Song: Youth by Troye Sivan
~~~
Tom's p.o.v.

"Don't you think it's weird they're sharing a house?"

"Well...kinda. I mean she practically broke his heart, I don't get why they're sharing living spaces now. He could've shared a house with Mot, but he didn't. I'm just confused mostly."

"We should spy on them."

"Tom, no! That's mean!"

"We've done it before!"

"And we got caught! I'm not spying on anyone. I'm too tired anyway, Mot made me run so many laps today..."

"I'm tired too, but not too tired to figure out what's going on with them. Come on, it'll be fun?"

"No. And why are you tired? You don't even do anything at training, you just shoot things and do spells."

"Uh for your information, I tried out a flame thrower today and I burned the entire right side of my arm."

"What?! Why didn't you tell me, I could've healed you!"

"I'm kidding, you sausage. Let's go spy on them."

"But Rosie-"

"Is completely awake. Aren't you Rose?" I asked the little girl sandwiched between us. Her only answer was a small smile and a giggle. She's too smart for her own good. "And she'll be perfectly fine if we step out for a minute or two, won't you Rose?"

"I'll be okay poppy." She opened her pretty brown and blue eyes and looked up at Sparklez with the bravest face I'd ever seen her wear. I love her.

I could see Sparklez practically melting under her gaze. "Well...if it'll only take a minute or two."

"Let's go!" I practically shot out of bed, ran to his side, and jerked him out from the covers. He let out a surprised squeak as I drug him out of the room by his waist, while Rosie giggled at my behavior. I managed to drag him all the way outside before he wormed out of my grasp and shoved me away.

"You suck. I think you bruised one of my ribs." He pouted and rubbed an area along his ribs, where I'd grabbed him roughly a few moments ago. Aw, I didn't mean to bruise the poor nerd.

"My bad," I whispered into his ear, pressing a kiss to his neck. He blushed and shoved me again, then went back to adjusting his clothes. I nearly had a heart attack when I looked over his shoulder and saw the sight next door. Wag and Martha live beside of us, so we could get a pretty clear view of what was going on without having to go to certain lengths.

What caught me off guard was that they were both outside. On the porch. In a swing. Cuddling.

I don't think they heard or saw us, because they hadn't moved an inch from where they were sitting. I poked Sparklez really hard and then pointed towards the sight beside of us. He was about to yell at me, but then he saw what I was freaking out about. He nearly shit himself too.

Wag had his hood down, so we could see the calm and sleepy expression on his face. Martha's expression looked nearly the same, which was a bit odd for her. Lately the last few times I've seen her, she's looked depressed and horribly sad. Though I did kinda hate her, I'm glad she doesn't look like that right now. I don't really like seeing anyone suffer really, unless they're absolutely one hundred percent evil and they deserve it.

The way they were positioned was cute. She was sitting in his lap with her head against his chest, while his hand rested on her waist and the other made twirling motions in the air. He would make sparkles and small shimmering lights appear with his fingertips, while she watched in amazement and tried touching the lights with her hands.

"You amaze me, Waggles," I heard her say softly. "You have to teach me one day."

Wag only smiled and continued his magic. "One day," he repeated with a strange sadness. "One day when you decide."

She frowned then, dropping her hands to her lap and letting the light leave her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for something you can't help."

"But I'm hurting you, James, I'm being such a-"

"You aren't being anything except for wonderful. I shouldn't have even brought it up. I want you to be happy. And if that means ignoring our problems, then so be it. Just be happy for me Martha."

"It's difficult when so much has happened. I miss my family. I never got the chance to-...to say goodbye to my mother. I never got to say goodbye to anyone. Sometimes I feel like the universe is plotting against me James," she laughed brokenly.

Wag looked so pained and confused, like he was physically hurting because he didn't know what to do. "You...you should get some rest."

Martha sighed and closed her eyes, letting her head rest fully on Wags chest. "I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to."

"Well...you should go to bed anyways. It's much too cold to be out here."

"I don't feel temperature Waggles."

He sighed too. "Neither do I."

They both laughed quietly, and it was the saddest thing to listen to. I think I understand why they're sharing houses now...

