Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ Lay your worth on me ( Chapter 19 )

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

Gev walked through the front door of his apartment. He's ready. He can do this! Maybe - dammit, why is it so hard to express feelings? Can't he just kiss them goodbye, pat them on the shoulder, give them a hearty "Be brave, big soldier", and tell them it doesn't have to suck?! It could be so much easier for everyone, if it doesn't suck. If this doesn't tarnish the love they have for each other. If this doesn't hurt any of them.

He thought about scenario after scenario on the drive home, pissing off a ton of the after work crowd with his slow pace through traffic. If it wasn't for the horn-honkers, he'd of made pretty good orange cone material. But how else was he supposed to think and drive? He'd of crashed if he went 40 miles per hour.

'Maybe I should just spare us all and not go inside; get a motel room some fucking where in the city, and just exist on my own while they piece it together amongst themselves with how to be cool with it.'

Yeah. Like that could ever happen. Turning the knob, he walked in coming to a standstill. Looking at them, seated in the living room together, watching Family Guy reruns; sipping from glasses of what looks like lemonade. So peaceful. And he's about to shatter the glass on the peaceful picture with his hurtful words and their cruel meaning, actions, and aftermath.

And it is hard, because he does still love them. Sincerely.

'What the hell am I gonna say to make this easy on them - on all of us?'

In a steady stream of mental "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Like Rudolf guiding Bad Santa's sleigh through the light into the dark, he makes it to the coffee table to grab the remote control for the TV, and with the push of a button he mutes all sounds of outside interference. The pair on the couch had already been put on mute, existing in silent mode as if it were staged and they awaited their queues.

Expelling a sigh through his mouth; Gev lowered himself to sit on the coffee table, hands pressed together as if in prayer, he again chose an audible sigh over speech. Say anything, you twit! Shouted his common sense, that knew his tight-lipped mode wasn't going to get him anywhere. He chose this upon making his decision to be Hakuo's instead of theirs'. So, why chicken out just because it's hard to do?

"I just don't know what the fuck to say, I have so much to say but.. I'm shit with words, but I need to say this - but it's hard, okay! It's near impossible out loud but in my head.. I wish you'd just know what the hell it is that I'm feeling and how it should be worded…" his hands shrug out. "Help me."

The pair remain silent. Still. Frozen in that picturesque serenity he'd walked in on. However frozen they are, their eyes are on Gev, and they are blinking, meaning they haven't turned to stone or anything. Hardened against this predicted moment, is more accurate. The layout may be different every time for anyone that has to go through it, but the ending is always the same. Bonds quite broken.

"Please don't shut me out. Don't behave like, or even think it, that this is easy for me. It's not." His sharp greys dart between them, looking, searching, pleading to see those people whom he loves to understand him when he can't understand himself. "Despite the pain I have towards you, that's on me. It's not your fault. And it's not Hakuo's bringing, so I'm not gonna rattle off complaints like some bitch, when I don't even know why this is happening."

Yakusoku scoffed. How could Gev say that? He knows exactly why this is happening.

"You can be mad, I don't blame you.. But don't be done with me, or us. Because I'm not. We're soulmates,"

"Oh, fuck you. Don't sit here and say that in the middle of this," he shakes his head. "Soulmates don't do this to each other. They don't cheat. They don't lie. And they don't cling to little things to hurt each other with, when they're ready to move on."

"I did not. I withheld for your sanity, but I never lied. I even told you I slept with Hakuo. I told you that I'm attracted to him. That's what we're like... I've been upfront about it all - especially after I almost lost you, because I didn't tell you about Mamoru and me. I'm not latching onto bullshit to hurt you with," pointing, he says. "You hurt me. You've been doing it for a while, but I've ignored it because I love you, because we're soulmates."

"Sounds like you're keeping slights to me." All he heard was the problems. Gev saying he's got some reason to be annoyed with them, and this is how he lashes out.

"I'm not. I was trying to address something that should have been said a long time ago," he tried to cool his heated tone. "So, what? Now anytime I've got an issue with you, you're gonna assume it's just knocks to send me off to Hakuo? That's not fair."

