Chapter Six

Esteban’s consciousness struggled against waking up. He was warm and comfortable, his mind and body at peace. As he started to wake up, though, he could tell something was wrong. A burning pain in his chest nagged at the back of his mind until he could no longer ignore it. He took a deep breath, which only made things worse, and then he blinked a few times and opened his eyes. The warmth and comfort were still there but he couldn’t figure out where he was. Living his entire life in an underground bunker helped him in realizing that he had to be indoors. The air was different, the sounds were different, but he couldn’t make out any details.

As his brain fully woke, he remembered what had happened with a start. A wave of relief came over him to still be alive but he didn’t know how bad off he may have been or what the situation was. The pain in his chest burned hot with every breath but he tried to move anyway. It caused him to hiss loudly and almost lose consciousness again. He laid back, breathing heavily, and realized that his breath wasn’t the only thing he was hearing. There was a light source he’d come to recognize in his weeks above ground. It danced, very dimly, against the far wall of the room. The hissing he was hearing were wood embers burning.

He turned his head on the soft pillow beneath him, and saw that they were back in the house they’d searched before. A fire burned in the bedroom fireplace, and Gaylen was lying on the floor on front of it, asleep. Esteban frowned, remembering that it had been morning when they’d searched the house. That meant he must have been unconscious for hours, putting their mission a day behind schedule. The thought that he was just as worried about his companions and feeding the community made him smile. Even when he’d been partly responsible for keeping the Sanctuary running, he’d never felt this connected to other people, never had anyone he cared about as much.

He watched Gaylen sleep for a while, but when the man’s slumber became fitful, he called out to him. It took a few times to actually wake him, and by then his chest was searing from the effort. He winced, resisting the urge to rub his wound or look down at it, and then heard Gaylen roll over.

“Hey,” he said weakly.

Gaylen grinned and got to his feet. “You’re awake!” he said, stating the obvious with enthusiasm. “How do you feel?”

“Alive,” Esteban quipped. “What did I miss?”

His friend shrugged. “The others gathered a few more things, clothes to replace the ones we used on you. Then we cut up the lion and started smoking the meat.”

“You’re going to eat that thing?”

“I imagine you will too,” Gaylen answered with a snort. “It’s good meat. We’ll have to find something to carry it in. We can’t take it all. We’ll worry about that in the morning. Oh, and something to carry you with too.”

“No, I’m fine. I can walk,” Esteban insisted and tried to sit up again. The movement made him nauseous, and he put up no resistance whenever Gaylen gently pushed his shoulders back down to the bed. When the feeling passed, he opened his eyes to see the other man still hovering close.

“I thought I might lose you.”

Esteban looked into his bright blue eyes, reflecting the flickering firelight and the pain he was feeling. He had no idea what to say and simply offered a gentle smile instead. Then he gasped as Gaylen leaned over and softly kissed him. Under different circumstances, he knew he would have pulled the man on top of him. He ached to feel Gaylen’s body pressed to his, but the burning in his chest let him know that it wasn’t a good idea, not yet, so he simply savored the feeling of the soft, warm kiss until he was breathless and had to break away for air.

The next morning, Esteban’s pain had eased slightly. He felt a little light headed and wondered if Gaylen hadn’t slipped him something to help with the pain. His chest also itched so much that it was almost more irritating than the pain. He was able to sit up and get a look at the dressing that had been put on it. There was still a bit of blood but there was also something that looked like green tea mixed with goo. It looked disgusting but he left it alone and put the bandage back on before swinging his feet over the side of the bed. He knew it was probably a bad idea but he was alone and starving.

As he started to stand, someone came rushing in the room. “Whoa!” the voice said and caught him before he could wobble all the way to the floor.

“Thanks,” he said, seeing that it was Roma. She was stronger than she looked. He could feel her tight grip steadying him until he felt more stable.

“You need a shave,” she teased at the sight of his black stubble.

“So do you,” he shot back with a nod toward the top of her head.

The two of them laughed, which almost sent them toppling back to the bed. When they were steady again, Esteban took a tentative step, and eventually the two of them made it outside.

“Look what I found trying to sneak away,” Roma joked.

Gaylen turned from where he’d been crouched on the ground, sewing something together. “He shouldn’t be up yet,” he said, his voice full of worry.

“He seemed okay to me,” Roma countered.

“That’s just the herbs. They’re helping keep the pain and swelling at bay. I don’t want him to start bleeding again though.”

“I’m fine,” Esteban said, waving it away. For the first time, though, he noticed feeling a little light headed and not quite himself. “It’s good stuff, your green goo.”

