Avery the Immortal: Part Three (complete)

The small flat that Avery and I live in is just above the grocer where we both work. After fleeing to this city, we were able to get jobs. The man who owns the place seemed desperate to get good workers, no questions asked. I do stocking, heavy lifting, that sort of thing. Meanwhile, Avery takes care of running the cash register and dealing with customers. He’s a bit off-putting to say the least. I have heard more than one customer say that the cash register seems more alive than Avery. I figure that whatever happened out on the battlefield still has Avery in a state of shock, but I know I can only lie to myself for so long.

Avery isn’t the same, not even a little. He has the same appearance as he always did, but there is the dead look in his eyes. They were once a vivid and lively blue, but now they look like murky water in a fishbowl - dull, watery, and unpleasant. I still love him, no matter what. I made a promise to keep him safe, to hide him from whatever it is he is running from. I want to make him happy, although that doesn’t seem to be what he wants.

Despite this, I think Avery is lonely. We have seperate beds, but he often climbs into my bed before I fall asleep. He slides up right behind me, placing his forehead on my back. He seems to be desperate for some sort of closeness or affection, but is repulsed by it when it is given. I am not sure how to approach him aside from sex, which he doesn’t seem to shy away from. I’m not sure if I am showing him love these days or just working out my frustrations, but he always tells me he enjoys when I do.

There have been air raids. None have struck here, but in other parts they have become a constant, looming threat. The air is thick with worry and panic, something that everyone appears to choose to ignore. Our shoppers come in, happy-faced, eager to talk about their plans for supper. I can’t understand why everyone is trying to be upbeat with such an ominous shadow hanging over everything. Then again, I suppose I am faking too.

“I have to go and make a delivery,” Avery tells me.

I’ve been sweeping the street in front of the store, and it's been a slow day. “I can do it if you want me to.”

Avery shakes his head. “I’d rather do it,” he replies as he pushes his bike onto the street. He already has the delivery tied to the back. “I need to step away for a while.”

“Just be careful out there.” I step close to him and place my hand on his arm. “Come back in one piece, alright?”

Avery glances up at me, his expression hollow like always. It’s starting to hurt. “I will.” He places his hand over mine. “You don’t need to worry about me.” He hops onto his bike and pedals off.

I sigh heavily, letting my shoulders slouch. I have a gnawing feeling in my gut, but I chalk it up to the fact that I've done nothing but worry about Avery since we ran away.  I turn back to work, dealing with customers in Avery’s absence.

It starts to get late, and Avery still has not come back. I wait in the store, hoping to see him ride up and tell me some story about how he got lost. He hasn’t done much traveling in the city since we arrived, and he grew up in a small town with barely two roads. I could see him getting lost very easily.

Finally, I see him walking up the street with a tall man who has his arm around him. I rush out of the shop when see that Avery is cradling one arm and has a few bruises on his face. I rush towards him, grabbing him away from the man.

“Where have you been?” I gasp. “Are you okay?”

Avery nods. “Yeah, I’m fine. I lost the bike though,” he grumbles.

I laugh in disbelief. “I don’t care about that bike, Avery! What happened to you?” I gently touch his cheek, where the bruise is green and blue.

“I’m afraid your friend got mugged,” the man says. “I managed to get to him before any real harm was done. But harm there has been, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, right,” Avery murmurs. He turns and looks up at the tall man beside him. “Clef, this is Dr. Hans Goddbar,” he says softly. “He’s been taking care of me all day.”

“Wanted to make sure that he didn’t have a concussion,” the doctor laughs.

“You’re German?” I say with a scowl.

The doctor chuckles and raises his hands. “No one of those Germans, I assure you. I’m here because of that.” He then lays his hand over his chest. “You have my word on that, young man.”

I’m uncertain, but I have to be grateful that he helped protect Avery. I sigh heavily and hold my hand out to him. “Nice to meet you, Doctor.”

“Hans, please,” he chuckles. “It’s very nice to meet you too, Mr. Clef.”

“Bill,” I correct. “Only Avery can call me Clef.”

