A single bullet // M.C ✔️

65

"Who was that?" I slotted myself between the front two seats of Luke's car, aiming it at both of the two people in the front, one of whom was avoiding my eyeline. "Luke? Kensie? Anyone," I was tired of the fact that no one answered me. Hours ago, Kensie was her usual chatty self, but now she was a shell of that, just looking out the window as Luke drove us to the office.

Whoever that was, Kensie clearly noticed and knew who he was. It was clear the way she recoiled into herself and instantly called Luke. The way Luke came running to our rescue as quickly as he did; I knew they were at a meeting to catch Michael up on what happened when he was away.

"Hello?" I dragged out, shaking my head slightly before letting my body flop back into the car seat, crossing my arms as annoyance now filled me. "I thought we were done with the secrets," I muttered.

"We are, just Michael wants to see you first," Kensie finally spoke, glancing back at me in the mirror, making me nod and look outside, watching the tree whizz by, shutting up and going back into my own shell.

"Thank god you're okay," Michael's arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me flush against his skin, making sure I wouldn't sink through his fingers. I looked up at him, seeing the slight fear in his eyes, confusing me, but knew it made sense.

After everything we did the other night, he opened up to me, told me how being in jail made him realise what he had waiting for him to get out, how he wanted me kept safe, which is why he didn't fight Morgan and Alex when they took him. Why he accepted everything that was thrown his way. He never uttered a word about what jail was like, just that he knew he would get out. I don't know how he knew that.

We then dropped the conversation before I could ask who did find the CCTV. After all, I didn't, and Calum never took credit for it. It was a mystery that at that time I didn't have the energy to find out; I just wanted to soak up time with Michael. But now it was slowly clawing at my mind, wanting answers. It was so odd that it was hard to find, but someone found it.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I plastered a smile onto my face, pushing away from him slightly. I glanced over at Luke and Kensie, who were stuck in a hushed conversation in the corner of the room. "I'm sorry we interrupted," I said, making a goofy smile cover my face.

"Hey, interrupt all you want. We were finishing up, and anyway, your safety's more important. I just wish I could have come myself," he said, moving his hand into a fist, gripping the back of my shirt, making me frown. I ran a single finger down his chest, shaking my head.

"Not here," I whispered, standing on my tiptoes so I could say it directly into his ear. I could feel beneath my hands as his body tensed and his breathing picked up. "At home," he said, his body relaxing as I moved in front of his face, softly pecking his lips. "ok?"

"Ok," he replied, letting me land back down on the balls of my feet. He moved to hold my hand instead of my waist. I could tell deep down he was fighting something, and he had information. I knew he wouldn't be fully calm until it was dealt with and revealed. "Hey, we're going to head off if I'm up to date on things," Luke nodded to Michael, waving him off, sending a quick mutter of 'he's doing the same.'

Michael's hand soon found its home in mine as he led me out of the unusually quiet building, leading me to the street.

"Thought we could walk. I'll pick up my car next time I'm here," I nodded as we walked in silence, just looking  at everyone going on with their own lives... their easier lives. "Do you hate that I brought you into this?" He whispered, snapping me out of my thoughts as I looked at a mom lightly scolding her child as they begged for sweets, something I may never get.

"I don't," I finally spoke after Michael's expression turned to one of worry and regret. "I really don't, Michael, so don't think I do." I could see his inner demons crawling to his mind to take over, and I couldn't let that happen. I pressed my feet into the sidewalk, forcing us both to stop as we were connected. "Please, Michael," I begged, placing my hands gently on his face, making sure he was looking directly at me and not through or past me. At me.

"I believe you," he placed his hands over mine, gripping my fingers tightly as if I would slip away from him.

"Why does this come up?" A gust of wind blew past us, fanning my hair to the side before letting it out of its grasp and settling back down again. Michael was nervously chewing his lip, dragging out his response before sighing, closing his eyes, and reopening them.

"I saw you looking at that mom and child, and the couple who crossed the road in front of us, and the happy family of four with the baby in the stroller—,"

"Whoa, that doesn't mean I want that, Michael. I'm just an observant person,"

"I think you do, Nicky," I let my face fall as he saw right through me.

"Maybe, maybe I do, but not right now, Michael. And if you don't, that's fair with me, and I won't. At the moment, you're what I crave. It's what I thought I wanted since I was a child, but experiencing this life was giving me such more of a thrill. Granted, I do want children in the future, but only if they are safe, and if we are both stuck in this, I'll let that dream go and fly away.

"I don't know if you'll be able to have that." He tilted his head to the left slightly and kissed the palm of my hand, squeezing my fingers.

"You want it, don't you..."

"More than anything." He whispered. "I didn't think I would until I met you, and I thought how dangerous it is bringing you into it and everything that I can't imagine bringing a little boy or girl into it. I'm on edge as it is with you, and now people are watching you, Nicky."

"I'm safe." I muttered, our words lightly tapping my fingertips on his cheeks so he could really feel me. "I could have taken him anyway." He finally let out a little chuckle at that, making me smile. "I'm serious, Michael. I wouldn't want to bring a baby into this life, and I'm not even there yet to want a physical baby. If I look at other couples and relationships, it's just because I'm curious about their stories." I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him softly, finally letting his face go. "Plus, I really don't want to have the name argument," I joked before tightly grasping his hand again and practically skipping down the street, dragging him along, causing him to laugh.

All I wanted at this moment in time was a happy and safe Michael, and I have that.

——