Here we go, folks... My first actual posting the the newsgroup. I've been reading and enjoying quite a bit of the stuff out there, so I hope you all enjoy this...
There's no explicit sex in this story, but there is a fair amount of sexual tension between the two main characters, and I wouldn't recommend that you read it if you're offended by boys falling in love and lust with each other. It's also worth noting that there's a strong fantasy element to the story.
I'd like to dedicate the story to all the people who've read it in the past, and all those who'll read it in the future.
Night. The moon was full, a pearly globe glimmering against the diamond chipped backdrop of space. In the penthouse apartments of the massive buildings, wealthy people laughed and smiled to the clinking of fine crystal. Down on the street, there was nothing to smile about. The nights were growing longer and colder, the scant clothing worn by many of the homeless insufficient to keep the frost at bay during the night. Many of the older ones went to sleep during the wind swept evenings and failed to wake up, such was the toll of winter.
Alex sat shivering, his arms wrapped around his bony frame. He was huddling for warmth next to the exhaust vent of a restaurant's extractor fan, the air spiced with a bewildering array of smells that made his mouth water and his stomach rumble. At least it offered some scant warmth, making the night bearable in part. He cuffed his nose with the sleeve of his shabby coat, sniffling back a tear as he uneasily watched the night.
Jimmy shambled through the night, an almost empty bottle clenched in his numb hand, his bleary eyes looking for a warmer place to bed down for the evening. He stopped for a moment, shielding his eyes from the glare of a street-lamp, staggering and almost falling as he peered around. Over there was a Chinese restaurant; maybe it would be warmer if he spent the night by their exhaust vent. Jimmy giggled, a high pitched noise, and he started meandering over to the restaurant as he took a swig from his bottle.
Alex saw something off in the dark. A dark shape approaching him, swaying from side to side like a drunk. He whimpered, drawing his knees up to his scrawny chest, ancient and battered Nikes pressed tightly together. 'Oh please,' he whined softly, 'don't let him come over here.' As he stifled his noise, the swaying figure came closer still.
Jimmy got a bit nearer to the restaurant, squinting his bloodshot eyes in an attempt to focus through the gloom. Was that someone there? He raised one hand to his face, scratching the stubble that sprouted from his unkempt face. He paused for a moment, trying to see what the shadowed shape was in the alley between the restaurant and the next door shop. Looked like a kid or something, just a damn kid! Grinning widely with his yellowed and rotting teeth, he walked closer to the alley.
Alex started rocking back and forth as the shadowy figure came closer, a thin keening noise escaping from his lips as he closed his eyes tight, a tear trickling down each dirty cheek. Moving from this place would mean another search through the city. With what he'd eaten lately, he just had to stay where there was some warmth. Otherwise, he didn't think he'd make it through the night.
Jimmy was now close enough to see the occupant of the alley, despite the darkness and his drunken state. He'd been right, it was a kid. About fifteen years old from the look of him, and a scrawny little bastard at that. Maybe he could have some fun with him before he kicked him out of the alley. Jimmy smiled, the grin not touching his eyes, as he got closer to the kid. He felt his penis swelling, filling with blood at the thought of what he was going to do with the kid. Glancing around, he could see nobody, the back-streets completely empty at this time of night. He drained the last dregs of his whiskey and threw the bottle down with a satisfying crash of broken glass, and reached into his old, stained overcoat. He pulled out a flicknife, and began to move at a lurching run.
Alex could see the shadow approaching him even faster now, something glinting in its outstretched hand. It was too late now to run, even if he wanted to, even if he had the strength. He sat, resigned to his fate. The shadow loomed over him, reaching out with one hand as he sat there whining softly. Alex felt a wrench on the front of his tee shirt, and the world moved.
Jimmy reached the kid, not hearing the continuous whining over his harsh panting. His cock strained for relief as he reached out and grabbed the kid's tee-shirt. He lifted him easily up into the air, the kid was all skin and bones. Strangely, the kid didn't struggle at all. Jimmy stood there for a few moments, just holding the limp teenager in his hand. He would have suspected that the boy was dead, if it weren't for the continuous noise coming from his half open mouth, and the look of terror in his eyes. He chuckled, bringing his knife around and slashing the boy's shirt, being careful not to hurt the skin. Before long, the cotton tee-shirt was in tatters, hanging around the boy's waist, his nipples standing erect in the cold night air.
Alex felt the man's knife cutting through his shirt, he could smell the warm gusts of the pungent breath in his face, he could detect the cool night air on his bare skin. His whimpering grew louder as the man dropped his knife, holding Alex in both hands like a toy and leaning down to lick and suck on his smooth chest like a rabid dog.
Jimmy went down on the boys creamy white chest, his cock oozing copiously as he tasted the salty muskiness of the unwashed boy. He rested the boy back on his feet, holding him tightly around the bicep with one hand, and slid down his zipper. His erection sprang free, and he grabbed the boy again, fighting the kid's shabby jeans with his drink-confused hands. Alex began to whine even louder.
Across the street, a black cat sat on the pavement grooming herself. She looked up, her eyes wide in fear, as there was the sound of a great rushing of air from the alley opposite. She could see shadowy figures moving in there, one of them much larger than the other, and much larger than her too. As a scream echoed through the night, she bolted, not stopping to regain her composure until she was some distance away.
Alex gulped, looking down at his feet. There on the ground was the corpse of the tramp, a pool of blood spreading out around his inert body. Alex dodged back a couple of steps as the blood threatened to stain his trainers, his mouth open wide in shock. The tramp was lying face up, his hands still held up as if to ward something off. His cock was still out, becoming flaccid now that the blood no longer pumped around his body. Blood, there was so much blood. Alex couldn't help but look with fascination at the blood-stained midsection of the corpse. There was a massive crescent taken out of the side of his abdomen, a shape with jagged edges, almost like a bite. There on the tramp's face was a look of utter terror.
Alex began to run down the street, feeling strangely invigorated despite his near miss, or perhaps because of it. As Jimmy's blood began to congeal on the pavement, Alex was settling down for the night in a pile of cardboard left out by a small office for recycling. He closed his eyes, and knew nothing until the dawn.
Brian woke up at his mother's call, cuffing the sleep from his eyes. 'Come on, love.' she called. 'You're due for your volunteer job before too much longer. If you must do it, you can at least do it well.' Brian sighed, swinging his legs off of the edge of his bed, sitting there naked in the sun which flooded through his bedroom window. He idly fondled his balls, pondering the day ahead with a grimace. It was Saturday morning. The day when fifteen year old kids like himself were supposed to be having fun, not moping around in some homeless place, helping to serve the losers with their soup and stuff. Blech. He wouldn't be doing it except that he'd failed a critical test earlier that year through messing around, and he now needed extra merit points. He'd been told by his teacher that the only way he was going to get them was by doing some volunteer work.
