Hey guys :)
Chapter 4 is here!
I've tried to keep it as in character as possible, you know, Christian being an arse in this fic, ect. but it was hard not to throw some cuteness in, so sorry if i've rushed into a bit of cuteness but i'm a hopeless chryed-romantic o.O
I hope it's okay for you all, and WFCTGIO this is for you guys, i love you all and miss you all, seeing as i haven't been on the thread in ages it seems :(
No copyright infringement intended, all characters belong to BBC unfortunately -_-
Syed grabbed the nearest pillow in front of him and placed it over his head with just enough pressure to block the noise out slightly, but not so much that he was literally suffocating himself. He just about stifled the yell that would've no doubt woken up half of his family, and instead muffled the words 'what do you want?' into his pillow. He obviously wasn't loud enough, as Christian continued to moan Syed's name, desperately trying to get his attention without being too noisy. Removing the pillow from his face, Syed limply propped himself up onto his elbows, prior to glancing at the clock through half-asleep eyes. He had to reach out and switch on the bedside lamp in order to see the numbers, and he eventually realised what the time read, much to his annoyance.
''Christian, it is 3 in the morning, what the fuck do you want?'' Syed hissed through gritted teeth, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
''I'm cold!'' Christian complained, sitting up so Syed was visible to him and sticking out his bottom lip in mock tantrum.
Syed stared blankly at his boss, awaiting another comment that explained why he'd really been whining on for his attention for 10 minutes straight. After staring for a good 30 seconds in pure silence, Syed came to the realisation that his boss was actually being literal, and he really was complaining because he was freezing.
''You're telling me you woke me up at 3 in the morning to inform me that you're cold?''
''Yep.'' Christian responded, as if it was completely normal and decent behaviour.
Syed folded his lips inward, preventing the scream that he could've easily produced at that moment from coming out. He closed his eyes and lay back down, shaking his head at his boss as he did so. Because of his tiredness, Syed pretty much forgot that Christian was awaiting a solution to his issue, and so he rolled onto his front obliviously and began to drift off back to sleep. However, just as he was about to drift back off into his once peaceful slumber, that same familiar voice interrupted his comfortable silence for the second time in 2 minutes.
''Syed? Are you even listening to me? I am freezing, there is no way I can sleep in these temperatures, no way at all!''
''Christian, we're in Turkey, how the hell are you freezing?'' Syed was now sat bolt upright after coming to the conclusion that he wasn't going to get any sleep until Christian was asleep himself.
''Well I was wondering the same thing, actually! I feel like I'm sleeping in a bloody fridge!''
''Well, turn the air con off!''
''The what?''
''The air con…little machine that cools rooms down, you know?''
''I know what an air-con is, smart arse.'' Christian snapped, rising from the floor. ''Where is it?''
''Where's what?''
''The air con! Where's the air con?''
Syed pointed his finger in the direction of the white box in the corner of the magnolia painted room that controlled the air conditioning. He waited until Christian had finished messing on and was back in his bed before pulling the duvet up over himself and switching off the lamp in hope that he would be able to drift off to sleep at an easier rate than before. A few hours ago when he was trying to sleep, his mind had been clogged up with thoughts on his previous encounter with his boss, and it seemed that his next attempt of sleep was going to be the same, as the thoughts homed in on him once more.
How is it even possible to fall for someone in less than a day? Or maybe I've liked him all this time…oh god, I don't even know.
Syed turned over in distress, trying to rid himself of the thoughts. He ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled a sigh, frustrated with the fact that Christian was unknowingly messing up his sleeping pattern. He returned to his usual sleeping position of lying on his front, his cheek pressing down onto the softness of the pillow. Shutting his eye-lids once more, Syed began to mumble softly into the bed.
''1…2…3'' he murmured, attempting to count sheep to improve his chances of getting some sleep. ''4…5 sheep…6….7 sheep…''
The process began to work, as Syed's vision became hazy and he felt himself drifting into a slumber of peaceful unconsciousness…
''Sy? Syed, are you awake? Please say you're awake, because I still am, and it sucks!''
