A promise of Always

He was still when he slept. Peaceful. There was something serene in his face when the masks dropped off, when he lay open and quiet in his bed.


He had long since passed out after several days in the working on a mad creating binge. He had practically dragged the man up to bed, not without protest. Upon touching his head to a pillow, though, he had fallen asleep instantly. It was almost comical. He knew what he was doing was important - of course he did - but he needed to make sure he survived because god knows he wouldn't survive without him forcing him to complete even the most basic of tasks. like eating. Like drinking. Like sleeping.


He was in a melancholy mood, the kind that sunk its hooks into him at night and didn't want to let go. It would dissipate in the morning, when he was all smiles in his lap... but he couldn't smile back. When the world was light and awake again, he wished for the peace the night gave him. But when silence fell over them, he felt so alone. He run his fingers through his hair, thinking of him, wishing he had the ability to sleep. He slept so little. But then – so did he.

He traced a finger across the arch of his boyfriend's cheekbone down to his lips. He pushed his hair back from where it had fallen in his eyes, the curls easily drawing his attention. He didn't stir, not even a little bit.

He was exhausted. He had known just by looking into his eyes. He never did know when to stop, when to save him from himself. He smiled as he gazed down at him in wonder.


Maybe his complete unconsciousness loosened his tongue, maybe it was his own exhaustion.


"I wish you could see how much you mean to me," he whispered, painfully holding back the tears that threatened to come flooding down.

"You act like your life doesn't matter, like you don't matter, and it kills me. You give yourself away until there's nothing left because someone told you, at some point, that that was how to get people to love you. But you don't have to give me a thing; you’re enough.


"One of these days," He smiled through the pain in his heart. "You're gonna throw yourself on a bomb, or give too much of yourself away, and I'm gonna lose you. And that's going to destroy me. I am so in love with you, more than I think you and your genius brain comprehend."


He didn't move as he run his finger through his hair once more. He didn’t know what the future would hold for them, he didn’t know of the battles they would face or the hardships that followed. But for now, he had to be content in knowing that he was here, he was next to him, and he was alive.
 His breathing was deep and even as she slipped into bed behind him, pulling him against his body.


"Love you," he whispered, closing his eyes against the tidal wave of emotion.

"Always."