#float your boat

“What do you want from me?” Marshall finally asks irritated down to every single bone.

“What’s your beef with me?” Colson asks and smirks.

~~~~~

Everyday this same freaking routine. They’ve got nothing in common yet this one annoying neighbor seems to believe they need to have a tea party or some shit. Every. single. morning. 

Small talks aren’t Marshall’s thing but this Colson guy has made it a point to annoy him with his unwanted ogling of Marshall’s body. Instead of civil talk all they do is verbally fight each other. Flirtation veiled in snarky comments, that’s Colson’s idea of being an excellent neighbor. 

That guy even got a dilapidated car siting in front of his house. Something about art and aesthetic appeal or some equally boring crap. Marshall’s pretty sure that the car’s there only because Colson knows how much it irritates him to see stuff like that. Also, it gives Colson the perfect view of Marshall’s porch and him working on his car.

~~~~~~~~

“ Hey  Marshall, is there anything you want me to do?” Colson asks cheekily knowing full well what would be the answer. 

 “Staying where you are is the only way forward.” Marshall grits out as he searches for the cleaning oil in his tool box.

“Yeah, yeah whatever. Do you know how much I enjoy watching you do all this, everyday, with my own eyes?”

The pin-drop silence from the other side is his only answer but Colson knows Marshall’s listening so he continues.

 “You see, the thing with recorded videos is that, they just don’t have that fire. That thorny attitude and of course, those priceless bitter words of yours.” 

 Marshall turn his head so fast he almost gives himself a whiplash.

“You did WHAT?” Marshall practically shouts while looking everywhere, frantically trying to find out the hidden cameras. 

That little shit is so dead.

“Man, I’m so fucking horny and... and angry right now, I’d even risk the cops just so I could smash your face in.” Colson announces rather loudly.

That’s it. Somebody’s going to prison tonight.

As Marshall decides to confronts the guy and finally talk some sense into him, preferably with his fists, Colson decides to go for the kill.

“Hey. listen to me asshole, I’ve had enough.” Colson starts while shooting daggers at him. 

Marshall looks on confused. Good.

“Tonight, we’re going on a date, alright. That’s final. No backsies. We’ll even take that car of yours that you love so much” Colson informs him before abruptly standing up and retreating back to his own house, shaking his head all the way, laughing quietly.

“What the.. It ain’t happening, Colson.” Marshalls yells at his neighbor’s retreating back.

“Lonely life's a crying road Shady name, shady night Hide the sunlight in your eyes Only for the hiding Romeo” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colson, the new kid in the neighborhood, unknowingly ended up on the local gang member Marshall’s radar.

Looking back now, Colson isn’t sure if he was saved that night, in the alley way or if that was the moment he was damned.

Maybe a little bit of both.

~~~~~

The prickling awareness of being watched makes Marshall look towards the other side of the fence. In the fading sunlight, he notices the blond boy. Sitting on a motorcycle, wearing a designer jacket with his fluffy hair, defined jaw. Despite the long hair, it seemed his eyes are fixed on Marshall in a hooded gaze that settled like a hot brand on Marshall’s skin.

It was like something was being communicated; unlike the last time, the boy seemed unnerved. 

~~~~~~~

After shifting to this city, when he’d first started working at the club, his suburban-raised sensibilities had been shocked by how common it was for customers to proposition the staff, and even more so, for them to accept. 

Colson has already learned from his co-worker’s gossip that there are many gangs in the city. Most of them are contract killers, dealers or pimps. Each one of them have their own dens or places around the city, marked with their insignia. 

