=Lucas's POV=

I sat in the guest room as Light helped re-wrap my  bandages. I'd already explained the binary corruption on my skin, and was understanding. I looked at Light. I hadn't told him about Rainbow's death yet...

"Light." I said. He turned to me. "Yes?" He asked politely. "Remember when I told you I needed to talk to you about Rainbow?" I asked. He perked up.

"Yeah... How's he doing? Is he okay?"

"Well..." I looked away. Light's expression drooped.

"Is he hurt..?"

"No... well, yes, but he's not in any pain..." I responded. Light stared at me as tears welled up in his eyes. "Y-you don't mean that, right..?" He whimpered. I looked back a t him, a grim expression on my face. "Oh, Lucas!" He cried. I caught his embrace in my own as he cried into my shoulder.

I stroked his hair. "It's getting late, Lighty." I told him. It was 10pm, server time. I yawned. Light Steve nodded and helped me lie down, then covered me with the sheets. He made sure I was tucked in, then pat my forehead. "Night, Lucas." He said. "Goodnight." I replied as he turned off the lights, unironically for him, then left the room.

I sighed, closing my eyes. We all had dinner earlier, making this the first time I had a full stomach in weeks. I drifted into unconsciousness, only to bolt up and see Shadow Steve at the foot of my bed. I didn't scream, nor was I scared.

He had one of his hands touching my exposed foot. I locked eyes with him, then whispered, "What are you doing here?" I pulled my leg back, watching his hand fall. He just stared at me with his sad, red eyes. "Again, what are you doing here?" I asked.

Shadow sat down, facing me and pulling out a lantern. He had bags under his sunken eyes, wither roses woven into a flower crown on his head that extended and continues around his neck. I sat crisscross, beckoning him closer. He seemed extremely tired, an absent look on his face.

He crawled up next to me, then sat. I put an arm around his shoulders. "Back at the Nightmare Palace," I muttered softly to him, "why did you save me?" The small Steve looked up at me. "I..." he started, "When did that happen..?" I was confused.

"What do you mean?" I questioned. "It was only a few months ago..." He blinked, tears forming in his eyes. "I can't remember..!" He squeaked. I stared back down at him, suddenly realizing that those flowers weren't just sitting on his head and around his neck. They were growing from him.

"Shadow," I murmured, rubbing his shoulder, "Do you love somebody..?" Shadow squeaked, having not expected that question. He looked away and nodded. "Listen, I know that this person, whoever it is, doesn't return that same love to you. But please, Shadow, I want you to know that there are people who care for you, okay..?" I told him, taking his smaller hands in mine.

He looked up at me again. "I'm not asking you to move on, but I'm asking you to realize that there are still people who care about you." I added. "Who would care for a useless Steve like me?" Shadow whimpered. I pulled him into a hug. "I would..."

Silence.

But then he hugged back.