Innocence

Title: Innocence
Author: Kalika
Summary: Zadei, a high school drop out, meets a young man named Tetius one night on his way home from work.
Warning Codes: Yaoi, AU, H/C, Language
Pairings: Zadei/Tetius
Authors Note: This story was a request from a friend of mine. She had only two rules. One: Zadei and Tetius had to be the only Seimaden characters included. Two: Tetius had to be a sheltered virgin of high school age. The rest was up to me. I did try to keep them mostly true to their characters, but I also had a little fun with it.
Disclaimer: Characters owned by You Higuri. I wrote this simply for my own entertainment.

-----------------------

Chapter 3


Tetius sat on the edge of his bed. It had been a couple of days since his Grandmother had had her stroke and she was still not back from the hospital. It was very lonely without her around. Actually, because of the size of their home, he usually felt lonely. But at least when she was there he knew that there was someone that he could talk to if he wanted.

With a depressed sigh Tetius flipped the piece of paper in his hands once more. He stared silently at the phone number that was written on it. Should he call? What should he say? Maybe he would be bothering Zadei if he did. But Zadei did tell me to call. He gave me his number for a reason.

Unable to make up his mind Tetius flipped the paper again so that he was staring at the blank side. He didn’t feel comfortable talking to people on the phone. Actually, he didn’t feel comfortable talking to people at all, but it was harder when you couldn’t see the person that you were speaking to.

Tetius began to chew his lower lip as he continued to turn the piece of paper in his hands. Numbers. Blank. Numbers. Blank. After the twelfth, or was it thirteenth, turn the paper slipped out of his grasp and fell to the floor.

As he picked the paper up, Tetius noticed that one of the corners had been bent. When he looked at it more closely he could see that the piece of paper had in fact been folded in half. It must have become stuck together when it had gotten wet. Curious, Tetius pried the paper open, being very careful not to tear it.

It was a check. The writing on the paper was slightly blurred, but he could still read the name. It was made out to Zadei, in the amount of a couple hundred dollars.

Zadei most likely needed the money. Tetius had noticed, but been careful not to be seen noticing(he didn’t want to be rude), the state of the man’s home. It had been a small bachelors apartment filled with a few pieces of old, badly maintained, furniture.

To be honest, Tetius had been surprised. His parents home had been large and filled with beautiful furniture, and his Grandmother’s house was even larger than that. The bedroom that Tetius was sitting in right now was larger than Zadei’s entire apartment had been.

Tetius continued to stare at the check in his hands. He really had no choice now. The money had to be given back to Zadei, Tetius wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t.

The pale young man briefly considered just going back to Zadei’s apartment and slipping the check under the door. It wouldn’t work. He didn’t know the address, and had a very poor sense of direction. He would only end up getting himself lost once more.

To be perfectly honest, Tetius wanted to see Zadei. He had liked the older man. But having so little contact with other people made it difficult. He was comfortable around his grandmother, and could tolerate being near the other students in his night class, but the idea of being face to face with someone he barely knew frightened him.

In the end though, it really didn’t matter. Zadei had been very kind and would need his money back, probably soon. Tetius had no real choice. He was going to have to call. Not only that but he was going to have to meet Zadei again. Maybe it would be easier to meet with him here, where Tetius felt more comfortable.

After agonizing over it for a few more minutes Tetius finally decided that it would be best to invite Zadei over. He could give him back the check and thank him properly for his help at the same time.

Tetius moved over to his desk and picked up the phone. He dialed slowly, trying to decide what exactly he should say. The phone had rung seven times already, and Tetius was just about to hang up (there was no way that he could leave a message considering how nervous he was) when someone picked up.

“’ello. yawn.”

“Um, hello… Zadei.”

“Oh, Tetius? Is that you?” The voice sounded much more awake now. Tetius was rather thrown when he realized that Zadei must have recognized his voice. They had only met once.

“Yes, it’s me.” He paused uncertain of what to say next. Perhaps it would be best to inquire after Zadei’s health? “How are you?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Good. Thank you.”

Another yawn and Tetius was wondering if he had perhaps woken Zadei up. It was already eleven in the morning and he himself had been up for hours, but perhaps Zadei did not wake as early.

