Derek hated how stuffy galas were.

They were just glorified art shows in this case, but at least the artists were getting their chance to shine. Everywhere he looked, he found himself facing yet another beautiful work about the community.

He was well aware that most of the people there who went apart of the community didn't actually want to be there.

It was gross how people pretended.

Not much he could say without accidental outin-

That was his ass.

While in his own head, he passed by a piece, that was straight up his own ass.

Okay, so more like, hotel room and his ass is there, and is covered. But he recognized himself either way.

He glanced at the other pieces in the collection, and realized that the person who painted them must've been the beauty from the last gala.

After all, he hazily remembered each of the paintings.

How close they were, how connected they felt...

No one else was going to have them. He walked to one of the... vendors? No. Not it. One of the people I. Charge of handling purchases.

"I'd like to purchase this whole collection."

The man seemed shocked and at a loss for words. "Sir, that's seven paintings!"

"I'm aware. And whatever the price, I'll pay it. I want all of it,

"O-of course sir."

He quickly got his transaction through before seeking out the artist.

He had to meet him again.

Seeing the painting of himself...

Derek just wanted to feel what he felt back then again.

Jason lived looking at the different artwork, and was mesmerized by how beautiful people could make things, how they expressed themselves.

But, that did get old fast, so he got some wine and leaned against a wall near his own work.

Though, he never got to drink his wine.

"Considering how I don't remember anything, and I'm assuming you don't, lay off the wine."

It was said as the glass was snatched out of his hand, and he glanced to see

Coffee shop guy?

Wait...

And the guy from the gala! He was both!?

"I honestly didn't think we'd meet again, but then I saw you painted my ass..." he trailed off, obviously teasing.

"Y-you saw?"

"I saw your whole collection," he informed, "you're talented! And since we're both sober, I'm Derek."

Jason looked at the extended hand and shook it, "Jason."

"Now, I've made my way around here quite a few times, want to find somewhere to eat?"

"Oh god, yes." And the pair snuck off.

Not that anyone would be looking for them. They made their appearances.

Hilariously enough, they just grabbed McDonald's and sat in a hotel room, eating.

"Sorry for being so skittish and flaking," Jason apologized.

"No, no, I get it. Considering we stopped because you were drunk and not comfortable anymore, I could see the panic."

That made Jason pause, "we didn't go all the way?"

"No," he assured. "Like I said, you didn't feel like you'd remember it, and you didn't want to forget your first time."

"That is not what you said."

"Close enough."

Jason merely shook his head, stealing a fry from his bag.

"Are you stealing my fries?"

"Technically, I paid for them, so they're my fries."

Derek chuckled at that, "alright, that's fair. Just keep an eye on those fries."

The two ate in silence, checking out their phones.

Surprisingly, it was Jason's phone that was blowing up.

"Guess I have to get this..." he muttered as he answered it.

"Oh my god! Every piece! Every sin- where are you?"

Jason looked at Derek, who looked amused, nor knowing what was going on."

"I'm at a hotel."

"Why?"

"I am swayed by pretty people."

Derek chuckled, "thanks for that."

"Oh my god... we'll talk tomorrow then, stay safe."

Derek gestured to the phone as Jason set it down, "fun call?"

"The person who set me up at the galas was wondering where I was."

He nodded, "so hotel with a pretty boy."

"Except you are older than me, nor sure by how much though."

"I'm thirty seven."

"Twenty five," Jason said back.

37 and 25... only 12 years between them, that wasn't too bad.

"Are you a native New Yorker?" Jason asked quickly to keep Conversation.

"No, actually. Born down in Roswell, New Mexico. Still have family down there, soon to be including my best friend and his wife. You?"

"I'm not from here either. Born in Kula, Hawaii. On the island of Maui. Dad is from there, mom is from here."

"Heard around there is pretty gorgeous," Derek remarked kindly.

"It is, and expensive. The only way in and out is plane or boat and either way, it's a long trip. So food prices are really expensive."

"I'd imagine. New York is equally expensive."

Jason smiled fondly, glancing over at the nearby window, "I love it here though. It's hot perfect, but it's home."

"I agree with you there."

The pair cleaned up together and sat on the bed, wondering what to do. They obviously found each other attractive, but that didn't mean they had to do anything.

"Will we see each other again?" Jason asked.

Honestly, while Derek hated keeping tabs on his one night stands, he felt that Jason was different. He wanted to know him more. "If you want to."

"I know this sounds stupid, we barely know each other, but whenever I recall that night, while it's fuzzy, you made me feel things I've never felt before."

That piqued his interest. So as he hooked his pinky around Jason's, he raised a brow at him, all while saying "oh? Like what?"

Jason turned more to Derek, "safe. You made me feel safe, and warm. I felt cared for and respected. And thinking about it makes my stomach do flip flops."

He brought his hand to Jason's cheek, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip, shifting to simply cup his cheek. "You make me feel alive. In a way I haven't felt in years."

"I do?"

Derek shared a smile with him, "you do."

"Could we... could we kiss?"

"Of course."

Jason giddily met Derek in the middle, both men not sure what was going to come next.

Derek didn't do commitment.

Jason never felt like he actually needed anyone.

Yet, their tongues were so warm, wet, tangled up in each other as their bodies drew closer. The space between them shrank as Jason's hands gripped to Derek's sides and Derek's hands searched for jason's sides just the same.

Then Derek's hands fell to Jason's thighs, gently pulling them apart to fit his body between them. Jason accepted the change, adjusting so his arms were around Derek's shoulders. He was a bit above Derek, kissing down, enjoying the touch he didn't Remember before.

They pulled apart, looking at each other with abated breath, huffing a bit. Saliva pooled at their mouth, a thin line of drool connecting them.

"Would it be alright if I groped your ass?" Derek asked, quite seriously too.

Jason was a bit dazed still, eyes slightly glazed over, and he nodded sweetly. "You can."

Derek smiled and slid his hands up Jason's thighs, earning a cute whimper from his trembling lips.

When he reached Jason's ass, he got a nice handful and gave a slight squeeze, earning him another cute whimper.

"St-stop teasing..." Jason whimpered.

Derek paused his movements, smiling, "what do you want me to do then?" He was carefully holding Jason, in case the boy wasn't ready.

And just like last time, he still wasn't. "I'm sorry, I like this, I just-"

Derek kissed him, slowly, setting him down carefully. "Your comfort matters. If you aren't ready, you aren't ready."

"Could we still cuddle?"

He nodded, "we should take off the suits first though."

"R-right!"