i'll be catching fire

Michael listened to her quietly as he watched her, taking notice of her quickened heart beat, chewing on his lip, because his own heart was racing, and a part of him was certain their hearts were beating in sync. "Right... That makes sense," he murmured quietly, offering a weak smile, because a part of him had been hopeful, even if he didn't really understand what love felt like anymore.

Liz smiled as she listened to him, and she relaxed with his tightened hold, letting herself just succumb to how she was feeling towards Luke, letting herself accept it, but not saying it aloud yet, not wanting to say those words and ruin this. Instead, she settled down, relaxing against her pillow, still keeping Luke close, wanting to protect him through the night, wanting him to be safe.

Pea looked to Michael, biting her own lip. "I guess, you know, love is something to be cherished... you know when you feel it." She told him, and dammit, she certainly knew she was feeling it for Michael. Squeezing her hold on him, Pea kissed the top of Michael's head once more, trying to bring her heartbeat down to a normal rhythm as she held Michael, hiding her face into his hair.

Luke closed his eyes, relishing in being held close by Liz, and relishing at how protected and safe he felt. Squeezing around her once more, Luke kept his eyes closed, just wanting to relax, and as that feeling overcame him, he smiled, beginning to drift off, although his sleep wasn't smooth, he never fully relaxed enough to enter a deep sleep, but he was fine with that, wanting to ensure that if something happened to Liz in the middle of the night, he would wake up.

Michael listened quietly to what she said, taking in her words. Curious, though, he shifted just a bit to peer at her. "Have you ever felt it?" he asked quietly, though a part of him worried about her answer, about the thought that maybe she already loved somebody else - was she in a relationship? They hadn't really talked about that yet, and a part of him wanted to ask, while the other part was scared of the answer.

Liz only allowed herself to fully drift off when she heard Luke's breathing even out, having forced herself to stay awake so that she could be there if he needed her. Her hand stilling in its movement through his hair, she managed to fall asleep, curling close to him, wanting him near, wanting and needing to know he was safe.

Pea looked to Michael, biting her lip. "Um," she toyed with her lower lip. "Not until really, really recently." She told him. "All the love I ever felt was asking for company and being given something to shut me up instead, I've been looking forward to feeling the real thing for a long time, and now it's here, it scares me a little." She explained, her cheeks heating up as she realised she was rambling. "Have you?"

Luke woke up not long after he'd fallen asleep, panicking as he tried to catch his breath, sitting up from Liz's touch. He had the same nightmare every night, always feeling like he was being held underwater, always feeling like he was drowning. Catching his breath, Luke squeezed his eyes shut, running a hand through his hair as he stood to his feet, sitting on the floor, against the frame of his bed, his head in his hands.

Michael watched her for a few moments, surprised to hear her words, his heart sinking a bit with hearing that she found somebody she loved. Ducking his head a bit, he chewed on his lip. "I think so," he said quietly, "You said that... You know when you feel it, and I think what I feel is that..." He shrugged weakly before he peered back at her, watching her for a moment. "Do you think you'll ever stop being scared of it?" His eyes searched hers for a moment, curious.

Liz began to stir when she felt Luke's absence, her brows furrowing as she reached out for him, only to feel him gone. Her eyes widening in panic and concern, she sat up, peering around, and she'd started to get up from the bed when she spotted Luke on the floor. "Luke?" she whispered quietly before she crawled across the bed to watch him with concern. "What's wrong? What happened?" Reaching out, she gently placed her hand on his shoulder, worried.

Pea noticed Michael duck his head, and she silently wondered if he got her hint, but she cupped his cheek, sitting up. "I uh," She blinked. "Maybe." She told him. "But, this boy, he's beautiful, but he's been through so much." She tried to drop another hint. "And I don't want him to go through something else at the hands of my twisted family." She frowned with the thought, hating the thought of anyone hurting Michael.

Luke tensed when he felt Liz's hand on his shoulder, but as he slowly came to his senses, Luke remembered where he was, and he exhaled another shuddered breath, one that was so familiar when he cried. "Nightmare." He told her honestly, not bothering to hide it, not wanting to lie to Liz. "I had a nightmare..." He sniffled, pawing at his eyes. "Same one, every night." He explained.

Michael paused when he felt Pea cup his cheek and he shifted when she sat up, sitting up as well to make it easier for her. He listened to her quietly, chewing on his lip, his heart swelling as he took in everything she was saying, processing it, feeling a surge of hope with everything. "Are you... Maybe... Talking about me?" he asked quietly, unsure of whether it was even appropriate to ask but he needed to know, unable to help it.