"Let's go," Sparklez whispered, tugging my arm towards the door. I followed him into the house, but when I tried to go back towards the bedroom, he pulled me in the direction of the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" I asked him, whispering in case Rosie had fallen back asleep.

I saw a smirk cross his face in the dark, one that wasn't used often unless we were alone. "I'm appreciating what I have. Get in here." Before I could even get a word out, he jerked me into the bathroom with him and locked the door shut.

Well I won't be walking tomorrow.

~

"Something wrong?" Mot asked in a smart ass tone, a huge smirk on his face.

"Nope." Though I knew there were several things wrong with me right now. Today the wizards had to go out and fix the tower heart for whatever reason, so Tom couldn't train me in the armory. Instead, he left a note to Mot saying that I need to work on lower body strength and agility all day today. Which means running, jumping, and using my entire lower body.

Not happening.

I don't know if anyone knows this, but when Sparklez gets in a dominant mood during right rumbling, I usually can't walk at all the next day. And the rest of the week. I'm surprised I even managed to walk to the tower this morning, my ass feels like it's on fire. So here I am on the training room floor with Mot hovering over me, waiting for me to do my fifty leg lifts.

"Are you sure?" He asked in the same stupid tone. "Because I asked you for fifty leg lifts ten minutes ago and you're still laying on the floor." The tip of his shoe nudged me in the side, and I had to clamp down on my tongue to keep from screaming. Jesus that hurt, oh my god I'm never gonna be able to walk again.

Finally my douche bag husband decided to step in after leaving me hanging all morning."H-He's really tired from last night, we were up with Rosie for a long time. She had a pretty bad stomach ache." That doesn't sound convincing at all. You'd think after spending two years with me he'd pick up on my lying skills, but he still sucks at it. Go figure.

Mot rolled his eyes and moved his shoe away, making me breathe a sigh of relief. "Look I'm not an idiot, you don't have to lie about why you're sore as hell. Just tell me."

"Really rather not," I said through gritted teeth. I am not admitting that I am a proud bottom, especially to Mot Screziato. He would never let it die if I told him.

"Alright. Get movin' then, flesh eater." He nudged me with his shoe again, and this time I couldn't hold in my pain. I let out the girliest shriek ever and grabbed my ass cheek, which only made the problem worse. This is hell, it really is. I regret everything.

"We had sex!" Sparklez blurted out. "He's sore from it! I'm sorry I wasn't thinking, I didn't know he was gonna be this sore in the morning if I-"

"The strong brave Tom Syndicate is a bottom? Are you serious?" Mot began cackling, and all I could do was glare at Sparklez and think of every profanity in the world inside my head that I could scream at him. I honestly feel incredibly betrayed.

"I-I'm bottom sometimes too! It's just- you know- he prefers if I do the-"

"Please shut up!" I shouted, still gripping my ass and hissing. Thick headed, stupid, naive, senseless, dumb, idiot. If only I could say the horrible profanities out loud, but I am in way too much pain to even speak right now.

Mot was still cackling, but he managed to let it die down a bit so he could talk. "I think I get it though, because he is the stronger one right? And the most bad ass one? Oh my god, an Ianitee stronger than a Dianitee, that's pretty pathetic. "

Wow. Way to make me feel like shit.

I stood up, despite the horrible burning pain, and ran/limped out of the room as fast as I could. Pathetic. I'm so pathetic now, I used to be strong. Back on Mianite, I was the strongest. Tony and the others looked up to me, I could beat anyone unconscious with just a few hits to the face. Pathetic.

"Boyo, you know Mot didn't mean that."

"Oh so now you stick up for me?" I snapped at the air. "Screw off, go back to ignoring us and watching the world burn. It's what you're best at." How dare he even speak to me after ignoring all of us for weeks? The Dianite here is a wimp. Maybe that's part of the reason why I've gone soft. My god is a wimp here.

He said nothing, so I smiled and accepted that I'd gotten the last word. I was almost out of the tower when another voice caught my attention.

"Tom! Wait, don't leave I wanna talk to you!" My husband came running down the hallway, but I ignored him and continued outside. Halfway across the stone pathway, a hand latched itself around my arm and jerked me back, which probably was the trigger that made me blow up in his face. I spun around and began spewing words without a second thought behind them.

