fic: i want your high love and emotion (endlessly)
title: i want your high love and emotion (endlessly)
pairing: david ferrer/tommy robredo, feliciano lopez/fernando verdasco
rating: pg-13
disclaimer: fiction
summary: the one where feli drags david to yoga class because he has the hots for the instructor yet somehow david's the one falling in love. AU
a/n: first and foremost this is for
miss_black91 ♥. i'm going to leave this as a standalone for now but i will most likely continue it.
“I just don’t understand why I have to go with you.”
Annoyed, David slides his eyes over to his friend – best friend... maybe – Feli who is sitting next to him in his car with his arms crossed over his chest, doing his best petulant child impression.
“Because we always go to the gym together,” David says calmly before returning his attention to the road. “It’s not my fault you fucked it up with Fernando.”
Feli groans. “I didn’t fuck it up. I dumped him. There’s a difference.”
“Then why are you the one avoiding him?”
Instead of answering outright, Feli huffs before he leans over to put some music on.
“Well whatever. I’m not doing yoga today. I’ll just stay on the bike or do weights or something.”
“No way,” David puts up a protest, his back straightening. “You’re the reason why I signed up for the stupid class anyway. I don’t give a fuck if you broke up with the instructor you’re going to do this with me.”
“David...”
It’s the beginning of a whine but David shoots his friend a glare and Feli drops it promptly and when they arrive at the gym together he even holds the door open for him.
They’re about fifteen minutes early so both men jump on the stationary bikes and leisurely begin to warm up their muscles.
“So what happened anyway?”
“Huh?”
“With Fernando.”
It’s loud in the gym but David knows Feli hears him if the way his body tenses is any indication. He doesn’t push him however, just continues to pedal with a little more intensity.
“He just wasn’t my type.”
David snorts. “You’re kidding right? I’ve never seen anyone hit it off the way you two did in the three weeks you were together.”
“Well sometimes it just doesn’t work out.” Feli shrugs and David drops it. He will bring it up again but in a different setting, perhaps one that involves alcohol.
When it’s time for their yoga class to start, they make their way up the stairs to the top floor of the gym, stopping by the lockers to retrieve their mats. Because Feli is no longer seeking the instructor’s attention, he settles into the back of the class and though David rolls his eyes at his friend he still follows.
“So, you’re just going to ignore him?”
Feli shrugs, not committing to an answer.
The most frustrating thing about Feli is that he’s been friends with David far too long for David to not care about him. They met when they were 18, both fresh faced and eager to start university. David was new to Madrid and Feli, being the native, was quick and willing to show him around and although their fields of study were completely different (David’s computer science to Feli’s Spanish Literature) they made time for each other and ended up getting a flat together in their third year of study. David knows Feli pretty well and vice versa but that doesn’t mean he isn’t highly frustrated with his friend at times.
Sighing, David rolls out his mat, stands in the middle of it and drops his body forward, touching his toes with his fingers. He counts slowly to five before slowly coiling upward while releasing a breath. Despite being dragged into yoga for all the wrong reasons (Feli ran into their flat one day, all but gushing about a hot yoga instructor named Fernando and surprise! they taking now taking classes!) it is something David finds himself so easily lost in. When his head finally rolls back to face the front of the studio, David’s eyes focus on someone he’s never seen before but would like to see more of.
A slender man with short brown wispy hair stands at the front of the studio, his light eyes slowly sweeping around the class. When his meet David’s he offers a smile before clapping his hands together.
“Hello, good evening everyone,” the man says with a friendly voice as he gathers the room’s attention. “I’m Tommy and I will be – ah – Fernando’s replacement for today.” He smiles easily before continuing. “Don’t worry however! Fernando has filled me in so we’ll continue what he has been doing with you all and I will introduce you to something new... Maybe.” He – Tommy – laughs as he claps his hands again. “Okay you have a minute then we’ll get right into it.”
“Do you think he’s okay?”
David snaps out of his thoughts and turns to Feli who is frowning. “What?”
“Fernando. Do you think... I mean there’s got to be a reason why he’s not here.”
David shrugs. He wants to know more about their new instructor not their old one. “Suffering from a broken heart maybe?”
“Fuck off,” Feli begins but that’s all he’s able to get in as Tommy tells everyone to face him, relax their bodies and begin their breathing exercises.
With each breath, David begins to relax and finds himself focusing on Tommy’s voice. It’s soft and he doesn’t roll his ‘R’s’ as intently as he should. It fills David like his own personal soundtrack; he’s so lost in it that he doesn’t realise that voice is right against his ear until a hand settles on his shoulder.
“Drop your shoulders a little, yeah just like that,” Tommy says with a slight approval as he smoothes out his hand before moving forward, leaving David distracted and wanting him to come back.
The entire hour follows the same pattern. He’s relaxed and lost in the movement, flow and breathing until Tommy comes out of nowhere and touches him somewhere, correcting or praising and though David knows he needs to do with all his students but he swears Tommy lingers his fingers against his skin.
“And with one more breath,” Tommy says calmly, “we conclude tonight’s class.”
When David opens his eyes (he always closes them on the last breathing routine, instructed or not – just something his body does automatically when he’s truly relaxed) he’s greeted with Tommy’s soft smile.
“Great work today,” And David feels like he’s speaking to him directly until he Tommy throws in the “everybody” at the end.
“Ferru... Hey, David!”
