Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ Open season ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Gev is in the shower after having power fucked his husbands, leaving the pair exhausted and wondering what just happened? It was so all of a sudden, so marathon, so… generous.

"We've really gotta get him a hobby, or a puppy. He's missing us way too much on Sundays," Ludwig mumbled in his sleepy state.

"I second that." Yakusoku wasn't going to complain, but lately… Gev's been at them, more than his usual horny advances. "Or maybe we can stop doing overtime, ya know, just be home with him. It is our choice after all."

"There is that." Ludwig ran a hand across his sweaty forehead.

He'd join Gev in the shower, but god help him if his wanton lover wants more. He's not sure he could take it. He has limits - even his jaw is sore from giving Yakusoku a blowjob while Gev was wearing out his lap. How the king of the bedroom had strength to shower… After his mouth got Yakusoku hard the blond moved from over his face and joined him inside of Gev. He's covered in hickies! They both are. He's going to have an amazing sleep tonight, that's for sure.

"Let's seeee, we've probably got enough put away for our trip this summer. It's gonna be awesome to finally get away. I've never been anywhere out of the country other than Sweden to visit my grandmother, and even then she never took us all over. It was spontaneous activity, or whatever we wanted to do."

"I've never been anywhere period, so you know I'm excited." He ignored the many trips to Canada, as the memories were not so good.

They don't know where they want to go exactly. They figure they'll each choose three locations then toss them in a bowl and see what's pulled out. Hopefully the plane tickets aren't crazy expensive.

"Crap, he turned off the water," Yakusoku says. "Operation 'There's a bear' is a-go."

They closed their eyes pretending to be asleep when Gev emerged from the bathroom.

"I know you're faking it," he says. "You don't have to. I'm done. The hunger is gone."

"Good." Opening his arms, Yakusoku invites the ghostly white goth into the bed with them. "Let's sleep."

Gev climbed in between them, and wrapping himself around Yakusoku he quickly drifts off.

Yakusoku shot Ludwig a sad glance. It was definitely time to stop spending Sundays at work. This poor bastard needs them. And after the past experience with that Hyde family, theater death, and disappearance thing... His recovering from a coma during the first year being in his new body. It isn't any wonder Gev has separation anxiety. He's going to be so happy come Sunday. They'll all get to spend them together again.

# #

Monday, afternoon.

Hakuo is sitting in the office building Susquehanna Health Psychology. He's minding his own business as he awaits his appointment. He came early to be sure that he isn't late. It's the polite thing to do.

"Reba, did you cancel my Thursday?"

A familiar voice spoke off to his left. Turning to look, he sees his former therapist Mrs. Simpson at the receptions desk. The woman looked cheerful, she spoke briefly with the woman behind the desk, and when she was through she turned and caught his eye. A bright smile appeared on her face, then it turned into a grin as she strolled on over.

"Hakuo, hello. I didn't know we had an appointment." Taking a seat beside him, she placed her paper cup of coffee onto her knee while continuing to hold it securely in place.

"We don't. I'm here seeing someone else."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I thought you knew?"

"No one's told me anything. What's going on?"

Hakuo could have sworn he informed her. Well, whatever. Life's been busy. And he mostly was focusing on finding a replacement rather than informing the replaced. "Yeah, so you're fired. Yay." He stuck his finger in the air giving it a little whirl around to celebrate the party of the woman's dismissal.

"I'm fired? Aaw, that's too bad. What happened?"

"Our interests clash."

"I don't understand."

And she's a therapist. Tch. "I want to get better…" He paused to make sure that she's following along with him. "And you wanna get rich off of book, or movie deal, or whatever comes along for you from treating me."

"Wh.. H.. Where did you get that idea? Who told you something like that?"

"Oh, that wasn't you comparing me to other kidnapped persons in the news, who've had their lives printed on paper and film? That wasn't you wondering how deep my well sinks to gather water, so that you could drink it all up through checks." He cocked an eyebrow. "I hope I would at least have gotten a royalty check from time to time."

Appalled at the allegation, Mrs. Simpson balked. "If I made you feel like that in any way, then I'm sorry. But, it's not true."

He already dismissed her, and is currently minding his own business making a mental list of everything in the office waiting room - just for something to do.

"I really wish you'd reconsider. But I don't suppose I can make you stay on with me."

