Forever in Silence

The wind whispered softly through the forest, its gentle caress rustling the leaves and sending shivers down Jevin's spine. The only sound breaking the silence, it seemed to carry a mournful sigh that echoed Jevin's own despair.

Jevin knelt beside Tunner's body, his eyes fixed on the bullet hole in his forehead. The wound was small, but the damage was irreparable.

A tiny trickle of blood seeped from the wound, staining Tunner's fedora and dripping slowly onto the forest floor. The crimson droplets seemed to spread like a dark stain, a grim reminder of the life slipping away.

Tunner's eyes, once bright and piercing, now seemed dazed and unfocused. His gaze drifted, as if searching for something just out of reach. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his lips were parted slightly, as if he was about to speak.

Jevin's heart ached as he gazed at Tunner's face, memorizing every feature, every line and curve, as if he could hold onto him forever. "Shh, don't talk..." Jevin's voice cracked as he whispered the words, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch Tunner's face.

His fingers grazed Tunner's cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin, the slight roughness of his stubble.

They had always been quiet around others, but with each other, they found comfort in their shared silence. It was as if they had created their own language, one that didn't require words, but understood the subtle nuances of each other's emotions.

Jevin's eyes welled up with tears as he gazed at Tunner's face, taking in the familiar contours, the sharp jawline, the piercing eyes that now seemed dull and unfocused.

He had grown to appreciate Tunner's calm and collected nature, the way he could soothe Jevin's own anxieties with a simple glance or touch.

Over time, his admiration had blossomed into something more, a realization that had dawned on him slowly, like the first light of dawn creeping over the horizon. He had been starting to realize his feelings for Tunner went beyond friendship, but now it was too late. The thought was a knife to his heart, twisting and turning with every beat.

Tunner's lips moved, barely above a whisper, the words escaping his mouth like a dying breath. "I... failed... to protect them..."

The weight of his failure hung in the air, a palpable burden that seemed to crush him. His eyes locked onto Jevin's, filled with a deep sadness that seemed to bore into Jevin's very soul. "Please... stay away... from Black." The warning was whispered, but the urgency behind it was clear.

Jevin's vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks like a river of grief. He felt like he was drowning, suffocating under the weight of his emotions.

Tunner's gaze drifted, his eyes glazing over like a frozen lake. His voice was barely audible, a faint whisper that seemed to carry on the wind. "I'm... cold..." The words sent a shiver down Jevin's spine, a chill that seemed to seep into his very bones.

Without thinking, Jevin wrapped his arms around Tunner, holding him close as if he could will him back to life. He felt Tunner's body relax into his, the weight of his head resting on Jevin's shoulder.

Tunner's blood seeped onto Jevin's clothes, a grim reminder of the reality he couldn't escape. The warmth of Tunner's body was fading fast, leaving Jevin with a sense of desperation, of clinging to something that was slipping away from him.

As the wind continued to whisper through the forest, Jevin's voice whispered through the trees, a quiet and anguished sound that seemed to carry on the breeze. "Tunner, I'm here...Tunner, I love you..."

The words poured out of him like a confession, a desperate attempt to reach out to the person he loved. "I'll stay away from Black... I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe..." But it was too late. Tunner sadly didn't respond, his body limp and still in Jevin's arms.

The forest, once full of life and color, had become a desolate and gray landscape, devoid of hope and joy.

The trees seemed to loom over Jevin, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to snatch away the last vestiges of his happiness.

The wind whispered secrets in his ear, secrets he couldn't bear to hear. The world around him had become a cold, dark, and unforgiving place, a place where love and hope were mere illusions.

Jevin's eyes drooped, his eyelids heavy with grief. He closed them, letting the darkness wash over him, and lay down beside Tunner's lifeless body.

He wrapped his arms around Tunner, embracing the still form as if willing him back to life. He buried his face in the crook of Tunner's neck, inhaling the scent of his skin, his hair, his clothes. The familiar smell was a cruel reminder of what he had lost.

Jevin's body shook with silent sobs, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. He clung to Tunner's body, holding on to the memories they had shared, the laughter, the adventures, the quiet moments like this. The world around him had melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in a sea of sorrow.

As the darkness closed in around him, Jevin whispered a final promise in Tunner's ear. "I'll stay with you... forever..." His voice trailed off into silence, his body still, his heart shattered into a million pieces.