Re: [After: Holly NW/Noah NW]
Nah, dude, don't get it twisted. This wasn't rescuing Holly. This was rescuing Noah. Or, if not that, a mutual rescue, right? Because Noah needed that thread Holly's presence provided and he followed it like it was a lifeline, hand over hand, until mental space became physical space became no space at all. Noah didn't need Holly to say anything, like, mentally. He didn't need him to do fucking anything, other than BE THERE. Be HERE. Holly's head came up as Noah neared, and Noah knew the signs of wracking grief. He could see the bruises it left on Holly's face, the tears and snot and wreckage. Again, it was a reflection of his own. He didn't care. Let the people around them watch or squabble or whatever. Noah had no room for them, dude. Not now.
Noah bear-hugged his husband. The first sound he made was a sodden sob-laugh as Holly told him he was going to get sick. Noah would endure a lifetime of nagging complaints, even from the dude's poor, ruined throat, as long as he GOT them at all, yk? As long as Holly stayed. He scooped Holly close after checking him over, his words a little obsessive, but who could blame him? Noah buried his nose in Holly's hair. He wrapped the dude in the cold he'd carried in and the warmth beneath the jacket. He clung right back. "I know," he finally managed. His voice was thick with salt and snot and everything else. Noah didn't feel any shame. "You're supposed to tell me I'm hot." It was a joke, as flat as it was lame, but who tf cared? Noah smiled, the act clumsy on frost-cold lips. He didn't dare pull back. Instead, he nuzzled closer, this close to, like, pulling Holly up off of his feet for a second.
"I love you so much." That seemed important to say. "I was so, so, so fucking scared." I thought I lost you, was the mental echo.