Chapter 4 Cocktail in the morning

Tutor and Yim smile at each other.

With those two clinging Ships by their side, they have their work cut out for them.

Zee and NuNew are still discreet with their touching, but Max and Nat always take it to the extreme.

Their mutual gravitation never seems to take a break.

Hands, shoulders, knees.

There must be constant touching.

Even when they are talking to others or simply busy.

Even if there is a local distance to each other.

They simply attract each other magnetically.

Only to then briefly touch at least some textile of the other.

Nat is currently playing with the hem of Max T'Shirt, while he stands with his back to him and watches Tutor preparing the cocktails.

Yim and Nat stand in front of the pool bar admiring Tutor's dexterity.

Tutor's cat eyes are focused.

Grating mint.

Squeeze lime.

Shake colored liquors and sugar beet syrup with ice.

Blend, stir, taste.

Yim's flushed cheeks show his smile as he watches his partner bartend.

Max stands behind Nat, chatting with Zee and NuNew.

Nat's delicate hand at the bottom of his T'shirt points him in the direction of his caressing hand.

"Let's unpack first after drinks and jump in the pool!", Zee decides, "Then we'll take a walk on the beach and meet back up for today's challenge!"

"Yes, Dad!" grins NuNew.

"Have you been appointed leader here?" asks Max pointedly.

"You're welcome to be my leader, Zee. I'll follow you!", Nat interjects, smiling at his Pi Zee. He's always been there for him, and he counts him as the big brother he looks up to.

Zee is good-natured, empathetic and lovingly wise.

He can be counted on.

Zee walks a step toward Nat and puts his hand on his head.

And Max's reflexes show their reaction again.

He pushes Zee's hand off Nat's head and gives Nat a serious look.

"I'm serious about this. Pi Zee is a good leader. We can trust him!", Nat triggers even higher flames in Max.

Zee grins and squints over at NuNew.

"Leader Zee just keeps an eye on everyone and pays attention to them," NuNew explains ambiguously.

There's always more to him than that.

Zee then always doesn't really know whether he wants to send him a message.

And NuNew puts his hand on Max's shoulder.

"You're a big Pi too, Max! But your eyes are always on Nat," he gives Max a smile.

Max barely noticeably flinches at the touch on his shoulder from someone else.

By anyone else.

He can't be touched by anyone other than Nat.

Just as Nat can't be touched by anyone else.

Max can't do anything about this feeling.

And that's probably why he can't be a leader.

Everything in him leads to Nat anyway.

And nobody should follow him, please.

This Nat, however, openly shows how much he admires his Pi Zee and is physical to him.

And NuNews eyes apparently want to tell Max something.

"A leader can also just focus on himself and his needs for once, Nong NuNew!" he puts his hand on his head and nods thoughtfully.

And the sound of NuNew's giggle and the sight of Max's big hand on his head, makes the atmosphere crackle loudly.

Nat's reflexes show their reaction again.

He doesn't like it at all when his stunningly handsome Max shows so much closeness to someone else.

As if there were a curse on him.

As if Max, at a certain closeness, would cast a definite spell on everyone.

A black hole of attraction.

From the beginning, Nat couldn't believe how lucky he was to have Max as a partner.

Whichever instance was responsible for it.

His destiny is to make Max happy.

To make him stay.

So that he can keep him forever.

And his impulses are dangerous.

Biting and quick, he defends his delicious prey from the other hungry ones.

And they're all hungry for Max.

It's obvious.

Look at him!

But not for too long!

And Nat angrily slaps Max's chest and pulls his hand away from NuNews' head.

Max melts and almost gurgles with delight.

Nat is just too cute when he gets snappy.

He grabs the angry, petite wrists of his rampaging Nong and pulls him close.

And his handsome face grins at Nat.

"Oh, you get to gush about Zee and I don't get to pay attention to Nong NuNew?" he asks with raised eyebrows.

And Nat's pouty face still wears the eyes of a hunter.

"Right!", Nat almost hisses, "You got that right!", he fully stands by his possessivnes.

And NuNew laughs out loud as he sees this big, strong man just get all proper and hand-tame at Nat's announcement.

Max is so whipped!

Their love is so obvious.

And NuNew looks over at Zee, who as always smiles charmingly and maintains the air of a controlled leader.

Zee is not jealous with Max.

Just as NuNew doesn't perceive his relationship with Nat as dangerous either.

They enjoy their friendships.

