Flitchling: First encounter with the Other-Kind

Chapter 1

“Do you want to live forever?”

Aubrey blinked bemusedly at the man sitting across from him, not sure he heard that right. “W-what?”

Cat green eyes stared unblinkingly into his, the Cheshire smile belying their serious intent. “I asked you a question – If given the choice, do you want to live forever?”

Aubrey frowned and dragged his eyes away. Where the hell was this going? Of all the questions he’d mentally prepared for on the way here, this didn’t even figure in the top twenty or even top fifty. Just what kind of job was this in the first place? He shook his head slightly, wondering if the man was patronizing him. “No one lives forever.”

“Are you certain?”

Something about that tone made him look back up. “No one lives forever.”

A brief silence followed his words and the green eyes moved away, sliding down to the papers on the desk. “I suppose not, then. You are here concerning the help wanted advertisement I placed in the newspaper.”

Aubrey nodded, relieved that the conversation was finally back on track. He’d noticed the ad in yesterday’s post and the requirements seemed easy enough. He never really paid attention to those free papers they put in the study hall before then, but for some reason it caught his eye.

Help wanted- high pay. Applicants must be resourceful, observant and willing to maintain flexible hours. No prior work experience necessary. Interviews will take place Aug12 - Aug13 at 5513 Pestlebrook Road. 4:00pm-6:30 pm.

He had to admit that the requirements had initially sounded dicey. Resourceful and observant aren’t exactly the things you put on a resume, but he needed the money. He hadn’t counted on getting fired from his work at The Burger Place smack in the middle of the month. He also hadn’t counted on that ass-tard manager Freddy getting in his face like he did. So in retrospect, perhaps talking right back and punching the bastard in his stomach wasn’t the wisest of moves but the tub of lard had it coming. Rent was due in another week and since there weren’t other forthcoming avenues, he thought he’d give this place a chance. There was no harm in swinging by for the interview and seeing what they really needed. However, if things got too weird or it turned out to be a scam game, he was gone with the wind.

“Yes, I saw the ad in the paper yesterday. Sorry I came in late; downtown traffic was a real pain in the.... Um.”

His ears burned with Chagrin. Curse words don't earn you points at an interview, stupid!

Aubrey had made it 6:25 on the nose. He’d skipped school after lunch and taken the bus downtown, not even sure the place would still be open. Yesterday, the teachers had bombarded his classes with tests and he had no choice but to stay in. Technically he would have already graduated during the spring, if not for the poor math grades and community service hours he had to now make up in summer school. The school didn’t really care what ex- seniors did with their time anymore, as long as they were not causing trouble. It was easy for a quiet student like Aubrey to slip out whenever he wanted to. Besides, there was no one out there to query him about the hours he kept. Both of his parents were dead and his CPS case worker had long washed her hands of him. So here he was, in the study of a place that looked and felt more like a Victorian town house than an office, sitting across from the strangest looking fellow he’d ever met.

“You are actually the first person to ask about the job. It is unfortunate but most people are not so observant.”

He looked up with a pleased smile, eyes twinkling merrily. Yep, strange looking, Aubrey concluded as his prospective employer chuckled to an internal joke. To call the man white was an understatement; his was a complexion so fair that it was easy to mistake him for an albino. But he also had a glow that had nothing to do with the glare of the chandelier right above their heads. It was as though a fine sprinkling of gold had been dusted over his face and the bare arms peeking from his rolled up sleeves. His skin was a sharp contrast to the coal blackness of the sleek hair framing his face, long tresses caught in a loose pony tail. The shadow of a bang rested lightly over too vivid green eyes, disappearing into the bold slashes of his eyebrows. It all had an effect that was…otherworldly.

The man cleared his throat slightly and Aubrey realized that he’d been staring for the past few seconds. Not that the older man seemed to mind, patiently waiting to regain his attention. Besides, observation was one of the job requirements and he was observing.

“All right then …”

“Aubrey Price.”

“Aubrey Price, I am Mr. Flitchling- call me Flitchling. I presume you have properly considered the requirements of this job.”

Aubrey shifted slightly in the plush seat. “What exactly do I have to do?”

Flitchling shrugged lightly, lips spreading into a wide grin. “You can call this establishment an inquiry service of some sort. People ask us to find things and we find them, all manner of things. Our searches can take us anywhere from the next corner to the streets of the Xiaoping district in China. Think about it Aubrey, you travel to places that you will never find on your own on a map, not to mention meet people that are out of this world!”

There was a breathy and exuberant quality to his voice that had Aubrey almost nodding an assent but he caught himself in time. “And all you ask for is a resourceful and observant employee.”

His tone dripped skepticism and Flitchling raised an eyebrow. “It seems too good to be true, does it not? You are thinking to yourself, this is probably a scam or one of those kidnapping rings they are always talking about in the news.”

