I am so sorry this took so long!

Michael woke up, a seamless transition from emptiness to jolting into a sitting position in the woods. He couldn't remember what happened. Why was he in the woods? He immediately knew he wasn't familiar with the area he was in. He'd never really been good with making maps. That had always been Gavin's job.

Gavin. He was falling and they were fighting the Ender Dragon and Gavin was there and Gavin Gavin Gavin.

His mind swirled, chanting Gavin over and over again. He stood and quickly regretted it. Lights flashed behind his eyelids and his entire body felt weak and dizzy. He stumbled from the shade of the tree and pointed himself towards the taller side of the mountainous region surrounding him. He wasn't sure where he was, but he was going to make it back to Achievement City if it killed him.

Briefly he thought perhaps that wasn't the best way to word it.

…

The sun was hot above Michael. His skin was flushed and his hood had been tugged back, disheveled curls pushed back from his forehead. The forest had thinned out until sparse trees were replaced with cacti and the dirt with shifting sand. The landscape was flat and dry; the last stream he'd stopped at was an hour back or so. He instead took frequent rests in the measly shade of the cacti, rummaging through his pack time and time again, organizing and reorganizing. Michael groaned, put his bag back on, and stood. His stone sword weighted his hips and clicked against his boots as he stood.

His food supply was running dangerously low. What the forest lacked in animals, it made up for in trees, which was incredibly helpful at the time when he wasn't hungry. Now his stomach felt hollow, and no amount of wooden handles was going to change that.

But whether it was the hunger or the feeling of hopelessness that was gnawing at his insides, he couldn't tell.

…

After what felt like an eternity of walking, Michael's feet hit cobblestone and he slumped down on the bridge, nearly crying tears of relief as his eyes traced it to the city on the hill. The lights were dim, only the outside torches illuminating the homes.

He braced himself against the side of the bridge and steadied himself, mustering the strength to take those steps towards the most welcoming place in the world. Michael's house was dark and solemn; there was no warm glow from his furnace. All of the houses were dark inside, he realized as he peered into windows, except for Geoff's. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door.

The sound of muffled footsteps seemed to go on forever before the iron door swung open. Geoff was grumbling about it being late, rubbing his eyes in frustration, but stopped dead when he took in the sight before him.

"Hey, boss," Michael croaked out. Geoff's arms were a fading blur, trying to catch him as he collapsed. Before he fully lost consciousness, he could hear Geoff shouting at Ray to help.

…

The next morning Gavin awoke with a hollow feeling in his heart. He felt empty inside; he didn't feel like leaving his house. He took one of the diamond pickaxes from his submerged chest and dug himself a new room adjoining the trophy hall, closing it off behind him and lighting a torch on the far wall. He curled himself into a ball and cried.

A few hours later he heard footsteps above him. Small granules of dirt brushed his skin as someone walked over him. He heard muffled calling of his name but he didn't answer. The footsteps faded and he collapsed back into fits of dry sobs, devoid of any tears. He'd shed them all over Michael, his boy, his best friend. He'd never see him again.

…

Eventually he heard the sounds of a pickaxe on cobblestone and his dim room was flooded with light. He shielded his eyes and listened closely. "Gavin," Geoff said.

He felt hands on his own, threaded into his hair, and he looked up at Geoff. Dark rings lined the underside of his eyes and his chin was rough with stubble.

"Thank god we found you," Geoff was suddenly angry. "Do you know how long it's fucking been? Seventeen hours, you dumb shit, and I bet you didn't know that, nor have you probably eaten!"

Gavin looked down in shame and shook his head. Geoff's eyes softened and he helped the Lad up, rubbing his back soothingly. "Come on, Gavin, you need to come back to us."

Gavin complied without a word, dragging his feet up the cobblestone stairs. Something in him had cracked when Michael fell, Geoff could tell, and it had broken as soon as Michael wasn't there to greet them when they returned to Achievement City.

They made their way out of Gavin's house and Geoff steered him towards the giant gray monolith he called home. The door swung open and Ray, Jack, and Ryan met them, pulling Gavin in and turning him to the left wall. Gavin was still staring at the floor stubbornly and Ray cleared his throat. "Vav, uh, you might wanna look up." Gavin reluctantly turned his head up and nearly fell over.

There was a new bed in the house. A bed where that oh so familiar man lay.

His Michael, his boy.

Gavin fainted.

…

When Gavin came to, Michael was still sleeping in the bed, back to him. Gavin sat up quickly, head throbbing, and stumbled forward. He reached a hand out and placed it on Michael's shoulder, turning him over and inspecting him. His face was covered with cuts and bruises, his right arm bandaged from what looked like an arrow wound. Gavin's breath hitched; he'd never seen injuries this bad. He tentatively placed a hand in Michael's hair, running his fingers through the thick curls slowly.

Michael's eyes fluttered open not too much later, or at least, Gavin thought. He couldn't tell, as time didn't really seem to be passing at all. "Hey, Gav," Michael breathed as his eyes focused.

"Michael..."

"Sorry, I was a bit late," Michael laughed nervously, unsure what Gavin was going to say or how he would react.

"You're an i-idiot," Gavin stammered through tears. "But you came back..."

"Geoff found me," Michael admitted. "He said I was lucky I remembered most of what happened, even though I seemed to have forgotten a few things like how I di- got separated from you guys..." But Gavin wasn't really listening, instead throwing his arms around Michael and crying into his hoodie. He curled his fists into it and nuzzled into the warmth of his best friend again. He'd been so cold without him.

Michael held him back with equal necessity and, feeling his eyes watering, buried his face in Gavin's hair.

"I missed you," Gavin whispered.

"I missed you, too, Grabbin," Michael smiled into his hair, pressing himself closer to the Lad. They embraced for what felt like forever.

"Michael..." Gavin muttered through his joyful tears after a long while.

"Yeah, Gav?" Michael tilted his head down to look Gavin in the eyes.

Gavin bit his lip, a million emotions running through his bright green eyes. First anxiety, then resolution, then determination. He slowly leaned closer and hesitantly pressed his lips to Michael's. Michael's eyes widened as he tasted the salt of tears and realized Gavin thought he was rejecting him. As the latter broke away, Michael tipped forward and continued it, to Gavin's surprise and delight.

When they broke apart for air, Gavin pushed him back onto the bed and lay down next to him, kissing him gently and quickly a few times. Michael returned those just as eagerly. Gavin wrapped his arms around Michael's neck. Michael threaded his fingers in Gavin's hair and pressed soft kisses to his lips and chin, reveling in Gavin's giggles.

"Michael, I love you," he breathed.

"I love you, too, stupid," Michael grinned. "And I really wish this hadn't been the way it happened."

"I'm just thankful you're back," Gavin admitted. "But don't ever leave me again, okay?"

"I don't want to. I never wanted to."

Gavin smiled and took Michael's hand. Michael squeezed back and Gavin curled up next to him. They fell asleep in each other's arms, fingers entwined.