I was in the mood for a little h/c… There will be a sequel.
HarmIt was still dark at 4.30 am, and cold. Jade shivered under his light silk coat, hastening towards the towering steel and glass pyramid and the apartment at the top that Benten called home…
Benten. Jade hugged himself, the very thought of the albino warming. It had been a fairly quiet night, three female clients who hadn't wanted anything particularly exciting, and two men, both of whom wanted Jade to fuck them - which was unusual but very welcome tonight. He wasn't sore - well, his backside wasn't, for once, though his penis was aching a little - nor too physically tired, and he was in the right frame of mind to welcome anything at all that Benten might want to do…
His cock stirred in anticipation. Anything. Even just sleep, if that's what his idol wanted. Though he hoped Benten might feel like doing something more than that. Anything more than that. Surely at the very least they would shower, and take tea. And then - Jade swallowed and half closed his eyes; he'd been imagining it since their last meeting - Benten would take him to bed, snuggle down with him in that massive futon against the window in the rich deep blue bedroom, and they could fall asleep together as the stars paled in the sky…
Jade chuckled to himself. Hopeless romantic! His smile faded as he realised that it was true. Both parts of the statement. He'd somehow managed to hold onto the romance deep within himself, despite his line of work, despite everything that had happened to him.
And it was hopeless. Benten would never return his feelings.
Jade didn't dare look too closely at those feelings…
He shook himself. In any case, he needed his wits about him. This neighbourhood had become somewhat dangerous over the last few months. It wasn't particularly safe to walk here, though Jade thought, at this time in the morning, he should be OK, and to get to Benten's place by any other route meant going a good half an hour out of his way.
And Jade was a very fast sprinter, when necessary.
Nevertheless, he increased his pace as he navigated the narrow pathways, staying alert, listening for anything out of the ordinary.
Just as well he did…The noise had been faint, no more than a rustle of fabric or a sigh, but it was out of place and had Jade swivelling to see what it was. Eyes widening at the sight of the crumpled red and white… thing in the shadows of the alley. He paused, then found himself walking towards it, stupid, stupid, stupid playing over and over in his head. Then he gasped and raced forwards, dropping to his knees with a strangled sob.
"Merill-san? Oh gods, what happened?"
His hands hovered over the almost-naked, bruised and bloody form curled up on its side on the cold hard ground, afraid to touch in case he caused further injury. Blood-red eyes, dulled with pain, gazed blankly up at him from the deathly pale face, the bleeding lips soundlessly shaping his name.
"Wh… what can I do?... should I call the authorities?"
The tiniest shake of the head, blood-soaked white hair wet over equally white shoulders.
"… home…"
Jade could only just make out the word. He bit his lip: the bruises on Benten's chest looked suspiciously as though he had broken ribs, one wrist was swollen, and his groin and hips were covered with what looked like bites. Blood coated his thighs and buttocks.
"I… I'm afraid I'll hurt you worse if I try to move you…"
Benten held his breath, teeth gritted, and rolled onto his knees and one hand, moaning as he tried to push himself upright. Jade caught him around the waist, holding the albino as he slumped.
"Merill…"
"… home… get… home…"
Jade shrugged out of his coat and wrapped it around Benten's shoulders as best he could, then eased the fainting albino to his feet, desperate not to cause any more damage. Benten was a dead weight against him - but it wasn't too far to the glass and steel pyramid, and once inside the elevator would take them swiftly to the apartment…It still seemed to take forever, and Benten had lost consciousness for a few seconds several times before they reached the apartment. The albino almost fell through the door, dragging Jade with him - it was only with considerable effort that Jade stopped them both from hitting the floor. He kicked the door shut, automatically activating the security mode, and half-carried Benten to the bathroom, carefully easing the pale, semi-conscious man down to sprawl against the tiled wall, then swiftly stripped and set the bath water and shower spray going, not bothering to try to remove what little remained of Benten's clothes until he'd had a chance to soak away some of the blood.
The albino was drifting, trying to stay awake but shaking, with shock, with pain, with the cold: Jade had no idea how long he'd been lying there but it had to have been more than an hour, going by the amount of blood in the alleyway. Plenty long enough for Benten's temperature to dip dangerously low… But the hot tub was filling, and the water would warm him up, soothe his injuries…
Jade carefully eased torn silk away from Benten's body, biting his lip at the sight underneath. Whoever had attacked the albino must have been a sadist; over and above the bruising, scratches and what looked like brutal whip marks, there were cigarette burns over his nipples and on his groin, and small but deep cuts all over his cock.
