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ALEX
Since I had been growing tired of getting winded just by running from my house to my mailbox, I decided it was time to get back into shape. I used to be pretty athletic in my high school days, so hopefully it would not be too hard to pound this flab into shape. On an off day from my job, I drove my car over to 'Ironworks', a popular gym with very affordable monthly fees. I entered the gym, and made my way to the front desk. The person at the desk was definitely a weightlifter--beefy shoulders, arms that no sleeves could contain, and a thick neck. He was friendly, though, and didn't wear the typical tight clothing to show off his well-built physique. I tried not to stare at those perfect biceps when I shook hands him with him. I always had a thing for muscles, but I reminded myself that I was in here to get into shape, not to find a date. "Hi there, my name's Steve. How can I help you?" he smiled at me politely. "Well, I'm interested in joining a gym, and the rates here seemed affordable. My question is what can you guys offer than other gyms.." my voice trailed off as I saw the biggest male I will ever see crouch through the entrance and into the building. He was taller than the doorframe, and was so broad across the chest he had to enter sideways, yet he did it with such a fluid motion, I would never have believed he had such grace if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Even crouching, he was taller than me, and when he stood, he towered over everyone in the place, his horned head nearly touching the ceiling. I blinked, almost doing a doubletake. Horned head? I thought, wondering if I was seeing things, but a quick glance helped me realize I wasn't the only one staring at the impossible sight of this very large, very real minotaur. I was already in awe of how tall and broad he was, so I stood there helplessly as my eyes studied the immense size of those legs that looked as large as tree trunks--the quads straining against the largest pair of black spandex shorts in existence. My study of the minotaur's anatomy moved up to perfectly chiseled abdominals, led by immense pectoral muscles, followed by arms that were much larger than my thighs, going up to broad beefy shoulders, and ending in a wide neck that supported the great head of this mythical creature. What surprised me the most, though, were those eyes--black pools that sparkled with thoughtfulness as they studied me. That is when I snapped out of it--the immense minotaur was studying me as well! I felt my cheeks burn as I looked at the floor. The person behind the desk looked at me casually in amusement, then turned his attention up at the towering mass of muscle with a smile. "Hi, Brahma. You ready for another day of helping out us lightweights?" I looked at Steve in curiosity, but when I heard the voice rumble from above, I spun around in surprise. Why did it surprise me that the bull could speak? "I am always ready, Steve." The bull's voice seemed impossibly deep, and I felt the bass of the sound move through my body. "Just give me a moment to put on my workpants, and I will begin my day's work." the minotaur then walked away, his tread making the benches jump ever so slightly as his huge feet thudded on the floor. It didn't occur to me he didn't have hooves like the traditional myths portrayed them back then, as I was too much in awe of him to care. After Brahma disappeared into the locker room, I turned back around, and the surprise must have been plastered on my face, because Steve just laughed. "I bet you're wondering what everyone does when they see him for the first time. 'Is he for real?' He sure is." "But...how...?" Steve shrugs, his muscular shoulders bunching up under his shirt. "That, I'm not sure. The boss was the one that gave him a job here, and Brahma stays with him." "Hasn't the media picked up on this? I mean, he's a real minotaur! One of a kind!" Steve chuckled, raising a hand to calm me down. "Yeah, the newspapers and TV crew came by to do a story on him. Brahma was a bit nervous meeting them at first, but heck, we all were nervous when we first met him! It's not everyday a minotaur shows up to work here! Eventually, though, the sight of the big bull just became commonplace to us regulars, so we treat him like one of the guys." He then leaned forward and whispered. "Of course, he brings in a crowd every once in a while so they can get a good look at him, you know? No one on this planet is as big as Brahma, so he's great for business and for spotting those powerlifters. Wait until you see how strong the big guy is, you won't believe it." It was then the floor started to tremble once again, heralding the return of the huge minotaur. He was now wearing a pair of handmade shorts that had straps connected to the seams of the legs, and they were almost not enough to contain those enormous pillars of muscle. I idly wondered what kind of material they were made of, and how much it would cost for a tailor to make an outfit for a creature as large as Brahma. I also wondered why didn't he wear the spandex shorts? "I am now ready to begin my work for today, Steve," the giant bull rumbled deeply. "Who shall I spot first?" Steve pointed to a guy who was stout and very broad, with muscles that pushed against the tank top he wore. "Jay's the lightweight for the first 30, then you have Quinton next, followed by Rob." Brahma nodded, then moved slowly over to Jay, who smiled as he saw the minotaur approach. He may have been big, but compared to Brahma, he looked petite. I was ready to watch the two start lifting when Steve interrupted by placing a hand on my shoulder, and leading me to the locker rooms to get changed. I think I broke the speed changing records as I wanted to see more of the minotaur, and I had no idea why. Actually, that was a lie, because I knew exactly why I wanted to see him. There was something about the giant that drew me to him, something about the way he looked at me with those coal-black eyes that carried so much emotion. I had to get to know him, and my heart raced with anticipation of such an event. I could only focus part of my attention on the routine of my future workouts as the other half was focused on the minotaur's broad back that spread like wings as he spotted the powerlifter. I had a slight idea of how strong he was, as his muscles didn't seem to strain at all as he placed more weights on the barbell. Finally, his session with Jay was over, and they shook hands--the size difference between the bull's meaty paw and Jay's was a scene I would replay in my head over and over than night. Steve gave me a three-day pass to use so I could come to a decision of if I wanted to join the gym, but I had already made up my mind the moment I saw the giant minotaur. I drove home in a slight daze, and couldn't focus for the rest of the day. All I could think about was the sight of that massive bull and those eyes. What was so special about those eyes? I slept surprisingly well--no, I did not have strange, erotic dreams about minotaurs, much