After The Club (late-night Monday; Ace's condo)

[Kat]

As they turned the corner onto Queen Street, Ace let go of Chip and opened the big glass door, walking into the main lobby and up to the security desk just inside, stopping there a moment to introduce Chip to the security guards.

"Hey guys, this is a friend of mine, Chip. Chip, these are some of the security guys, Rocco and Liam. They usually work the late shift, they're good guys though." The two men nodded and shook Chip's hand, after which Ace took him to the elevators and got in, hitting the button for floor 24, the very top one. The ride up was quiet as Ace simply leaned against Chip, hugging him. When the elevator bell chimed and the doors opened Ace stepped out, taking Chip's hand and guiding him not too far down the hall to stand before his door.

"Well here we are, I guess I will let you come in after all." He smiled before turning to the door, taking out his key and unlocking the door, pushing it open and stepping in. He held the door open for Chip, shutting and locking it once he was inside. He stood by the wall next to the kitchen and removed his shoes.

"So, what do you think? Does it meet standards?" He grinned and flicked on a light in the kitchen, just bright enough to light up the room without causing a headache. Though with the open windows in the living room, letting in the glowing lights from the city, the kitchen light wasn't entirely necessary.

[Cres]

Chip followed Ace, managing to keep his cool while he greeted the guards and then followed him upstairs. He smiled a bit when Ace let him into the house. As he stepped inside he couldn't help but feel rather... excited. But of course not for seeing Ace's apartment. He had great hopes for that night.

He admired the place openly with his eyes. Yes, this was certainly something else from the little scarcely furnished home of Dan's. For an apartment, he had to be a little taken by its quality.

He was just about to open his mouth to compliment the place, when he suddenly remembered what Patria had said earlier about being there. His smile grew a little less wide.

"Should we be quiet?" he asked Ace. "If your mom's asleep."

[Kat]

Ace was about to reply to Chip when he looked into the kitchen, seeing an all too familiar piece of paper sitting on the counter, the way they'd always been left as far back as he could remember. Without saying anything he went over and picked the paper up, reading the pretty handwriting.

Love, I'm sorry but Jan and I got a call tonight and we've had to take a trip south for a few days to visit our office down there. The management team has come to an abrupt end I'm afraid and Jan and I are going down to review some resumes and have a few interviews and hopefully hire some new people.

I'm sorry it's so last minute, but I promise I'll be back on Friday for the weekend, I won't break our plans. I wish I could have told you, but we had to leave for the airport right away to make our flight, I'm so sorry but you know how things are. Sacrifice for responsibility, right?

Well babe, I'll see you on Friday. I'll call you tomorrow, let me know how your date went. He seems lovely.

I love you! *kisses*

He read the note three times before finally letting it slip from his fingers back to the counter, trying his hardest to keep his composure. He looked back at Chip and grinned. "We don't really need to worry about that now, she had to go out of town for a few days, she'll be back Friday, though. So I'll be alone all week." He winked at Chip, deciding to be flirty to cover up his sadness about coming second to work yet again.

[Cres]

Chip noticed Ace grow silent as he saw the note, and while Ace read it, he went closer. He guessed at once who the note was from, and when Ace turned to him with the grin and the wink, telling him his mother was gone, he somehow felt the boy wasn't quite as all right as he appeared to be with it. After all, he had seen a tinge of the same sadness in him when they had dined with Patria just a few hours ago.

He glanced through the note, and then looked at Ace. With a faint smile, he wrapped his arms around the boy's waist and pulled him in for an embrace. He planted a gentle kiss on the side of his neck without a word. He felt he had to move a little more carefully now.

[Kat]

Ace let Chip hold him, although he would have rather pulled away. The longer he stayed in Chip's arms, the better the chance that he would break down just enough for Chip to really pry, that is if he actually wanted to.

So instead of staying where he was, pressed against Chip, Ace pulled back, slipping a smile back on his face. "I should be used to it by now, I guess. Oh well, at least this means we don't have to whisper." He winked at Chip and took his hand, pulling him through the kitchen into the living room, intent on showing off the apartment.

"Well, time for a tour, I guess. Here's the living room, as you can see mom and I are fans of the Manhattan minimalist, upscale office look, with our chrome accented black microfibre furniture." He grinned as he pointed out the sleek and sophisticated living room furniture, before pulling Chip through the rest of the apartment. Finally after he'd shown Chip everything else, he pulled him in the direction of his master suite.

