I'll Be The One

Chapter 50:

=Tallon's POV=
[Sunday, 5/5/2019-1:30 pm]
[Archipelago; Arc Isle]
[Archian House]

After I told the others that Hunter told me he loves me before passing out; I sighed and turned over to fall asleep. It had been a long week of worrying for Hunter while he was captive, we finally had him home where he belonged and was safe. All I wanted to do was sleep, so I set my stuff up to be right near Hunter in case he woke up and needed something. I was concerned for his state after all this; he suffered six days of beatings and Odin only knows how much more. I wasn't sure if Hunter would be willing to talk about what he went through, but I felt like he and I should definitely speak about the love you confession. Unfortunately, it was well past twelve hours since Hunter passed out; everyone else was awake this morning. We've already gotten dressed, and had breakfast; then lunch. Hunter hasn't moved an inch sit I set him down on the couch when we got back last night.

"Are you sure we shouldn't take him to the hospital, Greg?" Salvatore asked, worried for his son.

"Sal; I'm gonna tell you this for the last time. The boy was captive for six days, alright? He was hung up, used as a punching bag, beaten up if he refused orders. I doubt they gave him much food or water. I bet you anything that soldier mentality kicked in and he did his best not to sleep while with those awful people," Gregory sighed.

"I have to agree; he looked like he hadn't slept in days last night," Elijah nodded.

"And the guy said he was sick," Trevor interjected.

"It's likely he'll be out for a while to catch up and finally let his body recover," Avery said.

My mind was still on my feelings for Hunter. I liked him a lot, yes; that was the basis on which we started dating and have been for almost three months come the 20th of May. However, Hunter revealed to me a little over twelve hours ago that he loves me. Could I say I felt the same? I didn't know. I kept going over what Hunter and I talked about with loving someone and being in love. Me liking Hunter came out of the blue; I was only supposed to be his undercover protection, but I couldn't stop the feelings that developed, and I certainly haven't been able to control them. Things between Hunter and I are moving right alone. We've been together almost three months; we've already done a bunch of foreplay stuff, we have no secrets between us. We have communication, trust, and mutual feelings.

I had been asking myself if I loved him before the kidnapping happened. Wondering if I was in love with Hunter; that's how we got started on that conversation about what does loving someone feel like. I wasn't in any kind of control of how I was feeling about Hunter; I just went with what felt right. And…It felt right to be with Hunter. Perhaps I did love him, and had been too scared to say something in fear of it being rushed? Perhaps I needed the eye opener of him being kidnapped, watching him take all those beatings, but staying strong despite what was happening to him? And I guess everything settled and it felt right to admit to myself that I love Hunter back now that I know he loves me too. When Hunter woke up, was up to talking, and we were alone; I was going to tell him how I felt.

Shifting and groaning pulled me from my thoughts; I quickly looked at Hunter's form on the couch. It looked like he was finally waking up! I never had any doubts that he wouldn't, but still glad he was after about fourteen hours knocked out.

"Son?" Salvatore asked, moving beside his son. Hunter turned his head a bit as his eyes began to open.

"Da-Dad?" Hunter asked.

"It's me. It's me, Hunter; I'm right here," Salvatore held his hand carefully.

. . .

=Normal POV=

Hunter heard distant voices as he struggled to find it in himself to move and wake up. As he started to come too more; the voices became clearer, but everything was a bit blurry. Hunter heard his father's voice as he forced himself to open his eyes and look around; he was home in the Archian House. Hunter vaguely remembered his rescue, but he knew Tallon had been the one to save his life down in the cellar. Hunter still felt weak, tired, hungry, and thirsty, but he knew that came from everything that he dealt with while captive.

"Thank Odin you're awake, lad," Gregory sighed in relief.

"How…Long have I been out?" Hunter managed to ask, finally able to see everyone around him.

"Bring him some water," Gregory stated to a passing staff member.

"About fourteen hours, son," Salvatore informed lightly, holding Hunter's hand and using his free one to move some of the hair from his face. Hunter tried to sit up, but everything hurt.

