Understanding the Storm

Austin sat down beside Xander, trying his best to remain calm and collected despite the tension between them. Xander had been so distant lately, and Austin knew it was because of the PTSD that often gripped him.

"Xander," Austin said softly, touching his shoulder gently, "we need to talk about your PTSD. I want to understand more about it. You don’t have to say everything if it’s too hard, but I need to know what triggers it."

Xander hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, before he nodded. "It’s... it’s not easy to talk about," he muttered, his voice heavy with emotion. "Loud noises, sudden sounds... those things can send me into a panic. But what hurts more is the feeling of being alone, being rejected. When I feel like I’m losing someone... that's when everything comes crashing down."

Austin nodded thoughtfully, trying to take it all in. He reached out and cupped Xander's face, lifting his chin to look into his eyes. "I understand. And I’m here. I won’t reject you, Xander. You don’t have to face this alone."

Xander’s eyes softened for a moment, a mix of gratitude and fear passing through them. Austin could see how hard this was for him. "I just... don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to be scared of me."

Austin gently pulled Xander into a hug, hoping that his embrace would help ease some of the pain. "I’m not scared of you. You’re not your PTSD, Xander. You’re not broken. I’m not going anywhere."

Xander leaned into the hug, silently thankful for Austin’s understanding, but the weight of his past still hung heavily on his shoulders. Austin knew this would be a long journey of healing, but he was determined to help Xander through it, no matter what.

Austin held Xander close, his voice soft but steady. "Xander, your beauty—your soul—never, ever scares me. You’re not your PTSD, and you’re not the fears that haunt you. You're the person I want to stay with, always."

The words were simple but filled with so much sincerity, and Xander, for a brief moment, seemed to let go of some of the weight he carried. His breath hitched, and for the first time in a while, his eyes softened—not with fear, but with something else, something almost... vulnerable.

But just as Austin thought the moment might settle, Xander froze, his eyes widening ever so slightly. Austin furrowed his brow, sensing a shift in Xander's mood.

"You... you mean that?" Xander asked, his voice trembling ever so slightly.

Austin nodded, gently brushing a strand of hair from Xander's face. "Of course I do. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it."

Xander's hands, which had been resting by his sides, suddenly clenched. His expression was conflicted, as if something inside him was fighting to break free. "I..." His voice faltered, before a sudden realization crossed his face.

"I... I have to tell you something else," he confessed quietly. "Something I didn’t mention before."

Austin looked at him with concern, feeling a pit grow in his stomach. "What is it, Xander?"

Xander’s gaze flickered to the floor for a moment before slowly lifting back to Austin’s eyes, which were now filled with a deep, aching vulnerability. "I also... I have OCD. It’s why sometimes, I get... obsessed with things. With you, with the little details. When you say something like that—when you say you won’t leave me—it starts to build in my mind. And it becomes... all-consuming."

Austin’s heart twisted at the rawness in Xander’s voice. "Xander..." he whispered, his hand gently brushing against Xander’s cheek.

Xander’s eyes were wide now, his pupils dilated. A soft, almost invisible glow of hearts began to appear in his eyes, a reflection of the deepening obsession within him. His chest tightened as he took a deep breath, his voice nearly a whisper. "When you said those words, I couldn’t stop it. It’s like... my mind started to race. I need to be sure, Austin. I need to know you really won’t leave me. I need to feel like you’re mine, completely mine."

Austin’s heart raced, but this time, it wasn’t fear. He could see the raw intensity in Xander’s eyes—the desperation, the vulnerability—and yet, there was something undeniably beautiful about it. Austin swallowed, his voice low but steady. "Xander, I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine too. Always."

Xander’s breath hitched, the hearts in his eyes shimmering brighter as he closed the distance between them, trembling slightly, as though he was on the edge of losing control.

To be continued

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