#workable?

“You insist on staying here alone, but for what reason?” How the mortal chose to conduct himself was their choice alone to make. He didn’t have a reason to intervene, for it wasn’t his place to judge. But he would be quick to do so, if given the proper incentive.

Anon smirked a touch wider as Sky pulled him closer, his own hands settling on Sky’s hips, digits immediately - and sharply - sinking into seams and pricking into protoform hard enough to likely draw pinpricks of energon. He chuckled low and dark. “Guess I picked a good day to visit then, since your mate is… out~ Although I’ve been neglecting you.” He tsked at his own behavior, crimson optics sparkling with mischief. “Sounds like I have to… make UP for lost time~” His hands tightened in Sky’s hip seams and he pulled the taller Seeker flush against his frame. Cockpit glass rubbed against cockpit glass as he shifted against Sky’s frame, leaning upward to scrape denta across Sky’s lower lip, before pulling his helm back teasingly. His mouth trailed down Sky’s neck, leaving sharp nips instead of kisses in his wake, moving toward neck cables. “Never forget me~?” He murmured against Sky’s neck. “Shall I… mark my territory, then~?” he purred, glossa flicking out to taste the collar branded on Sky’s neck. “Since it seems that your mate has, perhaps I should as well~” His denta caught the main fuel line between them for a moment, glossa teasing the captured cable as he waited for Sky’s response.

Sky shifted his hips under Anon’s hands, optics darkening more and a small sound escaping him from the pokes deep into into his protofom to draw energon. Another shiver went through Sky’s frame as if that dark low chuckle rolled through him. He moved with the pulling on his frame to press the front of his frame against Anon’s his hand coming up to the shoulder mounted blaster and sensually running his digits down the barrel as his other hand tightened on Anon’s hip possessively.

At the scrape of denta to his lip Sky whined low in the back of his throat, honey gold optics unfocused as he rolled his hips into Anon’s encouraging for more. His gaze sharpened as Anon pulled back, his own hands tightening on Anon’s frame as he moved his helm back to allow Anon greater access, a moan leaving him as Anon’s mouth left heat and pleasure in its wake down his neck, wings trembling from Anon’s demonstrations on him. Sky rolled his heated panel against Anon’s.

"R-regretting that rematch?" Kelam smirked at the down right glare Varen gave her and quietly let her reassess the pool table. He stood back and picked up the glass of the house special, not exactly remembering how many he had before this and not really caring. Tension had eased out of his frame he was feeling more relax now than he had in weeks. Kelam moved his head far enough to pop his neck and shrugged his shoulders, easing muscles before taking a more relaxed stance with his pool stick.

Varen shook her head, ignoring him and called her shot. Kelam leaned against his own cue stick as he watched the ball hit the corner of the pocket and refuse to go in. Varen cursed and Kelam’s smirk turned bolder. They switched places as Kelam started mentally going through the possibilities in his head. He called his shot, ready to connect his pool stick to the cue ball.

"Speak of the devil and he comes." Varen chuckled. Kelam jerked his head up, ruining his shot because instantly he knew from the sound of Varen’s voice just who it was going to be and had to see for himself. Sure enough, his throat tightened and his chest hurt at the familiar sight of Malek prowling into the room. Gold eyes met green for an instant before the moment was broken when Varen threw her head back and howled with laughter, just a little too drunk to have her own volume control. Kelam winced at the sound and the menace, he probably deserved it considering he did tell her that Malek had a better shot with him than she did but damn. Have to fuck everything up, he thought as he stepped away from the table giving her his own glare.

"C-cheating now, Varen? Careful o-or two can play that game." 

"Cheating at what? You’ve only been…" She glared when Kelam made a gesture of keep it down and leaned towards him, hissing angrily. “You’ve only been talking about him all freaking night.”

"D-distracting me right before my s-shot." Kelam wanted to pat himself on the back, he sounded more annoyed with Varen than he was nervous of suddenly being in Malek’s proximity. He arched an eyebrow a thought crossing his head that instantly thanks to the alcohol sounded like a good idea he didn’t have to think through. "Y-you wanna play the distracting game two can play that.” Kelam’s smirk turned more smug as he changed his stance again, stretching slowly and showing the full potential of his frame in the action before running his hands down the pool stick in a way that seemed anything but innocent. “Y-your turn, Varen.”

——

Malek shot a glare at Sarae as she chattered at her date, someone he hadn’t meant before – and didn’t really care to know now. He wasn’t precisely sure why she decided to attach herself and her date to him, but he was beginning to think Corin has the right idea when he pealed off and vanished when he saw her coming.

But Malek had wanted a drink, and honestly… he really wanted one now, and he’d only been in her presence for 10 minutes. Walking up to the weapons check, he stripped his sidearms and smoothly detached his wetware-integrated blasters, snagging the claim ticket and stalking into the bar while Sarae and her date were still figuring out what they were doing. Malek rolled his eyes; granted, he was a regular, but still – did they not have weapon-free pubs whatever base those two were from?

