Randal cursed himself under his breath. What the fuck was he doing trying to make Cody leave Ted? Cody would never leave Ted! Especially not for a guy like him! He was a killer, a crazed psychopath that's heart had been ripped out of him so long ago and he couldn't hide that from him forever. This wasn't going to be more than a fling and he needed to stop elevating Cody to lover because he wasn't. And he couldn't be for so many reasons. No matter how much he loved him, no matter how badly they truly needed each other, Cody would never be his and he NEEDED to accept that...
But then why was he chasing after him? Why was he asking him to wait and already spreading his arms to pull him in? Why couldn't he just leave him alone?
"Cody wait!" Cody heard Randal call after him, stopping him in his tracks and he turned around swiftly as he angrily swiped tears from his cheeks. "Is that what you think I am? Ted's little lap dog?"
Randal shook his head quickly, horrified with himself that he'd even say such a thing to him and reached out for him desperately, "No! God no I didn't mean that!" Cody refused him, stepping back as he raked both hands threw his short hair and let out an outraged snarl, "I don't want to but he makes me! I try to fight him off and he fucking CHOKES me!"
Randal dove forward and managed to pull him into a tight hug, and started kissing the side of his neck and face over and over until he relaxed and seemed to let his guard down, "I'm so sorry Cody, I shouldn't have said that."
Cody whimpered softly and buried his face against his shoulder. "Don't tell me I have a choice because I don't!"
Randal nodded as he gave his neck a tender kiss and he stroked his hand down his back, "I'm sorry." He whispered again and gently guided Cody's head out of his chest and stroked a thumb over his lip, "Okay?"
"..."
A long silent minute passed and Randal started to worry, the pain in the younger mans eyes still burned so bright, so obvious and heart wrenching and despite his best efforts he still looked so lost as he stared up at him with those tormented blue eyes. He just wanted to scoop him up and take him away to some place safe, some place they could be together where he could spend the rest of his days making sure his precious Cody was loved and treasured like he should have been.
Cody finally nodded and sniffled slightly as he turned his face into his hand and nuzzled it, "Okay." He sighed softly before his lips jerked into a small smile, "Are you still coming over tonight?"
"Of course." He answered with a smile, relieved that he still wanted him, that he still yearned for his presence...It had been so long since he had anyone to miss him. So long that he started to think that no one could or would again...
Rain started to drop around them, big drops splashing on their faces and clothes but neither of them seem to care as they held and caressed each other tenderly in the alley, their lips soon locked in another passionate kiss that was sure to leave them both reeling and desperate for more. Cody started to pull away but Randal held him tight, kissed him harder, begging him without words not to go even though he knew he had to, and for a moment, for a split second, he felt him give into their passion and almost let it consume his body once more. But just as quickly as he gave in he snapped out of it and jerked away, a smile spread over his lips as he backed up and held his hand up to stop him from following. "I HAVE to go."
Randal gave a slight nod as he pouted and waved his hand once to signal him goodbye. "See you tonight..."
Cody's smile widened, his eyes brightening with life and excitement that he could barely contain as he thought about how, just hours from now they'd be back in each others arms, picking up right where they left off. He couldn't wait. "Bye..." He turned and ran before he changed his mind and went leaping into his strong arms like an overexcited child with no self control, leaving the shirt he'd bought behind that he spotted in the dirt just outside the door where he'd apparently dropped it earlier without realizing and didn't stop until he reached the carriage and dove inside, barely making it in just as it started to pour. "Shit that was close!" He said breathlessly as he raked a hand threw his wet hair and smoothed it back neatly, making a mental note to shower as soon as he got home and got comfortable in his seat beside Evan, who he found was glaring at him as he gauged his disheveled appearance. "I was just about to tell the driver to take off without you! Where were you?"
"Shopping." He replied, only daring to glance at him to avoid his friends suspicious brown eyes that he knew would see right threw him just as they did most times when he lied.
"You look a mess!"
