Disclaimer:
The following story contains sexual content and deals with homosexual relationships. It is not for people under the legal age. If you are offended by the contents of this story, or it is illegal in your location to view this type of material, leave now
Any comments are welcomed and can be send to gridlinked@gmail.com
Chapter one - A new start
It had been a long time since he actually took interest in any kind of clothing items. 'But this is special' he kept telling himself. And it was. He had been on the shadows of his former self way too long and he wasn't the only one that thought so. This was all Niko's idea. He was a good friend, this was the least he could do. Today marked the day that the two had met, it had been a year. Niko was a young boy, well more a man than a boy really, but a boy none the less. Michael remembered it well, the day that his now best friend had entered his cafe looking like a lost puppy. Niko was a 18 then, he was to start college in a few weeks time, the only problem was tuition. According to the boy, his parents hadn't been very happy when they found out he was gay, to top it off, his brother wasn't actually helpful, so young Niko came to Uni anyway, hoping to find a solution.
His last dollars where going to be spent in Michael's cafe. Michael never charged. That day Niko's life changed. The crying stopped, and for once in weeks, someone actually gave him a hand. Michael had paid for everything, tuition, books, food, etc. The only thing he asked in return was for Niko to work in the cafe a few hours a week. Niko couldn't believe it. Out of nowhere this guy had given him everything he needed. He didn't have a chance to even question it. he just embraced his luck. After a full year, they had become friends, best friends. Niko owed a lot to Michael, and even though Niko didn't realized it, Michael owed a lot to him too.
Yes today was special. With the clothes picked out and a fresh shave, he got out of the room and started for the stairs that would lead him to the cafe. The way it was built. it gave Michael the opportunity to have his flat right above the coffee house. He closed up the place, and started walking in the night. There was a time when he would actually have cared if anyone was looking at him, why wouldn't they? At 28 he was handsome, brown hair, blue eyes, built but not too much, he looked good, but nowadays, he couldn't care less. No. Today he just wanted to have a good time with his friend, that was all that mattered. He walked along the street for a few minutes until he reached a small pub, closer to campus than his own cafe. The Resting Place, where people did everything but rest, was a popular pub for people all ages, though in reality, someone two years older than himself wouldn't be caught dead in it.
He got in without a problem, there was no bouncer or anything alike. No. Here if you behaved badly, the patrons would cast you out, no need for bouncers when you have clients doing the work. It actually worked fine. This way, the Pub could have a somewhat calm ambiance and still be edgy. Right away he spotted Niko. The 19 year old was seating at the bar holding a drink. He was standing out like he always did. Looking at him, he didn't seem gay, just well, edgy. It went with the pub. He had blue eyes, and he decided to match his hair with them, so it also became blue. It actually looked good on him. He wasn't built but he looked good.
Michael knew that the one year anniversary wasnt the only thing they were celebrating. Today was the last day Niko had to put up with Matt, his roommate. Thankfully the guy had finished collage and was out of the dorms. He could see Niko's happy demeanor even before he turned and spotted him.
"So, free at last?" Michael asked as he sat down at the bar next to his friend.
"Yes, finally, and i think it deserves celebration." Niko said jovially.
"Well" Michael started with a hint of humour "Would the owners of this fine establishment be also celebrating with us the fact that they have in fact a minor drinking their drinks?"
"OK! Did you come to kill the joy like you normally do, or am i allowed at least this moment of happiness?"
They were both joking, and they both knew it.
"OK, well, as long as you can do the math tomorrow I'm OK with it." Michael said chuckling lightly.
"Don't you worry about the math, that i can do."
Niko had been in charge of the cafe's accounting right after his first week working there. Michael saw from the start that he was good at it. With the free weeks he had before he started college he learned all there was to learn about maneging that type of establishment and even after classes started, he refused to stop working. This was his way of paying Michael.
"So a year hum?" Niko finally spoke again.
"Looks like it."
"I owe you a lot Mikey."
"Please, lets not go to the i am so grateful conversation OK? I know you are, and you know i love you so lets just drop it. OK?"
