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Fog was filling the building as Bishop Knight repelled himself up into the ceiling, making his escape. A dead Victor Bosch was lying on the ground, blood was pooling around him and his eyes, or what was left of them, were still open and glazed over. Rook was on the ground only a few feet away from him, his vision was blurred and the knife was still in him, the only thing keeping him from hemorrhaging. He was not going to live much longer, that he was sure of. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate, when he heard footsteps rapidly approaching from down the hall. Rook didn't bother opening his eyes, if whoever entered the room thought he was dead, they'd leave him to die in peace.
"no, god no, Rook, Rook!" Rook's eyes shot open, With what little vision he had left he could see Jr Speed crouching down and grabbing him from the waist, taking him in his arms. Rook stared up at Jr, glad to be in his arms at least. It helped lull some of the fear inside of him. He nuzzled himself into Jr's chest and breathed slowly, the pain from the stab wound making it hard.
"I'm so sorry I should've been here, maybe if I had you'd be ok. This is all my fault." Jr was crying now, one hand was on Rook's face and the other held him close. Rook slowly looked up at Jr and smiled, Tears began to fall down his face as well, hitting the floor beneath the two of them. Alarms blared from all directions but the only sound either man heard was the soft heartbeat of each other's chest falling and rising.
"There's nothing you could've done, My brother, he did this. I got him to kill Victor, And remember what mattered. At least I'll be with you when I die, Just like I promised." Jr let out a sob and bent his head down, Kissing Rook softly. Rook closed his eyes and suddenly he was 16 again, back in Nebraska.
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"I don't know why you do that racing junk, you're just asking to get yourself killed." Rook sat in Jr's lap, the soft buzz of the bugs filled the air between them. it was night time and the stars lit up the sky, the moon was full and illuminated the two boys as they sat under a willow tree in Jr speed's back yard.
"Because I have to, if I don't Victor's going to kill my brother and probably me. It's only for a few more years and then I'll be done, Don't worry." Rook knight got up and moved himself so he was straddling Jr's waist, resting his head on Jr's shoulder as Jr held him.
"Maybe I should take up racing then, Maybe I can beat you and Victor will let you go." "It's not as easy as that, I'm working with someone to try and get my brother out and once I do, we can run away together just like we talked about."
Jr sighed and placed his hands around Rook's waist, holding him tight. He could feel Rook's heart racing and knew he was unsure of his own plan.
"If Victor does ever kill me, I hope I get to die in your arms, at least then I won't be scared when I go." Rook said and Jr felt a chill run up his spine, something in him told him Rook was never going to make it out of this alive.
The two of them were interrupted by the sounds of a car approaching, Jr's dad was getting home from the track and Rook took that as his queue to leave. Before he did, He placed a kiss on Jr's lips, reassuring him that he'd still be here tomorrow.
Rook walked behind the house, making sure Jr's dad didn't see him. Jr got up from his spot in the grass and wiped the tears that were forming in his eyes. In Omaha Nebraska, If you were gay you kept that to yourself, Jr knew if his dad found out, that it wouldn't end well for him. Especially not if he knew it was Rook knight. Jr's dad was always pushing him to be just like Rook, but Rook hated the idea of racing, the thought of risking your life on a track while people bet on it did not seem like fun.
Jr rushed past his dad and into the house, ignoring his dad's questions, heading straight for his bedroom. He shut the door and collapsed on his bed, more tears threatened to spill and this time he didn't hold back.
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Rook walked up to the sign up sheet and wrote in his name. The employee asked him if he had a car and Jr nodded, the employee looked at him skeptically but once he saw the name he didn't question anymore. Rook felt a pit in his stomach, when Rook found out he was entering the race he'd be upset. It was bad enough Rook was risking his life like this but now Jr? this was a reckless idea. Jr walked over to his car, placing a hand on the hood and trying to hide his shakiness.
"what do you think you're doing here?" Rook asked and Jr jumped a little, turning around to see Rook staring at him with crossed arms. Jr felt his face heat up and he struggled to find a good answer.
"just making good on a promise." Rook rolled his eyes and grabbed Jr by his jacket, moving to pin him against the wall of the pit.
"you are not entering this race, I won't allow it. If you win and Victor takes you under him? I can't save you if that happens. Don't make me choose between saving you and loving you." Rook was trying not yell, to not alert anyone that something was wrong. Jr pushed Rook off of him and adjusted his jacket.
"If that's how it's gonna be then I guess you better go." Jr was facing away from Rook, unable to look him in the eye.
"Don't make me do this, Jr please you're the best thing that's ever happened to me I can't lose that." "Yeah well I can't lose you, And if you won't save yourself than I'll do it for you." Jr tried to keep a low voice to hide how upset he was but he knew it wasn't working. He watched as Rook walked around him and to his car, not saying a word.
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Police officers and CIA agents flooded the building, looking for T and Victor. Oliver handed T over alongside Charlize.
Jr was still holding Rook when they found him, When asked who killed him Jr pointed to Victor, not saying a word. When they told him he had to leave, Jr got up and took Rook's body with him, making sure to let everyone know that he was taking him back to Nebraska to bury him. No one stopped him.
No one was greeting Jr when he got off the plane, His dad didn't speak to him when he got back home and told him he wasn't going to be doing racing anymore. Charlize went back to her music, promising to call Jr more. Oliver who barely knew either of them went on to form his own version of the MI8.
Jr used what money they had given him for completion of the mission to buy a coffin that he thought would be comfortable for Rook. Jr buried Rook's body himself, refusing any help from anyone, not wanting anyone to have their hands on his body.
Jr dug the hole himself, his face unchanged the whole time. He was numb, unable to process any emotions other than pain. He'd carried the coffin over himself and set it in, Covering the hole afterwards. It was late night when he finished, The fireflies flew around him and the sounds of frogs, toads and crickets filled the noise. Jr, sweaty and covered in dirt, Laid down on the grave he'd dug and stared up at the willow tree as it blew in the wind. He closed his eyes and sighed
"Just like I promised."