A passionate kiss shared between the two bought them here: Samuel resting his forehead against Arthur’s as both men take a moment of silence to regain their breath, chests rising and falling in sync with one another’s and Arthur has never felt so connected to another human being like he does right now. Their shared compassion wasn’t spoken as much as it was shown, silent gestures to replace the words they can hardly gather and it was as if they had their own language. One of which no one else could understand; a language filled with so much raw emotion that they could spend their entire lives without uttering another word and yet they’d understand the exact message being sent between one another. In this moment, Arthur believes that their hearts are beating in complete unison. The time feels like it’s passing them slowly and their silence was far from empty. Arthur couldn’t ask for a better moment: nothing was better than his time spent here, with Samuel.
— He catches himself overcome with joy; it’s been happening more and more lately and the feeling was still so new to him. It was almost funny to him to think that his life finally left an opening for him to actually feel happiness; to actually enjoy something in life. The thought brought his smile to widen, thin lips parting just enough to reveal a glance at his teeth. How did he ever get so lucky? “Have I ever told you that you feel like home to me?” he spoke up. Even living in his own apartment hardly felt like home. It was Penny’s home and he was simply residing in it. He never feels happy there. But here, he feels happy. Loved. He could be anywhere with Samuel and feel like he’s at home. And he wishes they could leave this place, find somewhere better to live than a city infested with super rats filled with nothing but misery. “Sometimes, I wish we could just run away together.” he admitted wistfully. If it weren’t for his mother, maybe he would. He couldn’t move her even if he did have the money to; she’s rooted here. Tied not only to the hospital for her medical problems, but also by her obsession of Thomas Wayne. She’d never agree to leave this place and he couldn’t just leave her. He didn’t have he heart to. But no matter; his poor finances has him tied down regardless.
— “Wouldn’t that be nice?” he mused aloud, eyes fluttering closed as he let himself slip into his imagination for a moment; the two of them together, strolling along the shore of a beach together as the tide graced their feet. Fingers intertwined and they wouldn’t have a worry in the world. He’d always dreamt of living near a beach; but this was the first time he’s envisioned it with Samuel. He’s never been to one, but he always painted a nice picture of what life would be like there and the thought of Samuel there with him made it even better. “Do you like the beach?” Arthur would settle anywhere with him; here, the beach- any other place that Sam may desire. He didn’t care, he would be happy.
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That smile…that smile is everything to Sam, truthfully that is the thing he takes the most pride in, the most joy in; in making Arthur’s smile. It is not that awkward smile either, the one Fleck often shows in public, the one that is meant to put others at ease, that is meant to disguise the way Arthur truly feels. No; this smile is real and shamelessly joyful and meant all for Sam and Sam alone and that is what makes it so truly special – the sheer intimacy of it.
Home…that’s exactly what Samuel wants to be to Arthur; a safe haven, a port in a storm, offering a place he can come to escape his mother, to escape a world that cares little about either of them and has demonstrated nothing but cruelty and neglect. Is it any wonder they have chosen to find hope within each other when the world has failed to allow them even the briefest glimpse of it?
“I would like that.” Admittedly there is nothing Samuel would want more; for Arthur to be free, to escape his verbally abusive mother, a woman whose chooses words that seems deliberately cruel and callous in the face of all of Arthur’s tender and loving care. She doesn’t deserve him; no one else does.
Reaching over, Sam slowly combs his fingers through locks of Arthur’s limp brown hair as he considers the proposition; it has been years since he visited the beach, though he knows there is one to be found if you travel far enough out of Gotham, towards the West.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Shell Beach.” He confirms, glancing up towards the ceiling to clearly imagine it. As far as he knows, it is a man-made beach, where huge concrete walls frame clean golden sands, that stretch out to the sea. He’s only really seen postcards of the place, but the image is clear to him regardless; especially of the small pier, which he would adore to walk along with Arthur, holding hands in the bright, warm daylight.
“We could go swimming.” He has no idea if Arthur actually knows how to swim, but it is of little consequence, it’s highly unlikely Sam has the money or Arthur the time to travel so far and visit the beach, but it’s still nice to think about he supposes. So often Sam feels trapped in this city, but with Arthur he feels free.
Shifting up off the mattress, Sam slips on top of Arthur, but uses his own strength to hold himself up, not wishing to press too hard against Arthur’s body which is much frailer than his own. Bowing his head, he gently plants a row of kisses along Fleck’s jutting collar bone before briefly tracing the curvature of taut skin with the sharp tip of his tongue. Even in moments like this, where they are fantasising about escaping off somewhere together, it’s important for him to show Arthur that’s he’s beautiful to Sam and desirable.
“We could get a hotel room, with a clean, crisp white sheets and a sea view…” He ventures, allowing his warm palm to drift up Arthur’s torso, as he considers how he could make such a thing possible for them both. Could he steal the money to go, would Arthur travel with him then, even if just for a few days.
“It would be nice to get out of the city a while together.”
