Dave was very sympathetic and eager to help with anything that was bothering Kale. Dave represented the complete opposite of Ryan. Both were tall and muscular, but the similarities stopped there. Ryan was temperamental and violent, quickly angered and completely self-centered. While they had been together, Ryan had dictated everything Kale had done, even going so far as to order Kale to stay away from his friends. As a corporate executive, Ryan had never hesitated using his influence over Kale's job to get Kale to do what he wanted. Dave was kind and caring, gentle and sweet. Dave was fun to be with and actually cared about what Kale thought. He was everything Kale looked for in a guy, but Kale was afraid to approach him. He was reluctant to get into another relationship, fearing that all his relationships were doomed to the same bitter ending as his breakup with Ryan. While alone in the alley he was able to admit that he was attracted to Dave immensely, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything about it. He was simply too afraid.
A loud crash from in front of him startled Kale out of his thoughts. Glancing around the alley, he tried in vain to see what had caused the noise. Kale had never had any trouble before, but he knew the streets were by no means safe. He stepped back as the noise was repeated near the entrance to the alley. A shadowy figure blocked the path in front of him. As the man stepped into the light from one of the dim street lights, Kale gasped in shock. In front of him was his ex-boyfriend, Ryan.
"What are you doing here?" Kale asked. He had the feeling that Ryan had been waiting for him. He din't know how Ryan could have possible found out where he currently worked. Kale hadn't spoken to Ryan since their break-up, and he couldn't remember ever going to the club with Ryan or even mentioning it.
"I want you to come back with me. Now!" Ryan's tone left no room for argument. "I've given you enough time to return on your own. Time's up."
Kale shook his head. He had had time to think about his past relationship, and he felt secure in his decision. "No, Ryan. As far as I'm concerned, we're through. I'm tired of being your personal punching bag. Go find yourself some other boy-toy. You certainly never cared about me, so it shouldn't be hard for you to find a replacement." Kale let all his stored anger from when they were together flow into his words. He wasn't backing down from this fight, not anymore. He knew he should be scared, should be getting out of there as fast as he could, but he didn't care anymore. He was tired of being pushed around, tired of having others lead his life for him. He just wanted Ryan to leave him alone so he could move on with his life.
Ryan's eyes narrowed dangerously at Kale's words. "I don't care what you think. You are mine! I'm not going to let you fool around with some other guy."
"What!?" Ryan was advancing closer to Kale with every word but he no longer cared. Ryan's words filled him with rage. "Where do you get off treating me like some possession? You may have had some claim over me when we were dating, but not anymore. I can date or not date whomever I want, not that it's any of your business."
Kale's words were cut off as he was lifted off his feet by his collar and shoved into the brick wall of the alley. "Listen to me you little whore." Ryan's face was inches away from Kale's, his breath mingling with Kale's own quick gasps for air. The harsh surface of the brick wall dug into his back as he was roughly held against it by the force of the other man's arms. Kale stared desperately into blazing brown eyes, anger draining out of him to be replaced by fear as he realized the danger of his situation. "You are mine and no one else's." Ryan's coarse hands circled Kale's neck. As they tightened Kale's breath was slowly, agonizingly cut off. "You belong to me." Each of Ryan's words were underscored by a violent shake which banged him against the wall as darkness threatened to take over. "You will never have anyone other than me." Kale struggled feebly against Ryan, trying desperately to breathe. "If I can't have you, no one will."
Kale mentally prayed for someone to save him as the darkness closed over him.
Dave left the Void as it closed for the night. He'd never admit it to Kale, but the only reason he visited the nightclub was to see Kale. He had been smitten with the other from the moment he first laid eyes on him. Dave could never get enough of just simply looking at him, taking in his slender form. Kale seemed so fragile to Dave. He was quiet and withdrawn though Dave often managed to draw him into conversation. The two had spent a lot of time talking, every night that Dave had off for the past month in fact. Kale seemed a lot stronger now than when they had first met. Dave had been on the verge of asking the other out for days now, but one thing stopped him. Kale tried to hide it, but Dave could tell that his break-up with Ryan still affected Kale. Dave only hoped that Kale could eventually get over the jerk and figure out that not all men were out to hurt him.
Dave sighed as he turned the corner outside the Void, heading for the parking lot a few buildings behind the Void. As he approached the entrance to a back alley he heard two men arguing vehemently. He recognized Kale's voice instantly and could guess from the snippet of the argument he heard that the other was Kale's ex-boyfriend Ryan. From what he had heard through Kale, Ryan was a violent guy and Dave was not about to let him hurt Kale if Dave could stop it. In fact, he'd enjoy arresting Ryan to pay him back for his abuse of Kale.
Cautiously peering around the corner, Dave was shocked to see Kale struggling feebly against Ryan's grip around his throat. Cursing having left his gun in the car, he ran to help Kale. "Get your hands off him!" He shouted at Ryan as he charged forward. "You're under arrest!"
Ryan spun at the shout, releasing his hold on Kale before escaping into the alley. Dave considered going after him for a second but decided against it as he reached Kale. Much as he'd love to arrest the bastard, Kale's safety was more important. Kale was lying in a still heap on the alley floor where he had fallen. Checking his pulse, Dave was relieved to note that Kale was still alive. Picking the lighter man up, he hurried out of the alley to his car.
