Smithed Up.

“Alright, well then I don’t feel as bad about it.” He laughed softly as he looked at the puppy, in complete awe as he smiled wide. He could only begin to imagine if here were to have his own dog like that and he would have it strapped to his chest like Hayden did. Watching Hayden take the fussy pup out of the harness and setting him down, Ben couldn’t help but to kneel down and begin to give the puppy the attention that he was clearly looking for. “Well, maybe he is learning that from his dad!” Ben teased Hayden as he laughed softly, looking up at him and smirking. “Maybe his dad is pushy and very opinionated while thinking he is is the center of the universe.” Ben continued. 

The moment Vulcan was released onto the floor and his new friend knelt down to him, tame but expectant whine came as the other scratched him some; leaning heavily into the hands that worked ever so nicely against his fur. “You shouldn’t honestly. This is a constant thing we do.” Hayden chuckles as he stays at his towering six foot five stature as he cocked his head a little. “Definitely not. I’m a bit of a recluse, loner type. I’d much rather stay at home in my garden and workshop than be anywhere else. I happily live a quiet life at home with my Ma, it’s only this guy whose outgoing in the family.” Corrected the other with a chuckle; as his pup was the polar opposite of him in everyway, he just had to be social because Vulcan left him no option most of the time. Not giving into the dog was worse than giving into him. Hayden learned that many times over as the small pup could howl better than most when he felt slighted.

Grayson was glad to hear that Hayden was going to iron his coat for him and if there would be a wrinkle in it then Hayden would have a few spankings to answer to. He watched the younger working on the buttons of his shirt and watched as it fell to the ground. And then next were the pants. Hayden was doing a great job and he would be rewarded for it at some point, but that would have to wait until Grayson had a say. He stepped out of his pants one they hit the ground and normally he would have Hayden put the pants away for him but he was fine with them remaining on the floor. Grayson walked to the bed and he looked back at Hayden. “Get up there, on your hands and needs facing me.” He demanded from his submissive boy. He was excited to have this quality time with the boy. 

Reaching for the pants as Grayson walked past him, Hayden’s body turned to see what the other was doing and moved when commanded to; hopping onto the bed easily and taking the position he was told to. The power in Grayson’s voice that had the hair upon Hayden’s skin standing at end; in something of a trance honestly as he zeroed in on the elder male, waiting for the simple demands made for his pleasure. There was something about the strength of the man standing before him; hard muscle and domineering hands that just... understood and didn’t judge unfairly. Working for the praise that made Hayden’s stomach squirm and cock ache... this is a thing he savored about Grayson. Feeling stable for once.

Xander smiled as the other showed up and grinned as his dog seemed quite excited. He grinned at the dog and moved closer. “Hi there, buddy. Nice to meet you.” He reached out, offering his hand for the dog to sniff before trying to give him a soft scratch behind the ear. “So tell me, do you want do your run through first or eat first?” He tilted his head, knowing that the run through wouldn’t take too long given his apartment being a studio. He leaned against his counter and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well I’ll take that as a compliment.” He knew that given his age he was probably expected to live in a pretty basic apartment, but given that he wasn’t even paying rent, it was not his cash going into it.

“I also don’t have anything this cutie here can get into. So feel free to let him down if you want. I don’t mind if he roams a bit.” He smiled at the other and tilted his head at the other. “I also hope you like peppers and mushrooms… that’s like most of what tonight’s meals is. Stuffed peppers is one of the better vegan things I’m good at making.” He chuckled softly, clearly a little bit nervous that his food might not be quite up to Hayden’s standards.

Honestly, with Vulcan on the floor; Hayden had begun to take notes of the rooms dimensions already. The snorting pup got his love and at some poitn Hayden  looked down and smiled to the other. “Ugh... whatever works for you. I’ve already started getting what I need anyways.” He shrugs as he couldn’t help himself, with business on the mind; he didn’t want to get distracted on whatever the other might have up his sleeve. “I meant it. A little too modern for my personal taste, but beautiful nonetheless.” The smith comments as his eyes scan the dimensions of the room, eyeing up the decorations and the general feel of the other based solely on the possessions he had; it painted quite the image.