He frowned and gave him another quick glance, "What do you mean? I only got a little wet-"
"No, I'm talking about that. Your vest looks like it was tied by someone who's missing both their thumbs!"
"Oh," He looked down and almost laughed, finding his vest was tied crooked and uneven as most of the ties at the top had come undone and were hanging freely. "Oh that," He recovered and quickly came up with another lie that he hoped his younger friend would believe, "I was in such a hurry after trying some things on, I didn't take the time to tie it right."
"Uh-huh," Evan said in a skeptical tone as he turned in the seat beside him and looked him over quickly, "And where are they?"
"Huh?"
"WHERE are the CLOTHES you TRIED on?"
"They didn't fit." He lied again, fighting a smile as he suddenly thought of Randal and an clear imagine of his charming smile flashed over his minds eye. Fuck he was so handsome, and just thinking about that smile, that DEVIOUS SMIRK made the nerves in his stomach flutter and quiver with excitement and joy. His hand came up and he pretended to be rubbing his face as if he were tired, actually hiding a smile that had broken threw his resistance and spread out over his lips. Just thinking about Randal made him so wonderfully happy that he just couldn't contain himself. He loved him...He was in love.
Oh my god Randal...Oh my god...
"What's going on with you?" Evan asked, his eyes still scanning over him suspiciously and he felt him lean in closer as if he spotted something that needed closer inspection.
He shrugged, fighting hard to contain a beaming smile that refused to go away. "Nothing."
"Liar. There's something different about you, I can tell."
"Geez, I make a mess of my vest one time and you think something's wrong with me." He complained as he chuckled nervously.
"It's not just that." Evan elaborated in a incredulous tone, "I noticed it a while ago and just never said anything."
He sighed, rolling his eyes as he folded his hands neatly into his lap, "Noticed what?"
Evan scowled as he lent towards him and jabbed a finger into his arm, "You had sex."
"What?" He shrieked, his heart already pounding in his chest. "No I didn't!"
"Yes you did!" Evan argued as he waved a finger at him, "I can see it in your eyes!" He lent closer and loudly sniffed the air around him and let out an outraged gasped. "You even smell like another man!"
"Whatever. I'm tired okay? That's it. I'm just worn out from walking around." He lied smoothly and gave a casual shrug even though his heart was pounding uncontrollably fast within his chest. How in the hell did Evan know just by looking at his eyes? It wasn't fair!
Oh god oh god he knows! He fucking knows!
"And I don't smell anything."
He watched Evan's eyes grow wide and his mouth falling open with a startled gasp, "Oh my god-You're having an affair with a merchant aren't you!"
"I'm not having an affair!" He denied angrily and finally turned to face him with a nasty scowl, "And I haven't had sex!"
"Don't you lie to me Cody Rhodes! We're supposed to be best friends and you're always lying to me!"
"Because your a gossiper Evan! If I told you I might as well tell the rest of the world while I'm at it!"
"Oh no you don't, you're not turning this around and making it about me! We're talking about your affair, not me! Nice try but I'm not playing into that!"
"Evan please-"
"No! Tell me the truth Cody. I already know so what's the harm in being truthful for once?"
"If you already know then why do I have to say it?"
"Because maybe then you'll realize just how TERRIBLE what you're doing is! You're having an affair Cody! And if you were married you'd be hung for it!"
Cody slumped back in his seat as he covered his face with shaky hands and took a deep breath, "I didn't plan it." He mumbled the confession into his hands, "It just kinda happened."
"Look, I understand that you've had it pretty rough recently, and any reasonable man would understand that what you did was a cry for attention, but you're not marrying a reasonable man. You're marrying Ted and knowing how protective he is of you-"
"Possessive." He interrupted to correct, tearing his hands away from his face and gave his friend an angry glare, "He's possessive of me."
