Chapter 3
Velvet Rope
By: Terrany
Change
Chris had let this relationship get the better of him. He didn’t hate Aiden, but he let him piss him off completely. Nothing had gone his way over the past few months, except for Nick. Nick was a breath of fresh air as compared to Aiden. He’d wanted to get to know the red head, be a shoulder for him to lean on, a friend when he would accept no one else. That hadn’t worked out as planned. When he had introduced himself in the halls of the school Aiden had looked up at him and nodded politely, gathering his things and leaving. Chris didn’t think he’d even noticed him talking, really. It was the same whenever else he tried. He didn’t know why but he was completely attracted to him and miserable when he was tossed to the side so simply.
It didn’t take long for him to just figure he’d corner him and force him to notice him, but that had been a disaster. Aiden didn’t so much as notice Chris talking to him on the drive home, and the way he sat as far from Chris as he could just upset him more. He’d really meant to take him to someplace secluded, talk to him, let him know they could be friends. He didn’t know if there was possible ways to have this encounter go any worse. He hit a bad place in him; he didn’t even know why he had just decided to use him. The temptation to push him against a tree and actually be inside of him was the only thing he resisted.
Now it was too late. He ran his fingers over his shoulder gently as Aiden slept. There was a nasty bruise on his arm forming from their most recent encounter and when he traveled his finger down his side he noticed he’d managed to mark him just under the rib. He circled that mark and kissed his neck and Aiden stirred a moment.
Aiden was terrified of him and Chris wasn’t willing to let him be. If he thought he’d come back to him Chris would force him into nothing and release him without hesitation, but Aiden had no attachment to him. He never spoke to him about his life, he never let him into his house, and he never so much as shared an opinion.
Over and over in his mind he struggled with a way to correct this pattern they’d fallen into, but nothing came to mind and there was the problem of Nick. Nick and he were definitely together, and to actually put a label on Aiden was just asking for problems. As long as Aiden was a disposable utility in his sexual fantasies he didn’t feel guilty about the lies he told to Nick. Nick was daft, anyways. Only thing he was good for was an amazing blow job and if Chris wanted something to look at. Sometimes when Nick opened his mouth Chris was tempted to stick a gag in it, he believed almost anything he found on the internet and he was beyond the definition of blond. Sometimes Chris just fed him to keep him quiet, it was better for his own mental health.
At least when he was with Aiden he had some substance to his thoughts. They could do homework together and if Aiden was confused he could sit next to him and try to understand where he was confused and probe the subject further. Aiden was amazing for his scholarship, since he started doing homework with the junior he had started to understand a depth to his homework and studies he’d never before cared to delve into. They would study a subject and Aiden would ask why and how and they would research until Aiden had reached a full understanding. These were the moments Chris would sit next him and play with his hair, placing random kisses on his neck and shoulders watching Aiden absorb the information like a sponge.
Still, he was nothing to Aiden and that bothered him. Aiden became guarded and rigid when he was around Chris. He knew that was his fault, he couldn’t blame Aiden for hiding from him since half the times he sought him out it was to punish him and the other half it was to get off but he half blamed that on Aiden and his unwillingness to socialize with anyone ever. Once he’d left Aiden alone for two weeks hoping he’d find him, say anything to him, or be familiar. Aiden didn’t so much as look his way the entire time. When he finally cornered him in the restroom he’d actually tried to get away, putting forward more struggle than he ever had before he’d let him alone. Chris had watched him leave, a frown planted firmly on his face. After school he’d caught up with him and dragged him into his car and Aiden shifted as far as he could from him. Why couldn’t he just let someone close? Why didn’t he understand how desperately he wanted him? Could Aiden see anything beyond the tip of his God damned nose?
He sucked at his neck, using teeth and closing the space between them and he felt Aiden wake up. He whined a ‘no’ but Chris continued, running his hand between Aiden’s legs and thighs, brushing gently against his testicles but not actually intentionally touching him. Aiden was on his side with Chris behind him and he was touching the soft skin on the inside of his thighs with no shame. He moved his lips to Aiden’s ear and he felt the sharp intake of breath and the way his dick responded almost immediately. He liked that Aiden was so simply aroused, mess with his ear and he’d melt into whatever Chris wanted him to be.
