The Musician

[alekimala-a]

“Well. I’m glad you’ve figured that out, at least,” he said softly. It’s important to know what you want, what your needs are. You can’t be happy if you don’t know what it takes for you to be, so Aleki was now one step closer to achieving it. “I wouldn’t have left you. Specially knowing what you’ve been through. I’m not cruel.” A few moments passed, and Stefano reached out to place his hand gently on the man’s back, trying to be comforting. “Nah, I’m not really in the mood to have a party right now. But we can go somewhere quiet to have a drink if you would like.”

He nodded softly, “ I can’t do monogamy, I think it’s just me,” Aleki admitted, looking over to Stefano for a response, “ Even though now...looking back on it, I know you wouldn’t have left, I just get so scared that you would, I couldn’t really take it...I think I’m searching for a polyamory relationship.” Saying all this to the man he was going to marry was so surreal and seeing him here was jut as surreal. Closing his eyes as the other’s hand was place on his back, he smiled softly, “ Is your place far?”

[alekimala-a]

stefano let out a dry chuckle. “right, you would’ve never left me. that makes no fucking sense, aleki,” he said. “and either way you… you chose being alone over being with me. if i’d left you in a year, in two, in ten, we still would’ve gotten all that good time together. but you just preferred to leave. and i wouldn’t have left you anyway. not without reason, not like you left me,” he said. sure, if things didn’t work out between them, he wouldn’t stay in a loveless marriage, he wouldn’t willingly choose unhappiness for him and aleki. but he wasn’t a quitter, he’d always try and make things right before simply just running. “i wish you’d just said something. i mean, yeah, i’m a stupid hopeless romantic, i want to get married, have a family, all that, even if i don’t fucking look it, but i don’t… need all that. if you didn’t want a ring on your finger you could’ve said so. i didn’t need you to be my husband, we could’ve just stayed together like we were. we had a good thing going.” he sighed. “i’m tired of talking of could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. can’t change the past. it is what is and i’ve moved on. i don’t see the point in talking about it anymore.”

He knew it didn’t make sense, none of this did currently. “ I didn’t chose being alone....not that I’m with anyone else,” He wasn’t, that was true. “ I came here and...it’s been real eye opening of what I need in a relationship,” It was all a mess and he really did wish he would have talked to him about all of this sooner, he just didn’t know how to put it into words till now. “ I...was so afraid that you would leave, that I would be on the street again with nowhere to go, and looking back that had nothing to do with you, my fears were all mine, based from my family kicking me out and forcing me out.” It was hard for Aleki not to cry, tears already forming in his eyes, he rarely cried, always trying to put on a tough exterior, “ I am so sorry Stefano...I really should...I really want to talk to you about that,” He held his hand to the other, wanting to take it, “ Do you think we could spend this party together...talk about our three weeks apart?”

[alekimala-a]

The memory of this man was barely a fleeting image of him with a microphone. Magnus hadn’t remembered if he liked his voice, or the songs. Yet when he speaks, Magnus’ eyes widen, and he remains unblinking for a long moment. Now that has him by surprise. He considers saying something, then thinks better of it and swallows the comment down, but his knees remain as they are. Perhaps even somewhat more rigid.

“Guess you must be good, then,” Magnus smiles. It should be an easy enough topic to spend the next half hour together. Easily enough, he takes the hand, too, but then there comes another bullet in shape of words. 

“I, uh…Sure.” In spite of himself Magnus shifts, then waves a hand as the go-ahead. He isn’t going to do the same, in fact, he never does, and with, so he imagines, good reason. 

Aleki had a distant voice that was for sure, even when he sang his New Zealand accent stuck out, he loved it, showing where he was from and his heritage, it was why he also had his tattoos. “ I love to sing, I think more or less that’s the heart of it, what makes a man good,” Aleki added, with his own smile.  With a nod, Aleki unwrapped the towel, letting it fall to either side of him, it stood up a bit to smooth it out before sitting back down, naked now, he spread out a bit, but couldn’t much in the sauna. “ Do you sing at all?”

