Chapter Five
John's eyes widened as his faded blush returned to a cherry red. "Y-you what?" he stuttered, heart pounding in his ears.
"I love you," Dave repeated. Even his own blush became darker.
"Y-you love me?" Dave nodded. A tear rolled down John's cheek, an adorably dorky smile spreading across his face. Dave lifted a hand, using his thumb to wipe away the tear.
"Why are you crying?" Dave asked with a look of concern on his face. John sniffled, wiping away any other tears that escaped from his eyes. He looked into Dave's fire red eyes, his smile growing larger.
"B-because," he stuttered. "That's the most amazing thing you have ever told me." Dave smiled. Not the usual Strider smirk. But a genuine smile. "No one has ever told me they loved me before." Dave looked deeply into John's eyes, waiting to hear him say it back. "Dave...I love you, too. So much."
Dave kissed John's nose, then smiled at him. "I know you do. But... I've got a question."
"What is it?"
"How long?" Dave asked.
"How long what?" John asked back.
"How long have you loved me?" Dave repeated, face turning a bright crimson. John bit his bottom lip as he tried to remember how long it's been.
"About three years," he said. Dave's eyes widen with shock.
"Wow," Dave replied. "That long?" John nodded. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I was nearly about to give up and move on."
"I-I didn't tell you because...I-I was scared." Dave looked at John with comforting eyes, a slight smile on his face.
"Well there was nothing to be scared about." Dave pulled John into a quick hug, then pulled away. He looked at John's black eye, placing a hand gently on his cut. He could feel himself growing furious. "Those bastards are gonna pay." He paused. "John, we gotta call the cops."
John's eyes widened with fear as he quickly shook his head. "N-no Dave! We can't go to the police!"
"And why the hell not!?" Dave asked, furrowing his eyebrows, releasing John from his arms.
"B-because," he stuttered, eyes filling up with tears. "B-because she told me she'd kill me if I told anyone!" he shouted, covering his face with his hands as he began to cry.
Dave balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth as a low growl escaped his throat. He sighed after a few seconds, pulling John into another hug. He pet the back of John's head in a comforting way as John sobbed into his chest.
"Shhh shshsh," he shushed. "It's okay. Everything will be okay. I won't let anybody hurt you again. I'll protect you," Dave said, kissing the top of John's head. "I will always protect you."