Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 18:27:17 -0400
From: Stabbing Westward Junkie <youarenotyourf_ckingkhakis@hotmail.com>
Subject: Shattered Glass and Streetlamp Shine - Chapter 1

	A serious face, encapsulated in pale, smooth skin, regards itself in a
mirror too small for the face's dimensions. The glass is warped, with a
green tinge to it that looks like sea water, and the frame is dark and
reflective to match the dark hair that frames the intent face. The glass
looks rippled, and it makes the face slip and slide in eerie fluid movements
across its surface, making the bearer of the face smile with an almost
secretive helplessness. Fingers as elusive and inspiring as poetry reach out
to touch the surface, creating an unconsciously erotic movement as they
caress the reflection. But after a moment, the fingers drop away again,
deemed ugly and unremarkable by the face, and the smile is dragged away with
them, leaving only an expression of blank disatisfaction.

	"Ugh," the mouth whispers, an expellation of burdened breath that is soft
like ground glass.

	Grey eyes, the colour of twilight, take on a weary countennance as the
fingers lift once more to push unhappily through the hair that hangs sleekly
upon smoothly crafted cheekbones. Dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin, and lips
that have only ever spoken words of the utmost gentleness and sincerity...
but somehow, it is not enough. Never enough.

	Embittered, the face turns away from the quietly observing mirror. A sigh,
like wind slipping through a holy place, escapes lips of soft pink health,
and then he is ready. The unconscious ritual that starts his day is
complete. Hefting his bookbag to slip onto his already fatigued shoulders,
he heads towards the door of his dormroom, pulling it open with a grunt. It
always sticks in warm weather. Not bothering to lock it behind him, he heads
down the hallway, elegant hands stuffed in his pockets, his gaze held
upright but without any sort of life sparking in their normally brilliant
depths.

	He is alone in the hallway, and he cannot help but smile at the irony of
this as he steps out into the radiance of the day awaiting him. Pausing by
the slowly closing door, he blinks painfully as the sunshine sinks into his
retina, turning everything a brilliant white gold. Some of his black mood is
evaporated by the glow, and a sincere smile hooks the sides of his lips,
tugging them upward in a involuntary but sweet smile, eyes closed and lashes
the colour of smoke resting upon his cheeks.

	It is the third month of his first year in university, and a day like any
other. Heading towards his first class, his gaze encompasses nothing else
except the sidewalk below his systematic gait and so he fails to notice,
like he fails everyday, the covert glances of the girls that pass him by.
Their eyes light up in helpless admiration as he slips past them, and their
heads turn unbidden to watch him dissapear down the path. Soft laughter
trails after him in his golden wake, words of whispered disbelief swirl
around his unhearing figure.

	"...must be new here.."

	"...so intense-looking all the time.."

	"...always seems so sad.."

	He hears the laughter, but not the words, and the clear touch of it makes
him flinch and clutch the straps to his backpack tighter, as if wanting to
retreat into an invisible shell upon his back.

	The day invades him. He cannot stay unhappy for long. Dusky eyes watch,
enamoured, as the trees respond to the wind and voices rippling through
their branches, and how the sky becomes an undescribable backdrop to their
animated patterns. The air is fresh and without darkness, so he breathes of
it deeply, shuddering with hidden delight as it fills his lungs. But the
building that holds his classroom comes up suddenly, and he looks down and
away, entering the doors with a downcast gaze. Again, alone. Checking his
watch to make sure he isn't late for the class, he realizes that he is, and
begins to run, cursing sharply under his breath as he goes.

	"Ah, shit, shit, shit," he mutters, pushing open the door to his room
quickly. Sidling around it, he offers an apologetic half-smile to the
querying gaze of the professor and makes his way to his seat, trying not to
let his face set itself aflame from the hundreds of eyes he can feel
watching him.

	"Late again, Mr. ..." The clear, authortative voice of the professor cuts
through the quiet, sinking with tingling shock into his skin.

	"Silas. Paul Silas. I know. I'm sorry. It won't happen again, ma'am."

	"Quite correct. Because the next time you find yourself in lack of
punctuality when heading to my class room, you will turn yourself back
around again and head back to your dorm. I have no intrest in having
tardiness interupt my lessons."

	Eyes the colour of an evening sky connect with the pale watery blue ones of
the professor, and take in her thinning, reedy hair, seeing how its
blondness is artificial and how her make-up is simply a clinging to the
wretchedly false belief that a few strokes here and there will create
aesthetic wonders. Calmly he watches her, and it seems to her that in this
moment, his eyes have become mirrors and suddenly she feels self-conscious,
her gaze falling away from his as though burned. A caloused hand reaches up
to rake through her dulled hair and her tongue reaches out to moisten
red-stained lips. He looks away, unaware, and seats himself, speaking
softly.

	"Yes, ma'am." Quiet, polite, the picture of respect.

	Swallowing, she offers him a curt nod and continues her lesson, her voice
wavering and unsteady as she keeps her eyes locked on the bowed head of the
one in the third row whose eyes were like stars seen through a filter of
silver and violet.

*	*	*	*

	Not many rows away in the same class room, two pairs of eyes watch Paul as
he sits down. Both eyes are dark chocolate brown and both are locked on the
back of his head as the lesson begins again. One leans over to the other and
nudges his side, receiving a slow, helpless nod.

	"I know... he's gorgeous..."

	"Have you seen him before?"

	"No.. have you?"

	"Yeah... he lives in our building, I think. I've seen him come in and out a
few times."

	"Paul, right?"

	"Yeah. Paul."

	The twins grin as they look at each other and then back down to Paul. There
is nothing malicious in their happiness, only admiration of the quiet beauty
before them. They are brothers, identical in every way, not just their
physical appearances. The same words come out of their mouths, creating the
eerie, uncanny ability to finish each others sentences. They wear the same
style of clothing, enjoy the same music, have the same taste in food and in
men. But the identical ways that would seem trite and boring on anyone else
become entertaining upon these two. They don't mind being as alike as they
are, and in fact see it as an advantage. Both are passionate creatures, and
enjoy their duality.

	"I wonder if he's..."

	"Forget about it. The beautiful ones never are."

	One looks over to the other with a wry smirk.

	"You know that's not true..."

	"Well, it seems like it. Precious few. Get writing, Nate. I'm not letting
you copy my notes every single day."

	"Mmm."

	They both begin to write again, their bright eyes flickering between the
professor, Paul, and each other. Nathan grins as his brother labourously
moves his pen across the paper, and pats his shoulder lightly.

	"Don't worry, Alex. I'm sure you'll meet him before too long."

