Kelvin stood on the edge of the clearing, his breath visible in the frigid air. Wallace waited, leaning against a tree, his gaze piercing through the fog that clung to them both. “I heard you wanted to talk,” Kelvin said, his voice steady but wary.

Wallace didn’t respond immediately. He stared at Kelvin for a moment, eyes searching, almost as if looking for something hidden beneath the surface. “Are you broken, Kelvin?” Wallace finally asked, his tone detached, almost clinical.

Kelvin’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head. “No.”

Wallace’s lips twisted into a grim smile, one that held no warmth. “You say that, but I wonder if you even know what it means to be broken.” He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Kelvin’s. “Do you remember Mat?”

Kelvin flinched, the name hitting him like a blow. He didn’t respond, but Wallace pressed on.

“Eleven years ago, you bullied him,” Wallace said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “You spit in his food, took his belongings, humiliated him in front of everyone. And you threw food in his face—more than once.” Wallace’s expression hardened, his voice growing colder. “One day, Mat hung himself. He died, Kelvin. He died because of you.”

Kelvin’s throat tightened, his chest aching with each word. He forced himself to look away, unable to bear the weight of Wallace’s gaze.

“And then you moved schools,” Wallace continued, his tone relentless. “That’s where you met Mica for the first time. You knew he was bullied, that he was terrified. You saw yourself in him, maybe. So you befriended him.” Wallace’s voice grew softer, almost wistful. “You became his protector, his friend. But even then, you couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

Kelvin’s hands balled into fists, the memories flooding back, unwanted and painful. “Stop,” he whispered, but Wallace ignored him.

“Do you remember that night, Kelvin?” Wallace asked, his eyes boring into him. “The night you took advantage of him, because he was too afraid to say no to you? He didn’t resist, not because he wanted it, but because he feared losing the only friend he had. You knew that, and still, you pushed him.” Wallace’s voice trembled with anger now, his own pain seeping into his words. “You took from him without asking. You raped him.”

The word hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Kelvin felt as if the ground beneath him had crumbled, as if he were falling into an abyss with no end.

“And three days ago,” Wallace continued, his voice softer but no less intense, “you risked everything—risked being crushed by a thousand tons of ruin instead of passing that barrier, you had the chance to save us all the easy way. I begged you to rape him because I didn’t want to die! But you risked our lives just so you could keep pretending you’re this reformed, noble person.”

Kelvin took a steadying breath. “I know why you wanted me to do it, Wallace. I understood your fear.”

“Then why didn’t you?” Wallace snapped. “Why did you gamble with our lives?”

“Because Mica isn’t just some person to me,” Kelvin said, his voice firm. “He’s my partner. You know we’re engaged. You know he’s going to become Mica Darkmoor. I love him more than anything, Wallace, and I won’t hurt him ever again. Not for a barrier, not for survival, not for anything.”

Wallace clenched his fists, the anger simmering in his eyes, but there was something else there too—a flicker of understanding, perhaps, or maybe resignation. “You’re still putting him before all of us,” Wallace muttered. “You’re still risking everything.”

“Yes,” Kelvin admitted. “I am. Because I’d rather fight, risk, and bleed for the chance to live a life with him than take the easy path and become the monster he fears. I’m trying to be better for him, and for myself.”

Wallace looked away, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. “I get it,” he said quietly. “But you’d better make damn sure you don’t let him down. Because if you do, there’s no going back.”

Kelvin nodded. “I won’t.”

The two walked together in uneasy silence until Wallace finally spoke, his voice softer than before. “How was Dr. Pine?” he asked, glancing at Kelvin. “When you went to see her with Mica… because, you know, after what happened.”

Kelvin’s steps faltered for a moment, the memories of that time still raw. “It was… difficult,” he admitted. “We had to face everything we’d buried. All the pain, the guilt… Dr. Pine helped us confront it, but it wasn’t easy.”

Wallace nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and something else—perhaps regret. “Mica needed that. You both did.”

Kelvin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. It was the only way we could start to heal. But every session felt like ripping open wounds that hadn’t fully healed.”

Wallace looked at him, his expression thoughtful. “And now?”

“We’re stronger,” Kelvin said, his voice gaining strength. “Not perfect, but we’re trying. Every day, we’re trying to be better, to move forward.”

