Dark Room; teaching and learning. [Akel/Nakita] M+

[charlie]

For the first time in perhaps four days, Akel was truly at ease with himself.

He had surprised himself, really - no sex for two days, which was something rather profound for him. And, strangely enough, he felt more peaceful because of it.

Currently, the blonde was working in none other than the Dark Room - the supposed 'forbidden' place that could give anybody the creeps. With its bright red lighting and the black-painted walls with random crude phrases etched into the surfaces, topped off with the acrid and acidic smell of the Dektol and Stop Bath chemicals, this could well be the perfect setting for a horror movie.

But the only thing scary here, really, was the imagination.

Leaning against his work station, fiddling with how much the enlarger's light filter exposed the photo paper that was securely in the black folder tucked safely in his arm, Akel certainly did look like he was cheerful and simply trying to work - why else would he be standing there, humming away like he was the happiest boy in the world?

Well, there was always the possibility that he was insane.

Fingers working quickly, it was clear that the blonde was experienced with what he did as a living - the one thing he truly excelled at: Photography. Even in the gloom of the tiny, smelly room, he felt at home, with people working nervously left and right of him. His phobia of the dark stained walls from pranks and illegal sex when the teachers weren't looking had long since passed, and now he seemed to be the little beacon of hope in the growing discomfort of those around him.

Sliding his negative strip of what looked to be a shoe into a small slot at the enlarger he was working at, there was a distinct click as the light suddenly glared, red-tinted, onto what looked to be a blank sheet of paper...but it wasn't going to stay like that for long, no. As soon as he turned around and placed the blank piece of photo paper into the first stage of the developing chemicals, there was only a second of hesitation before the picture immediately began to turn darker, darker - until, to his satisfaction, he was looking at a highly contrasted picture of a black-and-white boy staring back at him with a highly mischievous expression on his face; this, actually, was the exact thing he had been hoping for when he took the picture of the male in the courtyard...that is, after he had sex with them and then tricked them into thinking he was doing the picture for a club or whatever.

Oh, Akel.

Already, his mind was racing away from the room as he slid the picture out of the dark-coloured-developer liquid and into the Stop Bath that would stop the picture from becoming too dark. His thoughts were soon occupied of a bed, somewhere - oh, he didn't know, his dorm for example - and a nameless man, a faceless boy or something kissing him ardently. Just the thought, though, made his uniform slacks seem just a bit too tight; quickly banishing the sordid images from his mind, Akel was soon fighting an inward battle of trying to get rid of his increasing sexual cravings. Politics. Gay marriage ban. Old men.

Eventually, though, it did the trick - and, libido slowly decreasing, he let out a grateful breath and smiled despite himself at his newly-found self control. Aside from the fact that it would be sort of bad for the blonde to start masturbating in a room full of younger boys...he needed to stop being so horny all the time. It couldn't be healthy for him, right? Right, he decided hastily, before his mind could protest and go back to that bedroom scene.

But, as usual, something would definitely set him off and break eventually - and, truly, Akel at that moment felt sorry for whatever poor soul that was.

[marriedinthesunx]

'Be sure to sit up straight, and remember to look people in the eye when you're talking to them.' That worrisome advice now seemed like a distant memory, despite the fact it had only been three days. It continued, as such. 'Smile, and give good firm hand shakes. Mind your manners and be sure to shower every day. Nobody likes a grubby boy.' It wasn't advice, really, it was more like a set of orders. 'Be punctual for class and for meals, don't eat too much junk food, be a friend to everyone, and for the love of God, Nakita, think before you open your mouth.' A kiss to his forehead, a ring of plum lipstick contrasting against pale, unblemished skin. That had been his good bye from his mother. Rules and a kiss. No 'I love yous' or, 'call me this evening,' or 'I'll miss you.' It was all very structured and almost a bit routine. As if this was something they had gone over each and every year of his childhood.

He was left, abandoned, he would go so far as saying, by the immaculate front doors of Eddingborough Private school, his suitcase at his side. The initial shock of being here had been one of tremendous butterflies and, as a result, quite a great deal of vomiting. Nothing could have prepared him for this life. One in which he was monitored and looked after by a faculty. There was no family, there was no friends, there was only a certain sort of agony. The gripping sort that reminded him, after his second evening in his lonely dorm room, that he had chosen this out of his free will.

Nakita was looking for a change and, by God, he got what he wanted.

A first year. A bright eyed, vulnerable, eager to please fifteen year old who, more than anything, just wanted to make some friends. To situate himself somewhere comfortable so he'd finally feel he belonged.