Silence filled the room for a long moment and Aubrey swallowed. Those were the exact thoughts running through his head at that moment. What the hell? Flitchling crossed his fingers and the movements made him look down. He noticed with a start that the other man’s nails were clear, glass-like even. That was odd… he stared at them with fascination until their owner put his hands down, tucking them under his elbows.

“Well, I am afraid I have no other guarantee for you, save my word that this is as genuine as it comes. Make your decision— take it or walk away now.”

Flitchling’s voice was like silk, wrapped around a cold blade. Aubrey looked up and held his gaze for a long moment. He could have sworn the other man’s eyes just darkened a few shades to an almost hazel color. There was no doubt that this was all fascinating –if the job was real. The Burger Place seemed a thousand miles away now. He couldn’t even hear the activity in the streets anymore. Still…

“It seems like a very important job but you’re laying it down on a whim. I’m just the first person who walked in here and there could be others probably more qualified coming…so why me?”

Flitchling shrugged and sat back in his chair. “You were observant enough to notice the advertisement in the paper, you have shown resourcefulness in finding this place, and my instincts tell me that you are fit for this job. Believe me, they are never wrong. Moreover, you answered my question.”

Aubrey frowned in confusion. “What question?”

“Why, the one I asked you five minutes ago. Pay attention now,” Flitchling grinned and pushed forward a plain piece of paper, upon which he began writing. Aubrey noticed that he used an old fashioned fountain pen, designed to look like a feathered quill.

“Let us talk about your wages. Now, maintaining a flexible schedule is very important but that should not be difficult.” He looked up to give the younger man a cursory glance. “You are young- eighteen or nineteen? It is unlikely that you have any serious responsibilities keeping you close to home, and what I am paying should eradicate the need of a second job.”

Aubrey wanted to ask what made him so sure about his claims; after all it wasn’t as though they knew each other before now. But it was true and so he kept his silence, glancing down at the numbers his future employer put down. “$1150 a week, are you kidding me?”

Flitchling looked up and blinked very rapidly, a confused expression on his face as he leaned even closer. “I had assumed that this would be enough, but apparently not.”

“What are you talking about? Exactly what are we ‘finding,’ cocaine, stolen art, nuclear weapons?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I already told you -- lost things, all perfectly legitimate. You must remember that your hours essentially will not be your own. You could be gone for days or even weeks at a time and I might have need of your assistance at any time of the day. I thought it fair compensation, considering the possible demands. $1150 a week guaranteed, plus $25 an hour on the days I actually call on you. Would you prefer your wages to be deposited in your account or delivered in the mail?”

“M-mail,” Aubrey whispered, shell shocked but still wary enough not to give out his bank account number on a whim. He murmured his address, watching the quill skate over the paper in graceful loops.

“Expect your first check by Saturday.”

Flitchling sank back into the chair with a sigh, looking especially pleased with himself.

Aubrey pressed his eyes shut and quickly opened them. Yep the other man was still sitting there, looking thoroughly amused by his actions. This was too good to be true. “Let me get this straight; you’re willing to pay me $1150 a week, plus $25 an hour for who knows when just to tag along on your ‘finding’ expeditions.”

Flitchling raised an eyebrow, slowly flipping the quill between his fingers. “I am willing to pay you to be my assistant. I would not have made this offer if my previous assistant, whom I worked with for many years, had not become permanently indisposed. I have tried handling my business alone and I admit that two heads are better than one. An assignment may yield two possibilities but I can only be at one, and that is where you come in handy. We may occasionally find ourselves in troublesome circumstances- I cannot predict everything about an assignment- but I will not put you in danger if I can help it. Surely the thought of a little work hazard does not faze you.”

Aubrey was athletic, he used to be on the track team before he graduated. He wasn't the best, but then, it was never about winning. Life on the streets had quickly taught him a lesson on survival of the fittest –sometimes the other guy was just that much bigger, and he had to be that much faster. Still, he had a feeling there was more to this 'word hazard' than this guy was saying. He frowned and chewed his lip.

Almost impossible prospects like this don’t fall from the sky and land on anyone, least of all him, but it sounded exciting. Besides, college was not going to happen and he was looking for a real job anyway. This could be a chance to get away from a mundane existence at some fast food restaurant or menial laborer, the prospect of which was already draining his spirit. If it really on the up and up. Aubrey nodded and crossed his arms, his voice just short of glacial.

“Get it straight now; this better be legal, or I’ll sic the cops on you.”

Flitchling’s raised eyebrow became even more pronounced as he cocked his head to the side, staring at his employee to be from between lowered lashes. Gone was the twinkle in his eye, replaced by remoteness and unhurried calculation. The kind a predator would give another creature, deciding whether or not it should be prey. His lips curled into a faintly mocking smile.

