✦DAYS LATER✦
◈AT THE HOSPITAL◈
"I am fine," he said quietly, holding David's gaze before looking away.
"I..." David began.
"Believe you heard what Dr. Maxwell said," Michael interrupted. "I'm discharged. Please take me home." David and Dr. Maxwell exchanged a glance before looking back at him.
******
◈AT DAVID'S HOUSE◈
"You are welcome," David said, opening the door and smiling slightly, his hands opening too in a welcoming gesture.
"I asked you to take me home," Michael cut in while David slowly lowered his hands.
"This is your home for now." David said calmly. "While you were unconscious, I was told you have no family."
"I have a house," Michael replied firmly.
"I know. But after I mistakenly hit you, I could not just leave you alone. You lost your mother months ago..."
"Do not talk about my mother," Michael said, anger flickering in his eyes.
"I am sorry," David said softly as he stepped closer. "Listen, this is my house. You can stay wherever you like and for as long as you like."
"Mr. David MacSinclair..." Michael said, staring directly at him.
"The sun has set. It is dark outside," David interrupted gently. "You left me to savor the sorrows of your demise living me in ruins. but every moment..."
"you..."
"Let me help you," David interrupted as they stood, eyes locked in silence. "Let me be someone you can lean on. Let me be the light in whatever darkness you are walking through."
"My phone," Michael said, extending his hands.
"It is in your room," David replied, as Michael arched a brow and turned, walking toward the hallway.
"I am sorry," David added quickly. "I checked only your gallery and contacts. I was trying to find someone to call.
"Are you showing me the room, or will you stand there staring and talking all day?"
David blinked. "Right. Forgive my manners." He took Michael's suitcase and led him upstairs. "I also saw your Grindr," David added awkwardly.
Michael shrugged. "I am sure this billionaire behind me is secretly from Detroit," he said lazily.
David laughed softly, and as they climbed the stairs, he instinctively placed a hand on Michael's waist to steady him, but Michael removed it immediately, a faint smile tugging at David's lips as they continued upstairs.
******
◈WEEKS LATER,◈
"Hey, baby boy," David said as he entered the living room and closed the door behind him.
"Welcome, Mr. David," Michael replied, briefly lifting his eyes from the movie on the television as David placed several shopping bags on the table, and Michael looked at them, then back at him.
"What are those for?"
"They are for you," David said, smiling as he removed his suit jacket and tossed it onto the sofa, his eyes still fixed on Michael.
"I never asked for any," Michael said calmly, turning back to the television.
"You do not need to," David replied, and Michael turned to look at him again.
"More gifts? When the ones you brought already have no space and are piled on each other? I literally have no place to stretch my legs in that room." David burst into laughter.
"It is funny, right?"
"No, baby boy," David said immediately, holding back his laughter. "That is not a problem. You can use the room opposite yours, or even the ones next to it. This is a mansion, remember?"
"Do you not think it is a good thing?" David continued. "You have not been comfortable in your room, and I know you are bored. So why not stay with me? The master bedroom is far too spacious for just one person. It is large enough for both of us and…"
"Thanks for the gifts," Michael cut in, his gaze drifting to the bags before returning to David, a lazy softness mixed with shy warmth in his expression. "Mr. Billionaire."
David scoffed softly, smiling away before lifting his eyes to meet Michael's again, and they held each other's gaze for a quiet moment.
"What?" Michael asked, smiling back as David walked over and sat beside him, draping his arm casually over Michael's shoulders while Michael turned slightly toward him and David shifted his focus to the television.
"What movie is this?" David asked. "It sounds interesting."
"I Found Love in California," Michael replied.
David hummed with pleasure. "A BL movie. I enjoyed Emerald Love. It was adapted from a novel, Broke Up, Now I Am His Stepfather."
"You have watched that too?" Michael asked with a smile.
"Of course. And Alexandro the Mafia Obsession. There was also that fantasy one about King Torin falling for the Prince of Aethel."
"Love and War," Michael said with a soft laugh.
"Exactly," David replied, gently running his fingers through Michael's hair. "I watched it more times than I can count."
"Really?" Michael laughed, resting his head lightly against David's shoulder. "I thought I was the only one who did that."
"Prince Nova is definitely gay," David said. "Nobody can convince me otherwise."
"Being a BL writer does not make someone gay," Michael replied, softly pushing David's chest, but David held his hand there as Michael's smile slowly faded into something deeper and silence settled between them for a few moments.
"I love you, Michael," David said softly as their faces drew closer until their lips met in a slow, unhurried kiss, Michael leaning back while David's hand slid behind him, their lips parting briefly when Michael's hand pressed gently against David's chest near his shoulder, pushing him away just enough to create space between them.
"What?" David asked, confused.
"I cannot, with someone who is not mine," Michael said softly as David searched his eyes, then he sat up, turning slightly toward the television while Michael also shifted to sit up, lowering his head onto David's lap.
"Man, you are hard," Michael said with a laugh as David glanced down at him and then back at the television, his annoyance mild and soft.
"Do not worry, the movie will help you cool down," Michael added, laughing again while David's gaze stayed on the screen, a small smile tugging at his lips when Michael reached up and slid a finger lightly across them, teasing him gently.
"Leave me alone," David said, his voice teasing as he looked at him briefly before turning back to the television, but Michael's laughter filled the room, and David could not help but smile and laugh along, the warmth of the moment wrapping around them both.
"You are very wicked," David said between laughter. "You know that, right?"
"You are very wicked," David said between laughter. "You know that, right?"
"I know," Michael replied, a soft, knowing smile tugging at his lips as he looked at David, warm and bright, a quiet, gentle laugh escaping him.