*Standard Author Disclaimer: The characters and events in this story are the product of my own imagination. The universe in which this story takes place is based off of the MMO - Champions Online which is owned by Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios. All rights belong to the respective owners. The main characters of the story are based off of characters I created when I was playing the game. Similarities to people or places are simply coincidence or have been produced with the approval of the individual. This story is intended to be a serial novel, not a "wham-bam, whip it out, get off quick" kinda of story. This story is focused around a gay couple, and if that offends you then you may want to move on now. This story does start out slow, but I believe it's worth the wait. Don't forget to help support Nifty and help keep this Archive going.
Visit http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html to help! Any feedback would be much appreciated (WriterJT11@gmail.com), Flames will be used to heat my house this coming Winter. :-) So without further ado, onto the Show!* * * * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * * * *Alexei's heart raced. His movements quick, but graceful. The crowd crushed in around him. The heavy bass of the club music set a frenetic pace for the crowd on the makeshift dance floor.
Alexei was in heaven. He raised his arms and eyes to the sky and let the music take him. The stars, at least the few that were visible in the urban night sky, twinkled almost as if they were keeping beat with the music.
As the song came to an end, the DJ skillfully mixed it into a song with a slower beat. Alexei wove his way through the crowd and made his way to the buffet table. He gratefully accepted the cup of punch that Shuniqua handed to him as he approached.
"I have to admit, Alexei. The party is pumpin'. Only you have the ability to bring Cheerleaders and Glee club members together for a single party. But as for unforgettable... I just don't know. I think Lindsay Lohan threw a slightly more extravagant party just last week," Shu teased.
"Bitch," Alexei taunted back.
"Slut," Shu joked in return. "Ooooh, honey, speaking of which... Colin is walking over here."
Alexei gave her a dirty look, but kept his back turned to the approaching figure. Colin was one of the boys in school he'd hooked up with on and off again. Then again, he hooked up with most of his gay friends at one point or another... and one or two of the straight ones. There were a number of false starts, but Colin was the one he'd hoped would have turned into a relationship.
"Hey Alex," Colin said from over Alexei's shoulder, "great party."
Alexei turned only the upper half of his body towards Colin and gave him a flirtation look. He held the cup of punch near his collar bone, "Thanks, Col. Glad you could make it, babe." Colin was wearing a simple tank top that showed off his slim frame and a plain pair of Levi jeans. Not exactly a trendy look, but he looked good in it.
Colin unconsciously scratched his head, covered in blond spiked hair. "C.. Can we talk, privately?"
Alexei turned and looked at Shu who was giving him a sly look. "Sure, sweetie." Alexei gently put his hand around Colin's bicep and the two of them walked side-by-side out of the beautifully landscaped backyard. They their way around the side of the house to the a similarly landscaped front yard. Most of the houses in the upper-middle-class neighborhood Alexei lived in were well maintained, but even among these, the Demidov household was the envy of the neighborhood.
Alexei and Colin sat side-by-side on the front porch in silence for a few moments. A car passed, then a second. Alexei leaned in close and gently kissed Colin on the lips. Colin kissed him back. Alexei gently probed his lips with his tongue. They wrapped their arms around each other, pulling each other impossibly close, kissing passionately. Alexei pulled off Colin's shirt and ran his fingers over his smooth chest. Colin slowly pulled off Alexei's shirt. Then pulled him in close. Alexei could feel Colin's bare chest heaving against his as they continued to kiss.
Without warning Colin pulled away. "Wait... stop."
This was an unexpected turn of events for Alexei. "What's wrong, Col?"
"Nothing..." Colin hesitated for a moment, "...well... everything... I don't know. But I really wanted to talk to you."
"About...?" Alexei probed. His eyes kept flicking back and forth between Colin's green eyes sparkling with the reflection of the streetlights and his bare chest.
"Us." He said seriously.
Alexei's heart jumped in his chest. He was both excited, and terrified, by what Colin might have to say. He tried to not let it show, however. "Oh?"
"Well..." Colin hesitated, "I think you like me... well I know you like me... we've... well... you know... a few times."
Alexei smiled a little, thinking about their bodies writhing together. Colin continued, "But I know you also... well... you know... with a bunch of other guys, too." Colin locked eyes with Alexei momentarily, then quickly looked away, finding it hard to keep eye contact. Alexei winced a little. It was true, he'd gotten around over the last few years in school. Alexei was having a hard time reading Colin's body language. He reached out, and placed his had on Colin's bare chest for a moment.
"What's up, hon?" He asked, trying to maintain his self-confident bravado even though his mind was full of uncertainty.
"I like you." He answered shyly. "I mean, I like, like you."
Alexei's heart skipped a beat and he smiled. "I like, like you too, Col. What's the problem?"
"No I mean, like... I want you as a boyfriend." Colin continued, still not able to look Alexei in the eye. "I have for a while, but..." he trailed off, looking down at the steps and studying the rough texture of the concrete.
"But...?" Alexei encouraged him to continue.
"I don't feel like I'm good enough for you." Colin finally blurted out.
"What? Why?!" Alexei said, genuinely surprised by the response.
"You have the perfect life..." he gestured up and down the street, "The perfect neighborhood, you're popular in school in spite of Brick's taunting, you can get, and have practically had, any guy in school you want... My father worked two jobs, and my mother worked full time... just so they could send me and my sister to school outside of the public school system."
"Perfect..." Alexei considered it for a moment. He scooted closer to Colin, and put his arm around him, enjoying the feel of his smooth skin. "Let me tell you about my 'perfect' life. My mother is the only parent I have ever known. From the day I was born, my father, whoever he is, has never been in the picture. Whenever I asked Mom about it, she would dodge the question. It was obvious she never liked to talk about it."
"I'm sorry, Alexei... I- I didn't know." Colin said, turning red from embarassment.
Alexei continued after offering him a reassuring squeeze. "Have you seen my mother at all tonight?" Colin shook his head 'no.' As a matter of fact, Colin didn't think there was anyone over 19 at the party. "She's almost never around. Sure, she can afford the nice house and to buy me the name brand clothes, but that's because she spends so much time at her job," Alexei explained.
"What does she do?" Colin asked.
"Editor in Chief for Millennium Fashions Magazine."
"Figures. That explains a lot." Colin teased, referring to Alexei's fashion sense and knowledge of cutting edge trends. He finally made eye contact with Alexei again. Both of the boys chuckled.
"Even when Mom was around, she was often taking business calls, or mulling over an editorial decision or three." Alexei explained. "I had a nanny until I was 12, then Mom thought I was old enough to watch over myself. With her schedule, and with her family on the East Coast, I never even had my extended family around. I barely know my cousins. It was just us... and usually... just me."
"I'm sorry, Alexei. I'm sorry I said your life was perfect." Colin said, looking away again.
"No worries." Alexei reassured him. "I'm not complaining. Life just is what it is." He leaned his head closer to Colin, and traced his finger from Colin's neckline, down the center of his chest to his waistline. He gave Colin a gentle kiss. "And if it helps matters, I have wanted to be your-"
"That's the boy. Grab him!" An unfamiliar smokey female voice came from the sidewalk at the edge of the front yard.
As Alexei turned to see the source of the voice, he saw a fist swinging in from his right just before the world went black.*