Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 10:05:51 +1200
From: Tama Wise <tama@hip-hop.co.nz>
Subject: "Los Tres Cholos"

If you want to check out any of my other stuff, check for my name under
the "Prolific Authors" section of the Nifty Archive, or visit my homesite
at http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~raekw0n/writing/. Any feedback, comments,
suggestions can be sent onto me at tama@hip-hop.co.nz

Practice safe sex.


Do not distribute or reproduce this document, all or in part, without
express permission of the author. (c) April 11th, 2002, Anfernee
Williamson.

---

LOS TRES CHOLOS


"Yeah, and bring that new kid around, ok?"

Hector nodded a little at the request. Little was on his mind right now.
Other than getting himself out of this heat and somewhere where personal
comfort was even on the list of possibilities. Even though he was decked
out in the same street uniform as him; oversized blue jeans, and white
tank top, Flaco seemed to hold himself with a cool that Hector envied. The
bigger kid wasn't in any way as able to hide the fact he was boiling under
the afternoons sun.

"So go find him," Flaco commented bluntly. "Ill meet you back at my place.
Cool?"

"Yeah, cool."

Flaco gave him that handshake, the one that made him feel uneasy. The
187th Street Locos one, even though Hector wasn't a member. He tried to
shake off the unnerving feeling that came with it, as Flaco headed back
out of the school. He settled his mind on other things, like finding the
kid Flaco had told him to hunt out. Like getting himself out of this heat.

1pm.

Bradford.

Dead in the middle of summer.

Hector was unsure why they had even bothered going through the motions of
coming into school today. Knowing that night was only a brief respite from
the overwhelming heat that baked the huge sprawl of a city. Knowing full
well that the next day would be just as bad. Hector would have stayed at
home himself, if not for the feeling that he should make some effort to
attend the classes.

Whatever that meant. If it even did anything other than give him some
place to sit for the day.

The sun continued to beat down on the spread school of Clifton Memorial,
as Hector began to make his way back towards the inners of the buildings.
The humanity of youths fell like some lethargic blanket about the broken
buildings, trying to keep from the suns blazing fingers in what was their
lunch break. Hardened veteranos hung in clumps in the prime shadowed
areas, claiming by presence what was theirs. Other students, half kids
speaking in broken English, a gathering of girls, catching up on the
latest gossip, among the many others of the school kept to the order of
the day. Sheltering where possible. Moving, if needed, but never more than
a slow pace.

The air almost boiled in Hector's lungs as he breathed. It was only a
further distraction, with the many others. He kept his mind on his one
true goal. Forgetting the folly of why he'd bothered coming in today.
Knowing that Flaco's plan to skip the rest of the day would offer him some
moniker of comfort from the unrelenting burn of the sun.

The big youth looked older than what he really was, but at Clifton
Memorial, it wasn't strange to find youths that were as old as they
looked. School was more often than not a formality. A place to be. Perhaps
a place to escape the troubles of home. At least during the heat waves of
summer in Bradford, the factions of Los Locos became too lethargic to
cause trouble. Clifton was too far from any of the Purebreed areas of
Bradford for that to be a factor. So school at this time of the year was
at least a safe haven from whatever danger they might have been leaving at
home.

Hector looked old enough to be one of those who kept at school. Despite
the poor grades and being held back. Those few who hung there for their
own reasons, rather than leave. Or those who stayed, but never attended
class. There was more than just learning to be done at Clifton Memorial,
from what little teaching their was done.

Hector was a big boy. Sweat had already plastered his tight white tank top
against his body. In some ways it was only keeping the slick stickiness
against him. His oversized blue jeans, worn and tattered about their long
legs where countless hours had walked them into the ground, hung heavily
about his hips. They only made his legs feel more and more like lead, as
he pushed through the oppressive heat.

Sweat glistened on his all but bald head, making his light features gleam.
His features were full, thick. His thick black eyebrows giving him a
maddened look whenever he frowned, one that looked not to be messed with,
coupled with his size. But more often than not, the youth was more his
age. With the benefits, or disadvantages, that came with a body beyond his
age. His brown eyes looked nervous, quick. Alert. He looked unconfident,
like his size was just something that was, not something he acknowledged
or knew.

His size didnt give him confidence to do more than lower his eyes from
those ranks of cholo veteranos. He passed them quickly, something that
made him wince, as he felt the heat searing within the hold of his heavy
jeans. Despite the heat, it was almost uniform, especially to those 187th
Street Locos. All heavy stares, black bandannas. Hard, muscled bodies in
tight tank tops. Skin darkened by the touch of tattoos. Most were too old
to be here, but in Clifton, the heart of Locos territory, Clifton Memorial
fell into the heart of what was 187th Street Locos turf. He felt their
eyes.

Come home.

Hector kept his eyes elsewhere. Did his best to keep his head up. He lived
with this every day of his young life so far. What was expected and right
was part of him, like knowing how to breath. But it never made the task
more easy. He continued to walk past the veteranos, sheltered there in the
shadow of one of the bigger buildings, yet still no less victim to the
heat. They all looked so hard, despite it. Hector looked like he belonged
in their ranks, if not only on his size.

Rounding one of the central areas of the school, Hector pulled his glance
up. Checking the few places he hoped Joaquin was, rather than have to
search the whole school for him. At the moment, every young kid here with
a slightly dark complexion was starting to look like him. His breath came
in dry pants as he continued to search.

There. No. There!

Hector began to make his way over towards the group of younger boys.
Sweating under the heavy hand of the afternoon sun. He recognized Joaquin
easily. He seemed to stand out naturally among the small group. His young
features were strangely handsome, in a way that caught Hector a little off
guard. The older boy continued to make his way over towards them, not
realizing how quickly he was descending on the group, as a couple of the
kids gave him cautious glances. One stood up.

"Hector!"

"Yeah, Joaquin," Hector stopped short of the group. He noticed one
standing, staring him over like he was a veterano, despite the lack of
colors. The bigger youth realized how quickly he had headed over, nodding
lightly at the kid.

"What's happening?" Joaquin asked. It looked like it was an effort to get
up off the ground, anything was at the moment.

"Flaco wants you to come over," replied Hector. Joaquin smiled, looking
enthused.

"What, right now?"

"Yeah right now. Hes already heading back home."

Joaquin looked a little unsure at that point. "What, hes left school?"

"Yeah, we both leaving. Better than staying around here," Hector
commented. He regretted just standing here, doing nothing. But then moving
around was little better. "Going back to his place for the rest of the
day."

Joaquin looked lightly about the rest of his gathered friends, unsure, but
seemingly eager to please Flaco for whatever reason. "He's not coming
back?" he ventured.

"Not today," Hector shook his head. He got impatient. "You coming or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, Im coming," Joaquin dusted himself off. The field out back of
the main building where Hector had found him was little more than a field
of dust. What was left of any sign of grass was dried and brown. The other
kids, especially the one still staring Hector over, looked displeased to
be losing their alpha.

"Ill catch you homeboys later," Joaquin commented, taking a few light
shakes from a few of the kids.

"You skippin' just like that?" it was the standing kid who asked, his
Spanish poor and broken. Hector could see that Joaquin was looking more
guilty at the questioning. As if it was what little he could do to hide
it.

"Yeah, its just one afternoon," replied Joaquin. The kid looked resolute,
unconvinced. "Its ok."

"Im gonna tell your moms!" shot one of the kids still sitting. The smile
dissolved all of the threat as little more than a joke. The weedy,
standing kid still looked displeased, all but standing down Joaquin.
Hector felt like he should be somewhere else. He felt like an adult
breaking in on some kids game.

"Nah, its not ok, homeboy," retorted the kid. "You just too good to hang
with us anymore, right?"

Joaquin frowned, "No."

"You hanging with them older kids more," the kid was unrelenting. "Like we
no good for you anymore."

Hector noticed that a few of the other kids, sitting there in the dust,
were looking up at Joaquin expectantly, at this confrontation. Hector had
seen that sort of look before. He knew he was guilty enough of it himself.
Hanging quietly on every one of Joaquin's words. The kid was as
charismatic as he was attractive, Hector could feel that like the sun on
his bare, slicked skin.

"I just got stuff I need to do."

"And you gonna skip school?" the kid looked annoyed at Hector. He was the
reason his homeboy was leaving. The reason he was doing things that the
kid obviously didnt like.

"Its just school," Joaquin defended. "Its just one afternoon."

Hector looked at those other kids. Listening in on every one of Joaquin's
words. The weedy kid was struggling to form his words, his Spanish
worsened by his mood.

"You wanna get you them colors," he said quietly. Joaquin looked hard.
"Wanna gang bang like my big brother and get shot."

"Back off, Chavo," Joaquin commented, looking a little annoyed, like a kid
badgered by his parents. "I just got things to do."

"Maybe hes just not a kid like you anymore," Hector interjected, more just
getting tired of standing around while Joaquin tried to explain things to
his homeboy. "Maybe he wants to hang with someone more his age."

The comment looked as if it bit deep into the weedy kid. Chavo was staring
daggers at him with those almost black eyes. His expression looked as hard
and twisted as even the most deepest of the veteranos. Given a few more
years, Hector would have been backing off, as if he were Loco. But as it
stood, the bigger kid just felt guilt at the comment. But whatever Flaco
wanted, Hector did. He didnt question.

"Ill hit you back after school," Joaquin reassured Chavo. The kid was
already moving off from his group, to Hector's side. Chavo looked
unconvinced.

"You aint coming back after school."

"Forget it," Hector muttered. He put a hand on Joaquin's shoulder, guiding
him away. He just wanted to leave. The burning sweat under his clothes
proved as constant reminder that every second here was another second he
wasn't out of the heat.

Hector decided to take the quicker way out of the situation, rather than
the quicker way out of school. Out over the field of dust that was
supposed to be Clifton Memorials sports field. Long since dried into a
parched remnant of what it once was. In some ways it was a blessing there
was no wind, to whip the field into a choking dust bowl. In others, a
curse. At least the wind may lend some respite from the heat. The burning
sun above laying Bradford below into hues of brown and gold. New temple to
the sun god.

