The Meaning of Sanctuary
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,445
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
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Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,445
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
The Meaning of Concern
---0~0~0---
“As a Buddhist monk my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.”
-Dalai Lama, Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize
---0~0~0---
He frantically scrabbled at the lock, almost fainting with relief as the door gave way and let him outside, just barely managing to avoid Adrian’s grasp, the tip of long fingers brushing against the back of his neck and causing a curious shiver to work its way up his body.
Ignoring it he continued to run down the pavement, half-turning as he ran to call out behind him to the figure standing on the porch. “I’ll be home late – don’t wait up!”
“Alex!”
“Go ahead and eat without me!” The voice was fainter now, farther away. “Bye!”
“ALEX!!!”
---0~0~0---
“Dammit!!” Dave frowned as he heard the uncharacteristic curse coming from his lover, followed by the loud ‘slam!’ of the front door. Setting down the wok he had brought out to make some Chinese-style fried rice – which was coincidentally Alex’s favorite dish – he washed his hands free from soap and then walked out of the kitchen, moving down the hallway towards his still-cursing partner while absentmindedly wiping his hands dry on the plain white apron he was wearing.
“Darling?” He called when Adrian came into view. “Is something wrong?” A frown slowly formed on his face. “Where’s Alex?”
“That’s what I would like to know!” Adrian fumed, clear blue eyes gone dark with barely restrained, uncharacteristic anger. “We were talking, I asked him some questions, and the next thing I know he’s run out into the street muttering about having to leave!”
The frown deepened. “Did he say where he was going? Or what time he’d be back?”
Adrian shook his head. “No – only that he was off to work, and that we shouldn’t wait up for him since he’ll probably be home late. He also said to start dinner without him. Normally I would take that to mean that he would eat on the way home, but since this is Alex…” Weary resignation.
“Who does he think we are? Of course we’ll wait for him!” Dave protested, tone lightly tinged with outrage. “And what does he think he’s doing, not even telling us where he’s going? What if something happens to him?”
Adrian sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he sat down on a nearby wooden chair, resting his arms on his knees in a crouching position. “I don’t know, Dave…” He let his head droop down, letting it hang tiredly from his neck. A long pause ensued, before he suddenly remembered what he and Alex were talking – or rather, yelling – about earlier. “Hey, Dave?”
“Hmm?” Dave turned to look at his husband, thoughtful frown disappearing and setting aside questions of where the boy could have gone in order to give Adrian his full attention. “Yes, love?”
“Do you know about Alex’s parents?”
The English teacher frowned. “I suppose you don’t mean about how they’ve left the country for Europe for a few weeks…?” The frown deepened at the headshake the other man gave. “Well then… no, I’d have to say. Why? Is something the matter?”
Adrian hesitated for a moment. What he knew about Alex’s parents he found out pretty much by accident, and the boy never said that he could tell anybody… though of course he didn’t specifically say that he couldn’t, either. And even if it wouldn’t technically be lying or betraying the boy’s trust if he told his husband of his discoveries and conclusions, there was a possibility Alex wouldn’t see it that way. Almost certain, actually.
But then again… He trusted his husband; he was quite sure Alex did, too. And if in the end, his telling Dave everything he found out would mean the boy they’d grown to care so much about would finally be properly treated… then that was worth the inevitably bad-tempered – to say the least – reaction his revealing the story to Dave would engender. A blue-eyed gaze firmed, and he motioned for the English teacher to sit down as well.
He sighed, took a moment to spare a prayer for himself that the universe would see his death at the boy’s hands to be disharmonious and at the very least, ensure he wouldn’t be too badly hurt to recover, and made his decision.
“Well, you see, after I unpacked Alex’s things we started talking, and…”
---0~0~0---
“Hey, there, Lex! Where’ve you been? Show’s about to start!” Warm, humor-filled brown eyes and a cheerful voice greeted Alex as he walked into the backstage dressing rooms of the tackily named Pasión Irrefrenable [1] club. With a smile, the boy dutifully moved into the outstretched arm so the backhand could give him a manly, one-armed hug that did nothing to conceal the concern for the boy who was so rarely late.
