free time? [Malcolm]

[Gabriel Kingsly]

Gabriel knew from his place here, that free time was hardly a thing. He was happy though that the library still issued out books when someone from the low risk would come with the trolly and he'd often get whatever books he could get his hands on. Last week it was a long mystery novel which he finished in two days and ended up re-reading it and finding mistakes in it. Today there wasn't much to pick so he ended up with some book about aliens he supposed, the cover looking like it was dark woods just before a sunset, the title Deathstroke at the top. It was during free time so the cell doors were open. Feeling safer in the confines of the cell, he often never left it unless Malcolm wanted him to. He knew there were other threats around and he did his best to a) avoid the hell out of others who would challenge and b) keep out of any trouble. After being framed and his constant reminders of his nightmares when he would wake up in a cold sweat from the memories of his father's beatings, Gabriel filled them up with time reading or writing. 

Writing was out of the question though. the journal that a guard was nice enough to give him was already full. Mostly of sketches and wishes and some of what he did one day or the dreams that would haunt him. he kept it close but he knew if Malcolm so chose to, he'd read it. Part of him felt embarrassed over it since on sleepless nights he would literally sketch the man with what little light there was. He wouldn't openly admit that he was handsome and that okay maybe there was a little crush there. but feelings like that were dangerous. He was sitting in the corner on the bed reading the new book he had, looking bored with his chin in his hand and book in the lap, giving a heavy sigh. so far the book wasn't very promising.

Malcolm Fade

[Malcolm Fade]

Malcolm had been walking, it was his free time, and he spent most of his free time stalking the common area. His area. The Fade zone as others called it in Maximum, everyone here knew Malcolm was the guy you either stayed on his good side or you ended up on the wrong side, which these days everyone respected the big man because he took care of everything here for them. If they needed something, he got it, an issue? Malcolm Fade solved it. Somebody needed the guard to look the other way, Malcolm told them to look the other way.

In the last year only 1 person had turned up dead, no one knew how or why...or at least they didn't question how or why...asking questions got people broke jaws and it was hard to pick up teeth with broken fingers.

Entering his cell Malcolm heard the ending of a long sigh from his cell mate Gabriel. Leaning against the entrance of the cell doors he crossed his arms, "Why so gloomy Gabby? Surely the book about aliens would peak even the nerdiest nerd? But I don't usually have much time for pretend things, no use of free time today?"

Gabriel was well protected by Malcolm, it had been a long time since Malcolm shared his cell with anyone, of course his last cell mate kept somehow turning up beaten on most mornings. Jerry was a snorer. A snorer who was dirty pervert...rode the chair....Malcolm pushed the memory away and entered further into his cell removing his sweat soaked white shirt.

Gabriel Kingsly

[Gabriel Kingsly]

Gabriel hasn’t known Malcolm was done and his head jerked up before he visually relaxed a little. He folded the corner and closed it. ” it’s a really slow starter. So far I’m kinda iffy on continuing and getting a new one” he explained and got up to take the shirt once the man took it off, not bothered by the sweat as he put it in their basket of used attire. He gave a slight shrug again. ” I don’t like going out of the cell that much, unless I’m trailing you” he murmured softly, not looking up at his face when he chose to stay near. Not wanting to think about the lifetime he’d literally be here, he focused on something else. Of course his attempt to made him stare at Malcolm’s body and he found himself flushed again as his thoughts went elsewhere and he quickly shook them out of his head.

“how were the rounds?” that was something better he could focus on. That and the thought of telling the man he wanted to go see the preacher. That would take a lot of begging since some guards literally paid him no mind from his height and skittishness. Gabriel hates how short he was, how it was often used against him. “ “think there’s time for a shower before lock up again?” not that he’d go but if Malcolm had soaked his shirt maybe a shower would be good in some way.

Malcolm Fade

[Malcolm Fade]

Malcolm legit liked Gabriel, he could feel the man gazing at his exposed chest and in his mind smiled, Malcolm wasn't a fool to see how Gab looked at him and that made him his most loyal friend in this hell hole. He could trust Gabriel with his life if need be, but he would never ask the young man to do that. So he was going to return the loyalty one day.

