Silver Spoon

"Who's Trevor to you?"

How many minutes had passed since he asked that? Five? Ten? Twenty four hours? However many it was, Russell only knew that the ghastly silence that settled into the room was absorbing the air from his lungs. The eerie ambiance, that even held Cole's fingers from moving across the keyboard.

Cole drank in a breath, turned in his chair and looked Russell dead in his spectacled eyes. "Why?"

And his breath was back.

"At our meeting, Trevor said things..."

"Why?" Cole spat, with all the cold indifference of a seasoned detective. Without his glasses on, his violet orbs were capable of producing large amounts of malice.

"Because---"

"That was a business meeting. Why would the name of a secretary even come up?" Cole rose from his chair and stalked toward Russell, the blond retreating back to his office where he was shut in by the death eyed raven.

"Because---he..." Russell drew in a shaky breath. "He...put a spy cam in my car..."

"So what---oh shit..." Cole took a moment to figure exactly what Russell meant.

"Yeah...now he's got me by the balls."

"I'm sorry to be bad for business..."

"Like I give a damn about that!" Russell snapped. "Don't try to take all the blame yourself, I was there to. And I'd do it again, even know the camera was there. What bothers me, are the things he said about you! Did you guys date?"

"Yeah."

"Don't try to lie to----Wait...what?" Russell was taken aback by Cole's blunt honesty.

"Yeah, we dated. I dropped out of college when I was nineteen, had no where to go and he took me in. I tried to convince myself that I loved him because he could provide me with a hot meal, but I couldn't hold it anymore. So, I broke up with him a year ago and took a job here."

"And...that's it? It's been a year?"

"Yes. That's it."

"So, I supposed planting spy cams in my car is a hobby?"

"Some people make model airplanes, but some---"

"Cole!"

"Don't yell at me, Russell! Look, Trevor's just like a period, he pops up once a month, I get pissed off and bleed a little, and then he leaves until the next month. Unfortunately, I don't think birth control can take care of him."

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have done something."

"What? Called him out to the playground at recess and fought him until the teacher broke you two up?" Cole scoffed. "It's my problem. I can deal with it."

"I'm not saying you can't, dumbass."

"Russell, you're skating on thin---"

"No, Cole. You're skating on thin ice." Russell sprang forward, grabbed Cole's wrist and pulled the raven close. "I don't care about being blackmailed. I don't care if the company finds out I'm crazy for you. I do care that you can't trust me enough to come to me with a problem."

"We haven't been dating that long. And I use the term dating liberally."

"Why do you have to be so cynical all the time? Cole, let me help you, like you helped me when you got me tested."

"Because it's none of your fucking business." Cole pulled his wrist out of Russell's hand. "Stop acting like you're entitled to know every little detail of my life."

"Cole, I want to help you." Russell abandon holding Cole's wrist and pulled the secretary to his chest, resting his head on the smaller man's head, smelling the flowery aroma of his ebony locks. "I ruined my trust with you once, and I want to earn it back. Please..."

"Just let this run it's course." Cole sighed as he sank deeper into Russell's body.

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes. And....I'm...sorry you got involved with this mess."

"Don't be sorry." Russell pulled himself away from Cole, and captured his lips with a chaste kiss. "You want to stay at my place tonight? My punishment and all..."

"That's off. I'm kind of tired, so I think I'll just go home and get some sleep."

"Oh...okay..." Russell's eyes dimmed.

Cole sighed, stepped forward and pushed his lips to Russell's in the same manner the blond had just moments prior. "It's got nothing to do with you. Thank you, Russell, for being patient with me."

Blushing, and floating on cloud nine, Russell embraced Cole again. After their long embrace, Cole and Russell went to the parking garage together, Russell making continual grabs at Cole's hand, only to be slapped away.

They kissed again, and parted to their respective locations.

Cole hailed a taxi, and gave his destination. The taxi made way, taking the long way as most cabbies did, until it halted at the uptown Green Vineyard estates. Long, gated houses with angel relief fountains sprinkling water across vibrant green lawns. No, it wasn't Cole's place, he didn't make enough in a year to make a month's payment.

This was Trevor's place of stay.