“Sorry, Jack,” He shrugged as he moved towards ‘his’ table, dumping his duffle and beginning to pull out his usual ‘props’ and assorted materials for the show. “Got held up by a couple of things… But hey, made it here, didn’t I? S’fine.”
“Ain’t me you’re gonna get in trouble with if you’re late, Lex, you know that.” Jack shook his head, sighing as he hoisted a piece of rope onto his shoulder and grabbed a long metal pole, covered in gold glitter and draped with… ribbons, chains, and – he blinked – were those red hearts?
Thrown by the sheer horrifying, nausea-inducing sight of the gaudy… thing, it took a while for Alex to notice that Jack was still talking.
“ – Lex? Lex! Hey Lex!”
“Wha-?” The boy shook his head, blinking furiously. “Sorry, Jack, it’s just – what the hell is that thing??”
“What thi – oh.” Jack chuckled, hefting the pole. “You mean this? It’s a prop for tonight’s show.”
“A prop?” You could almost see the question mark forming over the puzzled boy’s head. “For what? Are we running some sort of traveling, tranny circus now?” Dark brown eyes suddenly widened in panic. “It’s not for me, right? Please, god, tell me it’s not for me!”
“What? No!” The backhand laughed, shaking his head and shrugging. “Hey, don’t look at me – I just carry things around so guys like you - ” a wink “can do all the hard work. If you wanna know the reason for the god-knows-what, you can ask Dere - Delilah.”
The both of them winced at the mention of the very… er… fragile, delicate actor, who only recently discovered – or was it rediscovered? – his feminine side. They winced again at the thought of what the rather blatantly gender-confused dancer could want with the pole that looked just a little on the wrong side of obscene with all the gold glitter and various… things… on it. Jack had turned faintly green, and looked entirely regretful and appropriately revolted that he ever even brought it up.
Alex coughed. “Never mind.” Jack fervently nodded. Then cleared his throat.
“Anyway, Lex, like I was saying… It isn’t me that you’re gonna answer to. You know Vin’s gonna blow a gasket if he catches you late, and you just – ”
Arms circled around Alex’s waist, and before he knew what was happening, he had already been pulled in close for a full-body hug, accompanied with the slight, twisting grind of hips into his rear that he had come to expect by now. “Oh blah blah blah blah and blah, Jack!” Vivid green eyes rolled and cherry-pink lips were turned down at the corners in a disapproving pout. “You know how much Vin adores little Lexxie here!” Another bone-breaking squeeze. “So stop scaring the dear boy and go set up the stage for our resident drama queen’s performance already!”
Drake, in Alex’s humble opinion, rather skillfully ignored the backhand’s mutters of “he isn’t the only one” as he left.
“Now Lexxie,” The other dancer made a cute, pleading pout. “How about a little sugar for me, hmm?”
Alex rolled his eyes, but obligingly leaned backward and brushed a kiss across the man’s left cheek, then rolled his eyes again and ground his hips back into the dancer’s at the demanding squeeze. “You are such a tart, Drake.”
“I am, at that,” the British dancer agreed shamelessly, letting go. “Good of you to notice. Where were you, sweetheart?” Drake walked over to the mirror, making a few final adjustments to his costume, and frowning at his slicked back, blonde hair. He was a Nazi soldier tonight, so he unfortunately had to endure the low-quality, hair-killing gel for at least a few more hours. “You don’t normally cut it this close to curtain.”
“I know, I know,” Alex unabashedly stripped down, removing his typical white briefs and changing into a dark red thong that seemed almost stark against his pale skin. Ignoring Drake’s admiring gaze with the ease of long practice, he began hunting through the racks for his usual dancer’s costume that consisted of near-obscenely short shorts tight enough to look painted on and a barely-there, sailor boy shirt that did nothing to actually cover his body. Coupled with various other props, he became the little boy on stage, completely ‘innocent’ to the world… He was already starting to become a crowd favorite despite being so new. “But I got held up by some stuff at home… You know how it is.”
The dancer’s gaze immediately sharpened, and the laid back attitude gained an edge of danger difficult to associate – and therefore seemed all the more startling – with the normally placid, if somewhat flamboyant performer. “What do you mean, ‘stuff’?” Drake demanded, green eyes narrowing. “Did they – are you hurt? What did they do? So help me, Lexxie, if they so much as lifted a finger against you again I swear on all that’s unholy I’ll - ”
“What?” Alex frowned, slightly distracted, looking through the other racks for his missing costume, only catching the tail end of the other man’s statement. “What are you – oh, no, Drake, don’t worry about it. Nothing happened. They’re not even here, remember?”
