RotW&AofS Issue #1 – Welcome to Halpin Hope: One



The following is a work of fiction. All names, characters and incident's contained herein are fictional, resemblances to actual persons alive or dead are purely coincidental. The character Kibu is the creation of the artist Sladerang and is used with permission. All other characters were created by the author.

Contact can be made through tumblr at Welcome to Halpin Hope

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Welcome to Halpin Hope (Doyer X Kibu)



One

Hovering in the kitchenette Doyler slapped some ham onto a slice of bread, he added a couple of slices of cheese, spread a little mayonnaise... He stopped, table knife in hand and listened to the sound of Kibu singing tunelessly in Spanish to himself as he showered. Staring at the open door - a small cloud of steam escaping into the living area - Doyler rocked on the balls of his feet before stepping forward. Little by little - step by step - he inched hesitantly toward the bathroom - a magnetic pull that made him ignore the voice in his head telling him not be a pervert. Peeking around the corner he saw Kibu's reflection in the half steamed mirror - his eyes picking out the boys firm round buttocks as he fought the sudden urge to dive in to the shower and bite them. He watched as this young stranger in his house ran soap covered hands over his taut tanned body while the boy wriggled his hips and jutted out his backside in time with his singing - letting the water rinse off the foamy white suds that sailed down his pecan coloured skin.

The shower shut off and Kibu turned around. Doyler flung his back against the wall and covered the growing hardness in his shorts with his hands - jumping back when he realised how close the knife was to his privates and banging the back of his head against the wall.

"Oh hey..." Kibu called with a sing-song voice, "Were you watching me shower?"

In four big strides Doyler threw himself back to the kitchenette...

"You're a dirty perv huh? It's OK, handsome fella you can watch all you want!"

"Shitshitshitshit..." Doyler muttered under his breath.

Doyler quickly tried to make himself look busy, throwing another slice of ham on the sandwich, a second slice of bread, three more slices of cheese, some pickle, more ham, a couple of pieces of chicken breast, some tomato...

"Hey Doyler?" Kibu called out from the bathroom.

"I wasn't..."

"I think your cat's a bit of a peeping tom!"

Kibu emerged from the bathroom, a white towel slung low around his waist - in his arms, held close to his damp chest, was a black and white cat nuzzling it's head into the boys pec and purring like rolling thunder.

"What's his name?"

Doyler couldn't answer. Standing awe struck - not only at the sight of masculine beauty before him - wet, tan strong - nearly naked and exposing a small bush of dark curls - the towel so low he could almost make out the base of the boys cock - but also at the the sight of his cat being such a shameless attention seeker. His cat whose indifference and sometime plain aggressive nature to anyone who wasn't Doyler was almost legend among the inhabitants of Halpin Hope. His cat who knew unequivocally that this town belonged to him and that the humans who walked its streets were interlopers - squatters on his land.

"Howard. His name is Howard."

Kibu flashed a smile wide and full of joy: "People names for pets are the best! Hello Howard. You and me are gonna be bros huh?"

Howard the cat purred louder and nuzzled his cheek into Kibu's firm chest harder as if in response. Kibu buried his nose into the fur atop of Howard's head - his smile quickly turned to a grimace however and a tear of pain appeared in his eye as the cat's paw began kneading Kibu's nipple - it's claws (affectionately) breaking the perky brown circle of flesh.

"Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow..."

Unsuccessfully trying to suppress a laugh Doyler guffawed causing Kibu to smile back.

"Dude! You're packing a hefty chunk of meat in there!"

Doyler quickly looked down at his shorts.

"That, my friend, is A LOT of sandwich!" Kibu jumped onto a stool at the breakfast bar that separated the kitchenette from the small living area, placing Howard down on the laminated surface. He lifted the top slice of bread and prodded at the meat inside it.

Relieved Kibu was talking about the food, Doyler broke into another smile: "You're not a vegetarian are you?"

