Chapter Text
Dys felt his resolve waver as Sol looked at him, disappointment yet understanding in their eyes. But he held his ground. He had to do this. He held the bomb closer to his chest, as if the action would hide it from his partner.
Sol opened their mouth, ready to spout the usual “I understand” to Dys. Business as usual, they guessed. But a whisper of a promise ghosted through their memories. Was it worth it?
Sol’s mouth closed and they dropped their head. They clenched their fists as tears began escaping from their eyes. “Please… don’t leave me.”
Dys felt his heart stop for a moment. What…?
“What… did you say?”
Sol looked up, their eyes swimming with tears. “Please don’t leave me.” Their voice shook with held back sobs.
Why did that plea hit him differently? Dys felt a pull in his head. Their words floated through his mind, but a brief image flashed across his eyes.
Sol had been hugging him, the plea being repeated. Their want to keep him tugging at his heart, but his own voice was loud and clear.
Never again.
Sol shook their head, turning away from Dys, which brought him out of the strange memory. “Just…never mind. Just leave. It’ll make you happy.”
Sol couldn’t help the sob that escaped them as they began to run, tearing out of the drainpipe. They felt so stupid. It wasn’t worth it. It was never worth it.
“No.” Sol gasped as they felt Dys’ arms wrap around them from behind, effectively stopping their run. Sol squirmed a little, trying to escape his grasp, but Dys held them tighter. He buried his face into their shoulder. “I won’t leave. Never again.”
Sol whipped around to face Dys, their hands landing on his chest. They looked at him with wide eyes, not believing the words they heard.
Dys brought a hand up to cup Sol’s face, wiping at their tears with his thumb. “I… made a promise to you, didn’t I?”
A loud sob overtook them. They collapsed into Dys’ arms, holding onto him for dear life as they cried their heart out. He meant it. Somehow, he knew. Dys held them close, threading a hand through their hair, holding their head against his chest. A pang shot through his heart with every sob. Just… how much pain had they been in? He had never seen them so emotional, but he wondered just how much of it they hid from him. Was this why… why he made that promise?
Sol continued to sob into his chest. They were trying to speak but their cries made it difficult. Dys shushed them quietly, urging them not to talk until they were done. He rocked his partner back and forth as they stood there, nothing else mattering to them except their embrace.
Through their broken breaths and sobs, Dys heard Sol say, “You remember.”
“I do,” he confirmed. “I don’t know how, but I do.” He kissed the side of Sol’s head, but he knew it wasn’t enough to convey what he was feeling. He pulled away from Sol enough so he could cup their face with both hands. He wiped at their remaining tears with his thumbs then kissed their forehead. “I’m not going anywhere,” he mumbled against their skin. He ducked his head down to kiss Sol, sweet and slow. Everything Sol deserved and more. “Not now. Not ever again.”
“Thank you.” Sol repeated the words like a prayer as Dys held them close again. Their relief and joy was everything to him.
He’d never let them go. Never again.