missing you - viperpaw

an emptiness had opened within him, a gaping hole that couldn't be filled but by the presence of bo. his friend had left, of course, viper knew why: the rabid demeanor of bloodclan was too much for an innocent soul such as him. he deserved better, viper knew, than to be affiliated with murderers and kidnappers. and it seemed, for a while, bo had found a home in riverclan. knowing his home resided in riverclan rather than with him, hurt, having assumed that bo would never again want to associate with viper.

yet his scent seemed stronger now than it had been in the past. surprising, considering bo hadn't been around in a while. a flash of tail and a string of red bandana brightened his curiosity. he approached the border, cautiously, virid eyes alight with tentative excitement as his voice remained hopeful, "bo?"

// dw about it i love bo omg <33

happiness had found him, once again, in the form of bo. yearning had softened his eyes, melting the usual frigid gaze into a sea of gold and green. he returned the affection, rubbing his muzzle against bo's as a sparkle in his eye, that had vanished once he learned of the latter's departure, returned as bo's hat was placed on viper's head, and a giddiness fluttered through his heart. he offered a small bashful smile before realization spread across his features, a realization of what he was to say was so unlike his character. to admit his feelings to another, it was different for bo. whatever bo asked, he would do unconditionally without question, he was the best of friends viper could ask for, and the conflict between their clans held no water over their relationship.

"i've missed you," he murmured, solemnly, his gaze ever piercing before he looked down and sighed. "it hasn't been the same since you left," he drew his gaze up, to meet placid pools of blue reflecting his own, hurriedly adding an addendum as if in an attempt to resolve any guilt laying beneath, "which i can completely understand you had your reasons to leave, i just," he trailed off, unable to find the correct sentiment to completely capture his feelings.

while viper's eyes were gaudy emeralds encased in golden filigree, bo's were silvery blue pools, the lake reflecting the luminescent moon in its waters. and in that moment, viper knew he could not live without bo, as tawdry as it sounded. realization washed over him, lapped as his sand of guilt until it eroded to nothing. he had always felt a small sense of culpability as part of the reason why bo left, yet bo's reaction was just as enthusiastic as his own when reunited, and that resolved his self-reproach.

his watery gaze wavered, so magnified one could pick out the golden flecks that lay within the green river, sifting for treasure. bo's paw pressed against his cheek, and with a slightly pained expression, one full of fear for losing him again, one full of hope and rapture in his blissful presence, he leaned into the hold. his gaze was downcast as bo explained his reasoning for leaving, the reason why he left without telling him. of course, viper knew, but he wished to deny any bloodclan law that held him responsible if he let a 'traitor' leave.

'pretty fur', bo had said, and a weak chuckle escaped from a maw of ivory that curled into a feeble upturned grimace. "you certainly have much more pretty fur, bo." viper murmured, as he squeezed his eyes shut as an ache gnawed at his heart. the thought of losing bo due to viper's own selfish desire to see bo was too much, he couldn't risk bo like that, not when he was considered a traitor. "i'll visit you, i don't want to see you hurt because of me." his voice wavered with emotion, emotion that couldn't be placed in a categorical love, but more of hurt for viper's own thoughtless yearn. he didn't care if he himself was considered a traitor for consorting with bo, but it didn't matter. all that mattered was bo, bo's silvery blue eyes, bo's smooth southern accent, his velvety fur, him.

"i'd never want to not see you. you, you're," a sigh escaped him as he knew he couldn't finish what he was about to say. "i'd never let them hurt you." the resolution was firm in his voice, and for a moment, watery eyes steeled, made stone jade that pierced with an intensity he hadn't felt before, and in that moment, he knew his promise was firm. he wouldn't let them hurt bo, never.

with pallid eyes, he didn't wish to ask the reason for why he left, for fear of bo's answer, yet it found its way bubbling out from pressed dark lips. "was it," he bit his lip in hesitation, his eyes darted away from bo's own blue before returning with a plead, "was it because of me?" he nearly choked on the words, the ache in his heart grew larger, until he couldn't bear it anymore, watered emeralds peering into solid sapphires.

and although his watery gaze still wavered, threatening to spill over tears of guilt and grief, his agitation subsided once he was graced with reassuring words of easement. spoken to him in bo's smooth, southern accent, that washed over him and threatened to flood him in its rapture, yet he would close his eyes in full acceptance, as if wanting bo's everlasting presence to forever be beside him.

a gaze so bright perked towards the sound of love, a sound of which he hadn't heard since his own mother and father died, a foreign word that held the meaning of the world with it. unfamiliarity pursued him, chasing after his current of compassion and endearment. unfamiliarity as to the meaning of the word, the weight behind it, yet he would come in time to learn the word, love.

he had never expected those words to tumble from bo's sweet mouth, having assumed he, himself, was incapable of such terms of romance, after all, he did live in bloodclan. yet it was bo's enduring gaze that made him accept the love, finally be true to himself of which he had hidden for moons. as fear took over him, the reassurance of bo's love was forever present even as he responded, "i love you too." and when he said it, he realized he said it with full heart, as if nothing could come between them, no clan could separate them, their love would endure.