SMF Chapter 14 - A wolf in sheep's clothing
Don walks in to the apartment carrying a fat file full of documents and other papers with me. After hearing the sound of door opening, young man in the living area turns his focus away from the TV. Free was sitting on his usual spot on the couch, reading, trying to study. Actually he was just watching TV, got a bit carried away because of the movie running in the wide screen. So his first reaction when realizing Don was back was to look at the book on his own hand, wondering what was it again he was even reading here. Sighing out, Free just puts the book away. He so hasn't learn a thing today..
During the past days, Free has been focusing on his studies about American history and civics. He got this program what he need to follow and pass some tests later. This area was just one of the many. According to Don, the program was planned for the people who have potential to work as law officers but were from outside the norm. In other words; people who didn't go to The Police University Colleges or didn't pass. And people like Free. In CID, they were called shadow employees. They weren't in any public record but were working under the actual units, getting their payment de jure. Having a proper general education and certain type of skills were a much to be acknowledged as one. So Free shouldn't slack, but really focus on his goal here.
The days have went by with Dons work scedules, Free spending that time mostly inside the apartment doing exactly what he was doing right now too; study and watch some TV, waiting the man of the house to come back so he would have something else to do. Of course, after getting to know Maron and changing contact infos with him, Free has met the guy with a cup of latte a few times now too, getting influenced by his excessive character. Older guy was very eager to talk about his school memories and other stuff with pleasure. And Free really like to listen those stories, since he never get a change to go school himself, have classmates, live a life normal kids have. Hearing these real-life stories were totally different from TV. After all, watching TV was what Free has grown up with his whole life, comparing everything in real life to things he has seen in it. That he also cleared to Maron, making him even more determined to show Free as much as possible about the things he has been missing out.
Like Don has said, hanging out with people of his own age really has lighten Frees mind, decreasing his stress. Not that he didn't mind spending time with Don. But the conversations were very different with Maron. It was like being with his brothers again. That Don definitely was not.
Free was now eyeing the man who after walking in the kitchen area, places that heavy file on the table while looking at his phone at the same time, clearly on his work mode still since he hasn't greet the other yet. Even though Don seem to be working all the time, Free really didn't see what or how he was working. Paperworks was what Free saw. And even that Free has have several changes to peek some confidential files, his reading wasn't so good he could have even figured out what kind of cases they were about..
Everything round back to the very fact Free should learn more if he intend to work under Don one day. First of all he should get way better of reading and writing. He has never mentioned Don about his reading ability.. or better a lack of it. But Free had a feeling Don might have figured it all out already. If there was a situation where Don was showing Free something what involves reading, older guy has spelled some difficult words or used his finger to show where he was reading from, like teaching him without clearly showing he was teaching. Those small gestures have helped Free follow more easier, without him even realizing first what man was doing. Afterwards, it was pretty clear Don was helping him to read.
"You have a moment?" Don asks after finally turning his eyes on Free.
Instantly Free is up, heading toward Don. "Welcome back. What is it?" What ever it was would be more interesting than that boring book.
"This is my next cage. But I have something for you. Sit," man orders while losing his phone. Free sits down. Don opens the fridge and takes two beers with him, opens one and puts it on the table right in front of Free. After doing so he sits down on his own side, beer on his hand.
"What? Gonna make me drunk and have your way with me?" Free smiles, flirting. "It's been a while. I wouldn't mind."
"That you would like," Don just casually smiles back. "But no." He opens his own beer and leans closer. "It's a celebration. You got the job."
After getting his ID and Don actually becoming his lawful guardian, it was not so big of a surprise to finally hear that. But Free still shows the win pose. "About the time!" Now he could say it was official. There was no turning back.
"Paperworks take time. Lilian gave you a positive light too. And I wanted you to get your time before anything," man keeps. "Liked or not you are now officially governments property, a dull taxpayer. Welcome to the rat rage, kid. Everything you have done.. all cleared. You will not get a change like this ever again. Be sure to remember that." Don put it down with words how Free was also seeing this. A rat rage.
