Chapter Text
A bouquet of red roses.
The first flowers that John had ever received, gifted to him by a boy with coloured hair akin to the hue of the petals.
The gesture caused a dusting of light pink to bloom over the dark-haired boys cheeks, an uncharacteristically shy smile appearing on his face. They were in a park, the sun shining down upon them. That was the first time.
The second time happened in a crowded cafe. This was also the second time that Blyke asked John on a date. It was also the second time that Blyke told John about how he felt. And just like the first time, John was given a bouquet of beautiful red roses. The first time, John had been too flustered to respond, and simply told Blyke that he would think about it. But this time… this time John was going to confess his own feelings.
John had truthfully liked Blyke for quite a long time, but he was too surprised by the unexpected confession to think clearly. But now, with a clearer mind, he could finally do something he had wanted to do for a very long time.
Everything was going well, and when Blyke asked the inevitable ‘do you have a response yet?’ John had an answer ready.
John opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by harsh coughing. Blyke quickly got John some water to clear his throat, and John chugged it, hoping to stop his coughing. Once the fit was over, John put his head in his hands, and groaned out of embarrassment. Blyke merely giggled, until John couldn’t help but laugh as well.
And from then on, they were a couple.
John and Blyke.
Never to be separated.
Every time you saw one of them, the other wouldn’t be too far behind. And you could tell, from the way that Blyke would stare at John when he thought he wasn’t looking, or from the way that John would subtly link their pinkies as they walked, that they cared for each other on a level that no other could dream of reaching.
Most people were happy for them. Most people didn’t give two shits, actually. But some people were saddened by this new development.
Like Seraphina, for example. John’s best friend.
She couldn’t help but feel cheated. After all, she had been by John’s side throughout everything. All of the shit that he went through, even when she couldn’t be there for him, she still tried. She never gave up on him. And yet…
Seraphina knew that John owed her nothing. But she couldn’t help but wish that he loved her. That he loved her the way that he loved Blyke.
But watching him smile at Blyke, with a giddy sparkle in his eyes, it made her heart melt.
And so she resigned herself to being his best friend. She decided that as long as he was happy, then she would be okay.
She had to be.
Blyke and John spent almost all of their time together. The fact that they lived together helped. Oftentimes, they shared a bed, cuddling into the late hours of the night.
That’s why Blyke noticed it first.
John was losing weight. And he was losing it at an alarming rate.
Whether it be take-out or home cooked food, John wouldn’t eat it. He couldn’t eat it. It was like his appetite had completely disappeared. He also had coughing fits more and more often, occasionally going into the bathroom just to cough. To say that Blyke was concerned was an understatement. Blyke wanted John to go see a doctor, but John refused, insisting that he doesn’t stay sick for long, and that it will go away eventually.
Except…
It doesn’t.
The coughing fits get worse, and Blyke can hear John becoming short of breath. After a while, Blyke and John stopped sharing a bed, because of John’s frequent and violent coughing fits.
And yet, John refused to see a doctor.
One day, John was in the bathroom, having another coughing fit. Blyke needed to grab a towel to dry his hands, since the towel for the kitchen was dirty. And this was the one time John forgot to lock the door.
“Hey, John, I’m just coming in to grab something.”
“Ah, wait-!”
The door opened with a creak, and Blyke froze at the sight before him.
In the sink was a splatter of bright red mucusy blood, slowly dripping into the drain. And standing over the sink, with a droplet of red dripping from the corner of his mouth, was John.
There was silence.
John said he was fine.
People that cough up blood are not. Fine.
Blyke grabbed John’s wrist, and tugged him towards the door. “We’re going to the hospital. Now.”
“But-”
“Now.”
Blyke called Arlo, dragging John through the halls of the boys dormitory, asking to borrow his car. Once he hung up, he did not turn to look at John once.
He had forgotten what a good liar his partner was.
And here Blyke thought he remembered everything about John.
Blyke looked at the clock on the cold white wall, and sighed. John had been called in a while ago, and it felt like he had been with those nurses for way too long…
The smell of the hospital made him uneasy, and he wanted someone to come to him and tell him that everything would be okay. That John would be okay.
And eventually, someone did come down. But no matter how much Blyke poked and prodded, he was not told anything. Instead, he was asked about the medical history of John’s family. Blyke didn’t have that information, so he called the only person that would know.
Both John, and Blyke, stayed overnight at the hospital. Blyke wasn’t allowed to see John once. Apparently they were still running tests on him, but Blyke wasn’t sure if he believed them anymore.
At about 3 AM, a dark-haired man came through the doors. Blyke knew this man well. William Doe, John’s father. He was the cheerful and encouraging person that Blyke spent a lot of his holidays with. And also the first person to ever give him a shovel talk. But right now, he seemed panicked. He spared a brief moment to wave at Blyke, and Blyke waved back, exhausted from lack of sleep . He was then ushered away by nurses, and Blyke was alone once again.
When William came back to the surprisingly quiet waiting room, Blyke asked what happened. William said that nothing was confirmed. They just wanted the family history, and some other information. Blyke sighed in disappointment, and William told Blyke to go back home.
At first, Blyke protested, but after a while William convinced him to leave.
Blyke drove back to the dorms, and collapsed upon his sheets, falling asleep the moment his body hit the mattress.
John wasn’t back yet when Blyke woke up, and he missed school that day as well. Most people didn’t pay it too much mind, but Blyke was worried sick. What happened that they needed to keep him overnight?
The second that school was over, and the final bell rang, Blyke immediately took Arlo’s car (without asking, Arlo would add), and rushed to the hospital.
He went in, and saw that neither William or John was in the waiting room. He went up to the secretary, and she confirmed that he had yet to leave, and told him to wait.
After what felt like forever John walked into the waiting room, William walking next to him with his arms around his sons shoulder.
They both looked solemn. John seemed tired. William’s eyes were red, like he had been crying. John was looking down at the floor as he walked, so William noticed Blyke first.
“Blyke. Hey.” William greeted, walking towards Blyke, guiding John along.
John looked up, and Blyke met John’s eyes for the first time. His eyes were dark. It reminded him of Joker.
“John! Are you okay?!” Blyke asked, jumping up to take John’s hand in his own.
John opened his mouth to speak, but didn’t say anything, unable to get the words out. William put his hand on John’s shoulder, and gently pushed him down onto a chair.
“He’s having trouble processing.” William whispered, as John’s gaze lowered to the floor again.
“Processing? Processing what?” Blyke questioned.
William bit his lip, and looked away.
“He has lung cancer.”
Blyke felt something crack. He wasn’t sure if it was his brain, his heart, or his reality as a whole. But something cracked.
“What kind.” Blyke demanded. He knew lung cancer well. His Uncle had lung cancer really bad as well. He died two years ago from it. Blyke loved his Uncle so much, and he didn’t want to lose someone to something like that, ever again.
“Small cell cancer…”
The crack grew. Small cell is the fastest growing cancer, and the most dangerous.
“Is… is it limited or extensive?!” Blyke asked. If it was limited, there was hope. He could be saved. He could get treatment, he could-
“Extensive.”
Blyke’s entire world shattered.