Temptation Part 1
Originally posted by mid_century at Temptation Part 1
Milex/Carl Barat
nc-17 for the usual suspects
Carl’s flat.
It was so cold inside and outside that the windows remained streaked with condensation all day. Carl checked to see if the bit where Peter had kissed the glass still showed up; It did. What a party that was. He couldn’t explain the bitter pain he still experienced everyday from being without Pete. The flat never used to be this cold before, when he stayed here most nights.
He tipped a little water over the soil to keep the geranium in the kitchen window alive. Another left over from Pete. His phone rang.
“‘Ello ?……yeah alright Miles…This is unexpected. Me ? Well I’m pretty busy…” Carl scanned the empty flat and tried to sound truthful, “Writing songs mainly……yes of course I can get some. You’d have to come over to collect it though, maybe even come along with me,” He had a quick look to see if he needed a shave. The mirror said definitely. And a long bath. “I’ll text you when I know. Laters mate.”
Carl thought he’d better locate the bubble bath. And his special date aftershave.
Miles wondered if he’d made the right call. It felt decidedly as though he’d elected to spend a night out with the Sirens. All the same, he made sure his hair looked it’s best. Alex was still sleeping, clutching a pillow for dear life; The duvet swamping his tiny frame. His sense of guilt for something he hadn’t done was all out of proportion. It was down to himself if he kept his hands out of Carl’s trousers. How difficult could it be to behave ? Alex stirred slightly. Should he tell him or wait until he’d collected the coke ? Al had practise to get to, he could tell him after. Anyway, he wouldn’t be able to tag along and flirt outrageously. Better for everyone.
Alex opened his eyes and took a moment to think where he was. His own bed. Bliss. He lay perfectly relaxed with the weight of the covers pressing down and the softness of the pillow enveloping his neck.
”Miles ?”
“Right here. You are beautiful when you sleep.”
“That sounds like a guilty conscience. Make me a drink, eh ?”
Miles smarted from Alex’s throwaway comment implying guilt. “Get your own. I’m not your maid….”
“Ooof…touchy.” Alex thought. He stayed in the bed a little longer. He felt a buzzing in the bed. Miles’s phone. He reached out and felt around for it.
A text from Carl.
He clicked open, read it…deleted it.
***********
Carl was actually happy. In the two years since he’d broken with Pete and refused to reform the Libs for a new record, he’d been suffering. All his friends had drifted away, except Alex. Alex always just accepted other people’s love lives. Funny really, since he never seemed to have one of his own.
Yet fundamentally, he was trying his damnedest to fuck Alex over by seducing his boyfriend. However much he loved Al, he couldn’t say no to trying out Miles. From the growing frenzy at gigs, it seemed Miles was quite the attraction now. He always had dressed immaculately of course, and had that ridiculous mod hair. But since he’d been with Al he was….. irresistible, in that ‘someone else’s boyfriend’ way.
The doorbell went. Carl glanced at the clock.
“Early. The eager little fucker.” He cast the washing up gloves to one side and straightened his shirt.
”Oh !” It wasn’t Miles on the doorstep. It was Alex. And he looked pissed.
”Gonna let me in then ?”
Carl tried to calculate quickly; Slam the door or use his drama skills to deftly dodge a bullet here ? Alex had a foot wedged in the door. Carl allowed the door to swing open, weighing up his next move.
”Do you want a drink Al ?”
“Coffee.”
“I meant whiskey ? Or wine….?”
“Nope. I’m driving. Why did you asked Miles over ?”
“I….didn’t ?” Carl narrowed his eyes while peering at Alex.
“Liar. I saw the text.” Alex was deathly white. Ready for a fight.
“Well….yeah, but that was in reply to him ringing me first. He just wanted some coke.”
Alex let his breath out. He felt like an idiot. He held a hand out to Carl.
“I am a prick. Sorry man.”
Carl shook his hand, trying to give Alex a conciliatory smile. This all seemed to …..easy.
“Want that coffee now ?”
“Nah, you’re all right. I have to get to band practise really.” He stepped in near to Carl, moved a long curl out of the way and pressed his lips to that golden skin. “Christ, I might have to talk Miles in to that threesome.”
”Alex…..” Carl thought this needed to stop, right now. But Alex was already running his hands to pull Carl’s hair back, then releasing a hand to snake a finger up his throat and to tug at his lower lip.
Alex’s phone beeped. It made him check the time, sighing as he yanked Carl’s caught hair back with a snap before releasing him.
”Next time Barat.” He clocked a photograph on the side. “Get Pete back. You two are a right miserable pair when you’re apart,” He picked up his keys. “And look after Miles for me later.”
Alex disappeared. Carl considered calling it off with Miles, but he dreaded another lonely night in alone more than the cuts from Alex’s fists.