It was chance or luck that his eyes met a golden gaze almost immediately upon stepping into the room, and he nearly missed a step at the sudden tightness in his chest. Their gaze was broken by braying laughter, and his eyes flicked to Varen. A frown flickered over his face and he shoved his hands into his pockets and glided toward the bar, finding a spot where he could ease into place, hoping that Sarae and her date wouldn’t follow. He ordered one of the house specials, and closed his eyes in long suffering silence as Sarae plopped her aft on the barstool next to him, leaving her date standing.

“What, not gonna let your date sit?” He snarked, picking up the glass and taking a long drink. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, and paused, glass still halfway to his mouth as he caught Kelam in midst of a full stretch. The other man relaxed and Malek put his glass down just a little too hard on the bar as his gaze caught on the movement of Kelam’s hands on the pool cue.

He frowned as his view was interrupted by Sarae’s date leaning forward to whisper something to her, and Malek turned back to the bar, rolling his shoulders. “Fine, fine,” he heard Sarae say, and raised an eyebrow as she stood from the bar. “We’re going to go sit over there, maybe play some darts, if you’re interested?”

Malek tried to avoid a sigh of relief and settled for shaking his head. “Nah, you two have fun. I’m just gonna hang out here.” He took a celebratory drink as they left, and let his eyes stray back to the pool table in the corner.

——

“Don’t look now, but he’s looking over here,” Varen said in a sing-song tone, although honestly Malek wasn’t the only one checking Kelam out. She pulled her eyes away from him to frown at the pool table, lining up the shot she’d missed before and managing to get it straight into the pocket this time before smirking victoriously back up at Kelam. “He’s here, he’s looking at you, why don’t you just talk to him?”

"D-don’t look now, sure." Kelam turned his head not in Malek’s direction but to the dart board and where Sarae and whoever she was with were apparently picking their dart colors. His upper lip curled into a sneer, hands gripping the pool stick so hard his knuckles turned white and he shook his head refusing Varen’s suggestion. "D-don’t think it’s me h-he wants to talk too.”  Kelam’s gaze flicked back to the pool table, cooly assessing the game before he positioned himself to have his back towards Malek.

"Slagger c-can look all he wants." He growled under his breath, taking his actions more slowly than he had too the motion graceful as he pushed his ass towards Malek’s direction and swayed slightly both from being intoxicated and to the music playing in the background, despite his attention focused on the pool table he was hyper aware of Malek’s eyes on him and it made him smirk smugly to himself. The shot he wanted to make was difficult and one he felt he had to do to make up for the botched attempt on his last try.

Subconsciously he shifted again, eyes narrowing with concentration before taking the shot, banking the cue ball of two edges of the table before having it smack hard a cluster still close to the center of the table, one of his solids veering off and slamming into another and both landing in the pocket. Kelam’s smirk turned more lazy and pleased, gold eyes glowing as he straightened to stand hands running down the length of the pool stick again in a manner that smacked outright obscene. He tilted his head bolstered by the alcohol in his systems and the success of his turn to give Malek the full effect of his stare, intense and dark as too much of his desire burned in oddly colored golden eyes. He leaned towards the narrowed end of his pool stick and lightly blew a breath along the surface before his tongue flicked out, toying briefly with the tip.

"For not wanting to talk to him you sure know how to get his attention."  Varen licked lips that suddenly seemed too dry she had to shake her head and look away an uneasy laugh bubbling out of her throat. “Okay, okay I’m calling it a night.” She declared not sure if she could really stand looks Kelam was throwing Malek and the jealous pangs she felt about it. “I’ll want a rematch.”

——

Malek’s eyes locked onto the view offered as Kelam gracefully leaned over the pool table, swaying with the music. He took another drink, eyes never leaving Kelam’s body, and more than happy to watch. As Kelam straightened and his hands stroked down the cue stick with intent, Malek shifted on the barstool, a low noise slipping from him. Green eyes slipped up Kelam’s body to meet those dark, intense eyes, the force of the gaze hitting Malek almost physically. As Kelam leaned forward and teased the tip of the pool cue with his tongue, Malek swore heatedly, eyes flashing as he shifted on his barstool.

Malek barely registered Varen racking her pool cue and turning to leave, instead turning back to the bar and propping his elbows on the bar, running a slightly-shaky hand through his hair. He lifted his glass to his lips, and stopped to blink at it, not sure when he’d emptied it. Maybe he shouldn’t have had those couple of glasses before coming out…. Lowering the empty glass to the bar, he grinned as an idea occurred to him, then raised a hand at the bartender, gesturing for two more house specials.

Grabbing the glasses as she placed them in front of him on the bar, he turned and slid off the barstool, catching Kelam’s gaze and lifting the glasses. With a smirk, he started stalking in Kelam’s direction, putting an extra predatory sway in his walk, smirk firmly on his lips. He ignored the jealous looks from Varen as she glanced back before wandering out the door, and he refused to even glance in Sarae’s direction.

