Woop woop! Another update ^^

Special thanks to Evil . lil . Angel, BADAZZtoldya and Tristana (thanks for the marshmallows) for leaving me fabulous reviews!

Honestly, it means so much to me that you are following my story :)

Thanks to my favvers and alerters too :)

This one is the second last chapter.

oOoOoOoOo

7.

As Malik started running the bath for the still sleepy Altair, he kept stealing glances at the man sitting on the bathroom floor.

The blankets were still pulled round his skinny body, no doubt he didn't want Malik to see how ill looking he had become.

Despite the old smell of sweat coming from the younger male, Malik scrunched his nose at the still prominent smell of stale smoke.

"Altair?"

Said man simply inclined his head a little.

"No more smoking."

Altair looked slightly offended.

"Do not look at me like that fool. You smell like the bottom end of an ashtray."

"I've….not…." "Pull the other one Altair….what was it? Normal or joints?"

Altair seemed squeamish.

"Ummm…..both I suppose."

"Not under my roof! No more smoking. I refuse to….never mind." Malik stuttered as he stopped the bath water before it overflowed.

"You refuse to what Malik?"

"Nothing! Get in there!" Malik commanded, his voice finalising their conversation.

Altair was never one for letting a subject drop though.

"What? You refuse to what?"

Malik seemed to fizz slightly as he stood, hand still pointing to the steaming hot water. His whole body tensed as he sighed deeply and snarled his answer.

"I refuse to kiss a smoker!"

Altair said nothing as he got to his feet, letting the blankets and his boxers drop to the floor. His silence as he climbed into the bath and quickly dunked his whole body under the water pissed Malik off further.

Crouching down at the side of the bath, he waited until Altair resurfaced, running his hands through his hair to shake off excess water.

"Think we can ever get back to where we were Mal? I mean….look at the fucking mess of us. I have no job….I still want…." "I know you still want them and yes, I know you have no job but, as I said, one day at a time. Now, shut up and let me get this birds nest washed."

Altair sighed deeply as Malik ran soapy hands through his hair, loving the feeling of those long, talented fingers easing out tangles and gently massaging his scalp. He couldn't help the soft sighs that escaped his lips.

Malik smiled slightly as Altair leaned into his touches, pushing the slight feeling of arousal far from his mind. He was tending to Altair, not feeling him up.

"Dunk." Malik commanded.

He lept back slightly as Altair splashed his way under the water to rinse the shampoo off his hair. That was strange….Altair usually hated baths as he was terrified of drowning. Perhaps he was just too relieved to be home?

Lathering up a large cloth, Malik leaned further over and instructed that Altair lend him his arms. That command led to a long drawn out hesitation from the now soggy Altair. Finally, he presented his left arm.

Malik tried to keep the gasp at bay. To not let Altair see his shock. Bruises, cuts, scrapes, broken skin through injecting. His throat clenched, his eyes burned.

"Malik? Don't….I did this to myself."

Malik shook his head and continued running the cloth over and under Altair's arms, quickly moving onto his chest and down his stomach, trying to ignore the ribs sticking out on his sides, the bumps of his spine, how his stomach was almost bi-concave.

His eyes blurred as he dropped the cloth into the water and abruptly stood up.

"You can finish the rest right?"

Altair said nothing but pick the cloth up, ring it out slightly and squeeze more shower gel onto it and finished with his torso, quickly moving to other areas.

Malik turned his back to Altair and stepped out the bathroom, rubbing the thumb and index finger of his right hand roughly onto his forehead. He wanted to scream, cry, yell, throw something but, he was supposed to be looking after Altair, not the other way around.

He heard the plug being pulled and Altair slipping on the wet tiles as he climbed out the bath then cursing as he steadied himself.

"Fool." Malik smiled through tears to himself.

Moving to sit on the couch, Malik's stomach churned slightly. The trip to get Altair's blood taken was the next day and he had yet to tell him.

Shuffling shook him from his thoughts just as the couch cushions sank slightly beside him.

Altair had blanketed himself from head to toe in crisp white towels, one round his waist, another wrapped round his shoulders and another draped over his head. Malik couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him at the sight.

"What are you? A tiny child?"

"They're warm jackass." Altair huffed as he pulled the towel tighter around his shoulders and torso.

