Watching the dawning sun filter through the small gap in the curtains Ethan gently brushed his fingers along the darkening bruises marring Spud's skin, the speckled patterning telling the story of how forcefully he must been pushed. Closing his eyes it wasn't hard to picture his bonded alone in that bathroom, afraid and in pain, his smaller size no protection against the thug that assaulted him. Swallowing back the flickering rage he nuzzled into the nape of Spud's neck until the smaller man made a sleepy sound of contentment that send his blood boiling and rolled over to face him.
"Hmm, Ethan," stretching Spud hummed as a large hand slid down his back and settled with a welcome hint of possessiveness on his hip, "morning." Struggling to pry his eyes open he pressed his ear to Ethan's chest, sighing in pleasure at the other man's rumbled greeting. For the first time in days he felt completely safe, wrapped up in Ethan's arms where nothing could hurt him.
It wasn't hard to tell when Spud fell back to sleep and if not for the growl of his stomach in a clear sign of hunger Ethan would have been content to lie in bed for the rest of the morning. The ever-present anger about what happened to his Aunt had receded to the point where all that remained was the concern and desire to take care of his bonded. Easing out from under the other man, soothing Spud's sleepy grumble of protest he quietly dressed in last night's clothes and snuck from the room. Somehow room service didn't seem good enough after four days of jail time, there was a café across the street that had the best breakfast sandwiches. Picking up with half a dozen along with an extra-large tea some impulse had him stopping by the front desk, flirting instinctively with the lovely young woman on duty he booked a second room. It might be nice to have a place to escape to just in case.
Arriving back he dropped the food on the coffee table, rummaging through his suitcase he changed into more comfortable clothes and went to wake his bonded. Mouth twitching into a smile at the way Spud had his arm flung out as if searching for him Ethan leaned down and kissed one shoulder, nipping playfully until blue eyes slowly opened and stared up at him with such sweet trust he couldn't resist dipping in for languid kiss. Humming as Spud's lips parted he deepened the contact, pulling back only when the other man needed to breathe, "I brought you breakfast tiger, I could hear your stomach grumbling from across the street."
"You did not," sitting upright Spud rolled his eyes at the other man's teasing grin, still flushed from the kiss he was very aware of the dark eyes trailing over his body as he stumbled out of bed.
"Well perhaps only outside the door," grinning Ethan tossed a pair of jogging pants to Spud, his bonded's embarrassment at his body's reaction made him wonder, and not for the first time exactly how much experience the smaller man had with sex. Guilt on how close he'd skated to taking advantage of Spud raised its head and he vowed to never let it happen again.
Throwing on a shirt Spud followed Ethan out to the living room, gravitating immediately to the waiting cup of tea he practically inhaled half of it in one gulp, accepting a breakfast sandwich he ignored the other man's indulgent smile in favour of devouring that as well. By the time he'd finished a second one he finally felt more normal, relaxing into the arm Ethan draped over his shoulders to sip on the last of his tea he wanted to ask how Dixie was doing but more than that he wanted the easy peace between them to remain. So he bit his lip curled closer instead, closing his eyes to better enjoy Ethan's warmth and scent he didn't fight the exhaustion tugging him back to sleep.
Easing Spud into a more comfortable position so he could stretch out Ethan snagged the thick throw off the back of the couch and covered him, releasing a sigh he leaned his head back and started up at the ceiling. Spud was warm and sleepy, the bond humming in contentment and he did his best not to think about the future, to simply enjoy this moment.
Stirring only to order more food the day passed in lazy kisses and long naps, conversation staying safely away from family or work Ethan luxuriated in the simple pleasure of his bonded's company, even going as far as to ignore his cellphone. Unable to shake the fear the second he let the world in things would change again and he'd be left to the anger slowly poisoning their bond.
