So Close

Roger stretched his hand out to Justin, he was so close. So close. Justin reached to take Roger's hand, his lips were moving, forming soundless words. But all Roger could hear was the sound of his own screaming as the little boy burned. Right in front of him. Mere metres away. One of the two people he loved most in the world was killed as Roger watched helplessly.

So close...

Roger woke up gasping and sobbing. He tried to force himself to breath, to take deep slow breaths like the doctors told him, but it was no use. He was back in the dome, Back in that nightmare filled with smoke and fire and burning corpses.

Justin. The name hit him like a sledge hammer. Guilt shot through him and he started crying again before he even had his breath back. Justin, who had saved him from a fire and been like a brother to him, while Roger hadn't even been able to save him in return.

Deep slow breaths. Still not working. Oh God, was he having another attack?

A Pair of strong arms wrapped around him from behind.

"Babe?"

Edilio. Roger held that thought in his shattered mind. He focused on that concerned, slightly-accented voice and those arms holding him tight and they started slowly pulling him out of the Fayz and back to reality.

Edilio rolled Roger over to face him. Roger didn't answer but the moonlight shining through the gap in the curtains, illuminating his pale chest covered in burns must have revealed the tears streaming down his face.

"How bad was it?" Edilio's deep voice was filled with worry.

Roger could still only form one word.

"Justin." He croaked, burying his face in his boyfriend's chest.

" It wasn't your fault." Edilio put his hand on Roger's tearstained cheek. He didn't seem to believe it.

"Listen. Listen to me. There was nothing you could have done." He squeezed Roger's hand.

"You're safe now. As long as your with me, in this bed, nothing, nothing, will hurt you. I promise." Edilio almost wanted to cry himself when he remembered how he felt, believing Roger was dead.

"And I love you." The last part was whispered.

Roger looked at Edilio, moonlight reflecting in his eyes. Still in so much pain, but getting better. Healing

"I love you too."