6.

For a long time they just stood there, Daniel silently smoking his cigarette, Darren just relishing the warmth and comfort that radiated from the body he still had his arms wrapped around.

Eventually, and too soon for Darren’s liking, Daniel flicked away his butt, watching as it swirled to the ground eight floors below, the tip sending little sparks of orange shooting off on the breeze.

Turning around in Darren’s arms Daniel placed his hands on Darren’s shoulders and asked. ‘So what do you want to do now? That offer of room service still good?’

‘Yeah,’ Darren replied smiling, ‘howabout we order pizza and cheese chips and lots of chocolate ice-cream?’

‘Just like old times eh? Wanna see if there any good movies on dial up as well?’

‘Just like old times, I like the sound of that. When it was just me and you against the world eh?’

‘Well I’d say we took them on and won wouldn’t you?’

‘Oh yeah.’ Darren released Daniel and went over to the phone, Daniel closing the balcony doors behind them and following, grabbing the hotel’s movie list and flopping down on the bed to peruse it.

Kicking off his shoes he rolled over onto his stomach, waiting while Darren rattled off the list of food they wanted.

‘Sounds like you’re ordering for an army there Doze.’ Daniel commented as Darren hung up the phone and then stopped.

Darren looked at him, he knew that Daniel hadn’t meant to use his pet name and it felt strange to hear it again, especially from him.

‘I’m sorry Darren.’ Daniel apologised, deliberately emphasising the use of his full name.

‘It’s ok,’ he smiled weakly, ‘it just sounds a bit odd, no-one really calls me that anymore that’s all.’

‘So what do they call you?’

‘Sir mainly or Mister Hayes.’ Darren grinned.

‘Well I can think of a few other choice names.’ Daniel said, not looking at Darren.

‘Such as?’ Darren could hazard a guess, he had flung as many at Daniel towards the end and privately since as well.

‘Wanker, tosser, stuck-up fucker, bastard,’ Daniel fixed Darren with a stare, ‘a complete and utter bastard.

‘I am so sorry Danny.’ Darren advanced towards the bed, moving to kneel alongside Daniel. ‘I was all of those things and more, forgive me…please?’ he pleaded.

‘Like you never called me any of them.’ Daniel said quietly and Darren could tell that he wasn’t really spoiling for yet another fight rather he was just stating a fact.

‘I believe I added cunt to the mix as well.’

To his complete and utter surprise Daniel’s mouth turned up in a wry smile which became a grin and then all out laughter.

‘What?’ Darren asked indignantly.

‘It’s just that I can’t see you ever using such a word.’

‘Well I can and I did many a time. See…cunt, cunt, cunt, Daniel Jones is a fucking cunt.’

‘Enough already.’ Daniel said rolling over and grabbing onto Darren.

‘Oh no you don’t.’ Darren squealed as Daniel’s fingers began to attack his sides, ‘No, no get off you cunt.’

‘Tsk, tsk, you really do have to do something about that mouth of yours Darren.’

‘Make me.’ Darren challenged.

‘Right that’s it.’ Daniel straddled Darren forcing him down onto the mattress, his fingers instinctively going for Darren’s weak spots. ‘Give?’ he asked the squirming figure under him.

‘No never.’

‘Give?’ Daniel asked again, finding the hem of Darren’s tee shirt and forcing it up so that he could continue his assault on bare skin.

‘Fuck you!’ Darren replied.

Daniel stopped what he was doing and sitting back let Darren breath properly again. ‘Wasn’t that how we got in this mess in the first place?’ he said sadly.