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“Have you found anything besides fucking cobblestone and coal?” Michael grumbles as they walk deeper into the mine. They had been in for hours to try to find anything valuable to bring back to the village. Jack is needing more iron to craft tools and Matt is asking for precious gems for reasons Gavin’s not gonna ask about. But despite how deep their mine is and how long they’ve been using it, today they just weren’t finding much.
“Just coal,” Gavin says, raising his lantern to look around. The low light flickers around them, making the dark edges only more ominous. “Maybe we should go back up… It must be getting late.”
“Let’s just try one more end,” Michael sighs. “Don’t want to come up with nothing.”
Gavin sighs but continues with Michael. Walking through the dark cave in search of anything to provide their village. These mining expeditions were becoming more and more frequent, with needing to have more supplies. Their village was expanding a lot after all. Growing with new members and expanding in size every day. And while Gavin enjoyed all their new friends, it was nice to spend time with just Michael again. Maybe that’s why Gavin also doesn’t push to go back up even if he is getting tired. Just to have a bit more time with his boi.
Of course, they are around each other often. They’ve been friends for years at this point. But it’s been… more than that recently. Likely due to Fiona pointing out Gavin’s obvious fucking crush the last time she visited. Gavin hadn’t (wouldn’t) considered the crush on his best friend but now he couldn’t deny it. He wanted to do more, but how? He won’t risk losing his friendship. Gavin is silent as he ponders his predicament yet again as they head into the darker tunnels.
Gavin almost doesn’t hear it, so faint in the dark as he is lost in thought. But the hair on the back of his neck stands up and the slow hiss creeps behind him. A sound that stops his heart as he realizes.
Creeper.
It’s pure instinct after that. Gavin reaches for Michael, shoving him away as hard as he can. He throws his body over his. There’s no running. No time. Only instinct to save Michael from the blast.
And the blast comes, a horrible explosion that rocks the cave. The force of it pushes them to the wall and Gavin’s whole body flares in white-hot pain. The air is punched right out of his lungs as he falls into Michael. He feels Michael duck into him, but can’t hear a sound as his ears ring. The whole earth shakes as rocks start to fall, the ceiling cracking and dust coating them.
Silence. But it only lasts a moment, a breath.
Then the ground shakes again.
The walls vibrate and the cracks from the explosion deepen. Stretching down the walls, racing through the ceiling. Rocks start falling and they both pale realizing what this means. A cave in.
“Move!” Michael yells, grabbing Gavin and yanking him. Gavin just tries to move his feet as best he can, blindly pushing his legs as Michael pulls him. But pain is flaring up his back, aching from the first blast making it hard to keep up. His lungs still burned as he tried to catch his breath.
Gavin can’t see but the sounds of crashing stone behind them explains enough. He feels rubble at their heels, the whole cave collapsing in. They push up as best they can, jumping up steps as the walls groan. Then they see the entrance, a bit of light at the mouth. A strip of blue sky.
And then it's gone.
There’s a thunderous crash, rocks cracking and then folding in just at the entrance. They both fall besides it as the vibrating finally stops. The way behind was cut off and the way out firmly sealed. They were trapped.
Michael curses, trying to dig out the rocks but Gavin reaches out and holds him arm. “Don’t,” he coughs, brushing dust off his face. “You could make it worse.”
“Worse?!” Michael snarls. “How much fucking worse can it get?! Look at this! A fucking creeper took out the whole cave!”
“I know,” Gavin sighs, sitting down as the pain catches up to him and it was taking too much to stand. “But you could collapse the rest of it. On top of us.”
Michael snarls, hands clenching his fists but finally huffs and steps away. “What the fuck do we do then?”
“Wait,” Gavin groans, resting back against the wall. “The others will come. They’ll notice we’re gone.”
Michael sighs but turns to look at Gavin. Really look at him, seeing him grimacing in pain and the thin trail of blood on the side of his head. “You need help,” he frowns, sitting down beside him. “Let me take a look. You took the full brunt of that creeper. Which you didn’t fucking have to do.”
Gavin just nods, sitting back but letting Michael shift over and start poking at him. “Didn’t want you to get hurt.”
Michael scowls, gently lifting Gavin’s shirt up. “Well I can take it. I don’t fucking want you hurt.”
Gavin’s too tired to argue. He rests his head back on the rock as all his energy just feels drained. His head is swimming and it's getting a little hard to focus on much. “M’sorry.”
“Let me try to clean and wrap this with what we have,” Michael just sighs. “Lay down so I can look at your back.”
Gavin groans as he shifts positions but manages to lay down. The lantern was warm besides him, providing the only faint glow around them. The shadows flicker far too close as the darkness seems to grow around them. Michael rummages around their packs and Gavin sends a silent thanks to Jack’s preparedness so that they have at least enough food and water if they’re stuck here a while. Though he dreads the thought of it too.
