An Entangled Life
Chapter 9: Through New Eyes
It was in the afternoon when Fred finally got Martin back to his apartment.
Fred gently rested him in bed and sat beside him.
Who could really hurt his feelings? He's so cute, even when he's upset. – Fred
Martin hiccupped and clung to Fred.
"I'm a freak," Martin said fearfully.
"No you're not," Fred disagreed.
"Then why did I hurt Jackson so badly?" Martin asked.
Fred sighed.
"Jackson got what he deserved," Fred said simply, "stop feeling sorry for the guy."
"But if I had hit him twice I…" Martin started.
"But you didn't," Fred interrupted, "Martin, you need to get over it."
"I can't," Martin responded, "I'm a monster."
Fred's face burned in anger.
"Listen to me!" Fred shouted grabbing him by the collar.
"Fred?" Martin whimpered.
"You need to grow up," Fred shouted, "GROW UP!" he exploded shaking Martin.
"I can't," Martin said crying.
"Get out," Fred said suddenly letting her go.
"What?" Martin squeaked.
"Unless you can grow a backbone," Fred said, "get out."
"No," Martin refused.
"Excuse me?" Fred demanded, "are you refusing to get out of my apartment?" he demanded.
Martin shook his head.
"Then get out," Fred told him.
Martin shook his head.
Fred growled furiously.
"I'll tell Judy," Martin threw out.
Fred froze.
"Did you…did you just use my sister against me?" Fred asked.
Martin pulled himself away. He knew he had made a mistake.
"You know what," Fred said, "look around and find something to do."
"What?" Martin asked.
"Find something to do," Fred said angrily, "employment," he expanded, "do things around the house to pay for room and board," he concluded.
"Pay?" Martin asked.
"I kept you for free because Judy asked me," Fred said, "also because I liked you but you've shot that to hell so that's out now."
"Bu…" Martin started.
"One protest and I'll tell Judy what you said," Fred interrupted, "think she defended you," he asked, "see how she'll defend me," he challenged.
Martin gulped.
"So," Fred said, "what can you do?" he asked.
"I can sweep, put things away, clean up…" Martin started.
"Boring!" Fred shouted, "I have an idea," he said and left the room.
Martin shifted uncomfortably. He was doubting that he was going to like what Fred had in store for him.
Fred suddenly came back with a camera, camcorder and bunch of clothes.
Martin looked at Fred's load in confusion.
"You ever model?" Fred asked.
Martin looked at Fred incredulously.
"Okay," Fred said, "you model, I stop bitching about payments and kicking you out," he offered.
Martin thought about it.
I guess it's better than cleaning. – Martin
"Um, okay," Martin agreed.
"Good," Fred said happily and set up the camera and camcorder, "sit up and cross you legs," he instructed.
Martin slowly obeyed.
Fred took two shots.
"Tilt your head," Fred instructed, "look that me like you're about to get me for something."
"What?" Martin asked.
"Imagine I just kicked you into the street after stealing your underwear," Fred suggested.
Martin glared at Fred angrily.
Fred took the picture.
"You're depraved," Fred countered.
"Then leave," Fred countered.
"Hey!" Martin cried.
"You complained," Fred countered.
Martin pouted.
Fred took the picture.
Martin's eyes widened.
"You look cute when you pout," Fred said.
Martin looked at Fred to see if he was serious.
Then Martin grinned.
"Fred," Martin teased.
"What?" Fred asked sensing mischief.
Martin stuffed one of his hands into his pants.
Fred's jaw hit the floor.
Martin took his hand out as soon as Fred snapped the picture.
"For your photo book," Martin said grinning.
"You're a mean little thing you know that?" Fred asked, "mischievous too," he added.
Martin laughed.
After taking a few more photos Fred gave Martin a change of clothes.
Martin soon wore a white marina under a black leather jacket, black boxers, black biker gloves, purple tinted sunglasses, and a black chauffer cap.
"This is weird," Martin said frankly.
"Just have fun with it," Fred said.
Martin thought about the bikers he saw on tv. He decided to do some menacing poses.
Fred laughed and took them all.
Martin decided to take off the jacket, sunglasses, and cap.
"What are you doing?" Fred asked.
"You said something earlier," Martin said in response.
Martin lay back on the bed and with his head hanging over side, pouted.
Fred laughed hard. He had to make Martin pose again in order to take the picture.
