Foreigners

Hello ^__^

Ok, bringing you another chapter and hoping you'll like it ^__^


-Chapter 3-

Something more.


Niko was the first to wake that morning and when he remembered how he had fallen a sleep on Kamil’s lap the previous morning, he couldn’t help but grin, and he wasn’t sure if he was more embarrassed or amused by it.

He took a long, hot shower and brushed his teeth before going into the kitchen to find something to eat, something easily prepared; a can of yogurt, cucumber pieces and honey. He sat in front of the table while waiting for the water to boil for his tea. He dipped the cucumber pieces in his yogurt and honey. He looked up when hearing the footsteps nearing the kitchen. Kamil looked tired, Niko took note.

“Morning,” Niko greeted, while nipping on a piece of a cucumber.

"Morning," Kamil returned, preparing himself a strong cup of coffee, he seriously felt as if he hadn’t slept a wink that night and his mood wasn’t at its best; today was the day of hell, first classes at the uni and then work till nine in the evening. He took a sip of his coffee and sighed. "That's what I needed ..." He took a closer look at Niko and his somewhat strange breakfast.

"Sorry for falling asleep last night ..." He muttered into the coffee mug, "I think I overestimated my stamina last night ..." Niko smiled at him.

"It's alright and I'm sorry that I... used you as human pillow."

"No problem," Kamil chuckled slightly, "not a usual happening to me but ... don't worry, I didn't ... it didn't ..." He stammered now, not really knowing what he wanted to tell him anyway. That he didn't mind it? Perhaps. "I'm going to make some sandwiches, want some?"

“No, thank you, I am all set here.” Niko replied, looking towards his light breakfast."It was a bit funny if you think about it, I'm sure you're not used to having a guy asleep on your lap." He chuckled then. Not many straight guys would be so fine about a gay guy falling asleep on them, he thought to himself

"Well, I'm not,” Kamil nodded, starting to prepare sandwiches for himself. “Probably just the same as you're not used to falling asleep on someones lap, judging by your reaction. You looked scared," He laughed. Niko blushed ever so slightly, if Kamil only knew the thoughts he had of him! And then he got lost in his faraway memories, memories of how it had been like to really have someone to hold at nights…

Kamil noticed the change in Niko, suddenly silent and… looking serious too. He wondered if he had touched some raw spot hidden in his past? He thought about a moment if he should try to say something about it, but his nature won in the end; he never talked about feelings, feelings were everyone's own business, he wouldn’t like his problems to be discussed with anyone. He would deal with them himself.

"Going to the bathroom now," He told him, not really knowing why. He washed his mug and went to take a quick shower, his flat mate had apparently used almost all hot water. Something that he would need to discuss with him as well.


**^^**^^**

At school Niko didn’t have the best of days and he began to wonder if it would ever change now. Matt found him during the lunch break. Niko was sitting outside on a bench, sketching the scenery in front of him, when a pair of hands came to cover his eyes from behind.

“Guess who?” He heard the familiar drawl, and his hands rose to the hands on his face trying to get them off.

“Matt?”

“That’s right baby,” The guy sounded like he was smiling, but finally he removed his hands. Soon enough the tall guy was standing in front of him, blocking the sunlight. Niko didn’t say anything, hoping that if he were to stay mute, they guy would just disappear. He refused to be his baby. But after a moment of awkward silence, with Niko trying to continue his sketching, Matt saw it proper to sit next to him.

“I feel horny,” Matt informed him, which made Niko’s pencil stop moving on the paper and his eyes grow big. He wasn’t quite sure how to reply to such an … idiotic comment, so he decided that the best thing was to remain quiet and pretend that he hadn’t heard him. But then a hand landed on his thigh, starting to rub it shamelessly, nearing his…

“Hey, did I tell you that you could touch me?” He snapped, but it didn’t make the hand go away.

“Come over to my place, I want to fuck you.”

“I am not interested.” Niko said with annoyed voice and stood up, trying to collect his things.

“Come on baby, you could at least suck it.” Matt had stood up as well and had taken his hand to place it on his crotch, where his cock was beginning to harden. Niko pulled his hand free.

“No; I do not want to touch your thing, now, leave me alone.” He marched towards the school building, not checking if the guy was following. The nerve of him! Right at the school yard!

He really had a bad taste in men when he was drunk, it was now confirmed. Though Matt was handsome, he was also an idiot. Throughout the rest of the school day he was feeling really upset and angry, angry with himself for making the mistake of sleeping with Matt and now… it seemed, that every gay guy in the school knew that he was gay and… yes, easy…UGH, it was annoying to say the least. And Matt, as much as he hated to admit it, wasn’t the first guy he had slept with during his stay in Colorado. ‘You have no one to blame, but yourself Niko,’ his mind was nagging at him. ‘Quit drinking and start celibacy, find yourself a dildo and some porn to keep you happy.’ He told himself. ‘It would be safe, dildo would never judge you, or harass you. It would always be available.’ Yes, it was true, but… it wouldn’t be the same really, would it? And maybe someday, he’d find a man who could be with him for more than sex, for more than just friendship and someone who’d stay. Or maybe, he was doomed to spend the rest of his life alone, turn into some crazy artist, who cuts his ear and stay in a smelly apartment with a bunch of cats? Okay, he was exaggerating again, ‘Niko, you are only 20 years old,’ he reminded himself, ‘still have good many years ahead of you and you won’t stay in Colorado forever.’


Finally his school day was over, but as he was walking towards home, he saw Matt again, offering him a ride home, which Niko refused and took a side road where the guy couldn’t follow him in his car.

He felt exhausted when getting home. He prepared himself a couple of cheese and ketchup sandwiches, which he warmed in the microwave to make the cheese melt on them. Why was Matt even obsessing about sleeping with him? He had been half asleep when they had… done it… so it couldn’t have been all that exiting? Could it? And he could be better in bed, he could be great, he nodded his head as this. Maybe the guy just liked fucking half unconscious guys? Who knew? He sighed when his phone peeped with a message; from Matt. This was just his usual luck. When he wasn’t interested in the least bit, they kept trying and when he was interested; there was no chance that he other would be, it was so frustrating.

After eating the sandwiches, he went into his room to do his home work and paint a little. Time moved fast whenever he was painting, and finally he felt like having a snack. He walked back into the kitchen.

He decided to have some cucumbers again, these were slightly smaller ones, he sat down in front of the table with his cucumbers and a jar of honey, dipping one in and licking the sweetness of it. It was actually quite perverted, he realised then, looking more closely at the cucumber in his hand; it was kind of the size of a… he snickered… a penis… He dipped it in the honey again, brought it in his mouth and sucked on it. He had never learned deep throating, maybe he could practise with an object that wouldn’t try to go deeper than what he was ready to accept. He tried to relax his throat, and close his eyes to try to imagine something… something other that the cucumber… He pictured a man, whose eyes were… brown? Dark hair and…hm… glasses? Perhaps. He knew already that he would never succeed in his decision of celibacy.


Kamil was finally done for the day. He worked in a small bar and on the evenings such as today had been, he had to grit his teeth not to shout with frustration. Another guy had been hitting on him again. Did they not see that he wasn’t interested in one night stands? And the guy had tried to grope him too! He had been forced to tell him quite forcefully to keep his dirty hands off of him, which had let to the manager yelling at him that he should be more polite to the customers. The manager seemed to just close his eyes to the harassing that his worker had to go through. He might be gay, but that didn’t leave any right for the drunkards to grope him.

He was quite pissed off and hungry and he dreamt of the day when he could quit his stupid job, dreamt of the day when he could tell his stupid prick of a boss exactly what he thought of him.
But for now, he just had to swallow it up, for he did need the money. He mentally went through the contents of the fridge; maybe he could make some egg salad?

He closed the front door behind him softly, barely making any sound and walked into his room. He lowered his bag on the floor and decided that he needed to eat before anything.