Lifting his head up off the pillow, Syed's eyes darted around the room, trying to locate where the whine was coming from. After registering where he was and who it was, he sat up reluctantly and rubbed his eyes, clearly annoyed. He scrambled onto his knees and crawled forward, before laying himself down on the edge of the bed so he was able to glance down at Christian.
''What is it now? I swear, you need more assistance than Shabs' baby will need when it's born, I was just starting to drift off to sleep there, but silly me to think I actually could fall asleep with you here!''
''Someone's a bit cranky, jeez.''
''Well, I've been woken up twice now by you, even though you should have the common decency to leave me alone considering you humiliated me in front of my family and made me snog your face off in front of my mother. It's just after three in the morning, I'm tired and you are a severe harassment, so excuse me if I'm not all flowers and sunshine.'' Syed retorted, not stopping for breath.
''Well I'm sorry for being such a pain in the backside, but unless you haven't noticed, it's still minus temperatures in here!''
''Oh, Stop being stupid.'' Syed spat.
''I'm not being stupid, I can't sleep in these temperatures, Sy, I'm not a fucking penguin!''
''Christian, the air con has been switched off for about four minutes, will you give the room a chance to heat back up before you start whining on?''
''Well exactly how long is it going to take to warm up! I can't lie awake forever, can I? What's the point?'' Christian folded his arms across his chest, portraying the mannerisms of a young child in a strop.
''Well you'll have to cope, won't you? Okay? Goodnight.''
''But, Syed I…''
''Goodnight, Christian!''
Syed immediately spoke as soon as he heard Christian begin to; he just wanted to go to sleep.
Clambering back to the top of the bed, he awaited a comment from Christian, which never arrived. The renewed silence of the room surrounded him, and he suddenly felt a pang of guilt in his gut for the way he'd spoke to Christian. After reminding himself that this was the way Christian spoke to him most days, Syed shook off the guilt that was once there, and closed his eyes. Just as he was about to make his third attempt at sleeping though, Christian began to speak in the most dramatic way that it would be impossible to ignore him.
''Well, I suppose I'll just have to lie here in the cold. I mean, who cares if I get pneumonia? Not Syed. It's alright for you, all snuggled up in your big, warm bed. You've got that thick duvet covering you up, the softness of the pillows cushioning your every move. And, what do I have? A bed consisting of three things – a floor, a scatter cushion, and the thinnest blanket I have ever set eyes on in my entirety of being alive. I may as well have a sheet of paper covering me, I'm serious. If only I was in that bed…it looks so cosy. And I am the guest of course, so it would only be right. But, nevertheless, I am going to be a gentlemen and let you, Syed Masood, have the bed, because that is who I am. 100% gentlemen, nothing artificial about me at all. So, you enjoy your sleep, Syed, it's fine. I'll just suffer down here…''
Christian let out an exaggerated sigh as he ended his guilt-trip ramble to the other man. Syed's lips, no matter how reluctant, spread into the perfect smile, and he let out a suppressed laugh. The restrain of the giggle soon vanished, and he had to pull the duvet over his head in order to hush the noise that he was involuntarily making. Christian remained silent for a short while, but it soon occurred to him that he found his assistant's laugh far too contagious to ignore, and eventually, he let out his own pent up laughter.
''You're such an idiot!'' Syed giggled, throwing a pillow across the bed, his aim being for it to land on Christian.
''Yes, a cold, shivering idiot,'' Christian remarked, trying to rid himself of the laughter and put on his best sympathy-seeking voice, to no avail. Syed released the duvet from over his head and bit his bottom lip, supressing a further outbreak of giggles.
''Christian Clarke, do you wish to sleep in this bed?'' Syed said, still grinning.
''I thought you'd never ask!'' Christian said playfully, rolling out from under his blanket and making his way over to the larger bed Syed was in. As he did so, Syed lifted the duvet from over his body and began to clamber out of the king-sized bed that Christian was due to enter.
''Where are you going?''
''What? You don't seriously think we're sleeping in the same bed, do you?'' Syed looked at Christian quizzically.
''That's the whole point, I need a snuggle partner…It's too cold to be sleeping lonely.''
''Christian, I am not sleeping with you.'' Syed declared, debating whether his boss was joking or not.
