Unconditional

I Promise

Ant looks at him helpless and Dec feels warmth coursing through him Anth is angry because he cares...he cares about me..

Ant: "I-I felt helpless. That you are hurt and - and I did nothing!"

Dec: "Anth...I am not your responsibility-"

Ant: "You are! Look, I don't want you to feel like you are owned or controlled or anything. But I- Dec, what I feel about you...I don't remember feeling it for anyone..maybe at Sarha but even that... Dec I don't know... I just don't know"

He sits heavily on a chair with his head in his hands and Dec looks at him torn. He didn't know how to deal with both these sides of Ant.

Dec: "I understand. I do. And I know why you are worrying so much"

Ant raises his head and Dec sighs

Dec: "I won't do it again, Anthony...You have to trust me! You must trust me"

Ant nods at him and sighs "Did he do...something..."

Dec: "No. He just wanted to talk but I didn't stop for him. I was running away from him when I tripped down"  Not the whole truth..but not all lie.

Ant: "Show me"

Dec: "What?"

Ant: "Your wounds"

Dec was about to argue when Ant shook his head "You must. Especially if you want me to keep my silence"

Dec: "You won't say this to anybody?"

Ant shakes his head

Dec: "Not even to your friends?"

Ant: "That your boyfriend is here?"

Dec: "Ex"

Ant: "I won't. Which team is he on?"

Dec: "Umm.. I don't know...I...I have a doubt"

Ant takes a small box of first aids from his back pack asks Dec to roll up his sleeves and trousers

Ant: "Doubt?"

Dec: "I think he is from Fuller's team"

Ant: "What? Wait!! Fuller? How do you know that? Did he tell you?"

Dec: "I saw him with him...at that party-"

Ant nods understanding "Si's party. So that was why you were upset that day"

Dec hears disappointment in Ant's voice

Dec: "Anth, I-"

Ant: "You don't trust me"

Ant has finished tending to his arms and he kneels on the floor to tend Dec's knee.

Dec winces as he takes off the hankie from his knee

Dec: "It's not that I don't-"

Ant: "It is. You thought I will judge you. Can't blame you. I only ever hurt you"

Dec: "No! That's not even- ouch! It hurts!"

Ant doesn't reply but wraps the wound and stands up.

Ant: "I want to see him"

Dec: "I don't want you to-"

Ant: "I won't. I can't let our team know your relationship with someone from there"

Dec: "He is my past"

Ant: "Not everyone will understand that. Past always matters , feelings too"

Dec frowns at that "I don't have feelings for him!"

Ant: "You had. That's what I meant. Look, I won't say or do anything that you don't want me to. But I want to see him. Just to know who that is"

Dec nods at him.

Ant: "Results will be announced soon. Come on"

Dec: "Anth?"

Ant looks at him in question but Dec just hugs him tight "Thank you"

He feels Ant sighing and a moment later, his hands wrap around him.

Ant: "Promise me you will tell me... Promise me you won't shut me out again..."

Dec: "I promise you..."

But the tension was still there between them. And for Dec his past and present had collided in a painful way. Anymore and he knows he will lose the most important person in his life... Anymore and he will lose Ant... And he dreaded that the most.

TBC