It was the end of a warm summer day when I parked my car in an abandoned area along the road. After getting out, I opened my trunk and took my backpack with me. My whole life was now in this small bag. I threw the car key on the passenger seat without worrying about what would happen to my car, I didn't need it anymore. With one last look at my vehicle I walked down the desertic road and headed toward the city. 

I was early. The sun hadn't set yet, so when I spotted a small overview after an umpteenth turn, I chose to stop and take a look at the scenery that laid in front of my eyes. 

I rested my elbow on the fence and let my eyes look down at the town. The sun was behind me, soon hidden by the high mountain. I could see the last sunlights of the day shining in the city before me, its light reflected through the glass of the tall buildings without dazzling me. 

The sight was beautiful, breathtaking! The gray constructions seemed to glimmer. A thin layer of pollution was engulfing the city, after this hot day of summer, making it look like a mirage. 

Here, far from the city, I closed my eyes and slowly inhaled the perfume of nature that was tickling my nostril, almost making me sneeze. I could hear the last birds singing above my head while they returned to their nests in the trees. 

Melting in my environment, I tried to relax after these stressful weeks. I had finally reached my goal, Hannah was safe. But at what coast? The group found their friend again but lost another. I trusted him, he was my friend too and knowing he was behind all this made me sick. The Police arrested him right after the firemen stopped the fire. He was injured but still alive. At that point I didn't care, though. My thoughts were only focused on one person : Jake. 

I lived long terrible hours not knowing if he was even alive. I was losing my mind imagining the worst. But in the early hours of the morning, after the arson at the mine, I received a text. He needed help. I was surprised, it was unusual for him to ask for help. But I was ready to willingly give him what he needed. So, I packed my most important things in my backpack, gathered all my strength and drove all day to reach Colville. Duskwood was still in a frenzy after the events of the day before. The Police and the FBI surrounded the small town and, from what I understood, Jake managed to escape just before they closed the area. 

I pressed my lips together, trying to suppress the taste of bile that came back to my mouth at the memory of that night. It would take time for me, for all of us, to get over the mess Richy created. 

The sound of the birds had vanished when I opened my eyes again. The air was still warm even if the sun had disappeared, now replaced by the moonlight. The only color that remained from the city was the red trails of the cars, stuck in the traffic. 

Jake wanted us to meet at night so it would be less noticeable. He gave me the indication I needed to reach his location and specified he would stay at this motel only tonight, implying we would only spend a few hours together. But what he didn't know was that I had other plans. 

Now that it was fully dark, it was time for me to get closer to the city. I knew there were hiking paths in my surroundings and I soon noticed a wooden stair dug into the rock of the mountain that led to the town. 

I put my hand around the trail to guide me down the stairs, helping me to keep my balance on the uneven steps. During the day, it must be a beautiful place surrounded by vegetation, a little piece of heaven hidden from the bustle of the city. An owl was singing in the distance and I could still hear crickets in the grass around me, proving the weather was too hot for a night. 

It took me twenty minutes to reach the bottom of the hill. The stairs led me to a small car park, far away from the city center. I took my phone from my back pocket and read Jake's messages again.

Following his instruction, I walked in the dark avoiding the main streets of Colville. I clenched my jacket around my body, the road looked so unfriendly at night and I jumped at every sound. I hurried my pace, trying to reach my destination as fast as possible. 

After the corner of an old building I finally saw the cheap motel where Jake was staying. I didn't go through the main entrance though. I got around the building and followed a narrow alley leading to an emergency escape. As expected, the door was broken and I could enter the motel easily. 

I quietly closed the door behind me. The corridor was only lit by the weak light of a second hand neon that flickered above my head. 

I slowly stepped toward the stairs on my right and started heading to the third floor. The stairs were covered by a green carpet full of dust with small flowers printed on it. It looked like the old fashioned ornament in the former house of my grandma. 

I winced, the whole staircase was impregnated with the smell of moisture and cold cigarettes. I put my hand before my mouth when the smell became stronger as I went upstairs. 

