Unexplored Territory
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
9
Views:
1,759
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
9
Views:
1,759
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter 10 - Epilogue
Christian woke with a start, his breathing coming out in sharp pants as his heart tried to beat its way out of his chest. He felt a soothing coolness touch him, right before a conflictingly warm hand rubbed gently up and down his arm. His right hand reached up and touched the cool band of metal that he wore on a necklace – the promise ring that had been given to him following his recovery at the hospital.
He turned to smile down at Yuki, the dim light from the moon pouring in through the large open windows, a warm breeze ruffling his hair. “I’m okay. Just another nightmare,” he murmured, reaching out and brushing the fringe out of his lover’s eyes, which were warm with concern. “Thank you,” he added. He didn’t need to specify what for – Yuki already knew.
Yuki just shook his head and reached up, pulling Christian down to rest his head on his chest. Christian burrowed into his naked chest, his hair tickling along Yuki’s skin as they lay silently. One of Yuki’s hands reached between them and held Christian’s hand, and the other one combed gently through his partner’s hair. He didn’t wince anymore when he held Christian’s hand and felt where his ring finger was missing. When he had found Christian’s finger lying in his desk at work, he had flipped out. Only the commissioner had been able to stop him, but even that had been a close one.
The reason for his outburst had been kept secret. It was another four days before people started to remember that Christian had ever existed. It had been a trying time for Yuki, because even the commissioner couldn’t remember him, not really, although he knew that it was done deliberately.
While Christian had been recovering in the hospital, his nightmares had been never ending. They only got worse when the doctors had ordered him strapped down, to prevent him from further damaging himself. He had a number of bruises, broken bones and abrasions, not to mention the infections that had been the cause of his fever.
Yuki had stayed with him the entire time, and had learned quickly that Christian associated the cold with him, and with safety. So whenever the nightmares got too bad, Yuki would allow the coolness of his own Talent flow through the room, ruffling Christian’s hair. More often than not, Christian had settled down under the cool touch, relaxing and remaining free of his nightmares for a few hours, before they’d start back up again.
Yuki had been so careful not to use the cold too often or too long. It hadn’t taken him long to connect his Talent with their stay in the hotel, where Christian had been so miserable. Yuki hadn’t even realized what he was doing, and the regret was a bitter pill to swallow. Still, Christian had forgiven him, and admitted that although he knew that Yuki was a Talent, he hadn’t said anything to the other man, guessing correctly that he was unaware of it for a reason.
It had taken months for Christian to heal from the physical damage, which he had then followed up with nearly two years of physical therapy. He had also been to see a psychiatrist, who had helped him to cope with the tortures he had been subjected to as Michael’s victim. The psychiatrist had helped him to restore his confidence in himself, and taught him ways to cope with the nightmares, without relying on Yuki.
Slowly, painstakingly, Christian had managed to all but conquer the nightmares. Occasionally, he’d still have one, but he usually managed to wake himself up, as he had tonight. Then, depending on how Yuki judged his mood, he’d either remain still until Christian had gotten a hold of himself, or he’d send out that cool touch and then just hold Christian.
The best part, though, was the day that Yuki had given him the promise ring. Since they were both men, they couldn’t be legally married, but that didn’t matter to them, anyhow. It’s not like they need a piece of paper to make things official between them. Christian had lost the finger that the ring should have sat on, so instead, Yuki had purchased a matching necklace with a thick chain to loop the ring through. Christian wore it with pride.
Shortly after that, Christian had lured Yuki into bed with him. He had still been recuperating, but the bones had mended, and the wounds had healed. He had allowed Yuki to take the lead that night, too weak and uncoordinated for anything else. Yuki had been go gentle that night, and Christian had never regretted it.
The two men had moved forward, one step at a time, until they were where they were today. They shared a working partnership, a home, and a bed. Yuki helped Christian to cope with his own demons, and in return, Christian helped Yuki to control his Talent, and to let Michael go. The man that Yuki had killed had never been his partner, not truly, and Yuki finally accepted it, though it hadn’t been easy. He had allowed Michael to do things to him, and with him, that he had sworn he’d never participate in.
As their spirits healed, their love and trust in each other only grew, and both men knew the single solid truth: no matter what happened in the future, Christian and Yuki would always be there for each other. Both had walked into dangerous waters for the other, and both had been willing to traverse so many unexplored territories for each other – Talents, torture, love between men, commitment, and a true, lasting partnership. Places that one, or both, had never been, and now they were bound together, through those and more.
Christian turned his head a little and laid a gentle kiss on Yuki’s chest. “Love you,” he murmured sleepily, already drifting off again. Yuki’s arms tightened around him in response.
