Only one more chapter after this!
Also, for everyone leaving encouraging sweet messages to "please keep writing!" you shoullld probably know that Evil Boyfriends has actually been a complete series for a while. It's already completely written and has been up on my AO3 site for a while now! I've only recently gotten onto and have been pretty much moving chapters over here bit by bit!
If you wanna get spoiled for the last bit of Evil Boyfriends, it's allll here: archiveofourown (.org)/ series/33727 and uh, take out the parenthesis obviously. wont let me post the link whoops.
"Love" is not a word that they say.
It's not from a lack of affection, or even a fear of showing said affection. There is nothing held back, no feelings locked away from each other.
But they never say "love."
It's simply not a word that occurs to either of them.
Love is something else. Love is LESS. It's too soft, too simpering a word for them. It's the Guardians and their light and hope and joy and wonder as they smile upon the world like they don't see the horror in it.
Love is about wanting to be with someone.
But they don't want to be with each other.
They need to.
It's a visceral thing that yanks them and sews them together. Makes them aware of every movement the other makes. It holds them up in a way that they never could by themselves. It's the edge of something that they both cling to, and only stay on because they have each other.
They don't say "love". Because there are other words that fit better. Other words that say so much more than "love" ever could.
Words that they'll scream at each other in the middle of fights. Words that are said through laughter that hurts their sides. Whispered as they hold each other and murmured against shivering and sweat-slicked skin.
Words that show what they need, how they need each other. Words that capture what they are in a way that love never could come close to.
So they'll hold each other, cling with a desperation that comes from feeling every edge where they aren't connected and say it with the press of lips and clutch of fingers. Breathe it softly as the frost and shadows grow over the both of them.
I believe in you.