He still remembers the day he got jumped by one of the gangs. 

~~~~~~

Usually the club is always filled with people from various walks of life. Gang members usually comes late in the night to either do their deals or break some. That was the second week of Colson’s working in this club when the incident took place. Normally he makes sure to stay away from all the troubles and leave as soon as his shift ends. However, that day the club had some unwelcome visitors, some highly notorious  mob members from the other side of the state.

Whole day they followed Colson’s every movement. The new kid. A beautiful prey. Colson tried his best to stay out of their way, no way in hell he’s going to confront them to give them a taste of his fists. When his shift finally ended Colson was more than ready to go back home and sleep for a week. 

Colson took his jacket from the back room, said his goodbyes and walked towards the exit. Unbeknownst to him, those mafia members also decided to leave with the single intent to catch the prey. 

Colson had only taken a few steps when they located him. 

Without wasting a second, they shoved Colson hard towards the dark alley way. Laughing at him as two mob members grabbed his hands tightly while their leader stepped in front of Colson, took a hold of his jaw in a painful grip and licked a broad stripe of Colson’s left cheek. 

Colson was terrified but mostly, he was disgusted. However, he made sure to not show any of  such emotions. Displaying any type of vulnerability in situations like this, will only rile them up more. As those guys kept sneering at him, making lewd remarks about his features, his body; their bald leader’s other hand started to wander around his body. However, before he could grab a hold of Colson’s ass, that repulsive mob boss suddenly dropped to ground and started convulsing terribly. 

At first Colson was too surprised to understand what the hell exactly happened, then he looked down, chills ran down his spine. To his absolute horror, he realized he was standing in a pool of blood. So much blood. Blood that was rapidly coloring the whole ground in crimson color. Distantly Colson’s brain told him that his hands are free now of those deathly grips and that the rest of the mafia guys are nowhere to be found but his whole body was frozen in shock. 

Colson couldn’t keep on looking at the sheer horrific scenario in front of him anymore so he teared his eyes away from the dead leader’s unmoving body and looked up. 

~~~~

Three guys. Two were standing at the entrance of the alley while the other one was standing only a few feet away from him. In the dim over light, Colson saw the other guy’s unblinking gaze, looking at him with a blank face and piercing eyes. Then within a blink, that man was in front of him, standing with him in the bloodied ground. Instinctively, Colson tried to take a step back but the stranger swiftly took a hold of his left hand. 

“Please, not again”, Colson thought anxiously.

While holding Colson’s hand, the stranger looked back at his companions and slowly nodded his head towards Colson. One of them walked up to this mysterious man and handed him what looked like a bandana and then went back to his previous place. As Colson frowned and wondered if this is how he’ll be straggled to death, the stranger turned back to him and without uttering a single a word, began to tie the bandana around Colson’s wrist. 

Colson realized he must be mistaken for a hooker or something so he cleared his throat and looked at the other man’s face and said in a low voice, “I don’t do that, that’s not my job”. 

Hearing his voice, the leather clad stranger looked up after making sure, the bandana was properly tied to Colson’s wrist. The guy then smirked, top lip curling. “I’m not making an offer”.  

Colson ran the sentence back in his head, frowned. “What?”

“Welcome to the neighborhood”, the stranger said in low voice that was only meant for him to hear, before turning back, and leaving the place with those other guys.

As  Colson was finally left alone in the dark alley with a cooling dead body at his feet, all of his senses and the horrible reality of the past half an hour came rushing back at the forefront of his mind. Colson couldn’t believe his luck and how close he had come to be murdered tonight. 

Dawn was finally approaching. Home, he can finally go home. 

Colson carefully stepped around the body, trying his best not to look at it and began to slowly walk towards his house. No more forgetting motorcycle at garage. Tonight’s experience will serve as a lifetime reminder to never leave the club without his bike. Whoever that stranger was, Colson hopes he gets to thank the person one day. 

In the early morning glow, Colson lifted his left hand to look at his watch; instead he found the bandana still tied around his wrist, protectively. Looking closely, Colson realized that, this black piece of cloth had some bold letters printed on it in white ink. 

Colson steps came to a halt. 