As if in answer Kibu grabbed the sandwich with both hands and in one bite crushed a third of it into his mouth:

"Ohm mah gawd thif if fooo goohh..."

Doyler watched Kibu chew his way through the sandwich before filling a glass of water from a bottle in the fridge and placing it down in front of him. He went into the bathroom and returned with Kibu's wet jean shorts and a pair of long loose fit red and yellow check boxers, shaking them out before throwing them into the tumble dryer while Kibu finished his food.

"Thanks man that was so good." Kibu rubbed his flat stomach and smiled before letting out a small burp. "Ooops. Haha, sorry about that. You got anything for desert? Sweet Buns maybe?"

Sweet Buns?”

Pastries!” Kibu was practically licking his lips. “Gooey sugary sweet pastry with icing and...”

No. Sorry.”

Kibu slumped his shoulders. Doyler could have just told the boy that he had only a month left to live and his reaction would have been less pained.

There's apples and bananas in the fruit bowl by the fridge.” offered Doyler with shades of a supercilious smile.

Man! People always tryin' to tell me fruit is a desert. Fruit is not a desert!”

Doyler laughed: "OK. Well if you want you can help yourself. I'm gonna grab a shower, make yourself at home." Doyler watched as Kibu fed a piece of chicken to Howard the cat: "And don't steal my cat."

Kibu smiled up at him.

While Doyler showered, letting the hot water cascade down his body, he considered the boy in the next room and found his hand idly playing with his stiffening prick - soapy fingers running along the hard shaft. In his mind images of Kibu's broad chest - smooth and defined, his strong arms - tanned and muscled, that face - so cute and handsome... Doyler shut the shower off. With his hands flat against the tiles he looked down at his rigid five and a half inch cock as it pointed up towards the shower head - willing it to soften. He couldn't deny how attractive he found Kibu and nor could he but wonder if the boy maybe just might find him attractive too. His body wanted to - really wanted to - but...

He dried himself and pulled on a fresh pair of shorts and a clean tank top - he towel dried his thick black curls and looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. No, he thought, the body can want what it wants but...

He stepped into the living area to see Kibu laying on the two seater couch - the towel still wrapped around his waist - his bare feet on the arm rest flashing his soft pale soles as he wriggled his toes. Howard the cat lay curled up on his chest while Kibu rubbed his ear between thumb and forefinger. Doyler could hear the cats low whirring purr from eight feet away.

"So, I'm gonna assume that a ratty pair of shorts and your underwear aren't the only items of clothing you have with you. Where are you staying?"

"You know I hadn't figured that out yet. I had a bag with a couple of t-shirts and stuff in but the guys at the farm probably have it now. Rat bastards!"

Howard jumped off of Kibu's chest, trotted over to Doyler and curled himself around the boys bare legs.

"OK. You can borrow something of mine. And you can stay here for the night with me. Colton's not gonna be back until the morning anyway."

"Really? Thank you so much!" Kibu jumped up from the couch and threw his arms around Doyler embracing him in a tight hug - the white towel slipped with the fast movement and fell to the floor exposing Kibu completely. Doyler tried to look up to the ceiling but his wants betrayed his sense of decency and he caught a brief glimpse of Kibu's soft, cut cock and the hairless full looking sack below it.

"It's fine really," said Doyler as Kibu released him from his hug, "but lets get you something to wear OK?"

Kibu looked down at his nakedness and flushed red. Grabbing the towel he held it in front of his groin with one hand while holding the back of his head with the other.

"Hehehe... sorry about that. I guess I kinda have boundary issues."

Doyler smiled as he sized up the boy before him.

Kibu followed Doyler off of the living area and into his bedroom: neat and painted pastel blue with a double bed and desk and with closed laptop by the window. Doyler opened a closet door built into the wall and disappeared from view. Kibu took in the room: A set of bookshelves crammed with paperbacks, a shelf of CD's above the bed, a collage of photos of Doyler and his friends, a few posters on the walls; One for a British guitar band called Bartleby Reign that Kibu had seen on TV, a couple of framed posters for Samurai movies featuring Toshiro Mifune and a large map of the world - red pins dotted in various countries.

