Till Our Hearts Cross 👨❤️💋👨 💏

Porsche

The quiet in the room seemed to stretch on forever. Macau was still resting peacefully, the steady beep of the heart monitor filling the air with a sense of calm that seemed to settle deep into my bones. I wasn't sure how long I'd been standing there, but the moment felt suspended, as if time itself was holding its breath. Vegas was sitting beside the bed, his expression unreadable, but I could see the tightness in his shoulders, the way he kept glancing at Macau, as though he couldn't quite pull himself away.

I knew he was exhausted. I could see the lines of fatigue etched into his face, the way his jaw clenched even when he wasn't speaking. It was hard for him to let go of the responsibility. To step back and allow himself to rest. He was used to being in control, to bearing the weight of everything. But I wasn't sure how much longer he could hold up like this, especially after everything that had happened.

"Vegas," I said gently, breaking the silence. "You should get some rest. I'll stay with Macau for the night. You need it."

Vegas didn't immediately respond, his gaze still locked on his brother. His brow furrowed slightly, as if the idea of leaving Macau even for a moment was unbearable.

"I can't," he murmured, barely above a whisper. "What if something happens?"

I walked over, pulling the chair closer to him, sitting down next to him without saying a word. The space between us seemed to shrink, the pull of something unspoken thickening the air. His eyes flickered over to me, and for a moment, there was a brief softness in them, something I hadn't seen before—a vulnerability that he didn't usually show. But just as quickly, it disappeared, replaced with the same stoic facade he always wore.

"You can't keep going like this," I said, my voice steady, though I could feel the tension building between us. "You're pushing yourself too hard. Macau is stable. You're not doing anyone any good if you run yourself into the ground."

He hesitated for a long moment, clearly torn. Then, finally, he sighed deeply, as if the weight of everything was crashing down on him all at once. He ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders slumping just slightly.

"Fine," he said, voice tight. "But you keep an eye on him. Don't let anything happen."

I nodded, though I could tell he wasn't fully convinced. He was still too on edge, too focused on the idea that something might go wrong. But he was finally agreeing to step back, if only for a little while.

Just as I was about to say something else, the door to the room opened quietly, and Ken stepped inside, his usual calm demeanor in place.

"I've been assigned to look after Macau for the night," he said, his voice smooth, as though he had all the answers. "Porsche, you've done enough. You should rest."

I looked between Ken and Vegas, who was still seated at the bed, his gaze locked on Macau but with a hint of exhaustion finally showing through. It seemed like Ken was taking over the responsibility now, but I wasn't ready to let go of the quiet moment we had here, just the two of us.

"I'm not going anywhere," I replied, though there was a part of me that was reluctant to leave Vegas alone in this space. Ken gave me a pointed look, the kind that didn't leave room for argument, but I wasn't sure I was ready to leave yet.

I glanced at Vegas one last time, his tired eyes meeting mine, and for a brief moment, something shifted. He nodded, albeit reluctantly, and finally stood up from his seat.

"Fine. I'll go," he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. "But you know where to find me if anything happens."

"I'll keep watch," I promised, and as I watched him leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was still something lingering between us. Something unspoken. Something I wasn't ready to deal with yet, but it was there. And I couldn't deny it.

But Ken chased me to go rest and so, I found myself walking down the hall towards Vegas's room, unsure of what had prompted me to seek him out. Maybe it was the lingering tension, maybe it was the way his eyes had softened just for a moment when we'd locked gazes earlier. Whatever it was, I knew I needed to see him again.

I knocked lightly, and the door opened almost immediately. Vegas stood in the doorway, his dark hair tousled, still wearing the same clothes from earlier. His eyes softened when he saw me, but only for a second before his usual guarded expression took over.

"You couldn't sleep?" he asked, voice low but not unkind.

I shrugged. "Couldn't stop thinking. About everything."

Vegas didn't say anything for a moment, just stepped aside to let me in. I closed the door behind me and stood there for a moment, watching him. The silence stretched between us, but there was something different about it this time. It wasn't awkward. It wasn't filled with tension. It was just... quiet.

I felt the air shift around us as I moved closer to him, and before I even realized it, I was standing just inches away. Vegas didn't move, but I could feel the pull between us—an intensity I hadn't expected, one that had been building over the course of the evening. My breath caught in my throat as his eyes flickered to my lips for a split second, before meeting my gaze again.

"I don't know what's happening between us," I said softly, my voice barely a whisper.

"I don't either," Vegas replied, his tone just as soft but equally uncertain.

And then, without warning, it happened. Vegas closed the distance between us, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that was raw, desperate, but also... needed. There was no planning, no thought—it was just two people who had been through hell, finding some sort of solace in each other.

It was messy at first, the kiss frantic, desperate, as if we were trying to erase all the pain we'd been holding onto. But as the seconds ticked by, the urgency faded, replaced by something else. Something deeper.

When we finally pulled away, our breaths were ragged, our hearts pounding. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't sure I needed to.

Vegas was staring at me, his eyes dark with something I couldn't quite name. His body was still pressed close to mine, the heat between us palpable. I could feel the tension still radiating off him, but there was also something else—a vulnerability, a need for connection, something I hadn't expected.

"Stay," Vegas said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't hesitate.

I stayed.