So, each Saturday he took the bus to the less fortunate part of the city, working in a soup kitchen, helping serve or wash up or whatever was needed. He called to his mum that he'd be down in a few moments for breakfast, and stepped into his briefs. He stepped across to his dressing table, pausing for a moment to admire his figure in the mirror. He grinned at his reflection before picking up his can of deodorant and spraying under his arms. He'd only be smelly by the time he came back, so he decided that he might as well shower then. He stepped into his jeans, quickly doing up the button and pulling the zip up. He belted them, the buckle an ornate pewter dragon with a crystal for its eye. He slipped a shirt on, and then ran a comb through his hair before taking another look in the mirror. Not bad, he decided. His figure was of medium build, his skin a pale tan from the summer. His blond hair and blue eyes caught the sun nicely, his lithe body looking pretty good. He brushed his fringe out of his eyes, grabbed his keys and wallet, and went to head downstairs.
He had a quick look around his room as he left, checking that he hadn't forgotten anything. There were a couple of posters on the walls, mainly of comic characters. Judge Dredd featured prominently, and so did the ABC warriors, characters from 2000AD, his favourite comic. His bed was still untidy from when he'd got up, the double duvet still wrinkled and folded on the single bed. His computer sat on a desk opposite the foot of the bed, with a chest of drawers to either side. On every available flat surface was his dragon collection. He had about two hundred dragons of various shapes and sizes, made from pewter, or porcelain, or anything. As long as it was a dragon.
Brian nodded, a grin on his face. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all. He shut the door, and wandered jauntily down the stairs. He delayed over his breakfast, watching cartoons on the breakfast TV, before his mum started shooing him out the door. 'Okay, okay!' he said with a sigh, kissing her on the cheek. 'I'll see you tonight, mum.' 'Bye!' she called, as he shut the door. 'Be careful!' 'I will!' he yelled, already halfway down the drive. His mother shook her head. 'Kids.' she sighed, smiling happily.
Alex awoke, his arms and legs chilled to the bone, despite the slight insulative properties of the cardboard pile. He sighed, and tiredly knuckled his eyes, trying to make the world come back into focus. In the back of his mind something was nagging at him, something about last night. He frowned, thinking for a moment. No, nothing there, and yet; why did he have this feeling that a bad thing happened last night?
He stumbled out of the pile of boxes, still sleepy and unsteady on his feet. His stomach growled with hunger, knotting itself with the need for some food as he glanced around. He ran his fingers through his greasy hair, wondering what to do next. A filling meal would be good, he thought. It always seemed easier to think on a full belly.
Brian stood by a large urn of soup, ladling portions out into polystyrene cups for those which wanted to take their soup away, or bowls for those people which wanted to eat in the kitchen. Each 'customer' also got a soft white roll to go with their soup. He sighed, idly stirring the soup with the ladle. At least they hadn't got him washing the bowls up yet, he thought thankfully.
Brian leaned against the counter, waiting for the next hungry visitor to the kitchen. He kept his eyes on the door, wondering what kind of person would be coming in next. 'It's bound to be some old wino.' he thought to himself. His attention wandered for a moment, and he heard the bell over the door ring. Turning his attention back to the door, he saw a young guy enter the place, not at all what he'd been expecting. In fact, he looked about the same age as Brian. He was a lot thinner though, his rib-cage showing through the remnants of his tattered tee-shirt, beneath his shabby coat. His hair was dark brown or black, hanging down to his shoulders. His eyes were bruised looking, his deportment meek and shy. Brian grinned. Beneath all the grime and the shit, this kid actually looked pretty cute. He'd definitely have to get to know him better.
The shabbily dressed kid came over to the soup bar, attracting interested looks from various patrons, although he seemed oblivious to the attention he was being given. He looked down at his feet as he walked, the sole on one of his old Nikes flapping with each step he took. Brian smiled at him as he came up, and wished him a good morning. 'I'm Brian, by the way.' he mentioned, as he served the kid a larger portion of soup. The kid looked up, seeming to smile wistfully. 'My name's Alex.' he stated, his voice mellow and tuneful.
Brian nodded, winking a little. Alex seemed to blush a little, looking down as he held his soup, seeming unwilling to break off the conversation to go and eat. Brian noticed the tattered state of Alex's shirt. 'Hey, what happened to yer shirt, Alex?' he asked, reaching over and playfully touching the bare skin beneath. Alex didn't seem to withdraw, but coloured slightly. 'I...I..' he stammered. His brow wrinkled in thought. 'I don't know.' he finally answered. 'I just can't remember.' Brian nodded, frowning slightly, and removing his finger. Then he brightened. 'Hey,' he exclaimed. 'I'm due to finish now, do you want to chat for a while?' Alex seemed to think for a moment. 'Yeah sure!' he said finally, with a smile.
Brian grinned. 'Okay!' he enthused. 'Let me just go tell the kitchen.' He did so, zooming off and talking to the kitchen staff for a few moments. When he returned, Alex seemed to be gone. His heart sank. Then he heard a faint 'Over here!' and turned to see Alex sitting at a table, patting the empty seat next to him. He smiled, jogging over to sit next to his new friend. 'Phew!' he exclaimed. 'I thought you'd abandoned me there, for a second. 'Nah,' Alex said shyly, in between mouthfulls of soup or bread. 'You're too cute to be abandoned.' He smiled, and Brian felt a distinct rise in his underwear.
'So, how come you're living on the streets?' he asked curiously, waiting patiently for Alex to think about his answer. 'I really don't remember.' he replied. 'The first thing I remember is being on a street corner about a year ago. I've been living rough ever since.' Brian frowned. 'I wonder what could have made you lose your memory?' Alex shrugged. 'I really don't know.' he sighed. 'But I wish I could be somewhere else than on the streets.' Brian thought for a second, and then looked around the room. Having made sure that nobody was looking, he reached under the table and tentatively touched Alex's leg. He seemed to start a little, but then looked at Brian and smiled. Brian gestured to the soup. 'How do you like that?' he asked, not referring to the soup at all. Alex blushed a little, then slipped his own hand under the table to touch Brian's. 'It's good.' he replied, to Brian's approval. Brian smiled, winking suggestively. 'Hey, my mum's out for a while. Wanna come back to my place?' Alex thought for a second, then nodded shyly. 'Yeah, that'd be cool.'
