The sound of the water being turned on filled the empty communal shower room as you stepped under the cool stream. Showers themselves felt like a luxury, one could only dream of a hot one. You’d lost count of the months that you’d gone bathing in a river or some other body of water, forgetting what a good shower even felt like.

Now you’re at a safe-house in a godforsaken part of the country, wondering if you really were going to spend the rest of your life hiding away from the demons chasing you. You’d been on the move for too long, flitting from one place to the next, never staying in one location for too long. There were multiple reasons for this, one of which was you were running. Running from the things you’d seen and the places you’d been. You only had one friend in the whole wide world… and you’d fallen in love with him.

You startle when you feel a pair of strong arms wrap around your naked body from behind. You felt your muscles tense, ready to fight for a moment until you recognize the touch. Carlos’ nose brushes the back of your ear, his arms gently tightening your frame against his bare chest.

“Shh. It’s me.”