Part 2, people!
Found you
Jason's steps in the wet streets were the only sounds he could hear. He turned around when a gunshot echoed not too far from him. The young man felt his heart race faster and kept on walking when he heard someone running coming his way. He quickly took his phone out of his pocket when a long haired man bumped into him and made them both fall. Reacting quickly, he crawled to his phone and dialed 911.
-"Hey you! Let the phone go or your face will explode in a zillion pieces! Put down the damn thing!" a bulky man covered in tattoos spat, red with anger and veins pulsing on the side of his short neck.
-"Dave, please, this is crazy! I'll never go away again! I'm gonna get back to work, I promise… J-just let him go, he's not gonna tell the cops on you and neither am I, let's go home!" the scared blonde pleaded, crying and shaking in his light outfits. He was tall and thin with a tight shirt showing a black sun on his shoulder and even tighter ripped jeans and converse. He wiped his face and got back up.
"You better not call them on me; I'll get your head ripped off clean. Am I clear?" Dave spat. Jay slowly got back up and pocketed his phone after showing the monster it was off.
He turned one last time towards the younger man and saw something he didn't notice before, a scar in his neck. He blinked furiously not believing his eyes. A fucking lightening on the neck! Jay felt anger rise in his body, he suddenly didn't care about guns, gangs, misery. He wanted Dave's head to crush under his fists. Like anyone who hurt his friend if this beautiful blonde was him than the guy was toast!
Their foster father had been sent to jail and died in a riot a few weeks later leaving his uncaring wife inherit the little he had. After all, in her narrow and damaged mind, as long as he didn't touch her she could live with this mess. Nevertheless if he couldn't have his revenge against the old man than he'd have this beast instead.
-"Hey moron! Did you hear what I said, quit staring at my boy unless you got cash! Now, scram!" Dave was high and enraged by all the shit running through his blood stream. He was shaking, time for another dose, perfect timing for the small Canadian.
-"Yeah… Uuuh sorry, the gun is… Well you know, Kind of impressive… Sorry I'm going… Bye, Dave. Bye… Copeland!" Jay startled the other blonde.
Adam was in a blur, drugs and fear running fast in his body. And there, in the middle of a cold street a bright light appeared. He thought strangers preferred closing their eyes on what happened too close to them. But this man, this normal twenty five year old had been the man he had been secretly hoping to see again for ages.
Jason was the only one who knew his name around here; it was the only good explanation for this…
Dave yelled some more insults but was cut as a hard kick on the arm threw his empty gun in a dark alley. And he didn't see Jay jump and use his thick skull to break his nose either. Then he picked up a brick and punched the bull-like pimp in the ribs and the back for good measure while a shaken up Adam watched the scene.
-"Jay..." the taller blond whispered, making him stop bashing the bigger man. He watched him, trying to regain his calm. The hazel green eyes looking at him in fear and confusion were the only reason he let go of his improvised weapon. He stumbled towards Adam, crying as well with his knuckles all bloodied.
He grabbed his former foster brother, red fingers in golden locks, their foreheads resting on each other's like old times.
-"I'm sorry, Adam. I really am, I looked everywhere for you. I missed you so much Ads!" Adam stared blankly at him, the smell of blood too much to bear; he got away and threw up behind a trash can. He shakily wiped his lips with the back of his hands.
-"I-it's you, isn't it? Jay-Jay? F-for real?" He started crying again. The other man nodded and handed held his hand for him to take when he'd be ready, the man bleeding between them not bothering them very much.
Sirens were heard coming towards them. Jason grabbed the shivering blonde and they ran away, hands strongly attached in the dark streets leaving the horror of the evening behind them. Adam couldn't keep up with the effects of the stuffs Dave had injected him for the night and the lack of food and sleep didn't help either.
"Can't go on, I'm too tired… Don't wanna run anymore." He weakly whined, rubbing his arm and trying to catch his breath.