Gaylen’s frown faded, and then he shook his head. He brought his hand to his mouth, trying to keep himself from giggling. “It’s green tea and aloe,” he finally said. “I, uh, gave you some other stuff too.”

“I don’t remember that.”

Gaylen shrugged, cocking his head to the side, and then crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t worry about it. If you insist on being up and around, why don’t you come take a look.”

Esteban and Roma carefully stumbled over to the project Gaylen was working on while the rest of the group watched and giggled now and then. Esteban couldn’t help but think that they were all aware of something he wasn’t but he tried to ignore them, trying instead to focus on what his friend was building. It was easier said than done but he managed to make out that it was probably something they were going to use to drag him along. Either him or the lion, that is. He shook his head as Gaylen talked, trying not to think about the big cat. He was suddenly struck by the idea that there might be more of them around and he tried to whip around and take in their position. As he did so, he lost his footing. Gaylen jumped to his feet, but had to catch him pretty hard. The wrenching sent waves of searing pain through his chest.

“Maybe we should get you back to bed,” Gaylen suggested.

“Yeah,” Esteban breathed and let the man guide him back to the house. “I’m really sorry about all this,” he added as he sat down on the bed.

“Hey, this isn’t your fault,” Gaylen insisted and knelt down in front of him. “Things happen out here. It could have been any one of us.”

“I guess I’d let myself forget how different things are up here. It’s wonderful but dangerous,” he admitted.

His friend smiled, and then wiped a tear from his eye with the back of a dusty arm. Esteban reached out with a finger and traced where the tear had been.

“What is it?” he asked, the combination of pain and whatever Gaylen had given him making him feel more and more out of it.

“You just said you thought it was wonderful here,” his friend answered, trying not to tear up again. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

Esteban chuckled drunkenly and then laid back against the pillow. “It is,” he admitted softly. “When nothing’s trying to kill you.”

Gaylen got to his feet and laughed through his tears before leaving his charge to sleep and going back out to finish his drag sled. It was the middle of the day before he went in to check on Esteban again. The man was still sleeping lightly so he woke him.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

Esteban groaned. His head was swimming and pounding at the same time. Gaylen helped him sit up. “Worse,” he answered.

“It’s probably because you need to eat something. And, uh, you might have a bit of a hangover. I probably should have had you eat something with the painkillers.” He disappeared for a few minutes and then came back into the bedroom with two bowls. “You need to get your strength back now. I don’t want to have to drag you all the way home.”

Esteban took the bowl full of some kind of stew. It looked mostly like meat cooked in its own broth and he was fairly certain what it was. “I don’t know,” he said, suddenly feeling slightly nauseous.

“You lived, it didn’t. Savor the victory,” Gaylen teased.

The group made the decision to wait until the next day to head back to the square. They knew everyone in the community would be worried about them but they thought it best to get as much of the meat smoked as they could carry and to let Esteban heal up a little more. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to be any better off the next morning.

“I think his wounds might be getting infected. I have stronger herbs and the medicines we’ve gathered, but they’re back at the square,” Gaylen said to Mel, his voice shaking. “We need to leave now or he might not make it.”

The group packed up as quickly as they could and worked out shifts so they could take turns dragging Esteban and carrying meat. They’d wrapped the meat in more cloth they’d found and stuffed it into some empty packs they’d brought, as well as cleaned the skin as best they could so they could take it back too.

Esteban witnessed it all in a daze. He was sweating and had spent most of the night trying not to throw up. He could barely get to his feet now, his whole body shaking, and simply let Gaylen and Roma get him into the sled. It wasn’t the most comfortable of things to lay down in, but he didn’t complain. His head was propped up and he could at least take in the scenery or try to sleep. He managed to eat a little and keep it down before the small group set off back toward home.

Despite having a hundred pounds of meat and a man they had to carry, the small group of scavengers made it home faster than they’d made it out to the east edge of the city. Worries of Esteban’s wounds and Sanctuary patrols spotting the smoke from smoking the meat, made them move faster and for longer. Though they knew it may not have been wise, they pushed through the evening, making it back to the square just about the time everyone was heading for bed. Shouts rang out when they were spotted and everyone rushed over to welcome them back.

Mother Rani gently pushed her way through the crowd, along with Kat. The crowd hushed when she made it to the front and looked the group over. A small frown crossed her face when she saw the sled behind Gaylen.

“It’s Esteban. He was hurt pretty badly,” the man said, his voice gruff and tired. “He was attacked by a lion.”

“The good news is, we have meat!” Mel cut in and offloaded his heavy pack. People came in to gather the meat and store it in the community house.