Free hums, trying to hold his widening smile. "So when I get to start?"
"That is why we have beers first," Don toasts and drinks. "You are going to the training."
"Training?"
"Yes. You learn social skills, teamworking, proactive manners, how to use popular type of guns and so on. That's the place you will learn your strenghts and possibilities. All rookies have to know their places. And you will do it this way. But..," now he takes a small break. Planning how to clear this out, so even this impatient kid would take it seriously how important step he was going to take here. And how different step that would be. "It's far. And IF you clear it up all the way to the end it will take about four months. It's a very fast training time. Not many are able to finish it."
"Four months?" Free tsihs out, first thinking he must have heard it wrong now. Four months felt damn long time. But after taking his time, going through it in peace, Don patiently waiting him to process, young man nods, showing very determinedly mind out. "Then it is four months. I will do it," he says surely, smirking. No big deal. If that's what Don wanted him to do, he would do it no matter what.
"That's the spirit," Don shows a calming smile. "The training will start about three months from now, on early November. I actually signed you in already. For that we will help you train, starting as soon as possible."
"Like run and so?"
"I know you are a good runner and the streets teach a lot. But you are damn too skinny. You should be able to run and carry heavy items with you, like bulletproof vest and guns. I will also familiarize you to some guns we are normally using in our field, also will teach you how to use some too, of course. It will be a good starting point before going in. They teach everything there if sees the potential."
Free hums, getting now even more excited. But no way showing it out too much. This was a serious talk. "I would appreciate that. Thanks."
"Just remember..," Dons voice changes suddenly, weighting his words. This would be the first step kid to know what would be expected from him in future. And it would not be simple easy. Really understanding that from the beginning will shape youngers mind in the right direction. "Even if we would teach you something now that doesn't mean it will become in particularly your thing, how you will do everything from now on. You have to know and be able to do the basics, sure. What I mean is, for examble, even if you will get some muscles now, if we need you to go undercover, let's say two or three years from now, and play a heroin addict.. You get my point? You need to be adaptive," while clearing himself, man kept calmly eyeing Free, making sure kid was listening carefully. That wasn't even hard to manage, when young man was showing such interest of his every word. "It's all for the experience. What ever you can learn, nothing ever goes to waste. What you will do is all up to you, of course. But in this, what we do.. No, what I do.. We adapt, go with the flow, we stay, we wait, learn, dig deeper and when the time comes, we bite. Everyone has their own role. Everyone goes alone. But works together. You understand what I mean?"
"I think I do," Free calmly nods. Then shows this sneaky smiles. "You trying to scare me, here?"
"Is that even possible?" Don says back, showing his own casual smile. "I think someone like you are way more suitable to work in this field than I am. I know my flaws. But what I do worry is that your cockiness will eat you alive before you even get to show what you got. You might fall before even getting there."
"I can be serious," Free was fast to stand for himself. "The only reason I can act cocky in front of you is 'cause you won't bite me. I have always, always knew that. But I'm not stupid. If it helps me out the trouble I won't hesitate to do anything for it."
"Fair enough," older shows an approbative look. "Well, all I can do to help is strenghten your body. What is between your ears is all up to you. At least I know you are not the type to break so easily."
Free smirks. "I will make you proud here. And then take over your job. And go even higher."
"I would love to see that," Don tsihs doubting and takes another gulp from his beer, not lowing his eyes from the younger man.
"So.. Did you go to the Police school?" young man dares to ask then, eyes locked on the guy across the table. That was something what has really puzzled him. How Don became a cop in the first place. It should be okay to ask?
Man was calmly eyeing back, turning his head a little, thinking how to say this. "Well I tried. Got kicked out after two months," he then admits, smiling. "Did pass the physical tests but not psychicals."
That so wasn't what Free was expecting to hear. "Ha? Really?" he felt very surprised. Don always seem somehow so superb, reliable, like there was nothing he couldn't do. But he had actually failed? Has never been trained for real?
