the book of fluff (that usually isn't)

wake up

this sucks

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Mitch held Scott's hand as they drove to the restaurant, a smile on his lips. Scott was ranting about how much he loved puppies, but his voice slowly faded away when he noticed Mitch. "What?" he said shyly, blushing. Mitch smiled wider and kissed his fingertips, squeezing his hand. "You're so adorable."

The velvet box in Mitch's pocket felt overly heavy, and his heart was beating loudly in his chest, despite his cool demeanor. He was planning on proposing to his angel after they ate, and he was beyond nervous, as he knew he was nowhere near good enough for Scott.

They stopped at a stoplight, but Mitch didn't notice the truck until it was too late. It slammed into the side Scott was on, and both of them fell unconscious almost immediately.

+++

Mitch blinked awake to the sound of sirens and men shouting to each other. His first instinct was to see if Scott was okay, so he forced himself to turn his head to the boy beside him. Scott had woken up as well, but his chest was weakly rising and falling and his eyes were clouded with pain. "Angel?" Mitch whispered, gently squeezing his hand. Scott looked over at him and smiled weakly, reaching for him. "Hi, Mommy," he whispered back, his voice heavy with pain. Mitch slowly brought Scott into his arms, holding him close. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm tired, Momma."

Mitch's heart jerked and he sniffled, tears forming in his eyes. "I know, baby. I'm sorry. But you can't go to sleep, okay? Stay with me."

Scott sighed softly and rested his head on Mitch's shoulder, his eyes drooping closed. Mitch quickly shook his head and squeezed him, blinking back the tears. "No, no, no. Please don't close your eyes, baby. Please stay awake," he whispered, his voice choked with tears. Scot whined quietly, but opened his eyes again, looking up at him with tears in his own eyes. "Mommy, it hurts. Please let me sleep," he whimpered, and Mitch finally snapped at his words. "I know it hurts, princess, but you can't sleep. I'm sorry. You have to stay with me," he murmured, tears flowing down his cheeks. Scott frowned and reached up to brush away his tears. "Why are you crying, Momma?"

"I'm not crying, angel." Mitch forced a smile through his tears, lacing their fingers together. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy," Scott murmured back, setting his head back down on Mitch's shoulder and nuzzling his face in his neck. Mitch allowed himself a soft sob, holding Scott close. "Please stay with me. You'll be okay, I promise," he whispered, even though some part of him knew it wasn't true. Scott sighed quietly and subconsciously rested his hand on Mitch's chest to feel his heartbeat. "Okay, Momma." Mitch sniffled and nodded, pressing his lips to Scott's hair. "I love you so much, baby girl. You know that, right?"

"I know, Mommy." Scott giggled weakly, his eyes slipping closed. "You tell me every day."

"Good."

Scott pressed an absentminded kiss to Mitch's neck, scrunching Mitch's shirt in his fingers. "Momma?" he whispered barely audibly. Mitch squeezed his eyes shut, his tears falling faster. "Yes, my love?" Scott gathered his remaining strength and leaned up to press their lips together, and Mitch kissed back, cupping Scott's cheek. He savored it for as long as he could, knowing it would be their last.

When they broke apart, Scott's head immediately fell back onto Mitch's shoulder and his breathing got weaker, his heartbeat slowing drastically. His eyes stayed closed from the kiss. Mitch knew their time was running out, no matter how much it hurt him. "Baby?"

"Yes, Momma?" Scott mumbled, his words slurring together.

"Will you marry me?"

"But Mommy, you don't have a ring," Scott whispered, giggling weakly. Mitch nodded and carefully got the ring out of his pocket, making sure he didn't jostle Scott. "Yes, I do, baby." Scott made a small noise and forced his eyes open, holding onto Mitch's shirt tighter as he saw the box. "Mommy..." he whispered, and Mitch kissed his hair as he opened the box. "Please? I love you more than anything." Scott smiled weakly and nodded, painfully leaning up to kiss his jaw. "Of course I'll marry you, Momma." Mitch kissed his nose and slipped the ring onto Scott's finger, reaching up to wipe away his tears. "I love you, my angel."

"I love him too, Mommy."

Mitch sobbed softly as Scott's eyes closed yet again and his breathing got weaker. "Baby, please stay with me. You gotta stay awake. Can you do that for me?"

"But Momma, I'm tired..."

"I know, angel, but you can't close your eyes. You'll be okay."

Scott whined quietly and leaned heavily against him. "I'm tired..."

"I know," Mitch whispered, his tears falling faster. "I know. I love you."

"I love you too, Mommy," Scott whispered, his entire body relaxing against Mitch as he began to slip away. Mitch sobbed louder and held him tighter, knowing what was happening. "Princess, please. Please stay awake. Stay with me, baby girl." Scott didn't respond, his last breath leaving his lips.

Mitch cried out in anguish, feeling his love's heartbeat stop. "No. No, no, no, no. Please. Wake up. Please, you have to wake up. I can't live without you, Scotty," he sobbed loudly, shaking him fruitlessly. "Wake up. Don't leave me, princess. Please! I love you! We need to get married, and have kids, and be together forever and ever—" Mitch's voice cut off as he became inconsolable, his entire body shaking as he cried. He buried his face in Scott's hair and rocked them, crying harder as he thought of all the things that could've been.

"Wake up. Please, wake up," Mitch forced out weakly in between sobs, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please." He tilted Scott's head up and pressed their lips together, hoping that maybe true love's kiss would bring Scott back to life. Scott didn't kiss back.