Joni had canceled their meeting, on the phone he had sounded weird, not like himself and Dima hadn't seen him online on messenger either for some days, It left him... worried.

It was Thursday when Dima got home early from work, Joni and Chris lived on his way, he had already passed their building when a nagging feeling suddenly made him turn around; something bothered him and he just felt like he needed to see Joni. 

Of course, he might have been sick, but he had seen him on Friday afternoon and... there had been no hints of illness and Linda who had been at the same fashion show with him hadn't seen ones either. 

On Sunday morning he had only gotten a message from Joni that he was sick and had to cancel their plan to meet, later Dima had called him, but ... the conversation had been short.

He made his way to their storey, stopped by their door, sighed, and rang the doorbell; it wasn't like him to pay unexpected visits, but this time...

Chris frowned when the doorbell rang, it was four pm, he looked at Joni who lay on the couch under a blanket, staring blankly at the tv screen.

"You fucking invited someone and didn't tell me?" he hissed, not liking this surprise; Joni's bruises were still visible.

Joni slowly sat up, nervous. "No, I didn't," he assured quickly. "I'll go see who it is, okay?" He was jumpy and nervous around Chris not wanting to make any wrong move that would make him blow up at him.

To make sure Joni wouldn't do anything stupid Chris followed him into the hall and waited.

Dima wondered if they were home, it seemed to take a long ... But finally, he heard the approaching footsteps and the door slowly opened.

"Oh, Dima? Hi..." Joni peeked at him before opening the door more, glancing over his shoulder.

Dima frowned; Joni's face was bruised... "Um hi, can I come in?" Joni nodded, his hand unconsciously touching and almost trying to cover his bruised cheek.

"Sure..." His voice was quiet, he smiled but... Dima started to take his jacket off and saw Chris.

"Hi Chris," he greeted; the man seemed slightly tense, but nodded and greeted him back. Joni on the other hand looked nervous and just odd; he was pale, wearing a college sweater that seemed too big for him and ... sweatpants... Dima had never seen him wear such an outfit before. Joni was very fashion sensed and this was just... so not like him. But on the other hand, in this bruised state... the outfit made sense. But why was Joni like this?

"What happened to you?" Dima asked worriedly. He didn't want to believe the first thought that crossed his mind, yet that thought refused to leave him.

"Um, I got robbed..." Joni replied; it was the first thing that got into his mind and perhaps would be believable enough.

"Perhaps you would like some coffee, Dima? And do come further in," Chris invited, his hand lowering on Joni's shoulder, "you should sit down and rest, love," he whispered and kissed his forehead gently.

Dima undressed his jacket watching the two, Joni almost looked a little bewildered, confused.

"Coffee, yes please," Dima answered, still looking worriedly at his friend. "Robbed, when?" 

"Perhaps you two should talk about this in the living room, Joni's still a little tired," Chris intervened.

"Of course," Dima nodded and followed the two.

"Remember Joni, I can still hear everything you say while in the kitchen," Chris leaned to whisper in his ear when Joni sat down on the couch, so quietly that Dima couldn't hear him. "So I'd consider those words wisely..." And then smiling gently again he brushed his cheek gently. "I'll be right with you," he added in a normal voice.

Dima sat down on the armchair opposite Joni and watched how Chris walked past them to the kitchen. Joni was playing nervously with his long sleeves, hardly looking at him and it made Dima uncomfortable; he had never seen Joni like this and he didn't like it.

"So...What happened?" Dima asked carefully.

"I was coming home from the store on Saturday evening," Joni started, glancing at him before pulling his knees close to his chest, "I guess he had followed me from the shop."

"He got your wallet?" Dima observed him, Joni took a moment to answer before he finally shook his head.

"No, I fought him, and...he ran," he answered just as Chris appeared in the doorway.

"Unfortunately Joni's not that good at fighting," Chris said and Dima could see Joni gritting his teeth. He knew his friend well enough to recognize the annoyance he felt and he could understand it, Chris's comment was a little peculiar.

