Jack

I opened my groggy eyes, checking my phone, the time reading as 2:45 AM.

"It is fifteen minutes until landing..." a friendly female voice spoke over the PA system. It continued on to safety procedures and I closed my eyes, willing myself to get a few more minutes of shut - eye.

"Sir, please put your seat belt on. We'll be landing in ten minutes. Do you know the safety procedures?" Another female voice spoke, this time one of the flight attendants'. I took a quick glance around and saw a few more milling about. "Sir?"

"Yes, yes, fine." I grunted, buckling myself in. The flight attendant gave a smile and walked on to the next seats. Pulling my phone out, I texted May.

Jack: Are you at the airport? I'm landing in ten.

"Sir, you'll have to switch your device off." The flight attendant was back again, eyebrows raised.

"Sorry, I had to check that my ride was here. I have," I paused for a second, my mind coming up with a lie, "a job interview that I need to get to in a few hours."

"I understand the importance, but next time you fly be sure to check earlier in the flight?"

"Of course," I replied, turning off my phone and shoving it in my carry on bag.

Only an hour or two until you see Alex. You'll be able to wait that long.

I made my way off the plane after touchdown, being one of the first passengers off. My bag, luckily, was just coming around when I arrived at the carriage. It didn't hold many possessions, but the few it did were dear to Alex and I. For instance, his Ravens cup, and a picture of him and Tom his mother gave me before I left. Walking quickly to customs, I stood in line, my fingers tapping against my bag.

I made it through without a hitch and hurried to where I presumed May was waiting.

"Jack?" I missed her voice, that's for sure. After living with her for two and a half decades, give or take a year or two if we were counting the time we spent apart, it was unnatural to not have her chewing my ear off.

"May,"

"Jack, we have to hurry." Her tone was desperate as she clutched my arm, eyes wide. "Its Alex." She began to drag me through the airport before I snapped myself out of my gaze and started yanking her along, my longer legs able to cover more distance easily.

"What about Alex?" It was almost nine o'clock here, five back in Essex.

"He showed up at our house last night. By now Dan knows he's gone. Jacky, you may be losing him all over again."

"Why? Who's at home?"

"Just mum and Leeyh. Mum's currently higher than the Empire State though, so I wouldn't trust her judgement. As for Leeyh..." she trailed off. I nodded, knowing Leeyh. He was homophobic, but he did love the notion and idea of love, so hopefully that would be our saving grace.

May got into the sleek black car waiting outside for us, and I followed. "Drive, fast. Home, now." She ordered, putting her seat belt on. I rolled my eyes at the thought of sitting for another half hour. "Put your bag in the front, Jack. God, it's so small. Did you pack anything?"

"You try being fucking under house arrest for a fortnight and when finally having a chance to get out packing every last detail like its a holiday to fucking Monaco." My temper was getting the best of me, I knew that, but I couldn't get rid of the taste of how tangible seeing Alex again was.

May only raised an eyebrow. "Speak like that again and I'll throw you out of the car, Alex or no Alex."

Think of him, and shut your trap.

We reached my old house, and I sprinted up the steps, leaving my bag in the car. I turned the knob, shouting, "Alex!", my heart hammering almost painfully. "Alex!""Jack!" I heard him shout back, appearing at the top of the steps. I let him run down; it would do no good for us to meet in the middle of the stairs. The grin that had overcome my face almost split my skin, and Alex almost slipped on the tiles as he wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in the crook of my neck. "Jack," he mumbled, kissing the exposed skin, making the small hairs there stand on end. He continued to dot kissed while I kissed his forehead, wrapping my own arms around him. I rubbed his back and he hissed in pain.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my hand slipping his shirt and probing his back.

"It's - it's fine." He stuttered, hissing again. I felt the welts, and dried cuts on his back.

"Don't worry. Dan won't get to you ever again. I won't let him." I murmured, kissing Alex's temple. Our greetings were interrupted by a clearing of the throat.

"You have each other, now get out before you defile my house." It was Leeyh, of course. I heard May's smalls steps on the floor.

"Leeyh!" She admonished him, "They are allowed to stay as long as they need to. This is my house, if you do recall." Leeyh only sneered.

"Separate beds."

"No!" Alex answered for both May and I. "I stay with him."

May briskly walked forward. "You will leave them alone." She pointed a finger at him, "They have both been through hard times and for God's sakes they need their privacy." May turned to look back at us. "Go upstairs. Alex, I'll bring you up some ice."

"I can get it -"

"Now."

- - -

I had Alex lying on his stomach and I pressed the ice against his cuts. He winced as I did so, and I flinched, not liking that I was inflicting pain. "Sorry." I mumbled.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault." I held my tongue. I was the one who had been involved with Josh. It was my fault that this had happened. "What are we going to do now, Jacky?"

Notes

c0l0urfultears
TItle cred: Boomerang - The Summer Set