Wild Dog 20

(Quick cute chapter before work :P and here, Wyatt's bunny is going to sneak into the photo section since he's not physically in this chapter and is a little jealous lol) 

Pausing as they got to their gate at the airport a bit early, Blake fished his phone out from his back pocket as it vibrated with a text message. Setting his carryon bag down, he took a seat beside Sage and turned on the screen. 

Wyatt: Hope you're all set for your flight. Don't forget to drink some water and eat something. 

Smiling at the sweet message, Blake responded. 

Blake: We stopped for a quick breakfast at that brunch place again. It was absolutely delicious. We're all set, just waiting to board. 

Wyatt: Can I ask you a favor, if you're comfortable with it? 

Blake raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly as he replied while shrugging his left shoulder. It was bit of a habit of his when he figured that he wouldn't mind doing something, even when he wasn't being asked out loud and thus, the person that the shrug was for wouldn't even see it. 

Blake: Of course. What would you like me to do?

Wyatt: Please only do this if you're comfortable with it, but Sage is honestly not very good with flying. He is a bat shifter, and while bats actually have pretty good eyesight, he was born blind so he relies mainly on echolocation. That being said, his hearing is fantastic, but he's also extremely sensitive to vibrations...

Oh man, how could he possibly handle flying? 

Blake: How can I help him? 

Wyatt: He has headphones he normally brings in his bag. Please make sure he remembers to grab them before he sits down so he has them during takeoff, and if you're one-hundred percent comfortable with it, please hold his hand. He tries to put on a tough guy act, but he panics on the inside. 

Aww...

Looking up and to the side, Blake stared at Sage's profile until the man seemed to notice the attention and turned to look his way with a curious smile.  

"Ready to go? I think they're getting ready to accept passengers," he said as he stood up and grabbed his carryon bag. 

Blake hurried to his feet as well, grabbed his own bag, then followed Sage over to the boarding area. He had been right, and they were the third pair to board. He wasn't actually sure where their seats were until he started looking at the numbers on the seats. He'd only really glanced at one first class number from the corner of his eye, but then faltered slightly when he realized that it was their number!

He had bought first class tickets?

A little dazed, since he'd never considered such a thing, Blake quickly helped Sage get his things stored after he made sure that he had his headphones out, then put away his own overhead stuff before taking the seat closest to the window. 

Once he was sure Sage was comfortable he took his phone back out and texted Wyatt. 

Blake: We're all set and on board. He has his headphones. 

There was no response for a few minutes, so Blake allowed his attention to wander outside the window until his phone chimed again. 

Wyatt: Thank you. I will see you two in a few hours. Have a good flight. 

Blake: See you then, master Wyatt. 

Tucking his phone away as the pilot came over the intercom for their normal before-takeoff talk, Blake listened as he reclined in the huge first class seats they got. 

These are so comfortable. 

He wanted to share his excitement with Sage, and he knew that the guy wouldn't have blamed him for his enthusiasm, but when he glanced sideways at the man, he could immediately tell that he was already scared for what was to come. 

The intercom overhead turned off at that moment and the jet began to rumble slightly as the pilot began guiding the giant aircraft away from the loading gate. 

At that moment Sage slipped on his large pair of sound-canceling headphones, then tried to settle back into his seat. 

Your breathing is a mess and your fingers are twitching on the armrests...

Pursing his lips, Blake looked down at the man's right hand. He still wore the leather gloves he'd seen on him every other time they'd met, but they were pretty fashionable and looked quite good with the rest of his dark outfit. 

Lifting his attention back up to the man's face, Blake pursed his lips and took a deep breath to calm his own nerves. 

"Master Sage, may I touch you?" he whispered just loud enough for the man beside him to hear. 

Sage turned his head against his headrest, a tense but playful smirk sliding onto his lips. 

"Always, love," he replied, making Blake blush at the connotation of his broad request.  

I should have just asked if I could hold his hand, but I'm sure that he can tell that flying doesn't bother me at all, so he might have been uncomfortable being comforted for his own reaction that he was clearly trying to hide. 

