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 Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:17 pm
It didn’t take long for Jet to doze off once he sat down on the small couch in his office. He’d thought about resting and going over some of the reports that had recently been submitted, but after carefully tucking Aqua in at his desk, sitting down only made him want to sleep.
Not for long, of course.
He startled awake when his chin slid off his hand. His tablet had already fallen from his grip and returned to its pen form, so he picked it up from his lap and pocketed it.
Aquamarine was still asleep at his desk, but…
Jet didn’t want to wake him, but he knew he should probably get some work done. Maybe he could move him to the couch instead.
He stood, stretched, and took the couple steps closer to the desk. He couldn’t help but brush Aquamarine’s hair behind his ear as he tried to decide the best way to move him.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:21 pm
Aquamarine’s cheek was squished against his own arm, misshapen enough to part his lips and let a little drool leak out—not the attractive picture he aimed for, but he didn’t have much of a say in that while unconscious. It had been a long day after an early morning after a long night before. As time had slipped away from them, so too had Aquamarine’s complaints, diminishing from forceful objections to the occasional low mutter kept mostly to himself. Now he caught sleep in fits and starts at whatever random hour seemed feasible.
Of course, he hadn’t exactly meant to fall asleep at Jet’s desk.
He stirred at the hand against his hair, fingers brushing against the shell of his ear. Long, golden lashes fluttered over purple eyes. Aquamarine’s gaze remained half-lidded as he peered at the figure beside him, blurry from sleep, but distinguishable by his aura and the colors of his uniform.
“—time’s it?” Aquamarine mumbled.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:23 pm
“You slept right through the end of the world. Thanks to your hard work, everything has been fixed so we can go get some fries or whatever you want now,” Jet couldn’t help but grin. It was a little mean to tease Aquamarine like that, especially when he’d been working so hard, so he placed his hands on his shoulders to rub them.
“It’s still pretty early. I dozed off a bit too, but still early in the evening. When did you get here to start working? I thought you were going to take a break or go harass your two Captains.”
Not that Jet wanted Aquamarine to harass Captain Akaganeite or Captain Reidite. They were both working hard, so a little grace for everyone would be nice.
“Want to go lay down on the couch? I can finish up whatever you’re working on,” he offered as he moved his fingers to Aquamarine’s neck to massage.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:23 pm
Aquamarine jerked further awake but quickly realized by both the tone of Jet’s voice and the state of things that Jet was only joking around. Nothing could happen without Aquamarine, or if it did the ending probably wouldn’t be the one Jet presented seeing as Aquamarine had one of the spikes.
Accidentally becoming “important” at work truly wasn’t what Aquamarine had been striving for. It was the price he paid for competency and common sense (and infuriating happenstance).
“d**k,” Aquamarine groaned. He tried to whack at whatever part of Jet he could reach, but his movements were sluggish and weak as he continued to rouse.
He lifted his head up long enough to squint at Jet through the lingering blur of sleep, wiping drool off the side of his face with the cuff of his sleeve. Aquamarine yawned widely and frowned over at the couch—definitely not Dark Kingdom issue; they’d spent a decent amount of money making their respective offices comfortable.
“Was working on a report,” he said, but couldn’t recall any further details. He glanced at the computer like he intended to refresh his brain, only to find the computer dark and his brain empty.
With a sigh, Aquamarine slouched back against the chair, tilting his head for Jet’s massage. “Snuggle me and I’ll lie down.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:24 pm
Naturally, Jet was more than happy to oblige. Especially when Aquamarine was looking cute and ruffled. And he clearly needed more rest.
He leaned over to press a kiss on Aquamarine’s forehead, and then straightened up so he could slide the chair out for him.
In all of their running around and creating reports and collecting as much energy as possible, it was slowly dawning on Jet that they might not have a chance like this ever again.
If something actually happened to Earth, or if something happened to one of them, they might never have these quiet moments of rest. There might not even be a world that existed for them to enjoy.
“Shall I carry you?” he teased again, holding out his hand as though expecting Aquamarine to reach up to put his arm around his shoulders. Otherwise, he could be used to lift himself up from the chair.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:24 pm
“Who even says shall anymore?” Aquamarine grumbled. “Talk like a normal person.”
He wasn’t so tired he couldn’t stand on his own. Occasionally Aquamarine liked to be a pain in the a** (on purpose; or, rather, more than he naturally was) but he still had his dignity. Being carried around like some sad, injured princess wasn’t of interest to him, even if it would have given him the opportunity to revel in Jet’s enhanced power. He took Jet’s hand but stood on his own, blinking more awake as he did so.
Aquamarine peered up at Jet, noting the dark smudges beneath his eyes and tension in his face. There was a desperate edge to Jet’s smile, like he was trying to hold onto a hope that seemed to be seeping away like grains of sand through his fingers.
“We can do this,” Aquamarine said.
He brought a hand to Jet’s face, running the pad of his thumb down the scar Ganymede had given him. Aquamarine wasn’t the type to be optimistic. He didn’t believe in miracles, and he’d been through enough s**t that he didn’t have a good opinion of most of his allies, but he’d seen greatness before in Laurelite—fending off a mob of their enemies almost single-handedly.
Jet had greatness in him, too.
Aquamarine leaned up to kiss him, mumbling against Jet’s mouth, “I love you.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:24 pm
For a moment, the smile on Jet’s lips faltered. His chest felt tight as Aquamarine placed his hand on his face.
He should have known that, after years of sharing thoughts with each other through their magic earrings gifted to them from Axinite, and even longer of just knowing each other, Aquamarine would have known exactly how Jet was feeling.
Of course Aquamarine saw through the facade. He could see the fear and anxiety that swirled inside him, knowing that there was only so much more they could do until the end.
Hopefully it wouldn’t be the end, but it would certainly be the end to life as they knew it, one way or another.
A creature that was capable of attacking Earth? Of threatening its existence? What else was out there…?
Jet didn’t say anything in return. Instead, he kissed Aquamarine back with desperation and longing. Hope lingered, but only barely.
But the light shone a bit brighter with Aquamarine by his side.
Fin!
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