“Vulcan’s not a worry for the most part honestly. He’s far too dependent on getting love than anything else. He’ll sniff a little, but be back demanding love... loudly.” The worry is defused as the pup trots over to his owner, jumping up and grumbling to be pet; as if to be a example of what was just spoken. “Sounds great; you should toss some beans in there if you got some; they add to the ‘meat’ of it.” He smiles as he turns to the other and cocked his head. “Did you need help preparing it or are you going to insist I do nothing while you cook?” Hayden inquires, wondering what he role was in the moment as a lot of it was undefined.

Sam laughed, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean pure in that you’re not… sexually compelling. Moreso that you seem to… not have a judgmental bone in your body. That’s rare these days,” she explained, because she had wanted to jump Hayden’s bones since she had cleaned the soot off of his forehead in the restaurant, and that impulse had only intensified when he had shown her his burns. Hayden had opened up, and that made her want to open up in more ways than one, even if it was their first date. Hayden wanted to know her, though, and that was rare in this city. They weren’t going to rush things, Sam would just have to fight her urge to climb into his lap and steal another kiss. Hayden just looked so damn comfy.

Apparently, Vulcan thought so too. “Texas is like that. I’m from a small town. I miss being able to bike everywhere. I miss the fresh air, and camping under the stars with the dogs,” Sam admitted, flushing, her accent coming out in small twangs. Even after three years, only going back home during winter break, it still slipped out sometimes. “You don’t have to act or perform with me, Hayden,” Sam said, a half smile cracking her face. He should realize that, though, given that she ditched the stuffy restaurant with him. Infinite was such a funny word. Sam wondered if she had ever felt like that. The trans experience was taking control of your body. Sam couldn’t help but smile as Hayden spoke. He was down to earth, and salt of the earth, and she wanted to get to know him too.

“I’m addicting to working out,” Sam admitted with a laugh. “I actually teach an aerobics class four days a week. I also love dancing, which is… hard to do to classical music. But I do have a soft spot for Beethoven. Mostly that it was incredible that he was able to keep composing while deaf. I just find that… like, super inspiring. I like… inspiring individuals,” she breathed, eyeing the loveseat by the roaring fire. “Should we… move to the couch?”, Sam asked, cocking her head to the side, knowing it was a lot classier than just asking if he wanted to cuddle and make out a little bit.

Raising his head to nod his understanding, a small smile grew on Hayden’s lips as he shrugs and lets a short breath out. “I mean I learned early on how words hurt, how useful they could be in raising someone up and how easily they can destroy people. Also my Ma made a point to make sure I was respectful no matter what happened.” He  finds himself warm with the thought of all the great things his mother had helped him learn; helped him grow into the young man he was now and had no chip on his shoulder for past offenses from stupid kids who didn’t know better. It wasn’t any more their fault than it was his.

“That’s been the story of my life honestly. Open spaces and no limits. It why we got a property on the city limits; Ma couldn’t bare not being close to nature.” He grinned as Sam had no idea the elaborate designs of huts and wonderment Hayden had craft over the past twenty years in the forest behind his house; the small kingdom he returns to often to escape the world and be one with nature. That was a secret for another day of course. 

“Surprisingly I don’t actually workout all that often; in terms of like using machines and regimented periods of time.” He chuckles as he flexes the massive muscled frame he toted along, clear that his muscle came from the hard work he did; along with all the untold hours of other handiwork he did in his life. “You can dance to it; though it’s so formal dancing and it’s not really a thing these days.” The classics of the waltz and foxtrot and things of that nature, of which Hayden did know how to do; yet wouldn’t outright admit it. That was a close guarded secret for him to know and people to be blown away from.

“Yeah sure, we can.” Hayden smiled as he begun to stand up; cradling his lazily grumbling pup in his arms as he scratches idly at him. “Don’t worry about the plates; I’ll get them later.” He tells Sam as he pads into the house, heading into the living room that was full of his own custom work; clapping quietly to activate the dimming light from touch. “Not much but all handmade.” The smith says as though it’s not an accomplishment; but he didn’t think this work was all that impressive compared to some of the pieces he’d done. Certainly didn’t beat the dungeon he’d drafted, created and installed for a client; it paled in comparison honestly.