 "Well, he didn't get my wallet, did he?" Joni asked a bit tightly and Chris looked back at him with a frown that melted away quickly. Dima felt uncomfortable, Chris cleared his throat.

"Milk and sugar, right Dima?" Chris asked then, smiling. Ignoring Joni's statement.

"Yes, thank you," Dima nodded looking at the man and then at his friend. He sensed the tight atmosphere in the room which made him feel uncomfortable and worried.

"So what did he look like?" he asked when Chris walked back to the kitchen. "What shop was it?"

Joni sighed and looked down, wriggling his hands slightly.

"The one close, you know...Siwa...He was tall... dark hair... thirty maybe? ... I think he was drunk."

Chris returned to the room, carrying a tray with three cups of coffee. He handed each their cup and then sat next to Joni, wrapping his free arm around his shoulders. "The important thing is that Joni is safe now," he said and Dima thought he saw Joni tense up slightly.

"Did you let the cops know? Are they searching for that guy?" Dima couldn't help but get suspicious, something here just wasn't right.

"Yeah, but you know how slowly they work in these kinds of cases," Chris shrugged.

Dima glanced at him and then back at his friend.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Don't worry Dima, just give me a few more days and I'll be as good as new," Joni assured trying to smile.

"He's tough," Chris smiled somewhat proudly.

Dima nodded, wondering if he was just imagining things, he wasn't sure why he couldn't shake the feeling away. Chris seemed like himself...

"I'm glad you're okay Joni," Dima smiled at his friend, who smiled back, but like before his smile faded soon and there was a certain hollow look in his eyes that Dima had never seen before. The story could be true, of course, Joni would be tired and shocked, scared even, but... why did he seem so tense under Chris' touch?

"So, on lighter topics, how's it going?" Dima asked awkwardly.

"Nothing special, we're bored since Joni has no work because of his bruises, but he'll be fine soon," Chris answered glancing at Joni.

"How are you, Dima? And I'm sorry I'm not myself today."

"Don't worry about it Joni, I understand...Linda must have told you we found a place together?" Dima asked and for a moment Joni looked confused before he remembered.

"Oh, yes, she did... On Friday. I was supposed to call you, but I...."

"Don't worry," Dima smiled softly. "Well it's all happening fast, we can move in two weeks so lots of packing up to do."

"I'm glad it's working for you... she's very sweet," again Joni gave him a faded smile, Chris moved his hand in his hair, looking at him worriedly.

"You look exhausted, love, maybe you should try to get some sleep," he wondered out loud. "Joni's not slept so well lately," he explained to Dima.

"Oh, well I should go anyway... and sorry for dropping in like this, just thought I'd try my luck," Dima smiled, finishing his coffee, getting up.

"Of course, you're always welcome here," Chris assured, "send our best to Linda."

Joni led Dima to the door, promising to call him later, and when he had left he sighed heavily; alone with Chris again.

"That one went well enough," Chris said leaning against the doorframe. "I'm proud of you."

Joni merely glanced at him, unsure what to say, so he only nodded, "I'll get some rest..." he whispered, before walking back to the living room, sitting down in front of the tv.

Chris followed and sat down next to him.

"You see Joni, I care for you and it hurts me as well when you're hurt like that," he sighed. Joni looked at him with disbelieving eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"Are you hungry?" Chris asked casually.

Joni felt frustrated, every instinct in his body was screaming, not wanting to stay there, not wanting to be near him... and now Chris was confusing him with his fake concern; while he was the one who had caused it!

"You hurt me," he stated with a whisper looking at him warily, almost expecting to be slapped again.

"I know, I'm sorry," Chris leaned to kiss the top of his head tenderly, "Let's go to the kitchen and talk, while I'll make something to eat for us, okay?" He smiled and got up, waiting for Joni to follow, and reluctantly he did. He wrapped his arms around himself, gritting his teeth not to say anything he would end up regretting.

Chris glanced at Joni when he took a seat at the table and started preparing dinner himself.

"What would you like?" he asked.

