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The previous round had ended quite nicely for the other survivors — most of them had managed to leave without any major injuries, and even those who had suffered from being attacked did not seem in need of any specific or special care.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for Chance.
Luck definitely wasn't his companion during that round, managing to earn a few wounds on his arm, which most likely stemmed from one of the killers' attacks, though it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if the wounds were accidentally caused by Chance himself.
The way the gambler's luck was becoming worse and worse always made him feel a bit embarrassed, and he'd receive comments from his teammates after the rounds that seemed rather... passive-aggressive. He wasn't particularly fond of their words and found them rather hurtful at times, but the best thing to do was to act as if being told how useless he was didn't affect him.
It had become a habit for Elliot to check on his boyfriend after each round, even though the other was always reluctant to accept his help, mumbling some excuses about how it wasn't needed and how he could take care of himself.
Maybe he wasn't all that fortunate at times, but he truly felt like the luckiest person in the entire world to have someone as lovely as Elliot to care for him.
The habit previously mentioned seemed like it would stay for a long time since Elliot was about to go and check on his lover's well-being, a small routine that had never changed ever since they had met, and even formed before the both of them had started dating. The rest of the survivors seemed to be talking and helping each other with things that held more importance to them. Elliot waved and exchanged smiles with the rest of them before continuing to look for his boyfriend.
After a few more minutes of looking for him, Elliot stepped into the gambler's cabin and was struck by the scent of cigarettes and what seemed to be a smell that was... more metallic? This caused him to grow slightly more concerned, and it felt strange to Elliot, as he was able to easily recognize the smell of blood, probably because of the amount of rounds he had been in.
The cabin wasn't particularly large, so there were only two places in which Chance could be in — his bedroom or the bathroom. For privacy's sake, Elliot knocked on the door of the bedroom first. He received a small "Come in" as a response, and without any further words, he opened the door and then closed it behind him once he was inside.
"Hey, Elliot!" Chance had a stupid, huge grin covering his lips despite the fact that he was visibly trembling and clutching his own arm. The worst part seemed to be that Chance could feel a small blush start to dust his cheeks as he saw his boyfriend, his partner, step into the room.
It was obvious that something was wrong, and it didn't take long for Elliot to notice a dark stain covering his boyfriend's arm that he so desperately tried to cover, which was just an useless, futile attempt.
"Ah, Chance—" Elliot murmured before rushing to the other's side, kneeling down and trying to get a view of his lover's arm. He knew Chance would try and make it seem like something that he shouldn't be worried about, but Elliot would always worry about his boyfriend. After all, they loved and cared for each other dearly. "Does it hurt? I can... I can try to help, just... just let me think for a second, yeah?" Elliot tried not to sound too nervous, despite his hands being visibly shaking.
Chance tried not to give off any signs that he wasn't feeling well at all, not only due to the fact that his own arm was bleeding — but because his teammates' comments had started to have an effect on him, even though he wouldn't admit it outloud. Maybe if he kept on pretending for a bit more, their words would eventually stop hurting him. Still, he didn't want to make Elliot worry for him. He didn't want to make him feel more concerned than he already was.
Standing up and quickly opening one of the drawers in the nightstand that was placed beside the bed, Elliot tried to find the bandages he kept there for occasions like these. Obviously, he left them there so Chance could use them whenever it was needed as well.
Where... where did I leave them? Elliot knew for sure he had left them inside the drawer the last time Chance had gotten an injury, and he was growing even more concerned the more he looked and wasn't able to find them.
Disarranging the already jumbled up mess of coins, cards, bullets... What is a picture of myself even doing here?, tissues, and more things Elliot viewed as completely useless at that moment, he finally found a small pack which contained white bandages.
Hastily grabbing the bandages with his hand and holding Chance's hand with his other freehand, he wasted no time in taking him to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet and messily taking off his lover's coat and rolling up his sleeve as fast as he could, he gave Chance a moment to brace himself.
"Haaaa... Elli, you really don't need to do this. I can—" Chance was cut off by a gasp as Elliot reached over to place his boyfriend's arm under the water, letting the water seep into his wounds and clean them deeply.
