Page 12 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
“Crucibles are supposed to come one at a time.”
Jun raised both eyebrows. “Do they ever?”
Damian growled. “We’re not going to know what normal is.”
Jun laughed. “I don’t know what normal is. A month ago, I was an invisible slave on stage for the world to watch.”
“Do you want normal?” Damian pulled them both up on the bed. They kicked their shoes off together, curling up facing each other, Jun’s wrist still tethered to Damian’s grip.
“I want you.” Jun’s eyes softened with affection. “I want my music, my friends.”
“I want to have you. I want to watch you sing and go backstage and grab you off your feet and kiss you until they have to redo your makeup.”
Jun giggled, his eyes crinkling up to almost nothing. He rubbed his nose against Damian’s. “Tell me more of your fantasies. We’ll make them real.”
“Chasing you and Collin together, with Richard, in the woods in the summer.”
“Does Collin even like that?”
“He’ll try anything once for Richard. It would mean something different for him than you, but he’d still enjoy it.”
Jun’s eyes softened. “I bet he’d be beautiful.”
“Tell me one of your fantasies.”
Jun pressed his lips together, suddenly shy. “It’s a little extreme.”
“Everything about us is.”
Jun snorted. “Not like this. Ever since I saw the church, I’ve had this concept. I’m standing in front of a crowd and you’re behind me with a bullwhip. One of those long ones. And you’re making it real.”
“How am I making it real?”
“You’re putting my insides on the outsides. You’re making it real. I’m singing the words, but you’re giving me permission to scream.”
“You want me to whip you?”
“Yes.”
Damian touched his fingers to Jun’s face. The boy’s eyes were so open and clear, so trusting. “As punishment or eroticism?”
“Both. Sometimes, when I’m writing, I wish I could bleed when I sing. Make them see, make it feel as real outside as it is inside.”
“Then I’ll learn.” Damian kissed Jun once on each eyelid. “I’ll learn how to use a bullwhip.”
Jun curled into him. “If there weren’t kids who might need us two doors away…”
Damian groaned. “The idea of my nieces and nephew accidentally hearing us…”
Jun snickered. “Clothes on, then. Gah, this is weird.”
Damian woke by degrees. Just another hotel. White comforter. White pillow. Too firm mattress. He rubbed a hand over his head. Which trip was he on again? Which city?
Oh…
There was no trip.
He reached blindly out to the other side of the bed. Jun was nowhere to be found. The sheets still smelled of him, but the heat of a second body was almost gone. He checked his phone. Time to get up.
