Title: To Meet Again

Warnings: Shonen Ai/Homosexuality, Violence, Very Minor Swearing

C&C: Most definetly!

Kale Matthews exited the Void through the back door, tired from a long shift at the bar of the fast-paced nightclub. Pushing his muddy blonde hair out of murky blue eyes, he made his way carefully through the series of dimly lit alleys that connected the back of the club with the city streets. His friend, David Ross, had offered to drive him home, but Kale had refused. He only lived a few blocks away from the club, and the walk home gave him time to think. He had only been working at the Void for a month, but he already felt comfortable with the club and the people who worked there. He had finally managed to put his past behind him and move on in his life without Ryan.

Ryan Leiham had been his boyfriend and lover for over a year. They had started as co-workers at Ryan's father's company. Ryan was working in management, preparing to take over from his father in a few years. Kale had been working as part of the company's international relations. The two had met on the job and fallen in love instantly, at least from Kale's point of view. Kale doubted whether Ryan had really loved him at first or if Ryan had been using him all along. Kale had moved into Ryan's apartment eight months ago. Not long afterwards, Kale's life began falling apart. They had started fighting more often, normally over Ryan's false accusations that Kale was cheating on him with another man. Their arguments had become increasingly more violent, with Ryan taking out his anger on Kale physically. Kale had always believe they could work things out because they loved each other. Ryan had proven how wrong he was in that belief.

About a month ago, Kale had come home late from a meeting at the office. Ryan again accused him of cheating, and the two had begun arguing as normal. Ryan had started hitting him and when Kale woke up, he was lying on the dining room floor among the broken remains of a china set. Ryan was no where to be found. Kale made up his mind to end their relationship that night and had packed the few things in the apartment that were his in two small suitcases. He was on his way out the door when Ryan returned. Ryan didn't even try to stop him from leaving, instead asserting that Kale would return on his own shortly. What hurt most was Ryan telling him that Ryan had never loved him. He had lost his home, his job, and his love all in one night. He had shown up at his friends' apartment an hour later, a crying wreck. They had given him back his room from when he had lived with them before moving in with Ryan, and helped him as much as they could. In fact, his friend Lauren was responsible for his current job and for meeting Dave. Without them, he didn't know what he would have done.

Dave had helped him a lot too. He was very sympathetic and eager to help with anything that was bothering Kale. Dave represented the complete opposite of Ryan. Both were tall and muscular, but the similarities stopped there. Ryan was temperamental and violent, quickly angered and completely self-centered. While they had been together, Ryan had dictated everything Kale had done, even going so far as to order Kale to stay away from his friends. As a corporate executive, Ryan had never hesitated using his influence over Kale's job to get Kale to do what he wanted. Dave worked in the city police force. He was kind and caring, gentle and sweet. Dave was fun to be with and actually cared about what Kale thought. He was everything Kale looked for in a guy, but Kale was afraid to approach him. First of all, he didn't even know where Dave's preferences lay. In the brief month Kale had known him, Dave had never shown any interest in another guy. Also, Kale was reluctant to get into another relationship. He feared that all his relationships were doomed to the same bitter ending as his breakup with Ryan.

A loud crash from in front of him startled Kale out of his thoughts. Glancing around the alley, he tried in vain to see what had caused the noise. Kale had never had any trouble before, but he knew the streets were by no means safe. He stepped back as the noise was repeated near the entrance to the alley. A shadowy figure blocked the path in front of him. As the man stepped into the light from one of the dim street lights, Kale gasped in shock. In front of him was his ex-boyfriend, Ryan.

"What are you doing here?" Kale asked. He had the feeling that Ryan had been waiting for him. He had no clue how Ryan had found out where Kale worked now.

"I want you to come back with me. Now!" Ryan's tone left no room for argument. "I've given you enough time to return on your own. Time's up."

Kale shook his head, angered at Ryan's absurd request. "No, Ryan. As far as I'm concerned, we're through. I'm tired of being your personal punching bag. Go find yourself some other boy-toy. You certainly never cared about me, so it shouldn't be hard for you to find a replacement." Kale let all his stored anger from when they were together flow into his words. This was one fight he was not backing down from, not anymore. He knew he should be scared, should be getting out of there as fast as he could, but he didn't care anymore. He just wanted Ryan to leave him alone so he could get on with his life.

Ryan's eyes narrowed dangerously at Kale's words. "I don't care what you think. You are mine! I'm not going to let you fool around with some other guy."

"What!?" Ryan was advancing closer to Kale with every word but he no longer cared. Ryan's words filled him with rage. "Where do you get off treating me like some possession? You may have had some claim over me when we were dating, but not anymore. I can date or not date whomever I want, not that it's any of your business."

Kale's words were cut off as he was lifted off his feet by his collar and shoved into the brick wall of the alley. "Listen to me you little whore." Ryan's face was inches away from Kale's, his breath mingling with Kale's own quick gasps for air. The harsh surface of the brick wall dug into his back as he was roughly held against it by the force of the other man's arms. Kale stared desperately into blazing brown eyes, anger draining out of him to be replaced by fear as he realized the danger of his situation. "You are mine and no one else's." Ryan's coarse hands circled Kale's neck. As they tightened Kale's breath was slowly, agonizingly cut off. "You belong to me." Each of Ryan's words were underscored by a violent shake which banged him against the wall as darkness threatened to take over. "You will never have anyone other than me." Kale struggled feebly against Ryan, trying desperately to breathe. "If I can't have you, no one will."

Kale mentally prayed for help as the darkness closed over him.

*****

David Ross left the Void as it closed for the night. He'd never admit it to Kale, but the only reason he visited the nightclub was to see Kale. He had heard about Kale's breakup, from his cousin Lauren Morigan who was a close friend of Kale's. In fact, Kale still had a black eye from the fight the night Dave had met him. Kale seemed so fragile to him. He was quiet and withdrawn despite Dave's attempts to draw him into conversations. Kale tried to hide it, but Dave could tell that his break-up with Ryan still affected Kale. He only hoped that Kale could eventually get over the jerk and figure out that not all men were out to hurt him.

Dave sighed as he turned the corner outside the Void, heading for the parking lot a few buildings behind the Void. As he approached the entrance to a back alley he heard two men arguing vehemently. He recognized Kale's voice instantly and could guess from the snippet of the argument he heard that the other was Kale's ex-boyfriend Ryan. From what he had heard, Ryan was a violent guy and Dave was not about to let him hurt Kale if Dave could stop it. In fact, he'd enjoy arresting Ryan to pay him back for his abuse of Kale.

Cautiously peering around the corner, Dave was shocked to see Kale struggling feebly against Ryan's grip around his throat. Cursing having left his gun in the car, he ran to help Kale. "Get your hands off him!" He shouted at Ryan as he charged forward. "You're under arrest!"

Ryan spun at the shout, releasing his hold on Kale before escaping into the alley. Dave considered going after him for a second but decided against it as he reached Kale. Much as he'd love to arrest the bastard, Kale's safety was more important. Kale was lying in a still heap on the alley floor where he had fallen. Checking his pulse, Dave was relieved to note that Kale was still alive. Picking the lighter man up, he hurried out of the alley to his car.