Ë™ Ë– âś¶ Bishop & Florian
Florian had always been running after his friends, that little game of catchup that he never quite outgrew until he just couldn't chase after them anymore. Those were memories that he'd keep in his heart forever. Whenever they did their weekly horror movie, and had it been too gory for Bishop to stomach he'd take Florian's hand and lead him out, finding themselves somewhere else entirely alone. That fierce protective drive the other man had over Florian, the boy never understood why, just knew that it was one of the very reasons his eyes never strayed from him. Like a rose stuck between the pages of a book, Florian stayed the same, waiting for the day his friend would come back.
Countless nights of whispers and laughter flashed before his eyes; the nights he so dearly wished would return, but now there was a vacuum where one once stood. The favored ace, daring to the end, their reckless rogue that captured the hearts and smiles of all whom he met. Florian's fingers tightened around his ring as his knuckles shifted white. Reid's words ghosting in his ear, clung onto Florian's unwavering heart. Don't give up on him, he's just slow.
Florian smiled at Bishop's statement finding himself as nothing more than that boy with the back brace with dreams too big for his little head. "Why did you always take care of me?" he questioned, his eyes looking for an answer he already knew. "All of my best memories always have you shielding me from something, even from myself."
There was a searing pain in his chest as Bishop bore his gaze into him. That stare that bordered on intimate, all too familiar as Florian had often found himself doing the same years ago. The shadow of the boy whose hand always fit with another's. He remembered the callous knuckles, the lines in his fingers, the way their fingers had first laced together, he remembered it all. A soft yearning, like the pallid flame of a candle that refused to be put out.
"And I was always grateful." Florian mused, a little smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You were the reason this place had always felt like home, and why I couldn't just pack my bags. All my memories of you are here, I could never abandon that. You made...You make me feel safe."
There was a sting in his heart at the mention of Reid, but Florian's smile didn't falter. He could hear his beloved Ace's laughter ever now, hearty and boisterous, filling the entire room with his chaotic charm. In his own way Reid also looked out for Florian. Florian shook his head softly, denying the things Bishop claimed. "You guys were my light, even when I felt like I was drowning, you were my air. My life would've been entirely different if not for you."
"I still visit your grandfather, twice a week every week for these past years."
Florian quieted down the children, having them pack up their supplies as he snuck glances here and there at Bishop. Parents began to come through picking up the young ones. Florian remembered all their names, the kids, the parents, their likes, favorite colors, each of these souls were unique, special and he treated them as such.
"You've always been the warmest out of all of us," Florian mentioned as he packed his little crate of crayons making sure they were all in the correct row and order. "Kit, Reid, Myself, we all followed you because you drew us in like a moth to a flame. Kit and Reid were practically made for each other, I always envied their love, so fervent and joyful. There wasn't a moment I wouldn't catch Reid staring at Kit without a smile on his face. He never hid how much he truly loved him, or how much he loved you either."
Many years ago he thought maybe just maybe he'd find himself walking down the road with Bishop's hand in his own. Going to dinners with Kit and Reid, mapping out the future or trying to at the very least. Florian had always believed Grant would be giving him away someday, just like he had done for Kit. Florian remembered how Kit decided to use popular songs and rewrite them into classical songs for his wedding, always the innovator that one. The way that even on his wedding day, Kit pushed Florian to dance with Bishop. He could neve forget how Bishop had looked that day, poised and regal, so happy for his best friends. Florian could nothing else but fall, fall hard and fast for him.
"Don't know what you're talking about because if you ask me, this was a much needed improvement," Florian teased playfully, something he had learned to do by watching Kit and Reid, how easily they went back and forth.
Without a second though Florian tugged Bishop closer as the gap between them grew smaller. This hug, he'd yearned for it for so many years, wishing for the day it would come. Now with his arms tightly wrapped around Bishop he could do nothing else but sigh with relief. "You're real, you're here," as if for a moment he'd thought Bishop would disappear once more. "My heart feels at home once more, because you are home to me, Bishop"