Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2024 23:49:36 +0000 (GMT)
From: blackscar01 <blackscar01@btinternet.com>
Subject: Operation Pied Piper - Part 155e

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*******

"It is just that if you haven't, you should, as Steinbeck wrote, 'There
ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do.'
Darius, I don't care what you think of me, but I care deeply what you might
think about those incredible chaps back there... Both of them just trying
to live and enjoy their lives while they can... Why don't you go and fuck
yourself, because unless you loosen up, it will be the only fun you ever
have. Now get out of my way."

"What did you say to me?"

I heard Forts and Davy come into the room behind me and greet Albert. I
turned back to Darius, "You heard, now get out of my way."

Darius glanced through the open door into the apartment at Forts and
Davy. He swallowed and stepped aside, "Mr Glover."

**

Operation Pied Piper – Part 155e

Part 155e minor characters making an appearance or receiving a mention:

Father Vladimir Orthodox Archpriest – (Vlad/Father Vladimir) –
Appointed Forts Spiritual Advisor. Resident at Pittodrie House.

Darius Guppy – (Darius) Ex Major, Royal Marine Commandos – Forts and
Davy's Head security officer

Montague Glover – (Montague/Monty) Photographer 45yrs friend and teacher
of Robert Milner.

Marmaduke du Maurier – (Duke) Forts and Davy's security Team 6'04"

Robin Little – (Robin) 17yrs boy was at the children's home. Now Groom
for Forts and Davy.

Cailin – (Cailin)_ 18yrs old. Had been one of the King's stable boys at
Balmoral, now one of Forts' and Davy's.


**

Father Vladimir takes up the story

I loved the tranquillity of the chapel; I sought it out whenever I could. I
was kneeling in prayer before the gilt high altar. I was praying for
Drageon, Davy, Draco, Arran, Andrew, and everyone at Pittodrie House and
Castle Fraser.

As I knelt, it felt as if I was being watched; I suppose I was. Hopefully,
by God, and definitely by the over a thousand painted and bejewelled eyes
of the icons that silently watched down on me from their glistening
frames. The walls of the chapel were now swathed in the ancient holy relics
that Count Samara had managed to save from oblivion by buying them up in
the sales in London. Above me, the large gilt orthodox cross hung from the
ceiling. It glinted in the flickering light of the many candles whose
flames danced in the unseen drafts which seemed to swirl around the chapel.

I wasn't really sure what had been going on the last few days, but a couple
of days ago I had overheard a feisty exchange between Darius and Duke
outside Forts' and Davy's apartments. Duke had ended up storming off down
the corridor muttering all kinds of profanities. Darius, he had just looked
angry, but there was something else about his expression, something I just
couldn't work out. I wondered if Forts realised there was a problem between
them? Even I recognised that these two were both way too important to
Forts' and Davy's safety to be falling out.

I crossed myself again, smiling, how many times a day did I do that? I
looked up into the eyes of the icon of Our Lady of Kazan, the one that the
Bishop had given Forts all those years ago. It now sat with pride of place
in the centre of the high altar. "Blessed Lady, please, I pray for you to
help Darius and Duke. Help them find a way to reconcile and find peace." I
crossed myself again.

The surrounding candles flickered wildly as the door of the chapel behind
me opened. I heard footsteps enter, and then the door quickly closed. I
stood and turned, finding myself face to face with Darius.

"Father Valdimir, ... I am sorry to disturb you... I was hoping to find
somewhere quiet to sit and think... Somewhere I would be unlikely to be
disturbed." His voice finished, barely a mumble.

I walked towards him. His face was pale, I could tell he was
troubled. "Darius, you are always welcome, please come and have a seat." I
smiled as I took his hands, "And you have probably found the one place at
Pittodrie where you won't be disturbed."

He nodded, obviously getting the irony of what I had said. His lip
trembled, and I was sure his eyes were watery. "Thank you, Vlad."

"Darius, you seem troubled. Would it help to talk to me about what is
concerning you?"

"I think I need that... But Vlad, I don't believe in God."

I nodded and smiled, leading him to one of the bench seats. "Darius, if I
only spoke to believers, my days here at Pittodrie would be long and very
quiet." He chuckled and smiled back at me.

I took his hands in mine, "Now what is troubling you? I will be honest with
you. I heard you and Duke arguing the other morning, does that have
anything to do with you seeking peace and quiet here?"

