The silence weighs heavily between them. They got away without taking much time to talk about the situation or what got them there, and now that they've arrived home, somewhere safe, they're going to have to talk about it. Which neither of them wants to do.

Sunny takes off the coat Rox lent him to cover his bare chest. He didn't bother to button it up, and having only one hand doesn't bother him to put the garment on a chair. He trained, because he didn't want to be completely dependent on his mechanical hand, to do as many things as possible with his right hand, and he can even close and open his buttons if he needs to. But the absence of a left hand will very quickly be sorely felt. And that's just the beginning of their troubles.

They need to talk. Sunny hates that, it's always a breeze for him to be able to express what's on his mind, or even worse, what's on his heart. He clearly prefers that Rox make the conversation and that he only has to validate or correct afterwards. But they need to put things right, to establish a plan to defend themselves, see to counter-attack. The solution to save the soul of Rox is within their reach if they play their cards correctly, now is not the time to hide... Even if the opponents are formidable, and without his mechanical arm, Sunny is severely disabled.

But Rox does not speak. He has sat down on a chair and stares into space, as if extinguished. Like he was more shocked than Sunny. Which is absurd. This is not their first fight, far from it, and he came out of it like a leader. He didn't push his magic to the stage that would be dangerous for him, and as soon as he freed Sunny, the brunette took over a good part of the offense at his side. They narrowly got away with it, but they have already been through far more dangerous circumstances. Is it because of Blair's nature? This is the first time they have fought against a supernatural entity. Is Ches afraid that Bunny Swanson will punish him for this? What could he possibly have in mind?

Sunny steps closer and puts his hand on the blonde's shoulder. He is not good at words of comfort, but the touch has always been enough for them to understand each other. They're both fine. There is no reason to ruminate like this.

To his horror, when Rox turns to him, tears well up in his eyes, then begin to roll down his face as the blonde hugs Sunny with all his might.

"Doodle…oh, Doodle…I'm sorry…

The sentence makes no sense to Sunny. Sorry ? Rox didn't do anything wrong, he just saved him! The brunette strokes his lover's honey hair with his remaining hand, trying to make him understand that everything is fine, but Ches only sobs louder, and that's worse than anything. He had never seen her in this condition. Has he ever seen him terrified, upset, enraged, but in tears? Awkwardly, Doodle tries:

"We're fine, that's the main thing.

- Good ?

Bad pick, apparently. Rox looks even more shocked than before, and he cocks his head to stare at Sunny.

- No, you're not well! Sunny, you lost your arm! By my fault ! Once again ! And you almost died! I was so worried, I didn't know where you were, I looked for you everywhere, and during that time, they...

- It's not your fault. I was reckless, and you had to come and save me. It's me who's sorry. I didn't want to worry you.

"And you lied to me!" It's... it's the first time you've lied to me since I've known you! Why did you do that, Doodle?

- I…

What can he say that can appease Rox? That he saw that his lover preferred anything to talking about his pact with Swanson? That he decided to investigate on his own because he knew the blond wouldn't let him? None of this could defuse the situation, on the contrary.

- Sunny! insists Rox who has grabbed both his arms and squeezes him insistently. Can you imagine what I went through? You told me you were going to buy cigarettes! I waited for you for hours, and all the while I was like "Doodle must have a good reason, he must have had something important to do, he knows how to handle himself, he'll be back". And you weren't coming back! Because you were... you were with that patient, and all this time, instead of waiting for you, I should have... I should have...

"But you came to save me. And I'm fine. You're okay.

"You lost your arm!" And you almost died! And it's my fault!

- Nope ! It's not your fault, you came to save me!

How can he squeeze some common sense into this stubborn man? Sunny is more and more scared hearing him accuse himself like that. It's starting again. As when he accused himself ofcause Sunny to lose his arm and walk away. And that's the worst thing Rox can do to him. Doodle is willing to go to hell and beyond for Ches, but he couldn't bear to see the blond distancing himself. He absolutely has to find a way to calm him down and prove to him that it's not his fault, but he sees nothing better to do than to repeat the obvious, and he also begins to panic.

