Chocolate and Oranges

“Twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight…” Inventory days. They were the absolute worst. “Thirty, thirty-one—”

Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of that bell. Most of the island was still fasting, so customers were extremely rare. I spun around to the door.

There was a teenage boy, panting like mad, his whole body pressed up against the door, and I couldn’t help but give him a look-over. The first thing that caught my eye was that brilliant orange hair framing his soft, freckled face with a bandana tied around his head. He wore a ridiculously bright jacket, with mismatched pants and bright white sneakers. Under all of that crazy clothing seemed to be a nice-looking body.

Whoops, eyes up top.

He noticed me standing there dumbstruck, and he flashed me a dazzling smile. “Well, hello there, fine thing. Sorry for barging in like that.”

I looked around for a moment. Was he calling me a fine thing? That couldn’t be right.

“I… uhh… Can I help you?” Smooth.

He glanced nervously behind him, peering through the window of the door, then snapped his gaze back to me and grinned again. “Actually, I could use a place to lie low for a while, if ya don’t mind.”

“Um… I… guess?” What was I doing? Clearly, the guy was in some sort of trouble. I couldn’t just let him stay here. I would get in so much shit. That was just like me to bend over backwards for someone that was nice to me.

“Grand!” He strolled over to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving me a friendly squeeze, and started rambling off a bunch of thanks. 

I completely froze. Customers weren’t usually so touchy. He smelt fantastic, though. 

He dipped his hand into the box of chocolates I was holding and gave it a good look over. “Ooo, chocolate. Nice! I haven’t had chocolate in ages!” His arm came off from around my shoulder and he ripped into that wrapper like there was no tomorrow and shoved the chocolate in his face. He moaned in delight and I took a cautious step away. Guess that was one less chocolate to count. So then I was at twenty-eight… no… thirty-three? Shit.

His eyes went wide, and he started patting his pockets. Through a mouthful of chocolate he said, “Oh shite. I don’t have money.”

“That’s… alright. You can have that one on me.”

He grinned again, and I could feel my face getting warm. He really was quite handsome. That guy could probably get away with murder.

Oh, gods… was he a murderer?

He was about to say something, but some shapes walked by the dusty windows. The man’s face flushed, and he dove behind the counter. A moment later, a group of three came into the store, two men and a woman. All adults. They looked around the shop, then the guy with the long nose locked on to me.

“You there. We are looking for an orange-haired boy. Have you seen him?”

I thought for a moment, looking at the three of them, trying not to look over at the boy behind the counter. They were wearing fine robes that weren’t very common on this island. There was a symbol on those robes I recognized as an Angel’s symbol, but I wasn’t sure which one. They were obviously official, but… something just felt off about them. Not in the odd way, like the boy, in a made my skin crawl kind of way. 

So, to my surprise, I said, “Nope, sorry. You’re the first ones to come in today.” I looked at the box of chocolates in my hand and held it out. “Would you like to buy some chocolate?”

The long-nosed man scoffed. “Chocolate will rot your teeth and make you fatter. I’d lay off it if I were you.”

Dick.

He motioned the other two out the door, and a wave of relief flooded through me as that bell ding-a-linged one last time. As soon as they were out of sight, I gave the guy a thumbs up. He flashed that dazzling grin my way again and before I had a chance to say anything, the guy leapt out at me and picked me up in an enormous hug. He was stronger than he looked. 

“Thank you so much. You must have been sent by the gods, you wonderful, beautiful soul.”

“Down, please,” I managed to squeak, gripping onto his bright jacket. Being lifted from the air was a completely foreign experience for me. I hadn’t been picked up like that since I was a kid.

“Sorry, mate.” He set me down gently, still with that huge grin on his face.

I looked at him, then at the box of chocolates in my hand. Why was I still holding those? I set them back down on the shelf, then looked the guy over again. I had to ask. “Are… you a criminal?”

He seemed taken aback, then he started laughing. “No. No, I'm not a criminal.”

“Then why were… Angel people looking for you?”

The grin faded from his face as he took a big, dejected sigh and sat down against the counter. “It’s a bit of a long story.”

