Garroth's POV: 

My brain was fuzzy and I could barely process anything. I heard distant sirens, knowing Chad had made it. I felt the two guards let go of me and Diane shout something. I didn't know what until I saw the group starting to flood out the back door. I could only hear my breath echo in my ears as I fell to my knees in utter shock. I felt my mind come clear again when I realized there was still a chance to get Blaze upstairs to get help.

As the last few people escaped to the back yard, I crawled over to my roommate who was now lying on the floor. His wings were flickering, showing me that he was growing weak.

"Blaze,", I said, getting to him and rolling him over to face me. His eyes were half-lidded as he stared back up to me. "Blaze, why did you do that?"

"B-Because...I couldn't let you just die because I was a c-coward,", He said.

My brain ran a million miles per second as I thought of ways to bring him to safety.

"I'm gonna bring you outside where you'll get some help,", I told him. "You're going to be fine, just stay with me."

I took of my jacket and tried to cover his wound to slow down the bleeding. He grabbed my wrist and said; "Garroth...s-stop. T-There's no use."

"B-But Blaze, I can't l-let you just-"

"Garroth, there going to attack the school. It's there last chance. You have t-to promise me you'll s-stop them,", He said. "I-I don't know if I c-could even look myself in the mirror if anything happened to any of those kids."

I felt tears start to fall as I pulled Blaze closer. "I-I promise..." 

"Good,", He said. "T-Tell Laurance I'm sorry as well. I didn't mean f-for this happen." 

"Y-You can tell him yourself,", I sobbed slightly. 

"G-Garthy-bro...I'm so sorry...", He said, taking my hand. 

"I-I forgive you,", I say, smiling softly. 

He smiled back and I saw a tear fall down from his cheek. I felt his hand loosen around mine and his wings disappear fully. I held back my cries as I shut his eyes, saying goodbye to the blue and green hues. 

...

Laurance's POV: 

My father parked the car and I immediately got out. I saw officers guiding large groups of people to vans and other cars in handcuffs. Chad was at the front of the house with a few other guards. I jogged over to them to see what they were discussing. They were thinking of ways to get into the home without upsetting anyone who might be in there. Once Chad saw me, he turned to me with a frown prominent on his face. 

"We've caught a handful of the group in the backyard...we don't know how many are in there still,", He explained to me.

"Are you sure he's in there?", I asked, only concerned about Garroth's safety at the moment. 

"We think so,", He said. "Garroth and his friend weren't with the others in the back."

I nodded my head and started to head in. Chad pulled me back for a second to say; "We don't know what condition they might be in." 

I realized that he really meant that they might not be alive...but I was willing to risk it. I rushed to the front door and swung it open to reveal just a normal home. I looked around and saw no sign of Garroth or Blaze. 

"Garroth?", I called out, desperate to get anything. 

I turned around to see a door that I assumed led to the basement. I light shined through the cracks so, hopeful that they might be down there, I slipped through the door and went down the stairs. I gasped at the sight. Garroth was sitting on the ground over and lifeless looking Blaze. It was only when I got a closer look was when I found out he wasn't acting. Garroth turned to me and I saw his eyes widen. Tears were cascading down his face. 

"L-Laurance?", He asked, as though he didn't believe it. 

"Y-Yes Garroth...it's me,", I said, calmly kneeling down to him. I wiped his tears away as best I could as some started to form in my eyes. 

"Laurance...it could've been me,", He said, looking in my eyes. "He put himself in front of me. I-I don't know why though..."  I wasn't until I think it all hit him at once that he began to wail. "He's dead because of me!" 

I pulled him closer to me and said to him; "It's not your fault." 

"It is,", He sobbed into my chest, gripping my shirt. I tried to sooth him by rubbing his back and shoulder. I kissed the top of his head down to his cheek, rocking him back and forth. 

"It's going to be okay,", I whispered over and over again in his ear. "I'm here..."

I looked at Blaze and I felt my chest grow heavy. I saw that Garroth's jacket was now stained with blood as it covered his wound. His eyes were closed and if I touched him, I thought he would turn into dust. 

"Gar, babe, we need to go upstairs,", I said to him. 

"What about Blaze?", He asked, a little muffled as his head was still buried into my chest. 

"They'll get him. I promise." 

I felt him slightly nod and I helped him get up to his feet. I basically had to hold him as we walked up the stairs and out the front. Paramedics ran up to us and I handed Garroth to them. 

"W-Wait, Laur-"

"I'll be right here Gar...go." 

He looked as though it was painful for him to leave me there but, I told him to let the paramedics look at him. Once they walked over to where their supplies were and I looked at Chad. "He's gone..." 