Stopping within arm’s reach of Kelam, Malek leaned a hip casually against the pool table, and held out one of the glasses, eyes half-lidded. “Kelam,” he greeted the other man, voice low and sultry, just touched with a hint of his purr. “I thought I would offer you a… taste.” His smirk turned positively wicked at the reference to their first meeting as he raised his own glass to his lips, eyes still locked with Kelam’s.

——

Kelam grinned the expression lazy and smug as he watched Malek’s react on his bar stool to his flirtations, the evidence that Malek still wanted him too.  He turned reluctantly away to rack his own cue stick since Varen was done with the game. He closed his eyes breathing and already could feel that heady pull towards Malek he could never describe he nervously shoved his hands into his pockets and slouched his uncertainty getting the best of him in that action as he turned around, watching with delight as Malek had two glasses. He allowed his gaze to roam Malek’s frame, feeling his heart race at that predatory walk, that damn smirk that made Kelam not be able to decide if he wanted to kiss Malek or punch him in the mouth. He returned the smirk as he realized Malek’s attention was solely on him, the other man hadn’t even looked twice at Sarae.

"Malek." Kelam returned the greeting, his hand a touch shaky as he reached out for one of the glasses, gritting his teeth to hide the shiver that wanted to go down his spine from just that hint of purr in Malek’s voice. “B-back from your mission? M-missed ya.” Kelam dropped his gaze down to the glass and swirled the contents around, the smirk turning more into a real smile as he remembered their first meeting. He glanced up, meeting green eyes and watched as Malek took a drink from his glass.

"K-know what this tastes like f-from a glass. B-better than engine degreaser." Humor quirked his lips, his dark eyes lowered from Malek’s eyes to lips moist from the drink the other man just had. "B-but never tasted it here." He brought his right hand up to Malek’s left shoulder to support himself as he leaned in closer, the action slow giving Malek plenty of time to back away if he wanted too. His heart raced, alcohol and desire burned in Kelam’s systems making it hard to think.  "Y-you offering a taste here?" He brushed his lower lip lightly against Malek’s lip before pressing forward, lips parted and inviting as his own tongue flicked out tasting along Malek’s own lips before pressing harder against his mouth.

“Yeah, got back last night,” Malek responded, green eyes never leaving Kelam’s face. His eyebrows rose in surprise and his smirk widened as Kelam said he missed him. He was about to say something else when Kelam leaned in slowly. Malek made a low, pleased noise and parted his lips slightly at the brush against his lower lip. His pulse beat faster and his hand tightened on his glass, eyes half-lidding with the desire that was always between them and that had ratcheted higher with the other man’s teases.

Malek growled at the flick of tongue tasting his lips before pressing forward into the kiss hungrily. His left hand came up to grip Kelam’s hip tightly, stepping into the other man’s form and deepening the kiss. Using his body as pressure, he guided them backward until Kelam’s hips were pressed against the pool table. Malek pressed them together for a long line of heat against their fronts. Still gripping Kelam’s hip tightly, Malek placed his glass blindly on the pool table and flattened his hand on the surface, leaning forward with the intent of causing Kelam to lean backward as he continued the kiss, hips pressing firmly against Kelam’s.

A low sound escaped Kelam as Malek opened for him, pressing harder against his mouth and drinking down the flavors of house special riding on top of the wintry coolness that was all Malek. His own body moved, returning to press against Malek’s even all this time on its own accord knew exactly how to mold itself to him, his right arm wrapped around Malek’s waist wanting nothing more than to be closer knowing finally nothing was standing in his way.

Kelam felt the back of his legs hit the pool table and paused, moving with Malek to  put his glass on the side, lips never leaving Malek’s. With his left hand free he automatically went to Malek’s right shoulder looking for a blaster that wasn’t there hand still gliding over Malek’s arm. He rolled his hips into Malek’s the movement eager and inviting no reservations or hesitations on his part before he moved enough to be seated on the pool table. His right hand slide up to the back of Malek’s neck fingers tangling into short hair wanting to keep Malek with him even if it was Malek pushing him backwards.

Malek’s right hand left the pool table to stoke up Kelam’s spine, a low, pleased growl coming from his throat at the other man’s eagerness and the hand tangling into his hair to hold them together. His fingers danced along Kelam’s back while he drank down the honeyed taste of Kelam, tongues tangling together in a seemingly familiar dance. Possessiveness made Malek’s hand on his hip tighten, fingers digging into the material of his pants, as Kelam yielded to his pressure and seated himself on the pool table itself. Vaguely, in the back of his head, Malek was pleased that from both Kelam’s invitations and from what he’d heard on UnderComm there was nothing stopping him from claiming Kelam, and that was just what he wanted to do.

