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"Then Cloke said to Judy that she was nothing more than a coke-addicted whore, his words not mine, and then she punched him right across the face!" Bunny repeated the story he had heard at lunch time to Henry, now sitting cross-legged on his stoic friends bed while Henry sat at his desk working on some homework.
"Oh really? Who is Judy?" Henry was only listening slightly as usual, but it was enough to keep Bunny happy.
"Judy Poovey, to Cloke's fairness she is a coke-addicted whore."
"I don't think I've met her."
"No, I don't imagine you would have. She isn't very nice, you should avoid her."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Bunny yawned.
"Are you tired, Bun?"
"A bit."
"You go off to bed then. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Henry."
"Goodnight, Bun."
Bunny woke up at two in the morning to the sound of the front door opening. When he went to investigate, he found that Henry, Henry's keys, and Henry's car were all missing. He decided it was probably nothing, so forgot about it and went back to bed.
...
"Good job, Bunny, that's it all correct now." Henry handed Bunny back his page of translations.
"Thanks, Hen. I don't know what I'd do without you, Old Man."
"Are you tired?"
"Not really."
"No, me neither."
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious."
"Okay."
"Do you want to get a drink?"
"Bit late, I think."
"Maybe. I'm going to get some Scotch."
"Alright. What time is it exactly?"
"It's eleven-thirty."
"Oh, maybe I should go to bed."
"If you want to, of course."
"I do. I'll see you tomorrow, Old Man. Have a goodnight."
"Goodnight, Bunny."
Again, Bunny was woken up at two a.m. to the front door opening and the soft sound of Henry's car starting up and driving off. He wondered where Henry was going, it being a full week since his last late-night departure. He decided that if Henry did this one more time, he would follow him on the next.
...
"Thanks for dinner, Henry." Bunny grinned, picking up both of their plates and disposing of them by the sink.
"No problem, Bun." Henry smiled softly. He enjoyed cooking rather a lot, it was a fact about him that not many people knew. Occasionally he would cook dinner for both him and Bunny, and they would sit down together and chat. They both enjoyed these small events.
"I'll sort the dishes, don't worry about them."
"Thank you."
"It's alright."
Bunny stayed in the kitchen to do the dishes, and Henry went to the living room to read Homer. They reunited when it was ten o'clock to sit in Henry's room for homework-and-gossip, Henry working while Bunny spoke about whatever interested him at the time. Time passed by slowly and peacefully for an hour.
"Goodnight Bunny." Henry waved as Bunny stood up from Henry's bed.
"Goodnight, Henry. Have good dreams."
This time Bunny didn't go to sleep in the first place. It was an exact week since Henry's most recent escapade, so he expected him to go on another one. He was right. It was one-thirty this time that the front door opened and closed, and the car drove away. Bunny decided that the next time this happened, he was going to find a way to follow Henry. He didn't have a good feeling about whatever was happening.
...
Bunny followed Henrys car, and saw it had wound up in the school parking lot. He had lost sight of Henry, so decided to just go to the most likely place. Greek class.
He stood outside the door to hear anything happening inside, incase he walked in on an empty classroom. The lights were off, and it was silent, so it sounded very likely.
But then he picked up on whispered, barely audible through the door, voices. One was clearly Henry, the other was possibly Julian. He could only hear the voices, not the words they were speaking.
Bunny cracked the door open a sliver. Neither Henry or Julian noticed. Bunny looked through the gap and could see faint shadows on the wall in front of him, but not much. He could hear a babble of parts of words, but that wasn't much more help than before. He carefully and quietly opened the door and stepped inside. The old man and the young man didn't notice. Bunny saw everything.
Julian was kissing Henry's chest, while Henry had his hands in Julian's hair. They were both naked. A part of Julian was inside a part of Henry.
Bunny knocked on the door beside him to make his presence known. The two on the floor looked up at the source of the noise in panic.
They scarpered apart, and hastily grabbed for their clothes.
"Henry, can you come with me for a minute?" Bunny asked, keeping his voice as nonchalant as possible.
"Bunny, what did you see?" Julian asked.
"What do you mean, Julian? Was there something to see?"
