Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 19:47:38 +0800 From: Sonia Wilson Subject: Bruce: Prologue and Chapter One Ok, I'm going to write this once. This story is based on a futuristic world and based on Earth. I am not going to describe this world. That is what my story is for. Read to find out. You may not like my world and I don't necessarily agree to everything I have written. Sometimes stories and characters take you places you don't mean to go, but the story calls for it, as a writer I have to be true to the story, which is not the same as being true to me, my beliefs and opinions. This story centres on two people, adult men, who you are about to be introduced to you. These are fictional characters and any resemblance to actually people, or other stories, is completely unintentional. They come from completely different worlds and completely different backgrounds and this is the story of the relationship that builds between them. This relationship is sexual in nature and anyone who takes offence to gay relationships or is a minor by the laws of their country, should not be reading this. This story will be plot driven and for anyone who wants to know, the rough draft is over half way finished but by the same stakes, I am not rushing this for anyone and I do have another life so it may still take some time for each chapter to go up and each chapter may come up at a shorter or longer time due to that other life. These characters, this futuristic planet and all things associated with it, are products of my imagination, if you wish to place my story or use my characters or do anything with my stuff. Please, please, e-mail me first and ask permission? I am sorry if it seems I'm being too heavy handed but like most people I've already come across a few arseholes and would rather try to pre-empt them. Does anyone know a good editor? I try my best but my grammar and spelling skill are dodgy at best. Comments, etc. carew52@hotmail.com Prelude Bruce looked out over the endless landscape of wilderness before him with a smile. Wilderness was so much more then just trees and soil. It was how everything fitted together. The variety of trees and how they interacted, the variations of soil and how they affected the plants, the minute differences in weather conditions which also affected the wilderness and the animals, which affected each other and their surroundings in a way both minute and widespread. It every changing eco-system of life and how each change, however small, effected the whole. Bruce closed his eyes and breathed in the faintly dusty and faintly aromatic smell that was the wilderness in mid-autumn. He could almost pick up the hint of coming coolness of promised rains. This was his life, out here. His job was a wilderness guide for visiting tourist. Showing them how to set up a tent, build a camp fire, how to fish, how to track, to admire the varied and wonderful things one could find here. To educate on the dangers and to admire the beauty of it all. As the third millennium approached all too quickly, places like this where becoming all too rare as the world increasingly became just one large city surrounded by seas and oceans. Bruce had spent his childhood in one such near endless city. A stale place full of metal and plastic. He'd always felt a little disjoined, incomplete. As a child he'd always put that down to his overtly old fashioned, over-bearing and disciplinarian parents. Modern society had thankfully become mostly open minded and un-judgemental, not his parents though. His parents were highly traditional and quite backwards in their thinking for this age. It had being difficult and embarrassing as a child. It got impossible as he grew into a young teen. A young, gay teen. While society as a whole, no longer particularly cared, for his parents it was the ultimate evil, the unrepentable sin. He was denounced and thrown out of home by fifteen. In hindsight of course, they had done him a favour. For he'd being brought here. To Keith and Terry. Two happy married men who had two other adopted sons and a daughter already and wanting to have a large family. It took time but once he had settled here, for the first time he was happy, content. After a time he realised it wasn't just having a better family and better parents that he made him so. That it was being out here, the middle of no where. That he found a sense of connectedness. Both his foster fathers were outdoors people. While Terry loved his wood work, making everything from statues to bowl to entire furniture. It was with Keith that he felt the closest to. Keith who was, and still is a wilderness guide, just like he is now. Is was Keith how taught him the trades of a woodman. Setting up tents, tracking animals, knowing the plants, the weather, how to fish, where to find natural remedies, how to survive with nothing more then a flint stone and some fishing line. Nothing felt better then spending a day or a week out in the wilds. Just you and nature in harmony. Bruce let out a long sigh. Now, it seemed, his old life was about to intrude in a minor way. Returning to a life he'd left what seemed like all too long ago, and yet, not long enough. He