"This is fun," Martin said laughing.
They continued playing around with pictures and poses for over an hour.
"This is fun," Martin said laughing.
He now wore a big white nightshirt. Feeling adventurous he went commando underneath.
Fred was surprised.
"I'm not lifting this shirt," Martin commented on the shirt that went half way down his thighs.
"That's fine," Fred said, "I have an active imagination," he added.
Martin looked at him suspiciously.
"No," Fred said firmly.
Martin wasn't happy.
"I promise," Fred said, "I never spied on you."
Martin wasn't convinced.
"I look in on you when you sleep," Fred confessed, "but nothing else," he added.
"When I sleep?" Martin asked, "why?"
"Um, because you're…cute?" Fred asked.
Martin soon started laughing.
"What?" Fred asked.
"I must be more than cute," Martin responded.
Fred looked at Martin disapprovingly.
"Um," Martin said, "do you think…do you think I'd make a good partner for someone?" he asked.
"What?" Fred cried shocked at the question.
"Uh, never mind," Martin said softly.
Fred came from behind the camera.
"Is there something wrong?" Fred asked.
"What if?" Martin started, "what if someone came to you and said you had a relationship?" he asked.
Fred's eyes bulged out his head.
"Someone came yesterday," Martin revealed, "but…" he said and stopped, "I don't like her," he said honestly.
Fred looked at Martin sadly.
"Did she say you two were involved sexually?" Fred asked, "in love, engaged to each other?" he asked.
Martin froze.
Oh no. – Martin
"What's wrong?" Fred asked.
In love? Oh god I'm married. I'm practically an adulterer right now. – Martin
"Come on it's not like you're doing anything wrong?" Fred said, "you yourself told Judy that your social security information never showed you as married," he continued, "so unless you're patching up a common law union, you're a free…"
Martin silenced him with a kiss.
"I don't want to patch things up," Martin said breathing hard, "I want…"
Fred looked at Martin warily.
How does he go from shy and innocent to wild and flirting? – Fred
Martin himself was breathing hard. But for another reason.
"Fred I…" Martin started.
"Is this to compensate for something?" Fred asked suddenly.
Martin looked hurt.
"I'd never use you," Martin said softly.
Martin lay in the bed and went under the covers.
Soon he felt someone climb in beside him.
"Martin," Fred said.
Martin didn't answer.
"I know you have a hard on," Fred revealed.
Martin's eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"I can help you instead of leaving you to wait it out," Fred offered.
"I'm just.." Martin said softly.
"It's okay," Fred said kindly scooting over, "everyone had to learn his or her first time."
"They probably weren't twenty-two," Martin said ashamed.
"Listen," Fred said, "I'll guide you," he offered, "you can get there on your own," he said, "you're just nervous."
"I watch the shows but I just…" Martin said his voice breaking.
"You watching that stuff is like a fat girl reading vogue magazines," Fred said, "you're only going to feel worse."
Martin flung himself on Fred and cried.
"I'm so useless," Martin said suddenly, "how can I survive in the real world when I can't even do basic things," he said crying.
"Well masturbation isn't…" Fred started.
"Did you meet anyone out of their teens who…" Martin started.
"Hey," Fred said firmly, "you have amnesia," he reminded Martin, "a lot of things are going to be hard for you to master."
Martin looked at Fred strangely.
"Ahem, wrong choice of words," Fred admitted.
Soon Martin was laughing.
Fred chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.
Martin fell back on his pillows laughing harder.
Fred leaned over him.
Martin eventually stopped and noticed Fred.
Fred grinned.
"Pervert," Martin said.
"Proud of it," Fred said and leaned in closer.
Martin started undoing the nightshirt's buttons.
Fred stopped him.
"No need," Fred said lifting him.
"Why…wha…" Martin started confused.
"Trust me," Fred said.
"Okay," Martin said softly.
Soon the apartment rang with grunts and screams.
Afterwards Martin lay shuddering on Fred's chest.
"Never again," Fred declared.
"Bu…" Martin started.
"You dislocated my shoulders," Fred said incredulously.
"You popped it back in," Martin said softly.
"You know how painful that is?" Fred demanded, "next time you hold unto the headboard."
Martin pouted.
"I said I was sorry," Martin said softly.
Fred hugged him close.
"I know Martin," Fred said gently, "I know."
But I have no idea what you are Martin. No idea at all. – Fred
Chapter 9