Zione was a beautiful boy, so of course he grew into a beautiful man. Given the world Alan Tempeste resided in, beauty was common, but Zione's beauty was authentic, radiating out from his inner being. The best thing Alan's mother had done, besides giving him life, was adopting Zione. People always thought Zione was lucky to be adopted by the wealthy Tempeste family, but they were the lucky ones.

Alan casually observed Zione swimming in the pool while pretending to read. For Zione's 19th birthday, Alan had surprised him with a trip to Key West.  Zione was ecstatic of course, not that it took much to make him happy.

"Hey, you're supposed to have fun on vacation," Zione told him, climbing out of the pool. 

And he was a sight to see, water dripping down his beautifully toned brown skin. Zione's curly blonde hair almost looked metallic glittering in the sun. But that smile was what undid Alan. Zione was always smiling, but he smiled differently at Alan. A smile of pure love. Alan loved Zione as well, not that he'd ever say it.  

"This is fun for me," Alan told him holding up his book for him.

"Nietzsche? Wasn't that guy a total dick?" Zione asked, his left eyebrow raised in mild judgment. Zione was nice enough not to say Alan was often a total dick as well. But the thought hung in the air. Alan shrugged internally; it was true. But before Alan could extol the virtues of metaphysics, he was interrupted.

"Zane! There you are! A nasal voice shouted. That creature was back. Some floozy who smelled of booze and too much perfume had attached herself to Zione.  

"It's Zione, like neon,"  Zione told her for the 8th time, yes, Alan kept count. Zione was smiling tightly, stepping back from her. She was making him uncomfortable, but Zione was far too polite to do anything. Alan would have tossed her in the pool by now.

"Yeah, Ziny." She said leaning into Zione.  Zione rolled his eyes; she was never going to get his name right.

"I wished you hadn't left last night; we could have had some fun." she continued.

"You were pretty wast- intoxicated," Zione said stepping back again. One more step and he'd be in the pool.  She was irritating, but she'd been so drunk last night, that Zione felt obligated to help her back to her room.  

"Well, I'm sober now stud." She leered at him. "Why don't we-"

"Look Bethany, I uh." Zione stuttered.

"I thought you liked me." She whined.

"Uh. Of course, I like you."  Zione told her. Alan stared at him. Zione rarely lied, but god forbid he hurt this bitch's feelings.

"He's busy," Alan announced.

Bethany turned to evaluate Alan, tilting her sunglasses down. He was tall and buff under his outfit. Handsome too. She used to go for blonde jocks like him, well she still did. But lately, she'd been in the mood for something more exotic.  

"And you are?" She asked.

"This is my brother, Alan," Zione told her.  A look of relief came over her face. She thought maybe they were a couple.

"Oh my god! I knew you were biracial, that's so hot!"  She leaned in way too close and whispered something in Zione's ear. Irritation flashed across Zione's face before his tight smile returned.

Alan snapped his book closed and took Zione's hand.

"We're going to be late," Alan said.

"Sorry, I forgot," Zione answered, wondering if he had forgotten some plan Alan had made for them.

Was there something they had to do today?  Zione wondered.

Alan liked to give him an itinerary for the day when he was still half asleep. Seriously who could think that much so early? Before coffee, even. But Alan was always thinking about, the perks of being a genius. Alan had graduated college at 16.

At 19, Zione wasn't sure what he would do with his life. He was an adult now, and he wanted to support himself. 

Alan told him the most logical choice was to work for Tempeste Industries. So now Zione assisted Alan at his office. He didn't mind being a glorified secretary. Alan was brilliant with information, but not so much with people.  Zione found himself de-escalating a few situations.  Okay, most situations. He also had to make sure Alan ate and slept.  Alan didn't take very good care of himself, besides his obsessive working out.  

"So, time for fun," Alan told him once they were back in their room.

"What's this about fun?" Zione turned to him, his smile widening. Alan stood frozen, this could not be happening.  He quickly turned away and grabbed a book on comparative philosophy.

"Oh come on." Zione groaned. Their debate had gone on for hours. Zione did find this 'philosophy bullshit' fun after all. Talking with Zione was always wonderful but...

It was bad enough that Zione was attractive and kind, did he have to be intellectually engaging as well?  

They were sitting on the couch facing each other, knees occasionally touching. Zione was too close and too far at once.  His gorgeous curly hair kept falling into his face, and Alan could not allow himself to push it back. He needed to move far away from him, but he was too afraid to do anything.  He'd lost track of what Zione was saying, more interested in his lush full mouth.

A knock at the door snapped him out of delirium.  Saved by room service. Alan looked down in shame, what was he doing? This was Zione, the one person in the world who truly loved him. Even if wasn't romantic, it was more than he'd ever hoped for. More than he deserved.

"You never said what you wanted for dessert," Zione called out to him. He was sitting down at the dining room table, having already laid out the food. You, Alan's mind screamed. I want you.  It felt like Zione was all he'd ever wanted, ever needed.

"So, are you coming or what?" Zione hadn't started eating because he was waiting for him.

"I'm not hungry," Alan snapped.

"Oh, do you want me to-" Zione began.

"Just leave me alone!" Alan said.

Alan was never the nicest person to begin with, but there had been a few years when he was monstrous. Zione tolerated him until he couldn't and walked out a week shy of his 18th birthday. By the time Alan realized he wasn't coming back, it was too late.  

Men were just as interested in Zione as women were. Alan's step-brother, Trent, had desired Zione for years. Alan told Trent he would press charges against him if he ever touched Zione.  Truthfully, he would have just broken his neck.  But Zione was 18 and staying with the bastard.  It didn't take too long for Zione to realize what that man really wanted. 

Alan knew Zione was bisexual before the boy realized it himself. But he would never go for a selfish shallow person like Trent.  Despite the player persona people projected onto him, Zione didn't do casual sex.   Alan had accidentally run into Zione after his falling out with Trent. He was able to bring him home with a promise to 'not be such an asshole.' Alan had kept that promise for the most part.

"I don't feel good,” Alan told him. "I just need to lie down."

"Okay," Zione said, still looking concerned. It doesn't even take 30 minutes for Zione to check on him. Alan kept his eyes closed and his breathing slow. He feels Zione's hand on his forehead.

"You don't have a fever," Zione muttered. It takes all of Alan's self-control not to lean 

into his hand.  But when Zione gently strokes his hair, he can't help but sigh with satisfaction. And then the warmth was gone, he heard Zione quickly retreating from the room. Alan opened his eyes and sighed again.

He was completely fucked.