Hans has a slight smirk on his face that sets me on edge. He’s older, good-looking, with high, sharp cheekbones, a narrow waist, and long gangly limbs. If he were a touch older, and had bigger glasses and wild hair, he’d remind me of an image from my Frankenstein book. He reminds me of a mad scientist.

“Would you like to come up for dinner, Hans?” Avery asks. “We don’t have much, but we can at least offer a hot meal.”

“I wouldn’t want to put you two young men out so,” Hans chuckles.

“No, it’s okay,” I return. “I mean, you helped save Avery. Who knows what would have happened to him if you hadn’t shown up.” I put my hand on Avery’s back. “The least we could do is invite you up for a meal.”

“You’re both such kind young men,” Hans says with a bright smile. “Fine. I accept your invitation. Besides, I’ve grown fond of Avery in our short time together. He’s a very odd young man, but I rather like that.”

I smile unsurely. “I might enjoy your company then. It’s nice to meet someone who appreciates Avery.”

Avery leads the way upstairs, opening the door and taking us into the flat. It’s all one room, broken up by support beams. One side is the kitchen, the other side is the bathroom and beds. It’s not much at all, and not a place one would use to entertain.

Hans takes a seat at the table while Avery starts for the kitchen. I stop him and guide him back to the table.

“I can cook,” Avery murmurs.

“I know, but you’re hurt and not very good at it. Let me take care of the food and you can keep Hans entertained, since he likes you.”

Avery glances at me, his eyes looking me up and down. “Don’t get jealous, Clef.”

I scowl at him. “What are you talking about?” I huff. “I’m not jealous!”

“Not now,” he says with a small shrug. “But don’t get jealous in the future, that’s all I am telling you. There won’t be a need for it.”

“Then why say anything if there is no reason for it in the future?” I grumble.

Avery looks aside then back at me. “Just good advice is all. Don’t get jealous,” he repeats before joining Hans at the table. 

As I make dinner I eavesdrop on their conversation. Apparently Hans is having a hard time getting patients into his office, so he has taken up research work, including publishing papers and performing medical experiments at the suggestions of other doctors.

“There is so much in this world we do not understand, and I suspect in a hundred years we still won’t know everything,” Hans chuckles. “It is my goal to find ways to help humanity. Something that could bring about real change and begin a new age for man.” He smiles as he sighs. “But as it stands right now, I am working towards that goal alone.”

Avery leans in closer to him. “A way to end suffering.”

The hairs on my body stand on end and I turn to look at him. This is the first time I have heard him say anything with hope in his voice. 

“Yes!” Hans grins at him. “I want to find a way to save people, to end the pain in daily life. To end things like what is happening just outside.” He frowns and shakes his head. “The lengths men will go to just to fulfill their own pride and greed.” He closes his eyes and removes his glasses as a few tears slip down his cheek.

Avery reaches out to him, placing his hand over his. “That’s all I want to,” he says softly. “All my life I have been trying to find a way to keep my promise to Clef.”

I furrow my brow and look away from the stove.

“Clef made me promise to never cause suffering,” Avery continues. “But everywhere I go it follows me. It’s everywhere these days, I can’t escape it.”

I then realize it’s not a person or a group that Avery is running from. He’s trying to outrun the war itself. 

Hans takes hold of Avery’s hand and pats it. “You understand me, Avery,” he says softly. “I knew you and I were kindred spirits! You and I have the same goal at heart.”

I lay down plates on the table, interrupting them. “Isn’t anyone who is good at heart wanting to end pain and suffering?” I ask as I sit down.

“It is something bigger than that, young Bill,” Hans insists.  “It is more than wanting to end the suffering of man, but to change man! It is part of man to want to hurt, to hunt, to kill, to be a predator. Avery and I want more than that. More than medical advancements, beyond the ability to heal and diagnose. What we want is a very way to change man at his core!”

I frown. “That sounds like you want to play god.”

“Is there something wrong with that?” Avery looks at me. 

“Because we aren’t gods, Avery!” I snap at him. “It is not our place. It is not why we are here.” I glance between him and Hans, feeling surrounded and outnumbered. “It should be about changing man at his core, it should be about teaching people better! You want to create change, you have to teach it.”

