#hi-vis

My company had recently relocated to a new office development. Although much of the building work on the complex was complete, the two remaining buildings were still under construction. I’d often look out of my third floor office window and stare at the work crews. They would be decked out in their dirty yellow or orange hi-viz work gear, battered boots or wellies. I’d gawp down at them, their arms enveloped in tattoos, their shaved heads and most, at sometime or other, with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths. I’d long had this internal conflict; on one hand I’d be glad that I was a married office worker living in ‘suburban bliss’. but on the other hand there was this burning desire to be a workie, getting my hands dirty, collaborating with my co-workers (however they needed support).

I liked to leave the house first thing in the morning, saying goodbye to my wife and giving an estimate of what time I’d be home. Once I’d parked my car it was a ten minute walk across the concourse to my office. I was usually there at such an early hour that I would rarely encounter anyone else. Generally I would also be too early to see anyone working at the new buildings. However, this morning was different.

“Oi mate, can you give us a hand?” Was he talking to me? There was no one else on the path, so I looked around to see one of the workmen on the ground calling at me from the other side of the safety fence. He was kitted out in a full workers hi-viz uniform, work boots, maybe wellies, it was hard to tell. He wore a yellow hard hat and black gloves that looked like they were made of rubber. I remember thinking just how amazing he looked in his protective gear.

I didn’t know what to do. He appeared to be in trouble, but I worked at a desk, what could I do? I looked around me but there wasn’t anyone else in sight. Instinctively I dropped my bag and looked for a way to get through the site safety fence to help this poor fella who was struggling on the ground. I managed to find a gap in the fence and forced my way through.

“Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?”

“Thanks mate, I thought I could do this on my own but as you can see I’m not having much luck. See this? I just need someone to control the flow, which you do using that value there.”

“Really? Look surely you’re better waiting for one of your workmates to help. I work in an office over there” (pointing upwards and to my right).

“Nah, you can do it, but I’ll need to get you something to wear so you don’t get as filthy as me. C’mon! I’m Dave by the way.”

“James, it’s good to meet you.

I followed this hi-viz stranger. We quickly arrived at one of those portable buildings they have on building sites. 

“Right in here.”

“In there? Really?” I questioned.

“Yes, come on. We need to be quick. Let’s get you kitted out, we’ll get the job done and you can go about your business...”

Dave looked desperate. I knew he was in some sort of trouble, so the inner good samaritan stepped up to the plate. I reluctantly climbed up the stairs and into building. As I walked through the door a strong smell hit me straight away. It not only made my head spin and but bizarrely my cock began to jump to attention. Something I’m pretty sure Dave took note of. The air in the room must’ve been a stale mix of cigarette smoke, B.O, foot odour and even possibly urine from the toilets. I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and get some fresh air in my lungs.

I saw Dave light up a cigarette, he offered one to me.

“No thanks, I don’t smoke. I didn’t think you were allowed to smoke inside buildings.” I asked

“The gaffer turns a blind eye. He’s happy to let things like that go so long as the job gets done. Sure you won’t have one?”

I shook my head from side to side.

“Maybe later then?” Dave took a long drag and exhaled a plume of smoke into the room. No wonder everything stank of smoke.

On a bench was a pile of work gear: Orange and yellow hi-viz overalls and boiler suits, tops that were similar to the polo shirt I’d wear on weekends, trousers and a couple of pairs of boots.

Dave grabbed some items, “here take these.”

“What you want me to wear that mucky gear?”

“You will if don’t want to ruin your expensive suit.”

“Well...”

“I’ll make it up to you, but just get a move on. Take your socks and underwear off too.”

“Are you serious?”

“Those socks are no good for boots.. I’ve got no underwear but you can go commando. You’ve got showers in your office building so you can always use one later. Now put these on.”

Dave handed me a pair of ’not that dirty, but not that clean’ socks. I put them to one side while I slipped out of my jacket, removed shirt off and dropped my trousers. 

“Here, give me those and I’ll put them in my locker,” with that he disappeared around a corner taking my shirt, jacket and trousers. I remember wondering why I’d not heard a locker door slam shut.

I’d just finished putting on my workie gear when he came back. He went over to a rack and selected a hard hat for me. 