“Oh, really?” The man raised a challenging eyebrow. “And where did they go, pray tell?”
“Off in Europe, taking a vacation again or something – didn’t I tell you already? They’ll be gone for a month or so. Probably more, knowing them.”
“No, you didn’t tell me. I daresay you conveniently… forgot, shall we say, to so much as mention it.” The already stern gaze turned disapproving at the boy’s sheepishly apologetic grin. “How are you faring, then?”
The boy blinked, a ‘ragged’ shirt in one hand. “About them leaving? You know I couldn’t care less, Drake.”
“Don’t play dumb, Lexxie – you know that’s not what I meant.” The man sighed at the boy’s confused look, and elaborated. “Who are you staying with while they’re gone?”
“Oh! That’s what you meant.” Alex shrugged, turning his attention back to the costume racks and his currently AWOL costume as he candidly replied. “Well, with a teacher of mine for a few weeks. And his husband. After that I’m moving back to the house.”
“What on earth for??” The dancer placed his hands on his hips, demanding. “If they’re willing to take care of you, then let them! You’ll finally have someone properly looking after you, making sure you’re safe and well-fed, and I won’t have to worry about you all the time! God knows that your poor excuse for a family never treats you right!”
“Drake. Stop it. I’ll be fine.” He turned away again, determinedly concentrating on the bit of clothing he was folding so he could put it away. Anything not to have to look at accusing green eyes. “Besides, they wouldn’t hurt me – they’ve never even stayed long enough to do anything to me.”
“But Lexxie,” the other man protested, a protective undertone to his words. “You can hardly blame me for asking. After all, what with what happened a few weeks ago… You can’t expect me not to think the worst. Even you know by now that abuse is more than simply physical abuse… don’t you? And what’s to say that they won’t do it again when they’ve certainly done that befo- ”
“Where’s my costume, Drake?” Alex interrupted, steadfastly not looking at the other dancer, practically hiding behind the numerous racks of haphazardly arranged clothing. “It isn’t here.”
Drake frowned, recognizing the diversion for what it was. “Lexxie…”
“I – ” Wiry shoulders tightened, then relaxed as the boy let out a deep sigh. “I just… I just don’t wanna talk about this now, okay Drake? Leave it alone. Please.”
The frown lingered a few moments more, before the dancer sighed, stepped close, and hugged the boy again, arms going around his back and pressing a kiss to Alex’s forehead that spoke nothing except a deep, abiding affection and protectiveness. “I’m just worried, dear boy. I can’t help but be concerned – you can’t deny me that.”
Another sigh. “I know, Drake, I know, but… Just… Not tonight?”
But the other man wouldn’t be moved. “Soon, then.” Green and brown eyes engaged in a battle of wills.
The brown eyes looked away as defiant shoulders sagged in defeat. “Fine. Soon.”
“Good boy!” Another peck, this time a playful one on the lips, before the dancer flounced off dramatically, Delilah-style, deliberately fluttering around the racks in a manner too… well… flaming, even for him that Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “Now what was that you were asking about costumes?”
“Oh.” The boy shook his head, walking over to where Drake was standing. “I was just asking you if you knew where my costume went – it isn’t here, and the show’s about to start in a couple of minutes.”
“Oh that.” Drake dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand. “That’s because one of the new boys is using it. Sean? John? An ohn-something or other. I can never remember their names right. But it’s their fault anyway for being so blah and boring you know, and I keep telling Vin that he should just let me handle the interviews, but does he ever listen to me? Of course not! He’s too busy concerning himself with petty money instead of me, so it only serves him right that he gets nothing but ohns and nothings and – oh, right.” The slightest trace of sheepishness darted across the dancer’s features before mischief took over. “Sorry. I forgot to tell you – Vin wants you to do something different tonight.”
“Different?” Alex frowned, feeling a niggling worry at that all-too familiar and – dare he say it - shit-eating smirk on the other man’s face. “Different how? I don’t exactly have the time to learn a new routine, Drake. You know that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You don’t have to do a thing except lie back and let me do all the work... Besides, you’re experienced enough… I’m sure you’ll catch on pretty quickly..”
