Pairing(s): Nick/Kevin Chapters: 1 Completed: Yes Originally Published:3/30/2021
"Nick I swear to god if you don't find something to do besides annoy me…" AJ yelled as he shoved Nick to the floor of the bus.
The blonde pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "I just wanted to wrestle with you, just like we used to. I'm bored!"
"Find someone else to annoy. Jesus Nick. Go bother Howie. I just want to be left the fuck alone so I can relax." AJ rolled his eyes and got up from the couch before heading to the bunks.
Nick watched him go, a sad look adorning his lips. Everyone was annoyed with him. They had been cooped up on this bus for hours and he was going stir crazy. When the other bus had broken down, making them all pile onto one bus, Nick had been ecstatic. It had been so long since all five of them were forced to be in the same place for any length of time and he had been bouncing off the walls since he'd heard the news. He just missed his brothers and was so glad to be surrounded by the other men for the next leg of the trip.
Apparently his enthusiasm however, was annoying the others. He'd already fought with Brian, who was more interested in finding a quiet place on the bus to talk to his wife rather than spending any time with him. And now he'd pissed off AJ. He had no idea where Howie was, probably asleep in his bunk. No one wanted to spend any time with him. They were all too caught up in their own lives to pay any attention to him.
He stared at a spot on the wall of the bus and tried not to get upset. Was it not okay to miss the people you were with all the time? Especially if you never got any real meaningful time with them?
"Come lay up here, Nick." Kevin's voice came from the other end of the couch.
Nick looked up at the older man. He'd been reading a book the last time Nick had checked, which is why Nick hadn't even bothered to ask for his attention. But the book was long gone and Kevin patted the space beside him. Nick bit the inside of his cheek and hesitated. He wanted to, desperately wanted to curl up on the couch with the older man, but what if he'd annoy him too. He sighed heavily seeing the look of sincerity in those green eyes. He stood and made his way to the couch before dropping down on the seat beside Kevin.
The older man pulled him close until Nick's head rested comfortably against Kevin's chest. Kevin wrapped one arm around Nick's waist while the other smoothed the blonde hair from his forehead.
"No one wants to hang out with me Kev." Nick said sadly.
Kevin gave him a light squeeze. "Everyone's just used to doing their own thing after a show and on the bus. It's been quite a long time since we've all been on a bus together."
"I know. That's why I'm so excited, I guess it doesn't mean as much to everyone else as it does to me." the blonde said sadly.
"You know they still love you. I know it's harder for you than it is for them. But you can hang out here with me. I know I'm not as entertaining as Alex and Brian, but I enjoy spending time with you Nick." Kevin said gently as he wrapped the other arm around Nick's waist.
The younger man burrowed into Kevin's arms deeper and closed his eyes. "You're better company than both of them." he said honestly.
Neither one continued the conversation, knowing it would only go back to that place where neither one of them wanted it to go. They'd found themselves in this same position too many times but neither wanted to push the matter. They felt strongly for each other, much more than two friends ever should, but they would only go so far before pulling back, retreating to safer territory.
Nick laid there curled in Kevin's arms and felt himself calm, his mind less chaotic. Kevin always did this for him, brought him to a much calmer and centered place.
He jumped a minute later as a loud noise boomed through the walls of the bus. "What the hell was that?" he yelled, eyes wide.
Kevin chuckled. "I think it was thunder." he pulled the blonde closer and dropped a kiss on the top of his head before leaning back against the back of the seat, a contented sigh leaving his lips. He loved moments like this when they stole away together.
Kevin wished that things could be different, that they could finally get past this awkward dance they did around each other, pulling each other close and then shoving away the moment one of them felt like it could actually turn into something. He was done trying to hide it, to run from the things he felt for the younger man. He was ready to say it out loud, to himself and most of all to Nick. They had been so close so many times they had all but admitted their feelings to each other a couple of times a year, but something always came up and then the moment was gone. One or both of them would end up in a relationship, him back together with Kristin and Nick with any number of gorgeous women and how could he compete with that?
He was so tired though. He wanted nothing more than to lean down and whisper the words against the soft baby skin of the other man, beg Nick to make him his. He was tired of holding back.
Another crack of thunder sounded and the lightning that came next illuminated the small living area of the bus. Nick jumped a second time and moved even closer to Kevin. "I hate storms." he said, his voice incredibly soft.
"I know baby, but I'll protect you." Kevin said, his voice echoing the softness.
The lightning stuck again, creating jagged designs of light on the walls. A second later they heard the heavens open and a downpour of water fell, slamming into the roof of the bus. Nick buried his face against the hollow of Kevin's throat as the thunder and lightning came faster.
There was a loud noise from the front of the bus and Kevin tried to sit up to see what was going on. "I'm scared Kevin." Nick said clinging to the other man.
"I know baby. Give me a second. Let me go check on the driver and then I'll come back and hold you." Kevin whispered against his forehead.
Nick nodded but made no move to let him go. Kevin chuckled softly and kissed his head before untangling himself and standing. The moment he got to his feet he felt the bus sway to the side and he stumbled before catching his footing. He needed to find out what the hell was happening. If the storm was making it too dangerous to drive then they needed to pull over. He gave Nick one last look and then headed through the small door to the front of the bus. The moment he stepped through the door he could clearly see the problem.
The rain was coming down in sheets, making it almost impossible to see in front of them, let alone the side lanes of the highway or anything else. He felt the bus drift again, caught up in the pools of water collecting on the road.
"You need to pull over. We need to wait this out. It's too dangerous to keep going." Kevin demanded of the driver.
The driver nodded and turned his attention back to the road. Kevin felt somewhat better as he saw the driver hit the emergency lights and knew they would be stopping momentarily.
He turned and tried to make it back to Nick but the bus hit a patch of water and spurred forward. Kevin grabbed at the doorframe trying to remain upright. Determined now, to get back to Nick he tried to move closer to the lounge of the bus. He pushed the door open and saw Nick sitting upright on the couch, clutching a pillow on his arms.
Everything happened in slow motion.
He tried to step forward, his eyes locking with Nick's as the bus swayed again. He felt the bus begin to lose control and in seconds the bus was rolling.
Kevin slammed against the sidewall of the bus and saw Nick go flying off the couch. Kevin screamed for him then, yelling his name as loud as he could but still unable to get past or to see where he had landed.
He felt the bus roll again. He could hear the crushing of metal, could even begin to feel some of the rainwater on his face from where the roof of the bus was starting to tear open. He prayed they would make it out alive, that none of them were hurt. He was powerless to help any of them and that thought was killing him as he held onto the door frame for dear life. He thought of the blonde, thought of what it would feel like in that moment when he finally told Nick how he felt, told him there was no more playing around. It was a wonderful feeling, something he'd desperately have to hold on to until the bus stopped rolling and he could get to Nick.
It was the last thought on Kevin's mind before everything went black.