Challenge - 'Angel' - Soul Asylum

Joey woke the next morning with a smile on his face, it only took a millisecond to remember why. Chris. His smile grew into a grin when the visions they created the night before came crashing into his mind. Slowly he turned his head to get a glimpse of Chris peacefully sleeping and was shocked to see that Chris wasn't there. His side of the large bed was completely empty. The remaining man pushed himself up until he was sitting up against the headboard.

He ran a hand through his bed messed hair and listened to the silence of the house. He tuned his ears to hear even the slightest sound but he was met with incredible silence. His whole mood changed at the realisation and he found himself scared to leave the bed, scared that he would find Chris gone. He hoped he was wrong but deep down he could sense it already.

He slowly threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He quickly remembered his nakedness and reached down for his discarded boxers, he noticed Chris' clothes were no longer scattered along the floor.

Walking through into the living room he winces as the scent of himself and Chris fills the room. The undeniable scent of sex filled the whole apartment and it was only a reminder of the best night of his life and the worst morning after. The worst part? He could now see that Chris was neither in the living room or the kitchen. That left only two places. He checked the bathroom on the way to the spare bedroom and tried to ignore the fact that Chris' green toothbrush was gone.

As he feared the spare room was empty. Empty in every sense. No Chris but also none of his belongings. It was as if he had never stored his things there. He made his way over to the bed and sat on the edge. Leaning forward he rested his head in his hands and sighed. He couldn't believe Chris had left. After the most amazing night of his life he was alone. And it was then he realised that the old saying about not knowing what you had until it was gone, was indeed true. Because when he had Chris, when the small man was with him 24/7 he hadn't realised, but now he was gone he knew. He was in love.

At the revelation Joey jumped up from his seat and marched from the room into his own. Throwing on the same clothes he wore the night before he went in search of his keys. He had no idea where his search would start but he wasn't going to let Chris leave him. He found his keys on the kitchen worktop and couldn't remember how they had got there. Shrugging it off he reached for them in haste but stopped abruptly before touching them. Underneath the keys was a piece of folded paper with his name scrawled across it. With shaking hands he opened it.

Dear Joey,

I'm sorry but I had to leave. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I meant everything I said last night, I couldn't have lived without you. When I woke up this morning I watched you sleeping and you looked so happy, so peaceful and I realised that I couldn't ruin that. I'm just an ex-whore, I can't give you what you need. I can't keep the smile on your face while you sleep.

I'm leaving on the next train out and I don't want you to come looking for me. I am doing this for you because my love is tainted, you saved me once and now it's my turn to save you.

Chris.

Joey immediately screwed up the piece of paper and tossed it to the floor. He was angry. Pissed off at Chris and there was only one thing to do now. He was going to the station and if it was the last thing he did he was bringing Chris home and making him eat the piece of shit words he had just read.

****

Joey thanked God that there was only one station in town and he prayed that he wouldn't get pulled over for the speed he was driving at. It was as though something had taken over him and he had only one goal, to find Chris. At that moment nothing else mattered. Not the speed limit and not the old lady he had all but run over.

It only took five minutes to get there and his breath caught in his throat when he ran the corner and saw Chris standing on the platform with his bags strewn around him. The shorter man had his back to Joey and that gave the Italian man the time he needed to compose himself. He didn't use it, instead he marched as fast as he could over to Chris and spun him around.

"you left me." deep brown eyes widened in shock and his mouth fell open. The last person he had expected to see was Joey.

"Joe?.. I..."

"you left me Chris. You just up and fucking left me."

"I know. I.."

"why?"

"what?"

"why?" there was a heavy pause between the two. Two sets of chocolate eyes burning into each other. Joey was angry and Chris had never seen this before. He knew he caused and it only reinforced the fact that he couldn't be the one to make the larger man happy.

"did you read my note?"

"yes."

"then why are you here?" Again they battled each other with their eyes. Joey clenching and unclenching his fists while Chris wiped his sweaty palms on his khaki pants. He tried to stay strong but Joey saw the pain behind the braveness and his demeanour changed automatically. His tone softened and he slowly reached out to take Chris' hand. Chris let him.

"what happened last night, I've dreamed about it for so long, it was the most amazing night of my life. That's why the smile was there this morning. If I hadn't been with you it wouldn't have been there."

"I'm a whore Joey."

"an ex-whore! And that's just what you did not who you are." the words lay in the air and neither of them noticed the bystanders watching them.

"how can you think that? I slept with men for money. How can what we did be any different." Joey dropped the other man's hand and stepped back as though punched and Chris automatically regretted his words.

"if you can't see the difference what the hell am I fighting for?" dejectedly the younger man turned away and contemplated leaving. Alone. But the choice was made for him when he felt a small hand grip his arm and turn him back.

"I'm scared." his voice was small, a rasp that was barely heard and the hopelessly confused look haunting his gaze made Joey too weak not to pull the elfish man into a hug.

"you don't need to be scared Chris. Not of me, not of us."

"I'm scared of what I'll do to you. I don't want to hurt you." his voice was muffled by Joey's scratchy jumper and the movement of his lips through the material made Joey's loin quiver.

"you won't"

"how can you have so much faith in me?" they parted slowly and for the uncountable time they were aware of only the others deep soulful eyes.

"I love you."

"yeah?"

"hell yeah." they both laughed and were soon caught up in a slow tentative kiss. Only when they had drew on as much breath as they could did they part. Resting their heads against each other and arms wound around waists and torsos a low whisper could be heard.

"I love you too."

"I know. Now come home... I need some saving."

The End