Xandir woke abruptly - to find himself halfway between the edge of Captain Hero's luxurious bed and the floor. An instant later he'd landed on said floor with a painful *thud*, and half-lay sprawled on his back, blinking, lower lip trembling with hurt and surprise.
"... H... Hero...?"
Hero's head was turned away, the big man laughing self-consciously as he answered the obviously awake Wooldoor's question with a 'yes, I slept very well, thank you...'
The door opened and Spanky's voice drifted in, something about coffee being ready in the kitchen if anyone wanted it, and Xandir scrambled onto his bedroll, pulling the blanket over his nakedness and trying not to wince at the pain in his backside. Hero's face peered at him over the edge of the bed, expression embarrassed.
"Um, I'm going down for coffee, kid. See you later, OK?"
Bewildered, all Xandir could do was nod as Hero scrambled into his clothes and followed Wooldoor downstairs, leaving the young adventurer alone in the bedroom. Xandir eased himself over onto his side to try to relieve the burning ache in his arse, and curled up, hugging a pillow to his chest.
Was that it? He let Hero.... use him and all the thanks he got was to be kicked out of the bed? Was Hero ashamed of him?
What exactly had happened last night?
He curled up a little more tightly, whimpering as pain stabbed through his groin. It wasn't just the throbbing ache inside - his penis felt sore too. Then again, it had had more use last night than on any other occasion in his life: he supposed some kind of backlash was only natural. He touched it gently, wincing. So sensitive... And the blanket felt rough as well... Perhaps he could borrow something softer for tonight...
Stop dodging the problem, he admonished himself, feeling tears threaten. You had... sex with Captain Hero. And you enjoyed it.
You can't deny it.
He shook his head frantically, the tears spilling over - but deep inside he knew he had liked it, had loved the touching and licking, the feeling that someone was interested in him, in his pleasure for once. That someone cared. Yes, that was it. For a while, in the tub, he'd felt special, important.
He'd never felt like that with his girlfriend. He sometimes wondered if he meant anything more to her than a... a... bodyguard. Or something to show off to her friends. The most she'd ever let him do was kiss her - and then only on the cheek.
He brushed a hand over his eyes.
He wanted - needed - more.
Last night had been a blinding flash of revelation. And given him a peep into what was possible. He'd loved it, in spite of the pain. And cuddling up to sleep with Hero had been sheer bliss, afterwards.
But Hero had rejected him.
Xandir frowned, the tears slowing.
Or had he?
Was he just... protecting them both, keeping their relationship a secret until he was ready to tell the others?
Xandir sniffled, wiping his eyes. Yes, that was probably it. He didn't want anyone to know just yet.
But he could have done it a little more gently!
Hauling himself upright, Xandir limped to the bathroom. A nice hot shower should ease the aches and pains, then he'd go down for a nice hot cup of tea. They'd be able to find time to talk sometime today, he was sure.
By the time he'd arrived in the kitchen he'd recovered his composure, and decided to follow Hero's lead. Though Hero seemed determined to keep him at a distance, making snide remarks, laughing at him... It was the "You are so gay" accusation that really hurt, and Xandir only just managed to stop himself flinging "Well what does that make you?" back in the big man's face. He tried to make a dignified exit, but was painfully aware of the chuckles behind his back.
Well, it was hurtful. Why was Hero behaving like this? Xandir swiped irritably and miserably at the tears streaming down his face. What had he done wrong?
I must be strong... strong, Xandir. Strong...
Who was he trying to kid? Give him a danger to face, a demon to fight, a damsel to rescue and he was fine. He knew what he was doing, what was expected of him, how to behave. It was familiar, normal. But here, amongst strangers, in an alien environment... It wasn't just the unfamiliarity of it all - he could cope with that. No, it was that he had to think, rather than just react. Communicate. Talk to his companions. Contribute.
It was difficult. He had nothing of any interest to say. Nothing to offer. Nothing the others wanted to hear.
He covered his face with his hands.
He had to face it. He was boring.
Hero had watched Xandir's sweet little backside as the kid walked carefully from the communal room, telling his hardening cock to behave itself, and trying not to drool. Bad enough that he felt guilty for teasing the youngster, worse that he didn't have the guts to own up to what had happened last night, but worst of all was the knowing smirk Spanky was giving him. The pig leered.
"You gonna go comfort the kid?"
Hero shrugged.
"Nothing to do with me."
The pig leaned close, leering, his voice a low whisper.
"Oh yeah? I got a tape that says otherwise."
Cold fear punched Hero in the stomach. Had it been Cold Fear, one of his arch enemies, he'd have punched it right back, but Cold Fear was in prison, and Hero had no choice but to face his fright without the benefit of fists. Though it was tempting to punch Spanky in its stead...
