Chapter 430: Modo XVIII—Smell of Things

Startled last night, Modano had sat up in bed, the hotel door swung open and he saw Peter Forsberg stagger in, his arms hanging in an almost simian way, slamming the door with no account for anyone who would be disturbed. At first he'd thought about saying something, asking him something, but the shuffling, groaning noise he made, signaled to Modano that he was probably inebriated. Wrinkled his nostrils, Modano looked at Forsberg's body flopping noisily onto the bed, rolling, shedding clothing, shedding shoes, rolling in blankets.

The smell struck him, sharp and pungent, not sweetly sick and dull as alcohol. Peter hadn't smelled of liquor at all. Perhaps he'd had none, perhaps he'd had a little, but the overwhelming scent remained, sex. Peter reeked of it, of sweat and fluids, a familiar enough smell, especially for a hockey player, after game reek, pre-practice reek, time alone reek, something that ideally was showered off the body before it became overpowering if not for personal hygiene than at least as a professional courtesy.

Modano sighed as Forsberg commenced snoring; no he wouldn't be showering anytime soon, he would have to deal with the smell. The funniest thing however, and it occured to Modano before he'd closed his eyes, Peter smelled of another man. Oh he could smell a woman on him, that undeniably was there, but stronger, so much stronger, the lust of a man. Yes teammates shared girls, yes the contact was close, oh but this, Modano could tell, was much more than happenstance.

What, Peter have you been up to?

With the morning, the smell still there, breakfast, Peter looking so surly, spoke with that shagged out, tired crackly voice. Modano watched him, spoke a little with him, and all the while began to wonder. Peter oh Peter what have you been doing, what are you hiding, could you be, just like me? How funny would that be.

He couldn't help a look, just a second look in the bathroom and he chuckled quietly to himself. As far as specimen’s go, Peter really wasn't all that bad to look at. Watch it Mikey, watch it, he could imagine Keaner telling him, just like in the old days, keep that heart in your sleeve not on it. But what could a look hurt?

The overall absurdity of Mike's situation struck him, yet again watching Dan Hinote and Alex Tanguay bicker and flirt like teenage lovers on the sidewalk outside of the hotel. He had to hide himself and be afraid, and everyone else could tease and joke all they wanted. Dammit and he didn't even have anyone to pout to at the moment! But those cute kids, Mike couldn't help but smile just a little, he squatted on the pavement next to them, "So does this mean you two are on good terms with each other now, I mean seeing as you're making out and exchanging soft lip tips." He looked at Sakic who had a half smile.

"Well maybe I won't have to leave you as roommates anymore, I mean we can't have you getting too friendly with each other, right?"

"Woah HEY!" Keaner barked and he crouched down next to them. "Heh heh, you guys aren't feeling all that friendly with each other right? I mean heh, you guys aren't really getting along right?"

"Sure!" Danny said brightly, and Mike noticed with amusement that Dan did indeed have soft, kissable looking lips, well how about that? "Sure, we're getting along just swell, aren't we Tangs?" And he stood up, groaning, stretching and brushing off his pants, "Oh GOD I need Gregorio, the pain!"

"I'll say! Oof!" Alex moaned and he also stood up and tried to stretch, but a night spent sleeping on concrete could hardly do anyone good. "Is Katrina available? I think I have a problem only she could work with. Oo shoot me!"

"Right right cry me a river," Keaner muttered with his eyes narrowed and darting, his lips tight. Oh Mike knew that look if he recalled correctly, and he decided it'd be the smartest thing to follow them when Keane grabbed them both by the arms and took them a small distance away from the group. Mike didn't say a word but Keane did in a low voice, "You," he pointed to Danny, "screwed a married woman, and you," he pointed to Alex, "Are a self righteous tattle tale," he brought both of his fingers together in a swift movement. "Fight!"

"Mike!" Modano exclaimed as he followed Keane away from them, "Are you an idiot or what? They're not that easy to...."

“OW!” Danny yelped.

“You rat!” Alex replied.

And as Keane laughed, Mike looked behind him in surprise to see Alex and Danny slapping at each other and snipping pretty much just as they had before they’d left on the road trip. “Oo I don’t have time for this!” Dan cried and he stomped away from Alex, his arms crossed. He pushed through the group of teammates and curious onlookers and straight back into the hotel.

“I’m not done with you!” Alex growled, pointing his finger and following Danny. “Get back over here and apologize for what you tried to do!”

“Well I guess they’re still stuck together,” Joe muttered. And Mike noticed Keaner smile and open his mouth to say something and Joe held out his hand to stop him. “And shut up Keaner you already used that dog one liner and I’m sick enough of porn and sex as it is! Seriously!”

“Whatever you say Joey,” Keaner laughed and he held out his hands. “And I wasn’t even dreaming of that one liner. Heh.”

“Riiight,” Joe muttered.

“Well it looks like there’s nothing else to see outside,” Coach Hartley said, effectively dispersing the team and the crowd. “Practice is in two hours, I expect everyone will be there.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered off down the sidewalk. Everyone else either went back into the hotel or down the street.

“Hm, tried to do, that’s an interesting word, tried to do,” Keane said slowly as if pondering the most important of wonderments. And really with Keane, that could be something as simple as the aesthetic and useful properties of a garter, especially on the male leg.

“So what’s going on Keaner?” Modano asked, “Who’s the married woman?”

A slow smile spread over Keane’s face. “AH it doesn’t matter because he only tried right Mikey Mo? Try is a lot less than did, but I hurt my brain so I’ll stop, heh. As long as they stay rooming together a little longer then I’m happy, who gives a crap about the reason.”

“Why would you want to room with Joe this long?” Modano asked, trying to sound as casual and disinterested as he could. But he well knew Keaner’s tastes, and although by far the ugly red head preferred housewives and young women, he never knew him to turn his nose up at any good looking man who also presented himself. Mike wanted to put a protective arm around Joe, and he didn’t want to think about Keane’s intentions with him.

“Jealous?” Keane grinned waggling his eyebrows.

“Nooo…” Mike said with too much defensive squeak, but hell, it wasn’t as if Keaner didn’t already know about him and hadn’t already kept his secrets for this long at least. He could trust Keane, but being teased by him still wasn’t too pleasant.

“Heh,” Keane replied. “I bet, but don’t worry Mikey Mo, Joe’s like a cousin to me, heh, the kind of cousin you’d want to help corrupt but not touch. He’s safe from a gorgeous guy like me. I just want a little more time to loosen him up a little bit, and then all of us can have fun!”

Mike couldn’t help a small self pitying sigh. “But not my kind of fun.”

Keaner laughed and patted him warmly on the arm. “Oh I wouldn’t give up just yet Mikey, you’ll see, just wait.” And he walked away. Modano watched him and knew that Keane had left him a hint there, a piece of candy for his brain to swallow and in a way it encouraged him and intrigued him. Was Keaner hinting about someone in specific just not? Maybe Joe? No he couldn’t have, not about Joe, that would just be too fortunate for him, and Mike felt the heartache anew, but still, who was he talking about? Not Peter Forsberg, right? Not his own roommate…. And despite himself Mike had to smile just a little bit. After all, Peter really wasn’t all that bad to look at…