The Foreigner & The Pessimist (malexmale)

29. Lane

My first conscious thought is ow. I'm in pain. I'm in a lot of pain.

Everything hurts. And I mean everything. My head is throbbing, my chest feels like someone's taken a sledgehammer to it, my skin feels raw, and my leg feels like someone hacked into it with a machete and decided to skip the pain killers.

What the hell did I do to myself at that party? I wonder. I mean, I've been known to go a little overboard when I drink, but this seems like a lot, even for a bad hangover. And honestly, I don't even remember drinking that much...or leaving, for that matter.

But we didn't leave, did we? I was in the backyard. I was upset. There was an accident. There was...something. Something happened. Something I should know, but...FUCK, my head hurts.

I attempt to open my eyes, trying to get a better idea of where I am, but immediately shut them again when I realize how bright it is. It's not normal bright either, it's like someone is shining down on me with a damned spotlight.

I groan in discomfort, both at the light and my current bodily pain, and that's the first time I realize someone's holding my hand. At least...they were, until I just made that noise. Now, based on the sudden scuffle and crashing sound I'm pretty sure they're on the floor.

I hear more scrambling – clearly from the person on the ground – and then there're hands on my face; cupping my cheek and skimming a shaking thumb over my skin.

I know those hands. Those are Zuuro's hands.

"Lane? Lane, please, please if you can hear me open your eyes, okay? Just open your eyes and show me you're alright." He says, his voice shaking almost as bad as his hands.

Immediately, I'm lulled into a sense of security, and despite my sudden sensitivity to light, I try again to open my eyes, because damn...hearing his voice right now is like sunshine on a rainy day. Like flowers in spring. Like a shot of morphine racing through my bloodstream to ease my agony. And all I can think about now is how badly I want to see his face. How badly I need to get my eyes open.

So, I keep trying, forcing my eyes open little by little as they adjust to the sudden burst of light, until I can just make out his large, blurry figure looming over me. And then...wow. In that moment I swear all my pain disappears, and all I can feel is this immense overwhelming wave of relief as I look up at him.

I can't believe I almost never got the chance to see that big, blue, beautiful face again. I almost never got to bathe in the radiance of his smile, or feel his touch, or the tingle of his kiss when his lips meet mine. I almost lost everything, and for what?

It seems so meaningless now. Like I can't even fathom why I was so pissed, because I'm just so fucking happy to see him right now. So unbelievably, undeniably happy. And Zuuro's happy too, because the moment my eyes are open, and they stay open, he completely loses it. Like big, huge, wet tears and wailing kind of loses it, as he starts peppering every inch of my face in kisses.

"You're okay! Oh, Lane, I was so scared." He sobs. "I thought...I thought I'd lost you. Don't you ever do that to me again! Never again, do you hear me?"

I nod, humming my agreement as I manage to force one of my arms up to Zuuro's cheek and brush away a few of his tears. "M's-sorry." I tell him, smiling as I look up at him. I wish I could say more, but my tongue and my limbs feel like lead. Like I've drank too much and can't function properly.

Zuuro chuckles despite his sobbing as he brings his hand up to his cheek to cover mine. "You'd better be." He teases, pulling my hand around to his mouth so he can press a gentle kiss to my fingers that sends a tingling straight up to my shoulder.