Malek shifted to fit himself between Kelam’s legs as the other man sat on the pool table, hands both going to his hips and jerking him closer so they were pressed intimately close, completely disregarding the rest of the bar.

“And just what do you two think you’re doing?” Sarae’s voice was dripping with scorn and disapproval.

Malek snarled slightly as he continued the kiss, hands tightening in tension but otherwise ignoring the interloper, until he and Kelam had to break it to breathe. He nipped Kelam’s lower lip before turning his head to view Sarae out of the corner of his eye. “If you can’t tell, me explaining it ain’t gonna clear anything up. Go away.”

Kelam willingly lost himself in the kiss, it was something he never thought he’d do again, his legs linked around Malek’s waist as he stepped between them. Their fronts pressed together, he moaned into the kiss, shifting his hips into the contact. His left hand moved over Malek’s right shoulder gripping him to hold on part of him in disbelief that Malek took him up on his invitation something tickled in the back of his mind he should be remembering something when Sarae’s voice broke in reminding him where they were and they weren’t the only ones present.

It was Malek tightening his grip on his hips and refusing to give up the kiss that kept Kelam from shrinking away, his own hands linked behind Malek’s neck he pressed more into the other man. His breathing was jagged, dark honey gold eyes glazed over as Malek’s teeth found his lower lip when Malek pulled away, Kelam buried his head on Malek’s chest, mouth at his collarbone teasing it with tongue and teeth through the material of his shirt his legs and arms still around Malek partially to piss of Sarae but mostly because he didn’t want to let Malek go. 

"K-kinda crowded in here." Kelam breathed into Malek’s ear. "W-wanna go somewhere more… private?" He didn’t want to confront Sarae he was tired of feeling bad for wanting Malek, he was tired of fighting off the attraction he had for Malek and at the moment didn’t care, he’d deal with it just like he’d have to deal with his hangover the next morning. "W-wherever you wanna go, t-that works for m-me."

Malek made a low noise that was almost a moan at the sensation of Kelam’s mouth teasing his collarbone, turning his attention fully back on the man in his arms. He ran his hands from Kelam’s hips up his sides, right hand curving around to his back while the other settled on his waist, his whole demeanor one of claiming something that was his. He didn’t know why Kelam had decided to break it off with the man he’d left Malek to go back to, but right now Malek didn’t care – all that mattered is that Kelam was in his arms, pressed against him single, sexy and willing, and he was damned if he’d let Kelam slip through his fingers again.

He rolled his hips forward into Kelam’s, the press of their hips together showing he was definitely affected by the scout as he breathed his suggestion in Malek’s ear. Malek turned his head slightly to brush his lips against Kelam’s neck at the same time. “My quarters,” he purred, desire making his breath rough. “We’ll be… undisturbed there~” he nipped Kelam’s neck, right where his love bite from the first time had healed, and raised his head with a smirk.

Reluctantly, he stepped backward to give Kelam room to slip off the pool table, pulling the taller man with him so they stayed pressed together. He ignored Sarae completely, instead glancing past her at the uncomfortably-shifting man who Sarae had dragged along as a date. “Take your date back to darts,” he hissed, “Before one of us decides to shove her face into a wall.” Making a mental note to make sure neither he nor Kelam were assigned to a mission with her in the near future, Malek dismissed both of the bystanders from his thoughts, more than willing to focus on something much more pleasant. He deliberately reached over and tossed back the remainder of the house special in his glass, looped his arm around Kelam’s waist, and started guiding them to the door and the weapons check while Sarae sputtered.

Kelam sharply in took a breath of air as Malek rolled his hips forward into him giving him no misunderstanding that the pilot was effected and wanted him. He tightened his hands and leg around Malek’s body brushing his lips over the collarbone he was teasing before pulling his head away to glance up into Malek’s face wanting to gauge the expression while those arms were so possessively around him. A shiver ran through his form at hearing that rough purr, a low whine escaped from the back of his throat when Malek’s teeth again found the first place he marked him.

"T-thought." Kelam had to clear his throat to get his voice to came out sounding low and husky but at least audible if only just above a breath. "T-thought you forgotten." Instinctively his grip tightened despite Malek’s own reluctance before he released his hold on the pilot sliding quickly into Malek’s freshly vacant spot in front of the pool table. He raised an eyebrow at venomous tone Malek had in reference to Sarae. So maybe Malek and Sarae weren’t on the best terms after all.

He linked his arm around Malek’s shoulders, right hand tightening a moment and walking with Malek that along his side was a solid warm line of contact. With his left hand he produced his claim ticket and broke apart long enough to rearm themselves. Kelam was just getting the fastenings for his cannons to click in place when he glanced over to see Malek’s progress. 

