Silver and Black

Saturday, November 8, 1:54 am



Chris stared after David as he disappeared down the hallway. What the fuck? He ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily. Shit... He'd obviously struck on something and now he'd messed everything up. He got to his feet and considered getting his stuff and just leaving, but as he stood and looked at the computer screen, thought about how David had gone out of his way for him, fed him, talked to him like a real person and not just a mild celebrity icon... Chris turned slowly towards the bedroom and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. He had said the stupid thing, he had messed it up, he had upset David...



He didn't want to just let this go. If David didn't like him, if he thought Chris was too young, or too raw, or too whatever, that was one thing. But if Chris had...



Chris moved down the hallway, desperate to know what happened, where he had gone wrong. Stopping in the doorway, he watched David carefully stacking paintings spread all over the bed, and placing them on a shelf full of other like sheets of paper in the closet.



The room was just as chaotic as the rest of the place. Plants, computer parts, ink paintings of insects, cranes and several types of flowers were everywhere, but unlike the living room, this mess was just a mess. The things in here had no structure; no purpose underneath everything. They were just in here because there was no room for them anywhere else.



David's back was to him, and Chris leaned against the door frame. He started to speak before the older man had a chance to say anything.



"You asked me to come here. You offered. I don't know what your deal is, but it would be nice to know what I did wrong. If your one of those guys that's still wrestling with the whole thing, like you got a fresh x-wife and two kids somewhere, that's fine. Just tell me so I know it's not me. I've been an experiment before, it's not the end of the fucking world."



"No... no... it's not..." David's brain caught up with everything Chris said and he had to laugh even as he wiped his face of his tears. He shook his head. "God, me with a wife and kids, what a fuck up that would be. No. I just..."



"Lemme finish," Chris growled pushing off the door frame. "If your problem is you don't like me, or you thought you liked me at the bar and then you got me here and you found out what I'm really like and I have nothing to offer you... just fucking tell me so I can get the hell out. I do a lot better with straightforwardness."



David stared up at Chris, eyes going wide.



Chris looked at the ground suddenly and started to choke on his words a little.



"But... if you do like me... and whatever happened was my fault... something I said... just... let me say I'm sorry..." Chris stopped again and scratched his cheek nervously. "I really like you and I don't... I don't want to mess anything up before we even start..."



David took a big, big breath. He closed his eyes for a long moment and then sat on the hastily cleared bed. "I want you so badly I shake every time you come near me. Every time I think about touching your back, I wonder if you'd have bloody stubs where your wings used to be. I... if you gave me the chance I'd... I'd want to make love to you for the rest of the weekend just to see if you'd smile again, laugh again like you did when I missed your joke."



Chris' heart stopped and he couldn't move. David's words wrapped around his heart and lungs, squeezing the life out of him even as he stood there gawking like a moron.



David sighed, "I owe you an explanation for my... reaction out there."



"I just realized why, I think. Fifteen years ago I found a guy on Usenet, who had a handle of UnderDog. He was sweet, thoughtful, really listened to people, and I thought, like most folks on the Internet, he'd be geeky and awkward, and too fat or too ugly or whatever it was that made him only want to interact with people online. So I invited him with several people from the comm to Christmas dinner as I was alone then, too.



"And he turned out to be this gorgeous blond guy, just twenty, and he was so happy to be liked for himself on the comm, despite his appearances. He told us, that night, that he'd been turning gay tricks at night and staying in the library during the day on the Internet machines to stay warm. But that he'd just found a job as a waiter, had found a place that would rent to him, and was enrolling in school...



"And we were all really happy for him. But then three weeks later, he got fired from his job for accidentally falling asleep while on it as he'd been studying so hard for a test.



"I offered him the money for his rent for the next couple of months, as... I was... well, overflowing with money at the time. My stock options at Microsoft were starting to vest, and I had so much money I was having problems figuring out all the taxes even with a tax guy... and..."



Chris kept silent and finally pushed himself into motion. He stepped across the floor to stand beside the bed, he knelt in front of the other and ran careful, comforting touches over his thighs. Chris had no idea if this was what David wanted, but the guy seemed so lonely, Chris' instincts were screaming at him to just hold the other man.



