Falsehoods and Pharmaceuticals - 18+

February 4, 2014

The man behind the desk glared at the phone as he hung up. Staring at the gold band on his left hand he blew out a breath. His wife had called in the middle of work to argue with him about how she suddenly wanted another baby. Tugging at his tie, he stared at the ceiling, He'd thought they had put this crap behind them after their son, Christopher, had been born. Chris was seven now and spending his first year in boarding school. Maybe Allie was just restless without their boy around to care for. He'd talk to her about picking up another charity when he got home. She could work with orphans or something. That should clear up this baby nonsense.

With a frustrated sigh, the man pulled his attention back to his work. A stack of papers sat on the large desk waiting to be sorted and the quarterly budget reports the department heads had sent him still needed to be reviewed and approved before lunch. He sipped at his tea as he focused on getting through his mountain of paperwork.

A knock at the door to his office forced him to drag his slate gray eyes away from the monitor once more. "Enter," He growled in a crisp voice.

The man who stepped into the office was younger than him by several years. There was a long white coat over his shirt and tie, slightly rumpled as if he had slept in it. "I've been looking for you, Hunt. I thought you were coming down to the labs today?" His smile made him look even younger, almost boyish. He closed the door behind him before crossing the room and plopping down in one of the comfortably upholstered chairs, propping his feet on the large desk.

Hunter pushed his chair back as he stood. Walking around to where the younger man sat, he reached over and shoved his feet off the desk before propping himself against its edge directly across from the seated dark haired man who grunted as his feet hit the floor. He folded his arms across his chest. "Don't just make yourself comfortable in other peoples offices. What did you want, Quinn?"

"Touchy, geez. Do I need a reason to visit my favorite boss?" Quinn smirked. Hunter raised an eyebrow. The younger man affected a small pout before continuing. "There is a rumor going around the lab that there is someone new coming in. I came to find out if it was true."

"You came all the way up here to verify a rumor?" Hunter's voice was disbelieving.

"Well...I also brought this." Quinn held up a folder, waving it in the air before leaning forward to place it on the desk next to the man propped up before him. Leaning this far forward he had to tilt his head back to look up the length of Hunter's tall lean body in order to meet his eyes. He held the position and his grin. "Also, I was wondering what your plans were for lunch?"

The older man man ignored him, instead picking up the folder and scanning through its contents. Quinn was a lab tech working with one of their teams on a new drug. It had been promising so far and he had been expecting the results of the latest round of tests at some point today. Quinn shifted impatiently and Hunter glanced over the open folder at him with a disinterested look. "I'll be working through lunch today." He sighed.

"You sound stressed. Want to 'talk' about it?" Quinn's tone made 'talk' sound like something else entirely. Cupping a hand under the mans chin, Hunter pulled Quinn to his feet, making him strain to past his natural height until the two were eye to eye.

There was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he looked the younger man over before leaning to whisper in the his ear. "Quinn?" Hunter crooned softly. The younger man swallowed loudly before nodding. "Tell Johnson to continue on schedule as planned." He used the grip he had on Quinn's chin to he ease the man out of his personal space before releasing him. Dismissing the man entirely, Hunter moved to sit back down in his chair and started going through reports once more.

After a few moments Quinn gathered himself back together and straightened his long jacket. "Sure thing, boss man." He grumbled before turning and stalking back out of the office.

Hunter looked up in time to see the dark haired man unlock the office door before letting himself back out. He huffed out a breath as he focused on the computer screen. Presumptuous, as always. Well after he was gone, Hunter realized that he hadn't actually answered Quinn about the rumor. There was someone new coming. He hadn't bothered to look into it very far. He'd find out who it was soon enough. He just couldn't be bothered to work up the effort to be curious about it right now. It had been a while since the company he worked for had put anyone interesting on the payroll. The last had been Quinn and he had grown bored of amusing himself with the slender lab tech already. He didn't plan on making that mistake again. Besides, what little he had heard placed the new man at around his own age. Hunter frowned over his files, considering it. Where was the fun in that?

February 5, 2014

"Daddy!" the girlish shriek pierced the air as he walked through the foyer of his house. David smiled as he put his briefcase down, arms extended to catch the whirling dervish of frilly dress and pink lace, lifting her high into his arms. He extended his cheek for a kiss, his daughter balanced in one arm, leaning sideways to pick his briefcase back up, before heading out to the garden where he knew his wife would be, listening while his daughter chatted happily about her day.

He walked out to the garden, noticing that his wife wasn't there, "Alexi honey, where's mummy?" he asked his daughter, shifting her weight in his arms. "Oh, mumma is in the pool" she replied, and continued chatting, her girlish voice lilting gently. David was only half listening, nodding and smiling and making noises of agreement in all the right places. The smile was on his face for a slightly different reason though; he knew why his wife was spending more time in the pool.

As he rounded the garden hedge, the reason was there, with his it's shirt off as it slowly maneuvered the pool cleaner through the crystal waters of the swimming pool. Karen was lying on one of the sunbeds in a barely there white bikini, sunglasses and hat covering her face, but he knew her eyes would be following every movement those muscled shoulders made; hell, he was even following those shoulders. He called out to her, "Karen darling, I'm home!" bending to deposit his daughter on the ground so that she could run to her mother. He studiously avoided making eye contact with the pool "boy" as he came and sat next to his wife.

She pulled the sunglasses down and gave him a smile as she looked up at him, but not before he caught the sideways glance towards the hired help; he smiled back as genuinely as he could as they exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, it becoming obvious that her attention was elsewhere. He patted her on the thigh, "Best you head inside and start getting ready for the gala dinner tonight," he said amicably, "I heard you got a new dress and I can't wait to see how good it looks on you." Karen got up from the sunbed gracefully, leaning down to give him a perfunctory kiss on the cheek as she sashayed towards the house, Alexi in tow.

He gave a small sigh as he watched, Karen was indeed a striking woman, and any man would have been lucky to have her on his arm.... so why was it him? He took his glasses off and gave his eyes a tired rub before slowly putting them back on again, eyeing off the pool "boy" as he did so. Indeed, why was it him? He licked his lips as he stood up, walking towards the young Adonis in his tight white shorts. He put a hand on his shoulder and whispered a few words in his ear before turning and heading away from the pool and deeper in to the garden.

He smiled to himself as he walked to a secluded shade house, humming quietly. Life was turning out pretty good... he had a beautiful wife, a beautiful daughter... the house was of his own choosing, the gardens and pool perfect for summer parties... and he'd just secured a rather lucrative transfer to a rather prestigious pharmaceutical company. He'd be gone from the house for at least six months, if he was offered the position permanently, then he'd make arrangements for his family to join him, but until then, he'd be staying in an apartment on his own.

There was a knock on the side of the shade house and he grinned, loosening his tie with one hand, running the other through his dark locks. He looked at his companion with smoldering eyes and licked his lips seductively. Karen would be extremely happy to find out that she had the house to herself for six months... until she found out the pool boy was as gay as they came...

February 5, 2014

Shortly after lunch, Hunter locked the door to his office. Everyone knew not to bother him at this hour, but it was always best not to take chances. This was his 'special' time each day and he definitely didn't want to be disturbed right now. Loosening his tie and unbuttoning his suit jacket, Hunter settled comfortably into his high-backed chair with a grin, the days' stress already melting away as he removed a key from his pocket and unlocked one of the drawers on the desk. His fingers traced the familiar and well worn leather binding of the book he removed as he waited for the call he looked forward to each day.

The scene that greeted him as the video call connected filled Hunter's heart with tenderness and joy. The young boy on the other side of the 'line' was dressed in red pajamas; his eyes the same slate gray and his hair only a few shades darker than Hunter's own honeyed gold locks. A smile lit up the boys entire face. "Afternoon Da!" The bubbly boy exclaimed, waving excitedly at the screen.

"Good evening, Chris." Hunter smiled warmly with a tiny wave of his own. "How was your day?"

Hunter listened carefully as his son described the events of his day. Christopher had been reluctant about being sent halfway across the world to school, but each day that passed, Hunter found himself more and more proud of how well they boy was adapting to his new life. He was excelling in his studies and had already made several new friends. Today, Chris focused on the upcoming sports tryouts. The boy was eager to play and had already shown an aptitude for athletics. Hunter didn't interrupt, except to ask for details, waiting for the child to naturally wind himself down.

When at last the boy had wound himself down, Hunter spoke up. "Well, I know its already late there. I don't want your school work to suffer because I kept you up too late. I guess I should let you go now." Christopher's expression drooped and a pout formed on his lips. Hunter could see him struggling not to argue and struggled himself to suppress a grin. "It seems like I am forgetting something. Though, I cant imagine what it is." His fingers rapped across the thick book he had placed on the desk, as if deep in thought. The boy noticed the book for the first time and Hunter couldn't hide his own pleasure as he watched his son's face transform with pleasure. Of course, he hadn't forgotten. He'd been looking forward to this as much as Chris.

Bouncing on the bed, causing the whole picture to wobble, Chris smiled excitedly, "Awww, your so mean, Da! Come on! Come on! You promised. TWO chapters tonight. You said!"

Hunter caressed the edges of the book, laughter filled eyes focused on his son. "Well... I don't know..." He could barely keep the mirth out of his voice. "Did you finish all of your homework this evening? You didn't skip your bath? Remembered to brush your teeth? Everything set out properly for tomorrow?" With each question the child nodded impatiently, growing even more eager. "If that's the case, I guess I have no choice." Hunter conceded at last. "TWO chapters you say? I promised that? You're sure?" Well, I guess you better settle in then."

Chris placed the tablet hosting the call on the night stand next to his bed, then crawled under the covers, resting his head on his pillow as he prepared to listen to the story. When at last the boy had stopped shifting around, Hunter pulled the heavy tome into his lap, leaning back in his chair as he opened the old and well-loved book of 'fairy' tales. Without so much as a bookmark to keep his place, Hunter easily picked up where he'd left off the afternoon before. His voice was deep and rich and filled with dramatic variation as he wove the story for his son.

---

He'd actually read three chapters before finally giving Chris his love and wishing him goodnight. He sighed contentedly as he logged off the video call, hand resting across the screen that had just contained his son's sweet face. Allie had caught him off guard earlier, with her sudden talk of having another baby. It'd been seven years since their son was born and he had no idea what had brought this talk of more children up after all this time. Regardless of her reasoning, thinking about it right now, Hunter decided that, maybe, it wouldn't be such a bad thing to have another kid, after all.

February 6, 2014

The atmosphere was positively lovely. The tea lights hanging in the air gave the sense of a fairytale garden, the soft lilting music drifting through the night. David cut quite the dashing figure in his tailor-made tuxedo, and with Karen on his arm, even more so. Her dress was white and molded itself to her curves, clinging to her legs, the thigh-high slit adding to the allure... and yet, even with her beauty so obvious, he was still largely unaffected by it. He smiled down at her and patted the arm that was linked with his, as they made general conversation, mingling with the other guests.

It was yet another charity Gala Ball, there was at least one a month, and it's not like he could even remember what this particular charity was, just that it was something that he "had" to attend, much like the rest of high society. What was the point of having oodles of money if you weren't seen to be "giving" it away? He found them tedious at best, but put up with them for the sake of appearances, especially that of being a happily married couple. He let Karen tug him towards the dance floor; she liked to show off that she could actually dance, and he was always thankful for the ballroom dancing lessons he'd attended, allowing the pair of them to glide effortlessly around the floor much to the envy of their counterparts. The dress she had picked to wear for the evening had also been picked with dancing in mind, her legs moving gracefully, allowing the large travelling steps required; he had to smile, his wife liked to show off just a tad.

As the song ended, he twirled her gracefully, to a small smattering of applause from those who had been watching. He enjoyed these moments with her, he truly did, and it was events like these that helped cement their "perfect" couple image. He suppressed the urge to laugh; if only they knew. She'd taken the news of his secondment without blinking, he could already see the wheels in her mind turning, thinking about how much free time she suddenly had... not that she didn't already, with him working and her staying at home to look after Alexi, but as she'd oft pointed out, that's what nanny's were for.

After their little impromptu display, they'd made their way to where the seating was, meals being served by white gloved waiters, the food and wine exquisite as always. As the night progressed, so did the amount of wine being drunk, and the more he thought that their waiter was paying extra attention to him. He murmured to Karen that he was going to for a walk to clear his head, claiming that it was feeling a bit stuffy, making a bit of a show to rise unsteadily from the table as he staggered out into the garden, heading deeper into the shadows before finding a suitably secluded tree to lean against...

His hunch wasn't wrong, a few moments later the waiter had come into view calling out softly, "Are you ok Sir?" The moonlight shone on a face that was strangely like one from deep within his memories, the blonde hair nearly the same shade... except these eyes were a bright blue. He smiled and called from the shadows, "Yes, yes, I'm quite all right, just getting some... fresh air." The sight of that angelic face in the moonlight made his cock twitch against his trousers...

---

He'd left the waiter there in the garden, gasping for breath and come leaking from his arse, walking back to the table and sitting by his wife as if nothing had happened.

