Final Space Oneshots

Oxygen

READ FOR A SEC —

Oh WOW it's been ages, hasn't it? Lots of work, and I kinda just felt like writing this one.
This was a very old request that wanted me to follow up on my one shot "I Will Carry You", and the promise that is made between Gary and Avocato at the end. I've left the ending passage up at the start, so before you ask it is not dialogue from the show, but rather an interaction I wrote myself.

I don't know how often I will update, as life is getting tough rn, but I will when I can and when the inspiration strikes me :)
Let's go.

~~

"You're a good – scratch that – great friend to me Gary!" Avocato leaned closer to his friend, narrowing his eyes. "You have to promise me that we do anything from now on together. No stupid sacrifices. No leaving another behind."

The Ventrexian held out his hand.  "Clasp on it."  Gary grinned, grabbing Avocato's hand in his.

"Sure thing buddy." They shook hands, and Avocato smiled.

It's nights like these that the silence is like a blade driving into his chest. Nights when he wakes, sweating, choking on the air that burns into his lungs like hot coals. No longer oxygen – vital to his survival, keeping him alive – but a poisonous curse that forces him to stay standing when he wants nothing more than to simply not.

It's nights like these that Gary experiences too often, staring up at the white ceiling, feeling detached from his own body. Nights where he wishes to be anything but himself.

"It's back to back...for life..."

Oxygen, Gary realises as he jolts from his bed, gasping, is overrated. More of a burden, rather than a relief. His chest is on fire as he fights to breathe, his body begging him to though he wants to stop. It's exhausting, especially since this is the fifth night in a row. He misses the times where he could sleep, knowing that he wasn't alone in this god-forsaken ship.

"Clasp on it."

Avocato's image is in the corners of his vision – if he turns fast enough, it's almost like he's beside Gary again, his eyes shining in the star's blinding light. Gary stands, exiting his small room in favour of roaming the silent halls of the Galaxy One.

He is suffocating, slowly.

Cold seeps into his feet as he pads across the smooth floor. He is no longer choking, but he aches, inside and out. His voice is raw from screaming. The walk does not soothe his nerves, but he continues to put all his attention in simply moving one foot in front of the other – because by God anything is better than letting himself think about the quiet laughs and calming touches that he misses so dearly –

He was dreaming about him again, he realises. It is not often that Gary remembers his dreams, but it's also not often that his heart throbs as much as it does these past five days, so he supposes it's linked.

"For life."

The words taunt him, making Gary freeze in his steps. This time, his nightmare was slightly different, but hauntingly the same. Colourful explosions, distraught cries, those fear-stricken eyes they realise what is going to happen, what this means.

Gary, left alone as he stares at Avocato's corpse, staring in terror at the crater in his chest. He sees ribs, lungs, blood, and screams.

But the difference in his dreams is that Avocato is still alive. Their eyes always meet as he drifts further away, whispering a phrase Gary never wants to hear again.