David…

He was falling. Being swallowed up and sucked down by some sort of beast that had razors for teeth and a breath like fire. His own breath evaporated, leaving his chest aching and hot. He tried to grasp at lights that flew by, streaming past his fingertips. The loss nearly made him break. Nearly made him crumble and fall to pieces. Shattering. Pretty crystal pieces fluttering down like ripped butterfly wings.

So many colors. All rushing by. Painting the night sky with splashes of turquoise and maroon and eggplant. Crimson bleeding from the heavens. The stars screamed, deafening him to the point of agony. He reached up, out, grasping at the air. Begging it to—

David…

Fingers tangled with his, and sparks flew across his skin. Blue and green and gold. He looked up, pushed past the swirls of half maddening color, and met dark, bittersweet eyes. Eyes that spoke of want and friendship and love. He smiled, heart tripping in his chest. He squeezed the fingers locked with his.

Lips met. Pleasure coursed. Deep, strong, and true. He'd never felt so loved. Never belonged somewhere so much as long, strong arms wrapped him up. Heat, then. Almost overwhelming. Almost like he was falling again. But then he remembered that he'd already fallen. That he'd been in love for months, now.

They took each other. Need spurring their greedy actions. Desperation. Why was he so desperate?

David…

"I love you," words like a brand across his skin. Scalding his lips. Tearing at his throat. "I love you."

Blood poured out of a wound. The world shifted. Tears streamed just as freely. Horvath's voice hummed ominously in the background. Fear inspiring and horrid. Foreboding. He touched the fallen angel, more sparks flying. More blue, less green. So much gold. Fingers gripped at each other, slick and confusing. So very needy.

"Don't you dare," it echoed. Echoed and broke and shriveled into ash. "Don't you die."

Lips met. Sorry. So, sorry.

David.

The world tilted and tore itself in two.

"David!" Veronica called his name again, and he gasped.

Sobs quickly followed, wracking his lithe frame, but no tears came. Just the dry heaves of a man coming out from seeing. He sat up quickly, trying to scramble away. Trying to get away.

"Dave, luv," Drake's voice cut through his panicked state like the sharpest of blades. "S'all right. You're all right. It's over, darling."

Dave looked at him. His light eyes were blazing as he searched him over, seeing that he was alive and well. Seeing the he wasn't—

"Dave, breath." The blonde sat up, hand cupping his jaw; concern outshining the fatigue in his brown eyes. "I'm right here. We're back, luv. S'all right. I'm right here."

Dave would have cried if he hadn't been so shell-shocked. He would have grabbed his Morganian and held him close until he was sure it had all been a dream. A terrible nightmare. A vivid and foreboding omen.

"What did it mean?" Dave asked, never taking his eyes off of Drake's face. "What did it—?"

"Nothing is written in stone, Dave." Cassie replied, but she sounded unconvincing. Sounded tired and resigned.

Dave looked over at her, seeing the way she was trembling in Charlie's arms. He watched as the archangel cradled her, pressing consoling kisses to the top of her head. Drake turned him to face him again.

"Dave, she's right. Whatever you saw—Whatever you think you saw… it isn't law. It's a path. The worst path." Dave realized in that moment that Drake must've had a similar experience. They'd been down there together. Seeing it together. He realized that he must've seen something horrific too. "It's not set."

But the way Cassie glanced at her brother told him something worse. The fear and despair he felt from her only confirmed it. Squeezing his eyes shut, he took a shaky breath and nodded.

"Okay," he muttered. "But at least we know when, right?"

"Tomorrow. Sundown." Veronica supplied, her own vision misty. "They will try to end the world."

Dave felt his gut clench.

"But we won't let them. Will we, luv?" Drake gave him a reassuring smile. "Beat them down, we will."

Balthazar came to them, helping the three of them to their feet. He was solemn and serious. He glanced over at the archangel and his seer before looking back to his lover and on again to his apprentice.

"Then tonight we rest." He said, non-too-happy about it, but knowing it was for the best. "Tomorrow we save the world."

Charlie stood, Cassie held close like a precious item. "I don't think it wise—"

"No, we'll go. We've booked a hotel not far from here." Balthazar told him, and Charlie seemed to relax instantly. "We know she cannot get caught in the middle. The Powers would not appreciate it."

Charlie inhaled slowly before giving a faint, thankful nod. "Good luck, Merlinians."

"Thank you," Dave mumbled, trying his best to ignore the blind panic building up within him.

Cassie glanced between the two saviors, hope and desperation mixing strangely in her gaze. "Be safe… And Drake?"

"Yeah?" He looked at her sheepishly, and she gave him a watery, sleepy grin.

"I missed you."

Dave watched the way the other sorcerer swallowed thickly. "I missed you, too."

A small silence passed before any one moved. Veronica led them from the spelled room and to the foyer. Dave never let go of Drake's hand as they walked out of the blue door for what felt like the last time. Dave felt his stomach roll, and he thought of the strange vision he'd had. Thought of the fear. Thought of seeing Drake bleeding out and Dave being unable to do anything to save him.

