FicWad

- A/N: This chapter didn't turn out how I intended. In fact, far different... I just wrote and had fun and wrote some more, and I was on a roll, so I didn't really care where it went. Thank you to my darling beta

Reader Response:
Sparrow: Yes Mace is going to be an important character, but I think I haven't been including him as much as I should. Your feeling is right about Ciel and Lachlan, but I'll get to that later, lol.
Semme: Ketchup chips are good! And they match Ike's hair. Well Maybe Ike and Eddie do love each other. Who knows? So let me get this straight, I made Ike a whore and yet his whoreness is hot? A little confused But come on, I'm sure you wanna see some Ike lovin', right? Who should he get lovin' from?
WhinnieRichards: I don't know, but I'm beginning to think you like this story. Hmm...
TyTy: Yes. Guy meets Zombie, Guy likes zombie, guy bonks zombie. Your typical love story... and I love you too. O_O
Kt: Yes, I haven't read many coming out stories though so I wouldn't know if this has been done before or not. I'm glad you like my style because it makes me happy to hear that! Don't hold your breath too long... I don't wanna lose a reviewer!
Alisha Steele: Oh yay! Refreshing! That's not something I hear often. I think I like you.
Fan: Ok here, you go. An update!
Sheamaru: Merci beaucoup! Oh guess what! I have an angst fetish too! That's probably not good news for my characters though... Oh well! Yes I'm trying to keep Ciel a bit of a mystery. You know, unpredictable and such. I like Ciel. ^_^ I'm happy with him. Thanks for the review!

IVORY

Chapter 5
Yank my Chain

--

"Have you seen Eddie lately?"

What a nice start to a Wednesday afternoon. Mace and I were in my living room playing video games and pigging out on microwave popcorn. I was just in my typical jeans and a 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...' T-shirt. My hair was a wreck because I was too lazy to put the anti-frizz products, that Lachlan had given me, in that morning. I hadn't shaved either, but my face wasn't exactly known to grow facial hair very quickly. Basically I only grew peach fuzz. It was a little embarrassing so I tried to avoid it.

Mace was winning as usual. But he always waited until the hardest part in the game to start asking weird questions like that. He glanced at me when he wasn't getting an answer. I pretended to be concentrating too hard on the game. It was so easy to lie to my parents because I knew they didn't know anything, but when it came to my best friend, I felt bad about lying, and I never knew how much he already know, or what his suspicions were.

"Yeah," I answered finally once a bad guy on the game shot me dead. "I've run into him a few times."

"I think he likes you."

That statement totally took me by surprise. It might not have been shocking if someone else told me but Mace? All I needed was more pieces of the puzzle to be given to Mace. He was good at puzzles and mysteries, and certainly if Eddie talked too much, Mace would figure it out eventually. My surprise was probably not helping much either...

So I tried to cover it by quirking my brow and calmly saying, "Does he know I'm straight?"

"Yes. I told him you have a girlfriend." He swiftly completes the game level and moves on to the next one. He doesn't even look at me as he mutters, "But sometimes I wonder."

"Wait, what was that?" I frowned at him and took the controller away. "What do you mean by that?"

Mace still kept his gaze focused on the screen. "I mean it's hard to believe you have this girlfriend because I've never seen her. Nobody has seen her, and before you started disappearing every weekend with her, you always hung out with me, so it's a little weird that I don't know when or how you met her. Ava and Haley and Liz chill with me on the weekends now so I know it's none of them." He paused to let his words sink in before getting up and grabbing his coat off the arm of the couch and stepping into his shoes. "If you don't want to tell me the truth, that's your problem, but don't insult me by playing this game. You were never very good at lying anyway."

"I'm not... Wait, Mace! Sit your fucking ass down, I'm not done defending myself!" I got up as well and grabbed his shoulder, and stumbled back when he jerked roughly away. Indeed he was pissed. I had no idea he was that angry about it. "Look... I'll prove to you that you have nothing to worry about. I'll introduce you to her, ok? My parents want to meet her soon anyway."

"Whatever. Just don't lose sight of the people who were in your life before her." He opened the door and glanced back at me. "You can't expect us to sit around waiting for you to decide when we're convenient for you."

And then he was gone. I stared at the door for a moment before looking over at the television at the game that was waiting to be played. Only a few weeks into this secret life of mine, and it was already getting hard to keep it. This double life thing was certainly high-maintenance. I sighed and sat back down, wondering what the heck I was going to do.