Hector headed down into the storm drain, and back up its other side. The
border of the school. Leaving behind the half day wasted already. He
noticed that Joaquin was silent. Still walking just behind him. The kid
looked contemplative. Hector knew what was on the boys mind. The
confrontation perhaps just reminded him of what he was doing. For Hector,
it was a long time since such simple things were right or wrong. He'd
lived the few years longer to know that there were new truths. Attending
school, although he still felt the pangs at times, was not one of those
most solid truths.

"Who was the kid," asked Hector. He more wanted to break the silence, but
lacked the tact to think perhaps it was a poor choice of subject. Hector
was distracted by the heat, and Joaquin good looks. The kids shirt was
open on his smooth brown body. A tone that looked natural to this heat.

"Ah, Chavo," Joaquin replied, meandering up the graffiti covered side of
the storm drain. "Hes ok. He just worries a lot."

"He wants you around, huh?"

"He just doesn't want me talking to you older boys," smiled Joaquin. That
alone took Hector off guard. That expression was smooth.

"It true what he says?"

"About what?"

Hector stepped through what remained of the fence and headed into the
tattered back yard of one of the schools neighbors. He'd come this way
before, played brief trespasser to get back onto the streets beyond the
school.

"About you spending more time with us ... the older kids."

Joaquin shrugged his shoulders a little. Hector's sexual side was being
distracted more by the youths appearance. He'd only seen him a few times
in passing. Only found out yesterday that Flaco knew him.

"I don't spend that much time with you all," he commented, dismissively.

"You want to join the Locos?" Hector's tone was almost conspiratorial. He
felt like he was in danger just invoking that name. Felt like his life was
on the line even asking that question. He didnt mean to make it sound like
an offer. Like he was one of them. It chilled him, like the way Flaco
shook his hand.

"Its not even about that, Chavo just doesn't get it," Joaquin commented.
There was that smile again. "I just like hanging out with you guys every
now and then."

"But would you?" Hector pressed. He didnt want to press it too much
further. Joaquin looked contemplative for a moment.

"Nah, I don't think so. My moms would kill me if she thought I was
gangbanging." the kids tone was straight forward and confident. A lot like
the way he carried himself.

"What about skipping school?" Hector felt guilty, not only that he was,
but that he was part of the reason Joaquin was.

"No big deal," replied Joaquin. He looked like he was trying to play it
cool, a far away look in his eyes.

Hector glanced the youth over as he fell in step beside him. The pair of
them were back on the street, the school behind them, but the endless
sprawl of Clifton far from gone. As far as Hector knew, it was his whole
world. It spread as far as the burning rays of the sun, far above. As far
as he knew, everything those sharp beams touched could have been Clifton.
Somewhere far on the horizon, the huge black monolith of Bradfords
downtown hung. It was almost like another world, certainly one that Hector
had never known beyond something in the distance.

His eyes fell down along Joaquin's body as they walked, for a few moments.
He had to wonder at why Flaco wanted him to bring the kid along with him.
Although he found himself happy of his presence, at least in a base,
sexual way. Joaquin was nice. Nah, he was more than that. To Hector,
Joaquin was more than that. Not that he would ever admit it, not in his
darkest dreams. That wouldn't be what he was bought up to. But in his
mind, the most muddled and messy parts of anywhere where he grew up, this
truth shone more hot than the sun.

It made his dick stir.

Joaquin looked almost untouched by the ways of Clifton, at a first glance.
One of the new entrants to the broken education that was Clifton Memorial,
he was one of the schools youngest. Certainly too old to be hanging with
kids Hector or Flaco's age, in that unwritten social guide. One that would
probably be doing so out of admiration, but Hector could see that that was
far from Joaquin's young mind. The way he carried himself was something
beyond a boy his age. Not one easily swayed by others opinions or orders.

His face was boyish, that smooth, brown complexion that looked like the
blessing of the sun, rather than the hot curse of it that Hector felt
today. It was the gentle, comforting sort of brown that made one happy.
His smile, whenever it touched those full lips, came easily, without
hesitation or thought. Eyes that sparkled, even under the shade of his
white visor. A thick crop of curls contrasted sharply against the white.

Joaquin's sense of dress was far from the cholo stylings that even Hector
swayed to. Smart kid, at least in this weather. A loose, patterned white
shirt lay open on his smooth chest, still coming into its own in his early
teens. Baggy, long shorts, tan in color. Rough looking sandals. The size
of his clothes made Hector wonder if his parents bought them for him to
grow into, or if he had an older brother that he got the hand downs from.

"You know Flaco?"

The question pulled Hector from his lust laden stares. The youth nodded,
"Yeah. Him and me go back a long way."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, sure. We lived next door to each other for as long as I can
remember," Hector replied dismissively, watching the kid closely. He didnt
see much more than Joaquin's easy cheer.

"Hes 187 right?"

Hector nodded, "Yeah he is. I thought you said that you didnt want to join
the Locos?"

"I don't. I just wanted to know where he claimed," Joaquin walked lightly
at Hector's side, the bigger youth almost ponderous in the burning heat.
It was starting to make him dizzy again. "You both live there?"

"No, we around the corner, but hes got brothers in 187."

Hector's eyes were back on the pavement before him. He felt his hot,
boiled breath tight in his throat as he thought about that alone. 187
spread. Whether it was what it stood for in the police handbook, or what
it stood for in Clifton. The 187th Street Locos spread like black on the
browns of the ghetto there. He felt their inevitable fingers, every time
he was with Flaco. Their hand on his shoulder almost. They spread to
everything eventually.

Come home.

"That must be hard," Joaquin said, the statement sounded strange almost.
Hector shrugged his big shoulders.

"Its life."

"You hang with them a lot?"

"As much as Flaco does," Hector replied. He didnt see the childlike
admiration that he expected in Joaquin's gaze at that mention. 187th was
it. It was hardcore. It meant something not only in Clifton. It meant
something in Bradford. Beyond just meaning Locos.

"How you know Flaco anyway?" Hector asked.

"I saw him the first day of school," Joaquin said. The two of them turned
yet another street corner. No thought. Hector knew these streets well. "I
just walked up to him and started talking. He seems pretty cool."

Hector raised one of those thick eyebrows, "Just like that?"

"Just like that," the kid glanced over at him. "Why?"

"You usually walk up to Locos and just start talking?"

"That don't make them no different," replied Joaquin. Hector was more
surprised than anything at the youths attitude. He wondered briefly if he
was from around here. "Plus, he was friendly enough."

"What about Chavo?"

"I've known him a while. Last few years I think. Our moms know each
other."

"No, I mean you going to see him after school?" Hector asked. Flaco was
who he always saw after school. Unlike the other youth, he didnt always
skip. Joaquin smiled a little, smooth and almost seductive to Hector's
glance.

"I don't know. Its no big thing," he explained. "I like Chavo. But I like
Flaco too. Your pretty cool too."

Hector flushed a little, taking it to mean more than what it was. He liked
Joaquin too, but in ways more base than friendship at the moment. First
impressions that went straight through to his young sex. A sex that buzzed
hotter than even Bradfords burning summers, an almost continuous heat. One
that he found himself relieving at every opportunity. By himself more
often than not.

Beyond that, he found himself admitting that Joaquin was some strange sort
of kid. Pretty cool non the less. It only made him wonder more why Flaco
wanted him along.

Hector pushed down another of Clifton's flat, endless streets. The walk
from Clifton Memorial, to where Flaco lived felt more like a walk through
a desert. There seemed something strange about seeing the streets at this
time of the day, as if it were something that a kid his age shouldn't be
seeing. There was still the slight giddy thrill, the niggling guilt of
skipping school. But more and more Hector found himself just wanting to
get into the shade. A few more streets and that hope would be promise, and
reality.

The streets almost felt like some sort of lost ghost town. Like the ones
you always saw in those westerns. Except instead of the lost piano music,
every now and then you heard the sound of Spanish. Perhaps a song, singing
over some strangely familiar melody. It drifted through the empty streets
a lot like the two youths. The occasional person, rare adult influence,
could be seen. Sitting in the shade. Hanging out yet more washing.

Hector and Joaquin barely got more than a passing glance. The sun crippled
all. It punished movement with burning heat. It controlled and proclaimed
in its blazing, unrelenting ways. A force more powerful in Bradford than
even the gangs. During its rule, the gangs did as it wanted. The gangs
stayed slow. Dulled. Baking under the boiling heat of the true rule of
Bradford during the summer. The slow passage of sweat was something that
Hector knew intimately. It was the suns mark where the Locos black and
white bandanna was theirs.

Bradfords gang life drew to almost a trickle. Who wanted to draw up
weapons against Purebreed or Loco, when the punishment was moving out into
that heat?

Hector barely even gave the house next door a glance as he pushed open
what passed for a front gate of Flaco's house. He kept his head low
almost, his own house next door casting a seductive shadow over him. The
invitation was ignored, as the big youth lead Joaquin the rest of the way
to where he knew Flaco would be waiting. Where shelter would be waiting.

The house was a solid brick one, identical to his own. To any in the
street. Unattractive. Simple. Functionable. Hector could hear the sound of
music coming from one of the windows, a small one right next to the
ground. Flaco's room, under the house which housed his whole family. Four
brothers, and two sisters. Hector saw two of them, shouting noisily as
they rounded the side of the house. Only kids about six or seven. Joaquin
seemed to smile warmly as they ran passed, Hector pressing on towards
where they had come. Obviously shooed out again from where they had to
sleep with Flaco. Hector knew, he'd slept there often enough himself.
Sometimes there wasn't enough room and he'd sleep just outside.

Hector felt little better for the shadows between the two houses, divided
only as an afterthought by some remnant of a fence. He ignored the
presence of his own, and stepped down the steps into what served as
Flaco's room. The lanky latino was already sprawled out on his bed, a
small, battered desk fan serving to do a little to keep him comfortable.
Hector almost drooled when he set eyes on it, wondering where Flaco had
got it from.

"You took you time," Flaco called out. "What took you so long."

"Couldnt find him," replied Hector, not really sure how long it had taken.

"Hey Joaquin. What's up?"

The youth entered into the small room. Barely a bedroom, other than it was
large enough to house two single beds. A small stereo, well past its time
was set up on top of the rooms only dresser. There was little room for
much more, let alone the three boys, without sitting on the beds. Flaco
stood up for Joaquin, slapping him a handshake. It scared Hector when he
saw it. Flaco was too liberal on who he did that with. Outside brotherhood
of Locos.