“What?” A puzzled furrow formed on the boy’s brow. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“I mean - this.”
Alex stared. And stared. And stared some more. “What the hell is that?”
“Why, your costume, dear boy.” A truly evil grin formed on Drake’s lips as he continued holding up an outfit made up of little more than artistically ripped pieces of ragged cloth, held together with rope and string that must be somehow working to keep the... thing together, unless they were expecting him to pull out glue or duct tape in order to put it on and keep it on without immediately falling apart. Unless that’s what they wanted. You never can tell with Vin or Drake. “You’re going to be working with me tonight, dear boy.”
Alex gulped.
The smirk widened. “Don’t worry, darling – I’ll take care of you. Now come and put on your costume.” The other dancer purred, stalking forward. “Don’t look so terrified, beautiful boy – I assure you that you’ll enjoy working with me. Almost as much as I will, in fact.” Now the smirk looked absolutely evil. “After all, I’ve been waiting to work with you for weeks!”
Alex tried very hard not to whimper. Honestly he did.
Drake cooed.
Whimper.
---0~0~0---
[1] Uncontrollable Passion
AN: Fourth installment of the series! Whew. Don't be fooled by the speed of the updates, though - the last four chapters were already written when I uploaded the story. The fifth chapter is still in the works, and will be uploaded pending on the number of reviews I get for the story. So review, please! More than helping me improve, it also helps add to the storyline.
Kawanee - I'm glad that you enjoyed it thus far. I'm even happier that you have questions! They will be answered as the story develops, I promise you, though the fact that you asked those questions in particular means I managed to add enough mystery to the story to keep you interested, so, thank you! As for the cutting... Well, here's a few links that may help you understand it, if you want to find out more.
[TRIGGER WARNING] Unless you are able to keep a mature and open mind, do NOT visit these sites. They are sources for those who need help, not targets to be made fun of. Also, if you are someone who cuts, then I advise you not to visit these sites as they may have possibly triggering content.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html
http://www.coolnurse.com/self-injury.htm
Cheers,
Jade Ai
“As a Buddhist monk my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.”
-Dalai Lama, Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize
---0~0~0---
He frantically scrabbled at the lock, almost fainting with relief as the door gave way and let him outside, just barely managing to avoid Adrian’s grasp, the tip of long fingers brushing against the back of his neck and causing a curious shiver to work its way up his body.
Ignoring it he continued to run down the pavement, half-turning as he ran to call out behind him to the figure standing on the porch. “I’ll be home late – don’t wait up!”
“Alex!”
“Go ahead and eat without me!” The voice was fainter now, farther away. “Bye!”
“ALEX!!!”
---0~0~0---
“Dammit!!” Dave frowned as he heard the uncharacteristic curse coming from his lover, followed by the loud ‘slam!’ of the front door. Setting down the wok he had brought out to make some Chinese-style fried rice – which was coincidentally Alex’s favorite dish – he washed his hands free from soap and then walked out of the kitchen, moving down the hallway towards his still-cursing partner while absentmindedly wiping his hands dry on the plain white apron he was wearing.
“Darling?” He called when Adrian came into view. “Is something wrong?” A frown slowly formed on his face. “Where’s Alex?”
“That’s what I would like to know!” Adrian fumed, clear blue eyes gone dark with barely restrained, uncharacteristic anger. “We were talking, I asked him some questions, and the next thing I know he’s run out into the street muttering about having to leave!”
The frown deepened. “Did he say where he was going? Or what time he’d be back?”
Adrian shook his head. “No – only that he was off to work, and that we shouldn’t wait up for him since he’ll probably be home late. He also said to start dinner without him. Normally I would take that to mean that he would eat on the way home, but since this is Alex…” Weary resignation.
“Who does he think we are? Of course we’ll wait for him!” Dave protested, tone lightly tinged with outrage. “And what does he think he’s doing, not even telling us where he’s going? What if something happens to him?”
Adrian sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he sat down on a nearby wooden chair, resting his arms on his knees in a crouching position. “I don’t know, Dave…” He let his head droop down, letting it hang tiredly from his neck. A long pause ensued, before he suddenly remembered what he and Alex were talking – or rather, yelling – about earlier. “Hey, Dave?”
