Written by: Brad
Brandon stood on the curb looking up at the old brownstone building. ‘God, it’s good to be home!’ He smiled when the large front doors to ‘The Locker Room’ opened and two men exited the gym.
“Hi there! Welcome home, Brandon!” Troy called out before running over to embrace him. “Conrad told us you were due back today.”
“Hey, it’s been a while, man!” Devon greeted, pushing his way into the big man’s arms. “A hell of a long six weeks!” he griped even though his ear-to-ear grin was somewhat weakening his complaint.
“Well, I must admit it’s great to be back on familiar turf,” Brandon laughed at the younger men’s excitement. “How have things been going? Anything new?”
“Not much. You know, same old-same old,” Troy responded with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
“Did Conrad mention the ‘blackbird’ to ya?” Devon asked, then immediately looked uncomfortable when Troy punched him on the arm.
“Explanation, please?” Brandon raised an eyebrow.
“Aah, just forget I said anything, pleeease Brandon,” Devon begged, turning worry-filled, green eyes upwards.
“Let me guess. Mouth engaged before brain in gear, right?” the older man teased, well aware of the younger man having been punished in the past for talking out of line.
“Yeah, kinda,” Devon answered, an embarrassing blush staining his cheeks.
“All right, mum’s the word, kid.” Brandon landed a swat on the seat of Devon’s jeans. “I’ll see you fellas later, okay? Right now, I’m anxious to touch base with Conrad and see how he’s doing.”
With duffel bag and briefcase in hand, Brandon entered the door next to the gym, walked down the hall and stepped into the unoccupied elevator. The closer he rose to his destination, stronger grew the aroma of his favourite meal cooking. Arriving at the top floor, he waited impatiently for the doors to slide open and then, for the first time in three months, set foot inside the loft he shared with his best friend.
Brandon placed his luggage against the wall, hung up his jacket and grinned at the sound of Conrad’s approaching wheelchair. He knelt to embrace his friend and tenderly kissed Conrad’s lips. “God, I’ve missed you, old man!” he murmured. His eyes filled as he gave himself up to the older, stronger man’s encompassing embrace.
“You’ll have plenty of time to un-miss me, because I don’t plan to let you leave the loft for a least a week,” Conrad huskily responded before clearing his throat and pushing Brandon to arms’ length to look at his handsome face.
Feeling the eyes of another, Brandon turned to see a slim, young man standing in the doorway of Conrad’s bedroom, glaring at him. Brandon could just stare. The man had black eyes behind long lashes, thick blue-black hair with matching eyebrows, high cheekbones, a small straight nose and sensuous lips, presently thinned in anger. An elegant strength exuded from him.
Brandon was dumbfounded to find himself physically attracted to the beautiful creature. He felt his balls tighten and the front of his pants tent.
Turning back, Brandon raised a quizzical eyebrow. “You’ve a guest, Con?”
“Not exactly,” was the teasing response. Conrad knew what his friend was asking due to their long-time brotherhood but chose not to answer him just yet. “Bran, I’d like you to meet Raven Croix Hunter. Raven, this is my best friend, Brandon Wyatt. I’ve been telling you a lot about him over the past three months. Come and say Hello.”
‘Raven! The Blackbird!’ Brandon thought with a smile. ‘Only not a blackbird; more like a deer!’ was the older man’s first impression. He held out his hand and was astonished when the man stalked by them without saying a word and sat down at the dining room table. He was further surprised when Conrad did nothing about it.
“You must be hungry, Bran. I’ve made your favs; Lasagne, garlic bread, and a Caesar salad; served with a red wine.”
Brandon followed the other man across the room and both made themselves comfortable. Each man served himself while maintaining light conversation. That is Brandon and Conrad conversed, Raven didn’t say a word. Instead he sat there with his eyes down and a dark scowl marring what Brandon realized was an exceptionally beautiful face.
‘Besides his beauty, what in the hell does Con see in this uncouth creature? The kid obviously has no social skills,’ Brandon thought as he quietly observed the obnoxious, black-haired man.