Niko pretended to consider it for a few seconds. "Actually that leaves us with time for more pressing matters."
"What?" Michael asked raising an eyebrow.
"We have to find you a man." Niko explained.
"Oh no, not this again!" This talk exasperated Michael.
"Yes, yes, we have to, you are 28 and single and that my friend translates into sad sad man."
"Like you would know. You are 19 and single in a college full of single cute guys and I'm supposed to be the sad one?"
They went back and forth for awhile until they finally relented and moved to more happy subjects. They stayed together at the pub for a few hours. Niko was happy, Michael could tell. Even though he hadn't got a call from his family on his birthday, he was still happy and that was all that mattered. At quarter to one Niko decided to return to the dorms. The new roommate would be coming in a week and he wanted to catch a fresh start tomorrow to clean the room. Michael decided to stay a bit longer. By now he was on his fourth drink, but he was still feeling sober. Well, at least more sober than drunk. He actually couldn't remember the last time he had gotten drunk. He looked to the left where he saw a man seat next to him. He was gorgeous. Very built, he could tell even through the jacket. He had dirty blond hair and the most amazing skin tone. He couldn't see the eyes, so he made a bet with himself. He heard the man asking for a scotch neat. While he waited the man kept looking down at his hands, clasped together on the bar counter. After a moment of hesitation he decided to go for it.
"So, scotch hem? Too strong for me!"
The man looked at him, as the barman handed him the drink. The look on his face was of annoyance. "Yeah well, i don't really care, do you mind leaving me alone?"
The anger completely phased Michael who hadn't been expecting it. So much so he forgot all about the bet. He would have lost.
"I'm sorry to have bothered you, I'll go." Michael said in a defeated tone. He got up from the stool after putting a 20 on the bar counter. But before he could walk away he felt his arm being grabbed.
"Look" He turned to see the handsome man, with an apologetic look on his face this time "I'm so sorry, please don't leave on my account. I actually could use the company." He finished looking at his feet.
"Are you sure? I really don't want to bother you."
"No, really, please stay." The look the man was giving him was a sincere one so he relented.
"OK, well I'm Michael, Michael Grange." he said extending his other arm to the man.
"Nice to meet you Michael, Vincent Blue." They shook hands and Michael sat back on the stool.
"So, is everything OK?" Michael asked concerned "You don't seem too good."
"I'm not, i... its just that, its been a long time since my divorce and... I'm sorry i shouldn't be bothering you with this."
"No, no, come on, i asked didn't i? You look like you need to open up, come on."
"OK well, its not the divorce really, i mean i am fine with it, well I better be since she is dating my brother." They laughed together. "Its not as sick as it sounds by the way."
"I believe you." Said Michael still laughing.
"Its just that, you know, i feel alone. I guess i miss being with someone that's all." Vincent turned back to his drink and took another swig.
"Can i ask how old are you?"
"36, going on 37. I should be married by now, with kids. Not alone talking to a stranger in a bar about the reasons why i don't have those things."
"Why?" Asked Michael looking at a very surprised Vincent "I mean why are you supposed to have those things? I mean is there a schedule for life? If so, please tell me, what am i suppose to have done by 28?" Vincent didn't know how to answer. "Look Vincent, each of us, i gather does what we can, life doesn't always turn out the way we want it to, but with luck it doesn't turn out too bad."
"Really? How is yours going?"
"Well, i think pretty good. I have a very good friend that loves me, i have a good business, and right now, I'm talking to a very cute guy that hopefully is going to buy my next drink because i'm just so charming."
Vincent couldn't help laugh. It was great to see him laughing, was the only thing on Michael's mind.
"So, you're gay?"
"Does that bother you?" Michael asked with uncertainty.
"Not at all, no. Don't worry." Vincent cleared very quickly.
"Good, cuz i really want you to pay for my next drink." Michael said smirking.
"What do i get for paying you a drink, this hardly seems fair." Vincent said entering the game.
"Well, you pay for my drink, and i treat you to a cup of coffee in my cafe sometime."
"You own a coffee place?" the built man asked interested.
