Chapter Text
Ziggy wakes up slowly, the warmth of his bed making it hard to open his eyes as sleep continues to cling to him, feeling more relaxed in this moment than he has in a while. He hears Flop rustling around and moving on the bed, assuming his husband is turning over and reaching out for him, placing his hand on Flop’s waist. It’s not the fact that Flop says his name that causes him to open his eyes. It’s Flop’s voice that does it, the high pitched, nasally sound having turned more raspy and a little deeper.
Ziggy opens his eyes and sees a much older Flop lying next to him, eyes wide with shock. Flop has white hair and a white beard, more wrinkles than Ziggy currently does, and a few scars Ziggy doesn’t remember his husband having. Ziggy smiles at the man in front of him, quickly realizing he must’ve time traveled in his sleep, and squeeze the man’s hip. “Hi, honey.” Flop’s eyes fill with tears despite the wide smile on his face, Flop’s hand reaching out and cupping Ziggy’s face. “Ziggy? Is that really you?” Ziggy nods and leans into the touch, this Flop’s hand more bony than his Flop. “It’s me, Flop.”
Flop sniffles and stares at Ziggy, looking like he’s trying to memorize the man’s face. Ziggy stares back, taking in the way Flop has aged and finding his husband more beautiful by the second. Ziggy scoots closer, pressing their bodies together and finding Flop feels different, expecting it but still being somewhat surprised. Ziggy presses a kiss to Flop’s forehead and Flop hides his face in Ziggy’s chest, his body shaking as he cries. Ziggy frowns and wraps his arms completely around his husband, wondering what’s wrong. “Honey? What’s wrong?” Flop takes a few deep breaths before leaning back and looking up at his husband. “I’m just really fucking happy to see you.”
Ziggy smiles down at Flop. “Did you miss my young physique?” Flop chuckles, the smile short lived. “I missed every part of you.” Ziggy frowns. “Did we divorce?” Flop smirks and shakes his head, reaching up to grab the arm that’s still cupping his face. “No, we didn’t. We had a very long, very happy marriage that I wouldn’t trade the world for.” Ziggy rubs his thumb along Flop’s cheek, one word sticking out to him. “Had?” Flop sighs and grabs the hand that’s holding his face, looking like he needs the anchor. “You’ve been dead for a year. A year today, actually.” Flop’s voice breaks during that last sentence and Ziggy feels his heart break, wondering what happened and hoping it didn’t cause Flop too much pain.
Flop sighs and seems to gather his courage. “You had been sick a while, lots of health issues from your coke use, smoking as heavily as we have, and all the shit we used to do. So it wasn’t really a shock that you died. I had been preparing for it for a long time. You died in your sleep. You were in my arms and I heard you take your last breath.” Flop closes his eyes and buries his face back in Ziggy’s chest, letting the grief overtake him as he remembers that night. Ziggy had told Flop he loved him with every piece of him. Told Flop that he had no regrets about their relationship and that he would do it all again, the good and the bad. It had felt like Ziggy was saying goodbye, so Flop reciprocated and said his goodbyes to his husband, both of them knowing Ziggy wouldn’t wake up the next morning.
Ziggy holds Flop close, rubbing one hand up and down Flop’s back while the other holds the back of his head. Ziggy knows it would kill him if he had to experience that with Flop, so he can only imagine what Flop is going through. Ziggy presses a kiss to Flop’s head and holds him until Flop’s crying turns into sniffles. Flop leans back and wipes his face, looking up at Ziggy with sad eyes. “Sorry about that.” Ziggy shakes his head. “Don’t be sorry. You needed that. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose you like that, so let it out as much as you need.” Flop nods and sniffles again, smiling up at Ziggy. “Thank you, honey.” Ziggy smiles and presses another kiss to Flop’s forehead. “Of course.”
They lay there for a while, neither saying anything, Ziggy letting Flop take what he needs and Flop happy to just be with his husband. Flop’s cough is what breaks the silence, the man sitting up and trying to ease the couch. Ziggy sits up with him and places a hand on his back, mostly for support. “You okay, honey?” Flop takes a deep breath once the coughing has stopped and nods, smiling tiredly at Ziggy. “Yeah. I’m okay.” Ziggy nods and rubs his hand along Flop’s back. Flop sighs and leans into Ziggy. “I want to go out onto the porch. Will you come with me?” Ziggy nods. “Of course.” Flop hums and takes a moment before slowly getting up, Ziggy going around to help.
