Special Needs (49 page)

“Sure.” Ryan sighed.

“Disappearances?” Liam folded his arms, searching the detectives’ faces for answers. “You mean, more than average, or what?”

“Yes. There is a pattern of young blonde girls, but that is all I can disclose at the moment.”

“We’ll keep an eye out.” Ryan reached to Liam's forearm and squeezed it.

“Do we have a fucking serial killer? Is that it?” Liam’s stepped closer to the policemen. Well, if there was one, at least he wasn’t hunting for pretty, young men. Liam always believed that those fuckers went for typical looks, average blondes, brunettes, prostitutes. He never heard of a serial killer who killed tattooed or pierced chicks.

“We haven't found any bodies yet... For now, we’re examining disappearances, and let’s hope it stays that way.”

“Don’t worry, Liam.” Ryan pulled him back.

“I just... wanna know my neighborhood, that’s all.” He gave Ryan a sweet smile before looking back to the detectives. “Is that all?”

“Yep.” Bachinsky closed his notebook and nodded. “We might come back at some point.”

“Here is my number if you think of something suspicious.” Walker passed Ryan his card.

“Sure, we’ll keep our eyes open.” Liam sighed, walking around the table. He wished the detectives would go. With the party being closed to outsiders and sex-themed, police was the last thing their clients wanted to see. He imagined that the only thing that could be more stressful would be meeting their parents in the playroom.

Fortunately, the policemen didn’t stay much longer, and soon they were free to get back to the party.

“Can you believe that?” Ryan stopped Liam from going out of the kitchen.

“What, sexy?” he said with a smile, twisting his body a bit to sit in Ryan’s lap. He could bear the braces digging into his ass for a minute or two.

“That something like that is happening around?” Ryan wrapped his arms around Liam and pulled him against his chest.

“I’m worried, but at least it’s not cute, gay guys who disappear.” Liam flung one of his arms over Ryan’s shoulders and nuzzled his ear through the mask. He couldn’t smell the fruity aroma of Ryan’s new shampoo, but he didn’t mind the touch of rubber.

“You can always find a good point, huh?”

“That’s Pollyanna for you. Think I chose the wrong costume?” Liam let his body relax into Ryan’s touch. He hoped he wasn’t too heavy for him.

“No. It’s perfect... I can’t wait to get you out of it later.” Ryan pulled Liam’s head down for a kiss and Liam smiled into his mouth. It still made him lightheaded every single time.

“Same here, but it’s still hours till the party’s over. Are you sweaty under all that stuff?” To stress what he meant, he let his hand roam over the bat sign on Ryan’s chest.

“Why, you want to lick it off?” Ryan sighed and looked up to him, his large, blue eyes full of awe at his Superman.

“I’m going to kiss you all over and later, we could take a bath in the ocean and watch the sunrise before we go to sleep.” Liam slowly gripped one of Ryan’s hands and put it on the wheel. He was curious if he could move them both in the chair.

“Yeah, like I could ever fall asleep next to you.” Ryan laughed and got the hint. It was a bit awkward, but he did manage to move forward.

“Mm, that’s my man!” Liam grinned at him, snuggling his face into the rubber covered neck. “I bet I could make you too tired to stay awake. Even if we slept together,” he added, wondering if Ryan understood what he meant. They have been together for almost three weeks now and yet, Ryan still refused they actually doze off in the same bed. It was frustrating beyond words.

“R-- What the...?” Rodney opened the door, but stopped to do a double take, to understand what he was looking at. He was in his rubber dog costume. Of course. With his face covered, they only knew who it was because they kept seeing him in the same outfit on a weekly basis.

“And what brings Patches in?” Liam gave him a silly grin. “Someone got off the leash.”

Rodney just shook his head. “Come on lovebirds. Liam, you’re coming with me, I need help with setting up the fireworks.”

Ryan kissed the side of his arm, tightening the embrace.

“You coming to the show?” Liam tried to catch his gaze. He knew Ryan had every reason to be afraid of fireworks, and he wouldn’t try to pressure him into coming, but he still felt strange leaving him alone in the hotel.

