Part 7
Josef watched Mick's retreating form for a moment before he gritted his teeth and stood up, dressing quickly, biting down on the inside of his cheek, trying to pretend that the pain of that was what was causing the tears that were welling in his eyes.
"Fuck you then too, St John", he thought to himself. God he needed a distraction right now, some willing freshie pumped full of drugs and alcohol. He suddenly knew exactly what he was going to do, he was going to go out and get absolutely shitfaced.
Upstairs Mick tossed and turned restlessly in the freezer. He hadn't bothered to shower before climbing into his icy resting place and the combined fluids from himself and Josef had started to dry and freeze, forming obscene little icicles on his lower body. His mind kept bringing up images of Josef's face, the emotion that he read there when he looked up at him...what was it, love? No that was impossible; he was just reading more into it than what he should because of what Beth had said to him earlier. Finally just as the sun reached its peak in the new dawn sky he fell into a troubled sleep, peppered with dreams of Josef Kostan.
Josef had wandered through the streets awhile after leaving Mick's, before he came across what he was looking for. A streetwalker looking the worse for wear stood shivering under the pale light of a street lamp, so high she could barely stand up...he was upon her before she even knew what hit her, draining her in one quick draft, drawing the drugs from her system into himself. He had staggered through the dark streets after that, walking around in circles, enjoying the sensations that coursed through his body until he finally found his way home and collapsed into the cold dark loneliness of his freezer.
He awoke just as the sun was leaving the sky, twilight seeping through the slatted blinds of his freezer room. Feeling seedy and hungover he clambered out of his receptacle and made his way downstairs, fixed himself a glass of blood and considered what the hell he was going to do next. He was going to talk to Mick, whatever doubts he might have had about that left him completely as he drained the glass of red liquid, showered and dressed quickly, shoved a pair of headphones into his ears and walked out the door. His MP3 player blasted I only want you by Eagles of Death Metal into his head and as he walked towards Mick's apartment he sung along silently with the chorus, thinking of Mick.
Mick had awoken about the same time as Josef, fixed himself his usual fare of blood for breakfast, had a shower and dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans and his favourite black sweater. Now he was standing at the large window of his apartment looking down at the silhouetted figure of Josef, standing under a streetlight and looking up towards him. The image vanished in a blur of movement and just then Mick heard the knock at his door. He took a deep breath and walked over to open it.
"Josef"
They stood and looked at each other for a moment, before Mick stepped back and indicated that he should come inside. Closing the door behind him Mick walked over to the kitchen bench top leaning back against it, eyes fixed on the wall just behind Josef, waiting for him to speak.
"Mick...Mick I didn't plan this ok, yeah I knew what was going to happen but...for god sake Mick you really didn't give me much of a choice in the matter".
Mick's eyes fixed onto Josef's, he knew what he had just said was the truth.
"So what Beth said, about this being more than just a vampire thing for you isn't true? He asked
"Yes...No...I mean look Mick I am attracted to you, I have been for a while now...C'mon you know a vampires sexuality is fluid, or at least you will when you're older" he responded
"And that's all there is to it Josef? there's nothing else?"
"Of course not" he replied a little too forcefully.
Mick's mind decided to ignore the implications it had felt at Josef's too insistent denial. Josef took a tentative step towards him, looking over him with questioning eyes.
"Mick?"
Mick stepped back, maintaining the distance between them and held up his hands to indicate to Josef not to come any closer.
"Don't, please Josef just don't come near me right now ok" or god help me we'll both just end up complicating things even further than what they already are he added silently to himself.
They both hung there for a moment, neither one speaking until the silence between them was almost deafening. Finally Mick spoke, "I have to leave now Josef, I have to go and see Beth, and I don't want you to be here when I get back"
Without saying another word he moved past Josef and headed out the door.
