1. Concealed weapons are NOT legal in Virginia unless you have a license and only certain people can get them. At the time I wrote this I thought otherwise but someone was kind enough to point out my mistake to me. It's not like it matters to Ak anyway!
 

2. The anime in "Level C" is how Ari sees it. If the info is wrong, it's because he doesn't (and I don't) understand Japanese. I've already been informed that I got the plot wrong.

Yaoi Otaku

Oh goody, Ari groaned to himself, Giant Robo. He wasn't surprised that was what the Young Anime Otaku Inc. club was showing. Most Otaku, or fan-boys, were boys. Not men, though their age would say otherwise, but boys. Boys who liked mecha, and boobs, and gratuitous shower scenes with naked women. Of course, Ari was not like most men or boys.

No, he actually liked a plot in anime. Character development. Pretty boys.

Bishonen.

Of course, he'd never say anything to anyone about it. Nope, Ari had the feeling that any hint whatsoever of "gay" behavior would earn him a quick trip to the hospital. Hypocritical though, considering all the lesbian scenes he saw in some of the more Hentai stuff.

And it was Hentai. Tentacles coming out of women's vaginas, things like that.

Oy, Ari sighed to himself, what am I doing here?

When he'd first heard of the club from his fiancé Jen's brother Ian, it seemed to be a great idea at the time. A club where he could actually talk to someone, other than Jen or Ian, about anime. Someone who wouldn't look at Ari as if he was a complete idiot and say condescendingly, "I don't watch cartoons, I have too much work to do," or even worse, "Aren't you kinda old for that?"

Even the fact that a girl, Kayleigh, was president and she liked shojo and shonen-ai, and promised not to tell anyone that Ari liked it as well, didn't live up to his expectations.

Kayleigh had told him that there would be an animarathon, held this weekend for club members at her house in Northern Virginia. Somewhere in Alexandria. Some place he couldn't get to by public transport, and he was not comfortable driving on the Beltway.

So, out of the goodness of her heart, Jen, who probably would have preferred to spend quality time with her fiancé, instead drove him to Kayleigh's place.

The animarathon was to run from Friday night to Sunday, but neither he or Jen culd afford the time off, so it was Saturday.

"Last chance," he'd said hopefully. Hopeful she'd come along. Hopeful that she wouldn't.

"No time, sweetie," she'd replied, "Since you won't be here, I'm going to catch up on my shopping. It will soon be Christmas, you know." Then blushing sheepishly, "I mean it will be Chanukah for you."

That was one of the things about being engaged to a shiksa, the different holidays, the feeling that yours didn't matter all that much because no one was celebrating it with you.

But that didn't matter now. He was somewhere wasn't sure he wanted to be, alone, among a crowd of Otaku who probably didn't care whether he lived or died.

That was fine with him. There wasn't anyone he really wanted to talk to anyway.

Man, Giant Robo was so boring. It didn't have to be shonen-ai, for crying out loud, but couldn't they show something like "Koko wa Greenwood," or "Maison Ikkuku," even though he probably saw every single episode. Hell, even "Bakaretsu Hunter" would work for him, just something that he was actually interested in.

Aw, he was sick of trying to pretend to be interested in this flick. He was bored anyway, he might as well sit on one of the living room couches, set up like an "L."

It was more comfortable than the floor though.

He sat on the end, aware that no one was paying any attention to him, just talking amongst themselves.

He looked towards the right wall, content to stare into space and zone out.

Hello!

On the other couch, sitting in the middle was a boy who didn't look anything like the others.

Freeze frame!

The first thing Ari noticed was the hair. Blue black hair spilling to his shoulders, nice and wavy, with a little curl to the ends, indicating it was a bit too long and needed to be cut. He was Asian, probably Japanese, though he was a little taller than most Asian boys he'd seen, and a little stockier, but with muscle.

Hold on, who was he to judge what most Japanese boys looked like? What was he, the expert?

Especially with his dark brown eyes and olive skin, Ari didn't look like most Jewish boys.

The boy's eyes, well maybe not a boy, probably a little younger than Ari, were dark brown, and soulful and huh, they were suddenly locking on his.

Ari believed in chemistry, even though he never really felt "it" with Jen.

Pow! He sure felt it now. Like electricity.