The pair wandered through the streets, taking the long way back to Brian's home. They were an entirely incongruous pair, Alex the shy and introverted street kid, and Brian the extrovert. Not only that, but they were dressed completely differently too. Alex was dressed in a ripped tee-shirt, scruffy jacket, torn jeans and self-destructing Nikes, when Brian was dressed in smart jeans, a freshly pressed tee-shirt, and a pair of new training shoes. And yet, they got on well. There seemed to be a link between them, something which transcended their social classes.
It seemed like no time at all before they arrived at Brian's place. 'Welcome to my home.' he grinned. Alex looked around in awe. 'Wow!' he exclaimed. 'I've never lived in a place as nice as this, I'm sure.' Brian smiled, resting a hand on Alex's shoulder. 'I tell you what, why don't you have a shower, and you can borrow some of my clothes? You're a little shorter, but I think they should fit all right.' Alex shook his head a little, raising a hand to his mouth. 'Oh I couldn't do that!' he exclaimed. 'I mean, I'd make the place all messy, look at me!' Brian laughed. 'Hey, that's okay. As much as I like the view, you'll catch your death with that ripped shirt!' Alex blushed again, looking down at the tatters of his shirt, and smiling ruefully. 'I guess so.' he agreed.
'Anyway,' Brian carried on, 'if we're lucky, I can persuade my mum to let you stay here for a while.' Alex looked wistful again. 'Do you really think so?' he asked. 'I can't believe she'd be that kind.' Brian sighed, shrugging. 'Well, there's no harm in trying.' he replied. 'Come on,' he said, 'Let's get you in the shower and find some clothes for you.'
Alex looked about with awe as Brian led him up the stairs. Having no memory of his previous life, and having spent the last year or so on the streets, this place was beyond his wildest dreams of luxury. To Brian, it was merely an ordinary family home. Brian opened the door to his bedroom, gesturing lavishly and smiling. 'Welcome to my humble abode.' he grinned. Alex smiled shyly, tentatively walking through the doorway. He gasped as he saw the room, and moved with more confidence directly over to Brian's dragon collection. He picked up a pewter figure, his eyes seeming to sparkle in delight, his mouth open in amazement. Brian smiled, walking over and resting one hand on Alex's shoulder. 'You like 'em, huh?' he asked, amused. 'Oh yes, they're wonderful!' Alex replied, slightly breathless.
Brian found one of his older tee-shirts and a pair of shorts, and then got a clean towel out of the airing cupboard. 'Right, the shower's through here.' he stated, gently taking the dragon from his newfound friend's hands and guiding him through to the bathroom. Alex looked up, a little dazed, smiling wistfully. 'Hey, you okay?' Brian asked, his brow wrinkling in concern. 'W..? Oh yeah, I'm fine.' smiled Alex, seeming to snap out of his reverie. Brian nodded. 'Cool.' he grinned. 'Now come on, get yourself in that shower!' Alex nodded, giggling slightly as Brian playfully slapped him on the buttocks. 'Okay then.' he smiled, going into the bathroom and shutting the door.
Brian waited by the door until he heard the shower running, and then returned to his own bedroom, smiling slightly. He lay on his bed with his hands tucked under his head, and couldn't help but fantasize about Alex. 'God,' he thought, 'he is soooo cute!' Brian felt a stirring at his groin as he thought about the lad currently occupying his shower. 'And he should look even better when he's clean.' Brian realised. He reached down, fondling himself absently through his jeans, not really thinking about the fact that Alex was just a homeless kid. There was something about him which had drawn him, something appealing and somehow different.
Alex lathered himself up, luxuriating in the clean scents and the feeling of the water running down his smooth body. He thought of Brian, his new friend, and he felt a stirring at his groin. There was something about him that appealed to him, something which made him feel wanted for the first time he could remember. And those figures, the dragons! He'd felt drawn to them the first time he saw them, unable to remove their majestic forms from his mind's eye. The call of the dragon and the boy, he thought to himself.
Something was nagging in the back of Alex's mind as he soaped and washed his genitals. Something about another man, something bad. A memory trying to come to the forefront of his mind.
/The tramp, sucking on his skin/
The recollection suddenly flashed into his conscious memory, making him gasp and slam back against the shower wall. A second or so later, he was confronted with the mental image of the tramp on the floor, his blood staining the asphalt red. His mind reeling, Alex turned off the shower, groping for the towel and patting his eyes. He desperately tried to reconcile what the tramp did to him, what happened to the tramp, and what he felt for Brian. Surely nothing like that would happen to Brian? And then the realisation hit him, followed by a flood of relief. What the tramp had done was bad, because Alex didn't want it. That's why something had happened to him. But anything he did with Brian would be good, so nothing bad would happen. He smiled, towelling his newly clean skin dry. Then another thought hit him. What /had/ happened to the tramp? Was it his fault? He racked his brain, and just couldn't remember. But he still felt that somehow it was he who'd killed the tramp.
He shrugged, absently towelling his body, memories and worries fading back into his subconcious. He grinned, thinking about Brian once more. He finished drying himself, and quickly dressed in the borrowed shorts and tee-shirt. He looked at himself in the mirror, surprised by the wonderful change in his appearance. As the memories of his encounter the previous night faded away entirely, Alex unlocked the bathroom door and went to find Brian.
In a dark cavern beneath the surface of the Earth, something stirred. Huge twin orbs were unsheathed in the lightless void, casting a burning scarlet illumination across the scarred and twisted muzzle of the great beast. It stretched its wings a little, hearing the creaking of leathery flesh as it contemplated the small one. It had been harder this time to subdue its memories. A worrying development, the beast pondered. It wished to avoid a confrontation before it had regained enough strength, and at this rate it could only be a matter of days or months before the small one was strong enough. Closing its eyes, the beast sent its mind out once more, leaving the hulking body behind in the earth.
Brian had his hands down his jeans when Alex walked in. Slightly embarrassed, he pulled his hand out, sitting up and blushing a little at Alex. 'Oh hi.' he smiled, looking Alex up and down as he noticed the vast improvement in his appearance. 'I was just, uh, waiting for you to come back.' Alex smiled softly, his eyes seeming bright and alert. 'Oh that's okay, he replied, sitting next to Brian on the bed, his thigh pushing against his, seeming warm and inviting. Brian grinned, looking into Alex's eyes. 'You look /much/ better for your shower.' he complimented. Alex nodded. 'I feel much better too. You forget what it's like not to have the dirt and grime all over you.' He shuddered. 'I have to go back to all of that tonight, the cold streets, the poor food.' Brian felt his heart aching. 'Not if I have anything to do with it.' he stated grimly. He didn't pause to think that he barely knew this guy. For some reason he trusted him implicitly, and felt an emotion akin to love when he looked at him. Alex smiled wistfully. 'Well I can't see your mother letting me stay here.' Brian reassuringly patted him on the thigh. 'Who knows?' he asked. 'Stranger things have happened.'
