The Bodyguard - Chapter 41

[teamzaylor]

Title: THE BODYGUARD
Chapter: 41
Rating: Nc-17
POV: Blade
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?

Authors Notes: Chapter 41 is the last Update for now. We'll post new Chapters as soon as we can. Enjoy ♡

PS.: Please use the Chapter Overview or our inserted Links which will forward you to the next Chapter in the right order.

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Blade:

I decided to go in the barber shop alone at first, not only to check the state of affairs, but to ask if it would be possible to rent the salon for about a quarter-hour. In Taylor's current state, the last thing he needed was more curious and overzealous fans, or even worse celebrity reporters. Both of us didn't need to see a drama getting out of control. The sudden appearance of my superstar brother would surely excite the people around him. I just experienced it a half hour ago and was glad that the situation didn't go too far.

Taylor looked tired and exhausted after our visit in the clothes boutique, but he was still trying to keep his head up. Hopefully some relaxation while getting shaved and some food in Santiago's bar would give new heart to him. Maybe it was an exaggeration to ask for to rent the whole shop just for one person, even though my brother was a famous superstar, but Taylor needed quiet surroundings in his current state and that's what I wanted to try to arrange for him.

"Stay here, I'll talk to the storekeeper first, ok? I need to make sure that the barber shop is safe for you."

"Is that really necessary? You didn't need to do that for the visit in the clothes boutique."

He frowned at me, but his voice sounded nervous. Something stirred inside of me, seeing how helpless he looked like.

"Yeah I know, but this place has gotten busier in the meantime. I have to check the state of affairs first, so stay here and wait for me, ok? I'll be back in a few minutes."

I wanted to finish the task as fast as possible, that we could eat something soon. And if it was possible to rent the salon for a short while, then I would arrange it. With that in mind, I reached out to open the car door next to me to get out.

"Blade!" I heard Taylor's voice behind me, there was some panic in it.

"Yeah?" I stopped midway and turned around to him. Too embarrassed to ask his question and apparently hoping for a better opportunity he stuttered "Never mind..." but his blue eyes were pleading me to stay.



I sensed that he still couldn't speak it out, the pink color of his cheeks revealed his shame once again. His panic attack was still fresh in my memory for both of us. I could surely understand that he didn't like to be alone already. But I felt that he wasn't ready to ask me to stay.

"The side windows of my Lamborghini are tinted, so climb on the back seat next to Bandito and nobody's gonna see you Taylor." I talked to him reassuringly as he looked at me with concern, apprehensively of what might happen in the meantime. I knew that he was scared and I was worried to leave him, but I couldn't be careless on taking Taylor inside without making sure of his safety first. Besides, Bandito was with him. My smart dog's injury couldn't stop him once his protective instinct rush. I trained Bandito, I worked with him for years through thick and thin. That's why besides to Santiago, I gave him my trust fully.

"But I..." He began, unable to finish the sentence.

"Bandito is here with you, Taylor. You've seen how he angrily bitten your dirty stalker last night. He will protect you, I can guarantee you that." I said to make him feel better as he was beginning to look pale again. I didn't want to leave without making sure that he'd be alright alone in the car.

I looked down to him and waited for his reply.

After moments of probably thinking of the pros and cons, Taylor finally agreed and sighed loudly.

"Okay, I'm going to write something in my diary in the meantime."

"Yeah do that." His girly features were really adorable.

"Just... please hurry up Blade okay?" Taylor pleaded shyly and timidly, batting his blond eyelashes like a dainty little girl. He always blushed and got bashful so naturally.

"I'll be back before anyone can steal your precious butt, little sis!" I teased with a wink, trying to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, he failed to see the humor and blushed even deeper. Every time I made a remark about his girliness or my protection he blushed like a fucking tomato.

I never intended to hurt Taylor with my girly nicknames for him. I actually liked his girly features and habits, maybe because it made him different than other guys. And if he'd understand my humor, things could be much more relaxed between us.

Damn he is my brother after all, I liked to tease him! He didn't say anything but his innocent, pleading eyes gave me that 'please don't leave me alone too long' look that could melt an ice block.

I looked down at him one last time before I slammed the car door shut in front of my sensitive girly older brother and walked towards the East entrance.

Even though the mall in the inner city had probably one of the most biggest video game departments, it was the first time I was here. Since Santiago and me left the Army after eight years term of service I had no feeling and sense for any contacts with the society. His accident last year put too much guilt on me, that I hardly could bear anyone around me for several weeks after that.

