Chapter Text
Troy stood there, ready to be assessed by some near-strangers in a hot tent in downtown Ottawa. This was the most uh, direct dressing room attention he had ever experienced and he thinked he liked it.
It's not like Troy hadn't been seen nearly naked a million times by teammates, reporters, coaches, random custodial crew and caterers. But watched intently (in a tent!) by people who were likely very interested in what they were about to see? That was rare. He tucked his thumbs all the way in his waistband and time stood still. Devlin, Stanford, Manu, Eric, and Rico held their breath. Well, the oxygen was all his for the next minute anyway. He felt a tiny thrill at revealing himself to a new set of hungry eyes.
Here’s the show guys.
Troy dropped his last barrier and kicked the fabric from his boots. A couple more seconds passed. Rico gripped the singlet to his chest while his jaw went slack. Well, they were all lips apart at this point, except Harris. Troy took stock of the state of his dick. Not shriveled, thank goodness, having been fully awakened earlier and even a bit now by the pair of tootsie rolls in front of him. The Taj Mahal of asses needed a light touch up. Harris reached over with a tiny promotional towel from the Ottawa Minnows and Max-Ohs Swim Team table and wiped away the rest of the chocolate ice cream from Troy’s left cheek. “There you go.”
Then softly but firmly “Twirl” someone rasped. Then a little louder, with desperation “Could you? Please?”
Devlin.
Troy's yearning to be seen took over. He felt himself slowly ever so slowly start to rotate to the left. Hey, these boots were made for dancing. What on planet Earth was happening to him? He caught Harris's eye. He thought he saw a twinkle of encouragement. The same Harris who had actually not intervened to shield him at all in this canopied hotzone. As the world collapsed into a white-polyester whirl he could tell his man was getting turned on too. Maybe Harris hadn’t said a word because he knew how much Troy needed to be adored like this. And Harris was showing off a bit to Manu maybe?
OKayyyyyyyy. Here's your show fellas!
He might have been known for speed on the ice, but this was going to be a slow revolution. Controlled. He reached out ¾ of the way around, pulled the singlet from Rico and slowly stopped. Did he arch his shoulders back a little to stretch out his midsection and make his chest a bit more taut? Maybe. He dropped over with a flourish, giving Harris the full moon view as he started to pull the wresting singlet on.
Another gasp. It was Rico. And maybe Stanford. OK, all of them. Dramatic bitches.
“Yeah, he's got a great personality, doesn't he?” Harris chirped.
Manu gave a 'WHOOP!' and the tent erupted.
Troy smiled wide and managed to get the singlet organized in front, lassoing his dick into place and Harris helped pull the straps over his shoulders. It was form fitting, tight. The straps could cover his nipples or reveal them. Holy shit. He didn't need to get turned on right now, but too late. Should he strut out into OttawaCityFuckingFunFest with his nipples erected next to a thin, stretchy piece of polyester, Or play a game of perky peek-a-boo?
Reluctantly he threw his vest back on over top and reached for the chaps to put back into place. He felt overdressed in the small canopied tent.
Harris snapped back into manager mode. “It’s a close fit, but not sheer. Kind of now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t. Are you comfortable? Oh, your butt looks good.”
Not that he was asked but Devlin volunteered “Good? It's fucking awesome’!" And the others nodded vigorously. “Hella!” Stanford confirmed as if he needed to weigh in along with a “Damn!” from Manu. Troy felt a little pride swell up. He thought it was pride, anyway.
You think I'm presentable?” Troy batted an eyelash to patch over the absolute terror he was facing down. His junk barely concealed under a sheer bit of light blue stretchy material framed by white chaps. Should he tuck it straight down, off to the side, would it even matter because the material was a bit… stimulating?
Could one ice cream really change his world this much? Well, it had before in a Florida hotel room.
Harris almost never left cheerleader mode but he was close to attempting a triple back flip of encouragement. “Lots of costumes out there today. I'll be right beside you. And behind you too. You'll be good.” Harris knew Troy would get a thrill from the attention, and he would too, but at what price? His brain was a bit scrambled by the heat, the close air in the tent, and still processing Gen’s runaway reaction.
“Ready to go, buddy?” Harris suggested.
Devlin shoved a small plastic pouch into Troy's hand and gave Harris a water bottle and patted them both on the back as they departed.
They left the tent to face a new world, knowing that at least five horndogs approved of Troy’s twirl-o-rama.
They made their way through the crowd, not really being recognized amongst the blow up dinosaur costumes and face-painted kids. A random clown wandered about and they squeezed by the usual assortment of butterfly wings and tutus that could be expected at any community party. Lots of floppy hats, strollers, and more than a few people looking like they had marched around a grassy field for days, eyes glazed.
He shot a quick text to Gen:
Harris: thoughts about Troy?
Gen: oh none and LOTS!
Harris: fill me in NOW
Harris: as a FRIEND not your boss
They approached the frenzy of the finishers canopy and Troy stepped up to the riser the organizers were using. “Hi. I’m Troy Barrett.” he delivered in a very business-like manner.
The guy with a dozen lanyards of different colors around his neck turned with a smile, froze the grin in place, and let out “Great to see you Troy. I’m Ken. Thanks for helping out." The look lasted a little too long and wandered around Troy’s, er, general lower area if Troy was being observant.
