In Sickness and In Health
Chapter 4 – Togetherness
A/N: Halloa! Welcome to chapter four of In Sickness and In Health! This is the furthest I've ever been with any chaptered story anywhere any when. I've written more for this one story than I did for the six-chapter sim-story I did like a year ago.
Thank you to my reviewers for the last chapter: , AzureIzumi and Dani Dreadful! I love getting reviews, especially nice ones, and I have a habit of going 'Yay!' when I check my mail on my iPhone in the morning (in school as well XD)then my friends kinda stare at me... but makes me happy all the same.
ALSO! I don't mention it much in the story (cause there's only one or two ways to say it, and otherwise it sounds repetitive) but always assume Pip coughs quite a bit, because he is ill. Also presume he looks slightly ill. He's also rather worn out, as you always are when you're ill. Pip may sound all better, but remember he isn't XD
Just wanted to say that, so you don't all wonder 'so what, is he miraculously better?'.
Warnings: Swearing, I'm sure.
Disclaimer: I shall repeat again: unless Pip and Damien are in every scene holding hands and being super cute together, or Craig and Tweek make regular appearances together, or Kenny starts following after Butters, I'm afraid I do not own South Park, and I doubt I ever will, but we can all dream, right? Until that time, however, the awesome Trey and Matt own South Park and the characters in it. REMEMBER THAT!
=X=
A small yawn made Butters look up from his book. He smiled as Pip stretched, and sat up carefully.
"Oh! How long have I been asleep?" Pip asked, blinking and rubbing his eyes.
"Around three hours." Butters replied.
"Terribly sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You need the rest."
"It's rude to fall asleep when one has a guest." Pip insisted with a small frown.
"Not if you're ill." Butters tutted, wagging a finger jokingly. Pip smiled and rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'm hungry." He announced, wobbling on his feet for a second before sticking his tongue out at Butters and walking through to the kitchen. Butters laughed and followed.
"Would you be kind enough to make some tea, Butters?" the Brit asked, looking through the cupboards.
"Certainly."
The kitchen was quiet, except for Pip's occasional cough, as the boys busied themselves.
"Are you and Tweek sure you are okay with staying with me? I don't want you to get ill as well."
"Don't worry about it Pip. It's no trouble for us. Honestly." Butters placed a hand on Pip's shoulder. The English blonde looked at him, and their eyes locked for a second, before Pip nodded and smiled.
"I'm sorry, I must seem so ungrateful, but... I want to prove I can look after myself, you know? Everyone thinks I'm weak, and helpless, but I'm not and I want to show them that."
"We don't think you're weak and helpless. You are probably one of the strongest people I know. But if you ever need help, don't be afraid to ask for it." Butters smiled, and the boys embraced briefly.
Soon the serious atmosphere dissolved, and Pip and Butters were joking and laughing. Pip's cough was aggravated by the action of laughing, but he didn't seem to care. Time flew by, and suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Oh! That'll be Tweek and Craig, I bet." Butters chirped, jumping up out of his seat. Sure enough, he returned with the jittery blonde and his stoic boyfriend.
"Hello Tweek. Hello Craig." Pip smiled.
"H-hi Pip. How're –nngh- you?" Tweek stuttered out.
"I'm okay. What have I missed today?"
"Nothing but Stan and them being assholes." Craig muttered. Tweek nudged him.
"When are they not?" Pip joked, and Craig chuckled.
"Well said." He nodded. He sat down, with Tweek curled into his side, and looked around. "Nice place. Must be expensive."
"I manage to pay for it." Pip nodded, though he frowned slightly. "It's why I work extra hours sometimes."
=PIP=
The conversation lasted for some time. Tweek filled me and Butters in on a few of the lessons we'd missed, and even Craig was happy to join in the conversation; it seemed that away from public places and his friends he was actually a humorous and openly talkative person. I had to say, he was a perfectly nice person to be around – as long as you weren't on his bad side for whatever reason.
