Just an fyi, I normally post chapters earlier and talk to people about the story on my lj and I'm usually one or more chapters ahead on there than here. You can get there via sophiadreith dot livejournal dot com. I enjoy responding to people on there so if you have a comment, feel free to post on there and I'll most likely respond to it. :)

Part Eight

Charlie was in the midst of driving them to Lola's after a day of shopping and touring the city. Well... the better parts of the city at any rate. They'd chosen a few other suit combinations at the suit shop and Charlie would have one of his guys pick up the packages tomorrow. After that they'd gone to lunch before walking down fifth avenue and looking through shop windows. Charlie thought it was time well spent because Tom asked him a million questions about everything they saw and Charlie answered the all as best as he could.

Tom seemed to have a better grasp of the world around him except for the last question he had asked when they got back into the car, "Charlie, who does everyone serve here?"

Charlie's hand stops its motion towards the lever to put the car into drive, "Serve? What do you mean by that?"

Tom merely blinked at him, "Do people not work in order to serve their master and that is how they live?"

Charlie's mouth opens immediately to say no but he stops and thinks over the question, "No one serves a master anymore, per say, but everyone has a boss or a person they answer to. They have a job and work to earn money to pay for the things they need to live. Some people work harder or have a more specialized profession so they earn more money. But no one is bound to work for a person as a slave or anything."

"Money... Those slips of paper that you exchanged for the things we..."Tom stops as he searched for the right word, "bought today? You earn it by working for a boss?"

"Yes, that's what money is. I earn it by working and then spend it on items in order to live or to better my situation."

Silence reigned in the car as they drove and they were over halfway home before Tom asked, "I don't want to be a burden to you and I want to pay you back for all the things you've bought for me. Can I get a job as well?"

Charlie wouldn't admit it out loud and he would barely admit it to even himself, but he'd been putting off talking about money and jobs to Tom on purpose. Tom was safely living in his home away from anyone who would try and take advantage of the man. Charlie ignored his own hypocrisy because he wanted what was best for the green eyed man.

"Sure, I'll see about getting you a job. But it'll be a bit harder. I don't think you should work anywhere too far from the house since you can't drive and we don't really know what skills you have."

Tom nods, "I'll work hard, whatever the job."

Charlie was content to leave it at that. It was fairly obvious that Tom had no idea about how bad things could be in the world outside the bubble Charlie had built for his new companion. That fact was more than made obvious by his questions. And Charlie really had no idea where the man came from but it was assuredly not from around here. That armor and clothing he'd worn had been something of obvious expense and quality. The design and construction was unlike anything he'd seen before except perhaps in a museum and the helmet had looked like a prize trophy out of a dime store fantasy novel. The strange clothing was far too nice to be something made on a lark unless Tom possessed some massive fortune. But if that were the case, there would be people looking for him.

Charlie shook off his thoughts as they pulled in front of Lola's Show House. It was one of his speakeasies that he operated in AR's territory. The nicest and probably the only one he'd even think of bringing Tom to. They got out of the car and Charlie handed off the keys to a valet and he lead Tom into the club with a loose hand on the small of the other man's back.

Tom's eyes were large as they entered the main area. Plush booths done in a red crushed velvet lined the wall around the stage and a black woman stood there singing a sultry song with a band behind her playing. This early there weren't man patrons and so he easily led Tom over to an empty booth and the two sat down. They didn't have a chance to start much conversation before Charlie was greeted by a couple of his associates.

"Lucky! Hey, didn't expect to see you here for another few days!"

Charlie turned and saw Tommy Gagliano and Joe Arosa standing beside his table.

"Tommy! Joe! Come siete miei amici?" He reached up and shook their hands in greetings. He'd gotten his bootlegging enterprise started with Joe and Tommy was another underboss for Rothstein.

Joe answered, "We're doing good, my friend. What are you doing back in Manhattan? I thought you swore you were taking a vacation and nothing was gonna stop you from relaxin'."

Charlie chuckled, "I just got tired of the country air is all. Missed the hustle and bustle of the city."

Tommy looked from him to Tom, who so far had remained silent, "Is that right? Who's your friend?"

Charlie hesitated a half second and he knew it had been picked up by the pair but he ignored it, "This is Tom Marriston. He's an associate who's just arrived from England and I'm showing him around town."

Tommy, it seemed, was in a conspiratorial mood because he asked, "Really? Where in England do you hail from? I have some family in those parts."

Charlie felt his eyes widen a bit and he drew a blank on an answer. Tom, however, was quick, "Clarkenwell, just outside London."

Tommy smiled, "Ah, the northern area, My cousins live in Croyden, towards the south. Ever been there?"

Tom smiled back, "I'm sorry, I haven't"

Tommy shrugged it off and seemed to lose interest in Charlie's companion, much to Sicilian's relief. The two men bid their good byes and left the club. Charlie turned to Tom, "Where the hell is Clarkenwell?"

Tom tilted his head, "I have no idea. That book, Tom Sawyer, was written by a man named Mark Twain, I think."

Charlie could only blink at that statement.

Tom continued, "It says in the back that at least at the time that copy was printed that he was living in Clarkenwell just outside London in England doing lectures at a university there."

Charlie smiled a bit before laughing softly and at that point a server came over to hand them menus and take their drink order.

o0oOo0o

Charlie, overall, was pleased with how the night had gone. They'd stayed after dinner for the show and when the lights had darkened, Charlie wasted no time in draping his arm behind Tom. He'd been more than gratified when the green-eyed man had leaned into the touch even as Charlie began to run his fingers through the loose curls at the base of the man's skull.

It wasn't terribly late when they'd gotten home but it was late enough that the servants were already abed. Charlie quietly lead Tom up the stairs to the third floor, his fingers clasped with the other man's. They arrived on the top floor and the pair stopped in front of Tom's room. Charlie looked up at Tom for a few seconds before his hand came up to dig into Tom's curls. He pulled him down and their lips met. Tom brought his hands up to cup Charlie's face as the kiss intensified and they came closer together. Charlie backed Tom up until his back hit the door jam at the entrance to the bedroom.

While Charlie wasn't used to kissing anyone taller than himself, he was more than pleased as Tom seemed perfectly content to take all that Charlie was willing to give to him. Charlie was about to take it further and push Tom deeper into the bedroom when the taller man's hands slid from his jaw and onto his shoulders. His companion then pushed him away, breaking the kiss.

Tom's voice was shaky, "I-I can't do this. I don't even know if I've ever been with a man or if I even like men."

Charlie pulled his face closer, "Do you want me?"

Tom looked down and let out a broken sigh before replying softly, "Yes."

Charlie's fingers tightened, "Then that's all you really need." He again leaned up for another kiss but Tom pulled away again.

His eyes were wide and glassy with doubt."No, I-I can't."

Charlie felt his fingers loosen from their grip on the other man,"Why not?"

Tom's head came back up to look Charlie in the eye, "Is this the price for letting me stay here?"

Charlie felt his blood cool immediately and he immediately released the green eyed man and stepped away from Tom who sagged against the jam.

Charlie looked away and sighed in defeat before looking back at Tom, "There will never be a price for letting you stay in this house." He stepped closer once again and brought his hand up to run his fingers over Tom's smooth jaw, "But I'm not going to lie to you. I want you. More than I've ever wanted anyone else. You're special to me and I want you to stay here with me as my companion and maybe one day as my lover. I'll help you as much as I can but there will never be a price for that."

Charlie watched Tom's face looking for understanding and Tom eventually nodded. Charlie nodded back and bid the taller man goodnight before turning and walking away to his own bedroom.