	When Alex smiles at this remark, Nathan grins and turns his gaze away, to
the back of Paul's head. He notices wonderingly how Paul is hunched
furtively over his notes, as though writing some sort of secret text, or as
though in fear of being beaten. A twinge of pain hits his heart as he
watches the other, wondering how he aqquired such a mannerism, why his voice
was so soft and without confidance. Sighing softly, he returns to his work,
dragging his eyes off Paul's solitary form and back to the paper. Running
his fingers through his closely cropped copper and gold hair, he glances
over at Alex again. They had both managed to dress disimilar today, which
was an event worthy of a celebration. Normally they ended up pulling the
same things out of the closet while never being in the same room. He watches
Alex's sharp eyes move with the pen as he writes, eyes that are flecked with
amber, unlike his own. They were both the picture of post adolescent beauty:
slender but built, youthful looking with a touch of age in their voices, jaw
lines and mannerisms. Always dressed to kill, they were often celebrated
favourites at the clubs they frequented; the sight of the two, topless and
walking through the crowds arm in arm was enough to turn every gay head in
the room. And they thrived on it. Being Taurus, they were the epitome of
their sign: flirty, lascivious, and exhibitionist. They loved nothing more
than creating a scene... which often ended up with them dancing together in
clubs, lips brushing the others, arms entwined and bodies pressed up against
each others tightly. The floors would clear when this happened... leaving
open-mouthed, hungry astonishment to gawk on the sidelines while Nathan and
Alex merely smiled their secret, charismatic smiles to each other and kept
on dancing.

	Smiling to himself, he continues to write, inwardly groaning at the
monotony of the professor's voice and the hideously boring content of the
lecture. After a while Alex gives up and Nathan watches with a grin as his
brother's gaze finds Paul, seemingly unaware of the tiny smile touching his
lips as he does so.

*	*	*	*

	"I expect you all to be here on time for Thursday; this test is not to be
taken lightly. You may go."

	Leaning back, Paul expells a breath he did not know he was holding, and
stretches slightly. Letting his aching hand fall onto the desk as he rotates
his wrist slowly, he winces slightly at the pain of cramped muscles and uses
the other hand to pick up his notebook, dropping it into the bookbag leaning
relaxedly against the leg of his desk. He is about to lean over and zipper
the bag shut when a sudden feeling of eyes upon him makes him look up
instinctively. At the desk beside him, a young man leans against the table,
his arms folded across his chest and a friendly smile touching his generous
lips. Dark eyes watch him amicably, and seem to sparkle slightly as Paul
returns the unexpected smile.

	"Hi," Paul says, his voice soft and measured. Eyes shaded to a light
lavender watch Nathan quietly, curiosity stirring in their alluring depths.

	Nathan smiles again, and offers his hand, extending it towards Paul slowly.

	"Hi. I'm Nathan."

	Paul glances down to Nathan's hand, and with a half-smile, extends his own,
letting his slender fingers wrap around the warm touch of the other for a
moment before pulling away again.

	"And I'm -"

	"Paul," Nathan cuts him off, with a curious smile dancing lightly upon his
lips. "I know. You handled Professor Smythe really well... most people end
up withering in front of her."

	His voice is oddly musical, like a out of tune guitar, making Paul think of
Southern skies and amber fields of wheat. The sound of it makes him smile,
the beauty of the tones stirs a note in his heart. There was joyous laughter
lurking behind each nuance in the words, and Paul identified with its mirth,
taking a firm liking to the guy instantly. He blushes self-consciously at
Nathan's words and looks away for a moment, shrugging and trying to hide his
shy grin.

	"She's no worse than my mother.. I've learned how to deal with abrupt
people like that."

	Nathan grins, dark eyes glittering with empathetic appriciation. "My
condolences."

	Paul grins widely at him as he hears this, but can think of nothing to say
to it except offer an eloquent half-shrug in commiseration. Nathan chuckles
softly, and tilts his head to the side slightly, regarding Paul with an
intelligent, persuing gaze.

	"I haven't seen you before... you didn't go to the high school, did you?"

	Paul shakes his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets once the bookbag is
firmly upon his back.

	"No. I moved here from England, actually."

	"Ahhh. That would explain the accent." Nathan pauses here to wink, and Paul
grins helplessly. "Are you on exchange?"

	"No, I just wanted to get away from London. So I chose as remote a
university as I could."

	Nathan laughs as he hears this, and Paul grins quietly, listening to the
full, autumn-coloured laughter dance around the room.

	"And you ended up here in Canada... in little old St. Townsend. London must
have been pretty bad for you to want to come to this shit hole."

	Paul shrugs once more and smiles at Nathan slowly, unconsciously letting
the smile become almost erotic in its molasses-like speed.

	"It's not so bad here. At least the sun shines. Back in London its always
raining... I swear we went five weeks without a single break in the clouds.
The whole island is like a sponge, it seems.."

	Nathan laughs softly, and then points up behind Paul, to the seats above
them.

	"That's my brother up there... his name is Alex. We were wondering if
you've had anyone offer to show you around the place yet."

	Paul glances over his shoulder in the direction of Nathan's finger, and
blinks slightly as he sees Alex, who instantly grins and offers him a
languid salute. Paul's lilac gaze remains on Alex for a while longer, taking
in the identical features that are akin to Nathan's, and simply grinning
back at Alex's wide, carefree smile.

	"No," he says, laughing softly as he looks back to Nathan. "I haven't."

	Nathan's eyes light up instantly and he pushes himself off the desk to take
a few steps closer to Paul, clasping his hands together.

	"Excellent. Are you busy tonight?"

	A shy expression finds purchase upon Paul's features as Nathan asks this,
and he smiles helplessly, lifting a hand to run through his hair as he
shakes his head.

	"No... I'm never busy."

	Nathan's suddenly shrewd gaze unnerves him, and he stares back
uncomfortably as the dark eyes persue his own.

	"I find that hard to believe," Nathan says after a moment, continuing to
level Paul with that clairvoyant gaze. But then as he looks up at his
brother, the expression becomes light once more.

	"You live in Residance Three, right?"

	Paul nods wordlessly, watching over his shoulder as Alex begins to descend
the stairs, heading towards them.

	"So when would be a good time to pick you up?"

	"Uh... I dunno... about seven, I guess?"

	"Okay. We'll see you then," Nathan says, offering him another wink and a
gentle pat on the shoulder.

	Paul nods and smiles gratefully at him, and turns to leave, but not without
greeting Alex first. Offering a handshake and a smile, he heads towards the
doors, skipping down the stairs lightly and glancing back over his shoulder
to smile to the two before he dissapears into the hall.

	Alex watches him leave, and then looks back to his smugly grinning brother.

	"What was all that about?"

	Nathan chuckles and begins to head out the door, Alex trailing after him
expectantly.

	"We're taking him out tonight. To show him around the town. He's new here..
from London."

	They leave the class room and begin walking down the hallway. Alex carries
his books in his arms, rifling through a notebook while holding it open with
his teeth. Gay Pride rainbows are stuck to almost every surface on his
notebooks, and they glitter under the flourescent lighting in the corridor.
He finds what he is looking for in the book, and mutters something to
himself, nodding as he closes the book again.

	"London, hey? Hmm. Maybe we should take him out to a pub. Remind him of
home."

	Nathan holds the entrance door open for Alex as they sail through it, and
shakes his head as he looks up to the sky.

	"Something tells me he doesn't want to be reminded of home. Let's just show
him an outrageous time. As un-London-like as we can."

