Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy on Page One ❯ Intimate ( Chapter 21 )

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

"I think I just saw a zombie," Nathen said to his best friend, when Hakuo appeared through the front door.

"Yeah. Gev kinda died on the rope bridge. He got a little mangled on the rock wall, he staggered about getting worse just from watching me jump five feet across to a floating sandbag," Because Hakuo wouldn't be that cruel to Gev right out of the gate. Better to at least keep something beneath the guy's feet. "But that rope bridge.." He whistled. "I saw the reaper sitting in a lawn chair on the other side with a laugh on his bone lips and a cigar in his hand, just waiting for homeboy's end."

Nathen laughed at the visual - mostly of someone as goth, brooding, and cool as Gev losing his cool over someplace like that. "It sounds like fun."

"It was fun. It would have been more fun for him, if the poor bastard wasn't afraid of heights."

"Seriously?" He looked towards Hakuo's bedroom where a man has been felled by a climbing fun zone. He'll never be nervous around the Russian again.

"Yeah; I was asked six times which arm tingles when your heart is about to explode." He smiled faintly. "But, somehow he did it." Hakuo hopes the drowsy panicker is proud of himself, because he's proud of him. Who knows, maybe he won't ever see heights as something to hesitate over ever again.

In the Green apartment complex.

Yakusoku returned home from his hour and twenty minute stake-out at Hakuo's apartment. He was going to leave when the car eventually pulled up. That was lucky. How it all came to an end wasn't. Nothing got solved. And he only glanced at Gev. What a waste!

Slamming the door, he grabbed a chunk of his hair and tugged with a bitter vengeance - just once, once was all that was needed. He doesn't wanna start up on those filthy habits that had him leaving scars on his body, that once got out of control and scared him to believe that he'd cut too deep. Thank goodness Ludwig was there for him that night. He was so kind; he defused his fear… The pounding of his heart that his life would slowly slip away in the night, was even more horrifying than the cut, and no one would know of his death until well into the next morning. The marks are still there, he sees the discoloration whenever Hakuo moves his hands about and they come into view.

'Dammit! And fuck him!' he screamed in his head.

Ludwig left the bathroom, pausing when seeing Yakusoku standing in the front hall looking like he's about to create an expense they shouldn't be affording with the drywall. "I guess they were all out of… what was it again, milk?" He had to tease him. He knew Yakusoku wasn't going to the market. "How is he? Did you talk to him?"

Yakusoku shook his head. Walking into the living room, he opened his arms and wrapped them around Ludwig, hugging him dearly.. Desperately. At least he still has him. He can hold him and talk to him. He sniffled, but it wasn't from sadness. It was anger.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to upset you." Ludwig whispered; kissing his husband on the cheek, close to his ear.

"You didn't… He did."

"What did he do?" Removing himself from the embrace, he steered them over to the couch to sit down.

"He didn't do anything; I popped him one, and we argued… sort of… I did most of the arguing, he just told me to let it go." He sighed, extremely agitated. "How am I supposed to beat the guy senseless, when everytime I look at his stupid face I feel sorry for him?"

Ludwig almost laughed, it was such a strange thing to hear. "What?"

"He practically allowed me to hit him, and said you could, too… because he deserved it.. Damn right he does. He was already covered in healed bruises, though."

"Why?"

"How should I know. He probably pissed someone off again, just from talking to them."

Ludwig smiled. Hakuo's supreme blandness, bluntness, and extremely calm demeanor could bring out the worst in some people. It's just so unnatural in a world where everyone is already at ten just from your saying "Hi" to them.

"God, the second I hit him I felt bad for doing it - well, shortly after, rather." Imitating Hakuo's gesture of insisting he get all his anger out, he adds. "I saw the scars I cut on his wrist when he was egging me on. I felt like shit. It's bad enough I know where every single slice is on the covered up parts of his body - having been the one to sustain them. Now I get to walk around in this unmarked Siegfried, and he - he's a fucking patchwork. He's had all this shit happen to him... But, I still hate his guts."

