He groaned and stared at the ceiling. “Orion? Where are you?” he asked, weakly. If anyone could help him understand this, it would, it seemed, most likely be him. Orion seemed to know so much about him, and about everything in general. Who was he?
Hunter fell asleep thinking of that question. He thought about Orion often, felt as if he knew him, and yet he really knew nothing of him at all.
At his apartment, Hunter woke, feeling entirely well, ravenously hungry and elated.
“Orion.” The name was the first thing on his lips. He jumped out of bed and went through to the kitchen. He had slept well, and had dreamed of Orion again. Fragments of the dream still echoed through his thoughts, making him feel warm inside. They had been together again, in the same pale bed, in the same strange, bright-lit, warm room. Hunter felt convinced that the dreams had some strange meaning to them. They were so vivid, almost like they had really happened. They left him feeling wonderful, too.
The chrome kitchen clock showed him that it was just seven o' clock in the evening, the same day of the luncheon where he had fallen ill. He raided the fridge and made an enormous plate of eggs and toast. Twenty minutes later, and feeling marginally less ravenous, Hunter settled down in his study. He felt absurdly happy and decided to phone his cousin. Hunter enjoyed his company and confided in him. Besides, no-one understood him as Dave had. Now that he was so happy, he had to talk to him.
“Hello?” The voice on the other side of the phone sounded delighted and incredulous at the same time. “How are you, you old rascal?”
Hunter laughed, pleased to hear his familiar voice. “I'm well, Dave. In fact, I'm really, really well.”
“Oh?” Dave's voice was alert. “Who have you met, then?”
Hunter laughed. “How did you guess?”
“It's you, and you sound happy.” He replied. “What else was I to think?”
They laughed.
“It's so good to hear you.” Hunter said warmly.
“You, too.” Dave added.
“I'm so happy.” Hunter said, content.
“Who is he?” Dave asked.
“I'm not sure.” Hunter replied, slowly. “I mean,” he went on, “I know who he is, but nothing else; about where he comes from or what he does, or that sort of thing.” He had not thought about it before, but now that he mentioned it, he noticed. He felt like he knew Orion completely, but he knew none of those mundane things. Things like that – work, family, age – just simply did not seem to apply to him.
“Okay.” Dave said, airily. “A man of mystique. That's cool.”
Hunter laughed. He felt profoundly relieved that Dave saw nothing odd about that. “I couldn't have said it better myself.” He smiled.
“Well,” Dave smiled, “it's great to hear you so happy. You should visit sometime, you know.”
Hunter laughed. “I'd love to. But work pressures, you know...I hardly get a chance to sneeze, never mind escape for a whole weekend.”
“Well, you should.” Dave replied firmly. “I'd love to see you.”
“Thanks.” Hunter replied, sincerely.
“So,” Dave continued, smiling, “how is this mystique-monger?”
Hunter chuckled. “He's...brilliant.” He could not keep the warmth from his voice when he talked of Orion. He knew he had only seen him once, besides the time in his dreams, but it didn't seem to matter all that much. He felt like he had known him for years and years.
“I'm glad.” Dave smiled; the inflection of his voice showed he was grinning broadly.
“And you?” Hunter asked, wanting to change the subject in case Dave asked him for the particulars. “How's your partner doing?”
“Oh,” Dave chuckled. “He's great, too. We're going up the mountains this weekend.”
“You!” Hunter chuckled. “You and your extreme sports.”
“You're the extreme guy out of us.” Dave replied, and they laughed. “It's great to hear you've found a Mr. Extreme to match you, after so long.”
Hunter blushed, feeling his heart warming with that. He did feel like Orion was a perfect match for him. He reflected that that might not be sensible – after all, they had only seen each other a few times, outside of dreams– but it made sense to him.
“So, where will you be spending the weekend?”
“Oh, you know, where we usually go up in the hills...”
They talked for a while longer, and Hunter hung up smiling.