Darius nodded, "Yes, ... but only really as a consequence of what has been
happening." His eyes totally focused on mine, "Is it okay for me to speak
about His Imperial Highness?"

Now I hadn't really been expecting that, but I nodded. "Darius, please feel
comfortable to speak to me about anything." I gave him a little, hopefully,
reassuring wink, "There is only one being always present who knows all
things and the minds and souls of all men in the world, and it isn't me."

Darius nodded, smiling. "Have you met Monty Glover, the photographer?"

I nodded, "Though, only really in passing, he doesn't seem very interested
in photographing me."

Darius smiled and nodded again. "No... Do you know about the type of
photographs he takes?"

"Well, I did hear from Prince Chikenoff that Mr Glover seemed to be known
for taking pictures of low born, or maybe I should say working-class males,
usually well-built ones," I winked, "If you know what I mean. But I also
hear he likes to photograph and mix with royalty."

Darius glanced downwards, his voice breaking. "He has been taking lots of
pictures of Forts... Most, I don't think, are appropriate to Forts'
position and station in life."

I paused, hoping he would continue, but he didn't. He just remained looking
at the floor.

"In what way are they inappropriate in your eyes?"

Darius shook his head, this was obviously troubling him greatly. He
clenched his hand together and pushed his face into them, "Oh, God, Oops
sorry..." He looked straight at me, I just smiled back, "Vlad, he has had
Forts naked and hard doing all sorts of things and has recorded it all on
film."

Now, I wasn't aware of this. I sat quietly.

Darius paused again, as if trying to formulate his words into a coherent
sentence. "Forts is too trusting. He sees good in everyone, never the
bad. He doesn't realise how damaging these pictures could be if they fell
into the wrong hands. I know..." His voice trailed off as he wrung his
hands together. "I don't know what to do... I tried to speak to him, but he
just got angry with me and now I have fallen out with Duke, my closest
friend, and just about everyone else, too... Maybe I am over just
overreacting, but I don't think I am." He shook his head again.

I paused, not sure if I really wanted to know much more, but I needed to if
I was going to be of any help. I reached for his hands again, taking hold
of them, hopefully giving him some comfort that he didn't have to face this
alone. "Darius, Forts exposing himself to potential blackmail like this is
concerning... But, you said 'I know...' How do you know?" I left my
question hanging.

His eyes flashed up to mine, and he sighed. He then looked down and spoke
to the floor, "When I was at Eton. There was a chap there who was into
photography... Well, let's just say, I posed for him... All innocent at
first and then, more and more, shall we say, risquι. You can imagine the
sort of thing. I was a horny young teenager in the flush of youth, I wanted
everyone to see..." Darius swallowed his glanced back up, his eyes, watched
me closely for any sign of disapproval. "Sorry, Father, you don't need to
hear this. I am so ashamed." Darius closed his eyes as the memories
obviously flooded back to his consciousness.

Me, I tried to put the imagines that similarly flooded my mind, of the fit
naked Darius, to the background. See... we are all human. I squeezed his
hand, "Now, unless you are suddenly going to tell me you believe I am your
friend Vlad, you don't have to call me Father, understand?" Darius nodded
and tried to smile. "Look, Darius, we have all done things that, in
hindsight, we regret. I know I have, some even while I was a priest." My
mind filled with the images of Davy, Forts and me in the steam room at the
Nabokov Steam Bath House in Aberdeen.

Darius stood, "Yes, I know, but the pictures of me ... once they became
public and they did, well, they have haunted my whole life. They made it
miserable at the time, not only embarrassing me, but my family and losing
me friends..." He gave a nervous chuckle, shaking his head, "That was why I
never finished my schooling and joined the army; to escape it all..." He
paused and stared into the distance, "I was supposed to have followed my
father into banking... That had always been my mothers' and his plan,
instead..." Darius shook his head once more, was it in embarrassment or
frustration, probably a mixture of both. He sat down next to me again and
closed his eyes, still shaking his head.

"Darius, have you spoken to Forts about this?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No, it's too embarrassing, plus, I never got that
far. Forts was so angry. Besides, he had his talking head on, not his
listening one. He said, 'It was nearly unforgiveable that I had been rude
to one of Davy and his guests...' I don't think my expression helped,
sadly, I have never been good at hiding when I am pissed off."

"Darius, would that guest have been, Mr Glover?"