"Hey, Flaco."

"Hector found you ok?" Flaco asked, the obvious.

"Yeah, no troubles. What you guys up to?"

Flaco smiled a little, "Nothing. What else? Just thought you might like to
chill out of the sun a while with us? You know. Out of school and all that
shit?"

"Yeah, that's cool," Joaquin replied, already inviting himself to sit down
on the other bed. Flaco didnt seem to mind.

Hector took his turn taking handshakes from Flaco. He felt a little
hardened as the youth looked at him. Those eyes pierced. They looked right
to the places that Hector held secret, but he knew from a lifetime of
being with Flaco that his every secret was no less safe with him than in
the depths of his soul.

Flaco was hard. Like nails. More like the concrete that made up the beaten
house that lined the street here like every other. Just as undistinguished
by the outside world, but individual to those who knew. A skinny boy,
Flaco was just a few years older than Hector. Hector looked his age
anyway, because of his appearance and size. Flaco was a lightweight next
to Hector. The way the two hung out together, it almost looked like Hector
was his overbearing minder, if not for the young look in Hector's eyes.

Flaco wore the same clothes as Hector, almost the same size despite the
difference there. His tank top, a fresh one, from what Hector could tell,
hugged his wirey frame with no less tightness however. Extenuating those
slight curves, baring his tattooed arms. His features were light, looking
almost as skinny as his form. Pale. A black cap, backwards, worn over his
gang bandanna, tied with exacting attentions. Further declaration beyond
his rag, and his tattoos, a thick beaded necklace, tight to his neck. One
gray. Eight white. Seven black. Repeated in loop.

Glasses, in surprisingly good condition, perched on Flaco's nose. On
anyone else it might have diminished the hardness in ones appearance. The
subtle threats of Flaco's tattoos. His colors. His affiliations. Thin
frames and clean lenses. Hector barely gave them any other thought. What
there was of Flaco's true hardness came in those eyes. The stared at him,
cut straight through whatever he raised to hide himself inside.

Come home.

"don't be so tense," Flaco said to Hector. The bigger youth nodded
lightly, his eyes still low. "Chill a while, homes. Come and sit here by
the air. You think about that thing we was talking about?"

"No."

Flaco just nodded in reply, as he sat down where Flaco had been moments
before. He noticed the magazine down the side of the bed, and dresser,
guessing what Flaco had been doing in their absence. Nothing hit to him as
clearly as the breeze that ran across his wet features. It was like
stepping into a freezer by comparison.

"You like these tats, homes?"

Joaquin was sitting still on the other bed, obviously looking at that
which Hector almost knew by heart. He glanced over, still not seeing that
undying admiration that he'd seen in the eyes of Joaquin's young friends.
More a steady interest, as he looked at the older boys many tattoos.
Hector was basking in the cool breeze supplied by the battered fan. It
squeaked rhythmically as it spun, but he barely noticed it next to the
hard Spanish rap that escaped the small stereo.

"They pretty mean," Joaquin said. Flaco was standing next to his bed, like
he could really be standing much away from it in the small room. He turned
his arm as the youth looked more closely to one on his right arm.

"That ones for my boy Wicked," Flaco pointed out, the younger boy nodding,
looking enraptured. The mention made Hector's heart just that little more
heavy for the moment.

"What's this one?"

"that's the girl I want, homes," chuckled Flaco, a little. Hector watched
for the smile he knew Joaquin would give. It warmed him, as much it did
the kids face. "I got a better one right here."

Hector rested back, as Flaco pulled off his tight tank top carefully.
Peeling it up his skinny body to expose the rest of his darkened skin. The
other words and patterns, pictures that danced about his pale skin there
on his torso. The youth pulled it off in a practiced motion that didnt
disturb his glasses or cap. Joaquin let out a noticeable show of
admiration. Hector thought to pull of his own wet tank top, but didnt want
to draw to his own total lack next to Flaco's tattooed skin. He thought to
sit there quietly for the while, to maybe make himself a little more
comfortable when taking off his tank top wouldn't draw attention to his
absence of tattoos.

He saw Joaquin's eyes move to those three scars. They were hard to miss
among the darkened parts of his tattoos. Hector saw the kid notice them,
the way his eyes widened just a little. How he didnt say anything further.

"Yeah, check it out close right there, homes," Flaco said, pointing out
another tattoo. Joaquin began checking out the youths side closely. Hector
could tell that Joaquin, for all his confidence, seemed new at this. He
wasn't surprised.

"Damn, does it hurt?"

"What? Getting them?" Flaco replied.

"Yeah. Does it hurt getting them?" Joaquin was looking at Flaco's skinny
chest, the trail of Spanish there. "You got lots."

"Nah, it doesn't hurt, homes. Well, maybe a bit at first, but you harden
up," replied Flaco. He turned a little, as Joaquin continued looking them
over closely, as if surveying a fine art.

"Whos this one to?"

"Solo," Flaco said with a smile. He pointed over in Hector's direction,
the bigger kid trying to look a little more alert. The rest, like the sun
before, was making his lethargic. He was where he wanted to be right now.
"that's my boy."

Joaquin glanced over at Hector. "That your name?"

Hector nodded, "Yeah."

"How long you had that one for?"

"Years now," Flaco said. The single word was tattooed right there on the
ball of his left shoulder, thick letters. Hector felt Joaquin's expectant
glance.

"You got one of Flaco's?"

Hector flushed a little, "Nah, not yet," he defended, a little lost for
words.

"Your boys got you tatted up on his arm, that's too cool!" Joaquin said,
glancing back at Flaco's arm. Hector saw a little of that kiddish
admiration now.

"Yeah, my boys just a little too soft to be getting all tattooed up like
me, homes," Flaco said, giving Hector one of those good natured glances.
The big youth felt a little shamed for the lack. Even without his shirt
off, this alone showed the absence. "But Im gonna get him around to
getting up his courage."

"Well, if it don't hurt too much ..." Joaquin began. He was still looking
over the other tattoos, Flaco just standing there.

"They hurt good enough," interjected Hector, quickly. He didnt like
feeling as if he were soft. Knowing Flaco alone gave him plenty of juice,
but this was pushing past just appearance and position.

"I think they would," replied the kid. Hector was a little surprised he
didnt continue pressing him. Flaco would have. "Especially as much as you
have."

"First ones always the hardest," Flaco said. He took a seat down on the
bed next to Hector. The big youth turned the fan a little as soon as he
did, lending a little of the cool. "But after that, you know what to
expect. You want to get yourself one, lil homes?"

Hector raised one of those thick eyebrows, looking over in the young kids
direction. Joaquin was sitting back down on the bed as well, the three of
them doing what they could to survive out of the heat of the day. At least
in this brick basement, it was a little easier.

"Nah, my moms would kill me."

Flaco laughed a little, "Then you just don't tell her," he suggested.

"She'd find out."

"She know your skipping school today?"

Hector saw a little of that guilt that he still felt himself sometimes,
reflected in Joaquin's smooth young features. The boy looked as if he was
thinking about how best to respond to that, but eventually that very
smooth smile crept across his face.

"No, but that's different. that's not getting a tattoo."

Flaco shrugged his skinny shoulders, beside Hector. "Its about the same
thing."

"Its just one day," Joaquin said. "Plus, its too hot. And its just
history. I don't like history much. Plus, I feel like hanging out with you
two."

"Ah, you'll do ok, homes," replied Flaco. Hector felt like he might tussle
his hand through Joaquin's hair, like an older kid might do to a younger
one, but the skinny youth looked like he was scant about to move for
anything right now. "Less trouble hanging out here rather than Memorial
anyhow."

Hector continued to watch Joaquin as the youth lay slumped somewhat on the
bed opposite. The way he was sitting, his shirt was hanging back off his
body. Smooth. Beautifully brown. He found himself aroused anew, his eyes
travelling lightly over Joaquin's young stomach and chest. The baggy shirt
fell back just enough to expose one of his nipples. Nothing seemed more
soft and inviting than that soft part of brown skin, darker in part than
any other part of the kid there.

The big youth stirred just a little to sit upright. Drag off his still
partly wet tank top. He felt the sweat on his body, the sensation of the
air blowing across the wetness. It made him shiver almost, a strange
sensation. Hector expected to hear something from Joaquin, perhaps a
question about why he had no tattoos. No scars, especially the ones like
Flaco had. But the small room just dipped into an even more stunning
silence as the CD in the stereo finally finished. Drenching the room in an
all encompassing quiet. All that could be heard was the squeaking of the
fan.

Hector let out a hot breath, relaxed at least for the coolness across his
body. There was a softness in his pale torso that he recognized in
Joaquin's body. Where Joaquin was younger than him, and he bigger, he had
little in the way of strength that his size might suggest. He tossed the
sweaty tank top passed where Flaco laid back on the bed next to him. It
caught on the bed end, hanging haphazardly. Hector didnt really care. All
that mattered was the coolness. The silence didnt bother him. In fact he
liked it. Liked that Flaco and him could sit in silence for hours, and
still feel no need to speak.

Hector's eyes had barely settled back along the smooth curves of Joaquin's
young body when he heard Flaco speak up. His tone seemed a little more
quiet next to the last question he had asked when the kid had been looking
at him.

"You looking at my scars, homes?"

Hector saw Joaquin just merely nod. There was something very young about
the way he did that. The thought made Hector harden a little. He glanced
over at what Joaquin had obviously still been staring at while he'd been
looking the kid over. The three obvious scars; one in Flaco's chest,
another near his stomach, the other in his right shoulder. Still
distinctly round. They were signs of something that could never be
removed. Memories that could never be wiped from ones memory. Unlike the
colors Flaco wore, they were etched almost in his soul.

"They a bit meaner than these tats, aint they," Flaco asked. Hector raised
a thick black eyebrow, watching between the kid and his friend.

"Yeah. I bet those hurt."

Flaco's tone sounded a little more solemn, a little less quick to explain
than he had on the tattoos. Hector wondered if as much would come out in
explanation, as had before. He looked at the scar on Flaco's chest. A pang
of guilt and pain hit him. He still remembered. He felt almost wrong that
Flaco bore so many signs of his friendship with him, and yet he bore none.
He felt weak next to the older boy.

