SHADES OF GRAY

 By Barbara Hill

This story first appeared in the zine "Buns and Roses."

Pascal and Vincent struggled with the heavy length of pipe being used to connect the older section of the tunnel's communication system with a much needed newer one. They worked in comfortable silence both intent on finishing the task as quickly as possible. 

Pascal reached out to give Vincent the clamp he'd asked for and was surprised when his hand instead met empty air. "What the  …”  Pascal's words caught in his throat as he noticed the stark look of worry that flashed across his friend's unique visage. "Vincent, are you all right? You're as pale as a ghost."

The keeper of the pipes stared wide-eyed as the reason for Vincent's sudden loss of concentration flashed in his mind. Reaching for his arm, Pascal shook him gently. Eyes the color of a calm blue ocean blinked at him in confusion as he shook his head.

"Vincent, is Catherine all right? Is something wrong?" Like the rest of the tunnel community, Pascal was well aware of the special bond that connected Vincent with Catherine, the beautiful topsider who now shared his life — and his love.

"What?" Vincent shook his head again, trying to clear his thoughts. Zeroing in on the invisible thread that connected him to Catherine, he tried to sort through the jumble of emotions he could sense in her. Gazing at his worried friend, he hastened to assure him.

"Catherine is all right. She's in no danger, but something has upset her. I must go to her, Pascal." He gestured at the repair work waiting to be finished. "I am sorry." His voice held a note of apology.

"Yes, of course, Vincent. Don't worry about the work. I'll get Winslow to help me finish up here. He’s a night owl like me, anyway. Might as well make use of his insomnia."

It was after nine o'clock, so Pascal knew it would be safe for Vincent to venture Above. As safe as it could ever be for him anyway. Reaching for his friend's ever-present cape, he handed it to him, giving him a gentle push."

"Go, Vincent. See to your Catherine. And give her my love."

Wrapping his cloak about his broad shoulders, Vincent smiled gratefully and hurried to join Catherine in her apartment.

Lost in her thoughts, Catherine did not hear Vincent's booted feet as they landed softly on the terrace floor. The door to the terrace was slightly ajar. He saw her sitting at her make-up table, staring with disgust at something she held in her hand. Pushing the doors open, he hurried down the steps to kneel at her side.

"Catherine! What is it? Are you well?" He watched her reflection in the mirror, his concern escalating when she did not answer him immediately. "Catherine?"

Catherine swung around, shoving the object of her disgust under his nose. "Look at this!" Vincent pulled back to comply with her rather terse demand, but the offending object simply echoed his movement as she determinedly thrust it at him for his perusal. "Just look at this, Vincent!" Her voice was filled with the same disgust etched on her pretty face.

Grasping her hand gently, Vincent pulled it away so that he could focus on the thing she held. When his vision cleared, he saw that the object was a brush - a simple, innocuous hair brush. Looking more closely, he realized that it was the same brush Catherine used every night before retiring.

Watching Catherine brush her hair had become a nightly ritual for Vincent. The action seemed to soothe and relax her and he derived a good deal of pleasure out of watching her, or in taking over the task himself at times. He'd seen her use this same brush almost every night since they had become lovers three months earlier, and never before had she experienced such a strong feeling of hatred toward it. Why now?

Vincent cocked his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Catherine, why are you angry at your hairbrush?"

Bright green eyes glared at him. How could he not see it? He had the eyes of the graceful creature he resembled. How could he possibly not see what she was so upset about?

"It's not the brush, Vincent. It's what's in the brush. Once more she shoved the offensive object dangerously close, and once again he had to pull her hand away. Catherine didn't seem to understand that even he, in spite of his keen sight, could not focus properly on something only millimeters away.

Sensing that he still didn't quite get the message, Catherine shook the brush at her lover angrily. "Look at what's in this damn brush, Vincent. What do you see?"

Once more Vincent managed to dodge the offending object before it could make contact with his sensitive, fuzzy nose. Barely! Catching her wrist, he pulled her hand a safe distance away as he eyed the hairbrush curiously, still in the dark as to why Catherine seemed to have developed a murderous hatred toward an inanimate object.

"All I see is hair, Catherine."

Yes, it's hair. My hair!"

"Catherine, you were brushing your hair. It's not so unusual that some of it would come out. You have more than enough. Why should the loss of a few strands upset you so?"

Catherine sighed deeply, her fingers toying with the wayward strands of hair that had deserted her scalp. "You don't understand, Vincent." She stood and walked to stand at the top of the steps leading to her terrace, staring sadly into the darkness. Vincent felt a sudden sense of loss and something akin to fear through their connection, and he had to strain to hear her soft whisper. "They're gray."

