When Will I Hold You? (MxM)

"I'm on my way up now Gorgeous" I said to Gage who was on the phone with me as I walked up far too many stairs "and I come barring nummies all the way from Durban."

"Okay, I'll see you now now Ass" he laughed quickly hanging up. I groaned. He needed to find a cute name for me. I call him gorgeous because it's cute and also starts with a G. But he calls me Ass, Annoying and Arrogant.

I smiled at the Tupperware that was in my hands. I'd gone to my classes and on my way up to the apartment the doorman stopped me saying my sister, Navitha, had sent me a package that'd come in an hour ago. Judging from the packaging, it was couriered, sent and delivered by hand this morning and if I know anything about my sister in this well cling-film wrapped package was a small fortune of biscuits, jalebi and barfi.

They're my favourite desert/treat and only my sister and mother can make it just right. There are tons of Indian food restaurants and vendors out here in Pretoria but there's nothing like homemade sweet bits of heaven.

I all but ripped the packaging to shreds when the doorman told me about the package. I haven't had this in so long.

I knocked and waited but there was no answer so I figured it's his own fault if I accidentally fling him into a hot stove.

The smell of Gage's delightful body wash and his favourite songs floated around the apartment like it did every morning. It always comforted me because it smelt like him and it would seem my comfort and small bit of happiness would come around a second time during the day now that he's doing hospital work eighty percent of the time.

But it was a wonder he'd come home so early. Usually I'd come home to an empty apartment after my classes. Gage usually stays a little later than the other students to assist the hospital in other ways since the hospital he's currently doing his residency at is a public one in a rather bad part of town.

The door of our bathroom flung open and let out a waft of steam as soon as I cracked the lid of my Tupperware.

"Jalebi?" he asked with so much hope in such a small child-like voice and was by my side in an instant. I laughed a little and broke a small piece of the bright orange crispy swirled syrup and fed him a small piece of the sticky goodness then licked the syrup off my fingers.

He groaned loudly tasting the desert. "I think I'm pursuing the wrong Kumal."

I glared at him and he only gave me a tight lipped smile and kissed my cheek. "I'd be careful about what I say if I were you. I feed you. Now leave animal, you're dripping all over my clean floors."

He shrugged and walked back to the bathroom before looking back at me, "I don't have to lock the door do I? I can trust you won't take advantage of me?"

"No promises" I winked at him. He gasped and slammed the bathroom door closed making me roll my eyes. Goofball.

I grabbed the giant Tupperware and threw my bag down. I had a long IT class today and all I wanted to do was go lie on my bed, eat cookies and cuddle with Gage.

I made my way up the two small steps and then stopped dead in my tracks

I stared at it. I know what it is but what the hell was it doing here? Where did it come from? Was there something special in the jalebi's syrup? Had Navi started trying 'new' things? Our mother would not approve. Not because these would now be space treats but because that would mean her grandmothers recipe had been messed with. And one does not simply change your great grandmothers recipe for edible heaven.

Then it got worse. It all got so much worse as a soft symphony began. There was a soft and subtle meow from up stairs. Upstairs where my bed was- my bed that actually had a base and pretty red silk bedding. What happened in the few hours I was in class?

My god Gage. What did you do?

I know I dosed off in my final class of the day, but it was math and time always slows down there and- how long was I asleep?

It wouldn't be the first time I fell asleep in class and everyone simply cleaned up and locked up as if I wasn't there.

I walked up the stairs where three little kittens laid on Gage's old trench coat, it was adorable to say the least. They'd made home in all of his pockets.

"Gorgeous?" I yelled once again.

"Yes?" he asked coming up to the deck fully clothed.

"What happened here?"

"Got some furniture, got some kittens" he shrugged.

"We can't afford this stuff Gage."

"Yes we can though" he whispered, "we can now anyway."

"How? I can't afford debt and we share a bank account that means you can't either!"

He sighed and sat on the bed, "I didn't buy it with my money. Well- I did. I spoke to my dad and-"

"What? Why?"

He sighed again and hung his head low. He tried looking for words but I guess he found none that were just right. I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe him. He swore he'd never go back to being manipulated by that maniac!

"I- "

"I can't allow you to slip back into a place of submission Gage" I deadpanned "because you and I both know this furniture is covered in not only your tears but your blood as well."

He opened his mouth again. "Talk to me when you have an explanation good enough to cover up yours and your mothers bruises because I will not be at the ready with gauze. I'm not  the one becoming a doctor. The most I can  do for you is kiss a paper cut better but I cannot stitch you back together when he loses his temper with you."

With that I turned to leave him. He's been abused by that man his whole life. He's watched his mother be brutally beaten. Yet he goes back so we could have furniture.

"Marry me."