impala_chick (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
impala_chick) wrote2023-07-16 01:37 pm
impala_chick) wrote2023-07-16 01:37 pm
Entry tags:
When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground (Buzzfeed Unsolvd/Watcher Fic)
Yay, I finished the Shyan Reverse Bang fic :D
Title: When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground
Fandom: Buzzfeed Unsolved RPF/Watcher Entertainment RPF
Characters/Pairings: Ryan Bergara/Shane Madej
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 3,354
Summary: Shane tends a lighthouse by himself, and it's lonely until Ryan shows up. After Ryan helps Shane rescue a lost sailor during a storm, Ryan reveals a secret that will change Shane's life.
Tags: Rescue mission, historical AU (1910s), Angel Ryan Bergara
Fic on AO3.
The United States Lighthouse Service, or USLHS, paid Shane to maintain the beautiful lighthouse he lived in on the California coast. When he’d taken the job, he’d expected adventure, boredom, and a steady paycheck. All three of those things had materialized, but he never guessed how lonely it would be.
Shane had been tending his old lighthouse by himself for over a year. He’d had exactly one visitor in all that time - his boss, the lighthouse superintendent. They did share a finger of whiskey together, but that hardly counted as socializing. It was a long walk into the sleepy seaside town nearest the lighthouse, which Shane managed to do at least once a week, but there wasn’t much to do. People generally avoided him. And when he made a rescue, the sailors were usually whisked off to the medical clinic and he was left alone again. He’d grown accustomed to it, even though he didn’t like it. He was totally out of practice at being social, and generally expected everyone to find him off-putting.
So when someone rang the bell at the front door of the lighthouse tower, Shane stuck his head out of the lighthouse window and greeted his surprise guest with extreme trepidation.
“Good morning,” called a man with twinkling brown eyes. He had a long metal rod tucked under his arm. “I’m Ryan Bergera, sent by the USLHS. Can I come in? I have a new radio beacon to show you.”
“How much will it cost me?” Shane shouted gruffly.
He could see Ryan raise an eyebrow and press his lips together. “No, I’m from the bureau. I’m not a salesperson. Surely you received the letter about new technology being delivered?”
Shane had received the letter from the USLHS board a few weeks ago, heralding the creation of a new bureau of lighthouse keepers under the purview of the Department of Commerce. The letter had also promised that new and helpful technology was on the way. Apparently change was happening more quickly than Shane expected.
Shane barreled down the tall flight of stairs, chastising himself in his head for being so rude.
When he pushed open the heavy wooden door, Ryan stood before him in a three-piece wool suit and overcoat with the USLHS insignia on his navy cap. Shane felt immediately under-dressed in his greasy work overalls.
“I’m Shane. Which I’m sure you already know, seeing as how the USLHS sent ya,” Shane clamped his mouth shut to keep himself from rambling.
Ryan stuck out his hand and his grip was warm and firm, and Shane couldn’t look away from his big brown eyes.
“I’ve got to get this thing installed and make sure it works. Hope you don’t mind if I stay a few days?” Ryan asked as he held up the beacon.
“Sure thing. I’ll pull out the extra cot. Come on up.”
Shane was shaking in his boots, but he tried not to show it. It was one thing to talk to a handsome stranger, and he’d already put his foot in his mouth. Somehow Shane was going to have to share his tiny room with him without making a complete and total fool of himself.
---
Ryan installed the new radio beacon relatively quickly. Shane did a test with it, and the superintendent said he could hear him loud and clear. Then Shane and Ryan shared a can of beans and Shane brought out his best bread for toast.
Ryan was surprisingly easy to get along with. It turned out they both loved going to the pictures. They debated the relative scariness of the Oz in the Wonderful Wizard of Oz compared to Frankenstein until it got dark.
And then, just as Shane was settling into his cot and looking forward to seeing Ryan in his dreams, a loud thunderclap alerted Shane to an impending storm. He lay still for a moment, listening to the wind howling outside. Lightning illuminated the lighthouse window, and the thunder rumbled.
The storm coming on the heels of Ryan’s visit sure made it seem like he was bad luck.
Shane sat up as when he heard a huge wave crash against the rocks. This kind of storm always meant danger to the mariners trying to navigate the coast, and Shane was going to have to stand duty all night. Shane took up watch at his window, looking down at the dark churning waters illuminated by the oscillating lighthouse and the frequent lightning.