February 8, 2014

Hunter hadn't been ready to face his wife and the inevitable conversation about her desire to have another child after leaving the office. He couldn't understand the sudden change of heart. Until now, she had been looking forward to resuming her career more actively. What Allie had always loved most about her job was that it had always kept her traveling. She had loved the feeling of exploration and adventure that traveling gave her and frequently made humanitarian aid trips as well as business ones. She had taken shorter and less frequent trips since Chris had been born, and while she delighted in motherhood she had also missed the time she spent abroad. Hunter had to admit, he missed that time as well. When she was gone all the time, they still managed to always keep in touch, she just never wondered why they had sex so infrequently. And maybe, in the end, that was what this was about?

Hunter had always struggled to provide her with physical intimacy. Alison was a healthy woman with the same needs as anyone else. It was natural that she would want her husband to fill them. He almost wished she would just screw the "pool boy" like everyone else's wives. It would probably make his life easier. But she had never been that kind of person. She was devoted in a way that he would never deserve. She had always tried to be understanding about his 'issues,' even if she had no idea what the issue was. He could easily and honestly admit the problem was him. But he loved her, in his way, so he would never tell her truth. Hunter had even agreed to see the psychologist she had recommended. If he couldn't talk to her about his problems she could accept that, but he should talk to someone, she had argued. By the second session the fresh faced psychologist had already found the 'root' of Hunter's problem as he was fucked into his own couch. Even now, Hunter continued to go to his 'sessions' every month, sometimes he even actually talked to the man. Talk or screw, Allie always commented on how relaxed he looked when he returned home. The twinge of guilt he felt looking into her open and care-filled eyes was reason enough to occasionally talk to the man, but never enough to stop him from usually fucking him instead.

---

Hunter had worked himself into a morbid mood by the time he reached the bar. Attempting to pull himself from his thoughts, he greeted the door man by name and asked about his children. Hunter came to this bar regularly. On the outside, it was an exclusive 'members only' club for rich men too "upper class" to hang out with anyone other than themselves. More than that however, it was an incredibly discrete place where people like him could stop pretending to be something they were not and maybe even release some tension, if the mood was right. Inside, he stopped before the only woman in the entire bar, elegantly attired in a tasteful, yet form-fitting, blue dress. Without saying a word, Hunter held his car keys out to her. It was extremely rare for him to actually drink much when he came, but when he did he was careful about ensuring he didn't drive himself home. The hostess accepted the keys, greeting him with an open smile, her voice both confident and friendly, "It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Bramwell." She continued to speak with him as she lead him to his favorite booth. "A driver will be placed on standby for your use. Will you be having dinner with us this evening? Unfortunately, your usual waiter is unavailable tonight. Do you have another preference?"

Hunter hesitated, pausing in his stride for only a second before continuing. "Stephen," He replied. "I've already eaten, thank you;" The last bit was a lie, but he wasn't in the mood for food and it never hurt to be polite.

Gay men from elite society gathered here mostly to hook up with each other, but often enough also to hook up with the staff. The Waiters weren't required to have sex with the patrons. They were, however, chosen for their looks and capacity for discretion and the fact that most of them weren't opposed to doing so. Hunter's own usual waiter, Jin, was actually an exception to that. It was one of the reasons he usually asked for him. The fact that he was unbearably pretty didn't hurt either.

Hunter slid onto the comfortable leather seat of the lushly decorated booth set on a balcony on the second floor of the club. He preferred this booth because it let him see the entire room but still allowed a small amount of privacy. He handed the Scotch list, which had been set out in preparation of his arrival, to the hostess, Lily, asking for the 1958 Highland Park and two glasses. He settled himself near the back wall of the booth, as Lily promised that Stephen would be up shortly with his drink and made her way back downstairs.

Hunter leaned forward slightly as a lithe figure glided up the stairs with a silver tray in his hands. He shook slightly unruly, red hair out of his sparkling blue eyes. Making eye contact as he placed the two glasses on the table, he spoke in a light, carefree voice, "Expecting company?"

"Not unless you'd like to join me." Hunter replied evenly. He hadn't planned on asking for Stephen tonight. But, the decision fit his mood. The waiter could have easily passed for his wife's younger brother.

----

Hunter and Stephen had finished the entire bottle of Highland Park and most of a bottle of another vintage before he'd finally called for the driver to take him home. Alison had been asleep when he got to the house. He'd felt fuzzy and relaxed when he'd climbed into the bed beside his wife. He'd thought of Stephen as he examined her auburn hair. Even in the dark, her eyes had been the same vivid blue as she had blinked at him in surprised pleasure, when he'd woken her with light kisses to the back of her neck.When he'd rolled her over and taken her from behind, he'd closed his eyes and imagined he was taking Stephen again. But, when it was over and he was sure she was once again asleep, it was only Alison that Hunter thought of, crouched on the bathroom floor, as his body rejected the night's excesses.

February 10, 2014

The announcement came over the loudspeakers, the boarding call for his flight. David stood up from his seat in the lounge, brushing his coat down of any dust, imaginary or otherwise, and picked his briefcase up. He'd already said goodbye to Alexi when he got up for the morning, having discussed with Karen that it would be pointless for them to see him off at the airport. He hated goodbyes of any sort and avoided them if he could, the pang in his chest igniting once more as he thought of Alexi's little tear-stained face. He promised that he'd call her every day and say goodnight, even if he had to stay up til midnight to do it. Karen of course seemed unaffected by his departure, and whilst it irked him on some subconscious level, he couldn't really care less. Once he was gone, he had no doubt that she would be finding a substitute for him.

He took his seat on the plane, first class naturally and settled himself in. There was paperwork that he could do to pass the time on the five and half hour flight, and he checked his watch, mentally calculating the timezone difference. He'd land in New York at approximately 8pm local time, leaving him enough time to get to his apartment and organise himself some dinner. He'd be starting work the very next day, not entirely his choice to do so, but when the company was paying the money they were, he'd be doing whatever they asked him to. The money he was getting paid went a long way to making sure Karen didn't kick up a fuss even if she was inclined to do so, but for him it was acknowledgement that his hard work had finally paid off the way it was supposed to; all the shit he went through at boarding school, then at Yale and then the shitty internships, even his marriage... it now all meant something.

----

As he stepped out of the airport, hailing a cab from the rank, he shivered against the slightly cooler wind. It was certainly cooler in New York than what it was in Southern California; he'd moved there to escape from the cold. He slid into the backseat of the cab and gave the driver the address of the apartment and sat back, not bothering to engage in small talk. He tipped the driver generously to make up for the silence once they arrived at the apartments. David stood on the footpath and looked at his new home for the next six months. It was certainly upmarket enough, the apartments were blocked off from the street by a large brick wall, with security camera's everywhere. He walked up to the wrought iron gate and punched in the code that he'd be given, the gate opening with a quiet click.

The apartment itself contained two bedrooms, a large kitchen and lounge area, fully self contained. He unpacked his suitcase into the drawers provided, hanging up his business suit for tomorrow. Once settled, he pulled out his phone, thumb sliding across the screen to unlock it. A few quick movements and he'd dialed Alexi; he'd given her a mobile phone as a present so that he could call her, making her promise to keep it on her at all times, and not to show her friends,; it was to be their little secret that not even his wife knew about. A few rings later and a small girlish voice answered, "Daddy?"

David grinned as he loosened his tie with one hand, "Hey baby girl, Daddy has made it to his apartment safe and sound..." "I miss you already Daddy!" the plaintive voice tugged at his heart, "I know baby, but this job is really important for Daddy, and I promise you that I'll call you every day, and when I come home, there will be LOTS of presents!" he couldn't really tell her that if everything went well, they'd all be moving to New York... small steps and white lies he told himself. He flopped onto his back into the soft bed, listening to his daughter describe her day, until she ran out of things to say... "It's late her baby girl and Daddy needs to go to sleep so that he's not late work for work tomorrow, otherwise he'll get into trouble... and it's not a good thing to be in trouble on your first day honey..." They said their goodbyes, him repeating his promise to call her every day and hung up.

He sighed, his forearm over his eyes and he contemplated, for the millionth time, what he was doing with his life... and unexpectedly fell asleep.

February 11, 2014

Hunter woke with a foul taste in his mouth. He vaguely remembered the events of the night before as he disengaged himself from his wife's still sleeping arms. In the bathroom, he turned the water up till it was scalding hot and climbed into the natural stone shower. When he'd finished scrubbing himself, his skin was pink and felt slightly raw, but he finally felt human again. Moving back into the bedroom, Hunter noted that his wife had vacated her place in the bed while he'd been getting clean. He could hear a quiet humming coming from within the open door of her walk-in closet. He smiled to himself as he moved to his own closet on the other side of the room. If she was humming, Allie couldn't be too upset over last night.

Wrapping her arms around him, Alison stepped up behind Hunter as he carefully maneuvered his tie into place. Her small fingers reached up and nudged his own out of the way as she took over the work of fixing his tie, smiling around his arm in the full length mirror. Hunter forced the tension out of his body at his wife's touch. There was a fragile look to her smile as if it might shatter with only the slightest provocation. Maybe she wasn't as okay with the previous night as he had first thought, but he didn't know what do about that now.

Instead of commenting, Hunter stood patiently as his wife helped him dress for the office. Alison made casual conversation about her plans for the day and his as she worked and, for his own part, Hunter responded where appropriate while trying not to be obvious about studying his wife. She seemed almost as lost in her own thoughts as he was in his and he wondered if they were working their way to another argument. Their arguments always started like this. Calm moments before the storm as Allie worked herself up to what was bothering her. It was rare for Alison to get angry or upset enough to bring attention to it. She had always been the most easy-going, accepting, and forgiving woman he had ever known. Hunter could tell she was troubled this morning. But, uncomfortable broaching the subject, he waited for her to speak.

Something seemed different this time as Allie helped Hunter through his morning routine, almost as if she was angry with herself instead of him. That didn't make any sense. She stared at the floor, biting her lip, when she thought he wasn't looking. Allie had always been a poor liar and Hunter recognized the nervous habit that showed she was hiding something. He almost asked, but every time he made eye contact with her, Allie shook away her thoughts and flashed him a brilliant smile. And really, who was he to demand she give up her secrets? Their lives were built around his carefully formed lies and, surely, he could forgive her for having a few of her own.

Hunter only barely made it out the door in time to stop by his favorite cafe on the way to the office. Cook made a decent breakfast but, no matter how many gizmos they purchased for the purpose, his coffee always tasted like sludge. Hunter rubbed his temples as he climbed in the Jag, settling his briefcase on the seat beside him. Today, he really needed coffee. Allie never had gotten around to saying what was wrong. Hunter still wasn't convinced that the problem was his performance the night before. And since there had been plenty to have a problem with, that was the most confusing part of it all. With a frustrated sigh, Hunter put the car in drive. As the front gate closed behind him, he gave one last thought to whether his wife often felt this way when dealing with him and whether the small discomfort of this morning was the least of what he deserved.

February 12, 2014

He awoke with a start, abruptly coming upright. He checked his watch and was horrified to discover that he was most likely going to be late for work on his first day. He rubbed his face as he scrambled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face and hurriedly swirling his toothbrush over his teeth. He gave a silent thanks to his organisational skills, knowing full well it could be a lot worse - his suit for today was already hung up and ready to be worn, no ironing necessary. He didn't trust himself to faff about in the kitchen to make coffee just yet, so he'd just have to find some cafe to get his fix for the morning. He quickly shed his clothes, grabbing the washcloth and giving his body a quick wipe-down, not even trusting the luxury of a shower. He nervously kept checking his watch, and before long, the fastest he'd ever been, he was dressed and heading out the door.

The wind was chilly and cut through him, he shivered and drew his trench coat closer around him, the ends swirling and flapping about his legs. When he was younger and in university, he didn't have the money for a trench coat, and then he moved to Southern California where he didn't need one, he looked about him feeling slightly envious that those around him and seemingly mastered the art of wearing the large coat gracefully, Oh no, their legs aren't getting tangled in the damn thing! he thought to himself, only slightly bitter that he wasn't good at something, and taking a small measure of comfort in the fact that it would be unlikely that anyone who knew him would get to see him make an arse of himself over a piece of clothing.

The other thing that was working in his favour this morning was that the apartment was within walking distance of the office where he'd be working, his long strides carrying him at pace down the sidewalk. He spied a cafe across the road from the building and checked his watch for what seemed like the millionth time since he woke up. He just had enough time to grab a coffee... The cafe was warm and cozy, and not overly busy, he ordered his coffee and within a few minutes it was ready for him. He took a careful sip, giving the barista a quick nod before winding his way through the cafe and back to the doorway.

He wasn't sure what happened, whether he tripped on something imaginary, his coat getting caught up in his legs, or he was just having a clumsy moment... but he's somehow managed to bump into someone coming through the door and upended his coffee over the both of them. He gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to swear violently, feeling much more frustrated than what the situation warranted. He didn't have time for this! He began apologising, speaking quickly, already opening up his coat to grab a blank card and a pen, scribbling down his number he thrust it at his unintended "victim" "Call me for the dry cleaning!" he said hurriedly as he pushed past and hurried across the road to the office.

He cursed to himself, his behaviour was more than rude, but given the circumstances, he'd rather be rude than be late for his first day at work, and now to top it off he had coffee all over his coat... thank god only his coat, and not the suit underneath. He hurried into the building, already removing his coat and carefully folding it over his arm before making himself known at the security counter and being escorted in. He was received by a smartly dressed woman, who ushered him along through the corridors and sat him in boardroom to wait for his new assignment.

