Just another day.
Friday nights were always Allen's favourite night to work. It was busy enough to make things interesting, but not so busy that things got out of control and the staff became annoyed. On Fridays business men and a hand full of women would come out to their bar, feeling they would need to reward themselves after a long week with a few drinks and the pleasure of the flesh. Fridays at the bar were laid back with everyone just looking to relax and have a good time. Not write themselves off and have a 'crazy adventure' like people were on Saturdays. They were the Friday night regulars that would come every week or sometimes just once a month, but Allen knew most of them by name if not by sight.
He always started with Ragtime on a Friday. It was good for people to walk into something cheerful. People would always smile at him and he would send them a nod from behind the piano. Most of them came for the women, others came for the cheap drinks, and a small few came just for him. There was a certain something about a piano bar that some people were draw to. They were hard to come across and even if he happened to play in what was basically a whore house, people felt nostalgic even when they had never experienced a Piano bar before, and Allen enjoyed it. Never in all his life did he believe he could get a job that involved playing the piano and talking with people. All of them loved him and it was all just a stroke of luck that he got the job.
Finishing off his latest song with a flourish, he stood up and bowed at the applauding audience. It was time for a break. Soon enough more people would be flowing in and then he would have to switch from Ragtime to something softer and more 'sensual', something that people could dance to as they picked their partners out for the night. After the 'sensual' music he would take another break, after that he would play something more up beat again. Something for the people that were just there for the drinks and the music. Something for the people who just went there because no one knew there name. The people who wanted a good time but didn't want to get caught up with silly things, like mindless sex and having to pay for it.
Standing from the piano, Allen linked his fingers and stretched his arms above his head, smiling in relief as his bones cracked. He made his way over to the bar and sat down at his seat. Every night wether he was there or not, it was his seat. He sat down and pulled the packet of cigarettes out of his pocket. He took out a cylinder and stuck it in his mouth. The moment he had the thing rested between his lips a flame appeared in front of him. With a smile he leaned into the flame and inhaled.
"Thanks, Marie," he said with a smile, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
Noise Marie, bar man and intimidating figure. He poured drinks like a pro and was there to flex muscles and glare when the customers got out of hand. It was only the staff that noticed the way he felt the edge of glasses and the way he counted his steps. The way he walked sure and steady, and how he always felt and bent the corners of bank notes. Technically he could still see, but legally he was blind. With everything on him, he was one of the best bar men out there. He could serve multiple people at a time, and he was always there to lit up a smoke. He had a six sense when it came to when one of the woman were in trouble, and at the end of it all he would tell a joke. And not just any joke, but something that could make anyone laugh no matter what had happened.
"No problem," Marie said with a smile.
He slid the lighter back into his pocket with expert ease and went about pouring Allen his drink. He slid it across the bar to him with out spilling a drop.
"What do you think tonight will be like?" Allen asked, grabbing his drink and taking a sip.
"A good night I think," he said, running his hand alone the counter until he came to the washer, "One of the men before sounded a bit off, but I'll keep an ear out for him."
He opened the washer and pulled out a steaming tray of glasses. He put each on of them away by feel and didn't slip up once.
"Here she comes," Marie said discreetly out of the corner of his mouth.
Allen had a second to understand what he meant, when a pair of arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him back.
"Allen, honey," she said.
"Hey, Lena," he said with a smile.
"It's going to be a good night yeah?" she said with a smile, tightening her grip.
"Yeah, tonights got a good feel about it," he said patting her arm, hoping she would let him go.
"It's got a good feel alright. You know why?" she purred leaning closer to his ear.
'Hear it comes.' Allen thought with a smile.
"I think tonights the night I make you a man," she whispered in his ear.
It was the same almost overnight since she had found out that Allen was a virgin. In all honest he wasn't interested in being intimate with another person, male or female. He'd tried both and he just wasn't interested. For some reason he had let slip to Lenalee and a few of the other girls that he had yet to pop the cherry. While they were all shocked that a twenty three year old male was yet to 'seal the deal', he was perfectly happy. He didn't feel the desire to share his life or body with any one else. Unfortunately since he had let slip, Lenalee had made it her life goal to get him into bed with herself or anyone else for that matter.
