[This chapter isn't about couples. It's about Babe and Way.]
Angst

~ See You Again ~

Babe couldn't sleep.

The storm outside rumbled on, tumbling down on the city without any signs of stopping, as the winds savaged every tree and every building of the place, big or small. Big raindrops fell on the Earth in hundreds and thousands, creating an uproar of cats and dogs. The windows shook at each clap of thunder, the sharp lightning blazing the room with its light in occasions. It was past midnight and the storm showed no signs of subsiding, along with the gale that was sweeping down Babe's heart, not allowing him to rest.

Babe twisted and turned in his bed, clutching the sheets and gasping for breath. His hairs were damp and stuck to his forehead, as clammy perspirations cascaded down from every corner of his body. His eyes we're squeezed shut, yet he could see images so clear. He was mumbling incoherent words, his head swiping from side to side on his pillow, his head pounding in pain and heart beating faster and faster. Beside him lay his boyfriend Charlie, who was fast asleep and the velocity of the storm outside had already subsided Babe's mumbling, so even if he was awake, he might not have heard the boy beside him wriggling in pain.

Babe could see it so well...so so well. It was as if everything was in a slow motion...the bullet coming straight towards him...Charlie lunging on top of him in order to take the bullet but it didn't penetrate him...and then...a body standing right in front of his eyes...a human shield protecting him from the consecutive bullets meant to be showered upon him before collapsing on the cold hard floor...life ebbing away from his being...the white cotton shirt splashed in gruesome dark red...blood spurting out from the wounds in excess amount...no way to stop it...his face...his eyes...those expressions...those tears...those last words before an eternal goodbye...screams of agony and regret...chest tightening...screaming...crying...

Everything...every single thing came flooding back in his mind, as Babe twitched in an unexplainable pain, tears oozing out from his eyes. It was a dream...a captivating hallucination which he couldn't break out from even if he tried to...even if he tried his very best to escape it...he was just stuck in this cycle.

But suddenly...everything disappeared.

Babe's mind went blank for a moment, and he calmed down a bit, his breathing slowly back to normal, his heart thumping a little softly. Not before long, a new picture emerged in his mind...in his dream. Babe didn't know what it was about...what his dream was about, and through his mind's eye, he suddenly started seeing things clearer and clearer, diving into a story that had never happened in his life before.

[DREAM]

Babe was in his favorite racing car, driving it at top speed down the deserted racing track. He was in an elated mood, his mind free of any worry or problems. He was out chilling in that weather, sweet and solitary, when all of a sudden he saw another car beside his own. He was a little surprised.

As Babe looked out of the window, he saw the car and creased his eyebrows at it's familiarity. I've seen this car somewhere...but...where? On a closer look, he caught a glimpse of the driver, and, no sooner had he seen the driver, than he froze. The owner of the other car looked back at him, a small subtle smile on his lips and waved at him.

Babe was in a pure shock and before he could actually crash his car somewhere, he quickly pressed the breaks, bringing the car to an immediate hault with a violent jerk. He hurriedly came out of the car, his breath unsteady and mind unphased as he noticed the other car stop beside his one. He watched with utter horror in his eyes, as the driver came out too, looking nonchalant, standing on the racing ground and taking a deep breath in the cool fresh air of the familiar environment, the smile still lingering upon his lips as the place brought back so many memories to him. As his gaze finally landed on Babe, his expressions changed a bit, from subtle happiness to a brief ounce of worry. On the other hand, Babe was still shaking in horror.

"W-Way..." He gasped, edging backwards towards his car, trying to stay away from the figure in front of him, rather an illusion as he believed.

He's dead! He's dead, Babe! How can he be here? This-This isn't him! This can't be him! It's an illusion...a fucking illusion.

"Babe," The other boy called, his voice soft and light, sending shivers down Babe's spine. His mouth was already parched, throat dry. This figure, standing straight in front of his eyes, was supposed to be dead three months ago, trapped and buried six feet under. Then how come he was here, right in front of Babe? Driving? Walking? Smiling? Talking?

"W-Way," Babe finally found his voice, "Y-You're d-dead...You're d-dead...Y-You're dead! H-How a-are you..." Babe couldn't complete his sentence, his breath hitched and his face started to turn pale.

"Yes I am," replied the lanky boy softly, "I am dead, Babe. This is just an illusion of me that you're seeing in your dreams, because even after all this, you still can't get me out of your head. So you keep seeing me."