"Easy now…Don't push yourself, Hunter…" Gregory urged. Salvatore helped sit Hunter up enough to drink from the cup with water in it. After a few small sips, they got bigger before Hunter laid back down.

"How do you feel?" Salvatore asked. "The…Medic who looked over you said that you didn't need a hospital, but…We can go and make sure everything is alright,"

"No, I'm…Fine, Dad. It's not…Necessary," Hunter replied. "Everything is just…Bruising, scrapes, soreness…Hunger, weak, and tired too," he yawned.

"That's to be expected with what you went through with them," Dustin stepped forward now. "Glad to see you awake," he smiled a bit.

"I take it you want a statement about what happened?" Hunter glanced down a bit.

"It doesn't have to be today, but yes; I would if you don't mind? We prefer to get it before anything is forgotten," Dustin admitted.

"I…Honestly don't think I'm gonna forget, Director," Hunter confessed. "Mind giving me time to shower, get something to eat first?"

"Not at all, Hunter," Dustin nodded.

"You should probably stay down for today, son," Salvatore suggested.

"Dad…I've been wearing the same clothes, and haven't showered in six days. That's along with not eating or drinking much either…" Hunter sighed.

"You can't barely move," Gregory reminded.

"Then I'll get help, but I'm showering before anything else," Hunter stated.

"I'll get one of the-," Salvatore began.

"Babe?" Hunter said, gaining Tallon's full attention. "Mind…Helping me up to my room?" he asked.

"Of course, baby," Tallon nodded as he moved in to help Hunter up slowly, knowing he was in pain from everything. Hunter winced, cringed, and whimpered a few times as Tallon got him to his feet and made sure he was supported to move. "You alright like this? Should I get someone else for the other side? I can carry you too?" Tallon offered.

"No, this is…Fine, babe," Hunter assured. Tallon helped moved Hunter along to the elevator and then inside before both of them disappeared from sight.

"I suspect that he asked Tallon because that's his boyfriend and doesn't mind him seeing him undressed," Drew mentioned.

"Seems reasonable," Avery nodded.

"I'll have the cooks prepare him a big meal," Salvatore stood.

"I'd go smaller, Mr. President. Hunter has barely eaten anything, as he said. Giving him too much in one helping could end up making him sick," Madison suggested softly. "I'm a CNA," she informed upon seeing his curious face as to why she suggested what she did.

"I'll do that, thank you," Salvatore stated.

. . .

[2:00 pm]

Upstairs, Tallon got Hunter to his bedroom and into the bathroom. "Would you…Like me to get your clothes for you?" Tallon asked once getting Hunter to the toilet to sit on.

"Just a fresh pair of underwear, light t-shirt, and sleep pants from the dresser, please?" Hunter requested. "I'm gonna use the bathroom while you do that,"

"No problem. Can you…Hold your balance?" Tallon questioned.

"I should be alright for a few moments," Hunter nodded to him. Tallon moved outside of the bathroom, closing the door for Hunter and went over to the dresser to get what Hunter asked for. Tallon grabbed the clothes Hunter said to get after a bit of searching for where everything was, and then moved back over to the bathroom, knocking on the door lightly.

"Got your clothes, baby. Am I okay to come in?" Tallon inquired.

"Yeah," Hunter replied. Tallon opened the door and moved inside, seeing Hunter sitting where he'd left him before.

"Can I…Do anything else for you?" Tallon wondered, setting the clothes on the edge of the sink.

"Will you start the water for me?" Hunter asked. "I'm just gonna take a hot bath, and hope it eases the soreness,"

"It should help, and maybe a muscle relaxer too," Tallon said as he started the water. "Not sure how hot you like it,"

"Not scalding, or skin turning red level…But…I don't know. I guess heating pad with a towel?" Hunter shrugged a bit.

"I think I can manage that. Good description," Tallon smiled a bit as he adjusted the water to the temperature Hunter was going for. Tallon plugged the tub and let the water fill up for ten to fifteen minutes while Hunter went for the medicine cabinet to get some pain killers. Hunter took two with water as Tallon shut the water off. "It's ready, babe,"

"Thanks," Hunter said as he tried to get up; Tallon helped him.

