Have you seen the new Nifty? How did I miss this? Go to: https://new.nifty.org
For a brand new and more interactive experience. Set up a profile and follow your favourite authors.
Nifty is the only resource of its kind bringing together authors and readers of our favourite fiction. Help to keep them going. Even the smallest donation helps. After all, what does a book cost?
https://donate.nifty.org/
Curious to see our boys? With the help of AI I've created PG images that exactly represent how I see them as I write. Email me if you would like to see them or if you have any comments.
KurtSilvers@proton.me
This story takes place in the same universe as `Ian's Extra Credit,' also available here on Nifty.
Phoenix House - Chapter 2
We pull up to a nice brownstone just a few miles drive. Nice building. Well he is a doctor. We park in front and climb out of the car. Jesse and I, along with Blake' help, carry our entire lives in a few bags. I expect to head up the stairs but we head down instead and enter a very small, dark due to tiny windows, but homey and tidy.
"Sorry boys, not a lot of room, just the one bedroom. Rents are insane here. You two can crash in here," Blake tells us as we stand in the small kitchen, dining room, living room. "We've got a few air mattresses for emergencies." as he pulls a couple of army surplus mattresses and a small foot pump. "Get pumping, I'll get some blankets and pillows for you."
I'm on my hands and knees trying to get the pump nozzle to stay put. Blake tosses some blankets on the chair next to me. As I turn towards him I find myself presented with a spectacular view. Blakes well packed crotch is only inches from my face, my mouth, my tongue. Don't fuck this up Bean.
I turn away, I have a really good opportunity here, maybe, still skeptical, and I'm not going to do anything stupid. But Blake is flipping gorgeous. I stand up to start pumping and the mattress slowly begins to fill. Fuck. Blake is unbuttoning his shirt. He removes it, complaining about a small stain. As he gently scrubs the blotch I can't help but swoon a bit. This guy is built, not gym built but really thick. I have to say that he and Mike make a beautiful couple.
A bit later we are sitting at the small kitchen table, we have all changed into shorts or sweats and t-shirts. It's been some time since I have been in someone's house for anything other than sex. Still feels strange.
"Well boys, quite a day. Sorry to have to be the one's to share the news about Squirt. But I'm sure you have already learned he is not the first and he won't be the last." Mike says oozing compassion. "Blake here was a wreck when he first heard. Squirt, or Andy as we knew him, was one of the boys we wanted to take with us. We kept trying to track him down but he was always one step ahead."
"I'm sorry but could we not talk about that right now?" I beg, noticing Blake's emphatic nod. "I knew Squirt. We spend a few nights together, you know? Shit I shouldn't have said that. Now you'll think I'm a monster."
"God no Bean, not at all. Remember, I've been there. There were times I slept with my best friends, other times my worst enemies. Some times we just did it for each other. So we could feel that maybe someone cares. I'm sure you were very kind to Squirt and those moments probably helped him get through. Don't beat yourself up. Either of you. We all do what we need to survive." Blake soothes me.
"How about we dedicate Phoenix House to Squirt's memory?" suggests Jesse. He can be so quiet it was a surprise to hear him speak out.
"What a great idea Jesse." Mike blurts. "We don't have any photos of him. Bean, could you do a sketch from memory?"
"Absolutely. I'll do it now."
I grab my pad and pencils, turning to a clean page. My hand flies over the surface, building up shadow and shade. Squirt's image is burned clearly into my mind. It is coming to life in front of me. In just a few minutes I turn the pad around to show them my work.
Jesse begins to tear up and then out and out cry. "Fuck Bean, it looks just like him."
Mike and Blake begin to shed tears as well. Any trepidation, any fears I may have had about these guys or their motives are forever put to rest.
"Boys we have a busy day tomorrow. We have a lot of files on different boys and we want to pick your brains," I knew it, "and see what else you may know or who else that may be off the radar. Like we said we are going to start with two boys, to bring down next week, and then set our schedule from there. So let's get some sleep. We'll see you in the morning." Blake says as he and Mike head into their bedroom.
Jesse and I make up our beds and get under the blankets.
"Weird day," says Jesse, staring at the ceiling. "Are you okay? You knew Squirt better than I did."
"No Jesse, I'm not okay. I'm not okay with what happened to Squirt. I'm not okay with this kind of shit happening to anyone. And I'm not okay with kids like us having to live the way we do. Tell me, honestly Jesse, when is the last night you slept without being terrified?" I ask.
"The last night before my dad kicked me out." Jesse admits. "It seems so long ago."
