Ode to Remedy

Act XV

Valentine began to stir, his light brown hair curled around his face. The gentle snuffles and the knitting of his brows signified Markus of his awakening, and though usually waking up at Markus's side brought him comfort, it numbed him. He could only imagine the extent of pain that Val might have left his unconscious state into.

"Valentine?" He whispered, leaning over the bed.

There was no response, only lingering silence.

Markus's shoulders lowered with waning hope, but continued to press on. He squeezed Valentine's hand, longing to see his dark amber eyes open.

"Valentine," Markus tried again. Valentine's head shifted to the side, causing strands of tousled hair to hang in his face. His limp fingers began to twitch between Markus's.

Markus was aware that Valentine might have just been shifting in his slumber, but he was conscious at last, and this might be one of Markus's few chances. He was willing to do anything to know if Val was
okay. Markus placed his other hand on the side of Valentine's face and adjusted his lolling head to face him. He perched atop his knee on the side of the bed and held Val's hand in his lap. The doctor on the other side of the room seemed to stiffen at his alteration, as if she wanted to protest or tell him to allow the patient space, but she held back.

He squeezed once more, and quietly spoke, "Hey,".
And after a long pause, Val let out a faltering hum in response. A wide grin pulled at Markus's lips, two tears escaping his restraints as Valentine weakly squeezed his hand in return.

"Val?"

"Hey," Valentine managed faintly, his red eyes fluttering open with a feeble smile.

"Mr. Low," The doctor smiled in greeting, approaching the bedside table to contact his family of his awakening.

"It took you long enough to wake up," Markus spoke, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah, well, I feel like hell," Val said, running a shaky hand through his messy hair. He squeezed his eyes closed for a mere moment, as if trying to resist the ache causing his body to tremble with pain. He forced open his eyes once more as it didn't provide anything, only to meet Markus's russet eyes that never left his. A smile curled at his pale lips. "And you look like hell."

"Yeah?" Markus grinned once again, cupping the back of Val's head. "You think so?" Valentine began laughing and put a hand to Markus's chest as he leaned in and passionately pressed his lips against the latter's.

Exhilaration exploded inside of Markus. A smile eternally stained his lips. His joy, his love, his cheer, all of it seemed much too disregarded for the longest time, and suddenly it escaped its chasm inside of him and came to the fore. It seemed Markus had forgotten the warmth of such happiness, for he hadn't felt so genuinely elated in years.
He felt a palm press against the side of his face and begin to stroke away at the jovial tears he could no longer cease. Markus pulled away at last and looked down at Valentine, whose dappled cheeks now seemed to glow reddedly.

"This is quite cliché," Valentine muttered blushingly.
Markus didn't care. He took Valentine's hand caressing the side of his face and pressed his lips against his palm, only for Valentine to push his face away and strugglingly sit up.

"You still owe me a full explanation," He said, intertwining his pinkie with Markus's. "Don't think I've forgotten about that,"

Markus blinked. "Of course not! I-"

Valentine giggled and met his eyes. "Not right now, for I don't think I could process anything in my mind longer than five minutes. Also," His voice dropping to a whisper. "We're probably making the doctor uncomfortable."

"A-ah, right," Markus murmured, reddeningly lowering his gaze.

The doctor shuffling around with documents behind them began laughing. "No, you're quite alright. Witnessing a tender reunion such as this is much better than having to deliver the news to dear family of a flatline, wouldn't you agree?"

Valentine only watched as he continued to curl his fingers around Markus's, a bittersweet smile curled at his lips.

"Which brings me to the question, Mr. Low," The doctor continued, stepping up to where Markus and Val both faced. "You may not answer if you wish not to, but are you in any way disappointed or dissatisfied that your attempt failed?"

Val remained silent for a moment, his smoky brown eyes never met the doctor's. Markus watched him yearningly. How strands of his dusty-brown hair curled in his face faultlessly, how his sprinkled cheeks always seemed to be tinted with a faint pink. His doeish eyes always seemed to reflect some sort of adoring glow, for they shone with such adulation and passion that always attempted so forlornly to veil their hidden panic and sorrow. His endearing height of 5'6 that he would always get so terribly bashful over whenever Markus would gush about it. Markus felt so foolish to have ever doubted his love for him, because he for one was so, so incredibly grateful Valentine's attempt was unsuccessful, even if Valentine was not. Valentine's eyes flickered with a sense of brief woe, before a sweet smile made its way onto his delicate lips.

"No ma'am," He spoke, his voice soft with contentment.

Valentine no longer felt helplessly bound in the cage of anxiety his mind created to seize him in and torment him in; he no longer felt the hollowness inside of his chest that constantly consumed his every moment. He squeezed Markus's hand and met his longing gaze a last time, a glossy layer of tears forming behind the glisten in his doting eyes. For Markus had reached into Valentine's hollowness. And though through their relationship's emotional amusement park attraction fraught with danger, Markus had evinced countless times that he would devotedly remain at Val's side, regardless of how much Valentine wished of him. Even at the extent of screamedly demanding his life in exchange for his own. Valentine knew now of that extent, and the extent of Markus's love for him. He felt so foolish for ever feeling any doubt, for the vacancy of his hollow heart was filled with warmth the moment Markus's eyes twinkled with admiration.

Valentine closed his eyes and leaned his head back, allowing two tears to trickle down his chin, and smiled. "Quite the opposite, actually."