Seb shifts, presses a kiss to the top of Daniel’s head. “I am angry,” he says, deceptively light. “But not with you.”

“You should be,” Daniel mumbles. “I deserve it. How – how do you know you can even trust me–”

“Maybe I should be,” Seb acknowledges. “But, well. I’ve never been one to choose easy flock.”

“I don’t get it,” Daniel mumbles. “Am I dreaming? Or am I actually gone?”

Max stills. “What?”

“I thought I was leaving,” Daniel says, his hands shaking in Max’s shirt. “You said I could go.”

Can I rest now?

Max stops breathing. Daniel couldn’t have meant–

Don’t leave me, Daniel had pleaded as he fell asleep. I love you.

Daniel had never said that to... See more