An odd sight welcomed him in the kitchen; Niko who was sucking on a cucumber like there was no tomorrow… He raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat, unsure how one should act in front of such a sight, a sight that was at the same time amusing but also strangely… stimulating?

Niko almost choked, quickly pulling the cucumber from his mouth and lowering it onto the table, as if it would safe him from the embarrassment, that he already was feeling. He coughed then and tried to clear his throat.

“Um, hello,” he managed to say after he got the ability to speak again. He wasn’t sure, if he should laugh? Make some excuse? He tried to quickly come up with an excuse that would make perfect sense, excuse of why him deep throating a cucumber was a perfectly normal thing and that involved nothing sexual. “Uhum…” He started, looking at the cucumber that was lying on the table in front of him. There really was not any, though, was there?

Kamil couldn’t help it, Niko was looking so amusing right then, so panicked and so lost for words, his lips were quivering from the laughter that wanted to spill from his mouth, but if he laughed then Niko would get even more embarrassed. But what he could do was to try and lighten the atmosphere a little.

"Practising something, were you?” It was not what he had wanted to say, just something that simply escaped from his lips. And this time, he couldn’t stop the grin. It really was so hilarious, seeing Niko all flushed and flustered, he was cute like that. Not that he cared about it… right?

There was no excuse, Niko knew it and he knew that Kamil knew it. So, he had to admit the defeat. He laughed, now that he thought about it, he really must have looked quite hilarious like that. He brought his hand on his hot, flushed skin, and shook his head with a soft laugher. Then he cleared his throat once more, forcing himself to look in Kamil’s eyes.

"It's always good to practise, you know, and I want to be the best that there is.” The words slipped from his mouth.

"There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the best," Kamil shrugged his shoulders and looked inside the fridge. He took out some ingredients to make the salad, and after washing his hands, he started preparing it. Niko was sitting quietly at the table, gazing out into the dark evening.

“Anything interesting happened today?” Kamil asked once sitting down to eat. One plate with generous amount of salad was placed in front of Niko.

“Um…” He started, wondering if he should tell about Matt, but decided that his problems with the guy wouldn’t be of any interest to Kamil. "No, nothing really, same old, same old." He played with the salad before tasting it and swallowing "And you?"

"Actually ..." Kamil said as he took a spoonful of salad, "there was this guy at the bar where I work, trying to grope me. He just wouldn't get it that I'm not interested ..." He stopped, wondering why he told about that? "And the uni was busy too, again lots of homework to do ..." he sighed, taking another spoonful of salad.

“Oh,” Niko started, little surprised. "I hate it when that happens..." he told him then. "Um... the groping I mean... "

"Yeah, they just don't get it that when you say 'Hands off', you mean it ..." Kamil nodded.

“Yeah..." Niko would have thought that a straight guy would be more outraged about the fact that some gay had groped him, but was this something that happened to Kamil often? Niko stood up.
“The salad was very good Kamil, thank you, but I think I’ll save the rest till later, I am still quite full from the sandwiches I had earlier.”

"You're welcome, and yes, you can eat it later." Kamil nodded before continuing. "I seriously wanted to break the stupid prick’s hands. What do you do when someone ... tries to ... ugh, just thinking of it ... ugh ..." He stood up after finishing his salad about to wash his plate.

“I can wash it for you,” Niko offered. “And I wish I could give you advice of how to handle it, but I am afraid that I can’t. I am terrible at such situations myself … Just, walk away if you can, make it clear that it’s unwelcome.”

“Thanks Niko… well, I’ve got to go and shower, tomorrow is another early morning for me, good night."

“Good night…” Niko answered and watched him go, he started washing the dishes lost in his own thoughts, still feeling slightly embarrased about the whole cucumber ordeal.

**^^**^^**^^^**^^**

Niko couldn’t get a rest from Matt, who now seemed to have developed some strange hobby out of stalking him. Suddenly Matt was everywhere that he was, his favorite coffee house, restaurant and video store he worked a couple nights in the week. He had also taken the habit of showing up at the library the usual hours when Niko went there.

Niko tried changing his routines, managed it quite well, the only place where he couldn’t really escape or hide was the video shop. This was what Matt had soon realised as well.

It was Friday evening when Matt walked in with some of his friends. Niko cursed, looked helplessly towards the backroom where his co-worker had disappeared; another long coffee break. He stood behind the counter, trying to arrange some videos and look busy, at times he glanced warily at Matt and his friends who were looking through some videos, discussing and laughing at something. But he did feel Matt’s eyes on him, soon enough he saw him approaching.

“I’m looking for good porn, what would you recommend?” Matt was leaning on the counter and looking at him.

“The adult section is over there,” Niko pointed towards the direction, not looking at Matt. “Help yourself.” He added.

“When do you get home?” Matt asked. It was almost nine, and the shop would close at ten, he’d be free to leave about 15 minutes past the closing time.

“Why?”

“I could wait for you… come to my place, watch some porn together.”

“No thank you.” Niko refused as politely as he could.

“You are just playing with me, I know how bad you really want it Niko, I saw it that night… all teasing and flirting and… I know you want it…” With that being said Matt walked over to the adult section, he turned around once, gave him a quick look and a wink of an eye. Niko looked around not sure how he should react to those words.

And later Matt returned, placing the adult videos on the counter, hard gay porn. Niko didn’t look any closer, he just took the dvds and placed them inside the boxes.

“That will be 6 dollars,” He said with a monotone voice, as cold and indifferent as he could, he really needed to get through to Matt. He didn’t need a sex relationship and with Matt, it was all that he had to offer. Somehow Niko knew that if he were to say yes to him, he’d soon be way over his head with something that he wouldn't know how to handle. And sex with Matt… It was not something that he would miss having… The guy was one of those who simply cared about his own pleasure and other people were just tools, mere playthings for him.

“I’m on to your game, and I am ready to play.” Matt said as he left the money onto the counter and left, signaling to his friends to follow.

It was then that his co-worker returned.

“What did I miss?” He asked whit a yawn, to which Niko’s only reply was to roll his eyes.

It was a relief to find that Matt wasn’t waiting for him and he could walk home without any trouble. Having a stalker lowered his mood, being labeled as a slut in school lowered it even more. Not all thought like that, but some, and he did try to laugh it off with his friends, but it still weighted on him.

He had brought it onto himself, he reminded himself once more. He had been the one to drink, he had invited Matt over that night and… If that wasn’t stupid enough, two weeks after that, at another party he had drunk again and ended up giving a blow job to some guy in the bathroom. Yes, he had brought it onto himself and from now on, he really should be careful with alcohol, because apparently it did wake some nasty, cock hungry slut in him that was very easily guided and used. It was not who he was, well, at least not who he wanted to be.

Sighing heavily, he opened the door to their apartment and walked in, lovely smell of dinner greeted him in the hall.

“Hey, you’re still up?” Niko asked when finding Kamil in the kitchen.

“Yes, I kept it warm for you, thought you might be hungry when you come back.” Niko smiled and nodded his head, feeling slightly better already, like being at home, Kamil made it home.

“Sit down, you look exhausted.” Kamil told him and served him a plate full. “Water? Milk?”

“Water would be fine, thank you.”Kamil sat down opposite from him.

“How was work?” He enquired.

“Oh well you know… long… exhausting… same old, same old.” Niko replied, tasting the food. “And you? How was your day?”

“Good enough,” Kamil smiled. “Talked with my mother today and…”

“How was she?”Niko asked, suddenly realising how little he knew about Kamil’s family.

“She was good, they all are, makes me miss home every time I talk with them.”

“Yeah, I know how you feel….” Niko nodded, taking a taste of the water.

“What do your parents do for living?”He asked then, curious.

“Well… my mom is a cook, she works in one restaurant….” Kamil smiled.