"I know it's my fault," Rox insists. It was for me that you went to Blair, to break the contract that I was stupid enough to make with a demon. I know that's why!

He lets go of Doodle and gets up to pace the room, more and more agitated. All Sunny can answer is:

- It is important.

Because it is important, more important than anything. No demon can possess Rox's soul, the thought alone is horrifying. They must act before it is too late, it is absolutely obvious. Rox sighs:

"And you won't let go, huh...

No, Sunny won't let go. Just as he does not take his eyes off the blond, who has stopped in the middle of his gesticulations and seems to make a decision before finally daring to look him in the eye and say:

"Sunny, that's enough. We have to stop.

- Nope. It is important.

- I know you mean well, but I can not ... we can not continue like this. I want us to stop. We both. I want us to separate.

He adds with a mirthless laugh:

"We were never officially together to begin with anyway.

Doodle feels the ground crumble beneath his feet. The whole world is falling apart, while it floats, very strangely perched on nothing. He fails to answer. He always knew, somewhere deep inside him, that he didn't deserve Rox, and that sooner or later the blond was going to realize that and leave. But now ? When they are so close to the goal? Why now ? Is it because of Isabella? She's made it clear that she has a thing for Rox, and given his attitude, she's not even aware they are - that they were - together. Had Ches already decided to go with her? But why ? He and Rox were happy together, Sunny is pretty sure. Even if things were complicated with the mare and the marshall on their heels, Rox would not leave him for that. Is it because he lied to her? True, it was the first time. But he never told her everything, and Rox would be in no position to lecture him on that anyway – he hadn't told her for ten years that he had made a pact with a demon, damn it!

As he thinks, Rox averts his gaze, embarrassed, and he finally declares abruptly:

"I'm going to pack my suitcase. You can stay here.

Quickly, the situation is even more urgent than Sunny feared, and he panics as he never panicked. When he was Blair's prisoner, he had no trouble keeping his cool and negotiating: he came looking for something specific, and even strapped to the operating table of a mad doctor, he had cards to try, questions to ask. But Rox walking away is worse than the worst he could imagine. How can he persuade him to wait a bit, to give him a second chance? He doesn't even know what Rox got him in the first place.

In desperation, he attempts blackmail:

"If you leave, I'll find Bunny Swanson and trade my soul for yours.

- WHAT ?

Ches is shocked, but at least he stopped. Win time. Doodle must save time, while waiting to understand what is happening to him and above all how to counter it. While he thinks, Rox storms:

"But why would you do something so stupid?" I told you it's over between us, why would you give a damn about saving the soul that I was foolish enough to give myself?

"I didn't want to suggest it to Swanson because I knew you'd be mad. But if you leave me, then it doesn't matter that you're mad. And I would.

"You... you can't do that!" And Bunny won't agree anyway!

"Maybe, but when I saw him, he told me he was interested in my soul. So I can try.

-Nope ! Hell, Sunny, no! You can not do that !

"What's stopping me?"

- Nope…

Again Rox cries. Well, at least he doesn't care what happens to Sunny. He does not hate him, even if he tortures him slowly. He even hugs the brunette fiercely, while sobbing:

- No ... Doodle, please, no ... I do not want to lose you ... If you still hurt because of me, I will not bear it ...

- So stay. Together, we can find another solution. Blair gave me a lead and I need your help.

For good measure, Sunny cautiously adds:

- I'm sorry to have youlied and I promise not to do it again. But you have to help me. We can do it if we are both.

It might be a little big. Rox must know that Doodle would much rather do this job alone and that it's just a way to keep him by his side a little longer. But it works. Whatever reason Rox decided to leave him, he still cares.

— Sunny… my god, why are you doing this, why are you complicating everything…

Sunny hugs him and squeezes him as hard as he can, burying his face in his lover's neck. He is tired of these questions, tired of this emotional lift, he needs Rox now, a Rox full of fire and spirit, with whom he would have planned all night, with whom he would feel capable of conquering the universe. He can't bear to see the blond in distress, and doesn't know how to appease him. The last time, when Ches was running away from him, he had crossed the last taboo he still had by kissing her, and from there everything had happened like magic. They had made love, they started a clandestine relationship, before fleeing together. Rox understood everything Sunny felt for him, why he was at the center of the brunette's life. Well, that's what Doodle believed. He mutters:

"You know very well why I'm doing this.

