Where It All Began - Part 9

Written by: Brad


Brandon leaned against the counter and patiently waited for the water to drip through the coffee maker. He could hear the movements coming from the larger of the two bedrooms and knew he wasn’t the only one up.

Gathering the items he needed, he set about making breakfast. He smiled at the thought of Conrad hungrily digging into his infamous Eggs Benedict.

“Only fair,” Brandon grinned to himself. “He made my favs last night.”

He turned several minutes later when a door opened and Conrad wheeled into the room, followed closely by the black-haired beauty Brandon had met the night before.

“Morning, fellas!” he called out and carried on with what he was doing. “Coffee’s on.”

“I trust you slept well, Bran. Glad to be back in your own bed, I bet.” Conrad gratefully accepted the mug thrust at him.

Brandon glanced over at Raven, who was standing tensely behind Conrad, wordlessly and unsuccessfully pleading for sign of reprieve.

A few moments silence was broken when the young man reluctantly stepped forward and lifted his head to look Brandon in the eye.

“I’m sorry,” Raven mumbled, shamefaced. Conrad’s raised eyebrow had resulted in the tendered apology. Sighing deeply, he cleared his throat and added, “I was rude last night and I know it’s unacceptable. At least, that’s what Conrad’s been trying to drill into me.” He slid back to stand next to the wheelchair, relieved the apology was over and reassured by the look of approval on Conrad’s face.

Rolling up to his place at the table, Conrad enthusiastically commented. “Just wait ‘til you sink your teeth into this, baby. You’ll not get better Eggs Benedict anywhere.”

Raven eyed the plate in front of him with distaste. He had never been inclined to try something new and this looked foreign to him. He shifted slightly as his still-tender bottom reminded him of the consequences of rude behaviour. Knowing what was expected; Raven tentatively put a small amount in his mouth and grimaced at the taste.

Brandon’s dubious impression of the young man didn’t improve as he watched Raven painstakingly scrape the hollandaise sauce off the top of his egg. He shook his head and at Conrad’s wink, merely rolled his eyes.

Getting down the last of his breakfast proved a challenge to Raven, but he did it. Then getting to his feet, he mumbled a toneless ‘thanks’, kissed Conrad and left for work.

Brandon began gathering up the dirty dishes, his disgruntlement apparent. Pouring fresh coffee into his companion’s cup, he inquired. “Tell me again why he is here, Con. And why you put up with the little snot’s obnoxious behaviour?”

“I told you, Bran, I love that particular little snot....what more can I say?” Conrad laughed at his friend’s drawn-out groan of resignation.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Raven would forever consider the following week one of his least favourites. It seemed he and Brandon both, were born adversaries. Raven felt so threatened by the man’s presence and hated having to share Conrad’s time and attention. Something he had up until now considered exclusively his.

Twice, he had gone to bed early with swollen eyes and a sore backside. The only upside to that being Conrad’s warm body spooned behind him, as his partner never left him alone after chastisement. It was during these times of privacy that Raven would go on about his fears, to find only temporary respite in Conrad’s reassurances.

Raven had also development the habit of getting up, scoffing down a bowl of cold cereal and taking off for the better part of the day.

But today, nothing could get him down. Today was special and he could hardly wait to get home and tell Conrad the news.

He rushed through the elevator doors as soon as they opened, raced across the open expanse of the loft and the outside deck. He skidded to a stop next to Conrad’s chair and began to chatter excitedly.

“Raven, you can see Bran and I were talking,” Conrad admonished. “How about showing some manners and waiting until we were finished or at least saying excuse me.”

Raven’s cheeks darkened as he glanced back and fore between the two men. “Sorry,” he murmured. His shoulders slumped and he dejectedly back away from them and re-entered the loft.

He had almost made it back to the elevator when he heard the faint whir of the wheelchair and Conrad’s soft voice calling out to him.

Conrad had seen the hurt look on the young man’s face and guilt overtook him. He went after Raven without giving Bran a second thought; his Brat came first.

“Raven, I’m sorry,” Conrad called. “Please come and talk to me, babe.” He held out his hands and was rewarded with his lover’s warm smile and even warmer body joining him in the chair.

“It wasn’t much,” Raven lied and shrugged his shoulders. He relaxed against Conrad as the wheelchair was steered back onto the deck.

“Ah, ah, ah, Shop Kitten; you know how I feel about misrepresenting the truth,” the older man gently scolded.

Picking up the smile in his lover’s voice, Raven lifted his head to look into Conrad’s warm hazel eyes and contentedly returned the smile.

Before Raven could respond, an announcement on the radio attracted his attention. “Listen to that, Con,” he requested.

“The newly decorated 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16 belonging to a well-known celebrity will be unveiled at four o’clock this afternoon.”

“It’s finished,” Raven announced with delight. “Right on time too. I came to get you for a private viewing before they take it away.” His face lit up and his black eyes were sparkling with enthusiasm. His stunning expression very nearly took Conrad’s breath away.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Conrad laughed and patted Raven’s hip as a sign to get up. “Raven, love, is it all right for Brandon to accompany us?”

“Sure, why not?” Raven was hyped and nothing or no one was going to interfere with his moment in the sun. Conrad was coming to see his triumph and that was all that mattered.

Fifteen minutes later, two men were slowly moving around and inspecting Raven’s handiwork. They were beyond impressed; they were spellbound by the genius evident in the young man’s creative achievement.

“This is a one-of-a-kind work of art,” Conrad murmured, his chest swelling with pride in his talented partner.

“Whoa, I’m never seen anything so magnificent,” Brandon sincerely stated in an awed voice as he reverently ran his hand over the hood. “I’m a classic car enthusiast and in all my travels I’ve yet to see one as splendid as this.”

He glanced up at Raven and in that moment the two antagonists found a common ground to begin building a friendship on.

Conrad sat back and just enjoyed the sight of the two most important people in his world finally discovering something that was of interest to both of them.

He smiled knowingly when Raven and Brandon stopped conversing long enough to look his way.

The End

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