Problems (Dare/Michael)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael had known that was going to happen if they tried to talk about it. He wanted so badly to believe that nothing was wrong, but if there was really nothing wrong, then would Dare be reacting like he was? He pushed down the hurt he felt from what Dare said. "Even Markise noticed something was wrong," he said softly. "Kane could help."

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare's eyes widened slightly, then darkened further and narrowed in annoyance. "You don't even like Markise, so what the hell were you doing talking--y'know what? That doesn't even matter. Markise doesn't know anything, that's what matters, so why would you listen to him? You didn't mind a bit last night. I'm going to bed." Dare turned and started up the stairs, fully intending on locking himself in the bathroom to take his potions, if that was what it took. Michael was so overreacting.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I've been pretending it wasn't happening!" Michael admitted, standing up and walking toward Dare, the sketchbook clenched tightly in one hand. "I haven't liked it for weeks, I've just wanted you to be happy so badly that I didn't say anything." He looked at a point on Dare's shoulder and licked his lips, praying Dare wouldn't just head up the stairs without speaking.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare continued up the stairs, his jaw tightening a moment as he tried to form a response. What came out was low, but unarguably thick with simmering anger. "Nothing is happening," he bit out. "I was happy--I am happy--and that should be good enough!" Dare threw a dark glance over his shoulder, then continued up toward the top of the staircase. "This isn't the time to do this, Michael. We've got enough to deal with already."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"You can't be happy!" Michael said, looking up at Dare and walking up a few steps. "If you were happy you wouldn't need the potions! Whatever you are now is fake," he insisted, then shook his head and put his hands on the walls. His heart was beating quickly in something akin to fear. He wanted to talk about it, but he hated the idea of making Dare angry, he knew they didn't need it.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"This isn't fake, Michael!" he shouted. Dare truly bristled now. He swung around, not even paying attention for the moment to the obvious pain Michael was in. He was in pain! "There's nothing fake about this, about any of this! I'd give you every f~ing nightmare I had if it'd make you realize what the f~ I'm going through!" He let out a growl of frustration and turned back to the stairs, throwing open the door at the top.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Like I've not been through hell?" Michael called after him, taking a few more steps. "I've lived through it! Why don't you talk to me? Instead of taking potions to make yourself forget?" He had never seen Dare acting like that before and it scared him just a little. He had to continue, didn't he? But what if he pushed Dare away because he was trying to help?

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare continued on into the living room, not particularly thinking about how he was going to manage even the task of getting his book bag to the bathroom with Michael on his ass the way he was. "You don't talk to me either!" he snapped, without bothering to think of whether that was fully true or not. "You don't need to hear about my crap anyway, it's f~ing nothing and you f~ing freak out! How the f~ am I supposed to talk about it!" He needed his calming draught, and the Draught of Peace wouldn't hurt, either. Then maybe he wouldn't be so pissed and he could make Michael see some sense.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"What haven't I talked to you about?" Michael called up in frustration. "Besides, if it's nothing then why are you getting so mad?" He went up the last few steps to stand in the doorway to the living room. How couldn't Dare understand that there was something wrong? If Michael had been able to convince himself everything was going fine before, now he realized that Markise was right, that there was something very wrong.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

"I'm getting so mad because you're flipping out over something that's not a problem," Dare said, turning just at the other side of the living room to look back at Michael. "I'm getting so mad because you can't even trust me to know what I'm doing!" He knew what he was doing! He knew exactly what each of the potions did and how much of each to take for what, and it worked. It kept him level. As long as he wasn't being verbally attacked!

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked away and closed his eyes against Markise's words echoing in his ears. You shouldn't lose him like that. He was convinced he wasn't going to lose Dare, but what if it got worse and they couldn't fix it? He panicked. His eyes opened and he turned to head back down the stairs. It wasn't working, and Michael didn't want to push it and push Dare away, he couldn't stand the idea of losing Dare. Maybe if he just stayed in the shop for a few minutes to let Dare cool off everything would be fine...

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare glared after Michael until he couldn't see him anymore, debating yelling after him the entire time. Then Michael disappeared, and Dare turned into the bedroom. He changed into his sleep pants and took full doses of the three potions he actually used. He managed to get them stoppered and back into his bag, but just barely. Then he was out for the night.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael stayed downstairs in the shop for some time, covering a page with Dare's smiling face and going over every detail until he was sure it was perfect. Only when he could find nothing else to add did he close his book again, having made a decision, to go up to bed. He laid in the bed awkwardly, wondering how it was possible to feel so strange in their bed with Dare there. He was only able to fall asleep sometime near dawn.