Standing in the middle of the empty road, he kept staring at the lettering and after who knows how long, he finally mouthed the word, sealing the deal. 

~~~~~~

“So there you are.” 

Kells swallowed hard and looked up to see Em standing over him.

“What do you want me to do with it?” Kells asked looking at the bat as Em’s offered it to him.

“You tell me.“  Em kept his voice low and calm. 

“This better not be a joke,” he whispered.

“It isn’t.” Em shook his head, “I wouldn’t.”

“Okay” Kells said and gestured to other to help him get up from the ground.

“If we go – we go together, okay?” Em said and offered him his other hand.

“If I had a gun, I'd shoot a hole into the sun, and love would burn this city down for you.

...‘Cus you're the only God that I will ever need, I'm holding on and waiting for the moment to find me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s a modern day fairytale, where a mob prince falls for a commoner. They rarely talked, simple queries about the horses are all the words they’ve ever exchanged whenever they meet each other. Circumstances and positions didn’t allow them to be more than that. Yet they never fail to notice each other’s presence. Their individual professions demand keen observation and they do observe... everyone and everything around each other. 

The prince leads a luxurious yet risky life, he can have anyone at anytime, money is never the issue neither the pleasure. He’s got many admirers, many suitors who are more than happy to throw themselves at him but the prince is well aware about their ultimate goal and it sure as hell not love.

Power rules in this profession. Love has no place in this world, showing emotions is the ultimate suicide note. Colson knows it all, he’s been taught well. The members of his “kingdom” can vouch for that. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

It took a second to know the name, an hour to know his past and only a day to shift him to his mansion to look after his horses. The prince has appointed staffs for his commoner. No... not ‘his’ commoner, he didn’t buy him. He would be more than happy to buy him something but this commoner hardly ever makes eye contact. The guy mostly answers in grunts and shrugs, actions that are enough to get anyone killed within a moment. The prince, however, likes him that way.

Colson always tries to give Em space but every morning he mounts his favorite horse and gallops towards east side of his mansion where he knows Em will be taking care of his other horses. Em speaks less but always make sure to answer each and every query and at least make some eye contact with Colson. It’s their routine. Sometimes they both ride towards the nearest lake and exchange few more words. Those moments are Colson’s favorite, it’s the only time he sees Em smile. In those moments it almost feels like they’re two friends and not a prince and a commoner. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’ll leave on new year. Need to think about my mission, my future,” Em informs Colson one day while brushing down the horse’s coat.

“But why?” Colson asks. “You’ve got everything here. What else do you need?” Colson rakes his brain while trying his best to keep his voice devoid of tremor. 

“You won’t understand”, Em tells him in a firm voice as he looks towards the mansion.

The prince has money, he’s got people who’d fulfil his every command, he can provide Em with everything, there’s nothing he cannot do. Colson looks down at his own clothes and tries to remember what day it is. Did he do something or somethin wrong?

“Come on, there’s nothing I... Colson begins as he gracefully dismounts from his horse. 

 “A family. Someone to lo... someone who’d give a damn about me like I do for these horses”. Em says as he pats his horse and starts waking toward the stable.

~~~~~~~~~~

 Colson knows that with Em, he still haven’t made any progress in the talking department or any another department for that matter. In fact, Colson’s quite surprised at his own level of patience for the last few months. He would love to blame anyone and everyone for this subtle change in him but deep down he knows the truth. Late in the night, when he lays awake and alone in his bed, staring at the ceiling for hours till the morning birds starts singing outside, in his garden, Colson can admit, at least to himself that it’s hope.

It’s scares him, it keeps him awake at night. This profession, this life has no place for hope, no real happiness. Showing such weakness will be equivalent to signing his own death contract but the prince is stubborn too. He’s no damsel in distress and neither is Em. He just wants to feel, he wants to be in love. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Em’s not a stable boy, cowboy or a mere staff for the prince. He’s... Colson’s not sure what he is, but in his mind, it’s just Em and that’s enough. It was enough until now because as much as he hates to admit it, he likes festivals, always tries to spend these few weeks away from all the bloodbath and legal issues. His kingdom is well aware of his confidence and lack of patience, however when it comes to Em, everything always turns upside down, in a good way.