In that instant, between the threshold of the beginning of the end, he felt like he'd rather let the world die.

He should have been more surprised that Veronica had roomed Drake and him together, but he was still too numb. He should have been even more surprised that Balthazar hadn't said anything. He'd just given them a dry look and muttered something about actually getting some rest. The fact that his father figure assumed he would be doing anything else, and was grudgingly okay with it, should have left him blushing and babbling and falling all over himself. Instead, he was stunned into a silent, unfazed stupor. Slowly being eaten away by the worry that was squirming like maggots in his intestines.

Veronica had pressed a kiss to his forehead when they parted ways in the lobby. She'd whispered something Latin and faintly reassuring, given him a smile, and sent him on his way. Balthazar had glanced between the two of them before nodding gruffly and going off with his love, their rooms at opposite ends of the hotel. Dave could have stood there, staring at where they'd been, for days. If Drake hadn't pressed a key into his hand and tugged him in the right direction, he would have stayed there forever.

He followed the older man blindly into the elevator. They were both eerily silent as it took them to their floor. Their quiet lasted through the walk to the suite. Dave had the key, it was slick with his sweat as he inserted the piece of plastic into the slot and jerked it out again. He fumbled, hands shaking, and the light flashed red. He tried again, but it didn't work any better. Cursing under his breath, he shoved it in angrily, but the light still blinked red at him. Mocking him.

A hand fell over his, steadying him, and the door unlocked before they shoved it open. Fingers clung to his, twining together and Dave had to force back the tennis ball that lodged itself in his throat. He swallowed past it just as a warm body pressed up behind him, and he leaned back heavily, eyes burning.

"You died," he muttered, a tremor shooting through his body. "In my vision you died."

Dave felt him tense. Felt the strong body go rigid behind him. The blonde took a step, urging Dave into the welcoming room without a word. They only parted long enough for Drake to shut the door and lock it. He turned to stare at his other half, fear and worry in his light eyes. Regret tinged their link to each other, and Drake frowned at him.

"You died," Dave mumbled and felt his chest ache, and he'd never felt so stupid for wasting so much time.

He'd spent so much time focused on his anxieties that he'd missed out on valuable time he could have spent with the man across from him. Time he could have spent being happy. Time he could have spent loving him.

"Hush, pet." Drake shook his head, closing the gap between them until they were practically chest-to-chest. "You've brought me back before. I've brought you back. It's not set. We don't—"

"But it's the most likely, isn't it?" Dave didn't even bother feeling ashamed at the way his voice broke. "You dying is more likely than not."

"Yes, but—"

"I don't want you to die, Drake." He stated, face resolved and voice firm. "I don't want to watch you die. I don't… I can't lose you. Not now. Not after I've just realized how much you… How much you mean to me."

Dave felt a sudden wave of hope, hot and tingly, as perfectly rough fingers brushed over his cheek. "And what do I mean to you, luv?"

"As cheesy as it sounds?" Dave knew he was blushing as Drake's ever-present smirk softened into a smile. "Everything. You mean everything, and I can't believe I made you wait so long. I'm so stupid and so sorry, Drake. Because if you die tomorrow, I don't think—"

"No, Dave. No. I'm not going to die." Blue and green sparks made Dave gasp as Drake pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. "I'm not going to leave you. Never leave you. M'yours, pet. I'm not ever leaving."

Dave took a deep breath, taking the blonde in. The spice of him. The feeling of right, yes, love and the anticipation that coiled low in his stomach.

Leaning up, Dave kissed Drake in his gentle insistence. Arms wrapped around his waist and little flecks of light fell off their skin where they touched. Dave tangled his fingers in blonde locks, tugging softly until Drake's mouth angled perfectly over his, tongue flicking out across his lower lip. The sparks grew brighter as their kiss deepened until they were golden, glowing and mingling together.

Pulling apart, Dave panted breathlessly, searching Drake's face as their foreheads rested together and the blonde spoke. "We can do this, Dave. We can. I know we can."

"How?"

Dark eyes met his, and heat spread down to his toes as Drake smirked at him. "Because I'm in love you, ya soddin' trainspotter."

Dave felt his heart stop then start again, and he smiled a brilliant, elated smile. "I love you, too. I love you so much—"

Lips met, again. Frenzied and intense and loving. They broke apart, gasping for air, basking in each other. Worry pushed away for even the briefest moments.

Dave looked up at his other half, feeling a flutter of nervousness even as his cheeks grew warm. "Drake?"

"Yes, luv?" The blonde kissed his cheek again.

"Make love to me."

TBC.

A/N: It's been what? Sixth months? Sorry guys, I was distracted by college and busy writing another story. Don't worry, though. Ladies and gents... I'm already working on the next chapter- awesome smut seen, first I've ever done. And I'm not working on anything else until I finish this story. Then, I'm off to other fandoms. Thanks for sticking with me so long. I hope you enjoy this update.