	Alex grins his small, quiet smile and hefts his books slightly as the cool
air of the day rushes in all around them. Cologne catches the breeze,
wafting off their cream-coloured skin and dancing in the air subtly. They
walk slowly, seemingly without direction, their movements unconsciously
graceful, in the way that deer are light upon their feet and move through
their space as though underwater.

	"Outrageous, hmm? Maybe we should introduce him to Seth."

	Nathan glances quickly over at his brother, and snickers as he sees Alex's
wicked grin.

	"Maybe we should. Maybe that would lighten him up. No-one can stay
introverted around Seth.."

	Alex chuckles. "Yeah, or straight, either."

	Nathan grins to himself and the two fall into companiable silence as they
head towards their next class. There was something strange about Paul that
he couldn't quite put his finger on. The shyness was part of it... how could
someone so achingly good-looking be so self-conscious? But there was
something else too... the quiet calm in his voice, as though he knew things
no-one else did... and the look in his extraordinary gaze... like it could
see parts of Nathan that he himself didn't even know were there. So
strange... unexpected. Seth would probably appriciate his beauty...

*	*	*	*

	"Rain... I hope it rains soon..."

	Paul whispers these words quietly to himself as he stares out his open
window, leaning on the ledge and letting the wind toss and tease his freshly
washed hair. Locks of black-walnut silk fly around his face, and he
impatiently swipes them aside as he stares down to the street below. The sun
is moving through the thickly gathering clouds sluggishly, creating a
wanly-lit pattern of sunshine and shade on the cement. The air is heavy; the
feeling of electricity and change coursing through it, the feeling of rain
and thunder whispering in the wind.

	The breeze sinks into his room, pushing past his still form, and he shivers
slightly as it moves through his shirt to brush against his skin, giving him
goosebumps. The shirt is an old favourite of his, a black, soft material
with sleeves that hang just past his wrists, and a collar that is done up in
renaissance fashion; a black cord lacing through holes cut into the fabric.
It exposes the softly tanned skin of his upper chest, and makes him shiver
again as the wind touches it.

	The scent of soap and aftershave wafts around him lightly as he steps away
from the window, just in time to hear the expected knock on his door.
Jumping a little, he rakes his hands through his hair, casting a quick
cursory look into the mirror on his wall as he passes it by. Inhaling
softly, he opens the door, resting his hand on the doorknob as he looks out.

	"Convivial night persons come to sweep you away!" Nathan exclaims with a
grin, winking at Paul as he moves to let the twins in.

	Paul grins wryly and laughs softly as he closes the door, leaning against
it with crossed arms.

	"Sweep me away? I wish."

	They both chuckle, and Nathan glances around quietly while Alex reaches
forth a hand to touch Paul's shirt lightly.

	"That's a really awesome shirt... where did you get it?"

	Paul looks down at the shirt and Alex's rosy hand.

	"I didn't.. get it anywhere.. I made it."

	Alex raises his eyebrows and takes a closer look at the shirt, smiling in
admiration as he runs his fingers across the fabric.

	"You made it.. wow. Awesome.. you'll have to show me how to make stuff like
that someday."

	Paul smiles, and nods. "I was in a Renaissance show back home... we had to
wear this kind of stuff everyday. I liked the look of it, so I made a few
things myself. Buying clothes like this is way too expensive."

	Alex nods emphatically. "I know. It's tragic, isn't it?"

	Paul has to laugh at this choice of words, and nods.

	Nathan's attention returns from his looking around and then pauses,
pointing above Paul's bed. "That's really nice," he says, a smile touching
his lips as he gazes at the rainbow flag hanging in colourful splendour upon
the wall.

	About the size of the window opposite of the bed, it drapes itself
gracefully upon the wall, the colours vibrant and silken. He'd gotten it at
the last Gay Pride parade he'd been to in London. The mere memory of that
day brings a twitch of a smile to his face before he realizes just what it
is that Nathan said. Paul's cheeks instantly redden, and he begins to fumble
for words, inwardly kicking himself for putting it up. Running suddenly
sweating fingers through his hair, he looks contritely at the two for a
moment before dropping his gaze hurriedly.

	"I...ah...uh..."

	Alex looks over at him and grins, sharing a glance with his brother as he
lays a comforting hand on Paul's shoulder.

	"You should see our place. We've got them everywhere."

	Paul looks up slowly, both pairs of dark eyes locked on his blushing face.
He looks from one to the other, and then blinks as they both start to break
out in laughter. Nathan reaches out and musses Paul's hair, giggling to
himself.

	"It's okay, man. I think you'll find that the number of homosexuals greatly
surpasses the heteros here. It's great to be a majority for once."

	Paul can only smile weakly as relief floods his heart, and runs his fingers
through his hair again in an attempt to smooth down the mess Nathan created.
The two gaze at him for a long moment, as if expecting him to say something.

	"So...uh.. you two.. are...uh.." he gesticulates lamely, the blush upon his
cheeks as soft and dusty as roses.

	"As flaming as you get," Alex finishes for him cheerfully, winking
lasciviously.

	Paul blushes again at the stark, blatantly erotic nature of the wink, and
cannot help but smile weakly at Alex's sudden, songbird laughter.

	"So that  means there's another place we can take you to today. I think
you'll like it there."

	Wondering at this, but saying nothing, Paul allows each of the twins to
take an arm and lead him out of his room. As he pauses to lock his door,
Nathan and Alex's hands find each others in a quick, gleeful squeeze, their
fingers locking together in a happiness borne out of a spice deeper than
mere mirth. Alex turns eyes of amber upon his twin, taking in the delighted
smile of his brother with a cheerful, flirty smile of his own. "Told you
so," he mouths silently, giggling quietly as Nathan's grin widens wickedly.
Having locked the door, Paul turns around once more, to find both of the
brothers grinning widely at each other. But before he can ask, Nathan grabs
his hand and they begin to head down the hallway.

	The twins talk in excited, chipper tones, their voices harmonizing in
seemingly choreographed pitches and falls as they fill in each others
sentences. Paul doesn't listen so much to the content as he does the
quality; the sudden flashes of his rare, shy smiles are brought to his lips
by the careless, unaware beauty of the two surrounding him so completely.
Their very presence was like gold; it seemed that the hallway was loosed
free of its encumbering ceiling and walls...it seemed as though the very
light of the sun was being left in their blissful wake. The feeling of
Nathan's lingering fingers around his own is strange, but exhilaratingly
pleasant. He holds onto the other gently, carefully, not wanting to hold on
too hard lest he show how deep the touch of his newly-aqquired friend truly
goes.

	Once they are outside, Nathan lets go of Paul's hand gently, but not
without a quick squeeze first. Heading down the opposite way that Paul
usually goes to reach his classes, they begin their walk, pointing out
things and people to Paul that he'd not seen or registered before. With each
new thing and person, the twins lean in conspiritoraly and in hushed,
half-giggling tones, proceed to tell him something intimate or infamous
about the said thing, most of the time leaving Paul breathless with
laughter.

