Hearts in the Underworld - 2/?
Title: Hearts in the Underworld
Chapter: 2/?
Author:reeses6826
Genres: Angst, Romance, Violence, Smut (all eventually)
Pairings: Aoi/Uruha (central), Reita/Kai, Kai/Uruha, Reita/Ruki (all eventually)
Warnings: Gambling, Illegal Activity, Blood, Non-con (all eventually)
Summary: A downhearted gambler, a hot-blooded street-fighter, a mysterious crime lord, a sadistic ruffian, and a faithful innocent - five lives tragically tied in a world of blood, lust, ... and love.
Comments: This will be a longer fic than I'm used to writing so please leave me comments to keep me going :)
"Can you win?" a soft voice startled Aoi out of his thoughts and he turned to see Uruha, the beautiful man he had met earlier that day. His delicate features, despite being contorted with worry, looked completely out of place in the wretched alley filled with gruesome fighters.
"Uruha? What are you doing here?" Aoi tentatively stepped closer to the other man, not sure what this force was that seemed to draw the two together.
"Can you win?" Uruha repeated, insistently now.
"I doubt it."
Uruha's eyes widened. "But you have to!" He shouted, placing his hands desperately on Aoi's tight shoulders.
"Why?"
Uruha dropped his hands back down to his sides and shuffled nervously. "I bet on you."
"Change it." Aoi suggested casually.
"I can't." Uruha whispered, he voice full of the shame of his actions.
"Well, you bet wrong." Aoi gave the other man a little smile as he craned his neck to try and meet the other's downcast gaze. He was surprised then when Uruha looked back up at him with watery eyes and a trembling lower lip.
"Reita doesn't change bets." Uruha said, taking note of how Aoi's eyes darkened at the name. "Can you win?" he asked again, begging this time.
Aoi didn't know what exactly this man was involved with or how much trouble he was about to be in. But he knew all about Reita. He knew all too well. And for some reason, this stranger who had been running through his mind all day invoked a protective urge inside of him.
Uruha gasped a little in pleasant surprise as Aoi pulled him into a hug and slowly wrapped his arms around the small of Uruha's back before whispering back, "I'll try."
At the end of the alley where the bets where being placed and the matches were being set, Kai eyed the oh-so-touching scene between Uruha and Aoi with grueling envy. Isn't that sweet? He thought bitterly to himself before turning back to Reita, who had a hand laying possessively on the back of Kai's neck. Reita nodded at the question in Kai's eyes and watched disapprovingly as Kai walked over to a man about to enter the fighting arena, whispered something to him urgently, and slipped a nearly-invisible object into the man's pocket.
"Let's get started." Reita announced, and everyone quickly shuffled to their places around the arena, where Aoi stood facing a taller, stronger-looking man with a shaved head, square, unattractive features, and a tattoo-adorned body on which he opted, to the dismay of many, not to put a shirt.
"They call him The Cobra." Kai hissed in Uruha's ear after successfully sneaking up behind him. "Cause he devours his opponents whole."
Uruha tensed and began wringing his hands as the two fighters began circling each other. He watched as The Cobra eyed Aoi as if the smaller man were his prey, an agile, tasty creature too delicious to pass up. Aoi, on the other hand, looked markedly out of place, with a few front pieces of his raven hair pulled back loosely, revealing an untarnished face that contrasted drastically with the rabble around him.
In the beginning, it was almost like dance. Synchronized, harmonious. One man bobbed as the other weaved. One lunged forward, the other bounced back. One jumped higher, the other ducked down.
As soon as it began, the dance was interrupted when Aoi caught the Cobra in the jaw with a solid, impactful punch. The other man stumbled a little, but quickly regained his composure. He returned a punch that contained admittedly more force, sending it directly into Aoi's nose.
Aoi's eyes teared at the pressure on his nose, and he felt warm, sticky liquid oozing down over his lips and dripping off of his chin. He ignored the growing roar of the crowd around them and focused on the intimidating man shuffling from foot to foot in front of him.
Aoi knew he couldn't out-muscle the massive brute, but he hoped his smaller stature would give him the advantage of speed. Kicking out with one leg, Aoi hooked his foot around the back of The Cobra's thick knees, pressing them forwards, and causing them to buckle. The Cobra was felled hard, like a toppling tree, grunting out animalistically as his hands and knees banged against the unmoving pavement.
