Bite Till It Bleeds (BoyXBoy/Mpreg)

Chapter Twenty-One

Ethan -

Fuck!

I had no intention of coming here in the first place but luckily I drove by and saw the flames. I knew this wasn't a coincidence. There was no alarms going off inside of the apartment.

I had carried Ren down to the parking lot away from the commotion of fire trucks and ambulances. I had wrapped him in my jacket to hide his stomach. His features were just soft enough to pass as a woman but I still didn't want to risk it.

I hurried next to my car where no one could see us and laid him down to check if he was still even breathing.

Although he was, it sounded more like wheezing than anything. I pulled him back into my arms and laid him in the backseat of my car and left for the clinic.

Once there, Rebecca took him into the examination room. He gained consciousness pretty quickly and the most Rebecca had to do was to place an oxygen mask for the smoke inhalation. It seemed he only passed out from fatigue and heat but otherwise, he hadn't been in the apartment long enough to cause harm.

I remembered Akihito and knew I should probably call him.

He and Basel arrived no sooner than five minutes. Akihito, expectedly, hurried in with Ren while Basel stayed behind with me.

"What happened?" He asked imediatly.

"Ian must have sent someone to burn the apartment."

"Did he know only Ren was in there?"

"I doubt it. He probably just wanted to send a message. He knew someone would get Ren out of there."

"This is getting very troubling. Had you not been there, Ren would have been dead."

I only nodded, wincing at the thought.

"Aren't you going to talk to Ren?" Basel asked.

"About what?"

"You know what. Do you plan on ignoring him until the baby is born?"

 I didn't know what to say.

"Listen, this wasn't an easy choice for him to make. What did you want him to do?" Basel continued.

"What I wanted is to not have to watch him slowly kill himself for-"

"For what? His child, your child? How the hell do you expect him to make such a decision so easily? And now that he's made it and there's no turning back, he has to deal with you turning your back to him when he needs you most. How do you think that makes him feel?"

"I can't sit there to watch him die."

"I never said he would but he needs support if he's going to have a fighting chance. Part of that support should include you."

I hated when he did this.

I sighed 

"I'll talk to him." I said and went to turn towards Ren's door.

Inside, Ren sat on the bed facing Aki on the opposite side of the door. He was still holding up the oxygen mask to his face but he took it off once he heard me come in.

"Can I have a word with Ren?"

Akihito looked at Ren who nodded slightly.

As Akihito stepped around me but before stepping out, he gripped my arm and warned without turning to make eye contact.

"Be nice."

I only gave him a glance before he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

With a click of the door I was left alone with Ren. The air was heavy with awkwardness.

"How do you feel?" I finally asked, stepping closer so he wouldn't have to turn his head back to face me.

"I'm fine." He said.

We remained silent for a bit and the air went stiff.

I noticed he was looking down at his hands, avoiding eye contact. His left hand had been wrapped up for burns.

"Thank you...for saving me."

"I guess I'm pretty used to it at this point."

I saw the corners of his lips curl upwards a little. Seeing him smile like that for even a second warmed my heart.

I wanted to say something else but as I opened my mouth, Ren suddenly held his bump and his expression turned almost confused, letting out a slight gasp.

"What is it?!" I panicked.

"Ah, no, it's just-the baby...he moved." Ren's confusion turned to amazement as he felt the the baby over his sweater. I assumed it was the first time he has felt the baby kick.

"Can I?" I said. Ren looked up, a bit surprised but nodded.

I reached over where his hand was placed and felt. As if on command, the baby kicked at where our hands touched. Feeling this little creature for the first time as a living thing was a bit breathtaking. I couldn't help but join Ren in a laugh as we felt the baby move some more. They were faint bumps here and there but could be felt nonetheless.

It didn't take long for the thought of this little baby being our child, something we created during that night, to take over me.

I looked up to Ren whose previously joyous face turned red and streaked with tears.

"Why are you crying?"

"I-I know you don't like this but...if I don't make it and he does...please..."

"Don't say that!" I took Ren into my arms and hugged him tightly.

"Ren, I'm sorry. You were right and I was wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that when you too were so confused. It's just...when Basel said that you could...I got overwhelmed. But that isn't going to happen!"

I held Ren even closer and stroked his hair.

I had been so stupid to let him suffer through this alone.

"I-I'm so scared." Ren muttered.

"I'm here, okay? I'm right here."

*