Felix was happily chatting with Johnny.
He had finished his time machine, and after explaining everything he could about the future to Johnny, they decided to travel that night.
They weren't in a rush, they had all the time in the world.
Johnny still couldn't understand how the time machine worked.
It looked like a normal watch, only a bit bigger and fancier.
Felix also failed trying to explain how it worked, he ended up confusing both of them.
It's been 2 weeks, they were happy.
Johnny knew he loved Felix, but he still couldn't find the right moment to tell him.
Felix felt the same way, but didn't say anything, he didn't want to rush the other boy to tell him if he wasn't ready. He was always a patience guy, he didn't mind waiting for him.
He would always wait for him.
They were walking, enjoying the sun since it would be cold when they got to the future.
They saw Dave approaching them. He was usually smiling, but today he had an ugly frown on his face.
- Hey Dave, did something happened?
Felix asked, he didn't like to leave people in a bad mood.
Dave only stared at him with a disgusting look and continued to walk.
Felix looked at him confused, he felt a touch leaving him.
He hadn't even noticed he was holding Johnny's hand. They would do it all the time when they were alone, he must have forgotten.
He looked at him, Johnny had an embarrassed look on his face.
Felix got closer to Johnny.
- Hey, look at me.
Johnny looked at him, still ashamed.
- It's okay, you don't have to feel bad for holding my hand. Soon enough we'll be leaving this place and you won't have to worry about any of this.
- You promise?
Felix smiled.
- I promise. You know I would never let anything bad happen to you.
Johnny smiled, he was really happy to have Felix in his life.
They continued their walk, going nowhere specific. They were just looking to kill some time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Night fell, Felix and Johnny were sitting on their beds, facing each other, happily talking.
They decided to wait until everyone was fast asleep, they didn't want to be seen.
Everyone was getting ready for bed, until
BOOM
They heard an explosion.
Before they could think, they were already getting pushed into the battle field. Guns in hand.
- Guess we're leaving later than expected.
Felix joked, Johnny looked at him worried.
- It's fine, it's not the first time we have to go to the battle field. Just play along and be carefull. We'll leave as soon as we can, okay?
- Okay.
They split up.
Felix was right, it wasn't the first time they were doing this, nothing bad ever happened, so they just had to be careful.
Johnny was starting to get used to gunshots and explosions. He was sure he was starting to develop a hearing problem because of this.
Everything was going fine, he was shooting like usual. Making sure to be as careful as he could.
He was behind a wall, reloading his gun, when he looked at Felix.
There was a loud gunshot. Probably the loudest he ever heard.
Everything went quiet.
He couldn't hear the gunshots anymore.
He couldn't hear the explosions anymore.
All he could hear was his own breathing.
His own heartbeat.
He was in shock.
Felix...
Got shot.
He ran.
Not caring about the bullets.
Not carrying about the soldiers.
Not carrying about anything.
He got to Felix, he was on the ground, bleeding.
- no
He tried to stop the bleeding.
- no no no
There was so much blood.
- no, please, no
He could feel tears running down his face.
He didn't care.
For the first time.
He didn't care.
He looked at Felix, he was still breathing.
there's still time, please.
- Felix...
Felix opened his eyes.
His breathing was faint. He was in so much pain, yet he could barelly feel something.
- hey...
He said, smiling.
How could he smile at a moment like this.
- Felix, look at me. Keep looking at me. You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna get you out of here. We're getting out of here. Please, just hold on. I'm gonna. I'm just gonna
- Shhhhh, it's okay.
Felix placed a hand on Johnny's face, wiping a tear.
- I'm sorry love.
- no, no No NO! I CAN STILL SAVE YOU! WE JUST NEED A MEDIC!
- Johnny. Even if you could take me to a medic, I would have died from blood lost.
Johnny started crying again. He felt like his world was crumbling down. He was so happy a moment ago, how could he let this happen.
- John, look at me.
Johnny sniffled, wiping away his tears.
- I'm sorry I couldn't take you to the future with me.
Johnny started frantically shaking his head.
This isn't happening.
This couldn't be happening.
This isn't real.
It's all a nightmare.
He felt Felix hand on his face again.
But when he opened his eyes
he was still there.
Felix was still dying.
And he couldn't do anything to save him.
Felix smiled softly, tears running down his face.
- You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You're so much stronger than you think. Don't ever be afraid to be happy, and tell your dad he can go fuck himself.
Johnny chuckled.
- ..... don't leave, please don't leave me alone.
- You're never alone Johnny. I'll always be with you. As long as you remember me, and as long as you know this was real, I'll always be with you, no matter what.
Johnny nodded, resting his head on Felix's.
- I'll love you. Always.
- I'll love you too, forever.
Johnny felt Felix's hand slipping from his face.
He held Felix tight. Afraid his body was just gonna become dust.
He never cried so much in his life.
Not when his grandmother died.
Not when his dad would beat him up.
He was screaming and shouting, as if his whole body was on fire.
After the gunshots and explosions stopped, his colleagues had to force him away from Felix's body.
He screamed all the way back to the camping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the war ended, he was sent home.
He didn't talk to anyone. He didn't look at anyone.
He would barely eat, and he would cry all night every night.
After months of this, he decided to get on with his life.
it's what he would have wanted.
He moved to Oregon and started a new life.
He got a job. He had his own apartment, he even got his own cat.
A black cat with blue eyes.
He would still cry at night, but it wasn't as frequent.
Sometimes, he would look at his night stand.
At the photo he got of Felix and him.
With a note.
I'll love you.
Next to it it was the time machine.
Sitting peacefully in a glass box.
He never learned how it worked.
Maybe one day....