The Meaning of Sanctuary
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,448
Reviews:
13
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
7
Views:
2,448
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 Yearning Pt. 3
---0~0~0---
Thoughts - Unless they're only one-word-ers, in which case the words are simply emphasized for effect.
---0~0~0---
”At the innermost core of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for union with one’s lost self.”
- Brendan Francis
---0~0~0---
“I don’t have the time, Derek! Alex is going to – “ Drake, panicked, abruptly reminded of what he was doing, shot up and made for the door.
The open door.
It was too late.
Alex had gotten away.
---0~0~0---
Alex ran blindly, wildly down the street, dodging and bumping through the passers-by and strollers with no regard for their startled curses and insults directed at his clumsiness.
His duffel was clenched tightly in his hand, hitting his right leg as he ran, ran, ran – ran away from the club, from the street, from the one man who made him think he had found someone who had seen him for all he was and had accepted him entirely. Who made him think that he was worth something to at least one person in the world, with all his faults and doubts and insecurities. Who made him think that finally, finally, the world was giving him a break and that there really was a benevolent being who watched over the welfare of the human race, and made sure that punishment and reward was not dealt out too harshly, with too big of an embittering difference.
Apparently, even benevolent beings had a limit.
And Alex was it.
The boy had no idea how long he had been running before he finally stopped, heart pounding, body trembling with the adrenalin rush, knees almost bucking in exhaustion.
Glancing up, weary brown eyes stared at the surroundings for almost a full minute before he finally registered where he was. An incredulous laugh bubbled in his throat and was about to release itself when suddenly the strain of both his recent activity and the too-large mouthful of air to fill his starved lungs caught up with him, making him double over with the explosive force of his coughing. His eyes leaked tears as he fell, back landing harshly against the rough bark of a nearby tree as his lungs continued to try to exit his body through his throat, hands coming up in a futile effort to try to contain the violent hacking.
He did not know how long he sat there, trying to control himself. Neither did he know exactly when the coughing turned into little, unstoppable hitches of breath, and the small droplets in the corner of his eyes into tears.
As he broke down into sobs, keening for the gaping loss he felt even more sharply than the biting gale of icy wind that even now blew about him, tugging at his clothes and body, all he knew was that for the first time in his life, he was glad he was alone.
---0~0~0---
“Bloody, fucking, thrice be-damned buggering hell!” Drake spat as he turned away from the doorway after long moments of staring fruitlessly out of the club’s back entrance in hopes of spotting a thin, still-fleeing figure.
“Language, Drakey-dear, really!” Tutted the effeminate dancer still lying on the floor, except his sprawled form now seemed intentionally embarrassing in its attempt to appear ‘unintentionally’ seductive and feminine, as opposed to just embarrassing. “What on earth has got you speaking so, so crudely, anyway?”
“Alex. Left.” Was all that Drake managed to bite out, too furious to elaborate.
“Oh.” That and the words following were decidedly cool. “That what that fussy display was all about?”
Drake turned around slowly, staring incredulously at the other dancer. “And what exactly do you mean by ‘fussy display’? Alex left!”
“So you had some love-trouble and your little catamite ran away in a hissy fit. So what?” ‘Delilah’ sniffed derogatorily. “It’s not like I care that much about him.”
“Alex left. Upset.” Drake spoke deliberately, English accent never quite so clear as before. “He most likely will not be coming back. And all you can say in response is that you ‘don’t care that much about him?!’”
“Well it’s not as though his leaving does me nor the club any harm. He won’t tarnish the club’s good name with his terrible, artless performances, for one thing, and my audience can finally be allowed to appreciate higher forms of art, like mine, for another.” Delilah turned his head away, haughtily tilting his nose in the air and closing his eyes for good effect. “That his being gone is permanent is only an added bonus.”
A look of confusion flitted across the heavily painted face when the expected retort never came, replaced by a smug, satisfied smile when the dancer heard retreating footsteps. Finally. He had finally gotten one over his uppity fellow dancer who refused to respond to his advances, and the boy was gone! Why, this was the perfect time to celebrate by attempting to seduce Drake while he was obviously in a very vulnerable moment! All he had to do was get that slinky little red negligee that he used only for ‘special’ occasions, and –
SPLASH!!!