David's breath shook at Chris' touches and he bent his head as he continued. "He offered me sex for the money. Payment. I refused. It was... it seemed... obscene to equate his body, his love, his..." David shook his head as his tired mind couldn't find the right words. "His soul... with stupid dollars that I was making without even doing anything. I couldn't... I can't... I can't equate you to mere hours and electrons I'd be burning anyway.



"And with the refusal, he disappeared. I never heard from him again, and I have no... clue what happened to him."



"That's why when you said..." David shook again and tentatively stroked one of Chris's hands with his own. "... what you said. I... I reacted badly."



Chris took David's hand and slowly brought it to his lips. He kissed the palm softly, trying to find words, trying to think of anything to ease the older man's worry.



He looked back up into David's eyes and took a deep breath.



"I'm so sorry," he said softly. "I know I didn't know, but I'm still sorry. I never meant it to actually be like that..." Chris laughed softly and looked down, averting his eyes. "I admit some of that story sounds like me, but I went home, got clean, joined the military... I let myself be used for sex a few times a couple years ago, but not anymore. Not for a long time... I was just..." Chris went silent for a minute, his brow furrowing and his jaw clenching on words he didn't know if he should say.



David listened and his eyes cleared a little. "His real name was Chris, too, and the look in your eyes when you offered your little inspection was just like his. Both that need to control what was happening and that little bit of hurt." He sighed and gently touched Chris jaw. "I'm glad you don't let yourself be used anymore... but... what was it that you were thinking?"



Chris hesitated, but then let his head fall forward onto David's chest. He wrapped his arms around the older man's slim frame and mumbled into his shirt.



"It's... stupid..."



David sighed a huge sigh at that strength wrapping around him, and he felt himself finally relax as he was given this touch so freely. He wrapped his arms gently around Chris, fingers drawn to stroke through the silkiness of that midnight black hair. "Tell me anyway, I'll take it literally and promise not to laugh."



Chris chuckled despite himself and turned his head so his voice wasn't muffled.



"I just... I wanted you so bad... and I thought you'd think you were too good for me, so... I just... got desperate I guess... Played the hooker so you'd let me fuck you just this once..."



David's eyes closed and his arms tightened around Chris, hard. "Oh, God, too good for you? That seems impossible to me after seeing you in that play. All that energy and enthusiasm, love and pain, everything behind that incredible body of yours. I was in awe. I still can't believe you're letting me touch you."



Chris pulled away so he could look up into David's eyes again. "But that's just acting, its not me. All I am is a body and a talent to pretend to be other people. You're smart and successful and important to probably a lot of people! I'm nobody! My family hates me, I have no real job... I... I don't have anything... I'm a pretty face in a sea of people with pretty faces that can't do anything, while you..." Chris felt his cheeks reddening as he remembered his thoughts from before when he first saw where David lived, and he dropped his gaze again.



"You're like a prince..."



David frowned, but listened to the young man all the way through. At the end he fought down the urge to laugh, given his earlier promise, but he could tell he lost the battle as the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Well, they do say that the Li family was one of the forty original Chinese royal families."



Chris felt the heat from his cheeks spread to his nose and down his throat. He lowered his head and pressed his face into David's shirt again.



"See?"



David stroked Chris' hair and sighed and shook the younger man gently. "No, I don't really. Without you, there would be no act, no magic, no play. I've seen bad actors, and it's a real pain, and you were glorious up there. But... you are right in that I haven't seen the real you and I really want to, need to."



Chris nuzzled in closer and mumbled softly. "Can I stay here tonight, with you? I… I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable doing. I’ll even sleep in here or on the couch, just... If I go home, I feel you'll disappear and I'll never see you again..." He tightened his arms around David and closed his eyes. "Please?"



David sighed as the request went right to his groin and he knew the young man could probably feel it, given where he was. He dropped a kiss onto the soft hair. "Of course you can stay, but I'm going to make you give me all your contact information. I don't want you disappearing, either."



Chris smiled and relaxed a little. “I would be hard to lose. I’m in the same play as today at the same theater, for the next week and a half.”



