Disclaimer: Not mine, but it's nice to still be able to stare.
Rooftops
Chapter 3
Hotshot
Ben found himself dressing for work later in the week. It was still early, but even at the early hour he was wide awake, ready to dive into his work to waste away the day. He always looked forward to the weekends, the promise of excitement and the parties his friends were always throwing.
He wandered into the kitchen, digging through the fridge for a piece of fruit to eat along with his coffee on the walk to work.
The house was so quiet at this time of morning, but he didn't hear anything moving.
"Sweetheart."
He jumped backward at the sound of his mother's voice, hand going to chest.
"Jesus Mom," he gasped, "Don't sneak up on someone this time or morning."
"I'm sorry Ben," she said, "But you haven't been around much the past few days."
He looked at her, closing the fridge door, his fist closed around an apple. He knew why she had been trying to talk to him all week. She wanted him to sit and talk, have a reasonable conversation with his father.
He couldn't. He felt that his father couldn't be reasonable about it either. Ben understood where his father was coming from but his father did not even try to understand what he said, so there was no point in talking.
"I've been busy," he told her.
"Mmhmm…" she nodded, "busy avoiding your father. Don't think I haven't noticed."
"He has an unfair advantage," Ben mumbled, "My reasoning isn't strong enough, and I know that, but he won't even listen to me, or even let me build up a decent argument."
He moved past his mother to the coffee pot, pouring the steaming liquid into a travel mug. He wasn't going to let a conversation with his mother make him late.
"He just wants what's best for you."
"He doesn't know what's best for me."
"Benjamin," she clearly didn't like his tone.
"Sorry," he shook his head. This was the reason he had avoided the house all week, hiding out at Brandon's, or another friend's place, usually swinging by Michael's uncle's apartment at some point, even if just for an hour or so.
"I just feel like he doesn't listen to me, Mom," Ben said, "I've got to work up to a place where I can reason with him before I talk to him."
His mother nodded, "I'll talk to him Ben. But in a week you had better be ready to talk to him."
She reached up to fix his hair a bit.
"Promise me."
"I've got to get to work, Mom," Ben excused himself. Picking up the coffee cup he headed quickly out the front door.
-
Work was a café that he and his friends had frequented during high school. Ben had been working the front counter since his senior year, and occasionally ducked out back to cook. They were working on teaching him everything this summer so that he could fill in for just about everyone.
Letting himself in through the backdoor he waved hello to the cooks who seemed to be wide awake, and the owner, a short little blonde woman, running around out front.
"Morning Joan," he said brightly, pouring himself another cup of coffee.
"Morning Ben, get to work," she said, hurrying past him and back to the storeroom for more place settings.
He grinned and started popping muffins out of the trays and setting them up in the displays.
"Hey Bruckner, unlock the door," Tino yelled from the kitchen as the clock hit seven-thirty.
Ben flipped the sign and walked back behind the counter, making a green tea which he handed off to Joan without a word, and pouring variations of coffee for the half dozen regulars who walked in the door just in time to receive their orders. That was what he loved about this place. It was a little hole-in-the-wall in this huge city. Most people didn't know about it unless you told them and the clientele was pretty regular.
He was surprised when his mother didn't stop by on her way to work as she usually did but figured it probably had something to do with their exchange in the kitchen that morning.
Near eleven Brandon came in on his way to work.
"Benny-boy," he called happily, "how goes the sandwich-making?"
"Not too bad, I'll get out early." Ben said with a shrug, "So, what can I get you?"
"Hmm…" Brandon perused the board for a moment, "Classic Reuben today, I think."
"No problem."
Ben glanced around. Business was slow, as it typically was on weekdays. He nodded for Brandon to come stand with him as he made the sandwich.
"What's up?" Brandon asked, leaning on the barrier at the front of the counter.
"Still having that party tomorrow night, right?"
"Of course I am," Brandon grinned. "Have you ever known me to cancel a party? What, you want to sleep on the couch again?"
"Umm… maybe, but that's not exactly why I was asking."
"Ask away," Brandon invited him, running his fingers through his short, dark hair.
"I was wondering if I could bring a friend with me."
"A friend?" Brandon raised an eyebrow. "Someone I know?"
