No More Dresses, Adonis! (2/2)

Deo wasn't expecting much from Adonis' transformation. The Cove was filled with old people. They had white hair and hunched backs; they smelled like mothballs and starched shirts. The dining room was nice. They had gold tables and chairs; ivy twisted up the supporting columns. There was a stage with a piano. A man was playing a slow tango, and some couples were on their feet, swaying to the beat. It was cute, Deo supposed. He checked his watch; half past three.

Adonis was thirty-minutes late. Should he turn the yearly interest on the loan into fifteen percent as punishment? He had a copy of the contract in his briefcase, but he could make a second draft if Adonis irritated him enough. He tasted the white wine they had given for free. It was light and slightly bitter. He would prefer whiskey.

He fidgeted with the sleeves of his suede jacket. If Adonis didn't arrive in ten minutes, the deal was over. The boy would have to find someone else to give him a two-hundred-dollar loan. No person in their right mind would loan a kid like Adonis such a considerable sum. Even Deo didn't expect anything in return. But he could tell the kid was in trouble, so he was lending him a hand. He would never tell Adonis the truth; he didn't enjoy being kind to others.

The double doors opened. A girl walked in; she wore a black dress with a high neck. She drew everyone's attention, especially that of the young waiter who dropped the tray he was holding and scrambled to pick up the broken glass, mumbling an apology. She was tall for a woman, near 6-foot-2 with heels, but she had lovely hips and a toned belly. Her skin was light brown, and she had a beautiful face with cheekbones that enhanced the overall look instead of taking away from it. She had a delicate nose and small ears. Her black hair was pulled into a high ponytail; short strands dusted her forehead. Deo noticed that her lips were painted black and her eyes were a dark, brooding brown. She met his gaze and smiled.

She oozed confidence as she sashayed across the room and placed her bag in the seat across from him. He stared at her. She stared at him. She said, "Good afternoon, my king." The voice was higher, but he recognized it. He threw his drink on the boy. The liquid streaked his makeup, revealing the original skin beneath.

"The fuck," Deo said, standing, "what kind of black magic is this?"

Adonis spoke through his teeth, his voice lower, closer to his normal tone. "Sit down, you're drawing unnecessary attention."

The old diners had paused their conversation to watch the young couple.

Deo felt his heart race. This little demon played the part of a girl perfectly; he had managed to charm someone as cold as Deo. Deo leaned towards him and said, "I don't what you did, but this is disgusting."

Adonis took a napkin and patted his face. The makeup was uneven in some areas. Sighing, he checked his reflection in a handheld mirror. "Give me a second." He left the room, leaving his bag on the floor. Deo glared at the people staring at him, and they resumed whatever they were doing before. He sat down; anger poured through his veins. He tapped his fingers on the table. It worried him that he had displayed such as strong reaction. He was going to give the guy a good beating in their next training session. What kind of magic did Adonis use to get such a good result?

Adonis returned. He had removed the makeup. His cheekbones were far less noticeable, and his lips were the usual pink. He still looked beautiful as he reclaimed his seat. Deo spoke softly as he asked, "Do you have men's clothes?"

Adonis paled a bit but nodded.

"Go change," Deo said in a voice that said he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

Adonis left the table a second time, taking the bag with him, and when he returned, his expression was gloomy. He wore the black wig, but he let it down, so it covered his shoulders. He was dressed in grey trousers, a white dress shirt, and suspenders. Adonis dropped the bag on the floor and sat by the table. The clumsy waiter waltzed over to take his order, a slight blush on his face. The kind gesture further irritated Deo, and he told the waiter, "Fuck off. We don't need anything right now."

"Yes, sir." The boy bowed, first to Deo, then to Adonis and walked away. Deo took a sip of his wine, swished it around his mouth.

Adonis swallowed uneasily. He had a slight Adam's apple, nothing too pronounced. Deo knew that his silence could intimidate people, but Adonis had rarely ever shown him any fear. He was the type that would pick a fight, then run away before he lost. Today, he looked terrified. His lips were drawn into a tight line. Deo stayed quiet, studying his drink for a long time before putting it down.

"What the hell made you think you could wear something like that?" Deo asked.

"You told me to."

Deo snorted and shook his head. "You seem like you have done that often. You walked pretty well in those heels. That waiter guy couldn't take his eyes off you- do you enjoy that sort of attention?" Deo asked, his voice thick with scorn,

Adonis stared at the table, refusing to meet Deo's eyes and anger. He said, "It's not for attention; I'm curious about what it feels like."

"To be a woman?"

Adonis stayed still, quiet.

"Do you want to become a woman, Adonis? Do you want some perverted doctor to give you boobs and a vagina? Do you?"

Adonis gritted his teeth; the muscles in his jaw rippled. "I...." His voice trailed off, and he looked at Deo through his long eyelashes in a way that made Deo's chest tighten. Adonis said, "No, I don't want that."

"Then what made you think something like that was a good idea?"

"It wasn't," Adonis said weakly, sadness crossing his features. "I'm sorry; I didn't think it would upset you that badly."

Deo raked his hand through his hair. "Don't ever do something like that again." He opened the briefcase and handed the contract over to Adonis that would basically make the boy his slave. "And I don't need you to pretend be my girlfriend. I will find something else for you to do." He locked his briefcase. "Don't bother coming to school this year; it's not going to end well for you."

"I don't plan to."

"Try to get the contract back to me by Friday." Deo fixed his tie and stood.

Adonis rose as well, carrying his bag with one handle slung over his shoulder, the other hanging limply near his back. As they walked down the hall, the silence made Deo feel uncomfortable. He asked, "Do you need a ride home?"

"No. I have my bicycle."

"Long ride."

"I like the fresh air."

"And nobody knows you here," Deo said pointedly, "so you can get away with shit like this."

Adonis bowed his head apologetically. "I won't do it again." He gripped the bag handle tightly, his lips pursed in concentration.

Deo studied him from the corner of the eye. He seemed repentant like he had recognized how dangerous what he had done was. Some of Deo's anger faded at that. Deo said, "So I'll see you tonight?"

"No, I need a day off. My body can't handle any more strenuous exercise; my legs will weep. Riding is second nature to me; it requires little effort."

"Fine, I'll see you the following night."

"Yes."

"You forgot to say, 'my king'."

"Yes, my king," he said with the same downtrodden expression. "I wasn't sure if you still wanted me to say that."

It tugged on Deo's heartstrings. He was close to saying, 'I don't hate you', but he didn't want the boy to start thinking that the two of them were friends. He ruffled the boy's hair. The wig felt odd, unnatural; his real hair was soft and silky. Deo retracted his hand and pulled ahead, walking faster than Adonis and leaving him behind. "Get home safely," he said, without looking behind him. He felt the need to put some distance between the two of them; his prior irritation had all but dissipated.

"You too. And I'll pay you back, I swear. Can you forget today happened?"

Deo had nothing more to say to the boy. He could feel Adonis staring at his back with the same pain-filled gaze, but he was the one that put on the dress today and the time when he got in trouble with Emmett. He needed to realize that they were people that would hurt him for doing things like that. It was time he learned to never do something like this again.

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