A/N: You know those stories you scan through and look for smut scenes in wondering which chapter had some actual sex. This is not one of those stories. Smut in this chapter and probably in the next and more than likely more smut in chapters to come! Surprised? I'm not.
Velvet Rope
By: Terrany
Chapter 4
Odyssey
Normalcy was no longer something Aiden expected in his day to day. Waking up in a bed alone, taking a shower, and dressing for school seemed a strange animal to him. He'd text Jake and drink his shake his father always had waiting for him.Everything was strange. He admitted this to his councilor, ashamed and hopeless. She noted he complained more about his routine and his day to day behavior than anything else. He was uncomfortable with being a normal teenager. He admitted to not being sure how to maintain his friendship with Jake. He worried he was a bad friend. He admitted to her that he was sleeping with Chris who had another boyfriend and he held no problems with it morally. Chris seemed closer to normalcy to him. He didn't want his normal, though. He wanted to submerse himself completely in the abnormal. He wanted to live in Alice's wonderland and embrace the strangeness. She'd struck cord with him when she asked him what mattered, always finding the second meaning to the riddled stories he told.
"Chris hurts you, and you don't like it."
Aiden slumped in his seat, ashamed to admit that he was once again playing victim, he protested, "No, he doesn't hurt me."
She scribbled down something and she looked back at him, "You know I'm here for you to talk to."
He looked her in the eye, knowing she'd catch his meaning, "I don't want to deal with anymore police, kits, or questions. He doesn't hurt me." He watched her a moment, that look of knowing and silent acceptance. He wondered how many boys she dealt with that were like him and exactly how see through and predictable his behaviors all were. He watched his hands, "If I never had sex again I'd probably die happy."
"You wouldn't want a healthy relationship with someone you care for?"
Aiden laughed, "Healthy? With me? That's not possible. I'm fucked up and screwed up and messed up and crazy. I'd wait for them to hurt me and if they never did I'd feel like it was too good, or I was wasting a perfectly good man who could be with a perfectly good guy, or I'd cheat with someone who did and let them play hero. I'm typical. I'm ruined."
"Identifying it is a step in the right direction. You are way beyond anyone who tries and repeats the process not sure why they are doing it."
The room reeked with professionalism, books on shelves in perfect condition and order lined a wall. She had a few boxes of props for role playing or just dramatizing her client's feelings. Aiden sat in a leather chaise which he refused to lay in and she sat behind a small portable laptop stand with her pad of paper in front of her sitting on a leather couch. There was white noise in the background and all the colors were neutral to try and be as little influence to the client's feelings as possible.
"But I'm still doing it." He argued.
"Do you seek him out?" She asked and Aiden shook his head. No, actually he avoided Chris at almost all costs to the point that the annoying blond was actually blackmailing him with Jason's mug shots. He didn't like his reality so he sought to change it, but it was like something about him demanded trouble and attracted it like flies to shit.
"It's like I attract psychos."
She smiled politely, "Seems that way." She pointed her pen at the clock and he stood, "You seem like you've gained some weight. You look healthy."
Aiden shrugged, "I feel like a damn cow. I want to give myself a stomach virus to puke up all this fat." He didn't lie to her, what was the point?
"Do you think you will, when you move out?" She handed him an appointment card and pen and he signed the form saying he'd been there.
"Probably."
"That's a control issue, Mr. Kenni. Things seem to be out of control in your world, so you cope by managing your weight incorrectly. I don't think it relates to your vanity."
"Seem to be?" He scoffed, "When I have a healthy grasp of my world I will let you know."
She looked him over a moment, "Tell the police about Chris, Aiden. If you want him gone they'll make him disappear for you."
He turned and tossed up a peace sign, a signal that the session was over and he was no longer listening to her. She sighed and went back to her computer against the far wall to do her documentation and often he wondered what she wrote about him. He walked out of the room and headed down the familiar hall trying to wrap his mind around his life as of late. Just the freedom to sit quietly was unnerving, something he hadn't had in a long time.This ability to design a future for himself seemed as impossible as going to the moon though the act had been done, he supposed. He looked up at the receptionist who took his card and documented the appointment, as she slid it back he missed it causing it to promptly fall to the floor. He crouched to retrieve it coming face to face with another boy.