Jesse and I move our beds so they are up next to each other, allowing us to hold each other as we sleep, safe, knowing we will wake up in the morning.
Early morning, the sun creaks through the small glass panes just hitting me in the eyes. I get up and pad into the bathroom. Fuck I gotta piss. I walk in, still half asleep, not noticing the shower running. As I finish up at the toilet I flush, followed immediately by a loud scream. It is only then I hear the water as it gets turned off.
The curtain gets pulled aside. It's Blake.
"Shit sorry Blake, I didn't even know you were in there." I say with chagrin.
"No problem Bean, did you sleep okay?" Blake asks.
It is just then I realize that he is standing naked, dripping in front of me. My god. What a stunning example of beef. All of him is just so thick and fuck, fuck, fuck. Hanging between his legs is a cock of probably average, a bit more perhaps in length, but the thickest fire plug of a cock I've ever seen. Cut. Veiny.
"It gets bigger, both longer and thicker," he says catching me staring.
"Sorry Blake, it's just, you're just, well, really impressive. I have the eye and mind of an artist and you are beautiful. Your proportions. You should let me draw you someday. In the nude. I never got a chance to practice nudes much." I tell him.
"Once we get settled in no problem. It would make a great gift for Mike. Thanks Bean." Blake says as he continues nude into his bedroom. Damn.
A little later we are seated in the kitchen, with a breakfast of coffee, juice, bagels and cream cheese. It's nice to wake up like this. Warm, dry, food and not having to get fucked to have it. It's been a long time since I've had a morning like this. Fuck. Other kids wake up in their beds everyday, head off to school and go home to a loving family. What did we do to make us unworthy of love? Wait though.
Mike and Blake. They took us in and asked for nothing. Neither Jesse nor I had to suck cock, get fucked, whatever. Love doesn't have to be just family right? Now I know this project will be a success. These guys love the boys they help. Purely and honestly. Like family should. I wonder though if they ever feel tempted. Their jobs bring them into private contact with some of the juiciest pieces of chicken a gay guy could want.
"Mike, Blake, I just want to say thank you. That was the best nights sleep I've had in a long time." I tell them sincerely.
"Yeah, me too." injects Jesse.
"And you didn't have to do something to earn it." Blake points out.
"Bean, earlier in the bathroom. Believe me, you were not the only one who was staring. I was watching you take a piss in the mirror. I had a lot of sex with teenage boys when I was a teenage boy and the attraction is still there. But it is a line I won't cross. I have to keep my fantasy separate from reality. Mike is a great help with that. He helps me keep my head together sometimes.
Essentially Bean, you and I would have a great time together but it would seriously alter a dynamic that we need in place to make this all work. And I want all of our boys to feel safe and unthreatened. We don't ever want a kid to feel like they somehow have to pay for their keep. And Bean, we look at you kids like our sons, not pieces of meat. You are worth more than that. Which brings me to our list of rules. We will sit down together and draw up something that will work for everyone but when it comes to sex the rules are simple. Between the boys anything goes as long as it is consensual. We're not cops and we can't be patrolling you. We expect all of the boys, with you two as examples, to be able to police themselves to an extent. No guests on the property. No sexual contact with adults. Face facts guys, you can have a lot of fun just with each other. How's that sound? Oh but that doesn't mean that we pick the kids based on looks. Actually," as Blake grabs a large file folder.
"Here are some of the boys we've been able to collect anything on." as the file lands with a loud thud on the table.
Jesse and I huddle together as we look through the many pages of boys, much like ourselves, waking up this morning without the feeling I'm experiencing today.
"Hey it's Cheeks, do you know him Jesse? I ask looking at the page about Kevin Jackson. This kid can blow. And for once I don't mean that. I've seen him pick up one wind instrument after the other and he can play any of them. Let's see. He's 16, been a street kid for sixteen months. He lived okay with his mom until she had a heart attack. No other family he ended up in foster care. Ran away every chance he had until they stopped chasing him. Been in the ER twice. Had a bit of a drug issue for a bit. Not weed. A trick tried to get him hooked. He's tested clean for months now.
He's about 5'8", 160lbs. Black hair, dark brown eyes. Oh yeah, he's a black dude. My first black guy actually. Well first non professional. I've always known him to be a straight shooter, no bullshit. He does have a bit of a temper but he's been doing better. I last saw him a week or so ago.