"Mrs. Simpson," One of the receptionist called her attention.

"I hope you do better with your next therapist," she says while standing. "And I really hope you don't continue to go through life feeling like everyone is using you."

"I'm longing for the days I can get used to being wrong." He says to her offhandedly.

He's not wrong this time. He flatout heard her inner thoughts when she'd thrown a party about her plans during one of his sessions. Seeing his therapist exiting her office he stands; smiling at her to greet her, as he walks over.

"Mr. Krenn, are you ready?" She asks.

"Yes. Hi. How are you?" He shot the words out as if they were rehearsed, along with his hand to shake her's. "I'm fine, too. Thanks for asking."

Knowing the young man's personality, she smiled and nodded before entering her office with him in tow.

…..

"Let's start with what you were up to this weekend. Any event or thought that you'd like to explore?" Mrs. Rhett didn't like to just shoot questions at Hakuo, she spoke with him about whatever he was ready to talk about or work through. She kept it current, unless he wanted to unearth the past. He's the gravesite, not a victim fleeing zombies that pushed their way from the darkness underground back into the light.

"I'd like to tell you about what happened between me and my sister after Sunday dinner.."

Looking over her notes; each one contained some snippet of concern, interest in a fact, or need to revisit. "Celes had a falling-out with you before you moved out."

"Yes." He nods. "I went home on Sunday for dinner, I promised my parents frequent enough visits in such ways."

It was a very normal agreement; most children at the moving out age decidedly never see their family outside of some tragic emergency. Look at her own son, he hardly ever calls. She supposed it was fair enough, being the child of a therapist isn't ever a picnic. You're like a live-in test dummy for psychoanalysis. It's never meant to happen, but it often happens.

"Afterwards, I cornered my sister and told her how I felt about where I stand, but that I've come to understand how she feels."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I was watching Batman with my roommate..."

He remembers it all like it was yesterday… because it was literally yesterday when it all went down.

Sunday, late afternoon.

The rain cleared up; in that clearing, Gev dragged himself home; he'd made a show of himself prancing around the bedroom in the nude. It was incredibly arousing, not Gev's being naked, Hakuo has no care for such displays, but that Gev just left aside the need to assume he didn't want to see it. That Gev decided right then to treat his lover as anyone else would have after a tussle in the sheets. He liked that even level on the playing field. He doesn't feel like "Poor abused Hakuo". He feels like a guy who's recovering one peg at a time. A game of Chinese checkers with little instances captured in glass, leaping over a hurdle to clear the board.

Unfortunately, like the game, he can't just pick and choose where to land from where to jump, or how many hurdles he can get over to get to the other side.

"I feel awesome, and like shit. I feel like awesome shit." Krenn declared, while watching the ghostly pale nudist who's looking out of the window at the bored weather, that's at a yawn of it's own conditions and is now going away for the day. He looked at Gev's rear-end with a fascination, then smiled recalling that not five minutes ago he was inside him there.

Gazing over his shoulder, he asked. "Why do you feel like shit?"

"Because, I didn't plan on having sex with you." Sitting up in bed, he folds his legs in like a pretzel and leans his posture on the hand of a bent arm that's resting on his knee.

"Why did you? I didn't pressure you." He was not about to be blamed.

Hakuo waved off that caution in Gev's voice; the poor bastard couldn't take being called a rapist for what - a third time in his life. Except he never was. Hakuo would like to belt Yakusoku for scarring Gev in that way. You never use such language on someone without being 100 percent certain of it. Was Gev too hasty bedding Mamoru, a bit, but the alternate was a seducer, he could sweet talk the pants off a statue. And with Gev's feelings for Yakusoku being up at a twenty from a 1-10 scale, how could he listen to reason not to give in?

"I just mean that, if we're gonna have sex, it has to be because we're together." He rolled his eyes and declared coyly. "I'm not your mister."

"'Mister'?" Turning around, he leans on the windowsill, arms crossed.

"I don't know what a male mistress is called, but I sure as hell don't want to be one."

"There is no word, you're just a lover."

Hakuo blinked, bug-eyed. "Damn, ladies, get it together that you have a word just for you." He says to no one in particular.

"Come on, though," Gev walks over to the bed, taking a seat. Slapping Hakuo on the arm, he says. "Don't feel like a lover, you're more than that."