"You probably wouldn't be surprised at what I could lose, given the state of this condo," David said wryly. "But I'd feel something of a stalker myself if I showed up to all your performances."



Chris chuckled and pulled his head back to smile up at David. "Meh, I wouldn't mind having a stalker like you." He realized something then and straightened. "Oh! And I'd have an excuse to leave right after every show! I wouldn't have to sneak out! I could just be like, 'Hey, gotta go, Dave's waiting for me'!"



The younger man couldn't keep the grin from spreading at the thought of the girls freaking out if he ever told them that.



David had to laugh at that. "You're as bad as I am."



He then shook his head, "I can't believe... you really think they'd accept that you'd... you'd just leave all the parties for me? That's..." David shook his head again in disbelief.



Chris found the older man's bashfulness extremely charming, and couldn't help himself from bringing his lips close to David's. He breathed softly across the older man's skin and whispered teasingly.



"They'll have no problem accepting it when they see how hot you are..."



David's eyes closed and his breathing deepened. "What?" he asked breathlessly and then swallowed. "I'm... you're the one that's so hot I feel like I'm going to get burned."



Chris' heart started to thump hard in his chest as his desire returned. The ache from deep inside himself; his want for David resurfaced and his hands moved once again to rub soothing circles into the other man's thighs. He brushed his lower lip across David's and continued to tease.



"Oh, and did I mention how sexy you are? With your crazy self-esteem problem and all your blushing? People are going to be so jealous of me..."



David's breath caught at the touches, the almost kiss. He caught Chris' mouth with his own, kissing firmly, solidly caressing the other man's mouth. His hands gently stroked along Chris' shoulders.



Chris growled hungrily and tilted his head, getting a better, deeper kiss. His hands dipped low on David's inner thighs, his thumbs coming dangerously close to the older man's obvious arousal. David's mouth opened in a gasp at the touch, his body bucking involuntarily. Chris' tongue slid over the older man's, taking in the taste of his mouth, and feel of his soft lips. He couldn't believe how well David kissed. If he did everything else as well as he kissed...



David groaned into Chris' mouth. "Oh God. Please... this isn't.... this isn't just payment now, is it? Please, tell me."



Chris pulled back and raised his hands to cup David's cheeks. He nibbled the older man's bottom lip and whispered softly, surprised at how harsh his breath was coming.



"No... no, this isn't payment... it never... I didn't really mean it..."



David's eyes searched Chris' and he nodded, shuddered, his breathing deep and quick, too. "I believe you, after... after what you said. My body now believes you too. I couldn't earlier... but now you know what you're doing to me."



Chris smiled and started to fiddle with the buttons on David's shirt. Even though the older man was making him dizzy with desire, Chris felt like he had the upper hand again.



"Hm... no, I don't really... Why don't you tell me."



David chuckled at the sound of amusement in Chris' voice. He leaned forward and whispered against Chris' ear, "You're making me so utterly aroused. You're making me feel the same as when you told me you wanted me, just me, in the café. You're making me feel like you want me and this old, creaking body of mine.



Chris unbuttoned David's shirt and slid his fingers over the smooth skin of David's chest and stomach. He admired the defined muscles of the older man's abs, but noticed his ribs stuck out a little farther than he thought healthy. Nevertheless, David was fit, even if he was skinny, and Chris made a conscientious effort not to drool over his beautiful, light brown skin. "Old? Creaking?" He scoffed. "Fuck, I hope I look this good when I'm your age..."



David arched and gasped at the touch. "How did you do that so fast?" he asked, laughing.



Chris laughed as he ran his lips over a dusky nipple. "Hundreds of costume changes..." He flicked his tongue out and teased the nub to hardness, and David moaned, his hands gentle in Chris' hair. When Chris' hands returned to David's inner thighs, the slender man groaned and pushed against his touch, his hands moving to Chris' shoulders for support. Then David leaned forward to pull Chris' t-shirt off of him as well.



Chris felt David's pull on his shirt and leaned back. He separated the cotton from the fishnet and pulled the t-shirt over his head, leaving the undershirt on. He dropped the t-shirt on the floor beside him and grinned up at David through his black bangs.



