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Alex had moved to California with the same intentions as everyone - make it big, live large, go nuts. It wasn’t going badly, exactly, but maybe his hubris had gotten a head of him by a little bit. He made good money by now - finally, after years of trying - got to quit the emergency-tutoring job he’d had to get. He’d been a shit teacher anyway, could barely remember the little bit of piano he’d been taught as a child and was pretty sure he had only gotten to keep the job because the parents needed some time away from their kid. But hey, he got to say goodbye to the annoying little fucker, say goodbye to his flurry of roommates, and say hello to his new home.
It’s definitely a fixer-upper, but livable for now - he’s just happy he got a little plot of land all to himself, even though nobody else had been able to see the same vision as he had. They just saw the rugged exterior, the lawn that was in desperate need of mowing, and heard the squeak of the front door hinges. It’s not great - but it’s his first home. He practically walks around on clouds, balancing planning the renovations with making sure his music career is staying on the right path, makes a pinterest account for inspiration, like a real adult would.
It gets even warmer out, and then buzzing starts. It’s constant, all around him, and at first he thinks the stress is finally getting to him and he’s actually gone insane. Then he sees a bee flying in little circles above him as he wakes up. Then another one, and he does, sort of, go insane. He’s not like- He’s not afraid of bees, per say. Just carries a large amount of respect for them, and would like to keep them as far as away from his person as is possible. And he will scream if he sees another one. He googles ‘ get rid of bees house california’ , and calls the first business that pops up.
“Hunnies & Hives, Matthew speaking.”
“I’m Alex. I got bees.” He blurts, a little panicked as yet another fucking bee zooms past him.
“...Me too.”
“In my walls.” Alex adds. “I don’t want them to be here.”
“How long have they been there?” Matt asks, sounding vaguely amused.
“I have no idea, I moved in like, a month ago. The walls started fuckin’ buzzing and then I saw them and I might go crazy if it keeps happening. Please tell me you can help.”
“It’s quite literally my job, just give me your address and I can probably head over pretty soon.”
Alex rattles it off immediately, gets the wonderful news that Matthew will be over in a few hours to relieve him of all his bee-related issues - which really, is all he could ask for. He focuses on cleaning up the little messes across the house as much as he can, drags the lawnmower he’d bought out for its first rendezvous to finally cut the grass down. He pops his earphones in, deafens the sound of the motor with the beats his manager had sent his way, comes up with little ideas as he trudges through the jungle. Just as he’s done, hauling the machine back into the garage with all the muscle he’s got left in him, a pale yellow pickup truck stops by the sidewalk. The logo proud on the side - Hunnies & Hives in a cursive font, a bee with heart-shaped glasses leaning up against it with a little drop of honey right below the text. It’s utterly ridiculous, if a bit charming with the retro-aesthetic.
“Alex?” He hears the same voice from the phone say - Matthew. He’s walking from the driver's side towards Alex, and for a second it feels like he’s found himself in a 90’s romcom. He’s all tall, honey-blond hair - fitting - with a bright smile, the sun lighting up his every feature. He’s wearing a tank top and jeans, looks more like a hot dude he would flirt with at a bar than someone who’s apparently dedicated his career to insects.
“That’s me.” He replies weekly as he walks up to shake the other man's hand. “Matthew, right?”
“Yeah, or just Matt. You got wall bees?”
“Tons of them.”
“Awesome, let me have a look.” He smiles, all brilliant like this is totally a good and fun thing, and not a living nightmare. Alex leads him into the house, up the stairs and points at the tiny little hole next to the window, where the little fuckers had clearly been sneaking out. Matt takes a flashlight out from his pocket, presses his face practically right against the hole. Alex is very worried he’s gonna witness some dude getting stung in the eye-ball, but Matt just looks around for a few seconds before frowning a little.
“Is it bad?” Alex asks.
“Gonna have to cut it out, so you’re gonna have to get someone to fix the wall up after.” He considers. “Doesn’t look like it’ll be too hard of a job for me though.”
“I’m not gonna have to burn the house down?” He asks, and Matt gives him a very, very confused expression.
“Was that an option? His tone is as confused as his face.
“Of course not.” Alex lies, blatantly if the way Matt looks at him is anything to go by.
“I’m gonna have to grab some tools, mind helping out?” He says, rather than questioning Alex further - it looks like that’s something he absolutely wants to do, however. He helps carry a tool-bag as Matt carries a giant white box with some plastic tarp precariously perched on top.
“So, didn’t notice the bees before you moved in?” Matt hums a little as he puts little marks of painters tape on the wall near the hole - Alex has no fucking clue what he’s doing.
“No, I guess they woke up from hibernation when it got warmer.”
“Bees don’t hibernate.” Matt huffs, puts the tarp down half-way across the floor, opens up the box and-
“Is that a portable beehive?” He asks, stares at the empty frames.