“No, I’m fine, I’ll have a look around the playrooms and stuff, do some cleaning...” Ryan smiled at him and kissed Liam’s arm once more before releasing him.

“Just don’t get dirty with those who choose to stay and play.” Liam rolled his eyes and followed Rodney out of the kitchen.

He was followed by Ryan’s laugh. “Cause that’s what I always do.”

“You guys crack me up.” Rodney shook his head.

“You wouldn’t mock us if you actually had a ride on the Batmobile yourself.” Liam tossed his red cape with playful vigor.

“I love what you guys did with his wheelchair. It’s so ridiculous it’s brilliant.” Rodney opened the walk in closet and handed Liam a box of fireworks. It was good Rod had a license and they didn't have to hire anyone for setting things up. They finally went out of the hotel and started walking towards the beach, accompanied by shadowy silhouettes dancing over the pale curtains in the windows.

The night was still young, but a few stars already shone in the sky. Liam’s gaze fell to the nearest house and he snorted.

“Can you believe that shithead? Ryan invited him over for Halloween and he said he has plans. Fucking vanillas.”

“Ha, ha! I know, right? Maybe he got freaked out by the sole idea. But the guy’s single. Come on. Live a little.”

They went down to the beach, carrying the boxes with care. This time they actually had permits for everything, so it was just a question of setting it up and making sure it was safe.

“Better tell me about the guy I saw you chatting up some time ago.” Liam opened the box next to the stakes they prepared.

“Nothing goes unnoticed here, does it?” Rod laughed and took off his mask, to work with more comfort. “I’m inviting him over next week, but we’ll see how it goes.”

“What, to your room?” Liam aligned the rocket with the stake and used the string to tie them together. “Better book it with the interest sparked.”

Rod rolled his eyes and examined Liam’s handiwork. “Seriously? I work at the reception desk. I can work it out. I wonder if he’s all talk though, or if he can bring the goods.”

Liam looked back at the stream of people, led out of the house by Fay and other staff. They would have the perfect view from the small pier, and the distance made it safe for them.

“His goods looked promising. Unless he was wearing one of those enlarging briefs. That would suck... or rather, there wouldn’t be much to suck.” Rod brushed some sweat off his forehead. “That would be pretty useless, but I’m not much of a size hunter, you know. As long as it’s not freakishly small.”

“Hear, hear! So you don't seek out guys with elephant-sized dicks?” Liam methodically prepared the firework display, but his thoughts kept returning to Ryan. He only hoped the sounds wouldn’t freak him out. Ryan wanted this party to be a blast though, so Liam was set on helping Rod get the firework show look as amazing as possible.

“Liam, let’s not go there.”

Only now, when everyone was out did he realize how many people actually came. Some were on the pier, some on the back porch, some having a laugh and running around on the beach like a bunch of little kids.

“Tell them to keep their distance,” Liam mumbled, focusing on the job at hand. They couldn’t afford any injuries, however minor.

Rodney nodded and went off to the side, to ask their guests not to come any closer. The sky was dark enough by now and Liam sighed. The only thing missing was Ryan. Maybe later tonight, he could convince him it was destiny. Batman and Superman belonged in one bed. He didn’t get it. Ryan had control over his bodily functions, so it couldn’t be that, and twitching wasn’t really anything to be embarrassed of after everything Liam had already seen. Or done for that matter.

Liam dropped to his ass, absentmindedly watching Rodney return. In the rubber outfit, he looked silly as he checked every flare with a serious face. Liam reminded himself to ask him why the hell did he even get the license in the first place. A scream made Liam roll his eyes, but when Rod looked up towards the house, his eyes widening, it became clear something wasn't right. There was another shriek. And then another. And more.

“Fire!” It resonated through Liam’s mind before he could truly comprehend it. He turned his head around and looked up the scarp the house was on. His vision blurred, as if he was watching a movie in slow motion. His chest tightened, muscles getting stiff and ready to act. Golden flames were licking up the wall in a corner room of the Victorian hotel. If he actually saw it in a movie, he might consider calling the contrast of the dark facade and the bright yellow spot beautiful. It was on the second floor, where the playrooms were located. Where Ryan was supposed to go during the firework show.