"Yeah, I like him. Nice guy. Great musician. I remember asking him once, I said, Cheeks, if you could be doing anything you wanted, what would it be?' He said, I just want to blow.' It took me a minute, you know? Did you know he had worked, saved and scrounged to buy himself an old sax and trombone. His foster parents gave them to their own kids for school. I think that was his final straw. But what about his temper? He gets angry pretty easily." Jesse offers.
"He's been really good when I've seen him recently. He knows it is a problem. It's that chip on the shoulder you mentioned Mike. But he's a really good guy and he's always been honest with me. I haven't heard anything from the locals lately about him so that's good. And it's not here in the file but the ER visit with the stab wound? That was when he helped to save an old woman from being raped one night in an alley. He ran off because he figured he would end up getting arrested somehow. The rapist was white. He was scared." I fill them in.
"Do you know where to find him? Blake asks.
"I think so. I know where he's been crashing lately. That was a week ago but maybe he's still around there. If necessary we share a trick. I might be able to ask him." I answer.
"Well let's put him to the side. Anyone else stand out?" Mike inquires.
Jesse pulls out one page and hands it to Blake. "He checked out a couple of weeks ago. Overdose." Frank, he was 16. Death seems so routine.
"Hey what about this guy?" I ask handing Jesse the page.
"Skipper. He's gone, he left town a few months ago." Jesse says tossing the page aside. So far this has been a pretty mundane process. But Jesse keeps looking back at this page as we move through the rest.
"Wait a second guys. Is this the skinny kid that sleeps on the boats down in the marina? The kid that looks like he hasn't eaten in days?" Blake asks.
"He's not skinny, and how would you know? He took off." Jesse says, sniffling a bit.
"I saw him just a couple of days ago. He was jumping between boats. I couldn't keep up with him." Blake tells us.
"He's back?" Jesse almost screams. "Are you sure it was him?"
"Oh I'm sure. The harbourmaster told me all about him. Told me he thought he was, `rid of the little fucker,' but he showed up again a few weeks back. Stole some guys boat." Blake says.
"Again? Please tell me it was the same guy. That would make it three times. Is the name of the boat `Astur Cooperii?' Jesse asks excitedly.
"How did you know that?" Blake asks with a curious smile.
"Yes! The same bastard. That was the guy that threatened to kill Skipper. Chased him with a gun. That is why he left town but I had no idea he was back. This guy is a total asshole and known amongst the guys as a bad trick. He likes the youngest kids and always ends up beating the crap out of them. He was the first guy to beat on me. Skipper stole his boat and grounded it a few miles down. Twice, now three times. We have to find him." Jesse insists passionately. "We were kind of boyfriends."
"Wait, Jesse, did you say Astur Cooperii?" I ask coming to a sudden realization.
"Yeah, whatever that means." Jesse answers. "Why?"
"The fucker doesn't even try to hide it. Astur Cooperii is the binomial name for a bird called Cooper's Hawk. More commonly known as a Chickenhawk. It would be funny if he weren't an asshole." I answer.
"Yeah, not all chickenhawks are evil dudes. Some guys really love boys, some just love to fuck them." Blake says, speaking from his own experience and forbidden desires. "So we will start trying to find these two. This weekend it is just the four of us going up to get everything in order. We will head out Monday to start looking. But keep going through the boys. For now just make two stacks. One maybe. One absolutely not. We will sort through them later."
"Please, please can we try to find Skipper? After what happened to Squirt I'm scared. Skipper is a real little guy and attracts the same Johns. In fact I know more than one guy has hired the two of them together. Please. If anything happened to him. I thought I'd never see him again. Please guys. I'll do anything. He won't take up any room. He can bunk with me. Please." Jesse begs, wiping away tears, choking on his words.
Mike and Blake give each other a look that in an instant communicates volumes between a couple like them. Both release a loud sigh.
"Do you know where to start?" Blake inquires of Jesse.
"If we move fast. He usually went to the same place every day just around lunch time. There is an old lady who lives near the marina and left food out for him everyday on a bench in her garden. She told him he reminded her of her son when he was a boy. If she only knew." Jesse says. "He might be going back there."
"Get dressed guys, let's get moving." Mike instructs as we rush to get dressed. In minutes we are in the car and headed to the marina. Fighting traffic along the way, with Jesse unable to sit still next to me, it is just over twenty minutes later when we arrive at the marina.
"The house is just down this side street." Jesse says getting out before we even come to a stop. Mike starts to get out as well.
"Stay here Mike," says Blake. "He'll run from us. This is a job for the boys."
I join Jesse and head off towards the old lady's house.