Ludwig parted his lips to say something, but a swipe of his tongue to wet his mouth, pulled the words back in and down the hatch. He knows it's the truth, what Gev just said, and he knows he should point it out to the fired up Yakusoku, but the last thing he wants is further confrontation from Yakusoku, thinking he's being ganged up on. So, he remained silent.

"Isn't it?" Yakusoku hissed in wonder. "You always say it - you most of all, Gev, that we're it. We're your fucking forever, no matter what.. Well, I guess someone took our place. And why? You barely even know him to be doing this to Ludo and me."

Gev closed his eyes, steadied himself, then upon opening them he locks onto the trust, even love, wavering gaze of Siegfried Walker. Before it was weird and unsettling, but now he truly sees Yakusoku Land there. And he likes it. He even told him so, to the both of them, that he likes their new appearance. It isn't bad, nor was it a horrible reminder of what happened, if all that is laid aside. So the pair can just be these people's appearance.

"You, the both of you, are my forever. We're soulmates; I believe that. All the Hakuo Krenns in the world don't stand a chance at changing it. You don't have to believe me for it to be there."

Holding back the tears that mist over his eyes, he asked. "Then what's all this for? Are you really just infatuated with him? Would you stop if you could be with him for a liitle while?"

Gev shook his head. "It's complicated. Just know that looks and memories of you and Mamoru have nothing to do with how I feel about him. It's just something's there, and… it surprises me, too. But," Shit how he hated to say it. But, he's gotta be real with them.. always. "I crave him."

It looked as though a weapon was made from that sentence, it aimed right for his husbands' eyes causing Ludwig to look away and Yakusoku, though it looked like a rolling of the eyes, he was actually only succeeding in keeping back those tears from earlier.

"You guys are my soulmates, and I'm yours'." Gev continued. "And I know this sounds like cliché bullshit, but it's the truth when I say that about you guys. But, I'm not the kind of soulmate that you're romantically involved with."

That old wound hidden within Gev stirred with a deep inner itch. He felt that blade against his wrist; people always describe it as that cool metal, but really it's warm. Heated by the hesitant hand holding it as the nerves begin to wonder how deep is too deep? How much pain before none? Is physical worse than emotional to keep me from that final step? He absently brushed at his leather bracelet that covers the marked prison sentence of his soul, receiving satiety by pressing into the grill marks there from years of healing.

Healing, right. Even flesh can only recover so much before it mars and scars in wonder of why it's trying so hard. And the blade isn't there because of having told them, it's there because he has to. It's one of the reasons he has to stop this. He has to let it all go. He wants to be with Hakuo. He wants them to remain happy. He still loves them, this shouldn't be about hurting each other. Or, who's with who, if they can all remain close.

"I know that it hurts you to hear it said, but hear me out… You know you feel the same way about me - even if the amount has shifted over the years, the truth still remains that, romantically, neither of you ever really wanted me there."

There. He said it. Laid it all out to be mocked, mulled over, fingers pointed, and accused as a liar. But, it's willing to take all that to get them to understand that this isn't the end, or even some new kind of beginning, this isn't insult and hurt, just an eye opener to what always was. And it's that they, Yakusoku and Ludwig, have only ever been attracted to each other.

"That's not true." Ludwig finally spoke.

"Isn't it? Lud', think about how you and me got together... I fell in love with you, but you didn't fall in love with me. You liked me; you liked that I could have sex with you and let you pretend it was Yakuza if you wanted."

Yakusoku's gaze slanted over to Ludwig. It was just such an off thing to hear. He already knew about it, made aware during a field trip they took junior year of high school. But still, to have it laid out like that.

"And Yaku', come on, bud... You and I both know the reason we didn't sleep together isn't because I've got a lot to take in; Mamoru and I had been together dozens of times along the way, so clearly you can take it. But the fact of the matter is you just didn't love me like that. You love me to death, but your romantic intentions were only aimed at Ludwig. You let Ludwig be the only one that intimate with you, because you fell in love with him." Taking Yakusoku's hand, he gave it a squeeze. "And when your parents threw you out, we had every opportunity for the three of us to live together, and you swatted me away at every turn. And it hurt. The way that you hold each other while we're in bed, you always hold him tighter, you always lay in his direction inviting him to hold you... You guys are in love, like the real shit. It's beautiful - and I want that too."

The leveled with pair glanced at each other.

