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When Boothill stepped into the Dreamscape, he sought a target. An imposter who needed to be brought down, as well as anyone who stood in his way. As he lurked in the alleyways of Penacony, he studied everyone in the Dreamscape carefully, rolling a bullet on his tongue. His gun was loaded, and his patience was wearing thin.
Where is this blasted Emanator? He muttered to himself, eyes narrowing.
The sound of footsteps alerted him to movement behind him. Grabbing his gun, he whipped around, aiming the barrel straight on. His finger began to squeeze the trigger.
“What a gorgeous sheen that pierces through the darkness. An enchanting glow like a star amidst the night sky...”
It was just some knight talking to a trash can.
The knight seemed to notice Boothill staring at him, so he turned and began striding towards him, ignoring the gun aimed directly at his armored chest. His long, vibrant red hair flowing behind him with every step. Something about him felt… familiar.
“Such beautiful eyes, such fair skin… to meet such a beautiful soul in a dream is certainly serendipity to behold.” He stepped closer to Boothill, who lowered the gun almost instinctively. “Please, may I know the name of such a beautiful soul?”
Boothill simply stared, unable to think of anything to say to this enchanting stranger. He swallowed, gathering his wits, and answered the knight’s question.
“Boothill.”
“A beautiful name befitting a beautiful soul. I am Argenti, Knight of Beauty, and I am searching for my Goddess.” The knight offered a polite bow. “I vow to make the beauty echo throughout the universe, ‘til I draw my last breath for Idrila. But until then… I shall protect beauty throughout the universe… and that includes defeating monsters that could pose a threat to the beauty of humanity.”
Scratching the back of his head, Boothill snapped out of his stupor to raise an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what yer goin’ on about, with all this… beauty and whatnot… but I’m busy. I’m looking for a dangerous imposter right now.”
“Dangerous?” Argenti pursed his lips. “Then allow me to join you in your pursuit. I am bound by honor to aid and protect.”
Boothill shook his head, turning back towards the streets of Penacony. “I’ll pass. I usually hunt alone… don’t have to worry ‘bout another person slowin’ me down.”
“Mm. I understand, and I will honor your request.” The knight stepped next to him. “But should misfortune befall you, do not hesitate to call upon me. I will protect you.”
Argenti bowed once more, before turning back down the alleyway and disappearing into the shadows. Boothill merely sighed, using the barrel of his gun to scratch his forehead.
What a weird guy. I won’t need to be calling upon him anytime soon .
Boothill changed locations, tilting his hat over his eyes. He didn’t want to be noticed by some other weirdo as he walked through Penacony. Of course, he knew deep down that he wouldn’t mind running into Argenti again.
Shaking the thought from his head, Boothill refocused his attention on his primary goal. That Emanator… the imposter… I gotta put a bullet through that head of hers before she tries anything …
His thoughts were interrupted when a bunch of Pepeshi rushed past him, nearly knocking him off balance.
“Why you… cuties!” he cursed.
Blasted Synesthesia Beacon… I’ll find whatever adorable menace messed around with it…
“The Pepeshi are indeed an adorable species, aren’t they?”
Boothill turned around to find Argenti again. This time, the Knight of Beauty was looking at one of the moving billboards, complimenting its frame. Sighing, Boothill began walking again.
“Ya don’t have t’ follow me around, y’know,” he said. “If I need your help, I’ll ask.”
He glanced over his shoulder again, only to find Argenti gone.
How the devil does he move so fast?
I’m close… I can feel it. The Emanator passed this way earlier… Boothill had run into all sorts of colorful characters earlier that day. A man with wings on his head, a shady blue haired guy who tried to sell him something, and even the Trailblazer and the Astral Express crew. But there was one person he hadn’t seen in a few days. He had even grown used to glancing over his shoulder to see Argenti trailing behind, or staring deeply at a lamppost.
Boothill released a sigh. “Oh, well… guess I don’t have to deal with that adorable knight…”
“Do you think I am adorable?” came a voice behind him.