"Maybe," Ben shrugged. "His name's Michael. He's staying in an apartment on the fourth floor for most of July. We've been hanging out a lot over the past few days when I've had time off."
"Vic Grassi's nephew?" Brandon asked, "Isn't he in high school or something?"
"He's going to be a senior this year."
Eyebrows went up, "Robbing the cradle are we?"
"It's nothing like that," Ben said, "We're just friends. You know, it's nice to have someone who doesn't have to work and can actually relate to all the shit going on with my parents this summer."
"Ah, the young and their daddy-drama," Brandon teased.
"You want me to drop your sandwich on the floor before I hand it to you?" Ben asked.
"Yeah man, you can bring him. As long as Vic isn't going to come down and kick my ass for serving the kid beer I don't care that much."
"Good," he tossed the wrapped sandwich over the divider at his friend. "Get out of here or you're going to be late for work."
-
Michael walked quickly down the street on his way home from the gym. He could use Vic's membership so he found himself going every morning when Vic was either working or staying around the house.
He had to pick up lunch at a café several blocks from his workout. He didn't remember the place but Vic had said he'd been there several years before and called in an order for them.
He saw the bright green sign that marked the entrance before he saw anything else, and when he stepped inside he stopped dead in his tracks.
"So, is this your other favorite spot for avoiding your parents?" he asked.
"Hey," Ben smiled as he turned around, "Who let you in on this little escape?"
"My uncle," Michael said with a shrug, "Do you have an order back there for Grassi?"
"Grassi," Ben turned and began looking through the bags on a shelf. "Here we go."
"Thanks," Michael dug the money Vic had given him out of his pocket.
"Not a problem," Ben guaranteed, actually taking a good look at Michael as he rang up the order and took the money, "You on your way back from the gym or something?"
"Yeah, might as well take advantage of Vic's membership while I'm here."
Ben nodded, "Yeah, I think I'll get over there for a while after I get out of here today."
Mentally Michael was drooling over the idea of seeing Ben at the gym. Trying to keep a straight face he nodded.
"So, tomorrow night, what's up with that?"
"The party is at Brandon's place, the guy living two floors down from you. It's room 205, but I'll come up to your place when I get there. You sure your uncle doesn't mind you going with all the drinking and shit that'll probably be going on?"
Michael grinned, with a slight nod. "Like I said the other day, Brian and I probably get in more trouble in Pittsburgh than I could get in here."
"Don't say that until you've been to one of Brandon's parties." Ben said.
"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, I'll try to swing by a little early, guarantee Vic I won't bring you home too drunk."
"Shh… not so loud," Michael laughed, starting to back away from the counter.
"See you later Michael."
"Bye Ben," he replied, slipping out the door.
There was no one else in line to order so Ben just stared after him for a moment.
"I'll admit he has a cute little ass, but stop staring sweetheart, you're starting to drool," Joan spoke from right behind him.
He jumped, turning back to see the small woman standing there with a grin across her face.
"I… I wasn't-"
"Right Ben," she patted his arm, "deny it a bit more."
Ben tried to stutter a reply but she disappeared back into the kitchen quickly. He just stood there at the counter. That wasn't how things were with Michael, absolutely not. He didn't have a crush, did he?
-
"What do you wear to a college party?" Michael asked, balancing the phone between his face and shoulder.
There was silence at the other end of the phone for a moment. Michael thought maybe he'd lost the connection to Pittsburgh.
"Nothing that you own."
Really, he should have expected that.
"You're not helping Brian."
"Well, what did you expect, Mikey?" he asked, chuckling, "Do you really want me to drop my brutal honesty in order to be supportive?"
"In this case, yeah, it'd be nice." Michael looked around at the mess he'd made of the guest room.
"Fine then," he continued, "What, that I own would be remotely acceptable to your high standards?"
Brian laughed again and Michael readied himself for further ridicule.
"Okay, let me think," Brian said, "Do you still have that plain black t-shirt, and those jeans I told you to buy?"
"Uh huh," Michael said, looking around, "Umm… somewhere."
He continued looking as he asked, "So what are you doing tonight?"
"It's Friday night."
"Never mind, how stupid of me," Michael smiled, "how's Babylon without me?"
"The same as Babylon with you, minus the annoying comments," Brian said before falling silent. Michael could just see him, standing there, admiring himself in the mirror, tweaking his outfit, just so, to make it perfect.