to my surprise--and when I went to work, the time quickly passed. Before I knew it, I was on my way to the gym, hoping to see Brahma again. I figured if I arrived a little after the time the minotaur showed up, he would be there. When I entered the building, I easily saw the large bull, as he was talking to a couple of people. Even kneeling, he loomed over them, his muscles flexing as he gestured during the conversation. "Alex!" Steve's voice caught my attention, and I went over to the front desk. "So are you ready for your first day?" "I sure am, Steve. Who's going to show me the ropes?" Steve suppressed a smirk, and said nothing. Before I could even begin to wonder, I felt the now-familiar thudding of a minotaur's stride, and soon heard his voice rumbling like gentle thunder from above me. "So, Steve, who is next on my list? You said there was someone new." The wink Steve gave me confirmed my suspicions. "Brahma, I want you to meet someone who is thinking about joining the gym. His name is Alexander. Alexander, meet Brahma." "A pleasure to meet you, Alexander." the bull rumbled, and my mouth suddenly went dry as I barely managed to say hello and extended my hand for a handshake. The bull obliged, his huge hand managing to engulf my entire forearm briefly. He then folded his arms across that broad chest of his, and tilted his head, as if sizing me up. Finally, he spoke. "While you go to change, I shall begin preparations for your workout routine." He then reached over the desk for a folder, yet another reminder of how huge he was. I went to the locker rooms, and hurriedly changed into my sweats. Brahma was waiting for my arrival, and he placed his hand behind my back as he gently led me to one of the open areas. "First, we shall warm up your muscles for the workout. Sit here," he said pointing to one of the weight benches. I quickly complied, and he carefully put me through a series of stretching exercises. "I assume you know the benefits of warming up before training, so do not forget to do these before you do your exercises." He then stood, and looked at the folder he took from the desk. "We shall work on the major muscle groups first, then finish with the smallest. Agreed?" The look in his eyes was used to only one answer, so I gave it to him. "Yes." The minotaur gave a slight nod. "Excellent. Let us begin." He then took me through the basic workout routine, and I noticed he gave me the same amount of attention that he did for the powerlifters and bodybuilders. I don't know why that surprised me, but it did. He didn't use the weight machines, and I suspected there was at least one reason why. How could he demonstrate the proper way to do the exercises since he was too big for the machines? The workout was over far too quickly in my opinion, and Brahma knelt before me so I wouldn't have to break my neck looking up at him. "I believe you shall do very well in your workouts, Alexander. If you need me for your next visit, I will be happy to put you into my schedule." "Thank you, Brahma. I think I'm going to like working out here." Brahma nodded his massive head slowly, as if weighing my words carefully. "I think you shall as well." He then stood up, once again towering over me and everything else in the room, and smiled. "I must go to my next appointment, but I shall see you again." He walked over to a young teenager, obviously the person he was to help next. Alexander... I hadn't been called that since my college days, and when I walked up to the front desk, Steve was still there. "So, how was your first session?" he asked with a grin. "It was great, Brahma is a good trainer, but how did I get so lucky by getting him? I thought he would be way busy." Steve's grin widened. "Well, seeing as how I make the assignments..." I did a doubletake. "You signed Brahma up as my trainer? But...well, not that I'm complaining, but why?" "Well, you're one of the few who has shown an interest in him, but didn't try to request him as your trainer. That shows you got some sense of decency." I looked at the floor, and I felt my cheeks burn with modesty. "I suppose you're right." I then looked up, remembering another question. "Why does he call me 'Alexander'? Why not just Alex?" Steve smirked briefly. "From what the boss told me, Brahma thinks of nicknames as something you only use for friends, or for lovers. It took him a whole month to finally call me Steve, and I tell you, that made me feel...well, I dunno, good." I could understand the feeling. There was something about Brahma that I could not put my finger on. Something about him that made me trust him. His training me was a fun experience, and though I knew my body would make me pay for it tomorrow, I would come back for more, as long as Brahma was there. I waved goodbye to Steve, but before I could leave, Steve's voice called out to me. "Uhm, Alex?" I turned to see him walking up to me. I looked at him, wondering if there was something I had left behind, but nothing was in Steve's hands. "Something wrong?" I asked. "No...I was just wondering...would you like to go catch a movie tomorrow, or something?" he asked quietly. My heart skipped a beat from the surprise. "You...you're asking me on a date?" Steve's grin was shy, and it was very cute on him. "Yeah, you didn't know, huh?" "Not a clue. Yeah, but I don't think my body will be up for a meeting tomorrow. Worked out today, remember?" Steve rolled his eyes. "Oh, duh! Where's my brain? Well, if you're not busy tonight, I was going to..uhm, visit the boss, and I'm sure you can come with me. If that's all right with you." "Well, I don't know..." "You can get to know Brahma better." Steve grinned. "When do you want to get together?"
* * *
"Come on," Steve motioned for me to follow him, and he rang the doorbell. It was soon answered by a tall, muscular man, and I recognized him from a bodybuilding magazine. He was a former pro, and his body definitely still had what it took to get back into the ranks of bodybuilding. "Hi, Steve. This must be Alex, huh? My name's Dave." I shook hands with him, and his grip was firm, but not overwhelmingly so. He ushered us in, and we came into a huge den, with a ceiling that stretched all the way to the roof. Brahma was seated on a large mattress-like cushion, and he looked up to us, and nodded in greeting. "Steve," Dave grinned. "Come help me with dinner, OK?" Steve agreed, and Dave smiled at us. "We'll be back soon, so you two chat and get to know each other." They went into the kitchen, and left the minotaur and myself alone. Once again, Brahma left me speechless. He had been reading a paperback book--one of the oversized-text ones, I believe. It looked tiny in his large hands. Brahma looked at me, and a flicker of amusement crossed his muzzle. "Won't you sit down, Alexander?" he gestured to a chair near him, and I sat myself politely down into it. I was soon aware of the silence once again, so I tried starting a conversation. "So, you're a minotaur?" I immediately winced at such a stupid question, but Brahma flicked his ears and didn't seem upset. "That I am, Alexander. And