Drake walked away, bucket in hand, a smile of dark smugness on his face as he left the indignant transvestite sputtering incoherently and dripping dirty mop water on the floor.
He even felt mildly better enough to give an acknowledging nod to several of the other dancers’ and backstage assistants laughing whoops of approval, even if he didn’t stop moving as he left to go get changed.
As satisfying as that had been, he had to go find Alex.
---0~0~0---
Adrian tiptoed silently out of the master bedroom, just as silently closing the door behind him and descending the staircase.
He had finally managed to get his exhausted husband to agree to try to rest for a few hours – as long as he promised to wake him up the ‘very second he gets home, Adrian, or else Alex won’t be the only one in trouble!’ – and even now Dave was currently softly snoring away, overcome by fatigue and asleep before his head had even reached the pillow.
The martial arts teacher shook his head wearily. He was tired himself and wanted to go to bed. But unlike Dave who couldn’t tolerate both exhaustion and worry in any combination very well, Adrian was more used to keeping odd hours when necessary as a result of his training.
Besides, no matter what he had said to convince his husband, there was no way that he himself could sleep while he still worried for Alex.
It was already nearing dawn and the boy still hadn’t come back. To make things worse, it had started to rain a few minutes before his husband fell asleep.
So the man ghosted along the house, straightening things up and putting the kitchen back in order in his typically quiet manner.
Uneaten food was placed in Tupperware and neatly stored in the fridge. Dishes were cleaned, washed, and set on the drying rack, and the kitchen table was carefully wiped down, with the cleaning rag hung on the metal bar attached to the wall near the sink. Small things like loose papers were neatly stacked, books put back on their proper shelves, and pillows in the living room were straightened. Windows on both floors were locked – even in the bathroom – and were tested a few times to make sure.
The martial artist stood in the hallway, surveying that the house was in order with one last glance.
A few minutes later found Adrian shrugging on his jacket, cell phone and key in his pocket as he jogged down the sidewalk away from the secured house.
He had left a note – without waking said husband up – on his husband’s side table in the bedroom in case Dave woke up and worried about where he was.
Now he had to go find Alex.
---0~0~0---
Adrian had been jogging for barely a few minutes when he found Alex.
It wasn’t easy. The boy was curled up to the side of the road, almost entirely hidden by a bush. It didn’t help that the light rain had quickly gotten heavier, obstructing Adrian’s vision.
If it weren’t for the fact that he had noticed a duffle bag and the top of one rubber shoe poking oddly out of the side of the bush and jogged closer to check – it could have been someone hurt who needed help – he might never have seen the boy at all.
In almost no time Adrian had reached the boy’s side and wrapped him with his own jacket, worriedly asking the soaked boy if he was all right.
The boy didn’t react. Blank brown eyes, half lidded, stared right through Adrian as though the man wasn’t even there.
He cradled the boy in his arms, shielding him from most of the rain with his body as he started calling Alex’s name, worry rising by a couple of hundred notches higher at the complete lack of response.
With mounting desperation he called the boy’s name until he was almost yelling. He had almost given up and was ready to rush the boy to the hospital when a slight sound caught his ears, even through the pounding rain.
“…’drian…? …’szat you?”
“Alex!” A relief so intense it nearly hurt filled Adrian’s voice as he hugged the boy close to him, squeezing him tightly for a moment. Then he suddenly loosened his grip as he demanded, looking at the boy, “Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
It felt almost like eternity before he caught Alex’s response. “…fine… ‘m cold…”
The worry returned at the faint voice. “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll get you home and in a warm bed in no time.” Adrian reassured the boy as he lifted him in his arms. “You’re safe.”
“…safe? ‘m safe…?” Came the muzzily spoken words Adrian almost had to bend to hear. “Never safe… Hurt…”
“You’re hurt?! Where?? Alex!!”
But the boy didn’t respond. Alex had lost consciousness.
“Damn it!” Came the quietly muttered obscenity as Adrian stood up, hefting the boy in his arms, turning towards the direction of the house. He was about to go when a solid grip on his shoulder stopped him.