"Yeah," Flaco replied. "They aint like the tats, lil homes. Taking on
bullet don't make it any easier to take the next one." Joaquin looked a
little wide eyed, as if he hadn't realized they were scars from being
shot. Hector thought perhaps he did, despite his expression.

"How you get them?"

"Way anyone gets shot," said Flaco. He was smiling a little, but it did
little to push the chill from Hector's memory. "I was taking care of
business. Looking after the neighborhood."

"187?"

"187th Locos all the way, lil homes." Flaco smiled, throwing a sign Hector
knew by heart.

"I feel safe hanging around you two," said Joaquin. Hector realized the
kid was looking at him. Flaco chuckled.

"Even when I've been shot up full of bullets?"

"Yeah! Especially then," Joaquin replied, still slouched back on the bed
opposite. It was like none of them wanted to move. Not even in the
slightly lessened heat of the basement. "You been shot ... three times.
You still alive. Its like you cant die!"

"You get lucky," said Hector. Flaco looked as if he was about to say
something. "doesn't mean next time you going to be lucky too."

"Yeah, Solos right, lil homes," Flaco agreed, with a nod. "I got lucky."

"But it hasn't stopped you, right?"

"You mean banging?" Flaco asked.

"Yeah."

"Nah, 'course it aint," Flaco smiled again. Hector could hear the mantras
even before the kid said them. "Live and die for Locos, homes."

"Yeah, well that's why I feel safe around you two," Joaquin replied. He
smiled that smooth smile. Nothing in the barrio looked quite like that to
Hector. "Because you can protect me."

"Its just about looking out for your friends, homes," Flaco said. He was
rubbing idly at his stomach. Hector noticed the glance in his direction.
He thought about that bullet scar in Flaco's chest again. He almost felt a
pain like he had taken it himself. Right there.

Joaquin just seemed to nod, content to just sit there in the new silence
that surrounded them. Hector was feeling more than lethargic now. The air
from the fan, even as small as it was, had done quite a bit to dry the
sweat on his soft body. It even lessened some of the heat that he felt
still wearing his oversized jeans. He felt the slight flush of heat still
in his groin, as he looked back over at the kid. He felt a growing lust.
He wondered if it was the heat, or Joaquin that seemed to make his head
light, as his eyes started to travel familiar patterns across the youths
exposed body.

It settled down on the boys baggy shorts, as his mind played fantasy for
the while. The heat, the lust. The somewhat cool breeze blowing across his
body made him feel sleepy.

Hector felt himself wake with a start, wondering if he had fallen asleep
or was just starting to nod off. Nothing seemed to move there in the
relative silence of the small basement room. He saw that Joaquin had
fallen asleep also, or at least closed his eyes. He looked peaceful beyond
what Hector had seen in a long time. There seemed to be little other than
a quiet contentness in Joaquin's resting expression. All he could hear was
the squeaking of the fan, the soft sound of his breathing, and that of the
other two boys.

Hector glanced over at Flaco, feeling his body cramping a little from the
inactivity. The way that he was lying. His expression changed to one of
surprise as he saw that the other boy was still awake. His hand down the
front over his oversized jeans. His belt already undone. Flaco's eyes were
closed also, but his hand moved smoothly. Slowly. Rhythmically in his
jeans. Bringing himself a quiet and gentle pleasure in the unending heat
of the afternoon.

Hector felt himself stir within his own baggy pants. Partly from seeing
Flaco right there beside him, jacking off slowly. But partly from the fact
that Joaquin was laying just across from them. Asleep still, Hector
checked quickly with a glance. There some to be some raw thrill atop his
lust for the kid. The fact that his close friend was doing what he was so
shamelessly. Without permission or word, or expectation. He felt himself
start to push up hard in his heavy jeans.

Flaco's eyes were still closed as he paused his lay work. Tugged a little
at his jeans with his hand, slipping it out of his pants momentarily. The
button on his baggy pants gave with little protest, followed by three of
the buttons of his fly. Exposing his black boxers below. With a motion
seeming almost as practiced and perfected as the one that had pulled of
his tank top, Flaco pulled his boxers down. Enough to free his hardened
cock. Drooling freshly with his excitement.

Hector felt like his breath was trapped in his throat. As if he was
watching uninvited. Flaco's eyes were still closed. Perhaps he thought
that he was still asleep. Hector shifted a little on purpose, cleared his
throat to make it more obvious, but Flaco seemed unrelenting. Unashamed.

His hand pulled up along that bowed length. Skinny still, but with a
flanged knob of a head, cut cleanly. The wetness there looked inviting. As
if perhaps it were some coolness not yet tapped in this parched desert. It
leaked in an ample stream from his long slit, dripping as he pulled at his
ribbed shaft. Worked his lean fingers down towards his baggy nuts, his
scant, somewhat thin pubes. They contrasted almost violently against his
paleness there.

"Relax homes."

Flaco's voice was little more than a whisper, Hector nodding. He saw
Flaco's dark eyes, felt them. It wasn't like he hadn't seen Flaco's cock
before. Or not seen the boy playing with himself when he got bored and the
situation allowed. It wasn't like he hadn't done ... things with Flaco.
Things that stayed in those dark parts of his soul only Flaco's eyes
penetrated to. The youth had shared more than a few things with him. More
than that tattoo, and scar. More than even just a childhood together.

Hector moaned a little as Flaco's hand wandered over towards his groin.
Tugged a little at the hardness there. In the same way that Hector felt
clumsy sometimes with his body, like it wasn't truly his. Something that
he wasn't old enough to know how to use at times, his dick felt the same
way. His big body like his clothes, large enough so that one day he might
grow into them. Every time he got hard, he felt that clumsiness renewed.
Especially when someone else touched him there.

"Yeah, I still got plenty I haven't shown you yet, lil homes," Flaco said,
still groping at Hector's loose pants. The big youth pushed him back a
little, suddenly embarrassed as he realized Joaquin was not only awake,
but staring straight at Flaco's exposed cock.

"Oh, man."

"Yeah, you like that?"

Hector felt himself grow hot in the face when he saw Joaquin's wide
expression. Embarrassed only lightly that he had probably caught Flaco
tugging at his own arousal, but more embarrassed that Flaco was exposed in
front of the kid. Joaquin truly looked as young as he looked, with that
expression. It was one of wide eyed disbelief. Admiration. Amazement.
Seeing tattoos and scars were one thing. Seeing another boys dick looked
like one thing Joaquin's cool, calm nature wasn't ready for.

"Why don't you pull out yours, lil homes," Flaco suggested. "We can
compare sizes."

Hector stared over at Joaquin, staring at the boys shorts again. Looking
for some hint that it might be turning the boy on. He wanted Joaquin to be
turned on. He wanted to see the kids hard on. Even though he was
embarrassed, there was a hard part in him that wanted to see Joaquin as
exposed. Wanted to be with him sexually to quench the lust he felt.

"Its just something we do when we bored," continued Flaco, holding himself
so that he pointed straight up towards the ceiling. "Solo. Pull our your
dick so that our lil homes can see."

"Huh?"

"Pull out your fucking dick, homes."

Hector didnt question. Didnt think twice. He unbuckled, unzipped and
hauled out his cock. A thick, lazy firmness that drooped rather than stood
out of his thick shock of pubes. A cock that was on loan to him, much like
the rest of his big body. Joaquin's eyes widened more. Seemingly
impossible, until Hector saw it. His dick was more the shade of Joaquin's
skin, darker than the rest of his pale form.

"Your first time seeing a cock, lil homes?" Flaco's tone was almost a
little too cool for Hector's liking. He just sat with his dick in his
hand, Flaco was still stroking his.

"Nah ... I've seen dicks before," Joaquin replied, quietly. Hector could
tell that was a lie, but the subtle tell tale signs seemed lost on Flaco.

"What, you seen your brothers?"

"Sure."

"Well, we just like your brothers, so its cool," Flaco pointed out, his
hand squeezing lazily back up his length. "Its cool, right?"

"Yeah." Joaquin's eyes were stuck between looking at Hector's, or looking
at Flaco's. Hector couldnt help himself, as he felt his dick burn with
arousal hotter than the heat he'd endured the whole day, at the hands of
the sun.

"Sure, we all brothers, here, lil homes. So why don't you pull out yours?
Show us what you got?"

Hector watched Joaquin closely. Still part of him aroused. Part of him
feeling like Flaco's blunt and straight forward ways weren't what a kid
like Joaquin needed. Despite having seen his first dick, two of them even,
the youth seemed to suck up whatever he was feeling and thinking to
concentrate on the task at hand. He started to undo his shorts. Hector
felt himself drooling, his eyes fixed on Joaquin's groin. He felt a little
disappointed when the kid finally dragged out his own cock, far from hard.

Joaquin looked uncomfortable, to say the least, managing somehow to drag
his shorts down in his slouched position to get himself free. His cock
hung limp in his hand, seeing uninterested. Hector throbbed at the mere
sight, the completion of his fantasies enough to keep his lazy dick
engorged despite the lack of physical attention. He felt his breath going
dry in his throat again, his mouth opening a little as he continued to
stare.

"Get it up, homes."

Joaquin stood up, his shorts dropping down. His baggy boxers clinging to
his hips. The room wasn't wide enough between the beds there. The youths
dick at eye level with Hector. He licked his lips subconsciously, catching
himself. Lowering his eyes. His own baggy pants seemed to be burning up a
new inferno for him, even though they lay open on his boxers and dick.

"Nah, I mean get your dick up, lil homes," Flaco clarified. "Not get up.
Get IT up. You know how to jack off right?"

"Yeah ..."

Hector reached out, and wrapped his hand about Joaquin's limp dick.
Squeezing it upwards into hardness. He kept his head low, still
embarrassed for himself. Now more for Joaquin. He felt exposed and weak
before the kid, but he felt weaker at Flaco's continued questions. Ones
that Joaquin seemed to be lying to. He pitied Joaquin, wondering at how
confused he must be right now. Two older kids opening up their pants and
pulling out their dicks. Jacking them off, if that wasn't bad enough.
Hector frowned a little, giving him that don't mess with me look. The kid
had to learn sometime.

"Yeah, get him all stiff, Solo," Flaco commented. Hector could see that he
was back to jacking himself off. His fingers a little wetter with his
drool. "That the first time anyones ever done that for you?"

