Chapter 27

3rd person pov:

The night had settled in, the house quiet except for the occasional rustling of wind outside. Fourth sat by the window in his room, staring out at the darkened sky. His heart was still heavy from the conversation with Gemini, but it had also been lighter, in a way, than he expected. It felt strange, knowing that someone was willing to be with him despite the uncertainty that loomed over them both.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," Fourth called, his voice low.

Pond stepped inside, his usual stern expression softened by the concern in his eyes. "You okay?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Fourth nodded, though his gaze remained distant. "I talked to Gemini today," he said quietly. "About everything."

Pond raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Fourth turned to face him, his eyes a little wet but not fully sad. "He said he wants to be with me. Even knowing everything... even knowing that I might not be here for long."

Pond was silent for a moment, his gaze steady as he took in Fourth's words. He didn't speak immediately, giving Fourth the space to process his own emotions.

"I told him that I couldn't promise him anything. I can't give him the future he deserves," Fourth continued, his voice trembling slightly. "But he still wants to stay. He says he's not afraid of what's coming."

Pond sighed softly, his hand resting on Fourth's shoulder. "And what do you want?"

Fourth was quiet for a long time, the weight of the question settling in. "I don't know," he admitted. "I'm scared,Hia.What if I hurt him? What if... I don't make it, and he's left with nothing?"

"You're thinking too much about the future," Pond said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're living for today right now. What you have with Gemini is real. It's worth fighting for, even if you don't know what will happen in the end."

Fourth swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. "But I'm not just putting myself at risk here. I'm putting him in a situation where he could lose everything. How could I live with that?"

Pond's eyes softened, his voice becoming more personal. "You're not alone in this, Fourth. Gemini knows the risk. He's made his choice. If you want to be with him, don't shut yourself out of it because you're afraid of the pain. You both deserve the chance to find happiness, even if it's for a short while."

Fourth closed his eyes, leaning back against the headboard. His heart ached, but there was something in Pond's words that resonated deeply. Maybe he could stop running from the possibility of love, stop letting fear decide his fate.

"I'll think about it," Fourth said quietly, but there was a new resolve in his voice. "Maybe I can accept that."

Pond nodded, standing to leave. "Take your time. Just don't forget that love doesn't come with guarantees. And that's okay."

Later that evening, Gemini was sitting alone in the garden, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He had been waiting for the moment when Pond would finally speak to him. He knew it was coming—it was inevitable, given the seriousness of the situation. But the nervous energy in his chest hadn't subsided.

Footsteps approached, and Gemini turned to see Pond walking toward him, his expression unreadable.

"I need to talk to you," Pond said, his voice even but carrying a weight that made Gemini sit up straighter.

"Of course," Gemini replied, his heart racing. He stood up and gestured toward the bench nearby, wanting to make the conversation feel less formal. "What's on your mind?"

Pond took a seat beside him, his eyes fixed on the dark horizon. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, finally, Pond spoke, his tone quiet but firm.

"I've talked to Fourth," he began, his gaze never leaving the distance. "And I've been thinking a lot about what you said—the way you feel about him. You need to understand something, Gemini. You're stepping into this knowing exactly what it is. Fourth's illness, his condition—these aren't things you can ignore."

Gemini nodded, his chest tight with the weight of Pond's words. "I understand. But I'm not afraid of it,P'Pond. I care about Fourth. And I want to be there for him—whatever that looks like."

Pond turned his head, meeting Gemini's eyes. "It's not just about you being there for him, though. It's about whether you're ready for the reality of what that means. The pain. The uncertainty. The possibility that he might not make it. You're not just falling for a person. You're falling for the idea of someone, and that's not the same thing."

Gemini's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "I know what I'm getting into,Phi. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I'm not here out of some misplaced sense of duty or obligation. I'm here because I love him. And that love doesn't come with conditions."

Pond studied him for a moment, his expression hard to read. Then, he let out a long breath, as if weighing the sincerity in Gemini's words. "You're a brave man, Gemini. I'll give you that."

Gemini's heart clenched at the compliment, but he didn't smile. "I'm not brave. I'm just trying to do what's right. For both of us."

Pond nodded slowly, as if processing everything Gemini had said. "You're going to face challenges, Gemini. More than you can imagine. And I'm not going to pretend that I'm not worried about Fourth. But if you're serious about being with him, you'd better be ready to stand by him through it all."

Gemini didn't hesitate. "I am. I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

Pond finally met his gaze, his eyes softer than before. "Then I won't stand in your way. But know this—if you hurt him, I will never forgive you."

"I won't," Gemini said, his voice unwavering. "I promise."

For the first time, Pond gave a slight nod, his expression shifting to something more like acceptance. "I'll hold you to that, Gemini. You'd better be everything you say you are."

With that, Pond stood up, offering a final glance before he walked back toward the house, leaving Gemini alone with the weight of the promise he had just made.