"Still not interested, Lena," he said with a laugh, pulling himself out of her grip.
"Allen," she said, moving around to stand in front of him, a pout on her face.
"Sorry," he said, turning away and taking a sip from his drink.
"If I'm not your type, I'm sure he will be able to manage you," she said moving from in front of him. She slung and arm around his shoulders and pulled him close, resting her cheek against his, "With the money he pulls in I'm sure he'll be able to make you happy."
When she moved she revealed one of the few male workers. He shook his head with a small laugh, and took another drag.
"No way," he said letting out a plume of smoke, "No matter what my kind is, I know for a fact that I am not his kind."
Kanda, one of the only working males at the club, with a look that could either send people running or reel them in. With the people he managed to reel in he either did something very right, or scared them senseless. Either way he managed to bring in large amounts of money, all the while taking minimal customers.
Kanda some how managed to sense their eyes on him and slowly turned to meet their gaze. He turned his head and glared at Allen.
"The fuck you looking at?" he growled.
Allen smiled, even as his eye twitched, and took another sip from his drink. Lenalee leaned on him more heavily and rested her cheek against his.
"I've been trying to figure that out myself," he said smugly, setting his glass down on the bar.
He could feel Lenalee's lips twitch up into a smirk against his cheek and then turn to press a small kiss to his cheek.
"Say that again you fucking midget," Kanda spat.
Allen's eye twitched again at the reference to his height. When he first met Kanda he would always explode and an argument would ensue. Over time though Allen learnt that the only thing Kanda had in his arsenal of insults were references to his height. So Allen learnt that if he just took the insult and smiled back at Kanda, it annoyed him more than any retort could, and that was exactly what Allen did. He smiled at him and took another puff of his cigarette before stubbing it out on the bar, his smile never leaving his face and his eye contact never wavering. Kanda stared a full two minutes before having enough and walking away with a scoff.
Allen watched the man walk away and the way that his long hair swished back and forth across his back. There were rumours around the place that Kanda would only let his hair down if someone paid him enough. Another and less viable rumour was that Kanda would only take his hair down for people he liked. Considering the mans disposition, Allen found the second rumour hard to believe. Yet as he walked away Allen had to admit that Kanda was a very attractive man, but it was always that way with Allen. He could find someone attractive, Kanda was, so was Lenalee, but he never felt drawn to someone. He was surround by overly attractive people every night, but he never felt any urges or desires, which was exactly why he was still a virgin at twenty-three.
At twenty-one he went through a stage of trying to lose his virginity. He had tried with both males and females, finding both sexes equally as attractive. He would meet people at clubs, pubs, shopping centres and theatres, and all his meetings would end up the same. He would meet with someone, they would talk, drink, eat and then eventually, make out. While pressed against a wall or lying on top of someone on a couch, the out come was always the same. He didn't feel anything. The clashing of lips, the heavy breathing and the wandering of hands never did anything for him. It would reach a point when sex was obvious, but he could never take it to that next step. He would withdraw and excuse himself, and that was it. He blamed it on his upbringing.
From a young age he was exposed to that shadier side of life by his legal guardian. How a man like Marian Cross, a womanising debt gather, was ever put in charge of a child was beyond him. The man was a drunken and irresponsible man that exposed Allen to the truths of life earlier than he was able to understand them. His childhood was littered with awkward nights and being looked after by whores and pimps while Cross himself had a good time. It was because of Cross' trips that Allen found himself with the job he had.
At sixteen Allen was dragged to the very place he now worked at. Cross had dumped him at the bar and wandered off to entertain himself. No one was there to watch him, so no one cared when he got up and walked over to the large upright piano shoved into a corner. It was just there for show and hadn't been played for years. With nothing better to do, Allen sat down at the dusty musical instrument and started to play. He was rusty form years of neglect, but there was no one in the crowd to notice his slip ups. He played every song he knew through the night and when Cross failed to return he played them over again, never realising that people were listening to him and leaving him tips.