Fingers snap in front of his face and it takes a moment for David to realize that Feli is looking at him with a smirk on his face.
“Did you find your own Fernando, hmm?”
“Oh fuck you,” David replies but he’s too busy trying not to blush as he busies himself with rolling up his mat to enforce any real malice in his voice.
“Do you want me to talk to him? He’s definitely not my type so you don’t have to worry about me.”
“And he’s definitely not a Fernando type so I don’t have to worry about that.”
It takes Feli a moment before he understands what his friend implies. “Hey!”
David howls as he hustles out of the studio, leaving a disgruntled Feli behind. He’s looking forward to the next class in two days already.
*
The shaker tips over and granules of salt trickle onto tanned outstretched skin of a smooth neck presented before him. He looks over and sees his best friend smirk before he gives him a nod. They are doing this. They are really doing this.
David leans forward, licks the salt off the very delectable looking man before him, knocks back the shot of tequila and quickly plunges to take the slice of lime from said man’s mouth. He tries to cut it short but the man wraps his fingers around David’s neck and keeps him in place for a proper kiss. When he’s finally released (with the lime wedge between his teeth) David turns to Feli who hasn’t let up from his partner’s lips just yet, no sign of the piece of the citrus fruit anywhere.
How he gets himself into these kinds of things David doesn’t know.
The man David just licked salt off of and locked lips with whispers the promise of filthy things into his ear before sauntering off. It’s not that he isn’t interested because he really is but the night is young so David stays put for now and orders a rum and coke.
“How was yours?”
David turns his head to see Feli grinning at him, his lips red, his eyes giving him away.
“Not as fun as yours apparently.”
Feli laughs as he claps his friend’s back, signaling the bartender with his other hand. Once he has a drink, he spins around and surveys the crowd before swirling back just as quickly.
“Fuck.”
His eyes shuffle to the people around him. “Why the fuck are you so short, Ferru?”
“What?”
Feli drops to his knees a little. “Fernando. He’s here.”
Doing the first thing that comes to mind, David laughs, loud and hearty. “And you’re surprised?”
“Fuck!” Feli repeats though now he’s lost his gleeful expression from earlier. “What do I do?”
It strikes David as odd how Feli is acting but the alcohol is starting to settle in and he’s beginning to care less about his friend’s problems and more about the fact that he wants to find someone to leave with tonight.
“Go say hi. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
David turns around, wanting to see Fernando for himself and when he sees who is with Feli’s ex his stomach flips inside. “Yeah, let’s go say hi, Feli. Come on.”
“What?” Feli hisses as he pushes David back around to face him. “Are you fucking crazy?”
He really does care for his friend, he does. And if it was any other man but the one standing fifty feet away on the other side of the club he would buy Feli another drink before leaving to another bar. But as soon as he lays his eyes on Tommy standing there in a white v-neck tee that hugs his body in all the right places he hasn’t thought about much less except wanting to rip off the flimsy material and...
“What is wrong with you?”
He waves off a pissed off Feli before pushing off the bar. “I’m going to go say hi.”
“What? You can’t!” Feli reaches forward and wraps his fingers around David’s wrist, holding back his friend. “Ferru, you can’t.”
“Tommy’s with him.”
It wasn’t something he was planning to say but it comes out of his mouth like word vomit. It’s not a secret anyway but to David it feels like he is admitting something – something he isn’t sure he wants to just yet.
“David...” Feli sighs, letting his shoulders droop and his friend go. “Just remember I hate you.”
David laughs as he reaches up on his tippy toes and kisses his friend’s cheek. “Thank you, nene.” He turns back to the crowd and takes a step in the direction he had seen Tommy and Fernando earlier. Pushing past people with a ‘sorry’ and ‘excuse me’ David gets to the other side but the other two are nowhere in sight. His skin starts to flush, tingles of sweat starting at the base of neck and forehead, anxiety and heat getting to him. David looks from left to right and right to left. Nothing. Suddenly the lights drop and a heavy drum beat fills the air and cheers fill the bar.
As tables get pushed aside to form a dance floor, David makes his way back defeated to Feli who’s speaking with the men they had been licking salt off just twenty minutes ago.
He shrugs off the feeling before kissing the man whose name he doesn’t know and doesn’t care to learn.
--
It’s not quite twenty-four hours but with plenty of water and coffee David and Feli drag their sluggish bodies to the gym. (Well, David does the dragging; Feli as usual bitches and moans until David threatens to no longer be his wingman. However, instead of following quietly he complains about David ‘holding back his movement’. What movement that was David doesn’t ask.)
David takes a seat on a bike, pushing strained, tired and alcohol soaked muscles far beyond their will. They didn’t get back to their place until past five o’clock the night before and for them that is early but both men were far too drunk to be out in public and somehow managed to get home unharmed and without companions for the night besides each other. They spent most of their day recovering and David had felt extremely horrible for calling into work sick, something he doesn’t do very often but he just couldn’t get himself out of bed today.
“Is this bike taken?”
Fernando slides in next to him, offering a slight smile, dressed in too brightly coloured clothing. Although it’s not something David himself would wear he does admit that the neon makes Fernando’s skin look much more tanned.
“How are you, Fer?”
Fernando shrugs noncommittally as he starts to pedal leisurely at first then gaining some speed. “I’m all right.” He drops his shoulders forward, ducking his head completely as he moves his legs faster. “I’m glad you guys are still taking the class.”
