4 comments/ 26388 views/ 33 favorites Blue Ch. 01 By: Danae72 If anyone from Blue Evan's hometown saw the nineteen-year-old on his knees in front of a half-naked man, they wouldn't believe their eyes. He had often heard himself described as quiet and polite. Klutzy and accident-prone for sure, but most people tried to over-look that unless he had a cast or some stitches. Everyone knew that he tried his best to be extra good, to make up for his other lacks. No, they would look and be sure it was just someone who resembled their Blue. Especially since his startling copper hair, shared with the other members of his family, was dyed blue to match his name. "Oh, God, yeah Blue, suck me hard." Blue gripped the hips of the man in front of him and sucked harder on the cock in his mouth. Hands wove themselves into his blue hair and held tightly. Blue opened his throat and silently encouraged the man to move, to fuck his mouth however he wanted. It was a little difficult for him but this wouldn't last much longer, so he just moaned and hummed around the hard flesh. "I love your fucking sexy mouth, Blue. Oh damn, I'm gonna blow. You're so good. Fuck, fuck, FUCK!" Just when the man started to come, Blue sat back and pulled off the condom to let the cream hit his face, one hand moving down to milk the cock dry. "That was fucking amazing." "Glad you enjoyed it, Harry," Blue purred, looking up through his lashes. It didn't take much for him to play up to Harry, if it got him what he wanted. "It's always a pleasure to do you, you're so enthusiastic." Harry laughed and strode over to the sink to get a wet cloth for Blue. Once he was tidy, the two men returned to the front room where Blue slid into one of the chairs. He was here to get his hair done in a different shade of blue. He wasn't due to be paid for two days and his money was tight, so this was an arrangement he had with Harry. For a blowjob, he could get his hair done and not have to pay. There were a few places around town, for different things, where he had the same arrangement. Sure, it was one step removed from being a whore, but an important step so far as Blue was concerned. The only thing he offered was his mouth and he didn't accept actual money. It was nothing more than self-deception, but it allowed him to keep his self-respect in his own mind. Others likely wouldn't see it the same way. A glance out the window through the mirror showed a group obviously coming from the nearby library. It bothered Blue that he wouldn't ever attend college. He used to dream of becoming a teacher and working with kids. Now that dream was as dead as his past. Even if he wanted to try and take some classes, he could barely make his rent and buy food, let alone pay for tuition and books. Best to just forget about all that and concentrate on getting through each day as it came. "So, Blue, what are you going to do while Jack closes down the shop to renovate?" "God only knows, V. I've got a place I can stay for a few weeks, but I won't have any cash coming in unless I find some sort of temporary work." Blue looked into V's eyes for a moment, admiring her vivid pink hair with black and white streaks mixed in. Vanessa, or V as she preferred to be called, was as close to a friend as he had. "There is one place that told me maybe, so I'll head back over there tomorrow morning and see what they say." Jack, V's cousin, owned a bookstore and hired Blue as a favour. His hard work, and willingness to work long hours, meant he was still working there nearly three years later. The pay was for shit, but Jack also allowed Blue to stay in the tiny loft above the store. Now, however, Jack wanted to redo the entire interior to maximize space, so Blue had to leave for the weeks it would take for the work to be done. Truth was, Blue didn't have anywhere to stay yet, but he didn't want anyone to know that. V would worry and try to find him a place. That was the last thing he wanted anyway, having to live with someone, share space and stuff. They would probably want to talk and he just didn't need to deal with that. Best to just find some out of the way corner. Thank God it was warm out now that spring had officially arrived. Sleeping in an alley or a park might be uncomfortable in the dead of winter. The new shade of blue V gave him was amazing. It was kind of a royal blue, with a shimmer of lighter blue shot through it. It was very nice. He gave a grin to V, his normal grin that was all for show and didn't reach his eyes. Tomorrow might see him with nowhere to live and no money to buy food, but he would look damned good. The least he could do was try to appear appreciative of her efforts. For twenty minutes he sat there once they were done, drinking coffee and telling jokes. Not once did he feel happy but he still laughed right along with the others, blending in. He wouldn't come back for weeks, when he absolutely needed his hair done again, so he spent his time now, promising to get together soon for drinks. Harry and V knew it was a lie, knew that he would not call or visit, yet they tried and pushed. When he left the salon, Blue walked aimlessly, not sure where he wanted to go. His steps brought him to the library, where he hesitated, wanting to go inside but afraid to. What if he went in, took a book, and loved it? Blue knew he couldn't take the time to start reading and spending time in a library now, because when he went back to work it just wouldn't be possible anymore. If he was living on the street until he could get back to his apartment above the bookstore, how could he have a book and not have it get ruined? Still, he felt the draw of the books. Until he...left home, reading had been a pleasure, a way to forget his problems. There couldn't be anything wrong with going inside and reading in the library. Blue just had to not check out any books. If the librarian said he couldn't spend all his time inside reading, then that would solve the problem. Just when his hand reached out for the door, he frowned and paused. He worked in a fucking bookstore and he never once felt the need to take one of the books and read. Not once. Jack told him as long as he was careful of the books, Blue could read whatever he wanted in the store. If he'd never felt the urge to do it there, why did he feel so compelled to go into the library now? Why did he feel he wouldn't be able to bring a book home, when Jack wouldn't care one way or the other? Uneasiness filled Blue, made him back away from the library entrance and hurry down the sidewalk. Blue knew he couldn't go inside that library until he figured out what the difference was. There had to be something for him to feel so different about the two places. The last time he'd read for pleasure was before his father kicked him out of the house at fifteen. He could still remember hearing his father yell in the hospital room, with Blue resting on his side. His back was too sore and bloody to support any weight, and he couldn't be on his stomach because...his mind shied away from that and he didn't try to remember. The only other time Kevin Evans yelled for any reason was when one of the horses kicked him, and that was only from the pain of the blow, not because he was angry at the horse. That day, Kevin Evans had been furiously angry with his son. The police officer and doctor tried to calm the older man down, but he was too busy accusing his son of inviting the attack. He told Blue that he deserved what he got for being perverted. Blue was told in no uncertain terms that he was no longer welcome at home. When he left the hospital, Blue went to live with a nice couple, John and Amelia Kane. He worked part-time after school to save his money. A year later, with enough money to last a few weeks, Blue wrote a note to his foster parents and took off. He didn't have any destination, only that it be away from home. More than the hour he was, at any rate. Until that day in the hospital, Blue never doubted the love of his parents, even though they had every reason to be exasperated with him. As a young child, when he was about three or so, one of the family dogs knocked Blue over and he hit his head on the corner of the table. He was unconscious for almost two days, had blurry vision for a week, and suffered from post concussive syndrome. Although the doctors insisted that his later problem of being accident-prone wasn't related, Blue's father was sure it was. Blue always had some sort of accident growing up. Hardly a day went by that at least something happened to him. He couldn't help with the dishes because he would break them. It wasn't that it might happen, just when and what. He constantly tripped or banged into things. By the time he was twelve, he'd broken his left leg twice and his right once and that wasn't counting various sprains. Often, after another trip to the hospital, Blue heard his father resignedly tell his mother that he just couldn't get ahead of the hospital bills. It cost more to take care of Blue than all the rest of the family combined, which was something with five other kids. Still, never once did Kevin raise his voice or do more to punish Blue than send him to his room. Most of that stopped by the time he was twelve. The last time he broke his left leg, it wasn't really his fault. His older sister, Rose, didn't want him telling their parents she'd been smoking and tripped him, which made him fall down the stairs and break his leg. Blue's father still said it was his fault and that he was trying to blame Rose. His mother saw the improvement, his teachers saw the improvement, but his father refused to believe it. When he might have been able to have a fairly normal life once his accidents stopped, Blue developed lung problems. If he got upset or stressed, he couldn't breathe properly. That didn't help his father believe that he was well, which only made the problem worse. The doctors told his mother, who brought Blue in on her own, that it was psychosomatic. Blue received a prescription for an inhaler, but neither he nor his mother thought it a good idea to bring that home. So, when the four guys, masked to remain unidentified, caught him and beat him in the old barn, it was the last straw for Blue's father. They accused Blue of being gay and Kevin didn't question that accusation, simply accepted it as fact, and it was the final straw. They didn't tell Kevin in person, of course, only painted stuff on the walls and left a light on so Blue's father would come investigate and find his youngest son. "Aren't you just the prettiest thing, with your nice blue hair?" Blue started from his reverie and looked around, seeing two guys close behind him. He was nearing the industrial section, nearly four blocks away from the park and where he wanted to be. How the hell had he ended up here? Icy fingers tickled his spine and his breath came short. They were bigger than he was by a few inches and more than a few pounds. He remembered them now, they'd come into the shop to look over Harry's inventory of tattoos and piercings he did in the evenings. "Harry said as you give the best head he's ever had. We just want the same treatment you give to him, and maybe a little more." The larger of the men spoke, moving forward. The other one edged around to cut off Blue's escape. "Definitely a little more. I was watching that nice little ass and I'd like a piece of that action." It was a lie. His clothes were loose enough that nobody would be able to see anything about his body. Blue was very careful about things like that. "I'm supposed to meet someone very soon. Just let me go and we'll forget about this." "We'd best make this quick then. Hot little twink like you must be dying to be bent over and fucked hard. My buddy and I might even give you a couple of bucks if you make it worth our while." Fuck, Blue could feel his breath closing off. The smaller of the two men grabbed him from behind. The hands felt like iron bands around his arms as he was forcefully propelled into a nearby darkened alcove. Not again, not again, not again. The chant repeated over and over in his head. He felt his senses shutting down, until the only thing he could do was breathe. But no, not all his senses were gone. He could still hear rough breathing near his ear and the sound of cars. The cars were so far away. Even if they were close, he knew none would stop to help. It was only what he deserved for being who, and what, he was. A new voice sounded from somewhere nearby. Blue was barely aware of being let go, of his pants being down on the ground around his ankles. He still had his underwear on, so at least he wasn't completely exposed. "I've just got to press this one button and the cops will be on their way. Why don't you fellows move on before there's trouble." Blue reached down and pulled his jeans back into place. The newcomer was about as tall as Blue's biggest attacker. This man, however, didn't have the weight in his gut. No, he was muscular through his shoulders and chest. He scared Blue more than the two who attacked him did, in some way. Carefully Blue walked until he was in the middle of the street, watching the trio warily. Maybe they were all in this together, playing a game with him. Give him the hope he might escape only to drag him back in. He couldn't trust anybody, he knew that. Still, he would wait, now that he was far enough away from them that he could run if he needed to. He was pretty fast, if it wasn't for too long a distance. No, he couldn't run. His scare meant that Blue couldn't breathe properly. Every breath he managed to draw in burned in his chest and soon spots danced in front of his eyes. The two finally left, casting baleful glances at the one who ruined their fun. Blue backed up a step, even though his rescuer didn't move after turning his attention over. "Are you all right?" Unlike before, the voice was soft and tentative. It didn't fool Blue for a minute. "My name is Harley. Harley Barlow." "I'm fine. Leave me alone and I'll just be on my way. I-I've got someone waiting for me." The expression on Harley's face showed just what he thought of that ridiculous statement. He didn't say anything about it though. "Good. That's good. How about I just walk with you, to make sure those guys don't come back." "They won't. I don't need you." Blue knew he should thank the man, Harley, but it made his stomach twist and his mouth feel sour. "Thanks for your help, but I can manage just fine on my own." He turned and walked away, refusing to look back to make sure he wasn't being followed. As soon as he reached the corner, short of breath or not, Blue ran towards the park. Once there, he found a place he would be hidden from casual view and huddled down. It took a long time before his breathing eased back to normal and he drifted off into uncomfortable sleep. Tomorrow he would go get his backpack with his clothes and other necessary items, but tonight, Blue just wanted to sleep and forget. ++++++ Harley left the bar and his friends to walk home. He hadn't drunk that much, knew he would drink much, but wasn't in the mood for driving or taking a cab. Jess and Dave, his best friends, wanted him to go dancing with them, and they were less and less willing to accept his excuses. They didn't understand that he didn't particularly like going to the clubs and dancing with strangers who were mainly only after one thing. If he was honest, there were probably others out who were searching for something real, searching for that one person who would understand and accept them as they were. So far, he'd never encountered that kind of person who was compatible with him. Jess said he was too picky, while Dave said he needed to get laid. If all he wanted were to get laid for a night, he could find that without going to a club. It took a moment before he heard the voices coming from a nearby alley. "I'm trying to get some sleep here, man. Fuck off." "Come on, a quick blowjob and I'll give you enough for a room somewhere. You know you want that more than sleeping out here in the dirt." "No. Go about three blocks that way and you'll find all the rent boys you want." There was a low thud and a cry of pain, which made Harley go into