He followed the stone steps across to the porch hanging over the entry way. He approached the door and began banging on the door with his fist. "Trevor! Open the hell up!" He yelled. Yes, there was a door bell, but it was far more satisfying to make a scene.

Trevor opened the door, wearing a loose bathrobe like some porn star. Cole's fist lunged out, striking Trevor's face in mid knock.

"Oof." Trevor reeled back slightly.

"That was an accident." Cole moved into the house, brushing Trevor aside and shutting the door behind him. Once the door clicked, Cole balled his fist and swung it to a brutal collision with Trevor's face, sending the older man tumbling to the floor. "That wasn't an accident."

Trevor nursed his jaw. "Is there some reason for that?"

"You're a bastard. You're a voyeur. You're a vain asshole. You're a stalker. You make me miserable. You make me sick. You're the topic of more than one trip to the psychiatrist. Why don't you just pick one?"

"They say people who love each other fight." Trevor rose and tipped Cole's chin. "We both know why you came here tonight."

"Good." Cole jerked away and braced himself. "It'll save me explaining why I'm kicking you ass!" Cole swung again, only to have his punch stopped by Trevor's rather powerful body.

"I can be kinky."

"You should have never brought Russell into this! He has nothing to do with your insanity!"

"Russell, you mean your boss? My, my, such a beautiful thing becoming a slut. Will you just give yourself to anyone with a few dollars in there pocket?"

"Go fuck yourself! I never asked him for anything!"

"Such a slut. You need discipline." Trevor snapped his wrist and grabbed Cole's arm and tugged the raven close. "You slept with me for my money, now you're going for the Taylor fortune. Little fucking gold digging tramp. You're only redeeming quality is that beautiful face."

"Let me go! And stay the hell away from Russell---" And then Cole's world turned white as Trevor struck him.

Cole stumbled backwards, hand stroking his reddened cheek. "You bastar--" Trevor struck him in the stomach, knocking the breath from his lungs.

"Be quiet. You came here, you wanted this to happen." Trevor pushed Cole to the wall and pinned his body tight. "So just shut the fuck up and take what you want."

Russell merrily moved around his house, a bowl of instant macaroni in one hand, a fork in the other as he hummed and ate the macaroni. Cole had willingly kissed him, smiled, ended his punishment, and would likely come to his house tommorrow for a night of hot, smokey, naughty, and completely nasty sex. The blackmail deal was so small now, there were bigger things at hand. Like, Cole, naked and begging for him.

As his high continued to increase with each bite of cheesy noodles, his cell phone added to his aimless dancing with music filling the air. "Mmm, mm, mmm." Russell danced toward the phone, cheesy bites with each step until he looked at the caller I.D.

It was Cole! Had Russell's luck peaked? Russell answered with a sultry, "Hello sweetie."

"R-Russell...I...I didn't know who else to call..." Short breathes gusted over the phone, immediately alarming Russell.

"Cole!? Cole what's wrong?" Russell forgot the bowl in his hand and allowed it to splatter to the ground.

"I--I need you to come pick me up...I'm in an alley off West Oak...Russell....I can't move." The phone went silent.

"Cole! Just wait there, I'll be there in two seconds!!!" Russell dropped his phone, neverminding the fact he was speeding out of his house in nothing but a tank top and boxers. He ran down the stairs, the elevator would waist too much time, out of the apartment to his Lamborghini in the parking garage. He wasted no time in speeding away from the parking garage down the many streets to West Oak, the "rich bastard" suites.

Russell parked, kept the engine running and the lights on to cast on the dim streets. A bitter night chill nipped his bare body, his feet trembling on the cold concrete of the sidewalk. He scanned the alleyways of the buildings, blue orbs continually scanning the dark hollows between buildings. They fell on something.

A dark shadowed mass, huddled against the wall. Russell inched closer, his eyes adjusting to the dark alleyway, the figure gaining more mass with each inch closer. It was Cole, bloodied, bruised, and slumped against the the wall with his eyes shut and his cell phone singing it's low battery in his limp hand.

"Cole!" Russell ran forward, heart racing as he feared the worst. He shook Cole lightly. "Cole, wake up! Wake up!"

"R...uss...ell..." Cole stirred awake, violet eyes dim with life.

