CLUB STORY The club was full of beautiful people. All very loud, with unnaturally white teeth flashing in insincere smiles and forced, slightly hysterical laughter. Cool stylish clothes over bodies which owed as much to the artistry of the surgeon as to nature. Tall elegant elves, slightly shorter humans. Not an ounce of excess flesh. Hair the colour of poppies, of gold, of ebony. Skin tanned to a copper glow or pale and pampered or rich brown. All jostling for attention, all aching to be seen, to be admired. Even amongst all that beauty and wealth, Fox stood out like a fragile silver angel. His impossibly long legs sheathed in a rich midnight blue fabric spangled with stars which rose to cling to his body in subtle, well cut curves. Across his thin shoulders was a stole of gossamer organza embroidered in complex swirls. His hair was swept up in little braids held with a silver and blue comb but some of it hung free to tail as a shimmering waterfall down his back. The heels he wore added almost six inches to his willowy six feet and he towered over most of the club goers. Benten lent against the wall and watched his elegant progress across the floor. To his eyes, Fox was clearly the most beautiful thing in the room. It was the casual almost careless appearance of his beauty which held the appeal. The apparently random strand of silver hair which drifted down the curve of his neck. The restrained use of make up, so artfully applied (Benten knew how long it had taken to achieve that effect.) The expensive cut of the clothes. But above all there was the gentle guileless smile and soft English accent and those gloriously trusting grey eyes. Bedroom eyes. Benten felt sometimes that he could lose himself forever in that soft silver gaze. He took a sip of his drink. Ah, he shouldn't think such thoughts. From the time it was taking Fox to return from the bar, it was obvious that he wasn't the only one to look at the elf in that way. Every second pace it seemed that someone wanted a word in his ear or to plant an air kiss on his cheek or to touch that slender arm. Heads turned to watch his passing, some showed desire, some lust, some out and out malice. Benten found it all far more amusing than the conversation around him. He hadn't wanted to come to a hot smoky club filled with people he didn't know - and didn't want to know - but Fox had begged so plaintively. Benten suspected for all his worldly airs that Fox was not truly happy amongst such artifice. So here he was, watching the elf maneuver his elegant way through the throng and wishing that. he would swiftly conclude his business so they could be out of the expensive, exquisite hell. Unfortunately, much of Fox's business seemed to be proceeded by long insincere conversations with these idiots. He would give the boy another half hour, then insist that they leave. He resumed his watch of the elves in the throng, it had become second nature now, whenever he was around elves, to gaze into those proud, lofty faces, searching. He was unsure what he was looking for, no, he knew what he was looking for but was unsure that he would recognise a family resemblance to his own sculptured features even if it was there. Near to him a beautiful black female elf laughed at the joke told by on of her clique, attenuated dark fingers played with the heavy gold hoops in her small pointed ears. On the crowded dance floor a trio of young elves danced wildly, their rainbow coloured hair and bright clothes advertising their youth. He had noticed that the easiest way to gauge the age in those flawless faces was by the way they dressed and wore their hair. The beautiful black was dressed elegantly but not in high coutier, she still had slightly frivolous jewellery and was probably the elven equivalent of her early thirties. Another elf stood by the door way regarding the room coolly. He was dressed conservatively in a well cut charcoal suit and wore his silver hair short with just a small pony-tail at the nape of his neck, he had a neat goatee beard. An older elf. His silver hair marked him of interest to Benten who found himself staring at the man searching his face for familiar features. The elf turned his head in profile and Benten relaxed, he had a spectacularly dramatic Roman nose. So did the pretty elven woman by his side. He bent down to speak in the girl's ear and she giggled and Benten could hear her scandalised "Oh Daddy!!" from where he watched. He would have known if he had been related to that man by that swooping nose. He went back to his survey of the room. Benten glanced over at Fox again, the boy was starting to look frayed, even from a distance. There was a particularly slimy looking creep hanging onto the elf's arm. They looked deep in conversation. The elf raised a hand to his hair, Benten could see the boy's fingers shake. Benten scrubbed the idea of putting up with this for another half hour, they had had enough. He started to elbow his way through the crowd. He came up behind Fox and the boy turned sensing him. The thin face lit up with a relieved smile. "Oh, there you are." He looked down at Benten. The slimeball hovering by his arm glanced across with ill disguised irritation. Then he looked