i'll be catching fire

Michael listened to her quietly, squeezing her hands gently as he watched her before he nodded slightly. "What's the secret?" he asked with curiosity, running his thumbs over the back of her hands gently, just enjoying the way her skin felt under his touch.

Liz nodded as she watched him, placing her hand in his to pull herself up carefully. "Then, that's what we'll do," she assured with a small smile, giving his hand a squeeze before she moved to climb onto the bed, tugging his hand gently to get him to climb on.

Pea smiled, pressing a kiss to Michael’s forehead. “I wanna run away from here one day. And when I do, I’m taking you with me.” She promised, wanting to find Michael’s family.

Luke blinked as Liz tugged him onto the bed, laying down and shifting to Liz, as closely as he could get; his arm wrapped her waist, burying his face into her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Liz.”

Michael watched her, blinking with mild surprise as he took in her words, processing them, though he felt concern well up inside of himself for her. "But, what if something happens and you get caught?" he asked her quietly, watching her with concern, "What would happen to you?"

Liz shifted, sliding an arm around Luke's neck gently to play with the hair at the back of his head gently, her expression softening as she held him close. "What in the world are you apologizing for, Luke?" she asked quietly, "You haven't done anything wrong."

Peaches nuzzled into Michael, craving his comfort. “I won’t get caught,” she promised quietly. “I’ve been thinking so much about it that I’ve kinda mapped everything out.” She explained quietly.

Luke sniffled, shrugging his shoulders with Liz’s question. “I don’t know.” He murmured, sighing sadly, snuggling even closer into Liz, craving her attention, her focus, wanting her to love him and care for him as much as he cared and loved for her.

Michael watched her, still concerned, but he held her as close as he could, running his fingers through her hair, swearing he'd do whatever it took to keep her safe. “Yeah?” he asked in a quiet murmur, “If it means you get out of here, I'm all for it.”

Liz’s expression softened and she held him close, kissing the top of his head. “It's okay,” she whispered quietly, shifting to bury her face into his hair. “Really. You never have to apologize to me, Luke, not for anything, but especially when you haven't done anything wrong.”

Pea watched Michael, noticing his concern, but as he held her, she relaxed. "Yeah." She nodded. "But you're coming with me." She told him, just as quiet as she just took in the feeling of having him beside her, the whole bedroom feeling a little lighter now that he was with her, playing with his hair mindlessly.

With Liz's words, more tears escaped Luke's eyes, and he couldn't stop them, he couldn't hold them back, because this woman was the perfect example of everything he'd wished for to come to him. And here she was, ethereal and in his level of existence. "Thank you, Liz." He hiccupped slightly, his cheeks damp from his tears as she nuzzled into his hair. "I -" he tried to think of how to convey his feelings into words, but he couldn't, instead just sighing.

Michael blinked with surprise, his expression softening as he watched Pea. “Yeah, I hope so,” he said quietly, mostly because he wanted to be with Pea, he wanted to make sure that she was safe, no matter what happened to him in the end.

Liz felt her heart ache for Luke when she saw more tears falling, and she held him close, running her fingers through his hair. “You don’t have to thank me,” she assured quietly, “It’s okay, you’re okay.” She rubbed his back gently, breathing out quietly.

Pea frowned slightly as Michael used the word hope, and she pulled away, looking to him with a stern gaze, firm, but gentle, not wanting him to feel fear with her. "Listen to me, Michael." Pea murmured softly. "We can do this together. Don't you ever feel like I will leave you here, with that awful man."

Luke managed to calm a little when he felt Liz's fingers run through his hair, and he sniffled, feeling pathetic, feeling as though he was nothing more than just a boy who existed to be nothing more than a punching bag - but maybe Liz would be his saving grace. She hadn't hit him yet. "I want to thank you, though." Luke murmured, blue eyes tired and heavy, and he almost succumbed to his exhaustion as he nuzzled further into Liz, not realising what he was doing.

Michael watched Pea with mild surprise, though he found himself nodding before he even realized he was doing it. “I just…” he sighed quietly, unsure, and his gaze locked on hers, “If you get the chance to leave, you should take it - with or without me... I want you to be safe…”

Liz watched Luke as she listened to him quietly, her heart easing when Luke nuzzled further against her, and she breathed out, her fingers still running through his hair. “Okay,” she murmured quietly, “If that’s what you want, I’ll accept the gratitude.”