"Sorry about the buzz kill of a book friend, you know I've never picked a book up in my life? All this time even in here, I enjoy pictures and not words is my excuse," he smirked and began to pile up a change of fresh clothes, "However if you ever wanna read to me, I'll warrant it. Rounds were good, calm as always pal. I find it odd at all the chaos outside of these walls that I find order and respect being caged with fellow animals...funny how the world works..."

Of course he was the chaos outside these walls that he spoke of, Malcolm wasn't a mild child ever. However in here he found peace in how things worked, kill a few people and these people lapped up his bath water to appease him.

"Thanks to yours truly we have an extra twenty five mintues of shower time, care to join me? I thinks it's time I talk to you about some things, like rewarding your loyalty," he smiled and dropped his DOC approved shorts to his knees and then slowly covering himself with a towel, "Yeah you'll join me. Any requests by the way Gab?"

Gabriel Kingsly

[Gabriel Kingsly]

Gabriel watched him undressed and blushed a little as he did. He focused on his words and smiled a bit before he gave a shrug. “how you got passed high school is beyond me then, didn’t you have to read for it?” he asked him. He knew age was a huge gap and Gabriel wouldn’t lie about sometimes picking his brain on various things. ”it’s okay though, not really a buzz kill unless it was a good part you caught me in” he explained some. He was surprised some by Malcolm’s statement on him reading to him. His brows shot up in surprise from it before he realized Malcom moved to answer his question on the showers. The fact that Malcolm asked made the young man smile more before he nodded and let out a soft ‘mhm’ before he undressed for the showers and gathered his things.

“there’s this book series I had when...well when I wanted to escape. It was called Ranger’s Apprentice. I really liked it.” of course he had lost his books when he was framed and anything else he had. His towel seemed to wrap more securely around his waist. He then seemed surprised at Malcolm’s statement. Rewarding him? He flushed some. “you don’t have to si-Malcolm.” He almost slipped on his sir, which when he first got here it’s all he called people. It was drilled into him for years. Then he realized what he said previously talking about the books. Damn his flush, it was making him hot and he was already nude beneath the towel that covered him, waiting for Malcolm to lead them. He gave it some thought, staring at his chest though really he seemed a bit zoned. ”I’d like to talk to the preacher...I’m not...really religious but I’d rather talk to them then the therapist” Gabriel hated those sessions when he was taken once a week to sit in the visitors room with the woman who just judged him.

But now thinking about it he really wanted those books. Having all twelve he’d read them over and over again. He never got visitors aside from that woman, not even his father came. Just thinking about the asshole made his hands tighten and his knuckles go white.


Malcolm Fade

[Malcolm Fade]

Malcolm lead them to the shower's, only one guard was standing outside the exposed shower's (they couldn't even be 'left' alone for shower time). Malcolm gave the man a big flashy sly fox like smile, "Overseer Winston what a lovely day? Listen I got some business to handle today and I need it to be private....you know if you wanna have a peaceful floor this week scratch my back a little....a happy wife is a happy life!"

Guard Winston just chuckled and with a tip of his hat exited the bathrooms leaving the two alone. Malcom tossed his towel onto a wall and gave a big yawning stretch before turning the water on which actually spit hot water instantly. Malcolm ducked his head into the streaming water and instantly relaxed. Turning his back to the water he looked at Gabriel, "We have been cell mates for quite some time am I right Gabriel? I can feel a real connection to you, like someone here I can trust. I usually don't misinterpret people," Malcom grabbed a wash cloth and the good kind of body wash from commissary squeezing a nice dollop in the center of his wash cloth, "You know your place. You never try to rise above it and you bend to avoid doing things that annoy me, like being snore free. With running this floor comes A LOT of responsibilities," Malcolm begins to clean his large muscular chest down his stomach and down one leg, "So remember the bone I was going to throw you? Well I need a number two. I feel as though you can fill those shoes....I know I could find a way for me to fill you....but in the meantime though I need you to be my right hand man....can you get my back?"

Malcolm turns into the water letting it wash away the soap but he looks over his shoulder giving Gabriel a playful smile, "What do you say? Do you need time to think it over? Cause it is a lot to give you....but I think you look like someone who can take it.....can...you...take it?"

