Chapter Text
There was a certain kind of tranquility past closing at Gear Station; a dichotomy of the loud bustle of a never-ending crowd of passers-by and passengers and announcements and subway trains rolling down tracks; against an almost liminal silence that was as loud as it was quiet, filling the vast, empty spaces left by the absence of patrons and the brakes of the trains. Any sound now echoed, whether from the depot agents preparing to leave for the night, or from the shutters and locks of your keys turning in your café’s back door. It almost made you shiver.
Your tiny café, being in the main lobby of Gear Station, had a prime view of the giant room and terminal entrances. Shoes clacking against the polished floor as he approached from across the station, Ingo waved with an affectionate gaze. The older half of the Subway Boss twins wasted no time in scooping you into his arms for one of his warm Bewear hugs you loved a great deal. You squeezed him in return, relishing the feeling of your cheek pressed into his chest; dress shirt smelling like fresh laundry and soft against your skin. Kisses were graciously granted to be dispensed on the top of your head, tender and loving. You were in heaven.
Home was on the horizon, destination paused until you were ready to leave the station. Outside was quite cold this time of year, the two of you knew, and Ingo was not one to let you suffer the consequences. As you turned to lock up the register, the weight of his Subway Boss coat was gently placed on your shoulders; like a weighted blanket with his scent and lingering warmth. Ingo’s generosity would never go unrewarded, and tonight’s recompense was a taste of your lips. Or perhaps more than just a taste…though you resisted giving him too much just yet, to his playful dismay. Hand clasped in his, next stop: home station.
The mood was playful from your little sample and the promise of more – your hands swung between you as you laughed, holding the front of his coat so it stayed on your shoulders while he teased at you. A tug here, a twirl there, as though you were on a dance floor. Your hand spun in his as you whirled once and he let your arms extend to tug you to him but instead your hand slipped from his and you laughed in good fun and reached out to grab his hand once more but
it was
Gone
His coat flung from your shoulders, drifting to the ground, then
Gone
His voice, booming and echoing across the empty chamber that was the station, then
Gone
And there was nothing there was no one you hadn’t even blinked and he was
GONE
and you tried you really tried you screamed his name over and over and over and over until your voice was hoarse and your throat burned but still you shouted for him because he was just…
…gone.
Tears were coming down like sheets of rain, stained your face, snot running from your nose, hiccups and sobs and screams and shouts
and maybe if you could just scream loud enough he’d hear you
and maybe if you ran you could find him
run down that dark tunnel with never ending tracks that take you deeper and deeper and you know you can see him in the distance
can’t you?
and you know that speck on the horizon is him
isn’t it?
just run
JUST GO
you can catch up you can get to him
you can scream
and shout
and he’ll hear you
HE HAS TO HEAR YOU
you have to find him
please just find him
please just come back
please come back
INGO
come back
Ingo
Ingo
COME BACK
PLEASE COME BA—