“People can preach all they want but good men are out there doing horrible things. The four horsemen of the apocalypse are not the mythical figures you believe them to be. They are the four very natures within your heart, young Bill. Famine, war, pestilence, death. They live inside all of mankind, guiding them, controlling them, making them the utmost predator of this world.” Hans pushes his plate aside and turns his body fully towards me. 

“There are men driven by death, who have bloodlust on their minds at all times. Men who worship famine, wishing to have all for themselves so that those beneath them suffer. The men who follow pestilence wish to make the world a worse place than when they found it, destroying its resources, and making it fall ill all to glorify themselves.” His long arms lifts up and he points out the window. “Right now, the men of this world are led by war and they will do anything to keep it going. Bombs in Pearl Harbor, the air raids here - not to mention the genocide.” He chuckles softly, lowering his hand again. “I fear that one day, all four will rise up in the world at once. That will be the true end for mankind and the dawn of something worse.”

Hans leans in towards me. “Don’t you wish to stop that from happening?”

I swallow down the painful lump in my throat. “I think you’re getting at humanity all wrong,” I say shakily. “There are good people in this world.”

“Not enough,” Hans replies cooly. “Do you consider yourself one of these ‘good’ people?” He looks at me over the rim of his glasses. “Or is there an appetite within you that you can’t quite sate?”

I look away from him, fed up with his words and speeches. I stand up from the table, leaving the flat altogether and going down the stairs. I shouldn’t leave Avery alone with Hans, although that is probably what Avery would prefer. Hopefully, we won’t have to see Hans again, but that is me being hopeful. 

Sometime later, Avery opens the door. “You should come back in. Your food is cold.”

“Is Hans still here?” I ask.

“I’m enjoying our talk.” Avery closes the door and sits down beside me on the stairs. “I told you not to get jealous.”

“It’s not that!” I huff. “It’s just that… all his talk, it has me bothered.” I look at Avery, glancing over his face. “Do you really feel the same way he does about humanity? Do you really want to play god like that?”

Avery leans in, placing a soft kiss on my lips. I move in close, deepening the kiss in order to block my thoughts. I moan as Avery’s tongue slips into my mouth and his hand slides up my thigh. He pulls back for a moment and looks at me.

“All I want to do is what you asked of me, Clef,” he whispers.

“What did I ask?” I pant. “I don’t remember what you’re talking about.”

Avery kisses me again. “Come back in and eat.” He stands up, offering his hand to me. “I mean, if you’re decent.”

I frown at him, pinching my thighs together. “You know what you do to me,” I grumble at him.

“I’ll pay for it tonight. I promise you that.” Avery says with a nod. “For now, come and talk to our guest.”

I take in a deep breath, then hold Avery’s hand to stand up. I go back into the flat where Hans is sipping tea at the table. He looks relaxed, at peace somehow. I go and take a seat where my plate is.

“Welcome back, young Bill,” Hans says, lifting his teacup. “Sorry about all that. I do tend to get passionate, and when I get passionate I tend to forget where I am and who I’m talking to. Not everyone will agree with me and, well - I suppose that’s the bullet I have to bite.”

“Avery seems to like you,” I shake my head. “He doesn’t get along well with others, so I can’t be mad at you too much.” I grab Avery’s hand under the table, giving him palm a soft squeeze.

“You two are very close,” Hans says with a smile. “It’s nice to see young men like you care so much for each other. Does this old heart good.” He pounds his fist to his chest. “How long have you two been friends?”

“A long time,” Avery speaks up to my surprise. “Clef and I have been close for a long time. We’re more than just friends at this point.”

“Avery,” I tell him warningly.

A sly smile crosses Hans’ face and he nods his head. “Who am I to judge? Here I am espousing how wicked humanity is at heart when I forget the greatest thing they are capable of - love.” He smiles to himself as he pours more tea. “No need to go into detail. It’s not my place to intrude on something so… intimate.” He drinks his tea as I squeeze Avery’s hand under the table. 

I’m relieved when Hans finally leaves for the evening. I quickly lock the door and stand there until Avery comes up behind me. He presses his forehead to my back as his hands untuck my shirt from my pants.