I hopefully reached the third floor and walked toward room 37. The hallway was as dark as the rest of the motel which made my search more difficult. 

When I spotted the room I stayed a few seconds in front of it, not daring to move an inch. When I would knock on that door, there would be no turning back. I clenched my fists, stressed, and hesitantly raised a hand and knocked. 

I heard a faint sound behind the door. I could tell that somebody was standing across the gate but it didn't open. I looked up and saw a peephole above my head. With slow moves, I stepped back and lifted up my both arms to show I wasn't a threat. 

A soft click indicated to me that the door was unlocked, and then I saw it open slightly. I slid inside the room and once I crossed the threshold someone abruptly pushed me away from the door and locked it again. 

I looked up and saw a man checking through the peephole if no-one had followed me. When he figured out it was safe, the tall man put his forehead against the door and shut his eyes tight. 

Even though I've never seen him before, I knew he was the person I was supposed to meet here. The lamp on the desk, at the other side of the room, didn't allow me to properly see his face, but from where I was I could feel his exhaustion. 

I raised a hand and got closer to him, stroking his cheek with my fingers, "Jake," I whispered. As soon as he felt my touch against his skin, the young man flinched and looked at me with wide eyes, as if he only acknowledged my proximity. 

He wasn't beautiful. His gaze was wild and his dilated pupils couldn't focus anywhere. He had swelled red eyes probably due to the high amount of stress he went through and the hours he spent behind a screen. Dark circles pierced his face, witnesses of his innumerous sleepless nights. His messy black hair and unshaved stubble proved he neglected his appearance and obviously his health. And he had several superficial cuts on his face, where the crimson color of dried blood contrasted with his pale skin. His entire being was eternally marked by the horrendous events he had to face. 

No. He wasn't beautiful, but he was so human! And everything about him mesmerized me. From the day we met, our bond grew stronger. He helped me, supported me, comforted me and made me feel so safe, until the very end when he took my place and went to the IronSplitter mine instead of me. After everything we had been through, every heavy blow, every victory, our journey had finally reached its end. At that moment, it was up to me to support him. 

I opened my arms and gently wrapped them around Jake's weary body. He immediately hugged me, burying his face in the crook of my neck. Jake was far taller than me but here, in my arms, he suddenly seemed so vulnerable. 

I felt his shallow breath on my skin, and his muscles tensed under my touch. I gently started to rub his back, in an attempt to soothe him and the more I tried the more he tightened his grip around me. 

I didn't know how much time we stayed like this, without talking, melting in each other's arms, discovering for the first time the touch we craved for weeks. 

Carefully, Jake pulled away and looked at me, while he gently put a strand of my hair behind my ear. His gaze seemed calmer, "Thank you for coming MC," he murmured, "I'm glad you are here." He had a hoarse voice, raspy as if he hadn't spoken for weeks. 

My heart ached at its sound. I knew he hadn't talked much to anyone since he was on the run and his voice proved how lonely he must have felt. I put a hand on his chest feeling it rising with each of his breaths. Feeling his warmth had an immediate effect on me. His body seemed to irradiate with safe vibes that spreaded on my body. I deeply hoped my touch had the same outcome on him, "I'm glad you let me come here."

The corner of his lips lifted up, in an attempt to form a smile. It was weak, but it was a genuine smile. Then, he silently  stepped further in the room and I followed him. 

Like the other parts of the motel, the room seemed old. The same green carpet laid on the floor, but fortunately the sickening  smell of the corridor wasn't floating in the air of the room. The walls were covered by a light brown wallpaper that peeled off at some places. 

The heavy dark green velvets curtains were closed and the room was only lit with the small lamp on the desk that created shadows on the wooden furniture. 

A muffled buzz came from above my head and when I looked up I realized that a fan was hanging on the ceiling to fight against the hot days of summer, diffusing the annoying noise but creating no air. 

Something else caught my eyes. Resting on a chair in the corner of the room, I saw Jake's hoodie. It was the same cloth he wore during the video call when we first talked to each other. 