Apparently Ryan hadn’t fallen asleep yet, because he sat up in bed too. Shane could barely make out his face in the moonlight streaming through the window, but he seemed tense.
“Sorry to wake you,” Shane said as he turned back towards the window.
“No, you didn’t. I couldn’t sleep. You want me to light an oil lamp or something?”
Shane shook his head. “It will make it harder to see outside.”
“Is this what you usually do on stormy nights?” Ryan sounded genuinely curious.
“Of course. It’s my job,” Shane said bluntly. Now was not the time for small talk.
Just then, Shane saw a ship listing to the right. A huge wave crashed over its bow, and it heaved over until the mast was nearly parallel with the water line.
“Shit,” Shane muttered. There was no way all the sailors could stay aboard that ship, not when it was being tossed about like a toy in a bathtub.
He grabbed his coat and charged down the stairs. His rowboat was tied at the dock, and his oars were stored at the bottom of the lighthouse. He grabbed the oars quickly and ignored the sound of someone coming down the stairs after him.
The wind nearly ripped the heavy wooden door out of his hands when he pushed it open. He was instantly soaked through to the bone once he stepped outside. This was no ordinary storm. In fact, it very well could have been the worst one Shane had ever seen in California.
He kept up a steady stream of curse words under his breath, just to keep his mind off the task at hand. He didn’t consider himself to be a brave person, and this was his least favorite part of the job. But he couldn’t just sit on the shore, not when sailors might be out there needing help. The water temperature was survivable for short periods, but the pounding waves made it impossible to keep swimming for very long.
Just as Shane threw the lines away from his boat that were securing it to the dock, Ryan reached him. His brow was furrowed and he looked worried. He didn’t even have a coat on, and he was completely drenched. Dark curls were plastered to his forehead.
“What are you doing?” Shane yelled over the angry gale winds.
“Helping,” Ryan shouted back.
“It’s too dangerous.” Shane shook his head, and water droplets flew everywhere. Ryan did not budge.
Shane could hear the shouts of someone in the water, and he didn’t have time to argue with Ryan. He turned and tried to peer out into the blackness, but all he could see were churning waves. He pushed the boat out as the Pacific Ocean swirled around his feet, threatening to suck him under.
Ryan sloshed through the water to help. They both had to contend with the waves, rain, and wind to keep the boat moving, and it was slow going. Once Shane was knee deep, he figured they were far enough out. As he climbed in, Ryan climbed in after him and grabbed an oar.
They paddled out as wave after wave battered them. It was becoming more difficult for Shane to keep hold of his oar, because it was soaking wet. By some miracle he and Ryan were able to keep the boat above water. Shane clenched his teeth and stayed focused on the man shouting for someone to help him. The wind was whistling in his ear, so he was worried that if they turned in the wrong direction they wouldn’t be able to hear the sailor anymore.
“Over there!” Ryan shouted. Shane followed his gaze. Off the bow on the starboard side, a man was splashing around in the water.
Shane paddled as hard as he could. Once they reached the sailor, Shane held the oar steady with one hand because if they lost it, they were fucked. He grabbed the back of the sailor’s coat with his other hand and helped him clamber aboard.
When Shane looked up, he saw a huge wall of water gathering speed and heading right for them. Shane’s heartbeat was pounding so loud he could practically hear it, and his hands started to shake. But there was only one thing to do. On autopilot, he started to maneuver the boat away from the impending wave. Shane estimated they had mere seconds before water engulfed them. He didn’t dare look over his shoulder, and instead put all of his strength into his oar strokes.
He held his breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and kept paddling.
Seconds ticked by. Somehow, water never crashed over him.
He inhaled sharply and took back what he thought before. Clearly, Ryan was good luck.
The sailor was obviously scared, his teeth chattering and his whole body shaking, but Shane had to know if there were others out in the water. He coaxed the sailor into answering his questions, even though he could barely hear his own voice as it was whipped away in the wind. The sailor said he was pretty sure he was the only one who fell overboard.
