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the boy in the end, studying James with
discretion.
    “Thank you,”
said James rushing out of the house nervously. The unfamiliar dark
streets felt unwelcoming at this time of night. What was he doing
trying to look for that man?
     
    *

     
    Ira breathed
deeply, carrying a bag of food and drink up the stairs. He spent
most of the day at the university and then went to see a play in a
cheap theatre in Soho. He knocked on his door and almost
immediately Joshua opened, with a big smile. Ira smiled back,
handing his bag to the boy before heading into the overheated
room.
    Joshua lost
everything after his father went bankrupt and committed suicide. He
ended up as a male rentboy, but kept putting money away in a bank.
Ira believed the boy would eventually leave the profession. Off
course, he heard that from many young hookers, but he honestly
hoped Josh could make it.
    “There’s dinner
inside,” he said, taking off his leather jacket.
    “Oh, thank
you!”, Joshua said, placing a quick kiss on his cheek, before
walking off to the table to take out the food. “How was your day at
the university?”
    “Was all
right,” Ira sighed and sat in his favorite leather chair. The work
was as tiresome as a day on the galleys. It was probably the stress
of dealing with the undead that added to the tension. “Got new
zombies, as every day.”
    “It’s a
responsible job!” Joshua smiled at him and braided his long hair to
the side. The smell of stew and bread filled the room when he put
the food on the table. “You had a visitor here, as well.”
    “Yeah?” asked
Ira, his thoughts returning to the unexpected meeting at the
university. He still remembered the feel of luscious lips on his
cock and groaned at the memory. Fucking bigot that James, he
thought.
    “He demanded of
me, that I do not tell you, but of course I will,” he said and
looked at Ira for approval. The man blinked, surprised.
    “Why would he
want that?” he asked, gesturing for Joshua to come over.
    “I don’t know.
He only stayed for a minute and tried to make some conversation.”
The boy came closer and sat on Ira’s lap. “He said he had an
assignment for you, but then changed his mind.”
    “That’s weird,”
commented Ira, cradling his companion against his chest and kissing
his temple. He enjoyed Joshua’s company; he was beautiful, smart
and clung to him.
    “He had this
expensive coat on and a very posh accent. So it could have been
some good money,” the boy said, kissing Ira slowly. Ira swallowed
and withdrew, but put his arm around his companion’s waist.
    “Tell me more,”
he asked, feeling strangely apprehensive. Why would a potential
client resign after meeting Joshua?
    “He asked me if
I lived here, if we were friends and that sort of small talk. Oh! I
know what else - he wouldn’t take off his mask. But I think he had
a few locks of long hair sticking out.”
    Ira
straightened a bit. Was that possible? What could James be doing in
a neighbourhood like this? Did he... want to apologize? Yes, that
must have been it! “When was that?” he asked sharply.
    “Not longer
than half an hour ago. Do you know who that could have been?”
Joshua asked, wrapping his arms around Ira’s neck.
    “Yes,” the
older man answered, untangling his hands and trying to stand up, “I
need to go.” This area was definitely unfit for someone like James.
Moreover, it was like a labyrinth and he wondered whether the other
man would be able to get out of it safely.
    “But what about
dinner?” asked Joshua with disappointment, getting off his lap.
    “Ya go ahead,
I’ll eat mine when I’m back,” said Ira, bending to give the younger
man a kiss, but he knew he had to go now. Snatching his jacket from
the cupboard, he stormed out of the room and down the staircase,
trying to imagine, which way James could have taken. After a few
seconds, he concluded that he must have gone into the immediate
direction of the city, so he quickly went into the