Life in Fae Valley

Chapter 6: Part 4

JD paused and raised his head to look at Dante, eyes widening in surprise. "What did you just say?" He questioned, quickly sitting up and setting his coffee aside.

"Uhm... I said thanks for making this the best birthday ever?" Dante replied a bit awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, was that too forward? If I made you uncomfortable I promise that wasn't what I-" He paused as suddenly, he found himself knocked backwards onto the grass with the entire weight of JD's body ontop of him, the smaller mans arms wrapping around him. "-... Intended" Dante whispered, finishing his sentence.

He lay still, hands hovering hesitantly in the air, before he slowly wrapped his arms around JD too, holding him close. His stiff body gradually relaxed, the weight on his shoulders disappearing as he let out a shaking exhale. Gulping, he tried to calm the racing of his heart, but he just couldn't. His fingers gently digging into the material of JD's shirt, he found his lower lip wobbling as shakey exhales of breath left him.

God, what the fuck is wrong with me?

What's happening?

Why do I feel so... Safe?

Holding on just a bit tighter, he buried his face in JD's neck just as tears started to well in his eyes, big, salty tears steadily starting to drip down his face. "JD..." He whispered weakly, a quiver in his voice. This ache in his chest, god... It felt so extreme, yet it felt like only the man infront of him could soothe it.

"Shh... Shh... It's okay, Dante, it's okay... I'm here... I'm right here... It's okay to cry... I've got you..." JD whispered, and like a dam breaking, the tears poured from him and could not stop. His throat hurt as he gasped for air between the sobs that arched through his entire body, his face scrunching up in anguish over emotions he didn't underneath.

He felt scared.

More scared than he ever had in years.

Yet, in JD's arms, his soothing whispers washing over him, it was the safest Dante had ever felt in years. The last time someone held him like this... He didn't even want to think about it.

Carefully, JD took Dante's cap off and brushed his fingers through the tangled locks of deep brown hair at the back of his neck, holding the bigger man as best he could while they lay in one anothers arms in the grass.

"... JD?..."

"Yes, Dante?..."

"I'm... I'm scared..."

"And that's okay, big guy... It's okay to be scared... I know feelings can be hard, but I'm right here with you, I promise... I'm right here, and I'm not going to go anywhere till you feel better..."

Holding onto JD with all his might, Dante's sobs gradually slowed, calming down into soft little sniffs and hiccups, before they dove into silence, apart from the sound of his deep, unsteady breath.

Carefully guiding Dante to sit up, JD wiped the other mans tears away gently with his thumb, his gaze softening as he felt the weight of Dante's head pressing against his hand. "Do you want to talk about it?... You don't have to, if you don't want to" he said softly.

Dante stayed quiet for a moment, before slowly shaking his head. "Not... Not right now... But I promise... I'll tell you another time" he murmured, closing his tired eyes as he let his head rest in JD's hand, carefully holding onto his wrist to keep his hand there. He just couldn't help it. JD's hands were so soft, so warm... Brushing his thumb over the pulse point in the detectives wrist, he let the steady feeling of JD's pulse beneath his fingers soothe his weary mind.

"Is it... Is it okay if I sleep?... Just... A small nap..."

JD blinked some and chuckled before nodding, shifting some and patting his lap once he had his back against the tree. "Of course, Dante. Sleep is important. You get as much rest as you need" he said softly, smiling as he watched Dante gently lay his head down on his lap. Brushing some of his hair out of his face, he was quiet as he watched him rest, that usually hard, stoney expression gradually softening as the weightless touch of sleep took him.

Dante looked so peaceful like this...

It was the type of peace JD found himself wishing that Dante could experience more. From the bits and pieces he's heard, he knew the man in his lap didn't have an easy life. Trailing his thumb slowly across the scars on Dante's face, he couldn't help but wonder what caused them. He traced the largest scar there, feeling the jagged skin beneath his fingers as he slowly, softly dragged his thumb across it.

Up Dante's cheek, over his closed eye, then across his forehead.

He then carefully let his fingers brush down Dante's jaw and chin, feeling the soft stubble there, before carefully scratching his nails through it. JD couldn't help but chuckle softly as he heard the deep, content hum that left Dante at the sensation, a warm smile gracing the detectives face as he watched the mechanic in his lap sleep.

"Don't you worry, Dante... I'll make sure no one hurts you again" he whispered, softly kissing his forehead, before he sat back again, gazing out across the horizon at the city in the distance. At the sky scrapers that seemed to desperately try touch the sky line, at the vast hills of green land between Fae Valley and the city...

The gentle breeze, the rustle of the leaves overhead, the general sounds and chatter of a small town.

In the beginning of his stay here, the quiet had been so unnerving, compared to the usual city hustle and bustle he'd grown up with. Fae Valley's quiet nature was so... Peaceful. He practically dreaded his eventual return to the city... He couldn't go back to that crowded hell after experiencing the peace of this countryside haven.

Glancing down at Dante, he nodded to himself and took a deep breath, his expression growing determined.

Then and there, he told himself, once he figured out this crime case and gave in his reports, he'd hand his badge in too, and move out to Fae Valley. Maybe he'd ask if he could work with Lucy, or see if the small police department would accept him.

Anything, to make sure he stayed by Dante's side.

"You sleep well, Dante... I'll be right here when you wake up... I love you" he whispered, pressing a soft kiss against Dante's forehead. "Thank you... For showing me what it's like to feel special to someone."