Autumn is a second spring

161. Gas

Fluke slammed Ohm back against the wall, his fingers gripping the collar of Ohm's shirt so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Fluke hissed, his voice breaking. "Are you out of your mind?"

They were standing at the far end of the hospital corridor, near a row of empty plastic chairs. From where they were, they could see the emergency treatment room clearly—the red light above the door still on—but the distance gave them a fragile illusion of privacy. Doctors and nurses rushed past occasionally, shoes squeaking against the polished floor, their expressions urgent and unreadable.

Thas had been wheeled inside minutes ago.

Everything after that felt unreal.

The doctors had moved quickly, voices sharp and clipped, ordering everyone out. Earth had broken down almost immediately, clinging to Kao as if letting go would make everything collapse. Remi, pale but frighteningly composed, had insisted on staying inside. No one had dared to stop her.

Fluke's vision blurred as tears streamed down his face. Fear clawed at his chest, mixing with helplessness and a burning anger he didn't know where to put.

And standing in front of him—too calm, too steady—was Ohm.

Ohm looked almost bored.

He glanced past Fluke's shoulder, toward Earth, who was sitting on the floor by the door with his face buried against Kao's chest, shoulders shaking with sobs. Kao had one arm wrapped tightly around him, murmuring reassurances that sounded hollow even from a distance.

Then Ohm looked back at Fluke.

Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in.

Before Fluke could react, Ohm pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

Fluke froze.

Ohm smiled against his mouth. "Have I ever told you," he murmured lightly, "that you look really pretty when you cry? It's such a turn on."

Fluke's grip tightened violently. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" he choked out. "You are acting like a total pervert."

Ohm only chuckled.

"My Dad is in the hospital because of you," Fluke said, his voice cracking. "Do you have any idea what you have done?"

His tears spilled freely now. He hated that he couldn't stop them, hated how weak he felt—like the ground had been pulled out from under him and he was just... falling.

"I trusted you," he whispered. "I told you I would handle it. I promised I would deal with it after wedding. Why couldn't you wait? What was the hurry, Phi?"

Ohm tilted his head, studying Fluke like he was something mildly interesting.

"I didn't like how you handled things, babe" Ohm said plainly. "Especially since I am always last on your priority list."

Fluke stared at him. 

"And the way your dad spoke," Ohm continued, shrugging. "It annoyed me."

"That's it?" Fluke asked incredulously. "You blew everything up because you were irked?"

Ohm smirked. "Pretty much."

Fluke felt something inside him snap. "Do you even feel guilty?" he demanded. "Even a little?"

Ohm raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I do?"

Fluke recoiled slightly, disgust twisting his features. "You are unbelievable, Phi. You are such a jerk."