Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ Trouble brewing ( Chapter 15 )

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

"Stop right there, Land." Gev exited the bedroom.

Gev was doling out the silent treatment since the little tiff last night with Yakusoku, while said husband and the innocent Ludwig readied themselves for work - he is taking a 'personal day' due to his agitated nerves, because having been awake all night mulling over the conversation and situation, Gev found himself growing angered by it.

He does not like that. Which means they need to hash it out before it becomes something that it shouldn't. He doesn't wanna fight with Yakusoku. He's his soul friend. They've been ride or die since they'd met. Why change that ebb-and-flow over something that isn't even going on? Not really. At least not in the scenario that Yakusoku is trying to take it to.

Yakusoku froze at the door. Ludwig was already fed, kissed, and gone from them. The lack of him had been painfully waited for. This was a private matter - for now. And private it should stay. Yakusoku, if he knew about the intentions of being alone to have this conversation, would have agreed to it being the best course.

Since their being stuck within Will Hyde, having to share and know every waking thought and private moment... Yakusoku liked to regain a bit of privacy, and separate togetherness that the strange situation took from them. Their personal hiding places and confidences with each other.

"I wanna know why you'd accuse me of cheating on you and Ludwig?" Gev asked point blank. "What exactly have I been doing, or doing less of, that makes you think you can point a finger like that at me?"

And how he hates getting to this place with Yakusoku. His beloved. Someone he's loved even before he got to truly love romantically. Have things gotten a bit muddled, yes! He'll admit that much, yes! But are they dire enough to warrant such a state of paranoia? Hardly. He should be trusted more than that. More than ever, all things considered. 2016 was fucking Hell on Earth for him - for all of them! But they came back to each other. Wrinkled and torn, but not broken. Still all together. Why can't Yakusoku just see the bigger picture of that?

"Because you make me nervous, Gev. You're practically playing nursemaid to the guy while he's laid up in a coma, you spend all this accumulated time with him - just the two of you, and say nothing about it or too much…" He let that statement sit and be what it was.

Gev knows what it means. Sometimes he comes home from spending time with Hakuo and, yeah, maybe a handful of sentence start with "Hakuo did this" or "Hakuo and me did that" but so what? Don't they want to know what they do together? He's not bragging about the time they're having, he's just having a conversation? Why is that so abnormal for him?

They talk about their work friends all the time. He doesn't fly off the handle, digging up that childish chant of: "If you like them so much, why don't you marry 'em". He listens and comments, or laughs at some idiotic thing he has no clue what they're talking about. So why does he get the stink-eye? He should ask Yakusoku these things.

"Why do I get the screwface for doing something the both of you do with your work friends? Huh?" He crossed his arms defensively. "I barely know them from a crack in the concrete of a street I've never been on, but I'm the bad guy. At least we all know Hakuo."

"Gev, you fail to notice that before he came into our lives it wouldn't even be a discussion. I'd tell you I'm uncomfortable, and the reason why would be cut."

"Uh huh, if it was a thing. Drinking, smoking, cutting, my religion - if I had one... Any of those fucking things I'd stop for you. You only have to ask. But stop seeing a person, I don't know… Hearing that from you sounds like one of those stink-moves that your old crew pulled on you. And you remember how fucked up that felt? Or don't you?"

He can recall how high and plentifully topped-off with 'Fuck 'em' liquid remedy, he kept Yakusoku during his times of despair over the lack of those losers. So maybe he has forgotten, as was the plan. Judging by the look on his face, though, Land remembers all too well.

His friends back then - before Gev - before Clark, Nono, and Ludwig were Maina, her twin sister Massiel, Sophie, Enid, and Chester. They were his whole world. They took him in, made him feel accepted and loved. Just to throw him away because he wouldn't fall in line with what they wanted, which was that he abandon someone who needed a friend.