Javier smiled and nodded his head. “Three orders. Got it.” He watched as the other talked about what he was planning on doing and gave a small laugh. “You know your flowers, don’t you? Or at least enjoy them.” He thought it was funny just how confident the other was, but he enjoyed it none the less. He stood up a bit more and nodded. “But I can get it for you and replace the out of season flowers. It shouldn’t take more than a few days to get everything put together for you.” He shook his head. “I doubt it. You seem nice enough so that’s pleasant.” He stood up and smiled at the other, rubbing the back of his neck. “Is there any other requests you want to make?”

There was a little smile that grows on Hayden’s lips as he looks back to Javier and shrugs. “Something like that.” He chuckles as he’d let the other guess a little, as it was known on good authority to anyone who’d been in the town long enough that Hayden was most definitely a flower guy; any kind of growing he was that guy. “Awesome, that’d be really appreciated Javier.” Hayden expresses his gratitude as he turns back to the and shakes his head. “You say that now, but you will regret it I think. I have large requests often.” Which was an understatement, as Hayden often furnished his home and workshop with flowers among many other places as a little way to give back to the community; but also liked the thought of sending random businesses bouquets of flowers anonymously. “I need the more bouquets. There should be a protocol in the books; you’ll figure it out or you can call me to understand when they are ready.” He points out as he grinned at the vagueness he was providing to work from.

Matthieu didn’t like to splurge often. He wasn’t one for fancy sportscars, a watch worth a couple grand, the newest and latest technology. That said, his house stood in opposition to his humble nature, though not in the movie-star modern way that was so popular among those in places like Los Angeles. Squashed between two town-house complexes, and the only house within a three block radius with a backyard, Matthieu had managed to find a small cottage-style house which stood in quaint juxtaposition to those around it, and inside was expensive, old-fashioned paneling and features that resembled a haunted manor or something of the like. “Come in,” Matthieu greeted with a smile as he emerged from the kitchen through a door at the back, ushering the other through the threshold and closing the door to the busy street. “You are right on time. I just made some iced tea. We can bring it back with us,” he said, motioning for the other to follow as he began to lead him through to the kitchen and out the back door.

The charming little slice of heaven that Matthieu called home was just that; a small miracle within the community honestly, that such a home still stood compared to the modern structures surrounding it. “Oh good. I love this by the way, what a find in the neighborhood.” His hand gesture to the structure of the house and it’s rather marvelous stature; doing it’s most to stand out on the streets and yet not screaming it’s self out. It suited the other very well Hayden thought. “Canadian Iced Tea or American? Both are good, but very different beverages.” Hayden asked as both were a staple in his home as his mother had grown up with the Canadian version and they’d both grown to love the American version as while; following Matt through the home to the backyard. “I’m a little nervous to see how far ya got, but I am excited to give you pointers. So you can replicate the process on your own.” He hums as he follows the other, setting his tools down before he moves to inspect the project.

“Oops. I apologize for waking the little guy.” He mentioned, glad that it was released that the dog was male so he didn’t offend his owner. “Listen, if you want to take him out of that then I can totally keep him busy and mess with him. I love animals so I would enjoy hanging out with your puppy!” He smiled wide. “Well I love the name as well. But I completely get it. I like to screech whenever I don’t get attention and I’ve been with people who like to do that as well. But I love it. I think it’s great.” He laughed as he looked at Hayden and nodded. He walked up closer to Hayden and then pet the dog while he was in the holder. “Oh you are a grumpy ol man, aren’t you?” Ben laughed softly. 

“If it wasn’t you, someone else would have honestly; he seems to suck in attention whether I want that or not.  He’s the extrovert of our relationship.” Hayden chuckles as his arm goes to scratch his head, a little embarrassed while he flexes his strength; finding the whole experience rather continuous with his pup. Hayden was typically looking for relaxation and calm, whereas Vulcan was finding any and every way to draw in all the attention. “You’d think it’s a great thing, except it’s the worst. Can’t take him anywhere with ou-” He tries to explain as the pup begin to make his impatience known; the sound of hurt being echoed out as Hayden’s shoulder fall and he shakes his head; hitting his clasps to the harness and carefully lowering the pup to the ground to go collect his love. “Young man, and just pushy. very opinionated and center of the universe.” The correction isn’t forceful, but central to understanding the pup; who was the only thing that mattered to Hayden honestly. Which is why he endures to screeching that happened before Vulcan was released.

