(AN: NO, I do NOT own any of the characters. The only thing that I own here is the idea. I don't even own Old Town or anything in it…I only wish that I did..*sniffles* For Ed's outfit and the dance he is performing, just click the link that is provided and it will show you all you need to know XD. I did modify the outfit, but you'll see that. This story will be told from two points of view and like it is the characters themselves telling the story.)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Ed~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I am lost, alone, and nervous. King Bradley has sent me here on a mission, and sadly I couldn't argue with him. So now here I stand, alone in Old Town. The girls and their johns stare at me, a few of the men even whistle at me. I just keep moving, trying to stay in the glow of the sparse street lights. Why in the hell did I take this job? To find a killer that likes to torment and rape his victims before he kills them as they scream. Even with all that information, I'm still here to try to get a job and play bait. I must be out of my mind.

I pause as I spot a bar on the end of the street. Kitty's. I heave a sigh and walk up to the door. Pushing it open, I step into a dimly lit bar where the patrons are entranced by the girl's on stage. Each one has less clothing on then the girl next to her, and I feel bile rise in my throat. I have never liked women, it's always been men that make my blood pound, well one man. But he's untouchable. Like the moon in the night sky or a Greek God. I want him so bad it makes my teeth ache, and that's not all that aches some nights.

I give myself a shake and stop the train of thought before I have to leave the bar and look for a lonely room. A bar maid makes her way over to me, a pair of thong panties, knee-high socks, and a lacy bra are all she wears. I feel a gag in the back of my throat. When she reaches me, I see shadows have painted themselves around both of her haunted green eyes. Her smile is slightly weak as she opens her mouth to speak. "What can I do for you Sugar?" Her voice is hoarse, and I resist the urge to fight the shadows in those haunted eyes.

"I'm here to find a job." I respond. Her eyes widen.

"Sugar, you're not exactly material for me." She says, looking me up and down. I feel her take in my looks. "What are you, sixteen?" She asks. I feel a twitch in my left eye.

"I'm eighteen." I feel my age fall from my lips like a stone. She grins at me, a playful air beginning to cover her like a blanket.

"Well Sugar, if it's work your looking for, you just might find it. But one question before I even think about taking you over to Valkyri." She tells me. I look her dead in the eye.

"Ask me."

"How pure are you Sugar? Ever since you came in here, your eyes have been glued to the floor or the other patrons. Or me. So tell the truth. If you lie to me, then you'll lie to Valkyri and she won't like that. We kill liars down here Sugar." Her tone is deathly and I feel my skin crawl along my spine.

I take a deep breath and look her dead in the eyes. "I've never even been kissed. But that's not why I'm looking away. I'm gay." I let the words tumble past my lips before I try to contain them. I've never told anyone, not even Al.

She grins at me and reaches out to take my right arm. Before I can even pull away her fingers close around my right arm. Her eyes widen and she pauses.

"Sugar, what's wrong with your arm?" Her eyes are narrowing and I know better than to hide it. I need this job, I need to get it, catch the killer and get the hell home.

"Its auto-mail." She just sighs and shakes her head.

"Come on then." I follow her to the back of the bar, trying not to touch anyone, although the men leer at me and one or two try to make a grab for me. I manage to dodge them and keep close behind my bar maid. They don't really scare me, but their looks make me want to shudder. I can't even begin to imagine how the girls work with them. I do however spot a few respectable men, more than likely here when they should be at home with their children.

We reach a shadowed door and I watch in slight fascination as she knocks a few times on it. It's opened a crack and a girl dressed as an odd, skimpy combination of leather, fishnet stockings and metal studs. I watch on as the bar maid and the girl converse in whispers before she lets us in. It's like stepping into a dark lion's den.

A tall woman dressed in a leather corset and skirt stares at me from behind a dank looking desk. Her eyes are dark, deep, and I'm reminded of the love that I harbor for a certain man. I push aside the ache and stand at attention in front of her desk. She rises and waves the bar maid out. I'm alone with just her and her little guard dog.

"What do you want? Not many men dare to come in here. I do believe that the only ones who have come in here leave without a trace." Her voice is cold and dripping with sarcasm. The guard dog giggles slightly from the door. I remain motionless and stare her in the eye.

