Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 14:46:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: firehose Joe <firehosejoe@yahoo.com>
Subject: To Thine Own Self Be True Chapter 30

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Shakespeare (Hamlet)

Thanks to Chael for assistance in editing and proofing the story. This is
wholly fictional with no reference intended to persons alive or dead.

Please do not distribute to other sites without permission of the
author. Comments can be sent to firehosejoe@yahoo.com

From the previous chapter:

When he finished, Zach sat back, bringing his hand to his mouth. Crossing
his lips with his forefinger, he slightly shook his head as a smile began
to grow that soon spread across his face. Lowering his hand, he took a deep
breath and sighed loudly.

"Perhaps we have more in common than I'd thought." His smile grew. "What do
you say we get out of here and go back to my place?" Zach's question was
met with a big smile from Alejandro, who reached for the check. Zach said,
"I'll get this. You can buy me a drink later."


Chapter 30

Moments after Zach shoved some bills in the folder, they were back on the
street heading toward his condo. With a smirk, Zach looked over and said,
"So tell me about your favorite match at this Bears' Den."

"You just don't let up, do you?" Alejandro said with a straight face and
dead level stare.

The immediate look of shock followed by dismay on Zach's face was pure
theater. Alejandro laughed out loud. "Gotcha!"

"You bastard!" Zach fired back, laughing.

"I may have never known my Mother, but have it on good authority that I'm
not a bastard," Alejandro rejoined with his own chuckle.

Zach rolled his eyes, smiled and shook his head. "Got me again. Now, tell
me about some of the matches and guys you've wrestled."

As they walked, Alejandro told Zach in great detail of his first visit --
the sights, the matches, the smells and, of course, all about Nicco. With
painstaking detail, he described both the man and the wrestling match.

"God, I'm so hard right now," Zach softly exclaimed.

Looking down, Alejandro saw Zach's hand was in his pocket. The evident
bulge was not easily disguised.

With an attempt at a cowboy drawl, Alejandro said, "Some pistol you're
packin' thar, Pahdner!"

"Glad I've got on dark slacks or the stain would be obvious," Zach said
with a hint of chagrin. "Okay, I'm sure Nicco hasn't been the only
one. Spill it!"

Alejandro told about his first match with Liam and the subsequent
matches. "I knew I was over my head when I first laid eyes on the man, but
couldn't help myself. I wanted to tie up with him in the worst way. It was
only after several matches that I was willing to, um...ah, willing to go
further."

They had reached the elevator in the building and were waiting. Zach turned
and with a smile pressed him for the unspoken details.

"I've probably said enough for now." They stepped into the elevator and
made their quick ascent to Zach's floor. Zach looked at him, wondering what
was up.

Alejandro determined that it was Zach's turn to lay down some cards and
kept silent. Soon they were inside. The offer of a seat and a snifter of
Hine Triomphe Cognac was a cue for him to let the silence build.

Leveling his glance and letting a smile play at the corners of his lips,
Alejandro said, "So, Zach, tell me of some of your experiences with
men. What do you enjoy?"

The blush nearly exploded up Zach's neck and into his cheeks. His voice
faltered and then he rushed on with the comment, "Ah, well, you know. Just
stuff, occasionally. Nothing much to tell. Certainly nothing as exciting as
your stories."

Alejandro held the gaze and waited. With a measured tone, he said, "No
Zach, I don't know." After a pause, he added, "I'm interested in the
`stuff' and I imagine there's more than `nothing' that you could tell."
Then he smiled and waited.

Still blushing and trying to avoid Alejandro's eyes, Zach made several
false starts as he began to respond. The story of the roughhousing with Ben
and how it got him excited was the beginning. Soon it was as if a small dam
had broken and Zach was telling of Ben's perpetual horniness and their
wresting and Ben's teasing him about the obvious boners in Zach's briefs.

Zach's fingers played around his mouth, a sign of his nervousness and
embarrassment. Alejandro interjected the innocuous comments of, "I know
what you mean", "Yeah, me too" and the like, to keep Zach from feeling
naked in his confession of how the playing had become intimate sharing that
they both enjoyed and sought out.

"I was never under any illusion that Ben was gay. Yeah, he was bi to a
degree but he enjoyed sex with his fiancée, let me tell you. He'd come back
from weekends they'd spent together and talk for what seemed like hours
about how much he loved her and how great she was in bed."

"But often as not, later in the same evening, we'd be watching TV and he'd
start a pillow fight with the sofa cushions. We'd end up on the floor or
sofa, him on top of me, both of us humping out a load.

"I truly believe he was blind to the irony of the situation. We were
friends and that's what we did. I never asked what he'd done with other
friends. I was satisfied with what I had at the moment and didn't question
it."

Zach went on to tell of his prep school experimentation with boys and the
antics in the dorm. More than `antics' Alejandro thought, but kept his
peace. Alejandro could feel the pain in Zach's words. Whether he knew it or
not, Zach had loved Ben. Losing him had torn a place from his
heart. Alejandro let him talk and talk.

With eyes that were red from holding back tears, Zach looked up, shaking
his head and said, "I guess that's it. I don't know what more I can
say. I'm sorry I dumped on you like that. If you want to go, I'll call you
a cab."