So, yeah, maybe that one time he should have listened - seeing as how the person in need turned out to be an insane bitch, who was madly in love with him before he ever had a name himself. However, if she was anyone else, any normal person... it would have been a pretty stink-move of them to just dump him for doing what they did for him with someone else, just because it wasn't collectively decided. That's crazy!

Yakusoku wet his lips and then sighed before nodding. He'll let it go. "But, it's because we know him that makes it so hard."

Exhausted in the discussion that he'd started, Gev asked through an exasperated huff. "But why? Why does knowing him make it worse?"

"You said it yourself, to Nono - do you remember?"

Gev thought about it then shook his head. He'd said a lot of things to Nono, how is he supposed to remember any single conversation as important or life changing?

"You said you were starting to fall for him… To have sexual feelings?" His face hardened to try to hold back the sting of saying the words he heard with his own ears that day at Walmart. "You were buying clothes at the store, and you said you liked him."

Gev tilted his head back, letting the weight just drop it at that angle. Righting himself, he sighed and rubbed weary eyes. "Yakusoku, listen to me. What I'm about to say ends this matter, alright. Don't wonder about it, just know what I'm going to say is the truth and leave it at that."

This time it was Yakusoku whose body went on the defensive by crossing his arms, looking as hard as he can.

"Hard truths, I do have feelings for Hakuo.." There he said it. "It happened. I'm not ashamed of it. I even told him about it. He doesn't want anything to do with me, and I'm not pushing for the situation of us to happen, so let it go."

It's not a lie. It's just a kindness. A hard truthed kindness. Because Hakuo made it perfectly clear that if he doesn't be with him wholeheartedly then, romantically, he doesn't want anything to do with him. They'll be friends and nothing more.

"I can't be comfortable knowing you have feelings for him."

"Even if it's only sexual?" Which strangely enough it has turned into not.

He likes Hakuo as a whole. But, is he willing to just leave out all the rest for him? He's not there. He's not sure he could be. But, every time he's with him or away from him, there's a certain level of longing for his presence or his stay. Why can't he just become part of the fold - even if it's only on his end? Then everything would be perfect. He could have his cake with icing too.

"But you love sex."

Gev huffed a small smile onto his face. It's not a lie. He is a very sexual being. "True. But, I jerk off to porn, and I don't have feelings for them."

Yakusoku cocked his head realizing that that's true. But then another thought crossed his mind. "But, you told me that you watch porn putting us in those guys's places. That sex is lame without your muses."

And damn it if he didn't say that. He sighed, with a nod. Placing his hands onto Yakusoku's shoulders, he gives them a comforting squeeze. "Even if Hakuo has started to mean something to me, he's not the two of you. He can't replace you guys."

"I wanna feel better about this but… I don't know." He dropped his defenses, holding Gev in the same embrace with his hands on his shoulders.

"Come on… Hard truths, you've gotta hear it and not be angry."

He thinks he might be getting too old for 'Hard Truths' rule. Now, he's just kinda upset. "I know. But, I can't help it. I've got so many questions."

This was getting ridiculous. What questions? He told him everything!

"Did you fuck him? Outside of that one time back then? Did you have sex?"

"Hard truth?"

Yakusoku braced himself then nodded. "Hard truth."

"We had sex… recently - I mean, not too recently, but last month maybe it was the month before,"

Yakusoku closed his eyes. The anger swelled, erupted, coated sanity, then fell away before he opened his eyes to look into Gev's. "Why?"

Again with the why. What is why? "Like I said, it isn't anything that you or Ludwig did or aren't doing. I just have feelings for him, and I kinda gave into it beyond friendship."

"And Hakuo?"

"He told me where he stands. Where we stand."

But he still slept with him. And damn it was hard to understand. If he wanted nothing to do with Gev then why sleep with him? Was Gev so hard to resist? It's hard to even imagine Hakuo Krenn choosing to have sex with someone. But, he remembers the cool sangfroid the guy was in his recesses. He was with Mamoru, pushing he and Gev together because he was afraid to let Gev fuck him. Was Hakuo attracted to Gev then? Maybe he's talking to the wrong person about this. If he cuts Hakuo off at the bud, Gev will have no choice but to stop making him jealous.