Darius nodded. "I can't get it out of my head. Why couldn't Forts see what
he was doing? ... Glover actually seemed to enjoy it... You know, pushing
Forts to do more and more outrageous things... All the time watching me, he
could see from my face I was losing it. But at the time, it felt as if he
was taunting me... He knew exactly what he was doing."

I nodded, I need to think about that, so directed the conversation towards
Duke. "So, what happened between you and Duke? You always seemed so close."

Darius swallowed, "We are, or should I say we were... Duke thought I was
overreacting. He asked me when I had become the unelected 'Guardian of
Forts and Davy's Morals'."

"But doesn't Duke know about what happened to you? You were both at Eton
together, weren't you?"

With his body now slumped forward, Darius nodded. The poor chap looked like
he had the world's problems on his shoulders. "Yes, Duke knows... He always
stood by me... I don't know why I snapped at him... At the time, I couldn't
understand why he was happy for it all to continue with Forts and
Monty... He knew what the photographs of me had done to me and my life..."
Darius shook his head again, "And now he is avoiding me..." He let out a
sob. "I have lost my closest friend now, too."

"I am sure that is not the case..." I tried to sound reassuring.

Darius sniffed and looked towards the floor again, "I didn't mean to come
across like that with Duke... But I was so angry... It's just, it's just,
Forts is so trusting... He needs protecting from himself... And what, with
James away that day... I really hoped that Duke would back me up... Vlad,
none of us know this Mr Glover from Adam!"

Darius buried his head in his hands again, "God, Oh, sorry Vlad," I keep
doing that, "Taking the Lord's name in vain."

I gave him a calming smile, "I am sure he will forgive you, but only just
this once."

Darius nodded and chuckled, he squeezed my hand back. "I knew I could talk
to you Vlad, thank you... Do you know another thing? Glover even said I
should read 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck..."

I spoke, my voice interrupting him as I recalled out loud the phrase that
had once been spoken to me, "'There ain't no sin and there ain't no
virtue. There's just stuff people do.'" God, it had been the Bishop that
had said that to me when I challenged him about his relationship with
Edik. I had never forgotten it. It certainly put life into perspective.

Darius nodded, quietly, "You have heard it before then?"

"Yes."

"Vlad, what are we going to do? We need to save Forts from himself!"

*

Darius and I sat for a longtime, me trying to offer him some form of
reassurance. I left him sitting in the chapel, his head lowered in silent
thought. As I stood, I glanced again at the icon of Our Lady of Kazan, Oh;
I hoped his pleas would be answered and he would find peace.

But now there was someone I need to talk to, and immediately.


**

Duke takes up the story

I was lying on Robin's bed, waiting for Cailin and him to finish, I had
just booked off. I glanced at my watch; My mind was troubled, no that's not
the right word, conflicted, Yes, it was conflicted. Four days had passed,
and I still hadn't spoken civilly to Darius. Oh, I hadn't been rude, after
all, I had to remember; how had he put it to me, 'KNOW YOUR PLACE!'. Those
words chewed at me. He was supposed to be my best friend!

All of our exchanges since had been perfunctory and about work. I will be
honest, it hurt me and I could see that he seemed to be struggling with it,
too; or was he? What was wrong with him!? We had known each other for so
long; been there for each other through thick and thin. Christ! We had
grown up together. Jesus! Just the other day, I had even intervened on his
behalf with Forts when Forts pulled him up about being rude to
Monty. Now... Now, I don't know why I had fucking bothered... I bit my lip,
that's not true, I did, really.

I couldn't stop my head churning... Then his final words to me that
morning. Well, they were now seared into my brain. "YOU ARE FUCKING PAID TO
PROTECT HIM! NOT FUCK HIM!" I doubted I would ever forget the expression of
rage on his face. How dare he speak to me like that?!

I counted to ten, desperately trying to calm myself. I let out a sigh. I
wished I could stop replaying it over and over and over. A couple of times
since, he had tried to speak to me, but I wasn't ready for another lecture
about my supposedly loose morals. God, not by someone who had done what he
had done back at Eton; stripping and wanking on camera. He had brought
shame on himself and his family when the pictures had gotten out, and now
he had the gall to question how the rest of us acted, especially
Forts... Moral fucking high ground... Indeed?! I had half a mind to tell
Monty and Forts, Darius was nothing but a bloody hypocrite.

*

"We're back." The door opened and in came Robin and Cailin. Robin launched
himself at me and kissed me. Cailin watched and waited, then came over to
the bed and leant down and kissed my lips, "Hi sexy, everything okay? You
don't look very happy."

