Are We Cool Yet? [Complete!]

Kiss

Doc's POV

The song is Infinity by AJR, with some slight modifications to the lyrics

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I sat up in time to see Shy and Larry leaving. Mask is still here, of course, and I'm thankful for that. I don't need sleep, but it helps me heal faster. I'm afraid of what I'll see in my dreams, but after every nightmare I find myself waking up in his arms, and he holds me until I feel safe enough to go back to sleep.

Now I'm feeling a bit better. Much less dizzy, and most of my cuts have faded into nothing. I look down at my arms, and see dark, bruise-like patches-- my outer skin growing back.

"Did he say Nine-Tailed Fox?"

Mask nods unhappily. He has his tragedy face on.

"It'll be okay. They won't kill us, if they catch us. You know this."

"But--"

I take his hand between two of mine. "I'll be fine. I'm not scared."

He yanks it away and pulls me close so that I can hardly breathe. I hug him back, to give him some reassurance.

"We don't have to give up. We can keep trying to get out."

"It hasn't worked before... I don't want you to get your hopes up. We'll still see each other, during breaches."

"You can't give up! Promise me you'll try to escape. Promise you'll try with me."

I pull back, and cup his cheek in one hand. "There's no place in the world for people like us, not anymore."

"Doc, I--"

"If we push too far, they might try to terminate us."

"What about staying here? In this world?"

I shake my head. I wish we could. "I need to cure."

"No you-- no you don't. If you stay here, you can be with me! We don't have to run, or hide, or fight. We can just... be."

He turns his face away. He doesn't understand, and I don't know how to explain it to him. I can't leave the world behind, not when it needs me. Maybe, just maybe, I can teach the Foundation to cure. When my job is done, I can rest.

"Will you at least give me one thing?" he asks. His voice is husky, as if he were about to cry.

"Yes, dear?"

"Will you let me kiss you?"

He looks a bit uncomfortable, like he's not sure what I'll say. I laugh softly, cupping his face again and kissing him gently on the mouth.

"Stay with me, please," I whisper.

"If this is where you need to be, I'll stay." He presses his forehead against mine. "But please, just think about it."

I already have, but I agree, to make him feel better. Mask starts to sing, quietly, that voice I fell in love with so long ago...

Was it all in my head?
In an empty bed
And I told you that I need you baby
Can't you see I'm alone oh oh?
I was lost in my feet
On an empty street
So I saved your seat infinity
Forever figures 5 and 3
You know oh oh

Cross my heart and hope to die
Stick a needle in my eye
My mama says to pick the best
And you are it

All our troubles gone
Like when we were young
Take me back to where we all began
Here we are again like we should have been
Oh my darling can I have this dance?

My darling,

All our troubles gone
Like when we were young
Take me back to where we all began

Was it hard to believe?
Wear your heart on my sleeve
And I'll hold you when you're lonely
When you're cold cause you're the only one for me

Cross my heart and hope to die
Since you came into my life
My mama says to pick the best
And you are it

"And you are it," I repeat. God, we're both hopeless romantics...