"I need a job." The laugh that comes next was not what I was expecting. It's as heartless as her voice, and snow storms come to mind.

"Are you just a manly looking woman? Or are you really a male? Granted, you are rather pretty for a boy." She stands in front of me and lifts my chin up. "How old are you boy?"

"I'm eighteen, just turned last week." The woman nods.

"You're awful young then to be here are you not?" The question is a double edged sword.

"I have seen younger here, however I have not seen any men at all." I swallow. She laughs, a deep sound in her throat.

"That is correct, there are no men here. This is a sanctuary for women who have no other choice. They seek out this place to call home when the pimps, rapings, beatings, and drugs become too much for them. No men are allowed here unless they are here to buy the company of one of my girls. It also allows them to be free. Now why do you think I would break that peace for you? A mere boy among us. What reason are you really here? And you better choose the right answer or you will not make it out alive." She speaks in a quiet voice, but it's razor sharp.

Swallowing, I take my life into my own hands once again. I know I'm not to speak of the mission, for I know that the military has no rule here. But if I lie, she will know and I will never get to see him again, or tell him how I feel. Putting my pride aside, feeling my heart begin to race, and my breath catch I let them know. "I was sent here by King Bradley. Not to try to over throw you, but as protection. Bodies of a few of your girls have made their way in to Central City. The King has sent me here to find the killer and stop him. But I can't do it alone. I thought that if I asked you for a job, he will show himself in due time."

She lets out a mirthless laugh. "Is that all? Do you honestly think that we couldn't handle something like this on our own? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you here and now for simply being a military puppet." I gag on the air I breath as the guard dog behind me moves closer to me and I hear the cocking of a gun.

"I just want to help you!" The words burst from my mouth as I feel the icy barrel press against my skull. The barrel is pressed harder to the back of my head, forcing me to my knees. The woman stands above me.

"We don't need help. Try again." Thoughts race through my head, and all that I manage to gasp out is a simple sentence.

"I'm sorry." The words are whispered as I shut my eyes, saying a silent farewell to all those I left behind. The farewell doesn't last long as I'm yanked back to my feet by my ponytail.

"You've got guts boy. I like it. I will let you stay and work here, but first things first. You will do nothing more than dance. You are simply here to be gazed upon and make the men want my girls more. Secondly, answer me this: how pure are you? If I do finally decide to sell you, I want to know how much I should make off of you." Her voice has lost its edge as she makes her way back behind her desk.

"Pure. As white as fresh fallen snow on a cold winters night. I've never even been kissed." I manage to let the answer fall past my lips as my heart tries to remember how to beat.

The guard dog behind me moves back to her place by the door with a snicker. The woman's eyes widen and she begins to laugh. It's a terrifying sound and chills me to my bones."Not even a kiss?! Well well well…you are a very rare, very precious gem indeed. I shall name my price when the time comes now then, what is your name?" Her tone is all business but I can tell she is getting rather tired of talking to me and wants me gone.

"My name is Edward."

"Not any more boy. From now on while you are here, you are simply to be called by a stage name. You are to be…Dallas. Now then, Molly will get you your new outfit. I expect to hear nothing but good things about your. Also, one more thing, no outside contact. You are here under my control now until your job is done. You do not need to let anyone know. Now leave." She gestures me out the door.

Molly, the guard dog, yanks me out by the back of my coat. My head is spinning and I'm dizzy from the encounter I just had. It takes only a second for the rules to set in. Al..how can I tell him?! He thinks that I'm going to call him tomorrow! I pass by the bar maid and I see the shock written all over her face. Clearly, she wasn't expecting to see me alive again. I am hauled off to the left of the stage where a girl in little more than a few scraps of lace is performing on a pole. I gag instinctively and turn my head.

Eyes made of pure blue ice meet mine and it's as though I've forgotten yet again how to breath. They shimmer in the dim light, and cut through the gloom like the light at the end of a dark and terrifying tunnel. The man is slim, and well built. His pale skin gives off what can only be called a faint glow. He lifts his glass to me before he takes a small swig, never breaking eye contact. I feel a slow burn in my gut before I'm whisked away.