Evan sighed and rolled his eyes, "You're just saying that because you've been mad at him for so long, that's not how you really feel. And I know that because just a month ago you were head over heals in love with him! You wouldn't shut up about how much you couldn't wait to marry him because he was just so perfect!"
"I thought I loved him, I thought he was perfect and that all my prayers had been answered! But it was all bullshit Evan. Ted's been hitting me since the beginning and it's only gotten worse. I've done everything I can to please him and it's not enough, he's always mad, he's always disappointed with me."
"That doesn't give you the right to cheat on him! You have to end the affair Cody, it's not right!"
He shook his head and finally allowed himself to be honest, "I don't want to."
"WHAT?" Evan exclaimed dramatically. "You can't mean that!"
"He makes me feel like no one else ever has Evan, and I don't want to give that up."
"But you've given your virginity to another man! That's just so wrong!"
"Don't judge me!" He shouted with a frustrated snarl as he angrily slapped his hand down on the cushion between them, "You don't know ANYTHING about what I go threw living with Ted! You don't know how bad that man makes me feel!"
"Maybe not but I know that having an affair is about the stupidest thing you could do!" Evan shot back in the same angry tone as he crossed his arms over his chest then out a loud heavy sigh. "This arguing is getting us no where."
"No, it's not." He agreed and mimicked his movements, crossing his arms with a heavy sigh only he let his head hang and gulped as he thought of Ted and how badly he was going to hurt him when he found out.
Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck! I'm dead! I'm fucking dead! Ted's going to fucking kill me!
Evan just didn't understand how DANGEROUS Ted really was, sure he saw the bruises and the scar but he could tell that it still didn't quite register with him. Evan didn't think Ted would actually hurt him more than he had or do any worse like kill him, where as he was certain that he would. He felt sick, his stomach tightening into a tight painful ball of anxiety and nauseating terror, his head spinning, his heart pounding frighteningly fast.
"Are you going to tell Ted?"
Evan glanced at him sideways before rolling his eyes again and let out another sigh, "No," He grumbled, giving him another sideways glance, "Of course not. You're my friend and I wouldn't sell you out like that...And besides," He paused and shrugged as he cracked a smile "I've never really liked Ted anyway."
He let go of the breath he was holding as relief flooded over him, closing his eyes to chase off the last of the worry as he reached over and gave Evan's knee a thankful squeeze and knew that he could trust him. If Evan said he wouldn't tell Ted then he wouldn't, he was a man of his word and never once gave him a reason to believe any different.
"So who is it?" Evan asked as he covered the hand over his knee, "One of Ted's friends?"
"No, he's not a member of the high society." He was so relieved, he finally had someone to talk to about this, about Randal!
"Not a member? Oh no Cody please don't tell me you've given your innocents to a beggar!"
"He's not a beggar." He snapped defensively. "He doesn't need to be a part of the high society. He does just fine without it." A look of utter confusion on Evan's face told him he didn't understand, that he just didn't get how anyone could be happy not being a part of the high society. He knew because he used to fell that way too until Randal had opened his eyes..."He's not a beggar alright? He just doesn't fit in with the high society so he has nothing to do with them."
"Oh...Okay...So what's his name?"
"Randal." He answered with a smile, happy to finally say his name out loud to his friend and felt more relief wash over him as he relaxed into the seat. "Randal Keith."
Evan frowned and looked thoughtful for a moment before he cocked his head to the side and seem to give up on his silent mental searching. "Never heard of him. What does he look like? Is he handsome? Does he have big muscles like my Johnny?"
His smile faded, all thoughts of Randal vanishing at the mention of his friends beloved fiance. Shit, how was he supposed to tell him that John was on the list? John wasn't just a 'provider' to Evan, he was his best friend, his companion and on a deeper level, his soul mate. Evan loved John more than anything, more than his money, his fancy clothes, his big house furnished with everything Evan's heart desired. How could he tell him John, the man he loved with every ounce of his being, was probably going to die?