Aiden about fell backwards, his sharp intake of air was definitely audible, and he tried to cover up he extreme reaction by covering his heart and landing fully on his bottom. The male in question had dark hair, the front of it was pushed up and stood straight up from dark sunglasses, blue hair gel in his hair just gave his hair an odd and attractive tint. He had gaged ears with barbells through them and clear hazel eyes. It was how attractive he was that had pulled such a reaction from Aiden, he guessed his age at 20, at the most, with a lean tight build and a tattoo of some tribal design on he top of his hand.
"Aiden?" He handed him the card and Aiden blinked at him confused as to how he knew his name.
"Yeah?" He looked at the male a moment, confused.
"That's what it says on your card," He laughed and handed it to Aiden before he stood offering a hand to let him up.
He took his hand and opened his mouth to speak, but then reminded himself they had just met at a place where crazies congregate and that not every attractive man who looked damn nice in faded skinny jeans was gay, so he smiled a thank you to him and walked by, cursing himself a bit for not trying. He slipped behind the door, and placed his back against the wall so he could watch him. He seemed to be a bit bewildered by Aiden's reaction but he shrugged and stuck his hands in his jeans walking away in a relaxed manner. A larger figure leaned over him to look, "Seems your type." The voice was accusing and Aiden looked over at Chris for a moment, not sure if he was seeing things correctly. He blinked twice and then rubbed his eyes but Chris still stood there, peering down at him as if waiting for something. The reaction Aiden gave him was obviously not the one he wanted by the flash in his eyes.
"How long have you been here?"
"Long enough," Was his answer, "Your dad had some paperwork, called and asked if I could drive you."
Aiden squirmed a moment, "Yeah."
When his dad said he had everything covered Aiden didn't expect Chris. He followed behind as Chris turned and trudged his way to the familiar vehicle. There was a moment of hesitation as he touched the handle of the door. In his mind he just walked away and Chris never noticed. He'd wait here until his dad finished with his lawyer and say that Chris forgot or ran into a clown mobile and ended up at the circus. Either excuse seemed as likely.
"You coming or am I leaving you?" Aiden noticed he'd been standing at the door a minute in a daze, lost in his own mind and not really willing to come out. Chris started the truck and Aiden frowned.
After a moment's debate he responded, "You're leaving me," He stepped back and walked back to the clinic, annoyed at Chris and not feeling like giving him a blow job, really.
As expected Chris was after him, carefully. People watched as Aiden worked his way back to the building and sat on the steps, and as Chris followed behind at a measured distance. He sat on the steps and Chris was beside him, trying to be casual despite the anger that was building.
"You're pissing me off," He pulled out a cigarette and Aiden waited for him to light it and take a puff to casually remove it from his fingers and snub it out, pointing at the No Smoking sign as he did so. He growled in response but didn't pull out another, "I really just want to go home. This was a long ass drive."
"Then go," He waved his hand dismissive and leaned against the wall pulling out his cell phone. A text that read "Double parked once." Sat unread and he tapped it to respond something quickly, "Rebel."
Chris didn't like being ignored, but more so he didn't like wasting his time. When Zeek had asked him to get Aiden he had seen a perfect opportunity for them to be alone and Aiden was letting precious time slip away.In an attempt to be calm he closed his eyes. He was controlling his breathing and Aiden waited for the ultimatum that was on it's way, "Get in the car, Aiden," It wasn't what he wanted so he looked over at him. Aiden knew Chris knew how to bargain, and Aiden was trying to work his way out of the blow job that would be requested of him on the drive home, "I don't know why you are making a scene."
"Hit me, Chris, " He challenged him, looking into the distance, "See what happens." He tucked his phone away.
"I will soon enough," He bit back and Aiden figured that response wasn't as favorable as he had hoped, "We have an hour before you're needed home after we arrive in town. I really wanted to use that time."
"Really? Pinch me, I must be dreaming," Aiden's sarcasm came out simply so Chris reached over and pinched him hard and Aiden yelped and jumped, "Fuck you, asshole."
Chris was getting to desperate, and Aiden noticed the security guard lingering nearby, something he knew didn't escape the other male. Chris's normal response at this moment would be pushing, hair pulling and general battery, given that wasn't an option Chris was needing to formulate a different plan. Instead, Chris was furious, but he was trying to get Aiden to get into the car and if brute force wasn't an option that would leave him with threats or bribery, "What do you want?" He spit out.
