¹ 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀, 𝐝.𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝

xxxviii. atlas couldn't move

xxxviii. atlas couldn't move
3.15

Atlas learned to trust his gut. Whether it was a terrible-no-good-im-dead kind of feeling or a today-will-be-the-best-day-ever kind of feeling, Atlas had learnt his lesson to trust those feeling.

Atlas was curled deep in his bed under as many blankets he could find — every blanket from the hallway closet, the guest room, living rooms and any other place he could have stored a blanket.

"Atlas, love." Derek kneeled down on the floor beside the bed, he was on Atlas's side of the bed.

Atlas grumbled some words into his castle of blankets. Something bad is going to happen, replayed over and over in Atlas's head like his favourite song.

"Come on, love." The word love made Atlas blush, especially the way Derek let it roll of his tongue.

Atlas poked his head out from the blankets, "I am not going to work."

"And why's that?" Derek moved some blankets around so he could see Atlas.

"I have a feeling. A-and my brain keeps telling me something wrong will happen." Atlas closed his eyes, he didn't want to see the look Derek would give him — whether it be moving or a "your crazy" kind of look.

Derek racked his brain for a solution to Atlases worry, now accepting the fact that work wasn't an option.

"Why don't you at least leave the house? You could do something that you love, something that calms you." Derek told his boyfriend.

Atlas looked at him skeptically. "Yeah? Like what?"

"The weather is supposed to be perfect today," Derek suggested. "It'll be cold, but that's how you like it. You could go wonder around, sight see?"

"I do love to wear sweaters," Atlas grinned under his lump of blankets.

"Exactly. It'll take your mind off of it." Derek nodded.

Atlas considered it for a moment. "Okay. Yeah, that, uh, sounds very nice."

"Everything is going to fine, Atly. I promise," Derek smiled, heading for the door. At the last second, he turned around and moved so he could give his boyfriend a kiss. "Hey Atly?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Derek smiled and gave his boyfriend another kiss.

Atlas returned the smile, they had said "I love you" before — way before Addison showed up. Atlas had even proposed his love to Derek after Addison had showed up in his whole "pick me, chose me, love me" moment.

Atlas had said I love you lots before: to his family (mother, brother, sister, father, grandparents and others) to significant others, to friends. But when he thought about saying it to Derek, it felt right.

"I love you too." The words felt right to them both.

╚═ ☆ ═╝

Atlas couldn't move.

Atlas could not move.

There was a loud ringing in his ears, the volume preventing him from hearing anything other than the beating of his own heart. He liked the sound, it was calming, but fast — too fast for a cardio surgeons liking. He knew that something was wrong.