She

Chapter 19 - Safe(House)

The safehouse lay nestled at the edge of a dense forest, barely visible beneath the overgrowth. It was a small cabin, hidden from the main road, the kind of place no one would think to look for them. Xavier's gaze remained cold and vigilant as he led Will and Madison toward the cabin, their footsteps crunching over the fallen leaves, the weight of what had happened pressing heavily on him.

Will stumbled as they reached the door, and Xavier was instantly at his side, arm around his waist, holding him upright. Despite the pain evident in his face, Will gave him a faint smile. "You know, I didn't think you'd actually pick such a cozy hideout."

Xavier's face softened, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You can complain after you're bandaged up," he replied, helping him into the cabin.

Once inside, Xavier led Will to one of the two small bedrooms, where Will sank gratefully onto the bed. Madison hovered nearby, casting anxious glances between them, but Xavier gave her a reassuring nod.

"Get some rest, Maddie. I'll take care of Will," he said gently.

With a final, worried look, Madison left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Xavier turned his attention back to Will, who had leaned back on the pillow, eyes half-closed. Gently, Xavier pulled a first aid kit from a nearby drawer, his hands moving with quiet efficiency as he unwrapped Will's makeshift bandages, his face tightening at the sight of the wound on Will's shoulder.

"This is all my fault," Xavier murmured, almost to himself as he worked. "You shouldn't have been there."

Will's eyes opened, gaze soft despite the pain. "X, you can't blame yourself for this. I was there because I wanted to be." His hand reached up, covering Xavier's, stilling his movements. "And I'd do it again. Because you're worth it."

For a moment, their eyes met, the air heavy with something unspoken. Xavier could feel his heart pounding, his chest tight with a mix of fear and something deeper—something he'd been trying to ignore. His gaze dropped to Will's hand, warm against his, and his resolve faltered.

He didn't want to let go.

Clearing his throat, Xavier resumed tending to Will's wound, his touch gentler now. But his mind was racing, his hands barely steady as he realized he was far deeper than he'd ever planned.

"Get some rest," Xavier said softly, his voice rough as he finished wrapping the wound. "I'll stay with you tonight."

Will's eyes softened, and he offered a faint smile. "Yeah... I'd like that."

As the night wore on, the quiet of the cabin settled around them. Will had drifted off to sleep, his breathing slow and steady, but Xavier lay beside him, wide awake, every breath shallow, each thought looping back to the moments they'd shared, the way Will had looked at him, and the realization that hit him like a tidal wave: he loved him.

Xavier had never allowed himself to love anyone like this. His life had no room for it, no place for vulnerability. But now, as he lay beside Will, listening to his steady breathing, he couldn't deny it any longer.

Hours passed, and as the first light of dawn crept through the window, Xavier's heart grew heavy with guilt. He shifted, turning on his side to watch Will's sleeping form, his face peaceful in the pale morning light. The words fell from his lips, a quiet confession meant for only the two of them.

"I'm sorry," Xavier whispered, his voice barely a breath. "You got hurt because of me. Because I brought you into this." His hand brushed a strand of hair from Will's face, fingers lingering, trembling slightly. "If I'd known what you'd mean to me... I would have done everything to keep you safe. I would've kept my distance."

A tear slipped down his cheek, and he blinked, surprised at the rawness of his own emotions. Xavier Blake never cried. But here he was, heart exposed, the reality of his feelings pressing on him with a weight he couldn't bear alone.

"I'm sorry, Will," he murmured, voice breaking. "I... I didn't mean for this to happen. I just... I didn't realize until now how much I—"

But he stopped himself, his hand resting against Will's cheek, a silent promise hidden in his touch. He knew he couldn't risk saying it aloud, couldn't let himself voice what he knew was true. If he did, he'd be unable to let Will go—and that wasn't fair, not to Will, not to the man who had risked everything to stand by his side.

The early morning sun soon filtered through the window, Xavier sat quietly beside Will, watching him sleep in the warm light. Every breath Will took seemed to bring a new depth of peace to Xavier, even amid the bruises and cuts that marked his skin—each a reminder of the sacrifices Will had made to stand by his side, to protect Maddie, to defend their world. Will had risked it all, unquestioningly, even knowing the cost. And as he lay there, Xavier couldn't deny the overwhelming pull he felt.

He wasn't just grateful; he was certain. Will was his.

Without taking his eyes off Will, Xavier reached into his pocket, fingers curling around the cool metal of the ring he carried. It was his family's ring—a simple, dignified band passed down through generations of his ancestors, men who'd held power, who'd built empires. He had always thought he'd keep it safe, but never quite imagined giving it away. No one had ever been worth that risk, that vulnerability. Until now.

Pulling the ring from his pocket, he turned it over in his hand, feeling the weight of his family's legacy resting in his palm. Will's loyalty, his courage, and his unwavering heart—all of it had shown Xavier what love could be. And as he looked at Will, there was no hesitation. This wasn't about a facade, a protection, or an act. Will wasn't simply someone he trusted; he was someone Xavier loved.

Slowly, he took Will's hand in his, barely breathing as he slipped the ring onto Will's finger. It settled perfectly, almost as if it had been crafted for him all along. In that moment, a deep, grounded calm filled Xavier. The ring was more than a piece of metal—it was his vow, a symbol of his commitment to protect Will and to be the man Will deserved, no matter what.

Xavier's hand lingered over Will's, his thumb gently brushing against the ring. He felt the first hint of a tear slip down his face, but he didn't turn away. For the first time, he welcomed the vulnerability, letting it sink in fully. He leaned down, voice a whisper against the quiet morning.

"I'm sorry, Will," he murmured, voice thick. "I never wanted to put you in danger... this was never supposed to be real." He laughed softly at the thought, the irony not lost on him. "But you—you've given me something I thought I'd never find. And maybe I don't deserve you, not after everything, but I'm going to try. For you, for Maddie... and for us."

A softness he hadn't known he was capable of touched his gaze as he looked at Will, his heart swelling with an affection that no words could capture. Xavier brushed a stray lock of hair from Will's forehead, letting his hand linger, soaking in the reality of his choice, of the love he'd finally allowed himself to feel.

Sitting there, in the quiet intimacy of the moment, he knew he wouldn't turn back. This love wasn't just something he wanted—it was everything he hadn't known he needed. And with the ring on Will's finger, he made a silent vow: he would never let him go.