Dawn

Awakening

"It's that I've caused so much pain and turmoil for everyone! I never should've involved you guys and now you're left with a permanent scar! Literally! And it's all my fault. I thought it was over. I thought I was free! But I'm not! I've finally realized this! THINGS WILL NEVER BE OKAY FOR ME AGAIN! I'm never gonna be normal, not since I've been cursed with this power I NEVER ASKED FOR! I just wanna be normal! And as long as I'm living, someone will always be after me! Do you have any idea how hard it is to know you're never safe?!"

Rocky's eyes glowed and Zuma felt electricity shoot up his spine. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. An overhead light shattered as the electrical current surged. Zuma very quickly pacified his boyfriend before the entire building blew up.

"So?" Zuma asked gently.

"So I may have started punishing myself...again. At first I didn't eat because I didn't want to, but then I stopped altogether because I don't think I deserved it. It hurt a lot, and it helped me feel justified for hurting others." Rocky admitted shamefully. "And you can't pin the blame on anyone but me. If I hadn't been so hasty in trying to save my friend, none of this would've happened. I've tried to do the right thing, but I always seem to fail! And... I don't think I deserve to live anymore."

"Don't... Don't say that, Wocky boy... You do deserve to live. You've brought the Paw Patrol and I so much happiness over the years. Think of all the people you've helped, all the people you saved. You're my best fwiend, my hero..." Zuma blushed and licked Rocky's scared neck. "... and my soulmate. I know you are now more than ever." Rocky's snout brightened a bit. "I plan to make you mine soon..." The joy left Rocky's face and a look of guilt replaced it. "... but for wight now, you being beside me everyday is enough. So even if evewything is your fault, and that is highly debatable, the good you've done outweighs everything else. You saved everyone from a nightmare, and you gave your blood, even your life, for us. We are the ones who don't deserve you. And what? Are you just gonna stop living because you're huwt? Are you gonna give up without a fight? You're not a failure Wocky, you've just been confused sometimes. You internalize negativity so often that you huwt yourself. But you don't have to do that anymore... why can't you see all the good in yourself? You are perfect just the way you are. No one does everything wight, but the reverse is true as well. You are special, and I wouldn't want you any other way.""Do you really mean all that?" Zuma's warm breath blanketed his snout, filling him with good feelings.

"Every word. We are lucky to have you." Zuma brushed their whiskers together. Rocky immediately started laughing.

"Stop it, stop it, that tickles!" He tried turning his head but Zuma was too quick for him.

"Be a little quieter, will ya? Someone might hear us!" Zuma said, smirking devilishly. He finally stopped torturing Rocky and gave him a kiss. The mix immediately relaxed and Zuma leaned his friend against the pillows. "Are ya hungry?" Rocky nodded his head quickly, and his friend gave him small pieces of food to chew on. The mix licked it out of his paw, and Zuma giggled.

"Do ya have anymore?" Rocky asked a little later.

"Yeah, but I'll let you have more later. You need to slowly weintroduce youwself to food so you don't use up what remaining energy you have left too quickly." Zuma looked at him pointedly.

"It's not that bad." Rocky complained.

"Oh yeah? Tell ya what, if you can sit up straight, I'll let you have some more."

"Of course I can sit up!" Rocky got as far as lifting one of his paws before he became too tired and fell backward again. Zuma was trying to keep himself from snickering. Rocky looked crushed.

"It's okay, boy, you'll get better!" Zuma nipped his ear. "And I'll stay wight here until you do." He pulled the fairly light pup onto his chest and ran his paws through Rocky's fur, sighing contentedly. "You're the best, dude. As stupid as you act sometimes, I still love you." Rocky felt a bunch of butterflies in his stomach and blushed. "I want you to wemember that. No matter how hawd things get, I'll always go through it with you. You're all I cawe about now." He gave Rocky a long lick up the back of his neck and the eco pup felt tingles go up and down his spine, and new energy spread through him like a warm glow. "So...how do you feel?"