	Nathan grins at Paul's laughter, and then points straight ahead, where the
tree-dappled road forks off into a parking lot which Paul had not seen
before. At the end of the parking lot a grey building sits, no higher than
two storeys, and windows from ceiling to floor that reflect the soft yellows
of the sunsetting sky. The front doors are open, and Paul can see warm,
inviting light emanating from within, as well as the faint sounds of
laughter, talking, and music. Delicious smells waft across the full parking
lot, reminding Paul of his appetite. An artfully lit sign hangs above the
doors, proclaiming 'Detours' out into the dying light. He watches as people
slip in and out of the doors, mostly in groups, either of females or males,
never mixed.

	"Detours," he hears Nathan say. "Sort of like the unofficial hang out for
the fag and dyke crowd here in St. Townsend. A restaurant-bar type thing.
We'll take you there later, if you like... it's an awesome place. They have
really great food, and the prices aren't bad."

	"Yeah, and we always get discounts," Alex chimes in, and Paul looks over at
him with a grin, which Alex mirrors. "One of our friends works there, Seth.
We're going to pick him up now from the Student Centre building, and then
we'll all head back here for something to eat. Sound good?"

	Paul nods, one of his shy, helpless smiles touching his lips as sweetly as
sugar. Both of the twins have to glance away as they see this, the simple
beauty of it upon his heartbreakingly perfect features was almost too much.
Nathan takes his arm again and they begin walking once more, heading past
Detours and continuing their walk down the twilight-lit path. Alex begins to
relate the events of his day, his melodic voice sweeping through the
air-brushed path as the other two listen. Nathan watches Paul listen to his
brother, and marvels silently to himself as he sees Paul's slow smiles. Very
much a pretty boy, Nathan tells himself silently, his dark eyes combing over
Paul's streamlined features. The graceful cheekbones and straight jawline,
combined with the feminine hair and impossibly exquisite eyes made a mixture
almost too perfect to believe. He was never much into brunettes, but this
one was mind-numbing. Something about those eyes... their colour alone was
startling and strange, never mind their uncanny way to see right through
you.

	Eventually he lets go of the warmth of Paul's arm as they come up to their
destination. The building looms like a grey ghost in the oncoming night, but
the lights that flicker in its windows are bright and welcoming. Pulling
open the heavy steel door, he holds it there for Paul and Alex as they
enter. Paul diverts his attention away from Alex as they do, breathing in
the soft scent of place, something like newspaper and linen. Doors line the
undecorated hallway and he follows the brothers down to the very end, where
a stairwell lies behind a glass door. He follows them up three flights,
listening to the interaction between the two as they ascend.

	" -we could try asking, you know. It never hurts to ask."

	"He'll say no. He always says no. After you crashed his pickup.."

	"Um, I don't think so. We know perfectly well _you_ crashed it..."

	They go on like this, making Paul grin silently to himself until they reach
a door that looks like all the rest. Nathan scowls at his brother as he
pushes the door open. It swings easily, and they both slip inside, pulling
Paul on behind them. Suddenly he is thrust into a room full of bright
colours, and smelling perversely of inscence. Much like the stuff he burns
at home, he realizes as he looks around. Swaths of silk drape from the
ceiling in what Paul recognizes as backdrops. Stools and verious props lie
on the parts of the silk that pool on the floor, and the faint scent of
paint lies heavily on the air.

	Suddenly Nathan is behind him. "This is the Arts room... mostly for people
that need it for extra time to finish up projects or who simply need the
equipment they have here. We'll just be a few moments.. he's not done yet."

	As he says this, Paul's attention is pulled to the left-hand corner. A
studio light has been set up, shining down on someone administering paint to
an easel easily the size of a wall. Behind the canvas, someone sits on a
stool, and without any intervention of his mind to his body, Paul finds
himself gravitating closer to the pair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he
tries to see through the glare of the light.

	The painter moves in front of the canvas quickly, the large, paint-covered
brush in his long, stained fingers moving with swift, swirling movements
across the white expanse. Since his back is to Paul, all he can see is a
well-built, exotically dressed figure, wearing a bright red silk shirt and
black silk pants, dark hair touseled and teased up into haphazzard spikes
atop his head. The sleeves of the shirt are rolled up, bunching around the
smooth elbows with a hurried kind of urgency, and he can hear the pulls of
breath he takes into his lungs as he strains to get the brush up as high as
it will go. He does not look at the painting at first, becoming too
mesmerized by the fluid, almost erotic movements of the painter, watching
how his shadow flickers across the tiled floor and does a dance of shade and
light upon the canvas. The painting itself is massive, and he drags his gaze
off the creater to look at it. What he sees there makes him gasp, a hand
involuntarily raising to cover his lips. It is the profile of a face, the
body melting into shadow, incomplete. The figure is standing on something,
holding a blood red rose up to the sky which is aflame with golden amber
brilliance. Light and radiance pours around him, encircling and embracing
him, making his slender, perfect figure look all the more godly. The face
itself is beautiful, half covered in shadow and hair that is the colour of
chestnuts streaked through with caramel, and hangs in loose, wind-tossed
ringlets around his face, shoulders and chest.

	"Is that your friend? He is an incredible artist..." he asks Alex
breathlessly, who has come to stand beside him.

	Alex's soft chuckle makes him glance over, in time to see him shake his
head negative.

	"No.. that's Kip. THAT is Seth..." he whispers, touching Paul's arm to draw
his attention to his pointing finger, gesturing to look behind the canvas.
Paul frowns slightly and moves, peeking behind the canvas to the figure he
can see sitting on a stool in his peripheral vision.

	It is the painting come alive. He blinks slowly as he stares out into the
light enveloping the young man on the stool. His legs dangle off the seat as
he holds himself upright, baggy jeans adorning their slenderness, coming to
cover black, shining Doc Martens upon his trim feet. Dancer's feet, he tells
himself as he stares, moving up the man's body slowly. The jeans are a deep,
dark blue, and they rest on his hips easily, elegantly. Around his waist and
lower torso is a white dress shirt, unbuttoned and hanging on his elbows as
he holds his arms around his chest. His shoulders and biceps are bare, and
Paul stares at the unblemished skin unabashedly, almost able to taste its
sweet, caramel-seeming softness in his mouth. Skin perfect for kissing...
the thought surfaces in his mind as he stares, and he tears his eyes away,
blushing deeply. The muscles in the arms lie dormant, but their shape
remains visable under the satin-like skin, creating a beautiful series of
swells and depressions down the long, expressive arms. His shoulders slope
gently, perfectly, covered with the most incredible locks of hair Paul has
ever seen. It pours in waves from his head; creating long, loose ringlets
and curls that shimmer insanely in the bright overhead light. Hanging to the
middle of his back, it tumbles down his skin like a waterfall arrested in
motion. Their colour is brown, a deep rich chocolate brown, shot through
with honey and amber streaks that Paul knows are not dyed. The whole effect
is startling, and it is with a spinning head that Paul finally searches out
the face.