"My place is close; I think we can walk there. It won't be long. Let's get you warm and clean." Jay said, placing his hand on his shoulder, frightened a little when he felt his bones underneath his fingers.
The walk was silent, both men not really sure about what to do or say and afraid to make the wrong steps. Adam couldn't help but think his long lost friend hid the shame he felt about the wreck he had become. And Jay was afraid to ask what happened in his life that led him into Dave's arms. He got his keys and helped his friend inside the small flat he rented next to his bar. Phil and Jeff were in charge tonight and he waved at his waitresses Mickie and AJ from afar before getting in as well.
The place wasn't big and there wasn't a lot of furniture to speak of. Jason kept a few mattresses for his friends to sleep when they didn't find anything. He was known to help those who needed it even if he had little to give. He tried having food at all times and his place was dry and warm in winter.
At the moment, he was alone with the Hardy brothers and Randy Orton, all were former drug dealers who'd decided to change their ways before they would end up six feet under. Phil was a preacher's son who loathed any poison like tobacco, drugs or alcohol; having learned the hard way drinking parents were amongst the most dangerous and cruelest people on earth. Still he had learn to respect Jay and his friends after seeing how they treated those who were different.
The girls had come from better places but unfortunately, in good neighborhoods, being different and loving differently was a sin and had to be punished. AJ and Mickie had been sent to the same "de-gayfication" camp where… They'd fallen in love. After escaping the Anvill Institute for troubled teenagers run by Mr Neidhart, they'd moved in the city where they met the rest of the group.
Life was hard, they needed to work and they had to –like most of the poor and unluck- do illegal or dirty jobs. Walking the streets, selling meth or smack, dealing guns or stealing from people they fucked. And hope for their health and luck to stay with them.
-"The bar is always open, but it's ok we have our own system. It's easier being a group around here anyway. I'm rambling… What would you like to eat?" Jason asked, not able to stay calm and forcing himself not to touch Adam every three seconds to be sure he wasn't dreaming.
-"Hum… Anything… I don't wanna bother you…" the taller man whispered staying in a corner.
-"Okay… you look like you could do with some meat and veggies… Chicken, tomatoes, salad and… fries! What do you say?! Sounds awesome, right?!" Jay smiled, hoping for the best.
Adam's stomach growled loudly in the silent apartment. Both of them looked surprised for a moment and burst into laughter the next. Adam felt warmer and sat at the kitchen counter.
-"Talk to me… About you… Why a bar? Didn't you wanna go to college and be a teacher or something?" Adam spoke softly, making Jay smile and sigh in relief.
-"Well I kind of bailed on my last family, took back my name along with the rest of my stuff and bye, bye mister Flair. Not that I didnt' lie the guy but he didn't really get me and this habit to change wife every few years. I couldn't keep up with names!" Jay laughed. "I got help from a cop named Kevin Nash, when I stopped dealing. I-I needed the money so we all shared the job, never really been a fan of the dope but I met the others that way. You'll meet them tomorrow. You should get along with them just fine. Huh… While I'll cook, just get comfy. The bathroom is on the left. We have shower or the old bathtub, Kane gave it to me so it's huge but nice when you need it. You'll find anything you need… I'll just get you clothes from Randy… He's a bit… Taller than me, actually." He chuckled, washing his cut knuckles in the kitchen sink, wincing slightly at the sting of the soap on the grazed skin. He led the other man to the room, stealing a Panthera t shirt, a pair of jeans, socks and underwear from Randall's drawer on their way there.
Seeing his friend hesitate in the room, Jay sat on the edge of the tub and invited him to do the same.
-"I know this is a change, I beat up a guy in front of you earlier. Sorry if I scared you but… I just want you safe. I never should have let you out of my sight. I should have tried harder to find you. I want to help because this is all my fault…"
-"It wasn't your fault…" Adam whispered as he sat next to him on the cold material. He placed his hand on Jay's. "You're the only one who ever stood up for me and you did it again tonight. One day, he would have killed me or even worse. You were just a boy, this has never been you fault."
