AJ didn't know what he was doing there. It was almost a surprise to find himself back in the dark, empty locker room. He'd been dressed and ready to go for almost an hour now. He had no reason to be back there…except…he did.

He was silent as he approached the open doorway that led to the bathroom. There was really no need to be, since the music that blared from within easily covered his footsteps. He felt his heart speed up as he positioned himself to one side of the door.

Why was he doing this? Why did he keep doing it, week after week? He didn't understand the irresistible impulse that brought him here. Maybe it was exactly that. Maybe he was trying to understand.

He leaned forward, just enough to see into the bathroom. Opposite the door there was a line of sinks and, to the right, out of his line of vision, were the urinals. It was to the left that he looked, toward the wide, full-length mirror on the wall.

Actually, it wasn't the mirror he was looking at. It was the man standing in front the mirror.

As always, AJ found his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't keep his eyes from wandering over the bare back, the low-slung jeans that seemed to barely cling to the rounded backside. When his eyes came back up, he was delighted to see that the dark hair, highlighted with hues of purple and blue, was loose and flowing around the man's shoulders. He liked it better loose than in the tiny braids, though he would never even consider saying so.

His attention shifted to the mirror. He studied the stomach and chest, noting the difference between this man's body and his own sculpted musculature. Here was a body that had not seen a gym in years, and yet maintained a natural sort of leanness. The stomach was flat but not rippled, the chest defined but not pronounced under a light dusting of hair. Another line of hair descended from the man's navel, widening slightly as it disappeared into the jeans.

AJ tried to drag his gaze back up, but he couldn't. His eyes moved over the waistband of the jeans, followed the curve of each hip, traced the thin scar that marred his side…

The man turned suddenly, and AJ froze, his mind racing to come up with an excuse for his presence there. The relief he felt when he realized that he hadn't been seen, that the man was merely getting something from the counter next to the sink, made him feel week. Leaning against the wall, he tried to steady his breathing and unknot his fingers.

He never once considered leaving.

AJ couldn't see what was in the man's hands, but he didn't need to. When the fingers, thick with blue paint, came around the shoulder, he was drawn inexplicably closer to the doorway. He watched as the paint was smeared across the shoulder and down the arm. Nimble fingers spread the paint into a flame-like pattern. More blue paint went across the chest, flickering up under the jaw.

Captivated, AJ stood there for several more minutes as red was added to the blue, bringing the flames to life, then thin lines of black shaped the design. The man smeared a lighter green, sure to grow under the black lights, across his eyes and down the sides of his cheeks. Once his gaze had been drawn up to his face, AJ couldn't look away.

The intricate lines of facial hair accenting the chiseled jaw. The high cheekbones. The green eyes, brightened even more by the paint surrounding them. The soft, full mouth.

AJ finally reached his breaking point. Turning away from the object of his fascination, he hurried quietly out of the room. He was trembling, his heart pounding in his ears. He tried to take deep breaths, but nothing could erase the image of that man from his mind, and nothing could ease the aching heat deep in his stomach.

Back in the bathroom, the man who preferred to be known as Raven snickered from where he sat, on the floor between two of the urinals. "Lover boy's gone."

Jeff glanced back toward the doorway, a tiny smile playing across his features, and then shrugged.

"He always takes off after you put that shit on your face."

"That's funny, coming from you." Jeff looked pointedly at the black smeared around Raven's eyes as he threw the paints back into his bag.

Grinning, the older man pushed up to his feet. He moved closer to Jeff, looking over the design on his arm. "Hey, mine is make-up. Yours is some kind of art."

Jeff shrugged again and reached for a white mesh shirt.

"Why do you spend so much time painting yourself up if you're just going to cover it up?"

"I dunno." Jeff tugged the shirt into place. The paint was smearing already, coloring one sleeve. His eyes flashed when he saw Raven's smirk. "Why do you spend so much time sitting on the bathroom floor watching me paint myself up?"

Lifting one hand, Raven stroked Jeff's hair back away from his face. Jeff started to pull away from the touch, but Raven's hand closed quickly on the back of his neck and held him firmly. Drawing him close, so his lips brushed Jeff's ear and he could feel the shiver that ran through him, he whispered, "Ask AJ."



THE END