I sit up, rubbing the bulky sleeve of the suit against my mouth before I smile at Matze. He smiles back, and then we both laugh.
Clayton frowns down at us, opens his mouth to speak, but simply shakes his head.
He grimaces at the swirling ball of vomit. Ripping off one of the waterproof fire containment bags from the wall, he utilises it to catch the fluids for disposal. Protecting the nearby electronics from any water damage and a potential mess.
Not like we can air this place out like a car when someone gets travel sick.
I can't help the laughter that bubbles up inside me. Hysteria finally taking hold.
I laugh. And I laugh and laugh, until my chest hurts. Tears stream down my face. My cheeks ache from all the smiling.
This is what life should feel like. Laughter,happiness, and hope.
ALEX
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next few hours blur together, like trying to recall a good night out but only summoning a few key moments. And just like the morning after, I feel hungover.
My throat is a desert. My tongue clings to the roof of my mouth. My skull throbs, and I might be imagining it, but I swear there's a pulsing sting to my upper left arm. It’s hard to tell when everything aches, and right now, I’m too exhausted to care - bone wearily so.
I’m like a bear emerging from hibernation, all bleary-eyed and trying to make sense of my surroundings. And just like a bear, my stomach growls, calling out for food after a long winter.
There’s a warmth enveloping me. My head rests on something soft, my arm is cradled between a warm chest and a firm hand lazily stroking fingers along my skin.
“That’s nice,” I say, my voice cracking.
I don’t remember how I got here, but I do remember reaching out to hold Matthias’ sleeve, in a silent plea forhim to stay. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to keep him near, comforting even.
“Alex?” I hear my name.
Which is probably why my mind drifts in sleep, and I dream of before. Before the constant bickering and the long nights alone. When he would work from home and sit on the couch with me beside him, my feet in his lap, whilst I lived a thousand lifetimes vicariously through the pages of a book. Back when we were happy.
“Are you awake?”
I force myself into cognisance. My eyes are dry. I can taste the remnants of salty tears on my lips. “Matze?”
Movement beside me rattles against metal, and then I feel arms around me, a gentle hand stroking along my spine. I bury my face into his chest, inhaling deeply the familiar scent of him. Manly musk mixed with… I take another deep breath, sniffing as I extract the crusty sleep from the corner of my eyes.
“You’re safe.” He reassures, his voice still husky with sleep.
I grasp clumps of his t-shirt between my fingers, pulling myself closer. I scrunch my eyes tight, worried I’ll be back behind the airlocked door if I open them.
“Is this real? Or am I dead?”
He chuckles beneath me, my head rises and falls with his breath. I look up at him. He’s…
“Luca?” I ask, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
He smiles. “Of course. Who were you expecting?” His smile slips a little as he realises what I thought,whoI thought I was in the arms of.
“It’s good to see you without a hatch between us,” I say with a humourless laugh.
“You had us all worried.” His wide smile returns. “How are you feeling?”
“All good.” I stretch out my sore, stiff joints, my shoulder pops with the strain. “Oof.” He rushes forward, concerned. “Just stiff. How long have I been out?”
Where’s Matthias?
