The Roommate, Part XVII (New 10/16/04)

[Xyggurat]

Hey, readers,

I honestly haven't been reading too much on this site, which is why I kind of let "The Roommate" slip into temporary oblivion. So, a quick bit of questioning: Is it just me, or do we need more late teens-to-twenties muscle growth stories? It's been a long time since I've seen something that stirred me like "Frank," "The Lawnmower Boy," "Matt Grows Up," or even "The Addict," which never got finished.

I still consider "Frank" to be possibly the finest muscle growth story ever because of the slow-burn description of growth and how the writer kept him within a plausible size while really emphasizing his growth. If the writer of said story is out there, speak up. Gosh, you really should keep writing. Look for an homage to "Frank" in one of the upcoming chapters of "The Roommate," 'cuz we've moved into the final stretch, folks. It's like those last six episodes of Deep Space Nine, or Buffy. Or Angel, or something. I want to pull out the stops.

Anyway, back to my apology. I'm awful at keeping up on website traffic and I do a lot of work on-line. If you want to get my attention, posting here only helps so much. I do, however, read my e-mail ([email protected]) every single day. I feel like I might've miffed some people by not responding to them, but I must reassure that I read *every e-mail.* And some of them are really hot, too.

Stay tuned for another chapter soon... like, tonight or tomorrow. And don't be afraid to e-mail me. Also, are any of you college-aged readers in the San Diego/North County area of California? Definitely contact me, if so. I'm actually looking to try something, but it's hard to explain on here.

-X-

[Xyggurat]

"It can't happen again," I whispered, clutching my head. "I'm getting weaker, but it's not just physical. I want him so bad I can practically taste it, and--"

Liam cut me off with a shake of his head. He was showing his true form today, or at least the semblance of it his vanity allowed him to recollect. He ran a hand through his shaggy dark brown locks. I absently decided that I liked them better than the straight red-brown hair he had adopted for his facade as Professor McTague.

"You have to stay strong against Phil's influence, Dane. It's a vicious cycle, this. He's growing and you're shrinking, which is affecting your mind in ways that no sane psychologist would think to research. And who knows what else dosing you with his semen is do--don't do that, Dane!"

I looked up, embarassed. My hand had strayed down into my pants and was caught in the act of gripping my six inches. I could tell that I was diminished after my most recent encounter with Phil. The fact that I had shrunken to scale had not altered my pereceptions of what an average guy looked like. And I was below average in height, though not yet considerably so. At 5'6, I was a couple of inches shorter than Liam. He looked big, but the difference was probably psychological. It did not stop me from looking up at him with baleful eyes at his use of command over me.

"Look, I'm sorry," he continued. "I'm sorry for having to use you like this, Dane. None of this is your fault, and no one should be expected to hold out indefinitely against the forces that have been changing your life."

I let my frown fade. "Liam. What's happening with Phil may not be my fault, but I have to take responsibility for my actions. I chose to go along with your plan. I'll stick to it."

He nodded, as if that settled it. It struck at my heart that, even after I had let him down and given in to Phil, he still had faith in me.

Liam put his hands on my shoulders. He had big, strong hands for someone naturally of short stature. In this form his typical sweater and trousers were a bit too snug, so he wore a sleeveless T-shirt. He was not an extraordinary example of manhood, but I wondered why he would make such an obvious change to his body in his transformation into Professor McTague. I laughed, abruptly.

"What's so funny?" He grinned, displaying a nice grin that was not quite perfect. It made his smile into a rogue's smirk.

I shrugged. "You're taller than me."

"Oh," he responded. He looked abashed. "Well, once we've dealt with this problem..."

"No," I said. "Don't make any promises. There's a good chance I might have to stay like this for a long time. Maybe it's not even reversible. Just... you said that you had good news for me?" The subject change was hasty, and the look he gave me said that he understood it. He did not want to remind me what I had lost any more than he had to.

"Only that I've exhausted all of the options the symbiote and I could come up with. There are a few viable solutions. We could kill Phil, but who knows if the symbiote would just reanimate him somehow?"

"Plus, it would sound like a crappy movie ripoff. And I don't think I'm quite small enough to wear one of those jumpsuits."

Liam laughed. "It's good that you're keeping your sense of humor." More soberly, he continued, "I didn't like the idea of hurting Phil, even after what he's done. The symbiote, however, is a completely different story. Maybe it's just my own symbiont's thoughts here, but Phil's is like a rabid beast. It has to be put down for good. Even if it costs Phil his life. I hope it won't."

"So, what's your thought?" I prompted.

"The symbiote is a complex network of cells that can somehow hold conscious thoughts. It can disintegrate and reintegrate at will. But it seems immune to the toxins and chemical changes it puts out. So what happens if we attack its resistances?"

"Uhm. It... ah... buh..."

Liam snorted, but the twinkle in his eyes set me at ease. "It's a good thing you're not in my class, Dane."