"You been too all these places?"

"Yeah we used to get to go on holidays a lot with my Dad's work, he was a travel photographer."

"Cool! I've hardly been anywhere."

Doyler stepped out of the closet and passed a pair of dark green camo boxer briefs and a pale pink tank top to Kibu: "Here, you can keep these."

"You've been really kind Doyler, thank you."

"It's OK. Cute boys in distress are kinda my thing."

Kibu and Doyler smiled at one another before Kibu threw off the towel and dressed himself in Doyler's clothes while Doyler did his best not to stare.

"How do I look?" Kibu stretched out his arms wide and cocked his head.

Doyler turned his head and blushed as he looked at the boy before him: "The pink looks good on you Kibu, brings out your skin tone nicely."

Kibu pulled the tank top up over his navel to look at the contrast.

As Doyler moved over to his desk he played with the iPod on the dock and selected some music. An electric guitar thrashed loud and was silent before starting up again with a little more melody.

Kibu bopped his head a little before looking to Doyler: "This is pretty good. Who is it?"

"You, my new friend, are in for a treat." Doyler jumped on his bed and pulled out a CD from the shelf on the wall and handed it to Kibu with the same reverence of a priest holding a first edition bible signed by God.

"Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno!?" The cover showed four young men in their early twenties - dressed in tuxedos - they stood with their arms around each other in the middle of a bowling lane – each with his dress pants around his ankles. Kibu sat on the edge of the bed flipping the CD over.

"They're kind of a garage band, a little 90's College Rock. That whole album 'Werewolves at the Bowling Alley' is inspired by Teen Wolf. The TV Show not the film. The lead singer is crazy in love with the guy that plays the lead."

Doyler turned up the volume of the iPod as the chorus kicked in:

"I loved a werewolf with eyes like fire

When he howled it was like a heavenly choir

Singing for meeeeeeeee

Tyler Posey aim for the middle

Bowl that ball and I'll play my fiddle

For yoooooouuuuuuuu."

Kibu scrunched up his nose at the bad lyrics: "The music's good but the lyrics are... not."

"It's not meant to be. It's ironic." said Doyler sitting himself down on the edge of the bed next to Kibu.

"Ahhhhhh... I see." said Kibu taking his chin between thumb and forefinger.

"You see what?"

"You're a hipster!"

"Screw you!" Doyler laughed. "I think maybe you just don't know anything about music."

"How dare you! I am the music master. The arbiter of all taste. You dishonour me and my family name, you wretch!" Kibu gently pushed Doyler to the floor and in one swift move jumped upon the bed landing on his feet. "I challenge you Sir... Agni Kai!"

He waved his arms in tight quick movements mimicking martial arts moves he'd seen on TV. Doyler looked up from the floor laughing at the handsome crazy boy in his underwear jumping about on his bed.

"I bow before you Fire Prince..."

"Lord..."

"...Fire Lord Kibu. Please accept my most humble apologies. I meant you no dishonour. Please don't burn me."

"Very well. You may live. For now. But only if... only if..." Kibu looked around the room for an idea before a mischievous grin crossed his lips. "Only if you kiss my foot!"

Kibu stuck a foot out at Doyler and with that beautiful broad grin he raised his heavy eyebrows and wriggled his toes.

Doyler, raised himself to his knees, took the boy's foot in both hands and placed his soft lips once against the toes and again at the ankle. He knew he was supposed to be acting embarrassed or shame faced but... clean and strong, freshly washed but vaguely salty - nails trimmed - his thumbs ran down the sole - still soft despite his guess that the boy hardly ever worse shoes. He let go of Kibu's foot and sat back on his haunches looking up at the boy on the bed. Kibu was growing hard in his underwear - the bulge plumping that he either didn't seem to notice or didn't care about showing - that smile still on his face - unchanged. Doyler wondered if the boy before him was real or some figment of his recently repressed desires – I could maybe try for a kiss? But he reasoned that he hardly knew the boy even if what he did know so far was enough to send his heart a flutter and his cock stiff - and even then despite his wishes – he doubted that he'd be able to kiss another boy ever again.

