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“Are you still giggling?” Zee asked, as grumpily as he could ever manage to be with his boyfriend.
“I mean…it was pretty hilarious.”
“I should’ve known that girl wasn’t ‘desperately asking me where the bathroom is, because her butt’s about to explode.’ She wasn’t frantic or embarrassed at all, she was being coy and flirty.”
Nunew pouted cutely. “Which is why I had to translate her for you with a bit of…creative license.”
Holding Nunew’s hand as they walked down the busy street, Zee instinctively kept drawing the younger closer. He knew they were lucky P’Aof had okayed them taking a few hours of sight-seeing without bodyguards, but his trademark protectiveness of his boyfriend had Zee a bit on edge. New York was so far an amazing experience, but despite its busy-ness being similar to Bangkok, Zee was aware it was more dangerous.
“This city is so cool,” Nunew exclaimed, with a squeeze of his hand.
Zee smiled. “Yeah, I’m glad we came. But don’t be jealous, teerak. You know you’re the only one for me.”
“You know the same about me, Hia, and yet, how many guys have you tried to glare-murder so far this week for talking to me?”
“That’s different.”
“Different how?”
“Because it’s my job to protect you. I decided that pretty much the moment I first saw you.”
Nunew smiled fondly at him. “I can look after myself. All I need you to do is love me.”
“I can multi-task, don’t worry, baby.”
“Hmm. Ooh, there it is!”
The couple carefully made their way through the ever-oncoming flux of people down the sidewalk and ducked into a trendy-looking clothing store, stepping into a less-chaotic area containing racks and wall displays of high-quality athletic apparel. Zee grinned to see Nunew even more excited than he was, the boy all but dragging his lover to the wall of familiar-looking garb under the name Super Sun.
“Hia, look! It looks great!”
“It does,” Zee agreed, looking calm but feeling a surge of happy energy to see his very own clothing line being offered in a famous store in the most famous city in the world, so far from home in a country he’d never till now ever seen. “I kind of didn’t really believe it till now…”
Nunew grabbed him in a tight hug. “You should be proud. You’ve worked hard to get this far.”
“Thank you, baobei,” the elder murmured, the words moving him even more than the sight. “I hope the sizes were translated right…”
“One way to find out.”
Nunew proceeded to grab one of each garment in both Zee’s size (which he of course knew), and one in another, to compare. He then loaded the pile of clothes into Zee’s arms and nudged him toward the dressing rooms.
“You’re not coming in with me?”
“Don’t make that face, Hia. I want to check out the T-shirts, I’ll be right over there, and you won’t take long.”
“I told P’Aof I wouldn’t take my eyes off of you,” Zee argued. “And…”
“And you don’t trust the world in general when it comes to me. Hia, I’ll be fine. If I’m not, I’ll scream or something, you’ll hear me. But if I do, don’t come out just in your boxers or something. No one gets to see that but me.”
“Are you sure?”
Nunew sighed, gave him a look both exasperated and loving, somehow, and flounced off toward the wall opposite them. A bit reluctantly, Zee headed into the side of the dressing room area marked Male.
Nunew made a beeline to the selection of T-shirts with graphics and snarky phrases on them, thinking he’d pick up a Marvel one for Nat (his bestie had recently become obsessed with the movies) and wondering if he could use Zee’s lack of English to make him wear something like ‘Hands off, I’m taken.’ The young actor was so focused on using his third language to read the rack of garments that it took him a moment or two to realize someone had come to stand near him.
“Sorry, am I in your way?” Nunew said carefully, glancing up.
It was a tall Caucasian man with casually-tousled brown hair, noticeably blue eyes, and a reasonably handsome face. He smiled in a more-than-casual way that Nunew quickly mentally was grateful his boyfriend wasn’t here to see.
“Was it painful?”
Nunew blinked, running the three words through his brain several times over to make sure he was translating correctly. Had the stranger bumped into him without him noticing, and was apologizing?
“I don’t understand.”
“You know. When you fell from heaven.”
Oh my God. People actually use that line in real life?
As the boy continued to blink, the man, who seemed to be in his late 20s or early 30s, laughed in a friendly way.
“Sorry, I know that’s cheesy. I just always wanted to say that out loud.”
“No problem.”
Assuming the odd man’s business with him was finished, Nunew turned back to his previous task. After several beats, the stranger hadn’t moved or made any sign he was about to do so, and the actor turned back to look at him. He was still smiling, and now it definitely looked like a flirty one.