	It is beautiful. By far, this is the most beautiful human being Paul has
ever come across. He thinks this disorientedly as he stares, becoming
nothing more than a pair of eyes staring dumbly at perfection. Aristocratic,
symmetrical and smooth, the features are stark in their masculine beauty. If
they were a bit less strong, he could pass for a breathtaking woman. The
face gives off the impression of finesse, of elegance, and an intelligence
that Paul identifies with right away. The lips are full and generous; the
ability to be ungraceful and ugly never crossing their surfaces. His eyes
are open, staring out into space above the canvas, and in his delicate
fingers he holds a rose as red as sunset crimson. Holding it aloft in the
air, his expression is one of serenity, and Paul stares stupidly as Nathan
watches him with a knowing grin.

	"Beautiful, isn't he?"

	Paul starts as he hears Nathan's voice, and blushes redly, closing the
mouth he didn't know was open. Looking away from Seth, he drops his gaze to
the ground in embarassment, his cheeks tomato red and his fingers trembling
as he runs them nervously through his hair. He can feel Nathan's shrewd gaze
upon his downcast eyes, and stammers to say something, anything at all.

	"I...uh...uh.."

	Nathan smiles again, but this time it is with a touch of sympathy. Reaching
out, he squeezes Paul's arm gently, speaking quietly.

	"You are far from the first to do that. You should of seen me when I first
met him. I couldn't _talk_. He found it quite amusing, in his twisted way."

	Paul grins wanly as he hears this, his eyes dragging back to Seth. It is at
this moment that Seth unfreezes himself from his position, his arms lowering
and his head shaking slightly as he attempts to rid his vision of the
shimmering curls that hang in his eyes. Paul watches, stricken dumb, as Seth
turns his head to look their way at the sound of Nathan's voice. The light
pours down upon his features with the gentleness of spring rain. It nestles
in the honey highlights of his dark hair, and makes a showcase of his
inviting lips. Paul swallows with difficulty as those eyes turn to rest
directly on his own. Hazel, he can tell, even though the distance makes them
less clear. They match perfectly with his hair, a myriad of light browns and
golds. There is a discerning quality to them that makes Paul suddenly feel
cornered, painfully illuminated by some spectral spotlight. For the first
time in his life, Paul understands what it is like to have the world
suddenly fall away in the persuit of someone elses gaze. For a fleeting
moment, his reality becomes nothing but that gaze, as alien and familiar as
it is. It is locked on him completely, seeing him without filtering anything
out, intelligence and emotion swimming deeper in it than Paul has ever seen
in anyone before. Distantly he wonders why his heart is thumping madly, and
why the tightness in his chest seems to be a prelude to tears, but suddenly
Nathan steps forward, breaking the connection.

	"Hey. You almost done here?"

	Eyes as bright as the earth are dragged off Paul's, sliding languidly to
fall upon Nathan. Long, unkempt curls bob on his shoulders and chest as he
nods, and then he looks to the painter, Kip, questioningly. Out of the
corner of his eye, Paul sees Kip grin and nod.

	"Yeah, I guess for now. I'll need you back tomorrow if that works for you..
I still need to get that rose down," Kip says, rubbing his paint-stained
hands together wearily.

	Seth nods, looking down at the rose contemplatively. Nathan takes this
chance to grab Paul by the arm suddenly, and drag him behind him as he heads
towards Seth. Paul stumbles behind him as he is dragged, coming to a stop in
front of the seated Seth, who looks up at them quietly.

	Nathan offers him a wide grin, and gestures to Paul, who tries hopelessly
to hold Seth's shrewd gaze without success.

	"Seth, this is Paul. Paul, this is Seth," he says, and Paul offers a weak
smile in greeting. "He's new to St. Townsend. We're showing him the sights."

	Paul becomes lost in the sudden smile that Seth flashes him. The wide,
generous encompassment of it floors him; the white glittering of perfect
teeth behind those brown sugar lips is a concoction too sweet to endure.
Nathan is suddenly dragged aside by Kip, but Paul is too caught up to wonder
why as Seth stands slowly, stretching as his feet touch the floor. He tries
not to stare as Seth's pectoral muscles dance under his skin, and instantly
drags his dazed gaze back up into Seth's eyes. Long lashes the colour of
sand frame the startling irises -- very feminine and alluring in a face
seemingly airbrushed into perfection.

	"Hey...could you hold this for a moment?" Seth asks him, holding out the
rose he had been holding towards Paul. Paul shivers helplessly at the sound
of his voice: smooth as kahlua with cream, gentle and modulated with a
careless grace.

	It shines slick and smooth in the light, the red of it vibrant and
unexpected. Paul takes it gently, carefully as Seth deposits it into his
palm. He holds the delicate creation as Seth pulls his shirt up to cover his
shoulders and arms once more. Deft, nimble-looking fingers do up the
buttons, and Paul watches as the long curls of his hair dance around the
fingertips moving in their midst. With a shake of the head that sends the
shimmering curls over his shoulders and onto his back, he holds out his hand
for the rose again, a half-smile latching itself sensuously upon his lips.
The scent of the rose blossoms out into the air as it is moved again, Paul
extending it back.

	"Thanks," Seth says, turning slightly as he places the rose on the stool.

	"Welcome," Paul manages, fighting desperately to keep the blush he can feel
swirling throughout his body from reaching his face.

	"Showing you the sights, hmm?" Seth asks, the grin on his face wide and
serene. The friendliness of his voice and demeanor stuns Paul somewhat, who
cannot put the casual and peaceable manner together with a face that looked
like it should be able to bring the gods and angels down from the heavens.
"Should take all of twenty minutes."

	Paul laughs slightly, and nods, bringing his lavender gaze up to connect
with Seth's earth-toned one. Flecks of emerald green dance around his
pupils, Paul notes weakly.

	"Yes, but they make it very interesting," he replies, gesturing over his
shoulder to point at the twins behind him.

	Seth grins again and glances over at them before returning his attention
back to Paul.

	"Mmm," he says with a wry smile. "Those two could make grass growing
interesting."

	Seth's smile widens as he hears Paul's appreciative laughter, and there is
a sudden moment of awkwardness after the laughter dies away and silence
reigns. He stares at Paul for a moment, his discerning gaze probing the
lilac stormcloud-colour of the other's eyes silently, noting their unusual
colour and seemingly perpetual expression of distance and enigmacity. Again
Paul is held captive by Seth's gaze, and it is only when Seth looks away
that he takes a step back.

	"I've never met anyone with purple eyes before," Seth says, his quiet voice
floating in the air around him softly as he brushes his hands down the front
of his slightly rumpled shirt. "Are they colour contact lenses?"

	Paul shakes his head, running his hands through his hair unconsciously.
"No.. it's my natural colour. They change alot, though.. sometimes purple,
other times grey, sometimes jade."

	Seth smiles again, that strange, magnetic half smile. "The colour of
twilight," he says, even quieter than before. Paul blinks as he looks at
him, wondering at the curiously distant look in his eyes, when suddenly
Nathan and Alex appear.

	"Ready to go?"