The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other better. They played on Brian's computer system, something Alex hadn't had a chance to do before. He was surprisingly good at it. After that, they went down to the kitchen and made cheese and pickle sandwiches, Alex happily munching on the best food he'd had in ages. After lunch, they sat and watched TV for a while, their hands occasionally straying on to each others thighs.
The afternoon seemed to fly by, the two kids just enjoying each other's company, having an occasional tussle or wrestle which they both immensely enjoyed. Brian reached out and tousled Alex's hair. 'Did you enjoy that?' Alex smiled, reaching out to tenderly touch Brian's chest through his shirt. 'Yeah,' he whispered, 'It was really great.'
They were sitting back down and watching the television when Brian's mother arrived home. 'Hi son,' she said on walking in, and then paused when she saw his visitor. Alex smiled at her wanly, and she frowned. 'Who's your friend, Brian?' she asked. 'And aren't those your clothes he's wearing?' Brian's friend looked very scrawny, she noted, the tee-shirt hanging loosely on his thin frame.
Brian smiled angelically at his mum. 'Mum, meet Alex.' he said, gesturing to Alex. 'Alex, meet mum.' he added, gesturing to his mother. Alex stood up, going over to Brian's mum and offering his hand. 'Nice to meet you, Mrs Connor.' he smiled, shaking the bemused lady's hand when she gave it to him. Alex stood with his hands behind his back as Brian also stood and came over. 'Uh, Mum, I have something I need to ask.' Brian began. His mother rolled her eyes. 'Come on, spit it out.' she said. 'Uh, can Alex stay here for a while? He can have the old camp bed set up in my room. He won't be any trouble, I'm sure.'
Brian's mother was about to refuse outright, when she was caught by Alex's gaze like a fly on a web. His soulful brown eyes seemed to pierce her to the heart, his wan smile seeming to flood her with emotion. 'I..I don...' She put a hand to her forehead while Alex continued to fix her with a gentle smile. She suddenly brightened, smiling. 'Of course, dear.' she answered. 'He can stay here for as long as he wants to.' Brian gasped, his mouth open in shock. Alex smiled more widely, turning to Brian and holding one hand out with the thumb up. Brian also grinned. 'Cool! Thanks mum!' She nodded, smiling at Alex and touching him on the shoulder. 'Just make yourself at home, Alex,' she told him. She wandered off, mumbling something about sorting out school for Alex.
Brian looked at his friend and new room-mate. 'How did you do that?' he asked. 'Do what?' asked Alex, confused. 'What you just did to my mum.' Alex shrugged. 'I didn't really do anything. I just hoped with all my heart that she'd let me stay here, and she did.' He shrugged again, looking worried. 'You aren't mad at me, are you?' Brian smiled, putting his arm around Alex's shoulder. 'Of course not. I'm not mad at you for anything.' Alex tentatively smiled, then hugged Brian for all he was worth.
The beast beneath the ground stirred uneasily, opening its eyes once again. The small one was growing more confident in the use of its abilities, although it was as yet not aware on a conscious level that it was using them. This was a worrying event for the beast within. Perhaps it was time, it decided, to take more direct action. It breathed out, a long wheezing sound, and a chittering noise filled the cave. About a hundred tiny winged lizards gusted from his mouth and left the underground amphitheatre by a small vent. As they flew into the night, the beast once again closed its eyes.
Alex had his first full hot meal for ages that night, a wholesome meal made with pasta and meat sauce. He sighed contentedly after the meal, sitting next to Brian with their thighs touching. 'Okay,' Brian's mum told them, 'it's time for bed, I think.' Brian and Alex looked at each other and winked subtly. They said goodnight to Brian's mum, and then headed up the stairs.
'What do you want to sleep in?' asked Brian. 'I have some spare pyjamas if you want them.' Alex considered for a moment. 'No,' he answered, 'I'd rather sleep in the nude. I really like the idea of the warm sheets against my naked body.' Brian smiled. 'I prefer to sleep in the nude too. That's why my pyjamas are all spare.' Alex grinned happily. 'I just want to thank you.' he said solemnly, his eyes almost brimming over with tears despite his happiness. 'You've been so kind to me.' Brian smiled, hugging Alex fondly. 'That's okay.' he reassured. 'You've been good to me too.' Brian and Alex both felt stirrings below at the shared bodywarmth. They pulled away for the moment, neither of them ready for the next stage. 'Well. shall we get to bed?' asked Brian, looking slightly flustered. Alex nodded. 'Okay.' he answered, still smiling fully.
The two of them undressed gradually, in between a lot of horseplay. Before long, they were dressed only in their underwear. They sat on the bed for a while, their naked thighs pressing together in a vaguely sexual way. They talked for a while, occasionally turning to look into each other's eyes and just smile. After a while, Brian sighed. 'Well,' he wistfully said, 'I suppose we ought to get some sleep.' Alex nodded, standing up and unashamedly sliding his underwear down. Brian felt himself colouring slightly as he stared at the revealed genitals. Alex just stood at ease, smiling slightly as Brian ogled his half erection, the tip of his glans just peeking from the warm foreskin. He looked up at Alex's face, seeing him smile mischieviously.
'Come on,' Alex grinned. 'Now it's your turn.' Brian went slightly redder at the words from his naked friend. Despite all his coming on to Alex, Brian was a virgin, and a little nervous about being naked with another guy. In the end though, he stood up and hurriedly slid his briefs down. Alex smiled as he faced Brian, viewing his tackle with unhurried thoroughness. Brian's penis was a little smaller than his, and he'd been circumcised. Brian looked down at Alex's uncut penis, then cocked his head slightly on one side. 'How come you aren't cut?' he asked, nodding in the general direction of Alex's genitalia. Alex shrugged, causing his balls to bounce slightly. 'I don't know.' he replied. 'I guess I'm just lucky.' Brian nodded. 'Well, you're right there.' he agreed. Alex opened his arms wide. 'Here, gimmee a goodnight hug.' he suggested, grinning impishly. Brian smiled, shaking his head a little as he opened his own arms and embraced Alex. They felt each other's body heat, the bare skin seeming to transmit the warmth of their feelings. Their now erect penises pushed together, further stimulating the sensitive organs. Brian felt Alex's hand roam over his buttocks, making him squirm as they embraced. He did the same, his hands sliding down over the masculine firmness of Brian's buttocks. Alex leaned down a little and kissed Brian on the shoulder, a show of friendship, before pulling away. 'Um, I don't think we should do anything more for now.' he hesitantly suggested. Brian nodded, his heart beating wildly. 'Whenever you want.' he replied huskily. 'I'm in no rush.' Alex nodded, kissing Brian chastely on the cheek before climbing in to the sleeping bag on the campbed. 'Goodnight Brian.' he called softly as Brian stood dazed and naked. 'Uh, yeah. Goodnight, Alex.' he replied, switching off the light and then sliding between the cool sheets. The last thing he thought about before he fell asleep was Alex...
