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"I love you so much that sometimes it feels like me heart is fit to burst." Miles's breath tickled Alex's ear as he whispered, his lips dry as they trailed along his jaw and neck. Alex whimpered sleepily and opened his eyes, turning over in bed to face him.
"I feel the same way about you, Mi," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep and emotion. He held Miles's chin and leaned over to give him a chaste peck on the lips.
Miles scoffed and pulled away. "You do, aye? Is that right? You've a funny way o' showin' it. What exactly are we doing, Alex? We've been together for almost two months. I gave up me flat for you. I spent every penny I 'ad saved up to buy this little cottage in the middle of fuckin' nowhere. We sleep together in the same bed every night, but still you seem skittish and scared, sleepin' right at the edge, so you can run off at the first sign of...whatever frightens you. What is it, love? What's got you so scared? Tell me. Please."
Alex moaned and buried his face in the soft cotton of Miles's shirt. "I dunno," he mumbled, his voice muffled and nearly inaudible. He grabbed fistfuls of Miles's shirt and sobbed. Miles felt his eyes burn and wrapped an arm around Alex's waist.
"Shhh, it's alright. Don't cry, Al. I'm not angry, I - okay, I can't lie to ya, I am a bit angry. I just hate feelin' this way, like I can't do anything to help you. I can't help you, though, unless and until you tell me what it is that's got you so afraid and upset. So just tell me, yeah? Please tell me."
"I - I dunno," Alex repeated, his voice breaking on another sob. "It's too much and...too weird to put in words, like... it's like I've a mental block, or summat. It's 30+ years of emotional baggage, fear and self-loathing and God knows what else all swirling 'round in me head. I'm sorry, Miles. I don't want it to be like this. I don't want to be like this."
He really didn't. It had been all too easy over the years for Alex to disguise his insecurity, to self-medicate his anxiety with booze and pills, a naturally quiet, reticent introvert thrust into the spotlight and rock superstardom that had changed the shy lad from Sheffield's life overnight.
Miles smiled sadly and framed Alex's face in his hands. He stroked Alex's cheeks with his thumbs and kissed him.
"It's alright, love. I want you to be yourself. When I tell you I love you, I mean every part of you. Your shyness and sweetness, as much as your sarcasm and cheekiness. You're a little broken, maybe, but we all are, aren't we? For all o' that, I'm here for you. I love you, Alex Turner. Whatever's holdin' you back, whatever ghosts and demons are lurkin' about in your 'ead, we'll face them 'ead on, together.