Hakuo's scoff was heard round the world over that statement. "I'm not more if we're not together. A friend with benefits is just a horny bastard enjoying an attachment free hole - am I a hole to you, Gev?"

"No. Of course not. And, as I can still vividly recall.. I was the hole." He kissed Hakuo on the cheek, then scooped his clothes up from the floor to dress.

"You know what I meant." Watching Gev dress, he asked. "…You're ok with that? By the way, my being in you without protection?"

"I loved every second of it." He kissed his lover's lips. "I would do it again." Again he kissed him. "You can turn me into a light bulb when bathed in a blue light, for all I care about protection." He kissed him twice. "In regards to you." Slipping into his shirt, he looked around for his boots then remembered he took them off at the front door.

Hakuo wasn't sure how to respond to that. "I might let you, someday."

Gev smiled then gave pleased Asian a shove onto the bed before he crawled over him; however, the laid out young man stops him from lying down over him with a hand to his clothing covered torso.

"No."

"No?"

"Yes. No. I don't think your 'for now's' would like seeing a mess on the front of your jeans, I'm still sticky down there." And a grind session would certainly leave its mark, if Gev only intended a little shirts versus skins action.

"You're right, my forevers would be put off by the sight," he crawled away from Hakuo, back on his feet.

"Your don't-have-to-be's wouldn't have to be bothered, if you'd stop kidding yourself."

Gev's sharp brows rose in wonder. "Kidding myself of what?" And the tone wasn't light or playful; their private, blissful world waned and the veil blew a clearing in the fog with its own drifting speed.

"That people make mistakes," he is completely unfazed to the tone and demeanor of his retreating bedmate. "It was meaningful, at the time, it was beautiful, for the then… but now, you can see it… can't you? You like me, Gev… So.. just like me."

Quietly, Gev rolled those words around in his mind; unclouded by liquor, nicotine or grass, or even sexual euphoria, Hakuo's words sounded almost cruel. And looking at the beautiful young man, he can really sense the madman underneath the vacant expression. The someone who's so out of touch with the world in many ways. Hakuo's never lived or loved, so he doesn't understand Gev's feelings in the matter.

"I can't do that to them." He shrugged out his hand. "And I don't wanna do it to you, and cause you confusion or pain. You're right, we shouldn't have slept together. I'm sorry. Let's just leave us at friends. Okay?"

Hakuo slowly got himself up off the bed, walking over to Gev. The air held a certain crackle to it in the nippy weather, now that the rain was through tamping down the on-again off-again cool winter air, the weather seemed to pop another breath mint as cool air circulates once again, or perhaps… it's only in the tiny room with the two occupants?

"Just friends. No benefits." He tenderly touched Gev's cheek. "Like I'd said, I won't be your mister."

"Lover."

"I hate that word, it's gross." A frown bent his mouth.

Gev has a moment of hesitation about leaving, but shakes it off. He's not wrong for his feelings, and he won't be intimidated out of them by guilt or desire. "I'm going. See you later,"

"Same time Sunday."

"Mhm. With the way the weather's fucking around, I'll get to drive in the snow or a tornado. Won't that be something,"

Hakuo turned away and started putting on his clothes. Gev, having only caught it from a side-eye felt like shit. But what could he do?! He's not about to just throw away love on a whim for someone he might have stronger feelings for someday. He and Hakuo have feelings for each other now, but is it long standing? Is it just for now? Who knows. So why play around on a maybe?

Gev took Hakuo by the wrist, turning him around then, while he's still a bit off balanced, he kissed him breathless. Backing away, he quietly says. "For the road."

"Of course." He closed his eyes when Gev's thumb brushed his cheek, a fleeting touch that resonated more than the kiss.

….

Hakuo practically assaulted Nathen verbally when requesting he watch Batman with him. He wants to ease his let down through some well railroading joy. Nothing says depression be gone like watching The Bat do his thing. Nathen, though watching, just doesn't understand, so he's only half paying attention while tackling his homework assignments from school as well. But, he looked up just in time to see Batman save a villain he, not two scenes ago, was beating the stuffing out of. What is it, is he bipolar? He could have been rid of at least one reoccurring, by the luck of an explosion from a bomb that the bad guy planted.

