Hero and Perfect

Healing. Chapter 1. Pt. 1

Hero began spending days at a time with the busy trio that made him feel like he belonged with them.

He had watched them with grave uncertainty at first. His dark eyes wide.
They were frenetic. So busy . Always hugging . Taking selfies. Cooking. Rushing about. Eating. Feeding each other. Laughing like hyenas.

Doing each others hair, reading amusing things found in the internet out loud, clanging pots and pans , cleaning. Rearranging items in the cupboards. Huddling together with huge bowls of popcorn on the couch under blankets to watch a movie. Singing. Yelling. Scolding and teasing.

How did two petite women and one boy made of twigs manage to sound like a busy market on a sunny afternoon?
So . Much. Talking.

It didn't seem to bother any of them that they all had projects in progress in nearly every room. Perfect was building a kite in the kitchen. He had parts of it kept in a box on a table by the refrigerator.
His closet contained more Lego than clothing.
When Hero had first begun to stay with them, he had helped Perfect tidy his room. Many of the Lego pieces were already in the shape of things Perfect could teach Hero the Korean and English words for.

They sat in the large closet together, sitting on the floor of it, Perfect's crossed legs laying across Hero's lap , filling shoe boxes with Lego bits, then labelling and taping them shut.
" Boat', he held up a small steamship made of bright yellow plastic. Saying the word in both English and Korean.
He wrote the word in Hangul and English on the lid of the box. Hero watched him closely, then repeated the words sounding them out carefully.
Perfect smiled, nodding vigorously at him, giving him a thumbs up. ' Good. That's good Hero. You'll have it in no time."

All of them had hobbies .

Mei Lu's self professed, horrible knitting was always at hand.
She seemed to be able to reach beside almost any couch or chair in any room and pull up a lumpy half finished sweater, shawl or scarf.

Minjun loved plants. They were all over the house. Trays full of tiny green shoots , set under hanging lights, abounded in the basement. When home, during warmer weather, she was often to be found in the garden.

Hero was fascinated by their chaotic energy. But occasionally, he found them confusing.

He had moved quickly , to place himself between Perfection and his sister, a few weeks after his face had healed , when he had entered the kitchen and discovered Minjun standing with her arm raised high, over her small sibling.

Hero acted immediately. The slight chance that she might be preparing to strike him was too much.

In actuality, she had simply been teasing Perfect. Holding aloft a letter from the school ,  just out of reach from her little brother, as she wished to read it first.

Hero had quickly stepped between them with an arm raised , his head turned , prepared to take the blow.
Minjun had  recognized his misunderstanding immediately.

Healthy family dynamics were something Hero obviously had little experience with.

" Hero , no,' she said, speaking firmly. ' Hero , please , look at me.'
He slowly lowered his arm and turned his head toward her, staying in front of Perfection, keeping him behind him with his other .

'Hero,' she chided , because he still had not met her eyes.

When he did, she ignored his flinch, and lightly brushed the hair away from his troubled gaze.

His eyes were full of things that she wished she could pull out and bury in the garden.

'Never.'
She said , looking at him steadily. Wishing, irrationally, that she could take a tire iron to the man currently inhabiting the house next door.
'Mei Lu and I would never ever hit him- or you- Not in a hundred years. Not for any reason. Do you understand?"

" Speak for yourself! Beatings may be fully warranted if the action is stupid enough. Sometimes there is no answer but violence. Have you met my study group? I need to drop them off a cliff most days.
Whats this?"
Mei Lu had entered the room and snatched the letter from Minjun's hand.

Hero's dark eyes held Minjun's gaze until Perfect poked his head out from behind him, clearing his throat.
" Uh...the deadly slipper? You treat it like a bullet and your hand is a gun..."

Min  looked incredulous. She shook  her head, putting her hands on her hips.

" Perfect. That was one time. Only once. You put a raw banana in my purse."

Mei Lu cackled as she opened the letter.

Perfection's eyes were innocent and wide.

" You said you wanted a banana with your lunch at work."

" It was peeled."

" I forgot to wrap it!" Perfect's lips twitched and he began to to giggle.
Minjun shook her head again and made a sound of annoyed exasperation.

Mei Lu began reading the letter as she sat at the table.

"See? That's banana terrorism - You should have used both slippers. Oh! This is good news! "

Perfect stuck out his tongue.
That was IT.
Minjun made a grab for him. "You!" She muttered . Perfect shrieked with laughter and darted off to the side, keeping Hero between them.
Hero raised his arms as the pair ran around him.

" Hero! Save me! Ahahaha! ' Perfect chortled, finally ducking a near grab from his sniggering sister, and flinging an arm around Hero's waist, then grabbing at Hero's arm with the other, attempting to use it to fend off Minjun.

Hero caught both of Perfect's arms, spinning him around to Minjun, who promptly gave her rascally little brother , hard noogs, rubbing her knuckles firmly across the top of his head as Hero released him.

Perfect flailed , turning and glaring at Hero accusingly.

" Ow! Betrayer! Hero! You are supposed to defend me!"

" It is no good . No wasting food. ' Hero said firmly, in his broken English . ' Your sister should punish you."

Mei Lu stood abruptly, smiling down at the letter. She looked up with a joyful expression and waved it.

" Never mind going bananas, Hero's enrolment has been accepted to the International School! He will be in most of Perfect's classes. It's done."

Minjun raised a flattened hand palm forward , to Hero, who hesitated.

Perfect grabbed Hero's  hand and used it to clumsily high- five Minjun.

" That's terrific...But you are both on my list".

Having made this dire pronouncement, Perfect  dropped Hero's arm and stalked from the room, rubbing the top of his abused head  and muttering.

Hero smiled at Minjun, who laughed , her dark eyes crinkling up at the corners with amusement.

" See? Now you're getting it", she grinned.

He found Perfection sitting in the bedroom, in front of the computer.
" Angry?"
Perfect glanced at him expressionlessly. He shrugged, his lower lip jutting out just a tiny bit.
He went back to looking at his computer, ignoring Hero.
The tall boy leaned over his shoulder .
"Not angry?"
" Just leave it. I'll live."
Hero grabbed his wheeled chair, pulling it back and spinning it fast.
Perfect yelled , then glared at Hero when he grabbed the arms of it, bringing the spinning to an abrupt halt.
" How about now?"
" I wish I could peuk on demand. It would serve you right."
Hero snorted, looking intently at him. He tipped the chair back deeply, then righted it once more, smiling mischievously at Perfect's gasp of surprise.
" Get up. Sun is warm. We go , both , on bike .... Down to coulee and skip stones like you said, other day."

Perfect smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He , Minjun and Mei Lu had taught Hero to ride a bicycle just last week.

The two women had run alongside Hero , one on each side, holding him steady, while Perfect had run ahead of him.

" Keep your eyes on me, Hero. That's it! You're doing it!" Perfect had crowed, racing down the street before him.
Hero had made several starts, finding his balance. But he was soon flying down the streets at breakneck speeds, with Perfect laughing and yelling at him to slow down , as he held on to his sides.
They doubled , because Perfect couldn't keep up and was afraid to take the steep downward slope that was the best shortcut to the coulee.
He had shown it to Hero, walking there one day, showing him the most interesting areas to explore around their neighbourhood.

He should never have done it.

He had screamed all the way down .

One long crescendoing , shrieking note when Hero hadn't slowed in the slightest, pedalling like a powerhouse, hurtling them down the narrow path through the trees, exploding from the small turn in the bushes, straight over the edge and down, down the sheer , curving side  of the mammoth concrete basin in a sickening trajectory.

Once they had swept to a jolting, gravel spraying halt , Perfect had crumpled off the back and staggered to the side, sitting heavily.
His heart was pounding so hard , he could feel it behind his eyes. His whole body felt like it was made of  wet noodles.

Hero was shading his eyes and squinting upwards. Looking back at the vast towering slope.

Perfect couldn't believe they had done it.

He closed his fists.
" Are you insane?! It's so steep! This is the deep end! Why did you save my life if you plan to end it! Are you an assassin sent from the lunatic church of  bicycle suicides? This end can hold an Ocean! I saw twenty of my past lives ! This one will be the shortest! You are carrying me back up!"

Hero walked over and squatted down in front of him.

Perfection's eyes were wide and staring .
He looked down and away from Hero,  who noticed his thick brown lashes, like soft watermarks smudged on his pale skin.

He waited patiently until his small friend's breathing was back to normal and some colour had returned to his pale face.

His own eyes were serious.

He felt less guilt than he should.
If any other boy had frightened Perfect like this, he would have ended them.

He found Kim Perfection to be particularly adorable when he was upset. But he had heard the tone of real fear in that scream.
This needed to be addressed quickly and directly.

He spoke softly to him, in English , once those fine eyes raised back up to meet his gaze. 
' Never', was a word he knew well.
It figured largely in his mind.
Along with several others. Words like 'honour' , 'see' 'safe' and 'trust'.
Words that encompassed concepts of guidance and were the cornerstones by which he had decided that he wished to live his life by.
Words that mattered.
Rarely, if ever, it was hoped, to be spoken aloud.
Only and ever, as dedicated truths.

" I ... Never...You never fall. Perfect ... Ok ? Yeah , ok.' He glanced up at the mammoth curving basin, then back at Perfect. 'You , me...We go up , down , again. Not fall. Safe. '
He reached out and took one of Perfection's small hands in his own. Holding it firmly and staring solemnly into his eyes.
'Safe with me."

Perfection looked at him for a long moment.

Hero had pulled his hair back in a half club , revealing his scarred face. The stitches had been taken out just a few days past.
Of course a big tough boy like Hero wasn't afraid of heights, or some stupid huge wall.

He sighed, peering up at it, pulling his hand back and wrapping his thin arms around himself.

Hero wouldn't let him fall.

He believed him. Now that his heart had ceased ricocheting through his body, perhaps he needed to show him that he believed him.

He was no coward. Hero might be bigger and stronger - but he would show him.
His chin jutted out as he raised his head and met Hero's gaze resolutely.

