In The Dark (Cliff's Story)

Fall settled on Mineral Town as Gray and I settled into living together. It was so wonderful to have so much space to ourselves. And of course, the best part was being able to snuggle in a big bed with him every night. I couldn’t get enough of him.

One thing I did not like, however, was my new across the way neighbor, Rick. We developed a very antagonistic relationship quite quickly. It all started one day when I was leaving the shop to head for the inn to help Ann and Doug. Rick was outside, tending to his chickens, and Popuri, his sister and also the girlfriend of Kai, leaned against a fence, twirling a daisy round and round.

Rick saw me passing by and called out. “Hey, Cliff!” I slowed my pace, smiling, and approached him.

“So you and Gray live there now, huh?” I nodded, trying to stifle the happy grin I felt trying to come out. Popuri giggled to herself, and Rick continued. “Yeah, my sister here tells me that you two are all gay for each other.”

I could feel my face getting hot, and I stepped back a little. “Um…” I managed to choke out. I didn’t know what to say.

“That’s so disgusting,” Rick said, making a sour face at me. I furrowed my brow as Popuri continued to titter madly. I turned on my heels and continued on to the inn. I didn’t want to be a part of that conversation any longer.

When I got to the inn, Ann noticed that I was slightly agitated, and asked me what was wrong. I sighed heavily and squirmed a bit, then told her what happened with Rick and Popuri. She clucked her tongue and shook her head at me sympathetically. “Rick’s just a jerk. You’ll just have to ignore him.” I nodded, and we went back to washing dishes.

As I walked back home, I purposefully took the path that went past the winery and down to the shop, instead of the other way that made me pass Rick’s place. However, our properties still faced each other, and he was outside herding some chickens when I walked up to my door.

“Oh, hey, gay boy,” he called out in a sing song voice, mocking me. I just turned my head and let myself in the shop. I decided not to tell Gray about it, since I knew how Gray got when it came to me. Violent. If anyone was bothering me, he would smash his face in, and I didn’t want anybody to get hurt. I figured Rick would get bored of teasing me after a while.

I was wrong, because the next day as I exited the shop, Rick called out to me as he started to cross the way. “Hey, gay boy. Was that you I heard screaming last night, or was that Gray? You guys need to keep it down.” He laughed harshly, and I blushed heavily, and hurried away from him as fast as I could. I knew that Gray and I had made some noise last night, but really, Rick would have had to be right outside our window listening to hear it. Was he? The idea of it made me shiver in fright. Rick was such a creep.

When I came home that afternoon, Rick mocked me again, and again I ignored him.

The next morning, I set out at as brisk a pace as I could. Rick still took the opportunity to yell one word out at me.

“Faggot!”

I blinked back tears as I practically ran to the inn. Why was he doing this to me? It was so hurtful. I got to the inn and worked as hard as I could, trying to get my mind off of the problem of Rick.

When I headed home, much to my chagrin, Rick was outside once again. This time, in addition to Popuri, there was also Rick’s drunk girlfriend Karen, and that ugly librarian, all leaning up on the fence. Rick laughed and hissed something at them as I approached, and I kept my head low, trying to get in the shop as quickly as I could.

“What’s the rush, gay boy? Gotta get in there and fuck your boyfriend?” Rick cackled out, making the girls erupt into laughter. I once again blinked back tears as I went into the house. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed to be with Gray, I just didn’t understand why these people thought it was so funny. We weren’t hurting anybody, and we were doing it behind closed doors. So why were they doing this?

Gray looked up from his work as I entered. “Hey, baby,” he grunted, and I murmured something in response, still too upset to speak. Gray sensed that something was wrong, and laid down his hammer, coming across the room to me. “What’s wrong, baby?” he asked me, worry glinting in his eyes.

“It’s…it’s nothing,” I lied. “I had a really hard day at the inn, that’s all.”

“Well, you don’t have to work there any more if you don’t want to. I can take care of you,” Gray said earnestly, and I was flattered. I pressed my face into his chest, inhaling his manly scent deeply.

“No, no…it’ll be okay,” I assured him.

The next morning, I was glad when I saw that Rick wasn’t outside. I made my way to the inn, in a much better mood than I had been in. Ann was in a jubilant mood as well, and she laughed and talked as we did chores, telling me all about her date with Jack. I just smiled and nodded, listening with interest.