“I don’t know what happened between you two but if you want us to drop it, Fer, we will.” David doesn’t add that Feli already wants to.
The yoga instructor rolls out his neck and smiles at David, albeit sadly. “No, no, that’s fine. You are entitled to continue. You are enjoying it then?”
David laughs. “Actually, yeah. Much more than I thought I would.” He pauses for a moment, not sure how to ask the question he’s been wondering about. “So... where were you on Tuesday?”
“I had... a family thing come up. My dad owns a restaurant and he got a little sick so I helped out there for a bit,” he straightens his back and pushes back his long hair off his face. “Luckily my good friend is in town and was able to cover for me here.”
“How do you know Tommy?”
“We met in Barcelona about five years ago at this yoga convention,” Fernando laughs. “Insanely enough – as much as I love yoga it was too crazy for me, too weird. Let’s just say the people were interesting to say the least and Tommy was the only one who wasn’t as crazy.” He looks behind him, searching for something. “He’s here today too, going to sit in on my class.”
He knows he shouldn’t ask but he does. “Were you guys at El Sol last night?”
Fernando’s face drops. “Yeah,” He says quietly. “I thought it would be best if I avoided Feli while being out. So we left shortly after after I saw him.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” David offers politely. “I just ask because I went over to where I thought you two were but I couldn’t find you.”
“Ah, well we popped over to Privé because my friend was DJ’ing.” Fernando looks down at his watch and stops pedalling. “Well, I should get going. See you upstairs.”
David nods, disappointed yet optimistic for the fact that he will get to see Tommy again. When he gets off the bike minutes later however his enthusiasm falls away.
“Oh there you are,” Feli says with a grin on his lips. “Look who I found!”
Tommy smiles at him before outstretching his hand. “Hi. I’m Tommy.”
Subconsciously, David licks his lips, reaching out to shake his hand. “David. Nice to meet you.”
“Tommy was just saying he was at El Sol last night,” Feli says with a smirk.
But David doesn’t back down. “Yeah, I was just talking to Fernando. He was just telling me you two were there together.” He grins when Feli’s scowls. David then turns his attention to Tommy. “He says you’re in town but didn’t say where from.”
Tommy smiles shyly and there’s something about it that has David wanting to see more of it.
“Girona but I live in Barcelona now. I just sold my yoga studio there and am looking to open one up here,” he leans in close, his smile still intact. “Don’t tell Fernando just yet but I’m here to convince him to come teach for me once I get a studio here.”
He smells like spice and musk and David loves it, loves the heady feeling it gives him.
“I don’t think it’ll take much convincing. Fernando was saying you two are good friends.”
“We are but I think he really likes this place.”
“Sorry to interrupt this fascinating conversation, gentlemen,” Feli interjects, looking utterly bored. “but our class is starting in about a minute so maybe you two can take your flirting upstairs.”
Feli turns on his heels and because David knows him so well he can just picture him smirking. The bastard.
-
Classes on Thursdays are hot yoga, which mean the studio is much warmer than it is usually to loosen up the muscles and flexibility. The air is heavy and it reminds David a little of home – of Valencia in the summertime when the humidity sinks into your skin and crawls all over. He goes back every so often but not enough for David not to miss it more than he would like to admit.
As usual, he lets Feli decide where they are to settle with their mats in tow. They are towards the back whereas David notices Tommy chooses to stand near the front.
“Do you want to move?” Feli turns to ask him with a smirk on his lips, no doubt catching the direction of his eyes.
“Here is just fine,” David replies curtly. Sometimes he wonders why he is still friends with the man.
Luckily the class runs smoothly with minimal awkwardness between Feli and Fernando. Fernando’s still smiling brightly throughout the class but he avoids Feli’s eyes. But he is still very friendly with David so David doesn’t mind. Feli’s an adult and if he chose to end a relationship on grounds that was most likely to be bullshit, well that’s his decision.
David is too busy focusing on Tommy to care anyway. And Tommy is a distraction like no other. Usually David likes to close his eyes through most of the poses but he can’t today. He follows Tommy every move out the corner of his eye, hoping if anyone notices they will pass it off as him concentrating and not being creepy.
Every bead of sweat that forms on Tommy’s skin and rolls down torturously slow teases David so much so he feels like the temperature in the studio is higher than it should be for hot yoga. He clenches his eyes shut for a moment, trying to block out everything except his breathing and Fernando’s voice but it’s fruitless. As soon as he opens his eyes again, they fall on Tommy who tips his body forward, stretching to touch the floor with his palms, presenting the long and glorious line of his backside and legs.
It takes every ounce of his will to not jump Tommy. Right then Right there.
When the class finally comes to a close with one last breath (David doesn’t know if he is glad or not) he is greeted by a grinning Feli.
“You couldn’t have made it any more obvious, Ferru.” Feli reaches out and squeezes his shoulder. “I am proud of you.”
“Shut it,” David spits out. “Otherwise you can find your own way home.”
“Aww, don’t be like that, Ferru!” Feli laughs, the shit eating grin still on his face. “I’m rooting for you, you know.”
David opens his mouth to threaten Feli’s life when a soft voice cuts him off.
“Hey.”
He doesn’t even think about it as finds himself turning his body automatically. Shit, he’s got it bad already.
Tommy’s smiling at them, his body relaxed, clothes sweat soaked. David fights to urge to reach out and touch him.