"No. There wasn't." Julian said pointedly. "Nothing at all."
"Henry."
"I'm coming now, hold on, Bun." Henry tied his shoe laces and got up before walking over to the door where Bunny stood waiting. He shared a look with Julian before leaving with Bunny.
The friends walked in silence to the car. They drove all of the way home in silence. They walked into the apartment and into the living room in silence. They sat down beside each other on the sofa.
"Bunny, what were you doing there?" Henry asked, his voice soft.
"What were you doing there? What were you both doing?"
"You need to understand that that wasn't anything wrong, okay?"
"But, he was in you-"
"Please don't be crude."
"Sorry, but you get my point. Henry, he is fifty-seven years old. You are twenty-one."
"So?"
"That is a thirty-six year age difference."
"What does that matter?"
"When he was the age you are right now, you were still fifteen years away from being born."
"Age doesn't matter, Bun. We are both adults."
"How did it begin?"
"How do you mean?"
"When was the first time something along those lines happened between you both?"
"September."
"And what happened then?"
"The same as what happened tonight."
"Did you consent to it?"
"How do you mean?"
"Did you want to have sex with him?"
"Yes."
"The first time?"
"No one is sure of anything the first time they do it."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Not really."
"Henry..." Bunny trailed off, finding the words incredibly difficult to say. "Henry, he raped you."
"What? Don't be ridiculous Bunny."
"He did. You didn't want to have sex with him, but he did it anyway. That's rape."
"Men don't get raped, Bun."
"Yes they do."
"They don't."
"They do. My brother Hugh was raped by his english teacher when he was thirteen, she was forty-six. That was rape."
"He was a child, that is rape. I am an adult."
"Henry, why don't you believe it could happen to you?"
"Julian wouldn't hurt me, Bunny. You don't understand that."
"Oh, Henry." Bunny frowned. "Come here, would you?"
"What for?"
"Because you're my best friend and I care for you." Bunny put his arms around Henry and embraced him. "Do you want to talk about this more?"
"Not really."
"Will you at least think about what I have said? Try to understand what I'm talking about?"
"Okay." Henry sighed. "But I don't agree with you."
"Okay. But at least think about it. Think about how you really feel about it. About the first time you slept together. Just think about everything."
"Alright."
"And, Henry?"
"Yes?"
"I'm always here when you need me. Anything that you want to talk about at all, or if you want me to do something that will help you, I will do my best to help you, okay?"
"Okay." Henry smiled softly and embraced his blonde friend. "Thank you, Bun. I know you mean well."
"Goodnight Henry, get some sleep."
"Goodnight Bunny."
...
"Julian."
"Bunny, how are you?" Julian smiled when Bunny waltzed into the room for class, despite the fact the young man was ten minutes late.
"Please call me Edmund."
"Edmund, eh? Grown tired of 'Bunny'?" Julian grinned, attempting a joke.
"No, it's only that 'Bunny' is reserved for my friends, people my age, my family." Bunny smiled the most fake smile he had ever smiled. "I'm sure you understand."
"Yes, of course." Julian nodded, visibly uncomfortable and nervous.
They got on with class with nothing too odd or strange happening. When it ended, Julian asked for Henry and Bunny to stay an extra few minutes.
"Are you okay, Edmund?" Julian made a point of the blonds name.
"Yes, why?"
"You have been acting strange for the entire class."
"Have I? Observant."
"Is there a reason for this behavior?"
"What behavior?"
"You are somewhat hostile today, Bunny."
"I told you to call me Edmund."
"There is my point."
Without missing a beat, Bunny answered. "I prefer to not be called my nickname by pedophiles."
Julian was silent.
"Bunny, he isn't a pedophile." Henry murmured. "And you shouldn't say that so loud, someone might hear and take it seriously."
"Explain how he is not a pedophile because from what I saw, he is."
"It wasn't what it looked like, Edmund." Julian looked rather scared now.
"Then what was it? You lay on the floor together to read? You were kissing your students chest to teach him Greek? You put a part of you into a part of him to further his education?"
"Bunny, please-" Henry frowned.
"What?"
"Let's go back home."
"I want to talk about this."
