Episode 2
1124 Words
Led Zeppelin playing through the speakers, as Zizi painted, red paint splattered on the canvas with swipes of yellow. Each stroke sure and defined.
The song changes and Queen’s Killer Queen comes on, Zizi singing and dancing along. He’s in his private studio, sound proof walls and two large speakers and tons and tons of canvases spread out. Some stacked in neat rows on the walls and some hung up.
In a secret compartment in the floor were portraits of Hunter. Hunter’s eyes, smile, his side view, full body drawings. He doesn’t hide them all, there are a handful hung up on the wall that Hunter has seen. Zizi doesn’t want him to see the rest lest he’d come out as creepy. That was his greatest fear.
He jumps when he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. The music had paused itself and he picks the call.
“Hunter.”
Hunter sniffs and Zizi immediately goes on alert. He drops the paint brushes and starts wiping his hands on his apron. He’s shirtless and just in his boxers. Zizi likes to feel free as he worked.
“Can you come pick me up? I’m at Casper Mirrors.” Hunter sniffs again.
“I’ll be there in five. Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not.” Hunter sniffs. The call ends after that and Zizi quickly pulls on his shirt and sweatpants. His studio was ten minutes away from the restaurant Hunter was at but he could make it there in ten with a little speed.
He grabbed his keys and made his way out, jumping down each stairs until he got to his car. His heart was beating fast, fear coursing through his body. He gets to Casper Mirrors in time. He finds Hunter standing outside, holding himself together.
“Babe…” Zizi calls. He wraps his arms around Hunter and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Like always Hunter’s smaller frame fit perfectly against him, his cheeks, nose and ears red.
“He dumped me. He said I spend more time with you than I do with him.” Hunter sniffs and Zizi held on tighter.
“He’s a stupid sin of a b***h to dump you. You are amazing and smart and also my best friend. Christmas didn’t deserve you.”
“Christian…”
“Do you really wanna correct me now?” Zizi tuts. He leads Hunter to the side of the car and helps him with the seatbelt. Once he was seated and pulling away from the parking lot, he speaks.
“What do you need? Cuddles? Movies?”
“Is it true though? Is our friendship weird? We are touchy geeky, you call me babe, we spend our free time together as much as we can.”
“You are my best friend, Hunter. You have been since we were nineteen, you have been for five years. We are fine. Christmas was just a dumbass.”
Hunter giggles, a small smile spreading on his face. “I’m sure I look blotchy.”
“A pink beauty.” Zizi teased, his hand gripping the steering tightly. “Always and forever.”
“You are the best.”
“I know.” Zizi replied. He drives them home, pulling into the parking lot. They had rented the two story building right after they graduated with a little help from their parents. Hunter lived upstairs and had his workshop on the garage while Zizi lived on the second floor.
“Yours or mine?”
“Yours please.” Hunter replies, his voice small and the small need to go and look for the motherfucker who had broken his friends heart grew bigger within Zizi. Knowing Hunter for as long as he did, Zizi needed to distract him.
“You done with Alicia Keys dress? You weren’t sure if you wanted sequins.” Zizi asked as he turns off the engine. Hunter sighs and ran his hand through his hair.
“I decided to go with lace. The woman is too classy, white lace, a line design with a long train and cream inner, double stitch with wide neck, so the dress would rest on her shoulders.” Hunter described as he walked ahead, Zizi’s hand on the small of his back.
“That sound… good.”
“Good? I’m a genius. You can’t see the design until I’m done with the dress.”
“I know. It’s your only rule.”
“Well, that and to knock before coming into my bathroom.”
Zizi rolled his eyes at his friend. “I walked into you one time shaving your legs and now I’m banned.”
That night Zizi has tried and tried not to touch himself. He had taken two cold showers to banish the will away. He had walked into the bathroom and had almost had a heart attack. Hunter was in a bath, foam everywhere and his leg raised out of the water while he shaved his leg. The sight had been imprinted in Zizi’s mind for months and months. Even now.
Fuck, he could still remember how flushed Hunter had looked. One day, he’d have this wonderful man under him, writhing in pleasure, gasping and panting with swollen lips and smooth legs wrapped around Zizi’s waist.
Okay.
No.
Think bad thoughts.
Think bad thoughts.
Adam Sandler in a bikini. Donald Trump in a bikini. Granny Hawkins in a bikini and oh- look. It’s no longer fun house down below.
“Want me to make you a little something?”
“Stir fry?”
“Stir fry.”
Hunter smiles up at him. “That sounds lovely. But can we cuddle for a bit? We can just talk.”
Who was Zizi to say no to that. It takes Hunter a few minutes to change into comfortable clothes, a light blue jumper and… boxers. Black tight briefs that stops a bit up his thigh. Hunter curls into him, his nose pressed into Zizi’s neck and sighs.
See. Hunter is a good friend.
It’s times like this, when he’s holding Hunter that all feels well in the world. Like the earth has finally gotten back to its axis. Like he could breathe again. Like this gorgeous man was his to love, protect and take care of. And he will, with every breath and every bone of his body.
- Writer