It was true that I hadn't been spending much time with my friends, being too busy trying to get into my other life. Before I didn't think that this one needed much attention because it was already established, but Mace was right. My old life was suffering because of neglect already. I had to find a balance somehow...

But first, I had to find a girlfriend.

--

You're probably asking yourself, 'Where does a gay man whose friends are all suspicious of him, find a girlfriend?' Or maybe you've already guessed my plan. If you think about it, it's rather obvious. I'm a drag queen. I work with professional drag queens. There's your answer. Now it's true that a lot of drag queens aren't exactly fooling anyone. Everyone knows they're men, and when they go out on the street in costume, nobody mistakes them for women... But I figured, with a little work at least a couple of them could look more like women than drag queens.

So that evening, right after supper, I hopped on the metro and went down to Beaudry, - the stop situated within le village - and ran all the way to Cabaret Pasticcio. But really I had two reasons for going there. I wanted to talk to Eddie. He was my connection so I thought maybe he could help me with this plan, or give some advice, or even tell me if it was a horrible plan that would never work.

The second I came through the door, Lachlan rushed to me. He was in costume, but serving drinks. He really did make a goofy looking queen. My heart sank a little when I looked at him. There was no way this guy could make a believable woman. No way in a million years.

Before I knew it, he had wrapped his arms around me, and treated me to a kiss. A strong hungry kiss that nearly had me melting on the spot. He was so intense about it, I couldn't help but just close my eyes and submit. Talk about a welcoming. When he finally came up for air, he looked me over, grinning as I panted. "Unless I lost a couple days, I think it's Wednesday. What are you doing here?"

"Do me a big favor," I looked past him to see Ciel performing on stage with the legendary Yakov, whom of which I still didn't know very well. They performed so well together. There was a definite chemistry there, and Yakov was absolutely beautiful. As my eyes stayed glued to the stage, my words came out a little absent-mindedly, "Call Eddie and tell him to come here."

"Eddie?" Lachlan sounded a little put off by the request. "What do you need Eddie for?"

I glanced briefly back at him and smiled. Was he actually jealous? "He's... the only one right now that knows all my secrets, and he knows how badly I want to keep them secrets. Before I talk to you guys about something, I just want his opinion on it. I'd call him myself, but his brother might answer the phone, and his brother is my friend and I don't want him to know that I'm calling Eddie..."

He hesitated a minute and gave me a small peck on the cheek before walking off to use the phone behind the counter. While I waited, I took a seat at a table in the back to watch the show. The place was reasonably packed, especially for a week day, but that wasn't surprising now that Yakov was back.

Within a few moments Lachlan was back by my side. He took a seat beside me, and put an arm across the back of my chair. He touched my frizzy hair with a quirked brow, but didn't say anything about my weekday neglect of the products. If he had asked, I would have told him my friends would make fun of me if I started taking care of myself all of a sudden. It wasn't true. Mace would probably not care about my hair.

"I've got to ask you, Ike. Is there something between you and Eddie?"

"Eddie and me? Like I said, I'm friends with his younger brother. He's like 30 or something. Isn't that a little old for me?" I shrugged and looked away, somewhat nervously. At that point I knew I was lying, but I didn't actually believe that I liked that man.

Lachlan wasn't buying it. He sighed and looked at the stage. "He's 27. Now how the hell am I going to compete with a model?"

I was afraid I had upset him. Maybe Ciel had been right. Maybe I had made a mistake, but I did like Lachlan a lot... as a friend. "You're about as hot as they come... When you're not in drag that is. You're so cool, man, but you know..."

"Yeah. I know." He smiled brightly and kissed me on the cheek again. The cheerful optimistic him shining through finally. "Relax, Ike, I knew you weren't after a relationship from the start. You don't start a relationship by almost fucking in a shower. But if you hook up with Eddie, that means I'll lose the chance of it ever happening again."

My lips spread in a slow grin. "Well that's not something you have to worry about. I don't think Eddie has that kind of intention with me."

The sound of applause broke out. It seemed the routine had ended. Men were screaming at Yakov with unbelievable excitement. Ciel - in his own drag costume, whispered something in Yakov's ear, inciting a giggle, before turning to someone backstage and mouthing a command. He climbed off stage and music started. It looked like he was giving his boyfriend a solo. Moments later Yakov started to sing.

My attention was not on the music, or the words, or even the legendary Yakov for that matter. My focus was squarely on Ciel as he made his way through the sea of swooning men towards the table that Lachlan and I sat at. The blue dress shimmered as he moved, even when he was no where near the spotlight, with silver tassels hanging from the stitching around the waist, giving more feminine definition to his masculine hips. It matched his smoky blue eyes to the letter, and his cold glare as he looked at Lachlan.

