TOUGH LOVE • MICHAEL GRAY FANFIC

3

"What the hell is going on?" Polly asks, looking at me, looking at Michael. She walks in despite the look on her face. Tugging off her posh gloves, she slams them against the desk.

She walks over to us, like we've been caught kissing or something.

"Why are the guards outside, Michael?" She asks before glaring at me. "And who are you?"

I was taken away by her sass. She's absolutely gorgeous, but she thinks to have this privilege to excuse the way she talks to me. I twitch a little in anger, wondering what her problem is.

His shoulders roll back, he's just as pissy as she is. "The guards are outside because I asked them to go outside."

"And why would you do that?" She stares at her son and snaps her eyes back to me. "I asked you a question."

"Mum-"

Mum? He calls her mum when she probably did something awful for him to end up in a fucking orphanage. What the hell is going on?

"I'm Michael's friend, from the orphanage." I reply, giving her the benefit of doubt despite the fact that my blood is fucking boiling.

Did he really just call her mum?

"Oh, well we don't need you right now. You may leave."

I scoff, placing my hand over my chest to glare at this woman "We? Where were you when he was an orphan?"

"June-"

Polly makes her way over to me and studies my face. "Get. Out." She seizes. "Now."

This woman has a wrath unlike anything I've seen before. It's like she's almost ready to lunge at me, it's the power that I don't give her that makes her go absolutely mad. I stare into her eyes, unable to tear my gaze away from her.

As if it helps, Michael puts his hand out between us, "Enough, the both of yous." He turns to his mother. "Mum, June is family to me."

"Family?" She chuckles, "I'm the only family you've got."

She's jealous. Christ. This is almost laughable, the way she is leeching onto this young man. I step back and nod, moving my gaze to his. "No, Michael. She's right, she's the only family you have now."

I move to the door and pull it open, he calls my name and Polly tells him to leave me alone, but I can hear him move to his feet, following me. Abruptly, my heart constricts at the sound of him calling my name over and over again. Michael, have you gotten yourself sucked up into this messy world?

He hooks his hand around my arm and brings me to a stop. I look at him, before moving my eyes down to his hand that remains around my arm.

I weakly tear my arm from his grasp and stare into his eyes. I press my lips together, moving against the wall where he stands on the other side, our chests nearly brush. He's huffing and puffing, smoking doesn't help his wounds. Nor did this little jog to catch me. "Hey," He says softly, "Look at me, what's wrong?" His finger draws up my chin to meet his green eyes.

He smells heavily, a scent I've only missed tremendously.

"She neglected you and you just forgive her?"

"She was lost once, June. But now-"

"Now?" I hang onto the word.

He swallows, "Now she's found herself and she's good to me, good to my cousins."

I chuckle, I know better than to get involved with the shit he's talking about. I never knew anything about family relationships, mum and dad both passed before I turned two years-old, a house fire had claimed their lives. I never knew family, never knew love, not until I met Michael.

Don't let them hurt me, ok, Henry?

I won't. I'll protect you, Juney, I promise.

"Are you happy?" I breathe, finally reaching for him. I gain the courage to run my hand through the top of his hair, short but long enough to twist my fingers around the ends. Soft, silky even.

He smiles.

"I'm happy, yeah, but seeing you, June." He takes me by the wrist, tugging my hand down. "I can't express to you how happy I am right now." He grumble the last part, oh so shy, Michael. 

I shake my head, smiling at him.

"I want see you again,"

My grin gets wider, he wants to see me again. He missed me, and I missed him. My heart swells with hope. What now, I wonder?

"When are done?"

"Now, actually. But I've got plans tonight."

His face drops, "Do you have someone?"

"No," I laugh with a stupid thought of actually maintaining a relationship with a man. I can barely let anyone touch me without remembering the terrified hands of Father Hughes. It was so long ago, and yet they still haunt me.

"What are you doing then?" His voice is unsteady, he's flushed.

"I have a kitten at home, she always takes a piss on the floor and-" I stop myself hearing him laugh. "What?" I stiffen out a laugh myself.

"God-" He licks his lips, trying to hide his widemouthed grin. "You really are an adult huh?"

"Hey," I push my finger into his shoulder, "You asked." I hum, getting lost in his features, "I missed that smile."

My words paralyze him, its as if he's never heard such a complement in his life. The thought of him having someone creeps up, he's absolutely beautiful, so I can only imagine the lineup of young ladies who probably want him. But I fail to allow myself the words to ask him.

"Bring you kitten here," He tries, but asks in a seemingly casual way. "We can talk, in private-"

"Michael!" The wicked witch calls for him, and he groans.

"Your mother awaits." I slip away.

"June, I'm serious. Tonight?" He asks, giving me a brief and crooked smile.

"Sure. But if you need to ask mummy for permission, please do so."

He rolls his eyes, letting go of my hand. "I'll see you tonight then."

"See you tonight Henry-Michael."

I leave him with a smile on his face, eyes glistening. Alive, even.