The faint light spilling through the bathroom door filtered through Christian's closed eyelids and he grunted,sleepily opening one eye. He could hear the soft whirr from an electric toothbrush, the careful clink as it was turned off and replaced quietly onto the glass shelf.
Syed emerged into the dark and groped around for his clothes, shed with exhausted abandon the night before, cast aside when he crawled in late and dropped to sleep almost immediately. He had mumbled a word of love, hardly feeling Christian's good night kiss before oblivion encompassed him.
Christian watched him through narrowed lids while he pulled on his trousers. He felt the mattress dip slightly as Syed sat beside him, bending to put on his socks.
He saw the curve of Syed's spine in the orange glow from their alarm clock, and reached out to touch each vertebrae, one by one, down to the dip at the base.
Syed stilled, and felt the touch luxuriously, shivering at each trace of Christian's finger. He turned slowly and placed his hand over Christian's heart.
"I woke you," he apologised quietly.
Christian shook his head and adjusted the pillow, pushing himself up to see Syed's face more clearly.
"It doesn't matter. Do you have to go?" He stroked Syed's hair and studied his tired eyes thoughtfully.
"No, and yes. I don't have to, but I want to. But I want to stay here too. With you.. Does that make sense?"
Christian smiled and stifled a yawn.
"Kind of, in a Syed sort of way. I'm getting better at working you out. I need to clone you. One of you is obviously not enough."
Syed fished his shirt out from under the bed and gave it a shake, sniffing it suspiciously.
"I ironed you a clean one, it's hanging up in the wardrobe, with the other clothes."
Christian said pointedly and pretended to look disapproving.
"Thank you. I only wore this one yesterday evening, so it'll be fine! I'm late already, don't forget the tube and the two buses."
"I wish you could still go to your old Mosque.."
Syed winced and began to button up the crumpled shirt.
"You know why not."
A flash of guilt lit in Christian's eyes.
"It's my fault.."
Syed stopped, shocked, and leant to take Christian's face in his hands.
"No!" He said sharply, "my choice. You are, I chose you."
"And you don't regret it?"
Syed laughed.
"Ooh, maybe when you sing too loud, or roll in pissed. And when you're bossy, or nag…"
"I never nag!" Christian cut in huffily.
"My shirts hanging up with the other clothes?" Syed raised one eyebrow and Christian sniggered.
"I'll give you that one. Will you be back before my first appointment?"
Syed glanced at the time.
"I doubt it, you've got an early start too. Shall I meet you for lunch?"
Christian groaned and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand.
"I told Jane I'd meet her in that new Italian in the High Street. She wants to talk about Ian.. You could join us?"
"She might feel she can't talk so freely if I'm there, so best not."
"You're right. You're always right.."
Syed beamed and kissed Christian gently, murmuring;
"Yes I am and don't you forget it."
He stood up to leave and Christian grabbed onto the material of his sleeve,
"Tonight then.."
Syed looked surprised.
"I thought you were going for cocktails with Roxy?"
"Am I? Oh shit. I'll cancel. Tell her I've got a better offer."
"That would go down well. Bugger, because I thought you weren't in, I've arranged to meet Tamwar, do some late night shopping and get something to eat. He's struggling at home, they're trying to run his life."
"Hmm, I see it's his turn now. You must go."
Christian wriggled down under the duvet, trying to hide his disappointment.
Syed zipped up his jacket and made for the door, pausing by it, fiddling with the handle.
"And at least I get some news, my parents may not care about me, but I still care about them…"
Christian peered through the darkness of the morning, trying to read the expression in Syed's eyes where he stood in shadow, far away on the opposite side of the room.
"Oh my darling. If there was anything I could do, bang their heads together, do some shouting.."
"I doubt that would help.."
"I could try and fuck you straight.." Christian offered and Syed laughed delightedly.
"That could take a while."
"An eternity. I'm willing to give it my best shot though."
"You will fail, believe me."
Syed opened the door and stepped onto the landing, calling behind him.
"And we'll never find the time. Get up!"
"I am up!" Shouted Christian, adding to himself, as he listened to Syed's hurried footsteps on the stairs and the slam of the front door, "well a bit of me is…."