The boat rocked incessantly, but Shane kept his eyes on the horizon to avoid getting seasick. Shane and Ryan kept on the lookout for waves and paddled the boat around for a few minutes, listening for anyone else. All evidence suggested no one else was in need of rescue. Ryan shouted something, but Shane’s blood was still pumping so fast, he couldn’t hear. He saw Ryan point back towards the shore, which probably meant Ryan agreed. They got into sync quickly, and made it back much quicker than when they’d gone out. The angry waves were calming down significantly, and the rain had let up quite a bit.
Once they pulled the boat onto shore, time moved in a blur. Shane raced up the lighthouse steps to radio for help, Ryan brought the sailor inside the stairwell and tried to comfort him, the police showed up to speak with the sailor and get him checked out by a doctor, and then Shane sat tensely by his window all night, watching and listening for any other lost sailors.
When the storm finally passed completely, and the wind stopped whipping against the lighthouse roof, Shane nearly collapsed onto his cot.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Ryan whispered in the dark.
Shane was so bone-tired, he wasn’t sure if he heard Ryan correctly. He couldn’t muster up the wherewithal to say anything except, “you too.”
---
The next morning, Ryan already had warm food ready for Shane by the time he woke up. He had no idea how Ryan accomplished that without waking him, but he was immensely grateful because he was practically starving.
“You’re some kind of miracle,” Shane blurted out as he wolfed down breakfast. He didn’t actually believe in miracles, but Ryan came very close to actually being one. He’d shown up at just the right time with the radio, and he’d helped Shane save that sailor without being asked. Shane never would have been able to survive those intense waves alone. He would have surely perished in the Ocean if Ryan hadn’t been so brave.
Ryan laughed, and looked at Shane with the fondest gaze. Ryan got up from his cot and sat across from Shane on the only other chair in the room. He knocked his boot against Shane’s foot under the table, and Shane knocked his boot back. Shane hadn’t flirted with anyone in a while, but this sure felt like flirting.
That’s when it struck Shane that Ryan was probably leaving soon. After all, the radio beacon clearly worked. They’d used it last night.
“What are you thinking?” Ryan asked softly, his brow furrowed. Shane’s face must have betrayed how crestfallen he was.
“I think we make a good team,” Shane said with a shrug. “It would be a shame for you to leave so soon.”
He tacked on the last part, hoping that Ryan wouldn’t catch the sad and pathetic undertone to his voice. Within 48 hours, Ryan had proven himself to be brave and selfless and funny, as well as handsome. Shane wanted to keep getting to know him. If Shane was honest, he wanted to get to know Ryan in the biblical sense.
Ryan smiled slowly and put down the metal plate he’d been holding. “Well, I mean… they can probably spare me for a few more days. I’m fine staying if you are.”
“Great. Good. Yeah, that works for me,” Shane rambled. He could feel his cheeks heating up.
And then Ryan reached across the table and took Shane’s hand.
Shane froze for a moment, his eyes laser-focused on Ryan’s grip. It was gentle but commanding, and there was no mistaking the way Ryan’s gaze flicked to Shane’s lips. Of course Ryan would be the brave one here. Shane gulped, but he didn’t pull away. Near death experiences sometimes made people act strangely. Maybe Ryan was just having a ‘thank god I’m alive’ moment.
“Is this okay?” Ryan asked.
Shane nodded, and turned his hand to interlace his fingers with Ryan’s. He wanted to hold onto Ryan as long as he could.
“You really saved our asses yesterday,” Shane said softly, still immensely grateful.
Ryan bit his lip and looked down at the table. “That’s what I’m here for.”
It was possible he was referring to the radio beacon, but his shy reaction seemed strange. “What do you mean?”
Ryan sighed deeply, as if readying himself to deliver bad news. “If we are going to go any further, there are some things you should know about me. I don’t want to just lead you on.”
Shane’s heart sank. He had no idea what Ryan was talking about, but it probably had something to do with the hand holding. Maybe Ryan held hands with all of his friends, and Shane had totally taken it too far. Shane pulled his hand away and pushed away from the table.
“I’m sorry,” Shane mumbled, facing away from Ryan. “I shouldn’t have-”
“Shane,” Ryan pleaded. “Look at me.”
Shane steadied himself and turned around.
The sight that greeted him was almost too fantastical to be believed. It was Ryan, but he had huge white wings spread out from his back. There was ethereal white light emanating from his head, and he was floating. He had a white gown on, and sandals adorned his feet. But his face looked the same, framed by dark curls.