**************
Miles checked his phone for Carl’s message. Alex had left for practise, and he was left alone. All dressed up and nowhere to go, it seemed. He waited another full minute, then rang.
Carl arranged to meet Miles away from the flat. Unless Alex had descended to stalking him or Miles, it should be safe. Even so, he tried to sneak out quietly and got a cab from his doorstep to mask his tracks. The thrill of skulking about made up for the fear of an altercation.
You couldn’t miss Miles at the bar. Everyone else looked decidedly drab in comparison, as though stripped of colour. Then there was the admiring glances he drew. Carl pondered whether he missed the times when it was him that always got the attention in a pub, concluding he was glad to see the back of the frenzy. It made even simple tasks such as scoring drugs, so much hassle.
”Miles !” Carl laid an arm around his shoulder, positioning himself to block the glances of the girls plotting to ask for an autograph.
”I thought you were standing me up.” Miles was standing, ready to abandon the drink and move on. “We going to yours then ?”
The last thing Carl wanted was to be back at the flat just now.
“Can we stay a bit, or go somewhere else ? We can do the pick up now and see how we feel ….maybe go and see a band ?”
Miles frowned. “Thought we were going to your place, but whatever. Let’s do this.”
The taxi took them over the river to the East End. There didn’t seem to be any working street lights, and the road was littered with rubbish.
”Nice.” Miles grimaced, lifting his shoes over the torn bin bags. “Tell me I won’t get stabbed ?”
Carl chuckled at Miles’s prissiness. “Drugs aren’t all glamour. This is the raw end of things here.” He was knocking softly on a scruffy door.
“Are these friends of yours ? In this house ?” Miles was checking over his shoulder every few moments, shrinking down into his jacket for protection.
”This place ? This is my house, well…Peter lives here mostly now.”
”Will he be here ?”
Carl could only shrug. “Who knows, your guess is as good as mine.”
The door opened a few inches. There was barely any light illuminating the gloom.
“Pete there ? It’s Carl.”
“Dunno.”
“Well can I come in and have a look ?”
The door was opened sufficiently to allow them in. Miles peered at the retreating figure, trying to see if it was a man or woman. then he was hit by an overwhelming stench. Cats. Lots of cats. And their bodily functions.
”Sorry. Try to breathe through your mouth. And don’t puke.” Carl felt he’d said this far too many times to his friends over the years.
They went through to a dimly lit living room, where several bodies lay around. Mixed in with cats and guitars.
”Biggles ?” One person sat up; Peter. Then he was stood, lifting Carl into the air. “Fuck me, I thought I mixed up my dose and was having a vision. Let me kiss you.”
Despite Peter’s dubious hygiene, Carl didn’t put up any resistance. Miles saw how other’s must view him with Alex. It felt obscene to be in the same room as them, but also very touching. He cleared his throat to shatter the moment, hoping to avoid any cats rubbing their hairs on his trousers if they could leave quickly.
”Oh, it’s ….” Peter was trying hard to place Miles.
“How do, I’m Miles. “
This meant nothing to Peter however. “You’re not….you’re Carl’s boyfriend ?”
“NO.” Carl and Miles in unison. “He’s with Al, I’m not shagging everyone for God’s sake Peter.”
”Blatant lies. Although you’re not shagging me so there is that….” Peter was twirling Carl’s hair around a finger. “You offering sexual services in exchange for drugs yet ?”
”Yes and no. But right now we better sort this for Miles.”
Peter headed up the stairs, leaving Carl to beckon Miles back into the hallway.
“We can go in a minute, he’s just getting it.”
“There better not be any cat hairs in it.” Miles wrinkled his nose; The whole house was filthy.
“I assure you, Pete has a locked chest with all the drugs in it. No-one gets into it, not even me.” He had a far away look on, Miles realised what a bind it had been to come here and drag everything up again.
”Thanks for this. You sure you’re okay though ?”
“Me ? I’m always okay.” Carl dangled a cigarette from his lips. He always looked improbably beautiful but at times like this he morphed into some kind of Ruben’s angel. Miles felt a surge of warmth for him.
Peter reappeared with the drugs, passing it to Carl via an embrace, whispering and gentle kisses.
Miles couldn’t step back onto the street fast enough. He cleansed his body with a large inhalation of London air, then checked for flea bites.
”Come on, job done. Let’s find a car and get back over the river.” Even Carl looked relived to be outside.
“I didn’t know how close you were to him.” Miles had pinched Carl’s cigarette to get a light.
”Bilo ? Yeah, the fucker broke my heart. What can you do ? Fucked if I know…”
Miles stopped him. “Carl, come back to the flat. I’m not packing you off on your own….”
Carl gave a low whistle. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Alex is…”
”Alex is fine. He sent me a text before you arrived. It’s his idea.”