Hero saw it and smiled. Brave little bird.

Perfect took a deep breath and smiled too.
Well ... Almost.
" Ok. Let's go".
Hero nodded. " Good", he said , reaching out and pulling him up.

The rest of the afternoon was spent climbing up and racing down. They were late for dinner, and Perfect had nearly fallen asleep at the table.

Hero slipped easily into being a part of the noisy household.

It was simply how they were, he came to realize. Active. Loud. Uncomplicated and loving.

He brought the last of his things over when his father was at work.

The cosy warmth that seemed to permeate their home felt like it stayed with him where ever he went, even on the coldest  days.
The sturdy old house containing just the few of them , somehow managed to always be full of  light. Of clean or savoury smells and warm familiar sounds. Of dishes being done. Meals being prepared . Of voices . Laughter. Music.

He went back to the silent dark and stale house next door only when his father was away , and occasionally when he was sober, just back from work.

His father rarely remained sober for long.

He appeared to be indifferent.

Completely unconcerned that Hero was away most of the time.

The few times Hero had lingered at the house with him, he was morose. Dull eyed and sullen. He would simply curse at him or ignore him. The last time Hero had stepped in the door , he had viciously  thrown a glass at him, narrowly missing his head.
It had smashed on the wall beside him.
Hero had left and walked back the way he had come. Shaking bits of glass from his hair as he headed back across the driveway.

Whenever Hero went back over to the house containing ' that crazy man', Perfect would leave the light on in his room .
He felt restless. Anxious. He would try to ignore the annoying hollow feeling that seemed to pick at the back of his stomach.

He couldn't study properly. Or play computer games. Or read. It was impossible for him to focus on anything. He despised knowing Hero was next door.

Hero's bedroom was right across the driveway from his. He hoped that Hero would see that the light was on and come back.
When at last the older boy rapped on the glass , he ran to it, pulling up the window up with a bang, tugging impatiently at Hero's arms as he climbed in .
Going off when he saw Hero staring down at his worried expression.

" What's that look about? Have I got something on my face? You're such a jerk...Just stay here . Why do you even go over there? So annoying...That stupid house...You know Sis and Aunty don't mind. I'll get us some food. Are you hungry? Of course you would be...There's nothing to eat over at that place...You haven't eaten, right?"

Hero listened to him fuss.
So cute.
He didn't speak for a moment. Finally , when the smaller boy paused to take a breath, he reached out a long arm and gently ran his fingers through Perfect's glossy amber hair, trailing a finger down one delicate cheek.

Perfect batted his hand away in annoyance. 'Took you long enough to come home." He snapped.
Hero looked at him.
The pretty eyes were too bright.
He was biting his lower lip and glaring at Hero.
Home.
Had Perfect realized what he had just said?

His own eyes were stinging.
He resisted the urge to touch him again.

" It's late. You left your light on.'

Hero's voice was quiet.

Perfect was looking at him anxiously. His glistening eyes darting up and down Hero's form.

' I'm ok."

Perfect scowled, swiped at his eyes then abruptly flung his arms around Hero's  thick waist, hugging him tightly.

Hero felt something deep within himself settle , and become still.

He had lifted his arms in surprise. But he lowered them slowly ... Wrapping them gently, carefully,  around the smaller boy hugging him so fiercely.
He closed his eyes, listening to the faint tinkling sound of chimes through the window.
Perfect shoved himself back suddenly, looking startled.
Staring up at Hero . Awkward for a moment , as though he was surprised at his own spontaneous display of affection.

Hero made a harsh sound. Brief and rasping. Then smiled at him.

Perfect couldn't help but smile back .

It was the first time he heard Hero laugh.
I never want him to leave ... I want to hear him laugh every day.
He frowned again. Glaring up at him. Hero was looking far too pleased with himself.
Enough sappy crap. The big ox. Why did his emotions feel too big for his chest when it had anything to do with him?
Why was he so anxious every moment away from his side?
Ox.
It didn't matter. He was here now.

" Of course you haven't eaten...Come on... Let's go get a snack. Then we'll study verbs and honorific's. Sis made rice cakes. You need to shower.' Perfection fidgeted , moving restlessly from one foot to the other. Narrowing his eyes and glaring when Hero stood looking around the room, then back at him for a long moment, without moving.

He finally pushed at the heavy boy in annoyance , muttering and making impatient sounds when he found he couldn't budge him so much as an inch . 'Hero ... Come on '.
Are you really just going to stand there looking at me? You're always staring at my face.

Hero finally shook his head and headed for the kitchen.

The little bird possessed such a bright spark.  Emotions played across those delicate features like sunlight on clear water.
He had to remind himself not to stare at the truth of them.

'Hey, don't you want to finish that game we started ..? You're staying over for sure right? You might as well...There's lots of food. Minjun says you can come for supper whenever you want - and stay over, too. Aunty baked cookies , chocolate chip with pecans. Wait'll you taste those. If you stay the whole week end, we'll be able to play ' World of Warcraft', in that tournament. Don't forget we need to practice more writing!"

                                                              SAFE . Chapter one pt. 2

Minjun and Aunt Mei Lu seemed unbothered  by Hero virtually living with them.

After the first week of Hero's stay with them, there simply began to be a place set at mealtimes for him.

Min and Mei had  apparently decided to take  turns suggesting that he stay over, until  finally, after a couple of months, they simply gave him a key.

Perfect noticed that they too, were quiet and distracted whenever Hero went next door for any length of time.

All of them clearly felt better having Hero stay with them instead.

He was shy in the beginning. Quiet and watchful. He rarely spoke first to the adults.
When he did speak, he was very respectful of both Minjun and Mei Lu. Listening carefully while learning to associate unfamiliar words and phrases.

He soon became accustomed to their close knit sensibilities.

Mei Lu was a whirlwind. Small in stature, huge in spirit.
Gregarious , scathing , and fiercely devoted to both Minjun and Perfect.
She was a perfect foil to Minjun's quiet ways.

Mei Lu's parents now lived across the city. But they used to live just up the block. They had been great friends with Minjun and Perfect's father and mother, and until just a few years after Perfection was born, they had spent a great deal of time at each other's houses.

Her parents had moved when Mei Lu's grandfather passed away, to help look after her grandmother .
She and Minjun had been inseparable for many years.
Perfect had told him he couldn't remember a time when she had not been a daily part of their lives.

Mei Lu teased Hero  the most. Scolding him and checking his clothes and hair before school along with Perfect. She made him feel like he had always lived with them.

The three of them had called him in from the small garden , where he had been helping Perfect , removing some stones and weeds with a wheelbarrow.
Hero had come in,  stamping his feet , taken off the rubber boots he had borrowed from Minjun, and gone to the sink to watch his hands.
He entered the kitchen to find all of them sitting at the table  smiling mysteriously.

" Sit. Have some lunch Hero." Mei Lu had  gestured to a large bowl of  chicken soup , rich with peppers , mushrooms and silky tofu.
Hero had nodded and joined them  at the table.
He glanced down to where his spoon should be, and saw a keychain made of strips of dark braided leather  with a house key on it, laying beside it.
He looked up quickly. Three sets of eyes were twinkling back at him . Perfect was grinning from ear to ear.
Hero looked at Minjun.

" We hope you won't mind staying here often ,' she said , with a quick smile, adding a little white pepper to her soup after tasting it.
" Every day if you want to." Perfect's voice was gleeful.
" Yes', Mei Lu added , ' Its  nice knowing Perfect is not alone. Especially when we are both so busy, working and studying . We are grateful when you are able to stay . You having a key will be helpful. Please use it every day."

Both women quickly found they had to speak with Hero about allowing Perfect to do his share of cleaning and chores.

Otherwise Hero would simply do all of them ; brushing aside Perfect's protests of "its my turn", or "let me do it."

He was the first to hold a door open. To take out the garbage. To help with the garden or to carry anything heavy.

But the real blessing of Hero being welcomed to their home ,  was Perfect's happiness.

He had long been having trouble, being bullied by several older and bigger boys .
Fine boned and small, he was already at a disadvantage.

Being two years younger than the rest of the students in his classes hadn't helped.

There had been concern that he was not being challenged properly.

   When tested, he had easily surpassed several grade level standards.

It was recommended that he be allowed to bypass all of them.

He had pleaded with Minjun  asking that he please not be advanced more than a single year, as he was already younger and smaller than his schoolmates.
Their parents had tested him. He had passed the requirement exam easily , and had begun school a year earlier than the others in his class.
   Being advanced another full grade at this late junction, only widened the gap.

He had fervently wished to avoid the vast social disparity that direct admittance to University would incur.
University was what the school was recommending.
There had been several meetings . But  eventually  - and against the advisement of the  prestigious International School's administration - Minjun acceded to Perfect's plea.

She was steadfast in her decision once it was made.

He would only advance one more grade. 
She had discussed the possibilities with Perfection at length, and had set a stern compromise with him. He would have to work hard.

One of the strict conditions was that he would maximize his advanced studies with extra courses online and then carefully consider early graduation.

Her little brother had enthusiastically agreed. But really, it had made no difference.
He was too much.
Too smart - too  quick to retort if he was  teased  - too pretty.

His features were androgynous. Fair and delicate. His large dark eyes were  edged with an over abundance of thick, long lashes that made him look both refined and innocent.

Boys found him disconcerting . His fragile beauty was at odds with his biting verbal defense. Wits were his weapons.
If they teased him, he would quickly slice them to ribbons with a few sharp, well chosen words.

He was graceful and efficient, but not bold or athletic. Energetic and quick -but not overly strong.

Teachers treated him with respect and admiration.
When it became clear that most sports would be too rough for him, the girls in his class persuaded him to join the cheer team.
His small stature and nimble grace lent well to being thrown in the air.
He quickly became the top of the human tower they would sometimes form in their more energetic maneuvers.

Girls of all levels, junior to senior, began to pay him to tutor them when his advanced proficiency was profiled in a magazine of academia and the school paper.