- Nope. Tell me, Sunny. Please. Talk to me. I... I'm scared.

This confession breaks Sunny's heart. Somewhere deep inside him he resents him for forcing him to make this confession, for not understanding on his own what is so obvious, and his confession will be even more pathetic now that the blond wants to break up. But Sunny owes him, despite everything. Rox is lost, scared, and he begins to doubt everything. He must know that – after everything that's happened between them, how could he not know? – but if he needs it said, then the brunette just has to comply. What he does looking him straight in the eye:

- I love you. You are the most important person in the world to me. So I'll save you, whatever it takes and whatever you think. It's non-negotiable.

- Sunny!

Rox seems to be riddled with too many emotions at once – surprise, joy, fear, anger, excitement. He eventually manages this overflow by grabbing Sunny's face and kissing him full on the mouth, a long, fiery kiss that drags on far too hard to resist. But Sunny does not think for a single second to resist it and he abandons himself without hesitation, following Ches while the latter pushes him back to a wall against which he tackles him. It's quite rare, in their relationship, for it to be the blonde who takes the initiative, and tonight his gesture smacks of despair. Sunny doesn't know which saint to turn to to interpret what may well be going on in his lover's head, but it doesn't matter. With his remaining hand he unravels Ches's hair before running his fingers through his long silky hair, keeping his lover's head pressed against his own, while his other arm awkwardly wraps around Ches' shoulder. His bare chest feels every detail of Ches's shirt as their chests are crushed together.

Then Ches breaks the kiss and pulls back slightly, looking at Sunny with a lost expression, full of regrets:

"Doodle...I can't believe you're telling me this now...Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"...you knew that, right?

"I… I thought so. But I didn't know… I was wondering if I wasn't making up my mind, or… In any case, I never would have believed… The most important person in the world for you? Really ?

Doodle frowns. What, he didn't know? Worse, he doesn't believe it? As if the brunette had not just been kidnapped by a mad scientist and a crazy angel to try the impossible for him!

- Obviously ! Who else could it be?

- I do not know. But that seems crazy to me. I mean, yes, of course, you gave up everything for me, you betrayed the Koslows for me, and all that… But I can't understand… why did you do that? Why do you still believe in me? Why do you love Me ? Now that you know how stupid I was, now that you saw me kill those people with that damn magic... Why?

How to explain such a thing? Sunny is more at a loss for words than ever. But he must find! If Rox doubted him, now is the time to cut the misunderstanding short and prove to him that they have to get back together! If only he knew what to say.

After considering just about every cliché and romance lyric he knows and finding that they just don't quite capture everything he wants to say, Sunny settles for one more obvious :

"Because you are Rox Bloom.

- You what ?

"You are Rox Bloom. I like everything about toh. That... it drives me crazy that you don't understand! How can you ask such questions! You are Rox Bloom, damn it! Everyone knows why you're amazing! Everyone sees it! You are… when you are somewhere, you are the only person who attracts attention! The only person who matters! You're brilliant, you're awesome, you're gorgeous! And with you, everything becomes brilliant too, and beautiful, and interesting, and... There you go. It's just... It's just like that.

With a long sigh, Doodle tries to come to his senses. He does not manage. How can you be so bad with words? He should have been looking, in fact, a long time ago. There must be love poems somewhere where an artist could find words worthy of Rox, even without having known him. Stuff that summons the sun, the moon, and all the stars in the universe. At least.

Rox still holds him tightly against his chest, and despite his pitiful attempt he looks at him like a child on Christmas morning. Sunny bites his lip and mutters:

- I beg you, do not leave me ... Everything but not that. I can face all the demons in hell and all the angels in heaven, I'll burn down God's house if I find it, but I can't live without you.

