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[devoutish]

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[devoutish]

[And before him Emily, and before him Tifa. Alfie's grip on Royce tightens.]

Look after me. I'll even let you fuss.

[bywolves]

[ He nods. He keeps the fact that he feels like he's full of holes to himself. It doesn't help. There's not anything that can fill them, there's just - makeshift patches that he can slap over the top of them. ]

I can try. [ And then Alfie's going to die, so - that'll go well. ]

what the fuck apparently i never pressed enter on this

[devoutish]

[And then, completely by chance, Alfie coughs, and that cough turns into a coughing fit. He holds up a hand - he's fine, he's fine.]

iddy pls

[bywolves]

[ Completely by chance, Royce has a heart attack. He grabs for Alfie, rubbing at his back. He winces, if only because sudden movements really are starting to hurt, but he ignores it the best he can. ]

Here. [ He murmurs, pressing a water bottle into Alfie's hands. ]

i'm so mad; i stayed up for like three more hours and i figured you had gone to bed

[devoutish]

[He doesn't want to choke on it, so he waits until the fit is over before taking the bottle and taking a long drink.]

Thanks.

[He says, a little gasping.]

I'm fine. I am.

IDDY!!! oh my god

[bywolves]

[ He keeps rubbing Alfie's back, expression tight and concerned. ]

You're not fine. [ He says, in a tone to match. ] It just gets worse and worse.

I KNOW

[devoutish]

No, I'm fine.

[He tries to turn; to take Royce's hands in his.]

[bywolves]

[ He holds Alfie's hands in his own, staring down at them. ]

[devoutish]

Look at me. I look all right, don't I.

[You know, besides the bloodshot eyes and the gaunt face.]

[bywolves]

You look half dead. [ Royce says, after looking. It's not like Royce looks any better, gaunt and pale, streaks of grey through his hair. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie smoothes a hand through Royce's hair.]

I look no worse than anyone else.

[bywolves]

[ He tilts his head into the petting. ]

I wish that I could feed you better food.

[devoutish]

Maybe we should think about another trip to the grocery store.

[It's sad when Norfinbury's grocery store food is a delicacy to him, but that's where they are right now.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ He smiles a little, just a twitch of his lips. ]

I'd like that.

[devoutish]

Mm. We're gonna have to build up to walking again.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ That, he's not looking forward to. He takes a deep breath. ]

It'll be a new experience. [ He says bitterly, closing his eyes. His pain has just gotten worse, over the past few weeks. ]

[devoutish]

You can lean on me.

[bywolves]

I know. [ He shifts, and just - goes ahead and does that now, actually, leans on Alfie and stays where he is. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie hooks an arm around him, pulling him in close.]

Read me some more of your book.

[bywolves]

[ With a little sigh, he opens the book again, and starts to read. His voice is hoarse and he's not exactly the most evocative speakers - he doesn't add much emotion to the text so it's flat, but. When he gets closer to the end, where they finally confess how they feel to each other, he falters, and then stops. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie, who's been slouched there with his eyes closed, cracks one open.]

Mm?

[bywolves]

[ He clears his throat. And then: ]

I'm tired. I don't want to read anymore.

[devoutish]

Do you want me to finish it?

[bywolves]

[ Another long pause, and then he rests the book in Alfie's lap. ]

Yeah. Okay.

[devoutish]

[Alfie reads quietly, but with more emotion in his voice than Royce had - he's not theatrical about it, but he's a good, soothing reader. If Royce doesn't interrupt, he'll finish the book right when his voice is starting to get a little hoarse.

It's a happy ending; of course it is. The two friends reciprocate each other's feelings, and despite their homophobic coworkers and Matt's homophobic family, they decide they can't hide who they are any longer.]