When he finished playing everything he knew for a second time he finally stopped and looked up. He was met with a chorus of applause and a sea of coins and notes in front of him. He had greedily snatched all the money up, shoving it in his pockets before Cross had a chance to know. It was only when he had made sure every five cent coin was shoved in his pocket that he noticed that someone was leaning against the piano and looking down at him.
Her name was Cloud Nyne. Allen never asked, but he guess it was pseudo. She ran the place and she considered the scar on her face as a badge of honour. A sign that she had been there done that and came out on top at the end of it all. She offered him a job while he was in town, three nights a week, Thursday's, Friday's and Saturday's. Allen hastily accepted, even though he already had a job. He was working as a cleaner four nights a week, and the pay was minimal. Cloud offered him something a little more than he was earning. It didn't take him long to accept her offer. It was only three days a week and he didn't know when he would be moving on again, but the pay rate was higher. Also at his cleaning job he was constantly put down and accused of stealing by the people he cleaned for.
A few weeks after he accepted the job, Cross informed him that they were moving on. He didn't want to go, he refused, and in the end Cross left him behind. He couldn't be happier with the decision. Over the years he built up a reputation, and set himself up. Not to mention he ended up working six days a week and brought in enough money to live comfortably. It was the first time in his life that he had felt so grounded and happy.
"So what do you think, Allen?" Lenalee purred against his ear, shaking him from his thoughts, "You've still got a few minutes on break, but I'm sure I could get it extended."
"Lenalee," Allen said with a smile, turning so that their lips were millimetres apart, "You're brother just walked through the door," he whispered.
The last thing he saw of Lenalee was a pair of heels disappearing over the edge of the bar as she dived from sight. Her brother Komui was not in the bar, but he had been known to randomly appear in tears, and pay for Lenalee's entire night, just so she wouldn't end up with anyone else. It was a gruelling experience for Lenalee, the staff and customers. Cloud had informed staff that he was not to be let in, however occasionally he found a way in.
Allen finished his drink and stood up with a stretch.
"Need me to go on a bin run for you, Marie?" Allen asked.
"Thanks, Allen," Maire replied gratefully. It wasn't like he couldn't do it himself, it was just so much easier for Allen to do it, and Allen didn't mind at all.
He walked behind the bar and gather up all the bags before heading out the back door. There was a narrow street behind the bar that was littered with rubbish and dumpsters. Allen always considered it a very cliche' looking back alley. And because of that, what he hadn't already seen with his years of traveling with Cross, he had seen in that back alley. He'd seen drug deals, been shot at, and mugged. He'd talked with junkies and street whores, called an ambulance for a stabbing victim, and one time, saw a homeless woman give birth. He'd come across victims of most crimes and witness a few more. At his young age, he had truly seen it all.
As he carried the bags outside he believed the alley to be empty that night. When he threw the bags into the bin with a loud thump someone jumped out from behind the dumpster. He tensed slightly, preparing himself for whatever the person was after. It wasn't the first time he would have been jumped taking out the rubbish. The person who jumped out though seemed to have done it in genuine surprise. He had a phone pressed to his ear with a cigarette clenched between two fingers, in his other hand he held a small glass, filled with amber liquid. Allen recognised the man. He was fairly new to the bar, and as far as Allen could tell he hadn't as of yet stayed the night with anyone. He seemed to just come in, have a few drinks and then leave. Although Allen hadn't failed to notice how often the man's gaze feel on him. It was nice and all, but Allen really didn't need another stalker asking him how much it was for him for the night. He had enough of those, he even had one he shared with Lenalee. Bak Chan was a strange man.
Despite the man's creep vibe, Allen smiled at him and gave a polite wave. The man nodded in response and smiled himself. Turning away to walk back into the club, Allen felt the man's eyes follow him back in. He should be use to it, but it always made him uncomfortable. Back inside the bar he made his way back to the piano, wanting to distract himself by playing something simple. After all it was the simple time of night. It was when people wanted to dance slowly with only the thought of flesh on the their minds. For the few people that were there for the music and a drink, they knew their turn would come and they would wait it out.