Hector glanced up at the youth, but Joaquin didnt lie this time. His reply
was breathy, as he experienced the heady new sensations at Hector's hand,
"Yeah, it is."

"Feels pretty fucking nice, thought, right lil homes?"

"Yeah, it does."

"Keep treating him, Solo. You doing him good."

Hector kept at the gentle touching. Joaquin was big enough for his age, a
truth that was obvious once the older boy had done sufficient to ease him
into hardness. A dark shaft, tight nuts, a broader, uncut head. The
thickness of his pubes seemed to make him seem more dark there, his cock
the same gentle, smooth brown as the rest of his body. Hector could see
that the kids legs were weak with the touch. Soft moans escaping his lips.
He pulled the youth about so that he could sit between the two of them on
the bed. He pulled Joaquin's boxers down properly.

Flaco shifted a little, unappreciative, but eventually making more room on
the bed. Shoving his glasses up a little with his free hand. Hector felt
himself flush a little more as Joaquin pressed against him in the lack of
room there. He got himself a little more comfortable, letting go of his
own cock, letting it fall in its lazy arc. He glanced up nervously at
Joaquin, expecting to feel that embarrassment continue to burn in his
cheeks, but the youth seemed to be taking it with a renewed coolness. As
if realizing that if this was what it took to hang with the older boys,
then so be it. Hector wondered if it was just Joaquin's ever calm way. It
scared him.

"That ok?" Hector asked quietly, still working gently on Joaquin's cock.

"Yeah, man. Its real nice."

"Cool."

"Yeah my boy knows how to take care of that stuff, lil homes," Flaco
commented with a grin. "Gets plenty of practice when hes out roaming by
himself."

Joaquin laughed at the joke, but Hector wondered if he really understood
it. He just kept his hand working gently on Joaquin's dick. The youth
looked as if he was enjoying it more than anything. Staring now at Flaco's
cock. Mostly because he was leaning a little more in that direction.
Hector started to tug at his own member again, staring hotly at Joaquin's
chest again. Drinking in his lustful, hot breaths.

"I bet you aint never fucked a girl yet, right?" Flaco asked, still
playing lethargically with himself.

"Nah, I aint done anything like that." Hector wondered how he'd not learnt
how to jack off yet, but let that settle with his other unanswered
questions about the kid.

"Stick with us, lil homes," replied Flaco quietly. "You'll get yours
before too long."

"What's it like?"

Hector almost chuckled nervously at that ever curious nature. Even when he
was having his dick pulled on. He kept the pace real slow, more just
touching and feeling Joaquin than really jacking him off. He wondered how
the youth would feel shooting for the first time.

"Fucking a girl? Its sweet, homes," Flaco replied. "When you put your dick
up inside her cunt that first time, its like heaven. Like your first time
jacking off almost, but heaps better."

Joaquin's eyes seemed a little heavy with the idea, more probably the
sensations in his young member. As if he was trying to imagine what that
might really be like. Hector guessed he had no idea on the dynamics. He
guessed that Joaquin had never seen pussy before. Flaco quickly confirmed
that one.

"You ever seen a girls cunt?"

"Nah. Never seen anything like that," Joaquin replied quietly, with a
light moan. His hand moved down and seemed to try mimicking Hector's
motions. The big youth let him take over.

"Pass me that magazine over there, Solo."

Hector grabbed up the magazine left dropped down between the dresser and
the bed. It was a bit of a stretch from the position he was in, but he
eventually snagged it and passed it over to Flaco. Something still make
him a little strange looking at girls, especially naked. Flaco seemed to
have the guts more for it than him. The skinny teenager was already paging
through it, as if looking for something.

"See, right there. that's what a girls pussy looks like," Flaco commented.
He paged again, "And there."

"Woah!"

"Oh, you aint never seen their tits, neither, huh lil homes?" asked Flaco,
casually.

"Nah."

"Well, see that's what a girl looks like. Pretty hot." Hector glanced
down, seeing that Joaquin was still playing with himself slowly. Like
everything this far had only been show, and he really did know how to jack
himself.

"And that right there ... see. that's what it looks like when you got your
dick in her," Flaco continued to explain. He flipped through a few more
pages and found some better pictures of the act.

"You ever done it before?" Joaquin asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

"What you think?" Flaco asked with a grin. This time he did actually
tussle Joaquin's thick curls, knocking his visor down a bit over his eyes.
"I've fucked plenty of girls, homes. Just ask my boy."

Joaquin glanced over at Hector. Hector felt like he had to stop playing
with his dick now that the kid was paying attention to him. Joaquin's hand
had slowed a little during the questions. The subsequent pictures in the
battered, well loved magazine.

"You ever fucked girls cunts?" Joaquin asked, coming off sounding like a
veterano again. The words sounded strange coming from his lips that first
time.

"Yeah, a few," Hector said. He didnt bother elaborating beyond that. But
Joaquin asked him a question that made him blush a little more.

"Was it good?"

"Yeah, it was good. Girls pussy is always good," Hector replied. Part of
him knew it was the truth. He wasn't so sure when he said the next. "Like
Flaco said, stick with us and you'll get plenty of pussy."

"Is it easy to do?"

Flaco laughed a bit, "You can watch next time I get some, lil homes.
You'll get the hang of it quick enough." Flaco's tone changed a little,
catching Hector off guard. "Hey! Little brothers. Get the fuck out of
there! Go back upstairs to your momma."

Hector glanced up at the window, seeing the two little faces quickly pull
away, giggling lightly. They quickly faded as the little footsteps pounded
away on the dried dirt outside. Hector felt that quick flush of
embarrassment again. Flaco's tone quickly returned to its normal.

"You can keep this if you want," Flaco said, handing Joaquin the battered
magazine. The youth was too busy with himself. Discovering he had a brand
new toy, one that was with him no matter where he went. But he took the
magazine in hand, with the reverence that seemed to come with it. "Just
don't let your moms see it, ok?"

"Sure. Thanks, man."

"that's ok, lil homes," Flaco replied. "When you done with that one, I can
lend you some of my others. Just keep it hidden, ok?"

"Yeah, ok."

Joaquin let it aside for a moment, obviously working at his climax.
Discovering the warm new pleasures that came with that too. Hector was
busy too, himself, just staring at Joaquin. The heat, the situation. His
arousal. They all contributed to the fire in his own lazy cock. The older
boy began to work himself gently again as he stared at Joaquin. He was
still looking at him with all the lust of a guy looking at a schoolyard
crush. But at the same time, the big youth was wondering if this was truly
Joaquin's first time. How did he manage to come off so cool?

"Get back there a little so you can lean back," Flaco said, encouragingly.

Hector was already moving his hands to help the youth back so he could
lean against the wall. He found his hands pulling at Joaquin's baggy shirt
too. He felt another warm flush as Joaquin let him, the oversized garment
slipping back to expose the youths smooth brown body. Hector's breath was
hotter than even the feeling in his groin. He was sure his eyes were as
wide as Joaquin's had been when he'd first seen Flaco's dick. He helped
Joaquin back into a more comfortable position, not minding in the least
that it ended up with the younger boy leaned more against him than the
wall.

"You doing pretty good there, lil homes," commented Flaco, still working
himself. "Playing it pretty cool with the older boys, huh? I think you
gonna do ok with us, homes."

"Thanks," Joaquin replied. Hector could see him beaming a little with that
youthful enthusiasm that he expected to see more often from him. The older
youths spare hand was already reaching back over to Joaquin's nuts. He
gasped a little, but encouraged the extra touching.

"Yeah, work his nut a bit for him, Solo."

"Thanks man ..."

Hector smiled a little as Joaquin over at him. His hand was already
slowing again on his dick. With Hector touching him there, feeling the
pleasure that anothers hand bought him, it seemed to pale the pleasures he
bought himself. There was so much more that Hector wanted to do right now.
His eyes ran hungry over Joaquin's body, barely noticing Flaco sitting
right there next to him. But it was Flaco's presence that kept him at bay.
Kept at bay those raging hormones that burned within him. That guided his
hand even now in what little he did. He started to fist Joaquin's dick.
The youth was moaning quietly against him

Hector noticed Flaco's own hand was working quicker. The room filled with
the sounds of their quiet arousal. Wet sounds of hot flesh and moisture.
Gentle gasps and moans. Hector felt as if the breeze from the squeaking
fan did nothing to cool him now that a more fiery heat consumed his body.
His soft flesh pushing against Joaquin where he sat there against him. The
fire outside the room in the endless barrio seeming nothing next to the
fire within, and the fire within the bodies of the three youths.

Hector worked at his lazy cock, but it seemed second to the more firm
masturbation that he played across Joaquin's dick. All that seemed to
matter right there and then was the youth. Getting him off. Damn whether
or not he was new to this. All that mattered was the pleasure. Hearing the
youths groans. Feeling his body. Staring at his cock. Touching it as
intimately as if it were his own. He wanted it as his own.

Flaco let out a sharp moan, a thick stream of white splashing down across
his abs. A second, hard throb coloring across his chest, leaving a pale
streak against his skin and tattoos. Hector quickened his pace on Joaquin
for some reason that he didnt quite realize. Perhaps because whenever he
jacked with Flaco, he always tried to hit at the same time. Maybe to cover
the surprise that he saw on Joaquin's face as the youth stared at the
thick rain of cum that was already starting to trickle down the sides of
Flaco's body.

It was only a few strokes more before Joaquin let out a whimper and
starting cuming. Hector felt himself on the brink as the youths thick seed
colored across the smooth brown of his body. Pulsing out of his cock,
still tight within Hector's grasp. Hector felt the rhymic quivering of the
youths member, as Joaquin painted streaks across his body. Contrasting the
rich brown with white. The youth whimpered quietly, quivering slightly
against Hector's hot body.

Hector's own orgasm paled in comparison to what he had felt and seen in
the boy. A blunt and base pleasure next to the beautiful sensations and
warmth that he had felt in Joaquin's. His hand was still locked about
Joaquin's dick, his other hand squeezing the cum from his own. It felt
nothing like the gentle curves he felt against him. The quiet gasps, and
soft touch of his skin. Compared to Joaquin's orgasm, Hector felt like his
own was a let down. Second to what he had truly wanted as he worked with
his hand.

"Here."