Not that that was his fault. And as far as the injuries, how else was he supposed to defend himself in a knife fight? Take the cuts on the inside? No thank you. He'd rather live with a thousand superficial cuts than even one puncture.

"I hate this so much." Now his tears have become sad. He wants to drink himself a nice rich cup of coffee and turn in for bed for the rest of his Gev-less existence. Until he comes back to them, he'll just turn away from the world. "You're more sensible than I am, couldn't you go and talk him out of it?"

Ludwig blanched at the thought. What a scene that would be. Will he give in to the change and just come home, or will it make him angry and have him lashing out? Because isn't he? Doesn't he want Gev back with them? He loves him! Even if Gev hadn't been wrong, it doesn't mean that he was completely right about it. He had only been using him for sex, but then he became more. Yakusoku even wished them well, because he didn't want to be with them - not romantically, not at the time.

He'd be going to the lion's den. And from what he's heard, whenever the guy feels like it, Hakuo can show some nasty teeth and fangs. He's a man unarmed. How is he supposed to go up against that?

'The public.' Ludwig decides. 'He'd never try anything funny with people around.' Proud of his never failing safety mechanism, he nods. "I'll do my best."

Wrapping his arms around his husband, he says quietly "I love you." then he kissed him on the forehead then lips. "I'm gonna go lie down."

"Okay - wait! No.. Don't do that." Standing, he pulls Yakusoku to his feet. "Are we suddenly 'less than' because Gev is gone? Nnooo.. Let's go out and do something."

"Like what?" His dark blond brow rose high enough to meet with his hairline.

"Like.. Well… We'll drive around until I can think of something." Turning him around, Ludwig pushes him towards the front door where he just came back not several minutes ago.

There's gotta be something two lovers can do together in this town. They were never at a loss to do things as a duo when they were a trio. Why suffer a blow of how to entertain oneself now?

…..

"I'm gonna talk to Ludwig, see if he can't talk some sense into Yakusoku - his self included - about getting a divorce from you." He sighed, tilting his head back a bit while Gev nuzzled his nose into his neck while they lay in bed that night.

The three of them had a nice dinner. They spoke companionably, Nathen and Gev, and Hakuo was happy for that. They don't have anything in common aside from being guys, and that's okay. No one expects them to be besties on the side. They just need to be roommates until they're not. However, becoming nice, even just civil to each other was a huge bonus from this sudden living arrangement.

"I saw Yakusoku, earlier, he waited outside for us to come back.. or maybe he was just hoping to see you through the window - I don't know. But, it didn't go well."

"Why?" Gev wondered. "Why bother talking to them at all. Until they've cooled down, and realize that this is for the better, and permanent. ...You should just avoid them."

"Because, fact-of-the-matter, is that you are still married to them; and at any point you could change your mind about me and go back with them. This divorce finalizes it. There is no room for the concept of us merely entertaining each other until you've gotten me out of your system… You aren't doing that, I can feel that much about you towards me. And divorcing them allows them to come to grips with it, too."

"But I gave the rings back."

"That means nothing. Couples separate all the time; they go ringless for dating.. Sometimes they don't see green grass on the other side. They just see potholes, and they're falling into each one as they realize the mistake."

"I could talk to them."

Hakuo shook his head; absently he's rubbing his hand along Gev's bare side, he's laying halfway overtop of him; now and then he'd feel his lips press into his shirt-covered chest, or it'd be against the bare flesh of his neck or jaw.

"It can't be you. Not because I think you'll change your mind," And he might could. "but because you'll argue and get nowhere. If they didn't get it the first round, the second is only gonna be them trying to railroad over what you originally said to them."

He was right. It's very likely to go exactly as that.

"Just… don't be mean to him.. alright? Either of them; if Yakusoku just happens to show up.. be nice."

"I planned to. I will. You love them; I'm not trying to lessen or cheapen that." Cocking his head to see Gev's ghostly face in the darkness, he smiles assuredly then lands a kiss on the pointed nose he's able to reach since he can't reach his lips. "I've got no hatred in me towards them. They, and you, should know that."