Speak of the devil .
“N…no. See, I can’t exactly curse like other people can. Look… cutie, cutie, cutie, cutie… can’t do it.”
That only seemed to make Argenti smile wide. “What a pleasure it is to have found one who has shunned vulgarity, in such a time where it is running rampant. There are many beautiful words to flatter the soul, but such harsh words are not seen as such by the Knights of Beauty.”
Boothill glowered. This guy doesn’t get it, does he? No matter. “Anyways… What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be lookin’ for… your Goddess?”
“I am always searching for THEM, but I am also always spreading beauty and squashing grotesqueries.” Argenti struck an elegant pose, rose petals drifting down from who knows where. Boothill couldn’t help but smile at this display.
“Okay…” he sighed. “You can join me.”
“Wonderful!” Argenti declared. “I shall do my best to aid you in your task.”
For the rest of the day, the knight followed Boothill around the Dreamscape, often stopping to admire the beauty of the vehicles, the people, the plants… eventually, Boothill just grabbed Argenti’s wrist and dragged him along.
After a while, Argenti simply followed him up and down the streets of Penacony, but he was always smiling whenever Boothill looked back at him. All Boothill could do was turn back around before Argenti noticed the blue rushing to his cheeks.
What is this feeling?
Argenti remained mostly silent for the rest of the night, although from time to time he would whisper to himself about the beauty of various objects. Boothill came to a stop at the top of a building, staring down at the cityscape. It was kind of remarkable how beautiful and dreamlike Penacony felt.
The knight stepped up beside him, looking out at the skyline, an enamored glint in his eyes. Boothill couldn’t help but stare at him as his silky red hair tousled in the breeze. Part of him wanted to reach out and touch it… feel it… wrap it in his hands and feel comforted by the soft threads of his hair… but he knew it would only get caught between his metal fingers, and it would probably hurt Argenti.
“The view here is breathtaking… a beautiful scene that truly exists only within a dream. Wouldn’t you say?” Argenti turned back to Boothill, who was still staring at him.
“Yeah… breathtaking.”
But as the night ends, so too, do dreams. As they prepared to return to the waking world, Argenti stretched out his hand, clasping Boothill’s in his. “Please… meet me outside of the Dreamscape, if you desire to see me again.”
Boothill did.
Argenti adjusted the armor nested against his throat. He was waiting for a friend in the lobby of the Reverie Hotel, but he was beginning to grow… impatient? Such a feeling was unlike a Knight of Beauty. But he knew he was eager to see his friend, not in the Dreamscape, but face-to-face for the first time. They had only known each other for a week, but Argenti still grew rather fond of him.
However… Boothill was later than the agreed upon time. Perhaps he didn’t really want to meet up with Argenti, or he was held up by the confusing corridors that lined the Reverie Hotel in the hundreds. Argenti wanted to believe it was the latter–he always sought out the beauty in people, and Boothill was indeed very beautiful.
Only a few moments later, one of the heavy wooden doors burst open, revealing the tall figure Argenti had been waiting for. He was panting, and he stopped in the doorway as he caught his breath, before straightening up and sauntering over to Argenti.
“My goodness… are you alright, dear friend?” Argenti couldn’t help but worry. Boothill’s face had turned blue as he heaved for air.
“I’m… fine…” Boothill said. He looked away, an embarrassed expression growing on his face, the color in his cheeks deepening. “Just… not so good with directions, y’know. Got a bit lost. I’m… dreadful sorry for keeping you waiting.”
Argenti’s previous impatience immediately washed away as he smiled wide. “Do not worry, my friend. I am just so pleased that you decided to show up.”
The two of them wandered around the Reverie Hotel, talking for hours about nothing and yet everything at the same time. Finally, they seated themselves at a bar, their drinks growing warm as they did nothing but talk.
