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Such a tragic accident that only his head remained. After the tragedy that was the IPC and the destruction of his home planet, the loss of his beautiful baby girl, it felt as though the emotions within him no longer felt human, and rather much more artificial. His tears, his happiness, his anger, does his emotions even belong to him or is he simply programmed to feel those things? What a bold claim, he thought.
When he awoke, and saw his fingers replaced by a cold steel, he felt as though the universe itself stopped for a mere second. He didn’t know what to feel, anger, sadness, fear? What is it? It felt as though he was drowning in these unknown emotions as he tried to adjust to his new body, and his new life. He simply wanted to lead a gentle life, one where his worries could just disappear into thin air as the world around him was filled with kindness and love.
But of course, he could only dream of such a life now.
After adjusting to his new body, there were the occasional thoughts of whether or not people would be afraid of him. He looks so different, so… out of place than anyone else. When a child first saw him, they cried and ran in the arms of their parents, as if Boothill was the most horrific thing that Penacony could offer. He remembered freezing at that moment, if his little girl were still alive and saw him like this, would she… run away like that child did?
He’s overthinking. He shook his head as he looked at the most beautiful view in the world — Argenti. He really does live up to his name, being the Knight of Beauty and all. His beautiful long red hair that was being gently swayed by the cool wind, his armor that was covering his body that served to act as a protection from any harm, one could say armors take away the attractiveness of a person, but that was not the case for Argenti.
The armor looks beautiful on him, as if it was solely made for him and no one else. Boothill couldn’t help but admire such a beauty, and think that maybe in this cruel and unkind world, there are some things worth living for. The two men were in Dream’s Edge, gazing at the stars in the sky as they shined. Those stars reminded Boothill of Argenti, with the way they shined so beautifully, as if the spotlight was on them.
Boothill knew from the beginning he was doomed to fall in love. With the way Argenti carried himself down to his personality, it was as if the aeons blessed this man with all the good qualities a person could have. With his beauty, how could Boothill ever compete?
His gears would once turn rusty and creak as he moved, the only human thing being his head, would the knight of beauty find beauty in such a chaotic mess such as himself? Boothill wondered. He had seen the looks — the horrific looks on people’s faces, how their eyes would be wide in surprise as they observed Boothill, some would even cover their children’s eyes as they whisper incoherent things about the cowboy to their children.
Boothill wondered if Argenti ever thought negatively about him, ever… felt disgusted by him and felt scared to even be a centimeter near him. He wanted to ask Argenti all the negative thoughts in his mind, just to get an answer. It does not matter if his answer is something Boothill does or doesn’t want to hear, but it also does. If Argenti said something negative, Boothill was scared it might make him change his view of the person he loves, and he doesn’t want that to happen.
“Hey.” He finally spoke, making Argenti look at him, how pretty. How could someone look so pretty that the human brain isn’t capable of comprehending it?
The words were caught in Boothill’s throat as he locked eyes with Argenti, who was gazing at him so lovingly, as if he was the most beautiful thing in the universe and was something irreplaceable, something so fragile. Perhaps he’s just imagining such things, after all, Argenti would not gaze at someone like him in such a way, he’s but a mere galaxy ranger and a cyborg. As Boothill pursed his lips, he looked away as the words finally left his lips.
“Aren’t ‘ya scared of me?” The cowboy asks as he returns his gaze on the knight, and his breath hitches.
Argenti’s eyes were wide, his mouth slightly agape as the wind picked up speed and it blew violently, yet the knight remained to look so beautiful in the cowboy’s eyes. The moonlight was the cherry on top, the way it illuminated Argenti’s beauty and made him glow like a shining star almost made Boothill want to inch closer to him and crash their lips together. But instead, he remained frozen, admiring the other man.
Argenti laughed, it wasn’t loud, it was a laugh that could get anyone hooked; like a drug. Boothill couldn’t wrap his wired brain into the thought of such a perfect person existing, yet here is Argenti, the living and breathing proof that a human can be so beautiful and perfect. The knight looked at the cowboy, that loving gaze returning in his eyes and Boothill felt his non-existent heart throb.
Boothill no longer has a heart yet he could feel it deep within him beating, yearning and longing for Argenti. Boothill placed his cold metal hands to where his heart was supposed to be and despite it not being there, he could still somehow feel a faint beating sensation within him. Is this what falling in love feels like? Or is this a natural experience people go through when they’re with Argenti? Probably both.
“Why would I be scared of you, cowboy? You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon in this vast universe.” Argenti whispers as the metal of his armor touches Boothill’s cheek which causes the cowboy to look down and clench his fists, this is dangerous. Too dangerous.
It seems like he has fallen.
This is the first time someone was touching his face in such a gentle manner, and he loved it. The entirety of his body was metal that most of the time he couldn’t feel it when someone caresses him, which is why he loves it when someone touches his face, especially in such a loving way such as this that makes him feel so safe and secured. Boothill gulps, trying to find the right words to say something back.
“But how?” Was the only thing the cowboy conjured up as his fingers twitched out of nervousness. Boothill raised his brows as he felt Argenti’s fingers make him look up, and then again, their eyes locked and Boothill could feel his entire world crumbling. He was far too gone and there was no chance of escaping this rabbit hole he had fallen into.
He’s in love with Argenti.
“How?” Argenti repeats a word of what Boothill said earlier and he smiles. There it is again, pure love and adoration grazing Argenti’s face as he looked at Boothill as if he was a blessing from the aeons.
Argenti’s other hand intertwined with Boothill’s and kissed his cold knuckles. As the thought that Boothill may not be able to feel that tender kiss, he leaned closer, causing the cowboy to stagger a bit as he backed away a little which caused Argenti to chuckle and kiss the mark under Boothill’s eyes. Argenti’s lips felt so soft against his skin that it almost made all of Boothill’s worries dissipate.
“What do you mean ‘how’, darling? How could I not love such a beauty like you?” Argenti confessed, which caused Boothill to look at the man in a way that would make anyone think Argenti just committed the most heinous crime in the world.
“Y- you like me?” Boothill asks as he points his finger to himself, to which Argenti gently nods in response. Boothill couldn’t take it anymore and broke into tears.
He felt Argenti’s arms wrap around his body and for the first time in a really long time, Boothill felt warmth and comfort, and perhaps security in an embrace. His mind feels hazy as he begins to blabber his feelings to Argenti who seems surprised that Boothill feels the same way he does.
At this moment, nothing else matters except the two men and their feelings. How they’re currently intertwined with one another and how their hearts are now connected with this loving embrace. This feels like a dream, something that Boothill once thought would be unreachable, yet here he is, crying in the shoulders of the man he loves the most, professing his love in the most tender way possible.
Maybe the world isn’t so cruel after all.