He would have commented, but the sudden pop to the nose from the smooch caused Gev to sneeze.

Hakuo snickered, he muttered that it was cute, then he sat up to reposition himself so they're embracing and can lie face to face. "Better."

"Mhmm."

Sharing a little kiss, they part, then close their eyes and fall asleep.

Hakuo didn't contact Ludwig until Wednesday. He wanted the air from Sunday's mess with Yakusoku to clear a bit, that, and he became distracted by how fun it was to date someone. Really date them, not like with Sunny; he felt like they were just biding time until the guy could explore the more physical side of a male/male relationships. And frankly, he does not have time for such nonsense.

On Monday night, he went bowling with Gev, his brother, and Nathen. Tuesday they had dinner at his house since his mom missed him; it was the perfect chance to reintroduce his standing with Gev to them; they showed support and wished them well.

Mornings were spent self teaching himself in the basics of this and that on school training websites, he also studied for his law test for when the week is over and he goes back to the academy. Those Friday quizzes could be real nightmares, if one isn't prepared. He personally likes dog training. He'd like to get a pet dog, or maybe he can ask to have one of the police dogs. They can bond, and he can have a pet. It will all work out.

He doesn't want this meeting with Ludwig to be a quick conversation, however, he also doesn't want it to be lengthy. He would have stopped by to talk to Ludwig on his lunch break, but he saw Yakusoku through the large window of the music store. He gave them their privacy. But he left a note with the cashier for when the pair left the store. It asked that he meet with him, and where.

Hakuo is at the public park waiting for the scorned musician. Just add snow and this scene would look pretty familiar to 2016, March 3rd. A fine moment in time that year, if he could say so himself. But that would be gloating, and not over anything good like… Easily getting something out of a bundt pan, or making the perfect flakey pie crust instead of copping-out and covering the poor dessert in minced meat. No. To brag about having killed Chester Flint would be like applauding yourself because you got the trash to the curb for Monday pick-up, and didn't spill anything on the way down to the street. Nothing to brag about.

However, as for his removal from this Earth… it was a fine moment, indeed.

He turned his head when seeing movement on his right side; Ludwig is idling about the bench, and he cocked his head when the "stranger" turned and looked at him. Once recognition registered, the expression that brushed across his face before it quickly shielded itself made Hakuo smile.

"It is you! Jesus, what happened?" He walked over and took a seat; his light brown gaze looks everywhere about his face.

It isn't so bad at all anymore. He healed right up from the injuries from school rather quickly. He must be noticing the fresh one from Yakusoku.

Ludwig wondered just how shaken up the poor guy must be to have shaved all his hair off. "Umm," he points up at the steadily growing out brush-cut.

"Don't be so horrified, it's just hair." He touched his frizzy spikes. "The academy rules. You know some people quit when they heard they'd have to get it cut."

"Seriously?"

"That's what I thought." He nods. See. Ludwig gets it. They all can be nice and civil with each other. There's no need for anger and accusation. They can be friends. "How are things at the music store?"

"Great! The place is really thriving, although my boss suspects that I have something to do with it, rather than people wanting instruments."

"I know how that goes." And he does. All the business he'd brought in for the hotel during his employment there.

The dining room around the time he would go down for lunch, and have to pass through to get to the servant's area. The bedrooms from people realizing he switched positions, and was now working as housekeeping. He noticed quite a few people remaining in their rooms when he came in to clean. Always so awkward. But that didn't make them perverts, it's not always the case. Sometimes it wasn't adults in the room but children waiting for their parents to bring breakfast to them. A little girl once laughed at him when he cleaned the toilet, saying her brother pooped in it that morning. Kids.

Ludwig took one last glance at Hakuo, but secretly not at Hakuo, he's envisioning Yakusoku in there and the vision made him wanna laugh out loud. Yakusoku didn't care for long hair, but he'd never go that short. Krenn is so blase about things, it kinda works on him, but he most likely won't keep cutting it, since he liked elongated hair.