February 12, 2014

Pulling into the garage, Hunter parked in his reserved space and made his way to the elevator. Getting out at the lobby, he passed the bank of elevators that would lead to his office, waving to security on his way through, his steady stride carried him across the lobby and out the front door back onto the street. Normally he would have walked to the cafe directly through the parking garage, but it was a chilly morning and in the disruption to his usual routine he'd forgotten his coat.

Tucking his hands into his pockets to avoid the cold, Hunter huddled against the biting wind and hurriedly made his way across the street. The warmth of the cafe was a blessed relief as it brushed across the planes of his face. He paused in the doorway, enjoying the sweet sensation. As he stepped forward to make his way to the counter he was jolted suddenly. Hot coffee splashed across his shirt and suit jacket. With barely a chance to grimace at the pain, Hunter found himself juggling a business card with a hastily scrawled phone number across it. Holding his arms at his sides as he dripped quickly cooling coffee, his storm cloud eyes followed the progress of the rude man in glasses as he rushed across the street and into the Primatech building. Hunter knew everyone who worked at the company, if not by name at least by face. He'd always prided himself on that fact. He'd only caught a glimpse of his 'hit-and-run' attacker, but that should have been enough to jog his memory. There was something familiar about the man, but Hunter couldn't quite place him. Shaking himself from his thoughts, Hunter turned his attention back to the cafe and the barista already rushing around the counter with a wad of towels in her hand.

Nikki was a sweet girl, and Hunter was convinced she had a bit of a crush on him. He'd never encouraged her, but she still went out of her way each time he came in. He tried to be patient as he stopped her from rubbing ineffectually at the spill. Eventually, he convinced her to make his order and took control of the towels himself. It was useless any way, he thought after a few ineffectual swipes of his own. Stepping up to the counter, he traded the towels for his coffee and stalked out of the cafe.

Hunter was both cold and annoyed when he reached the lobby again. Hearing the angry clack of his shoes against the high polish floors, he tried to control both his stride and his ire. He was late now, on top of everything else, but stomping around the building wouldn't help anything. He had a meeting scheduled in just a few minutes. Even if he hurried, Hunter knew he would just barely have time to change into the spare shirt his kept in his office. There would be no help for the jacket until he could send his secretary out with it during lunch.

No one spoke to Hunter as he made his way to the office, perhaps sensing his uncharacteristically foul mood or seeing he was lost in his own thoughts. He was frustrated that he couldn't remember which department the man worked in. It wouldn't take him long to find out. Primatech Pharmaceuticals wasn't so large a company that he couldn't locate one man. Bringing up each detail he could recall, Hunter reformed the image of the man as best he could. He looked to be around the same age as Hunter himself and his glasses hid his eyes. He'd moved awkwardly as he'd crossed the road, his long coat flapping about his legs and threatening to catch him up with every other step. Hunter had never held any of these traits in high regard, in his current mood, it was about all he could recall.

Hunter waved off his secretary as she tried to inform he was already late for his meeting. After changing his shirt in record time, he was already maneuvering his way back down the hallway to the boardroom where the companies new employee was waiting. It had been Hunter's understanding that Primatech had head-hunted this man from some prestigious hospital on the west coast, but he hadn't even bothered to read the report that had been prepared on the new hire. It had been his intention to read it this morning and go into the boardroom with the detail fresh in his mind. Now there was no time. Pausing before the door, Hunter brushed his hands through his blond hair as he composed himself. Looking down once more at his favorite suit, Hunter sighed. He pushed the door open with more force than was strictly necessary and nearly tripped when he saw who waited inside.

Seated patiently at the table on the other side of the room, was the man from the cafe. Examining the man now, he noted the details he had missed in their brief meeting at the cafe. He was indeed as old as Hunter, with dark hair and brown eyes that his glasses couldn't hid from this angle. With a jolt like lightening, Hunter remembered tugging that head back by the mass of those dark locks and the way those brown eyes flashed when aroused. The sudden memory was like a punch in the gut. No. Not just some random man who'd bumped into him at the cafe. A man he'd thought he'd never see again. David. Composing himself quickly, Hunter closed the board room door with a small bang and greeted the company's new employee with an uncontrollably cruel smile.

February 12, 2014

David sat quietly, forearms resting on the table, gathering his thoughts. He didn't want to admit that he was slightly nervous, and kept telling himself that he had no reason to be. He was specifically chosen, asked for, he was here because they wanted him. Perhaps his nerves were a result of his near miss this morning, followed by the upending of his coffee all over some hapless stranger. He chewed his bottom lip at the thought, and sincerely hoped that he'd get a phone call about it, hell, he'd buy a full wardrobe if that's what it took to atone for his "sin". He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to quell the fluttering in his stomach...

He heard the door open and close with a thud, and it shocked him from his reverie, the first thing he noticed was the smell of coffee, the memory of his accident earlier causing a flash of irritation which he quickly quelled. He then noticed that the smell of coffee was coming from the mans suit jacket and his heart sank; could it be that the person he upended his coffee on, was in fact his new boss? Was his job over before it had even started? He fought down the wave of terror and nausea it brought with it...

...and he looked up into a pair of grey eyes. Not a washed out blue pretending to be grey, but cold and angry steel grey eyes. His heart lurched in his chest and he could feel the blood draining from his face. He saw those sensuous full lips curl into a familiar smile; he could remember those lips in places that no one had been since... all set in a painfully familiar face that was slightly (and only very slightly) lined with age.

His reaction was almost violent; shoving himself away from the desk with enough force to upend his chair, he backed up against the wall, running a nervous hand through his thick dark hair, that same hand covering his mouth to hide the anguish that lit up his eyes for a split second before he drew in a deep, shuddering breath in an attempt to calm himself, before giving up and turning to face the wall, his forhead resting on his forearm as he attempted to hide himself. He battled with the emotions that welled up inside him, the grief, the anguish, the pain... he could feel the walls that he'd painstakingly built over the wears begin to crack...

He desperately attempted to compose himself, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, the person in front of him had seen him in far worse emotional states than the one he was currently in, but they did say that familiarity breeds contempt and perhaps this little outburst would be enough to get him sent packing. He took in a deep breath and turned to face him, a weak smile playing around his lips. He stood his ground and looked up into the eyes that he'd thought he'd already seen for the last time.

"Fancy meeting you here..."

February 18, 2014

Hunter seethed as he watched the man struggle with his emotions. When the HR Head had told him vaguely about the new hire over coffee, Hunter never even considered the possibility that his 'old classmate' could be David. He'd never even bothered opening the dossier Human Resources had sent over. He had planned to look it over before the meeting; before David had shown up and plowed into him and through his morning schedule. David had already been the cause and the result of two nasty surprises today. Finding out that seeing David upset still hurt was nasty surprise number three.

Obviously, David hadn't been any better informed about who he would be partnered with than Hunter himself had. David would have never accepted the job if he'd known who he would be working with. After all, it had been David who'd moved to the other side of the country just to get away in the first place. Despite knowing that and seeing his reaction, Hunter cursed David for being callous enough to show back up after all this time. Hunter tried to shake off the growing irrationality of his anger. He had to admit that part of him was afraid of what might fill the void if he managed to succeed.

Hunter approached as the man composed himself. He was waiting within arms reach when David finally turned around. Age had touched the man only in small ways. He had the barest trace of lines on his face and there was a hardness in his eyes now that Hunter had never seen. Whatever David had experienced since he'd left Hunter behind had worn away the almost innocent quality to them, that had first attracted Hunter, and replaced with it something darker and more distant. His David had never looked this brittle either, well, not until the end, Hunter admitted to himself, just before he'd left. Was David going to run away from him again, already? Hunter wasn't sure he'd be able to let him this time.

Hunter's gaze narrowed on David's full lips as he spoke. After all these years, that was the best David could come up with? David had left him. And when he finally shows up again, staring at Hunter as if he was the who had done the leaving, "fancy meeting you here" is all he can say. His anger tried to glaze over the memories of his own sins; his fumbling attempts to find a place for his old lover in his new life, the distance he'd put between them when he hadn't known what else to do. But even the small flashes of his mistakes only increased his rage. David's violent reaction to him was too strong to just be pain over their break up. Was it hate or disgust? He couldn't think of what else it could be. Hunter didn't want to see David's controlled face or carefully placed smile right now. Hunter wasn't sure what emotions swirled in those dark eyes, but he desperately wanted to force the truth of them out David. Hunter's fingers reflexively tightened into a fist before he forced his hands to open.

Without quite deciding to do so, Hunter shoved his palm into David's chest, forcing him backwards. Hunter pushed further with the weight of his body until David's back hit the wall with a thump. Hunter's hands pinned David to the wall by the arms with bruising force, his lips crushing against David's with equally angry fervor. He pushed passed any resistance David could manage until at last he captured his tongue. When Hunter tore himself away from the kiss his breathing was heavy.Just this much, just being this close to David again, and he was getting hard. He leaned close to the other mans ear as he shifted position to let him feel his growing arousal. "I've missed you," Hunter growled before releasing David and pushing himself back to a 'safe' distance.

He wasn't even sure how David felt about him any more, but he would be ready to take the man right here against the wall if he stayed so close right now. As soon he was away, he turned his back on David. It was stupid to be suddenly afraid of the truth he'd wanted to see so badly. But, Hunter still didn't quite look back as he made his way to the door, speaking over his shoulder. "If you are going to run away again, now is your chance." He paused a moment at the door, shaking off some extra thought before continuing to speak. "If you are still interested in the job, I'll be in my office. I had planned to conduct the meeting there anyway. But since I was running late this morning, I had to meet you here. Which reminds me, there is still this guy I have to call about some dry cleaning. Hunter pulled the business card from his pocket and held it up for David to see as he shrugged.

"Can you believe how rude people can be these days?" Hunter asked with a smirk that could be heard in his voice as he closed the door behind him on his way out of the room. Once the door was shut and he was out of sight, Hunter shuddered. He wondered if David was just as lost about how Hunter felt as Hunter was about David's feelings. Hunter wasn't sure he could explain the mix swirling inside himself if he tried. Hunter tried resolve himself to starting over if David followed to his office. David had always been an intelligent and skilled doctor and he would be an asset to the company. Hunter wasn't petty enough to pigeon-hole the mans career just because he couldn't decide whether he wanted to fuck the man or fight with him. Well, as it turned out, he wanted to fuck David regardless. But woven through the lust and remembered love was a gnawing ache in his gut full of anger and pain. David had already torn his heart out once. If he was going to leave again, it would be better if he just did it now. Once David stepped into his office, Hunter wasn't sure if he'd be able to let him go a second time.

February 19, 2014

He thought that he'd composed himself sufficiently enough, but any semblance of composure left him when he felt the hand on his chest, driving him back against the wall, all but knocking the air from his lungs. His body flooded with adrenaline and the bottom went out of his stomach; he didn't even have a moment to respond before Hunter's lips descended onto his. This kiss was unlike any Hunter had previously given him, it was unlike any that he'd previously given himself. It was brutal; he was sure if he had of been a woman, he would've whimpered at the onslaught. His first instinct was to struggle, to push back against the punishing arms that had him pinned to the wall, but something in that kiss made him give up before he'd even started, it was something that he couldn't resist even if he tried... he was too conditioned not to...

After what had felt like an eternity, Hunter pulled away. David struggled to drag air into his lungs as the other man pressed up against him; he could feel the heat from Hunter's crotch burning through both layers of trousers and coupled with the velvet over gravel growl in his ear, he felt himself respond... he was so hard that it hurt. When Hunter released him, it took everything he had not to slump to the floor, he willed his knees not to shake. He would face his old friend head on, he was't anything like his former self and he was not going to be cowed by this obvious display of...

As Hunter turned his back on him and threw his comments over his shoulder, David's eyes lit up with the slow anger that burned within him. The man had just called him a coward. Despite what Hunter may have thought, David had not "run away". He would have gladly stayed with Hunter if the man had sincerely asked him to, instead of hiding behind the pretense of marriage and offering him the position of "mistress". The insult still left a sour taste in his mouth, so he'd done the only thing he could have given the circumstances. He was offered an internship at a prestigious hospital on the other side of the country, so he took it. It meant that he could put distance between himself and the man that he thought he loved more than anything else and who had chosen a "normal" life over one with him. He thought if he'd told Hunter he was leaving, that the man would beg him to stay... but he hadn't... so David, with his heart shattered into a million pieces had left him.

As the door closed behind the man, David's knees did give out and he slumped to the floor, resting his forehead against his knees as he tried to pull himself together. He did want the job, but if he had of known that Hunter was here, would he still have accepted it? He honestly couldn't answer that... but he was here now, and the job still seemed to be his for the taking despite the situation. A rueful smile played around his lips at the not so subtle dig about rude people and in a way he was a little bit happy that the person he'd spilled his coffee all over was Hunter. Right now, he couldn't think of anyone more deserving.