"This isn't about who got more in our three man operation, it was never a competition, and it never felt like one. But the differences were there, and it ate at me that I couldn't understand why I was with you but never felt entirely included." He lowered his gaze, his dark black lashes made it appear that his eyes have become black dashes on his face. "I don't wanna be a tag-along."

Yakusoku could only look away. Gev.. he wasn't... he isn't.. wrong. But, he still shouldn't be saying it. He shouldn't even be thinking it! This is all Hakuo's fault. He's probably the one putting the ideas in his head. Although how he'd know about it...? Well, Gev could have told him. Except he doesn't think so.

There are some things a person just can feel, and he's sure Gev told Hakuo nothing about it. He's not exactly good with words, as he said, and as he, Yakusoku, knows. Nothing but innuendo or music can get a long ramble out of the guy. Just flimsy conversational stuff. But he doesn't really like to talk about feelings - even with a male mistress, most likely.

"Can we just not be mad at each other, please?" Gev asked of them, his greys going from one husband to the other. "This really isn't about screwing up, or saying something rude by accident, it's just something I've been feeling."

"We finally get to all be together, and you're just throwing it away for him." Yakusoku whined. He didn't mean to sound whiney, but that's how it came out.

"No. I'm not throwing us away for him... He's just involved, but only through my interest. He's not the cause of this,"

"Then why'd you ask us to marry you?" Yakusoku held up his hand that bears two wedding bands. "Was this just some hope that things would get better? How could they be better through this?" He touched his ring given to him by Gev. Silver, with gothic design intricately circling it.

"I thought I lost you two, I thought I was gonna lose Hakuo... Everything was falling apart, I needed something solid." He wet his lips and looked down at his lap again. Then his gaze fell upon his rings, dangling in the air from he necklace chain. "Here."

Yakusoku and Ludwig watched in horror as Gev removed a chain from around his neck, their bands holding onto it, just as they're figuratively holding onto a thin line. One that's got a breaking point, and as they watch Gev unlatch the chain and slide the bands free, handing them back to them, they died a little inside. The scene far more gruesome than the Ghost Face killer disembowling someone, or Freddy Krueger fucking you up from the inside out, scarier than meeting up with a disfigured woman wearing a trench coat and a mouthguard, asking if you think she's pretty right before disfiguring you with a giant pair of scissors, to match her own cheek-split smile.

"I really can't talk about this anymore... It's too hard, and I'm so damned afraid I'm gonna say something stupid trying to make myself clear." He sighed and stood up. They don't take the rings, so he lowered them to rest on the coffee table. "I don't hate either of you. I haven't lost love or started growing disappointment; I just can't be a part of you like we are anymore. You have each other, and I'd like someone for myself. I'm happy for you guys, I always have been."

They watched him walk to the door, no bag, no trinket, just making for the exit. Was this really it? Over? Can he do this to them? Sincerely...

"What about Hakuo?" Ludwig stands and heads over to him. He surprised even himself. He said if Gev wanted to go, he wouldn't fight him on it. He's not sure if he's fighting for himself, Yakusoku, Gev, or all of them collectively. "These feelings have gotta be pretty new for him... What's gonna happen when someone comes along that he happens to like better than you, if he wants to leave you? What if it's sooner than later? What if he realizes this was a mistake?" Touching Gev's arm, he gave it a squeeze. "You wanna give it up, your true stability, for a maybe?"

"No. I don't. Which is why I was hoping that we stay soulmates as we've been. I'm never gonna stop feeling how I feel for ether of you. I don't care if the cliché is there, because I don't have to be in love with you to be in love with you. But even if I'm no longer with Hakuo, my feelings won't change about where I see myself with us." Touching Ludwig's cheek, he leans to him and kissed his cheek. "Just remember that, when the dust clears. It won't be awkward even if it's years from now... I won't make you feel like shit for hating me then coming back into my life. I hope I can get the same promise from you." He looked past Ludwig to Yakusoku, who's watching with desperate eyes. "I'll see you around. Okay?"

Ludwig hesitated, but he nodded. He can see him. He will try his best not to make it weird.

Yakusoku got up from the couch and headed into the bedroom, closing the door. Gev watched in wonder if it was merely on the argument and not their lives. He can't stay. He's done the hard part, now he has to move on to the hardest...

