Love Through Death Aaron x Clay

Homecoming Pt. 2

Aaron's P.O.V.~

'To my one lost love,
          You are my only love.  Without you, I'm torn and broken.  I don't know how I can live on without you by my side, knowing that you are no longer with me.  But, I told you when Draak died not to do anything bad and to stop harming yourself.  So, I promise not to do that as of my word to you.
          Anyway, I hope you watch over our son with pride.  I'll be writing to you through letters like these to let my feelings out and to let you know that I still care.
Love, Clay'

Silent tears stung my eyes as I hold the letter close to my chest, sighing lightly. His handwriting seemed so shaky. Slowly, I lift another letter later on in the stack. They all seemed to be written in blue ink.

'Dear Aaron,
So, I'm going to try to spread these out more for you. Not much has happened since I last wrote. Darkstalker has come and gone here and there, sometimes every day, sometimes for weeks on end.
Ren moved out to live with a friend. I think she left because of our fight a couple weeks ago. I told you about it a couple of letters before this one.
Anyway, that's it for now.
Love, Clay'

Quickly, I dug through the letters, picking one up that was a few places back.

'Dear Aaron,
Ren and I had a huge argument the other day. She said something along the lines of "if Mom loved us, why'd he leave?"
I tried to tell her kindly that you tried to save us, but it costed you your life. She didn't listen. So, right now she's locked up in her room, and I heard a lot of things break.
Axl and Lance are trying to get her to open the door since she won't speak to me. Anyway, I hope you're doing well.
Love, Clay'

That's when I stopped. I didn't want to read anymore. They're hurting my heart, but I love that Clay has been writing these in his spare time.

Of course, as I lay back, I notice one was written in green ink. Debating in my head, I keep that one in my hand, telling myself I'd read it in the morning.

Time Skip~

The sun hit my face, making me yawn. The letter was still in my hand, so I sit upright, looking at it.

'This is such a nice pen, Aaron. You'd like this one.
Wait, I was supposed to say, 'Dear, Aaron,' wasn't I? You can't see, but I'm laughing so hard! Aw well, I'll keep this one.
Clay told me to write to you since I was nothing but mean to you in the past. That, and because it's your birthday today. Seven years. Damn, it's been a while, hasn't it?
I'm getting off topic. Look, what I'm trying to say (or write) is that I'm sorry for treating you so horribly back then. I hope you can forgive me someday, but if you can't, I'll understand.
From, Lance'

I chuckle lightly, rubbing my eyes. "I forgave you a long time ago."

"Hey," Ashton came up beside me, smiling.  "I'm sure you're dying to see him again, huh?"

Nodding, I stand up.  "Yeah, but I want to surprise him.  Could you bring him out here?"

She laughed.  "He's gonna have a heart attack!  But sure, I'll go get him."  She walked away, and I paced back and forth.

Ashton's P.O.V.~

Slowly, I walk up to the fortress, passing by a man in blue armor.  He was kneeling next to Aaron's little shrine.

"Excuse me," I hear him say, feeling his presence next to me. 

I sigh.  "Yes?  I really need to find someone."

He pointed to the helmet.  "You haven't seen any of my letters by any chance, have you?  They're for my boyfriend since he..."

My breath stopped.  "You wouldn't happen to be Clay, would you?" 

Clay nodded, looking at me with confusion.  "Yeah, why?"

"Follow me."

Aaron's P.O.V.~

I sighed, my pacing stopping as I heard footsteps.  Ashton came through the the trees with Clay in tow, one of his hands staying over his eyes.

"I don't understand why I have to cover my eyes."

My sister groaned as if he'd asked that a hundred times already.  I just covered my to stop my laughter.  "Okay, Clay, keep your eyes covered, I'll be right back."

She elbowed me, walking off.

Clay sighed.  "What am I supposed to do while this woman's gone?"

Slowly, I walk up next to him, feeling my heart pounding.  I grabbed his hand, and he looked down.

"How far is this thing?"

Taking a deep breath, I felt tears roll down my cheeks.  "Look up."  My voice sounded so shaky and nervous.

Clay froze, looking up and uncovering his eyes.  Our eyes met, and I cover my mouth as he looked at me with pain.  "I thought I was still okay.  I was so close to accepting.  After eight years."

Just as he began turning away, I pulled him close to me, kissing him on the lips.  He gasped, his hands grazing my sides lightly.  I whimper lightly, letting my hands graze through his hair.

I missed this.  I missed us.  Sadly, we had to pull away, and I hugged him.  Tears were falling so quickly now.  "I-I missed you so much, Clay!"

I could tell his breathing hitched, and I could tell he was sobbing.  "I missed you more, Aaron.  I wrote a bunch of letters, but they went missing."

"Oh," I say, pulling back to wipe his tears away, "I got them.  You see, when I went through that portal, I went into a coma for six years. Just recently, I learned I could shapeshift like my sister, which was that girl, and we came here so I could see you, and-"

"Woah, Aaron," Clay said, laughing, "you have to take it slow."

Taking a deep breath, I start sobbing. "I just feel like I've missed my entire life." My hands cover my eyes, my knees buckling.

I felt the older kneel beside me, pulling me in close to his chest. I take shaky breaths, listening to his heart beat at a steady pace.

"Just let it out. Just take deep breaths. I'm here."

"Aww, should I leave?" Ashton's voice joked, making me growl.

Turning to her, I stick my tongue out at her. "It's been eight years! Give us some time."

She laughed. "I did."

Clay patted my back, pulling me into his chest so I could calm down.  He always knew how to relax me.  "Do you need a place to stay?  We'd be happy to have you," he directed to Ashton.

"Yeah," she responded, "Ciro and I both do."

Just as I could tell the knight was about to ask, the boy came from the forest, looking at the three of us.  Clay tensed, holding me closer.

"Hey," I say, reaching a hand up to his face, "he saved me.  He's cool."

He nodded reluctantly, leading the way back to the Fortrex.  Of course, I couldn't help but be concerned for Ciro right now.  It was almost as if I could sense that something was about to go down between those two.

Shaking the thought away, I decided to stay in the present.  Stay with Clay for as long as I can.