Stirring Creatures

by Darien Cox

“Wow,” Christian said. “You’ve come a long way. I think you could only say three words when we last met.”

  Joff’s smile widened, showing even white teeth. “Okay. I learn your language. Is not so difficult.”

  Elliot approached and set down a bottle of wine and glasses next to a plate of cheese and crackers. “I don’t know about that, Joff,” he said, giving the hybrid a smile. “It’s pretty difficult to learn an entire language in a month. For us, anyway.”

  “Agreed,” Christian said. “We could never learn a new language that fast.”

  “He is not you,” Baz said from the end of the table. “Is much smarter than human.”

  Salty tonight indeed, Christian thought, glancing at Baz. He couldn’t see Baz’s eyes with the dark sunglasses covering them, but got the distinct impression the hybrid was scowling. “Yeah, he’s smarter than us,” Christian said. “Guess he’s smarter than you, too. Joff’s speech is a lot smoother than yours.”

  “Oh, noooo.” Joff waved a long white hand, a dismissive gesture. “Baz very smart.”

  “Do not need to defend me, Joff,” Baz said. “I do not care.”

  Joff looked at Christian and widened his eyes, then glanced down, a smirk tugging at his pale lips. The smirk was so utterly human that Christian barked out a laugh.

  “Okay.” Elliot seated himself at the other end of the table. “Now that everyone’s reacquainted, we should—”

  “Wait please,” Joff said, and turned his head, smiling at Myles. “I did not yet say greeting to Myles, yes?”

  “Oh.” Myles looked uncomfortable, leaning back slightly, away from Joff. “Hello, Joff.”

  “We meet before, yes? You to remember, Myles?”

  “Yeah.” Myles’ brows lowered. “I remember you.” The look Myles gave the hybrid was unfriendly, and Christian felt a tension building around the table.

  Shit. How the hell are we supposed to go from this awkwardness to sex tonight?

  The smile left Joff’s face, and his shoulders hunched slightly, reminding Christian of Baz’s ‘I just got in trouble’ posture. “Words wrong?” Joff asked Myles. “I to offend?”

  “Your words are fine,” Myles said. “I’m just not real comfortable around people who’ve been using fantasies about my boyfriend to get off.”

  “Ah.” Joff nodded and turned away, but didn’t seem terribly bothered. “Make sense.”

  “Myles is man of law,” Baz offered from the end of the table. “In his nature to want punish others for crimes, Joff. Ignore.”

  “Oh fuck off, Baz!” Myles said. “I get you’re not happy to be here, but neither are we, so can the attitude.”

  Baz stood. “Need cold air.”

  “Baz, come on.” Nolan stood. “Just sit down, okay? We need to figure this out.”

  Baz turned to Nolan. “Need. Cold. Air. Nolan. Five minute?”

  Nolan’s shoulders slumped. “Okay. You know where the deck is. Go ahead. Take five minutes.”

  Baz left the dining room, stalking off on long legs.

  Christian sighed and leaned back in his chair. “How the fuck are we supposed to cure me if Flouncy McFlouncerson out there is gonna be a prick all night? It’s not like any of this is my fault.”

  Joff leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “He is...humiliate. Understand? Whites...much scold. Shout at him for what do to you. Baz is go through much pain inside.”

  “This isn’t easy for any of us,” Myles said. “But it has to be done. I’m not walking out of here until Christian is cured.”

  “Yes, yes.” Joff patted Myles’ hand. “To figure out, okay?”

  Myles snatched the wine bottle and began filling his glass. “How? This is the least sexy scenario ever.”

  Elliot’s eyebrows rose as he watched Myles fill the huge wine glass right to the top. “Look guys,” Elliot said. “You four can use the front room for your...thing tonight. There are couches and tons of throw pillows. Fireplace is lit. We’ll lower the lights. There’s plenty of alcohol at the bar in there. You’ll figure it out. This is about Christian’s health. It needs to be done, so everyone has to let go of their shit.”

  “I think you to speak with Baz.” Joff pointed a long finger at Christian. “To make calm.”

  “I’m supposed to calm him down? How? Baz is clearly not thrilled to see me tonight.”

  Joff did that little smirk again, lifted his shoulders, then dropped them. “At least you know safe to speak with, yes? He is angry so will not climax on you right now.”