I sat down beside him, finally close enough to really notice those bright sky-blue eyes watching me. They were beautiful, and so warm and inviting. How did I ever think he was dangerous?

I smiled at him, then said, “Well, I’m not exactly worked off my feet at the moment. I think I have time.”

He thought for a moment, drumming his fingers against his leg, then sighed. “Well, those guys you met, they’re Priests of the Angel Artemis, as well as the ones that raised me after my ma died. They’re good people, they really are. They’re one of the only groups of priests that go beyond the divine ring to help others. It’s just that… they weren’t a fan of my chosen way of life.”

“What way was that?”

He smiled sheepishly. “Not liking only girls.”

“Oh…” I wasn’t expecting that. Not many people spoke about that kind of thing around here. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I said, “I’m… not sure that’s really something you choose.”

“Well, they were pretty convinced of that. After I fell for a boy named Desi, they locked me up tight for two years, teaching me how to ‘be proper’. Eventually, one of them started to feel bad and helped me escape. Of course, as soon as I was free, I went to find Desi again. It took me over a year, hopping from one ship to the next, buying my way across these waters by any means possible…” He kept staring at his hands. I wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by that, but it didn’t sit right in my gut. “... When I finally did get to him, he had moved on. Told me he was beyond childhood fantasies.” He shook his head slowly, as if a weight rested on it. 

I laid my hand on his and gave a gentle squeeze. He looked straight at me when I said, “I’m so sorry. No one should have to go through that.”

He beamed that dazzling smile again, then continued. “So, anyway, I’ve just been wandering from place to place, meeting all the beautiful souls I can. I was just bartering my way onto a gorgeous lady captain’s ship when the priests docked. I noticed a little too late, and they saw me. So, here I am.” 

“Heh, from gorgeous captain to boring shop clerk. You must be thrilled.”

He looked at me, genuinely confused. “Huh… Oh, right. Common conceptions of beauty. Hang on.” He looked me over, scrutinizing every detail, making me sweat, then he shrugged. “Nope, sorry, you still look absolutely gorgeous to me.”

My face was red hot. “Oh, uh… thank you?”

“Oh! I never asked what your name was!”

“Uh… I’m… Sam.”

“Sam.” He said my names a few times, like he was trying to get a feel for it in his mouth. Finally, he grinned and said, “I like that name. My name’s Chase.”

I smiled. “It’s really nice to meet you, Chase.”

He grabbed my hand and gently pressed his lips against it. “The pleasure is all mine.”

My heart raced, blood was pumping everywhere but my brain. Chase’s scent was almost overwhelming now, like I was bathing in sweet oranges, and I absolutely loved it. 

I managed a nervous chuckle, then in a far higher voice than my own, I asked, “So… you uh… like big people?” Gods, that sounded so stupid. He was going to laugh at me.

I was wrong. He looked confused again. “Huh? No. I like everyone. Everyone has something that makes them unique. Why would I have a preference? They’re all great.”

He started getting into some steamy details about what he loved about people of different shapes and sizes. Normally, a subject like that would send anyone squirming away. People didn’t talk like that around here, but this guy… he didn’t care. 

I fucking loved that.

“... And in my experience, people who are ‘pretty’ tend to be the most boring to sleep with. I think they rely on their looks too much.” He looked over at me, and I suddenly realized I was staring slack jawed as he gave a small chuckle, and gently closed my mouth for me. 

Gods, his skin was so soft.

“How do you know so much?” I asked. “You can’t be any older than me.”

He gave a weak chuckle. “Well, it’s been a busy life. After those two years locked up, I’m making use of every moment.”

“And here I am, spending every free moment in this shop, hoping I can save enough money to go to the Sacred Garden. I’m kind of jealous of you. I’d love some excitement in my life.”

He slid in a little closer, laying his hand on my thigh. His warmth coursed through me and sent my blood pumping again. 

“Well, in my experience, excitement can be found anywhere if you know where to look. Would you like me to help you find some today?”

That scent filled my senses again, and I eagerly nodded before I really thought too much about it. In an instant, his lips were on mine, then his hands began caressing me all over. As he started to unbutton my shirt, I flinched and pulled back.

“Wait, here? Like, right here?”