''Oh come on, look, we don't even have to snuggle, you can sleep on one side, I'll sleep on the other…that way you can keep your distance and there'll still be that extra body heat to keep me warm. Please?''
Syed couldn't help but feel a stir in his groin as the image of being in a king-sized bed with Christian crept up into his thoughts. He had to shake the image away quickly, knowing that soon enough his erection that was beginning to occur would become visibly obvious to his boss. He sped to the end of the bed, trying to make his pleasurable discomfort as subtle as possible, before crouching down, sorting out the blankets for him to get underneath.
''Oh come on Syed. Unless you want me to continue complaining about my coldness...do you?''
Syed felt Christian's presence edging closer to him.
''Quit playing around, Christian, me and you both know that we are just ordinary people holding boss and assistant titles. To everyone else we may be getting married, but this is just a deal, and that is as far as it goes.''
The words just tumbled out of Syed's mouth in reaction to Christian. He wasn't quite sure what he was saying, or why he was saying it. Sleeping in the same bed as Christian didn't sound bad at all to him. It sounded lovely in fact, something he would enjoy to the extremity, but he knew he shouldn't enjoy it and he knew that Christian was a prat. A prat who was messing with his head…or was he?
''But I'm all alone, there's no one here beside me…my problems, they are gone, there is no one to deride me…'' Christian began to belt out the classic in mockery of the scene with Donkey out of the first Shrek film, ignoring his assistant's words. Syed tried, no matter how hard, to prevent his laughter from slipping out, and as he continued to fumble with the blanket some more, Christian's muscular arms emerged from behind and wrapped themselves around Syed's waist, lifting him up as he continued to sing, but a different song this time.
''And If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world? The bed is so cold, I need someone to hold, be a nice person and snuggle with me…'' Christian began to sing his own rendition of Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars' as he carried a restless Syed to the bed. Syed's rapturous laughter now echoed around the room, everything he'd just said forgotten within seconds.
''Christian, stop! No, stop please, Christian, put me down, please! We'll wake mum up, stop! Aagghhhh!'' he shrieked in pleasure, giggling away.
''Your wish is my command.''
Christian threw Syed gently, but playfully onto the bed and grinned widely at the sight before him. The butterflies in Syed's stomach had become so much that he could've exploded; it was an amazing feeling. He couldn't believe how unbelievably fabulous Christian was at being a boyfriend. Even if it was all an act, even if he did this just to mess with him, Syed didn't care. Well he did, but at this moment in time, this perfect moment, all he was bothered about was the two of them.
''Fancy a cuppa?'' Christian interrupted Syed's thoughts, resting his hands on the bed to hold his weight as he awaited an answer.
Syed nodded hesitantly, his mind working on overdrive to figure out whether it really was the best idea to be drinking tea at such early hours in the morning. He glanced over at his boss, who had already started boiling the kettle that was perched on the bedside table, set out neatly by his mum. Syed decided there and then to nod with more certainty so he would be made a cup of tea, before realising that a silence awaiting conversation was lingering in the air.
Syed felt his eyes involuntarily dart around the room, searching for inspiration for what to say next. He noticed Christian's blazer draped over the cushy chair in the corner of the room, and decided to opt for a conversation starter that related to work…or in this case, Syed's lack of work.
''This is unusual, isn't it?''
''What is?'' Christian moved swiftly but carefully towards the bed, handing Syed his cup of tea once he'd arrived, before perching himself on the end of it.
''You know, you making the tea and me awaiting it. It's usually the other way round at work…it's usually coffee at work actually, but that's beside the point.''
Shooting Syed a disapproving, yet agreeing look, Christian swung his legs round so he was fully outstretched on the bed.
''Yeah well, there was only tea bags so we had no option really.''
Syed smiled, shrugging his shoulders in a way that said 'yeah, I suppose your right', just without the words. He looked across at his boss, who was sprawled out on the bed, his tanned torso shining slightly from the reflection of the bedside lamp that lit the room dimly. His firm hands were cupped around his mug, rising upwards for him to take a sip every so often. Syed noticed the way Christian was drinking from the mug, and he liked it. A lot. His tender-looking lips would wrap around the edge, his head tipping back slightly to encourage the tea to pour into his mouth. Syed analysed with great concentration as he saw Christian's tongue dip into the steaming mug of tea every so often in order to get the full effect of the taste, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was this interesting when drinking something. He'd honestly never been so attentive and turned on by someone taking a sip out of a mug…it was almost enchanting.