“More wine, Bran?” Conrad asked, holding out the bottle and pouring when his question resulted in an affirmative nod. “Sorry, Shop Kitten, you know the rules,” he softly reminded when Raven pushed his glass forward, wordlessly hinting for a refill.
The meal was finished in relative quiet, as Raven’s glowering at Conrad and his unmannerly attitude made for an uncomfortable atmosphere.
“Why don’t we take our coffee out to the deck, Bran?” Conrad suggested, thus bring the meal to an end, much to Brandon’s relief. “Raven, I prepared this homecoming feast so I‘d appreciate you taking care of the cleanup for me while Bran and I catch each other up.”
As the two older men made their way out through the large French doors, the younger one got up and started gathering up the dirty dishes. Brandon and Conrad could sense Raven’s disgruntlement even outside. The noise the young man was making made it impossible to miss.
“Okay, Con! What gives?” Brandon quietly demanded, nodding his head towards the interior of the loft and the sounds coming from it.
“Long story, Bran.” Conrad smiled into his coffee cup. He was fully aware of his companion’s insatiable curiosity.
“I’ve plenty of time, but getting real short on patience!” Brandon grumbled. “When and where the hell did you find him and what in the name of God is he doing here?”
“Two days after you left town, I found him face-down, drunk as a skunk and sick as a dog, in the gutter in front of the Paradise Club where he had spent the better part of the evening knocking back one shooter after another.”
“Okay, and Good Samaritan that you are, you had to bring him home,” Brandon stated rather than asked. “So why is he still here?”
“In a nut shell? Because we needed each other, Bran! It’s just that simple,” was Conrad’s brief explanation.
“Oh brother!” Brandon groaned, leaning his head on the back of his chair and looking up at the darkening sky. Sighing in resignation and turning towards the other man, he calmly inquired. “How did you manage to get him home? Wait, don’t tell me! You persuaded Adrian and Chad to help you.”
“You got it. Not that they were exactly thrilled with the idea and even less so when Raven became a permanent part of my life.” Conrad smirked as some of their friends’ uncomplimentary comments came to mind.
“I can just imagine.” Brandon took a mouthful of coffee and swallowed it. “So why didn’t you mention this change in our living arrangements in any of the e-mails we exchanged on a daily basis?”
“I figured it would be easier to just introduce you two when you finally managed to get home. I didn’t realize at the time, that you would be gone three months instead of the originally planned six weeks.”
“Thought you’d surprise me, right?”
“And did I?”
“What the hell do you think?” Brandon was totally unimpressed with his friend’s laughter.
Turning serious, Conrad confided. “I love him, Bran. I can’t explain it, but I do. And by the grace of God, he loves me. He is a gorgeous, healthy, young man while here I am; a useless old cripple confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life.”
“What the hell are you talking about? You are far from useless and I’m sure we’ve had this discussion before. And I for one don’t consider you crippled, old man.” Brandon laughed at the other man’s derisive snort. “But, for shit-sake, Con, the kid has the social acumen of a…”
“Lone wolf?” Conrad finished. “A wild animal ostracized by the pack. Try not to prejudge him, Bran. He’s running scared. Even though he knew this day would come, your return has unsettled him. He doesn’t do change well.”
“Con?” The two men glanced towards the opened patio doors at the sound of the softly spoken name. “I finished and thought I’d let you know I’m going for a run,” Raven informed his partner.
“Wait a sec, love, while I call down and see if someone is available to go with you.” Conrad pulled out his cell-phone and started to dial.
“Give me a break, Conrad! I don’t need a babysitter!” The young man’s cheeks colored with embarrassment as he glared at the older one.
“Hello, Adrian. I got a Brat here chompin’ at the bit. Anyone down there feel up to running in the fresh air of this fair city of ours?” Conrad chuckled and snapped the phone shut. “Chad will go with you, Raven.”
“But I’d rather go alone!” Raven griped and he bestowed an award-winning pout on the physically-challenged man.
“You know the rules, Raven. You have someone with you or you stay home. It is your choice.”