would return to the city. Not his home city, though one city was much like the rest and they all seemed to run together. He, as a nominated representative of the North American Wilderness Protection Sanctuary, had being asked to attend a convention. About the only solace he felt about it was that he'd be meeting other people like himself. Sure there would be city tour guides, doing their art galleries, historical sites, properties of the rich and important and that sort of thing. He really couldn't care less about all that. No, he wanted to meet the other woodsmen, hear their tales, their love for their own bit of wilderness. The sun, the sky, the clouds, the storms, the stars, the air, the water and everything. The freedom. About the only other thing had was minutely positive was that the hotel he would be staying in, curtesy of the Convention administrators, was that it was have real, live plants. While the plants would be trim neat and put in pretty, organised rows, at least they were alive. Finding a place, even an every day home which grew real plants was all too rare. Plants were very out of vogue. The city seemed all so far away, standing out here with the sky turning into a deepening blue and the sun blazing a red-gold trail over the horizon and the first stars only just visible. Yet tomorrow he would take a hover-transport to his location. There was a set timetable for hover-transport, the only way into and out of the wilderness. They came once a fortnight and the trip took about ten hours. There was a pad for a small helicopter to set down but tended to be only used in emergencies and in rare, special cases. Tonight was a perfect night, not yet cold but the air had a slight coolness that summer lacked. He found himself, for a moment, remembering his real family. Not so much his parents who he didn't miss at all not any more. But rather the younger brother and sister he'd left behind. His parents had made it impossible for him to approach them or contact them in any shape or form. He'd long done the only thing he could do and give the Family services his details so that if either decided to look him up, they could. He only hoped that one day; they might choose to do so. It was a slim chance at best. Both of them had being quite young when he'd being thrown out. Reg had being nine and Tammy seven. Which would make them now nineteen and seventeen. Regenald was old enough to seek him out but there was no way Bruce could be sure Reg knew how to find him, let alone if he wanted to. He turned away from the deepening night, it did no good brooding over it and wishing over could be's. Tonight he'd had a good meal and he had a warm, comfortable bed waiting. He would fix himself a nice cup of tea and sit by the fire before he went to bed. That was all he really needed. Tomorrow, he had to go to the city and he was not looking forward to it. Tonight though, tonight was perfect. Chapter One The change between the wild bush and the clinical metal was abrupt. A tall cement wall stood between wilderness and the supposed world of civilisation. The only break in the menacing, endless grey was a blackish half arch through which the hover craft entered. A few moments of utter blackness in which the lights of the hovercraft was the only life available and suddenly he was in a world of tall spires and blocky buildings, covered in slates of metal, glass and concrete. The pristine orderliness and pristine cleanliness was jarring to him and he felt the inexplicable urge to escape and run. Bruce took in a deep breath and screwed up his nose. Even in here, in the hovercraft, the air smelled different. The faint tang of iron, smog and chemicals. The absence of dirt, the smell of leaves and flowers. He shuddered slightly. It would only be a few weeks, but he already wished to leave. Yet he knew even here, appearances could be deceiving. Humans could try their very hardest to eradicate all non-human life for their pristine cities but he knew that it was largely a pointless endeavour. While one might not come across deer, badgers or racoons in the city unless one went to the zoo. In which case the people could be kept safe, happy and clean on the other side of the glass. Plenty of other creatures thrived here. Bugs being the most notable of them, next to which were mice and rats. It never ceased to amaze him though how some animals were considered acceptable and were kept as beloved pets. Cats, dags, rabbits and birds of many kinds. It was perhaps these that were the most known sort of pest in the city. Pets turned feral and even almost wide, foraging through waste bins. Yet there was another pest of an altogether different kind that lived in the shady alleys and dirty byways, one that people were all too reluctant to deal with. Their own kind. Improvised, insane or in some way unsuitable for common human existence. Then there was the unspoken sort, the Crime Lords, Drug dealers and petty thieves. So why did these polished, upstart snobby city folk sneer down upon him in barely veiled disgust at his choice of lifestyle? Well not all of them but all too often he'd come across so called tourists who came to see some romanticised notion of