"You mean... were you spying on us - I mean, me?"
Spanky grinned, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
"Cameras all over the place, and you accuse me of spying?"
"That's different."
A brief, pregnant pause, then Spanky nudged Hero in the ribs.
"So what was he like?"
"Hot... I mean, it was hot last night. That's why we were in the tub."
"Yeah, right..."
"It's true, I tell you!"
"Yeah, you just keep telling yerself that..."
"Where's the tape?"
"Hidden somewhere you won't find it. Along with his thong and your shorts."
Hero clenched a fist, teeth gritted.
"How about I take you outside and beat it out of you?"
Spanky smirked.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
Hero frowned.
"What?"
"Pain. You like giving pain. Can ya take it, too?"
Hero's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Spanky leered and slid off the couch.
"'Scuse me - I gotta go talk to Asian gibberish there about a new career..."
Distinctly off-balance, Hero watched as the pig handed Ling-Ling a business card and ushered him out of the room. The big man shook his head. No, of course Spanky was wrong! Captain Hero was the Protector of the Innocent. He helped people, not harmed them.
Yeah, like last night. You sure protected Xandir's innocence!
Hero growled irritably at himself to shut the f**k up...
Meanwhile Xandir had finally managed to gain control of himself, stem the tears, and focus on his girlfriend. Gazing at the photo of them together, he made himself remember how much he... liked her, how much she depended on him to get her out of trouble. They went together like... like... sword and scabbard. They were a pair. They belonged together.
He wished he could believe it.
But he couldn't stay here feeling miserable all day. He had to face the others. Had to join in. Be a team member. He could do it. He was strong.
He limped back down to the communal room.
There was something very odd about this Gay Test, Xandir had thought, frowning, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Were the questions a little - biased, perhaps? It was difficult to think straight with Wooldoor's warm hand pressing against his backside.
But he couldn't dispute the wood-beast's judgment. And after that, things happened too fast for him to cope with - until Foxxy pointed out the obvious. Then everything suddenly seemed so clear. Especially when that cute little guy in the funny big hat had... had... "I'm gonna welease your thwobbing member fwom its weavver pwison" indeed...
Xandir wriggled at the memory, hand sliding under his loincloth to stroke his sudden erection. It had felt different to Captain Hero's tongue. More... skilled... He slumped back against the wall, long fingers teasing himself, fondling his penis, tickling his balls... then stopping as the other memory slapped his mind hard and his erection wilted miserably.
Pac(wo)man. That... that... (Xandir blushed to even think the word) bastard. (S)he'd do it, too. And his girlfriend would never forgive him if she learned about it from anyone other than Xandir.
Foxxy had been very sensible and supportive and encouraged him to tell his girlfriend. And it made sense. His girlfriend wouldn't like it, but as long as she had Xandir to protect and rescue her, he was sure she'd learn to live with it...
Hah!
He wasn't entirely sure what was worse, the fact that she no longer wanted anything to do with him, or that he no longer had any purpose in life.
The realisation that he was, for the first time in his life, completely alone, hit him in the confession booth. The happiness and relief he'd felt on finally accepting what he was had disappeared in the face of his girlfriend's rejection, her harsh words, and he was left lonely, directionless, without purpose. Lost.
It was... unbearable. It cut too deeply for tears.
He wanted to die.
He couldn't even do that without annoying everyone...
He'd be eternally grateful to Clara for her suggestion. The genie was... was... just perfect... And now he, Xandir, had a purpose again.
Love. Was what he felt really love? He supposed it must be. He ached to be with the genie, treasured that one little touch they'd shared. Well, OK, two little touches if you counted the genie's hands laid on his shoulders... he shivered at the memory - and blushed as he hardened at the thought of what they could have done - could still do, once he'd rescued his love... the genie was something of a shape-shifter, it seemed. Could change his appearance to some extent - and quite possibly his size... well, the size of certain parts of himself, anyway...
He sighed and smiled to himself, kneeling by the pool with his sword laid across his lap, gazing into the distance. This was quite different to anything he'd felt before. It felt good.
Of course, it helped to know that his genie was probably pretty much indestructible. And he knew for a fact Lord Slashstab was only interested in females... He frowned. Now he came to think of it, his girlfriend had seemed to manage to get herself captured by his Lordship really rather more often than was strictly believable, even for the world they inhabited.
He wondered, idly, if perhaps there was something more there than he'd previously realised...
Not that it mattered now. Slashstab was welcome to her. He had something - someone - far more important. He also now had the new excitement of the quest to rescue his... boyfriend!
Clara clasped her hands together, big blue eyes gleaming happily.
