Othello

A/N: This is not yet betaed. I'd like to post it here first see if people like it. This is something me and my beta talked a lot about the last couple of days and came up while we talked about the ending for 3:88. 

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“So what are your plans for Friday?”

 

Malik looked up when Federico slammed his backpack onto the table and slumped down in the chair next to him, grinning at Malik like he already knew the answer to that. He didn't even wonder anymore why Federico would ask – most of the times he just... sort of arranged Malik's dates on the weekends, telling him what was going on or which party he should go to.

 

“I'm sure you're going to tell me soon”, Malik murmured and turned the page in his book, looking over it at Federico with a lop sided smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He could tell Federico was practically beaming with excitement, staring at Malik and waiting for him to finally put his book -ugh, Shakespeare?- away. There was something else though and Malik leaned his head to one side, waiting patiently for Federico to tell but apparently the young man waited for Malik to make the first move. “What else?”, he finally asked and Federico grabbed for his backpack and scooted a little closer, leaning over Malik's lap as he pulled out his wallet.

 

“Here”, he whispered and Malik could hardly understand him since it was rather loud in the cafeteria today – well, it was Mac'n'Cheese-Wednesday so who could blame the people for coming in like ants smelling a picnic? Federico held up two ID's. Fake ID's. “I've finally got them yesterday. They don't look fake at all do they?” Federico was so excited his voice was cracking. “We're going to try them on Friday”, and he was staring at Malik with a huge, shit eating grin.

 

Malik just blinked at him, unimpressed. “Federico, if I want to see an idiot I just look at my brother but not you. They look so fake, to say they're real would be like saying Silvester Stallone's mother didn't have cosmetic surgery”, he huffed and pulled his book back up, opening the page he was last reading in.

 

“Never saw his mother”, Federico chimed in a sing-song voice, waving Malik's ID in front of his face before grabbing Malik's palm and shoving it inside.

 

“Okay, I'll tell you where we're going then.” Federico obviously chose to ignore Malik's little remark. “I've heard about this guy, La Volpe, right? And I've heard his parties are the best”, he said conspiratorially and leaned a little closer. “If you haven't been to one of his you haven't partied at all they say. They only let you inside when your 21 though and I don't want to wait another year. So I say we both go to one of his parties this Friday.” Federico pulled back again, his huge smile letting his eyes lighting up.

 

“I have to watch my brother this Friday”, Malik sighed and tried to focus back on his book, tried to ignore his best friend staring, and grinning, at him.

 

Federico just made a rude farting noise at him and Malik rose one single eyebrow. Really Federico? Really? “This is going to be too fucking great to miss because of babysitting duty. Come on Malik, you need to loosen up anyway. We're in college, the time and place to party hard so you have something to tell your grandkids.” Federico shook Malik's shoulder, following it with a light squeeze.

 

“I don't like the thought of having children. Kadar has crushed any will for me to have offsprings bouncing around whining that they want to eat a burger instead of something with actual nutritional value”, Malik rolled his eyes and dismissed the matter, turning back to his book instead. Federico was still leaning close and he scooted closer still, his nose almost touching Malik's cheek now and he could feel the young man's breath brushing over his neck. “Federico... stop it”, Malik said softly and licked his finger before he turned another page, his glasses riding low on his nose. Federico still didn't move but he licked his finger as well and it came up, close to Malik's ear. “Federico!”, Malik hissed and now the wet finger was almost touching him and-

 

“Alright you big idiot, what?!” Malik slammed his book shut and turned towards his friend who blinked at him with innocent eyes, hands folded in his lap. “I told you I can't go this weekend. Kadar's friend got sick so he's staying at home and doesn't spent the night at Shawn's."

 

“He's twelve Malik, I'm sure he can look after himself for a few hours?”

 

“No.”

 

“Fine”, Federico huffed and slumped in his chair, his chin almost touching his chest. His head shot up only a second later, eyes once more shining with nothing but pure excitement. “I tell you what, my sister's going to watch him alright? Claudia's not going out anyway.”

 

At that Malik rose his eyebrows. “She's not? What about that dude she was seeing?”, and again Federico made that noise and hold his thumb down. “Dumped him. Bastard was cheating on her anyway.” He pulled out his cell from his pocket and went into his messages. “Come on let me ask her. She's just going to stay home and be miserable, she can as well being miserable at your place and eat ice cream-”

 

“Non for Kadar.”

 

“-and watch your brother.” Federico looked up at Malik, the text already typed with his thumb and waiting for Malik to give in.

