Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

The day was chilly, but Hal was certainly more mobile than he had been the last time. He jogged up the stairs to Milo's apartment three at a time before coming to a stop breathing a bit heavily as he knocked on the bongo's front door.

The bongo opened the door, a glass of water in hand. "Oh, hey there, Hal. This is a surprise. Would you like to come in?"

Hal was leaning confidently against the door frame. He leaned in and nuzzled at Milo's snout, the closest he could get to a peck as he could. "I'd love to but I got some shit to work on. I was in the neighbourhood so I figured I'd offer these.” He spoke digging into the pocket of his puffer coat and pulling out some glossy tickets, "How do you feel about basketball? I got some tickets to see the Summit play the Tides."

Milo set his glass down on the table next to the door. "I've never actually been to a basketball game, so I guess it would be a nice change of pace. Do you mind if I..." He paused before taking one of the tickets, looking it over. "Honestly, I can't even tell how good of seats they are, not that it matters whatsoever. I know NOTHING about the sport."

Hal smiled and shrugged. "I know plenty, actually kind of a huge fan so. I wanna share that with ya you know? It'll be fun trust me. Those are pretty decent tickets too. I got some connections. That's the fifth row, on the home side. It's tonight at six you got plans already?"

The bongo shook his head. "Nope, no plans. This will be fun! Where am I going to meet you?"

Hal seemed to pause and think for a minute shifting on his large pads, one seemed a bit more tender than the other, "Well I got a lot of stuff to take care of that's probably gonna cut my time pretty close. You mind if I just meet you in the seats? Think you're gonna be able to find em ok?"

Milo nodded slightly. "I'm sure that if I can't, I can ask somebody working in the stadium for directions. Usually events have ushers, so I assume games do too."

"Oh yeah definitely. I have faith in ya bud. So see you there around Six-ish?" he asked with raised eye ridges and a hopeful sort of look. He seemed pretty excited as was evident with the tip of his tail twitching.

Milo leaned forwards, getting up as far as he could on his hooves and planting a kiss on Hal's cheek. He rocked back down, brandishing his ticket. "Can't wait to see you there, big guy."

The large alligator gave a pleasant rumble and leaned into the affection before straightening and nodding. "Alright then. I'll see you there. You're gonna love it I promise. Get some peanuts and stuff too." He spoke and said his goodbyes moving off down the hall at double time.

Milo closed the door, setting the ticket down and picking up his glass of water again. "Well, better get myself ready. Should be a fun night."

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The rest of the day was filled with the usual for Hal. Training, weights, packing his diet with all the right things for once and running over some film and plays before the big game. Seattle was the sort of team that was unpredictable, but he was going to play his heart out tonight, after all he had someone to impress out there tonight. An hour before hand he made his way into the lockerooms with an unusual spring in his step, getting into his jersey and shorts before picking up his phone and sending an excited text message "Looking forward to seeing you tonight!" Even his team mates had noticed his unusually cheery mood. He was known for being a pretty happy guy but this seemed different.

Milo got Hal's text as he was pulling into the parking next to the stadium. "This is insane," the bongo grumbled as he pid the expensive parking fee, spending a good ten minutes trying to find a free spot, "though, given how much Hal must have spent on these tickets, I can at least pay for my own parking."

The bongo worked his way into the stadium, passing by the concessions just to try and get to his seat. He'd spent enough time getting into the arena. Stopping to ask an usher for help, he found his seat, the empty seat next to it that belonged to Hal also empty.

Milo sat himself down, looking around to see if he could catch a glimpse of the gator. The players had just finished their pre-game warmup and would be back soon for the game proper, or so the announcements stated. As the game got closer, the bongo twisted more and more in his seat. "Did he get delayed? Is something holding him up on his way here. Maybe he can't find parking."

"Did he buy me this ticket just to stand me up?" The thought crossed Milo's mind as the lights in the stadium dimmed, and the players were introduced. A name rang out, and the bongo's eyes flicked to the court, easily catching the familiar shape of the tall gator. "You have got to be fucking kidding me."