Before Aoi could back away, The Cobra reached out a gigantic, tattooed arm, wrapped it around Aoi's thigh, and pulled the smaller man down to the ground on his back with a resounding thud. Aoi fought to regain his breath, and speedily rolled on his side just as The Cobra's fist was about to meet with his face again. Said fist hit the pavement with incredible force, the alley echoing with the sounds of cracking bones in The Cobra's fingers and hand.
The Cobra yelled out and lunged wildly for Aoi, who was struggling to stand. He caught Aoi's shirt with both hands, one of which was now mangled and badly cut up, and tore the fabric right off his skin before catching Aoi again and throwing him back down to the ground.
Aoi laid there still for a second, the shooting pain up his spine from the impact temporarily paralyzing him. His body was glistening from his face to his neck down his torso in sweat that was caused by a combination of effort and nerves, and his broad chest heaved with every labored breath. It was only when he started to lift his head that he saw The Cobra stick his good hand in his own pocket.
"Finish him!" A voice yelled from the side. Aoi managed to look over to see Uruha staring wide-eyed at a dark-haired man behind him, obviously the owner of the frightening demand.
The rest of the fight is still a little hazy for Aoi. If you can call it a fight. Beating might be more appropriate. Or slaughter.
The Cobra delivered crushing body blows to Aoi's face, neck, chest, ribs, and stomach, before repeating the process again... just for fun. Aoi never fought back. He barely moved. Every hit made his head reel. Something was wrong. These were not normal punches. Every single one felt like a fistful of metallic death hitting his body. He moaned in pain at the first round of hits and tried to struggle out from under his aggressor, but after that he was silent... and still.
It was only when The Cobra was gearing up for a third round of blows that a loud clanging bell sounded. Reita's infamous Blood Bell. It signaled that a fight was over, since Reita didn't like people dying while he was trying to enjoy his favorite sport.
The crowd cleared and began reorganizing for the next fight. Uruha rushed over to Aoi, the once model-esque man now a groaning mess of blood and sweat. Aoi pushed Uruha helpful arms away and, after a few failed attempts, pulled himself up to a kneeling position with great effort.
"That wasn't right." Aoi grunted out through the blood that still gurgled in his mouth.
"No, Aoi, it was a good try." Uruha halfheartedly tried to assure Aoi, while in the back of his mind he was agonizing over his own fate. "You fought hard... it's just... he was so... "
"You're not listening!" Aoi shouted, the force of it causing him to clutch his tender ribs with both hands. He took a few careful breaths. "He had something."
"I don't under- -" Uruha stopped when he looked up just in time to see The Cobra handing a small, metallic object to Kai, who was looking even more victorious than the actual victor. Brass knuckles, Uruha realized. Fury rose from the pit of his stomach when he realized what Kai had done... and why. He looked back to Aoi, "We can't talk about this now. I have to get you out of here."
Aoi opened his mouth to protest, but any words he might have spoken turned into gasps and groans as Uruha pulled him to his feet, moving gently but quickly. Aoi leaned a good deal of his weight on the surprisingly sturdy honey-blond and the two of them made their way awkwardly towards the end of the alley.
Kai was itching to follow them, to demand his payment, but a pair of glaring eyes stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going?" Reita said, finding the idea of Kai leaving without permission almost amusing.
"He lost. They both did. We... I-I mean, you are owed some payment. I was gonna go collect."
"Not now." Reita said decisively. "I have someplace to be and this little fight night is far from over." He tossed Kai the Blood Bell with a chuckle. "No bodies, Kai. That's an order."
~~~~ ~~~~
"Reita!" The door opened to the most beautiful voice Reita had ever heard and the most beautiful face Reita had ever seen. Two small arms wrapped around his neck in a tight, loving embrace. "I thought maybe you forgot about me."
Reita wrapped his muscular arms around the other man's slim waist and nuzzled into his neck. "I could never do that, Ruki."
Ruki pulled away and took Reita's worn, calloused hand in his soft one so he could lead the taller man inside the dim, cozy apartment. The two sat down on a worn burgundy couch and Ruki immediately cuddled closer to Reita.