"I don't." Henry murmured, now quiet enough that only Bunny could hear. Julian, who could not hear, looked nervous. "You said you were there for me. You'd do anything for me that would help me. Leaving now would be very helpful. Please."
Bunny reluctantly nodded. "Fine. Let's go." He turned his attention back to Julian. "I don't like you. Henry is the only reason I haven't reported you yet. If Henry decides he wants to report you, or he tells me something that hints to me that you've hurt him in any way, I will not hesitate. Do you understand?"
"This is blackmail."
"Yes, it is. Good job. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Julian nodded. "Alright, fine."
"Goodbye." Bunny took a gentle hold of Henrys arm and steered him out of the classroom. They walked to Henry's car quietly and passed no one they knew.
"Bun?" Henry asked when they reached the car.
"Yes?"
"Can you drive? I don't want to right now."
"Okay." Bunny took the car keys and got into the drivers seat. Henry sat shotgun.
They drove for a while with the radio as the only sound. Eventually Bunny sighed.
"I'm sorry, Henry."
"Why?"
"I'm just so angry at him. To think he did all of that to you..."
"He didn't do anything to me, Bun." Henry frowned. "Nothing worth a fuss anyway. We were both adults, even the first time when I wasn't sure about it. It's not a big deal."
"Oh Henry, someday you'll see it how I see it. How anyone who walked in on it would see it. Then you'll realize just how bad it's been for you. Now you're too used to it, numb to it even, because you're in it, doing it. When you stop it you'll realize."
"I think it has stopped now."
"Has it?"
"Well he'll hardly want me now that he thinks you'll walk in and report him."
"Is that really such a bad thing?"
Henry didn't answer, not even a snort of a laugh.
"Henry?"
"I really love him, Bunny." Henry whispered, as if he was scared to say it too loud.
"Don't say that Henry. He groomed you. You don't love him. Not really."
"It feels like I do."
"I know it does now, but it won't later. You'll find a nice guy or gal who will be in the right age category, and will truly care about you."
"I'm not so sure."
"I am. Don't worry, Henry. You're going to be okay. I promise."
"Thanks, Bun."
...
"Bunny?"
"Hello, Francis old man! What's up?"
"Can I talk to you?"
"Alright. Is something wrong?"
"I'm here to ask you that very question."
"Why's that?"
"Did something happen between you and Julian?"
"How do you mean?"
"Making him call you 'Edmund'? That's a big deal, no?"
"Is it?"
"Most people assume you're called Bunny because you get called it so often, no one calls you Edmund, not even your parents."
"My mum does."
"Come on, Bun, you know I'm right. Something has happened." Francis rolled his eyes. "Has he hurt you?"
"No." Bunny frowned. He had the urge to tell Francis what was happening, for someone to know what was going on. It was a lot for him to be the only one who knew apart from Henry and Julian themselves. But he couldn't do that Henry. "He hasn't."
"Annoyed you?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Nothing has happened, Franny, truly. I just wanted him to call me Edmund. More formal."
"But you aren't formal."
"But I am a student, and it is improper to be so informal with a teacher."
"Julian's not like most teachers, he's like a friend."
"No friend of mine." Bunny said indignantly before he could stop himself.
"So something did happen?" Francis laughed. Henry entered the room and quirked his eyebrow as he took the armchair beside them.
"What has happened?" He asked, looking curiously at Francis.
"I'm asking Bunny about his new-found hatred for Julian, but he won't tell me what happened." Francis explained.
"Nothing happened, Franny, again." Bunny rolled his eyes. "How many times must I say it."
"Then why, Bunny? I'm not so dumb to believe you just want to 'be formal'."
"And so what if I do want to be formal?"
"I don't believe you do."
"Well, too bad then."
"Bunny." Francis changed his playful tone to serious and kind. "If he has done anything to hurt you, you should tell us. We'll help you out, right Henry?"
"Yes." Henry nodded. "Sure."
"How did he hurt you, Bun? Did he touch you?"
"Woah, no." Bunny exclaimed. "I would never let him, don't be absurd."
"Did he hit you?"
"Again I wouldn't let him. Just drop it, Francis. Nothing happened."
"If you say so. I will find the truth, though. I always do."