closer. "My, oh my. Pretty child, I see why you were so eager to return to your companion." He leered openly at Benten. "What a delightful couple you make." Benten ignored him. "Come on." He took Fox's hand and drew him away without a backward glance. He could feel the creep's eye's boring into his back all the way across the floor to the exit. "You are naughty. You should have let me excuse myself properly," Fox squeezed his hand. Benten raised an eyebrow. "You're too soft on the creep. What was he selling?" "Oh the usual. Thank-you." Fox smiled at the cloakroom assistant as she handed him his dramatic opera cloak of heavy blue velvet. "He really wasn't any trouble." The little cloakroom assistant had become flustered at Fox's attention and dropped Benten's immaculate white coat. Benten glared at her. She stammered an apology, blushing furiously. Fox smiled down at her. Was he really unaware of the effect he was having on her? They left the club and walked down the steep red carpeted steps into the cool night air. Fox had to hold the polished brass banister in those ridiculous heels. The concierge raised his hand to summon a taxi for them but Fox shook his head. "It's a beautiful night, let's walk." "In those heels?" Benten was skeptical. Fox smiled. "Goodness, no!" He rested a light hand on Benten's arm for balance and slipped the shoes off. Reaching into the neat handbag he carried, he pulled out a small folded package which opened out, to Benten's amusement, into a pair of gossamer fine slippers. He slipped them on and smiled. "See, wonders of modern technology." They walked arm in arm down the clean, empty streets. Money could buy anything in Seattle - for a short time, in the quiet of the night, even clean streets. Without the ridiculous shoes, they were almost the same height, Fox linked his arm through Benten's possessively. Benten was disturbed by how good, how natural it felt. Security guards hovered at the junction ahead, leaning against their car. Their breath smoked in the cold air. They nodded at the well dressed pair when they passed. Looks were everything, Benten realised. They both looked affluent and at home in this AAA security area, therefore they belonged there. No matter that Fox was a computer thief of the first order or in his own time Benten had been a class 'A' criminal with a crime sheet long and bloody. They were walking beside a small ornamental pond in a pocket handkerchief garden. Fox gazed at the moon's reflection in the still water. Benten studied his delicate profile, there were shadows of worry or tiredness around his eyes. He was unusually quiet. He lent his head against Benten's shoulder. "You want to come back?" Benten reached up and stroked his cheek. "Please." The elf sounded tired. ~~~ In the shadow of an alley, cold malicious eyes watched them. When they hailed a taxi, a large dark car followed. ~~~ Benten carefully closed and locked the door and turned around in the narrow hall. Fox was standing very close behind him, watching him. It had been several months since they had been alone together. He reached out and touched the soft white cheek, Fox kissed his palm. The closed into an embrace, the heavy cloak slipped from pale shoulders. Benten ran his hands up soft velvet fabric, he could feel the boys spine, sharp beneath his caressing hands, the elf sighed and lent against him. He unpinned the soft silky silver hair which cascaded down, it smelt faintly of lavender, but overlaying that was the acrid smell of nicotine. His own white mop most likely smelt at bad. He took the boy's hand and led him through into the bathroom. ~~~ He stood under the powerful cascade of hot water, he loved the warmth drumming against his skin. He bowed his head under the spray luxuriating in the sensation against his scalp. Water streamed through his white hair and cascaded down long limbs the colour of pale honey. The shower door opened letting out all the steam. Fox stepped inside and into Benten's arms, they kissed long and deep. slender arms locked about his neck. Fox's fine silver hair plastered instantly to his scalp in the warm water, it was even longer than Benten's, it reached to the boy's hips. His skin was bone white. He ran his hands down the boy's ribs and caressed his smooth thighs. Benten felt the elf's cock rise between them. Ah, he had forgotten how pliant and responsive the slender boy was. He had also forgotten how good that beautiful body felt, though Fox seemed thinner than ever. He closed his soapy hand around the long narrow cock and the boy moaned. Benten's own cock stiffened, he was aroused by the elf's quickened breathing and obvious pleasure. Fox suddenly drew away. "Fuck me." He demanded breathlessly. Benten's jaw dropped, the elf was usually model of refinement, he so seldom swore and never, even in the depths of passion, talked dirty. He glared at Benten with desperate intensity then turned and braced himself against the comer of the shower cubical, bending forward, displaying himself like some cheap whore. He looked at Benten over his shoulder "Please, Merill. Fuck me now. I need you." Water pummeled his back turning the white skin pink. "I.. I.. don't.." "Oh goddess, please. I'm aching for you." The