Life After The Dark

BOOOOOOOM!

Carlton ducks for cover around the corner of another building. His ears won't stop ringing, but he can't bring himself to look at the aftermath until his hearing comes back.

Minutes pass and his ears stop ringing. He slowly makes his way onto the empty street. The small-town bar was barely standing, and smoke continued to billow through the windows. Unsure of what caused the explosion, Carlton treaded carefully as he investigated. No sound came from inside the building, so it couldn't have been a demon summoning. A demon could never be this quiet.

A soot covered figure makes its way to the doorway, letting out a cough as they walk through the smoke.

"Are you hurt?" inquires Carlton. The figure steps out into the fresh air and lets out a couple of huge coughs. They try to wipe the soot from their eyes, without much success. "Can you hear me?"

The figure successfully wipes their eyes and looks at Carlton. A shocked look crosses their face.

"Carlton?"

"Ace?" Carlton brings his hands to cup his boyfriends face. "How are you here? The portal closed behind you."

"I wish I could tell you. One minute I was being chased through a forest, the next minute here." Ace croaks. He coughs up some soot.

"Let's get you some water and a long shower. Before we go, I do have to ask what happened in the bar."

"I panicked. Didn't recognize it and threw a fireball. Unfortunately, I threw it right at the alcohol."

{Next Section} [Not Next Chapter]

"Every time I open my eyes I expect you to be gone and for everything to have been a dream."

Ace looks at Carlton with a sad look in his eyes. Carlton kneels on the bathroom floor in front of him, while Ace sits on the toilet. A pile of dirty wash clothes lays around him. Ace brings a hand up and runs it through Carlton's hair, brushing it behind his ear. Carlton leans into the touch desperately, having been deprived of it for months.

"I'm not leaving you ever again." Ace reassures.

"Not even to go to the bathroom?" jokes Carlton.

"Nope. We are gonna be attached at the hip forever." Ace says with a mock threatening laugh.

"I think I can live with that"

Ace shifts closer to Carlton and hesitantly leans into Carlton's space. Carlton welcomes him, and closes his eyes as he nuzzles his face into Ace's cheek. He makes no move to take it further; he just takes in Ace's presence. Ace gives a small little smile at this action and gives Carlton a quick kiss. He presses his forehead to Carlton's.

The two just hold each other close. Until Carlton breaks the silence.

"You're my entire world you know. The only thing that keeps my heart beating."

"And I don't feel complete unless I am with you." Carlton opens his eyes and smiles at this revelation from Ace.

"Please don't leave me again"

"Never." promises Ace.