you are a human?" At first he seemed so sincere until he winked at me, then I knew he was teasing. I let out a laugh. "Sorry for the silly question. I just wound up at a loss for words." Brahma nodded. "It is only natural when faced with someone that should not exist." "For someone that shouldn't exist, you sure are real!" "That I am." Brahma tilted his head slightly. "So, Alexander, what is it you do for a living?" "I'm a file clerk" Brahma arched an eyeridge. "File clerk?" "Well, it was either that, or be a manager at a fast food place." Brahma arched the other eyeridge. "Fast food?" This was going to be more difficult to explain than I thought..."Think of it as a place to go where the food is cooked real fast. Fast food, get it?" Brahma blinked his eyes, staring at me. "I...think I do." He scratched under his chin, looking thoughtful. "What is a file clerk?" "Basically my job is to keep special papers organized in certain containers called folders." Brahma blinked again. "And this...'file clerk' position...it is well respected?" I looked away from Brahma, choosing my words carefully. "Well, not as much as I'd like for it to be..." Brahma nodded, a grin creasing his muzzle. "I understand, but your job is necessary, yes?" I shrugged with a smile. "They couldn't do without it." "Then you have something to be proud of." He then tilted his head a bit. "But I sense you have many questions for me, since I must be an unusual sight to behold. Ask me any questions you wish, Alexander." "Are you sure, Brahma? I mean, yeah, I've got a lot of questions that I'd love to know, but I'll bet you're tired of answering the same ones." "Then ask me new ones," the minotaur challenged with a mischievous grin. I racked my brain on a question he might not have been asked yet, then one suddenly hit me. "How do you like your job?" Brahma blinked, and looked surprised. "No one has even bothered to ask me that. Well done, Alexander." He turned his gaze upwards towards the ceiling, and spoke in that rumbling thunder that was his voice. "It is very nice. I get to help people better themselves, and have made friends." He then looked at me once again. "Any other questions?" I blushed as I recalled one question I had wanted to ask. "Well, I was wondering...when I first saw you, you were wearing a pair of spandex shorts, but then you changed into a pair of pants with straps on the sides to work. Why?" Brahma chuckles, a low, throaty rumble that slightly shook the chair I was seated in. "The straps are to keep the pants from falling apart as my quadriceps spread and bulge. Were I to use the spandex, they would tear almost immediately. I only wear them when I am out to prevent those from claiming I am indecent." He scratched the back of his neck, then shook his head. "I do not understand the problem with someone such as I being unclothed, as my fur covers the area in question." I blushed at the thought that came unbidden in my mind's eye. "Uhm...well, we have some particular views on nudity, Brahma. We've been raised to believe that it should be kept in the homes, not in public." "I can understand that, actually. My mother refused to let my brother and I roam the countryside in just our fur." "You have a brother? I assume he's a minotaur like you?" Brahma grinned as he nodded in agreement. "We are twins, but the only way to tell us apart is the color of our eyes. He has ice-blue eyes, whereas mine are black as coal." His grin was infectious. "Yeah, I think you have beautiful eyes, so thoughtful..." I immediately realized the words that slipped out of my mouth, and felt my cheeks redden again. Brahma, however, didn't seem affected by my surprise admission. "I think your eyes are beautiful as well. I have not seen many humans with green eyes." He then dipped his head, looking at the fur on his chest. "And...thank you for the compliment, as well." It took me a moment to recognize the gesture--Brahma was bashful over my compliment! It was strange to see such a huge creature affected by shyness, but I realized later even the largest of us can be affected by such emotions. Before long, Steve and Dave came back in to announce dinner was ready, and we all went into the dining room. Brahma simply sat on the floor, still managing to tower over us three. It was a delicious dinner, a type of Mexican casserole that we all had seconds, save for Brahma, who had fourths, and very large helpings at that. Dave joked on how he never had to worry about leftovers with Brahma around, which caused the minotaur to dip his head and give what I started to understand was a shy grin on his muzzle. It was still jarring to see such an expression over a creature so big and powerful. It was then decided we would play cards, and I quickly found out never to play poker against Brahma, as he had the best poker face I have ever seen. It was during that time Dave asked "So, Alex, have you asked Brahma how he wound up living here?" "No, I figured he'd been asked that a lot of times, so..." Dave nodded, then looked up to the big bull. "Well, Brahma, mind if I tell him the story, and you can add a few details?" Brahma spread a hand towards me. "Go right ahead, Dave." Dave grinned and he leaned back. "Well, it was a few months ago when it happened. I was at home, doing some yardwork around the house, when I saw something appear in the sky over the woods--it looked like some kind of swirling purple cloud at first, then it tore open, and something fell out of it. Next thing I knew, I heard a loud noise like some kind of heavy object hitting the ground, and felt the earth shake a bit. By then, the sky was back to normal, and my curiosity got the best of me, so I went into the woods to find out what it was. The object had been close, so I got to where I thought it was pretty easily. Dave shook his head then, and looked at Brahma. "What I found instead of a meteor like I thought it was, I found a load of smashed trees, and an unconscious minotaur. I tell you, Alex, I got weak in the legs when I saw him, and thought I had been hallucinating! After a minute, I realized my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, so I got closer to see what the deal was. Brahma was out cold, but he didn't seem hurt. It was then I did what some would call the dumbest thing a man could ever do when faced with an impossible being sprawled out unconscious in a forest." The grin on Dave's face was contagious, and I found myself grinning when I heard what he did. "I tried to pick him up, which was silly to begin with. Now, as you may know, I'm a strong guy--I was a powerlifter before I went into bodybuilding, but I had to struggle just to lift his arm! When I came to my senses, I decided to go back home really quick, and call as many of my powerlifting buds as I could. I told them to come to the woods behind the house when they got here, and raced back to where Brahma was. He was still out like a light, even when the guys got to where I was. After they recovered, we got to work on getting Brahma out of there." Dave then mimed a pain in his back as he put a hand over the area. "MAN, talk