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The gun slips in his hand.
Colin drags in a breath, force his hands to steady. He hasn’t touched a gun since Toni died. But now he grips one tightly, trying to save Bill. The only thought in his head is that he can’t lose Bill. He couldn’t accept someone he loved being taken away from his life— Not Again 。
This is all his fault.
They had a fight this morning. Bill tried to tell him about the mole, and Colin just refused to hear it, although deep inside he knew Bill was right. He didn’t want to believe that someone so close to him was the one who betrayed him and caused Toni’s death. It ended with him calling Bill an ignorant, self-righteous bastard, and Bill calling him a stubborn asshole.
He walked away, leaving Bill to handle the operation alone. The FBI caught the mole, but Bill was kidnapped in the chaos.
Now Colin wishes none of this had ever happened. He dreads thinking about what might have happened to Bill.
There is no one in the building except Bill—chained, with a bomb tied to his stomach and wires running into his body. The timer blinks: 4:17.
Counting down.
Colin immediately realizes they just want him to see it—watch Bill explode right in front of him, destroying Colin completely this time.
“It’s too late,” Bill shakes his head. “Everybody needs to leave.”
“No.” Colin steps forward and squats down in front of him.
“Take him out, Maggie.” Bill says. Maggie grabs Colin’s arm, but he breaks free. “I’m not leaving.” He starts to disarm the bomb.
“Colin, please.” Bill’s voice cracks. Colin looks up. Bill’s eyes turns red.
Colin’s chest aches as if someone has stabbed him. “No. Not without you.” His voice is firm. No one tries to pull him away anymore. They all leave to evacuate the streets.
Colin works fast, removes everything he can. And then, two wires: one blue, one red. He sighs. There are always two wires.
He leans forward, rests his forehead against Bill’s. “Pick one,” he says.
Bill smiles quietly. “Blue,” he says without hesitation. “Remember? Blue is our color.”
“Blue, then.” Colin strokes his strawberry-blond hair, kisses him softly, and cuts the blue wire.
The timer stops.
“Thank God…” Colin exhales, the tension draining out of him all at once. He pulls Bill into his arms, holds him tight. Bill smells like sunshine.
“I’m sorry,” Colin whispers, his voice is hoarse. He kisses Bill again. Bill parts his lips obediently, letting him kiss him deeper.
Before anyone comes to find them, Colin makes a promise—to Bill, and to himself:
I love you. I will never let you die alone.