"Here, Valkyri hired him. His name is Dallas and he needs an outfit." Molly fairly throws me to a band of girls who just stare at me. They look to one another before they shrug and grab me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*One Month Passes*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Each night it's the same, but not. The men are a blur to me as I dance and earn money. Every now and then one of them tries to grab me only to be hurled out by the girls. Not once has a man tried to buy me though. It bothers me, I am here for a reason, a job. And it is pissing me off that not once as the killer approached me. The only person who has approached me has been the blue eyed man. He always comes to watch me, sitting alone in his little corner. Blaine, he told me his name was Blaine.

He's kind to me, and talks to me. Granted the girls have learned to accept me, and I consider a few of them my friends now. Those friendships only spur me on more to find the killer. But Blaine is different. He's sparked something in me, something only one other man has. But I can't have that man, no matter how bad I long for him, ache for him, he's always out of my reach. Taunting me, teasing me, and it burns within me. But I could have Blaine, try to drown myself in him and stop killing myself with a want that will never be filled.

My shift is coming to an end and like a faithful dog, he's waiting for me at the door, coat in hand to drape around my shoulders. The girls have sent more than one of their guard dogs to make sure I don't break my contract. But each time he leaves me at my door, leaves me aching worse and worse each time, making me long for him or the other man. Either one would do some nights, when the gnawing in my stomach becomes unbearable and I'm crying the forbidden man's name as I cum.

We leave together and walk towards my run-down apartment. "You're getting better every night. Pretty soon you're going to be giving the girls a run for their money." He's teasing me and I smirk.

"Well it shouldn't matter to you anyway what happens to the girls." I reply, leaning against his warm shoulder. Instinctively his arm is around me and I'm leaning into his touch. His arm slides down to wrap around my waist and I fight a blush. I've never been this close like this to another man. I can smell his sent, a combination of sandalwood, stale cigarette smoke, and something coppery I can't quite place.

But another scent comes to mind, one that has my blood pounding in my veins and someone begins to wake up. I fight him, making him lay back down. Blaine raises an eyebrow at me. "Problems?" He asks. I shake my head and just stare at my feet. Finally we make it to the door of my apartment room. "Well, this is where I leave you." He whispers, leaning closer to me.

Our eyes lock and I find that, like the other man, his eyes feel as though they are stealing my soul. He's leaning closer to me and it's as though he's magnetized. I could do this, let him in my life and stop chasing shadows. My eyes are sliding closed and I can feel his warm, coppery scented breath gliding over my face. A flash of silver has us leaping apart. The dagger in the wall says it all. I'm not allowed to do anything yet, not for free anyway. I steal a glance around, looking for the owner of the dagger. No one, but still the warning is clear.

Blaine lets out a shaky chuckle. "Um, looks like I need to leave." His voice is husky and slightly shaky. He reaches over and brushes a shaky hand over my cheek, leaving a burning trail where he touches.

"Looks like it." My voice is low, and shaky as well. Our eyes meet one more time before he turns away.

"Goodnight, Dallas, my cowboy." The name makes my knees shake and I have to steady myself against the doorframe. I wait till he's out of sight before I launch myself into the building. My breathing is ragged and I'm biting my lip hard enough to draw blood. What am I thinking?! I am already in love. But, still, this is somehow different. Not love, but a different emotion. It's not what I feel for the other man in my life. It's weaker, and not as demanding. I sneak into my apartment quietly, listening to the moans and thumps coming from the other apartments.

Grabbing my towel, I make my way into my grungy bathroom. The shower takes a second to warm up, but soon I'm under the spray. It's strong and thunders down over my shoulders and heats me up. I tilt my head back into the spray and close my eyes. Unbidden, eyes as black as the darkest night invade my thoughts. I can feel someone stirring and waking up as the pale, nimble fingers in my mind trace over my body.

My hand slides downward and I gasp slightly as my hand dances along hardened flesh. But in my mind, it's not my hand. A deep voice whispers my name in my ear and I groan, letting his name roll off my tongue. "Roy.." The whispered name is lost to the spray of water. Hard kisses and nips dance along my neck and my movements quicken. I can almost feel his free hand carding through my hair, and soon my own is doing the same thing, tugging my hair slightly as it catches.

