Chapter 26

Messiah was at Javier's apartment waiting for him to get back from the airport. He'd been pretending all morning he wasn't counting down the hours, but he kept checking his phone every few minutes.

When he heard keys in the door, he forced himself to stay on the couch instead of jumping up like he wanted to.

"You actually came," Javier said when he walked in, dropping his bags.

"I had to feed your plants." But Messiah was already getting up, trying not to seem too eager.

Javier pulled him close as soon as he was in reach. "That's the only reason?"

Instead of answering, Messiah just kissed him. Three days shouldn't feel that long but somehow it had. Javier's hands found his waist, holding him tight like he'd missed this just as much.

"You ain't sleep while I was gone huh?" Javier asked when they pulled back, studying the tired look on his face.

"I slept fine."

"Lying already?" But Javier was smiling, hands still on his waist. "Come lay down with me. I'm tired from the flight."

In bed, Messiah finally let himself relax completely, face pressed against Javier's neck while Javier played with his dreads.

"You actually miss me?" Javier asked quiet.

"No."

"No? So you wasn't wearing my clothes for three days straight?"

"Shut up." But Messiah held on tighter. "How was your trip?"

They talked while Javier showed him pictures from the convention, neither one moving from how they was tangled together. Something about having him back just felt right.

"You hungry?" Javier asked after a while. "I know you probably ain't been eating right."

"I eat."

"Cereal don't count baby."

Messiah just pressed closer instead of arguing. Usually he hated anybody trying to take care of him like this, but with Javier it was different. Everything with Javier was different.

Later that night they was knocked out in bed, Messiah actually sleeping deep for the first time in days. Something about being back in Javier's space, feeling his steady breathing... it just made him feel safe.

And if he woke up in the middle of the night and held on tighter, making sure Javier was really there... well, maybe he had missed him a little bit.