After a few moments, he picked himself up off the floor, and dusted himself off, pushing out the minute wrinkles in his clothes, and attempted to make himself look a little more presentable. He took a deep breath to compose himself, and made his way out of the boardroom, looking up and down the hallway, it was easy enough to work out where Hunter's office lay; he squared his shoulders and walked purposefully towards it. He knocked once; sharply, on the door, before opening it, not even bothering to wait for permission to enter, if he was going to be "rude" he may as well live up to the part. He strode up to the desk, and leaned both hands upon it. His eyes were bright with an intensity borne of anger and the refusal to back away. He would not "run" from this man ever again. His gaze was hard over the top of his glasses as he looked at Hunter directly...

"I'll take your damn job"

February 24, 2014

Hunter unbuttoned his suit jacket as he stalked toward his office. The jacket would have to go with the rest of the dry cleaning. The ever present smell of coffee was doing nothing to improve his mood. Pulling it off quickly, he shoved it at his secretary. Hunter smiled apologetically when he realized he'd startled her. Being terse with her would not fix the situation with David. "Sorry about that. Add this to the pile as well. Have you called the cleaning service, yet?"

The blonde young woman rose from her chair and took the jacket, putting it on a hanger next to his coat, vest, and shirt. "They seem to be having a bit of trouble with their drivers, Sir. It will be several hours before they can send someone by to pick it up. The gave us the number of their competitor or offered to cover the bill in exchange for the inconvenience if we brought it over ourselves."

Hunter was sure he saw gleam in the petite woman's eyes as she mentioned taking the suit over personally. His secretary was always agreeable to doing small errands that would take her out of the office. In this case, the fact that the deli/bakery his friend Claude owned was across the street didn't hurt either. Hunter had been aware of her 'secret' crush on the man for over a month. "The rest of my morning is slotted for Dr. Carson. And, I'm pretty sure we can manage on our own. Would you mind running my suit over to the cleaner, personally? I heard Claude makes muffins just for the breakfast crowd. Since you'll be down there anyway, you should give them a try while you wait for the suit. Take your time. Bring back my usual for lunch. I'll call you if I need you to pick up lunch for Dr. Carson as well."

Vanessa's face lit up and she snatched her coat off its own hanger before she managed to school her haste. A blush rose on the secretary's cheeks as she paused, realizing she hadn't even answered him yet. "Yes sir. I'll... um, head out right now, unless you need something else? I'll take the laptop. I can work from there."

"That's fine." Hunter replied as he made his way to his office. "Tell Claude I told him to let you sit in the kitchen. They're swamped this time of morning and it'll be more peaceful in there." Vanessa blushed brighter but nodded her head as she collected her things. She'd never approached Claude about her feelings, but she went to the bakery whenever she could just to be around him. Hunter remembered that feeling, when just being close was enough, as vividly as he remembered the moment it snapped. But, Claude was nothing like David and Vanessa nothing like himself. Claude had only just mentioned his interest in Hunter's secretary during their last dinner together. He'd been uncharacteristically hesitant when he'd started the conversation, but his confidence had grown as Hunter had assured him of her returning interest. Claude had never been that shy with him. It was an amusing new side of him and Hunter enjoyed the idea of helping to play matchmaker between the two.

Hunter shook the thoughts away as he settled in front of his computer. He'd only just opened the file on David when he heard the sharp rap at the door. Hunter forced himself to quickly skim over the information on his screen as he watched David approach from his peripheral vision. Only when his hands rested on the dark wood of the desk did Hunter give the man his full attention. He'd found his backbone quicker than Hunter had thought he would. Hunter didn't let his smile falter as his heart skipped a beat. With his dark eyes full of anger, David was more than just beautiful and his words, even harshly spoken, released the coiling tightness in the pit of Hunter's stomach he hadn't quite been ready to admit too.

Seeming to ignore David's anger, Hunter gave David his brightest smile. Banishing the thought of forcing this new, angry version of David over the desk he was already positioned so nicely against, Hunter Motioned to the comfortably upholstered chair opposite his own. When he spoke, his voice even and professional. "Welcome to Primatech Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Carson. We're pleased to have you join us for this project." Hunter reached into his desk and pulled out a heavy folder. As his voice continued to drone on in its impersonal but friendly tone, his pulse quickened with something very like a feeling from long ago. Hunter didn't think it would ever be enough again, not for long. It had been too late for that for more than two decades. But for now, he was there was content just to be around the man. "If you are ready to get started, we have a busy day ahead of us. We have a good deal of paperwork and orientation material to cover which should take us all the way into the lunch hour. I've made arrangements to have lunch delivered if you are agreeable. After lunch I'll show you to your office and you'll have an hour to yourself and free reign of the main floors. Of course much of your work will take place down in the labs and we'll spend the rest of day setting up your security clearance and taking a tour of the lab facilities you'll be using and introducing you to your team." Hunter slid the first of the stacks of papers across the desk as he outlined the schedule for the day. There would be time enough later for dealing with the chaos of his emotions. After thirteen years, David was in his office. He'd come even after Hunter's outburst, looking determined and stubborn and proud, but he still came. There was still so much unsaid between them, still more distance than he could stand, but luck willing there would be enough time for that too.

February 28, 2014

David continued to glare at Hunter for the moment as the seat he was standing in front of was offered to him. The brilliant smile flashed in his direction made his heart skip a beat for a fraction of a second, before the "professional" tone that followed it revealed it to be nothing more than just lip service. He sat down in the offered chair, slowly and deliberately, calmly leaning back into the upholstery as he crossed his legs and re-positioned his glasses with a delicate gesture. If Hunter was going to pull the "professional" card on him, then he'd do the same. A faint smile played around his lips; the thought that how after all these years and with being an adult, the game itself hadn't actually changed, just the rules by which they played it... and it was easy to take cover behind the wall of professionalism.

As Hunter pushed forward the stack of documents across the desk at him, David uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, taking the pen from his pocket, their "dance" forgotten, he allowed himself to get "lost" among the paperwork. Hunter's easy droning tone made it all the more easy for him, finding himself responding automatically to it as he carefully read through and filled out the various forms and signed the usual swathe of non-disclosure agreements, even the lease agreement for his apartment was included in the stack of paperwork. He could almost forget the history the two of them had together and for a fleeting moment they were precisely what they were; a new employee and their boss.

At the mention of the laboratories, David couldn't hide the gleam in his eye. It was the one thing he was truly looking forward to, he didn't feel comfortable sitting behind a desk, and felt that his true calling was behind the microscope. He unconsciously began to relax in Hunter's presence; the man wasn't pushing him and despite his earlier outburst, he seemed unaffected by David's presence. David finished signing the last of the paperwork and leaned back into the chair with a small sigh, removing his glasses and running a hand through his hair in a subconscious gesture of old, his eyes slightly unfocused as they stared off into "nothing" without the aid of his glasses, a soft smile on his face as his head tilted back slightly, his mind not really on what was in front of him, but rather already skipping ahead to his activities in the laboratory.

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and a frown creased his features until the phone began to vibrate in a not quite familiar pattern. The blood drained from his face; it could only be Alexi calling him, and he'd stressed to her repeatedly that she wasn't to call him unless it was extremely urgent; the phone wasn't for frivolous phone calls about her missing her daddy, in fact he'd stressed to her not to call him unless something had happened to Karen. He shot to his feet, his hand already feeling around in his pocket for the vibrating phone, too flustered to even put his glasses back on his face. "I'm sorry, I have to take this" he said in Hunter's direction as he moved towards the door of the office, pausing with his hand on the doorknob as he answered the phone.

"Alexi honey? Is everything ok?" His hand was still on the doorknob, momentarily forgetting that he was still in Hunter's office. He listened as Alexi whispered in the phone, saying she was hiding in the closet from her mother who had declared that morning that she was being sent to her grandparents place. David leaned his head against the door as he figured out what Karen was most likely up to. "Honey, you listen to me ok, I need you to go along with it, don't worry, I will fix it tonight when I finish work ok?" he interrupted her, "I know you don't want to, but you have to, it's only for a little while, only until I can fix it ok? I promise I will fix it... ok, now remember what we agreed? yes, yes, I love you too honey, now be a good girl ok?"

David hung up, realising that he hadn't made it out of the office and Hunter had most probably heard the entire exchange. His forehead was still against the door as he gathered his thoughts; today was just shaping up to be one disaster after another. He was sure that Karen was sending Alexi off to her parents place so that she could have the house to herself without the child being underfoot whilst she engaged in her "extra-curricular" activities. Whilst the thought didn't surprise him in the slightest, what did surprise him was the stabbing ache he felt in his chest. He turned from the door, the phone already back in his pocket as he somewhat unsteadily made it back to the chair in front of Hunters desk, a hand fumbling for the glasses he couldn't quite see on the desk. As he put his glasses back on, he schooled his features back to professionalism once more, "I'm very sorry about that, it's not something that will happen again." he cleared his throat, "Ah, sorry, but... where are we up to in our schedule?"

As he stood up once more, he pushed thoughts of Karen to the back of his mind. He and Alexi would have a big talk when he finally finished for the day, and hopefully he'd get to the bottom of it. He swallowed hard as the anger boiled inside him... Bitch couldn't even wait one day....

March 7, 2014

The morning progressed well once David settled in. Hunter's heart melted as he watched the man relax by degrees. He'd been right to let the mornings tension go and try to start over. It had been an effort at first to hold that empty smile in place when every instinct in his body screamed at him to reclaim what should have always been his. But as they naturally slipped into their old rhythms, Hunter tried to let go of the jumbled bundle of aggression nesting in his head. After all, how did eleven years together stand against thirteen years apart? He had seen the echo of its influence in David, in shadows and pain. But was it the eleven years or the thirteen that inspired such despair?

Hunter had read through David's file as David read through his orientation material. He had seen that David had a wife and daughter now. David would never carry out the farce that was his own marriage. It had been one of the issues that had ended their relationship. So, it seemed as if David had settled into a 'normal' life. Who wouldn't cringe at being reminded of something they'd tried to leave behind? David had never exactly chosen to be gay. He'd probably seen Hunter's marriage as the perfect opportunity to get away from the life that had practically been forced on him. David had wanted to never see Hunter again. And though Hunter had thought he was doing the right thing, letting David go all those years ago, faced with him now, Hunter wanted what he had always wanted, to keep David with him forever. He would make David his again. And he wouldn't make the mistake of letting him go this time.

Hunter felt a twinge of guilt at the thought of potentially destroying the normality David had found for himself. That twinge wouldn't stop him, though. David would be his again, as he should have been all this time.. Patience was the important thing. In two months David's probationary term would be over and if both he and the company were satisfied with each other he would sign his full time employment contract and relocate permanently. Hunter was confidant that if he were not part of the equation David would be eager to sign on with Primatech. He had two months to convince the man that his presence shouldn't change his mind. Seeing the him fall so easily into old mannerisms and remembered habits, Hunter couldn't decide if the task would be easy or hard. It was heartening to see David so comfortable in his presence but it also made him want to push for more.

Hunter shook himself from his reverie as he noticed David's phone vibrating. Hunter nodded his acknowledgement as David rose to take the call. An immediate wave of jealousy rolled through him as he wondered who it was on the other end who was too important to ignore and he was glad David was too distracted to notice. Hearing that it was David's daughter calling shattered the hard knot before it could fully form. He thought of his own son, Christopher, and knew he would never hold a father's love against David. Hunter watched quietly as the conversation progressed, his own presence forgotten temporarily. With his head against the wall, Hunter couldn't see his expression. There was no need. David's frustration and stress were written in every line of his body. Whatever was going on with Alexi at the other end of the line was enough to leave David shaken.

Lunch was next, and Hunter told David so once the man settled into his chair once again. For a moment Hunter was tempted to show David his office now and allow him to eat lunch by himself. He knew, from the past, the effort it took David to pretend he was okay. But even though he knew he was partially to blame for the mans mood, Hunter knew it was the wrong choice. He didn't want to risk chasing David away by pressing him too hard or crowding him too much, but if the man was still anything like he'd been then he was broody with his anger and upset and he would spend the next two hours alone working himself into a fit if left to his own devices. A lot of things had changed about David but Hunter didn't think everything had. He just hoped he could help David calm down before the lunch hour was over. Even seeing David again wasn't enough to cause him to cancel his plans with his son. After listening to the phone conversation, Hunter believed it was probably much the same with David towards his daughter. The thought gave him one of his first genuine smiles of the day.

A knock at the door signaled the lunch Hunter had mentioned. Going to the door with David's paperwork and a few reports, he opened it to the sight of his petite secretary holding a bag in each hand. The larger bag contained lunch for both him and David. Judging from the smile on Vanessa's face, the smaller bag should contain Claude's prize bottle of scotch. Hunter had bet Claude that if he just got Vanessa alone, she would make the first move. He'd had a feeling that she wasn't always as shy as she seemed. It looked he'd been right. If Claude was lucky, Hunter might drink a bit of it with him while gloated over his victory. Hunter took both bags and gave his secretary the stack of papers and a few instructions before returning to David.

Hunter placed the bag containing his winning bottle in a drawer and and lunch upon the desk. Opening the first box, he gave David a smile, purposely drawing his attention for the first time since the phone call. "You're in luck, Claude is in a good mood today, so he threw in a few extras." Passing David's sandwich over without actually making eye contact, Hunter continued to make the kind of idle conversation that didn't require response. He filled the hour with talk about the labs and the work the equipment David would be using. They had already covered all the orientation material earlier in the morning. But the welcome packet hardly covered everything and Hunter took the time to fill in details now. Primatech's lab facilities were quite possibly the best of their kind in the country and Hunter was sure David would be as excited to work in them as he still was after all these years.

