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After Sitara and Josh left early in the morning the two of them stayed on the couch and decided to watch a marathon of the best and worst Jimmy Siska movies. It felt like ten years ago and Wrench was slowly getting the rest of his anxiety off his shoulders. He was still tired from the flight, and, well, in general. Maybe it was more exhaustion from all that shit he's been through. Dedsec, the horrible marriage, Rempart, Dedsec again and of course the escape from Marcus and the others, but mostly Marcus. He listened to his voicemails daily and felt more guilty with each new one he got, yet he still could never delete them. Marcus was just way too precious to him even if Wrench hurt him an unbelievable amount, he still stayed. Kept tabs on him. Looked after him from the shadows. Even made this whole surprise in London with the movie car and everything. God knows what that took to get organized and everything. Maybe now, back in San Francisco, he could get at least a little bit of a break. Younger him would have never admitted to something like that. Always full of energy and if he wasn't he'd just smash a few cars to refuel again. But now he was 40, well 41 to be exact, and it felt like he was living in a constant midlife crisis for the last 10 years. Life was fucked and he never found a way to break out of that circle of hell. Maybe now he finally had a chance for that. Better late then never.
Wrench didn't know how long he hadn't payed attention to whatever was on the TV anymore. His eyes fell shut a while ago but he never drifted into sleep. Just enjoying Marcus' company and half listening to the movie dialogue. His body was slumped against the old couch, curled up into an old blanket he found lying around, filled with holes and tears all over it but it still kept him warm and comfortable. Plus it just smelled like home. Like no time had gone by.
Nice.
This felt nice.
Nice enough that he never wanted it to end.
His head was resting against the back of the couch when he suddenly felt a pair of fingers carefully brush against his exposed neck. Curled his blond hair around them and lightly scraped his skull. Wrench flinched for a second at the sudden touch and open his eyes a tiny bit only to see Marcus next to him, eyes glued to the screen, quietly whispering along the dialogue of the movie. Did he even noticed what he was doing? It didn't matter. Wrench enjoyed the light touches and just closed his eyes again. He shifted his head slightly to be more comfortable and Marcus' hand took the opportunity to brush his fingers more against his neck. Let them sink into his hair. Brushing over them. His head felt hot suddenly. He could feel tears building up in his eyes. Like all the built up tension and anxiety was getting sucked out of him with just those careful soft touches. Had the answer to his problems been that simple all those years?
It had been a bit weird back then. At first he could not have been more uninterested in the new dedsec recruit. Just a new hacker. Why should he have cared? But things turned out way more different than he ever could have expected. He had never bonded with someone that fast. It almost felt unnatural with his usual distrust in other people and personal distance with others. Yet after only a couple of days the two of them already fanboyed over the same movies. Marcus laughed at all of his dumb and usual crude jokes, that no one else normally laughed at in the group. He wasn't repelled by his destructive energy and plans, hell, he even supported them most of the times and Wrench quickly realized he would die for this person. It wasn't like the others weren't good friends and his family too. Marcus was just way more special to him. He even joined in on their flirty jokes and brought them to a whole other level sometimes, making Wrench question his feelings more then once. Yet he never acted on them. Ignored them. Forced himself to be happy with what he had with Marcus. It had to be enough. He couldn't have been greedy or he feared to lose it all.
And years later he even thought he had found someone else. Even fucking married the guy. Him! Never in a million years he would have thought to marry someone. With a ceremony, dumb rings and all. As expected it didn't last that long. Too many things happened between them and it just got more and more frustrating. In the end he was kicked out on the street with only a few of his belongings. Locked out and homeless. As quickly as his happiness arrived it was gone again. Leaving him even more bitter and broken as before.
And more lonely.
In another country, without his friends, on a dirty street. Without Marcus. Too many nights spent just drinking and crying. Trying to forget. Listening to his voicemails for just a tiny bit of comfort. Even if it was just a recorded message, it brought him back to his senses. Bitter, regretful senses because he just left without saying anything and never called or texted back. He always feared what would happen if he ever came back to San Francisco. Seeing the disappointed faces of his friends.
None of that happened. They were all more than happy to see him again, welcomed him back with open arms and he pushed the recent past full of his fuck-ups into the back of his head.
Which surprisingly worked better than expected. Just seeing Marcus again. Hugging him. Now laying next to him on the old couch. His fingers brushing through the light hair. The closeness. The Warmth. Like the perfect antidote for whatever sickness he was tortured by throughout his life. Slowly drifting away. His thoughts were going slower and he expected to finally fall into a peaceful slumber until he suddenly felt Marcus free hand touch his. Brushing softly over Wrench's rough hand, covered in tattoos and scars. He painted slow invisible patterns on them with his fingers, going over every knuckle and stopping at the top of his palm before their hands intertwined. Wrench carefully opened his eyes but Marcus was still glued to the screen, not acknowledging anything else besides the movie it seemed. Did he do it on purpose and was just pretending not to care or did he really not notice what he was doing? Whatever the reason was, Wrench wasn't going to question it. Closing his eyes again and feeling a faint smile appearing on his lips. He never fell asleep. Just drowning in in these new feelings and comfort. No care in the world. No thoughts about the past or the future. Just enjoying this moment together. He didn't even realize when the room turned suddenly silent after the current movie ended, not like he had payed attention in the last hour or so. Marcus hands were still brushing over his hair and being intertwined with Wrench's. Tightening his grip every now end then like he was about to lose his friend again.