Aiden smiled, "Oh, I'm so glad you asked, Chris, and realize if you go back on this promise I won't be negotiating with you again."
"Just tell me."
"I'm not really in the mood to pleasure you on the ride home. I think you should keep your dick in your pants for the duration of the drive."
Now, he waited. Chris was looking over at him. There was a mixture of surprise and frustration in his face and in Aiden's mind he mocked him, a high pitch voice saying, 'Oh Aiden, how did you guess my completely predictable plan? I was completely not obvious in this new found opportunity to humiliate you and call you a whore. Now what ever will I do with all this built up frustration in my jeans? Contain myself for an hour? That's something beyond the ability of a baboon, and I'm not sure if I can handle that.' But he was quiet, waiting for Chris to decide if he could cope with such a harsh demand, "Whatever, freak," Chris stood and brushed off his jeans, "Given I wasn't considering it that's not that hard to oblige to."
Aiden rolled his eyes and again they started the trip back to Chris's parking spot. Aiden wondered if Chris actually thought he believed him, then again he supposed to spew as much bullshit as Chris did you'd have to believe some of it yourself which was just pathetic. He pulled himself up into the cab and leaned against the door as soon as it was shut and Chris, once again, started the engine.
The entire trip was silent, Aiden dozed for most of the ride and Chris had nothing to say, nor was he in the mood for music. Aiden found himself surprised, though. Rather than driving to either of their homes Chris parked in their normal spot out in the nature trail and worked Aiden down on his back, which pulled Aiden half into consciousness. He groaned as Chris left wet kisses down his neck and ran his fingers below his shirt and somewhere in his mind he wondered exactly why Chris liked to fuck him in the truck so much. It was cramped, there was no room to really move and Aiden was shorter than Chris so he couldn't imagine what it was like for Chris having to position himself on top of Aiden, get inside him, and then be required to move. Plus, when they got started the truck moved with them making the actions in the truck entirely obvious to anyone who happened to glance their way. It wasn't really likely anyone was out here at this time, but still, the idea bothered him so he imagined it had to invoke some emotion in the other boy. Stripping was such a pain Chris never bothered to fully undress him, just worked his pants far enough down so that he could get between his legs and to his goal and Aiden would have to deal with the fact that he was restrained after that, Chris's own jeans barely came off.
The windows were already beginning to fog as Aiden was waking up, the small wet kisses turned into an all out make out session and Chris directed Aiden's hand to his pants, humping his hand more than allowing him to stroke it. Aiden complained at the way his hand was held and how low he was supposed to hold it with how high his shoulder was, his wrist hurt and his arm was being pulled too far. He could feel how hard he was, though, and it made him uncomfortable, so he pushed Chris's shoulder up with his free hand to try to get him to climb off. Chris insisted, pushing him down and ground against him kissing him harshly. They didn't have as much time and Aiden was drowsy still so he didn't put up much of a fight, in fact he wriggled himself out of his jeans to end it faster.
Chris appreciated the movement and was generous for it. He started Aiden off gently, pressing his fingers inside and watching him react, enjoying the quickening of his breath and flush of his face, he even liked the way his lips parted ever so slightly and the way his hair spilled over the seat. He worked at his ears, feeling him harden and spread his legs as much as he could with the restrictive fabric. This just seemed to be his day. Sure he was mad Aiden had initially refused to go with him, but now he was responsive and eager almost. He hooked his fingers and Aiden gasped, his hands now on his shoulders and fingernails digging into lightly tanned skin and he bucked up at the touch.
"Ngh. Chris," He gritted out, tensing at the touch, "Be quick."
"Why?" He whispered in his ears and Aiden moaned eagerly, just exciting him more.
Aiden scratched down his shoulders and dug down into a softer spot and Chris groaned, kissing his neck in response, "I want it."
His gentle treatment was abandoned in favor of feeling Aiden surround him and he pulled Aiden's pants down further along with his own, getting into the uncomfortable position that worked for this vehicle. They were fast. Aiden found a rhythm against him almost immediately, tightening around him pleasantly. Chris thrust against him desperately, his lust fed on by Aiden's movements, the way his nails dug in, and the sounds he made. The truck rocked, and Chris pushed him against the driver's side door to get more room and Aiden whimpered at the awkward position. He tried to move his legs to allow him more room, but couldn't and instead shifted awkwardly against him. Chris pushed his shoulders back against the door and bit his neck and Aiden gripped his biceps tightly. There was a moment of discomfort between the way Aiden was pushed against the door and the angle Chris entered him. He wriggled against him, trying to find his spot, but Chris tensed and finished and Aiden slumped in disappointment.