I was walking happily down the road as I returned home, until I could see the chicken ranch. Rick was outside, and he looked up from his work at me. An evil grin spread across his face. He started to catcall at me, and I just ignored him, heading for the shop. I suddenly felt something hit me square in the back, and I recoiled in shock. I heard Rick’s voice laughing uncontrollably. I pawed at my shoulder, trying to look at my back, and I realized that Rick had thrown an egg at me. It was so stupid and juvenile, but it upset me nonetheless. I desperately tried to brush it off my back the best I could, feeling humiliated, as Rick howled with laughter. “Aw, come on, faggot, you’re used to having stuff splattered on your back!” Hot tears burned my eyes as I turned the handle to the shop, letting myself in.

Gray was turned away, working on a tool. I was too upset to talk to him right then anyway, and I hurried over to our living area. I peeled the shirt off carefully, choking back a sob. I pushed it down into the washing machine, adding detergent and setting the cycle. As the machine started to hum industriously, I slumped down to the floor, hugging my knees in front of me. I couldn’t stop the tears now, and they flowed freely.

I heard a door swing open, and Gray stepped into the room. “Hey, baby, I thought I heard you come home and -” He broke off suddenly as he saw me on the floor. “What’s wrong?” he cried out as he rushed forward, stooping down to me and hugging me.

I could hardly speak because I was crying so hard. “Rick…threw an egg at me…”

Gray’s voice replied fast, sounding incredulous. “Why?!”

I cried a little more, then tried to explain. “He’s been saying hateful things to me when I pass by…about how I’m a faggot and all kinds of other stuff…I’ve been ignoring him, and then today he did this.” I looked up at Gray, and widened my eyes when I saw the look on his face.

It was absolutely murderous.

The blood rose up in his neck, darkening his skin. His jaw was clenched in intense anger. “How dare he…” he growled, standing up and charging out the door. I ran after him, pausing to pull on a t-shirt from the bedroom, then I ran outside.

When I got there, he already had Rick pinned up against the side of the chicken coop by his neck. Rick looked terrified, and I just watched. “You think you’re really funny, don’t you?” Gray hissed at him. Rick’s eyes bugged out, and he tried to speak, but couldn’t. “You are one stupid motherfucker…I oughta beat the shit out of you!” Gray growled at him, and Rick shook his head frantically. “You say one more word to my boyfriend, and I’m going to put you in the ground. You got that?” Rick nodded, looking scared out of his wits.

Gray let go, and Rick dropped to his knees, grabbing at his injured throat. “I’m fucking serious,” Gray said. “No more of this bullshit.” Rick just nodded again, wheezing for breath. Gray gave a disgusted laugh, then wheeled back around to me. The anger on his face melted into concern, and he rushed forward to me, wrapping me in his arms. “Are you okay, baby?” he asked me softly, pressing his forehead to mine. I nodded, and we went into the shop together.

Gray led me by the hand into the bedroom. “I’m so sorry, baby…” he whispered. We sat down on the bed, and he stroked comfortingly at my head and back. I laid down sideways in his lap, and he ran his fingers through my ponytail. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you …ever,” he promised, and I sighed happily.

I didn’t have anymore trouble out of Rick after that. When I walked past the chicken shop, if he was outside, he would not look at me. That was more than fine with me. I had heard enough out of his mouth to last me a lifetime.

When winter came, I surprised Gray on his birthday by promising to be his slave for the day. He took full advantage, getting me to go down on him first thing in the morning, then demanding I call him master. I actually liked that part, and I willingly complied. I spent the day doing things for him, which actually felt rather fulfilling. It was exhausting work however, and at some point, I collapsed on the bed and took a nap.

When I woke up, Gray surprised me by saying he had a reward for me. He slicked me down with lube, and I trembled in anticipation. Then he laid back on the bed in a submissive position. I was shocked, but Gray was insistent. “Come on, I want to try it. It’s my birthday…” I hesitated at first, but Gray kept insisting, and so I leaned forward, pressing myself into his entrance.

I had never given before, so it was a totally new experience. Gray groaned in pleasure, obviously enjoying every second. For me, it felt amazing. It was so tight and hot, and I could feel myself building up. Gray cried out suddenly as he climaxed from being penetrated alone, and the idea of that took me over the edge. I released inside of him with a sharp cry.

Afterwards, we held each other. I thought of something, and I told him that my birthday was the 6th of summer, making him exactly half a year older. He was disappointed that we hadn’t celebrated my birthday that year, but honestly, I had forgotten. It had been so long since I had anyone who cared about me, and no one had celebrated my birthday in years.

Gray looked me in the eyes. “Hey…you’ve got me now. I’ll celebrate your birthday,” he assured me.

I was so happy. I felt extremely lucky to have him. I suddenly got a good idea, and I piped up. “Do I get you as a slave then?”

Gray chuckled. “I’ll think about it…”