He grabbed his hand again and brought it into his lap and held it with both of his own, "There's something I have to tell you..." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, squeezing his friends hand tight who was staring at him with wide, concerned eyes and they nearly made it impossible for him to continue, "When I was shopping around today...I um...Um...I heard that John is on the Phantom's list."
Evan paled, his eyes growing wide and he felt his hand started to tremble, "What? What list?"
"I over heard some people talking and apparently the Phantom has a list of names of the people who've wronged him." He didn't want to lie about how he'd come to know this, but for some reason he felt the urge to protect Randal and left him out of the story completely. It just seemed safer that way. "And one of them said that John was on his list."
"But why?" Evan asked, his voice barely a whisper as tears spilled down his cheeks, "He didn't do anything!"
"The Phantom thinks John's behind the cover up."
"But he's not!" Evan cried out as he hunched over and he put his face in his hands and started to sob, "Oh Nooooo! Not my Johnny! Oh god please no!"
He turned and wrapped his arms around him, pulling his small friend into a tight, comforting hug as he smoothed and stroked a hand down his back, "Shhh it's okay Evan, don't cry, there's still time to clear his name-"
"But what if there isn't?" Evan cried. "Oh god what if he got him while we were gone?" He tore away with a loud sob and dove at the door, shoving it open and stuck his head out into the rain, "Driver! Driver please hurry! You must get us home!"
"Evan! Calm down!" He implored repeatedly as he pulled his friend back inside and forced him to return to his seat. "Evan please just calm down! The driver can't get us there any faster in this weather and screaming and carrying on is only going to make the wait seem even longer." He reached back and pulled the door closed, giving it a hard yank to lock it back into place before he gathered his panicking friend up in his arms once more.
"Oh god Cody I can't lose him!" Evan sobbed against his shoulder. "I love him so much!" He tried to calm him down with tighter hugging and comforting kisses he peppered his head with over and over, but it was no use and Evan was damn near hysterical by the time they arrived back to the house and he couldn't stop him from bursting out the carriage with a blood curdling scream. "JOHN!"
"Evan wait!" He cried out, fearing his friend would let his emotions get the best of him and tell John far too much about what he'd learned on their way home. "Evan please stop! Evan!
Fuck! What if he told! What if Evan in his hysterical state blurted out that he was having an affair! He leapt out of the carriage just as Evan ran into the house, letting out another frantic scream and completely ignored his plea to stop as he went on searching for his fiance. He dashed after him, hot on his heels until Evan and John found each other in the main room and Evan jumped into his waiting arms. "John! John oh thank god! You're okay!"
Cody stopped in the door way, leaning against it for a second to catch his breath before stepping into the room, placing himself at the foot of the staircase that he could easily use to escape if he needed to.
John held Evan tight, his attention only on the smaller man wrapped around him that was sobbing and trembling visibly with fear. "Of course I'm okay baby." He said in a soothing voice and gave his neck several tender kisses in efforts to calm his distraught lover. "Why would you think that I wasn't?"
Evan returned the sweet kisses only his were quicker, more frantic and he held onto his beloved fiance with everything he had. "I was so frightened!"
"What?" John asked with a soft gasp, "Baby why?"
"John please we have to go home!"
John shook his head and forced Evan's back enough to look him in the eyes, stroking his cheek and wiping away his tears that were quickly replaced by more. "We're not going anywhere until you calm down and tell me what's wrong."
Evans face crumpled and in seconds he buried his face in his neck and let out a terrified sob. "Cody heard that you're on the list! The Phantom's going to kill you! Please we have to go home!"
John winced and suddenly looked very nervous, "Okay, please don't be mad but...I kinda already I knew that."
Evan jerked back and grew very tense as he glared up at John with tear filled eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?" He dropped down from his waist and stepped away from him as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry." John said as he lifted his arms to him again and cringed as Evan refused his hug with a firm shake of his head. "I didn't want to worry you baby. But I was going to tell you-"
"When John? When the guy showed up at our fucking door step looking for you?"
