La Maison 5: Darkness (Complete: mxm BDSM)

Chapter 5.1

"So," Ellis started with an expectant grin, "what are we investigating?"

They'd met for coffee, Gabriel still telling himself he had the option to walk away from the idea that Sawyer had implanted. But he didn't truly have the choice. Couldn't settle to not find out if his fears were true. But if Ellis was going to help him, he'd have to know everything. Well, most things.

"I think...I think Henry might b-be seeing someone else."

"Henry? He's your...?"

"Um, partner, he's my partner."

Though, of course, he wasn't. Nothing about what they'd ever had had been a partnership. But Gabriel hadnever minded that; didn't need to make decisions about their life together.Even if it was leaving him empty, his soul tired and drained. Even if Ellis would probably find it strange.

"Okay. And you think he's cheating?"

Gabriel was grateful that Ellis didn't try and cover him with sympathy. And he didn't look anything more than slightly surprised about the revelation that Henry was his boyfriend (Henry hated that term, though it was still what Gabriel called him in his head. And he'd never had a need to make an introduction to anyone else until now).

"He's been privately tutoring a freshman. A guy called Tommy. Do you know a Tommy?"

"I don't. I could ask Mat for you? He knows everyone."

"No! I mean, I don't really want anyone else to know, if it turns out to be true."

For all Gabriel had to find out what was going on, he didn't know what he was going to do if his worst thoughts came true. The fewer people who were aware, the better.

Ellis nodded, instantly understanding, and Gabriel felt the knot in his chest subside a little.

"But," Ellis bit his lip, "how will you find him, if you don't know who he is?"

"They'll be in one of the practice rooms in the old building. Henry says they have better acoustics."

They left the coffee shop and walked across the quad towards the old building. Gabriel felt sick with anticipation, the tea he'd drunk rising in his throat until Ellis stopped them, his hand on Gabriel's shoulder, encouraging him to take deep, calming breaths.

"We can turn back."

Gabriel took a fuller breath, feeling the steadying effect of Ellis' consideration. "No. I do want to know."

When they entered the cool building, Gabriel's feet were lead, dragging to what felt like doom, and it was only wanting to make Ellis' support worthwhile and not waste his friend's time that kept him moving. There were six rooms here, and Gabriel went first to Henry's usual room, but there was a broad man in there playing a trombone, alone. If he was Tommy, with his thick dark beard, Gabriel would be beyond surprised. They looked through the windows in the other five doors. Only one seemed possible, a small boy with huge eyes biting his lip as he tried to coax the right sound from his cello, but he was alone, with tears of frustration showing in his eyes.

"Maybe one of the upstairs classrooms?" Ellis suggested, and they traipsed up the broad stone steps. But except for the small class of five being led by a professor, they were all empty.

Gabriel didn't know what prompted him to want to return to room four, and the frightened, innocent boy there, but he stopped Ellis from going to the exit with a silent hand on his shoulder and turned, approaching with new trepidation.

The boy was still there, smiling weakly at the man who'd joined him, a pair of salad packs on the table answering why he'd been missing minutes earlier. Henry leaned forward, his back to the door, placing a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. Gabriel barely breathed, unable to turn away, praying for an innocent kindness. But then Henry's hand dropped, and it was on the boy's – Tommy's – knee, thumb drawing small circles as he sucked back unhappy sobs. Henry's other hand reached for his cheek, brushing tears away kindly. Soothing with the same kind of care and attention he'd always shown Gabriel.