In Sickness and In Health
Summary: Sickness can often be the tester on which a relationship stands or falls…as Christian and Syed may well find out. Let's just hope there's no 'til death do us part' involved as well!
Author's Note: This was started before the episode that will be forever known as just, 'the hug' but since 'the hug' happened while still in progress, I have added certain elements of the episode. I'll leave it up to you astute Chryed fans to know which is which. Am a big fan of 'the forum' btw, guys. As ever though, this will be my own take. Wouldn't be much fun in following the episodes too closely, now would there!
Chapter 1
"Who's doing this, Christian? And why, just me…why am I being targeted? It's making me crazy."
Syed stormed into the Masala Queen office, both angry and panicky, with his older lover in hot pursuit.
"Who hates me enough to do this? Who's getting sick pleasure out of watching me suffer? And they are watching…they said they were…"
"Look, calm down, Sy…."
"I mean…at first, I thought it was Tambo….Ian…!"
"Yeah…you even thought it was me too! That really hurt, Sy…" And it had. Christian thought back to when the incredulous accusation had been thrown.
"Oh, you're good…I'll give you that…… That the thinking is it! Try and flush me out…get Amira to dump me…"
"Sorry, still not with ya."
"Someone sent me a text… 'Smile, bad boy'...!"
"And you think that was me!"
"Wind me up…watch me fall apart..."
"….like I could ever do that to you! And making fun of us being a couple….!" The jibe of stereo-typing them as some fluffy gay couple, dreamily walking round hand-in-hand, with puppies, adopting orphans and enlisting 'a chav' to have their babies, had cut deep. Not that there was anything wrong with any of those things; well, maybe apart from being a 'fluffy gay couple'…and the 'chav'. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to walk hand-in-hand with Syed, openly and without shame; to settle down with him and yeah, why not, have their own little family. And puppies! Puppies were cute, he liked puppies. But he knew Syed hadn't meant it like that and it hurt. "….that didn't feel good, Sy."
The fight had been a bitter and acrimonious one, with Christian so angered he was ready to walk away. "Oh, I get it, Syed. Question is…do I really need it!"
Christian was the king, or should that be 'queen', of dry comeback. And that was a big jolt to the young Masood's ego; realising he couldn't always 'play' Christian quite as easily as he 'plays' Amira. But perhaps that was the allure of Christian Clarke; the challenge…among other things!
What remained of their fragile relationship at that point had probably only been saved by Syed getting another text, while his still-smarting lover was still there…giving Christian the satisfaction of feeling totally vindicated.
"I know…and I told you I was sorry. A part of me wanted it to be you because that way…it meant no one else was involved, no one else knew…it was still just between you and me. And then you were so laid-back about the whole thing…you weren't taking this seriously…"
"…so, you put two and two together…and came up with about five hundred!"
Only Syed could manage to make an apology about self-preservation, though he did manage to look a little embarrassed.
"Look, Sy…I am taking this seriously," Christian reassured. "Okay, maybe at first, I didn't think it was referring to you…and I'm sorry. And that picture! I just didn't think there was enough incriminating evidence, to be getting upset about. I still don't. But you do, Sy…so, yeah, I'm taking it seriously. Look, I don't know who's doing this, anymore than you…or why it's just you. But my guess is…with everyone knowing I'm openly gay...they probably think you have more to lose."
Still decidedly on edge, Syed snapped back. "You don't say! So, you have realised that then!"
Christian was well used to his younger lover's barbs and well, to put it bluntly, being 'arsey' when panicked but he was still not about to take everything Syed had a mind to throw at him. "Yeah…I do know what you risk. And personally…I think some things are worth it. But look, Sy…you don't know, for sure, you'll lose your family…"
"And you don't know for sure…I won't," Syed retorted. "And now, they're demanding money!" Here, the younger man began pacing anxiously. "I can't keep paying them, Christian. What if they ask for more? I can't…I just can't….or I'm going to be in the same hole I was in….."
"What you done?" Christian interrupted, as realisation took hold. "You're not telling me you paid that three hundred!" But the look on his young lover's face was all he needed. "Sy…you idiot. I thought I told you to hold off…call their bluff."
"That's easy for you to say. What was I supposed to do?" Syed snapped back. "Wait for it all to get back to Mum…Dad! It said there was a letter!"
"Well, did you see who it was?"
"No…I left it in a phone box. They 'said', to walk away…they were watching. And when I went back to check, the money was gone."
"What! Three hundred quid…in cash…left in a phone box…in Walford. And it's gone. You do surprise me."
And it was all now starting to take its toll on the angst-ridden young man. "I thought I'd sorted it. I thought it was…all over. I don't think I can keep this up much longer, Christian."
And suddenly Christian saw his young lover for what he really was. Saw beneath all the bravado and 'arsey' behaviour, to see just one very lost and scared young man…scared of a future without the safety-net of all the things he knew and had planned for. And Syed had planned. He was one very ambitious young man, as he had so enthusiastically informed Christian that afternoon on the Unit floor – start a business, build an empire, have a beautiful wife and gorgeous kids, to be respected. It was clear Syed just didn't know how to handle the thought of any other future and it was scaring him.
