Just A Moment

Cecil held onto Carlos, holding him tight and completely for the first time in weeks. He breathed in the way he smelled and buried his head in his shoulder with his eyes closed and his breath strained and in pain. He took comfort in the softness of his skin, the way his hair felt between his fingers, and the feel of his shirt in the dark of their living room. He felt as if he never wanted to let go, he never wanted to leave this moment. After the hell and a half they'd been through over the last few months for all he cared this moment was the only thing that existed.

Just a moment.

Like they were ever allowed just a moment.

There was a sound at the door and suddenly a gunshot struck through the lock leading the door to creak open in the process. The outline of a person was visible against the light from the outside, and as he walked in the room almost seemed to grow lighter.

"Goodness, how bleak is this?" They looked at the darkness of the room and then back at the two of them. "You blacked out the windows? Why would you do that? You can't see the glow of your beautiful town!" They smirked and walked over to them tapping his gun against his hip.

Cecil was shaking, clinging to Carlos in too much pain and fear to react any other way. Carlos, stayed firm. He held Cecil tight and defensively swallowing down his fear to keep himself from breaking down. Neither of them spoke, and as Cecil kept his head hidden in Carlos' shoulder the scientist stared directly at his double with hatred and confidence in his eyes.

The employee smirked and stopped in front of them placing his hands behind his back.

"Carlos we have a meeting to get to." His smile curled back so his teeth were visible, "You know I don't like being late to such things."

They didn't budge and remained quiet.

The Employee sighed and rolled his eyes. "This is pathetic to put off." He reached down and grabbed Carlos' collar yanking him up, while at the same time trying to pry Cecil's hands from him.

Suddenly, loud, pained sobs echoed through the room. Cecil held him as tight as he could, tears now streaming down his face and his breath erratic and choked.

"Please, Please please not again! Please, d-don't- Don't take him from me! N-Not again!" His fingernails broke the fabric of Carlos' shirt tearing at it.

Carlos felt himself crying too. He cried at the sound of Cecil's voice, he cried at the idea of having to go back with Diego once again, and he cried that their moment had been shattered.

One moment. That was all he had asked for.

The employee's stare grew angry. When he realized Cecil would not be letting go he raised his gun causing Carlos to scream for him not to hurt him. Ignoring the protests The Employee brought the gun down across Cecil's head which let out a loud 'crack' as it struck his head. His grip released from his beloved's shirt as he fell off of the couch and onto the ground from the sheer force of the blow.

Carlos screamed once again, kicking and pulling as the employees dragged him away from Cecil. He tugged and clawed at his arm and body eventually throwing resistance away and biting the man's arm as hard as he could. The one holding him hissed and dropped him, and Carlos immediately scrambled over to Cecil, who was curled up on the ground holding his head shaking and crying.

He almost made it. But before he could reach him, even just to touch him for a moment another gunshot and another scream rang out through the room. They walked over to Carlos, who was still reaching out for Cecil despite the fact blood had already begun pooling around his leg from the bullet hole, and picked him up by his neck dragging him out once again with ease. Carlos had no more fight in him, he was too exhausted, too hurt to care, too numb to do anything but reach out towards Cecil calling for him softly through tears.

The door shut with a loud slam leaving Cecil in the dark. He barely breathed, and he didn't make a sound. He just let tears drip down his face onto the carpet while he held onto his head. Other than the occasional twitch of his body when he took in another silent sob, he didn't move.

He didn't want too. Just like his lover, he was too numb to fight, too numb to hurt, and too numb to care.

He just wanted a moment. And he had a moment. For hours, and hours, alone in that dark house, on the floor, crying silently for his husband.

He just wanted a moment.