None of these things endeared him to other boys his age.
It was like he dug under the skin of their worst insecurities and they needed to see him bleed .
It had reached a point where he was coming home almost  daily , with a black eye or bloody lip.

Minjun and Mei Lu had become anxious about his escalating 'clumsiness', but because Perfect was both stubborn and embarrassed, he refused to admit that he was being picked on relentlessly.

" I'm fine. Just leave it. You worry too much." He had attempted to skirt around his sister , ducking his head as he tried to move past .
She caught his arm.
"Perf', she said quietly. ' Kim Perfection - look at me."
" I have online studies. I'm fi"-
She stepped in front of him and bent down a little , trying to see his face.
He stubbornly turned his head, so she wouldn't see his bruised mouth.

" No. You're not ' fine', Minjun said , eyeing him with concern. ' You've never been clumsy',' he pushed past her. 'Perfect!"
He slammed his bedroom door . She could hear the chair being dragged over to it so she couldn't open it.
" I'm FINE!" He shouted when she knocked.
It had eventually become exhausting for him to come up with a new story about how he had fallen at cheer practice, or tripped running home.

It had begun to affect his schoolwork.

His normally happy and mischievous disposition slowly changed.
He became uncharacteristically quiet and easy to startle.

Often insisting on staying in his room . Saying he wasn't hungry at supper.

Hero's  presence quickly put an end to the bullying.

He chose a locker beside Perfect's that he would slam open or shut with a loud bang if any boy so much as approached Perfect at the start or the finish of their day - looming forward with purpose and a menacing demeanour, unless Perfect assured him that the boy was a friend.

When one of the two classes they did not share was finished, Hero would be slouched by the door, waiting to walk with him to the next one.

The one time a group of larger boys had waited to take Hero down , they had chosen to do so on a street not far from the school, near the river.
It quickly became an isolated incident.

One that was sometimes referred to in hushed tones , accompanied by sudden silences and furtive stares in the school hallways.

One that was never repeated .

A younger brother of one of the boys , who had witnessed the event , said that once Hero was finished with them he threw their bicycles  and back packs on a small boat then pushed it out onto the moving water .

He also said it took more time for him to deal with the bicycles than his would - be attackers

Hero was being held back a year because he had a poor grasp of Korean language and had missed too many classes.

  He had been living at a temple in Taiwan before his mother had died, and his father had removed him, eventually bringing him to Seoul.

He struggled with some concepts because the Temple's training had been primarily of a spiritual and physical focus. He spoke Mandarin, some English and very little Korean.

Perfect was advanced in every one of his classes. So the morning after that first night, Minjun had come to Perfect's room and  offered a nice surprise.

" Perf ,' she whispered, reaching over Hero to gently shake her young brother's shoulder, putting a finger to her lips and pointing down at Hero , who was still deeply asleep.
The visible side of his face was shiny and swollen, red and black and blue.

Perfect had nodded and climbed carefully out from behind Hero's slumbering form.

They walked quietly out to the kitchen where Aunty Mei gave him a sweet milk tea.

Minjun smiled and smoothed his hair.

" Little brother, she said .  ' Aunty and I think it might be nice for you to stay home for a few days with your new friend.
He'll stay with us for awhile.
We have called the school and arranged it - if you are ok with missing some classes.
You are far ahead in all of them. What do you think about that?"

Perfect looked relieved. Then troubled.
He glanced in the direction of his room.

A father would never strike his own child like that.

Only an insane person.

" That would be great - except...What about the lunatic guy next door? Do you think he'll come looking for Hero?"
Perfect had decided he would never refer to the man that hurt Hero as Hero's father. Even if he actually was.
He would ever and always, remain simply, 'that crazy man', in Perfect's mind.

Min looked at Mei Lu , who nodded as she placed a plate of fresh cut fruit on the table.

"We left a note for the man next door, explaining that we have invited Hero to stay with us for a while.

It will help him get settled into school , since you two are not too far apart in age. We're pretty sure he won't mind,' Aunt Mei said as she shrugged into her coat, preparing to leave for an early lecture.

' Huh. Won't mind, ' Perfect muttered, frowning at his plate and poking a piece of fruit around.' He won't, for sure."

Minjun  hid a smile, curling her top lip in and looking away . Mei Lu gave him big eyes then continued.

'I also wrote that if he needed to reach us, he could call my brother Tan at his law firm and leave a message while we are working - but Perfect , if there is any problem, you call either of us on our direct lines right away, ok? I have to get to class, bye family! Mwah!"

Mei Lu blew a kiss as she hurried out the door.

Perfect was thrilled that Hero would be allowed to stay.

He sat at the kitchen table. Swinging his feet , eating fruit and asking  rapid fire questions  between mouthfuls.

"Can I go to cheer practice next week if I don't go to classes? I don't want to let the team down."

" I think that would be fine  , if you want to ."  Minjun was filling the kettle for tea.

" Can Hero come watch if he's feeling better? We can pack lunches for him too, right? He'll need a school uniform... I have that money from winning the science fair - It should  be enough. You can keep my allowance money for the extra food...I have savings from tutoring, too. He'll need shoes. Books. Do you think if  we ask, he can share classes with me so I can help him? I know I can get the assignments he might miss and assist him...I don't want him to get behind."

Minjun smiled  at his eager expression.

"One question at a time , clever mouse.  You're making my head spin!
Yes to all of them. But... I think you should let Hero just rest and eat today and probably tomorrow. We can make up the guest room for him -"

Perfect was dismayed.

"No! I mean...Min -Sis , please. Can he please stay with me? For once me being this much of a skinny stick will be helpful... I won't take up much room in the bed and my room is bigger than the guest room, too. He can stay in there if he wants...but if he'd rather stay with me, I really want to take care of him."

Perfect's eyes were pleading. He looked so alarmed.

Minjun's heart ached with affection for her bright little brother.

She and Mei Lu  had been so worried about him.

She realized just how much she had missed his sunny smile and happy chatter these difficult past few months.
She had been anxious.
It reminded her of how quiet he had been, and for such a long time ,  after the sudden loss of their parents. 

She smoothed his hair again, doing her best to look stern.
"As long as you promise to let him rest , Perfection .

Getting the assignments is a good idea.'

She  sat at the table  across from him and peeled a banana, putting some slices on a plate for him, and popping a piece in her own mouth. She took a sip of tea and continued.

' No staying up all night playing video games and watching movies , right? You must be responsible and clean up after yourselves while Mei and I are at work and school...We are trusting you both to be good, right?"

Perfect gave her the sweet smile that reminded her so much of their beautiful Mother. He nodded vigorously.

"Deal. I really will Sis. Thanks."

" Good.' She smiled.

' We are giving you big trust.
Aunty is right though- if anything happens, you call us right away , ok? Ok.' She put the last of the banana slices on his plate, saying briskly ' I made some rice noodles with coriander, peppers, mango and pork for you for lunch.

There will be enough for you both, its in the fridge - Promise me you won't just eat snacks!'
She rose from the table.
'I have  to get ready. You go on, back to bed."

                                                     SEASONS CHANGE. Chapter 1. Pt. 3

There had been no more 'clumsiness' after Hero came to stay with them .
He had become Perfect's ever present companion after that day. Following him around like a large shadow.

They now shared most classes .

Minjun and Perfection had approached the board and placed the request. Stating that Perfect was willing to tutor Hero , and help bring his grades up.

Perfect was an outstanding honor student. His academic prowess had been directly responsible for raising the profile of the prestigious international school he attended.

Mei Lu and Minjun had quickly found a bursary that granted entrance and support for a student who came from a household of difficult circumstances. Hero met the qualification.

It was fast tracked and done. Perfect was able to tutor Hero. To help guide him through the scholastic requirements and to help immerse him , enabling him to learn both Korean and English. He doubled down on their English classes. It had been difficult.
But he had learned well , with the help of Perfect's  focused determination.

His grades improved. Slowly at first , then steadily , until his comprehension became comfortable.

It took some time for the two of them to find their groove... Hero was hesitant and awkward in the beginning.
Perfect learned patience.
Tutoring Hero was very different from tutoring  already English - foundation fluent girls.

He became a better teacher.
He teased and scolded Hero into doing his best, and was quick to  enthusiastically celebrate his progress.

'He doesn't really like chocolate. But he loves spicy garlic noodles.' He wrote in the journal he kept notes in , regarding Hero's studies , so he could track where he needed help the most. 'Today he smiled twice before breakfast - winning! He told me that he lived in a temple for almost seven years. I asked him to describe what it was like, in Korean. He did well. I know which words to highlight for comprehension during our next lesson.
His feet are really big... So are his hands. Aunty says she thinks he is going to be very tall. I hope I hurry up and get taller too."

Perfection quickly found that Hero learned faster if he was able to be tactile. So He began quizzing him while Hero practiced the familiar temple disciplines, as he did every morning.

Then in the bedroom before they slept, Perfect would talk to him. Review their day. Making up stories and encouraging him to insert words or asking him to randomly spell some words from the morning's quiz.

" Hup! Shove over Hero. You're so ..."
" Hand - some ', Hero offered, sounding the word out carefully, in English and grinning at the smaller boy. 'Ca- pa-ble. Talen-"

" Big!' Perfect pushed at his much taller and heavier friend, rolling his eyes and making annoyed ' tsks' and exasperated sounds , until Hero finally lifted a big arm so he could sit beneath it , snugged into Hero's side , leaning back on his big shoulder , and wriggling until he was comfortable - and so they could both clearly see the tablet being held in Perfect's hands.

' That's better. Honestly, Hero , can you please just stop being enormous for two minutes"?
Hero grinned at him and shut his eyes, pretending to concentrate very hard. He half opened one eye and looked at Perfect. " How's this? Better? Do I look smal-ler ? I've ex-haled."
He sounded those words out as well ... Perfect nodded  smugly with a satisfied expression. " It will have to do. Now, spell  ' enormous'..."

It quickly became clear that Hero disliked socializing with anyone except Perfect -  or being touched.

