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“I’m glad that you’re here. Wasn’t sure if I’d see one of you again before I was gone.” Booker gasped.
Joe adjusts his hold around Booker, allowing him to relax against his chest a bit easier. “Save your breath habibi.”
Booker let’s out a shaky laugh “Who would have thought I’d leave this earth before the Boss?” He teases.
Eyes closed, Joe pleaded “Please don’t make jokes about dying right now. Please, just don’t.”
“You sound worried my friend. There’s nothing to be afraid of, dying is easy.” Grimacing and convulsing in pain, “Though I wish it didn’t hurt as much as it does right now.”
Joe glances down at his face, and then back to looking around the small space they were trapped in. The explosion separating them from the others. Looking for any way out that he can find. He can barely make out anything in the darkness, with only slivers of light through the rubble to see with.
“Just hold on Book. They’ll be here in no time. Then we’ll get you the help you need.” Joe says with gentle patience.
“At least let me lay down while we wait.” asks Booker. Joe helps maneuver himself until he’s laying flat with his head pillowed on Joe’s thigh.
Carding his fingers through his hair he asks, “When did you notice that you weren’t healing anymore?”
“A few months back. Sliced my finger on a shard of glass, and the fucker just kept bleeding.”
“And you failed to tell us this, why?”
“Just figured from the way we parted, that you all wouldn’t care to know.” Eyes closed, Booker gives a small shrug. “Plus, I was keeping to the rules. With me being in exile and everything.”
“Do you think so little of us, that we wouldn’t care that you weren’t healing?” Joe demanded in a harsh voice, glaring down at Booker.
Flinching then wincing in pain from the sudden movement. “Sorry, I just didn’t want to be a bother.” Booker whispered.
Joe softly asked “Basti, do you not know that you matter to us? That we would never look the other way if you were hurt?” Tilting his head to properly see his eyes, “You are our family. No matter what happened in the past, we will always love and worry about you.” He stated while wiping a tear that escaped from his brothers eye.
Booker opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by a cough. With his body being racked with coughs, Joe helped him sit up against his chest again. With worried eyes and voice, Joe remarked “Save your strength while I tell you what’s been happening since you’ve been gone.”
He’s not sure how much time has passed listening to Joe speak of times he’s missed while in exile, but he’s ripped out of a slight doze by agonizing pain. He’s gasping and whimpering, all the while Joe is trying to soothe him in any way he can.
He doesn’t know exactly how long he’s longed for death? Was it after his first death? After his beautiful wife had fell sick and passed on? Or was it after his last son died cursing his name? However long he’s been living and chasing his final death, now that it’s finally here he’s wishing for more time. He’s not afraid of dying, he’s been dying for so long already. He’s tired of dying and coming back. What he is afraid of is dying and leaving his family behind.
He looks up into Joe’s face, and his mouth curls into a small smile. “Hey, you know I love you right?”
Joe’s face crumbles and a tear falls, but he nods in answer. Gazing away from Booker like he’s too afraid to look at him.
“Good.” Booker smiles again “All I wanted to say was I love you and I’m not afraid.”
Closing his eyes again, he breathes in as deep as he can, and tries to relax as much as possible. He wonders what Joe is thinking? If he’s trying to imagine himself anywhere but here, where his brother isn’t dying in his arms? Can he feel him in his arms anymore?
Booker knows that it ends here tonight. In the arms of his brother. He thinks of his other family members. The ones who are at this moment trying to find and rescue them. He wonders how his passing will affect them.
It’s getting harder to breathe. He’s gasping little breaths in and out. Trying to hold a breath in as long as he can. To keep it safe inside himself. His brothers arms tighten, and he can feel his tears on his face. He knows he doesn’t have very much longer now. He’s ready, but he’s also worried. Worried for Joe. He would never want his brother to be in this situation. To be helpless and unable to do anything when his loved one is dying. He hopes that his family can help and comfort each other after.
He takes one last look into his brothers face. His eyes are closed, and he’s whispering something too soft for Booker to hear. He’s probably a thousand miles away from the horror of this moment. He knows when Joe opens his eyes again he’ll know the truth, that he’s no longer here.
Taking one last gasping breath, he hears his name being called as everything fades to black.