Reita held the younger man close, breathing him in. Ruki reached up and gently tugged down the black bandanna that still kept Reita hidden from the rest of the world. "You don't need that in here," he said softly.
Reita stiffened when Ruki began tracing the curves of Reita's full, plush lips with the tips of his fingers. "I told you, you can't do that."
Ruki pulled away, putting both of his hands on his own laps and staring down at them. "I just want to touch you. Just a little." The hurt in his voice made Reita wince. He thought back to the first time he ever laid eyes on that immaculate face.
Kai opened the door to Reita's office.
"What do you want?" Reita demanded, not even looking up from the lists of drug-deals, bets, and debtors he was pouring over.
"Another one of those kids coming in to try to settle family debt."
"Get rid of him. I don't need any more drug-runners right now."
"Actually, he's pretty cute. I was thinking the other line of work. He could make some real money for you."
Reita looked up. He could always use more of those. They had a way of disappearing on him. "Fine, let me see him."
Kai reached back into the hallway and yanked a petite, blond boy into the room. Normally, Reita's eyes would run up and down a person's body, scrutinizing the curves or lack thereof. But this time, his gaze wasn't scrutinizing. It was admiring. Maybe even respecting. And he was only looking at that face.
"Get out." Reita ordered Kai, though his gaze never left the boy that he was now stepping ever-so-slowly closer to. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen." The boy answered nervously.
"That's pretty young to be getting involved in this world."
"But, m-my father borrowed a lot of money from you... and then he died, s-so my... " The boy stopped when Reita's hand reached up to stroke his velvety cheek.
Reita knew this boy would be a big seller. He would earn Reita a lot of cash by selling his body on the street. And that thought made Reita feel sick. "You don't belong here. Go home."
Ever since that day, Reita's world had revolved around the few times he managed to steal away to see Ruki. Reita's life was a dark, twisted circus of horrible deeds and immoral people in which Reita was the deplorable ringmaster. And yet, in these quiet moments with Ruki, he could feel human again. He could feel that there was still goodness inside him. Ruki was his salvation.
That's why Ruki couldn't touch him that way. Reita knew he was already playing with fire even spending time with the younger man, but there was a line he simply would not cross. He swore to himself that he would never allow Ruki to be dragged down to the depths that he had made his home. He didn't want to treat Ruki like he did the other men down there. He didn't want to dominate him. He wanted to touch him, to hold him, to gaze deep into his bright, naive eyes. It was a desire unlike anything Reita had ever felt before. And it make him ache inside.
Reita realized he'd been quiet for sometime. "Maybe someday, Ruki," he said, offering him some hope that they would eventually be able to reach out to one another the way the both truly wanted to. "Just not yet. I don't want to hurt you."
"I don't believe you would ever hurt me." Ruki replied. Then he took Reita's face in his hands and sighed worriedly. "You look so tired."
Reita simply nodded, his eyelids beginning to feel heavy.
Ruki stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, you can sleep in my bed with me."
"Ruki..." Reita warned.
"Just sleep. I promise." He smiled as Reita finally accepted his hand.
Reita followed slowly into one of the doors off of the kitchen. He was looking so forward to sleeping with Ruki in his arms. This was going to be the best night's sleep he's had in a long time.
~~~~ ~~~~
Aoi and Uruha finally stumbled through the door of Aoi's apartment and headed straight for the bathroom so Aoi could vomit blood again, as he had twice on the long limp home.
Uruha finally settled Aoi on the side of the bathtub. "You should really take a hot bath, if you can stay awake for it. Otherwise, you won't be able to move tomorrow." Uruha suggested.
"Yeah, okay." Aoi replied simply as he tried to turn his body to start running the bath. His ribs still throbbed in pain though, and he was unable to get all the way to the faucet without gasping.
"No, no, I'll do it." Uruha said, as he began to prepare the bath. "You just get undressed."
Once the tub was nearly full, Uruha turned around to help Aoi in and nearly jumped out of his skin in shock when he saw the naked, bruised, albeit very sexy man standing next to him. Uruha suddenly felt extremely awkward at the situation he was in. He had certainly never bathed a beat-up stranger that he was admittedly very attracted to before.