After inhaling a deep breath, Syed realised that he'd been staring at Christian for what seemed like forever, and he thought it'd be best to begin talking again, before his boss received the impression that he was some sort of creep. Because of his small daydream, Syed hadn't quite thought through what he was going to say, and so a question slipped out that would've probably been best if avoided.
''What's your usual type, Christian?''
Christian's focus switched from the tea in his mug to Syed, who was blushing slightly at the question he had just stupidly asked.
"My usual type? Hmm…that's a tough one.'' Christian gulped a large amount of his tea, before continuing with his response. ''I don't usually have a type…maybe slick, brown hair, green eyes, tall, quite muscular…''
''You do realise you're just describing yourself?''
''I know.''
Syed's eyes rolled at the other man's self-obsessed comment, encouraging Christian to smirk, sniggering slightly as he did so.
''I'm just kidding, Sy. I do have feelings you know…it may not seem like it but I do actually fall in love with people other than myself, charming as I am.''
''Yeah, I wouldn't say charming exactly, but…''
''Well I can be, you know, if I really want to be.''
''And when exactly does this charming side of yours kick in?'' Syed smirked, waiting for some sort of answer from Christian, who was looking seemingly serious.
''When the right person comes along and kicks it in for me…literally.''
Both men shared a small amount of laughter, before drinking their tea simultaneously, both waiting for the other to speak. Syed got their first, shuffling slightly further up the bed so he was comfortable again, before questioning if Christian had ever been in love before. It seemed only natural to ask such a personal question at such an early time, Syed thought.
''Maybe I have…that's for me to know and you to find out.''
''Oh come on Christian, I don't like guessing games. Just tell me, please?'' Syed's voice showed his sheer agitation at Christian's comment that gave the littlest of information away.
''Well what if I don't want to tell you?''
''And why wouldn't you want to tell me?''
''Well, why do you want to know, hm?'' Christian raised his eyebrows. ''Are you just nosey, you know, a bit of a gossip? Or are you genuinely interested in what I've got up to in the past? Because you never cared before…what's so different now?''
Syed shuffled around, feeling like he was being put on the spot. He honestly didn't have a clue how to respond to Christian's interrogation, and Christian was sat, not even a meter away from him, awaiting an answer.
''I, erm, I'm just, you know, curious,'' were the only words he found within his vocabulary to form.
''Curious, yeah?''
''Yeah.''
''Well what if I'm curious to know about you and your past? We've spent the last three years of knowing each other talking about me, and I want to know about you for once. So come on, I'd like to know where you were born, what are your hobbies? You know, and why you think so little of me?''
Syed's attention span expanded greatly as he heard the last line of Christian's sentence. He stared into Christian's eyes, and what he saw was exactly the same feelings that he'd noticed those few hours ago; no joking was taking place here. Christian seriously wanted to know, and stripping back the mask of coldness and arrogance, Syed actually made out a man who looked almost hurt at the thought of Syed not thinking much of him. Syed very nearly laughed at the irony of it. Thought little of him? Thought little of him? Christian really didn't have a clue, did he?
''Christian, I do not think little of you.'' Syed began.
''Really? Cause' it seems that way.''
''I promise you I don't…quite the opposite, actually.''
Christian laughed at the revelation, placing his tea on the bed his tea as he did so.
''What, you think highly of me? Yeah right.''
''Well what would you say if I did think highly of you?''
''I'd say you were lying.''
''Well I'm not.''
Christian froze for a few seconds, prior to swivelling his neck round so he could see his assistant. Syed looked on as Christian opened his mouth as though he was about to say something. However, he must've had second thoughts as he just shook his head and began fiddling awkwardly with the sheets. Syed sensed the tense atmosphere that was lingering around them; you could've cut it with a pair of scissors. He glanced around the room in hope of inspiration for conversation yet again, but this time, he got nothing. His eyes motioned over to Christian, then down to his hands that were spinning the fabric around his fingers nimbly. Taking a deep breath, he came up with something to say that would hopefully lighten the mood that had come over them from nowhere.