It was totally torned, a big tear was noticeable on its side and small gaps created by the fire laid everywhere on the hoodie. 

My stomach churned. I knew why he asked me for help, but I didn't realize it was that bad. "Jake? Sh-show me where you're hurt," I said without taking off my gaze from what remained of his hoodie. 

He approached me. I saw him clenched his jaw but he reluctantly lifted the corner of his shirt revealing a makeshift bandage. I winced, "Take off your shirt please." We looked at each other. Jake had a faint pink color on his cheeks and I could feel I was blushing even more. 

It was a simple question, logical, if I wanted to help him with his injury but it suddenly felt like we were going a few steps forward in our relationship. Jake simply nodded and removed his shirt revealing his upper body. 

I gasped. Not because his torso was pretty well built, but because his wound was bigger than I expected, "What happened? I mean, h-how did you…?" 

"when the mine exploded, the blast projected me on one of the rock walls," he passed a hand through his hair, embarrassed, and averted his eyes. 

I realized I was still staring at his chest, flabbergasted. I cleared my throat, put my backpack on the bed and started rummaging through my stuff. 

Jake asked me if I could buy painkillers for him. He was stuck in his motel room and couldn't afford to go outside for now. I was glad I also thought of bringing with me my first-aid kit.

I took the pills and went to the bathroom to grab a glass of water and wash my hands. When I came back, Jake was already sitting on the bed and I sat next to him. 

I tried my best to help him. I cleaned, sanitized and put a neat gauze on his wound. The man flinched, his hands were slightly shaking but he never complained during the process. 

"It's okay. I'm done now," I said while taking his hands in mine. I looked at him in his eyes and drowned in them. After these hectic days, my nerves started to slowly crumble. 

For the first time since I entered this room, my brain finally realized what was really happening. I had finally met him. My heart was beating faster than ever, and I did my best to suppress a sob, "Oh Jake!" I started with a weak voice, "I'm so relieved you're okay. I was so afraid… so afraid you may die or be arrested in this mine!" 

Jake let go of my hands to gently wipe tears that formed in the corner of my eyes, "I promised you, that I would not let them separate us." 

And suddenly, without any warning, I felt his hands grabbing me by my thighs and lifting me up to put me on his lap, so I was straddling him. I was astonished by the strength with which he had carried me. His fingers were firmly planted in my skin. I was stupidly grateful for these too hot days of summer that made me wear shorts. The contact of his skin against mine was too intoxicating. 

We were feverishly kissing, our mouths already wide open to let our tongue dance together. It was rough. We didn't let the other the time to breathe or recover from that first glance of intimacy. We were giving and taking everything to each other. 

My hands wrapped around his neck while one of his tangled in my hair, pulling me closer to him. We let go of all the stress, the fear, the frustration and the desire we had buried inside ourselves. We were loudly moaning, growling and gasping against each other, unashamed. 

The heat was rising in my body. Jake put a hand on my lower back, slipping his fingers under my shirt. When we felt the contact of our bare skin we instinctively crushed our bodies together to close the gap between us. 

Jake shuddered and growled while he pulled away from me. I heard him cursed under his breath and raised a hand to his wound. "Jake! Are you okay? I'm so sorry" I reached for his chest, inspecting if his bandage was still in place. 

"Don't worry, I'm okay," Jake was slightly panting and I frowned. He put his hands down and wrapped his arms loosely around my waist before resting his forehead on my collar bones. 

"I am sorry MC," he stated with a muffled voice. I started to rub his hair and the top of his neck, and I felt him calming under my touch. He heavily sighed and I felt his hands clenched my shirt in his fists, "It's just that I… It's not what I wanted for our first meeting."

"Hey, don't worry about that," I planted a kiss on his hair, "You need time to rest and to recover. And I'm not leaving you." I smiled. 

Jake raised his head to look at me with a frown, "What do you mean?" he asked, confused, a hint of worry was shining in his eyes. 