“Ah that explains… this and…” Niko looked at his plate and then at Kamil, smiling. “You cook well.” He told him then, took another spoonful of the food and ate.

“Thank you.”

“And your father?”

“He’s a teacher, he teaches Math.”

“And that’s where your intelligent comes from…hm… yes, that makes sense.” Niko nodded again with a smile on his lips. Kamil smiled back, yes his father had been the one to emphasize how important it was to study. He was a strict man when in came to studying, and working, a man who loathed laziness. So from a little boy, Kamil had been taught to work hard in order to get far in life.

“Do you have siblings?” Niko asked next.

“Yes, I have a sister, she’s almost 16 now.” Kamil stood to get himself a glass of water. “How about your family?” He asked then, his back against the counter.

“Well, my mother…. She’s a book editor, and my father… he was or still is, an artist,” Niko glanced at Kamil, raising his eyebrow. “But he left us when I was three years old, so I don’t remember much of him. Only that I think I was trying to be like him, that’s how I came to draw and paint and for a long time I just continued, thinking that if were good enough, then he’d come back, it was silly, but as a child it made sense….”

“Hm… I can understand that, not silly….” Kamil nodded.

“I look like him, and I have a passion for art like him… Those are the only things I have left of him… He doesn’t care… But my step father, he’s great, he lets me call him dad and he’s as different from my real father as night differs from day. He’s this big, cuddly man with a beard, a business man. Stable and sensible whereas my biological father was this… well different. And I have a half brother and a sister, my brother is 8 and my sister is 10 …” Niko took a pause, before he continued. “I think it must be hard for mom to have a child who constantly reminds her of the one man who broke her heart… I know she still loves him, isn’t it silly, to love someone who hurt you so bad? I never got it, not until… well it is not important and again I am just blabbering and boring you to death….”


“Not boring me at all,” Kamil smiled warmly.

“Well thank you Kamil, for the dinner, which was great and for the talk. I am exhausted and think I’ll just take a quick shower before going to bed, so Good night.”
“Good night.”

**^^**^^**^^**^^**

Another lazy Saturday. Kamil always waited for Saturday’s like for redemption. The last two weeks had been like hell both at uni and at work and now he wanted nothing more than just to relax. He had rented a movie and wanted to Niko to watch it with him. He knocked gently at the door to Niko’s room.

“Yes?”

“Niko?” Kamil looked inside the room. “Oh, you’re busy?” He asked, seeing him painting.

“Not that busy,” Niko smiled. “Come in.” He invited while cleaning his painting brush. Kamil stepped in and walked closer to look at the painting on the easel; it was a landscape, a summer evening by the lake with shadows of two people, curled up side by side on the dock.

"That looks nice! Did you paint it from your head? From imagination?"

"Part of it is... imagination... part memory, part help from a photo." Niko told him, giving him a quick smile. “So what’s up?”

"I was just ... wow, that paining is really good! I always wanted to be able to paint but all I can is draw, and not too good, either."

"You should show me your work sometime? And maybe... if you like, I can perhaps teach you to paint?"

"That would be ... thank you, I'd like that, though I don't know if I ever manage to find time for that." Kamil looked at the picture for some time, feeling melancholic for a few seconds. "Anyway ..." he shook his head, "are you doing anything tonight?"

"Tonight? No, I just thought I'd stay home and I dunno, relax..." Niko answered, his curiosity and hope woken up suddenly. Who was he trying to kid? He did have a crush on Kamil. "Um, why?"

"Hm, have you ever watched Star Wars?" Kamil asked. Niko never had, partly because he really wasn’t a big fan of sci-fi, but… It was Kamil who was asking so it left him curious…

“Star Wars? No, I haven’t.”

"Man, you don't know what you're missing!" Kamil almost shouted in his enthusiastic state. "You seriously ...? I have never thought I would meet someone who didn't watch it!" He grinned. "Oh, man, I'm gonna try to convert you to it! We're watching it tonight!"

Niko couldn’t help but to laugh softly at this.

"Alright, a deal, but... I need to ask you something in return…"

"Sure," Kamil was still grinning. "Ask away, I'll answer if I can."

"Well, I have this school assignment, we need to paint a portrait of someone, from a life model... would you...model for me?"

"Only this?" Kamil was surprised, he had expected something more serious. "I don't see any problem."

"Thank you, um, are you free now? Or?" Niko asked

"Yes, I'm free now, you can order me around," Kamil told him, remembering the time when Niko had let him use his laptop to find the info he had desperately needed.

"Great!"Niko smiled, happy of the fact that Kamil had agreed. One guy he had asked before and who had agreed, had somehow gotten the impression that agreeing would lead to something sexual, so Niko had told him that he had found someone else and now he really had.

He took out a new canvas, placing the previous to dry in the corner of the room.

"Now, where to put you..." He wondered out loud, "On the bed, yes," Niko nodded, noticing that the light there was just perfect. Kamil followed his wish and sat on the bed.

"How long are you going to work on that painting?"

"Hm, not sure, we can take breaks, first I'm going to sketch you, the painting process will take longer, um I might ask you again some other day... Remember; I'm a perfectionist..." Niko grinned, and took a seat for himself. He then looked at Kamil, wondering to what pose he should ask him.

"I noticed," Kamil nodded his head, taking his slippers off and putting his feet on the edge of the bed, then he brought his hands to his knees. "you're obsessed with perfectionism. Even this cucumber …" He snorted, not being able to stop. "Sorry, that was nasty, I shouldn't have reminded you of that."

Niko chuckled. "Um, it's okay, I would laugh at it too... I mean...yeah..." He took a pause, biting his lip before continuing with a grin. "Well, I like to enjoy a good, juicy cucumber when I can, that's all there's to it… Now, you could lie down a bit, take a pillow, what ever you can to make yourself comfortable, and keep your eyes here, towards me, ok?"

Kamil snorted with laughter, doubling over the bed. Niko was trying to tease him. "Was it with mustard? Or ketchup this time?" He couldn’t help but tease back.

"No, it was with honey this time, sweet, tasty honey...mmh." Niko was determined not to get embarrassed so easily. "Now, take your pose Kamil..." He glanced at him.

"Like that?" Kamil stretched his body, lying on the side, with one hand supporting his head. "Like in the Titanic."

"If Titanic does it for you…” Niko raised his eyebrow and continued. “Yes...hm, I quite like you like that..." There was a sudden memory, flashing in Niko’s mind, a memory that killed his smile.

"Now...if I ask you to take your clothes of and wear only a piece of jewelry around your neck, would you do that for me too? Make it really Titanic?"He chucked as he started to sketch.

"No, I'm not as curvy as Kate Winslet, the jewel wouldn't look half as good on me as it did on her anyway," Kamil answered, noticing the slight change of mood in Niko that made him slightly curious, but once again he bit his tongue not to ask more questions.

"Well, it was worth the try." Niko sighed jokingly and then he concentrated on the job at hand… studying Kamil closely and allowing his hand to follow what his eyes saw. He wondered if Kamil knew how handsome he was, he wondered if he had any idea how his voice made him weak on he knees and how… Kamil wasn’t like most, not just some handsome guy… no, he had… so much more in him, how his features… his personality… his intelligence… Even the glasses he wore were perfect on him. Kamil’s voice alone, deep, masculine and yet… Niko looked deep into the brown eyes only to move his gaze soon back to his drawing. His mouth felt dry.

"Would you mind if I listened to music while you're painting?" Kamil asked him and Niko willed himself to look in his eyes, willed himself to smile and make it seem normal.

“No, not at all, I usually listen to music while painting, too.” He told him. “But please, no repeating a song ten times over!”