Shane’s jaw practically hit the floor. He didn’t know what to say. Ryan in front of him, all in white, very obviously not a normal human. If he was human at all.
Ryan touched his fingertips together and looked at Shane.
“You wouldn’t have believed me if I told you, so I had to show you. I’m an angel, Shane. Sent to protect you.”
Shane had to remind himself to breathe. He still couldn’t find the words to express how he was feeling. Ryan was clearly a sneaky liar, and he’d known all about Shane and his job and the mail he’d been sent. Ryan had used that information to gain Shane’s trust, and then he’d… saved Shane’s life and the life of that random sailor.
The room fell silent as Ryan hovered above the floor and eventually Shane had to look away from his brightness.
A literal miracle had kept Shane alive, and that miracle had a name. And a beautiful face, and a charming personality to boot.
“Why me?” Shane finally asked, dumbstruck. His worldview was rapidly shifting around him, but the biggest thing that didn’t make sense was the why of it all. Shane had convinced himself he deserved to be lonely. He’d fully expected to die alone, crashed up against the rocks after an ill-fated rescue attempt. Ryan might have been sent on a fool’s errand.
Ryan put his feet back on solid ground, and the bright light winked out. His great white wings curled back up into his back, and his clothes transformed before Shane’s eyes. It was awe-inspiring to see him transform, and now that Shane was looking, he could see the faintest golden glow clinging to Ryan’s skin.
Ryan smiled a genuine, human smile.
“Because you deserve it.”
Ryan made it clear, with just four words, that Shane was worth protecting. Maybe even worth loving. He cut to the core of Shane’s insecurities so quickly that Shane nearly choked up with tears.
But then he remembered all the things Ryan knew about him and narrowed his eyes, just a tad bit suspicious.
“Can you read minds?” Shane asked quickly.
Ryan barked out a laugh and shook his head. “No. There are rules about that kind of thing. I just read your mail occasionally.”
“Right. Of course,” Shane deadpanned.
Ryan took a step towards Shane and then hesitated, his face serious again. “So you’re not mad? Freaked out? What questions do you have?”
Apparently Ryan was the one rambling now, like he was nervous about Shane’s reaction. It was incredibly endearing, especially when Shane considered the fact that Ryan must have immense power as an Angel. And surely he could fly with those wings. There was no reason for him to be self-conscious in front of a human.
Shane pretended to think about it. “Maybe I am a little freaked. I mean, can angels and humans even have sex?”
“That’s your first question?” Ryan squeaked, blushing.
Ryan put all of his cards on the table, so the least Shane could do was be honest. He was horny for Ryan, even though the guy was an angel.
“You started this whole conversation by saying you didn’t want to lead me on, so I just want to be sure I understand.”
Ryan huffed a laugh. “Fine. Angels and humans can be intimate, and it has happened before. But maybe buy an angel dinner first.”
“Beans and toast don’t count?” Shane joked.
Ryan reached for Shane’s hand. When their skin touched, Ryan lit up with a more pronounced golden glow, and Shane felt the warmth of it all the way to his very soul.
“I didn’t think you’d be this… enticing,” Ryan admitted softly as his gaze settled on Shane’s lips.
“Thanks,” Shane said, like a dork.
When Ryan kissed him, Shane expected it. Ryan’s warm hands wrapped around his waist and pulled him close, and his mouth was plush and inviting. Shane licked at Ryan’s bottom lip, and Ryan moaned and opened up for him. Shane felt Ryan’s grip on his waist tighten, and he felt like he was floating on cloud nine. Their mouths were sealed together for as long as Shane could stand it before Shane realized Ryan didn’t have to breathe.
Shane pulled back enough to catch his breath, panting into Ryan’s mouth.
“That’s a neat trick,” Shane whispered before he bit at Ryan’s bottom lip.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Ryan teased. And then he looked down at the floor between them, so Shane did the same.
They were literally floating a few inches off the ground.
Shane gasped in awe. “Wow. You really know how to woo a guy.”
“Wait until you see my dick,” Ryan shot back with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face.
The joke was perfectly timed and Shane guffawed, absolutely delighted that Ryan apparently had a dirty mind just like him.
“Thank you for coming here,” Shane said after he caught his breath. “You’ve changed my life.”
