Never Surrender

for lyrics-are-poetry inspired by "Never Surrender" by Skillet as part of my drabbles for my 100 Follower celebration on tumblr.

He'd hit him again - he'd hit his Theta… There hadn't even really been a reason for it - just bad temper and he'd lost it, lost control. Again… And Theta had suffered for it. But now Koschei couldn't shake the memory of the hurt look in his boyfriend's face, the way his nose bled instantly and his hand flew up to his face with a small cry and-

It's the middle of the night and all he can do is scream as he jolts awake. He can't help it - he can't even spare a thought for the people he might wake up because it hurts. So. Much. His head, his mind; it's burning… He wonders if it's going to kill him this time - it always feels like it will. The pain in his head…? The drums… one, two, three, four… Over and over and over and over-

And then he's back in Theta's dorm, climbing into his bed, clinging to him, fists clenching around the front of his shirt. "Make it stop!" he cries against his chest. He can't look up - he can't bear to see the devastation in the other boy's eyes. He doesn't want to see how much this is hurting him too…

"Koschei, I can't… You know I can't…" Theta whispers, pulling him closer, rubbing his back, stroking his hair, kissing the top of his head - anything to make him feel better. "I wish there was-."

"Th-there is…" Koschei stutters, pressing himself still closer, needing to feel him there. "J-just promise you'll never give up on me… N-never let me h… Never let me hurt you… Please, Theta, promise me… J-just stay with me…"

He can feel Theta's sigh, feel his grip tighten around him. "Always, Koschei. Always… I promise."