David's breath caught at all that he saw before him. That smile that was a tease unto itself. The deep green of Chris' eyes against the black of his hair. And his body shadowed and outlined by the sheer almost-there of the fishnet. His arms were works of art, the blue of a wave, the black of a character were blurred by the netting. Muscles toned and defined, layered over broad shoulders, sliding into a supple waist. David stroked down along Chris' chest, and then a shining caught his eye.



"Oh," David breathed as he brushed at the metal showing through the fishnet with both hands, gently rubbing his thumbs over the cross piercings in Chris' nipples, loving the cool feel of the mesh between the warm skin of the man underneath. He smiled at Chris. "I'd wondered if your ears were all you'd done."



Chris moved slowly back in between David's legs, letting his hands slide up taut thighs. He brought one hand up and gently pushed David back until the older man was forced to brace both his hands on the bed. He lowered his head and placed a kiss on David's chest.



"I got lots more," he murmured, "but I'll save them for later."



David's thoughts ran through his mind, a quiet pouring of images, flicking through faster than words could do, even as he braced himself on his arm and sighed softly at the gentle kiss and shivered at the thought of where Chris might have more piercings.



Softly he said, "I'm looking forward to seeing them, and even more to feeling them under my tongue."



Chris's cock throbbed at David's words. He gripped the other man's hips harder to keep himself from just ripping the other's pants off and flipping him over. He wanted so badly to just sink into David, feel his heat around him, pound into him so hard he made a permanent indent in the mattress. Chris moaned against David's skin, clenching his jaw, taking a second to calm himself before he trailed his tongue and lips down the older man's stomach. His fingers found the buckle on David’s belt and slipped the leather through the metal easily. He then fingered the button on David's slacks and pulled it apart before dragging the zipper down with his teeth.



David shuddered at the feeling of the moan against his skin, and the muscles of his stomach shivered and tightened at the wet heat of Chris mouth. He watched, bemused as Chris' mouth undid his pants.



"You are a man of many talents," he murmured, even as his breath caught as his own erection was set free.



Chris’ hand pulled down the dark, silk boxers and took the slender cock in his hand. David arched, gasping. He stroked slowly, keeping a firm pressure, but keeping the friction low and David cried out, hips bucking involuntarily, hands tightening on the bed cover. Chris ate it up, drawing it out, wanting to see what other kinds of noises he could get David to make.



David whimpered, eyes closing as he hadn't been touched by someone else like that for so long that his libido was now raging through him.



Chris looked up at the other man then, watching his face, adjusting his movements as he watched surprise, then longing, and finally a kind of surrender to his touch play out on the older man's handsome face. He smirked at the sight and brought his lips to David’s again.



“This is nothing… wait till I get you naked, arms cuffed above your head, ankles tied to your thighs. I’ll show you talent…”



David shuddered at the thought, and that image collided with all the other ones in his head. And against those lips, David managed to whisper, "You've offered to keep me twice now. I think I'll accept, Mr. Stark."



Chris kissed David again, softer this time and David kissed back, matching the softness, his hips moving his cock against the sensation of Chris' touch. Chris moved down David's jaw and neck, leaving a wet trail on his dark skin, and the other man's head dropped back. He whispered into the older man's collar, "Call me Chris..."



David shivered at the whisper against him. And he suddenly realized what Chris wanted of him, and that he was willing to give in and let the younger man do as he wished. "Yes, Chris."



Chris sighed happily at the sound of his name whispered across David's lips. David's weight shifted and his hand moved into Chris' hair, and when Chris glanced up he saw David's eyes watching him avidly. He moved still lower and kissed around David's navel causing the older man to moan, he nuzzled the dark curls at the other man's base and David arched with a sharp intake of breath.



Chris licked up David's length to a soft gasp, and slipped the member into his mouth, sucking softly, caressing the base with his palm and thumb.



David let go, fell back to prop himself up on his elbows. The intake of his breath was sharp, almost a cry, at that wet, warm heat wrapping around him. "God, Chris. It's been a really long time..."