Liz's expression softened as she listened to him and she shifted, climbing off the bed to join him on the floor, reaching for his hand to give it a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked him quietly, "Or would you rather I just ramble to distract you? Or is there anything at all that can help you feel better?"

Pea studied Michael, able to tell that he was processing her words, but when he asked, she nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I am." She told him.

Luke sniffled, squeezing Liz's hand again, just adoring having her to hold, having her to touch, her presence grounding him more than anything. He shook his head at the offer to talk about it, but he looked to Liz. "Will you ramble, please?" He asked. "Your voice is wonderful, I could listen to you all day."

Michael watched her, waiting patiently, curious and hopeful and just wanting to know the answer more than anything, though he mentally chastised himself because he knew he wasn't good enough for Peaches, that he never would be. That didn't stop him from hoping, though, and it didn't stop him from wanting her to care for him the way he cared for her, for loving him the way he loved her. And, when he heard her words, he swore his heart stopped, and he stared at her in shock, but also in relief. "I, uh... I was talking about you, too," he whispered, chewing on his lip, shifting closer, just wanting to be as close to her as he could manage. "I know you didn't ask, but I just... Wanted you to know."

Liz smiled slightly to his request and she watched him for a moment before she nodded, squeezing his hand before she laced her fingers through his. Shifting, she leaned against him slightly as she thought about what to ramble about. "There's a maze outside," she mentioned quietly, "I've walked through it so many times that I have it mentally mapped out. There's a fountain in the center. I think you'd like it, I'll take you to see it in the morning. But, the maze itself, focusing on finding my way through it helps me forget all my troubles."

Peaches studied Michael for a long moment, her heart pounding in her chest, feeling the relief when Michael confirmed it was her he was talking about. Wrapping her arms around his neck, still being careful, being gentle, Pea leaned forward, having never really had a first kiss. "Uh, can I - uh, kiss you?" She asked, her cheeks heating up.

As Liz leaned against him, Luke wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as he could, not caring about any consequence that he would face for holding someone as incredible as Liz, especially when Luke didn't deserve it, when Luke didn't deserve her. But hearing her words about the maze, Luke nodded. "Don't dunk me under the water." He tried to pass the comment off as a joke, but his words came out fearful, and he cringed at his own voice.

Michael honestly couldn't believe everything that was happening, his heart pounding, his pulse loud and clear in his ears, and he swallowed hard, wondering if perhaps he'd actually managed to drift off and he was having the only good dream he could ever remember. Feeling her arms around his neck, seeing her drawing closer, he watched her, his hands moving to rest gently on her hips to keep her steady, but also just for the contact, just to touch her, hold her. And, while he knew he probably shouldn't, when she asked if she could kiss him, he took the chance to kiss her first instead, unable to stop himself, not even wanting to, and he swore he'd never felt something so amazing, so real, in his life.

Liz blinked with surprise when she felt Luke pull her closer, though her heart swelled and a smile formed on her features, unable to help but to enjoy being in his arms. Shifting, she curled into his hold, just wanting to be as close to him as possible surprised with how desperate she was when it came to Luke. She blinked, though, her brows furrowing. "Why would I ever do that?" she asked quietly, looking up at him, though her heart ached when she saw him cringe. "Has that... Happened to you before?"

Pea bit her lip as she watched Michael, her heartbeat pounding so hard she was sure she could feel the movement against her ribs. But when Michael held her, Pea had sworn that she had never felt so safe, so loved, and when his lips pressed to hers, Pea's eyes closed and she returned the kiss, being careful, being gentle, everything coming so natural with Michael, her hands moving to cup his cheeks.

Luke rubbed Liz's back as she curled into his embrace, happy that she seemed to not mind being in his arms like this, craving her touch, her contact, craving her beside him at all times. Luke didn't want to become too dependent, but having Liz around him made Luke feel like he was invincible, and it was a feeling he'd never felt. Hearing her question though, Luke ducked his head, nodding. "Y - Yeah, it has." He confirmed, cringing again as he remembered it. "My last owners. Held me under bath water because I didn't want to cut my hair."

Michael was surprised at just how amazing it felt to have Peaches returning his kiss. His arms slid around her, surprised with just how perfect this moment in time felt, and he slid a hand up to run his fingers through her hair gently, just wanting to hold her, to make sure she was safe and happy, and he couldn't believe how lucky he was that she cared for him the way he cared for her.

