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It's raining, and Julian just called Paul to come and pick him up with a taxi from his own house. In the past few weeks, Julian had a hard time with his family. His mom was constantly sticking her nose in his business, and his dad was ruling his life. Since spring break started, Paul and Julian have been apart for more than 3 days. Days which made Julian feel miserable, to the point where he had to shed agonising tears in his room under his blanket, while hitting the bed’s frame until his knuckles bled, and he had to feel the blood wetting his hands. He was visibly sulking, and angry all the time. He was torn between anger and sadness. Anger, fueled by his parents' behaviour, and sadness because he missed his beloved, Paul.
He knew what he needed. He needed Paul. A call would get him there, at his place in no time, and he'd take care of him. He'd take Julian back to the campus, back to his room, where they were both safe and alone. Where the darkness of their room was their consolation, where they could feel free together. And so, he called.
With a soft voice, almost as a whisper, he said: "Paul." When he pronounced it, he felt like he was going to collapse. He was breaking almost. Please come, I need you here. I need you to take me out of here." His façade slipped and a tiny, agonising sigh escaped from his throat. Paul’s anger was set aflame. He hated Julian’s parents with a burning passion. He’d do anything to protect his light, Julian.
Paul, familiar with Julian's behaviour, predicted this would happen. He suggested Julian stay with him on the campus instead of going home. He knew this was bound to happen. He knew Julian's mental equilibrium would be ruined if he went home to his family. With haste in his voice, he answered, "I'll be there in less than 10 minutes. Hold on a little longer for me, Julian. I'll come and save you", and as he said that, his lips' corners curled in his sly, patronising smile. He loved being Julian’s hero. He lived for Julian's undying need of getting saved from overwhelming situations.
Julian packed his bags and ran downstairs, heart racing. His Paul would be here, to save him from this nightmare. He saw his family watching him in confusion. He heard them, but chose to ignore them. He can’t deal with them. Otherwise, he’d just get a knife and cut them open one by one. He got out of the house, standing in the rain, until the cab’s light blinded him.
Paul got out of the car, breathless and speechless at Julian’s state, "Oh lord, what did they do to you, poor thing? You look like a wet cat. Now come here," and he took Julian by the shoulder, touching him tenderly, making them both feel the spark, that cursed spark, that meant, irreversibly, that they shared a deeped bond, beyond compassion or love.
The taxi driver pulled the handbrake and accelerated into the rain. In the back of the car, Paul took Julian’s head into his hands, looked him right into the eyes, and said, "I’m here now. You can stop shaking, I’m here". And with his last powers, Julian put his hands on Paul’s hands, and then extended himself to Paul, giving him a swift kiss. The kind of kiss that says "I-NEED-YOU-MORE-THAN-THE-AIR-I-BREATHE’.
His lips were salt-coated, from the tears and the rain. When Paul tasted them, he felt shattered, knowing that Julian had put aside his games for now, and that he was truly in agony. He loved it when he was weak. His helplessness made him more submissive to Paul’s demands, which meant that he was in charge of them both.
Julian’s tears were staining his spotless skin, and he just threw himself into Paul’s arms after that kiss, and they stayed in that position for almost ten minutes. And when they broke off, Paul wiped Julian’s tears with such tenderness, that their love could’ve created new galaxies. With a tremble in his voice, Julian said, "You know Paul, I wish I could suspend the two of us together in amber" and then cuddled into Paul more. Even though he didn’t get any answer from him, he knew he had the same feeling towards him.
Paul let his arm rest casually on Julian’s chest, sending a shiver through his body, the climax of that touch still building up. They were two planets that waited to collide, killing each other in the process. The more they fell into each other’s orbit, the more their ending was inevitable.
Reaching the campus, Paul knew very well he had to get to Julian’s dorm fast. He was wet, and shaking. He needed to care for him, and what better way to care for someone than to spend the night with them. He unlocked the door and Julian threw himself on the bed, fully clothed, wet and depressed. Paul came close to him, helping him change. He untied his tie softly, and Julian made an effort and kissed his hand, his teeth grazing Paul’s hand.
He may have been emotionally tired, but Paul was like a well of energy for him, intoxicating him with every step he took. By the time Paul reached for Julian’s shirt to unbutton it, Julian supported himself on his elbows on the bed, starred at Paul, and said, "come here," and he pulled Paul on him. Paul let out a small gasp, kissed Julian, half biting his lower lip, and then whispered, "Please, you know this is what I want, but you need to rest, you need to change these wet clothes. Trust me," said Paul, while he put his hand under Julia’s shirt, touching the cold but beautiful scar, making Julian let out a gasp, "I know better now what you need, and it’s not this. You want me? Fine, change yourself, get into bed and cuddle next to me. This is how I can give myself to you tonight," and he pressed another kiss on Julian’s forehead. "You know, I’m not here just when you want to have fun. I love you, Julian. And I want the best for you. That’s why I came, not only to save you, but to show you how much you mean to me. And if you were to die, I’d never forget myself for not doing enough to save you. I shine brighter when I’m with you."
As Julian submitted to Paul’s words, they got to bed eventually. Julian lay with his head on Paul’s lap, while Paul’s combed his fingertips gently through Julian’s hair. They kept doing this until Julian felt the need to sleep, so he put his head on Paul’s clavicula, his nose softly touching his beloved’s neck, in a tender, loving way. And as his eyes felt heavier, Paul wrapped his arms around him, and Julian responded by wrapping his arms as well around Paul’s waist. And they fell asleep like this, tied to each other, waiting for the nightmare called life to slow down, until they would become nothing but two speckles of dust orbiting around one another.