Roach

Chapter 36

As the night winds down, Simon and I head up to my room. He looks over the old posters I have up.

"I hadn't... really rearranged since... probably since I was 18." I sit down on my bed and watch Simon carefully.

"Used to play rugby... you any good?"

"Was. Didn't think I'd be able to go pro. Not like Cal and football. I enjoyed it. You play anything?"

"Football... like most others... played some lacrosse too."

"Lacrosse? Didn't take ya for the type."

Simon chuckles lightly then goes over to me. He sits next to me. His gaze seems so soft. Maybe he liked the old pictures I had. Simon leans back into me and I wrap my arms around him.

"Simon?"

"Yeah."

"I really like you."

"Yeah?" He looks up to me, leaning more into me so we both lay down. He starts to shift, turning onto his stomach. His arms wrap around me as his head rests on my chest.

My hands gently rub over his face, tracing his scars. He has two over his mouth, going across it. Theres a cut over his left temple, leading down his cheek a little. A cut on his right cheek almost going over his nose. He leans into my hands, almost touchstarved. I lean forward a little but stop. "What about our bath?"

"Hm?" He opens his eyes, he almost looked like he'd fall asleep. "Our what?"

"Bath you muppet." I chuckle, "You promised a nice one after we got settled. Remember?"

"Did I now?" He sits up, hovering before me.

"You did."

His arms push under me, curling then pulling me up with him. He strains himself, a small huff escapes him which confirms it. I let out a tiny laugh, "Simon-!"

"Come on then, a bath. For us." He pulls me up, wincing even more.

"Simon..."

"I'll be alright. Stomach just hurts is all."

"And your legs?"

"A little... but a bath would help."

"Together?"

"Yes. I... don't want to leave your side. You've seen me before."

"I have. But that was different."

"Oh?"

"It was vague, not a good look or anything." My face feels like it's about to set on fire. "I wasn't trying to stare before."

"So you'll stare now?"

"Is that an order?"

Simon stares at me, this devilish grin works its way over him. "Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

He only nods, and grabs my hand. We get up and search through our bags. Soap brought them up for us with Cal's direction. When we find the clothes we want, I bring him to the bathroom. It's in the hall and one Cal and I had shared for ages. We have two up here, though the other is attached to the guest room. Mum said they had it made that way, so that a guest didn't have to wait on us. At least, that's how the story goes.

Simon helps me to put my stuff down in the counter. He hovers over the tub before he figures out how to work the thing. The water starts to run and so does my heart. We've been close, best friends for decades. I didn't realize some things that had happened before. We've seen each other without clothes here and there. Mostly accidents or meeting in the showers. He'd always have his mask on. I would always think it's silly. Now even more than before. Hes so handsome, and I hate that he's felt like he's had to hide it.

My gaze shifts to him. He takes off his pants first. Maybe wanting to glance over his wounds. Burns cover his legs much like my own. Cuts and bullet wounds are hidden under the redder burns. He goes for the shirt next. More scars and burns, some new, some old. I wonder what he's seen. What all happened before we met? We were still young but I don't remember him in medbay all that much. Yet his scars tell otherwise.

I can't help but go to him, my hands resting on his chest. He tenses. The scars under his pecks. Scars I know I've seen before but never realized. I trace them. Trace the ones under them, the cuts going over them. The realization. The fear he musta gone through. It couldn't of been like my own, like my past. It musta been harder but here he is. My eyes meet his. I never realized how blue they were.

"You're stunning, Simon."

Simon doesn't respond with words, just a smile. He pulls on my shirt and gently pulls it off. "Get in the bath, Gary."

His hands are careful, gentle, we both undress the rest of the way and get into the tub. He lets me lean back onto him as we relax. My knees stick out of the water, much like his own. The same burn scars are over them. They must of been so sticky and wet, the cloth of our clothes pulling on them. I close my eyes. The heat of the fire coming back. The stickiness of the petrol, the sweat mixed in. We almost weren't here.

We could of missed out on moments like this.

"Gary?"

My eyes open and I move my head back to glance at him. "Yes..?"

"You're shaking..." Simon's arms pull on my stomach. I didn't know they were there.

"I'm okay... just happy we're here now. That we can have this moment."

"Our moment."

"Just for us."

Simon kisses my forehead, one of his hands drag across me. "Only for us." His hand pushes some of my short hairs off my forehead. He finds another spot and kisses it, before grabbing some shampoo. He gently bathes me, tracing any scar I have, any imperfection and planting a little kiss on it.

I return the favor, counting the cuts, his bullet wounds, the burns. The lenght of time it must of taken him to heal. His chest, his stomach, and even lower. He must of been in the hospital for so long. Yet he's here. We survived to have this moment. So I could wash his body, his hair. So that I could kiss his chest, his neck, his face. My hands cup his cheeks, holding him, never wanting to let go.

He's always been the one I've yearned for. The one who fits perfect with me in the tub. Who pulls me close and comforts me any time. He did that last part before but now. His words are softer. They're sweeter. His voice is gentle, it's changed for me. My Ghost has become my Simon. He's built himself into the perfect man. A man I will selfishly enjoy.