NOTE AHEAD OF TIME:? I skipped over #4 for two reasons: 1) I forgot my notebook that had that particular part in my house. :p (My computer is in a building just a three seconds away, but it's cold and dark and not really worth running in to type that short short part) 2) I'm having creative difficulties with that particular part. But just know this about it: They go to a hotel and finally do *stuff.* :p And since I can't write smut, it's not like you're really missing out. This part of the story takes place nth months later. Now, onto part 5. Series Title: Taking Time Title Part 5: Future Author: RunRunGuyDib Fandom: Askewniverse (Clerks) Pairing: Dante/Randal Rating: R Summary: Even further into the relationship, we see Dante starting to take initiative in his life, AND Randal getting thrown out into the cold in his undies! *teehee* Man, I wish I could write better summaries. Archive: Contact me ifn you want to. Mailing List archives all have the automatic right to. ^^ Email: runrunguydib@yahoo.com Series/Sequel: Yes, it's a series. This is the fifth outta six. Spoilers: None Clerks slash archive: http://somethingpro.tripod.com/la/index.html Disclaimer: Anything Askewniverse related belongs to Kevin Smith, View Askew, etc. I am not making any money offa this, and that's about all. Author's note: Finally, I'm on the last two parts of the story and I actually like these parts, even though I still feel they're stupid and clichd, I actually LIKE them. ^_^ And I'm sure you all will, too. PS: I like it when ~30 year olds act like 20 year olds. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "C'mon, Dante," a wry sounding voice pleaded softly. "Let me spend the night . . ." "I dunno, Randal," Dante whispered, peering nervously past the corner of the house where they hid in darkness. "We barely managed to save ourselves when mom and dad showed up during 'Empire' a moment ago . . ." Randal pressed close, kissing along Dante's temple and down his cheek. "Please Heavy petting isn't cutting it, here. Alls I do is go home and jerk off." "That's . . ." Dante paused, ". . . good to know, I guess. But it's been six days, for chrissake, don't tell me you're THAT desperate." "Fuck, I am. Plus," he wrapped his arms around Dante's waist, "I miss sleeping with you in my arms." In a final attempt, he tightened his hold, kissing Dante deeply, thoroughly, promising. "Please" he whispered nicely, pulling back reluctantly. "How about we just do it in the lawn, huh" "You freak," he grinned. "I'll take you up on that offer when it's much warmer." He circled his mouth and puffed, a small steam cloud coming out. "Pleeze" he drawled, his warm breath on Dante's face. Dante seriously thought they shouldn't, and attempted to tell Randal no, but that infuriatingly stubborn man held him so closely, kissing him so tenderly on the face--it was impossible for Dante to not say, "Yes. Let's sneak in--" "--Quietly," Randal concluded, smiling in victory. "I know the drill, love." He pulled back, the loss of warmth causing both of them to shudder. He gripped Dante's arm and eagerly headed for the back. "C'mon, the lights are out in their room, let's go!" Dante dashed away by him, mumbling about how much he hated having to have QUIET sex. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Sunlight leaked in through the shades, flooding across Randal's peaceful face. He grinned lazily, stretching, but he realized something was in his arms, his legs tangled in other legs, and soft hair was tickling his lips. The grin widened as memory returned to his foggy mind, and he firmly planted a loving kiss on the disheveled head below his. He adjusted his hold, ignoring the fact his left arm under the body was tingling from the prolonged spooning. Dante stirred and yawned, stretching in the hold, his toes entangling with Randal's. He shifted onto his back, blinking slowly, not really awake. "Morning, haaaaandsome," Randal purred, laying a kiss on Dante's forehead. "Hmm-mm, mornin'," he slurred, a satisfied looking coming over his visage. "How are you" He moaned sleepily again. "Wonderful." He nuzzled closer into Randal, drowning in warmth. "Are you happy" "I'm holding you, aren't I" He rubbed his face into the man's hair. "S'all I asked for--among other things." Dante gave another yawn. "Very tiring, other things." "Like you pain," chuckle. "Well . . . one could argue my ASS hurts, but I won't complain at all." He was too tired to realize how absolutely crude that sounded coming from him. "Don't you work this