A/N: I hope you like this one. And the time will be stated for our two to gain all the courage… enjoy!
Chapter 9. Awake.
- Mike! Mike, wake up!
Mike mumbled something barely understandable even to himself and tried to shrug off the hand away from his shoulder. But that hand just kept squeezing and shook Mike fiercely.
- Wake up, wake up! Mike!
- Five more minutes-phhhh…
- Mike, it's me! It's me Davy! Wake up! Come on!
Mike forced himself to open his eyes – and gasped and sat up on the bed. Davy grasped at his shoulders and pressed his face to Mike's back – he always did that when he was scared.
- Mike… what are we gonna do?
But Mike was speechless. He was staring at the floor unable to say a word because it was covered by the wall biters – again! But that time they were crawling on the bed, their claws were ripping the sheets, their teeth clanked so close to the two young men clinging to each other in the middle of the bed.
- What are we to do?.. – Davy whispered in despair. – This time they're going to kill us… too many… too many, Mike…
Mike bit into his own lip and sat silent. He needed to think, but that was impossible as a whole lot of monsters was trying to attack them and he felt Davy's warm presence so close to his back.
The next moment Davy slid his hands under Mike's arms and held him under his breast, pressing close. Mike felt his heartbeat again – and felt like drowning. He wanted to say something, but Davy wouldn't let him open his mouth.
- Mike, - he whispered anxiously, - Mike, say it, please! You know what can help us…
His words were barely audible, so Mike turned his head a little so that Davy could reach his ear – and the warm wet breath burned his ear.
- Say it, - Davy begged in despair. – Nothing else can stop them! I'd say it myself but you know it all would be in vain! Mike, if you can… Mike…
Mike swallowed hard. For a moment – for just a moment – he doubted. Maybe he really should say it – and stop that all nightmare? Maybe he should try and save them both? For Davy's sake, just for him… maybe he should do it in the hope that Davy loved him too?
But he threw that thought away. No way. He – just – can't. He'd do anything for Davy except for saying those three words. In fact, they could be any three words, like 'go my way', 'follow your heart' or 'help me please'. All the words Mike never dared say seemed at that moment so easy. Who, who chose those three words?
I.
Love.
You.
Mike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He longed to say it. But he couldn't. He knew too much. He felt too much. He couldn't.
He shook his head slowly. He expected that the little one would pull away, shout something bitter in his face… but Davy only pressed closer to his back and put his head on Mike's shoulder. But then he suddenly gasped and his lips touched Mike's ear again as he whispered:
- Mike, I know what to do then! We should kiss, ha? Remember how we were together again when I kissed you? We just have to do it and they will run away! Mike, please! It wasn't so difficult, was it?
Mike remembered how he kissed Davy's fists and made the wall biters run away. Perhaps there was really something like the power of a kiss?
Mike remembered the soft warmth on his lips – and he immediately knew he wouldn't survive another piece of heaven in his heart. His heart was too little and the heaven was too big, even the littlest pieces of it could make his heart explode.
He shook his head slowly. No. Davy put his head back on Mike's shoulder and Mike felt guilty. He should have forced himself.
Oh coward!
Suddenly a thought flashed in his mind. He rose and stood up on the bed. Davy followed him, staring at him in hope, and Mike embraced his shoulders. He looked at the monsters that suddenly stopped moving and looked up at him.
- Listen! – he said, stretching his free arm out and down to the creatures. – I don't know what you want from us. Who's your leader?
The thick sea of creatures started moving again and they finally left a little circular space right under the bed. The largest wall biter crawled out of the herd and put its front legs on the bed. Mike could feel the evil stare of its blind forehead. He swallowed the lump in his throat, pressed Davy close – for reassurance – and said:
- Hey you. What do you want?
The monster tilted his head a little, keeping Mike under its blind stare. Mike looked at the monster with disgust and fright, trying his best not to let it show. The monster definitely wanted something, but it behaved as if Mike already knew it.
- …So you want me to say it.
The wall biter bared its teeth in a terrifying smile. It must've meant 'yes'.
- But you know I can't.
The monster kept 'smiling'. It knew, it knew everything.
- What if I don't say it?
The leader tilted his head to the direction of the herd.
- They'll kill us? – Mike asked quietly, his heart pounding. Davy's arm was around his waist and the little one's fingers dug painfully into Mike's body. The wall biter smiled again, even more disgustingly. Mike swallowed.
- And if I say, you'll go away and never come back.
The monster roared quietly, keeping its 'smile'. Mike took a deep breath.
- Listen. Will you give us some time? Like, three days? Or, maybe, four? Just leave and don't bother us and then come for what you want.
The wall biter's disgusting smile disappeared. It put its front legs back on the floor and made two steps back and then hit the floor with its tail twice.
- What?
The monster hit the floor again – twice.
- Two? Two what? Two days?
It bared its teeth in that same frightening smile. The blind forehead looked at Mike mockingly. Davy's fingers dug even deeper into his ribs. Mike took another breath.
- Do you want anything in exchange?
The wall biter approached the bed and put its front legs on it again.
- And what in the world does that mean?
The monster made an absolutely human move with its head as if asking Mike to lean down. Mike took a deep breath and left Davy. He felt the strong fingers not letting him go, but he stroked Davy's hand and the little one slowly released him. Mike knelt down on the bed, then got on all fours. His face was just a few centimetres away from the wall biter's. Mike felt its smell – a smell of the hot coals. Suddenly something dark flashed in front of his eyes – and the next moment his nightgown was painfully ripped away from him. The monster threw it to the others. Mike backed quickly, but the wall biter was looking blindly and calmly right in his eyes. Mike rose quickly and made a step backwards.
- Okay… don't know what that was for, but just – okay. And will you leave us for these two days? Like, leave and not bother?
