Unlikely Harmony || DaouOffroad AU

17. Hold On

Daou stood alone in the green room, silence pressing in like a thick, invisible weight. His heart pounded with the echoes of everything that had just happened—Offroad's breakdown, the way he'd clung to Daou, desperate, vulnerable, yet unmistakably Offroad, the man who would give himself in one breath and take it back in the next.

Daou had been here before, waiting, wondering, trying to be enough to convince Offroad to stay. They had whispered confessions of love to each other so many times by now that he'd thought they were real, that this was finally it, a love built on trust, shared dreams, and quiet moments. But here he was, left standing in an empty room while Offroad vanished again, taking all those dreams with him.

Daou rubbed at his chest, the ache there too deep and too familiar. How many times would he let this happen before he learned?

Why do you keep running? he thought bitterly, fists clenching. 

We were supposed to be done with this game of chasing and hiding. 

He told himself he could handle it, that Offroad would come around, that his love was enough to steady Offroad's fears. 

Tonight had been too much. He'd watched Offroad crumble, held him as he broke down, and let him lean into the quiet comfort they shared. The panic in Offroad's eyes as he'd fought to breathe, the way his hands had reached out for Daou as though he were the only anchor in his storm—that had meant something. For a moment, Daou had believed that maybe Offroad wouldn't leave again, that this would be the night when they'd finally find their way through the fear and uncertainty. And yet, the door had closed behind him, leaving Daou with nothing but his own thoughts and the faint scent of Offroad's cologne in the room.

He could still feel the touch of Offroad's fingers along his jaw, the way his lips had moved against his as if he were trying to say goodbye, yet not letting the words spill out. That kiss had been full of everything they were—affection, fear, love, and hesitation, all tangled together.

How many more times will I be left like this, holding onto what's left of us? 

The question echoed in his mind, each word sharp with an anger that rose up despite himself. He hated how his love for Offroad seemed to bleed into hurt, how the walls he'd built around his own heart crumbled with just a look, a touch, a whisper. The first time they'd kissed, he'd felt the spark, something rare and wild. And he'd nurtured it, cared for it, convinced that he could help Offroad feel safe enough to stay. They'd come so far, building everything together piece by piece, until now.

The tears threatened to spill, but Daou forced them back, pacing the room as he fought the overwhelming mix of frustration, sadness, and confusion. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They were supposed to be able to lean on each other, to hold each other up through the darkest parts. Offroad had promised him that, and Daou had believed him, believing they'd finally let down their guards enough to make this real. But now...

Now, it felt like everything was slipping away.

Daou pressed a hand to his eyes, his chest tight with a pain he couldn't shake. 

What am I supposed to do with all this love, if you won't stay to share it with me?

It was a question he couldn't answer. The cruel truth settled in his mind, a whisper he hadn't wanted to admit until now: loving Offroad would always mean facing the possibility that he'd walk away, that Daou would be left holding the pieces, wondering what he could have done to make him stay. He felt stupid for hoping, for believing he could be the one to help Offroad conquer his fears. The weight of the silence was crushing now, his breaths shallow, feeling more alone than he'd felt in years.