Wallace was quiet for a moment before he continued, his tone more pointed. “I remember Mica had been seeing Dr. Pine for years because of the bullying,” he said. “Why did you trust Mica to go see her when you could have continued to take advantage of his fear? His fear of losing his first friend?”

Kelvin took a deep breath, his expression becoming serious. “Because I realized that if I kept taking advantage of him, I’d be no different from the bullies who hurt him in the first place. I didn't want to be the one who kept him trapped in that cycle of fear. Mica deserved to make his own choices, even if that meant walking away from me.”

Wallace studied him carefully. “So, you were willing to risk losing him?”

“Yes,” Kelvin said, his voice steady. “Because if I hadn’t, then everything I’d said to him about love and trust would’ve been a lie. Mica needed to know that he had the power to decide, that he wasn’t bound to me just because he was afraid.”

Wallace seemed to consider this, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. “And he chose to stay,” he murmured.

Kelvin nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “He chose to stay, and that’s why I’ll spend every day proving that I’m worthy of him.”

Wallace’s expression softened as he asked, “What about when you got that free ride to the best school in Ketill? You were so far from him.”

Kelvin smiled a little. “That free ride was a blessing, Wallace. It wasn’t easy being apart, but it strengthened us. Mica supported me every step of the way—through calls, online messages, everything. He always made sure I knew he was there, that I wasn’t alone.” He paused, his eyes warm with the memory. “It made us stronger, even when we were miles apart.”

Wallace nodded slowly, this time without the edge of accusation. “That’s rare, you know. To have that kind of support, even from a distance.”

“I know,” Kelvin agreed, his voice quiet but firm. “And that’s why I’m never going to take it for granted.”

Wallace’s gaze hardened once more, and he looked directly into Kelvin’s eyes. “Does it feel weird?” he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness. “You bullied someone to death, and now you’re marrying the rabbit no one wanted as a friend, who was bullied every day of his life. How do you reconcile that?”

Kelvin took a moment to respond, the weight of Wallace's words settling over him. “It haunts me,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “Every single day, I think about Mat. About how my actions pushed him to a place where he felt there was no way out. And every day, I look at Mica, and I realize how easily I could have destroyed him, too, if I hadn’t changed.”

Wallace’s eyes softened for a moment but then sharpened again. “And what about Mat?” he pressed. “The fox who never got a second chance. The one you can never apologize to. How do you live with that?”

Kelvin took a deep breath, and for a moment, a hint of a smile touched his lips. “Mat’s not gone, Wallace. You know that. He’s back—reincarnated as a rabbit, just like Mica. And now he’s with Fiona, that super-rich, super-strong ferret, and he’s going to be a father to twins.” He paused, his eyes shining with a mix of sadness and hope. “Maybe that’s the second chance he deserved, a chance to live a life free from the pain I caused him.”

Wallace let out a laugh, a sound tinged with irony. “Remember when I raped Kai?” he said, voice carrying a twisted humor that sent a shiver down Kelvin’s spine. “I tried to deflect by pointing to Mat, saying, ‘He’s reincarnated and has huge news.’” He shook his head, still chuckling. “Like that was somehow supposed to make everything better.”

Kelvin’s face tightened, his voice low but steady. “Deflecting didn’t change what you did, Wallace. Just like it didn’t change what I did to Mat. We both have to live with our actions.”

Wallace’s laughter faded, and he met Kelvin’s gaze, something raw and painful flashing in his eyes. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “We do.”

They walked in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. The wind rustled through the trees, filling the quiet with a soft, haunting melody.

“Do you ever think about it?” Wallace asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. “What we’ve done? The people we’ve hurt?”

Kelvin nodded, his eyes distant. “Every day,” he replied. “It’s like a shadow that follows me. No matter how much light I try to bring into my life, it’s always there, lurking just behind me.”

Wallace sighed, his shoulders slumping. “It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Trying to move forward, knowing you’ll never be able to outrun your past.”

“Yeah,” Kelvin agreed, his voice soft. “But I think… maybe we’re not supposed to outrun it. Maybe we’re just supposed to learn how to carry it.”

Wallace glanced at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. “And how do you do that? How do you carry something that feels so heavy?”

Kelvin thought for a moment, then spoke. “By not carrying it alone. Mica… he helps me. He doesn’t let me forget, but he also doesn’t let me drown in it. He reminds me that I’m more than my mistakes, that I can still be someone worth loving.” He paused, then added, “And I think you have that with Kai.”