Allen played and watching with envy as the men and woman circulated the room, eyes' darting and selecting who they were willing to pay to spend the night with. Allen was envious because he couldn't do that. He couldn't just see what he wanted and go up and take it. He knew there was something wrong with and sometimes he just wished he could dive into the pleasures of the flesh like everyone else did. He wanted it so much, he wanted to feel the hype he had been told about. He wanted the intense pleasure and feeling of resting against warm flesh. So what was wrong with him? Why couldn't he take that final step when it was presented so clearly in front of him? Why didn't his body react the way it was suppose to?
He was drawn from his thoughts when he felt and heard the thunk of a glass on the wood of his piano. He looked up with out stopping his playing and stared into a pair of unique yellow eyes. It was the man he had seen earlier outside, talking on his phone. The man smirked down at him and lifted his drink in a salute before taking a drink. Allen nodded in response looking down at the keys, a small smile on his face that he wanted to hide. The guy was a creep, that was obvious, but he couldn't help but feel happy about the attention the attractive male was giving him. He knew from previous experience that the man would most likely offer him money, thinking he was there to buy like so many others before him had. He enjoyed the feeling of being wanted, but felt the usual tug at his heart knowing that he couldn't and wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
So he ignored the attractive man as much as he could over the next two hours of playing. He couldn't help glancing up every now and then though, just to see if the man was still watching, and he was. It seemed as though the man never looked away, and while Allen knew he should have found it creepy, he was utterly flattered. While most people would have walked away by now and found someone else, the man had stayed. He hadn't walked off to ask any of the other numerous men or women about their time. The man was dead set on Allen and Allen felt a flutter of hope, the hope that maybe this was his chance.
When his session ended and the bar was emptied because most people had gone up to the rooms, Allen stood and stretched again. Totally ignoring the man that had been resting against his piano for the last two hours, he made his way over to the bar and sat down at his seat once again. Looking around he saw that Lenalee was gone, which wasn't a big shock, she was a popular choice, but Kanda was gone too. Allen found himself feeling sorry for whichever male or female had bought him for the night. They were in for a hell of a night, or a very good night, people paid a lot for him for a reason.
He tried to ignore all these thoughts and the attractive man that had watched him as he got himself comfortable. As soon as he sat down his usual drink was set down in front of him.
"Thanks, Marie," he mumbled, feeling somewhat down.
He took a small sip and set the drink down, pulling his packet of cigarettes out of his pocket. He went to pull one out and Marie got his lighter out in preparation. Pulling a cylinder out and resting it to his lips, he leaned forward to the flame Marie offered. Millimetres from the flame he felt a hand rest on his shoulder and with it came a small tingle, a sense of excitement that was rare to him. He pulled away from the flame and looked up at the person who had caused the pleasant shock through his body. His eyes met the man from earlier, that same tall and exceedingly attractive man.
"Yes?" Allen asked simple, hiding his excitement expertly.
"I was wondering if you would join me for a smoke… outside?"
Allen and everyone else within ear shot could easily hear the double entendre in his sentence.
"Allen?" Marie said in a worried and warning voice.
He had a moment to decide, a second really. He didn't know wether to shrug it off as one of many offers, or take the man up. He was the only person in a long time to make him feel that little bit of excitement. That taste of something else that had eluded him half his life. The fact that he was a bit of a creeper didn't even bother him that much, he knew with a single wrong word or sound, Marie would be there with a metal bat.
While his mind was still throwing around the pros and cons, his mouth spoke.
"Sure," he said, shocked at his own mouth.
"See you outside then?" the man said, sliding his hand off of Allen's shoulder, running his hand down his arm at the same time. He felt it again then, that small shock of excitement.
"Allen, are you sure what you're doing?" Marie asked.
"I know I'm trying," Allen said with a smile, grabbing his drinking and heading out back.
He walked out into the evening air, finding the brush of the air refreshing against his face. He look a sip from his drink and looked around him trying to locate the man.
"Hey," the man's now familiar voice said into his ear.
Allen turned his head with a smirk finding the man mere inches from his face. He pulled away slightly not letting the man think he could get so close so quickly.
"So, your name is Allen then?" the man said, pulling a cigarette from behind his ear.
