Word Count: 257

Another little chemical reaction, this one demonstrating Decomposition ( AB --> A + B ). This one's a little angsty...

Sting's eyes widened in horror at what his boyfriend was suggesting. "You w-what?"

"I can't do this anymore!" The shadow slayer refused to meet the light dragon's eyes, staring at his shoes instead.

"Just tell me how to fix it," Sting pleaded, tears threatening to drown his vision. "I'll do anything for you, you know that, Ro."

"D-Don't call me that anymore," Rogue whispered brokenly, salt water trailing down his pale cheeks, droplets getting caught on his lashes."It's not your f-fault... It's everyone else."

"What do you mean?" Sting's hand yanked on a blond spike, unable to cope with his grief through just his words. Blue eyes grew ever wider, as Sting realized the implications of Rogue's admission. "You don't mean...?"

"Whenever you're not around..." Rogue sniffled quietly, eyes remaining downcast, fringe hiding his features from Sting. "I c-can't do it anymore!"

"Ro..." Sting swallowed thickly, tears rushing down his face. "Rogue, please tell me exactly who did this to you... I don't want to let you go... I lov-"

"Don't!"

Rogue, who had been letting his emotions express themselves freely across his features, steeled his nerves and closed off his feelings, shoving them away from the surface. He looked Sting in the eyes for the first time during their entire conversation, before turning on his heel and becoming a shadow to escape before he began tearing up once more.

Sting dropped to his knees on the pavement, hands balling into fists and covering his eyes as he began crying in earnest. Everything in him yearned to chase after the one he loved, but he didn't.