Flaco passed the white to Joaquin, in part wiping it up his abs to staunch
the cum that had fallen there. Hector caught his breath, Joaquin still
very much doing so himself. Doing what he could to wipe up the rewards of
his efforts. The youth was strangely quiet, seemingly content. Hector
realized with annoyance what Joaquin was holding in his hand, as he felt
his cum running down the sides of his stomach.

"Hey, Flaco. that's my tank top!"

"So, its all good, homes," Flaco replied. "Aint like its gonna get cold
anytime soon."

Hector frowned, annoyed still. He helped Joaquin despite it. "You didnt
have to go use my clothes."

"Fuck that. Its all I had. You wanna get up get a towel?" questioned
Flaco. "You cool to if you want. One right over there." Hector didnt even
bother looking to see if it was true. He believed the skinny boy.

"Next time don't use my clothes," Hector replied. He started to mop his
own cum up all the same, the tank top already wetter with the cum now than
it had with the sweat he'd gathered out in the sun. Flaco seemed to ignore
him.

"Feels pretty good to have someone else do it for you, lil homes," the
latino said.

"Yeah, I know. You guys always do this stuff?" Joaquin asked. "I mean ...
when you aint at school and stuff."

"Its something to do," replied Flaco. His pants still lay open, his cock
flopped limply over on one side. Hector knew he wasn't shy in the least.
"We don't always do it, when it gets too hot. You get them feelings. We
all friends, nothing wrong with doing it."

"You going to be off school tomorrow?" Joaquin asked. Making plans for
tomorrow already, Hector noticed. Maybe he just liked this jacking off
stuff more than his cool demeanor let on. Flaco just shrugged.

"See what happens. Cant really tell," Flaco raised an eyebrow. "What? You
liking this shit, lil homes?"

"I like hanging with you two," commented Joaquin rather calmly. Hector
could tell he was hiding something. He guessed it was the pleasure side of
it. Flaco put a hand on the youths shoulder.

"You can hang with us whenever you like. As for doing this," Flaco gave
Joaquin a rather firm expression. Something that belonged back on the
street, not here. Not between friends. "Jacking off and shit. Well, its
best not to be blabbing to yo lil friends we doing all that."

"No, I wouldn't do that." he replied. Hector saw that Joaquin wasn't
affected in the least by Flaco's glance. Hector would have withered under
it.

"Nah, I know you wouldn't."

Flaco bent over to loosen his shoes and kick them off. He stood up between
the beds, his baggy jeans dropping in a second. Carried down his skinny
legs by their weight. He kicked them off, dropped his boxers, before
taking a place up on the other bed. Joaquin was watching him, his eyes
moving as quickly as Hector's had when he had first seen Joaquin naked. He
was still half hard, despite cumming, with the youth sitting still naked
beside him.

"Gimme a lil of that air, fucker," Flaco commented to Hector, pushing his
glasses up with a finger. Hector turned the tiny fan about so that it was
pointing towards the other bed.

He felt the sudden heat in the absence of the fans frugal movement of air.
Joaquin was just staring at Flaco's naked body, as he slouched there on
the other bed. As if he were sitting there decked out in all his cholo
clothing, rather than as bare as he was right now. Even if he was still
wearing his colors, cap and tight necklace. He looked comfortable, but
then he always did, Hector noted. He'd never been with Flaco before when
he was with another guy. Well ... not like this. Not sexually, with
another guy in the room. He felt the absence of Joaquin's weight as the
youth stretched out a little in the room made. The youths cock was hanging
limp and lazy.

"Plenty other things we can do if you still feeling horny, homes," Flaco
said, his voice quiet. "If you can keep your mouth shut."

Hector didnt appreciate the heavier words, but Joaquin looked as
unaffected by them as everything else. In fact the youth looked almost as
relaxed as Flaco, lazed out there. Taking up ample space on the bed,
looking as if it weren't nothing to be naked. Doing what he had to to hang
with the older boys. Joaquin just nodded to Flaco's comment.

"Why don't you suck his cock, Solo."

Hector flushed warmly at the suggestion, glancing over at Joaquin. The
youth just looked back at him with an easy expression. Not showing
anything. He looked like a pro, as cool as any of the veteranos. The big
youth figured that Joaquin probably didnt have a clue what Flaco was
suggesting. At least not what it would be like, beyond working out what he
meant. He just gave him that easy look. Hector admired those sparkling
eyes. They held him in a far easier and simple way than Flaco's piercing
and commanding gaze. Those lips enticed him, as Joaquin just lay slouched
back on the bed casually. Waiting.

"Yeah, suck my cock, Solo."

Hector burned with surprise. He was sure that his pale features were
burning a bright red, that both of the youths would have noticed it in a
second. Flaco's suggestion had taken him off guard, but hearing Joaquin
all but order him down did something far greater. There was no way this
kid could be new to this. No way at all. His tone sounded so confident. So
firm. Hector withered under the smooth words as quickly as if they had
been Flaco's. He moved, feeling his heavy jeans slip off his ass as he
came about on the bed. He started to spread Joaquin's smooth brown legs,
feeling his dick coming up heavy again between his legs. As he glanced up
at the boy he saw those eyes. Saw that which gave Joaquin away.

Joaquin had no idea what was going on. Those sparkling brown eyes were
wide with anticipation. Inexperienced surprise. The youths body panting
with a sensation finally given form and word to him.

Joaquin was more cool, more calm than anyone Hector had ever known. He was
a veterano well before his days. Hector wondered if he was the only one
who saw that.

The big youth spread Joaquin's legs a little wider as his half hard dick
lolled over to one side. Already growing again with the stimulation of
Hector's touch. Hector was wishing the fan was back on them, his body
burning with the embarrassment still, feeling the heat of the afternoon as
strongly again as the heat between their two young bodies. He felt his
lust blazing within him again. Fuck anything but this. He wanted to get
more of Joaquin than the kid knew was possible. Even if he didnt give on
and acted like he'd done it all before.

"Yeah, that's nice shit Solo. Treat our new lil homes like you treat me,"
Flaco commented brashly, Hector feeling a new embarrassment set in. "I
know you in for some real sweet head, homes. No bitch ever gave me head
like my boy Solo."

"Yeah ..."

Joaquin's breathy reply was anything but confident as Hector slipped his
mouth down over his cock. He felt the presence there within the wet
embrace of his lips, moaning as he slipped himself further down on the
boys hastily hardened cock. Part of him was bitter, as he took Joaquin's
dick in his mouth. Starting sucking on him.

'Try acting like this is all cool now, homes. Try acting like you hard now
you got me sucking your dick like you never felt before.'

"Oh, Solo ..."

"Yeah, lil homes," Flaco commented quietly. "Nice aint it?"

"Oh fuck ..."

"Let him do you, homes. Just lay back and enjoy it."

"Solo ..."

Hector moaned a little as he began the rhythmic thrust of his lovemaking
there. He pushed down in an expert stroke, taking the kid into his throat,
burying his nose deep in his pubes. Hector felt and heard the response.
Joaquin was shaking again, like he had when Hector had first touched his
dick. Hector's hands roamed up lazily across Joaquin's smooth brown body,
slouched up against the end of the bed there. He pulled back, sucking
about the youths head. His hands taking in what only his eyes had, hungry
and possessed.

Joaquin's hands finally found their way to Hector's head. The big youth
felt them about his all but bald head and neck. blindly feeling at the
cause of his burning pleasure. Hector pulled back a little to lick at
Joaquin's hard and wet length. His cock slapping heavily against his skin
for a moment as it escaped his mouth. He felt the strong musk of the kid
there, as his nose stayed in close. As he lowered his mouth down towards
Joaquin's balls.

Hector was conflicted in so many ways. He wanted to prove to Flaco that
the kid wasn't as cool as he thought he was. He wanted to pleasure Joaquin
in ways that he knew he'd never felt. To release his burning lust against
the youth in whatever way he felt like. But something deeper, more base
wanted him to treat him well. A way that reminded Hector of that smooth
smile, seductive almost in its honesty. Those bright eyes. Somewhere deep
beneath all that cool and calm was a kid. One that Hector still remembered
of himself, long passed. One that Hector wanted to treat well his first
time.

Joaquin's hands still continued to rub and stroke at his neck, the youths
legs wide open. Hector used the brute strength of his body to pull Joaquin
back, almost under him, to lay him back on the bed rather than against the
end of it. Pushing the youths legs back, he started to lap at the kids
balls more freely, where they hung there. He heard the hot pants Joaquin
breathed, the powerful, but gentle moans. He let his licking lower a
little more, smelling the thick aroma of Joaquin's ass. The youth
whimpered somewhere beyond him, Hector barely heard.

Hector kicked off his shoes, hastily. One of them hit something hard, but
he didnt look back, getting himself out of the loose confines of his
jeans, then his boxers. Making himself naked. He stared down at Joaquin,
laid back there on the bed before him. His visor had fallen off, or the
youth had taken it off. Baring his short back and sides. The thick black
curls of his mop of hair. Hector felt that almost pained burn of lust,
caught in the deep grip of sexual attraction to the youth.

Joaquin stared back. Pretense of toughness or understanding absent. Hector
noticed that giddy, kid like admiration that seemed so gone from Joaquin's
vocabulary so often. That smooth smile spread slowly across the youths
brown features. Hector wondered what it felt like to be in love.

Barely dwelling on Joaquin's smooth features a few mere seconds, Hector
moved back down to Joaquin's dick. His own was hanging heavily, hard
again, yet in that lazy way it did. Rather than the solid, intense
hardness that penetrated his lips. This time Joaquin's hips rose to meet
his mouth. The youth learning quickly what best bought him pleasure. He
heard the whispered groan escape Joaquin's lips. Felt his hand at the back
of his head again as the youth began to thrust upwards again. Hector
guided the kids hips, easing him into a gentle thrust. Teaching him what
came natural to him, with his older, heavier body. Joaquin began to take
over the thrusts, gasping in a tone that spoke of his unbelieved
satisfactions.

If Flaco was doing anything more than just staring, Hector didnt know. He
remembered lightly that the other boy was still in the room. Remembered
that they were both lying on Flaco's bed, in the still smoldering heat of
the day, and their sex. The sweat came quickly to their two bodies, Hector
could smell it lingering there with the scent of their maleness. Of their
aroused sexual foreplay. Hector let the youth thrust up again and again.
He wanted more than just to give Joaquin a blow job. His own dick, his own
body, older physically than his age, craved more.