A painful flash crosses the face of the blond who exclaims:

— Oh, Sunny, of course I'm not leaving you! You saw it was a bluff, right? That's why you told me about Bunny...

Some... bluffing? Despite his relief, Sunny's first instinct is to send a dry pat behind the head of Ches, who now has an embarrassed smile and adds:

"I beg your pardon, Doodle…I didn't mean…I just thought it was the only way to protect you. I never wanted to leave you, I swear! I love you ! Me too, I love you more than anything! I never knew if I should tell you, if you wanted to hear it, but I promise you, I love you like I never thought we could love someone, stronger than all the songs and all the love poems together, so strong that I could wonder every day how I am still alive with a heart so filled with happiness to be with you!

There, Sunny can't even blame him for making him so miserable for a few minutes. He feels like all the blood in his body is rushing to his face and his head is spinning as he tries to take in everything he has just heard. He always knew Rox was a smooth talker, but this is beyond anything he could have dreamed of. He knew that Ches cared about him, but… all that? If even a quarter of what he just said is true, Doodle is even too happy to fully integrate it. He feels the tears welling up in his eyes and running down his cheeks uncontrollably. How long has it been since he cried? Why now ?

This is also the question that Ches asks himself, who of course panics:

- What's the matter ? Sunny, did I say something wrong? Please talk to me?

Talking has already blown all the emotional management quota Sunny had, so he prefers to kiss the blond over and over again and slowly backs him up to the sofa where he hugs him tenderly. It's not sexual – not yet – but he needs him, his skin, to merge their two bodies in the tightest possible embrace, as if to lock in everything they've said to each other, to anchor it. deep in reality, making it a proven fact that can no longer be erased, as the words slowly etch themselves into his mind. He did it, he said it.

Rox told him he loved him, at least as much as Doodle loves him.

The brunette is shaking, he needs his lover's body more than he needs oxygen, and he takes it, slowly, savoring the familiar feeling and a thousand times rediscovered, magnified by their glowing feelings and the look so tender and so happy from Rox.

Afterwards, while Sunny rests his head on his lover's chest, still intoxicated with all his feelings, he hears Rox giggle:

"I can't believe we never took the time to say that. It's just... it seems so obvious now.

The brown nods, even if for him, it is not yet obvious to realize. Ches loves it. Really. Strong. It will take time for him to fully integrate this fact, too big to fit in his head at once. The blonde asks:

— How long has it been?

- What ?

- Well, we've known each other for ten years, right? Since kids, almost. We started to…to have a relationship late. And at first it was… I mean, remember when I took my own apartment, and I gave you the key? At one point, I wanted to reassure myself, so I asked you if you and I were exclusive. Because it seemed to me that we were, but we had never really made it official, so… And tour first instinct was "ah, do you want to sleep with someone else? No problem, I'll give you back your key, I won't bother you. That… it hurt me a little, you know, at the time. Like you don't care... What's happened since then?

"I didn't care.

- Yes, but…

- I was scared. I have always seen you go from one to the other without getting attached. Your longest relationship was with Grace, and she was much prettier than me. I didn't want... I wanted to keep you. Even if we weren't sleeping together anymore and you were seeing someone else. As long as you…as long as you were with me, spending time with me, laughing and making crazy plans and laying your arm around my shoulders… I needed that. When you started avoiding me, when I lost my arm, I thought I was going crazy. I was ready to do anything to keep you in my life.

"And you did." I can't believe what you've done.

"Don't ever leave, that's all.

- Noted. We don't leave Sunny alone, even if it's for his own good.

"The only thing you should do for my sake is stay with me.

"Is that why you finally kissed me the first night?" Because you were afraid that I would leave?

- Yes. Screwed up for screwed up, I told myself that like that, you would understand. And you keep saying that I hated you. It drove me crazy.

- I'm sorry. But honestly, you would have flirted for even half a second, and I was in your bed until you kicked me out. Sunny Danowicz. You have no idea how much you impressed me.

- Me ?