"Well, we should be leaving now. See you soon Butters, Pip." Craig said eventually, standing up with Tweek at his side.
"I-I'll come by s-sometime to –nngh- tomorrow." Tweek nodded, and I waved them out of the door.
"I think I'm going to go and have a shower, okay Butters?"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow Pip." Butters smiled at me. I waved, and walked up the stairs.
As soon as I was in the bathroom, I turned the shower on to warm up the water, and undressed quickly. As much as I tried to avoid my reflection, I couldn't; and there, in the mirror, I was, battered, bruised, scarred and thin. It was embarrassing, and I was ashamed.
I diverted my eyes, and stepped into the warm stream of water, letting it run over my bruised ribcage and wash the cover-up from my neck. I closed my eyes, and sighed, shrinking into myself and letting the water wash away my tears.
=DAMIEN=
After a long and boring day of lessons and a rather aggravating conversation with Kenny, I was well ready to get back to Pip's place, relax, and maybe try talking to him; if I was to make any sort of progress with him, the first stage was talk.
"Come on then Buttercup. See you tomorrow Damien." Kenny called from the door. His little blonde hurried past me.
"Pip's upstairs; he went to have a shower." He said as he passed. I nodded, and raised a hand in their general direction as a way of goodbye.
As soon as I heard the door close behind me, I decided to go and check on Pip, make sure he hadn't fainted or something, or whether he was out of the shower.
I let out an involuntary gasp at the sight that met my eyes when I reached the landing.
=PIP=
After thoroughly shampooing my hair, and simply luxuriating in the warmth of the running water, I decided it was probably time to get out. I wrapped my hair in a towel, and put another one around my waist; after a few minutes searching for my bathrobe I gave up, cursing myself for forgetting it. I was praying to God that nobody would see me as I passed from this room to mine, because that would bring up a whole load of questions I didn't want to discuss. I braced myself, and attempted a fast scuttle over the landing, praying for no-one to be there on a chance, for my luck to be good.
But of course, since when has my luck been good?
=DAMIEN=
"Pip..."
The small blonde turned to me, hazel eyes wide in surprise. His hand flew to his neck, at the same time attempting to cover his torso. His mouth opened and closed a few times, before he managed to say something.
"D-Damien?" he spluttered. "Ah... I..."
By this time my eyes were probably crimson; I've been told that's what happens when I'm angry. I jumped up the last few steps, grabbed his arm gently – being careful to avoid the hand-print shaped bruise higher up – and pulled him into his room. He made small noises all the way, most of which seemed to be the first words of unfinished sentences.
"Damien, I..."
"Who did this?" I asked, forcing my voice to be calm. I sat beside him on his bed, and rested my head in my hands, hoping to hide my eyes; I had a feeling that, even if Pip didn't know the quirk, he'd easily be able to guess. There was silence.
"It doesn't matter." He whispered.
"Of course it matters. They hurt you." I growled.
"Most of these are old anyway..." he mumbled.
"But look at you!" I cried. "Your ribs are purple! You have scars everywhere. You have a fucking handprint! They can't be that old."
"Two weeks." He said, and looked at me helplessly. I put my hand to a scar, below the left side of his ribcage.
"And how old are the oldest ones?"
"About 12 years." He sighed.
12 years? He hasn't been in America for 12 years. Which meant whatever family he had back in England had hurt him too. He seemed to be thinking the same thing, because his bottom lip began to tremble. His eyes were searching the floor, his breathing short and fast.
"No-one ever cared..." he whispered, seemingly to himself. Pip, the boy I remember as being upbeat, happy, having an always-look-one-the-bright-side attitude, sounding so broken and lost and hurt...
Being careful of his injuries, I pulled him close to me. He flinched slightly, but leant into me all the same. I briefly scanned over his current thoughts, and heard something I'd never thought possible regarding Pip.
