Jack the Shredder

"You're not the same as the next fellow in here," Bennington snapped, peeved. 
"How'ja know, Sunshine? Gurst winked once. He turned and walked off, swinging his hips in an extreme sexual way. 
"Gurst!" Bennington said in a low, harsh voice. 3.7's chuckle sent shivers up and down Bennington's spine. 
Gurst sat down on the stool next to Jason. He winked at the auburn haired man who smiled lopsidedly back at him. "Pint," the ex-soldier-of fortune ordered from the barkeep. "I'm Gurst." He shook Jason's hand. Both Jason and Calvin introduced themselves. 3.7 pointed at a stiff, scowling Bennington. "Lover's spat." 
"I ease sore hearts," Jason said, licking his lips. 
"That's not the only thing he'll ease," Calvin said with a smirk. 
Flouncing a little, Jason told the other man, "You're just jealous." 

"Yeah, right. Flighty bird is what you are, flitting from one limb to another, and I don't mean tree limbs neither." Calvin drained his glass. He tapped it on the counter and the barkeep nodded in understanding. 
Jason made a rude sound beneath his breath and turned his attention toe the CI5 agent sitting next to him. "I never saw you with Phil before, at least, not in here." 
"We use his apartment," Gurst announced with a twinkle in his blue eyes. 
"Gurst," Bennington warned as he came up to them. 
"You haven't kissed me yet, darling. Don't tell me you're still mad at me?" The twinkle grew until it touched the corner of his lips. 
"Go home." 
"What? And miss another evening with you?" 
"I don't want you're here!" He didn't attempt to hide the hard anger that he felt. 
"Oh, I do," Jason said, admiring the dark haired agent. "He's gorgeous. I can see him all stretched out, au natural." He shivered in pure sexual anticipation. "I'll bet you have tons of chest hair." 
"I do," came the pleased reply. 

Bennington groaned. 
"You always were an ill tempered brute," Jason told his friend of fifteen years. " What this darling man sees in you is beyond me." 
"You haven't seen him naked," the ebony haired man said softly. "He's got chest hair too, though mine's a lot cuter and a hell of a lot softer." 
"Damn you, Gurst, shut up." 
"I just love telling tales out of school. Of course, I've seen Phil naked." Jason threw a loving look at the pink cheeked agent. "He's got the cutest, little mole on his stomach, right by his navel. And that grusome scar..." He shivered deliciously. 
"Have you?!" Gurst asked softly. 
"Go home!" Bennington ordered the other man in wintery remoteness. 
"Trust me, he does. But you mustn't be mad, you adorable male." Jason's hand caressed 3.7's arm. The auburn haired man quivered. "I'm sure our evenings together were before he met you." His hand went up the suede clad arm. "I know I'd never sleep with another man if we were lovers. You make me tingle." And he shivered deliciously. 
"And I suppose now you're going to tell him you're a virgin?" Calvin demanded sarcastically. 

Jason pouted. 
"Are you going home?" Bennington persisted. 
"No." Gurst accepted the glass from the barkeep and took a large swig. 
The man with the chestnut ringlets gritted his teeth an stalked out. Sighing 3.7 set down his glass. He flung money down and rose. From the rigidity of Bennington's spine, from the way his boots hit the floor, Gurst knew his partner of only one year was enraged. Mentally shrugging the dark haired man followed his friend. 
"Wait up!" 
"Go fuck yourself." Bennington slammed out of the tiny bar. 
"Not a good place for that, now is it?" Gurst caught up with the other man, grabbed his arm. 
"Fuck off Gurst!" Bennington snapped as he flung off the other man's hold. 
"Take it easy, Mary Poppins," came the even tempered request. 
"I don't want you involving yourself into my case. I don't need you." 
"Why so prickly? What's so special about this one that sets your teeth on a lemon?" 
A new, nastier tone yelled, "Fags!" 