"Oh, why not?" Kamil was genuinely surprised, "I like listening to something I like ..." His sentence was so twisted that he laughed at what he had just said. "Ok, not listening to one song 10 times in a row. Promise.” He smiled and couldn’t help but to add; "But 20 is ok?" He asked while winking, Niko raised his eyebrow…

"Oh 20 is indeed better that 10," he nodded. "Notice the sarcasm here," he said giving him an amused smile. "No, let the artist pick up the music, let the model simply listen and be quiet.” Niko stood up, going through some of his CDs “Hm… Within temptation.” He nodded, taking out the cd and putting it on.

“I love that group!” Kamil suddenly burst out.

“Well what do you know; we do have something in common.” Niko chuckled, Kamil watched him in a way that made shivers run down on his spine; the pleasant kind, the one; you’re in trouble kind. “When I paint… I need songs with… hm… songs that make me feel, and remember and see… To bring me back to a day when I first heard the song or just… remind me of some event that… Memories are of color, smell, and sound….Paintings are part of the artist soul… Music and painting go hand in hand.”

Kamil just looked at him; the expression on his face, the movement of his slender hands, the concentration. The depth of his voice and how dedicated he seemed to this; art was his passion, you could see it, hear it and… they really were different, weren’t they? Niko was the kind of person his parents would have warned him about, a dreamer, a drifter, person to… live in a moment, a person who did not look far ahead? Who saw this day and did not bother himself with the next ones? And yet, at the same time, it fascinated Kamil. He had always been the one to try and follow the rules set to him, to try and fill the expectations given to him and had he ever felt such passion about anything as Niko did with his painting? Kamil shook his head, no, he had a goal, he knew what he wanted and…. He knew.

“How are you school mates?” Niko asked wanting to break the silence that had settled between them.

"As usual ... thinking highly of themselves and looking down on those less fortunate. Yours?"

"Well... As of now... I am the promiscuous, easy Swedish boy, yes... So, apparently someone didn't keep his mouth shut and for once I'm kind of glad they keep thinking I'm Swedish."

"They say that? Bastards ..." Kamil muttered, but he couldn’t help the nagging voice in the back of his mind, the one learned from outside, that Niko should have thought about it before sleeping with that guy. But as soon as the thought had made itself known, Kamil hated himself for it; it was not Niko’s fault.

"Yes, well I guess I'm lucky that no one has come over to beat me yet for it... so... yeah... And at least I know I have options if I ever grow tired with the cucumber." Niko tried to joke, it was a habit, whenever something serious came along he would try to joke and make the… best out of it.

"Be sure if they ever want to do something … anything, I'm your friend," Kamil said seriously, without even thinking much, it came straight from his heart.

Niko looked at him quietly, surprised of the seriousness in Kamil’s voice, like he really meant what he said, and it had been a long time since…

“Thank you Kamil,” he told him.

"No problem, really ..." And his time, Kamil was blushing, Niko looked away, knowing just how… unneeded it was for someone to stare, when you were blushing…

"I almost have you." He noted then, looking at the drawing he had made. “Just a few more details….”

Kamil laid motionless, nothing to do but to… stare at his flat mate. He had been avoiding paying too much attention to his looks, but now… after being kind of forced to do this, he did look. His hair; soft, golden brown; making him wonder how it would be like to touch that hair, to play with it: He had big, green eyes and eyelashes that many a girl would almost kill for… His face, not too feminine, but pretty, and soft nonetheless…. And when he smiled…. Kamil shook his head, but could not draw his eyes away… He thought that Niko must be quite popular with guys, probably he had had at least a couple of boyfriends?

Kamil was reminded of the only boyfriend he had ever had, in the third grade of his high school… They had dated for a couple of months, and they had even slept together, but…. Then, he had broken up with him, not really telling Kamil why. Something like that was not easy to forget.

And Niko reminded him of him, with his careless… well Niko wasn't always careless, was he? That day he had shown him a sad face, that day he had…. Maybe he wasn’t just an easy Swedish kid after all?

Niko looked at Kamil, he looked tired…

"You know what? There is no way that I’ll ever finish this today so... Let’s call it a day, let’s make something to eat and watch that film of yours.”

"Food and film sound good," He stood up and stretched his arms in the air. "Do you want something in particular?"

"Hm... well… I'd love pasta bolognese... but, whatever is fine really... well not... er..." Niko grinned, getting a grin back.

"Pasta bolognese it is."


Niko cleaned his room, taking good care of his brushes, he then chose something more casual to wear and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Kamil was preparing the supper, when Niko walked into the room wearing casual clothes, that suited him well and Kamil noticed how fresh he smelled. He shook his head; why should he care?

“It’s should be ready in 15 minutes or so,” Kamil informed him. "Hope you're not that hungry ..."

“Well, I think I can manage 15 minutes without dying of hunger, just barely though.” Niko grinned as he sat down, watching as Kamil worked in front of the stove.

“I can set the table ready,” He said then and stood up to find the plates and glasses from the cupboard.

Kamil finished the dish and served it for the both of them, he then sat next to Niko and started to eat.

"Mmm... it smells so good." Niko told him, squeezing some ketchup on his food, but less than he would normally use. He tasted some, "heavenly," he sighed. "You'll make your future wife very happy with your cooking."

Kamil almost choked, hearing the word: ‘wife’; a husband would be more suitable! He quickly tried to come up with some evasive answer that he could give him.

"Well, my mom ... she said that you never know when you'll need to be able to cook ... buuuut ... for the time being I only make myself happy with it."

"Yeah my mom tried with me, but she gave up... I can perhaps, do some simple food but other than that I relay on other people and the good people that prepare the food that I can just put in the microwave to cook... not that healthy... yeah... but I am hoping, that one day, if I am lucky, I would have someone to take care of that, of me…. " Niko shrugged his shoulders and continued eating.

"And you'll take care of the cleaning, right?" Kamil took a forkful of pasta, some of it dragging a little, and he was forced to slurp the single pasta into his mouth. "Sorry ..." He licked the sauce off his lips. Niko watched him quietly before answering.

"Yes, I would, you can't take without giving," He smiled. "Well some can but... you know what I mean." He decided to add.

"Yeah, I guess I know, some can ..." Kamil answered, thinking about his first boyfriend; he just took and went away. He looked at his plate for a moment, but then shook his head. There was no point in remembering something that was in the past. It just happened. Tomek had been his first, but he had never expected him to be his last, either. He would find someone one day, someone responsible, with clear objectives in mind, someone who would know what he wants, someone he’d be able to trust.


After dinner, Kamil went to get the movie from his desk; 'The New Hope', the oldest one from the 'Star Wars' saga. Then he went to Niko’s room, knocking at the door, but opening it before waiting for his; 'come in'. It was more of a warning for him now that he’d enter. He didn't want to catch him doing things ... like that cucumber accident; it had stuck in his head for a pretty long time, giving him one or two wet dreams.

Niko smiled at Kamil, handing him a class of wine.

“I thought you’d like?” He said.

"Thanks," Kamil said taking the glass and handing Niko the box whit the film in it. "Here's the film I was talking about. It's really exciting!"

Niko studied it before taking the DVD out. It amused him somewhat to see Kamil so excited about it.

"So, let’s watch it then," He told him, putting the DVD in and fixing it ready. He then sat on his bed, arranging the pillows and found himself a comfortable spot there. He sipped his own wine, and sighed with contentment. A Saturday night without going out was actually quite nice.

Kamil was completely drawn to the screen, when the music began and the moving letters showed, telling the beginning of the saga. He felt like a small child again, a child who fell in love with the galactic adventure long long time ago. He slowly sipped the wine from time to time.

Niko stole glances of Kamil, to be honest he was more interested in watching his flat mate and his reactions to the film than the film itself. He thought it was cute, Kamil was cute and he smiled to himself, forcing himself to look back at the screen and follow the film that many have talked about, a film that according to some of his friends was a must see.

Kamil stretched as the final scene was played, the scene in the crown room, with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo being rewarded by the princess. He started humming the melody that had been stuck forever in his mind. He even remembered having a song to it, that he had made it up himself. He grinned, wasn’t he being silly? To be so crazy about a film.

