Untitled
by Zuzanny

Untitled

by Zuzanny

They were two hours into the last scheduled rehearsal of the 6th (out of 8) week rehearsal for The Mikado when HE arrived. Konrad Peterson was tall, tall, tall. Dark haired and well built, like a basketball player, with sparkling intelligent blue eyes. He walked into the hall the theater group was practicing in along with the president of the theater comity, wearing an expensive suit and polished shoes. The president, Mr. Bruce, was an bent over old man, white haired and wrinkled in his comfortable rags, an old hand in the theater who had never quite managed to go any where. Mr. Bruce supplied the sound and lighting equipment, and even trained the youngsters how to use it, but something always went wrong with the sound when he was involved. The performers were often told to get used to working without a microphone, because there would be no guarantee that theirs would be working on the night. Mr. Bruce escorted Konrad to the area of the hall used to simulate the audience and watched behind the young director as the scenes were performed. About fifty children from about five to eighteen in age were sitting in the audience area watching, reading over their scripts, working on costumes with what appeared to be a mother or two, or even doing school work. Konrad had seen some others outside the hall playing and even practicing their scenes.

Shadoe, the director, was standing holding a copy of the script and watching the actors performing the scene through his glasses. He was trimly built, not very tall, dressed in tans and siennas. His hair was short and dark, with a slight wave to it, and his skin appeared to be... tanned or olive. He looked very young, too young to be the director, Konrad thought.

"The last director, God rest his soul... died. Rather suddenly. Last month. Young Shadoe here was the assistant director at the time. Now he's the only director," Mr. Bruce whispered while Konrad couldn't take his eyes from the young man in question, who was waving his hands around in the air and telling the actors how they should be doing the scene.

"Isn't he a little... young?" Konrad asked Mr. Bruce, who chuckled.

"Well, no. Not unless you consider nineteen young to be directing a children's theater company. It's his passion. He's been directing since he was a little kid."

"Oh." Konrad nodded his head and focused his observations on Shadoe. Nineteen was as familiar age to Konrad. A year to be doing things and a year to be finding a life path to travel. Konrad smiled as he remembered his years passed.

As he watched the scene unfolding, Konrad admitted he was impressed. The actors far exceeded his expectations, and Shadoe's directions were sensible and constructive. When the rehearsal was ended Mr. Bruce called everyone's attention towards himself and Konrad. When he turned his head Shadoe's eyes were reveled to be the color of dark, polished wood behind his thin-rimmed glasses. Konrad found himself gasping when he saw the young man's face and his smile. Finally. He thought, heart pumping. At last I've found you. He hardly heard Mr. Bruce introducing him to the group of kids all looking up at him inquisitively.

"This is Konrad Peterson," Mr. Bruce was saying while the kids were silent. Well trained. Konrad thought. "As you know, Don's untimely... passing... has left us with a rather large hole in the pocket. Mister Peterson here has kindly agreed to give us his patronage."

Especially now. Konrad thought looking at Shadoe who was looking back at him with curiosity. And Innocence. It called to Konrad like it had a voice all of it's own. He had to stop himself from reaching out and touching the young man. "Pleased to meet you," he purred instead, leaning down to shake Shadoe's hand, his hand lingering a moment longer than was really necessary. Shadoe smiled nervously and pulled his hand away.

"Same," he said. "Er, please excuse me." And he slipped away to talk to some of the cast.

* * *

It was dark outside by the time the kids were leaving, their parents picking them up and some walking. Konrad was on his way out the car park when he saw Shadoe waving at some of his friends as their car pulled away from the curb. He then re-shouldered his backpack and began to walk away. Konrad pulled up beside him and pressed the window down button. Shadoe paused in his walking, seeing the car, and tried to peer inside.

"Need a lift?" Konrad asked.

Shadoe looked uncomfortable. "Nah," he said. "I don't mind walking." Konrad shrugged, and waited for him to continue walking before driving away.

* * *

Konrad barely watched the show as it was rehearsed, he spent all his time watching Shadoe and trying to get to know him. He discovered that for all Shadoe's passion in directing, he was incredibly shy out side his element. Observation also revealed that Konrad was not the only person who found Shadoe attractive, and was having difficulty in returning any affection. That made his heart a tad warmer. Konrad had also found out that Shadoe was an avid writer, and one day wanted to have one of his manuscripts performed on stage or television. He liked the way Shadoe's eyes would light up when asked about any of his stories, so while pondering his problem, Konrad had asked Shadoe if he could read some of his work. He had been delighted when the next time they saw each other Shadoe had presented him with a professionally bound copy of his manuscript.

