This story is a work of fiction, none of the characters are based on real people, any similarities with people or places are coincidence, this story contains sexual activities with consenting adult males, if the content of this story is illegal in the area you are in to read this content read at your own discretion it is illegal to copy this story all right are reserved to the author
For comments and feedback contact me at markalarner@live.com.au
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Pete woke with a gasp. He pushed his sweaty hair away from his face. Looking around his dark room he noted the power was out. With a sigh he caused a low burning flame to appear in the palm of his hand. Looking around he found his phone. Looking at his phone he considered calling Tiff. With a sigh he decided not to there was no point to both of them having a bad night's sleep. There was also no point in staying awake with the power out. With nothing else to do he decided there was no harm in trying to go back to sleep.
"You look like shit", was Tiffs greeting as she entered the house. Tiff looked around the usually busy house was oddly quiet. Pete saw her looking around and answered her question before she could ask. "They are on an assignment", Tiff nodded her understanding. The guild that controlled the circles sent younger circles on assignments, investigating odd occurrences and dealing with anything that may need dealing with. Most circles took time off for a number of years when they start having children. It is understood that any children are the parent responsibility to teach basic control to. Once children got older those circles would either go back into active assignment or take on more advisory and research rolls.
"Do you know what it's about"? Pete raised an eyebrow, "Ok, stupid question", the pair laughed. "Did you finish the math homework"? Pete raised another eyebrow, "Ok, I get it stop with the silly questions". The pair sat quietly while Pete ate. "Sooo, could I look at it just to check", Pete frowned at his grinning friend. "Yes Tiff, you can copy the math homework from me". Tiff pretended to be hurt by his comment. "Come on we don't have all day, copy away", the pair laughed. It had been like that for the past six weeks.
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Derik wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had just finished his jog. He and the other guys went jogging every day. Before he went in he saw his neighbour Tiff. It was strange that up until six weeks ago she had hung with him and the others. And now she spent all her time with the new guy. He wanted to know more about the new guy. The others didn't know it but Derik had known since he was young that he was gay. The reason he wanted to know more about the little guy that Tiff had been hanging out with was that he thought he was cute.
"Hay Tiff, you're off early", Tiff turned at the sound of Derik's voice. Her frown turned into a sweet smile as she walked over to Derik. There had been a time when Tiff had, had a crush on the older teen. And who wouldn't tall, with the big muscles that most male earth elementals developed. "Why hello Derik"? She flirted a little, which made Derik laugh. It had been the year before that Tiff had found out that he was gay. "I'm off to Pete's place. I need to finish some homework that he can help with". Derik raised an eyebrow, which caused Tiff to grin and flutter her eyelashes at him. "I'm guessing this help he's going to be giving consists of you taking his work book and copying". Tiff mock glared at him. "Why Derik you insult me, I can't believe you would think me so underhanded as to copy. Insulted I am". With a huff she walked off. Before she got to the end of the drive she turned and grinned at him. "I see you around Derik", she winked and waved at him.
Derik stood and watched her walk away. He had noticed since she had met Pete that she had started to walk with more confidence. If he wasn't very much mistaken she was definitely sashaying down the street with her long curly brown hair bouncing and gleaming in the sunlight. "Was that Tiffany you were talking to", Derik's mother asked as he entered the kitchen after his shower. Derik nodded, "Yea she was going to Pete's to do some homework". Derik's mother raised an eyebrow, she knew as well as Derik that Tiff was more likely to be copying not doing homework. "Who's Pete" she asked. Derik shrugged, "He's new, his family recently moved here. Tiff said he's a weak air elemental unattached to a circle". His mother frowned, as her back was to him Derik didn't see her reaction. "Well I got to head. I need to finish a few things up with the others".
Derik gave his mum a hug and ran out of the house. She watched her only son run off thinking about what he had said. A number of things had not added up, not that she was going to tell him. She did however know that the only circle family that had moved in the area recently didn't have a son that was an air elemental. In fact she knew that the only family that had moved recently was a fifth family. That and the Jorcher family had never been week. Her husband walked up behind her, "What's wrong". She turned to her husband with a small smile, Derik didn't know it but both his parents knew his sexual orientation. "The Jorcher boy goes to Derik's school", the pair smiled at each other.
