Chapter 1: Maceo
Fredrich Nel did not know a single soul in this city. He'd been out here for months now, after moving across the ocean for college. Sure, he had a roommate, but they never seemed to be around- supposedly running around with girls or something...
He sighed, closing his laptop and shoving it away. He needed to get out of this gods forsaken dorm room.
He soon found himself walking downtown toward the only gay club that he could find- though he'd really only made one quick internet search.
Inside, the place was loud and overstimulating- filled with neon lights and booming bass... humans and avians and fae-blooded folk dancing and grinding and singing along to the music. Fredrich could feel his heart pounding along to the beat, the rhythm suffusing itself into his very bloodstream. Driving him onward through the venue and towards the bar at the back.
One drink, two, until he could feel his anxiety and inhibitions melt away...
Why had he spent months in the city rotting away in a dorm room when he was finally finally free to actually be himself?...
He didn't exactly remember walking to the dancefloor, but he found himself there anyway. Surrounded by beautiful people -pretty men- in scant clothing...
Eventually, he found himself dancing with another Avian... beautiful and tall with feathers in cream and black and brown... bright yellow eyes that felt like they were piercing into his very soul...
And how had their mouths ended up on each other? -
Fire rushing through his veins and making his heart swell... pressing deeper into the kiss, feeling soft feathers brush against his own...
He never wanted this to end-
And then... Fredrich heard his voice- smooth.. A gentle whisper pressed close against the booming music...
"You wanna get out of here?"
Oh gods he'd never wanted anything more- but whether it was because he was too intoxicated to think straight or too flustered he could only nod in response.
Feeling himself be led out of the club, the music fading slowly into the distance...
"You alright to walk, love?"
Hhhhhhhhh love,,,
"Hhha- yES- yeah I'm... I'm good!"
"Alright... my apartment is just around the corner...."
The walk there was a bit of a blur- whether it was the giddy feeling in his chest or just the alcohol in his blood or some combination of both he couldn't say.
But by the time they arrived, he had calmed down a bit... taking a moment to look around, take the place in. It was rather small, but... warm and quaint. Decorated with paintings on canvas- had this stranger made them himself?... fairy lights strung along the ceiling. Green plants in hanging baskets....
Fredrich waited to be led to the bedroom, but instead, the stranger paused, turning to look at him, more serious than flirtatious now.
"Are you... sure you want to do this?"
"What? A-are you... not sure?..."
A soft laugh, light... kind... beautiful-
"Oh, I'm very sure, love... Just ensuring we're on the same page, that's all..."
Fredrich only had to nod before he felt himself be pulled into another kiss. More intense somehow, without the background of the club and all those other people. Swallowing up his soul and becoming the only thing on his mind. Hands beginning to wander...
The stranger was in an open shirt and a pair of tight leather pants that really didn't leave much to the imagination.
Fred drew his hands up the stranger's soft, feathered chest, touch trailing up to feel his collarbones and lean shoulders...
There were hands on him too, delicately trailing from his hips up his spine... fingers running through his soft down feathers, sending an unfamiliar thrill up through his shoulder blades that forced a strangled sort of gasp out his mouth.
"Is this ok?" The stranger asked.
Fredrich couldn't reply with words, so he simply pressed harder into the kiss, hands growing more insistent, though he kept them carefully above the belt.
