***
Treycore stood beneath Kid, watching as his head tossed about, his eyes closed. He couldn’t understand what was happening or why he’d been moving like that for the past few minutes. It was as though he was trapped in some sort of nightmare, but considering Treycore had been holding Kid’s motionless body, been so close to losing him entirely, Treycore didn’t dare disturb him, out of fear that he might interrupt whatever was keeping Kid alive.
Kid’s body finally stilled and lowered toward the floor. As Kid neared the ground, Treycore hurried to him, taking him in his arms and holding his nude body. Kid stirred, like he was waking from some deep sleep. The color had returned to his face, and he breathed easily, as though he had somehow healed from whatever he had endured before Treycore and the others had entered the Christ’s chamber.
“What happened? Kid, are you okay?”
“Yes, and I’m so sorry, Trey,” Kid muttered.
Treycore pulled Kid close, crying, his chin quivering because he felt so goddamn lucky that he was still with them.
“This is impossible,” Aerysn said beside them.
“It spared me,” Kid whispered.
“What?” Treycore asked, pulling away.
“It went into my mind, looked into my thoughts, my soul, in a way that no one else ever could. It saw my reason for being—to destroy it—and it knew what it had done was wrong. It gave its own life in exchange for mine.”
Treycore turned to Aerysn. “And you didn’t know that would happen?”
Aerysn shook his head. “No. Like that link Kid had to it. We couldn’t have ever accounted for that. It was some unexpected quirk in creation, I guess.”
“It showed me where Kinzer was,” Kid continued. “I had enough energy to help him a little, but they’re fine. And Janka had a kill switch at the top of the tower, to destroy the Morarkes if they turned on him like they did the Leader. I was able to activate it. The Morarkes are gone.”
As pleased as Treycore was, he was also pissed. “How could you do that, Kid? I could have lost you forever.”
“I’m sorry, but it was the right thing to do.”
“I know,” Treycore said, pulling Kid close once again. “It’s why I know you’re so amazing and special. Because only you would think to do something so selfless…to disregard your own life so much.”
“I wasn’t that selfless, Treycore. Because all I wanted was to be with you for just a little longer.”
Treycore cradled Kid in his arms.
Aerysn and the members of the Winged Justice left them alone, allowing them to cling to one another—to appreciate these moments that Treycore never believed they would have again, something he was so fucking grateful for.
“I love you so fucking much, Kid,” Treycore said.
“I love you too.”
Treycore pulled away and gazed into Kid’s eyes. Those beautiful, loving eyes. He pulled him close and kissed him. The spark between them, the passion, the heat, it was all there and so real…and everything he needed in that moment. They clawed at each other’s bodies, Treycore wanting to share so much passion with him, so much bliss.
“I can’t stand the thought that I can’t have you for the rest of my life,” Treycore said. “I don’t want you to go. I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Trey. What it did to me, the way we joined, I became one with it. I took on the Christ’s immortality.”
“What?” Treycore asked, sure he couldn’t have heard that right.
“We have forever now,” Kid said.
And Treycore continued crying, but for a new reason. He stole a kiss from Kid.
He wouldn’t let him go. Couldn’t let him go. He knew they would have to part at some point, but until he was satisfied, if anyone tried to interrupt what they shared, he would tear them apart.
Because they deserved that moment.
They deserved each other.
