A/N: I have not written in a long time, which sucks, but my last exam of the year is tomorrow and it will be a piece of cake. So I managed to get this done and the next chapter of More Special Occasions will be done by Thursday. Varied between T and M for this fic - T for the moment but might be upgraded later.
They lay together, their bodies entwined, the covers kicked away in the heat of passion and the summer night. The older boy had fallen asleep, his golden curls soaked with sweat, his pale skin burning to the touch. No wonder they called him Apollo at school, a burning heat beneath the icy exterior.
Marius settled beside him, soon sliding into sleep. He knew he didn't have a hope in hell with a boy like that, not normally. He'd been bitter, upset, and eager to vent his frustration. He'd noticed the looks Marius had given him, and shocked the boy when he'd invited him back to their apartment and kissed him. It was what he wanted, no doubt, but he'd never thought it could happen. He knew others like him existed, but a boy as gorgeous as him...
When he woke in the morning, the blonde - damn, he didn't even know the boy's name - was in the kitchen, sat with a cup of coffee. He was writing, working on something, his delicate fingers stained with ink. His shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and Marius noticed with some alarm the ring of bruises on his wrist as if someone had grabbed him too hard. The blonde's eyes flicked up for a moment, and he noticed where Marius was looking. "A slightly overzealous friend and skin that bruises at the slightest force. Nothing to worry about."
Was this the same boy he'd bedded last night? He thought of the blonde clinging to him, calling oaths to any deity imaginable, touching, tasting loving. He was not this, cold and formal. Was he really that embarrassed? Perhaps he was still coming to terms with himself. Either way, Marius decided that the best thing to do would be leave.
Three weeks later, the pretty blonde was far from Marius's mind. Gabriel Courfeyrac had finally convinced him to meet some of his friends. Now he was in the noisy room at the back of a cafe, surrounded by the strangest combination of people he'd ever met. Gabriel was fidgeting in his seat, apparently still waiting for something. "What's wrong?"
"Valentin's not here yet."
"Valentin?"
"Uh-huh. Valentin Enjolras." The sole heir to the largest estate in the south of France. Marius's grandfather mentioned the family on occasion, but rarely spoke of their son. He was somewhat of an enigma to the gossiping upper classes, a mixture of dignified maturity and wild passion. Clearly Gabriel wanted Marius to meet him.
He was starting to get bored of waiting when the door opened. His jaw dropped. It was Apollo, the beautiful blonde. He met Marius's eyes for a moment, clearly recognising him, before dropping into a seat beside Gabriel. He pulled off his jacket, loosening his cravat. "Afternoon."
"Valentin, this is Marius Pontmercy. Marius, Valentin Enjolras."
"We met briefly a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to find out your name." Valentin was cool and calm, but Marius could feel his heart pounding. This was impossible. This boy was handsome, wealthy, intelligent, flawless. What had led him to pick up the first boy that looked at him? And how was he so able to pretend nothing had happened.
The evening passed. Valentin seemed settled in his corner, the other side of the room, showing no signs of wanting to leave while the others drifted off in groups of two or three. Gabriel left with a pair of men who were planning on finding some young women to occupy their night. Marius decided, with nothing better to do, to wait until he was alone with Valentin. He sat in the corner, working on his coursework, accompanied by one of his friends - Julien, his name was, Julien Combeferre. He was trying to convince Valentin to go home and sleep.
"For crying out loud, Julien, I'm fine. I'm not a child."
"I think you need to rest."
"I need to work. If my mind is occupied, I'm happy. I can make my own way home."
"I don't like leaving you alone."
"Just go home. I'll see you tomorrow." Reluctantly, Julien left. Finally, they were alone. Valentin didn't glace up, taking a sip from his wineglass. He'd had the same glass all night, Marius realised, barely drinking anything. Finally, cautiously, Marius got up and started to walk towards him.
"Hello again," he said simply, still not looking at him. Marius froze, before sinking into a seat opposite him. "I think we're both agreed it would be easier if we never had to meet again."
Marius remained silent, which seemed to amuse the blonde. "You're awfully quiet. You seemed a lot less shy last time we saw one another. You know Gabriel is very adept at reading people. He'll work out exactly why you're so reluctant to talk to me. If anything, I should be ignoring you."
"You..." Was he serious? Marius had practically bedded a prince. What did Valentin have to be shy about? For a moment, Valentin looked a little melancholy, but it soon passed, and he regained that marble composure.
"I was in an emotional pit three weeks ago, so I went looking for comfort. That's why I took you home. And you left in the morning without a single word to me."
"What was I supposed to do? People like you..." Valentin tensed. That was clearly a phrase he'd heard far too many times, in the wrong context. It was always a danger for a deviant. What they did may be legal, but people still looked at them with disgust. Marius took a breath, and continued.
"You know they call you Apollo at school. You're gorgeous, you're smart and talented, you've got more money tha most people could ever imagine. People like you don't end up with people like me. I thought you'd be ashamed of stooping to my level, and I decided to spare you the embarrassment."
"You're right, I wouldn't normally go to bed so quickly with you. Normally, I've got more sense than to throw myself at anyone when I've never met them before. But I wasn't embarrassed. You shouldn't think so lowly of yourself, or so highly of me. I'm nothing special."
"If you say so." Marius dropped his gaze. God, this was awkward. Undeniably, he was still attracted to the blonde, but he didn't want to be. He wished he could throw his affections aside, see him as just a friend of a friend. That was never going to happen, he knew it. He'd have to see him all the time, he'd never stop noticing him in classes or at the cafe. A gentle hand tilted his chin upwards, and he reluctantly met Valentin's eyes.
"You're more important than you think."
"So are you."
"Then maybe we're perfectly matched." Without another word, Valentin leant forward and kissed him. Marius froze, unsure of how to react. Valentin pulled back, realising that Marius wasn't reacting. He flamed red - he even managed to blush attractively - running a hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He stood up, gathering up his books, picking up his jacket. Marius panicked. Walking out had been the only option he could think of for a pair of strangers, but not here. Now, trying to ignore him would be awkward, together in the same social circles, with the apparently perceptive Gabriel. It couldn't hurt them.
Tentatively, he leant forward and returned the kiss. "My place or yours?"
The following morning, Marius woke in an unfamiliar bed. It was certainly not his, but nor was it the bed he had shared with Valentin almost a month ago. Silken sheets caressed his skin, and he turned over to find Valentin still asleep beside him. The bed was far more comfortable than his cot at the Gorbeau tenement, his companion more agreeable than flies and rats that shared his room. Valentin confused him, Marius admitted. He was beautiful an charming, but a complete mystery. Marius knew nothing about him. He looked about fifteen, but must be older. He had this luxurious apartment and a sparse, rundown place the other side of town.
"I don't understand you," he said softly, admiring the blonde.
"You probably never will," Valentin mumbled softly, blinking sleepily at Marius. He was only half-awake, his arm draped across Marius's waist. Pushing the enigma to the back of his mind, Marius settled into his semi-conscious embrace.
