For:  Chris

09/17/2008 Prompt Words:  Never – Midnight – Water – Cloud

Chris – Hello again!  Sure you can do this more than once.  Heck, I’m honored that you wanted to come back for more!  I’ll use your “Encounter with Strangers” story idea for this ficlet.

Midnight Encounter – Posted 09/17/2008

Henry had to admit, Paul had thrown one hell of a party.  He turned up his collar and picked up his pace.  The air was brisk and he knew a rain cloud when he saw one, even if it was midnight and dark as pitch.  It was more what he couldn’t see -- the stars -- that gave away the clouds, and it just felt like rain was coming.

He turned down a path that would take him through the park.  The crunch of his footsteps sounded loud as he hurried along the shortcut towards his apartment.

As he scurried through the dim light of the streetlight illuminating the picnic area he heard a voice.  “Hey!  Henry, isn’t it?”

He didn’t recognize the voice but stopped and turned towards the spot where it had originated.  A shadowy figure stepped into the light.  Henry didn’t recognize the man.  He took a step back and looked both directions down the path.  Empty.  Shit.  How had the man known his name?

The man spoke again.  “Yeah, you’re him.  You were at Paul’s party.”

Relief flooded through him.  Paul knew the guy.  Now that he mentioned it Henry did remember seeing him earlier on at the party.  The man had left soon after Henry had arrived, though.

“How’d you know my name?  We weren’t introduced.”

He smiled.  “Asked Paul about you.”

Really?  Paul hadn’t mentioned it.  “You did?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Thought you were cute.”

Cute!?  Fuck that.  ‘Cute’ wasn’t exactly the look he was going for but what the hell…

The guy cocked an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to speak.

“Paul didn’t mention it.”

“I told him not to.”

Why?  The look on his face asked the question for him.

The stranger laughed.  “Wanted to surprise you.”

The hell?  “Surprise me?  Here?  In the fucking park?”  Was Paul in on this shit?  “How do you know Paul anyway and what’s your name?”

The man was still grinning at him.  “Work -- Josh -- and calm down little fella, I don’t bite -- well not unless that’s what you’re into.”

‘Little fella’ wasn’t going to get this guy any further than ‘cute’.  The fact that he was horny as hell and Josh was hotter than fuck might, though.  “Not into biting.”  Figured he’d get that cleared up right away.

Damn Josh had a killer grin.  “So what are you into?”

“With assholes who waylay me in the fucking park at midnight?  ‘Fraid that’s one scenario I’ve never encountered before.”

“Too bad.  It’s fun.”

“Didn’t say I wouldn’t consider it.  Just haven’t done it before.”

“How ‘bout we just keep things simple then.”  He cocked his head, beckoning Henry towards the darkness.

Shit.  He was a friend of Paul.  But still…

Apparently his hesitation didn’t go unnoticed.  “I promise I won’t bite.”

“How about strangle or stab?  I’m not into those either.”

“Jesus, I didn’t bring a resume but you can call Paul if you want.”

Fuck it.  “Never mind, it’s cool.”

Henry tried to look confident as he closed the distance between them.  He could hear water splashing into the fountain as Josh took his hands and leaned towards his ear to whisper.  “You won’t regret this, Henry.  You’ll think about it -- relive it in your mind -- but you’ll never regret it.”

Continued by Ficlet #013