''Christian Clarke left speechless? I never thought I'd see the day.''
Christian's mouth edged into a half-smile as he listened to his assistant, before leaning back onto the header of the bed which he'd leant away from in the silence that had befriended them a few seconds ago.
''Well it was gonna happen someday…it just had to be you who left me speechless, didn't it? There, you've got one over on me now. ''
''My mother will be so proud.'' Syed replied, mocking seriousness.
''Yeah, until she realises you're not sitting straight…be a man, pappu, what is wrong with you?'' Christian put on his 'strict' face and began speaking in a parody of Syed's mother's voice and what she'd said earlier, much to Syed's amusement. The two of them sat giggling together, Syed shaking his head at how right Christian was.
''That was good that!''
''Yeah?'' Christian laughed.
''Yeah.''
As the tail end of the laughter faded, both men sat for just a moment, staring at each other, the silence swimming around their semi-naked bodies. Syed began to bite his smiling bottom lip, resisting the urge to just pounce on Christian and devour him in one go. Left. Right. Left. Right. He began analysing the other man's eyes as he had done a few hours ago, only his eyes hadn't been as tired then. He still couldn't read a thing; Christian was good at hiding how he felt.
However, if there was one thing he could see, it was how Christian was doing the same thing to Syed's eyes…left. Right. Left. Right.
'Should I just come out with it and say how I feel? No. Too early, it might frighten Christian off…but I'm in a business deal with him, so he couldn't be frightened off if he tried! Wait…no, I don't want to tell him, I'm not even sure of your own feelings yet…or am I? Of course I am, he's driving my heart mental…but it could just be lust, couldn't it? No I care about him, I literally care about him. He said he'd be the best lover ever and I have been hoping ever since that he meant both physically and emotionally, so I must feel something! Oh, why did I ever agree to this, what's the point! He knew I was going to fall for him, I bet he did, and he just…'
''You've got beautiful eyes, Syed Masood, did you know that?''
Oh My God.
Syed's stomach did a somersault as his fake fiancé came out with the random declaration, interrupting the commentary that was hammering on inside his head. He turned his eyes to the bedding, not quite sure how or when to respond, in case his words came out as hopeless jumble, which was likely to happen considering the whole of his insides had turned to mush at what Christian had just said.
His heart was thumping faster and faster at every breath he heard his boss take, and his mouth was dry. Was he waiting for an answer? Was he expecting a compliment back? Did he even mean what he just said? Syed couldn't stop the questions coming over him with every heartbeat.
''Christian, I…''
''No, sorry, I just…I mean…we should probably get some sleep, you know what your mum's like, she'll probably wake us up dead early in the morning, won't she?'' Christian broke the silence.
The only strength Syed could find within him was to give a weak and uncertain nod, not making any eye contact with Christian. He knew he couldn't just leave the poor guy hanging, so he smiled weakly at him, before shuffling under the covers. Both men said their goodnights, and that was it. They just lay there in the night's silence, Christian facing the opposite way, not even a meter between them.
As Syed turned out the lights, he couldn't help but wonder what had just happened.
'You've got beautiful eyes…You've got beautiful eyes…'
Those four simple words echoed throughout Syed's brain, so clearly that he was sure Christian could hear his thoughts from the outside. Did he mean it? He looked like he meant it. For that brief moment Syed was staring into his eyes, just before pulling away, he could see the look on Christian's face and it didn't look amused at what he was saying…it came across as serious. Meaningful. Just beautiful.
Oh, what is this mess, Syed, sort yourself out, he doesn't like you…but he wouldn't say that if he didn't. What with the lover comment before, then the picking you up and serenading you, and now this? He likes you…or at least has a soft spot for you, surely?
As the voices began to creep up in Syed's head again, he was left with the knowledge that his chances of a good night's sleep had well and truly vanished, all because of him. Because of Christian. And Syed could no longer deny that he was falling for him far quicker than planned to…
Hope that was alright, reviews would be appreciated if you like :)