Emily

"You don't look so good, are you alright?" he asks, meeting my gaze and helping me stand straight.

The moment I'm upright, my stomach flips and sinks. Groaning, I try to hunch over, but he doesn't let me. "I think I've done too much running," I offer, trying my best to smile but it feels as if a wave of the flue has hit me along with the aftermath of a bite from bad chicken.

His green eyes cloud with worry as he scans me from head to toe, and I inch off when his hands try to cup my face. I can't have him that close for fear of what it will do to me. I'm scared I'll try something, and terrified he'll object. Worse, he will want it too.

His hand slides to my wrist and I yelp, trying to pull back from the sharp sting it gives. Tears prick my eyes, and his hand jerks back before carefully turning my arm over. We stare down at the fair patch of skin, but it's now blooming a blotchy red. He sucks in a sharp breath and ushers me to the side, but everything is wavering.

"P-Pixel. . . my eyes, I can't see clearly," I whimper, trying to rub them as he guides me almost blindly. I'm not sure what App we're in, and I'm scared I can't see. It's dark here, that's for sure, but I trust that he knows the way.

"I'm going to pick you up, OK?"

Nodding, I squeak when my legs are swiped from under me, and I'm cradled in a warm chest. His scent envelopes me, and the heat is making me drowsy. I'd give anything to curl up right now and fall asleep, but I can't because we have things to do. One of them being my Recovery button.

Everything burrs as my body sways, taking deep breaths to keep the contents in my stomach in, I shut my eyes until my body has the case of the jitters.

Breathing out harshly, I gasp, "S-so, hot. . . I'm hot."

There's a crash as my body jolts, then a slam of something behind us. I can make out a dim halo of light through the ceiling, and the distinct smell of damp wood. Moaning, I clutch onto Pixel's shirt as I writhe, hating the growing heat within my body. It comes in pulses, like an electric current in my veins. I'm lowered onto the floor, and there's rustling. Finding him is useless.

A cry falls from my lips, my body crumples over itself as I curl up on the cold floor. It's a little damp, but it's helping the feverish heat consuming my skin. My mouth dries, and everything beneath my skin feels like it's on fire and I'm about to combust.

"It's going to be alright, I got you," he whispers, scooping me up for the second time. "Blondie, you're going to have to trust me, OK?" he asks, the sensation of my body slipping over something ridged, and I'm being hoisted further away from the floor.

"Y-yes. . ."

A gasp comes from me as freezing water envelopes me, instantly battling the heat and making my teeth chatter. Sobbing, I stare at his face as he cradles me close to him. "It hurts. . . make it stop."

Hushing me, I feel a flash of pain, across my wrist, then something warm over it. Weakly holding my eyes open, the blurry image of Pixel clutching my arm to him startles me. Protests fall from my lips, but he doesn't stop until he pulls away to spit something over the edge of whatever we're in. Pixel's quick to repeat it two more times before hoisting me closer to his chest, and other than his comfort, there's still an uneasiness inside me.

Groaning, I push away the best I can to lean over the edge, and I choke as I hurt everything out onto the floor below. I can feel his hand soothingly trace up and down the length of my back while the other holds my hair back. My insides hurt, and it scares me because I can't control it.

Flipping me over, I rest my head on his chest, hearing the strong heartbeat behind his ribcage. "W-what's wrong with me?" I whine, clutching his arm to me as I float against his body.

His eyes are hazy, but they're there. I like his eyes.

He takes a ragged breath before cupping my cheek. "You're dying. . . Viruses are built to kill or corrupt anything within the system.

His voice breaks, and I don't stop myself from reaching up to comfort him this time. "I'll be f-fine, I've got another life, remember?"

He shakes his head in my grasp, slowly leaning into it. "No, blondie. If a Virus kills you, that's it. No more chances."

No words are needed, we know the situation now. I'm never going to see my family, and I'm never going to see that smile of his ever again. Tears come back, and I can't help but cry. "I'm s-sorry."

"No. I'm sorry. . . I wasn't quick enough," he grits out. "I can't lose you."

"Everything is going to be OK. Don't be sad, you're going to be fine," I encourage, my throat closing.

A wave of exhaustion washes over me, and I know drifting off will be more than easy, but I want to take his pain away.

"I'm not losing you," he grinds out, hoisting me up again, and my eyes widen as his face inches closer.

"Pixel—"

"I'm not."

Something soft brushes across my lips, there's a trickle on my cheek, and then my eyes close.

Gasping awake, I choke on water, trying to suck as much air as I can through my mouth before heavily releasing it through my nose. Warmth surrounds me, and I struggle, only to relax at the sound of Pixel's voice hushing me softly.

"Easy, baby, I've got you."

My heart is hammering inside my chest like I've run a marathon, and I sweep my eyes around the room. It's dim in here, nothing but a halo of light through the ceiling, and old wood framing us. Glancing down, I'm pressed against Pixel, and we're in a small tank.

"Pixel. . . what happened?" I choke, staring down at my wrist. The blotchiness is gone, and there's nothing there but a light line. "I thought I was. . ."

"You were," he agrees, eyes hard. "But I found a way, just trust me."

Furrowing my brows, I find myself nodding. He's never lied to me, and he's been doing everything in his power to keep me safe. How, is a big question I'm going to need answers to eventually, but I don't care because I'm here with him.

A relieved cry comes from me as I drop my head in my hands. He saved me again; I didn't leave him. I'm going to be allowed to go home, and I can see his gorgeous smile.

"Do you remember anything?" Pixel queries, and my mind reels from everything that happened, and then I remember the light caress of his lips against mine. My cheeks heat up and I turn a little to hide it.

"N-not much. . . I remember us running, then we were here, and then I passed out." Needing to change the question, I ask, "How long was I out for?"

"Not long." His eyes stare deeply into mine, searching, and it makes my breath hitch when he shakes his head with a knowing grin. "You know I kissed you."

My heart skips a beat. "D-did you?"

"Yes, I did, and you know it," he states, no humour now as he follows me as skip backward. "Why do you deny it?"

"Pixel, why did you do that?" I throw back, sensing the turn this is taking, and a part of me is heating up at the possible ways this could end.

He throws his hands up in the air, and when they come down, they make a hefty splash. "Come on, blondie, don't play with me, not now. I know you can feel something between us, and after what happened, I'm not going to risk beating around the bush in case I lose you for real this time," he exasperates.

My back hits the tank, and I dart my eyes behind, judging how much of a drop I have if I throw myself over. "Pixel, you don't mean that—"

"I know what I want," he cuts in, "and that's you. Ever since Temple Run, I knew there was something about you I enjoyed, and it's your heart and humour. I wasn't going to pursue anything because you have to leave, but I couldn't fight it. Fuck, when I felt your thighs around me, I wanted nothing more than to strip you bare and bury every inch of myself inside you."

My mouth opens and closes like a fish, and I move to the left, only for his arms to cage me in.

"I don't want to sound like an ass in front of you, I've tried to curve my language, and I want to be gentle with you, but I fucking need you—want you more than anything in this God forsaken world. I'm falling in love with you, damn it, and I want whatever I can have with you before you leave me." His eyes bore into mine, leaning in so he's a breath away. "And I know deep down, you want me to."

I'm not sure how long we stare at each other for, but the band snaps and our lips crash against each other.

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