Finding shelter between his arms

Brian woke up to big, sunny skies with hardly any clouds, a perfect day indeed.

While sitting up on the bed, the sunlight entered rapidly through his bedroom window. It felt remarkably worm on his face. The sudden brightness made his eyes flinched with annoyance, but they adjusted as the minutes passed.

When Brian was about to get up to do his morning routine, his phone flashed, and a text popped up on his home screen.

After Reading it, a strange smile flickered and lingered on his face for a few moments.

Apparently, it was Siri reminding him that today was tryouts for the soccer team.

Brian had made Siri make a mental note, so as not to forget.

Today was Friday. The week had passed in a flash.

The first few days of classes were stressful, but now he could finally relax. The anticipation of seeing Bash again made his stomach feel all gooey inside.

"So is today, huh?"

'Yup!'

"Someone exited."

'Maybe...

Sight... what a doofus!

Whatever today, I get to see that breathtaking smile of his again.

"Ugh, you're such a doofus."

Yeah! Yeah!

.

A yearning Brian didn't quite understood develop in his heart. Even though it had only been a week that they had met, a flicker of love was already developing inside his heart without him noticing it.

This time around, I have to try not to make a fool of myself!

I have to be chill!!!

I can be chill...right?

"Pfff...

"You! Chill hahahh.

"In what universe? Oh, I know, "Dooftopia."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

YOU... YOUUUU, just SHUT UP!!

"OK..AY.

.

The self-doubt budged in, but he shook it away.

Suppressing my out of control nervousness is one thing, but my priority today is to figure out Sebastian's sexuality, not dealing with you.

"That, I agree with."

Finally!

Anyway, Is Bash gay?...Or maybe bi?

God, I hope his not straight!

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, YOU DOOFUS?

"If he's not gay, you try none the less."

"Didn't you learn anything from living with that crazy mother of yours?"

Exactly because I lived with her, i wouldn't do that.

If he's not gay, too bad, but there are way more guys out there. Bash's sexuality is his business.

"Ugh, I give up your such a goodie-goodie."

"That's why that beast abused you so much, cause you never fought back."

Whatever, I had you to fight in my place.

"Sight...

Brian decided to live everything to fate. He then got up and walked to the bathroom to do his morning routine, throwing Bash to the back of his mind. He had to go to school in an hour.

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Finishing his last period, Brian walk through the cramped and crowded hallways. People were consistently bumping into him; it was so annoying. For some reason, X community college was so overpopulated that it remanded Brian of the summer he had to spend in NEW YORK CITY.

Instantly the painful memories invited themselves into Brian's mind.

A second later, a rush of sorrow ran all throughout his body, oppressing his chest. Brian's heartbeat quickened, and his shoulders completely dropped. He quickly pouched forward and ran out, taking the nearest exit.

.

After finally getting outside, the flashes didn't stop but actually got more and more intense with every passing second.

Brian couldn't breathe. He could barely walk now.

His knees were not cooperating with him anymore.

His heart's oppression was getting incontrollable... as if his heart was having a fighting match with his ribcage.

Buckets of cold sweat were consistently dropping from his head down to his face. Brian could no longer stand, and he completely collapsed. The loud voices of the people around him were getting harder and harder to make out. It was as if the whole world was toning out.

Living him trapped and alone in this dark place, that was his mind.

What is this?

Where am I?

Why is it so dark in here?

The questions were coming like rockets into his brain.

Brian was confused and very scared.

Please, someone, anyone!

LIGHT suddenly came dissipating the darkness. Big strong hands lifted him up, wrapping Brian into a tight and warm embrace.

Bri...

Can you hear me?

It's me, Bash.

Please don't be afraid.

I'm here now!

.

Looking up, Brian could see Sebastian's bright but definitely worried face.

Warmth rapidly developed in his chest, relaxing and calming his out of control emotions.

Joy and gratitude could clearly be seen on his face. Bash had brought him back from that dark, scary place. Brian now thought of Bash as a big bright sun that came to chase out the darkness and bring light back to his dark, creepy, and doom world.

Brian felt so touched that Sebastian was here with him.

No one had ever been this kind to him before!

I...

Right when Brian was about to thank Bash for his kindness, warm tears suddenly burst out of his eyes.

Wha...t?

Why am I crying?

Brian was so surprised!

You must know it had been years since he had cried like this.

Marlena had made sure of that!

.

It felt so good to cry thought; it felt better than how Brian remembered it to be. At that very moment, all those suppressed emotions he had locked away long ago had burst out with his tears. It was messy but, Brian didn't really care. It had been so long.

He had long forgotten the feeling of it.

So this is crying?

It's so refreshing!

When Bash saw Brian cry like that, he got even more worried.

At first, when he had seen Brian all cuddled up on the floor panicking like a lost child, Bash thought maybe Brian had a panic attack. A while ago, a friend of his had had one, so it wasn't his first time seeing this.

Suddenly a weird but powerful feeling of wanting to take care of Brian had passed through him like an electric shock. It had been truly bizarre, but Bash didn't question it.

However, it was less like an electric shock now and more like a lightning bolt, telling him he had to protect and embrace Brian for as long as possible.

HEY! HEY!

Bri, please don't cry.

I'm here now, remember?

I'm not going anywhere, I promise!

You are safe here with me.

Sebastian's voice was low but steady, extremely soothing to Brian's ears. Brian could even feel how worried for him Bash was, by the sound of his tone alone.

Those beautiful words made the tears intensify. Brian had never felt this safe and protected before. No one had ever bother nor cared for him like this. Suddenly a powerful thought struck him.

This is it!

Here, this is the spot where I belong!

Here, between these strong protective arms, that will never let me fall!

Here, I know I will always be safe and protected, now and forever.