He'd been tortured, Jade slowly realised with a chill. Someone had been stupid enough to torture Benten, and leave him alive.
He swallowed, then stroked the albino's bruised face.
"Merill-san? The bath is ready. Come and warm up a little."
Benten hooked his usable arm over Jade's shoulders, trying without success to raise himself: Jade helped him up, then supported him over to the tub, easing him down to sit in the almost-hot water. Benten whimpered, twisted slightly to the side and rested his good arm on the edge of the tub, head down on his forearm.
Jade sat beside him, a hand on his shoulder making sure he didn't fall unconscious again and drown, and wondering what to do. He was no medic: he could cope with cuts, bruises, sprains, the effects of rape - an occupational hazard in their line of work - but Benten had suffered far more than that… OK, first thing was to ease the worst of the damage - the hot water would help, there - then get him onto the bed, where Jade could at least check him over, apply analgesic gel, strap his wrist, then call for a medic if he thought it was necessary.It was half an hour before the albino pulled his head up and gazed blearily at his rescuer.
"… arigato…"
Jade pressed a finger very lightly to his lips.
"Hush, Merill. Do you feel able to get out, now? Let me get you to bed?"
The very smallest nod. Jade smiled and rose to his feet, carefully helping Benten to stand, grabbing towels, then supporting him to the bed, throwing the drying cloths onto the futon and easing the whimpering albino down to lie on them. He knelt at Benten's side.
"I need to… tend to you, Merill. I'll try not to hurt."
Benten nodded fractionally, closing his eyes, and Jade hurried to the medical kit, returning quickly with gel, bandages and an analgesic patch, which he swiftly opened and placed on Benten's neck. The albino began to breathe a little more easily as the pain receded, and Jade carefully smoothed gel onto his injured body.
He could have wept. Whoever had done this had made a complete mess of Benten's cool beauty, hurt him badly. And raped him - several times by the look of it. Jade gently eased gel into him, grimacing as the albino gasped and flinched, then kissed the small of his back, hands tender on the trembling body, the gel easing away the surface pain, soothing the gouges, the bruising and weals. Jade pushed Benten carefully onto his back, inspecting his wrist and ribs, relieved to find that the wrist was just sprained and strapping it firmly. Benten's ribs, however… well, they weren't broken, not quite. Fractured, most likely. But at least they didn't have to worry about punctured lungs.
His eyes moved lower; he took a deep breath and delicately spread a thick layer of gel over the pale, abused cock, wincing as Benten whimpered and tried not to curl up. Under the limp penis there were large circular cigarette burns on the pale scrotum, and Jade bit his lip hard. Benten must have been in agony… He carefully smoothed on plenty of gel…
"… Jade…"
The dark young man looked up from his ministrations and leaned down to catch what the albino was trying to whisper.
"… thirsty…"
Kissing Benten's cheek, Jade hurried through to the daidokoro, grabbing a bottle of spring water and hastening back to the bedroom, raising Benten with one arm behind his shoulders, the other holding the bottle so he could drink. After several mouthfuls the albino pulled back slightly, gazing up at Jade from eyes dark-ringed with pain and exhaustion.
"… thank you…"
Jade kissed his forehead.
"It is nothing, Merill-san. I just wish I had arrived earlier…"
"… sleep…"
Jade was silent for a moment, considering the idea, then nodded. Benten was in no immediate danger, and sleep would start the healing process. They could worry about who had done this later - for now, Benten needed to rest and recover. Jade pulled up the quilt, settling it as lightly and gently as he could over Benten's still-shaking body.
"… will you stay?..."
Jade stroked the pale frosty hair. As if he'd leave with Benten in this state!
"Of course I will, Merill. I'll stay and look after you. If you want anything - anything at all - you just say. Wake me if you need to, I'm a light sleeper."