Moving on without them.

# #

"Nathen, are you doing anything tonight?" Hakuo asked his friend after dinner was cleaned up and the dishes put away.

"Anything like cancelable?"

Hakuo scrunched his brows wondering if 'cancelable' was an actual word? But, hey, if you can say it, may it be. "You're busy then?"

"I was kinda gonna go out with someone," He grinned foolishly, the blush of a guy in love.

Hakuo replied by grinning in return. "You mean Miyo?"

Surprised, he asked. "How'd you know? I didn't get a chance to tell you,"

Hakuo cocked his head, giving it a shake. "You're kidding? You didn't hear me come in ealrier?" He smiled mischiveously. "I saw little miss Miyo leaving our house before I left with Gev." Sitting in the living room, he reached for the TV remote; turning on the set he flips through the channels leaving it on Travel where a ghost marathon is airing.

"Yeah? I didn't hear you..." Suddenly hearing what he'd said, he asked. "Crap! Did you hear me?!" He was pink before from embarrassment, but now he's full-on bright red.

"Mostly her, but yeah, you were in there at some point, too." Waving his hand, he says. "I gave you your privacy, I didn't stick around long. But by the time I was leaving and so was she."

Sinking into the armchair, he fell over in a leaned slump. "I'm such a creep; she's gonna be pissed."

"Why? I told you I left; is she a secret?"

Nathen shook his head. "No. Nothing like that, I mean, I don't think so..." Straightening up, he sighed. "Well, I kinda didn't want anyone to know about us until I was better anchored in. I didn't wanna get the whole 'so what happened', if we break up soon."

"I won't tell anyone else. And I won't ask why, should you break up." Setting the remote back onto the coffee table, he asked. "But can I ask how you got together?"

"Oh. Well, I wanted to work on scripts.. I wanna do urban legend shorts; she said it sounded cool." His voice began to drift up and down as emotions rolled around through his mind and heart over the situation. "So, we're here doing lines, and Alan left us alone; next thing I know I'm asking her out."

"Aaww,"

Nathen's color began to return when he realized Hakuo wasn't going to tease him about it. "She said, no way, but then I asked her could we be the couple in the movie and she laughed. She said I was an idiot.. Next thing I know she's ready to leave, then she asked where we'd go and she agreed to go with me." He smiled with pride. "We've been kinda seeing each other off and on for about a week and a half."

"Wow."

"I was hesitant because she's one of your sister's best friends,"

"She's a friend. Celie met her on Facebook, and eventually they realized they live in the same area and met up. So she's not her best friend, Aisha is."

"I don't think that matters, but," His smile and bright mood returned. "Thanks, if you're saying she'd be cool with it."

Hakuo snickered. "You kinda have a crush on Celes, huh, Nathe?"

Tossing the throw pillow that's behind him at his friend, he crossed his arms and slumped down in his seat. "Share time is over," he stuck his tongue out then smiled.

He does have a crush on Celes Krenn. She's beautiful! The shallow male in him that goes by looks, really goes for her style. She's a ten that dresses like a covered up five, she's nice but not a pushover. He loves her long, pale blonde hair with those Japanese eyes but every other feature is more German like her father. Her brown eyes are so dark it's just lovely to meet with them. He often wonders if she likes his eyes. And boy does she smell good! Those times he drove her to work, he had to clutch his chest from the pounding of his heart when he dropped her off. But, it's just a little crush. He'd rather adore her without acting on it.

"If you two went out, hit it off then get married... we'd be brothers-in-law." Hakuo reached out and tapped Nathen's knee with the back of his hand. "You got me distracted, I wanted to ask you if you wanna come to the Marriott with me and Gev tonight. Josh is having a pool party, and he invited us."

"Us?"

"We're a package set."

"Oh. Well, I can't. I'm going to the movies with Miyo, we're gonna see Aladdin."

"Oh. Okay." Getting up from the couch, he heads into his bedroom to grab his trunks to slip on under some clothes.

Nathen quietly watched TV, and when the doorbell rang he got up to answer it. "Hey, glad you're here." He says to his date. "Umm, Hakuo knows about us - is that ok?"

Miyo shrugged. "I guess it would be a matter of time, since you two live together. I didn't know he was home."