Even by accident.

He would stop and his expression would become very still.
He would then either turn and walk away or give who ever had the misfortune of tapping him on the arm or bumping into him a dark look.
Even the girls that Perfect tutored approached them with careful courtesy.

For Perfection Kim , however, he was favorite furniture.

He had come to wait for Perfect near the finish of cheerleading practice. Sitting on the bleachers off to the side.
Perfect saw him, and waved , giving him a tired smile.
Hero rose, and walked over to where Perfect was talking to a cute girl with masses of dark, gleaming curls.
Perfect introduced his friend, and then moaned that he was exhausted from the new cheer routine they had begun learning that day.
Hero had reached out a long arm and crouched down.

The next moment, Perfect found himself draped across Hero's broad back.
" Hang on", he had said, as he rose , grabbing their book pack, slinging it across his neck so he could hook his arms under Perfect's skinny legs.
"See you tomorrow, Fei." Perfect had waved goodbye to his friend , not caring that the whole cheer team had stopped to stare at them leaving like this.

Let them find their own rides home.

He pulled Hero around by the hand at events to make sure they did not get separated. Hero would stand right behind him to deflect anyone who might jostle him.

If the crowd was too much , and Perfect couldn't see, Hero would lift him up to perch happily on his strong shoulders.

He was Perfect's best ladder to get books that were too high up in the library. The best reaching hook in science labs.
Hero carried the backpack that held their books and lunches to and from school, listening quietly while Perfect talked about their classes and their day.

For Hero, it felt as though he had simply stumbled into a warm place that had been waiting for him after he had long been away.

He determined to do his best. To focus on what mattered.
To try to practice authenticity in everything that he did.

To work hard. To learn all that he could . And to always remember the smell of the rain that had washed away the darkness.

Summers passed by too quickly.

Full of swimming and forts. Kites on the beach and never enough ice cream.

To be followed by so much studying that Hero began to feel his head was becoming shaped like a book. There were times he had had enough, grabbing Perfect , tossing him over his shoulder and taking him to the playground across the street , ignoring his futile punches and  shouting protests.
He would plop him on a swing and start to push, and spin him, until Perfection was laughing and calling him names.

Warm days passed to crisp autumns , followed by cold winters then easing back to spring .

Because of his size, Hero was always being offered a place on the rugby team.

For the past four years he had refused. Self conscious of being overweight. Wanting to avoid awkward conversations about the scars on his face and arms.

Instead he rose early every morning and practiced the slower then the faster articulated forms and stretches he had learned in the temple where he had been raised for several years until his mother had died.

Things were going along well. The days falling in one after the other , until the past few weeks.

Perfect noticed that Hero had suddenly begun sleeping in the small guest room, instead of sharing the bed with him as they had always done.

They had always been able to speak easily with each other...But for several weeks, Perfect had found Hero to be distant and difficult to read.
He guessed it was because of the moment they had shared when Hero had been just out of the shower , nearly a month ago.

He could remember it clearly.

It had built a house in his memory that he had been decorating lavishly ever since.

Hero had  acquired a part time job.

He had begun working at the loading docks on week ends and twice a week, after school for the past year.
It was heavy , repetitive physical work. Hours of lifting and stacking large crates and unloading pallets full of building materials.
He would come home long after dark on the after school work days. Sweaty and exhausted, he would mutter a greeting, shower, then fall into bed without eating.

Perfect hadn't really paid attention to how greatly Hero's body had changed, until that day.

He had finally shed the excess weight the two years of living with his father and either going hungry or over eating poor food had put on him.
He was still a large heavy boy.  His shoulders were broad. His chest was deep.

But muscle weighed more than fat.

He had grown much taller. Shooting up several inches to over six feet in just the past few months.

Aunty Mei , Minjun and Perfect had all watched in astonishment as Hero had begun eating almost constantly.

Then, in what seemed like a matter of days, he had walked into the kitchen one morning and Mei Lu had stared up at him in surprise saying "Hey. No more growing - I'll get a sore neck looking up at you."

He had insisted on giving Minjun money for groceries and bills, and had started cooking almost daily for them as well.

Perfect thoroughly enjoyed his culinary endeavors, but he had begun to wonder if Hero might be trying to kill him ,  staring aghast , as he piled his plate high with food.

"Hero - stop - what are you doing? It's too much. How will I ever eat all that?" He had protested , his eyes widening when Hero set the heaping plate in front of him.

Aunty and Sis had been no help whatsoever.

"Perfect. Listen to Hero,' his sister had admonished in between appreciative bites of savory lemongrass chicken.

She used her chopsticks to draw an up and down line in the air beside Hero , who was already attacking his second plate of stir fried vegetables and pork .

'Just Look at how healthy he is. He's cooked so well for us,' Minjun  lowered her chopsticks and smiled at Hero , reaching out to pat his hand affectionately.

" MMM, Hero,  its so delicious. It's true, Perfect - you should eat more ',   Mei Lu said, briefly closing her eyes in delight over the mouthful of sweet coconut rice she had just taken.

She gazed lovingly at Hero , chewing blissfully.

He looked pleased with himself. Arching a dark brow and grinning smugly at Perfect.

Perfect glared at the three of them in indignation.

"Hey! What's all this? Healthy? Huh. Look at him - the one you both love so well - He's huge! Do you think me hurting my stomach will make me a giant like him?' He made a disgusted sound and shook his head. He was unable to suppress a small groan of appreciation at the delicious taste of the chicken , which didn't help his frustration one bit.

Hero had laughed and gently nudged Perfect's shoulder , grinning at the dark look he received .
He reached out to muss Perfect's hair.

Perfection narrowed his eyes, pushing his hand away in annoyance, like he always did.

' Enough!' He mumbled crossly, glaring and chewing. 'I'm trying to eat this mountain of food. I need to mentally prepare for this! I'm not some empty vessel just waiting to be filled , like a certain over- grown stone giant that lives in this house." He swallowed and huffed before angrily stuffing his mouth with more of the heavenly goodness. His cheeks bulged like a chipmunks, and Hero had to hide a smile at the sight .

Just when I think he can't be any cuter.

Lowering his eyes to his own plate until he could collect himself. He coughed covering the laugh that was threatening to escape.
He quelled a ridiculous urge to pull Perfect's chair closer to his, so he could feed him, by being brusque.

" What? You're too thin anyway. Stop being so skinny. Eat what I make you - don't waste." Hero had shoved the plate closer to him , earning another affronted glare, then gone back to his own meal.

It was clear that Hero possessed a true talent for preparing excellent food.

That evening, Perfect had knocked on the bathroom door wanting to brush his teeth before bed as they had always done.

Hero  had yanked open the door and stepped back to let him come in .

He had obviously just finished showering, and had a white towel wrapped around his hips contrasting vividly against his newly acquired golden tan, achieved from working hours in the hot sun, unloading the freighters at the shipyard.

He had been vigorously toweling his hair and brushing his teeth at the same time.

Perfect had come in and found himself  staring at Hero's narrow hips , big shoulders and ridged stomach in  honest astonishment, stepping up close , placing both his hands on Hero's broad chest , gazing up at him with exaggerated amazement while running them over his hard pecs , then over squeezing his biceps, once, twice, three times.

"Hero...Look at you,' he grinned. 'You're legendary!'

He 'tsked and continued admiringly, ' Whose arms are these? Where is my friend?' He lifted one of the thickly muscled arms , frowning and peering below it as though searching for someone 'He's gone! What have you done with him?"
To his surprise , he noticed that he could nearly stand below Hero's armpit without lowering his head.
Hero had snorted, and caught a delicate wrist. Holding it aloft and grinning as he leaned over to spit into the sink.
He  had stared down at Perfection , noting with amusement, how vast the difference in their height had really become.
"You've seen me a hundred times. What are you doing? I should do it to you and see how you like it - being groped in a bathroom."

Perfect had started to laugh again, but the laughter caught in his throat when Hero teased back by quickly stepping forward , almost pushing him up against the door then slipping his hands inside the bathrobe Perfect had been wearing .
Large warm hands caressed his chest, sliding up as Hero lightly squeezed his slim shoulders, arching a scarred brow , and laughing roughly.

The older gray and pink  satin robe had slipped down, nearly falling off completely.
Perfect had been planning to shower, so he was wearing nothing beneath it.

Hero's hand had grabbed down, inside the robe, crushing Perfect hard against him, Pinning the robe between their hips, preventing it from falling.

Perfect had gasped and  almost lost balance.

Then it had happened.

One of Hero's hands had reached down to pull one side of the robe back up, but the other hand  slid slowly up from cupping almost a whole cheek of Perfect's bottom , where he had grabbed .
Gliding up along  his lower back , slowing as it slid along the side of his slender body to his chest again .

It felt wonderful. That hand.

Huge... Calloused...Gentle and warm against Perfect's soft skin. 

His own hands had flailed , coming to rest on Hero's hard shoulders when Hero grabbed him. Somehow they had slid up of their own volition to wrap around Hero's neck.
He was so tall.

Their faces had been very close. Hero's minty breath was warm , his eyes had darkened.
The space between them was suddenly charged and full of something new. Something strange , hot and needful.
For a heart pounding second, Perfect had thought Hero was going to kiss him.
His lips parted in anticipation  of it and he shuddered.

A  warm liquid sensation rolled lazily through his body. His skin felt as though millions of tiny pins were dancing along its surface.

That had been the exact moment a revelatory awareness had rushed through him.

He wanted that kiss.

He wanted Hero .

The scarred familiar face had undergone a wealth of expression in the space of a few seconds.

Dark eyes locked with his and the room had fallen away leaving him aware only of want.
A large thumb had brushed his hard nipple , and he felt himself trembling in those strong arms as they had tightened, curving  his spine, deliciously crushing him closer.
Yes...
" Hero", Perfect 's lips silently formed his name. Their mouths were nearly touching.

A rasping of breath. Something that sounded like "Little bird''-then his robe was dragged up . He exhaled sharply , clutching the cloth, and stumbling back, as he suddenly remembered to breathe again.