Milex/Carl Barat
nc-17 for the usual suspects
Carl’s flat.
It was so cold inside and outside that the windows remained streaked with condensation all day. Carl checked to see if the bit where Peter had kissed the glass still showed up; It did. What a party that was. He couldn’t explain the bitter pain he still experienced everyday from being without Pete. The flat never used to be this cold before, when he stayed here most nights.
He tipped a little water over the soil to keep the geranium in the kitchen window alive. Another left over from Pete. His phone rang.
“‘Ello ?……yeah alright Miles…This is unexpected. Me ? Well I’m pretty busy…” Carl scanned the empty flat and tried to sound truthful, “Writing songs mainly……yes of course I can get some. You’d have to come over to collect it though, maybe even come along with me,” He had a quick look to see if he needed a shave. The mirror said definitely. And a long bath. “I’ll text you when I know. Laters mate.”
Carl thought he’d better locate the bubble bath. And his special date aftershave.
Miles wondered if he’d made the right call. It felt decidedly as though he’d elected to spend a night out with the Sirens. All the same, he made sure his hair looked it’s best. Alex was still sleeping, clutching a pillow for dear life; The duvet swamping his tiny frame. His sense of guilt for something he hadn’t done was all out of proportion. It was down to himself if he kept his hands out of Carl’s trousers. How difficult could it be to behave ? Alex stirred slightly. Should he tell him or wait until he’d collected the coke ? Al had practise to get to, he could tell him after. Anyway, he wouldn’t be able to tag along and flirt outrageously. Better for everyone.
Alex opened his eyes and took a moment to think where he was. His own bed. Bliss. He lay perfectly relaxed with the weight of the covers pressing down and the softness of the pillow enveloping his neck.
”Miles ?”
“Right here. You are beautiful when you sleep.”
“That sounds like a guilty conscience. Make me a drink, eh ?”
Miles smarted from Alex’s throwaway comment implying guilt. “Get your own. I’m not your maid….”
“Ooof…touchy.” Alex thought. He stayed in the bed a little longer. He felt a buzzing in the bed. Miles’s phone. He reached out and felt around for it.
A text from Carl.
He clicked open, read it…deleted it.
***********
Carl was actually happy. In the two years since he’d broken with Pete and refused to reform the Libs for a new record, he’d been suffering. All his friends had drifted away, except Alex. Alex always just accepted other people’s love lives. Funny really, since he never seemed to have one of his own.
Yet fundamentally, he was trying his damnedest to fuck Alex over by seducing his boyfriend. However much he loved Al, he couldn’t say no to trying out Miles. From the growing frenzy at gigs, it seemed Miles was quite the attraction now. He always had dressed immaculately of course, and had that ridiculous mod hair. But since he’d been with Al he was….. irresistible, in that ‘someone else’s boyfriend’ way.
The doorbell went. Carl glanced at the clock.
“Early. The eager little fucker.” He cast the washing up gloves to one side and straightened his shirt.
”Oh !” It wasn’t Miles on the doorstep. It was Alex. And he looked pissed.
”Gonna let me in then ?”
Carl tried to calculate quickly; Slam the door or use his drama skills to deftly dodge a bullet here ? Alex had a foot wedged in the door. Carl allowed the door to swing open, weighing up his next move.
”Do you want a drink Al ?”
“Coffee.”
“I meant whiskey ? Or wine….?”
“Nope. I’m driving. Why did you asked Miles over ?”
“I….didn’t ?” Carl narrowed his eyes while peering at Alex.
“Liar. I saw the text.” Alex was deathly white. Ready for a fight.
“Well….yeah, but that was in reply to him ringing me first. He just wanted some coke.”
Alex let his breath out. He felt like an idiot. He held a hand out to Carl.
“I am a prick. Sorry man.”
Carl shook his hand, trying to give Alex a conciliatory smile. This all seemed to …..easy.
“Want that coffee now ?”
“Nah, you’re all right. I have to get to band practise really.” He stepped in near to Carl, moved a long curl out of the way and pressed his lips to that golden skin. “Christ, I might have to talk Miles in to that threesome.”
”Alex…..” Carl thought this needed to stop, right now. But Alex was already running his hands to pull Carl’s hair back, then releasing a hand to snake a finger up his throat and to tug at his lower lip.
Alex’s phone beeped. It made him check the time, sighing as he yanked Carl’s caught hair back with a snap before releasing him.
”Next time Barat.” He clocked a photograph on the side. “Get Pete back. You two are a right miserable pair when you’re apart,” He picked up his keys. “And look after Miles for me later.”
Alex disappeared. Carl considered calling it off with Miles, but he dreaded another lonely night in alone more than the cuts from Alex’s fists.