the alley rather than pass by. "If I wanted a rent boy, I'd go find one. They might have diseases, you probably don't." A pot-bellied guy in a suit was holding up a slighter figure. It looked like the other had been stretched out on the ground before being lifted up by his hair. Blue hair. Shit, the kid had to have the worst luck. Harley cleared his throat loudly and watched as both looked in his direction. He let himself smile, when all he wanted to do was snarl and growl. That was so far from his usual behaviour that Harley thought it best not to indulge. He wasn't some sort of animal, after all. "I distinctly heard the kid say no at least twice. Be a sport and be on your way. It's not worth the aggravation, is it now?" Harley waited until he was alone with the kid, then crouched down, not moving closer for the moment. It was two weeks since their first encounter, and already he could see that he'd probably missed more than one meal. The clothes were clean enough, different from what he'd seen that night. Wow, strange that he actually remembered what the kid wore for that brief moment they'd been in each other's company. "What?" The question startled Harley out of his musings. "You waiting for a medal or something? Like I said before, I would have managed just fine on my own." "I have a thing for helping the unappreciative," he answered with a grin. "Do you think I could have your name? In case you don't remember, mine's Harley." "Harley Barlow, I remember. Mine, if you can't guess it, is Blue. And yes, that is my real name." Harley took a chance and moved over to where Blue was sitting on the ground and extended a hand. "Pleased to meet you, Blue. Are you new in town?" "Nope, I've lived here for three years now. I do have a place to live, over the Jack Sprat Bookshop, but Jack's renovating and there are no more stairs to get up to my place. It's less hassle just to stay out here than try and share a place with someone. I don't do sharing very well. I found a temporary place to work, but it isn't enough to rent a room or anything" Blue shifted and hissed in pain, his hand pressing against his side. Apparently, Mr. Blowjob kicked him when he didn't get what he wanted. After asking for permission, Harley felt along Blue's ribs. There were no breaks. He would have felt them, too, since each rib stood out. It pained Harley that this kid, who didn't look more than seventeen or eighteen, was sleeping outside, getting propositioned and attacked and missing meals. It was insane, but he found himself offering his apartment. "Look, tonight and tomorrow I'm home, but starting Sunday I'll be on nights for about a month. If you come crash at my apartment, it'll be free from about ten at night to eight in the morning. We wouldn't really be sharing it at the same time. How does that sound to you? You'll be there at night while I'm gone, I'll be there during the day while you're gone." Distrust and wariness met his offer. Beneath all that, however, Harley thought he could detect longing. Maybe it was his imagination and he saw something that wasn't there or that he would feel if he was sleeping outside and someone offered him a place. After a long moment, Blue nodded his head slowly to accept. Carefully, because of his injury, Blue stood up with his backpack in hand. It looked lumpy and probably made a very uncomfortable pillow. His place was about a ten-minute walk away, and now Harley wished he had his car. Of course if he did, he wouldn't have met up with Blue again anyway. Still, it made Harley feel somewhat guilty to see the kid wince as he walked with a hand pressed to his right side. Blue Ch. 01 The apartment was actually a duplex. Harley loved that he had the whole bottom half. A middle-aged couple lived upstairs, but they were always away on business, on vacation or visiting family. If they were home for two months in the year, you couldn't prove it by him. They were gone to see one of their daughters, who lived in England or Ireland, at the moment. Blue stayed standing in the doorway once they were inside. His eyes looked around at everything with something close to fear. That made Harley pause. What could that be for? The place was clean enough, although his mother would berate him for the dust and the piles of books and papers scattered around. Blue couldn't see the kitchen from where he stood, where the dishes were piled in the sink. The bedroom was also out of sight, with its unmade bed and clothes strewn on the floor and on the bureau. "I can't stay here." Blue's eyes were wide and earnest. Blue eyes, Harley noted. "Why not? Come on in and sit down somewhere. Do you want something to drink? I've got beer and some soft drink. Probably have juice too, but I'll have to mix it up first." Blue shook his head, clutching his bag tighter to his stomach. "No, I can't stay. What if I break something? I-I'm kind of clumsy. With my luck I'd trip over my own feet and crash into your television or something." "Don't be silly, Blue," he laughed. Then Harley saw that Blue was serious, worried about causing damage to stuff that was not worth worrying about. "Look, I'm not worried at all. I plan on buying a flat-screen, and if it makes you feel better, I'll put it off until you're back into your own place. Even if you do break the television, or anything else, it's no big deal." Harley gestured towards the couch, waiting with a reassuring smile while Blue toed off his shoes and finally moved. As thin and scruffy as he was, Blue was very attractive. Perhaps he wouldn't be first choice for a model, but his features went together very well. His big, round eyes were nearly the same shade of blue as his hair, which made them striking. If Blue's face filled out a bit, it might look a little better. That mouth, though, was incredible. His lips were full and pouty, nice and pink. Those lovely lips seemed to beckon him to taste and nibble. Thinking that way was not helping. The last thing Blue needed was for Harley to look at him with hunger in his eyes. Considering what he'd been through, Blue might just bolt back out into the streets and take his chances with less-than-honourable strangers. Harley might find Blue good-looking, but he would never take advantage. "I'm kind of hungry. Do you want to join me for a sandwich? I've got turkey, and we could make it fancy by adding a handful of chips to the plate." "That would be great, if you don't mind." Harley hurried to make up the sandwiches. He wasn't all that hungry himself, but he didn't think that Blue would take anything otherwise. It didn't take a genius to figure out that something had happened in Blue's past. Something that made him keep others at bay with a wall that would probably withstand a missile blast. Imagine being afraid of coming inside for fear of breaking something! His stuff was nice, but certainly nothing to intimidate anyone. When the sandwiches were done, he carried the plates out to the living room, only to find his houseguest fast asleep. Harley smiled and returned to the kitchen to wrap them up and put them in the fridge. They'd keep and he figured Blue needed his sleep as much as anything else. Tomorrow he would try and learn more about Blue. He had a feeling that it would be delicate work, but he was persistent. He also had a feeling that Blue needed his help, even if he didn't want to admit it. Blue Ch. 02 Blue stood in the living room and shivered as he kept his eyes trained on the floor. He was going to be in so much trouble. All he wanted to do was play with his brother's new baseball. Blue knew that playing ball inside the house was against the rules for everyone, but he just had to try it out now. It was raining outside and he couldn't go into the yard. If only he'd been more patient. Instead, he came into the living room to toss the ball up and down, thinking as he did so that he could surely manage to catch it five times before bringing it back upstairs to Daniel's room. Now Great-Grandpa's clock was broken on the floor, smashed to pieces because the ball hit it and then it fell to the floor. Blue had no idea how he'd managed that. Everything was going so well, too, but on the fifth throw, he somehow not only missed catching the ball, but it flew out of reach and into the clock. Maybe if he found some place to hide, his mother and father would find Daniel's ball and think Daniel was responsible. No, it was useless. If there was something broken in the house, he was blamed, even if it wasn't his fault. Accidents usually were his fault, so it wasn't a surprise. "Oh, Blue." He turned tear-filled eyes to his mother, who had just arrived in the living room. "Grandpa's clock. He bought that for Grandma when they got married. Just look at it." She covered her mouth and bowed her head to cry. Blue couldn't move, couldn't think of anything to say that would show his mother how sorry he was. His father came in then, with the rest of the kids behind. He saw what the problem was and gave a deep, long-suffering sigh as he held Alice Evans in his arms. "Go on up to your room, Blue. We'll talk about this later." The first inkling Blue got that something was wrong were the looks on the faces of his brothers and sisters. They looked angry and disgusted by him. That was wrong. He expected that from Daniel, because he'd taken Daniel's ball, but the others always looked at him with pity and exasperation. Whenever something happened, they tried to help him and make him feel better. Discomfort caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up as he walked up the stairs. Everything looked kind of wavy, but he dismissed it. His eyes were full of tears about the pain he caused his mother, which would explain why things didn't look quite right. With a sigh, Blue opened his bedroom door and stopped with a gasp. This wasn't his room. Instead of the blue and white room he shared with Franklin, who was only 15 months older than he was, this place was dark and smelled funny. It smelled like the basement but the walls were wood rather than gray cement. Between one blink and the next, Blue found himself tied down. He whimpered and moaned when he realized that he was going to be punished. They were going to whip him, just like that night. This isn't right, he tried to scream out around the gag in his mouth. The beating didn't happen because he broke the clock! The clock incident happened almost four years before the beating. Blue sat up with a gasp when the first strike of the leather belt fell across the small of his back in the dream. He looked around and felt like he was still in the dream when nothing looked familiar. This wasn't his tiny apartment and it certainly wasn't an alley or the park. It wasn't a motel room, either. Slowly Blue remembered meeting up with Harley again the previous night, when that guy tried to force him into a blowjob. Twice he was accosted against his will for sexual services, and twice the same man appeared to rescue him. What were the chances of that? It had to be a coincidence, though. If the man were stalking him, he wouldn't act so nice. Or would he? Christ, Blue though, pushing a hand through his hair. He could be so dense sometimes. Harley had just reversed things on him and he was too stupid to realize it. Instead of doing like most people, demand a blowjob in exchange for a place to stay, Harley simply offered the place to stay first and would ask for payment afterwards. There were worse offers. Blue thought Harley very handsome and was sure that he was a pretty decent guy. He closed his eyes and brought the image to mind. Harley's hair was black, his eyes were blue, but a lighter shade than Blue's. All those muscles were attractive, even if they were a little scary from a defensive position. If Harley wanted to force something, it wouldn't be easy fighting him off. He could handle the price of this place to crash, especially if during the week they were on alternating schedules. Happy with his decision, Blue got up and looked around until he found the bathroom. Only one door was closed in the hallway, so that was probably Harley's bedroom. Just past the bathroom was another room, and it was crowded with a bed, a desk, a treadmill and a pile of boxes. That was probably where he would sleep while staying here, so Blue went in and looked through his backpack for a clean change of clothes. He needed to do laundry soon. Back in the bathroom, Blue started the shower and nearly moaned at the thought of getting completely clean, in hot water no less, rather than doing the basics while standing at a sink somewhere. He used his own stuff, the only items he splurged on. His body wash smelled like vanilla and his shampoo smelled like, well, the bottle said 'Tropical Forest', but who knew what a tropical forest smelled like. "Blue, you mind if I come in?" "Suit yourself; it's your place after all." Blue turned so he faced the wall and wouldn't see anything, even a shadow, through the curtain. "Guess I was more tired than I thought last night." "No problem. Coffee's on and I'm getting ready to make some eggs and bacon. How do you like your eggs?" "Cooked." Harley laughed and then left the bathroom. This place had great plumbing, Blue thought idly as he finished in the shower. The water stayed hot even when Harley flushed. In his apartment, he got doused with cold if Jack ran the tap downstairs. Heck, it almost seemed his water turned cold if the neighbours used the water. Blue frowned as he brushed his teeth. There were two toothbrushes sitting in a cup on the counter. Decorative soap stood in a small basket on the tank of the toilet. That was a woman's touch. Nothing else he'd seen so far hinted at another person, male or female, staying here. Maybe he should ask Harley, so he wouldn't be surprised if someone came in while he was here. Damn. If someone else did stay here, even only sometimes, there was no way in hell he was going to stay too. Sharing with Harley was one thing, but another person? No way, no how. Even sharing with Harley was going to push his limits of civility. "Hey, you're just in time. Sit down anywhere and I'll dish these up. Milk and sugar are on the table for the coffee." Blue took the chair that faced the entryway, which put Harley at this back. The man was cooking in nothing more than boxer-briefs and a muscle shirt. The sight made Blue's pulse pound and not in a good way. He took in the kitchen while waiting for the food, and saw there was a washer and dryer in a small alcove beside a door to the backyard. Later he'd see about doing his laundry, since he was down to his last clean pair of jeans and semi-clean shirt. "I want to thank you again for helping me out. I know I didn't sound too appreciative, but I've learned to be careful of people." Blue wondered if this was the time to bring up the subject of payment. Best to wait until after he finished eating, that way he would have at least one good meal in him. "I'm just glad I was there to help you. Eat up, and don't be shy if you want more. My sister moved out a couple of months ago and I'm still shopping and cooking for two people." A sister. That would explain the second toothbrush and the decorative soap. Relief filled Blue, which in turn made him feel uncomfortable again. Why should it matter? Because he didn't want to stay here if anyone other than Harley was there. And why should that matter? Because...because he wanted to stay here. Damn. He wanted to stay here with Harley. That couldn't be good. "So, is your sister older or younger than you are?" The eggs were done just right, and the bacon was crispy. He loved crispy bacon. Of course, he was so hungry that he thought he might just eat raw bacon and love it. "Um, younger. She's twenty-seven to my twenty-nine. Do you have any siblings?" "Five. Daniel, Jake, Rose, and Franklin are older, while Lily is younger. Let me think for a minute. I'm nineteen, so Lily is seventeen, Franklin is just twenty-one, Jake and Rose are twenty-three, and Daniel is twenty-four." "Wow. Do they all live here in the city? Do you see them often?" Harley didn't think they lived in the city, or Blue would have somewhere to stay rather than on the street while his place was