“You have to be careful about what you say!” I hiss at him. “You’re lucky! Had he been anyone else we could be in deep shit!”

“I knew we could trust him,” Avery murmurs. “Don’t get so mad.” His fingers slip under my belt and into my pants. “I like him. In fact, I want to help him.”

I push him away and turn around to look down at him. “You want to work with that loon?” I snap.

“He said he would pay well. Better than working at the grocer,” Avery replies cooly. He starts unbuttoning his shirt. “And it’s something I truly believe in.”

I frown at Avery, stepping away and pressing my back against the wall. “I can’t believe you think the same way as him. It’s crazy.”

Avery drops his pants and steps towards me naked. He presses his body against me and locks his arms around my waist. “Don’t think about that now. I promised to pay you back.” He slips down, going on his knees before me.

“Do you even want this?” I whisper. “Do you even want me?”

Avery sighs and drags their hands down their chest, coiling the digits around the base of his cock. “This body,” he moans. “You’re all it wants. I can’t control it.” He strokes his cock. “I sometimes can’t ignore it.”

I undo my belt and pull my cock out. “I understand that,” I whisper.

Avery leans forward, licking up my shaft. His eyes close as he takes me into his mouth. His tongue is cold and I shiver as he sucks me. I place my hand at the back of his head, tangling my fingers in his long hair. His hands brace against my thighs as he begins to move. I lean back against the wall and my breath comes out in a thick white cloud.

“Avery,” I moan. “You feel too good.”

Avery’s eyes flick up to me and I can’t stop myself. I push my hips forward, rutting against his face. Avery makes no movement, except to dig his fingers harder into my thighs. I thrust against him, using his mouth as my own. My breath comes out in bigger, thicker clouds as I move harder. I grunt, pushing deep down his throat at my release. Avery moans, his fingers clawing down my legs.

As Avery pulls away he swallows and lets out a moan. He looks up at me, his own cum splattered all over the floor and my feet. “It’s warm,” he moans.

I help him off the floor, kissing him hungrily as I wrap my arms around him. “If you want to work for Hans, I can’t stop you. I don’t own you or control you. I only want you to be happy, Avery,” I whisper to him.

Avery wraps his arms around my neck. “I told you to stop that.”

I smirk and kiss him again, deciding to put that entire evening out of my mind and just enjoy Avery for the evening.

When Avery does start working with Hans, I try to remain optimistic. If it’s something Avery wants to do, who am I to stop him? If he’s doing something he feels is right, then I need to support him. I just wish it was anyone other than that strange doctor. 

“How is everything going?” I ask him one day as he comes home. I greet him with a kiss on the forehead. “What are you doing with him? Like, medical research? What is that?”

“I can’t tell you exactly,” Avery says with shrug. “Hans made me promise.”

I scowl a bit. “Oh? Is that right?”

“Nothing personal,” Avery murmurs. “It’s just precautionary. He doesn’t want his work getting out to anybody. He has a lot of people who would be willing to steal his research for their own gain. You must understand that.”

I rub the back of my neck and nod. “I do. I do,” I huff.

“You don’t need to worry. It’s all good work,” Avery nods decisively. “Hans is a brilliant man. His work is remarkable.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” I laugh weakly, then shake my head. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m just glad when you come home in the evening.”

Avery looks at me with that same blank expression. “You do?”

“It’s scary out there these days,” I murmur. “Sometimes, people don’t come home, you know?”

“Oh,” Avery mumbles. “Right.” He looks at me again then tilts his head gently to the side. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not going to leave you alone, Clef.”

I let out a breath and step towards him. I put my arms around him, lay his head upon my shoulder, and just breathe in the scent of his skin. 

“You need another haircut,” Avery says. 

I run my fingers through the long tresses and smile him. “It has been getting in my way at work.”

“It has,” Avery murmurs. He rubs a few locks between his fingers. “It might be nice to get rid of some. You don’t need to keep it just because I like it.”

“I like you,” I chuckle. “That’s what’s important.” I pat his shoulder and kiss his temple. “I’ll get the scissors if you feel like trimming it.”