“Hmm?” Dave turned to look at his husband, thoughtful frown disappearing and setting aside questions of where the boy could have gone in order to give Adrian his full attention. “Yes, love?”
“Do you know about Alex’s parents?”
The English teacher frowned. “I suppose you don’t mean about how they’ve left the country for Europe for a few weeks…?” The frown deepened at the headshake the other man gave. “Well then… no, I’d have to say. Why? Is something the matter?”
Adrian hesitated for a moment. What he knew about Alex’s parents he found out pretty much by accident, and the boy never said that he could tell anybody… though of course he didn’t specifically say that he couldn’t, either. And even if it wouldn’t technically be lying or betraying the boy’s trust if he told his husband of his discoveries and conclusions, there was a possibility Alex wouldn’t see it that way. Almost certain, actually.
But then again… He trusted his husband; he was quite sure Alex did, too. And if in the end, his telling Dave everything he found out would mean the boy they’d grown to care so much about would finally be properly treated… then that was worth the inevitably bad-tempered – to say the least – reaction his revealing the story to Dave would engender. A blue-eyed gaze firmed, and he motioned for the English teacher to sit down as well.
He sighed, took a moment to spare a prayer for himself that the universe would see his death at the boy’s hands to be disharmonious and at the very least, ensure he wouldn’t be too badly hurt to recover, and made his decision.
“Well, you see, after I unpacked Alex’s things we started talking, and…”
---0~0~0---
“Hey, there, Lex! Where’ve you been? Show’s about to start!” Warm, humor-filled brown eyes and a cheerful voice greeted Alex as he walked into the backstage dressing rooms of the tackily named Pasión Irrefrenable [1] club. With a smile, the boy dutifully moved into the outstretched arm so the backhand could give him a manly, one-armed hug that did nothing to conceal the concern for the boy who was so rarely late.
“Sorry, Jack,” He shrugged as he moved towards ‘his’ table, dumping his duffle and beginning to pull out his usual ‘props’ and assorted materials for the show. “Got held up by a couple of things… But hey, made it here, didn’t I? S’fine.”
“Ain’t me you’re gonna get in trouble with if you’re late, Lex, you know that.” Jack shook his head, sighing as he hoisted a piece of rope onto his shoulder and grabbed a long metal pole, covered in gold glitter and draped with… ribbons, chains, and – he blinked – were those red hearts?
Thrown by the sheer horrifying, nausea-inducing sight of the gaudy… thing, it took a while for Alex to notice that Jack was still talking.
“ – Lex? Lex! Hey Lex!”
“Wha-?” The boy shook his head, blinking furiously. “Sorry, Jack, it’s just – what the hell is that thing??”
“What thi – oh.” Jack chuckled, hefting the pole. “You mean this? It’s a prop for tonight’s show.”
“A prop?” You could almost see the question mark forming over the puzzled boy’s head. “For what? Are we running some sort of traveling, tranny circus now?” Dark brown eyes suddenly widened in panic. “It’s not for me, right? Please, god, tell me it’s not for me!”
“What? No!” The backhand laughed, shaking his head and shrugging. “Hey, don’t look at me – I just carry things around so guys like you - ” a wink “can do all the hard work. If you wanna know the reason for the god-knows-what, you can ask Dere - Delilah.”
The both of them winced at the mention of the very… er… fragile, delicate actor, who only recently discovered – or was it rediscovered? – his feminine side. They winced again at the thought of what the rather blatantly gender-confused dancer could want with the pole that looked just a little on the wrong side of obscene with all the gold glitter and various… things… on it. Jack had turned faintly green, and looked entirely regretful and appropriately revolted that he ever even brought it up.
Alex coughed. “Never mind.” Jack fervently nodded. Then cleared his throat.
“Anyway, Lex, like I was saying… It isn’t me that you’re gonna answer to. You know Vin’s gonna blow a gasket if he catches you late, and you just – ”
Arms circled around Alex’s waist, and before he knew what was happening, he had already been pulled in close for a full-body hug, accompanied with the slight, twisting grind of hips into his rear that he had come to expect by now. “Oh blah blah blah blah and blah, Jack!” Vivid green eyes rolled and cherry-pink lips were turned down at the corners in a disapproving pout. “You know how much Vin adores little Lexxie here!” Another bone-breaking squeeze. “So stop scaring the dear boy and go set up the stage for our resident drama queen’s performance already!”
