<USS Avalon> One in a Crowd

One in a Crowd

by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Manson and Lieutenant Second Class Alder 
Shimbrodus

The crowd didn?t appeal to him. He disliked it, having to constantly bump 
against someone else, or run into them unintentionally; Anthony felt as if 
competing for lane space- no matter how small- was primary than to actually 
look around this vibrant block the people occupied and fought for. Putting his 
hands in his jacket pocket he weaved through the crowds, not particularly 
caring if he bumped into any of them. How he got caught into this crowded mess 
was a mystery to him, but he did find it better than constantly replaying that 
meeting at the park. It hurt him so bad he did cry, but earlier, when no one 
could see, and where he could be by himself as he attempted to ignore it all. 

He blinked and dismissed that thought. Anthony only wished Alder would 
understand. Though, there wasn?t much to question- it was plain and simple. 
Just like the agent had said. 

He stopped, a new vid catching his attention. Apparently the Rydyn Delegation 
was visiting the Federation Council and the formalities had already passed. 
They looked better through the screen than in real life. The news feed then 
switched to a different topic, weather, traffic, the newest trend. Anthony 
stood there, letting the crowd go around him, as if he was completely isolated. 
He did feel that way, there wasn?t much difference.

Skimmers went down slowly through the busy streets. If one had a birds eye 
view, they could see that skimmers from both opposite streets were jammed pack. 
Even at the late night of Belmont Shore, people still were out, crowding the 
lanes, dancing, drinking, shopping, eating, walking their dog with some 
expensive drink in their hand and a priceless watch around their wrist- as if 
the universe revolved around them. The skimmer stopped again and Alder looked 
out the window. He wasn?t the one piloting the simple vehicle, all the better. 
He liked the crowds, the business of it all. Though tonight was over the edge. 
Someone, or a small group, began cheering loud enough to catch a lot of 
attention. It was hard to tell if it was a single person cheering, or a group 
cheering. Trying to find the happy individual was hard- especially in this 
place.

He wasn?t happy, he wanted to find Anthony. To hug him, to kiss him, to tell 
him he loved him; instead Alder found himself in this place. He wished he had 
said something sooner, he didn?t mean to freeze. He wasn?t staying here, but it 
was the only street to go through as his destination was to an empty beach. He 
didn?t think for a moment it would be empty, but it would be a lot quieter. 
Belmont Shores had expanded, popularizing everything it could get it?s hand on.

The skimmer started again, and the crowds at the intersections had finally 
stopped. Careful, and smart enough not to attempt jumping the light and walk 
through the street. Alder just looked out the tinted window. 

He saw a familiar person and the first name to come out of his whisper, 
"Anthony". The lights to illuminate Belmont Shores weren?t enough, and 
considering the number of people here, it distorted his image. He wasn?t sure, 
but the skimmer had stopped again, and the man turned, walking in the same 
direction Alder was headed to. 

He moved through, trying to avoid being bumped into, run into, or walked right 
up someone?s feet. Those spots, the hair, the height. That face. It was 
Anthony, and Alder was about to get out when the skimmer started again. 

"Stop the skimmer," Alder said frantically.

"No, I?m not stopping this skimmer for nuthin?," the driver shot back. 

Alder made a small sound before he took out his card and slid the small object 
on the pay machine, "there, a hundred credits. Stop this shit, now."

The driver gave a crooked smile, obviously liking the bonus. Before he could 
turn to see his passenger off, the door was shut. Alder got to the walkways, 
weaving through the crowds, just like everyone. Though he wasn?t as careful as 
most of them. He needed to get to Anthony and the man was slowly fading from 
the number of heads in Alder?s view. 

"Anthony!" Alder tried peering his head from the crowd, as if he was being 
swarmed by them. He called out again, but the noise level had muffled his 
voice. He pushed past them, bumped, and apologized softly as he tried to make 
his way closer.

Anthony looked to the ground, just curious as he noticed you couldn?t even see 
a line through the concrete flooring. There just was too many feet in the way. 
Someone hit his shoulder, sending him into a half spin. "Sorry, man," a young 
guy said but shrugged it off as he was pushed into the flow of the crowd. That 
same movement also pushed Anthony to the crowds, and he kept walking. 

He turned a corner, it wasn?t going to get any less crowded, but he was getting 
tired of being on the main strip. Alder followed, but was stopped at the 
intersection. He peered up, trying to see where Anthony was and found him 
turning right. He pushed past a few people and decided that walking through 
this street and catching up to him at a corner would be a lot better. He tried 
running, but only managed a fast walk as he pushed past more people. Finally he 
was at the next intersection and he quickly cut through and went for the street 
Anthony had turned into.

He looked around, trying to find that familiar face. That person that was 
constantly in his mind, that he couldn?t live without. He looked to his left, 
and saw Anthony coming up. Alder smiled, he?d tell Anthony he loved Anthony. He 
had to, the man had done enough for him, and Alder knew he unintentionally hurt 
him at the park. It was complicated for him, the whole situation seemed simple, 
yet... not. 

Pushing through the crowds, but less assertive in his efforts, he weaved from 
stepping into the streets and closer to the entrances of the stores. Anthony 
was on this side and he walked as straight as he could. Avoiding as many 
bump-ins as he could. 

They nearly passed each other but Alder grabbed his elbow and pulled him into 
an alley. A well lit one at that. The alley was also filled with people, just 
not as many as they disappeared into the buildings.

Anthony went on the defensive but froze when he recognized Alder. Alder looked 
at him and the awkward staring of each other felt as if it lasted for eternity. 

Suddenly hands moved up, cupping Anthony?s face as Alder moved in and kissed 
him. His body reacted to Alder?s kiss as his arms wrapped around the man. It 
felt so nice, so right. 

The kiss faded, as Anthony opened his eyes, hoping Alder meant that kiss. He 
kept his arms around Alder, not wanting to let go unless asked to. Or told to. 
Out of the darkness, he still managed to look into those green-brown eyes that 
looked at grey ones. Resting his head against Anthony?s he just smiled, closing 
the very small distance between them.

Alder gave him another kiss but a quick one and simply said, "I love you."


                        
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