That night Konrad took it home and could not put the thing down until morning. It was the story of a young man who had been kidnapped by militants who genetically altered their people to create warriors, and his subsequent escape and attempt to return to normal life. Konrad was amazed that the realism that Shadoe wrote with, it was like he had actually experienced such a thing. Perhaps he had.

"No," Konrad sighed as he basked in his satin sheets in the early hours of the morning, imagining Shadoe was lying there next to him. "You're just a brilliant writer with an amazing imagination." Konrad smiled almost evilly. "And I think I know how to catch you..."

* * *

It was late on the night of the After Party. The Mikado had been incredibly successful, and Mr. Bruce had heard talk of numerous nominations for awards not only from the local theater guilds, but the state ones too. The older of the cast were all gathered at the Cassa Blanka Pizza Restaurant, one of their favorite haunts, singing and dancing and laughing with each other, and reminiscing over the night's events. Since the restaurant was licensed many of the non-driving adults were ordering cocktails and various alcoholic beverages. Konrad was one. He was seated along side the youngsters, partying along with them. Shadoe finally walked in looking exhausted yet elated, and everyone cheered for him. Konrad sidled up to him and was pleased when Shadoe accepted his offer of a drink and a chat.

"I was very impressed with the performances," Konrad told him. "And I wonder why it is you do not perform yourself?"

Shadoe was happy and much more willing to talk now. He grinned and shrugged. "I'm crap at acting," he said. "But I know what I want to see and how to tell others how to do it."

"Indeed you do," Konrad purred, leaning in slightly and giving him a hot look. Shadoe just grinned and took another drink of wine. Konrad leaned down to his briefcase and pulled out Shadoe's manuscript. "I read it," he said, seeing Shadoe's interest spark and also him bite his lip. Such a full lip. Konrad thought. "I was very impressed."

"Thanks." Shadoe smiled.

"When are you getting it published?"

Shadoe shrugged. "Dunno. Depends on if anyone wants to publish it for me."

"Have you TRIED?"

Shadoe nodded. "Twice so far. Twice rejected. And that was just last month."

"I see. Tell you what, how about I put a word in with one of my friends. He's a publisher. I'm sure he would be most eager to read your work."

Shadoe's eyes shone with excitement. "REALLY?" he all but shrieked. "You'd do that for me? Thank you!"

"Of course I would. It is important to nurture talent such as yours."

"Thank you," Shadoe whispered, a blush staining his face darker. Konrad wasn't sure if it was because he was embarrassed or the alcohol was starting to get to him. Which ever it was, it looked good.

Konrad had a wicked thought. "Would you like to go elsewhere to... discuss things further?"

* * *

Konrad drove them back to his own flat, virtually dragging Shadoe up the front door steps and inside the house. Shadoe had never been drunk before and found the floating heaviness strange but fun. He giggled as Konrad pulled him close for a hug once they were in the lounge room. Shadoe thought it was the lounge room. He could hardly see anything with how the lights were so bright. Or were they off? He couldn't quite tell. Moving his head made everything go blurry.

Konrad pushed him back onto a couch and he landed heavily with a laugh. Then Konrad was kneeling at his feet to unlace his boots. Shadoe leaned back into the comfort of the couch, grinning lopsidedly down at Konrad. It felt nice to have his feet out of the boots and have Konrad massaging the soles of his feet. Shadoe moaned softly, shifting, as Konrad pressed his thumb into the soles of his feet, sending shocks directly to his groin.

"If you keep doing that," Shadoe slurred out, his back arching, "I think I might come."

Konrad grinned evilly and leaned up over Shadoe's form, faces so close Shadoe could not focus on his eyes. Oh wait. He wasn't wearing his glasses. Hmmm. Where were they? A warm large hand on his face stopped him from looking around, and he felt soft lips pressed against his. Shadoe jerked back with shock as a slick tongue slid into his mouth, but was stopped from moving away by the hands holding his face. It felt strange, like a huge slug or something, and he didn't like it much. A knee slid up between his legs, spreading them, one hand left his face and came down rubbing up against his groin. Shadoe moaned and arched into that touch while at the same time trying to push the weight against his chest off him.

