Fearless Leader (Juxtapose City) (17 page)

"Can you believe that?" Jake said, laughing. "Even kids these days know to copyright their work."

"The owner's kid must be in the shop tonight," Haney said, smiling around a mouthful of cheese. "That's cute."

Jake's attention was drawn by a hand on his arm.

"I need to take a rain check for that meeting," Black said in a low voice. It was obvious he didn't want the others to hear him but Jake couldn't imagine why. "Something's come up. I won't have the time."

Jake's shoulders slumped. "You promise? You're not just blowing me off? 'Cause we really need to talk."

"I promise. Another time. Maybe tomorrow."

Jake sighed. "Fine."

Disappointed, Jake shoved more pizza into his mouth. Black continued to stare at the pizza box.

It was easy to abandon the rest of the team to the baseball game. Only Bee looked up to acknowledge Calyx when he announced he was returning to his bedroom. The others couldn't have cared less what he did. It was exactly what Calyx was hoping for.

It had grown dark enough outside that the streetlamps actually served as illumination rather than as billboards for missing pet and concert notices. Calyx shut the front door behind him and quietly jogged down the sidewalk in the direction of the tram station. He had a black knit cap tugged down over his hair to hide its pale color. The rest of his clothing was dark enough to keep him inconspicuous but didn't make him look as though he were purposely trying to avoid notice. Black cargo pants and a dark green long-sleeved shirt helped him to blend in with the shadows as he ran.

Ten minutes of walking-jogging through winding, darkened streets brought him to a neighborhood he was familiar with. Here the only lighting came from those few lamps whose bulbs hadn't been knocked out by rocks. Trash blew freely across the asphalt. Those windows that weren't boarded up were barricaded with iron. It was a dangerous, malicious part of town but it felt like home. His senses were more attuned here, filtering out the emotions quickly, searching for the anger or anticipation that signaled he was about to get jumped. A single thread of worry tickled his senses and swiftly vanished. Calyx stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"I know you're there," he called out.

The shadows separated, taking the shape of a man.

Calyx smiled. "Hello, Darkness."

Black's face was dark. "What are you doing here? I thought I gave you an order not to leave the house on your own."

"How did you know I was going to sneak out?"

Black stepped further into view. The buckles on his leather jacket were the only things he wore that caught the light. "Someone sent you a message on the pizza box."

Calyx held his breath. "You knew what it said?"

"I know that a 'c' inside a circle is street talk for 'meet me'. I don't know what the dog means. I assume that indicates the place?"

"How do you know that?" Calyx asked, impressed. "Don't tell me it’s something any street cop would know. The others saw it, too, and had no clue."

"It doesn't matter how I know," Black replied in irritation. "You're not supposed to be out here. You're a dead man if you're caught by any of your old buddies. Christ, someone must already know where you live to send you that message. This could be a trap."

Calyx pulled out a pack of cigarettes and tapped one out. He stepped out of the street and under the questionable shelter of a tattered awning. The canvas blocked some of the moonlight, casting him into shadow as he leaned against the brick wall and lit the cigarette.

"Get out of the street," he said.

After a second's hesitation, Black joined him by the wall, impatience clear in the lines of his face. Calyx took a puff of his cigarette, letting the smoke slide from his lips before he spoke.

"Someone does know that I live with you boys but I wouldn't worry just yet. That's where the little pooch comes in. That dog is a symbol of my old gang mate, Razzy. Razzy won't try to hurt me. We've been friends too long for him to turn on me now. I trust him with my life."

"That's exactly what you're doing if you try to meet with him," Black retorted. "Your living arrangement is already compromised; don't be stupid and walk into a trap."

Calyx narrowed his eyes as he brought the cigarette to his lips again. "Would you care?"

"Of course."

The answer was too quick for Calyx's tastes. It was the automatic response of someone who didn't need to think about the implications of his words.