There was a bit of a pang of guilt there in Hal’s chest mixed in with all the excitement. But he felt this was the best way of doing it. The best “Hal” way of doing it. After all they’d known each other and well…been involved with each other for a few months now. He’d been hiding it from Milo frankly just to see if he could, and if he could have gotten away with it. That and to make sure what they had, what he seemed so interested in, was actually the gator for being who he was. The temptation of a million dollar salary seemed to persuade quite a few people after all. So knowing he could do this in confidence and not have Milo view him differently…he felt good about it.

Hal was revved up, energetic, and pumped for the game. And as he was announced with the rest of his team he charged out onto the floor boards and did his usually hamming. Waving to the crowd and wearing that big ole grin that seemed all the more brighter tonight. He spun around and jogged backwards waving to that crowd as well, and locked his reptilian eyes on where Milo sat. It was hard to make him out clearly at this distance, but the fact that he was there well…it made him feel pretty good about the whole thing. It was definitely a weight off his chest.

He played the rest of the game hard and focused. Sparing only enough time at the half to send a quick text asking the bongo to wait where he sat after the game, and that he’d meet him there. Doubtless he’d have some questions for him. Hal was even excited about that. He hadn’t realized how much of a burden it had been keeping this passion and side of his life away from the other. It was odd really…usually he wouldn’t be this attached to someone. He chalked it up to simply being good, close friends.

The game ended after the usual two hours, and Hal burned through the locker room showering, talking to the press for the required time and hitting the exit as quick as he could. He could move pretty quick for a big guy too. He wore a pair of nylon jumpsuit pants, the kind that button all the way down the sides and a hoodie with the hood pulled up, almost as if he was trying to hide who he was in the bleachers. Though given his unique height advantage and figure it probably wouldn’t have done him much good. He had to sign a few autographs and say a few hellos before finally approaching Milo tentatively, with his hands in the front pouch pocket of his hoodie. “Uh…hey. You enjoy the game?” he asked sheepishly. It was an odd sight to see the gator almost shy.

Milo turned and glared at Hal. "Really? Are you being serious right now? Didn't you think there was something you MIGHT have wanted to tell me before I sat here for like half an hour before the game wondering if you had stood me up?"

Hal’s smile faded for probably the first time all night. He shifted weight from one foot to the other and canted his head with a questioning look. “Uh well…it was meant to be a surprise you know? Best way I could think to tell you. I thought it was gonna be fun! You know I’d never stand ya up Milo.” He said with a ‘duh’ tone of voice.

"What do you call sitting here all night next to an empty seat, even if you were technically here, just down on the court?" Milo stood, starting to gesture angrily. "Because, yeah, it was one bloody hell of a surprise! Oh, the guy you've been hanging out and falling for is really a professional basketball player, not some, what did you say you did, entertainer? Yeah, I guess this could be entertaining when you haven't had the rug just pulled out from under you!"

Hal took a few steps closer and pulled his hands from his pockets as if to usher Milo to calm down. “Hey hey I’m right here you don’t gotta shout.” He was suddenly aware that they were starting to cause a scene. “I thought it would be fun and exciting alright? And yeah I am an entertainer. I didn’t wanna tell you right away because you seemed like a pretty cool guy when we first met. I didn’t want to complicate things.” His own voice was a bit firmer now, still a thick accent behind it though. “What would you have wanted me to do? Just brought it up casually at dinner or something? It was going to be a shock no matter what Milo. I just thought…you would have liked it this way you know? I thought you'd be happy about this! I mean I played my ass off, got Player of the Game an everything cause I knew you were up here!” He sighed and flipped his hood down rubbing at the side of his face.

"I don't know! Maybe not do it by asking me to come to an event with you and then tell me by being part of the event?"