Hero had pushed past him, and was gone.

But...Perfect had been certain he had felt a mouthwatering part of Hero stir then nudge against him right before he released him so suddenly.

His heart was pounding. His legs felt weak. He ached with a frustrated, unfulfilled yearning.
He was hard.
He had sat heavily on the cold , closed seat of the toilet  staring at the closed door, knowing that nothing would ever be the same.

He desperately wished Hero had kissed him.

And more.
Much more.

Yes.
Since then, something had changed between them.

He had always carelessly climbed all over Hero without a thought.
Their usual position was Perfect laying back , half against Hero's chest, under one of his arms while they watched movies or studied. Perfection often felt the cold. Hero was a mountain of warmth.

Perfect couldn't really pinpoint exactly when he had found he loved being in Hero's arms more often.

It had always felt comfortable. Natural.

When had he  begun to close the laptop earlier so he could turn and just be held by him? Snuggling into his warm hard body  with a contented  or drowsy sigh.
They had done this so often. Nearly every day, since Hero had come to stay.

Perfection sometimes had difficulty calming his restless mind.
Since the sudden loss of  his parents , it had become worse.

He could fall off a cliff of speculative theories and interconnected metrics that occasionally resulted in insightful conclusions - but could rob him of sleep - resulting in him becoming anxious . Over tired distracted  and easily frustrated.

Hero would notice him beginning to sigh and rub his eyes .  He would reach out a long arm, to pull his wheeled ergonomic chair away from his computer table , and then pluck him out of it.

" Go ahead, keep studying ", he would gruff at him, as he arranged him. Manhandling him easily, as though Perfect weighed no more than a jacket, to rest  beneath one of his strong arms, leaned on Hero's chest and shoulder, so he could easily work on his laptop while he did so.

Hero would put on his earphones and read or watch him work. Occasionally interrupting him, asking questions or teasing him.
Perfect would sometimes last awhile, but often, he would begin to yawn, then nod, soothed by the enveloping comfort of Hero's  great warmth , listening to the slow, steady rhythm of his strong heart, as he read or watched the online courses and took notes.

Hero would smile and absently stroke his hair while he studied , drowsed or slept. He seemed content to read or rest with him.

Recently though, If he fell asleep on Hero while they were dressed, Hero would stay in the same bed.

But if he got up to go shower and get ready for sleep, he would return to an empty room.

Since those memorable moments in the bathroom, he had caught Hero several times , staring at him intently, in a way that made his face grow warm, and his heart begin to beat faster.

He had always risen earlier to review his advanced studies.

But now he would open a book and it would remain open on the same page for too long.

His tea would grow cold while he watched Hero practicing the slow structured movements and then the faster , articulated forms he did every morning in the small garden on the far side of the house.

With the advent of spring , the crisp mornings had become warmer.

Hero no longer wore a shirt as he practiced the disciplines...His body was so different now...Perfect felt his heart trip and his mouth grow dry as he admired the way the taut muscles tensed then settled across Hero's strong back and broad shoulders.

Hero had begun showering in the morning as well as right after work. He had kept some distance. Picked up more working hours.

But just lately , Perfect found that things had changed in a way that made the stars seem brighter and the spring moonlight full of secrets untold.

Everything was different ...

Hero would go shower. Then emerge fully dressed and begin teasing Perfect like he used to, before things had become awkward between them.

Perfect was there for it. 100%.
He realized now, just how much he had missed Hero's gentle smiles and warm extra attentions.

He wondered , was he just being hopeful? Imagining that Hero's touches were a little more frequent?
The strong hands seemed to linger...

Perfect didn't mind. He was enjoying every moment. He prayed that he wasn't just overthinking. Wishing.
Yearning ...

He found himself staring at those hands ... When had they become so veined and calloused?

Hero had caught him staring one day, when it was just the two of them at the table.  Perfect had been dreamily admiring the way the thick muscles on Hero's long arm would bulge then flex as he reached over for a piece of fruit.

Hero had glanced at him, and suddenly pulled his hand over , placing it in the crook of his arm as he raised a crisp apple to his mouth, taking a big bite. The huge bicep flexed , squishing his slim fingers , holding him fast.

Perfect had tried pulling his hand back, but Hero had grinned , chewing , and kept it trapped while he gently pinched Perfect's cheek  , making him giggle and 'tsk', saying " Hero, I'm your prisoner.' Perfect had leaned close and smiled.

' So strong ...What can I do to make you release me?"  The words had come out sounding softer and sweeter than he had intended.
The carefree feeling of the moment had changed.

Hero's dark eyes had flickered down to his mouth, lingering for just a second, before he had abruptly let him go, then left the room.
Perfection's heart began to race.
He wanted to kiss me. He was looking at my mouth , and he was imagining kissing me.
The certainty of the thought sent a bolt of hot desire through him.

He had begun feeling excited , distracted and happy - instead of annoyed when Hero teased him.
He found himself feeling a little nervous, speaking softly more often, instead of loudly teasing or being impatient with him.

He found himself suddenly behaving like a crazy person.

The past few days had been the worst.

He kept catching himself staring at Hero like a sad dog.

Giving Hero what had to be glaze eyed looks, worthy of a land- stranded goldfish, over his shoulder when Hero was standing behind him.

Their eyes would connect. Hero would look at him steadily , then quizzically, until he would realize he was staring idiotically at him. The heat would flood his face, turning him bright pink.

He began to lose track of conversations . He would have a clear idea of something at first, sometimes it was even something important, but inevitably, he would find himself tongue tied and just staring at Hero.
At his skin , that had become so golden from the sun. Hero would ask if he was alright, snapping him out of his lustful reverie, and he would wind up stammering, wringing his hands and garbling some kind of  pointless chatter at him. Inane word salads about school or the cheer team , that trailed off into nothing while he tried for the thousandth time , not to rake his eyes up and down that huge, god- tier body like some kind of drooling pervert.

Hero's expression would change from calm and curious, to startled and confused - then , to complete the lurid k-drama he suddenly found himself starring in, he would feel his face become hot and he would stop blabbering nonsense and just run away. He would snap his mouth shut in the middle of speaking, and run to the nearest bathroom, where he would  just sit on the closed toilet with his head in his hands  and his eyes squeezed shut until he could collect himself.

To his embarrassment, he noticed that lately Hero had begun treating him gingerly, like he was made of glass... Giving him worried glances and frequently suggesting that he go rest.

Then just yesterday he had nearly dropped  the salad he had been carrying to the table, when he glanced up to see Hero , still damp from a shower, stretching while wearing a worn white t shirt , that was obviously old and a little too small.  It had been clinging to him like a second skin, and ...
Oh God.
Hero had always been large, yes, but when had he become his own country?

WHEN?

There were all of these clearly defined parts of him, these great muscular swaths of  Hero, everywhere , just bulging, rippling and popping out in places that Perfect hadn't realized there could be muscles like that...He felt his knees wobble as he stared .

His tongue felt like a freshly laundered sock. His suddenly treacherous body was having some sort of spontaneous Mardi Gras, and was about to betray him in a most visible way, in front of all of them.

Minjun and Mei Lu were calmly passing some rice, utterly unaware that both his body and his brain were on fire.

" What are you doing?" He  blurted .

His voice sounded strangled. Far too loud and completely horrified , as he stared at might- as- well - be - naked Hero , who was yawning with his arms above his head, flexing mountains of sleek, golden gorgeousness all over the place at the table, like  some sort of delectable all -you -can -eat muscle buffet.

" Perfect? Are you alright?"  Minjun had asked.
All three of them had stopped and were staring at him . His sister looked concerned. Mei Lu looked curious.
Hero looked...He looked - puzzled.
Puzzled - and completely delicious.

Perfect knew he was in trouble.
God.
Normal.
God. Oh God.
He had to try to be normal. He could . Of course he could. He was a rational , logical intelligent human.
Yes. But.
He swallowed.
He was a MESS. The lustful things he was picturing...That he wanted ... That they could have been doing together all these years if he had only...Stop. He had to stop.

His family was staring. They had stopped blinking.

" No.' He stomped to the table and slammed the bowl of salad down on it , hard.
All three of them flinched.
He fell heavily into his chair and grabbed the water jug , sloshing it , pouring himself a glass and drinking deeply, while three sets of  startled eyes continued staring at him.

He knew his attempt at a reassuring smile was more like the rictus of a lipless skull.

' Fine. I mean, yes I am. Fine. I'm fine.' He was babbling. Oh God.
' It is. I am. '
He stared at Hero's incredible chest. Rising, then falling. He glugged more water.

' Because...So hot...Aren't you hot? I mean, all of you? It's hot in here.' He puffed his cheeks out, blew out some air , then forced an odd , overly loud laugh. 'Yep. Ha ha. Hee- haw! Whew!  I think I'll eat later. " He laughed  like a braying donkey again , then pushed away from the table and ran to the bedroom.

He threw himself on the bed and shoved all his fingers into his hair, sucking in his bottom lip and squinting his eyes shut.
How had he never really noticed just how physical  he and Hero were , until now? How had they just remained oblivious? Good grief. They had been practically attached to each other ALL the time.

How many nights had they slept sprawled all over each other? Well, mostly him sprawled on top of Hero...There had been no real embarrassment, he had known that Hero had sometimes gotten hard , and had gone to the bathroom to relieve himself. They had both had morning wood, Hero had even teased him about it.

Showers were useful.
But now...

" Hee- haw', he muttered. 'Please... Oh please - did I really just say that...' He groaned.

It hadn't mattered. Before that day in the bathroom. Not really. They had always just been comfortable. For him , Hero was free real estate.

Now, suddenly, he was ridiculous. A yearning , lust filled mess. He was obviously having some sort of psychotic break with both logic and sanity.