"He came back earlier." He laughed dryly.

Miyo glanced at him for the odd laugh, then it dawned on her why he had done it. "Oh, do not tell me he heard us! I'm gonna look like such a slut! Thanks a lot!"

"How was I supposed to know he was coming home today," his gaze did a double-take looking at the calendar; his attention caught to where a circle had been made on the day, along with Hakuo's home today! Woo hoo! Written in blue marker in his handwritting. How could he have forgotten about that? "Ah hehe he. Don't worry, he's very discreet. Hakuo would never tell, or think anything like that about anybody."

"Well... I guess it's okay." She crossed her arms. "Most college guys know about stuff like that because of the whole sock-on-the-door thing."

"Yeah. You're not a slut." He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her lips then her cheek. "You're a wonderful, beautiful, talented woman."

"Talented?" She grinned broadly.

"Unmeasurably." He pecked her lips again. But upon seeing his friend exiting his bedroom, his arms snap down at his sides like he'd been caught in the act of violation rather than innocent tenderness between a couple. "Hheyy Hakuo!" He squeaked.

"Don't be uncomfortable," remarked the blur as he sped through the living room to the bathroom to gargle, he can brush his teeth later when he comes home; he then used the bathroom both ways, washed his hands then face when done with that, then he exited the bathroom. "Really. I have no opinion. But if you must know, I'm happy for you both." Smiling when he hears the doorbell, he hurried past but paused in his journey when Miyo's voice caught him by the arm to declare.

"I'm not a slut."

Giving her a exasperated glance, he then smiled politely and gave her a chipper finger pointed gun then said. "Good that you know that, too. Bye Nathen, hello and goodbye, Miyo."

"When are you coming home?" Asked his roommate.

"Umm, let's see... it ends at one, sooo, probably ten. Bye."

Nathen's brow furrowed as he wondered if Hakuo planned to show up, dip his toe in the water then dip out? What fun was that? Those little acts of weird are always alerting him that he'll never fully understand Hakuo Krenn. Turning his attention to his girlfriend, he rubs his hands together and asks. "So, you ready to see Aladdin rub his magic lamp?" His brows wriggled playfully.

Miyo rolled her eyes then started for the door, muttering how she can't believe she finds his dorkiness adorable.

...

The Marriott was alive with college youths occupying the inner courtyard practically wall-to-wall with dancers and swimmers - well, water dancers because there's not an ounce of room to really swim in the large pool, even when people exit it. All sorts of genders male, female, a bit of both; physiques of large, small, thick, and thin or toned with some flabby or round. All the colors of flesh changing color with the mood lighting that's swirling around and around in a rainbow of flashing light.

Hakuo was out on the dance floor dancing along with the others; the space around the large in-ground pool is so packed he got his foot stepped on three times! It was wild! People are actually into this stuff? They must be, because just about everyone was getting their feet and toes danced on now and then, yet no fights have broken out. Not even a lame "Watch it". The music was loud enough to shake the panes of the windows of the rooms; all sorts of artists' songs played through the air in the summer rave.

Hakuo wondered what had gotten into his former boss that he would allow such a festive celebration of nothingness to go on? It so doesn't fit the stuffy Marriott he once knew. Times must have changed during the coma.

'Aaww, buzzkill…' He wilted from his spastic movements. Plug pulled. Battery drained. Nearly two years. He's missed more years of life in a coma. An elbow bumped into his side, and he perked up like it was an On switch that had been hit. 'And now I'm back!' He danced about with the rest of the swarm once again.

Gev smiled at his soon-to-be boyfriend; the guy's seriously got some screws loose. He's so glad he found an untouched corner to glare from. He really shouldn't have come. He hates this crap with a passion, but, watching Hakuo attempt to be like everyone else was pretty entertaining, because he can tell his little nut-bar hates it just as much as he does.

He'd like to full-on call him boyfriend, but honestly they haven't really done anything beyond meeting up and showing friendship or screwing because he's gotten good at persuation in the art of parting legs. He'd still like to really take him out, date him. Win him over in every way he can. Hakuo loves him. He'd like to give him reasons why.

'Who the hell is that?' he wonders.

