Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will include t/t and m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
Things That Go Bump, Chapter 5
"A Normal Life?"
NOTE: Apologies for the use of the name Robert for Richard (and once for Austin) in Chapter 4. I think I manages to correct that here.
James woke early in the morning with the sun, and put his shorts and sweats on, getting ready to go to practice. He kissed Sebastian, who woke and pulled him into a passionate kiss, before letting him go. "See you after practice," he asked with a smile.
"Maybe," James teased, causing Sebastian to kick off the covers. "Definitely," James amended. Sebastian grinned and rolled over, revealing his delectable ass. "I'm not skipping practice," James laughed.
"Alright.... Well, I'll have Richard drive you," he said, picking up the phone and instructing the man to deliver James to the school. A few minutes later, James stepped out of the big black care at the field, just as Steve and Pete arrived.
"Nice ride, James.... Win the lotto," Pete teased.
"That's lover boy's car," Steve said, wagging his eyebrows.
In retaliation, James asked, "You guys have fun last night?"
Pete nodded and Steve blushed. When they were all down at the weight room, Steve pulled James aside. "So I drove him home last night, like you said.... I told him I thought he was cute, and asked him if he wanted to go on a date tonight.... We're gonna go a few towns over and catch a movie and dinner.... He kissed me on the cheek -- he's so adorable...."
"I'm very happy for you...."
"What about you? Sebastian is a hottie...."
"You don't know the half of it," James said, ironically. "But yeah, he's great...." Unable to contain himself and having no one else to tell, he said, quietly, "We made love, twice...."
"No shit?" Steve patted him on the shoulder.
"Yeah.... I'm definitely in love...."
"Wow! Really?"
"Definitely.... No doubt about it...."
"Cool.... I'll let you know how it goes.... You wanna hang out tomorrow?"
"Yeah, just give me a call in the morning?"
"Sebastian too, if he wants...."
James hesitated, but smiled. "We'll see...."
Toward the end of practice, the coach came in with a few of the suspended players. "Guys! These fellows have something they'd like to say...."
"James," their spokesman said, stepping up, "we're sorry for what happened at the game.... We were assholes.... You've never done anything to give us a reason to ... shit. We're sorry! Give us another chance?"
James stepped up to him and said, "You know ... and I want all you guys to hear this ... we're just guys like you.... We're not out to convert you, we're just looking for somebody to love us back.... We've got it hard, because we don't know who's who, and everybody makes it hard.... If you come out, people turn their backs on you, pick on you.... So we hide, we get lonely, and some of us end up doing stupid shit, like killing ourselves.... You guys, you guys who turned on your teammate for no other reason than he might like someone you don't approve of, well, you're a big part of the problem.... You aren't assholes, you're douche bags," he said, stepping forward and making the boy flinch. But then he smiled, "But it takes a lot of balls to admit that.... I always thought you guys were my friends, and I hope we can be again," he said, holding out his hand.
They spokesman let out his breath and shook James' hand, as did each of the guys. "If you fellows are through with your speeches, hit the benches," the coach said.
James did add, again to the hole team, "If I do catch any of you picking on guys and calling them fags, though, I will kick your asses...."
"Or his boyfriend will," Pete added with a laugh. "Little guy took down James' dad with two fingers...." Most of the guys laughed and James blushed a little at the open reference to his boyfriend.
After practice, Pete dropped James by Sebastian's house. "Holy fucking shit, dude! This place is awesome," he said, dropping his head to look through the gate. "His parents must be loaded!"
"You have no idea," James said, shaking his head. "You wanna meet him?"
"You sure? I don't want to...."
"Come on, pull up to the gate...." Sticking his head across, he had Pete push a button. Prompted by Richard, he said, "It's me, James.... I've got a friend with me...."
"Pull around, sir," he said, as the gate swung open.
"He called you sir," Pete said with a laugh, pulling around and parking in front of the garage which was open. Richard had apparently been washing the big black car. "Shit," Pete said, hopping out of his car, "is that a...?"
"Yes, sir," the British gentleman declared, "it's a Bentley limousine...."
"Can I look inside," he asked, excited. Pete loved cars, especially foreign cars.
"Of course," Richard smiled, and began talking to Pete about the car. Richard was suddenly animated, and put a hand on Pete's shoulder. "Let me show you the rest...." Pushing a button, the other three garage doors opened, causing Pete's jaw to drop. There was a red Porsche, a yellow Ferrari, and a black BMW convertible, which Richard announced was the master's 'everyday car.'
James began to be suspicious of the attention Richard was showing Pete, and how animated the man had suddenly become, talking up a storm. Also, he was being very handsy, patting Pete on the back, arm, or shoulder discreetly. Just then, however, Sebastian came outside, wearing his uniform of black pants and white shirt, but also dark glasses. In the light, his skin was unnaturally white, and James had a moment of horror, before he remembered that the sun only weakened real vampires.