He wanted Joaquin.

Those smooth brown curves, so soft. That smile, more smooth and soft than
anything.

He wanted to fuck Joaquin. No ... make love? He wondered how that felt.

He wanted to impress them both. Flaco especially.

He sucked, feeling the thrust of Joaquin's hips. Hearing the tight moans.
Smelling the thick musk of his most male part. Hector felt himself getting
dizzy, wondering if it was the sex, or the heat. He breathed in thick
pants through his nose. His nostrils flaring as he continued to take
Joaquin's growing thrusts. Time slowed, it seemed, into a burning, thick
molasses. One that make his body sweat like rain. Ran over him in a slow
passage of pleasure that burned and seethed in his cock. He gagged a
little, choking on Joaquin's eager pushing. Feeling his hands like hot
cinders on his head.

"... fuck ..."

Hector moaned in reply, his head swimming. His hands explored Joaquin's
body intimately. He wondered at what had broken in him to have ended up
like this. Feeling the wants within him. Perhaps it had just been too
much. Finally being able to have the thing he wanted. Beyond just
Joaquin's smooth body. He craved this, but he craved what else more. He
sought it in any place in the barrio he could find it. He dreamed that it
was here.

"Fuck him ... cmon Solo ..."

Hector finally heard the words. realized that Joaquin and Flaco had been
talking. Both youths voices low, Joaquin's heavy with his lust and new
found experiences in Hector's sexual touch. Hector gasped as Joaquin's
still rigid cock slipped momentarily from his mouth. The air rushed into
his lungs in pants. He shook lightly, but for different reasons than
Joaquin, who was still quivering under his hands. Hector looked up the
youths body. His eyes red and heavy. Joaquin was staring back, his own
wide in disbelief.

"Show him what it feels like, Solo ... show him how I make you feel,
homes."

The tones were low and conspiratorial. Hardened in that strange, macho way
that occupied everything in the barrios. Hung like the thick fog that hung
about Hector's head. The heat. The smells. The sensations. Hector felt
drunk. Or high. Yet different. He struggled to place the feelings.
Wondering again if this was what love felt like. Somewhere, somehow,
Hector had found the momentum to pull one of Joaquin's legs right back,
exposing the youths ass. The big youths lust and pent horniness pushed him
on as he lowered his mouth to Joaquin's puckering softness there.

Hector felt Joaquin's hands wander from his head, felt the movement above
him there. He battered back Joaquin's hands from his dick, denighing him
the easy pleasure that accompanied his hungry mouth. He felt the
resistance as Joaquin pushed back, groaned unappreciately. Hector renewed
his efforts, pushing Joaquin's leg back further as he probed his tongue
within the kids funky hole.

"Raw and dry, lil homes," Flaco said, quietly. "Show me you a man, not a
boy. Men like we are."

Hector's nose took in the heavy smells of Joaquin there, feeling the youth
still struggling lightly, more now with the strange new sensations that
came with this stimulation. Hector probed and pushed, letting his raw lust
take him in as deeply into the act. Had it been anyone else, Hector would
never have gone this far. He maintained staunchly within himself that he
wouldn't even under the orders of Flaco. But given that a situation like
his had never come up before, the true test was still there. Hector wanted
this, though. He could feel in Joaquin's body, hear in his moans, almost
smell and taste in his body, that Joaquin wanted it too.

'Please want it like I want it.'

Hector fumbled with his cock, clumsy again as he struggled to control his
big body. It frustrated him, now especially, as he worked his cock.
Wondered at how best to proceed as his lust just pulled him up over
Joaquin's young body. He looked down into Joaquin's smooth face, wide eyed
and overcome with the realities of sex first felt. Hector felt Joaquin's
hands on his shoulders, rubbing, encouraging. Part of him could see that
he still had no idea what was going on. Not from what Flaco was saying.
Every new act one that Joaquin could never have guessed. Only covered in
lack of knowledge by those smooth, cool expressions.

Hector spat on his hand, rubbing along his cock. Then again. His breath
fell hot against Joaquin's chest as he stared down over the youths body.
This was so far difference from the other times. If it had been a girl.
The sensations were different. The feelings were different. Everything
was. He wanted to get off. His dick and body, the youth still so much
growing into it, into the urges that it supplied, wanted to get off. But
this was a guy. It was Joaquin. It was different.

Hector found himself unable to spit up too much more, his mouth so dry. He
clumsily pushed himself against the youths ass hole, with his broad head.
He saw Joaquin's eyes widen in both surprise and partly in disgust and
disbelief. He wanted to say something, to tell the youth it would be cool.
But his throat was too dry. The words stayed trapped in his burning lungs.
The sex and afternoon heat deprived him of the comfort and coolness.
Joaquin let out a yelp as Hector pushed forward, all too eager.

"You a man, aint you, lil homes?" Flaco asked casually, still sitting on
the bed. Hector saw that he was playing with himself again.

"Yeah, Im a man."

"Fucking show me your a man, homes. You saying that hurts?"

Hector frowned. This wasn't some test. It was different. It was sex, or
love. Or something in between. Hector didnt know. He couldnt work out the
difference between the emotions that he felt inside. Even with his older
body, it didnt come with the comprehension of the feelings it gave him.

"Nah, it don't hurt," Joaquin replied, calmly. Hector didnt like that. Not
the way the youth firmed his face, in that veterano way.

"Then what you waiting for, Solo. Treat him like I treat you," stated
Flaco.

Hector pushed again, seeing Joaquin's youth features twist. Like a youth
trying his hardest to make like a cut didnt hurt. Yet this cut drove
deeper than any, as Hector began to work his way into the only slightly
prepared softness there. He saw Joaquin's bright eyes widen as his own
did. Both feeling different sensations, none less powerful than the
others. The tight softness there beckoned Hector. Pulled him on further as
he began to work his cockhead in slowly, guiding his partly soft erection
with his free hand. The other keeping Joaquin's leg back.

"Is it like this with girls ...?" Joaquin asked, pained and dry. The
timing struck Hector as odd.

"No," he replied quietly, breathy. "It'll feel real good. Just give it a
bit. I promise. Better than having your dick in a pussy." He wondered at
the last part.

Hector lowered his gaze to Joaquin's smooth chest as he began to start
humping himself inwards. The tightness was too intense. It almost hurt his
cock. The fact that his hard ons were more soft than stiff made the going
even more harder. Not having the hardness before his hips as he thrust
made the tightness only that more difficult to breach. Frustration set in
too quickly as Hector frowned, that look that made him look annoyed. The
sort of look that any of the older veteranos would give, in disapproval to
anyone passing by. He cussed lightly as an overly eager shove caused
Joaquin to start sharply.

"Relax."

Hector heard the word only when Joaquin said it again. It surprised him,
drew his eyes back up to the youths. That same smooth, confident
expression greeted him. Soothed the frustration that was starting to eat
at him. There was a strangely deep acceptance in Joaquin's sparkling gaze,
though wet with the held tears of his pain. A slow, smooth smile spread
that seemed to comfort Hector more. The youth winning him over with that
calm manner that he would follow into Purebreed territory. He saw the
hints of pain in Joaquin's face, but they seemed second to the gentle,
easy expression that spread so easily across his features.

Hector carefully renewed his efforts, finding the way as tight, but a
little easier on his confidence. Joaquin's body still betrayed his calm
nature, tight and hard, mirroring the natural rejection of his ass hole.
Hector felt himself hardening a little more, firming his length as he
started to fuck a little, in an effort to loosen the tightness there.
Working with his length what he had tried to ease open with his tongue.
The more than ample sweat of the boy there and Hector's spit helped in
part to help the passage.

"It feels nice," Joaquin said, breath hot on Hector's skin. The older boy
saw a little of the confusion, a little of the pleasure. Perhaps more just
hoped, on what Hector had promised.

"Ill make it feel better," replied Hector.

He tried not to let himself fall too heavily along Joaquin's body. It
burned against his naked skin. Joined there in the act of sex. It reminded
Hector too much of the time when he had been like this. On this same bed.
Flaco where he was right now. The way had been so less easy. He wished
that Flaco had been as comforting as Joaquin was. In those few words.
Those easy expressions. Another lit his way as he started to thrust a
little more, feeling his nuts rest against Joaquin's tight ass hole. It
felt like the kid was trying to crush his cock within that tight muscle.
He could tell Joaquin was trying to heed his own advice though. He could
feel in that hard, hard ring, that Joaquin was trying to relax. Despite
the pain he knew he must be feeling, and hiding.

Hector felt a little of his concern start to wear off as he felt the tight
pleasure that came from having himself inside Joaquin. The hot press of
his naked form against his. He had what he wanted, as the most base of
levels. He had what he wanted when he had stared at Joaquin's young body
on the walk home. Right now he had all that, as he began to start
thrusting more firmly, his big body starting to work a little more easily
as he moved into the rhythms of sex. He could feel those urges, thick and
heavy, like the heat that hung on his sweat slicked skin. Those base urges
to rut.

Joaquin's hands seemed to burn a hotter passage across his wet back as
Hector thrust inside the boy. He ached with the needs that he began to
sate within Joaquin's ass. His heavy gaze taking in the mix of emotions
beneath him. The pleasure. The disbelief. The deep satisfaction. The pain,
gently easing into the endless rhythms of their intercourse. Hector felt a
sudden wetness seeping between them, like Joaquin had peed himself.
Feeling the uncontrolled shudders of the youths body as he tightened and
clenched about Hector's big cock. The hot, breathy, disbelieving moans.
There were words in there that Hector couldnt understand. Ones that
Joaquin was ill equipped to speak.

Hector put his arm about Joaquin's shoulders, feeling the hot embrace of
the youth about his own. His hips seemed to pump with a mind of their own,
harder, fuller. Driven by those same base lusts that he felt staring at
the kid. Feelings and wants satisfied finally. Fully. As he took what he
needed, his mind wanting more. Wanting in part to give Joaquin what he
sought himself. That cold, endless search that had him wandering the
barrios. Away from that place that laid so close to Flaco's tiny bedroom.