"I mean I'm staying with you. I-" I took a deep breath knowing that Jake wouldn't agree that easily with me. "We said we would find a solution to be together. And I found one. I ditched my car and decided to leave everything behind me. So this way I…" 

"You did what?!" Jake didn't let me finish. This time there was fury in his eyes. He stood up forcing me to get up as well, so we were facing each other, "Do you realize what you did?" He raised his voice but wasn't screaming. 

"Jake I…" 

"I will not let you waste your life because of me!"  He cut me off, "This is too dangerous. Do I have to remind you that I am a wanted hacker?" 

"Jake, please listen," I tried to calm him down but he didn't let me. 

"I have the whole FBI on my trail! How can I be able to protect myself and you when you recklessly put yourself in danger!"

"But look at yourself!" I suddenly yelled. My voice echoed in the room and a heavy silence fell between us, even the buzz coming from the fan above our heads had stopped. 

We glared at each other for a long moment, without blinking. Jake's jaw was clenched and so were his fists. I bit my lip, I knew it wouldn't be easy but there was no way I'd give up! He had been alone for too long. Living on himself with no-one to trust. I couldn't let him down, especially not now when I almost lost him! 

I tried to calm my breath, to think clearly again. Slowly, I approached him and took his hands in mine. I was scared he pushed me back but he didn't. He unclenched his fists without reacting to my touch. He was still frowning, a spark of anger in the depths of his pupils. 

"Jake," I spoke quietly. I wanted to make him understand why I behaved like this but I didn't want to upset him more. "Jake, you can't do all of this on your own. You've got so much weight on your shoulders. I know you're strong, you may be even stronger than I think. But you, you could have died in that mine!" my voice started to break and I had to take a deep breath to prevent myself from breaking down. "You're not alone anymore, Jake! Let me help you. Please!" 

While I spoke Jake's gaze softened a bit. He stepped closer enough to lean on me and rested his forehead on mine, his eyes closed. His fingers were now gently drawing circles on the back of my hands. His breath slowed down as he started to regain his composure. 

I could see he was weighing the pros and cons, torturing himself with too many thoughts. He seemed to be torn between his willingness to protect us both and his awareness that he needed help. 

I stared at him, waiting patiently for him to make up his mind. I could see a little wrinkle between his eyebrows, created by his frown. The corner of his lips twitched as he winced, trying to find an answer to my plea. 

Then he opened his tired eyes, "It's late, you should sleep MC. I…" he shook his head, a small smile crossed his face, "We leave early tomorrow." He let go of my hands and lightly stroked my right cheek with his fingers. Shyly, he turned around, sat at his desk and started typing on his laptop's keyboard. 

I took my backpack and went to the bathroom to put on my pajamas. I slid under the thin blanket, the mattress was old and too soft for my taste. 

My gaze was fixed on the ceiling and I looked at the shadows dancing between the fan blades. In the corner of my eyes, I could spot Jake's shadow lengthen until it reached the top of the wall. 

Our first meeting was odd, clearly not what I expected, but feeling him next to me reassured me and I promised myself I would stay by his side as long as he wanted. 

I turned in the bed, searching for a good position to sleep. But I couldn't. My eyelids were heavy but my brain was fully awake. I was both thrilled and panicked with the idea to run away with Jake but to leave everything behind me. Although deep inside I knew that, even though it wouldn't be an easy life, I made the right choice. 

The sound of the keyboard stopped and a few seconds later I felt a weight on the mattress next to me, he had joined me in the bed. Jake wrapped his hands around my waist and brought me closer to his chest. His hot breath was tickling the skin under my ear. 

I didn't move or open my eyes, pretending to sleep. Breaking the silence of the room Jake whispered, "Thank you." I bit my lip to suppress a smile. I was glad he accepted that I stayed with him. 

When I finally heard his steady breath, indicating he was sleeping, I slowly allowed myself to drift to sleep in his arms.

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This was the last one I wrote. More will come when I'll have some inspiration back (maybe with Moonvale 👀).
Thank you so much for reading, voting and commenting it means the world to me. ♥️

If you liked these stories and want to read more, you can check my others fanfictions : Find me (completed 10 chapters) and Only chaos remains (on going)