off-limits. "No, they probably all still live at home, unless they're off to college. I haven't seen them in four years." Blue smiled at Harley, although as usual the expression didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sure Daniel stayed at home and Lily is still too young for college, but the rest of them might be gone by now." "You left at fifteen? Did you run away?" Blue stayed quiet a long time, trying to decide if he would answer. Once he decided he would answer, he needed to decide just how much to tell. If Harley was nice enough to open up his home to someone he didn't know, then he deserved honesty. The truth might make Harley change his mind, but that was a chance Blue was willing to take. A good night's sleep, a hot shower and a big breakfast were more than he expected to have at this point. "I left at fifteen, but I didn't run away. My father told me not to come home and not to call or in any way contact the family. I had permission to call once, to tell my mother where I was. He said after that it would be up to her to get in touch with me if she wanted to. My mother said she wouldn't call and I was to stay away from the family. I stayed a year with a foster family, and then I left to come here. Hmm, I guess I did run away, just not from home." Harley had an expression of shocked disbelief on his face. "How could anyone do that to their child? My God, you were only fifteen!" "I deserved it! If I know anything, it's that I deserved everything I got. As a child, I couldn't go more than a day or two without either breaking something or injuring myself. Through it all, my parents were kind and understanding and they never raised their voices. In the end, my actions became too much." "There is nothing to make a kid deserve being kicked out of his home and abandoned!" Blue leaned back as Harley leaned forward, feeling threatened even though there was the whole table between them. Anger coursed through him. Harley knew nothing and there he sat, condemning his parents for their behaviour. He stood up, knocking his chair back in the process. Turning around, Blue removed his shirt to show Harley his bare back, then pushed down his pants so part of his ass cheeks showed. He knew that the scars from the whipping were plain to see. At times like this, Blue could almost feel the bite of leather and hear his father's angry accusations in the hospital. Without bothering to look back, he stalked off towards the guest room and slammed the door. He could scrounge up some change for the laundromat. Blue could not stay here and see Harley being either disapproving his parents or disapproving of Blue's actions that long-ago night. There was no question is Blue's mind, however, that Harley would side with his parents, because Harley was a good man. He would see how sick and truly horrible Blue was and ask him to leave. The door opened behind him as he shrugged into his backpack. "Did your father do that to you Blue?" Harley's voice was soft, but Blue heard him clearly and turned around in shock. "No! God, no, of course he didn't! I can tell you what I told the police, because I read the report after, and I can tell you what the doctor told me, but I don't remember what happened. I also know what my father told me and he would never lie to me." "Please tell me what happened. Come into the living room and talk to me. I don't want you to leave because of this. You need a place to stay and you're already here." Blue hesitated. All he seemed to do lately was hesitate and second-guess himself. In the end, Blue brought the backpack with him, in case he had to leave after he was done. Two cups of coffee sat on the table in front of the couch and Blue gratefully reached out for one, needing something to occupy his hands and eyes. "It's not much of a story. One night, four guys grabbed me and dragged me into the old barn at the back of the farm. They wore masks, so I don't know who they were. They tied me up and two of them used belts to hit me. One of the belts was studded, which is why there are so many scars. I don't know how long I was there for, but it felt like hours. The other two sprayed stuff on the walls, stuff that said I was gay and needed to be punished for it. One of the guys with a belt said they knew I was gay because I turned down Terri-Lynn for a date. "My father, though, he says that I probably invited them onto the property for some perverted reason and I couldn't take what they dished out. I can't say one way or the other because that night is gone from my memory. I'm sure I would have said anything not to get into trouble. Like I said, when I was a kid, I always broke things and caused trouble. If I didn't go to the hospital for some reason at least once a month, it wasn't for lack of trying. My father never got angry during all those years, so I figure I must have been really, really bad that night. "When they were done, they left the lights on and my father found me. He was out looking for me because I didn't come home and saw the lights. I passed out again from the pain when my father cut the ropes loose and the next thing I remember is being in the hospital. The police asked me what happened and when my father came back into the room, he started yelling at everyone that I got what I deserved for being the way I was. The doctor tried to calm him down, but he just kept on, saying I couldn't come home again. He had never yelled at me before, not even when I broke something really expensive or important." Harley reached out and grasped Blue's forearm with his hand. "No matter if you did invite those guys over for some reason, you did NOT deserve what happened. I don't want to upset you by saying this, but your father was wrong." "Then why would he say that? Why would he send me away?" Blue couldn't look at Harley, his confusion too big to share. "Maybe it's because I wasn't strong enough, or smart enough, to get away." "Some people can't take that their child is gay, Blue. It might be more, but I think that's what the problem was. Maybe after they had a chance to cool down, your parents tried to look you up and maybe they didn't. The fact remains, you didn't do anything wrong." Blue bit at his lip. Harley had been wonderful about the past, even tried to make him feel better. Would he be as understanding about the present? With a deep breath, Blue began talking about the things he'd done since then. About paying for services with blowjobs, as if he was some kind of hustler, even though he didn't want to be. Harley listened to everything, showing only understanding even while telling Blue that it hurt him that he needed to do such things. The man had known him for less than a day and he brought so much comfort into Blue's life. It was a scary thought. The next day, even if they were both home, wasn't too bad for Blue. He slept most of the day after getting up for a few hours in the morning. The guest bedroom, the entire apartment really, made him feel safe. It confused him, because it was a strange place, with a man who was more a stranger than a friend, and should make him feel uncomfortable. A good movie was playing on the television that evening, and the two of them laughed through the whole thing. Blue felt strange at first, with both of them sitting on the couch, but in a 'this feels right' sort of way. That's why it was so strange. Nothing had felt right in his life since leaving home. "You have a great laugh," Harley said after one of their shared laughs at the antics of the lead character. "I-I don't remember laughing much in the last few years. When I did laugh, with Jack or V, it wasn't real, you know? Never had a reason to be happy." Blue got a smile for that. "This is a great movie. Maybe we'll work on finding other things that will make you happy enough to smile and laugh. I'm going to make it my mission for the time you stay here." That was a wonderful thing for Harley to do for him. It made him wonder about motives and hidden agendas. It then made him realize that he didn't care about the motives. Blue made his decision and moved over to kneel on the floor in front of Harley. He smoothed his hands over jeans-clad thighs, heading for the treat hiding behind the zipper. His eyes flicked up for a moment, but he quickly returned them to his hands. Just when he got the button undone, Harley grabbed hold of his wrists and pulled them away. "What are you doing?" "I, well, I want to make you feel good. You've done so much for me. You saved me twice, gave me a place to stay, and didn't look appalled when I told you what happened to me." Blue paused, trying to find the words to express how unusual that level of kindness was to him. "I did all that because I wanted to. Because I want to, I should say. There's no reason for you to feel you have to do, um, that. I didn't invite you to stay here because I expect anything from you, Blue." "Harley, I don't offer to people that I don't want to pleasure. There would be pleasure, I promise you that." Blue looked up and saw sadness, as well as resolve, in the pale blue eyes. He pulled his hands free and sat back on his heels. "Do you want me to leave? It's fine if you do, Harley, really it is." "No, I don't want you to leave. I want you to feel at home and to be yourself while you stay here. That's all. I have to start getting ready for work. Will you already be gone to work at eight?" "Yeah, I start at eight-thirty tomorrow morning. I'll see you...whenever, I guess." Two weeks later... Blue walked into Harley's apartment and looked down the hallway. The bedroom door was closed, which meant Harley was still sleeping. He sighed and moved to the kitchen, checking the fridge and cupboards for an idea on what to make for supper. His stomach rebelled at the thought of food, so he decided to go for a shower and try again later. Even if his hunger didn't come back, the least he could do was get something ready for Harley. The first week he stayed here, Blue waited until Harley was awake before going for his shower, afraid of waking his host up. Harley then insisted that the sound of the shower wouldn't wake him, that his sister used to turn the volume on the television or stereo way up and he slept through. Slowly, Blue was become used to the place and to Harley. Blue had a new job and it was going well. It was thanks to Harley, who mentioned he heard about an opening in the office of a parcel delivery service, that he got the job. They were willing to train him and he found that he learned fast. Even better was the salary. It was so much more than the fifty bucks a week he made at the bookstore. Jack wouldn't let him stay above the store if he didn't work there, so Blue knew he had a decision to make. Soon he needed to sit down and figure out if he could afford a place of his own on his new salary, or if he had to go back to the bookstore with an assured home. There were advantages and disadvantages to both options. Blue Ch. 02 If Blue was honest with himself, he knew what he would choose if it were possible. He would choose to stay here with Harley. That was a recipe for disaster if ever there was one. Things were fine with the two of them working opposite shifts, but in another two weeks, Harley would return to days at the animal hospital where he worked. If he could try out a week with the two of them home at the same times, it would let him make a more informed decision. Not that Harley had asked him to stay, of course. He probably wouldn't, either, after the whole aborted blowjob thing, Blue snorted to himself. Blue finished his shower and got dressed before leaving the bathroom. He always made sure he was decent before going into the main sections of the apartment. Nobody wanted to see his scrawny, damaged body, and he'd already made Harley look at it once. He'd just decided to make spaghetti and salad when he caught sight of someone moving around in the kitchen. Fear made his heart pound for a moment and then he berated himself. It was just Harley and he hadn't heard the man get up because he was in the shower. Even after two weeks, he still wasn't fully at ease with sharing a place to live. Just because Harley usually poked his head in the bathroom, or knocked if the shower wasn't running, didn't mean anything. Only it wasn't Harley in the kitchen. It was a young woman, who stopped in the middle of putting eggs on the counter at his appearance. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" "Um, I-I'm, uh, my n-name is Blue. I was going to make supper for when Harley wakes up. Who, um, who are you, if you don't m-mind me asking?" "I do mind, but I'm Laura. Harley's sister. Listen, Harley is too nice to say anything, but he really doesn't want you hanging around. It's best if you just leave now." Harley's sister. Blue could see it now, since Laura had the same black hair and blue eyes. Harley had been too nice to make him leave, so he'd called his sister in to do the job. Did Harley think he wouldn't understand? "Sure, um, yeah. I-I'll just get my things and go then. Thanks for, you know, letting me know." Thank God I did my laundry last night, Blue thought as he quickly put his things into the backpack. He'd have clean clothes for a while. He kept his mind a careful blank while he laced up his shoes and left the guest room for the last time. Imagine that he'd been silly enough to wish he could stay here on a permanent basis! The trouble was that he was a glutton for punishment. He let himself get comfortable and complacent when he knew he didn't deserve such a nice place to stay and a friend. It came as a surprise that he considered Harley a friend. Sure, he considered Jack and V his friends, but he didn't really feel it like he did with Harley. It was so silly and stupid of him to forget that he wasn't worthy of having such a wonderful person as a friend. All this time and Harley just didn't know how to tell him it was time to go. How clueless could he get? "I'll just leave the key here," he told Laura while he carefully removed the key from his keychain. "Tell him it was really great of him to put me up while my place was being redone and he should have just told me to go if he'd changed his mind. The last thing I wanted was to impose." ++++++ Harley stretched in his bed and smiled. He'd heard faint movement from Blue's bedroom a few moments ago. Even now, after two weeks, Blue was so careful about not making noise to wake him up. If it would make a difference, he would keep telling the younger man to let loosen up a little. That wouldn't accomplish anything but to make Blue more self-conscious. The few hours they spent together before he had to leave for work were precious to him. The weekend together, after the first week of sharing the apartment had been wonderful, although Harley was sure to give the other enough space. Blue was still too skittish and unsure to really spend too much time together. Fuck he was attracted to Blue. With anyone else, he would have tried a few moves to test the waters. After what happened their first full day together, however, Harley worried that Blue would think he had to give in to any overtures Harley made. This weekend he planned on sitting with Blue and talking to him. Harley knew he had to be very careful about how he broached the subject. He needed it to be clear that however much he wanted Blue, he didn't expect anything that wasn't freely offered. Just grabbing the kid and kissing him senseless would be the worst move he could make. A soft knock on his bedroom door made him frown and jump out of bed to grab his robe. For Blue to come to his bedroom, and wake him up, there had to be something wrong. Very wrong. Harley was surprised to find his sister standing there, looking very upset, almost like she was going to cry. Maybe it wasn't Blue he'd heard before. "Laura? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" "I think I made a big mistake, Harl." Laura twisted her hands in front of her and looked at them for a moment. "There was someone in the apartment when I got here, and I assumed it was someone you'd picked up." "That's Blue. He's had a hard time lately. His place is being renovated and he was sleeping on the streets. Twice I interrupted guys attacking him so I invited him to come stay here where he would be safe." Harley moved by Laura and went towards the kitchen to get some coffee and to introduce the two of them properly. There was no sign of Blue anywhere, only Laura who was now biting her lip. She had something in her hands, which she held out after a moment. A key. The key he'd given Blue. "I thought he was someone you picked up," she said again. "I know how you don't like guys hanging around, making a nuisance of themselves, so..." "What happened, Laura? Where's Blue?" His heart sank when his sister related the entire encounter. Damn. Blue probably thought he'd asked Laura to get rid of him because he was in the way. It wouldn't occur to Blue to ask Harley outright, or to tell Laura that he would wait to hear in person. He raked a hand through his hair and, although he knew it was pointless now, ran outside to look on the street. There was no sign of the familiar blue hair anywhere in sight. Well of course not. Blue had about five or ten minutes on him and could be anywhere. There was time before he had to get into work for him to go looking. Casual conversation had Blue confessing to the places he usually went for sleeping, and those would be the first places he looked. While he dressed, Laura prepared him something quick to eat that he could carry with him. Harley knew she'd meant well, so he tried not to show his anger to his sister, but he could tell she felt it anyway. Laura promised to help him in whatever way she could if Blue came back. Although he looked into every alley and park he could by the time he needed to get to the clinic, he found nothing. There were lots of emergencies that night, which kept Harley too busy to dwell on the matter, but worry for Blue still gripped him. All kinds of scenarios paraded through his mind at every opportunity. What if someone attacked Blue again and no one helped him? What if a car hit him? What if...There were too many possibilities. Harley intended to go home after his shift, shower and eat, and then go back out. Even though Blue spent the night on the street, Harley could at least find him at work and explain things. Tonight, Blue would be back at the apartment where he was safe. That was some small consolation to Harley, but he had a feeling that all the progress made over the past two weeks would be gone. There was a piece of paper sticking out of the mailbox when Harley arrived home. He snatched it up and found it was little more than a napkin, the words half-formed and smeared. It was from Blue and Harley felt his heart start to pound. In it, Blue thanked Harley for being so kind as to put him up for a while and find a job. Blue also said that he planned on leaving town and would be gone by morning, and asked Harley to make his apologies at work for leaving without notice. "Oh Blue, why would you leave me? Please be safe, wherever you go." Blue Ch. 03 Note: There is a big overlap between the two viewpoints in this chapter. The differences in the two are intentional. I hope this won't be too confusing or annoying for you. As always, your comments are most welcome! ------- Blue huddled in the dark, trying not to shake too much or he would dislodge the blanket. It was too small, but he finally had it arranged to cover most of him, as long as he stayed curled up and stopped shivering it loose. For the thousandth time, Blue wondered what possessed him to come back to the town he grew up in. He knew, in theory, what the reason was. It was seeing Harley's sister and the way she obviously loved and cared for her brother. Seeing that, even though it meant he left the place he'd felt the safest since he was fifteen, made him long to at least catch a glimpse of his family. He knew better than to actually make contact with any of his brothers and sisters, but he wanted to see them and know they were doing well. What a disaster. Blue sniffed and wiped at his nose. It was September now, an eternity since leaving the city and the comfort of Harley's home. Four very long months. Those months felt even longer, at least the last ten weeks of them, because he was cooped up in this basement. Locked in without seeing the sun. Well, he could get out of the basement and go upstairs, but all the curtains were drawn and he didn't dare open them. He also had to keep his ears open for when his captor would come home. The one time Thomas caught him, the lesson was painful and Blue learned it well. His entire body hurt. For two weeks now Blue struggled with a cold. If he tried to stretch out, he couldn't draw enough air into his lungs, so he stayed sitting up, leaning into the corner to keep upright. He hadn't even been able to get up the stairs to stretch his legs for three days. A piercing noise suddenly sounded from upstairs. Blue moaned and pressed both hands tight against his throbbing head. Oh, he hurt so much! The noise stopped quickly, but that was replaced by the sound of two men shouting at each other. One voice definitely belonged to Thomas. The other one, while vaguely familiar to Blue, was a mystery. The words were indistinct, even if they were shouted, but they were definitely angry words. One or the other of the men forgot about the alarm when they came in. Blue was as certain of that as he was that Harley was a nice man. Harley. Blue wished he could see Harley again. The likelihood of that happening was practically non-existent. He wasn't stupid, though. The damp conditions in the basement would only make his cold worse. It wouldn't take long for him to develop pneumonia and he would die. "I'll deserve it, too," he whispered out loud. His voice was scratchy and raw. Even the whisper made his throat burn but he considered it worth it. The more he aggravated it, the worse it would get and it would all be over sooner. "Dad was right, I deserve it all." As he drifted off to sleep, Blue thought about the one time he tried using the phone to get help. He dialled the police station here in town and told them he was being held against his will. The guy who answered the phone laughed and told him to stop with the prank calls. When Blue tried to insist, the man's voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "Hang up now and I won't tell Thomas you're out of the basement and using the phone." He was stuck here until this Thomas got tired of him, or he died. Somehow, Blue figured the second option was the most likely. If he knew who Thomas was, maybe he could figure out how to get away. For all that Blue lived in this town his whole life, he couldn't remember ever meeting this Thomas before. The sounds the argument upstairs grew louder and Blue started from his doze and looked over. He could see a little light and the shadows of the men around the door. All of a sudden, the door crashed open and the stranger wind-milled his arms to keep from tumbling down the stairs. Blue's attention was riveted and so was the only one who saw something slip from the man's jacket pocket. It barely missed the stairs and fell into a box filled with old clothes. "Fucker!" The man was obviously upset as he yelled at Thomas. "Don't think your little 'tutorial' would go undiscovered if something happens to me!" Blue took a deep breath to ask for some water, but he started coughing instead. When he was under control again, they'd already closed the door. They wouldn't hear him, even if their argument seemed to be over. Either that or they'd moved far enough away for him not to hear it anymore. Oh well. It was unlikely that they would bring him water even if he did ask for it. They never had before. He was almost asleep again when a thought occurred to him. A box of old clothes! God he could be so stupid sometimes! If he could drag himself over there, he could pull some of the clothes on and be warm. Even if they were dirty or full of holes, it would be better than sitting here naked with a flimsy, inadequate blanket. Thomas would take them away when he came down, but in the meantime Blue would be almost blissfully warm. Maybe he would wait until Thomas came and left again, so he would have them on longer. "Get up! Come on, you disgusting creature, on your feet!" Blue would have screamed in pain at the sharp blow of a pointed boot connected with his hip, but all he managed was a raspy whimper. Thomas unerringly hit the same exact spot whenever he did this and it was now so tender that even the gentlest touch hurt terribly. The last time he sneaked a look at the spot, it was nearly black in colour. "I can't get up. Please, I just can't. I need water, just a sip or two. I'm sick, so sick. I'm dizzy and can't move at all. Water please, just a bit of water." "He don't look too good there, Thomas." "Thank you for that brilliant observation, Gibs. I'll just have to get myself dirty and help him up then, won't I?" Blue squeaked in fear and agony as Thomas reached down and pulled him up by the hair. His hair was shorter than ever, the blue cut out, but Thomas still managed to grab hold. "Tell me, do you still think you like men?" A deep cough wracked Blue's body and he couldn't even summon up the strength to moan at the deep pain in his chest. He tried to turn his head to spit out the phlegm that came up but couldn't manage it. It seemed to stick in his throat, making him gag and then vomit. He hadn't eaten in too long for much to come up and his throat and chest burned from the bile. Thomas cursed and dropped him, waiting until the fit passed before leaning forward and asking the question again. Blue knew what he should answer. He should just say that he didn't find men attractive at all, that he'd been mistaken about his preferences, and this would all be over. Exactly how it would be over he didn't know, but at least it would be over. That would be the smart thing to do, but Blue couldn't gather his thoughts enough to be smart. "Well, I certainly don't like you any." The blows to Blue's head and body didn't really register. As he slipped into darkness, he smiled when he saw Harley waiting for him. Oh, the man was so handsome! Harley took Blue gently in his arms and held him, driving away the memory of pain and cold and fear. This was such a wonderful feeling. Blue barely remembered what it was to feel happy and safe, with no worrying about when Thomas would come down and how badly Thomas would beat him. Slowly and carefully, Harley helped him lie down on the bed that suddenly appeared. Blue wondered for a moment how Harley got the bed into the small, dank basement, but figured it wasn't important. What was important was that it was here and it was so very comfortable. Just when Blue thought he couldn't feel any better, Harley began to stroke his cheek. The touch was so soft that he barely felt it and turned to push into the gentle hand. Lips pressed to his, tentatively at first and, when the kiss was welcome, more firmly. Blue immediately opened up and invited the tongue to sweep inside. This was his first real kiss, a kiss that was more than just a quick press of two mouths together. Hot skin pressed to his when Harley joined him on the bed. When had Harley taken his clothes off? Blue was sure that Harley was dressed when he first saw him, and they hadn't parted since then. It didn't matter. All that mattered at the moment was feeling all that warmth along his body. With hesitation, since his father and, more recently, Thomas reviled this part of his nature, Blue ran his hand over Harley's shoulder and down his back. The muscles rippled beneath his fingers, causing his stomach to clench with something he didn't easily recognize. Want. Desire. Lust. How could anyone think this was wrong? Pleasure coursed through his body, racing through his veins and making his blood sing. No, this wasn't wrong. Nothing had ever been so right before. This was what he was made for, to give and receive this level of sensation. Doubts began to crowd into his head, cutting through the cotton wrapped around his brain for the past few days. Blue didn't worry about whether this was right or wrong, never that, but about sharing with this particular man. He moaned from disappointment, even as he pushed against the strong, broad shoulders above him. "Harley, I'm sorry." "What about, Lovely? Talk to me." "You're so beautiful, inside and out, but I'm not. The things I did before you found me were not things good people usually do. Then there's the fact that I'm so scrawny and bony. I haven't eaten very much since Thomas took me and nothing at all for nearly a week. You deserve so much better, and I know I don't deserve you." Harley cut him off with a deep kiss. "Hush. You are very beautiful. I might not like what you did before, exchanging blowjobs for services, but it was the situation you were in. If you had enough money, you never would have done that. Would you?" "No," Blue admitted. When he would have continued, a single finger pressed against his lips. "As for your body, it is beautiful. You're a little thin, and I'll do what I can to fix that when I get you home again, but still beautiful. Let me show you." Blue gasped when Harley's mouth pressed against his neck, hot tongue flicking out. From there Harley moved down to his chest, tasting him every few seconds. Whispered words of admiration and praise pressed into Blue's skin, and he understood them even if they were barely audible. He cried out in surprise when Harley sucked at his nipple. That felt...he didn't know men could be so sensitive in their nipples. In his limited experience, he thought only women were made to feel pleasure from that kind of intimate caress. His breath came in panting gasps, but it had nothing to do with stress or fear. When Harley finished with his sensitive nubs, after an eternity that didn't last nearly long enough, he licked down the center of Blue's chest to his navel. Everything Harley did pushed Blue into a higher state of arousal. Just when Blue was sure that Harley was going to touch his hard prick, Harley diverted, his mouth to Blue's thighs and his hands around to hold Blue's ass. "God, please, Harley. Please, please, please!" "Oh my lovely, I can't. You've never been made love to and I can only do to you what you already know, either from someone else or what you've done to yourself." Blue frowned and looked into Harley's pale blue eyes. "I don't understand. I've never kissed anyone. Nobody's ever touched my nipples or licked my skin either." "Those things are easy to imagine," Harley answered, leaning down for a deep, drugging kiss. "Your mind won't let me touch your cock, even now when you seem to really want it. Have you ever touched yourself, Blue?" "I-I've wanted to, since I met you, but not before. When those men beat me, one of them hit me, um, there. The studs from the belt caused some damage and I don't often get hard, even if I want to." Red stained Blue's cheeks as realization struck. "That's why you won't touch me. Because I've been damaged and I'm not worth it." "No, Lovely, no. That isn't it at all. I don't care about..." Blue pushed away the weight that suddenly crushed the air from his chest. "It's all right, I understand, I really do. Let me go and leave me alone." "We'll talk when we're together again. I can't address these issues as a figment of your imagination." Blue looked at the other man, perplexed at the words. He couldn't fathom what Harley meant. "You're alone and sick, Blue, and you're imagining me. You have to get to the clothes you saw before and put some on. Then you have to call me. Call me so I know to come and get you. Promise me." He was dreaming? That couldn't be right The memories of Thomas and being sick crashed back over him and he opened his eyes on a gasp, which made him cough again. In the light of the small lamp across the basement, he saw that the mess he coughed up was dark. Blood? It wasn't light enough to be sure. It was likely, though. Compelled by Harley's, the dream Harley's, suggestion, Blue struggled into a seated position. Moving was almost too painful and he cried. His bones hurt and his chest felt like it was full of murky water. New bruises and cuts adorned his body from the latest beating. I should have just told Thomas what