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And Avery breathes in the clear air, feels it in his lungs, feels it as he exhales. Derek looks at him, still doubled over in pain but with an expression of concern.
He doesn't have his usual jolly face. Even if Derek knew this would happen, theory and experience weren't the same. But now, they're both here, where Avery took them.
A field with grass that reaches to their knees, and clear winds that make them sway. The sky was bright and sunny, beaming down at them. Thankfully, Avery brought sun hats, but the rays still blinded Derek's eyes a little.
(But even with this beautiful scene, he finds the only thing he keeps looking at is Avery.)
They both keep walking around the field. Avery looks at the swaying grass and the large clouds.
(He can't bring himself to look at Derek, his gaunt and tired face.)
Without noticing, Avery extends his hand. Derek holds it with his, and Avery grips tighter.
They walk like this, nothing said between them, and only their arms linking together. And Avery starts speaking.
"So... what's your favourite colour...?" The question is so mundane, Derek almost laughs. Avery (finally) looks at him, with a sheepish expression on his face. But Avery preens slightly at how he almost made Derek laugh.
But still, "Hey, don't look at me like that...! You know everything about me, and I know almost..." But Derek understands.
He still says nothing.
"Avery, the only thing you need to understand is," But Derek can't find the words to finish his sentence. "Just tell me," Avery begs, "I need to know you as a person."
The words claw up through his throat, and his chest feels like it's going to collapse in on itself. "I need to know you more than someone who saved me. I, I need. Need to know you as Derek." He stutters slightly.
It's different from knowing something will happen and experiencing it. Derek finds himself almost out of his depth, and briefly scrambling his head trying to find the answers he'd prepared.
"I like the colour red." Avery's grip tightened, as if Derek were a tether. "And, I. I like poppies." Avery rubs his thumbs over Derek's. A comforting gesture.
Derek wants to reach out more, touch more of Avery. But he's scared. And they keep walking with their hands together.
They walk to some sort of small shed. Avery lets his hand go, and Derek immediately misses the feeling. It seems Avery spotted something. He goes nearer to the shed and drags out a wheelbarrow, rusted slightly from age.
He walks closer to Derek. "Avery, no. There is no way I'm going into the wheelbarrow." But Avery already made up his mind. He wraps his arms around Derek's back and under his knees. Derek yelps as Avery quickly brings him up into a bridal carry. He gently sets Derek inside the wheelbarrow. Avery has a shit-eating grin. Derek can't help but keep staring at him.
"And you don't know what a good time is." Avery seems proud of his observation as Derek pouts. He grips the handlebars and starts pulling.
He starts running as fast as he can. Derek yelps at first, but then starts to laugh. A bright and clear sound Avery cannot get enough of.
Everything Derek sees now is a blur, except for Avery. He watches as the blues, whites, and greens blend into each other.
It's (He's) beautiful.
Derek still laughs, but he can feel tears in his eyes.
It seems Avery still gave him a chance to see the final beauty of the universe.
(This scene, but most of all, Avery's genuinely smiling face.)
Derek feels horrific pain, but it's bearable. He's not alone anymore. Avery found him somehow.
(There's calm in his chest now, a final chance at happiness before he's gone. The world keeps passing by as he's in this wheelbarrow, and Avery pulling him along.
His final gift.)
Derek's breath comes shorter and shorter, outright panting. His eyes start to droop. Avery notices and stops. For the final time, Avery's shaky arms grab Derek into a bridal carry. He sits him down on the field, and Avery lies down beside him.
He grabs his arm, and that feeling warms its way into Derek's being. They say nothing for a while. Letting the wind pass through them. It almost feels like eternity, for a moment.
And then Derek's grip weakened.
Avery lets his hand go, and he moves to hold Derek. His body against his and his arms wrapping around him. Derek moves to cradle him back with his own shaky hands. Avery closes his eyes, trying not to let the tears fall.
(It's a beautiful sunny day today, but the only important thing is making Derek laugh. The only important thing is Derek.)
Derek's voice is weak, but Avery can hear him.
"Avery. I've seen... every single version of you. Every single possible different ways of your being.
And I loved every single one of them. Of you.
I'm sorry, Avery. Please, live for me. (I love you.)"
(This is the final thing Avery finds out about Derek.)
Avery holds on. He's sobbing now, the horrible sound makes Derek feel his own tears welling up. "Derek. I loved you even when I never knew you." And both of them are crying now. Derek can feel himself slipping away.
Avery holds on tighter.
The last thing Derek sees is Avery.
And his grip is fully gone. He is only tethered by Avery's arms, and he's gone.