                                                           THE FIGHT. Chapter 1. Pt. 4

Gay. He was gay. So completely and utterly gay. It didn't feel like any sort of a revelation. He supposed he had always known , and he was ... Well, he was fine with it, actually.
It didn't matter. Love was love. But...Hero...This was so extra. So much more than just Hero suddenly being ... Hot.
Sexy.
Wonderful.
Cake with all the icing.
Gorgeous.
Insanely attractive.
And... Dear. So Stubborn. But... Also gentle . Kind. Strong. Thoughtful. Annoying in the best ways. The best listener. Dependable. Constant. Determined. Protective.
His shelter. ' Safe. Safe with me.'  Holding his hand.
Holding him. Cuddling him.
Loyal. His best friend. His best...Everything... His beloved Hero.
Oh God.
He loved him.
Love...If that was what this was...then it was too late.
His stomach felt odd. He was feeling a million things...
He loved Hero.
In every way you can love someone. It should be wonderful.
No , he did. He did feel wonderful...Didn't he? Maybe? No...Yes.

But... This overwhelming tsunami of lust ... These stomach hollowing feelings of agonized desire. The sudden , complex rocketing emotions - The awareness - it was so intense.

Hero was suddenly all he could think about. His eyes. His hands. That body...Those new, brooding looks that made his insides quiver. His mouth ...How that mouth would feel...

" Perfection ... Perf, are you ok?"

Hero was leaning over him. Clean fresh from the shower Hero . He smelled so good.

It was everything Perfect could do to keep from reaching up the short distance between them , from grabbing that glorious, too- tight shirt , so he could pull Hero's mouth down to his.

Instead, he covered his face with his hands.
" I'm fine. Really. Go eat. I have an exam coming up. I just need to think. "

Hero lingered.
Oh god, he was lingering because he was worried about him...And because he was suddenly behaving like an idiot.
Because he was his best friend.
Because he cared about him.

As though he had heard his thoughts, Hero spoke quietly to him, gentle concern clear in his voice.
" I will make you a plate to eat later. Brains need food."

" Don't . I'm not hungry. Just let me rest."

Hero frowned, shaking his head.
" What - ' No' - Really? Hm. You call me stubborn, then you're like this. Fine. Be skinny. Remember this 'No' , when you have no energy, Perfection.' He brushed two fingers lightly across Perfect's pale forehead.
Perfect's whole body tingled at that slight touch. He desperately willed himself not to become hard.
' I'll come back and help you study."

Perfect smacked the big chest with both hands, making a face and pushing him away , when pushing him away was the last thing he wanted to do.
He gave him  what was sure to be some kind of a weird smile. " Sure. I'd like that." He muttered, unable to think of a rational reason to say 'no'.

He had to do something. He had to know. He decided he would try to get a confession or at least a reaction from Hero .

He began doing ... Things...Hoping it was flirting , with cautious determination.

He tried to go slowly. He really did.

He started small. Just leaning back against Hero's tall body when they were standing in the kitchen. It was ridiculously thrilling when he found that Hero would rarely move away.

He would pull Perfect in front of him, instead.
Keeping him in the circle of his long arms, while he began paring vegetables into pretty shapes. Cutting fruit, or putting together a tasty salad.

He would lower his head and rest his chin on the top of Perfect's head,  then carry on with whatever he was doing . Just letting Perfect use him as a leaning wall. Sometimes he would hug him.
Because they had always been like this.

Once , he had even lightly held Perfect's waist with both hands and leaned down to whisper 'troublemaker ', before swatting his butt then stepping away.

He began experimenting with increasing boldness.

Dropping onto Hero's lap.

Rubbing his shoulders. Asking for cuddles.
"Really? Cuddles?' Hero had looked askance at him for a few seconds, the first time he did this, probably checking to see if he was being serious.
But once he ascertained that Perfect wasn't messing with him, he hadn't hesitated . He pulled Perfect onto his lap and would hold him close.

It was heavenly.

Could he be more obvious?
But after just a few minutes , Hero would hug him closer for a moment, then gently set him aside and leave the room.

It was so awful. Shameless actually.

Now , when Hero put too much food on his plate, Perfect started sharing it with him. Feeding him.
Hero had looked searchingly at him for a few long seconds  , the first time he did it . Then he grinned and ate every bite. Smiling at him while he chewed. Mussing his hair, the way he always had.

Perfect didn't push his hand away anymore. He leaned into Hero's touch instead.
Feeling a spark of pleasurable triumph when Hero cupped the side of his face and lightly brushed his thumb across his bottom lip before abruptly snatching his hand back and turning away.

Mei Lu had spoken up cheerfully , breaking the tension. " Look at you feeding him.  He eats more than all of us!"
She and Min Jun had laughed, and so had Hero.

Perfect hadn't. He just smiled, and looked away. Pleased to see Hero's  too- hearty laughter change slowly to a long unreadable stare when he peeked back at him, through his lashes. Waiting for Hero to react one way or the other.
Secretly delighted when he saw Hero's eyes darken and lower to linger on his mouth once more.  He shivered.

Tell me. Tell me what you are thinking...You know three languages. Use your words!
But no.  There was no confession.

Hero's moods were confusing. Perfection felt like they alternated between being distant and brooding with attentive but reserved.

Just recently , it seemed like Perfect's determined and increasingly not so subtle efforts , had made a difference.

Hero was suddenly always carrying him. Lifting him. Grabbing and hugging him. Pulling him onto his lap, pretending to bite his neck , then cuddling him.
Tickling him until their eyes would meet, and Perfect was breathless from the spontaneous, aggressive play.

He couldn't share a room without touching.

It was happening so often.
He began to dream at night, of Hero kissing him. Undressing him.Then imagining it during the day.

Was it only fervent imagination that Hero's eyes were following him constantly?

He had held his breath once , and pushed himself back against Hero's body as he  slowly exhaled. Thrilled to feel Hero's strong arms tighten around him.
Hot breath had tickled the side of his neck , as Hero growled a low whisper in his ear , " Be careful, little bird...You smell so delicious, I might eat you up." The big youth had laughed and stepped away , leaving Perfect flushed and yearning with a racing heart and a stomach full of butterflies.

It was wonderful. It was awful. It was driving him mad.

He found himself living for those moments.

He liked all of it.

He loved being touched by Hero.
Held and hugged by him.

He felt sure that Hero felt the same way, however, to Perfection's mounting frustration,  for whatever reasons , known only to Hero, it seemed he simply wasn't ready to fully acknowledge it yet.

He would tease and hug - or even cuddle - but then immediately just go back to whatever they were doing like it was of no importance ; acting like nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.

Perfect hesitated.
Hero was making him more than just a little crazy, but he decided to wait instead of addressing it with him. He could be stubborn , too. He was determined that he wasn't going to say anything for a little bit longer.
He wanted - no, he needed this to be Hero's move.

Something concrete that would acknowledge what was happening between them, because something  - everything - absolutely was.

"Just confess, you stubborn, gorgeous ox .' He thought to himself daily. 'Tell me that you feel the same way I do. That you want us to be together as more than just friends... That you like me too. That you're my boyfriend not my bodyguard...Or just my friend...That I'm not making myself crazy over nothing...Kiss me like I know that you want to... SAY something..."

He had finally , reluctantly, begun to lose hope. Why was Hero holding back ?

The day that everything  finally changed began ordinarily enough.

The morning had dawned clear and bright, with blue skies and a strong east wind. Morning classes were uneventful

However, that particular  afternoon, in a stroke of unprecedented good fortune, Hero and the rest of his fellow students were informed that the last class of the day - a class he didn't share with Perfect  - had been canceled.

He had taken the opportunity to come to the field to watch Perfection practice with the cheer team.

He was just going past the back of the bleachers when he over heard voices.
One of them was Perfection's.

"Perfect , the new 'Three/4/One album has dropped! Which member is your bias for their comeback?"

It was Fei asking, Hero recognized her voice. She had long been Perfect's best friend on the cheer team.

Hero heard a bright laugh. 
He smiled to himself. He could pick that laugh out from anywhere. 

"It's hard to choose, isn't it? All eight of them are so talented,', he heard Perfect say.
'But ... My bias hasn't changed, ' he continued . ' I'm a single bias  OneHeart. For me, it will always be King Shyjian. He's so handsome - and such a good leader." Perfect's voice had been dreamy.

Fei laughed .

"Perfection Kim . You haven't changed since they debuted!  You've always just died for King Shy...You are in love , Perfect - Does your husband know how hard you've fallen for the hot King of Three/4/One?"

Husband? Hero  blinked, wondering if he had heard correctly.

They both spoke quietly for a second or two. Hero peered around the corner of the bleachers where he was carefully staying out of sight.
He saw that they were huddled together looking down at Fei's phone. Probably scrolling pictures of Perfect's bias.

Then Perfect spoke clearly again.

"I do love K-Shy. He is such an underrated dancer. He produces , writes  lyrics, raps and sings -and he can cook."

Fei agreed enthusiastically. She ran a little ahead of Perfection, turning and walking backward so she was facing him as they headed for the practice field.

" Oh yes he can! Remember that video in their dorm? The one where they were all trying to make those noodles? He and Lung Chan were the only ones who knew how to cut vegetables. The rappers! It was so cute watching them try to guide the others."

"I remember,' Perfect added excitedly.

'King Shy even made dumplings. He said if he hadn't become an idol , he would have liked to have been a chef.

All of them have improved so much, but K-Shy is always thinking of the other members. I love the way he is always supporting the maknaes, Star and Ocean , putting them forward.  He really is such a good leader."

She  had fallen in beside Perfect again and they were both  looking at her phone.

" Ahhhh! A new Bei/Silk video. They're the only real ship. It's from their 'Love is Truth' Era, too. Ohh look at Shyjian!
" Mmmm", said Perfect.
'The way he dances that middle piece with Zee and Silk.  Its crazy...that jump...how they turn... Their choreo - I can't even choose a bias this year, I'm a full line OneHeart, and I stan pure talent."
Fei declared solemnly.

Perfect's fingers appeared to enlarge the small screen. His voice grew dreamy once again.
'But King Shyjian  - those shoulders. He's so extra this year , have you noticed? All those muscles...K - Shy makes all OneHeart's die...just look at him."

