Chapter Text
The morning light was barely a glow on the horizon when you stood by the door, the weight of the moment pressing down on all of you. The flat was quiet, as though it too understood the significance of what was about to happen.
The backpacks were heavy, but they carried more than just your belongings. They carried the memories of this place, the laughter, the intimacy, and the fragile safety you’d built together.
You stood in the living room for a moment, looking around. Every corner of Joe’s flat held echoes of the life you’d made here. The couch where you’d tangled together in lazy afternoons, the kitchen where Joe had cooked meals that made you all forget, if only briefly, the world outside. The window where you’d watched the city change, growing quieter, emptier, more dangerous.
Tears welled up in your eyes as the reality of leaving finally hit. This place had become your sanctuary, your home, and now you were walking away from it.
Joe noticed first, stepping closer and cupping your cheek. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice soft but firm. “We’ll make new memories. Wherever we end up.”
Pedro joined you, his warm hand settling on your back. “He’s right,” he said, his deep voice steady. “But I know it’s hard. Saying goodbye is never easy.”
You nodded, though the tears slipped down your cheeks anyway. Turning to them both, you leaned in, kissing Joe softly, then Pedro. Their lips met yours in turn, lingering, as if they too were trying to hold onto this moment for just a little longer.
When the three of you finally pulled apart, the air felt heavy with unspoken emotions. You grabbed their hands, holding tight as you all faced the door.
“Ready?” Pedro asked, his voice quieter than usual.
“Not really,” you admitted, your throat tight.
“Neither am I,” Joe said with a small, bittersweet smile.
But still, you opened the door, stepping out into the cool dawn. The city was silent, the streets empty, the world holding its breath as you took your first steps into the unknown.
Hand in hand, the three of you left the flat behind, its door clicking shut one last time. You didn’t look back, unsure if you’d ever see this place again. Instead, you focused on the path ahead, the warmth of their hands grounding you as you walked together into whatever came next.