(This chapter starts around the time that the previous chapter started.)

Darryl's Pov:

I run down the halls with Agent Sapnap behind me. Although I wanted to do this by myself at first, there will be better odds for me to rescue Zak if someone else tags along. Plus, since Zak cares about Sapnap, it would be best if Sapnap wasn't led to basically a death trap. As we go through the east side of the warehouse, we find one of the few TDO agents that are guarding this side of the warehouse. Without a second thought, I bring out my knife and throw it to their head. The second the agent turns to look our way, the knife hits their head, killing them.

With a smirk of triumph, I walk over to the dead body and retrieve my knife, putting it away. I then grab the gun that the agent had, since I wasn't allowed to bring one, I could only bring my knife. Thankfully, they had a handgun since it would be bothersome to be running around with the extra weight of a gun. I look behind me to see that Sapnap looks a bit shocked since he's looking at me with widened eyes. He keeps looking between me and the dead body on the ground. Oh. I see what's going on. I raise an eyebrow at him and say, "What? Did you really think that I'm not willing to kill for my lover? I'm willing to do anything for Skeppy."

Sapnap blinks at me a few times and then regains his composure. He just nods at me to continue. That's what I do, I continue to run down hallways in order to go northeast.

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After some time, we have run into a couple more agents, I killed most of them, barely letting Sapnap get a chance to do something, but that's fine. The quicker, the better. Some we did manage to avoid and not have to kill, despite my urge to do so. But the point is to not draw too much attention to the east side, and if someone stumbles upon a dead body on the east side, then reinforcements will surely be called.

Right now, I am very much ahead of Sapnap since he stopped for a moment to shoot an agent that happened to be walking by a bit ways behind us. I reach the end of the hallway and turn to my left to see an agent there. The moment they catch sight of me is the moment that I raise my gun and then shoot their head, killing them. I then hear a small gasp behind me, followed by someone saying, "Badboyhalo...?"

I almost freeze at the familiar voice, but I quickly turn around with my gun raised and pointed to the person behind me. I turn around to be faced with Agent Georgenotfound. He looks at me with widened eyes. He keeps looking between me and the dead agent behind me. He then asks in a hushed tone, "Why did you...?"

"I'm just here to save my lover. That's all I want. And nobody is going to stop me from achieving that."

George looks at me perplexed for a moment as he starts saying, "Your lo-?"

He then cuts himself off as realization dawns on him. I'm about to pull the trigger on my gun when I freeze at the smile that George gives me. It looks so... genuine. Like he's... happy? ...For me? He then says, "Never did I think the day would come that you would actually open up your heart to someone. Well, if that's the case. Then go ahead and save him. I won't try to stop you."

I look at him baffled. I ask, "You're not even gonna fight back?"

"Nah. I'm honestly proud of you. I'm glad you found happiness with someone. Who am I to try and take it from you?"

I stand there for a moment of consideration. I then slowly say, "If I... let you live. Will you tell someone?"

"Hm... not to anyone that would react badly to it if that's what you're asking. Because let's just say... in the aspect of being willing to do anything for the person you love is something that the both of us seem to have in common, Badboyhalo."

We stand there in silence for a moment. I then start lowering my gun as I hear faint footsteps down the hallway I just came out from. I say, "If you do want to live, I would recommend leaving now before the person that's with me catches up and decides to kill you mercilessly."

George nods and then turns around to sprint off running, disappearing down a hallway. I turn around just in time to find Sapnap popping out of the hallway. I quickly brush past him as I say, "Come on. This way."

We continue to run down the hallway for some time until it ends. I peek out of the corner to my right to see not a singular agent for once but four agents. They haven't noticed me yet, that's good. I raise my gun and press down the trigger to shoot, but only a clicking sound is heard, and no bullet comes out. Fudge- I hide back in the corner before they notice me. Sapnap comes up next to me and asks, "What's up?"

"I ran out of bullets, and there's like four guys down the hallway that we need to go down in order to be further up northeast."

Sapnap hums thoughtfully to himself for a moment. He then says, "Look... I still have bullets. What if I go fight them while you go continue searching for Skeppy?"

I look at him with a raised eyebrow and ask, "You sure?"

"Of course. I've dealt with multiple agents before by myself. You just run past them and avoid them as best you can while I fight them."

"Okay..."

So Sapnap goes around the corner to the right and starts shooting at the agents. I then quickly follow behind him and then skim past the agents, avoiding any hits or bullets sent my way. Once I successfully avoid them, I just continue running down the hallway until I reach the end again. It looks like I ended up in a hallway where multiple hallways intersect here. I frantically look around to see which hallway I should take, and then I look to my far right, and I freeze. Could it be...?

I stare into the brown eyes of someone who is staring right back at me. My eyes widen in realization that it's actually him- it's Zak! And he's safe! A cheeky grin starts forming on my face from relief and happiness. It looks like that causes Zak to also have a smile on his face. Then I catch sight of something beside Zak. Then my eyes widen as I see Technoblade pop out of the hallway that is beside Zak with a gun pointing to his head. I instinctively yell out, "Watch out!"

It all happens so fast. As I throw my knife to Technoblade's head, Zak turns around to face him. But it's too late, as the painful sound of a bullet being shot is heard, and only then does my knife hit Technoblade's head, killing him instantly. As soon as the knife hits his head, I am running with all my might towards Zak. Zak stands there in shock for a moment before his limbs start twitching, and then he starts stumbling towards the floor. I arrive just in time to catch him before he hits the floor. But I still slide down to sit on the floor with Zak in my arms so that he doesn't waste energy standing up.