morning" Pause. "I have no idea. And I dun care, I'd be late with or without you." "True." Dante rubbed his eyes, blinking them further into focus. "I don't, I don't think. I don't want to move!" "Me either, but now watch as the phone rings and it's the boss . . ." They fell silent, their eyes falling upon the phone in anticipation. It did not ring. "Good. . . ." Randal closed his eyes and dozed, holding the other man like a doll. Dante as well dozed, comfortable and safe. However, Randal couldn't hold the position any longer; his left arm was about to fall off from loss of circulation. "Dante" he whispered, pulling his arm. "Dante, I need you to get off me for a minute." "Huh" Randal glanced at his left arm, making a face. "Oh . . . okay. Here." He raised himself up on his elbows, freeing the trapped limb. Groaning, Randal's face screwed in irritated pain. He knelt up in the bed, throwing the blankets off them both as he forced his arm in circles, hissing through his teeth. Dante laughed; Randal looked at him, puzzled. "You look like you're playing the air guitar. You look stupid, like when Jay does it." "Jay!" he exclaimed. "That's an insulting comparison, my friend. I can play excellent air guitar. I can serenade you beautifully." "Can you now" "Yeah, let's try some Bon Jovi here." He hemmed, held up his slightly numb left arm on an imaginary guitar neck, and held a pretend pick in the right. He smiled charmingly, and winked down at Dante. "This is dedicated to the man in the whitey-tighties getting a hard on from my sexy Garfield boxers." Dante chuckled somewhat sarcastically. "Ohhh!" he sang loudly, "We're halfway there! Woah- oh! Living on a pray-er! Take my hand and we'll make it I swea- ear!" He threw his head back. "Oh-ohh! Living on a prayerrrr . . . nanana . . ." He stopped abruptly and glanced down at Dante. "That's all I know." He shrugged. "That was horrible!" Dante grinned. "Oh, I know." He leaned over, kneeling on hands and knees over the dark haired man. "But I sang it for you only." "That was a lovely sign of affection, Randal." His arms snaked around his neck, pulling him down for a hungry kiss, until it turned into an even larger flurry of caresses. One of Dante's hands fell from Randal's neck, around to his back, slowly moving down to the edge of Randal's boxers, his fingers sliding under the elastic. Randal moaned, deepening the kiss. The phone began to ring, but the men ignored it, or just didn't hear it. Eventually, the phone stopped ringing. And eventually more, there was a swift knock on Dante's door, and the knob turned. "Danteeeee . . ." a feminine voice called softly. The said man's eyes shot open and his tongue and hands froze. Randal didn't seem to notice and he kept on kissing, eyes screwed shut. He halted, however, when he heard: "What the hell is going on here!" Randal's eyes snapped open, seeing Dante's panicked look. Suddenly, he was embarrassingly aware of Dante's hand in his underwear, and of how disgusting they may appear to . . . "Mrs. Hicks!" Randal stated, moving Dante's hand from his rear and rolling over, smiling with great charm. "Why, you must be a morning person, for you look great!" Dante gulped, yanking up the blanket to hide . . . certain things from his mother. Mrs. Hicks herself was a glowing shade of red, shocked and angry all at once. "Get out!! GET OUT!!" ...... SLAM! Blinking, Randal stood out in the freezing morning air, clutching his clothes to his chest, his shoes thrown at his feet. He shivered and shook his head, quietly pulling on his pants as some kids rode by on their bikes for school. They laughed at him, to which Randal calmly flipped them off and finished putting on his shirt. Slipping on his shoes, he glanced back at the house, zipped up his jacket, and began walking to work. His hat was left in Dante's room, though. He hated going around without it. ~*~*~*~*~*~ A customer came up to the counter where Randal was loungining on it, and watching a porn on the TV, looking extremely bored. The customer, a middle aged man, stood there for a second, then stared up at the TV. "Good" he asked. Randal shrugged. "Eh." "Not good" "Boring." "Boring How!" he pointed at the screen. "It's two ladies getting it on. I'm getting excited just in these few seconds!" "Just is." Pause. "Are you gay" he asked. Glance. "Yes." "Well, there you go. Two women wouldn't be exciting, try two guys." Randal shook his head. "Nah, it'd be boring, too." "Why" "I've watched MANY porns in my time, my dear man. It's all lost its