Happy Birthday?

Shark waited outside the store, as Sinbad had asked him to do. For reasons Shark wasn't told, the older man wanted to make a stop at the store to get a few things. Why Sinbad didn't want him to come in, Shark wasn't entirely sure.

The boy leaned against the wall, watching the cars go by. Most of them were people he didn't know. He occasionally saw them as next-door neighbors, but that was about it.

Then one car went by, and he heard what was unholy screeching. He looked over, and saw a completely red face in the back passenger seat glaring right at him as the screaming intensified. It wasn't until the car was out of sight that Shark realized he just saw Lolly.

He had no idea where she was living now. He simply pitied the family that had to deal with her. The boy counted his blessings that he no longer had to live with his demon of a sister.

As he looked in the other direction, Shark felt a tapping on his shoulder. He looked up to see Sinbad had come back out, holding a bag containing his purchases. When Shark turned to face him, Sinbad shoved a box towards him.

"Sinbad, what...?" Hesitantly, the teen opened the box. To his surprise, a small cake was sitting inside. An ice cream cake, to be specific. Seeing something he practically craved for years right in front of him caused a bright pink blush to show up on Shark's face.

"Th-this is...! I..." A little smile crept onto his face. "Thank you, Sinbad."

The redhead shrugged. "Whatever. It was on sale. Figure you wanted cake, so..." But even as he spoke, Shark noticed him looking away and blushing profusely.

"Look, let's just go. You can...you can eat it in the truck, if you're impatient." Although Sinbad was struggling to retain his attitude, he leaned in and gently kissed Shark on the lips.

That night, Shark and Sinbad were outside, looking up at the stars in the clear sky. Shark honestly wasn't sure what was out here that made Sinbad want to bring him out here. Besides the impeccable view, there was little else.

"Hey, Sinbad?" The older man was in the middle of lighting up a cigarette when he looked over at him. The flame from the lighter illuminated his prominent facial features.

"I, um...thanks for doing all this for me. You really didn't have to, though." Shark was taken by slight surprise when he suddenly found Sinbad standing in front of him.

"Yes...I did." Sinbad seemed frustrated that he had to keep saying this to the teen. "Your daddy obviously wasn't gonna take responsibility for what happened, so it may as well have been me to do it for him."

The redhead took hold of the boy's hands. "I mean, for fuck's sake, he turned you into some sexual plaything. That's some of the most disgusting shit a father could ever do to his own kid. And it's just...sex isn't supposed to be horrifying. It's something between equals. Even I know that. Even people that like rough and kinky shit, they gotta ask if it's all right. I wanted to try to prove that to you."

"I know," Shark whispered, "and you did." Shark led himself closer to Sinbad, and rested his head onto his chest. "You keep trying to make yourself look like you don't care, but...I get the feeling you do. Somewhere deep, deep down, you care."

"You're right. I do care," Sinbad murmured, before pulling away. "I care enough to do this." He reached into his back pocket, and pulled out something he kept hidden from Shark. His yellow eyes almost seemed to pierce through the boy's mind.

"I'm not gonna lie to you. You got a hell of a long way to go before you can get your life remotely back to normal. Chances are it might not even be possible at this point."

Shark looked down and nodded sadly. "I'm aware of that."

Sinbad took his free hand and took a hold of Shark's left one. "Obviously, I ain't saying it's going to be easy. I'm just saying you don't have to go it alone. I know your cop uncle is there for you, but he's getting ancient. He ain't gonna be around forever. So I'm gonna ask you something I'd never think of asking anyone else." The redhead took another step back, only this time to drop down onto one knee, and bring forth what he was hiding.

"Shark Racket..." The item in his hands, a small black box, opened to reveal a beautiful gold engagement ring. Shark's eyes widened at seeing it. He couldn't help that his mouth opened of its own accord.

"Will you marry me?"

Shark's mouth ran dry, and he swallowed. He had not realized that his ordeal would lead to a proposal. Not realized in the short time he knew Sinbad, that he found someone who cared for him. But something told him this was good. That although he had gone through hell, there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. He felt tears gather in his eyes, covered his mouth, and extended his left hand and nodded.

Shark saw a smile then make its way across Sinbad's face. Not a smirk or sarcastic grin. A smile that showed genuine joy. He felt the ring slide onto his finger, which to his surprise fit perfectly.

Not knowing what else to do, Shark ran over and gave Sinbad a big bear hug, which was returned. Sinbad began twirling them both around.

Both males, for the rest of the night, spent as much time as possible in each others' arms.