Everything about Argenti made Boothill’s heart flutter. He wanted to stay in the moment forever, listening to Argenti’s voice… his laugh… the way he spoke was full of charm and ethereal, and the way he listened was captivating too. Everything about him was radiant, until…
“Oh, my dear friend…” Argenti smiled, circling a finger around the brim of his glass. “I really must show you my One and Only, she is truly a beauty to behold.”
One and only? Boothill looked down at his drink, the glass still full and the ice fully melted. He was experiencing a new feeling to him… or at least, not one he’d experienced in a while. His body was no longer his own, and sometimes he felt the same way about his heart. Love? Jealousy? He couldn’t bring himself to speak as his hand crept towards Argenti’s, retraced, and rerouted to grab the glass in front of him. He gulped down the frothy liquid, exhaled, slammed the cup down, and stood.
“Oh? You are leaving already?”
Wiping the remaining froth from his lips, Boothill nodded. “I still have a job I gotta do.”
Argenti simply nodded, offering him a smile. “I shall see you in the Dreamscape, then?”
“No, no need… you finish yer drink. I can handle it alone tonight.”
They whispered their goodbyes. The knight turned back to his drink, raising it up to his lips in a desperate attempt to hide the disappointment in his face and the tears in his eyes.
Boothill wanted to go back to Argenti… he wanted to stay with him for the rest of the night. For the rest of… no… stop that thinking, Boothill… you’re here to do a job and that’s it . He pulled his hat down over his eyes, sulking around the rooftops of Penacony. The view here was beautiful, like Argenti had said… he couldn’t remember why he didn’t notice that in the first place.
Stupid adorable idiot… of course he has a “one and only”! A guy as charming as him would probably have mounds of people at his doorstep begging him for even a glance! Boothill gritted his teeth and buried his face in his hat, screaming into it with all his might. He sighed, placing the hat back on his head, and turned around.
Monsters. Mechanical monsters who had been attracted by his screaming and stomping around. They were only small fries, but there were five or six of them… and more he could see in the distance growing curious at the crowd that was gathering. His gun had been reloaded that morning, even though he had not fired any shots that week, he always took good care not to let the bullets sit stationary for too long.
Boothill chuckled. Just the thing he needed to distract himself.
As he shot through monster after monster, he began laughing to himself. Each monster went down with one or two well placed bullets through their metal bodies as he tore through them. Although they seemed to keep coming in waves, Boothill kept picking them off, one by one, until…
Click… click…
Boothill ran out of ammo. Scowling, he backed up as the monsters began to close in once more, tripping on the edge of the stair and falling back. He could always try kicking them–after all, they were both made of metal–but he really did not want to damage his mechanical legs by accident again.
Can’t believe it. I’ve taken on Emanators an’ other evils… and a group of adorable monsters is what’s gonna do me in …
He closed his eyes, waiting to be torn to shreds, when something soft and light brushed against his cheek. He peeked, his eyes widening when he saw hundreds of rose petals descending from the sky. The familiar metal clank of his armor reached Boothill’s ears, the gentle rhythm of his footsteps…
Argenti …
Boothill had never seen Argenti fight, but it was akin to watching a dancer move across the stage. Every step, every swing of his spear, every stab… every movement felt choreographed and mesmerizing. Rose petals and thorns seemed to appear wherever he stepped, piercing the mechanical monsters and leaving only a trail of blossoms behind.
Finally, Argenti turned back to Boothill, that usual charming smile on his face. “My dear friend, are you alright? You aren’t hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine…” Boothill snapped out of his enamour, brushing past the hand that Argenti extended to help him to his feet.
“I am glad that I found you,” Argenti began. “I would have been terribly worried if you had become injured and I was not there to protect you.”
Boothill’s expression turned into a sneer. “I’d be fine, with or without ya. I’ve been doin’ a fine job at protectin’ myself up ‘til now, y’know. I know it don’t seem like it from just now, but… I was built for fighting. That’s all I’m good for.”
“Do not say that, my friend. You are full of love, and you are a most wonderful-”
“You don’t understand , Argenti. From my head down to my feet, I have been manufactured for war.” Boothill’s expression darkened as he stepped closer to the knight, his crosshair eye glowing. “All I know is war. All I know is fighting. I am not capable of emotions like love, and-”
Jealousy?