He sat back and thought about it. He really knew nothing about Orion, and yet he felt as if he had known him all his life. What was that about? Next time he saw him, he decided, he would ask about something. Not that he wanted to scare him, mind. Just something gentle, like if he had any siblings. He would love to know more about this elusive stranger who held his heart.
“I don't know you, but I love you.” He said to the empty air of the room, and grinned foolishly afterwards.
He had never felt like this before. More than anything, he hoped he would see Orion again, and soon. He knew he would. He had promised. And, whatever he knew, somehow Hunter knew that he could trust that man with his life.
Hunter thought about that again. He knew he had known him. Their interaction was so natural, so easy, as if they had known each other half a lifetime. It was, in fact, easier even than talking to Dave, whom he had known since their childhood. And he trusted that man, more than he had ever trusted anyone.
Now, sitting back and remembering his dream, Hunter felt a delicious warmth filling him. He remembered their touches, and kisses, and he felt his whole body ache. How could he wait even a second longer to see him again? How could he bear the wait, without even being able to call? If he were in love with anyone else, he would be frantic by now. But he trusted Orion. He had said he would return, and he meant it. That was all Hunter knew for sure, but he knew it absolutely. It might be the next day, or the next week. He would come back. And Hunter knew, deep inside, he would wait for him to return.
Chapter 9
It was only five o' clock the next day, and Hunter gently shut his office door. It was still early, but Mrs. Wyatt had practically fainted when he arrived at work in the face of his sickness the previous day, and had silently reproached him for every hour he spent in his office. He felt that if he did not make some concession for his sickness, she might strain a muscle trying to evict him with mental effort alone.
“Good evening, Mrs. Wyatt.” He called as he breezed past her, waving cheerfully. He knew he was still ill, as he had only just managed not to vomit up his breakfast, but he felt so happy. He had dreamed of Orion that night, a dream so vivid he had woken sweating, and could not, for anything, wipe the smile off his face.
“Good evening, Mr. Cavendish. I hope you are taking the doctor's recommendations into consideration.” She said sternly, a slight lift at the corner of her mouth betraying a caring smile.
“Yes. Thank you. I am touched.” Hunter replied sincerely. He was. He had no idea how well-liked he was at the company, and felt bad about how dismissive he had been of all of them in the past. He had really thought they hated him. He sighed. It was amazing how little he had known, before. How closed his heart had been.
The elation settled on Hunter as he walked down the last flight of stairs to the ground-floor exit. He could not help it. Somehow everything felt wonderful, and the smile was perpetual on his face.
He waved at the gate attendants and walked out. The air outside was thick and gold with sunset. He breathed in the late warmth of autumn and smiled.
Hunter walked across the street to the coffee-shop and bought a cappuccino, simply feeling like something sweet. He shook his head at himself and his choosy appetite.
During the brief delay in the coffee-shop, night had fallen rather faster than Hunter had expected. It was only six o' clock, but the streets were already darker than they had been at this time, and cold.
Hunter glanced at his watch, and decided to take a short-cut back home rather than risk catching a chill on the f
ast-darkening streets.
It was only as he entered the mouth of the alley – the same dark, shaded place in which he had first met Orion – that Hunter realized where he was. He walked on into the darkness, going more by feel than sight, for it truly was pitch black down there.
His heart felt light, for no reason, and Hunter almost felt like singing. Something down there coaxed sheer delight out of him, making him smile for no reason at all.
Suddenly, he felt a hand lightly touch his arm. He turned round.
“Hello.” It was Orion.
Hunter turned and kissed him. They clung together. When Hunter looked up, the magnificent violet eyes were troubled, the wrinkles at the corners deep and hard.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” Orion shook his head. He looked down, a tender smile masking the worry on his fine features, but Hunter had not missed it.
“You can come back with me?” He asked.
“Yes.”
Orion nodded. His hand reached out, and his fingers, cold and fine-boned, twined with his own.
They walked the block and a half back to the apartment in silence, and climbed the stairs quietly and slowly, lost in their own thoughts.