	Paul looks over at the two smiling brothers and nods, glancing over to
Seth, who nods as well. Grinning, they start to head to the door, Paul
trailing behind them slowly, unable to keep his gaze off of Seth's slender,
dancer's figure. He is momentarily diverted, however, as Alex reaches over
to grab Kip's hand as they pass him by. Kip smiles and turns, pulling Alex
towards him slowly. Their arms wrapped around each other, Kip lowers his
lips to touch lightly upon Alex's waiting ones, and they begin to kiss
lingeringly. The sensual tenderness between the two becomes starkly obvious
as the kiss continues, and Paul watches them silently, smiling as watches
them smile through their kisses. Nathan watches his brother, unimpressed,
and Seth stands there impatiently, his eyes looking everywhere except at the
two.

	"Come see me after?" Kip asks Alex in between kisses, the sudden strain and
urgency in his voice making Paul blush redly and look down.

	Alex nods, and deepens the kiss, oblivious of Nathan's annoyed intake of
breath. When his arms slip around Kip's waist and he pushes himself up
tightly against him, Kip moans softly, lifting his hand to rest on Alex's
neck, pushing him into the kiss deeper and deeper. Suddenly, Seth cuts in,
and delivers Alex a raised eyebrow and scowl.

	"Save this kind of stuff for in private. Not everyone wants to see it, you
know. And I _do_ have to get to work."

	Alex grins and blows a kiss towards Kip before nodding and stepping away,
winking charmingly at Seth before heading out the door. Seth sighs and rolls
his eyes, making Paul and Kip grin. Nathan follows his brother out,
muttering something under his breath at him.

	"See you tomorrow," Seth tells Kip with a wry grin. Kip grins back and hugs
him briefly. Paul watches, slightly surprised, as they both kiss each
other's cheeks. Wondering, he follows Seth out the door, waving to Kip as he
goes. They follow the twins out of the building, Seth falling into an easy,
absent-minded gait beside Paul, whose gaze flickers from Seth's face to the
floor and back again helplessly. The sudden, unexpected beauty of this
elegant creation is almost too much; he can feel his chest constricting
slowly as Seth glances at him, eyes as deep as the knowledge of trees
invading his being.

	"Paul."

	Paul blinks, and after a moment, nods, watching Seth with inquiring,
slightly confused eyes. "Yes.."

	At Paul's slightly worried tone, Seth laughs, gesticulating vaguely at the
air as he lifts his arms to run through the hair threatening to overcome his
line of vision.

	"Just reiterating." And then, abruptly, "Have you ever read a series of
books called the Fionavar Tapestry?"

	Paul nods slowly, a flash of diamond eagerness dancing in his gaze as he
grins unexpectedly at Seth.

	"Yes.... I have," he says softly. "The most incredible books ever penned,
next to Lord of the Rings."

	Seth's grin is as wide as Paul's, and they both watch each other for a long
moment before simutaneously looking away again. Paul's eyes drop back to the
floor, and Seth keeps his steady gaze on the rapidly approaching doors as he
speaks.

	"You remind me of one of the characters in the books... Paul Schafer.. or
Pwyll-"

	"Twiceborn," Paul says, finishing Seth's sentance.

	Seth nods, and delivers him another one of those strange, searching looks.

	"Yes. I can tell today is going to be a good day."

	Paul laughs softly, again battling to keep his characteristically shy blush
off his face.

	"How so? Don't you still have to go to work?"

	Seth shrugs, and smiles slowly. "Work doesn't matter. It's going to be a
good day because I've seen things today I've never seen before. An escape
from the ordinary.. the rest of the day can't be so bad."

	Paul frowns slightly, and Seth continues, holding open the door for him as
they reach it.

	"Purple eyes, and someone else who's read Fionavar. Things I've never seen
before."

	Before Paul can think up a response to this strange observation, Nathan and
Alex come into view, having been waiting for them to catch up. With Nathan
on one side of him, and Alex on the other side of Seth, they begin their
walk back to Detours amidst the twilight softness and streetlamp shine. Paul
moves silently, not saying a word, being rivited upon the word play between
Seth and the twins. He listens to their conversation quietly, smiling as
their combined laughter rises like silken smoke upon the air, to become lost
amongst the stars and darkness. More often than not, Paul finds his gaze
locked with feirce abandon upon Seth, watching helplessly the long glorious
hair that Seth himself doesn't seem to notice, the effortless, unpredictable
grace with which he moves, and the voice that seemed to hold the very
essence of exotic sensuality. It was like honey, that voice. Amber and
sweet, mixed with a golden masculinity that was achingly gentle in its
melodic evolution.

	Once the busy parking-lot of Detours approaches ahead of them on the wooded
path, they spread out a little, Nathan and Alex unconsciously moving ahead,
their laughter-filled voices murmuring softly upon the night air. Paul
watches them as they link arms, smiling in amused wonderment at their
strange, almost symbotic closeness.

	"Almost incestuous, aren't they?" He hears Seth ask, who suddenly appears
at his right side. The expression on Seth's face is one of wry mirth, and
Paul smiles at the way it rests upon the flawless face. Nodding, Paul laughs
softly, watching the two clasp hands, their identical, pristinely pale
fingers wrapping around each other like ivy made of flesh and blood.

	"Yes... I've never seen twins so... um... enamoured... of each other. They
must be quite the crowd pleasers," he adds, a slight flicker of
lasciviousness appearing in his gaze as he does so, a flicker that is not
lost on Seth, who nods after a moment of watching the other. A strange smile
pervades his lips as he replies, his gaze falling to the ground as Paul
looks over at him.

	"Like you wouldn't believe. They've had Detours in an uproar too many times
to count. Little teases, those two. Drives the fags wild."

	Paul chuckles softly and nods, not daring to even wonder if the term 'fags'
was used as a demeaning or simply honest statement. Most of the homosexuals
he'd ever met had no problem with calling themselves fags, but then again,
neither did the homophobes. They walk in silence together, Paul acutely
aware of Seth's presence the entire time, feeling the strident warmth of the
other's aura brushing against his skin, making it tingle pleasurably. The
contact was almost erotic in its covert, unintentional way, as so Paul tries
fiercely to ignore it, locking his mental faculties upon the gravel
crunching underfoot. Seth watches him silently for a few moments, noting
Paul's unusual timidity mixing so strangely with his confident, almost
feline gait. Blinking, he looks away as he feels those peturbing violet eyes
glance over at him, sees them watching through hair as dark and soft as
raven's wings, almost begging to be carressed. There was something about him
that was unnerving, but also magnetic, Seth thinks to himself quietly,
wondering. He himself was not swayed or made nervous about Paul's beauty
like Nathan or Alex so obviously were. He just couldn't help but admire its
sweet, strange perfection and analyze it bit by bit.

	"Where are you from?" he asks Paul after a moment.

	"London," Paul replies, making a face. Seth grins.

	"Charming," he says his eyes straying into the other's as Paul lifts them
questioningly.

	"'Charming'?" he echoes. "What do you mean? London is many things, but
'charming' is not at the top of the list, let me tell you."

	Seth chuckles and shakes his head, his hazel eyes turned an almost
chocolate brown in the gathering dark.