Brian awoke from sleep with a gasp, his naked body coated with a thin film of sweat. He sat up in his bed, touching the back of his hand to his forhead, feeling the fevered heat of the nightmare slowly leaving him. The moon cast a pale shadow on Alex's form as he slumbered on the low camp-bed next to Brian's bed, and there was a faint ticking as the central heating system wound down. All seemed right, and yet, he somehow felt uneasy. The wardrobe cast a large shadow across the floor, harking back to the days when Brian had been sure a monster was going to come out and eat him.
He was beyond that now though. He knew rationally that there were no monsters in the world, nothing was going to get him. And yet, why did he feel so nervous? Maybe it was a hangover from the nightmare, he rationalised. The old alarm clock on Brian's bedside table ticked reassuringly, a long familiar rhythm. Brian lay back down again, and started to drift back off to sleep. Skritch Brian was jolted awake by the strange sound. He sat up in bed, his heart pounding as he strained his ears in order to pick up any slightest sound. There was a slight shift in the moonlight, as if something was casting a shadow and moving around. 'Probably a tree branch.' Brian reassured himself. Skriiiiiiitch It was a long, drawn out sound this time, as if someone were dragging their fingernail down the glass. Brian pulled the covers up to his chin, despite the warmth he'd felt just a few minutes earlier. The sweat was cool on his skin, making him shiver and his flesh goosebump.
There were no noises for the next few minutes, and Brian began to relax, telling himself that he was imagining things again. He lay back down, feeling warm once more and throwing the covers back. As his consciousness began to fade once more, Brian heard a faint chittering noise, like that of a cricket. 'Damn thing' he thought fuzzily. 'How'd that get in?'
He lay there, his naked body still feeling warm, as he gradually went to sleep. Then he half felt something on his thigh. He dismissed it as an insect, barely pausing in his deep and rhythmic breathing. The small shape began to crawl up his thigh, unnoticed by Brian as he fell into a deep sleep. It paused at Brian's scrotum as another similar shape began to climb up his leg. Brian spoke in his sleep, and then resumed snoring. Dozens of the tiny shapes began to clamber over Brian's body, his mind too deeply asleep for him to notice the invaders.
At some unseen signal, the tiny forms all stopped moving, perched on Brian's skin. At the next moment, one hundred sets of needle teeth sank into Brian's skin. His scrotum, his thighs, his penis, every area of flesh they could get to. Brian awoke with a scream, his body feeling as though it were on fire. 'Jesus!' he wailed as he sat up, two of the tiny lizards dangling from his nipples like obscene piercings. A thin sheen of blood trailed down his body as the sharp teeth sank into his skin. He screamed in agony as Alex sat bolt upright in his bed, the little lizards chittering madly as they sank their teeth in again and again. Alex's face contorted in anger as he saw what was going on. 'Leave him alone!' he cried, running over to the stricken Brian. The lizards continued their attack, striking again and again with their hideously sharp teeth as Brian flailed at them hopelessly. A couple flew off and hit the wall, but that was all, the majority of the tiny horrors carried on with their attack. Alex seemed to grow a little in the room as Brian carried on shouting, and then he screamed again. "GET OFF OF HIM" His voice had sunk about six octaves, and his body suddenly seemed to small for his spirit. He stood there, naked and glorious, as the power came rushing from his body. A bright light filled the room, and the small lizards were suddenly erased by the searing power, leaving only the glowing after image of the bright light. Alex rushed to Brian, seeing the damage the things had done as he cradled him in his arms. 'What have they done!' he sobbed, touching Brian's wounds. Brian groaned as a more subtle power seemed to flow through Alex's hands.
Brian's wounds slowly closed, and they held each other for a while. Brian smiled beatifically as Alex stroked his newly repaired skin with tenderness. 'My love' Alex whispered. 'I will always protect you.' So saying, he kissed Brian tenderly on the lips, and returned to his bed. Brian sighed and pulled the covers up to his chin, as his mother opened the door. 'Is everything alright?' she asked sleepily, wiping the sleep from her eyes and yawning, attempting to overcome the non-prescription sleeping pills. Brian looked up from beneath his duvet, still smiling slightly. 'Oh fine, mum.' he answered. 'I just had a nightmare, but now everything's just fine.' She nodded, coming over to the bed and stroking his forehead tenderly, before leaning down and kissing him there gently. 'Sleep well.' she whispered, and went out, closing the door carefully. They slept the rest of the night through without further event.
The Beast beneath the earth cursed, its rumbling voice sounding gargantuan in the cavern. The small one had been more powerful than it had hoped, able to banish the chitterlings as if they had been nothing. And heal his friend, too. It had underestimated its foe once again, a mistake it would not make again.
The next morning dawned bright, the early morning sun pouring in through Brian's bedroom window and waking him with its caresses. His memory of the previous night had faded, only the remembrance of his fierce love for Alex staying with him. His skin was unblemished, even the old scars from childhood scrapes vanished in the aftermath of Alex's power.
Alex too had forgotten the more unpleasant events from the night, the only impression remaining being his overwhelming love for Brian and the need to protect him. They both stood and embraced, unashamed in their nakedness, their closeness more than just sexual. After a moment or so, Brian frowned, cocking his head slightly to one side in thought. Alex kissed him gently on the lips, then looked at Brian quizzically. 'What's up?' he finally asked. 'I..I don't know.' he responded. 'I was just thinking about a, a dream I had last night.' Alex nodded with a frown. There was a glimmer of a memory in his own mind. He shrugged it off, smiling brightly. 'Well, nightmares come and go. It's probably just as well you can't remember it.' Brian nodded, smiling himself and kissing Alex on the tip of his nose. 'Yeah,' he admitted, 'you're probably right.'.
They spent the day relaxing at Brian's home, lying on their stomachs with their legs kicking behind them and playing Monopoly and other board games. Brian's mother pottered in the garden, tying back plants and suchlike ready for the harshest part of winter. They watched TV that night while Brian's mum cooked the dinner, their legs touching, their arms slung over each other's shoulders. They headed to bed at about ten in the evening, laughing and playfully chasing each other up the stairs.