"And now, for my little corner of the condo. It's not much, but I like to call it my sanctuary." Ace grinned before pushing open his bedroom door and pulling Chip inside. The bedroom was huge, enough room to comfortably fit the blond's large bed, entertainment system and furniture, plus a lot of space in between. There was a fairly large balcony at the back of the room and a large, impressive bathroom, complete with jacuzzi tub.

"What can I say, mom spoils me." Ace smiled and sat down on his bed, his eyes watching Chip as he looked around the room. The wall to the right of Ace's bed was covered in unique, sophisticated picture frames, holding a great deal of pictures of the soccer star and his friends. There were even pictures of his ex-girlfriend, which he hadn't had the heart to take out of the mix.

On his bedside table, though, sat three pictures. One of he and his mother, taken on their trip to Madrid just this summer on the balcony of their hotel, looking more almost like a couple than mother and son; the second of he and Sunny with more of their cousins in Sweden; and the third of he and Chase, smiling and holding trophies after their big win last year. They were the three most important people in the world to him, after all, so they deserved a bit more recognition than on the wall with everyone else.

[Cres]

Chip followed Ace close behind, looking politely through all the rooms. He wasn’t impressed – after the Rosacci Villa back in Rome it was hard to impress him – but he did rather like the apartment. Roomy, comfortable and well decorated. These people certainly had class. He was, however, mostly interested about the last room he was introduced to; Ace’s bedroom. He had to gasp inwardly at the impressive bathroom, the balcony and the sheer size of the room. Yes, his mother certainly did spoil him. But, Chip thought as he recalled Ace’s face when he’d read his mother’s note, she certainly had to, to keep his head together. He wondered if she realised how much her absences got to the boy.

Wondered just how much they did get to him. Chip wasn’t a mind reader, so the best he could do was to guess. His mind didn’t linger long on the thoughts of Ace and his mother right now, however. He had forgotten all his good reasoning and his decisions about how Ace should be handled. The blond had got him rather turned on during the evening, and Chip kept interpreting his flirt further than it probably went. And here they were, in his bedroom.

Why else would he have brought him here, if he didn’t consider it? The thought alone made Chip tremble a little within. He did want the boy. He had wanted him from the moment he’d laid eyes on him.

He looked about the room casually, however. He didn’t want to appear too eager. This must be handled with style. Chip always handled everything with style – or tried to, anyway. He first examined the pictures on the walls – he was always interested in pictures, he supposed it was professional curiosity. His eye stopped briefly on the golden blond girl, but then he moved on. As he turned to look at Ace’s side of the room, his eyes caught the three pictures on the bedside table. Two of them appeared more like family pictures, but the third made him frown mentally. He remembered Chase and Ace at the school earlier that day. He had to feel a pang of jealousy, and that made him turn his eyes away from the pictures and smile to Ace instead.

“Wonderful place,” he said as he sat down on the bed next to the boy. He leaned down on the bed, supporting his body on his elbows, and crossed one thigh over the other. His eyes were fixed on Ace now, intently. He was evaluating him, trying to think if more small talk was needed, or might he try make his first move already.

[Kat]

Ace had pulled his legs up on the bed, his feet crossed as he leaned back on his hands, looking down at Chip. He smiled and nudged Chip's leg with his foot, looking down and meeting his eyes. "Thanks for walking me home, I appreciate that. Now that you're here, you can tuck me into bed." He winked at Chip, a playful smile on his face, completely ignorant of the fact that he was leading Chip on very strongly.

[Cres]

Chip, of course, interpreted that in his own way. He slipped on his side on the bed.

“I’d love to,” he said and then came closer to Ace, wrapping his other arm around the boy’s waist and swirling himself over him so that he had one of his hands and legs on both sides of the blond, turning Ace on his back on the bed. He smiled as he closed in for a kiss.

[Kat]

The moment Chip moved in and covered him, the blond's exterior started crumbling, the comfort he'd felt around Chip immediately slipping away. Hadn't he told the other specifically earlier tonight that there was no hope of any physical activity between them? And now here he was, in his home, in his bed, trying to force his way on him? Ace was so overcome with a range of emotions, from fear of Chip to disappointment with himself, embarassment that he hadn't even realized he'd been leading Chip on all night!

Maybe tonight, just like every day five years ago, this was happening because of something he'd done to deserve it. Maybe he should just suck it up and let Chip do whatever he wanted, to pull back now would only be entirely unfair to Chip after all.

But as Chip's lips met his and his weight pressed down against Ace, he just couldn't let go of the fear, and did the only thing he could to avoid what was coming, turning his head so Chip's lips would press against his cheek instead, hopefully surprising him enough so Ace could manage to get out from under him.