uniqueness." "AND you're gay." "That has nothing to do with it. It's like why no one likes sitcoms anymore, most is recycled." He pointed at the TV. "Same here." Pause. "You dating a guy" Randal glanced at the customer again. "Yes . . ." "Who" "The clerk that usually works next door." "The one with the goatee" "Yeah." "He's cute." "Damn straight." He held out his head. "Now, I'd thank you to stop prying into my dick's life and let me do my job, as much as I usually DON'T want do it." "Sorry," the customer replied, handing two videos and his card to him. Randal quickly typed it all in. When he gave the videos back, he turned back to the porn, but the man continued to stand there. "Is . . . he good in bed" "Yes, he gives excellent head. Now, get out!" His index finger jabbed at the door. Seemingly disappointed at the loss of a story from Randal, the man left. Randal stared at the two woman fisting each other for a second, then he sighed and laid his head back, closing his eyes and thinking of Dante. He didn't even bother opening his eyes when he heard the door open and close again. "Hi, Randal." He opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of Dante. "Dante, hi!" he chirped, his face brightening. He grabbed the remote and shut off the moaning women. "What're you doing here Caved in to work again" "Actually, I told them no . . ." "That's my boy." "I came by to visit with you and say I'm sorry." Randal hugged his knees to his chest, cocking his head. "Why You're fine." "I mean, with my mom. I'm sorry she threw you out in your underwear." "Oh, blah," Randal snorted, waving his hand. "That's not new. I've been thrown out NAKED withOUT my clothes before, in the middle of winter." Dante gave a small smile. "Sounds like a naughty version of an old man's story of walking fifteen miles in the snow." "I HAD to, nearly froze my toes off, not to mention other appendages." He hopped down from the counter, arms akimbo. "Now you're LYING," Dante laughed, kissing him and placing something on his head. "Hey, my hat!" He straightened it. "Great!" "Yeah, you left it in my room . . ." Randal's eyebrows raised. "You sound not-happy." "Well . . . mom didn't quite take well to my, uh, being a 'fag' and all now . . . much less with YOU specifically." Randal rubbed his hand on his chest haughtily. "Mothers always love me." "Yeah, well, she gave me an ultimatum, and I chose the one that she DIDN'T want." "Me" "You. Anyway, I have my car full of clothing and personal stuff, and nowhere to go." "She kicked you out" "Well, I sorta left." Randal slapped him proudly on the shoulder. "Go, Dante! You're initiating change! I'm proud." "Yeah, don't rub it in. Where can I go" he huffed. Randal gaped. "Dumbass!" This time he punched Dante in the shoulder. "Ow! What the fuck was that for!" "You can stay with ME, dipshit." Dante crossed his arms. "But you live with your parents, too. Will they take kindly to it" Randal shrugged. "They adore my porn collection, so they'd probably find it kinky more than anything." Dante quirked his eyebrow. "That's disgusting." "It's true." he wrapped his arms around Dante's waist. "C'mon, love, live with me. It'd be great. Fuck every night, wake up in each others arms, eat breakfast. Then fuck before work. It'd be a wonderful life." "How can I say no to that" he replied. "You can't, that's the point." He leaned to kiss Dante. "Let's continue where we left off this morning, shall we It'll make you feel better." "I have nothing better to do." Passionately, their lips met, their tongues and hands probing. Bonk bonk! They broke apart and glanced over at the RST window. Jay and Silent Bob had their face pressed up against it, watching eagerly. Jay held up a hand and opened his mouth wide, thrusting his hand up and down at it. "Fucking perverts," Randal muttered, flipping them off as he walked to the door. He flipped the open sign to closed, and he walked back behind the counter, gesturing for Dante to follow him. In a grand sweep, Randal embraced Dante and spun around, facing the window. As Dante bit his neck, he wiggled his eyebrows and waved at Jay and Bob as they sunk down behind the counter. Jay mouthed, "Unfair!" as he pounded on the window. A few articles of clothing could be seen as they were tossed away, but eventually nothing could be seen for a couple of hours. ~*~*~*~*~*~ The door opened. "Hey, are you really closed" a voice called. A shoe flung out and narrowly missed the woman's head. "YES!!!" Randal screamed. The woman left, shouting an obscenity