"I need to ask you something Kibu."

Kibu dropped to the bed and sat cross legged: "Ask away."

"I think you should tell me why those security guards were chasing you earlier tonight?"

"I told you man. I don't know. Maybe they thought I was gonna steal a chicken. Which would be weird cos like, what would I do with a chicken? Maybe make an Injun headdress." Kibu raised his right hand. "How! Big Chief Kibu greets you white man from across the great waters. Come, steal our land and take our food and murder our people..."

Doyler sighed: "Kibu. They don't keep chickens because Baxter Brothers isn't that kind of farm, But you knew that didn't you?"

A dark glint appeared in Kibu's eyes and a mischievous grin crept in at the right corner of his mouth.

"Baxter Brothers Farm is the largest legal grower of marijuana in the Western Hemisphere."

Kibu's face turned to one of mock shock. His hands covering his mouth - his eyes wide.

"They supply pharmacies with medicinal marijuana and head shops with recreational stuff on the mainland from coast to coast as well as few medical research centres..."

"Dude. I don't know what you're talking..."

"Kibu. Be straight with me. Please? You have to tell me the truth now. No Pirates! No Giant Squid..."

Kibu's lips tightened for a moment but then, as if in resignation, he sighed, he put one hand to his chest and the other in the air solemnly saying: "Ok... I promise. What do you want to know?"

"Why are you on the Island? Why were the guards chasing you? And did you run into me by accident?"

"This evening was actually the second time I saw you."

Doyler sighed - creeping dread in the pit of his stomach that he tried to to force down. Had he been so easily taken in? He thought that when the time came – he'd be better prepared. And that the threat wouldn't present itself with so fair a face.

"I saw you this morning in town... well at the harbour. You were with a couple of friends. I watched you for a little while..."

"Why did you watch me?" Doyler's hands were balling into fists - the muscles in his arms and legs coiling.

Kibu's cheeks flushed red and he cast his eyes down to the white bed spread and stuttered: "I kinda... I mean I thought you were... Running into you tonight though... total accident. I promise! But when I was hiding under the jetty and heard you talking to that security guard I suddenly remembered where I'd seen you before and I couldn't believe my luck running into you like this." Kibu crossed his heart - still blushing.

That flutter in Doyler's heart again - the dread fading. He allowed his fists to release – kept his legs ready to move at the first hint of danger. "OK. But why are you on the Island?"

"So..." Kibu sized up Doyler - preparing himself to tell the truth. "There's a strain of weed right? Called Wrackhams Purple Kush. It's very strong. The THC count is like through the roof. Tastes all like pine needles and lemon grass."

"And you what? You just came here to steal some?" Doyler asked doubtfully.

"No!" Kibu shook his head, he cast his eyes down again, wounded at the thought. "I'm not a thief."

"Then why? They sell the Baxter's stuff pretty much anywhere you can buy weed."

"Not this. This weed man, it's a total accident. You see it started life on the farm as something else entirely. Still weed but just regular over the counter wholesale weed. But wind/pollination/science science science..." Kibu waved his hands in the air as if that explained everything, "...and now this strain only grows in the woods behind the farm. And even then only in a very small part of the wood. They don't harvest it because they can't sell it. So technically... it's public property."

"So you came all this way for weed?"

"Nah man. I came all this way for seeds."

Doyler looked at Kibu, looked into those big beautiful expressive green eyes. He knew he was telling the truth. He allowed his body to relax again - but in the pit of his stomach something still didn't feel right.

"You don't look much like a horticulturist Kibu."

Kibu grinned "I'm not. I can't grow shit. I've a friend who needs it."

"You're doing this for... someone special?"

