[They're going to die. Or if not them, then Helios and Giles almost certainly. Robert hasn't seen either of them, and though they've gotten pretty deep into the tunnels, they can't be under the mountains yet. Not far enough.
The seconds seem to stretch out into infinity, as Robert's mind works faster than it ever has. He can feel everything as though it's been magnified a thousand times, feel the breath and, even, faintly, the heartbeat of Don as his body shields his own frail one.
He presses his face into Don's cheek, kissing his beak once - reveling in it - and whispers -]
... I love you too.
[... Then there's the low, concussive, deep boom of the impending moon strike, and it all goes dark. The last thing Robert remembers of this night are those powerful, loving arms around him.
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The seconds seem to stretch out into infinity, as Robert's mind works faster than it ever has. He can feel everything as though it's been magnified a thousand times, feel the breath and, even, faintly, the heartbeat of Don as his body shields his own frail one.
He presses his face into Don's cheek, kissing his beak once - reveling in it - and whispers -]
... I love you too.
[... Then there's the low, concussive, deep boom of the impending moon strike, and it all goes dark. The last thing Robert remembers of this night are those powerful, loving arms around him.
It's the way he would've wanted to die.]