Argenti’s smile fell, his expression serious. “Why do you believe you are not capable of love?” He strode forward, placing a gentle hand on Boothill’s cheek and running his fingers down slowly. “You are still human.”
Boothill pushed Argenti’s hand away, looking down. “Why do you even care ‘bout a guy like me? Shouldn’t you be with your… one and only?”
The knight tilted his head. “No… she will be fine without me. Although, I do think I will need to perform maintenance on her soon.”
Blinking in confusion, Boothill looked back at Argenti. “Maintenance?”
“Why, yes! My spaceship, One and Only. Why, she is a beautiful ship, but she does take a lot of maintenance… perhaps I overdid it on the engravings on her fuselage.”
The pain that had been welling up inside of Boothill’s heart seemed to drain out, as he began to laugh. And he certainly laughed, hard and long, relieving himself of the mental torment he had put himself through.
Argenti smiled again, confused, placing a hand on Boothill’s shoulder. “Why, may I ask, are you laughing so hard?”
The cowboy pulled himself together, as he took a deep breath to steady himself. He smiled back at Argenti, a wide, toothy grin that showed off his sharp teeth. “No reason.”
The Astral Express crew had done Boothill’s job for him, more or less. Acheron had been “dealt with”, whatever that meant. And now, Boothill stood in front of Argenti, clutching his hat over his chest and shifting his eyes around like a nervous kid on a playground. Argenti assumed he was wishing him a goodbye, but from the way he shifted around, he couldn’t be too sure.
He wanted to say something, but instead all he could do was choke out half words and stumble over sentences. Boothill grew embarrassed as he gritted his teeth and covered his face with his hat.
“Was there something you wished to say to me, Boothill?” Argenti asked innocently, leaning forward to gently lower the hat from his friend’s face. When he saw Boothill’s face again, it was tinted bright blue, a color Argenti became accustomed to as Boothill blushing. From his expression, Argenti understood. “I will be staying in Penacony for another week… would you stay to accompany me?”
Boothill simply nodded, a soft smile growing on his face. Argenti adored this expression of his–granted, he adored every expression of Boothill’s–but he favored this one the most. For the rest of that day, Boothill and Argenti wandered around Penacony, no longer focused on tracking a target, but simply enjoying each other’s company. And at the end of the dream, they found each other in the waking world, Boothill on time, and found each other’s company in a drink.
“D’you ever hear ‘bout how some people think that other lives an’ alternate timelines or whatnot exists?” Boothill asked Argenti without warning.
Argenti looked at Boothill, surprised, before pondering the question seriously. “I have heard that before… Why do you ask?”
Boothill’s eyes fixated on the hinges in his fingers, the metal that was now 99% of his body, the lack of feelings such as pain. He was only normal in his face. He was only human in his face. He desperately wanted to be able to feel Argenti’s soft skin, his silky hair, with his fingers. To rub a roughened yet still gentle thumb across the knight’s cheek… but that could only happen in another life.
He took a swig of his drink, before smiling nervously. “No reason.”
“Mm… perhaps in another life, we would have met each other sooner,” Argenti proposed. This thought made Boothill’s heart skip a beat.
“Y-yeah… getting to meet the adorable knight sooner? I think that’d be… nice.”
“Oh? Is the affable Boothill growing nervous again?” Argenti teased, something Boothill had never seen him do. He returned to his normal self as he spoke again. “I assure you, you do not need to become reverent around me, my friend. I think your unique ruggedness is beautiful in itself.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Boothill said as he motioned for another drink. Was this paradise? Or some kind of heaven? It was a moment in time filled with such saccharine emotion far too sweet for anyone to be able to handle. Does such a feeling deserve to be felt by a scoundrel like me?
As the night began to wane, Argenti and Boothill parted ways, promising to find each other in the Dreamscape. It was funny–to many, the Dreamscape was another life. Another chance. If only he had met Argenti sooner was a thought that often crossed his mind.
