The Burn

Title: The Burn
Author: Arterybreak
Rating: R for language
Pairings: Hyde/Eric
Summary: There's more to every story than just what you read.
Disclaimer: Any characters of That 70's Show appear without permission. No profit has been made.
Warnings: none


The Burn


Hyde sighed imperceptively, almost inwardly, as he watched the chaos of the occupants in the basement unfold in their daily roundabout ways. Jackie played up her regality, the same as always. Kelso was the ever predictable moron; lighting this or that on fire and making tedious observations. Fez was seated on the floor, playing with his latest distraction and throwing out the usual off-handed comment or question. Donna seemed to be keeping an ear tuned to Jackie's ramblings despite her best efforts to let the t.v. drown out the dungeon highness. Lastly, Hyde settled his gaze on the only body worth the effort of sitting through it all.
Eric kept his attention bouncing everywhere in the room. The guy felt it was his duty as the host of these gatherings to be involved in anything going on. Hyde propped his feet up on the cluttered table and kept his silent watch, just as he always had. No one ever questioned his roaming inspections, simply shrugging it off as "Hyde being Hyde". The resident zen master, needing to observe the world around himself. It was true in its own little way but as of late it was becoming more of an excuse to watch Eric without arousing question.
The two of them had been friends for as long as Hyde's hazy memory could recall. Eric was the only one he really considered a friend. Sure, the other's had their places in Hyde's life but just couldn't settle themselves as permanently as Foreman had. The skinny little bastard had weaseled his way into what Hyde considered his inner sanctum, the place that held everything Hyde knew to be sacred in his life.
Hyde wasn't quite sure when it had happened. Of course he had always felt the need to protect Eric, ever since meeting the awkward little guy as a child. Eric had a tendency to bring out Hyde's watchful nature, although not out of obligation or anything. Hyde just wanted every day to see Eric alive and happy. As happy as an angsty, paranoia driven, hormonal teenage wreck could get on a day by day basis. Growing up with a man like Red wasn't always your proverbial walk in the park. Still, Hyde was rather impressed with how the boy had turned out. A ghost of a smile tried creeping across his stoic features with this wayward thought but he was quick to reign it in. He wouldn't risk giving anything away by being sloppy. The zen stayed in place to protect the privacy Hyde valued so stubbornly. His secrets would remain just that, his secrets.

Eric stole a sideways glance at Hyde while pretending to be interested in something Fez was saying. The older boy's face held his trademark wary expression. It always seemed to him that Hyde was on a constant edge, seemingly waiting for some boogeyman to spring up from nowhere. Well, if one every did Eric was confident his friend wouldn't waste any energy to even bat an eye. If there was one thing that Hyde was infamous for, it was his ability to keep a cool under even the most pressing challenge. He had seen the guy face down against Red and come out with everything still intact. Eric had always admired and envied the other boy for that skill.
Much the same way he was admiring the way he looked in his fitted, worn jeans and faded t-shirt. A split second later, Eric ripped his eyes away from the stirring sight to avoid being caught in the act of open gawking. Hyde would surely be willing to rip his head off if he knew his friend was checking him out. It was no secret which way Hyde's affections lay. His conquests almost rivaled Kelso's in number. The main difference between the two being, Hyde wasn't opt to brag about it to anyone. In fact, before Jackie, Hyde almost never mentioned the girls that were privy to keep him company.
Eric knew there were girls. He had witnessed Hyde on numerous occasions escorting a female from one event or another. The first time Eric and the others had ribbed him with good natured jesting and curious prodding but the guy had brushed it all off with just a casual shrug; citing that it was his business and no one elses. That was classic Hyde.
Eric was abruptly forced from his musings by a light smack on the arm by Donna.

"Hey dill hole, I asked you a question. Weren't you listening?"

Eric rubbed the spot out of habit and furrowed his brow, trying his best to look oblivious. Jackie rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue in irritation.

"See? Why do even bother talking to him? He is such an airhead."

"Well, guess there's no point arguing with the expert in that department." He shot back casually.

Jackie gave him a glowering look before thrusting herself up from her spot on the couch and walking over to plop herself on Hyde's lap with a scowl on her face. Hyde grunted in what could have been discomfort and shifted his legs until his feet were flat on the floor again. Jackie took the opportunity to swing her legs over so she was seated sideways across his thighs. Eric rolled his eyes and feigned passivity in order to hide the look of jealousy he knew would flash across his eyes. He was supposed to be happy with Donna.

"So, Donna you were trying to ask me something?" Play the good little boyfriend.

"Well, now you and Jackie made me forget. So never mind."

"You know, Donna, it wasn't even a question about me so I wouldn't worry about it." Jackie piped from her spot astride her boyfriend.

"No, you wouldn't, would you Jackie?" Eric retorted.

Fez decided to play the role of peace keeper and spoke up. "Dat is enough from you two. Some of us have t'ings we are trying to concentrate on."

"Fez, you've been toyin' with that thing since you got here. What the hell is it anyway?" Hyde asked, breaking his cycle of silence.

"It is a brain tease. You are supposed to get de ring off dis rope wit'out using scissors. Or a knife. Or any o'der sharp object."

"Yeah, I know the feeling. I had to use safety scissors all the way through eighth grade. Geez, ya make the mistake of cutting off some girls pigtails and they never let ya hear the end of it."