But belonging wasn't what the Greek boy was looking for this mild afternoon. His only real desire was to explore. Eddingborough was a lot bigger than the pamphlet let off and the youth was consistently amazed by the school's grounds. It was more like a maze than anything else. However, that was alright with him. Nakita, or Kida, as he preferred to be called, was rather good with puzzles. Logical, that's what he was. Puzzles were easy, he noted trends, and he enjoyed challenging himself.

Really, it was such a shame he hadn't an ounce of common sense. This, ultimately, would place him in a couple of very sticky situations.

His steps were cautious as he blindly walked forward, head buried in the map and only stilling when he took ten more calculated steps. Here. Right here. Body swiveled to the left, finding himself face to face with a rather large door. Across it a small metal plate addressed it as 'Dark Room.' This was a part of the Art wing and, because he was quite certain that nobody was inside this room on such a nice day, allowed himself inside, closing the door behind him. Foolish boy, he was a lamb closed in a room with a wolf. However, to be fair he hadn't noticed the other boy who was casually at work.

A swift movement, though, was all that was needed before his breath was stolen, the fifteen year old jumping from within his own skin. Some one was most definitely in here as well and, deciding to take his mother's advice to heart, he stepped cautiously forward, demanding himself to be friendly to a boy he really couldn't even quite make out.

Closer.

Another step, tilting his head and finally taking in his surroundings. "Um, hi.." he began, voice clumsy and a little squeaky. Damn it!

Damn puberty.

Damn being an awkward boy!

"I didn't think anyone else was in here, I'm sorry.." Maybe it would be best to leave. Best to high tail it out and intentionally get lost.

Timid little thing.

And despite he announced that he should leave, the baby faced youth stayed put, a little curious now, as to how this worked. "Is it hard?"
Oh, such an ambiguous, innocent question. Sure, he was talking about the process of developing pictures but, perception was reality, right?

He had considered taking this class before, which was why he had travelled this way in the beginning but now...now he wasn't quite so sure this was for him. This room was a little unnerving.

(I got a bit carried away. xD Just wanted to make it good.)

[charlie]

Akel seemed to be so preoccupied with what he was doing that he really hadn't noticed the door to the dark room - which was separated by a curtain to keep the light out from exposing the photo paper - open and close quietly. He also hadn't heard the quiet footsteps on the slightly damp floor, the uncertain tell-tale breath of someone who obviously didn't know how to talk in proper sentences when in the presence of a stranger.

"Um, hi."

With a clatter of the tray in front of Akel from slight surprise, he paused for a second and then wheeled around.

Oh.

Pale eyes taking a moment to adjust properly on the dark figure in front of him, the blonde could immediately tell that this boy - whoever the hell he was - definitely was lacking something in the social department. His eyes raked once, twice down the younger male's body; when he was done and realized that the stranger was quite pretty, he finally chose to speak.

Fickle, as usual.

"Well," he simply said in his usual mellow tone while his lips curved up in an attractive but nevertheless appraising smile, "looks like we were both wrong, then, weren't we?" Good, good. Slightly teasing, maybe the bat of an eye in the other's direction. It wasn't as if Akel were desperate, no...not yet, anyways.

The next words, however, made his eyebrows raise slightly. Instinctively, his hand oh-so-casually wandered over to cover his own crotch - more out of the subconscious feeling that maybe this boy had somehow managed to glimpse what he was thinking for a moment. "Yeah," he breathed out after only a bit of hesitation, "it's hard if you don't know what to do with it."

But perception was reality, right?

But, despite this and what he was really thinking to himself about what he could do with this boy, Akel instantly seemed to lighten up from the overly-sultry mood he was in, with half-hooded eyes and a smile that simply oozed the words 'fuck me' right there, and instead shaped into something more...age appropriate. "I'm Akel, by the way." It was said with less of a wolfish smile this time - after all, he had to be a pleaser for everyone. Who knew how innocent this boy really was, though? You never knew.

But, hell, he was going to find out.

[marriedinthesunx]

Lacking in the social department? That was probably the nicest way to put it. Nakita Peterson was absolutely dreadful when it came to confrontation and conversation alike. Making friends had always been hard for him and was always an easy target for bullying. Thus the transfer to Eddingborough was put into action.

Bright eyes were unflinching underneath the gaze of the other boy who seemed particularly skeptical from under his light hair. Body shifted anxiously, arms crossing heavily over his chest and taking another one of those ever so timid steps forward, as if he were approaching some kind of rare bird. However, in this case it was as if he was approaching a wild cat. It was just so stupid, but the boy honestly didn't know any better at this point. Not everyone had to be a concern at first meeting, right?

