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Claude let himself into Tala's apartment like he does every morning after he goes to work. He softly closed the door behind him, placing the keys back in his pocket and went about his business, clearing away breakfast and washing the dishes. As he went to collect any dirty glassware in the lounge room he recognized the small gray object.

It was Tala's mobile. He left it at home again. Claude sighed and rolled his eyes playfully, that man…

… … … … …

Tala was sitting back in his chair, his eyes narrowed at the piles of work in front of him. He really wished that they would disappear or burst into flames, either way he wanted them gone.

"Your glare is pretty fierce, Tala." Came a familiar voice. "But believe me you can glare at them all you want, they won't burst into flames."

Tala turned his gaze from the bundles of paper to look at the person standing in his office doorway. Kai leaned against the door frame, a small but cocky smile on his lips. He tilted his head to the side and stepped into his office, he slinked around to Tala's side of the desk and sat, perched on the edge.

"So?" Kai said. "What has gotten into you today?"

Tala rested his elbow on the arm of his chair, resting his chin in his hand. "You know Kane?"

"The fling?" Tala snapped his head towards Kai and glared. "Sorry, I mean your Boyfriend?."

"He's not my boyfriend anymore." Tala muttered, as he placed his chin back in his hand.

"Let me guess, he broke up with you but you only just realized that because you received nothing but the silent treatment from the said person." Kai said as he flicked a piece of hair from his vision. "Just like you other old flings, I mean boyfriends."

Tala snarled but nodded. "But this time I know why he dumped me."

"Why?"

"He thinks I have a sweet, loyal boyfriend who could do so much better." Tala said, trying to mimic Kane's words.

"Really?" Kai blinked. "Well, who is he? I'd like to meet him."

Tala turned his gaze to Kai and looked annoyed. "Claude." He muttered.

Kai blinked again, the words slowly seeping in. He sat quiet for a bit. "I see." He muttered. "So Claude has been telling all your boyfriends that he was really your lover and that you were cheating on him but since he's such a nice guy he couldn't bear leave you, is that it?"

"Yes." Tala ground out.

"… He's a genius!" Kai exclaimed the chuckled. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Dammit!" Tala said as he jumped to his feet to pound his fist on the table. "You could at least pretend to be angry with him as well, after all you are my best friend!"

"I'm sorry, Tala." Kai smothered a chuckle. "It's just that Claude reminds me of me and what I had to go through to get Miguel's attention."

Tala sighed and sunk back down in his chair. "What did you have to go through to get Miguel?"

Kai hopped off the desk and walked towards the door, his hips swaying seductively as he did so. "It's a secret." He turned back around and winked at Tala. "Lets just say all those night I snuck away, I wasn't out training."

Tala sat in silence, random dirty thoughts making their presence known, coming up with several different scenarios, a few including stripping and belly dancing. He shook his head to clear it. He turned his attention to Kai again who was now standing in front of his desk, he was leaning over so his elbows rested on the table, his chin resting in his hands, looking at Tala with knowing eyes.

"Hmm, you have an active imagination, don't you?" He stood up and winked again. "Before you go all mental and get mad, maybe you should make sure it is Claude who is turning your boyfriends away from you." He turned and walked towards the door, his hips swaying seductively again. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "But before you confront him though, you might want to take care of that." and he pointed to his nose.

Tala blinked and lifted his hand to his nose, feeling a warm liquid. He scowled himself as he hastily wiped away the blood, feeling indignant when Kai chuckled and left his office.

As Tala sat there cleaning the blood from his nose he let Kai's final words play over in his mind. How can he be sure that it is Claude? His mobile. He always gave his boyfriends his mobile number, the same mobile Claude would come out of his way to return, making him look innocent and perfect.

It's also going to be his downfall.

… … … … …

Claude quickly dried his hands on the tea towel that rested on his shoulder as he reached for Tala's mobile phone. He picked it up but didn't recognize the number. Tala doesn't waste any time getting another boyfriend, does he?

"Hello?" He asked his voice as polite as ever.

"Hello? Who is this?" Came a voice he didn't recognize. He sighed and sat down in a nearby chair, ready to turn this man away like he had done with the others.

"Are you looking for Tala?"

… … … … …

Tala's grip on his steering wheel was so tight that his knuckles turned white. His eyes were equally hard and sharp. So, Claude was the culprit after all. Sweet little, innocent Claude. Who knew he could be so sneaky.

He had asked a colleague at work to ring his mobile and pretend to be his new boyfriend. His workmate agreed to play along with his plan and played his part perfectly while he listened in on the other line. He has to admit, Claude was good. He never mentioned that he was Tala's boyfriend or lover just that he loved him and forgives him every time he strays.

He flipped off a nearby motorist as they beeped their horn at him. He was too angry to deal with the likes of them. He screeched to a stop out the front of his apartment complex, turned of the engine of his car, jumped out and slammed the door shut behind him. He stormed inside and into the lifts, pushing anyone who was in his way.

As he reached his apartment he wrenched the door open and stormed inside, knowing that Claude would most likely still be there. "Claude!" He snarled.

Claude came out of the lounge room, with a pillow in his hands, startled as to why Tala was home early and why he was so mad.

"Tala?"

Tala quickly closed the gap between him and Claude, ripped the pillow out from his hands and grabbed him roughly on the shoulder. "I know what you've been doing Claude." He snarled, his eyes dark with anger. "You know Kane? No? Well he knows you."

Claude's eyes widen as Tala jerked him closer, his breath caught in his throat, a knot of intense fear settled itself in his stomach.

Tala snarled again and suddenly pushed Claude up against the wall behind him. "Who do you think you are?" He asked, as he tightened his grip on Claude's shoulder. He watched as if in a trance as tears began to well up in his ivory eyes, looking fearful and timid, like a gentle deer in oncoming headlights.

Beautiful.

"I'll tell you who you are." His voice sounded different, it sounded low and husky. "You're mine." He sneered. He pulled Claude up against him, his mouth coming down to claim his in a fierce, brutal kiss.

He felt Claude shudder in his arms, but he doesn't care. He was too busy ravishing his lips to think about Claude. He suddenly heard Claude give a sob as he tried to pull himself out of his arms. Startled, Tala loosen his grip enough to let Claude pull himself out of his arms and back away in fear. He had tears in his eyes as his hands clutched at his chest.

"What's the matter?" Tala found himself asking harsher then he had intended. "I thought you wanted this?"

End of another chappy. I feel so sorry for Claude in this, don't you?

Claude:…

Aw, so cute (hugs)

Next chapter: Claude finds comfort in his friends.

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