A/N Hello everyone! It's me again::yay:: I come bearing a story. A wonderful, slashy story, that I wrote for a friend (I think, and if not well, it's his now) and decided to post. It was a one-shot but was much too long to post as such, so I made it a suspenseful, chapter story to make up for the lack of postage on Shining Star. I'm working on a headache at the moment, so if I missed a mistake in this message, my apologies, but I think we'll all live.

Let me know what you think. This is one of my faves, not sure why, but it is. I hope you enjoy, and yes, I LOVE feedback. I don't know many that don't. Concrit please. Flames are pointless because there's always the back button if you don't like it.

Warnings: Slash, angst, blood, angst, depression, angst...and Umm...slash and angst. Yup.

It Started with an Accident...

There he was. Gorgeous, stunning, that red hair perfect and cascading down his back, his skin flawless, his suit finely pressed, his walk smooth and calculated...He was gorgeous…and Azure couldn’t stop staring.

The CEO of the company he was interning for the year was gorgeous, drop dead gorgeous, and even though he seemed like a nice man, and everyone he spoke to said Lexis was wonderful to be around, Azure didn’t have the guts to approach him. So he contented himself with watching from afar, indulging in a glimpse when he was running around and dropping off paperwork. But other than that he ignored him. There had been plenty of times when Lexis had said ‘good morning’, or ‘good evening’ and Azure acted like he hadn’t heard him at all.

It wasn’t that Azure was ashamed for having a crush on his boss…it was more or less that he was too shy and timid to act on any feelings he had. He’d lost his chance at a few good boyfriends because of that one. He figured he had a right to be shy and unsure. He was small, couldn’t defend himself very well, and he knew he was attractive. In his eyes he was the perfect target and he wanted to avoid that. So yes, a lot of people said Lexis was really nice….but how could Azure be sure of that?

He was caught by green eyes. Beautiful green eyes. Azure turned his gaze and shifted through the papers and folders and envelopes, plucking all those that were labeled Barlow. He flopped them in the in box for the man and jumped when he actually chuckled.

“Thank you, Mr. Prescott. Have a wonderful evening,” said Lexis grinning a bit. Azure didn’t look up. He nodded his head in vague comprehension and walked away, hurrying down the row of offices, exhaling in relief. He hated being trapped by that man, by his beauty, his sweet voice, his soft words. He sighed as he dropped more papers off in the next office and just continued on.

Lexis frowned heavily when Azure ignored him once again, batting away the contemplation of catching up with the young man and asking him why. He’d been yearning to ask him for months and never drew up the courage to do so. He didn’t want to throw himself at Azure if the man didn’t like him, that would be rude. So he resigned himself to continue with his little hellos and goodbyes, and let the beautiful man ignore him if that’s what he wanted.

oO:Oo:oO:Oo

“Hey, Azure, you wanna go out with the guys and me tonight?” asked Jace, Azure’s friend from school who’d managed to get an intern slot at the same place.

Azure shrugged. “I dunno, Jace, I’m not into going out.”

Jace snorted. “Yes you are, you just don’t like being hit on by the weirdos. Would it help if I said we’re not going to a gay bar tonight?” he asked, pushing the cart while Azure filed through the papers.

The amber-eyed man looked up at his friend and arched a shapely brow. “You mean tell me we’re not going to one, and then when I go we’re suddenly at one? I don’t trust you anymore, you’ve pulled that one on me way too much,” he said, dumping some papers in an in box.

Jace ticked his tongue. “Oh, c’mon, Az, I only did that once, I did not do it ‘too much’ and it was only because Kim wanted to go. Lighten up will you. The guy that was hitting on you was hot, anyway, I mean, it wasn’t like it was some creepy old guy.”

Azure rolled his eyes. “Yeah, he was attractive, and the most romantic place he could think to ask me to was the dumpster behind the place. No thanks.”

Jace blew it off. “The guy was drunk, give him a break. Maybe you’ll get lucky and meet him some time when he’s not drunk.”

Azure sighed. “Jace, no. I don’t want some random guy, all right, I’m not after sex, I can do just fine on my own. I want something more than that, and I know I’m not going to find it at a bar or a club or anything so…no,” he said, grabbing the last package and flopping it on the receptionist’s desk. The lady there smiled and Azure smiled back, turning back to his friend and grabbing the cart. “I’m not going out tonight, I don’t feel like it. I just want to go home, get some rest, and that it.”

Jace sighed and shook his head, staring at his friend through eyes of pity. “You really do need to lighten up more, Az and….and get over this latest,” he said, whispering it a bit.

Azure blushed and humphed. “What latest. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Good evening, Gentlemen. Excellent work this evening, Mr. Prescott, got everything I needed,” said their CEO as he walked by. As usual Azure pretended not to notice him and as usual Lexis sighed a bit and looked a little less than himself as he continued on to drop off the reports he’d just received.

Jace gave Azure a knowing look. “Uh-huh…don’t know what I’m talking about, huh? You lying little shit,” he said, an amused smirk on his face.

Azure huffed. “Fuck off, Jace, I don’t need you getting nosey and shit again, all right. Just let me be the adult I am and live my own life,” he said, and he hurried off in the other direction with the cart.