Boothill woke up in the Dreamscape, a smile on his face. He and Argenti had been seeing each other in their dreams, and when they woke up they saw each other in reality. Normally two people would grow weary of one’s company after so long, but all he longed for was to spend more time with him. It had been almost a week of them doing this, with Argenti preparing to depart tomorrow, but Boothill didn’t want it to end. He wanted to hear more of Argenti’s tales about his journey across the galaxy, of his experiences fighting monsters and seeking for his Goddess.
Perhaps I should ask Argenti to accompany me across the galaxy…
But he remembered something Argenti said. “ It is my fate to cross the stars alone. ” Would he even want to accompany Boothill across the stars?
Suddenly Boothill grew nervous, and he knew if he still had a stomach, he’d feel it twisting into knots. A half of him wondered if he shouldn’t be spending so much time with Argenti, while the other, louder half told him to find Argenti and spend as much time together as they could before they needed to separate.
Boothill, of course, listened to the louder half.
He rushed to their usual meeting place, relishing the familiarity of the streets as he ran. The alleyway where they first met… it was nice and hidden away from public eyes, and sure enough, Argenti was waiting. His long, red hair flowed in the nonexistent wind, rose petals drifting from nowhere.
I still don’t know how he does that…
When Boothill arrived, Argenti turned, but he did not wear his usual smile. Instead, his eyes were serious, and his lips were pursed.
“Boothill.” He began, causing the cowboy’s stomach to twist into knots. He was nervous, wondering what Argenti would say to him. Let’s part ways here? I would prefer to work alone now? The anticipation was killing him, but it seemed like the knight was having trouble speaking for once.
“Y-yeah? What is it, Argenti…?” Boothill coaxed him to speak. For the first time, Argenti was unable to make eye contact with those beautiful light green eyes of his. The knight’s cheeks were flushed, and he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his hands into fists.
“I…” the knight started again, before shaking his head. He stepped forward, outstretching his arms and pulling Boothill into a tight hug. His voice shook as he spoke again, barely over a whisper. “I… I can’t… seem to find the words to properly… tell you how I feel…”
Boothill’s eyes widened as he returned Argenti’s hug. He rubbed the back of Argenti’s head, careful to not snag his beautiful hair between his fingers.
“In such a short time… you have become… my world.” Argenti’s voice was weak… frail… genuine. He buried his nose in Boothill’s neck, right above where his cyborg body began, his breath warm. “I want to protect you… and your beauty… if you would accept me…”
Now it was Boothill’s turn to be speechless as he rested his chin against Argenti’s head. “I want to protect you, too… until the end of time…”
Argenti sighed happily, adjusting his head a little against Boothill’s shoulder. Boothill didn’t know how long they stayed like that in each other’s arms… he just knew it was the only thing he wanted to do at that moment.
When they pulled away from each other, Argenti brushed his fingers gently across Boothill’s face, before stopping with his palm against the cowboy’s chin. He coaxed Boothill forward as he leaned in as well, their eyes slowly closing as they began to close the distance.
“Help! Someone, please! HELP! ” A panicked cry interrupted their moment of peace as they awkwardly backed away from each other. A rumbling and a loud shriek alerted them to a danger present in Penacony.
Danger? Argenti thought. This is a Dreamscape. There should be no danger here at all .
As Argenti and Boothill dashed out of the alleyway, their fingers interlaced, searching for what was causing the screams and cries to crescendo. A flash of purple snaked across the fabricated sky, spiraling over the citizens and pedestrians as if searching for its next victim. It looked like a memory zone meme, but… far scarier than any anyone had seen.
“Someone! Help!” came the cry again, this time Argenti was able to pinpoint who was crying out. A Halovian girl, limping through the streets, was clutching her side as a light blue liquid oozed through her torn dress. Her face seemed familiar, even though she was covered in scratches, bruises, and ooze.
Argenti released Boothill’s hand, rushing forward and catching her as she almost fell.
