"Get below! Move!"

You glanced away from your seated position beside Sam and Quorra, the three of you turning quickly at the sound of Kevin's booming voice carrying over the heavy breeze. It was urgent as Quorra went to ask, "What's wrong?"

"Move, NOW!" he screamed, patting you each when you passed him by in a run, staring at something near the edge of the platform. "This isn't supposed to be here."

"What happened?" Sam questioned as you all came to a stop on a lower sector of the train.

"A new course," his father answered as the train underwent a large canopy. It resembled that of a station, with platforms and what looked to be more trains.

It slowed to a stop, and you turned away to the window, your reflection staring back at you. For a moment, it was silent, until a light flickered above from behind the window and you let out a gasp. Sam turned immediately as you spoke, "It's the programs."

"What is this?" Quorra whispered in fear as you all began moving through the lower story hallways of the train. There were at least a dozen containment rooms filled with the programs, their eyes closed and bodies unmoving.

"Clu can't create programs," Kevin murmured, "He can only destroy or repurpose them."

"Repurpose them for what?"

You followed after Sam, slipping beside him where he stood at the other edge of the platform. Your eyes widened upon the sight as a computerised voice filled the air, "Battalion 6, report to Staging Area Alpha."

"He's building an army," Sam stated, his lips parted in shock. What looked to be hundreds of programs were being forcibly moved towards more of the holding cells - they would enter loud and rebellious and leave sedated and silent.

"Let's go," Kevin ordered quietly, ushering you and Quorra first as Sam trailed behind, casting another nervous glance over his shoulder.

"All high-level functions, report immediately to combat stations."

At the other end of the train stood a connecting flight of stairs, to which Quorra descended upon with you in toe. Kevin and Sam followed after as she lowered herself to the ground. She peeked her head, before suddenly splitting back, a gasp on her tongue.

"What?" you questioned, kneeling down beside her.

She looked at you for a moment, before meeting Kevin's gaze from above. His eyes and brows furrowed in confusion as she turned around, facing away from you all.

Out of nowhere, she peeled the disk from her back and turned once more, placing it against your chest as your hands rose to meet the device.

"Goodbye," she mumbled, glancing at you all and pinning her gaze to Kevin in a last attempt for a silent conversation, the way they usually communicated.

You all exclaimed her name as she abruptly ran off into the platform. Kevin held your arm back as you went to chase after her, Sam pulling you towards his chest as he whispered in a rush, "What is she doing?!"

"Removing herself from the equation," Kevin sighed shortly.

You all looked out onto the platform, where a soldier who was overseeing the initiation of the programs spotted her. He somersaulted over the raised floor, landing perfectly before chasing after Quorra.

The Sentry landed in front of her, immediately ensuing a quick battle to which she was deterred due to removing her disk. He stood above her with two disks in his hands. He abruptly cast a sharp glance around the platform, with your group once more hiding away.

Sam kept you close, an arm flying over your body to move you further away. You kept a steady hand over the appendage with him no doubt feeling your racing heart.

"Tron..." Kevin whispered in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. "He's alive."

"I thought Clu killed him," you shot back in confusion, spinning around in Sam's arms.

"He's been repurposed," he answered from beside you, lips pulled into a terse frown.

"We can't just let her go," you hissed, watching with worried eyes as Quorra was hauled of the ground and led away to who knows where.

"There's another way," Kevin stated, turning around to look at you. He lowered his head slightly, placing a hand over your shoulder, "We need to go now."

You didn't waste a second, the three of you dashing across the open platform where Quorra had distracted Tron and disappearing into the compound. Kevin seemed to know his way around the entirety of Tron, as he meticulously led you and Sam through winding hallways and up on the overhead paths that allowed a bird's eye view of the station.

Kevin led you both towards one of the highest pathways, and you came to a slow pause, your eyes wide. Sam turned as he and his father continued, halting immediately.

He followed your gaze, finding a ginormous congregation of the programs. There were, without a doubt, at least a thousand programs, all dressed in black and orange, adorned with full-coverage masks and large spears.

"-KEVIN FLYNN!" Your eyes widened as the distant voice was finally resolute. You squinted, taking in the form of Clu - and was he the spitting image of the man beside you. Albeit younger, of course, but you recognised him immediately from the photos Sam had shown you before. "Where are you now?" Clu shouted coarsely.