But he was looking at Ari. Shit! Here he was, actually checking another boy out in real life instead of in his fantasies! And this boy looked kind of tough with his black T-shirt with the short shirt sleeves and blue Levis.

That hugged him quite nicely, thank you very much.

All of the sudden, the boy's lips moved. Ari didn't know for sure, but he could have sworn he saw him mouthing "Later."

Naw, he had to have been imagining that.

Nobody who looked like him would have any interest in Ari, and no one who looked liked him would put up with being checked out.

Later. He must have meant, "I'm going to punch your lights out, later."

Then he spoke. "Damn, I need a cigarette, I'm going out for a bit."

Slightly deep and kind of husky. Nice voice. Sexy voice. With a bit of a twang.

Then he made a "come on" gesture to Ari.

He wanted him to go with him!

Ari mumbled some excuse about wanting a little air and made sure he went outside but not right after the boy. It would not do to look like he was following him.

Mr. Mystery boy went out the back door, towards the woods, so that was where Ari-the-idiot-in-heat went.

The first thing that occurred to him was that it was about 9:00 PM EST, in December and not only was it pitch black with no lights, he was in such a hurry that he forgot to bring his coat and he was now freezing his tuchus off.

Well, he was out here so he might as well look for Mr. Tall, Dark and Southern.

After a few minutes of walking though dense woods, nearly having a heart attack, only to smack his palm against his forehead when he realized the sounds he heard were the leaves crunching against his sneakers, and bumping into trees, Ari was beginning to wonder if it was worth it.

Maybe he was only going to his own doom, kinehara. The boy looked like he chewed and ate schlmiels like Ari for breakfast.

He was about to give up when he felt something ice cold against the back of his neck.

And heard laughter when he jumped.

An interesting laugh. Somewhere between a chuckle and a manic giggle.

"Cold as a witch's tit out here, idn't it?"

The freezing hand went away, a flashlight went on, and there, blowing smoke rings, was the one who he'd been following.

He took another drag, longer this time. "That's it, Ak, suck it all down and give yourself cancer." Another laugh.

"Ock?" Ari managed to ask, "Who's Ock?"

"I am Ak. Ak is me, also known as Aki. And you are Ari, ne?"

He stared at Ak. "How'd you know?"

"I heard you introducing yerself. Nice name, not your typical gaijin name."

Ari grimaced at the word. It wasn't nasty, not really, at least not the offhand way Ak said it. But he knew what it meant. It meant the same as goyim. Not Jewish. Not Japanese.

Not one of us.

"It's Israeli," Ari mumbled, knowing that anti-semitism did exist and hoping like hell that Ak was not a part of it."

Ak's eyes narrowed. "Israeli, hnn? You a Jewboy?"

Trying not to cringe at the epithet, Ari answered, "Jewish. Don't call me 'Jewboy.'"

Ak shrugged. "Don't mean nothin'. But since it makes your pretty face scrunch up, I won't say it, Ari-chan."

Pretty face? Ari-chan?

Ak went on. "Though you don't look it. Kinda Porto Rican, Eyetalian or somethin'."

He gave Ari a wicked grin. "But I like it."

The words left his mouth before he had the chance to think, something, foot-in-mouth-Ari did more times than he cared to remember.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to seduce me."

"Good, it's workin'. Nothin' worse than wasting your best pick-up lines on a guy who's too stupid to notice.*

"Okay," Ari said, "What would've happened if I noticed but punched you out?"

Ak giggled. "No offense, buddy, but you don't look like you could tackle Kayleigh, let alone me."

Ari smiled for the first time. "None taken."

Ak took one last drag before throwing the lit butt to the ground and grinding it out with his heel. "You hungry?"

Ari hadn't eaten since noon, somehow he'd forgotten about the idea of dinner. "Yeah."

"You ever eat Japanese food?" Ak asked, his face suddenly looking serious.

"Noodles mostly."

"Good it's settled. There's a place about five miles down a piece. Don't worry about money," Ak grinned, "It's my treat."

Cool. One thing bothered him though. "Won't they think it's kinda coincidental that we both left together?"

Ak raised an eyebrow. "You're a cherry, aren'tcha."

Ari immediately felt the blood rush to his face. "I'm not a virgin."

To his surprise, Ak reached over and pinched his cheek. "You're cute when you blush, y'know that?" Then he laughed. Already, Ari was falling in love with that laugh.