I stood as he made it to us. My palm was placed against the table's surface as if I needed the support of something solid. For some reason him glaring at my friend made me feel guilty, and therefore, uneasy with my own standing, if that even makes sense. "What do you want?"

"Quoi?" Ciel looked me up and down, his head slightly tilted as if noticing me for the first time. "I was just wondering why Lachlan had stopped serving drinks. He doesn't get a break for another 15 minutes, but now I see the problem... Well don't you look cute all plain and... frizzy."

"That's my fault. I distracted him from work to ask him a favor. After I talk to Eddie, I have to talk to you as well, most likely. Or maybe I shouldn't. You will probably only make fun of my problems." All humor that had been in our conversation earlier was lost once Ciel entered it. Perhaps there was just a little bitterness left over from when we had that little incident in the locker room.

His eyes locked with mine in a challenging stare. Both men involved knew I had more to say to him, and his eyes dared me to come out with it. I wanted to tell him he was wrong about what he said the previous weekend; that it hadn't been a mistake. There were no false delusions of romance between Lachlan and I, and there was no unreasonable need to seek cleansing with sex involved either. If it hadn't been for the spectators at surrounding tables beginning to turn to watch us, I probably would have told him.

Lachlan stood up and walked passed me, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he went. "I'll go back to work then. Eddie's here anyway. When you are ready to talk to me about it, just let me know. I'll take my break as early as you need me to. I'm sure Denis will understand."

I whipped my head around to find Eddie standing in the door way gazing at me. The sight made me freeze altogether to a point that I didn't even notice as Lachlan walked away. He wore a white mesh pirate shirt, practically exposing his ripped chest for all to see, and tight as hell white PVC pants. There was a silver chain collar around his neck that went off into a broken chain leash, and his blonde hair was slicked back and gelled considerably. What was that on his feet? Looked like old fashioned combat boots... Dyed white of course. He looked like he stepped out of some sort of weird fetish magazine. Though he did look really good...

Now, I'm not claiming to have known that guy very well, but if you ask me, I knew him fairly well enough to know that this wasn't his style. He was rather fashionable on a normal every day basis, but this was just... Not him. Nor did I think it was like him to leave a work set without changing first, but it was obvious he was previously at some sort of photo shoot.

"Um..." Finally finding my voice, after having gawked at him for who-knows-how-long, I stepped toward him with uncertainty. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything. My little issue isn't nearly important enough to drag you away from... frolicking with the combative fetish pirates? I really could have waited."

He shook his head, seemingly annoyed at my words. "I don't care why you called me. Any excuse to get away from those perverted old photographers was a good one. Besides, I'm just around the corner so I can just run back when you're done with me."

"Done with you? You make it sound so scandalous." I chuckled only to trail off upon seeing his blank stare. Silly me, I forgot about his anti-smile complex.

"Make it quick."

I scowled at his directness. I could never figure that man out. Sometimes he acted like he absolutely adored me while other times, he just acted like I wasn't anything more than a pain in the ass. "I've been telling everyone that I have a girlfriend, so that they wouldn't be suspicious when I work on the weekends, and now it's gotten to the point of them wanting to meet this girlfriend. And now your brother has totally called my bluff so I can't put it off any more. I have to let them meet my girlfriend, but I don't have a girlfriend." I took a break. "So I figured I work with drag queens, maybe one of them could masquerade as a woman and pretend to be my girlfriend for the night, but then I thought it was probably a really stupid idea... But it's really my only option aside from being found out. I thought before I do anything stupid, I should ask you what you think about it."

Eddie cringed and looked to the side. "I am far too hung over for all those words."

He staggered toward the bar, and ordered vodka and some headache pills. If you ask me, he was exaggerating his pain a little bit. He hadn't seemed hung over at all when he entered, although maybe that would explain his bad attitude. As he downed the drink and swallowed the pills afterwards, he glanced in my direction, completely ignoring a few comments on his body from other drunkards crowded around the bar. His green eyes scrutinized me with a thoughtful frown as if he were finally trying to comprehend my problem.

"I think it's a crazy idea." He muttered his words as he returned to me. "But if you're crazy enough to become a drag queen, I'm sure this will be a breeze."

Ciel's voice came from behind me, "I think it's a brilliant plan." When I spun around, having forgotten he was there, he laughed. "Coming out was the worst decision I ever made. I commend you for going to such great lengths to avoid it. And you'll be happy to know that I have no intention of making fun of you. In fact, I think I can help you. Neither your Australian friend nor I could pass for real women in public, but Yakov can... I will lend you my boyfriend on one condition."