[alekimala-a]

“hey,” he replied when the man addressed him by name. he was pretty sure it was aleki, but a part of him was hoping it would just be a case of mistaken identity. some guy that looked just like his ex would under that mask. “yeah, it’s me. sorry,” he said with a bit of a sassy tone to his last word. the last thing he cared about at the time, quite frankly, was making him uncomfortable. it was a little petty, but he didn’t mind. 

he stepped outside with him when he suggested it, though he walked ahead of him slightly. only a fool would get left behind, right? he sat at the steps outside by the main entrance, and he took his mask off, setting it aside. “you know. i am mad at you for making a fool of me. i’d be lying if i said i weren’t. but you did me a favor leaving me then. if it was so easy to leave just like that when you did, you would’ve done it in time. so thank you for not letting me waste another minute on a man that would leave me.” he shrugged. he wanted to know why, but he refused to ask and have it be perceived as being vulnerable. 

Aleki was quick to follow the other, letting him take the lead so Aleki can catch a breath and think about this, he didn’t plan on having his conversation, not tonight, not for a long time. Though at some point he knew he would have to talk to Stefano that they would meet again and Aleki would have to explain himself. Taking off his own mask, he sat beside Stefano on the steps, his legs stretched out before him, he looked at the other bathed in the moonlight.  “ You’re wrong Stef...If I would have stayed...I wouldn’t have left...I was afraid of you leaving me, so I beat you to the chase,” Aleki admitted. Aleki had told Stefano of his past, his father and how he was kicked out of his home, his life of many heartbreaks and he didn’t want his fiance to be one too. He wanted to touch the other, he missed that so much, but he knew he shouldn’t, “ I wasn’t ready...I got scared and I was just so afraid,” Looking at the other, tears started to form again, “ I am so sorry Stefano...for hurting you.”

[alekimala-a]

Sauna in a warm environment kills the purpose of it, Magnus imagines. His favorite part of it all is in the dead of winter, the kind when you’re frozen to your core after a long evening walk. Then, thawing in a sauna, slowly, among sips of beer, and possibly with a pretty foot of someone in his lap. 

Right after, a wild dip in the freezing sea, running out pink and butt-naked. Laughing. Frantically finding a towel. 

Yeah, that’s the point of sauna, not walking from heat of the sun into a different kind of warmth. But here he is, with just a towel around his waist, barefoot, pensive. 

He’s leaning against the wooden boards, lazily, realizing his knees are perhaps a little too far apart when a stranger walks in. Magnus begrudgingly pushes them together, but remains lounging, as he is. 

Just a brief smile goes the man’s way. Then he averts his eyes, and when a recognition dawns on him, he finally speaks. “I’ve seen you somewhere before…” A pensive pursing of mouth. “Mmm… You sing, yeah?”

Aleki always used the saunas after his work outs, ever since Oliver recommended them to him. Today was like no other day, since he tried to work out at least once a day, and after an intense strength day, Aleki shed the gym clothes in his locker, wrapped a towel around his waist and moved to the sauna. Walking into the wooden box, he noticed the other male steaming up in the small room and a small greeting smile moved over his lips, nodding softly as he moved into the room and sat down, noticing the other moving his legs, “ You can spread out, I don’t mind,” Aleki admitted. But hearing the other speak he nodded, chuckling, “ Yeah, I’m a lounge singer down at the Grotto, sing other places too around the island, but thanks for noticing...I’m Aleki,” He admitted, leaning in to shake the other’s hand, “ Do you mind if I lose the towel, I tend to enjoy the sauna more...with less on.”

[alekimala-a]

a masquerade party of this sort didn’t seem exactly stefano’s type, but he’d been hearing a lot about it, and curiosity got the best of him. he was in riviera to have a good time, after all, and to meet new people. he didn’t really put too much effort into his outfit—just picked out the first mask he liked and went with that. he was new in town, so it’s not like too many people would know and recognize him.

a few drinks in, a little sweaty from being in the crowded dancefloor, he spotted a familiar figure. mask and all, he could tell exactly who it was underneath the costume, even from a distance. stef made his way to him, leaning on the bar as he addressed him. “well well well. of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world…” 

aleki had rejected him and ran from him, and although the wound was still fresh and present, stefano wouldn’t let him see he’d hurt him. a terrible approach, really, to pretend he didn’t care about it or him, but feelings and personal relations were not stef’s forté.