Eyes looking back and forth at Yakusoku's flickering gaze, the Russian asked, his voice filled with concern. "What's going through your head?"

"Nothing but taking it all in." How does one take in the fact that his husband propositioned someone, that it had to be addressed as an 'encounter' and nothing more? It's hard. It's one of the hardest things to have to do.

"And?"

"And I'm still uncomfortable, but," he cut Gev off before he could objection. "I will cool off and try to understand your feelings."

"Yeah. Because they're still for you and Ludwig, always… But…"

"Yeah. But…" Patting his shoulder with one hand to ask for release, he then mumbled. "I gotta get to work before they reduce my pay for being late." Leaning forward, he kissed Gev on the cheek. But the way it came out it felt more like a stab to the cheek than a kiss.

Caressing new Yakusoku's fair cheek with his thumb, he says quietly. "Okay. Later."

"Bye."

It's been a week since that discussion… Days gone by. But did anything get better? That was to be seen.

At Grampian Hills apartments.

"Check this out." Hakuo draped his cadet clothes all over his bed. "Pretty cool threads." He nods. His pride shown in his risen cheeks, and joyous grin that turned maniacal. "I'm gonna arrest the crap out of people."

"Oooh, you're gonna knock 'em dead, kid." Says River. Wrapping an arm around Hakuo's shoulders, he kisses him on the temple. "I'm so proud."

Nathen touched the pants. "What a weird material. Good luck staying cool."

The soon-to-be-active cadet gave a nod. It was going to be challenging. The pants are heavy and thick. He's got sweat clothes as well. "I should do alright in the shorts for school, but, I can't imagine being intimidating in them when on the job."

The trio whipped their heads around when hearing a beep from somewhere in the house. Hakuo stepped out of the room, presumably going to see what had made the sound. River sat on the bed, grabbing the white t-shirt from the spread of clothing. Holding the shirt up against him to show the difference in his size from Hakuo's to Nathen.

"Can you imagine our little squirt defending mankind?" He smiled all dimples and sincere pride for his friend, in spite of his slight concern for his safety. "He's barely bigger than Ant Man."

Nathen likes River. Out of everyone Hakuo has introduced him to, outside of his family, River is the best. He's nice, and he has an infectious smile. And he's always cheerful, it's almost otherworldly. He wished Hakuo would hang out with River more, for peace of mind; because his best friend seems almost nullified by the childhood friend.

"Yeah, but he's scrappy." Nathen threw some punches at River who played along and made sounds of pain, and turned his head accordingly.

That's the show of a man who is clearly used to being a father, always going along with kid games and doesn't look at you like you're a deranged youth like those who don't have children.

A very pungent smell entered the bedroom before Hakuo, which exposed the cause of the beep. It was the microwave, his yakisoba had finished. And here they'd thought he'd gone to the bathroom before he tossed his uniforms about the bedding to show it to them. He slurped up some noodles, then offered it to either friend, who waved it away. Why does it always look delicious but smell… well… it's a strong smell. Not appetizing, but also not unappetizing.

Nathen squirmed in place watching his friend eat. It still was a bit on the erotic side, slurping the long stream of noodles, bobbing his head up and down over it. One only had to imagine something else in place of the length of noodles and...

"When are you going to school?" Asks River, unknowingly snapping Nathen out of his trance; folding up the clothes on the bed he then placed the stack at the corner.

"Tomorrow."

"And he's been impossible to live with without having a part-time job. Just lazing around, while laughing at me when I go to class or work," he sticks out his tongue.