"Yup, the one on the corner a couple of blocks from here, still near campus."
"I know that place, i went there once."
"So what stopped you from returning?"
"Well i work at the police station and we have a coffee house right next door, but now that you are going to owe me a cup of coffee, I'll have to swing by." Vincent said smiling.
"So your a cop?" Michael asked curious.
"No, Detective."
"Ahh nice."
"You're not bothered by it right, some people are." Michael could tell Vincent didn't want him to be.
"No, I'm not bothered by it, besides, i am sure i left no trail and there is no evidence on any of my crimes." He said with a straight face.
"Good, i don't want to arrest you until i had my coffee." They both cracked up, and even though it wasn't that funny, the alcohol made it sound so.
They kept talking for awhile, just getting to know each other, by now Michael had lost all hope on having this man for himself, but he was making a friend, and that made him happy all the more. The conversation was interrupted though, by a sudden break down from Vincent. Out of nowhere the man started sobbing uncontrollably. Michael immediately embraced the much bigger man and tried without much luck, to calm him down. After a few moments he seemed to be crying less, but he was still breathing hard. Michael took another 20 and paid the bartender and with difficulty, started to get Vincent to stand up.
"Come on buddy, you have to get up OK?" It was hard, but eventually the two were out of the pub, Vincent still not letting go of the smaller man.
Michael had no idea what to do. He could tell his new friend was drunk, and in no state to drive. The only thing he could think of was to bring him back to his place. He hesitated for a second, but after all the man was a detective, what harm could he do? He started walking the two blocks, with Vincent still tugging his arm. When he reached the side door to the cafe that led directly to the apartment through a flight of stairs, it took all his strength to keep Vincent from falling head first into the ground. It took awhile but they finally made it upstairs. Michael immediately took the man to his bedroom and sat him on the bed. he looked at him and saw that he was fighting to keep his eyelids from shutting.
"Where are we?" he finally asked.
"My place, you are in no condition to drive. Look, the bed is good, just lay down and try and sleep it of OK?"
"Where will you be?" Vincent asked meekly.
"I'm gonna sleep on the couch OK? Don't worry, i wont try nothing to damage your innocence." He saw the big man smile a little at that.
He got up and started for the door when Vincent spoke again.
"Please..."
He turned to see a pleading Detective looking sadder than anyone that he had ever seen, with the possible exception of Niko that faithful day. "what buddy? DO you need anything?"
"Please don't leave..." And then he understood. To the man, it was being alone all over again. So against his better judgement, he didn't.
"OK mate, I wont, I'll be right here." As he said it, he sat down beside his friend on the other side of the bed. He started to lay down, when Vincent started to come closer to him. He knew what he wanted. He cuddled against him resting the older man's head on his chest.
"Thank you." was all he heard before the content sleeping noises that followed. Not long after he was joining him on the dreamland where he and Vincent did a lot more than sleep.
He woke up with a start as he fell out of bed.
'Damn it'
"What the hell?" He asked him self, before he realized that his "date" last nigh had woken up.
"What happened?" He saw Vincent say alarmed.
"I fell out of bed..."
"No, not that, i mean what happened last night? Did we... we didn't right?"
"What? NO!" Michael saw where this was going and he wasn't enjoying it.
"Well then what am i doing in your bed, i mean I'm assuming this is your bed, i really don't know how you people live." And there it was, the man was freaking out.
"OK, that's it get out." Michael said getting up.
"What?" Vincent appeared confused.
"You heard me, get the hell out of my house. I take you in, cuz you are so drunk you can hardly stand, i sleep next to you because you are having a mental breakdown and now i have to wake up to your insecurities, really i have better things to do, GET THE HELL OUT!" he was pissed. He had showed this man compassion and it had come back to bite him in the ass. To his surprise Vincent didn't move. A quiet understanding was coming to him, and suddenly he felt ashamed to even look at Michael. "Are you deaf?"
Slowly Vincent raised his head, and Michael saw he was crying. "I'm so sorry, i just thought... i... I'm just so sorry, please accept my apologies, you were nothing but nice to me and i just screwed it up."