Perfect sounded truly impressed.

Hero frowned.

" Of course I noticed how hot my future husband has become.' Fei rolled her eyes. 'But seriously - his abs. They're crazy. I want to eat lunch off them...Such a king ... How did he get so solid?" She shook her head.

They both whispered some things that Hero couldn't make out. There was a lot of giggling.

Then Perfect turned Hero's world on it's ear.

"My dream husband is a hot chef ... Tall, with hard muscles and arm sleeve tattoos, who scares everyone else, but who spoils me completely." he said.

' My dream husband.'

It had been Perfect saying those words.

Not Fei. And no mistake.

Hero felt very odd. Hot then cold, then hot again.
His heart was racing.

"Does that mean Hero is going to pump iron and become a savage world class chef?' Fei teased. 'I'm surprised he hasn't murdered the new sophomore on the rugby team just for the way he looks at you."

Perfect sighed, shaking his head.

" You're crazy. Nobody is looking at me. Only at my notes. You're imagining things."

" I need to look at those notes!' Fei said, as she linked her arm with Perfect's. 'You have actually grown a lot this year. You are prettier than my sisters, but just as blind when people like you."

" Fei, come on, we need to get going. Practice is starting soon. Would you please do my make up? You're better at it.'

They began hurrying toward the cheer area.

Hero was moving stealthily behind the bleachers straining to hear more.

'I'll try to notice if the new sophomore looks at me."

Hero's heart tightened painfully in his chest, hearing those words. His jaw tensed.

"Get his line for me ! His name is Xi'er - his father is a Korean ambassador . They have just moved back here from Hong Kong -  and he was definitely checking you out.
How could you not have noticed him? He didn't take his eyes off you the whole practice!'
She ' tsked .
'Ha! Honestly , any of us girls could have dropped dead right in front of him and he would have stepped over our bodies to ask if you were ok, seriously Perfect."

" No." Perfect sounded sceptical.

" Yes! ' Fei exclaimed. ' You didn't notice him trying to sit next to you in the study hall because Tree , Tren  and I got there first."

"Really? Fei, you're my best friend but I worry about your mind. You've been watching way too many dramas."

"No no! Only every chance I get' ... they both laughed. ' But Xi'er really is extra .' She pushed him playfully.
'Perfect, get his line for me won't you?
Then please go ahead and break his heart...Just explain that you're married to Hero. I'll be there to catch his rebound, he'll fall into my arms...haha!" She spun in a circle with her arms open wide.

They laughed and began walking faster, nearly running.

Hero had to take long strides to keep up with them.

" Huh. Xi'er is handsome...ok.' Perfect huffed, then spoke slowly, as though deep in thought.
'I love Hero more than anything, but right now all I have is my pitiful one - sided marriage ... Hey, since Hero hasn't realized we're married yet, does that mean I'm actually single? Fei? Hey wait for me!"

Hero stood alone at the end of the bleachers and watched them run across the field.

He noticed right away, that he was not the only one watching them.

Fei had not been exaggerating.
The new student, Xi'er was easy to look at.
   He was almost as tall as Hero, and very fit.

His interest in Perfection Kim had not been an exaggeration, either.

Perfect was now bending and stretching with the other cheerleaders , getting ready for their first routine.
He straightened gracefully, raising his slender arms up, with his fingers laced. His white t- shirt pulled up, baring a little of his long slim waist.

Xi'er was kicking the ball back and forth with another player, warming up for practice.

But every time the ball left his foot, his eyes came to rest on Perfect.

Hero saw Perfect every day. He was used to Perfect's pretty face.

But today he finally allowed himself  to look at him with fresh eyes.
Fei was right.
Perfect had grown.
He wasn't all big eyes, floppy hair and skinny as a stick anymore.

When  had he become so poised and graceful? His skin so light and clear?
Perfect wasn't just pretty  any longer.
" Beautiful". Hero whispered.
So beautiful.

Hero felt misery slither beneath his heart like a blade of ice.

He stood clenching his fists, watching , as real life played out like a scene from a high school drama , before his wretched gaze.
He had been avoiding the memory of what had happened between them in the bathroom.
Had been denying the truth for too long.

The way Perfect's eyes had widened , then his long lashes had lowered. How those eyes were actually the prettiest that Hero had ever seen.
Ah, the way his little bird had melted , soft and pliant in his arms. Those beautiful eyes staring up at him full of confusion - and desire.
The creamy skin had felt like magic. Supple and smooth beneath his touch. How pink and soft his lips were...What had he been thinking ... Avoiding the truth.

Hero had wanted to kiss him with an intensity that shocked him. It had been so much.

He had thought of kissing him every day since that one. Every night.

He wanted to kiss him now.
For the first time, he tried to picture a future without Perfection Kim ,  by his side.
The thought made him feel vaguely sick. Hollow and bereft.
No.
Just no.
He watched the ambassador's  handsome son, admiring Perfect.

Xi'er kicked the ball hard.
It landed outside the line, bouncing in among the cheerleaders.
Hero saw Fei grab Perfect's arm and lean into him whispering excitedly as Xi'er ran over to them looking tall and handsome.

Perfect's hair blew into his eyes.
The wind had come up.
Xi'er took off his jacket and draped it around Perfection's shoulders, like a caring boyfriend.

Fei clapped her hands delightedly.

Hero could hear the other cheerleaders ' oohing or saying ' whoooaa ' and saw several of them began fanning themselves as though the heat was suddenly too much.

Perfect was staring up at Xi'er with wide eyes.

Xi'er smiled a smile that elicited another wave of sighs, then ran his fingers through Perfect's wind tousled hair , smoothing it back, as he positioned his tall body so that he blocked the strong gusts from him.

Even from across the field, Hero could see that the handsome youth had a marvelous build.
He was not just fit. He was muscular. 'Extra', is what Fei had called it.

Handsome. Athletic - and admired.

He was everything Hero believed that he, himself, was not.

Xi'er was exactly the kind of boyfriend someone as bright and vividly beautiful as Perfect , deserved.

The honorable and unselfish thing to do would be to step back.

Stop following Perfect around so he could move on and perhaps find love with someone as handsome , 'extra' and attentive as Xi'er. Someone sure of himself. Who didn't avoid truth.

After all that Perfect had done for him, it was obviously the right thing to do.

Except ...
He wasn't having it.

  Not even a little.

  Perfect was his.

He felt his blood begin to heat. A dark venomous feeling began to expand within his chest. His skin felt too tight .
Perfection Kim deserved the world. 
Hero knew in this moment, beyond any shred of doubt, that he would gladly spend his life trying to give it to him.
That is, if it wasn't already , too late.

Anguish shot through him at the possibility of what his stubborn refusal to acknowledge the powerful attraction between them might  have cost.
Was he too late?
No.
Please .

" Fuck", he swore under his breath as he allowed the truth to tear him open.

He was in love with Perfection Kim.

  Fully. Completely.

No other could possibly love him more than he did.

This so called 'extra' Xi'er guy could be a good looking jerk for all that anyone knew.

If that made him selfish or less honorable, well ... He really couldn't care less.

There were responsibilities involved.

A no longer 'one sided ' marriage' to consider.

Perfection's sweet extra attentions these past few weeks ... His recent blushing responses to being teased ... He hadn't been imagining them.
He needed to make some real changes.
Right now.
Had he been ignoring Perfect's shy flirtations for too long? This new student wasn't wasting any time. He was making his intentions clear to everyone.

Perhaps Fei and Perfect had only been joking.

But for Hero , it caused the hard truth of what he felt for Perfection Kim , to rear up and punch him right in the heart.

Especially watching a handsome student boldly making a real move on him.

'Xi'er...'that was his name.

This guy... This pushy , forsaken guy...He really needed to get lost. Needed to get the hell away from Perfect.

Instead , the handsome new rugby player had moved nearer to him. He was leaning closer, speaking softly to Perfection. Saying something that was causing him to blush and step back.

A  dull red haze began to blur the edges of his vision.

He was halfway to the cheerleaders when Perfect spotted him coming across the field.

He wasn't moving with his usual measured and deliberate gait.
He was moving quickly now. With intention. Taking longer and longer  strides, staring at the back of Xi'er's head.

The relieved smile lighting Perfect's eyes at the sight of him , gave way to a puzzled frown as he saw the scowling focus of  his expression and the inceasing speed of his approach.

The other cheerleaders saw it too.
Fei made a squeaking sound and grabbed at Xi'er's arm.

Xi'er turned to see what everyone was staring at.

His eyes narrowed at Hero, who was nearly arms length from him.
"What do you want, weird boy?" He sneered , stepping in front of Perfect, blocking him from Hero.

Now that he had stopped moving, Hero's face was mostly hidden behind his shaggy long hair. But his mouth could still be seen. His lips were thin and white around the edges.

The air of restrained aggression emanating from him was palpable.

Perfect stepped out from behind Xi'er , handing the handsome boy's jacket back to him, taking no notice when he almost dropped it.

He was gazing at Hero with soft affection.

A slight smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Me. I think I'm what he wants  ... Am I right Hero?"

Hero turned toward him. The sun had moved a little. Perfect's hair gleamed like dark gold in the light of it.
His mouth relaxed.

Perfection's soft gaze never wavered.

He smelled like clean cotton, Hero knew. Like soap and the slightest tang of salt when you nuzzled into the sweet juncture of his neck , late at night, when moonlight turned him into an angel asleep and dreaming.

"You are what I want, yes." He said.

The cheerleaders sighed.

Fei pumped her fist exclaiming "YES".

Hero's eyes turned back to Xi'er, his mouth thinning once more.

The handsome youth arrogantly  looked him up and down.
His voice was pleasant when he spoke. Almost cheerful.

"Fat ... and the face must be ugly too, since you need to hide it behind all that hair.
I never see you in study hall. So my guess is stupid as well... I'll tell you something , stupid fat boy. Perfect won't need you following him around like a dog anymore , not once he has a real boyfriend like me to take care of him."