They slowly stripped off, more comfortable now with each other and their nudity. As they embraced, Alex reached down to hold Brian's warm testicles in the palm of his hand, leaning down a little to kiss him gently. Brian felt himself growing erect under Alex's touch, his body shuddering slightly with the intensity of the feelings. His lips parted almost involuntarily, and he felt Alex's tongue cross into his mouth for the first time. He could taste Alex on his tongue, the slickness of this darting organ feeling wonderful to him. He groaned into Alex's mouth, wrapping his arms tightly around him. As Alex stroked Brian to a full erection, Brian found the taut buttocks, stroking and massaging them with the tips of his fingers. They fell to the bed, their slender bodies twining lithely around each other, and they lost themselves to the passion which they both felt.
Brian lay contentedly next to Alex, face to face, their torsos pleasurably adhering together with the stickiness of their emissions. He could still taste the salty tang of Alex's semen in his mouth, his mind overwhelmed with the sensations and tastes which he'd gorged on. His flaccid penis lay touching Alex's as they caressed each other, exploring smooth skin with the tips of their fingers and then their tongues. They kissed languidly, the flame of passion dulled to a smouldering ember, and then in each other's arms they fell asleep.
Their sleep was not entirely undisturbed. The veil of darkness lifted, and Alex found himself dreaming of a place he knew. It was a green place, and Alex was standing in the centre of a large circle. The circle was formed from huge stones, towering megaliths which cast shadow over Alex. 'Stonehenge!' he whispered to himself in awe. The dream was vividly real, despite the fact that he'd never visited the place whilst awake. The moon was shining brightly, and a cool wind blew from the south side of the massive circle to the north.
Alex found himself growing uneasy, for no apparent reason. There seemed somehow a weight or pressure in the atmosphere, as though a storm were brewing. Beneath his feet, which were bare, Alex could feel a gentle rumbling or thrumming which was beginning to grow more intense. In fact, it wasn't just his feet which were bare. In the sudden way of dreams, Alex realised that he was gloriously naked, his skin cool in the moonlight.
And yet, the feeling of oppression and danger continued to increase. Like a dynamo, the thrumming filled the air, making it hard to think of anything but the incessant noise. The feeling of cold dread increased tenfold, making goosebumps rise on Alex's flesh.
With no warning, the ground before Alex suddenley began to crack, and he jumped backwards in alarm. A huge shape began to rise from the opening hole in the ground, a massive darkness which seemed to loom over the circle. It was not clear in Alex's dream vision, just this cold blackness which exuded an aura of inutterable evil. Alex felt himself charging with his own power, a power opposite in every way to that of the malevolent entity before him. The power rushed through him, seeming to stem from the very stones of the circle themselves. The dark presence at first seened to be beaten back by Alex's energy. Before long, however, the strange evil began to recoup, its dark waves of power emanating out from the centre of its being and enveloping Alex. He cried aloud, in contrast to the utter silence from the beast.
Alex was driven to his knees by the cold power radiating from the hideous darkness, his head feeling as though it were in a vice. Waves of darkness rippled through his vision, and he felt the end drawing near. Just at that moment, as the wall came crashing down on Alex, he was aware of a presence drawing near. A voice cut through the silence and oppression of the dream, Brian's voice. 'Leave him alone!' Brian embraced Alex, and there was a bursting explosion of power. The dark being at last made a sound, an agonised roar. Alex felt a sense of overwhelming euphoria, and the curtain of sleep descended again.
When Alex awoke the next morning, every detail of the extraordinarially vivid dream was locked into his memory. He felt a strange urge to travel, to journey to the place in his dream. He felt sure that he must visit Stonehenge.
Brian too had dreamed that night. He dreamt of his lover in inconceivable danger. And yet he knew that Alex must complete a task, a task which he was destined to help with. When Alex broached the subject, to his astonishment, Brian was not at all surprised. 'I know what you have to do.' Brian reassured, clasping Alex's shoulder. 'And I know that I must come with you.' Alex smiled, kissing Brian. 'I thought that you wouldn't understand.' he sighed.
With very little conversation on the subject, the decision was made to leave that evening. Brian packed the necessities of life into a rucksack, and raided his money bank for emergency supplies. Alex paused in the hall, taking one last look around the place where he'd found a home and love. Brian rested a hand on his shoulder. 'Don't worry, man.' he soothed. 'We'll be back soon.' Alex smiled a strange half smile, and nodded absently. 'I suppose we'd best be on the move.' They left a note for Brian's mother, telling her that they'd be back soon, and that she shouldn't worry.
Brian shouldered the backpack, heading towards the road which ran alongside the house. He turned round, and saw Alex looking wistfully up at the window of his bedroom, the place where they'd enjoyed each other's company so much. The set of his shoulders suddenly changed, and Brian knew that Alex had resigned himself to whatever events were to come. He turned round, smiling slightly as he came level with Brian and rested a hand on his shoulder.
They left the residential street, turning on to the main road which led out of town. Somehow, Alex knew he was heading in the right direction, even though he'd never been to this part of town. Something was drawing him like an iron filing to a magnet, some presence which he knew he must go to. They walked at a fair pace, talking subduedly as they watched the outskirts of the town pass them by.
The main road was fairly well frequented with traffic, a car passing the two lads every few seconds as they walked along the grassy verge. Neither of them felt like hitching a lift at that time, the cool winter air was too fine a feeling on their skin for them to travel in the stuffy confines of a vehicle.
They stopped for a short rest every couple of hours, watching the cars go by and conversing aimlessly for about five minutes, before shouldering the backpack once more and carrying on. During one of these short breaks, Brian got out some of their food, sandwiches which they'd prepared for the first day of travelling. Brian took a big bite out of his cheese sandwich and chewed thoughtfully for a moment. 'So what do you think it is that we're going to find?' he asked curiously, as Alex took a big bite out of his own sandwich. He brushed his fringe out of his eyes absently with one hand, his eyes seeming distant. 'I really don't know.' he replied, picking up a can of coke and popping the top. 'I just have this tugging sensation in the forefront of my mind, pulling me to where we're going. As to what we're going to find there, I really don't know. But it's going to be bad.' Brian nodded, finishing his sandwich and licking the crumbs from his fingers. 'Well, I know you can handle it.' he assured Alex. He stood, patting him on the shoulder affectionately. 'We'd better get moving.' he suggested. 'It's going to get dark soon.'