"Why does he save them? Batman is wasting his time if he thinks they'll reform,"

Hakuo shot Nathen a look of disdain. "Boy, you are a novice; Batman doesn't kill. Ever. He's got too much stigma for that."

"But you'd think he would. His parents were killed; most people take that route when exacting justice." Lifting his pencil he erases an answer then works out the problem on a separate sheet of paper.

"Not Batman; he won't get corrupted to do the wrong that's caused him so much pain - oh my god! That's what Celes's problem is!"

Startled by the sudden elevation in his friend's voice, Nathen asks. "What?"

Getting up from the couch, he heads for the door. "I'm going home for dinner; and to talk to my sister; do you wanna come?"

"Homework." He shakes his head. "And I'll pop a pot pie in the oven to ignore until I'm finished. The harder the crust, the better it taste."

Smiling, he informed his friend before dashing out of the house, that it's called 'cooking food' and not 'burning food'. Waving goodbye; he was then on his way to reconcile with his at home best friend. And it's about time too! The misery was eating at him. His sister is sweet, but she can really leave a hole in you. It's part of her M.O. making herself a part of your world so when she dips-out you feel the sting all too thoroughly. But, no more. Hopefully, she's in the mood to make up.

Dinner at the Krenn home had been eaten in usual fashion of everyone to their respective corners of the world within the house; however, Emiko noticed that her son had gone into his sister's bedroom to eat. They're going to talk, obviously, but she wants to oversee that no more fights break out between the pair - even if it's only verbally. It just crushes her that they haven't spoken to one another since Hakuo's moved out. Maybe she should eat in her bedroom? Just to be sure things were even level should the voices come to a rise.

"Sweetie, come on. We can watch Family Guy," Trevor steers his wife by the elbow into the living room. "They'll be fine. Celes doesn't usually yell, and Hakuo adores his sister."

"Yes, he adores her, but… Trevor, he's unique. He's killed people, manslaughter in the second." Taking a seat, she crossed her legs placing the plate upon her knee.

"Emi… He'd never harm his sister."

"He wouldn't… But Hakuo's susceptible to alternate states of mind for emotions he's trying to put away. We don't know what could have happened to his psyche during that coma. Mamoru could be back; what if he sees Celes as a threat to Hakuo and wants to protect him? I often wondered just how far he'll go beyond keeping bad things from his memory?"

The pair look up at the ceiling as if they suddenly developed x-ray vision.

Hakuo stuck a forkful of potatoes into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully; he wondered if he should speak to her while they're eating? The food will get cold. It's probably fine, besides, he might be making her uncomfortable just sitting up in her bedroom eating his dinner. It wouldn't have been uncomfortable before, but it likely is the case now.

"I've been thinking about why you're mad at me, and I didn't understand it until today." He opens. "You think that my murdering people is going to change who I am - make me someone I never should have become, but you're wrong."

"I'm not wrong." Celes set down her fork, and sighed; her gaze stapled to her plate of food. "You've killed people without giving them a chance to redeem their mistake."

"Please don't call it that. They made every conscious effort when doing what they did to me, and anyone else like me." Hakuo hissed; he can feel that tickle in the back of his throat again. "They didn't mistakingly click on videos of a child masturbating, they didn't mistakenly pay to have time with him," His conviction doesn't waver when hearing his sister's sniffles. "And they didn't mistakingly molest or rape me - whether it was in-person or just with their eyes… They were all very aware of what they were doing." His grip on the utensil strengthened as even now he could feel an urge to put one of those sons' of shit through a wall.

He covered his mouth letting out a cough, and he spoke once the tickle was gone. "Celes..." He's cut off.

"No. No, Haku'," she shakes her head. "You say that to me, and I understand. But don't you get it? You're becoming tainted, just like them… Because unlike them, you can actually stop. You can make the conscious effort to not do something so horrific to another person - even if they deserve it… You are good; you're not a monster. You feed the hungry, you clothe them - remember that Christmas when mom said she's taking us to the mall to buy a gift for the tots? It stayed with me, how incredibly nice and thoughtful you are."

Hakuo dipped into his memory to recall the moment. It was there, but not clear. Why is pain so readily available while the good times try to be coy, and hide away.

"That a seven-year-old would say kids don't need toys, they need coats, and shoes, and food because it's cold outside!" She sniffle. "Then you wrapped it up by saying: and I don't know about any of you, but winter makes me really hungry." A smile appeared at the last part.