"Want me to leave the room while you take the bath? I can sit on your bed and wait for you?" Tallon offered.

"No, you're okay. I kind of need you to help me get undressed…" Hunter blushed a bit.

"This is why you wanted me to help and not staff, right?" Tallon looked at him as Hunter nodded. "It's okay. I understand, Hunt,"

"I just…Hate being weak," Hunter mumbled.

"Hunter, you are not weak. You fought your ass off while captive. You took the beatings, and everything they did. All this soreness is the after effects of how strong you stayed during everything. You were confident, brave, and you weren't afraid. You even kept your sarcasm. You are not weak, baby," Tallon stated firmly. "I never would have been able to handle what you did the past six days,"

"I'm still trying to figure out how I did it," Hunter said.

"I don't think that matters because you DID do it, baby. Come on, let's get you in the tub to relax a bit," Tallon smiled. Hunter nodded as Tallon helped him out of his clothes and then got him into the water. Hunter hissed at the water hitting any open wounds, but took a few breaths and laid back with his eyes closed. "Want me to close the curtain?"

"No, it's fine. It's…Nothing you haven't seen before anyway," Hunter blushed some. "That's why I wanted you up here with me instead of staff, Greg, or dad…"

"Fair enough," Tallon said. "Want me to stay?" he asked.

"Yeah, if you don't mind…I spent a lot of time the past six days by myself, could use the company," Hunter admitted.

"I don't mind, babe," Tallon smiled, sitting down on the toilet.

"Babe…You can come over here," Hunter rested his arms on the sides of the tub, looking at him. Tallon got up again, moving over to the tub and sitting on a stool beside where Hunter was. "I've missed you," Hunter smiled some, linking his fingers with Tallon's.

"I missed you too, Hunt," Tallon replied softly. Hunter stroked his cheek, leaning in a bit and kissing him. "You don't know how scared I was when I found out you were missing…" he glanced down once the kiss ended.

"I'd like to hear how things were on your side of it; you'll probably hear my story when I tell your dad," Hunter said lightly as Tallon and Hunter messed with their hands being together with light touches and what not. Tallon took a deep breath and began to tell Hunter how things went for them when it came out Hunter went missing last Sunday. It took about ten minutes to go through, Tallon making sure to tell Hunter everything from the revelation to the rescue last night. That they were able to see all the beatings on live stream, and when he was forced to work; the times he got hung up and fell unconscious.

"And then when we realized that the guy might kill you anyway; Gregory suggested the plan that my dad go to the drop off, and we'd move in to rescue you at the same time. You…Passed out in my arms and we set the course for here," Tallon informed, finishing the story.

"I'm sorry you had to see everything," Hunter sighed.

"It hurt to see, but we were glad you kept fighting," Tallon mentioned.

"It's not something I typically do," Hunter smiled a little.

"How's the bath helping with the soreness?" Tallon questioned.

"Bit better, should probably wash up before it gets cold. And then I could really go for something to eat, maybe more sleep," Hunter yawned a little, reaching for the face cloth and body wash carefully. Hunter started washing up and rinsing off; Tallon got his back for him since it hurt Hunter to stretch a lot. Hunter took care of his hair and dunked under to rinse that out. "Wanna grab my towel for me?" he asked.

Tallon nodded, getting up and getting to towel for Hunter. He opened it up as Hunter managed to get up and out of the tub on his own, but was still in some pain. Hunter wrapped up and headed for the sink; he fixed his hair a bit, brushed his teeth, and then shaved. Tallon didn't say much; he sat on the toilet and watched while Hunter finished up. Hunter grabbed his clothes and slipped on his boxers under the towel, then his sweatpants. Hunter put on deodorant before the shirt, and then the last thing was the pair of socks that Tallon apparently grabbed by accident.

"That…Feels a lot better," Hunter breathed out as he tossed his dirty clothes and the towel into the hamper, drained the tub; then offered his hand to Tallon to come with him. "Come on," he smiled. Tallon took his hand as they headed out and Hunter flipped the lights off to the bathroom.

"Body not so sore?" Tallon asked.

"It is, but not nearly as bad as before," Hunter informed as he sat down on the edge of his bed.