Aleki was a partier at heart, when he was asked to play some music for this masquerade party, he was more than happy to do so. He strummed on his guitar, singing his heart out to the patrons, in his own cool mask. He didn’t have to play all night, half would be his playing and the other will be a pianist for the slower songs. Wrapping up, Aleki moved over to the bar to get his drink on and the last thing he thought he would get was a reunion.  He knew who it was under that mask, it was very easy to tell if you knew the person and Aleki very much knew, ‘ Stefano,” His words very much told his unbelief in the man that he saw before him. He didn’t know how to feel, he loved Stefano, he truly did, but he had to get away, he was scared of what would happen if they did get married, if they went through with it and if Stefano left him, he would be in so much pain...now thinking on it, he wondered how much pain Aleki caused him, “ Stef...I...shit, it’s really you,” He had tears in his eyes looking at the other, “ Should...Let’s go outside, yeah,” He had to talk to the other, clear this air if Stefano was actually here.

[alekimala-a]

Matt relaxed a little when Aleki said he knew both Nevada and Oliver. “Ah… It seems we run in the same circles, then, Aleki. Sorry if I seemed a little guarded. I’m not used to people just randomly coming up to me like that out here. It’s been like… two weeks. So I immediately wonder if it’s someone I knew from out there, or like… a fan watching everything I do or something,” he said, chuckling quietly. “I am Matt, though,” he said, walking up to Aleki and holding his hand out for the other.

“I’m not an incredibly social person out here, so you’ll have to excuse my shit manners. Just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say you’re ‘on and off’ bandmates with Nevada. Did you two break up the band or something?” he asked curiously, assuming there was some sort of band in the first place.

A smile moved over Aleki’s lips, seeing the other man relax a bit, he was sure there were men on his island that was very to themselves and reserved, maybe not wanting to be outed or something out of the like, but on an island like this, all secrets are safe. “ You’re fine man, it’s good to be guarded, just letting everything out can be dangerous. Fan of what exactly,” He asked, not really watching much NFL, only playing football in high school, “ Sorry, I just don’t recognize you from....TV I’m guessing?” Taking the other’s hand, he gave a firm handshake,” Aleki Mala,” He greeted with his full name, it showcasing his Kiwi accent. “ I love some shit manners, it’s more real that the fake ones people put on here,” Aleki admitted, “ Oh no, we both play at the Grotto, hired by the island, every now and then we play together, though mostly we take turns to get paid,” He admitted. 

[alekimala-a]

Nevada snorted as Aleki serenaded him, shaking his head and leaning back into his seat. “So, what have you been up to lately?” He questioned curiously. It didn’t take long before the waiter brought over their food, straightening as he sat forward and plucked a fry off the plate. He scrunched his nose at it burned his finger before popping it into his mouth. “Anyone special caught your eye?” He asked. Nevada was going through is own, feeling things out with Matt and Oliver but there was also, Aki. It only confused the man even more, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it at all.

“ Lately? Not much, getting settled into my home, building, painting, decorating it to make it mine, you know?’ Aleki admitted, smiling softly, “ Dates here and there, customers that want to take me home, but I’m sure you get plenty of that yourself,” Aleki laughed. Once the meals came, Aleki was about to dig in when he saw the other burn himself, his eyebrow furrowed in a ‘you okay?’ before carefully getting into his own meal. “ Cade is a lovely man..just I know he’s dealing with a lot right now so it probably wouldn’t be possible, you know,” Aleki admitted,” Other than him, there isn’t another man that I would see myself dating like that...mostly hook ups honestly...what about you?”

[alekimala-a]

Oliver nodded, shaking his head with a small shrug, “I get it and yeah, I mean, I am not real clear on it, I just know that my loyalty is to Matt. End of the day. And Nevada at this point, if I am totally honest. So I’d be happy to get drinks with you, just can’t promise anything will come with it. I have to warn you though, my first date with Matt, I shot him in the dick.” 

He smirked as he watched the other, naked once more, which didn’t really affect him anymore. He was quickly changed himself. Smiling brightly, he walked by and touched Aleki’s shoulder as he passed him, “And if things were to go that route, we’d probably stop working out together period. Cause I just imagine that you and Matt would be in the same boat when it came to keeping hands to yourself during a workout. Have a good day.” He said and turned to leave. 