That word… Sir… There was something about it that just made him twitch in his pants. He slipped out of the jacket and he watched the submissive boy hang it up on the hanger. “Better not be any wrinkles in that when I put it on tomorrow.” He mentioned to him as he then moved into the room some more and looked around. It was nice how it was dimmed and you couldn’t see too much. It built the suspense for Grayson as he turned to look at Hayden, admiring his jockstrap that was hugging his groin area. “Very nice. That jockstrap shows off everything great about you, love.” He replied before he leaned in and pecked the other’s lips. “Now. Are you going to get me out of my clothes since you are already out of yours?” He asked the boy. “Let’s go!” He said a little louder. 

“I’ll iron it if there is Sir.” The quick reply as Hayden was certain he’d not wrinkled the fabric, but on the off chance he’d be up to do so before he left; Grayson would wake to pressed and ironed clothes. There was a small jump of excited within Hayden at the approval from the other, taking the kiss with ease as he returned it; nodding as hands snapped up to the dress shirts top button. Working down the fabric with practiced ease, Hayden worked each point of contention before sliding the shirt off; then went the the belt to fumbled the locking mechanism apart before yanking the belt with a small amount of strength to pull it free from Grayson’s waist. Cocking his head slightly, Hayden popped the button of the pants and dropped down as they collected at the man’s feet; eyes peering up past the bulge of the underwear waiting for the feet to leave the pants to collect them properly.

Benjamin had been working hard at work since moving to town, but he needed to take a break which is why he decided to take half the day off to just enjoy to himself. He had gone home to change into something that wasn’t for the office. He found himself in wandering around and he wasn’t sure what to do with the rest of his day. He turned and he saw someone coming down the street on a longboard with a puppy strapped to his chest and Ben couldn’t help but start laughing while smiling wide. He moved his hands to his face because he was in such disbelief about what he was seeing in front of him. “Oh my gosh. That is absolutely adorable! I don’t think I have seen anyone do that with their dog before!! That is absolutely adorable. I love it.” He spoke as he looked at the male. “Does your dog enjoy it?”

Fully into the way the wind felt across his skin, the small smile that was on Hayden’s face only spoke to the calm and peace he felt. Vulcan had calmed down enough and was probably dozing off as Hayden weaved down the street, letting the rocking motions take him as he slowly peddled his feet as though he was swimming. That was until someone commented on the fact and Vulcan snapped to attention as he had a new person to bend to his will; which pulled Hayden from his stride as he slowed and popped the longboard up to his hands. “Yes he does, he often passes out most rides we go for; save for when people point him out. Now you’ve got to appease him.” Hayden muses as the pup begins to make noises a distress while his human counterpart pads over to the new person; Vulcan sniffing inquisitively as he struggled in the carrier that restricted his movement. “His name is Vulcan. Extremely needy, fussy and has been known to screech when he’s not being paid attention to.” He introduces the pup who grumbles at the words, as if knowing his default modes were being spoken out of turn.

Grayson had demanded to see Hayden in his hotel room that he rented out when he wanted to have company that he didn’t want to bring to his home. Not that he had anything to hide, but why make a mess out of his house when there was housekeeping for the hotel, plus he was the general manager. Grayson had just finished up at work and he headed for the hotel room that he had rented for their time together. He had left instructions for the front desk people to give a key to the younger man. When he got to the door, Grayson swiped the card and then walked in. “Where are you?” He questioned as he set his bag down and then waited for his play thing to greet him to take off his coat. 

The room was dimly lit, and Hayden was quick to get himself ready for Grayson’s appearance; as he equally needed the balancing that would come of his time with the elder male. To some what Hayden considered to be grounding might have been called abuse, yet you’d never find Hayden asking Grayson to stop; only asking for more. The strap of the jock snapped into place as the door opened, Hayden coming from around the corner and smiling a little as his head instantly falls into the submissive posture as he approaches the other. “Right here Sir.” He chimes softly, carefully coming over to pull the coat off with a practiced ease; placing it to the side on the hanger as he came to the front of the other. Eyes teasingly looked up to gauge the other, knowing he was playing with fire as he did.