Wilderness and looked out the window with jaded, bored eyes and refuse to step outside and would rather live off the provided vending machines then eat something hand cooked by one of his foster sisters. In case of contamination. Bruce snorted a laugh. Contamination indeed! The things that ended up in the conveyor belt, robot controlled food preparation system that provided the city population with so called food was shocking. People could program robots to do anything but there was something's a robot could not cater for. True sight, smell, and more importantly, taste. They also lacked imagination. The city's food preparation robots had a set menu, and each meal had a set recipe. Minor changes could be made but the food lacked true variation. Plus the common fare was rather bland. If you actually wanted something with taste you had to pay appropriately and the cost of a basic meal was scandalously high, since the government payed for the production and preparation of all food. City folk considered it advantageous. Each meal provided a balanced diet with all the minerals and dietary needs a person needed without anyone having to create it themselves. It meant the government could monitor what a person ate. It also meant a strong restriction on luxury foods like biscuits, chocolates, crisps and even goods like alcohol and soft drinks. Bruce sighed and stood as the hovercraft stopped at a station. From here he had to find a second hovercraft which would take him to his hotel. In his opinion, none of the so called advantages of a city life was at all worth it. The people didn't want to admit it, but they had become too reliant of the system. The strict safety laws didn't help. People who'd never being out of the city were often horrified. Most of them had never touched anything more dangerous then an eating knife and never got anything worst then a paper cut, which even then was rare as everything was done on computers. With bricked paths, cement roads for the hovercrafts and endless metal, most of them had ever seen more then a handful of dirt at one time and most had never seen a tree, or at least one that was not perfectly pruned and keep in perfect condition. All too often they couldn't hand being out in the wilderness, which many found far too open and all too dangerous and far to terrifying. In truth, if it wasn't for the need to preserve these pockets of wilderness still left and the reliance on a few hundred regular customers who were familiar with the wild and the all too rare few who came out here and fell in love with the freedom and openness that city could not provide, The conserve wouldn't exist at all. It wasn't like trees were actually needed these days anymore. Not with the Atmosphere Regulator keeping the air at just the right combination of components needed to keep the planet and people healthy. Which made plants obsolete, out dated, dirty and a nuisance. Bruce glanced out of the window as the hovercraft pulled up at the gold painted door with plastic marble pillars, real stone being considered too dirty. He pulled himself together and stepped out onto the neatly paved path and stepped past the concierge who held the door open and into the front hall. Almost immediately he felt out of place in the brightly polished room of fake wood. Eyes stared at him, judging him, finding him wanting. He was hardly surprised, wearing what he felt the most comfortable in. Ratty jeans, old, scuffed boots, a frayed shirt with a few stubborn stains that refused to come out and his unkempt bustle of honey brown hair. In a place like this, he stuck out like a sore thumb, where people stood elegant, graceful and the height of good taste in their sedate suits and sombre dresses. "Can I help you?" The bellboy looked doubtful and stood a distance from him, almost seeming to be leaning back; as if afraid he'd catch something from him. Looking like a stuck up prick in his starched, crisp and spotless uniform of red and black. Bruce couldn't help but think the guy had a wedgie stuck up his bum. "Yes, you can." He told the bellboy firmly. "I have a room booked. My name is Bruce Gorden. I am here for the Tour Guide Convention." "Let me just check the records. Ah, yes. Here we are. Your room is 365, has a view over the indoor garden and the pool. Would you like someone to show you the way?" "That would be nice, thankyou. I've never being in a hotel before." It was like admitting he'd never seen the sun before judging by the look that appeared on the bellboys face. "I'll just get Jason to show you the way then." Was the hasty response. A young boy of fifteen was quickly waved over and instructed to take his bags and show him his room and to explain the various facilities provided by the hotel. "Of course, sir if you will come with me?" Jason gave a polite bow and was a least friendlier then the other guy. He was taken to the lifts and halted the lad before he could attempt to explain how elevators worked. "Please, I'm hardly ignorant. I did grow up in a city; I don't need every little thing explained to me." Jason blushed guiltily. "Sorry sir, your room is on the third floor." "In which case I'm more likely to use the stairs in any