Babe couldn't comprehend whatever was going on. He frantically looked here and there to check if someone, at least a single person was there around him, but in vain. The vast racetrack was empty and there was no one except him and the boy in front of him, human or not.

Babe looked at him, his voice stuck in his throat, still not believing the sight. Way looked so real, so so real, as if he was still alive and had come back from the dead. Even though this was unbelievable, Babe couldn't think if anything else at that moment.

"Wh-Why...Why did you c-come back?" He faltered, his hands turning colder every minute.

"I didn't come back by myself, Babe," sighed Way, "I'm not even here. You're the one who kept me stuck in your memory and just because you can't forget me, I keep coming back in your thoughts everytime." A gentle breeze had started blowing, cool and sweet, brushing against Babe's skin, and therefore he was still reluctant to believe that this was all a dream.

He had do something. He had to do something to make Way get out of his dreams and prevent himself from going crazier. But what?

"Th-Then what should I do?" he asked, looking directly at Way, "What sh-should I do to pr-prevent you from haunting my thoughts every night?"

"You need to forget me."

"I- What?"

"You need to forget me," Way repeated calmly, "You need to stop thinking about me and forget me completely, and maybe then I wouldn't come back-"

"HOW DARE YOU?" screamed Babe, as he lunged forward, grabbing Way by the collar of his jacket. Even though Babe shivered realising the fact that Way felt so 'real' he shook off the feelings and continued.

"How dare you say that, Way, After all you did? After all you did to us, after all you did to me?" Babe cried, tears rolling down his eyes, his face scrunched up in pain, blood pounding in his veins in anger, "You betrayed us...you betrayed me...manipulated me...tried to force yourself upon me...destroyed our bond...ruined our friendship...and now you're asking me to FORGET YOU? YOU'RE PATHETIC."

He pushed Way hard, and being weaker than the other, Way stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, his head hitting on the edge of the car. Blood oozed out from his forehead, as Babe watched with utter horror, the boy in front of him gasp for breath. How-How is this real?

He reached out for him, his hands shaking, but even before he could go to his vicinity, Way stopped him.

"I'm fine," he spoke, as softly as a breeze, which reminded Babe of his voice as he spoke his final words before he breathed his last, softer than a whisper, "That's why...That's why I'm asking you...to forget me, Babe. You didn't loose anything, rather gained from my death. A foul soul, a disgusting enemy lost his life and you lost a pathetic friend. What can be better than this? I committed my sins and I payed for it. You-You must be happy after all this, shouldn't you?"

"You're pathetic," Babe muttered, as he sat on the ground, not looking at Way anymore, "How could you say that, huh? How could you-"

"What am I supposed to say then?" Way asked, looking miserably at Babe, the blood trickling down from the side of his face, drenching a small part of his racing suit.

"What do you think you should say?" Babe retorted, "Don't say sorry. You've said enough of that. I'm still not going to forgive you."

"I don't need your forgiveness, Babe," Way replied softly, "I didn't die just because you would forgive me. I knew it's impossible. It's just because-"

"Because what, Way?" Babe questioned, looking daggers at him, his anger gurgling in his blood, "Because you loved me? To prove your love? To prove your sincerity? No Way, you couldn't do any of that. Instead you destroyed people even more, to the core. You thought your death wouldn't affect anyone? You thought we would all forget about you and move on happily? You thought we wouldn't dig up the truth?"

Way looked up at him, utterly shocked. Whatever came out of Babe's mouth wasn't something he had ever expected. As Babe noticed he couldn't speak anything back, he continued.

"After your truth was found, you smashed all of us, Way. You destroyed Alan, who loved you much more than me. You were his first student, his prized racer, his little brother. You destroyed North and Sonic, who loved you like their brother too. You ruined me, to every cell of my bones and to the deepest core of my heart, a scar which no one can erase. Most of all, you destroyed Pete."

Way flinched at the name, his lips quivering slightly. The name itself made him feel sorry and way to depressed, as he remembered a galore of things.

"You bastard!" Babe cursed, his tears knowing no bounds, "You knew he was in love with you. He was madly in love with you, yet you never reciprocated your feelings and ran after me like a dog. Your death left him speechless, changing him completely. That man, once so powerful and yet so cheerful, is now glum, silent and weak. All your belongings are with him, Way, and even though you guys were never attached, he still takes care of your things as if you would come back and use them once again. You destroyed him too, Way. You destroyed all of us."

