Pulling Through (PruCan) [Under Editing]

CH 9: I thought I lost you (edited)

Matthew awoke with a stiffness in his joints, he felt the familiar mask strapped on his face and looked around. He couldn't recognize the room he was in, his heart dropped and he quickly sat up. "G-Gil!?" his voice was filled with panic. Sudden footsteps were heard from behind the closed door, and soon enough Gilbert arrived with a worried look on his face and rushed to his lovers side. "It's okay birdie!" he reassured quickly and grasped onto his hand. "I'm here." He sighed. "I'm here."

Matthew took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself and wrapped his trembling arms around Gilbert's neck. "Where are we Gilbert?" he asked fearfully. "We're at my brother's place don't worry birdie no one is going to hurt you ever again." Gilbert reassured Matthew who trembled in his arms, Matthew pulled away to see Gilbert's face, his eyes held dark bags under them and he looked so tired and pale. "I was so scared." Gilbert mumbled and moved the hair away from Matthew's eyes. "I thought I lost you." His voice broke slightly.

He held Matthew tightly against his chest running his fingers through his long blonde hair. "Silly..." Matthew mumbled and looked up to face Gilbert with a small smile. "I'm not going to leave you." He said and held his face in his pale hands. "I can never leave you Gil." He stated. "I'm sorry I was gone for a while." He rested his head against his chest and listened to his strong steady heartbeat, but a wave of guilt and fear pierced through his heart he tightly grasped onto Gilbert's shirt and trembled. "Birdie what's wrong?" Gilbert asked as soon as he felt Matthew tremble in his arms.

He lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. "Tell me what's wrong." He pleaded anxiously. "...w-what about Ivan?" Matthew stammered in his quiet voice. "He's going to be okay birdie I promise you he will." Gilbert reassured and wiped away the tears that leaked from Matthew's eyes, he looked so broken and terrified Gilbert worried if everything that had happened to him had affected him in a bad way. "Hey birdie my brother has a few puppies, do you want to see them?" he asked curiously with a small smile.

Matthew perked up at the mention of puppies and gave an eager nod much to his current situation, Gilbert chuckled and helped his lover with the machine and switched it back to the old tank and tubes. "Watch your step." He lifted Matthew up from the bed and set him on his feet taking the handle of the tank. "Here I'll take it for you." He said and rolled it along as he lead Matthew to the other room where five puppies ran around. Matthew was instantly hooked and sat on the ground to get the puppies attention, all of them had ran away to a far corner afraid of the new visitors, all except one.

A small white fluffy puppy galoped toward Matthew who had extended his hand out, the pup sniffed at his hand and then licked it. It's tail kept on wagging happily showing no signs of fear of caution. "I think that one likes you birdie." Gilbert stated with a grin. "Can we keep it? Please? I'll take good care of it Gil I swear I will." Matthew pleaded desperately. Now Gilbert didn't like the thought of having to take care of a messy pup, but knowing that his lover would be happy was enough to convince him.

He shook his head and sighed. "Alright fine I'll ask my brother if we can take it home with us." He answered. "Thank you so much Gil!" Matthew giggled and jumped up to kiss Gilbert on the cheek. "Anything for you birdie." Gilbert stated and wrapped his arms around his slim waist pulling him close. The fluffy puppy barked up at them and jumped up on Matthew's legs begging for his attention. "Oh, hi there." Matthew giggled.

Gilbert smiled and allowed Matthew to grab the puppy. "I think I'll name him Kuma." He smiled. "He looks like a baby polar bear." He held the puppy up in front of his face allowing the puppy to lick his face. Gilbert's heart swelled at the sight, even after everything his lover had went through he was still able to laugh and smile as if nothing bad were to happen.

But what Matthew didn't know was that something bad could happen at any moment, and he wouldn't know when. Gilbert was protecting him from the truth by distracting him and pushing him away from anything that would trigger any bad memories. "Gil, where's your brother?" Matthew asked curiously as he put the puppy back down on the ground.