The Bodyguard - Chapter 40
Apr. 25th, 2014 11:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
teamzaylor
Title: THE BODYGUARD
Chapter: 40
Rating: Nc-17
POV: Blade (Zac)
Warnings: Language, Death, Crime
Chapter Overview: Link
About the Story: The death of their parents broke Taylor and Zac apart. Each of them went his own way of life, Taylor became a famous superstar and never thought that his profession would bring his life in danger someday. Blade (Zac) buried the past and lived his life contentedly in his dark and dirty world as a pimp. Because of some unexpected circumstances Blade got hired as Taylor's bodyguard and the brothers saw each other for the first time after almost a decade. How will they overcome the shadows of the past?
Excerpt: “What are we now? Brothers or workmates?”
Authors Notes: Update Chapter 40! Chapter 41 will be posted tomorrow! Enjoy ♡
previous Chapter 39 next Chapter 41
Blade:
"Hey look who's awake!" Taylor exclaimed surprised as suddenly Bandito's head appeared between our seats. He was cheerfully waggling his tail as he saw us sitting side by side.
"Hey buddy, what's going on? Gotta pee, huh?!" I smiled and reached my hand out to stroke his fur.
Unintenional my hand suddenly touched Taylor's by accident who apparently also wanted to stroke Bandito at the same spot.
"Sorry." He said and pulled his hand quickly back a bit like a scared little cat.
I thought back at the feeling of his hand in mine as I woke up this morning. Since I knew that Taylor cared about me, everything was put in a total different complexion on things.
After what he had done to me back then, I would have never imagined that I'd ever let him to take my hand again. But since I knew that he cared, I began to sense that there must be a reason why he did it. I just didn't know what his secret was yet.
As I didn't say something, he interrupted my thoughts with a question which wasn't louder then a sigh.
"What are we now Blade?" He carefully asked.
"Well, you are a princess and I'm your protector." I answered straight away.
"I actually meant betweens the two of us... what are we now? Brothers or workmates?" Taylor asked in the same timid tone, giving me careful side glances with his blue eyes as he looked at me to answer his question.
I didn't know what to do. No, that was a fucking lie. I did. I just didn't know if I could speak it out. Maybe it wasn't fair from him that he expected me to call us brothers again even though he didn't even give me an explanation for his leaving, but I realized that I couldn't pressure him in his current state.
Even though I had no idea how to tell him which kind of person I had become, I realized that Taylor needed to regain strength. And maybe he could find it back with me as his pool of strength.
So instead of lengthening the awkward situation, I reached out and took his pale fingers in mine accompanied by the most surprising look of his blue eyes I've seen so far.
"We are brothers." I stated and squeezed his hand firmly in mine.
His eyes became wet again and a few new tears rolled down his cheeks. But he smiled. And that's all what mattered.
"You woudn't get rid off me anymore anyway since that bastard dared to hurt Bandito!" I told him and threw the package with the rest tissues into his lap.
He took them and wiped his tears away. I gave him a minute to calm down. Bandito licked over our hands and reminded us about his own needs.
"Around the corner there is a small grass field," Taylor said and pointed to the other side of the parking area.
"Yeah?"
"Yes I know this area very well, I'm sometimes here to go shopping."
"Oh yeah. I thought so." I gave him a stupid smirk and he rolled his eyes good-naturedly and couldn't help to smile as well.
We got out of the car and I carried Bandito to the grass field. Luckily, no people were in sight right now. Taylor pulled his cigarette box out of his bag and followed us. Once we were there I put Bandito down on the grass and put his leash on. Taylor remained standing at the side of the pavement, he said he had to be careful to not get stains on his new suit. I noticed that he was mindful to constantly check his outfit for stains and creases and carefully protected his shoes and pants from any contact that might cause them to get wet and dirty. He even carried a compact mirror in his bag around in which he checked his look and his hair from time to time.
"How much time do we have left until we have to bring Bandito to your friend?" Taylor asked, a lit up cigarette hanging loosely between his lank fingers. He was always so mindful of his manners and making sure of not going to get dirty. I'm sure if there was a picture of the perfect son in law anywhere to find, there would be a picture of my brother.
"You don't know what time it is?" I frowned.
"A watch doesn't really go with this outfit Blade." Taylor diva-ish answered. Oh yeah, what the hell was I thinking?