An older guy, though not by much, probably around Siegfried's age, 27; he walked out onto the dance floor right over to Hakuo, tapping him on the shoulder. They spoke by leaning in towards each other to be heard over the music; Gev's gaze sharpened when the interloper felt the need to touch Hakuo's nude side.

The onlooker moved from his ground-level perch against the stone hotel building and walked out onto the dance floor. His ultra pale flesh glowed in neon colors like a confused mood ring: the green eyed monster, saddened blue, that he doesn't know this dickhead but Hakuo does, yellow for the burning fuse lit - what? He doesn't have a cowardice bone in his body - when dealing with people. Heights and driving are another story. And lastly, the mood rest perfectly on red as he reached the pair. Rage.

"Mind if I cut in!" He shouts over the music.

The overdressed interloper looked Gev up and down, then smiled. "Hi. I'm sorry, is the food running low?"

Sporting a friendly expression, his tone gave it away that he feels otherwise. "Fuck off."

"Excuse me?"

When the light shifted in a flash of yellow, Gev's eyes widen in realization. He's seen this guy before… long ago.. on that shitty day he found Hakuo tied to his bed by that asshole Vann Small. He was at the sandwich place he ate at. What the hell does he think he's doing joining the paying customers? And why is he talking to Hakuo without a tray in his hand?

"Gev, this is Kanesuke, he was just saying hi. Kanesuke, this is my Gev."

Kanesuke looked hurt, then smiled it off. "A boyfriend, huh… Nice to meet you." He held out his hand, drawing it back when Gev didn't so much as glance at it. Kanesuke cleared his throat to try dispelling the uncomfortable air growing between them all. "Well, I had better get back to work. Enjoy the party. Bye Hakuo."

Hakuo waved him off. Looking at Gev with accessing eyes, he grinned while wrapping his arms around him. "Parties are so stupid," he declared. Krenn closed his eyes from a spritz of water that landed him in the face, he looked around for the squirting enthusiast who has the water gun. The guy or girl has been circulating the area just shooting the shit out of people with the damned thing, and it was starting to wear on him. "What time is it?" He asked his bitter boyfriend, who has yet to remove his daggers from the retreating back of the catering staff.

"Ten forty," snipped the embittered. "Who was that?"

Hakuo made a face like he was gagging before he said, "At first I didn't know, this memory thing gets to me sometimes.. But, he used to like me, who knows if he still does. I really don't care." He gave a shrug with his hand. "Wanna go?"

"Do you?"

Somebody somewhere started chanting "Chug! Chug!" calling the crowd's attention their way to watch someone down a ridiculous amount of alcohol.

A voice speaking into a microphone blasted from the speakers, saying cheerfully. "Come on competitors! Let's get up on the stage and see who's gonna win for the sexiest guy and gal at the party!"

"Wanna get up there and see if you win?" Hakuo called to Gev over the noise. "You'll mop the floor with them!"

Gev wrapped his arm around Hakuo steering him to his personal nook in the outdoor area that's awash with gyration of water and sweat dewed bodies. "Sit." He commands, offering his abandoned chair to Krenn, then he took a seat on the ground beside him.

"Don't be so macho," he pats his lap. "Come on, have a seat." Hakuo smiled when seeing Gev laughed, because he can't hear it over the music. Yanking him up by the bicep, he tugs him down to sit on his lap. "Seriously, we can leave."

"You can leave, I have a room upstairs."

Hakuo blinked. "Why?"

"I left them." He leaned close enough that his lips are near the addressed's ear. "Earlier today, I left them. My rings, my romantic connection... All ties of our relationship beyond soulmates are off."

Hakuo looked like he was in the midst of the most pleasant daydream, before he whispered into Gev's ear. "Thank you." Cupping his cheeks in his hands, he kissed him tenderly before hugging him. He can't believe it! He really can't believe it! Gev left them! How did this happen? What luck! 'He likes me… He really cares…' His chin quivered, and before he could stop them his eyes swelled and released tears of joy onto the warm flesh he's laying against.

Gev snickered over the reaction, placing a kiss atop Hakuo's fuzzy head. What was he so worried about that hard-shaped busboy for? Hakuo's crazy about him. This reaction isn't fake. He's crying just because he gets to be with him. Stability doesn't get any more confirmed than that.

"Don't thank me, you little weirdo."