And do not constrict each other.

Very harmonious.

Thoughtful and yes, planned too.

NuNew loves to be alone with Zee.

But otherwise he always has to share him with the world.

Leader Zee has everyone in his sights.

And NuNew catches himself envying Maxnat's possessive manner a bit.

That quaint feeling of love.

That promise made to each other.

NuNew, after all, doesn't long for the open flames that can cause a forest fire.

Max and Nat are really in a league of their own.

But he wishes Zee wasn't so smooth.

So perfect.

So controlled.

A little more insistent that he only wants him.

Only needs him.

Can't do without him.

A sad wind blows across NuNews' soul.

Zee is everything he wants.

And beyond that, very thoughtful, forward-thinking and free.

"Let's just let everything happen. We should be free and trust each other!", he tried to explain to NuNew what their status is.

And the schedule is so overwrought that NuNew feels Zee's constant closeness as indispensable happiness.

He doesn't want to think about the future.

Zee is there now and he is so good to him.

He enjoys everything they have.

But at moments like this, he feels a wistful impulse.

"The cocktails are ready!", Yim interrupts what always develops suddenly at their side when they are with these said two Ships.

Nat clasps his big Max and gets a loving squeeze from him.

Yes, they probably hadn't seen each other in a long time.

Why else this longing body heat in the tropical temperatures?

Zee's hand, meanwhile, has found NuNews and pulls him closer.

"Here's to our weekend in the white villa!", Tutor raises his deep voice and distributes the deliciously cool warmers.

Yes, already in the morning.

It's just that everything is a little different this weekend.

Tutor is determined to get closer to Yim here.

They have to get to know each other better and give their ship a special touch.

And so he gives Yim a wink when he smilingly takes the cocktail from him.

Such a beautiful face.

And those cheeks.

He would so love to pinch them all the time.

Tutor finds Yim so adorably handsome for a man.

He has such a calming aura.

Quite the opposite of Tutor, who carries the dangerous beauty of a predatory cat.

Wild meets mild.

Yet it is Yim who clearly holds Tutor in the palm of his hand.

Tutor's words and actions often make Yim pout.

Yet Tutor is only honest.

He puts on no special mask in public.

He is just himself by his partner's side.

Who is really sweet, but also crazy.

And often needs to be asked for forgiveness.

Yim likes Tutor to be extra attentive to him whenever he pouts.

He also can't help being miffed so often.

He constantly understands Tutor's words differently than he meant them, finds his cheek pinches too harsh, and basically feels he's not being taken seriously by him.

And he just can't allow Tutor's attempts to get closer yet.

"We're going to approach the challenge with complete commitment, right?", Yim senses his partner whispering to him.

And the mutual nudging is a good distraction from his cheeks, which continue to glow red.

He shakes his head slightly and smiles at each as their cold-humid cocktail glasses clink together.

Only Tutor earns a neutral look.

At least, Yim thinks he's looked at him neutrally.

But Tutor knows the delicate change of his full lips into a pout.

What has he done now?

As cute as Yim looks doing this, if he doesn't get it right quickly, his mood can only get worse.

"Yim!", Tutor tries to catch his gaze, "I'm really excited that we can spend more time together here. Do you feel like checking out the area with me?", Tutor's tone is accompanied by the slurping of the others.

Yim looks deeply at him, searching for a mistake in the statement.

And Tutor smiles sheepishly and lets himself be inspected.

A nod must be enough to make his cat eyes light up.

"Okay, you four! Yim and I are going for a walk. Have fun you guys!" exclaims Tutor, suddenly taking Yim's cocktail-free hand and pulling him along behind him.

"But we wanted to unpack first and then go to the pool! Then we'll go for a walk on the beach," Zee exclaims, visibly astonished.

"That's what you ordered, but I'd also like to lie down with Nat first now. See you later!" exclaims Max, putting his free hand around Nat's delicate waist and walking with him to the large entrance area of the white villa.

Zee's eyes now show dazed melancholy.

"Zee, just let it go!", NuNew soothes him, "You're a great leader, but we don't need him this weekend. The fans want to see our Ships. I guess you just need to focus on me!", he finally gets to say what's on his mind.

Zee looks into the beautiful face of his partner and feels his heart melt.

He softens all over his body.

And it is NuNew who takes him by the hand and lets him carry out his real plan.

Two of them.

Just you and me, Zee!

Unpacking, having fun in the pool, and walking on the beach.

Just you and me.