**************
Miles checked his phone for Carl’s message. Alex had left for practise, and he was left alone. All dressed up and nowhere to go, it seemed. He waited another full minute, then rang.
Carl arranged to meet Miles away from the flat. Unless Alex had descended to stalking him or Miles, it should be safe. Even so, he tried to sneak out quietly and got a cab from his doorstep to mask his tracks. The thrill of skulking about made up for the fear of an altercation.
You couldn’t miss Miles at the bar. Everyone else looked decidedly drab in comparison, as though stripped of colour. Then there was the admiring glances he drew. Carl pondered whether he missed the times when it was him that always got the attention in a pub, concluding he was glad to see the back of the frenzy. It made even simple tasks such as scoring drugs, so much hassle.
”Miles !” Carl laid an arm around his shoulder, positioning himself to block the glances of the girls plotting to ask for an autograph.
”I thought you were standing me up.” Miles was standing, ready to abandon the drink and move on. “We going to yours then ?”
The last thing Carl wanted was to be back at the flat just now.
“Can we stay a bit, or go somewhere else ? We can do the pick up now and see how we feel ….maybe go and see a band ?”
Miles frowned. “Thought we were going to your place, but whatever. Let’s do this.”
The taxi took them over the river to the East End. There didn’t seem to be any working street lights, and the road was littered with rubbish.
”Nice.” Miles grimaced, lifting his shoes over the torn bin bags. “Tell me I won’t get stabbed ?”
Carl chuckled at Miles’s prissiness. “Drugs aren’t all glamour. This is the raw end of things here.” He was knocking softly on a scruffy door.
“Are these friends of yours ? In this house ?” Miles was checking over his shoulder every few moments, shrinking down into his jacket for protection.
”This place ? This is my house, well…Peter lives here mostly now.”
”Will he be here ?”
Carl could only shrug. “Who knows, your guess is as good as mine.”
The door opened a few inches. There was barely any light illuminating the gloom.
“Pete there ? It’s Carl.”
“Dunno.”
“Well can I come in and have a look ?”
The door was opened sufficiently to allow them in. Miles peered at the retreating figure, trying to see if it was a man or woman. then he was hit by an overwhelming stench. Cats. Lots of cats. And their bodily functions.
”Sorry. Try to breathe through your mouth. And don’t puke.” Carl felt he’d said this far too many times to his friends over the years.
They went through to a dimly lit living room, where several bodies lay around. Mixed in with cats and guitars.
”Biggles ?” One person sat up; Peter. Then he was stood, lifting Carl into the air. “Fuck me, I thought I mixed up my dose and was having a vision. Let me kiss you.”
Despite Peter’s dubious hygiene, Carl didn’t put up any resistance. Miles saw how other’s must view him with Alex. It felt obscene to be in the same room as them, but also very touching. He cleared his throat to shatter the moment, hoping to avoid any cats rubbing their hairs on his trousers if they could leave quickly.
”Oh, it’s ….” Peter was trying hard to place Miles.
“How do, I’m Miles. “
This meant nothing to Peter however. “You’re not….you’re Carl’s boyfriend ?”
“NO.” Carl and Miles in unison. “He’s with Al, I’m not shagging everyone for God’s sake Peter.”
”Blatant lies. Although you’re not shagging me so there is that….” Peter was twirling Carl’s hair around a finger. “You offering sexual services in exchange for drugs yet ?”
”Yes and no. But right now we better sort this for Miles.”
Peter headed up the stairs, leaving Carl to beckon Miles back into the hallway.
“We can go in a minute, he’s just getting it.”
“There better not be any cat hairs in it.” Miles wrinkled his nose; The whole house was filthy.
“I assure you, Pete has a locked chest with all the drugs in it. No-one gets into it, not even me.” He had a far away look on, Miles realised what a bind it had been to come here and drag everything up again.
”Thanks for this. You sure you’re okay though ?”
“Me ? I’m always okay.” Carl dangled a cigarette from his lips. He always looked improbably beautiful but at times like this he morphed into some kind of Ruben’s angel. Miles felt a surge of warmth for him.
Peter reappeared with the drugs, passing it to Carl via an embrace, whispering and gentle kisses.
Miles couldn’t step back onto the street fast enough. He cleansed his body with a large inhalation of London air, then checked for flea bites.
”Come on, job done. Let’s find a car and get back over the river.” Even Carl looked relived to be outside.
“I didn’t know how close you were to him.” Miles had pinched Carl’s cigarette to get a light.
”Bilo ? Yeah, the fucker broke my heart. What can you do ? Fucked if I know…”
Miles stopped him. “Carl, come back to the flat. I’m not packing you off on your own….”
Carl gave a low whistle. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Alex is…”
”Alex is fine. He sent me a text before you arrived. It’s his idea.”