he wanted to hear, Blue thought glumly to himself. He knew why he didn't, but every time it became harder to remember why. It was because even if he did lie about his sexual preferences, Thomas wouldn't let him go. How could he? Blue would identify him and report his behaviour. Therefore, one way or the other, Thomas would end up killing him. It might be quicker if Blue did what Thomas wanted, but he would still be dead. Maybe that was for the best. His entire life, he was a disappointment. To his parents, to his brothers and sisters, and to everyone he'd encountered after leaving. No. He couldn't think like that. Even if Thomas killed him, or if what he now suspected was pneumonia killed him, Blue had to try and get away. Blue gathered his determination around him and crawled, inch by slow inch, towards the stairs and the box of clothes tucked around the side. His entire body trembled with pain and fatigue by the time he reached it. A quick glance up showed that it was dark upstairs. Not a bit of light showed through the cracks around the door. If not for the little lamp Thomas left on downstairs, it would be pitch black. The first thing he pulled out of the box was a short-sleeved shirt and he struggled into it. More shirts came out and Blue despaired of finding anything else. Finally a pair of pants, too big but warm, came to hand. As he reached back inside, hoping to find a sweater or something with long sleeves, his fingertips brushed against something hard. Blue almost pushed it aside, until his curiosity go the better of him. A cell phone. The memory of Harley's instructions, to get the clothes and then call him, floated into his head. Gently he laid the phone down beside him and returned to the box. First things first, he thought. A nice, thick sweater or jacket to get warm and then he could think about making a call. Blue found both down at the very bottom of the box and blissfully put them on. Halfway across the basement, Blue paused and blinked. Everything seemed to waver and tilt. The spot where his blanket waited for him first became larger than life then retreated until it seemed to be a mile away. Panting through his mouth for a bit, eyes closed, helped a little, although it felt like his entire body was spinning. Blue only opened his eyes to a slit when he felt able to move again, but he changed direction to settle directly beneath the window. His corner looked filthy and he couldn't make himself go there to rest. "I have to call Harley. Harley asked me to call him when I got dressed. Th-the number is...is... Oh fuck, I know the number." Blue remembered memorizing the number, even though he didn't intend to dial it at the time. "Damn, Harley, help me." In his mind's eye, Blue imagined the moment when Harley wrote the number on a sheet of paper and stuck it to the front of the refrigerator. A little bit of concentration was all it took for those numbers to nearly glow. New shivers and shakes almost caused Blue to fumble and drop the phone. Two rings, then three rings, sounded in Blue's ear and he wondered it Harley would even answer the phone. Maybe it was the middle of the night and his friend was asleep. Harley slept deeply and it probably wouldn't wake him up. Did Blue dare keep the phone nearby and try again later? If he kept the phone, Thomas might find it when he came down. Blue started to hang up when he heard a voice at the other end. "Hello? Who is this?" "Harley, it's Blue. You told me to get some clothes and call you so I did, but it was so hard." Blue mixed up his dream with reality, too relieved to care much that he wasn't making sense. A sob broke free, and he coughed deep and long, his chest seemingly filled with stabbing knives. "Blue? Tell me where you are, you sound terrible." "I'm still down in the basement. Thomas won't let me go, you know. I can't get up the stairs anymore, but I found the clothes like you told me." There was something important Blue needed to say and his increasing incoherence made it difficult to think. "I wanted to see my family. I didn't let them see me, though, because Dad doesn't want that. Thomas wants me to tell a lie and I can't do that. I might die from being sick, but I won't let him kill me by telling a lie." Blue let himself slide down to the floor, his head almost missing the arm that wasn't holding the phone. Harley's voice floated around him, and he fought to focus. "Can you tell me exactly where? Can you call the police?" "I don't know, just the basement. Near the Welcome sign, I think. I called the police already. The man there told me if I stopped using the phone, he wouldn't tell Thomas I was out of the basement. The alarms on the door hurt my head, Harley. I hurt everywhere. I think I'll take a nap now." "No! Blue, please, stay with me. What town are you in? I don't think you ever told me where you came from." Harley sounded so worried that Blue wanted to do all he could to make things better. "Loughton Springs. Our farm is to the north of town, on Parker Range, to the right of the highway. I don't think I can go to work today. I'm very sick you know and I'm dying, too. It's not so bad, this dying thing. I just wish it didn't hurt so much. I love you, Harley. You're the only friend I have." It felt so wonderful to say those words, especially since he meant them. Blue couldn't hear the words Harley spoke anymore, but whenever there was a pause in the voice coming through the phone, he repeated them. I love you. I love you. I love you. ++++++ Harley slowly blinked his eyes and squinted at the alarm clock. It was just past midnight. He sighed as he remembered the dream that woke him up a scant two hours after falling asleep. It started out with the promise of being a nice erotic fantasy, featuring Blue as all his fantasies did lately, but it quickly turned a bit strange. In the dream, Blue stood before him, bathed in deep shadows and weaving slightly on his feet. Harley smiled and gathered the smaller body close to his, holding on gently in case he frightened the young man. It was wonderful when Blue melted against him with a sigh. Harley frowned at the way those ribs seemed even more pronounced than the first time the two met. The trembling continued and so Harley helped Blue onto the bed to rest comfortably and began touching him. He brushed the backs of his fingers against the soft cheek, feeling how the growth of beard was silky rather than scratchy as his own usually was. Blue pushed into the touch, sighing softly once again, so responsive to the slightest bit of affection. Harley couldn't resist leaning in for a kiss, just a touch at first to give Blue a chance to back off, and then deeper. His cock started to swell when Blue opened up and allowed Harley's tongue inside. Blue Ch. 03 Between one moment and the next, Harley was naked and pressed up against the thin body. There was no mistaking now that Blue was painfully thin, in worse shape than ever. He wanted to ask why, but decided it might make the boy feel bad and kept kissing instead. He wanted to crow in delight when Blue began caressing him back, rubbing with sure hands along Harley's back to his hips and up again, big sweeps that caused goosebumps to erupt. It took Harley a moment to register when Blue pushed against his shoulders. When it did, he immediately backed off, wishing for more light to see the expression on Blue's face. It might give him an idea if the problem had to do with nerves or something else. "I'm sorry," Blue whispered, head bowed down. "Harley, I'm sorry." "What about, Lovely? Why are you sorry? Talk to me." Blue mumbled something about not being beautiful enough, how he didn't deserve someone like Harley. It pained Harley to hear Blue put himself down like that. Some people might speak those words in an attempt to hear a compliment, but Harley knew Blue truly believed he was lacking. Affection swelled in his heart. Harley considered a moment and acknowledged the truth. It was more than affection he felt for Blue. It was love. "Hush, now. My lovely Blue, you are beautiful." When the younger man looked to be about to protest, Harley silenced him with a finger to his lips. Satiny lips that were wet from their kisses. "I won't hear a word to the contrary. You might be a little thin right now, but I'll do what I can to fix that when you come back to me. Let me show you how beautiful you are." Harley kissed Blue on the throat, tongue darting out to lick the gathering salty moisture at intervals as he moved down to Blue's heaving chest. The writhing motion beneath his body served to increase his arousal and he growled, wanting more of it. He reached a taut nipple, hard and waiting, and sucked it into his mouth. The needy cry made his prick throb and he bit down gently to hear it again. Blue arched into his mouth, trying to get more sensation and Harley was only to happy to oblige, moving from one nipple to the other, wondering if both tasted as sweet. He wanted to stay where he was, playing with the twin peaks, but knew there was more he wanted to learn about Blue, and more he wanted to share. He dragged his tongue down the middle of Blue's chest until he reached a sweet little belly button. Harley had always known men with innies, but this was wonderful as well. He laved the button repeatedly, revelling in the breathy moans and squeaks. Blue's hard length pressed against his chest, tip wet from arousal and desire. Yes, his young lover was enjoying himself very much. Rather than descend on that luscious cock right away, Harley moved lower to kiss and nibble on tender inner thighs. His hands moved almost of their own accord to hold firm ass cheeks, clenching hard for a moment. He grinned when Blue began to pant and beg. "God, please, Harley! Please, oh, please!" In a bewildering turn of events, Harley found himself fully dressed and sitting at the edge of the mattress, watching Blue writhe helplessly. He felt a deep sadness inside because, although he ached to continue pleasuring the young man, he was frozen to the spot. Words he didn't understand came from his own throat. "Oh my lovely, I can't. I can only do what you already know." "I don't understand," Blue whispered. Although he couldn't see it, Harley was sure Blue was frowning up at him. "Some things are easy to imagine. Your mind won't let me touch your cock, even though you seem to really want it. Have you ever touched yourself, Blue?" Harley couldn't believe himself. He sounded so detached, which wasn't how he was feeling at all. "I've wanted to, since I met you. When those men beat me, one of them hit me, um, there. The studs from the belt caused some damage and I can't often get hard. Oh! That's why you won't touch me! I'm damaged and you don't think I'm worth it." Harley tried to tell his red-faced Blue that wasn't true, but Blue was gone and he was alone, calling out for Blue to come back and talk to him. "That was one fucked-up dream." Harley shook his head and tried to get back to sleep. He shouldn't still be thinking and dreaming about Blue after all this time. The fact was that he worried. There was such a wealth of sadness and fear in those deep blue eyes, and Blue would be embarrassed to know just how much he revealed. For years, he'd been made to feel bad and ashamed over his beating, something he couldn't have done anything about. Blue's father had ensured that with his words, putting the blame solely on his young son's shoulders. Harley often wondered at what Blue felt when Laura sent him on his way. Even though from Blue's point of view Harley kicked him out into the streets, Blue likely felt terrible at having been in the way. He probably felt thankful that he had a place to sleep and food to eat for as long as he had. It just wasn't right, Harley thought angrily. He wanted Blue back, where he could watch over the boy and take care of him. He didn't want Blue to ever have to worry about where he would sleep, when he would eat, or if he had enough money to have his hair dyed blue without offering a blowjob. Although Blue wouldn't do that anymore. Harley remembered that Blue had stopped exchanging that particular favour, because Harry was the one who had inadvertently been responsible for the first attack Harley stopped. Harley felt his heart squeeze when Blue informed him of his decision in an almost tentative way. Almost like Blue was seeking permission. His mind was circling around something, refusing to acknowledge an important fact. Harley knew it and with a harsh breath admitted it to himself now as he had in the dream. He loved Blue. He loved Blue as he was, even as he wanted to help Blue become the man he could be. A man with confidence, love, and pride. Unable to sleep with such deep thoughts on his mind, Harley rose to get himself a drink of water from the kitchen. If only he knew where Blue was. Maybe they could talk by phone and get to know each other better that way. Blue might be able to open up more if they weren't actually face to face. Sometimes a phone made things awkward, but it could ease things up for some people. He'd been standing by the sink, empty glass in hand and lost in thought, for some time, when he realized his phone was ringing. Who the hell could be calling him at this time of night? Maybe something was wrong with Laura. Damn, he didn't know what he would do if there was someone on the other end telling him his sister was in an accident. Or, fuck, his dad had a heart attack or something. He hit his thigh on the corner of the table and hopped over, cursing luridly, to the phone beside the couch. The answering machine picked up just as he did, and he made a note to try and remember to erase the message after he was done. "Yeah, I'm here, I'm here." There was nothing at the other end, except maybe a small breath. He tried again. "Hello? Who is this?" The voice, when it came, was faint and raspy. "Harley, it's Blue. You told me to get some clothes and call you so I did, but it was so hard." It couldn't be. Harley was silent for a moment, unable to believe that this could be Blue. He was about to speak when Blue started to cough, deep and wet sounding, too loud compared to the previous near-whisper. The painful sound seemed to go on for a long time. Worry stabbed at his gut and he waited until the spell stopped. He demanded to know where Blue was so he could go get him. The answering machine stopped recording, and Harley decided to hit the button to keep recording. It was a good thing, too, because it wasn't easy to untangle the words from the gasps for breath that punctuated the words. He made out something about a basement, and someone not letting him go up the stairs. Blue then went on about wanting to see his family and someone, Thomas, wanting him to lie. What truly made him afraid was when Blue said he would die from being sick but not from lying. "Can you tell me exactly where you are? If you're that sick, can you call the police?" "...just the basement. Near the Welcome sign I think." There was a long pause, but at least the words were slightly clearer. "I called the police already. The man told me if I stopped using the phone, he wouldn't tell Thomas I was out of the basement. The alarms...hurt my head, Harley. I hurt. I think I'll take a nap now." A nap couldn't be good, not in Blue's current condition. He needed more information so he could get Blue some help. "No! Blue, please, stay with me." He spoke gently but firmly, doing his best to get some kind of location. Almost immediately, Blue told him the name of the town, Loughton Springs, along with directions to the family farm. That was good, Harley really wanted to give Blue's father a piece of him mind, but that could wait until Blue wasn't in danger anymore. "I don't think I can go to work today. I'm very sick you know, and I'm dying, too. It's not so bad, this dying thing. I just wish it didn't hurt so much. I love you, Harley. You're the only f...." Harley tried to keep Blue talking, but he knew he also needed to call the police here in town and let them know that Blue needed help. Everything pointed to a man named Thomas holding Blue like some kind of prisoner in a basement. Blue was sick and needed medical attention. Harley