The day had shaped up pretty nicely, too nicely honestly. This is why Hayden had made the decision to close the forge up early and head out into the world, soak up some sun and play with his beloved Vulcan for a bit.  Tight jean shorts that looked like short shorts on his muscular thighs, a tight shirt with his work logo blown up on the back to advertise his business and the leather harness strapped to his front to carry the pouch till they got to a nice place to play. It took a moment to wrangle his pup onto his chest, the excessive licking and disgruntled sighs that no pets were inbound were all to happen before Hayden flew down the street with his longboard.

The text had come in shortly after the lunch hour had past; the request... well demand for his presence and the simple ‘K’ reply that promised it when it was appropriate. It was dark out when Hayden finally left home, rollerblades as they were fairly quiet and were decent enough exercise to get him downtown to the hotel; having a keycard to get him into the quick entrance so that he didn’t need to ‘check’ in at the front desk. He’s in the dark room that he’s visited many times before and will visit many times in the future; taking the rollerblades and bringing them to the bathroom were they are left on a shoe rack. Then he pads over to the closet and begins to strip, he wasn’t wearing much to begin with but its all damp with sweat and not necessary for what will follow. Hell it’ll hinder most of it and that just won’t do. Not for him and definitely not for Mr. Gray.

Javier looked up as the other began talking and chuckled. “Yeah, something like that.” He shrugged, not one to love talking about himself. So when the other talked about getting something for his mom, Javi nodded and quickly moved onto that. “Well what kind of flowers does she like? Or are you tryna repeat last time’s bouquet? I’m sure I could look up whatever you got last time and get you that again.” He smiled easily and tilted his head. He pushed himself off of the counter and tried to look more attentive. “Nice ta meet ya, Hayden. You can call me Javi.”

“Three orders ago actually, but yes a repeat of a previous order would be lovely.” He grins as he knew the bouquet would look a little different given some of the flowers had gone out of season more or less at this point. “Whatever isn’t available can be filled in with this selection here I’m thinking. I might need to arrange them a little though.” There a small tinge on red that forms at the top of his ears; as he knows it’s a little bit much, but he had an eye for this sort of thing. Also his garden at home was his pride and joy. “It’s a pleasure Javi. You will eventually get tired of seeing me, and listening to my requests.” Hayden shrugs as he knew he had a lot of requests from the flower shop.

Xander smiled and nodded at the other, leaving the store. He got back to his place, taking a moment to shove most of his clothes back into his closet. He had stopped by the store on his way home and picked up ingredients in order to make stuffed mushrooms, making sure to leave out any meat or dairy products. He then got dressed, changing from his casual clothes to a nice button up and some skinny jeans that showed off his ass. Making sure to clean up and put away anything that a dog could get into, Xander waited for Hayden to arrive. Hearing a knock on his door, he got up and walked over, opening it up. “C’mon on, handsome.” He had a bright smile on his face as he pulled back to allow the other into his place.

Once the other had left the workshop, Hayden looked about a little confused and amused. If the young guys who came in only knew, it’d made things a lot easier for him to just deal with their advances and yet there was no easy way to explain that about fifteen percent of his body was covered in burn scars. It just wasn’t a easy conversation to bring up. So Hayden moved on about his day, eventually going to wash up and get dressed for this consultation. Shorts typically that looked like short shorts on his frame given his size, not to mention how tightly they hugged his frame and the thigh muscles that assisted in keeping him standing up; then taking a tank top that was mesh on the lower half and solid on the upper half, tight to the muscle and expanse of his chest. Giving the sight a slight shrug, Hayden threw his messy wat locks back and threw a ball cap on to secure them, fitting his dog carrier he’d made onto his chest; locking Vulcan into place before grabbing his sunglasses and longboard.

It took twenty minutes to get across town to Xander’s place, to the point a decent sheen of sweat covered Hayden and Vulcan was making a point to lick the beads that gathered at his chin. Buzzing up to Xander; Hayden awaited to be called up and entered the building once he was, easily finding his way to where Xander was located. “So this is a little more upscale than I was honestly expecting. Nice building though, I remember it getting built a handful of years ago.” He chuckles as he enters the suite and Vulcan begins to fuss; mostly because he wanted to explore... but also because he was yet to receive any acknowledgement that he’d arrived and he was about to howl about that.