Lunch went by quicker than Hunter would have believed and he hoped that David felt the same way. His manner seemed a bit easier as the hour went on and he hoped it wasn't just a show his sake. He wanted more than just this man's ass, he wanted his heart. For that, David would need to be comfortable with him again. A part of Hunter still felt the ache of betrayal at David's first departure, but he ruthlessly squashed the feeling before it could surface on his face. There would be time enough for that, eventually. He'd lived thirteen years with the feeling, he could survive a few more months.

As Hunter walked the man to his office, he considered this new version of David once more. David was older now and yet strangely just as handsome as he'd been in his youth. He'd never had trouble finding partners when he wanted them and Hunter was sure that had not changed. His thoughts took a dark turn and Hunter wondered how many other men had laid claim to David since he'd left Hunter behind. He snuffed out the thought and schooled his face before stopping in front of an open office nearly as large as his own.

"This office will be yours." He told David, gesturing to the room. "I imagine you'll be spending as much time as you can in the labs and you must be eager to see them, but take this hour to acquaint yourself with your workspace up here. When I come back I'll take you down there and introduce you to your new coworkers and you can spend the rest of the day getting a feel for your primary work area. I'll be unavailable for the next hour. I have... personal matters to attend to." The corners of his mouth turned up in a private smile, he was eager to see his son's smiling face and hear about his day. "If you need anything please speak to my secretary Vanessa. Starting tomorrow she will be working for you as well. But in the meantime she should be happy to help with anything you need."

Hunter had turned to make his way back to his own office when suddenly he stopped. He stood still for a moment, as if considering something, before turning back to face David once more. With a beaming smile he made eye contact with the man. "Oh... and David? I'm really glad you're here." Without giving a chance for response Hunter turned once more and was soon gone behind the closed door of his office.

March 17, 2014

The conversation with his daughter had thrown him off his game, that much was evident that he couldn't even pay attention to the schedule that had been laid out. He was only slightly less perturbed that next on the agenda was lunch. The knock on the office door saved him from having to make some inane comment to cover his arse, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that Alexi had left him with. Normally she loved going to her grandmother's place, his in-laws spoiling the child rotten, so what had changed?

He was shaken from his brooding with the presentation of a sandwich and he looked up at Hunter, but not quite making the effort for eye-contact. As Hunter began to make casual conversation, David pushed the reoccurring thoughts into the back of his mind where he'd deal with them later. In his earlier years he'd brood and stew and work himself up, and to be honest not much of that had changed; he still was prone to brooding over things, but he no longer worked himself up quite so spectacularly. The fire of youth had given way to a cold simmering; "Revenge is a dish best served cold". He'd read that once, and it seemingly resonated with his soul, and no longer would he fly off the handle and work himself into a rage, rather, he now planned his moves with cold and careful precision.

He found it difficult to concentrate on what Hunter was saying, his mind seemingly in two places. Hunter spoke about the equipment and the technology available for him to use; one of the main reasons why David had agreed to the secondment in the first place - six months of working with state of the art lab equipment that most other people could only dream about using. The experience would be invaluable to him and set him apart from his rivals. He blinked a few times, trying to concentrate on the words, but his mind instead focusing on the man in front of him, the way his lips moved as he spoke, the tongue flicking out to pick up an errant crumb as he took a bite from his own sandwich... David cringed internally; it had been a long time since he'd been so affected by the man, but nothing had changed, he was still mesmerised by the way that he moved.

As lunch drew to a close, he couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. He'd felt that he'd nearly slipped into old habits and it was hard to shake off the feeling that he and Hunter could just... pick up where they left off. It was a pipe-dream on his behalf; ignoring the pain and anguish that their previous parting had caused him, what made him think that they could just pretend the past had never happened? The past itself was responsible for the way David had "grew up" - he was certainly a different person now; he behaved differently, but did he really feel all that different? A small spark of an ember he'd thought long dead and cold, reignited within him. He quickly tried to quash that feeling; it wasn't worth the risk, not just yet...

Hunter escorted David to his office, a room that looked very much like the one that they'd just been in. A large dark-stained desk, bookshelves, some empty, some filled with medical journals, complete with a sleek computer, no doubt running state of the art software to allow him to analyse his lab results from the comfort of his office and the chair certainly looked comfortable. It was large and high-backed, with shiny black leather upholstery. David nodded absently at the instructions that Hunter gave him, but stopped and gave the man a sharp look at the words "personal matters" and the smile that the elicited. It made him curious most certainly, but even more surprising, they made him feel jealous. As Hunter walked away he paused and turned back towards him, and looked him in the eye as he smiled; a smile older and more refined than the one he remembered from his youth, but it still had the same effect on him.

"I'm really glad you're here"

David sank into the chair behind the ornate desk, noting that it was indeed as comfortable as it looked. The smile, the words; had nothing really changed in all those years? He was slightly shaken at the thought that perhaps nothing had really changed at all... The phone in his pocket vibrated again, reminding him that he now had an hour to clean up the mess that his wife had made. He fished it out of his pocket, looking at the flashing screen. It was Karen. The frown creased his face as he thought of the reasons why his wife would be calling him.

"Hello?" He answered calmly. "David, I can't find Alexi anywhere" the curt but feminine voice sounded... irritated. David sighed, "I know where she is, but before I tell you, do you mind explaining to me why you're shipping her off to your mothers?" He listened calmly as Karen made what suspiciously sounded like excuses, this apparently was going to be a busy week for her, with a charity event here, a gala ball there, being asked to co-host a dinner somewhere else... He sighed internally and told her that Alexi would appear soon enough, and that perhaps she should just be a little more patient with the girl. As he hung up, he couldn't shake the suspicions; if it was all as simple and mundane as she explained, then why was Alexi so upset? It slowly dawned on him that Alexi might be feeling abandoned, and he kicked himself for not realising sooner. He rung the phone that he'd provided his little girl, and soothingly explained to her that she wasn't being "thrown away".

Despite all that he'd done, and now that Alexi was mollified; something still didn't feel right to him; he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being played for a fool. He opened the top drawer of his desk and was pleased to see that it didn't lack the appropriate stationery, and fished out a pen and the notepad, jotting down the names of the events that Karen had mentioned and began to look them up. Twenty minutes later, his search had revealed a series of pictures; Karen looking happy and carefree with one Harold Greer; the son of a rather prominent investment banker, the two of them seemingly involved in nearly all the same charities. The implications were obvious, leaving him feeling sick to his stomach, and suddenly very over the idea of his marriage.

April 22, 2014

Hunter sighed wearily as he made his way back into his own office. Unbuttoning his suit coat before sitting, he gathered his thoughts before making his usual call. Already, at times, it was as if all those years apart had never happened. And yet, those moments only highlighted how different things were now. Hunter's knuckled ached from the effort it had taken to restrain himself throughout the morning. He couldn't decide if he wanted to hug the man for hours or shove that pretty face of his into the desk and see if his ass was still as tight as he remembered.

The entire morning had been both wonderfully and horribly too much like old times, the time before David had actually been his. David had let so many other men fuck him then, but not him. The thought made his fist clench once more and bile rose from his stomach. Swallowing hard around the acrid taste, he forced his hand to relax and ran his fingers through his hair. He’d desperately wanted to believe that David had left him to escape being in a relationship with a man. It really didn’t fit his memories of the man. With so many years of good memories, it was easy to forget how rough it had all been in the beginning.

*******

None of it was actually the other’s boy fault, but Hunter had disliked David from the start. Eatons Boys College was one of the world’s most prestigious boarding schools. Even for those as privileged as Hunter, it was a difficult school to get into. David’s situation was a rarity for the school and everyone could see the truth of it from the start. From a middle class American family, David was one of only a handful of students chosen each year from around the world to attend the school on private scholarship.

The truth was, the scholarship wasn’t even actually hosted by the school, but was instead maintained by the alumni themselves. Hunter’s own father was one of its main contributors. He remembered asking his father once when he was small why they paid for other people’s children to attend to school. To be rich, his father had told him, came with more than just the privileges of money. It was a life of obligation and responsibility, both to his family and to the world around him. Duty, Honor, and Charity. Scrolled beneath the coat of arms hanging in the families entry hall, generations of Bramwell’s had lived by those words. They had been the first Hunter had ever learned to read.

Hunter’s father contributed to hundreds of scholarship programs each year. But when the committee for Eatons Boys College had settled on sending David, his father had admonished him to look after the boy. With american educational standards, it was rare for someone from his own country to receive a scholarship. It was natural that his father should hope the boy would do well. While Hunter acknowledged the young man’s feat, he couldn’t understand why he should go out of his own way for him. Either he was smart enough to attend the school or he wasn’t Hunter didn’t understand what he had to do with that or why he should give up his own in pursuit of David’s studies. It hadn’t taken long to realize that maybe grades wasn’t what his father had worried over. In fact, Hunter realized the truth on the first day of school.

It was rare to see a girl in the halls of Eatons. Even on his first day, Hunter already understood this truth. Old traditions died hard and this was not his first all boys school. He saw her first from a distance, looking very lost and a little overwhelmed. She had luggage with her and Hunter wondered if she had lost her older brother while seeing him off. She looked tiny and out of place in the grand hall and Hunter felt a tug at his heart that had his feet moving before he even realized he was going to help. It had taken some time to figure out that the stammering, blushing boy he’d called “Miss” was actually the boy his father had told him to look after. Cursing himself for a fool and cursing David as worse, Hunter had angrily escorted the boy to his room, explaining things gruffly along the way. The mistake hadn’t exactly been David’s fault, but Hunter rarely made mistakes and the accompanying feeling left him feeling irritable and off balance.

That had only been the beginning, of course. That night, David had been seated across from him at dinner and though Hunter tried to be friendly, the boy was a stammering mess by the time the meal was over. He’d intended to ignore the entire incident. It was, after all, none of his business. But the sight of the pitiful boy in tears had Hunter out of his seat and chasing down the chef without a second thought. It was uncomfortable trying to eat while next to someone so miserable. As he explained to the chef that David was surely unused to the kind of food served at at the school, Hunter was only serving his own desire to have a peaceful meal.

Class had been only slightly better. Though Eaton’s offered many elective classes even to its first year students, Hunter found David in almost every one of his courses and assigned seating usually put them right next to each other. David had a habit of correcting people’s answers under his breath and when called upon, though he stammered through each answer, blushing and eyeing the other students, he never failed to provide the correct response. It didn’t take long to acknowledge that David had earned his scholarship. It was frustrating, however. Hunter had never been particularly competitive in class. But learning beside David, it quickly became obvious that it was only because he’d never felt that he had competition before.

Before long David seemed to have become a constant presence in Hunter’s life. He grew accustomed to the intrusion David represented. Hunter even found himself looking for the other boy when he wasn’t there. It wasn’t because he truly cared. It was only that he’d promised his father that he would help look after David. As soon as he was sure David had adjusted to life at Eatons, Hunter would be free of his obligation. Academically, David excelled from the first moment and it wasn’t long before he gained a measure of comfort in class. It would be easy to believe that David was actually two different people. One quiet, yet confident. The other a awkward and effeminate boy who could barely string three words together in front of more than one person. Hunter helped where he could. After that first dinner, Hunter always sat with David at meals. He gave advice when he saw the other boy struggle. He stepped in when the other boys made him uncomfortable.

In the beginning it seemed David made few friends. He was teased early on for his looks, his background, and his awkward ways. Beyond Hunter, the schools librarian was his only friend. If anything, David was more comfortable with Mr. Jenkins than even Hunter himself. Hunter didn’t begrudge David for finding friendship with someone who shared his love of books. But the librarian hovered around David with a familiarity that bordered on inappropriate. And though there was nothing he could place his finger on, Hunter had a growing distaste for the man and soon found himself wandering past the library every day. He rarely let the pair know he was there. It was enough to know that he had checked in and that David was okay. Hunter wasn’t sure what he expected to find each time he saw the two huddled together, but he was always relieved when he saw them just talking together in quiet tones. David’s smile in those moments was a carefree and beautiful thing and there was a twinge of some feeling in Hunter that he couldn’t quite identify a mixture of pride in David and something much more negative directed solely at the librarian. He couldn’t deny that as the year wore on, David found his confidence more and more, and the librarian was surely responsible for much of the change.

Only in sports was David not at least Hunter’s equal. Hunter excelled in sports as he did in everything else. By his first year in Eatons, Hunter had already been playing soccer for years. He had a natural talent for sports in general and love for soccer in specific. While some of the other sports were only available to older boys and others, like fencing, integrated everyone regardless of age, Eatons Boys College hosted soccer teams in three age divisions. Despite his age, Hunter had tried out for and been accepted to play with the boys of the second division. It was a rare privilege and Hunter fit well with the older boys. Hunter looked forward to practice as the only time he felt truly free. While he played, there was no David to look after and no responsibilities that needed to be tended to. Only the teams captain, Tobe, seemed to resent his presence. Tobe was a savant when it came to soccer and an asshole when it came to everything else. Their personalities had clashed the very first day. Hunter could have endured the Tobe’s personal dislike in favor of the game, but things came to a head one day after David finally came to his attention. It had been a small and harmless comment, some nonsense about how David would perhaps make a suitable girlfriend, given the lack of actual girls. It had taken three teammates to pull him off the older boy.

