the aftermath is secondary | hearth & enzo

The first breath escapes his lungs with a spell of relief, as if the world wasn't crumbling around him for once. Or maybe it was. A wake up call to the world he fell asleep on, endlessly just wading through the water with his head barely held above with a baited breath of exhaustion. Running himself farther and farther under, as if getting a chill of cold water would remind him how to stay awake in the reality he's falling asleep on. A name could be the first time he's actually realized how fucked up the world truly is, how fucked up he truly is in this world.

An adult from a young age, taking care of Nemo and his cousin. None of this was meant to be thrown on his shoulders, but here he is. Noticing how much he truly carries on his shoulder and what he's missing out on. All because of a name, he knew what he was wading around the water for. Peace wasn't something he ever wanted, but right now he needed to breath in the ocean air, lingering the salty smell of the sea and wake up to the realization that he's allowed good things in his life. Whatever dance Hearth and him had been doing was what he's been sleeping on.

Maybe he knew it this entire time, but he could tell with the waves of the reaping had finally dragged him under for once to notice what truly was around him. Exhaustion, worry, and sorrow lingering to his skin as if he pretends he's okay, but never has been. Except, here, he learns where he's the happiest, when the invite leaves Hearth's lips, he smiles with agreement that he'll be there. With arms wrapped around his little brother and Everett's worried smile, Even Newt gives him a weak smile of recognition. Where the wind blows them into that diner with Wander Sibley and the rest of the Sibleys.

It's in the walls of Bowline's diner where Enzo sees the years flash before him with a grim grey over the edge of his beautiful colors. Years spent endlessly swinging into nothing where he could have been living. Days spent in the training center acting like a prick towards others as if he were above them. Harbinger's words traveling through his skin breaking down beliefs ingrained in him since he was a kid. Something clicking into place from that moment, until he found the bodies of mom and dad in the tsunami. The grey fading into his color from that day until he worked for the right reasons, but the wrong heart. Exhaustion taking over and then Newt threw him into the hurricane, where he realized more about the world.

Nothing more than him knowing life was going to be better.

Things did get there. The warmth from Hearth Joyval's smile lingering in his chest where his heart finally feels like it's pumping for real for once. Those eyes hanging on to every word he says, no matter how dumb Enzo felt he sounded to him. Hearth made him realize he was alive for once. Alive in this world where he felt dead on the inside. A deep breath as he catches Hearth's eyes while Everett and Nemo bicker happily next to him. The way his eyes just light up the world more and more by the day, he can feel the way his heartbeats and the warmth that spreads in his chest.

Outside, in an alley behind the diner, their cigarettes glow with a dim red as smoke tickles his lungs, taking off the weight of exhaustion he's feeling from the chaos of the day. Almost feeling like he's aged beyond his years from the stress of this day, he can feel the warmth of Hearth next to him and he's tired of this dance. Not tired of Hearth, but tired of holding in the words of unsaid things. The desires he doesn't dare speak for the world may shake if he does and he felt so unstable before, but he can still hear the whisper of Hearth's voice in his ears.

It's okay, you're okay.

The fire of the words bubble as he dares to speak.

"Hey, do you-"

They speak together, a warmth on his cheeks giving way before he speaks swiftly after that.

"No, you-"

The laugh warms his chest as he takes in this moment, eyes bright, warmth on his skin, the feeling of his stomach knotting up, the way Hearth nervously scratched the back of his neck. Everything feels lighter here, but heavier at the same time, as if this was the moment. The moment their dance would end for good and better things would come. Maybe it's the taste of nicotine on his tongue or the lightheartedness of Everett and Nemo's bickering from earlier, but he feels good here.

"I just... I...uhh..."

Words lost on the tip of his tongue, where there once was a man who knew how to speak better than him, Hearth seems to have lost every thought in the process. Enzo stands on the edge of a cliff he never thought he'd jump, but maybe it's the fact his heart is beating and he's still alive, still breathing, and found something more to fight for than some stupid death game. If he could just absorb this moment for years, he would. He'd linger in the light that was Hearth Joyval, until it soaked him up completely and he could die happy.

The step closer is enough to send his heart pounding. The way his knuckles graze carefully with his own as Enzo can feel the way his heart beats. He's never been the type to make first moves, but the way he can hear Hearth's attempt to speak makes him want to jump off more and more.

"I..."

Worry bubbles in his stomach as he almost dares to pull away, but he finally feels the warmth of Hearth on his knuckles and then only one thought fills his head.

Fuck it.

The air's heaviness disappears as he jumps off the metaphorical cliff for once, ignoring the worry in his chest and focusing on the warmth in his own skin and if it means his world shakes, he'll build the strongest foundation he can to survive. His own fingers wrap into Hearth's as he pulls him forward and leans in to finally end the dance he's been trying to end for weeks. And if it leads to his heart breaking, then he'll face that just as he had done when his name was called.

This is where he belonged: with Hearth.

No one, not even the fucking capitol would stop him.