When Carlos came to after the explosion, it was to the sound of a murmured conversation. One of the voices belonged to Dana, and the other belonged to-

"Hello, my beautiful, brave Carlos," Cecil said softly as Carlos opened his eyes. His knuckles brushed gently along Carlos' cheek.

"Your voice," Carlos whispered hoarsely. Dana handed him a glass of water, which he gratefully began to gulp down. "It's back."

"Thanks to you and Dana," Cecil replied, smiling softly. "Without you two, I'd never have gotten it back."

"Kevin!" Carlos remembered suddenly, trying to sit up. Pain erupted across his back as he did so. Cecil's eyes sparkled with tears as he softly pushed Carlos back down to a reclining position.

"Kevin's gone. He fled, probably to Desert Bluffs," Dana explained. "Cecil's spell clearly did some damage, but we don't know how much." Carlos frantically looked around his house for evidence of the explosion, but it seemed as undamaged as it had been before. "It didn't affect the house," Dana added, noticing Carlos' concern. "The spell only affects living beings."

"But I couldn't confine it to only hurting Kevin, since I didn't have my voice," Cecil added, looking horribly guilty. "I was going to protect you and take the brunt of it, and then you flipped us over and you protected me and-" Cecil was almost in tears. "I'm sorry, Carlos."

"What happened?" Carlos asked Dana, looking up at her. She seemed mostly unscathed, although, as Carlos looked closer, she seemed to have some light burns on the side of her face. Cecil seemed unharmed.

"You protected Cecil, but the flames hurt you," Dana told Carlos. "Nothing too serious. You have a couple of minor burns on the back of your legs, and some more burns on your back. They're a bit more serious, but they'll heal. You might have some minor scars, but nothing too bad."

"I'm sorry," Cecil whispered, tracing his hand over Carlos' cheek again. He had some bandages on his hand, Carlos noticed. He could remember Cecil placing his hands on Carlos' shoulders, trying to flip them back over so he could be on top, protecting Carlos instead of the other way around.

"It's not your fault," Carlos replied, reaching up and tracing one of Cecil's tattoos. They were a grayish-blue, which Carlos had learned meant he was upset. A few more tears slipped from Cecil's eyes.

"You shouldn't have gotten hurt," Cecil whispered. "It should have been me, I-"

"I'm glad it was me and not you," Carlos interrupted. "I don't want you getting hurt any more than you want me getting hurt. And you were the one hurt through most of this. It was my turn this time."

"Oh, Carlos," Cecil whispered, breaking into full-fledged sobs. Carlos immediately reached up and pulled Cecil into a comforting hug, trying to move his back as little as possible as he did so. Cecil sobbed onto his shoulder unabashedly.

"I've already told Grandma Josie what happened," Dana told Carlos over the sound of Cecil's tears. "And the Sheriff's Secret Police. Cecil and I gave them statements, and if they're going to take yours, they have to wait at least 24 hours after you wake up, considering the circumstances of your injury. As long as they abide by their own rules, you've got a day before they can bother you."

"Thank you, Dana," Carlos replied, hoping it wasn't too obvious a dismissal. Dana's lips curled into a slight smile.

"I'll come back over later, shall I? After the show? I'll do it for one more night."

"Thank you," Carlos repeated. Dana slipped out of the room. Cecil lifted his head off of Carlos' shoulder, which was now soaked in tears.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "This is my fault. If Strex hadn't cursed me, then-"

"You can't blame yourself for being cursed," Carlos immediately countered. "That wasn't your doing."

"What if they try something again?" Cecil demanded, looking on the verge of bursting into tears again. "What if they do something else and you get caught in the crossfire again?"

"Then I get caught in the crossfire," Carlos replied stubbornly. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help you and keep you safe, Cecil. I think we've discussed this already."

"I don't want anything to happen to you," Cecil whispered. Carlos cupped the side of Cecil's jaw.

"I feel the same way about you," he replied. Cecil's tattoos slowly began changing from a stormy blue to a rosier pink.

"Oh, Carlos," he whispered again, swooping down and pressing his lips against Carlos'. It was, Carlos realized, the first kiss they had shared since Cecil was attacked, except for a few quick pecks. Not kissing Cecil was a terrible idea, Carlos decided, and he had to rectify it as soon as possible.

"I love you," Carlos whispered firmly as they split apart. "I will always love you. No matter what."

"I love you too," Cecil replied, pressing a tender kiss to Carlos' temple. "Always."

"Will you move in with me?" Carlos asked suddenly. Cecil's face lit up.

"Permanently?" he asked, looking as if Christmas had come early.

"For as long as you want," Carlos replied. Cecil beamed. "And you should probably move your things out of the spare bedroom into my room as well," Carlos added, taking the last leap, considering what he had already done. All three of Cecil's eyes went huge.

"You want me to sleep in your bed? Every night?"

"Every night," Carlos confirmed. Cecil threw his arms around Carlos' neck in an uninhibited show of affection.

"I love you, Carlos!" Cecil squealed. Carlos laughed.

"I know." He pressed a kiss to Cecil's cheek. "I love you too."