Bad Seed
folder
1 through F › Empire Records
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
1
Views:
1,663
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
1 through F › Empire Records
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
1
Views:
1,663
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Empire Records, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Bad Seed
Title: Bad Seed
Author: ED Mitchell
Pairing: Joe/Lucas
Rating: FRT
Summary: Lucas tells his version of that day.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction for them. I'd have made it CANON!
Warnings: Slash.
I told them that my mother left me because I was a "bad seed" but that's not the entire truth. You see, she called me a bad seed, because her latest boyfriend decided that he'd rather screw her kid than her. For three years, I rotted in that orphanage.
"Are you sure that you want to take him? He's never been out of here in the three years since his mom left him here."
"Is he a problem child?"
"He's not so much a problem child, as he hasn't ever acted like a child since he got here. He keeps mostly to himself, only speaking when spoken to."
"Let me talk to him. I'll let you know in a few."
When he first came to speak to me, he still had his wife with him. She kept urging him to take me away, get me out of there. I think she could tell immediately that Joe would never be hers, not the way she wanted him to be. When she saw me, she ran up and gave me a big hug, simply telling him, "He's coming with us."
I was thirteen when I went to live with them. By 15, his wife had found love with another woman, and Joe... Joe didn't know what to do. It seemed that she'd always been by his side, and now she wasn't. They stayed friends; after all, she treated me like I really was her son, and Joe still took great care of me.
By the time I was sixteen, I knew why I had stayed Joe. As much as his wife treated me well, Joe had something else entirely going for him. Joe was... special. I knew I had fallen in love with him. But, just as I knew I loved Joe, I knew that I could never tell him. That's part of why my world crumbled after graduation.
I graduated at seventeen. I turned 18 about a month later. I knew I needed to get away from Joe. So, as soon as I could, I got my own place. I couldn't stand being that close to the man I loved and yet not have him.
He gave me a life. He gave me a job. He gave me a reason to live. And I threw it all in his face.
"Lucas! Where's the money?"
With that, I knew I'd really screwed things up this time. As the day wore on, try as I might I only made things worse.
"Lucas, are you in trouble? Did you need the money? Because, if you are in trouble, you can talk to me. You know that."
"We're all in trouble, Joe. Am I the only one who sees this?"
What I wanted to say was, "I did it for you. Since I saw you, I've only done things for you. I love you." But of course, I couldn't tell him that. He'd never understand. He wouldn't understand that I'd been in love - with the man who treated me like a son - for five years. He wouldn't understand that I'd done what I did because he hadn't told me that the Empire was in trouble; that I'd done it because I had to do it for him. He'd already done so much for me.
For three years, I'd distanced myself. I worked as the night manager so I wouldn't always be around him. And that day, I couldn't wait any longer to tell him. And I would if I could, but with the trouble I'd already caused, he wouldn't listen if I tried. He ignored me unless we had a confrontation with in front of others. I sat on the couch he'd had since his wife left him until Warren decided to come in. Even then, when I'd been living without him for three years, I asked his permission to leave. I spent most of the rest of the day, holding on to one of the cushions. There I was, 21 years old, and afraid to leave the couch without permission. Man, I had it bad.
And then, Rex Manning showed up.
The rest of the day was spent watching while everyone was fawning over the so-called big star. At one point, when Jane quit, Joe was really upset. The best part of having known most of the employees is that they just think I'm weird. Eight - hell, five! - years ago, I would never have dared to dance and lip-sync. I was always too afraid of being called queer, of Joe finding out about how I felt and being disgusted.
I think that when Mitch came in, I redeemed myself a little in Joe's eyes. I was used to being in the background, and so I could talk forever to someone who harassed me and mine everyday, and they would never know why. And so, I gave Joe time to come up with a plan while I distracted Mitch. I didn't think that he understood my smile at the time. Even now, I doubt it, but I never doubt him.
Of course, I always gave him reason to doubt me. I always had to open my mouth. "Don't worry, Joe. You're a superb manager."