Ryan kissed his forehead. “Just as you’ve changed mine.”
Ryan didn’t let Shane’s feet touch the ground for a long time after that.
Title: When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground
Fandom: Buzzfeed Unsolved RPF/Watcher Entertainment RPF
Characters/Pairings: Ryan Bergara/Shane Madej
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 3,354
Summary: Shane tends a lighthouse by himself, and it's lonely until Ryan shows up. After Ryan helps Shane rescue a lost sailor during a storm, Ryan reveals a secret that will change Shane's life.
Tags: Rescue mission, historical AU (1910s), Angel Ryan Bergara
Fic on AO3.
The United States Lighthouse Service, or USLHS, paid Shane to maintain the beautiful lighthouse he lived in on the California coast. When he’d taken the job, he’d expected adventure, boredom, and a steady paycheck. All three of those things had materialized, but he never guessed how lonely it would be.
Shane had been tending his old lighthouse by himself for over a year. He’d had exactly one visitor in all that time - his boss, the lighthouse superintendent. They did share a finger of whiskey together, but that hardly counted as socializing. It was a long walk into the sleepy seaside town nearest the lighthouse, which Shane managed to do at least once a week, but there wasn’t much to do. People generally avoided him. And when he made a rescue, the sailors were usually whisked off to the medical clinic and he was left alone again. He’d grown accustomed to it, even though he didn’t like it. He was totally out of practice at being social, and generally expected everyone to find him off-putting.
So when someone rang the bell at the front door of the lighthouse tower, Shane stuck his head out of the lighthouse window and greeted his surprise guest with extreme trepidation.
“Good morning,” called a man with twinkling brown eyes. He had a long metal rod tucked under his arm. “I’m Ryan Bergera, sent by the USLHS. Can I come in? I have a new radio beacon to show you.”
“How much will it cost me?” Shane shouted gruffly.
He could see Ryan raise an eyebrow and press his lips together. “No, I’m from the bureau. I’m not a salesperson. Surely you received the letter about new technology being delivered?”
Shane had received the letter from the USLHS board a few weeks ago, heralding the creation of a new bureau of lighthouse keepers under the purview of the Department of Commerce. The letter had also promised that new and helpful technology was on the way. Apparently change was happening more quickly than Shane expected.
Shane barreled down the tall flight of stairs, chastising himself in his head for being so rude.
When he pushed open the heavy wooden door, Ryan stood before him in a three-piece wool suit and overcoat with the USLHS insignia on his navy cap. Shane felt immediately under-dressed in his greasy work overalls.
“I’m Shane. Which I’m sure you already know, seeing as how the USLHS sent ya,” Shane clamped his mouth shut to keep himself from rambling.
Ryan stuck out his hand and his grip was warm and firm, and Shane couldn’t look away from his big brown eyes.
“I’ve got to get this thing installed and make sure it works. Hope you don’t mind if I stay a few days?” Ryan asked as he held up the beacon.
“Sure thing. I’ll pull out the extra cot. Come on up.”
Shane was shaking in his boots, but he tried not to show it. It was one thing to talk to a handsome stranger, and he’d already put his foot in his mouth. Somehow Shane was going to have to share his tiny room with him without making a complete and total fool of himself.
Ryan installed the new radio beacon relatively quickly. Shane did a test with it, and the superintendent said he could hear him loud and clear. Then Shane and Ryan shared a can of beans and Shane brought out his best bread for toast.
Ryan was surprisingly easy to get along with. It turned out they both loved going to the pictures. They debated the relative scariness of the Oz in the Wonderful Wizard of Oz compared to Frankenstein until it got dark.
And then, just as Shane was settling into his cot and looking forward to seeing Ryan in his dreams, a loud thunderclap alerted Shane to an impending storm. He lay still for a moment, listening to the wind howling outside. Lightning illuminated the lighthouse window, and the thunder rumbled.
The storm coming on the heels of Ryan’s visit sure made it seem like he was bad luck.
Shane sat up as when he heard a huge wave crash against the rocks. This kind of storm always meant danger to the mariners trying to navigate the coast, and Shane was going to have to stand duty all night. Shane took up watch at his window, looking down at the dark churning waters illuminated by the oscillating lighthouse and the frequent lightning.