When Kelam glanced up, Malek’s face was a mixture of fierce possessiveness, lust, and need. His hands on Kelam’s back and waist tightened as green eyes met golden. Malek’s gaze flickered over Kelam’s face and a pleased smirk formed at whatever he saw there as he stepped backward to allow Kelam to slip off the pool table. “No,” he purred, voice low. “couldn’t forget you. Every moment with you….” Malek trailed off, knowing they had an audience; as low as their voices had been he doubted anyone heard but those words were for another time and place. Instead he took a shaky breath as he watched the scout’s graceful movements.

Malek made an effort to keep that line of heat along his side as they walked to the weapons check, knowing that there were several sets of eyes on them and a small smug smile forming because it was his arm around Kelam and Kelam’s arm around his shoulders. Retrieving his claim ticket with his right hand, he tossed it on the counter, arm tightening around Kelam’s waist in warning not to move too far away before letting it drop so he could retrieve his blasters. He wasn’t planning on letting Kelam get away again.

He clicked his right blaster into place and picked up the left one, watching from the corner of his eyes as the scout clicked his cannons into place on his shoulders, gaze lingering on the weapons and graceful fingers dancing across the metal. He met Kelam’s eyes as the taller man glanced over, knowing he wouldn’t have that gaze for long. His lips curved in a smirk as his hands stroked along the barrel in a downright obscene manner before raising it to his shoulder and clicking it into place, fingertips caressing down the length of the barrel and trailing slowly off the tip, returning the tease Kelam had given him with interest.

"T-talk later." Kelam agreed, talking was something far later than his immediate plans. He knew there was an audience and kicked himself for his insistence bringing up things needed to be said in private. He kept his pace with Malek keeping his head bowed to ignore the attention they were getting as he watched the pilot out of the corner of his eye. He stayed close when Malek requested it silently he do so, allowing himself the shiver that ran down his spine at the warning in the same movement.

Kelam dropped his gaze to Malek’s hand on his blaster, eyes widening and darkening as he watched. Heat burned on his face even if being done in a public place there was always something far intimate in the action as if Kelam had caught Malek in a private moment. A slightly shaky hand reached out, thumb circling the tip of the barrel, a smirk on his face knowing with the wetware in place Malek would be able to feel the touch. Very reluctantly he lowered his hand away from the plasma rifle.

"Y-you wanna jump there?" It was quicker but they’d have to take their own trips because neither of their teleporting mods were strong enough for two people but Kelam was reluctant at the idea, he didn’t want to be away from Malek any amount of time. "O-or do we walk?" 

Malek shifted in place, green eyes flashing as Kelam reached out to teasingly brush his rifle liking the sensation, a flash of heat and need tearing through his body. He made a low noise in his throat and reached out to grip Kelam’s hips, pulling the other man tight against him, backing away from the weapon’s check stand so they weren’t blocking it. He rolled his hips against Kelam’s, leaving no doubt what he wanted, and that he wanted it now.

“Hmm… walking, pressed against you, hands roaming, demonstrating to everyone who passes who you belo— who you’re with is very tempting. Or jumping there, and being in private quicker.” His lips brushed against Kelam’s with the last word, his hands slowly roaming along Kelam’s hips and waist, enjoying the sensation of the other man under his hands.

“Jump,” he decided; there would be more time later for the rest. “Straight there. You need the coordinates, or do you… remember them~?” He arched an eyebrow with a knowing smirk, assuming that the coordinates were emblazoned on Kelam’s mind. 

Kelam bit back a moan as his hand tightened around the head of Malek's blaster, his other hand coming up to wrap around Malek's shoulders rolling his hips back into Malek to show his own eagerness and readiness matched the other man. Their lips brushed together and Kelam couldn't think straight to question the pilot on why he cut off his words in there. He moved under Malek's hands, wriggling harder against his front to press themselves together, his hand pumped along the gunmetal of Malek's plasma rifle and it took him a moment to process the words Malek was saying.

"J-jump." He repeated his voice low and a touch breathy. "Sure. F-forget the way to your door? N-never, Slagger." And Kelam hadn't. It didn't matter how long had it been since his last visit, how long they haven't really talked all those memories and sensations had been branded into his mind, there was no forgetting them. He recklessly pushed forward, pressing lips agianst Malek's in a kiss that relayed his need and hunger he broke it off to soon on purpose, flashing Malek his more irritating smirk. Teasingly he let his fingers trail off the end of the blaster head and brought his arm down to his own side, moving his hips as he stepped back breaking Malek's hold. The pilot chose to jump and that meant they had to break apart to activate their own teleporting mods.

Kelam cursed quietly, brow furrowing as he realized he took a wrong turn somewhere and wasn't quite sure exactly where he was. He could smell vaguely fuel and oil for aircraft, so close to the hangars but this must have been a set he hadn't been to yet. He turned around, left hand on the wall and started making his way back, gold eyes darting around wondering how far he would have to backtrack before he found familiar ground. He stilled in his tracks when he heard voices coming from one of the hangars pausing a moment, eyes widening when he was sure he could hear Malek's voice in the din. He found it hard to swallow and his heart beating faster in his chest, he hadn't seen the pilot in a while, not since before his mission. Did this mean Malek was back? A grin spread across Kelam's lips before he could stop himself, it was hard to explain but he missed Malek. He didn't even pause as he activated his cloaking mod and cautiously started in the direction he heard the voices confident with his stealth and skill he wouldn't be detected.