[Cres]

Chip drew back the moment Ace turned his head. At first, he was confused, then - for a second - annoyed, then remembered. Yes. Right. No sex tonight. He'd already concluded that. He should have remembered it.

He didn't get up though. Instead, he touched Ace's cheek with his other hand, very gently. He wasn't why, but for some reason the blond had this... vulnerability about him that touched Chip. He smiled a little.

"I'm sorry," he said, and then moved from over the boy, to get back on his side on the bed. He was angry with himself, but he didn't let it show.

[Kat]

A little surprised when Chip didn't try and push him at all, instead apologizing and moving away, a bit of his fear melted away, quickly being replaced with embarassment. He got up from his bed and headed to his door, feeling too confined in his bedroom. As he got to the door though he stopped, not looking back at Chip but speaking to him.

"Don't be sorry, it's entirely my fault." Feeling like he should say more but not being able to Ace walked back out to the living room, heading for the kitchen to get himself a drink. But when he got there and his eyes fell back on his mother's note he stopped again, a wave of sadness hitting him really hard. He really wished she was here right now. Not that he'd actually tell her anything, but her presence was comforting and all he had to do was look at her with glassy eyes and she'd sit up and hold him all night, offering the comfort that only a mother could. But she wasn't here and he was alone with Chip.

What was he supposed to tell him? How was he supposed to explain his behaviour? Even though he was absolutely terrified of any sexual activity with Chip he just couldn't stop flirting with him. Like he was continually punishing himself, and pushing Chip.

[Cres]

Chip watched Ace go, feeling himself rather helpless. He didn't really understand what was his problem. At other times, he was flirtatious and even coming on to him, and seemed willing, and the next moment he'd be pulling away, like he was afraid. Had someone hurt him?

That thought entered Chip's head with a sting. He kicked himself. He should know the signs by now, shouldn't he? He'd been with more messed up people than he cared to think of. Hell, he was messed up himself. Why did he always get into these kind of situations? He didn't want to be with anyone for real, because he'd only end up breaking their hearts or their lives, or both. But he desperately wanted to be close to someone, and he kept on taking under his wing these poor lost souls who he should have walked past.

Perhaps he just had too much of a heart. He shook his head and walked after Ace. He stopped at the door of the kitchen, leaning to the doorframe. He saw Ace staring at the note his mother had left, and felt sad for the boy. He must be very lonely.

"Look," he said, trying to keep his head together. He had told Ace he didn't mind work. That was true. "Running away isn't going to solve anything for you."

He chose the rough way this time. He'd been cuddled too long. Someone should confront him.

[Kat]

Ace stood where he was, not turning around to face Chip when he heard him following, still not turning when he spoke. He'd heard that particular line before, but so far no one had bothered to actually run after him and keep up. Maybe Chip would be different, he was older, after all. He had enough confidence in himself to not buckle the moment Ace questioned his thinking. Or at least the blond hoped he did.

"No, it won't." Not really feeling like giving him anything else to go on, Ace contemplated going to the fridge to actually get the drink he'd been after, but found himself glued to the spot, waiting to see how Chip would reply.

[Cres]

Chip didn't move from the doorframe. He had his arms crossed over his chest and his eye was fixed on the blond. He was a little surprised at his agreeing with him. He had expected a shout and an order to leave. That's what his most messed up boyfriend had done. Except that it had been Chip's place he was telling him to get out of. And eventually the guy himself had ended up leaving.

Not that he hadn't returned. They all always did.

Chip raised his chin.

"Then why do you keep doing it?" he asked straightforwardly. He decided to keep it simple for so far. But he wasn't in a hurry. He wouldn't be going home that night anyway. He'd probably go back to his studio after this was over. And he had a late night on Tuesday.

[Kat]

"Because running is what I do." Chip's answer hadn't exactly been what he'd hoped for, it was just the usual response. There was nothing specific being asked. He wasn't about to just give anything up, he'd spent too long keeping everything to himself and if someone was honestly, finally interested in finding out what he was hiding, they were going to have to work for it.

He stepped away from the counter and went to the fridge, opening it and taking out a bottle of water. He shut the fridge and stood back up, finally looking over at Chip. What was he doing, drawing Chip into this? He was a staff member at school, if anyone knew he was here then Chip would lose his job. It was bad enough that he toyed with the emotions of friends and classmates, was he really to toy with someone's career, just because he was a little lonely?