"I want to make love with you," Konrad purred from above him, unzipping Shadoe's pants and sliding a hand down into the silky head of his boxer shorts.

Shadoe closed his eyes with confusion, fear gripping his belly even as he panted as he was caressed intimately. "Make love?" he asked.

"I've wanted you since I saw you." Konrad was kissing and nipping his neck now. It made Shadoe's hair stand on end and added to the shocks of pleasure.

"But..." Shadoe found it hard to gather his thoughts. "But I'm not gay." He tried again to push at Konrad's chest but his arms felt weak. "I like girls."

Konrad snorted with amusement and slid his hand under the boxers and through the silky hair to grip the hot hardness between Shadoe's legs. "I like girls too," Konrad said, licking the shell of Shadoe's ear. "But this tells me you like me as well. Even more than girls."

Shadoe blinked and frowned, trying to deny that what Konrad was doing felt good. Really good. "I'm not gay," he said pitifully.

Konrad sat up, hand still pumping but ever so slowly, a small smile making his lips twitch. "How do you know?"

"What?"

"Have you ever tried?"

"Tried?" Shadoe tried to pull away, but just shuddered with pleasure as Konrad did SOMETHING wonderful with his fingers. Then Konrad was there again, shearing breath.

"How can you know for sure," he whispered against Shadoe's lips, "if you've never tried?"

Shadoe couldn't think of how to rebut that right now. "I don't know," he said quietly, starting to quake.

"Come on."

* * *

Konrad lay Shadoe down on the center of his bed, smiling at how he was shaking. "Don't worry love, you're just nervous," he said then kissed those soft lips again. He stripped Shadoe's tops from him, dumping them on the floor, and sat back to gaze down at the beautiful form of Shadoe's chest and belly. Konrad traced his fingers down the goosebumpy skin, swirling around the soft flesh of a dusky nipple before leaning down to flick and swirl his tongue around it. Shadoe gasped at the cold air and arched further into that touch. Konrad followed his fingers with his tongue and lips all the way down Shadoe's belly, swirling said tongue around his navel, and nuzzling the skin at the top of his pants. Konrad breathed in deeply the scent of Shadoe's arousal. Shadoe lifted his hips to help Konrad pull the last layers of his clothing off, until he lay there naked and exposed and shaking.

"I want to do something special with you," Konrad said, lifting Shadoe's knees and placing them over his shoulders before leaning back down to lick at the tip of Shadoe's erection. Shadoe cried out and bucked with shock, fingers clenching the sheets. Konrad nuzzled and mouthed down Shadoe's heavy sack and gently pried the cheeks of his ass apart before licking him there.

Shadoe writhed and clenched and panted all with pleasure as Konrad pushed his tongue inside his tight channel, deeper and deeper, then sliding in and out. He moaned loudly, arching his back, completely surprised that something so perverse could be so pleasurable. A number of times he almost reached orgasm from what Konrad was doing to him, but Konrad could tell when he was close and slow down enough to take the edge away. Finally Konrad pulled back completely, licking his lips and them wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Shadoe lay gasping and aching for more. Konrad snickered and then slid his own clothes off until his was naked. Then he leaned across Shadoe, their skin sliding against each other, so he could open his bedside drawer and pull out the foil packet. Shadoe watched wide eyed as Konrad rolled the condom down over his erection then moved to press him down again. Shadoe turned his head away from the kisses Konrad tried to give him then, not wanting to taste... himself.

"You're so hot, you know?" Konrad whispered, positioning himself and slowly pushing. Shadoe grunted and turned his face against the pillows, a little wetness leaking from his eyes. "Shhh, shhh." Konrad kissed his neck and shoulders. "Push down like youčre doing a crap," he instructed. Shadoe did so and felt Konrad sliding deeper into him. "How's it feeling?"

"Okay," Shadoe replied truthfully, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

"Want me to keep going?" Konrad pressed in deeper anyway, making Shadoe arch and gasp.

"I... okay."

Konrad grinned and hoisted Shadoe's legs up higher, then began moving.