Suddenly, Richard stiffened and became quiet, almost standing at attention. Sebastian smiled at him and nodded. "Don't mind me, Richard.... By all means...." Richard loosened up somewhat, not as much as before, and continued the car talk with Pete.
Finally, Pete turned, "Sorry! I'm just in love with cars.... I didn't mean to be rude.... I'm James' friend Pete...."
"I'm Sebastian...."
"James' boyfriend...." Sebastian smiled volumes at James and nodded. "Well it's good to meet you.... Great place...."
"Thanks.... So you love cars.... How'd you like to take one of these for a drive?"
"No fucking way," Pete said, so excited he looked like he might hug Sebastian. "Won't you get in trouble?" Seeing his confused look, Pete added, "You know, won't your dad mind?"
James tried not to smile as he swallowed a laugh, and Sebastian smiled, using a cover he had no doubt used many times. "I'm afraid this is all mine," he said, looking around. "My parents passed a long time ago...."
Pete looked mortified, "I'm sorry dude.... I didn't...."
Sebastian smiled soothingly, and shook his head. "It was a long time ago, and I'm used to being asked.... But the offer still stands, if you want to take one out for a spin?"
Pete looked torn between an offer he couldn't refuse and feeling like he ought to, so Sebastian prodded. "Richard can ride with you...." At that, Richard lit up with an almost grateful smile, which Sebastian silently acknowledged.
"Thank you, thank you," Pete said, almost bouncing. "Will you come," he asked Richard, who nodded, hiding his smile.
"What's your pleasure?"
Pete looked at the Porsche and the Ferrari, as if it were an impossible choice. Sebastian put a hand on his shoulder and added, "It's not a once-in-a-lifetime deal, my friend.... One for now, the other any time...."
Pete looked at Sebastian like he was his fairy godfather, which was almost right, and said, "The Ferrari...."
"Excellent," Sebastian said, nodding to Richard who grabbed the keys. "Take your time," Sebastian said. "There's no hurry.... Take her for a real spin...."
As they pulled away, James said, "He's going to love you forever...."
"Exactly," Sebastian smiled. "I want your friends to like me.... And he is a good friend.... He looks up to you...."
"Can I ask you something.... Richard?"
Sebastian smiled at him knowingly and appreciatively, stroking his cheek. "You always surprise me.... I don't think I would be so aware if I couldn't peak into people's minds.... Richard is quite taken with the young man...."
"Pete is straight...."
"These things can be so complicated.... Pete does like girls, but he also appreciates men, usually a little older than himself.... And Richard is a handsome man...."
"Tell me about Richard...."
"That is a story.... Come inside? I'm feeling a little lightheaded...."
Wrapping his arm around Sebastian, James walked toward the house. Inside they sat down, and Sebastian began, "You remember I told you I was something of a regional leader in the shadow community?"
"Shadow community?"
"The world of hidden beings, the magical world if you will.... In any case, Richard came to this country from England as a young man in 1821, shortly after this house was built.... He was human then, and he was following a girl, a girl he was madly in love with. What he didn't know was that she was a vampire, and what he wouldn't admit was that she was quite mad.... She turned him here, and one evening they were walking in the park, and she killed a man right there.... I helped track them down, and sat as judge at the tribunal appointed with the task of settling what to do with her, and with him...."
Sighing, he looked at the ceiling. "With her, we had no choice.... She'd lost her mind and was a danger to us all, so she was sentenced to die.... He was our problem, because he wasn't mad, only madly in love, and he had not revealed himself.... But he wanted to die with her.... For nights on end, I pleaded with him, trying to convince him that his life didn't have to end.... I was on the verge of giving up when he submitted to my logic.... But by then, the others were convinced he couldn't be trusted. But I pleaded for him, and in deference to me, they allowed him to live, but with the condition that he remain with my house forever, or until he found something he so devoted himself to that he could be trusted to keep his secret to protect his life.... So for the last 190 odd years, he's remained with me.... And I've never seen him more alive than I saw him this morning...."
James smiled. "So you're going to encourage him?"
Sebastian smiled. "What else could I do? He's like a son to me, and I only want to see him happy?"
"But you yourself spent so long doubting happiness was possible...."
"I want better for others.... I trained him, helped him control the urges.... In his life, he's only killed a handful, and none to be sorry over, I assure you.... He is by nature a lover.... And the vampire never took that away...."
"Not from you, either," James smiled, kissing him.
"Not even from me, not even the millennia have erased that, though I long thought...."