I had to bury my emotions somehow to find a way back to life. The Red Light district was not a part of the town where you easily get contacts and find new friends, that's why it was a perfect place to work for me over the last year. I could hide my ass within the dirty dregs of society to which I somehow belonged, since I ruined my best friend's life...

I didn't give a shit about my own life anymore since I maimed my best friend for life. My feelings of guilt had destroyed me more than blades ever could. In my head I had killed myself more times than days I have lived. Let's just say if a car was coming towards me, I wouldn't scream, cry, run, I would just stand there...

Somehow I find it crazy how any of us can die at any moment, yet we live our lifes always planning for the future. For my own part, I knew if I'd die, it would be what I had deserved. I didn't want a happy ending anymore. I just waited for an end. My death would probably be the only way to pay my debt.

The downtown district in which I lived was dark, dirty and criminal, but it felt like home. I didn't realize how much that kind of life had become to myself and to who I was until now.

I wasn't even used to talk to so many different persons anymore, like I did in the last few days. As I walked my ass into the mall for a second time today, I realized for the first time what an outsider I had become. I never looked up to anyone, I never trusted anyone, except my only friend Santiago. The colorful dressed customers of the mall on their bargain hunting around me only heightened that feeling in me of being a social outcast even more. I had more scars than friends.

Within all the strange people who passed by me on my way to the salon, I felt for the first time how lonely I was.



How fucking dramatic, huh? I guess my last words will probably be sarcastic.

It was weird that I had to come to a High Society district to realize my loneliness...

I had my brother back, but sadly it didn't really feel to me that I had him back, coz he didn't open up to me and right now I couldn't expect him to. I wasn't sure of how long I could wait, though. Nine long years of waiting were so long already...

How long would it be enough to know that he cared for me? I sighed.

I couldn't allow myself to get distracted with my inner thoughts about my brother again. Eventually, there was a task at hand.

I turned around to look back to the parking area one last time, before I entered the barber shop. I immediately smelled hair sprayers the moment I entered the salon, ugh. These things were too delicate and feminine.

If I wouldn't be here because of my brother, I would ask myself what the fucking fuck this fuckery was?! I couldn't even remember the last time I entered a hair salon for myself. I got my hair cut the last time when I still was serving as a soldier in the Army... Meanwhile it had almost shoulder length.

Anyway! I wanted to do my part as quickly as possible to not letting Taylor longer alone than necessary.

There was no time to drift away in past adventures.

I went directly towards the counter of which a middle aged woman stood behind.

“Hello! How can I help you young man?” Her french accent rolled coolly from her mouth, she was probably in her early forties, her eyes studied me as she asked me for the meaning of my arrival.

“I need to speak to the storekeeper of this salon, is that possible?” I asked as nicely as I could, my stomach was grumbling, not only because of hunger but also in worry about Taylor. And the weird smell of the place made it hard for me to suppress my exasperation.



"Well, you're already talking to the storekeeper, is there a problem?" Her eyebrows rose and I could hear a ray of mistrust in her tone. For a moment she looked at me as if I was going to mug her salon.

Yeah yeah, I knew that I wasn't dressed like a stuck up prig, my own unkempt style consisted of sniffing to make sure it's clean and then putting on whatever is nearby, but did I look the worse for wear?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
inspiration for this scene based on this quote from Zac:

http://zaylor.net/post/101288373049
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Screw it!

"No, it's nothing serious. It's just about a costumer who wants your service." I gave the salon another appraisal and noticed some of the costumers looking at us curiously.

"But I need to talk about this on private Ma'am." I added, leaned on the counter and removed my shades in hope it would cease her mistrust about me.

I didn’t want someone eavesdropping to our conversation.

She was probably holding her breath, coz she released a deep sigh after hearing that.

“Uhm, ok. Follow me.” She then stated politely and turned her back to me.

I followed her inside a small room painted with white and pink stripes on the edges which looked like an office. It was nicely done up and  luxurious just like the costumers area and what the salon looked from the outside. It seemed to be one of those upscale hair dresser salons for high society people who lived and preferred a plush way of life, they had some posters at the window pane of several VIP's which were regular costumers there. If I weren't here for my brother I would go on the run and beam myself away from here. This place was nothing were I belonged. The area was so fresh and clean that you could see your reflection in the floor and windows. I could say that their salon was a much better salon compared to the cheap ones in the downtown district.