Apparently Ryan hadn’t fallen asleep yet, because he sat up in bed too. Shane could barely make out his face in the moonlight streaming through the window, but he seemed tense.
“Sorry to wake you,” Shane said as he turned back towards the window.
“No, you didn’t. I couldn’t sleep. You want me to light an oil lamp or something?”
Shane shook his head. “It will make it harder to see outside.”
“Is this what you usually do on stormy nights?” Ryan sounded genuinely curious.
“Of course. It’s my job,” Shane said bluntly. Now was not the time for small talk.
Just then, Shane saw a ship listing to the right. A huge wave crashed over its bow, and it heaved over until the mast was nearly parallel with the water line.
“Shit,” Shane muttered. There was no way all the sailors could stay aboard that ship, not when it was being tossed about like a toy in a bathtub.
He grabbed his coat and charged down the stairs. His rowboat was tied at the dock, and his oars were stored at the bottom of the lighthouse. He grabbed the oars quickly and ignored the sound of someone coming down the stairs after him.
The wind nearly ripped the heavy wooden door out of his hands when he pushed it open. He was instantly soaked through to the bone once he stepped outside. This was no ordinary storm. In fact, it very well could have been the worst one Shane had ever seen in California.
He kept up a steady stream of curse words under his breath, just to keep his mind off the task at hand. He didn’t consider himself to be a brave person, and this was his least favorite part of the job. But he couldn’t just sit on the shore, not when sailors might be out there needing help. The water temperature was survivable for short periods, but the pounding waves made it impossible to keep swimming for very long.
Just as Shane threw the lines away from his boat that were securing it to the dock, Ryan reached him. His brow was furrowed and he looked worried. He didn’t even have a coat on, and he was completely drenched. Dark curls were plastered to his forehead.
“What are you doing?” Shane yelled over the angry gale winds.
“Helping,” Ryan shouted back.
“It’s too dangerous.” Shane shook his head, and water droplets flew everywhere. Ryan did not budge.
Shane could hear the shouts of someone in the water, and he didn’t have time to argue with Ryan. He turned and tried to peer out into the blackness, but all he could see were churning waves. He pushed the boat out as the Pacific Ocean swirled around his feet, threatening to suck him under.
Ryan sloshed through the water to help. They both had to contend with the waves, rain, and wind to keep the boat moving, and it was slow going. Once Shane was knee deep, he figured they were far enough out. As he climbed in, Ryan climbed in after him and grabbed an oar.
They paddled out as wave after wave battered them. It was becoming more difficult for Shane to keep hold of his oar, because it was soaking wet. By some miracle he and Ryan were able to keep the boat above water. Shane clenched his teeth and stayed focused on the man shouting for someone to help him. The wind was whistling in his ear, so he was worried that if they turned in the wrong direction they wouldn’t be able to hear the sailor anymore.
“Over there!” Ryan shouted. Shane followed his gaze. Off the bow on the starboard side, a man was splashing around in the water.
Shane paddled as hard as he could. Once they reached the sailor, Shane held the oar steady with one hand because if they lost it, they were fucked. He grabbed the back of the sailor’s coat with his other hand and helped him clamber aboard.
When Shane looked up, he saw a huge wall of water gathering speed and heading right for them. Shane’s heartbeat was pounding so loud he could practically hear it, and his hands started to shake. But there was only one thing to do. On autopilot, he started to maneuver the boat away from the impending wave. Shane estimated they had mere seconds before water engulfed them. He didn’t dare look over his shoulder, and instead put all of his strength into his oar strokes.
He held his breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and kept paddling.
Seconds ticked by. Somehow, water never crashed over him.
He inhaled sharply and took back what he thought before. Clearly, Ryan was good luck.
The sailor was obviously scared, his teeth chattering and his whole body shaking, but Shane had to know if there were others out in the water. He coaxed the sailor into answering his questions, even though he could barely hear his own voice as it was whipped away in the wind. The sailor said he was pretty sure he was the only one who fell overboard.
The boat rocked incessantly, but Shane kept his eyes on the horizon to avoid getting seasick. Shane and Ryan kept on the lookout for waves and paddled the boat around for a few minutes, listening for anyone else. All evidence suggested no one else was in need of rescue. Ryan shouted something, but Shane’s blood was still pumping so fast, he couldn’t hear. He saw Ryan point back towards the shore, which probably meant Ryan agreed. They got into sync quickly, and made it back much quicker than when they’d gone out. The angry waves were calming down significantly, and the rain had let up quite a bit.
