Scavengers: August (10 page)

The boy cleared
his throat. “Yes, you said that before...? Where?” he asked, while
James pretended to be fascinated by his pie. From the corner of his
eye, he saw Ira’s body shifting slightly back and forth in a
nervous manner.

“To his house,”
he answered after a moment and immediately shot James a questioning
glance, as if to make sure he didn’t change his mind during the
last five minutes.

James swallowed
as it finally started sinking in. As if telling this to someone
else finally made this mad decision a fact. Had he really agreed to
this? What was he thinking!? What if Katherine hated the idea? What
if all was about to go horribly wrong? He was uneasy about telling
anyone and now this boy would know. God, he also surely knew what
they were up to last night!

“Oh,” was all
Joshua said for a long moment and the silence became almost
unbearable before he spoke again in a tightened voice, eyes
suddenly fixed on the wooden floor. “I wish you luck then...”

Ira moved
closer to the boy and patted his head. “Still like you,” he said,
as if attempting to comfort Joshua.

James gave them
both a shy look, feeling like an intruder in their connection. He
saw Ira pulling his young friend’s head close and kissing its top.
“It’ll be all right,” he sighed, with a long face, “I’m not movin’
to the moon, you know.”

Joshua bit his
lips. “It’s not your problem. I suppose I knew it was coming one
day...” he said, but his disappointment was obvious. He didn’t pull
away either.

Clearly
frustrated by a situation he couldn’t handle well enough, Ira
stroked the angelic face with his hand as he shot James a quick
glance of assurance. “You kinda grew on me, Josh.”

“Apparently not
enough,” the boy said, his voice tight and bitter. “Don’t worry
Ira. I grow on a lot of people.”

“Would you
stop!?” spat Ira in an angry voice, his patience gone and all of a
sudden the boy broke down into tears. He turned his face away from
Ira, his body slumping in defeat.

James’ eyes
widened and he felt out of place as ever, the hair on the back of
his neck standing up in an instant. Joshua’s sob had such a heart
wrenching tone to it, the sound of dying hope. Ira blinked,
apparently unable to think about anything to say or do. He spread
his arms, looking down at Joshua, confusion clear on his face.

“I’m sorry!”
the boy said, sobbing. “I think I better go!” He stood up so
quickly he almost made the chair fall over.

“No!” said
James all of a sudden. “Maybe I should go... and let the two of you
talk about whatever’s happening here?” he added in panic.

“Sit down! Both
of you!” Ira suddenly banged the table with his fist as he watched
in frustration.

James looked
away, not moving as yet and Joshua sat down like an obedient puppy,
covering his face in a desperate attempt to stop crying. His curly
hair obscured almost all of his face as he looked down at his
shoes.

“Bloody ‘ell!”
yelled Ira, slightly pale as he shook his head and once again hit
the table accompanied by a clatter of plates. “Not gonna leave you
out like some dog, Josh!”

“No?” whimpered
the boy, looking up at him with big brown eyes while James
swallowed with relief. He didn’t know Joshua but because Ira did,
he would find leaving a boy with nowhere to live quite distasteful.
Even though seeing Ira choose him over the little angel gave him a
sense of guilty pleasure. Still, he didn’t want the boy to cry!

“No... you
think me such a man?” the host asked.

“I’m not
sure... I just suppose a man like you can have someone... like...
you know, like Mr Lord here,” the boy said, biting on his lip, a
dark blush staining his cheekbones.

“‘Mr Lord’ is
more my age, boy,” explained Ira, crossing his arms over his chest
and pouting slightly. “Ya need somethin’ else.”

“I don’t
know...” Joshua said, slouching in the chair with a tremble.

Ira exhaled
slowly, eyeing him in silence for a long moment, before speaking
again: “You ‘ave everythin’ except money and a good job. What d’ya
wanna be? Solicitor? Preacher? Writer?”

James smiled a
bit, seeing how much patience Ira had.

“I think I
would like to... write,” Joshua answered after a few seconds,
slowly looking up. “I want others to know about things that
matter,” he swallowed. “I have seen a lot of bad things happen. The
public deserves to know...”

