Two weeks had gone by, and Ambrose went to all lengths to make sure he didn't interact with people. He avoided Cain like the plague, and ensured that he didn't ever run into the man. Ambrose drove himself day and night, working on project after project after project.

Finally, it was the day of the unveiling for the new Power Core for the castle. No more oil lamps. Everything would be run by a turbine powered generator that work from both water and wind power. The generator was enormous, standing five stories high, with pipes running like spider legs towards different destinations. The Royal family and Cain, as well as the royal guard and members of the court were all present. Ambrose had been ignoring the whispers that were going around. He proceeded with his presentation, despite a niggling feeling that he was missing something. He ignored it and continued his opening speech.

Cain had a front row seat along with the royal family. From here, he could see how gaunt his face was. Sunken black rimmed eyes from sleep deprivation and probably malnutrition. Cain had given the man space, because he felt ashamed. He had no answers to his questions other than the fact that yes, he wants Glitch back, but he found he also wants Ambrose. He knew he needed to talk to the man, but he felt the wound was still too fresh. For now, he simply sat, and watched Ambrose as he presented the Queen with the scissors that would cut the red ribbon to the first eco powered generator of the O.Z.

Ambrose threw the main lever, and the generator kicked to life. It whirled and hummed, and the outer lights flared on indicating the power the generator was now producing. There was a thunderous applause from the audience, and Cain couldn't help but feel pleased at the proud look on Ambrose's face as he gazed up at his creation.

All of a sudden, there was an explosion from up above. Some of the pipes and molding of the generator warped and the suspensions were starting to snap. Several people in the audience were screaming and starting to run away as large pieces of debris began to fall. Cain ordered his men to protect the royal family and to get everyone out of the way. Another explosion sounded, and as Cain turned around, he saw that Ambrose hadn't moved from the podium. Up above him, a pipe was about to fall. Heart in his throat, Cain ran as fast as his legs could carry him, trying to get to the man frozen in place.

Ambrose was petrified. How could this have gone so wrong? His mind blanked as he saw a large section of the generator about to come down on his head. He couldn't move, he couldn't think, and he couldn't react.

Before the falling rubble hit him, he felt something tackle his body to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. A short time after that, all went quiet. Someone must have been able to reach the emergency shut off valve. Ambrose, you utter idiot. As the dust started to settle, Ambrose kept his eyes closed. He tried to breath slowly, but he knew there was a large warm weight on top of him. When it moved, he knew in an instant that it was a body. He risked opening his eyes in order to look at the form above him. His heart stopped as soon as he recognized who it was. "Cain!"

Cain's vision swam. He could barely make out Ambrose. The world wouldn't stop spinning. "Ambrose. Are you hurt?" He asked weakly, coughing through the dust.

"I… I think I'm alright… but you… you're bleeding!" Ambrose was afraid. Cain was bleeding from the head. There was still large pieces of debris around them, and he can't tell if the man had any other injuries. Ambrose could hear other people trying to reach them, and hopefully it wouldn't take too much time.

Cain didn't care where it hurt. Looking at Ambrose hurt his heart more. He could feel his mind start to slowly slip away. He had to tell him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Ambrose."

Ambrose was confused now. Surely this wasn't the time for apologies. "For what?"

Cain started to tear up, and he didn't try to stop them. "I spent 11 years in a tin suit. My family was taken from me. But against all odds, and through the darkest of times, Glitch was my best friend. He was the best friend anyone could have ever had, and I didn't deserve him. He thought I hated him, and that's why he went through with the surgery. I missed him. But I see him in you. I wanted us to be friends. I wanted us to be more." Cain painfully reached up to brush Ambrose's cheek. "You are you, no matter if you are Glitch or Ambrose." He rested his palm on Ambrose's chest, feeling the steady, if not rapidly pounding beat. "This heart is the one I care for. This heart is the one I want." Cain was fading, and he leaned over Ambrose, on the verge of losing consciousness. Before the darkness took him, he weakly whispered. "…This heart is the one I love…" The last of his strength left him, and he draped over Ambrose.

Ambrose was shocked with what he heard. But he shoved that all aside for the panic that engulfed him when Cain collapsed completely. "Cain?! Cain! Wake up! Oh, please wake up! HELP! Someone help us!" Ambrose shouted until the voices came closer and a medical team broke through the barrier created by the rubble.

After that, everything went by in a daze. They were both transferred to a hospital, and while Ambrose had minor abrasions, Cain had multiple fractures throughout his body. A minor concussion, two broken ribs, a broken clavicle, fractured fibula, and a few broken fingers.

Ambrose was forced to sleep but once he woke, they could not get him to stay in the hospital bed. He wanted to stay by Cain's side. The man had not awoken in two days, and everyone was afraid he might slip into a coma, or worse… Ambrose held his uninjured hand and prayed to anything or anyone that he would do anything if it would make Cain well again. If Glitch coming back is what the universe wants, then I will find a way to bring him back. Just let Cain live!

TBC