case." Bruce shrugged. Even as a child had hadn't quite got the idea of using a lift when one only had to go up a few flights of stairs. The higher levels were understandable but four or five? More often then not it turned out quicker is you just used the stairs anyway. But that would be too simply wouldn't it? No need to put yourself out and actually do something for yourself. No, that would be to hard, require too much effort wouldn't it? He shook his head. The mentality of city folk. Even when he had being one, he hadn't entirely understood it. A door was swiped open and he stepped into the cramped area of space. All too clinical, the style much too minimalist and bland. Yet, Bruce walked to the window. There. The shimmering blue of a man made pool and near, the all too neat, precise rows of perfectly planted flowers and decorative ferns. Still, these were real plants and finding a hotel that had real plants was getting rarer all the time. He knew he'd be spending as much spare time as he could down in that space. He knew there was also a gym down there, that and the pool and the plants, together they should help keep him preoccupied. In fact, as soon as he was unpacked, he would head down there for a swim. He couldn't't stand the chemicals usually dumped in a pool but he was willing to make the sacrifice just for the chance at a swim. Pools were also getting all too rare, who needed to know how to swim in times like these? By the time he was ready to come out of the pool, it was turning dark and he felt contentedly worn out. It was then that he became aware that he was being watched. Ignoring it for the time being, he hoisted himself out and headed for his towel. He would have a quick shower and head for the dinning room and find out if city food was everything he remembered it being. "Hello there." The mild voice spoke warmly. Bruce turned slightly and found himself looking at a simply stunning young man, a year or two younger then him. The skin was a dusky golden olive and long, dark charcoal hair that spoke of Spanish or Mexican background and the most incredibly dark, smoky green eyes he'd ever seen. Bruce hastily regathered himself. "Hi." He gave an uncertain smile. "My name is Janison." A sultry little smile appeared. Bruce swallowed hard. This man, well he wasn't cute or particularly handsome but he was striking, exotic and his presence was simply electrifying and entirely erotic. Bruce didn't typically consider himself as particularly attractive, though he'd being informed he had a rugged charm. "Bruce." He offered his hand which was taken and shaken firmly and with some warmth. "So?" Those intense green eyes looked at him coyly and near caused an early stroke. "Doing anything tonight?" He almost chocked at the implied invitation. He sized this rather enticing stranger and considered it. He knew he would need a distraction over the next few weeks just to survive this experience. Any person able and willing to approach a complete stranger for diner, couldn't be looking for anything serious. Perhaps this would be exactly what he needed to keep himself sane until it was time to leave? Ah, what the hell, it couldn't hurt, surely? Bruce gave the stranger, Janison, a wry smile. "Well if I wasn't before, I think I am now." Janison gave a low, pleasant laugh. No titter or giggle, but earthy, honest, masculine. He found himself warming up to this man by that laugh alone. "So long as you don't object?" An eyebrow lifted questioningly. "Will you be buying?" He asked simply. It perhaps was tight fisted of him and even a bit rude but he was nothing is practical. A bit of money saved now was money he could spend in other, more important things then the overpriced concoction that passed as food here. "Oh, I think that can be arranged?" The sparkling eyes assured him that his new acquaintance wasn't the least offended. Bruce looked down at himself, still only in his swimsuit and his skin itched from the oily feel of chemicals. "Though I need to shower and get changed." "Dining room in an hour?" Was the warm invitation. "I'll see you there." he assured. "Until then." With one last passing smile that left his knees quaking. Janison exited the area with an evocative strut that showcased a rather nice arse to perfection. An hour later, Bruce found himself looking in the mirror. In all he was rather plain featured, nose was too wide, lips were to thin, face was a bit to round and the chin seemed long in comparison. His only redeeming quality was the twin honey brown eyes that in the right light were the colour of polished redwood. He smoothed down his black coat. He didn't have much in the way of dressy clothes. He'd never really needed them. He'd brought what he'd had for the convention and was now glad that he had. This suit was of a much older style then those he'd seen today but it was crisp, clean and in good condition. There wasn't much he could do about that but at least the sleeves weren't frayed, there was no missing buttons and no stubborn stains like most of the rest of his clothing. He studied himself a bit longer then forced himself away; there was no point in worrying about something he couldn't fix. He was as ready as