Aoi laid down in the tub, moaning at the pleasant feeling of the hot water engulfing his body. Uruha nearly moaned at the pleasant feeling of the hot sound engulfing the bathroom.
"So," Aoi began, interrupting Uruha's daze. "What was it we couldn't talk about there?"
Uruha had to blink for a second before he remembered what the soaked, naked man was talking about. "Oh! Well, the thing you were talking about... the thing The Cobra had? I think it was brass knuckles."
Aoi snorted. "No wonder. What the fuck was he doing with brass knuckles? He could have split my head open?!?"
"It's all my fault." Uruha admitted, looking down at the tile floor from his perch on the side of the tub.
"I don't see how."
Uruha took a deep breath. He knew he would have to explain everything. He also knew that when he did, it would only take a second for Aoi to throw his worthless, gambling ass out of his apartment. Which didn't hurt as bad as the fact that it meant he would never see Aoi again. "I'm a gambler, Aoi. A bad one. I owe Reita a lot of money."
"Yeah, don't we all?" Aoi remarked casually, causing Uruha's head to shoot up in surprise. "Go on."
"Well," Uruha continued. "Tonight was my first time betting on street-fighters. And Reita said if I one, he'd let me off, but I didn't so now I owe him double."
"Shit. Uruha, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. If I had kept fighting, maybe I would have won."
"If you had kept fighting, you would be dead."
They both looked away from each other as the uncomfortable silence filled the room. After a few moments, Aoi cleared his throat, "It's not the best situation, but if you can't pay Reita back he'll just put you to work for him for awhile. Pushing drugs or prostitution. Try to pay him back though, cause now that I think about it, you're very pretty and I'm sure he's not going to use you as a drug dealer."
Despite the seriousness of the discussion, Uruha couldn't help but blush. Then he continued his own story, "I have a different set of circumstances though. Do you know Kai?"
"Reita's smiley pervert sidekick?"
"That's him. He sort of has a thing for me, and I know he gave that guy the brass knuckles, and he said if I still owe Reita then..." Uruha let his voice trail off, careful not to look directly at Aoi, who now had concern etched all over his abused face.
"Uruha, did he do anything to you?" Aoi asked timidly, as though he was afraid to know the answer.
"No, not really... not yet."
"Uruha, look at me." Uruha looked up and met sweet, caring eyes. "We'll figure this out."
"Aoi, don't get involved. This isn't your fight."
"No, I already lost my fight. We can still win yours."
Uruha smiled. All of the sudden, he felt warm.
Aoi stood up from the water that had now cooled off. He motioned for Uruha to hand him a towel, but the honey-blond man sat motionless, staring at the perfect male specimen in front of him. His eyes followed the beads of water that ran from his long, pale neck over his broad, strong chest, down his rippled torso, to his...
"Uruha?"
Uruha snapped out of his immoral innermost thoughts. "Huh?"
"My towel."
"Oh!" Uruha scrambled for the towel, desperate to cover up his obvious attraction. In his haste, however, he slipped on the floor rug. His feet flew out from under him and his head came inches from the ceramic sink when a pair of strong, soggy arms reached out to steady him.
"Maybe you should stay here tonight." Aoi chuckled as Uruha's face reddened more and more with each passing second. "I'm not sure you'd survive the walk home."
~~~~ ~~~~
The next morning, Ruki hugged Reita good-bye, both men squeezing the other so tight they thought they might imprint their images in the other's skin. Reita smiled broadly as he tied his bandanna back on and pulled his hood over his head, his night with Ruki having revitalized him for all the bullshit he would surely face in his day.
Ruki watched the older man leave before shutting the door behind him and sighing, his heart nearly bursting with the love he knew better than to express. Soon, he thought to himself, very soon.
Ruki pressed his ear to the other bedroom door in the apartment, smiling when he heard a soft snoring.
He walked into the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. Then he rummaged through the refrigerator for some eggs and bread, resolving to make breakfast for his older brother.
Aoi probably had a long night.
~~~~ ~~~~
A/N: In case you're wondering, Aoi's ass-kicking being that quick and brutal was on purpose - it's part of the story. Also, writing a fight is hella challenging, so I apologize if it sucks. Damn, that was long. I'm exhausted. I need some Bawls ... still funny... :)
Chapter: 2/?
