Sorry

Just as the tension between Austin and Xander hung in the air, the blonde-haired boy appeared, storming toward them with a determined look on his face. He pushed between them, separating Austin from Xander, his eyes blazing with frustration.

"Stay away from my bride," the blonde-haired boy snapped at Xander, his voice sharp and possessive.

Austin, still trying to make sense of the situation, looked at the boy in confusion, his voice shaky but firm. "I thought I said no," he replied, his words still echoing from earlier when he had rejected the boy's proposal.

The blonde-haired boy's expression twisted into a scowl, but before he could respond, Xander’s demeanor shifted. His eyes darkened, a painful look crossing his features as if the words struck a deep chord within him. The moment seemed to freeze, and Austin felt the change in Xander’s energy—a raw, visceral shift as if a hidden part of him had been triggered.

Xander's posture faltered, his hands clenched at his sides. His face twisted in agony, a flash of pain evident in his eyes. "I... can't..." Xander muttered, his voice breaking. His PTSD was triggered, memories from his past resurfacing, and in an instant, the anger and hurt he had been suppressing seemed to pour out of him.

Without a word, Xander turned sharply and walked away, his steps heavy, each one echoing with a mixture of anguish and frustration. Austin stood frozen, watching him retreat, a sense of helplessness creeping over him. The blonde-haired boy glanced at Austin one more time, an unreadable expression on his face, before following Xander.

Austin stood there, utterly confused and feeling like a stranger in a story that wasn’t his own. What had just happened? And why did everything feel like it was spiraling out of control?

Austin, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions and confusion, stumbled back to his room. He sat on the edge of the bed, his mind racing, the events of the day replaying over and over again. Hours passed in a haze, but eventually, a thought snapped him out of his daze—he remembered he needed to get the pink umbrella.

It was raining outside.

Without thinking much more, Austin quickly gathered himself, grabbing the umbrella and heading out. The rain fell in soft sheets, the world around him muted by the steady downpour. He wandered aimlessly through the garden, his thoughts still lingering on everything that had happened with Xander.

As he walked, something caught his eye—a scene that stopped him dead in his tracks.

In the distance, under the darkened sky, there was an unmistakable sight. Xander stood amidst a sea of bodies, his hands covered in blood, a haunting, empty look in his eyes as he gazed down at the lifeless figures scattered around him. The sight was horrifying—Xander had killed everyone. The peaceful rain seemed to wash over the chaos, a stark contrast to the brutality Austin was witnessing.

Austin’s heart dropped, his breath catching in his throat. He stepped back, his legs giving way, and he collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed by the horrific sight. His chest tightened as tears streamed down his face. The realization hit him like a tidal wave—Xander was capable of such violence, and it shattered something inside him.

Crying in horror, Austin’s sobs echoed in the silence of the garden. He could barely process what he had just seen, his mind torn between disbelief and terror. How could this happen? Why did everything feel so wrong?

The rain continued to fall, but it did nothing to wash away the horror Austin had just witnessed.

Xander appeared from the shadows, his presence looming over Austin as the young man sobbed on the ground, trembling from the overwhelming terror. Without a word, Xander bent down and gently scooped Austin into his arms. Austin’s body was shaking with fear, his tears still falling freely as he cried, unable to comprehend the chaos around him.

Xander’s voice was soft, almost soothing, as he cradled Austin close, his grip firm yet tender. “Shhh, shhh… It’s alright, Austin,” Xander murmured, brushing a lock of wet hair from Austin’s forehead. “I’m not going to hurt you. You’re carrying my babies. Mine.”

Austin’s sobs only grew heavier, the weight of the situation still pressing down on him. How could Xander say such things when he had just seen him—no, known—that he had killed so many?

But Xander didn’t seem to register Austin’s fear the same way. He held him as though Austin were the most precious thing in the world, his face softening slightly as he pressed Austin closer to him.

“You’re safe now,” Xander continued, his voice thick with emotion. “I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re mine… all mine.”

Austin, still in shock, clung to Xander’s chest, his body fighting against the tears, against the pain of confusion and betrayal. But it was impossible to make sense of it all, and so he cried—because what else could he do in a world that no longer made sense?

Xander's arms tightened around Austin as he whispered into his ear, "Everything will be okay, I promise."

Xander carefully carried Austin back to the palace, his steps steady but full of an underlying tension. Austin's body was still trembling, his face buried against Xander's chest, as the rain continued to pour around them. Xander's heart was heavy with guilt, each step feeling like a weight that pressed harder and harder against his chest.

"I'm sorry, Austin," Xander muttered softly, his voice thick with regret. "I didn’t mean for my past to come between us like this. My PTSD... it’s hard sometimes. It makes me react without thinking, and I’m so sorry."

Austin didn't say anything, still too shaken to respond, but Xander felt the subtle shift in his grip as Austin’s body pressed a little closer to him, his breath shaky. He couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything he had done, everything he had made Austin experience.

Once inside the palace, Xander gently placed Austin on a soft, velvet chaise lounge, his movements careful. He knelt beside him, eyes filled with remorse.

"I don’t want to hurt you," Xander continued, his voice barely a whisper. "I just... I just get lost sometimes. You mean more to me than you know."

Austin finally met his gaze, still teary-eyed but too exhausted to cry any longer. He didn’t speak, but his gaze seemed to soften just a fraction as he looked at Xander—the man who had just caused so much chaos and fear, yet now appeared so vulnerable.

Xander wiped away a tear that escaped Austin’s eye, his own heart aching at the sight. "Please... forgive me, Austin. I’m so sorry."

To be continued

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