He'd never felt loved.
I couldn't understand it. Pip was a wonderful, kind, generous, beautiful, thoughtful person who had almost no room for any sort of evil thought or action; how could he not have ever had one person who loved him before? How could the people who knew him treat him so cruelly? He believed no-one cared about him. He believed no-one loved him.
"I care." I whispered, smoothing his hair. His hand gripped lightly to my jumper, and he slowed his breathing, though he was wheezing slightly. Eventually he pulled up, and managed a small smile. I returned it.
"Could I get dressed and meet you downstairs?" he asked, blushing red. I smirked, and nodded, withdrawing my arms and leaving the room.
After a few minutes, he padded softly down the stairs. He sat beside me, and for a minute there was silence, in which I looked at him and he stared at his lap, shaking slightly.
"You cold?" I asked. He nodded slightly, looking up at me apologetically, though I don't know for what reason. I gestured for him to come closer. He tilted his head, and his cheeks tinged the lightest shade of rose.
"My body is a few degrees warmer than yours. You'll warm up quicker than with a fire." I grinned. He blinked, but nodded and shuffled closer. I wrapped my arms gently around him again.
"Mmm, you are warm." He sighed, pressing closer to me and tucking his head under my chin. I squeezed his shoulders, careful not to crush him or anything near that, and sighed.
"Are you going to tell me who did this?" I asked, knowing he knew what I meant.
"I don't like to be a tell-tale."
"You aren't a tell-tale. Is that why you don't tell anyone?"
"I don't want them to get into trouble. It's really not their fault. They just have some problems; maybe a bad upbringing, or anger management, or..." Pip said, and he sounded like he truly believed it.
"Pip. Don't defend them." I growled. "I want to know who did this."
"But you'll hurt them. I don't want anyone hurt."
I almost protested unfairness, though I knew I would have severely hurt or maimed the people responsible.
"But you're getting hurt."
"If one must be hurt for the protection of many, so be it; and I will be that one. Better someone never missed than someone greatly known." Pip whispered, almost like a recital. I pushed him upright, so I could look into his eyes.
"You do not deserve to be hurt for them; I have a good sense of judgement, for good reasons, and if anyone deserves to be punished through pain it is them. You are like an angel Pip; nothing but goodness, and purity of heart. And I have missed you." I told him, making sure he could see the sincerity in my eyes. There was a silence.
"I'll get the names out of Kenny, if you won't tell me." I tried; it was the truth, and I hoped it would encourage him to tell me.
"You do that. I don't want to say." He said. Honestly, he looked totally helpless. Pip's politeness sometimes held him back, and I was sure it would simply cause problems at some point. We looked at each other for a moment, before I pulled him back into my chest, and we encircled each other with our arms.
=PIP=
Damien was... nice. He was warm (in personality and in body) and gentle and sincere and caring. It was like some perfect dream. Like last night. For the whole night, in my dream, he had just... been there. Not always close, never crowding or forceful, just there, like a comforting presence. He occasionally got close, and we just sat together, or cuddled, and talked of light, insignificant things, and laughed, and just generally enjoyed each-others comforting presence. Then we just lay close, warm, and... that was it. But it was wonderful. And there we were, not in a dream, just laying together and being silent, but just enjoying the feeling of someone being there.
I think I fell asleep on him eventually, because I woke just long enough to notice a thin duvet over me, and shift slightly, before my mind was warm and blank again. Occasionally I heard him muttering, though whether I was hearing it through my sleep or if I was imagining it I couldn't tell, nor could I hear what he was saying.
And so, safe and warm, I slept...
=X=
-9:30-
Butters and Kenny were walking through South Park, holding hands and talking. They were headed to town to rent a movie or two, buy some sweets and snacks, and spend the afternoon watching a few films.
"Y'know, we should ask Pip if he wants to watch one with us – we could call in now, ask if there's a certain DVD he wants, then we could take it to him and maybe watch it sometime this weekend, like tomorrow if not today." Butters said as they neared Pip's house.
