Page 51 of The Not So Super Hero
“Just stay,” Zane said, taking Bailey’s hand.
Bailey lost his footing, surprised by Zane’s touch.He tugged Bailey towards him.Rather than being frozen, Bailey caught fire.Why he got nervous just from falling into Zane’s chest when they had swapped spit earlier, he wasn’t sure, but he was definitely nervous.Bailey’s cheeks were so obviously red from the action too that it had Zane smiling.
“I should, um, really head back, though.”Bailey couldn’t come up with a proper reason to leave, especially when Zane made sense.The roads were covered.No one would plow in the middle of the night.Bailey had shit luck, so he’d probably die.Also, maybe, sort of…he kind of liked Zane making excuses for him to stay.
“I promise I won’t make you play any more horror games.”Zane tugged Bailey a little closer to the entrance of the building.When Bailey made no move to leave, Zane led them back inside.They definitely welcomed the warmth as they finally regained the feeling in their faces.
Their hands remained interlocked all the way to Zane’s apartment.Even when they stepped inside, the two lingered by one another, their coats and shoes still on and hands intertwined between them.Neither said a word about it, simply stared away from each other nervously.It was during that awkward silence that Bailey realized he would have to sleep in the very bed they made out in and, well…they both were in trouble, weren’t they?
CHAPTER 16
Funnyhowpeoplechangedwithout even realizing it.Within the blink of an eye, Zane went from thriving off the serenity of silence to absolutely despising it.However, that had more to do with who was with him during that silence rather than the silence itself.If someone else were in the apartment Zane would see it as peaceful but with Bailey it felt like a consuming void.For once, Zane had an urge to be rid of that void and replace it with something but his vocal chords had long since forgotten how to function.
“What do you want to watch?”Zane asked.
Bailey didn’t move from the entry.Zane kicked off his shoes, set aside his jacket, then searched for a movie.Bailey slowly followed, making his way back to the bed.He hesitated to sit, his brain immediately replaying their kiss that made his entire body tingle.Who knew an inanimate object could be so dangerous to the mind?
“Whatever you want,” Bailey answered quietly, taking a hesitant seat in case the futon came alive to devour his soul.
Ten minutes of useless searching passed before Zane threw on a random action move.Though that meant he no longer had an excuse to stall and should probably join Bailey on the bed…where they just made out.He could sit on the floor, but that avoidance would be obvious and probably more awkward.Oh no, Zane was becoming like Chris and worrying over everything...
In the end, Zane sat on the futon, leaving a small space between them.Bailey hid himself within the blankets that were tucked beneath his chin.They didn’t speak as the movie played.Bailey’s eyes grew heavy minutes later.His head bobbed, then swayed side to side.
“You can lie down,” Zane suggested when he caught Bailey leaning forward.As funny as it would be to watch the boy tumble off, it probably wasn’t the best idea.With his luck, he’d crack his skull open and Zane would have a dead body on his floor.
“Uh, I’m not tired.I’m fine,” Bailey said with abnormally wide eyes.
“Uh huh.I can sleep on the floor?”
“W-What?”Bailey sputtered out, going red up to his ears.“No, we can sleep together!”
Bailey was going to fucking die.He was going to jump up, leave the apartment and bury himself in the snow where he would freeze to death in order to escape his embarrassment.Actually, he wasn’t sure even the snow could help cool him down after that complete fuck up.Not that he thought he could save himself, but Bailey went on to at least try to do that, “Not together, I mean, like, on the bed together...”
Zane had to use every ounce of his willpower not to cry with laughter.He actually had to look away and cover his mouth, that was set into a wicked smile.
“I meant you don’t have to s-sleep on the floor.We shared a bed before!And I uh...nothing wrong with sharing a bed...to sleep.”
Zane lost it.He snorted, tried to suppress it, then full on howled with laughter.
“Stop laughing!I-It isn’t...you know what I meant!”Bailey made it worse.Zane was in tears.
Bailey would be mad, except it was kind of nice watching Zane fall to his side in a fit of giggles.He buried his face in the covers to quiet the laughter, though his shoulders continued to shake.Bailey was somewhere between happy and embarrassed, resulting in his silence and inability to decide what to do next.He opted to give himself time to calm down.
“I’m gonna get a shower.”
“Want to share the shower?”Zane peeked out of the blankets.
“No, I do not!”Bailey hollered, actually kicking Zane in the side for it too.
Zane grunted, then buried his snorts beneath the covers.Bailey bolted to the bathroom, although that couldn’t save his dignity.
“There are clean clothes in my dresser.”Zane pointed to said dresser, which was small and located right next to the bathroom door.
Bailey blushed, realizing he didn’t have any spare clothes so he would have to wear Zane’s titan clothes.Picking out pants, Bailey found almost five inches’ extra worth of leg room.He fucking hated titans.Grumbling, he took the pants into the bathroom.
With Bailey gone, Zane sat up.Hearing the water in the bathroom, an extra pair of shoes and a jacket by the door was unfamiliar, except he grew oddly comfortable with the changes.Then anxiety set in, the constant fear that it would change back to what it once was not because Zane chose for it to but because it was forced upon him.Rebirth wouldn’t show mercy, they never did.An organization filled with people of the same mindset, who didn’t care about anyone but themselves and their greed to grow stronger.Bailey was in danger and Zane hadn’t decided on the best route to take yet.
Tell Bailey and let the boy live in constant fear and worry that something bad was coming his way.Let him look over his shoulder, lose nights of sleep, jump at every noise and fear closing his eyes because he had no idea what was waiting for him in the dark, or let him remain oblivious, go through his days as usual with a smile on his face and no fear in his heart.Allow him to live his life while Zane kept his eyes on him, which would mean if anything happened to him, Zane would be to blame.
