Malik was wide awake while Noah softly snored on his chest. Sometime during another miniature night terror, Noah had rolled over. He hooked a thigh around Malik's and entwined an arm around Malik's waist.

What Noah had said, had put them both through the wringer. Malik thought it would be a feat before he slept but as soon as the sobs subsided, he'd curled and dropped like a log. Malik alternated between watching him sleep, his golden lashes were clamped by dried tears, and cursing his own unruly cock. The boy had no inkling of the type of power he had over Malik's body. His cheek was pressed over Malik's waxed chest and when he'd moan...yeah...it went straight down there. He couldn't think of anything coherent except how to avoid blue balls.

He kicked the cover off his free right leg then wriggled his semi immobilized left. He thanked God he had practiced sneaking out of beds before he realized how the magic had turned against the magician. He'd never wanted a complicated relationship and where was he? Smack in the middle of it.

Don't wake up, Malik thought as he slid his boy's head across his shoulder and onto the pillow.

Success.

Noah moaned just as Malik replaced his own body with another pillow and tiptoed out of the room.

God. Pale skin, lank hair, and delicate limps made him akin to a fallen angel. An angel with clipped wings.

He went to the bathroom to frizzle down then rummaged for the elusive Vape he kept in the utensils drawers in the kitchen. Forgoing a shirt, he re-wore his coat and sneakers.

Taking the stairs to the apartment building's roof, cleared his head. The fresh air tingled on his exposed cheeks. He pressed the side button on the Vape and it heated up in record time. Inhaling deeply on the electronic cigarette, nicotine and coconut additives corrupted his lungs. He exhumed twin lines of smoke.

There were children's bicycles covered in melted snow, splinters of wood, and broken plastic chairs on the roof. Buried under layers of waterproof lining found at a hardware store, lay Malik's calculated surprise. The superintendent had kept it under wraps, out from his uncle's constant reports, for a few bucks. It was meant to be a big reveal for tomorrow. But Noah just had a nervous breakdown. What if he doesn't take it well? what if he goes off again?

If there had been a manual on how to deal with that kind of complex stuff, Malik would've signed up for the course. He still hadn't laid out the clues he'd uncovered at the gallery. He still needed answers. About the poly trio of which Francois was a member. About Sarah being involved. About the drug that continued to destroy people he cared for.

I was the test subject.

He'd get so angry when I wasn't able to answer.

Malik took a deeper drag. He'd often read about abused kids. They were far away victims he wouldn't get to meet. Headlines of a Facebook post, he scrolled up in favor of the latest sportswear sale.

He imagined Carlisle Montgomery, a bully with a scowl contorting his face, standing over a blond child. He imagined himself walking in on the scene, grabbing Carlisle by the lapels of his shirt, and smashing his head into a bloody pulp. The man was a monster.

Malik heard a scuffling of feet and turned.

He had his arms crossed over his chest, cheeks rosy from sleep. "Hey."

Malik motioned for him to come over. It was good to see he'd remembered to wear flip-flops and to grab a thick scarf. "Hey, yourself."

Noah looked at the Vape. "Can I have a drag?"

He thought he might dissolve into a coughing fit. "Careful." He passed the electronic device. Noah's fingers were cool to touch.

Noah inhaled and exhaled the smoke with surprising ease. "I apologize for how I behave."

"It's fine."

Another drag. "I meant what I said. All of it."

Malik felt a pang in his heart. "I know. It scared me shitless."

Noah cocked his head to the side. Longer strands of hair shadowed a red-rimmed eye. "Why are you this good to me? Why don't you hate me?"

Malik laughed. He still didn't get it. "Would you do anything for me? If I asked you to?"

"Anything." There was no hesitation.

"So I say jump, you'd say how high?"

"Yes."

Malik almost choked up. "Even suicide?"

Noah gave him a curt nod.

Jesus. He had to talk him into seeing a shrink.

"Why would you die for me? Guilt?"

"Part of it, yes."

Malik took the Vape back. "And the other part?"

Noah bit his bottom lip. "Because...you're you. I can't live in a world where you're troubled or...worse."

That boy. " There we are. I'm good to you because you're you," he saw Noah's eyes widen. "And I will ask you to do something for me."

"Of course," Noah whispered.

"Live. And tomorrow...don't freak out?"

A faint rush of cold air rustled Noah's hair. "I. Yes. What happens tomorrow?"

Malik mulled it over. How much to reveal and how much should remain a surprise?

''I want you to move in," Malik chose to be frank. "Living on the streets is not an option. You can clean or do laundry or whatever if you feel like you have to pitch in. Tomorrow I want to sweeten the deal."

The side of Noah's mouth was quirked. "You have that face on."

Malik frowned. "Huh?"

"Um. When you're plotting you... it's...never mind."

"Oh no," Malik nudged him. "You can't leave me hanging. What does it look like?"

Even in the dim light, Malik could tell he was flustered. "Your whole face gets serious...and it dances."

"Dances?"

Noah nodded. "It's your plotting face, detective."

Malik threw his head back and laughed. Noah smiled weakly.