promised he would be there soon and for Blue to hang on. Whenever he stopped for an answer, he heard a whisper that sounded very much like 'I love you'. Just before he hung up the phone, Harley closed his eyes and said the words back. "I love you too, Blue. Hold on for me, I'll be there soon and tell you in person how much I love you." Blue Ch. 04 Note: Here is the final chapter of Blue's story. I hope it doesn't disappoint. I was going to split it into two parts, but wasn't sure if I had enough for a whole other chapter. As always, your comments are always welcome! ----- There wasn't much Blue remembered about his last few days in the basement. He vaguely remembered finding the clothes and calling Harley, but he did remember what he said to the man. I love you. Thomas came downstairs at some point and ripped the clothes off, although he did bring down a thicker blanket and some orange juice. Not that Blue was in any condition to drink it, but it was there beside him. At least he'd been aware enough at some point to get rid of the phone. All of a sudden, there was light everywhere, and Blue found himself being lifted onto a stretcher by two men. Words came at him, something about being safe and going to a hospital. He'd cried in relief and the tears quickly turned into a pained cough. It hurt so much that it made him cry some more. The paramedics placed an oxygen mask on his face and, when he kept trying to curl up into a ball to relieve the pain in his chest, they strapped him to the gurney. The feel of the sun on his face after so long was blissful. It was warmer than he would have thought outside and the heat eased the tightness in his chest. Then, wonder of wonder, his eyes fell on a familiar face. Harley was there and Blue managed to let the paramedics know he wanted to talk to the man. They allowed it for only a moment, since they wanted him back under the mask as quickly as possible. "I thought I dreamt calling you, Harley. I'm so glad you came." "Of course I came, Blue. I had to, since you were depending on me." Harley smiled and took hold of his hand. "How long? It seems like just minutes ago I was on the phone with you, but other times it feels like years." Harley urged him not to talk, since it was an obvious effort. "Two days. I called the police in the city, and they did a search and learned of others who went missing in this area in the past. We've learned that the one you got when you called the police station here was the only one associated with the guy who was keeping you here. It was just bad luck he was on duty when you called." "Story of my life," Blue whispered, but the words were lost when the paramedic replaced the oxygen mask and pushed him the rest of the way to the ambulance. He was asleep before the back door closed. When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed. It was nighttime, he noted when he turned his head and saw darkness outside the window. Warmth covered him and Blue wanted to sink down into it fully. He had been cold for so long. Here in the hospital room, the air was warm, the blanket was warm, and even the thin hospital gown was warm. A soft sound made him turn his head the other way and he caught his breath at the sight of his mother. She was asleep in the chair beside his bed, her red hair pinned back with the jewelled clips she loved so much. Why was she here? His eyes watched her for a moment. She hadn't changed much in the years since he saw her last. There was maybe a touch more gray in her hair, but it was still mostly red. Her figure was still on the plump side, and he remembered how much comfort he got as a kid when she hugged him close. A part of him wanted to wake her and get one of those hugs. The rest of him remembered how she turned her back on him when he desperately needed her after his beating. In the end, it was his own fatigue, pulling him back into sleep, that kept him from deciding one way or the other. Just before falling into darkness again, he realized that his breathing was easier. Not quite back to normal, but at least he didn't feel like he was half-drowned anymore. The next time Blue woke up, it was to find a man leaning over him. Fear shot through him and he pushed the man away, fighting to sit up and get away from the perceived threat. Two pairs of hands held him down and Blue felt his panic ratchet up until he finally started hearing the words spoken over him. "Calm down, Son. You're in the hospital and nobody's going to hurt you here." Blue stopped fighting and got a good look at the two holding him down. Now he saw the nurse's uniform and the doctor's white coat. He let himself press deeper into the mattress and started breathing deeply. Fuck, it felt wonderful to take such deep breaths without hacking up a lung because of it. He barely understood what the doctor was telling him about his condition and the treatment. What he did get was that he'd been in the hospital for four days, he no longer needed oxygen, as of the previous day, and although he might feel better, he was still very sick. Once he was settled back in, the doctor and nurse done with their examination, the doctor smiled kindly at him. "My name is Dr. Baxter and this lovely nurse is Jane Wildman. There are some people outside who are going to be very happy to know you're awake. Any preference on who you'd like to see first?" "That depends on who's out there, I guess. I can only think of one person who would want to visit me." He thought he remembered seeing his mother, sitting beside the bed, but that had to have been a dream. Right? "There's definitely more than one person out there," Nurse Jane laughed. "Your parents are there, along with a handful of brothers and sisters who all have your same gorgeous hair. Another gentleman was there a lot, but I sent him down to the cafeteria for something to eat before he fell over. His name was Harvey, I think." "Harley. The only one I want to see is Harley, but I guess I should see what the others want. If Harley isn't back, send in some of the others, I don't care who." So his mother being beside his bed wasn't a dream. She really had been there. What reason could his parents have for being here in the hospital? Blue couldn't figure it out. Maybe his father was here to yell at him again, for daring to come back to the town and making a spectacle of himself. That had to be the reason. Blue had come back, and not only brought attention to himself and his deviant behaviour, but it would reflect on his family. The rest of the family, his mother and brothers and sisters, were there to see just how horrible a person he was. Kevin Evans was in for a surprise if he thought Blue would take his rant in the same submissive way. The things Blue lived through since that long-ago day when he was fifteen made it certain that hearing his father yell at him didn't paralyze him. He'd given head to men in exchange for services. He'd escaped men intent on rape, even if it was with Harley's help. He'd lived on the street with an empty belly for days and weeks at a time. He turned his head and felt disappointed that it wasn't Harley. His parents came into the room slowly. When they saw he was awake, his mother rushed over to give him a hug and his father wasn't far behind. "Oh my little Blue! I've been so worried about you!" "Glad you're getting better, Son. You were in bad shape there for a while." Blue firmly disentangled himself from his mother's embrace and set her back. He looked from one to the other with wary distrust and disbelief. "I don't see why you would care. What are you doing here, anyway? I'd like it better if you would just go and leave me alone." "No, no it's all right now, Blue." Even though her face became very pale at his words and her eyes filled with tears, she tried for smile. "Those men were arrested and there's no more danger to us." "No more danger to you? The only one in danger around here is, or was, me. Go away." Blue's father was the next to try talking to him. "Blue, when you were beaten that first time, those men cornered me while the doctors treated you. They told me that unless we sent you away, they would burn the farm and maybe hurt your brothers and sisters. We couldn't take the chance." The meaning behind the words took a moment to sink in. Blue looked from his father to his mother, trying to comprehend. "I see. Let me get this straight, because it wouldn't be right to misunderstand. You thought it better to make me feel like a freak, a deviant that even parents couldn't love, rather than turn in the men who did this to me. Better for me to think I was worthless than to give me even a hint of consideration." It was worse than that, actually. By not turning in the men right away, it made it possible for them to take Blue again. Take him again and do worse things to him. For more than four years, he'd lived with the knowledge that he deserved every bad thing in his life. After all, if his own father said he deserved it, if his own mother couldn't bear to see or talk to him anymore, he couldn't think anything else. Blue had to acknowledge that it was the truth. He had deserved it. The farm and the other kids were more important and it had probably been easy for his parents to offer him up as a, well, as a sacrifice. Who else always broke things? Who else spent so much time in hospital? Who else always caused trouble for the family? Only Blue. "It must have been an easy decision for you," he whispered, turning away to look at the window. "After all, I'd been nothing but a burden from the time I was born." "Blue, we were afraid. I had to think of everyone, try to keep everyone safe. Instead of just throwing you out, I made sure that you would go to the state, to a foster home. We didn't make you leave that home." "You were afraid. Did you think I wasn't? I was fifteen, thinking that my family was there to take care of me, protect me and keep me safe. Instead, after the most horrifying experience of my life, my family turned their backs on me. I was fucking scared to death! I left the Kane's because I knew I didn't deserve to stay there. If I stayed, I would taint them. So I left." He told them all that he did out on the streets, just trying to survive. He did exaggerate some by saying he exchanged sex, rather than just blowjobs, when he didn't have enough money. His mother was reduced to tears again, but he kept on, nearly screaming at them. It wasn't long before he started coughing again and he ripped the IV from his arm. He needed to leave, get back onto the streets where he belonged. Two nurses ran in and before he knew what was happening, they injected him with a sedative. Even as he felt the pull to sleep, Blue kept yelling, insisting that his family were not allowed in his room again. The only person allowed in was Harley, and he should have unlimited access. Blue opened his eyes slowly the next time he woke up. It was still bright outside, but he had a feeling it wasn't the same day as when his parents visited. A weight on his hand made his head turn and he smiled happily at the sight of Harley asleep with his head leaning on the bed. Calm filled him, since it wasn't his mother, as he feared at first. While he watched Harley sleep, Blue couldn't help but wonder why Harley had come. Well, maybe not why Harley came, but why he stayed. On the strength of a phone call, Harley left his home, took time away from his job, and helped find Blue. How had he done it? How had he convinced others to take his word about Blue's possible predicament? Warmth flooded through Blue as he suddenly recalled the dream he had about Harley before making the phone call. The way they'd touched each other in that dream was almost more than he could imagine. The kisses and caresses more arousing than anything he'd ever known before. Even though dream Harley hadn't touched his prick. The memory, faint and vague as it was now, was enough to cause his cock to swell and grow. It had happened so rarely since the beating, no more than a handful of times, no matter the stimulation. Blue had put it down to the damage done by that studded belt, ripping the delicate flesh. The scar never failed to make his stomach roil and clench. It was probably the main reason all he offered men were blowjobs. Without that, how far would he have gone to keep from being cold and hungry? Blue was afraid he might have given turning tricks a try. It was kind of a laugh, since he figured as a whore, the men who hired him would only be interested in his mouth and ass anyway. None of them would have probably even looked at his cock. Mentally, however, Blue wasn't able to put himself out there like that. Thank goodness. Worried that his hard-on would embarrass him if Harley woke up, or someone came into the room, Blue shifted onto his side. The movement disturbed Harley, who blinked his pale blue eyes and smiled. "Hey, how are you feeling?" "Pretty good, compared to the last time I saw you. Thank you, Harley. You saved me again." "It does seem to be a bit of a habit, doesn't it? That's all right. I don't particularly like having to save you, because it means you're in trouble, but if someone has to I'm glad it's me." Harley grinned and reached over to touch Blue's hair. "I kind of miss the blue hair, but this is nice too." "I miss my blue hair. Thomas thought it was obscene, though, and chopped it off. Harley, I..." Blue closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His heart began to pound in his chest and he simply knew that he couldn't say the words. It would hurt too much if he confessed his love, in person and aware, and it wasn't returned. Harley stroked his cheek softly, just like in the dream, and Blue felt tears well up in his eyes and spill onto his cheeks. "What is it Blue? Talk to me." "I thought, no I knew, that I was going to die in that basement. Either Thomas would kill me, or I would die from the pneumonia. Then...then I dreamed of you. I felt so safe and you told me what to do. You told me to get the clothes on and call you. I didn't know how I would get upstairs to use the phone, I could barely crawl, and still I knew I had to do it. Inside the box of clothes was the cell phone and thinking of you calmed me enough to remember your number. "There were so many times that you were there, in my head, helping me. Giving me strength when I thought I didn't have any left to go on. You have been a true friend to me, someone who believed in me when no one else did. A simple thank you doesn't seem like enough." "It's more than enough, and not necessary," Harley said, before leaning forward. "I didn't want you to leave. My sister, well, she was being overprotective and thought she was helping. If I had decided you were overstaying your welcome, I would have told you, but nothing could be further from the truth." Blue looked deep in Harley's eyes and saw nothing but honesty. "I guess I'll have to work more on my self-confidence. Would...would you mind having me as a houseguest again when I get out of here?" "Are you sure? I saw your parents here and thought maybe they would invite you to go home with them." Blue did nothing more than shake his head and say he wanted to return to the city. He felt deep relief when Harley smiled and said it would make him happy for Blue to go back home with him. They talked for a long time, both avoiding any mention of their feelings, thinking it was too soon. Two men came in, introducing themselves as police officers. They asked Harley to leave the room while they took Blue's statement about his time in captivity. Only Blue's refusals to let the other man leave made them relent, although Harley had to move away from the bed and not speak. It wasn't easy to talk about some parts, and there were bits he simply couldn't remember, especially towards the end. The only thing he was thankful for was that the beatings this time would not leave many physical marks. Luckily for him, it was unlikely they would need him to return to testify, although it was a possibility. Thomas and his friends had kept meticulous notes about their desire to 'turn' their subjects away from homosexuality. Blue learned during the interview that Thomas Gibson was a pastor and