"Isn't it just wonderful? Xandir's happy again! He's in love! And he won't keep us awake trying to kill himself any longer!"
Foxxy laughed.
"Well hell, yeah!" She grinned at Captain Hero over her coffee mug. "You got yourself some competition, bro."
Hero eyed her warily - there were times the mystery-solving musician was too sharp for her own good.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Suuure you do! You was playin' hide the sausage with Xandy, an' now he's gotten hisself a new love." She laid a consoling hand on Hero's arm. "But that's OK. Shit happens. You just gotta deal with it."
Hero glared at her, ignoring the mental voice that was shouting 'coward!' loudly in his inner ear.
"I'm not into guys."
"Suuuure you ain't!"
"Hey, you know me. I like the ladies. Only the ladies."
Foxxy smirked.
"An' you is in denial!"
Hero pulled himself upright, looking down his aquiline nose at the assembled women and Wooldoor.
"I don't need to stay here to be insulted..."
He flicked his cape over one shoulder and swept out of the room, determinedly ignoring Foxxy's chuckled, "Nah, you can go somewhere else an' be insulted. An' Xandir's by the pool..."
That Hero's steps led him to the pool was, of course, entirely by accident. That he ended up sitting beside Xandir was quite deliberate, though he'd deny it if so accused...
He watched the kid for a little while. Xandir's eyes were closed as if in meditation, his breathing slow and silent, expression... calm. Relaxed. Happy.
Not to mention groin-tighteningly appealing. Hero gritted his teeth and tried to ignore his burgeoning erection, trying to feel pleased, instead, that the kid had found something that made him feel so good.
Only it didn't work. To Hero's horror, he found himself angry. How dare someone - something - muscle in on his property?
He gasped silently, eyes wide as he slapped a hand over his mouth.
His property?
Oh shit.
Ohshitohshitohshit.
Damn him! Damn Xandir for being so beautiful, so naïve, so gullible. Damn him for bringing out the protective instinct in everyone he encountered. Damn him for being so innocently sexual, sensual, tempting.
Hero swallowed hard, fiercely resisting touching the young adventurer.
... it was positively sinful for any boy to have such indecently long, lush, lovely eyelashes...
Xandir sighed, his eyes slowly opening, gaze fixed on the distance. Then he turned his head, smiling at Hero.
It was the sort of smile that very nearly had the big man shoving the youth onto his back, ripping off that tantalising little thong, and fucking him senseless. Hero dug his nails into his thighs to try to regain some control over his body - no, he would not be so undignified. Or selfish.
Well, OK, maybe he'd be so selfish. But he'd do it in his own time, at his own bidding...
Aw fuck. Who was he trying to kid? He laid a possessive arm over Xandir's shoulders.
"Soooo... Happy, Playstation?"
"Oh yes. He's so handsome... and witty... and funny and charming and... and... we have so much in common..."
"You do?"
"Oh yes! I mean, we're both gay. And we both like grapes! I'm so lucky!"
Hero stared, bemused. Poor kid. Obviously didn't get out much.
"You sure you haven't just fallen for him on the rebound? After all, you just got dumped by your girlfriend."
Xandir was silent for a moment, a touch of anxiety in his eyes, then he shook his head.
"No... No, I'm sure it's love. And he said I'm exactly his type - he feels the same."
"Mmm. Pity he got himself kidnapped."
Xandir's smile faltered.
"... yes... But" he brightened again "that means I get to rescue him... That's what I do best."
Hero chuckled, squeezing the youth's shoulder.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. There are a couple of other things you do pretty well, too."
Xandir glanced at him, expression puzzled.
"Like what?"
Good. Falling in love obviously hadn't done anything to cure the kid's naïvety. Hero licked an elegantly pointed ear, making Xandir shiver.
"You did good last night."
"Oh. Yes. About that..."
Hero slid a hand under the kid's loincloth, fondling the half-hard tumescence and grinning to himself as Xandir gasped quietly and leaned back a little, allowing the big man more access. Oh yes, indeed.
"You liked it, didn't you?"
"Yes, but..." he whimpered as Hero sucked the tip of his ear into a hot, wet mouth, and slid strong fingers under the tight thong to tease the silky skin. "...but... ohhhhh..."
"Come into the house."
"But..." Xandir wriggled, his erection almost painful in the confines of his thong. Hero tweaked it, eliciting another gasp.
"C'mon kid. You don't want anyone to see you like this, do you."
"... no..."
Hero pulled his hand away, grinning as Xandir whimpered at the loss. Got ya!
"But... the genie..."
Hero nuzzled the bright hair, firmly quashing the thought that perhaps he shouldn't be taking advantage like this. Or should at least feel guilty about it... Nah. All's fair in love and war, after all...
