The Boys at the Top of the World

Chapter 11: Fall

— a few weeks later —

In the end, Andrei did not give up bathing Mikhail. He still soaped Mikhail's back and washed his hair, but he also took his place as Mikhail's right-hand man, and he began his new life as a mafia duke. Mikhail ordered new clothes for him - fine new shirts, slacks, suits, ties, vests, coats, and shoes, each tailored precisely to Andrei's proportions. The family tailor had been adjusting Andrei's clothes for several years now, making little nips and tucks as Mikhail saw fit, but Andrei had never had such an extensive wardrobe before. Each day he walked into the closet that he shared with Mikhail, chose from this overwhelming array of clothing, and plunged himself into the dizzying world of the mafia. He managed Mikhail's schedule, delivered Mikhail's messages, and collected Mikhail's money. He began combat training so that he could act as Mikhail's chaperone when Mikhail went about his business in town. People increasingly gasped and whispered when Andrei darkened their door. Isn't that Mikhail Makarovich's man? Andrei Semyonovich? He's young, but I heard he's quite bloodthirsty. I heard he killed a hundred men and can disarm an assassin with his left thumb alone. Some of the more impudent mafia men had even taken to calling Andrei Mikhail Makarovich's husband, which neither Andrei and Mikhail disputed when they overheard it.

Andrei had taken quickly to the ropes of the empire, perhaps too quickly for his own liking. It was easy for him to serve Mikhail, and easy for him to swallow his own anxieties for long enough to intimidate others on Mikhail's behalf. It was easy for him to swallow his grief when he passed in front of a mirror, for it was easy for him to sweep away thoughts of how he resembled his father, and thoughts of what his mother would say if she saw him in his fine new suit. He simply dammed his mind with thoughts of beautiful blonde Mikhail, so that no unwanted sentiments could leak in.

Some time after his family's death, Andrei returned to Mikhail's bedroom, and Mikhail pushed him into the closet. His first thought was that he had done something worthy of punishment. "What - Misha? Is something wrong?" Had there been a spelling error on the threatening letter that he had sent out this morning? Written English was still not his strong suit. Or had he miscounted the money from the western territory?

Mikhail offered a mischievous smile and trailed a finger along Andrei's lips. "Shh, Andryushka. Nothing's wrong. I thought we might try something new, as a reward for you. I thought we might sleep in bare flesh tonight, since it's been a rather stuffy evening. Come, undress here and then join me in bed. By undress, I mean everything." Then he winked, withdrew, and slipped out the door. Andrei's heart began to convulse in his chest. What did Mikhail mean? Mikhail had seen him change before, but he had always been wearing undergarments. Would Mikhail want to...his face flushed at the thought. He knew not to expect ordinary desires from Mikhail, who did not seem much inclined to lust after others. Mikhail still called this being sensible, though Mikhail's father did not feel the same way. But still, the thought of Mikhail touching him...he stripped quickly and pushed his way out of the closet.

Mikhail was standing in the middle of the room, fully dressed, and a blonde woman in fishnets was slouched on the edge of the bed. The woman looked at Andrei, and he startled at the familiarity of her face. Emily? "What - why -?" Andrei grabbed a blanket from the bed and pulled it around himself. "I'm so sorry, miss. I didn't think that anyone else would be in here."

Mikhail laughed. "This is for you, Andryusha. I hired you a prostitute, to celebrate your success." He pushed a hand in between Andrei's thighs, and his touch was the rough flat-palmed gesture of a farmer handling his livestock. Andrei flinched. "Hm," said Mikhail. He had rarely felt anxiety and had even more rarely experienced arousal, and he did not quite understand how they might interact. "Something wrong with you, Andryusha?"