had recruited from the more zealous of his congregation for support in his works. This was the fourth time he punished a sinner, the first time in his own town. Normally he abducted young men from surrounding towns and brought them home. The bodies of those young men were found in a freezer in the backyard. Blue shivered at the knowledge that he was so close to joining them. He fell asleep soon after the officers left, hand holding tight to Harley's. Before he slept, however, Harley told him that he needed to go home, both to return to work and get things ready for Blue. It worried Blue. He was afraid something would go wrong, that maybe Harley would change his mind. He chided himself as he drifted off and told himself to trust Harley. Soon they would be together again. It was almost a month before Blue was released from the hospital and able to travel. Harley waited impatiently for the young man to finish in the shower, worried because he'd looked so pale and tired. He had sandwiches and chopped veggies to eat, and it wouldn't take too long to order a pizza if that was what Blue wanted. Harley didn't have to work until the next day and wished he could take longer, but he'd taken off just over a week when Blue was found and in the hospital. More time wasn't an option right now. In a few weeks he could manage some more, although by then it would be the holidays. As much as Harley wanted to take Blue in his arms, he knew he had to proceed carefully. He looked up with a smile as Blue came out of the bathroom, as carefully dressed as always. They already had plans to take him out the next day when he was done work to get his hair dyed blue again. Harley had to argue that he would pay when Blue started to worry about the money and needing to get a new job. Harley had to agree to write down the amount to be paid back later before Blue accepted his generosity. If it was up to him, Blue could take as long as he needed to settle in and get back up to full health before even looking for work. Harley knew, however, that was something the younger man would never agree to. In Blue's mind, nothing was free and his pride wouldn't let him take advantage, even if someone offered their help freely. Maybe in time that would change, but it couldn't be forced. "Are you hungry? I've got some stuff ready here, or we could order a pizza." "I still don't have much of an appetite, but I could use a little something, since I have to eat with my pills. I also have to try and drink a lot of water and juice. No caffeine and no alcohol, though." Harley led the way into the kitchen and set out the platter on the table. He was pleased at the grin on Blue's face at the sight of his favourites. There were tuna sandwiches, egg sandwiches, and lots of carrots and broccoli. After only half of each kind of sandwich, and a few veggies, Blue looked at him apologetically and said he couldn't handle any more. He swallowed his pills and Harley noticed his hands clenched into fists on the table. "Is there something wrong, Blue? Do you need to rest up a bit?" Blue bit his lip as he tried to get his thoughts together. He needed to be honest with Harley, but now that the time had come, he didn't know how to do that. His mind kept going back to when he tried to offer Harley the blowjob the first time he stayed here. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, the man had refused him. What if Harley rejected him again? His past couldn't help him now. The only point of reference Blue had was when he suggested that he could offer good head for whatever he didn't have money for. Somehow, Blue didn't think that would give Harley the right impression. If only he were smart enough to know all the right words to say and the right moves to make. "There is something very important that I need, but I'm not sure I can have it. I keep thinking about...I mean, you are...Oh fuck this is impossible!" Blue Ch. 04 Harley watched Blue leave the room and hurry to the guest room. He saw the sadness and the near despair in the dark blue eyes and wondered what put that look there. Normally, Harley might leave Blue alone to work things out, but he just couldn't do that this time. He cared too much about Blue. Helping him through this difficult time was something he had to do. Through the door came the sound of muffled sobbing. Harley paused and waited a moment, to see if the sounds would stop. Instead, the sobs turned to deep coughing Harley just went in to try and ease Blue. "Hey, it's all right, try and relax," he said when he saw Blue curled into a ball, arms crossed over his chest as he coughed. "Try taking some slow, shallow breaths if you can." Without a second thought, he got right onto the bed and put his arms around Blue, rubbing in circles over the thin back. It didn't take too long for the coughing to stop, which was a relief for Harley. Each cough seemed to be almost ripped out of Blue's chest, although it wasn't anything like what he'd heard in the hospital. That liquid sound was just about gone. They lay together for a little while, Blue still sniffling a bit with his face hidden in the pillow and Harley holding him in his arms. It felt so right, so comfortable. Harley shifted until he was on his back and encouraged Blue to put head on his chest. He could almost be happy to stay right like this for a very long time. "I meant what I said on the phone," Blue whispered after several minutes. Harley could feel how rigidly Blue was holding himself. Harley smiled and tightened his arms for a moment in reassurance. "It wasn't because I was sick or anything. I meant it with everything in me." "I meant what I said on the phone, too." He caught the slight frown on Blue's face as the other tried to remember. "You don't remember?" "No, I'm sorry." "That's all right; you were pretty out of it at the end. I said that I loved you. When you were gone, I missed you so much and thought about you nearly every day. No matter what, though, anything that happens will be on your say so. You've been through so much." Blue rose up and looked intently into Harley's face. How could he have missed the tenderness there? Probably because he was so afraid of making a wrong move. Between one blink and the next, Blue stretched and pressed his lips to Harley's, wanting to feel and taste the man who meant so much to him. Oh, this was better than the dream. Imagination could only take him so far. If anyone had told him six months earlier that he would feel comfortable holding -- kissing! -- another person, he would have thought them insane. He pulled back, panting slightly, and nuzzled his nose against Harley's cheek. "I love you. I want everything with you. Do you have any idea how amazing it is for me to feel something for another person? I thought they killed all my desire. I have to tell you, though, that I'm damaged." "No, I don't believe that. You told me how they scarred you and you had trouble getting hard, but maybe it just needed that special someone to make it worthwhile." Blue pulled back slightly to stare at him. "I never told you that. I never told anyone about that, except for the doctors when it happened. I hardly even think about it to myself most of the time. The only time I mentioned it was in my...in..." "...my dream," they both said at the same time, awe thick in their voices. Harley rolled them until he lay on top of the younger man. He traced the contours of the beloved face with the tips of his fingers, mapping the eyebrows and cheeks, nose and mouth. Again and again he stroked those fine lips, already a little puffed from their earlier kiss. Harley leaned down and stole another kiss, a barely there touch that lingered. It wasn't nearly enough, but it was a start. Blue felt his heart speed up and wanted to laugh his happiness when he felt himself getting hard again. There was nothing down there for so long, and now every time he turned around he had a boner for this man. It was so wonderful. He pushed his hands through silken black hair, pulling to increase the pressure on his mouth. When Harley slipped his tongue inside, Blue moaned and opened wider for the invasion. This was what he wanted. Not all he wanted, but he needed to start somewhere. Harley let his hands move down to Blue's chest, moving to touch his nipples. They immediately hardened for him, begging to be caressed some more. He released the sweet mouth to follow the path of his hands, mouthing the soft skin as he went, tasting with his tongue in the same manner he had in his dream. Blue bared his throat, whimpering encouragement for the intense sensations. "Harley, please, I-I want you." There had to be many reasons why this wasn't a good idea right now. Harley could only think of one, that Blue might be too weak, but that was not enough to deter him. He loved this man and wanted only to show him that there was pleasure to share. From the time he was fifteen, Blue believed he was wrong to feel the way he did, no matter what he did to get by. Harley wanted to be the one to show that two men could love each other and it was as good and as wonderful as what happened between a man and a woman. Not that he could personally attest to it. He reached down and undid the fastening of the jeans that barely hung on to the slim hips. He pulled them, along with the underwear beneath, down long slender legs and then just drank in the sight. "So beautiful," he breathed as his eyes lighted upon the erect cock that was released. It looked larger than expected, but that might be because Blue was so thin. "I promise you, Blue, I can hardly make out the scar. Besides, it is a tribute to your strength in overcoming adversity." Blue watched as Harley leaned forward and started to lick at his hard length. His hips thrust up automatically; he couldn't have stopped his reaction if he tried. A wailing cry pushed out of his throat even as a heavy arm pressed against his to hold him down. Now Blue knew this wasn't a dream anymore, because he couldn't even think. He reached down with the hand not clenched into the sheet beneath him and placed it on Harley's head. Everything in Blue's world narrowed to the feelings in his groin. Harley surrounded the head of his cock in hot, wet suction that turned his brain into mush. He could hear his own voice crying out and begging, but it was different from his normal voice. It was low and breathy, so needy and desperate. Harley would have grinned at the sounds coming from his young lover if he wasn't so turned on. He kept one arm across Blue's body to keep him from moving, while the other reached to fondle the sweet balls below. As he gently squeezed and rolled them, his fingers stroked the skin behind. As Blue neared his orgasm, Harley lifted his restraining arm and allowed Blue to thrust as he would, opening his throat to accept it all inside. "Oh shit...I don't...I...I can't stop...oh fucking hell!" Blue felt his entire body tense, heels digging and pushing into the mattress as his body exploded. He had come a few times in his life, on a very few occasions, but those times were nothing like this. It was like comparing a firefly and a nuclear explosion. His scream rose until it vanished. Harley used his hand to stroke and milk all the come from the beautiful cock in his mouth, in addition to keeping up the suction. His eyes watched Blue and he knew there could never be anything as amazing as the look on Blue's face as he felt the power of his climax. Gorgeous and breath taking. Before Blue could recover, Harley retrieved a wet cloth from the bathroom and cleaned up Blue. He then turned the young man onto his stomach and kissed down the line of his spine. He allowed his teeth to scrape at the skin from time to time, and noted the shiver of excitement each one brought to the recovering man. He used his tongue to probe at the sweet hole his hands revealed, pleased to discover Blue was relaxed enough to allow him immediate access. Harley murmured reassurance against the sensitive flesh when Blue whined and jerked in surprise. It didn't take long for those slim legs to spread and give Harley more intimate access. At the first touch to his ass, Blue started in surprise but he loved it. There was no question in his mind about whether he could do this. He trusted Harley and wanted to give his body in every way that he could. The sudden cold when Harley moved away, followed by the drip of some kind of liquid on his overheated flesh made Blue gasp and look over his shoulder. Harley had somehow gotten a condom on and a bottle of lube and squeezed some along his cleft. Their eyes met, dark blue to light blue, and Harley paused what he was doing. "Are you all right? Do you want this with me?" "Yes. With no one else but you. Please." To prove his words, Blue pushed up onto his knees and wiggled slightly to show he was ready for Harley to continue. It didn't matter that he never did this before, his body and mind still knew what to do, to a certain degree. As ready as he was, he still wasn't fully prepared for the slight burning pinch of pain when Harley pushed one finger inside his body. It faded quickly, though, and he nodded for the other to continue. The initial discomfort increased when the second, and then third, finger joined the first, but vanished almost as quickly. He rocked his body back and panted his arousal, now desperate for Harley to fuck him. Pleas tumbled unaware from his lips, begging Harley to take him. Harley was very slow and gentle with him when he replaced his fingers with his cock, but the pain was so much more. "Bear down, Lovely, and try to relax for me. It won't hurt for long, I promise you." Harley reached a hand around and stroke Blue while staying as still as possible in the impossibly tight channel. "So tight, so wonderful." "I trust you, Harley. You fill me up and it feels like nothing else in the world." With as much restraint as he could manage, Harley slowly pushed forward, bit by bit, until he was fully inside. Blue tentatively moved after only a moment or two, and Harley allowed himself to move, still slowly at first but with increasing momentum. His ears filled with cries of 'Yes' and 'More' and best of all 'I love you'. All of a sudden, Harley stopped and pulled out. Blue wailed in denial, worried he'd done something wrong. "Hush, Lovely, I just want to see you. I want to look into your eyes while I make love to you." Blue couldn't believe how much his love for Harley intensified with that declaration. He immediately lifted his legs to wrap them around the man's waist and spoke what, at any other time, he would have considered the corniest of words. "Love me, Harley. Make love to me." It didn't take very long for Harley to start thrusting faster and harder. Blue made delightful noises with each stroke and had a hard time keeping his eyes open. He wanted to watch Harley and see everything that crossed his face, but it wasn't easy when he was drowning in the best of ways, drowning in love, desire and orgasmic bliss. Too soon, and yet not soon enough, Blue arched and shot, his legs tightening as he screamed Harley's name. Harley's climax followed soon after and Blue felt a momentary pang that he couldn't feel the come inside him. He knew he was clean, and trusted that Harley was as well, but they could have that discussion soon. A tiny corner of his mind told Blue, even as he floated happily into sleep, that maybe this wasn't forever for Harley, in spite of all the pretty words. Blue dreamed of the basement. He was back to the time just before he found the phone, when Thomas and his friend came down to question him and beat him before he dreamed of Harley and went to get the clothes. To be specific, the few words exchanged by the two men kept repeating, endlessly repeating until Blue thought he would scream just to make them stop. "He don't look too good there, Thomas." "Thank you for that brilliant observation, Gibs. I'll just have to get myself dirty and help him up then, won't I?" That was it; that was the extent of Blue's dream. It wasn't until the whole thing had played out for maybe the hundredth time that understanding made Blue gasp and sit up straight in the bed. "Oh fuck!" He had to be wrong. It was