tone turned plaintive but it just didn't sound like Fox. Benten backed away but Fox shadowed him and he ended up against the opposite wall of the cubicle with the elf rubbing his exquisite body against him. Like an animal in heat. Benten felt as though he was drowning in that waterfall of silver hair and hot water and lust. Fox rubbed himself against the rock hard erection that ached for release. He bent forward again. "Please?" Benten groaned and reached for the soap with unsteady hands. He slid a soapy finger into the boy. "You're too tight. It'll hurt. Let's go to bed and......" "No! Now. Don't you want me?" Oh god, how I want you. "I won't hurt.." "Fuck me!" Benten shook his head but he soaped his erection and gently fingered the boy. Fox moaned, it was hard to tell whether it was with pleasure or pain. He was wound up like a clock spring and trembling with tension. Benten withdrew his fingers. He couldn't do this He was loosing his erection, it felt all wrong. Fox turned to him again, there were tears in his eyes. "...please..." Benten fled, slamming the door behind him. The boy sobbed and curled up against the side of the shower. The water pounded the glass over his head. Benten lent against the bathroom door-frame and stared back at the claustrophobic shower cubicle and the little body outlined against the glass. He was shaking. What the hell had all that been about? ~~~ He looked up from his tea as Fox entered the kitchen. The boy was wearing a white towelling bath robe, his hair wrapped in a towel. He looked pale and washed out. He sat down opposite to Benten at the kitchen table staring at his hands in his lap. He was holding a tissue and began to shred it in an absent way. Benten poured him a cup of the jasmine tea without a word. He pushed the fine china cup towards the boy. Fox took it with a shaking hand. "Thank-you." He said in a small voice. "I..... I'm sorry." "What's wrong?" Benten kept his voice gentle. Fox bowed his head. "Do you like me, Merill?" "What a strange question." Benten reached over and stroked the long pale fingers clasped about the cup. "Of course I like you." He smiled kindly. "How could I not. You are so lovely." The elf drew his hand away from the caress sharply. "That's the whole point. You like me because you desire me. Everyone wants something, my body, my skill, my contacts, my bloodline. No one wants me." He made to rise from his seat but Benten caught his wrist. "No, sit down. We need to talk about this." Fox tried to twist free of his grasp, he stopped with a sob when Benten did not relinquish his grip. "You're not running away." He stood and went round the table to sit on the pine bench beside the boy, still holding the thin wrist. "I'm the one who runs away from problems, remember?" He slipped his arm about the elf s shoulders. "What's this all about?" Fox lent into his embrace sobbing like a child. Benten gently undid the towel about his head so he could stroke the fine hair beneath. He had dealt with the boy's tears before - so very open with his emotions - Fox laughed easily but he also cried more readily than any other man Benten had ever met. It could be both frustrating and embarrassing but it was also refreshing, you always knew where you stood with Fox. It was an intrinsic part of Fox's nature, just as rigid self control was the essence of Benten's. "I'm s-sorry." Fox sniffed. "This is silly of me." He blew his nose on the sad remains of the tissue, little motes of shredded paper scattered everywhere. "No, it's not silly, what's upset you like this?" "No one likes me! They all want me for some reason of their own. I'm sick of being used." Benten opened his mouth to argue but Fox cut him off. "Everyone does it to me, everyone .... even you..." "The team......" Fox laughed bitterly. "Oh yes. Prime example. I'm a bloody valuable asset to that lot of self-centered egotists. Goddess knows how useful I am to them. I.." "I think you mis-judge them. They certainly went to a great deal of trouble for you when you were sick..." "I'm sure they did. They can't have their matrix cover bleeding all over the place, gosh, they might have to turn down a job offer." "They were worried.." "I'd be bloody worried if I had BC breathing down my neck." "You were too sick to realize how concerned they were. Don't you remember Wiley sleeping on the bed with you when you were feverish at night? She must have gone for days without proper sleep." "But.." "Hush. Listen. I care for you. I know I'm not always good at showing it but that's my fault, not yours. I should have made more time for you. Yes, there's a physical element. You are very beautiful, it is hard not to desire you but you can be self centred and emotionally demanding.." Fox's eyes filled with fresh tears. "Shh." He stroked the fine hair. "You are also charming, witty, kind-hearted and intelligent and I enjoy your company. I don't see why anyone wouldn't. What's making you so unsure of your-self?" "I don't know.." His chin trembled. "I always feel that people want to use me." He shook his head. "Usually I'm right. You know, when my mother was carrying me, a relative asked whether she wanted a boy or a girl. She replied that she wanted a computer genius. She