Hakuo remembers that now. Yes. It wasn't hard mind was still stuck practically in just having woken up in life. He wasn't home for more than what? Six months, maybe just five before he fell into a coma. Missing more time to dig his heels in and be a grown up. And they took that from him. All those disgusting, perverted assholes took his life from him. The coma, fine, that's on him and he made the choice to help Yakusoku when he really should have waited, but all the rest involved in his arrested life… He'll never show them mercy. Why should he?

"I don't wanna fight about this, Celie. You really are in the right to be angry, but I'm also right not to care about those people, or their departure from the world. It's like telling me that I can't laugh if one of them should be on the news because of a fatal car accident." He eats a hunk of broccoli. "Because I would laugh. I would laugh so hard I'd need a hospital."

The saddened girl stirs her meal around and around. "But, if this is who you are… I'm scared of what it'll do to you."

Hakuo shook his head. "It's not me. I'm still that guy who says it's better to buy clothes and food for people; I still feed strays, I look after people… It's strangely in my nature - even if it sometimes bites me in the ass."

He let that bit of irony fall dead, as his kindness actually has earned him a couple bites to the ass from buyers. And all because he had to talk to a stranger who lied to give him a ride home from school.

"You can't be both."

"I can be capable of what I'm not. Just as a child told they can't walk, suddenly walks - it's with help, but they are not bound to an immobile existence."

"It's more like being an actor. There's no miracle behind ending a life. You get on stage, take your cue and movie's over."

"And I should be hated for it? God, Celie, do you have any idea how long I sit through mental sessions and verbal sessions of therapy with myself, asking why? I want answers from people who won't and can't give it, as it seems the only response is because they could get away with it…" He clenched his jaw, food ignored. "...What happened to me doesn't end it. Someone right now is having it happen to them for the first time, and all they can think is "why me"? I'm not the smallest, I'm not the weakest, we are not the issue, but it feels that way… every time."

Celes swallowed a lump in his throat, and her stomach clenched.

Cocking his head, he locks eyes with hers, and he lifts her head by the chin to steady that gaze, showing his full sincerity. "I'm not a bad person, not a murderer, or monster. Why should I be looked at that way? Why am I branded as bad for an outcome that they, the real monsters, have earned? I can stop them out here," he looks about to represent everywhere in the world. "But I can't stop them in here." His finger touches his temple.

"I've sorta seen... so I definitely understand how bad it is for you. So why keep adding to it? Let it all go. Please. From here on out, let it all go."

"Don't make it sound like it's a practiced hobby." He takes a bite of food that's brinking on being more cold than warm now. Luckily man invented microwaves. "I'm good. A good person, and doing good just being that person."

"Until the monster comes out." Celes sets aside her plate then throws her arms around her brother, hugging him. "Just please, make the choice not to do anyone anymore harm."

"No. And please don't cry about that. I'm not living as a Punisher, I'm just living… But if I came across one of them, and they still wanna try something with me… It's fight or flight, and I don't plan to shut down anymore. I'm not gonna let there be anymore Ezio Diaz's in my life." He smooths his hand along the back of her head. "I wanna skip all the bad parts and leave them behind, I wanna just thumb through to the good."

"Haku' your life isn't a book, you can't just skip to the good parts.. because the bad parts will continue to be there, whether you participate in them or not."

"And you can't claim me a bad person because of the in-betweens."

Downstairs, Emiko finished her dinner and is now anxiously tapping her foot on the floor trying to get into Jeopardy. "We really should have raised yellers. This quiet is unnerving."

"Or a good thing." Trevor shrugged his shoulder.

"It's a good thing," Hakuo caused them to jump. "We talked it out, we're getting better. I mean, we're better off than worse. And we're not gonna freeze each other out." He walked his, and his sister's, dinner into the kitchen to heat up.

Trevor smiled. "See. All's well."

Emiko could breathe again. Oddly enough, despite understanding her son, this little moment of nervousness has now got her understanding her daughter a bit better as well.

Save aside some missing dialogue, that's what Hakuo told to Mrs. Rhett during his therapy session. She doesn't have to know about his tendencies; to her, she just understands that he's vengeful and wants to see all the jerks who hurt him pay - dearly - for having done it. As for how, it's up to her imagination. But she's pleased to hear the siblings have come to a peaceful conclusion to their bitterness towards each other.