Once they pulled the boat onto shore, time moved in a blur. Shane raced up the lighthouse steps to radio for help, Ryan brought the sailor inside the stairwell and tried to comfort him, the police showed up to speak with the sailor and get him checked out by a doctor, and then Shane sat tensely by his window all night, watching and listening for any other lost sailors.
When the storm finally passed completely, and the wind stopped whipping against the lighthouse roof, Shane nearly collapsed onto his cot.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Ryan whispered in the dark.
Shane was so bone-tired, he wasn’t sure if he heard Ryan correctly. He couldn’t muster up the wherewithal to say anything except, “you too.”
The next morning, Ryan already had warm food ready for Shane by the time he woke up. He had no idea how Ryan accomplished that without waking him, but he was immensely grateful because he was practically starving.
“You’re some kind of miracle,” Shane blurted out as he wolfed down breakfast. He didn’t actually believe in miracles, but Ryan came very close to actually being one. He’d shown up at just the right time with the radio, and he’d helped Shane save that sailor without being asked. Shane never would have been able to survive those intense waves alone. He would have surely perished in the Ocean if Ryan hadn’t been so brave.
Ryan laughed, and looked at Shane with the fondest gaze. Ryan got up from his cot and sat across from Shane on the only other chair in the room. He knocked his boot against Shane’s foot under the table, and Shane knocked his boot back. Shane hadn’t flirted with anyone in a while, but this sure felt like flirting.
That’s when it struck Shane that Ryan was probably leaving soon. After all, the radio beacon clearly worked. They’d used it last night.
“What are you thinking?” Ryan asked softly, his brow furrowed. Shane’s face must have betrayed how crestfallen he was.
“I think we make a good team,” Shane said with a shrug. “It would be a shame for you to leave so soon.”
He tacked on the last part, hoping that Ryan wouldn’t catch the sad and pathetic undertone to his voice. Within 48 hours, Ryan had proven himself to be brave and selfless and funny, as well as handsome. Shane wanted to keep getting to know him. If Shane was honest, he wanted to get to know Ryan in the biblical sense.
Ryan smiled slowly and put down the metal plate he’d been holding. “Well, I mean… they can probably spare me for a few more days. I’m fine staying if you are.”
“Great. Good. Yeah, that works for me,” Shane rambled. He could feel his cheeks heating up.
And then Ryan reached across the table and took Shane’s hand.
Shane froze for a moment, his eyes laser-focused on Ryan’s grip. It was gentle but commanding, and there was no mistaking the way Ryan’s gaze flicked to Shane’s lips. Of course Ryan would be the brave one here. Shane gulped, but he didn’t pull away. Near death experiences sometimes made people act strangely. Maybe Ryan was just having a ‘thank god I’m alive’ moment.
“Is this okay?” Ryan asked.
Shane nodded, and turned his hand to interlace his fingers with Ryan’s. He wanted to hold onto Ryan as long as he could.
“You really saved our asses yesterday,” Shane said softly, still immensely grateful.
Ryan bit his lip and looked down at the table. “That’s what I’m here for.”
It was possible he was referring to the radio beacon, but his shy reaction seemed strange. “What do you mean?”
Ryan sighed deeply, as if readying himself to deliver bad news. “If we are going to go any further, there are some things you should know about me. I don’t want to just lead you on.”
Shane’s heart sank. He had no idea what Ryan was talking about, but it probably had something to do with the hand holding. Maybe Ryan held hands with all of his friends, and Shane had totally taken it too far. Shane pulled his hand away and pushed away from the table.
“I’m sorry,” Shane mumbled, facing away from Ryan. “I shouldn’t have-”
“Shane,” Ryan pleaded. “Look at me.”
Shane steadied himself and turned around.
The sight that greeted him was almost too fantastical to be believed. It was Ryan, but he had huge white wings spread out from his back. There was ethereal white light emanating from his head, and he was floating. He had a white gown on, and sandals adorned his feet. But his face looked the same, framed by dark curls.
Shane’s jaw practically hit the floor. He didn’t know what to say. Ryan in front of him, all in white, very obviously not a normal human. If he was human at all.