My heart is thumping in my chest very loudly, and as much as I'm trying to stay calm, I am internally panicking. (I know all of you are as well.) I look at Zak's face to see it twist in pain as he groans. So he was successfully shot- In a hitchy voice, I say, "Sh*t- Skeppy- Z-zak- are you okay? Where were you shot?"

I accidentally let the curse slip out, but I don't care enough to notice right now. I see as Zak closed an eye as his face scrunches, and he hisses in pain as one of his hands instinctively goes to his abdomen. I look at where his hand is placed and gently move it out of the way to see blood spilling out. Just the whole scene is enough to start tears forming and threatening to spill from my eyes. I then hear faint footsteps behind me, quickly followed by Sapnap's voice saying, "Alright, I'm done with those guys. Where you at Badboyha-"

I hear a sharp intake of breath behind me. After a moment, I hear Sapnap say, "Guys- I found- Skeppy. He's gravely injured. I need people over to the northeast side of the warehouse... Yeah, I know...!"

Sapnap continues talking, but I blur out his words from my mind. All I need to know is that there's help on the way. All I can look and concentrate on is Zak. I say, "Z-Skeppy- you're gonna be okay! Hang on for me- please..."

Zak looks up at me, and his eyes seem to light up a bit, but even so, they look mostly empty. He smiles sadly at me and whispers out, "Darryl... I had a feeling you would come looking for me."

He lets out some soft, unsteady giggles. I say, "Of course I would...! How could I not? I love you- You mean everything to me..."

Zak's smile seems to get slightly wider at that. He's even showing some teeth. He says, "I love you too..."

I let out shuddered breaths. I say, "You- you're going to be fine- you hear me!? You're going to be just fine- okay? Help is on the way..."

Zak's smile falters a bit at that. Then, his sad smile returns. He says in a low tone, "Darryl... I feel like I should tell you something just in case something bad happens to me..."

"No- NO! Do not think that way- No! You won't die- I refuse to let you die- Nothing will happen to you- you hear me!?"

"Darryl-"

"NO! No no no no- You won't die- whatever you have to say, you can tell me once you've healed!"

"Darryl-"

"No- You can't die- I still want you- I need you-!"

Zak puts a hand on my forearm, shutting me up. He then says, "Darryl... please, let me talk. ...For me?"

I intake a sharp breath. I let out a soft, "Okay..."

Zak lets out a sigh of relief. He then says, "Darryl, I need you to know that... I am so grateful to have you in my life. Seriously- for once in my life, you made me actually happy, content with my life. Even though my family made me happy, even they were never able to make me feel that life was worth living for. You actually gave me a reason to live other than to seek vengeance for my family. You gave me something I never knew I needed- pure love... I will always be grateful and love you for everything that you've done for me. You really changed my life..."

"Oh, my love... it's the same for me. You have no idea what great of an impact you've had on my life as well. I always thought that I could live my life alone, without having any closer with anyone, but you completely changed my mind. Before you came along, living was just a chore, and now- I finally know what it's like to be living and not just surviving. You made me realize that, and now that I know what that feels like, I never want to let go."

The tears that were threatening to spill are finally coming out. Zak gives me a loving smile. I lower my head and place my forehead gently on top of Zak's forehead, our faces so close together that we can feel each other's breath. I close my eyes and say, "So please Zak... don't die on me. I still need you so badly. I love you so much. Please... I beg you, hold on."

I then feel Zak's hand gently cupping my cheek, slowly wiping my tears with a thumb. I open my eyes and look into Zak's eyes. He still has that same sad, but loving smile on his face. I glance down to his lips for a moment and then look back up into his eyes. Zak's smile seems to get wider as he tries to lean up closer into my space. I place a hand gently behind his head, cradling it so that he doesn't struggle so much and close the rest of the distance between us as I lean down to place a gentle kiss on his lips, closing my eyes while doing so.

At first, the kiss is very soft and gentle, but it soon becomes more passionate as Zak tries to press my lips more firmly against his as he puts more pressure on my face with his hand cupping my cheek. I kiss back just as passionately. I really don't want to stop. I want to savor this moment. But I have to once Zak's breath becomes more raggedy from the lack of oxygen, and I really don't want to push his limits. He should conserve his energy.

I pull back, gently keeping Zak's hand pressed against my cheek with mine. Zak smiles at me lovingly as he keeps gently swiping my tears with his thumb, his own tears have formed at the corner of his eyes, but they aren't falling. I return the smile back at him. We just continue to stare and smile at each for a while, gently murmuring some I love you's to each other. But then I start to panic once I feel Zak's hold on my cheek lessening, and his eyes slowly start to close. I whisper out, "Zak...?"

I can feel his limbs becoming weaker and releasing tension. His eyes then completely shut closed. I yell out, "Hey-! No- open your eyes! This isn't funny- Keep your eyes open-! Please...!"

I start to gently shake Zak's body to get any response from him- anything. I don't even realize the faint sound of footsteps as I panic over Zak until I feel someone gently touch my shoulder. I tense up and look up to see Sapnap sitting beside me and looking at me with saddened eyes. He says, "Hey... I know that you're worried and grieving right now- but you should go. My team is almost here, and I don't think it's a good idea for them to see you with Skeppy. They will most likely try to kill you. So you should go while you still have the chance."

It feels like there's a lump in my throat. Fudge- I can't speak. I look back down at Zak and hesitate. But then with a deep breath I gently, but quickly shove Zak's hopefully not lifeless body into Sapnap's arms. I look at Sapnap seriously in the eyes and say in a stern voice, "You better take care of him."

He nods and says, "I will."

With that, I stand up. I take one final look at Zak, and then I'm off running the opposite direction that TDA is coming from, and out of this warehouse. Please God... let Zak live.