 

“I have a feeling that your 'partying hard' might be an understatement, considering your fascination with experiments mixing every type of alcohol in reach and then calling it the 'Ultimate Don Federico Cocktail'”, Malik snorted, pushing his glasses back up his nose and going back to his book. He wasn't sure if he wanted to witness something like that ever again – though it had been rather nice watching Federico pulling his shirt off and dancing bare chested on a table... There was really nothing he could say against it, right? Claudia was a good girl, he knew her and he would trust her with watching his brother. Besides, he really needed to get out again... finals were in a few weeks and all he did was studying lately, he could afford some fun right? It wasn't like as if he was behind his schedule...

 

“Alright”, he nodded and sighed heavily, Federico clapping him on his shoulder as he hit the send button. “Awesome! I'm going to pick you up Friday alright? And just... just wear something that makes you look good and not like as if you're a member of the chess club.”

 

“But I am a member of the chess club.”

 

“Just don't wear a cardigan Malik.”

 

“Fine”, Malik huffed and decided he was probably not going to get to his book again so he could just as well put it away and into his backpack. “What would you suggest then, mh? What makes me look good?”, he purred and lowered his eyes, enjoying the fact how Federico flushed and wiggled a bit on his seat. “Ngh, you know I hate it when you do that. We're not gay. People might as well start thinking we are if you continue to behave like that.”

 

Malik just grinned and leaned heavily back in his chair. Oh, he so enjoyed knocking Federico off his feet. “Let them guess pumpkin”, he teased, flashing Federico a pearly-white grin. Federico just rolled his eyes at Malik and his little remark. Not that he was homophobic... no, he didn't really mind people's sexual orientation. But he had a reputation he needed to keep up and he didn't want to ruin his luck with the ladies when they thought he was gay. “Anyway, back to business – what do you suggest I wear to that place? I don't own any tree piece suits to just slip into and look awesome”, Malik reminded in a sour tone.

 

“Well you know... wear a button up shirt – they always look good on you. Tie maybe. I like seeing them on you, a pair of tight jeans and good shoes and I think you're nice to go”, Federico smiled and Malik thought how he could not flirt with him just for fun when he was giving him so much to work with? Yes, he liked knocking Federico off his balance, liked pushing and teasing him with his flirting and Federico knew Malik too long now to know he wasn't serious anyway. It was their friendship that allowed the both of them to act the way they did, to be carefree around each other without having to worry what the other one would think. He felt comfortable around Federico, knew him a long time now and they just clicked. Federico was somebody people would normally think Malik didn't speak to as Federico was rather simple. He wasn't dumb, hell no – he was just a lazy ass bastard while Malik worked his ass of to keep his scholarship. Unlike Federico he didn't have the parents to pay for his tuition.

 

The bell was ringing and people got up their seats around them but Federico didn't made a move at all, just watching Malik getting ready as well. “I have training now”, he told the other one and grabbed his backpack, his book safely inside. “Are you still coming over tonight?”

 

Federico rubbed the side of his nose, something he did when he was nervous and Malik stood next to his chair. “Shit Malik, I can't believe I'm friends with the guy who's a member of the chess club and who plays football. You're kinda breaking the rules, you know? You can't be a jock and a nerd at the same time.”

 

Malik playfully shoved Federico's head. “You know I can, you know I will. No get... I'm sure you still have classes?”

 

“Yes”, he sighed and his shoulders slumped down. “Though I'd rather go to sleep.”

 

“Lazy ass”, Malik grinned down at him and Federico waved him just off. “It's kind of boring”, he huffed and stood up as well, gathering his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder. He still wasn't very eager to get to class and the cafeteria was slowly getting empty. Malik crouched down and his fingers wrapped around his gym bag. “Alright... I need to get going or coach is going to rip me a new one.”

 

He clapped Federico on his shoulder as he walked pass him. “And stop staring at my ass”, he called as he walked towards the exit, grinning to himself as he heard Federico's little outraged huff.

 

 

xxxx

 

 

“Do I smell pizza?”

 

Federico wasn't even inside his small apartment yet as his nose rose up high in the air and sniffing while he was already kicking off his shoes, pulling off his jacket as well. “Yes you smell pizza”, Malik told him and took Federico's bag only to let it flop onto the couch Kadar was currently occupying. Malik's hair was still damp from the shower he took earlier as he just got home an hour ago, hardly enough time for him to get clean and dinner ready. He somehow always managed. “Move it there little one”, he told his brother and the boy sat up straight, pulling his feet off the coffee table and making room for Federico's bag.

 

It wasn't one of the best places to live in but it was what Malik could afford with the little money his parents send him every month. It was barely enough, actually it wasn't enough at all and if it weren't for Federico's father helping them out when money was tight, he wouldn't be able to hold the place at all. It wasn't something Malik was proud of, taking the money from other people but he told himself it was just borrowed and he would pay the man back as soon as possible. There were only two rooms, the living room with a small kitchen unit as well as one bedroom, the one Kadar currently slept in while Malik crashed on the couch. The couch could be folded into a bed but Malik usually waited with that until Kadar was asleep since nobody could properly move in the small living room anymore once the bed was made.