about heavy. I swear, he weighed as much as my SUV! It took us a while to maneuver him out of those woods, and into my garage. I swore everyone there into secrecy, and bribed them with free membership for life in my gym. I didn't want the media to catch wind of this for my privacy, to be honest." Dave looked at Brahma with a wistful smile. "Later, my reason for keeping Brahma a secret was for his privacy as well, but I'm getting ahead of myself. He stayed unconscious for at least a day, and we kept watch over him in shifts. None of us knew if he was going to be dangerous, so...well, we armed ourselves with tasers, because none of us owned any guns or rifles." "By this time, Steve discovered our new guest--after all, he's my husband, how could he not have found out?" I looked at Steve quizzically. He saw the look, and mouthed the word 'later' as Dave continued his tale. "...and when it was my turn to watch over our houseguest, I guess the day's events caught up with me finally, and I nodded off. Didn't last long, because I soon found myself being dangled by one of my legs by a certain minotaur, who was conscious, confused, and crabby!" Brahma rumbles with amusement. "I believe it is my turn to take temporary control of the story, yes? I was certainly conscious and confused, for there I was in a very strange area. I was not crabby, however, but I felt it would be a good thing to take charge of the situation. Thus, I grabbed Dave's leg for a tactical advantage, and began my gentle questioning of this strangely dressed human." "Of course, Brahma's voice is enough to shake the walls if he decides to speak loudly enough, and he was being VERY loud!" chuckles Dave. "I panicked, thinking he was going to hurt me really badly, so I tried to use the taser on him." "Unfortunately for him, I flicked it out of his hand, but I did feel a mild tingle, though. I assume you used it, Dave?" Dave smirked at the bull. "My hand hurt for almost a half a day after you did that, and yes, I used it. I was then absolutely terrified that it didn't even make you flinch, and I thought I was about to become a corpse in no time." Brahma shook the table with his amused rumble. "Yes, I will never forget the look of confused relief on your face when I asked you where I was. I do regret shaking you as you dangled from my grip when you simply answered with 'My garage'." Dave blushed. "If anyone had seen that, I wouldn't have heard the end of it. It's one thing to talk about it, but when a big guy like me is lifted by one leg like I'm a rag doll by an even bigger guy..." he grew silent then for a second, then simply shook his head. "I'm just glad no one saw it. A good thing for me Brahma was patient, and eventually he put me down when I gave him the right answers." I nodded my head, trying to imagine what the situation would have been like had it happened to me. Most likely I would have peed in my pants or cried like a child. I guess I'll never know, though--thank God for that. "Brahma was a bit suspicious of us at first, but after some time we got to convince him we were harmless. I think it was Steve who said it best. How did you sum it up, Steve?" Dave asked, looking at his husband. "Let's see, I think it was 'You're bigger than any human on the planet. Who would hurt who in a fight?'" Brahma nodded. "Dave and his friends did not have the odor of deception to their scents, so I decided to trust them. Besides, I was getting hungry, and I think they all heard my stomachs growl, because Dave asked me had I ever eaten 'pizza', which at the time I had not. It was a delight. I must have eaten three pizzas by myself." Dave reached out and patted the minotaur's chiseled abs. "I'm just glad I had those coupons," he laughed. "Otherwise, you would have eaten everything in the refrigerator!" he teased, making Brahma's ears redden. Dave then went back to the story. "After a week of talking with Brahma, educating him about our world and he about his world, we soon realized he just couldn't stay in the house like a recluse, but we couldn't just expose him to the world and vice-versa. So, we came up with a plan. I still kept in contact with my agent back when I was a pro bodybuilder, and invited him to meet Brahma. He knew how to manage the media to give our minotaur friend some positive PR. The newspapers and TV stations had a field day! Brahma even got to meet the mayor of the city. It even made the national news for a week or so." I was not aware of that, as I stopped watching TV and reading the news because of the bad news in the world. To think, I may not have ever seen this minotaur had I not decided to join the gym. Someone up there must have loved me to have brought me into Brahma's life. "Surprisingly enough, my agent and the mayor got together to discuss Brahma's situation." Dave had an admiring look as he studied the bull. "It was decided that for as long as he is here, he should have the opportunities that we do. But Brahma is big. Beefy. Bulging. He's a giant in a world built for smaller folks. Thus, he needed transportation, clothes--well, pants, at least--and the chance to interact with humans. The mayor called in a few favors, and my agent set up a few companies for donations. Everyone was eager to pitch in, because it's not every day you can get endorsed by a real-life minotaur!" Brahma looked at me, his eyes filled with happiness as he gave me a grin, exposing his teeth. Odd, how the lower teeth looked different, but I couldn't exactly figure out why until later. Seems those teeth are evidence that Brahma is a meat eater... "I was in awe over the generosity towards my person, as I am truly a stranger in a very strange land. I was a bit uncomfortable of the pants they sent me, as it was a bit snug over my genitalia, but after a few tries, we discovered the straps along the pants and the pairs of spandex work just perfectly." The minotaur then turned to Dave with a questioning look. "Should we show Alexander the vehicle?" "If Alex wants to see it, I don't see why not. Alex?" "I'd love to see it." We all got up and moved ourselves to the outside--Dave leading the way, Brahma bringing up the rear. Not too far from the house was a two story barn, which Dave was leading us towards. I felt the thudding rhythm of Brahma's weight as his tread impacted against the earth. He was walking very slowly, as his normal pace could easily outdistance us. Dave then made a sweeping bow towards the doors. "Brahma, would you care to do the honors?" "I shall do just that," the minotaur's voice rumbled above me , then moved into my field of vision. I saw the huge back muscles bulge as those powerful arms opened the doors, and couldn't help but notice the top of the doorframe only come to the minotaur's chin. He ducked his head as he entered, and flipped a light switch. I saw in awe as he stood by a truck scaled for his size. Silver in color, it was as big as the cab of a semi, but next to Brahma, it looked like your everyday vehicle. Needless to say, I was impressed. "Like it, huh? It took a lot of driving lessons, but Brahma caught on