Ira nodded as
he listened to the boy with wariness. “Ya need school,” he
concluded, gesturing towards the window.

“No proper
school would take me, even if I could afford it...” Joshua shook
his head in defeat and James felt a sudden twinge of charitability.
He could help this boy! That would make his conscience feel a lot
better.

“I ‘ave gold.”
Ira placed his hand on Joshua’s arm and watched him tentatively.
“Can pay for it.”

“And I have
connections in the right places!” said James with a sudden spree of
enthusiasm. Ira’s eyes met his and the other man gave him a
heart-warming smile.

“Would you like
that, boy?” he asked softly, once again lowering his gaze at
Joshua, whose eyes alternated between them in disbelief.

“You would do
that for me?”, he asked, his eyes tearing up again. He looked truly
surprised by their generosity and James knew this could be a good
investment.

Ira smiled at
Joshua, delicately running his fingers through his hair. “If you
tell me ‘bout your successes at school.”

“I would try
hard!” He looked at both James and Ira with obvious agitation.
“I’ll do my best if you give me this chance!” he snivelled.

“Good.” The
host sighed, straightening his back. “Will you meet me here
tomorrow? Same time?”

“I will! I
won’t fail you!” Joshua assured his older friend once again, with a
look of pure determination on his face.

Ira swallowed,
looking back at him. “Wanna move in here till we find somethin’?”
he finally asked. James could see there was a tension in his
arms.

“I could?!”
Joshua started swinging in his chair, more excited than ever.

Ira’s face
softened and he laughed while shaking his head. “Unless you still
wanna share a bed with three other boys.”

“No! I mean...
If I could live here for a bit, it would be so helpful...” He
trailed off, biting his full lips.

James smiled
discretely, feeling at ease with Ira’s actions. He wouldn’t be very
comfortable seeing him to be a brute in regular interactions. They
didn’t know each other long, but he already knew that there was a
soft side to him. Both of their nights together made him feel truly
special. It was peculiar to see him treat his former lover like a
younger brother though.

“So bring your
stuff ‘ere,” he told Joshua, rustling his curly hair playfully.
“I’m gonna come ‘ere tomorrow or the day after.”

James’ heart
started beating a little faster at the thought that Ira would be
spending this night with him again. The only thing was, he had no
idea how to organize it yet. He believed though that things would
eventually fall into place.

The young boy
nodded with enthusiasm. “I will not forget this!” he promised.

“I told you
you’re important, Josh,” the man laughed, patting his arm. “Go on,
the place is yours for now.”

Joshua nodded
with a focused gaze and after a moment of hesitation leaned in to
give Ira’s cheek a peck. He then stood up and rushed to the door.
“I’ll be back with my things soon!”

“Don’t forget
your key!” Ira reminded him and smiled at James, stroking his bald
head with content.

After Joshua
left, slamming the door behind him, James moved closer to the other
man, standing up from his chair. “Who would have thought...” he
smiled at him softly.

The other man
looked at him from beneath his palm and sneered. “Wha’?” There was
a pleased playfulness in his eyes.

James leaned in
and wrapped his arms around Ira’s neck. “What is it with you and
that boy actually, huh?” He nuzzled the older man's cheek.

“Dunno what you
mean!” laughed Ira, instantly slipping his arm over the small of
James’ back. As they looked at each other from up close his smile
broadened even more.

“He is...”
James cleared his throat, “was your lover, right?” he demanded,
trying to be serious, but having Ira around made him so happy, all
he wanted to do was grin.

“Well...” The
older man leaned even closer, nuzzling the tip of the other man’s
nose. “Figured you'd be jealous.”

James
swallowed, giving him a nervous look. “I didn’t have anyone
else...” he felt the need to make that clear once again.

“And you want
me to break it up with ‘im, yes?” asked Ira, slowly tracing those
luscious lips with two rough fingers. For some reason, when it was
just the two of them, it was easy to forget that they needed to
hide their affections from other people.

“Yes!” James
said immediately in a whiny tone. “How can you even ask...?” It
hurt him to even think that Ira would suggest something else.

“Shh,” The
other man leaned closer, silencing him with a gentle kiss. “Just
did ‘case you didn’t notice.”