I tie his hair back and Avery cuts just above the tie. My hair flutters down in neat ends. I worry it will look choppy, but it cleans up nicely, falling just below my ears shoulders so I can slick it back away from my face.

“You sure?” Avery asks. “You don’t think it looks odd?”

“It’s fine,” I chuckle. “It will do for now until we can afford something professional.”

Avery blinks a few times. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

I furrow my brow at him. “You think I’m only saying nice things for some other purpose?” I scoff. “No! I say nice things to you because I mean them.”

“Oh,” Avery looks away. “That’s good.”

“Why?” I huff “What’d you think I was trying to do?”

Avery shakes his head. “Nothing.” He takes my cut hair from the table and looks over the severed ponytail. “What’ll you do with this?”

“I don’t know.” I say as I take it from him. “Probably just toss it away, or something. Why do you ask?”

Avery shrugs. “Seems like a waste. But really, what else would we do with it?”

As the days go on, Avery stays later and later at his job with the doctor. There are some nights I fall asleep waiting for him. There are days I worry I won’t see him at all, and with the threat of the air raids looming closer and closer, I grow more terrified each day.

I wake up one morning and smell smoke in the air. I look around, realizing that Avery isn’t there. Did he ever come home? No. His things are untouched since last night, and there is no sign he came into the house - it’s been raining, and there is no mud at the door. I have to get to work, but I keep feeling my guts being gnawed away. Avery doesn’t return all that day either. Before nightfall I make my way to Hans’ home. 

Once I get there, I discover the address I was given is nothing but an abandoned building. I stare in fear at it as the overwhelming sense of dread cascades over me. Suddenly, the sounds of sirens go off. The smell of smoke is growing stronger and stronger. I look up into the sky, seeing lights flashing. In the distance I can hear the buzzing of planes fast approaching. 

I go into the abandoned building, thinking perhaps that Hans has simply hidden himself from the world. After all, Avery said he was trying to protect his work from outside forces. I search the building, finding nothing but rotting floorboards and water damage. The upstairs is empty. The basement is deserted. There is nothing in this place except rats and water.

The ground shakes under my feet, and the ceiling rattles and cracks. Dust falls on me and water spews from a broken pipe. I race back up the stairs, but a beam falls, almost crushing me as I reach for the door. The world shakes again, and I am knocked from the stairs. I fall backwards, tumbling down and landing in the water below. 

When I wake up, everything is far too quiet. I lift myself up, soaked and chilled to the bone. The scent of smoke is stronger than before. I climb my way out of the basement, going through the open ceiling and onto the floor above. The building is collapsing in on itself. As I leave through the shattered window, I cut myself on the glass. There is chaos all around, but the streets are quiet and desolate. People are weeping all around me. Fires everywhere light my way as I go down the street. Suddenly a man grabs me from behind.

“You’re bleeding, young man!” he says. “Come with me, let me help you.”

I jerk away from him. “I’m trying to find someone,” I gasp.

“So is everyone,” he motions around. 

“A doctor,” I pant. “He was supposed to be in that building!” I point back from where I came. “Hans was his name.” I look around, seeing that the damage done is not as extensive as I thought it would be. In fact, it seems isolated to just this street.

The man furrows his brow. “No one has been in that building for a while now,” he murmurs. “Why are you looking for this man?”

“Because he has my friend!” I glare back at the man. “Have you heard of him or not?”

The man shakes his head. “No, I’m afraid I have never heard of a Dr. Goddbar before.”

My expression goes slack and I shake my head. “I...” I take a step back. “I only said his name was Hans.”

The man comes towards me again. “Come along, young Bill,” he says. “You’re bleeding very badly.

“I didn’t tell you-” I whisper as I continue to step back. I then turn to run but I am stopped by men wearing dark coats. I’m struck over the head and knocked to the ground.

“Get him out of here,” I hear someone say as my vision fades to a pinpoint. “No unnecessary messes.”

I grab the ankle of one of the men. “Avery,” I grunt. “Where’s Avery?” My body goes limp as darkness takes over my sight.

I smell smoke in the air and there is blood on my tongue.