They carried on walking for a while after the sun sank below the horizon, navigating by the light of the moon. They'd left the outer limits of the town quite some time ago, and were now in the rural areas surrounding the urban concentration of buildings. There were several farms around, every now and then during the day they'd walked past a farmer in the act of ploughing his field. Now that night had fallen, they needed somwehere to spend the cold night. Off to the side of the road, they could see a farm, a couple of lights still burning in the farmhouses windows. Brian shivered, his breath pluming out before him. 'It's getting really cold.' he chattered, clasping his arms to his body in an effort to keep warm. 'Maybe we should go and check out the barn of that place over there.' Alex suggested, pointing over to the farm. As they watched, the last light vanished, and the farmhouse grew dark.
Brian nodded. 'Anything's better than this cold.' he complained. They headed off to the farm, checking that there was nobody around as they left the road. The farm was fairly small, but there was a barn just opposite the farmhouse itself. A faint whinnying came from another building, signifying that the farmer was a horseowner. They looked around cautiously as they approached the wooden building, walking as furtively and quietly as they could. Brian opened the door, expecting a squeal of rusty hinges, but instead finding the door to be silent, running on well oiled hinges.
The barn was obviously the farmer's feed store, the pale moonlight just enough to make out the details inside the barn. There were several bales of hay in a stack opposite the door, and some big paper sacks of horses oats. Some of the hay had escaped from the bales, forming a thin layer over the ground. One of the bales had been opened, the hay spilling out a little now that there was no string holding it in. Alex smiled coyly. 'Perfect.' he grinned. 'Comfortable and fairly warm too.' It was warm, warmer than you'd expect considering the weather. Brian looked around, and noticed a couple of gently humming heaters on the wall. 'There must be something here that the farmer doesn't want getting cold.' he mused.
They embraced tightly, holding on to one another as if they were the only solid objects in an increasingly ephemeral world. They kissed, tasting each other, feeling the heat of their passion cut through the coolness of the night. They stripped off slowly, oblivious to the cold weather, their bodies seeming to meld together and fuse to form one glorious whole. They dressed again after their passion, in order to stay warm, and then in each others arms they fell asleep. Perchance to dream...
Alex found himself once again in the Stonehenge. Standing next to him was Brian, both of them joyous in their nudity. Alex looked around the stone circle, the wind lashing at his hair. The circle was complete, and all of the stones were upright. Alex knew this was a dream, and yet intuitively he also realised that he was in the past, looking at things as they once were. There was a sudden swirling, disorienting Alex as the scene changed around he and Brian. The centre of the massive stone circle had sunk into the earth, forming a huge pit in the stone beneath the plain. A group of white robed men stood in a semicircle around the far side of the pit. In between them there stood a huge darkness, hazy in Alex's vision in the same way that it had been in his previous dream of Stonehenge. The only details which he could plainly make out on the obfuscated darkness were a set of golden shackles around what seemed to be the forearms of the shape, and another set around the ankles. These were linked by chains to what appeared to be a golden ring around what must have been a neck.
The oldest looking of the white-robed men stepped forward, turning to face the dark shape, his back to Alex. His voice boomed like thunder, echoing clearly across the circle. 'We banish you to a place below the ground in order that your reign of terror may end. You are chaos, we are order, chaos must never be freed again to corrupt the ordered. We follow the wishes of the Goddess whilst you seek to destroy her, you must be put down. As long as this circle is a place of worship to the Earth mother then you shall be imprisoned. A guardian of Order will be set to watch over you, and you shall never again be free.'
A grunting sound came from the unclear figure, almost like laughter. The spokesperson rejoined the other white-robed figures. They began a chant, linking hands as they did so. The dark shape began to struggle against some invisible force, writhing in seeming pain, chains jangling madly, before losing its balance and tumbling down into the hole. The white robed ones changed their chant, and the ground seemed to fill in, until there was no sign of the scar which previously marred the Earth. The spokesperson looked up, his eyes locking with Alex's, and then with Brian's. 'Guardian.' he acknowledged, his eyes switching between the two. 'You must serve us well.' So saying, the scene dissolved, and night drew over them once more.
When the morning came, the two boys were shivering from the cold. They embraced as they awoke, sharing as much body warmth as possible. The time was early, the sun not even fully risen. They ate a hurried breakfast of a couple of chocolate bars, and headed off.
During their first break, they discussed the rapidly fading dream which they'd both shared. 'What did it mean?' asked Brian. Alex frowned, trying to remember the last words which the oldest druid had spoken. 'I'm not sure.' he replied. 'I had the feeling that it was something which had happened in the past.' Brian nodded, his own brow wrinkling in thought. 'I got the same feeling.' he told Alex. 'Somehow, I think that it was sort of background information for whatever we've got to do when we get there. But if that's the case, who told us the information?' Alex shrugged, half smiling as the rising sun warmed his shoulders. 'We'd better get moving.' he reminded Brian, stroking his back languidly. 'I have the feeling that time is of the essence.'
The Thing beneath the ground stirred uneasily. The Small one was going to force a conflict, and it wasn't sure that it was strong enough. It began to limber up its muscles, stretching as much as it could in its hollow niche beneath the earth. Shattered gold objects crunched beneath its feet as it manouvered, attempting to move as much as it could. Time! There was never enough time!
Approximately a fortnight after they left Brian's home, the two teenagers were following the signs for Stonehenge. Surprisingly, they'd never been stopped by the police, or by any concerned citizens. A few people had looked at them oddly, starting to come over to them, but Alex had just fixed them with a gentle stare, and they'd returned to their own business. Each night was spent in a different place. When in the country, they slept in barns or in haystacks, or if these weren't availaible, they both hugged each other tightly, wrapped in a thin blanket which they'd brought with them. Once nearing Salisbury, they stayed in various hostels, always fading away before they could be asked any awkward questions. Their love became deeper as they travelled, they became almost as one being. Each seemed to know what the other was thinking, and when they made love it was glorious. As they approached Salisbury, their minds began to seeth in nervous anticipation.
There it was on the horizon, the huge stone circle which dominated Salisbury Plain. The massive granite liths seemed regal in their bearing, their great age weighing down the air. The moon was full as the weary young men approached the monument, the gate opening of its own accord to allow them entry. As they approached the outer circle of stones, Alex felt an unbearable urge to become free, as nature intended. He dropped the pack he'd been carrying on his shoulder, his eyes open wide to drink in the appearance of the stones. He knelt, undoing his shoelaces and shucking his trainers, then taking off his socks and feeling the dewy grass beneath his bare feet. A slightly bemused Brian followed his lead. Alex swiftly stripped off the rest of his clothing, his skin gleaming paley in the soft moonlight. Brian too stripped naked, leaving his clothing in a neat pile next to Alex's. If it weren't for the ever present, overwhelming sensation of dread, Brian doubted very much that he would have been able to keep from hugging Alex right at that moment and wrestling him to the ground.