True enough, they had been stored in the water tank cupboard so would indeed be really warm.

"I even brushed my teeth. See?" Altair mocked as he flashed his still perfectly white teeth.

"Now who's a jackass." Malik laughed as he lightly punched Altair on the shoulder before pulling the towel from Altair's head and hitting him in the face with it.

Both Altair and Malik stared at each other for what seemed like forever before Malik leaned in slightly.

Altair seemed to back away just a fraction before his arm flew from the confines of the warm bath towels, it's four fingered hand tangling in the soft raven black hair on the back of Malik's head as he crushed their lips together.

Altair forgot about the rumbling of his stomach and the headache he was sporting as he felt Malik's tongue enter his mouth. His right hand joined the left on the back of Malik's head, pulling him in tighter, forcing their mouths wider apart as they kissed desperately.

Malik's hands found purchase round Altair's back as he tilted his head further to the side to allow a better angle. He ran his tongue along Altair's bottom lip, almost revelling in the feeling of the fresh skin covering the age old scar that was already there.

They had not kissed like this since they first got together as their teeth clacked together and their tongues fought viciously for dominance.

A low groan escaped Malik's throat as Altair bit down on his bottom lip lightly as they parted for air. He then proceeded to bump their noses together and delve in for another kiss, not caring if Malik had even taken in another breath of air.

Now he was aroused, now he allowed the thoughts he had pushed aside earlier to enter his brain and all of a sudden, his jeans felt too tight. His hands moved of their own accord as Altair plundered his mouth with that talented tongue. Raking his fingernails down Altair's back, red trails being left behind before edging below the towel round his waist and settling on his backside.

"Malik…." Altair whispered into the kiss as he pushed against the darker skinned male.

Despite being so skinny, Altair was apparently still strong, for before Malik knew what was happening, he was flat on his back on the couch, legs parted with Altair pressed tightly up against him, their lips still locked furiously together.

Despite his rational mind pushing to the forefront of his thoughts, his hips still pushed up against Altair's, not registering that he couldn't feel the other's erection against his own.

Hands sliding down his chest to stop at the waist line of his jeans finally snapped him from his lust filled stupor.

"Altair no….we can't." He managed to whisper out amidst the kisses.

A deep rumbling growl was all he received as deft fingers started unzipping his jeans.

"No." He hissed out sternly, manoeuvering his leg so his knee rested against Altair's stomach as he began easing him off.

It was then he noticed, Altair was in no way aroused. Sure his cheeks were tinted pink and his chest flushed slightly but….nothing….

Shuffling away from Altair, Malik looked at him pointedly.

"Care to explain?"

"I….well….another side effect of what I have been taking I guess. Sure I can feel aroused….especially right now but well….nothing happens."

"Right." Malik whispered before he changed the subject from Altair's apparent lack of physical arousal.

"We cannot anyway. I will not….no, that does not sound right. I cannot have sex with you until I know."

"Know? Oh, that I am clean right? Fucking hell Malik! Do you think I was squatting in the streets taking stuff off of total strangers? No!" Altair shouted, even though he knew full well he needed his blood taken anyway.

"I don't care Altair. You have a problem and I will do my fucking best to ensure you get the correct help. I….I still fucking love you." Malik's voice finally cracked as one hand flew to the tie still around his neck, the other, his left being placed atop of Altair's chest, right above his frantically beating heart.

Altair mimicked the motion by placing his right hand on Malik's chest.

"I know." Was all he muttered before he got to his feet, righted the towel around his waist and headed into the guest bedroom.

Malik sat slightly taken aback. Altair had not reciprocated his feelings….how could he? It was Malik afterall who had broken the relationship to begin with. Perhaps with time, he will get an 'I love you too' in return.

More shuffling from Altair followed the couple of minutes of silence as he, along with an armful of clean clothes headed back into the bathroom.

Malik decided to get up and make some simple scrambled eggs and toast for the other male. Nothing too heavy right away.

About twenty minutes later, Malik heard the sound of Altair creeping at the kitchen door before hands gently touched his sides.

"Smells good."

"You will eat every last bite. You're too damn skinny."

Altair backed away slightly. Sure, the food smelled good but….his stomach didn't feel like it could handle anything.

"Sit." Came another stern command.

