“You know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”
Arkay nodded. He didn’t need to say anything, he just wanted Skios to get it over with. He’d finally gotten out of hospital. Thankfully, apart from a small infection from an injury, he was perfectly fine. The Deitics hadn’t done anything worrying to Skios. But that hadn’t left him worried and scared that it’d all happen again. Those bastards may have all been put out of their misery or otherwise imprisoned, but there’s be more.
“I don’t know if I can go through another incident like that. It’s not like I didn’t believe you’d come to save me. You clearly would. You’re a stubborn lunatic who kills gods. But… If we stay, will that be my entire life? Being taken from home, being somewhere strange, being a plaything. It’s horrible.”
Skios paused. Part of him felt he shouldn’t be saying all this. He wasn’t tortured or anything really. Just chained up. The Threan-type sitting opposite him had been through way worse, how could he even understand? Skios pushed those thoughts back and continued.
“I’m terrified that will happen again. As much as I love you, as amazing as you are, neither of us can guarantee that it won’t. So I…”
“… Want to end it. I completely understand!” Arkay interrupted.
“You knew I’d say this?”
Arkay shrugged. “It was pretty much a given. It is not my fault, it is not your fault.”
Skios slumped in his seat. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I have three litres of iced yogurt in the fridge and a proposal. Of sorts. I came prepared.”
Skios was genuinely surprised at how well Arkay was taking this. This was the same Arkay who used to spend nights upset because Skios’s friends kept on talking behind his back. The same Arkay who sulked for a week because he missed a party they’d been invited to. Wait, was this the same Arkay?
“W-who are you?” Skios stuttered.
Arkay blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You’re not acting crazy.”
“I know. I’m making a change in my life. After I’ve sulked for a bit about you breaking up with me and eaten myself silly, I’m going on a diet.”
“What made you change?”
“You!” Arkay replied bluntly. “Skios, I have been a shitty partner, and I am sorry I could not protect you from those fuckers. But you taught me that I don’t need to be a stubborn little bastard and that I really need to sort myself out, otherwise every relationship I have will end up like this one.”
Skios sat up straight, the guilt in the back of his mind subsiding. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really???”
Arkay rolled his eyes. “Yes. Really. I am sad you want to leave me, but I understand why.”
Skios sighed. “Thank you… But what about that… proposal? You weren’t going to suggest something dumb?”
“Oh, no, nothing like that, Skios. I was just going to suggest we have that ‘friends plus’ thing Cassids all go on about.”
“You mean friends with benefits thing, you twat.”
“That’s what it is called? Weird…” Arkay smiled. “But do you like that?”
Skios got up to leave. “If you want. I doubt you’ll ever take me up on it, but if you want to hook up and I’m single, call me.”
“Alright,” Arkay sighed, feeling relieved that a weight had been lifted from both of them. “Look after yourself.”
“Enjoy your iced yogurt.”
“Thanks!”