“Chris, please don’t.” Aiden tried to shift away but Chris shoved him hard against his body, rolling on top of him so that his partner lay on his stomach. He heard him gasp and winced himself remembering he had a sizable bruise on his abdomen. That part of him that wanted Aiden in pain had him place a hand on his back and pressed his body further into the mattress and Aiden cried out in pain as Chris placed a knee between Aiden’s legs to separate them.
“You’re hurting me, Chris.” He pleaded, “Please, I won’t fight.”
“Did I ask you to speak?” Chris grabbed his hair and shoved his face down until he knew Aiden could no longer breathe, he felt the muscles tense and used the opportunity to push his dick inside of him and started to fuck him. Aiden’s struggle increased and the way he moved to fight for air just pleased Chris more so he pushed him down harder. He waited for desperation, for the jerky movements of someone about to fall under and then he released him, listening to him gasp for air.
Chris stopped his assault, pulling out and pushing Aiden onto his back so he could see the flush and the way his chest rose and fell and he placed more kisses as Aiden lay quietly allowing it. There was another bruise he’d traced on his lower rib which was part of a scratch that ran down his abdomen and to his hips and Chris sat up, tracing it. “What happened here?” Was someone else abusing Aiden? Chris thought he was perfectly fine doing it, but someone else? He didn’t recall making that cut, it looked like it had come from a knife and Chris really wasn’t into that. Aiden kept his lips firmly sealed and Chris frowned, “Is someone hurting you?”
“Yeah,” Aiden spit out, actually annoyed at the question, “You.”
Chris raised his hand to slap him but as Aiden flinched he noticed the irony of this action and lowered his hand, “Who did that?” Again Aiden laid there defiant and refusing to respond, Chris frowned again, “Who else is fucking you?” He was beyond annoyed now and he scratched his fingernails down his side directly on the scratch and Aiden screamed as the fresh clot opened and blood started to run down his side. He frowned at the blood and raised his hand to see the red staining his skin. Where the hell had this come from? Aiden tried to curl on his side but he pushed him back and pinned his hands above his head watching the blood flow. Aiden was whining and groaning in pain, trying anything to cover the wound. “Now who else is fucking you?”
“Fuck you, Chris.”
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The thought permeated his mind and had him obsessing, was someone else sleeping with Aiden? If so, why wouldn’t Aiden tell him who, under any threat? Who was he trying to protect? Aiden was successfully avoiding him, which just exasperated the issue. He’d catch a glimpse of him in school and if he walked by the junior’s classrooms he’d catch sight of him so he knew he was around, but they shared no classes together given Chris was a senior. He tried to race him out of his last class but it was science which was in the basement and Chris had English last period. He tried texting him, but the number was changed and he was beginning to feel a breaking point coming on. Who was Aiden seeing? He couldn’t corner him in school Aiden sat in the most populated spots even in lunch and waiting before homeroom. Friday he caught a glimpse of him getting in a coup directly after school and frowned at the male driving it. Was that his new fuck buddy?
He ignored Nick’s calls as he paced in his room letting the thoughts on where Aiden was and what he was doing possess him completely. None of his friends knew the nature of their relationship, so there was no point asking them to keep an eye out for him on top of that he doubted they’d approve.
He sighed and flopped down at his computer desk and typed the name “Aiden Kenni” into google hoping to get a facebook link or something of that nature. Initial scan brought no public profiles, no MySpace, facebook, twitter, or even a Vampire Freaks. He stopped over a link with a much younger red head posted next to it, dated about 2 years ago. Hovering over the link he saw the beginning of a missing person alert and that the location was in California. He clicked on it and his browser spun a moment, loading page, but then it stopped and he was staring at an old news website stating that the article had been removed. He clicked back and looked at the cached page staring into a younger Aiden’s green eyes.
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He was surprised how easily he could avoid people. It was a skill he had been positive he possessed, but now that he was accomplishing it he felt pretty good. After Chris had reopened the wound on his side and even made it a bit larger Aiden had trouble breathing without pain, he had to watch how he sat and at night was wrapping gauze around his midsection after doing a thorough cleaning job. He was scarred up enough as it was, he didn’t really want another. His vanity was what made him call on his father’s phone and change his number and he thanked whatever high power that watched him that he was able to arrange rides to and from school. He really didn’t want to turn into some poster boy for standing up against sexual abuse and bullying, he thought turning him into some sort of saint would be ridiculous so he stayed quiet and continued about his life frequenting places where he knew Chris didn’t visit such as internet cafes, comic book shops, and the library.