"Now, I'd like to address your moment with Mr. London,"

As they've spoken about Gev before. She knows about how he feels towards the goth and how he, Gev, feels about him. Yet, he's still at a brickwall with him. She can understand that because she's been told that Gev is married.

"Okay."

"You're able to have feelings for another human being, is that correct?"

"It seems that way, because I do like him."

"But does it have to be Mr. London?"

"I don't understand."

"Your feelings have evolved from the sexual and physical abuse that you've gone through; you're now ready to be in a relationship and accept love and sexual feelings," she nods when he nods to show that he's following along with her. "Is it possible you've only chosen Gev London to be the receiver of your feelings because he's familiar to you?"

"I've weighed that scenario, and at first that's what I thought, too. But gradually I caught myself thinking about him, and it made me smile. I'd leave the state he used to live.. and I'd kinda miss him." He felt a warmth growing inside of him just thinking about Gev now. "I like his company, its easy to get along with."

"Has there ever been anyone else you've had romantic feelings for since you've come home; since your latent sexual maturity has come around?"

Hakuo grimaced. He supposed in that way he is still a child. He hates romantic words, lover's words, and sexaul anatomy. It's gross. So: 'mic drop'; "Yes I said it, how does it affect your day?" Gross. "There's a guy who I think is handsome." Which is as far as it goes.

"Okay. Let's assess him."

Hakuo told her about Sunny Quispe. The skimpy content of their relationship with each other. He's still trying to figure it out for himself. He has no feelings for the hippie; he still finds him easy on the eyes, but he isn't in the mood for love when around him.

"Have you ever considered going out with Sunny on an actual date? He seems interested in you."

"But he's always saying something stupid. Not to mention I think he's only interested in kissing me to sate a curiosity or simply get-off because despite being straight he knows he can be attracted to me."

"Then show him another way. In fact, I am giving you an assignment to put yourself out there." Seeing the deadpan offered towards that suggestion, she held up her hand. "Let me explain; being with Gev is putting your recovery backwards. You're eventually going to see him as an obstacle, and if things don't go your way you intend to just give up all over again. I know romances and sex make you nervous, and that Gev allows you to explore that comfortably." She readjusts herself in the large leather seat, it croaked like an old toad. "but there may be another out there; and you're closing yourself off to him by chasing after someone who's unattainable." Setting down her notepad, she added. "He may even cause more problems for you in the end due to feelings of rejection. Or perhaps you are still afraid? It's possible cling to the idea of being with Gev because a part of you knows that it's somewhat impossible."

Hakuo wondered about that. Gev is attached. He knew that from that very start. Could he be so into him because he knows he'll never really have to have anything with him? Gev is familiar…

"You make a lot of sense, but… What if my dating these people, or person, just gives them the wrong idea that I'm more into them than a test run?"

"That's a risk you'll run when the heart is looking for love."

He sighed. Pensive, he nodded. "I see."

"Go ahead. Give it a try, date people - you're young! Your friend might have been ready for a deep commitment, but you need to take things slowly. Date around, find your match or repels. But try."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"Then you can decide whether or not to continue pursuing Mr. London, or if you'd like to continue being alone for a while."

He gave a nod. The the clock chimed a new hour. His session is now over.

Trying new people, huh? Boy is Sunny going to be surprised when he calls him for a date.

...

Sunny Quispe checked the freshness status of his breath by blowing into his hand. He wasn't just surprised by Hakuo calling him, mostly because he didn't even know the stoic mixed-male had his number; but that when he called him it was for a date. Today. At 2 p.m. He was told that he could decide where; he chose the zoo. He knows that Hakuo likes animals and thought he'd get a real kick out of it. And as his mother says, don't ever waste a beautiful day indoors, if you can help it. She also said to avoid shoes whenever possible, but he'd save that free expression for a location without concrete and the high risk of stepping on rocks, glass, or other various foot traps.

The deep green Enclave drove slowly through the parking lot looking for a space; and yes, it is impressive how many people are at the zoo over the weekend. Once the vehicle touched down four rows back, and after having waited out another patron who was leaving, Sunny watched his date's approach with a happy grin. Hakuo looked handsome. Most guys with a slight-build, delicate features, and to top it off long hair, often look feminine - even if it's just a bit. But, Hakuo pulls off his masculinity without a hitch.