“Dave, my bag. I left my bag by the fence. I need to get it. I need it it’s got“

He interrupted me, “you’ll need to put on one of these,” and he placed it on my head

"My b...” all of a sudden I stopped. i couldn’t form any words. I remember Dave looking at me, saying one word. “Perfect. Now let’s go follow me Jimmy.”

I was about to say something about my name but felt compelled to follow Dave. As I was about to walk out of the building, but I couldn’t help but take a quick glance in a mirror. I saw Dave turn around, he was definitely smirking. I sensed an arousal in my groin too.

“Yeah,” Dave continued, “you’ll be a good builder’s labourer. Follow me.”

The smell of the workie gear I’d been given was infiltrating your nose - some combination of cigs, B.O., piss and something else. Strangely, I also remember being continually aroused by the stink. I’m not sure whether it was just the awful smell or something else. But since I’d put the hard hat on my mind felt a bit hazy. I couldn’t quite work out what I was doing and why I was here.

“C’mon Jimmy, we need to get this done in the next 15 minutes, or it won’t be ready when the concrete arrives.” 

As I walked, I realised my cock was now rubbing against the trousers. Even outside, I kept inhaling the strange musk from the clothes - that mix of sweat, B.O., Piss and was there also the smell of cum? We quickly reached the spot where I’d first found Dave. Just for a moment I thought there was something I needed to look for. Dave noticed me looking around and quickly walked over to me. He lit up a cigarette, inhaled and blew the smoke in my face. As I was coughing and spluttering, I felt him rub my cock through my hi-viz trousers.

“Yeah that’ll do nicely my lad” he said, inhaling and once gain blowing the smoke in my direction. “Sure you don’t fancy a cig, I’ve got plenty?”

Anyway, even with my hazy mind I shook my head as if to say no. In no time at all, together Dave and I had finished what he couldn’t do alone. A good job too, because just then we heard the ‘beeps’ from reversing of the concrete truck. A guy I’d not seen before who was talking on a phone joined; he looked like he was in charge or something like that. I was having trouble thinking straight.

“Ah Dave, Is this the new one we talked about. How’s he getting on?” 

“Hey Paul, yeah this is Jimmy. He’s a bit slow,” replied Dave, “but once everything is processed, I think I’ve got a keeper. Jimmy this is Paul our Foreman.” 

I was pretty sure Dave was giving me the sort of smile you give someone you fancy. Paul interrupted my thoughts. 

“Good,” turning to me, he tapped me several times on the shoulder, “welcome to the team.” He moved in closer to Dave, and said something I couldn’t hear. I’m sure I heard Dave say something about a bag or case to which Paul pointed to a large skip covered in rubble. Paul turned back to me and smiled. “Right, Dave will sort out your processing Jimmy and you’ll get your assignment.”

Just then Dave nudged me, “Right, let’s get you changed, come on.”

With that we walked back to where the portable cabins we sited. This time instead of going in the one where my clothes were, we went into an adjoining one. 

“My clothes are in the other one.”

“Yeah, but the sinks and showers are in this one. I thought you might want to get cleaned up before you put your fancy suit back on.”

I didn’t question Dave, he knew what to do, so I followed him through the door. The room was already quite smokey. There was another guy in the cabin, who looked like he was getting undressed. 

“Hi Tom”

“Dave. Who’s this?

“James, but he’s going to be Jimmy, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about? I just want to get back into my clothes and get on with my day.” I was becoming annoyed.

“Nah, that’s not going to happen Jimmy.” Dave nodded towards Tom, “I think I might need some help.”

“No problem Dave.”

Tom walked over to me, with his nose ring, he looked quite intimidating. “You know Jimmy I was like you once. Working 70-80 hours a week, freaking out about spreadsheets, worrying about numbers. Then I went through the process and life became much simpler. Got a job on the site here and now have the best life ever. A wonderful boyfriend, and so will you too.”

I started struggling, “Nooooo, I’m married.”

Just then Dave returned carrying what looked like a pair of headphones, “hold him steady Tom.”

“He’s not going anywhere Dave”, Tom responded. 

“Right,” Dave said, “See these? These are specially adapted ear defenders that will complete your processing.” 

The fact that my head had been hazy all the time I’d been wearing the workie gear meant I didn’t have much fight in me anyway. But I wasn’t giving up that easily. I clenched my fists - I don’t know what for because I’d never punched anyone in my life. I tried pulling away from Tom. But, in that instant Dave pressed a red button, he stepped forward and dropped the ear defenders over my skull. At which point Tom let go of me. 

