In the Darkness, a Light

Alrighty! New chapter! Yay! Sorry it took so long to get it out there... anyway here it is. Enjoy.

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Darien woke up late the next afternoon. He felt clean and refreshed upon getting up and stretching. It felt nice to not be filthy for once in his life. He noticed that there was a lunch cart next to the table in the dining area. He got up and made his way to the cart. He noticed there was a folded piece of paper in one of the juice glasses on the cart. He unfolded it and read through the tiny, elegant writing.

Darien,
I took the liberty of arranging for breakfast and lunch to be sent to you. Sorry I couldn’t stay until you woke up, but I have several meetings this morning. I should be back in time for dinner. If you get bored call my company’s chauffer and go out. Use my charge card to buy anything you want. If you need me I left my cell phone number. I will see you later then. Always, Sebastian


At the bottom of the paper were two telephone numbers, one labeled “Chauffer”, the other “Cell”. There was also Sebastian’s charge card. Darien didn’t plan on buying anything though. He felt very awkward as it was without spending the man’s money, although even he knew that any charges on the card went directly to the company and not at the expense of Sebastian. Nevertheless, Darien couldn't help but wonder why the man would go to this length to help a poor hustler out. He didn't even know Darien. For all he knew he could make off with this card and never come back. Baffled, he sat down and enjoyed a nice lunch of deli sandwiches and soda.

After eating and grabbing a shower, he went to Sebastian’s closet where all of Darien’s new clothes had been hung. He selected a fresh pair of designer jeans and a long-sleeve band shirt. He then put on a heavy winter coat made of suede and a pair of snow boots which he tucked his jeans into. He grabbed the hotel keycard left on the table and the charge card and put these items into his pocket.

His next item of business was to call the chauffer. He walked to the phone on Sebastian’s desk and dialed the number. The driver had apparently been expecting his call and said he would be right outside of the hotel entrance in mere minutes. Darien hung up and made his way out of the room, down the elevators, and to the lobby of the hotel.

He was quite surprised that no one paid him any attention. He figured they all thought he belonged there in that fancy hotel. He felt the exact opposite. Awkward and unwanted. He knew he didn’t belong there with all those rich bastards. Nonetheless he exited the building to wait for the company limo. He wasn’t waiting long. The big stretch SUV pulled up and the chauffer got out. He was an elderly man who looked very polished and sophisticated. Even the manner at which he gazed at Darien was slightly condescending, though not unkind. It reminded Darien of looking at a great-grandfather.

“Mr. Vasquez?” The chauffer inquired amiably. Darien nodded and made his way to open the door to the front seat. The chauffer looked at him as if he was insane. “Sir?” He asked. Darien looked over at the chauffer who was standing beside the passenger’s side window as Darien climbed in.

“I don’t really feel like sitting by myself back there.” Darien clarified. The chauffer shrugged and went around to the other side and sat down in the driver’s seat.

“My name is Charles Huntington III.” The chauffer informed Darien. The teen thought it an odd name for the chauffer. “Where would you like to be taken?” Darien told him the name of the street he last saw Blake on. Charles nodded and pulled away from the hotel.

“You sound like you should be in the back.” Darien voiced his opinion. Charles nodded.

“That is exactly what Mr. Bexley says.” The older man explained good-naturedly. “As it is, my father was a chauffer, and his father before him, and so on and so forth.”

“Did you want to be a chauffer?” Darien asked gently. He wasn’t sure if it was a touchy subject or not.

“I wanted to be a firefighter. But I have no complaints about my career. It pays well and I get to see a lot of interesting places and people.” Charles looked as if he was reminiscing about something. Darien figured it was something about being a boy wanting to be a firefighter.

“I wanted to be an astronaut.” Darien said after a few moments of silence. Charles considered the teen for a moment.

“So why don’t you?” He asked, pulling to the side of the street Darien asked to be driven. The raven-haired boy got out.