Author:reeses6826
Genres: Angst, Romance, Violence, Smut (all eventually)
Pairings: Aoi/Uruha (central), Reita/Kai, Kai/Uruha, Reita/Ruki (all eventually)
Warnings: Gambling, Illegal Activity, Blood, Non-con (all eventually)
Summary: A downhearted gambler, a hot-blooded street-fighter, a mysterious crime lord, a sadistic ruffian, and a faithful innocent - five lives tragically tied in a world of blood, lust, ... and love.
Comments: This will be a longer fic than I'm used to writing so please leave me comments to keep me going :)
"Can you win?" a soft voice startled Aoi out of his thoughts and he turned to see Uruha, the beautiful man he had met earlier that day. His delicate features, despite being contorted with worry, looked completely out of place in the wretched alley filled with gruesome fighters.
"Uruha? What are you doing here?" Aoi tentatively stepped closer to the other man, not sure what this force was that seemed to draw the two together.
"Can you win?" Uruha repeated, insistently now.
"I doubt it."
Uruha's eyes widened. "But you have to!" He shouted, placing his hands desperately on Aoi's tight shoulders.
"Why?"
Uruha dropped his hands back down to his sides and shuffled nervously. "I bet on you."
"Change it." Aoi suggested casually.
"I can't." Uruha whispered, he voice full of the shame of his actions.
"Well, you bet wrong." Aoi gave the other man a little smile as he craned his neck to try and meet the other's downcast gaze. He was surprised then when Uruha looked back up at him with watery eyes and a trembling lower lip.
"Reita doesn't change bets." Uruha said, taking note of how Aoi's eyes darkened at the name. "Can you win?" he asked again, begging this time.
Aoi didn't know what exactly this man was involved with or how much trouble he was about to be in. But he knew all about Reita. He knew all too well. And for some reason, this stranger who had been running through his mind all day invoked a protective urge inside of him.
Uruha gasped a little in pleasant surprise as Aoi pulled him into a hug and slowly wrapped his arms around the small of Uruha's back before whispering back, "I'll try."
At the end of the alley where the bets where being placed and the matches were being set, Kai eyed the oh-so-touching scene between Uruha and Aoi with grueling envy. Isn't that sweet? He thought bitterly to himself before turning back to Reita, who had a hand laying possessively on the back of Kai's neck. Reita nodded at the question in Kai's eyes and watched disapprovingly as Kai walked over to a man about to enter the fighting arena, whispered something to him urgently, and slipped a nearly-invisible object into the man's pocket.
"Let's get started." Reita announced, and everyone quickly shuffled to their places around the arena, where Aoi stood facing a taller, stronger-looking man with a shaved head, square, unattractive features, and a tattoo-adorned body on which he opted, to the dismay of many, not to put a shirt.
"They call him The Cobra." Kai hissed in Uruha's ear after successfully sneaking up behind him. "Cause he devours his opponents whole."
Uruha tensed and began wringing his hands as the two fighters began circling each other. He watched as The Cobra eyed Aoi as if the smaller man were his prey, an agile, tasty creature too delicious to pass up. Aoi, on the other hand, looked markedly out of place, with a few front pieces of his raven hair pulled back loosely, revealing an untarnished face that contrasted drastically with the rabble around him.
In the beginning, it was almost like dance. Synchronized, harmonious. One man bobbed as the other weaved. One lunged forward, the other bounced back. One jumped higher, the other ducked down.
As soon as it began, the dance was interrupted when Aoi caught the Cobra in the jaw with a solid, impactful punch. The other man stumbled a little, but quickly regained his composure. He returned a punch that contained admittedly more force, sending it directly into Aoi's nose.
Aoi's eyes teared at the pressure on his nose, and he felt warm, sticky liquid oozing down over his lips and dripping off of his chin. He ignored the growing roar of the crowd around them and focused on the intimidating man shuffling from foot to foot in front of him.
Aoi knew he couldn't out-muscle the massive brute, but he hoped his smaller stature would give him the advantage of speed. Kicking out with one leg, Aoi hooked his foot around the back of The Cobra's thick knees, pressing them forwards, and causing them to buckle. The Cobra was felled hard, like a toppling tree, grunting out animalistically as his hands and knees banged against the unmoving pavement.
