The Circus Of Oddgiliese [[2014]]

Chapter Twelve: Young Love [[End]]

Achilles leaned in for one last final kiss, when he pulled away, he stroked Elspar's cheek with his thumb as he cried. He shut his eyes tightly, wishing for this all to be a bad dream. How could this happen? They promised each other that neither one would leave the other! Achilles promised that everything would be okay, they he would keep Elspar safe but he failed. 

Choked up gasps for air where suddenly heard, Achilles thought he had lost his mind. That he was hearing things. It as not until someone touched his hand that was placed on Elspar's cheek did he open his eyes.

"Elspar.." he whispered, "Elspar you're alright..." he said in disbelief.

"Achilles I.."

"Elspar I'm so sorry!" Achilles hugged him close, "I'm sorry I let anything happen to you", he buried his face in the boy's chest.

Elspar chuckled, "shh, it's okay, everything is okay now" he said as he stroked the man's hair.

"Elspar! You're okay!" Stephan rushed over to his friend, throwing his arms around him and Achilles as they both stood up. 

"Okay, yes but still not feeling the greatest" Elspar coughed. 

"Sorry.." Stephan smiled slightly, letting go of the two. He then gently punched Elspar's shoulder. Elspar frowned and rubbed his arm.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"That was for scaring me to death!" Stephan scolded, "don't you ever do that to me again Elspar, I thought I lost you" he pulled him into a hug again, one more gentler.

Elspar hugged back, "Stephan, you should know that I'd never leave you, you are my other half, dead or alive without you, I'd be never whole" he sighed and looked to Louie who smiled slightly at him. 

"You don't know how much you mean to me Elspar.." Stephan pulled away and kissed his friend on the forehead.

"Stephan, I know I will never know how much you care for me, but you will also never know how much I care for you too.." he looked to Louie again, "we are not made for each other like that though, I know someone who can give you so much more, and love you in a way that I can not fulfill. You've been telling me to open my eyes to what's in front of me when you can't do the same.." 

Stephan furrowed his eyebrows, he turned to look in the direction Elspar was looking in. He looked to Louie, catching his brown eyes at first sight, he stared into them and smiled. 

"I think I know what you mean Elspar.." he said, his eyes not leaving Louie's. How had he missed it before? He'll never know. Of course it was Louie, it was always Louie. From the first time he laid eyes on the handsome man, when they first danced together at the ball, to when he held Stephan as he cried through those lonely nights, till now when he defended him and saved his life. Stephan was just so lost in Elspar, thinking he was the one that he never realized that Louie was the one he needed. Elspar would always be his other half, the person he trusted the most, but Louie, Louie was where his heart belonged.

Elspar took Stephan's hand and placed it in Louie's then closed their fingers around the other's. He then back away to Achilles, leaving the two be. Achilles wrapped his arm around Elspar as they watched the two carefully.

"I- I have been meaning to give this back to you" Louie said, pulling out a ring from his pocket. It slipped between his fingers and fell to the floor. He cursed under his breath and knelt down on one knee to pick it up. 

Still holding onto Stephan's hand, he looked up to the man as he slid the ring back on his finger that it fell from, "Stephan...I've never had the guts to say this, but now that I know that life is short, I don't think I can go on without you knowing that..I love you, my soul aches for you, my heart beats for you, it cries out for your love..please forgive me if I'm going too fast for you but..I want to spent the rest of my life with you and you only..be mine from now until forever..please.." he asked, standing up and taking both of Stephan's hands in his.