Chapter 3: Dark Chocolate Covers
Two days... Aiden thought as he lay in bed, staring at the black cieling of his room. I haven't seen or heard from Timony for two days, and already my health is going downhill with my grades. His girlfiend must have him on a pretty tight leash. He shuddered in his black silk boxers. I don't like her...but maybe that'd because I'm jealous and like Timony. He sighed, closing his eyes. I should tell him. He deserves to know.

"That's it. I'll tell him," Aiden said to himself, sitting up out of bed. He went to the door without any further thought.

Aiden opened the door and jumped back in surprise at the figure in white in front of him. Bright lavender eyes shown in the glowing white, and Timony spoke in a whisper, "Can I come in?" He was wrapped in a white fuzzy blanket that glowed in the pale moonlight, exposing only his luminescent purple eyes.

A smile crossed Aiden's face as he moved aside for Timony to enter. "I was just thinking of trying to find you," Aiden told his counterpart as he closed the door. They faced each other, then hesitated, and suddenly found each other in a desperate embrace.

"I had to see you again," Timony whispered in Aiden's ear, clinging to the darker male. "I can't be myself without seeing you. It makes me feel empty...incomplete..."

"Yeah...same here..." Aiden said softly, burying his face in Timony's hair. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again...Something in me was convinced that your girlfriend would try to keep you away from me...or something..."

Timony chuckled. "She has..." He smiled at Aiden. "She doesn't like the fact I have a close male friend and is afraid she'll lose me to you."

"And what would it take to wiggle you from her grip?" Aiden asked. His eyes were on Timony's as he kissed the pale youth's palm. A bright blush painted Timony's face at the kiss, feeling a tingle shiver down his spine. He smiled a bit, watching Aiden kiss the back of his hand, kiss his fingertips, then kiss his wrist. When Timony didn't answer, Aiden sighed and let go of his hand. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching Timony, waiting for an answer.

His eyes went wide as he watched the shimmering blanket slip from Timony's body. Moonlight caressed a pale, slender, perfect nude body as the blanket gathered at his feet. Patterns of dark scars covered the pearl skin, aged by time and telling stories of abuse, broken love, manipulation, and despair. But still the doll smiled at Aiden, the sadness clear in his lavender eyes. Silent as a shadow, he stepped closer to Aiden.

Timony didn't flinch as Aiden ran a finger down a jagged, ugly scar that cursed his counterpart's abdomen. Aiden was awed by the frightenly beautiful scars that made Timony more goregous, more alluring...Aiden closed his eyes, leaning his forehead on Timony's belly, his palm over the scar. Timony blushed a bit and smiled, hugging Aiden's shoulders a bit.

"I can't stop thinking..." Aiden whispered. "Why would anyone hurt you? Who would hurt you? You're kind, smart, caring, beautiful...Who would do this to you, and why?"

"It happened when I was 17," explained Timony softly. A hand absent-mindedly petted Aiden's hair as Timony held him closer. "I had bad luck with my first lover...I thought I loved him...but all I was to him was a pet...a toy...and once I was broken...he threw me away..." Aiden looked up into the smiling face with crystal tears glimmering on Timony's cheeks. He touched the delicate face, and Timony continued speaking. "I thought...I would be happy with a girlfriend...but she's only made the pain of remembering the past worse..."

"Antimony..." He stood and captured the falling tears in a hand. Timony cried softly, making no sound as he let his tears fall. Aiden held the young man close, let Timony rest his head on Aiden's chest, and hugged him as if Timony were a frightened child. He pet the feather-soft hair, unsure of what to do. Slowly, Timony calmed until he was completely silent in Aiden's arms. "You okay?" Aidena sked.

A light nod was his answer. Carefully, Aiden let go of Timony and went to the discarded blanket. Timony dried his face, blinking at his friend when Aiden wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. "What are you doing?"

"Unless you want to sleep beside me naked," Aiden answered. Timony's face saddened, and Aiden stroked a cheek with a light knuckle. "I don't know how long I can restrain myself if we were to sleep skin against skin. I'm not disgusted by you or anything...I just want to protect you from myself..."

"I understand..." Timony smiled, hugging the blanket over him. "I trust you with my life. You're my best friend, remember?" A rumble could be heard outside, and Timony glanced out the nearby window. "A storm is coming..."

"Yeah..." Aiden grinned and sat back down on the bed. "You're not afraid of storms, are ya?"

Timony glared at him, sitting beside his friend. "No, I'm not as a matter of fact!" He laughed at Aiden. "I got over that years ago."

Aiden's smile faded a bit. "How can you laugh and smile like that...after everything that's happened to you?"

The pale boy contnued to smile. "I don't feel the pain when I make others smile and laugh," Timony explained. "So I try to smile so others smile too. And when I see they are happy, I feel happy."

"I'm sorry..." Aiden whispered. "I make you remember the pain."

Timony shook his head. "I always remember the pain at night...especially on stormy nights..." Under the blanket, he touched a scar on his chest. "Sometimes...when it storms really badly, my wounds will reopen and bleed."

"I won't let that happen." Aiden put a hand on Timony's shoulder. "Every time it storms, I will be here for you, to make you happy and make the pain go away. I'll be beside you to see you smile and stop the bleeding..."

"Thank you," Timony whispered, resting his head on Aiden's shoulder. "You've done so much for me...and asked for nothing in return..."

"There's nothing I want," Aiden replied. "All I could ask for is sitting beside me..."

Timony smiled. "I could say the same for you..." He jumped as lightning flashed, but remained calm as thunder rumbled against the school. The pale boy sighed. "I'm tired..."

"We should go to bed," Aiden agreed.

They stood, and Aiden lifted the covers for Timony. Timony crawled in and laid on his side, holding his blanket close. Aiden laid down beside him, his body molding against Timony's. For a moment, the pale boy tensed, but he relaxed as Aiden's arm went around Timony's waist to hold him near.

"G'night Timony..."

A pinky curled around Aiden's. "Sleep sweet Aiden..." And Timony smiled as he fell asleep.