On a serious note, I was glad I didn't need to deal with those kind of first world problems. I always made sure Taylor remained in a close distance to Bandito and I. 'Cause Taylor's safety was the most important thing in my job. He stood there watching Bandito who was eating some grass. Even when he was smoking Taylor looked and moved feminine. He was holding his wrists elegantly above his elbows in a Lolita like manner. Even at the age of twenty seven Taylor still looked young and innocent, the cigarette in his hand was nearly a contradiction to his baby face that still looked like he was too young for smoking. Perhaps it was also Taylor's innocent appearance that caused me to think and act dictatorial.
"We have an hour left." I answered casually after pulling the phone out of my pocket.
"Do you think we can let Bandito in the car one more time? Coz I need to get shaved."
Oh come on? Isn’t he going to give me a break!?
"I want to go to a barber shop. I want to look acceptable in front of Nat’s parents. It’s making me nervous. I couldn't shave for two days coz you took my shaving things away. So I need to go to a salon to get shaved properly."
"Yeah that's okay. We'll find another place to pretty you up princess." I sighed.
Did I have a choice? Apparently Taylor was still a perfectionist. I mean I could understand his actions, even though I wouldn't make a lot of hoopla like he did. As yet he didn't even look unshaved except a hint of golden stubble on his jaw.
Even though to go shopping and getting pretty were things which bored the fuck out of me, I was somehow amazed about his caring to arrange matters. And instead of feeling irritated because of his plans, I was ok with them.
As long as he didn't force me to spend another hour in a fancy schmanzy clothes boutique!
As we went back to my car, my stomach suddenly rumbled loudly. Because of my upset stomach this morning, I couldn't eat something yet. And Taylor once again declined as I asked him.
Somehow, I felt unsatisfied. So far I didn't know why. But with the rumbling of my empty stomach I realized what it was.
I was worried because Taylor didn't want to eat.
"Do you like to eat something first?" I asked, as we reached my car again.
Taylor shook his head. "How about you? Are you hungry?"
"We will get lunch at my friend's bar later, I think I can wait until then." I answered. I purposely said 'we' in hope Taylor would acquaint himself with the thought already, but he didn't reply something to that.
Somehow I had to find a way to convince Taylor to eat again. I didn't know when was the last time he ate something coz I didn't see him eating so far. I could see that he was getting weaker.
I could recognize it in the way he was walking. I knew the feeling very well.
During my Army time I had to ignore my grumbling stomach for days sometimes. But another year has passed already since then. Meanwhile my stomach was used to regular food schedule again, but still, I could manage to deal with it, if I had to. Random thoughts about my past soldier experience ran through my head. Eating was never our priority during our missions, our main goal was to do our job, to catch the guilty party who spread anomaly and crime in the society. The long days of longing for proper food and bath seemed to be long gone now, but every time I think about them, they felt like they just happened the day before. I bit my inner lips hard, I was planting the wrong images in my head.
I knew that it was only a question of time until Taylor's condition would become really serious if he didn't eat something soon. He already was very thin and in his current condition I wasn't sure how much more his body could withstand. From now on, to convince him to eat something was my goal.
There were still unclarified things between us. But he had to eat something first until we could focus on other things.
"We should look for a barber shop somewhere else," I said as I suddenly saw a bunch of people coming out from a bus in front of the entrance of the mall. Apparently the time of the high season slowly began.
"We can drive to the other side of the mall and use the entry on the east side, the barber shop is closer to that entry anyway," he informed me, watching me opening the car door and lying Bandito carefully on the back seat.
Good thing Taylor already knew where the shops where located. I knew that I couldn't expect luck to find a shop with only a few costumers everywhere we go to, but if there was a chance to avoid a mighty concourse of people, we'd take it.
"Yeah, we better use that one. Now, get in and don't smoke so much. That shit is not good for you." I said, pulled the cigarette stub out of his lips and flicked it away before he could say anything. "Come on, get in and put your seatbelt on." I urged. Not paying attention to Taylor's surprised and confused look as I opened the passenger door for him, went over to the driver's side and got in. I already expected him to nag that I wielded authority and took the protective position but he didn't say anything and got in the car without complain.
As soon as he sat safely in the passenger seat I floored the gas pedal and steered my Lamborghini down from the parking area towards the East side.
Both us kept silent for a while as I drove off again. The thought that I just got back a part of my family was unfamiliar. I could sense that it took a load off Taylor's mind that I was here as his brother again. But as much as I wished for to feel the same, I wasn't able to share the pleasure with him coz I couldn't help to feel still hurt. There were still unanswered questions for me why Taylor left me nine years ago and I didn't know how our relationship could get better with the secret he was holding back from me.
Why, just why couldn't he finally speak it out?
