Devon woke up around 3 AM, a nightmare clinging to his mind like a heavy fog. The chilling scream that escaped his lips cut through the silence of the night, a harbinger of the turmoil that twisted within him. Bringing his knees close to his chest, he buried his face in between them, shaking uncontrollably; the remnants of a fear that felt too real, too close. The tightness in his chest intensified, making his vision grow blurry. In a frantic rush, he turned on the lamp beside his bed, the harsh light slicing through the dimness. He rifled through his drawers, the sound of wood against wood mirroring the chaos in his mind, until his fingers finally brushed against the cool surface of a bottle of aspirin. Desperation took hold as he fumbled to twist the cap off, frustration gnawing at him. As the childproof lid refused to budge, he hurled the bottle against the door, the echo reverberating. The noise startled Jake awake. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he saw the look of distress on his boyfriend's face, and in an instant, all fatigue vanished. Tossing aside the covers, Jake rushed to Devon's side, heart racing with concern. Jake reached out his hand, a gesture of comfort that had always soothed Devon in the past. Tonight wasn't like any other night. Devon, consumed by fear, recoiled from Jake's outstretched hand. He had never seen Devon like this- so lost, so unrecognizable. This was not the Devon he knew; this was a shattered version of the boy he loved.
"Devon, what's wrong?" Jake asks
"Don't touch me!" Devon shrieked
"Dev, I'm here. I'm right here, babe. Just talk to me." Jake cautiously stepped forward
"Jake, don't." Devon warned him
"You can push me away all you want, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to abandon you again." Jake says
On instinct, Jake closed the space between them, wrapping his arms around the trembling form of his boyfriend. It was a gesture that had always brought comfort. Devon's fury flared, a firestorm of emotions he couldn't control. He took a swing at Jake, his fists hitting Jake's chest with desperate ferocity, but with each blow, Jake felt the pulse of Devon's anguish. It was a futile battle against the very thing he craved- comfort, safety, love. Devon continued to fight against this comfort, one that had always soothed him in the past, but guilt and despair twisted his heart. Suddenly, the storm within him grew too heavy to bear, his anger flickering like a candle snuffed by a sudden gust of wind. In a moment of clarity tainted by exhaustion, he shoved Jake against the wall, his balled-up fists resting on Jake's chest, holding onto the fabric as if it were a lifeline. He lowered his head against Jake's shoulder, giving in at last. As they crumpled to the floor, Devon's body trembled violently, no longer from rage but from the release of pent-up anguish. Tears streamed down his face, hot and heavy, soaking into Jake's T-shirt. Realization dawned that he didn't need to fight; the comfort of Jake was what he truly craved. Jake wrapped his arms around him, cradling him as the sobs broke free.
"Let go! Let go of me!" Devon's voice cracked
"No, baby. I'll never let go. Not now, not ever." Jake spoke softly
"Why do I keep hurting you? I don't want to keep hurting you. I'm sorry, Jay. I'm so, so sorry." Devon cried
"You're not hurting me, Dev. You're struggling, and that's okay. I'm here for you. You don't have to carry this alone." Jake stroked Devon's hair gently, whispering comforting words as the weight of Devon's tears soaked through his T-shirt
"I'm a wreck. I'm not the person you fell in love with!" Devon says
"Listen to me, Dev. You're still you. You're still the same person I fell in love with. This darkness doesn't define you." Jake said softly, his voice steady despite the storm around them
"All I ever do is push you away. Why? Why do you continue to love me?" Devon asks
"Because love isn't just a feeling, Dev. Love is a choice. It's sticking around when things get tough, when the world feels too heavy to bare. It's fighting for you when you feel like you can't fight for yourself. I'm not going anywhere, no matter how hard you try and push me away." Jake replied earnestly, his fingers threading through Devon's hair
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Terror trio: back in action
Fanfictionone year after the movie theater massacre, Jake, Devon, and Lexy end up together again in a Catholic school ran by nuns and a strict priest. The three of them try and figure out how to fit into their new lifestyle, but it won't be as easy as they ho...