	"Your accent," he says lightly, reaching out to touch Paul's arm in warning
as a car suddenly roars to life beside them. Paul, whose face is aglow with
a rosy blush from Seth's words, doesn't even notice the car as Seth's
fingers graze the skin on his forearm. He stares down at those fingers
dumble, their slender strength and tanned countennace making him feel faint,
especially at  how Seth's hand extends from a wrist at once delicate and
firm, the slope of his fingers in perfect harmony with the slope of the back
of his hand. The touch is warm, but in a moist, sticky way; rather in a
summer's day softness, the kind that makes you feel utterly alive as you
step out into it. It sinks down through his skin and shivers up his arm; he
can feel himself in eagar anticipation as it heads for his chest, the center
of his being. His body aches for that completion, but it is swiftly denied
as Seth suddenly moves his hand away.

	"Paul?" He hears him ask in a gently inquiring tone, and it is only then
that he realizes that his eyes are closed and his breath is coming in shirt,
jagged stops. His eyes sweep open hurriedly, and he swallows in nervous,
disabling embarrassment as he finds Seth's concerned gaze.

	"You ok?" Seth asks, a frown touching his finely-sculpted eyebrows. Paul
nods quickly and drops his arm, walking once more, leaving Seth to catch up.

	"Yeah," he manages weakly. "Sorry about that."

	"That's okay..." Seth says slowly, and Paul flushes as he feels the other's
searching gaze on the side of his face. Luckily, however, the doors for the
bar loom up ahead of them, with Alex and Nathan disapearing inside the
smoky, clandestine depths. Paul reaches out to catch the heavy, worn wooden
door as it swings shut after Alex's retreating back and he hefts it back
open, holding it there for Seth who passes through with a smile and polite
thank-you. Paul nods and tries to compose himself, standing there for a
moment as Seth merges into the gloom of the bar. Inwardly kicking himself,
his hands clench into dists as the memory of Seth's concerned expression
floats before his mind's eye.

	"Awestruck idiot," he murmurs distastsefully, as if the very words were the
memory itself. He bites his lower lip in consternation, shaking his head.

	"Who's an idiot?" he suddenly hears, and then Alex is grabbing his hand,
pulling him away from the door. Before Paul can think of something to answer
him with, Alex is pushing him into a seat at a table that is situated near
the back of the wide open space. Nathan sits at one end, Alex in the middle,
and Paul at the other end. He seats himself slowly, his eyes darting
helplessly about for Seth despite himself, even as Alex launches into some
meaningless critique of the people surrounding them. Paul listens with a
distracted smile, then glances to Nathan, who, before he can open his mouth,
offers him a languid, knowing smile. Paul raises his eyebrows slowly.

	"He's just gone to the back-- he'll be back shortly. He's got to take our
orders anyway."

	Nodding slowly, Paul looks into the crowd surrounding them, completely
missing the flicker of something bright and telltale in Nathan's observing
gaze. He sits there silently, letting his eyes drink in the scene slowly,
his hands folded demurely upon his laps. A strange sight he is, Nathan
thinks to himself quietly, watching the way Paul regards his surroundings as
if he'd never seen people or heard music before. Violet eyes watch
unblinkingly, the raven fringe of eyelashes glittering like volcanic glass
in the swirling inferno of the club lights. Dark hair brushes calmly
beautiful cheeks, his whole body a perfect creation of otherworldly
tanquility and knowledge. Nathan feels himself become more at ease simply by
watching him, letting himself become overwrought by this most pristine
epitome of grace.

	Paul stares out into the crowd with an unconscious smile, watching the
people around him move to the music pounding out of the shaking
loudspeakers. His eyes shimmer in delighted surprise as he sees the couples
dancing, not a single male-female one to be found. His gaze unabashedly
follows a pair of youner looking boys, their arms wrapped around each other
tightly and their bodies moving to a slow, deliberate rhythum, although the
beat of the msuic is insistant in its pounding stocatto sound. Their faces
shimmer with sweat and glitter, their lips parted in some exquisate sexual
agony as their hips grind into each others, fingers digging deeply into
bare, slick skin. He can almost hear their strained breaths as they pull
them into labouring chests, a shiver knifes through his spine as he sees the
darker-haired one close his eyes and push himself hard up against his
partner's body; he feels their collective moan as the two touches meet.

	There was a sexual electricity sparking throughout the place tonight, the
very tables and chairs thrummed with its shivering charge. Intimacy was
everywhere Paul looked, in the brushing of lips upon lips, the flash of
make-up and cologne on the air. There wasn't a single plain person in sight,
and even the ceiling and walls seemed alive with an intoxicating uniqueness
themselves. He feels himself start to fall in love with the place, and feels
the familiar anticipation of visiting it again and again, to become one with
its risque beauty. To know all of its darkest corners and dusty forgotten
places. But before he can let himself continue with that thougt process, a
hand is waving in front of his face, obscuring his vision. A momentary
flicker of annoyance flashes across his face before he looksup to see Seth
standing there, grinning down at him. Paul stares up at him, at a loss for
words for a moment as he takes Seth completely in. He'd changed out of the
loose white dress shirt into a tight, black confection of light-absorbing
material, the fabric clinging to his chest like liquid. The tumbling curls
of his hair are swept up into a loose ponytail, several ringlets hanging in
chaotic simplicity around his smiling face. He stands there quietly, the
subtle elegance and power of his body making Paul's heart do an involuntary
lurch.

	"I wish I could zone out like that," Seth says with a slow wink, furthering
the extent of Paul's embarrassed blush. "Then I wouldn't have to deal with
these fools." He jerks an mockingly accusational finger towards the watching
twins who instantly aqquire innocent, injured expressions. Alex returns
Seth's laughter-filled grin, and then in a sly tone, orders his drink.

	"Get me an electric popsicle, wench!" he announces pompously, reaching out
to pinch Seth on the ass, which leaves Paul blushing darkly, and Seth to
smack Alex's hand away.

	"Oh, I'll get you your electric popsicle, you asshole," Seth says in a low,
teasing growl. "I'll just filter it through my kidney's first."

	Alex giggles in appriciation and Nathan snorts with laughter.

	"And you?" Seth asks, directing his honeyed gaze to Nathan.

	"Bacardi Silver, please," Nathan says, smiling.

	Seth nods and then looks to Paul. "What about you?" His voice takes on an
unexpectedly soft tone as he asks, and Paul frowns slightly as he hears it,
wondering why it had surfaced just then.

	"Uh... I... I don't have any money with me..." he stammers, being stricken
dumb by Seth's magnetic gaze locked so fully upon his own. He swallows and
looks down, even as Seth is replying to him.

	"No-one pays for their drinks while I'm working. I'm the only bartender in
this place until ten o'clock, so its not like anyone can call me on it. What
would you like to drink?"

	Paul looks up into Seth's expectant, smiling face, and glances over to the
bar as one of his shy smiles flickers to the surface of his lips. "Kahlua
and cream, then... mudslide?" he asks hesitantly, Seth's voice running like
spiced cinnamon through his head.