“Was there something you wanted?”

The question wasn’t rude, but it still flustered Tetius. He began to wonder if calling had really been the right choice. But what was done was done, and he may as well just finish what he had started.

“I… um. I… was wondering if… if … you would like to… come over.” It was the first time that Tetius had ever asked anyone that.

It was kind of exciting, though the rush seemed to die when Tetius realized that Zadei was not answering. Perhaps he had done something wrong. Had he asked too soon? Was Zadei angry because he had been woken up?

Tetius was just about to apologize when Zadei began to speak. “Sure I can come over. I’m not working this evening. Is six all right?”

Tetius couldn’t believe how relieved he was. He had been laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling for over an hour now. He had a hazy recollection of having given his address and telling Zadei that he would be looking forward to his visit.

His first phone call to someone other than his family, and it had gone great. Despite Tetius’ pride at having done so well (he would have to tell his Grandmother) he was also feeling quite happy. He wasn’t certain if it was because of the phone call or because he had met someone who could, very possibly, become a real friend. It really didn’t matter. He was happy and that was good enough for now.

xxxx

Zadei stepped up to the gate and gave a low whistle of awe at the enormous house before him. He checked to address that he had written down once more just to make sure that this was the right place before pressing the buzzer.

“Hello?”

Zadei couldn’t help the smile that stole over his features when he heard Tetius’ voice. “It’s Zadei.”

“Oh! Of course.” The young man sounded flustered and Zadei wondered if it was because he had gotten there slightly earlier than he had said.

There was a short buzz and then the gates were opening before him. Zadei slipped inside and began to head up the long driveway towards the house letting his gaze wander. House? More like mansion. This place is bigger than my entire apartment building. He returned his attention to the front door as it opened slowly.

Having been kind of expecting to see a servant or butler, Zadei was almost disappointed to find that it was Tetius himself who was letting him in. The pale man was smiling gently.

“I’m glad that you could come.”

Zadei grinned back. It was amazing how much his mood had risen just seeing Tetius standing there. “This is quiet the place.” He watched Tetius blush and felt his grin widen slightly.

“This is my Grandmother’s house. She’s lived here for as long as I can remember.”

Not really having anything to say in response to that Zadei settled for slipping off his shoes. When he glanced back up he realized that Tetius was setting the security alarm. The control panel seemed quite complex. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised after what Tetius had told him.

Once the alarm was set Tetius turned back to him and smiled again. “Would you like something to drink? You look a bit warm.”

“Sure.”

Another smile from Tetius and Zadei found himself being led into a large sitting room. He was guided to sit on a very plush sofa. Tetius had left him there saying that he was going to go and get them something to drink.

Zadei glanced around taking in all of the expensive looking furniture and decorations. He tried to estimate just how much money a place like this would be worth. I could probably pay off my entire debt to Clive with just the furniture in this room. Must be nice to grow up in a family that’s so well off.

The last thought brought Zadei’s estimates to a halt. He had thought a lot about everything that Tetius had told him. To be honest it had been bothering him for days now. I guess money isn’t everything.

Tetius had returned by this time. He placed a tray complete with pitcher and glasses on the coffee table before sitting lightly beside Zadei.

Feeling a bit bad about having been pricing out Tetius’ belongings in his head, and because he was curious, Zadei decided to get right to the point. “So, why did you call? Something on your mind?”

He watched Tetius blush and pretended not to notice. He didn’t want the young man to be so embarrassed that he couldn’t answer. “I wanted to return this to you.”

A folded piece of paper was held out to him, and Zadei took it. He could see the phone number that he had written on it. Was Tetius giving it back? “Why?”

“I thought that you would need it.” The pale man wouldn’t meet Zadei’s eyes as he said this. He seemed rather sad.

Still feeling confused Zadei turned his attention back to the paper in his hands. He unfolded it and turned it over to find that it was his paycheck. He remembered now, he had picked it up the morning that he had met Tetius. He hadn’t noticed that it was missing because he had been paid earlier than normal.

He turned back to Tetius. “Thank you. I hadn’t even noticed that it was missing.”

“It’s not a problem.”