"Good idea. Hang on, I'll check through the window to see if they're there." Kenny grinned and ran up to the living-room window. The curtains were pulled, but there was a crack in the middle he could see through, so he peeped in.
Damien and Pip were cuddled on the sofa, asleep; Pip was laying with his back against the sofa-back, curled into Damien, who was on his back with one arm around Pip's shoulders, the other hand closed around Pip's, which was resting on his chest. Both seemed content and comfortable, and both had small smiles on their lips.
Kenny turned away from the window with a grin.
"I think they're still asleep at the moment Butters. We'll call in later." He said, and he and his small boyfriend continued on their original course.
=DAMIEN=
I first woke sometime in the early morning. I remember Pip falling asleep, and I remember levitating the duvet to cover us, I remember moving so he'd be more comfortable. At some point I considered taking him up to bed, eventually deciding against it because I didn't want to disturb him.
He looked so peaceful when he slept. His body relaxed; I never really noticed before, but he held himself rather stiffly, as if prepared to make a sudden dash. Occasionally he made small humming sounds, just small sounds that sounded content. Sometimes they sounded slightly like a laugh, and sometimes they sounded uncomfortable or scared.
"Don't worry." I whispered, squeezing him gently. His eyes flickered around beneath his closed lids, before he pressed closer and relaxed again, sighing and smiling.
Damn, he made me feel all stupid and soft.
But it didn't feel bad all the time. True, I liked knowing people were intimidated by me, and I liked them to know not to mess with me because I would carry out my threats but – what was the problem with showing them I wasn't a horrible, heartless demon; everyone had the stupid misconception that I had NO feelings nor emotions at all, save anger and neutral. They didn't think I could be happy, or that I could love.
Well, I could, and I can.
"Goodnight Pip." I smiled, kissed the sleeping boy's forehead, and settled myself to shut off.
The first time must have been around 6:30, and after seeing the time and remembering it was Saturday, I simply fell asleep again. I woke up again at about 9:00, and Pip was still asleep, curled into me with one hand resting above my heart. I covered that small hand with mine, holding gently onto it to keep it there. I closed my eyes and dozed.
It must have been an hour later when Pip first stirred. He made an adorable yawning sound, and wriggled slightly. I looked down at him, and his eyes were just fluttering open. His legs tensed as he stretched them, then he settled down again, burying his head in my jumper.
"Mmm..." he sighed, pulling his arm from around my waist and lifting his hand from my chest, then resting half-upright and rubbing his eyes.
"Morning Damien." He mumbled, yawning again. Then he frowned. His lips formed the word 'what?' though he made no sound. He looked at me, blinking like he was seeing things
"Mornin' Pip." I said. "Sleep well?"
"Mmm." He hummed the affirmative, then looked around. "Why are we sleeping on the sofa?" he asked.
"You fell asleep, but I didn't want to wake you when I moved you so we stayed here."
"Didn't you want to get into your bed? The sofa can't be terribly comfortable, or big."
"Well I've been sleeping here. On your sofa."
Pip looked almost horrified.
"Oh, I really should have shown you the guest room! Oh dear, I don't want you to have to be uncomfortable!"
"I was fine Pip." I reassured him, placing my hand on the one that had fallen onto my knee. He tensed and relaxed again so fast I barely noticed it.
"Well, tonight you can have the room, okay?" Pip nodded at me, so I nodded back. He lay back beside me. "You really are lovely and warm you know. I can't have heating at the moment."
"Why?" I frowned.
"Too expensive. I'm already slightly behind." He also frowned, and shuddered, before asking, in a whisper "Do you mind if we lie here a bit longer?"
"Not at all." I replied, and he rested his head on my shoulder, and drew my arm tighter around him, then pulled the cover up to his nose. I chuckled and ruffled his hair slightly.