He ended up going home alone that night, grabbing some take-out on the way and renting a couple of movies. This was an almost daily occurrence, Azure picking things up as he went then sitting home alone for the night and eventually passing out because he was so tired. Every night. Occasionally he’d go see his parents, and sometimes his sister and his cousins, but most of the time it was just him, alone, at home, with his action movies and sometimes porn. Getting off on porn was not as fulfilling as he hoped.

Work was lame the next day. Azure was stuck listening to Jace talk about his latest trick and it only served to piss him off and point out that Jace had lied to him about not going to a gay club.

“No, if you’d been there I’d have gone to a regular joint, but you didn’t come so I thought I’d indulge,” he said with a smirk.

“Yeah, well all your indulgings are gunna reward you with AIDS or something, so please, keep on,” said Azure, typing up a memo he’d been asked to edit and send around.

Jace frowned. “You need to get laid bad, my friend. When was the last time you had a night of good, hot sex? Hmm….wasn’t it never?” he teased, grinning when Azure reached over and tried to smack him.

“It wasn’t never, I’ve had sex before, so lay off,” he said, making a few corrections.

“Yay, but how long’s it been? You might as well be a virgin. I know the only guy you ever fucked,” he said like talking about sex in the middle of the office was a natural daily occurrence. Azure landed his smack this time and tugged him down to face level by his tie.

“Jace, just shut up, all right. I’m not a virgin, you don’t know the only guy I fucked, so shove it and lay off.”

“Get laid—ouch! What the fuck, whatever,” said Jace, rubbing his shoulder as he angrily stood and headed back for his cubicle. Azure thanked the gods and went back to work.

“Oh, Mr. Prescott,” came a familiar voice. He looked up and blushed when he saw the CEO, quickly looking back to what he was doing. The man stopped in the doorway to his cubicle and forced a grin, even though he wanted to frown at the way he was dismissed. He leaned in and brandished a cup of coffee. “You like coffee, right? You want this?” he asked, rather familiarly.

Azure shrugged and his throat felt suddenly dry. “Sure,” he mumbled, typing quickly in attempts to look as busy as possible. He heard the man set the coffee down, along with something crinkling, and jumped a little when he was addressed again.

“Do you have a problem with me, Mr. Prescott?”

“No, sir, not at all. I’m just…busy.” It was the most he’d spoken to the man the entire time he’d been there, and though it made him feel incredibly stupid, it made Lexis smile.

“Okay…Let me know if there’s anything you need, Mr. Prescott. You’re one of the only interns I haven’t spoken to yet.”

Azure nodded, not looking up. “Yes sir, Mr. Barlow.” Lexis just nodded and headed back to his office, glad that his gift of coffee and the few chocolates he snuck in was somewhat accepted.

Azure stopped what he was doing when he was sure the man was far enough away, and looked to the desk next to him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth when he saw the large coffee, a special from the nice coffee shop down the way, and a few little pieces of chocolate. He’d wanted to stop at that coffee shop and try it but it was really expensive.

Carefully, he picked up the large coffee, puzzling over why he’d been given it, and sipped the liquid cautiously. It was hot and he hissed when it hit his tongue, quickly putting it down and taking off the cap. He picked up a chocolate while it cooled and smiled at the brand. It was a luxury chocolate, dark and rich and creamy. He’d only had it once and it was heaven to eat. He popped a piece and crooned happily as it melted on his tongue. He was seriously falling for this guy.

When the end of the day finally got there Azure had gotten everything done he’d needed to for the day and was exhausted. Jace had continued to bother him until he’d just about snapped, and he was so exasperated that he couldn’t wait to go home.

For some strange reason everyone seemed to leave at the same time that day, most people chatting and laughing and carrying on as they headed out and towards the parking lot. No one was particularly sure how it happened. No one was paying attention, especially not Azure, and when the car came speeding through, and people jumped out of the way, Azure was jostled and tripped back into the street.

“Azure!”

It was no one person shouting the name, but two men shouting above the rest, and running towards the fallen man while others were whipping out cell phones and trying to calm friends and coworkers that were panicking, especially the one driving the car.

Jace dropped to his knees next to his fallen friend, panicking at the sight of his blood. He was face down and mangled and part of Jace knew he should get him on his back, the other part screaming at him, telling him not to touch him.

“Roll him over, his face is….he could drown,” came a voice before the person appeared. Jace didn’t really see who it was, only felt enraged when the person grabbed Azure in a manner that to him looked rough, and rolled him onto his back.

“Be careful! What the fuck are you thinking! Oh gawd…” Jace screamed and then closed his eyes and covered his face when he saw Azure’s. This wasn’t happening.

Lexis’ frown was heavy as he stared at the man on the ground, grabbing his handkerchief, one that was simply supposed to be for decoration, and carefully wiped at Azure’s face, cleaning it a bit before he quickly pressed the cloth to the gaping wound on his head. “The ambulance will be here shortly,” he said, his voice low. He wondered if it was for Jace or for himself. He couldn’t believe this was happening.

The ambulance arrived within the minute, though for a lot of people it felt like eternity. Jace and Lexis were shoved aside and Azure was flooded by paramedics until he disappeared into the back of the ambulance and was rushed to the hospital. By this time Jace was on the phone with Azure’s family, telling them details, while Lexis was pulled from his minor shock and cleaned up. People were starting to slowly migrate home and both Jace and Lexis got rides.