James sat back, eyes wide, as it occurred to him. "Millennia?"
Sebastian swallowed, unsure, but the door opened and Richard and Pete entered laughing. Seeing the serious looks, they both fell silent. "How was it," he asked Pete, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Awesome," Pete said, which infected Richard, who smiled along with him. "Wow! This place is great...." Sebastian got up and showed him around the inside -- he was particularly thrilled by the game room -- then they all went out into the back yard, which James hadn't seen yet. It was beautifully groomed, with a huge in-ground pool and a tennis court. "Holy shit.... Too bad it's too cold to swim...."
"Yeah, I like to come out at night.... With the high wall, I like skinny dipping," Sebastian said as if it was nothing. Pete blushed a little at the honest and carefree admission, which made James smile -- it was a rare enough sight.
"We should have the team party here," Pete mused half to himself.
"Pete," James said. "Why in the world? And you can't just put that on Sebastian.... Don't feel pressure...."
Sebastian nodded with an even smile. "Why do you think that would be a good idea, Pete?"
"Well, first off, it's a great place with plenty of space.... The team party isn't like a wild free-for-all.... It's a member's only sort of thing, plus girl-friends, or boy-friends of course.... It would be a nice way to build some good will, too.... They guys would be more comfortable if they met you, I bet...."
Sebastian cocked his head to the side and smiled. "I like it.... You'd make a good campaign manager some day, Pete.... You know how to win people over.... When would this party normally take place?"
"A Saturday night next month...."
"And, as luck would have it, Pete is in charge of putting it together.... Running behind, Pete?"
Pete shrugged with a boyish smile. "Not much of a budget, either...."
Sebastian's mind was at work though. "What kind of party is it?"
"Not formal, exactly, but the guys usually wear coats and ties to start, anyway. After the adults are gone, the let their hair down a bit.... There is usually a dinner with awards and stuff, then when the coach and principal and stuff are gone, just music and ... you know...."
"Indeed I do.... Let me know how many people and I'll make sure dinner is all set -- maybe a big tent with heaters out here.... As for later, there's a great sound system in the house, but if you want beer and stuff, you have to bring your own...."
This time, Pete did hug Sebastian, amusing him. "You ARE the best! Sebastian and Pete talked a little more about the party and they all went up stairs and played some games on the Wii. When it started to get dark, Pete decided it was time to go, and he was still very excited. Richard and he talked a minute too before he left, then the man drove Sebastian and James over to James' house.
"Mom! I'm home...."
"Did you have fun," she asked, coming from her room. "Oh! Hi, Sebastian...." James filled his mom in on how things were going with the team, which pleased her to no end.
"Your father came by this morning to get his things," she said. "It's over.... Neither one of us is interested in trying anymore...."
"I'm sorry, mom," James said, giving her a hug. Sebastian stood by uncomfortably.
"It was long overdue, hon.... Sorry to be so heavy, Sebastian...."
"Don't mind me," he said. But over dinner, she did mind him, a great deal in fact. She paid him a great deal of attention, and he answered her many questions as truthfully as he could. He explained his cover story -- that he was an orphan and an emancipated minor (at which she expressed her sympathy), that he homeschooled, that he was pretty well-to-do, as if the address didn't give it away, and all that. But after dinner she left them to their own devices, and they went upstairs to 'watch television,' which mostly meant talking softly and making out. But they did put a movie on, just in case.
"You don't have to host the stupid party, you know...."
"I know.... But Pete's right, it'll help people ... you know, understand better.... Anyway, what else do I have to do? I don't have a business, and mostly I read.... Why not?"
"Well, thanks.... It means a lot to me that you care enough to do this for me...."
"You're very welcome.... But I'm also doing it for Pete and, of course, Richard.... I'm going to assign Richard to help him with some of the planning...."
"You are a sneaky, sneaky old vamp," James teased.
"You know it...."
"SO," James sighed deeply, snaking his hand beneath the waist band of his pants, wrapping his fingers around Sebastian's hardening cock, "millennia?"
Sebastian gasped at the warm fingers, and chuckled. "I like this interrogation technique better than most.... Ungh...."
"Tell me vat you know," James said in a cheesy accent.
