I don't know. I don't ever remember having family. I was an orphan same as you, spent my first years in an church orphanage I've been told, and then a few years on the streets. The fort picked me up early like I said. In some ways I owe them a lot...they gave me a roof over my head, a bed, and 3 meals a day for maybe the first time in my life. I had to cook and clean in return, menial stuff, until the time came when I could work...really work.
- - -
"My dear one, have we ever treated you as anything other than family?..have we ever treated you poorly?"
6's voluminous white curls bounced gently as she spoke, framing her narrow face. Beautiful features with only soft lines around the eyes and the edges of her mouth that indicated her many years of service. Her air of confident composure also spoke to her seniority.
"No...of course not Ma'am."
"-And do you not owe us much? For your name? Your health? In truth you owe us a life...for the one we so generously gave you."
Grainy images flashed behind his eyes; open palms begging for coins and filled only with falling rain, the dark van with the caged bird, the promises offered, and those broken.
"I...yes Ma'am."
"Good. I'm glad we understand each other. You have lived comfortably for so many years here, and now it is time for you to repay that. You will start working in one month...28 days. As a way of respecting your time already paid, we will start you on level three. I will not subject you to the slums...you will make me a lot of money my dear. There are already several clients asking about you. I'm looking forward to us working together in this way Henri."
She had a way of looking at you that made you weak; like she was looking into your soul, baring your soft and vulnerable parts. Those wide brown eyes that narrowed just enough to set your pulse racing and your throat tightening. The insincere smile that rarely faltered.
It was often difficult to distinguish between, or even separate, the fear from the arousal.
6 stepped out from behind her desk, stilettos clacking on the marble floor, to perch casually on the front edge, feet almost touching his.
"Stand."
He towered above her, even in skyscraper heels, as he did with most people. Her head fell roughly in line with his sternum.
"You are such a beautiful creature...and so very obedient."
Her long nails traced the lines of his broad chest through the thin fabric of his shirt.
Henri kept his eyes forward, focusing just over her shoulder at an abstract painting on the back wall, following the curves of heavy red paintbrush strokes.
Again those grainy flashbacks returned; red stained palms and smeared red lipstick.
He prayed it was only him who could feel his knees shaking.
"Immaculate."
She lifted the hem and unbuttoned, exposing the wide expanse of his pale skin. Her fingertips moving to circle the dark peaks of his nipples.
He felt the flesh stiffen, and his arms broke out in reluctant goosebumps as she pulled roughly now at the taut skin.
Pulling at Henri's chin, she brought his eyes back to hers, and held them as she unbuttoned his trousers. The fabric fell in a puddle around his ankles, and he felt the cool air breeze momentarily over his burning skin before her hand enveloped him.
6's mouth was fixed in a sly smile as she jerked his growing erection, rolling the flesh expertly until it was twitching eagerly towards her.
Henri's mouth fell open a fraction as the breath caught in his throat. Her gaze was hypnotic, and although desperate to look away, he held it, his eyes hooded as the throbbing in his balls increased.
By some magnetic force, his body leaned forward, his hips pressing up further into her hand, desperate to reach the peak he climbed rapidly toward.
He had touched himself before, in the quiet and secluded end block of showers, or under the sheets whilst the rest of the dormitory slept. Her touch however was softer than his own, more dexterous. Knowing just how hard to grasp. Knowing just how fast he needed it. Ignoring the impatient thrusts of his eager hips.
"Glad to know everything is in working order."
6's words were barely a whisper as her hand fell away.
"GUARDS."
- - -
"That VIP group have already complained, can you rescue this!? Ryder looks fucking drunk or something...can someone just fucking get him out of there? What's that thing that they yank people off stage with? The Bo Peep thing...we need one."
Luna, the stage manager at 'Yaytsa' grabbed at the cuff of Henri's jacket as she spoke, pausing to bark down her headpiece at some unseen staff.
"I'm meant to be working the audience here."
He readjusted the collar of his shirt in the small mirror behind the bar, and ran a hand through his hair.
"Come onnnn...save this night for me. 3 is already at my throat about numbers, and last night was a fucking flop. You're only 'working the audience' because you pissed Tony off yesterday."
"Tony was an ass, so was 3. I wish 6 had waited another year to retire and I might have gotten that new head instead."
"Come onnnn...don't make me beg. I'm going to end up in that grimy latex club if I don't make them money. I don't suit it, god knows I've tried."
"I'd love a whisky."
He turned and smiled, the wide dazzling smile he knew disarmed people.
"...Can someone get me a Hibiki, double...ok now will you go on?"
"And I want tomorrow off. I'll just work the bar."
"Are you kidding? If 3 finds out..."
"Then I'll fix it."
He took Luna's waist in one large hand as he moved past and around the narrow bar, a gesture that could be mistook as inadvertent, but rarely was. Henri felt her eyes follow him as he moved away.
He knew full well the effect he had on people. He had spent his whole life learning to charm and beguile. It was his whole purpose here. Henri knew just what to say, how to move, and how to touch, to set pulses racing. It was easy when you really paid attention. And when you made the customers happy, you made the heads happy. And then life was easy. It was simple really.
That's why he found it frustrating when others could be quite so oblivious. Oblivious was the word coming to mind in that particular moment, imagining the clueless Ryder helicoptering his half erect dick at a silent and unimpressed group of women.
It had taken Henri very little time to get to level six, and he had no intentions of moving down at any point; losing his cushy jobs, private room, and general privileges.
Taking his drink from the edge of the bar, he finished it in three large gulps, enjoying the gentle burn that settled in his chest.
"Send in two more guys...and then I want Tina...not Grace."
He shouted over his shoulder to Luna before pushing back the red velvet curtain that led to the VIP section.
- - -
The women sat in a large half moon of scattered seats and small tables, all facing the back wall which was floor to ceiling glass looking out into the rest of the club. The 'window' however was two-way mirror, serving as the backdrop to the main stage. It meant that VIP customers got the best view possible of the shows, discreetly.
Ryder was being beckoned away by one of the guards. Not that the ladies would have noticed. The small group spoke amongst themselves, champagne in hand, all surrounding one elegant 30-something with a small white lace veil with 'bride' in gold letters atop it.
"Ladies...I don't think things have been up to the level you expect this evening...can I change that for you?"
