The New Toppat (Curtisson)

38: Burt's Parents

Tears fell and smiles formed.

I... I can't believe it...

He loved Burt and Burt had loved him back this whole time.

"Sven! Burt! Kiss!" 

Sven had almost forgotten Melody was there.

He pulled away and looked at her.

"Did you just... Say my name..?" he asked the bird quietly.

Melody bobbed her head.

Burt held Sven's hands in his own.

The Swede looked back at the head of communications.

"I love you, Sven," Burt murmured, holding him close to his body. "From dawn till dusk. From day to night. From the moment I first met you till my final, dying breath. I'll love you, no matter what." He kissed Sven's forehead gently.

"And I'll love you, Burt..." Sven smiled and stared at him with photogenic, sparkly blue eyes. "From the start till the end, du blir min enda kärlek."

"Cutie!" Melody sang.

"You're not wrong." Sven smiled and booped the bird. "He is pretty cute."

He turned to Burt with a smug expression.

The head of communications blushed.

"If we're... A thing, then..." Sven began awkwardly. "What does that make you..? Are you still head of communications? Do you get promoted, or do I get... Demoted..?"

"I don't want you to get demoted just for me," Burt said.

"Trust me, I don't really want to be leader any," Sven sniffed. "I'm only leader because my father was."

Burt narrowed his eyes.

"And who... Was that?" he asked coolly.

"I... I don't want to tell you..." Sven mumbled. "Because... You'll never trust me if I do..."

"Sven."

Burt placed one hand on the Swede's chest.

"I love you, Sven. You couldn't tell me anything that would make me love you any less. I just want to know."

"I-I-I-" Sven still wasn't reassured.

What was he supposed to say?

'I'm the son of the one who murdered your parents.'

How could they be together with that past?

Sven stopped, realization coursing through his veins.

Me and Burt...

Saw each other as children...

He shook his head.

If Reginald was my father and he murdered Burt's family, then he would've taken me along since I was a kid and he had a literal cyborg to protect me. So I saw Burt and his family when I was little...

He sighed.

I might've been a part of killing his family...

Sven flinched.

"What's wrong, sir-"

"Reginald Copperbottom," Sven blurted out, backing up.

Burt froze.

"What?" he growled.

"Reginald Copperbottom. He was my father." Sven teared up at the betrayed expression on Burt's face. "I-I-I-"

"Sven, you..."

Sven tried to clear the tears from his eyes, but they just kept coming.

"B-B-B-Burt, I-I-I-I'm s-s-so s-s-s-sorry- It's m-m-my f-f-fault th-th-they're d-d-dead- I'm s-s-s-s-so, s-s-so so-sor-sorry-" Sven stammered, choking on his own tears.

"Yeah." Burt's eyes no longer looked so welcoming.

"It is."