His date is giving it to an unthinkable degree with his wine colored polo shirt, the short sleeves exposing his nicked up arms that he never tries to hide from onlookers, the black cargo shorts all scrunched and bunched about his upper legs, and good pair of sandals completed the ensemble. Add to that his handsome indifferent expression. It left Sunny at odds with himself, again, as he's reminded that Hakuo is a guy.

A guy, who upon seeing him in the distance, gave him such a radiant grin, he almost turned tail and fled. Sunny could date wasn't his idea, just the location. Sunny thanked himself for not choosing a movie, he would have worried about groping his date in the dark. Straight as he is, his unknown curiosity would like to dabble with Hakuo. Not in any negative way, he's just… well, he's a little thirsty for the guy.

Who so boldly asks a straight to Prom, makes out with him so intimately-shyly that he'd even break into a little smile during a kiss? He'll never forget that moment. …That little smile.

"Hey, Sunshine," Hakuo grinned like his name was true happiness. It's not a bad way to say "cheese" for a photo.

"Hi. Hope you like animals because I thought we'd go to the zoo," He starts for the location entrance; his credit card was all ready to pay the admittance fee for both of them. He handed it to the woman behind a big glass window.

"I'll pay you back," Hakuo remarks as they walk side by side.

"It's my treat."

Hakuo sighed. "But that's insane. We're only dating. Why spend money when you don't even know if you like me or not?"

Sunny was shocked by that. "But I do like you!" Throwing his arm around Krenn's shoulders, the hippie steers him along through the animal displays and exihibits.

The pair walked side by side, drawing a little attention from a fivesome of the female species, who giggle and waved with little verbal bursts of "hi" or "hey, guys, want some company". Sunny just smiled and waved, greatly enjoying the attention; Hakuo searched for wax in his ear with his pinky finger.

"It's gorgeous out, huh?" Quispe announced. "What's your favorite animal?"

Hakuo replied cheerfully. "Anything that moves."

"I guess you don't have a least favorite then?" Looking down into the exhibit, he smiled. "There it is… The proud bear."

They watched a large brown bear lumber over to a double-fence barrier before it stood on its hind legs to request food from the many leering humans. Hakuo felt sick being here. Why do people like the zoo? He can see watching animals in a safari, it's far more natural than scooping them up and placing them inside a little bin. Sunny seems to be having a ball.

If nothing else, the dreadlocked hippie was a good view for any part of him that is shallow and goes by looks. He's wearing an olive green tank top, army print Bermuda shorts, and deep brown foot thongs. You'd never know that just last weekend it was smiting with a chilly cold. Not to mention the who-hit-me gusts of wind. Sunny wore his hair scooped into a ponytail at the back of his head, he's got little feathers peeking in and out of the mix from the band tying them off. Hakuo just left his hair out; styling it was too much effort.

"You look really nice, Sunshine."

Sunny often groaned whenever someone called him by his full name, rather than Sunny. But, it's not so terrible when Hakuo does it. He's got a refreshing sort of honesty. His mouth must be one with nature. Undisguised, with no clothes on. He decided to kiss that mouth, if its owner will let him.

Cupping Hakuo's chin in his fingers, he leans over and kisses him, just a peck on the lips. Hakuo smirked, patted the hippie on the back then told him to go feed his bear. Which he does, a few well-tossed fish went sailing, before a glob of much appreciated hand sanitizer is slapped around between the palms and backs of Sunny's hands. They should offer gloves for handling residue foods.

Its going on 3 o'clock by the time they found the exit.

Nudging his date with his elbow on the elbow, Sunny asks. "Did you have a nice time?"

"I hate the zoo." Declared Krenn.

Blinking, Sunny asked. "Why didn't you say so, we could have gone somewhere else? I thought you'd like it; I know you like animals."

"I do like animals; I prefer not to see them on display with a bunch of other people… it's too familiar." He stuffed his hands into his pocket walking along and looking thoughtfully up at the sky.

"Sorry. What's something that you'd like to do?" He stops at Hakuo's car. He sort of wished he'd of picked him up, then they could talk on the way to their next location.