Malek shook his head at Corin as the three of them - himself, Corin and Saren - headed out of the hangers. "I'm tellin' ya - get the damn left wing fixed or you'll end up square in the sights of some enemy pilot sooner rather than later. You were all over the place." 

"Or you're just incapable of flying in a straight line," Corin shot back, while the third member of their party rolled her eyes at the typical bickering, "and kept getting in my target path. Don't tell me how to fly or what my ship needs!"

They passed a hallway, Malek's head turned toward Corin to begin a sneering report - and he paused a barely-perceptible moment at the mouth of the hallway, an familiar sensation shivering down his spine, before continuing as if he hadn't noticed anything, dismissing the sensation. "If you knew how to fly it, I wouldn't need to tell you how to fly or what your ship needs," he said acidly back. They headed down the corridor toward the corner, Malek not able to shake the odd, slightly hyper-aware feeling he had. He usually got that feeling when a certain scout was around.... His brow furrowed.

As they rounded the corner at the end of the hall he paused, turning to face the corner. Corin and Saren slowed, glancing at him oddly. Malek gave a short shake of his head and gestured them on, narrowed green eyes never leaving the corner.

Kelam immediately recognized Corin and Malek by sight the third was unknown to him but her insignia matched both of theirs indicating she too was Elite Squadron. He waited a few heartbeats, in his hallway watching silently as the trio rounded the corner further up ahead. He was certain he wasn't spotted, no one noticed him when he was cloaked and when he was trying to be sneaky and right now he was doing his damnest to be sneaky. The only thing that stopped him from stepping out into the corridor right away was his debate should he trail after them or continue on his way. He bit his lower lip and sighed, the sound barely noticeable as he started moving not away but following after them.

Varen and whatever the frag she wanted could wait he was curious what Malek was up too. He hurried his steps as he got closer to the corner, wanting to keep his eye on them. The corridors and hallways around the hangars were a freaking nightmare of a maze and he really didn't want to continue wandering around lost for the rest of the evening. He didn't even pause as he turned the corner, expecting fully that the three Elite Squadron members were still grouped together and further down the hall.

Because of his focus on the corner, Malek noted the shimmer of a cloak as it rounded the corner, bending light around the form under it. Ordinarily the faint ripple was not something he would have noticed at all - but for his laser-like focus on the hallway's corner. He flicked his optic mods to infrared, eyes glowing crimson as a result of the change, and pounced, moving swiftly and without hesitation on the form he could barely make out using the heat-signature from his mods.

He went for the throat, grabbing the cloaked form and whirling, bodily slamming the scout against the wall, moving in to use his own weight to brace the other there. Ignoring the shocked looks from the other two Elite Squad, Malek brings his face close to the cloaked figure's, taking a deep breath, recognizing the other man's scent, and ignoring the sensations and brief surge of pleased emotion that his presence brought to mind.

"....Kelam," he snarled, knowing he was right on the identity, "Any particular reason you're following us?"

Kelam barely turned the corner when Malek had him by the throat the sudden movement caught him completely off guard with his overconfidence in his ability that left him no time to react. His own breath caught from from his back meeting the wall unexpectedly, how the other man leaned in close enough to breath in his scent and suddenly his mouth went dry all to aware how close they were. He tried to swallow with Malek holding his throat and move, body slightly writhing against the wall before he reluctantly lowered his cloak, there was no reason to keep it going when Malek already knew who he was. Wide gold eyes first flicked from Malek to the other two of his party that were still standing there in almost disbelief of the encounter.

"G-guess I'm b-busted." Kelam's voice came out near breathless, his eyes again meeting Malek's and its clear that he is very surprised. "N-no one sees me c-cloaked, S-Slagger." His puzzlement came out as if he forgot about giving Malek a reason on why he was following and looking for a reason on how he was caught. 

Malek bit the inside of his cheek as the cloaked figure writhed against the wall, suddenly realizing how close they were and attempting to hide the flare of heat at the mental image that suddenly popped into his mind, of pinning Kelam to the wall and....

He growled as Kelam dropped the cloak, hearing a curse of surprise from his squadmates behind him who hadn't noticed anything. Facing away as he was, Malek missed the look of surprised respect the other two sent both of them - one for being undetected, the other for somehow knowing he was there. "Didn't see through it," he said, loud enough to be heard by Corin and Saren as well. "Thought I heard something, and caught a whiff of cologne."

It was a lie, of course. He hadn't heard anything and didn't think Kelam even wore cologne. He was pretty sure that understated scent of warm cognac with hints of spice was all Kelam, and he had to be this close to even tell it was there. He wasn't sure exactly how he'd known the other man was there, just knew he was close.