"So? What do you think of it?" Kamil asked, looking at Niko.

"Yeah it was...um, wow, pretty good." He nodded his head over and over again, which soon left him feel like an idiot, so he stopped. "So you have all of these films?" He asked.

"I think they have them at the rental, it's a classic of Sc-Fi," Kamil informed him as he took a long sip of the wine.

“Hm… yes, I think we have them at where I work." Niko nodded “Would you like to watch another movie?”

“Sure.”

"Well, what kind you like the best?"

"Can watch absolutely anything except for very sappy Brazilian love stories ..." He shrugged his shoulders. "Show me something you like."

Niko laughed. "So no sappy Brazilian love stories then..." He stood up and went to look through his DVD’s. "Hm, I give you examples... Monty Python...Lord of the rings, I have all of them, um, Big Fish, Stephen King's Shining, Pet Cemetery...Titanic..." At this Niko grinned at him. "And many more, if nothing from these interest you."

"Hm, Lord of the rings is too long for me. I can't stand Stephen King ... Monty Python is good but ... oh, well, let's watch a sappy American love story and enjoy the curvy shapes of Kate Winslet," he joked.

"Okay, curvy shapes of Kate it is, though I find Leo a bit more entertaining than her." He grinned."You know, this is so silly, but when I saw the movie for the first time I cried myself to sleep because Jack died, but for my excuse, I was only 11... though I might still cry, I am sorry for it beforehand," He put the movie on. “I know it’s so gay, to like Titanic as much as I do, but well…Well the fact that I cry at the end of it is even more gay, but hey.” He grinned spreading his hands and then pointing at himself, he sat on the bed again and decided to loose his socks.

"I hope you don't mind?" He realised to ask Kamil, he didn’t think his feet smelled or anything, just that… who knew, Kamil might be one of those weird people that found feet disgusting.

"Why would I?" Kamil looked at his feet; well-shaped and obviously well taken care of. Nice feet.

"Hm…I don't know why.” Niko chuckled.

Kamil wasn’t really into sappy love stories, and when it was finally time for the sinking part he had to refrain himself from commenting on the sometimes unrealistic special effects; it was one of Niko’s favorite movies, so he guessed that he would be very happy if he would suddenly start criticising it.

"Can I use your blanket?" He asked after awhile, when he started feeling cold.

"Yes, if you don't mind sharing it?" Niko asked, feeling a bit cold as well.

"No, not minding at all, we'll get warmer faster," Kamil said as he stood up, allowing the blanket to be lifted from the bed.

Niko lifted the blanket up and when Kamil sat down again, he covered them both with it. When Kamil shifted to find a better position, his arm accidentally touched Niko’s. He hoped that Niko wouldn’t mind, he was too lazy to move.

Niko’s heart started to beat faster, and he barely dared to move all he could think of at that moment, was that Kamil’s arm was touching his and he felt like 13 again. ‘It's just a soft, accidental touch of two arms, nothing more, nothing less.’ He tried to tell himself.

The ship was sinking, every time he watched the movie he hoped that it somehow wouldn't sink, but every time it did. He moved just a tiny bit more closer to Kamil, pushing his luck and trying to make it seem accidental.

Kamil looked sideways at Niko, noticing him pressing more strongly against him, he didn’t mind it, he remembered that Niko was easily touched by such dramatic scenes, he guessed that Niko didn’t even realize how close he had just moved.

"You know,” he started with a whisper, leaning towards him a little so that he could hear him, "these aren't real people, just look at that man that is falling from the railing, his hands and legs bend at unreal angles, it's a doll, a dummy. And did you know they actually made some scenes in a big swimming pool?"

"I know it's not real now... I know… but... it was once.... it happened for real and it makes me sad."
Niko told him.

"Well, it happened, too true. The sad thing is that Cameron made such big money on those people's death," He looked at Niko seriously, sighing.

"I've never thought about it like that and I don't think... well what I think is wrong when people make a movie something that is still so fresh and cash on that... but this. I don't think... well, I don't like to think that it's made out of pure hunger of money, they've put a lot of thought into this, and more importantly I think it's good, so we won't forget... I spent a lot of time when growing up reading about Titanic, I don't know why, but I did." He kept whispering. "When I was on a ship with my mother, as a child, I insisted on sleeping with my day clothes on because I feared that it would sink like Titanic did. I was silly, I've always been silly that way, am still. "

"This is not silliness, Niko, you've got the right to be afraid of things that you can't control yourself," Kamil responded with a whisper, for the time being forgetting about the scenes of the sea disaster.

"Yeah... Drowning scares me, I almost drowned once, I was playing with other kids and fell from a water mattress. I couldn't get to the surface, I thought I would die, but a man had seen it, and he was quick enough to get me." Niko had forgotten about the film now as well and was looking at Kamil.

"I remember once ... I was taught how to swim by my aunt. I was very young, like ... five maybe ... and she was holding me. We were in the river that flows through the place where I lived. Anyway, she let me go for a couple of moments and I went under. Strange thing because I wasn't afraid at all, I remember looking around in this water, seeing stones on the bottom and the sun rays ... I remember that when my aunt pulled me out of water, I wanted to go down again," He chuckled "Now who is weirder?"

"So maybe, I don't know…. you were a fish in your former life or something." Niko grinned. "Sun rays in the water, that sounds pretty, I think... I think I want to paint that one day; a child diving in the water filled with light." He had the image already in his mind.

"Fish? No, not a fish, I hate fish, they are cold and slimy," He shivered, which made Niko laugh.

"Okay so no fish then, something warm and..." He took a pause, finding himself leaning dangerously close to Kamil and having these thoughts of... He decided that it was best to pull back slightly. "Something warm," He repeated almost silently.

"A polar bear?" Kamil joked again, remembering how he had told him that some American had thought that there were polar bears in Finland.

"Yeah, a polar bear, they like to swim, don't they? Or then they have to...hm..." Niko’s thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. He got up to search it.

“Hello.”

“Hi baby, gonna come over, wanna fuck?” It was Matt. Niko felt himself tensing. He could hear in Matt’s voice that he was drunk.

“Go home to sleep.” He told him with a cold voice.

“Nah, gona come over, feel so horny…”

“Well I can’t help you with that, sorry.” He said and hung up.

Kamil noticed that Niko was in a bad mood.

"I think it's getting kind of late ... and I'm hogging your bed again." He stood up, lowering the blanket on the bed and immediately he felt cold. "Thanks for the wine and film, next time I'll bring drink with me." Niko tried to smile.

"Ok, thank you for the company and good night..." He whispered, hoping that Kamil would stay.

"Um ... sleep well?" It came more as a question than a wish. Again Niko just smiled tiredly as he sat down on his bed.

Kamil walked into his own room and undressed his drawstring pants. He lay down, finding that his duvet was cold, he shivered slightly. It had been so warm under that blanket and so close to Niko. He thought about it before he fell asleep; he is not that careless as he first thought he was, there was some depth to him. What made him be so superficial sometimes when he really was someone deeper?


Niko felt alone and cold. He wanted someone to keep him warm, to touch him, to kiss him. He closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, hoping to find some sleep soon. But he couldn’t fall asleep no matter what. He listened to the clock ticking, otherwise it was silent.

Suddenly he heard knocking at the front door, he sat up and listened, but the knocking only grew more persistent, he jumped up from his bed and walked across the room bare feeted, wearing only a tank top and boxers. It was freezing, he wrapped his arms around himself as he hurried to answer to the door. As soon as he opened the door he regretted it; it was Matt, a terribly drunk Matt.

“Baby…” The strong arms wrapped around him before he had even time to react.

“Matt, I told you….” Niko hissed as he tried to squirm his way out from the hold. The front door closed after Matt and he pressed Niko against the nearest wall He kissed Niko’s neck, licked it, his hands traveled down on his butt.

