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The sun shone through the window, warming up the room as Michel huddled close to Luca, stirring slightly at the soft light. He opened his eyes, blinking wearily as he yawned, reaching out to grab his glasses from the bedside table.
He then looked over at Luca, who was still wrapped around him like a clingy octopus.
This was new.
Sharing the bed with someone.
This was very new... but very nice.
Smiling softly, he ran his fingers through the older man’s hair, tracing that handsome face.
How had he gotten so lucky?
Was this a higher powers’ way of saying sorry for all the crap he was put through for the first two decades of his life?
“Mmmm, like what you see?”
Michel squeaked, pulling his fingers back, flushing as Luca’s eyes fluttered open, smiling over at him.
Luca chuckled at the sight, slowly pushing himself into a seated position, “Good morning darling.”
“Good morning.”
“Sleep well?”
Michel nodded shyly. It had a little over a week since his last nightmare, and he was feeling surprisingly well-rested.
“You know, it’s my day off.” Luca stretched himself out, grunting as joints popped and muscles cried out in sweet relief, “What do you fancy doing?”
“Ummm.” Michel twiddled his finger slightly, “I was… can we go shopping? I-It’s Vin-Hyung’s birthday soon and I really want to get him something perfect.”
Luca winced.
After the incident during the last gathering, some smaller fractions had set their gazes on Michel, thinking that he was their key to getting just a little of the power that Vincenzo had collected for himself.
Vincenzo’s orders had been clear.
Michel was to stay in the villa, until the situation had been dealt with.
“Michel, you know that Vincenzo- “
“- Just for a little bit?.” Michel clasped his hands together with a pout, “You’ll be with me right and we can always see if anyone else wants to come? Please?”
Luca felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
On the one hand, he couldn’t go against Vincenzo’s direct orders…. But he couldn’t resist Michel’s pleading look either.
And surely the fact that Michel was standing up for what he wanted, was a good thing, right?
He wasn’t just bowing his head and going along with what people were telling him to do.
He sighed, thinking for a minute.
So much could go wrong… but all of this could just be an over-reaction.
He looked over at Michel, who was still giving him those hopeful eyes.
“Fine… but if I feel like we’re in the slightest bit of danger, we’re leaving. Okay?”
Michel beamed and nodded, leaning over to press a gentle kiss to his cheek, “Whatever you say.”
……………………………………………………………………
Luca employed a few members of the villa security detail to come with them, as they entered the shopping centre, everyone on guard.
Michel was right by his side, but Luca couldn’t help but pull him in even closer.
They went from store to store, with Michel buying a few more comfortable clothes for himself.
And then Luca’s phone started to ring. He pulled it from his pocket, only to wince when he saw exactly who was calling.
“Hello Boss.” He tried to sound as confident as possible.
“Luca.” Vincenzo did not sound impressed, “I won’t ask what you were thinking when you did this… but you need to come home immediately. We received an official threat today.”
Luca was automatically reaching out to pull Michel closer, catching one of their escort’s eyes as he gestured his head towards the exit.
“We’re leaving now.” He informed Vincenzo, “We’ll be back soon.”
“Stay alert.”
“Yes Boss.”
Luca hung up glancing over at Michel, who gave him a worried look.
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to go, okay?”
“O-Okay, but- “
“- When we get in the car, I’ll tell you, but we need to get in the car first.”
Michel nodded, grabbing his bags as he was led out of the store and then out of the building, not failing to notice how tense Luca was…. And how his hand wasn’t far from his gun.
Their driver was pulled up right outside, as Luca led Michel outside.
As they walked, Luca spotted another black car slowly pulling up, window starting to roll down.
The sunlight glinted off the metal of the gun.
“GET DOWN!”
……………………………………….
Michel yelped as he was suddenly pushed down to the ground, hearing the gunshots milliseconds later.
Quickly, he looked over at Luca, who seemed to be holding his side as he returned fire.
And then Michel saw the blood.
“LUCA!”
Luca ducked as he heard more gunfire, still pressing hard on his wound, “Stay down.” He ordered Michel, “Please… please stay down.” He lay back against the car as their entourage returned fire, groaning in pain.
Michel was right by him in seconds, panicking and trying to add pressure to the wound, words spilling from his mouth in desperate sounding Korean.
Luca could get the gist of them though, forcing himself to remain awake as he saw tears building in Michel’s eyes.
“I-I love you.” He whispered, before blacking out.
……………………………………………….
Luca slowly opened his eyes, looking around the room.
He was in his own bed.
Slowly, he went to sit up, realising quickly that he hadn’t dreamt the entire thing, his side burning. He got shot protecting Michel.
Michel!
He shouldn’t have had to witness that, not after all that he went through. He needed to find him, to see that he was okay.
As if on cue, the door opened… except that it was Vincenzo standing there.
“You’re awake.” He sighed in relief, moving to sit by the bed, “How do you feel?”
“Like I got shot.”
“Understandable… Michel was worried.”
“Is he okay?”
Vincenzo nodded before he’d even finished the question, easing his nerves. “Not a scratch on him… thanks to you.”
The door burst open again, this time Michel rushing in, eyes wide and a beam spreading across his face when he saw that Luca was awake.
“Luca!” He rushed forwards and was only stopped from jumping onto the bed thanks to Vincenzo’s quick reactions.
“He’s still hurt.” Vincenzo scolded.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry- “
“- He can still sit next to me.” Luca needed Michel close. He needed to know that he was alright.
Slowly, Michel did just that, looking like he was going to lean over and give Luca a kiss… before he remembered that Vincenzo was still standing there.
“I’m sorry.” Michel whispered brokenly, “I’m sorry I begged you to go out, I-I thought it would all be okay and then-then you got shot. You’re hurt because of me!”
Both Luca and Vincenzo panicked slightly at the sight of tears in Michel’s eyes, with Vincenzo being the first to offer comfort (Luca would have been first if it weren’t for the stabbing pain in his side).
“Michel... look at me.” He whispered.
Michel's eyes were all puffy, indicating that he’d probably been crying since the incident and not stopped.
“I don’t regret it.” Luca affirmed, “It was nice to have some time out of the house with you. And I definitely don’t regret taking a bullet for you if it meant that you’d be okay.”
Was it just him, or was that respect in Vincenzo’s eyes?
“He’ll be fine.” Vincenzo murmured to Michel, “You, however, need to sleep.”
“But- “
“- I’ll be here.” Luca reassured him, “Not like I can really go anywhere else, is it?”
Michel let out a watery chuckle, nodding in agreement as he leaned over to kiss Luca on the cheek, before leaving the room.
And then it was just Vincenzo and Luca.
“I had my doubts about this relationship…” Vincenzo began, “… but you’ve proven yourself today. I always knew you were a perfect second-in-command, but now I know… you’ll be good for Han Seo.”
“Is that your official blessing?”
“Don’t push your luck.”