“Oh fuck... oh fuck...” Liam’s legs moved before he even thought about it, carrying him through the beach, towards the stairs that led to the hotel. There was shouting and cries, but to him, it was all muffled, as if each sound was reflected by an invisible barrier that surrounded him.

He didn’t care that he was pushing people out of his way. His eyes started watering the moment he ran into the living room. Most of the guests were outside already, so it was just a few people running past him, but he didn’t care. With his head pulsing like it was about to burst, he could only focus on one thing.

He cried Ryan’s name, blindly searching the corridor and peeking into every room on his way. The worst part was, that he hadn't heard an answer. What if Ryan got stuck in the elevator, or fainted because of the smoke? The smoke detectors beeped over him, a sharp, unpleasant sound that he tried to ignore, furiously looking for his boyfriend. He took deep, but rare breaths with the smoke teasing his throat and eyes.

“Ryan!”

He strode through the corridor all the way to the stairs, and just when he was about to run up to the next floor. Ryan appeared at the top of the stairs and stumbled down, frantically grabbing onto the wooden railing. Bent almost in half, he was coughing his lungs out. Liam’s body went lax.

Ryan opened his eyes wide when he noticed Liam’s presence. His mask was off and there were tear streaks on his face, as he must have been crying from all that smoke. He wanted to say something, but couldn't get a word across, without it being broken by coughing. Liam moved forward, his shoulder hitting Ryan’s hips, and he swiped him off his feet fireman style. Too shocked to even ask what happened, he raced back towards the exit, his hand gripping Ryan’s thighs hard enough to bruise. He stormed through the main door, but disoriented as he was, he tripped over something left on the porch. Only his quick reflexes saved him and Ryan from falling down the stairs and onto the asphalt of the parking lot. The moment of uncertainty before he regained his balance, holding a wooden pillar for dear life, had him shaken.

He stood in front of the hotel, the head-splitting sound of the alarm muffled by the thundering pulse in his ears. Ryan kept coughing, his stomach twitching on Liam’s arm, as he was trying to figure out what the hell had happened back in the hotel.

Liam got off the stairs, doing his best to slow his breathing and calm down. He carried Ryan farther away from the building, to a small bench by the hedge and dropped to one knee to help Ryan into a sitting position.

“You all right?” Liam asked, searching his boyfriends face. His heart was hammering wildly inside his chest, and even his eyelids twitched from time to time.

Ryan opened his eyes wide, taking in deep breaths, and he leaned closer to wrap his arms around Liam’s neck. “I’m not hurt... Oh God, Liam...”

“Was there... someone else upstairs?” Liam coughed into his fist, squeezing him with his other arm. The image of Ryan running was stuck in his head, and he saw it every time he closed his eyes. His mind couldn’t get around it.

“No, just me I think.” It was a barely audible whisper, especially with the deafening scream of the fire alarm.

“There’s extinguishers... I should go...” Liam got to his feet, still shocked by what was happening. He felt unpleasantly lightheaded.

“No!” Ryan cried and gripped onto his arm. “You’re not going in there!”

“But it’s all going to burn,” Liam muttered, looking to the building. It was all like a nightmare and he wanted to wake up so bad. Smoke was swirling from the open windows, yellowish glow dancing on the second floor. The alarm signal suddenly stopped, no longer resonating through Liam's skull. And although smoke was still escaping through a few windows, the fire seemed to die down.

Ryan watched the building with his mouth hanging open. Liam didn’t. He just dropped on the bench like dead weight, streaks of blackened hair falling to his face and obscuring his vision. What the hell happened?

“There are some sprinklers in there... just not all around--”

“Were you walking?” Liam grabbed the front of Ryan’s costume and forced him to look into his eyes. He didn’t know what came over him, but he just needed to understand. His whole body throbbed with anticipation, he could even feel his palate pulsing.