"Let’s fuck..." He murmured.

"”Let’s not, go home,” Niko told him, trying to be as quiet as he could, as he had already promised Kamil that this kind of trouble wouldn’t occur anymore.

“I love it when you play hard to get,” Matt laughed quietly. How thick was this guy anyway? Niko wondered while being groped without shame. He could smell the heavy alcohol on Matt, could taste it from the sloppy unwelcome kisses, he felt ill.

"Go home Matt, I want to sleep…”

“Just a quickie, you know, you want it,” Matt insisted while already pulling Niko’s boxers down. Niko pulled back, trying desperately to keep on the piece of clothing.

"Matt, I want to go to sleep...stop it, please, I mean it." But it seemed that whatever he said, Matt wouldn’t pay attention to it. He felt as Matt’s hand moved under the hem of his boxers to stroke his naked butt, his fingers dangerously close to his…

Kamil woke to the strange noises coming from the hall, they weren’t too loud, but still… He frowned, trying to make his mind less fuzzy from the sleep, put on the glasses and he opened the door. He was greeted with the sight of his flat mate being pinned against the wall by the guy he had seen on that first Saturday. He would have just turned around and gotten back to sleep if not for one thing; Niko didn’t look like he was enjoying himself, in fact he looked like trying to get away from the hold.

"Am I interrupting in something?" He asked as he emerged from his room, speaking to the drunk guy, who seemed to have his hand inside Niko’s boxers…

"Yeah... you are... we gonna fuck." He looked towards Kamil, but did not ease his hold on Niko.

"No we're not, Matt, take your hand off." Niko was squirming and Kamil saw red, he hated drunk gropers that didn’t get the fucking clue!

He forcefully detached the guy’s hands from Niko’s body and shoved him towards the door. He was so drunk that he almost fell down. Kamil opened the door and shoved the guy again, this time paying attention not to push too hard. He didn’t want the guy to fall down and get injured. Kamil close and locked the door, turning to Niko.

"You ok? He didn't do anything to you?" He asked.

Niko looked down at his clothes, to make sure that his boxers were on right.

"I'm ok, I think, he just... drooled all over me," he wiped the wetness from his neck shuddering. "I pick up the real charmers, don't I?" He tried to joke, trembling slightly, partly from cold, partly from…

"Or they rather pick you," Kamil shook his head. "Those are the worst kind, I seriously hate them, no matter how hard you're trying to shake them, they stick to you like chewing gum to the underside of the shoe ..." Then Kamil noticed two things; first he was rambling, keeping Niko there in his underwear only and it was kind of… cold… Secondly, he looked too pale to feel good after what happened to him.

"You ... don't feel ok. Did he try ..."

"I don't know." Niko said as honestly as he could. "I don't know," he repeated. "If you hadn't been here, I..." He looked at Kamil, who felt his anger rising, but the last thing that they needed was someone angry. He quickly walked to Niko’s room, took the blanket from the bed and brought it to the small hall, wrapping it around Niko’s arms.

"Let's go to the kitchen, I'll make you hot tea."

"Thank you," Niko whispered feeling grateful to Kamil.


When the tea was ready, Kamil sat down in front of the kitchen table with Niko.

"Niko, this idiot ... we have to get him from your back, somehow. He's not going to leave you alone like that, and like you said, I might not be there the next time. So any ideas how to deal with this problem?" Niko lifted the mug between his hands, gently blowing in it, wanting it to cool down. He realised that Kamil was right, Matt wouldn’t leave him alone that easily, after all this had been going on for weeks. But he had no idea how to make him to leave him alone, if he did, the problem would have been solved days ago.

"Don't know, Kamil, I have no idea... He..." Niko tried to find the right words. “He... He was that drunk and I couldn't get him off of me." He said tasting the tea. "I never realised that I was this weak."

"It's not the question of being weak, Niko, drunk people have sometimes surprising amounts of strength. I threw him out but it wasn't easy for me either," Kamil admitted and drank a gulp of the tea; he would like to take a teaspoon and start drinking from it, like he used to when he was a child. What Niko needed to get this stupid drunk ... He suddenly thought of an idea. "He was coming onto you because he thinks you're easy. Sorry, but that's what it looks like to me. So you just need to make him - and everyone else - see that you're not."

Niko watched him quietly, wondering when had he made himself into that; easy? He hadn’t always been like that. “I wasn’t always…” he muttered into his tea mug. "How will I do that? To make them see?" He asked then.

Kamil was silent for a long time, slowly drinking his tea. He was not the one who could think up some twisted plans, but he was intelligent and what Niko needed was…

"If you ... if someone hits on you the next time, you should firmly say 'no' to that person ... Can you do that? And it would be good if it happened somewhere where all those idiots can see it. What's the best place for that?"

"I can say no, for goodness sake," Niko snapped at first, but then realised that Kamil was only trying to help him. "I'm sorry... I-, well, there is this club... I know I'm not 21 yet, but I have… um this fake ID, and that's where we go, where they go..."

"Good. I mean not good that you have a fake ID," Kamil grinned at him meaningfully. "But ... do you have someone who would do something like that? I mean, hit on you? We can't count on the fact that someone will hit on you by chance ..." He scratched his head. This whole idea seemed more and more stupid to him now.

"Um," Niko thought about it going through his friends at school, mostly girls, and a guy who sometimes helped him with Math, but no one would be surprised if he turned that guy down… and then there were some other guys, but he would never go to them for help.

"I-... I don't know who to ask." He told Kamil who almost couldn’t believe it. Niko was popular and there was no one who could help him? He didn’t look like a shy one, he should have heaps of friends! Kamil thought about it for a moment, well, he would have to come out sooner or later and it was not as if people at the uni would kill him for being gay, he knew at least few who were.

"Niko ... don't get me wrong, please. I wouldn't normally do this but I can see you need some help here and I don't want to see you forced in a dark alley any time soon. So what would you say ..."

"Are you telling me that you would... help me?" Niko asked carefully.

"Basically ... yes. I will pretend I'm hitting on you and you'll have to ... make it really convincing that you're not interested."

It might actually work. Kamil looked… well… heavenly to Niko’s eyes and… Since he would know that it wasn’t real and that Kamil was only pretending to be interested… then… it could be easy?

"Alright, I can do that." He smiled. "Thank you Kamil."

"No problem at all, you're a friend," Kamil smiled back, hoping he had made him feel little more secure; Niko wasn’t so pale anymore and he had stopped shivering. "We have to hurry up, you realize, the sooner all those people get it that you're not easy, the better for you... What about tomorrow, in fact?" Kamil asked.

"Well, I know many are there tomorrow, so, yes..." Niko agreed.

"So ..." Kamil grinned at him, "We have a date tomorrow!" He finished the tea and looked at Niko. "Feeling any better now?"

"Much better, I don't know how to thank you Kamil."

"Like I said, no problem," He stood up, going towards the sink to wash his cup. "You should go to sleep now, you need to look your best. I will not be hitting on some scruffy looking Swedish kid," Kamil said, making sure that his voice sounded joking. Niko laughed softly.

“I will look gorgeous for you, Kamil,” He grinned and stood up. He was feeling so much better that he decided to hug Kamil.

His spontaneous hug surprised Kamil and for a moment he felt tempted to return his hug, but that would be a dead give away to Niko that he was gay as well and for some reason he’d rather keep it the way it was, Niko not knowing, perhaps to make it easier somehow? Because Niko was a great friend and if he knew then… maybe, he would try… well if they would try, what if it didn’t work? Then he would lose a good friend and a decent flat mate. So he thought that he’d preferred staying friends.

He went to bed and falling asleep turned out to be a little difficult as his mind replayed the hug. It felt… nice. But Niko was a friend and nothing else.