John gazed at him sadly, his expression so sincere, "Baby please don't be mad, " He implored gently, "I was trying to figure out the best way to tell you." And this time when he reached for him Evan let him wrap his arms around him again but quickly glared up at him with furious brown eyes. "Home. NOW." He demanded and this time John nodded and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Alright I'll grab our coats." John agreed and just as soon as he did Evan wrenched away and stormed off, "Baby!" He called as he went after him, "Baby come on please don't be mad at me!...Baby!...Baby!"
Cody relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief as John's voice grew lighter and lighter, finally fading completely and knew they were out of the house and that his precious secret was still safe. But his relief was short lived as he felt Ted glaring at him from across the room. He tried to turn and leave, hoping Ted would just leave him be so he could get ready for the party but knew he wouldn't be so lucky.
"Where did you hear that about John?"
He stopped, only making it a few steps up and almost let out a heavy sigh as he turned around on the stair to face him, "I over heard people talking about it in town."
Ted huffed and he put his hands on his hips as he approached the foot of the stairs, "And you just had to go and upset Evan didn't you?"
"He's my friend Teddy..." He replied carefully. "And he has a right to know. It's his fiance..."
"Next time you pick up any stories in town about the Phantom you run them by me first." Ted insisted as he pointed a shameful finger at him. "Don't go around spreading rumors and lies like some manner-less gossiper."
"Yes sir." He heard himself say and had to force a nod and a small smile, "May I be excused? I have to shower and get ready for the party." It was a good excuse for the real reason he was anxious to get to his room, which was that it was one of the only places in the house he still felt safe in when Ted was home.
"You may. But don't take too long," Ted warned as he tapped a watch on his wrist. "Keep an eye on the time because I want to be there by seven thirty and we need to leave a little earlier because of the weather."
"Yes sir." He repeated as he turned and in a flash he was up the stairs and in seconds was in the safety of his room with the door securely locked.
Three hours later he sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest and lent back in a very uncomfortable, too short for his long legs chair and was close to falling asleep. And the classical music of the band playing on the stage did nothing to help his current state either. He was so bored and alone without Evan there beside him like he usually was. Evan was at the party but he was at John's side, glued there the entire time and although he was smiling he could still see that his eyes were full of fear and sadness as he clung to his fiance's arm. John frequently hugged and kissed him, eventually turning him into his arms and held Evan tenderly while they stayed in the elite circle of high society members, despite the glares he was getting. It didn't seem to matter to John what they thought about Evan being allowed to hear them discuss business, the look on his face said he was going to hold his lover all night no matter what anyone said about it.
The familiar burn of jealousy blazed over his skin and he couldn't bare to look at them anymore. Evan was just so damn lucky and as hard as he tried he couldn't help but feel bitter about it. It just wasn't fair. Why didn't anyone love him like that? He let his head hang, starring down at his hands clasped neatly in his lap and tried to remember the last time Ted told him he loved him. His blood turned cold, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't think of ONE time he'd ever heard those words from Ted's mouth. He'd never even muttered anything close to an 'I love you'...
"Excuse me, lovely," A familiar voice addressed him softly, tearing him out of his thoughtful state and starling him, "But I believe you're much too gorgeous to be sitting here all by yourself." He jerked his head up and barely caught his mouth before it fell open with a surprised gasp as he look at up at the last person he ever expected to see at a high society party.
Randal.
He just stared at him, taking in the sight of him dressed in a long sleeve white silk shirt that molded around his arms and shoulders like a second skin that disappeared under a tight black vest that tied perfectly down his strong chest and sculpted abdomen to the waist line of a pair of black wool trousers that were equally as clingy to his perfectly long muscular legs. His beautiful blue eyes glowing like two bright perfectly rounded flames against the flawless white shirt that was buttoned neatly all the way up to his neck. He looked so handsome, so debonair, so...So...
Wow.