"I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to look at you. I don't even want to think about you right now. I need alcohol and a nap. Leave me the hell alone for a few hours alright? I'm blowin' off steam and I don't want to hurt you while I do it. Bye." I spun back around and continued my way down the stone. I don't even know here I'm going. Maybe the wizards have alcohol around here. I remember they showed us a bar when we first got here and they gave us a tour. I just have to find it.

The hand grabbed for my arm again, but this time another came along with it and they both spun me around. He wasn't angry or upset, despite the fact that I basically said I wanted nothing to do with him. His hands went to either side of my face and held it, keeping my eyes lined up with his beautiful blue ones. Blue is such a pretty color. I didn't want to look at him and I didn't want to smile, but it was hard when he was doing that exact thing to me.

"Don't you ever think that I am better than you. You are strong, stronger than most people. And you're the most bad ass person I know. Who had a kill streak of 137 at a purge once?"

I glared down at his chin and grumbled out an answer. "I did..."

"Who killed a mianite guard with one swipe of a sword to protect his boyfriend?" He titled my head up a little more, but I still continued to glare at his nose and avert away from his eyes.

"I did," I muttered.

"Who killed his own god so he could protect his friends?" A thumb caressed the left side of my cheek, and I couldn't stop myself from looking up. He looked...proud. He's proud of me? After all I've done, the stupid wimpy idiotic things I've done, he's proud of me?

"I did."

He pressed his forehead against mine (which was difficult for him because I was a lot taller than he was), his nose brushing up against my nose in an adorable fashion. I was forcing back a smile with all my might, but I knew at any moment I'd break. "And who is my big strong man?" He asked in a whisper, lips centimeters away from mine. I couldn't take it anymore. I let a smile break out across my lips.

"I am," I whispered, before closing the space between us. His skin was cold (probably because it was snowing outside), but it heated up pretty quickly after a few moments. I wrapped my arms around his hips and pulled him closer, though I'm not sure how he could get any closer than how he was right now.

When we broke away for air, he was the first to speak up. "Do you still want alcohol?" He asked panting, his breath making small clouds of white appear in front of my eyes.

"You're my alcohol. C'mere."
~
That wasn't the first time he's ever given me that speech.

"You're gonna have to come outta there some time Sparkley Dick! Aren't ya gettin' hungry in there?" I tapped the glass with my knife, hoping that'd be enough to make the little twat come put of his hole. I didn't actually expect him to appear behind the glass, with an identical smirk on his face just like mine.

"Actually I have plenty to eat. I would give you some but...you're trying to kill me and take my stuff. I think I'll keep my food to myself." He sat cross legged right in front of the glass, casually eating his apple as if I weren't inches away from stabbing him in the neck.

"Well that's pretty rude of you Mr. Sparklez. What happened to best friends forever?" I scraped my knife further along the glass, trying to irritate him as much as possible. He didn't even flinch. He only smiled and kept eating his stupid apple.

"You tell me. You're the one who's scratching my glass up with your knife." He took another bite, his blue beady eyes never leaving mine. God, I need to get in that vault and teach him a lesson. I wonder if he'll still be smiling when I stab him and loot everything he owns.

"My bad. How bout a truce, hm? We can team against the Mianitees." Maybe I can lure him out that way. He's gullible enough, it might work.

He shook his head, still staring at me with calm eyes. "I don't think so. You're not so interested in them, are you? You want what I have, and that's it." He smiled coyly from behind the glass. Damn it.

"You're a smug little bastard, you know that?" I spat though gritted teeth.

"And you're an immature jerk," he retorted sassily. "I thought we established this before."

"When I get in there, you're gonna have nothing left."

"If you get in here. Though I have a feeling you won't."

"What makes you so sure?"
"We have approximately thirty seconds left until the purge ends. Can you think of a way in before that?" He tapped his watch, and through the glass I could see he wasn't lying. I had almost no time left. Damn.

"I can think of a hundred ways to get in, but I'll get trialed if I do any of them. Guess you win this time Sparkley pants, but one day I will get inside your vault." I shook my knife at him threateningly, but the little dork just smiled at me. I rolled my eyes and stood up from my spot, stretching a bit before picking up the rest of my stuff. Next time I'll get him. I gotta make some plans before next week. I turned to leave, but a little voice behind me caused me to stop.