Wallace looked away, his expression tightening. “Kai… he forgave me,” he said, almost as if he couldn’t believe it himself. “Even after everything I did, he still chose to stay with me.”

“Because he sees the person you’re trying to become,” Kelvin said gently. “Just like Mica sees that in me.”

Wallace was silent for a long time, his eyes fixed on the ground. Then he looked up, his gaze meeting Kelvin’s with a newfound determination. “I want to be better,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “I want to be someone who deserves to be loved.”

Kelvin offered him a small, understanding smile. “Then keep trying,” he said. “It’s all any of us can do.”

The two stood there, the wind swirling around them, carrying away the echoes of their past. And in that moment, for the first time in a long while, they felt the weight on their shoulders lighten just a little.

“We should head back,” Wallace said eventually, breaking the silence. “The others will be waiting.”

“Yeah,” Kelvin agreed. “We’ve got a fight ahead of us.”

As they turned to leave, Wallace hesitated, looking back at Kelvin. “Thank you,” he said, the words almost inaudible over the wind. “For not giving up on me.”

Kelvin’s smile widened, a warmth spreading through his chest. “We’re in this together, Wallace,” he replied. “We always have been.”

And with that, they walked forward, side by side, ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.

As they walked together, Wallace glanced at Kelvin, his expression softening. “Sorry for calling you broken,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a sincerity that Kelvin hadn’t heard before.

Kelvin gave him a small, understanding smile. “It’s okay,” he replied. “I think, in some ways, I was. But maybe being broken isn’t the end. Maybe it’s just the start of figuring out how to put the pieces back together.”

Wallace nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Maybe,” he agreed. “And maybe being broken means we get to rebuild ourselves into something stronger.”

“Yeah,” Kelvin said, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Something better.”

They continued walking, the tension between them easing into a comfortable silence. There was still a long road ahead, still so much they had to face, but in that moment, they found solace in knowing they didn’t have to walk it alone.

“Thanks, Wallace,” Kelvin added after a while, his voice sincere. “For being honest with me, even when it hurt.”

Wallace smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “Don’t get used to it,” he teased lightly. “I’m still going to give you a hard time.”

Kelvin laughed softly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Together, they continued their journey, each step bringing them closer to the future they were determined to build—a future where their pasts no longer defined them but shaped them into the people they were striving to become.

As they walked, Wallace glanced at Kelvin, an inquisitive look crossing his face. “The other day, Mica told you ‘stop,’” he said carefully, watching Kelvin’s reaction. “Is it because you’ve gotten much stronger, with all these trials and the journey? How do you cope with that?”

Kelvin paused, the question lingering in the air. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before answering. “It’s not easy,” he admitted, his voice quiet. “With everything we’ve been through, I’ve had to get stronger, to keep pushing forward. But that strength… sometimes it feels like a double-edged sword.”

Wallace nodded, listening intently. “How so?”

“It’s easy to forget how fragile others can be,” Kelvin continued. “When you’re always fighting, always trying to be stronger, you start to lose sight of what it means to be gentle. Mica… he reminded me of that. When he told me to ‘stop,’ it wasn’t just about the moment—it was about reminding me that strength isn’t just about power. It’s about control, about knowing when to hold back.”

Wallace considered this, his expression thoughtful. “And how do you manage it? How do you keep from losing yourself in all that strength?”

Kelvin looked up, meeting Wallace’s gaze. “I remind myself why I’m doing this,” he said, his voice steady. “It’s not about being the strongest or the toughest. It’s about protecting the people I care about, about being someone Mica can trust, someone he feels safe with. That’s how I cope. I stay grounded in who I want to be, not just who I have to be.”

Wallace was silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. “That’s… not an easy thing to do.”

“No, it’s not,” Kelvin agreed. “But it’s worth it. For him, it’s worth everything.”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Wallace’s mouth. “You really love him, don’t you?”

“With all my heart,” Kelvin replied, without hesitation.

Wallace sighed, running a hand through his fur. “I hope one day I can find that kind of strength,” he murmured. “The kind that knows when to stop.”

Kelvin placed a hand on Wallace’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’re already on the right path, Wallace. And you’re not alone.”

For the first time in a long while, Wallace felt a spark of hope, something warm and real. “Thanks, Kelvin.”

“Anytime,” Kelvin said, and together they continued forward, facing the unknown, but not without a sense of purpose and the strength to carry on.

