Mallory sat on the pavement after the bar just kicked them out and glimpsed at the starry sky. 

He pulled out a cigarette as Don sat besides him. The blonde man arched his bloodied hands under his chin and stared at him. 

"You didn't have to do that, Blondie," Mallory said after letting out some smoke from his mouth.

Don shrugged and replied sarcastically, "You're welcome."

Mal looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. He then looked down to examine the blonde man's wounded fists. He gazed at his eyes again. 

"I was honestly shocked when you punched that guy. Why did you do that?" 

"Well, he was pissing me off." Don casually replied, his fist curling up. "I told you have violent tendencies sometimes."

Mallory became skeptical of Don's justification.

"But he was insulting me, not you." Mallory probed. 

Don rolled his eyes up to the skies and gave his trademark smirk, "Fine. The thing is... Nobody is trash talking to you when I'm around."

Mal shook his head gently as he chuckled, "That's so nice of you."

Don spun his head at him and narrowed his eyes at the shorter man. He abruptly swiped his friend's cigarette away from his mouth.

"Hey!" Mallory yelled as he tried to take back his cigarette. 

Don moved his hands like a magician. As he flicked his wrist, the cigarette vanished. Mallory stood up with sheer disbelief in his voice, "Son of a bitch.. Why do you have to do that for?"

Don cockily smirked as he adjusted his sleeves, "That's for calling me a nice."

Mallory sighed exasperatedly and pressed his lips as he glared at him. Don nonchalantly clasped his arms behind his body and glanced at the other buildings. 

"Where do you like to go eat? Food is on me," he said as he wiggled his eyebrows.

------§------§--------§---------

"Thank you," The blonde man nodded as he handed the money to the street vendor who passed by with his cart. He then stared amusedly at Mallory, who was furiously munching on a barbecue while he was walking. He was already on the fourth stick out of eight. 

Don coughed to get his attention. The shorter man turned to him with a bit of ashes on the corner of his lips from the slightly burned barbecues. "Uh.. You got something on your mouth." the blonde spoke as he tilted his head.

He then quickly wiped off the dark bits off Mallory's cheeks with a handkerchief, "That's better."

A sound of thunder roared before the sudden heavy rain fell down. Before Don could withdraw his hands to miracle an umbrella, Mal held it tight as he gazed at him wistfully. 

"Blondie.. " he said softly. "I want to say something to you."

"Go ahead, what is it?" 

Mallory's grip tightens as his voice as he stared fixedly. "I am in love with you."

Don smirked and uttered hesitantly. "Come on, I k-know you're not serious."

Mallory stared at him in the eyes and shook his head determinedly. Don retreated his hands slowly as his eyebrows lowered. He adjusted his cuffs and shook his head. "How could you say that to someone who could have killed you before? Especially, a dem.. A fallen angel like me?" 

"It doesn't matter to me." 

The blonde man halted, then abruptly turned away as soon he felt his legs tremble. 

"Don?" 

"No, Mal." 

"Don't you feel the same?" 

"No.. Damn it. It's not that. Leave me alone." 

Mallory sped up and tugged his sleeves, angering Don. "What did I fucking say?" Don barked as dozen of bright eyes spawned at his flushed face. Mallory froze and panicked, yet didn't let go of his arm. Instead, he gripped tighter and leaned closer. 

"Tell me!" Mallory shouted persistently. 

Don lowly answered with a shaky voice. "I don't want to love you…"

"You don't want to? Why?"

The blonde man flinched. He then gave a tight-lipped smile with blue misty eyes, trying to hide his devastated and trembling voice. "I don't want to miss you when you die."

Mallory let go and clamped his hand over his mouth. Tears and raindrops fell down his chin as he gazed at the dark sky blankly. 

Don looked up in the rain. He suppressed his whimpers and stared back. "I seen the people I loved and died too many times. I don't want to go through that again. I beg you, don't do this to me."

Mallory quivered as he sobbed and replied. "Wouldn't that be so selfish?"

"Yes, It is! And I don't care anymore!" The blonde man shouted as he turned around with bloodshot eyes. "A man is by nature selfish! I don't want you to torture me as when I see your face in the grave.. I.."

He was disrupted as Mallory kissed him deeply. Don pulls back and became  statue still, contemplating the mixed feelings of forced anger and awe. 

Mal spoke up and held him by his cheeks. "Stop being scared of the future and stop regretting the past. I need you in my life. Right now."

"Mallory.." 

"I need you to bring me light in this miserable dark planet. Don't you want to make me happy?"

Don stood up and embraced Mallory, burying his face into the shorter man's hair. 

"I love you." Mallory repeated. 

The blonde man hugged tighter and whispered. "I love you too."