“What is the matter Aubrey? Are you really that afraid you may end up halfway across the world, working as a drug peddler… or even worse? Of course, you have every reason to be cautious; I hear there is a high demand in the black market for pretty boys these days.”

The teen shot up to his feet, his eyes hard and flinty and took a threatening stance, using his height to full effect. “Is that what this really is? If it is, then I’m out of here. I’m not about to become a mule or a fuck toy- not for you or anyone else.”

There was a significant silence in the room, during which his words seemed to hang and congeal in the air. Aubrey felt the older man look at him and nearly squirmed from the scrutiny. Hot green eyes swept down his cropped hair, stared deep into his whiskey brown eyes before flitting over to his lips. They hovered for a heartbeat and slid lower, licking their way over his mocha skin, down to his chest and he could have sworn Flitchling counted every single muscle on his abs through the long sleeved sweater before pausing over his belt. Aubrey would have protested if not for the fact that he brought this upon himself. Still, it was hard not to say anything, to keep his expression nonchalant and muscles relaxed. Eventually those green eyes moved back up. Much to his surprise, they glimmered with amusement and mischief.

Flitchling got to his feet as well and Aubrey stifled his gasp of surprise. He would never have guessed from his sitting position that the other man would surpass his 6’2’’ height, or that his frame would put any Olympic runner to shame. Forget about intimidation; he found himself having to look up to meet that unblinking stare and knew that his boss could take him down any day, anytime.

“Well Aubrey, I’m not in need of a... what did you call it? Fuck toy. And even if I was, you are not to my taste. I do not consort with my employees, you have my word on that.”

Aubrey believed him. Even though he knew next to nothing about this Flitchling, his words rang with truth. It was enough to uncurl his clench fist and make him nod slowly.

“Fine I’ll take the job.”

Flitchling made a sound that was supposed to be a laugh but came out more like a deep throated purr. He extended his hand to his new employee. “Excellent! I look forward to a productive working relationship.”

Aubrey grasped the hand, startled by the strength behind the older man’s grip. He felt something hot rope around his wrist, binding him to that handshake for a brief moment before his new boss broke contact.

“Now I will supply you with a cell phone so we can communicate more easily. In the mean time, you go home and set your affairs in order.”

“Okay, I guess.”

Flitchling gestured toward the open door to the lobby, an unreadable smile playing on his lips. “I have only two more things to ask of you Aubrey. Henceforth, you must be punctual for every single appointment we ever make. Be there on time or it will cost you your job. The other is that you take my words to heart. When I give you an instruction, no matter how incredible or mundane it may be, please follow it to the letter. I have assured you of your security, but you must also cooperate with me. I cannot account for the consequences of doing otherwise.”

A chill ran through the younger man because his new boss didn’t quite look like the Cheshire cat any more. There was no change in his stance or expression but Aubrey knew with dead certainty that his words were no joke.

“All right, be punctual and obey your instructions, got it.”

“I have a feeling it won’t be long before we have our first assignment.” He positively glowed with delight and Aubrey internally shook his head.

“Um…okay.”

He had already turned to go when the other man passed a crisp $100 note his way.

“What’s this for?”

Flitchling’s grin was back in place as he sat back down. “I will suggest that you take a cab home and then scrounge for some durable work shoes. The fancy pair you have on will not last long in our line of work. Call it a first day at work bonus.”

He laughed out loud as the younger man scratched his head with confusion. “Sure, whatever. How will I know when you need me?”

The older man shrugged and tapped the quill on the desk. “Once I give you the cell phone, that won’t be a problem. In the mean time, I will think of something. Until then, take care, Aubrey.”

He was standing under the door when his employer called out again.

“One more thing Aubrey. There are things that we cannot always explain, not with proper words or logic, but for some reason accept that they are out there. Do you agree with me?

Something about the way he said it, hushed and conspiratorial, made him half turn around. The image of a face flashed in his mind, this one a woman -- older and grey haired -- and his chest tightened with aching. Quick as it came, the moment was gone. He shoved the face back into the darkness and met Flitchling dead in the eyes.

“No, and I don’t believe in Santa Claus either.”

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Aubrey blinked into the harsh blare of the sun, the hot August breeze sapping whatever vigor being in Flitchling’s cool office gave him. The impatient honking of cars and the chatter of pedestrians all around him made it feel like he’d just crossed a barrier from one world to the next.

“Hey, get out of the way!”

He flinched, realizing that the pedestrian light had turned green and other people stood behind him. They all hurried across the busy street and he shook his head. Of all the times to fall absent minded… Once across the street, Aubrey had a sudden thought and glanced back to the other side. Where was the house? He frowned and squinted along the row of houses, looking for the cream and stone grey building with a cherry wood door. Wait, where did it go? He was just in there. The money in his hand was proof that he wasn’t hallucinating

Oh there it was! It must’ve been hotter than he thought; the air around the place was definitely shimmering. He blinked and shook his head.

Weirdness.