Zadei watched the blush deepen and smirked to himself. He was very glad that Tetius hadn’t been trying to give his number back. The young man was looking incredibly cute at the moment. Zadei hadn’t liked the idea that perhaps Tetius didn’t want anything to do with him. He still didn’t understand why but the pale figure had been caught in his mind ever since they had met.

Feeling much more content Zadei poured juice for both himself and Tetius. He handed one glass to the pale young man and took a sip of his own. It wasn’t an awkward silence, but Zadei found the house to be too quiet and decided to say something. “So, how is your grandmother doing?”

“She’ll be back from the hospital the day after tomorrow. The doctor said that there won’t be any long term effects.”

“That’s good.” Zadei let his gaze wander around the room again. “You must be lonely in this big house by yourself.” He felt badly for saying it when he noticed that Tetius seemed rather upset.

“It’s not so bad. I spend most of my time studying anyway. I’ve got my university entrance exams coming up and I want to do well. I’m trying to get into Brekham₁.

Zadei nodded, feeling a bit surprised. Tetius seemed a bit young to be taking those exams. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen, maybe just seventeen. Perhaps being kept away from the world had left him with little to do other than study. Zadei decided that it would be best not to ask. He didn’t want to further upset his host.

“What about you Zadei? You’re eighteen aren’t you? Have you been studying?”

Zadei met Tetius eyes, secretly glad that he cared enough to ask. “Actually I’m nineteen. And no. I dropped out of school when I was fourteen. It was just after my parents died.”

A hand took his gently and Zadei had to fight back his joy. Why does this boy affect me like this? He gave Tetius a smile in thanks. “It’s all right. It was a long time ago. They died in a car accident. My parents drank a lot. They were driving home from a party one night and the car jumped the sidewalk and slammed into the side of a building.”

Tetius looked so sad for him. And the hand stroking his was so gentle that Zadei just didn’t have the heart to tell him that the loss hadn’t been upsetting for him. The only reason he regretted their passing was because it was after that that his life had really gone to hell.

Zadei’s parents had been abusive. When he had been told that they were dead he didn’t even care. In fact, he had almost been happy, but he would never tell Tetius that. It would only upset the younger man further.

“I started living on my own after that. I had my inheritance, and that was enough to get me through until the end of high school, but I got into some really bad things. That was when I dropped out. I started to drink, and I began taking drugs.”

He felt Tetius hand tighten on his and tried to reassure the young man. “It wasn’t anything too serious, nothing overly addictive or damaging.”

“Then when I was seventeen I meet some really nasty people. I ended up losing almost all of the money that I had left. That’s when I started to change. I didn’t have the money to pay for that crap anymore so I just stopped using it. I started working. I moved away from the people who had affected me so badly.

The hand on his had moved up by this point and was now stroking his arm in a comforting manner. Zadei glanced down at it and smiled before looking up to meet concerned green eyes.

“I still drink occasionally, but I’ve been off the drugs for two straight years.”

“I’m glad.” Tetius’ voice was soft as he spoke. “You’re a very strong person.”

Zadei couldn’t believe how strongly those words affected him. He hated thinking about the dark years of his life, but knowing that Tetius was proud of how he had changed made the memories a little less burdensome.

Reaching out, Zadei took hold of the hand on his arm and squeezed it gently. He felt Tetius jerk suddenly and was startled himself as the boy stood suddenly.

“It’s so late already. I forgot about the dinner in the oven.” Tetius had turned his back and was heading out of the room when he paused. “You will… stay for dinner, won’t you?”

“Of course.” Zadei was still a bit surprised by the sudden change of atmosphere in the room. He watched as Tetius nodded and continued out of the room.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he could have sworn that those pale cheeks and been flushed a violent shade of red. He smirked to himself as he considered that maybe dinner had had nothing to do with Tetius sudden departure.

----------------

TBC


1- I made this name up, I don’t think there really is a Brekham University. I figured that since Zadei and Tetius don’t live in a real city then they don’t need to have a real university.


Author’s Note 2: Sorry about the boring chapter. I figured that it would be best to establish the characters earlier on in the story. Plus, I’ve now gotten almost all of the background information out of the way.