A faint, incessant beeping roused Kale from his slumber. Opening his eyes slowly as sleep faded easing him from pleasant oblivion to a more painful reality. Blinding whiteness met his hazy vision, fading in intensity as he became more awake. The pain in his throat demanded attention, throbbing to life as soon as he woke. His back and neck felt bruised, but nothing more than that. Sitting up slowly, he became aware that he was not alone in the tiny hospital room. Pain instantly forgotten upon recognition, he reached out to lightly touch Dave's hair as the other lightly slumbered in a bedside chair with his head rested upon Kale's bed.
Kale scrutinized the other from his vantage point, for once being able to simple stare at the other without fear of the other noticing. Dave's face was relaxed in slumber, with wisps of midnight black hair falling over his face to partially obscure one eye. Both arms were crossed underneath his head, forming a makeshift pillow. The thick muscles in his arms and back were evident through the plain white t-shirt the other wore. His black coat was draped over the back of the chair in the far corner of the room by the door.
Stealing his hand away lest he wake the other, Kale reached over to the bedside table for a glass of water. His throat felt parched and scratchy, as if he hadn't had anything to drink for days. As he slowly drank the cool liquid, he was relieved to note his throat still worked fine. He judged Ryan hadn't been able to do too much damage before someone had stopped him. It didn't take Kale much to guess who, considering the figure currently slumped on his bedside. Kale stilled as he sensed the other awakening. He watched, fascinated, as two emerald green pools slowly opened to take in the world around him. Lazily sitting up and stretching, Dave greeted Kale with one of his frequent smiles.
"How do you feel?"
It took Kale a moment to get his voice to work properly, even then his words came out slightly coarse. "Fine. Just a little bruised and battered, but nothing big."
"That's good."
The two fell into a companionable silence before Kale spoke again. "What happened? I don't remember much after Ryan started choking me."
Kale noticed the quick flash of emotion through Dave's eyes before it was suppressed. Was it anger? Jealousy? Kale couldn't quite decide from the brief glance he had seen. "I heard you and Ryan arguing from down the street. I saw him choking you, and tried to stop him." Dave's voice was full of suppressed anger as he spoke about the previous night's events. "I was more worried about you than chasing him, so the bastard got away before I could arrest him. I brought you here because I remembered you mentioning that a friend of yours works here. You were out for most of the night."
"Ah. I thought I remembered the place, it looked familiar."
"You can still press charges you know."
Dave's words shocked him. "What!?"
"Testify in court. All you have to do is say the guy tried to kill you and I can have him arrested." Dave stared intently at Kale, driving the thoughts from his mind as Kale gazed into his depthless eyes.
Breaking his gaze away after a moments hesitation, Kale thought about Dave's proposal. His reply was soft, barely heard over the comfortable rumble of the room's air conditioning. "What if I don't want to press charges?"
Dave literally exploded at him, conveying his fury through volume alone. "You want to just let him get away with attempted murder! The guy would have killed you if I hadn't stopped him. After all he's done to you, all the pain he's caused you, you want to let him go unpunished. Are you insane?"
Kale glared at the other from his position on the bed. "It's my choice and I don't want to. You don't have to scream at me just because you disagree."
Dave backed down at the other's vehemence. Sighing, he rubbed a hand through his hair in what Kale recognized long ago as a gesture of nervousness. "Look, I'm sorry that I yelled at you. Obviously, not the smartest thing I've done in a while. I simply don't understand why you don't want to press charges. What if he tries to do that again?" Dave met his eyes in an honest gesture, tone conveying his deep concern as well as an underlying gentleness.
Kale looked down at the bed sheets clutched in his lap. He spoke softly and hesitantly, trying to word his unease in a way Dave would understand. "It's not that I'm not mad at what he did. I realize he tried to kill me and that he's a no-good jerk. However, Ryan's also a high ranking executive of an international company, with money and power backing him. We're the only ones who saw what happened. With his position, there's no way we could win when it's just his word against ours. I just want him out of my life. I don't want to see him again. I don't want to deal with him again. Pressing charges would just pull him back into my life where I would have to deal with all the problems he brings with him. Can you accept that?"
Dave sighed as Kale met his gaze. Kale was warmed by all the care and support he saw in the other's gaze. "Yes, I can accept that. I don't have to like it, but I'll live with it. If he ever tries anything like that again though..."
Kale laughed as an odd image came to mind. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he finished the other's sentence. "...then my 'knight in shining armor' will come save me?"
"Of course. I'll always be there to catch you when you fall, if you'll let me." Kale's breath was stolen by the emotion in Dave's voice.
"Dave, I..." Dave's hand over his mouth stopped him from speaking.
"Let me say this first. I'm in love with you."
Kale felt himself begin to tremble as tears formed on his eyes. Uncertainty chocked his voice as he spoke, half of him wanting to embrace the other in a deep kiss and the other half wanted to go cower in a corner somewhere from fear. "Dave, I don't know if I can..."
Kale didn't mind when Dave cut him off a second time. "It's alright. I know you're afraid, and I'm willing to take this as slowly as you need. Just don't dismiss this without giving it a try. You know I'd never hurt you. I'd rather rip out my own heart than cause you the slightest pain." A hand reached up to gently wipe away the tears before cupping his cheek. Despite his fears, he unconsciously leaned into the gentle caress.
Smiling, Kale pushed away his doubts as he spoke a hesitant, breathless "Yes."
Previous | Index | Next