"Umm, how 'bout Brandon? Someone might be playing today. We can veg-out there,"

"Sure." His hand was on auto-pilot, he smoothed a touch down along his date's back. Hakuo feels so nice and warm. He really hopes he'll have a good time.

The park is teeming with people, they're all enjoying the good weather as well. There was live music playing from a pretty-ok local band, who are hoping to make it big or who are simply satisfied playing for the homeland. The gathered crowd sat on the benches or picnicked on the grass. The daters each got a soft pretzel from the zoo before heading out to the park, its wrapped in paper, and still just a little warm.

"May I?" Sunny asked, taking a bite from Hakuo's cinnamon sugar delight. It was a nice contrast to his sea salt covered pretzel, with a packet of brown mustard over it. "Want a bite?"

Hakuo helped himself as Sunny had, enjoying the salt and slightly spicy mustard. He side-eyed Quispe when he leaned into him, just relaxing casually. 'Guess he wants the full-boyfriend experience,' thinks Hakuo. He doesn't mind, this was supposed to be a date.

Too bad he had to cancel his plans with Gev today. He was brought out of his thoughts of Gev when a kiss landed on his jaw. Turning his head, he kissed Sunshine right back before placing an "enough already" touch to his date's forehead with his own. He doesn't mind kissing when he feels like it, but right now he just wants to eat his pretzel.

Good thing Sunny understands the universal language, but he remained resting his head on his shoulder.

"Think if we shout you guys suck, they'll let someone else have a turn?" Sunny wondered.

Hakuo laughed at that. He doubts they'll give up the stage so easily, this young woman was on a roll. She can't relinquish her audience just yet. "Hey, let's ask if they'll let us sing," he finished the last bite of his snack.

Sunny felt a shudder when Hakuo's hand wiped itself along his thigh as well as his own to remove the pretzel dust. He stood and darted down the small stack of bleacher benches, the hippie behind him playing keep up, as he bellowed that he can't sing.

Neither of them could. However, it didn't stop the pair from belting out the lyrics to a children's song in a pop-jazz format while the band, who weren't put-out by the request, played for them. They had to sing a kid's song, because they didn't know a song between them to sing together, so they just did a duet to the Baby Shark song. It was a blast. And after one last song of Mary and her little lambs they took a bow and took their leave, much to the kid's dismay but their parent's delight.

They exited the park then climbed into the backseat of Hakuo's car, laughing and talking about music as they listened to a random playlist from their mp3 players going back and forth from the car's stereo.

Sunny turned himself sideways and just looked at his date; he brushed his hair with his fingers then rests his hand on the back of his head. "Why'd you call me? How come we're out on a date? I thought that I was rebuffed?"

"My therapist said I should give dating a try."

Sunny grinned handsomely, his brown eyes squinted up as he did so. "And you thought of me?"

"Of course. I don't know many other people."

"You should though, you're a nice guy, easy to get along with. I'll bet if you wanted you'd be friends with half the town." He leaned forward to turn up the volume a bit. "I like this song, do you like Adele?"

"I don't know her music that well." He listens to what's playing.

"I figured you'd at least opt first for Nathen."

Hakuo gave him a restless expression to that idea. What was with everybody romantically involving him with Nathen? Vicarious curiosity much?

"Can we kiss?"

Hakuo felt like making him work for it, it's embarrassing to be asked - go figure. He turned himself in the seat and locks lips with Sunny. Everything was fine when Sunny held his face, but when he moved his hand and began rubbing at his chest before it went around the back of him, he broke the kiss by laughing.

"Why are you groping my chest, and.. were you trying to undo a bra?" Raising his shirt to show off his pecks - he's working on them - he says. "See. No breast, no bra. I'm not a woman."

"Sorry. I know that out here, but in my head I'm still trying to make sense of it all." He gestured that his actions were auto-pilot.

"Mm, well, you do that until it sticks because I'm never going to get a sex change. And if you can't get onboard with that, let's just call it quits with us. Okay?"

And he's not mad, just amused. Sunny appreciates that.

They had dinner at Panera Bread, Dutch style, because Hakuo refused to let Sunny pay for one more thing. And then they found their way home; there was a simple kiss good night beside Sunny's car before they separated for the evening. It wasn't all bad, it wasn't bad at all. Would he date Sunny? Maybe. However, he's still in his feels, and wondering how Gev spent their assigned day together without him?