“One day at a time.” Was all he said before closing the door. Charles smiled politely at him and drove off. Darien pulled his coat collar up around his neck and shoved his hands into his pockets. He began walking down the street in hopes of finding Blake. He hadn’t stopped thinking of him since the miscreant had been picked up a few nights ago. He hoped that Blake was still hunting somewhere near the place.

It seemed he had been walking the streets for hours. He looked at his watch: 6:38pm. He had left the hotel at about three. He was about to give up hope when he was hit in the face with a snowball.

“DARIEN!!!!” An all-to-familiar voice shouted from some distance ahead of the startled teen. He looked up and much to his relief stood Blake several feet away. The blond rushed towards Darien and embraced him tightly. “You little ass-fucker! Goddamnit, I was so fucking worried when I came back and you weren’t here!” He let go of Darien and looked at him.

“Blake, that makes no sense. I got picked up.” Darien justified. Blake nodded then fully examined Darien.

“Well you didn’t come back for a whole day! And what the fuck are you wearing?!” He shouted crassly, so that many people turned and looked in their direction.

“Let’s go find something to eat, and I’ll tell you everything.” Darien grabbed Blake by the wrist and dragged him to a Steak and Shake.

“Damn, what did he pay you twenty bucks and let you borrow his son’s old clothes?” Blake questioned as they were seated at a window booth.

“Not quite.” It was then that Darien told Blake the entire tale of his odd adventure with the rich corporate man. Somewhere in between describing the stores him and Sebastian went to they had ordered steak burgers and fries. By the end, they were finishing their dessert shakes. Blake looked at Darien as if he had lobsters materializing out of his ears.

“So let me get this straight… He didn’t fuck you?” The cynical teen asked, in an interrogatory manner. Darien shook his head in negation. Blake still looked dumbstruck. “Why would he take you home and not fuck you?”

“I don’t know. He’s obviously straight since he didn’t do it when I offered.” Darien looked off out the window pensively.

“So why would he keep you around? It makes no sense.” Blake ate a last scoop of shake in his cup. “But one thing is for damn sure, you cant go back to him.” Darien looked up and regarded Blake for a moment.

“Yeah, I didn’t think I would after I found you. But now I kind of what to know more about him.”

“What?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Just as Blake had whispered the words, the waiter placed the check on the table and Darien grabbed it. The two teens stood and Darien went to the counter to pay and Blake went outside to smoke.

“I don’t think he’s dangerous. He’s a business man.” Darien told Blake, joining him outside. Blake gave Darien a cigarette, who lit it up and took a drag.

“Yeah right. Why else would he pick you up unless he wanted to kill you or something.” Blake exasperated, blowing smoke away from Darien’s face.

“You’re a fucktard, Blake. If he was going to kill me he would’ve shot me when I was lying in the street. Then no one would’ve ever found out it was him. I don’t think he’s going to kill me.” Darien took another drag and began walking away from Blake, who followed shortly after.

“I’m just worried, man. You know you’re like a brother to me!” Blake put an arm around Darien’s shoulders.

“Well, in any case, I need to return his credit card and everything, right?” Darien patted his pocket in reference to the plastic card secured in his wallet in there. Blake shrugged.

“Just drop it off at the hotel desk.” Blake suggested belligerently. Darien cocked an eyebrow at him.

“No, I want to at least say thanks.”

“Alright. Well you be careful. And come back. You know I wont leave without you!” Blake hugged Darien and the two shared a chaste kiss before parting. Blake turned and walked off in the opposite direction of Darien. The latter found the nearest payphone and dialed the chauffer, telling Charles exactly where he was.

Moments later, the big SUV limo pulled along side of the street and Darien climbed in, despite the fact that Charles had already gotten out to open the door for him. The chauffer shrugged and sat back down in the driver’s seat.

“Did you have a nice day?” Charles inquired as he pulled away from the curb and towards the hotel.

“Eh, it was ok. Nothing special.” Darien shrugged.