“Fernando and I are going to have dinner at his family’s restaurant. You guys want to join us?”
David feels Feli tensing up next to him. Tommy must not know about Feli and Fernando. Shit.
“Uh, I think I’ll pass,” Feli smoothes out a beat later, rolling his shoulders back. “But David will join you.” He throws David a sweet smile before leaving for the locker rooms.
“Yeah?” Tommy turns to ask David, his eyes hopeful. And David realizes he’s completely fucked because he never wants to disappoint such a face.
David nods, his eyes catching Fernando walking towards them. “Is it cool if I get a ride with you? Feli’s going to bitch if he doesn’t get the car.”
Tommy laughs, his head falling back a little, exposing the line of his throat and David’s mouth goes dry. “Yeah, you can ride with me.”
Fernando doesn’t say anything while the exchange happens, just nods before they all head towards the locker room to shower and get ready for dinner.
*
David decides he likes Fernando. He is easygoing and very family orientated, always ready to help them even though he is there at the restaurant to eat, not work. He can see why Feli would date him but cannot see why he’s not anymore. David mentally shrugs it off before turning his attention to the table.
The three of them are greeted throughout the meal by various members of Fernando’s family, all friendly and sweet, offering David more to eat when he’s begged off a few times already. Tommy sits next to him, laughing though he gently declines more portions as well.
When Fernando leaves to help out one the new wait staff, Mari, Tommy pushes his chair back slightly to stretch his legs out, his eyes warm on David.
“So David, tell me about yourself?”
David chuckles, his cheeks reddening a little. He hates talking about himself, not one to seek attention at all. That is why his friendship with Feli, attention whore of sorts, works so well.
“There’s not much to tell really,” David starts, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck. Tommy gives him a look which gets him laughing again. “Okay, okay. I am originally from Valencia before moving out here for school and I haven’t looked back since.”
With Tommy’s encourage nods and smiles, David progressively tells him about university life as a computer science student and how that has led him to work for software company that’s doing quite well. He notices how Tommy ditches his relaxed body posture to lean in slightly, like he is listening with his entire body; how he nods with something he agrees with and smiles randomly at something David says. Most of all, Tommy lets him speak without interrupting once and David kind of likes that.
“I want to know how you got into being a yoga instructor.”
Tommy laughs, his face lighting up. “Well, I started off as a personal trainer and the gym I was working at at the time started offering yoga so I sat in on a few classes. I fell in love with it within the first few weeks. It’s really relaxing and is great to help relieve stress, which personal training is not because you deal with unhappy clients and excuses. So after that, I started taking yoga more seriously, got into instructing, and haven’t been a personal trainer since.” The ease of the smile on his lips tells all. “Then I met Fernando and a few other instructors and thought about opening my own studio.”
David nods. “That sounds awesome. You two are really good instructors.” Like he has any others.
Tommy smiles, waving his hand. “Thank you. You are too kind.” He reaches forward for his glass of water. “How do you know Fernando?”
Now it’s David’s turn to laugh but it comes out sounding nervous. “Ah. Well, through Feli mostly. They dated for a little bit.”
“Oh shit,” Tommy says, shaking his head. “That’s the reason why he made us leave last night, at the club.”
David nods. “Yeah. Feli won’t talk about it but they broke up recently. Fernando’s cool though.” He shrugs.
“What about you? Seeing anyone?”
The question catches David off guard and he drops his eyes when he feels his cheeks flush. Fingers wrap around his forearm however, forcing David to look up and lock eyes with Tommy.
“Sorry,” Tommy says and he truly looks it. “I’m being intrusive. I apologize.”
“No, no,” David hastens to reassure him. “It’s really okay. No, I am not seeing anyone right now.”
He likes the way Tommy smiles at him before smoothing into a different topic.
When they finally leave the restaurant with big bags of food to accompany them, Tommy drives David home, comfortable silence filling the air more so than conversation. David doesn’t mind. It lets him watch Tommy out of the corner of his eye. Tommy extrudes calmness, an air of peace and serenity David wants to be filled with all the time.
They roll up to David’s and Feli’s place far too quickly for his liking but before he slides out the car, Tommy turns his body to his and smiles so open and hopeful, like before that it makes David fall even more for him.
“I was wondering if you want to get a coffee together sometime?”
David fights the urge to just kiss him right then and there... for about a two seconds before he closes the distance between them and presses his lips against Tommy’s. He feels Tommy’s surprise melt into want as he presses back, opening up for David. David is ready to climb over the console when Tommy pulls back, his lips red and wet, curled into a smile.
“You’re making me want to skip coffee, David.”
He loves the way his name curls around Tommy’s tongue. So he does the logical thing. David kisses Tommy again.
This time Tommy laughs before he slips a hand into David’s hair, tilting his head to his liking as he takes control. Tommy may have come across and calming but now he’s a commanding force and David loves it.
Tommy bites down on David’s bottom lip before licking it. “Tomorrow?” he asks against his lips, not stopping the kiss. “Go out with me tomorrow.”
A ‘yes’ passes between their lips, neither man ready to let go just yet. But eventually it’s David who pulls away to reach into his pockets for his phone. He passes it to Tommy without a word who doesn’t even ask as he quickly types in his number.
The feeling of elation is so high within him that when he walks passed Feli once he gets inside their home, he doesn’t even care that his friend is laughing at him.