The sensations wracking my body have me shaking and soon it's too much. "ROY!" I cry his name into the spray of the shower, my orgasm causing me to sink to the bottom of the shower. I sit there for a moment, shaking and panting, wishing with all my heart and soul that it had really been him. Wishing that Roy had really been there with me. Burying my face in my knees, I let the water flow over me as I try to steady my breathing.

I clamber out of the shower not long after and make my way down a dark hall to my room. Climbing under the blankets, the ache returns. It's painful, and accompanied by the horrible feeling of loneliness. I'll never have him. Tears build in my eyes as the comforting darkness envelops me.

The next morning, I have to force myself out of bed and face the day. Although it flashes by, I still feel as though something is going to happen. I don't know what, but all day long, my stomach is twisting in knots and I feel like something major is going to change. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just try to shake the feeling off and go about my daily chores.

Before I knew it, the sun had gone down and it was time to make my way to work. Slipping in, I lock eyes with Blaine. He raises his glass as usual and I shoot him a sly smile. I make my way into the back, not really caring for the other patrons. I'm still off the market, so they don't matter to me. I wouldn't do anything with them anyway.

The girls are in full chatter when I begin to change clothes. They are talking about how the crowd is larger than normal, and for some reason, I get slight butterflies in my stomach. Normally the crow is small, so I don't really mind, but the bigger the crowd, the more I worry someone out there will notice me. Shaking off my nerves, I finish getting ready and wait until it's my turn to perform.

Cherry makes her way over to me as I a run a brush quickly through my hair. "Hey Dallas, want me to do your hair?" She's always been kind to me, and I wonder how such a young, sweet girl found herself working here. She pulls a chair up behind me and yanks the brush from my hands. "Dallas?"

"Yeah hun?"

She pauses, "How come your so…I don't know..golden? Most of us girls are pale and here you are like a ray of sunshine." I can hear the slight undertone of jealously in her voice. I turn and face her with a small smile.

"I honestly don't know. I was just born this way hun. But don't worry, I wish some days I had been born pale. I get to much attention like this." I push a lock of her auburn hair over her shoulder and smile at her. Her eyes light up and she just nods.

"Still, how can you not like it?! It gets you so many guys around here." Cherry spins my back around to face the mirror. "I would love to look like you. I get just enough to get by."

I lock eyes with her in the mirror. "If I could give you some hun, I would. And you are pretty enough to get more that "just enough". Now then, don't worry and just have some fun tonight."

"I wouldn't mind having fun with the new patron. Did you hear about him? He's apparently a walking god." She giggles and I just try to play along. The girls normally have little battles over the new guys, but I just stay out of harm's way. They get territorial, and if the claims on him are already being called, he's not even worth looking at.

She finishes brushing my hair and plops the cowboy hat down on my head. "Trust me Dallas, you want to check this one out." Patting me one last time on the shoulder she leaves me alone to get ready herself. I just shrug to my reflection and try and hunt down my lasso.

After a while, Valkyri storms in, barking orders to the girls who have night shift and hustling out the ones who need to be on the streets. She spots me and my stomach drops. "Dallas, get your ass over here." Her voice is liquid steel and I shudder.

"Yeah Valkyri?" I pause right in front of her, trying not to shake. She glares at me.

"So, I hear you were trying to break our little deal last night. Damn it, you know the rules and if I have to, I will make SURE that they sink into that pretty little head of yours. I have NOT set a price for you and if you go snogging guys left and right that price will drop. If you get caught one more time trying that stunt, I will personally deal with you." Her voice is soft, but I still start to shake. It chills me to the bone.

"I understand." My voice is soft and I try to keep eye contact.

"Good. Now get your ass out there and earn your keep." With that, she turns and storms off to pick on one of the new girls. I sink back into my chair and take a deep breath. Show time.

I hear the cat calls and cheers of the men as I make my way out onto the stage. Pushing them aside, I just focus on one man in particular in the crowd. From the back, he's so familiar that I feel that ache bubbling through me. He just keeps his face towards the bar and I find myself longing for him to turn and spot me.