"So this guy," Brian finally spoke, "I want details."
"Brian, for crying out loud, I already told you. He's straight."
"Straight college jocks do not ask high school age queers to parties for no reason. Trust me Mikey, he either wants in your pants or wants to see you get your ass kicked by a bunch of his jock friends."
Michael rolled his eyes.
"The question is do you want to do him?"
"Obviously," Michael replied without thinking.
Brian was quiet for a moment.
"You are so pathetic. Seriously, you've known the guy for less than a week and you're already pining."
"Leave me alone Brian."
"So what's he look like? You need to at least give me a mental image of what you've been whacking off to since you left."
"What, so you can ridicule me some more?"
Brian's silence was affirmation enough.
Michael sighed and continued on regardless. "He's maybe a little shy of six feet, blondish, blue eyes…" he trailed off, trying to think of a way to describe Ben. "He's football-playerish, you know, like Kevin Nichols, kind of big."
"Mikey…" Brian sighed, "You could do so much better."
"Screw off Brian. He's a good guy, and he's really smart, and…" He wasn't sure what to say that Brian wouldn't absolutely grill him for.
"Okay Michael," Brian was grinning from ear to ear.
"Shut up, Brian."
"You'd just better hope I don't tell you mom," he warned, "By the way, I got an earful about how you're an ungrateful little-"
He cut off suddenly as the sound of yelling echoed from somewhere within the Kinney house. Cursing himself silently he listened to Brian yell back and the further exchange between himself and his father. By far the most audible sound was the lock on Brian's bedroom door sliding closed.
"Hey Mikey," Brian asked, "You left your bedroom window unlocked right."
"Yeah Brian, I did," Michael guaranteed. He knew Brian would never take his key even though Deb had offered one to him time and time again in the past three years.
"I want an update tomorrow, Mikey. I'll talk to you later."
"Bye Brian." He hung up the phone.
Finally locating the shirt Brian had told him to wear he collapsed back across the bed sighing. The decision to go to this party with Ben had been the easiest decision he'd made all summer. Thing with Brian were strange because he felt like there was nothing he could do to help out his friend from so far away. Things with his mother… he didn't even want to comment on it.
"Michael!" Vic called, "Come have some dinner! If you're going to be drinking tonight you don't want to do it on an empty stomach."
Michael sat up and looked around his room. Okay, his priorities were definitely to eat and clean.
-
Ben knocked on the door for the fourth time that week, and as usual it was Vic who answered.
"Evening Ben."
"Hi Vic."
Vic stepped aside to let Ben into the apartment, pointing toward a room off to the left. Ben had never really come into the apartment before, as he and Michael usually went out but it was a nice place, an obvious bachelor pad.
He gave Vic a nod and started over toward the room, knocking and not waiting for a response before he opened the door.
Michael looked up and almost gasped as he caught sight of Ben. Why were some straight men so good looking? Ben wore a light blue colored shirt, buttoned up halfway and he looked… There weren't words.
"Hey, you ready to head down?" he asked.
"Yeah," Michael nodded, shoving his feet into his shoes. It was just as late as it was when he and Brian went off to Babylon back home.
"Don't get in trouble," Vic said from the door of the bathroom. He was heading out for his own night on the town.
"And don't worry about checking in when you get back."
"Thanks Uncle Vic," Michael called over his shoulder as he reached the door, "Oh, and call Ma at the diner before you head out and tell her Brian's sleeping in my room tonight."
He closed the door before Vic could reply.
Ben threw him a sideways glance as they started down the stairs.
"What was that about?"
"This place back home is closer to my place. Brian tends to just crash there when I'm home so I gave him my key while I'm away." He was lying through his teeth but it wasn't his place to talk about Brian's home life.
Ben just shrugged and knocked on the door to Brandon's apartment. He knew Michael wasn't quite being honest but wasn't going to push.
Instead he grinned widely as Brandon opened the door.
"Benny Boy!" he cheered, "It's about time you got here."
He stepped out and hugged Ben enthusiastically, pounding him on the back.
Ben smiled and greeted him, "Brandon, this is Michael."
"Good to meet you kid," Brandon shook Michael's hand, passing him a condom.
