In return, Christian could hardly contain himself. He sprawled, backed uncomfortably against the seat of a wooden chair, and though he had invited Gaz to be of great instructional resource, he was greatly rethinking such strategy.

Everything about that Gaz now made him feel revolted and unsure. After all, he hardly craved such attention. Especially on a day like today; today, he felt he needed to keep an extra eye on him and any havoc he may cause. Because today is a little different. A little something was ailing the good scientist…

"I realize you've done so much for me, that it's only natural I want to service you, no? Ah, look at you," The dark-eyed man laughed, his hands wandering to locations uncharted, "Here, just let me…"

"You've gone too far… I didn't… want you here for this." Christian moaned in defense, snatching the man-handled prize away from Gaz, who, in response, shot him an injured expression - hurt with distrust. "Just stop messing around and finish it."

Merely shrugging and returning to his work, Gaz worked out things from below, commenting as he went, "You're so uptight. Sooo tight. You must not be used to this. It's a pity; we should do this more often, wouldn't you say?"

In an abrupt shyness, Christian turned his reddened face before breathing, "Haa, used to what?"

"This. Thiiiiis," Gaz said as he repeated the similar motion in emphasis, then wrapped one bony arm around his partner with care, "You-and-me-time."

Christian had to respond – surely, he wouldn't let Gaz have the last laugh, "Nnn, bite me. I only wanted… a little help, you know this is… beyond- Argg!" Unintentionally, his body quivered in anticipation. Or perhaps, it was merely the temperature…? Thinking's just getting harder and harder… Gr, my head…

In a moment of thoughtfulness, his mind whirred uncomfortably and his sense of self spun. He wished that Gaz would leave. He wished for privacy and sleep. He also wished that Gaz would stop caring. Oh, Gaz. Why does it have to be you?

Allowing the thoughtful state of the other to be his inning, Gaz abruptly seized the occasion to take another strike at that objective of his.

Christian shouted in a vain attempt to fend off the intruder, "Wh-What d'you think you're- AHH! Stay away from that! That won't help, and you know it!" He made an attempt to rise to his feet, but failed, and fell back in a shaking heap.

But it was too late. The warning was for naught, and Christian stood frozen, watching what Gaz would do with the said object in his hand. Dangerously and ever-so-slyly, Gaz's fingers crept along its boundaries, playing with it as he went – as if crossing and playing with Christian's own boundaries.

Knowing full-well of Gaz's intentions, but unable to fight them in his current state, Christian thought to remain ignorant - to ignore Gaz's presence altogether. But he also knew that ignorance would only take him so far. This was Gaz.

But as more and more forbidden ground was being surmounted, the weak one resorted to instinctive struggle. "You shameless- S-Stop that, it- Arg, it hurts!" Christian enunciated, "Just hurry up and be done with it, but please don't mess with that!"

"Ohh, take it easy, my beloved scientist!" Gaz taunted. After all, any and all opportunity to seize more of that wavering sanity. "Goodness, look at yourself! You're completely flushed, and oh, you should keep control of that breathing. Wanna break already?"

And that was all it took. Christian was gone and fading fast. He drew a breath before speaking through clenched teeth, "Ah, haaa. Nnnn… G-Gaz, you… You wouldn't dare…"

"Oh, but would I?"

That does it. In one swift movement, the desperate scientist reached out to strike the adversary, but with the sudden movement, came a sudden and unforeseen reaction.

No one said a word. All playful banter reached its climax. Both men could only stop and stare at the messy consequences.

Until Christian slowly put two palms to his forehead, splitting the silence with a disfigured string of speech, "You… Urrg, I can't… Ahh, I can't believe you just did that! That was the last ingredient for my homemade cold medicine, and now I'll be-" An interrupting sneeze. A tissue to the nose. A blowing of nose. "…Sick and suffering for at least another week!"

Forcing the other into a full-body slump, Gaz retreated. He knew when to start, but it seemed - quite apparently - that he had little consideration of when to stop. While his wide eyes stared at the spilled goods on the scientist's meticulously-clean lab floors, his mouth had ceased the witty comments then and there.

For Christian knew Gaz liked to tease, enjoyed the chase, but Christian could be sure, the man never meant for it to go that far. He truly appreciated that he came on his behalf to help him prepare a cold remedy, but perhaps, he should have known better than trust Gaz in his lab.

Not that being understanding or forgiving mattered to the scientist now. "You shameless prick!" Christian shouted at the cowering man, "Look at this…! Do you know how long it took me to get that formula just right? Do you?!"

And thus, as the men worked together to regain pristine goodness to the room, the two wordlessly came to an agreement; neither man would be allowed to join the other in the art of medicinal mixing again. Especially not in Christian's lab.

However, for some unknown reason, after going through the mental process of forgiveness, Christian's anger began to melt. He shook his head, rolled his eyes, and concluded, "Honestly, I don't know why I let you in here in the first place."

"Because you generally enjoy my company?" Gaz come-backed, shining a winning smirk to his partner.

"Go screw yourself." Despite the cold words, Christian, too, was able to smile a little. The unhealthy man rolled his exhausted body to his ever-convenient tissue box, hoping to blow the cold away.

Now with confidence in full-swing, the crooked man began to monologue, "Aw, you weren't going to help me with that? Because I'd loooove a one-on-one, mano-a-mano get together with you, my dear scientist man…"

Ah, such words – such easy, sloppy, free-flowing words, decorated with a hint of suggestion and menacing risqué – never failed to make Christian's heart pound. He could feel more heat rising in his body, blood boiling with an unmistakable anger, yet also the pink hues of disconcerted shyness. If you looked hard enough. And that, Gaz did.

Feeling now on top of the world, Gaz added to his dramatic speech, using everything from hand motions to striding steps, "Tch, from a touchy little, 'don't touch my chemicals' to a high-and-mighty, 'stay the blank away from my lab'. Hah. And here I thought we'd have a nice time of mixing chemicals together, by my oh my, looks like someone get touchy." His evident smirk widened. "Do you always make that much noise when you're at work in here? If so, I'd love to be a fly on the wall next time you're at it alone. Ahh, yes, a mystery for another day…"

Slowly, Christian rose from his seat in attempt to keep his head from spinning again. All the while, he shook his head, he said, "Goodness sake, just let it go. I'm going back to bed; my head is killing me."

But no, Gaz was never done, "Mr. Scientist, sir, I need a warm place to sleep. Got room for two?"

But of course, you know how this story ends.