Swallowing down his embarrassment, Blake scooted a little closer until he could rest his head against Sage's shoulder, then nervously slid one hand beneath the man's right arm before reaching for that tightly-clenched gloved hand with both of his own.  

The moment his fingertips touched the soft, worn fabric of Sage's gloved hand the man's fingers slowly unfurled, relaxing until Blake could wrap his own around and entwine their digits together. 

His shoulder is actually really comfortable. 

The long leather jacket the man wore definitely had some padding on the shoulders. 

I feel like I could get used to falling asleep against him...

Feeling his face heat again, Blake took in a content, deep breath and snuggled up against the other man after nudging the armrest that had been down between them up into the back of the seat. 

As the jet began to speed up for takeoff Blake could feel Sage's fingers tightening around his own. He winced slightly as the pressure began to hurt, and somehow, Sage seemed to realize what he was doing at the same time and quickly tried to remove his hand from Blake's two. 

"It's okay," he hurried to reassure him. 

Sage didn't seem to believe him, because he tried to withdraw his hand again after another pause, but Blake kept hold, but just-barely. 

"I really don't mind if it hurts. I like pain," he said as he lowered his gaze, embarrassed. 

He hadn't intended to just give away his darkest secret, but thankfully, it seemed to have been the right thing to say, because Sage stopped fighting him after another moment and pretty soon after that, his fingers returned to squeezing Blake's tightly. 

There you go. It's okay. I'm happy that I can help relieve at least a little bit of your stress. 

To his surprise, once Blake had refocused on what was going on, he realized that they were already up in the air and the worst of the shaking and noise had ended. As if just realizing this, too, Sage's clenched hand slowly relaxed within both of Blake's. 

Not a moment later he felt the man nuzzle against his hair, drawing his attention upward until he could see the Sage's dark sunglasses and warm smile. 

"You're a stubborn one," Sage finally said when he had his full attention. 

I... that's what you wanted to say? After all that? 

Giving out an involuntary chuckle, Blake left his left hand tucked into Sage's right one while he lifted his right one to poke at the man's chest a few times. 

"Let me get this straight, the guy that—" his words were cut off abruptly by the softest, most gentle kiss to his forehead. 

You... you sly, stubborn, mushy bat!

Sage's smirk widened as he leaned back just enough to press their foreheads together. 

His bangs are so soft...

"This sly, stubborn, mushy bat thanks you for the compliment, love." 

Blake's mouth fell open slightly, shocked that he'd let his ability slip again

His mind was snapped back into focus quickly, though, as he felt Sage lean over the slightest amount so that he could reach over and settle his left hand against the side of Blake's face. He leaned into the touch out of habit, his mind already already quite comfortable with the other man's presence. 

"What if you're not letting your ability slip at all, sweetheart? What if you're meant to be mine, and I am meant to be yours?" Sage said in a gruff whisper that made Blake's insides twist into knots of nervous excitement. 

The guy was way too forward!

"I'll behave," Sage said, making Blake blink out of his awkward daze. "I was just messing with you a bit to keep my mind off of all the vibration noise in my head. I'm sure you'll get ahold of your ability once you've settled down and are comfortable in life again," he said with a warm smile as he leaned back and withdrew his hand. 

Licking his lips for a moment, Blake considered his words, but then decided to just shrug off the whole conversation. There was no need to stress about a few wandering thoughts. Sage definitely didn't seem to mind hearing them, anyways, and neither had Wyatt. 

 "Be a good bat and let me borrow your shoulder," he chastised, earning a deep chuckle from Sage as he got himself comfortable against the man. 

He was just closing his eyes, getting ready to drift off for a quick nap when he felt Sage settle his head against his hair. 

"Be a good human and let this stubborn, tired bat rest with you." 

 The edges of Blake's lips tilted up as he nuzzled against the man a tiny bit more, then sighed with contentment as he wrapped his left arm gently around Sage's right one. 

"Yes sir... rest well." 


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