Michael

[kersen]

Kersen had kept Michael at least somewhat informed about how things were going with Bonnie, over a phone phone calls. But he hadn't felt comfortable having Michael come to the house, and it was a few days before he felt comfortable leaving her there alone. But... as far as he could guess, she was just going to stay in bed crying.

He told Michael to meet him at the bar. He spent some time getting things in order, trying not to let on to his employees in what bad shape he was in.

But he was relieved as hell as soon as Michael walked in. He wanted to run over and throw himself into his arms - but that would be bad for many reasons. So instead he just gestured for Michael to follow him back to his office.

Comments

[trustearned]

Michael caught his breath, brushing his nose against Kersen's cheek and temple, then pressed a kiss there before pulling back. He reached up to untie the lengths of silk around Kersen's wrist, then switched to his back and drew Kersen close, into his arms.

[kersen]

Kersen curled up into him, head against his chest. "Thank you," he whispered, sounding a little choked up.

[trustearned]

"I've got you," Michael told him quietly, holding him close, a hand in his hair.

[kersen]

Kersen suddenly felt as if he'd been holding everything back, and suddenly a stopper had been pulled out of his emotions. He was embarrassed even as he began, but suddenly he was sobbing against Michael's chest.

[trustearned]

Michael kept stroking his hair as Kersen cried, whispering reassuringly to him and encouraging him to let it all out.

[kersen]

It was a minute or so before Kersen pulled himself together. He wiped his eyes, and then lifted his head to look up at Michael. "God. I'm sorry. I'm such a wreck."

[trustearned]

"Don't apologise," Michael told him, stroking a thumb under one of Kersen's eyes.

[kersen]

Kersen nodded, though he still felt a bit embarrassed; he certainly couldn't imagine Michael breaking down into tears.

"Thank you," he said again, voice soft. "You gave me exactly what I needed." The tenderness, the control. He felt cared for, like he wasn't alone.

[trustearned]

"Did I?" Michael asked, a genuine question. Kersen had just burst into sobs, after all. He didn't feel as if he'd accomplished very much, but understanding emotional reactions was not his forte.

[kersen]

"Yes," Kersen said softly. "Emotional release... physical release... that was amazing."

[trustearned]

Michael simply nodded, accepting that, and resumed petting Kersen's hair.

[kersen]

"Let's run away," Kersen mumbled. "I don't know, flee to Hawaii or something."

[trustearned]

There were so many objections to that plan, on both of their parts, regardless of how Michael emotionally reacted to it. But they weren't the point, so he kept quiet. "Hawaii?" he only challenged.

[kersen]

"... you're right," Kersen sighed. "It's not like I could enjoy the beach. Paris?"

He was joking, of course. But the idea was still appealing.

[trustearned]

"It smells," Michael replied without missing a beat.

[kersen]

Kersen arched a brow. "Not as much as it did in the seventeenth century, I'll tell you."

[trustearned]

"Italy," Michael offered instead. If he was going to indulge in this fantasy for even a few seconds, he would rather it be with a destination he might enjoy. "Rome." He'd always wanted to see Rome.