"I got class in the morning. Let's go inside and crash?"

"Okay," he said in a small voice. "Malik, I'm sorry."

Noah had been through hell at home, plucked up the courage to start over, living god knows where at night and scrubbing toilets for pennies, and whatever stamina he had left he gave it fully to help uncover the reason behind Rami's demise. If he'd gone through a fraction of that hell, Malik would've had nothing but hate for the world. He would've raged at the unfair he'd been dealt. He knew his faith had been shaken. God had let his father torture him and his mind continued the abominable practice.

"I'm sorry too," he managed to say. "Let's go in before sunrise."

Noah dropped his head and descended the stairs ahead of him. When his back was turned, Malik begged god's forgiveness and crossed himself.

***

Malik raced through his day. He had class, preps for midterms, and had to dodge John and his friends. John winked at him assuming there was a girl in his life simply because Malik never missed a good party. The truth was, he was a heap of nerves. He did give Noah a heads up but was it enough?

There was, of course, the matter of Noah assuming Malik would want to engage in physical assault. They had a long way to go.

By four Noah was fully decked out in winter gear. Malik had handed over a pair of black gloves and a matching ice cap in addition to the coat. He was so damn cute.

"How was your day?" He asked the second he got in the Jetta.

"Not bad. Class was stressful. Yours?"

Noah shrugged. "Good."

Malik flipped on the radio to the oldies channel. It was barreling out 80s rock. "It's not much of a drive."

"Alright." Noah was fiddling with the seatbelt.

"Wanna know where we're going?"

"I'll leave it up to you."

Traffic was in their favor. The Four Paws shelter was a single-story building with a massive back yard full of crates and partitions where the animals roamed free under the supervision of the shelter's staff.

When they got out of the car, Noah was as wide-eyed as ever.

"Listen," Malik said. "I knew from Liz you had a dog and I know no two creatures are the same but I thought maybe it was time for you to let someone else in."

Plus it will get you out of the apartment, Malik thought. As much as he wanted to keep him for himself, he didn't want Noah to turn into a hermit.

"You mean...I can have a dog?" He was looking beyond the shelter's threshold.

"Yeah. Happy birthday."

Noah gasped. "How...?" He shook his head.

Malik had been plotting for weeks. He had to fill out adoption forms which put him on a waitlist and had to follow up several times over the phone. He was worried he wasn't going to make it in time for Noah's birthday because had no backup gift plan. When the call of acceptance finally came, Malik ran to the nearest pet store and bought a crate, leech, bowls, and the works. Those were safely hidden on the apartment building's roof. He held out a hand. "Ready?"

Noah slipped off the gloves, stuffed them in the pocket of the coat, and took Malik's hand. For once it was as warm as his.

It was an explosion of barks and scarring little feet inside. The reception girl in aviator glasses and a pixie cut was all smiles.

"Hi. Welcome to Four Paws. Are you here to adopt?"

Malik read her name tag. "Hi, Nancy. I have an appointment today. It should be under Malik Massoud."

"I feel like we're checking into a hotel," Noah said quietly for only Malik to hear. Nancy was rifling through papers.

"You should've seen the adoption form. I thought they'll ask for a urine sample."

Noah gave him a shy smile when Nancy got up.

"Okay. If you'll follow me. Are you looking for big or small dogs?"

Malik looked at his flatmate. They were still holding hands.

Noah had his brows knitted together. "Could you please show us the dogs who've been here the longest? Um. The least likely to get adopted?"

Nancy beamed. "Absolutely!"

They were taken to a small Chihuahua who growled at Noah and Malik had to snatch his fingers away in fear of them being bitten. Nancy's gusto was unfazed as she took them to meet a light brown puppy. It was curled on itself, whiskers and long ears drooping.

"We got him from a farm. He's a perfectly healthy dog but born defected." Nancy said.

"What seems to be the problem?" Malik asked.

"He's blind."

"Can I say hello?" Noah peered at Nancy.

"Sure." Nancy unlocked the crate.

Noah dropped to his knees. "Hello. I'm Noah."

The puppy perked his ears up. It pattered on its legs towards Noah who was compliant while the puppy sniffed his crotch. The puppy took a step back and Noah crouched until he was at eye level with it. The puppy let out a yelp and before Malik could step in, it went for Noah's face.

"Hold on," Nancy put a hand on Malik's arm.

The puppy rained licks, which were in dog language kisses, all over Noah's face and next. The more Noah laughed the more the puppy wagged his tail and yapped.

"Can we have him?" Noah beamed at Malik. "Please?"

Malik couldn't breathe for a second. He'd always thought Noah was beautiful but at that moment, his entire being radiated happiness. He was beyond beautiful. He was downright ethereal.

Malik could only nod.

"He's a mixed Pharaoh Hound,'' Nancy said as she waved them goodbye.

"You picked another mixed Egyptian," Malik teased as they drove away. The puppy was yawning on Noah's lap.

"I know they're the best," Noah replied solemnly.

Yup, Malik thought, that boy will be the death of me.

Dedicated to @Navneruvesentlig