The Brotherhood - Single White Fang Part 1

THE BROTHERHOOD.

SINGLE WHITE FANG.

Willa Okati.

Dedication.

To everyone who wrote me with a request for David's love story. Here you are, and happy reading!

Chapter One.

On leaving the meeting in Simon's condo -- immediately after Liam proposed a visit to a club, which took place in The Brotherhood 1: Amour Magique ...

"I can't believe it," Christian babbled excitedly, jumping in and out of David's silhouette as they made their way down the sidewalk outside Simon's condo. "Amour Magique! I mean, that place just opened up, and they already have a line of men three deep every single night, but you heard what Liam said; he's gonna get us in, VIP, free of charge!" He mimed a flying kick at a lamp post. "Might just have to change my mind about him!"

David caught Christian's foot in one hand as the other man overbalanced and spun around. Laughing, Christian tumbled to the pavement easily as an acrobat, tucking and rolling and coming back up again.

"Gotcha," David said with a grin. "Almost. How'd you get to be so good at that, anyway?"

Christian shrugged, flipping up the collar of his thin jacket. "Gymnastics in high school," he said, so easily that David knew it was a lie. That stung a bit. Whatever Christian did to earn money, he wouldn't tell anyone about it, not even David. Not that David couldn't guess.

"You are careful when you work, aren't you?" he asked, as gently as he could. "I understand you don't want anyone to know."

Christian looked at him quizzically, though with over-bright eyes, and lied transparently. "What are you talking about? I only got burned once by the deep-fat fryer, and after that I learned to wear the ap.r.o.n they give us."

"Ap.r.o.ns. Right." David rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Christian, you know you don't have to ... I mean, I could help ..."

"Help who? Me?" Christian's laugh sounded brittle. "Keep your help for someone who needs it." He punched David in the stomach he'd been working so hard to whittle down. "You're saving your money for our shopping trip, anyway."

"Since when are we going shopping?"

"Since I'm the college boy who knows where to buy the hottie hot outfits, and we're going to Amour Magique. We're gonna dress you up like you've never seen." Christian blew David a kiss. He grabbed another lamp post, swinging around it. Fat drops of rain began to splatter around them. Christian chortled in delight. "Just like that movie, Singing in the Rain!"

David watched Christian with wistful envy. Not l.u.s.t, of course. He couldn't have seen himself as s.e.xually interested in the guy ... Christian had to be five years younger since he was a senior in college. Besides, the odds of someone like him being interested in David ... not that great. Christian was young, hot and athletic, and most likely up to his eyeb.a.l.l.s in dates.

Not for the first time, David puzzled over how Christian had come to join the Brotherhood. In fact, he wondered the same thing about most of the Brothers. For a group that was all about sharing their feelings, he really didn't know much about anyone.

Well, except the certainties that Micah was a diva, Bree had a really high pain threshold -- all those piercings, ugh -- and Lawrence was deep in the closet.

Speaking of whom, Lawrence pa.s.sed them on the way to his beat-up compact car, grinning wryly. "Some kind of luck, huh?

If this gets out, I'm finished at work. They'll fire me before you could strike a match."

David put a hand on Christian to stop him from shadow-boxing, then tried to soothe Lawrence. "It won't be like that," he said. "Maybe comb your hair differently. Grow a goatee or something. Besides, if anyone sees you there, won't that mean they're gay themselves? You'll have it over them just as much as they would on you."

Lawrence looked startled. "That's true. Never thought of it that way. Thanks, David!" He slapped David on the upper arm.

"You're a good guy, you know that?"

Now, Lawrence, with an adorable boy-next-door face and sparkling green eyes, David could have been interested in him.

The man was around his own age, slender as a lathe, red-haired and good-natured. But the man was so deep in the closet David doubted Lawrence could see daylight, and he'd never looked at David with anything but friends.h.i.+p. No one had.

David watched as Lawrence neatly folded himself into the driver's seat of the compact, turned on the ignition, and drove away at a leisurely pace. No undue rush, no hurry that would draw suspicion as to where he'd been and what he'd been doing.

Not even Liam, and Liam would flirt with a wall if he thought it had an attractive knothole.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," a small figure said, ducking between David and Christian. Liam himself, huddled in a coat against the rain, heading off to wherever it was he lived, going on foot. David frowned. Come to think of it, he'd never seen the little man use a car. Did he walk everywhere?

"Christian, see you next week," David said, rubbing a quick circle on the younger man's back. "You be careful on the bus, okay? You sure you don't want a ride?"

"Nah, man, I'm good. And be careful of what?" Christian demanded. "You worry too much." He wouldn't meet David's gaze. "See you next time!"