Chris was heavy against him as he breathed raggedly into Aiden's ear and the smaller wriggled a moment in an attempt to breath, but as soon as the blond sat up it was over and Aiden was left unfinished.
Aiden didn't masturbate. The practice was a turn off in of itself. He didn't like touching his own penis, nor did he enjoy the feeling of pleasure brought by his own hands. It made him gag, really. Once, Chris had asked him to do it so that he could watch and he'd ended up doing most of the work, taking Aiden's hand and rubbing his flaccid sex with it. It was pointless, Aiden didn't react. His body didn't respond to his own touches which frustrated Chris. He'd started him off and had Aiden touch himself then, it was like the kiss of death. He couldn't maintain an erection in his own hand even after threats and harassment. Finally, he'd given up.
Aiden walked into his own home and headed to the shower, turning on the cold water. He was disappointed by tonights outcome. He was willing and able and Chris finished leaving him hanging. He was shaking from the exertion and let Aiden dress, unfinished and upset. Chris never touched him, not when he wanted him to. Sure, he'd corner him in his own room and start with gentle touches where they mattered, but Aiden found most of the time if the red head couldn't get off from the penetration then he was left untended. It was infuriating. In Chris's mind Aiden should be in contact with as much of Chris's release as possible. It made him submissive, the effect was the same for Chris. The less contact he had with Aiden's the more of a toy it made Aiden.
For a moment Aiden actually debated finishing but as soon as the cold water hit he was rewarded by the quick disappearing act. He stood under the cold tap until he was shivering uninterested in cleaning, instead he was punishing himself for being so willing with Chris. He couldn't help it, really. His reactions to most acts were carefully taught to him and Chris had found a point where Aiden's actions were a hundred percent learned. Still, acting like a slut made him a slut and he was done with that life style. It was what forced them to cross the country and he had no intentions of replaying that situations in a brand new state.
A new text was waiting when he stepped out from his anonymous friend, "Curious."
Aiden had dubbed this new texter "Tom Riddle" and called him such on a daily basis. He couldn't get his name from him, but he'd tried time and time again to narrow down how they'd met, it wasn't curiosity now so much as a game. Aiden would try to get closer to an answer and Tom would try to be as vague as possible.
"What is? Where were you born?"
"Curious is you not responding to me until I'm available. Are you watching me? Texas."
"I'd have to know who you are to do that. I didn't think I knew anyone from Texas. Are you sure we know each other?"
"Red hair? Green eyes. Bout yay tall and too skinny? An attraction to black? Aiden's your name."
"About yay tall doesn't work unless we're talking face to face." He tossed down his phone recapping the day.
He managed to successfully avoid Chris all day in school, his dad had been late picking him up for his counseling, he had to go to counseling, avoiding Chris all day had been canceled out by Chris picking him up and then he'd begged for sex from him like a damn virgin on her wedding night. Overall had been a disaster and Aiden thought he needed a drink and a smoke. He debated calling Jake but he didn't want to tempt the fates anymore than he had. He thought they'd start getting creative with ways to make his life complicated and no longer worth it so he held up his hands and stared at his scars, tracing his left one with his right finger.
Aiden wasn't generally the type to give up so entirely. He remembered hitting a low so intense that he didn't think he'd ever get out. The razor was sharp and it had stung digging in. He'd cried when the first drip of blood fell but he'd pulled it all the way down watching the trickle turn into a river. Seven across to make the blood flow easier and he'd started the right arm, his left hand unsteady and already weak with pain. The right scar was crooked and smaller, but it had flowed faster. He feared clotting so he ran a bath and got in and the water hurt so bad hitting the fresh wound. Over and over he thought it would be over soon, and he'd faded into oblivion watching his red water ripple.
And here he was, alive somehow.
He didn't regret it, though this was an outcome he wasn't expecting. It was nice, though, he did like seeing his dad every day. He missed his family. Sure, his mother wasn't around for him but he and his sister were inseparable. Now they lived so far and Aiden hated his phone. Every time it rang he was afraid it was Chris or someone worse, so he avoided it only speaking to Des when his dad was home. The rest just plainly weren't around, though he remembered when he woke up that day in the hospital there were seven of the nine who mattered, so that was something.
