Chapter 2: Without You

I don't wanna live without you, without you.

So let's dance a little, laugh a little, hope a little more.

'Cuz I'm not ready to live without you, without you.

Set in an alternate universe of my coming fanfic, Faith Relived. Coming out soon, hopefully! (It's the length of an entire novel rn...) The background is- Hiro was infected by a deadly virus, and needs a certain virologist to come save him. As long as someone doesn't get their hands on her first...

"Hiro!" Karmi rushed forward, collapsing on her knees in front of the prone form. Her breath came in ragged pants, hands shaking as they trailed helplessly across the air just above his chest. He's not moving…

Still.

Silent.

Cold.

"Come on, Hiro, please." She gasped, horror making a cold, dark pit in the bottom of her stomach. A tear slipped, rolling down her cheek and landing on his tattered blue jacket. One of her hands found his, the other his pale cheek. "Come on, idiot! We- we just started not hating each other! Y- you can't leave me now. How am I supposed to- how can I get out of here? Stop her? I can't-" Her voice cracked and more tears threatened to overflow her widened eyes. She brushed them away angrily, moving her other hand to his chest. "I can't do this without you. Worrying about you and trying to save you was the only thing keeping me from breaking down and now-" Something brushed her hand and she froze, hardly daring to breathe, staring down at his chest. Is he…

A slight wheeze met her ears.

"Hiro!" She almost wept for joy, impulsively grabbing his face in her hands and shaking him gently. "Hiro!"

A moment later, two bleary, glazed, deep hazel eyes met hers.

\Karmi went weak with relief, collapsing forward and burying her face in his chest. Those salty tears were coming freely now. Her hands gripped fistfuls of his shirt and she realized- his heart was beating, and although he couldn't speak... that was all she needed to hear.

She didn't care how this looked.

She didn't care if she found them right then and there.

He was alive.

END.

A/N: First off, I am SO SORRY for how short that was. Extending it felt... either spoiler-filled or dragging on. Not great options. So, this is what we're working with :) Not the one I'm most proud of, but the full fic will be way better. Consider this non-canon promotional material- or is it non-non-canon because the fic is non-canon to begin with? I don't know at this point. Anyway, constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. Next one is a lot longer!