Before Aoi could back away, The Cobra reached out a gigantic, tattooed arm, wrapped it around Aoi's thigh, and pulled the smaller man down to the ground on his back with a resounding thud. Aoi fought to regain his breath, and speedily rolled on his side just as The Cobra's fist was about to meet with his face again. Said fist hit the pavement with incredible force, the alley echoing with the sounds of cracking bones in The Cobra's fingers and hand.
The Cobra yelled out and lunged wildly for Aoi, who was struggling to stand. He caught Aoi's shirt with both hands, one of which was now mangled and badly cut up, and tore the fabric right off his skin before catching Aoi again and throwing him back down to the ground.
Aoi laid there still for a second, the shooting pain up his spine from the impact temporarily paralyzing him. His body was glistening from his face to his neck down his torso in sweat that was caused by a combination of effort and nerves, and his broad chest heaved with every labored breath. It was only when he started to lift his head that he saw The Cobra stick his good hand in his own pocket.
"Finish him!" A voice yelled from the side. Aoi managed to look over to see Uruha staring wide-eyed at a dark-haired man behind him, obviously the owner of the frightening demand.
The rest of the fight is still a little hazy for Aoi. If you can call it a fight. Beating might be more appropriate. Or slaughter.
The Cobra delivered crushing body blows to Aoi's face, neck, chest, ribs, and stomach, before repeating the process again... just for fun. Aoi never fought back. He barely moved. Every hit made his head reel. Something was wrong. These were not normal punches. Every single one felt like a fistful of metallic death hitting his body. He moaned in pain at the first round of hits and tried to struggle out from under his aggressor, but after that he was silent... and still.
It was only when The Cobra was gearing up for a third round of blows that a loud clanging bell sounded. Reita's infamous Blood Bell. It signaled that a fight was over, since Reita didn't like people dying while he was trying to enjoy his favorite sport.
The crowd cleared and began reorganizing for the next fight. Uruha rushed over to Aoi, the once model-esque man now a groaning mess of blood and sweat. Aoi pushed Uruha helpful arms away and, after a few failed attempts, pulled himself up to a kneeling position with great effort.
"That wasn't right." Aoi grunted out through the blood that still gurgled in his mouth.
"No, Aoi, it was a good try." Uruha halfheartedly tried to assure Aoi, while in the back of his mind he was agonizing over his own fate. "You fought hard... it's just... he was so... "
"You're not listening!" Aoi shouted, the force of it causing him to clutch his tender ribs with both hands. He took a few careful breaths. "He had something."
"I don't under- -" Uruha stopped when he looked up just in time to see The Cobra handing a small, metallic object to Kai, who was looking even more victorious than the actual victor. Brass knuckles, Uruha realized. Fury rose from the pit of his stomach when he realized what Kai had done... and why. He looked back to Aoi, "We can't talk about this now. I have to get you out of here."
Aoi opened his mouth to protest, but any words he might have spoken turned into gasps and groans as Uruha pulled him to his feet, moving gently but quickly. Aoi leaned a good deal of his weight on the surprisingly sturdy honey-blond and the two of them made their way awkwardly towards the end of the alley.
Kai was itching to follow them, to demand his payment, but a pair of glaring eyes stopped him.
"Where do you think you're going?" Reita said, finding the idea of Kai leaving without permission almost amusing.
"He lost. They both did. We... I-I mean, you are owed some payment. I was gonna go collect."
"Not now." Reita said decisively. "I have someplace to be and this little fight night is far from over." He tossed Kai the Blood Bell with a chuckle. "No bodies, Kai. That's an order."
~~~~ ~~~~
"Reita!" The door opened to the most beautiful voice Reita had ever heard and the most beautiful face Reita had ever seen. Two small arms wrapped around his neck in a tight, loving embrace. "I thought maybe you forgot about me."
Reita wrapped his muscular arms around the other man's slim waist and nuzzled into his neck. "I could never do that, Ruki."
Ruki pulled away and took Reita's worn, calloused hand in his soft one so he could lead the taller man inside the dim, cozy apartment. The two sat down on a worn burgundy couch and Ruki immediately cuddled closer to Reita.