He listened for his dad, unable to sleep with him away. He wanted to know how the appointment with the lawyer went. He feared for the worst when it took this long. Maybe that would be the cherry on top. He reached down for his phone swiping past Tom's text to call his father, but as he did so he answered a call from an unknown number and huffed now getting annoyed.
"Hello." He was hoping it was his father.
"Aiden! I haven't heard your voice in so long, how are you?"
Aiden knew that voice. He frowned. So the fates could mess with him in his own bedroom. He thought they needed a new victim, as he was already tired of this game, "Jude?"
"Who else?"
"I thought there was a restraining order," His eyebrows knit together, "I don't want you to end up locked up."
"Your dad dropped it today."
Well now things made sense. Not that Aiden thought Jude deserved the gag and restraining order, but he didn't really have much of an argument on it. He was cutting as many ties as he could from his past and Jude was a huge part of that past, five years of it, actually. He was the boy Aiden stood behind unsurely when he told his father he was gay, Jude absorbed most of his fury refusing to leave until Zeek had calmed and he was sure the giant of a man wouldn't do anything to his son. Jude had been Aiden's first everything, most of it occurring in a small time frame when he was 13. Jude held his hand when he needed it and it was Jude that had saved him from his own destruction ending a two year hell Aiden saw no release from. Now everything was so different. He'd moved to Maine from California and his father had no more issues with his sexuality, he was just glad his son was alive and home. He'd apologized a million times for taking his son for granted and Aiden had forgiven him entirely, nothing was Zeek's fault though it was easy enough to see where Zeek's guilt sat.
He stared at the far wall as Jude spoke to him, updating him. He was over nineteen when their ordeal ended so he was expected to pull himself up and get over it, unlike Aiden who was handed doctors, pills, counceling, compensation for his pain, and he welcome of the protigal son. He'd done well enough for himself, finding an apprenticeship at an independent tattoo parlor and given a room above the shop. The owner liked him and treated him well, inviting him over for dinner when he suspected Jude's money was too tight to afford food. He was skilled, that much Aiden knew. His art was amazing and he had a talent for taking an idea from someone else's mind and putting it down on paper almost exactly as they saw it. He remembered being a child and lying in Jude's room watching him sketch for hours. He was the one who pierced Aiden's lip and nose when he was only 14, but he'd taken those out and never put them back. Between the doctor's visits and the school disliking the piercings Aiden found them too much hassle.
"What about you, Aiden? How have you fared?"
"Terribly," He sighed, "I feel like a science experiment gone wrong. I'm constantly in doctor's offices, they've tested me every three months since Jason tested HIV positive."
"I know, me too. I'm terrified."
Aiden nodded, "I think it was a needle. We should be clear, but I'm scared, too. And have I mentioned Chris?" Jude made an interested sound, "He's my newest stalker."
"Oh, don't do this to me Aiden. I'm in public."
"He's twisted you, Jude." He rolled his eyes, but he smiled. He couldn't help finding amusement in Jude's tone.
"Don't care. You can tell me about it when I'm alone."
"Phone sex. Kinky," Jude chuckled lightly in response, "We will never be normal."
"I don't worry too much about it, Red. I just miss you."
"I miss you, too, Jude. I'm hoping to visit mom Christmas."
Jude made an amused chuckle, "Mom? You'll be here with me. Bet you Chris can't make you scream the way I do."
"Shush. Dad's home." An 'I love you' hung in the air for a moment, but neither said it and Aiden shut off his phone watching the time blink. Two hours. He frowned. Jude was probably seeing Jason. Truth be told if he was in California he would, too. Fear, pain, anger, frustration, desperation, and helplessness made him unable to let go entirely. It was familiar. He rested the phone on his chest and looked up at the ceiling. His dad dropped the restraining order, which meant they finally finished all the research they needed. He wanted this to end two years ago. He held his arms over his head to stare into the scars and sucked at his bottom lip.
So what now? He wasn't sure if he was glad or upset he could speak with Jude again. It was like reopening wounds though Aiden would go through any amount of pain to make a few things go away or return to him. Was Jude someone he wanted back? He wasn't entirely sure one way or another.
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