back. Below the counter, covered in their own clothing like a blanket, laid Dante and Randal. Randal was on his back, his and Dante's pants pillowing his head, and Dante's head rested on his lover's chest as they watched some random, lowbrow teen flick Randal had pulled from the shelf. "Why don't you lock the door" Dante asked. "I lost the key somewhere." "You LOST it!" "Don't worry. I lose it about two times a week, and find it when I least expect it hours later." "Oh-kay." He yawned and rubbed his face. "We'd better get dressed, just in case someone comes in anyway and finds us. The boss REALLY won't like that." "Of, fine," Randal grumbled, grabbing his shorts. A moment later, they were dressed, if not disheveled and dirty. Dante offered to go buy some food, ordering Randal to, ". . . er, mop up there." "Yeah yeah." Dante pulled on his shoe that had been thrown at the lady, but paused. "Hey!" He turned it upside down, a key falling into his palm. "Here's the store key." He tossed it. Randal caught it with a snap of his wrist. "How'd it get in there" Dante replaced his shoe. "That's a good question, but we'll have to ponder it later." With a wave, he left to his car. Randal went back to get a bucket and a mop. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "MOM!! Dante's gonna be living with me for awhile!!" Randal shouted immediately upon entering the house, carrying duffel bags full of stuff. Dante came in after him, holding more bags. There was no reply. "Huh. Mom and dad must be out. I'll leave a note or something. You head on down to the room." Dante nodded and left. Finding a post-it note, Randal wrote, "Dante living in my room, do not disturb." He stuck it on the living room TV screen and left. His room was down in the basement, and there Dante sat on his bed, waiting patiently. "Where can I put my stuff" Randal shrugged. "I dunno. Uhm, you can put your toothbrush and all in the bathroom, in an empty drawer. I'll clean out a drawer here for some of your clothes." "All right," he replied, grabbing the bag he believed had his grooming supplies, and wandered into the adjoining bathroom. Randal pulled out clothes from the bottom drawer of his dresser into a pile in the corner, or into the remaining space in the other drawers. Then he went to work in his closet, making room for some of Dante's shirts and sweaters. "God, I have too much shit," he muttered. "I should get rid of some of it, Christ." He was suddenly attacked from behind, his neck being bitten, and hands roaming up and down his sides. "Holy shit, I hope you're Dante or I'll be forced to be unfaithful." "Oh, no, I'm not role-playing," Dante stated. "You're no fun! You've never experienced sexual fun till you've role- played, Dante." He stepped backwards from the closet after finishing organizing it, Dante falling back a step, too. "Think, I could be a strong warrior, and you a helpless victim of a dragon!" He feigned a swoon, falling back into Dante's arms hard, both of them falling on the bed. "If you'll be a nurse sometime," he replied when Randal rolled off him. "Sounds fine by me. Lucky for you I think there IS a nurse's outfit in the house." He laid on his stomach, staring at Dante through one eye. "Seriously" Dante asked eagerly. "No!" he laughed. "But if it means so much to you, I'll gladly buy one." He beeped Dante's nose. "That's a good plan," he grinned, licking his lips as he glanced around the room. "Let me just thank you again so much, Randal . . ." "No problem, love," he replied softly. "I've been waiting for an excuse to have you sleep in the same bed as me every, single night." He bounced the bed, lifting his head onto his hands. "Help me break in our new level of relationship" "AGAIN" Dante huffed. "What can I say, you're addicting." He rolled over onto his back, spreading his arms out. Always ready to please, Dante straddled him. "At least down here I can scream." He began to undo Randal's pants. "I love it when you scream dirty," he moaned happily as Dante shook down his pants. "You think we're safe" he asked, running his hand along the edge of Randal's boxers. "Your parents won't care" Randal hissed, his stomach twitching. "Oh, no. I told them not to disturb us." He grabbed Dante's shirt, pulling him down. "Don't make me scream NOW, get on with it, quit stalling." Dante obliged, if not slowly as he inched the boxers down. "*I* just don't want to be thrown out in the cold only in my underwear." Randal fumbled with Dante's jeans, saying, "You know my parents. They won't give a