Hakuo smiles cheekily. He was picking on Nathen in good fun, and the working student knows that. Nathen often called out to him to get his penniless-ass dressed, and do something for a change. Definitely kidding him, of course; Hakuo has been cooking, cleaning, and taking out the trash because he has time. That time will end tomorrow. Who knows what the hours are during training. What if he even has to stay at the academy? That'll be weird.

"I wonder if it'll be like the army? Should I shave my head?" He brushed his hand around the top of his head. Wondering this for the fourth time since deciding to join. His hand lowered then brushed off a fleck of hot liquid that splashed him on the neck when Nathen took his wrist to pull some springy spicy vegetable flavored noodles over to him. "I wouldn't look as tough as most guys with a shaved head."

"I don't think cops care about hair. I saw one with a man bun at Dunkin' Donuts, so.." River shrugged his shoulders.

"Hmm. I'll get a trim." Looking between them he asked. "Unless one of you can do it?"

Nathen, spooked, waved away the invite. "I think that's the worst possible idea, you'll end up looking like Kevin Bacon at the end of Death Wish if I do it. I go to a barber."

Krenn noticed that his friend hadn't cut his hair for the approaching heat yet, he wondered if he will do so this year? Don't people with blond hair reflect heat, or is that just a myth? He knows he definitely absorbs it.

"I can cut it. I cut Toni's hair all the time," he grabbed a handful of Hakuo's hair making a ponytail. "How short are we talking?"

"Instead of between my shoulders, let's get it to just at my shoulders for a start."

River slid his hand down. "About there?"

"A taste more.." Feeling the change, he nods. "Yeah, there."

Nathen removed the band from his own ponytail and handed it to D'Isidoro to secure the spot.

"That's the trouble with this stuff, it's gone in four slurps." He tipped the black container to extract the broth. The pair grimaced. How could he stomach something so strong? Way too salty for their liking. Lowering the annihilated snack, he asked. "Ready?"

"Just point me to a scissors."

And within twenty minutes Hakuo's hair was a few inches lighter.

When River took his leave, the pair ripped into each other with some Soul Calibur VI. Winner gets pretzels, loser has to eat a spoonful of mustard. It's good to have motivation.

"Hang on." Hakuo paused the game.

"Hey, we said no pausing!" Although Nathen took the brief stand still to get up and stretch his legs from the seat he has on the floor. He then walked into the bathroom, closing the door before relieving himself.

"Hello?" Hakuo answered his phone, which is why he'd paused the game.

"What are you doing?" Came a lazy, familiar tone down the line.

"Kicking Nathen's butt."

"Sorry I'm missing it."

"I mean virtually." He cleared it up for the caller. "What's going on? What do you want?" He doesn't mind Gev calling him. He actually hasn't spoken to him in a minute. But he doesn't exactly sound all good cheer and sunshine.

"I just wanted to hear your voice." Confessed the miserable sounding goth.

"Aww." Hakuo felt his face getting hot. "I don't really have anything to say."

"I'm used to your silence,"

"That sounded pointed - my silence. What's wrong? You're getting the cold shoulder?"

"From Yakusoku, yeah."

"Why?"

"He's decided to be jealous of you, and freeze me out while he figures out how he feels about us."

"That's dumb. Doesn't he know we're just friends?"

Gev made a belligerent intone. "That's what I said. But, you're decidedly his rival, and he won't stop being an ass until he feels otherwise."

"Is that why you haven't been hanging out with me lately?" He doesn't sound put out, just asking, because he didn't even sound curious.

"Yeah. Sorta. I mean, I love him - I do. But I shouldn't have to appease his delusions, so I'm just on strike from life. I'm doing me, and that's all."

"So why call now? Right. You said that already, it's just to hear my voice."

"Are you free Sunday?"

"I might be. I'm not sure." He walks over to the calendar. "The academy starts tomorrow, I have to get used to the schedule. I got my hair cut a bit, wanna see? Hold on," he opened the Facetime screen, smiling at the pale beauty before him. "I've never seen you unshaven. You look pretty good."