"Well, that was a nice exchange in pleasantries." He clasped his hands together with a dismissive clap. "But, down to business." Crossing his legs, he interlocks his fingers, looking all the pish-posh and business-like as he speaks. "I'm gonna need you to convince Yakusoku, and yourself, to divorce Gev." His eyes flitted to the sky as if to be told, then he remembered to add manners and said. "Please."

So, that's it? Right into it then. Okay. Two can play at that game. Copying the mock lawyer's posture, he says in his own businesslike tone. "And what if we don't comply to a divorce? What if we wanna fight for him?"

"Then you'd probably win, because I don't know the first thing about fighting for someone - I honestly don't even wanna know; it's weird." He felt his chest tightening. "Am I supposed to look better, give him better offers...? What?" He shrugs his shoulders and hands simultaneously. "I'm at a loss. He likes me, that's enough on both ends - I'd say. However; he loves you, too. But," he lifts his finger to ward away an interruption. "he's repurposed the degree of that love, because he wants to be with me. ...Divorce him. Don't end up like Quinn Land, or worse... Marissa Ashford, because you don't like the way things have changed."

Ludwig turned green. Either outcome was bad. He really doesn't want to lose Gev, but he can't hold onto him. He needs to help Yakusoku feel the same way before he does become poisoned by this. Before he becomes someone who can't let go. Oh how thinking this way hurts. It's because Yakusoku couldn't let go of him that they both lived, and Yakusoku wasn't consumed into Hakuo's outside-of-the-lines personality. How can he just tell someone who loves that much to stop? Gev loves them that much, and he stopped. No, that isn't true. Gev hasn't stopped; as Hakuo said, he more or less just switched gears to how he loves them. It's now all accumulated as a friendship instead of a relationship.

"But, it's hard. You don't understand, not yet, maybe not ever.." Ludwig worried his fingers together, knitting them over and over. "What it's like to just lose someone you deeply care for."

Hakuo watched this, imagining that if it was a cartoon Ludwig's fingers would have actually knotted, then he'd be stuck tugging his hands apart to free them. The force behind freeing them ending up smacking Ballantyne in the face almost caused him to snicker.

"We love him. We're still in love with him."

Hakuo nods. "I'm not telling you that you can't be in love with him. I'm just telling you that between the three of you, the romance is done. If someday Gev breaks up with me, I'm still gonna love him. It may not seem like it, but I do understand to some degree what this feels like from your end… This guy Sunny, I thought he was the handsomest guy I've ever seen - I still think that. I asked him to Prom, and even though he's straight, he agreed to go with me. Then I was happy when I thought that he liked me back. It was cool."

Ludwig took all this in, he had no idea. Hakuo Krenn seems so.. Android. Human, yes, but missing all the soul of it. So, he can like people. Imagine that. "What happened between you?"

"He's a nervous bi-curious. And my sullied past disgusts and scares him. And even as he's starting to see past that, he's always looking around waiting for something new to back him off. You never forget your first. I guess that's why he's just started to get into me, now that I'm over the idea of me and him." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, if you know what it feels like, then you know that Yakusoku and I can't just give up on Gev."

"Oh, but you can, you see… He is no longer romantically interested in you." He's relaying this message as if speaking to an infant he'd like to help teach English to. One must speak slowly and enunciate. "He loves you both, so much; he's at my house just bed-ridden over your anger and distance, and your lack of understanding his feelings."

"If he's all that miserable, then he can come back."

"He gave up his romance by choice, he's accepted that pain; but, he lost his dearest friends… You took yourselves away from him. And that is what's crushing him."

Hakuo watched the meaning of his words play around Ludwig's thoughts, and slowly the registry of them caused a shift in the shade over his tunnel vision. He's getting through! Perfect.

"That he couldn't let go without losing what he wanted the most to keep... You don't have to like it, you can even choose to openly hate me. But, Gev doesn't deserve to not get a vote because his choice hurts you. I'd like to think you could overlook it all for something that's never gonna change - not in his heart."