I forced myself to smile, "I'm okay... How have both of your days gone?"

Robin was bouncing around the room grinning, "Are you going to have a
shower with both of us? Like yesterday."

I ruffled his hair, "Would you like that?"

He nodded enthusiastically. I glanced at Cailin, he just smiled and nodded,
he winked, "Could be fun."

Cailin had been impaling himself on my cock now every chance he got, not
that I am complaining. I pulled myself up off the bed, Robin was already
naked and had grabbed his towel. He headed for the door, "Last one there
has to have cold water," he giggled as he vanished out of the door and ran
off down the corridor.

Cailin was watching me. "Are you sure you are alright?"

I nodded as I began to remove my clothes. This boy was way too perceptive.

"Have you spoken to Darius yet?"

I shook my head as I slipped off my underwear. His eyes went straight to my
cock. I gave it a tug and freed my sweaty balls.

He looked up at my face. "It is not me that has upset you, is it? ... You
know, what happened between us..." His eyes left mine. "I know, you are
with Robin... I will leave the two of you alone if that is what you want."

I pulled him into my arms and pushed my tongue into his mouth; we kissed
for several seconds before he pulled away. "We had better go. Robin will be
wondering where we have got to."

I nodded. He turned to leave, I reached out and took hold of his arm,
"Cailin, I don't want to lose either of you. I like what we have going
on. Can you cope with that?"

He nodded and gave a shy smile.

"What about Stuart? Are you going to tell him?"

Cailin paused, "I think Stuart knew something like this would happen when I
came here. I bet he is fucking my replacement as we speak." He smiled,
"Come on, Robin will be waiting and, more importantly using up all the hot
water."


**

Athol takes up the story the following morning

'This is the nine o'clock world news from the BBC in London on Tuesday, the
1st of February, 1944. It has been announced that the siege of Leningrad is
over. The city which has been encircled since 1941 is now free. Our
victorious Soviet allies have forced the encircling German armies back some
sixty miles from the city... In further news...'

"Archie, did you hear that? What great news! The tide has really changed. I
must phone Forts. I bet he hasn't even got the radio on!"

I picked up the phone and put a call through to Pittodrie. Finally, Forts'
voice came on the line. "Hi Dad. You are up early."

"It's a school day, your mum and I have been up for hours. It sounds like
you are just out of bed, though?"

Forts chuckled, "I am, Is Davy with you?"

"No, he is in class... Forts, have you heard the news? Leningrad has been
liberated!"

Forts grunted. "Its name is St. Petersburg, dad."

"Sorry Forts, what did you say?"

"I said there is no such place as Leningrad, it's called St. Petersburg!
That's where my family's home was! It was where my parents lived! Before
those Bolshevik bastards chased them out and murdered most of my family!"

"Forts, son... You know I didn't mean it like that... I don't mean to upset
you, but St. Petersburg doesn't exist anymore. The World has changed. The
Soviets are our allies now."

Click... Silence...

"Forts, Forts, are you still there? Drageon, are you still there?"

All I could hear was a crackling. Archie looked round, "Is everything
okay?"

"Apparently not. I had the temerity to say that St. Petersburg no longer
existed, and that it was now called Leningrad... He put the phone down on
me."

"You're kidding?" Archie stood.

"Archie, I am known for many things, but being a comedian is not one of
them."

"Are you going to ring him back?"

"No, not now. I will try to speak to him again later."


**

James takes up the story

I hadn't seen Forts yet today. I had started early and was in my office,
finalising the itineraries for the day and the trip to London. I had spoken
to Albert, albeit briefly, to transfer a call to the apartment from
Athol. He had sounded really upbeat and desperate to speak to Forts. So, I
was somewhat surprised when I looked a few minutes later and the call had
been ended.

*

With the itineraries completed, I sat back in my chair... What to do? Over
the last couple of days, I had been slowly piecing together what had
happened on Chris' and my day off and that night. Chris had spoken with
Jeremy and me to Albert. Darius and Duke had both played dumb with me. I
wanted to speak to Monty, but he hadn't been seen for a couple of days,
apparently he was eating in his room while working. All knocks had been met
with a brisk "Go away, I am working!" From the outside, it could be seen
that his rooms drapes were drawn all day; he was obviously busy developing
the pictures he had taken.

