31. Accidents
When Altair jumped into the next-best haystack to hide from the guards that wanted the precious apple back he had stolen, he had not expected to land ontop of another firm body. But before he could protest, a hand grabbed his collar and covered his mouth, silencing his yelp of surprise just in time. He glared at Hatim, secretly admiting to himself that the boy had guessed the situation pretty good.
And sure, it was only a moment before they both relaxed again and that hand slipped off his lips, but they exchanged a look that said it all, lips crashing so hard in a sloppy kiss that they paid no attention to the stinging hay. It was all just a mess of tossing and turning, getting the upper hand and pressing close to eachother, tangled hair and random grabs at clothing, a dynamic turn of events, exactly what Altair needed. This was anything but sweet or mushy, this was about pure control, even tough both had lost it.
One of the two robes teared with a loud rip, Altair's eyes snapped open and he scrambled to get away, hitting the back of the cart.
"Shit!" He stared with wide eyes, at Hatim who remained completely unimpressed. "Shit!"
Hatim still eyed him with that same look of unsatisfied desire, propped up on his elbows. Altair's stare fell down to the buldge between the other's legs, mouth popping open in stupefaction.
"In the name of almighty Allah, tell me that's an accident."
The eyebrow over Hatim's right eye rose mockingly. As if that would be the first accident.
Yet it was clear Altair would leave, bewildered and frantic only to pretend nothing ever happened the next week, since all of this was only an accident and accidents were so easy to burry in the back of your mind.
32. Silent fights
When you had no words to settle things and you were young and stupid, most fights ended bloody. But Altair and Hatim were not teens anymore and they shouldn't have to part like this, dirty from rolling around in the dust and bruises flourishing on their cheeks, which didn't stop them from doing so.
However, not before they sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea and Altair complimented Hatim's right hook. Then it was time to leave.
36. Drive
Lust was a youthful drive none of them could resist, and no satisfaction was found in Al-Mualim's gardens or the brothel on the city's outskirts. For a while, Altair did what everybody did and went to the gardens anyways, hoping it was just a phase, hoping the picture would dissappear every time one of the girls touched him.
The picture of Hatim surrounded by hay, eyeing him with a secret desire that warmed his gut and spread unspeakable lust. Hatim wanted him, no question, and soon enough it satisfied none of them anymore to just pretend they didn't hear eachother when they pleased themselves at night.
It was their twisted nature, their instinct that drove them together at the end. They never really had the choice.