"I didn't say you never got laid, I said you're a cherry. As in I bet I'm the only guy you ever flirted with."

Flirting? "Who's flirting?"

Aki leaned over and Ari suddenly felt sparks fly as lips gently touched his own.

But only briefly.

"I'd kiss ya for real, but my mouth kinda tastes like an ashtray."

Funny. Ari hated cigarettes more than anything, yet the slight hint of tobacco he got a fleeting taste of didn't bug him in the least.

Ak winked. "Now I'm the first guy you ever kissed, ne?"

Ari considered lying, then thought better of it. Ak would know the truth anyway. "In real life." he answered sheepishly.

"Nani? You must have great fantasies, Ari-chan." This time, both eyebrows were raised. "You wanna make them reality?"

Did he! But wait, he reminded himself, you don't know this guy from Adam, and you're about to go off with him to God knows where?

Why the hell not?

Ak drove a red Ford pickup and there was just enough room for the two of them.

Ak actually opened the door for Ari, then after shutting the door, slid in next to him in the driver's seat.

"You cold?" he asked. "You're shakin'."

Ari actually didn't even notice it. Not now anyway, with Ak sliding closer to him and easing Ari into his arms. Ak was one of those warmblooded people who were always comfortable in the winter. "Nice, hnnh?" He rubbed his face into Ari's neck. "You feel so good." Now he was burying his face in Ari's hair, his nose nuzzling, "And you smell so good."

Ak felt good too, even though he was still only wearing the black t-shirt. His arms were gentle and protective, and held Ari tight.

Ari wasn't sure of what to do, so he followed his impulse of burrowing his own face into Ak's chest. Tobacco, but also a musk all his own. Nothing like the pretty smells of Jen.

"Don't worry," Ak tipped his face upwards, "You don't have to impress me. That's kinda what I like about you." His lips brushed against Ari's.

"But you don't even know me."

"I kinda get a feel for people, y'know? Your innocence is cute. And you have a sweet nature. It's wasted on your girlfriend."

Whoa! "Fiancé." Ari corrected.

"Yeah? What's she gonna say when she finds out ol' Ari likes meat as well as fish. Maybe even better?"

"She won't."

Ak smirked. "Maybe. Maybe not."

"Definitely not."

"We'll see."

Ari couldn't believe he was giving in so easily. For once, he wasn't in control and it scared the hell out of him. "I'm kinda hungry," he remarked, changing the subject, "Why don't we go?"

"Hungry for what, lover boy?"

Ari sighed. "I'm not going to win, am I, Ak?"

"Nope so you might as well stop fightin'." Ak's smile was smug as he started the ignition and pulled out of Kayleigh's driveway.

"Where are we going, by the way?" Ari asked.

"Naoki's. I go there all the time."

"Why would a Japanese guy go to a Japanese restaurant to eat Japanese food? Don't you get tired of it?"

"Naw. I only get it when I go to my folks, and there only once in a while. Naoki's has got good food."

When they got there, Ak said to the host, something like, "Akimoto," then a bunch of Japanese words Ari didn't comprehend.

Well, at least he knew where "Ak" had come from. So, what was his first name?

They got shown to a table, only this time Ak didn't pull the chair for him. Apparently even he cared about how things looked in a public place.

What a relief!

"Let me order for ya," Ak suggested, "So you don't end up getting something you hate, okay?"

"Okay. How about noodles?"

Instant laughter. "This ain't no noodle house. And it ain't no Benihana neither. It's the real deal. What else do you like?"

Hoboy. Ak was paying so Ari didn't want to order something expensive. "How about sukiyaki?" He'd never had it before but heard about it.

"Sure. You want some gyoza first?" Ak asked, then realized Ari didn't have the slightest idea what he was talking about. "Dumplings. I can get us some other appetizers too."

"Whatever you want." Ari smiled. "I trust your taste."

"You should," Ak replied with a devilish smile. "I chose you, didn't I?"*

A waiter came by a few minutes later, carrying a tray with a ceramic looking decanter and two cups. He and Ak exhanged some words in Japanese, that Ari could only assume were the orders, then walked away.

Ak pouted. "Hmmph, you didn't sneeze."

Sneeze? He knew it meant something significant, at least in all the anime he saw but he couldn't think of it of the top of his head.

