Chapter 7

The next morning Malik woke up earlier than usual, the hospital bed wasn't so comfy and he was bursting for the loo. He looked over to Bruce on the chair next to him, asleep. Damn.

He didn't want to wake the man, so attempted to get there by himself. He successfully got up and out of bed, whilst trying as hard as possible to be quiet, and walked towards the bathroom door. Good job I got a room with a toilet in it, so I don't have to go wandering the corridors looking for one-

"BOO"

Malik shrieked and turned around to see Bruce laughing his head off in his chair.

"Not funny." He hissed at him

"It was, you should've seen your face! And you shrieked like a little girl!" Bruce continued laughing. "Anyway, how come you're up so early? You don't usually get up till noon"

"I'm going to the loo" the boy told him, fidgeting as he was reminded by his bladder how badly he had to go.

"Go on then!" Bruce told him

Whilst Malik was using the bathroom, brushing his teeth, washing his face and getting dressed, Bruce tidied their things up and spoke to the nurse, who gave them the ok to go home.

"Come on then, you" He said, putting a hand on the boys shoulder and leading him down to the car.

As they got into the car, Bruce debated whether or not it was a good time to try and talk to Malik about his...habits. He didn't want to embarrass him, but the sooner it was talked about the sooner they could get to the bottom of whatever the problem was.

"Malik...listen. And don't kick off alright? I just want to make sure everything's okay. I understand you don't want to talk about it but I want to help you, I'm not here to judge you." He started

"What are you on about?" Malik questioned, even though he had a feeling what it was going to be about, he silently prayed Bruce wasn't going to do this right now.

"The bed wetting, you told me it was a one off and I trusted you. But just because I believed it was a one off doesn't mean I was going to be mad if it happened again, I'd rather you tell me the truth than have to deal with it on your own. It can't be a nice feeling"

"I thought it was a one off" the boy looked down "I'm sorry, I don't know why it's happening."

"You don't need to apologize, it's not your fault, it's not like you're doing it on purpose. I'm not upset or mad at you for wetting the bed Malik, I'm upset that you felt like you couldn't tell me, and felt you had to lie to me." Bruce told him.

"I was just embarrassed. Sorry.."

"I understand that, but you don't need to be, I won't be mad or judge you. I just want to help you find out why it's happening and how we can stop it. However, for me to do that I need you to be honest with me from now on, got it?"

"Mhm" Malik nodded.

"You're a good kid, Malik" the man told him, ruffling his curls.

"It's not just the bed wetting I'm concerned about, though." Bruce said

The boy looked at him with a confused expression.

"Sometimes I think you wait too long to go to the bathroom, and then don't have much time to get yourself there. Is that because you're too lazy to go?" He asked

"Sometimes.." Malik replied

"What about the other times?"

"Sometimes I don't realize I need it that bad, and sometimes I don't realize I need it at all, until I really have to go." He said

"How longs that been happening for?" Bruce questioned

"I dunno" Malik thought "ages"

"Alright, just try and go as soon as you feel the need to, and if we're out make sure you tell me. I know you think it's childish but it can't be as childish as you having an accident in public, and that'll be avoided if you go when you need to. Drink plenty of water too." The man told him

"Sure.." He said

"Promise me, Malik."

"Yeah ok I promise"

"Good."

After arriving home Malik went straight up to his room to play his game. Bruce used this as a chance to clean up as he hadn't been home to do so.

He just finished washing the dishes and began making dinner when he heard a ton of yelling and swearing coming from upstairs. If there was one thing Bruce would not tolerate in his house, it was foul language. He was partly annoyed as he had told Malik to watch his mouth a number of times before. Clearly the message was ignored. The man made his way upstairs.

"Malik! What have I told you?" Bruce asked, entering the boys room.

"What? What did I do?" Malik looked up at him, genuinely confused having forgot that Bruce didn't like him swearing. His dad never said anything about it.

"Language, young man"

"Sorryyy, I just forget" the boy replied

Bruce noticed that he was sitting rather weirdly, his position couldn't possibly have been comfortable. He guessed that he had to go to the bathroom, and badly by the looks of things.

"Go, Malik." The man told him

"Where?" Malik laughed

"Bathroom, go on" Bruce said, opening the door wider so he could get out.

"I don't need it, and I don't need you to tell me when to go" the boy lied, he did in fact have to go but he didn't want Bruce to know that. He just wanted to finish his game.

"Come on, boy, your games will still be here when you're done" Bruce sighed, he genuinely felt like he was talking to a 5 year old who wouldn't put his toys down.

"Bruce, please, I promise I'm not gonna have anymore accidents. I'll go when I need to and right now I don't." Malik insisted

"I'll watch you play then"

"No"

"Why not? I've got nothing else to do, plus it looks fun whatever it is you're playing" the man said getting comfy on the bed.

"Alright fine" Malik fidgeted in his seat

"Is that a pee dance?" Bruce chuckled

"NO. I was getting comfy. You're only watching if you be quiet! No distracting me" Malik scowled

"Alright alright, you're the boss"

Bruce lied. He wasn't watching the boys game, he was instead watching the boy. He couldn't deny that it was adorable to see him like this, squirming around in his chair, eyes glued to the screen ignoring the fact that he was clearly desperate for relief. He looked just like a little boy.

"You're meant to be watching the screen! Not me." Malik told him

"You do need the loo" Bruce laughed

"I know.." the boy finally admitted

"So why wont you go!!" Bruce said in amazement

"I will when I've done this, I'm nearly there"

The man continued to laugh, "awww look at you, you're about to wet your pants"

"I'm not! I'm fine, I don't need to go that bad" Malik told him

"Yeah yeah. You're pee dancing like a toddler that's only just been toilet trained" Bruce teased

"Oohhh shut up will you. I'm gonna go straight after this" The boy said, crossing his legs

"Drip...drip...can you hear that? It's like...water dripping. Like a leaky tap"

"Aww no Bruce that's not funny" Malik said, although he was also laughing.

"Don't think about waterfalls"

"Bruceee" Malik whined standing up. He paused the game and set his controller down, walking quickly toward the door. He was suddenly pulled back by the wire to his headset, which he had forgotten to take off and had now became all tangled with the other wires.

Bruce burst into a fit of laughter. "You're an idiot"

The boy smiled shyly as he took the headset off and started untangling the wires. Marching in place whilst doing so.

"Malik! Go wee, I'll sort this out"

"No no don't! You don't know where everything goes you'll mess it up. I need to do it." Malik insisted

"Well you can do it after you've been to the toilet, or you'll give yourself a UTI" the man told him.

"Okay okay, don't touch anything" The boy said before rushing off.

I've never seen a boy so organised.. yet so unorganised? Bruce thought to himself.