I.
He had been curled up against Asher, enjoying the feel of the vampire's fingers combing through his long hair, when Jean-Claude came into the living room.
He knew by the look on the other vampire's face, before he could smell his fear, that something had gone wrong in Philadelphia.
When Jason came into the room, seconds after his master, he knew the news was bad.
Asher stopped touching his hair, waiting for Jean-Claude to speak.
When Jean-Claude finally spoke --- animation gone wrong, attempted assassination, skull fracture, hospital --- he didn't know what to do.
Luckily, Jason did know what to do.
II.
The plane ride would have been enjoyable if he hadn't been freaking out the whole time. He repeatedly played worse case scenarios in his head; he tried to make them stop playing behind his lavender eyes, but it was impossible.
Who would he belong to if Anita died?
Every time he asked himself that question, he had to swallow his heart back down into his chest and take deep breaths. His beast was trembling, vibrating with nervous energy; he wanted to call his Nimir-Raj --- Micah --- and ask how she was doing. But, there was no phone in front of him.
III.
It took one harrowing experience in the arrivals' area, one ridiculously slow taxi, and five floors' of waiting on an elevator, before he was walking down the hall.
His long legs, usually elegant, were shaking nervously with each step he took. No amount of practice on stage in the worse possible conditions could have prepared him for perfect form as he walked down the hall.
Micah was outside, by a nurses' station, sipping a cup of coffee. His sunglasses were on, as per usual, but Nathaniel could read beyond his eyes. Everything about his body position screamed fear and tension.
IV.
"Nathaniel?"
He offered Micah a tight smile. "When Jean-Claude told us," he explained. "Jason booked me a plane ticket." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't know what else to do, I---"
"Shhh," Micah whispered, lifting his sunglasses. He relaxed when he looked into his Nimir-Raj's eyes. He appreciated the gesture too much to articulate; Micah rarely showed his eyes off in public, for fear of discrimination or worse.
"You didn't even braid your hair," Micah commented, as he brushed the ankle-length tresses back. "That must have been uncomfortable on the plane."
"Didn't notice," Nathaniel admitted.
V.
Micah chuckled weakly and put his hand in Nathaniel's. "Do you want coffee?"
"I want details... if I can have them."
"Yeah... of course," Micah said, nodding. "Let's go talk."
Nathaniel felt his stride return to him as they walked away from the nurses' station. They found an empty lounge and chose seats along a far wall.
When Micah had finished talking, Nathaniel shuddered. "I'm really glad you decided to make a big deal of the night alone. If... if you two had stayed in the motel---"
He didn't finish the sentence because he couldn't bear to hear the words.
VI.
"Twenty hours," Micah whispered.
Nathaniel sighed. "Can... can I do anything for you, or for her?"
"If you want to cuddle up..."
Nathaniel breathed a sigh of relief and he crawled into Micah's lap. He buried his face in the other male's shoulder, letting his hand slide his shirt, in hopes of finding some sort of comfort.
He heard Anita's voice in the back of his head, commenting on their puppy pile, and he sniffled unexpectedly.
"We'll see her soon," Micah assured him, before pressing an comforting kiss to Nathaniel's head.
Micah's arms tightened; then Nathaniel's arms did the same.
VII.
The doctor had found them hours later and said it could take a couple of hours, or it could take the rest of the night, for her to wake up. It depended on Anita. But she would wake up.
Afterwards, Micah grinned and pressed a kiss to Nathaniel's lips. It had been meant as warmth, affection, celebration --- it turned into something else very quickly.
Nathaniel wasn't complaining. Micah was his Nimir-Raj, and one of his regular bed mates. They shared a place in Anita's life, and shared parts of their lives as well. Kisses, no matter what their motivation, were welcome.
VIII.
Micah took Nathaniel's hand and walked them to a nearby men's room. Luckily it had been empty, and with one quick turn of a lock, they would be alone in the badly lit room.
Nathaniel knew from observation how Micah would respond, but he didn't know from personal experience; his heart raced as he hopped up on the counter and wrapped his legs around the other male's waist.
Once snug against his body, Micah growled. The sound was low in his throat, vibrating and exuding dominance.
The sunglasses fell to the floor.
Nathaniel felt a thrill shiver up his spine.
IX.
They didn't take off all of their clothes, but it didn't matter. Micah's hands went everywhere, despite the fabric, and Nathaniel found himself in an awkward --- and, at the same time, perfect --- position, standing and facing the mirrors, precariously balanced between the harsh edge of the counter and the balls of his feet.
"Are you sure?" Micah whispered, his voice low.
Nathaniel felt that shiver again --- that was the voice he used for Anita. He knew why she reacted so strongly; he felt his insides melt and his beast purr.
"Yeah."
"It could hurt--- Oh."
Nathaniel laughed breathlessly. "Yeah, exactly."
X.
He had a small cut on his forehead, from where he was accidentally thrust into the mirror, and he knew he wouldn't be able to sit properly for a couple of hours, but he was sated and happy.
Nathaniel buried his face in Micah's chest, after they cleaned up, and inhaled deeply.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Do you feel better?"
Nathaniel nodded. Then, he asked, "Do you?"
"Yeah." He paused. "Too bad Anita doesn't enjoy watching shows like that," he said with a tiny, tired chuckle. "Because... that was... y'know."
"Have you ever done that before?"
"No."
Nathaniel smiled and kissed him.
XI.
As Micah stroked his fingers over her pale cheek, he asked, "How'd staying at the Circus go?"
"Fine."
"Was your virtue in danger?"
Nathaniel grinned. "Asher was a perfect gentleman... my virtue was intact until I came here."
Micah laughed.
"I'm gonna go get a snack from a vending machine," the auburn-haired male said quietly. "Do you want anything?"
"Nah... go ahead."
Nathaniel flashed him a little smile and then he left. He got halfway down the hall, and then he felt the air change.
Anita was awake.
He abandoned his quest for food and rushed back to the room.