There were a few tears in Milo's eyes as he exited his seat. Hal moved to stop him, but Milo waved his hands away. "Not now, Hal. Just... not now. I need to go."

The gator’s frown deepened seeing how shook up the other was. Moving to get closer, maybe to pull him in for a hug, “Look, Milo I’m sorry—“he was cut off though by a hand planted firmly on his chest as he was gently kept at a distance. Hal stopped and clenched his jaw looking rather upset himself now. His once confident stance seemed to deflate then and there as he nodded in defeat. “Yeah…alright.” He stood there looking and feeling like the biggest idiot on the planet as he watched the bongo storm toward the nearest exit and out of view. “Fuck me…”He grumbled to himself glancing around at the few stragglers who had been staring before slipping away into the team’s locker room.

Hal had stayed at the stadium for what felt like hours. Secluding himself in the weight room long after everyone had gone home for the night. Bench presses, squats, curls, it didn’t matter, whatever could work out his pent up aggression and anger leveled mostly at himself. It was nearly three in the morning before he’d gotten fed up with it all and packed his gym bag. The bitter cold of the Maine winter didn’t even seem to bother him as he climbed into his SUV and sped toward the familiar apartment complex just to climb the stairs and knock on Milo’s door. “Hey! It’s me! You awake in there?! I just wanna talk Milo c’mon!” He pleaded.

It took a few minutes, but the bongo opened the door, wrapped in a blanket. His voice was tired and a bit strained. "Yeah, Hal?"

Hal’s eyes were bloodshot, it had been a long night for him by the looks of it. A game would be taxing enough without the further stress he’d seemed to gotten himself into. “Hey um…”he began scratching at his snout. “I didn’t mean to wake you up. Can I come in? Can we talk about this? It won’t leave my fucking head.” He grabbed his skull for emphasis. “You got every right to tell me to fuck off…I get that…but I’m askin’ ya.”

Milo sighed, opening the door, wrapping the blanket tighter around himself. "C'mon in, Hal. I may as well hear you out."

Clenching his jaw he followed Milo into the dark apartment, lit only by a couple of small night lights here and there just to keep people from tripping over things. He shut the door behind him but stayed standing, with his hands in his coat pockets. He stood there for a long time just…staring at the bongo. “I made a mistake.” He said plainly. “I get that. I shoulda told you that day we met or something but…can you at least see why I might notta wanted to? And after no time seemed to be the right time. How do you bring that up in conversation? I was under the impression that we were enjoyin’ our time together. I didn’t wanna fuck it up.”

Milo sighed, rubbing his forehead just below his horns. "I get why you didn't tell me, Hal. You know how many people would love to get cozy to a professional basketball player given the money you make."

"But still," the bongo looked up at the gator, "You couldn't have told me BEFORE you walked out onto that court? Like, hell, even yesterday, said "Hey, I wanted to tell you what I really do". Sit me down at my computer and have me google your name? Honestly, you're lucky I hadn't done that already! Seriously, anything would have been better than sitting me down in the arena and just walking onto the court."

Hal shrugged his shoulders weakly. He didn’t have much of a retort at the moment. Yeah, maybe it had been better that way, but honestly he wasn’t expecting it to go this badly. He had pictured it as a kind of wonderment or happy surprise. Boy had he been wrong. He stuck his hands in his coat pockets and looked off to the side, suddenly finding Milo’s coffee table much more interesting than it had been previously. “I was just trying to find a Dufrain way of being honest with ya. Get it off my chest in a way that I thought would have been fun and excitin’ but I was fuckin’ wrong alright?” He spoke in a low tone looking rather defeated. “But I did a lot of thinking, and I’m here to make things right between you and me. So just tell me what I gotta do alright? I don’t want this shit to stop. You said something back at the stadium that took me for a loop and…I aint really sure how to deal with that. But I know how to deal with the now. And right now I don’t like this. Tell me how ta fix it. I’m good at fixing things.”

