Chapter 7
Mordecai doesn't even hesitate.
"I'll do it."
Deaths looks at him, "Are you sure?"
The blue jay takes a deep breath. "Yes." He swallows and the older man takes his hand off his shoulder. He thinks about Rigby. What will he say about his decision? And what about everyone else? How in the heck is Benson going to explain everything to them? And Mordecai's...feelings for his boss?
Death is still unsure of Mordecai's choice. "You know the consequences of this don't you?"
Mordecai nods. "Yeah, I know."
Without another thought, Death clicks his fingers and they're back in the same room Mordecai was standing in when he first flashed here.
Deaths motorbike is still there with Benson lying on the seat, face up with his mouth open. The sight of his boss makes Mordecai's heart jump. Oh god...
The blue jay clenches and unclenches his fists as Death walks over to the gumball machine. He puts a finger to his nose, snorts and blows. Mordecai almost throws up when it lands in Bensons open mouth. But a white light shines around them and Mordecai has to shield his eyes. He hears a cough and he stares when he sees Bensons sitting up.
Mordecai doesn't move, him being too consumed with shock and happiness to see his boss alive. Benson stops coughing to look around. He holds his head. "Arg my head. Where am I?" His eyes land on Mordecai and he almost falls off the bike. "Mordecai?" He says quietly.
The blue jay takes a few steps towards him and Benson jumps onto the ground.
"What are you doing here? And where am-"
"You're alive." Mordecai says in astonishment.
Benson stops. "What?"
Mordecai smiles. "Dude, Benson, you're alive."
"What? Mordecai what are you talking abou-" He sees Death and his eyes widen. "Wait..." And then it clicks. "I died?!"
Death nods. "I'm afraid so, lad."
"Wha-but-how?!"
Mordecai swallows and looks at him. "You were in a car accident-"
"I was in a car accident?! What-is everyone alright? What happened?!"
The blue jay puts a hand on his arm. "Benson, calm down." He lets it drop by his side. "Listen, when we went out to celebrate your birthday, you and everyone else got drunk. You insisted you could walk home and I told you you couldn't but everyone else was already out the door, completely drunk and I ended up taking them home but you. . .you were in a car accident."
"Then why are you here if you were at home?"
The avian hesitates. "Because. . .because I got a phone call from someone saying you'd been in an accident. I dressed up as a doctor, went down there and took you home. But you died."
"You took me home? Instead of going to a hospital, you took me home?!" Benson frowned and looked at his employee.
Oh god this was not turning out the way I'd hoped He thought. "Yeah, but-"
"But what?"
"But...you're alive now!" Mordecai smiles, hopening to soften the blow, but it only worsens.
"I'm also in..." Benson looks around. "Whatever the heck this is! Now that I'm stuck here, I can't go back to the park!"
"Not exactly." Death chimes in. "This lad did something for you, Benson."
Benson looks at Mordecai. "What? What did you do Mordecai?"
Mordecai swallows. He lets out a shaking breath then looks at his boss, willing his tone not to break. "I gave my life to you."
Bensons stops. His eyes widen and when it sinks in, he stares at Mordecai in disbelief. "What?" He says quietly.
Death pipes up. "Mordecai here has given his life to you so you can live instead of himself."
"So...so it's like an exchange?"
Death nods. Benson's shaking as he looks back at his employee, who has tears in his eyes. "No. . ." He whispers, then his voice rises when he realizes it's true. "No no no. Mordecai, you are not doing this." Benson yells it and his voice fills the room. "Do you hear me? You are not giving your life for me to live."
Mordecai feels his heart break. "I've already agreed to it." He chokes out. "I can't take it back."
"Mordecai, no! I refuse for you to do this-"
"Sorry lad, but he's accepted the consequences." Death speaks again.
Benson feels tears in his eyes. "Why. . . " he whispers, shaking his head. Then he looks Mordecai in the eye, mixed emotions running through him. "Why did you decide to do this Mordecai? You could've let me die but instead you sacrificed yourself to let me live. Why?"
"Because..." Mordecai takes his hand. "I love you."
Benson freezes up.
The blue jay continues. He begins to smile sadly, despite the situation. "That's why I took you home. I thought you would live, but you didn't and I wanted to save you so I got the time machine and made myself go back in time then Death showed up and-" He stops, something having occured to him. "Do you remember the last words you said to me before you died?"
Benson shakes his head.
"You told me to stay with you. And I did." He pauses.
Benson looks at his hand then at Mordecai's face and he feels his heart swell and his eyes well up with tears. "I-I had no idea. . . .you cared so much about me. I mean, I knew everyone cared about me, but you...you care so much more than the others and-and I-" Benson wipes the tears that are rolling down his cheeks. "And you love me?"
