superfast, superfast, i come in last

[quatrains]

It's been weeks, but it feels like forever because He Ming's been trying for all this time to get his neighbor alone with him and it hasn't happened. Trying to distract him from mowing his lawn and flirting over the fence hasn't gotten him anywhere. Not even hanging out on his back porch and staring got much of a response.

Well, maybe the staring wasn't such a good plan. He ends up toning it down and ramping up the actual talking and interaction whenever he 'happens' to bump into the older alpha when he's trekking back and forth between his summer job at the coffee shop. And he definitely turns it up during the block party at the end of summer, wearing shorter shorts than his parents would probably approve of if they weren't on away a trip to see his grandparents. He eats barbecue, hangs out with his friends, and risks mixing vodka into punch. It's not like anyone is going to stop them when they're just having some fun and most people's parents are around.

The party is still going on strong when he stops to sit on a curb and take a breather. Throughout the night he's been keeping an eye on the alpha, and when he sees the man move away from the group he hops to his feet and trails after him.

Is he leaving already? He Ming picks up the pace to catch up just as the alpha turns a corner down the street towards their houses. "Hey!" he calls out. "Going home already?"

Comments

[mcmlxxx]

It's not even close to late when Malcolm finds an opportunity to excuse himself from the party. It's much earlier than he'd sworn to himself that he would stay, but his smile feels brittle and forced already. Listening to his neighbors go on and on about replacing their driveway frays his nerves and makes him regret the urge to be social.

Rum and coke still in hand, Malcolm finds himself slowing, then turning as a familiar voice rings out, calling to him.

"I only came for the burgers and coleslaw," he confesses, smiling a little and squinting. He Ming is a familiar face in a group of near strangers, especially lately. He sees the boy once, sometimes twice a day, and it's gone beyond Malcolm's typical hasty wave that he saves for his other neighbors. They're friendly enough for conversation now - or maybe it's that drinking rum and coke turned into drinking rum and half melted ice an hour ago, leaving him warm and a little chatty.

"You done too?" He squints a little more, then gestures down the road towards his house. "Your parents back in town yet? I'll walk you home."

It's not dark out, and the sky just starting to turn orange and pink with sunset, but he can't help but to offer. He'd promised to keep an eye on the boy, after all.

[quatrains]

It's fairly evident that Malcolm still isn't responding (or possibly even noticing) to He Ming's attempts at catching his attention. Since he's stopped, though, He Ming hurries up beside him while he can.

"Yeah, I was... going to head home." But Malcolm is also heading home, and He Ming is so aware of his closeness that he grabs onto the opportunity. The alcohol is helping too, making He Ming even more bubbly and willing to enter Malcolm's personal space as they continue down the street. "I don't really want to go home yet, though. My parents aren't back yet. Maybe we can hang out? Maybe I can try your hot tub?"

[mcmlxxx]

He can feel He Ming sway into his space every few steps. His presence is an itch at the back of Malcolm's neck and the inside of his throat, filling him again that strange knowing he gets every once in a while.

Malcolm isn't an idiot, and He Ming isn't quite as subtle as he'd like to be, but in the end it's more flattering than uncomfortable that his younger neighbor seems to like him. Even so, his steady stride falters at the questions, and when Malcolm steadies himself a second later his steps are shorter, slower.

"Sure," he says, sounding surprised. It's an automatic answer, mostly out of politeness. Malcolm takes a sip of his watery drink, a bemused sort of furrow in between his eyebrows as he looks He Ming over. "It takes a while to get used to an empty house. Doin' alright?"

[quatrains]

He Ming is still walking quickly to keep up with someone taller, and when Malcolm slows down he doesn't react soon enough to avoid nearly bumping into him. He laughs, mostly at himself, and meets Malcolm's eyes with a flush rising in his cheeks.

"I'm okay. Just a little lonely." They're still out on the street. Despite that He Ming is tempted to reach out and try to hold onto his arm. But—no. If they're going inside his house, that'll be a better time for him to make his move.

"But you live by yourself, right? Don't you get lonely?"

[mcmlxxx]

"No, no. I have fish. They're good company and I don't have to share the tv."

He Ming's blush, his smile, the expression on his face makes Malcolm look away, swallowing the urge to ask if the boy's been drinking. He starts digging around in the pocket of his jeans for his house key as they come up to the front porch, distracted and and a little clumsy. Malcolm doesn't realize he's doing it until they're already up the two stairs and at his front door, but his hand comes out to hover at the small of He Ming's back when they ascend, as if to steady any missteps.

He moves the hand away to unlock the door an instant later, then gestures He Ming in before him. "Come on in. Straight ahead, door to the patio is just through the kitchen." Malcolm shakes his plastic cup after closing the door behind them. "I'm going to freshen this up. Can I get you... Do you want something? Coke? Tea?"

[quatrains]

Fish? That's... cute. He Ming makes a vague noise of acknowledgment, abruptly too dizzy from the change in elevation as he ascends the stairs to say much more.

At least he doesn't fall. He steps through the entryway and stops, gazing back at Malcolm with the kind of rapt attention that comes from being tipsy and enamored at the same time.

"Sure, whatever you're drinking." He Ming heads for the back patio door. It's not really the weather to get into a hot tub, but He Ming starts undressing anyway, toeing off his slides and hanging his shirt over a railing. A glance back at the house tells him that Malcolm isn't back yet, so he hangs up his shorts and underwear too before slipping into the water to wait.

[mcmlxxx]

When Malcolm finally does come out onto the patio, he's shed his party clothes for a pair of faded swim trunks. There are two cups in his hands, and he makes a point to hand He Ming the weaker of the drinks, feeling a little odd to have splashed any rum into his soda at all.

But he's not a kill-joy, and it's harmless fun, completely supervised. Malcolm fiddles with a few dials, and the warm water starts bubbling seconds later. He hops in, not quite opposite of He Ming, but it's not a large hot tub - there's only a few feet between their knees, and as Malcolm stretches out with a pleased sounding sigh, the distance shrinks even more.

"So why did you want to skip out on the party early?" He looks over at He Ming, a little curious.

[quatrains]

He Ming hadn't brought his own swimwear since there was no pool available at the block party, and now that he's stripped down completely naked he's a little surprised that Malcolm isn't commenting on that at all.

Since he brought a drink, though, He Ming takes it and sips, watching Malcolm settle into the pool with him with great interest.

"I got bored." He tilts his legs towards him, bumping his knees against his legs beneath the water. "I think you're more interesting."