Work Text:
Ted stopped at the Ruddleside sign, “Look, we made it!” He exclaimed rather quietly, it was still night out. His happy expression dropped the second he looked at Diego, “Ted…” he weakly mumbled as he opened the door, and fell out of the car, still maneuvering himself to sit up. Ted ran out to sit next to him “Diego!” He gasped, dread and guilt pooled in his gut, enough to make him nauseous. “Oh no…” he muttered as he tired to help Diego up, he loved him- as a friend of course, he couldn’t live without Diego. You could say he was attached, but really they’d just become best friends- just best friends…
Diego then winced as Ted tried to help “Agh! I can’t, don’t…” he yelped as he collapsed again. No, no Ted would help, he could stitch him up like Diego did to him, he couldn’t leave him there like he was insinuating. “C‘mom please! I-I can stitch you up!” He begged, “You don’t know how to do that” Diego chuckled. No, no please, please not yet Diego please. I don’t care if we go out separate ways you can’t die. “Y-you can teach me- please ?” No answer. Ted was better off alone wasn’t he? But still, Diego can’t die on him, it feels like he can’t live if Diego isn’t with him now. He can’t be alone again, he just can’t.
“I’m gonna miss you.” Ted said to the silence.
Suddenly, Diego cupped his cheek and pulled him in. Their lips met, Ted just gasped into the kiss, suddenly feeling the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. He would’ve recoiled at it, but this was Diego, somehow it was different. Usually he would be petrified at many sightings of blood, however weak it makes him, but this… this was everything he wanted . He felt the traces of blood on his cheek as well, but he didn’t mind, he finally got it. He loves Diego. And he did too. It was a moment of clarity he wished he never had as soon as the kiss ended, and after what seemed like a moment of hope squashed.
You don’t look peaceful when you die. That’s what others say but it just wasn’t true. You just look dead. Do people say it because it’s true, or is it because you need to see someone alive to know what they look like dead?
Ted saw him alive, so alive in every moment, and now he’ll never see it again. It might be weird to hug a corpse but that’s all he found himself doing. Hugging his body and sobbing into his shoulder, he didn’t give a shit if he got blood all over him, he’ll wash it off.
Then before he knew it he was driving away, driving away wearing the last remnant of Diego. The last memory he will ever have of him.