"Don't you think he'd prefer you to be more experienced?"
"I... suppose..."
Hero stood and hauled Xandir somewhat unsteadily to his feet, stroking the erection that spoiled the line of his loincloth.
"C'mon then."
"Wh... where shall we go?"
Good question. There were cameras everywhere.
"Bathroom? Yes, bathroom."
"O... OK..." Xandir took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, following Hero as the big man strode towards the house.
Clara frowned at Foxxy over her cup.
"Captain Hero and Xandir seem to be very close..."
Foxxy grinned, watching as the pair hurriedly climbed the stairs.
"Yeah. Real close. Well, he wouldn't be my first choice, but hell, whatever yanks your chain..."
The water was warm, but Xandir was shivering nevertheless, plagued by a vague feeling of wrongness. He wondered if he should really be here. Was he betraying his love? And yet what Hero said made sense. He'd be a much better... lover (he blushed and smiled to himself at the thought of all that word entailed) if he was more experienced.
And, he was honest enough to admit to himself, he craved the warmth, the feeling of closeness, of being cherished, that being with the big man had given him last time...
He closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling of the big strong hands on his body, smoothing lemon-scented soap over him, tugging gently at his nipple rings, spreading lather over his rigid penis and under his balls: his legs nearly gave way as one soapy finger eased into his body, stroking him inside. He collapsed back against the wall, spreading his legs wide, lips parting as Hero slid a second finger into his arse.
"OK, kid?"
"Oh... oh yes..."
He whimpered as the fingers were pulled out; seconds later two hands caught his waist, lifting him and settling him against Hero's body. He shivered as the thick, rigid cock pressed against his anus, remembering how much it had hurt, but Hero had soaped himself, and the penetration was smoother and easier this time. A few slow shoves and he was fully seated, pulling Xandir's legs to wrap his waist then holding the youth in place with one arm around his back, the other hand pressed to the shower wall to help support them both.
As Hero's hips began to move, curling back and forth as he thrust forcefully up into the lean, muscular golden body, Xandir's arms instinctively slid around his neck, holding tightly as the big man's movements speeded up and shifting to try to have the massive cock hit that wonderful place inside...
There! He whimpered as Hero rubbed over the spot, feeling his own penis throb in time with the big man's pounding. A glorious pressure began to build in his groin, a feeling of heat, a tingling like electricity tickling through him, sensitising every nerve... He flung his head back, crying out as he came, creamy semen pulsing between the two wet bodies, washing away with the water from the showerhead...
Hero froze, holding the youth tightly to him as he climaxed copiously in short, hard jerks, flooding Xandir's body, faintly aware of the stickiness as semen oozed around his slowly slackening cock. God the kid was a fantastic fuck! Lovely, willing, and so responsive...
As Xandir's head dropped forwards to rest on his shoulder, Hero kissed his forehead.
"Sweet."
Xandir grinned up at him, high cheekbones still flushed in the afterglow, breathing still a little fast.
"So are you."
Which wasn't exactly what Hero had meant, but what the hell, if it made the kid feel happier... He nuzzled wet blond hair.
"C'mon, let's get clean and get out. I'm hungry."
Xandir's legs slid slowly down to support himself, somewhat unsteadily, and Hero turned him around, pushing him forwards to bend over with his hands resting on the shower wall - then ran the soap between the kid's legs, washing him efficiently, hands surprisingly gentle on the oversensitive skin. He grinned to himself as the long golden penis began to harden again. Ah, the stamina of youth...
He was tempted - but he was also hungry. His stomach won. He reached for the towel and draped it around Xandir's shoulders.
"We'll take care of that later. Let's go eat."
"Oh yes! I can make omelettes. I make a good omelette. And fairy cakes - they're good too..." The kid was practically bouncing. There were times, Hero thought to himself, that Xandir reminded him of a puppy, all legs, eyes and eager to please... And of course he'd be able to cook. All gays could, couldn't they.
"Yeah, OK. Extra anchovies on mine."
Xandir paused and eyed Hero doubtfully.
"Anchovies? In an omelette? You have them on a pizza, don't you?"
"Oh, yeah, silly me. Ham then. Ham and cheese."
"Mmmmmm...." Xandir beamed at him. "Great choice." He slid into his brief excuse for clothing and grinned back over his shoulder. "Don't be long. Cold omelettes aren't very nice."
Hero nodded, then blinked in alarm as the door closed behind that tight little backside.
What the hell...? Somehow they'd suddenly ended up sounding like an old married couple. That wouldn't do. That wouldn't do at all.
Growling to himself, Hero shrugged into his costume and stalked off kitchen-wards. He'd have to put a stop to this right away!
© 2005 May 22nd Joules
On to part 3