Final chapter! Thank you for all of the reviews and subscriptions, I really appreciate them all. Hope you've enjoyed the story :)
In the past ten minutes Syed had looked out through the blinds fifteen times and called Christian's phone seven, but there was still no sign of him in the street and his phone remained unanswered. Despite him walking out, Syed still wasn't completely sure whether Christian was angry with him or not. As much as he appreciated that it was a lot to take in, all he wanted was for Christian to tell him that it was all ok and that he had nothing to feel ashamed about. That he was there for him, to hug away all of the remembered pain and hurt. At least it was a weight from his shoulders now though, and he could finally breathe easy. He'd told Christian everything there was to know so Steve's supposed plans of destroying their relationship wouldn't work. Steve still held a grudge and it would be clear to Christian that he simply didn't want to see Syed happy after everything he'd put him through. It was all good; everything was going to be ok.
xxxx
Christian didn't really know why he was now walking out in the cool night air, the thin cotton of his T-shirt just about managing to provide enough warmth to his torso. What Syed had told him was undoubtedly a lot to take in; he guessed he was still in shock. It pained him to think of Syed so desperately trying to prevent anyone from finding out his secret, having nobody to confide in or talk to. But then he knew that Syed had never set out to hurt anyone, he never had and he never would. He completely understood why Syed had done what he had. It suddenly struck Christian that he should be at home right now, holding Syed in his arms, pressing caring kisses to his scalp, assuring him that he'd not done anything wrong. He turned on his heel and headed back towards Turpin Road.
"Christian!" He heard a voice behind him and saw Steve was now heading his way, an unreadable expression on his face.
"What do you want?" Christian sighed.
"Syed's told you everything then?" Now that Steve was closer Christian could see that his eyes were slightly red and puffy, surely he hadn't been crying?
"Yeah he has. You do realise he feels terrible for what he did?"
"So he should, he destroyed my life. Every day since I've… "
"I really don't know what you're trying to gain out of all of this," Christian interrupted him. "Syed made a mistake, albeit quite a big one, but he's sorry, very sorry. All of the charges against you were dropped, thanks to him remember, what exactly do you want?"
"Honestly?" Steve looked straight into Christian's eyes and then back down at the road, "I don't know. I wanted to 'destroy' his life like he did mine. But then I come here and bump into him, see him happy. It's just made me think about everything that happened all over again." It was as though he'd had a light bulb moment as his expression and tone changed. "Can I see him? I really need to; I want to clear the air, there's still stuff unsaid."
"What, now? It's," Christian looked at his watch, "Ten o'clock. Oh, not as late as I thought actually. Come on then." He indicated with his hand for Steve to follow him.
xxxx
Syed sensed that something wasn't quite right when he heard the footsteps on the stairs. He swivelled round where he was sat as the door opened, only to see Steve stood behind Christian, his hands in his pockets and a solemn look on his face. Syed was the first to speak.
"What are you doing here?" He looked at Christian, "What's he been saying to you?"
"Nothing," Christian flashed a reassuring smile, "he just wants to talk to you."
Talk. Syed breathed. He could do that. He'd wanted to do that, talk civilly with Steve, for a while now, but the opportune moment had never arisen.
"Oh right, well I guess you should sit down then. Do you want a drink?"
Steve precariously made his way over to the sofa. "No thanks, I'm not planning to stay long. You didn't have any plans for tonight did you?"
Syed was confused where this new, considerate Steve had come from, mere hours ago he'd been full of anger and malice. Before he had the chance to answer Steve's question Christian chipped in from the kitchen.
"Do you want me to go? I can pop over to the Vic for half an hour if you like?"
"Do you mind?" Syed was glad that everything seemed to be normal between him and Christian again.
"Course not, I'll see you later."
Syed watched as Christian departed and then turned to face Steve; they were sat at opposite ends of the cream sofa, as far apart as they could possibly be. Once again Syed spoke first.
"So, what do want to talk about?"
Steve took a deep breath and then begun. "Well, ever since I've been back here and seen you again… it's brought back so many memories and it's made me realise something."
Syed's brows furrowed in confusion.
"I've realised that all this time I've been blaming you for something that was my fault. I've been blaming you for the breakdown of my marriage, taken no responsibility myself. The truth is that it was in trouble long before the whole incident with you. You're right; I was sleeping with other men before you, of course I was. But like I said, it was the arrest that made my wife start asking all of the questions. I was so relieved in a way, but then in another I just felt like my whole life was over. All I could think was that if it wasn't for you then I could have stayed with her, stayed in my sham marriage, pulling random blokes at the weekend… "
"I do understand you know. I've been there. I was married to a woman before I got together, properly anyway, with Christian."
"You were?" Now it was Steve's turn to be puzzled.
"Yeah…"
And so Syed began explaining all to Steve.
xxxx
"I'm shocked Syed." And Steve genuinely looked it. Him and Syed had slowly moved closer together on the sofa and the tense atmosphere was now gone.
"See, I definitely know where you're coming from." Syed flashed a small smile and Steve gave a small nod.
"God I'm so sorry, I really am. I've just been carrying around all of this hate with me for so long now and then when I saw you I just let it all out."
"You don't want to destroy my life anymore then?"
Steve started to laugh and then groaned. "I was so drunk when I said that. What exactly could I do to destroy you? It was such a stupid thing to say. I was angry with you, but now I've realised that it was all going to come out sooner or later. I can't blame you for my own selfish actions. I just want to move on with my life now."
"I'm so sorry for everything that happened, Steve. My head was all over the place, one minute I was sat in the office and then the next I'm being told that you've been arrested. I honestly never wanted for that to happen, not for one minute."
"I know, I understand. I've decided to head up back to Leeds. Got a call a couple of hours ago, they miss my sales patter apparently; think I could help shift a couple of new builds. I'm going to try and build some bridges with my family too. I don't really think they have much of a problem with me being bi, I think the whole 'rape' thing just overshadowed everything."
Syed warily placed a hand on Steve's arm, not sure whether the other man would be comfortable with it, "Well then you need to sit down and explain it all to them, get them to listen."
"Yeah I will, to be honest I think I thought their reaction was a lot worse than it actually was." He looked at the digital numbers on the DVD player, "Well I best be off. See you Syed."
Syed raised himself up off the sofa as Steve did, not sure whether to shake his hand, or should he risk a hug? In the end he settled for an arm around his shoulder and a pat on the back.
"It's been good seeing you again Steve, clearing the air. Very surreal though, I never thought I'd see anyone from Leeds again."
"Hmm, I never thought I'd see you again either. Bye Syed." They exchanged a brief smile and then Steve headed off out the door and down the stairs.
A couple of minutes after Steve left Christian returned home. The jangle and clunk of his keys landing on the table broke the silence and Syed called out from where he was laying on the sofa.
"Hey!" He moved into a sitting position and then snuggled into Christian as he sat down.
"Everything ok now? All of the air cleared with Steve?"
"Mmmhmm," Syed kissed Christian's neck tenderly. "No more secrets."
"Good. Well I think that we should celebrate that." Christian whispered seductively in Syed's ear.
"Really?" Syed cheekily smiled back at Christian.
"Really."
And as they stumbled towards the bed, clothes being thrown on the floor and wet kisses being exchanged, the two men prepared to forget everything that had happened over the past few days and lose themselves in one another.
"Love you."
"Love you too."