Hello there. "Save Me" is my first attempt at a fanfic. Goodness knows I've read enough in my life, it's about time to a least try to create my own. Any who, this fic is rated as Mature due to language and forthcoming sexual content. This fic will contain yaoi. If that bothers you, then I don't suggest you read "Save Me". I hope those of you who stumble across this first chapter enjoy it. Feel free to comment, or not for that matter. Despise it? Great! Adore it? Even better! Let me know how you feel, if you so wish.
Disclaimer: I am not the creator of Vampire Knight.
Chapter 1:
The street where they all waited created just the atmosphere that he craved: vile, low, and despicable. The clammy air made breathing uncomfortable, but breathing wasn't the top priority of the young men who lined against the dirty alley wall, waiting for their next cash-filled pocket. Really, they weren't even men. Their bodies all lithe and well toned, the perfect images of the youth's that they are. Their faces hardened from the ruthless streets that they relied on. Yet, if someone were to look close enough, to look into the eyes of these faux-men, they would see that their eyes were those of boy's.
Nobody ever takes the time to look into the eyes of the boy's that have lost their way. Those who did happen to look upon these working youths' aren't concerned with their eyes or the hopeless look that lurks just beneath the surface.
Tonight, a silver-haired boy with a fierce violet gaze stood with the rest of the working young men. Dark circles curved like half moons under his silver eyelashes. His high-cheek bones looked razor sharp under his pale, nearly translucent skin, a sign of undernourishment and self-neglect. A slightly sloped nose ended in perfect distance from a pair of sculpted lips. This boy attracted appreciative looks from both genders. His exotic looks made him stand out amongst the crowd. Tonight, Zero Kiriyu lined the alley walls like the others, there for the same reason that they were. They all knew that because of this beautiful boy, business would not come their way if he were seen before them. Irritated looks made their way towards the reticent boy who leaned his shoulder casually against the grimy wall. He seemed totally unaware of the other boys who surrounded him, murmuring unflattering comments about him. He couldn't care less. Zero didn't really care about people in general. You can only be jaded so many times.
The cacophony of human chatter and businesses running nonstop filled the night air. Light from the street lamps filtered into the narrow outlet that the boys stood in. Located in the poorer part of town, the people who roamed up and down the busy street were not unfamiliar with the cruelties the world can throw at people. The guarded looks and slight hunch of the shoulders that most of the inhabitants carried told the story of hardships that never seemed to fade away; always, it seemed, an obstacle blocked the path of success for these lackluster men and women. Zero Kiriyu could be lumped with this unfortunate group. As the old saying goes, life is a bitch, and the violet-eyed boy seemed to inherit the meanest of them all.
The young men waited. Some, fed up with the unusual lull in business, pushed off from the crumbling walls and stalked off down the alleyway, where anything but happiness awaited them. Kiriyu stuck it out. Unlike most of the childlike individuals around him, years of strife had granted him the priceless gift of patience. So wait he did.
He could feel another's eyes roam his figure, like a lioness eyeing her prime catch. Trying, and barely succeeding, Zero smothered a grimace and a snarl. His inner turmoil tended to thwart his outward nonchalance at times. Questions scraped against the gears within his mind. What's there left of me to save? Why the guilt and remorse? Will life ever be worth it? Who will make the hurt go away?
"You working?" Zero struggled not to gag as the stale breath drifted over his skin. The balding, paunch of a middle-aged man wasted no time. Good. That's the way he liked it. Like a business deal. No emotions, no beating around the bush, get in get out, move on.
"Yeah, you interested?" Zero replied moodily. Normally, he knew better than to be anything but sulky towards potential buyers but he could tell that a mere cold-shoulder wouldn't scare this one away. Zero raised his head and looked into the eyes of the next tally on his already lengthy list. The man must have come straight from work. Or at least straight from the nearest bar that he stopped at straight after work. A gaze of empty lust that could only be fueled by strong alcohol met Zero's sight when he looked into the eyes of the man standing before him. After a while, Zero could almost tell the life story of the men who decided to claim him for a short period of time. This man, probably born to homophobic parents, locked away his true nature within the darkness of his heart. His wife and two kids at home thought he was meeting with potential clients for a business dinner. They didn't expect him to be home until late that night. Well, this is the story Zero created for this lump of a man, anyway.
"How much?" Lump man asked.
"What do you want?" Zero replied numbly.
"Everything you have to offer. You're too pretty to pass up," Lump said with a slimy leer. Zero swallowed the bile that shot up his knowing throat.
"You've gotta pay up front. If you wanna fuck, hand over eighty bucks," the silver-haired boy choked out.
"That's an awful lot for a filthy whore. Honestly, you think people will be willing to pay that for a short, meaningless romp?"
"Worked for me so far," Zero's nonchalance back in place as if it had never left. He shifted his body ever so slightly, so his slim hips pushed out a little more than normal and his back arched away from the alley wall. Lump raked his watery eyes up and down Zero's body. Zero knew he wouldn't walk away. The man mumbled something that sounded a little like "fuckin' highway robbery" as he reached into his back pocket and retrieved his dingy, black leather wallet. He pulled out a few bills and thrusted them towards Kiriyu, refusing to look Zero in the face. Just as well, Zero thought.
He counted the cash, making sure Lump wasn't trying to pull a fast one. "Let's go then, honey," Zero said with acid dripping off each word. He winked at Lump and saw a bead of sweat roll down the man's face, riveting its way towards the man's fat chin.
Zero turned sharply from Lump and rounded the corner of the alley, heading across the street where a sign for a run-down hotel informed people that rooms were available. Zero could hear the man noisily following not too far behind him. With that, Zero grabbed the handle of the hotel entrance while trying to implant a happy memory in his mind, yet failing miserably.