You: Every Sunday afternoon, Duck would drive down, shopping list in hand, to do Mrs. Pearson's shopping for the week. Of course, he didn't mind it. She was getting up there in years, and he wanted to look out for her in any way he could. So, once he was finished getting her things, he always got something for himself as a treat. The usual Hershey bar it was, and as he stood straight he looked over and happened to catch a glimpse of a familiar face.

Stranger: An occasional new town was a necessity in Ned's line of work, he needed a periodic change in scenery. He was settling in with that sweet Victoria woman, and it was the least he could do to pick up groceries for them. He faced some difficulty with hunting down a few items, but it wasn't until he found himself eye-to-eye with some genuine staring that he wondered whether something else was going wrong. "Uh, hello?"

You: Duck knew he knew that face. He knew he's seen it before. He also knew that it definitely wasn't in Kepler. He took a step closer, vaguely pointing. "I know you from somewhere. I, uh, don't remember where but you look so familiar..."

Stranger: Jesus. Ned knew he wasn't on the news. Hadn't been since a rash of unlucky break-ins as a teenager, so that wasn't an option, "Uh, no, I, I don't think..." he paused, watching the man's face. No, he knew him too, didn't he? "Are you... hmm. Have you ever lived... somewhere else? I move a lot."

You: "No, I've always lived here. But I know I didn't see you here... God, it's on the tip of my tongue..." He stood in silence for a moment, looking at the tile floors as he willed himself to remember. "It wasn't recent... Like, I dunno, more than a few years, I think."

Stranger: Ned sighed and ran his thumb over the handle of his shopping basket. Suddenly, he gasped. "The, The Panther! Right? Is that- The Panther?" he lowered his voice with a rush of self-awareness after.... /yelling/ the name of a gay bar in a grocery store in West Virginia. "Or, uh... damn, Hideaway? Or.... what's.... no, the Hideaway, right?"

You: "Holy shit, yes! Yeah, you thought I was too young and you had that big car." He hushed his voice down too, a smile suddenly on his face. "I, uh, believe it was The Panther, yeah. Fuck, uh, Ned? Right? Ned Thompson?"

Stranger: "Ned Chicane." he corrected, a blush blooming under his beard. "God, it's been a while. You... you were too young, and I still have that car." he grinned, "Uh, your birthday." a chuckle under his breath, "How have you been? Are you... have you found anyone? Or are you spending weekends driving out there?"

You: "I, uh, no... Not entirely. You know how it is. I don't really plan to either? I try to make myself known around here more, though. Driving three hours every week would fucking suck. Seems like you did, though. Different last name and all."

Stranger: Ned laughed and shook his head, "Uh, no, no. I just... I'm rebranding myself! Helping down at the, ah, Cryptonomica, needed a more... fitting name, I'm sure you know how it can be." he sighed, "Not... married, no."

You: "Ah, the Cryptonomica? Haven't been down there in a grip... How's Victoria been?" He took another step closer, to try and urge Ned to the checkouts so they could leave, and hopefully meet up later.

Stranger: "Not her best. Though, I didn't know her at her best." he followed along, glad for the conversation. "How about you? You've grown up nice, you look great."

You: Duck huffed out a laugh, and he could feel his cheeks warm as he looked down at the floor for a second. "Thanks, yeah. I, uh, I'm a park ranger now. Just started almost a year ago. Kinda over the, uh, delinquency phase..."

Stranger: Ned grinned. Oh. Oh, Duck was.... responsive. Lonely. This seemed like an invitation. "So, does that make me the ghost of your past coming to haunt you? Hmm?" He laughed and gestured for Duck to move ahead of him and check out. "Troubling evidence of your childhood delinquence?"

You: "Childhood? I was twenty one!" Duck sidestepped in front of Ned. "Plus, I definitely did way worse stuff than fuck someone and drink when I was legally allowed to before we met, so..." He trailed off, his eyebrows raised mockingly. "Plus, I'd like to think of this as a fun callback, not a ghost or anything."

Stranger: "I prefer the sound of that, then." he smiled and gave Duck a once-over and small nod, a proper cruising glance.

You: Duck gathered up all his things after paying and, as he waited for Ned, he did the same, looking him over. "What have you need up to lately? What're you doing in Kepler?"

Stranger: Ned was still buzzing pleasantly as he followed Ned outside. "Following work! Ah, Ms. Victoria is talking about handing down the Cryptonomica if her health fails and I've been helping along with it for a while."

You: "Well, I hope she can hang on as long as she's able. Bless her... Anyway, I gotta get these groceries back, maybe we can do something later?"

Stranger: "Absolutely, yes." Ned smiled, "I'd really like to reconnect, Duck."

You: Before they parted ways for the first time that day, Duck stopped in his tracks. He turned back to Ned and let out a laugh. "Was that supposed to be a euphemism for what I think it is?"

Stranger: Ned laughed, too embarrassed to confirm or deny, instead just waving at Duck, "You tell me?"

You: Duck, turned back, waved his arm behind him dismissively, with a smile still on his face. As he got in the car, he sat there for a moment, still smiling. Then, he remembered there was ice cream in the trunk.

Stranger: Ned moaned, Duck's warning about neighbours already tossed out the window as he pulled up against Duck, kissing his neck as he locked the door behind them. "It's been a while." he mumbled.

You: Duck was already breathless, the drive back almost painfully intolerable, but now the payoff was finally here. He sighed as he felt Ned's lips on his neck, and he let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah?"

Stranger: "Not a lot of guys looking for an old graying gentleman." he reached around, gripping Duck's hips, "Don't tell me Kepler is exactly a bustling market?"

You: Duck simply laughed, rolling his hips against Ned's.

Stranger: Ned grinned against Duck's neck, letting Duck grind against him. "Tell me what you're going to do to me." he murmured, flushing and squeezing his eyes shut.

You: "Oh, I see the tables have turned? You want me to fuck you, old man?"

Stranger: "Oh, Jesus Christ." Ned pushed against Duck, his cock twitching at the words. All he could manage was a small nod.

You: Duck hummed softly and pushed Ned away from him to lead him towards his room.

Stranger: Heart fluttering, Ned followed along, glancing around Duck's apartment as they went. He could appreciate this, a stable home in one place, getting dragged to bed by a much younger, handsomer man.

You: One they were both in Duck's room, Duck closed the door and pushed Ned back onto the bed, leaning in to kiss him all the way.

Stranger: Ned accepted the kiss, hand cupping Duck's chin. He was hardly holding back a grin the whole time. "Hey. You. Uh. Was that a joke? What you said?"

You: "I mean, not entirely? You don't want it to be, don't you?"

Stranger: God. Ned felt his face burning. "I... it was a bit... in poor taste, perhaps, but... I did appreciate the sentiment?"

You: Duck smiled, simply nodding. "Yeah. I mean, I haven't in a while, but... I guess we'll see."

Stranger: With a grin, Ned pulled Duck in for another kiss, "It's been a while for me too." he started on his jeans, working the button open and the fly down with one hand while they kissed.

You: As Duck heard the noise, he grew more excited by the second. He pulled away to take off his shirt.

Stranger: Ned sat up, pulling off his own shirt while Duck was off him and smiling as he looked Duck over.