As it was, the constant nagging at his nerve endings was making him jumpy, acting like a constant high pitched whine on the peripheray of his hearing. Alex began to stride purposefully forwards, a sense of duty full upon him now. Although he didn't know the extent of that duty, he knew that it was a task that must not be shirked. As he entered the perimeter of the central circle, he paused as if he'd hit a physical barrier. A memory was flashing through his mind, momentarially incapacitating him. With staccatto rhythm, a flood of memories poured into his mind. He suddenly recalled the events of the night before he met Brian, the night Jimmy had died. He recalled Brian's wounding the night after, and many other events which had been struck from his memory. At last he realised his true nature, and he felt ready for the challenge ahead.
He strode into the smallest ring at the centre of Stonehenge, as the wind began to pick up around his naked body. Brian watched from the sidelines, feeling somehow that it would be a bad idea to approach the centre. He watched, awestruck, as Alex stood at ease in the center of the circle, his hair being whipped by the wind. He felt his unease crank up another notch as the ground started to tremble beneath his feet. His skin goosebumped, his testicles withdrawing into his body, as he felt the presence of some-thing- coming closer.
Alex stood at the center of the circle, his legs widely spread, as his own feeling of dread and unease increased tenfold. Beneath his feet, the ground was vibrating rapidly, as whatever he was here to combat came rushing to the surface. The ground cracked in front of him as the thing impacted with the surface. He jumped back, preparing himself for the challenge ahead. With an explosion of earth and debris, a huge black shape came bursting from the earth.
Brian's mouth dropped open as he saw the beast which rose from the fertile earth. It was huge, easily as large as a four story building, and it was the nightmarish creature of legend. It had a huge bulky body that seemed to be covered with iridescent black scales, and a pair of massive leathery wings sprouted from above the hideously black-taloned forefeet. The tail was long and whiplike, thrashing around as the thing clawed its way from the earth. The neck was long and thick, the muscles rippling beneath the scaly skin as it moved its head to gaze upon Alex. The head was the worst thing of all. It was huge, as large as a cow, and the eyes were crimson pools of fire. As it opened its mouth and hissed, a tongue of fire licked along its own forked tongue, and razor sharp teeth glinted malevolently. Brian recognised it instantly, of course. It was a dragon.
Alex frowned grimly, feeling dark waves of force emanate from the hideous apparition and surround his body. He concentrated, opening his arms and allowing his own force to flood out. His head pounded at the force from the black dragon, his lines of power flowing from his hands to counter the effects. At first, it seemed to be enough to hold the foe at bay, but slowly the dark dragon began to edge forwards, its eyes glowing fiercer as it began to scent victory. Alex held his hands to his temples, the sweat running down his face as he buckled to his knees. His power was almost snuffed, and the beast came triumphantly forward.
Brian saw his lover fall to his knees, and he felt that he must take some form of action, no matter how hopeless. He ran forwards, his face contorted in a scream. 'LEAVE HIM ALONE!' he shouted, and reached Alex. He embraced him, and all hell broke loose.
Alex could feel himself growing weaker, when all of a sudden he heard and saw Brian come charging up. A few seconds later, he felt strong arms around him, and power seemed to flood through him. Brian was his missing part, the one which could give him the key to his identity and his power. Brian's love and force flowed through them both, and Alex shucked off his human form. He grew rapidly, Brian on his back as his form altered dramatically. He became large, although smaller then the dark dragon. His scales were alabaster white, his eyes glowing pools of incandescent white fire. His tail was beautiful and lithe, his claws silvery-pale. His wings were like gossamer, his teeth clean and silvery as his claws. He roared, the power of his true form flooding through him, and he charged the dark dragon.
The Dark one felt a tremor of fear as the small one made his transformation. But then he struck, his sharp teeth slashing through the night.
Brian felt an intense pain in his chest, and let out a scream. Looking down, he saw blood running in a river down his torso, and he looked up in shock. He slipped from the scaly body of his lover, landing on the soft grass, blood pumping swiftly from the terrible wound.
Alex barely noticed his lover fall, so intense was the fight. His head met that of the Dark one, their teeth clashing with a hideous sound. The Beast struck with his claws, wounding Alex's flank and causing him to roar with pain. He lashed back in retaliation, damaging the Dark beast's foreleg. The fight raged on, each of the dragons striking whenever they had the opportunity. Black fire licked from the snout of the Dark one, and Alex barely had time to dodge it before launching his own burst of searing heat. As the moon shone down on the combatants, they began to be the worse for wear, exhaustion setting in. At the last moment before he collapsed, Alex was able to seize an opportunity at the Dark one's throat, striking with his sharp fangs. The evil one roared in agony as its blood ran down Alex's throat, its tail and forefeet twitching in agony. Alex struck again, biting through the tough muscles in the beast's throat, and the head flew free. The steaming corpse sank to the ground as rain began to fall on the exhausted victor. He slowly changed, becoming human once more. He sobbed, pondering the horror he'd faced, as the Dark dragon was washed away by the rain, its body swiftly decomposing to nothingness.
Then he saw Brian. A tortured cry escaped his throat as he saw the pale body of his love, his chest torn and bloody. He crawled over to him, his own skin marked and scarred from the combat, and he stared into the blank eyes of his dead love. He raised his eyes to the heavens and screamed aloud, his mind numbed by the loss of the only person he had ever and could ever love, his missing piece. He sobbed over the corpse, tenderly kissing away a drop of blood from the corner of his mouth.
He knelt there in the mud for a while, when there was a sudden flash of light, and a soft singing sound. Alex turned, stunned, and saw a vision of beauty. A pearly, translucent being with fine wings of sheerest white, which glistened in the moonlight. Its face was kind as it spoke in Alex's mind. 'You have done well, Guardian.' the soft voice intoned, and the form raised a hand. A bolt of lightning fell from the heavens, shining in Alex's tears as he was bathed in the glow. The celestial lightning struck Brian, blinding Alex for a moment. When the afterglow had faded, the being was gone. And so were Alex's wounds. He looked at his skin in wonder, marvelling at how it was whole and untouched. Barely daring to hope, he looked down at Brian.
His body was perfect once again, his skin unblemished. He was breathing, his eyes starting to quaver open. Alex choked out a sob, an unarticulated cry, and embraced his love. Their warm bodies fitted together perfectly, each making the other whole, and a choir of angels sang for them as they kissed.
-- 'Remember the truth that once was spoken:
To love another person is to see the face of God!' -Les Miserables