* * *

Shadoe lay awake in Konrad's bed, Konrad's arms wrapped around him and snoring loudly in his ear. The radio clock said that it was almost 6 am, and he had not had any sleep at all. He stared at the window, watching the sun rising through a crack in the curtains. What was he going to do? He couldn't stay here. He needed to go home. He shifted away from Konrad, gradually getting closer to the edge of the bed. Konrad was deeply asleep, and thankfully did not notice when Shadoe left the bed, gathering his clothes and wandering naked through the house to the toilet. His ass kind of hurt, not as much as he would have expected thought. He sat on the toilet, shivering and working his clothes back on. He wiped any tears from his eyes and cleaned himself up. He was relieved to find there was not much blood, and after reliving himself he hardly hurt anymore.

Konrad was still sleeping when Shadoe slipped from the house, totally confused as to where he was. He walked towards the sound of traffic, blanking away the memories of the night before. He hoped he saw no one he knew on his way home, and that no one would ask him about the hickeys on his neck. What should he say?

Nameless person: "Hey Shadoe, where were you last night? And where did you get those hickeys? They look nasty!"
He: (shrugging smugly) "This woman, you know, was all over me. Who was I to refuse?"
Nameless person: (snickering) "Yeah... tee hee hee!"

Shadoe sighed and kept walking, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other and getting home as quickly as possible. He sure hoped that Konrad didn't know where he lived. Just the thought made him shudder.

It took him almost an hour to find his way back to his house, and when he did arrive he almost panicked when he searched for his keys and they were in the opposite pocket than he remembered them being. With a sigh of relief he opened the door and entered, locking it behind him.

Even though he was bone tired, he stripped out of his clothes and headed straight to the shower, turning it up as hot as he possibly could.

Shadoe leaned his forehead against the tiles and groaned as the hot water streamed down his shoulders and back, between his buttocks and down his legs. He hissed a bit when the water first hit his bruises and... between his buttocks, but after a while the heat of the water burning his skin felt good. He soaped himself up and began scrubbing.

* * *

It was around lunchtime when Shadoe was startled out of his sleep by banging at the front door. At first he couldn't quite figure out what was going on and what the noise was. All that mattered was the soft pillow and the warm blankets that cocooned him. Then fear struck him as he thought perhaps it was Konrad, that he had found where he lived?! But then familiar voices that didn't belong to Konrad started to demand that he open the door, that they knew he was home. Shadoe peeled back his blankets, and pressed a hand to his eyes trying to rub away the headache that was building behind them. Cursing he found his bath robe somewhere on the floor and put it on before heading to the front door, banging his knee on something on the way.

"What," he snapped as the daylight stung his eyes. There were two people there. He could make out a blur of orange above pink and then dark, and blond blur wearing blue and black.

Vanessa giggled. "Hello to you too."

Marco looked him up and down. "What's happened to you? You look like shit."

"Thanks." Shadoe rubbed his eyes and let them in, not saying anything more.

"You hung over?" Vanessa asked him when they were in the kitchen, Marco looking through the cupboards for coffee while she put water in the kettle.

"Yeah, I think so?" Shadoe said quietly, and sank into a chair with his eyes closed.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" came Marco's voice drifting closer, until Shadoe could smell COFFEE!!! The cup felt warm and soothing in his hands, and the taste, the taste was just what he needed right now.

"I think I lost my glasses last night. Dunno where my spares are," he said after taking a long drink. "What did you two get up to?" The change in subject got them chattering about what they drank and how they danced and what they ate, who they saw doing stupid things, and how much fun they had.

"We haven't been to bed yet!" Marco's voice had this quality to it that said he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, well." Shadoe tried to sound enthusiastic but in truth he was still too tired.

"So where did you and that rich guy go last night?" Vanessa asked. Her tone said "I have dirt on you!"

"Nowhere," he lied.

"Hmmmm?" She was leaning close now, he could picture a smug expression on her face. Shadoe figured he'd throw them a partial truth.

"Alright," he sighed. "But you have to keep this to yourselves because it's not a done deal yet. Konrad read my manuscript and says he's interested in having it published for me."

"Yeah, at what price," Vanessa said sarcastically. Marco gave her a shove or something from the noise she than made. "I mean, what does he want in return? Fifty percent of the sales? What? After publishing and promoting costs that leaves very little for you."

"I... I don't know yet." But Shadoe had a sinking suspicion he did know the price for his being published.

"Have you signed anything?" Marco asked from beside him.

