12 Riding Off into the Sunset

After a few hours, when the setting sun began to dye the sky an orange-red, Oliver felt his limbs stiffening up, but he was unwilling to move an inch as Aiden would hold him tighter and subconsciously squeeze out the word: "Please." It just sounded too desperate and lonely for Aiden.

He always saw Aiden as someone who always looked towards the future. After all, if he didn't, he would not have been the leader of the base that he built.

So, he just believed that Aiden would quickly move on from his death. That man would stay strong for the sake of the base, forget the past and build the future. Oliver had hoped that Aiden would miss him, even if it was a single depressing thought that quickly went away.

Though, it seemed like Aiden missed him a lot. Oliver couldn't help but feel a slight fluttering in his stomach and his face heat up quickly. Even if it felt like he immediately woke up after dying, Oliver really did feel that he had been apart from Aiden for a long time.

He missed everything about him, not just his looks, no matter how superficial he may be at times. Aiden's serious personality which contrasted his overly familiar self when around Oliver, the way he blushed when he teased him and even the simple act of Aiden's habit of placing his head into the nook of Oliver's neck, he missed all of that.

These feelings rushed in all at once the moment he saw Aiden stride towards him and pull him into that familiar embrace. It was so much easier to ignore his previous longing to see Aiden in the beginning, yet he was still unable to prevent himself from trying to find Aiden.

And Aiden did the same thing. He waited for him.

Oliver knew that Aiden was a stern, yet foolish man.

His actions just furthered this lovely image in Oliver's mind.

The thoughts that ran through his mind were quickly wiped away as he felt the man deeply inhale into the nook of his neck, signaling his awakening. Oliver habitually shivered at his friend's actions, his neck felt a little itchy at the hot breath that was released. He put the hand that was previously on top of Aiden's head to scratch his neck a bit.

Oliver's previous melancholic and slightly embarrassed expression was quickly thrown away when he felt Aiden's eyelashes flutter open against his skin.

"Well, well, well. Someone had a nice sleep!" Oliver felt Aiden stiffen up from a little teasing, as per usual.

Some things, just never change.

He expected Aiden to snap back with a comeback, instead, he felt him close the distance between them even further, to the point where they were practically glued together. Oliver could hardly feel his back anymore and his face blackened when he felt Aiden trying to push his possible limits.

"H-hey, Sleeping Beauty, as flattered as I am right now, y-your crushing my rib cage!"

Aiden quickly loosened his grip and allowed Oliver to sit up until he was a head above himself. He rested his head right on top of Oliver's chest, listening to the unusually fast heartbeat.

A sound he'd never thought he would hear again.

"I just really missed you." Aiden felt two hands gently tugging his head towards the heartbeat and envelope him in a familiar warmth that he loved.

"I missed you, too."

Oliver and Aiden remained in a hugging position for a few more minutes, before Oliver noticed the sun was almost submerged into the horizon, displaying that it was around 7 p.m.

Awkwardly tapping Aiden's arms again to signal him to let him move, Aiden reluctantly took back his arms and got out of the car, not letting Oliver squeak out a complaint, he hopped into the driver's seat.

"I'll drive." Aiden insisted. From the looks of Aiden's refreshed expression and the slight crook of his lips, and Oliver's body still stiff from being in one position for too long, he agreed to Aiden's insistence.

"Do you even remember the way there?" Oliver slightly joked to ease the previous mushy atmosphere.

Aiden started the car and looked straight into Oliver's almond eyes and gave a small snort in false irritation, "Of course I know the way home."

Oliver simply smiled in response and stared into the sunset as Aiden leisurely drove the car.

Tomorrow morning would be the beginning of a new world as the apocalypse would usher an era of violence and despair.

Yet, both of them have felt the happiest they have ever been as they look forward to the future in the broken world.