“And where do you think you’re taking him?” Came the demanding question in a decidedly unfamiliar English accent.
Adrian looked around to see a tall, blonde man with vivid green eyes. And was taken aback.
Why on earth was a complete stranger glaring at him? And pulling demandingly at the precious bundle in his arms?!
“I am taking him home. I do not know who you are, so I would suggest for you keep out of what is very obviously none of your business.” Were the firm reply in crisp, lightly accented english.
“This is my business. The boy you’re holding there is a friend of mine, and I have a right to know where you’re taking him when you obviously have no relation to him!”
“As I have never heard of you before, I highly doubt your words. I am leaving.” Adrian turned around to go, and was once again stopped by the grip to his shoulder.
“Look.” The martial arts teacher almost snarled, annoyance edged with uncharacteristic anger as he once again faced the stranger. “It’s late, cold and raining, and neither I nor Alex can spare my devoting the time needed to argue with you and for what reasons you could possibly have to keep me from giving him the proper care he needs at home!”
The other man had opened his mouth in the middle of Adrian’s heated words to interrupt, but suddenly closed it and studied him for a moment. Then, after what apparently was a moment of hesitation, spoke in a quieter tone. “My name is Drake. I’m Alex’s friend and coworker. I saw him run out a couple of hours ago and, out of worry, tried to find him. Take him home tonight, but… tell him when he wakes up that I want to talk to him.” The last sentence was an unarguable statement, with an undertone of warning should it be kept from following through. “There are some things I need to explain to him – things that I said – that I think he misunderstood before.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance I am certain it is not.” Was Adrian’s extremely unimpressed reply. “If you are, indeed, his coworker and friend then you understand why it is of utmost importance that I return home immediately and care for Alex. It is of no concern to me what you need or need not do, nor explain.” At that, the oriental turned as if to go, but at the last moment hesitated as he caught sight of the other man’s utterly defeated stance.
“I will… mention your name to Alex.” Drake’s head jerked up in surprise at the unexpected concession. A glare stopped the English man from speaking his thanks.
“Know that I do not do this for your sake, but his, should he truly consider you a friend.” Adrian continued firmly. “But also know that, should this ‘misunderstanding’ be the cause of his suddenly incapacitated state, then you should find something else to occupy your time.” Blue eyes abruptly darkened with fury and threat even as Adrian’s tone hardened. “Because by the imperial gods in heaven I swear that not only will I hunt you down for hurting him once, I vow that I will defy even them before you ever get the chance to hurt him again.”
Then, faster than Drake could even follow with his eyes the other man had run into the rain, Alex in his arms.
---0~0~0---
Review Responses:
Ruka: Thanks for the compliment! ^_^ I was worried about the slow pace of the story, so it’s great that you like it so far! Hope I continue to keep your interest!
Aleks: Thank you! I wasn’t sure the prologue conveyed everything I meant it to, so it’s great to know that you like it the way it is. ^_^
Oralain: Thank you! You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that! There’s nothing as satisfying as knowing that readers are able to emphasize with the characters in the work. Thanks for reading – and I hope you keep doing so!
Yami Akurei: I am extremely grateful for the continued interest and I sincerely apologize if I made you feel like I was pressuring you for reviews. It’s just that I’m new at writing, so I really want to know if I’m doing well or if I’ve made a horrible blunder at one point. But it’s great to know that you like my work! ^_^ I hope I continue to meet your standards!
Faust: Because… I’m new? ^_^;;; I’m hoping that comment means that you actually like my stories even a liiiiittle bit…
Nemo Nunca: Very, very flattered – I can’t help but think that you’re giving far too much praise for too little offered. But thank you very much. Your review was the main reason I had the motivation to keep writing and more importantly publish the next chapter. So this one is dedicated to you, from the ‘rock star idol’ who just found out people actually like my stuff!
To the rest of my readers, I am extremely sorry this chapter was so late in coming. I plead writers’ block, classes, the holiday, and a frustration with my inability to reach self-set standards. Here’s my belated Christmas gift – hope you like the last – and final – part to The Meaning of Yearning.
