Title: Terminal
Spoilers: For the very end of MGS4.
Summary: After the end, but before the curtains close for good, life still goes on.
Originally posted to mgsslash
--
Otacon's known that Snake is going to die soon, and he's known it for far too long. He really shouldn't even be calling himself that any more; there's no identity he needs to keep secret now. He's Hal, and Snake is Dave. That thought saddens him as much as anything. As if calling Snake by his real name strips him bare; leaving him vulnerable in his last moments is the last thing Otacon wants to do.
So he'll stay Otacon and Snake will be Snake.
Except at the moment, it doesn't really matter because Snake is gone.
When Sunny asks him, he tells her the truth: "Snake is sick. He needs to be alone." But then he realizes that isn't true - he doesn't need to be alone, he wants to be alone, and even that is up for debate.
So he asks her, leaning down and lowering his voice conspiratorially, "Do you want to go see him anyway?"
--
It feels right, to settle back into living with Snake after a mission. He doesn't try to avoid thoughts about the inevitability of the future, but work around it; it's always in the back of his mind, but rarely does it ever venture to the front.
"Otacon."
"Yeah, Snake?" He doesn't really need to ask. He can tell by the tone that Snake is bringing up that again. "Look, I'm not leaving."
Snake pauses, then tries a different tactic. "Leave for Sunny's sake."
"When it comes to be time... I'll make sure she's with Rose."
Snake nods, like it isn't that big of a deal anyway. Otacon can't help but smile to himself. "I told you I'd stick with you to the end." When Snake doesn't say anything, Otacon feels compelled to speak more to fill the silence. Just like old times. "I always thought - this is kind of silly - that we'd be together until the end of our days, working together on missions and such. Actually, that's really stupid." Now he's babbling, but it's probably his last chance to say this. "I guess I just imagined spending the rest of my life being your support."
"Otacon," Snake starts, but Otacon feels the need to just keep going, or else he'll lose his nerve.
"Instead, it looks like I'll be spending the rest of your life... with you."
Snake just looked at him for some time, the only sound coming from Sunny at the computer in the next room over.
"Good," is what he ends up saying.
For some reason, that alone is enough.