Demon Diary Fan Fiction ❯ Acidic ❯ The Triumph of Minty Freshness ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: I am so sorry I've taken so long to update! I've been grounded - I still am, in fact, and I want all of you to know that I'm sneaking on to update this!

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue; me no own, so you no sue!

x(X)x

Eclipse simmered silently as he dragged Raenef into the hallway. Normally he would have been sorry for frightening the boy so, but just now he thought the little wretch deserved it.

The door began to slam shut behind them, but a mechanism slowed it at the last second. It closed with a soft click, echoing much like the proverbial dropped pin. Eclipse steered Raenef down the hall and into the boys' restroom, his grip never slackening. Glaring with enough force to stop a freight train, he released the captive wrist and leaned against a nearby stall. It took all of his self-discipline - and there was a lot of it - to keep his voice at a venomous hiss.

“What the hell was that?!”

Raenef, apparently much more confident now that Eclipse had let go of him, slumped against the adjacent wall. He fixed the rocker with an insolent stare. “Isn't it obvious?”

Eclipse growled deep in his throat. Screw control, he thought violently. Within moments he had the blonde pinned, his arms on either side of the delicate shoulders. Their faces were mere inches apart, and he was momentarily distracted by a thrill of pleasure deep in his abdomen as a gust of hot, sweet breath ghosted his chin. He forced himself to find the anger once more. “Not to me. I'm afraid I'm not too bright, so you'll have to spell it out.”

The boy smiled calmly up at him, though there was a touch of malice to it. “And what if I don't feel like it? Do you really think you can do any worse than they have?” He leaned into Eclipse, a powerful mixture of lithe muscle and organic confidence.

The gap between them was so small as to be nonexistent. Eclipse stiffened with fury, but it was quickly replaced by something entirely different, if no less powerful. Lust began roiling in his chest as he took in velvety skin, crystalline eyes with thick lashes, and candied lips.

He leaned forward in turn, forcing Raenef against the wall. He was gratified by a darkening of the boy's eyes, a sharp hitch in his breath. His hand moved seemingly of its own accord, hovering on Raenef's hip. The other slid up the untucked shirt, pale and serpentine. It teased the flat stomach, massaging tenderly until it reached the spot between pectorals.

His eyes widened with amusement. Composed as the boy might appear, his heart was beating furiously, rabbit-frantic beneath the skin. He brought his head down until their lips were a mere hairsbreadth away. “I doubt I can do worse... But you'll find I can do far better,” he murmured feverishly. Raenef stared back, eyes wide with shock.

Eclipse leaned away abruptly, smug satisfaction in every line of his face. He tapped an imaginary watch at his wrist. “Raenef, is it? I believe you have a class to be in.”

Raenef gaped momentarily. Finally collecting himself, he strode out with feigned indifference.

“Oh, and Eclipse?” the male in question looked up. “Get a breathmint.”

He exited with his nose stuck in the air, leaving Eclipse to laugh softly after doing some gaping of his own.

“That'll do nicely,” he murmured.

x(X)x

Raenef fumbled in his deep pockets for his house key, momentarily distracted by a dark wisp of cloud overhead that reminded him ever-so-slightly of - Raenef cut the thought off before it could take shape. He jammed the key into the lock, jerking the door open in pure bad temper.

He walked to the answering machine on its stand near the door, pressing the play button absentmindedly. He deleted a message from a telemarketer who thought the lady of the house would be much happier with a new vacuum cleaner, two from his mother, one saying that she'd be back in a few days (go figure) and another to let him know that there was money for pizza on the fridge. He paused when he heard Chris.

“Rae? Chris here. Me and Erutis just wanted to let you know that we'll be there at nine and you need to be ready to”- Erutis cut in. “Don't even think about staying home. Everyone knows about you and Mr. Rockstar, and there is no way in hell I'm letting you ditch us just to avoid a guy who, in case you haven't noticed, is totally hot! Be ready at nine, not ten, and don't whine. Seeya!”

The machine beeped as the message ended. Raenef slumped against the wall, scowling while admitting a grudging admiration for Erutis. She knew him all too well.

x(X)x

Raenef scowled as Erutis brushed out the hair she had insisted he wear down. It shone platinum in the light of the bathroom, a spot of glowing color against his black ensemble. His “sis” had taken one look at his outfit and informed him that everybody would be wearing black. He had a sinking feeling that a certain group who he refused to acknowledge the existence of might be responsible.

So it had come to pass that he was decked out in a low-collar black top with bell-like sleeves, more eyeliner than he had thought humanly possible, boots with thick soles, and leather pants that, according to Erutis, looked “like he were dipped in them” and “really brought out his ass.”

Chris, when commenting that Erutis might actually look like a girl if she dressed like that, received a blow from Erutis that made Raenef flinch until he realized that meant Chris considered his clothes girly. His sympathy evaporated with that revelation.

x(X)x

Oz seemed somehow fresh that night, as if Raenef were seeing it for the first time. The puffy mushroom-shaped stools were full of patrons who all became glamorous under flashing lights. The neon furniture was enchanting, not gaudy. Raenef began to develop a crick in his neck from staring at the ceiling, which he had never noticed was a giant copy of Van Gogh's Starry Night.

He admitted silently that the best decoration of all was the dark figure at a corner table that radiated sensuality. Raenef remembered the coolness of Eclipse's hands on his skin and shivered. He's dangerous.

His inner self winked cheekily at him. `You hate clichés. Don't start using them now. And stop whining. He turns you on and you know it.'

Isn't there supposed to be a dude with a halo on my other shoulder? `You told him to fuck off and leave you the hell alone. And you might have used a few not-so-nice words for guys in dresses who play harps. Or was that me?'

Raenef started as a hand came to rest on his shoulder. He jerked his head up to meet heavy-lidded violet eyes. It took him several moments to realize that Eclipse's other hand was extended in his direction. In it was a small, neatly wrapped package.

He took it slowly, darting several suspicious glances in the Dark One's direction. Eclipse grinned frostily at him. “Open it when you get home.” He glanced at the large grandfather clock against the wall. “I have a little while before I need to go play. I'll buy you a drink to make up for the one you spilled all over me.”

x(X)x

Raenef sipped furiously at his Coke, wondering what gods were using him as a source of amusement at the moment. Eclipse watched him in a way that put him in mind of a predator, and he hated the fact that the jerk was turning him on.

The eleventh act ended, and the blonde guitarist gave Eclipse an easy-to-read glare as the band began to set up. Eclipse rose gracefully, but did not go to the stage. Instead, he sidled up to Raenef's side in the table. Raenef shuddered as he felt the singer breathe on his ear.

“I know you're going to try and disappear after this song, so I just want to save us both a lot of trouble and make one thing clear now.

“I will have you. One way or another, I will have you.” He tilted his head so that he could look into Raenef's eyes. “I just hope you're ready.”

x(X)x

Raenef drew his feet up under his legs on the couch. He had tossed his shoes somewhere in the room, but he wasn't putting any money on as to where. He drew the package out of his jacket pocket gingerly, watching as the lights refracted off the silver paper.

He tore it open slowly, and then let it rest in his hand. Astonishment mixed with amusement.

Lying in his palm was a pristine box of breathmints.

x(X)x

A/N: I may be grounded from the computer, but I'm still the evil review-eating monster!

Leijhana tu'sai to all readers and reviewers!