Orange Sweat

Disclaimer: The Canadian Idol series and its competitors are the property of 19e and CTV. This is a work of fanfiction. No money is being made from this story and no infringement is intended.

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--- X --- Orange Sweat --- X ---
--- by paperbacksniper ---
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In his spare time, Zack was very much athletic. Ever since his days in high school, he’d been a jock in just about every sport known to man. Recently, due to restrictions in his time, he had to cut back his activities to hockey in the winter, and jogging in the summer.

Every morning in the summer, he’d climb out of bed, throw on shorts and running sneakers, and go jogging to clear his mind and keep his body in shape. Despite the fact that this morning he wasn’t so much getting out of bed as returning from Japan on a business trip, Zack was still gung-ho to take his morning jaunt around the block.

Sitting on the leather couch in his living room, he bent over to do up his laces. The cool leather creating goose bumps on the back of his hairy legs. This task being accomplished, Zack stood up and stretched. He was absolutely exhausted from his trip, but he was going out anyway.

The heat from the morning Sun was already beginning to warm up the air as he exited his house. Zack stood on his front step a moment before walking down the stairs, and allowed himself to soak in the rays. How he missed this morning pleasure. He bent down and touched his toes, and then stood up straight again. Wasting no time, he took off at a light sprint down the sidewalk of his suburban neighbourhood.

By the time Zack neared home, it was an hour later, and he was drenched with sweat. The Sun had come out in full force, and was relentlessly beating down on the city of Toronto, the rays scorching anything and everything. He could feel the heat emanating from the pavement, and being channeled through the rubber soles on his shoes.

Slowly down to a walk, Zack turned the corner and made his way back to his front step. Usually there was no one else moving about on his street at this time of the day, but on this day, there was.

And they were sitting on his front step.

Zack approached cautiously, recognizing the designer clothes, the slicked back hair and the orange skin. He walked up his step, past the standing man, and reached for the doorknob.

His arm was grabbed from him, and he was spun around. “Wait, Zack. Please.” Ben pleaded, searching Zack’s eyes for anything that might give away any sort of feeling.

“Wait for what, dude?” Zack demanded, yanking his arm back. “I see nothing to wait for.” He turned back around and unlocked the door. The sooner he was back in his air conditioned house, the better.

There was a sad sigh from behind, and Zack ignored it. He pushed in his door, and upon entering his house, he slammed it behind him, and locked it. He did not want to face the man who was on the step.

He didn’t want to remember.

”Zack,” murmured Ben, as Zack licked down his neck, “You’re never around anymore.” He groaned as the older man continued his ministrations. “Don’t go on this trip. Please.”

Zack pulled away and stared into Ben’s eyes. “What?”

“Don’t go.”
“Why not, dude?”

“Because, I need you here.” Ben looked away.

Zack frowned. “Ben, dude. I have a company to run. I have business I need to conduct. I can’t just stay behind because you want me to.”

“Don’t go to New York.”

Another frown. Zack pushed Ben off him.

”I need to go get ready.”

That had been two months ago. Zack had returned from the New York trip early hoping to appease his needy boyfriend, only to find his boyfriend in the arms of another man, making out on Zack’s couch.

After that incident, Zack had not seen Ben around, and didn’t want to see him. He had no use for a man who couldn’t understand the bonds of love. Or at least one who felt the need to make out on his couch while he was gone on business trips.

Zack stomped into the kitchen and poured himself some water. He drained the glass, and feeling refreshed, he limped his way to the bathroom. He needed a shower before he crashed for the day.

Closing the door behind him, Zack started up the water and listened to the soothing sound of the spray hitting the floor of the shower. He pulled off his sweat-drenched muscle shirt, and tossed it into the hamper near the door. His shoes were discarded as well. He reached for the waistband of his shorts, but stopped when the bathroom door swung open.

Zack growled. “How’d you get in?”

Grinning, Ben held up a key. “You’ve never changed the spot where you hide the spare key.”

“Okay, well. Dude. Get out.”
“No.”
“Out.”
“No.”

Zack seethed and stepped closer. Ben grinned and backed up. Glaring, Zack grabbed onto Ben and attempted to push him out of the room, but, Ben was too quick. He spun Zack around and pushed him into the shower, water raining down on both of them.

Ben pressed him back into the cold tile of the wall. The fake tanning solution on Ben’s face began to wash away along with Zack’s sweat, and the two substances, the orange sweat, began to mingle in the drain, spinning around before being washed away.

Zack glared, and pushed against the stronger man.

“Let go of me, Mulroney.”
“No. I want you to listen to me.
“Dude, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I need you, Zack.”

Zack frowned. “I don’t need you.”

Ben leaned in and placed a kiss on Zack’s lips.

“You do. You just don’t know it yet.”

~fin~