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Pete sat with Tiff at lunch. The pair never really sat with anyone else. Tiff had told Pete that she used to sit with the other four elementals in the school. However as Pete was trying to avoid them they didn't sit with the other four. "You know they are really nice guys. And you had me fooled" Pete smiled at his friend, "Not to sound offensive. But it's easy to fool one elemental. The problem would be the Air elemental he'd know I wasn't one and the others would all know I wasn't their element as well". Tiff nodded her understanding and then got a wicked grin on her face. "What"? Pete asked suspicious of her grin. "Well in that case you could still meet, Derik, Bren and Jim. You just have to avoid Simon".
Pete just looked at her, "What did I say"? Tiff sounded defensive. Pete looked away before answering. "Think about it, if you were in a group of four waiting to find a fifth and another of your element comes along and talks to everyone but you. How would you react"? Tiff sighed and indicated she understood. "See you would feel threatened and would end up confronting the other person. And in this case it would result in them knowing that I'm a fifth. And need I remind you I'm one of three male fifth alive. And I know that the other two have female elementals. And I can't have female elementals we don't connect right". Tiff nodded they had, had this conversation a few times. "But you could still meet them, they are good guys." Pete shook his head, "No I won't get my hopes up. Not again, it was too hard to lose two. Could you imagine four"? Tiff saw the tears in Pete's eyes. In the time she had known him he had rarely spoken about the two elementals he had formed a circle bond with. "I'm sorry little one I didn't mean to upset you", she pulled him into a hug. She held him as he cried running her hand through his long silky black hair.
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Bren and Si turned and looked over at where Tiff and Pete sat. "Fuck he's stronger than I thought", Si gasped feeling the pain that Pete was broadcasting. Bren nodded, even Derik and Jim were picking up on the little guy emotions. "I hate to think what he's been through to make him feel so sad", was all Jim could say. Derik watched Pete and Tiff. He secretly wished it was him comforting the little guy not Tiff. "Tiff will take care of it she good with that kind of thing", Bren said gazing over at the pair.
As the bell rang the four got up to leave, they noticed that Pete and Tiff appeared to be ignoring the bell. "I guess some are skipping class this afternoon", Jim said as they walked to class.
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Tiff watched the four leave, Pete was still crying on her shoulder. She had watched all four of them looking at Pete. It was clear to her that they all had a bit of a crush on Pete. If you were one who listened to the talk around school it was said that all four were gay. Not that anyone would say that to their faces. They were all big strong guys. She wasn't sure about any of them other than Derik who she had court out the year before.
Pete sat up and looked around he had not intended to break down at school. "I'm so sorry, it just all came on at once", Tiff looked at him and smiled. Pete was so sweet and caring. He was worried about her when it was clear he was in pain. "It's alright, when does your brother get back"? Pete shrugged, "You should stay at my place until they get back". Pete nodded in agreement. "There is just one small issue, Derik lives next door to me". Pete's shoulders slumped, but didn't change his mind. "Are your parents in the same circle", Tiff shook her head. "No my parents are part of my dad's sister's circle. My Dad's sister is a fifth, her daughter is my fifth". Pete nodded he was pretty sure that Tiff had told him this before. "Don't worry my brothers are too young to know that you're a fifth". Pete nodded again checking the time. "We might as well head to my place then yours, no point in going to class". Tiff grinned and started to lead the way. "You are right as always. I am a little disappointed after all that effort I put into the math homework", the pair laughed as they left the school.
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It was after dinner and Derik was feeling restless. He decided he would go over to Tiff's and see if she wanted to train. He knocked on her door and her mum Natalie answered. "Since when did you knock Derik" was her greeting. Derik smiled at her, "Tiff is upstairs, she has a friend staying I'm not sure if you have met him Pete". Derik shook his head indicating he had not actually met Pete. "Well they are upstairs in Tiffs room". Derik nodded and started toward the stairs. "Are you alright Derik"? Derik turned and looked a Natalie. "Yea just a bit out of it today I guess". Natalie smiled and indicated for Derik to go up.