The storekeeper woman sat down behind a desk and signaled me to sit down on a chair opposite to her's. Reluctantly, I sat down, actually I would have preferred to keep standing, but I didn't want to build up new mistrust on her. And it wasn't the right moment to waste time. 

“About my purpose. I have a customer waiting outside, it's Taylor Hanson who wants to get your service."

"Oh Taylor Hanson. I read about his wife's death this morning."

She tapped on a newspaper on the table in front of her.



"It must be horrible for him. How is he?" She continued and sounded sympathetic this time, but I had to make sure that Taylor wouldn't need to deal with overzeal of noisy people. In his current weak state he might collapse anytime and in a risky situation like that, he really didn't need more audience than it was immutable.

"He's not ready yet to talk about that sensitive subject Ma'am and to visit your salon for a chit chat is definitely not his purpose. He just needs to get shaved and that's it. So how much it is to rent your salon for 10 - 15 minutes?"

I came straight to the point, even though, I wasn't even sure if she'd take my request serious to be honest. If I were in a salon in the Red Light district and tell the same, they would probably laugh at me and tell me that I drank too much or even call the police if I wouldn't leave... at least until they would see and smell the dollar notes in front of their fucking mugs.

But this was another part of the town. A part of which I wasn't used to be... so I couldn't say what was coming.

"Of course Mister Hanson can get our service. It's an honor for us to serve him." She offered friendly. I wasn't quiet sure though if it was still her condolence or if she had already negotiated a price in mind. Eventually, she was a business person in her department like I was in mine. And cash is a language which finds understanding not only in a dirty downtown district...

I reached in my inner jacket pocket and fished a pile of banknotes out of it. Dirty money, which owned once my regular johns for all the disgusting things they wanted from me. In my line of business as a pimp I already had to deal with all kinds of people, family men for example of which you never thought which perverse sexual preferences they had...

Usually I'd use that money to buy some snow. But I didn't know when would be the next time I could sniff a line again. Even though my nerves were a little more calm since Taylor and me reconciled, the urge for some coke was still there. And I knew it wouldn't go away that easy. But I couldn't allow myself to think about it right now. Now, I would give it for Taylor coz it was what he needed. Furthermore, he already bought me an X-box with some video games and I didn't want to owe him something. Whether he cared about me or not.

Her eyes widened when I put a pile of banknotes in front of her down on the table.

"I'm Mr. Caziano and work for Mr. Hanson as his security guard, so it's my task to arrange the matters for his security. So let me know if these are enough dinero's or not, Ma'am."

I informed her to arrange that matter as quickly as possible. She kept silent, contemplating after that for a moment.

Eventually, she leaned over and took one of the Dollar notes from the pile.

"This is enough money for the shaving service. I can imagine that's a hard situation for Mr. Hanson these days, so he can pay us for getting shaved, but he doesn't need to pay us because of his need to get shielded from the media and his fans in his current state."

I didn't expect that reaction to be honest. I already was too used to the hustler scene, where sympathy didn't really exist...

Was she really honest or did I just land in fucking Pleasantville?

"You sure, Lady?" I frowned at her in disbelief.

"Yes I am. To lose a relative is very hard, it wouldn't feel right to me to take money for that from him."

She opened a drawer under the table and put the dollar note in it. Her soft gestures reminded me of my Mam somehow.

I gave in. I didn't want to ask her to take the money anyway to defray the expenses of the X-Box and the video games coz I sensed that it would insult her good will. There were other possibilities. I put the money back in my jacket pocket and thanked her in Taylor's name for her expression of condolence afterwards.

"You can come back in about fifteen minutes Mr. Caziano, our other customers should be finished and gone until then." She informed me as I stood up.

I agreed and went back to the parking area, still a little confused about what just happened. I didn't know if she only reacted that way because of Taylor's famous superstar state, but still, it was for me a good experience to learn that there are still good people in this world. Whether I was a serving as a soldier in the Army, nor working in my brothel as a pimp, I could never allow myself to be naive. I wouldn't have survived and still be here today if I was, coz life is full of Fake people. Being warily sort of always belonged to my job and to my usual way of life...

I guessed that's why her reaction was surprising for me.

I almost wasn't used to good features from other people anymore.



It's good to know there are still some exceptions in this fucked up world...


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Chapter Overview: Link

Comments

[zacharygirl.livejournal.com]

this Chapter was full of hope and I really liked the tone of it. I agree that Blade is mysterious and very fascinating. The new name suits him.

Was she really honest or did I just land in fucking Pleasantville?


that line was funny!

Looking forward to new Updates!