He took off at a run, pelting toward the bus stop. David watched him go with regret, wis.h.i.+ng as always that he could have done more, but he couldn't save anyone, no matter how hard he tried. He wasn't good enough and he didn't have enough to give.

David watched Christian for another moment, full of half-formed wishes that he could help, then sighed and turned after Liam.

G.o.d, the man moved fast -- must come of being so small -- he seemed to dodge through the raindrops that were picking up speed.

"Liam!" David chased after him and took in a deep breath, determined that he wouldn't be panting when he caught up to Liam. It was bad enough to have thirty extra pounds on him, which he hated displaying to others and the reason he always wore baggy s.h.i.+rts and pants -- although Micah always seemed to have no problem pointing them out.

"Liam!" he called again, gaining on the figure. "Slow down!"

Liam turned. He made a face as a blob of rain splatted his nose. For just a moment, he looked old and terribly sad. David pulled up short, startled. Liam looked like ... someone else. Beautiful, but tortured. "Saint Sebastian," he blurted.

Liam c.o.c.ked his head, understandably baffled. "Could you repeat that?"

David felt a hot blush climb his face. "Never mind," he said in a rush. "It's nothing."

"David, you always say these words. Never do I hear you telling someone what is really on your mind." Liam reached out and touched him, the warmth of his small hand seeping through David's long s.h.i.+rt. He squeezed his arm with a feather-light grip.

"You have so little faith in yourself. Come, then. What were you saying to me?"

David shuffled his feet. "It really is nothing. I mean, not much. It's just, for a second, you looked like a beautiful painting of Saint Sebastian," he mumbled. "He died a martyr from having arrows shot into him. Some people thought the artist was gay, and that's why he made the saint so pretty. I mean handsome, not pretty. I mean --"

"David." Liam squeezed again. "It is quite all right. I am no saint, but I am honored that you thought of me in that fas.h.i.+on for a moment." He looked like regular old Liam again, pint-sized and pixie-like, with a grin that wouldn't quit. "I was sad, yes. But it is of no consequence."

"No, it is," David insisted. He felt himself flush even deeper, but went on. "I saw you walking ... and I thought maybe you don't have a car, so I was going to offer you a lift. It's raining," he added, then winced. It was kicking up to be a real storm, and he had to go and mention the obvious? He couldn't believe how much of a dork he sounded.

All the same, Liam tilted his head to the sky. "So it is," he murmured, as if he was just now noticing the drizzle, despite being wet. He turned back to David, his eyes twinkling with good humor. "A ride in your large, comfortable truck with the leather seats?

Have I earned such a treat?"

"Oh, G.o.d, no. I mean, no, it's not about earning," David babbled hastily. "I mean, I didn't want you to get soaked and maybe jumped by someone who's out looking to bash people, but you can probably take care of yourself, and I should really shut up now." He clamped his lips tightly together.

"David, David ..." Liam caressed his arm. His expression had changed to a thoughtful one. "Only you would make such an offer. Such a generous heart. The others think I am just a crazy little gay man, who lives for nothing but fun and the next time I can hook a man for my bed."

"You do get laid more than the rest of us ..." David swallowed. "Not that I know, you know. You just have that look. Like you aren't going without." He ducked his head. "I'm sorry."

"Do not be. David, you have the largest heart I have ever known. Do you realize that?"

"Oh, yeah. That's me. Large."

"Stop that," Liam reproved. "You have a little extra padding? Pfah! What does that matter? The world would be a dull place indeed if everyone were a model like Micah. Ex-model, pardon me. There is a place for bears. Many of us like a larger man in bed. We do not have to, how do you say it? Search the sheets for you." His eyes twinkled roguishly. "There is a perfect man out there for you, David. I think you will find him at Amour Magique."

David shook his head. "I might not go ..."

"Not go?" Liam looked genuinely shocked. "But of course, you will go! You will be a tremendous success. Of that, I am sure."

"I don't know, Liam. It might be okay for the other guys. I mean, all of them, even Simon, they're cute. They have a personality. They'll do all right. I'm just ..." David lifted his shoulders helplessly. "Me." "And that is what makes you remarkable." Liam reached up to straighten the lapels of David's s.h.i.+rt. "You try to watch out for young Christian, even though he rebuffs you. You give Lawrence good advice. You make sure Quentin feels loved. There is so much good that you do, and you ask for no reward."

"I don't do it to be paid back," David said, stung. "I just ... care. That's all."

"Then you deserve to have someone special care for you in return." Standing on his tiptoes now, Liam patted David's cheek. It was almost a fatherly gesture. "You manage the antiques barn out on the highway, do you not?"

David blinked, startled by the change in subject. "Yeah. For almost ten years now. I didn't get to go to college, but I got lucky with that job."

"You love it, yes?"