As luck would have it his older brother was in town for six months so Aiden had a free ride wherever he wanted to go, all he had to do was ask. Aaron was a spitting image of Zeek, dark hair, dark eyes, tall and muscular, broad build with olive skin. He was a high school senior when Aiden and Desiree where born and now, at 33, he was high ranking in the military spending most of his times overseas. He called himself a weapons specialist, which Aiden had no idea what that meant but it sounded pretty cool so Aiden parroted it off to anyone who asked. He’d shown up with his 2006 BMW Z4 coupe and Aiden was enjoying riding in it. He’d only been there a week and already he’d broken his dad’s rules and was taking Aiden down to empty parking lots to let him drive it a bit. Aaron had made him swear it was their secret and Aiden had complied simply, too eager to get his hands on the steering wheel.
He was also enjoying being spoiled, Aaron didn’t worry about money too much most of his expenses were covered by the military so he was asking Aiden to eat with him almost every day and taking him down to malls a few hours away. Aiden didn’t remember living with Aaron so they didn’t really have any outstanding disputes just holiday memories and inside jokes pertaining to the few times they actually did manage to see each other on vacation. This would be his longest stay and he was already looking at renting a small apartment with a 6 month lease, and Aiden thought he would miss seeing his brother lying around the house in the evenings.
“I can’t live with dad,” He’d explained, “It’s hard to explain but I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen.”
He knew that Aaron and his father had some sort of silent argument going on, but he was never allowed any sight into why they weren’t on good terms. Only once had Aaron tried to explain, when pushed, that growing up with their father was a different environment when he was a child. He’d said that their father was strict and borderline abusive, though Aiden never saw that growing up. He’d understood that his mother and father fought a lot, and there was less money to go around. The living environment Aiden knew his entire life was being raised by a single father who had plenty of money. He didn’t really know his mother; she really didn’t want to do much with Aiden. When he was younger he’d watch her come gather up Desiree and wonder why she didn’t so much as look at him, now that they had a country between him her presence didn’t bother him so much, though he did miss his sister.
The weekend was spent with Aaron he drove him down to a comedy club a few cities away on Saturday and bought tickets to dinner theater Sunday. Aiden had played a terrible game of catch up with homework Sunday evening and Zeek had scolded Aaron for not allowing Aiden time for his studies which Aaron blew off simply enough. The atmosphere was light, though, and he’d not gone to sleep until four that morning.
It amazed him that he made it to school, and he’d jumped out of Aaron’s coupe and ran into the restroom to check his eyeliner, not really checking where he was too wrapped up in his weekend and a tired from his lack of sleep.
He turned to dash out and stopped and stared at the door, confused by the apparition in front of it. Chris stood with his arms crossed, blocking off his exit. Aiden blinked away sleep too tired to fully comprehend the look on Chris’s face or his stance. He moved to get around him but Chris blocked him off again and Aiden frowned.
“I want your phone number, Aiden.” He hated how lack of sleep affected him and let the words sink in slowly, “Why are you so tired? Spend the weekend with that boy in the coupe?” He raised an eyebrow at him, “Get off enough?” Aiden’s reaction shocked him. He jerked and then placed his hand over his mouth, snorting out laugher. He’d never seen Aiden laugh before, not like this. He laughed hysterically, something had stuck his funny bone and even the sight of Chris didn’t stop it. Chris didn’t like being laughed at, “What the fuck is your problem?”
After a moment Aiden contained himself, tossing his bag to the side, “The boy in the coupe?” He shifted his weight to one foot, “I had a great weekend as a matter of fact. That ‘boy in the coupe’,” Aiden made air quotes as he spoke it, “Took me shopping, fed me a lobster dinner, took me to a comedy club and did dinner theater with me. All on his dime,” He watched the fury build, “He didn’t require sex, but he did drive me to school this morning after making me white chocolate chip pancakes with smiley faces and vegetable hair,” The last statement obviously confused Chris who was looking at Aiden rather queerly now, “Also, you can’t have my phone number. We’re through.”