I had cautiously broached what I had heard with Forts. He had dismissed it
all as all a silly misunderstanding. But I knew the way he was with Darius,
and the atmosphere between Duke and Darius, it was way more than
that. Everyone, with the exception of Forts, seemed to be walking on
eggshells.

Darius, well, he seemed to be totally preoccupied. I knew he had made
several long phone calls to London and one to a master at our old school,
Eton. I didn't know what any of the calls were about. But on the face of it
and from his general demeanour, I was seriously expecting him to resign at
any moment. Not only that, he seemed to post anyone but himself to be on
duty with or near Forts.

I had even asked Forts if he had noticed, but all he did was wave off my
concerns with the words, 'I am not pandering to him'. 'He has done this
before'. 'He will be fine, just as soon as he realises I decide what I am
going to do, not him.' Had Forts just given me a tantalising glimpse of the
issue? If he had, he refused to elaborate further, so there was no point in
my pursuing it with him until I could find out a bit more.

Dima had watched on with me, with an expression of growing concern
consuming him. He was beside himself; he was due to leave with Robert the
following week for the United States of America. In fact, all of us were
supposed to head to London on Wednesday to see them off, and from what I
understood, Darius wouldn't even be coming to London with us.

It was no good; I needed to speak to Darius again and make him tell me what
the hell was going on. I glanced at the clock, well, there is no time like
the present. I tidied my desk and headed out of my office and along to the
security room. Darius was there, as was Father Vladimir in his full black
robes and Kalimavkion, they both stood as I entered.

Vlad came towards me, Darius looked at the floor. "Ah, James, just the
man. I was about to come and find you. Darius and I need to speak to
Forts... Immediately."

I swallowed, somewhat taken aback. "Neither of you need to ask me to do
that, Forts isn't like that, you can both see him anytime. Just go along to
the apartment." I followed my words with a questioning smile.

Vlad wasn't smiling. "James, this has to be official." He glanced back at
Darius.

I glanced at Darius, he was still looking at the floor. He looked awful and
was holding a large buff envelope. My God, he was going to resign. I
swallowed, "Can I ask what it is about?"

Vlad stiffened, "You are welcome to be present, James, but Forts has to
hear this from us first."

I swallowed again, "Alright, can you both wait in the Garden Room, I will
bring him down there, is that okay?"

Vlad nodded, "That's the room with his parents' portraits hanging in it,
isn't it?" I nodded, he continued, "That location could be very
appropriate, as it turns out."

"Sorry?" Vlad and I were suddenly playing a game of who would blink first,
he won. Vlad didn't elaborate.

"Okay, I will bring Forts down now; if he is free." I glanced at Darius, he
avoided my look once again. "Give me ten minutes."

*

Albert was just helping Forts get dressed as I entered the bedroom. Davy
had already left for work.

Forts turned and smiled. "James, good morning."

"Good morning, Forts. Did you get the call from your father I put through?"

Albert raised his eyebrows and gave a little shake of his head. Thankfully,
Forts didn't appear to notice as he launched into a tirade. "Yes, I did, he
wanted to gloat and tell me that the mighty Bolsheviks', Christ, he even
called them our allies, had liberated Leningrad... I reminded him it was
called St. Petersburg."

Albert was looking away, shaking his head again.

Ah, it was going to be that sort of morning. I swallowed, "Err, Forts, I am
sure Athol didn't use those words."

He grunted, "No, but he might as well have." Forts seemed to check himself,
he smiled again, "Anyway, what have you got for me today?"

"Err, Forts, Father Vladimir and Darius wish to speak to you in the Garden
Room as soon as you are dressed, if that is possible."

Forts stopped and looked directly at me, his smile vanished. "What about?"

Thankfully, I could honestly reply, "They wouldn't tell me." I paused as
Forts' look intensified, so I added, "Your Imperial Highness." I was
beginning to think it was definitely going to be that sort of morning.

"James?!"

"Forts, I really don't know."

Albert caught my eye, I knew at that moment he knew, everyone knew, just
not Forts apparently... Oh and me.

Forts huffed, and turned away to look at himself in the long mirror, he
glanced up and down at himself and then straight at my reflection. He
paused, "Well, Albert, if I am to be told off again, we had better make it
a dress tunic; I suppose," adding, "Maybe I need to remind them who I am."
Sadly, Forts sounded defiant.

I stepped forward, "Forts, I am sure it isn't like that. They both love you
and care for you. Everyone only wants the best for you."

