Blessed Are We

The lover, the companion, the friend

Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian remained in the baptist church. They just have confessed their deepest feelings for each other, and they exchanged the powerful words, "I love you." It was like a moment between two middle-schoolers, their cheeks flushed and they could barely look at each other without stretching a wide smile. Daron still held Serj's fist up to his face and pressed it against his mouth, just resting it there. "You're a passionate singer." Serj compliments him. Daron shrugs and raises his eyebrows, because he very much does not take his singing or his gifts seriously. He knew that his most useful gift anyway was that he scammed motels without a trace. Singing - what good would that do to him anyway?

"Hm, thank you Serj." He hesitates and rests his head in his palms. "You're alright on the piano."

"It's an organ, not a piano." Serj chuckles and flicks Daron's nose lightly with his finger. Daron was too dazed to care, too dazed to grasp reality; he was already drowsy, his head just slowly slipped between his palms. "Guess I'm too out of it all, I'm in love, dude." He mumbles as his head sinks further down. Serj flicks his nose again and places his palms on top of Daron's cheeks and gives him a big 'smooch' on the lips. "Now, Daron, I can't give you a legitimate answer to what I feel for you, but you are important to me, you know?" Daron glares and nods back.

"Every moment I've had with you were absolutely worth it. Nothing has gone to waste. I'd be so fucking mad at myself if I ever were to think that way." Serj says with a stricter voice and grips his face tighter. "I really do love you." Daron slurs and smiles tiredly and lets the weight of his head slip through his palms. But, however, he was energic enough to jump off the organ and move around on the floor. There wasn't a cause for it, he just got up and wandered across the church floor. Serj turned 180° on his chair to look at Daron, his new lover, his companion, his friend.

He still had the getaway in mind. He still thought about asking Daron if he knows anyone who owns a scooter he can use on his way to the Mexican border. He still thinks about what a painful goodbye it would be to part himself from his lover, his companion - his friend. Like that Swedish lullaby, he can sail without the blowing wind, he can row without paddles, but he cannot part from his friend without leaking tears. As he continues to watch Daron look around in the church, smiling cheerfully back at him, Serj stands up and walks over to him. His lover, his companion, his friend. Serj places his hands on Daron's cheeks again.

"I love you." He whispers unclearly and brushes Daron's cheekbones with his thumbs.

-

Hi.

I'm cutting this chapter off, or actually, the story off.

I've said so many times how much I love this story, but I'm a different person from when I first started this nearly 3 years ago (I sure procrastinated like a bitch on this.) I've realized how uncomfortable I am with shipping live persons, long ago. And I can't force myself to write something I don't enjoy doing.

My time on here has been so nice, I've read many nice System of a Down stories, but now it's time for me to put an end to this.

For those who wonder how the rest of this story goes (as I originally planned it): Serj and Daron make love in the church again and get caught by the church's pastor. At home they talk about how tired they are of their old lives, and Serj tells Daron about his getaway to Mexico, and offers Daron to join him. The whole thing ends with them riding through the Arizona desert on a stolen scooter.

Thank you all so much for reading this story. I had no idea it would touch so many people. Thank you for keeping up with it after so long, I'm sorry I couldn't finish it.