Crap. Ludwig blinked as if the pain had shot him in the eye as a means of entrance into his body, to get to his damaged heart. He was brought back to a time when Yakusoku hated him. It was after he'd given him the note that his tormentor had been his aunt. It hurt him so much. And, despite his love for Yakusoku, Gev stayed by his side. He went to his recital, and he listened to him. He didn't tune it out and fake interest. And he did all that because he loved him. Not as a lover, but as a friend. And he wanted to comfort him about Yakusoku pushing him away. Most people would turn their back on someone brought-in, if the guy who brought him switched gears.

It was the most precious time in his life. He loved Gev so much then. He loves him that much now. This whole divorce, interest in Hakuo thing blurred that. But now he sees it so clearly all over again. Yakusoku was right. It's hard to really hate the guy. But he also wants to hit him for being… just being infuriatingly right most of the time.

Although, thinking about it.. this is the longest encounter he's ever had with him alone. Even when he was out of the hospital from his coma, and stayed with the Krenn family while he had appointments, and needed a place to rest as he healed. Hakuo was often at work, working out early mornings with his brother, or off with that techie Nathen.

He took a moment to imagine being friends with him, honest friends. He and Yakusoku, just hanging out comfortably with Hakuo and Gev. Hakuo and Gev. Gev and Hakuo? Ugh. He can even see their names together, either name in the leadership position worked. Crap. Crap, fucking, crap.

"What do you want from me?" he asked quietly.

"For you to talk to him. Help Yakusoku to see what I'm talking about - the reasons why you should divorce Gev. Clean and simple. Remain friends, even if I can't be around while you do so."

Ludwig sighed. His hands moved through his slightly longer than but ultimately crew-cut hair, his fingers interlock behind his head. Yakusoku is gonna flip. He's gonna give him that February cold shoulder for sure. But, maybe he can melt the frost and get him onboard that Hakuo is right. Maybe he can explain it so that it's not about their rival being right, but that they were going about their feelings and understanding all wrong. And that it's making them handle it poorly when they shouldn't.

"For the longest time I tried envisioning you as Yakusoku, when you were going to merge with him. It was hard, but.." He wet his lips as if the briefest thought to take it back was attempted, before going on. "secretly, I hoped that you'd no longer love me. If you weren't Promise, then it wasn't worth it. I'd of understood it - and even would have accepted it. Even if I would lose Gev because we lost the Promise we know and love, and it would have upset us."

Hakuo tried to understand that, but eventually just said, "Huh?"

"I'm saying, I'll help Yakusoku understand. And see that he gets onboard with a divorce."

A grin spread across his face, the Asian-mix pat the air just above Ludwig's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Ludwig asked when the hovering hand receded from him.

"Some people don't like to be touched."

Ludwig was starting to get that feeling again, of understanding how some - most, actually - could find Hakuo annoying. "Well, you have my permission next time."

Standing, he says. "Assuming that there is one." Holding out his hand, he shakes Ludwig's once its taken. "Thank you for meeting with me, and understanding the situation. It really means a lot to Gev."

"And he really means a lot to me… I'm just sorry I never really got to tell him so." He's embarrassed to admit it, but he saved most of his sweet and loving words for Yakusoku.

He just sorta loved Gev, and left it at that. But, it's not his fault! Not entirely… Gev gave off a vibe that he doesn't wanna hear mush, that he finds it unbearably geeky, and pointless. All this time, he's been feeling sidelined and wondering if they ever really loved him as they love each other. How can he not have noticed? Because it's Gev. Stoner Gev. Drunk Gev. I love you, and I'm happy just to be in your company Gev. He never gave off any vibe that he wanted validation. He just had it.

'Don't be insensitive,' Ludwig snapped at himself. 'Even the most hardened person needs some show of affection and appreciation from people they care about. Gev's no different. How could we be so blind?' Seeing movement, the musician stopped him by saying. "Wait. About Gev… promise you'll love him?"

