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forget-me-nots [orv!reilo]

I'm still obsessing over ORV and thought of an angsty scenario for reilo so here we are.

Anyways, for those who have no clue as to what I'm talking about, this oneshot is based on the webnovel called Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint with 551 chapters. It is currently being adapted into a manhwa and is out on the Korean and Indonesian webtoon! The release date for the English webtoon is yet to be determined but y'all, I'm pumped af for it.

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Arlo stares at the words written on the blue screen appearing in front of him, his lips pressed to a thin line. 

[ Your ██ is eternity ]

His hand hovers on top of the screen, fingers trembling as he lightly traces the letters of eternity as if by doing so will change the fate he had carved out for himself. Arlo inhales deeply and wills away the screen. He turns his attention to the others with him in the subway, a faint smile curling on his lips as he studies the exhaustion weighing them down finally loosening its grip, allowing them to have some room to breathe and relax because finally everything is done. 

Arlo commits them to memory. He commits the way John's dark hair tickles Remi's forehead as he rests his head against hers while his arm wraps around her waist and pulls her close to him. He commits the softness of Seraphina's features as she cradles the Ancient Dream in her lap, her fingers combing through his hair as she whispers reassuring words to soothe him. He commits the smiles on Blyke and Isen's faces as they fall together, their hands intertwined while they sleep on the ride home. Then, Arlo turns to the man by his side, his hand reaching out to touch the soft curls of his pine green hair. 

Arlo eyes Rei with rapt attention, drinking down everything about him from the strong lines of his jaw to the softness of his hair to the curls of his eyelashes touching lightly tanned skin. Arlo's hand glides down to his cheek, thumb lightly tracing the thick scar on the side of his face. He is beautiful, always will be, no scar or missing limb will ever change that. Rei stirs beneath his touch, amber eyes fluttering open. Rei smiles softly when he sees him and something warm spreads in his chest as he smiles back, uttering his name like a secret prayer. 

"Rei." He says, full of affection. Arlo has gotten better with expressing himself, four years being stuck in an apocalyptic world where he could lose everything with one wrong move had changed not only him, but others as well. 

"Arlo." Rei leans in to his touch, his hand grasping Arlo's own in his. He brings it to his lips, planting butterfly kisses on the tip of his fingers to the bruises of his knuckles to the calluses of his palm to the back of his wrist, but his eyes never leave Arlo's face. He watches the way Arlo shudders from his touch, the way his eyes flutter close as his breath stutters with every contact; it makes Rei smile wider. The scenarios are over now, this was the end and finally, finally he can pour his attention and affection on him without fearing that this distraction would cost them. He remembers the words written on the blue screen that popped out of nowhere telling him that his ██ is called epilogue and so he holds on to that, his epilogue will be spent with Arlo by his side. 

They don't say another word, instead Rei pulls Arlo in his arms and buries his face in the crook of his neck. He breathes in the scent of him and sighs. He could stay like this forever. Arlo, in turn, loops his arms around his neck, fingers tracing a line from the back of his neck to his shoulder blades. They remain like that for a moment, basking in the warmth of each other. Then Arlo surprises Rei with three words he did not expect to leave his lips first, but then he supposes that there is a first time to everything. 

"I love you." Arlo's smile is beautiful and Rei grins as he lifts his head and commits that smile to his memory. He cups his cheeks, thumbs caressing the curves of his lips before he leans in and captures it in his own.