i’ve met you over and over and every time i’ve had to watch you die. what do i have to do to save you? what do i have to do to change your fate?

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀... you're right . i know . i just ... sometimes ... i . come back to the tent ? ⠀⠀⠀

when he looks at me, the way he looks at me . . . he does not know, what i lack . . . or—how—i am incomplete. he sees me, for what i am. as i am. he’s happy—to see me.

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀their daily drill practice ended hours ago, but he's yet to return home — on his seventh or eighth lap around the base. ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀pausing, the grasp on his arm surprising but not entirely unwelcome . ❝ it's passed your bed time , lieutenant . ❞ ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ is that not what i'm doing ? we're talking right now . ❞ not quite pulling away, but he's tensing. already looking to take off again . ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ one more lap . ❞ he could outrun jay ... and the conversation . maybe make it off of base . ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ i'm not hiding anything . i'm just on a run . ❞ reluctantly accepting defeat . leaning into jay's touch . ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ i'm not lying . just avoiding the truth . ❞ a casual shrug . sinking into his grasp, leaning up to steal a kiss . ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀though he might be able to pull away now, he's instead pushing jay into the tent . away from prying eyes . ❝ or we could skip the talking . ❞ ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀whining. a roll of his eyes — trying to pull his wrists away . if they're going to talk , they might as well be comfortable , right ? in bed . ❝ i'm just tired , jay . i was hopinh the run would wake me up . it didn't . ❞ ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀he's slowly laying down on top of him. nuzzling into the crook of his neck with a sigh . ❝ do we have to dig deeper into it ? ❞ ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ you're insufferable . ❞ there's no heat to his words . no real anger . a huff . ❝ i just ... i thought coming here would change things . but everyome out there still sees me as the prince hiding behind a closet door . ❞ ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ i just want to be with you, jay. i just want to be happy . why is it so hard ? ❞ his tone is seeped with exhaustion , tinged in sadness . ⠀⠀⠀