(Reader's P.O.V.)

Blaze leads me to an underground bunker where I see many people living inside. "This is where I bring most of the survivors. We may have to find another one soon. We're starting to run low on supplies and space. For now, make yourself at home. Dinner is in a few hours." She leaves to another room taking a few people with her. Unable to stand the crowded place, I decide to take a walk outside. Remembering Blaze's warning, I stay near shaded areas. Next thing I know I've walked all the way to my home, or what's left of it. I wonder if my key still works...

(Future Mephiles' P.O.V.)

I find myself wandering through the city, lost in my own thoughts. By the time I realized it, I had begun walking towards a familiar apartment. One I hadn't seen since that day. But, why was the door open? Did raiders come to defile a place I found sacred? I walk in only to find someone I never thought I'd see again. Is she perhaps an illusion created from my despair? Or is she really here, standing in front of me? I don't think about it too much before my body decides to move of its own accord.

(Reader's P.O.V.)

I feel arms wrap around me from behind. I would've panicked if it weren't for the familiar feeling that came with it. I try to turn and look at him but he hugs me tighter. "Don't look at me..." "Why not?" "If you look at me, you'll see a monster." "It's not like I haven't seen you before." His grip loosens a bit, but not enough for me to turn around. "So it really is you, (Y/N)... You must hate me for all the tricks and lies." He thinks I hate him? Even after all this time? "Thank you..." "Huh?" "I said thank you. I told myself that the next time I met you I'd say thank you. So, thank you for mending my broken heart. Thank you for spending time with me. Thank you for helping ease the pain and sorrow. Thank you for helping me through my time of grief. And thank you for bringing my smile back. Even though I don't know your name or who you really are, you took the time to help me and make the cold go away. Thank you..." He pulls away completely and I turn around to look at him. His back is facing me. "You shouldn't thank me... I meant to trick you so I could hide from my enemies. I used you. Why aren't you angry? You should hate me. You should despise me! Why? WHY?!" I flinch at his tone. If he meant to use me. Why was it that he continued to try and make me smile? If he was only using me he wouldn't care about my feelings. "It's because you cared. You cared about me and my feelings. Maybe you didn't feel that way at first. Maybe you were only pretending for the sake of your disguise but I know that over time you genuinely cared. And I..." I mumbled something at the end hoping he wouldn't hear it. I don't know when it happened but over the time I had spent with him I... "...fell in love with you..." He turned around and I could finally see his face. His mouthless muzzle, his sharp green eyes with red sclera, his pale face, and the crystals that covered his body. He was beautiful. His eyes were wide and if he had a mouth I was certain his jaw would've dropped. "What did you say?" Is it possible he heard my mumbling? My face blushed as I found a small piece of courage. "I said... I fell in love with you." A light bluish color dusts his cheeks. Is he blushing?

(Future Mephiles' P.O.V.)

I felt my face heat up at her words. She... fell in love... with me? "I..." Words seem to have escaped me. Unable to find the right words I simply pull her into an embrace. That's when I noticed some things about her appearance. Although I'm happy to hear her words I know she can't stay here with me. "(Y/N)... You need to go back... As much as it pains me to let you go, you need to go back to your own time. Find me and tell me everything you just told me. If you can do that... you may be able to change my future." I pull away and look at her. She seems sad again. "But, you ran away from me... How am I supposed to find you?" I gently move back a stray hair from her face and rub my muzzle against her cheek. "Call my name. Call for Mephiles." I open a portal and push her through. "Forgive me for all I've done and please change this future. Goodbye love."