Ak made a fist and knocked on his head. "That's what you're supposed to do if I'm talking aboutcha."

"Were you?" Ari blurted.

This time Ak tousled his hair. "Man, you're dense. It's a joke. Like, you don't understand me and I could talk about you and you wouldn't even know it. That's the fun part of speaking in another language, Ari-chan. It wouldn't be fun if you did understand me, ne?"

"You mean you're gonna do that all night?"

"Nah. Most of the people I hang with don't understand Japanese." Ak placed a cup in front of Ari. "You want some sake?"

Okay. Something he's heard of. With all the anime he watched, Ari realized he didn't know jack.

But then again, real life wasn't anime. Was it?

"Yes." Ari decided, thinking the worse that could happen was that he wouldn't like the sake. It was a kind of rice wine, he remembered.

Ak poured some in Ari's cup. "Warnin' you. It packs a wallop if you're not used to it." He giggled. "And I know you're not."

"So I'll get used to it."

"Remember I warned you."

They held up their cups. "Cheers." Ari said.

"Try, "Compai!" Ak corrected.

Ari took a sip and nearly choked. Shit that stuff was strong. Almost like drinking grain alcohol. Or maybe even rubbing alcohol.

"You like?"

"Yeah," Ari managed to get out between coughs. He couldn't let Ak think he was a wimp. Taking a deep breath, he knocked back the rest of the sake, immediately feeling kinda nice and warm all over.

It wasn't that bad, Ari decided. Not at all.

He reached over for the decanter but Ak beat him to it, grabbing his hand instead.

"Whoa, there. You're supposed to sip, not chug-a-lug."

Again he made a fool of himself. Ari was beginning to feel that he couldn't do anything right.

Yet, Ak was still there. Maybe he was doing something right. If he could only relax...

Ak gently released his hand. "Sake is meant to be enjoyed, not gulped down, y'know." He poured some more into Ari's cup. "Now, savor, sip slowly."

Ari brought the cup to his lips and sipped. It was still easier just to guzzle it quickly but at least it didn't burn his throat this time.

The waiter brought over the food, something that looked like dumplings, only lightly fried and kinda longer than what he'd seen before.

In a Chinese, restaurant, idiot!

No, he didn't want to start beating up on himself now.

Let's just eat the dumplings like a civilized human being, hanh?

Amazing. She was at least 260 miles away but whenever he heard that voice in his head criticizing him, it was his mother. Then again, he could imagine what his mother would be saying right now:

"Oy, guten you, what are you, a fegeleh or something? Get away from this ferschtinken Aki and go back to your shana maideleh."

Only Ari didn't want the "shana maideleh." Not now anyway.

He noticed that Ak had put a bowl of rice in front of each of them, and a big bowl in the center of the table. "Sukiyaki's for two." Ak smiled. "Shared kiss."
 

Ak scooped some of the sukiyaki on top of Ari's rice, then some on top of his own.

"Make sure you don't take all the meat when you get seconds. There ain't much, and even though you're too cute for words, it will really piss me off."

Okay, good warning. Very good warning because the meat was the only thing he recognized. It was a kind of stew, with veggies, some clear noodly things, and fishcake which was not even on the top 100 of his favorites. But the last thing he wanted to do was offend Ak or make him mad. So, holding his breath so he wouldn't taste it, he ate the fishcake, and made sure he only took the noodly things and veggies the next time.

"What are those things anyway?" Ari asked.

"Clear noodles. Cool, hn?"

They were kinda slithery and reminded Ari of snakes. But they soaked up the taste of the beef broth and he liked that.

By the time they left Aoki's, Ari had drank two more cups of sake, so he was mellow, nicely buzzed. He was going to need it.

"My place is about a few miles away." Ak told him as they drove, "It ain't much, in fact, basically the room is mine and I share the house with some other guys. But," he winked, "You don't need to see the rest of the house. All you need is in my room."

Even buzzed, Ari was nervous. What were they going to do when they got there, just jump into bed? He hadn't the first idea of what to do, fantasy or no fantasy. What if he wasn't good enough? What would they talk about? What if Ak changed his mind.

"We're here." Ak pulled into a long dirt driveway, getting out of the car and again, holding the door open for Ari. He threw an arm around Ari and pulled him so his head leaned on Ak's shoulder. "Don't worry so much. I'm not going to do anything you don't wanna do, okay?"