Altair sat at the small table in the kitchen, nervously twisting the pulling at the hem of his white t-shirt. He did not want to be sick again. No way.

"Uh Malik? I…." "Quiet! Now, eat." Malik cut him off, putting the plate with fluffy egg and two bits of toast on it along with a glass of cold water.

Weeks of very little food and water coupled with too much drink and drugs had taken it's toll on Altair's body. His stomach revolted at the sight of the food.

"Do I have to force feed you?"

Altair violently shook his head as he tried the first forkful. Letting it go down, settling slightly with no throwing up afterwards, Altair began digging into the food like it was the first he had tasted in years.

Malik cleaned up the dishes he used for cooking as Altair wolfed down the food he had made, sounds of approval escaping his lips in between bites.

"That was awesome." Altair finally breathed out as he leaned back against the chair, patting his now full belly.

Malik sat down across from Altair and stared pointedly at him.

"There's something we need to do tomorrow Altair."

"I know I know. Trip to the clinic right? You think I didn't do that before we got together?" Altair huffed out, crossing his arms over his chest.

Malik sighed as he reached across the table and wrestled Altair's hands free from where he had tucked them right under his arms.

Holding the larger, paler hands tightly, Malik lightly kissed each knuckle, feeling the scars and uneven, broken skin under his lips.

Both sat quietly until the familiar roaring of Girl thundered into the driveway.

Altair's whole face brightened at the realisation that his baby was back.

Leaping up from the table, forgetting about his tired body, Altair pressed his face up against the living room window as he peered out at his sleek black Motorbike sporting….a scratch?

Desmond was barely able to enter the house before Altair was upon him.

"What the fuck have you done to Girl? She's scratched!"

"Calm down Altair! It was some asshole at my work trying to get into a narrow space….scratched her slightly!"

"Slightly? She could have died! Why the fuck did you take her to work?" Altair lamented as he paced in rapid circles round the living room. Either that or he punch Desmond in the face.

Desmond glanced at the smirking Malik, leaning casually against the kitchen doorframe.

The next hour was spent with Desmond grovelling and begging forgiveness for 'trashing' the bike as Altair had put it. Finally, when Altair had went to lie down, both he and Malik had discussed the upcoming appointment at the clinic and the opportunity to give Altair a job.

"What? You want him to work with you?"

"Yes….we are short one bar staff. I'm sure Altair can mix drinks and….well….I know he can dance Malik. I was thinking that this job could be good for him and, well, it's just a five minute walk from your work."

"So both of us can keep an eye on him huh?"

"Malik, Altair has a problem. He's had it for years and I think he partly fell back into it because he was bored. Not with you but with the job he was doing. He had no way of burning off all his excess energies….apart from the obvious." Desmond finally smirked.

"If you think that's best."

"I do and I know he will. I know that Rosa and a couple of her friends go to the bar quite often….so he will see those he has cut out of his life recently. I would like him to start next week."

Malik nodded slightly and glanced at the clock. It was well after midnight.

Desmond handed him back Altair's house keys and the keys to the damaged Girl before heading out into the chilly night.

Malik slowly went about his usual routine of making sure everything was switched off in the house, his mind teaming.

What if Altair tested positive? What if this job didn't work out? Why didn't he know that Altair could dance?

As he stripped off in the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face and brushed his teeth, he tried to push those thoughts out of his head. He needed sleep and it would do no good to be thinking about things out with his control.

Malik stopped dead as he took his first step into the bedroom.

Altair was curled up, cocooned in the blankets, on Malik's side of the bed no less.

Stomping over to the bed, Malik man handled Altair onto the other side and wrestled with him to get a fraction of blankets to cover his modestly.

The two lay, both awake but the other not knowing for the best part of twenty minutes before Altair finally muttered, "Come here," into the dark room.

Malik rolled onto his side and lay his head atop of Altair's chest, hearing his heart beat rhythmically against his ear. His scarred left arm curled round Altair's middle and before long, he drifted off to sleep, Altair soon afterwards.

It must have only been an hour but Malik was scared awake. His head snapped up from Altair's chest with the sudden noise. His eyes darted around the room trying to find the source of the sound.

Nothing.

Just as Malik was about to lie back down again, that loud, throaty grunt that had scared him awake happened again.

