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The Battle of Infernus was a difficult one. More difficult than Thomas had expected.
They were outnumbered by hundreds, with Cass of the Cass Coalition and Schpood of Westhelm leading the attack.
Keeping Fluixon alive was hard enough as is, but including himself? Thomas didn't even know if they could make it out of there.
His heart sank to his stomach seeing Flux jump straight into the lava, and Thomas considered ending it there.
But the moment he saw Flux swim out, eating a golden apple to stay alive, he immediately helped him out, basically dragging him into their escape tunnel so they wouldn't be found by the rest of the army.
He immediately scavaneged his own inventory to find any extra golden apples to give to him, knowing Flux needed it.
"Here, I've got more." Thomas said, handing Flux four more golden apples.
"Thanks," Flux nods at him, eating the golden apples.
Thomas was momentarily mesmerized when the golden apples started taking effect, healing the wounds on Flux's body.
Thomas will never admit to staring at Flux himself, not the wounds restitching themselves on his body. He will never admit something as scandalous as that.
"What...What are you staring at? Let's go." Flux says, finally standing up.
Ah, he was staring. "Sorry, sorry. I just got distracted. Come on, we gotta go before the army finds us." Thomas nudges, wrapping his arm around Flux's waist to stabilize him no matter how much he protested.
Not that I wouldn't want to do this unprompted anyway, Thomas smirks internally.
As they reached the end of the tunnel, Thomas went ahead first to check for anymore soldiers from Westhelm or the Cass Coalition that were still around, looking for them.
"Coast is clear." He murmured, walking back to help Flux out, even if he was okay now, ignoring the half-hearted grumble of protest he received.
He just needed a little more reassurance, even if the golden apples have done its job.
Suddenly, Flux's communicator pinged, and he let Thomas go for a moment to check who had sent it.
When Thomas leaned over his shoulder to check alongside him, his heart dropped.
It was Saps Saparata, telling Flux to meet him at the colosseum.
Thomas knows what that meant.
He'd heard from a few of Infernus' citizens that the colosseum in Westhelm was for criminals, who dueled to the death for their freedom, for their innocence.
It was a death wish, going in there. Only one person from the duel would come out of there alive.
And Saparata has just asked Flux to meet him in there. For one last duel.
Thomas could see the gears working inside of Flux's head, contemplating if he would win or not, if he could come out of there alive.
Yet, even with Thomas' bias towards him and Flux's massive ego, the both of them knew that Flux was no match for Saparata. Especially like this.
So, it confused the hell out of Thomas when Flux sent a message saying he'd be there, then put his communicator away.
"Are you crazy?! Why the hell did you accept? You just got a free taste from fucking death, and now you're trying to have a full on staring contest with him?!" Thomas asks, desperation shining in his eyes, shaking Flux's shoulders.
To his surprise, Flux only smiled at him, tired and worn down at the edges. "You know I can't say no to him."
But what about me? Thomas asks internally. He only realizes he said that out loud when he notices Flux has frozen from where he stood.
"What? Why are you— Why are you asking that?" Flux asks, looking confused. There was some emotion burning in his eyes, so deeply buried that even Thomas himself couldn't read it despite how long they've known eachother.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." He replies, scowling. 'Saparata could probably read Flux better than I could, anyway.' Thomas thinks bitterly.
"T-Thomas, I—" Well, there was no going back now, was there? He might aswell just get this over with.
"Flux, I love you. There, I said it. I've loved you ever since that faithful day we met on Pandora. I've loved you ever since you took my wrist and dragged me to help you find diamonds for armor. I've loved you ever since we joined Luminara, ever since you became vice president." Flux looked like he was about to respond, eyes wide with shock, but Thomas takes a deep breath, and continues, not giving him even a second.
"I've loved you ever since you got so angry at the propaganda we spotted from Yggdrasil. I've loved you ever since you made the Conspiracy, and when you planned on framing Saparata for killing all those world leaders. Flux, I love you. Why do you think I've been this loyal to you despite everything that's gone wrong?" Thomas asks, his vision getting suspiciously blurry.
"Please, just...Just don't go to the colosseum. Please. I don't know what I'd do without you." Thomas pleads, taking Flux's hands in his.
Flux stares at him, the guilt setting into his eyes. Thomas is about to speak up once again before he feels a pair of lips against his.
On instinct, he catches Flux from where he stumbled from the movement, grabbing him by his waist to steady him.
Gods, he's wanted this for so long. The world around them seems to freeze, as he finally, finally kisses back.
When Flux pulls away after a few seconds, his amethyst eyes are glistening with tears — from the guilt, shame, happiness or pain, he didn't know — and opens his mouth to speak. "I'm sorry, Thomas. I really am."
That was the last words they spoke to eachother as they continued their journey into the colosseum, Saparata arriving just a few minutes after them.
Flux gives one last glance Thomas' ways, smiling softly as he spoke. "Live with love, Thomas."
Thomas swallows down the sob he so desperately wants to let out, to stop Flux from engaging in the duel that almost certainly guaranteed his inevitable doom.
He doesn't, though. If Flux wants him to live with love, then live with love he will. Even if he could barely even comprehend the idea of living with Fluixon Aculon.
Saparata let's out a surprised noise, his voice breathy and surprised as he looked up at Flux. "Wow, you actually showed up..." His gaze, despite everything that Flux has done to him, was sickeningly soft.
"Can't say no to a friend, can I?"