"Of course, you. Sir, I'm coming and I'm fixing the situation. You save lives like nothing, you start arson to hijack a police procedure, you dance under the bullets as if death were your best friend... You don't realize it, I have the impression, but you are the embodiment of everything i wanted to be when i decided to be a gangster. Cool and powerful, who does not need anything or anyone. It's exactly to be someone like that that I made a pact with a demon. And you, you were just… like that. I wasn't... I never imagined sleeping with you, that's for sure. You looked too... Too above me, you know? And everyone treated you like that. Me, I was the joker on duty who did magic, and you, you were the iron man of the Kozlows, the one who ran the shop while Barney messed up.

— That is not true. Everyone knew you. Your plans were brilliant. People loved you, damn it! I terrified them.

"I have to admit, you scared me a little sometimes. I keep being told that you were going to cut me to pieces if I didn't do this or that... But the second you kissed me, I was like, "Damn, is that really true? Is it really happening? I have no idea why or how, but I'm going to enjoy it as many times as he wants! ".

Ches is silent for a few moments, lost in his memories. Sunny also reviews their relationship from this strange angle. Maybe he was stupid after all. Maybe he could have had Rox a lot quicker if he had just taken a chance. Damn, he didn't even flirt with him once, come to think of it. Everything went through their bodies. Which is the best way for Sunny to express himself, so maybe by doing otherwise he would just be making fun of himself. After all, he never would have believed that when he offered Ches to return his key, it would hurt him. When he tore his own heart out saying that. He just wanted his lover to be happy, at any cost. It's hard to realize that this prize, for Rox, is that Doodle is happy too, by his side. it looks too good.

"Sunny?"

- Yes ?

"What did I do to make you fall in love with me?"

— …

- Please. That… it would reassure me to know.

"You have no reason to be afraid. But if you want. It's just… I feel like an idiot.

- Please…

- Yes yes. It was... Do you remember the day we met?

"From... Seriously?"

"We stole that chest and you blew it up with your magic. You were excited, and freaked out, we could see that even if you were bragging, you were afraid until the end that it wouldn't work. And then it worked, we were all amazed to see magic at work, and you were strutting around in the middle, so proud, and at the same time so relieved, and you had this smile, and... I tried to keep my composure, I told you something like "you should have told me that you were going to use magic", and you stroked my cheek, and you said to me "But suddenly I don't wouldn't have seen a head like that. I think I erased some of your freckles." And it was just... I was sixteen and it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. You really looked out of placea film, but in real life. As if we were just decor… And it started there.

"…Whoa. I didn't think that… Shit, I really thought that you hated me, at that time…

"I thought so too. I mean, I felt that I was blushing, I was sure that everyone was going to find me ridiculous whereas I was the one in charge of the operation and that I had to impose, my insides were writhing , and I had only one desire, it was to make you shut up and stop all this. All I knew was that you made me feel... different. Electric. And I didn't like it at all. It took me a while to understand how I felt. And then there was Grace. And after…

"And Miklos?" You were not…

"We were friends. We always have been. We had good times together, but it was never love between us. There was only you. Not physically, I have known other guys. But I've only been in love with you.

- I can not believe it. How could I have that effect on someone as extraordinary as you. All I know how to do is bluff.

- Nope.

- But…

- Nope. I don't know why you doubt yourself so much, but no. Look tonight, damn it! You saved me.

"But it's my fault if..."

"A crazy angel and an even crazier doctor are killing people and chopping them to pieces in this goddamn town. What's your fault? It's thanks to you that I'm alive. And now we're going to talk seriously. We're gonna make a plan, we're gonna take down this threat, and we're gonna get your soul back. Afterwards, we'll see if we settle down, or if we make our own clan, and if we do, we'll do it where we want, because we're capable of conquering any territory. Whatever we do, we're going to do it together, and we're going to do it well. Understood ?

- Yes sir. And we'll find a way to get your arm back.

- If we can. Otherwise, one will be enough for me to kick all of their asses. And don't call me boss.

"Oh, that's right, could I call you… honey? My love ? My Treasure ? What do you prefer ?

Sunny feels very well that he has blushed to the top of his head, and he buries his embarrassed face in Rox's shoulder while mumbling:

- As long as it's not "my angel", it's fine. »