“Hey … Wrench?”
Even though it was just a whisper, Wrench jumped at the sudden mention of his name, quickly opening his eyes only to be greeted with Marcus face only a couple of centimetres away from his. How long had he been staring at him?
“Hmmm?” was the only thing he could answer tiredly. He couldn't wait to go to sleep but sleep was way less important then staying next to Marcus in this moment. Only now, being this close, he could discover the subtle changes in Marcus' face. The scruffier beard that was interrupted by a scar on his chin. The rings under his eyes and the few wrinkles over his face making it clear that ten years had past. But despite all that his deep brown eyes were still shining like back then. Full of energy and such a dark color Wrench could just lose himself in them. Like a void swallowing him, yet keeping him safe and warm. Just staring into each others eyes felt weirdly intimate. More intimated then all of his previous relationships no matter how close or long. But they all didn't matter now. Not even the guy Wrench was married to and refused to even think about his name again, had made him feel like this any time they were together. Marcus inched a bit closer and with the hand in Wrench's hair nudged him closer so their foreheads were softly pressed together. Once again Wrench could feel his eyes water again. This time even more and it took him a lot of control to not just let the tears run down his face and potentially ruin this perfect moment with his over boiling feelings.
“I can't say how happy I am that you're back”
Still a whisper but his voice was so close and deep, sending little vibrations down Wrench's body. Feeling every word like another touch on his body. Had his voice always been this enchanting? Always this low and a bit raspy? Was it the age? The moment they were in? Whatever it was or wasn't didn't really matter right now. It just drew him closer. Physically and mentally. All of his surroundings suddenly seemed to disappear. Only Marcus in front of him stayed, the faint light of the TV illuminating his face, showering it in a warm glow like a lonely star on the darkest night in the endless space.
“I won't leave again”
Wrench had finally found his voice again and even though it was unusual thin and quiet he knew Marcus heard him. The bright smile was only one of the signs.
“Promise?” A tiny question, burning with hope and giving Wrench goosebumps all over his body. Just these short few hours made him realize that he never wanted to be separated from him again. This was all he wanted. He was all he wanted. Not just wanted. His body and mind demanded it.
An answer wasn't even needed anymore. The deep gazes they were giving each other was enough. A quick glance at their lips was question and answer in one for everything that was and what they wanted between them. Marcus leaned in a bit more, bumping their noses together, drawing another smile out of Wrench. His lips traced his skin until finally he met Wrench's, closing the final bit of space between them. Feeling the others chapped lips and each others smile against their own. Simply indulging themselves in this little, yet so full of emotions, gesture. Endless never ending affection, relief that their needless secrets longing for each other finally came to an end and just simple but trusting love. An incredible soothing warmth spread across Wrench's body like never before. If he wasn't melting before he definitely was now. Everything around him, all his thoughts and fears. The never ending exhaustion. All was turning to ash in the fire that Marcus had finally awaken in him. He could feel Marcus' heartbeat against his own. Their lips now pressed a bit harder against each other. Never wanting this moment to end. One felt so consumed by the other. Their bodies touching, sharing their warmth, he could smell the faint sweet scent of his shampoo. He couldn't pinpoint the exact smell but it would be forever burned into his mind and make him remember this turn in his life. Never before he felt so connected to another person and he was more than glad that it was Marcus.
He wished time would stop around them to keep this moment going on forever. Frozen in warm eternal ice. Just the two of them. No other people. No dangerous stunts or people and fearing for the others life and safety. Nothing else.
But time was as cruel as always and they had to part soon again, both out of breath but still keeping their faces only centimeters away from the other like they could lose each other in an instant. Words weren't needed. Everything had been said with their bodies and feelings. Even with the kiss broken all his senses were still getting absorbed by Marcus. He carefully wrapped his arms around the others neck, keeping him as close as he physically could and even that didn't feel like it was enough. Foreheads still pressed together and eyes locked onto each other, they just smiled. Nothing else was necessary. They understood. Could hear all the unspoken words through their radiating emotions and sweet embrace. Marcus' breathing was shakey as if he was relieved off a big piece of baggage that had been holding him down his whole life. Once again he brought their lips back together. Short this time but not any less sweet or meaningful.
As they separated again Marcus slowly lifted his hand and started carefully touching the big red birthmark on Wrench's face. Watching his face with caution to stop when he would see any type of the slightest discomfort but Wrench just leaned into his soft touch. He always hated the mark over his eye. Hated people who looked at it. Hated it even more when people tried to touch it. A quick glance in the mirror alone was usually enough to just ruin his day and make him remember of all his fuck ups in life.
This was different. For the first time he enjoyed this part of him getting touched. Making him feel even closer to the other. Gentle touches over the discolored skin, Marcus was mapping every little bit of it with his fingers as if it could just vanish. With a happy little sigh Marcus left his face alone again only to pull Wrench into a tight hug which he reciprocated eagerly. Never had he felt at peace like today before and hopefully he would never fall as low as the ground he had lived in the past. Now he finally had something, someone, he could trust and rely on no matter what. Trust he had lost since his childhood, now at long last back and to give him hope again. Even though breathing was a bit hard in their tight embrace neither of them let go.
The sun was already rising and casting little light rays through the windows when the two men finally fell asleep in each others arm. Clinging to each other like they were trying to not even get separated in their dreams. He was finally back home and feeling better then ever. It didn't even feel like something new. More as if they were continuing where they left of all those years ago.