certainly made sure she got one." "You've never told me about your family." "I didn't know you liked horror stories." Benten stood and went over to boil the kettle again. ~~~ They ended up sat in the Spartan living room on the sofa. Fox curled up into a small miserable bundle around his tea cup, Benten sat with his arm across the back of the sofa about the boy's shoulder, He kept stroking the soft hair. "Tell me." "I don't know .... It's wrong to hate your parents isn't it?" Benten closed his eyes. He had his own hang-ups about his lineage. "It depends, remember, I never knew mine." And if I ever catch that god forsaken bastard that sired me, I'll show him hate. "Oh, I forgot. You know, I don't really know Mummy and Daddy very well. They weren't there most of the time I was growing up. They're computer software R&D experts. They were always in important meetings or flying off to Japan or Switzerland or some where. They never seemed to have time for me. I had nannies and private tutors and went to boarding school." He laughed softly. "I had lots of nannies ... I was a bit of a brat." Benten smiled also. "I'll bet" He murmured into Fox's hair. "Sod!" Fox punched his arm lightly. "I was expelled, sorry, transferred from several schools. The other kids were always picking on me but Mummy didn't want to hear why I'd been in trouble. She would be furious if the school made her come and speak to matron or even the principal because of my behaviour. I learned not to be obvious in getting my own back on the bullies. Physically I was no match for them. I had to try other ways, school computer systems usually had woefully inadequate security. I'm smart." He announced, smugly. "I could think of ways to get them back which didn't involve fighting. Of course, if they found out it was me that set them up, I would get the black eye anyway. Sometimes it was worth it. Grandma, Mummy's mummy, hated me having nannies and being sent away to school. She felt that I should be with my family and if Mummy didn't want me with her, then Grandma wanted me. I spent most holidays with Grandma, She has a farm." He sounded wistful. "They have horses. I love horses." "More than computers?" "I hate computers..." "I don't believe that!" Fox sighed. "Well.... perhaps not my Princess. But I've been force fed computer science since I was three years old. It wears a bit thin after a while. And I hate what it makes my parents into. They relate better to computers than people. They bred me to be the same. I'd rather have reared horses on the farm." Benten was not convinced that the boy's pastoral vision would have satisfied that lively mind, Fox was too inquisitive to live in the back-woods for long without finding trouble of some sort. He, wisely, didn't voice his opinion. "When I was twelve.." Fox paused and swallowed, "things started to go bad at school. There were a couple of older boys who seemed to delight in making my life a real hell and I sort of got it all twisted up in my head. I stopped eating.... I don't.. It was sort of punishing myself and my parents ... I was quite sick and Mummy....." He paused again, bowing his head against Benten's strong arm. "Mummy said I was just after the attention, I suppose I was. On my thirteenth birthday ... the bullying got ... very bad ... I .... I was so ill the school matron took me to hospital. But Mummy wouldn't come and see me." Benten stroked the silver hair. In his mind's eye he could see the frightened, lonely child starving himself almost to death from lack of affection. He wondered if the boy had ever truly recovered, looking down at the fragile trembling hands, he doubted it. "And then?" He prompted softly. "And then Grandma took Mummy to court for neglect and she won custody over me. Mummy has never forgiven her." "And you were caught in the middle?" The elf nodded. "Poor little rich kid." He sounded bitter. Benten bent down and kissed the top of the silver head. "But you are free of all that now." "Oh yes, now I'm free to mess up my own life. Free to watch the faces of rich women or dirty old men, knowing that all they want is a good fuck, not me, just my body." Benten scowled. unsure where this new topic had come from but suspecting that it was what Fox really wanted to talk about. "I don't just want your body.." "Oh!" Fox puffed away from him, huddling on the edge of the sofa. "I know it's just ... I saw them all tonight. I saw the lust in their eyes. I felt their soft hands on me. It's been like that all my life Even before I knew what they wanted, even before .... Even when I was a child. Friends of my parents. People they worked with. Rich, dirty old men with their clammy hands and alcoholic breath. They would pat my head, they would touch me. None of them would dare go too far, Mummy would have killed them: they were all scared of Mummy, At school it was the older boys they wanted me to..... When I wouldn't they started taking it out of my hide. Some of them I would never dare be alone with..... and some of the teachers. You run out of excuses after a while." He was shaking. Benten took his shoulders and tried to hold him but Fox pulled away again. "No, please, don't touch me. Oh god how often have I asked that? And