Ugh. Still, good thing Hia isn’t here.
“Can I help you?” Nunew asked politely, hoping he wasn’t accidentally being rude.
“Not from around here, are you?”
“No.”
“Hmm…China?”
Close. A for effort.
“Thailand.”
“Ooh, nice. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there.”
Relaxing slightly, Nunew nodded, dividing his attention now between the clothes and the stranger.
“A lot of it is, yeah.”
“I’m Matt. What’s your name?”
Heh heh heh, now you’ve asked for it…
“Chawarin Perdpiriyawong,” Nunew said rapidly, repressing a smile when Matt briefly looked a bit stunned and panicked.
“Uh, can you repeat that?”
Nunew rattled off his name again, just as quickly.
“That’s a mouthful. Do you, uh, maybe have a nickname?”
Lucky for you, yes. I guess I can tell you.
“I go by Nunew.”
Matt smiled even wider. “That’s adorable. It suits you.”
“…thanks.”
“You here on vacation?”
“Sort of.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
He must have answered pointedly, because the man held up his hands for a second in a surrendering gesture. “Hey, don’t worry, I’m a good guy. You’ve probably heard Americans are violent and we all have guns and stuff, but not me. I’m a good guy.”
“I know you don’t all have guns. You do all have reality shows, though, right? Please don’t break that illusion for me,” Nunew said dryly.
Matt laughed. “Your English is really good. Is it common to learn English in Thailand?”
“It’s common to learn English everywhere, isn’t it?”
“I guess so. So, you’re not here alone, then. Are you here with, like, a significant other? Please tell me you’re not.”
“I am, actually. Why shouldn’t I tell you that?”
This guy’s smile never seemed to fade, Nunew had thought, though at his answer, it dimmed for a moment.
“Hmm. What if I told you that what happens in New York stays in New York?”
“I thought that was Vegas. Also, I don’t think I’m getting whatever you’re implying.”
Matt cracked up at that, even slapping his knee lightly.
“You’re so funny. Also, incredibly hot, which I’m sure you already know. Maybe flirting just doesn’t translate well. I’m usually more suave than this, I promise.”
“I won’t reveal this rare failure of yours to anyone, I promise. But sorry, I’m not single.”
Figuring that was that, Nunew looked back to the last shirt he had read and shifted to the next. After a few awkward moments of Matt not budging, he looked back up. Not sure exactly what to say, Nunew avoided pouting (and thus potentially looking cuter) and merely gave him a questioning look.
“Is your boyfriend as good-looking as me?” Matt asked, in what he clearly assumed was a smooth, debonair way.
Don’t laugh, Chawarin, be polite, don’t ruin America for future Asian tourists…
“I would say more so, but of course, I’m biased.”
“Well…is he good to you?”
“Kind of worships the ground I walk on, not that that’s really your business,” Nunew replied, letting his tone cool a bit.
“I bet I could be better, if you gave me a chance. After all, he did leave you alone in a famously-dangerous city…”
“He’s in the dressing room, and even that much distance took convincing. Speaking of which, you might not want to be standing so close to me when he comes out. He doesn’t even like his best friend doing that.”
Matt’s barely-hanging-on smile finally vanished into an almost-pout before he forced his mouth into a neutral line. “Well, can I stick around and meet him? Judge for myself?”
“Your funeral, buddy,” Nunew said under his breath, turning his body away from the man to face the rack of T-shirts. He rapidly turned back around when he felt a hand brush his waist. “And you really don’t want to do that. Trust me.”
“Sorry. That was over the line, I apologize.”
“Okay, I won’t tell him, your life has been spared. But I still think you should – “
“Nhu?”
“Oh, well, there goes that opportunity.“
Zee’s calling of his nickname was low and serious, clearly concerned, and the actor was at his side in seconds. Zee must have read the stranger’s intentions at once, or was just being his usual self, because he immediately looped an arm around Nunew and pulled him close, his unblinking eyes locked on the stranger.
To his credit, Matt didn’t hide his surprise, probably at the model-good-looks of the lover he’d been trying to dethrone. But then he quickly put on a casual expression, and looked at Nunew.
“Okay, your boyfriend is hot. But I still think you should give me a chance.”
“What is he saying, Nhu?” Zee asked, not taking his yet-to-blink eyes off what he had clearly decided was a potential threat.
