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"I'm in love with him"
Silas kept his gaze on Panto, both of them smiling at each other. Jeppum coughed slightly as he looked up at his son.
"Is it true?" He asked.
Panto nodded, still smiling softly.
"It is, father."
Frija had a look of astonishment on her face, looking at her son. Silas looked down, eyes still twinkling with love.
"If there is to be any hope for the future of this land," Silas broke Panto's gaze to look at his mother pleadingly, "you must wake up and stop this, please."
Frija cast her gaze down, a look of defeat and exhaustion washing over her.
Panto spoke next, his voice soft but determined.
"We cannot bear more distraction"
Jeppum reached up, grasping his son's gloved hand.
"How many have died?"
Panto doesn't answer, putting his free hand over his father's.
"Their sacrifice does not have to be in vain. We can honor them yet if we work together to save Inglenook."
Bart spoke up from where she was standing behind the group, a wide, joyful smile on her face as she rocked back and forth, giddy at the idea of the united families.
"See? Everything is gonna work out great!"
Silas huffed out a small laugh, looking down at his mother as she cast a soft gaze at him, a hint of approval underneath it.
Just then, the sound of dozens of footfalls drew closer, causing everyone to look back towards the entrance of the town. Over two dozen box heads now stood, guns raised in preparation. A rowdy voice rang out.
"Haha! They all killed each other! There's no one left for us to kill!"
Panto and Silas stood, smiles dropped and morphed into ones of concern and defense, both walking forward to stand next to Bart. Panto gripped the handle of his scissor sword tightly.
Silas was barely able to mutter a word before half a dozen bullets hit his chest, his body falling to the ground unmoving. Panto cried out in alarm.
"Silas!"
Two bullets embedded themselves into Jeppum and Fajah's heads, killing them both instantly. Panto collapsed to the floor, cradling Silas' face. He could hear Bart start up her weapon, drawing the men's attention away from him.
"Silas? Silas, come on love, talk to me…"
Panto lifted Silas' head, blood seeping into his clothing as their chests met. Tears welled in his eyes as he shoved his head into Silas' shoulder, sobs starting to wrack his body. The gunfire and sounds of death slowly faded out, Bart successfully taking care of the attackers.
"Silas, my love, my life,” he paused as he choked out a broken sob, “I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."
Panto held tightly to his partner's rapidly cooling body, sobbing at the loss of his love. His vision was blurred as the world started to spin and fade away. He could feel a hand on his shoulder, a faint voice calling to him. He shook his head and held on tighter, refusing to be dragged away. Closing his eyes, he wished to be taken as well, for no life is worth living without Silas beside him.
Suddenly, Panto snapped his eyes open, being met with a very concerned Silas leaning over him, shaking his shoulders.
"Panto! Love, wake up, it's only a dream!"
Panting heavily, Panto looked at Silas for a few moments before bringing him down into a crushing embrace, resting his face against the top of Silas' head. Silas brought a hand up to his hair, running his fingers through it as he gently shushed him.
"Shh, love, it's alright I'm right here."
Panto tried to reply but let out a soft whimper instead. They lay there in silence for a long while, Panto slowly grounding himself while Silas soothed him. After his breathing had returned to a normal pace, Silas carefully leaned back, cupping his face.
"My love, are you okay?"
Panto leaned into his hand, relishing the contact.
"Yes, yes, I didn't mean to worry you my darling"
Silas sighed softly and kissed a spare tear away off of Panto's face.
"You were thrashing around calling my name. What dark tale has plagued your mind?"
Panto leaned forward, resting their foreheads together as he closed his eyes.
"I was dreaming about the day we perished… except this time I lived, forced to witness your demise knowing I could do nothing to save you."
Silas held him closer, using his thumb to brush away the new tears that had started to flow.
"It was awful, Silas. To see your body cast upon the ground unmoving, knowing your soul was long departed, away from this world, away from me . I didn't know how I could live without you."
He had started shaking again, hands gripping the back of Silas' soft silk pajamas like his life depended on it. He felt as though if he were to let go, Silas would disappear, leaving him alone in a cold, cruel world.
Silas frowned softly. He hated to see his beloved so distraught. He continued to card his hand through Panto's hair, his other hand cradled against his cheek, now damp with warm tears.
"It's okay, love. I'm right here, everything is fine now. Nothing could take me away from you, not even death."
Panto choked out a soft sob. "But it did , Silas. You died. The last thing I saw before I perished was your body hitting the ground," a wave of grief passed through him at the memory, "...you were gone."
Silas felt his own eyes grow teary. He was the first one to die that day. He could still recall the burning feeling of the bullets before his world went black. He remembers the faded voice of Panto calling out his name before he too was shot down. Awakening from death was startling, but once he looked over and found Panto was okay, he couldn't care about anything else. He can't imagine how he would feel if he saw Panto die first, it would be burned into his memory, much like it must be for his love, currently cradled against him with tears in his eyes.
"Dear heart… it's alright now, I'm right here, whatever you may need."
Panto shifted forward slightly, closing the small gap between them in a tender kiss. Silas couldn't help but let his tears flow, his heart swollen with pure love. He tried his best to pour it into the kiss, to share his emotions in ways his words could not. Panto did the same, releasing his grip on Silas' pajamas so he could reach up and hold his lover's face.
Pulling away for a breath, Panto gazed lovingly at Silas, wiping away one of the stray tears on his cheek. He smiled softly as he leaned in and kissed him again, feeling Silas smiling as well.
"I love you"
Silas smiled, turning his head to kiss Panto's palm, a small blush rising to his cheeks.
"I love you too, much more than words can convey."
Panto drew Silas' face in closer and started peppering his face with kisses, Silas starting to chuckle softly at the affection.
"How could I ever live without you?" Panto murmured between his affections.
Silas hummed softly, closing his eyes, basking in the love Panto was covering him with. "I could ask the same, love"
The rest of the night was spent holding each other close and sharing affection. The road to their happily ever after was not easy, but they couldn't be happier with where they ended up. Snuggled together in their shared bed, openly loving each other until the end of time.