“ Well I’ll wear a metal cup or something...though you’ll have to tell me this story when we get our drinks,” Aleki offered with a chuckle. He couldn’t help but look over Oliver once more when he was naked, and finishing getting dressed himself, he chuckled again at Oliver’s recommendation for them working out, “ I guess that’s true, you have a good day too Oliver,” He smirked, watching him go.  Sure, there would be work into their relationship, but that was true with all relationship, regardless of where it went, he was looking at a good friend either way.  END

[alekimala-a]

Cade hadn’t driven in a while, hell his car was stowed at the side of the house and he only used it when he needed too. Half his time was spent in his villa, Casey’s place or walking down to the The Pearl or beach. So this was a refreshing change of pace for him, though his mind did drift to Casey. The two of them had plans tonight, the ones they had every year. He felt this year was different though, they had done things together, they had changed at least in Cade’s mind and he was interested to see where things were going today. 

“I am headed to Connor’s place at noon, so you’ve got like a good few hours before I have other plans.” He shrugged, “Though at some point, I do need to shower and relax.” He said as he reached over, rolling the window down and just letting the ocean air blow over his face as they drove together, “Also, I am glad that I am Cassanova. Much worse historical figures you could compare me too.”

Cade looked beautiful in this moment, the beach air moving over them as they drove down the mountain sides of the island, “ Connor huh? Haven’t met him yet but I’m sure any man going on a date with you is a cool guy,” Teasing of course. The beach wasn’t that far as the Island wasn’t that big, sure way to big for Aleki to ever afford, but it wasn’t like Hawaii. Before they knew it, they were at the beach, and Aleki moved to unpack the car, carrying the picnic basket down to the sandy shores. Putting the basket down to spread out the blanket, Aleki put his stuff onto the four corners of the blanket so it wouldn’t fly away. Quickly, he got his shoes off, sat onto the blanket and pulled some white wine and glasses, “ A tad early to drink, but what the hell,” He joked. Pouring the glasses, he handed one out to Cade, motioning him to sit,” The sun will be up any minute.”

[alekimala-a]

When the other began to kiss his neck, his shoulder, grabbing at his ass. Cade pulled back some, “Slow down turbo.” He chuckled to himself, “I am trying this new thing where I am not just jumping into a makeout session. I asked for a good morning kiss, not a grope down.” He winked, “Those come later.” He grabbed his coffee lid, placing it on and moving over to bend down, kissing the top of Bentley’s head before he walked out of his villa. 

He saw the car, surprised the other had chosen a place so far away, it was only a fifteen minute walk to the main beach, so obviously Aleki had made plans. This suddenly felt very datelike, which it was Valentine’s Day so maybe Cade should have assumed that aspect was coming here, he followed Aleki to the car and smiled as he climbed in the passenger side, “Alright, where we headed?” He said, closing the door and making sure he was safely fastened. 

‘ I didn’t grope anything, I smacked your ass, there is no connection there,” Aleki pointed out. He liked it that they didn’t rush into sex, or even anything close to it, especially when only a few days ago they were naked, Cade’s crotch very much pressed against Aleki and Aleki’s against Cade at times, it was surprising.  Starting the car up, Aleki took off,” I feel like the main beaches would be crowded today, at least the ones in walking distance, place I want to really see the sunrise, so we’re going to the east most beach,” Which wasn’t in walking distance, thus usually less busy. As Aleki drove, he held his hand out in the center console, for Cade to hold his hand, “ When do you need to get back home and get ready for your next date, Mr.Casanova?” 

[alekimala-a]

Oliver shook his head and kept his towel on now, giving him a small shrug, “I would say the point of a date is to woo someone with the intention of starting something either sexual or romantic. Not the same as friends hanging out.” He said with a nod, “We can get drinks, but I mean, I just met you. I don’t know if I would want a date. Sorry. Just how I feel.” 

He rubbed the back of his head and nodded again, thinking it over, “But, drinks could be okay. But, just know, I do not date clients. So if we get to know each other and decide to go on a date in the future, I won’t be training you anymore. Period. But, I will think it over. I’ll give you an answer later, give me some time to think about what you’re saying…cause this feels very out of the blue.” 