"I'm too weak to harmlessly flirt," comments Gev. "Lemme see your hair."

Moving the phone up over his head, he waves it around. "Can you see?" He was startled by a hand grabbing his phone to use it for him.

Gev smiled at the sweet smile briefly flashed to him, though not meant for him as Hakuo silently thanked Nathen for the help with the smile.

Gev longed to see a smile like that just for him. He's seen sincere smiles and grins from the plain-faced Krenn, but none just for him. He's not been smiled at just for existing. Yakusoku used to smile at him like that, he would see him and get happy. It was heady. Better than any kiss or roll in the sack; it was love. And that love is giving him the cold shoulder because it doesn't understand his feelings.

How can Yakusoku not get it? He has feelings for Hakuo, he definitely doesn't mind sleeping with him, but that doesn't mean the stoic, sometimes young at heart Krenn is replacing them. It just means… things are complicated.

Why can't he just have it all? Why does it have to one or the other on both ends? Maybe he can get Hakuo to change his mind. It seems easier to get him on-board as a foursome than to convince Yakusoku to not be jealous.

"I didn't know it was so late. I have to get to class," Nathen says, patting Hakuo's shoulder as a goodbye before disappearing into his bedroom to gather his things.

Returning to the phone, Hakuo is multitasking by cleaning up the console. Setting the device down on the floor, he's busy with the task while listening to Gev talk.

"Are you going anywhere? Can I come over?"

"I'm not going anywhere, but if you come over it's not gonna turn into some seedy movie where we meet up and have sex."

"It could." Gev teased lightly. Because, seriously, it could end up like one of those cliché, made-for-tv moments, and they'll just tumble into bed or on floor with each other and lose a handful of minutes together.

Nathen felt so embarrassed hearing such things that he hurried away, forgetting his snack on the way out. Let them have their privacy. Hakuo looked in the direction of the front door hearing a yelp - twice. Getting to his feet, he walked to the front door peeking out. It was then that Gev got his wish; when Hakuo spotted him, he broke into a grin so sincere and pure it'd give sight to the blind.

"Were you stalking me again?" He asked.

"Maybe just a little," he held up his fingers to show how much.

Into the phone he sings the 'double your pleasure' jingle for Double Mint gum, since he has in-person Gev, and Gev on the phone screen. Making kissy face at the screen London, he then ends the call.

"Where'd you hear that old ass tune?" Gev followed the homeowner inside.

"I've been watching a lot of Supermarket Sweep, in my days of unemployment."

Gev intoned that he understood; walking up to Hakuo he wraps his arms around him lifting him from the floor. "Don't think about you, okay? Because I need this." He swayed back and forth, enjoying the comfort. He pulled back a bit, locking eyes with Hakuo, after setting him down, and he smiled. "I wish we'd of met sooner in life."

Now Hakuo does blush. What a bold thing for Gev to say all of a sudden! It was unexpectedly sweet. "If we had, would it be me you're stepping out on with them?"

"I don't think so. Yakuza wouldn't have existed, and Ludwig never would have been brought around me at all, because I would have lived here."

"Ludwig used to visit his aunt and uncle when they lived here; it's very possible that you and Ludwig would have crossed paths, if you'd lived here some time around back then."

Gev was surprised to know that. Ludwig never told him about it. He knows some parts of his husband's childhood, but not a lot. That's very fascinating. He'll have to keep better attention on the surprising Canadian. He can be just as mysterious as Hakuo.

"I stand by my pleas, ya know," Gev nuzzled his unshaven bristled cheek against Hakuo's babyface. "About us getting all LMN in this situation."

Hakuo nuzzled his cheek back against Gev's just because it was unusual, not because he wanted to get all Lifetime Movie Network with him. It somehow made him think of Orlando Bloom, but he considers Gev to be much more handsome than Orlando. Besides, he's never met the man, he could look really weird under all that makeup.

"For keeps." Smiled Krenn into the Russian's hungry eyes.