Hakuo blinked. 'That's gotta be one of the most ridiculous things I've heard all day-to-day, and just this morning I'd asked Nathe why my hat was sleeping on the table, because I know I left it on the couch yesterday night.' Thinks the former psychic.

In response, he says out loud. "I had no intentions of doing anything else; I'll repeat myself one last time." His finger goes up to represent the final time. "I rightly fell in love with Gev, not to hurt either of you as some divine punishment for landing me in the hospital, or because you don't like me so I'm teaching you a lesson. I don't have it in for you. It's just unfortunate details that he's taken."

Ludwig felt nude by the declaration. He speaks boldly, but rarely. It's disarming to hear it as well.

"It came out of nowhere that I went from passable friends to genuine love... Was it wrong due to how this hurts you, yes; but loving Gev feels right to me. And it must be right for him or he never would have developed feelings for me." Just thinking about the tender-hearted goth makes him all happy. "I'm not saying I can do it any better than you guys; I've never officially been a boyfriend or even in love with someone. I could screw up at every turn, but I'm gonna nurture any problem or triumph as something precious to me."

Ludwig nods. It still hurts. But he agreed to give Gev what he wants, if that's what will bring him happiness. He can at least make him happy in that way. It's no small feat either. But, he can do it, for the love of their friendship.

It's a little later into the day. Gev took Hakuo over to his apartment to get his things. He can do this without worry, because Ludwig called and told him he'd be sure that neither he nor Yakusoku was home when he comes by. It was a brief call, but it meant the world to the lost soul. He's not sure what Hakuo and Ludwig said to each other, but he was happy they came to an understanding. And that sooner than later, he and they can peacefully separate romantically.

The apartment felt so different. Cold. Detached from him. He half expected his things to be out and waiting for him in a suitcase or even a brown grocery bag. It was all still there in the closet. Hanging on the hangers, or piled in the corner where he watched them fall free from the hanger, when he didn't care to pick them up.

Ludwig usually comes along and does it, but seeing the clean clothes still down on the floor made Gev a mixture of happy and sad. Sad that they are still holding out for him, but also happy that they are still holding out for him. He's not into love torture. He really hopes they can move on from him. But, he likes that they still want his presence around, even though he felt like they hated him when he left.

It wasn't even that long ago, but the distance shot fast and far.

Gev threw his hand out towards the closet, initiating that they'd better get to it. Who knew when the pair would come home, he doesn't wanna be caught. Caught. How stupid is that. Even something like this shouldn't make him feel guilty, but it does. It does because they don't understand him; they were hurt by him even when he meant not to. So something like this is now a sneaky situation instead of awkward but growing comfortable act, as they pack his things away.

"You've got a lot of shirts without pictures or writing all over;" Hakuo was saying from inside the closet. "How come you never wear any of them?"

"Most of them are winter and fall," explained the nippy-intolerant.

Grabbing his duffle, he drops it onto the bed then begins shoving this and that inside. It'll all fit. He doesn't own that many clothes. Hakuo watched for a second, then caught on to which section of clothing belongs to Gev, and he neatly folds them before tossing them on top of the pile.

Gev smiled at him. Why fold it? He's just gonna unfold it to hang on the hangers back at Hakuo's apartment. Oh, well, it's sweet that he cares about looking after his clothes.

"Look at this!" Declared the Asian-mix. "You've got blue jeans, why don't you ever wear them?"

"Those were bought for work, they want it to be casual. I told them I'd wear my chef pants from my previous job and they agreed I could."

Holding them up against Gev's waist, he cocks his head left then right then he nods his approval. "You'll wear them next time we go out."

"I won't."

"Sure you will." He smiled sweetly at him. "I'll wear something you pick out for me."

Intrigued, he says. "Anything I want?"

"Anything that won't get me arrested."

"Damn." He snickered in jest. Leaning over he pecked his lips then returned to the closet to get the last of the clothes.

"Anything else?"