he was going to be. He headed on downstairs and made his was over to the dining area, feeling uncomfortable and awkward as he approached. Thankfully he spotted Janison before he could contemplate turning back and the man seemed pleased to see him, not looking the bit concerned about the way he was dressed. A thread of relief worked up his spine. Everything was so much easier at home; here he didn't have a clue as to what he was doing, or what was expected of him. Still, this would be just a quick fling to pass to time. It couldn't be that hard. "Glad you made it?" Janison smiled that sultry smile at him when he'd joined him "So am I?" He decided. "I've arranged a table." Janison swept out a hand and guided him to a small, cosy table away from the main throng. Bruce sat down across from him, relaxing slightly as Janison merely picked up a menu. He picked up his own menu. His choices were limited but he expected that. Beef, chicken, seafood or soup. An English version, a Chinese version and an Italian version. That was about it. The only drink available was water and even that wasn't free. He decided on Chinese Seafood. He put the menu aside and found that he was being stared at. "Well..." He started, wondering what on earth he could say to this person, this man, which he could relate to, that they could discuss. "Well indeed." Those lips lifted in obvious humour, acknowledging the awkwardness and displacing it at the same time. "How about why you're at this hotel?" "As good as place to start I suppose." Bruce murmured agreeably. "I'm a wilderness tour guide. There is a convention being held at the Confederation for Tourism. They asked me to attend." "Wonderful." Janison looked rather pleased. "I'm here on business as well. I work for my Father who is a government official." Bruce looked at this man in some surprise. "What part do you play then?" He asked, honestly curious. "Research mostly. Analysing, collecting information, presenting the facts I find, checking up on various enterprises. That sort of thing." "Sounds interesting." Bruce offered while thinking the exact opposite. Exactly the sort of work he couldn't stand and wouldn't go near if his life depended on it. It was, however, the polite thing to say. "Oh it is." The green eyes light up with a passion he had to admire, even if the idea of that work bored him stupid. "I find it fascinating but I have to admire you. Not many people venture out of the cities to live out in the wilderness. From what I understand the job isn't that well paid and doesn't it get lonely? I don't see how anyone could stand it. Being so far from civilization." Bruce had to smile. Now here was one born and bred for city life. Bruce could explain until into the next millennium and Janison probably still wouldn't understand. "It isn't lonely at all. They're always tourists going through and asides from that many of my friends and family live out in the wilderness too. I don't know how anyone could stand the city myself." "No, I don't suppose you do." Was the warm response and that really was all Janison needed to know and really it wasn't all that important but small talk was important to establish a base from which to work from. Even for a short affair such as this would be. "Tell me, do you get broadcast out there?" Bruce laughed at the simple question. "I think we would have a revolt if we didn't. We have to provide many modern connivances to lure the tourists to come; otherwise they would just stay home. I don't think any of them would come if they didn't have access to the niceties they are use to." Janison looked a bit sheepish and adorably so. "Sorry. So, what do you like to watch?" "Other then documentaries?" Bruce grinned. "Well, I won't say no to a bit of adventure." That got them on the easy topic of favourite shows. Dinner arrived and pleasant, easy conversation continued along the lines of favourite actors, favourite characters and best episodes. As conversation went it went deep enough to maintain easily and with passion and yet shallow enough that they needed not to talk about themselves or anything to personal. Before Bruce knew, his meal was finished and empty plates were taken away by the staff. He smiled across at his new acquaintance, feeling rather relaxed and mellow from the conversation and yet rather tense from the various flirtations exchanged, both subtle and pointed. A dark eyebrow curled up as Janison leaned toward him intently. A coin appearing in his hand. "Heads, my room. Tails yours." The rich voice lowered in invitation. Bruce gave a wicked grin. He liked the way this man thought. "Sounds fair." he agreed easily. The coin flickered as it spin, glinting in the low light. Bruce wasn't the least upset when it landed tails. "My room." He rose fluidly and offered his arm. "Shall we?" "Most certainly." A smug little smile was turned his way. Bruce couldn't help the wicked little smile that crossed his own face. He stepped closer to this rather enticing person who was becoming less then a stranger to him, looking down at those dark, smoky green eyes intensely. He had the pleasure of seeing those eyes widen and darken and that little flame of lust rose a little