Cheers,
Jade Ai
Thoughts - Unless they're only one-word-ers, in which case the words are simply emphasized for effect.
---0~0~0---
”At the innermost core of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for union with one’s lost self.”
- Brendan Francis
---0~0~0---
“I don’t have the time, Derek! Alex is going to – “ Drake, panicked, abruptly reminded of what he was doing, shot up and made for the door.
The open door.
It was too late.
Alex had gotten away.
---0~0~0---
Alex ran blindly, wildly down the street, dodging and bumping through the passers-by and strollers with no regard for their startled curses and insults directed at his clumsiness.
His duffel was clenched tightly in his hand, hitting his right leg as he ran, ran, ran – ran away from the club, from the street, from the one man who made him think he had found someone who had seen him for all he was and had accepted him entirely. Who made him think that he was worth something to at least one person in the world, with all his faults and doubts and insecurities. Who made him think that finally, finally, the world was giving him a break and that there really was a benevolent being who watched over the welfare of the human race, and made sure that punishment and reward was not dealt out too harshly, with too big of an embittering difference.
Apparently, even benevolent beings had a limit.
And Alex was it.
The boy had no idea how long he had been running before he finally stopped, heart pounding, body trembling with the adrenalin rush, knees almost bucking in exhaustion.
Glancing up, weary brown eyes stared at the surroundings for almost a full minute before he finally registered where he was. An incredulous laugh bubbled in his throat and was about to release itself when suddenly the strain of both his recent activity and the too-large mouthful of air to fill his starved lungs caught up with him, making him double over with the explosive force of his coughing. His eyes leaked tears as he fell, back landing harshly against the rough bark of a nearby tree as his lungs continued to try to exit his body through his throat, hands coming up in a futile effort to try to contain the violent hacking.
He did not know how long he sat there, trying to control himself. Neither did he know exactly when the coughing turned into little, unstoppable hitches of breath, and the small droplets in the corner of his eyes into tears.
As he broke down into sobs, keening for the gaping loss he felt even more sharply than the biting gale of icy wind that even now blew about him, tugging at his clothes and body, all he knew was that for the first time in his life, he was glad he was alone.
---0~0~0---
“Bloody, fucking, thrice be-damned buggering hell!” Drake spat as he turned away from the doorway after long moments of staring fruitlessly out of the club’s back entrance in hopes of spotting a thin, still-fleeing figure.
“Language, Drakey-dear, really!” Tutted the effeminate dancer still lying on the floor, except his sprawled form now seemed intentionally embarrassing in its attempt to appear ‘unintentionally’ seductive and feminine, as opposed to just embarrassing. “What on earth has got you speaking so, so crudely, anyway?”
“Alex. Left.” Was all that Drake managed to bite out, too furious to elaborate.
“Oh.” That and the words following were decidedly cool. “That what that fussy display was all about?”
Drake turned around slowly, staring incredulously at the other dancer. “And what exactly do you mean by ‘fussy display’? Alex left!”
“So you had some love-trouble and your little catamite ran away in a hissy fit. So what?” ‘Delilah’ sniffed derogatorily. “It’s not like I care that much about him.”
“Alex left. Upset.” Drake spoke deliberately, English accent never quite so clear as before. “He most likely will not be coming back. And all you can say in response is that you ‘don’t care that much about him?!’”
“Well it’s not as though his leaving does me nor the club any harm. He won’t tarnish the club’s good name with his terrible, artless performances, for one thing, and my audience can finally be allowed to appreciate higher forms of art, like mine, for another.” Delilah turned his head away, haughtily tilting his nose in the air and closing his eyes for good effect. “That his being gone is permanent is only an added bonus.”
A look of confusion flitted across the heavily painted face when the expected retort never came, replaced by a smug, satisfied smile when the dancer heard retreating footsteps. Finally. He had finally gotten one over his uppity fellow dancer who refused to respond to his advances, and the boy was gone! Why, this was the perfect time to celebrate by attempting to seduce Drake while he was obviously in a very vulnerable moment! All he had to do was get that slinky little red negligee that he used only for ‘special’ occasions, and –
SPLASH!!!