I wanted him to get better, but at the same time, I couldn't help to wish that he wouldn't let me leave in the darkness forever. I wanted to dig more truth from him, but now that Taylor and I had an agreement of treating each other as brothers again, I decided to wait for his courage to tell me everything that he had to say.
I shook my head to erase the torturing past thoughts out of my head. I was on duty and I had to be vigilant! Entertaining the ghost of the past would only jeopardize the mood between us and bring back a lot of headaches.
I looked around the area for appraisal when we arrived the parking area on the East side. The parking area was busier here already as well, but I could find a parking lot near the entry.
There was a barber shop on the right side in the hallway of the mall, I could see it from afar. It was not possible to see how many costumers were inside though.
“There. There’s the barber shop on the right.” Taylor gushed beside me.
"Yeah I just saw it too." I responded and slowed down to park my car.
My light mood suddenly changed though and I felt uncomfortable as a weird image came to my head. Silently I looked over to Taylor for a moment. Now, that I had agreed that we were brothers again, would he always want to recruit me to do his activities as well?
I frowned at the thought of me shopping with him and Skye. The imagination of me getting introduced in Taylor's and Skye's gay glitter world was kinda strange and ridiculous. The thought alone makes me feel misplaced.
Although Skye had always been nice towards me, his bubbly attitude was still fucking disturbing.
Damn! Even though Taylor and I finally got along, both of us were used to lead completely different lives. While I was used to rough manners in my daily routine, Taylor and I obviously had totally different interests. I didn't have a problem with it that he was used to be the center of attention and to keep him away from his overzealous fans, but I couldn't see a way how I should ever get used to that fucking High Society world which just felt unreal to me.
I parked my Lamborghini in front of the salon and looked over to Taylor until his face turned into a concern look. I could tolerate Taylor's behaviour, he was a much better companion than his never ending bubbling of a manager.
"Blade, are you ok? What are you thinking about?" Taylor asked as he noticed my glance.
"Yeah, I just thought about a strange imagination." I told him and couldn't suppress a grimace as I said that.
"What?" He asked curiously. I sighed. Better we clarified it asap instead of loading another shit on me.
"Let's face it Taylor. We are totally different persons. We live completely different lives. And to be honest I don't know how the fuck I will ever get used to the world in which you live. I just don't fit in that High Society world."
He kept silent for a moment and I wasn't even sure if he would respond at all until he finally answered.
"You know what, Blade? Abraham Lincoln once said an interesting line which you might think about. If you don't know a good answer, just steal it from someone who already said it best. So if you can't top it just steal from them and go out strong. Maybe you like this line; We must not be enemies. Though the past may have strained, it must not break our bond of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
If I wouldn't have known it better, I would tell you now that my brother was on drugs.
But with Taylor, I wasn't even surprised about his sayings. Apparently, he still had his very own, unique way of expressing things with heart and passion, always trying to better the lives of people half way around the world or in his own hometown...
"I don't really know if that will help." I frowned at him. "I mean, I don't even know how you can get along with someone like Skye at your side. Don't you ever feel the urge to just make him shut the fuck up?"
I stared at him questioningly, while my fingers unaware gripped the steering wheel harder as if it was Skye's neck. So I spoke it out. Eventually, it was enough with one of us sitting on a secret! Besides, patience has never counted to my strengths.
"Oh, come on. What do you have against him? You don't even know him well." Taylor frowned back at me.
"Luckily not. Coz I really don't like it when people use my best friend behind my back to force me to do something for them."
I answered and meant every word of it. My anger was finally blown away and I wasn't even that mad with Skye anymore, coz I was totally aware of that without his efforts I would have never came to known that I had a brother who actually still cared about me. I just didn't agree with the way it happened. Because of Skye using Santiago, I didn't have freedom of opinion and had no choice than to gave in to this job.
I didn't reproach Taylor for the way Skye acted. But if he would have tried to find me earlier, he wouldn't have needed to send out his Loverboy to convince people to work for him behind their backs. I would have been there for my brother anyway if we had stayed in contact.
That's why I couldn't feel something like sympathy towards Skye. I just couldn't feel sympathy for Manipulators like that.
I honestly didn't even know if would I be able to control myself and get the thought out of my mind to punch Skye's pretty face the moment he began to talk to my face endlessly again. I knew my temper very well, and around Skye, my temper was getting thinner than it already was. I already fought the urge to dismember him at the prospect to see him again. I hated two-faced people. I never knew which side to punch first.
Maybe it would be easier not to be stubborn and resentful about Skye if Taylor would finally reveal his secret about what happened back then.
