///////

paul's eyes went to the nautilus again.

"john..." he sighed shakily, eyes tearing up. "oh, john..."

the heavy, golden crown that rested atop paul's head wasn't worth the pain.

he didn't want to do it. but he had to. it was his duty.

paul couldn't bear looking at the goddamn shell again.

////////

what john didn't know was that paul regretted everything. john was filled with anger, his heart dark with the want to place revenge on him.

john's heart was broken, every last bit of his soul seeping through the shattered glass.

john hates paul.

but he loved him.

love-d.

it was in past tense. like their relationship.

///////