David could feel the grin lighting up his face. "I do. I really do. The best part is finding something that someone's about to throw out because it's been used too hard or socked away in an attic, and they think it's junk. I love refurbis.h.i.+ng those old woods, making them look as good as new again."

"Treasure from trash," Liam mused. He rocked back and forth on his feet, as if thinking carefully about something. "Do you know about the Midnight All-Night Flea Fest just outside of town?"

David wanted to laugh. Liam hopped from topic to topic just like a flea himself. He smiled. "I wish I'd gotten to know you earlier," he said impulsively. "You're ..."

"Yes." Liam smiled. "I am. But come, the rain is increasing and there is a sheltered doorway close to hand. Step in here by my side and tell me, why are you not attending the Fest?"

David followed Liam and, once settled under the doorway's eaves, shuffled his feet again. "Well, I kind of missed out on the vendor entry. And it's -- well, it's dark." He wrapped his arms around his chest. "I'm not really crazy about being out after the sun goes down."

Liam was looking at him all too carefully. "And there are reasons why," he said. It wasn't a question, but David nodded all the same. His ex ... he'd used the darkness of night and the shadows to do what he'd done. David felt at his ribs. They still hurt sometimes when he strained himself. Bad breaks would do that, or so the doctor had told him.

"Go to this Fest," Liam said abruptly. "I think you will have a grand time, and there should be no fear about the time of night.

There are so many lights, you would think it the sunniest of days. Fun at the fair. Is fun not what this is all about?" He gave David a playful push -- a ticket suddenly appearing in one hand. He let it go, David catching the chit automatically.

"Where did you get this?"

Liam shrugged. "From a friend. I had thought I would go myself, but I believe you will have a better time than I." He folded David's fingers around the ticket. "Go, and enjoy yourself."

"Liam, these are fifty dollars each. I can't just take it. That Fest is serious business."

"Did I say I paid for it?" Liam's tone and face were mischievous. "I told you, it was a gift. Now I give that gift to you. Go, and have fun. As for myself, I must be getting home."

David felt a twinge of envy. "Do you have someone waiting for you?"

"Not precisely." Liam's face flickered back into a semblance of Saint Sebastian for a moment before he shook the gloom off with a visible effort. "I have an errand, and then I go to sleep alone tonight."

"At least let me give you a ride."

"No, no, there is no need." Liam waved him off. "Look, the rain is already stopping. A brief squall, and then the skies are clear. Go on. Will you do this for me?"

The ticket felt sharp and cool in David's hand. The thought of being outside, by himself, after dark ... he s.h.i.+vered. But how could he say no? Liam really seemed to want him to go. And maybe he'd find something good for the Barn or his own collection.

Maybe.

"Okay," he said, feeling awkward. "Thanks. It's really good of you."

"A heart big enough to embrace the world, and yet he thanks me." Liam smiled up at David. Before he could stop the little man, or jump back in surprise, Liam raised up with both hands on David's shoulders, and brushed a kiss across his lips.

David raised his hand to touch his mouth. "What -- why did you --"

"For luck." Liam's eyes sparkled again. "Move along now. Have a good time. No worries about me. I will be fine. Just fine."

And with that, he turned and walked away, too fast to follow, but with his head up instead of hanging low. David caught a s.n.a.t.c.h of music floating back. Liam was singing, something sweet and lilting, in a language he didn't recognize. He looked down at the square of cardboard in his hand. "Midnight All-Night Flea Fest," he read aloud. He hadn't dared to even think about going. But now ... now he thought he would. And maybe, just maybe he would find something good.

Standing in the dying rain, David began to smile. He felt something he hadn't in a long, long time.

Liam's kiss must have worked. He felt ... lucky.

Chapter Two

Liam had been right ... the Fest was lit up almost as brightly as day. David pulled into the spot near the entrance he'd been able to find almost immediately, marveling at the stroke of good fortune. Funny how no one else had taken it. Someone must just have left early; there had been at least three cars in front of him doing the slow circle-up and turn-around of someone hunting for a s.p.a.ce.

The parking slot proved to be a tight squeeze for his truck, but he guided Sweet Rose in with remarkable grace for the old junker.

"Good girl," he crooned, patting the leather seats. Old, cracked material. He should get her re-upholstered, he knew, but by that logic, he should rebuild her engine, buy new tires, and have the entire cha.s.sis reworked. In fact, he should probably just get a different truck altogether, but he didn't think he could stand it. Sweet Rose had been his first big purchase after saving up enough at the Antique Barn, and she'd carried him for almost ten years.

You didn't let a lady down by putting her out to pasture like an old nag, especially when she still had some good miles left in her. She fit him just right, too, the legroom exactly as long as he needed and tall enough for his head not to b.u.mp the roof, and her radio always tuned in the sweetest country music to be found.