Except for the wind , there was silence.

"Knock him down , Xi'er.' Perfect said clearly.
He hadn't moved and his eyes were still on Hero with their tender expression.

Xi'er , the rest of the rugby players and all the cheerleaders turned to stare at Perfect in surprise.
He tore his eyes away from Hero and looked at Xi'er. His gaze was cold.

'If you can knock him down, one on one, in the next five minutes , then I'll be your boyfriend.'
His voice was mild. Almost bored.
But his eyes became frost as he continued.
'But  ' Xi'er', that's your name right? ' Xi'er?' Xi'er, if you can't - you never bother us again- and you apologize to him."

Xi'er looked surprised then delighted. He glanced at Hero , then back at Perfect, holding his jacket up in one hand. Tren stepped forward and took it.

Hero didn't take his eyes from Xi'er, but his words were for Perfect.

"If I give him the whole five minutes before I lay him out, I want you to miss the rest of cheer practice today and skip study hall so I can take you home early . Deal?"

Perfect blushed , self consciously touching his own hair. His heart began to beat faster. He wanted to kiss Hero...Instead, he bit his bottom lip then nodded, with what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

" Deal." He said.

Fei looked stricken. She covered her eyes and groaned.

The rugby players began shaking their heads at Xi'er , muttering and motioning that he shouldn't do it.
The cheerleaders whispered uneasily and stared.

Hero took off his jacket and draped it around Perfection.

There was a collective inhalation of breath then twittering whispers of surprise from the cheer team.

Perfect, Mei Lu and Minjun were the only ones who had been privy to Hero's  rather astonishing transformation from heavy to excessively fit.  He had grown taller yes, but other than that, he still wore his hair overlong , hiding his scarred features.

His bulky clothes had camouflaged the dramatic changes, and made him appear as though he were still thickset.

Fei gasped , turning to stare at Perfect with huge eyes, as she hid her hand behind a book pointing to Hero so only Perfect and Tren might see her , mouthing " Hero. Extra. When?"

"This year", Perfect mouthed back.

Hero rolled his neck and shrugged his broad shoulders.
He closed his eyes.

Xi'er was still oozing confidence. He cocked his head , smiling at Perfection , who glanced back at him indifferently.

"I'll let you choose where we go on our first date', he grinned. 'And I'll be good to you, Perfect. You'll see."

"No date." Hero's voice was strong .

He stepped forward, turning his head slightly , never taking his eyes from Xi'er's as he pulled a hair tie from his pocket quickly tying his long hair back . His dark eyes were menacing. His jaw was tense and his mouth was a pale thin line. The long, jagged pink and white scar was livid.

He looked older than his years. Harsh, and in this moment, dangerous.

Xi'er's confident demeanor faltered for a second or two, a look of vague unease crossing his features, before he smoothed his face, collecting himself once more.

"Tren , do you have the stopwatch?' Perfect asked. He was pleased at how calm his voice sounded when it felt as though his heart might actually pound itself right out of his chest . He felt like grabbing Hero's hand and just dragging him away.

What had he been thinking, suggesting this battle ? The words had just spilled out of his mouth.

Tren stepped forward nodding. "I have it."

"Good, good', Perfect said , giving Xi'er a bland look.

'On the count of three, you can start. One. Two. Three."

Hero  exhaled.

Xi'er was strong and very fast.

The punch he lashed out with was  a good one.

On anyone else it might have been a knockout.
His first mistake was he landed it squarely on the side of Hero's jaw.

Hero's head moved slightly from the impact. Otherwise he didn't move at all.
He made no effort to block the punch. He just took it.

Xi'er's eyes widened, then narrowed. He shook his hand. It hurt like hell.

He shrugged his shoulders and took a deep breath. Then drove his fist hard into  Hero's stomach.
He used correct breathing and his core for better impact. It should have knocked the wind out of him. Big as he was, Hero should have gone down.

Instead, he merely grunted and moved a step back.

Instead of sinking into a soft flabby belly as Xi'er had expected, it had been like hitting a hanging side of beef.
There was little impact on the solid girth.

Again, Hero hadn't tried to block the punch. He had just stood in place and allowed Xi'er to hit him.

"Four minutes left", said Tren.

Xi'er was incredulous.

He stepped back , then did an impressive  punch and kick combination.
Hero leaned back and turned his body so his torso and shoulder moved away from the impact of Xi'er's fist.
He put a flat hand up from his other arm, blocking the fist and casually swatted Xi'er's leg in the direction of its momentum with the arm he had moved away, so Xi'er landed harmlessly off to the side with a stagger.

Hero's movements had appeared relaxed and unhurried.

"Three minutes", Tren said.

Xi'er came at him very fast with a series of hard ambidextrous punches to the face.
He looked confident once more.
Hero took a solid punch to his right cheek, it landed with a  'thud'.
Xi'er followed it with a lightening fast jab to the left side of Hero's face.

Hero jerked his head back , so the wicked blow landed on his jaw once again.

Xi'er cursed. He had hit Hero's jaw with his right again.
His knuckle was now split and bleeding. His hand was numb.

Perfect winced but looked otherwise unworried. He pulled Hero's jacket tightly around himself with a sigh.

Hero shook his head.  His eyes were black ice. He looked terrifying.

It was absolutely the sexiest thing Perfect had ever seen.

"Perfection Kim is mine."
His rough voice was murderous.

"Ooooh", a collective moan rose from the cheerleaders.

Perfect felt a horrifying, shivery thrill race through his entire body hearing those hot possessive words.
Spoken out loud.
In front of everyone.

Hearing them was fantastic. Horrible.
He was getting all warm and tingly.

He really shouldn't be enjoying any of this. Hero could be hurt.

What the hell had he been thinking, putting him in this position?
But God.
Oh God.
He looked at Fei , simultaneously wanting to throw his hands in the air and dance , then die from shame at his own stupid selfishness.
He blushed furiously.
She was looking back at him , smiling and shaking her head. Probably in wonder at his idiotic arrogance and audacity.

Back to wanting to die.

Xi'er performed a well executed kick to Hero's mid section, then rounded down with a powerful forward kick to the back of Hero's left leg.

" Is he?" Xier was breathing a little faster, his voice was taunting.

Hero didn't appear to move quickly.
He raised his hand and slid his arm slightly down the side of Xi'er's foot calmly deflecting the first kick, as though he were simply performing a demonstration of forms and corrections.

The other kick landed cleanly and moved Hero's left foot forward about an inch.
Xi'er kicked again at the same leg. This time Hero frowned. His leg remained unmoved.

"One minute left." Tren announced.

Xi'er went for another impressive series of punches, that produced a grunt or two from Hero, but otherwise appeared to have had as much cost to him as a tap on the shoulder. He swore and performed another well rounded kick at the same leg.
Hero turned , and lazily swatted his ankle using his momentum to force him along in a half circle.

Hero spoke again. This time his words were calm and direct.

"He will never be yours'.

"Ahhhhhh", the cheerleaders sighed.
" I'm single", Tren offered breathlessly. Fei 'tsked' and swatted him.

Xi'er made a sound of frustration as he sprang back and tried for a hard kick to Hero's mid section as Hero leaned to the side, down and back slightly.
He brought an arm up in a smooth , controlled manner.

' He will always be by my side."
Perfect felt his heart Do a weird little flip.
Oh GOD!
Back to wanting to celebrate the best , BEST ever day of his whole life so far!

He loved him. He loved that big gorgeous idiot so fucking much.

As if he had heard him, Hero's eyes glanced over for a split second , with a look that momentarily removed Perfection Kim from existence.

Hero had never looked at him like that before . Not ever.
Like he was going to...Eat. Him.
Help.
Perfect felt his insides knot with thrilling guilty excitement.

Hero blocked Xi'er's kick then rose , lashing out with startling speed - striking Xi'er under the chin with a hard left fist - just as Tren clicked the stopwatch "Time!"

Xi'er was lifted up and off the ground by the force of the blow.

When he awoke, his head was in Fei's lap. She was gently wiping his forehead with a damp cloth.

The cheer team and the football players were all gathered around staring down at him.

"He's awake!" Tren called out.

Xi'er lifted his head. His jaw and the sides of his head ached miserably.
He started to stand up and thought better of it. He settled for sitting up. Fei and two of the football players helped him rise to his feet .

Hero and Perfect were sitting on the middle bleachers directly behind the cheerleader's practice area.
Perfect bounced lightly to his feet and strolled over, staring icily at Xi'er.
Everyone could see he was angry.

"You owe my boyfriend an apology, Xi'er."

He huffed, then stalked back to where Hero was now standing , intently observing them .

Xi'er sighed. He put his bruised and bloodied hands in his pockets and slowly walked over to Hero with good grace, and a resigned expression.
He looked at him.
" What's your name?' He asked.

"Hero."  Hero's eyes were dark daggers.

Xi'er glanced down looking miserable for a moment, but then raised his head , standing tall .
He forced a polite face, wincing and gingerly touching his jaw.

" Hero, I'm Xi'er. I am sorry for what I said to you. I didn't think you were actually his boyfriend.
I hope we can .... Go forward."

Perfect looked only slightly less angry. Refusing to be impressed by Xi'er's rather remarkable aplomb.
Son of an ambassador indeed.

Tren and Fei were both staring a Xi'er like a pair of wet eyed puppies.

Perfect ignored his starry eyed friends, and replied for Hero and himself. His voice was cool.

"That will depend entirely on you.' He smirked. 'And by the way, Xi'er, the reason Hero doesn't bother coming to study hall is because I give him private lessons in my room most nights.'
His voice became thoughtful.
'Its funny, but Hero and I have found he remembers everything if we study together in bed. I'll bet his grades are better than yours."

He turned suddenly shy eyes to his big boyfriend with a soft smile.

Hero's heart began to beat faster when he saw it.
The smile was one he knew and loved well.

  But now there was a difference.

Now Hero knew that sweet smile was for him alone.