CONTENT WARNING!! -- Death, violence

***

There was no scream. Val awoke from a dreamless sleep. Vic was there. And that was all he needed.

The ceiling was striped with pale blue light, the absence of any sound was unexpected yet welcome. The blankets weighed down on Val, along with Vic's arm. Val felt like a winner again after what seemed like an eternity. He sighed and stared at the wall without thinking of anything at all. Calm was all that surrounded him.

A kiss on the back of his neck and Vic's hands brushing against his bare skin jump-started Val's brain.

"Oh fuck off," Val said hoarsely, hitting Vic with his pillow.

Vic blocked the blow laughing. "Come on, you can't still be mad about that."

"Cielo, you don't ask if different colored cows produce different flavored milk while balls deep in someone."

"But it's important!"

"Aw shut up."

"Mmm... But, is it possible?"

"Maybe? I'm not a cow-ologist."

"You know what? I think it's got more to do with the cow's diet than the color."

"That makes more sense."

Val rested his head on Vic's chest, and he ran his fingers through Val's hair. A silence had spawned, but it wasn't awkward. Vic's breath was calm and slow, his skin was warm and smooth. No scars, unlike Val.

Sudden beeping startled Val and made him nearly jump off the bed.

"Sorry, it's for me," Vic said, helping Val up and sitting him back on the bed. "Yeah?"

Val watched as Vic collected their clothes from the chair.

"I'll be there." Vic put on his pants and put Val's clothes beside him. Val nodded and went to the shower.

"Can I take some time before going? Perfect. I need to get a couple of things done first. Yes it's necessary. Got it."

***

Val got out of the shower and dressed. Vic was in the kitchen. They ate the soup leftovers.

"Wanna tag along?" Vic said, wiping with his sleeve. "It's safe, I swear! I just need to deliver a briefcase," he added quickly after Val began to stare.

"Alright." Val finished his plate.

They left and hid in the crowds as they made their way towards Vic's rendezvous. Vic was looking all around, and Val held his hand in hopes of easing his mind.

They walked a good trail before arriving to a door in an alleyway, like Val had before. Vic knocked and Val stood aside and watched.

"I lost some items here, I came to pick them up." He said over the hatch.

"Wait here."

Vic smiled at Val, but he couldn't smile back. There was something off.

The door opened and a briefcase flew out, landing at Vic's feet. He picked up the briefcase and waved at the hatch before grabbing Val and leaving.

On the walk to the second point, Val was the one watching everywhere. Something didn't quite add up, and he couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Something wrong, hun?"

"No, nothing. I just want to get home soon."

"Me too. Tonight you get to pick the movie."

"Awesome."

They kept walking. They reached a bridge, and went under it. The gliders and cars zoomed overhead, the chatter of people and the humming of engines filled the atmosphere.

"So, what kind of movies do you like?" Vic asked.

"Don't really know. I enjoy the ones you've picked lately, I'll have to see what else is out there."

"Good idea. Just don't pick anything horror, I'm not good with those," Vic chuckled.

"No matter. I'll just hold you through it."

"Aw you're too sweet."

"Or I might not, and instead I might leave you to watch alone."

"I hate you."

Val laughed as they kept walking, but his smile soon faded as shadows started taking form around him. Black uniforms and reflective visors soon surrounded Vic and Val, plasma rifles raised, and Val didn't have his sword.

One of the soldiers stepped forward and circled Val.

"So you're the one who tamed the beast," They said.

"What?" Val asked. Vic's gaze dropped. Val started counting the soldiers. There were at least seven. "The Handler sent you?"

"No. He did." The lead pointed at Vic, much to Val's horror. Val's arms dropped as he stared pleadingly.

"You... wha-"

"You became mediocre. It was about time you did a decent job, 03Z7." The soldier was talking to Vic.

Val remembered the documents they snooped around in. Vic didn't speak. He didn't move.

"This- This is a joke, right?" Val stared, grinning through his stirring emotions. Vic didn't reply. "Right?"

Vic raised his head, but he couldn't meet Val's eyes.

"What happened is that you're an idiot. We're under orders to-"

"Val please don't resist. If you comply, there's a chance they'll take you alive."

"You did not. You didn't, you- No, I don't buy it!" Val shouted, not realizing he was backing away from Vic. He shook his head frantically, and something started tightening around his chest, squeezing his lungs.

"Val please, I'm begging you!"

"No, why!?" Val was actively fighting back tears now. He refused to believe Vic had sold him out. He looked for his sword, but it still wasn't there.

"Val, just go with them. I don't want to bear this any longer."

Something about that phrase felt like a stab. Sharp, cold and merciless.

"After all we've been through... I had my orders to kill you, and I ignored them."

"I know. Val, it wasn't worth it. You-"

"Yeah. I can see that now."

"I- I'm sorry. I truly am."

Val looked around. Vic's stare was dark, even though it averted Val's in every moment. Val wouldn't allow himself to cry. He was already vulnerable enough. He didn't want Vic to know his pain, but he was doing a lousy job at hiding it.

"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry you thought I ever loved you." Val said, filling each word with as much venom as possible. When he felt a rifle prod his arm, he only reacted. He only needed to stay alive. Val wasn't thinking.

He elbowed the rifle, and as soon as the plasma started flying, he vanished into the shadows. He reappeared behind the nearest soldier and submitted them into a chokehold. He snatched the rifle and mowed down three others. As the rest answered to Val's fire, he was gone again. Reappear. Snatch another gun. Vanish. Reappear. Val ran through the remaining personnel, and when he was done, he raised the rifle one-handed against Vic. Curtains of others' blood ran down his face and matted his hair, his shallow breath emphasized his fury.

"Make it quick." Vic said. Val couldn't hear a hint of anything at all in his voice.

With that, it all fell into place. Every little thing that didn't add up, every little detail that he was too blind to see. From the moment they met. Val hated himself then. "You should have seen this coming."

Val pushed the gun forward and hit Vic's chest. His finger hovered over the trigger. A part of him wanted to shoot Vic, but an even greater part didn't. He looked at Vic's face and Val found himself staring at the face of his own fate. And he blinked.

With a growl of frustration, Val tossed the gun.

"You still love me?" Vic said. Val couldn't bear hearing his voice. He felt contaminated, Vic had left behind a stain that wouldn't ever come off.

"A monster doesn't need love." Val said, biting back a scream.

He left.

He wanted to get away from him. To disappear. To forget everything. Val kept running. He wanted to forget and never remember. As he stopped to catch his breath, he found himself struggling not to collapse. So tired. Sad. Angry. Betrayed. Contaminated. Lost. Destroyed.

Val stopped to watch the vehicles fly overhead in a street empty as Vic's stare.

"Make it quick."

Val grimaced and clenched his jaw. He found himself hating the time he spent with Vic. Every kiss, every sweet pet name was no longer of fond reminiscence, but of a nameless pain that dug itself deep into Val. Pretty memories turned sour, and he was to blame. Had he done something to make Vic want to get rid of him? Had he not been good enough? He was certain it had to do with his attitude. After thinking more, he came to the conclusion he hadn't been attentive enough. This idea suddenly shifted to the scars running all over his body, and a million things more. He failed Vic, and he had tried to get rid of Val as a result. Right? He didn't know what to think. He needed direction. He needed to forget. To keep his mind off things. He wanted orders. He needed the Handler to boss him around.