Drake, in Alex’s humble opinion, rather skillfully ignored the backhand’s mutters of “he isn’t the only one” as he left.
“Now Lexxie,” The other dancer made a cute, pleading pout. “How about a little sugar for me, hmm?”
Alex rolled his eyes, but obligingly leaned backward and brushed a kiss across the man’s left cheek, then rolled his eyes again and ground his hips back into the dancer’s at the demanding squeeze. “You are such a tart, Drake.”
“I am, at that,” the British dancer agreed shamelessly, letting go. “Good of you to notice. Where were you, sweetheart?” Drake walked over to the mirror, making a few final adjustments to his costume, and frowning at his slicked back, blonde hair. He was a Nazi soldier tonight, so he unfortunately had to endure the low-quality, hair-killing gel for at least a few more hours. “You don’t normally cut it this close to curtain.”
“I know, I know,” Alex unabashedly stripped down, removing his typical white briefs and changing into a dark red thong that seemed almost stark against his pale skin. Ignoring Drake’s admiring gaze with the ease of long practice, he began hunting through the racks for his usual dancer’s costume that consisted of near-obscenely short shorts tight enough to look painted on and a barely-there, sailor boy shirt that did nothing to actually cover his body. Coupled with various other props, he became the little boy on stage, completely ‘innocent’ to the world… He was already starting to become a crowd favorite despite being so new. “But I got held up by some stuff at home… You know how it is.”
The dancer’s gaze immediately sharpened, and the laid back attitude gained an edge of danger difficult to associate – and therefore seemed all the more startling – with the normally placid, if somewhat flamboyant performer. “What do you mean, ‘stuff’?” Drake demanded, green eyes narrowing. “Did they – are you hurt? What did they do? So help me, Lexxie, if they so much as lifted a finger against you again I swear on all that’s unholy I’ll - ”
“What?” Alex frowned, slightly distracted, looking through the other racks for his missing costume, only catching the tail end of the other man’s statement. “What are you – oh, no, Drake, don’t worry about it. Nothing happened. They’re not even here, remember?”
“Oh, really?” The man raised a challenging eyebrow. “And where did they go, pray tell?”
“Off in Europe, taking a vacation again or something – didn’t I tell you already? They’ll be gone for a month or so. Probably more, knowing them.”
“No, you didn’t tell me. I daresay you conveniently… forgot, shall we say, to so much as mention it.” The already stern gaze turned disapproving at the boy’s sheepishly apologetic grin. “How are you faring, then?”
The boy blinked, a ‘ragged’ shirt in one hand. “About them leaving? You know I couldn’t care less, Drake.”
“Don’t play dumb, Lexxie – you know that’s not what I meant.” The man sighed at the boy’s confused look, and elaborated. “Who are you staying with while they’re gone?”
“Oh! That’s what you meant.” Alex shrugged, turning his attention back to the costume racks and his currently AWOL costume as he candidly replied. “Well, with a teacher of mine for a few weeks. And his husband. After that I’m moving back to the house.”
“What on earth for??” The dancer placed his hands on his hips, demanding. “If they’re willing to take care of you, then let them! You’ll finally have someone properly looking after you, making sure you’re safe and well-fed, and I won’t have to worry about you all the time! God knows that your poor excuse for a family never treats you right!”
“Drake. Stop it. I’ll be fine.” He turned away again, determinedly concentrating on the bit of clothing he was folding so he could put it away. Anything not to have to look at accusing green eyes. “Besides, they wouldn’t hurt me – they’ve never even stayed long enough to do anything to me.”
“But Lexxie,” the other man protested, a protective undertone to his words. “You can hardly blame me for asking. After all, what with what happened a few weeks ago… You can’t expect me not to think the worst. Even you know by now that abuse is more than simply physical abuse… don’t you? And what’s to say that they won’t do it again when they’ve certainly done that befo- ”
“Where’s my costume, Drake?” Alex interrupted, steadfastly not looking at the other dancer, practically hiding behind the numerous racks of haphazardly arranged clothing. “It isn’t here.”