Christian's heart totally melted.
"Hey…come 'ere." Still wearing his jacket, the strapping Londoner reached out, caught Syed's hand and pulled them together. "You're gonna make yourself ill, you know that…all this stress," Christian soothed, as he wrapped protective arms around his young lover and pulled him in close.
And it pleased Christian immensely that the young man willingly accepted the embrace. Didn't try to shrug out of it or pull away, like he had done before, here in the Unit, the few days before the end of Ramadan, when he had teasingly slipped his arms around his young lover's waist. But even better now, was the fact, Syed automatically responded in kind; wrapping his own arms around him.
For one long, beautiful moment, they held each other, close; heads buried in each other's shoulders, just breathing each other in, with Christian quietly rocking his worried young lover.
But for Christian especially, it was a beautiful moment; to hold this man he had fallen so hard for, in his arms, outside of the confines of his flat…and that Syed, for once, was obviously feeling so comfortable with it. Yes, they had shared a deeply passionate kiss outside, in what they had come to think of as 'dirty alley'. But it had been what it was; thrilling, exciting…dangerous and 'dirty'; their need for each other at that moment out-weighing any common sense and the alley, for the most part, having been closed off. This was more of a sweet and beautiful moment between lovers, a mutual sharing of close and intimate affection and in a way, almost felt more public, knowing that any one of their family could walk in at any time. It was just a very 'couply' thing to do.
Syed lifted his head from Christian's shoulder and gazed into those amazing green eyes. "Thank you."
"What for?"
"For coming, when I called you."
"We'll sort this, Sy…," Christian soothed and assured. "…we'll find out who's doing this. You're not in this alone, Babe. If they're doing it to you, then they're doing it to me too…and I'm not going to let that happen. We'll get that letter back, before anyone sees it. And who knows…maybe it don't even exist! Maybe it's just a bluff…scare tactics."
Being in Christian's strong arms felt good, very good; felt safe and secure…like he was protected. He so wanted to believe Christian could do just about anything. Well, he did call him 'Superman', after all! Maybe he could make all this go away and they could carry on just as normal…whatever that was!
"I hope so. But with this postal strike…! And there's another one planned for next week. Dad said the mail could get backed up for weeks."
"Well, there you go. And it could easily get lost in the process…if it even exists."
"Christian…you know I really didn't mean all those things I said last week. I was just…"
"Scared…I know. All forgotten," Christian quietly husked. How that man could make even a simple reassurance seem like pure sex, was breathtaking. His mouth then curled into a seductive smile. "I see you're still wearin it."
Raising a bared forearm, Syed looked at his wrist and smiled.
It had been the weekend, Saturday afternoon and after the harrowing week he'd had, of incriminating pictures and threatening texts, he really needed to see Christian…just to be with him. He still felt bad for having accused his older lover of being the one who sent them, not to mention all those other hurtful things he'd said. Why he continued to hurt Christian like that, he really didn't know. It always came out of him without thinking, in times of stress and panic, though that was no excuse. He had apologised, of course and they'd kissed and made-up but with also being so busy at work and Amira demanding his time, they hadn't spent any real length of time together.
Saturday afternoon, Amira was shopping, as usual and so he took the risk of going round to see his lover.
"Heard anything more?" Christian asked concerned, as soon as he entered the flat.
"No…and the letter hasn't turned up either. But then, there's this postal strike…"
Christian smiled softly. "Well, why don't we forget about all that for a while. Inside these four walls, remember…it's just you and me."
And that was why he was here; to be able to forget everything else. Here, there was no façade to keep up, no pressure to be something he wasn't. With Christian, here in this flat, he could just be himself. Something now, though was obviously amusing his East London lover. Christian had that mischievous grin plastered on his face. That 'Marty/Marc', 'you've been tryin not to be jealous all night', kind of grin; like he was bursting to tell him something but wanting to make him work for it, to banter with him. Christian could be such a big kid sometimes.
"Okay…what are you grinning at?"
"I've been shopping."
"Amira does…shopping. So, what was it then? A dress…shoes! No, couldn't be…you haven't been away long enough," he grinned in flirtatious amusement.
"Cute, Sy…real cute. No. This was special shopping. Bought you a present."
"What! You bought me a present!"
Christian continued to grin mischievously.
And then it suddenly occurred to him. With Christian's penchant for winding him up…!
"Okay…it's one of those cheap 'gold' chains off the market, isn't it?" Syed saw his older lover's face fall, instantly regretted it and desperately tried to back-peddle. "Christian, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It's a real nice thought…and I'm sure I'll like it."
The pause was almost excruciating before Christian's face broke into a huge grin. "Gotcha."
Now it was Syed's turn to shake his head at being well and truly 'got', before the pair broke into laughter.
"Gim' me some credit, will ya. Think I'd want to turn that beautiful skin on your neck green, with one of those. Besides..." And here, Christian turned even more seductively flirtatious. "…takes a certain kind of man, to pull off wearing one of those…the real thing that is!"
And Syed could only smile broadly, in agreement.
