Take Me Home

Fix You

“Brian, are we ever going back home?”

Brian looked over the campfire at Nick, who’d set his plate down after the fish dinner they just got done eating. This question often came up, but Brian could never give him a clear answer. He didn’t know exactly where home was. He’d lived in and out of infirmary walls until Nick came along. He’d never really truly had a home of his own until he was with Nick on this island. Was this what home felt like? 

“Home as in back on the base with Kevin?” 

Nick nodded but made a face. 

“I dunno. I don’t really like it on the base. People treat me funny. Is it home for you?” 

“I don’t think I’ve ever had one.” Brian said finally, staring off into the crackling flames in front of him and watching the embers float into the star dotted sky. 

“Well, I guess then neither have I. What is a real home like?” 

Brian smiled at him, folding his knees into his chest and sighing. The two of them had been in hiding on the island for so long that he did not remember much from living on the base with Kevin aside from all the time he spent in and out of the infirmary being sick. He blocked most of it out so he did not worry Nick, but their situation was dire if they were found. Nick was the last Healer and his life was in danger even more so when the two of them were together.

“Remember when you asked me this back on the base right before we left to come here? What did I tell you then?” he said, hoping Nick would remember. 

“You said that home was where you hang your heart.” 

“Yes.” 

“I don’t understand what that means, though.”

Brian picked up the stick next to him and stoked the fire some more, making the flames grow brighter. 

“It means that home is wherever you feel comfortable. Home is where your heart is, where your loved ones are. It can be wherever you want.” 

Nick nodded and moved closer to him, smiling. 

“This feels like a home to me. Can it be our home? I like it here...I like being here with you, Brian.” he whispered as he put his arm around Brian’s shoulder and squeezed him gently. Brian felt the sudden warmth flow through him. It was a new sensation that he’d not felt before, a calming sensation that felt like drinking a hot cup of tea. He liked feeling that peace with Nick and for the first time in his life...Brian felt loved. For the first time in a long time, he hadn’t been sick. They didn’t have to worry about the war. Nobody bothered them. 

It was then that he decided not to teach Nick about his powers and just live their lives on this island together….where nobody could take Nick away from him. Where they could be happy. Who cared about the war? They didn’t have to go back because Nick was the last Healer and in danger...so what was the rush? Staying here meant they were both safe. 

“Brian, we have to go...come on!!!” 

Nick was shouting as Brian snapped out of his thoughts, before grabbing his hand and pulled him down the hallway as it began shaking from explosions happening around the base. 

“Where are we going to go?” Brian asked breathlessly as they ran. His heart was racing, he did not like war or fighting because it would make him sick again. That was why he and Nick went into hiding the way they did, far away from the war. Brian was healthy and they were both happy. Just like Nick, he wanted to go back there and not be in the middle of this at all. He’d give anything to go back home.