higher. That head turned to him and the lips lifted to his. His breath caught. Frozen, he couldn't look away. Suddenly he was staring at air and he hurriedly turned to see that lovely piece of arse was already leaving the Restaurant. He moved hurriedly to catch up. He took Janison to the lifts, the situation certainly called for it, for curtesies sakes if nothing else. Heated glanced were exchanged as they were taken up to his floor, heating up the atmosphere building between them. Bruce thumbled as he swiped the door and stumbled in, only to find a heated body waiting for him as he straightened up. Lips meshed passionately and bodied melded together. Bruce could feel the others stiff arousal and had no doubt Janison could feel his own. Hands wrenched his suit jacket aside and he bent to yank his shoes off and then flailed usefully as he was shoved backwards onto his bed. He pushed up onto his elbows as long legs straddled his own and hot lips caught his own again. An erection grinding into his hip as long fingers dealt with his dinner shirt. Bruce caught his breath and decided to join the fun. He wrestled his unbuttoned shirt off and wrapt legs about his companion before using surprise and strength to roll himself on top. A breathy moan gasped against shoulder. One long fingered hand found a way down to his dress trousers and palmed his heavy erection before moving to the belt around his waist. Bruce hurried to catch up until both of them were naked. Bruce sat up slightly so he could get a good look at the cook that awaited him. A bit over six inches, not too thick and uncut. Janison had propped up and was eyeing him in much the same way. He felt a little self conscious. Not very many people had a cut dick anymore; the practice had all but died out over a century ago. "Sixty-nine?" Came the suggestion, followed by a sexy smile. Bruce relaxed and quickly agreed. Turning and bending to get his first taste of this man and trembled with need when he felt his dick engulfed in turn. He knew it wouldn't take long, the need had being built up too much for this to go anything but fast. He was already incredibly close and by the throbbing length in his mouth, he wasn't the only one. Both of them were moaning heavily as pace increased, sucking heartily as the erection dug at the back of his throat. His own hips rocking into the hot, wet, moist mouth that swallowed him. Passion built and lust took control as the world blurred into one on heat and pleasure. Arousal built and speed built into an endless thrumming need that first spiked and then exploded into that one single moment. He wanted to shout as seed spilt but his mouth was rather occupied milking the spurting cock in his mouth. He lapped and was lapped until there was nothing left. He rose up and turned to fall along side his new lover, breath gasping as he sank into the euphoria of sated exhaustion. "That was fantastic." Janison turned onto his side and lazily used a tapered finger to play with his chest, tracing over sensitive nipples. Bruce grunted in agreement. Today had being a stressful day for him and now it was all catching up with him. "It was, very good." He pulled Janison closer, letting hands slid down a smooth back, around slim hips and onto a firm stomach. "You have an incredible body." Janison told him quietly. "I couldn't help but watch you as you were swimming." "I didn't think it was for my looks." Bruce drifted his hands over warm thighs. Janison made a disagreeing noise. "Oh, but it was. It's a bit of a kink of mine. I have a thing for honey brown hair and lovely brown eyes." Smooth hands touched his hair and those rich lips kissed each eyelid. "Still, I am hardly the looker you are. Men and women must both want you." Janison looked a bit sad. "True, and I suppose I do encourage them." A flicker of an ironic smile. "Lust is easy. Love is something else entirely and never seems to go well for me." "Not alone there." Bruce frowned slightly, wondering where this was going. God he hoped this guy hadn't gotten the wrong idea. "No." Janison touched his face considering. "I would guess not." His mouth was kissed with gentle firmness and he let them. The kiss deepened, building up in intensity. Bruce let his hands move to grasp a firm ass and Janison arched into him, smooth hands toying with his sensitive nipples. His arousal stirred in renewed interest. A hot mouth replaced smooth hands which railed downwards to his hardened cock. Janison was murmuring pleasure as he kneed the firm globes under is hands. Bruce groaned in replay, some men didn't like it when he did that, this one however, liked it as much as he liked doing it. There wasn't so much urgency this time as they took time to touch, caress, kiss and learn each others both. His slickened cock pulsed against its fellow as hips rolled together in ever increasing pitch. He mouthed the arching neck as fingers dug into his arms and soon it was all he could do to gasp and moan and clutch in mad desire before heated pleasure finally overwhelmed him and he gave a sharp cry as he came, Janison giving an echo to his cry and spurted in turn. Exhausted and spent, Bruce couldn't keep his eyes opened and drifted into sleep.