“Shit, just one more stupid rule to drive me nuts. As if there weren’t already enough.” Raven’s mumbled complaints faded as he entered the elevator and jabbed angrily at the button to close the doors.
“Coffee’s cold,” Conrad announced. “Let’s go inside and get another cup.”
“What’s with the ‘no running alone’ rule?” Brandon questioned, getting up and following his friend.
“Just a precaution. There’s been a couple of gay-bashing incidents over the last few weeks.”
Brandon just shook his head and sighed his sorrow over the disheartening news.
“So, tell me about your trip, Bran.”
“Well as you know, aside from taking longer than hoped for, the first two investigations went fairly smoothly. A lot of research and footwork but both cold cases are now solved and closed. It was the third unexpected case I was unable to walk away from that proved to be so very time-consuming.”
“But with your help, the authorities finally have the perpetrator behind bars. And you must admit, you gathered a lot of fodder for your next book.” Conrad handed Brandon a fresh mug of black coffee.
“I almost didn’t take that last case due to the Chief of Detectives’ obvious disapproval, but I’m glad I changed my mind. The primary officer had since retired but still maintained his original notes and was a tremendous help. Of course, he had a personal stake in the case, as the victim was his Goddaughter. He and the girl’s family were relieved to have at long last found closure. That in itself made it worthwhile.”
Brandon snickered as he shared a memory. “I graciously accepted the Chief’s parting grunt as a sign of appreciation for all I had accomplished.” At this, Conrad joined in the laughter.
The men continued bringing each other up-to-date on the events surrounding their three-month separation. Their conversation was interrupted an hour later by Raven crashing into the loft. His frame of mind did not seem to be that much better than when he had left. He went straight to his room without saying a word.
“Raven!” Conrad called out, with the only reply that of the sound of water being turned on in the shower.
Once again, Brandon was surprised by his friend’s lack of response to the kid’s behavior.
Fifteen uncomfortable minutes passed by, before Raven appeared at the door of his and Conrad’s bedroom. He was wearing black silk boxers, his freshly washed hair flowing free of the confining braid and hanging well below his waist. He stood there shuffling from one foot to another and had the good grace to look ashamed.
“Come here, Raven!” Conrad commanded, keeping his voice low in light of the tentative expression on the young man’s face. Raven slowly moved forward but stopped a few feet from the wheelchair. “Closer, please,” Conrad insisted and, when the young man was within reach, the ex-police officer grabbed Raven’s arm and firmly guided him around to the front of the chair and unto his lap.
Brandon quietly watched the transformation taking place before him. He marvelled at Conrad’s patience and distinct understanding of his young lover.
For several moments Raven rigidly held his body upright prior to relaxing into Conrad’s loving arms. Shoulders shook as silent tears were shed and a sincere ‘I’m sorry’ was repeatedly murmured.
“You will apologize to Brandon, Shop-kitten,” Conrad sternly instructed. “First thing in the morning,” he relented when he felt Raven tense up, recognizing it as a sign of over-stretched nerves. He knew his partner’s limits.
“Who loves you, Baby?”
“You do,” came the whispered reply.
“And who do you love?”
“You, only you!”
“Not quite. Who else do you love, little one?” Conrad lovingly prodded and waited in the long drawn-out silence that followed. He was just about ready to repeat the question when he picked-up on the barely audible, “Me.” Conrad smiled and gently kissed the damp, black hair on the head nestling into his shoulder. “That’s right,” he said before rolling his eyes at the added “Sometimes!” and deciding not to push further. ‘Pick your battles,’ he reminded himself.
“We are going into our room and taking care of this appalling display you’ve subjected us to. Then we are going to bed as you are evidently over-tired.” Conrad said goodnight to Brandon and wheeled out of the room.
Brandon waited until the bedroom door closed, to get up. He took the dirty coffee cups into the kitchen to rinse out and leave in the drain-board to air-dry. He winced as he heard the unmistakable sounds of a bare-bottom spanking. Picking up his luggage, he carried it into his room to begin the arduous task of unpacking. He was home and that’s all that matter for the time being. Additional questions and concerns could wait until morning.
The End.
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