"Quit calling me little, I'll drop you on your flat butt. I grew a whole two inches. 5'10 is not little." He smiled proudly; his hand absently caresses Gev's side.

"You are when I'm 6'2, and your 5'10" is in preemie size." He stuck out his tongue. He flinched when his nipple is pinched by the rogue shorty; pressing his forehead to his, he placed kisses long and short against Hakuo's lips. He parted from him with a pleased hum, then asked. "Wanna spend the night with me?"

"Sexually?"

"No. Just to stay over."

Hakuo shrugged his shoulder. "I was kinda hoping to sleep in my own bed tonight, so much more comfortable than the bunks at the academy." He kissed Gev's chin. "Why don't you come to my house, and spend the night with me?"

"...I could."

He feels like a real ass. It really does seem, to one on the outside looking in, that the only reason he wanted to divorce his husbands is because he has intentions with Hakuo, when it really wasn't the case. He honestly has been feeling like a relationship tag-along when it came to the them. Ludwig didn't invite him to his relatives wedding, the thought probably never even crossed his mind. He might have gone, he could have at least been asked. During their hardships at school, no one really bothered with Gev - they knew better. But he could have shared in their pain, but they kept it to themselves.

Yeah. To say that this break is Hakuo's fault is laughable, because it's not. Hakuo Krenn is just a raft in a drift of emotional turmoil. A beautiful, fun raft, that just came along and didn't bother asking him to get on, because he doesn't care whether or not he drowned. He was just passing through, but will help you, if you want it for yourself.

Grinning at him, he cups the cheeks of the 'raft' and kissed him dearly. "You're beautiful." He whispered into his ear. Hakuo looked doubtful, which had Gev add. "Even with the bruises and the fuzz," He smooched him again then stood up.

His flat butt was hurting from sitting on the pound of flesh. He gave his mixed lover a slap on the chest with the back of his hand for calling his ass flat. It's not that bad. He's got shape… sometimes. In certain jeans... Waving for Hakuo to follow him, he heads for the hotel's side entrance; holding the door open as his company followed after him.

He swore then rubbed his arms. It's freezing inside, and he's got nothing on but swim trunks, and sweat from the humidity outside. It's a good thing that he didn't stand around in the pool or he'd be artic agony. Poor Hakuo was dancing, he's probably catching it worse than himself, due to worked up sweat and heat. Not to mention the dick with the Super Soaker. Wrapping his arms around him, he kissed the back of his head as they navigated to his room on the third floor.

Once inside, Gev checked the AC making sure it's not On, and they dry themselves off with big fluffy white towels. Hakuo looked around the room and at the hotel when on their way up, and noticed that nothing had changed. He even spotted some of the familiar faces of the staff.

He wondered why he'd forgotten about Kanesuke - not that the guy was all that memorable beyond his square shaped head and rectangular body. Something that unusual you don't forget, but the man himself… He actually had to tell him who he was. He, not for the first time, wondered if it would stop or get worse? Wouldn't that suck. To just gradually have a brain turning to mush.

'I hope I never forget you at least,' he looks at Gev with a small smile.

He cocked his head when the Russian dropped his boxers and wandered away to the bathroom. Always the easy nudist. He looked down at himself wondering if all parts of the body grow at the same rate. He's never measured himself, never wanted to because there's no need. But he wonders if his seven has become an eight or if it even can? Probably not. If people need enhancement pills, it's probably like molars, once it's grown a certain amount it's done.

When Gev emerged from the bathroom, he snagged the corners of Hakuo's towel pulling it around himself with him still in it. Their bodies are pressed together and he moved them so that Hakuo's back presses to the nearest wall. He kissed him with wild abandon now that he doesn't have to hold back. Now that he's guilt free, he can let his senses escape to paradise. His hips don't move though, why work himself up when he doesn't have condoms or lube; and Hakuo said not tonight. But, he can enjoy pressed flesh up and down. It's harmless.

When their lips part to breathe, Gev kissed Hakuo's neck, ear, and cheek. He can feel his light breaths warm against his skin as he basks in his attention. Those little things like breaths, the slightest touch of his fingertips here and there, send shivers up his spine. Hakuo smiled feeling the rise of goosebumps up Gev's arms; the amorous Russian tied the towel behind his back locking them both within it, so that he can hold him closer, and he's got his hands resting on those wiry but tough arms where the elated joy broke out over them. It was so cute, he actually turned his head, raised Gev's arm up a bit and kissed a patch.