Bennington and Gurst turned toward the voice. They saw six men standing there. A couple of them carried large sticks. 
"Damn," 3.7 muttered. He managed to grab Bennington's arm when the other man too a step toward the newcomers. Further words were shouted at them as the six men hurried forward. 4.5 shook free and swung at the closest basher. His fist connected with a jaw. The man stifled a yelp. Even as the newly injured bastard struck back, another man punched the agent in the stomach. The battle lasted for a good five minutes before the bashers realized that these were not normal, gay-bar hoppers. Like most bullies, they did not enjoy being on the receiving end of both pain and humiliation. Gay men better fighters than they were? Unthinkable. Giving up their fight, they ran into a patch of heavier fog and disappeared into the darkness. 

Bennington glanced around, saw his partner still on the street, lying on his back. Growling, he straddled Gurst. He grabbed his friend's jacked and yanked him up. "Bloody fool!" 
"Kiss it and make it better." 3.7 tried to smile. 
"Damn you, Gurst! Stay out of this!" The fog cleared enough to make the angry glints in the emerald eyes stand out in the lamp light. 
"I can't stay out of it, if I can't get up, now can I?" Bennington moved and Gurst struggled unaided to his feet. "You would have gotten beaten to pulp if I hadn't been here." 

"Just go away." 
"Hey, I know you're investigating the Shredder. Why can't I help?" 
"Because I don't need you." 
"They've torn my jacket," 3.7 complained as he studied a huge rip. "Bloody bastards. Do you know how much I paid for this? And my eye feels like it's swollen as big as my bollocks. Is it?" 
"Not yet." 
Getting serious, the ex- mercenary asked. "How come you want to travel alone on this one?" Bennington remained silent. "One of the dead guys a friend of yours, sweetpea?" 
"Yes." 
"Was he one of your lovers?" Gurst inquired softly, gently. 
"How...? Yes." Bennington turned and began the trek back to is apartment. 
"Which one?" 
"Anderson." 
"I'm sorry." 
Bennington simply lifted his shoulders sightly upwards. He chose a spot in a semi-lit area and leaned against the brick wall. 

"It isn't safe being out here alone." 
"I can take care of myself." 
"Bob Shyre had a black belt." 
"He's not going to stop if he sees two of us." 
"Maybe he's kinky." 
"Gurst!" 
He threw up his hands in defeat. "All right! All right! I'll stand over there in that dark corner." 
Jason came out of the bar. He spotted them and headed toward them. "Waiting for me, you exquisite man?" 
Gurst laughed lightly. "Having a fight with Phil." 
Jason clung to the dark haired man's arm. "You've been hurt! Phil! How could you?!" He shifted Gurst's head, clucking his tongue. "You come home with me. Jason will fix that nasty eye." 
"I need to stay here and make it up with Phil. I hate to sleep alone." 
"I'll sleep with you." Jason rubbed against 3.7 who jerked in surprise. 
"He's not homosexual," Bennington said in a harsh voice. 
"But he said...!" 
"He lied." 
"You wound me, sunshine," Gurst said, pretending to be vexed. "I travel all this way to make up with you and you shun me!" He looked at Jason. "Is that fair?" 
"Phil always was a stubborn one. Wanna come home with me? I have this great, big tub. We could soak for hours...among other things." 
"Can't, but thank you." 
Jason sighed dramatically. "I never get the cute ones." He waved his hand. "Ta." Singing a sea ditty beneath his breath, Jason vanished into the darkness. 
"Jason talks, Gurst. By the end of the week, everyone will think you're bent." 
"Maybe I am," 3.7's tone was mild, restrained. 
"Yeah, and I'm Bonny Prince Charlie." 
They heard a sound of a car in the distance. 
"I always thought you had a touch of the blue blood, rosebud." 
A man screamed. Gurst and Bennington reacted immediately. They ran in that direction. A black car was parked, still running, by the curbside. An extremely large man, dressed in total black, stood over Jason. The gleam of the huge curved knife was quite evident in the puny lighting. Jason tried to fight off the huge man. The gay man's shirt and pants had been ripped off. The Shredder heard the running footsteps. He whirled, say Gurst and Bennington heading toward him. He jumped into his car and sped off. 
Gurst ran after the car, hoping to catch at least a partial on the license plate. Bennington bent over Jason. At first, the auburn haired man fought Bennington, but when he recognized his friend's voice, he allowed the CI5 agent to pull him close. Jason sobbed against the warmth Bennington offered him.