“Yeah, gotta give ‘em a new home, y’know?” Matt continues on his little ministrations, takes the electric saw out from the tool box along with a plastic clip.
“Don’t you need like, protection?” Alex asks.
“Why?” Matt asks back.
“Bees. They sting.”
“Not if you’re nice to them.” Matt says with a roll of his eyes, gestures for Alex to take a few steps back as he starts hacking through his wall, following the tape marking, then places a piece of the wall right on the tarp - it’s all honeycombed up inside, terrible vermin flying around like crazy. Matt picks up the little clip, seems to be rooting through the inside of the wall while looking for something.
“Got ya.” He finally mumbles, places the clip right in the box; there's a bee buzzing inside it, trapped. It's all kinda insane to see - the bees that had been flying all over dive after his hand, and with every piece of comb Matt carefully rescues and ties into the frames, the bees follow until there’s only a few strays flying around. Alex just stares in amazement through all of it - stock still, because he doesn’t want to risk getting stung. Matt looks so calm, like this is a completely normal event, makes little comments to the insects when they fly too close, tells them gently to go to your new home, and got a whole meadow waiting for you . It’s… adorable. Just seeing this giant sunflower of a man be relaxed as he pulls his whole arm inside Alex’s wall just to pick up more of the comb. He finally puts the lid on the hive, puts the tools back in the little bag.
“Got you something.” He says as he reaches a hand over Alex, a piece of leftover comb between his fingers.
“What?” Alex eyes it suspiciously.
“It’s honeycomb. You can eat it.” Matt breaks the piece in half, takes a bite of the smaller piece as if to show Alex it’s safe. He eyes the piece skeptically, then eyes Matt again before he finally grabs the piece and takes a bite with a roll of his eyes. It’s good, sweet and the comb itself is a little chewy, but the honey flavor is so much more concentrated than he’s used to.
“Holy shit.”
“Right?” Matt has a smug smile on his face. “Best part of the job.”
“Yeah, you get this shit for free.” Alex takes another bite, practically moans at the taste again. Matt’s cheeks are a little flushed, but then again it’s a warm day. He puts the last of the comb in his mouth as he eyes Alex.
“What do you do with the bees?” Alex asks, and sucks the remaining honey from his fingers.
“...What?” Matt blinks at him, glances up from Alex’s hand to his face.
“The bees. What’s gonna happen to them?” He clarifies. Matt’s even more red, now.
“Right.” Matt swallows. “Uh, I just take them home with me.”
“So you just have a fuckton of bees?” He asks. He’s trying to figure out if that’s a deal-breaker for him, and it’s quickly going from a strong yes to a very weak maybe.
“Pretty much.” He gives Alex a little shrug. “I guess, uh, I should head back with these guys.”
“Oh, yeah.” Alex licks a little spot of sticky honey from the side of his thumb before lifting up the tool-bag. Matt’s staring at his hand again.
“You’re gonna have to carry the hive.” He says, Matt reacts with a mumbling response that Alex can’t make out, but he dutifully picks it up - carries it gentle as can be, not disturbing the critters too much with his movements even as he hesitates his ways down the stairs. He places it gently on the trunk of the pickup, then stands there awkwardly for a moment.
“Thank you, really.” Alex gives a smile.
“It’s what I do.” Matt smiles back. “I would've tried getting here a lot sooner if I knew you were gonna be cute.”
Alex blinks once, twice, thrice. Matt’s smile fades with each blink.
“Sorry, I- I’m gonna head back and just.. Be ashamed.”
“No- I just- You think I’m cute?” Alex replies a little incredulously, because he knows he must be a total wreck - dark bags under his eyes because he’s slept like shit because of the bees, had been all sweaty and clothes grass-stained by the time Matt showed up.
“Really cute.” Matt clarifies.
“You look like a sunflower,” is all Alex can think to reply with.
“Thanks?”
“I didn’t know beekeepers could be hot.” He then adds, because he’d sort of been expecting either a 70-year old pensioner and this was so, so much better.
“I really regretted giving you honeycomb to eat.” Matt says, while they’re already confessing things, apparently. “Lots of inappropriate thoughts, very fast.”
“You got bees at home so you could just… invite me over, y’know. I could give you some more thoughts.” Matt bites his lip, looks down in a way that’s almost shy.
“I- yeah.” Another smile. “I’ll, uh, give you a call. Already got your number.”
“Hive got a good feeling about this.” Alex smiles at his own pun, Matt immediately groaning.
“I hear enough jokes from other people as it is, Jesus.”
“You should tell them to buzz off.” Matt laughs, eventually gets in the car to drive away.
The first time Matt shows Alex his own hives, Alex gets stung by a bee. It’s lucky he’s found someone to kiss it better.