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"Promise me."
Ridley Winston held out his hand, with such seriousness on his features that Quinn was almost scared to move.
Both men were rigid, chocolate eyes pooling into a sea of blue, neither blinking as if that would break their bond. As if something as small as blinking could throw off the frailness hanging in the air.
"If they call my name, you won't volunteer."
"Winnie will make sure to draw my name, they hate me."
"If they call my name," Ridley repeated with a harshness in his tone that hadn't been there moments ago, "you will not volunteer."
"And if they call mine you won't either?" Quinn held up his pinky, though Ridley winced at the words.
Begrudgingly, Ridley clasped his pinky with Quinten's both men's eyes never wavering as they did so.
"Bunny, come on!"
They broke apart at Ophelia's soft voice, her hand clasped with Benji's, the boy in a light blue button-up and khakis, Jordan wearing a dress similar in color.
Ophelia wore a lilac dress, the lace on her arms itching, but she refused to show her discomfort.
Ridley, ever the show off, wore a three piece suit that was perfectly pressed. In contrast to Quinn, his maroon shirt with buttons in the wrong slots, and ripped slacks with his combat boots.
He looked better than the day before last, but still not healthy by any means.
"Benji." Quinn pushed himself from his chair, kneeling on the ground as he nodded to the blond.
The boy happily bounded over, pushing up his glasses. Quinn smiled at the sight, resting his hands on the boy's shoulder.
"You know you're my best friend, right bunny?"
"Right."
"You know I love you, right?"
"Right."
"So do your moms?"
"Right."
"And Uncle Ridley?"
"Right."
"Good," Quinn smiled and pressed a kiss to his forehead, ruffling his hair as he stood. Benji rushed over to Ridley, hugging at his legs.
Ophelia pressed her forehead to Jordan's, both women silent as they linked their hands together.
Quinn's heart ached for them, the pain that one of them was about to experience in a matter of hours.
Whichever pair were lucky enough to stay behind would look after Benji, and Quinn found himself praying to whatever could possibly be out there that it was Ridley.
