Count The Shadows (Prequel to Test the Limits)

Rewind

Beep, beep, beep,

"Shut up stupid alarm clock." Anti mumbled wearily, flailing his hand in the direction of where the sound was coming from, only to find that his bedside table wasn't there.

Anti abruptly sat up to scan his surroundings, surprised to find himself laying in a hospital bed dressed in a crisp hospital gown that felt uncomfortable.

The walls and floor was sterile white, his room empty except for his bouquet of flowers Dark had given him before the date.

Dark.

Anti's felt his heart construct with guilt for ruining the date Dark tried so hard to make perfect by being over dramatic.

Dark would surely kill him now.

"You're lucky your friend found you, you would've died from blood loss otherwise." A doctor wearing a white lab coat with black hair and a clean shaven goatee stated as he entered the room.

"And he'd like to apologize to you." The doctor removed his coat to reveal a black suit.

"Dark?" Anti blurred in bewilderment.

"That's Doctor Iplier to you." Dark smirked at him, although it did nothing to disguise the concern glimmering in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Anti asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Dark raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Won't you get caught by the cameras?" Anti countered.

"I already took care of them. To the cameras, you're sleeping soundly." Dark stated, sounding somewhat proud with himself.

"I'm sorry."

Anti and Dark apologized simultaneously.

"You go first."

They both blushed in embarrassment.

"Anti..." Dark trailed off, searching for the right words to say.

"I didn't mean what I said at the restaurant. But I do mean what I said back at the hotel, about being afraid and the plans I have. I just...snapped. I tried so hard to be brave for you since I knew how scared you were. I wish I could be there so you don't have to be brave." Dark spoke softly, his dark eyes boring into Anti's.

"I overreacted. I ruined the perfect first date you had planned for us, and I shouldn't of done what I did. You don't have to be brave for me, I just want someone who won't break my heart and will love me with all of theirs." Anti felt tears prick his eyes as he remembered Dark screaming and crying from the other side of the bathroom door.

But he hadn't cared.

About the Shadows.

About Murphy.

About Dark.

About anyone or anything.

Dark quickly crossed the room and hugged Anti tightly in his arms as if anchoring him to Earth before smoothing Anti's faded dark green hair back and pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

"I love you." Dark admitted in a whisper, resting his forehead against Anti's, causing his hair to fall in front of his eyes.

"I love you too." Anti confessed, moving Dark's hair aside to look into his eyes before kissing him on the mouth for the first time since Dark had snuck them outside during their time in Sweden.