Chapter 324: _I Don’t Want To Lose Them

"Y-Yeah, I gotta go pee real quick."

"Would’ve been surprised if you didn’t."

"Rose, do not take any more drinks on your way there!"

Ambrose practically ignored those comments from Loki and Gabriel as he wandered off into the bar to go empty himself.

It’s been hours, and the time was already past eight PM. Safe to say, he got carried away—one rainbow martini quickly turned to three. Then he let himself get lost taking bottomless mimosas.

Of course, Viktor had taken Orion to a hotel suite they all booked beforehand earlier. Ambrose would’ve hated for the poor boy to see him like this.

[Your metabolism should have all that alcohol out of your system in another ten minutes.]

"Yay me." He mumbled out, brushing past the crowded hallway leading to the men’s restroom.

The pale blue lighting made him feel extra dizzy, forcing him to place a hand on his forehead.

[You’re lucky you’re far from a normal human now. What you’ve taken should be enough to knock out fifteen grown men.]

’Right, right... I’m a drunk and an idiot. Can we stop with the stats for a sec?’

He stopped before a urinal, miraculously zipping down his pants without chopping his dick off.

As he took a piss... his mind wavered.

What the heck was he doing?

Pretending everything was alright when it clearly wasn’t. Drinking himself past limits he never knew he could reach in the guise of ’having fun’.

Yet he knew that wasn’t the case.

This was him once again running away from reality. Ironic since he’s spent weeks trying to teach Orion not to do just that.

’I’ll have to tell somebody eventually.’ He sniffled, eyes shutting. ’I’ll have to tell them the whole fucking universe is indeed coming to an end. That some of them might die. Or maybe all of them—cause let’s be honest. What do I have against... against...’

[Sweetheart—]

’... Against beings whose entire existence revolves around conquering entire universes? Fuck, I didn’t sign up for this shit and I—’

"Rose."

Every muscle went rigid.

His body trembled with a jolt of sobriety as he spun his neck around. Waiting behind him, body leaned against a wall that had seen cleaner days was none other than Devon.

The S-Rank fortunately didn’t drink half as much as he did. Those golden eyes softened, immediately telling Ambrose that he knew something was up.

"Hi." The latter’s voice shook, a wry smile quivering across his lips. "Sorry, am I taking too long?"

Devon didn’t answer.

He just pushed himself off the wall, walking to him with gentle, probing steps.

"Not really." The redhead finally said after getting beside him. "Loki just left for the suite. Alisha and Trina took an Uber after Trina puked on a bartender."

Ambrose snorted.

The sound earned him a smirk from Devon, who went on still. "What I’m trying to say is that you aren’t wasting anyone’s time or ’being too much’." He reached for his shoulder. "But you are getting us worried."

That made Ambrose grunt. "Oh." He blinked repeatedly, loosening his shoulders in an effort to pull himself together. "It’s that obvious, huh?"

"... A bit, yeah."

Ambrose stayed silent.

His gaze drifted to the tiled floor, shoulders rising and falling with a long, shaky breath. For a second, Devon almost thought the conversation was over.

"I’m fine."

The words came automatically.

He zipped up his trousers, flushed the urinal and reached for the sink, splashing cold water onto his face before staring at his own reflection.

The man looking back didn’t convince even him.

"Rose."

"I’m okay."

"You don’t have to—"

"I said I’m okay."

He pushed himself away from the sink, intending to brush past Devon.

He barely managed two steps when Devon’s hand wrapped gently around his wrist.

"I thought," Devon swallowed, searching Ambrose’s face. "...I thought we were past keeping things from each other."

Ambrose froze.

"If something is eating you alive," Devon continued quietly, "then let me help carry it."

A bitter laugh escaped Ambrose. "You can’t."

"Try me."

"No. Trust me, you can’t."

Devon’s grip tightened ever so slightly. "Rose."

Something finally broke.

"I met him again."

Devon blinked with confusion.

"Future me. He told me everything." Ambrose laughed, though it sounded painfully close to crying. "About why Orion was sent back. About the seal. About what’s actually coming."

The words tumbled out faster and faster.

"There’s this group called the Archons. They... conquer universes. Entire multiverses. They wanted future me as a vessel, then they wanted Orion because apparently our kid is somehow an even better candidate for cosmic possession."

His breathing became uneven.

"They killed almost everyone in his timeline, Dev."

"What?"

"Wukong. Apollo. Loki. Valentine." His voice cracked on that name. "He watched them all die. He watched his world fall apart."

"And now they’re coming here." Ambrose’s composure finally shattered. "I’m... I’m scared." The confession came out barely above a whisper. "I’m so... so fucking scared."

His fists trembled helplessly.

"What if I can’t help you all? What if he’s wrong about me?" Tears blurred his vision. "What if I lose all of you anyway?"

Devon didn’t answer.

He simply stepped forward and wrapped both arms around him.

The hug came so suddenly Ambrose almost forgot how to breathe before melting into it, clutching the back of Devon’s shirt like a lifeline.

"I don’t want to lose you." He admitted against Devon’s shoulder.

"You won’t face it alone."

"I don’t know if that’s enough."

"We’ll make it enough."

"...I-I hope so."

Behind them, a middle-aged man who had just walked into the restroom stood rooted to the entrance.

He slowly looked between the two men. "Did... did he just say cosmic possession?"

Devon glanced over Ambrose’s shoulder with perfect seriousness. "Don’t fret about it. Government business."

"Government?"

"Yes. Very classified."

The poor man blinked twice. "I’m just gonna use the restroom somewhere else."

He promptly turned around and walked right back out.

Even through his tears, Ambrose let out an ugly snort.

"Told you," Devon murmured. "You sound insane."

"I am insane."

"Just a little, sweetie." Devon kept one arm around his shoulders as they left the restroom together.

The moment they stepped back into the lively bar, Gabriel and Valentine spotted them from across the room.

Both men were on their feet almost instantly.

"What happened?" Gabriel asked, already reaching for Ambrose’s hand.

Valentine’s expression darkened. "Rory?"

Ambrose looked between them, exhaustion settling into every inch of his body. "I just need a bed."

Neither of them asked another question.

They quietly gathered everyone together before leaving the warmth of the bar behind, making their way toward the hotel suite beneath the colourful lights of the still-celebrating parade.