“What’s your problem Bramwell? Mad that someone else has noticed your pretty little boyfriend?”

Hunter’s blood turned to ice at the accusation and he spat at Tobe’s feet. “I just can’t stand being so close to a cocksucking fag. I fucking quit.” The words came out cold and hateful and Hunter wrestled with the bile rising from his stomach at such coarse and untrue words. He yanked himself from the restraining hands that kept him in place and stomped from the room.

In the days that followed, Hunter tried not to think of the incident or the moment of pure panic he’d experienced on first hearing his former captain’s words. He hadn’t told David about quitting. He would have to give him some excuse as to why. Somewhere along the way, David had become more than an intrusion or a responsibility. It had taken some time to accept that reality. Hunter had always had countless acquaintances, but he’d rarely bothered with effort to make real friends. Tobe’s rude words and Hunter’s near panic were not something he wanted to share with his friend. He didn’t think of David that way. It was only his anger for David’s honor that made him react so violently. If Hunter wasn’t ready to discuss the incident, it was only because he feared the effect on David’s fragile feelings.

In the absence of soccer practice, Hunter found himself with more free time than he’d experienced all year. He decided to use the extra time studying. With David around, it was necessary to spend more time with his books, anyway. With the thought of David being around, Hunter wondered just where David was. It was easy to guess. Whenever he didn’t know where David was, he checked the library first. With his studying, Hunter had his own reasons for going to the library. It had nothing to do with the feeling in the pit of his stomach when Mr. Jenkins smiled at David recently when the librarian thought they were alone or the thought of just how empty the library was at this hour.

Hunter had been nearly silent when he entered, so he wasn’t surprised that neither David nor the librarian had poked their head out from between some shelf to see who intruded upon their domain. Hunter knew where to find the book he needed, but he casually walked among the many rows, thinking to say hello to David before he left with his book. Quiet noises toward the back of the library drew Hunter’s attention. As he moved in the direction of the sounds, bile rose in his stomach. Hunter knew what he would find when he turned the next labyrinthian corner. Even knowing, seeing David in the arms of the school’s librarian was like a punch in the gut. Shoved against a bookshelf, nearly naked, David’s small fingers clutched desperately at leather book bindings as the monster they’d known as Mr. Jenkins impaled his petite body. Tears fell freely from the boys eyes and soft mewling sounds poured out of his already hoarse throat. In a horrible moment righteous rage and something like jealousy battled with a newer and more overwhelming sensation. Arousal. Confused and angry, Hunter stumbled out of the library.

He made it back to his suite on auto pilot. His fingers fumbled at his slacks before the door had even closed. It was neither elegant nor attractive, but Hunter’s fingers slid across his cock in a tightly gripping approximation of the motions he’d just seen the librarian use on his friend. His shudder was both pleasure and disgust as orgasm washed over him for the first time.

It was late evening before Hunter stepped out of his room again. He hadn’t been ready to face David at dinner. And though the boy had finally become comfortable enough to come to Hunter’s room without being led by Hunter himself, he’d refused David without opening the door. He complained of his stomach and promised he’d be himself by the next day. The stomach upset wasn’t a lie. Hunter had been nauseous since he’d ruined the ancient rug that had decorated his living area earlier in the day. The crumpled thing seemed to glare at him from the corner where he’d tossed it as he bit out his words to the closed door. As to his promise, Hunter wasn’t sure he would ever be the same. He’d never be able to undo seeing his friend in such a position nor his own reaction to the sight. He couldn’t make the incident unhappen, but Hunter had some ideas about how to ensure it never happened again.

Hunter headed to David’s room first. Though he’d been too much of a coward to face David earlier in the day, now that he was sleeping, Hunter wanted to reassure himself that the boy was in fact okay. It was long past curfew, but only the House Master would be about to catch him. And since Eaglemont House’s supervisor was also the school’s librarian, Hunter found himself whistling as he wandered through the halls. David looked peaceful in his sleep. The moon was bright through the bedroom window, but Hunter still couldn’t see the sleeping boy well enough. He stood over the bed for what might have been forever. His fingers twitched with an urge to pull back the covers for a better look at David’s body. Were there bruises? Had he been hurt? Hunter’s fist clenched. Hunter blamed himself for pain David must feel and the tears he’d witnessed earlier. Not just because he should have stopped Jenkins when he’d walked upon the scene in the library, Hunter should have trusted his dislike for the man. He should have realized earlier the kind of predator the librarian was. He backed out of the room with renewed purpose.

Luck was on Hunter’s side when he stepped into the hall. He had been prepared to go looking for the House Master, but as it turned out the man had come to him. It seemed Jenkins had come to look in on David as well, or maybe just abuse him some more. Hunter’s blood boiled.

“What are you doing up here, Hunter? It’s past curfew and your room is on the first floor. I know that you and David are friends, but whatever it is, it can wait till morning. Go back to your room now and I wont mention this to the Head Master.” The man’s voice was kindly, but the afternoon’s events replayed themselves in Hunter’s head.

“I was just about to come looking for you actually.” Hunter’s own voice carried none of the librarians polite tone. The halls light was low and antiquated but he could still see the curiosity flash in the man’s green eyes as he tried to puzzle out Hunter’s response. He wasn’t an unattractive man as things went, and young for such a prestigious position. Jenkin’s probably would have been popular with women if he hadn’t spent all his time molesting boys. “I’d like to talk you about David. I’m concerned about him. Can we talk downstairs?”

“Yes, of course. We can talk in my office.” Mr Jenkins led the way down the wide circular stairs. Hunter followed a few steps behind. When they’d reached the end of the second floor landing, Hunter’s voice finally breached the silence. The librarian turned to listen.

“Actually, Sir. I just need to know one thing. Today in the library, was it the first time?” Hunter watched as the wheels turned in the man’s head, saw the moment of dawning horror as he realized he’d been caught. He knew without waiting for the answer that it must have been going on for some time. Rage erupted inside him, at Jenkins, at himself, even at David. In an instant Hunter’s hand lunged out, there was a curious moment where time almost seemed to stand still and Hunter wondered what he’d just done. Then Jenkins’ balance wobbled at the edge of the stairs, then he was tipping backwards, tumbling down the last flight of stairs. He didn’t cry out as he fell and Hunter was silent even as he dashed down the stairs after him.

There was a small folding knife at his throat when Jenkins managed to note Hunter’s presence once more. “You deserve worse than what I am about to do.” Hunter spat at the librarian in a cold whisper as he pressed a button on the cellphone in his other hand. Hunter’s eyes never left Jenkins’ as he explained to the voice on the other end how the school’s librarian had been molesting him. His voice cracked and the sound of sniffling filled the pauses as he explained how he’d been too ashamed to say anything. He’d tried to make him stop, but there had been an accident and the man was hurt. He nearly stuttered as he told his father how scared he was. Perched over the man’s body on the first floor hall, Hunter glared through tearless eyes as realization filled the silent librarian. He nodded slowly at Hunter’s words as the conversation drew to a close and the call ended. “You will never speak to David again. You will not try to contact him in any way. You will never even mention his name. I’ll not see David hurt any further by you or anyone else.” Red liquid pooled at the tip of the blade. “My father will not want the scandal of a trial over this. You will not see the jail cell you deserve. But your life here at Eatons preying on boys is over.” Regret and despair swirled across the adults face throughout the speech and when he had nodded a final time, Hunter put the phone and knife away and began to yell for help.

No one had ever found out what had really happened that night. Mr. Jenkins had been clumsy on the stairs and Hunter, unable to sleep, had heard a noise and found him. It was all the other students needed to know. Jenkins had gone on medical leave for an indefinite period and resigned his post soon after.

Even with the librarian gone, Hunter continued to feel uneasy. Hunter worried for the boy who had somehow become his closest friend. It wasn’t just the desire lessen David’s trauma that occupied him. It was like Hunter’s eyes had been opened to just how helpless and naive David really was. They were the same age, but it was like David had been raised in a bubble. To himself, Hunter admitted that he had been oblivious, as well. But, now he noticed the looks some of the older students gave his friend and heard echoes of the words that had made him break Tobe’s nose.

For his part, inexplicably, David was subdued and saddened by Mr. Jenkins’ absence. Hunter had discussed the matter, as if the problem was his own, with his new therapist. Hunter suspected the man knew he hadn't actually been molested himself, but he never pressed. Hunter refused to betray David’s terrible secret or his own shame. He couldn’t even bring himself to speak of it to David himself. Instead he filled the hole left by the librarian and with his own presence, both as a friend and, without saying so, protector. The end of the year was busy with studying and that in itself seemed to help. David was resilient despite still being shy and occasionally awkward. He’d changed a lot over the course of the year and Hunter was pleased that it hadn’t all been destroyed by the perverted librarian.

By their second year, Hunter and David had become inseparable. Since his brother had announced he would not to attend Eatons himself, a privilege reserved for second sons, Hunter arranged to have David moved into the Bramwell Suite’s second bedroom. He’d already started inviting David back to his own home for holidays in their first year and it wasn’t long before David had practically become another member of the Bramwell family. Thing’s were made even easier when Hunter’s father became David’s official sponsor. Things were wonderful until the first ‘incident.’

Things had been growing tense the pair for some time. Hunter couldn’t understand the small arguments. David had stormed out after yet another moment of bickering. Hunter stomped about the suite’s living area trying to figure out what was wrong between them until a tearful and beat up looking David had run back through the room to the bath, slamming and locking the door behind him. With threats and cajoling Hunter had managed to figure out that David had had an altercation with one of the rugby players. Filled with rage, Hunter had gone to find the teen responsible. It was a turning point of sorts. The one incident had been followed by others. David would show up randomly, his eyes red from tears or his movements awkward from body aches he couldn’t ignore. Hunter wanted to believe to believe it was just normal bullying, but his mind flashed back to that moment in the library again and again. Sometimes Hunter found the person responsible. But more and more David hid the incidents and refused to tell Hunter who had been involved.

By their third year, there was no hiding that David was sneaking off to have sex. It had taken Hunter time to understand his emotions on the matter. There had always been anger when someone took advantage of his friend, but he couldn’t continue to deny that David was complicit in his own abuse. Could it even be considered abuse if the person sought it out? The hardest part was coming to terms with the knowledge that his anger wasn’t just about the horrible things that happened to David, it was the fact that someone else was responsible for them. Hunter’s life had been set out for him from birth. His career, his hobbies, and even his marriage were all but decided for him. Despite that, discovering he was gay had been relatively easy to cope with. He would not be the first Bramwell to hide some aspect of his personality for the sake of his personal and family image. So long as duty was fulfilled, discreet indiscretions were a privilege of the rich. The problem was David, himself. He wanted his companion with a growing obsession that he could not continue to ignore or deny. It was more than lust. He’d finally placed the feeling somewhere between love and possession. David was his, had been his since the very beginning. Hunter had become a part of nearly every aspect of David’s life. That David went to someone else to fill this one apparent need gnawed at Hunter. He’d let near strangers screw him in the hall, but he was completely indifferent to Hunter himself, even after he began bringing his partners back to the room.

It finally came to a head one night, in that third year. Hunter and David had been arguing over something trivial again. It had started when David had told him they wouldn't be able to study together that evening. It was irrational, but Hunter was instantly pissed off. David claimed he was both feeling ill and had an early morning the next day. Hunter knew that the truth was there was only one reason David ever put him off. He’d stopped seeing his father’s expensive therapist after the man told him that if David wasn't being hurt, he should probably keep his nose out of it. Of course, Hunter hadn't shared his own budding feelings with the man, but he’d also kept his nose out of David’s sex life since. He’d continued to grow more and more agitated, however, he just grew accustomed to hiding it.

Looking back, Hunter didn't know what it was about that particular day over any other. He’d shrugged off David’s excuses and his apologies with barely controlled anger and spent the rest of day in his own bedroom. He’d heard David sneaking out of the suite they shared and his mood had only grown worse. He’d paced the living area waiting for his friend to return. Hunter eyed the door at each noise. Hunter had been prepared to confront David about his behavior, but his friend failed to return within his usual time. Hunter’s agitation and worry grew until finally he couldn't stand to wait any longer.

Eatons campus was a massive and sprawling thing. Hunter had no idea where to begin his search, but he walked through the halls with quiet purpose until noise drew his attention. Rounding a corner, Hunter found his old captain, Tobe, and four other guys from the soccer team joking as they swaggered through the halls. They were bragging about their latest conquest and the words had just clicked in his head when Tobe noticed him, fixing him with a lewd smile.

Tobe’s arrogance was an oppressive aura as he walked towards Hunter. “Looking for your girlfriend? Sorry we kept him occupied for so long, but he just couldn’t get enough of our cocks.” The older teen grabbed his crotch and grinned over his shoulder at his friends as he finished his statement.