Fuck.

He had forgotten just how loud and annoying Altair's snoring could be, despite having heard it very briefly earlier that day. It sounded like a steam train at times followed by an inward gasp of breath mingled with a snort every now and then. Sometimes it got so loud that Altair scared himself awake, muttering a rush of, 'what was that?' before falling back asleep again.

Thumping his head onto the pillows instead, Malik would his round so it covered his ears as he willed himself to sleep over Altair's bear like snoring.

Perhaps he should have demanded he sleep in the guest room again….

Malik woke up the next morning, stretching over to the other side of the bed searching.

"Altair?" Came the groggy question as his sleepy eyes searched around the room.

Sitting up, Malik glanced around the room. Altair was nowhere to be seen.

Immediately he snapped awake and ignorant of his nudity, shot into the living room.

"Altair?" Malik shouted in a panicked voice.

Said male emerged from the kitchen clad only in jeans with a slice of toast hanging out his mouth.

"What the hell is it?" He finally managed through a mouthful of toast.

Malik stood in the middle of the room, staring at Altair like he had seen a ghost.

"Mal? You thinking I had taken off?"

"No….it's not that…."

"Yes it was. Now, as much as I like seeing you naked….we need to go."

Malik seemed to drop back down to earth when he realised that he had indeed slept in for Altair's appointment at the clinic.

Like a bat out of hell, he threw himself in for the quickest shower in history, barely drying himself as he threw on a pair of black jeans and a crisp white t-shirt.

Both males made it out the door in one piece despite Malik's rush.

As soon as Altair stepped outside, he quickly pulled his hood up over his head, seeming to vanish inside his white hoodie before burying his hands in his pockets.

Both walked down the street side by side for a time, a kind of nervous silence had settled over them. More so the closer they got to the clinic.

Malik could have sworn he saw Altair become more and more tense as he walked.

He raised his hand and slowly wedged it into Altair's pocket and laced their fingers together, effectively drawing Altair's hand from his pocket.

Altair glanced round at Malik as their hands laced between them, a small smile finally graced his suddenly tired looking face. Malik smiled right back, trying his best to hide his nervousness behind his smile.

After Altair vanished inside the treatment room in the clinic. Malik sagged down in his seat in the waiting room. His mind whirled a mile a minute as every conceivable thought about the test results swam round his brain. What if Altair tested positive? What would he do when he was ill? What would happen to him in the long run? How would their already crumbled relationship survive? What if Altair….died?

Burying his head in his hands, Malik sat quietly, peering through his fingers from time to time as people came and went.

Through his peripheral vision, Malik made out the shapes of a woman and a child sitting in the seats just opposite him. Although he didn't care for their conversation, he picked it up anyway.

"Why are we here mummy?"

"I already told you Darim. Mummy is having a check up."

"A check for what?"

"Mummy stuff. Now, quiet and sit still."

Malik was slightly intrigued. Darim? Strange choice of name considering the woman's strong English accent.

Taking a look at the woman, Malik took in long wavy brown hair, pale skin and piercing blue eyes….looking right back at him.

The second their eyes met, the woman looked away and rummaged about her bag, never looking back up again.

Despite Malik obviously not being interested in the woman, he had to admit that she was very pretty. She had a light spattering of freckles over the bridge of her nose and the smallest hands he had ever seen on a woman. He had always admired pretty hands….it was an unusual habit to randomly look at peoples hands. Perhaps it was because when he was young, his mother had such perfect hands. Nails always beautifully painted. Her bracelets she always wore would jingle together whenever she moved.

Malik soon turned his attention to the child who was apparently getting bored despite only being seated for a couple of minutes and had decided to try and sleep. He took in the fair complexion, sandy brown hair and very full lips for a male….very like….

Shaking his head slightly, Malik righted himself in the uncomfortable chair and coughed slightly. What the hell had he been thinking just now?

Glancing around the room feigning boredom, Malik chanced a second glance at the child.

Bright yellow gold eyes were looking back at him with the same piercing stare his mother had.

Those eyes….

"Maria Thorpe, room 2 please." Came the voice of the receptionist, startling Malik slightly.

Maria slung her bag over her shoulder as she stood, beckoning that the boy, Darim follow her.