Don takes another moment to think, like trying to decide what to say. He usually never talk about his past. "It was unavoidable. I've been arrested more than once in the past and it was a lucky coincidence I get in at all. Usually when you have a record, they won't allow you work in this field at all. It's about the trust. Public eye can't overlook the lawbreakers," he explains, still keeping his eyes intently on the other. "There was this one doctor who turned me down back then. He said, if someone like me carry a gun it would not be an item to protect and control, but rule and murder. That is actually the reason I don't use guns willingly. Not that I wouldn't have one or do not know how to use it. Just that, those words were so clear and honest, not accusing or defaming. Just pointing the facts. Since I have a really bad temper.. I might end up being the danger myself." He shows out this quite yearning mien, still smiling. Shaking his head. "Someone like me should never even stand where I now stand."
Free tsihs, laughing a little. "A bad temper? You? Are you sure?" hearing something like that seem very odd. This guy was an opposite of bad temper.
"I am very sure," man smirks, leaving it there.
Growing more curious now, Free was about to ask more, what Don really meant, but hesitated. When exactly Don has ever showed he has a bad temper? Man was the Calm himself. But he's been arrested too? Also been on the other side of the law? That was why he shouldn't be a cop in the first place? "Then what? You went to that camping too?" younger keeps asking. Clearly Don had found his way in anyway. He was now a cop.
"It's not camping. It's training. And no," Don answers calmly, relaxing more. Kid seem to ignore all the main things Don has just mentioned about himself. Wasn't too concerned or scared, but more like just hearing him out and moving on. Kid should be a little more alert, at least. For his own sake. "I volunteered and went to the military service. There they didn't care how I was in paper. So I stay there a few years and after the next change get in came, I talk myself in my current job without getting an education. Mayor is my friend so.."
"Licking asses, ha?"
Don shakes his head, pointing out that so wasn't the case. "Actually drunkdriving and scratching his fucking Audi. After a fight I blackmailed him to withdraw his charges. A few weeks later he arrest me and gave me a job."
"What?!" now Free was laughing unbelieving.
Humming, man continues, clearing how things actually were. "Our Mayor is a former police commander. My former firsthand boss. This happened long before he became the Mayor. He is the reason I am in this business. 'It's better to keep the wild dog living in his city in leash rather than let it destroy your backyard' is what he told me when I sign our deal.
Years after, after showing the seniors there how to be successful in our field, I got my rank. But still half of the people in that building don't like me and won't back me up what so ever happens so it's as good as nothing. My rank.. But my group stands me. We get along."
Now Don actually shows a little puzzled face, what Free surely wasn't expecting. "By the way you should remember that your last name is not a bonus but a burden. People might not like you because we have the same name," he warns then, smirking. Letting his appearance relax again. "Anyway. That is the reason I had time to play with you. I have my side of the city to watch and it's clear. Sitting in from six am to two pm, I take the jobs no one else want or have time to take. Being 31 years old now and behaving like close to retirement.. That's what comes when you are too succesful."
Free had went to the fridge while man was talking and was now walking back. He opens the beer with a fast hand move and puts the bottle in front of Don on the table. Older man clearly talk more relaxing while drinking. Don was staring the beer and finally tsihs, smiling, pushing his empty beer bottle aside while already reaching the new one. He definitely understood what Free was doing. Not that he mind. Drinking one or two beer wouldn't be a problem.
Young man himself sits back down. "How did you blackmail him?" he asks. Their eyes met again. When Dons smile went slightly wider, Free adds. "A woman?"
"A woman. The one with him in the car was surely not his wife.."
"I knew it," younger smirks after confirming his suspicions were right. "That's like right from movies."
"Really? Going against him with only that was so stupid thing to do," older points out, recalling those times. "But it was my luck he liked my boldness. And wanted to save his marriage."