Aleki guessed that was right in a way, dates were always in a gray area, to him at least, but it was pointless to argue, if not hurting his changes at the friend date. “ You’re fine man, we can get drinks, it’s no problem at all to me,” Moving over to his locker, he pulled his bag out and put it on the bench, tightening his towel just a bit more as he kept talking to Oliver.  “ If it went down that path, would you want to work out together, not you training me, just working out together, because I would hate to lose a good partner like you,” Aleki admitted, it was great work out after all.” But don’t worry about it, I just... I feel that you were in a position that allowed me to ask, and like...why wouldn’t I ask, you seem like a sweet guy, which I would love to get to know more about you of course, and you’re attractive,” He didn’t say it like he was flirt, more like it was a fact, “ We can get drinks later though, I’m sure you want to get home to shower with your man,” He teased, pulling his towel off and getting dressed.

[alekimala-a]

Matt surfed back to the shore after catching a huge wave and decided to take a little breather before heading back in. He was wiping some water from his face when someone swam out of the beach and walked up to where he was. “Morning,” Matt greeted back, watching the man curiously. He glanced around to see if anyone else was coming, but realized it was just the ginger man coming his way.

Aleki quickly introduced himself, and Matt wasn’t sure what to think. Was this guy watching him and Oliver? Matt wasn’t exactly an easily trusting person, so he eyed the man cautiously. “Aleki, hm? I think I’ve seen you around, but I can’t be too sure. You live on the Mermaid’s Walk, I take it?” he asked, not introducing himself just yet.

Aleki could see his cautious eyes, he was use to people looking at him that way on the streets, or all together ignoring him, which was usually the more often approach, given his height and size. Aleki wonder what now made him be worthy of cautious, he’s cleaned up well since his time of the streets,” Yeah, Aleki,” He answer with a light chuckle, which came off a bit nervous.  “ I work for the Grotto mostly, but I play music around, I saw you two at the Ball, with Nevada, my bandmate...well off and on bandmate...Oliver is my trainer at the gym,” He clarified, hoping that would stop the cautious eyes. “ I do, two doors down from Oliver,” He motioned to his home, which was the same place that he waved to Matt earlier of course.

[alekimala-a]

Cade was grinning as the other approached him, “It is the day of corporate bullshit and has nothing to do with love. It’s the world’s most pointless holiday.” He said through his laugh as Aleki wrapped his arm around his waist and kissed him hard on the lips. He slid his arms up and returned it, pulling Aleki down against him, just lingering in the kiss for a moment, “And Bentley is the best part of me, so if you’re focusing on me, you gotta love the doggo. Just saying. If you wanna be my lover, ya gotta treat my puppers with respect.” 

Hearing and smelling the coffee coming out behind him on the counter Cade let out the most satisfied sigh, “I swear, the world would implode without coffee.” He whispered, before pulling out of Aleki’s grip to go grab his creamer from the fridge, “You want a cup or you just want to get going?” He asked as he finished mixing the creamer into his coffee.

The kiss deepen just a bit and Aleki enjoyed it, holding Cade close again, his lips against the other, but a chuckle left his lips at the other calling him out.“ Hey, I respect Bentley completely,” Aleki retorted, faking being offended. “ I just want the day to be about us and our picnic, and it would be hard to do that and keep an eye on Bentley...but you want to bring him, we can babe,” He admitted.  Leaning against the counter as Cade went to the fridge, he looked at his watch, twenty minutes, “ I’m good, we should get going for sure though,” Aleki admitted. Walking up behind Cade, his arms wrapped around the male, pressing against him as he kissed his neck and shoulder, “ I’m looking forward to this,” With a playful smack on the ass, Aleki pulled way, giving Bentley one last scratch before heading to the car.

[alekimala-a]

Oliver paused in his towel as Aleki caught up to him. He watched the taller man approach him, obviously nervous on some level as he asked, saying he was going to take his shot. Oliver felt he knew what was coming, swallowing he nodded, “I mean, shooting your shot with an essentially taken man is balls for out the gate. So I gotta commend you on that..” He said with a smirk. 

Shaking his head he added on, “Listen, we don’t know each other that well, so if you want to grab drinks as friends, I am very open to that, I am happy to get to know you, but if you’re asking me on a date, I’ll have to decline for the moment. The only reason Matt even let me explore things with Nevada was established feelings and seeing if it fit. We…we just aren’t in that same place, ya know?”

