One Step At A Time [boyxboy]

Chapter 8

“You can’t die, David,” Pierre said quietly, stroking his cheek gently. “Ah need’jou here...” But still, there was no response. Leaning down slowly, Pierre wrapped his arms around David and pulled his small body up against him, his entire torso practically encasing him. Running his fingers gently through David’s hair, he began to shake, but this time not from the cold. Tears actually began to pour from his eyes as he held his friend, his body feeling so small and so weak in his arms. 

“Pierre..”

Pierre’s eyes widened and he pulled back, looking down at David, who’s eyes were scrunched closed. “Oh thank God,” he said quietly, rubbing his hands over David’s cheeks quickly. 

“Pierre... I thought... I told you... not... to freak...” His voice barely escaped his throat, but Pierre still heard him anyway. David’s eyes slowly opened, and he looked up at Pierre with a weary smile. “I’m sorry that I... that... I...”

Pierre shook his head quickly, a tear sliding eloquently down his cheek. “We ain’t gonna talk about that raht now, alraht?” He cried quietly. “Raht now ah need tuh get’chu insahd... Do ya think ya can climb down the ladder?” David’s eyes rolled back and his eye lids fluttered shut, his breathing slowing down again. “David!” Pierre shook him gently, causing him to snap his head back up and open his eyes again. “Ah need you tuh stay awake fer me.” David nodded slowly. Pierre stood and looked around. “Shit, you ain’t gonna be able tuh do this...” Pierre mumbled as he looked down the ladder. It was too steep, and David could barely keep his eyes opened. 

“Alraht, ah’m just gonna have tuh take ya down with me,” Pierre decided. He looked down at David, before picking him up bridal style. David’s arms wrapped weakly around his neck, and it caused Pierre’s burning desire to save him to increase. “Hold own... this could hurt a bit...” he warned, wrapping his arms more tightly around David. He walked slowly to the edge, looking down at the bail of hay below them. “Oooh, shit...” he muttered, looking up at the ceiling nervously. “Alraht, here we go,” he said, his voice sounding forced. Taking a deep breath, he walked off the edge, making sure to bend his legs up so he would land on his butt before hitting the hay. 

They landed after a short second, and Pierre made sure to lean back so he wouldn’t fall forward onto David. It took a minute, but he managed to stand with David, and he left the barn as quickly as he could. David didn’t move in his arms; didn’t shiver, didn’t twitch... nothing. “Hey, you still awake?” he asked, giving David a shake. David nodded his head against Pierre’s chest, letting his grip loosen. Pierre walked ahead dismally, his fingers digging lightly into David’s arm and the material of his pants. Never before had he felt so scared as when he turned David’s cold body over and thought he was dead. The incident was speeding up his brain, and his view on David was becoming clearer to him rapidly.

When he walked into the house, the heat hit him like a blast of hot air. David cringed rather noticeably and sank deeper into Pierre’s arms. His body was beginning to unthaw, meaning he was feeling things again; namely how cold he was. Before at least he couldn’t feel it after a while because he was so numb, but now every touch, every move, every shiver hurt. 

Pierre walked through the house to the livingroom, setting David down on the couch gently. He stayed on his knees in front of him for a moment, their faces mere inches apart. Pierre placed a hand gently on David’s cold cheek, staring into his eyes tenderly. “Alraht, ah’m gonna go get some blankets,” he said gently, dropping his hand from David’s face. David nodded and closed his eyes, leaning back against the couch. “Don’t go fallin’ asleep whal ah’m gone, nah, ya hear?” David’s eyes opened and he nodded slowly. Pierre stared at him for a moment, worried about leaving him alone for too long. His eyes were rather glazed over, and he looked like he could die at any second. Hell, Pierre even thought he was dead at one point.