just a coincidence and his subconscious mind, still dealing with the trauma, tossed it out there as part of a nightmare. Even though he was now wide-awake, it took several minutes before he realized Harley was trying to get his attention. "What is it, Blue? Come on, talk to me. You're scaring me." "The police. They don't have everyone. They don't have Thomas at all!" Harley could see how wide and frightened Blue's eyes were and attempted to calm him down. "They do, they do; you just had a bad dream. They caught Thomas, and three other men, thanks to the documents in the house. Don't worry." "No! No, they caught Gibs, Thomas Gibson. The Thomas who beat me was someone else! He called the pastor guy Gibs that time in the basement, before I called you, but I didn't realize until now." Blue jumped out of bed and ran out to the living room. He had a clipping of the story in his jacket pocket. He hadn't read it yet, not ready to read about himself and see the pictures of the men responsible for his time in Hell. With shaking hands, Blue unfolded the article and quickly zeroed in on the pictures shown. No Thomas, not his Thomas at any rate. He'd never really gotten a very good look at Gibs, and he'd only heard two of the others from upstairs and the other over the phone. God, why hadn't he remembered until now that there were five? He was sitting on the couch, staring at the newspaper clipping, when Harley came out of the room. His jeans were on, but still unbuttoned. There couldn't be anyone sexier, to Blue's way of thinking. He told Harley about what he'd remembered, about Gibs and how there were four others besides Thomas. It wasn't until he called himself an idiot that Harley interrupted. "You're not an idiot. I'm sure there are lots of things you've forgotten about what happened, not because you're stupid but because it was so terrible. Out of all the things you could remember, though, you remembered this, which is very helpful. Let's call the detectives in charge of the case and give them this information." Harley kissed him softly. "While I call, you try and remember anything else that could help." Every day for a week, the detectives called to see if Blue remembered anything else. It was annoying, but only because Blue felt he did know something and it stayed out of his grasp. Some little detail he'd heard, and if he could just remember, everything would click into place. He played over what was clear about that day, from the time he heard the argument upstairs until he fell unconscious from the beating. Deep inside, he felt certain that something in that time frame, in addition to revealing Thomas and Thomas Gibson weren't the same person, would help identify just who Thomas was. After long discussions with Harley, Blue decided to open communications with his family. He still wasn't quite ready to forgive and forget, but Harley pointed out that they had done what they thought they could, even if it wasn't the best decision. When you were in the middle of a situation, he said, stroking Blue's cheek in the way Blue loved, it seemed that there were no choices. "That's a very serious expression you've got there. Something about the call to your father bothering you?" Harley ran his hand up Blue's leg, stopping high on his thigh to trace absent patterns on the bare skin. "Yes and no. It's nothing to do with my dad, but something he said about my older sister, Rose. She recently started dating my old school counsellor. From what I understand, Rose always dated men either her own age or younger, and now suddenly she's with this older guy. Just struck me as strange. Guess you never can tell who you'll be attracted to." Blue shrugged it off and smiled at his lover. His lover. Just thinking that word made him want to grin and shout his happiness to the world. He reached over to push Harley onto his back on the bed, kissing and stroking his way down the magnificent chest. He paused for a little while to lick and nip at nipples that called to him. His man was perfect and every bit of him seemed to demand that Blue worship, which he happily did. Just when he was going to start sucking on the hard, leaking cock, Harley sat up and grabbed his hips. It took a moment to understand when he found himself straddling Harley's chest. Blue grinned and helped position himself so Harley could suck on him at the same time. They'd never done this before and Blue wanted it very much. He was used to giving head, and he did it well, but Harley was the first one to suck him. Nobody had ever offered before, and even if they had, he never got hard with anyone else before. Blue formed his tongue into a groove and slid it down the hard shaft, keeping his mouth open enough to just barely touch. When he was about halfway down, Blue clamped down and sucked hard. If his concentration faltered when Harley's mouth fastened onto his own cock, well, that was all right. He used his hands, one to hold himself up and the other to gently feather over the balls, keeping his touch purposely light. The light touch to his balls threatened to drive Harley mad. He let Blue's prick pop out of moved a pillow to prop up his head and proceeded to rim his lover. Harley wrapped both arms around slim hips when his actions caused Blue to jerk and buck. The blue head flung back with a surprised cry and Blue starting coming right away. "Harley, fuck!" Once he calmed down, Blue attacked the still hard cock with a vengeance, determined to make this the best thing Harley ever experienced. Every trick he'd learned, everything he'd learned that Harley loved, he did. He was almost rough, but never too much so. It wasn't long before Harley shot into his mouth and he swallowed everything down as if he was starving. "I love you, Harley." "Oh Lovely, I love you too. Give me a kiss so I can get ready to go to work. I'll only be a couple of hours today. Stephie wants tomorrow off and is switching with me, because George already owes me a shift and is will work tomorrow so I don't have to." Blue nodded and stretched on the bed. "I don't start work until next Wednesday, so I'll laze a bit. Later, I'll call and see about any classes I can take with the money Dad is sending me." Blue's father had insisted on paying for Blue's education, whatever form it took. With a job, it would have to be either night classes or something online. Harley had hinted around that he could forego a job and paying rent in favour of his education, but that was something Blue couldn't do. He wouldn't feel comfortable staying here and not contributing something. The cooking and cleaning he could handle, even actually liked it. Not that he would ever admit that to anyone, especially his mother. Education. Now why did that niggle at the back of his mind? Blue stayed in bed for another hour but couldn't settle and finally got up. He distracted himself in the shower by looking over his bruises. They didn't seem to be going away as quickly as he'd like. The doctor told him the bruises were fairly deep and would fade slowly, especially since his body was fighting off the pneumonia. Blue had never heard that before, but he supposed that a doctor would know better than he did. It wasn't until he was dressed and nearly to the kitchen that all the different pieces that had been bothering him lately clicked together. He nearly tripped over his own feet as it hit him like the theoretical ton of bricks. His sister dating their old high school counsellor. His getting an education. The argument between Thomas and Gibs; specifically what Gibs said to Thomas after he crashed through the door and lost his phone. Blue Ch. 04 "Fucker! Don't think your little 'tutorial' would go undiscovered if something happens to me!" Blue sat down on the couch and fought to get his breathing under control. The stress was getting to him and it made his breathing worse than it ever had been. He now had his pneumonia to interfere with his breathing as well. When he was sure he could manage a phone call without passing out from lack of air or coughing too much, Blue dialled the detectives. He didn't bother to explain what he was talking about, just burst out with the information. "His name is Thomas Gardner! He works as a counsellor at the high school. The high school is regional and students come from all the towns where the previous victims were from. That's how he found them. My sister Rose started dating him not long ago. You have to warn her and my parents!" "We'll do that, Mr. Evans. In the meantime, we'll contact the police department where you're living now and have someone keep a watch on your home. If anything happens, get a call through there to Detective Hammersmith, if you can." Blue clicked off and immediately called Harley at the clinic to tell him what was happening. He'd barely finished talking and was waiting for Harley to answer when the door crashed open. Thinking quickly, Blue put down the phone without turning it off so Harley could hear what was happening. It was Thomas. Blue felt his mouth dry up and his breath cut again. "I've told them who you are. You should have stayed away from my sister." "You queer little fucker. You're the one who is an abomination against God and polite society, while I and other good folk get arrested!" Blue had never seen the expression Thomas had in his eyes, but if he had to put a name to it, it was madness. "If you're so right in this situation, then maybe I ought to give it a try." Blue grabbed the only thing he could reach, which was a picture frame, and threw it towards his attacker as he tried to run for the kitchen and the back door. He almost made it through the archway when fingers grasped at the back of his shirt and grabbed hold. The sudden stop caused his feet to fly out from under him and he fell to the ground. By either luck or design, Thomas let go of his shirt and Blue felt his head strike the hardwood floor hard. While he didn't pass out, Blue still wasn't too aware of his surroundings for a few minutes. When his surroundings became clear again, Blue found himself tossed onto the bed in the guest bedroom. At least it isn't in Harley's bed, he thought to himself. Harley's bed was for them, not for a rape. It didn't seem fair that of all the times he had escaped this very fate before, it would happen now in the home of the man he loved. The man who had saved him twice. Well, three times counting the time in the basement, but that wasn't from a rape. Shit, he must still be dazed if he was thinking about that rather than thinking of how he could save himself. This time, he was on his own. This time, he needed to figure out a way to get rid of the threat instead of acting like a victim. During all this, Thomas was going on about how he might as well turn gay since gays were never punished for their sins. If he fucked Blue, he mused, the police would probably drop the charges against him. Blue twisted and kicked, doing everything he could to get off his stomach and away. Thomas easily, too easily, grabbed both of Blue's wrists in one hand and pinned down his legs with his body. His free hand pulled down the shorts and underwear Blue was wearing just far enough to make access possible. It wasn't until Thomas shoved two dry fingers into his ass that Blue understood that he was about to be raped. He'd known before, but now he felt the truth of it deep inside. No matter what he tried, it didn't change the reality of his situation. Blue didn't stop trying to fight, no matter the pain he was in, but he knew that nothing could make this better or change the outcome. Blue felt the fingers rip out of his hole and just pressed his face into the pillow, eyes screwed shut against the agony that would surely follow in the next moments. It never came and the pressure of Thomas' body on his own disappeared. Had he changed his mind? Was he not able to get hard enough to follow through? After several deep breaths for courage, Blue looked around and saw several police officers in the room. Two were taking care of Thomas, while a third came to see how he was doing. Without a word, Blue got up and locked himself in Harley's room. He leaned against the door for a few minutes, where he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Everything inside him was numb. He might as well be a wooden doll. Harley's heart was pounding as he pulled his car to a screeching halt outside his house. There were police cars and an ambulance parked out front, which made his heart hammer in fear against his chest. He prayed for Blue to be all right as he raced across the lawn and into his home. He nearly growled in frustration when the police stopped him when he was only a couple of steps inside. "Excuse me, Sir, but you can't come in here." "I live here! My name is Harley Barlow and this is my home. Where's Blue, is he all right?" He contemplated his chances of barrelling past but the officer nodded and gestured him down towards his bedroom. "Blue!" "Mr. Barlow? I'm Detective Hammersmith. We have Mr. Gardner in custody. The officers first on the scene say that they stopped the rape in progress." Harley felt his eyes widen and his guts freeze. Rape? That wasn't what he expected to hear at all. "They don't believe Mr. Gardner actually had time to do anything, but Mr. Evans has locked himself in the bedroom over there and won't talk to us or let us in." Harley hurried to his bedroom and gently knocked on the door, using only enough force for the man inside to hear him but not to scare. "Blue, Lovely, it me, Harley. Please open the door and let me see you." Nothing happened for what seemed like an eternity. Finally the lock clicked, but the door remained closed. Blue was settling back into the old armchair near the window when Harley eased into the room. The first thing Harley noticed was the bag, packed and sitting at the foot of the bed. The next thing he noticed was that Blue was too pale, even for Blue, and his eyes and face were blank and staring. Not too surprising, but worrisome all the same. Harley carefully knelt on the floor beside the chair and laid a hand on Blue's knee. When Blue jerked it out of reach, Harley understood and didn't try again. He waited, willing Blue to talk to him and hoping the police wouldn't come intruding right away. "When the cops are gone, I'll leave and go live with my parents again." The way Blue whispered was hoarse and monotonous. "Tell them Thomas didn't rape me. Well, he used his fingers, and I guess I should be thankful for that much, at least." "You, you don't want to stay here with me?" "No." Of course he wouldn't want to stay, Harley thought to himself, disgusted that he could be so dense. "We can go stay at a hotel and, if necessary, we'll look for a new place when you're ready. Maybe a house somewhere, or...." Blue buried his face in his hands and curled up even more in the chair. "No! I'm going to my parents' and I won't come back. Thomas came here, by himself, and I couldn't do anything to stop him. I'm so fucking pathetic!" "You're not pathetic! Stop that right now! Blue, you're still weak from being sick, and even if that weren't the case, there are always going to be people out there stronger than you, and stronger than me. We can work on that. We can go work out at the gym, take martial arts classes, anything to make you feel more confident. I love you, Blue, too much to just give up." Blue looked Harley in the eye, and the blankness wasn't as complete as it had been. "You still love me? What if...what if Thomas had raped me? Just another minute and it would have happened." "Lovely, I love you no matter what. It isn't the strength, or lack thereof, of your body that I love, but the strength of your heart. Nothing in the world could change that." The tears that didn't come following the attack began to fall and Blue fell sobbing into Harley's arms. When those strong arms wrapped around him, Blue knew that he was safe and he grabbed on tightly. Harley loved him, really loved him, and didn't turn away after his attack. There were no words of disgust or that he deserved what nearly happened to him. Things might not be easy, but Blue felt that he could maybe face them. As long as he had Harley there with him.