29 Chapter 29- Living Alone

For the second night in a row, Hao Mei made himself comfortable in a hotel room. This time, he'd booked the room for a week- planning to take the time to find a more permanent solution to his accommodation dilemma. At least I have internet. Booting up his laptop, Hao Mei settled in to distract himself for the remainder of the night.

A chime sounded as a notification popped up showing a new email. He smiled as it opened, and a photo of a beaming couple filled his screen. It was late winter for Tom and Will, however the pair had differing opinions on "cold"... Tom was rugged up with a fleecy hoodie and Dr Who inspired scarf, while Will was wearing a short sleeved, white tee that showed off his tan. Mei checked the send time, juggled the math in his head and worked out the email had been sent just as he logged in. Figuring his luck was due for a change, he tried video calling them- maybe they'd still be at the computer.

"Hey!" Will answered the call almost before the first ring sounded. "Just wait!" He turned from the screen to shout at Tom. "Don't just wander in... video call."

"Who?"

"What do you mean, 'who?' Just put some bloody clothes on. Bloody hell." Will shook his head at Mei. "Sorry mate... we've just got home and Elsa over there jumped straight in the shower to 'warm up'."

Mei laughed at the eye roll that accompanied the comment. "You guys were out? It's only 9pm over there... that's a bit early to be home from a night out."

"Not when it's a family night out." Tom settled himself on Will's lap, cocooned in a thick doona. "It's mum's birthday the same day as Father's Day this year, so we went out to celebrate a few weeks early- make sure neither day gets jumbled with the other."

"Father's Day? Ah... you have Father's Day near our Chinese Valentine's Day." Which raised a new question for Mei; was he going to do something with KO? Were they in that sort of a relationship? Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face as the two Australians both leaned closer to their computer screen.

"Where did your mind just go?" Tom covered his mouth, hiding his smirk as a pale pink blush spread over Mei's cheeks.

Will barked a laugh. "Straight to the gutter by the look of it."

"Gutter my arse. I'm not as perverted as you two."

"Still? What's taking you so long?" Tom grimaced as Will smacked his shoulder. "What? It's a legitimate question. They've even talked about it... so....?"

"Does it not occur to you and your thick head, that maybe it's different for them?"

"Different how? Thing A still goes in Thing B.... mmmph..."

Will sighed as he covered his partner's mouth with his hand. "I apologise for dunderhead. I assure you, his mother is a lovely woman who raised him right. I have no idea what happened to him."

Biting the hand to remove his gag, Tom glared at the man behind him. "You only think she's lovely because she claims you're her favourite son."

"That's because I am her favourite son. I look after her biological son so well that she can't help but love me."

"True."

It was easy to ignore the display of affection that followed, as Mei thought about what their banter had revealed. "Your mother is okay with you not marrying a nice girl and starting a family?"

The pair broke apart, and Tom blinked several times as his mind struggled to catch up to the conversation. "Ah... yeah. Both our families are. I mean, neither of us ever had to hide who we are, so marriage and babies was never an issue. It sounds like it might be different for you though?"

Will slipped out from underneath Tom, leaving the man, and his doona, on the chair. "I'll leave you to it. Tom's better at decoding human nature than I am- I'd rather have the option to just smack some sense in to people. Don't go before I come back though."

Mei waved him off but his mind was still on his own family predicament. He filled Tom in on his parent's machinations, the girl in the apartment, and his final words to his mother that afternoon. Tom listened carefully, nodding and making encouraging sounds whenever Mei started to falter. When the Chinese man finally stopped talking, throat dry and feeling as though a gust of wind would shatter him like a cracked window, Tom sighed with sympathy.

"Sounds like you've become the female lead in a bad romance drama." Mei raised an eyebrow at him and Tom smiled sheepishly. "I may have brought more than souvenirs home from our honeymoon- I've been binge watching dramas and using the sayings on a day to day basis. Will keeps threatening to divorce me but he's a marshmallow. Any way," Tom waved a hand to clear the air.

"It sounds like you've already thought every angle out. What you're talking about as an option is definitely sound but I'd talk to your laosan before going any further. Also, use an accountant from the company. You'll be able to trust them to give you their loyalty rather than giving it to your father's wallet."

Mei nodded. He'd started to think the same way, but putting his plan in action through the office, meant more chance of his situation coming to light. And he didn't want that to happen. Regardless, he needed to talk to Xiao Nai before taking any action.

