A Reunion Between A Lost Pair

Chapter 6- The First Night

Chapter 6

Michael's POV

Last night we slept in the hall. Apparently, it's a normal thing now according to Ritchie. He said they do it in case of an attack so they're altogether. It means no one can be struck when they're alone and it also means they can get people up and awake easier. It's smart, I just hate the fact that they have to do it. Kay said she doesn't plan on keeping it this way and wants to get people back in their own cabins, just wants to decrease the size of the horde first. Fair enough.

I perched myself against one of the walls, Ritchie sitting next to me, Austin and Bri too. We sat talking for a while. It was nice to know Austin hadn't changed much, that he was still the chirpy kid he was before. It was nice knowing that someone was here to bring the light out. Bri hadn't had any new issues with her other half which was a good sign and she'd fully accepted Austin. They're cute. Feeling like a proud mother over here. Ritchie didn't say much, simply sat close and listened. He did however input on Austin's antics and cute moments between the pair. Austin fell asleep not long after, resting his head against my lap, followed by Bri who cuddled against him once he was asleep and snoring.

Ritchie sighed and rested his head against my shoulder, "it's been really quiet around here without you"

"I'm not that loud" I chuckled softly

"not what I meant. I was so used to you making sarcastic comments under your breath after everything, that it seemed so quiet when you were gone"

I hummed, "you know, when I was down there, I kept turning around expecting you to be stood there with some optimistic comment, something to make it seem that bit better... it never came"

"I wanted to" he said, barely audible.

"yeah and I would have kicked you out myself if you did" I said prodding him

"true"

We sat in a comfortable silence for a while after that, simply sat listening to the sound of each other's breathing until I began to hear silent snoring from beside me. I felt his arm silently wrap around mine, grabbing a hold. I reached over and began absentmindedly stroking my hand through his hair as I dove into the world of my own thoughts. This child of the god of battle strategy had a battle coming, a battle he swore to win. He had to.

However, it was nice to fall asleep feeling safe for once, to able to fully put my guard down for the first time in a long time.

-<3­-

The next day I was one of the first to wake, my hand still resting in Ritchie's hair. I turned around catching the eye of Bri who was sat next to Austin. She was smirking at me.

"hey" I said

"hey" she replied, her smirk turning into a soft smile, "you know, I'm pretty sure if you told him, he'd be over the moon" I sat looking confused at her for a moment before it clicked. However, Bri spoke again before he could reply, "don't deny it, I'm just saying. He's... I've not seen him happy since you left. He didn't leave his cabin for a couple weeks then he patrolled constantly"

I turned to look at him then back at Bri, "so what you're saying is, he grieved in the exact way I did"

Bri took a moment to reply, "that I don't know considering I don't know how you grieved, but if you're on about the other daughter of Aphrodite then all things considered, I assume so yeah"

"omg he does..." I thought out loud, "if I thought that about Katelyn and he thinks that of me..."

"yeah he does, and that's coming from me and its literally my job to notice this"

I had no reply. I'm supposed to be the smart one here but I couldn't for the life of me think of something to say.

"I just thought I'd let you know. You've both waited long enough already and I don't want you to run out of time"