Vengeance, ch. 4
by einhard
PLEASE NOTE: This story is fiction from beginning to end. The characters don't exist, and the things they do, never happened.
Leo, December 22nd, 2000
Bishop Flanagan was standing at the altar, holding the chalice aloft. All of a sudden, somebody stepped out into the aisle, opened his shirt, and a flame shot out from this person, burning the bishop to a cinder.
Leo woke up with a start. Yikes! Please let it all be a dream!
He was in bed. Rafe's bed, and he was fully dressed. What time was it? 5 pm. That didn't make sense; it had been 3:30 when Radu left, and surely that was long ago. What day? There was nothing in the house to indicate that. Of course, the TV. He rushed downstairs and turned it on. December 22nd? A whole day since Radu's visit? Timidly, he opened his shirt. Oh, God, it was there! The tattoo, or whatever it was. He could see it plainly now. A flaming sword. That part, at least, hadn't been a dream. But the flames-in-church bit had to have been. He sure hoped the divine retribution thing wouldn't be like that.
He was hungry. Anything in the house? Nothing. Of course, he hadn't done any shopping since he arrived. His cell phone rang, and he hurried back upstairs to answer it.
"This is Leo Ghiberti."
"Hi, Leo, it's Radu."
"Oh, hi, man, it's just you."
"Just me? Were you expecting some big shot to call you?"
"Well, yeah." Leo giggled nervously. He'd been half expecting, half dreading that it would be the other Leo.
"Anyway, I wondered if you might like to come over to my place later tonight, maybe have a bit of supper, watch a movie or something?" Radu sounded a bit nervous.
"Sure. Listen, Radu, could I come see you sooner? Like, in half an hour?"
"I guess. I won't be home, though. But maybe you could come down here."
"If you tell me where "here" is, I probably could. Is it far?"
"No, no. It's downtown, quite close to where I live. I'd get away, only I sort of have an appointment. Do you know the "Narcissus" on Fulton Street? It's a private club."
"No, but I know the street. I think."
"Fine. It's # 820. Ring the bell, say you're my visitor, and they'll let you in. Oh, and wear something nice. They're a bit picky about these things here."
"Sure. See you in a while."
Leo hung up, jumped in the shower, washed and towelled himself furiously and shaved with equal fervor. A taxi, and he was at the club within 35 minutes.
He rang the bell and was admitted into an anteroom, where the most snobbish young man he'd ever encountered looked him over. Saying Radu's name only brought on a pair of raised eyebrows, but eventually he was admitted.
Inside, he almost understood the supercilious attitude of the young aristocrat. Thick carpets, more chandeliers than you could shake a stick at, waiters in striped trousers, dark leather furniture all over the place. He never knew clubs like these existed outside pre-war London. He caught sight of Radu over in a corner, talking to a young black man almost as tall as himself. Radu waved Leo over.
"Leo! Glad to see you, man! This is Calvin Peterson." He indicated the young, black giant. The two men shook hands, and Calvin excused himself.
"I'm sorry I wasn't at home, but I had promised Cal I'd see him here to help him figure out some shit in his life. So, did you get past His Highness in one piece?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was just looking at this place. I never knew there was such a club in this city."
"It's a bit much, though, don't you think? You know what kind of club it is, don't you?"
"No. Should I?"
"Maybe not. It is kinda exclusive, and the membership fees don't allow you to forget it. It's a club for gay men. Rich gay men."
"Wow! I certainly never suspected that any of that kind existed. But don't you like it?"
"Not really. Most of the guys are a lot older, and I get this feeling they don't like me. Maybe it's because I'm so tall, but I can't shake off the feeling it's because I'm don't have the right background. You know, because I'm a Slav."
"So why are you a member, then?"
"Good question. What they do offer, is privacy and creature comforts. And good cooking. When you hate spending time in the kitchen, these things matter. But you wanted to see me about something?"
"Yeah, I did. It's kinda weird. Oops, sorry!" Leo's stomach let out a loud, rumbling sound.
"Hungry, huh? Well, let me prove to you what I said about the cooking."
Radu went over to a desk, exchanged a few words with the bowtie behind it, and came back. He beckoned Leo to follow, and soon they were in a small room, sitting at a table. A waiter came in with food: Smoked salmon sandwiches, ham sandwiches, toast, caviare, white wine, stuff that Leo associated with the occasional fling into luxurious life. It was certainly not what he was used to.
"I just ordered something cold, because we can get that quick. Now we're private again, so maybe you could tell me what all this urgency is about?"
Leo pondered how to begin, then related his story. The visit from Leonardo the angel, the mission he'd received, the advice.
"Holy shit!" Radu exclaimed after he'd heard the whole story.
"Well, I guess "Holy" is right, but I'm convinced it's no shit."
"But it's so wild!"
"I guess. But somehow, I don't doubt it. And there is this." He pointed to the sword on his chest.
"Yeah, you're right. Can I see it again?" Without waiting for an answer, Radu reached over, pulled the shirt open and examined the tattoo.
"It is pretty strange. You know, it sort of flickers, like it's actually burning."
"I know. It feels that way, too. So, do you believe me?"
"I believe what you say. As for the rest of it, I'll have to suspend my judgment. But what do you think this angel guy meant about life makin' you an offer you can't refuse?"
"I don't know for sure, but I have an inkling. At least of what I want it to be." Their faces were really close now.
"What?" asked Radu, in a low voice. Leo could feel his body heat.
"You", he answered in a low voice, not trusting himself to say anything more.
"Me?"
"Yeah. You know, I felt something yesterday, and even stronger now. And anyway, this Leonardo guy told me life was about to make me an offer I couldn't refuse. What else can it be, if not you?"
Radu didn't answer, but leant a bit further forward, and their noses touched. Leo tilted his head, shut his eyes and waited. He didn't see the tears in Radu's eyes before another pair of lips touched his own. Leo felt a warmth around his heart again, but this was different from before. It wasn't the tattoo blazing; it wasn't his mission intruding in his life. This was him, responding to the fires within both of them.
They kissed long, but softly. Leo felt Radu withdrawing, and opened his eyes. The younger man's face looked like it shone.
"Let's get out of here", Radu said. "My place is only a ten-minute walk."
"Yeah, let's!"
This story is copyrighted by me, einhard, February 2001.
Any comments? You can mail me at: einhard@excite.com