"Lend me him? What the hell are you, his pimp?" I growled, more upset that he was right about Lachlan and him not working than about his statement. So after a moment of glaring at him, I sighed and asked, "What's the condition?"

"I want you to swear to me you won't try to get laid by Lachlan again."

My eyes widened in shock. How could he just say it like that? What kind of condition was that? What business was it of his? It occurred to me that maybe Ciel liked Lachlan or something. I wasn't quite sure what his involvement was, or maybe he was such an asshole he wanted to sabotage everyone else's potential enjoyment. At the moment the only thing that bothered me about the condition was that he said it in front of Eddie.

Before I could think of how to respond, Eddie was directly behind me, and looking at Ciel with curiosity. "What did you say? Lachlan? ..." His gaze went to me for a brief moment before it returned to the cruel diva. "Who's Lachlan?"

"The guy that phoned you. I don't see what the big deal is with me and Lachlan anyway." I fidgeted with the bottom of my T-shirt a bit, getting a little uncomfortable with the conversation. They were making me feel like I did something wrong, and I didn't understand why. "It didn't even happen yet, and even if it did, so what? Are you afraid I'll taint him or something?"

Ciel responded, "You are not ready to be having sex."

"What? Who the hell are you to decide when I should be having sex? I'm 21, goddamnit, and you barely even know me! Who died and made you god?!" I paused and glared at him. "I think you're just bullshitting 'cause you want Lachlan for yourself."

"I've already had Lachlan for myself. Une bonne couple de fois, actuallement. I know him quite well, and I know being involved with him will only spell disaster for you. If you want to do that with him without knowing anything about him, it's your own grave you'll be digging, but if I were you, I'd listen to the people who do know." Ciel glanced at Eddie. "I suggest you talk some sense into your twink."

I continued to glare at him as I said a little-too-loudly, "I'd rather be a Twinkie than a Jackass!"

A few of the customers around us murmured and chuckled as if they had seen something cute. When Ciel didn't give a reaction aside from a quirked brow, I turned to look at Eddie, who seemed rather bored with this whole thing. No one was being much of a help. I felt like I had no respect just because I was small and a beginner. They were all assholes, even our spectators.

Just as I was about to turn and walk away angrily, Eddie stopped me by speaking, "Ciel, let the boy make his own mistakes. The more you push him away from this lachie person, the more you'll drive them together, and that does not help me in the least."

"Help you?" I turned to face him. This conversation was ridiculous. I couldn't believe I was actually taking part, but I couldn't help it. Then what Mace told me about his brother liking me occurred to me once again. "Help you with what?"

"You are very naïve to not know the answer to that." Eddie didn't even look at me.

"Mace told me he thinks you have a crush on me."

There was a flash of a smile in Eddie's eyes, but as usual it didn't reach the rest of his face. "Crush is a high school term. You're too old for that."

I closed the distance between him and I, and grabbed him by the chain collar, and pulled him down so that we were eye-to-eye. He didn't resist for a second as I took a moment to try to decode his anti-expression. "Ok, I was trying to make it less embarrassing for you, but I don't care anymore. Tell me right now how much you like me, and tell me clearly or I'll tell your brother what I saw you wearing today and he'll never let you live it down."

"C'est vraiment malade..."

"Shut up Ciel. Now answer me, Eddie."

Eddie simply blinked at me, and glanced down at my hand. "If anyone else had yanked my chain like that, they'd be long gone by now." He seemed as if he was considering something as his green eyes left my hand and drifted down to my jeans. "You're annoying as hell. You're over dramatic, you were afraid of me for years, and you're a drag queen. I can't stand that type."

I still didn't let go. "If you don't give me an answer, I'll be stuck wondering until you do, and I really don't like being unsure of whether someone I like likes me back or hates me."

He gently pried my hand off his chain. "If I wanted to make a confession, I'd go to church. Go find yourself a fake girlfriend. I have to get to work."

As he walked away, I stood there watching him with confusion. "You... You're such a wimp! Fine, run away from me, you goddamn stoneface! I'm so gonna kick your ass one of these days, I hope you know!"

"T'es pathétique."

"Shut up, Ciel!"

TBC... ...

A/N: Oh! And I need your input. Would you like to see more onstage routines, or was one enough? I'm undecided as to whether to write out more performances, because I don't want to bore you guys, so let me know!