Ziggy watches as Flop walks to the bathroom, the man slow and looking more frail than he’s ever seen his husband. Ziggy’s heart aches and he searches through the dresser and closet, seeing that Flop hasn’t cleaned out his stuff yet even though he’s been dead a year. Ziggy grabs what he thinks Flop would want to wear and goes back into the bedroom, waiting on Flop. When Flop comes back in, Ziggy helps him get dressed, Flop trying to do it himself until Ziggy says, “Let me do this for you. You’ve been without me for a year and it sounds like I wasn’t able to take care of you much before that. So let me do this.” Flop gives in easily and Ziggy gets his husband dressed, bending down and picking him up like he does all the time back home, finding it a lot easier. Flop laughs and wraps around Ziggy, feeling lighter than he has since before Ziggy got sick.
Ziggy walks down the stairs and out to the porch, seeing two lounge chairs. “Do you want to cuddle or do you want your own chair?” Flop smiles at Ziggy, grateful for the question. “Cuddle, please.” Ziggy hums and sits in one of the chairs, Flop straddling his lap. Flop looks down at Ziggy and uses both hands to cup his face, whileZiggy smiles contently at Flop, Flop thinking a little too hard. “Can I kiss you?” Ziggy chuckles and nods. “You don’t have to ask.” Flop smiles and leans in, pressing their lips together in a tender kiss. Ziggy deepens the kiss and Flop sighs, his body melting into his husband’s. Ziggy holds the man close, being gentle and letting Flop take whatever he needs.
Eventually, Flop pulls back and smiles down at Ziggy. “Thank you.” Ziggy chuckles. “You’re welcome.” Flop sighs and turns around, sitting so his back is against Ziggy’s chest, Ziggy’s arms wrapped around Flop and Flop’s arms resting on top of Ziggy’s. Ziggy reaches back and grabs the blanket that’s on the chair, wrapping it around them as they watch the sunrise, the morning colder than it would be back home. They sit there in silence for a while, until the sun has started to make its way over the ocean and the sky has turned from black to a golden pink.
“I love you, Ziggy.” Ziggy presses a kiss to Flop’s head. “I love you, too, Flop.” Flop hums. “Be patient with him. He won’t always get things right but he will always do his best, and he will always support and love you. Tell him you love him more. It’s something everyone wishes they could’ve said more so do it. Let him know when he looks good or when he’s done something hot. Tell him when you want to fuck him. Be his support just as he’s yours. Just be there for each other. Okay?” Ziggy nods, listening closely, feeling like this is Flop’s way of saying goodbye and fearing that he might have to say goodbye, too. “Okay. I will.” Flop hums. “You will have the best life with him, Ziggy.” Ziggy nods, feeling tears spring to his eyes. “I already do.” Flop smiles and squeezes one of Ziggy’s hands.
Flop sighs. “This is your last time doing this. You will go back to your time and you will tell me everything. All of your memories will stick this time and it will be hard, but you will get through it. Both of you will. Together.” Ziggy nods, resting his chin on Flop’s head. It’s quiet for a while longer before Flop sighs and sits up, turning to Ziggy. “I love you.” Ziggy smiles. “I love you, too.” Flop hums. “It’s time for you to go, Ziggy. Go back to your Flop and love him with everything you have.” Ziggy nods and stands up, watching as Flop sits further back into the chair, wrapping the blanket around him and looking more tired. Ziggy bends down and cups Flop’s face, pressing a kiss to his lips one more time. “I love you, Flop.” Flop smiles. “I love you, too, Ziggy.”
Ziggy steps back and he’s back in his room, standing beside his bed with a sleeping Flop still tucked between the sheets. Ziggy feels the sadness weigh him down and he climbs in bed, grabbing Flop and pulling the smaller man into him. Flop makes a small noise of protest and turns to look at Ziggy. “Ziggy?” Ziggy goes to speak but finds he can’t, breaking down instead. Flop wakes up fully at that and turns around, pulling Ziggy into a hug. Eventually, Ziggy calms down enough to tell Flop what happened and all that he has experienced, including the most recent event with Flop’s older self. Flop listens carefully and feels his own memories of the events come back to him, sharing them with Ziggy, both of them comforting and reassuring the other, just as they always have.
Meanwhile, Older Flop sits in his chair, staring at the sunrise, becoming more and more tired. He hears a noise behind him and turns to see who it is. Ziggy is standing there, looking like his young self, with a hand outstretched. “Come on, honey. It’s time.” Flop stands up and he suddenly feels like his young self, walking over to his husband and taking his hand. “It’s about time.” Ziggy chuckles and pulls Flop into him, the two of them wrapping their arms around each other. “I came when it was time, honey.” Flop rolls his eyes playfully. “I’m just glad you’re here.” Ziggy smiles. “Me too.”