"Umm.. my toothbrush. It's the blue and yellow one," He dug through the dresser for his comb. Hurling it through the distance, he smiled to himself that he managed to make it go into the bag.

Grabbing his boots, the two pairs of sneakers he owns, he stuffs them into the bag on top of the clothes. Hefting it up into his grasp, he walked it out into the living room. Hakuo met up with him; flashing the obtained item before stuffing it into the small compartment at the front of the bag. With a salute and a whistle, he heads for the door.

He can't believe how smoothly this all went. Hakuo was waiting for the upset, but it never came. Ludwig really pulled through with keeping Yakusoku out of the house. Now if he could just get Gev that divorce he wanted…

August 12th 2019.

Hakuo came home from school for the weekend. Two whole days of being with his family, friends, and boyfriend. It was great when he went back; when the sergeants were giving out the mail, he got one from Gev every week. He told him all kinds of stuff that was going on with him, at work or around the city.

He even sent snacks. Delicious little pies and cakes - true they were from TastyKake, but eh, it's the thought that counts. And even if it's loaded with additives, it's still damned good cake. He even could have wept when he shared his cakes - not the delicious chocolate peanut butter Funny Bones. He shared the other cakes with Ron and Toshi from his dorm. They watched Black Hawk Down on the one television they share.

It was horrible. The violence, the realism, it made their skin crawl. How can they depict it so realistically? It's almost like they're right there in the movie. Each of them were at the edge of their seats, eyes wide, and jaws dropped. They were glad this was just the police academy, because watching a film like this they surely would have left the military.

His family came to visit him on the first of the month. He actually felt like crying, he hasn't seen them since that first week of June came to an end. He missed them all so much. His mother brought him a "Mexican" lasagna for dinner, and he just about died from another kind of happiness.

And now today, for Saturday and Sunday, he gets to be at home with his best friend and boyfriend. The throws of summer sent them to the beach for a date - well, date isn't really the right word since Nathen came along with Celes and Irvin, too. But they could make it feel like a date by hanging out exclusively with each other. Which they are.

Lying out intimately on the gingham blue and white blanket, Gev on his stomach, arms folded beneath his profile while he semi-slumbers in the shade of the umbrella, with Hakuo's weight resting on his back just below his shoulder blades.

"You can go swim if you want, I'm fine here." Mumbled the Russian.

"I'll swim if you do." Opening his eyes, he asks. "You can swim, right?"

"God forbid I couldn't, you'd be half drowning me to conquer my fear."

Hakuo shook with silent laughter. "I wouldn't." Turning his head, he then puckered up his lips so he could kiss the nearest bit of flesh that was reachable.

"I will do you on the beach," replied Gev to the smooch. "I'm that pent up."

Sitting up, he switches sides of the blanket space so he can lie beside Gev, and look him in the eye while they talk. He likes looking into Gev's eyes. They're beautiful. And that eyebrow ring just makes him shiver in ways he didn't know he could.

"Why'd you agree to come? We could have gone to your apartment and 'rejoiced'."

Gev found an apartment for himself at the end of June, a single room studio, 1 year lease, no pets, damnably no smoking - try and stop him though. The rent is four-hundred-eighty bucks, but it comes with all the amenities needed. And there's a laundromat right across the street. It's no hovel. So it's a good place to exist for a while.

"I could tell you wanted to get out of confinement. Besides, it's fine for now. I can hold it."

"What if I'm not up for it?" His brow quirked at the question.

"Please?" No seductive tone. No puppy dog eyes, or even a little pout. Just a simple asking.

'I really like you.' Thinks Hakuo, and playing it cool he nods his permission; rolling onto his side, he hugs Gev with an arm slung around him. "I have to admit it, I missed you in that way, too - just a little."

Gev brushed his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. It's grown back considerably for a month and a half. An impressive three inches from the scalp all around. He locked eyes with him. He wanted to tell him that he loves him, but he doesn't. Instead he rolled over onto his side and beeped his nose.