**^^**^^**^^**


Sunday evening, they were both getting ready to leave to the club. Niko chose his clothes carefully, wanting to look extra good. He picked his favorite pair of jeans that fitted him like a glove, he thought that his butt looked great in them. Then a tight fitting t-shirt, also his favorite. He took a soft, black bracelet and put it on his left wrist. He checked himself in the mirror and did the one last touch to his hair. Soon there was a knock on his door.

“Come in.”

Kamil walked in the room and took a quick look at Niko; he really did pay a lot of attention to his appearance.

“I wanted to ask you if it looks ok,” He said, meaning his clothes that he had had some trouble choosing. He didn’t have any clubbing clothes really, so he had picked out the only items that he thought should be suitable enough; faded blue jeans and a snuggly fitting muscle shirt without sleeves, he thought that he could put a denim jacked over it if it wasn’t good enough. And his hair… well, his hair was just stubborn and it was better to leave it to the way it wanted to be, rather that to try and style it.

"Well, I’ll tell you; you don't make it easy for me to turn you down Kamil. You look really good." Niko grinned. "But don’t worry, I promise to stick to the plan.”

"You know, we should get to the club separately, if we go together, no one will believe our little set up." Kamil noted.

"Oh we should, yes..." Niko nodded. "So which one of us should go first?"

"How about ... I don't know, maybe I could get there first, I could have a look around before you come…. So give me like 15 minutes? And I’ll find you when you get there."

“Okay, see you there.”

“And please don't be late, I’m not a big fan of clubs." Kamil said before leaving.

“I won’t be late, I promise.”


**^^**^^**

Kamil arrived at the club, feeling slightly odd as clubs definitely weren’t his favorite places to be. The music was loud, people were dancing on the dance floor in the front. Kamil walked over to the bar to get himself a drink, one that didn’t have much alcohol in it. The last thing he needed that night, was to get tipsy. He waited for Niko, slowly sipping his drink and finally he saw him and he was right on time, too.

Kamil had also noticed that Mr Grope-Everyone-When-Drunk was at the club as well, sitting close to the counter with his friends. Kamil wasn’t sure if the guy remembered at all what he was trying to do the previous night and if he even remembered who Kamil was. He had seen him twice already, but both times he had been busy with something else entirely and he hadn’t payed much attention to him.

But as soon as Niko had entered the club, Mr Groper immediately perked up. So it was Kamil’s clue, he needed to get up and start hitting on Niko. It had been a long time since he had hit on anyone, he had been too busy with his studies. He hoped that he could still remember how it worked.

He snickered as he walked closer to his flat mate, who at the time was ordering himself a drink. Kamil could only hope that he wouldn’t sound corny to him.

"Hello gorgeous," Kamil smiled when getting close to Niko, mentally cringing; it had sounded corny.

“Hello,” Niko answered to his smile and at the same time tried to sound casual. It did feel strange having to pretent that he didn’t know who Kamil was.

"I noticed you're kind of alone. In need of some company?"Kamil leaned over the counter a bit to make a cool impression that was so characteristic for all those… gropers. He gave Niko a lazy look, from his head to his toes and gave him an approving smile.

"Maybe I like being alone." Niko replied with a grin and a raised eyebrow. Kamil moved closer to Niko, as he noticed that the troublemaker from last night had taken few steps closer to them.

"Maybe I feel like keeping you company?" Niko looked at him, from head to toe and smiled.

"You're not the only one." Niko told him, his heart beating madly, he could feel Kamil’s eyes on him, he could feel the others’ too.

"No, I'm not. But I'm much nicer than those over there," Kamil said softly as he pointed with his head towards the vultures who were ogling Niko at the moment. And Niko knew that he was, that he would be and he couldn’t help but hope that it wasn’t just a game that they were playing.

"Are you?" He asked whit curious tone. "Are you better?"

"I hope I am," Kamil answered him, leaninging even closer to him, making it look like he was trying to kiss him, or at least hoping for it, he whispered so that only he could hear it, "Niko, we need to play it a little longer, if you slap me away immediately, it will look as if I'm lousy at flirting and not worth any attention. We need them to believe you can resist a temptation. "Niko turned his head slightly.

"I know... we must play..." he whispered back." So, show me, prove me that you're better.” Niko said louder that time.

Kamil took a deep breath, trying to hide it from Niko, then he gave him a smile that he hoped was suggestive without being lecherous at the same time.

"Let's go with me, I have a table at the back, a nice place, without so many eyes intruding our privacy. We could ... talk?" He raised his eyebrows. "And if you want, we can dance. I can bet anything you're a wonderful dancer, with a body like that." He ran the tips of his fingers along his arm, the one that was closer to him.

The touch made Niko shiver and want more, he had to keep telling himself that it was only a game.
"Alright, we can talk," he nodded his head, "perhaps we can even dance." He said with a smile tilting his head to the side.

Kamil continued running his fingertips along Niko’s arm, enjoying the touch of the hot skin. His hand began to move more slowly, the movements started to vary more, his fingers drawing small circles.

"So let's go," Kamil interlaced his fingers hit his, tugging slightly at Niko’s hand.

"I want to ... talk to you ... so much..." Kamil thought he sounded like…. an exemplary pervert.

"Lead the way," Niko spoke whit husky voice, enjoying the feel of Kamil’s hand in his far too much.

They sat down in front of the table. Kamil leaned towards Niko as if he wanted to continue flirting, and he kept the seductive smile on his face.

"This is positively creepy, Niko. They are watching you like hungry hawks would eye a tasty, fat chicken."

"I know... and it is creepy, I have to wonder about the rumours that they have of me..." Niko whispered, also trying to look as if they were flirting. Niko tilted his head to the side and rested his arms on the table. "Are they still there?" He asked, keeping his voice low.

Kamil leaned a bit, to get a better look, but made it discreet enough not to be too obvious. Then he leaned back to Niko, his face so close to his that if he were to lean just a little bit more, he could kiss him.

"They are. And they are still watching, stupid perverts." He thought for a moment, then whispered to Niko, "Push me away." And he kissed his lips; nothing like to a shove-a-tongue-in-his-throat, just lips against lips. His hand wandered on Niko's arm and slide up to his shoulder.

In all truth, the last thing that Niko wanted, was to push Kamil away, but he knew he had to, so he willed himself to do it.

"Who said that you could kiss me?" He asked whit a grin, leaning back.

"Your eyes did, gorgeous," Kamil grinned at him. "And they were begging for it, too ... but if you don't want ..." He leaned away from him just a bit and shot a quick glance towards the groper, who still watched them carefully. He then took a sip of his drink, trying to pretend that he was a player who was just thinking of another strategy to get inside Niko's pants.

Niko licked his lips, trying to calm himself down.

"Oh my eyes told you that, did they? And what are my eyes telling you now?"

"Hm ... let me think, they are telling me ... you want to dance with me really bad ..." Kamil grinned and added with a whisper; "It will give you some more oportunity to slap me away."

"Yes," Niko whispered. "Well, I do like to dance, so, let’s go." He stood up, and smiled at his friend.

Kamil stood up with him and took his hand once more, the alcohol he had drank made him a bit bolder. He pulled Niko towards the dance floor looking in his eyes as they moved, smiling and getting a curious smile back.

Niko listened to the beat of the music, feeling Kamil’s hand in his own and he wanted… wanted to try if, even if it was only a game, even if… well Niko wanted Kamil to want him the way that he wanted Kamil.

The dance was a fast one, but Kamil enjoyed the beat of the music that made his blood run faster. He saw Niko next to him, in front of him, his body moving in perfect harmony with the music. Then he felt his touch on his waist, a tentative touch, for a moment Kamil forgot that it was only a game, a set up.He reached his hands to him, grabbing Niko’s wrists and pulling him closer to him, but not letting their bodies touch.

