Heroic Horizon Ch. 25

Poison woke up the next morning and tiredly gazed around before a stirring in his arms made him look to Ghoul's face, his eyes rested and his complexion relaxed. He smiled down at the other man lovingly before he placed a gentle kiss on the side of his face where a tiny bit of stubble was beginning to surface. Ghoul yawned softly but remained asleep as he was lying close to Poison, his face softly resting against his chest. Poison slowly moved away from Ghoul and got up, stretching and waking himself as he watched Ghoul rest. The sounds of Ghoul's little huffs of breath making him smile. Having Ghoul back was like a dream, one he didn't plan on wasting, he made himself promise to enjoy the little things, like Ghoul's soft snores or the way his hair fell on his face. Poison tugged on his boots and belt before he slowly left the tent, stretching in his tight black tank top. He didn't like leaving Ghoul but he figured he should check on the rest of the camp and see if he could tell what time it was. From where the sun was resting in the sky it was nearly noon.

Kid was perched on Star's lap over in the shade, talking to him softly, and placing an affectionate kiss on his lips every so often when he would giggle at something Star would say. Timid was helping Neurotic hang a new tent and Poison could see the flirtatious stares they would give each other. Radiation and Ghost were not to be seen so Poison figured they must still be lying together in their tent. All was well and he couldn't help but smile as life seemed it couldn't get anymore perfect than it already was.

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Weeks passed and Poison had left with Star to search for a new place for them to stay. They hadn't been back to the camp for two weeks and Kid and Ghoul were wrestles, talking to them as much as they could on the radio when they would check in.

Ghoul sat in the sand fussing as Kid sat behind him, putting braids in his hair out of boredom. They were tight braids that were small and hardly noticeable. "Why are you doing my hair? We're men, not girls. Though I think you've forgotten," Ghoul muttered with a bit of a smirk before Kid lightly swatted the side of his head. "Ow," Ghoul playfully pouted as he rubbed his head. Kid now scouted closer and slouched beside him. Ghoul sighed softly. "Another sunset," he missed Poison like a sickness. They had spent a week together before he had left.   Poison had wanted to take Ghoul but it was risky leaving the camp and he wanted Ghoul safe and Kid was still on the mend or so Star had said with a pout to make him stay out of harms way. "They better not act like we're their bitches now," Ghoul mumbled with a small smile.

"I don't know. I kind of like Star taking care of me," Kid teased though it was partly true. "It's not for everyone. You and Poison have always smacked heads, maybe that's how you both work. You have to fight each other but that's what makes your love so strong," Kid smiled and crossed his legs at the ankle, swaying his feet back and forth.

"You know…," Ghoul looked to Kid who looked back to him, "I'm glad you found someone to love, Mikey. Ray's changed you…for the better." Kid smiled and blushed a little as he gently bit down on his bottom lip.

"You know with Star…with Ray…it's all so different. I never thought I would find love out in the zones…but I have and it's amazing. It's weird to think he's been right under my nose for so many years and I didn't see him. He's the sweetest guy. I adore him more than anything. It's just nice to be around him. It's like he….he…,"Kid tilted his head towards the side as he stared at the sun, searching for one word to cover how utterly amazing Star was and how much he meant.

"It's like he's the only one, he makes you feel like you're seventeen and the worlds at your feet. No matter what he'll keep you safe, you can feel it deep inside you, that no matter what happen, he won't let you be harmed. Every touch burns your skin. You know that no matter what happens to you or how much you fall apart he'll love you and be there for you. He'll protect you from anything, even yourself. He's a kiss under methane skies; he's tears from deep inside, he makes you dream of better times." Ghoul stared softly to the horizon as Kid turned to look at him. Ghoul never seemed to be very deep of a person but right now Kid knew Ghoul was opening up, warming to his surface.

"That's exactly it," Kid whispered softly as he looked from Ghoul to the setting sun. There was silence for a moment and Kid's mind wandered to bad areas, where Star didn't come back, and he was stuck with such an empty feeling as he dreamed of losing all he had gained. "What if they don't come back?" The words were hushed and filled with fear. They had both thought about it but until now, neither had whispered even a word of the thought to one another.

Ghoul thought about this, swallowing softly as he imagined the hurt, the guilt, and his world crashing down. He closed his eyes softly and tilted it back as he just imagined Poison beside him, tried to sense him, imagine what Poison would do if he was there with him. He could nearly feel the arm wrap around his waist, the feeling of Poison breathing in his hair, and the soft kiss planted on his jaw. "They'll come back, Kid. I can feel it inside me. They're both fine and will be back soon." Ghoul reached over and took Kid's hand in his, feeling the calloused skin from a hard life in the desert; he gently rubbed his skin over the dry skin on the back of Kid's hand.

Kid slowly moved closer to Ghoul and leaned his head onto Ghoul's shoulder. Normally Ghoul would have pushed him away but he didn't. This was his boyfriends little brother and he needed just as much support, someone to tell him it would all be okay, and Ghoul wanted to be that for him. He wrapped his arm around Kid's body and lightly leaned his head onto his. "When they come back, maybe they'll have found somewhere far away from here. Somewhere safer, where we all can just be. We won't have to worry about dracs or Battery City unless it needs to be done. I know it'll seem like we're abandoning the cause but really…we're without a plan. We're all sitting close to enemy territory and being picked off like flies. Why not find somewhere far away? Somewhere safe where we can relax and not live in fear of when we'll be murdered in our sleep. Where we can love our boyfriends and not fear for them everyday they leave for more than an hour."

Kid softly sighed out in a content way as he rested his eyes and imagined a place like Ghoul had said. "Do you think there would even be such a place left?" He softly adjusted his head on Ghoul's shoulder and reached a hand up to move hair from his eyes as the sun disappeared behind the horizon but still kept the sky light, making it glow with multiple tones of color.

"I think there is but we'll have to find it, out there, and in ourselves," Ghoul said as he thought about it. He figured it would be weird to feel safe again, not on edge. As he thought, he softly smiled. He could see Poison smiling again, laughing as he had earlier that week. He could see Poison not being afraid to leave him for five minutes. All of them being so much happier with not having to worry about the other becoming harmed or taken.

"I hope they find it," Kid said gently as the sky glowed orange and pink.

"Me too," Ghoul whispered gently before he turned to Kid and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head. "Me too."

The two sat out and watched the sun set for sometime, just enjoying the quiet of the camp, and the colors in the sky. They both thought of the ones they missed and couldn't wait to have them back home. Ghoul could close his eyes and nearly smell Poison. He would smell the desert on him, the smell of sand and warm air. The scent of oil from where his hands had worked on the car and then touched his neck or had been ran through his hair. The thought of tasting his lips again made Ghoul's insides go light as he could nearly feel the pressure on his own, the gentle but slightly chapped lips that he knew belonged to Poison, were his signature in the darkness of their privacy. He just sighed out softly and wished he would make it back soon and unharmed.