Survival [TharnType]

Bonus #1

The wind whipped the sand, making it fly over the bare legs of the late day walkers. The sun was slowly setting, accompanying the seagulls as they returned to their nests. A quiet, gentle end to the day.

Sitting on deckchairs, the two lovers enjoyed the time, the silence. Type had returned to his parents' home after his release from hospital. He had been recommended a lot of rest and quiet. Tharn, of course, had accompanied him, putting all his activities on hold.

His boyfriend had tried to talk him out of it, he didn't want to get in the way of his career or his plans. But this was to misunderstand the drummer, who did as he always did, and declared that nothing was more important than his boyfriend's sanity. Of course, Type was secretly delighted not to be left alone in the hands of his parents.

Although he loved them with all his heart, and was grateful for all the help they had given him over the last few weeks, he also had to admit that their worry, the pitying looks and seeing them walking on eggshells all the time could be quite tiring at times. 

However, sitting on a deckchair, his feet in the sand, a beer in his hand, his boyfriend's figure silhouetted against the setting sun, Type felt good. For the first time in many weeks, he felt truly at peace. He wished nothing could change, that he could stay here forever, safe from all the problems. 

Since leaving hospital, all had not been well between them. Type was seeing a psychologist to help him deal with his anger and guilt. The drummer had also ended up seeing a psychologist, unsure of where he stood in relation to events, and what he could have done differently. 

They helped each other, talked, argued, but neither let the other get away.

Slowly, Type had come to accept that his survival was more important than anything else, and that he would do nothing to change what had happened. He was not guilty of anything, he was just another victim. 

Tharn had finally admitted that his desire to protect Type was far beyond his ability to do so. He had to trust him, and not stop him from living. He was capable of anything, he had done everything he could to be there, to help him. Now he just had to love him and be patient. To accept sometimes those tantrums, those days when Type couldn't get out of bed, those nightmares. Accepting that all that anger wasn't directed at him in particular, but that Type had the confidence to vent his anger and frustration without fear of him leaving.

Type looked ahead and smiled. He stood up, put his beer directly in the sand, and joined his boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around his hips, resting his head against his shoulder blades. He felt the large hands embrace his, and Tharn sighed with pleasure.

They stood there for a while, the sound of the waves lulling them to sleep. Type closed his eyes. If he hadn't been out of it, he would have fallen asleep with no problem. He closed his eyes.

- I love you Type.

- Mmh.

- Don't fall asleep.

Tharn untied the man from him, and turned, to look into his eyes. Type smiled, half asleep. He felt the drummer's hand caress his face, his thumb tracing the features of his face. He placed light kisses on his tanned skin, his forehead, his nose, his closed eyelids, his cheeks. Finally, he reached those soft lips.

Inches away from him, Tharn stopped and waited patiently. They hadn't been intimate since the whole thing, and he didn't want to rush him. He wanted to be sure he was okay with the kiss he wanted to place on his soft lips that he missed so much. 

Type opened his eyes. Fear had suddenly taken over his trembling limbs. He needed reassurance that the person in front of him was his boyfriend, not some asshole who wanted to hurt him. All he could see were Tharn's big, brown, loving eyes. He let a small smile float across his face.

Gently, Type lowered Tharn's face towards him. Their lips brushed against each other, hesitant, yet already impatient. Finally, they met. Type let all the love he felt flow through him, making his heart beat faster. He clung to his boyfriend's shirt, refusing to let him go even for a second. For a second, he was angry at himself for not having tasted that pleasure again sooner. How could he have gone so long without kissing him.

Tharn's tongue licked his lips, ending all his questions and doubts. Tharn clutched the footballer's body, pressing it against his own. He just wanted to enjoy the moment, not sure when such an opportunity might arise again. 

After long seconds, they slowly rediscovered each other, with gestures that were still shy, but full of love. It was Type who stepped back first, out of breath. He pressed his forehead against the drummer's, letting their breaths mingle, his breathing calm down. He felt like he was reliving their first kiss. That magical moment, when your whole body reacts to the other for the first time, when you feel the butterflies in your stomach, when your throat closes up at the very thought that your feelings might be mutual.

A storm of emotions and sensations raged inside him. Type felt as if he was living, and breathing for the first time in a while. He struggled to hold back the sobs that choked his throat.

- Thank you.

He didn't know how else to tell her. It was a poor way to describe how he felt, how much he owed him after these long and difficult weeks. Only those few syllables managed to get through his trembling lips.

Tharn closed his eyes, his fingers tightening on his shirt. He had to do everything he could to keep himself from hugging him with all his might, but he didn't want to hurt him. He just knew what that kiss and that word meant to Type. He was willing to wait for an eternity, to be able to hold him again like before, to be able to love him as passionately and almost obsessively as before. 

- Marry me.

Type looked up in surprise and shock. For a moment he thought he was dreaming. Tharn smiled as his eyes opened wide, and his mouth opened and closed rapidly. 

- Marry me Type. I love you, more than anything in the world. Nothing that's happened changes my desire for you to be my husband one day. I want to have you all to myself, for everyone to know how much I love you, and I care about you. To be able to protect you from all dangers, and to hold you in my arms and never let go. I love you so much...

At the end of his speech, both men had tears in their eyes. His throat was tight and Type could not speak. He nodded, as the first tears rolled down his cheeks. 

He grabbed the back of Tharn's neck, pressing his lips to his own, devouring him without the slightest remorse, passing on all the love that consumed him from within. The drummer allowed him to do so with a smile. Nothing else mattered but Type in his arms, happy, and in love with him. 

o0o0o0o

So much for that little bonus, which was the way the story ended in my first draft. 

I hope you enjoyed it!

The next chapter will be a bit more... spicy