"Would you want any food before you leave?"

He's offering me food? I threatened to steal his shit, kill him even, and he's offering me food?

I scoffed and turned back to him. "Are you serious? After all I said, you're offering food?"

He nodded and smiled at me, though this time the smile was warm and reassuring, different from the one he'd given me just a few moments ago. "Well you've been here a few hours. I just thought maybe you were hungry."

Dork. Innocent little dork. "Thanks Sparklez, but I'm good. Those apples look pretty tasty though, so I-" A small noise behind me interrupted my sentence, and I went to turn around to see just what it was, but no way in hell did I ever expect an arrow to come flying towards me and stab me right in the stomach. The pain was immediate, I was on the floor quicker than the time it took for the arrow to hit me. I waited to respawn, for the spell that the gods casted every purge to work it's magic and heal me and take me home.

It never came.

I cried out in absolute agony as the real pain hit me. Through the pain I could see a skeleton standing near the stairs, it's bow drawn directly at me. It's gonna shoot me again. I don't know why I didn't move away, grab my own bow, do something to save myself. I just laid there gripping my stomach and waiting for death.

It's bony fingers let go of the end of the arrow, and I watched while it went hurtling towards my head. I knew I was going to die, but I did nothing. I don't know why I did nothing. Maybe I do though. I was scared. I was alone and I was hurt and I was scared.

Guess I was wrong about the alone part.

Before the arrow hit my face, a shield covered my vision and a loud clanging noise was heard. I barely had time to register what happened until something started dragging me backwards, making the pain in my stomach even worse. I've never seen white before, not while I was in pain. It was terrifying to see it for the first time, to think maybe I could die today.

I cried. I felt warm tears fall down my cheeks while I remained blinded by white. Am I going to die today? Will my friends miss me? Will the gods even care?

"Tom? Tom drink it, come on, it-it's a healing potion! You have to drink it!" Something cold and syrupy was being poured into my mouth, but for some reason my throat was extremely tight and it wouldn't let the liquid pass. Fear is what's making my throat tight.

"Tom come on, come back, you need to drink it. Please? Please drink it?" I felt a thumb caressed my cheek. It made the white go away, it made my throat open up, it made everything better. I swallowed the liquid and tried to focus on something, anything that would distract me from the pain.

Blue eyes. Blue is such a pretty color. Why didn't I notice before how beautiful his eyes are?

"Tom? Are you okay? Tom speak to me, are you okay?" The warm smile he'd been wearing earlier was gone, and it made me sad to see it gone. It's because of me. Because I wasn't brave enough, I was scared and I wasn't brave.

"I wasn't brave," I rasped. "I was scared. I wasn't brave."

"What are you talking about? Tom you're the bravest person I know."

"I didn't do anything, I didn't-...I just laid there." I waited for death when I could've cheated it. "I wasn't brave."

"You are brave. Braver than most people I know. You don't have to be brave all the time. It's okay to be scared sometimes, it's called being a human." The hair on my sweaty forehead was pushed back by a hand, and cool air met with my skin. My head was laying on his lap, I realized. His eyes hadn't left mine the whole time I've been here. Blue is such a pretty color.

"It is?" I asked in a whisper.

"Of course. I'm scared sometimes too."

"When?" I never see you scared. You're always brave. You've always been braver than me. It's one of the things I hate and admire you most for.

"Well...I was scared of losing you just now."

"Why?"

He smiled and rolled his eyes at my question. "Because you're my best friend, Tom."

"Would you care if I died?"

"Of course I would. Stop asking silly questions you already know the answer to. Everyone would care if you died. Especially me. Come on, come get in my bed so you can rest. I'll get you some apples and some water, okay?"

I nodded as an okay. He helped me to my feet and we walked out of the vault together, his arm around my waist to support me.

It's funny how a few words and a simple gesture can bring back a memory buried so deep.
~~~

I have no idea why, but I write a gazillion time better when I'm on the verge of passing out. Idk.

When I wake up in the morning and look over a draft that I wrote at like 2 am it's like 'wow I actually wrote this' xD

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday :3 Leave a favorite or a comment if you enjoyed! Thanks!

- Lee