"Fine," Luc replied. He realized he was shaking and his voice trembled with restrained tears.
"Let's go home," Dury said. "You need some sleep."
Chapter Four
The third stage of Dury's plan was named See. By now, Luc expected something traumatizing and emotional to happen. And as much as he hated to admit it, through Dury, he'd understood and felt more in a few days than he had in the past couple of months. No matter how stupid and corny the plan seemed, Luc would see it to the very end.
He was surprised when Dury took him to an unfamiliar building, a private center for the treatment of the handicapped. Luc had thankfully never needed such medical attention, nor had any of the members of his family or close friends.
They entered the facility, and to Luc's shock, no one stopped them. A couple of nurses even greeted Dury, smiling brightly at him. Dury waved back at them and kept walking.
They took the elevator to an upper floor. All the while, Luc ached to ask what was going on. He got his answer when they walked out of the elevator and stopped in front of a gym.
Through the windows, Dury nodded toward two familiar figures, a redheaded woman and a man in a wheelchair.
Luc recognized the woman at once. After all, she'd thrown his latest manuscript in his face just a few days back. "Dana?"
"You remember her brother, Josh, right?" Dury asked, pointing to the man.
"Yes, of course. The last time I saw him was at the art gallery where I met Simon. He was very excited about playing in front of an audience of a thousand people. I later read that they loved him."
"That's right. He was very popular in the next few shows, as well. A few months back, though, he had an accident. Doctors say he won't ever walk again."
Luc gave Dury a horrified look. "What? That can't be. Dana never told me."
"Josh asked her not to. He didn't want people to know, to see him like this. He still hopes the medics are wrong. They kept the media dogs back with money."
Luc stared at the once happy young violinist and couldn't believe his eyes. He had trouble reconciling the Josh he'd known with this one. Joshua had been so full of life, so happy. He'd had the world at his feet, much like Luc in a way. How could things change so fast, and so drastically?
As they watched, Josh tried to force himself to walk, using two parallel bars as support. Sweat poured down his bare torso, and his sister urged him on, her eyes full of sorrow.
He fell halfway to his destination, and he cursed as he hit his hand in the process. His hands… hands that had once made thousands stand up and applaud.
"What about his music?" Luc asked.
"Dead," Dury replied. "He can't do it. He can't sing."
"Jesus. Why are you showing me this?"
Dury leaned against Luc, his warmth familiar and comforting. "Didn't you want to do the Ghost of Christmas present thing? Well, be careful what you ask for."
The words should have sounded stand-offish, but they came out soft and understanding. Luc wrapped his arms around Dury, trying to make himself speak. "Will he be able to walk again?" he asked.
"I can't tell you that," Dury said. "I don't know. The physiotherapy is never going to be enough, but his will may just help him out the rest of the way."
Luc nodded. He supposed that no one, not even a supernatural creature like Dury, could know the future.
"Come," Dury said. "He'd be uncomfortable if he saw us."
They left the private center in silence and took a cab once again. This time, it left them in one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in town. There were beautiful new houses built right next to rundown buildings and apartment complexes, some old, some new. "Where are we?"
Dury pointed to a tall structure in the distance. "That's where Chance Summers lives."
"Josh's fiancé?" Luc asked, recognizing the name.
"Former fiancé. They broke up."
"No way," Luc said. "I don't know much about them, but I've seen them together. They were in love."
"Even people in love can be torn apart by circumstances," Dury answered.
Instead of heading toward the apartment complex, they walked down the winding streets until they reached a sort of shopping area. Next to a library store and a tiny barber's shop, he saw a small gallery. There were several names mentioned on the posters, but Luc only recognized Chance's.
"Hurry. Let's sneak inside before anyone sees us."
Luc nodded, already used to Dury's peculiar ways. He distantly thought that Dury should have been able to use some sort of magic, to mask their approach at least.
"Fuck!" a voice said from a room in front of them. A string of more curses followed, and Dury gestured Luc to be quiet. They slipped through the gallery, following the sound as guide. They finally reached their destination and Luc sneaked a peek through the open door. Predictably, the person there was Chance Summers.
