cool down Xander

As Austin knelt beside Xander, his heart aching at the sight of the man he had become so tangled with, he made a decision. Gently, he cupped Xander’s face in his hands, his touch warm and reassuring despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

Xander’s eyes were still wild, filled with the remnants of the war that haunted him. But Austin, with his steady hands and soft gaze, leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to Xander’s cheek. It was a simple act, a gesture filled with more care than words could express. He felt the warmth of Xander's skin under his lips, and for that brief moment, the world seemed to stop.

Xander's body stilled as the kiss lingered, and the tension in his shoulders slowly began to melt away. The grip on his head loosened, his breathing became less frantic, and his eyes softened just a fraction. Austin could feel the subtle shift in Xander's energy, the chaos in his mind slowly being soothed by the simple affection.

Xander blinked, his eyes still hazy, but there was something more present now—something grounded, something familiar. The cold, sharp edges of his PTSD seemed to dull, and he closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to feel the calm that Austin’s touch had brought.

Austin pulled away just slightly, watching Xander carefully. "Are you okay?" he whispered, his voice quiet, yet full of concern.

Xander’s lips parted, as though he wanted to speak, but no words came. Instead, he slowly reached out, his hand trembling just a little, and placed it gently on Austin’s cheek. There was no need for more words; in that moment, the touch between them spoke volumes.

"Thank you," Xander whispered finally, his voice rough, but laced with gratitude.

Austin smiled softly, nodding. He didn’t have all the answers, and he didn’t know how long this peace would last, but for the first time, he felt like he was making a real difference. Maybe, just maybe, with every touch, every kiss, he could help Xander heal, just as Xander had started to do for him.

As Austin sat back, he felt a sense of calm settling between them, a fragile peace that held the promise of something more—something that could survive the pain, the brokenness, and the chaos that surrounded them. It was a slow, tentative hope, but it was there. And for now, that was enough.

After that moment, something in Xander shifted, a subtle but unmistakable change in the way he looked at Austin. The kiss, the touch, the connection—it was as if a part of him had awoken, something dark and consuming that had been buried beneath years of pain and trauma.

Xander couldn't shake the feeling that Austin had become more than just a part of his life—he had become his anchor, his obsession. The way Austin had touched him, soothed his troubled mind, had planted a seed deep within him, a longing that began to twist and grow with every passing moment. Xander found himself unable to stay away, his thoughts consumed by Austin. He watched him more intently now, every small gesture, every soft word, every glance. Austin was no longer just the one who had reminded him of the good in the world; he had become the only thing that mattered.

Austin, in contrast, remained cautious. He could sense the shift in Xander, the subtle change in the intensity of his gaze, the way his presence seemed to follow him everywhere now. It was as if Xander had become fixated on him in a way that was almost suffocating. At first, Austin tried to brush it off, chalking it up to Xander’s complicated emotions and the trauma he had been through. But soon, it became too much to ignore.

One evening, as Austin sat quietly by the window, reading a book, he felt Xander’s presence behind him—unseen, but unmistakable. He didn’t even need to look over his shoulder to know that Xander was there. The air around him seemed to thicken, the space between them growing heavier with each passing second.

“Xander?” Austin asked, not turning around.

Xander’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was a certain intensity to it that sent a shiver down Austin's spine. “You’re mine now, Austin.”

Austin’s breath caught in his throat. He slowly turned, his heart racing. Xander stood there, his eyes darker than before, a look of possessiveness in them that Austin hadn’t seen earlier. The once tender, healing touch had now become something more primal, something driven by a need he didn’t fully understand. Xander stepped forward, his hand resting lightly on Austin’s shoulder, but the pressure was there, firm and unyielding.

“I never wanted anyone like this before,” Xander murmured, his voice thick with something Austin couldn’t place. “But you… you’ve become everything to me. I can’t let you go. Not now. Not ever.”

Austin’s chest tightened, the words hitting him harder than he had anticipated. He had known Xander was struggling with his demons, but this… this obsession was something else entirely. It was possessive, dangerous even, and Austin could feel it creeping into every corner of his life, pressing in on him with each breath Xander took.

“Xander…” Austin’s voice trembled slightly, unsure of how to respond. “This… this isn’t healthy. You can’t just—”

But Xander silenced him with a kiss, his lips pressing urgently against Austin’s before pulling away, his forehead resting gently against Austin’s. “I don’t care, Austin. I can’t let you go. You’re the one thing that’s real to me now. The one thing I can hold onto.”

Austin didn’t know what to say. The feeling of being wanted, of being needed in such an intense way, was overwhelming. But at the same time, it felt suffocating. It was as if Xander’s obsession with him had taken root, and Austin was afraid that, soon, it would consume him completely.

He stepped back slowly, keeping his gaze steady on Xander’s. “I can’t be the person you need me to be. I’m just… me. You need to figure this out. You need to heal.”

Xander’s expression darkened, a flicker of pain crossing his face before he quickly masked it with a forced smile. “I don’t need anyone else, Austin. I just need you. You don’t understand. You’re mine now.”

The words hit Austin like a cold wave. He took another step back, his mind racing. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. This wasn’t what he had signed up for. But Xander’s gaze, the way he looked at him like he was the only thing worth breathing for, made it impossible to walk away.

Austin was caught in a dangerous dance—one where the line between love, obsession, and control blurred with every step. And as much as he wanted to break free, he couldn’t deny the pull between them, the undeniable connection that seemed to tie them together, for better or for worse.

To be continued

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