In the days that followed, things were pretty quiet. Fraser continued to stay at the Wariks' apartment, Tristan cared for the kittens, and Tibur went to work and class with little thought as to how Michael was settling in to his new place at the Phoenicia.

Only Millie noticed something wasn't right. Tibur was being more evasive than usual. She'd suggested they talk to Tristan about organizing their trip, what with the public holiday coming up, but Tibur had told her he was too busy with his studies to think about it. It was getting harder and harder, coming to work only to have him avoid her, and yet pretend that everything was fine. 

"I was thinking about going to see Tristan over the weekend, since we can't go visit the temples" she said, "I haven't met the kitties yet..."

"They're busy" Tibur told her, "I... er... I spoke to Tristan already. I think they're going away somewhere."

"Oh" said Millie, "Well I hope they're not going north without us!"

Tibur didn't like lying. He felt rotten to his core and yet he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. He still wasn't ready to confess about his relationship with Michael; not only was he interested in men, but the one he liked was a fucking idiot. He could only hope that one day Millie would forgive him... that there would be a day when he'd be ready to admit all the things buried in his heart.

"I might go north myself..." he managed to say, "I haven't seen my Grandma in a while..."

The two thoughts were unconnected, but spoken together they were enough to allay Millie's suspicions.

The morning of the trip, Tibur pushed his guilt aside and stepped into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, shaved his face... and facing the awful inevitability of his situation, pulled down his underwear and trimmed the hair around his private parts. It wasn't a guarantee, he told himself... it was just a precaution.

He showered carefully, paying particular attention to areas that he usually never gave such close consideration to. Primped and preened to the extent that his home budget would allow, Tibur went to meet the others at the penthouse apartment.

"You look nice today!" said Tristan, much to Caleb's annoyance.

Tibur blushed and straightened his freshly ironed T-shirt. He'd rented the iron from the laundry room attendant for the first time; even job interviews had never been deemed worthy of the 5 MD it would cost to look his best. Today was different.

Michael arrived not long after Tibur, dragging a suitcase behind him.

"Didn't all your things burn in the fire?" Caleb asked him, "Or are you moving out of my apartment and into this place in the north?"

Michael smiled regardless. "Just a few things we might need" he said, spinning the case 360° and directing his sultry gaze at Tibur, "Making sure everyone's comfortable..."

Tristan grabbed Tibur and pulled him out onto the terrace before his cheeks reddened any further. The way he was staring open-mouthed at Michael was far too inviting.

"I think you need some air" said Tristan, "You're liable to give yourself a nosebleed!"

Tibur nodded, and took a seat at the patio table.

"The most important thing is to relax" said Tristan, "Today is just like any other day, no need to think too much about things. Just remember to breathe and you'll be okay."

"Have you given them names yet?" Tibur asked, as the lively kittens brought him back to his senses.

"Kinda..." said Tristan, "I thought of some names but they're not very good. It's probably better to let Caleb choose them..." 

"It doesn't matter if they're 'good' or not" said Tibur, "They're your cats, you can name them however you want. What's the little black and white one called?"

"Goose..." Tristan told him quietly.

"And the white one with the orange and brown spots?"

"Duck."

"So the brown one is 'Chicken' I suppose?" Tibur asked with a smile.

Tristan was aghast. "No, of course not! I eat a lot of chicken" he said, "That one's Turkey..."

"Is there any reason why they're all named after birds?"

"It's what they like to eat..." Tristan explained, "Growing up we had a cat called Sardine and another named Tuna. I told you they're not very good! Caleb can pick something better."

Tibur picked up the spotted little kitten and nuzzled its ear against his face.

"Hello little Duck" he said gently, "You're very lucky to have found someone to care for you so much."

"Have you said good bye to the babies?" Caleb asked, stepping out onto the terrace, his usual specs replaced by a pair of sunglasses, "Fraser's here, we can start loading the car."

Tibur was curious what Caleb's big brother would be like. He was surprised to see the slim little foreigner in a T-shirt and slacks, elegantly sipping a cup of coffee on the couch.

"Ah, I've missed real coffee!" he exclaimed.

"Does your Modeshi delivery man not have an espresso maker?" asked Caleb, "I am surprised. I'd have thought you'd have filled his place with all the comforts of home by now."

"Farang's place has everything you could possibly need" said Fraser, "Most importantly, it has Farang!"

Tibur was almost positive it couldn't be the one he knew. Could it?

"Packed and ready?" Michael asked him, an arm slung carelessly around Tibur's shoulders.

"Packed" said Tibur, shaking free from his hold, "But not so sure I'm ready to be manhandled this early in the morning."

"What about tonight then..?" Michael whispered in his ear.

"W... Why don't Tibur and I sit in the back together on the way there?" Tristan offered, attempting to save his friend from the creeping redness.

Michael and Caleb exchanged a look.

"Maybe on the way back" said Caleb, with zero intention of ever allowing Michael to take his husband's place up front.

Their bags loaded into the car, Tristan begrudgingly sat in the passenger's seat beside his husband, leaving Tibur at the mercy of the foreign playboy. As they pulled out of the garage and into the glimmering rays of the morning sun, Tristan quite forgot any concerns for his friend; he was getting excited for their trip.

"It's a shame that Millie didn't want to come in the end" he said, "I haven't seen her in a while, is she doing okay?"

"Just busy I think..." Tibur lied. 

"Baby, why don't you choose some music to play?" Caleb suggested.

Tristan looked through the playlist of all his favorite songs, there was nothing there that he thought the others would like. He scrolled back and forth, the anxiety rising in his chest. It was too much pressure to find a song he wouldn't be judged for.

"Someone else choose" he said, "I'll only play something embarrassing."

"Give it here then!" said Michael.