Chad's frowned only deepened and he signaled his men to go in. I couldn't watch any longer. I needed a break...I sat on the grass of the front lawn just to process everything that's happened in the past ten minutes. I saw my father walk over to me, completely in shock as well. 

"Are you alright?", He asked me, sitting down next to me. 

"I'll be fine in a minute..." 

"You can take longer if you would like. It's completely normal." 

I looked over to see Garroth being inspected by some paramedics as others went back into the house. 

"I need to be strong...for him." 

He brought his hand to my face and wiped away a tear that escaped. I looked at him and I felt like a literal five year crying to his Dad. I hugged him tightly as the thought of that being Garroth in the house instead of Blaze. Images ran through my mind as what happened before Blaze got hurt...how I could've been here twenty minutes earlier to stop it. 

...

Garroth and I were brought to Chad's office. My boyfriend was quiet the whole drive there I didn't pry him to speak. He had his head rest on my shoulder while I drew circles on his arm, kissing the top of his head every once and a while. We reached his building and I thanked my Dad for the ride again. I walked with Garroth, making sure he was able to do so. He was still really shaken up by the whole thing. I hope that he'll tell me once his mind has cleared up. We soon stepped into Chad's office, with him sitting at the desk. He left the scene first, informing us to meet him here when ready. Garroth wanted to talk about what happened and I didn't hold him back. 

"Why don't you two sit down?", Chad offered, motioning to his two chairs in front of his desk. We did and Chad softly eased into it. "Okay...what just happened to both of you is a lot to take in and I don't expect you to answer everything Garroth. I just need to make sure you're both okay." 

We did this before. After saving Garroth from Gene and his bullet wound was healed. It was protocol to make sure both the sun and phoenix felt safe to go home. I could tell though that we wouldn't be doing that, even if we were comfortable to do so. 

"Garroth, I want to know why you didn't call me the moment you found out..and when you found out." 

My boyfriend took a deep breath and said; "I found out a few weeks ago actually and I didn't want to tell you because...Blaze was part of the group and I didn't know if it was some trap or lie he was telling me."  

I was shocked when I heard this come out of his mouth. He didn't tell us? Really? We could've helped.  Chad asked, after shifting in his chair; "Why did you go with that rash plan you were telling me about on the phone?" 

He looked to me and I urged him to tell us. He said; "Well...I wasn't originally going to do it. Blaze told me, since he was still in contact with them to continue gathering information, that they were going to attack the school that I'm teaching at. I worried that they would do something before hand to and it would be my last chance to try and stop them." 

"And you felt as though this was safe...why?", Chad asked. 

"Because...I trusted my friend and he was Phoenix who was stronger than anyone in that room. He even tried to stop me..."

I saw him start to get emotional again and I placed my hand on his to stop him. I was going to ask him more about that later but, when things have dialed down. Chad sighed and he looked to me and asked; "Are you going to be okay?" 

"I'm fine,", I said. "Just a little shaken up." 

"Understandable...Garroth, do you know if they are still going to attack that school?" 

"Yes...they are. Blaze told me it would be their last chance to get what they want." 

"I see...well, I'll inform the agency to send some guards on Monday to keep everyone safe. Also, I'm going to make sure that this story keeps you two out of it. I don't want that affecting your education or your private lives during this rough time. During this time, Garroth, you need to not step into that school on Monday." 

He seemed bothered by that. I could see it. I asked Chad; "Can we have a moment real quick?" 

Chad agreed and I took Garroth out into the hallway. I looked at him dead in the eyes and asked; "What's wrong?" 

He said simply; "I need to be there."

"W-What? Why?" 

"Because, I promised Blaze that I would protect those kids. Besides, if I'm not there, they are going to grow suspicious and become worried if I'm not there if The Flames were to attack." 

"Okay, now you're sounding ridiculous,", I flat out stated. "There is no way-" 

"Mrs. Weldon is not going to be there. If The Flames do attack, they'll be in a room with a teacher they don't know. It'll make the situation more stressful for them." 

"You shouldn't just risk your life because of that. Garroth...you might not be so lucky if they find you." 

"Laur, I'll be-" 

"Don't tell me you'll be fine! You can't control anything that happens and if you get...", He was frozen at my sudden raise of voice. I sighed and said; "I don't know what I would do with myself if I found out the worse happened." 

He looked at me with sympathy in his eyes. He said; "I just got you back...I'm not going to let them separate us again."

I smiled and embraced him tightly. "I missed you by the way,", I finally said. 

"I missed you too,", He said back, returning the embrace. 

I parted from him to kiss him passionately and say; "I love you..." 

"I love you too Laur..." 

I thought about the ring that was still in my coat pocket and decided against it. I needed to do something more romantic. Besides, we have a plan to discuss with Chad... I kissed him one more time before opening the door to Chad's office again. 

Word Count: 2061