"Really?"
"Superb."
He had more than enough reason to beat the crap out of me, but this was the first time he ever had. I think I egged him on just to get something physical from him. And then, I went back to the most constant thing in my life: the sofa. And then Gina came out. I admired AJ's courage, and Rex left with his tail between his legs.
I felt so sorry that I couldn't do more to help with everyone. However, Corey and Deb began to bond because of it, and it gave everyone a chance to learn more about each other. After Rex left, Jane came back to the store. I knew she wanted Joe. It was obvious. I left the room when I heard her ask him out to dinner. I could never hold a flame to what she had to offer. Jane was a woman, I was a man, and Joe was straight. I had no reason to expect him to turn her down. What would I expect him to say, "Sorry, Jane, but I'm in love with the kid I raised for five years, the same kid I can't fire"? Yeah, right. I knew why he didn't fire me, why he threw me around instead. He couldn't stand to see a kid hurt. He took in strays like crazy, finding the most dysfunctional teens in the area, and giving them stability. It was another reason I loved him.
Warren was trouble, but when we found out why he kept coming back, everything turned out okay, and Joe got another stray.
When everyone started giving me money to pay Joe back with, I was touched. It also drove in the fact that no matter what, the store was my family. And then Mark got his brilliant idea. It was the answer we needed.
The party was going great. And then Joe surprised me. He quit on Mitch, and told me something I'll never forget.
"You knew, didn't you?"
"About what?"
"Everything. About me and what I wanted to do."
"I knew you weren't happy."
He gave me this look. It was just one of those looks, the type you can't describe but you know have significance. That's when the big shock came.
”Joe? Wha-" He kissed me! HE kissed ME! My world came to a crashing halt the moment our lips touched. It seemed like forever, that first kiss. It was everything I'd ever hoped and dreamed for. At that moment, I couldn't hate my mother for abandoning me. I couldn't hate her then-boyfriend for abusing me. I couldn't hate Joe's ex-wife for leaving him heartbroken. I thanked them all; without their actions, I never would have gotten that wonderful, mind-altering kiss.
”What was that for?" I was too dazed to do more than whisper.
"Lucas..." He bit his lower lip. ”Was that alright? Are you mad at me?"
I couldn't believe I was hearing this! Joe, the man I'd loved since I was 16, had just kissed me, and he was wondering if I was mad at him for it!
"No, Joe. I'm not mad. In fact..." He looked a little confused, but a little hopeful, too. I leaned in, and kissed him softly.
He groaned into the kiss. HE GROANED INTO THE KISS! I leaned back, and looked at him shyly, smiling. "Was that a go-" I never got to finish the question, before he dragged me back to his office by my collar.
As soon as the door closed, he slammed me against it, much as he had done earlier. Only, this time... this time it was to take my mouth again. He pressed against me, his hands sliding around my head, his lips never leaving mine.
When the need to breathe became too much to bear, we separated. He reached for my zipper, but I stopped him.
"Why'd you do that?"
"We don't have the time. Berko's already starting up the song, and he told me that Gina was gonna sing. I don't want to miss it."
"Well, what about this?" He'd reached down and cupped my erection.
"That can wait. I've been dealing with them for years; it'll be gone in no time."
"Then could you help me out with mine? I've never had this problem before; the whole, walking around turned on while in public, problem."
"Okay. Imagine you were in here with Rex Manning in a leather thong, and nothing else."
He closed his eyes, only to open them wide a moment later. "Oh."
"Go, you have a dinner date to keep."
"But, how- Never mind. You're right. I'll just have to tell her that it's not something that would work out."
We headed outside. Joe went and talked to Jane, who understood just fine. Deb and Eddie brought Joe the donation bucket. We made the money. He counted it out, and put $9,104 back in it. Joe went and took it to Mitch, who made him an offer to buy the store. The rest was for store needs
Jane told the gang about us. Joe was pissed when AJ mentioned it. When everyone congratulated us, he let it go, and we all grooved on the roof of our store. OUR store. Life was perfect. Or, it would be.