"I can't do this," Chance said, shaking his head. "I just can't."
He tossed his brush to the floor and pushed the unfinished canvas away from him in disgust. As the canvas fell, he kicked at it in desperate fury. "Fuck you. Fuck you. Why? Why?"
He repeated the words over and over, until finally, the anger seemed to drain out of him. He fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands. "Why…" he whispered brokenly.
Luc felt uncomfortable with seeing the handsome artist in such a vulnerable posture. Thankfully, Dury pulled him away and they left the gallery. "He doesn't know about what happened to Josh," Dury explained. "Josh dumped him with no explanation and refuses to see him."
"I don't understand," Luc said. "If he didn't want Chance to wait and waste his life, he should've just told him the truth. Why act like that?"
"Why do we all act the way we do, I wonder. Why do we hurt the ones we love?"
Luc didn't reply. He thought he knew where Dury was going with all this. He opened his mouth to tell Dury enough, that he wanted it to stop. He couldn't take it any longer. Dury hailed a cab and said, "One more time. Keep it together."
Luc gritted his teeth and got inside without comment. He almost jumped out when Dury gave the driver the address to Café Mont Blanc. "What are you doing, Dury? Are you trying to torture me or what?"
Dury cupped Luc's cheek and gave him a sad smile. "No. Never. I just want what's best for you. Surely you believe that."
Yes, Luc believed. Somehow, this no longer seemed only about the books. Dury wanted him happy, and Luc couldn't push the young man away, not while knowing that.
Luc crossed his arms against his chest and stared out the window. The drive was silent and uncomfortable. When the car stopped, Dury paid and opened the door. He hesitated before stepping out. "We can go back to the house if you like," he told Luc.
Luc didn't answer. Did he want to go back? No. Something told him this needed to be done.
"Come on, people," the driver growled at him. "Get in or get out."
Luc glared at the man, then turned to Dury. "Let's go. One more time."
Dury nodded, green eyes shining with pride and concern. They stepped out in front of the café and for a few seconds, Luc experienced an incredible sensation of déjà vu. In this same place, he and Simon had met for the shortest first date in history. Like back then, the sun shone brightly and there were several couples sitting at the tables in front of the café.
Luc's gaze was immediately drawn to a particular one. An auburn-haired man dressed in a business suit sipped his coffee, and across from him, a woman gestured wildly at him.
"What's wrong with you, Simon?" the woman said. "Why are you doing this? Sculpture used to be your life. Why have you suddenly turned corporate?"
"Art consumes you whole, Susie," Simon replied. "One day, I'll wake up and realize I am old, all alone and with no one to hold my hand on my deathbed. Sculpture is beautiful, but I have to choose between it and having a real life. I choose life."
"Oh, Simon," Susanne said. "Don't make such a radical decision. I know you were hurt when Luc broke up with y
ou, but he's just one guy. He wasn't the right one. You'll meet someone else."
"I might, and for that reason, I need to get my act together and be human once again."
And then suddenly, he looked away from Susanne and his gaze met Luc's. His eyes widened and all color drained out of his face. "Simon, what's wrong?" Susanne asked, instantly alarmed.
She turned, and once again, Luc was struck by the resemblance between her and Simon. He'd already met Susanne, of course. With her and Simon being so close, Luc had ended up going to barbecues and helping children with homework. He'd never minded, and he'd begun to love Susanne's family as well. That had all come crumbling down. Why? Why had he let them drift apart?
"You," Susanne said, glaring daggers at Luc. "What are you doing here?"
When Luc didn't reply, her gaze fell on Dury. Luc wouldn't have thought it possible, but she seemed to turn even more furious. "So this is your new squeeze? This is the whore you replaced my brother with?"
She got up, apparently ready to attack and defend her twin. Simon caught her before she could take any measures against them. "Susie, calm down. You're making a scandal."
"I will not calm down," Susie cried. "Are you forgetting what he did to you?"