Malek switched his optic mods back to regular vision and shifted, bringing his left arm up to lean across Kelam's chest, pinning him to the wall and continued before Kelam could dispute his explanation. "And that ain't what I asked, Slagger." His voice dropped, modulating into a purring tone heavy with restrained violence. "Why were you following us~?" he purred, green eyes narrowing, right hand tightening on Kelam's throat momentarily in renewed threat before relaxing his grip just enough so the other man could speak.

Kelam opened his mouth to protest he didn't wear cologne and quickly shut it again as Malek brought his arm against his chest holding him firmly in place. His heart pounded in his ears he swore he'd have to swallow it down from climbing to his throat, forcing himself to remain still against the wall and trying to hide the wash of heat that ran through his own body from Malek's nearness, the threat radiating from the other man and being restrained like he was. He thought he was doing a fairly decent job of hiding how turned on he was... and then Malek purred.

It almost helped Malek tightened his hand when he did, stopping the low whine that was escaping from Kelam's throat from just the sound, Kelam nervously bit his lip trying to repress the shiver that wanted to run through his body. His blood ran hotter and faster through his veins, body tensing with both alarm and anticipation. With how close he was to Malek he was well aware the chances of him hiding all of his reactions were slim and he couldn't possibly forget the hand that loosened up just enough for him to talk. 

"M-maybe I-I m-missed ya, S-Slagger." Kelam attempted to smirk, lifting his chin just a hair in defiance to the man holding him and not expecting an answer back for that. He lifted his shoulders up before dropping them in a lame shrug, the weaponry atop accentuating the movement. "H-heard a c-conversation f-from the hangars and w-wanted to p-practice my stealth. W-wasn't expecting t-to get... caught." 

Malek paused, gaze sharpening as he felt the slight shudder through the other man's form, noticing as Kelam set his teeth in his bottom lip momentarily, and how his striking golden eyes darkened slightly. He'd expected the tension, the reaction to the overt threat and intimidation. He hadn't expected the other reactions - or his own reaction to them. He shifted his stance slightly, all too aware of their... audience.

He raised an eyebrow at the comment about missing him, not sure what to make of it, although a smirk did quirk at the corner of his mouth at the hint of defiance, liking that. His gaze followed the slight rise and fall of the shoulder-mounted cannons before green eyes snapped back to golden.  

Malek tilted his head slightly, although he couldn't help his gaze briefly flicking down what he could see of Kelam's body. He was having a hard time keeping his attention where it belonged, and he leaned harder on the arm against Kelam's chest, a low growl coming from low in his throat in frustration at his own wandering gaze. Why the frag did he keep getting... distracted?

"So do you always sneak around and listen to other people's conversations to... practice~?" Malek purred, lip curling. "I'm of half a mind to teach you a lesson, right here."

Kelam couldn't stop the shiver from that low growl coming from Malek, unsure how exactly but that voice just flat out did it for him. A soft, near needy sound escaped from Kelam he couldn't swallow back down in time as he tried to shift his weight slightly. Darkened gold eyes again flickered past Malek to catch Sarae watching them intently and Corin looking as if all he needed popcorn and he'd be set to watch the scene unfold and swallowed hard, turning his eyes back to Malek, glancing down at what he could see, not quite pressed to him but damn threateningly close. 

"S-sometimes I-I s-sneak into p-private quarters too, S-Slagger. For... practice." His eyes dared Malek to remember when Kelam did exactly that to him. He paused a moment, bolstering courage before leaning against the restraining hold on him, his smirk deepening as he tried to get his mouth as close to Malek's as he could, also remembering a promised kiss he still hadn't received. "C-careful, Malek. S-some guys might like this."

A wave of heat washed through Malek at Kelam’s shiver and almost needy noise, his breathing speeding a bit at the images flickering through his mind of using the wall and hold on Kelam he had to take their dance further, of seeing what other noises and reactions he could wring from the other man. As Kelam’s gaze flicked past him to the other two, Malek focused his gaze on the bare wall past Kelam’s shoulder, trying his damnedest to hide his arousal at Kelam’s inviting reactions and to bring himself under control again.

He met Kelam’s honey-gold gaze with his own dark emerald one, knowing that there was no way that he was successfully hiding all his reactions from Kelam with how close they were. His eyes narrowed at the scout’s dare. "Oh, I... remember. You remember I've... practiced the same." It wasn't a question and he didn't expect an answer; the sudden hard-edged smirk and flare of satisfaction in his eyes at remembering what state he'd left Kelam in speaking for themselves.

When Kelam leaned forward into his restraining arm across his chest and hand on his throat – not in an attempt to get away, but instead to get closer together and provoke in a low voice, Malek took a sharp breath, eyes flicking down to oh-so-close parted lips. For a brief moment, he paused, mind and body warring with the desire to close that distance, to shove the other man against the wall and act out one of the images floating through his head, to have Kelam writhing under him moaning, head tossed back in mingled pleasure and pain.