Free hums. "That somehow fits you. That story," he says then and leans back. "Cause you are not a normal cop." Don snorts, takes a gulp from his beer. When man didn't say more, Free gathers his courage to finally find out what has really bothered him. "Can I ask you something?" he asks boldly.
"Why stop here? Haven't you keep asking things this whole time..," older guy calmly points out.
"When I was younger.. what happened after you thought I was killed?"
Those words made Don freeze, him staying quietly eyeing Free. The look on his eyes changes from easy to little worried. "Now it's you, not Aki," man wonders out loud, with a slight mocking tone in his voice. Until now kid has been very pushing to clear he wasn't 'the Aki' he once was. To the point he gets very annoyed if Don uses his real name.
But Free ignores his words. He wasn't going to back off now. He really wanted to know. "I heard you did something."
A deep sigh. If kid has heard something, it was all from Taro. And that guys mind and reasons were over the norm. "You really want to go there?" Don tsihs out, clearing his pose, growing a little annoyed now. Young man keeps just staring back, doesn't say a word. "What Taro told you?" man continues, asking straight. His voice sounding more colder.
Man clearly didn't like the subject. But he also didn't directly refuse to tell him yet either. "He said I should be dead. That I should not be with you. And ask me did I knew what you have done. After, he said to forget it. If you wanted to keep it as a secret, then it was your decision," Free clears out. "So there is something you are hiding.. No, sorry. Not actually hiding. But there is something.. what you don't want me to know?"
So kids had recognized each others after all, realized they have met before. Aki was definitely the one reminding Taro. "True. There is something I don't want you to know. Not anyone to know," older points out, trying to decide how to proceed. "Taro accidently found out so it's not like I ever planned to tell him. Because I didn't care at the moment.. I was quite sure he wouldn't talk about it to anyone." Clearly he has assumed wrongly. Even when Taro had indeed kept his silence at the end, not saying more.
Frees eyes were intently gazing Don. "Did you do something bad? Is it about your 'flaws'? You really have that bad temper? I don't think so..," he wonders out loud, speaking his mind out. "The you I know and these new things I hear about you.. They don't match, like. What you did.. Is it about my mother? I want to know. You said you are mine. If you are mine I have the right to know. Everything. About you."
Don shows a smile again and leans back, turning his look out the window. Kid was using quite apting words. When he became his, like literally, anyway. But Don didn't mind hearing something like that. It felt somehow very nice actually, liberating. "Now that is what I would like to know too. What I am..," he keeps a small silence before letting this deep breathe out. Their eyes meet again. "I am not.. totally against of telling you. But are you sure you want to know? That might change our current relationship. No, it will change."
"Saying that makes me even more curious," Free leans closer, smiling. "It's something to do with me and you. Of course I want to know."
Man sighs again. He knew already that if they were about to live together the next two years, kid would probably find out more things from him eventually. Being at least a little honest from the start should be better than totally block him. So Don gives up. Thinks a while. "A long story short, five years ago, when I saw the scene there.. when I found out what really happened to you.. not been able to find you.. I really hated it.
Of course it felt like a relieve too. If they had kept you as an item then wasn't that the fastest possible way to run away from it? That was something I couldn't fix.
But I could fix them," Dons smile changes a little wider, man actually needing to correct his pose to keep his calm. "I took a sick leave and went talk to your mother. Took me some time, but eventually I made her go from not sane all the way to so sane I had her talk. She told me who they were. Whom she had sold you out. She could name four men at least. So I found them. Two of them were still going. Two of them were in prison by then.
Outside of work.. When there are no normal bounds to hold me, it's like a game I play for win. I wanted to let them see they couldn't just walk out without consequences. I can't feel what they call empathy, really. At least toward people like them. Those in jail. They got what they deserved. Two others..
Let's just say they won't do that ever again. Ever. I took advange of my status and used it to find them all. And more. If anyone from my building would learn the truth, that would be the end of me."