Milo sighed, rubbing his head. "I don't know, Hal. I don't know how to make this better. Maybe time? I just really don't know."

The bongo moved further into his house. "Want to come in? Have a drink? Fuck if I know if I want you here or if I want you to leave. I'm just... ugh, I don't know what to think right now."

Hal took a few steps into the apartment and nodded. “Yeah uh, a drink sounds pretty good right now. Or twelve.” He kept his head and his eyes down, shrinking somewhat despite his large size. Breathing in a deep breath and letting out a long sigh. “We should try at least you know? Unless you really just don’t wanna see me anymore.” He shrugged a broad shoulder and moved to sit down on the couch. He waited there for a time until he was handed a stiff drink and gulped at it. “I thought that this was gonna be liberatin’ in a way. Seems it wasn’t though. Was gonna open some doors. Explain why I disappear for week or somethin’ at a time.” He leaned forward on the couch and stared at Milo.

"Of course I still want to see you, Hal..." The bongo sighed, taking a long drink. "And it explains a hell of a lot, why you're always gone. I just... I don't know how to handle all this information."

Hal finished his drink and helped himself to the bottle filling her up again. He sipped and leaned back with his arm up across the back of the couch. “Yeah, I knew it was gonna be kind of a shocker but…I think it’s the right way to go about it. I guess you could get on the internet and research me or you could just ask me. I’m here to answer whatever you got for me.” He explained. “But…I just wanna get drunk right now. I played my ass off fer…well…just ta get you pissed off at me. What I gotta do Milo? Just name it and I’ll do it.”

"I already said I don't know, Hal!" Milo slammed down his glass a bit harder then he meant to. Looking over at the gator, he sighed. "I wish I knew what you could do to make it right. I really wish I did. But I don't know. I mean, I know why you hid it. And I completely understand it. You had to hide it from me."

He paused. "But that doesn't make it hurt any less that you did."

The large alligator finished his second glass and set the empty tumbler down. He locked his reptilian eyes with Milo’s with a deep frown. It was still a foreign sight on his snout. Sometimes people tended to forget he did anything but smile if only a little bit. “Hm.” He spoke and went quiet rubbing his hands together anxiously. “I hurt ya. I’m sorry.” He said shaking his head, “All I can do right now. Say I’m sorry.” He stood up slowly and shrugged his coat, adjusting how it sat on his broad shoulders. “Maybe I should go. It’s late.”

Milo shook his head. "You can stay if you life. It's rather late as is, and you shouldn't drive after drinking."

The bongo paused, looking up. "The sorrys definitely help a bit."

Hal had been stepping toward the front door as Milo insisted he stay. He’d only had a few drinks, probably fine to drive but still. He offered a gentle and apologetic smile. “Well, sorry again then.” He nodded and turned back toward Milo and strode to where he sat. The alligator stood closely in front of him peering down. “So…where do we go from here?” He spoke moving to nudge his clawed foot against the bongo’s hoof.

Milo looked up at Hal. "I don't know, Hal. Where do we go from here? Can I trust that you'll actually be honest with me, now that your secret's out?"

“I aint gotta reason to lie to you Milo! I didn’t even really lie to you to begin with! It wasn’t meant to be a bad thing I was trying to make shit seem excitin’ and new! You seemed to really enjoy the time we had and I enjoyed it too man.” He spoke in a defeated sort of tone. “I aint gonna lie, not who I am Milo. You got my word on that if you trust it.”

"There's a difference between telling the truth and being honest, Hal." The bongo sighed. "Yeah, you didn't lie. You are an entertainer. But you weren't being honest. And, I mean, you have a valid reason not to be, but still. Do I truly have your word that you'll be honest from now on?"

