crossed over (alver x og cale)

Part 19

Cale opened his eyes and smiled.

"...thank fuck." Without a moment's hesitation or question, he wrapped his arms around his fiance's neck and kissed him. Alberu let out a squeak of surprise but Cale didn't give a flying rat's ass, crawling into his lap and indulging himself in the warmth he feared he'd never feel again.

It didn't take very long at all before Alberu's arms wrapped around him in turn, holding him close as though scared that he'd disappear if he let go.

It was a strong possibility that he might. Stranger things had happened over the last few weeks.

When he finally had to claim his rights to breath and pulled away from the kiss, Cale's lip trembled terribly.

The relief and happiness had filled him like euphoria and then, like a ton of bricks, the pain came.

Alberu held him close as he cried.

Incoherent sobs that probably could have been translated into I didn't know if I'd ever come home and I missed you so much I felt like I was dying all melted together into miserable and broken words that Alberu listened to with his own swelling emotions.

How many nights had he wondered if that was really the end? Looked at the cold spot beside him and felt as though his heart had been ripped straight out of his chest.

Fear and pain that he'd hardly even allowed himself to feel because he knew how it would have made the other Cale feel. Agony and heartbreak and worry, never knowing whether Cale would return. If he did return, would he even come back alive? The world the other Cale described had sounded dangerous and Cale didn't have the best self-preservation instincts. What would he do if he never saw him again?

If he could never hold him again?

He could hardly even tolerate the way it had torn away at his heart. Bit by bit, little by little.

It was Cale. His Cale. The person he'd promised his heart and his life to. The one he couldn't forget or let go of, even with a perfect double at his side.

And all at once the heartbreak doubled, the broken man who'd confessed to him with the full knowledge that he would be rejected and just loved him all the same–the one who he wouldn't see again.

Alberu choked as the emotions collided with his heart with far more force than he'd anticipated.

Clinging to one another, they both broke. Just for a bit. Just until they could regain the strength to breathe again. The solace of warmth being the only reprieve from the pain endured.

It was too much to cope with in words.

Cale was the first to gather himself, looking up into Alberu's eyes and cupping his face between his hands. "You soppy bastard." He accused, laying a feather light kiss on his lips. "What are you crying for?"

"...I thought I lost you." Alberu placed his hands over Cale's, holding them to his face and closing his eyes with a shuddering breath. "I thought I lost you." He repeated, his heart shaking with the words and tears threatening to sting his eyes again.

"Silly fool." Cale kissed him again, longing and gentle and comforting. "Do you think there's anyone or anything that could stop me coming home? Idiot."

Although he hadn't been the one to make it happen. Cale still didn't know precisely how he'd made it home. He had every intention of finding a way but he'd only just finished cleaning up that stupid mess with the assassins– "Holyshit–" Cale exclaimed, startling Alberu. "You would not believe the shit I've been through."