  Myles choked on his wine, coughing.

  “Apology.” Joff placed a hand on Myles’ back, and his coughing fit instantly ceased.

  Myles glanced at him. “What are you doing?”

  “I take cough away. Is good?”

  “Don’t screw with my body, hybrid. I can handle my own coughing fit.”

  Joff withdrew his hand. “Apology. For make inhale wine. I forget humans have...jealousy with the sex.”

  “Right. You’re so open-minded. You hybrids have it all figured out. Meanwhile poor Christian’s walking around with an involuntary boner and breaking glass with his mind.”

  “You are very beautiful eyes, Myles.”

  Myles frowned. “Are you flirting with me?”

  Joff’s large eyes narrowed. “Do not understand word.” He looked at Nolan. “Flirting?”

  “Uh...” Nolan chuckled. “Myles, Joff was just giving you a compliment. You do have nice eyes.”

  “Yes, very beautiful, Myles,” Joff said. “When angry, still beautiful.”

  Christian snorted.

  “Christian?” Joff smiled. “We can maybe give Myles gift tonight, yes? To make happy?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is...Christmas? Happy Christmas? Time for gift, yes? Baz...to take back climax from you...” Joff held his arm out, closed his fist, and made a pulling gesture. “Bring through Myles. So he can feel you climax. Is gift. Yes?”

  “What are you saying?” Myles gave Joff a wary look.

  “Baz agree, we talk about. Can make you feel Christian climax when happen tonight. Maybe make Myles happy so not angry.”

  Myles looked at Christian, his cheeks flushing.

  “You can do that?” Christian asked.

  “Oh sure. You just...” Joff wrapped his arms around himself. “Hold to Myles when Baz take from you. Energy...go through Myles.” He turned and smiled at Myles, then pointed at him. “You will like. Good feels.”

  “You would know,” Myles said. “You’ve been siphoning Baz’s Christian fantasies off him, so I’m told.”

  “Be lax, Myles!” Joff gestured toward Christian. “Baz say Christian love you. Is yours. No one to take away. Is just sex feels.”

  “It’s more than just sex feels between me and Christian,” Myles said. “I actually love him, though that’s probably not an enlightened enough concept for you.”

  “I know love!” Joff placed a hand on his own chest, looking offended. “Your ambassador. He is my love! My love. Tear my heart to see him unhappy.”

  “Christian,” Nolan said. “Maybe you should go out on the deck and talk to Baz. This night will go easier for the both of you if the air is cleared.”

  “Yeah,” Elliot said. “Baz obviously isn’t quite as...eager to start the festivities as Joff is.”

  “Ah ah ah!” Joff grabbed a glass. “Is true. I like sex.” He poured wine into his glass. “We will find way to make my love happy. Baz will stop to be angry soon.”

  Myles scowled at Joff, then glanced at Elliot.

  “Isn’t he something?” Elliot said. “Nolan and I think we should find a way to siphon Joff’s optimism and sell it as an antidepressant.”

  “Ah ah ah! Nolan and Elliot say this in before. Think amusing I am so happy.”

  “Happy is good,” Christian said. “So let’s try and fix the crappy.” He stood. “Okay. Back deck?”

  “Yeah.” Nolan pointed. “Through that room right there.”

  Sig
hing, Christian glanced at Myles. “Let’s get this over with huh? I’ll be right back. Gonna go try talking to alien cranky-pants.”

  Myles nodded. “Be careful.”

  “I will.” Christian started out of the room.

  “Tell him if he stop being angry I will do that thing he like!” Joff called out.

  Pausing, Christian looked back. “I think I’ll leave that to you, but thanks.” Shaking his head, he moved through a darkened room, turned left, and found a sliding door that led to a large deck facing the forest.

  Sliding the door open, he stepped outside and closed it behind him. The view was magnificent, a wall of pine trees dusted with snow. Rubbing his arms, he glanced around, spotting Baz’s tall white form at the far end of the deck. Baz leaned on the railing, staring off into the mountains.

  Christian approached, wishing he’d grabbed his coat. It was fucking freezing out, but Baz of course seemed fine in just his sweater. “Hey. Baz.”

