Episode Six, Part 2:
N e v e r   L o s e   Y o u  //
L o v e   I s   N o t   E n o u g h

When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case, 
I could offer you a warm embrace to make you feel my love. 

Sol leaned up against the door, exhaling as weighed up the consequences of leaving Wynn alone with Lyra. Bas had raised crucial details that Sol had missed: she hadn't considered the effect Lyra's return would have on Harlow, and everyone else for that matter. As guilt began to eat away at her, someone wandered over.

"You doing alright?" Noah asked, grabbing onto her hands and pulling her close to him.

Sol quickly let go of him, trying to establish a distance between them, to which he didn't understand why.

"It's one thing for us to be working together to try and unite peace. I don't want to hurt anyone. I can't let my people see us like this."

"Your people aren't allowed inside the Quarters. Besides, you are my peace."

Sol looked up at him, searching to see if he was serious, rolling her eyes playfully.

"You're ridiculous." She scoffed. "That's the cringey-est thing you've ever said."

Noah smiled, grabbing onto only one of her hands this time, like some sort of compromise. "I know, but I made you laugh. How were things in there?" He motioned to the door behind her. "Just as bad as earlier?"

Sol nodded. "Yeah. Or worse, if that's possible. I should have been more careful."

"You can't hold yourself accountable for how she has hurt the people that love her. Besides, they'll see it was the right thing - you bringing her back here - when they find Elara and Kodiak."

Sol sighed. "I'm trying to tell myself that. I hope we get to them on time. Before anything happens that can't be undone."

Noah smiled sympathetically, leaning down towards her. His thumb grazed under her chin, tilting her face upwards as he kissed her softly.

Sol let herself dissolve in the moment, feeling the anxiety and unease part from her for only a moment.

She could hear the door open behind her, hurrying to pull away, a strange sense of guilt taking place as Wynn looked up at them , awkwardly shifting his eyes elsewhere.

"How did it go?" Sol asked concerned, wiping the trace of Noah away from her lips.

Wynn wanted to tell her, but he couldn't find the strength to. His lips trembled, eyes blinking back a wave of tears, and he squeezed past the two of them to retreat down the hall.

"Wynn!" Sol called after him, hoping he would stop in his tracks.

"River, it's not your fault-"

"No, I have to follow him." She muttered, pushing Noah's hands away as she hurried after Wynn, desperate to catch up before she lost his trail.

"Wynn!" The Sovereign called again, jogging down the hallway. She reached her hand out, gripping onto his shoulder, spinning him around.

She was overwhelmed by the sight she saw: not expecting him to look so distraught. So heartbroken.

Without a beat, Sol opened the door closest to them, walking inside knowing he would follow. Once they were alone, and the door shut behind them, she turned to face her friend,praying he would unburden everything off of his chest. 

"She's gonna leave again, and I know she said it would be the last time, but I... I don't trust her." The confession spilled out of Wynnlow, the first of many sorrows that came to mind. 

"Every time she comes back, she brings back everything we lost. I-I see her and I see mum dying; Bas kept as her hostage; and now, it's just a relentless remind that Elara isn't here..." Wynnlow sighed. 

"I wish you would have asked me first - if I was okay with seeing her. Because I'm not." His voice was soft, not holding any anger towards Sol, just disappointment. Somehow, the Sovereign found that worse. 

"You're right. I didn't think about that. I'm sorry that I let you get hurt because of it." 

He looked up at her from his seat on the stool, hesitating to tell her more. But of course, he couldn't hide from her for very long, his voice a murmur - a delicate whisper that's fate was to break. 

"Why do I feel like we're never going to get Elara back?" 

Sol felt a tug in her chest: empathy, desperation, understanding exactly how he was feeling. She knelt down in front of him, taking hold of his hand to comfort him. 

Wynn's eyes were locked on her skin, his own initials tattooed onto her hand. It was moments like these that, that small reminder made the world of difference to him. 

"We will." Her voice was firm and unwavering. "What have you got now, 2 from 2?" She asked lightheartedly, trying to raise his spirits. "First your family from Riders, then me in the DeadLands." 

Wynn shrugged, unable to join her attempts at a smile. 

"We know where they are. It's different this time. We have Noah and L-" She bit her tongue. "We have the king of Blood Riders working on our side." 

Wynnlow shifted, pulling his hand free from hers, standing up to pace anxiously around the room. 

"Everyone always disappears." He sounded out of breath as he spoke. His hands were flying around out of control, his feet aimlessly wandering around the small supply closet. 

"I don't know how I'm supposed to keep anyone safe." 

"Hey, it's not your job to keep people safe. I'm the Nobel. Let me worry about these kind of things, Wynn." 

"I know but, she's my family, you know? My little sister." 

"She's a part of this family, too." Sol told him. "She's a Basilisk, like you are, and everyone else in this camp." 

Wynnlow half smiled, finally coming to a stop, fiddling around nervously with his hands. Suddenly, Sol spoke up again, as if she hadn't finished her train of thought, or didn't feel like Wynnlow understood what she was trying to say. 

"Found family." She said. 

"What?" Wynnlow asked softly. 

"Found family." She repeated. "The family that isn't your blood, but are family nonetheless. The people you would do anything for. The people you love most in this world. Your... Your home." 

He shifted to face her completely, seeing her in a different light, in a way that made some of the darkness disappear. 

"I know you were all going to leave today while I was out..." She continued, changing topics so she wouldn't reveal anymore. 

Wynn glanced over at her, afraid that she was going to order him to remain at Basilisk whilst the others went out, or tell him that he wasn't allowed in the Sovereign's Quarters anymore. 

"And I know that you probably know your way around just fine without one of us tagging along, but... But that's not what I'm worried about. If anything were to happen to you, I-" She was too afraid to finish, taken aback by her own heart, how vulnerable she was around him nowadays. 

She still tried to be the Sovereign that opened the Bunker door. The cold, impassive girl who was fearless and unwavering, but she wasn't anymore. Too much had happened between them both, and she wasn't so fearless anymore... 

Wynn knew what she was trying to say, feeling it too, aching to his bones. 

"I'm sorry for letting her come back and I'm sorry that Elara isn't here right now. I promise I'll do better." 

Wynn nodded, finally feeling a sense of peace he had been waiting so long for. "Just as long as I don't lose you." 

Sol caught her breath, moving closer towards him, trying to figure him out. Finally, the words she had been waiting on. 

"I need you, too." 

Sol's face glowed with emotion, closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around his neck. 

Wynn pulled her back, holding her tighter than ever before as if his life depended on it. His buried his face in the crook of her neck, exhaling into the way she held him. For a moment, the world was still, and all of their troubles melted away with each other. 

Six // Part Two

The people you would do anything for. The people you love most in this world.

You were fed, this chapter. Enjoy because it only goes downhill from here.

STREAM LOUIS' ALBUM 'WALLS' NOW THANKS!

Everyone always disappears... Just as long as I don't lose you. I need you.