Unconditional

When You Are With Me

Dec: "I...I was being judgemental. I should have realised that there must something important for you to be like this"

Ant: "You are concerned about the play, I get that"

Dec: "I was concerned about you"

Ant just stares at Dec

Dec: "Seeing you so tensed and on the edge, everytime... You have to relax..you have to let it go.. and if my safety is what you are concerned about, then I promise you. I won't do anything reckless"

Ant nods and sighs "You want to sit here?"

Dec: "Let's go to our room"

Ant: "Dinner?"

Dec: "You want some time out? Are you okay? Do you want to be alone? I will have food from the mess and-"

Ant shakes his head and Dec stares at him in doubt

Ant: "Things are so much better when you are with me!"

They had their dinner and went to the riverside park. It was slightly chilly and Dec held his new leather jacket closer to him.

Ant: "Nice jacket, that"

Dec: "Martin brought this for me"

They were walking through the stone path and Dec felt soft wind hitting his cheeks. They sit on a bench and Ant casually puts a hand around Dec's shoulder, holding him close and staring at the calm river infront of them. Dec thinks back to the last time they came here, when Ant had more or less cuddled him from behind. There was something about this place that makes Ant comfortable and emotional.

Dec: "Anth?"

Ant: "Mm?"

Dec: "Why is this place so special to you?"

Ant sighs heavily at that "It holds too many memories... happy and sad"

Dec turns around to look at Ant and in the low light, he sees the hazel eyes travelling several years back

Ant: "My nan loved this place. And since she passes away, whenever I feel extremely happy or sad or angry..I come here..it's like my safe zone..my secret chest where I keep every bits of my life. Walking around this place makes me realise what all I had..what all I have...what all happened in my life to reach where I am... this place is actually a part of me..a part where all the things that really matters to me in my life are kept...that's why I am keeping this a secret from everyone"

Dec: "Everyone except me"

Ant nods. He then looks at Dec with genuine feelings "You are a part of it too..."

Dec hears Ant breathing heavily and concern pools in his chest.

Dec: "Are you alright?"

Ant: "Don't know. I hope I am not coming down with anything. Last thing I need right now is that"

Dec: "You said the same last week. You were tired"

Ant: "I still am...I think the fever hasn't yet gone down"

Dec: "Fever?!"

Ant: "A little. Past couple of days I was feeling run down. It's the stress wearing me down, I can feel that"

Dec looks at Ant to see genuine weakness in his stance. He was piling up his weakness and putting in a strong hide. Typical

He feels Ant shivering lightly beside him and opens his jacket and shrugs it off him

Ant: "What are you-"

Dec: "You need it more"

Ant: "No! I am fine"

Dec: "You are not. I am not a stupid Ant, it's cold and you are shivering"

He makes Ant wear the jacket and instantly Ant's hands goes to the pockets, warming them up.

Dec shakes his head Forever the stubborn.

Ant smirks at him and slowly pulls him close. Dec leans his head to Ant's shoulder and cuddles closer to the warmth.

Dec: "Five hours ago, all I wanted was to smash you face in"

Ant chuckles at that "Scrappy Doo"

Dec slaps his arm but doesn't move from the position. He was too comfortable there.

They stayed there for an hour more and then slowly walked out and to where Ant has kept his bike.

They passed the exit and Dec was whining about how long they walked. Ant walked a step ahead of Dec, finding Dec's rant both cute and irritating. He felt like turning around and telling Dec off. And he would have if he hasn't caught a headlight from the corner of his eyes.

He spots a bike coming their way, with two people on it, both wearing helmets, jackets and gloves, their eyes being the only things visible. The one who isn't riding was leaning to their side, and Ant sees him holding something. His eyes are assessing them ... assessing Dec ...And then he saw them clearly, saw that bike clearly. He will spot it from any corner, through any amount of darkness.

Ant didn't had time to think as his instincts took over his rational thought. In that split of a second...all he thought about was the smaller man beside him ranting about something Ant really didn't want to hear.

As the bike reaches them, he sees the second man lunging forward, throwing something at them.... or more specifically, at Dec.

Ant turns swiftly around...pulls Dec to him tightly... covers Dec's smaller body with his own taller one and crouches down with him in his arms, cuddling and shielding him from whatever that is aimed at them.

It took Ant only a second to sense something falling on him. Smell of something burning... something chemical. And the next moment, pain tore through Ant's arm and he cried out loud.

As for Dec, things happened within a fraction of milliseconds. Only things he registered were the sound of the bike, Ant's strong body against him, taking him in his arms and crouching down with him, a terrible smell and Ant's painful cry.

He gently pushes Ant off him and turns around to see Ant withering on the ground, his eyes crunched and tears streaming down. And to Dec's greatest worry, smoke was coming out of the jacket sleeves, the smell of burn and chemical prominent amongst it all.

Dec's heart stammered in his chest as he tried to inspect the damage and slowly takes off the jacket. He surprisingly took off the jacket with ease and Ant slowly came back to his senses as the cool air hits his wound, both stinging and soothing it. And as he opens his eyes, he sees the burnt jacket it Dec's hands and realises what has happened. Dec inspects Ant's arms and chokes out

Dec: "It's ...burn ..burnt.."

Ant nods, crunching his eyes shut and taking deep breaths, swallowing the nausea that threatened him. He then turns to Dec with a painful smile.

Ant: "Wow, your jacket saved my life" and falls unconscious.

TBC

PS: From now on, each and every detail will contribute to the final conclusion of this mess they are going through.
Stay focused 😉

Thank you for still staying with this story