The Musician

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?”

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?”

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?”

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.”

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.”

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.

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. 

“ 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?”

“ 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

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.”

‘ 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?” 

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.

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.

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.

“ 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.

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.

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.”