Michael laughed and discreetly slipped his hand into his pocket. Yeah, like that was going to happen tonight.
Then he stepped inside the apartment with the two of them and after a moment of looking around it hit him.
The music, the men, the lighting; it was all unusually familiar.
"Holy shit," he said simply.
Ben grinned from behind him.
"Yeah, it's never boring when Brandon throws a party."
"I can't believe you didn't tell me," he gaped and Ben passed him a beer.
Ben smirked and gave a shrug, "Tell you what?"
Michael shoved him playfully. There wasn't a single woman in the place, the music and lights Brandon had going were reminiscent of Babylon, and just like the club there were several couples pushed up against the wall. It took of the pressure and made him feel so much less lost in New York without Brian.
"That you're gay."
"It's not obvious?"
Michael caught on to Ben's teasing, and shoved him again, taking a sip of his beer.
"Asshole," he laughed. Maybe tonight wasn't going to be so bad after all.
And there it was; he was welcomed into this group of people that Ben seemed so familiar and comfortable with. People introduced themselves and grabbed a drink. Michael couldn't help the smile that pulled across his face as he made himself at home.
More people filed in the door and a few more drinks were pushed into Michael's hand as he and Ben made conversation with some of the other guests.
Brandon was in the middle of explaining something job-related to a few people when Michael caught Ben looking away from the group. He followed Ben's gaze.
There was a guy across the room, hot and most definitely cruising Ben.
Michael nudged Ben. When he looked down Michael nodded his head at the figure across the room.
"Go."
"You're here as my guest, there's always next time."
"Ben, it's okay," Michael tried to argue with him, only to be stopped by a hand coming down on his shoulder.
"You want to dance?"
Michael looked up at the figure. Something about the guy; the way he looked, the way he'd asked, made Michael uneasy, but he really did want Ben to go off and see that guy, enjoy himself.
He glanced back at Ben for just a moment, receiving a small smile before he replied.
"Sure."
"Hey Terry," Ben nodded.
Terry greeted him in response, his eyes still on Michael.
"Go," Michael told Ben as he began walking toward the center of the room with Terry.
Ben watched as Terry and Michael went off to the center of the room where people were dancing. He'd never been a fan of the particular friend of Brandon's but didn't see that much harm could be done. Seeing nothing going wrong after a moment he started across the room. A pair of cool green eyes was on him and he planned to take advantage of it.
Their exchange was brief and before he knew it Ben found himself being pushed up against the wall, the guy's hands sliding up and under his shirt.
Smiling, and opening his eyes just slightly, he moved to kiss the stranger's neck.
He grinned to himself. It looked like he wasn't the only one getting lucky tonight. Terry was wrapped tightly around Michael, leaning down and talking in his ear. They were edging toward the edge of the crowd, in the direction of the guest bedroom that Brandon tried to keep open at his parties.
He moaned as the guy moved down to his neck, hands working to unbutton Ben's shirt and push it back over his shoulders. He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. It had been far too long since he'd done this at a party.
When he opened his eyes again, just to shift his grip, he glanced around the room once more.
Terry turned slightly and he caught sight of Michael, and more importantly the slightly panicked look that was etched across Michael's face. He was pushing at Terry, trying to get him to back off.
As it was Terry didn't seem to be getting the message. He leaned down and kissed Michael hard.
Michael pulled away as much as he could with Terry's arms wrapped tightly around him.
"No."
Ben saw more than he heard the words escape Michael's mouth.
Terry tried again and again Michael pushed him back.
"Fuck you."
Ben knew from years of experience that Terry wasn't one to let people talk to him like that without consequences.
True to his character Terry slammed Michael back against the wall, pinning his arms.
Ben actually heard the cry that Michael emitted in both surprise and pain.
He didn't even realize he had moved until he was across the room, putting himself physically between Michael and Terry, pushing the latter back.
"Back the fuck off," he warned firmly.
Terry would be pissed but he was smaller than Ben. People were staring now too and he didn't want to look like a bully.
"What the hell are you bringing a high school kid to a party for anyway?" he snapped back, "You shouldn't have brought him if he's not up for the agenda."
"Maybe you should learn that you're not that good a lay," Ben snapped back, "so stop trying to pressure people into bed.
