"I don't want to fall asleep," Stiles whispers, looking at the boy across from him, clutching his hands tightly in the space between them. "Don't let me fall asleep."
It feels like any other night. Except it isn't. If anyone told Stiles three weeks ago that he would be in Poland, in his mother's childhood home, lying in bed with Theo Raeken while waiting for the world to end, he'd have thwacked them in the head with his baseball bat. But three weeks feels like a lifetime ago. And he would have laughed at the cruelty of having Theo Raeken as the last face he would see in his life if he isn't just a little bit in love with said face. He finds now that his only regret is not being able to say goodbye to his dad in person.
Theo smiles, wistful eyes never leaving Stiles. He never knew Theo could be soft. He's known Theo to be many things but soft wasn't one of them. It's strange. It causes a twinge in his chest. Stiles is wrong. He has one more regret: not having more time with Theo who could have been the love of his life. Instead, Stiles is seeing a life they will never live flashing in Theo's beautiful blue eyes. Like a window to an alternate universe giving him the assurance that someplace else, it doesn't end before it begins, it isn't cut short.
"All right, we won't sleep," Theo promises. "Talk to me."
Outside, something explodes. Stiles jerks in surprise, gasping sharply, but Theo laces their fingers together like he doesn't hear it.
He says, "Polish people understand commitment so young." The comment makes Stiles turn to him. It's an odd non sequitur, but the genuine smile on Theo's face is what holds Stiles's attention. Another explosion outside, much closer this time, but Theo continues. "On average, Polish people meet their better half at ages 25-27, which is younger than any country in the European Union."
Stiles knows that. He remembers telling that to Theo in defense of Stiles's maternal grandmother and grandfather marrying when they were only 22. There was no need to defend; Theo was awed.
Theo's lips stretch to a grin, "You could marry someone right now Stiles, and no one would bat an eyelash. What they would think is: how lucky is this young man, to have already found the person whom he could trust with his heart. Some take years. Some take a lifetime."
Something breaks and falls, and three more explosions echo in succession. Distantly, someone screams "O rany!". And Stiles's breaths are coming out fast. "I would," he nods still, squeezing Theo's hand. "I would."
Without knowing, his eyes fill with tears. Theo's fingers continue stroking his hair. Then:
"I wish it had been different between us."
Theo explains, "It couldn't have happened any other way."
He can feel the pillow beneath him dampen, and he sniffles even as another explosion rings outside. "But there isn't enough time."
"There never would have been."
A more earthshaking eruption rattles Stiles. It's coming quicker, less time in between, and a sob wrenches out of his mouth, "I'm scared."
Theo inches closer and drops a featherlight kiss on top of his head. Stiles imagines he can hear Theo's heartbeat this close, loud and thundering that it momentarily mutes the destruction happening outside. It's all the moment Stiles needs.
Theo pulls back enough for their eyes to meet. Something bright is falling onto them, and it's blinding, deafening in its descent. It consumes them in an instant, but not before he hears a final sigh, "I'm here."