Don looks Free, like checking his reaction. When he get to it, man really didn't hold his words. He has never talk about this out loud. But it didn't feel so hard after dropping his charges. When having this kid with him has become as easy as breathing. "It wasn't my first time doing something like that. Wasn't my last time either. There I revenged your lost. But it might have all be done just to my own amusement. I.. justify my actions by thinking they deserved it. Since they were nuisance."
Younger sits still, carefully listening. What he just heard was kind of.. amazing, something he definitely wasn't expecting to hear. Was Don really capable of.. Well he never said he.. killed them right? Just used his connections to find them. Made them pay. What as a cop he shouldn't do. But just hearing Don had actually think about him five years ago, cared of what happened to him, tried to find him and didn't let people involved just walk away from what they did to him.. That made Free feel incredible happy.
"I know what I do is wrong," Don speaks again. "But to me it feels like cleaning the table from trashs. As simple as that. I can be quite heartless when needed. That is.. probably why Taro said you shouldn't be with someone like me."
Silence falls down in the apartment, only some light sounds from the open TV breaking it. They were looking each others, Free calmly processing what he has just heard. Don waiting the younger say something. Kid didn't seem to be upset or anything. But just calmly thinking. Which was very odd reaction. "So basically you got angry for my sake and made them pay for what they did to me?" Free finally speaks, wondering. "Is that the bad temper you are talking about?"
"Yes," Don answers straight. Then smiles. And shakes his head slowly. "And no.."
Younger man moves his eyes away for a moment. Then he shows a smile back. Has Don really done something like that.. for him? "Then.. it's clear. You are quite rotten cop," Free is looking back to Don. "Like a bad behaving dog in leash?"
"If that is how you want to see it.."
"Is that bitch alive still?" young man suddenly asks after another small moment of silence. Now Don felt very surprised. That he didn't see coming.
"Your mother? No. She killed herself after a few months I went to visit her and remind her what she had done. Might be partly my fault for pushing the truth in her face. But I can't care," Don answers surely, coldly. Now that he has enlighted what happened, it felt really easy to speak out loud. Weirdly having this kid around him was just calming.
Finally, after making his mind, Free gets up. Walking next to Don he sits on him, face to face, squeezing his fingers around others arms. "I don't really care how others might take it. You using your connections like that.. for my sake. But I am glad. That you did," Free whispers, feeling extremely good right now. It might be true what Don pointed out, that what he had done was very wrong. But Free couldn't care a bit. "Does that make me rotten too? Think so?"
"You are asking from the wrong person here," Don says, looking straight to Frees blue eyes. "All I did was make a mess out of it. Actually liked it too."
"Well I'm glad what ever you did to them. And that bitch. She was not a mother. But a really messed up person. Have non good memory from her," Free points out then quietly, remembering his life with that woman. "Someone I used to know once said he was amazed I'm even cabable of feeling anything after ten years with her, living like that.." Really, he didn't care what Don has done. He was happy enough Don seeing him then. Remembering him.
Older man raises his hand. "Am I draging you deeper?" he then asks with a strong voice, gently touching Frees chin. "If so you better run now when you still can."
"Again this running thing..? You have anything better?" Free tsihs back.
"You hear yourself? How you are talking? I'm scared your show-up is stronger than you knowing who you really are," Don clears straight, moving his fingers. "I just told you all that and it's just 'okay'? You know other people wouldn't react that way."
"I don't show to you," younger answers, growing suddenly a little annoyed from Dons words. "I know what I am and who I am. Besides what's wrong with that? Me thinking it's 'just okay'? You did all that for me. Why I should not be okay with it?"
Don shows this sudden smile. "Or am I just the first adult who helps you at all and that's the reason? Your bad luck was that I had some personal motives. You even realize that?"
Free smiles back and leans closer, slapping Dons hand away from his chin, clearly showing his anger out now. He has so lost Dons points here, having no idea what man was even talking about now. "What ever you try now is useless. You can't back off now. I will not run. Whatta hell..?"