Drake frowned, recognizing the diversion for what it was. “Lexxie…”
“I – ” Wiry shoulders tightened, then relaxed as the boy let out a deep sigh. “I just… I just don’t wanna talk about this now, okay Drake? Leave it alone. Please.”
The frown lingered a few moments more, before the dancer sighed, stepped close, and hugged the boy again, arms going around his back and pressing a kiss to Alex’s forehead that spoke nothing except a deep, abiding affection and protectiveness. “I’m just worried, dear boy. I can’t help but be concerned – you can’t deny me that.”
Another sigh. “I know, Drake, I know, but… Just… Not tonight?”
But the other man wouldn’t be moved. “Soon, then.” Green and brown eyes engaged in a battle of wills.
The brown eyes looked away as defiant shoulders sagged in defeat. “Fine. Soon.”
“Good boy!” Another peck, this time a playful one on the lips, before the dancer flounced off dramatically, Delilah-style, deliberately fluttering around the racks in a manner too… well… flaming, even for him that Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “Now what was that you were asking about costumes?”
“Oh.” The boy shook his head, walking over to where Drake was standing. “I was just asking you if you knew where my costume went – it isn’t here, and the show’s about to start in a couple of minutes.”
“Oh that.” Drake dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand. “That’s because one of the new boys is using it. Sean? John? An ohn-something or other. I can never remember their names right. But it’s their fault anyway for being so blah and boring you know, and I keep telling Vin that he should just let me handle the interviews, but does he ever listen to me? Of course not! He’s too busy concerning himself with petty money instead of me, so it only serves him right that he gets nothing but ohns and nothings and – oh, right.” The slightest trace of sheepishness darted across the dancer’s features before mischief took over. “Sorry. I forgot to tell you – Vin wants you to do something different tonight.”
“Different?” Alex frowned, feeling a niggling worry at that all-too familiar and – dare he say it - shit-eating smirk on the other man’s face. “Different how? I don’t exactly have the time to learn a new routine, Drake. You know that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You don’t have to do a thing except lie back and let me do all the work... Besides, you’re experienced enough… I’m sure you’ll catch on pretty quickly..”
“What?” A puzzled furrow formed on the boy’s brow. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“I mean - this.”
Alex stared. And stared. And stared some more. “What the hell is that?”
“Why, your costume, dear boy.” A truly evil grin formed on Drake’s lips as he continued holding up an outfit made up of little more than artistically ripped pieces of ragged cloth, held together with rope and string that must be somehow working to keep the... thing together, unless they were expecting him to pull out glue or duct tape in order to put it on and keep it on without immediately falling apart. Unless that’s what they wanted. You never can tell with Vin or Drake. “You’re going to be working with me tonight, dear boy.”
Alex gulped.
The smirk widened. “Don’t worry, darling – I’ll take care of you. Now come and put on your costume.” The other dancer purred, stalking forward. “Don’t look so terrified, beautiful boy – I assure you that you’ll enjoy working with me. Almost as much as I will, in fact.” Now the smirk looked absolutely evil. “After all, I’ve been waiting to work with you for weeks!”
Alex tried very hard not to whimper. Honestly he did.
Drake cooed.
Whimper.
---0~0~0---
[1] Uncontrollable Passion
AN: Fourth installment of the series! Whew. Don't be fooled by the speed of the updates, though - the last four chapters were already written when I uploaded the story. The fifth chapter is still in the works, and will be uploaded pending on the number of reviews I get for the story. So review, please! More than helping me improve, it also helps add to the storyline.
Kawanee - I'm glad that you enjoyed it thus far. I'm even happier that you have questions! They will be answered as the story develops, I promise you, though the fact that you asked those questions in particular means I managed to add enough mystery to the story to keep you interested, so, thank you! As for the cutting... Well, here's a few links that may help you understand it, if you want to find out more.
[TRIGGER WARNING] Unless you are able to keep a mature and open mind, do NOT visit these sites. They are sources for those who need help, not targets to be made fun of. Also, if you are someone who cuts, then I advise you not to visit these sites as they may have possibly triggering content.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html
http://www.coolnurse.com/self-injury.htm
Cheers,
Jade Ai