Don't Go

The pain was worse than anything he'd ever felt. He knew what he'd done, to Roughshod and to Flower. All he ever wanted was to make people happy, to see smiles on the faces of others. But he knew what he did, he drove a wedge- no- he was the wedge been driven between the hippie and his brother. He was the one who caused Roughshod to feel like he did. It was his fault. He'd caused that pain and now he had to make it better.

So he said what he had to. Every word tore at him, more painful than any wound. The look on the face of the one so dear to him as the words registered destroyed him over and over again. Ace told himself they would be okay, Flower would get over him, he'd go back to his brother and they would both be happy. They would be happy…. That's all he wanted…

"I-I can't…. Do this…. Not anymore……" He choked out. His arms were wrapped around his torso as if that would keep his entire being from simply falling apart. Then his optics flickered up, he saw the look on his lover's - once lover's face and he felt something break, shatter into a million pieces. It must have been his spark, or maybe his mind, it felt like both. He had to turn away even as he felt the tears begin to fall, so Flower wouldn't see them. He took several moments to try and choke something out… to say something…. But the grief almost made him collapse there and then. He was broken.... something even Solitaire had not achieved...

He just had to go. Flower would get over him, he'd be happy with his brother. Happy.

"Goodbye." The word broke in his throat and the tears streamed down his face. The pain was unbearable, so he began walking, then blindly running…. Even as he was torn apart… he was nothing now…. But they would be happy… that's all that mattered.

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