“Um, he’s a cult leader. He’s recruiting people to survive the upcoming apocalypse with him in a bunker, or something.”
“Nhu…”
“Oh, the boyfriend doesn’t speak English?” Matt said, his smile returning. “C’mon, give him some excuse and come away with me, even just for a while. I’ll show you a time you’ll never forget.”
“Nhu, what. Is. He. Saying?”
“He really wants me to at least come see the bunker before I make up my mind. It has pinball machines and everything.”
Zee sighed, still glaring at the stranger. “Nhu, whatever he’s actually saying, tell him you’re taken and that I don’t like the way he’s looking at you.”
“What’s Mr. Hot Boyfriend saying to go with that death-glare?” Matt asked, in a playful tone Nunew did not much like.
“I told him you’re recruiting for a cult, and he says we can’t join, it would offend Buddha.”
“Is Buddha cool with threesomes, maybe?” Matt slyly asked.
“I mean, probably, but I haven’t heard any monks say so, so – “
Zee, his cold stare still unbroken, pulled Nunew to him even closer and tighter, almost lifting the younger off his feet, and almost hissed at Matt one of the few English words he definitely knew.
“Mine.”
“Is he always this possessive?”
“Believe me, he’s restraining himself like crazy.” Nunew switched to Thai. “Hia, he says in the cult that couples usually get assigned to different partners, but he can put in a good word for us.”
“Nhu, if he’s actually a cult leader, tell him we’re not interested. If you’re lying about what he’s been saying, which I suspect, tell him you’re not interested and I am not above going to American prison if I have to.”
“Like I’d let you go to prison, you would not do well there,” Nunew grumbled, then switched back to English. “He says he’s checked the scriptures better than I have, and threesomes are definitely out. Also, did I mention my boyfriend is yakuza and very violent?”
Nunew briefly worried the man would challenge him on the basis of yakuza being Japanese, not Thai, but luckily, Matt was seemingly unaware of this, because he went slightly pale and finally looked nervous. Seeing the challenger finally cowed, Zee smiled, and then grinned as Matt took a step or two back.
“Well, then…uh…enjoy the rest of your vacation,” he croaked out, before turning on his heel and speedwalking toward the exit.
“So, are the sizes right, Hia?”
“Yeah, they’re fine. What was he really saying?”
Nunew sighed, then smiled cutely. “He was just flirting, Hia. Not effectively, but I think he did his best.”
“If you’re not going to translate properly for me, I’m going to ask P’Aof for a professional. And why didn’t you call for me or text me?”
Nunew rolled his eyes. “Because I was fine, Hia. I was handling it fine.”
“You’re supposed to let me handle difficult things for you.”
“That again, Hia? And I’d hardly call swatting off a cheesy pick-up line and some flirting difficult.”
Zee didn’t looked mollified by that. “What was the pick-up line?”
With another sigh, Nunew explained Matt’s failed come-on in Thai, then quickly tried to distract Zee with a few favorite T-shirts he’d set aside. Zee still looked just slightly grumpy, but appeared willing to let it go, and gave his opinion on them, saying that he thought the navy-blue Captain America tee was the best one for Nat, and when Nunew told him to pick one for himself out of two slogan tees, one gray and one black, Zee asked for a translation of what they said.
“The truth this time, please.”
“Oh, fine. This one says ‘I’m not single, I have a cat,’ and the gray one says ‘My boyfriend doesn’t appreciate you staring.’ I mean, both are true, right?”
“My kitty,” Zee said fondly, smoothing his hand over Nunew’s hair, smiling lovingly at him. “Which one do you want to see me wear?”
“Hmm. Can’t decide, I’m getting you both.”
Zee laughed. “They’re both also true for you, so you can borrow them. I can’t wait to take them off of you.”
“Hia!” Nunew quietly whined, trying not to blush and swatting away his lover’s hand as it went teasingly lower on him.
After making their purchases, as it was a warm day, the couple bought ice cream cones and strolled hand-in-hand through nearby Central Park, afterward taking a break on one of the tree-shaded benches. Nunew rested his head on Zee’s shoulder, smiling to feel a familiar, broad arm around him, making him feel safe, as it always did. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, before Zee broke it with a question that confused Nunew at first.
“Do you miss it?”
“Hmm, what? Thailand? We’ve only been here a few days.”
“I meant heaven. With the other angels.”
“Hiaaaaa…”
THE END
Okay, that’s done, maybe I can actually work on Mizuage now. Comments welcome!