They couldn't get home soon enough. Which is why once the car emptied of all its occupants but them, the pair started in on each other. They barely made it out of the vehicle with their clothes intact as they head up to Gev's apartment.

...

Hakuo loved this. It was nothing like his childhood. Nothing like his teen years. In short. It's not abuse. Sex is nice. It's really nice. He likes the quiet of it. The peace; despite the urgency sometimes, it's really peaceful. The calming sound of their tongues brushing, entwining, tapping at each other. The soft meeting of their lips. He could sometimes feel bits of stubble brushing his face when they touch them together when Gev nibbles on his earlobe.

He liked the quiet rustle of clothing during the passionate embrace, the soft sound of flesh together once they've removed the obstruction of decency. They're standing on their knees in the center of the king-sized bed in a state of undress just obsessed with connecting. He really liked the way Gev's hands would glide along the backs of his thighs before resting on his buttocks. He likes the way Gev feels beneath his fingertips as well. He's so thin he can feel every muscle in his body doing its job, its macabre delightful.

Hakuo didn't feel like hiding whenever Gev stopped what he was doing to look at him. He just drank him in, his gaze predatory but sweetly affectionate too. And he's a free man. All his. Gev had written about it. Not too much detail, but enough to get the general message that Yakusoku had eventually given in and divorced him. He was upset, Ludwig calmed him down. Then he was upset at Ludwig. He explained that the two of them were at odds, according to Ludwig. He could phone him; but he was still mourning Gev's absence, and told him that he wasn't quite ready to hang out as friends just yet.

Eventually, they all began to come around. Yakusoku just hasn't gotten to the stage where he can hangout with Gev, as Ludwig has. So when the two see each other, Yakusoku is not there. But, like Ludwig, he'll come around. If not, that's his loss - if you ask Hakuo. Gev is wonderful. They can all like him, there's no rule to how many friends you can have.

Hakuo watched as the goth traced his fingertip along the crevices of his body. Each bit of muscle on his torso delighted in the attention of the maze runner. Joining their lips together again, he let out a soft moan when that tracing finger was joined by some friends of his to latch onto the log at the end of the valley where it tugged away to get that river flowing.

He was just getting to really feeling it when a loud thump startled them from the spell cast by the sexual realm.

"What the hell was that?" Gev wondered.

They hear another and another. It sounded like it was coming from the living room at the front door. Who in the world could be knocking at this time of day? And for what? Food menus? Lost dog?

"I'll go look." Gev left the room, but Hakuo followed; tugging on boxers as he goes.

He pulled open the front door, looking left then right but no one was there. Just as he was about to close the door, the cause of the sound caught his eye.

"What the fuck! Who egged my door?"

Hakuo looked at the gross yolky stains completely miffed. Who eggs a door when it's nowhere near Halloween?

"Don't worry, sir, I'm a trained professional."

The 'trained professional' stooped down and looked at the egg shells. Nice size left on them. There's a chance that the culprit wasn't wearing gloves when handling the foodstuffs. He can lift the prints from the shells down at the station, if he's lucky and the egg thrower was not obscuring his identity.

"Do you have a sandwich bag?" He asked.

The homeowner wondered that himself. He might. Going into the kitchen, he looked around the cabinets and drawers.

"How's foil?"

"Hey, if it can hold something," he replied, reaching out his hand for it.

Pinching the shells between his fingernails so he doesn't leave his own prints on it, he then set them down into the foil closing it up.

"Want me to help clean the door?" asked the officer-to-be.

Gev shook his head. "No. The rain'll take care of it."

There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Hakuo walked into the house, grabbed a bucket from under the sink along with a dish rag. He set it down into the sink to fill with water. It suds ups when he squeezed some Palmolive into it.

Gev shrugged his hands out. He'll help. He can't let his boyfriend clean up something he didn't do, in a place that isn't his. What kind of creep would he be if he did? They quietly cleaned up the door; the mood wasn't killed, just redirected. Sometimes just enjoying being with each other could be more enjoyable than being physically connected.

They both hoped to have many more times like this.. to just be quiet. Intimate.