quick. There's even a special steering section for one of us to drive it if we needed to, in case this big guy got sick or something. We were very impressed when they gave Brahma this as a gift of 'ambassadorial goodwill'. Seems he got the attention of the United Nations, who wanted him to address the group!" I looked at Brahma incredulously, my respect for him growing. "Did you do it?" Brahma rewarded my look with a small smile, and shook his head. "No, I fear I do not do well in speaking before the public. I did, however, meet several of the ambassadors at Dave's home. I do not know who was more enthusiastic. The ambassadors, or Dave." Dave shrugged helplessly, a goofy grin on his face. "Hey, it's not every day I have a celebrity in my home. I got to take the advantages when they appear!" We all laughed at that--Brahma's laugh, of course, was more of a rumbling chuckle--and then went back into the house. After getting whooped in a few more rounds of poker (I swore never again to play Brahma in any type of game that involved bluffing), it was time to call it a night. I said my good-byes, and Steve walked me to my car. I leaned back against my vehicle and smirked at him. "Dave knew you were going to ask me out?" Steve nodded with that grin of his. "Yup." "I don't get it, why the deception?" "I can see how you feel about that bull. You're attracted to him, aren't you?" I didn't say anything at first--instead, I just looked away from him before nodding. "Yeah, but I don't think Brahma knows that. Remember when I said you have a sense of decency? When you were at the gym, you actually made eye contact a lot, and paid attention to what he said, not what he did. You treated him like he was a person, not what he really is--a mythical creature with a heart of gold." Steve leaned back against the car beside me, and put his arm across my shoulders. "Brahma needs friends, Alex. I think you have what it takes to be that friend." I blinked when Steve told me that piece of information. "M..me? But I've seen those guys he lifts with, what have I got that they don't?" "Character. Those guys are concerned about their muscles. No offense to any of them, they're a great bunch of guys, but altogether they don't have a tenth of the depth that Brahma has, or you for that matter." "Thanks...that means a lot. I like you, Steve. I also like Dave, and especially Brahma." "I like you too, and I know Dave feels the same. I can't be exactly sure about Brahma, but I wouldn't be surprised if he started calling you 'Alex' before too long." I chuckled, and Steve hugged me goodbye. He waved as I pulled off onto the road, and I was grinning like a loon as I drove away. It was one of the most fun times I'd had in a long while. It wouldn't be the last. * * * Sure enough, I woke up the next morning and could hardly move. My muscles rebelled against me every time I tried to move them. It was hell getting into the shower, but the hot water seemed to help a bit. Too bad the rebellion of my body resumed the moment my shower ended. Somehow, I managed to dry myself off, get dressed and ready for work, make a quick breakfast, and drove to my job. I plodded through the day, endured the good-natured ribbing when my coworkers asked me why I moved like an old lady, and finally left when it was time to clock out. I headed over to the gym, but was dismayed when I found out neither Steve nor Brahma were there. Seems it was their off day, and without Brahma as my trainer, I let my sore muscles win the battle. Heading for home, I felt a little down, but I knew in the back of my mind that Brahma would be there again, so I was determined to just relax that night. As soon as I got home, the phone rang. I briefly debated on letting the answering machine take the message, but changed my mind. I picked up the receiver and said "Hello?" A familiar voice rumbled into my ear. It was softer, almost as if he were whispering. "Hello, Alexander. This is Brahma." My mouth went dry, and I had to swallow twice before I could speak. "Brahma! How are you? What a surprise!" "I am well." The minotaur went quiet on the other end for a brief moment before speaking again. "I received the number from your files. I hope you do not mind." "No, not at all!" I quickly answered, hoping I didn't sound too eager. "In fact, I went to the gym today, but you and Steve were both off." "Ah, yes, I suppose I should have mentioned that. How thoughtless of me." Another pause, and I was able to imagine the minotaur talking in a tiny receiver that was not built for his stature. "How are you feeling today, Alexander? Any soreness?" "Yeeeeah, I guess you could that." I winced as moved the receiver between my head and shoulder. "I see." Brahma grew quiet again. "Would you care to come over? I have a special massage technique that may be of some use to you." Now it was my turn to be quiet, though I was stunned into silence. "Sure! I'll be over in a half-hour." "I will look forward to your arrival." I tried very hard not to race over to the house in my car. It wasn't easy, and after what seemed like forever, I got to the house. My heart was beating with excitement, and I prayed I wouldn't get excited in...other areas. As I approached the door, I tried to breathe calmly. When I was sure I would be all right, I rang the doorbell. A few moments later, the door opened, and the huge minotaur looked down at me from his lofty height. "Come in, Alexander. Make yourself comfortable in the den." he rumbled as he ushered me into the room. There was a new addition to the den--a Masseuse's table. Brahma then handed me a towel "The bathroom is down the hall. You may undress in there." He then placed his huge hand behind my back to guide me to the bathroom, and with his size and strength, I couldn't help but concede to his gentle commands. After stripping off my clothes, I wrapped the towel around myself, and after glancing in the mirror, I realized just how much out of shape I looked. I suddenly felt very self-conscious, and couldn't bring myself to exit the bathroom to face the mountain of wondrous muscle that was waiting for me. I almost put my clothes back on when I heard the rumbling bass of the minotaur's voice call out to me. "Are you all right, Alexander?" I took a deep breath, ridding myself of my self-consciousness, and stepped out of the bathroom and into the den. If Brahma had any opinion on the way I looked, I couldn't tell by looking at his broad face. He motioned for me to lay down on the table, then he sat down, looming over me as he began to work on the muscles of my back by just using his fingertips. The strength in those digits alone were enough to send me into a state of bliss, as he found the right spots to massage. After thoroughly turning my back into a relaxed lump of flesh, he then worked on my legs, the pressure strong enough to defeat any kinks in them. "Such tension, why is that?" the minotaur asked. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth. "Because I'm kind of self-conscious over the way I look unclothed." Brahma didn't even hesitate as he began to work on my other leg. "Oh? Why is that?" "Well, I'm out of shape." I rolled my eyes up towards the ceiling as Brahma's massage techniques worked the tension out of my leg. "But you are going to the gym, so if you are sincere with your determination, you shall get back into shape before too long." Brahma's matter-of-fact tone gave me the impression he saw things without the burdens of emotional baggage. I idly wondered what his life was like as he grew up. "There's more to it than just that," I said, choosing my words carefully. "I don't know how to admit this, but...Well, I'm kind of intimidated by you." Surprisingly, I felt better with the admission. "I know the feeling. I have met creatures during my travels that made me feel small in comparison." Brahma grew silent for a moment, and I decided to ask the question that had been on my mind since I met him. "Brahma, how did you wind up on our world?" Brahma didn't answer at first, and I thought I had offended him somehow, until finally he let out a long sigh. "It all started when I was but a young minotaur of sixteen years, and my brother took me out of the house late at night to an abandoned temple he found. It was there we discovered twin black pillars, and thanks to my brother's playful antics, we discovered the pillars were a portal to another dimension." Brahma paused in his story for a moment. "Well, at least I did. I do not know what happened to my brother. I soon found myself in a dimension that was the dream of a feline, of all things. As incredible as that may sound, I soon discovered it was inhabited by other beings. Some friendly, some not." Brahma grew quiet again, and as relaxed as I felt, I sat up to see him staring up at the ceiling. "After a failed attempt at going home, I eventually found my way to another Gate, where I discovered a realm that connected to the myriad of realms. I knew that one of these realms was my home, so I started my quest. After many, many years, I have yet to find my home." I started into those eyes of his, and realized now what they were filled with--homesickness. Brahma missed his mother, his brother, and his home. I knew how he felt, in some small way, as I faced it when I moved away for the first time. The difference was at least I could go to see my family. Brahma did not have that luxury. "I miss them terribly, Alexander," the minotaur whispered, his muzzle dipping down, his ears drooping. "I do not know if they are alive or dead, and I fear they have given up the hope that I will ever return home--that is, if they even think I am alive." At a loss for words, I did the only thing I could do in a situation like this--I got up from the table, made sure the towel was firmly wrapped around my waist, and reached out to touch Brahma on the shoulder. He glanced at me for a moment, then moved his hand over mine. We didn't say anything for a long time, then Brahma looked at me, as if thinking about something important. "Have you eaten yet?" he finally asked. It was at that point I realized it was time to dinner. "No, do you have something in mind?" "I do." "What might that be?" Brahma's grin was almost child-like in its excitement. "Pizza!" I got back into my clothes as Brahma ordered the pies. The pizzas came rather quickly--considering the smile from the delivery person, I suppose they enjoyed delivering to this location. I ate half a pizza while Brahma wolfed down the rest plus three more. His appetite was just as amazing as his size, and I chuckles as he finished off the third pizza. "So, are all minotaurs as big as you, Brahma?" "No, my brother and I were the rare exceptions." he smiled. "You know, I don't think I even asked which side of the family was the minotaur side, I just assumed it was your father." Brahma nodded. "You are correct, my mother is human, and she raised my brother and myself. I never knew my father. When I asked, my grandfather said 'Sometimes even love cannot keep two individuals together.' I didn't understand what he meant back then--I was a young bull when I asked--but now, I believe I know what he meant by those words." I then realized once again how time flew, as it was somewhat late. "I have to go to work in the morning. Are you going to be OK by yourself, Brahma?" Brahma smiled. "Yes, Alexander. Thank you for your concern." He walked with me to my vehicle and placed his huge hand on my shoulder. "Thank you for listening to a homesick minotaur's tale." I patted his hand, smiling. "No problem, Brahma. I'll bet you would do the same for me, right?" I inwardly kicked myself, as that was assuming way too much, but the minotaur smiled down at me. "I would, Alexander. You are a good person." The grin on my face didn't fade until I was getting ready for bed.
* * *
My friendships with Steve and Dave grew, and we did things together along with Brahma. Now, my friendship with the minotaur...well, it was hard to say. He seemed to keep himself at a distance, and he still called me Alexander. I idly wondered if his confession of homesickness embarrassed him that night, but I didn't want to push the issue. At any rate, we decided to go to the park one night and shoot some hoops. We agreed that anyone on Brahma's team would win because it was generally not a good idea to try and get in the way of a player who stood twelve feet tall and weighed two-point-four tons. We found out his weight one day by using a scale found at a weighpoint for truckers. Needless to say, it was very amusing to see the scale being used for something other than 18-wheelers! I was actually doing well points-wise, even if the sight of Brahma being able to hold the basketball like a baseball disrupted my concentration from time to time. Eventually, I did win, with Brahma a close second. We then sat on the blacktop and chatted about trivial things, when Brahma stood. "Alexander, would you care to walk with me? Let us leave these two lovebirds alone for a while." I was surprised at Brahma's request, but I recognized that tone in his voice--it was the same one he used on me during my workouts. Thus, there was only one answer he would accept. "Sure, Brahma," I smiled as I got to my feet, and followed him. We walked a ways into the woods, and I occasionally glanced up at Brahma to see him looking at the stars. "The stars here are so beautiful." he murmured before looking down at me. "Alexander, I owe you an apology," he said, kneeling down so the difference in height wouldn't be so great. I blinked at him in confusion. "You do? Why?" "I have acting mildly distant to you, because of what happened a month ago." "The homesickness, right?" Now it was Brahma's turn to blink in confusion. Even his tail swished a bit erratically. "How did you know?" I love being right sometimes! "It's OK, Brahma. I understand. You have had some hard times, and it's all right to miss your family. Under the circumstances, I'd be more worried if you didn't get homesick." "Thank you Alexander," Brahma said as he reached out to place his enormous hand on my shoulder. "I am very--" I'd never know what he was going to say, because our conversation was cut short by a