“What happened?” Argenti asked, his voice firm yet comforting.
The girl began sobbing. “Th-that thing… it… it attacked me!” Her sobs grew louder and louder. “Br-brother! I want to see my brother-”
“Come, let’s sit you down…” Argenti guided her over to a table and chair, carefully seating her where the creature could not see. “Take some deep breaths, okay? Slow your heartbeat: This will prevent you from bleeding out too quickly…”
Nodding, the girl began taking deeper–yet still shaky–breaths as she closed her eyes. As she calmed down, Argenti turned back to Boothill, his softened expression hardening.
“Argenti… you’re not gonna…”
The knight brandished his spear, his eyes tracking the memory zone meme’s movements across the sky. He strode past Boothill, before stopping momentarily.
“I will sacrifice myself to protect the beauty of this world…” Argenti’s voice was firm, yet hollow. He turned to Boothill, a smile growing on his face. “To protect the beauty of my world…”
Boothill reached forward, grabbing Argenti’s hand. “Argenti… I don’t want ya to do that.”
“Perhaps it will be as you said,” Argenti murmured. The knight raised his hand, bringing Boothill’s with, and planted a gentle kiss on the hard surface of his fingers. “We will find each other again… in another life.”
He stepped back, readied his spear, and rushed towards the memory zone meme, his brows furrowed in concentration.
“But…” Boothill choked out. “I want you in this life…”
Ever since Boothill’s mission had been “completed” or whatever the Trailblazer and the Astral Express crew did, he stopped carrying as many bullets with him. In fact, that night, he only had one. But with the beast’s erratic movements, and with it growing increasingly entangled around Argenti, he grew afraid to pull the trigger.
I’ve never cared about almost hitting someone before … Boothill wanted to swear. I’ve never had something… someone… to lose.
Argenti was in a heated battle with the memory zone meme, leaping over rooftops of buildings to pursue it and avoid its attacks. Rose petals burst forth with each of the knight’s elegant and choreographed movements, vines ensnaring the limbs of the memory zone meme–but only for a few brief moments before it broke free once more.
Boothill could only follow, his finger still hesitating over the trigger. But Argenti and the memory zone meme were far too fast: their battle seemed to twist and turn and streak across the sky.
Finally, Boothill’s knight turned, spear in hand, as he leapt in the air. The memory zone meme slowly turned, its eyes fixating on Argenti, and charging.
“Boothill!” Argenti shouted down to him, his spear piercing through the memory zone meme. “Fire! Now!”
His finger pulled on the trigger, just as the memory zone meme began twisting and writhing in agony. It snagged Argenti in its grasp as it began tumbling closer to the ground. The foul beast continued to move, still quick but slowing as its injuries caught up to it.
Boothill could only watch as every now and then, a flash of red appeared from within its grasp as the memory zone meme crashed into building after building.
“Argenti!” Boothill cried out. He leapt off of the building he was standing on, chasing after the monster who was clutching onto his knight. Or maybe Argenti was clutching onto it. Either way, he wasn’t going to let Argenti out of his sight–not until he could confirm the knight was alive and well and in his arms again.
As the memory zone meme began to head towards the plaza, the Astral Express crew appeared, weapons in hand and ready to bring the beast down.
The Astral Express crew can take the blasted thing down! I can rescue Argenti from its -
The memory zone meme shot upwards, but there was no sight of Argenti or his vibrant red hair. Boothill’s heart clenched as he stopped in his tracks, his eyes quickly–frantically–scanning the rubble and debris for any sign of Argenti. Anything. A piece of his armor, a lock of his hair, his spear…
The cowboy turned over rocks and searched through damaged buildings, pleading for any sign of Argenti as he scoured every inch of the Dreamscape. As he forced his tears back, pain began to well up instead, before eventually it became unbearable.
Boothill resigned himself to a silent corner and sobbed.
When one speaks of their life flashing before their eyes, one does not usually see all of their other lives either. Alas, as Argenti lay bleeding and heaving, he closed his eyes and couldn't help but reminisce of not just his current life, but of lives that have been before.