David watched in fascination at seeing Chris' mouth wrapped around his cock, the younger man’s hand keeping its steady movements on his base, teasing his sack. David felt Chris’ other hand tighten on his hip and the older man’s breathing started coming shorter, faster, deeper with the steady motion. The rough wetness of Chris' tongue was driving him wild, and when the younger man started to hum around him, the vibrations made David collapse back onto the bed. He felt the blood rush to his cock and his balls tighten. "I'm... I'm really close... if you want... I can finish..." And he reached down tentatively, in case Chris wanted to stop right there



Chris caught David's hand and laced his fingers with the other's. He sucked harder, faster, gripping more firmly with his hand in case David tried to pull him off. He felt the older man's body tightening underneath him and he took David's arousal deep.



At the capture of his hand, and the tightening of Chris' hand around his cock, David gave a harsher, deeper moan, his fingers tightening against Chris' as he finally let go of his own self-control enough to lose himself amid the heat of Chris' mouth. He let the rhythm of the motions on his body push out all thought and all of him tightened, held. When Chris took him in deep, David gave a shout and his orgasm rolled over him, his hips shaking at the force of it.



Chris melted at David's moan, and growled approvingly around the pulsing member. The warm splash of seed hit the back of his throat and he swallowed it down hungrily.



David cried out again, caught between the growl and the motions, and the milking of Chris' swallows made David shudder and pulse even after he was dry. His now sweat-sheened body twisted and he was panting hard.



Chris released David's member and kissed up the toned chest as David lay there gasping. He crawled up and over David's body, even as the slender man's arms went around Chris and David arched up into his weight. He braced his hands on either side of the older man's head. He found David's lips and kissed them softly between the other man's harsh breaths.



David kissed back hungrily, tongue darting in to revel in the taste of his own cum in Chris' mouth.



Chris kissed back, just as intense. He groaned and slipped his arms underneath David's. He pulled the older man up on the bed and let himself lie more fully on top of the other. He let his bodyweight settle, and resumed kissing David's neck.



David's eyes closed and his chin moved up at Chris' kisses, and he turned his head a little more to cough, softly, twice. His panting slowed a little after that, as he did his best to control his breathing better.



Softly, David said, "Thank you."



Chris nuzzled in, settling on his side and pulling David in close. He kissed the other man's forehead and settled back, just looking... admiring.



David smiled back up at Chris, a little softened around the edges from his orgasm, not nearly as tense as before.



Chris smiled back, and pulled a stray lock of hair from his face. "So... I can still stay here, right?" He made a pouty face, sticking his lip out and making the fakest puppy eyes he could.



David reached up to brush that lock back behind Chris' ear as he considered the question, eyes crinkling at Chris' face. "Well... you certainly didn't make me uncomfortable, but I might have to ask you to stay in my bed instead of here or on the couch." He asked the last with as straight a face as he could manage.



Chris smiled and teased. "Okay, just don't take advantage of me in the middle of the night..." His grin widened and he moved in closer, bumping noses with David. "And I need something to sleep in. Jeans are uncomfortable, and I don't have any boxers on..."



David's eyes closed at being told just what Chris... wasn't... wearing under his jeans and his hands tightened just a little against Chris' back. "I have sweats, a pair of pajamas, and a few other things. If you don't want to get molested, especially in return for what you've just given me, then maybe you should take the guest bed here or the couch."



Chris laughed softly. "All right, here is fine, and sweatpants work."



David nodded and then looked curiously up at Chris. "You're sure you don't want..."



Chris shook his head, even as he stroked down David's arm. "I can't, in good conscience, take anything from you tonight. I did what I did because you needed it, you were so tense I thought you were going to break... I can wait..."



David's eyes closed at the stroke along his arm, but opened again to listen and then nodded. "Something to save for tomorrow. I'd like that." And he knew he had gotten it right when Chris smiled at him and kissed him slow and sweet in reply. This wasn't going to be another lonely weekend.

---

Author's Note: Many thanks to Gwengel, Dorone, Lisa, and Kylee for the lovely comments! I appreciate them very much, and as you can see many of you guessed right. *laughs* There's one more chapter, and stark and I are working on another one to finish out the five acts of this initial story.