Smiling painfully, with his good hand Benten tried to grasp Jade's as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.Jade was wakeful, worried about his companion, watching over him, ready to call for medical assistance if it was needed. But Benten slept, occasionally shifting uncomfortably, occasionally whimpering, but mostly soundly. Through the morning and into the afternoon, barely moving. Jade lay down beside him, slipping under the quilt, unable finally to keep his eyes open, dozing quietly beside his idol.
This hadn't been exactly what he'd envisaged…"Jade…"
The low voice filtered through his consciousness, and he jerked awake, eyes wide. By the lowering light outside the window it was evening.
"Merill-san?"
Benten lay on his side, curled up, eyes narrowed in pain, but now more aware than he had been earlier. He managed the faintest excuse for a smile.
"Thank you."
His voice had a rough edge to it, as though from screaming long and loud. Jade very gently brushed hair back from his face and kissed his forehead.
"Oh Merill… I would have given anything to have that not happen… Do you know who did it?"
He nodded very slightly.
"I will arrange… 'accidents'. In a few days, when I have recovered." He moved incautiously and winced: Jade sat up hurriedly and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Try not to move. You're hurt." He bit his lip. "Merill… how… many were there?"
The albino closed his eyes with a shudder.
"Seven."
Jade winced and stroked a pale, bruised cheek lightly. Even with his access to speed-healing processes it would be a while before Benten would be able to get back to work.
"Shall I cancel your appointments?"
Benten considered the idea, sighed irritably and nodded.
"Please. Tell everyone I will contact them in a few days time."
Jade smiled.
"And would you like anything to eat?"
The question caught Benten somewhat by surprise, but on reflection he realised he was very hungry. He nodded, and Jade piled up a handful of pillows behind the albino before sliding from the bed.
"I'll see what I can find."Minutes later he returned with a tray, another bottle of spring water and two glasses, and two bowls of duck flavoured ramen. Benten ate slowly, but with obvious pleasure, much to Jade's delight. Afterwards the albino regarded his rescuer sombrely.
"You do not need to stay."
Jade gazed at him, dismayed.
"But… Merill-san! You're hurt…"
"And I have been hurt before, and doubtless will be hurt in the future. I am… very grateful… that you found me, and have tended to me, but I cannot allow you to stay any longer. Your work…"
Jade scowled.
"Fuck the job! Merill, I want to stay. I want to look after you - just until you can move without it hurting. Please…!"
Benten was taken aback by his companion's vehemence.
"Jade?"
Jade sank his head into his hands.
"I'm sorry…"
Benten touched his knee.
"Why?"
"Because I have no right to insist."
"No, I meant, why do you want to stay?"
Jade eyed him, blushing deeply.
"Because… I care for you, Merill-san."
The albino half-smiled.
"Why?"
Jade swallowed and averted his eyes.
"Why does anyone care for anyone else? Because… I… like you, very much… I enjoy being with you…"
"I see." There was an unexpected undercurrent of amusement in Benten's voice. "Then far be it from me to say no."
Jade's breath caught in his throat and he eyed Benten warily.
"You… mean it…?"
Benten was tiring, the crimson eyes slowly closing.
"Yes… for a little while, anyway… Forgive me - I must sleep…"
Forgive you? I'd forgive you anything, Merill… But the albino was asleep again, more relaxed this time, and Jade suddenly realised how exhausted he was himself. He sighed, hastily took the tray through to the kitchen, quickly checked to make sure Benten had no specific appointments tonight - he hadn't - then returned, snuggling under the quilt as close as he dared to the albino.
Suddenly realising, with a thrill, what had just happened.
He could stay. Certainly until Benten was recovered - and longer, if he'd understood his idol correctly. And it didn't matter if it was from gratitude, pity or any other emotion, Benten was letting him stay!
He would do everything in his power to prove himself worthy. And who knows? after Benten had recovered, they might even be able to work together.
Now that could be fun! One white, the other dark, both striking… yes, he could see clients paying a lot of money to have them both together.
He'd have to discuss it with Benten, when the albino was feeling better. But for now… He yawned. He could sleep, safely, knowing no-one was going to wake him up demanding sex, or even worse, already half in him, as had happened more than once at the communal whore-house.
Oh, this was bliss…
He stroked Benten's hair then snuggled down, asleep within moments, dreaming of the next few days…
© 2004 March 7th Joules Taylor
Jade now has his own journal, should you wish to learn a little more about him...
© 2002-2004 WordWrights
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