Chapter Two

When Michael woke up in the late morning the first thing he did was shiver at the lack of warmth and no one else in the bed.

Vincent was sitting silently in an armchair in his front room, open book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.  The only light in the room was the one coming from the lamp next to him.

Michael walked into the front room rubbing his eyes. He was still in Vincent's sweater which was too big on him. "G'morning Vince…"

Vincent didn't look up, merely nodding in acknowledgement.  "There's eggs and toast on the stove if you want some."

He walked over to Vincent and wiggled onto his lap, looking up at him "Hi."

A sigh.  "How unsightly of a hero."  He muttered to himself, taking the moment now to mark his page and look up.

"Hello, and good morning, Michael.  I presume you slept well enough?"

"Yeah. " he said snuggling up against him.

He was about to say something against the action but was cut off by the soft hum of his phone ringing.  Reaching over for it, he answered.

"HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS?!"

Vincent flinched at the sudden noise, moving the phone away from his ear.  "If you're talking about the missing hero, then yes."

The other guy went quiet for a minute, before continuing at a significantly lower volume.  Vincent was silent for a few minutes.  Then he nodded to himself.

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks."  He said, hanging up.

"A hero went missing Vince?" The short boy asked looking up at him with a cute look.

"Yeah he did."  He said simply.  Vincent set his reading glasses onto the table next to him, then lightly nudged Michael's arm, silently telling him to get off so he could stand up.  "I have a friend who will be arriving in a bit to discuss…..the little problem we've got here."

"Okay." He slipped off his lap and onto the floor "Wait what problem?"

"Your memory loss.  Also, the fact that out of anyone you could've chosen to help you, never mind the various hospitals you would've passed along the way, you, for some reason, decided to come to me half dead and sobbing."  Vincent spoke as he walked around the counter and into the kitchen.

"We may have been friends, but we were definitely not close ones."  He locked eyes with Micheal.  "I'm curious as to your reasoning towards it."

He stared at him confused and slightly scared at how he was being a little hostile, "I-I don't remember anything before waking up in your bed with no memories… I-I'm sorry I'm such a burden on you…" 

Vincent moved some of the cooked goods onto a plate, sliding it in front of a chair.  "I said nothing like that."  He gave the thought a dismissive wave, cleaning up whatever was left out.

"Also, you shouldn't be one to apologise so easily.  It won't fare you well in the future, I'm sure."

"You really made it sound like I am… I-I cant remember anything and you always seem angry with me and like you're upset that I rely on you and didn't bother to go anywhere else or to anyone else. Like I have pushed myself onto you and I'm sorry because I don't remember anything and-a-an-an-and.." He hiccuped trying not to cry as a very strong anxiety attack overwhelmed him.

"I'm neither angry or upset, that's just how most people perceive it."  He studied Micheal for a few seconds before reheating his kettle and pulling out a few containers.  

"Put your hand on your stomach and take in a few breaths.  Instead of using your chest, imagine you're inflating a balloon in your stomach.  Breathe in for three seconds and breathe out for four."

He put the two ingredients into a separate pot once the water began to boil, pouring the water over them and waiting.

He did as told, calming down a bit.

Vincent's cat made her appearance of the morning, purring softly as she padded over to where Michael was sitting.  

She rubbed up against his arm and looked at him.  

Vincent strained the solution into a mug, walking around the counter to crouch down and hand it to him.  "Drink."

Michael took the mug and sipped it as he pet the cat.

He watched him for a few moments, before taking a seat himself, moving back to the armchair he'd started in.

He sniffled quietly. "If I'm such a burden then I can leave because you seem passive aggressive."

"I wouldn't say you were a burden, but I can say it was highly unexpected.  But I thought you of all people would be used to my personality by now."  He said.  Then he froze, remembering the situation.  "Ah, right.  Amnesia.  Disregard that last part."

"Oh…" he sipped his drink as he sat on the floor at Vincent's feet. "Are you angry with something I did before we were friends?"

Vincent was quiet for a few minutes, debating on how to answer that.  

"Yeah, I am, a little bit."  He breathed, running a hand through his hair.  "But I'm not going to hold that against you when you can't remember it, so don't worry."

He finished his drink "Well I'm sorry for whatever I did. I really like you Vince."

"You're going to be conflicted when you get your memory back at this rate…"  He whispered to himself.

A knock sounded.  

"Ah, he's here."  Vincent stood up, moving over to the door and glancing through the peephole before opening it up.  A man fully suited walked in and looked around.  "I see nothing has changed."

His eyes landed on Michael.  "Well, fancy meeting you here."

"Hi! I'm Michael!" He smiled and waved, his long sweater sleeve flapping.

"Hello, Michael.  My name is Samuel.  I'm here to help where I can, but only temporarily.  Vincent here is calling in a favour for this, so don't hold this meeting lightly."

He crossed the room, sitting in the armchair, leaving the sofa for the two of them.

"I don't know what you mean…" he said looking up at Samuel then at Vincent.

Vincent waved a hand in a dismissive gesture, guiding Micheal onto the couch now.  "It's nothing you need to worry about.  Let's just deal with your memory situation."

He went and sat with Vince, sitting close, obviously comfortable with him.

Samuel was silent as they sat, waiting a bit longer before speaking up.  "So, Michael, how much do you remember, exactly?"

"I woke up in Vincent's bed and he told me my name was Michael and gave me hot chocolate and cuddled with me. Then I woke up and soon you came."

Vincent made a small choking sound, disguising it as a cough and sat up a bit straighter.  Samuel eyes him, amused, covering his mouth to hide his smirk.  "I see."

"He showed up on my doorstep looking like he'd gone to hell and back."  Vincent said.  "You're here to help figure out what happened so we can put things back to normal."

Samuel nodded, pulling out his phone and making a note of it.

"Because Vincent is angry with me about something that happened before."

"Really now?  I'll have to address that with him later then."  He said smoothly.  "For the time being, however, I think the best option here would be to take him around town to places he's been multiple times.  It'll help those neurons of his to reconnect a little better."

Vincent nodded.  "Familiarity is always one of the best methods."

"I should probably wear pants then." Michael giggled.

"Yes, that would be preferred.  I'd have to go into town alone if you didn't."  He said, standing up.  "Come, we'll get you a change of clothes."

He started down the hall with a small gesture for him to follow.

He stood and followed him, bumping into the wall before yelping in pain, "Ow!"

Vincent turned around, firmly grabbing Michael's uninjured shoulder to steady him.  "Don't suppose you'd need a cane while we're out, do you think?"

"No it just hurt when i bumped it. Can I wear your clothes? I like the way you smell."

"I've already got a pair picked out for you from one of the visitor sets.  They'll fit you."  He responded, leading him into the spare room.  "They're on the bed, so hurry up and we can go."

He closed the door between them and walked back to the front room where Samuel was still sitting quietly.

"You know, people would riot if they heard about the city's hero willingly cuddling you of all people." 

"Shut up.  It was of his own accord, I had nothing to do with it."  Vincent said, plopping back down on the couch and rubbing his temples in annoyance.  People certainly would make the situation immensely more difficult.

"That may be true, but you didn't deny the action either."  Samuel stated, finally glancing up from his phone.

"I'm not going to grace you with a comment on that."

Samuel chuckled, standing up.  "Well, while you begin the healing process with him, I've got a job to do."  They both stood and walked to the front door.  "I'll ring you when I finish for more details on this."

Vincent nodded and they said their farewells.  The door shut with a soft click and Vincent was left in silence.