Chapter Text
A blood-curdling scream rang out from the dining room of the crowded pizzeria. A figure lay motionlessly on the stained carpet, crumpled into a fetal position as a dark red sap oozed from the rusted metal joints of the springlock suit.
Parents yelled, dishes and chairs crashed to the ground, children stood in shock or raced away wailing, and employees dashed around in a panic, desperate to calm the pandemonium.
One staff member, a man by the name of Joe made no such effort to still the cacophony; to him, the world had stopped to a crawl. Seconds passed with feverish sluggishness, and the chaos of the restaurant meant nothing to him. All that mattered was the man slumped on the floor, Harry, who was dressed in the deadly bear costume that was piercing his body like foam.
Joe flung himself to the lifeless form, each step taking an eon as he fought through the crowd, clawing at bodies that obstructed his path.
He raced to Harry’s side, falling to the ground and swearing as he looked over his companion’s slumped body.
“Fuck, Harry, don’t do this. Why did this happen, shit shit shit shit shit. I told you to always oil them, I fucking told you-” A low groan escaped the limp body, and a cough echoed out from the bear costume’s bloodsoaked mouth as the body convulsed. Joe gasped, though it felt as though none of the air was making it through the lump in his throat. He grasped Harry, pulling him close. He held him there in that embrace, sobbing quietly as he slipped away.
“God, fuck, I’m so sorry Harry. I never wanted this to happen to you. I’m so sorry.” The body went totally limp.
Joe stayed there for some time, crying as his coworkers cleaned and ushered families outside. He pulled the mask off his partner’s corpse, staring at his face one last time. He bent forward, leaning his dials against Harry’s lips, as though he was kissing him.
“I’ll see you later, my love.” He caressed Harry’s face. “I’ll love you no matter what. I’m sure you’ll love me too. Phones won’t stop us from being happy. It’ll be okay. Goodbye for now.”