The act of not leaving, even when the situation is dire: love.
"Archie?" Maxie looked deep into Archie's ocean blue eyes; eyes that can change from calm and tranquil to dark and stormy within a moments notice. Ocean blue eyes of the man Maxie loved more than anything in the world.
With the grace of a Snorlax; Archie rolled over to face Maxie's half-naked body; releasing a deep grumble in response.
"Yes, my love?" Sleepy eyed, he gazed longingly into Maxie's eyes masked by his wire-rimmed glasses. He drew Maxie onto his toned chest; heart and brain aligned perfectly- their fingers entangled and breaths in time.
"Promise me you'll never leave." There was a pleading in Maxie's quivering voice, he had the uncertainty of a child.
"Of course," He planted a soft kiss on Maxie's head, murmuring, "Never will I leave you, never ever."
Archie felt Maxie relax and snuggle into his heavily muscled body, he murmured a soft 'thanks' and drifted to sleep; content with Archie's answer.
"I love you Maxie, I could never leave you. Not in this world, not in the next; you and I are a promise, not an idea." Maxie never heard those honeyed words, laced with something undisguisable. Maxie never heard Archie speak another word again.