"What?" For a moment Vincent thought he had misunderstood her.

"Some of the hairs are ... they're gray." She turned to gaze down at him, eyes filled with sadness. "I'm getting gray."

Vincent stood slowly, fighting to quell the sudden urge to laugh at Catherine's unusual over-reaction to something so natural as graying hair — certain that laughing was the last reaction she wanted or needed at the moment. Going to her, he slipped his arms around her waist, hugging her gently while he searched for a way to alleviate her concern.

"Catherine, turning gray is a natural phenomenon. It is nothing to be so worried about." He nuzzled his face in her sweet smelling hair, relief flooding his very soul that Catherine's problem was so very easy to solve — this time.

"Trust me, love, it will in no way effect your beauty. Nothing could ever do that." He nibbled her ear, his breath warm against her cheek as he whispered, "You will always be beautiful to me."

Catherine sighed, leaning back against his sturdy frame. "That's easy for you to say, Vincent. It isn't your hair. I bet you wouldn't be so nonchalant about this if it was your hair turning gray."

Vincent chuckled softly. His words were muffled as he burrowed beneath her silky hair to nibble the sensitive skin of her neck. "If I had any gray hair, Catherine, I doubt that I would be upset over what is a natural part of life."

Catherine tensed, his offhand remark chaffing slightly in spite of the tingles his nibbling caused. She turned slowly in his arms, glaring up at her lover with a mixture of curiosity and mild annoyance.

Vincent gazed down at her lovingly. He sensed the sudden turn her emotions had taken, and was surprised by the intense feeling of aggravation that coursed through her. He was further startled to discover that her feelings were directed at him!

"Are you saying that you don't have any gray hair, Vincent?"

Vincent cocked his head in the way that Catherine usually found very endearing and utterly irresistible, but for some reason this time found oddly annoying.

"No." Blue eyes stared at her with unabashed innocence, completely at a loss as to why his Beloved would find his lack of gray hair so irritating.

"None?" Catherine reached for a handful of his long, thick hair, tugging none too gently as Vincent shook his head. "Are you telling me that with all this hair . . ." Her free hand rested lightly on the front of his shirt, fingering the tiny buttons. "... Not to mention all the hair you have on that gorgeous body of yours, that you do not have one single, solitary strand of gray hair?"

Vincent paused momentarily before answering her, unsure as to how she would respond. For the first time since he'd come to know her, Catherine had him totally flustered. Finally, his innate propensity for honesty won out — as usual.

"No, Catherine. None that I have ever seen."

“Have you ever looked?"

Vincent sighed softly, his confusion increasing with every moment. "Catherine, searching my body for gray hairs has never been a top priority for me. I have simply never given it any thought."

"Oh, really? Well . . ."

Catherine's sharp retort died in her throat as she caught sight of the patch of curly tendrils peeking over the neck of Vincent's shirt, and she realized suddenly that searching his perfectly formed body for any sign of gray hair could prove to be a lot of fun. Not to mention a delightful way to take her mind off her unsettling discovery.

Vincent stared at her in wide-eyed amazement as the sudden change in her mood assaulted him. " The anger and frustration he'd felt in her earlier was replaced with a sense of mischief and . . .

He staggered back slightly as another strong feeling reached out to engulf him. Desire! He stood,  all but stunned into muteness as Catherine unhooked his cape, slipped it off his shoulders and began undoing the buttons of his shirt. Only when he felt her small hands slide inside his shirt to caress his powerful chest did Vincent find his voice. Barely.

“Catherine, what ..."

Ignoring him, Catherine tugged the ends of his shirt free of his trousers to undo the last buttons and quickly rid him of the encumbering piece of clothing. Her nails raked gently through the dense coating of hair that covered his chest, trailing slowly down to his belt buckle. Vincent grasped her hands, staying them.

“Catherine, what do you think you are doing?"

Catherine slapped playfully at his large hands, once again fumbling with his belt buckle. “You claim that you don't have any gray hair, Vincent. Well, I intend to find out for myself." Her fingers eased the zipper of his trouser slowly down over the bulge beginning to form.

"I am going to check this gorgeous body of yours, Vincent, from head to toe." Her hand brushed lightly against the ever growing bulge as she smiled up at him lecherously. "Every beautiful square inch."

Vincent sighed in mock defeat as she slid his well-worn trousers down over his hips. Her soft, warm palms caressed his buttocks. He was more than willing, in fact he was eager to have Catherine thoroughly search his body to her heart's content. The prospect seemed to make her happy, and it would definitely make him very happy. Even if her search would be for naught.