	Seth raises his eyebrows and nods, his smile deepening strangely. "Good
choice. I'll be right back." And with that, he turns, shouldering his way
gracefully through the crowd en route to the bar. Paul stares hopelessly
after him, feeling his body thrum with the touch of Seth's energy, the
vision of his calm, clairvoyant eyes. The crowd's reaction to the creation
of perfect beauty moving through their midst does not go unnoticed by Paul.
He watches as couples part to let Seth through, their hands moving covertly
to brush against his smooth arms, through the shimmering, scented curls
cascading down his back. He sees eyes darken with erotic surprise as they
find and linger upon Seth, following his every movement towards the bar. He
sees a few couples look at each other with sultry glances and can almost
hear the purrs in their throats as they track Seth through crowd. All of
this seems to go blissfully unnoticed by Seth, who merely smiles politely at
the calls of his name that ring out invitingly above the swirl of music.

	There was no doubt about it. Paul was in love with him, in the same
hopeless way everyone else here was. Enraptured by the poetry of his body,
by the life dancing in his alliuring gaze. With anyone else, Paul might of
stopped to wonder why one person could invoke in him such incredible
tsunamis of emotion, but with Seth it was self-evident and would just have
been utterly strange if he _didn't_ fall completely head over heels. Love at
first sight, the thinks to himself weakly, lost in the haze of his feverish
thoughts. He looses sight of Seth as the crowd closes in behind him, and he
relaxes slightly, turning as he hears Nathan's golden voice.

	"So what do you think?" he whispers conspiratorily, leaning across the
beer-stained tabletop to speak in Paul's ear, his dark eyes glittering
brightly as they watch him. His auburn hair explodes under the club lights;
highlights of scarlet, gold and copper creating an insane fire glow atop his
head. Transfixed by this, Paul murmurs his answer, completely unaware of his
words.

	"It's a great place," he says, witholding his itching urge to run his
fingers through Nathan's fiery hair, to see if he would get burned by its
brilliance. Nathan shakes his head hurriedly, almost blinding Paul as the
light sluices through the myriad strands. His gaze falls back into the
chocolate embrace of Nathan's eyes, their depths swirling with hidden,
impish intention.

	"No. Of Seth."

	At this, Paul instantly blushes, aware of Alex's sudden, keen gaze on him
as well. Uncomfortably, he struggles to find something to say, his face
aglow with telltale feeling. What could he possibly say to that? Was there
any possible way to convey just how weak and simplistic Seth made him feel?
He stares into Nathan's awaiting, grinning face, and with a voice completely
devoid of its ususal timidity and uncertainty, he lets his heart speak
without any intervention of his mind. He does not mean for this to happen,
but something in his soul snaps, unable to contain the knowledge of the
beauty so infecting his soul. His eyes made lavender with distance and
introspection, he speaks slowly, staring as Nathan unblinkingly.

	"Most people just shake their heads, don't they?"

	Nathan blinks, not expecting that, but before he can ask Paul what he means
by it, Paul carries on.

	"They can't bring the words to explain his beauty. You have asked dozens
upon dozens of people what they think of him. But he leaves them without
words, only startled, crazy awe. He emulates everything I can see in
everyone else. The difference is that, with him, everyone else can see it
too. The perfect beauty, that music of humanity that becomes evident in the
movements of his heartbreaking hands, and in the measured, careless dance of
his body, as though there was no body there at all, only pure, unadulterated
grace. His voice makes love to itself. His hair shatters the sunlight. His
eyes... should be impossible. A perfect Muse. I can see that exact same
beauty in you, in your brother, in Kip, everyone here in this building. But
I seem to be the only one that can see the endless extent of it. Most people
think I'm just crazy when I try to explain all the beauty I see, all the
time. But Seth... Seth _is_ that beauty. He makes people _see_ it.. see the
perfection that lies in every single one of us. An incredible gift. It's not
just that he's good-looking... it's so much more than that. He holds
starlight in his hands and eyes. But it is not a gift that comes completely
painlessly. I can see the sorrow buried deep in his eyes, in the softest
tones of his voice. He has shattered many hearts and had to cloak himself in
darkness because people become addicted to his radiance, the promise it
holds of goodness, of perfection, love and divinity. You yourself have had
to do this, both you and your brother. A strange price to pay, for being
Alive and beautiful. I wish I knew why the most beautiful, inside and out,
have to experience the most pain and lonliness. I admire him completely
already, but I see the shields around his heart, and I wonder if he'lle ver
let anyone through ever again."

	With eyes violet and silver, his voice dwindles away, left only ton shine
in the remnants of his words that dance in the twins eyes as they stare in
shock at him. Nathan blinks slowly and begins to unfreeze, having been stuck
in his leaning position as Paul had spoken.

	"How do you know all that? So soon after meeting him? How?" he whispers,
his eyes wide with something almost akin to fear.

	Paul blinks and shrugs, looking down, the power in his voice receeding as
he speaks, returning to himself once more as he witnesses the fear in the
twins eyes.

	"It's like a book," he whispers almost inaudibly. "Everyone is like a book.
You just have to know how to read."

	Before either Alex or Nathan can think of anything else to respond to that
sudden plunge into the surreal, Seth appears out of the crowd, brandishing
their drinks in one practiced hand.

	"Here we are," he says cheerfully, putting them down onto the worn
tabletop. Sliding Alex and Nathan their drinks, he frowns in puzzlement at
their slightly dazed thank-yous. Arching an eyebrow, he directs a
half-worried glance their way, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Did I
miss..something...?" he asks, to which they both shake their heads
belatedly, still staring at Paul. He looks over to Paul then, and sliding
the drink left in his hands towards him, he inquires again. "Paul? You guys
okay?"

	Paul nods quickly and offers Seth a forced half-smile, while thanking him
for the drink, curling his suddenly sweaty fingers around the cool,
condensation-endowed glass.

	"Fine," he says. "Thank you." And with another smile that reflects wanly in
his gaze, he places the glass to his lips, letting some of the cool, sweet
liquid to pour past them and into the awaiting bowl of his mouth. "It's busy
here tonight."

	Seth drags his gaze off the three of them slowly to look around, nodding
faintly. "Yes.. it's always busy. I should probably head back to the bar..
but if you need anything, just come up. See you later," he says slowly,
still probing each of them with his hazel gaze.

	They all nod, and watch him leave, directing another puzzled gaze over his
shoulder at them as he goes. Paul slumps back into his chair as he
disapears, and focuses on his glass, slowly sipping the chilled drink as he
feels the remnants of his words crackling around him in painful remembrance.
The rest of the night is mostly spent in that startled silence, with Nathan
leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at
Paul. About halfway through the night, Kip appears, and drags Alex's
suddenly taciturn body onto the dance floor. Paul watches them dance
distantly, not really seeing the smiles that touch their lips, nor the
sparkle that explodes in Alex's eyes as they move. His gaze is focused just
past them, where he watches Seth mix drinks for the lines forming at the
bar, watching his reflection move fuzzily in the semi-reflective bar
counter. The lights swirl in his flowing hair, and shine off his sudden,
all-encompassing smiles. Slowly he savours his mudslide, letting the syrupy
bounty coat his tongue. Swallowing Seth's essence, he can't help but think,
as he loses himself to the spicy, exotic, rich and deep flavour. Unconscious
of Nathan's endless stare, he locks his gaze on the distant vision of Seth,
becoming nothing more than another pair of admiring eyes in the night.