Tomorrow.
pairing: david ferrer/tommy robredo, feliciano lopez/fernando verdasco
rating: pg-13
disclaimer: fiction
summary: the one where feli drags david to yoga class because he has the hots for the instructor yet somehow david's the one falling in love. AU
a/n: first and foremost this is for
miss_black91 ♥. i'm going to leave this as a standalone for now but i will most likely continue it. “I just don’t understand why I have to go with you.”
Annoyed, David slides his eyes over to his friend – best friend... maybe – Feli who is sitting next to him in his car with his arms crossed over his chest, doing his best petulant child impression.
“Because we always go to the gym together,” David says calmly before returning his attention to the road. “It’s not my fault you fucked it up with Fernando.”
Feli groans. “I didn’t fuck it up. I dumped him. There’s a difference.”
“Then why are you the one avoiding him?”
Instead of answering outright, Feli huffs before he leans over to put some music on.
“Well whatever. I’m not doing yoga today. I’ll just stay on the bike or do weights or something.”
“No way,” David puts up a protest, his back straightening. “You’re the reason why I signed up for the stupid class anyway. I don’t give a fuck if you broke up with the instructor you’re going to do this with me.”
“David...”
It’s the beginning of a whine but David shoots his friend a glare and Feli drops it promptly and when they arrive at the gym together he even holds the door open for him.
They’re about fifteen minutes early so both men jump on the stationary bikes and leisurely begin to warm up their muscles.
“So what happened anyway?”
“Huh?”
“With Fernando.”
It’s loud in the gym but David knows Feli hears him if the way his body tenses is any indication. He doesn’t push him however, just continues to pedal with a little more intensity.
“He just wasn’t my type.”
David snorts. “You’re kidding right? I’ve never seen anyone hit it off the way you two did in the three weeks you were together.”
“Well sometimes it just doesn’t work out.” Feli shrugs and David drops it. He will bring it up again but in a different setting, perhaps one that involves alcohol.
When it’s time for their yoga class to start, they make their way up the stairs to the top floor of the gym, stopping by the lockers to retrieve their mats. Because Feli is no longer seeking the instructor’s attention, he settles into the back of the class and though David rolls his eyes at his friend he still follows.
“So, you’re just going to ignore him?”
Feli shrugs, not committing to an answer.
The most frustrating thing about Feli is that he’s been friends with David far too long for David to not care about him. They met when they were 18, both fresh faced and eager to start university. David was new to Madrid and Feli, being the native, was quick and willing to show him around and although their fields of study were completely different (David’s computer science to Feli’s Spanish Literature) they made time for each other and ended up getting a flat together in their third year of study. David knows Feli pretty well and vice versa but that doesn’t mean he isn’t highly frustrated with his friend at times.
Sighing, David rolls out his mat, stands in the middle of it and drops his body forward, touching his toes with his fingers. He counts slowly to five before slowly coiling upward while releasing a breath. Despite being dragged into yoga for all the wrong reasons (Feli ran into their flat one day, all but gushing about a hot yoga instructor named Fernando and surprise! they taking now taking classes!) it is something David finds himself so easily lost in. When his head finally rolls back to face the front of the studio, David’s eyes focus on someone he’s never seen before but would like to see more of.
A slender man with short brown wispy hair stands at the front of the studio, his light eyes slowly sweeping around the class. When his meet David’s he offers a smile before clapping his hands together.
“Hello, good evening everyone,” the man says with a friendly voice as he gathers the room’s attention. “I’m Tommy and I will be – ah – Fernando’s replacement for today.” He smiles easily before continuing. “Don’t worry however! Fernando has filled me in so we’ll continue what he has been doing with you all and I will introduce you to something new... Maybe.” He – Tommy – laughs as he claps his hands again. “Okay you have a minute then we’ll get right into it.”
“Do you think he’s okay?”
David snaps out of his thoughts and turns to Feli who is frowning. “What?”
“Fernando. Do you think... I mean there’s got to be a reason why he’s not here.”
David shrugs. He wants to know more about their new instructor not their old one. “Suffering from a broken heart maybe?”
“Fuck off,” Feli begins but that’s all he’s able to get in as Tommy tells everyone to face him, relax their bodies and begin their breathing exercises.
With each breath, David begins to relax and finds himself focusing on Tommy’s voice. It’s soft and he doesn’t roll his ‘R’s’ as intently as he should. It fills David like his own personal soundtrack; he’s so lost in it that he doesn’t realise that voice is right against his ear until a hand settles on his shoulder.
“Drop your shoulders a little, yeah just like that,” Tommy says with a slight approval as he smoothes out his hand before moving forward, leaving David distracted and wanting him to come back.
The entire hour follows the same pattern. He’s relaxed and lost in the movement, flow and breathing until Tommy comes out of nowhere and touches him somewhere, correcting or praising and though David knows he needs to do with all his students but he swears Tommy lingers his fingers against his skin.
“And with one more breath,” Tommy says calmly, “we conclude tonight’s class.”
When David opens his eyes (he always closes them on the last breathing routine, instructed or not – just something his body does automatically when he’s truly relaxed) he’s greeted with Tommy’s soft smile.
“Great work today,” And David feels like he’s speaking to him directly until he Tommy throws in the “everybody” at the end.
“Ferru... Hey, David!”
Fingers snap in front of his face and it takes a moment for David to realize that Feli is looking at him with a smirk on his face.
