Humans Alone (G/T)

Chapter Twenty-seven

Waking up to a comforting warmth, Michael's eyes slowly opened. He was still tucked against Heath's bare chest. The pine scent for the first time was gone. It had to have been the shirt then. Now being close to Heath without that smell felt odd. Never in his life would he have thought one of the most important things to him would be a smell.

A smile crept onto his busted lip and he nestled further against the large body to keep himself from the chilly morning air. The body shifted, and fingers stroked his hair and ran down his back. The touch was extremely light and gentle. "I hope you slept well." Heath's voice rumbled through the chest, sending vibrations through Michael's cheek where it rested. 

Michael yawned and shifted his own body so he could look up at Heath's face, still smiling. "I slept great. Probably one of the best nights of sleep I've had in months." This time he didn't feel his face flush at his touch or just being this close to him. It had to be because they both acknowledged their feelings.

The two of them got up from where they lay and used the nearby creek to wash up and get water to drink for more of the journey. When they returned, Lester was now awake and smirking at the two. "Are you two lovebirds a couple now? Perhaps maybe you two appreciated each others company down at the river in more ways than one."

Heath narrowed his eyes and put one of his arms firmly around Michael's small shoulders. "I don't think that would be any of your business even if something did happen." He turned his gaze toward Michael and could only smile at how flustered the human looked. He decided to add to his embarrassment. "Although, I certainly wouldn't have minded if something did happen. But we're both still wounded."

Michael did his best to hide how flustered he was, knowing very well it wasn't very good anyway. "Can't we just hurry to the Council building so that I-I don't have to worry about Donnie or any of them showing up?"

Lester and Heath both chuckled and began to prepare the horses and gather up their blankets, Heath bending down and helping what little he could without really hurting himself.

The three soon set out again to hopefully arrive at the building by nightfall, Heath walking and leading the horse which Michael sat on. 

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When the sun had set and the stars began to twinkle, that was when a large wooden and brick building came into view in the distance. Heath was starting to grow weary, but he hid it for the sake of not worrying Michael.

Glancing over at the human, their eyes met and they held each others gaze. Again, no words were spoken but at the same time, they said so much.

"Heath?" Michael spoke in a low voice, averting his blue eyes with a faint smile. His heart was fluttering in his chest. His body rocked as the horse moved under him. 

"Hm?" Heath hummed lightly, letting his companion have his full attention. 

Michael struggled to get the words out, squirming nervously on the horses back. "Are...are we actually together now?" His voice was quiet and hesitant. "Y-You never actually answered Lester when he asked that."

Carefully considering Michal's words and choosing his own, he took a few moments to respond but knew the answer almost right away. "I would love to be in a relationship with you, but what if my kind return to our own home once all of this is settled?" He spoke in a quiet, solemn tone, his grip tightening ever so slightly around the horse's reigns. 

The thought had never crossed his mind, and Michael's heart jumped before sinking right down to his torn up shoes. "Heath, b-but I'd be able to come with you right? Or y-you could stay here," he murmured.

"If I stayed here, once humans recuperated from this I may be hunted down for my kinds crimes against all of you. And if you were to come with me, it would only be the same thing." Heath spoke gently, stopping the horse so he and Michael could actually talk face to face.

Michael felt his chest twist in pain. "Then why did you kiss me if you knew?" He looked toward Heath, a stinging sensation in his eyes. But when the Masonin didn't respond and only began to move, he wondered if what happened the night before was just a dream.

Now Heath was silent and slowly began to walk again. He kept his focus on the building in front of him, trying to pretend he couldn't hear Michael's shaky breathing. He didn't want their relationship to go any further only to have the two of them torn apart.