Alonso Lassiter strode jauntily towards the office of his Master and mentor Professor Evander Kell. Alonso was the Professor's assistant as well as a part time teacher of The Classics. Alonso was pleased as the Professor had secured them both, as well as four students, places at an established Egyptian archaeology site for three weeks of the upcoming summer break. Alonso loved practical archaeology and as an added bonus, once again Gatrack would be their Guide. Somehow the enigmatic man always managed to be available as a Guide no matter where or when he and the Professor went on their travels.
He tapped on the large, thick oak wood door and entered. The grey haired man sitting behind the oversized desk looked up and broke into a smile of pleasure. Despite being admittedly biased, the older man believed Alonso got more beautiful with each passing day. Luxuriant sable curls teased passed slender shoulders and were restrained in a tight ponytail. Chocolate brown eyes danced with the joy of living. The Cupid's bow lips were in a smile of happiness, displaying even white teeth. As the young man approached, Evander stood and walked round his table. Alonso stood a couple of inches shorter than the older man and was of a more slender frame. Without shame or discomfort, the two men embraced and Evander dropped a kiss on the upturned face. As the embrace ended, the older man cradled Alonso's chin and let his thumb run across Alonso's lower lip.
"How goes the preparations of our charges, Lon?" Evander asked.
"Well, Evander," the younger man replied enthusiastically. "Although it did take some time to persuade them that dinner suits would not be requisite," he added with a musical laugh.
Evander joined in the laughter. The image of four young, dinner suited gentlemen sitting in the desert dust around a small camp-fire immediately springing to mind.
His thumb once again traced Alonso's lip.
"I remember when I did this for the first time," Evander said nostalgically.
"My father had left me with you and I was trying to be brave and not cry. I bit my lip so hard it swelled," Alonso whispered. "You were afraid I had been stung. It became a part of our lives, just as I became a part of yours. Thank you for raising me."
"It was no hardship, Lon," the older man assured. "You inherited your mother's beauty and your father's stubbornness and your intelligence from them both. I am only sorry they are not here to see the bright, beautiful and intelligent young man you have become."
"I might have been none of those things without the guidance you and Harry gave. I wish Harry would accompany us one time," Alonso said pouting.
"Harry detests anything that is not full of comfort and luxury. As usual he will await our return and for the three weeks thereafter I will indulge his every whim. Well ... most of them," Evander added with a mischievous wink.
"He's been as wonderful to me as you have, Evander. You and Harry have cared for me since I was eight years old. I'll never forget my blood parents, but I regard you and Harry as my parents as well."
"We knew we would never have a child, Lon," the older man said with tears brimming in his grey eyes. "But it has been our joy and our privilege to have you in our lives. You are regarded by us as our son. Now," he added more briskly, "if there is nothing more you need to do here, let us go home to Harry and enjoy the time the three of us have before the trip begins."
Smiling companionably, the two men left.
************
Gatrack's green eyes roved restlessly at the milling crowds seeking his first glimpse of the group he sought. He was aware of the blue orbs that regarded him with amusement.
"What?" he growled.
"This will not bring your friends any sooner, Gat," came the warm rasp.
"You have yet to meet Alonso, Viktor," Gatrack replied mysteriously. A half smile appeared on his face.
It was half a smile as the other half of his face was affected by a palsy that inhibited much of such an expression. Gatrack stood a little over five feet tall, his spine slightly twisted. He wore Egyptian robes to try and disguise his infirmity, just as he wore his dark hair long and a shaggy beard to hide his facial defect. Viktor believed it actually drew more attention to the smaller man, but he owed so much to Gatrack, he did not want to jeopardise their friendship. The older man was always reluctant to talk about himself and that was something Viktor could empathise with. If Gatrack felt comfortable dressed as he was, that was his choice.
"Ah yes," the rasp held an amused tone. "A veritable Adonis amongst us mere mortals," Viktor laughed. "If you are to be believed," he added glancing sideways at the other man.
Gatrack was already appraising his younger companion. For all the banter, Viktor never normally bothered to greet their new clients. That was a chore he left to Gatrack when the older man was there. He regarded his friend affectionately. The shaggy blond hair was the colour of the desert sand. His eyes were the colour of its skies, although they could resemble the colour of stormy seas when the younger man was angry. Viktor was almost a foot taller and had a solid, powerful physique. Gatrack had met Viktor when travelling through Europe and they had developed a strong, if unusual, friendship. Gatrack always used Viktor when he had clients in Egypt, although he had sent the younger man to work in other countries. He had been absent when his friend had suffered an unpleasant experience at the hands of some American clients, but Viktor seemed resilient enough to have dealt with it and moved on.
In a secret part of his heart, Gatrack hoped that Alonso and Viktor might find each in the other what they sought in their lives. Alonso was gentle, a nurturer and generous of heart, irrespective of the outside of the young man, Gatrack saw the inner beauty of Alonso's soul. He believed that Alonso's inherent caring nature would be the balm for his friend's more tortured spirit, healing past hurts. He also believed that Viktor's more forceful character and resilience would be a perfect counterpoint to and strength for, the younger man. He sighed quietly. That he had the friendship of these two attractive young men was a blessing he could never have dreamt of asking for. He knew that the friendship could never be more, although he fervently wished for his own life companion to love him faults and all. Movement ahead caught his attention and his half smile lit up his face. Without a second thought for the blond who was waiting with him, Gatrack darted into the milling crowds.
Viktor blinked as Gatrack moved suddenly. It always caught him by surprise at how swiftly the smaller man could move, despite his body's deformity. He followed Gatrack's movement and then felt as though he had taken a physical blow to the chest emptying his lungs of air. His heart hammered and his stomach fluttered and something deep in his soul screamed 'mine'. He knew instinctively, immediately, which of the group was Alonso even before Gatrack reached him. He knew it as surely as the sun would rise again in the East. He watched fascinated as the slender youth and smaller man met in a tangle of arms and bodies. Although taller, Alonso seemed to be enveloped by Gatrack, both men smiling in joy. Viktor forced down the surge of jealousy that threatened to burst forth. He registered the startled looks of the students at the open display of affection. Taking a fortifying breath, he strode forward. His eyes narrowed as Gatrack and Alonso disentangled and the grey haired man, obviously Professor Kell, put a possessive hand on Alonso's slender shoulder. Viktor growled. The man was far too old for the boy nor had Gatrack mentioned the boy spoken for. He struggled to remember that it was none of his business either way however, a seed of doubt regarding Alonso had been planted in Viktor's mind.