The wall biter's smile faded. It tilted its head a little to look at Mike strangely, something like: 'Anything else, idiot?' And then it just turned away – and all the wall biters were magically not there any more…
Mike stood stiff for just a moment, and then he just gasped and his legs gave way. He knelt down right on the bed and buried his face in his hands. He was so terribly exhausted, and he was shaking.
Warm hands softly took Mike's own off his face. Mike looked at Davy weakly.
- You okay?
- A-ah…
- Mike…
Davy tapped his cheeks. Mike shook his head and swallowed.
- Yeah, I…
- You all right?
- 'Course…
The next moment Mike was embraced by a little warm creature.
- Mike, you're… I don't know how to thank you! – Davy said quietly and passionately. –You're the greatest in the world! Listen, I… I just don't know what to say.
- Then close your mouth, - Mike managed, hugging him. – The scientists haven't yet proved I'm the greatest.
- Oh you… you still can make jokes!
- I can't, - Mike said simply, rubbing his cheek against Davy's. – It's true. My little one, I'm so exhausted, let's just lie down and sleep…
Davy released him quickly and, embracing his head softly, helped it right to the pillow. Being honest with himself, he'd gladly have put his head on Mike's chest. But he kept himself from doing it.
He was about to slide under the blanket on his side of bed when Mike suddenly caught his wrist.
- Hey. Now what's that?
- What?
- Look at your arm.
Davy glanced briefly at it – and gasped. There were four deep wounds on his arm and they were still bleeding. Mike sat up.
- Now you tell me. What. Is. This?
Davy bit his lower lip and looked down.
- I wouldn't really have woken you up if one of them didn't… didn't bite me…
- Bite… I think you were tasty, it nearly bit your hand off! – Mike said reproachfully. Davy hunched his shoulders. Mike released his wrist and stood up with a sigh. He headed somewhere, Davy didn't raise his head to look.
- Let see what we have. The leftovers of my pajamas, I think they'll make a great handmade bandage. And you can stop looking so ashamed, you're forgiven. Should've told me, though… the big man…
- You keep joking…
Mike sat down on the bed and took Davy's chin between his finger and his thumb.
- Never. Come on, I'm not your father, am I?
Davy raised his head. Mike winked at him and smiled. Davy looked down smiling back almost shyly.
- You're nearly better…
Mike gave a short laugh, his hand released Davy's chin and he tore a long strip off what once was his nightgown.
- Knock it off, babe. Give me your hand.
Davy watched Mike's dexterous hands bandaging his arm and smiled quietly to himself.
- Okay now. You're done, - and as Davy looked up again, Mike winked at him once more.
They'd been lying on the bed for quite a while, both staring at the ceiling thoughtfully. Finally Davy broke the silence.
- Mike. You sleeping?
- M-m.
- Tell me… why can't you?
He heard Mike turn on his side of the bed.
- Why can't I what?
- Say it.
Mike sighed. He was silent for quite a while, then finally said:
- I'm not a queer, you know.
- I know. Neither am I, if you wanna… if you were wondering.
- And I just think it all went too far.
- Too far how?
- Oh come on, you know how!
Davy sighed.
- Does it bother you so much? I mean the kiss. It was just a little over-despair. What's more, you seemed to enjoy it.
- Oh shut up!
Mike groaned; Davy saw his sharp elbows as he covered his face with his hands.
- I did, - Mike said after quite a pause. – And that's what bothers me.
- But nobody forced you to do it again, - Davy reminded him. – Just forget about it. Look at Peter – he doesn't care at all, seems to me!
- I'd be glad to look at Peter. But all I have to look at is you.
- Oh sorry.
Mike breathed in and out.
- I'm not complaining.
- No, no, it's okay.
- Sorry. I'm just tired of sitting here not able to do anything really useful. Didn't mean to offend you, you're a great thing to watch… really.
- And you're a great thing to feel, - Davy said and bit his tongue.
- Really? – Mike asked strangely.
Davy just sighed.
- No, I mean – really? – Mike asked again, and Davy heard something like a hope in his voice.
- Really, - he managed. – I know how it will bother you, but you're nice.
Mike gave a short quiet laugh.
- Oh my little one… you say things… - he didn't finish.
- What things?
Mike took a deep breath.
- You know, I can't just say it once – and forget, - he said thoughtfully. – It's not only that you will never forgive me, I will never forgive myself! If I say something, I have to live it.
- I don't mind if you forget, - Davy lied without hesitation.
- I mind, - Mike said and it closed Davy's mouth.
They were silent again – Davy didn't want to say any more wrong things and Mike was deep in thought. Finally Mike said:
- No, really. I'm between, so to say, the frying pan and the fire. If I say it, I'll have to live it – and I'm not gay, as I mentioned! – he snorted. – And if I don't, we'll both die, and the last thing I want is to be the reason for your death.
- I know, - Davy said quietly. – You know, you can say it simply – you just don't want me to die. Ever. I know, Mikey, don't even try to object. Otherwise you wouldn't sacrifice everything all the time.
- You know, - Mike said after quite a pause, - the worst thing is that you're right.
- Why the worst?
- The best. I don't know what's wrong with me, baby. But it's definitely something wrong. I need to fix it.
- All you need is to say it, - Davy stated simply. – But as it seems to me now, you won't.
- Let's see, - Mike answered lazily, turning his back to Davy. – Good night, sunny. Wake me up if anything is wrong again.
- Yes, - Davy answered succinctly before turning his back to Mike and pretending to fall asleep. But as soon as he heard Mike's breath becoming even, he moved a little closer to his – he dared to think that he was his – big man.
- You know, - he whispered, - I might be as normal as you are, but if you don't say it, I will!
And he pressed his back to Mike's, made himself comfortable on the pillow and greeted Morpheus with a smile.