Set during the 'Electric handshake' scene in Christian's flat. Syed is trying to convince Christian his therapy has cured him and that he no longer has gay feelings towards him. I thought this scene was really good and there was so much chemistry between the two characters that I wanted to consider what may have happened had Roxy not been there. I have rated this fic M due to the adult language and sexual nature of later chapters.

Dedicated to Holly for being a star

Chapter 1

Christian's post-workout doze was interrupted by the banging on his door. His forehead crumpled at the sound and a barely audible "go away" escaped his lips. His muscles felt achy and heavier than usual and he wasn't sure if he would be able to lift himself from the sofa. With a deep breath he grudgingly heaved himself to his feet and trudged over to the door. He put on his fake 'hello' smile and flung it open; his expression faltering as he realised the face he was being confronted with.

"Hi!" Syed spoke cheerily.

"Hey." Christian's response was cautiously flat. He turned and walked in, allowing his unwelcome guest to follow.

Syed's face was etched with a contrived grin as he continually talked in his recently adopted and awkwardly jovial manner.

"I need to go over the menu for this party order; Ina's birthday?"

Christian looked at him intently, trying to figure out what was going on. First there was the arm-holding business in the market and now this; a chat about some woman's birthday lunch that neither man even knew.

"So we're thinking three different curries; beef, chicken, vegetarian, usual pickles, naan, rice…"

As Syed rambled on describing the food choice in detail, Christian could feel his blood pressure rising. How could he be doing this? How could he just barge round to his flat and start talking birthday dinners as though nothing had ever happened between them?

"Zainab know you're here?"

Syed stopped dead in his track and a bemused look emerged on his face.

"No. Why?"

"Well don't you think she's going to have an opinion on it?" Christian's tone was firm and abrupt and its delivery took Syed by surprise, making him shudder slightly.

"Yeah course!" he continued. "She'll be really proud of me; dad too. In fact I'm going to tell them later… after I've seen my therapist of course. He thought it was too soon but I knew I…"

"Wait! Back up a minute." He couldn't have heard him right, surely. He asked for clarification. "Therapist!"

"The one I'm seeing to cure me."

Christian couldn't fathom what he was hearing. As the words flickered around in his head, his guts began to burn as though someone was shoving a red hot poker in to them.

"To cure you?" His tone was softer now, tinged with sadness and disbelief.

"Yeah. Re-orientate my thinking; stop me having these gay feelings. It's worked! I've completed the transition."

The two men, whom had once shared so much, were now stood just feet apart and it was as though they had never met. Christian's head began to shake involuntarily and melancholy overtook his eyes.

"Here, shake my hand." Syed offered out his hand and urged Christian to reciprocate with a flicker of his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Come on, shake it!"

Christian apprehensively took the soft, balmy hand in his and felt his heart warm.

"See, nothing. I don't feel anything."

Syed was trying so hard to convince himself that the unutterable words tumbling from his lips were in any way true. He was holding up ok, until Christian took a step towards him and tightened the grip on his delicate hand. "I'm cured. It's over!"

He sounded pleased. How could he be pleased? Why was he tormenting him like this? Christian's despair was replaced with anger and frustration and he took what now seemed like a giant leap towards him. He was standing so close now that the breath escaping from Syed's parted lips could be felt on his chin.

"Well, I don't believe you." Christian's voice was quiet and breathy and Syed had to clench his jaws in a vain attempt to prevent the hairs on the back of his neck from standing on end. He swallowed though the lump that had suddenly emerged in his throat.

"Why?" Syed croaked.

Christian crept ever closer so that their still-clasped hands were the only physical barrier between their yearning bodies. He leant in so that his mouth was directly next to Syed's ear and whispered in a slow and deliberate manner.

"Because Sy, if you were cured, you wouldn't be trembling right now..."

Syed closed his eyes as he attempted to block out the adrenaline kicking in his chest. He wanted to tell Christian to stop, to turn around and leave, but something had grounded him and he knew there would be no way of escaping his allure now.

Christian took his free hand and cupped the bottom of Syed's head, massaging his hair nostalgically. His mouth moved to within a few nanometres of Syed so that as he spoke, his warm, delicious breath moistened his ear.

"If you were cured, you wouldn't be yearning… longing… throbbing for me…"

Christian now moved so that his face was in front of Syed's and their eyes were melting in to one another's "…and if you were cured, you wouldn't want to kiss me right now"

The two men stood for what seemed like an eternity, their eyes fixed and chests rising and falling with anticipation. Syed moistened his lips and allowed his gaze to fall down towards Christian's mouth. Realising the change in atmosphere, Christian pulled his hand away to break the everlasting handshake and quickly moved it to the small of Syed's back, pulling him gently inwards. As their torsos ricocheted, Syed felt his groin twitch and instinctively moved his newly-freed hand and placed it upon Christian's sweat-ridden vest.

"Because that's the truth isn't it Sy? You want to kiss me… don't you?"

Christian parted his lips just enough to allow a fragment of his tongue to appear and Syed, unable to control his actions any longer, tugged firmly at his vest and replied

"Yes!"

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