"You are simply adorable sometimes, you know that?" I said, almost to myself. He blushed, and turned his eyes up to stare at me. Then he uncovered his face just long enough to poke out his tongue at me, and hid again. I laughed, then lent to whisper in his ear.
"You shouldn't have done that."
Pip squeaked, and pulled the covers closer. With a playful growl, I lifted him up in my arms, cover and all.
"Ah! Damien!" he yelled, and started beating my chest with his fists, though he was giggling. I bounced him around a bit, before trying to place him on his feet. They didn't take his weight very well, and as he toppled he grabbed onto me, successfully catching me off guard and pulling me down with him.
Luckily I was able to twist us so that he landed on top of me instead of the other way round. Pip sat up, giggling between coughs.
"That was fun." He managed to say before doubling over.
"Calm down a bit Pip, you're not helping your chest." I told him, rubbing his back gently. He took deep, wheezing breaths, coughed a bit more, and eventually he was able to breathe properly.
"Are you okay?" he asked. I just grinned and nodded, then offered a hand to help him up. He took it instantly. "C'mon, let's get some breakfast, I'm starving."
"You like eggs and sausages and bacon?"
"As a matter of fact I do."
"Time for a good ol' English breakfast then. This way." The little blonde smiled at me, then grabbed my arm and towed me to his kitchen.
=PIP=
I was rather confused when I woke up next to Damien, and wondered for a minute if I'd been dreaming.
I'd never really known Damien all that well; three days is usually only long enough to get to know someone, but it isn't always long enough for you to truly confide in each other as good friends. But now, it seemed like we'd known each other for years, and then been separated, then reunited again. There was this strange... bond I guess you could call it.
We were opposites really, but don't they say 'opposites attract'? Even I knew enough to be able to vouch for that particular saying. Kenny and Butters were almost total opposites; one innocent and naive, the other extremely perverted but at the same time horribly aware that reality wasn't all fun and games. But they were perfect together. Craig and Tweek were almost total opposites; one nervous and defenceless, the other brave and strong enough to stand up for himself and protect that one other.
They balanced each other out; while around Tweek, Craig was much looser, much easier to talk to and noticeably more content. With Craig around, Tweek was less nervous, much braver and visibly more relaxed. Kenny tended to be much more subtle with his innuendos around Butters than otherwise, and Butters had become much more insightful since he'd known Kenny.
So, could that work for us? For me and Damien? I'd considered it before, I knew, but fleetingly.
I brushed those heavier, more meaningful thoughts out of my head. It would do me no good to think of 'what ifs' and be brought down. It was better by far to simply let it happen as it happened, no time to dwell on what could have been.
I smiled cheekily up at Damien.
"How do you like your eggs in the morning?" I sang jokingly.
"I like mine with a kiss." He smirked back. I laughed, and pecked his cheek. He stared for a second.
"Now seriously, do you like scrambled or fried?" I beamed innocently. He chuckled.
"Any way you wanna cook them, I'm not particular." He replied, still chuckling deep within his chest. It was a strange, deep sound that could easily sound unnerving but was at the moment good-natured.
I bustled around the kitchen, getting all the food from the fridge, spending a few minutes finding the pans needed, stopping to press play on the radio. I pulled on an apron I kept for cooking, chequered blue and white. Soon the kitchen was filled with the hiss of frying meat and eggs and the wonderful smell of bacon and sausages. I bounced merrily to the song on the radio – Owl City's Fireflies. I'd always quite liked he song – I'd actually learnt to play it on piano along with a few others.
"I'd like to make myself believe...That planet Earth turns slowly... It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep, because my dreams are bursting at the seams." I sang softly along with the chorus. Damien was watching me, and grinning. Usually I'd feel embarrassed around someone other than Butters and Tweek, but Damien was different.
I played it up, singing into a random wooden spoon. By then Damien was laughing, loud and deep. As the song ended I bowed, and he clapped.