"Cole!!! Cole, don't fall back to sleep, okay?! Hold on, I'll get you to the hospital!"

"Okay...."

Russell lifted Cole up with ease, took the smaller man into his arms and raced back to his car. He set Cole in the front seat, continually checking to see if he stayed awake while he rushed to the drivers seat. Thank god for sports cars, Russell got his money's worth as he raced toward the hospital with the same speed he'd went to West Oak. Cutting corners, running stop signs and red lights alike.

To the multi storied building, Russell again patting Cole's face to awaken the little raven, before scooping him up in his arms, ignoring his unlocked car as he ran into the hospital, Cole's consciousness rapidly waning in his arms.

"Stay awake!!!" Russell cried out again.

Russell barreled into the hospital, barely allowing the doors time to open, stumbling forward and crying out for any doctor who could hear him to help him.

A few nurses rushed forward, gasping over the bloody body in Russell's arms, before taking a stretcher and guiding the raven to the emergency room, Russell following before he was promptly shut out by an apologetic nurse.

Russell went blank, unsure of how long he spent standing in the narrow, white lighted hallway, staring at the crimson neon lights reading "Operation in Progress." Fatigue catching up to him, Russell turned his eyes to a room not far away, magazines and sofa's laying out for weary acquiantances of people rushed into the ER in the middle of the night.

On tired legs, Russell stumbled into the room and sank into a sofa. He passed a weak nod to the elderly lady, who seemed none to pleased with the fact that there was a man half-dressed in her presence. Understanding though, he was in boxers and a v-neck t-shirt, whose white threading was now rather deep red with Cole's blood.

"Sup?" Russell sighed and sank back into his chair.

Hours ticked by on the clock, Russell's foot tapping the foot, his heart racing as his mind went to the worst places it could, and taunted Russell with images of a doctor tearing off his mask and sadly shaking his head. Or a nurse, sobbingly embracing him and telling him that Cole didn't make it through the surgery. Or, more cliched yet, a doctor coming out and punching a wall, cursing whatever god he happened to believe in for human frailty.

As the darkness of the night deepened, Russell's consciousness waning as the adrenaline flowed out of his body, the doctor finally re-emerged to the waiting room. "Is there anyone here acquianted with the young black haired man, brought in horribly beaten?"

Russell sprung from his chair. "Me."

"Relationship to the patient?" The doctor asked as Russell rushed him out of the waiting room into the hallway.

"He's my boyfriend!" Cole rambled out.

The doctor paused, Russell seeing the wheels of prejudice spinning in his mind before disregarding it and remembering his position. "Do you know any next of kin?"

Having never actually asked before, Russell realized that Cole didn't actually talk about his family, at all. "None that I know of, but I can handle any bills."

Another pause, Russell readying to break the doctor in half if he chose to delay any longer. The doctor finally spoke. "He's suffered a few rib breaks, a concusion, and he shows signs of rape. Do you have any idea what may have--?"

"I don't." Russell snapped. He didn't like what he assumed the doctor was accusing him of.

"You under stand that with this situation, I'm obligated to inform the police."

"Please do, it'll save me a phone call." Russell bit out through his frustration. "Can I see him?"

"He's recovering, I can't really..."

"Please!!! I'll pay you, whatever, please, just let me go in and see him!"

His third pause, the doctors dim eyes settling into Russell's face, trying their hardest to read Russell's intentions. The doctor smiled. "Alright, just keep your noise down and try not to wake him up."

"Thank you!" Russell shook the doctors hand and bolted to the recovery rooms through the silver double doors. He made his way down the long, eerie stretch of corridor, searching the rooms of various sick or injured patients lying silently in their beds.

And then, there was Cole's room. Small, as he appeared laying in the bed. White blanket covering his frail body, black locks falling over white bandaged wrapped around his forehead. He looked every bit the snow white, in his anesthesia induced sleep.

Silently, Russell slipped into the room and sat on a small metal stool beside Cole's bed, eye's trembling as he looked on at Cole's beaten body. "Cole..." Russell whispered, taking Cole's hand into his own, and lying his head on the raven's lap. "...You're going to be okay."

Russell shut his eyes, squeezing Cole's hand tight, and drifted to deep sleep.