"So you do know what this is about." Forts' eyes drilled into my reflection
in the mirror.

"Forts, I promise you I don't."

I felt really uncomfortable as Forts continued to watch me in the
mirror. Thankfully, his time with the King had done some good, once upon a
time he would have exploded, now he just nodded, his eyes never leaving
mine.


**

Father Vladimir picks up the story

Radost and Nadya excitedly preceded Forts and James into the Garden
Room. James was behind Forts, he made eye contact with us and mouthed, "Go
carefully. He is in a confrontational mood."

Forts was wearing a dark green tunic with his George Medal ribbon. On his
shoulders were embroidered, gold and red epaulets. He had on a pair of dark
blue baggy Cossack trousers and some black knee-length boots.

Darius and I both stood, both of us clutching our respective buff-coloured
envelopes. We both gave head bows. As arranged, I spoke for both of us,
"Good morning Forts, thank you for agreeing to see us."

Forts glanced stonily at me, before he knelt down to clap Radost. He peered
up at me once more, "Did I have a choice then?" James let out a little
audible grunt. Forts glanced at him, and gave a silent, resigned nod.

I felt myself swallow. "Forts, please, could we all just sit and speak like
the friends I know we all are? This is important, and we both care about
you."

Forts viewed us both closely, then nodded and sat down, Radost and Nadya
moved to sit at his booted feet. James moved to stand behind him. Forts
continued to stroke both of the dogs, then leant forward, "Okay, what is
this about? I take it because Darius is here, it has something to do with
the other day and Mr Glover."

Biting his lip, Darius looked up, he took a deep breath in. "Your Imperial
Highness."

"Call me Forts unless we are no longer friends!"

Darius nodded, "Forts, I suppose I should start. I want to explain my
behaviour the other day, with Mr Glover. I am sorry that it has taken me so
long to give you a full explanation, but this hasn't been easy for me. I
honestly thought I had put what I am going to speak about all behind
me. Until the other day, I had blocked it from my memory. Then, watching
the things Monty had you do in here, then in the garden and finally up at
the stables, well, it brought it all back to me." Darius, swallowed and
reached into his pocket for a hankie, he quickly wiped his eye and crunched
the hankie up in his hand. Forts glanced at me, it was the first look of
concern I had seen on his face since he had arrived.

"Darius, my friend, please take your time." Forts actually sounded like he
really cared.

Darius opened the envelope he was holding, dark damp patches now easily
discernible on the light buff colour, where his hands had been tightly
clutching it. He took out several photographs and without a word handed
them across to Forts.

Forts took the photographs, but before he looked at them, he asked, "Is it
okay for me to see these? Are you sure you want me to?"

Darius nodded.

Forts looked down at the photographs, slowly examining each of them. He
swallowed, "Is this you?"

Darius nodded, letting out a snort. A solitary tear rolled down his
cheek. "I am so sorry..."

Forts gave a concerned look toward me, mumbling, "Vlad," as Darius' voice
broke. Was he expecting me to do something? I sat stock still. I was going
to force Forts to listen and confront this. Forts turned away from me,
"Darius, are you okay?" Forts moved forward on the chair, pushing the dogs
away, finally we had his complete attention.

Darius composed himself, "I was nineteen and at Eton when they were taken,"
he quickly wiped away the tear with the scrunched-up hankie. "Like you the
other day, I thought I was being daring and risquι. After all, it was
just supposed to be a bit of fun."

Forts handed back the photographs. Darius took them and placed them back in
the envelope he was holding. "Sadly, I had no idea how allowing them to be
taken would affect my whole life." Darius reached into the envelope again
and handed Forts a newspaper cutting and a letter, on headed Eton writing
paper.

Looking concerned, Forts turned to me and then to James, both of us
remained impassive. Forts was forced to turn back to Darius, "Are you sure
you want me to see and read these?"

Darius nodded, as another tear rolled down his cheek, "I insist that you
do."

I glanced at Darius and reached for his hand, squeezing his fingers and
giving him what I hoped would be interpreted as a reassuring smile. He had
shown amazing strength of character up to now; I knew this wasn't easy for
him. I had already seen the photographs, they all showed a young and
fresh-faced Darius, naked; in many of the photographs he had an erection
and was pleasuring himself, and in a couple, with cum splattered on his
body and a big innocent grin on his face.