Shall I twirl?
Because helping out apparently required a complete up and down inspection, a woman also bedecked with neckwear IDs approached, examining. “I’m Della, thank you being here Troy. Ready to go?”
You can probably tell me after that full body scan!
After a short interval, Della handed the mic to Troy and he jumped into action as the next finisher’s name popped up on the monitor.
“Seth A, looking strong. Grab a gatorade, or maybe two, you earned it Seth.” Seth friends cheered, and pointed the camera at Troy as Seth came across the line. Oh well, there were official photos to be found after the race if anyone wanted to pay $35 for what was basically a toll booth surveillance cam snap.
Troy forgot about what he was wearing, and just enjoyed being everyone else’s rah-rah guy for a while. He jumped when someone lunged for the line in and pounded his fist in the air when someone clearly struggling managed their way across. It tapped into that new place in his heart that wanted to be better, to emulate Harris, the eternal booster.
“Now coming thru, Sarah G, Tina M, and Mel H. Well done run!“ At least Troy could distract himself with a task at hand.
“All first timers too.”
“Once you taste THE BURN, you start to YEARN, am I right?”
Thanks Giselle and Mercy.
Harris stood behind, beaming. He understood Troy’s desire to be a supporter after years of inward focus. Troy was always performing and needing encouragement, the change of role was probably good for him. His phone buzzed.
Gen: Troy’s new look is *different*. (smiley face with glasses, magnifying glass)
Harris: yes........and?
Gen: I think it will appeal to some people. He was getting attention!
Gen: Alain says it suits him but Alain is a perv, so ymmv.
Kendra: Hey, I’m at the 5K station what’s going on? feed is blowing up.
Harris: a bit of excitement bring water we need it
Kendra: water? I’ll bring the mop.
BenD.
@SissySasser (img-Troy in middle distance walking toward camera)
BenD.
@SissySasser Troy Barrett didn’t win the Cup this year. He’s not wearing one either. #OttawaCityFunFest #LongWait4aCup
Hot Pants McGee
@HotPantsMcGee #LongWait4aCup or just #Long ?
Missus Montcalm
@CalebsMom R U sure thats our boy Troy?
Annie F.
@AnneofWaitsTables I’m moving closer to get a better look. Will confirm. (eggplant emoji, goggle eyes) #OttawaCityFunFest
Jean Pierre
@DaddyHuntGatineau (img-Troy front view from the mustache down, left of body half hidden by a podium, Woody the cowboy behind) #OttawaCityFunFest
Jean Pierre
@DaddyHuntGatineau #OttawaCityFunFest is fronted with w/Centaur @TroyBarrettOfficial serving #chaps and legs for days, devastating mustache #chaplovers #thigh #mustache #rideemcowboy
BenD.
@SissySasser Hard to pay attention to #OttawaCityFunFest when a man like that wandering around like a bag of loose melons and a cucumber at the farmers market
Annie F.
@AnneofWaitsTables confirmed Troy barely dressed at a podium. Gonna run by the last water table before I fall over #thirtsyasfuk
Missus Montcalm
@CalebsMom Harris / Troy = good cowboy / bad cowboy
Annie F.
@AnneofWaitsTables baaaaad baaad cowboy! #thirtsyasfuk
Hot Pants McGee
@HotPantsMcGee (likes this)
Annie F.
@AnneofWaitsTables next year organizers: lose the podium and theme idea: Greek Olympians #OttawaCityFunFest
Manitoba Man
@GuyfromthePraries I’ll take a woody too Troy #powerbottomsunite
Jean Pierre
@DaddyHuntGatineau (likes this)
“Well I think that went OK” Troy pondered as his half hour was over and he was replaced by Samantha, the channel 13 meteorologist in be-tassled sherriff attire.
“Sure, I think so” Harris pondered, soothing over anything happening on social media. He knew Troy lived mostly in the reality that favored actual ‘things’ instead of the imagined fads and flames of the terminally online.
After a long pause, and a loving look to his cub-love, “I could never do this without you” Troy said, accurately.
“I only ever want to do this kind of thing WITH you” exclaimed Harris.
“You know, I mean, I’m only able to be who I am off-ice because you are right here. You have to know how much that means to me everyday Brave-heart.”
“I do. I really do know." It began to settle more permanently in Harris that a stone cold 10 like Adrian De La FuckFace would never have given Troy all that Harris could. Harris figured he was a 7 maybe getting to an 8 on personality on a good day.
He gave Troy assurance that flawless looks weren’t the only value he possessed. With a heart broken at birth and STILL making that patched up pump beam sunny lovingkindness to everyone he met, Harris could see the real Troy. The one behind the sparkling blue eyes and perfect abs to the flawed and renewed man underneath. He saw the immense capacity for love and care Troy worked hard to regain.
For his part, Troy saw the courage that Harris' chest scars bound in place.
They matched up perfectly.
“What did Devlin give you?
Troy pulled out the small clear plastic baggie from his holster. It appeared to be two bell shaped pieces of translucent plastic and a screw-like device attached to each.
“Suction cups” Troy guessed. “Oh!”
“I’m ready to go! Where did we park?!?!?!?” Harris started, screeched, and ran away toward the parking lots.
“Right behind ya Cubster.”