But currently, the only reason which made me calm and eased my anger was the fact that I had a brother who cared about me. Coz if Skye wouldn't have made use of his 'tricks', I would still lead a life without a real family. I knew I had to focus on that fact next time I saw him to stay calm.
"He's not that bad, Blade. If you would know him like I do, you would realize that too."
The way Taylor defended his friend, I could imagine that their relationship was close. Maybe even closer than it should be? Taylor was married and he mentioned that his wife was pregnant, but his gay tendencies spoke against his married life. Somehow it was a contradiction.
I didn't argue with Taylor about Syke anymore, coz I couldn't help the way I felt right now.
And Skye and me couldn't get along, if that was his usual way on arranging matters.
Not that I longed for his friendship anyway! I'd sooner shove my cock into a toaster than to become friends with such a smug smoothie...
However, it would probably need more than one day to get to know more about Taylor. In nine fucking years a lot of things can happen. Back then, he was a weirdo. Well, we both were in our own ways.
And now here we were. Nine years later.
Obviously still weirdos! I chuckled to myself.
Looking at the past still hurt me, but to experience Taylor's pain and worries about me made it finally easier for me to deal with my own pain and focus on what was happening in front of me.
Just us at the current situation. Taylor needed my protection and I wanted to protect him because I was capable of doing it. At first, it was only for Santiago, but as I learned more about my brother, my purpose for the job was becoming personal. His freaking Stalker hurt my dog and he ruined my brother's life. Now it was my personal case. Coz I wanted to pay that fucking sicko back for what he did to them.
Actually, I would have never thought that I'd forgive Taylor that soon. Hell, I'd never thought that I'd ever forgive him! But I felt that Taylor's tears were real. I sensed that he was sorry for what he did to me, even though he didn't talk about it with me.
With my outbursts of anger I wanted to reflect the pain what he had done to me, how my life changed because he wasn't there, but instead of getting an explanation I reached the exact opposite.
I scared Taylor so much that he began to feel afraid of me which I didn't intend. Eventually, I was here to protect him!
But the brutally truth was that I treated him like the last piece of shit in the most hardest days of his life because it was how I felt treated by him for the last nine years. I didn't want to lose him and I almost killed myself in my lonely sorrow because of him. Since I was working for my brother I thought that he would only have eyes for his own pain like back then and was trying to find an easy way to fix things with me to get over the past without to face the pain and divorce from reality like he usually did. I knew that I reminded him of the past every time he looked or talked with me, like he reminded me of the eighteen year old he has been once.
The pretty dreamer with the head in the clouds...
Now, that Taylor just bursted into tears and was on the verge of a mental breakdown, I realized what I had done and that I had to make up to him for the cruel way I treated him, even though he has been cruel to me as well. But still, I felt like that I was the bad boy in this fucking adventure, even more since I knew how much I scared him.
From now on, I wanted to give us a chance and to try to fix things between us. After all these years, it felt good to know that my pent-up anger was starting to fade away. And maybe if Taylor would tell me the real reason why he left, things would be even better.
All in all I could say that if I haven't been too blind because of my rage and listened to the words from the old geezer, I probably could have skipped a lot of headaches, if I wasn't such a stubborn bastard. I could only hope that I didn't push Taylor too far.
I wanted Taylor to feel safe around me, I wanted him to trust me. And in making him trust me, I had to show him my trust at first. To reach that, I had to run a risk.
Now that we were brothers again didn't mean that Taylor suddenly didn't have suicide tendencies anymore because of his pregnant wife's death and his suffer from paranoia about his Stalker.
I turned to him and thought about how I could say it best.
However! No time for long thinking, Blade!
"Taylor, before we will go into that salon, we have to clarify a subject first. Actually, I have to tie your wrists in handcuffs again for the time in which you get shaved that you won't dare to do any harm to yourself. But we are now in public. And even though there are not many costumers in the salon right now, I have to expect that you'll get recognized everywhere and every time. I want you to trust me Taylor and to show you that I want to make this job right. From now on, I won't tie your wrists anymore if you promise me faithfully that you will not try to kill yourself anymore. Deal?"
"I won't try to kill myself anymore Blade. Really. I promise it." He assured me and his blue eyes gave me a sincere look.
"Okay." I answered. I could only hope that he didn't lie.
I knew there was no other way to reach his trust than to show him my own...
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Date: 2014-04-25 11:52 am (UTC)I didn't have a problem with it that he was used to be the center of attention and to keep him away from his overzealous fans, but I couldn't see a way how I should ever get used to that fucking High Society world which just felt unreal to me.
I loved these lines, the characterization of both of them is amazing and very realistic.
Excited for more!