It wasn’t even seven thirty in the morning and already he was up. He trudged to the pool for his training session before the start of the races. Shrugging off his jacket, he began to stretch his arms. It was too early, and he could feel himself beginning to fall asleep on his feet, even as he stretched out his muscles to try and keep himself awake.

He felt a familiar, comforting presence next to him and fought a smile. How bad it would look if one person could make his whole day better. Especially considering who that one person was.

But he could. “G’day, mate,” Ian Thorpe said cheerfully, working on his stretches next to Michael. He turned to the other swimmer next to him, an Australian by the name of Grant Hackett. “Mornin’,” he said. Grant grunted a reply and walked off, unable to handle Ian’s early morning attitude.

Michael couldn’t stop a small smile from spreading across his lips. Ian shrugged. “I don’t know why you tossers aren’t more awake in the morning,” he said with a smile to Michael. Michael molded his face into a frown.

“I can’t figure out how you’re so chipper this early.”

Ian smirked and winked. “I had a good night’s sleep last night,” he said. Michael bent over to stretch his calves, and also to hide his red face. “Do you want to see if we can meet girls tonight, mate?” Ian asked Michael carefully.

This had become a ritual. One would ask the other if they wanted to hang out and ‘pick up chicks.’

The other would then say, “Maybe. But I have a race tomorrow, so I might just hang out in my room. Read or... something.”

Ian nodded. “Let me know, alright?”

Michael nodded, standing up straight and stretching his arms over his head. ‘Absolutely.”

******

They raced each other. It was the 200m freestyle, Ian’s best race. He won; beat Michael by three tenths of a second. Once the race was over, Ian swam over the lanes to congratulate Michael. They hugged briefly, and Ian, keeping his eyes open so as not to alert anyone, breathed in Michael’s scent. It was sweat and chlorine and something else he couldn’t quite place. He’d ask Michael about it later.

All eight swimmers got out of the pool and began to walk towards the showers to dry off and prepare for another race, or to go back to the hotel to do nothing.

Michael and Ian were accosted by a reporter waiting by the exit of the pool.

“Michael, what’s it like racing your biggest rival?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Ian’s a great swimmer and a good friend of mine. We’ve been looking forward to racing each other for a while now.”

“Ian?”

Michael looked at Ian. “He’s gotten a lot better since the last time I raced him,” Ian said teasingly. “Like he said, we’re great friends, and even though we’re rivals in the pool, it’s good fun to race him.”

“Thank you,” the reporter said. They walked away after giving the camera one last smile.

When they were sure they were out of range, Ian muttered, “Come over at eight.” Then he smirked. “Don’t wear your damn jacket again.”

Michael grinned sheepishly. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Yeah, neither do I.”

Michael laughed. “See you later, man,” he said before walking off.

Ian sighed and went in the other direction.

******

Hours later, Michael shrugged on a sweatshirt and a baseball cap before he left his room in the Athlete’s Village. His shoulders were slumped as he strolled leisurely to the Australians’ section. He saw a few people he recognized, but thanks to the cap (and the fact that it was big enough to hide his ears), he was able to continue uninterrupted. When he got to the Australian section, he coolly walked to Ian’s room.

Knocking on the door, he glanced nervously around, his hands in the pockets of his jeans and his arms extended so his shoulders were shrugged. The door opened and he slipped inside as inconspicuously as he could, closing the door behind him. He saw Ian’s back going into the bathroom.

He took off his cap and tossed it on a chair as he went inside the room.

“I’ll be right out; I was just finishing up a shower,” Ian called.

Michael sat down on the edge of the bed. He flipped his cell phone open and closed, trying to find something to do with his hands before he went crazy. Ian came out a few minutes later, wrapped in a towel. Michael raised his eyebrows. Ian just laughed. “Calm yourself,” he said. Michael chuckled and stood up, kissing Ian quickly on the lips.

“I’ll be right back again,” Ian said, going back into the bathroom. He emerged, dressed in a pair of gym shorts and a wifebeater. He sat down on the bed next to Michael. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Michael replied with a smile. He kissed Ian again.

“You can take your sweatshirt off, you know. No one will recognize you in here. Except me.”

Michael laughed and took off the sweatshirt, his T-shirt nearly coming off with it. Ian glanced at the waistband of Michael’s jeans and couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s so funny?”

“I like your underwear.”

Michael grinned. “I get it free from the manufacturer,” he said, leaning towards Ian and placing his lips on his once again.

******

Ian groaned at four thirty when his alarm went off. He rolled over and shook Michael by the shoulder. For a second he contemplated not waking Michael up and staying like this all day, but Michael needed to get back to his room before the other athletes woke up. They’d talked about this at great length and both had agreed that it would be best if no one found out.

When shaking him didn’t work, Ian slid a hand around to Michael’s bare chest and kissed his shoulder. Michael finally stirred, turning onto his side and opening one eye to look at Ian.

“Four thirty already?” Ian nodded sadly as Michael stood up.

Michael pulled his jeans over his Ian Thorpe boxer briefs. Ian smirked again. “I love that you wear my underwear,” he said. Michael grinned cheekily at him and Ian couldn’t help but laugh. Michael pulled on his T-shirt and sweatshirt and the cap that covered his ears. Ian climbed out of bed and walked him to the door. They kissed.

“Till tomorrow night,” Michael said before he left. He was a little ways down the hall when he heard a soft whisper.

“I love you.”

Michael smiled, his step a little lighter.