"This is the place." Jesse says quietly, opening the small garden gate. We make our way around to the side of the small, very well kept, seaside clapboard home. Just ahead in the garden is a small table with a couple of chairs. Sitting with his back to us is a small boy, eating what looks like an enormous sandwich.
"Skip?" shouts Jesse.
The boy quickly turns towards us, startled. He stops, staring, his eyes going wide.
"Jesse!" he blurts, bits of sandwich flying out of his mouth.
The two boys run to meet each other, embracing tightly. Gentle kisses being exchanged. I hold back for a moment, giving them some space. The sheer joy in seeing each other again is palpable. Each reuniting with their first love. Two boys tossed away who managed to find each other in the toughest of time. Who fought to protect each other. I get misty eyed watching my friend and hopefully soon to be friend sharing this special moment.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Jesse tells him.
"Me too Jesse. I've been looking for you since I got back but you aren't in your old neighbourhood. I was out there day and night. No one knew where you were." Skipper tells him, his eyes glistening.
"No I had to move a bit west. Too many problems around the old block. It used to be one of the safer places but not anymore. I mean it is a really nice neighbourhood." Jesse pauses for a moment, wondering if he will even be able to tell him. "Did you hear about Squirt?"
"No, how is the little guy?" he hasn't heard.
We take some time to fill him in. The three of us bawling like babies. We are all family. And fuck yeah, Squirt was special to each of us. Funny though in a way. We always liked to feel like we were the smart ones, older right? But he always knew how to think quick. And boy could he move. If he didn't want to be caught he wouldn't be. We then tell him about our new project. Skipper would outlive all of us on the streets but he's tired of running all the time. And like us, he's scared.
A few minutes later after he goes to thank the old lady and let her know he has a new home he follows us to the car. He promises to keep in touch with her. I feel he will.
By the time we get into the car the three of us are talking excitedly about our new future. New opportunities. Safety. Blake turns to greet us.
"Fuck, that is the guy that was chasing me the other day." Skipper yells, reaching across Jesse for the door handle.
"Skip, no!" Jesse yells pulling him back. Strong for a little guy it takes both of us to keep him from leaving the car.
"This is Mike and Blake, the guys we told you about. The guys that are giving us a new home. Calm fucking down. What the fuck?" Jesse sputters.
"Shit guys sorry, instinct. If a guy is chasing me like that it is usually to get me into a foster home or some residence. Or fucking god forbid, to school. Sorry Blake, I'm Skipper, it's nice to meet you." He says shaking Blake's hand.
"You gave me a workout Skipper. That's why we have Bean and Jesse. I get that adults tend to not be your best friends." Blake tells him. "I was a kid too once."
"Yeah, not a kid like us though." Skipper quips.
"Actually Skip, he was." I tell him seeing the disbelief. "Really, he was. Right Blake?"
"Almost two years Skipper. Lucky to make it out." Blake confirms.
Skip's whole demeanor shifts. This means something. Blake is no longer just this adult, this social worker trying to force him to live a normal life, whatever that is.
"My friends call me Skip, Blake."
"Friends Skip?" Blake asks extending his hand again.
"Yeah Blake, I've never met anyone who made it out of this shit. You're not shitting me right? It's really possible? I don't want to end up like Squirt." Skipper says, completely breaking down. Tears streaming freely, his entire tiny body trembling.
Jesse and I envelope him as tightly as we can, each of us giving him tiny little kisses on his forehead, his cheeks. We whisper to him that everything is okay now. I've never seen him show fear before. I mean he looks really sweet and innocent but he has this tough kid act that keeps him alive. Even I bought it. I'm so glad we found him. There is more work to do but now we have Skip to help us track down other kids. No one outruns that little bastard. Well not anymore.
We remain snuggled until we arrive at the guy's house. As soon as we enter...
"I gotta pee, bad." says Skip, doing a little dance.
"It's in here Skip," Jesse tells him, taking him by the hand to the can.
"Well you promised me excitement Blake. Bean, I used to work with rich kids who's parents needed someone for them to talk to. Whining about how difficult it is being spoiled rotten. Good money but not very interesting. And I hate to say this but I just didn't like most of those kids that much. I tried but it was hard to really care about their little problems. Blake encouraged me to begin working with kids that could really benefit from my years of study. Best thing I ever did. Well other than hooking up with Blake." Mike says giving Blake a kiss.
"What are the plans for dinner Mike?" Blake asks.
