Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any of its characters.

Prompt here: glee - kink - meme . livejournal 38839 . html ? thread = 51722423 # t51722423

Afterburn

by ktfranceebee

Chapter 1

"Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption , informally called afterburn, is a measurably increased rate of oxygen intake following strenuous activity intended to erase the body's "oxygen deficit.""

Kurt enthusiastically skipped up the ramp leading to the fitness center, his hands gripping either end of the hand towel slung around his neck, and his duffle bag - containing a spare change of clothes, large towel, water bottle, hair spray, lotions, and face washes for his post-workout skin regime - bounced against his hip with each step. The air was cool on his arms as October was quickly approaching, and the sky was dark and completely devoid of stars. The bright city of Chicago saw to that.

Kurt was already feeling fantastic since he joined the gym a week ago. While he had always lived a relatively healthy lifestyle having participated in show choir while he was in both high school and college (and not to mention how his days as an intern were hectic ones), since working up to his position as a Commission Sales Professional in the Men's Retail Department at Bloomingdales, his lifestyle had become increasingly sedentary. While he was standing at all hours of the day, that was nothing in comparison to going on coffee runs for the higher-ups, hours of dance practice, and sashaying across a stage. While being on his feet all day would make most people want to turn away from the prospect of going to the gym, Kurt found that exercising a couple of days a week after a long day of work relieved him of the stress of having to deal with impossible and, more often than not, rude customers. Not to mention the fatigue of working out actually soothed the aching muscles in his legs, thanks to the help of his skilled, professional trainer, Dave.

Dave.

Kurt sighed, letting the small smile linger around his mouth. David (as he liked to refer to him in his head) was kind, gentle, and amazing. Kurt would be lying if he said he didn't have a little bit of a crush on that man, already. Kurt considered him a godsend, despite his disbelief in any sort of higher power, and it wasn't only a result of his amazing instruction and his ability to motivate Kurt to push past what he believed to be his limit.

The gym wasn't a twenty-four hour one, but Kurt didn't get off until eight-thirty most nights, after the store closed. The gym, on the other hand, closed at ten. While Kurt was perfectly fine with just running on the treadmill for an hour, maybe cycling on an interval bike, or even getting his blood pumping on a elliptical machine, Dave, who had checked him out at the counter when he received his membership, seemed quite adamant in getting Kurt a personal trainer. Dave had explained the benefits of individualized instruction, such as targeting specific areas on the body, and Kurt had trouble disagreeing with such a sound argument - especially not when Kurt found himself entranced by the man's bright, hazel eyes and straight white teeth, which seemed to match the polo shirt he was wearing, which stretched across his chest and hugged his biceps like a second skin, perfectly.

The only problem was that the only hours available for a one-hour session would have to be between eight and nine (that wouldn't work well, as that was the time Kurt had to get up at that time to go to work), eleven and twelve (it wasn't like Kurt had enough time on his lunch hour to go to the gym), and four and five (he'd still be working at that time). Kurt insisted that it was fine. He had no problem working out on his own, but that was when Dave had flashed him a smile.

"You know..." Kurt recalled him saying. He could remember exactly how his arched eyebrows raised innocently. "The perks of being a personal trainer is that I have some semblance of control of my own hours." Kurt had hung onto every word that man said as he spoke. Kurt had nodded along as he continued. "My last training session ends at ten o'clock, the same time this place closes. After closing up, I usually work out for a couple of hours..."

'Of course you do,' Kurt thought, nodding politely at the obvious statement. He was fairly certain that his eyes were glazed over. It was hard for Kurt not to let his eyes wander down the man's throat to his collar where the first button was popped open.

"...before going home. I know that's kind of late," he grimaced apologetically, "but if you don't have any qualms about coming in so late, I'd have no problem sneaking you in to give you some… Individualized instruction."

And there was no problem with that, at all, Kurt had responded. If any rational part of him found it strange that a man he just barely met was offering to let him into an desolate fitness center past closing time, that part of his mind had boarded a plane for Crazy Town and took off a long time ago.

Working out at night, however, did not bother Kurt in the least. He was able to go home and eat something, rest his feet, and take a quick nap before heading off for the center, which was only four blocks North of his apartment building (which only meant a five or six minute walk). It wasn't as though Kurt had to wake up at sunrise the next day. Besides, he had read about the benefits of working out at night: Something about participants of a study continuing to burn calories after a workout as they slept.

Anyways, Kurt had accepted the membership card with a dazed smile, which Dave returned, though a little more cognizant, and told Kurt that he would see him soon. Kurt could only nod as left the building.

It was quite pathetic actually.

Kurt had no basis on which he could determine Dave's sexuality. He wasn't one to judge people. He wasn't naïve enough to believe that gay men existed in the form of stereotypical fashion forward, flamboyant, and not to mention fabulous individuals such as himself. Kurt couldn't imagine why Dave would just offer to let him come in after hours for training. Maybe he was just a genuinely nice guy.

Gay or straight… Kurt wasn't about to complain.

Kurt was about to tap on the glass of the door, when he paused. He could see Dave in the vast room on one of the ellipticals. Kurt could see that he had changed out of the uniform that he normally wore at the front desk. Today, his work-out clothes consisted of a pair of black basketball shorts that showed off his thick calf muscles and a grey Hanes t-shirt with what looked like a red college hoodie with the sleeves cut off. Kurt had to resist the urge to press his face up against the glass or to drool and, instead, knocked on the door.

Dave didn't turn to look at him, but Kurt knew that he heard him because he stopped his movements (Kurt almost regretted knocking - he enjoyed watching the strain of the muscles in Dave's forearm as they lengthened and foreshortened as he pushed and pulled the handles back and forth) and got off the bike far too habitually considering this was only their fourth session. He picked up his hand towel and dabbed his forehead, which Kurt could imagine was already glistening with pearls of sweat. As he came upon the door, he picked up a set of keys from the front desk and threw the towel over his shoulder.

As Dave leisurely sorted through the number of keys on the metal loop, Kurt feigned impatience as he jokingly crossed his arms and tapped his foot against the concrete. Dave met his eyes through the glass and Kurt could see them twinkling with mirth as he tongued his cheek, trying not to smile. Kurt shivered inconspicuously at that image, and knew it had nothing to do with the cold and more to do where he would make Dave stick that tongue hadn't this been a completely professional environment… And if he even had a chance in hell with someone as gorgeous as Dave.

Finally, Dave flicked what had to be the last key into his hand and placed it in the lock, turning it. After it clicked and he removed it, he held out the door for Kurt.

"Hey."

I hope you enjoyed the first part and, before I forget, please note that I have never had a personal trainer in my life. I don't think I've ever gone to the gym (lol!), and, therefore, never had a personal trainer. I did try to do extensive research, however. And I'm fairly sure anyone would be fired if they decided to pull this stunt in real life. Please don't be mad at the lack of logic. I'm doing my best to fill what I thought was an awesome prompt.