“Well, that is part of the excitement, isn’t it? The thrill of getting caught? Of course, if you don’t want to…”

“I…” Was I seriously considering doing it with a stranger in the middle of the shop? That wasn’t like me at all… Not that I had ever had the opportunity before.

The longer I gazed at his patient face, the more made up my mind became. I grabbed a sign that read ‘Back in 10 minutes’, then went to the door, hung it and locked it. I hurried back and pressed myself onto that grinning face, welcoming each of his gentle touches. Every pore on my body had come to life, singing with a pleasure I had never experienced before. His scent enveloped my senses, and in those wonderful moments, that man was the only important thing in this world. I wasn’t sure if he felt the same way, but he certainly acted like it. He was so attentive to me, making me feel things I had never felt before, over and over again.

Thump, thump, thump.

Shit. Someone was knocking. I started trying to scrounge up my clothes, but Chase pulled me in close, motioning me to be quiet.

Thump… thump… thump.

No, that wasn’t knocking. Someone was trying to break down the door. Chase gripped me closer, and I could feel his heart racing.

Crash!

The shop door came crashing in and I gave an inhuman screech of panic. 

“I knew he was here,” growled the voice of the long-nosed man. “Get out here this instant, you little pervert.”

Chase sighed, then whispered more to himself than me, “I didn’t want it to come to this,” then let me go.

I scrounged up my clothes to hide my shame, but Chase wasn’t nearly as bashful. He strode out from around the counter, completely nude, and stood unflinching in front of the priests.

“Put some clothes on, you disgusting child. This is very inappropriate behaviour.”

“I’m not a child anymore, Father.” That word was laced with seething rage. “And I don’t give a fuck what you think.”

The Father scowled, then waved at the other man. “Brother, restrain him.”

The floorboards beneath Chase cracked open as vines whipped up from the ground wrapping around Chase’s hands and legs. That was a powerful Blessing. Only elite soldiers had control of the elements like that. 

Chase was in serious trouble.

At least, that’s what I thought. He certainly didn’t seem frightened. He just kept staring at The Father in utter hatred.

Father motioned to the woman. “Sister, sedate him.”

She nodded reluctantly, then came up to Chase, needle in hand. I yelled at them to stop it, but no one was paying attention to me. Just as the Sister got close enough to jab him with the needle, I heard Chase whisper an apology. Next, he took a deep breath and blew.

What a blow it was!

A literal gale came from his lungs, throwing all three of them up into the air and back through the open door. I’d never seen or heard of a Blessing like that before. I saw Chase make a few slight movements with his fingers, and something sharp and invisible sliced through the vines. He shook them off, rubbed his wrists, then looked back over at me with a smile. 

“Now, I’m not usually one to fuck and fly, but I think in this case, it might be safer to do so. But, Sam, I need you to promise me something.”

“Alright,” I said softly, still not completely comprehending what had just happened.

“Promise me you’ll keep looking for excitement in your life, alright?”

I smiled, feeling the sting of tears in my eyes as I nodded. 

He blew me a kiss, and that sweet, citrus scent enveloped me one last time as that amazing man strode to the door. He looked back one more time and with a flourishing bow, said, “Oh, and don’t forget the name, Chase the —.”

His last word became strained from The Father’s arm wrapping around Chase’s neck. What had he said? Chase the… Face, case, lace? Damn. For a moment, I thought I should help him, but he didn’t seem panicked. He was still just smiling.

Suddenly, a whirlwind appeared beneath them, sending them hovering into the sky. The Father shrieked and let go, falling to his ass on the hard cobble streets. One last tremendous gust blew into the shop, making me shield my eyes. When the dust cleared, all four were gone.

With a giant sigh, I slumped back to the ground where Chase’s clothes still laid. I smiled as I picked up his jacket, hoping to get that scent one more time.

When I did, I heard something jingle, then thump, to the ground.

I looked down and saw three leather pouches of gold with the Angel of Artemis’ insignia embroidered on it. I couldn’t help but laugh. That was more than enough to go to the Sacred Garden and start my new life.

I smiled, looking out at the bright blue sky. “Thank you, Chase.”

I didn't understand everything that had just happened, but a nagging part of my brain whispered something to me.

I think I just fucked an Angel.