Inside, Orion leaned against Hunter, and they kissed. Their kiss was slow, Orion's mouth gentle and tender; even more so than Hunter remembered. It made each part of him shiver as if with ague, whole body consumed with desire.
They kissed again, and went together to the bedroom. They collapsed onto the bed, bodies twined together with a joy and gentleness that was new even to them. Hunter unfastened Orion's shirt, and Orion undressed him, too, slowly, their hands finding a new realm of tenderness that moved them both to slow amazement.
They kissed, and their bodies, bare now, pressed firmly to each other for warmth and closeness. Orion's mouth found Hunter's, and they kissed again.
Slowly, as they stroked each other's bodies, Orion moved Hunter so that he lay in his arms, Hunter turning so that their lips met. They lay like that for some time, pressed tight to one another, lips and touch arousing each other beyond anything previous in their encounters.
Hunter shivered as Orion's hand slid down his side, and as he drew him close. He pressed against him and gently, so very gently, slid inside him.
Hunter cried out explosively, the feeling incomparable. He pressed back, and his companion pressed forward, so that they moved together, each lost in the pleasure they felt and gave.
It was a few minutes and Hunter could already feel the urgency gathering inside him, threatening to overflow. He felt his heart race and his body shiver and his nerve-endings tingle. As they moved, faster and faster, the feeling built and grew. Finally, shivering and moaning aloud, Hunter came.
Orion, behind him, cried out loudly, and collapsed behind him. His breath was panting, and they lay together, bodies pressed firmly to one another.
After a long while, Orion kissed Hunter, slowly. Their mouths were tender and gentle, and Hunter felt his heart ache at the feeling of those lips moving softly on his.
He listened to Orion's gentle breathing, and when he noticed a strange timing to the breaths, he opened his eyes. He blinked and looked again, amazed. The lamp on the table, tuned to dimness, showed, running down Orion's face in twin rivulets, the golden tracks of tears.
“My dear?” Hunter asked it, quietly. He reached up and kissed the man, who made no move to stop crying. The tears, silent and steady, ran down his cheeks, unceasing.
“What is it?” Hunter asked quietly. He reached up and wrapped an arm around Orion's shoulders, holding him in silence and care.
After a moment, when he heard Orion sniff, he sat up and went to find a paper handkerchief. He stumbled to the cupboard and turned on the light, found what he was looking for in his coat pocket, and returned, quietly to the bed.
Hunter passed his partner the handkerchief, and held him, softly, while he quieted in his arms. Only when Orion had stopped crying did Hunter look up again.
He stroked the dark hair of the man in his arms. As he did so, he noticed that his closer view confirmed what he had noticed when halfway across the room. Orion's skin was blue.
Hunter looked up into his violet eyes, feeling confused, scared and still completely devoted. The fact that he was crying was the most important part. All the rest could wait. Yes, he was blue. He had purple eyes. So what? Hunter loved him. He was crying. That was his priority.
“My heart?” Hunter asked, quietly, after a moment, “are you alright?”
“Yes.” Orion nodded, face grave, blinking so he held back the tears. “Yes, I am well.”
“Good.” Hunter kissed him. “I won't ask why you are so sad.” He continued. “It's not my right to pry in your business. But,” he continued, “I would like it if you wanted to tell me.”
Orion smiled. “I do want to tell you.”
Hunter felt his heart stop. “Good.” He smiled. He kissed him.
“And,” Orion continued, and this time one side of his firm, lovely mouth was raised in a definite smile, “now that you've seen me with the light on and noticed some things, you really do deserve some answers, I admit.”
“I..” Hunter stammered. How had Orion known? He had not said anything about it.
“No, you didn't tell me. I thank you for not asking earlier. I am deeply touched that you care more for me than you do for concerns like being blue.” He smiled and leaned in. He kissed Hunter on the lips, and on the neck under the ear, and laid a trail of kisses over his shoulder, along the collar bone. Hunter gasped.