“Love you, too,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the top of Christian’s head. With that, they both drifted off, knowing that no matter what happened in the future, they’d always have each other.
He turned to smile down at Yuki, the dim light from the moon pouring in through the large open windows, a warm breeze ruffling his hair. “I’m okay. Just another nightmare,” he murmured, reaching out and brushing the fringe out of his lover’s eyes, which were warm with concern. “Thank you,” he added. He didn’t need to specify what for – Yuki already knew.
Yuki just shook his head and reached up, pulling Christian down to rest his head on his chest. Christian burrowed into his naked chest, his hair tickling along Yuki’s skin as they lay silently. One of Yuki’s hands reached between them and held Christian’s hand, and the other one combed gently through his partner’s hair. He didn’t wince anymore when he held Christian’s hand and felt where his ring finger was missing. When he had found Christian’s finger lying in his desk at work, he had flipped out. Only the commissioner had been able to stop him, but even that had been a close one.
The reason for his outburst had been kept secret. It was another four days before people started to remember that Christian had ever existed. It had been a trying time for Yuki, because even the commissioner couldn’t remember him, not really, although he knew that it was done deliberately.
While Christian had been recovering in the hospital, his nightmares had been never ending. They only got worse when the doctors had ordered him strapped down, to prevent him from further damaging himself. He had a number of bruises, broken bones and abrasions, not to mention the infections that had been the cause of his fever.
Yuki had stayed with him the entire time, and had learned quickly that Christian associated the cold with him, and with safety. So whenever the nightmares got too bad, Yuki would allow the coolness of his own Talent flow through the room, ruffling Christian’s hair. More often than not, Christian had settled down under the cool touch, relaxing and remaining free of his nightmares for a few hours, before they’d start back up again.
Yuki had been so careful not to use the cold too often or too long. It hadn’t taken him long to connect his Talent with their stay in the hotel, where Christian had been so miserable. Yuki hadn’t even realized what he was doing, and the regret was a bitter pill to swallow. Still, Christian had forgiven him, and admitted that although he knew that Yuki was a Talent, he hadn’t said anything to the other man, guessing correctly that he was unaware of it for a reason.
It had taken months for Christian to heal from the physical damage, which he had then followed up with nearly two years of physical therapy. He had also been to see a psychiatrist, who had helped him to cope with the tortures he had been subjected to as Michael’s victim. The psychiatrist had helped him to restore his confidence in himself, and taught him ways to cope with the nightmares, without relying on Yuki.
Slowly, painstakingly, Christian had managed to all but conquer the nightmares. Occasionally, he’d still have one, but he usually managed to wake himself up, as he had tonight. Then, depending on how Yuki judged his mood, he’d either remain still until Christian had gotten a hold of himself, or he’d send out that cool touch and then just hold Christian.
The best part, though, was the day that Yuki had given him the promise ring. Since they were both men, they couldn’t be legally married, but that didn’t matter to them, anyhow. It’s not like they need a piece of paper to make things official between them. Christian had lost the finger that the ring should have sat on, so instead, Yuki had purchased a matching necklace with a thick chain to loop the ring through. Christian wore it with pride.
Shortly after that, Christian had lured Yuki into bed with him. He had still been recuperating, but the bones had mended, and the wounds had healed. He had allowed Yuki to take the lead that night, too weak and uncoordinated for anything else. Yuki had been go gentle that night, and Christian had never regretted it.
The two men had moved forward, one step at a time, until they were where they were today. They shared a working partnership, a home, and a bed. Yuki helped Christian to cope with his own demons, and in return, Christian helped Yuki to control his Talent, and to let Michael go. The man that Yuki had killed had never been his partner, not truly, and Yuki finally accepted it, though it hadn’t been easy. He had allowed Michael to do things to him, and with him, that he had sworn he’d never participate in.
As their spirits healed, their love and trust in each other only grew, and both men knew the single solid truth: no matter what happened in the future, Christian and Yuki would always be there for each other. Both had walked into dangerous waters for the other, and both had been willing to traverse so many unexplored territories for each other – Talents, torture, love between men, commitment, and a true, lasting partnership. Places that one, or both, had never been, and now they were bound together, through those and more.
Christian turned his head a little and laid a gentle kiss on Yuki’s chest. “Love you,” he murmured sleepily, already drifting off again. Yuki’s arms tightened around him in response.
“Love you, too,” he murmured, pressing his lips to the top of Christian’s head. With that, they both drifted off, knowing that no matter what happened in the future, they’d always have each other.