Ari felt as if all the breath had returned to his body at once. For once, he didn't say anything, just let Ak guide him down the driveway and into the house.

Where immediately, Ak's grip changed to more of a buddy buddy arm around the shoulder. Okay, his housemates didn't know. Ari filed that in his head for future knowledge. No public displays here.

"Hey, " Ak called out, "Who's here?"

A blond haired guy whose muscle was turning to beer fat staggered into the foyer.

"Whozat?"

"Ari. Say hey to Jojo."

"Hi, Jojo." Ari said, immediately feeling Jojo's eyes on him, appraising him in a way he recognized since he could remember. Nothing sexual about it. More like, "you don't measure up, and what is Aki doing with an asshole like you?"

After uneasy silence, Ak said, "We're hanging out in my crib, okay. DND, Jojo."

Jojo laughed, a little, slurry, heh-heh-heh, "Sure man, enjoy."

What was that all about? Did Jojo know? Was he coherent enough to even care?

"Come-on, Ari, my room is the first on the left."

He followed Ak upstairs to a door that had a wallscroll of a fight scene with Kenshin, Aoshi, Saitoh, and Sano.

Sano's shirt was partly undone, probably slashed at the shoulder. Very sexy. Very macho. Ak won either way. Ari was beginning to admire Ak's clever juggling act.

Ak took his keys out of his pocket and opened the door. "There it is, my humble abode."

The first thing Ari noticed was that the room was a typical male room, complete with unmade bed, clothes strewn around the floor, but not quite a pig-sty.

It even had the male scent, sweat, a little beer, cigarette smoke. Ak's scent.

Ak closed the door, actually blushing. "I wasn't expecting company tonight, Ari-chan."

"No, it's fine." Ari reassured, "I'm not a neatnik anyway."

No, my fiancé is.

The second thing he noticed was on the desk. A black, shiny revolver. Ari didn't know what kind, he didn't care. He suddenly realized that he was way over his head.

Ak saw Ari eyeing the gun, probably also saw the mortified look on Ari's face.

Gevalt, could he be any more obvious!

"You never seen a gun before?"

"Uh, not up close." Ari admitted.

Ak grinned and picked up the gun. "Concealed weapons are legal in Virginia."  He handed it to Ari. "Go on, the clip's on it so it won't go off or nothin'."

Ari held it in his hands.  Cold metal with so much power.  Power he didn't need or like.  He handed it back to Ak.  "Okay, now I know what a gun feels like. That's all I need to know."

"Oh?" Ak's eyes narrowed.  "You don't like guns?" "Not really.  They hurt too many people."

"They protect many people." Ak corrected.  "Mainly me.  What's so cool is that I've never had to use it yet.  All I gotta do is whip
it out and the chickenshits haul ass before I make a move."  He laughed. "You should like that. No pain, all gain."

"But would you use it?" Ak's expression turned deadly serious.  "To defend
myself or you? Hell. Yes."  Then he smiled. "Ari-chan, leave that part to me, okay?" His tone was gentle, soothing. "Guns are my thing.  How about this? You deal with the fact that I like guns and I'll deal with the fact that you don't.  In fact, I don't want you near a gun."  Ak took the gun and put it in the desk drawer.  "You might just blow your pretty head off."

Out of someone else, it might have sounded condescending. But from Ak, it was all concern. Concern for Ari's safety.

And concern that the gun turned Ari off. He actually cared about Ari's opinion.

Then Ak patted the bed. "Have a seat. I got us a cool video."  He flashed Ari a wicked smile.  "Yaoi. You ever see one?"

Ari sat down on the bed.  "I have 'Zetsuai 1989'."

"Naw, that's shonen ai. The manga is more yaoi but the video has no lemon." Ak locked the door. "'Level C' has more lemon."

"Lemon?"

"Sex." Ak walked over to his closet, opened it and brought out a wooden box. "Lots of sex." He rifled through it, "Let's see, 'Boku no Sexual Harassment.'" He paused for a second.  "You're not ready for that yet."

"Why?"

Ak turned to face Ari. "You'll never look at a corn cob or wine bottle the same way again."

Oh. Ari wondered what he meant, but something in Ak's expression told him, "don't ask."

