"Hi honey, I'm home!"
Christian dumped the shopping bags in the middle of the kitchen floor. He could hear Syed clattering around in the spare bedroom.
"You've been gone ages! It's called the Minute Mart for a reason you know."
Christian hung his jacket tidily over the chair, peeved that Syed hadn't cleared away the breakfast things.
"I thought that was because it was tiny. I went to Sainsbury's instead. Sudden rush of blood to the head."
" Ooh good, we can go on holiday with the money we've saved. And that's not where your blood usually rushes to" Syed called cheerfully.
"Cheeky. Why haven't you cleared up, what are you doing in there?"
Christian appeared in the doorway and took in the sight of Syed, balanced precariously up a ladder, wielding a paint roller.
"I thought I'd make a start on the decorating."
"I can see that. Love the outfit."
Syed glanced down at his once black pants, now spattered with paint.
"I put your dungarees on, but they kept falling off. Actually that happens when you wear them too doesn't it?"
Christian laughed.
If you're around, yes. You look very fetching. Not sure about the Masala Queen hat though. What is that awful colour you're putting on? Please tell me it's just an undercoat."
Syed leant back, rattling the ladder.
"I found it in the cupboard under the sink. It says 'Tuscan Sunset' on the tin. What's wrong with it?"
"Tuscan sunset, my arse. It's orange, the brightest orange, more orange than.."
Christian sought around for a comparison.
"More orange than you, when you tried that fake tan?"
Syed interjected cheerfully, loading up his roller with more paint.
"Stop it. More orange than that bucket. My bucket. Why are you using my bucket. You haven't got it dirty have you?"
Syed turned, bemused.
"It's a bucket Christian. They are meant to get dirty. Why is it so special? You weren't thinking of using it as a man bag were you?"
Christian looked away, embarrassed.
"And you've left a socket switched on with nothing plugged in, you know that drives me mad!"
Syed tried to see, making the ladder wobble dangerously and Christian leapt across to stop him from falling, narrowly avoiding getting a dollop of Tuscan Sunset on his hair.
Clutching on to his shoulders, Syed exclaimed gleefully.
"Look how much taller I am than you! I can check to see if you've started to go bald and not told me."
He kissed the top of Christian's head fondly.
"No, still hairy. Why the bucket love?"
Christian pulled him closer.
"It reminds me of the floor of a partially decorated room, a special time, perfect."
Syed threw his plastic hat across the room, neatly covering the plug socket and pushed himself gently from the ladder, sliding slowly down the front of Christian's body, their eyes locked together.
"I hadn't forgotten, that's why I put it there. Want to try it again? This time we won't be disturbed."