His hands tightened on Kelam before he recoiled, letting go and backing a few steps away, hands fisting at his sides, self-disgust at his own thoughts plain on his face. “Fragger,” he hissed, a small corner of his mind thankful that the flight suit from the training run they’d just finished hid a multitude of... physical reactions from a distance. “Don’t you have some civilian piece to play games with?” Glaring daggers, he spun on a heel and stalked a short distance down the corridor, shooting a glare in the direction of Corin and Sarae that dared them to say a single word.

Kelam's breath caught, he couldn't help being this close to Malek to not  get a glimpse that his reaction wasn't all adverse from the desire that glittered in his green eyes, the sped up respiration and tension in the other man. His expression darkened to a scowl when Malek reminded him of his own... practice, the thought that Malek could turn him on as much as he did and walk away so seemingly unaffected enraged him as he stared into that smug, satisfied face.

He paused when he felt hands tighten on his body, he noticed the intense focus Malek had to his lips. At the sudden release of that restraining hold, Kelam stumbled forward, barely able to stay on his feet and leaned back against the wall. He threw a glance at Malek, confusion, anger and lust mingled on his face.

"H-how did you know a-about...?" His suspicious glance cast its way to Corin who over heard him and Varen talking about Kamel once. He fiercely shook his head at the idea, finding it unlikely that Malek would actually be talking about him.  Kelam shakily crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked away, refusing to see anymore of that disgusted look on Malek's face."S-Slagger..." He spat out, other words bubbling up but with his fury and stammer there was no way for them to get out and he swallowed them back down as if they were solid things moving in his throat. 

Malek stopped, back straight, still staring down the corridor but not seeing it. His shoulders tightened at the question, and his head turned slightly to glare as Corin started to say something in response to Kelam's suspicious look. The other man snapped his mouth shut at the look that Malek was directing at him, and raised his hands, palm out in an 'okay, okay!' gesture.

After a long moment, Malek said low, "Maybe I just heard it around," Malek said, voice still holding an edge. "What does it matter? I noticed you didn't dispute it. Just decided to add Elite Squadron to your rep, is that it? Why not, it's not like everyone else doesn't try." The biting tone almost covered a hint of something else that sounded suspiciously like bitterness. "What, did I not react right for your little jibe? Pity." His tone turned cold, and he crossed his arms over his chest, still not turning around, surprised at the strange pang in his chest at the thought of Kelam's reaction to his words. 

"Does it matter where I heard it?" Malek snarled, spinning on that same heel and advancing back on Kelam in a threatening stalk, hands fisted at his sides. "What, you think this," he gestured between the two of them, a sharp, angry movement, "is a game? 'Have my civvy piece and provoke Malek, see what he does'?" Remembering Kelam's taunt about liking it, Malek checked his advance a few feet away. "You want a game? Fine. Meet me in the dojo, one hour from now, and we'll see a... game."

Kelam bit his lip and suppressed a shiver, hands behind his back his fingers digging into the wall as he watched Malek's movements and heard his voice. He was confused how... angry he sounded, if Kelam didn't know better he almost sounded jealous. Which was stupid. Why was Malek so pissed off he was sleeping around when it wasn't like Kelam hadn't heard about the 'porting next door and other rumors floating around with Malek. He noticed with wry bitterness how Malek stayed away now, remembering the disgust he saw and heard earlier.

He knew he couldn't get words out now but give him an hour to formulate and come up with his own questions? He smirked, gold eyes hardening as his showed just a little too much teeth in the expression glancing first at their audience and then back to Malek, silently wondering if he would be bringing his little entourage with him. He gave a sharp nod of his head. "G-game on." It seemed to be a button to press with Malek to use those words so press it he did. "Hour. Dojo. See you there." He forced the words out through gritted teeth, keeping his stammer at bay. Kelam pushed away from the wall and ignored the sinking dread in his stomach that part of him really didn't mind the idea of confronting a pissed off Malek and seeing how the chips would fall but there was a part of him that regretted, really regretted this tearing each other apart like they were. He threw Malek another glance, expression unreadable on his face before stalking the opposite way down the hall, back stiff and slouch removed the gait of his walk different than it had been other times they met up.

Malek’s eyes narrowed at the jab using his own term against him, and gritted his teeth. He gave a sharp nod of his head at Kelam’s agreement and watched as Kelam stalked away, his green eyes glittering with a wild mix of emotions that even Malek couldn’t name. Anger, arousal, bitterness, guilt at the flash of hurt he thought he’d seen in golden eyes before they’ve looked away - and a heaping dose of jealousy and hint of betrayal that he didn’t look too closely at swirled in his stomach – but none of that stopped him from watching the predatory walk the other man had, slouch removed and hips moving in an exceedingly distracting manner even now.