As they continued walking, Wallace glanced at Kelvin, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Mica apologized because you never got to climax,” he said, the words catching Kelvin off guard.

Kelvin’s face reddened slightly, but he didn’t look away. “Yeah, he did,” he admitted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But that’s not why I stopped. It wasn’t about me.”

Wallace raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Then why?”

Kelvin took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. “Because it’s not about just one moment,” he said. “It’s about being there for him, about making sure he feels safe and comfortable. I didn’t need to finish to feel close to him. The fact that he trusted me enough to say ‘stop’ meant more than anything else.”

Wallace studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “You’ve changed a lot,” he observed. “The old you wouldn’t have even considered stopping.”

Kelvin nodded, his expression serious. “I have changed, and I’m still changing. For Mica, for myself, and for everyone who believes I can be better.”

Wallace’s gaze softened, and for once, there was no trace of sarcasm or judgment. “I think you’re getting there,” he said quietly. “Even if it’s not easy.”

“No,” Kelvin agreed, “it’s not. But it’s worth it.”

They walked on, and for the first time, Wallace felt a genuine sense of respect for Kelvin—a respect that wasn’t based on strength or power but on the willingness to grow and be better.

“Maybe we all have a lot to learn,” Wallace said after a while, his voice almost contemplative.

Kelvin glanced at him, a knowing smile on his face. “Maybe we do.”

And with that, they continued forward, side by side, each step bringing them closer to understanding and acceptance.

Wallace looked thoughtful for a moment, his gaze drifting before he turned back to Kelvin. “What do you think that did, for the future Mr. Darkmoor?” he asked, a genuine curiosity in his voice.

Kelvin paused, considering the question carefully. “I think,” he began slowly, “it showed Mica that he has a voice. That he has the power to say ‘no’ and that I’ll respect it, no matter what. For so long, he’s been pushed around, made to feel like his feelings didn’t matter. I wanted him to know that with me, he’s always going to be heard.”

Wallace nodded, absorbing Kelvin's words. “And you think that’ll make a difference?”

“I know it will,” Kelvin said with certainty. “It already has. Mica’s more confident now, more willing to speak up about what he wants and needs. And that’s what I want for him, to be someone who feels secure in himself, even if I’m not around.”

A faint smile touched Wallace's lips. “You’re doing right by him, Kelvin. You really are.”

“Thanks,” Kelvin replied, feeling a warmth spread through him at the acknowledgment. “He deserves nothing less.”

Wallace gave a small chuckle. “You know, you’re not the only one growing stronger on this journey. I think Mica is too. And maybe that’s what makes you two work.”

“Maybe it is,” Kelvin agreed, his voice soft but filled with conviction. “We’re making each other better.”

As they continued their path forward, Wallace glanced over with a newfound respect. “Future Mr. Darkmoor has a pretty good partner by his side,” he remarked.

Kelvin smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. “And I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be his.”

Wallace looked at Kelvin, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. “You’ve been together for over 10 years,” he said. “Surely one ‘ignore’ wouldn’t make a huge difference.”

Kelvin paused, letting the words sink in before responding. “You’d think that,” he said quietly, “but it’s not about how long we’ve been together. It’s about what each moment means. Ignoring him, even once, would mean dismissing his feelings, his needs. It would mean taking him for granted, and I never want to do that.”

Wallace frowned slightly, tilting his head. “But after everything, wouldn’t he understand?”

“Maybe,” Kelvin admitted, “but that’s not the point. Relationships aren’t about just getting by or assuming the other person will always be there, no matter what. It’s about showing up, every single day, and proving that they matter to you.” He looked at Wallace, his eyes steady and unwavering. “It’s about never making them feel like they’re invisible.”

Wallace was silent for a moment, processing Kelvin’s words. “You really love him,” he said, a note of wonder in his voice.

“With everything I am,” Kelvin replied without hesitation. “And that’s why I won’t let even a single moment slip by where he feels anything less than loved.”

Wallace gave a slow nod, as if seeing Kelvin in a new light. “Maybe that’s why you’ll make it,” he said softly. “Because you’re willing to put in the work, even when it’s hard.”

Kelvin smiled. “I think that’s the only way it’s ever going to work.”

The two walked on, the understanding between them deepening, as Wallace began to see that love wasn’t just about the years spent together—it was about how you chose to spend them.