Liz frowned as she listened to him and she shifted, moving a bit to slide her arms gently around his neck in a hug, still being careful not to touch his back. "I'm so sorry, Luke," she whispered quietly as she held him gently, her heart breaking for him. "You didn't deserve that and that won't happen ever again. You won't suffer like that here, not as long as I can help it."

Peaches smiled into the kiss, genuinely loving how it felt to kiss Michael, but when she felt his fingers through her hair, Pea relaxed further, gently caressing the back of Michael's neck, drawing little figures into his skin with her finger. When the kiss ended, Peaches rested her forehead against Michael's, the rush of love running through her so amazing. "Wow." She breathed.

Luke hugged Liz back, his arms firmly around her waist as he held her, burying his face into her neck, sighing out a shaky breath. "I know." He promised, knowing she would keep him safe. "Things like that stay with you, you know?" He asked, his voice muffled by her skin, but still happy to be held by her. "I trust you, Liz, I really do." He promised, biting his lip as he took in the scent of her perfume.

Michael chewed on his lip to hold back the grin that threatened to spread across his face. "That was amazing," he whispered quietly, holding her closer to himself, just so damn amazed by her, wondering how he got so lucky. Shifting, he held her close to himself, breathing out quietly. "You're the best thing I could ever ask for, Pea."

Liz nodded gently in response, reaching to run her fingers through his hair gently as she relaxed, wanting to comfort him as much as she could. "Yeah... I understand," she whispered quietly, holding him close still before she kissed the side of his head. "I'm glad you trust me, though. And I'm always here to listen or to talk, I promise."

Pea couldn't hold her grin back as she stayed close to Michael. "It was amazing." She confirmed quietly, holding him around his neck still, hugging him as she relaxed, her chin against his shoulder. "You're the best thing in my life, Michael." She told him honestly. "I'm so lucky."

Luke closed his eyes as Liz ran her fingers through his hair. "I don't wanna go to sleep again." He frowned, used to staying up almost all night, every night, the fear always taking over him. "But don't let me stop you from sleeping, sweetheart." He told her, not wanting her to miss out at his expense, although when she kissed the side of his head, Luke turned to kiss her forehead.

Michael could feel his own grin forming when Pea had grinned, unable to really help it, just loving the fact that she was there, that she loved him. He never thought he'd find somebody who would care about him as much as she did, but he adored her. "I'm the lucky one," he murmured as he examined her. "After all the awful things I've experienced, I finally have the most amazing person in my life, somebody who cares about me, and I'm so amazed by you."

"You don't have to," Liz assured him quietly, running her fingers through his hair gently still, enjoying the way his hair felt between her fingers. Hearing his words, though, she blinked as she watched him, her heart swelling and racing, even more so when he kissed her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere, Luke. I'll stay right here with you."

Pea smiled as she saw Michael smile, her heart igniting with the sight of his smile. "God, you're beautiful." She told him honestly, gently pushing his hair from his face, but hearing his words, Pea smiled softly. "I'm amazed by you, Michael. You've been through so much, and you're still so incredible." She told him. "You're an amazing human being, Michael, and I'm so lucky to have you."

Luke, not thinking, pressed his forehead to Liz's, feeling tears rolling down his cheeks with the kindness she showed him. "Liz," he cleared his throat, studying her. "Thank you." He told her; biting his lip. "I just... maybe we can climb back on the bed, and just cuddle, please?" He asked, not understanding where his confidence came from. "I don't want you to be on the floor just because I had a dream."

Michael could feel his expression soften into a small smile. "You're beautiful. Perfect, even," he whispered as he examined her for a few moments, memorizing everything he could about her. "Inside and out." He chewed on his lip, though. "You were raised in this place, by your awful father," he reminded quietly, "And yet you're just as sweet and kind and generous. You're the amazing one, and I'm the lucky one to have you."

Liz's expression softened when she saw the tears and she cupped his face to brush the tears away gently. "You don't have to thank me," she whispered, shifting to kiss his forehead gently, and she offered a small smile and nodded. "Of course. We can cuddle all you want, even after you start feeling better, if you want."

Peaches smiled with Michael's words, nuzzling into him, holding onto his hands so she didn't grip to him, or hurt him in any way. "Do you wanna know a secret?" She asked quietly, just being in Michael's embrace making Peaches feel like she could face anything and not be afraid like she had been for most of her life.

Luke sniffled, nodding with Liz's words, biting his lip as she leaned to kiss his forehead. Still, with her confirmation that cuddling was okay, Luke shakily stood to his feet, offering Liz his hand to help her up. Luke didn't want to get on the bed without Liz, knowing he was almost a stranger, and it was her room, and her bed, first and he couldn't disturb that. "I'd really like that."