In that moment, anger flooded Luc. Yes, he'd made mistakes, but Simon had cheated on him. Luc could well remember the male voice he'd heard over the phone that day. Susanne apparently didn't know about that little thing. He hadn't thought Simon such a two-faced bastard. "That's between Simon and me, Susanne," he told her coolly. "You have no right to interfere."
"I can't believe this," Susanne said, staring at him. "I simply cannot believe this."
Luc ignored her, too busy looking at Simon now. His ex-lover had changed in the months they'd spent away from each other. His hair was shorter, cut in a respectable, classic way. He wore a suit that screamed office job, and his eyes looked so sad it cut Luc to the core. And he was still so very handsome, the same man Luc had fallen for.
"Hi, Simon," he said.
"Hi." Simon's gaze fell on Dury. "Introduce us?"
"Right. Dury, this is Simon Roth. He's the sculptor I told you about. Simon, this is Dury…" He paused, realizing he didn't know Dury's last name.
"Dury Smith," his house mate came to his aid. "I'm helping Luc with his book."
"You're writing again, then?" Simon asked.
"Trying to," Luc replied. "It's been a tough couple of months."
"Yeah," Simon replied. He held Luc's gaze and for a few seconds, time seemed to flow backwards, and Luc was back in the art gallery, standing in front of the beautiful statue, and meeting the world's most amazing sculptor for the first time. It felt beautiful, electric, like a memory, but not. And when Simon smiled at him, Luc took a step forward, aching to hold his lover once again, to feel those sweet lips against his own.
"That's enough," Susanne said, breaking the moment. "We're going."
She put a few bills on the table and grabbed her brother's hand. "Have a nice life," she threw to Luc. "Jerk." She pulled Simon out of the café and as she passed Luc, her shoulder collided with Dury, seemingly by accident. Dury oomphed, but made no comment.
"Susie," Simon growled. "Stop it."
He gave Dury an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. She's very protective about me."
"I can see that," Dury said with a warm smile. "You're very lucky to have her."
Simon scanned Dury's face, as if uncertain. Once again, Susanne interfered. "Let's go already."
This time, Simon obeyed, and moments later, they disappeared in the crowd.
"Wow," Luc said when he could finally speak.
Dury rubbed his chest where Susanne had hit him. "Yeah. Want to stay for coffee or just go home?"
Suddenly, Luc felt more exhausted than ever. "Home. Please."
Without a word, Dury hailed another cab. Five minutes after they got home, Luc collapsed in bed and fell asleep.
* * * *
The next day, Luc woke up sticky and frustrated. He'd had the most amazing and peculiar dream. In it, both Dury and Simon loved him and the three of them did everything together. Luc groaned as his dick responded to the memory of the dream. Dury and Simon touching him, fucking him. It aroused him beyond compare, and confused him like hell.
He lay there, remembering it for the longest time. How could all of this be happening? Perhaps it was all a wild dream, and Luc had only imagined the fluffy tail. Perhaps Dury didn't even exist. Writer's block must have insanity as a side effect.
He was almost afraid to get up, to see if these past few days had been a fantasy and nothing more. But then a knock sounded at his door, and Luc hastily covered himself, knowing Dury had the habit of coming in uninvited. It shocked Luc that he was already catching onto the habits of someone who may well be an illusion.
Seconds later, Dury opened the door and peeked inside. "Oh, you're awake. Wonderful."
For a few seconds, Luc just stared at the young man, taking in the now-familiar beautiful face. So Dury really was true. Where did that leave Luc? And what about Simon? What would Luc do about that?
The solution escaped him, so Luc decided not to over think it and just go with the flow. Dury had come to him for a reason. Luc would enjoy the younger man's company and decide what to do along the way.
Nodding to himself, Luc offered Dury a smile. "As if you didn't already know that."
Dury grinned at him and pushed the door open. He wore one of his weird outfits, and this one left his flat abdomen bare. The black tights molded against his body like a second skin, reminding Luc of the dream. He carried a tray filled with a delicious looking breakfast and Luc's mouth watered, and he didn't know if it was because of the food or because of Dury.