Terry clenched his fists and for a minute Ben thought he was actually going to hit him, but Terry just shook his head and turned and walked away.
A few people were still staring but most went back to their own conversations, and their own tricks. Ben saw the guy he'd been with roll his eyes and disappear back into the crowd.
Well, that was the end of that endeavor.
He finally turned to Michael.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," Michael said with a nod.
"Come on," Ben told him, "We're getting out of here."
He grabbed a half-empty bottle of rum off the table as they passed through the room. He led Michael up the stairs, past Vic's floor and to the roof. Even as the door slammed shut behind them Ben didn't say a word, just collapsed into one of the lawn chairs residents had left up there and taken a swig of the burning liquid.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you there,' he said.
"I was fine," Michael assured him.
Ben laughed bitterly, "Yeah, you looked fine."
Michael shook his head, "Ben, in case you haven't noticed I'm not that big a guy." He held his arms out to his sides as though to emphasize the point, "Do you really think shit like that hasn't happened to me before?"
"Then you should have known how to get out of that situation."
"I do," Michael insisted, getting a bit agitated, "I was just trying to do it in a way that wouldn't create a scene. You know, I didn't want to embarrass you."
Ben deflated. He'd done a good enough job of that on his own.
"I'm sorry, Michael," he sighed, "I've just had one too many shitty experiences with guys like Terry."
"Including Terry?" Michael was obviously referring to the comment Ben had made downstairs.
Ben sighed again, "You know, when you look back on high school in a few years you're going to realize that you did a lot of stupid stuff."
Michael laughed at that and Ben let out a chuckle.
An awkward silence settled between them and Ben took another sip out of the bottle. He looked up as he swallowed finding Michael staring at him.
"What?"
"Nothing," Michael said immediately, looking away, "Don't worry about it."
"You always do that," Ben told him, not quite annoyed, but wishing Michael trusted him, "I'm not going to bite your head off. Just say what's on your mind."
Michael watched him for a moment, sorting out his thoughts.
"I thought maybe you'd just had too much to drink the other night," he started, "but then you brought me to that party and I just…"
He seemed to get stuck there.
"Just say it Michael."
"Why'd you kiss me the other night?"
Ben just stared back at Michael. He honestly didn't know what to say. Michael was cute, and that was what he had been thinking the first night, but he wouldn't say it now. Sure, he hadn't known Michael all that long but their conversations had been a hell of a lot deeper than anything he'd had with his friends or his roommates back at school.
Michael took his silence as regret.
"Forget it," he turned his back on Ben, leaning against the wall and looking out over the street.
Ben stared at him. Why had he been so worried about bringing Michael to the party? Why had he felt that twinge of jealousy when Michael had walked off with Terry? And so enraged when Terry had shoved him? This was one of the things he hated about himself, that feelings like these sprung up out of nowhere.
Ben set the bottle down on the ground and pushed himself up out of his chair, all the while watching Michel. He didn't even glance back at Ben; he was too distracted by his thoughts.
Ben walked up behind Michael and put his arms against the wall on either side of Michael's body, trapping him there just as effectively as Terry had downstairs. He felt a shiver run through the younger man so he stepped closer. He knew what the intended effect of his actions was.
"Michael," he said quietly.
Michael sighed, his shoulders slumping a little, but he turned around to face Ben. He was still trapped by Ben's arms so there was nowhere else for him to look than up into Ben's face.
Ben couldn't think that Michael looked anything short of lost as he tried to flash a wry grin up at Ben.
He let a genuine grin pull at his lips in response, noting the way that Michael was staring up at him.
This time it was more than the courage from the alcohol that made him lean down and kiss Michael, wrapping an arm around his back and pulling them a few steps from the wall.
Michael tensed up, hesitating, but Ben didn't pull back. After a moment Michael wrapped his arm around the one that Ben was using to support him, pulling the two of them closer together and kissing him back.
When Ben finally pulled back he needed to catch his breath. Looking down he saw a blush across Michael's face. He was breathing hard too, looking up at Ben with a smile across his face.
A/N: Two in one day. That's amazing even to me. I'm about halfway through the next chapter on this one and it's generating all kinds of ideas for spinoffs in my head. This story needs more love in the form of reviews because I've gotten almost nothing for it.
More soon,
Megan