Max POV
"Damn it! What happened?", I can barely contain my shock.
Zee is carrying Nat piggyback out of his car.
I run to him and try to take Nat from him.
"Wait!" whispers Zee, grabbing my arm, "Calm down!" he demands, tugging on my arm until I finally look at him.
My look seems to shock him.
"Max, calm down! He's just drunk. Don't freak out right away!" he demands.
I peek into the car and see NuNew in the passenger seat. He can't even look me in the eye. So that's what happens when I let my nong go wild with him.
I can't suppress my anger.
"I'll take it from here!", I try to say calmly, reaching for Nat, who seems to have passed out.
"Wait!" demands Zee, "Max, look at me!" he tries to reach out to me, "Nat got drunk tonight. He apparently wanted to test his limits. Please promise me you won't make a scene for him about it! I trust you!" his eyes penetrate mine, "I'm bringing him to you to watch over him while he sleeps it off. He can't go home that way. Please be a good Pi and don't beat him up!"
I swallow my anger.
So he called for Zee when he needed help.
No wonder!
There's no such thing with me!
You can't get bottled up like that with me, Nat!
"All right! I'll take it from here!", I declare seriously, "Thanks for picking him up. I'll see you at the studio."
And finally I'm able to hoist Nat off his back.
The way he snuggles up to Zee.
The way his face rests on his shoulder.
I burn at the sight.
And the burning becomes all the more intense when I feel his body, so familiar to me, against mine. He immediately wraps his legs around my waist as I take him in my arms.
His face now rests against my neck.
He smells like a whole perfumery combined with the acrid smell of alcohol.
And his steady breath against my skin.
That burning sensation in my body.
As if I hadn't burned enough tonight.
As if that altercation in my car hadn't left me burning enough.
As if my nong hadn't made me worry enough tonight.
Why is he doing this?
And carrying him so helplessly in my arms now doesn't even leave me angry.
I'm more relieved that he's finally back with me.
The circumstances make me burn like a fire, but his nearness brings me the cool calm.
As I carry him to my bedroom, my entire body tingles.
What is he doing to me?
This Nong Nat still has so much to learn.
He has so much to mature.
I must not be impatient.
He'll get there.
And I gently lay him down on my bed and look at his delicate body.
He's pretty dressed up for the party.
Not bad, Nat.
You look much older in that outfit.
And he wears so much jewelry.
Pearl necklace, of course, several earrings, and on his hands....
He's not wearing our ring.
I take his hands in mine.
Several rings.
But he doesn't wear our ring.
Interesting.
When I take off our ring, I immediately get a crack from him.
We are connected.
We are Maxnat.
I'm not supposed to show myself without a ring.
The next burning wave rolls over my body.
That's how it is when you're dealing with a child.
I have to be a mature Pi and just get over his childish actions.
It's okay, Nong.
And I start to slowly undress him.
First his shoes, all the jewelry, his shirt, his pants.
Just in his shorts in my bed.
He's sleeping peacefully.
His delicate skin.
His dainty chest rising and falling with each breath.
His calm face framed by his tousled hair.
I catch myself melting away.
He's just too cute.
No matter how childish he may be.
"I'll take care of you!", I whisper in his ear and go to the bathroom to get a wet washcloth.
His body is oozing alcohol and I want to wash it clean.
He never usually allows me to do that when he's sick.
"I guess you must be completely out of it to let me take care of you," I smile with satisfaction.
And the tingling in my stomach knocks me out as I begin to carefully wipe his body with the cool wet.
"Mhmmm!", Nat startles me as he begins to turn his face back and forth, "Zeeeee!", he growls with narrowed eyes, "What are you doing?", he asks with pouty lips.
I have to grin.
And instead of an answer, I stroke his hair. I want him to go back to sleep.
And Nat smiles.
"Thanks for always letting me count on you, Zee!" he mumbles, hitting me right in the pit of the stomach, "But please don't tell Max!" he whimpers with a furrowed brow.
Why don't you finally open your eyes!
Then you'll see exactly who always takes care of you.
I wipe his forehead with the cool cloth.
Stroke all the hair aside.
And his handsome face beams at me.
He smiles again and relaxes.
"Zee!" he calls someone else's name, "I almost did it!" he whispers.
"You almost did what?" it growls out of me.
"I almost kissed him!" he reports, biting his lower lip.
And I can only stand up abruptly.
My heart is racing and I'm on fire.
And only Nat's sobbing brings me back.
"I couldn't!" my Nat sobs, "I want so badly! I have to finally get away from him!" he whimpers and I see little tears rolling down the edges of his closed eyes.
He's crying and I'm in shock.
"I really tried tonight. He even got my number. He was really sweet to me!" he whimpers, "But when he tried to kiss me, all I could think about was Max!" he whispers, making my heart stop.
I want to sit with him, but I just can't move.
So many emotions are rolling over me right now.
And this burning is driving me out of my mind.
Who is he talking about and why can't my throat gasp at his words?
And Nat raises his hand and touches his lips.
"My lips only know the taste of his lips!" he begins to shed tears again, "And I only want to taste your lips, Max!" his tender confession rings out before he slumbers away again.
And now it is my face that is overrun with warm tears.
Why am I crying?
Why is my heart racing so?
Because I robbed him of his first kiss?
Because I can't get the taste of his lips out of my head either?
Or because he wants to kiss someone else?
That's his right, isn't it?
Who am I?
I can't demand fidelity from him.
Then why am I burning like this?
Why have I never felt such flames inside me?
Nat!
Nat, what are you doing to me?
I just want to hold him.
Nothing else is possible now.
So, I finally slip into bed with him, put my arm under his head and rest his face on my chest.
And he snuggles close to me.
A pulse of fire races through my body.
He thinks he's with Zee.
So this is how you would snuggle up to Zee after almost kissing someone else at the party.
I squeeze my eyes shut and try to breathe calmly.
What am I going to do with you, Nat?
What am I going to do?
How am I supposed to react?
And as my mind whirls, I feel myself holding Nat tighter and tighter against me.
You are mine!
You hear me!
You are mine!
And the tingling in my body numbs every cell.
Until I can't feel myself anymore.
I am no longer Max.
There is no longer just Max.
We are one.
We are Maxnat.
I need my Nat.
With Nat pressed against me, I finally manage to fall asleep.
Finally, I can sleep.
Finally he is with me.