A thick swallow was managed, "I..I didn't mean to startle you," the blond began, words rushing into one another and feeling like a complete idiot all over again. Perhaps it would be best if he just kept his mouth shut. After all, then he couldn't mess this up. Often, he was told that he was really cute until he opened his mouth. His heart was pounding within his chest, slightly bothered by that cool, casual voice. Envious of that confidence, envious of that simple capability to talk without feeling ridiculous.

No words were granted to that question, simply shrugging his shoulders and finding himself perhaps only three steps away from the older boy and peering over to get a glimpse of what he had been working on. Nose wrinkled, however, at the mention of the difficulty of photography. "Oh, I guess.." he added, completely unaware of what the other could have possibly been hinting too and allowing his arms to drop like dead weights at his sides.

"Akel," he repeated upon receiving the name, head tilting. That was quite possibly the strangest names he had ever heard in his entire life. It sounded more like a mechanic's tool than anything else. Pass me the wrench, pass me the hammer, pass me the ackel. However, he didn't voice this. After all, why would he make himself all the more distinguished. "Kida," he finished, realizing that the name had probably been offered simply to get his own name.

How innocent was this boy?
Oh, it was pathetic.

No hand holding, no precious first kisses.

Such a little baby.

[charlie]

Oh, this boy was just too adorable. Anyone who even glanced at him could tell that - pathetic, cute, vulnerable. Akel was even half-tempted to say something like 'Wolf! Wolf!' all of the sudden...it was then he was reminded that, unfortunately, since this boy seemed so incredibly naive, he was also most likely one of those people who couldn't carry conversations if their lives depended on it.

Well, then. It was time to make the poor soul a bit less innocent, wasn't it?

Instantly, the person-like Akel was gone - this time, replaced by what this so-called 'Kida' had witnessed only a moment before. His eyes, which seemed almost cat-like in the dark, were now fixed on the male's face...almost like he was deciding whether to bend him over on the table over where people hung prints to dry up, or to do it right then and there. Or the dorm room? But he let the boy come closer, one step, two steps, closer to the bomb that was known as the older male...just waiting to go off.

"Kida. Pretty name," he purred out, voice terribly inviting - pleasant, buttery, soft and asking the other to come toward him like he was Casanova or something. "want me to show you just how hard it really is?" Who knew what he was really referring to? But the innuendo that hung in the air with the steady smell of chemicals was alarmingly high, as if it was screaming at Kida to get the hell out. But no, even underneath that red light, Akel was all smiles and wit and charm as he even held out his hand just a bit further to the male, who seemed to be debating on whether or not to leave.

Not that Akel would let him, now that he was here.

Finally, after several seconds of slightly uncomfortable silence, he inwardly seemed to lose patience and shuffled forward, oh-so-casually - reaching out with that same hand, the same expression on his face...the face of an angel.

Well, an angel that was about to jump him, but still.

Very gently, he slipped an arm around the slightly taller male's shoulder, a comforting gesture at best and something just to test how well the other would react at worst.

It was only a test, only a test.

[marriedinthesunx]

Conversations were difficult for boys like Kida. If anything, he only really spoke to ask questions, and the good Lord knew that he had many, many questions. Questions that were sometimes inappropriate, obscure or completely offensive without him even realizing it. Oh, and he was walking into Akel's trap without a whole lot of knowledge of what he'd be getting himself into. Lower lip was sucked into his mouth, pearly teeth grating down on the thick skin and murmuring a polite, 'thank you,' when he was given such a very sweet compliment. A compliment that was loaded with intentions the first year would never even begin to understand.

After all, the boy had never had a date, had never been kissed, had never had a 'moment' with anyone before and how could he possibly know what was and wasn't normal behavior? One thing was for sure, the mood seemed to shift rather quickly from within in the dark room and it made the boy's heart pound a little faster. This would be a perfect setting for a horror movie, was anyone aware of this?

God, and by this point his heartbeat wasn't only in his chest but in his ears and finger tips as well.


This was the worst place for him to be, but he was doing what he was told too. He was being polite, he was making friends. Paha. Friends with Akel? Was anyone friends with that boy, really? A step back was taken as of suddenly, just for his own comfort-sake, but it seemed useless. After all, a second later the older boy just floated forward and before Kida could dodge the other, an arm wrapped around his shoulders.

Eyes widened immediately and from beneath Akel, he jumped within his own body. Color was suddenly painted quite vividly in his cheeks and a rather confused, bittersweet expression was left for Akel to make out from in the dark. "I...I..I have to...to keep, um, I.."

Pamphlet dropped from his left hand and in a moment he was down on the ground, patting it blindly to pick up his map. After all, if he was going to get out of here and SOON, he needed to find his dorm room quickly.