Drake walked away, bucket in hand, a smile of dark smugness on his face as he left the indignant transvestite sputtering incoherently and dripping dirty mop water on the floor.
He even felt mildly better enough to give an acknowledging nod to several of the other dancers’ and backstage assistants laughing whoops of approval, even if he didn’t stop moving as he left to go get changed.
As satisfying as that had been, he had to go find Alex.
---0~0~0---
Adrian tiptoed silently out of the master bedroom, just as silently closing the door behind him and descending the staircase.
He had finally managed to get his exhausted husband to agree to try to rest for a few hours – as long as he promised to wake him up the ‘very second he gets home, Adrian, or else Alex won’t be the only one in trouble!’ – and even now Dave was currently softly snoring away, overcome by fatigue and asleep before his head had even reached the pillow.
The martial arts teacher shook his head wearily. He was tired himself and wanted to go to bed. But unlike Dave who couldn’t tolerate both exhaustion and worry in any combination very well, Adrian was more used to keeping odd hours when necessary as a result of his training.
Besides, no matter what he had said to convince his husband, there was no way that he himself could sleep while he still worried for Alex.
It was already nearing dawn and the boy still hadn’t come back. To make things worse, it had started to rain a few minutes before his husband fell asleep.
So the man ghosted along the house, straightening things up and putting the kitchen back in order in his typically quiet manner.
Uneaten food was placed in Tupperware and neatly stored in the fridge. Dishes were cleaned, washed, and set on the drying rack, and the kitchen table was carefully wiped down, with the cleaning rag hung on the metal bar attached to the wall near the sink. Small things like loose papers were neatly stacked, books put back on their proper shelves, and pillows in the living room were straightened. Windows on both floors were locked – even in the bathroom – and were tested a few times to make sure.
The martial artist stood in the hallway, surveying that the house was in order with one last glance.
A few minutes later found Adrian shrugging on his jacket, cell phone and key in his pocket as he jogged down the sidewalk away from the secured house.
He had left a note – without waking said husband up – on his husband’s side table in the bedroom in case Dave woke up and worried about where he was.
Now he had to go find Alex.
---0~0~0---
Adrian had been jogging for barely a few minutes when he found Alex.
It wasn’t easy. The boy was curled up to the side of the road, almost entirely hidden by a bush. It didn’t help that the light rain had quickly gotten heavier, obstructing Adrian’s vision.
If it weren’t for the fact that he had noticed a duffle bag and the top of one rubber shoe poking oddly out of the side of the bush and jogged closer to check – it could have been someone hurt who needed help – he might never have seen the boy at all.
In almost no time Adrian had reached the boy’s side and wrapped him with his own jacket, worriedly asking the soaked boy if he was all right.
The boy didn’t react. Blank brown eyes, half lidded, stared right through Adrian as though the man wasn’t even there.
He cradled the boy in his arms, shielding him from most of the rain with his body as he started calling Alex’s name, worry rising by a couple of hundred notches higher at the complete lack of response.
With mounting desperation he called the boy’s name until he was almost yelling. He had almost given up and was ready to rush the boy to the hospital when a slight sound caught his ears, even through the pounding rain.
“…’drian…? …’szat you?”
“Alex!” A relief so intense it nearly hurt filled Adrian’s voice as he hugged the boy close to him, squeezing him tightly for a moment. Then he suddenly loosened his grip as he demanded, looking at the boy, “Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
It felt almost like eternity before he caught Alex’s response. “…fine… ‘m cold…”
The worry returned at the faint voice. “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll get you home and in a warm bed in no time.” Adrian reassured the boy as he lifted him in his arms. “You’re safe.”
“…safe? ‘m safe…?” Came the muzzily spoken words Adrian almost had to bend to hear. “Never safe… Hurt…”
“You’re hurt?! Where?? Alex!!”
But the boy didn’t respond. Alex had lost consciousness.
“Damn it!” Came the quietly muttered obscenity as Adrian stood up, hefting the boy in his arms, turning towards the direction of the house. He was about to go when a solid grip on his shoulder stopped him.