Jay let him rest his head in his hair, turning the waters on.
-"Will you… Help me? You know, like you used to when we were little?" Adam shyly asked. Jay smiled and nodded. They still trusted each other, so he would do anything for him. He helped him get rid of his clothes, cursing under his breath when he saw the needle marks on his limbs and the bruises all over his thin body.
-"I'm ugly now…" Adam whispered, trying to get away from himbut Jason just kept his arms around him and pulled his head in the crook his neck where he cried for a few seconds.
-"You couldn't be ugly if you tried, honey." He said running his large hands in the dirty blonde hair. "Whatever happened, you still are wonderful and you'll never have to do anything you don't want to from now on. You're not alone anymore. You found your family here, I promise."
After a while, Adam was calm enough and he entered the warm water, letting his friend wash him; too tired to do it himself. Jay started humming while he massaged Adam's long mane.
-"What is that song? I like it…" Adam murmured a small smile on his thin lips.
-"It's a song Punk listens to all the time… A perfect circle, Blue… I think. I kinda like it too. Don't tell him though; he's way too arrogant as it is."
They laughed. The older man sighed, not really willing to talk about it but needing to.
-"You know Dave was a pimp, right?" Jay cleared his throat and nodded as he focused on his task and started rinsing the long blonde hair. "What I had to do? And you still want to touch me?"
-"I know of him; he was a client of Randy for a two or three years; violent, unpredictable… I'm not judging Ads because I know how it goes. You're not the only one forced to work for those guys and It doesn't change anything to me! You're still you, and we'll make it work."
-" He made me a whore and a freaking addict! How can you say that you're okay with it? I can't stay here and put you all in danger anyway." Adam gasped, unable to speak correctly . Tears rolled down his cheeks as he stared at the grey tiles on the wall.
-"Punk is an expert in rehab. He can help, he owes me. I'll feed you; clean you, sing you to sleep. I'll do anything I can. But don't give up, ok? And besides, I own a bar. What are the chances some vomit is gonna take the glamour off ?! Your home is here as long as you want it and I'm here too. It will be fine. I'll defend you, you're with me now." Jay said his mouth next to his friend's ear.
Adam turned his head so he could see the crooked smile on those lips he used to dream about. He nodded and left a small kiss on them before leaving a rather stunned Jason next to the bath to dry himself with a towel. The younger man finally came to his senses and exited to the living room.
-"I'm going to call Nash and the others; you can play video games, read or watch TV if you want." Jay stuttered before getting the phone and dialing the old cop. He gave him and Matt the same story minus the abuse in foster care and the kiss. Nash said he'd send Kane finish the job with Dave. The big red monster and his brother Mark Calaway were known to kill criminals as a hobby or even when they had bad breath. They put it as a community service when authorities called them murderers. For Jay, the two giant cleaners were men of exception and murder a matter of opinion.
Punk offered to help in the morning after his shift at the bar. Then the short blonde got to his stove and started to cook, declining Adam's help with a smile and letting him rest in the old couch where he watched some baseball game. They ate listening to the sound of the bar and trying to get to know each other again.
"The kiss was too much wasn't it? You don't swing that way. I'm so sorry." Adam stared at his plate waiting for an answer he probably feared more than any of Dave's blows or insult.
"No, it's not it. It just surprised me… I don't… You know… I never had a lot of relationships, with men or women. I was always looking for you, every day in every street. People never had the patience with me so it never lasted long." He made him look into smoky blue eyes. "And the kiss was very nice."
Adam blushed and bent over the table to plant a kiss on the tip of his nose and helped him clear the table. He tried to hide his shaky hands and his yawn the best he could but helping Jay change the sheets on their bed didn't help. Jay followed Phil's instructions and took water bottles; a bucket and some meds he knew would be helpful and helped him out of his clothes.
The night would be long, Jay thought as Adam fell asleep his body already shaking from withdrawal.