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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 20:14:16 GMT -5
Michael shook his head and reached out to take Dare's hand. "You've changed enough already." Besides, he didn't want Dare to take it out and then something happen to where he couldn't put it back in. Michael already didn't recognize Dare. He met Dare's eyes and then drank the potion, hoping that he didn't have to keep doing it for very much longer. Maybe they could go home soon, though.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 20:25:40 GMT -5
Dare felt relief wash through him at Michael's words. He hadn't wanted to take it out in the first place, and if Michael thought it was unnecessary, then he wouldn't do it. "I love you," Dare murmured, for the first time since he'd held Michael in the trees behind his house. He needed to say it, though. He'd needed to say it a hundred times since then, but hadn't let himself, not when he was unsure how Michael felt. He still felt hollow, still felt terrified of what the next days or weeks or however long this might last, but there was enough warmth in him now for him to survive on.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 20:32:37 GMT -5
Michael loved Dare just as much, if not more, than he had before, it hadn't changed. There was still a pain in his chest separate from that of his injury when Dare said it to him. "I love you, too," he said softly, though he wondered how Dare could still say it when he had all but left him for Soren. Michael closed his eyes and his mind was filled with Dare pleading with him, with Dare telling him he loved him, with Dare's screams.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 2, 2008 20:41:20 GMT -5
Dare refused to think about it, still, again, whichever it was. Everything ran together into such a blur now that it was almost easy to push it aside. He knew it would catch up with him again, he'd already broken down twice today, but maybe the potion would help. Maybe. Dare looked down at Michael a moment, at the fall of his lashes against his skin, at the tension-filled curves of his lips. He needed just a bit more, and then he could go. Dare's hand tightened slightly against Michael's and he bent to press their lips together in a soft kiss.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 13:14:58 GMT -5
Michael tilted his head to press his lips more firmly to Dare's, then pulled away a moment later before the memory became too much for him. He took a breath and then opened his eyes, "Hurry back." He had said it already, but he wanted Dare back soon, even if he was going to be asleep when Dare came back. His thumb swept against Dare's skin and then he pulled his hand away to lay in the bed.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 15:12:52 GMT -5
Dare didn't want to go, but he told himself that it was for the best. It was the only thing he could do with Michael well enough to walk again, even if it was only for a short time. "I will," Dare said softly. He let himself look at Michael for one more brief moment, then grabbed up the threadbare cloak that Michael had discarded. It had gotten way too cold outside to walk around without something to cover him.
* * *
Dare came back around half an hour later, swearing under his breath at the cold he could still feel to his bones. He didn't take off the cloak as he stopped at the table, setting three separate bags down on the dinged and scratched surface. He'd spent as little as possible of Michael's money, easy when he'd wanted to get back so much, but he'd made some very necessary purchases.
In the first bag was, of course, the sleeping potion he'd been after in the first place. At Grey's prompting, he'd also gotten a small vial of calming draught and something to help clean and heal Michael's wound. He'd dropped by the less uptight-looking of the robe shops and grabbed a pair of trousers and a long-sleeved fitted shirt, and on the way back to the tavern, had been unable to resist a quick run-through at Flourish & Blott's. All he'd gotten there was a pencil and a pad of paper, but he'd considered it a necessity if they were going to be stuck in this room much longer. He needed something to do other than think. And if somehow Michael woke up before him, he could use it just as easily.
Dare hadn't forgotten any of his promises. He shuffled out of the cloak and Michael's shirt, laying them both on the table, then grabbed up the sleeping potion and headed to the bed. He climbed under the covers and shuffled up behind Michael, trying to make himself comfortable and maybe to absorb some of Michael's warmth. The potion worked fast, Grey had told him as much, and Dare only just had time to wrap one arm lightly around Michael before he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 15:23:13 GMT -5
Michael had no idea how long he slept, didn't even know what time it was, or even what day it was. But when he woke up warm with Dare against him, none of that mattered. He moved his hand to take Dare's lightly and tried not to think of what had happened. It was hard to do that when he could still hear the phantom Dare in his mind. He shifted back against Dare and his eyebrows creased against the ghost of Dare's voice.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 15:33:09 GMT -5
Dare wouldn't have moved if the potion hadn't already been wearing off. As it was, he was hardly aware of his responsive sigh and the slight tightening of his arm around Michael's waist. He fought consciousness, clinging to the peaceful oblivion he'd been wrapped in the past hours. Even as unaware as he might be, enough of his mind still worked that he was afraid to face waking up entirely, especially with Michael sleeping. Or was he? Dare could feel that hand on his through the fog, and he made his own curl up against it, trying now to wake up enough to tell.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 16:01:06 GMT -5
Michael's eyes closed tighter and he licked his lips. The same Dare that had been attacked by Soren was tightening his arm around Michael, still loved him even though Michael had agreed to go back. He threaded his fingers through Dare's and he didn't speak. He wanted to enjoy what he could of Dare's warmth before he woke up and the strange calm was broken.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 16:08:25 GMT -5
Dare felt that motion, the slide of Michael's fingers between his that said he was awake. Dare shifted heavy, sluggish muscles as he pressed himself lightly against Michael, his face lodging pleasantly in soft, red hair. He made a low sound that was an attempt to speak, but apparently the potion took a while to wear off, and so he decided to just enjoy where he was for now. He was comfortable and safe with Michael.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 16:17:45 GMT -5
Michael sighed softly and was able to forget what had happened for a moment as he let himself revel in the feel of Dare nuzzling against him. When the thoughts tried to invade again, he refused to listen. He refused to let them invade the moment of peace that had somehow come to him after the initial confusion and pain. He moved his thumb against Dare's skin. I love you.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 16:23:10 GMT -5
It took Dare a minute or two to be able to react with more than a sigh or a slight motion of their linked hands. Then he murmured a groggy I love you and pressed a soft kiss to Michael's neck through his hair. The sleeping potion had done wonders for his ability to cope, or at least it seemed so now. How could he feel anything less than comforted with all those little signs that Michael was, too? Dare inhaled deeply and set himself to moving again, stretching his legs down a moment before curling against Michael again. He was perfectly happy to stay like this.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 16:37:06 GMT -5
"I love you, too," Michael whispered back, opening his eyes. He couldn't understand how they were still together. Through all his experience, whenever something so bad happened, he lost someone, someone left or he left. But he still had Dare. How had it happened? He wasn't sure at all. He shifted again against Dare, he wasn't going to complain and risk it being taken away from him.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 17:11:27 GMT -5
Dare's lips curved at those few words as they warmed him through. "Mff feeling better?" he mumbled. He'd be more than happy to go home if Michael thought he could apparate, but Dare had no clue how well Michael was feeling, or even how long they'd been asleep. For all he knew it had been a week and Michael was waiting on him. Dare didn't let himself spare a thought for anything past the two of them and the bed. He was far too pleased right now to allow memories or worries to come back.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Dec 3, 2008 17:19:04 GMT -5
Michael nodded and murmured a low yes as he closed his eyes comfortably again. He could still feel the sting in his arm and if he tried to take too large a breath he choked just a little in sudden pain, but he was fine. He wondered if Dare would let him apparate so that they could go home. He gave a small sigh, home sounded so good at the moment.
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