Ryan touched his fingertips together and looked at Shane.
“You wouldn’t have believed me if I told you, so I had to show you. I’m an angel, Shane. Sent to protect you.”
Shane had to remind himself to breathe. He still couldn’t find the words to express how he was feeling. Ryan was clearly a sneaky liar, and he’d known all about Shane and his job and the mail he’d been sent. Ryan had used that information to gain Shane’s trust, and then he’d… saved Shane’s life and the life of that random sailor.
The room fell silent as Ryan hovered above the floor and eventually Shane had to look away from his brightness.
A literal miracle had kept Shane alive, and that miracle had a name. And a beautiful face, and a charming personality to boot.
“Why me?” Shane finally asked, dumbstruck. His worldview was rapidly shifting around him, but the biggest thing that didn’t make sense was the why of it all. Shane had convinced himself he deserved to be lonely. He’d fully expected to die alone, crashed up against the rocks after an ill-fated rescue attempt. Ryan might have been sent on a fool’s errand.
Ryan put his feet back on solid ground, and the bright light winked out. His great white wings curled back up into his back, and his clothes transformed before Shane’s eyes. It was awe-inspiring to see him transform, and now that Shane was looking, he could see the faintest golden glow clinging to Ryan’s skin.
Ryan smiled a genuine, human smile.
“Because you deserve it.”
Ryan made it clear, with just four words, that Shane was worth protecting. Maybe even worth loving. He cut to the core of Shane’s insecurities so quickly that Shane nearly choked up with tears.
But then he remembered all the things Ryan knew about him and narrowed his eyes, just a tad bit suspicious.
“Can you read minds?” Shane asked quickly.
Ryan barked out a laugh and shook his head. “No. There are rules about that kind of thing. I just read your mail occasionally.”
“Right. Of course,” Shane deadpanned.
Ryan took a step towards Shane and then hesitated, his face serious again. “So you’re not mad? Freaked out? What questions do you have?”
Apparently Ryan was the one rambling now, like he was nervous about Shane’s reaction. It was incredibly endearing, especially when Shane considered the fact that Ryan must have immense power as an Angel. And surely he could fly with those wings. There was no reason for him to be self-conscious in front of a human.
Shane pretended to think about it. “Maybe I am a little freaked. I mean, can angels and humans even have sex?”
“That’s your first question?” Ryan squeaked, blushing.
Ryan put all of his cards on the table, so the least Shane could do was be honest. He was horny for Ryan, even though the guy was an angel.
“You started this whole conversation by saying you didn’t want to lead me on, so I just want to be sure I understand.”
Ryan huffed a laugh. “Fine. Angels and humans can be intimate, and it has happened before. But maybe buy an angel dinner first.”
“Beans and toast don’t count?” Shane joked.
Ryan reached for Shane’s hand. When their skin touched, Ryan lit up with a more pronounced golden glow, and Shane felt the warmth of it all the way to his very soul.
“I didn’t think you’d be this… enticing,” Ryan admitted softly as his gaze settled on Shane’s lips.
“Thanks,” Shane said, like a dork.
When Ryan kissed him, Shane expected it. Ryan’s warm hands wrapped around his waist and pulled him close, and his mouth was plush and inviting. Shane licked at Ryan’s bottom lip, and Ryan moaned and opened up for him. Shane felt Ryan’s grip on his waist tighten, and he felt like he was floating on cloud nine. Their mouths were sealed together for as long as Shane could stand it before Shane realized Ryan didn’t have to breathe.
Shane pulled back enough to catch his breath, panting into Ryan’s mouth.
“That’s a neat trick,” Shane whispered before he bit at Ryan’s bottom lip.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Ryan teased. And then he looked down at the floor between them, so Shane did the same.
They were literally floating a few inches off the ground.
Shane gasped in awe. “Wow. You really know how to woo a guy.”
“Wait until you see my dick,” Ryan shot back with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face.
The joke was perfectly timed and Shane guffawed, absolutely delighted that Ryan apparently had a dirty mind just like him.
“Thank you for coming here,” Shane said after he caught his breath. “You’ve changed my life.”
Ryan kissed his forehead. “Just as you’ve changed mine.”
Ryan didn’t let Shane’s feet touch the ground for a long time after that.