The prince have got plans. This year, he plans to stay at his mansion for the first time in a long time. Maybe convince his members to take a week off or two, even reduce the staff members, decorate the entire mansion and invite Em for a grand dinner. He hopes Em comes because a lot of things depends on this single visit. Colson hasn’t bought a gift for him, the prince knows Em hates his reckless lifestyle and buying expensive gifts would be seen as throwing money at him, insulting him in the worst way possible. Instead of gifts, Colson has a question that he would love to ask Em. He trusts Em with his life, he just hopes he receives the best gift in this world when the guy finally answers.

~~~~~~ 

It’s a modern day fairytale, where a mob prince falls for a commoner. Except, he’s no commoner. He’s a prince of another kingdom of underworld, who’ve been able keep their entire business a secret all these years. And this prince had some plans of his own. The plan was to enter Colson’s kingdom, to earn his trust while showing no trust in him, plan to make him fall in love with his indifference and subtle queries, plan to make him suffer but failing miserably, plan to not fall in love but falling hopelessly. 

Thinking 'bout you She's asleep, you're texting me around two Crying face emoji, you say, "This is me without you" We're sneaking out to meet at cheap hotel rooms or Sex in the car, then I'll text you tomorrow Do I question it? Nah, no objection at all 'Cause both of us are still involved...

“You know you keep on bringin out the best in me

And I need you now even more than the air I breath

You can make me laugh when I wanna cry

This will last forever I just know, I know”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting outside in the cold, staring at the colorful fishes swimming in the little koi pond, Colson attempts to clear his mind. Today’s been a busy day, in fact this whole year has felt like a  strong tornado. Too many contracts, so many interviews, unavoidable responsibilities, such things are slowly but surely taking a toll on his mind, body and soul. It’s tiring, exhausting but he knows, he has to keep on pushing further. He knows there’s no rest and that’s exactly what he’s signed for. Fame has a price, but it seems there’s no end of this payment.

These days, he just wishes he could steal a little moment, just for himself. A few seconds to fill his lungs with fresh air, maybe a minute to actually admire the twinkling stars rarely visible in the city skies

.

Watching those fishes swimming so freely suddenly makes him wonder, when will he’d get the chance to be finally free? Doing hardcore drugs, partying, throwing caution to the wind, living a reckless life could only give so much happiness before reality rears its ugly head and slams one back to the cruel world. 

A bitter smile appears on his face, he shakes his head slowly. How tragic it is truly to see drugs and casual reliefs being accessible so freely in this world but not real human emotions. It’s a glass house in which he resides, an artificial world of his own making.

 Except...now.

That old glass house is steadily changing, he can feel it, and if luck favors, one day maybe sooner than he expects, it will be finally his home. Devoid of all the remaining shards and unwanted memories. Truly free. The road to recovery is his current mission and love, is his unlimited fuel.

~~~~~~~~

Marshall keeps on watching him from inside. The inside of the house is warm but the view of Colson sitting outside in the cold, alone at night, makes his entire body shiver involuntarily. Through the mansion’s glass window the view is a little distorted but that doesn’t matter. He knows his boy and right now, he can’t let Colson get lost in his own thoughts. 

He knows the struggle. He’s lived it but one can’t fault Em for loving him, a bit too much. He’s committed to that mission. All he wants to do now, is make it official.

Em slowly open the door, not really bothering to be extra quiet because he knows Colson will know, its him. Somehow, he’s got this uncanny ability to just know when it’s him. As, Marshall slowly approaches, he decides to maintain a small distance and yet stands closer to where’s his sweetheart is siting, lost in that beautiful head of his, filled to the brim with brilliant ideas, wild thoughts and some unwanted uncertainty. 

The days of feeling low and lonely are long over. Everyday is their day but tonight, Marshall plans to make it the happiest. Though his original plan was reserved for December 31st, midnight to be exact but it seems his heart has made the decision. More than that, he doesn’t want to make his boy wait on any longer. However, he tries to reserve the sappiness for later. He just hopes Colson is ready for this one cause he sure as hell is.  However, before all of that takes place, he plans to annoy him a little at first. 

After making several poor jokes  and some light teasing when his boy can’t even bother to look up at Em properly, Marshall decides it’s time. As Colson contemplates on whether he should just go back inside or just keep on ignoring his stupidly annoying lover; Marshall, without wasting a second gets down on his one knee and holds out his two folded palms towards his sweet, invincible princess. 

Marshall has prepared well. He’s quite proud of himself. The small, content smile hidden by the hoodie is the proof of that. Now’s time to make this blond boy smile. 

In both hands, there’s a ring. 

So whichever hand Colson chooses, in the end, both those rings are his... just like Marshall’s heart.

~~~~~~

“I can see the doubt in your eyes, You say there's no such thing as better things in life. Well, I must confess this is all too new for me, A whole new world, a whole new world to see.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During quarantine, distance does make the heart grow fonder. 

They won’t voice it but their eyes speak the unsaid.

They’ll simply play Pacman for hours over Facetime instead, because both are competitive.

They make bets, tell silly jokes all the while trying to beat each other’s scores.

Mostly, they just try their best to make the other smile.