Between moans, Sebastian got it out in crude but romantic bursts. "I am ... one of the oldest left who still come out ... oh.... I saw Rome burn.... I once saw the high priest in Jerusalem from the crowd.... I saw slaves build pyramids, and I saw great famines.... My kind were demon gods in the ancient near east, feared and revered.... We held back the tides, sometimes protecting, sometimes decimating.... I was a young man, fair skinned for my people.... I was born in the cradle of civilization, in a vast city called Ur.... I was sought as a husband for many girls while I was a young boy, for my beauty and my family's wealth, but I had no desire for girls.... I never did, and I told my father so.... When I reached the age of 16, I was told I had to marry, but still I refused...." James was so entranced by the story, his rhythmic motion ceased. "At that time, the dark pestilence was over the land and the dark lords would not be appeased, so my father sent me as an offering. I was prepared and sent into the desert to meet my end. The very first night, I came upon a man. He was young, perhaps twenty-five, tall, dark skinned and powerfully built. His eyes glowed like black fire, and he faced me with arrogant authority. 'Who are you, boy?' But I was not cowed. I faced him with straight back and stated proudly, 'I am son of Nahor the Chaldean, and my father has sent me into the desert as an offering to the dark gods to end this curse....' And he grinned at me in a way that chilled me to the core. 'Why would your father do such a thing with such a delicious morsel?' And I answered, 'Because I am proud, and desire only the company of a man, and have refused marriage, bringing shame on our clan....' And he laughed, then, oh how he laughed, transforming into a horrific visage, the figure that shaped the religious imagining of my people. 'Come then, little sacrifice, and meet your god....' And I did, I walked to him, upright and showing no fear, though he could smell my fear. 'My you are beautiful.... And are you not afraid to die?' I nodded, and answered, 'I am afraid, but not to die," and I reached out and touched him. Instantly, he reverted to his beautiful manly form and kissed me passionately. He dropped his robe and ripped my clothes off, and turned me around, fucking me impatiently. But oh.... Just before we came, he sank his fangs into my shoulder and drained me to the point of death.... Only when I returned to consciousness days later did I discover that he had not killed me after all, but had transformed me.... Oh, James.... The beings I met.... No one knows how old I am, James, no one but you.... I never talk about it, but here I am, telling you all this.... I met a vampire so fierce she was a god in Egypt, Sekhmet.... I was a young vampire, she scared me terribly.... she delighted in her demonic form, never appearing fully human.... God only knows how old she was then.... Sometimes, when I dream, I still see her, and over the cold eons, I have occasionally felt her presence.... Those very old ones, you see, they are still ... out there.... But long ago, they succumbed to the darkness.... But they are only sleeping.... James?"
James shook his head, "Hmmm? Oh, I was just ... wow! I mean.... My God! How long did you stay with him?"
Sebastian laid his head on James' chest and said, "He taught me all I needed to know to get by, and a few tricks of the trade before he tired of me.... A hundred years...."
James nodded thoughtfully. "I can't imagine tiring of you," James said, stroking his chest. "Is he one of the old ones who's still around?"
"No...."
"Do you know?"
"Yes, and it's truly not a story that I feel like telling...."
James let him be. "So, roughly how old does that make you?"
"Roughly? Shall we round and say four thousand, give or take?" James was absolutely silent, stroking the hair of perhaps the closest thing to an immortal that was still among men.
"Ur? Are your ancestors famous for anything?"
"Oh, yes.... But I'll leave that to you, a little treasure hunt if you will...." Sebastian smiled as he felt the boy kiss his head. "By the way, you have some unfinished business...."
Again in his silly accent, James said, "Since you have been a good boy and told me vat I need to know," rolling Sebastian onto his back, "I vill give you a little treat...." He pulled down Sebastian's pants to his knees and licked the length of his cock, before taking it into his mouth, sucking it gently, bobbing his head and taking care with his teeth.... Sebastian started to buck his hips, driving his cock harder into James' welcoming mouth. Grunting, he shot his load across James' tongue, a little dribbling onto the boy's lips as he pulled out. It was amazingly sexy to watch the boy lick the remnant from his pink lips. Sebastian pinned him and kissed him greedily, tasting traces of his own cum.
"Mmmm," he said with a smile. "I wish I could stay with you, but...."
"I wish I could come home with you...."
"We don't want to push it with your mom...." They kissed again, and James walked Sebastian to the door. He watched the boy ride away, and closed the door, to find Maureen smiling.
"Things going well?"
"Like a dream," he said with a smile. "I just can't describe...."
He ran up to his room and got ready for bed, logging on quickly to the internet. He went to Google and typed in the name, Nahor. When he began to read the first few hits, he sat back and shook his head, in utter disbelief. "No shit," he whispered.
He jumped a little when his computer pinged, letting him know he'd just gotten an email. It was from Chris: "James! I went out with Steve tonight on a real date! He picked me up and took me to dinner and a movie.... We sat in the back row, and he held my hand! Can you believe? I wanted to kiss him when we got to my house, but I was so nervous, I only could kiss him on the cheek again! It's unreal! Thank you thank you thank you!" James smiled as he could practically see the shy boy hopping up and down as he typed.
He answered, "I'm so happy for you.... But next time, kiss kiss him! See you soon, James."