"Okay, okay. I guess it would start poisoning itself."

"Right, and it would lose control completely and hopefully kill itself. I'm not sure what would happen to Phil. It depends on how integrated the symbiote is into his--"

"Liam." I shut my eyes, rolling the words inside of my mouth before I said them. "I don't care what happens to Phil. You told me he wasn't under the control of the symbiote. He's the one who's been torturing me. It adapted to him, not him to it."

He nodded. "It's going to take a few days before I can synthesize the chemicals I need. Will you be okay until then?"

"Sure."

"Anything I can do for you?"

"Sure, just make me 6'1 again."

At his hurt look, I waved the flippant suggestion away. "Just juice me up." I tried hard to sound enthusiastic.

"Juice--Oh. Uh, let's see." He stared into my eyes, vivid emerald meeting nut-brown. "You will resist Phil's influence. You will keep your mind focused on the goal, and retain control over yourself no matter how you are coerced. You will..."

*****

I whistled a merry tune as I slid the key into our room's lock. As was common, I felt suffused with well-being after my session with Liam. Even before this incident, I probably would have thought that he was a hot guy. He didn't have my refined looks, or my former size, but I could have seen him making some girl very happy. Or guy.

"Wonder if he's gay," I muttered to myself. In the same mental breath, I wondered if I was, too. "When did that happen?"

I was interrupted by the door jerking open. My key was still in the lock, frozen there by my momentary soliloquy. The motion of the door pulled me forward, hard.

"Who were you talking to?"

It took me a moment to associate the voice with its owner because of several reasons. First, I was much closer to the owner's taut-muscled chest as it strained against his too-small grey wifebeater. It was a little lighter in shade than his boxer-briefs, and darkened with anticipatory sweat. My eyes were actually level with his nose. Second, he had lost weight since water polo season, and he wasn't quite so tan. The dusting of stubble and neatly-trimmed goatee were also new. So was the crazed look in his eyes. I almost lost myself in my exploration of Johnny Pearson.

"No one," I said, squaring my shoulders.

He looked down at me and laughed, yanking me into the room with strength that surprised me.

"Dane, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." He spoke in a cold, clinical way as he slammed the door. That tone was at odds with his fevered face, something I had seen from my teammates only in the heat of struggle against an opposing team. The invasive fingers of one hand tore at my shirt as the other fought off my struggles. "You're small. Oh, you're so damn small. So weak. And you're all mine, for the next... oh, hour or so."

[theseventhwave]

Oh by all of the Muscle Gods!

Xyggurat! You're going to keep me up all night waiting for the next chapter!

Have to read this again!

Please keep going! Please! Please!

[sexiscriptor]

You had better not pull another 5-week sabbatical on us, seriously. That'd just be not cool, man...
anyway, i really liked this chapter, and I cannot wait until the next one!

[Xyggurat]

Originally Posted by sexiscriptor

You had better not pull another 5-week sabbatical on us, seriously. That'd just be not cool, man...
anyway, i really liked this chapter, and I cannot wait until the next one!

I promise not. Anyway, I'm working as we speak. Pray to whatever Gods and Daemons there are. Or to the Muses, because they're more wont to help this sort of amoral endeavor. :P

-X-

[skumbum]

Keep em coming!

[theseventhwave]

It appears that several of us are huddling around our computers eagerly anticipating the next bulging bicep, the next rock-hard and vein-entangled cock, the next quiet sound of tearing clothing...let me pour everyone another cup of coffee (decaf for me - I'm already way too excited).

Xyggurat - I have so many wild fantasies related to this wicked-awesome storyline! I want to share them all, but I'm afraid that I might put a wrench in your writing process. So I will sit here, not patiently, waiting for your next chapter.

A couple of times now, you have noted that this storyline was approaching the end. Let me say that I feel there is (more than) enough depth to this story for you to carry it along for many more chapters.

;-)

[Xyggurat]

Originally Posted by theseventhwave

It appears that several of us are huddling around our computers eagerly anticipating the next bulging bicep, the next rock-hard and vein-entangled cock, the next quiet sound of tearing clothing...let me pour everyone another cup of coffee (decaf for me - I'm already way too excited).

Xyggurat - I have so many wild fantasies related to this wicked-awesome storyline! I want to share them all, but I'm afraid that I might put a wrench in your writing process. So I will sit here, not patiently, waiting for your next chapter.

A couple of times now, you have noted that this storyline was approaching the end. Let me say that I feel there is (more than) enough depth to this story for you to carry it along for many more chapters.

;-)

It's true that there's enough space for a few new chapters... but on the other hand, I think it's wise to go out strong with this *particular* story. The characters aren't going to die, and I'll definitely keep up with them in the future incarnation of the tale. I do see the end of this particular saga coming within 5-6 chapters. Trust the X. :P

Besides, I like writing as Dane.

-X-