“My dear.” Orion began, making Hunter breathe in sharply with the wonder of hearing that endearment directed towards him. “I do owe you an explanation.” Orion smiled, and looked, nonetheless, extremely sad.
“You don't.” Hunter replied, hoarse. “I don't need to know anything you don't want to tell me.”
“Thank you.” Orion began. “Maybe I should not tell you, but I believe you have the right to know. Whatever you do with that knowledge is your right. You might choose never to see me again.” He swallowed hard. “But I still owe you this story.”
“I would never, ever leave you.” Hunter said firmly. Orion smiled. “You might, when you hear this.”
“Try me.”
“Okay,” Orion replied. He closed his eyes. “I'm an alien.”
Hunter swallowed. Strangely, that news did not surprise him. It didn't even scare him: in fact, when he heard it, and every time he thought about it, he felt a rising joy inside him, as if he had somehow known all along, and was glad to now know it openly.
“I am an alien.” Orion repeated, levelly, as if he did not like the word. “I come from the planet...” Here he said a word so complex and tonal that Hunter could not really even hear it, never mind hope to say it correctly. “I think you have some fancy number for it.” Orion smiled sadly.
“Is it nice there?” Hunter asked, gently.
“It is.” Orion was looking away, looking across the room at something far away, clearly seeing his memories in the blank space of the wall opposite them.
“What's it like?” Hunter stroked a hand down his chest where Orion lay beside him, arms around each other.
“Beautiful.” Orion said wistfully. “So very, very beautiful.” He paused, looking wistfully into memory and then continued. “Like earth – it has to be, to support life-forms like us – but different. Our blood is based on copper. Which is”, he smiled, “why I am this funny color. Well,” he demurred, smiling, “funny color compared to you.”
Hunter laughed and they kissed. When they were quieter, Hunter asked him more.
“Why are you here?” He paused. “I mean, I am so grateful you are here, but...it's very far away.”
“It is.” Orion looked sad. “The reason I am here is linked to the planet. It is dying.”
Hunter drew in a breath.
“We have overtaxed the resources. We didn't realize until it was too late.” Orion swallowed. “I don't know if you can ima
gine it, but for us,” He paused, “for our kind, who can hear the thoughts of others, the voice of a dying planet is agony beyond description.” He held a hand in the center of his chest, as if to dull an ache in his own heart. “I can hear it when I am on Earth, too,” he sighed. “Your planet is also dying, but not as fast as ours.” He sighed. “That is why we are here.”
“To take back resources to your planet?”
“No.” Orion looked down. His eyes were old and haggard. “To find new life. For our race. We are dying, too.”
“What?” Hunter asked, appalled. “You mean, your people are going extinct.”
“Basically, yes.” Orion swallowed. “It will happen here too, I think, in time. Mankind will overuse the resources here, and sign his own extinction. But now, we have a few years to save ourselves. Diversify.” His smile was bitter.
Hunter stirred.
“Diversify?”
“Our elders,” Orion said, his voice hard as stone, “decreed that we should...repopulate. Bring in new strains. Hope to modify our own race with the strains of others, to breed another group, abler to survive in the changing patterns of life up there.” He spat the words out like a curse.
“And, you came here?” Hunter asked cautiously. He was thinking hard, but could not trust the direction his thoughts were taking him.
“Yes.” Orion looked down, mouth tight as if he had taken poison. “To breed.”
“What?”
“To breed.” Orion said, harshly. “A cross of men of your kind with our kind. Who are only men.” He added, as an afterthought. “That makes sense, I think.”
“Maybe.” Hunter swallowed. “So, men of your kind have...breed...with men?”
“Men of our kind.”
“Our kind...?” Hunter stammered. “You mean?”
“Yes, Hunter.” Orion smiled, sadly, his violet eyes looking deep into Hunter's. “You are one of us.”
The words crashed through the room, leaving silence in their wake.
Hunter sat up, head reeling. Orion sat, too, looking up at him. His violet eyes were wide in the half-light, wary.
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