As he approached Tiff's bedroom door he could hear giggling. "Why don't you get it cut? Than the norms, wouldn't pick on you so much". Derik was not surprised to hear that Pete was picked on. "You would not believe how often I cut it, Nichols is the same. From what I've been told it's normal, just far more noticeable on me". Derik was confused by Pete's response. Si didn't have any hair problems. "I never knew that can you show me" there was a loud sigh from Pete, and a little squeal from Tiff.
Derik pushed the door open just as Pete cut his hair. It had flowed down to about mid back. He had cut it off at about shoulder length. "Derik, what are you doing here?" Derik saw Pete stiffen, that was not what he was focusing on though. The hair that had been cut had been burnt. The fire had been so hot that it had left no ash or smoke. "I thought Pete was a weak air not a strong fire", was his comment. "I mean I don't think Bren could control a fire like that". Pete looked panicked; he grabbed his bag from the floor. "I'm sorry Tiff I got to go", he very suddenly left.
Derik went to follow him, "Don't bother you would never catch him". Derik turned to Tiff and waited for her to explain. "He's a fifth, but he doesn't want you guys to know. You have to promise not to tell the others". Derik blinked rapidly trying to put the information together in his head. There was a male fifth in his school. "He's that one isn't he", Tiff nodded, "That was why he was so upset today and broadcasting so clearly". Again Tiff nodded, "I won't tell the others yet", Tiff was relived. "Thank you Derik" was all Tiff said.
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The first thing Pete did when he got home was call his brother. "Hay Rob can we talk", fortunately it was a time that Rob could talk. "Sure little Bro what's up", Pete quickly explained what happened. Rob sighed he wasn't sure why his brother had wanted to keep it secret in the first place. "Honestly I'm surprised you kept it from them for this long". That was not what Pete wanted to hear. However he understood what his Brother was saying. "Pete I'm going to say this once and I'm not saying it to upset you". There was a long pause. "You need to move past Tim and Darrel, maybe one of these boys could help". Pete said he understood and that he wasn't upset with his brother.
After he had finished talking to his brother he called Tiff and apologised again. Tiff had said that Derik wouldn't tell the others. Pete way lying on his bed he had been crying. He missed his parents and his mothers circle. But, more importantly he missed Tim and Darrel. The three of them had been together since they were small. And it had been wonderful when they had come out to each other. That had been the beginning of a three way relationship. Pete sighed and decided Tiff and his brother were right, what was the point of hiding what he was.
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Derik watched Pete enter the school with Tiff. He looked different it was like he shone with his own little light. Derik knew that all fifths tended to shine with an inner light. Derik also decided that Pete looked even cuter with his choppy shoulder length hair that obscured part of one side of his face. "He's looking very gay today", Bren spoke softly. "And there is something else I can't place he seems different". Bren spoke in a soft whisper so no one close by could hear what he was saying. Derik didn't take his eyes off of Pete as he nodded to what Bren had said.
"You guy see a pretty girl or what"? Si asked as he came up next to them. Both Bren and Derik shook their heads. "Nope just looking at Pete's even gayer hair cut", Bren sniggered. Si swallowed and went a little pale, the other two didn't notice. Jim did as he walked over to them. He put his arm across Si's shoulder and smiled at him. "What you dorks talking about", the three pointed at Pete. Jim whistled, "What's he trying to do make the fem gay guys look bad". The four laughed as they saw one of the fem guys glaring at Pete. Pete seemed to be oblivious to the talk about him going on around him.
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Pete was sitting on the park bench. Tiff had agreed to get Derik to talk to him away from the others. He brushed his hair out of his eyes again, that was the only problem when he cut it off it was always obscuring half his face being too short to pull back properly. He watched as Tiff approached with Derik. Derik looked both surprised and pleased, Pete smiled as they approached. "I'd love to stay and chat but I have homework". Tiff declared as soon as they were near Pete. Both boys looked at her, "Well I'll at least look at it and have a snack and I'm going now". Both boys shook their heads at her retreating back.
"Hi, I'm Peter Jorcher or Pete", Pete held his hand out to shake Derik's. Derik grasped the smaller softer hand. "Derik, but I'm sure you know that as I know your Pete". Both laughed having known Tiff it came as no surprise to both that she had spoken about each of them to the other. "I'm sorry I've been avoiding you guys, I stupidly thought I could keep what I was hidden from others". Pete blushed he was a little embarrassed by his actions. Derik's hear rate increased and he felt warm Pete was so cute when he was embarrassed.