Dave and Tom watched as my struggles almost immediately diminished and I felt my jaw become slack, and my fists unclenched. I could hear something playing in the headphones. By now my arms felt limp, and my body was relaxed. 

Dave noticed the change, “that’s much better, isn’t it Jimmy?” Dave pushed me down onto a bench, "Much better to just relax and listen to the voice. Just listen to the voice and we’ll be back."

The voice started whispering to me, “It feels good to be a labourer, it feels good to work with your hands, you like to wear your hi-viz uniform, it feels good to be a builder, forget your old life, to let go of all that responsibility, it feels good to be a tradesman. Say goodbye to all the stress, no more reports, no more documents, the company will look after you, you’re one of the team, you love being one of the team. You’re gay, you have no interest in women, only men interest you now. You know why? Because you’re a good workie. They help one another out, only men know how to relieve other men, You love being one of the team, you love to follow orders, you love the smell of hard work, you love the smell of real men, you love your uniform, you will obey all commands. Over an over it repeated, but as time went on new sentences appeared. “...you like to wear your hi-viz uniform, forget your old life, to let go of all that responsibility, you’re a gay man, Dave is your partner, you love Dave, Dave makes you happy, Dave will teach you how to satisfy other men. Your old life is over, you’re no longer interested in women, you’re only interested in hard men. Your head will be shaved. company regulations require shaved heads on all workies. Over and over the words kept coming at me. 

I don’t know how long I was in that room, but day had turned to night because I was suddenly aware of the lights going on. I felt the headphones, which I learnt are ear defenders being removed. I remained seated.

There was a voice, “What are you?”

“I’m a good workie,” I replied looking up at my boyfriend Dave.

“Who will look after you Jimmy lad?”

“The company will”, I replied.

“Do you like women?”

“No”, I responded sternly.

“Who makes you happy?”

“You do, I’m gay.” I replied looking upwards longingly.

Dave smiled, he knew the processing was successful. “Right, the first thing you need to do now is send two text messages. One to your boss to say you’ve quit with immediate effect to take a better more rewarding job.”

“Yes, sure. Who’s the other one for?”

“The other one needs to be sent to Kate to say you’re leaving her and she can have the house and everything else. Tell her you’ve realised you’re gay, you’re moving on and there’s no point her contacting you.” 

Dave handed me my phone and I did as instructed. I looked up at him and said, “Done.”  

“Give the phone back to me.”

I passed it to him and watched him pick up a hammer and smash it into pieces.

"No going back. Now, let’s get your head shaved, you can’t be a good workie with that rats nest on your head.” With that he took my hand and led me over to a chair. There were some clippers already placed on a table. 

Dave made quick work of my hair. Very soon I had a zero crop.

“There, done!” Dave rubbed my head, and was seemingly pleased with the outcome. Right stand up, I’ve been wanting to do this since the first time I saw you.” And with that Dave leaned in and started snogging me. 

I opened my mouth to reciprocate and could taste his smokey breath. He reached down and felt my growing erection. I just moaned into the ongoing assault on my mouth.

Dave pulled away, “you like that Jimmy boi?”

I could only nod in response.

“Yeah, gonna get you smoking too. Every workie smokes like a trooper, and you’ll be no different.” He got out his cigarette packet and took two out giving me one and taking one for himself. He held a lighter to mine as I inhaled. I coughed a bit, but I actually enjoyed smoking my first cigarette.

“You enjoyed that?” Dave asked. I just nodded in affirmation. “We’ll pay a visit to the tattooists this weekend because I wanna get your full-sleeve tattoos started. If you like you can also get some metal, maybe a septum ring like Tom has.”

We came together again in a passionate embrace.

Again Dave pulled away. “Right let’s get you home. I wanna take this up to the bedroom.”

That night Dave spent many, many hours finalising my processing in every way imaginable. I recall falling asleep in his arms dreaming about workies, tattoos, being fucked, getting pierced, boots, real men with shaved heads.

In just a few hours I’d gone from married office worker to doing a proper job as a gay workie with a wonderful boyfriend and I couldn’t be happier.

Hi-Vis. Yorckstraße, Karlsruhe. September 2020