“Yeah, yeah I get that.” He rubbed at the side of his neck where his dremel started to run down his shoulder and arm and expand down his back. “I promise. Shit we could leave right now so I could show you my place. It’s kinda big…and empty sorta most of the rooms are. And I gotta roommate he’s usually cool for most things.” He nodded mentioning Eldred. Holding his arms out as he stood in front of the Bongo, slipping his coat off so that he was in his outfit from before, the track pants and hoodie. “I’m an open book Milo. You ask I answer.”

Milo nodded. "I... I honestly don't know what to ask. I guess... what am I to you? Cause I think you know I've fallen for you a bit, even with all this, but I don't know what I am to you."

Hal stared down at the coffee table for a while, his claws etching at the arm rest as a sort of subconscious copping mechanism. He flicked his gaze to Milo at the question. What was Milo to Hal? He clamped his jaws for a few moments. "I'm gonna be honest. I got no idea man. You were fun, and we're having fun...up until very recently I guess." He shrugged a shoulder. "I aint really...been with people dedicated you know?" He seemed to have trouble putting it into words exactly.

Milo nodded slowly. "I guess you have to ask yourself, Hal, do you want to be with somebody dedicated? Do you want something more, or do you just want to continue how we are, just having fun when you're around. Because I think we both need to know the answer to that."

Hal's nostrils flared and his eyes closed. He seemed to really think on it. That and at this point his body was so sore and tired it was screaming to pass out. "Milo, what do you want out of it? I aint around much, you know that. I travel a lot. And I'm under contract for the remainder of this season and the next. But I could get bought out, I could get traded tomorrow and end up in Alaska." He spoke in a low tone. "I aint ever been in a dedicated relationship. Ever. But I mean..." His voice fell off.

Milo reached out, placing a hand on Hal's knee. "What I want out this. I'd love to have more, I really like you. But, I understand what you're saying. If you want to just keep things how they are, I understand, but..."

The bongo paused. "You have to decide what you want. You've never been in a dedicated relationship, but.. do you want to, even?"

Hal put his webbed hand over Milo's and gave it a squeeze looking over the Bongo for a long while. "Well shit Milo..."He grumbled rubbing at the side of his snout with his free hand. "I guess I can't complain if you're wanting to take things that'a way." he offered a sleepy smile. "If you wanna put up with me we can give whatever this is a shot. I aint perfect though. And this aint...gonna be easy for you or me you know."

Milo gave Hal's hand a soft squeeze back. "I know, big guy. But if you're willing to give it a try, I am." The bongo caught the gator's eyes. "Let's go get some sleep. It's late, and you probably have practice in the morning, don't you?"

Milo chuckled as he stood. "Guess I'm gonna have to start watching basketball."

Hal worked at standing up, his joints audibly popping as he did so. He was tired, and cold to say the least. He let out a long and loud yawn stretching out his arms. "Yeah...been a long day. Shit I had better plans than this for tonight but..."He looked to Milo and then toward the bedroom. "Shit happens. And you don't gotta man if it's not your thing. Probably for the best if I start really sucking on the court." He chuckled and stuffed his hands into his front hoodie pouch pocket shambling to the bedroom.

The bongo led Hal into the bedroom, climbing into the bed and finally letting go of the blanket he had wrapped around himself. "You'll do fine, and I should watch it, I'm gonna want to know you you're doing, good or bad. Now c'mon, we both need sleep, and under this blanket I can keep you warm."

The alligator followed close behind the other man and paused at the foot of the bed watching Milo. "Yeah, yeah well you got some research ahead of you." he laughed pulling off his hoodie and shirt and kicking out of his track pants so that he was down to his boxer briefs, tailored specifically for that large, meaty tail of course. "Cause so far you don't know shit..."He teased slipping himself under those covers, the bed groaning in protest at his hefty size, draping that large tail around the both of them.

"Hah hah, yeah," Milo laughed, snuggling up against Hal's chest. "But I'll learn. It'll just take some time."

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Hal Dufrain belongs to  anaxes005
Milo Cook belongs to me
Art by  adaoz
The FBA is the creation of  Buckhopper and is currently run by  steviemaxwell