“But it is as
if you considered a different option,” James whispered into his
lips, drunk on the intimate atmosphere. He heard his companion
exhale slowly, his hand reaching to James’ slim fingers. He gently
brought the hand to his mouth.

“People ‘ave
different needs,” he said in a soothing voice, brushing his lips
over the back of his palm.

“I need you,”
said James with confidence, looking into his eyes with
determination. “And I will turn my world upside down for you if
needed.” He just knew he wanted this man in his life! That as long
as he had him close, he wouldn’t feel this strange emptiness ever
again.

Ira’s eyes shot
up, studying him for the longest moment. The men were so close that
their noses almost touched, which allowed James to see every twitch
on his companion’s face. For some reason, he saw doubt. Before he
gathered the courage to confront him about it, Ira shook his head
with a sigh.

“You flatter
me, but...”

James’ heart
sank at those words and his gaze fell downward. He had made a fool
of himself! Apparently a long-term arrangement wasn’t what Ira was
looking for. Why would he ask about living with him then!? James
clenched his fists.

“Listen,” he
heard as Ira gathered him in his arms, their thighs touching. “You
‘ave no experience, you never knew other men. Not so hasty, boy,”
the older man said in a gentle voice.

“But it is you
who proposed moving in...” James looked at him, absolutely lost in
his own feelings.

“‘Cause I want
it!” answered Ira with a sigh. “Just... try not riskin’ more than
you can.”

“Oh Ira...”
whispered James with a dreamy smile, touching the man’s cheeks. “It
is too late. I am about to move in with a Jewish man I want to make
love to every night. I am lost.”

Ira blinked,
but then let out a sudden laugh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Stop it... doesn’t change anything. Does it?” he smiled. “Love the
‘every night’ part though.”

“I would hope
so...” James kissed his lips gently and felt hot air being blown
against his mouth.

“Thinkin’ ‘bout
your hot body makes me ache!” whispered the other man, looking
straight into his eyes.

“Any preference
about your room?” James finally pulled away, though it wasn’t
easy.

Ira laughed,
standing up and gazing at his new lover. “Close to yours and big!”
he said.

“It shall be
done,” said James officially and stood up, getting his clothes in
order.

“Will I get a
four-poster bed?” Ira poked his nose, slightly surprised.

“Getting
greedy, are we?” James laughed, more satisfied than ever.

Ira grabbed him
from behind, instantly lifting James with a snort. “Just wanna make
sure you’re comfy when I’m fuckin’ ya.”

The younger man
exhaled deeply, in surprise, grabbing his partner’s muscular arms
with laughter. “I believe your bed will be very comfortable!”

“Already love
my new life!” commented the other man, putting him back on the
ground again and slapping his butt.

James smiled
with a flush and a short moment later, after sorting some things
they needed to take, left Ira’s cosy home. James couldn’t believe
they were actually doing it! He felt like walking on air.

They strolled
along the riverbank, watching the dark, troubled water from above.
For some reason he felt much safer and more confident when he was
with Ira. No one was bothering them and every now and then, a
passerby gave his companion a respectful nod.

“The Johner’s
manifestation is in the city center today. I should probably at
least get a glimpse, so I know what I’m talking about when I see
the other lords tomorrow. Do you mind if we go see it before going
to my house?” James asked, as they walked into a district occupied
by the more affluent working class.

Ira snorted,
shaking his head. He looked very confident and handsome in his
leather morning coat and firm boots. Instead of a mask, he wrapped
his face with a gray shawl that uncovered only his goggles. A flat,
dark-gray cap completed the look. “Fuckin’ nutjobs!”

“I know. I have
to keep on top of it all,” sighed James. He also thought that this
crazy cult was getting really out of hand.

“Ya know Lord
Barnett?” asked Ira with a shrug as they went into a broader,
cobbled street. There were medium-sized, humble shops on both
sides, though the lack of traffic made it seem provincial. A wooden
wagon tugged by an old man in gray-ish clothes was the only vehicle
trailing along the road among numerous passer-bys, most of them in
neat but modest garb.

“Not very well.
But he’s a strange man. Always dark and serious. He even seemed to
support some of the less radical Johner agendas.” James shook his
head.