"Why is your heart beating so fast? Am I that good at kissing now?" asked Krenn smiling at his boyfriend.

"Not quite there yet," He teased with the truth. He can still be a little bad at kissing, but Gev doesn't care. With his guidance he'll be a force soon enough. And he's gotten so much better from the first few times. Lack of practice must have dropped it a notch.

His heart was going to burst if Hakuo doesn't stop kissing his collarbone and under his chin, and just there behind his ear… Damn it! He wasn't supposed to get hard. He's thankfully not, but he knew enough to stop himself and when. Clearing his throat, he untied the towel, freeing himself from their unhooked connection at the hips. Securing the towel around Hakuo, he gave him one last quick peck then moved over to the bed lying down.

Hakuo eyes the showcase on the bed, all pale and nude; he wondered if Gev wants to have sex with him? If he does, he's taking it well that he doesn't. 'Sorry Gev, I'm just not in the mood tonight.' Oh but he could kiss him for hours, just forgetting about the world through the joining of their lips. Walking over to the bed, he drops the towel over the naughty bits before laying sideways and resting his head on the nudist's crotch. He chuckled wondering if this is what the princess with the pea felt. It's there! It's there! I can feel it!

Gev smiled listening to Hakuo laugh at who knows what. But it didn't make him self conscious, God knows he's got no need to be. But, the laugh doesn't sound pointed, it just sounds amused.

When his chuckles subsided, he looked into Gev's eyes and asked. "Why won't you come home with me? You can't stay at the Marriott forever, and won't it be easier getting a place if you're not pouring chunks of dough into hotels?"

"I'll stay in a cheaper one after the week is up."

Face scrunched in disgust, he shakes his head. "I don't think so. Cancel that and come stay with Nathen and me."

"Abso-fucking not."

"Why? You're not some bum who's gonna live on our couch, eating all the food up, and playing video games all day." Sitting upright, he lightly pats the pale stomach beneath him. "You've got a good job, you've got a sense of pride, so it's not as if you'll trash the place… You can save your money while you're staying with us, so it won't be for long… Just stay."

"Nathen won't be uncomfortable with it?"

Hakuo shrugged his shoulders. "He'll get a receipt."

"A receipt for what?"

"Cashing in on his discomfort to complain to me without a look or word of "rope it in". Look, Nathen can't say no." Wetting his lips, he cocks his head saying very matter-of-factly. "It's half my place, and my half wants you to occupy it." He closed his eyes when Gev's thumb brushed the healing black eye. "Please… for me? I'll be home all this week to break you into each other."

"I know I'll regret it."

"You won't regret it."

Pulling him down towards him, he kissed his forehead. "Fine. Let's get out of here."

As they exit the room, dressed and clean enough from their 'whore's bath', Gev wraps his arm around Hakuo's shoulders, giving him a companionable shaking as they walk to the elevator.

"Is this gonna be a dynamic of ours," wonders the Russian out loud. "You suggest something and I go along with it?"

"It's a good dynamic." Mused the Asian mix; they wait for the elevator.

"And annoyingly easy, too," Lifting his hand, he gave it a squeeze. "I'm seriously addicted to you, Hakuo Krenn. I don't even wanna fight it."

"You can't say that like it's a good thing," he stepped onto the elevator. "Look at how addictions end up. You either quit them, or they kill you. I don't wanna be lumped in as something like that."

Gev smiled. "I can see complimenting you is gonna be trial and error."

"You're here with me. That's all the compliment I need." Lifting Gev's hand, he kissed the back of it then rubbed it in. "No one is ever gonna hurt you, or take you away from me."

The doors close on the eyes of a shadowy figure who's been hidden away just enough to watch them.

X x X

Commentary: I fixed the previous chapter and I'm thoroughly sorry about that. I must have cut and pasted too many times when switching devices and it got mangled along the way. So, again I'm sorry.

Thank you for reading, reviewing, liking or favoriting this. And thanks for telling others, if you have been, that's cool of you and very unexpected. I don't know if anyone does, but it never hurts to show appreciation.