"I don't care..." Joni muttered, reaching for the magazine closest to him.

Chris sighed and nodded, checking the fridge; he should manage to cook some of Joni's favorite food.

"You see," he started cutting vegetables, "I told you I care for you, didn't I? I really do."

"Well, you have a really fucked up way of showing it," Joni couldn't help himself, he felt too upset. "For God's sake you-" he stopped in mid-sentence closing his eyes.

Chris looked at him.

"I?" Then he sighed again, "you can take a beer from the fridge," he said then, "anyway, I care for you and I don't want you disappearing all night, I was scared for you."

"I didn't cheat on you," Joni whispered, "It was just a party related to my work... don't you remember what you did to me?" The pain and bitterness were clear in his voice, "what you called me?"

For a moment Chris just stared at him blankly almost like not really seeing him, his pain.

"I lost control because I was worried... I was going crazy with worry, I couldn't stand losing you."

"Crazy with worry that something bad happened to me?" Joni asked, tears were glimmering in his eyes again, "and when I come home unharmed you decided to change that? Chris...what you did..." he shook his head. "Can't you..." he was trembling, feeling nauseous again, he couldn't look at him anymore.

"I told you I'm sorry, sorry I lost control like that," Chris answered, taking a deep breath.

"You'll lose it again, Chris... I'm afraid of the day when you'll lose it again."

"I won't, dear," Chris stated calmly, continuing cooking. "Not if we follow a few rules." 

"Rules?" Joni asked carefully, almost fearfully, it could be anything at this point.

"No big deal, just please tell me whenever you want to see someone or someone wants to see you, that's all," He said turning to face him, "and every time you're leaving and when you're leaving and when you'll be back; I want to know where you are. So that's all."

Joni almost laughed bitterly, but managed to control himself; Chris was crazy and this couldn't be his life.

"I can see whoever I want if I tell you first?" He asked, forcing himself to stay calm.

Chris smiled at him, "I'm glad we agree on that matter."

Agree? We Agree?! Joni's mind was screaming.

"I can't always know the exact time when I'll be at home... I can't always know who I'm going to meet," he tried to reason, though he already knew it was a lost cause.

Chris walked closer, leaned against the table, closer to Joni.

"Can't? Oh trust me, dear, you can," he hissed and only a moment later smiled and backed off. "Of course, you can."

"You'll do the same?" Joni asked a bit tightly, upset, he didn't want to be there, he didn't want to be with Chris but he didn't know how to get out anymore.

"Of course, I'm already telling you, don't I? Who I'm going to see where and when I'll be back," he said putting the plate before him.

"Then I want rules too," Joni whispered, staring at his plate, knowing he was taking a risk. Chris stared at him.

"Speak."

"It's..." he started to feel more and more nervous, "You have to respect my wishes... no means no. "

Chris narrowed his eyes, "I'll respect your wishes if you respect me, now eat."

"I'll need time, I want to sleep on the couch," Joni added, slowly starting to eat, nervous.

"No you won't, you'll sleep on the bed... I have a huge project, I'll spend the next two days working on it, nights too, and after that, I'll return to sleeping next to you."

Joni didn't like the bed, not anymore, he couldn't just forget and sleep in it peacefully but he thought it best to stay silent, not push his luck. He got up, not finding any appetite, about to return to the living room.

"Where are you going?" Chris' voice stopped him, Joni stopped, turning his head only slightly.

"I'm not hungry... I'm going to watch some tv now, then I might play some video games, then I'll shower and at about eleven pm I will try to get some sleep which I will most likely fail at like every night after Saturday," he answered not being able to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Chris only smiled, "okay, I'll wash the dishes for you and then work later." He took Joni's almost full plate, "but I think I'll leave this in the fridge for you to eat later... and Joni, no need to be that strict when I'm around but I appreciate that."

Joni felt like screaming, he didn't know how he could do this, didn't know how long he'd be able to stand this without losing his mind. Quietly he returned to the living room and sat down; he didn't want to be there, but he didn't know how to get out.