The flashlight in Caleb's face was not an ideal way to wake up. He groaned and started the process of bitching out whoever was waking them up until he saw the flash of a badge and the recognizable voice of the local sheriff.
"Why in god's name are you two sleeping out here? Someone could look over and think y'all are homeless again." The older man looked uncomfortable at the two of them so obviously curled up in their own personal bubble.
Vance cleared his throat. "Lost track of time, wasn't intentional." He went to stand and the arm still wrapped around Caleb's waist pulled him up too.
Caleb leveled a glare at the man, who was still blinding them with his flashlight. The comment about the two of them possibly being homeless again was pissing him off. They had both been a little classy about it when Caleb didn't have a place to stay, or at least he convinced himself it was classy.
Vance continued to have a casual chit-chat with the officer, his natural charisma rubbing the shitty atmosphere from the air. Caleb had always admired Vance and his personality, especially when it made situations like this a bit easier.
Even if he was the most insufferable dick sometimes.
Finally, Vance was pressing on his back to guide him back towards the trains. Caleb felt dumb for allowing himself to fall asleep in public. Victory wasn't the safest, even during the day. At least the current biggest threat was a middle-aged man with a beer gut and a gun.
They failed to make any real conversation due to exhaustion, and the continuous touching and cuddling from Vance's end made it difficult to think.
They sleepily made it inside Caleb's apartment. Vance pressed almost his entire weight against Caleb's back to exaggerate how tired he was. He already knew it was how Vance was encouraging the idea of sharing a bed and him staying the night. Or next week depending on how successful he was in the endeavor.
Caleb sighed heavily and agreed, clutching quickly to Vance's hand to drag him towards the bed. He looked back in time to see Vance grinning at him obnoxiously.
"Taking me to bed darling?" Vance asked sappily, teasing Caleb.
"Not if you look at me like that, dumbass." Caleb released his hand and started to remove the tighter outfit he was wearing to trade for the loose clothes he stole from Vance years ago. The old high school shirts and wrestling tees he couldn't bring himself to throw away or hide when Vance left.
He felt Vance's gaze on his back as he took off the pants he had been attempting to remove subtly. His face flushed in embarrassment and he quickly put on some small shorts he had left on the ground the night before. He was trembling slightly when he turned back around.
Vance was already shirtless and throwing himself onto Caleb's bed, Vance was typically not too comfortable without his shirt, so it showed how much he trusted the blonde. Caleb was too exhausted to make any real advances so he chose to ignore any horniness that was making his head hazy. Caleb moved the limb that was starfished on his side of the bed.
"Get out of my side of the bed you ass," Caleb muttered as he pushed for more room on his own mattress. Vance lazily grumbled and quickly started positioning himself to spoon Caleb from behind.
A spike of embarrassment and horniness shot through Caleb's mind as an arm wrapped around his waist. The comfy warmth from Vance's body quickly calmed him down.
He couldn't believe how comfortable he already was with Vance around again. 2 years of his own heart betraying him and mourning the relationship they had just for it to come back like nothing had happened.
Vance grumbled behind him, his low voice sending vibrations through Caleb's body.
"Stop thinking bun, it's keeping us both awake."
Caleb hummed a response as he settled closer against Vance. They would have to talk about it all tomorrow.
---
He forgot how crazy it was to wake up to an erection pressed against his thighs when he woke up. Caleb sighed and knew Vance would joke about it when he finally woke up to his own problem. Caleb wrestled himself from Vance's arms, the man's grip was strong even as he slept.
He stumbled his way to the bathroom, the beer from last night had finally made its way through his system. He rubbed sleep and crust from his eyes. Fuck, it must only be around 8 am but he couldn't sleep in any longer while Vance was around.
An ugly rock of emotion settled in his chest as he realized his mind and body were just waiting for Vance to leave again. Just disappear as he did 2 years ago. His chest hurt as he remembered the text Vance had sent. I want nothing to do with Victory. I love you. Goodbye.
He quickly left the bathroom after combing water through his hair, hair that was now greasy and flat. The I love you was the thing that hurt the most. He had said it less and less over the years, probably due to his mom using it against him. But it hurt nonetheless, their relationship shattered in just a text message and a plane ticket.
Caleb started to mindlessly find something for breakfast, the impulse to drink already in his mind. He tried to resist the urge to grab the rum he had at the top of the fridge but he soon gave in and poured himself a shot.
"A bit early for a drink don't you think?" Vance's voice broke the blessed silence of the morning.
"It wouldn't be too early if I didn't have you in my bed." Caleb said back, unable to hide the brewing annoyance and sadness in his voice.
Vance drew close to him, his hand lightly touching Caleb to comfort him. Caleb couldn't help but flinch a little from it. He was suddenly terrified of letting himself get too close to this man again. It was another broken heart waiting to happen.
"What's up?" Vance asked soothingly, trying to keep his own emotions and confusion at Caleb's sudden change away from his tone.
Caleb felt the prickle of tears in the back of his eyes at the question. He was unsure he would be able to keep from sobbing if he tried to voice his emotions calmly. But he attempted to do it anyway.
He quickly swallowed the shot in his hand and set the cup on the counter harshly.