"No, here…this is what I got ya." Christian leant over the back of the sofa to retrieve the 'surprise'.
"A puppy. You got me…a stuffed toy puppy!"
"Well, seeing how you said we needed to have a puppy….."
The mischievous delight in the big Londoner's eyes, told the young man, he'd been 'had' again. "Droll, Christian…very droll."
"No…got that for Amy. I've been neglecting my godfather duties just a bit. Been distracted with other things." Christian gave his young lover that uber sex gaze he reserved just for him. "Seriously though….this is what I got ya." He watched with delight, as Syed took the small branded-name bag he handed him.
The young Masood felt a rush of anticipation at lifting out the small box inside.
"Well, open it." Christian continued to watch the younger man's reaction, with much delight. He leant forward a little more. "None of that cheap tat off the market, neither."
Syed drew in a breath and locked eyes with his lover. "You…you got this for me! Christian! I…I don't know what to say. It's…beautiful."
"After all the stress you been under, I wanted to get you something special."
"It is. I love it…thank you."
"Here, let me." Christian lifted the expensive tooled-leather, rope-twist bracelet with its chunky steel fastening and fixed it onto his lover's slender wrist. "There…suits you," he breathed huskily.
"Christian…I really don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything. Besides…we wasted too much time talking as it is. It can be way over-rated."
And right at that moment, it was! They were hungry for each other and it showed.
Perhaps it was the bracelet being a sub-conscious symbol of ownership for both that made sex that afternoon so sizzling. It started with Christian grazing fingers over the bracelet, before raising the inside of Syed's wrist to his mouth; there, to bathe the swarthy, warm skin with sensual kisses. Tracing kisses down into the young Masood's palm, Christian then, unashamedly and with quite deliberate homoerotic innuendo, kissed and sucked on Syed's long, slender fingers.
And from there, it didn't take long at all, for them to end up naked and writhing on the bed together; the sound of their energetic love-making filling the room. No, Syed didn't mind in the least, being 'owned' by Christian Clarke that afternoon!
As always though, for Christian, their time together after didn't last long enough and with a heavy heart, had to watch his younger lover hurriedly dress, after a quick shower.
"Oh…what am I going to tell Amira, about this?" Syed held up his wrist.
"I'm sure you'll think of something…," came the dry reply. Syed, though was completely oblivious, in his haste; thanking Christian again for his present, on the way out. And once the door closed! "…you always do."
And he did. Amira though, wasn't the only one who noticed. That evening, in the kitchen of the Masood household….
"What's that? Since when did you start wearing those, Syed!"
"Oh that! It's just something I picked up. Men do wear bracelets, Ma."
"Uh…I suppose that's that Christian Clarke. He's a bad influence, Syed. He'll have you wearing one of those horrible gold chains next."
He had to stifle the huge smile that was threatening to break, thinking of the certain type of man it took to carry it off. "And the vests…don't forget the vests."
She gave him her best 'look'.
"It's okay, Ma…not my style. Besides, it's far too cold now, to be wearing just a vest….," he teased, giving her a playful hug.
Christian was obviously beginning to rub off on him.
"This isn't funny, Syed."
"….no, I'll just leave the gold chains to Christian…and Dad!"
"Your father…." She took a measured breath. "…your father is nothing like Christian. He doesn't go round flaunting it…like…like one of them!
Yes, sad to say, he had to agree with Christian on one thing. Sometimes his mother could be amusing and sometimes….! He heaved a sigh.
It then seemed like Zainab had a sudden 'light-bulb' moment. "But you know…you're right, Syed."
"I am!"
"What if…what if everyone thinks your father is secretly…one of…one of them! No, he will have to stop wearing them."
"Ma! I never said that! I never even suggested it. And why anyway! Because he wears a gold chain and bracelet!"
"Yes. What if, Syed…what if it's like…some sort of, you know…code….!"
"What!"
"….so that they know…who's one of them! You know…gay!"
He shouldn't, he really shouldn't but Syed couldn't help but snort a laugh. "Ma, if I didn't know any better, I'd think maybe there was a little something extra in all those custard tarts you've been eating!"
"Don't patronize me, Syed."
"I'm sorry, Ma. But Pa wearing his gold chains…or Christian, me wearing this bracelet…it doesn't mean anything. It's not what you wear…that makes a person, gay."
He was being truthful, of course and was the closest he had come yet to actually discussing the subject with his mother and to, not only defending Christian but his own position, even if in a subtle way…and he felt a surge of exhilaration. But somehow he knew he was fighting a losing battle with her, when he got back an "I suppose you got that from Christian". So, he let the matter drop.
Syed returned from his reverie and settled his arm back around Christian's waist.
"So, what did you tell Amira…about the bracelet?"
"That I treated myself…" And there it was…again; that moment of incredible sexual awareness. "…that when I saw it…I fell in love with it. So much…that I had to have it."
He was taking a risk, he knew but perhaps now then, was the right time…despite last week's painful fiasco in referring to Syed as his 'boyfriend'.
Christian pressed a little closer. "Sy….you know I…"
Just then, the door to the Unit opened. Someone was coming…and the 'moment' was gone.
"Amira!"