There was that look in Hayden’s eyes that only other young adults with dead dads had when she talked about losing her father. Hayden got in. Hayden knew what it was like to watch, smell, see his father dying. A single tear rolled down Sam’s face, the skin around her mouth pulling tight. She was clenching her jaw slightly, and trying to keep it together, especially as he told her about his own lost, about how in a matter of minutes, his whole life had went up in flames, and everything had changed. And Sam knew how scary change could be, because she was always changing.

She wasn’t the same girl that she was at fourteen when her father had died. Nor was she the girl that moved all the way out to San Francisco on her own to go to school at only eighteen. Nor was she the girl that she was a year ago, in the middle of one of the most turbulent relationships of her life with a guy she love-hate-loved in a viscous cycle. Sam could only be who she was in a moment. And right now, she was a girl that needed another beer, and the big guy’s arm around her. Maybe he was repulsed, having seen her devour the meal that he had effortlessly prepared.

“I know it’s not the same,” Sam murmured softly, peeling the label off of her bottle of beer, “but I know exactly what it was like being… the weird kid.” Stealing a glance at Hayden, she spoke again, “I meant it when I said I would have been friends with you when we were younger. I can just… tell, because you have a good soul. You don’t seem to be the judgmental type at all. Like… there’s this purity in your eyes, and I… just.. can’t shake it.” The admission might have been a little too much, she was flustered slightly by her own words.  

Sam nodded, eyes bright as she agreed. “Let’s make a connection,” the girl breathed as she successfully got off the beer label in one pull. Slowly, she began to fold it, leaning over the table. If this wasn’t her first time here, she’d be getting up, taking the dishes in to the sink, and doing them, before returning with beers, but she didn’t want to overstep her welcome. Sam was new here. Hayden and her barely knew each other, but she was beginning for cosmic strings to pull them tautly together and for some type of bond to form, beyond just their shared trauma.

“That’s the one thing I really miss about Texas is the night sky,” she admitted. Her hands continued working until a teeny, tiny crane was beginning to form. “I would lay on my back on the roof and just watch the sky and I’d imagine what if I could just float up there, through the cosmos and into nothing. And then, there, out there in the vacant space of nowhere, I could be infinite. I was sick of being made of Earth, but I guess that’s just… dysphoria,” Sam chuckled, placing the tiny crane in front of Hayden.

“If only right?” He chuckles a little, feeling as though they very well might have been friends had their paths aligned sooner in life; yet now he’d never know and could only hold her at her word. “I wouldn’t call it purity, I can attest that I’m far from pure; but I can admit that there’s very little I’ll judge a person for save for the truly immoralities that are pretty bad if acted upon.” The references to the types of things that cause kneejerk reactions in most people; those sorts of things were involuntary as they generally are disgusting acts, of which should be judged harshly. Whereas all other things matter very little outside being a good person and caring regardless of what has happened. 

“I think at this point, I’m fairly invested in getting to know you. It’s not often these blind date things turn out as a decent match.” Hayden mused as they were fairly lucky to have experiences and thing in common; even if they were morbid in some ways, there was a link they had. Beyond that though Hayden was sure no matter how things panned out, that Sam would become a mainstay in his life; she was too interesting not to be. “I’ve been back to Vancouver a few times to visit my Ma’s family and it’s a whole different beast to be in the mountains away for the civilization.” He agrees.

“It’s kind of why I like being in the forest or in the garden. It feels natural. I don’t need to perform or act any way for anything because the plant life is happy for water and sunlight.” There’s a small pause as he takes the tiny crane into his palm; thing small construct dwarfed in his hand as he smiles. “I hope one day you feel infinite on earth, cause I know that we can be anything we want to be here; though it’s a lot of letting go other’s concerns and freeing our minds to do that.” He’s loosely quoting his therapist from years ago now, though the sentiment applied here.

“What do you do for fun?” Hayden asks, the last word lingering in his mouth for a moment as he puts the crane on the table and pulls up Vulcan; who quickly nuzzles into the crook of his neck with a exasperated huff... as if telling them it’s about time he got to snuggle. “I’ve got a lot of weird musings that a lot of people get weirded out by; for example... I only listen to classical music. Yeah no lyrics, just great symphonies of instruments and the great composers of old. It’s so soothing.” The smith shared, feeling that the swell and dips and adventures each piece took you on was a greater journey than words could convey, as their meaning was all up front and with classical the depth was unbound to understanding of phases and words. Limitless.