Intimidated? Oh yeah.

[charlie]

Mouth quirking into another one of those pretty, slightly intimidating smiles, Akel silently reveled in just how uncomfortable he was making the poor boy. Of course, he was kidding towards his real intentions…he wasn’t that desperate, preying on little first-years and trying to get them into his bed. No—he would wait until they were older, could rebel more, would know just how beautiful kissing and sexual intercourse could be.

All the more worthwhile to teach the innocent, in his opinion.

Letting the other stutter, mumble what he wanted, Akel couldn’t even make sense of what he was saying—but, no, he didn’t care. He was too busy laughing by now; it was a soft, almost musical sound that sounded eerie as it reverberated around the painted and vandalized walls and back down to press on the obviously nervous Kida. But what was to be so scared of? The only other person in the room was Akel…

Oh, right. Akel. No wonder why the poor younger male was blushing.

Finally letting his hand off of the slightly taller boy as he hastily bent down to retrieve something off of the ground, Akel’s attitude seemed to completely shift again by the time the other came back up. “I meant about photography, silly goose. You’re a first year, I’m guessing, from that map.” His voice now was gentle, friendly, almost sympathetic as his brow creased slightly—yes, even though he was pretty much deemed a slut and a whore, Akel wasn’t a cruel bitch of a person. He could easily relate to how Kida probably felt at the moment…the very strangeness of being so independent, away from your parents, free and with a school of horny and generally pretty boys. But maybe he shouldn’t have displayed just how quick of a mood change he could have, especially for first impressions—people could potentially assume bipolar disorder.

Still, though, he took his chances and didn’t settle for touching any part of the boy—for now. Who knew how long he could last before something in that dark room happened?

[marriedinthesunx]

Down on the floor he felt a hell of a lot more safe, which was foolish, really-- because it wasn't as if that would keep Akel at bay. Fingers continued to pad along the ground and only stilled when he realized his map had been picked up by his companion who was now standing upright. A deep, shaky breath was inhaled and he stood back up, brushing off his knees and flushing deeply when the other boy began speaking to him. He wasn't scared of Akel, to be honest, more so he was scared of what the other made him feel when entirely and utterly alone. It made his stomach uncertain and an unfamiliar flip flopping began. "Y-yeah," he assured now, eyes glued to his map and feeling a little more at ease now that the blond's voice had a more soothing edge.

It was comforting to be talked too so gently, and he found his breathing to even out within those few seconds. "I..I wouldn't mind seeing how it's done," he added, fiddling with his own hair now and offering a timid smile. He was an emotional time bomb, was it really wise to get involved with a first year? Probably not, but it didn't seem as if Akel had any real problems with it. "I mean, I won't touch anything, I promise.."

He had been rude, he had been stupid, and making friends certainly was harder than he ever anticipated it to be. "I mean, someday I'll probably try," he mused now, words seeming to become a bit more fluent now that the climate of the room wasn't so very sultry.

"I'm a real fast learner, too."

Poor thing didn't even realize the majority of his words had a double meaning.

[charlie]

All in all, this was actually really...different, from what Akel would normally experience - but, hey, then again, the very idea of being in a dark room with a stranger who served as a fifteen-year-old stuttering and stumbling boy was pretty much rare in a place like this...or so he thought. Who knew?

Well, maybe he could make the situation different in a couple of minutes. They would have to see.

"It's actually pretty simple," he started off, voice all business as he finally got down to the point of explaining what to do in his favourite subject - although, truthfully, the way he talked about it made it seem far more interesting than it really was. Soon, he was rambling off on how to take pictures, load the film, develop it, and without even realizing it was half-way across the dark room and had left the other behind by now. Huh? When had that happened?

Still, though, he continued in a call to Kida, waving him over with his own map. "Finally," he said with a drawing conclusion hinting at his voice, "After you pass it through the paper fixer for no less than five minutes, you need to let the picture soak in the tub of running water right here so that the photo won't get cloudy and purple from still having chemicals on it. Got it?"

Not expecting an answer, though, he allowed a small pause of silence to engulf them. "And then," he added in a much quieter voice, "and then...well, this room's used for many things other than photography." Shrugging, the red lights from above glaring onto his skin and that of the other boy's, he was soon standing next to Kida at a comfortable distance. "Sex, suicides, rape...and then there's the horror stories." Oh, yes. Akel had heard enough to fill up a bucket through his time at Eddingborough - though, even though his voice had taken a sinister quality and had dropped down to a pleasant but nevertheless hair-raising tone, he was, of course, joking.

Right?