Michael stood there for a few moments just looking at him, trying to figure out what to do. In the end he knew he had to forgive him, so he did. He crossed the room and pulled the man to a hug. "Its OK. Forget about it."
"No, i..."
"I said forget about it. Are you hungry?" He asked ending the hug.
"A little." Vincent said meekly.
"Well, then we should go downstairs to the cafe and get something to eat. I'm sure that my friend Niko already opened the place up and is wondering where i am." Michael said in a happier tone.
After going to the bathroom to clean his face, Vincent followed Michael to the entry hall and down the stairs to the cafe.
Michael had been right, Niko was already there, helping Justin and Sandra serve the customers. When he saw the two men, his face turned first to one of shock, then to one of understanding and then just plain happiness.
"Hum, Michael?" he heard Vincent calling him.
"Yeah?"
"Why is he looking like that at us?"
"Oh!" Michael could barely hold it together "He thinks we slept together." It was nice to see the color change in Vincents face. First he turned white, but quickly enough the white was replaced by bright red. "Don't worry we'll correct him." Michael reassured his new friend.
Finally Niko approached the two men. "So what have we here, finally out of that dry spell?"
"Down Nickolas, what we have here is a very hung over Detective that spend the night sleeping." Michael explained to a very disappointed Niko.
"Oh."
"Dry spell?" Both Niko and Michael turned to Vincent who now wore an amused look on his face.
"None of your business Vince." Michael said with a stern tone.
"Nice name, Vince, i like it." Niko said dismissing his friend.
"Actually its Vincent" he said, and then the turned to Michael "When did we start calling me Vince?" He asked more amused.
"When you started sleeping on my bed with me in it." Michael said grinning.
"So you did sleep together." Niko was on the attack again.
"Yes, emphasis on the sleep part." Vincent said to the younger man.
"Ah, so you're straight?" Niko asked it, but it was Michael who was truly interested. He looked at Vincent in the eyes and waited for the answer.
"I think so." was all the older man said wile he grinned, "Don't you owe me a cup of coffee?" he asked a stunned Michael wile he walked to one of the tables.
"I'm sorry, let me get this straight," Niko started once Vincent was seated on a table and couldn't hear their conversation, "you had a guy that could be gay in your bed, all night, with you in it, and nothing happened? Boy did i pick a bad role model."
"Or a very good one, now shut up and get the man his coffee." He said it sternly but both of them knew it was all a joke. "oh and bring us something to eat too, I'm starving."
"Very hard work, sleeping is it?"
"Just go will you?"
Niko disappeared to the back of the cafe wile Michael sat with Vince.
"So... you think so?" Michael said bringing back the subject he was interested in.
"If you're asking me if i like guys, the answer is no, sorry. Now if you're asking me if i like you, I'll have to answer, i think so."
"Really?" Michael was dumbfounded.
"Look, what you did for me, yesterday, today... not a lot of people would have done it. Its just that, its been a long time since i shared my feelings with someone you know? And you were there and you were understanding, plus for a guy, you're kinda cute." Vincent said blushing.
"OK..." was all Michael managed to get out.
"But you know, I'm new to this kinda things, and this morning i just freaked out, I'm still sorry by the way. But i guess if you wouldn't mind putting up with a 36 year old confused detective, maybe we could see if there is something here." By the end of the little speech, Vincent was again looking down.
"Look Vince, i don't know how comfortable i am being apart of your late experiment phase." He saw Vincent shoulders drop. "I have been alone for more than 4 years, i haven't even had sex with anyone for that time." Vincent looked up, surprised, "So you know, i am looking for a partner, not a guy that as sweet as you seem to be, is just finding out what he wants. If it turns out you don't like me that much, than I'm screwed and i don't think i can take it."
Vincent was quiet for awhile, until he looked back up. "OK, i understand." He said in a defeated tone.
"Vince, I'm sorry, it would be different if you were gay, or at least sure of what you wanted, but i really don't want to influence you in any way that might hurt you."