"What a performance." He said, raising his eyebrows.
"I can do better." I shrugged with a giggle. I bit my lip and blinked at him, and he just looked up at me.
Once the food was ready, I quickly served it up. I was surprisingly hungry myself; the smell of bacon was extremely tempting, and made my mouth water. We both ate hungrily, and once we had finished he complimented me.
"That was wonderful. I do like a good bit of meat, and your bacon and sausages were perfect. Dad isn't always that good at cooking." He made a face at the mention of his father's cooking.
"Well, seven years of making your own meals tends to make you a good cooker." I shrugged.
A knock on the door attracted my attention, and I bounce dup quickly to see who was calling. I presumed either Tweek or Butters, and smiled when I was met by the latter and his boyfriend.
"Hi Pip! How're you feeling?" he asked sweetly.
"No worse, at least." I replied, motioning for them to come in. Kenny was making odd gestures at Damien, grinning and bouncing his eyebrows. Damien was, in turn, glaring at Kenny, and hissing slightly under his breath.
"Me and Kenny just borrowed some DVDs, and we were wondering if we should all watch one together, tomorrow." Butters chirped happily.
"That would be wonderful; I haven't watched a movie in quite a while." I nodded.
"Brilliant! I'll bring a few over, we can choose."
"And popcorn." I grinned. Butters laughed and nodded.
"McCormick you be quiet now or I swear..." Damien's voice raised just high enough for me to hear what he was saying, and he trailed off as I turned to look at him. Kenny waved cheekily, and I just rolled my eyes.
"Kenny, stop annoying him." Butters scolded jokingly, walking over to look up, hands on hips, at his boyfriend. Kenny just smirked and pulled Butters into his chest. I walked over to Damien and stood close by his side, feeling the heat radiate off him.
"Why are you so warm?" I asked him quietly, while Butters and Kenny were talking and giggling.
"Earth is much colder than Hell, so my body's heating automatically reacts. Because it's so cold here, I'm even warmer." He replied lowly.
"I wish I could do that." I muttered, and he made a single low noise to express a laugh. Then he looked down at me, and whispered.
"You didn't put cover-up on your neck today."
I started, my hand flying to the long cut I knew was still there, and quickly ran upstairs, waving a quick goodbye to Butters and Kenny (who had realised the time and needed to leave). Damien followed me up.
=DAMIEN=
I managed to catch his hand before he made it all the way up the stairs.
"Hang on; before you do anything, can I try something?" I asked. Pip tilted his head, but nodded all the same. I pulled him to his room.
"Sit down on the bed." I told him. He went over and sat almost directly in the middle, his legs folded on either side of him in that way only some people can do. I went over and sat in front of him, and for a moment we just stared at each other.
I reached my hand to his face, and touched his neck where his pulse throbbed. For a moment he flinched; I understood, it is only natural to shrink away from something touching your neck, simple survival instinct, but then he stilled himself and tilted his head back. He trusted me.
After feeling his steady pulse for a few moments I moved to touch the top of the cut, right behind his jaw, and a mere centimetre from his jugular vein. I traced it down till it nearly reached his shoulder then stopped.
"This may feel kinda weird." I warned, pressing my palm against the wound and using the other to keep him in place. He shivered but nodded. I focused my energy on healing the cut; I'd been taught some time ago, in case it was ever needed. Dad said 'even you may have someone you want to save, or heal – it's a pretty useful skill'. I have no idea why he thought that (or more, how he'd guessed that) but I was glad I knew how to do it.
After all, I needed to be able to help my Pip.
=PIP=
"This may feel kinda weird." Damien said gently. I looked into his face and saw... kindness.
I knew I trusted him. If he had been holding a giant knife to my throat, and asked if I trusted him, and I'd been able to choose between ducking my head to shield my neck and my life, or tilting my head back to expose it, I would probably have done the latter, the same as now. Only, after that thought, I added in the possibility I might not, due to there being a giant knife in his hand.