Ak went back to the box.  "Ah, there it is, 'Level C.'" He took the tape out, closed the box and put it back in the closet. Then he locked it. Talking about "in the closet!" Ak's housemates had no clue. And Ak was taking great pains to see that it remained that way.

Ak walked over to the TV, put the video in and grabbed the remote control.  Then he fluffed up the pillows, pushed them against the headboard and motioned for Ari to scoot upwards so the two of them were leaning against the pillows. After that, he slung an arm around Ari's shoulders, pulled him close and started the video.

The first thing Ari noticed, besides the bishonen, kawaii bishonen, was that it wasn't subbed or even dubbed.  "I don't understand Japanese," he said, he realized too late, unnecessarily. "Can you translate?"

Ak gave him a slow knowing smile. "Ari-chan, some things just don't need translation, ne?"

A few minutes later, Ari knew exactly what Ak meant. Up to this point, the plot consisted of a pretty blond young man and his slightly older auburn haired co-worker, chatting and making small talk. They went to the older man's apartment, where after more chatter, Ari lost any doubt about not understanding the plot.

Plot? What plot?

The auburn haired man was now kissing the blond and coincidentally, Ak was now kissing him just as deeply.  He must have popped a mint into his mouth when Ari wasn't looking because now his mouth tasted of peppermint.

Not that it mattered.

Ari had been kissed this way by Jen many times. But he never felt this way, like every part of his body was bubbling and melting into a puddle of molten lava. Their tongues caressed one another, exploring each other's mouths for the first time. Ak seemed to like wet, sloppy kisses, with sucking tongues and bbling lips. Then Ak suddenly broke the kiss and Ari realized that the video had been shut off some time ago.  "You okay?" Ak asked. "It's not too fast?"

Part of Ari was thinking, yeah, it's kinda fast, but the other part, the part that was making his skin tingle and his groin throb was saying a different story: Shut up Ari.

"No," Ari managed to gasp.

"It's okay to be scared." Ak stroked his hair, "But don't be. 'k? I won't do anything you don't want to. I promised and Quentin Akimoto don't break his promises." He suddenly frowned. "Shee-yit, now why'd I tell you that? Okay, do yer laughing now," he warned.

Quentin? "Um, I'm not laughing, I just wasn't expecting- "

"What were you expecting?" Ak cut him off. "Jun? Koji? Izumi? Kyosuke? Something along that line?"

Oops. Ari just realized that he sounded very racist. Might as well own up to it. "Sorry but yes."

Ak shook his head.  "Not my folks. I was born on the 13th of January, ipso facto, Quentin. My sister Octavia was born on the 8th of August, double fun. And my younger brother, well thank the blessed Lord they got out of the number game, though Claudius isn't much better."  He chuckled. "As you can see, my folks were big on the Roman Empire. Pops is a historian and he believed that it was one of the greatest times in history. Guess he figured if he saddled us with these names, we'd do great in life."

Ari smiled. "Did you?"

"Well, Tavi is a lawyer and married rich. Claude's pre-med."

Ari was getting a foreboding feeling. Don't ask, he told himself, don't be such a yente. But a yente was what Ari was, so he asked, "How about you?"

"Me? I never went to college, joined the Marines to make something of myself, then got dis-honorably discharged," he drawled. "Does that answer your question?"

?                        Yaoi Otaku Pt. 2
Glossary:
schlub- It’s Yiddish but hard to literally translate. The best way to put it is “a
nothing.”
 
 