“Did you find your own Fernando, hmm?”
“Oh fuck you,” David replies but he’s too busy trying not to blush as he busies himself with rolling up his mat to enforce any real malice in his voice.
“Do you want me to talk to him? He’s definitely not my type so you don’t have to worry about me.”
“And he’s definitely not a Fernando type so I don’t have to worry about that.”
It takes Feli a moment before he understands what his friend implies. “Hey!”
David howls as he hustles out of the studio, leaving a disgruntled Feli behind. He’s looking forward to the next class in two days already.
*
The shaker tips over and granules of salt trickle onto tanned outstretched skin of a smooth neck presented before him. He looks over and sees his best friend smirk before he gives him a nod. They are doing this. They are really doing this.
David leans forward, licks the salt off the very delectable looking man before him, knocks back the shot of tequila and quickly plunges to take the slice of lime from said man’s mouth. He tries to cut it short but the man wraps his fingers around David’s neck and keeps him in place for a proper kiss. When he’s finally released (with the lime wedge between his teeth) David turns to Feli who hasn’t let up from his partner’s lips just yet, no sign of the piece of the citrus fruit anywhere.
How he gets himself into these kinds of things David doesn’t know.
The man David just licked salt off of and locked lips with whispers the promise of filthy things into his ear before sauntering off. It’s not that he isn’t interested because he really is but the night is young so David stays put for now and orders a rum and coke.
“How was yours?”
David turns his head to see Feli grinning at him, his lips red, his eyes giving him away.
“Not as fun as yours apparently.”
Feli laughs as he claps his friend’s back, signaling the bartender with his other hand. Once he has a drink, he spins around and surveys the crowd before swirling back just as quickly.
“Fuck.”
His eyes shuffle to the people around him. “Why the fuck are you so short, Ferru?”
“What?”
Feli drops to his knees a little. “Fernando. He’s here.”
Doing the first thing that comes to mind, David laughs, loud and hearty. “And you’re surprised?”
“Fuck!” Feli repeats though now he’s lost his gleeful expression from earlier. “What do I do?”
It strikes David as odd how Feli is acting but the alcohol is starting to settle in and he’s beginning to care less about his friend’s problems and more about the fact that he wants to find someone to leave with tonight.
“Go say hi. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
David turns around, wanting to see Fernando for himself and when he sees who is with Feli’s ex his stomach flips inside. “Yeah, let’s go say hi, Feli. Come on.”
“What?” Feli hisses as he pushes David back around to face him. “Are you fucking crazy?”
He really does care for his friend, he does. And if it was any other man but the one standing fifty feet away on the other side of the club he would buy Feli another drink before leaving to another bar. But as soon as he lays his eyes on Tommy standing there in a white v-neck tee that hugs his body in all the right places he hasn’t thought about much less except wanting to rip off the flimsy material and...
“What is wrong with you?”
He waves off a pissed off Feli before pushing off the bar. “I’m going to go say hi.”
“What? You can’t!” Feli reaches forward and wraps his fingers around David’s wrist, holding back his friend. “Ferru, you can’t.”
“Tommy’s with him.”
It wasn’t something he was planning to say but it comes out of his mouth like word vomit. It’s not a secret anyway but to David it feels like he is admitting something – something he isn’t sure he wants to just yet.
“David...” Feli sighs, letting his shoulders droop and his friend go. “Just remember I hate you.”
David laughs as he reaches up on his tippy toes and kisses his friend’s cheek. “Thank you, nene.” He turns back to the crowd and takes a step in the direction he had seen Tommy and Fernando earlier. Pushing past people with a ‘sorry’ and ‘excuse me’ David gets to the other side but the other two are nowhere in sight. His skin starts to flush, tingles of sweat starting at the base of neck and forehead, anxiety and heat getting to him. David looks from left to right and right to left. Nothing. Suddenly the lights drop and a heavy drum beat fills the air and cheers fill the bar.
As tables get pushed aside to form a dance floor, David makes his way back defeated to Feli who’s speaking with the men they had been licking salt off just twenty minutes ago.
He shrugs off the feeling before kissing the man whose name he doesn’t know and doesn’t care to learn.
--
It’s not quite twenty-four hours but with plenty of water and coffee David and Feli drag their sluggish bodies to the gym. (Well, David does the dragging; Feli as usual bitches and moans until David threatens to no longer be his wingman. However, instead of following quietly he complains about David ‘holding back his movement’. What movement that was David doesn’t ask.)
David takes a seat on a bike, pushing strained, tired and alcohol soaked muscles far beyond their will. They didn’t get back to their place until past five o’clock the night before and for them that is early but both men were far too drunk to be out in public and somehow managed to get home unharmed and without companions for the night besides each other. They spent most of their day recovering and David had felt extremely horrible for calling into work sick, something he doesn’t do very often but he just couldn’t get himself out of bed today.
“Is this bike taken?”
Fernando slides in next to him, offering a slight smile, dressed in too brightly coloured clothing. Although it’s not something David himself would wear he does admit that the neon makes Fernando’s skin look much more tanned.
“How are you, Fer?”
Fernando shrugs noncommittally as he starts to pedal leisurely at first then gaining some speed. “I’m all right.” He drops his shoulders forward, ducking his head completely as he moves his legs faster. “I’m glad you guys are still taking the class.”