fuck. NOW," he breathed, "do what you do best, love." Dante kept anymore worries to himself, being too distracted to even voice them anymore. ~*~*~*~*~*~ In the middle of the night, Randal stirred awake. This time he was the one lost in another's arms. However, Dante surprised him by whispering, "You awake, Randal" "Sorta," he slurred. "Why're you" "I was just thinking." "You okay" "Sorta. Just worried." Randal yawned, moving to stare up at Dante through the darkness. "Whasamatter" "I want to be with you, I'm looking forward to living with you, but . . . I want to be on our own." "Our own" "Yeah. Get our own apartment, you know" "Why" "Because we're fucking near thirty years old and we're still living with our parents." He paused. "Well, YOUR parents, at least. Plus, it'd be . . . SAFE, and independent. A step even further. We'd depend just on each other." "That'd be BETTER" Randal moaned, his mind clearing. "Yeah. It may be tough, yeah, but--I can't explain it. I want to depend on you, you me, in privacy. Fuck, even Jay and Bob have their own apartment--" "--Yeah, but let's consider the money they BOUGHT it with." "I know," he amended, "but we can! Why can't we" "'Coz it's scary, and we need more money to do so, and we both have shitty jobs that would barely pay for food alone." There was silence. "I want to, Randal, but those are the barriers." There was a ponderous silence. Sighing heavily, Randal finally spoke up, "I'd hate to say this at risk of sounding like a certain woman, but why not return to college" Dante sighed. "Don't sigh at me, it's true. You're intelligent, you have the greatest promise between us. You can get another scholarship, use the money left in your account--" "I'm fucking 29, Randal! And you're proposing COLLEGE" "Yeah. You keep the job at Quick Stop, but keep time open, and I . . . can, uhm . . . get a better job." "Like WHAT above minimum wage" Randal fell silent. "I dunno. But like hell *I* can go to college. I'd flunk in a moment." "Night classes." "What" "Night classes. Take night classes. Then you could probably get a better paying job outside RST." More silence. "But then I'd REALLY have to work." "Oh, so you can essentially force me to go to college, but not you work or a tiny bit of schooling" "Yes" "No." Randal sighed grimly. "So . . . we can make a deal." His hand traced up Randal's arm, his neck, and his face. "We have each other, but we make make our lives even much better. We can stay here for now, I could TRY college again, ONLY if you'll take some night classes." He ran his finger across Randal's lips. "After every class I'll be here waiting eagerly for your return." Randal kissed the tip of Dante's finger softly. "Hey, with the extra money I could buy a nurse outfit." Dante laughed. "That'd be nice to see: You returning from school wearing a cute, short-skirted nurse outfit." He shivered. "Jesus, Dante, you really like that idea, don't you" He laughed in embarrassment. "What can I say" Silence fell again, except for the occasional tired kiss Randal planted on Dante's palm. "You know, I was thinking I could take some film classes. There's a school nearby offering that stuff." "You wanna make movies" "It could be worthwhile, if not fun," he said, shrugging. "We could produce pornos!" "Nooo . . ." "Oh, but we could make fresh new starts in the field! Take new sexy steps! Create new sexy stories!" "I don't think I'll have you on the production team if I ever DO do a movie, then." Randal bit one of the man's fingers. "I'm kidding." He snuggled in more, throwing Dante's arm back around him. "Now, remind me of this deal in the morning. We'll discuss it more and our future supposed happiness then, okay" "Okay." Randal yawned, his eyes shutting. "Good." However, once Randal began to doze, he heard Dante muse, "Does New Jersey allow gay marriages" "Why You proposin' t' me" he whispered back. "No," he chuckled. "Just wondering for future reference." "Good, I'll worry about it later then." In a moment, he was fast asleep, all worries dissolving for that time being. The End ~*~*~*~*~*~ Geez, I only used the word "lover" once in this fanfic, and I felt ashamed for using it. Lovah. You know that skit on Saturday Night Live with Will Ferrel and that one chick, and they sit there and say, "Lovahhhh . . ." That's what I think of every time I think of that word, and it makes me giggle, yet feel uncomfortable. (Then I think, "Gawd, I love Will Ferrel, lovah.") Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Feedback is much appreciated.