"I have no doubt." Bunny stood and rolled his eyes. "Henry, will you drive me home?"
"Yes, I was going there anyway." He stood as well, looking dazed and deep in thought. "Goodbye Francis."
"Goodbye Henry, Bunny."
The pair didn't talk until they were safely in the car.
"Thank you for not telling him. Francis is a frightful gossip."
"He is isn't he." Bunny laughed. "But he means well. He did want to help."
"Hm. Maybe. But you can't tell anyone, you know that right?"
"Of course I do. I won't tell anyone unless you tell me you want me to. I promise."
"Thank you."
They were quiet for a while, before Bunny next spoke.
"Henry?"
"Bunny."
"Can I ask something? You don't have to answer if it's too personal."
"You already know the most personal thing about me."
"Yes, it's about that."
"Of course it is. Go ahead."
"The first time, how did that happen?"
"What do you mean?"
"Who initiated it, why, when, where, all of that."
"This isn't so you can further blackmail him, is it?" Henry raised an eyebrow.
"No." Bunny shook his head. "Just curious. And it wasn't blackmail."
"It was. But okay." Henry smiled fondly. "It was September the fifteenth. The afternoon after our fifth class with him."
"He kept you behind."
"He did. We sat down and spoke about our favourite Greek writers. I said Plato, but he introduced me to Homer, telling me he was much better."
"You love Homer."
"So does he."
"Is that why you love Homer?"
"Maybe partially. Anyway, we stayed there for an hour just talking in Greek. It was magnificent. Then he- well, I won't be crude and describe it too much- he just got closer and began to kiss me."
"What did you do?"
"Well, I tried to push him off. I wasn't sure about it. He just took hold of my hands with his own to keep me from pushing him off. Then he, I suppose the word would be 'straddled', he sat down with his legs over mine, on my lap facing me."
"Then what?"
"We kissed some more. Then he took my clothes off me."
"How did you react to that?"
"I suppose I told him not to, but he said it was fine, it would be worth it when I experienced it. So I obeyed him."
"Was it?"
"Worth it? I suppose it was. It wasn't too bad, it was good actually."
"Did any part of it not feel good?"
"I don't want to get in to details."
"Not in the act itself, Henry." Bunny went red. "I mean morally, emotionally, all that."
"I don't know." He paused to think. "I guess I felt somewhat 'dirty' afterwards? But it was my first time doing anything of that nature with anyone of any gender, so that was probably the reason."
"Oh, Hen." Bunny frowned. They were now back at the house. "Let's go inside, okay? I'll get you a scotch."
"Okay."
When they were back in the living room and they each had a drink, Bunny sat down beside Henry.
"Why do you love Julian?"
"What an odd question."
"Can you answer it or do you want it worded differently."
"Of course I can answer it." Henry rolled his eyes. "I just do."
"Is that an answer, Mr Literal-Genius?" Bunny laughed. "I'm not sure."
"What do you want me to say? I love him because we're going to get married? I love him because he's really good at sex? I love him because he's the one who's there for me above everyone else? I love him because he fills some gap my father left in my life by hitting me?"
"Are you getting married?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You said it, not me."
"As a way to show you how ridiculous it is, Bun." Henry laughed. "I just do. That's the answer."
"And do you think he loves you?"
Henry was quiet. "Does that matter?" He managed to mumble after a minute.
"Depends if you think it matters or not."
"I don't know."
"You done talking about this for the day?"
"Yeah. I'm going to make dinner." He stood up. Bunny stood up as well, and threw his arms around his slightly taller friend.
They stood in the embrace for a while. Maybe it was a minute, maybe it was several. Neither of them knew, or minded how long it went on. They clung to each other as if they were each others raft.
"I love you, Henry. You're my best friend." Bunny said softly into his friends ear.
Henry hesitated. "I love you too, Bun."
Of course Bunny meant it platonically, he couldn't know that to hear him say those words hit Henry in the gut. Henry did love him, but as more than a friend. It was part of the reason he went to Julian. If he blocked out the smell of tea and sage, he could almost smell Bunny's aftershave and the scotch he was always stealing from Henry's stash. It wasn't the whole reason, certainly, but it was part of it.