Rani and Gaylen simply stared at one another for a moment. She could see that the man she’d raised was exhausted and worried. Then Gaylen gave his sister a weak smile and patted her head.

“You can care for him in my house,” Rani offered.

Gaylen shook his head, though. “I’ll take him to my place.”

Rani nodded, unoffended by his refusal. “Whatever you need. I’m sure, with your care, he’ll pull through just fine.”

With some help, Gaylen got Esteban into his small hovel and into the bed. He lit the one small lamp he had for light and then gathered more herbs from his stash. He poured a little water into his pot and warmed it before mixing in the herbs. As he cleaned the wounds to ready them for the new poultice, Esteban groaned and opened his eyes.

“Are we home?” he asked weakly.

Gaylen responded with a smile and a nod. “You’re going to be fine now. You have a fever but I can treat that too.”

“I thought you were a plant guy, not a doctor.”

“You may have noticed that life up here requires some multi-tasking.”

Esteban tried to laugh, but it only ended in another groan and a grimace. Then he eyes widened. “The plants,” he gasped and tried to sit up. When Gaylen pushed him back to the bed, he added, “We’ve been gone longer than we thought. You should check the plants.”

“Shit,” Gaylen hissed, realizing he was right. He didn’t want to leave the man, even for a moment, but he knew the plants were too important to ignore. The entire community was counting on him. He got up, taking the lamp with him, and moved into the greenhouse behind them. To his surprise, many of the plants had already sprouted and were looking tiny, but healthy. He let out a breath, thanking whatever powers may be, that seeds didn’t require as much attention as plants. They’d gotten along fine without them. He was doubly surprised, though, to see some of the larger, tomato plants sitting out on the table. His relief turned to a frown as he wondered who had been in the greenhouse while they were gone. He turned to see his sister, looking sheepish.

“I think your secret’s out,” she admitted. Then she turned and ran out of the lean-to.

When he stepped back in to the lean-to, Esteban was asleep. Gaylen didn’t follow Kat, and instead, finished his doctoring and mixed up a tea that would help with the man’s pain and fever. There was little they could do now except wait and see.

***

Three days later, Esteban was sitting up on his own. His wounds had finally sealed over and his fever was gone.

“That really is good stuff you have,” he said, nodding toward Gaylen’s drawer full of dried herbs. “It worked just as good as any of the medicines they have in the Sanctuary.”

Gaylen nodded, fixing them a breakfast Esteban could only assume consisted of lion meat. “That’s because most of your medicines down there are probably derived from the same herbs.” He handed his friend a plate and then wistfully said, “We find some eggs now and then but we’ve never been able to catch the chickens.” Then he rolled his shoulders and popped his neck.

“I suppose you’ll be wanting your bed back now?” Esteban teased.

“It would be nice,” he admitted. “We’d better eat up. Lots to do today.”

“You’re putting me back to work already? My wounds haven’t even fully healed!” He glanced down through what was left of his shirt, at the deep cuts Gaylen had decided to leave open to the air that day. They’d scabbed over and itched horribly. There hadn’t been much chance to sew them up, either, and he knew they would leave a large and unsightly scar.

“Will you still love me when my chest is all ugly?” he asked. He’d meant it as a joke but then realized what he’d implied and clammed up in embarrassment.

Gaylen put his bowl down, though, and knelt in front of the bed. “I find scars very attractive,” he answered, seriously. “They are marks that tell me someone’s lived, that they’ve experienced amazing and terrible things and lived to tell the tale.” When Esteban’s eyebrows shot up, he snorted and said, “Sorry to get all philosophical on you.” He looked down, suddenly feeling a little shy himself.

Esteban had no idea what to do with the situation. All he knew was that he wanted to see those magnificent blue eyes, so he reached out and pulled Gaylen’s chin back up.

The man smiled warmly, his eyes kind and wise. Then he leaned over and pressed his lips to Esteban’s. The kiss was slow and gentle. He could feel the hesitation in the other man’s body so he took his time, letting Esteban decide when to explore further. Eventually, they both relaxed into it and the kiss deepened. He wrapped a hand around his friend’s back and pulled him closer.

Esteban could feel the heat from Gaylen’s body, and though he wanted nothing more than to fall into the man’s arms, he pulled his lips away and hissed.

Gaylen backed away. “I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I didn’t...”

Esteban chucked and waved it away. “No, it’s just my chest.”

“Oh!” Then he laughed too. The two of them stared at each other for a moment and then tried again. They kissed for a long time and then Gaylen got up and sat next to Esteban on the little bed.

“I did mention I’ve never done this before, right?” Esteban said, trying to make it sound lighter than it felt.