Lowing his hand back down, man keep intently eyeing the young man on him, calming himself down. Then he closes his eyes, leans his head down. This kid might be as mess as he himself was. Has no normal bounds of things like moral and simple right and wrong. Physical connections like sitting on Don was a way to use his own body to thank Don, maybe? When he doesn't have anything else to offer? Someone like Don was definitely not the right person to lead this kid in life. He should definitely make the turn with them now. Before it would definitely be too late to back off. That was what Don was thinking. But still..
He makes up more excuses in his mind to pass the reasons. He didn't want to let this one go. Not like this.
"I don't have a show-up in front of you. Can't drag me deeper what ever that even means," Free whispers then, breaking the silence. "I just.. kinda hope that you hear it. My thanks. For seeing me. Then. And now. So if there is more to learn about you, of course I will listen too. You have done the same to me."
Don opens his eyes again and turns to look at him. "You are a weird kid, you know."
"I am?" Free tsihs doubtingly back. The weird one here was this cop here.
"Have I already lock you in?" man then asks after a small silence, sighing deeply out. "This is what you call your 'place'?" He raises his hand to touch Frees face again. The more Don tried to make sense of his own thoughts the more confused he grow. His normal rational thinking couldn't keep up when it comes to this young man in front of him. If Aki lets him, couldn't he just keep him near. Don doesn't really mind the idea of locking this one in. But that was definitely dangerous. Thinking so. "I definitely hear you. I see you. How I could not. When you have become like the worst drug to me. Messing my head like this.. If I keep wanting more from you.. If I learn to need you so much I can't be without.. That's what I am afraid. That is why I would like you to run.
Away from me.."
Free smirks. Doesn't quite know how to react here. But one thing he was very sure of. "I don't mind being your drug if that's what you want. Since it's my 'place' now. You are," he clears, without a doubt. He knew Don really cares about him. Was ready to do all this for him. Become his guardian. Give him his 'place'. Like their reunion has effect Free, it also has effect Don. Only Don has remembered Free all this time, being not able to forget him. Not able to finish his incomplete case. If that was the reason behind this obsession, Free was ready to do his part. No matter what.
Because this 'place' he like to be in.
Eyeing kids unchanging reaction, Don couldn't but smile. He should know better. Be the smart one here. Crush that illusion Aki has about having this 'place' of his. Leaning on Don too much would only hurt him later. But for now, could he just let this all be? Don himself was so addicted to this feeling he has, therefore he doesn't want to lose it. "Hey..," he says then. Losing his speculative mood. He wanted to drop this all away. Doesn't want to think about it anymore. When it was useless anyway. Try to change something what couldn't be changed. But just accept. For now. "It's surely been awhile. Want to do it?"
Hearing that made the younger immediately snort. Leaning his face a little closer now, Free shows his wide smile. "This is what turns you on? Or did it only take two beers to make you drunk enough? I should have tried and make you drink weeks ago..," not all he got to hear something damn interesting about Don, he also gets to hear those seducing words from the man himself, him suggesting it first. This day was surely getting better and better.
"You are the one coming too close. Don't think I can control myself endlessly," Don stands up while holding Free on his lap, forcing the younger take a strong hold of his neck. Man starts walking toward the bedroom. "If you sit on me like that I can't help it."
"Put me down. I can walk myself," Free states annoyed. But man turns a deaf ear.
After a few more steps toward the bed, Don lays Free down, moving slowly on him. "I hope I won't scare you again," man lets his fingers touch Frees lips a little, moving them slowly downer. He shows this last sneaky smile before moving his head down, kissing young mans neck.
"Man, you have done both extremities already. Now you can just pick between," younger man tsihs, already lowing his voice. This pose was very fast to make his heart beat a little stronger, while already knowing what was coming. Something he eagerly waited since he know it would be damn good. Dons touch, in any way, could make him very sensitive. Warming him up just like that. Growing his lust.
"Extremities?" older needs to raise his look back up again. Meeting with others eyes.
But that was too much to Free, so young man turns his look away. Blushing. He hums quietly. "Last time I almost died. So please pick the other end..."