His Scars

18. Heroes are Never Thanked Until They're Dead

Hey Kids, 

I'm sorry it's taken a hot minute. I didn't know that anyone was actually reading this. But all of my two readers have asked expressed that I need to update. And I will try to update often. So this is for you. Thank you <3 

@Kerbert008  @InfinityRose_1118 

Sage

Excitement bubbled in my chest as we pulled into the driveway. My heart swelled as I saw the house. We'd come here every year. And every year  was one to remember. My best memories with my friends were here. 

It was just us without the distraction of the outside world. We talked, laughed, danced, sang, swam, played games and went home closer than we were before. 

Kane and Matt unloaded the truck and we each hauled our respective luggage to the house. Leaving our bags in the hall, Dom and I headed back to the truck to get the food and drinks. 

"My soul feels free as soon as I step foot on this driveway. It's like magic." I said, breathing in the air and feeling the sun on my face. 

Dom grinned. "Same. There's something about this place that just lifts all the stress off my shoulders." 

I was huffing a bit once we were done but Dom didn't look like he so much as broke a  sweat. 

"Okay kids, let's choose our rooms and then head to the lake for a  swim." Matt announced. 

"I'm assuming I get a room to myself." I said, flipping my hair. 

"And why's that?" Matt asked, frowning.

"Gina and Dom, you and Kane...and me all by my lonesome." I said, sighing dramatically. 

"I thought you and Kane here would be sharing a room." Matt said lifting an eyebrow. 

"Okay!" I piped up. I beamed  at Kane and he just shook his head, rolling his eyes. 

He lifted his bag and turned to Matt. "Where are we sleeping?" 

"Kill joy." I said, pouting  and I saw his lip tilt upward before he followed  Matt. 

We didn't really have to choose rooms. We used the same ones we always did when we  came here. 

All of our rooms were upstairs next to each other. I entered mine and dropped my bag on the fluffy carpet. It took all of fifteen minutes for me to  unpack and change into my swimsuit. I lathered on sun screen and grabbed my shades before I went out to wait for the others. 

I knocked on Kane and Matt's door but got no answer. They must have already gone down. I did the same to Gina and Dom's room to hear an out of breath Gina telling me that they would be down in five. 

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't even think about it woman! You'll have plenty of time later. More than five minutes and we're not waiting!" 

I was ignored and  therefore stomped downstairs to the kitchen. Kane and Matt were there, packing a a duffel bag with breakfast, blankets and water bottles. 

"Nice thinking, boys." I commended. 

"Where are the love birds?" Matt asked. I contemplated my answer. 

"Let's not wait. They'll catch up with us." Matt's hand froze for a second before continuing on like nothing happened. I looked up and saw that Kane had also noticed. Of course he did. With eyes as discerning as his, how could he not. 

"Let's go then." He said, pulling the bag off the counter and walking off, not looking at either of us. 

I sighed and looked at Kane. "Wanna hold hands?" I asked, holding my hand out to him. 

He gave it a high five instead and walked past me. I grinned and followed him. 

---

 Matt was already shirtless and I was in my bikini so both of us raced straight to the  bridge and cannonballed into the water. As expected, it was freezing. I came up, slicking my hair back and out of my face. I looked up to see where Kane was just in time to see him pull his shirt over his head. 

My mouth dropped open when I saw what was underneath. He was always so heavily clad in his jackets and hoodies, you could never guess what he kept hidden underneath. 

I could see the cut of his abs from where there was and the tell-tale sign of ink. 

"Oh wow." I breathed and Matt laughed. 

"You're super creepy, you know." He said. 

"Look at him." I justified, my eyes glued to the man in front of me. If I hadn't fallen in love with his personality first, I would have definitely fallen in love with this. I watched as he slapped on sunscreen. His skin was a beautiful tan. Scars marred his skin. His shoulders were broad but the rest of him was all lean muscle. I watched as his muscles flexed with each movement. 

It was when he turned around that my awe disappeared. There at the bottom right of his stomach was another jagged scar. My heart felt like something was squeezing it. He began walking towards us and when my eyes lifted to meet his, they were already on me. I felt anger surge through me but it was cut short by Matt yelling excitedly, "Kane, cannonball!" 

Pushing the negative emotions out of the way, I focused on the fact that he was here now. With his friends. Safe and loved. 

"Cannonball!" I cheered. Our excitement dimmed as he continued walking to the edge of the bridge and true to form, gave us a bland, perfect dive. 

"Boo!" Matt said as Kane's body sliced through the water. I shook my head and swam away from them in disappointment. I let my body float on the water, face up and thought about the tattoo I finally spied on the opposite side of his scar. It was a black and white image of dagger whose blade was nestled in the petals of  a rose. It was beautiful tattoo but something about it sent shivers down my spine.

It wasn't long before Gina and Dom joined us, Gina with a red glow on her cheeks that Matt teased her about. She splashed him indignantly as Dom laughed. 

We got out of the water and dried ourselves with the towels that Matt and Kane had packed for us. No one said anything about the scars on Kane's arms. Or the one on his stomach. With how much Kane usually covered up, something inside me felt light when he got out of the water and didn't put his shirt back on. Of course, the less civilized side of me was also happy to look. 

We sat on the blanket and enjoyed the breakfast, all of us starving. Music played on Matt's speaker and the sun warmed our skin. The sound of our laughter broke through the quiet of the morning. If you came early in the morning and made no noise, you'd hear the birds. I watched Kane as he contributed to the conversation, as his lips tilted in amusement, as he shed just one more layer of invulnerability. My heart swelled at the sight of my friends. 

Everything felt complete with him there. I felt draped in a blanket of gratitude for having him in my life. For having the pleasure and the honour of loving him. 

We cleaned up after ourselves and walked back to the house. Gina and I walked arm in arm and the boys trailed after us, groaning as Matt belted out the lyrics of the song that was currently playing. 

"You're an idiot." Gina laughed. 

"Wooow!" Matt said sounding surprised. "I work hard to make you laugh only for you to call me an idiot. It's alright. Heroes are never thanked until they're dead." 

"I'll remember to express my sincere gratitude after I suffocate you to death one of these days."  Gina promised. 

"You think you're strong enough to hold me down? You seen these bad boys?" He asked kissing his biceps. 

"I've got help." She said, winking at Dom. 

Matt glanced at Dom, sizing him up. "Sounds about right." He surrendered, making us laugh. 

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