Author: ED Mitchell
Pairing: Joe/Lucas
Rating: FRT
Summary: Lucas tells his version of that day.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction for them. I'd have made it CANON!
Warnings: Slash.
I told them that my mother left me because I was a "bad seed" but that's not the entire truth. You see, she called me a bad seed, because her latest boyfriend decided that he'd rather screw her kid than her. For three years, I rotted in that orphanage.
"Are you sure that you want to take him? He's never been out of here in the three years since his mom left him here."
"Is he a problem child?"
"He's not so much a problem child, as he hasn't ever acted like a child since he got here. He keeps mostly to himself, only speaking when spoken to."
"Let me talk to him. I'll let you know in a few."
When he first came to speak to me, he still had his wife with him. She kept urging him to take me away, get me out of there. I think she could tell immediately that Joe would never be hers, not the way she wanted him to be. When she saw me, she ran up and gave me a big hug, simply telling him, "He's coming with us."
I was thirteen when I went to live with them. By 15, his wife had found love with another woman, and Joe... Joe didn't know what to do. It seemed that she'd always been by his side, and now she wasn't. They stayed friends; after all, she treated me like I really was her son, and Joe still took great care of me.
By the time I was sixteen, I knew why I had stayed Joe. As much as his wife treated me well, Joe had something else entirely going for him. Joe was... special. I knew I had fallen in love with him. But, just as I knew I loved Joe, I knew that I could never tell him. That's part of why my world crumbled after graduation.
I graduated at seventeen. I turned 18 about a month later. I knew I needed to get away from Joe. So, as soon as I could, I got my own place. I couldn't stand being that close to the man I loved and yet not have him.
He gave me a life. He gave me a job. He gave me a reason to live. And I threw it all in his face.
"Lucas! Where's the money?"
With that, I knew I'd really screwed things up this time. As the day wore on, try as I might I only made things worse.
"Lucas, are you in trouble? Did you need the money? Because, if you are in trouble, you can talk to me. You know that."
"We're all in trouble, Joe. Am I the only one who sees this?"
What I wanted to say was, "I did it for you. Since I saw you, I've only done things for you. I love you." But of course, I couldn't tell him that. He'd never understand. He wouldn't understand that I'd been in love - with the man who treated me like a son - for five years. He wouldn't understand that I'd done what I did because he hadn't told me that the Empire was in trouble; that I'd done it because I had to do it for him. He'd already done so much for me.
For three years, I'd distanced myself. I worked as the night manager so I wouldn't always be around him. And that day, I couldn't wait any longer to tell him. And I would if I could, but with the trouble I'd already caused, he wouldn't listen if I tried. He ignored me unless we had a confrontation with in front of others. I sat on the couch he'd had since his wife left him until Warren decided to come in. Even then, when I'd been living without him for three years, I asked his permission to leave. I spent most of the rest of the day, holding on to one of the cushions. There I was, 21 years old, and afraid to leave the couch without permission. Man, I had it bad.
And then, Rex Manning showed up.
The rest of the day was spent watching while everyone was fawning over the so-called big star. At one point, when Jane quit, Joe was really upset. The best part of having known most of the employees is that they just think I'm weird. Eight - hell, five! - years ago, I would never have dared to dance and lip-sync. I was always too afraid of being called queer, of Joe finding out about how I felt and being disgusted.
I think that when Mitch came in, I redeemed myself a little in Joe's eyes. I was used to being in the background, and so I could talk forever to someone who harassed me and mine everyday, and they would never know why. And so, I gave Joe time to come up with a plan while I distracted Mitch. I didn't think that he understood my smile at the time. Even now, I doubt it, but I never doubt him.
Of course, I always gave him reason to doubt me. I always had to open my mouth. "Don't worry, Joe. You're a superb manager."
"Really?"
"Superb."