It sounded much better when I first thought it.
Suddenly my neck felt extremely warm, then rather numb, then slightly like pins-and-needles. I gasped slightly, because the sensation startled me, but it didn't feel bad, it felt strangely nice. From the bottom of my vision (because, with my head tilted at an angle, my head was slightly inclined upwards) I could see Damien, his face a mask of concentration, eyes glowing red. It wasn't a fierce glow; it seemed to be almost gentle. I considered for a minute whether there was actually a difference or if I was imagining it, and eventually came to the conclusion that, though the difference was subtle, Damien's eyes could certainly glow gently and fiercely.
Feeling in my neck returned to normal, and I tilted my head back down so I could look directly at Damien, though I still had his wonderfully warm hand in place. He lifted it slightly, and smiled, seeming to be pleased with whatever he had done. I raised my own hand to hold his where it had been pressed; palm to my neck, fingers cupping it gently, thumb just brushing my jawbone. It was warm, and comforting, and I enjoyed the feeling.
We contemplated each other for a while, never moving. I closed my eyes and nuzzled gently into the hand he still had to my face. When I opened them again, Damien's gaze was soft, and his eyes were half closed, and he had this tiny smile on his lips. I let myself fall forward, onto his chest, and buried my face in his neck. He enclosed me within a warm embrace.
I felt him press his lips to my forehead, and he stroked my hair gently. I shifted so I was sitting half in his lap. He seemed all the warmer, if possible. I couldn't get over how safe I felt with him, how secure, like I was meant to be there. I felt normal, and honestly perfectly fine, when he wasn't there but when he was... it was like I finally belonged somewhere, like I was finally truly welcome.
I gripped the front of his jumper, trying to push myself infinitely closer, as if I was trying to merge myself with him or stick us together with super-glue. He held me tighter, as if trying to help me.
"It's okay Pip." He murmured. "I'm not going to leave you. Never again."
"Promise?"
Damien paused for a second, but used it to draw breath.
"You're stuck with me." He chuckled.
"Fine with me." I whispered.
=X=
Eventually, Pip fell asleep again. Damien lay back against the pillows, and looked down at the sleeping blonde. He was still gripping Damien's shirt, and was lying so his head was on Damien's chest, the noirette's steady heart-beat in his ear.
Both boys dozed on and off for an hour, before they were both up and awake again. It was sometime in mid afternoon, so they loitered around the house. Sometimes they watched TV; sometimes they talked, and at one point Pip played a few songs on his piano. Some songs he sang or hummed to, others he simply played.
"You're good." Damien smiled.
"Thanks." Pip grinned back.
The boys enjoyed a small tea, and turned in early.
"Do you mind if I... sleep next to you again?" Pip asked sheepishly. "Only, I..."
"I don't mind." Damien assured him with a smile. Pip beamed and flushed a delicate pink. After changing they lay beside each other, soaking up the feeling of simply being close, before gradually drifting off.
That Saturday was a brilliant day.
Unfortunately, the following day was not to be.
=X=
A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun!
I finally finished it! 12 pages and over 5,200 words. I think it's the longest chapter yet!
I'm sorry if I bored you, but it had a point in the end, dontcha think? Also, sorry for the kinda random, frequent POV changes. For some reason I found this chapter was easier written from Damien's POV, but needed some Pip as well (Pip's POV got easier at the end as well). The chapters are kind-of going in a pattern; no-POV, POVed (tis my new word I made up XD), no-POV, POVed again.
Thank you again to all my wonderful reviewers, without whom I would have no drive to upload this (and I would probably have given up by the second chapter.) but you guys keep me going, so it's nice to know your views, comments, and just generally know you exist XD
I promise, next chapter is the big... thingy that happens. I've had it planned from the beginning, just waiting to strike...
Well, thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed!
-Jem-