Work Text:
It was a cloudy and cool night when they arrived. The air was crisp and smelled of rain. It was a calming night and the 2 men who walked into their new "home", clutching each other as if afraid they would disappear, would have found it as such if it were not for the circumstances that brought them there.
Jonathan Sims has just witnessed someone he came to know as a friend give herself up to what was plagueing her to save himself and Basira. Seeing.... well that whole mess brought back memories for him. Then after everything went to hell, he dove into a fear domain to save the one who entered the safehouse with him. To say he was tired and swimming in emotions he couldn't even begin to comprehend was an understatement. But what mattered to him most in that moment was that he had Martin with him.
Martin Blackwood nearly was lost. He expected it to happen, wanted it even for a time there, but he didn't and he would soon be over the moon about it. In that moment however, he was tired and wisps of fog were still clinging to him trying to tell him to get away. It was easy to ignore the fog when Jon was there.
They didn't let go of each other after The Lonely. They wouldn't have even if they wanted to. They didn't let go during the whole journey to Scotland, they didn't let go when they dropped all of their stuff on the dusty floor, they didn't let go when they pulled the dust cover from a presumably old bed, and they did not let go when they both plunked their weight onto the bed in exhaustion. They knew they needed to have many conversations and they knew they would need to face a lot eventually, but for that night, they were together and that was enough.
It was a bright, clear, crisp morning. Jon and Martin had been at the safehouse for weeks now. On mornings like these Jon got out of bed early to make a breakfast for them to enjoy on the lovely porch outside.
The porch was located next to a garden the two of them had worked very hard on. Right then it was only flowers because they didn't know how long they'd stay.
When Jon and Martin sat on the porch enjoying the scenery they were content. The fragrence of the dew dripping off the flowers and the sweet song of the birds in the trees made a very relaxing atmosphere after all.
Some nights it was not as easy to sleep as the first night was. Some nights Jon woke up stiff as a board and he would try to not wake the sleeping Martin next to him. He never succeeded. On those nights Martin would hold Jon and whisper assurances.
Other nights Martin would wake up wracked with panic and heartache. Jon would always be there for him, to rub his back, to try and comfort him. The sleep they got afterwards made up for it.
The mornings after would be quiet. They would sit at the kitchen table and sip their tea. Tea did comfort them astonishingly well. The warm mug cupped between cold hands brought a physical comfort while the tea's taste was soothing and put nerves left over to rest.
The arrival of the couple did not go unnoticed by the locals. The locals did not know much about the odd pair. They did not know how Jon got his scars, but they did not ask. The locals didn't ask about Jon and Martin's past at all and it was apprieciated.
What they did do instead was help them settle in. They helped them with their garden and helped them adjust to living in the countryside. They made the pair feel as if they had a place in the small town.
Jon and Martin were celebrating. Jon had gotten a teaching job. It was a rather far commute but the two of them didn't feel like they could leave the safe house so Jon didn't mind.
The smell of spices wafted through the air with the sizzling of oil as they made Jon's favorite for dinner. The domesticity of it all settled around them as they finished plating the meal.
They were happy as they chatted over food and enjoyed each other's company, as they so often did. They washed up quickly and spent the rest of the evening quietly and together.
A fuzzy and tiny black kitten darted between Martin's legs. He and Jon had adopted a cat that day and they were working to acquaint the fuzzball with the house. The kitten was terrified naturally. However with some coaxing and food they managed to lure and comfort the small animal. Many coos and smiles were exchanged that night as Jon and Martin gushed over the kitten they named Liutenant Whiskers.
Years later, it was a cloudy and cool night. The gentle pitter-pattering of rain could be heard from inside the cabin. Jon and Martin were in their bed, Jon's head on Martin's chest while their arms were wrapped around each other. Liutenant Whiskers lay at the foot of the bed. They lay there, happy and peaceful. Happy because their vegetables were thriving, happy because Jon's students had surprised him for his birthday, and happy because they had found a home and in their new home, they were at peace because everything was finally behind them.