-) Oh yeah, and thanks to the Man himself, BC,
for inspiration for the final punchline.

* * * * *