“You can’t do this.”

Ren bared his teeth, shoving more of his belongings into a nearby satchel. The air was tense and stormy, as though there might be electricity crackling between the two men who stood on opposite ends of the room. Asra’s fists were clenched at his side, his lavender eyes narrowed as he watched Ren continue around the room, gathering his things.

The room was dark, and cold. The curtains were drawn over the window and outside there was nothing but silence in the streets. No laughter. No talking. No merchants, or singing in the taverns. Just a distant wailing of grief and the howl of a stray dog. It was like a ghost town.

“Ren. Please.”

“Stop.” Ren’s voice snapped out, harsher than he intended and he glanced over his shoulder, feeling a twinge of guilt as he watched Asra visibly flinch. He gave a breath, setting down his knapsack as he rubbed his face tiredly. “...you can’t stop me, Asra. This is something I have to do.”

“Why?!” Asra paced circles into the small room. A small, pale snake slithered out of his sleeve, hiding underneath a rolled up parchment, which Ren plucked up and pushed into his bag. He ignored the look of grief she gave him.

“There has to be a cure. And Dr. Devorak-”

“To what end?” Asra hissed. He marched over and for a moment, Ren thought the man might strike him before he tore open the curtains, light spilling into the room. Ren blinked against the sudden luminance, and immediately felt his heart sink. Bodies were piled up outside, mountains of them. The sick wandered in the streets like zombies. Children and elders begged in the streets, hacking up crimson fluid. And their pupils and irises seemed to float in pools of blood. “There’s no stopping this,” he whispered hoarsely, before closing the blinds. “We can leave. I have shelter we can go to, outside the city. Or to my friend Muriel, we can-”

“Asra!” Ren’s fist slammed down on the table so hard that Faust jumped, squirming out of view. The silence in the room was heavy as an anvil. Asra’s eyes were latched onto the back of Ren’s head as his young lover stood, hunched over the table with a curtain of choppy, caramel hair falling over his eyes. “I can’t....” he swallowed. “I can’t just leave.”

“If this is about what I said-”

“It’s not about what you said!” Ren snarled, whipping around on him. “This has nothing to do with you, it has to do with me. I can’t run away from this.”

“Ren, I-”

There was a knock at the door. Asra stiffened. Ren held his gaze for a moment longer before stepping away, pushing back the curtain an inch to get a good view outside their door. A man stood, in a black coat with crimson locks curling around an ebony raven mask. “He’s here,” he muttered. “I have to go.”

“Ren, no!”

Asra was ignored as Ren moved to the door, pulling it open. Almost immediately, Ren was startled as the doctor gave an elegant bow, his cloak flamboyantly flashing. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he purred, a husky voice echoing from behind the mask.

“Dr. Devorak..?”

“The one and only. And you must be my new associate, Ren! You’re as dashing as I imagined.” Before Ren could react, his hand was swiped up by the doctor, and brought up to his mask. Long, dexterous fingers pushed aside his mask where Ren could see a flash of his thin lips, bringing his hand up for a kiss on his knuckles before giving a white grin, shifting the mask back over.

“Bold,” Ren muttered, rubbing his knuckles across Asra’s shirt as the white haired man sauntered forward, a scowl drawn over his features.

“If we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls,” he purred.

“And what if I’d been infected?”

There was a long pause from Dr. Devorak, before he gave a nervous laugh. “Ah, at times I’m sure it damns our souls as well. You ah....you’re not infected, are you?”

Ren rolled his eyes. “No. But maybe you should be more careful next time.”

“With how easily he loans his lips, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were,” Asra muttered under his breath, and Ren scowled at him as Dr. Devorak, who didn't seem to have heard Asra's quip, barked a laugh.

“Of course! And where we’re heading, we will certainly need caution. Off we go, then!” With another flurry of his cloak, Dr. Devorak was off, strutting down the street.

Ren threw his knapsack over his shoulder. He moved to follow Dr. Devorak when a warm hand clasped his wrist. “Ren.”

The one word broke in Asra’s throat and Ren felt his resolve melt away. He glanced over his shoulder, jolting when he noticed the moisture pooling at the corner of his lover’s white lashes. “You’re just going to leave?” Asra whispered, his grip tightening. “After everything we’ve been through...just like that?”

“Asra...” Ren rubbed his face, fastening his knapsack so that it was secure and he turned, taking both of Asra’s hands in his. “Everything will be okay. I just...I have to do this. I promise I’ll come back.”

Asra didn’t answer. His violet eyes stared at Ren’s hands until the younger finally let go. He walked out the door, following Dr. Devorak into the plagued streets.

“Don’t bother.”

Ren had only taken two steps out the door when Asra’s strained voice brought his boots to a screeching halt. Did he....hear that right? He turned to face Asra, who glowered at him, fists clenched at his sides. “....are you serious?”

“I’m giving you a choice, Ren. Me, or a city that has never done anything for you." His voice rose to a shout, slashing his hand through the air. Out of the corner of his eye, Ren could see Dr. Devrak pausing, glancing back at the two curiously. Asra took a shuddering breath. "If you leave...you will have nothing to come home to.”

Ren stared at his former lover, jaw slack with despair. “...are you really making me choose?” Ren whispered. Asra didn't answer. "...I have to do this, Asra. I'm sorry...go to your shelter. Be safe."

Asra watched his shoes, not meeting his eyes. Finally, wordlessly, Asra turned on his heels, striding back in the shop and slammed the door behind him. Ren watched the door for a long while, his heart breaking in his chest. Then he gave a breath, shaking his head. “Goodbye, Asra.”