I’m going to die… but all I can think of is him…
Boothill was always there. He was always as charming as he is now, and always as brash. In the fleeting memories flickering through Argenti’s mind, they had been friends. Enemies. Coworkers. Acquaintances. But never lovers. Perhaps such a union was not meant to be…?
Argenti found himself squashing the thought immediately, slowing his breath. How long have I been laying here for? Where is Boothill? Just thinking about Boothill made his heartbeat quicken… a fatal notion while he was bleeding out on the battlefield. He closed his eyes again, and another memory that was not his and yet felt so familiar seeped into his mind.
An image appeared, so similar to the one Argenti was experiencing now, but their roles had been reversed. Boothill lay, bleeding out upon the pavement, grasping Argenti’s hand in his. He was not a cyborg, and his skin was soft to the touch. His hands were soft as well, although they were growing cold.
“In… another life…” Boothill gasped. “I would really love… to have stayed by your side. I was a fool for… for leaving you…”
“If there is such a life…” Argenti’s memory echoed, the voice breaking. “I will find you. I promise.”
Argenti’s eyes shot open, suddenly instilled with strength. He began undoing his armor, carefully, methodically, and painstakingly removing his damaged chestplate. He ripped off strips of fabric from his outfit, hastily tying and tightening it around his bleeding torso as he scanned his surroundings.
A picture of Hanu? How did he get to the theme park? He closed his eyes to try and think, but could only remember a single glance at a stranger with dark blue hair.
Find him .
A voice in his mind came, loud and clear. Stumbling to his feet, the world around him spun and tilted as he limped forward, every step more painful than the last as he navigated his way out of the theme park.
I need to find him.
Although the disaster that struck Penacony was still going, Argenti had spotted the Trailblazer and the Astral Express crew there. Penacony would be damaged, but everything would work out. Argenti just needed to find him .
I need to find Boothill .
He turned over rubble, desperately searching over every body and inch of the disaster as he could, scanning for any sign of Boothill, when his heart tugged at his brain. He stopped digging through the rocks and rerouted. I know where he is .
Argenti tried to walk fast, but every step shot pain throughout his entire body. He ignored the pain, his mind focused on seeing him again. The streets had been evacuated, and there was no sign of the memory zone meme anywhere anymore. However, that didn’t matter to Argenti at that moment.
Boothill did.
As he approached the alleyway, he could hear stifled sobs and hiccups. His heart sank as he hesitated, gazing upon Boothill’s back. The cowboy had curled himself up into a ball, his head resting against the wall as he twirled a rose in between his fingers.
Argenti took a step forward, crunching stones between his feet. Boothill’s head shot up and he turned, his sobs coming to a halt.
“Argenti… I thought you were…”
“I will seek you out in every universe… before I draw my last breath… for you…” Argenti’s breath shuddered. “But my last breath… will not be… today.”
Boothill’s eyes widened as he stumbled towards Argenti, his hands steadying him against the walls of the alleyway. His metal hands reached up to wipe tears from his face, as he outstretched his arms to his knight.
“I thought that sacrificing myself would be the most romantic gesture I could offer you,” Argenti whispered as Boothill sank into his arms, clutching him tightly “But now I realize… living… to see you everyday… is what I want to do the most. I am… sorry, Boothill… I was a fool for leaving you…”
Argenti wrapped his arms around Boothill, squeezing him tight, before pulling away. The cowboy lingered for a moment, before raising his eyes to gaze at Argenti, who gently cupped Boothill’s face in his hands and pulled him into a gentle kiss.
“I want to live for you,” Argenti said, rubbing a thumb across Boothill’s cheek. Boothill leaned into his hand, offering him a tired smile. “And at the end of our existence, I shall find you in another life.”
“I want to live for you, too… heh… I don’t really know much ‘bout other lives, but…” Boothill looked down, as if thinking of a fond memory. “I will find you, too.”