"Can we at least be friends?" Vince asked with hope in his eyes.
"We are friends." Michael said simply.
Vincent smiled.
That was when Michael looked, really looked at his eyes, they were brown.
'Damn it.'
Michael had a normal childhood until he reached 19. His parents were surveying a construction site in Serbia when they were both killed by a militia group. A month of grief followed, and Michael never fully recovered. After that came the dark phase of his life. One that he wants to forget about but one that refuses to go away.
A week passed, and during that week, Michael got to know more about Vincent. Well Michael and Niko, even with their age difference the 3 men really got along well. Vincent had a happy childhood, with happy parents and happy brothers. Apart from the fact that his ex wife is dating his brother, a fact that got Niko saying : "That's almost incest.", his life is pretty normal. Almost every day during this week, the group got together and talked into the night. Niko had most days free because classes wouldn't start for another week, and business was always slow for Michael until they did, so they had a lot of time to get to know Vincent.
It was Friday night. Michael was locking up the Cafe, when he heard someone calling his name from across the street, it was Vincent.
"Hey Vince." he greeted the man when he was beside him.
"Hey, look, i was just passing by and thought that maybe if you didn't have any plans we could go and have dinner."
"That sounds great."
"OK, where do you want to go?"
"Well, we could go to a small pizza place right next to the pub. Its usually filled with students, but since its a week until classes start i think we'll be safe.
"Next to the pub from the other night?"
"Yeah!"
"OK, i just have to pop home real quick to change, can we meet there in say... 45 minutes?"
"Sure, that's fine." Michael said looking at his Watch.
"OK great."
And then it happened. Vincent didn't even noticed what he was doing, and before he could stop himself, he had kissed Michael on the cheek.
"Hum... i..."
"Yeah... er..."
"Meet you there?"
"45 minutes?"
"Sure."
"Bye."
"Bye."
'Awkwardness from hell' was all that was on his mind as he saw Vincent get into his car and drive away.
45 minutes later, Michael watched as Vincent made his way through the other tables until he reached theirs.
"Hey." was all he said before he sat down.
"Yeah hey." 'This is going well' though Michael.
Soon the waiter was taking their orders, and he was surprised on how efficient his two customers were being, with such quickness of words and a straight to the point manner. Of course, if he knew why they were acting like this, he would have found it much more interesting. After they chose a wine, the waiter left them to themselves and the Awkwardness returned. For a while Michael let it be, until he couldn't take it anymore.
"OK are we just going to seat here and not talk about what we have to talk about?"
"I'm comfortable with that!"
"Are you?" Michael asked seriously.
"Look, what do you want me to say? I slipped, I'm sorry, but i have feelings for you..."
"Oh no not again, we talked about this!"
"No Michael, you talked about it, i just did as you asked. Look i though they were just curiosity, but i find myself really attracted to you."
"Really?" Michael asked with sarcasm "Are you sure? Are you still going to be attracted to me when i am naked next to you on a bed?"
"Yes!" Vincent said, and now Michael was surprised. "I told you i am attracted to you, and i like you, OK? I'm sorry, but i do. I like to be your friend, and i don't want people knowing right away that i am with a guy, but please Michael, consider the fact that i am 36, i don't care what other people think, i like you, and if you're willing i want to be with you."
Michael was quiet. He didn't know what to say. What bothered him the most now, was the fact that, if he decided to be with him, he'd have to tell him about everything. He didn't know if he could do that yet. That was the reason for 4 years of dry spell, like Niko had called it. Niko. The only person that knew everything. He had reacted well, but Vincent? He wasn't sure what to expect. No, he couldn't do it. He was going to say no, it was sad, but this was the way it had to be. All resolution however, was lost as soon as Vince's hand grabbed his from across the table.
"Michael, give us a chance, please."
He took a deep breath and looking in the other mans eyes he finally answered.
"You realize that Niko is not going to let us rest for awhile don't you?"
Vincent just smiled.
Ok this is the first chapter of my new series. Hope you liked it.
Any comments can be send to gridlinked@gmail.com
All the best
Mike