The Gift is in the Giving | By : ZoeyLeigh Category: Anita Blake > Slash Views: 2362 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
Pairing: hints of Zanegorygory
Notes: ~blah~ = thoughts *tadah*= emphasis
Gregory woke up slowly. Soft, far away sounds of people moving ad oud outside his room, filtered in through the crack under the door. Keeping his eyes closed to prolong his time in bed Gregory stretched out, yawning and making contented noises. When his stretching didn't provide contact with Zane, he rolled onto his side and felt out farther into the bed. Still finding nothing Gregory groaned and opened one eye to give a mock glare at the door.
Zane was mostly likely out helping the circus people set up for that nights entertainments or getting ready to be some vampires suck snack. He himself was usually do either of the two at this late time of day. Sitting up he stretched his arms above his head and yawned again. Glumly he looked down at the blue silk sheets pooled in his lap.
~What a sucky birthday. I guess it's not true what they say. It *doesn't* look better after a good nights sleep. Then again what did I really expect. To wake up and find presents at the bottom of my bed with an apology letter?~
Still grumbling quietly to himself, Gregory slid off the side of the bed and headed into the bathroom to pee. Once he was done with his business, freshened from the quick bath he'd taken and dressed in clean black jeans Gregory came back out to pick out a shirt from the small chest of drawers sitting against the wall opposite his bed.
Opening the middle drawer he riffled through a bunch of multicolored shirts. Just because his Master chose to wear black and white most of the time didn't mean his workers did the same. Deciding on red, since it was bright and more cheerful to him then blue or green, he finally pulled out a mostly sheer dress shirt. Shrugging his shoulders into it he buttoned it up, glancing up at the mirror above the dresser as he did so.
Typically he looked just like he always did. And just like his brother. His blondish hair hung almost to his shoulder since he'd recently trimmed it. Clear cornflower blue eyes shone out of a reasonably tanned face. His defined chest and abs showed clearly through his shirt, except for the two inch solid strip, running the length of the shirt, that the buttons and their matching holes were on.
Farther up and down, or to the side he supposed you could see his lightly muscled arms. They were toned not buff. Tanned nicely too though you couldn't really tell as well through the film of red covering them. Solid red cuffs and a collar completed his top. Shifting his gaze a little he stared at the tight black jeans, that almost looked like they could be a second skin, but he tended to wear them a tad looser these days. White socks adorned his feet. Hmm. Shoes. He needed shoes.
Moving over to the closet Gregory pushed the door to the side and dropped to a crouch to better be able to reach his shoe rack. After a moments indecision he grabbed a pair of black platform sneakers with red sparkles on them. He was going to play bouncer tonight at Danse Macabre, so he might as well dress for dancing.
This was the one bouncer job that he liked. He stood around dressed like a god. Made sure people didn't get hurt and that everyone was having fun. Plus you were switched around to dance in the cages or in the lil shows Jean-Claude loved having. And there wasn't usually any actual *bouncer* work to be had. And if things were really good, like they tended to be, he could dance out on the floor with the club attendees and possibly find a nice girl....or guy, to hook up with.
After lacing his shoes tightly and rechecking himself in the mirror, Gregory fairly bounced for the door to his room. Hand on the knob he paused, the feeling of forgetting something strongly present. Turning he flicked blue eyes around the room. Hit the mirror first. Blue eyes. Blue. Contacts? No he wasn't in the mood. Besides Stephen was stripping tonight. No need to distinguish himself from his twin. So not that. Oh yes, the bed. Jean-Claude did not appreciate a messy bed.
Sighing and shaking his head Gregory hurried over to the side of the bed, and started to pull the covers up to make the bed look tidier. And froze staring at Zane's pillow. There was the Feather Key card and it's number along with a small note from Zane.
Greg,
Call the number on the card.
Zane
Call the number indeed. Well why not. What did he have to lose? More friends? An old lover become really good friend? Gregory snorted softly and picked up both note and card, stuffed them in his back pocket and finished making the bed.
~*~
Gliding soundlessly into Danse Macrabe's break room, Gregory headed right over to the phone. Normally at least one person was waiting in line for the phone when he got to the break room so he was going to snag the phone now while he had a chance. Sinking down into the cushy blue couch planted next to the phone stand, Gregory dug around in his back pocket and pulled out the card.
Blond strands danced briefly around Gregory's head as he shook it. ~I can't believe I'm doing this nonsense. Utterly frickin' ridiculous. God should come down and smite me *and* them for giving me this and for me doing it. Aw well here goes nothing.~
One finger quickly punched in the number off the card before he could lose his nerve and go back to just hating everyone again. ~Might as well at least see what so- so-called *great* present is before I throw it away. And Zane *did* promise that I would really like it. Plus....a chance to get away. I could go for that.~
"Hello you've reached the Palace. This is Simon speaking. What can I do for you today?"