Silently, Forts read the newspaper cutting first. It relayed how a pupil of
Eton, Darius Guppy, had been expelled for lewd and perverted behaviour,
having allowed himself to be photographed naked. It went on to explain the
only reason he hadn't been charged was because he was tricked into posing
for the photographs. As Darius pointed out to Forts as he finished reading,
"The photographs don't look like I was tricked into doing it, do they?"

Forts swallowed and picked up the letter, on headed Eton writing paper.

Darius spoke again, "It is from my last form master, expressing his
disappointment in me." Darius gave a gulp and another sniff, "Read it!"

As he got to the end of the letter, Forts looked up, he exhaled, "Darius, I
never knew about this. I am so sorry."

"Why would you know? I spent my entire life running, hiding from it. I was
supposed to follow my father into banking, but I was disgraced and
disowned... The only place left for me was the army."

Forts handed back the letter and the article. "Darius, please."

Darius bit his lip, "Forts, there is more, I want you to read this letter
from my father."

Darius carefully unfolded an obviously well-worn and fragile looking
letter, he handed it open to Forts. I had already seen it; and the ink
smudges caused by a distraught teenagers' tears all those years ago.

Forts took the letter as Darius continued, "He sent it to me at the
time. It was my father who arranged for me to go straight into the
army... You can see at the bottom the handwritten footnote he added."

Forts' eyes widened as he read it.

The words were already seared into my brain from my conversation with
Darius earlier. His father had written the following, 'Hopefully you will
be killed and your eternal shame will die with you. You are nothing but a
disgusting pervert! You have broken your mothers' and my hearts. You are
dead to us both.'

Forts sat back in his chair. He looked straight at me, "Have you seen
this?" I nodded. Forts swallowed, "Darius, I wish you had felt able to
speak to me about this the other day."

Darius stared straight back at him, "Would you have listened if I had?"

Forts didn't answer. He just carefully handed back the letter. He looked at
me, he paused, "You have something else to add, Vlad?"

I nodded and glanced up at the portraits of Forts' parents hanging next to
us. Forts' eyes followed mine. I slowly opened my envelope, pulling out
some of the pictures I had managed to get from Monty. I handed them to
Forts, his face tensed as he looked at each of them.

"Forts, how do you think your parents would have reacted to these
photographs of you? What would you do if they ever became public like
Darius' did? Have you thought about how it could impact on Davy, Draco,
Arran, and Andrew? ... Or on yourself?"

Forts stood, "Yes, but, Monty said..."

Darius didn't let Forts finish, "Forts, it doesn't have to be Monty who
releases them, besides, I was told the same thing, private pictures for
private albums... Forts, I am sorry for any embarrassment I have caused you
with your guest... Can I recommend Duke as my successor, he is more than up
to the job."

Forts looked like he had been poleaxed. I stood, joining him. He was
shaking his head, staring up at the painting of his father. "Oh God, what
have I done?"

I took his arm, "Forts, you are our friend, please, please get possession
of all the negatives and photographs Monty took. You are the heir to the
Russian throne, pictures like this of you can never be allowed to become
public."

Forts was silent, finally he nodded. "Darius, Vlad, thank you both. I know
this hasn't been easy for either of you... Darius, neither your resignation
nor your recommendation are acceptable. You are my head of security, we
will speak together later, my friend. Now you must both excuse me, I have
something I have to attend to. James, can you come with me, please?"


                        **********************

Folks, there is nothing more rewarding than hearing from you that you are
enjoying the story. Please take the time to email me to let me
know. Blackscar.

Other Nifty stories by Blackscar.

'The Therapist'                     - Gay/Authoritarian
'NightCam Fun'                      – Gay/Encounters
'Exploring my brother'              – Gay/Incest
'Josh's Adventures series'          - Gay/Adult Youth
'An Army life for me'               - Gay/Adult Youth/Military
'Grandmas Bedroom'                  – Bisexual/Incest
'Dominic Online'                    – Gay/Adult Youth
'Vampyre'                           – Gay/Adult Youth
'Operation Pied Piper'              – Gay/Adult Youth
'Scream if you want to go faster'   - Bisexual/Adult Youth
'Red and Nick'                      – Bisexual/Military
'The Extraordinary Christmas Party' – Bisexual/Incest
'A Brother Used'                    - Gay/Incest
'A very English Trailer Park'       - Gay/Adult Youth
'Special lube Oil'                  - Gay/Adult Youth