Reita held the younger man close, breathing him in. Ruki reached up and gently tugged down the black bandanna that still kept Reita hidden from the rest of the world. "You don't need that in here," he said softly.
Reita stiffened when Ruki began tracing the curves of Reita's full, plush lips with the tips of his fingers. "I told you, you can't do that."
Ruki pulled away, putting both of his hands on his own laps and staring down at them. "I just want to touch you. Just a little." The hurt in his voice made Reita wince. He thought back to the first time he ever laid eyes on that immaculate face.
Kai opened the door to Reita's office.
"What do you want?" Reita demanded, not even looking up from the lists of drug-deals, bets, and debtors he was pouring over.
"Another one of those kids coming in to try to settle family debt."
"Get rid of him. I don't need any more drug-runners right now."
"Actually, he's pretty cute. I was thinking the other line of work. He could make some real money for you."
Reita looked up. He could always use more of those. They had a way of disappearing on him. "Fine, let me see him."
Kai reached back into the hallway and yanked a petite, blond boy into the room. Normally, Reita's eyes would run up and down a person's body, scrutinizing the curves or lack thereof. But this time, his gaze wasn't scrutinizing. It was admiring. Maybe even respecting. And he was only looking at that face.
"Get out." Reita ordered Kai, though his gaze never left the boy that he was now stepping ever-so-slowly closer to. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen." The boy answered nervously.
"That's pretty young to be getting involved in this world."
"But, m-my father borrowed a lot of money from you... and then he died, s-so my... " The boy stopped when Reita's hand reached up to stroke his velvety cheek.
Reita knew this boy would be a big seller. He would earn Reita a lot of cash by selling his body on the street. And that thought made Reita feel sick. "You don't belong here. Go home."
Ever since that day, Reita's world had revolved around the few times he managed to steal away to see Ruki. Reita's life was a dark, twisted circus of horrible deeds and immoral people in which Reita was the deplorable ringmaster. And yet, in these quiet moments with Ruki, he could feel human again. He could feel that there was still goodness inside him. Ruki was his salvation.
That's why Ruki couldn't touch him that way. Reita knew he was already playing with fire even spending time with the younger man, but there was a line he simply would not cross. He swore to himself that he would never allow Ruki to be dragged down to the depths that he had made his home. He didn't want to treat Ruki like he did the other men down there. He didn't want to dominate him. He wanted to touch him, to hold him, to gaze deep into his bright, naive eyes. It was a desire unlike anything Reita had ever felt before. And it make him ache inside.
Reita realized he'd been quiet for sometime. "Maybe someday, Ruki," he said, offering him some hope that they would eventually be able to reach out to one another the way the both truly wanted to. "Just not yet. I don't want to hurt you."
"I don't believe you would ever hurt me." Ruki replied. Then he took Reita's face in his hands and sighed worriedly. "You look so tired."
Reita simply nodded, his eyelids beginning to feel heavy.
Ruki stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, you can sleep in my bed with me."
"Ruki..." Reita warned.
"Just sleep. I promise." He smiled as Reita finally accepted his hand.
Reita followed slowly into one of the doors off of the kitchen. He was looking so forward to sleeping with Ruki in his arms. This was going to be the best night's sleep he's had in a long time.
~~~~ ~~~~
Aoi and Uruha finally stumbled through the door of Aoi's apartment and headed straight for the bathroom so Aoi could vomit blood again, as he had twice on the long limp home.
Uruha finally settled Aoi on the side of the bathtub. "You should really take a hot bath, if you can stay awake for it. Otherwise, you won't be able to move tomorrow." Uruha suggested.
"Yeah, okay." Aoi replied simply as he tried to turn his body to start running the bath. His ribs still throbbed in pain though, and he was unable to get all the way to the faucet without gasping.
"No, no, I'll do it." Uruha said, as he began to prepare the bath. "You just get undressed."
Once the tub was nearly full, Uruha turned around to help Aoi in and nearly jumped out of his skin in shock when he saw the naked, bruised, albeit very sexy man standing next to him. Uruha suddenly felt extremely awkward at the situation he was in. He had certainly never bathed a beat-up stranger that he was admittedly very attracted to before.
