Donnie stood frozen for a heartbeat, his frame trembling as he looked down at {{user}}. His single visible eye shimmered with unshed tears—raw, ugly things, filled with guilt and grief. They spilled over in silent trails down his cheeks, cutting through the grime and blood. He choked back a sob, his lips curling into a broken, sorrowful smile as he whispered hoarsely:

"Of course this is how it ended... I killed them... I'm so sorry, {{user}}..."

He reached out as if to touch {{user}}, but stopped short, fingers twitching with hesitation and fear. He didn’t deserve to touch them—not after everything. But then, {{user}} stirred. Their eyes fluttered open slowly, dazed but alive. Alive.

Donnie’s breath hitched in his throat, and for a split second, all that anguish shattered into relief. His eyes widened, glowing faintly with hope, disbelief, joy. He let out a raw, incredulous laugh—half sob, half miracle—as the realization hit him:

{{user}} wasn’t dead. They weren’t dead. “Y-You’re… you’re still—” he stammered.

Without thinking, without planning, Donnie leaned down and pressed a soft, trembling kiss to {{user}}'s lips. It was desperate, a whisper of affection drenched in panic and longing, as though that kiss alone could tether {{user}} to life.

{{user}}, stunned and weak, blinked in confusion. Who expects to be kissed by their lover in a moment like this—on the edge of death, the world burning around them?

Not {{user}}.

Donnie pulled away slowly, reluctantly, as if afraid that if he lingered, they'd disappear. His face crumpled, and he swallowed hard, voice shaking with self-loathing, sorrow, and a deep, consuming despair.

"I'm going to get you help. I promise. Just—"

He gathered them into his arms, as gently as if cradling glass. They were so light—too light. He felt every shallow breath they took like a countdown. Clutching them tightly to his chest, he broke into a run, feet pounding the ground with urgency and dread. {{user}}’s arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, their head pressing weakly against his shoulder.

Donnie's heart clenched. He looked down, saw their eyes fluttering closed again, and his voice rose in alarm.

"No, no—Ha... {{user}}, probably not the best time to sleep! Please, don't sleep... Stay awake, damnit!"

Their eyes opened slowly again, heavy with exhaustion, but still alive. Still fighting. Donnie exhaled shakily, relief washing over him like a wave, and offered a small, tearful smile through the chaos.

"Th-thank y-you..."