Even the childs self assured cocky walk was the same….

Malik's stomach felt funny. Was it possible Altair had a son? If so, why the hell had he not told Malik about it? Surely he had to know if he had a kid with someone right?

Resting his elbows on his knees and balancing his chin on his hands, Malik waited for what felt like an eternity before Altair finally emerged from the treatment room.

Altair was, much to Malik's amusement, glaring painful death at the nurse who was guiding him out. From the look on her face she hated dealing with addicts like Altair and had much enjoyed scolding him and giving him a lecture about clean living, the dangers of drugs and the practice of safe sex.

Pulling himself to his feet, Malik walked over to Altair, grabbed his hand and quickly led him from the clinic.

As he practically pulled Altair down the street, only one though was going through his mind and that was to get Altair as far from that woman and her child. It seemed like Malik needed answers.

"Stop you asshole stop!" Altair shouted just as they crossed the street away from the clinic.

Altair wrestled his hand from Malik's vice like grip which caused Malik to whirl round, anger evident in his face.

"What? It's fucking cold and incase you haven't noticed, I only have my t-shirt on."

Malik saw that Altair indeed only had his t-shirt on….an unfortunate number that didn't quite go past his navel. He had purposely shrunk it slightly in the wash as he bloody hated seeing Altair in it. It was white and red with strange big eyed girls on it, rather scantily dressed. Altair had called them 'anime' characters but Malik couldn't care less. Sadly for him, even after the garment had shrunk a bit, Altair decided it was better looking that way and proceeded to wear it to piss Malik off.

Malik was too busy willing the hell drawn t-shirt to burst into flames that he didn't even notice Altair talking to him.

"And then she lectured me about safe sex! As if the anti-drugs talk wasn't enough, she had to bring my sex life….or lack of it to the forefront! What a stuck up bitch I tell you. Then? Then she proceeded to stab my arm with the needle so hard I thought it was gonna go right through to the other side! And then she put this fucking thing on it!" Altair half shouted, half lamented as he thrust his still scab covered arm in Malik's face.

A snort, followed by an all out bellowing laugh erupted from Malik's lips as he took in the pink and purple teddy bear plaster that was slapped half hazard onto Altair's arm.

"Pick it off you fool!"

"I fucking can't! I think she glued it onto my arm." Altair whined as he untied his hoodie from round his waist and yanked it over his head as quickly as he could.

"I think it softens your image slightly Altair." Malik sniggered out.

"Fucker! You wont be saying that when I slap it over your mouth!"

Malik smirked slightly at the mortified Altair who was currently looking all around him, making sure the hideous plaster had not been seen.

To shut up the still complaining Altair, Malik stepped up to him and slapped his own lips atop the others.

Altair's eyes widened at the public display of affection coming from Malik. Normally the other male would tolerate hand holding and that was it.

Forgetting his outrage at the nurse and the plaster, Altair placed his hands on either side of Malik's waist and pulled him in closer, effectively deepening the kiss slightly.

So comfortable he was kissing the other man like this, Altair totally forgot that he had not pulled his hood up. His protective shield from the rest of the public was gone in that moment on the street corner.

Maria and her young son exited the clinic, the boy desperate to go but Maria was busy rooting through her bag for her mobile.

She began composing a short text message to a friend when she felt Darim pull at her jacket.

"What is it son?"

"It's that man we met on the street."

Maria's eyes followed the direction her sons hand was pointing.

Sure enough, her blue eyes widened at the sight of her ex-lover standing embracing another dark haired, dark skinned man across the street.

Was this the lover that Altair said he had left?

She watched them kiss with fascination, her text message all bit forgotten about. She kept on watching as they parted, seemingly Altair affectionately rubbed noses with the other man then swiftly pulled his hood up over his head.

It was just then, as the two men linked hands that Maria recognised the man with Altair. It was him that was sitting across from her in the clinic.

Malik glanced slightly over his shoulder as he and Altair began heading in the direction of Desmond's work. Both he and Altair had to discuss the upcoming job that he would be doing and had to sort out wages and hours.

Blue and coal black eyes regarded each other across the street.

Both Malik and Maria's stomach's turned slightly.

oOoOoOoOo

Looks like the boys still have lots of stuff to sort out and only one chapter left to do it in!