The vicious eyes in the rearview mirror, and the scowl to his left, and Michael took his hand back.

"Just close your eyes and press play" Tibur coaxed, "or else we'll have to suffer through Michael's electro dance bullshit the entire way there."

"Anything's fine, Baby" said Caleb, a reassuring smile curving his lips.

Tristan played a gentle song to match the sunny weather, as the guitar softly strummed he thought of his dad. Caleb took hold of his hand as he watched the passing city turn to rolling fields.

"This is nice" said Tibur.

The only unhappy one was Michael, eager to get pumped up and yet forced to listen to the dreary acoustic music. He was close to falling asleep.

"If 'anything's' fine then why not-"

Tibur held his hand to shut him up. 

"Just listen to the words for a change" he told him, "It's nice."

'In the sunlight I see you,
Like a flower breaking through
Like all the beauty in the world
is suddenly in view'

It was strangely peaceful. He didn't hate it as much as he thought he would; especially with Tibur's hand held comfortingly in his own. The four men were quiet for much of the journey, the music softly played and the landscape changed around them. Caleb watched in those moments where Tristan would mouth the words, remembering the day he'd seen him on the treadmill; the day Tristan taught him how to smile.

When they pulled up at Michael's friend's place, the two in the back got out first. As Tristan unclasped his seatbeat, Caleb grabbed his arm, pulling him closer and kissing him tenderly. He no longer just watched those lips as they moved, at last he was able to kiss them.

Tristan blushed.

"Husband..." he said, "We should join the others." 

The house was split over two floors, with a pool out back and a landscaped garden. The bedroom upstairs was reserved for Tibur and Michael, while the bedroom downstairs went to the married couple.

"Are all your friends this rich..?" Tibur asked, wondering how much it must cost to maintain when the owner barely visited.

"Paul's family have a lot of money" said Michael, "Even before he became a pilot he was used to owning several places at once. We all came and stayed once on a study break, and his dad's mistress stopped by to give us the keys. When Paul figured out who she was, his old man gave him the place in exchange for keeping quiet to his mom."

"Lovely..." said Tibur with a sneer.

"Don't blame the house for the previous owner's misdeeds" said Michael, "Paul changed out all the furniture last year anyway... these mattresses haven't even been broken in yet."

"You take the bags upstairs" Tibur ordered, "I'm going to take a look at the pool with Tristan."

It was too early in the day to be alone in a bedroom with him. His courage was lacking, and his heart was beating too fast to hide it. 

He hid outside with Tristan until it was time to go for lunch and visit the temples. Piling back into the car, they drove along the coast to the nearest restaurant.

"Nothing spicy" Michael told Tibur as he handed him the menu, "And nothing too heavy. Right, Tristan?"

Tibur shifted in his seat as Tristan's eyes widened. Michael really had as much subtlety as a wall. Caleb adjusted his glasses and glared at the man seated across from them. If he hadn't threatened him with stirring up unnecessary trouble, he would never have allowed such an idiot to remain in Tristan's company.

"I'll have the chicken salad" Tristan announced to the wait staff, "Dressing on the side."

Michael was watching Tibur's decision intently.

"I'll have the same..." he said awkwardly, his ears turning the color of beetroot.

Michael smiled in relief and ordered himself a steak. Just as promised, he'd done plenty of research prior to their romantic trip. Possibly a little too much research; his case was loaded up with lube, condoms, butt plugs and wipes, and he had an arsenal of useful tips saved to his phone. The better things went their first time, the more likely it was that Tibur would agree to do it again.

While Caleb listened to Tibur and Tristan talking about the temples over lunch, Michael chewed shamelessly on his steak as he sought to satisfy his voracious appetite. There'd been only one thing on his mind since he'd left the cozy confines of Tibur's room; the possibility that the next time they shared a bed, their relationship may finally see its consummation. 

Since unpacking the supplies at Paul's house, he'd had difficulty focusing on anything else. It wasn't just the growing excitement... he was trying to remember the steps he needed to follow. He was scared to admit it, but he was worried he would hurt him. After Tibur's brutal finger had shown him what it felt like without proper preparation, Michael had been practising on himself at home.  

The handsome Modeshi student had pushed him to the limits of what he thought himself capable of.

"Are you ready to go?" Tibur asked him, as the plates were cleared away.

"Ready" said Michael, steadying his heartbeat as he looked deeply into those dark, intelligent eyes.

It was an uphill drive to see the temples; the large plateau looked out to the sea, and ruins of pale colored stone rose up from the arid earth like silent guardians. Caleb followed the road as far as it would go, dropping off his sunscreen-coated husband and his friend at the site's perimeter.

"I'll walk back with you from the parking lot" said Michael, jumping into the passenger's seat. "We'll come and meet you soon, don't get lost."

"Try and find some shade, Baby" said Caleb, curious what it was Michael wanted to say to him, "Call if you need me."

While the two 'T's in a pod went in search of shade, Caleb drove Michael down to the temple parking lot.

"What?" he asked him simply, "I can't imagine you're here for my company."

Michael took a deep breath out and opened the window. Caleb was prepared for another request in return for his secrecy. He'd already given him the use of the ninth floor apartment and a place on their temple trip; he'd gone as far as he was willingly able. If he continued to be a problem he'd have to start thinking of other ways to solve him.

"You've... ah, fuck it, who else am I going to ask? Tell me" said Michael, "Firsthand. What do I need to know before I sleep with him?"

"You seem to think we have a closer relationship than we do" said Caleb, "Not to mention your assumption that Tibur will actually sleep with you..."

Michael wasn't surprised by his response.

"Fine" he said, "then I'll ask your husband..."

Caleb slammed on the brakes.

"Not a word of this leaves the car..." he told him.