Title: The Beginning and Morning After
Rating: M
Genre: Slash
Show: Highlander
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me
Author's notes: This is slash. That means there are two men who love each other. Don't read if you shouldn't be here.
The Beginning
The first time a guest spends the night with me, I never sleep well. Perhaps it's because of the new presence in my space. It does not matter if I know the person or not, my sleep is restless and light.
So when the old man showed up at my doorstep, I knew I would be in for another unsettled night. It wasn't his fault, I need to get acclimated to the feeling of fullness in my place.
For some reason this first night was different. As I tossed and turned, memories of our time together seemed to scroll through my mind. I saw our first meeting, God he looked so young and innocent there and yet I knew him. I knew he was Methos, oldest of our kind. Then he was there, watching my back as we searched and fought over Jacob Galati. Images came fast as I tossed quietly (wouldn't want to disturb him) in my bed. Painting a house, fighting, racing through Paris to make sure he was safe, a warm pool of light. Everything slammed to a halt in the face of one particular ghost – Kronos.
That one had been bad. My image of Methos had been shattered. Here was a survivor, a man I thought worthy of the Prize. He had lived and known the best of the mortals, seen everything world had to offer in every time period. To find out he had slaughtered countless innocents for no reason… it was too much. I judged him unworthy.
And in doing so, I judged myself unworthy. That ghost of his past showed me that all of us, even the best and most learned of us make mistakes. And yet, can still retain our humanity without punishing ourselves.
I was not ready to learn that lesson at the time. As I lay in bed, listening to him breathe slowly and softly from the couch, the feelings I always felt in his presence crept up. Exasperation, incredulity, humor, friendship, anger, passion… love?
The last one floored me and I sat up silently in surprise. Love? Me? Love the old man? It was unbelievable. We were so different, like oil and water. We barely knew about each other as evidenced by Kronos. How could I love this irritating, smug, complex gorgeous man?
"Mac?" his soft voice asked. "What's wrong?" Suddenly he was at the foot of my bed. While I struggled with my revelations, he had woken up and come to my aid. Just like always.
"I love you," I said hoarsely.
And he just smiled, a light, friendly smile. "I know."
We looked at each other for a moment. Then he climbed into bed and gently pushed me down onto my side, his body fitting perfectly with mine, an arm over my chest, a leg draped over my legs.
I slept soundly after that night.