Way couldn't speak anymore. He hung his head low, not speaking a word. The evening was soft and beautiful, the orange sunrays enveloping the area, a gentle wind calming the place, all silent and quiet. Poor Babe couldn't help but think about the first time he had won a race and had celebrated in this very place with his beloved friend Way, who now sat emotionless in front of in his cage of dreams as nothing but a sordid illusion.

"Then why don't you just let me go, Babe," Way asked, rather begged, "Even after I did this all?"

"Because you were that one person whom I trusted the most," Babe revealed, "You were the only one to whom I could say everything, vent out all my emotions, happy and sad. You were the one who stood by my side, thick and thin, through my dark days and my bright ones, even after whatever scandal you tried on me. It's not easy Way, it's not easy to accept the fact that you aren't there anymore with us, that you're forever gone. Perhaps you think it's better for you. But for us, for me, no. Never."

"Then what I should do, Babe?" asked Way desperately, his eyes now glassy with tears. Babe felt a sharp pang of pain in his chest, but continued speaking.

"I know I can't bring you back in this life but...promise me," he edged closer to him, sticking out his pinkie towards Way, "Promise me Way...that in our next life, you'll come back to us, you'll come back to me. You will come back to me as my b-best friend and never leave me alone, or betray me or try to harm me. Promise me you'll find me. Promise me we'll meet again."

Way was astonished at this desperate request. Even after all he did, Babe still wanted him to come back to him as his best friend.

"I-I promise," Way whispered, intertwining his pinkie with Babe's, "I-I...I'll come back." No sooner did they seal their promise, than Babe pounced on him, engulfing him in a big hug, howling madly. He knew this was the last time he would be seeing Way, even though it was all a dream. Babe didn't want to let go, so didn't Way, as they stayed in that embrace for too long.

"I've to go now Babe," Way whispered, as he broke the hug and looked at Babe, a smile playing on his lips, "I'm sure you'll take of yourself and everyone. Live this life to the fullest Babe. And when we meet the next time, I promise I'll make it all up to you."

Way got up from the ground, so did Babe.

"Remember Way," Babe said, wiping his tears away, "Whichever road you take, it'll always lead you home, to us, to all of us. We'll always remember you, you idiot!"

Way chuckled at the remark, and opened the door of his race car, the one he used to drive alongside Babe during every race. He wore his helmet and looked out of the window at Babe, their eyes gazing at each other. Even though it was a final goodbye all in a dream, it still hurt.

"Good luck Way," Babe said, lifting up his hand in a thumps up, smiling brightly, "May you win this race too. NICE RACE AS ALWAYS!"

Way gave him a thumbs up back, his eyes in a crescent moon shapes showing that he was smiling as he started his car. The engine vroomed and the car accelerated, picking up speed and flashing down the road, just like how a perfect racing car with an extraordinary owner should. Babe watched the car drift down the path, tears still blurring his vision. He felt a little lonely yet happy, as he saw the car getting smaller and smaller and finally disappearing into the horizon.

We'll meet again, Way.

* * *

Babe's eyes fluttered open, as he looked straight at the dark ceiling, his chest heaving up and down for breath. He quickly sat up and looked around, just to find himself in his room. The storm had subsided a bit and Charlie was sound asleep. Babe couldn't believe whatever he had experienced moments ago was just a dream. His throat felt dry and he quietly got up from his bed and walked up to the table to get himself a glass of water.

A small toy racing car lay on the table, which caught Babe's attention. He picked it up and looked at it fondly, sweet memories running back to his mind.

"You deserve this," cried Way as he pushed a small toy on Babe's lap, "This was just your first race and it was soooooo easy...even Uncle could win it. Huh! Win all the three leagues and only then I'll buy you a PS5. Otherwise go play with this!"

Babe giggled, small tears forming in his eyes as he put down the toy and went back to his bed. As he lay down and closed his eyes, he didn't see anything bad anymore and finally after so many sleepless nights, he quickly fell into a sound sleep.

Oh I'll tell you all about it
When I see you again~

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Don't have high hopes for this chapter lol but hope you ppl enjoy<3

Do comment! Ur comments keep me going through the day lol!

And guys! Please go read my book KIDNAP if y'all are looking for some Pitbabe adventure with a different twist! Hope y'all will like it!!

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ʙᴇsᴛɪᴇs~