“ I mean you said you were allowed to date,” Aleki clarified,” I wouldn’t ask out a cuffed man that wasn’t in a relationship willingly for dates outside it.” Talking about it was just complex and confusing at times, trying to figure out what exactly were the lines and limits of their relationship compared to others.  “ I would say that’s the point of dates, to get to know each other...but we can for sure go grab some drinks as friends, I wouldn’t mind that,’ Yes, he was asking him on a date, but if Oliver wanted them to go as friends, that was perfectly fine.

[alekimala-a]

Making his way upstairs, he barely heard Aleki tell him that they only had thirty minutes. Too early. Dammit. He didn’t bother taking a shower, but stopped by his bathroom to do his hair quickly. Cleaning it up, getting it into a sort of purposefully messy look that worked for Cade. He brushed his teeth, just wanting to at least have no morning breath. Then he got dressed. He wore a pair of jeans, no underwear cause he didn’t feel like it and a black t-shirt. Simple enough, but he double checked himself in the mirror before he grabbed his shoes. Really excited to be able to pop them on and not worry about a boot anymore. He finished getting dressed and walked downstairs.

He grabbed a travel mug from his cupboard and was waiting on the Keurig to brew up his coffee, leaning on the counter when Bentley and Aleki came back in, “You want to bring Bentley or just us? I have literally no idea what you have planned, early ass morning fucker.” He chuckled with a smirk over at the taller man, Aleki looked way to awake to Cade, “Do I at least get a good morning kiss?”

Calling Bentley to come, Aleki walked in just in time to see Cade, a smile moving over his lips, even in just the simple pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, Cade was handsome as ever. “ I want to focus on you for the time we have together today, so no Bentley, sorry bud,” He reached down and rubbed the dog’s head. He of course wished he had more time with Cade, but he guessed this would be a normal thing for Aleki if he dated someone that dated other people, sharing.  “ It’s going to be you and I, on one of the more secluded beaches, a picnic, wine, breakfast,” He admitted, walking towards the other, “ It’s the day of love, why would you not get a good morning kiss,” With that, Aleki’s hands slipped around Cade’s waist, pressing him against the counter as he bent down, his lips finding Cade’s as he arms lifted Cade a bit more into his height. He found himself missing those lips in the time between the bed and now.

[alekimala-a]

Matt was out at the beach, catching the perfect waves and simply clearing his mind. When he was out in the water, it was just him and the ocean, and coming to terms with the existential fact that the sea could claim him at any moment, and it was by the grace of luck that he was still alive today. He wasn’t looking out towards the beach, or anywhere in particular, only paying attention to his feet and the balance of his weight on the board. Life had been taking quite a shift from what the norm had been for him lately, and he was both coming to terms with it, but also grateful.

He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t notice anyone waving at him from the Mermaid’s walk right away. He rode out the wave back towards the beach, then got ready to head back into the water. He ran his fingers through his wet mop of sandy blonde hair, and happened to glance up and see someone waving at him. At first, he thought the man must’ve been waving to someone else. Matt didn’t really know anyone aside from Oliver and the Hall brothers at the Mermaid’s Walk that he was aware of, and the man in the distance was certainly neither of them, so Matt ignored it, paddling forward on his surfboard again to catch the next wave.

Maybe Matt didn’t know him, he was fairly new and while Aleki had seen Matt with Nevada, Matt probably hadn’t seen Aleki with Nevada, so he probably didn’t even know his name, nor acknowledge his existence as it looked like. With a chuckle, Aleki went inside, changing into some shorts that would be better for the water, the quickest way to Matt wouldn’t be down the pier and down the beach, but to get into the water from his ladder at home and swim over.  Shedding his shirt, Aleki climbed down into the water and swam down to where Matt was, exiting the water as he got closer, “ Morning,” Aleki greeted, pushing his curly ginger/brown locks out of his eyes as he looked at the man his height, a rare sight, “ Matt, ya? I’m Aleki, I’m like, the second door neighbor to Oliver, you’re boyfriend ya?” He smiled softly, “ I’ve seen you around, surfing, with him and such, seemed I should introduce myself, you seem like a cool gent.”