The music flows over me, sinking into my veins and I let my world fill with it. It controls my body, and I'm moving freely, as though I'm the music itself. Finally the man turns to watch me after his bar maid leaves. My stomach plunges into my feet. It's him. The one that has haunted my dreams for years. And he's seeing me like this. I fight the flush that is threatening to paint my face in shame as his eyes go wide and his drink begins to shake.

Before either one of can do anything, one of my more drunken watchers tries to take a swipe at me. Chaos ensues for a moment and it takes a minute for the bar to settle down. I keep dancing, knowing if I stop I'll launch myself off the stage and into his arms. I spot Blaine in the crowd and force myself to watch him instead. I shoot a sly smile his way and watch as his face flushes slightly.

Finally, the song ends and I leap off the stage. Making my way over to Blaine, I make sure that I pass Roy. He's clinging to his drink and just acting as though nothing else is the room. I stop just in front of Blaine. "So, did you like the show?" I tease him slightly. He grins wolfishly at me.

"I don't know, maybe you should dance with me and find out just how much I liked it." His comment makes me laugh, and from the corner of my eye I watch Roy stiffen. It's a cruel game I'm playing, but this is something he's done to me countless times without even knowing it. "So, do you want to dance with me?" Blaine asks. I nod.

"Let me get a drink and I'll think about it. I might not be able to." He just gives me slight glare before making his way to the floor. I wheel around and snatch the drink from the bar maid's hands. "Thanks hun." I swallow the drink quickly and follow Blaine onto the dance floor. But just as I face Blaine, I see Roy leave over his shoulder. "Shit, um Blaine give me a minute, my boss is waving me down." I dart away from him and launch myself through the crowd to the door.

I burst out into the cold night air and there he is, leaning against the building in the sparse light. His eyes are locked on the building across from us and he doesn't even glance at me. I want him to look at me so badly, I say the first thing that comes into my mind. "Why are you here?" He just glances at me and shrugs.

"Why do you think?" His voice is slightly husky and I feel anger in my chest. He's here for a girl. I should have figured. I want to make him be curious about me, not panting after one of the girls. So I decide to toy with him.

"I think it has something to do with me." My voice is harsh, anger showing through. All he fucking does is nod at me. The nod hits me like a ton of bricks. I shiver in the cold night air with anger. That bastard Bradley really did send him here for me. I let out a barking laugh. "So why did they send you? They think I can't handle this on my own?" I move closer to him slightly. And suddenly, Roy moves towards me as well. We meet in the middle of the door, and I'm pissed. They shouldn't have sent him. I didn't want him to see me like this.

It was a bad choice for us to stand by the door. It flies open and slams into both of us. I let out a small snarl and Roy curses, but the drunk and the girl I recognize as Cherry just keep walking. We manage to collect ourselves. "Do you think it's wise to stand right here?" He asks me. All I can do is just look at him and shrug. I don't care anymore, the humiliation and rage are battling in me. I have to get us out of here. Reaching over I grab his coat sleeve and start tugging him down the road to my apartment, trying to ignore the fact I just ran out on work and how cold it is. "Where are we going?" He hisses at me.

"Shut up. I'm not on the market, so if Valkyri finds you with me, we are both dead." My voice is low and deadly. Roy just stays silent and trots along behind me. I lead him up to my rundown building and just throw open the door. I glance around only once, to be sure that none of the girls have followed before I shove him in.

He stumbles into the dark hallway and freezes, waiting for me to turn the light on. I don't, I just keep pushing him down the hall to where I live, shame and humiliation never quite leaving my face. Finally, we make it to my door. I push him in and snap the light on, momentarily blinding both of us.

"Sit." I motion for him to sit on the only chair in the room. It rests in a corner and he makes his way over to it as I stretch out across a small bed. I swallow hard and try to calm myself down. "So, now that we're safe, why did they send you?" I'm watching his every move, determined not to lose control to the fact he's closer to me than he's ever been. He shifts the seat.

"Why did they send you?" He shoots back. I sigh and let myself relax. I lay my arm across my eyes and just decide that the truth would be the best option. If I lie, he might never talk to me again, and I wouldn't be able to handle that. So with that, I start my tale.