“I don’t know what happened between you two but if you want us to drop it, Fer, we will.” David doesn’t add that Feli already wants to.
The yoga instructor rolls out his neck and smiles at David, albeit sadly. “No, no, that’s fine. You are entitled to continue. You are enjoying it then?”
David laughs. “Actually, yeah. Much more than I thought I would.” He pauses for a moment, not sure how to ask the question he’s been wondering about. “So... where were you on Tuesday?”
“I had... a family thing come up. My dad owns a restaurant and he got a little sick so I helped out there for a bit,” he straightens his back and pushes back his long hair off his face. “Luckily my good friend is in town and was able to cover for me here.”
“How do you know Tommy?”
“We met in Barcelona about five years ago at this yoga convention,” Fernando laughs. “Insanely enough – as much as I love yoga it was too crazy for me, too weird. Let’s just say the people were interesting to say the least and Tommy was the only one who wasn’t as crazy.” He looks behind him, searching for something. “He’s here today too, going to sit in on my class.”
He knows he shouldn’t ask but he does. “Were you guys at El Sol last night?”
Fernando’s face drops. “Yeah,” He says quietly. “I thought it would be best if I avoided Feli while being out. So we left shortly after after I saw him.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” David offers politely. “I just ask because I went over to where I thought you two were but I couldn’t find you.”
“Ah, well we popped over to Privé because my friend was DJ’ing.” Fernando looks down at his watch and stops pedalling. “Well, I should get going. See you upstairs.”
David nods, disappointed yet optimistic for the fact that he will get to see Tommy again. When he gets off the bike minutes later however his enthusiasm falls away.
“Oh there you are,” Feli says with a grin on his lips. “Look who I found!”
Tommy smiles at him before outstretching his hand. “Hi. I’m Tommy.”
Subconsciously, David licks his lips, reaching out to shake his hand. “David. Nice to meet you.”
“Tommy was just saying he was at El Sol last night,” Feli says with a smirk.
But David doesn’t back down. “Yeah, I was just talking to Fernando. He was just telling me you two were there together.” He grins when Feli’s scowls. David then turns his attention to Tommy. “He says you’re in town but didn’t say where from.”
Tommy smiles shyly and there’s something about it that has David wanting to see more of it.
“Girona but I live in Barcelona now. I just sold my yoga studio there and am looking to open one up here,” he leans in close, his smile still intact. “Don’t tell Fernando just yet but I’m here to convince him to come teach for me once I get a studio here.”
He smells like spice and musk and David loves it, loves the heady feeling it gives him.
“I don’t think it’ll take much convincing. Fernando was saying you two are good friends.”
“We are but I think he really likes this place.”
“Sorry to interrupt this fascinating conversation, gentlemen,” Feli interjects, looking utterly bored. “but our class is starting in about a minute so maybe you two can take your flirting upstairs.”
Feli turns on his heels and because David knows him so well he can just picture him smirking. The bastard.
-
Classes on Thursdays are hot yoga, which mean the studio is much warmer than it is usually to loosen up the muscles and flexibility. The air is heavy and it reminds David a little of home – of Valencia in the summertime when the humidity sinks into your skin and crawls all over. He goes back every so often but not enough for David not to miss it more than he would like to admit.
As usual, he lets Feli decide where they are to settle with their mats in tow. They are towards the back whereas David notices Tommy chooses to stand near the front.
“Do you want to move?” Feli turns to ask him with a smirk on his lips, no doubt catching the direction of his eyes.
“Here is just fine,” David replies curtly. Sometimes he wonders why he is still friends with the man.
Luckily the class runs smoothly with minimal awkwardness between Feli and Fernando. Fernando’s still smiling brightly throughout the class but he avoids Feli’s eyes. But he is still very friendly with David so David doesn’t mind. Feli’s an adult and if he chose to end a relationship on grounds that was most likely to be bullshit, well that’s his decision.
David is too busy focusing on Tommy to care anyway. And Tommy is a distraction like no other. Usually David likes to close his eyes through most of the poses but he can’t today. He follows Tommy every move out the corner of his eye, hoping if anyone notices they will pass it off as him concentrating and not being creepy.
Every bead of sweat that forms on Tommy’s skin and rolls down torturously slow teases David so much so he feels like the temperature in the studio is higher than it should be for hot yoga. He clenches his eyes shut for a moment, trying to block out everything except his breathing and Fernando’s voice but it’s fruitless. As soon as he opens his eyes again, they fall on Tommy who tips his body forward, stretching to touch the floor with his palms, presenting the long and glorious line of his backside and legs.
It takes every ounce of his will to not jump Tommy. Right then Right there.
When the class finally comes to a close with one last breath (David doesn’t know if he is glad or not) he is greeted by a grinning Feli.
“You couldn’t have made it any more obvious, Ferru.” Feli reaches out and squeezes his shoulder. “I am proud of you.”
“Shut it,” David spits out. “Otherwise you can find your own way home.”
“Aww, don’t be like that, Ferru!” Feli laughs, the shit eating grin still on his face. “I’m rooting for you, you know.”
David opens his mouth to threaten Feli’s life when a soft voice cuts him off.
“Hey.”
He doesn’t even think about it as finds himself turning his body automatically. Shit, he’s got it bad already.
Tommy’s smiling at them, his body relaxed, clothes sweat soaked. David fights to urge to reach out and touch him.