Mordecai nods.
"You mean, love me?"
"Of course."
Benson looks down, thinking. It was hard enough for his family to accept him for who he was so what would he tell the other employees once he got back?
His hand in Mordecai's feels warm and begins to understand that for the first time, he knows he's finally found someone who loves him for who he is and for everything he does, whether it be for himself or for everyone else.
Benson lifts his head up and he starts to smile. "Thank you, Mordecai."
Mordecais forehead creases. "For what?"
"For helping me understand and finally realize that everything I've needed, everything I've wanted in my life is. . .you. You accept me for who I am and what I do. You care about me, more than anyone else. And you love me for everything I've become."
Mordecai tastes salt and it almost makes him burst into tears. "You're welcome, Benson."
Death clears his throat and the duo turn their heads to the man "Come on, boys." He says, walking to his motorcycle. "I've got a job to do."
The blue jay looks back at Benson and pulls him in a hug, holding him tight.
"I'm sorry, Benson. I have to."
Benson shuts his eyes tight. "It's okay, Mordecai. I-I understand."
When they part, Mordecai swallows and lets go of Benson, who looks down and takes a shuddery breath. A hand takes his arm and Mordecai's lips are on his. Benson feels his eyes close and he smiles sadly, enjoying their first and final kiss. Mordecai finally lets go and walks away, not looking back. He gets on the bike behind Death and Benson sees his eyes are bloodshot. Before Death starts the bike, he reaches into his jacket pocket, pulls something out and tosses it to Benson.
"Press the red button when we leave."
Benson nods, too choked up to speak. A bright light shines in front of the bike and Death starts the engine. Mordecai catches his boss' eye and smiles, before the bike shoots forward and they're engulfed in the light.
The gumball machine stares at the light that's beginning to dissolve as his fingers fumble for the red button on the time machine. . .
Benson slowly opens his eyes and a sharp pain in his head shoots through his skull. He sits up and groans, rubbing his dome, the sunlight shining through the window. He looks around and sees the clock; 7:30am. The memory of what'd happened comes back in a rush and his eyes widen. Mordecai. . . .
Footsteps descend the stairs and Rigby emerges, groaning and stumbling as he holds his head. "Hey, Benson, what time is it?"
"It's 7:30 in the morning." Benson says, staring at the raccoon.
Rigby rounds the corner and plomps on the couch, his eyes bloodshot with black bags underneath. As if a switch has been flicked, he stops and studies the man in front of him carefully. "Benson...?
Soon, more footseps are heard and Benson sits them on the couch, feeling shaken and sick of what he has to tell them. Once everyone has gotten sense of what'd happened through their hangovers, they stare at their boss in utter disbelief.
"So...you're gay?" Thomas asks.
Benson sighs irritably. "Yes, Thomas." He casts his eyes to Rigby and the raccoon is welling up.
"Mordecai's...dead?" He blurts out. Benson bites the inside of his lip, feeling himself about to shed a tear. "I'm so sorry, Rigby."
Suddenly, Rigby starts crying hard and Benson goes over and wraps his arms around him, the shorter one sobbing into his chest. "I'm sorry."
They part and Benson backs away slowly. "But Mordecai died a hero. And I think that that's something we should all remember. He sacrificed himself for someone he loved and that is true bravery." He pauses. "No one is working today. You all get a day off."
A silence goes through the employees as they think about everything their boss's said. Soon, they part one by one till only Benson is left. He sighs, his heart heavy, and goes outside.
He shuts the door behind him and sits on the first step, holding his head in his hands and letting the tears fall through the cracks in his fingers. Finally, he wipes his face and swallows, raising his head. Something taps his shoulder and he turns his head to see Mordecai sitting next to him. Benson smiles and the blue jay wraps his arms around him, pulling him in a hug. "You never said it." Mordecai says.
Benson opens his eyes and the blue jay disappears. The gumball machine sits there for a moment, thinking everything over again, till it hits him and he looks ahead at the tree where Mordecai and Rigby used to rake the leaves and he smiles again.
"I love you too, Mordecai." He says aloud and next to him, Mordecai smiles and looks up at the sky, feeling himself being lifted off the step and into the air, but he stops at the roof and watches Benson for a while.
It hits dusk and the gumball machine stands. He takes a deep breath, turns, and walks back into the house. When the front door shuts, Mordecai relaxes and lets himself be taken, in peace.
Aaaaaannddd it's finished! I'm so sorry for the extremely long wait but I really hope you liked the ending! 'Cause I loved writing it, hahahaha