ANOTHER BOOK OF BS INSTEAD OF SLEEP

寒いですねえ

"START AND END WITH THE SAME PHRASE."

"It's cold, isn't it?"

Lancer nodded in agreement as he and Edge strolled through the trails in the forest. Lush green leaves shone with raindrops that glimmered like small jewels. The damp soil beneath their feet gave off its raw, rich, clean scent. Occasionally a drop of water would drop from its perch on a branch or leaf.

Edge's fingers were locked with Lancer's, and they walked side by side without speaking. They were somewhat bundled up in jackets and such, but the cold still bit at their exposed cheeks.

Suddenly, Edge stopped.

"Something wrong?" Lancer asked, concern falling over his features.

Edge whirled around and wrapped his arms around the blond, hugging him tightly. "I love you so much," he sobbed, hot tears soaking into the exposed skin on Lancer's neck.

Lancer hesitated before hugging him back, surprised by the sudden outburst. He rubbed the ginger's back, pressing his lips against the top of his head. He could feel Edge's shoulders shaking, his body wracked with choking sobs.

"Edge..."

"I don't want to... Please... I need you!"

"I love you too damn much to let anything happen to you," Lancer swore fiercely, but Edge only cried harder.

"Oh Lance... You can't... Can't save me..."

"Of course I can! I will!"

Edge shook his head, trying to smile but his pretty face was torn up with tears. "I'm dying," he whispered, watching Lancer's face contort into one of horror, "I have three days to live."

Lancer screamed.

Edge sobbed harder as Lance held him with such a fiercely loving embrace. It was terrifying, watching the blond scream and swear at the heavens, angry tears streaming down his cheeks.

When he couldn't scream anymore, Lance fell to his knees, crying and hugging Edge as if the world would fall apart if he let go.

Three days later, he was in pieces, screaming and refusing to let go of Edge's hand at his bedside, fighting for dear life against the doctors trying to take him away. He would not abandon his lover. He didn't care that there was a flat line moaning forlornly, if he loved Edge hard enough, the world couldn't take him away.

Right?

The simple gravestone decorated in painfully handpicked roses said otherwise.

Lance knelt before it, hot streaks of tears running down his cold cheeks. He reached out to touch his lover's name, engraved in the stone before him.

He whispered sadly, "It's cold, isn't it?"