Randal's lips spread into a charming smile as he gracefully extended his hand for him to take, his eyes bright and full of wonderful mischief. "May I have this dance?"
He gulped as he reached up and took his hand, fighting off fit of nerves and ignored the many eyes that were now suddenly up on them and let Randal guide them onto the dance floor. The room and everyone around them seem to vanish, the world fading away as Randal's warm hand pulled him along not so fast and ever so gently to the center of the platform. As they came together on the dance floor Randal put his hand on the small of his back and kept the world at bay while the other laced their fingers together and started to lead them into a slow, graceful dance that followed the musics tempo perfectly.
He did his best to pretend that he didn't know him, that he didn't love him so completely, keeping a blank expression over his face and kept the amusement out of his eyes and managed to stare up at him as if he were a perfect stranger, "What are you doing here?"
Randal smirked again and sent the butterflies off in his stomach as he carefully swayed him faster with the increasing tempo, "Dancing with you, gorgeous."
Oh? Was that all? He ducked his head to hide a smile, trying not to laugh as he waited for the blush to leave his cheeks. Randal could make him swoon and grin like an idiot, he just had that effect on him, and tonight would be no different if he wasn't careful. "Okay...Why?"
"Because I wanted to." Randal replied with a graceful shrug.
"You're still going to come tonight right?"
"I am." Randal answered in a deep tone that made his knee's weak and his heart started to thud in his ears. He sighed as he dared to stare up at those beautiful blue eyes that hadn't left his dreams since the first time he'd seen them and another smile rose to his lips and spread out over them before he could stop it. "Good." He whispered, his smile widening. "Really good."
Randal started kneading the dip of his back, gradually moving him closer to his body until their thighs were touching and gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "I just couldn't wait until then..."
"I'm glad that you didn't." Cody whispered as he forced the smile from his lips and curled his fingers over his shoulder, "I kinda like you a little bit."
"Liar," Randal chuckled softly, "You're smitten and you know it."
"Yeah," Cody groaned as he dug his fingers harder into his shoulder, his eyes suddenly locked on Randal's lips that he desperately wanted to feel against his own, "And I want to kiss you so bad right now." He whispered and had to fight like hell to resist the urge to wrap his arms around his neck. "Like REALLY bad."
"Everyone's watching us." Randal enlightened him sadly as he flicked his eyes to the room of people around them. "Even your fiance."
"Bunch of nosy prudes." Cody sneered bitterly as he dared to give the crowd a glance. "Can't even mind their own business for five fucking minutes."
Randal's lips cured into a devious, menacing smirk as he flicked his eyes round the room several times, mostly focusing on Ted who's face was slowly reddening with fury as he crushed a glass of wine in his hand like it was nothing. "Let's give them something to talk about." He insisted as the hand on his back slid up to Cody's neck and grasped it firmly, forcing him to tilt his head as he closed the distance between their lips much too quickly for him to stop.
Cody let out a startled grunt as Randal's hot tongue snaked in against his and he pushed at his chest, his eyes wide with surprise and worry as he heard the room grow far too quiet around them and knew without having to look that Ted was on his way, already fuming and ready to tear Randal apart. He whimpered and gave his chest a harder push and Randal let go and broke away, the same devious, menacing smirk still plastered over his handsome face. "See you tonight lovely." He whispered with a wink before turning and dashed off threw the crowd just as Ted broke threw and reached them.
"Who the hell was that?" Ted snarled as he grabbed his arm and started to pull him from the dance floor much too fast and entirely too rough. "I don't know!" He lied and appeared to be just as disgusted to his fiance was as pain burned in his shoulder and arm that he dare not complain about, "The brute had his hands all over me Teddy! I couldn't stop him! I tried, you saw me try didn't you?"
"I did." Ted replied much to his relief. "I just wish I had put an end to it sooner! I knew the moment you went onto the dance floor with him that he'd pull something like that!"
"I had no idea." And he really didn't. He thought Randal would have been more careful than that...