It was shabby-looking compared to what Damon had given him, a wrinkled mass of Santa Claus wrapping paper, but Damon didn’t seem to think so. He seemed shocked to be receiving something, and carefully took the proffered gift from Micah’s hands like it was something precious.

It made nervous butterflies sprout in Micah’s stomach as he reclaimed his seat next to the man on the couch. “Should I go first or…?”

That seemed to snap Damon out of whatever strange daze he’d fallen into. “Yes, please, open it.”

Under Damon’s watchful gaze, Micah untied the bow before tearing into the wrapping paper to uncover an unassuming box. Opening the box, Micah revealed a watch.

Micah felt his stomach cramp in disbelief. Because, of course, it wasn’t just any watch. It was a platinum Rolex, complete with a diamond-encrusted dial and even larger, shinier gems serving as the numbers.

“Damon, I don’t even want to know how much this is worth,” he said faintly.

“So don’t ask,” the man said simply.

Micah shot him an unimpressed look.

Damon sighed. “Look, I know you don’t use the phone I gave you outside of your apartment because you think it’s bugged, or that I’m spying on you with it.”

“You realized you all but confirmed this belief just now, right?”

Damon ignored him. “So this is my solution to the problem. It’s not a smart watch, so you know it’s not loaded with tracking apps, but I did have a panic button installed.” He gently took the watch from Micah and showed him the small, nearly imperceptible button on the side. “Press this three times if you’re ever in trouble, and your coordinates will be sent to me immediately.”

Micah was both impressed and touched. However, he’d been uncomfortable just holding such an expensive timepiece, he couldn’t imagine wearing it around. And besides, what if he accidentally triggered the panic button and sent Damon his coordinates while he was at the precinct?

Damon held out his hand, clearly expecting Micah to lay his own in it so he could help him put on the watch. Micah gnawed the inside of his cheek in indecision.

“Please,” Damon implored, a little crinkle of worry forming in his brow. “It’s disconcerting for me to know that most of the time you’re out of reach with no form of protection. It distracts me from work. I know I presented it as a gift, but it’s as much for me as it is for you.”

And fuck if Micah wouldn’t do anything to make that little crinkle of worry fade away. Ignoring the foolishness of what he was doing, Micah sighed and laid his hand in Damon’s, allowing the man to carefully fasten the watch around his wrist. It was light and surprisingly comfortable, feeling not at all like the shackle Micah had pictured in his mind.