Bruises

Part 1

"Good morning, Linda," Eros greeted, and the young woman smiled politely at him. "How was your date with Georgette last night?" He plastered a fake smile onto his face. "Oh, fine." Linda glanced up from her typing, lithe fingers pausing on the keyboard. "Oh? So are you going to see her again?" Eros winced. "Um, I don't know yet." Linda's face fell, "It wasn't good at all, was it?" The Greek shook his head, "She's a rich brat with everything and left as soon as she found out my connections weren't because I had money. She paid, though."

Linda sighed as Eros strode through the office, sitting down besides GWI-18377 and Daurjab. A robot wheeled up to him. "Would you like some gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and peanut-free coffee?" Eros sighed, "Why not?" The robot's head tilted, and a question mark hologram hovered above his head. "I do not understand. Would you like some gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and peanut-free coffee?"

"Sure," Eros said, and the robot pulled a steaming cup out of the compartment in its metal abdomen, moving onto Daurjab and asking the same question. She declined politely, five hands moving quickly over the specially-designed, extra-large keyboard with three different alphabets.

Taking a sip of coffee (which tasted like despair), Eros booted up his computer and opened a program. Time to get to work.

Eight hours and twenty-six coffee cups later, Eros walked out of the building, shoulders slumped. Music blasted out of the club right beneath his official,  government-issued living quarters. "How was work, bro?" his neighbor, Rig, asks, leaning on the wall with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. "Fine," Eros replies, taking off his jacket and hanging it on the coat rack in the hall. "See you around, dude," Rig grins, turning to talk to the girl living on his left.

Alone in his quarters, Eros inhales the scent of smoke that always lingered and flopped on his ratty mattress. The apartment came with it, along with a dingy bathroom, a fridge, microwave, and sink in the only corner with wallpaper, and a phone, bright blue and hanging on the wall, next to a small wooden table and two old chairs. Eros had paid extra for a single window, right across from his bed, and even a small but still-functioning automatic tea maker,  but besides that, it could have been mistaken for any of the government-issued living quarters.

He sighed, kicking off his shoes and burrowing under the covers. He could afford to skip dinner for tonight.

~~~

Dearest Eros,

How are you doing? It has been years since I last laid eyes on you, darling. My new address is below. You don't have to show up. Just giving you an option.

Yours truly,

Hikuroi Taro Yamashita.

4183 Old Oak Road, New Delaware

~~~

The Greek skimmed over the hologram of the letter, his stomach churning. Hiku had used his full name- something that he only used for formal letters. But, he had also said 'darling,' and 'dearest.'

Something stirred in his chest, and Eros swallowed. Falling in love with Hiku was so painless, so easy. They had been friends since birth, with Eros's mother working as a cook in the Yamashita household- an impressively large, sprawling mansion. It wasn't handwritten, as Hiku's letters used to be. When they were twelve, Eros taught Hiku how to read and write, painstakingly, letter by letter. After Mrs. Dellis had died, Eros found a job overseas, in New Finland. He worked there for two years, corresponding with Hiku, until one day, the letters simply stopped. After eight more months in Finland, the company collapsed during the war, and Eros was contacted by the government to move into New Delaware. He had two choices to work- as garbage disposal, or as a tech expert. He had no idea Hiku was in the same state.

To see Hiku again...Eros closed his eyes, painting an image of him in his mind. They last saw each other when they were seventeen, and Hiku had just gotten a haircut. It was clipped short instead of falling into his eyes like it had done for years, and he was shorter than Eros by a whole head. When they embraced, Hiku had easily laid his head on Eros's chest, feeling his heart thump under layers of clothes and skin.

He fell asleep, wondering at what point he had forgotten what color Hiku's eyes were.

~~~

"I might be taking a short break," Eros told his boss. "A few days." Mr. Mickey squinted at the brunet, puffing on a cigar. "I won't be paying you, boy," he said gruffly, and Eros nodded. "I understand. I'll leave next week."

Mr. Mickey snorted, going back to his high-quality, brand-new computer. Eros had watched as it had been delivered a few days ago, a strange feeling bubbling in his throat. Only later had he realized it had been envy, that old, family-less Mr. Mickey with sweat stains under his arms and a belly that spilled over his pants and was difficult to contain using a shirt, had been made manager of the company, and had enough money to buy a hovercar and cruise in the smog-filled skies while everyone else had to trudge around everywhere, or call a taxi (which was very expensive).

Eros bit the inside of his cheek as Mr. Mickey waved one dismissive hand,  and he bowed stiffly before exiting the room. The rest of the office was quite loud, what with the garble of robots, strange languages, and clacking of keys. Eros took his usual spot between GWI-18377, who greeted him in a series of beeps, and Daurjab, who smiled prettily, tossing her dark, thick braid over her shoulder and twisting the end around her finger. Eros swallowed uncomfortably.

"Would you like some gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and peanut-free coffee?" The bot asked, as usual. "No, thanks," Eros said this time, reaching for his keyboard. If he wanted to visit his former boyfriend, he had work to do.

~~~

It took the majority of three days to settle his mail, electricity bill (it ran automatically), and unplug all major appliances so they didn't run when he was gone. He packed enough clothes and money for three days, and  hung a notice on the door. Tucking a book under his arm, Eros strode out of his living quarters, nodding to Rig (who seemed to be doing drugs with two other girls) on his way out.

He was going to see Hiku.