Chapter Text
“Do you trust me?” The question rattled in Billy’s ears as the breath was driven from his lungs. His eyes flitted down to the sword protruding from his gut, blood already gushing down around the handle. “With my life." His answer echoed in his mind as his eyes tracked up the arm holding the sword to Silver, anguish and regret pooling up in the tears gathered in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Silver whispered, his voice wavering as Billy stumbled, the pain from the wound and the sudden blood loss making his world spin. Billy’s hand scrambled at Silver’s shoulder in an attempt to stay upright, confusion and betrayal knocking him even more off balance than his impending doom. “I’m sorry,” Silver repeated, his hand leaving the sword in favor of grabbing Billy under both arms, stumbling himself under balancing Billy’s weight with his crutch, “I had no choice, there was no other way.”
The full weight of the situation came crashing down around Billy’s ears, reducing the clamoring shouts and Silver’s voice to white noise. When Silver had assured Billy that he had an airtight plan to get Madi back from Rogers unharmed, Billy had every faith in him. He knew that Silver would do nothing to jeopardize her life and would take no risks with her safety: he loved her too much. Billy had thought Silver loved him too. But the sword in his lower abdomen and the encroaching darkness suggested otherwise. Clearly, if he did, it wasn’t enough.
Billy felt himself slip from Silver's grasp and his vision nearly whited out from pain when his fall was broken by someone behind him. “What have you done?” a voice roared over Billy’s head, De Groot, his mind provided. It appeared that Billy wasn’t the only one unaware of Silver’s intentions.
The sound of someone landing heavily on their knees sounded to his left and a moment later warm, familiar hands were ghosting along his arm. Billy lolled his head to the side, his head feeling as heavy as a cannonball. Ben was staring at Billy’s side in horror, one hand reaching towards it before being batted away by Howell with a low warning. With a gulp, Ben’s eyes darted back up to Billy’s face, unshed tears welling in his wide eyes when he saw Billy’s gaze on him. Grabbing Billy’s hand and enveloping it in both of his, he begged “Stay with me, Billy, please stay with me.” Billy wasn’t entirely sure it was up to him, as much as he wanted to promise Ben he wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m sorry.” At the sound of Silver’s voice, Billy forced his gaze away from Ben to take in the sight of Silver staring down at him with a broken expression, tear tracks down his face. The sight made something in Billy snap.
“I trusted you,” Billy forced out between pained breaths, hurt and betrayal in his eyes. The effort of speaking stole the last of his strength and Billy collapsed back against Howell, oblivion stealing over him. The last thing he heard before he knew no more was Howell’s voice state grimly, “He’s dead.” Billy’s last thought was that he might be right.