"Wake up, dumbass." The words rang out through the darkness. A voice, so familiar.

"....Nnn, Cole?"

"No, it's Mother Teresa. Wake up! You're hurting me!"

"Cole, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"If you don't want to hurt me, then get up, you're on my ribs!"

Russell's eyes snapped open, his head resting on Cole's stomach as he gazed up to the angry violet depth's baring down on him. "Cole you're..."

"YES! I'm okay, now get off my ribs, it hurt---"

"COLE!!!" Russell wrapped his arms around Cole's neck, never minding the shrills of pain the little raven squealed. "You're alright, you're alright, you're alright!!!!"

"Are you crying?"

Russell pulled away and wiped his cheeks, finding moisture flowing down his face. "Haha, I guess so."

"So lame, and why are you dressed like that?" Cole asked, noting the lack of clothing Russell had on. As cynical as always, Russell was almost happy to hear Cole's snide words.

"Because, I thought I looked sexy in a tank top and underwear. Don't you think so?" Russell sat on the foot of the bed, and like the night before, he took Cole's hand into his own. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm a little sore...but I guess I'm fine."

"Who did this to you!?"

"Don't know, I was attacked in an alleyway."

"Was it Trevor?"

"Drop it, I need my rest." Cole sank down into the bed, pulling the covers comfortingly close.

"Cole, please, don't let him get away with this. We can go to the police and--"

"I don't want to!" Cole spat out.

"Cole..." Russell climbed into the bed, and despite the narrow width to work with, he cuddled in close to the raven. "If you don't want to....I guess that's fine."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me, I'm not happy---"

"I didn't mean about dropping the whole deal. I meant about coming for me. And, bringing me to the hospital in the middle of the night. Thank you." Cole placed his lips to Russell's, turning the blond's world white with the most loving of kisses.

"Cole..." Was all Russell could whisper as their lips broke.

Cole wrapped his arms around Russell, and draped the covers over their bodies snuggled close for warmth. "Wanna watch some crappy hospital cable?"

"I'd rather get another kiss, but T.V it is."

"And here I thought we could make out while watching TV. At least until the doctor shows up." Cole pulled Russell taut against him, planting another kiss on Russell's lips.

"You're acting weird, Cole." Russell returned the kiss.

"I guess lying half dead and delirious in that alleyway made me realize something." Cole pulled Russell closer. "Lying there, thinking I was gonna die, bleeding from every pour on my body, I really only thought of one thing. The only person in this world I felt like I could trust to come and get me, regardless of everything else."

"...Cole...I..."

"You...Russell. I...really...really like you. And...I'm sorry I ever judged you, you're a really good guy." Cole's cheeks stained with the faintest shade of crimson.

Russell took Cole's face into his hands and pressed his lips hard to Cole's. Cole opened his mouth, Russell swallowing a sweet moan as he slipped his tongue inside and coiled it around Cole's slippery muscle. Cole scoped his hand down Russell's stomach, parting to nibble Russell's lower lip, and planting a wet kiss on his blond's lips.

"Cole, you must be delirious with fever or something." Russell deadpanned as nuzzled Cole, eyes dim as buried his face into Cole's neck.

"Must be. You're ruining a perfectly good moment."

"Sorry, honey bear." Russell grabbed the remote off the table and pulled Cole close, flicking through the channels, before finally adding. "Aren't you gonna scold me for calling you a cute name in public?"

"No, nobody's around. Cut it out when the doctor comes in."

Smiling, and planting a soft peck on Cole's cheek Russell snuggled in close to Cole, holding the fragile raven preciously.

"My, my, my..." A voice alarmed from the door of the small room. Cole and Russell both glanced upward, eyes falling on the tall figure in the doorway, dark eyes almost soft in their false sincerity, Trevor. "I came as soon as I heard, Cole, are you alright?"

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Delayed update = Bad. I've been VERY sick these last couple of days, and have been trying my hardest just to attend my classes. Sorry to all my wonderful readers, I'm feeling much better now, but I sort of wrote this chapter under delirium. Sooo, I can't guarantee how good it is. Well, enjoy my newest installment, and stick around for next chapter, laters!"