Hector let out a pained moan as he felt his climax lingering. First on his
nuts, then almost painfully close at the tip of his cock. The heat there
was a warm and pleasurable one. One that he felt only in part within the
embrace of Joaquin's smooth body. Beyond that, the unrelenting and
uncaring heat of the world beyond. Within Joaquin's ass, the heat there
was pleasure. The more further from, the more it was pain. Hard, rather
than the softness there. He felt his own heat, burning at the end of his
organ. The sudden, almost pained release as he began to shoot inside the
youth. Joaquin was gasping almost as deeply as him.

Hector felt himself whimpering, more like Joaquin had before. His body
quivering from the climax. He felt more hands on his body than made sense,
then heard the rude voice. Interruption far too soon.

"Get off him, Solo."

Hector pulled himself back, annoyed at the quickness of it all. This
wasn't like jacking off. You couldnt just shove your cock back in your
pants and be done. But he pulled slowly from Joaquin's ass all the same.
The firm order one that appealed to his sense of right. His sense of
following. Joaquin seemed less affected by the blunt end than himself, as
he saw the youth. Flaco was right beside the bed, dick in hand. He could
see on Joaquin's smooth features the understanding of implication.

Hector felt himself pop free of Joaquin's tightness there, the youth
grunting a little. He settled back against the other end of the bed,
burning from the heat, the sex. He was sweating, far worse than he had
outside in the sun. The heat here was a far more raw and sexual one. He
still felt dizzy. Thought strangely satisfied as he rested back, panting.
Watching as Joaquin eased back. Flaco coming down on top of him, handling
his cock. Joaquin's young hand was already up about the older boys dick.
Hector saw that acceptance and cool in Joaquin's eyes as the boy took
Flaco into his mouth.

"Yeah, you know what I want, lil homes," Flaco commented, failing at cool
where Joaquin always succeeded. The older youth could barely contain the
pleasure that washed across his skinny member. "You a smart kid, you know
the game."

Hector watched as Flaco began to thrust into the youths mouth, holding
Joaquin's head straight for the task. Joaquin's hands steadied himself
against the bed and the older youth, doing in part his best to suck and
pleasure Flaco where he had had no experience at all. Other than what he
had received at Hector's mouth. Hector looked at Flaco. All hard, skinny.
Those tattoos danced dark patterns over his pale body. He saw the black
and white bandanna under his black cap, still backwards on his head.
Perfectly placed.

The subtle, yet blunt messages rung true within Hector. He felt the
question burn within him again as he saw what he did before him. Knew in
his heart what would follow. He saw something of himself there in Joaquin,
knowing in part what this was about. Three homeboys sitting around on a
hot afternoon. Perhaps true. Perhaps even spurred to release bored and
horny feelings within in the easiest way possible. Something as innocent
as that, Hector saw and felt different within Flaco's words. His actions.
As he thrust deep within Joaquin's all but eager mouth. He wondered if
Joaquin saw it, hating that he seemed to see what others didnt.

The question just kept coming back. He heard Flaco's words. Saw them in
those tattoos. In that tight, beaded necklace that the skinny youth wore.
The act that played out before him, as he lay back, feeling the pillow at
the small of his back. He saw it deeper as he saw those scars on Flaco's
body. That one on his chest.

Come home.

Home where he would find everything he needed. Everything he searched for
when he roamed. The thing that gained him his nickname, with Flaco at
least. He saw that tattoo there on Flaco's shoulder, feeling it hit deeper
within him. Basing it so firmly in reality. It stood right there before
him. There was everything that he searched for right there. Yet still he
delayed on the answer that he knew would take him the distance he needed.

Hector looked at Joaquin, his face still frowning lightly. His mind
thinking over the eternity of situations and thoughts. Far too much for
his young mind to comprehend and sort correctly. In a world where only the
base, blunt ideologies worked. Seeing Joaquin there, feeling the
atmosphere that had descended on that small, hot room, Hector was just
reminded of all the times before. The look he saw in the veteranos eyes.
The promise. The one that he saw in Flaco every day. In that scar on his
chest.

Flaco let out a deep, hard groan, Joaquin doing his best not to choke on
the older boys seed. He spluttered, Flaco still keeping his hand on the
back of his head, keeping his head in close to his groin. The sounds of
Flaco's spend moans, and Joaquin's quiet choking filled the room.
Eventually dying to leave just the sound of the squeaking fan. Hector
watched as Flaco pulled himself out of Joaquin's mouth. The boy had a
trail of cum running to his chin. Hector guessed that Joaquin saw things
as clear as he did. He wondered if it was a good thing that he saw them so
early. Even that smooth, boyish smile didnt seem to banish the thoughts
from Hector's head, as Joaquin looked up at Flaco.

"Consider yourself jumped in to our lil posse homes. We got your back
now."

Joaquin looked a little surprised, as if not understanding, or expecting,
"Really?"

"Sure. You can hang with us whenever," Flaco said. Everything was a test,
why didnt Hector remember. Was that all this had been to him? "I know you
cool."

"Thanks, man," Joaquin was beaming. Flaco gave him that Loco handshake.
The ironies there weren't wasted on Hector. "Ill do what it takes to hang
with you two, you cool."

"Yeah, you know it, lil homes," Flaco was already wandering back over
towards the other bed. Sitting down naked. Spent. Satisfied for now. Back
within the embrace of the fans only warm breeze.

"that's it? That was easy, man."

"It aint always gotta be hard," replied Flaco, from his place.

Hector just sat there silently for the moment. He spent a moment of
movement within the heat that still lingered to gather his pants back up.
Slip them on. He knew he wanted what Joaquin had just got. It seemed
enough at the time, but the need was deeper than that. Hector shrugged it
off as he buckled his belt and settled back down on the bed, shirtless.
Joaquin was resting back, still naked, looking all the part of a hardened
cholo. Despite the lack of clothes. Flaco looked as if he was going to
sleep already. Sleeping it off like a dog, just fresh from sex with his
bitch.

It wasn't long before the same heat and lack of energy hit Hector. The big
youth felt tired from the days efforts. The sex especially had only
drained him further, where the heat had sapped his strength and will to
stay at the school. It seemed like a world away right now, as he lay back
on the bed. It was a lot later when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Warm.
Comforting. Hector dreamed that it was something else, in his slumbering
state.

"Solo."

"Hmmm?"

"Wake up," the whispered voice was almost seductive. Hector opened his
eyes, Joaquin over him. Dressed. Nude magazine in hand.

"What's up?"

"I have to get back home," Joaquin said, seeming that responsible youth
that had surfaced a few times previous. "My moms will kill me if she
thinks I wasn't at school the whole day."

Hector looked over at Flaco. He didnt have to, he could hear the youth
snoring. Propped, probably very uncomfortably, against the wall where he
had fallen asleep. He looked strange there, naked. Asleep. Hector knew it
was too easy to fall asleep in this heat, with the relative comfort that
no clothes provided. Joaquin beckoned for him to follow him outside.
Hector's body moaned in protest as he managed to pull himself up and
follow the kid outside.

The heat hit him like a brick, almost as unwelcome as the building that
Hector saw as soon as he stepped out of the basement bedroom. He ignored
what was next door, but was unable to do so on the smoldering heat. Had it
really been that cool indoors? Being out in it again, even as the sun was
starting to dip below a shimmering horizon, only reminded Hector of the
difference. He found himself staring at Joaquin's ass as the two of them
wandered towards the sidewalk.

"Today was cool, man," Joaquin said. His voice broke the silence of the
streets, seeming a shout next to his whispers. "I really liked hanging out
with you two."

"Even the ..."

"Fuck yeah," the kid was smiling, broadly. "We all brothers now, right?"

Hector nodded, "Yeah, I suppose we are. But you don't have to suck me for
me to be your brother." Hector felt mean saying it, only worsened by his
ponderous form. Joaquin just shrugged.

"I liked it. I like hanging with you two," the youth said. He had the
magazine rolled up in one hand. "And doing all that was fun too."

"As long as you remember ..." Hector pointed out again. "You need anything
you can come to me. You don't need to do it for me to be there for you."

"I know," said Joaquin. The older youth was a little surprised, the kid
looked as if he understood a lot more than he gave on. "I like you, man
... I mean, you like the brother I never had, Hector."

Hector just nodded a little. He didnt know exactly where he was going with
what he was saying. There was something beyond the hormones that wanted to
smooth everything over. Smooth over Flaco's rough edges and treatment.

"You cool too."

"You gonna be going to school tomorrow," Joaquin asked. "If you are ...
well, we can walk together. Ill come by."

"Yeah, ok. You know where I live." Hector didnt even gesture in the
direction. He didnt want to give it even that much recognition, but he
knew Joaquin would come to the right place all the same.

"Cool. Ill see you then, Hector."

"Ok then, Joaquin," he replied. He wondered at why Joaquin called him
that, when Flaco called him Solo. Even when the kid had called him Solo
during the sex. The kid was already wandering off down the sidewalk,
waving lightly. Hector headed back inside. He felt the one last call as he
entered the shadow of the building next door.

He ignored it.

Flaco was still snoring loudly when Hector got back inside. He felt the
cool of the indoors again. Things sounded deadly silent, despite the fan.
He dropped himself down lightly beside the skinny youth. He knew Flaco too
well, well enough to know he would sleep and snore probably for what was
left of the day. He knew Flaco like a brother. He put a hand on the youths
chest, feeling the heat of his body as he sat there next to him.
Strangely, the touch seemed to stir Flaco. He usually slept heavier than
that.

"What's up, homes? Joaquin gone already?"

"Its late, man. Almost six," Hector replied.

There was a silence, almost tense. Hector found his fingers toying with
the scar on Flaco's chest. It made him think, more than anything. His
voice wasn't as firm as he would have hoped, when he finally spoke again.

"You know what we were talking about before?"

"Yeah, sure homes."

Hector took a deep breath, "Im in."

There was another long silence, Hector feeling as if there was a weight
lifting off his shoulders. He still felt fear, a horrible, deep fear that
seemed to exist everywhere in the barrio. But there was also a strange
feeling of comfort, like being in the arms of a lover. In the arms of a
close brother, who would look out for him no matter what. Flaco's body
felt hot against his own, the older boy pushing his hand into that
handshake. Perhaps not so forbidden now. Hector heard Flaco's
appreciation, the sound almost of relief in his voice.

"Welcome home."