Branded (5 page)

“When did you touch me? Did you touch me when I was sleeping, you—”

“No,” José cut in before Asher could get angry. “You think I would do that? C’mon. I carried you across that bridge, remember?”

“Right…” Asher mumbled. He stood up and took the stick José had woken him with. “Right. Okay. I don’t like that. Being touched.”

“I still don’t see how that works with your sex obsession.”
And I’m sure I could make you like it.
Where had that thought come from? This wasn’t a challenge for God’s sake.

“I’m not obsessed.” Asher poked around in the fire. “There’s just not much else to do for fun around here. You won’t let me burn anything. You’re worse than my mom.” He sat back down. “So why won’t you fuck me? I’ve had straight guys fuck me. They didn’t care that I wasn’t nice.”

And how many guys had Asher slept with, exactly? The kid was hardly twenty, if José remembered correctly. Roughly four years younger than him.

“Sex isn’t just about fun for me.” José wasn’t sure how to put it in terms that Asher would understand. “When I sleep with someone, it’s because I like them.”

Asher snorted. “Yeah, well, we can forget about that.”

José pressed his lips together, sitting cross-legged. He hadn’t wanted to insult Asher. “I’m sure you have a likable side that you’re just not showing me,” he offered before his brain could stop him. There was something about how dejected Asher sounded that made José want to cheer him up.

“Can’t you just like my body?”

“How would that help when I can’t touch it?”

Asher seemed to think about that. Then he approached José and all but crawled into his lap, stopping just before making actual contact. “I could make an exception for you.” Asher whispered the words into his ear, as if he were just about to kiss him there. José felt his breath on his skin, and the heat he radiated.

Yeah, Asher definitely liked the direct approach. And José couldn’t say that he had zero interest in what Asher was offering, but he still backed away. At this point, his interest in Asher was only an interest in an available (and fit) warm body, and that wasn’t enough.

“I’d let you do whatever you want,” Asher offered.

“Cuddling?” José asked, because he knew it would stump his companion.

Asher leaned back. “Nah.”

“I’m out then,” José said, grinning. What good was a sex partner who didn’t want intimacy? None. He yawned and stretched. “It’s your turn to keep watch. Good night.” He curled up on the soft forest floor and breathed in the earthy smell of it. Drifting off to sleep, he wondered whether Asher would finally give up his pursuit.

Chapter 5 - Small Towns Suck

Asher woke Blind Guy when the little bitch came fluttering back to them with the first rays of sunlight. He hated waiting around, and the more daylight they wasted, the longer it would take them to get out of this forest and back to a world with running hot water.

“Seriously, how aren’t we there yet?” he said after they’d been walking for an hour or two.

“We could be, if you weren’t ridiculously scared of flying,” Blind Guy shot back. The lavalight stopped to give him a disapproving look. Ignoring her, Asher rolled his eyes at Blind Guy’s back. Then almost ran into him when Blind Guy just stopped walking. “There's people.”

Asher glanced at the thick trees around them. He would have thought Blind Guy was making it up if he hadn’t known him for a while now. The woods were silent. Aside from the birds and the insects and the leaves; a forest was never really quiet. “You think they’re out to kill us?”

“I don’t know. Keep your guard up.”

About ten minutes later they came face to face with two girls who wore about as much clothing as prostitutes— the kind Asher wouldn't have spent money on even if he were straight. All the skin they revealed was colored pink and orange, as though a rainbow unicorn had thrown up on them. They froze as their eyes fell on Asher and Blind Guy. One of them drew a dagger and changed her stance, ready to attack.

“Whoa,” Asher said, “the bitches want to fight.”

“Bitches?” Blind Guy sounded about as perplexed as Asher felt.

“We don't want to fight,” the one without the dagger said. She was slightly smaller than the other one and violet hair was flowing over her shoulders. “Please stop.” She laid a hand on her green-haired friend’s back, who still looked like she was going to bite. “I don't think they belong to them.”

“Belong to who?” Asher asked.

“They're just such an odd pair,” the angry bitch said, relaxing her stance.

“Look who's talking.” Asher rolled his eyes at the rainbow colored girls.

“Who are you running from?” Blind Guy said.

“The fox.” The green-haired girl spat the words. “Him and his people.” She averted her gaze to the ground, stared at a leaf as though it had offended her. “You would do well not to run into them.”

What a drama queen.

“Calm down, sister,” the smaller one said, her hand still on her friend’s back.

Beside Asher, Blind Guy tensed. “It was nice talking to you,” he said, “but I think we should go on. We have a long way ahead of us.”

“Of course,” the small one said, “if you keep following that path you'll reach a village that—”

“Thank you, we'll be fine. We have a guide,” Blind Guy said, and just like that, he walked off into the trees. Asher rushed after him over the uneven ground.

“What the hell was that?” he said when he caught up to him. The sharp smell of rotting wood hung heavy in the air and made him wrinkle his nose as he inhaled.

“The lavalight warned me of them,” Blind Guy said, “she thinks they're dangerous and I'd rather be safe than sorry.” The little fairy was flying beside him in the air and Asher eyed her suspiciously.

“Who is that fox they were talking about?” he asked.

“Apparently the leader of a small rebel force. I’ve heard him mentioned here and there. I try not to concern myself with it too much.”

“What are they rebelling against?” There were a number of things worth fighting for in this world. Paved roads, hair conditioner, fashion choices…

“From what I’ve gathered they’re mostly half-breeds and people in love with people of other races.”

“So they’re like the fantasy gay rights movement.” Asher had never thought much of them in his own world. Gay marriage and such didn’t interest him. He didn’t want to hang a rainbow flag over his house. So long as no one threatened his right to fuck around, he didn’t get what all the fuss was about. If people stopped insulting him for being gay, they’d insult him for something else. People were like that.