"Hey, I saw an Asian grocers just down the block Jesse says with a smile as he returns with Skip by his side. Give me five bucks and I can get enough food to last through the weekend. I'll make dinner tonight and we can bring the rest with us." Jesse says excitedly.
"I think you'll need a bit more than that," Mike says handing him a ten. "The prices are good but not that good."
"You don't speak Vietnamese, let me go alone or they may charge, well, you guy prices. Be back in a bit."
"So Skip, isn't this incredible? When was the last time you had a really good nights sleep? When you weren't always on the lookout for someone wanting to bust you up? We spend as much time running as anything else and now we don't have to do that anymore. We're going to have a home Skip, together. We have a family again. Mike, Blake, should we call you dad?" I tease.
"Don't fucking start with that. We're only a bit more than ten years older than you. Don't turn us into old men yet." says Blake. His face however betrays that he does indeed view himself as something of a father to the boys they will be taking care of. He has such a kind caring face. I wish I had a dad like him.
"Do you know how many times I dreamed of having a family again Bean? I would see kids my age with their dads or moms and I wanted to go home with them. They did the foster care shit about a dozen times. One couple was really nice to me but he ended up getting a job out of town so I was moved again. All the others were worse than just being alone. Fuck the last time they put two of us in a foster home at the same time. He was a year younger than me. They adopted him. Just him." as Skip breaks down again. I hold him as he sobs uncontrollably. Blake and Mike watching our interaction closely.
"Bean is going to be great Mike," Blake whispered not knowing I could hear. "naturally compassionate. He'll be a good big brother."
That made me smile inside. I don't often hear things like that. The only compliments I normally hear are things like, great cocksucker kid,' or fuck you have a tight ass.' And I do really care about other kids. I have to admit though that while cuddling Skip I got hard as a rock. He smells really nice.
Jesse stumbles through the door burdened down by as many bags as he could carry. "Take these guys, I'll be back."
We grab the bags from Jesse and place them on the kitchen table. Only minutes later he returns with a similar haul.
"And that is what you can get for ten bucks when you know how to shop." Jesse says proudly. Beaming with the knowledge that he has made an impression on Mike and Blake who are obviously astounded. It may seem like a little thing to most people but to kids like us even the smallest amount of recognition can go a long way.
"Holy fuck Jesse." says Mike. "That is easily four times what we could buy for that amount. Well done."
"Yup, enough to feed the five of us for a week." Jesse smiles wide. "I'll get started on dinner, come on Skip, you can help me."
I'm looking over the front page of the newspaper and notice an article that reminds me of something Blake said earlier.
"Here you go Blake, one of those annoying rich kids. This kid owns a fucking helicopter company. He is only 16. How the fuck? Fucking spoiled rotten. I hate kids like him." as I show him the picture.
Blake lifts the paper so Mike can see what I am reading. A bit of an amused look on their faces Blake turns to me. "Bean, this kid is not one of those jerks you may think he is. You don't want people to judge you because of how your life has gone. He didn't choose to be rich. And besides. He's a really nice guy."
"What, you know him? He's kinda cute but nice? I find that hard to believe. He would never even talk to a kid like me." I tell them.
"Bean, that kid, Chris, is the reason this project is happening. His land, his buildings, his money. He has put a lot of trust in us. He's a pretty unique kid. Incredibly kind hearted. And he's a gay kid too. He wanted to help and he's doing it. So let's not be too hard on him okay? Even though he has money it's still tough being a gay kid. Which reminds me." Mike says.
Mike goes to the phone and dials a number. "Hi Chris it's Mike. Yeah we actually will be bringing three boys up this weekend and then the others after that. We want to get the feel for the place. Fantastic, great news, thanks. Okay then, we will see you sometime tomorrow, late afternoon. Great Chris, bye for now."
"Well guys the place is ready for us to move in. They repainted everything even though it didn't need it. The kitchen is ready for you Jesse. Oh and they took out the snooker table and put in a bunch of pinball machines. Jesus Blake this is really happening. I can't wait to make a difference for some kids. Oh and should I presume Jesse that you and Skip want to share a room? No problem if you don't."
"God yes," says Skipper. "I want to share do you Jesse?"
"Ummm...Yes!" Jesse says emphatically.
"Okay then we can take up to eleven all together. We'll head up tomorrow. For now, I'm starved. Let's eat." Blake says.
We eat Jesse's delicious cooking, flavourful and a bit spicy but not too much.
"Delicious Jesse," says Mike followed by our compliments.
I can't wait until tomorrow to see our new home. I just hope this is all real. It's always hard to believe someone can be kind for no reason.