  Baz glanced back at him, still wearing the sunglasses. “I taking five minute, Chrischris.”

  “Yeah. Fine. But you’ve been out here longer than that. Can we talk?”

  Baz turned and faced him, leaning back against the railing and crossing his arms over his chest. “Okay.”

  “Any way we can go inside?” Christian hugged himself, shivering. “Human. Remember? Cold.”

  “Okay.”

  Christian walked back to the door, Baz’s soft footsteps behind him. They went inside, and Christian moved down a short hallway, finding Nolan’s office. He waved Baz inside, and closed the door.

  Baz moved to the loveseat against the wall and sat down, clasping his hands.

  “So.” Christian pulled out Nolan’s desk chair and sat. “Looks like we’ve gotten ourselves into a situation here.”

  Baz’s head lifted. “We?”

  “I’m willing to take my share of responsibility. I shouldn’t have hugged you without permission.”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you take the sunglasses off?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Do not wish to be seen tonight.”

  “I’ve seen your eyes plenty of times, Baz.”

  “Things different now. Baz fuck up. No share eyes with anymore.”

  “Well we’re supposed to share more than eyes tonight! You’re not making this easier on me. I mean...what the fuck? You’re kind of being a dick.”

  “I fuck up and have everyone shout at. Have shame from Whites. Have shame from Myles. Do not feel love tonight. For anyone.”

  “Not even Joff?”

  Baz was silent for a beat. “Love Joff but he annoy tonight.”

  “I thought Joff was gonna help you...get there tonight. Do what needs to be done.”

  “And you, Chrichris? To do what need to be done?”

  “I’m gonna try! It’s not like we have a choice.”

  Baz huffed. “I think maybe you would rather die than do the sex with me close.”

  Christian stood and walked toward him, hands on his hips. “I’m not the bad guy here. This isn’t my fault so quit being petty.”

  “Stop to call me names! Is difficult for me as well. Do not want to watch you like that.”

  “No? Thought you’d been fantasizing about me.”

  “No to speak of that! Was upset when speak to Myles. Wish now...did not tell so much.”

  “Well, you did. I know everything, and we can’t go back in time. So how about you stop feeling sorry for yourself and cut the bullshit, Baz. You’re being an ass.”

  Baz pointed at him. “I make mistake when I say you are kind.”

  “Oh, really? Thought you loved me.”

  “Right now I do not even like you.”

  Christian chuckled. “Yeah, well right now I don’t like you much either. Now let’s go have sex.”

  Looking up quickly, Baz’s white cheeks tinged peach.

  “You know what I mean. We have to have sex in the same room, right? So you can do your thing when I come?”

  Letting out a shaky breath, Baz said, “Yes. Is what need to happen.”

  “Then let’s go over this. Figure out the rules. Like grownups. Shit, Baz, if I can be a grownup about this, then so can you. What are you, like eighty hundred years old?”

  Baz’s lips curved, and he let out a soft huff. “Ah ah. Funny, Chriscrhis.”

  “You’re laughing. That’s a start.”

  Baz removed his glasses and set them on the loveseat beside him. He raised his luminous eyes and met Christian’s gaze. Blinking long white lashes, he nodded. “Okay. We figure out. Be grownup.”

  Christian grabbed the desk chair and dragged it over, sitting before Baz. “Tell me how this needs to happen.”

  Baz’s lips tightened. “Ellytot say can use big room. So we do not need be too...close. You will get yourself excite. With...Myles, if this is how you want.”

  “Yeah. Okay. And you?”

  “I will get excite with Joff. You tell me when time to explode. I come touch. Take energy from. Make sure is gone from you.”

  Christian fidgeted with his shirt sleeve, awkward. “Where do you need to touch me?”

  “Anywhere on body. What make you okay? Shoulder?”

  “Sure. That’s fine. What about Myles? Joff said something about...sharing my...you know. With him.”

  “Ugh.” Baz rubbed his temples. “Joff is so...annoy sometimes. Want to make everyone happy.”

  “Is it not a good idea, or can it not be done?”

  “Can be done. If you hold to Myles when explode, can pull through his body. But Myles...does not like Baz. Maybe not want. You may get some feels from me when I take energy from you. To...grab...” He flexed his fist. “To get hold to take from you? Maybe some small shares you feel from me.”