In response, the programs outcried in vociferation, their protest at merely the name outright in their yells. Clu snickered in response loudly, and you looked over at Kevin, conflict clear in his face.

"My fellow programs, let there be no doubt that our world is a cage no more. For at this moment, the key to the next frontier is finally in our possession!"

He gestured wildly above, the action making you, Kevin and Sam look up. There, floating in the sky, was a large ship of some sort and however far away it was, the main attraction of it was clear.

"Your disk," the latter whispered.

"And unlike our selfish Creator, who reserved the privilege of our world only for himself, I will make their world open and available to all of us!"

Once more, the programs cheered in excitement as one of the first ships began removing itself from the platform, showcasing the beginning of the movement.

"He's taking all of this with him," Sam whispered.

"He's figured out how to do it," Kevin hissed before breaking off in a sprint.

You shared a desperate look with Sam before you both followed in a rush, with Clu's voice filling the air, "And whatever we find there, there our system will grow! There, our system will blossom! Do this, and prove yourselves. Prove yourselves to me! Be loyal to me! And I will never betray you!"

Kevin led you out onto another open platform, attached to a semi-smaller freight train. "Dad, we have to get your disk," Sam claimed, and Kevin turned with an incredulous frown.

"We gotta get to the portal. You shut them down outside."

"Even if I make it, you won't last in here, nor will Quorra."

"Sam, we'll be alright, come on-."

"Will you let it go?" Sam interrupted, shoving his father's hand from him with a determined glare. "I'm not going home without you."

Kevin paused, staring at him with an anguished glint in his grey eyes, "Sam..."

"The same team," he recalled in a loose breath, "Remember?"

"I was afraid you were gonna say that," the man sighed after a moment.

The former's lip quirked slightly at the surrender, before speaking, "Meet me on the flight deck in five and get us some wheels."

"Wheels? What's your plan?" Kevin questioned, grasping him by the shoulder to stop him from running off.

"I'm a User," Sam shrugged. "I'll improvise." He then turned around, meeting your gaze. You had remained quiet up until this point, leaving it to the Flynn's to decide the next course of action. And you didn't like this plan at all.

He murmured your name as he stepped in front of you, grasping your arms gently. "What am I meant to do, huh? Just watch you walk away?"

"I need you to stay with dad," Sam explained in a soft tone. "You're safer with him. And then, I'll find you."

"No! What happened to sticking together? To never letting me out of your sight?"

You may sound petulant, but you were really just scared. And Sam knew that. He could see the internal conflict warring in your mind whether to let him go or not, even if it was just for a short time. You didn't care about yourself or getting back home - you cared about him more. You cared about Kevin and Quorra. About the thousands of programs, who were actual people, down there.

Sam let out a low sigh, before raising his hand to your cheek. You huffed sourly, avoiding his stare.

"I'll find you, like I always do," he mumbled close to a whisper. Your eyes widened partially as you finally met his gaze, lips parting slightly. "And then, when we're back home, safe and sound, you can check on me again. Out of the goodness of your heart."

Sam had a light smirk playing on his lips as he recalled the encounter at the office, where this entire thing started from. You breathed in deeply, the breath coming back out as shaky and nerve-wracked. His eyebrows furrowed at the sound, stroking a thumb over your cheek which made you hum.

"Don't..." You stopped for a second, closing your eyes. "Don't do anything stupid."

"You know you're talking to me, right?" he questioned with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow, hoping to lighten your mood. It seemed to work, for you allowed a tiny, almost interruptible smile lift at your lips.

He stepped away, but your hands remained locked until he was out of arms reach. With a final nod at his father, before repeating it for you, Sam offered you a single smile before turning away. You watched with a shaky breath as he rushed off into the darkness of the station, your hands already sweating.

A hand pressed itself over your shoulder, and Kevin's voice filled your ears, the tone of it soothing and calm like always as he spoke, "It's time to go, kiddo." You turned around, meeting his eyes and finding that soft grin like usual. "You ready?"

"Oh, I'm ready."

Immediately, you both took off in a run, jogging through pathways towards the congregation of programs and where Clu was continuing to parade nonsense to the crowd when he was really just repeating his words over and over with a new notion attached each time.

You found yourself on one of the lower levels of the station, on the same level as the programs. You slunk against the walls of the off-hand corridors, and Kevin came to a pause, silently pointing over to his side.