still those clammy hands .... and it always hurts......" Benten looked down at the boy, appalled. How many times...... His mind reeled. It always hurt. "It hurts when we... when I?" Fox raised his head. "Not every time. It's alright.. " "It is most certainly is not 'alright.' Why didn't you tell me? There are other ways, other things.." Fox shook his head. "I like being with you. I like to feel you inside me, it makes me feel ... cherished. Wanted. It doesn't hurt much." "Oh child. Loving shouldn't hurt at all. Come here." Fox let himself be embraced. Benten wanted desperately to wipe all the pain from the boy's memories of the past but there was too much, too deeply etched into his soul to be removed be kind words and cuddles. He knew that better than most. He wanted desperately to reassure Fox that he knew how it felt to be abused but he hadn't the courage to confess to the boy. "I'm tired, Benten." "Do you want me to sleep out here?" He almost wished the boy would say yes.. "Please, I don't want to sleep alone..." Benten looked uncertain. Then he nodded and extended his hand. Fox took it, like a little boy. They went into the bedroom. ~~~ The elf was asleep in his arms. Benten lay still, staring at the moon, framed like an ancient print, in the bedroom window. He felt sick in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't deal with this. He had to deal with it. There was no one else. He had been too deep in his own well of self pity for too long. He had to start to climb out of it now because the boy needed his help, his support, but he had no idea of how to help him. He had never been able to heir) himself. He supposed that listening was a way to start. He was suddenly very disturbed by the little act in the shower. And Fox was too, too thin. There was something he wasn't telling Benten. He watched the moon's slow crawl. Sleep was a long time coming. ~~~ Fox lay on his side. The futon was a little hard for his bony hips, he preferred a softer bed. Benten had gone off into the bathroom, he could hear the shower running. The sound brought back unwelcome thoughts, he could feel his face flush with shame. Kemp) would be furious - but there was no way Fox was going to try to initiate another sexual encounter with Benten. He buried hid head in the pillow. Oh goddess. He'd never be able to look him in the eye again. He would have to find someone though and soon. Kemp wouldn't wait long, he wanted the recording from his new little high tech toy, he wanted it now. Fox would have rather it been someone he knew wouldn't deliberately hurt him. But he had made enough contacts at the party. one of those would have to do. He wanted to sneak out, now would be a good time while the other man was occupied with his toilette. He rose and slid open the wardrobe door. His spare clothes were easy to spot amidst Benten's row upon row of immaculate white shirts. jackets and trousers. He lifted out a pair of black leggings and a fine silk T-shirt. The weather had been warmer when he had left them here, still. he was only going to take a taxi home and anything would be better than wearing yesterdays velvet extravaganza again. He became aware of Benten standing in the doorway watching him. He dressed hurriedly. ~~~ Benten shook his head, the little elf was definitely thinner than ever. It couldn't be healthy and the black leggings made him look even worse. the T-shirt hung off him. He went through to the kitchen and emptied the tea leaves in the teapot down the waste disposal unit. "Do you want breakfast?" He enquired. "Um.. no sorry I must dash." Fox was already wrapping his huge cloak about him. He hovered near the door, ready to bolt. Benten moved towards Fox but he shook his head. "No really. I must go." He all but ran from the room. Benten heard him fumble with the locks and then the door slammed and he was alone. Benten rested his hands against the edge of the sink staring down at the mess in the waste disposal. he turned on the water and sluiced it all away. The machine made a satisfying grinding noise. He wished that tidying up Fox was as simple. ~~~ Benten tried to 'phone Fox that evening. There was no reply. ~~~ Kemp was delighted with the recording. "Yeh. the little transmitter worked a treat. 'Corse, it's not as good as a studio recording. But who cares. it's so raw. So direct. This is the sim-sense of the future, pretty boy. You're a natural y'know. I'd still like a recording with your beautiful companion from Sissy's little party. Next time maybe?" "There isn't going to be a next time." "We'll see." Kemp smirked and cut the connection. Fox stared at the screen, he fought back the tears. How could he have been so foolish as to hope, of course Kemp hadn't finished with him. He curled up on the bed cuddling a hot water bottle. The phone rang again, he rolled over and ignored it. The answerphone whirred into life. It was Benten. Again. It was unlike Benten to be so ... insistant. He was usually so aloof. Fox closed his eyes and fought the urge to pick up the receiver. He desperately wanted Benten, wanted someone. He would have to lie low until the bruises faded. The phone went dead and he was left alone in his misery. He cried himself to sleep.