Michael gets to work wiping off dust and debri and grabbing bandages Jack had thrown in the mining packs ages ago. It’s a careful job but he manages to at least wrap around the worst of the wounds. The pain stings but having it wrapped feels comforting in a way. Gavin is afraid to ask how bad it is, but Michael’s frowns say enough. Michael sighs and sits down as he’s done, glancing back at the entrance. Gavin reaches over to take Michael’s hand. Michael glances down to it and then offers a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “We’ll be ok, right?” he mumbles. “Just have to wait.”
“Do you think they’re looking for us yet?” Gavin murmurs in the dark. It’s hard to tell how much time has passed. Enough that the lantern has fully gone out and they haven’t bothered to find a way to light it again.
“Should be,” Michael sighs. He’s sitting besides Gavin, resting his head against the wall. Gavin’s laying down on his stomach, trying to keep off his back. It had been awkward at first, but then Michael had let Gavin rest his head onto his lap. Gavin tries to not think about the intimacy of it all, glad the darkness is hiding his blush.
“Probably dinner time,” Gavin hums. “Fuck, I hope we don’t miss it. Geoff’s cooking is the best.”
Michael snorts and hesitantly reaches down, brushing a hand in Gavin’s hair. Gavin blushes even more, but in his tired, hurt state, he leans into the touch before he can stop himself. Michael blinks and smiles softly. “I’m sure Geoff will save us some food. Or make new food after they get us out.”
Gavin hums. “You think they’ll be able to get us out?” he murmurs, almost not even heard.
Michael frowns. “Of course they will,” he huffs. Though really he doesn’t know for sure. Who knows how these walls will hold as they get the rocks away from the entrance. Their rescue could just as likely be their demise. But Michael isn’t going to tell Gavin all of this. “We have some smart people in our village. A lot smarter than us.”
That earns a small chuckle from Gavin, though it turns into a groan as his back flares again. It makes Michael frown as he continues to brush his hair, gentle circles to soothe him. “We’ll be ok,” Michael assures.
Gavin frowns. “If we’re not… I just…” Gavin reaches up, taking Michael’s hand and squeezing gently. “I want you to know-”
“I know,” Michael assures. “Fuck, I’ve suspected for a while. And been told by others but I was too scared to believe them. And we’re both stupid and too scared to make a first move.”
Gavin gives a small chuckle. “We’ve both been getting yelled at for it then? I’ve been told that you liked me just how I liked you, but I was never sure…”
“Who wouldn’t?” Michael smiles. “You’re fucking funny and a good guy. And despite how stupid your face is, its attractive too.”
“You find me attractive?”
“Unfortunately, I do,” Michael chuckles.
“Well, I find you attractive,” Gavin smiles. “If we get out of here, we’re going on a date.”
“ When we get out of here,” Michael corrects.
“When,” Gavin hums, but it doesn't sound like he believes it. “Until then… Can I kiss you?”
There’s a silence that twists Gavin’s heart, Michael not responding for a long moment. Gavin shifts, opening his mouth to back down, say it was a joke but suddenly Michael pulls him up and a pair of soft lips are against his.
It’s soft, careful as they kiss for the first time. Both hesitant but slowly sinking into the feeling. Michael holds him close as Gavin wraps his arms around his shoulders. They both gasp for breath before pulling in again. Seeking each other.
And then a voice cuts in. “Michael?! Gavin?!” a voice calls from the other side of the rubble. “Are you there?!” It’s Jack, sounding worried but it brings instant relief.
They quickly pull apart but stay holding each other’s hand. “Jack!” Michael calls back. “We’re both here. Fuck, its good to hear you.”
“Oh thank the Gods,” Jack sighs in relief. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Creeper caused a cave in,” Michael explains. “Gavin’s back is hurt but we’re ok for now. We just need to get out past the entrance.”
“I can see,” Jack sighs. “I’m going to get everyone else and come back. We need to move these rocks carefully. Are you ok if I leave?”
“We’ll be ok,” Gavin speaks up. “Just rather not spend the night here. Bloody uncomfortable.”
That earns a chuckle from Jack. “Ok, good. I’ll be right back.”
It takes a few hours, well past sunset but slowly they get free. They had to slowly remove stones along the side until they made a hole big enough for them to squeeze through. There had been some debate about who would go out first but Michael won out and Gavin climbed through first to freedom. The second they are both out, Geoff is throwing his arms around them. “Thank the fucking Gods you’re ok,” he nearly sobs against them. “We were so worried.”
“We’re alright,” Gavin chuckles, hugging him back. “Though, I would like to get home and bloody sleep for three years.”
“Let me check out that back first,” Jack hums. “Then sleep. I think we all can use some.”
After getting checked out, both boys were cleared to go home. But Michael took Gavin to his house and then didn’t leave. Still having that fear, the flashbacks of Gavin getting hurt. But also the gentle kisses that would be rather nice to continue.
They both crawl into Michael’s bed, a little tight but they make do. They both smile, stealing soft kisses but not pushing it. Too tired to go any further and too happy to want to leave each other’s arms. “I’m so glad you’re ok,” Michael murmurs in the space between them.
“I’m glad we’re both ok,” Gavin hums, burying against him. “Now we can officially go on dates.”
Michael laughs, pulling him close and kissing his hair. “Now we’re going to go on so, so many dates.”