Their collective laughter rang through the halls and Hunter snapped. He’d been careful not to beat anyone in the face since his family had been forced to pay for Tobe’s first nose job. He’d been reminded of the possibility of scandal if he gained a reputation as fighter or bully. The soccer captain turned back to Hunter just in time to have his nose broken once more. Hunter had always been a talented fighter and he had luck and rage on his side. His mates were clumsy and possibly drunk from the smell of them. Hunter managed to avoid all but two swings before the two minions who hadn’t run away were sprawled across the floor. Tobe himself was defiant and laughing despite his bloodied nose and bruising. No matter how Hunter hurt him, the smirking young man continued to taunt Hunter with all the things he and his comrades had done to David throughout the evening. Tobe was unconscious when his friends finally managed to drag Hunter away. With their ring leader out, they quickly told Hunter where to find his friend.

Hunter barely managed to growl out a warning to the remaining two teens before he was dashing down the hall to one of the floor’s bathrooms. His heart stopped as he rounded the corner of a stall to find David. The last two years had been good to his friend. He’d grown taller and his body had begun to fill out. His face still had that delicate quality that made him beautiful rather than handsome, but already you could see the attractive man, the beautiful boy was growing into. He looked pitiful and broken sprawled on his stomach nearly naked across the white tiles. His white briefs had snagged on one of his still sock clad feet. Tears streamed down his pink cheeks and his body heaved with the effort of his panting breaths. His lips were red and swollen. A sheen of sweat covered his slim body. Hunter stood frozen as his eyes continued to take in the body of person he’d only just recently realized he loved. A white stream was leaking from David’s ass and down his balls, pooling on the floor beneath him. And as Hunter’s eyes fixed on the sight before him and something in his own mind broke.

Hunter had come to help David, but as he lowered himself next his friend’s body, help was the farthest thing from his mind. “Anyone. Everyone, but me. Never me.” He growled out as he lifted David just enough to angrily slash away the tears with his thumbs. He didn’t really understand his own words, but David’s crying renewed at the harsh tone. Hunter’s fingers trailed lightly down the naked back, until his friend tried to rise. With the assistance of a rough shove, David’s stomach slapped back into tile. In the next instant Hunter’s larger body covered him, his knees forcing his smaller counterpart’s legs wide apart. His long fingers spread David’s ass, sliding forcibly, but without resistance, into the boys already abused and well lubed hole.

“Have you had enough yet? I’m thinking you have room for at least one more go.” Hunter’s voice was dangerously low and, as David bucked involuntarily, Hunter yanked him up by his dark hair, shoving him into the nearby wall, holding him in place with his weight. As he struggled with his pants, Hunter could never recall being so hard or so desperate. As soon as his cock was free, he shoved himself deep inside his former friend without warning or preamble. He shuddered and swallowed back a curse at the hot, sweet feeling. He’d dreamed of this moment for nearly two years. Since that day in the library. Hunter’s rage grew again and his hand angrily stroked David’s already hardening cock as his lips hovered inches from David’s ear.

“I have a secret for you.” Hunter’s tone was a soft crooning sound, but there was a mocking lilt to his words. “I knew about you and Jenkins. I saw how you cried and begged. It took me a long time to understand you were begging for more. Tobe says you beg more readily than the most wanton of whores. If they were good enough, why not me!?!” Hunter spat the last at the side of David’s face as he picked up his pace. “Just how many men have had you? Is there anyone in this entire school who hasn’t besides me?” Each question was punctuated with a thrust and when David’s mouth slid open, Hunter forced the fingers of his free hand inside. He wasn’t sure if David would even try to speak, but he didn’t really want any answers to the questions or the accusations he continued to make. The hand that stroked David was slick with his arousal and, despite Hunter’s knowledge that he must surely be hurting him, David bucked against Hunter’s thick cock and moaned around the finger’s buried in his mouth. Overwhelmed, Hunter knew he could endure neither his rage nor the sensation for very long. David’s knees scraped across the tile as Hunter violated him. Only the wall kept David from sliding to the floor as Hunter spasmed inside his once dearest friend, hot wetness coating the hand the held David’s cock.

It was a several orgasms later when Hunter finally carried a semi-conscious David back to the room. In their own bathroom, Hunter had carefully and thoroughly washed his friend. The words they managed were soft and without anger. Hunter bandaged the worst of David’s wounds after discovering he’d caused most of them himself. He’d been prepared to lose him after what he’d just done, but David clung to him during the entire endeavor and had no arguments when Hunter tucked him into bed next to him in the master bedroom. They’d whispered words of love as exhaustion had pushed them both into sleep. It hadn't been the end of their trouble, but it had been the beginning of their real happiness. The years that had followed in the wake of that night had been the best of Hunter’s life. He’d thought he’d be with David forever and he’d truly believed that was what David wanted as well.

*******

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Hunter ran a hand through his hair and glared at his clock. Great, now he was running late. He took a few moments to collect himself and his thoughts before quickly setting up his video chat. He still had to call his son. He knew the boy would be worried that he hadn't called yet and eager to hear about David. He’d grown up on stories of the man and Hunter had never been able to adequately explain the reason why they had grown apart. Some stories had never been meant for children, but since the first time Christopher had asked how his middle name had been chosen, Hunter had always delighted in sharing what he could.

May 12, 2014

As he sat there in his new office, still somewhat reeling from his earlier findings, he couldn't help but think of the man only a few doors down. Leaning back into the leather of the chair, he closed his eyes feeling very weary. What manner of luck or fate was this? He hadn't seen the man in over ten years, and with good reason too; was his life going to get turned upside down once more? His face contorted into a grimace of remembered pain, part regret, embarrassment and anger. Hindsight told him that he was most likely a coward, but it didn't make the crushing pain he felt diminish over time.

Admittedly his school life was a bit more volatile than most, a seeming pattern of random events leading to him being used by what felt like a majority of the school, culminating with Hunter breaking and finally claiming him as his own. He still chuckled at that memory, still felt the tightening deep in the pit of his stomach and the shudder of desire that went through him. His encounters with the school librarian were still equally vivid in his mind and he still examined them with the knowledge of an adult. He knew now that Hunter was surely responsible for the librarians disappearance, the selfishness of youth and desire to possess him hadn't lead to any further disappearances, but invariably someone always ended up hurt.

A middle class child winning a scholarship to an ultra elite boarding school was practically unheard of, so his arrival at Eatons garnered curiosity from teachers and students alike. The first few months were the most difficult he'd ever faced; learning to eat food he'd never seen before, learning to deal with the elitism of the other students who had been born knowing that they were better than everything else; if money couldn't buy brains, then it certainly bought you a position in society where brains didn't matter.

His slight build and girlish appearance made him a target of bullying from the beginning. He often retreated to the library to be under the watchful eye of Mr Jenkins, enjoying the safety that the library and librarian provided him. When he wasn't in class or the library, he was in Mr Jenkins office, the teacher also being the House Master for his particular dormitory. He couldn't remember the catalyst that lead to the librarian bending him over the office desk; the librarian certainly wasn't your typical sexual predator, but it was the start of what lead him to be "available" for whoever pushed hard enough.

He hadn't anticipated just how good it would feel for him, the soft pants and cries would fall from his lips, and tears would spring unbidden into his eyes, the mixture of embarrassment over the sounds he was making, the desperation he often felt and the sheer pleasure of it all. The phrase "built for it" was often used, usually when someone was balls deep inside his arse and he was squirming underneath them. He'd looked it up after the first time, but still to this day he couldn't find any logical or medical explanation for what he felt; it just felt insanely good and that was that.

The librarian disappearing had left a void in his life, leaving him irritable and snappish. By this time he was already in his second year and rooming with Hunter who more or less had become his protector, guardian and best (and only) friend. He couldn't remember what had made him snap at Hunter and leave the room in a huff, but what happened after was certainly memorable. Philips was his surname and he was Captain of the rugby squad, he was in his sixth year, already tall and broad and filled out. David had run into him in the hallway and had refused to apologise for it leading to him being "disciplined" in the nearby toilets. Philips hadn't been gentle, and had struck his face a few times, leaving him with a cut lip and swollen cheek; but most importantly the pleasant sensation of being fucked hard and thoroughly.

Word had spread from that point on, leading to assignations occurring nearly every day, sometimes several times a day, but the end result was still the same; he was still a crying, whimpering mess beneath them, and he still shamelessly begged them for more. Word also spread that Hunter would beat the snot out of anyone rumoured to have slept with him, his best friend claiming that he was just protecting his dignity, perhaps refusing to believe he had been a willing accomplice. This didn't decrease the frequency just the amount of secrecy. Miraculously it didn't affect his grades, still consistently placing first or second in his classes, only being beaten by Hunter.

Once Hunter had finally come to grips with his feelings and the two of them had begun their relationship, it was undeniably the best years of his life, and then all too soon it was over. Hunter had gotten married. It was inevitable, they both knew it was coming, he thought that he'd be ok with it, but it had hit him harder than he'd imagined. In the lead up to the wedding, Hunter had grown distant, undoubtedly distracted by wedding preparations but it had been the start of his uncertainty. Admittedly he wasn't actually gay, he just enjoyed sleeping with men, and was madly in love with Hunter; the early hero worship and friendship had blossomed into something far more intense than just a passing fancy. He thought he couldn't live without him, and faced with the thought of having to do so had caused uncharacteristic irrationality. Their relationship was a secret, so the ribbing and comments about the nuptials and honeymoon were not malicious, and granted as the best man he was amongst the thick of it, but hearing about how happy everyone was weighed heavily upon his mind.

The last straw being the drunken phone call from Hunter. He had been reduced to a fluffer. His orgasm left a bitter taste in his mouth and an emptiness in his heart. The following day he'd received an offer from a teaching hospital in california; on the other side of the country and as far away from the pain he was feeling as he could get. Without telling anybody, he'd left, resolving never to see or speak to Hunter ever again. The man had his own life to live and family duty to uphold, and as far as David was concerned, he was only in the way, and it was only a matter of time before things ended. In his mind it was preferable to slip away quietly, rather than be told to leave; he did have his own pride and he'd rather end it on his terms.

He'd never spoken to Hunter or his family after that. A few years ago he'd been contacted by a solicitor. Hunter's father had passed away and had left him something. A letter, and a box containing the coveted Bramwell watch. Without reading the letter he knew it was an apology of sorts, but he still couldn't bring himself to contact the family on the off chance he'd speak to Hunter. He had gotten on with his life, just as he was sure that Hunter had, though one thing had become clear to him; he couldn't bear the thought of being touched by another man. He'd slept with another man soon after arriving in California, his tears still fell and he still came, but the revulsion he felt left him sick and shivering in the bathroom. He never did it again. Instead he got a perverse pleasure out being the one giving it, the slight similarities between his partners and Hunter weren't lost on him, he just chose to ignore them.

Then came Karen, her father being in charge of the hospital he ended up working at. The relationship progressed smoothly, the marriage without a hitch. There was an initial hiccup when it came to sleeping with the woman, but he was able to get over it and eventually there was Alexi. He still continued to sleep with men; it just took the edge off his frustrations in a way that sleeping with Karen didn't. There had been an argument over something small, and Karen had withheld sex to punish him, except it hadn't worked the way she wanted it to; she eventually came to him, but had resented him for it ever since. Perhaps that simmering resentment, always under the surface, is what led to him accepting the job offer here, and perhaps it was what pushed Karen into the arms of another man...

A sound startled him from his introspection. The wetness on his face had culminated and dripped onto his desk. He hurriedly wiped his face and checked the time. His additional hour was nearly up, and Hunter would be arriving soon to collect him for the laboratory tour, it wouldn't do to show the man that he'd been crying like his younger self all those years ago.

July 20, 2014

Disconnecting from his video chat, Hunter leaned back in his chair with a grin. Christopher had been as excited as Hunter had thought he would be. There had been a difficult bit of juggling telling the truth without telling the whole truth. But without actually having to face David it was easier to focus on the less troubling aspects of seeing his old friend again. Christopher had wanted to know when he would get to meet the man he was named for, the hero of his bedtime stories. He didn’t want to get his son’s hopes up. He still had to convince David to stay.

Hunter was actually running a little late now, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind too much. He felt lighter and more relaxed than he had since even before David had first run into him at the start of the morning. With his new found mood, he almost felt like he could convince David to stay. It had always been like that with Christopher. Talking to his son released hidden knots inside him he never even realized were there until they were gone. With a sigh, Hunter rose from the desk and rebuttoned his jacket. He collected a large reinforced envelope from his secretary as he made his way out of the office. It was time to get back to work and to David.

David answered Hunter’s knock after only a slight hesitation. Hunter could tell David’s hour had not been as pleasantly spent as Hunter’s own the moment he saw David’s face, but he made no comment. Hunter had never been able to hold onto his anger for very long with David and thought there was a giant pile of unresolved issues between them all he wanted was to hug the man and destroy whatever had given him that carefully suppressed look of strain. But, since the cause was probably his own presence, there was very little Hunter could do that wouldn’t interfere with his own plans. Hopefully the afternoon’s activities would cheer David up and Hunter could pretend his ex-lover was not counting the moments until he was gone.