"Why?" he pressed. "Is it because I'm on the payroll now? Is it because Captain Dickhead would give you a spanking if something bad happened to his favorite fucktoy?"

"Yes," Black said quietly, stepping forward, "and also because you're a part of my team now and I don't let teammates get hurt if I can prevent it. For better or worse, Starr, I'm looking out for your best interests. Nothing will happen to you while you're under my protection."

Calyx laughed, the sound brittle. "You really believe that, don't you? You'd give your life for any of those bozos back there even if they don't deserve it."

Black frowned. "I'd do the same for you."

Calyx felt the heat of his cigarette against his fingertips and let it continue to burn as he met Black's eyes.

"I'm not worth it, gorgeous. I'm definitely not worth your life."

"Then turn around and come back to the house with me," Black insisted. "This is stupid and you know it. There's no reason for you to risk your life this way."

Calyx hesitated, torn by the offer of the words and the suggestion that Black might actually care. It was a side of Black that Calyx hadn't experienced before and it made him want to do whatever it took to encourage more of it. Having Black care about him or at least pretend to felt good. Real good.

Calyx let the burnt cigarette fall to the asphalt. It joined a pile of trash that had been blown here from other dark places around the city. Gaining Black's sympathy might feel nice but Calyx reminded himself that that wasn't why he was here. There were some things that he simply had to know and whether or not Black approved this was Calyx's chance to learn them.

"Sorry, sweetheart," he said, letting the regret slip into his voice for the other man to hear. "I've got some questions that I need answering and this is the only way I know of to get some honest answers."

"Then I'm coming with you to watch your back," Black declared.

Calyx smiled with genuine delight. "My Darkness -- so protective. You'd better watch out or I might start falling for you." He pushed away from the wall. "However I don't think accompanying me is a very good idea. Razzy will know right away that you're a cop. If he's with anyone else they'll want to pound your face into the pavement."

He should have predicted that his words would have no effect on Black. If anything, JC2's leader looked even more determined to come along. "I'll follow at a discreet distance. They'll never know."

"They will. Trust me. The streets are their domain, not yours." He watched Black open his mouth to protest and then close it without saying a word.
What were you going to say, Darkness?
He was sure it had something to do with Black's ability to read street language. But Black's closed-off expression indicated that it wasn't likely Calyx was going to get an answer. Ah, what the hell. "Tell you what, sweetheart. There’s one possible way I can see you tagging along without getting unnecessarily roughed up by Razzy or his goons. I promise you won't like it though."

"Just tell me what it is," Black said through gritted teeth, already prepared for the worst.

Calyx stepped closer to the dark-haired man and grinned down at him. "Pretend to be my lover. Razzy won't touch you if he thinks you're with me."

Black bared his teeth. "Forget it. This is just a scheme you've cooked up to give you a reason to grope me. I'm not buying it."

Calyx clutched his heart as if wounded. "Your opinion of me is so distasteful. I'm hurt." He dropped his hands and moved closer, watching as his shadow swept like a caress down Black's face. "Just this once give me a little credit, sweetheart. I'm not going to touch you in front of them. I'll tell them you're with me and they'll back off. Except--" he added when Black started to relax "-- they'll need a little proof."

"I told you: I'm not letting you grope me."

Calyx's eyes darkened. "I won't touch you in front of them. I promise. But Razzy won't take my word alone. Especially with you radiating all of these 'cop' vibes." He trailed a finger down the exposed skin of Black's throat, smiling a little when Black moved back. "The thing is, I need to mark you as mine, sweetheart. Razzy knows that I do that with my lovers. I'm a bit... territorial. He'll be looking for it. If you're unmarked he'll know we're lying."

Black's eyes narrowed. His lips tightened into a thin white line. What fun to watch Darkness fight himself.

"If you won't let me do this then don't bother following me," Calyx told him breezily. "You'll only get us both into trouble."

Anger seeped through Black's control, sharp and metallic to Calyx's senses. Calyx smiled, anticipating the outcome of Black's mental gymnastics.