“I guess you could say that,” Blind Guy said, pushing a branch out of the way.

“Alright,” Asher said, “now about that village—”

“A small one,” Blind Guy said. “If we’re lucky there won’t be any forces stationed there.”

***

A few hours later the lavalight told them, or well, she told Blind Guy, that they really were in luck.

“Finally!” Asher ran up the overgrown path that stretched out before them, winding its way along the trees. Maybe they would have decent food. And alcohol! He had given up on finding cigarettes anywhere, but booze was still a valid option.

The sun was starting to set above them when Asher saw the first huts of a small village in a valley that spread out before them. The buildings were made of wood and straw. Easily inflammable material.

“Don't even think about burning anything,” Blind Guy said.

“Don’t tell me what to think.” Asher went off ahead, following the sandy street that led into the village. Blind Guy was such a spoil-sport.

The huts in the village were so small Asher would have had to duck his head in the doorways.

This started to make sense when he reached the town's square and saw the inhabitants of this village. Their size and form reminded him of penguins as they waddled around the well that stood in the middle of the square. Upon closer inspection, these creatures had tiny hands, unlike penguins. The coloring was all wrong, too. But they could have signed up for the army anytime, covered in dirty green, brown and yellow as they were.

One of the army penguins waddled over to Asher. “Traveler?” it asked and threw its little arms up, making Asher want to poke it.

“Uh… yeah,” he said instead.

“You with him?” The penguin-thingy pointed behind him and Asher looked around to see Blind Guy wandering onto the town's square followed by the little bitch.

“Yeah.”

“Inn's over there.” The little guy pointed out a building on the other side of the square. It was taller than the rest of the huts and had a door that Asher thought he might fit through.

“Okay,” he said as he scrutinized it. “Do you sell alcohol in this dump?”

The small creature nodded. “Best Ikura Special in all of Altasia.”

Asher raised his eyebrows, but nodded. Whatever. He wasn't picky.

Once they entered the large building, Asher's eyes shot towards the bar area. People were talking loudly and the smell of grilled fish hung in the air. He left Blind Guy to talk to the beast at the reception and went off to check it out.

He let his gaze sweep the room. A few wooden tables stood in no apparent order. Most of them were occupied by these penguin-like creatures, laughing at each other and cheering on a little group of penguins that stood on a table on the far end of the bar as they juggled grilled fish. Occasionally they threw one into the cheering crowd.

Asher spotted only one other human being in the room, sitting at a table of his own, looking strangely out of place between the little beasts.

Ignoring him, Asher sat down on a free stool in front of the counter, behind which one of the army penguins was busy mixing some sort of drink.

“Hey, little guy,” Asher said and the penguin peered up at him as he went on with his business.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get me something to drink.”

“Something?”

“Something strong, I don't really care what.”

The penguin muttered something under its breath that Asher didn't quite catch, but part of it sounded a lot like 'stupid humanoids.'

“He'd like a Fish-Mix.” A strange voice said to his side, and Asher turned to get a look at the newcomer.

“You're paying that,” he said to the guy as he gave him a once over. It was the human who had sat in the back when he'd come in. The man had to be around his own age. His skin looked like he could use a session in a sun studio and when he laughed, he revealed a set of sharp little fangs that gave his soft features a feral touch.

“Certainly,” the stranger said and took seat next to Asher, making him edge to the side. The man was attractive and he acted friendly, but something about him radiated danger. Maybe it was those fangs. Asher stared at them as the stranger went on speaking.

”I'm Ruigi.” He offered his hand to him with those words but Asher didn’t want to take it. No reason to get too friendly with this guy.

Instead, he turned to look at what the bar-tending penguin was doing. Were those fish eggs he was putting into the drink?

“So, who are you?”

Asher glanced back at Fangs, as he had dubbed him in his head, but Fangs averted his dark eyes when Asher tried to meet his gaze. Curious.

“I’m Asher.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Asher.”

Asher shrugged and grabbed for his drink as the bartender shoved it over to him. Tiny orbs swam in the blue liquid. Asher chugged it back. “Not so bad,” he said, content with the bitter taste of alcohol that burned his throat.

“Of course it's not bad!” the bartender said, flapping his arms. Asher ignored him and took another sip.

“You should try the Special Mix if you like that one,” Fangs said and ordered one of those for himself.

“Later.” The night was still young and he wanted it to last for a while. If it hadn't been for all the army penguins, this could have been like home. Wasting the night away, getting drunk, getting laid.

“Who are you talking to?” Blind Guy approached the bar and Asher turned around to face him.

“Uh…” Asher shrugged. “Guy who's paying my drink.”

“The name's Ruigi,” Fangs said, reaching a hand out to Blind Guy who didn’t take it either. Asher was busy emptying his drink, when Blind Guy pressed a key into his hand.

“The rooms on the second floor, second door to the right. Think you can remember that?”

“Whatever.” Asher set his glass down and looked up as the penguin pushed Fangs's drink over the counter. He took it before the stranger could and sipped on it, watching from the corner of his eyes as Fangs covered a surprised look with a neutral expression.

“Ugh, strong stuff,” Asher said, putting the drink back on the counter. Fangs gave a short laugh and ordered a new one.

“I'm going to be playing the piano for a bit to pay for our room,” Blind Guy said and turned to leave.

“'Kay, bye.” Asher waved him off and refocused his attention on the guy who was sponsoring his alcohol. Getting free drinks hadn't been a rare thing for him back in the real world, so he didn't think much of it. Something about Fangs was weird, though. He just couldn't put his finger on it. But then, everything in this world was weird in one way or another.