Blitz

 

Julien sat on the small steps at the entry of the ateliere/gallery that housed his works. For two more days.

Not being very out into the world kind of person, he sat the days waiting in quietness, catching up on readings he should have finished years ago. Somehow, reading when not obligated went smoother and with a pleasant bond.

One a day had been the standard for visitors. And, ignoring a small throb of frustration, he enjoyed the calm pace. This way each one had words and smiles privately for him.

He had finished school with this boring event.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Julien flipped through the book he presently delighted in. a book meant as a present for someone, but never successfully delivered. A photo close to the middle caught his admiration every time. A young man sentenced to death, with such calmness and beauty on his face that it sent shivers all around Julien’s skin. He had the fantasy of that man, free from his context, entering his life. He sighed. Images had that effect on him. didn’t they on everyone?

A few more hours and there would be only one more day left of waiting.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

He opened the lock on the exhibition as usual. His last day, the last day of exhibition for his photographic diary. So few people saw it now that it was off the internet. Julien never thought that was a bad thing.

He greeted and elderly man. A friend’s father with an intimate past in photography. Half an hour. That was the time it took to read his diary.

The man’s praising words cascaded onto Julien without pretense. His smile and lock of eyes made up for his lack of words. Thankfulness expressed silently with his body.

Julien moved around to lock up. Tomorrow he had to take them home. No more visitors.

A young man stormed through the double doors, eyes looking around for Julien’s presence.

“I’m James” His hand reached for Julien’s, shaking it without waiting for his compliance. Julien’s body mechanically allowed the movement. The young man, James, begun absorbing Julien’s works.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

James had his striking ginger hair shaved at the back, raised at the front in a ruffled curly mess. Glittering blue eyes traveled along Julien’s diary. Instinctively, Julien came behind him, taking in the man’s details with a ferocious speed. His chest was larger by three inches, his arms reached well beyond James’s, he was entirely dominant.

James cleared his throat slightly, sensing the heat from Julien’s very close body. Even tough he was delighted. M. had been right to shove him in at the last minute. He was dazed by Julien, dazed by his works, and curious to the bone. He thought it was time for silly questions to spark a conversation different from the bodily one.

“Is this you in every shot?”

“In each and every one”. Julien’s words traveled warmly over the back of his neck.  James couldn’t help his ears twitching and heating up.

“it’s stupid, but thank you for showing this.” James turned to face him, blue eyes meeting warm, deep hazel  ones.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....

James helped him pack up the next day. He had attached himself physically to Julien over the last day.

Even tough julien ached for the fulfilment  of his attraction, he let James free, thinking of him as the one butterfly a collector searches for but when in its presence decides to deny himself, treasuring the perfect beauty that came from its freedom.

James created order in the stack of pilled photos. It was the thing he could do without proclaiming a different type of relationship. All he could do was care for him. it was an explosion of his world, everything irrelevant up to the moment he had seen Julien through the high glass windows of the gallery.

After the loading came the much awaited unloading at Julien’s place. A two roomed square house, with plants climbing up the walls, outside and inside.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“make me part of your diary”. James sunk down on Julien, feeling every inch going right into his, racing with accelerated blood, heart. Julien tasted blood in his mouth from biting himself at the sight. Dark lust was growing in both men’s eyes.

“shut up now” the only words he said to James, leaving communication only to their entwining bodies, panting breaths and melting flesh.

Climax surged in both, barely minutes apart. Julien had obtained his prized catch. As unsure as James had been with everything in his life up till Julien, he closed his eyes in the acceptance of this new home.