Gev smiled back with his own sugar as he remarked. "For now." And to up his game, he caressed his hand up and down Hakuo's back, up and down as high as the nape of his neck and as low as the tenderest part of his back, before it dropped lower than that, resting firmly on the Asian's buttocks.

Two could play at that. Holding the back of Gev's head, he moved them close enough to kiss. His lips brushed against London's as he spoke in a whisper. "For keeps."

"Now." Gev whispered back with a dart of the tongue putting a period on it, as it brushed just past Hakuo's parted mouth.

They engaged each other in a heated kiss, involving hands that scrambled like paparazzi trying to get a good angle to take a photo of it. It still amazed Hakuo, the butterflies in his stomach and the heat in his chest when he and Gev do these things. The general wanting of the man was so different in his programming that he was almost on the outside just to observe it. It's a unnamed discovery, many know of it, but for him it's a real freak show. It's that new for him to want someone like this. It's driving him mad! Why can't he just have him? Why does Gev have to fight it?

Squiggling chills ran up his spine when Gev moaned in such a way that he had to hear the sound again, so repeating what he'd done by cupping his crotch through the jeans to give it a squeeze and a rolling palm, he was in a mental spin of glee in a field of tulips that are blowing in a warm breeze that he was able to have heard it again. Such a wild and unplanned sound, and he caused it!

"For keeps, or nothing." Said Hakuo in the un-kissed real world.

Gev caught his breath from what he's sure was a shared fantasy, and nodded. "Fine. But you better distract me, or I have to leave to stop myself. But, I wanna still be around you, so, come on.. let's do something." He asked manically. "Anything - I don't care what it is. Let's just do it."

"Alright… You got an hour?"

…..

This is not what Gev had expected to be doing for an hour. In fact, he could live a hundred more years and never would he ever think he'd be in a kitchen, carefully dropping egg yolks into a mixer to make brownies - peanut butter, of course. It is Hakuo's favorite taste profile.

"You'll never unknow how to do this once you've done it." Says the unofficiated baker. "And they're good too. I cultivated the recipe myself."

"I wondered why the recipe said may cause cavities and diabetes at the bottom of the paper."

"It's just the right amount of sweetness. What do you think the melted white chocolate is for? To avoid a lot of sugar." Peeking into mixer, he turns it off then lifts the head. "Pour this into the pan, while I clean up."

Gev took the mixing bowl over to the pan and dumped the contents over. It smelled good, he'd give it that much. He's not much of a sweets eater, but he won't turn it down for the right person. Using the rubber scraper, he was sure to get out as much as he could. Hakuo waited for the bowl to wash. When Gev brought it over, he seized Krenn's hand and slid his fingertips through the thin batter that's still along the walls of the silver bowl, then he licked it away.

Hakuo chuckled from the ticklish feeling of Gev's tongue along the pads of his fingertips.

The things Gev wants to do to him could fill a book, become a 20 novels saga series, and win an award for best picture grossing a 400 billion dollars it's first weekend. Damn him and his morals! But, Hakuo said, no, and he won't be one of those people.

"We can sit on the couch for seventeen minutes, just… 'whatevering' until they're done." He retrieved his hand to use to slide the sheet of unbaked brownies into the oven.

"Can 'whatevering' include touching, for seventeen minutes?"

Hakuo shook his head then walked into the living room. Gev wasn't embarrassed about puppying around after Hakuo. He's the most positive thing he's got going right now. Ludwig is speaking to him, but it's in that way that says he wants to carry on as normal, but he's uncomfortable and will likely be so until he and Yakusoku stop acting weird around each other. Gev can't have fun or speak normally to a guy who's full of concerns.

Hakuo has concerns, but he keeps them to himself. Along with the hushed tones that belong with them.

The wait wasn't nearly long enough in Gev's mind. He was allowed a nibble, and only a small sample more of Hakuo's sweet flesh, and he chose to nibble at his earlobe. Earning a heated hum of pleasure when his tongue flittered against the hole of his ear. Then he was shoved away.