gunshot. Brahma stood up, perplexed. "What in Hades' name was that sound? Thunder?" I shook my head. "No, that was a gunshot!" Brahma quickly wrapped a massive arm around my waist, lifting me up and carrying me as he ran back to the basketball court, the sound of his footsteps thundering across the park. What we saw gave me a cold lump of fear in my stomach, as Steve crouched beside Dave's bleeding body. He looked up at the sound of Brahma's approach, eyes red with tears, his chest hitching for breath. Brahma set me down, a look of complete shock filling his eyes. I ran over to Steve, and saw that Dave had been shot in the chest. He was having problems breathing, and the blood was everywhere. I stripped off my shirt in an attempt to staunch the bloodflow. "Steve, who did this?" Steve tried to talk, but it came out a stutter. "Th-they d-d-did." He pointed at Brahma's car, the only thing we could travel in with Brahma. I could see movement from the inside, and my panic-stricken mind barely registered the fact that we were victims of a carjacking. I had to act fast, or else we'd lose more than just a vehicle. "Steve, put pressure on Dave's wound. I'm going to that payphone and call 911," I said quickly, hoping no one else would be shot. I was about to get up when Dave's weak voice stopped me. "Guys..." I'll never imagine the willpower it took for him to keep from going unconscious. "Hon, d-don't try to talk," Steve sobbed, trying to stop the blood from leaking out of the wound. "Is...OK...I love..you Steve..." Dave's haltingly looked over at Brahma. "Brahma...take care...of...him." Brahma knelt down to hold Dave's hand. "I promise, Dave. I love you. May your journey be safe." Dave smiled, and then his eyes looked past us, into somewhere unknown. His breathing rattled once, then stopped. Brahma stared at the lifeless body for a moment. "Dave?" He lowered his muzzle to touch Dave's forehead. "They will pay for this, my friend." Suddenly the vehicle we were in roared into life, and that broke whatever control Steve had. He started hurling profanities at the murderers who took away a decent human being. I rushed over to a payphone nearby, and dialed 911. I started to tell them what happened when I heard the loudest roar I will ever hear in my life, and as I turned my head towards the source, my jaw dropped as I pissed in my pants. Brahma now loomed over the trees in the park, and his feet were wider than the pathways. His muscles bulged to impossible sizes as he took a heavy step towards the fleeing vehicle, the impact on the earth causing shockwaves that knocked me off my feet. They didn't have a chance against Brahma's stride, as within moments, he reached for the car, his hand wrapping around it, then lifted it off the ground. How high up was the minotaur? I don't know, and I looked on in terror as I could see his muzzle was pulled back in a hateful snarl. "Get out of the car, or I'll crush it with you pathetic gnats inside." He held out his open palm, waiting for the predators who suddenly found themselves prey. I could barely make out the door opening, then out stumbled one, then two tiny forms, landing in Brahma's hand. He put the car back onto the ground, and then his eyes went back to the two fools who picked the wrong night to commit crimes. The giant minotaur turned towards us, and he thundered to Steve, lifting one of the criminals by a leg--the pressure must have been great, because he screeched louder than any human possibly could. "Steve, is this the filth who killed our Dave?" Steve's eyes said everything Brahma wanted to know, but he nodded regardless. The minotaur then looked at the other bastard. "Did this one help?" Steve shook his head no. "So be it. Turn away, Alexander...Steve. I do not want you to see this." I found myself beside Steve--I don't remember walking over to him--and I hugged him, pressing him close to my chest. He started sobbing again, and I joined him. All we heard was Brahma's thundering voice saying "Let this be a lesson to you, should you ever decide to hurt someone else." I heard a scream, followed by another joining in, then only one single scream again, seemingly growing closer to us. "You may look now," Brahma's voice rumbled quietly, and we saw he was back to his normal height--the only evidence of his titanic stature were the fragments of his shorts that clung to his fur, and the craters he left from his brief chase. The guy who killed Dave was dangling by his ankle as Brahma held him aloft. His friend was nowhere in sight. "Are the police on their way?" the minotaur asked before the sirens were heard, almost as if in answer to his question. He then released the killer, who stared up at Brahma, a look of utter terror on his face, his mouth spread wide open, as if trying to scream. "I should have killed you, but I want you to live with the fact that your friend died for your crime. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, you worthless piece of dung." Brahma growled just as the cops pulled up. They called for an ambulance--not that it would do much good, sadly--arrested the guy, and took our statements. I'm not sure that was the proper police procedure, but from the sounds of things, they could tell from the scene that it wouldn't be a good idea to upset the bull any more than he already was. I never asked what Brahma did to the murderer's cohort. I didn't want to know. It was dawn before we finally got back to the house. Steve had fallen asleep, but only because the doctors gave him a sleep aid. At first he refused, until Brahma and I promised to handle the calls to inform friends and family of the tragedy. The minotaur carefully cradled Steve in his arms as he walked into the house, putting him into the bedroom. I started brewing the coffee that would get us through the long day, and we made phone calls. I pray to God I never have to do that again. By the last phone call, I felt so emotionally drained, I realized I had been crying. Brahma, on the other hand, was dry-eyed. It was the occasional twitch of his muzzle that revealed the sadness he felt, and he only spoke when taking his turn with the phone calls. The days following the death of Dave were very hard on Brahma and Steve. I stayed with them through the whole ordeal, offering what emotional support I could. Steve's parents disowned him when they discovered his homosexuality, and Brahma...Brahma was distant, though he was inseparable from Steve during the waking hours--when they slept, Steve was wrapped in Brahma's arms, his chestfur wet from Steve's tears. As for me, I had lost a friend. They had lost much more, though. During the viewing of the body, Brahma wore a white toga with a bronze clasp attached at the shoulder to hold it together. It was the only thing that looked respectful enough for such a sad occasion. He stood with Steve as they said their silent good-byes to Dave. When I was able to view the body, I felt the tears stinging my eyes as I bid a good friend and nice guy farewell. I don't remember the service at all--my thoughts were with Steve and Brahma. During the burial, they