“Oh I see. Mr. Bexley was inquiring as to your whereabouts.” Charles informed the teen. Darien glanced at the gentleman.

“Why?” Was all Darien could think of asking.

“Oh, he just wanted to know. I don’t think he expected you to be out so late.” Charles raised an eyebrow at Darien.

“I didn’t expect to be out so late either.” A sigh erupted from Darien as he thought about Sebastian. He wasn’t even planning on going back. He felt selfish and childish for some reason. He figured it was because all the man wanted to do was to get him off of the streets and he surmised that there had to be some kind of ulterior motive. Whatever the case, he owed the man his life and his trust. He had nothing else to give that Sebastian wanted.

Before Darien knew it, the limo pulled up in front of the big hotel. Darien gave his thanks to Charles and gave him a friendly goodbye before making the solemn trek to the top floor of the gargantuan building that was the hotel. In the elevator he stared at his reflection in the shiny metal that made the inner walls of the box. He hardly recognized the person looking back at him. The face was familiar, but the different hair and fashionable clothes were completely foreign. He sighed again. Who was he to be surrounded by fine things?

The soft ding of the elevator startled Darien out of his reverie. He stepped out and walked slowly down the hall to Sebastian’s door. Pulling his keycard out of his pocket, he slid it through the receptor on the door and pushed it open when the light turned green. The living room was dark except for the glow of the TV. Darien saw Sebastian sitting on the couch and his heart wrenched in his chest. The man turned around and smiled softly at Darien.

“I didn’t think you would come back.” He greeted genially. Darien sat down on the opposite end of the couch.

“Yeah I didn’t think so either.” The teen admitted solemnly. Sebastian turned off the TV and flipped on the lamp on the end table to his left. He regarded the boy thoughtfully.

“I’m glad you came back.” Sebastian said softly. Darien nodded.

“I’m just not used to all this. I don’t think I’ll ever be used to it. I only came back because I have to know why I’m still here.”

“Alright. That’s fair. The night I found you I was upset because my wife had called me and pretty much told me we’re getting a divorce. I was angry, upset, lonely. I just wanted someone to talk to. Then I found you. Now there are plenty of people who would listen to anything I have to say… but I wanted someone other than the stiff suits that usually occupy the space around me, or golddigging females that have… erm… shared company with me before.”

Darien started to laugh, then caught himself. He shouldn’t have laughed. Sebastian just admitted to being unfaithful to his wife.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” He hung his head with shame. Sebastian chuckled a little as well.

“It’s ok.” Sebastian stretched and yawned. “Well I say we get ready for bed.” Darien nodded and went to change into his pajamas. Sebastian did the same, then walked out to the couch where Darien was settling down.

“How about you come sleep in my bed?” He suggested rather bluntly. Darien raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s just that the leather cant be too comfortable, and the bed is big enough for twenty.” The raven-haired teen regarded him then nodded.

“Alright. It does get kinda sticky sometimes.” He got up and followed Sebastian back to the bedroom and lied on the opposite side of the bed from the man. Neither felt the slightest bit awkward and both were able to fall fast asleep.

TBC
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Ok so I actually considered very seriously discontiuing this story. I must admit for a moment there I lost all motivation to write it. But I have a new idea for an ending and I think it'll be wonderful! So my interest in it has kinda been reborn. I'm not really sure how to proceed, but I'll figure it out. Sorry it took so long to update. I just cant find the time lately. But I'll try to get the next chapter out faster.

Speaking of which, it seemed to me the whole thing was moving a little slowly. I guess now that the characters have been established I can pick it up a little. The next chapter is going to focus mainly on the progression of Sebastian and Darien's relationship. Obviously, as the disclaimer stated, they're going to end up being "more than just friends". But I haven't really thought of how I want to work up to that. Haha, they are sleeping in the same bed.... there's only on way to go after that: up! Literally. Anyway....

Until then,

Cianis DeRolionus