"Breakfast in bed," Dury said with a smile.
"Why?" Luc asked as he stole a piece of bacon off a plate. "Should I be frightened?"
Dury shook his head. "Not at all. I'm just going to be out for a bit so you can do your thing."
Luc choked on his mouthful of bacon. "You're leaving?" he said. "Already?"
"Of course not," Dury replied. "You've yet to write a line."
The panic started to dwindle at Dury's reply, although it did bring close to home the fact that Dury wasn't here to stay. "Right. So where are you going then?"
Dury offered him an enigmatic smile. "It's a secret. But I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone."
Luc arched his brow. "Who would I tell?"
Dury shrugged. "I'm going to see my dad and visit a friend."
Luc gaped at him. They'd not really spoken about their families much, although Luc had mentioned his and Simon's in passing. "Your dad?" he repeated.
Dury nodded. "He gets nervous when I'm here for too long."
Luc suppose that by here, Dury meant something mindboggling like "Earth" or "this realm", so he decided not to ask. "Okay, then… when will you be back?"
"No worries," Dury replied. "I'll be back by tonight. Lunch is already ready, and you can reheat."
"Sure. Thanks."
As Dury pecked Luc on the cheek and bounced out of the room, Luc returned to his breakfast. The thought of Dury's imminent departure turned the delicious taste of his housemate's cooking into dust.
But as he sat there, thinking about Dury, Simon, and the many things he'd seen and done in the past few days, Luc knew he could no longer hide and curl into bed like a loser. He could become Lucas Black, bestselling author once again. For himself, for Dury, for Simon, and for his own gift, he would not give up.
Nodding to himself, Luc drank a bit of the cooling coffee and decided to get ready for the day. He took a shower, allowing himself to linger a little and make good use of his hand in the process. Finally, once he felt a bit calmer, he sat down at the desk. He booted his laptop, opened his word processor and started typing.
Part Two:
The Sculptor
Chapter Five
"Will you listen to what I'm saying? He's bad for you," Susie said for the mill
ionth time in the past half hour.
Simon rolled his eyes. "Why do you feel the need to repeat that? I got it the first time."
Susie glared at him as he retrieved a cigarette pack. "When did you start smoking? It's his fault, isn't it?"
Simon groaned and buried his head in his hands. The day before they'd run into Luc and Luc's current boyfriend at Café Mont Blanc. Since then, Susie had been even angrier and more unreasonable than ever. Simon now regretted not giving Susie the real details of their break-up. She seemed intent on hunting Luc down and bringing an end to his existence.
"Okay, Susanne, listen up," he said, voice serious. Her eyes widened as he addressed her by her full given name. "This whole thing isn't Luc's fault. I was the one to break up with him."
"What? But you said—?"
"I never said anything. You just assumed. Some of it was his fault, some of it mine. We tried; it didn't work out. End of story. Please let it go."
Susie's eyes filled with tears. "But Simon… you love him," she said softly. "And you've given up sculpting for him. How can I possibly let that go?"
"I don't know," Simon replied. By the look in Susie's eyes, she knew he didn't refer to her emotions, but to his own.
For the first time in many years, an awkward silence stretched between them. Finally, Susie looked at her watch and said, "Oh dear. I'm sorry, Simon. I have to pick up the kids. See you later?"
Simon nodded and smiled. "See you. Kisses to the children."
The relief he felt at watching her go made him angry and frustrated. He lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips, allowing the smoke to fill his lungs. Slow death, he knew, but the scent somehow reminded him of Luc. Simon had always loathed smoking, but for some reason, Luc could make even that sexy.
Simon cursed and extinguished his cigarette in his most recent addition to the house, a crystal ashtray. He got up and went to the bar, his entire being itching for something he could not define. As he poured himself a shot of whisky, he distantly thought that at this rate, he'd be dead of cancer by the age of forty.
What the fuck was wrong with him? He'd been the one to end things with Luc. It made sense that Luc would move on, find someone else.
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