Chapter Text
Alex grinned as he watched Willie swim closer, his hair slicked back with the pool water. They’d been out here all day and Alex had finally climbed from the water and was now laying on his towel by the edge of the pool, skin a pink color that he knew would turn bright red by morning. Somehow he didn’t mind.
“You’re gonna be so whiny tomorrow, hot dog.” Willie grinned as he climbed out, dripping water all over Alex and his towel.
Alex whined and shoved Willie back, but he sat up, grinning like a fool, “Yeah, probably. But you’ll just call me cute and rub aloe all over me.”
Willie laughed and shook his hair out like a dog, receiving an indignant grunt from Alex. “Sure will.”
“Not my fault you don’t burn.” Alex mumbled as he tossed the dry towel over at Willie, stopping him from completely re-soaking Alex.
“Nah, I’m just special.” The other boy replied and then he stretched out beside Alex, towel draped on the ground below them so the pavement didn’t burn their skin. “And you love me for it.”
Alex buried his face in Willie’s neck, hiding his blush in tanned skin. But when he pulled away he caught a glimpse of the jagged scar traveling down Willie’s calf. Fingers fanned out, reaching down to brush against it, Alex hummed, “What’s this from?”
Willie glanced down as if he’d forgotten the tissue was raised there, pink and puckered from years of healing. “Ah, old battle wound. Nothing important.”
Earnest eyes met the skater’s and a slight pout found its way on to Alex’s lips, “What is it? Come on, you’ve seen mine.” He paused, contemplating the look in Willie’s eyes. Maybe he should backtrack. “You don’t need to share if you don’t want to… I was just curious. If you’re not ready, that’s okay.”
Willie smiled and pressed a tender kiss to Alex’s forehead, brushing away the strands of nearly dry hair there, “It’s okay, ‘Lex. It doesn’t bother me anymore. It’s just from one of the times I ran away.”
The frown on Alex’s face pulled a chuckle from Willie’s lungs and he smiled, pulling him closer, “No big deal. I was dumb and it was pouring and also like three am. The family wasn’t horrible, but they didn’t really care, y’know? I was a paycheck and while they kept up appearances they didn’t care what I did so long as I looked perfect. I hated it. So I ran.”
He shrugged, fingers sliding up and down his boyfriend’s arm now, eyes closed as he remembered. “I caught a pothole and hit the ground, but I guess it just wasn’t my lucky day. There was glass or something on the ground, I think maybe a beer bottle, and it flew up when my board came out from under me and it caught my leg. Needed six stitches, but hey, I didn’t have to go back home.”
Alex whined and he leaned up, capturing his boyfriend’s lips in his. His words were soft and protective, “You never have to run away again.”
Willie laughed again, kissing Alex once more before he spoke, “That’s true. I’ve got you and Caleb and my own little family now. I’ll never have to run away again.”