 

“It's self-made”, Malik told him and made his way back to the oven, gesturing towards the small table for Federico to sit at. He grabbed some plates as well as glasses and placed them in front of Federico from where he took over and set the table. “Kadar”, he called his brother while he opened the oven to pull out the sheet with the pizza on it, “move your lazy ass, dinner's ready.” It was hot, very hot and Malik thought he burnt his thumb a little as he served everybody their slice before he sat down as well.

 

“Did you do your homework?”, he asked his brother around a mouth full of cheese and onions, sending Federico a glare to put his elbows off the table. Kadar was just gulping down some water since he'd been too impatient and took a bite without letting it cool first. Sometimes it gave Malik the impression he was dinning with pigs. The boy nodded, eating without closing his mouth and Malik pulled his face into a grimace. “Can you show it to me later?”, he asked again because he rather looked over his brother's work than just trusting him that he did his assignments by himself. He knew Kadar was lazy so it was better to control him even though he didn't really like doing it – but Kadar was only twelve and he was starting to get interested in girls and video games more than homework.

 

Kadar rolled his eyes. “Yeah you can”, he told him and Malik could just tell how annoyed Kadar was by this.

 

“Good”, he nodded and he continued eating. Kadar practically inhaled his food by how fast he was eating and Malik hadn't even finished his first slice as the boy asked him to get up. Federico was almost done himself and Malik nodded, yes he might go but no, he can't watch TV anymore – Malik didn't like what they showed after 8 pm and if Kadar watched TV this late he had problems falling asleep. The younger brother made it into his room without starting a scene. Thank god he was slowly growing out of throwing tantrums.

 

He grabbed a paper towel and cleaned his fingers of grease when he turned at Federico. “So... we have a date on Friday with that La Volpe guy? What exactly did you hear about his parties?”

 

Federico got up and went to the fridge, grabbing a can of root beer and sat down again, opening it with a loud plop and swallowing the first big gulp. “Well”, he said and his tongue flickered across his upper lip, “it's just what I hear everybody saying. His parties are legendary. I've heard some rumors about them... seems if you're on the special guests list you're about to have the time of your life.”

 

Malik drummed his fingers onto the table's smooth surface and cocked an eyebrow at Federico. “We're not talking about drugs here, are we?” The other young man just snorted. “No way, Malik. No. It's something by far more innocent... or not”, he grinned and winked at him. “You see... I've heard about orgies happening there. Threesomes. Foursomes. You name it. Anything can happen there”, he told him in a soft murmur and leaned closer over the table.

 

“You're taking me to a sex party”, Malik stated flatly, his fingers still drumming. He eyed Federico skeptical. “Really now?”

 

Federico shook his head again and leaned back in his chair. “It's not just a sex party. It's a party. Most of”, he explained with a wave of his hand. “You're only invited to the sex when your name's on the list. I'm trying to get us on the list.”

 

Malik picked at a little piece of crust and sent it flying over the table when he flipped his finger against it. “I don't know Federico. That sounds really-”

 

“Hot?”

 

“-crazy”, Malik finished his sentence. “It sounds... really weird”, he added with a gentle nod. Public sex? He didn't really think he was the type for that.

 

“Aw, come on now Malik. This is college! We're young, the world lies ahead of us! We can be reasonable for the rest of our lives but this – this we only have once and we have it now. Now... I really like to go with you. Pumpkin.” He fluttered his eyelashes at Malik and god, Federico was so bad when it came to flirting. “We could find you a girl”, he added and wiggled his eyebrows with mischievous.

 

“We could find you a girl”, Malik told him sternly since Federico was single just as he was. Why should he be the only one suffering? Federico shoved playfully at him, nudging Malik's arm and he rubbed it with a fake pout. “Looks like you really need a girl Federico... Your right hand's really strong you know?” It just earned him another punch to his arm but Malik didn't mind, he just chuckled. “Alright, I've told you already we go. See if you can get our names on that list.” He didn't really believe it anyway so Federico might just as well try.

 

Federico helped him clean the kitchen and he didn't stay much longer after that since Malik still had homework to do and papers to write. It was almost 10.30 pm when the young man left, Kadar already fast asleep and when it was close to midnight Malik turned his kitchen's lights off and pulled out his bed. He finished washing himself, brushing his teeth and slipped into his sleeping shirt to crawl underneath his bed covers. When he pulled the book out of his backpack he sighed heavily – maybe now he would get the time to read in it just a bit more. He then turned it over, looking over the title.

 

The Tragedy Of Othello.