"Need a few minutes break from the moving around?" Tallon inquired.

"Little," Hunter nodded as Tallon sat beside him. "So, I wanted to ask you something about last night?"

"Yeah?" Tallon looked at him.

"Did I…Say anything after you got me out of the cellar?" Hunter wondered. Tallon couldn't lie to Hunter about what he'd said. Tallon nodded his head to Hunter in response.

"You…Told me you loved me," Tallon confessed. "And then you passed out until just forty-five minutes ago or so," he added.

"I…Can imagine that shook you a bit. I'm sorry," Hunter said softly.

"No, Hunter…It's okay. It…Took me by surprise, but I couldn't really think about it during everything. You said it just as I got you out and we were heading for the docks to return to the mainland. It didn't hit me again until we got here and I'd set you down on the couch. Everyone was talking and your words were running through my head. Trevor asked me why I seemed miserable, and I told him I wasn't, just thinking about what you said. I told them, and then turned over to go to sleep; it was late and everyone was exhausted," Tallon admitted, looking down.

"After the six days I had with those people; I guess I had a lot of time to sit with my thoughts. I thought a lot about us, how things were going. I suppose keeping myself distracted with something other than what was happening helped make it bearable, but…On Thursday, when I got to hear your voice…Something clicked. Something felt…Familiar. And it took me all of…Maybe five minutes to realized that I love you. The familiar feeling was because I felt it with Jay; that feeling of something I couldn't control taking over me. It was love for you. I told myself that you were coming for me; you'd be the one to save my life and get me out of there," Hunter enlightened gently.

Tallon only listened, not wanting to cut Hunter off. "And you did, babe. As you told me in the story; you were the one to figure out what I was trying to tell you about my location. And you were the one who came in and saved me. Once I was in your arms and I knew I was knocking out; it just came out through the joy, relief, comforting, and overall safe feeling of being with you again. But…Yeah," Hunter cleared his throat a bit. "I love you, Tallon. I don't expect you to feel-,"

"I love you too," Tallon said.

"Nani the fuck did you just say?" Hunter stared at him in shock.

"I said; I love you too, Hunter," Tallon repeated. "After you said it last night; it's been on my mind. And I came to realize that I didn't need to wonder if my feelings were at the same level because I already knew,"

"What do you mean?" Hunter asked.

"Remember the day we went on the date, and talked about loving someone and being in love with them? I was asking it all because I was trying to figure out my feelings then. Even before we started dating; I was trying to get to the bottom of why my feelings were literally raging out of control. I settled on a crush, and it growing to a full-blown liking you. And that's…When we got together. But my feelings haven't stopped Hunter; they just kept growing and I couldn't control it. I asked myself if it was because I loved you, or was falling in love. And when you got taken; it just hit hard but I guess I hadn't paid much attention since my focus was on finding you," Tallon explained.

"I wanted to tell you, but feared you wouldn't feel the same since we've only been together about three months in two weeks. But…Last night, when I had you in my arms and you said it before passing out…While it shocked me; I felt full relief that you were safe now and as soon as I was able…I was going to tell you that I felt the same. I was going to wait until you'd healed a bit, and then maybe we go on a date or during a movie night…But since you brought it up on your own; saw no reason to wait," Tallon shrugged.

Hunter stared at Tallon a few moments before cupping his cheek and kissing him deeply, tongue included as it lasted about a minute. "I love you," Hunter said with a soft smile.

"I love you too," Tallon replied as they pressed their foreheads together, still holding hands.

"Now…How about we head back down for something to eat because I'm literally starving," Hunter suggested. "And your dad still needs that statement,"

"Sounds good. You…Gonna be okay to talk about it all?" Tallon wondered.

"It was nothing that bad, like no sexual trauma or anything. Just beatings mostly. Don't worry; I'll be okay as long as you're with me," Hunter kissed his knuckles.

Tallon held Hunter's hand tightly as they got up. "I'm with you," Tallon said.

"Then it's gonna be fine," Hunter stated as Tallon nodded and the two of them headed out of the bedroom to get downstairs, both happy to be together and in love.