“Fernando and I are going to have dinner at his family’s restaurant. You guys want to join us?”
David feels Feli tensing up next to him. Tommy must not know about Feli and Fernando. Shit.
“Uh, I think I’ll pass,” Feli smoothes out a beat later, rolling his shoulders back. “But David will join you.” He throws David a sweet smile before leaving for the locker rooms.
“Yeah?” Tommy turns to ask David, his eyes hopeful. And David realizes he’s completely fucked because he never wants to disappoint such a face.
David nods, his eyes catching Fernando walking towards them. “Is it cool if I get a ride with you? Feli’s going to bitch if he doesn’t get the car.”
Tommy laughs, his head falling back a little, exposing the line of his throat and David’s mouth goes dry. “Yeah, you can ride with me.”
Fernando doesn’t say anything while the exchange happens, just nods before they all head towards the locker room to shower and get ready for dinner.
*
David decides he likes Fernando. He is easygoing and very family orientated, always ready to help them even though he is there at the restaurant to eat, not work. He can see why Feli would date him but cannot see why he’s not anymore. David mentally shrugs it off before turning his attention to the table.
The three of them are greeted throughout the meal by various members of Fernando’s family, all friendly and sweet, offering David more to eat when he’s begged off a few times already. Tommy sits next to him, laughing though he gently declines more portions as well.
When Fernando leaves to help out one the new wait staff, Mari, Tommy pushes his chair back slightly to stretch his legs out, his eyes warm on David.
“So David, tell me about yourself?”
David chuckles, his cheeks reddening a little. He hates talking about himself, not one to seek attention at all. That is why his friendship with Feli, attention whore of sorts, works so well.
“There’s not much to tell really,” David starts, bringing a hand up to the back of his neck. Tommy gives him a look which gets him laughing again. “Okay, okay. I am originally from Valencia before moving out here for school and I haven’t looked back since.”
With Tommy’s encourage nods and smiles, David progressively tells him about university life as a computer science student and how that has led him to work for software company that’s doing quite well. He notices how Tommy ditches his relaxed body posture to lean in slightly, like he is listening with his entire body; how he nods with something he agrees with and smiles randomly at something David says. Most of all, Tommy lets him speak without interrupting once and David kind of likes that.
“I want to know how you got into being a yoga instructor.”
Tommy laughs, his face lighting up. “Well, I started off as a personal trainer and the gym I was working at at the time started offering yoga so I sat in on a few classes. I fell in love with it within the first few weeks. It’s really relaxing and is great to help relieve stress, which personal training is not because you deal with unhappy clients and excuses. So after that, I started taking yoga more seriously, got into instructing, and haven’t been a personal trainer since.” The ease of the smile on his lips tells all. “Then I met Fernando and a few other instructors and thought about opening my own studio.”
David nods. “That sounds awesome. You two are really good instructors.” Like he has any others.
Tommy smiles, waving his hand. “Thank you. You are too kind.” He reaches forward for his glass of water. “How do you know Fernando?”
Now it’s David’s turn to laugh but it comes out sounding nervous. “Ah. Well, through Feli mostly. They dated for a little bit.”
“Oh shit,” Tommy says, shaking his head. “That’s the reason why he made us leave last night, at the club.”
David nods. “Yeah. Feli won’t talk about it but they broke up recently. Fernando’s cool though.” He shrugs.
“What about you? Seeing anyone?”
The question catches David off guard and he drops his eyes when he feels his cheeks flush. Fingers wrap around his forearm however, forcing David to look up and lock eyes with Tommy.
“Sorry,” Tommy says and he truly looks it. “I’m being intrusive. I apologize.”
“No, no,” David hastens to reassure him. “It’s really okay. No, I am not seeing anyone right now.”
He likes the way Tommy smiles at him before smoothing into a different topic.
When they finally leave the restaurant with big bags of food to accompany them, Tommy drives David home, comfortable silence filling the air more so than conversation. David doesn’t mind. It lets him watch Tommy out of the corner of his eye. Tommy extrudes calmness, an air of peace and serenity David wants to be filled with all the time.
They roll up to David’s and Feli’s place far too quickly for his liking but before he slides out the car, Tommy turns his body to his and smiles so open and hopeful, like before that it makes David fall even more for him.
“I was wondering if you want to get a coffee together sometime?”
David fights the urge to just kiss him right then and there... for about a two seconds before he closes the distance between them and presses his lips against Tommy’s. He feels Tommy’s surprise melt into want as he presses back, opening up for David. David is ready to climb over the console when Tommy pulls back, his lips red and wet, curled into a smile.
“You’re making me want to skip coffee, David.”
He loves the way his name curls around Tommy’s tongue. So he does the logical thing. David kisses Tommy again.
This time Tommy laughs before he slips a hand into David’s hair, tilting his head to his liking as he takes control. Tommy may have come across and calming but now he’s a commanding force and David loves it.
Tommy bites down on David’s bottom lip before licking it. “Tomorrow?” he asks against his lips, not stopping the kiss. “Go out with me tomorrow.”
A ‘yes’ passes between their lips, neither man ready to let go just yet. But eventually it’s David who pulls away to reach into his pockets for his phone. He passes it to Tommy without a word who doesn’t even ask as he quickly types in his number.
The feeling of elation is so high within him that when he walks passed Feli once he gets inside their home, he doesn’t even care that his friend is laughing at him.
Tomorrow.