“No, we’re not.” Chris put his own bag on the floor, digging through, “Why were you missing two years ago, Aiden?”
“That’s not your concern, and I’d appreciate you not dig into my past, Christopher. We are through and I’d appreciate you getting out of the way.”
Finding what he wanted he pulled out a folder and handed it to Aiden, “You’ll give me that number.”
Aiden frowned and opened it up, gasping at what he saw. There were pictures, tons of them. Some recent, he was naked and bound down in Chris’s room. Those weren’t the ones that bothered him, the ones that he hated were the ones of his back which he never wanted to see, he wished he could skin himself to be rid of it. Seeing the pictures made his back burn and he could feel the blood running down. Angel wings scarred into his back, his skin was cut, removed, and seared where the outline was and the pattern of the feathers was. His skin remembered the pain or every cut used to outline the damn feathers. The outcome was beautiful, the man who did it was very skilled, but Aiden hadn’t wanted it. Above them and between his shoulders was a triskelion BDSM circle above it was written in rough lettering “Jason” and below it was the letters JPB. Just at his tailbone the word “OBEY” was scarred with some tribal decoration on either side. There were pictures of his forearms which he skillfully covered everywhere he went, from his elbow to his wrist was the white marking where he’d cut into with a razor in desperation to end his life. Across the left were several scars, seven, actually on his right there were only four moving across the angry white scar that ran just shorter than left. He flipped through and there was one taken this summer, but it wasn’t of him. It was an older man, forty-seven to date, with a receding hair line and light blue eyes that haunted him. He gripped the counter and dropped the papers and they went everywhere. Breathing was hard. He was inhaling but there was no oxygen. His hand rose to his throat and he fell to his knees, feeling his chest rise and fall and the cold chills sweep over him. He went for his bag, he had an inhaler, but it was too far away.
Chris calmly picked up the papers and stashed them back in the folder before going to Aiden’s bag and handing him the inhaler. Aiden took a few puffs, but he knew this was placebo; he’d have to actually wait for the panic attack to subside so he sat on his knees counting and watching black spots appear. He was aware of Chris going through his bag and taking his phone. He could hear the new number entered in and the phone was pressed into his hands.
Chris left and Aiden sat on the bathroom floor paralyzed.
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Chris leaned against the wall in the hallways watching students walk by. They still had ten minutes to class. He didn’t understand. He looked at the mug shot. He didn’t know who this man was; he couldn’t dig up any information except that he was arrested sometime in the beginning of the summer that just past. His trial was still pending but there was no information leaked on it. He’d run into it on accident. He’d stared at the patterns carved into Aiden’s back many times and none of it made any sense, except for the “OBEY”, that much he understood. He still didn’t know about Jason. Who was Jason? He only just discovered what the symbol was that was carved in the middle of his back which tied together the letters on his lower back so well. Aiden’s reaction was violent to him though, so he found a decent weak point. He’d wondered if tossing this mug shot in would mean anything to the red head. His name was Jason Peter Berne, which he found too amazing of a coincidence. Why was this man’s name and initials carved into the red head? That much he couldn’t find out, and it might have been nothing. Though now he sincerely doubted it was nothing. His picture had tossed Aiden into a panic attack; he couldn’t imagine what the physical form would do.
Aiden walked out of the bathroom, he’d attempted to regain his composure but he was still pale and he trembled a bit. Chris looked over, “So are you busy tonight?”
Aiden nodded, “My brother.” He hugged himself, “He’s the boy.” Chris was honestly stunned, Aiden had a brother? “I have plans with him.” He shrugged.
Chris nodded. He could understand situations like that, he wasn’t all bad. “So when are you free next?”
“Probably Thursday after tutoring, he’s going to see an apartment.”
“You don’t want to go with him?” In a twisted way Chris was trying to prove he could be nice.
“Dad won’t let me.”
Chris nodded, “Alright, I will pick you up from tutoring on Thursday. Text me after school today.” He walked away trying to prevent the skip in his step. He didn't know why getting to see Aiden made him this giddy, but he'd probably catch himself cheering about it later today.
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