Loving Hunter (ManxMan)

Episode 4

“He’s always in a relationship?” Devon asked, wonder coating his voice and Zizi nods. He’s done with his burrito and just staring at Devon with his cheek resting on his hand. Pitiful is not a good look for him.

“I’m always late. I try everything.”

“Have you tried grabbing him by the collar and kissing him stupid?” Devon asked before taking his final bite of his burrito.

“That doesn’t work. This isn’t a movie.”

“For a big man like yourself, you’re awfully soft. It’s sweet.” Devon said and Zizi grins. Zizi was tan skinned, six foot four man who has paint somewhere on his body, ninety five percent of the time. There was even a time Hunter found a speck of blue paint in his ear.

“He’s the love of my life.”

“But he doesn’t know it, so you just have to show it.”

This gets Zizi’s attention. There’s hope blooming in his chest and he knows that there’s a chance this might not work. Their friendship would be at stake and it was scary as hell.

He had to start with something small.

-

Zizi starts with flowers. A large bouquet of red chrysanthemums that he had delivered to Hunter’s house, right above. He had added a little note that said.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Your blush reminds me of these flowers

I hope you like them too.

He knew that wasn’t his best work but he was a painter, an artist not a poet. Zizi knee Hunter was at home, he had finished Alicia’s dress the previous afternoon and had gone to sleep immediately he was done. He could hear footsteps from above and knee Hunter was making his way to the door.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Or maybe it wasn’t.

He was tired of hiding his feelings. He wanted Hunter to know and he was going to start small and lead up to huge grand love gesture as he has started to call it in his head.

It takes Hunter twenty minutes to come down to Zizi’s house, walking right in like he owned the place. He had the huge bouquet in his hands and a splitting smile on his face.

“I got this, a few minutes ago.” Hunter said, bouncing on the top of his feet. He was staring at Zizi, like he was expecting something. His expression open.

“Amazing. They look… fresh.”

Zizi mentally smacked himself for saying that. Of all things to say, he goes for fresh. He silently wonders why Hunter didn’t bring the small bite. Had they not added the note to it? It had taken him almost all night to come up with it.

He had been thinking about it as he sketched in his sitting room, friends playing on mute.

“I wonder who sent them. Maybe it was Manny, we’ve been talking a lot.” Hunter said as he made his way to the kitchen, Zizi following behind, his eyes falling to the way Hunter’s short hugged his round ass. f**k, imagine smacking him in the ass and watching the blood rushing to the top.

“Manny is the guy from the cinema?” Zizi feigns ignorance. He knew damn well who Manny was, even thinking about him left a bitter taste at the back of his tongue.

“Yeah. He’s been asking for a date and … maybe I’ll say yes. I’ve got nothing better to do, I’m done with my latest commissions and I still have a while before starting Cardi’s dress for the Met.” Hunter shrugged. He pulled down a vase from one of the top cupboards in the kitchen, going on his tip toes.

Zizi takes the vase and takes it to the sink to fill it with water. He watched as Hunter gently puts the flowers into the vase.

“Do you even like the dude?”

“What’s not to like? He was nice, held the door open for me, wasn’t put off by my albini-“

Zizi moves closer at that and shakes his head at his best friend. “f**k that. I keep telling you, Your albinism doesn’t matter. It’s a part of you, like your fingers or nose. You are amazing, earth shatteringly gorgeous especially when you blush.” Zizi trailed a finger down Hunter’s cheek, right where the skin had pinkend. “Just like that.”

Zizi couldn’t stop looking at Hunter, hisbrosy fair skin, the long sweep of his lashes. It takes him a few seconds to pull himself together before he does something like kiss Hunter stupid.

“Can I ask you not to go to dinner with Manny tonight, so that we can celebrate?” Zizi asked, trying to look subtle as he took a couple steps backwards.

“I can do that.” Hunter grinned. “I want vodka, pineapple flavored ones.”

Zizi gives him a mock bow, complete with a hand pressed to his stomach. “Anything for you, your majesty.”

Hunter giggles at his friend, he shakes his head at Zizi as he walked towards the door, his vase of flowers in his hands. “You’re silly.” He said. “I’ll bring the food, you just get the drinks ready. We’ll watch The Princess Bride.”

Zizi watched Hunter wall away and feels the little hope he had grow more. He had been the reason for Hunter big smile. He just had to continue on with his five weeks confession plan and hopefully it works.

He looked around for his keys and made his way out I the house. Hunter had said he was making the food, so Zizi had to get a large amount of alcohol and a couple of fruits as chasers, Hunter didn’t like the bitter, biting taste of alcohol, whether it was flavored or not.

He hums as he pushed the trolley in and out of each aisle. Dumping in all the things he would need. He ended up going home with six large shopping bags, he successfully took everything thing into the kitchen with three trips.

Zizi quickly washed the fruits and kept them in the fridge. It was late afternoon and he still had time to cut them up. He knew this night was going to be awesome but really, awesome wasn’t enough to describe what had occurred.