Taming a Teenage Wolf

Chapter One

The Deal

The second hand smoke filled the boy's lungs. He coughed quietly but made no protests. Apart from the dying bulb of the corner lamp, the red glow of the cigarette was the only source of light in the dank basement office. Yamato – Matt – Ishida watched as the older man raised his addiction to his lips and inhaled: one, long breath; the cigarette end flaring and wildly illuminating his face.

It wasn't a bad looking face. It was mature, more mature than it ought to have looked, no doubt, but handsome nonetheless. The man had dark brown hair with matching eyes which were continuously examining Matt's slender form as if searching for something. The man removed the cigarette from his mouth – exhaling profuse smelling smoke into Matt's face – and, with a defined flick of his head, his dark bangs came away from his eyes.

"So you think you have what it takes to be a rock star?" the man said, now grinning. This was what Matt had been waiting for: his opportunity to sell himself to one of the biggest local record producers: Shuya Nagato. He opened his mouth to recite his well-rehearsed speech about how ready his band, The Teenage Wolves, were - only to be silenced by a skinny, white finger on his lips. "I'll do the talking." Nagato's voice was demanding but serious...and serious was definitely good.

Almost as soon as the finger had touched him, it had retreated and its owner had vacated his seat, crushing his cigarette into the ash-tray on the desk between them as he arose. He stepped away from the table and walked around Matt in a circular motion, inspecting him from every angle. The boy stood there nervously, his fingers twitching slightly by his sides but he held his stance. Nagato was impressed but it would take a lot more than determination to sway the producer.

The light in the corner flickered as he laid his hands on the teenager, thin and spidery, they crept up the blond boy's sides and slinked around to rest on his chest. From his position, behind Matt, Nagato leaned down, pressing his chest into the boy's back as he whispered in his ear: "What are you willing to do to get signed?"

Matt's eyes widened as he heard the obvious proposition. He was sweating now. The producer's arms were around him, his pale hands gently stroking his chest and making the boy's breath hitch. He hadn't been prepared for this. Nagato smirked to himself as he sensed Matt's hesitance and, in an instant, he had withdrawn from the boy and was marching him to the door. "Come back when you're ready to provide, kid."

In what seemed like no time at all, Matt found himself facing a closed door. He'd blown their chance to make it. He'd screwed everything up, not only for himself, but for the rest of the band. He was such a coward. He let out a wail of frustration before turning and ascending the stairs to the street above him. Next time, he thought angrily to himself.

"So what happened with that guy?" Tai asked throwing himself onto Matt's bed, attentively watching the blond boy on the floor who was absent-mindedly strumming his guitar. "Natagawa? The music guy! Did you get signed?"

"That's Nagato, Tai," Matt corrected his best friend, glaring up at him slightly. "And it was a disaster."

"Why what happened? Didn't he like your songs?" Tai was shocked, Matt had an amazing voice and was one of the best guitarists Tai knew. Anyone who couldn't see that kind of talent was blind for sure...or deaf to be more accurate.

"What does it matter," Matt yelled, "I screwed it up." Matt's outburst made the room fall silent. Tai felt the urge to yell back but past experiences told him that doing so would just lead to an even bigger argument so Tai applied a well developed technique: he said nothing.

When Tai didn't retaliate, Matt realised that he was being too harsh. His fingers stopped strumming and he looked up at his friend, who was sprawled across the bed, looking down at him – concern evident on his face. Matt sighed. "I feel like I let everyone down," he said, biting his lower lip as his eyes began to water and tears threatened to escape. "He didn't even want to hear my songs". He looked away from Tai as the water works started, feeling weak – why did he always cry in front of Tai? The brunette had some uncanny ability to make him open up - especially when he didn't want to.

Tai understood what Matt was feeling and got up off the bed. He walked over to Matt and dropped down onto his knees beside him. "It's okay," he said, putting a hand on the blond's shoulder, "you haven't let anyone down...unless you've given up." Matt looked into his eyes and chuckled a quiet "thank you". He was lucky, at least, to have friends like Tai.

Tai was right and Matt knew it. He couldn't give up so easily...no matter what the costs. This was the band's big break and he didn't know if they'd ever get another opportunity like this one. That's how the boy had found himself standing at the top of the stairs leading down to the familiar basement-office. It was dark out already and it was windy; he pulled down the sleeves of his sweater with a shiver before descending the stone steps.

The rusting door looked ominous in the moonlight but Matt would not turn back: he was stronger than that, he'd go through with this. After a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and rapped on the door three times. There was no immediate response. He hadn't considered the possibility that Nagato would not be in his office. It seemed obvious now, that the man had probably gone home for the evening. Matt mentally kicked himself before turning and beginning up the steps with a huff.

He was halfway up when he heard a loud creak behind him. Upon turning, he saw – with luck – that the metal door was now lying ajar. His heart rate quickened as he sped back to the filthy welcome mat and slowly swung the door forward. Stepping beyond the threshold, Matt was not surprised to find the room in darkness: the small red flare of a recently lit cigarette floated in the middle of the room.

As his eyes adjusted to the room's lack of light he could fully make out the half-naked figure of Shuya Nagato, his bare chest glowing red as he sucked on his cigarette. "So," he began in his deep, serious voice, exhaling a cloud of grey smoke, "you've re-considered my offer, then?" Matt said nothing but nodded once in Nagato's direction. The man smirked before turning and walking away, beckoning Matt to follow him into the back room to 'seal the deal'.