He stuck the thing in his mouth and lit it up with a zippo lighter which he pulled easily from his shirt pocket. Once he was done he offered the flame out to Allen who leaned forward and inhaled, lighting his death stick and secretly rejoicing in the smoke that flowed down his throat.
"Yep," he said, blowing out a plume of smoke, "And your name is?"
"Tyki," he said offering a hand, "Tyki Mikk."
"Allen Walker," Allen said taking the hand and introducing himself properly.
"Nice to meet you, Allen Walker, piano player in a whore house."
"And what might I call you?" Allen asked, sucking deeply on his cigarette.
"Tyki Mikk, business and entrepreneur."
"Entrepreneur," Allen repeated in a slightly mocking tone, "So what brings you to this place?"
"I'm trying to find something different."
"And did you find it?"
"I certainly did," he said with a smirk, turning towards Allen.
He looked down at the smaller man, the smirk never leaving his face as he slowly moved closer and closer, pushing the smaller to the wall.
"I found something truly exciting," he said leaning in.
Allen stopped him by bringing his cigarette to his lips. Tyki pulled away because if he had continued he would have received burnt lips.
"Not ready?" Tyki asked.
"Let me finish my smoke," Allen replied.
He knew his act was flawless, Tyki had no clue. Yet while he smiled and toyed with the man, his heart thudded painfully in his chest. He was nervous as to what was to come next. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what to say or how to act. He didn't know if he was willing to go all the way with this man, and if he did, did that mean he would finally loose his virginity, in an alley.
Allen took his time smoking his cigarette, not inhaling as much as he usually did. He was nervous and didn't know what would happen when he finished.
"That's enough," Tyki said plucking the half finished cigarette from his mouth.
"But-" Allen started, being cut off by moist lips.
He was startled, he didn't know what to think or do. Sure he had kissed someone before, but the problem was always the same. He just didn't know what to do, and since he was feeling nothing he couldn't just let his body take over. Not knowing what else to do he tried moving his lips against the others. It was sloppy he could tell, but he continued anyway, thinking he could just write it off as inexperience with a male. He moved against the other mouth and rolled his tongue against another tongue. He had been there before, he had kissed and rubbed his tongue against someone else, but it was different. The whole time he felt a tiny but persistent thrill. Something that wasn't usually there. So he decided to go along with it.
He gave the man complete control and let him do what he wanted. He let the man intrude his mouth and let him rub his hands over his body. Allen found himself gasping as minute amounts of pleasure entered his body. The whole thing was going further than he had ever been before. In previous years and in other make out sessions he had never felt so much. Tyki was groaning and rubbing himself against him, something he found pleasing and enjoyable. He felt a pleasure he had never felt before and a stirring he had never experienced before. It hurt, but in a good way.
Yet all of the pleasure ended when he felt Tyki unbutton his trousers and reach his hand inside. He was pressed harder against the alley wall and a hand grasped him tightly. He winced in pain and tried to stifle a gasp of pain as Tyki began to pull and tug at him in a way that he was sure would be pleasurable to anyone else. The pull on his manhood became harder and he could tell Tyki was becoming frustrated by the sound of his hissing.
"Come on," he was hissing, pulling harder.
"Stop it," Allen mumbled, pushing his hands against his chest.
"Just a little while longer," Tyki whispered.
"Stop," Allen said louder, successfully pushing the man away.
"What?!" Tyki snapped.
"I'm sorry," Allen whispered, pushing the man further away before grabbing his trousers and pulling them back up.
"What the hell?" Tyki yelled, "I thought you were into this?!"
"I'm sorry," Allen whispered again, "I'm sorry, but I just can't feel anything."
There was a moment of silence between them that was filled with the sounds of cars racing by in the street ahead and the distant sounds of the bar.
"What do you mean?" Tyki asked softly.
"I don't feel anything… ever," Allen replied.
"Ever? How can you not feel anything? I was pulling at your dick in a way that would make a hooker moan."
"I'm sorry, but there is something wrong with me. I want to do it… do this, but I just don't feel anything."
"Look man, are you gay or aren't you?"
"I dunno," Allen replied softly.
"How can you not know?" Tyki replied obviously frustrated.