"Don't worry about it. We were dumb enough to believe your little lies". Pete frowned at Derik's response. "Surly Simon knew he is after all what I was pretending to be". Derik shook his head, "No you were very good at not getting close enough to him.
The pair spoke for about an hour and half just getting to know each other. "So are you staying with Tiff tonight", Pete shook his head. "Well then I guess its good bye. Unlike Tiff I have homework that I need to do myself". Both teens laughed, "So I will see you around, and you know where I am if you ever want to hang out". Pete smiled and nodded, telling Derik that he would.
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Unknown by both boys they had been watched. The individuals who had been watching them didn't like what had to happen next. With a sigh the leader of the small group looked around and saw two people walking a dog. Drawing on the earth element the small group summoned three corrupt earth spirits. They then proceeded to possess the two people and their dog with the earth spirits.
The two people screamed in pain as their bodies were transformed in to large earth and tree creatures. Their dog howled as it was transformed to a stone dog. "Attack the Earth Elemental Derik and the Fifth Peter", was the command. The command was followed directly.
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As Derik was walking away Pete saw the two earth creatures come toward him. "Derik lookout", Derik ducked in time thanks to Pete calling out. For a moment he was stunned he had never seen earth creatures like this before. "What the fuck are they", he yelled as he ran over to Pete. Pete scanned the two and was revolted by what he saw. "They are humans possessed by Earth Spirits that have been corrupted". Derik was equally revolted by what Pete revealed. "Any ideas on how to take them out", Pete was prevented from responding by the stone dog jumping on him from behind. He let out a scream of pain.
Derik knocked the beast off of Pete and pulled the smaller teen to his feet. "We need them to use up a lot of power. If they are tired enough I can cleanse the people and the spirits". Derik nodded and started his attacks. Pete watched but knew they needed more. With a heavy hart he reached out to Derik. "I'm sorry Derik there is no other way" he spoke to himself as he gently started to form the circle bond.
Derik felt it as soon as Pete started. The circle bond had been described to him by others. Nothing that he had been told prepared him for how it felt. He felt his body flood sith warmth and love and power. He was momentarily stunned at how powerful Pete was. With the added power he changed his attacks from basic earth attacks to stone. "Use hands of metal" Pete yelled out to him. Derik looked at Pete momentarily confused. "Trust me it will work", Derik nodded once and used the elemental skill that he had read about but never dreamt of using. He was stunned when he summoned the earth to him to throw at the earth spirits turned into large metal balls.
The fight was quickly over after that. With the three enemies struggling to rise from the ground Pete stepped in. He focused for a moment and cast a purely fifth power. "Cleansing light" he said it to himself but Derik could hear him. As he walked over to the three, his cleansing light surrounded them. The first thing to happen was the separation of earth spirit and human. As that occurred the two people and their dog returned to normal. The elemental spirits whizzed around thankfully. It was clear that someone had corrupted them and that they were happy to be free. Pete smiled as they vanished.
"Help me with these three", the pair of them managed to get the couple to bench and sit them up with their dog at their feet. "They won't remember what happened", was all Pete said as they turned to leave. Before they left the park Derik grabbed Pete's hand and made the smaller teen face him. Derik was surprised to see tears in Pete's eyes. "What's wrong little one"? Derik spoke with concern in his voice.
"It's this, I'm so sorry. I should never have forced the circle bond on you". Pete looked down refusing to look Derik in the eye. "And what's so wrong with being in your circle. You are the strongest fifth I have ever met". Derik lifted Pete's chin up so he could look the smaller teen in the eye. "But you would never have wanted to be in a circle with a gay male fifth", Pete sobbed. Derik grinned and gently placed a light kiss on Pete's lips. "I'm gay, so I could think of no better fifth then a gay male". Pete's eyes went wide as a small smile crept across his face
"Really"? Was all he could get out. He had hoped that he would find someone someday. Derik just nodded pulling Pete into a tight hug.
To be continued
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For comments and feedback contact me at markalarner@live.com.au