Rules of Engagement by Susan (R)

[peg22.livejournal.com]

Title: Rules of Engagement
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Length: Long Story
Author on LJ: sjames_centre 
Author Website: Kass' Starsky Hutch Slash Site: http://shslash.kassidyrae.com/

Why this must be read: Susan tosses out gorgeous drabbles and snippets, but it's the longer form where she really takes flight. This story first appeared in Kass' Blood and Destiny zine and has exquisite moments of the boys figuring out each other and their future weaved around a gripping case story with great characters and a perfect ending. Sigh . . .

It was late. Or early. Depended which side of the day you were on.

“Starsk?”  If he couldn’t sleep, neither would Starsky. Love was like that, Starsky always told him. You were supposed to share everything.  He poked him in the ribs.

“I’m asleep,” Starsky grumbled.

"Too bad.” He poked him again. The shoulder this time. “I want to talk. About tonight.”

“Don’t worry about it. Happens to everyone sooner or later.”

"Very funny. I want to talk about before. In the alley tonight. You should have waited for me. Next time you might not be so lucky and I’ll be talking to myself.” 

“You are talking to yourself. I’m asleep, remember?”  He buried his head under the pillow.

“I’m serious.”  He pulled the pillow off Starsky’s head and barely resisted the urge to hit him with it.

“I know you’re serious. Seriously crazy. Anyway, you’ll never really be alone. I plan to haunt you after I’m gone. I’m going to follow you around, whisper in your ear, grab your ass when no one’s looking.”

Hutch almost smiled at that. Almost.  “You do that now.”

“True. And besides, I wasn’t lucky tonight, I was right. Always am. Rule number one, remember?”

“You are so full of shit.  I swear, if you …” 

Starsky sighed, reached over to turn on the bedside lamp, and blinked a few times against the light. He propped himself up on one elbow facing Hutch.

“Remember when I told you that you were in love with me. And you said you weren’t?”  

Low blow. “That was different.” And I was lying, anyway,

“Was I right or not?”

“Yeah, you were right.”

It's here: http://shslash.kassidyrae.com/rules_of_engagement.htm