Setting his snifter on the table beside him, Alejandro stood and walked
behind Zach. Gently he began to massage his shoulders as he told him
briefly of his own experiences. He told him about how Frederick had helped
him to find himself, to believe in himself and finally to risk being honest
about himself.

Shuddering sighs passed through Zach's chest as he gave himself to the
comfort Alejandro offered. Alejandro stopped and walked back to his
chair. Lifting the snifter he intentionally changed the subject. "This was
great. What was it? Brandy?"

It was just the thing to lighten the moment. Zach quickly warmed to his
enthusiasm for the fine cognac. He insisted Alejandro have a bit more to
taste as he described the warmth and subtle nuances of fungus, flower and
tobacco. He waxed poetic as he described the roundness and lingering
finish.

Fine brandies were way over Alejandro's head. Wines, he somewhat
understood. This was perhaps not out of his league, but certainly not part
of his culinary experience. He liked it and could see how someone could be
so enthusiastic.

After he savored his last sip, Zach set the snifter down and said, "The
night is still young -- unless you have a full day tomorrow."

"I'm free all day until the reception. You have anything in mind?"

With a wicked grin, Zach asked hesitatingly, "How much of the Frisco
nightlife have you experienced?"

"An artist friend of mine, Charles, visited with me when I came for the
last board meeting. He and I did a little exploring -- you know visited
some clubs and got a feel for the night life." He laughed at his
terminology immediately, "Well we got the occasional feel too. You know
what I mean, don't you?"

Zach laughed. "Oh yeah. It was good you had a buddy. Sometimes it can get a
little rough if you get off the beaten path. A lot of the bars and clubs
have some real rough trade and I never go alone.

"Anything in particular you'd like to see or do?" Zach asked.

"Yes. You remember my telling you about Liam."

"A foocking stud by anyone's measurement," Zach said, mimicking the Irish
brogue. They both laughed.

"Yeah, well, he told me of a wrestling club he's visited here. I want to
look it up. You mind?"

"Not at all. Do you want to go back to your place to change or stay in
these clothes. On Thursday night, things will be sort of slow and a pair of
jeans will fit in most places. By the way, what is the address?" Zach
asked.

Alejandro fished in his wallet for the note he'd made for himself. He told
Zach the address Liam had given him. "You know where that is?"

"Not exactly, but the neighborhood, yes. It's not a place I'd go alone for
sure. You want to scope out any other clubs or bars beforehand?" Zach
offered.

"Maybe afterward. After visiting a place he suggested in New York, I've
wanted to see this and other places he's recommended. Do you mind?"

"Heck no. Let's split."

They finally arrived in the neighborhood after a bit of a drive.

"I can't see addresses and I don't see the name anywhere. Let's park and
walk some to see if we can find it," Zach said after they'd found the
street. After half a block, Zach nudged Alejandro and pointed, "The Grapple
Grotto -- that's not the name he gave you but I'll bet that's the
place. What do you think?"

"Let's go and see," Alejandro said. They crossed the street after spotting
the small lighted sign, pulled open the door and entered.

The bar area was half-full, the patrons watching matches in progress. There
were four mat areas behind a four-foot barrier. The barkeeper half growled,
"You guys drinking or paying the $10 cover?"

Zach, undaunted by the attitude, ratcheted down the tone but answered
gruffly, "We'll have a couple of beers. How much?"

The barkeep laughed and said, "$20 bucks" as he pulled the draft handle
that Zach had indicated.

Taking the beers, Zach nodded toward a table near the barrier where they
could easily follow the action. Alejandro followed. A bell sounded and the
matches stopped. Alejandro commented comparing the Grapple-Grotto and
Bears' Den. Zach probed more about Alejandro's drive to wrestle.

After Zach had been so open, Alejandro didn't mind being candid about his
matches and what had followed.

Guys came out of what appeared to be a dressing/shower area and took their
places on the mats. Two were immediately adjacent to Zach and
Alejandro. Zach's expression conveyed his excitement and anticipation. The
bell sounded again and the guys tied up. Alejandro occasional gave
commentary as one clearly dominated the other.

It was obviously a mismatch in skill, Alejandro thought. But it wasn't his
business. He became concerned when the tougher competitor began to beat
down his opponent with unnecessary violence. Zach's face was a mask of
concern and fear for the guy being beaten. Alejandro looked across the
room. He was the stranger here. Was this normal?

Suddenly there was a loud pop and the man getting beaten yelled out in
obvious pain as he grabbed his elbow. His opponent reared up and dropped an
elbow into the guy's gut as he groaned out his anguish from the injury to
his elbow.

Without thinking, Alejandro leaned over the barrier and yelled, "Back off,
Dude; he's hurt!"

"Mind your own fuckin' business!" the man snarled as he stood.

Alejandro and Zach watched, their faces masks of disbelief as the guy
raised a foot and stomped into the lower abs of his opponent. The beaten
man continued to groan out his pain. His elbow seemed somehow misaligned.

Stepping across the prone body, the wrestler reached down for the ankles of
the other. Without thinking, Alejandro kicked off his loafers and in a
split second was up, vaulting over the barrier. Grabbing the man standing,
Alejandro pulled him off his opponent.

The wrestler spun and faced Alejandro. With a sound between a growl and a
roar he lunged toward Alejandro.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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