"Nah man. Not that kind of friend. Not at the moment any way. Maybe. I don't know. I hope so? I think. Do I think?” Kibu rolled his eyes and lost his train of thought for a moment – recalling some past transgression – some past mix-up and a forgotten portion of blame. He thought about the blonde boy back at school in Connecticut – his big blue eyes and freckle dappled nose. A mix-up was all it was - a misunderstanding that led to a cold war he wanted to end with a gift. The briefest instant of introspection passed as quickly as it came: “Hell of a way to travel to bring flowers for a date though huh? Hehehe Weed for Weed! Nah. It's a debt that I need to repay. Not mine, someone elses. They needed help and I could provide so like, why wouldn't I? And I mean I'm not like a huge pot head or anything either, I've smoked, I do sometimes smoke but mostly it just makes me sleepy and giggly which is kinda the point I guess but I like moving around too much to make a habit out of it."

Kibu wanted Doyler to see that he was telling the truth. He liked this boy - he liked him a lot. He thought Doyler handsome with his curly black hair, piercing blue eyes and strong Black Irish features. More than that though Doyler had helped him out - helped out a stranger in a tight spot - invited him into his house, fed him and offered him shelter. Kibu couldn't think of many people who'd treat him that way. Well maybe one other... It mattered to him that Doyler believed him - believed that he could be straight with him.

Doyler, though, weighed up everything Kibu had told him in his head. He knew that weed grew wild in Wrackham Wood. He knew that sometimes local kids would risk the trouble that they'd get in to, to get some for themselves – Hell! he thought, I've been one of those kids. He wasn't sure how someone from the mainland would know about it though. He could however see that Kibu was really trying and with Doyler that counted for something.

"How much of this stuff do you need?"

A great big smile crossed Kibu's face lighting up his eyes: "Not much. Not even a plant. Just a handful of the seed."

"Wrackham Wood is on the other side of the island."

Doyler stood up from the floor reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out a well thumbed folded map. He sat on the bed and and opened it out. Kibu moved over to him - close - their bare knees and shoulders touching - Doyler felt his whole body flush with heat as the boy leant into him.

He placed his finger at the western edge of the town just at the shore line: "This is us. We're here. To get to Wrackham Wood you'll need to cut through the Black Forest again, cross the river here (which is deep and flows fast), make your way around the two farm sites here and here and then get over the fence into Wrackham Wood. Then do all that to get back again." Doyler's finger hovered over the river again as Kibu leaned closer. "Although if you can lay your hands on a canoe or a raft you could ride the rapids back down and cut the time it takes to get back by two thirds."

Kibu brushed his hand against Doylers and pointed to a heavily wooded area: "What's that wood? If I travelled through there it would be quicker."

"No!" Doyler pushed Kibu's finger away. "That's Mucklemood Wood. No one goes near Mucklemood Wood."

"Why not?"

"It's just dangerous OK?."

"But..."

"Kibu. No!"

Doyler ran his finger along the proposed journey and back: "All in all it would probably take two/two and a half days... If we left first thing in the morning."

Kibu smiled and gripped Doyler's knee: "You'll help me?"

"I've not got anything better to do."

Kibu threw his arms around Doyler once again, throwing the pair of them flat on the bed: "Thank you."

"No problem. I don't wanna imagine the trouble you'd get yourself in if I didn't tag along."

Kibu lay his head on the pillow on the left side of the bed and put both hands beneath it.

"We should err... probably go to sleep. It's half one already and we'll need to head into town for some supplies in the morning before we hike through the woods."

"OK" said Kibu yawning. "But can I sleep here with you? Your bed is very comfortable and suddenly I'm so very slee..."

And with that Kibu had fallen asleep.

Doyler lay on his side to face Kibu and stared at the boy who had so suddenly fallen asleep in his bed - he reached out a finger towards his bare arm - watching the pale hairs there raise in response before he could touch it - so he pulled it away. He lay there - watching the boy's chest rise and lower with every soft sleepy breath - his lips slightly parted - his eyes closed. Moments later Doyler drifted off too.



To Be Continued...