The rest of the time was silent or they muttered conversationally about this and that. What their plans are for Sunday; now that Gev is officially licensed, the driving lessons have stopped. What new venture would they tackle, the cook is unsure. Maybe he'll reverse the situation and give Hakuo motorcycle driving lessons. He'd love it once tried.

It was another six minutes after being removed from the oven then they had their snack while watching television. It wasn't very eventful or filled with fun and laughter, but it was one of the nicest afternoons Gev's had for awhile.

The next day.

Hakuo stands in a line up along with a bunch of other hopefuls. He's not a cop just because he was allowed into the academy. He has to be trained, tested, and put through his paces before he can be worthy of the badge. Awesome.

And it was awesome. They went over all the basic requirements. They have to take endurance, they have to learn the use of three firearms: handgun, shotgun, and rifle, they're to perform a driving test, and work police combat. The Krenn teen delighted in the course of training with the canine squad. He loves animals and got to work with a very friendly hound named Crusoe for scent following, another dog Dax for tracking. Hakuo understood the need to take test for law knowledge every Friday, and knew he would have to study like a beast to ensure he does not fail.

17 weeks. A 17 week program to become an officer of the law. And where some complained and wanted to call it quits. He assured himself everytime he looked in the mirror at home, that he can and will do it.

They're currently running two miles today. Men and women alongside each other keeping their focus honed, some talked because they could - not out of breath - the miles were easy for them. Others kept quiet, focusing on breathing. Hakuo focused on breathing, mostly because he saw no reason to talk. Not until they were in the cafeteria and seated on a bench, when he was approached by a fellow cadet. He gave the young man, who couldn't be any older than himself, a polite nod earning a smile in return, then an extended hand over their trayed meals.

"Toshi Arai."

"Hakuo Krenn."

Toshi smiled kindly. "I remember your name, because you laughed when the sergeant called for Dennis Rodman."

All present had snickered. Who'd wanna have the same name as one of Basketball's biggest weirdos? The guy had lime green hair and wore a wedding dress - some screws are loose somewhere up there. So yeah, it earned some chuckles. Even the sergeant seemed amused, and sought out the guy assuming his appearance would mimic said NBA player. He didn't however. He's the opposite. White, redhead of the bright orange variety, and short.

"And then you looked like you said "Doh" when the officer called out your's. It's kind of a funny way to react to your own name."

Hakuo scratched a hand through his still slightly damp hair; everyone had to shower up after the endurance tests. No matter how reserved one is about doing so in front of strangers. These people - granted they don't flunk out - could be your fellow officers some day, there's no sense in being uncomfortable.

"Yeah, well, if you knew what was attached to my name, you'd do the same when it's said in public." Mumbled Krenn.

He's a pretty famous weirdo. The boy twice kidnapped, and held with high praises in a child pornography ring, and still admired after by some even after all the years have gone by. Not something you'd leap at the chance to be associated with, because no one will let you enjoy who you are.

"Hey, you see that guy over there?" Toshi says while casually opening his cold can of orange Crush soda. His eyes flicker over in the direction of an officer seated by himself at a far table. He looks so old fashion, straight out of the 90s with that wave hair cut.

"What about him?" He looked Arai in the eyes surprised to see such a light brown for Japanese ethnicity.

They're a light honey brown. Hakuo imagined that in the right lightening they'd look almost a dull gold in color. It was pretty to look at. Cadet Toshi must drive the people mad to look into them. He doesn't know which way the talkative guy swings, and he'll make no assumptions personally, as he's honestly disinterested in anyone's orientation. So 'person' will always do in such times of need to comment or speculate some things.

Now that Hakuo looked at pointed out cadet, the guy is wearing sweats. He's either an extremist or…

'Oh. He's dead.' When Krenn returned his gaze to his meal companion, he sees a knowing smile creep over his face.