Gregory was so surprised at the sudden bright voice on the other side of the phone he simply sat there blinking for a few moments, trying to remember why he was calling?
"*Ahem.* Sir? Ma'am? Are you there?"
Gregory flicked his eyes around frantically until they landed on the white card sitting next to the phone. ~Right. Feather Key. Got it.~
"Ah...yes. I'm here. I received a...ah...Feather Key?" He responded uncertainly.
~This is so lame. This Simon guy is going to laugh at me and ask what the hell I'm on.~
"Yes sir! Are you Jean-Claude?"
"No!" Deep breath. ~Was he Jean-Claude? God now that was almost funny. Ooo something for me to laugh about other then the insaneness.~ A tad more controlled this time. "No. I'm not Jean-Claude. My name is Gregory."
"I see." There was a brief pause. Some soft noises that sounded like keys being hit. Then. "You said you received the Feather Key?"
"Yeah. For my birthday present. Could you like tell me what the hell is going on here? What's so great about the Feather Key?"
"Why the Feather Key is one of our better keys sir. Goes for quite a price. And since I've been there personally I can tell you the rooms are really quite lovely. And the Feather Key itself is very....pretty."
~Right....like that answers everything. Crips.~
"So I get a room at some hotel?"
"Rooms, sir. And we are not a hotel. We're a...getaway. A resort if you will."
"Oh okay." ~This might not be so bad.~ "Do you have like a pool and gardens and tennis court and stuff?"
"There is a pool. Some rooms come with their own. Yours I don't believe does. We have lovely gardens. No tennis courts though. When will you be coming sir?"
"Uh...where are you and how do I get there?"
"Oh! We take care of all the arrangements. We just need to know when you wish to come and how long you're staying."
"Well...could you at least tell me if I need to bring winter or summer clothes?"
"You don't have to bring *any* clothes if you don't wish but.." He was cut off before he got any farther.
"It's a nudist colony?!"
There was a soft cough on the other side of the phone. "No sir. As I was going to say summer clothes would be fine. We keep the building and grounds to a year round warm temperature."
"Oh. Alright... Well I guess...um tomorrow would be good. I'll ask my boss and unless he says otherwise I'd like to leave tomorrow afternoon?"
"Right then. Just give us the address and a car will be by to pick you up around 2 in the afternoon."
Blinking, trying to clear the fog of confusion from his head Gregory rattled off the Circus' address without thinking. Returned the polite good-bye, and hung up the phone.
“Well that was...different. And I still don't have a clue as to what the hell is going on."
Grumbling furiously under his breath for not being more demanding and finding out what he had wanted to know Gregory tramped back out to the dance floor to finish his shift as a bouncer/entertainer.
~*~
Taking a deep breath to calm himself down and try to erase the jitters that were fluttering around in his stomach, Gregory reached out and knocked on Jean-Claude's office door.
"Come in."
Sending a last look down the short hallway that lead into the safety, well relative safety anyway, of main room of Guilty Pleasures Gregory then reached out and turned the knob of the door in front of him. Giving it a small push it swung open on well oiled hinges to reveal Jean-Claude sitting at his desk. Giving the Master Vampire a small smile Gregory walked into the room and shut the door behind him.
"What can I do for you Gregory?"
"Uh...um...well see..."
"Is this going to be a request about your birthday gift?"
Gregory nodded his head, blushing a bright red. Usually he wasn't this nervous around Jean-Claude. Jean-Claude was generally polite and nice to him. It took a lot to make the Master Vampire mad and even then he was usually getting mad at minions not at the weres. But then again Gregory had never had to ask for time off. Never mind asking for...huh. Now that he'd come to think of it he'd never told that guy how long he had intended to stay. ~I guess I'll just have to let them know when I get there. But how long do I *want* to stay?~
"You may go."
"Huh? Oh! Oh. Um how long can I be gone?"
Jean-Claude quirked a dark brow and leaned back in his chair steepling his fingers together in front of his mouth.
"How long did you tell them you would stay?"
Gregory fed aed again. "I didn't."
"Ah. Well, from what I've heard a month is what most patrons stay. So you may stay for a months time."
Gregory's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ~A month?! A whole month? I was going to ask for maybe a week and a half and I thought that would be pushing it. Awesome! I hope I like it there.~
"Thank you! Thanks a lot Jean-Claude. Really!"
A small smile slid onto Jean-Claude's face. "Yes well I would never have purchased the Key if I didn't intend to let you enjoy it and get my money's worth. Unless there's anything else I have work to do."
Gregory knew a dismissal when he heard one. Smiling broadly he simply shook his head and bounced out of the room, pulling the door closed behind him. There was so much to do. Clothes to pack. People to brag to. A months vacation!
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