asked me to sit with them, and while the coffin was being lowered into the freshly dug earth, Brahma placed his hand over mine. I looked up at him as he whispered "Thank you, Alex." I then nodded my head in reply, wishing the circumstances leading to my acceptance as a friend to the bull had been different. Dave left Steve with everything, naturally. We didn't talk about Brahma's hidden ability, and the police never bothered us. It was like some kind of unspoken deal. For the next couple of weeks, Steve and Brahma were running on automatic as they mourned. We did the best we could to make sure they were all right, but at the end of every night, it was just them, alone. Each one a reminder of the friend and companion now gone. One day, Brahma ended our workout session early. "We need to talk, Alex. I'm worried about Steve." the minotaur said as we were in the locker room. "What's wrong with him?" I asked as I changed back into my regular clothes. "I fear he is having problems with his health. He sleeps fitfully, I cannot get him to eat more than a few bites of his food lately. You have noticed he hasn't been quite himself at work, either. Correct?" In fact, I had noticed his attitude at work, but... "Well, Brahma, he's going through a lot of grief. We may have lost a friend, but he lost his mate. Tell you what, would you like for me to check up on him? Is he at home?" "Yes, he said he was not feeling well, so a visit from you would be welcomed, I think." Brahma smiled down at me warmly. "You have been a pillar of strength for us both, Alex." He then crouched down and hugged me. I was surprised at first, but then I relaxed, lost in those wonderful muscles, his heartbeat strong against my body. After a second, Brahma released me, and ruffled my hair. "Thank you." "Not a problem, Brahma," I smiled before I left the gym and drove over to the house. It seemed...emptier, somehow. Maybe it was because all the lights were off, and that struck me as slightly odd. I shrugged it off as I walked to the door, knocking on it. No one came to the door. I tried again. Nothing. I knew where they hid the spare key, so I let myself in, turning on the hallway light. As I entered, I heard the water running upstairs, and it sounded like it was the bathtub. I relaxed, smiling. I went to the kitchen, made some fresh coffee, and while it was percolating, I called out to Steve to let him know I was here. I didn't think anything of the lack of response, the water must have been too loud for him to hear me. I walked upstairs to let him know I was here; as I went to the door, my shoes squished against the soaked area around the bathroom door. I don't know if it was that, or the fact the door was ajar that made me start to feel that chill which ran down my spine, but when I opened the door, the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Steve lay in the bathtub, dead--one hand laying limply against the tub, a still-wet trail of blood leading to the tiled floor. The water was copper-colored on the floor, but the water inside the tub was clear. He must have been dead for a while. The razor gleamed at me, as if confessing to be the object that helped take another friend's life. I stared at it for a moment, unable to look at Steve's lifeless body. He was so handsome in life, but death turned him into something repulsive. I snapped out of it, and rushed to the phone. Then I called Brahma, not really knowing what to say. How do you tell someone that they've lost two friends in a month? When Brahma arrived, I somehow managed to keep him from interfering with the police and paramedics. It was too late for them to help Steve--he was dead long before I even got there, but I had already known that. If Brahma was sad before, he was absolutely miserable after we buried Steve beside Dave's body. Steve had made out the will, and left Brahma with everything, which served to further his depression. "He planned this for so long, Alex. He gave his lawyer an envelope to be given to me on the event of his death. He wrote that he was sorry, but he couldn't live without Dave. He apologized for leaving me, but he said I would be all right, as there was someone who loved me dearly." Then, unexpectedly, whatever barriers Brahma had built to hide the pain broke, and his tears started to stream from his eyes. He sank down to the floor limply, shaking the room with his weight. "I feel so alone." he whispered, his body trembling. My heart went out to him, and I wrapped my arms around him as best as I could. "Come on, Brahma, let's pay our respects to them, and you can tell them how you feel, okay?" I hoped the bull wouldn't think it was an unusual thing to do, but he nodded his head sadly. I drove us to the cemetery, and we found the location where our friends had been placed. Two simple plaques were on the ground, with their names, birthdates, and the date they died. Brahma knelt down before the graves, and dipped his head in prayer. I kept my distance, offering a silent prayer of my own. Our silence was interrupted by a clap of thunder, which was surprising, as it was a cloudless day. We looked up, and watched in shock as a swirling mass of purple clouds formed in the sky, just above the treetops. I heard Brahma utter an oath, his voice heavy with the same surprise I felt. "Brahma? What's that?" "It...it is a gate. To that place I told you about." I turned to look at the minotaur, and he was now moving past me, towards the phenomenon. "What does this mean? You're not going to do what I think you're going to do?" "I have to, Alex. This is not my home, no matter how kind you are to me. I want to be with my family one day." His expression was longing, and yet, it also looked as if this was not an easy decision. My decision wasn't easy as well, but I knew there would be only one choice. "Then I'm going with you." Brahma was taken aback, his ears perked up, and his tail started swishing like crazy. "I forbid it, you have a life here, a home." "Yeah, but without you, Brahma, it wouldn't be worth a damn. I love you, Brahma. I want to be with you for the rest of my life." Brahma grew silent, blinking his eyes with even more surprise. Finally, he said. "Everyone I care for seems to leave me." "Then don't leave me," I said flatly, "Take me with you, so you won't have to find your home alone." "It will be dangerous at times. I may not be able to protect you." "And I may not be able to protect you. We'll watch each other's backs, and comfort each other when times get bad." I reached out and held his huge hand. "Don't let yourself be alone, Brahma." Brahma stared at me, and I could feel his mind weighing the options. Finally, he bent down to take me into his arms. "I love you, Alex." he murmured before kissing me briefly. Then he started to grow, his body expanding to incredible size as we got closer to the gate. He then crouched for a moment, then leapt into the air, and for a moment all I could see was Brahma's face before we disappeared into the gate. I knew it would not be an easy journey, but I was with the one I loved. That's all that mattered. |