Secrets and Truths

Habits

He heard coughing.

He walked, trying to find the source.

His mind threw the worst scenarios at him.

"Deimos?"

The coughing grew louder as the small man came into view.

Deimos was hunched over, clutching his chest as he continued coughing.

"Deimos!"

"I'm- I'm fine, San-" Deimos collapsed forward, no longer coughing.

But he was no longer breathing.

----

Sanford woke up in a cold sweat, reaching out to where Deimos was.

Or, where he should've been.

Feeling nothing beside him, Sanford started to panic.

It was just a dream, right?

Right??

Getting up, Sanford turned his bedroom light on. The side where Deimos had slept was empty.

He left his room and started looking around the rest of his house frantically.

He's fine.. Sanford tried convincing himself. He should trust Deimos to not do anything stupid.

No matter how many times he told himself that, he still felt uneasy.

Sanford glanced at the clock on the oven. 3:43 am.

He sighed, opening the front door and stepping outside. Almost immediately he noticed a soft orange glow from the driveway.

"Deimos?" He walked over.

"Eh? San? Why are you up?" The man in question turned, a cigarette between his lips.

"..Bad dream, I guess. I-I thought something happened to you." Sanford sighed out, pulling Deimos into a hug.

The smaller man wheezed, taking his cigarette in his fingers and gently hugging back.

"Aw, 'Ford, didn't think you cared this much about me. It's almost as if you like me or somethin'." He teased, earning a chuckle from the bigger male.

"Nah, you got it all wrong, that's gay." He smiled, pulling away from the hug. "In all seriousness, though, why are you smoking right now? It's almost 4 am."

"Eh.. Couldn't really sleep last night, I guess. I didn't mean to wake you, 'm sorry." Deimos said quietly.

"No no, it's okay. I thought something bad happened is all.. Next time, will you wake me up to tell me?" Sanford asked, holding Deimos' free hand.

"..Yeah." The smaller replied, crushing the cigarette under his foot as he finished it. "Let's go back in."

"Are you okay though?" Sanford, now holding both of Deimos' hands, pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Yeah, 'm fine. No need to worry, big guy." Deimos chuckled, a dark blush set on his face.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Deimos grinned. "C'mon." He started pulling the bigger man back inside.

Sanford stopped him before picking the smaller up and carrying him bridal-style.

"Dude, this is so gay. You should do it more often." Deimos snickered, placing his arms around Sanford's neck.

"We'll see." The taller grinned, walking back inside.