He had more than enough reason to beat the crap out of me, but this was the first time he ever had. I think I egged him on just to get something physical from him. And then, I went back to the most constant thing in my life: the sofa. And then Gina came out. I admired AJ's courage, and Rex left with his tail between his legs.
I felt so sorry that I couldn't do more to help with everyone. However, Corey and Deb began to bond because of it, and it gave everyone a chance to learn more about each other. After Rex left, Jane came back to the store. I knew she wanted Joe. It was obvious. I left the room when I heard her ask him out to dinner. I could never hold a flame to what she had to offer. Jane was a woman, I was a man, and Joe was straight. I had no reason to expect him to turn her down. What would I expect him to say, "Sorry, Jane, but I'm in love with the kid I raised for five years, the same kid I can't fire"? Yeah, right. I knew why he didn't fire me, why he threw me around instead. He couldn't stand to see a kid hurt. He took in strays like crazy, finding the most dysfunctional teens in the area, and giving them stability. It was another reason I loved him.
Warren was trouble, but when we found out why he kept coming back, everything turned out okay, and Joe got another stray.
When everyone started giving me money to pay Joe back with, I was touched. It also drove in the fact that no matter what, the store was my family. And then Mark got his brilliant idea. It was the answer we needed.
The party was going great. And then Joe surprised me. He quit on Mitch, and told me something I'll never forget.
"You knew, didn't you?"
"About what?"
"Everything. About me and what I wanted to do."
"I knew you weren't happy."
He gave me this look. It was just one of those looks, the type you can't describe but you know have significance. That's when the big shock came.
”Joe? Wha-" He kissed me! HE kissed ME! My world came to a crashing halt the moment our lips touched. It seemed like forever, that first kiss. It was everything I'd ever hoped and dreamed for. At that moment, I couldn't hate my mother for abandoning me. I couldn't hate her then-boyfriend for abusing me. I couldn't hate Joe's ex-wife for leaving him heartbroken. I thanked them all; without their actions, I never would have gotten that wonderful, mind-altering kiss.
”What was that for?" I was too dazed to do more than whisper.
"Lucas..." He bit his lower lip. ”Was that alright? Are you mad at me?"
I couldn't believe I was hearing this! Joe, the man I'd loved since I was 16, had just kissed me, and he was wondering if I was mad at him for it!
"No, Joe. I'm not mad. In fact..." He looked a little confused, but a little hopeful, too. I leaned in, and kissed him softly.
He groaned into the kiss. HE GROANED INTO THE KISS! I leaned back, and looked at him shyly, smiling. "Was that a go-" I never got to finish the question, before he dragged me back to his office by my collar.
As soon as the door closed, he slammed me against it, much as he had done earlier. Only, this time... this time it was to take my mouth again. He pressed against me, his hands sliding around my head, his lips never leaving mine.
When the need to breathe became too much to bear, we separated. He reached for my zipper, but I stopped him.
"Why'd you do that?"
"We don't have the time. Berko's already starting up the song, and he told me that Gina was gonna sing. I don't want to miss it."
"Well, what about this?" He'd reached down and cupped my erection.
"That can wait. I've been dealing with them for years; it'll be gone in no time."
"Then could you help me out with mine? I've never had this problem before; the whole, walking around turned on while in public, problem."
"Okay. Imagine you were in here with Rex Manning in a leather thong, and nothing else."
He closed his eyes, only to open them wide a moment later. "Oh."
"Go, you have a dinner date to keep."
"But, how- Never mind. You're right. I'll just have to tell her that it's not something that would work out."
We headed outside. Joe went and talked to Jane, who understood just fine. Deb and Eddie brought Joe the donation bucket. We made the money. He counted it out, and put $9,104 back in it. Joe went and took it to Mitch, who made him an offer to buy the store. The rest was for store needs
Jane told the gang about us. Joe was pissed when AJ mentioned it. When everyone congratulated us, he let it go, and we all grooved on the roof of our store. OUR store. Life was perfect. Or, it would be.