"Fine."

Calyx's eyebrows shot up, his grin faltering. "What?"

Black balled his hands into fists at his sides. "Do whatever you have to do. We're meeting your friend together."

Do whatever... didn't Darkness realize he was giving Calyx free rein to be as naughty as he liked? Calyx wanted to rub his palms together and give an evil cackle. Poor Darkness. So strangely trusting.

"I can't change your mind?" Calyx asked, some long forgotten part of himself trying one last time to be noble.

Black shook his head, a muscle jumping in this jaw. "Just get it over with, Starr, so we can get back to the house."

Calyx's lashes lowered. "Don't say I didn't offer to be a gentleman."

The wall was at Black's back. Calyx pushed him up against it. The empath thought about Dickerson and he thought about Sundhill and something dark rose up inside him and demanded to be fed. Calyx took Black by the chin and turned his face away, baring the long expanse of his throat.

At the sight of that vulnerable column of flesh already marked by mysterious fingers, Calyx lost it. He surged forward and sank his teeth into Black's throat, riding the bucking body beneath him as his lips sealed over the dark skin and viciously sucked. Black's hands flew up to Calyx's shoulders to push him away but the empath had the advantage of height in this and he didn't budge. If anything the resistance made Calyx suck harder, making Black whimper and shudder beneath him.

The sound was Calyx's undoing. He groaned somewhere low in his throat and shoved Black harder against the wall until he could insert a knee between Black's legs and press it against the brick wall behind. Holding Black's chin up, Calyx lapped hungrily at the flesh he had just abused. He began making his way down, biting, licking, sucking --
branding
any flesh he touched. Black twisted against him, panting loudly, his body trembling beneath the attack. When Calyx reached the junction of neck and shoulder and bit down, Black moaned and sank back against the wall.

Black's lust rushed over Calyx like a torrent of water surging through a shattered dam. His cock hardening so quickly it hurt. He thrust against Black, driving his hips into the younger man's, seeking the matching hardness in Black's jeans.

"Oh, yes," Calyx groaned, grinding himself against Black. "Let me feel you. Let me have it all. You feel so good..."

Calyx let go of Black's chin and quickly unbuttoned the blue shirt he wore. Taut, dark skin begged to be tasted. Calyx pinned Black's hands to the wall, meeting no resistance, and ducked his head to bite at Black's chest. Black shuddered, his entire body quaking as Calyx marked him. Little sounds escaped him that were not quite moans, not quite gasps. They drove Calyx mad. Mentally, Black was still trying to resist this, but even if he wouldn't voice his passion Calyx felt it in the waves of sensation that rolled over him.

So much desire, dark and potent. Calyx ached with the force of it. His teeth closed over a dark nipple and bit down, forcing a cry from Black's lips. Pain and pleasure rippled through the empath.

"Oh, sweetheart, the things you're sending me," Calyx moaned. He lapped at the tender flesh and then bit down again, just to feel Black's lust again, just to hear the cry he couldn't hold back. Calyx growled and bit his way across Black's chest, seeking the man's other nipple.

"Enough, enough!" Black panted. "Starr... stop!"

Calyx suckled the tiny point of Black's nipple, groaning against the nub as fresh desire swept him. "Moan for me, sweetheart," he said thickly. "Let me hear that you like this and I'll stop."

Black gave a choked sound, fighting the empath's grip. Calyx released one wrist only to bring his own hand down and roughly knead Black's cock through the denim.

"Fuck! Stop!" Black protested. Despite the words his hips rolled up into the contact, pressing his erection into Calyx's palm.

Calyx straightened, pressing his entire body against Black's to hold him firmly to the wall. He put his lips to Black's ear. "Moan for me," he demanded, rubbing harder. Calyx was so hot he was afraid he would burst at any moment but he wanted this one thing. "Moan, sweetheart. Don't hold it in. Let me hear it. Open your mouth."