"Kelso, ya ran around the room with 'em making Indian war noises."

A blank look fell on Kelso's face before a toothy grin broke through. "Oh yeah, that was pretty awesome."

"Hey, isn't she trying to become a nun?" Eric asked.

"Okay, not that this conversation isn't riveting, but if I don't get some sort of drug in my system I'm gonna slip into a coma." Hyde declared suddenly. Everyone else agreed and a smoking circle was quickly formed.

A few hours later found the basement mostly deserted, save for Eric and Hyde. Both boys stared silently at the television screen, neither really paying any mind to exactly what they were watching. Eric squirmed slightly as he attempted to ignore the warmth of the couch's only other occupant and failed rather miserably. It was always so damn cold down here. He wondered how Hyde could stand it, especially during the winter. Maybe he could ask and find out.

"Geez Hyde, how do you sleep with it being so cold down here?"

Hyde gave a small shrug. "Not like I got much choice. Besides, ya get used to it."

"You ever think to go upstairs? Maybe on the couch?"

"It's quieter down here."

Eric rubbed at his arms vigorously. "Yeah well, I'd rather suffer with a little noise then spend the night freezing my ass off."

"Fer fuck's sake Foreman, come here."

Before Eric could protest, he found himself being pulled toward the other end of the couch. He soon collided with the warm, hard wall of Hyde's body. The other boy's arm was like a steel band wrapped around his shoulders. Eric was sure his heart was going to come popping out of his chest at any moment. He reflexively took a sharp breath and had his senses flooded with the masculine smell that seemed to define Steven Hyde. Soap, weed, and a curious spice that made his body temperature seem almost unnatural.
Eric swallowed hard and made a concentrated effort to calm his traiterous body, which was responding quite happily to the knowledge of Hyde being so close. When did it suddenly get so hot?

"Um, Hyde?..."

"Shut up Foreman."

Eric felt compelled to argue but the words just wouldn't work themselves out of his mouth. So, instead of putting up a fight that would no doubt end with him looking like a complete ass Eric decided to accept the uncharacteristic show of concern. It was just Hyde, his normal, hetero, ever-give-me-a-look-like-that-and-i'll-cut-your-eyes-out childhood friend. Nothing really to get excited about. He let his shoulders tentatively relax and slowly settled back against the older boy.

What the hell was he thinking? Well, taking into consideration the large quantities of THC working through his system there was a pretty good chance he wasn't thinking. Hyde sighed and shifted on the couch in an attempt to find a comfortable position while still keeping Eric next to him. Of course given the shoddy state of the furniture, comfortable was something that just didn't happen. He finally gave up and slumped back against the thread bare cushions. He felt Eric squirm and shot the other boy a quick glance.

"What's the matter, Foreman?" He grumbled.

Dark eyes grew wide and Eric jerkingly shook his head, laughing nervously. "What? Nothing, there's nothing...wrong."

Steven's eyes narrowed and he sat up slightly. "Dont bullshit me man."

"I'm not..I dont..." Eric was beginning to stutter, a sure sign of unease.

Hyde huffed and began to pull his arm away. "No!"

There was a sudden movement and Steven was taken aback as he felt skinny bird arms being thrown around his neck. On reflex, he wrapped his arms around Eric's waist. The younger boy reacted by burying his face in Hyde's neck as he clung almost desperately to his friend. Hyde let out a breath and gave the other boy's back a brisk rub.

"Hey, come on Foreman..."

He gingerly pushed Eric upright, shocked by the gentleness of his voice as well as his actions. The guy was shaking like a leaf and his eyes were the size of dinner plates. He gave the other boy a worried look and met his gaze.

"Eric?..."

That did it. In a sudden flash of bravery the younger boy surged forward and clamped his mouth over Hyde's. He clutched at his friend's t-shirt as he kept his lips pressed firmly in place. Steven went stock still for a moment before his hands looped around to settle at the small of Eric's back. The slimmer boy's mind was in a whirl. Never in the darkest recesses of his most twisted fantasies had he dared to dream of one day kissing Hyde. Straight as an arrow Hyde; the guy who was dating Jackie. Oh shit!
Eric abruptly scrambled away from Steven with a bricksmacked expression on his face. He had completely forgotten that Hyde had a girlfriend. Donna, oh God, Donna! If she ever found out...- Eric was pulled from his panic by a strong set of hands on his arms. Hyde's face was a mask of calm.

"What's up Foreman?"

The younger boy's eyes flew every which way around the room in an attempt to keep from looking at his friend. He was bouncing almost non-stop on the cushions as random dribble spouted from his mouth.

"I-I dont. There's...I gotta...I'll see ya tomorrow Hyde."

With that Eric bolted up the stairs to get as far away from the other boy as possible. Hyde watched him go in silence before sighing and slumping back on the couch. Well, that got fucked up pretty quick. Hyde berated himself for letting his control falter and picked himself up to trudge back to his room for the night.
He entered the pitch black room, feeling his way around all the crap on the floor and finding his broken down mattress. He collapsed onto the lumpy surface with a groan and replayed the events of the last hour to try and find just where everything had gone so wrong. He was still in deep thought when there was a tentative rap on his door.

TBC...I hope