"I just don't!" Allen snapped, he didn't like having to explain his problem, "I just don't feel anything when it comes to sexual situations. I want to, but I don't."
"So why did you come out with me then?" Tyki snapped back quickly.
"I don't know, I thought… I thought I felt something. So I wanted to try."
"Shit," Tyki grumbled, leaning back against the concrete wall and lighting a smoke.
Allen played with the edge of his shirt, pulling on a loose thread. He pulled a total of three threads out before sighing and pulling his own packet of cigarettes from his pocket.
"Got a light?" he asked, holding the smoke to his lips.
"Sure," Tyki grumbled, pulling the lighter from his pocket.
"i'm sorry again," Allen mumbled feeling guilty.
"What would you have done if I had just kept going?" Tyki asked suddenly.
Allen thought about it for awhile whilst smoking away, before answering.
"I probable would have let you."
"You would have let me!" Tyki yelled in disbelief, "Even if you weren't into it?"
"Even if I wasn't, this is something I need to do… You know, honestly, I'm a virgin,"
"A virgin!" Tyki yelled.
"Yep, and I would have let you keep going, because I don't want to be a virgin, I want to know what it feels like, I want to feel it."
"If you're not into it, it wont feel good," Tyki said quickly.
"I thought I should at least try," Allen whispered.
Unable to speak anymore they stood next to each other, smoking slowly. The sounds of the night filled both of their ears yet both of them blocked it out both lost in their own thoughts.
"You know I'm all about the pleasure," Tyki said suddenly, dropping his butt to the floor and stepping on it, "That's why I come to these places, but it's nothing if my partner doesn't feel pleasure. There's nothing worse than a partner yelling 'Oh yes, Oh yes' and not really felling anything…"
Allen let the sentence hang, knowing he was suppose to say something, but totally mute to the whole thing.
"What I'm trying to get across is, I would never have kept going… not ever. I know I have an appearance about me, I know I'm some where between sexy and creepy, but I want you to know I would never force you, or anyone."
"Um… Thank you?" Allen said, not knowing what else to say.
"You're welcome,"Tyki said with a small smile.
He flicked his finished cigarette away and turned back to Allen.
"I'm glad I met you, despite everything," he said, pressing his lips softly against Allen.
With the press of those lips Allen felt it again, the small feeling of something. It wasn't big, but it was something.
Tyki pulled away and began to walk down the alleyway, away from Allen and the bar.
"Hey Tyki!" Allen yelled after him.
"Yeah?" Tyki said spinning on his heel.
"If I want to try again… would you be willing?" he asked shyly.
Tyki took a moment to run is eyes over the male that had caught his attention so. Even if things hadn't worked out as he expected, he still found himself attracted to the other talented male.
"I'll be back next Friday," he said turning away before he could hear the others response.
"I look forward to it," Allen said to himself, turning away himself.
He headed back into the bar and finally drank the drink he had held the whole time. He set the empty glass on the bar on the way in, ignoring Marie's questions as he went. He felt the need to play and provide for those people who were just there for a good time.
Sitting back down behind the piano he cracked his knuckles and rested his fingers on the keys.
"Hey there," he said into the microphone in front of him that he had ignored most of the night, "Now that everyone else is settled, what's say we have a good time?"
He was met with a small chorus of approval from the few people there that just wanted music. He pleased them all by beginning to play the classic rock and roll beginning of 'Great Balls of Fire' by Jerry Lee Louis. It was a good night and even though it was moving passed midnight Allen found himself happy where he was. He had a crowd and despite the time, the night was still young.
At the back of the room, he could have sworn he saw a tanned and smirking face.
And he played.
…
So, I started this some time back In early September, and honestly it's just been bugging me. I"m still on Hiatus but I just wanted to finish this. That's why it may seem hurried at the end. Forgive me for posting something shitty.
Technically this is a one shot, but I'm going to leave it as 'in progress', just because I feel that I could ad more on to it in various ways.
To those who read my other stories… sorry no update any time soon.
this here is just myself forcing myself to write.
I didn't realise it at the time, but this is heavily inspired by Billy Joel.