"I'll make it all better, Chance. Don't worry, let me take care of you, please..." Elliot whispered the last sentence under his breath, rubbing small circles on the back of Chance's arm with his thumb to soothe him a bit more.
Elliot decided to turn off the faucet when the water started to run clear once again, as well as when he noticed that he had managed to clean some of the dried blood that had stuck onto Chance's arm.
Signaling his lover to stay still for a bit more, he opened one of the bathroom cabinets, then proceeded to pick up a small towel and placed it above some of the cuts that covered his boyfriend's limb. "Good job, Chance... You're doing so well." Elliot praised, a caring smile forming on his lips.
Avoiding eye contact, Chance just let out a sheepish laugh. "Hahaaaa, I always do well — you know that..." He managed to respond, trying to keep his usual act up.
After a few seconds, Elliot removed the towel and carefully started wrapping the bandages over the injuries. Elliot was always so gentle, so sweet — he managed to place bandages a lot more neatly than Chance would ever care to.
Elliot made sure the bandages wouldn't accidentally begin to unwrap anytime soon before taking Chance to his bedroom once again. Surprisingly, the gambler was a lot more tired than Elliot expected him to be.
He laid down, and Chance did the same soon after, placing his head against his beloved's chest. Trying to be even closer, Chance carefully wrapped his now bandaged arm around his boyfriend's torso. He loved Elliot so deeply. After all, he was the first person to be genuinely in love with him.
But that wasn't the only reason why he loved him, obviously.
Such a caring person, someone who tried their best despite struggling in the past... someone who, even if he had previously suffered, still tried to be a little bit better every day. Someone so talented, someone so hardworking... someone so admirable.
He loved him, no— he adored him... no, that probably wasn't the correct word either. Whatever it was, it was something much more profound and deeper than love. It was an obsession, in a strange way. Chance loved Elliot, loved him for who he was, not only because of how the other treated him. It was the most pure love he had ever felt, yearning and longing to make even sweeter memories with the person who always tried so hard to take care of him.
Even if Elliot were to hate him in the future, to grow distant or to finally end their relationship together, Chance would continue to love him, he didn't care of what their relationship status was, he simply loved Elliot for... him. He loved him for being so hardworking, talented, and a person with such a beautiful soul, a person with such a gentle heart.
If things change in the future, if this very moment hurts to look back at anytime soon... I'll still love you, I won't trade these memories with you for anything in the entire world. Things always change, even if we don't want them to, endings are and will always be inevitable — but my love and my feelings will remain intact for all of eternity. My love, my sweetheart. You will always remain in my heart, even if you decide to leave me behind... to finally—
Chance was pulled away from his thoughts when he felt Elliot's fingers start caressing and playing with some stands of the gambler's hair. Carefully removing his hat and placing it aside, Elliot placed a gentle kiss on the other's forehead.
"Elli, my... my love, my..." Chance stuttered with his own words when speaking, and Elliot softly cupped Chance's face and placed his thumb on the corner of his lover's lip. "You must be tired... It's okay, you don't have to talk, yeah?" Elliot offered him a caring smile.
Tired of keeping up his usual act, tears began to soak Chance's face, although they weren't necessarily tears from sadness. He was happy, he was so happy he was sobbing. He was happy. He was content he could cry, knowing and being fully aware that he was finally loved for once.
Immediately noticing his lover was crying, Elliot grew concerned once again. "Hey, I'm here... What happened? How—" Chance was quick to interrupt him.
"Thank you... Thank you for loving me, thank you for caring for me, I will do the same for you... I, ah.. I will take care of you too, I'll make you feel loved, just like how you make me feel," Chance continued his speech that was constantly interrupted by his own crying. "You are so kind, so beautiful... teach me how to find beauty in someone like myself, show me how to be a little bit kinder to myself too, just-- just like how you always are with me,"
Returning the favor with another interruption, Elliot pressed his lips against Chance's for a few seconds. As soon as he pulled away, Chance noticed the other seemed to be close to crying as well. "I know... I know you must be tired of hearing my sweet words, so... Let me show you how much I love you," Elliot whispered before giving his lover a gentle kiss again.
"... Please." Elliot whispered into the kiss.