Gabriel Kingsly

[Gabriel Kingsly]

Gabriel followed him into the showers and paused just behind him, peeking around his arm when he noticed the guard there. It wasn’t uncommon for them to be there, but listening to Malcolm he flushed again when he spoke to the man, telling him he wanted privacy. The saying he said near the end though, it made Gabriel blush so furiously he wanted to press and hide behind the man’s back from embarrassment. He held the urge to do so, not looking as the guard left and they ventured into the showers once he left. He took the shower head beside him and turned to watch Malcom begin, taking a bit slower himself. He didn’t like wearing the sandals they were issued, it hurt his feet a lot. Mostly from all the scar tissue. HE turned back to Malcolm when he began to talk, engaged in washing himself as Gabriel only stood there once he put the shower head and seemed enthralled with Malcolm’s movements. Damnit, it was like he was love struck teenager again. This wasn’t old, it wasn’t the first time he showered with Malcolm at all but the way the man moved, Gabriel couldn’t help it. He still felt a flush along his cheeks as he nodded. ”yes, practically a year.” Hell it had been that long? He couldn’t believe it.

He looked away some and used the soap Malcolm had gotten them. ”I’d never go against you, I…” he had to find his words. ”I’m happy you trust me. “ there was more there. Gabriel was happy to serve, but also happy to know that Malcolm held him to a certain standard too. IT made a sort of prideful feeling swell in his chest. He gave a little smile and soft laugh at the snore free comment. ”I hope it stays that way, I’d hate to snore, hear it hurts the throat when you wake up.” he shared in a soft tone. When he continued though, Gabriel’s head snapped up and stared at him. What? Number two? He was…he was kidding right? No, no he wasn’t. Holy shit he was offering Gabriel that position. Could he feel those shoes? He was terrified of failing him if he was given it. He barely caught the question of washing his back before he jumped a little and moved over to take the cloth without any hesitation as he began to wash the top of his broad shoulders and admired his tattoo while he did. That playful smile of his got Gabriel to blush but a gentle smile tugged at his own lips.

He did need time, and when Malcolm asked him if he needed to think about it, he gave a little nod. To have that responsibility, he wasn’t sure what to think. As he continued to wash him he paused, his bare hand pressed against the middle of Malcolm’s back while the other held the rag just above it. HE frowned a little and swallowed before he started to talk, loud enough to go over the shower head’s cascade, but still soft to show his uncertainty. ”I don’t want to fail you. I feel if I took it, I’d screw something up because I’m, not that great. Gabriel never admitted his self-doubt until now. ”The thought of failing you scares me, not because you’d hurt me but you’d be disappointed. That hurts more to me than being physically hurt.” he explained before he pressed his forehead on the man’s back and tried not to cry over the emotion that rage beneath his skin. His voice cracked a little, showing he was trying to restrain it.


Malcolm Fade

[Malcolm Fade]

Malcolm quickly turned when he heard Gabriel's voice crack he shh'd him by lifting his head up to look at him and he placed a huge finger on the mans lips shaking his head, "No...no...no....self doubt absent in max Gabby you know this," he removed his finger off the man's soft lips to stroke his cheek and smiles everything he said was gentle and self assuring, "Weakness in max is few and far between my man, plus if I felt like you were going to fail me I wouldn't have asked....you wouldn't be around if I thought different of you, this whole first year has been a test," he then pulled Gabriel very close to him embracing the barenaked man in a tight hug...

[Gabriel Kingsly]

Gabriel gave a pout when he felt Malcolm's finger on his lips, staring up at him when he said he couldn't have his self doubt. he gave a heavier sigh. "i know I know, its just we're alone and i needed to.." he said softly before he felt the hand move to his cheek, looking back up at him, his two toned eyes showing his age at that moment, listening to his words. he gave a soft smile before he felt the large arms pull him closer and pressed his face into his chest, arms wrapping around the man's middle and clinging to him tightly. a test? really? he wanted to be stronger, to not be the little naive kid that they took advantage of, the scapegoat he became he realized there was no turning back. Not now, even if something of a miracle happened and he was found innocent. The thought made him squeeze his arms tighter, feeling safe there, just the sound of the rushing water as it hit the tiles around them. he gave a heavy sigh against his skin and muttered loud enough so Malcolm could hear him."i want to be better, i hate being scared all the time and i've been trying harder. I will do whatever you ask of me and more. If someones say shit I wont let it slide." his voice became a bit stronger as he spoke. "i want to prove that i'm just as tough as anyone else here."

Malcolm Fade


[FADING TO BLACK]