“And where do you think you’re taking him?” Came the demanding question in a decidedly unfamiliar English accent.
Adrian looked around to see a tall, blonde man with vivid green eyes. And was taken aback.
Why on earth was a complete stranger glaring at him? And pulling demandingly at the precious bundle in his arms?!
“I am taking him home. I do not know who you are, so I would suggest for you keep out of what is very obviously none of your business.” Were the firm reply in crisp, lightly accented english.
“This is my business. The boy you’re holding there is a friend of mine, and I have a right to know where you’re taking him when you obviously have no relation to him!”
“As I have never heard of you before, I highly doubt your words. I am leaving.” Adrian turned around to go, and was once again stopped by the grip to his shoulder.
“Look.” The martial arts teacher almost snarled, annoyance edged with uncharacteristic anger as he once again faced the stranger. “It’s late, cold and raining, and neither I nor Alex can spare my devoting the time needed to argue with you and for what reasons you could possibly have to keep me from giving him the proper care he needs at home!”
The other man had opened his mouth in the middle of Adrian’s heated words to interrupt, but suddenly closed it and studied him for a moment. Then, after what apparently was a moment of hesitation, spoke in a quieter tone. “My name is Drake. I’m Alex’s friend and coworker. I saw him run out a couple of hours ago and, out of worry, tried to find him. Take him home tonight, but… tell him when he wakes up that I want to talk to him.” The last sentence was an unarguable statement, with an undertone of warning should it be kept from following through. “There are some things I need to explain to him – things that I said – that I think he misunderstood before.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance I am certain it is not.” Was Adrian’s extremely unimpressed reply. “If you are, indeed, his coworker and friend then you understand why it is of utmost importance that I return home immediately and care for Alex. It is of no concern to me what you need or need not do, nor explain.” At that, the oriental turned as if to go, but at the last moment hesitated as he caught sight of the other man’s utterly defeated stance.
“I will… mention your name to Alex.” Drake’s head jerked up in surprise at the unexpected concession. A glare stopped the English man from speaking his thanks.
“Know that I do not do this for your sake, but his, should he truly consider you a friend.” Adrian continued firmly. “But also know that, should this ‘misunderstanding’ be the cause of his suddenly incapacitated state, then you should find something else to occupy your time.” Blue eyes abruptly darkened with fury and threat even as Adrian’s tone hardened. “Because by the imperial gods in heaven I swear that not only will I hunt you down for hurting him once, I vow that I will defy even them before you ever get the chance to hurt him again.”
Then, faster than Drake could even follow with his eyes the other man had run into the rain, Alex in his arms.
---0~0~0---
Review Responses:
Ruka: Thanks for the compliment! ^_^ I was worried about the slow pace of the story, so it’s great that you like it so far! Hope I continue to keep your interest!
Aleks: Thank you! I wasn’t sure the prologue conveyed everything I meant it to, so it’s great to know that you like it the way it is. ^_^
Oralain: Thank you! You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that! There’s nothing as satisfying as knowing that readers are able to emphasize with the characters in the work. Thanks for reading – and I hope you keep doing so!
Yami Akurei: I am extremely grateful for the continued interest and I sincerely apologize if I made you feel like I was pressuring you for reviews. It’s just that I’m new at writing, so I really want to know if I’m doing well or if I’ve made a horrible blunder at one point. But it’s great to know that you like my work! ^_^ I hope I continue to meet your standards!
Faust: Because… I’m new? ^_^;;; I’m hoping that comment means that you actually like my stories even a liiiiittle bit…
Nemo Nunca: Very, very flattered – I can’t help but think that you’re giving far too much praise for too little offered. But thank you very much. Your review was the main reason I had the motivation to keep writing and more importantly publish the next chapter. So this one is dedicated to you, from the ‘rock star idol’ who just found out people actually like my stuff!
To the rest of my readers, I am extremely sorry this chapter was so late in coming. I plead writers’ block, classes, the holiday, and a frustration with my inability to reach self-set standards. Here’s my belated Christmas gift – hope you like the last – and final – part to The Meaning of Yearning.
Cheers,
Jade Ai