The Marines? Dishonorable discharge? Ari bit his tongue, lest he open up his
mouth and ask yet another question, but his eyes must have shown the question he’d
never dare ask because Ak answered.
Or, in his own unique Ak-style, minced few words.
“Take me. Take one willing Marine. Do the math.” Then he rolled his eyes in
mock exasperation. “You wanna know everything don’tcha, I see the gears going, your
brain never stops does it?”
Actually, it never did. Ari’s sister Rachel said he’d be a much happier person if he
didn’t always have to know the “where, what and why” of everything and would just
accept things for what they were.
She was probably right. For someone three years younger than he was, Rachel
was one smart cookie.
Ak wasn’t done with him yet, though.
Nope.
“You know so much about me, yet I know nothin’ about you except for your
name and that you never got down with a boy before me. Well, let’s start with your
name, ne? I only know your first, pally, spit out your last.” His eyes sparkled with
mischief.
How on God’s green earth did Ak know the one thing Ari hated about himself?
It wasn’t horrible or anything, it was just so, just so ethnic. It practically
screamed to Ari, “here’s a Jew.”
And when he used to live in New York, on Long Island that was just fine.  He
wasn’t the only Jew on the Island.
But here, where everybody assumed you celebrated Christmas and Easter, and
gave you a funny look when you dared to tell them you didn’t, his Jewishness had
become a huge neon sign. Ari wanted to belong so badly that he kept that sign turned
off, just saying his name was Eastern European, which it was.
And still, some people made fun of his last name anyway.
Yet Ak’s eyes were warm and accepting.
“Rabinovich,” he muttered, hoping Ak wouldn’t hear.
Ah, but Ak wasn’t going to let him off so easily.  “I don’t speak mumble. Try
again.”
“Rabinovich.” Ari said more clearly.
“Rabinovich,” Ak repeated, trying it out on his tongue. “Ari Rabinovich. It flows
nicely. Why are you ashamed of it, Ari-chan? It sure ain’t as bad as Quentin.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Ari blurted before he realized that Ak would and did
understand. At least Ari could “pass” for something else- as Ak said- Italian,
Mediterranean. Ak didn’t have that luxury.
Yet he seemed proud of what he was.
“It’s cool to be Japanese.” Ari declared.
Ak laughed, but for the first time, Ari could hear a little bitterness. “To you. Why
do you think I got into anime? But not most places, Ari. Most bumfucks don’t know the
difference between Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese or any other Asian. The
only difference between me and you is that I don’t give a shit.” He chuckled, the
bitterness replaced by sadness.
Or sympathy.
“You’re real sensitive, Ari-chan, and one day someone is gonna break you like
glass. Not everyone is gonna like ya. Could be because you’re Jewish, could be
because you’re a bit of a nosybody, could be because you’re bi, could be any reason.”
Then he smiled and Ari felt his heart melt. “I like you Ari Rabinovich. Ain’t that all that
matters?”
Ari could have floated off the bed.  Ak, this cool, beautiful boy, liked a schlub like
Ari! Jen loved him and up until now that meant enough to Ari that he wanted to marry
her.
Up until now.
Ari smiled at Ak, hoping like hell he didn’t look as grateful as he felt. “What else
do you want to know?”
Instead of answering, Ak put his finger across Ari’s lips. “Sssh. You talk a lot. I
can think of better things to use that mouth for.” He replaced his finger with his lips and
Ari fell into the molasses like morass of pleasure from Ak’s kiss.
In fact, he was so into it, he didn’t realize that Ak’s hand was on his thigh and
slowly moving towards the center until he felt his crotch hardening under the heat of
Ak’s hand.
His first thought was to panic, but he told himself that he could stop anytime, so
why panic. For the first time, Ari was going to let someone else control things for a
change.
Ak seemed to sense his acquiescence because he flashed Ari a wicked grin.
“You want me to take care of that?” His fingers began to knead Ari’s crotch.
“Yesss,” Ari hissed, as Ak deftly unbuttoned Ari’s jeans and unzipped them.
“Well, what have we here?” Ak giggled, “My favorite kind of salute. Guess I have
to salute back, hnnh?”
Ari started to laugh but it turned into a gasp because he suddenly felt the warmth
and wetness of Ak’s mouth and he surrendered completely.
Ak’s tongue ran circles around Ari’s cockhead, his teeth teasing and nibbling at
the shaft, driving Ari crazy with desire...
Only to stop.
“You want the whole package, you gotta ask for it. And I don’t mean, “do it,”
either. Say, “Aki, suck my cock.”
“I’m not going to say that.” Ari flushed in embarrassment.
“Why not? It’s what you want, ain’t it? Being demure ain’t gonna get you what
you want and I want to make sure this is a two way deal. Me and you making love
instead of the gay boy getting the bi-curious boy’s rocks off.”
This conversation was making Ari extremely uneasy but he understood what Ak
was trying to do.
And he understood that if he didn’t say the words, that Ak would take it as what
he had insinuated.
Ari took a deep breath and said the words he never thought he’d say. “Aki,
please suck my cock.”
Ak kissed the head. “See,” he murmured, “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” And with
that he completely enveloped Ari into his mouth.
 
 
 

 
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Page updated 4/21/99