“It’s all right. We don’t have to do anything.”

“No! I mean, I want to. I just have no idea what I’m doing.”

Gaylen smiled again. “You should probably let me do most of the work anyway.”

Esteban laughed nervously, until he felt Gaylen’s hand on his cheek. He saw the sincerity and caring in the man’s face and it took his breath away. He pushed back thoughts on why this man could possibly care about him so much, when they hardly knew each other and came from such different worlds. Instead, he put his hand over Gaylen’s and leaned in to kiss him again. When they broke apart to breathe again, he let himself be pulled to his feet and watched as the other man slowly took off his clothes. After a moment, he tore his eyes away to take off his own.

Gaylen’s long, lean frame was beautiful. Years of working to survive had left him with well-formed, sinewy muscles. The skin normally hidden by layers of clothing, wasn’t as tanned as his face or his arms, but still had a lovely, warm glow about it. Esteban had seen his pale, hairless chest before, but it still drew his gaze. As his eyes moved down, he suddenly felt embarrassed, even more so when he involuntarily looked away.

Gaylen grinned and reached out for his hand. He looked at him from under his eyelashes but offered his hand. As his lover pulled him closer, he looked over their entwined hands. Gaylen’s hand was pale against his, the fingers much longer and more delicate. When they were closer, he watched as his lover pulled his hand to his waist. Esteban felt his breath quicken as he touched the toned flesh there. He stared down at his own hand like he was seeing it for the first time and then let it slide further down to Gaylen’s thigh. His blood began to rush, his cock hardening quickly and almost painfully.

“You’re gorgeous,” he muttered, finally looking back up at the other man’s face.

“So are you,” Gaylen said, running a hand through the hair on Esteban’s chest. What was left of it, anyway. He was careful to avoid the scabbed over wounds, letting his hand fall to his lover’s belly after a moment. He felt the intake of breath as he did so and smiled, pulling Esteban even closer. As his hand dropped even further, he heard the man gasp. He slowly ran his hand down his lover’s shaft, cupping his balls for a moment, before bringing his hand back up again.

He leaned over and whispered, “Does that feel good?”

Esteban nodded vigorously, not sure he could actually speak. His eyes were closed but he felt himself being pushed back to the bed. He laid down and then opened his eyes when he felt Gaylen straddling him. For the first time, he looked down at the man’s straining cock. Like everything else about the man, it was long and lean, rather different than his own shorter, thicker one. He found himself laughing, knowing that the Sanctuary would never have paired them up for anything. Esteban wasn’t sure what would happen next, so he let out another gasp of surprise when Gaylen took both of their cocks in his hand and began to stroke them.

Gaylen was enjoying himself immensely. He’d never had much of a love life himself, and even that was mostly casual encounters here and there. He never knew that giving someone else pleasure would feel so good on his end. He tried to keep things slow and gentle, not wanting to overwhelm Esteban or make him too nervous. He watched his lover’s face, taking in the dark eyes and warm brown skin. His hair had been getting longer and more unruly with each day and was now a flop of black curls against his forehead. It made his body even more excited and he let go of their cocks and leaned over, propping himself above his lover.

He pressed his cock against Esteban’s and thrust his hips forward. To his surprise, his lover cried out right away. He knew they probably wouldn’t last long, but that was all right with him. The look of pleasure on his lover’s face caused him to smile and thrust harder. Soon, his own body was reacting in much the same way and his arms were shaking. He leaned back, using his lover’s hips for leverage instead. He pulled Esteban toward him gently as he continued to thrust. Their cocks slid together easily, slick with precum and he felt his lover buck beneath him.

He held his head back up and opened his eyes, barely managing to say, “I’m supposed to be doing the work, remember?” He chuckled, but it turned into a choke as he felt Esteban desperately trying to pick up the pace. He grabbed their cocks again, using the extra friction to help things along. A few moments later, his hips were thrusting wildly, and he was calling out his lover’s name. His knees were shaking too at this point but he ignored it, pressing down further and thrusting harder.

Esteban didn’t think he’d ever felt anything like this before. Nothing compared to the primalness or the pleasure. He couldn’t help but try and thrust too, his hips pressing up to meet Gaylen and his body slick with sweat. A few more thrusts and his mind seemed to disappear. He cried out a loud, choked whine and then felt his body explode out. Hot liquid poured over his chest as he continued to thrust. The feeling of Gaylen’s hand, squeezing his cock was almost more than he could take but after a moment, he felt himself slowing. He opened his eyes as his lover cried out too, and felt more warmth spread across his chest. It was the messiest thing he’d ever seen and he laughed through his breathlessness.