"As for the marriage and babies thing... you need to establish with KO exactly what you both want. Where you're headed. And don't give me that look; grow a pair and talk about it outright. You had the sex talk, didn't you? Then have this one too."

"Talking about sex is easier than talking about a possible future together." The words were muttered and the connection didn't help, but Mei's expression helped Tom fill in the gaps.

"Just show KO that pouty face of yours! He'll agree to any relationship you want."

"That's cheating." The pout turned to a scowl, just as a knock sounded on the hotel door. "I'll be back."

When Hao Mei went to answer the door, leaving his web cam facing an empty couch, Will came back in to their study.

"Did his parcel arrive yet? They said it would take about half an hour and it's nearly that now."

"His parcel? What did you do?"

"I'm giving him a kick up the arse."

"Will..."

"He'll thank me for it later. And KO will thank me for it even sooner than Mei will."

"William Benjamin... what did you do?"

"Ooooh... serious voice. I'm in trouble now. Once we've given Mei his instructions, you can take me to bed and use that voice again..."

"Ah... guys... that's more information about Will's kinks than I needed to know." Red stained Mei's face on the other side of the computer screen. A large cardboard box sat on the couch next to him.

"Oh, it arrived!" Will grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Okay... Mei, go to the mini bar and bring out all the drinks. All of them. And dim the lights."

Confused, Mei obeyed while Tom hung his head and pretended he was not connected to the other Australian in anyway.

"Now... have a drink." At Mei's puzzled look, Will gestured with his hand as if downing a drink himself. "Drink. All of one. Get nice and fuzzy before I tell you more."

Figuring he had nothing left to lose, Mei followed Will's instructions. He grimaced at the bitter taste and wished the mini bar was less high-brow and more poor-student-sweet-drinks. By the time he had managed to find a pair of scissors in the kitchenette, and discovered that they were too blunt to be of much use opening the mysterious package, he was feeling comfortably unselfconscious. Which was a nice change. He finally hacked his way through the tape keeping the package shut and was just about to pull it open when Will stopped him.

"Time for another drink, mate."

"Huh? Why do I need another drink?"

"Trust me... you're going to want another drink before you go exploring in that treasure chest."

"Will, I swear... if you mentally scar our friend then I will never forgive you."

"Lies." Will turned his partner around on his lap, ignoring Mei in the computer. His hand cupped Tom's cheek and he gently stroked the soft skin. "You forgave me for mentally scarring you... you'll forgive me for trying to prevent the same situation happening with our friends."

With a sigh, Tom leaned his forehead against Will's. "You're right. This is an insane plan but... you're right."

A choking sound behind them, turned their attention once more to the computer screen. And a magenta faced Mei. Two empty bottles of scotch now sat on the table, alongside several... things... of various sizes, and a bottle of lube.

"What... are... these?" Mei held one of things between his thumb and forefinger, studying it as though it was an alien life form.

"That... is a butt plug." Mei choked and dropped it. Will ignored him and carried on. "And it's not the one you want to start with. Work up to that."

"It goes..." Mei decided that now was a good time for another drink. He could understand why Will had wanted him to start drinking before opening the box. "Why did you send me a box of sex toys? How did you send it?"

"I shipped it to a friend after our first email conversation. Knew it would be needed at some point. He owed me a favour and agreed to deliver it, no questions asked, whenever I asked him to." Smug pride coloured Will's voice. "Smart huh."

Shell shocked, Mei simply nodded.

"There's instructions in there, some candles for mood lighting, and may I suggest putting some music on? Also... go take a hot bath and really relax for getting started."

Mei nodded again, still looking at the paraphernalia in the box.

"Aaaaaand... we're off. While Tom is always up, eh, for some voyeurism, I don't think you are... so we're going to leave you to get acquainted with your new friends while we enjoy the benefits of proper preparation."

The video called ended on Tom's apoplectic face, but Mei couldn't move. His body alternately flushed hot then ran cold and his mind kept short circuiting. It was one thing to consider Will's advice, and mentally decide to take it on board... it was something else to be faced with the reality of said advice. He was almost ready to reject everything, tape the box back up and pretend he never opened it... but... he flopped back on the couch.

But. That was the kicker... but... then what would happen? If he was hoping for a relationship with KO, living together, sharing their lives together, then the issue of sex would never fully go away. He'd always prided himself on being smart... and the smart thing to do in this situation... he took another drink.

Looked like he was having a bath.