  “Okay. I can handle that. I’ve felt your shares before.”

  “Should not be like...before. Only small shares. Not so...surprise and freak you out. But Myles does not like Baz. Will not want any shares.”

  “Myles likes you, he’s just...you know. Worked up right now.”

  Baz shook his head. “I tell Joff about Myles angry with me. He say is okay, give Myles sex feels as gift. Myles be happy. Joff does not understand humans yet. Does not understand how complicated are human thinks.”

  “I’ll ask Myles if he wants Joff’s...gift. But more importantly, how do I let you know when I’m...ready?”

  “Just say my name. I will come to you.”

  “Does it have to be perfect timing? What if you don’t get there at the exact moment?”

  Baz grinned. In a blur of white, suddenly he was gone. “I can move fast, Chriscrhis.”

  Christian whirled around to see Baz standing behind him. “Shit. Yeah. I forgot.”

  Another white blur, and Baz was back on the loveseat. “More question?”

  Christian scratched his head. “Do you have to...climax too?”

  “I have to be excite. Close to explode. But no to worry. I will...it will...happen to me when I touch you. When I take your climax. Then will give energy explode to Joff.”

  “Wow. So Joff gets all the ice cream tonight.”

  “Ah ah. Yes. Joff not unhappy to do this.”

  “Yeah, I got that impression. Okay, one more thing. Myles is not going to be comfortable. So can we say...no full nudity?”

  “Do what is comfortable for you.”

  “And what about you guys?”

  “Hybrid do not need to be bare to climax. Much is energy. Is fine.”

  “So you’re not gonna get naked.”

  Baz smiled. “Will not get naked.”

  “And Joff?”

  Baz rolled his large eyes. “Joff would be naked now if could. But I tell him already. Keep mostly clothes on.”

  “Okay. So I guess we’ve got this all figured out.”

  “I hope so.”

  “You hope so?”

  “I...worry that maybe feels come difficult. In this...”

 
; “Situation. Yeah. I have the same worry.” Christian glanced down. His erection had softened. “My equipment’s been pretty unpredictable the past twenty-four hours.”

  “Myles excite you, yes?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Must make happen. Whites...very angry. Say fix now. Say no to need Hoggin bark like dog and start shit.”

  Christian smirked. “The Whites aren’t crazy about Ogden, are they?”

  “Whites okay to work with now. But think Hoggin pain in ass.”

  Laughing, Christian nodded. “He can be, that’s for sure.”

  Baz stood. “Go back to room now? Do not trust Joff not to say things to embarrass.”

  “Sure.” Christian stood. “Baz...when this is over...”

  Baz held his long white hands up. “No to worry. Be as if not happen.”

  Nodding, Christian said, “Deal.”

  ****

  Myles watched as Elliot lowered the lights, the flames from the fireplace dominant now in the big room. Nolan placed several pillows in front of the fireplace, then a few more ten feet away, where Christian and Myles stood.

  “Okay.” Nolan approached. “Is this music all right?”

  Myles had barely noticed the music, he was so damn nervous. It was some sort of soft trip-hop mix. “I don’t care. Christian?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Good.” He pointed toward the bar. “Plenty of booze over there if you need it. Elliot?”

  Elliot walked over and slid his arm through Nolan’s. “You guys okay for us to leave now?”

  Glancing toward the fireplace, Myles watched Baz and Joff settle on the pillows. Baz seemed troubled. Joff held his shoulders and spoke softly in his ear, the language unrecognizable. “I’m good if they are,” Myles said. “And if Christian is.”

  Letting out a long breath, Christian nodded. “I think so. But...maybe you could turn the lights out altogether?”

  Elliot nodded. “I can do that. But the fireplace will still cast some light.”

  “That’s fine. Just...the darker the better.”

  “Got it.” Elliot went to the wall and turned off the lights, leaving the room shadowy in the firelight. He returned and slid his arm around Christian. “Okay?”

  “Yeah. That’s good. Thanks. You can go.”

  “Stay the night,” Nolan said. “Just grab one of the spare bedrooms when you’re done, okay? I’ll make you guys breakfast in the morning. The hybrids can just mist out of here, but I don’t want you guys driving tonight. I think Myles had like four glasses of wine.”