Title: Litmus Test
By: Caroline Crane
Pairing: Speed/Tyler
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Futurefic. There's a science to house hunting.

"So we're really gonna do this."

"It was your idea," Tyler reminds him, as though he hasn't been fantasizing about this day since the first morning they woke up tangled together in his bed. And okay, maybe he wasn't thinking about mortgages and joint equity, but the word 'forever' definitely crossed his mind even way back then. He's always been one of those guys who believes the adage 'when it's right, you know', so he didn't really mind waiting around for Tim to catch up with him.

And he's all caught up now, standing in the empty bedroom of the tenth house they've looked at, frowning at white walls that could use a coat of paint and the window that gives them the perfect southern exposure. It's a big leap, though, and Tyler has a feeling he still needs a little convincing, so he glances over his shoulder to make sure the realtor hasn't resurfaced before he closes the distance between them.

"Maybe we should make sure," he says, one hand on Tim's waist and the other threading through his hair to pull him forward, lips soft against his and when Tim's mouth opens against him he sighs into the kiss. Strong hands land on his hips, fingers squeezing just enough to let him know Tim's been thinking about this for awhile. It's the third house they've seen this morning and they're both tired of looking, tired of being on their best behavior and keeping their hands to themselves because their realtor's explaining the history of each property.

He's spent the whole morning stealing little touches, a hand on Tim's back as they pass through a doorway or a quick squeeze of his hand when they're walking to the car, knowing looks exchanged over Andrea the too-perky realtor's head and trying not to laugh when Tim rolls his eyes at her exclamations of 'charming' and 'priced to sell'. House hunting as an aphrodisiac, and he never would have believed it if he hadn't spent the whole morning fighting the urge to grab Tim's hand and drag him into the nearest closet.

He has a feeling it's more than looking at empty rooms with beige carpet – the turn-on is the part where Tim wants to make this commitment, wants Tyler in his life long enough to sign a thirty-year mortgage. And it's just a piece of paper, just a legally binding agreement, but that's all a marriage certificate is and even though he'd never say it out loud, this feels a little like the same kind of commitment.

Tim's hands move across his back, pushing up under his shirt and Tyler smiles against his mouth, because he likes that Tim can never get enough of his skin. He likes that he's relaxed enough to do this here, where Andrea could walk in on them any second. And it's not like she doesn't know they're a couple – Tyler made that clear when he called to make their first appointment, but even after all this time Tim still has a hard time with public displays of affection.

Tim's tongue traces his bottom lip, teeth grazing his skin and Tyler sighs again, wraps his arms a little tighter around Tim's neck as he feathers soft kisses along Tyler's jaw. His cheek feels rough against Tyler's skin, and when Tyler remembers why he didn't have time to shave before they left their apartment he lets out a shudder. He imagines that rough skin against other parts of his body, Tim's mouth moving on his stomach, his thighs, his cock, and suddenly he wishes they were home where he wouldn't have to drag himself away from kisses he could get lost in.

"So," he whispers against Tim's mouth when their lips meet again, punctuating the word with a firm kiss, "can you picture us doing this in here every night?"

A soft laugh and Tim's hands slide up his back to knead at his shoulders. He pulls away from Tyler to glance around the room again, taking in the same four white walls and the same beige carpet. "Yeah," he finally answers, "I think I can see that."