"No. Not yet." He took another drink. He wondered if he ever would, or if Konrad had got what he wanted and would now disappear.

"Well I think that is so cool." Marco was almost dancing around with his excitement. "I hope he stays with us. Do you have any idea how great our productions will be with REAL costumes, and the SETS, the SETS! Ahhh..."

"Yeah," Vanessa was now off in dream land as well. "No more scrounging for scraps and hand outs. Imagine, the Civic Center. No more Scouts Hall! Oooh, I think I'm in love."

You can have him, Shadoe thought bitterly.

"Don't you think that would be great?" she asked him.

"Yeah. Sorry if I don't seem enthusiastic. Late night and stuff."

* * *

The days passed. Shadoe found it strange how no one noticed anything had changed with him. He had thought that when you lose your virginity, then it would be obvious to those around you. If they cared enough to notice. If any of his friends noticed however, they made no comments. So he went on with life pretending like nothing had happened. He had thought that Konrad had packed up and gone, or at least was no longer interested in him. The thought that Konrad had used his manuscript as a means to get into his pants was a bitter one. It came with the realization that Konrad still had said manuscript.

"Probably publish it himself and say he wrote it," Shadoe said to himself as he struggled at his computer, attempting to start on a new story. "Probably has my other glasses too. Bastard." Was it hate he was feeling? Shadoe thought it must be. Just because that night was pleasurable (in fact Konrad had seemed to know exactly how to drive him wild) did not mean he wanted it again, right? Right? He growled at himself as memories came like a flood and hit him right in the groin. "Shut up shut up shut up!" He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and tried to shake the memories away. "I'm not gay! I'm NOT GAY!"

He was thankful when there was loud knocking at the door to give him an excuse to not be writing. He was shocked to open the door to find the source of his confusion standing there smiling at him. He tried to slam the door closed but Konrad caught it and forced it open with one arm. Shadoe noticed he held a package under his arm.

"Such a nice hello," Konrad

said pleasantly. "I thought you'd be happy to see me." "Why the hell should I?" Shadoe snapped. Konrad swirled his tongue around his lips in a motion that made Shadoe go white, then bright red. Konrad laughed.

"I can think of a few things. May I come in." Before Shadoe could protest he walked past him into his house. "Nice place," he commented looking around, making his way to the lounge room and made himself comfortable on the couch. Shadoe cautiously trailed after him. "You're a hard person to find," Konrad said when Shadoe was in the room, standing opposite and way from him. "It took me days to find someone who was willing to give me your address. I would have asked you myself, but, well, you weren't there to ask, were you." There seemed to be some hurt behind that. Shadoe decided he didn't care. He crossed his arms defensively and said nothing. "Imagine my surprise to wake and find you gone. No note or anything. Bad form, very bad form. But I'm willing to let that slide since it was your first time. In the future I will be very upset by such behavior."

"Future?!" Shadoe said incredulously. "What makes you think that..." He struggled to find the words to say. "That... that what happened will ever happen again?!"

Konrad climbed to his feet and approached Shadoe, while Shadoe backed away suddenly very afraid. "Because I want it to," he said pressing himself against Shadoe's body and speaking into his ear. "And I can feel that you want it too." Shadoe tried to keep Konrad's knee from between his legs, but Konrad was much stronger. Again fingers were lifting Shadoe's chin and lips were pressing against his, tongue demanding entry. Shadoe could hear his heart speeding through his ears and pushed against Konrad's chest. Konrad pulled back enough to press their for heads together. "We belong together," Konrad said. "I've been searching for you for years. Don't fight it. I know how hard it has been for your theater group to pay their bills. I can make things so much easier for you." Then he was crushing Shadoe's lips again. Shadoe knew that the theater company was in debt. Way into debt. As director it was now partially his responsibility to pay that debt. And Konrad knew this. It made him feel sick and yet... Would it be so bad to melt into these strong arms? To know he would be cared for?

Shadoe pulled back to find his arms wrapped around Konrad's waist and their bodies fitting together like two parts of one whole. He looked up into Konrad's blue eyes. "I'm scared," he said truthfully. "We hardly know each other."

"We will learn as we go." Konrad was smiling tenderly. "Please say yes."

Shadoe bit his lip for a moment. "Okay." And Konrad swooped down to capture his mouth again.