What Not to Do (Kallisti)

[Aiden Finnegan]

Aiden could all but hear his eyes rolling to the back of his skull as Jaxen proclaimed himself a ‘handsome devil.’ Oh, he had physical beauty in spades, but the jury was still out on his personality. Their journey with the Naga court and the Treasures had shown Jaxen to be a deeply troubled man. Aiden could still see the trickster panicking and running aimlessly down those winding, alien corridors. It had been a damn shame to see that the hero’s journey had done nothing to better the man.

As if on cue, Jaxen asked after the Spear and Aiden felt his jaw tighten reflexively. His fist clenched and unclenched as he exhaled softly through his nose. It was fine. Everything was fine. Cooper would see that it was kept safe and away from prying eyes. If circling the block failed, well, there was a fine pistol stashed away in the glove compartment. Even a God could be brought down with a well placed bullet.

Jaxen approached them, doing everything in his power to appear effortless with his sexuality. Aiden cocked an eyebrow and twisted his upper lip slightly in confusion. What was the man about? The wallets and cameras began to flash again as the masses decided to ignore Sage’s little trick.

But then, Jaxen began to weave his own tricks. The colors of blood and viscera seemed to leap up across those surrounding them and then an orb of – what appeared to be – fairy fire sprung up above Jaxen’s head. Aiden’s mouth fell agape at the sight. What was the man playing at? The entirety of the gawkers went silent in unison as Jaxen’s cocky, preening voice was magnified and began to reverberate across the walls of the surrounding buildings.

Everything seemed to happen in a rush. Jaxen was upon him suddenly, pushing Dimitri and Sage aside as if they were yesterday’s trash. Jaxen’s touch found Aiden, his searching hands grasping for flesh. Aiden felt his mouth pushed open and Jaxen’s hungry tongue thrust into him. For an instant, Aiden felt his own tongue returning the dance. His pants had begun to grow a little tighter at the unexpected attention.

Their two bodies were awash in the lights of the paparazzi. Aiden’s head cleared and he all but shoved Jaxen off as Sage issued his warning. It was not a warning Aiden had been anticipating, but one he should always be ready for. Dimitri too was in a daze, but he quickly regained his composure as Sage stormed off before yelling at Aiden.

“Sir, should I call for the bouncers to have this scum removed from your presence?” Dimitri asked as the paparazzi began their barrage of questions once more.

Aiden wiped Jaxen’s spit from his lips and he chuckled slightly before replying, “No, Dimitri. I suspect my unlikely ‘paramour’ would have their guts for garters if they so much as laid a hand upon him. You go ahead. Make sure Sage hasn’t left through the back door.”

Dimitri scowled at Jaxen for a moment before he too walked off, pushing his way up into the club. The wallet in Aiden’s jacket buzzed quietly. He reached inside and pulled out a cigarette instead. With a Snake watching them, he was forced to use an actual lighter. A minor annoyance in the light of what had just happened. Aiden was upset with Jaxen, he was upset with the paparazzi, he was upset with his own body for responding to such a cheap move.

Jaxen had not moved much since the departure of Aiden’s coterie. What could Aiden say or do to the man before him? The paparazzi lurked along the edges. The Atharim were present. Nameless individuals all swirled around them, eager for what would happen next. For better or worse, Aiden was back in the public eye and it was unlikely any one was going to forget the night. Aiden took a deep breath and plastered on one of his award-winning smiles.

“Oh, my handsome, dramatic devil,” Aiden cooed loudly as he moved closer to Jaxen, bringing a hand up to stroke the man’s cheek tenderly. If Jaxen wanted the attention of the world, Aiden would gladly help him with that. Let him know just what it meant to be hounded at every waking hour. Let him understand just what it was to lose the fragile anonymity that was forever lost to the rich and the famous. Let him feel just what it felt like to be carrion for the vultures. Jaxen had made a name for himself, but not one so widely known as Aiden Finnegan.

Take it all, my chaotic harbinger. The Snakes know you now, Aiden thought to himself wryly as he took Jaxen’s face into both hands and kissed him hard. Aiden would make it up to Sage, somehow.

“It seems you two will have to duel for my affections, for I cannot chose just one. I hope your blade is as sharp as your kiss,” Aiden went on just as loudly before moving past Jaxen, stealing a squeeze of his ass in the process. He went into the club and pulled out his wallet.

Sage.

Of course, Sage was not stupid enough to fall prey to Jaxen’s tricks.

I love you too. I’m coming now. You have my word. That man is the damnedest creature, Aiden shot back to Sage before descending into the darkened club.