“Ready to head downstairs?” Hunter opened the envelope as he and David made their way to the elevators. “This is your temporary pass card. You will need to wear it with your visitor ID at all times. The security of our research is very important to the company.” Stepping into the elevator with David, Hunter pressed the button that would take them to the basement levels then swiped Davids card across the seamless metal plate on the elevators control panel before handing it to him. Once he had swiped his own ID, the elevator began moving and Hunter continued. “Your card will be necessary to access any of the restricted areas of Primatech. An additional code will be necessary to get into the labs themselves. You have been issued a temporary code, as well.” Removing a much smaller tamper-proof sealed envelope, Hunter handed it to David. “You’ll be expected to visit the main security office on the first floor some time before the end week to arrange your employee ID. But for now, this will get you into the labs. The most sensitive areas are additionally protected by biometric scans. You will have to make the trip to security and have yourself put into the system before you may access those areas.”

The elevator opened opposite an elegant and modern lounge area decorated in blue. A brightly lit corridor separated the two, branching out on either side into a maze of glass walls and chrome trim. He stifled a chuckle at David’s expression. Once he’d gotten his bearings David’s sense of direction was as good as anyones, but new surroundings had always confounded him. Taking pity on the man, Hunter leaned in, speaking softly. “It seems complicated at first. But each lab area is color coded. The blue labs are next to the elevator. The genetics labs are green.” He pointed to the green line on David’s ID. Hunter’s own ID was distinguished by a black stripe with a green line running the length of it. “It is common for a lab to be referred to by color, even in official correspondence..”

As he began to lead David through the halls, Hunter motioned to the wall near the floor, where a simple but attractive backlit design swept along in streams of color. “Follow green in, follow blue out. You should be alright.” David didn’t look entirely convinced. Sighing to himself Hunter pulled out his phone. He tapped a few buttons then put it back in his pocket. There was sound from David’s own pocket and Hunter explained. “I sent you a text with securities extension. If you get lost anywhere in the building call that number, ask for Steve, and explain the problem. He can lead you through using the cameras. Steve is a good guy. He’ll be discreet and he wont hold it against you.” He’d pulled David’s number from the employee file and stored it in his own phone earlier. It was the same for everyone on his team and he thought nothing of it as he lead the way around yet another corner.

Further away from the elevator the rooms were more private; less glass, more subtly color-accented white walls interspersed with closed doors and electric panels. After several turns but not too much walking it was clear they’d reached the green section they had sought. As he lead David to one of the lab doors, Hunter heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Ah, there you are, Hunt. I was just coming to look for you. The Yellows have infiltrated our rec room again. They posted a few notes and made off with the cappuccino maker. Bethany is having fits and Diego is threatening the genetic code of their unborn children because someone ate his lunch.” The amusement was clear in the dark-haired man’s voice.

“Bethany is always having fits and Diego is just grumpy because he got caught up and worked through lunch. Grab him something from the vending machine and he’ll calm down. Tell Bethany she has my permission to take an extra lunch. She prefers the coffee across the street anyway.” That Hunter was annoyed by the interruption was clear from his tone.

“Diego is already happily munching on a pack of cookies and Bethany actually sipping at a cup of what she normally calls ‘sludge’ while the two of them plot their retaliation. When I left the plan involved liquid nitrogen, a tub of butter, and a rubber band machine gun. Who knows what they’ve thought of since I left. But if you think it’s nothing, as always, I defer to your judgement.” The last comment was accompanied by a mocking almost bow at the end of which the slender man shifted his view, winking at David as he adjusted his glasses..

Hunter sighed. Quarterly, each lab section was rated in various areas. The top lab in each area received incentives for their hard work. The yellow and green sections had been in competition since Hunter had taken over the gene labs and the green section had begun taking over yellows top spot in almost every area. Mostly it was harmless and morale boosting, but it was a careful balance once pranks had become involved. He really did need to go check on Bethany and Diego, but he’d already kept David waiting too long. Hunter turned his attention back to David with an apologetic smile. “And I thought we’d left these antics behind in school... I really do have to check on that. But I dont want to hold you up any longer. This is Quinn, he will be your assistant. Quinn will show you around your work areas and answer any questions you might have.” He turned, motioning to the man who had interrupted them in time to catch his raised eyebrow. “Quinn, this is Dr. David Carson. You’ll be working under him from now on. See to it he gets anything he needs.” With that Hunter went back the way he and David had just come, turning in a new direction at the last intersection he disappeared down the hall.

***

Quinn examined the new guy as Hunter conducted hasty introductions. David Carson was an attractive man and almost certainly gay. Quinn’s gaydar rarely let him down and he’d put money on this guess. Even better, he had the same air about him that had first attracted Quinn to Hunter. He looked to be around the same age as Hunter as well. Unlike Hunter, though, David’s body language spoke subtly of the behavior of a bottom. Quinn was sure Hunter had never given up his pretty little ass to anyone. He’d almost gotten his jaw busted once for even suggesting the idea to the man. Quinn was an equal opportunity pervert. As long as there was pleasure to be had, it didn’t really matter which end he was on. He could work around Dave’s preferences.

Physically, he shared little in common with Hunter. In truth, Quinn thought Davey (no, not Davey) and himself actually looked a lot alike. They were of a similar height and, though it was obvious Dave was more athletic, similar build. Their hair was the same shade of near black. Even their faces shared a similar structure. The one major difference was their eyes. Where Quinn’s own eyes were a pale hazel, Dave’s were a dark brown. Quinn grinned as he wondered what it would be like to fuck an older version of himself. He wanted to linger in the thought a moment, but Hunter had already dismissed them both.

Left alone with Primatech’s newest researcher, Quinn watched the small changes in the man’s posture and bearing. It was almost as if he was relieved to see Hunt go. That didn’t make sense. Professionally, Hunter was one of the most diplomatic and approachable people Quinn knew. Though, admittedly he could be intense in his personal relationships. A light bulb flickered in Quinn’s brain. He looked the man over once more, comparing Dave again to himself. David Carson was the missing piece of an equation he hadn’t even realized he’d been puzzling over. There was all sorts of fun to be had here and Quinn was already forming an idea of how it would all play out.

Turning his attention back to the new doctor, Quinn smiled and held his hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Dr. Carson. Do you mind if I call you Dave? I’m Quinn Andrews.” His gaze was suggestive over the rim of his glasses and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, but his tone was bland and professional as he shook the man’s hand. “I look forward to working under you. If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

July 25, 2014

The knock on the door and Hunter’s voice caused the skin on the back of David’s neck to prickle. He’d only just finished wiping his face, cleaning and adjusting his glasses, and had exhaled the calming breath he took to help pull himself together once more. It harkened back to what now felt like a previous life to him, one where he and Hunter seemed to be finely tuned to one another, when it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to be able to anticipate each other’s movements and moods, the thought alone was enough to set his already frayed nerves a little more on edge. He rubbed the back of his neck to dispel the feeling as he called out and the door opened.

He wasn’t prepared for jolt he felt in his gut; surely he wasn’t feeling nervous? He schooled his features into neutrality, fighting down the knots his stomach was trying to work itself into. Obviously Hunter's lunch break went a lot better than his, the man was practically glowing with happiness that it hurt to look at him. He looked... much like he had all those years ago. The answering jolt made him realise, that as much as he had tried, no matter how much he'd tried to run away and hide, he had never truly forgotten what it was like to be with him, that once upon a time, he'd been responsible for that look on his old lovers face. The wave of nostalgia threatened to unleash the emotions that he’d only just gotten under control.

David got up from behind the desk, tucking the pad of paper back into the drawer, he'd come back for it at the end of the day if he remembered... though it was unlikely he was going to forget those pictures and the implications they represented any time soon. Perhaps it was all just a huge misunderstanding on his part; was he really the jealous type? He certainly didn't remember being jealous when Hunter had brought his "playmates" back to the dormitory room, but that was that and this was... different. A small voice in the back of his head admonished him for being such a martyr and that wallowing in self pity was really unbecoming for one of his age and position.

He followed Hunter out of the office and towards the elevator only half paying attention to what the man was saying until they were actually inside the elevator, then David became acutely aware of every word that fell from the man's lips. The elevator itself was larger than most, presumably because it also had to fit large groups of people who may or may not be visiting the labs on occasion; he was well aware of the logistical and security nightmare large groups of people presented in research facilities. As large as the elevator was, Hunter had chosen to stand right next to him; the smell of the man's subtle cologne invaded his nostrils, tickled his senses and already strained what little self-control he had to nearly breaking point, that didn’t stop him from taking a deep breath, trying to imprint the scent in his memory.

He watched as Hunter swiped the security cards and attempted to memorise the instructions that followed, taking his card and the tamper-proof envelope from Hunter and nodding his head absently, of course he'd be expected to make his presence known at security, though from what he could tell, the biometric requirements would be a step up from usual fingerprint and retina scan; Primatech had background checks that would put the secret service to shame. He tucked the envelope into his suit and looked up just as the elevator doors opened.

His face fell, and a barely repressed “aw shit” nearly escaped from his lips, and he mentally cursed whatever architect and interior designer thought that glass and chrome were functional office trim… did everything have to be so damn shiny ? He’d be lost before he knew it, destined to roam the basement of shiny halls like some character out of a funhouse horror. It seemed that Hunter had taken pity on him, leaning close to point out that hidden among the reflections were colour-coded backlights for each of the sections. Great, he thought to himself, Now I only have to worry about which left or right I cock up instead the thought was a sour one, but not entirely unwarranted. David knew he was directionally hopeless inside buildings, it taking him longer than most to memorise where everything was.

Hunter sighed at him, bringing back a flood of unwanted memories of a time when he’d heard that sigh often, mostly directed at him. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but closed it again as he watched curiously as Hunter pulled his phone from his pocket, fiddling with it before putting it back. His own phone buzzed, distracting him momentarily as he listened to the explanation; that a trustworthy security guard would save his sorry lost arse should the need arise. As they walked further into the maze of corridors, David noticed that the chrome and glass walls gave way to a more uniform white, the colour coding still subtle, but easier to see. A few more turns into the maze and they paused in front of what seemed (to David at least) a random door; a voice called out to Hunter and the both of them turned to see who it was.

David watched the slender-looking, dark haired man approach them. He listened to the exchange, keeping the amusement from his face. It certainly didn’t sound like the office politics he was used to, but then again, the scientist types seemed to be far more creative than the stodgy academics he was used to. Normally there would be complaints, and boring meetings about who was allowed to use what and where, and more boring meetings and eventually nothing would be resolved; always a sore point with him, but lab rats liked to take matters into their own hands with rather amusing results.

David stood patiently as explanations were made, instructions were given, and then eventually introductions. He watched as Hunter hurried back down the hallway before turning his attention to Quinn and the outstretched hand. David took it in his own and shook it firmly, offering up a small smile of his own, his own tone just as bland and as professional as Quinn’s. “I think I can handle being called “Dave”, pleased to meet you Quinn. Hopefully we will be able to dispense with the formalities soon enough, no doubt we will be pulling some long hours together.” David looked at the man curiously for a moment, feeling like he was being studied, “Uh, shall we go inside?” he asked, mentioning to the door behind them, “I’m guessing this is where I’m going to be working for the next few months…”

He took the tamper proof envelope from his pocket, and promptly “tampered” with it, opening it to remove the fob-key that was inside. The electronic key contained a cycling code that changed every time it was used, to be used in conjunction with the personal code that he would later be required to set up with security. He punched the temporary code into the keypad on the door, and activated the fob, entering the additional code that it provided. The door came off it’s lock-plate with an audible click and David pushed it open, revealing a very large and spacious research lab.

David sucked his breath in through his teeth, biting down on his bottom lip. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, he looked over his shoulder at Quinn, his dark eyes glittering behind his glasses, “Is that a Hitachi 7000 Electron Microscope?” The look on his face was similar to that of a boy receiving his first bike at Christmas, incredulous that he would be able to use such a high end piece of machinery. “Wait, and that, that’s the Scanning Electron Microscope that they developed last month?” David took a few quick steps towards the clinical machinery, not quite believing that he was actually going to be working with the State of the Art and bleeding edge technology it represented.

A piece of equipment caught his eye, causing a childish exclamation of glee, “Nanotechnology?! Really!?” I mean, I knew I was going to be working with it, but the reality is far different from what I’d imagined…” David wasn’t actually directing his comments at Quinn, he’d already lost himself in his world of shiny microscopes and the possibilities seemed limitless in his mind. His research papers had contained sections on certain genetic possibilities if the he’d had access to the specific technologies required; those mentioned technologies were in this lab, at his fingertips; he’d be able to undertake research that he’d only dreamed about previously.

“Hunt, I can finally…” David’s voice trailed off as he remembered that Hunter wasn’t actually there. He felt so excited at finally being able to realise his dreams and the man that was partially responsible for getting him to this point wasn’t around to share his enthusiasm. A wry grin crossed his face as he remembered the first time he and Hunter had entered the medical laboratory at Yale, he was sure he had been just as excited as what he was now, perhaps a little more, as that was the first step in working towards his childhood dream. He turned to face Quinn, rubbing the back of neck awkwardly, “Uh, sorry about that, I guess that I’ve always wanted to work in a place like this, and now that I’m here, it all seems slightly surreal..” David grinned at Quinn, unable to keep the excitement at bay, “So, when do we start?”

Falsehoods and Pharmaceuticals - 18+

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