Niko was getting lost in the moment more and more, sensations were taking him over, he looked into Kamil’s eyes and knew right away that it had been a mistake, simply because he was feeling so much more than he should. He was regretting his previous carelessness, the meaningless one night stands that always left him feeling hollow inside. With a man like Kamil, it could be so much more, it would be meaningful.

Then Kamil remembered why they were there; he had to pretent to be coming onto Niko and so far he hadn’t done a very convincing job. He pulled Niko even closer to himself, his hands coming to rest on Niko’s waist, his head lowered a little, until his face was hidden in the crook of his neck, between his head and shoulder. He sniffed a little, smelling the fresh smell of his skin. He had to remind himself not to get carried away with it, he only wanted to help Niko out of trouble and he wanted to keep him as a friend so he shouldn’t spoil it with some really irresponsible behaviour.

‘A game, a game,’ Niko thought. It had become like some kind of mantra to him; it was only a game, not real. He pulled away from Kamil, but stayed close, closing his eyes and listening to the music, he turned his back to Kamil, secretly hoping to feel his touch once more.

Kamil swallowed the saliva that had suddenly filled his mouth, he shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t. But he wanted to help him, he had to be convincing… ‘Excuses, Kamil, and pretty weak ones!’ He told himself. His hands reached out for him again, pulling him back to him, his face pressing against the back of his head, then against his neck and he was tempted to kiss it, but this would be going too far, or would it? He closed his eyes for a second and brused his lips against Niko’s skin, feeling the warmth of it, and then he remembered once more! “Niko,” he whispered, “you must push me away.”

And once again Niko had to will himself to do it, he moved away from Kamil, turned around and shook his head as a no, though his mind kept screaming YES.

Kamil shrugged his shouldes like a player who knew that he could wait until the right moment arrived, but he had a blank mind. It was good that Niko was the more responsible one for the both of them now, if he hadn’t pulled away, Kamil would have tried more and this was not something that they had in plans for that evening. This evening was about Niko showing the vultures he was NOT someone easy to get.

The next song as a slower one and Niko was unsure what to do, should he continue dancing? Should he push Kamil away completely? And if he was to leave, would he get home safely? He looked at Kamil in order to find the answers to his questions. What next?

Kamil threw a glance at Niko, then he looked at the vultures, with the groper among them. So, they wanted to see what would happen between Niko and him? Once again Kamil pulled him closer, this time being more decisive about it; Niko needed to show them that he seriously wasn’t going to let him do whatever it was that he wanted to do to him. And lord help him, but oh how he wanted to do this! His hands went to Niko’s buttocks and he pulled him flush against him. And part of his mind was screaming at him not to do this, that it was stupid, but Niko’s body felt good against his own.

Niko was taken by surprise; Kamil was a good actor! If he didn’t know any better he’d think that Kamil truly wanted him! Niko placed his hands on Kamil’s chest. Pulling himself free; it was of no use, it was fake, not real.

“No,” he told him, making sure that it was clear enough for anyone watching that he was the one to pull away.

Kamil raised is hands in the 'I give up' gesture, showing him that he was not intending to touch him again. "Let's go back to the table," he suggested pointing with his head in that direction. Niko nodded, feeling dizzy with everything and he wasn’t sure if he should have said no, or not.

When they were passing the vultures, Kamil tried once more to reinforce the image of Niko being hard to get. He stopped and turned around.

"What do you say ... let's leave this party and go to my place?" He asked.

"To your place? To do what?" Niko asked, once again reminded of the reality of their game.

"We could find someting to keep us occupied with, to pass the time ... in an interesting way. What do you say, gorgeous? You and me?" Kamil thought that he was being way too suggestive, but… if it was going to help him… There was only one problem; how was he going to look into Niko’s face again? Without getting embarrased?

“So you want to have sex with me?” Niko asked as bluntly as he could
"Yes, sex, we're both adults," Kamil smiled, feeling at the same time weird, imagining Niko and himself on his bed ... ‘God, Kamil, you're NOT going to do that! That's your flat mate! Stop this immediately!’ His mind was screaming at him.

"Yes, we're both adults, but do not think that I'll let you in my bed just like that, if sex is what your after for this night, then go and find someone else for it," It felt so weird saying that, knowing that Kamil was far from this person that he was now playing.

"Awww ... gorgeous, you don't know what you're missing ..." Kamil moved away from him and walked to the counter to order himself some soft drink; he needed to cool off. He only hoped that the vultures would leave Niko alone. He should go home now.

Niko went to get his jacket and left the club. It was much chillier now than before. He wrapped his arms around himself. He felt confused. Then he heard that someone was following him, Kamil? He looked back and saw that it was Matt, so he hurried his steps.

"Hey, wait, Niko... I have something to tell you." Niko kept walking.

“What ever it is; I am not interested!” He snapped back.

"Aw, but Niko...wait," Matt was right behind him, grasping his arm and pulling him close.

“What was that?” Matt asked him.

“What was what? Let go of me.” Niko tried to pull his arm free in vain.

“With that guy you were with.”

“Nothing, just some guy, now let go, I want to go home and sleep.” Matt pulled him closer and kissed him forcefully. Niko struggled in his hold. “Let go,” Niko tried again between the kisses and the groping.


Kamil sipped the juice that he had ordered, seeing Niko leave the club, but almost at the same time he saw the groper follow him. He left the glass on the counter and got out of the club. He looked around, it was dark and he couldn’t see where they were, but then he heard something. He got close enough to hear their conversation, at least the end of it.

The groper was really starting to piss Kamil off. He decided to intervene, feeling anger rising in him and demanding that he’d do something about it. He walked over to them and pulled the guy off from struggling Niko.

"Haven't you heard the word 'NO'?” He asked him with barely suppressed fury.

"Look here, you had your chance and lost it. This is between us now, so get lost." Matt told him taking a hold of Niko’s arm once more. "Niko and I have some unfinished business."

"Maybe I lost my chance, but so did you, it seems, so let him go!" Kamil snarled at the groper, getting closer. "Not taking to refusal too kindly, are you?"

Niko managed to pull himself free. He watched as Matt walked closer to Kamil, eyeing him dangerously.

"Some people just can't mind their own business, can they? Do you want to fight me, huh?" Matt smirked.

"Stop it Matt, you’re being an arse." Niko tried to interrupt and to pull him away.

"And some obviously can't get any if they aren't nearly raping someone," Kamil snarled again, really seeing red. "Get the fuck out of my sight, you sick bastard! Seeing you makes me want to puke! And leave Niko alone, he already regrets having slept with you! Besides, he's too good for you!" Kamil was yelling at the groper and Niko looked at the pair in some kind of shock. Matt laughed then.

"You can't rape a slut," He said giving a glance towards Niko, who at that moment finally lost it; he had had enough. He raised his arm up and hit Matt, he had never hit anyone before, but this time he felt that it was right. Matt’s nose began to bleed.

“I’m not a slut!” He said firmly, breathing tensely.

"Fuck, you fuucking..." Matt started to curse at him.

Kamil’s heart leaped with satisfaction at the sight of Niko standing up for himself and hitting the groper straight in the face. When Matt took a step closer to Niko, Kamil decided that enogh was enough and he punched him in the face as hard as he could. He heard the sickly sound when his fist contacted with his nose. Matt bent over, his hands coming to his nose once more.

"I guess you can't beat the one who definitely wants the beating ..." Kamil said, his breathing coming hard with the anger, his knuckles hurting like bitch. "Come on, Niko, let's leave the idiot."
Looking at the sight of Matt and his bleeding nose made Niko feel quite satisfied. He nodded his head, smiling at Kamil.

“Let’s go,” He agreed and they continued their journey home, side by side. Both feeling slightly confused about everything, about the unspoken feelings that now were between them.

TBC ...

And now the response to our reviewer, XXhammyXX: thank you very much and don't worry, we will keep up writing. That was so nice of you to comment ^__^ and we're happy you like the characters!