Aoi laid down in the tub, moaning at the pleasant feeling of the hot water engulfing his body. Uruha nearly moaned at the pleasant feeling of the hot sound engulfing the bathroom.
"So," Aoi began, interrupting Uruha's daze. "What was it we couldn't talk about there?"
Uruha had to blink for a second before he remembered what the soaked, naked man was talking about. "Oh! Well, the thing you were talking about... the thing The Cobra had? I think it was brass knuckles."
Aoi snorted. "No wonder. What the fuck was he doing with brass knuckles? He could have split my head open?!?"
"It's all my fault." Uruha admitted, looking down at the tile floor from his perch on the side of the tub.
"I don't see how."
Uruha took a deep breath. He knew he would have to explain everything. He also knew that when he did, it would only take a second for Aoi to throw his worthless, gambling ass out of his apartment. Which didn't hurt as bad as the fact that it meant he would never see Aoi again. "I'm a gambler, Aoi. A bad one. I owe Reita a lot of money."
"Yeah, don't we all?" Aoi remarked casually, causing Uruha's head to shoot up in surprise. "Go on."
"Well," Uruha continued. "Tonight was my first time betting on street-fighters. And Reita said if I one, he'd let me off, but I didn't so now I owe him double."
"Shit. Uruha, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. If I had kept fighting, maybe I would have won."
"If you had kept fighting, you would be dead."
They both looked away from each other as the uncomfortable silence filled the room. After a few moments, Aoi cleared his throat, "It's not the best situation, but if you can't pay Reita back he'll just put you to work for him for awhile. Pushing drugs or prostitution. Try to pay him back though, cause now that I think about it, you're very pretty and I'm sure he's not going to use you as a drug dealer."
Despite the seriousness of the discussion, Uruha couldn't help but blush. Then he continued his own story, "I have a different set of circumstances though. Do you know Kai?"
"Reita's smiley pervert sidekick?"
"That's him. He sort of has a thing for me, and I know he gave that guy the brass knuckles, and he said if I still owe Reita then..." Uruha let his voice trail off, careful not to look directly at Aoi, who now had concern etched all over his abused face.
"Uruha, did he do anything to you?" Aoi asked timidly, as though he was afraid to know the answer.
"No, not really... not yet."
"Uruha, look at me." Uruha looked up and met sweet, caring eyes. "We'll figure this out."
"Aoi, don't get involved. This isn't your fight."
"No, I already lost my fight. We can still win yours."
Uruha smiled. All of the sudden, he felt warm.
Aoi stood up from the water that had now cooled off. He motioned for Uruha to hand him a towel, but the honey-blond man sat motionless, staring at the perfect male specimen in front of him. His eyes followed the beads of water that ran from his long, pale neck over his broad, strong chest, down his rippled torso, to his...
"Uruha?"
Uruha snapped out of his immoral innermost thoughts. "Huh?"
"My towel."
"Oh!" Uruha scrambled for the towel, desperate to cover up his obvious attraction. In his haste, however, he slipped on the floor rug. His feet flew out from under him and his head came inches from the ceramic sink when a pair of strong, soggy arms reached out to steady him.
"Maybe you should stay here tonight." Aoi chuckled as Uruha's face reddened more and more with each passing second. "I'm not sure you'd survive the walk home."
~~~~ ~~~~
The next morning, Ruki hugged Reita good-bye, both men squeezing the other so tight they thought they might imprint their images in the other's skin. Reita smiled broadly as he tied his bandanna back on and pulled his hood over his head, his night with Ruki having revitalized him for all the bullshit he would surely face in his day.
Ruki watched the older man leave before shutting the door behind him and sighing, his heart nearly bursting with the love he knew better than to express. Soon, he thought to himself, very soon.
Ruki pressed his ear to the other bedroom door in the apartment, smiling when he heard a soft snoring.
He walked into the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. Then he rummaged through the refrigerator for some eggs and bread, resolving to make breakfast for his older brother.
Aoi probably had a long night.
~~~~ ~~~~
A/N: In case you're wondering, Aoi's ass-kicking being that quick and brutal was on purpose - it's part of the story. Also, writing a fight is hella challenging, so I apologize if it sucks. Damn, that was long. I'm exhausted. I need some Bawls ... still funny... :)