"Then you can see him? I knew it!" He beamed.

"Knew what?"

"You have a veil, too." Toshi sits back with mirth, satisfied over the idea of sharing something in common with Hakuo.

"What do you mean?"

"You can see spirits, too."

Hakuo eyed the stranger, he could tell all that just by looking at him. He made no comment about the mist-corpse having lunch, and likely going through the training regime for the rest of his afterlife. So how does Arai know that he knows he's a ghost, and not just some training fanatic looking to lose weight?

"How do you know that?"

"I can sense it in others. I'm an empath."

"Oh?" He removed a forkful of mashed potatoes eating it.

Toshi nods proudly. "It's why I joined the academy; my grandmother was a cop."

"No kidding?" Maybe if he pats the top of his head someone will save his soul?

With a nod, the chatty cadet says. "She used to help with special cases. Everyone knew about the Medium officer Watanabe." He sipped his soda, and once the can hit the long white table and remained there, he went on. "The victims would speak to her, and she'd help make the arrest by going off what the victims could remember. It wasn't always easy because not every spirit could remember or see who'd done them in."

Hakuo listened with distracted interest. He'd always imagined being a psychic for cops, but never a Medium - of course, he could never see spirits back then. He's still not sure why he's seeing them now. "Have you always been able to see ghosts?"

"Since I was two. It used to freak me out, but as time went on… I don't know, I just started referring to them as 'the others'."

They both watched as the spirit lifts his empty tray of food then carries it to the trash bin.

"It started recently for me, seeing spirits... It started after my coma."

"A coma is pretty close to death. Maybe you developed a second sight while you were down, the door never closed for you when it should have."

"That's an interesting way to look at it." With a slight frown, he says. "I should go tell that poor bastard he's dead, so he can move on already. He's gotta notice it." Hakuo says absently.

Toshi cocked his head and frowned. "Why would you wanna do that? If he's happy to be continuing as a cadet - even if he can't progress, isn't it nice just to let him?"

"No. He should be shown the kindness to move on. He could come back and try all over again, as an actual living person." Hakuo returned to his food. "If he cares enough about being a cop, his passion will bring him right back somewhere - even if it's as his hundredth being as someone else."

"You're kinda cold, huh?"

"Not at all." He shakes his head. 'Glacial.'

A female cadet asked to sit with them by a simple "hello" before she plopped down onto the seat. A chubby blonde girl, with a single dimple, and a hearing-aid. Toshi noticed the contraption and tapped her on the shoulder asking if she uses sign language.

Hakuo finished his lunch virtually in peace as neither Toshi nor cadet Bree spoke to him once they began chatting up each other. It was fine. He likes to listen and to watch people. His detective mind was always entertained by making up scenarios off what he sees - at least, he had when he was a child. He doesn't make up cases anymore. He just watches and listens.

At the London home.

Ludwig's enterlocked ankles tighten up when Yakusoku slammed three more good thrust into him; spent and weak, he legs slid away like soap from a shower wall. Out of movement they just lied together like jelly, kissing as it's the only thing they're able to do.

"Wow." Ludwig pants. "And you said Gev was plowing us for distraction, so what do you call that?"

Yakusoku ran his hands through his messy blond locks. 'I'm not doing that, I mean, not to distract you. I'm trying to distract myself."

"Why?"

"I can't stop feeling like Gev is cheating on us with Hakuo. Do you know he still has a crush on the guy, to the point where the two of them discusssed what to do about it?"

Ludwig didn't know that. He kind of wishes that he wasn't told. He can see the signs, and he can choose to ignore them, because at the end of the day Gev loves them. He doesn't feel a change in that. Well, he hadn't until recently. Recently, things have become strained. And it's not his fault, but he's not exactly helping the matter. Ludwig figured he should talk to them. Help the dunderheads clear this all up before something really terrible and unfixable happens, do to stubborn pride.