You followed it, finding an orange aero-ship nearby. However, a sentry gun stood watch, his back turned to you as he watched the programs seperate for Clu as he waded through the crowds.

You watched as Kevin walked towards the guard, your eyes wide with how casually he moved. You followed after him silently, looking over his shoulder as he tapped into sentry's disk.

Just as he finished the coding sequence, the guard suddenly turned around, moving his spear to the side before commanding, "Identify yourself."

"I'm taking this vehicle," Kevin replied.

"You are not authorised."

Kevin glanced at you as you stepped forward, reaching for your own disk in a means of attack. He smirked slightly when you looked at him, before suddenly slamming his fist down on the guard's head.

"Woah-."

"Right away, sir." You let out a disbelieving scoff as the sentry stepped backwards, nodding his head at both you and Kevin. "Watch your step please as you board the aircraft."

You glanced at the sentry once more before entering the aero-craft. Kevin made work of the piloting system, immediately disengaging the landing stamps before you both walked towards the entryway

"You think they'll make it?" you asked softly, staring at the tower above.

"Lighten up, kiddo," he smiled gently, "You know Sam better than I do. And I like to think he's pretty quick with everything."

You breathed out deeply, only being able to nod as your response. You waited with bated breaths, and you couldn't pull your eyes away from the structure.

Suddenly, the window in the tower above smashed open and something flew out into the open air. It resembled that of a butterfly or moth, with bright orange wings stretching out in the darkness.

"Radical, man," Kevin breathed out.

Sam and Quorra landed in a messy heap, the two of them sharing a breathless smile. You watched the exchange with furrowed eyebrows as he muttered something to her, the woman grinning even brighter as she watched him rise.

As she went to speak, her eyes caught onto you and Kevin, her voice surprisingly calling out your name. She raced towards the entrance, embracing you with a rush of force.

"Woah!" you gasped. "Oh, my God, you're okay."

She laughed loudly, pulling away from you - it was clear the adrenaline was getting to her, her movements rapid and loud with words. "I'm so glad you're okay."

She then smiled at Kevin, the pair exchanging words as Sam ran up the ramp. He smiled at the pair, before meeting your eyes with a sideways smirk and a tilt of his head. "Told ya I'd find you."

"Enough," you sighed, but nevertheless grabbed his hand and to his surprise, twined your fingers together as you pulled him further into the ship. He couldn't look away from you, even if he tried. "I want to go home, so let's speed this up, huh?"

"Yes, ma'am," he nodded as you all rushed into the main haul of the craft, slipping into your respective seats. You sat in one of the seats paired up in the back, Sam slipping into the next without a sound whilst Kevin and Quorra were at the front, the latter being the most experienced driver of Tron crafts.

Sam leaned over, holding the disk over Kevin's shoulder as he spoke, "Try and hold onto this. You're gonna need it."

Kevin smiled, grasping both the disk and Sam's forearm, holding it tightly with an affirmative shake of his pride.

"You've got this, Quorra," you hummed and she glanced over her shoulder with a nervous smile at you.

"It's all in the wrist," Kevin aided.

Quorra nodded to herself as she began making work of the operating systems. Not a moment later, the craft hummed with life and floated upwards. As she worked the ship, the orange lining began glitching, fading into the bright blue-white shade it was meant to be.

The view that greeted you was astonishing. An abyss of pitch black oceans with rough waves and a grey sky filled with lightning-filled and rumbling clouds. "Head towards the light, Quorra," Kevin instructed the woman, who nodded her head as an answer, before he turned about in his seat. "Where did you learn that move back there, by the way?"

"ENCOM Tower," Sam answered with a smile, "Couple of nights ago. Landed on a moving taxi."

"That was you?" you questioned with a snap in your tone, spinning around in your seat to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Got a taxi home, and the guy tells me some nut-job hooked himself over his taxi," you answered with a scowl. "Still so reckless, even in the real world."

"Oh, come on, sweetheart," Sam cooed, reaching over and grasping your hand in his. You let him do so, rolling your eyes as he thumbed over your palm.

Kevin watched you both a soft smile, turning around slowly with a slight hum as he mused, "ENCOM Tower, huh?"

Quorra glanced at him before a noise wafted through the air, her eyes widening as she looked out the side window. "Light jets," she whispered, before looking over at Kevin. "Here they come."

"Sam, take the turret," he commanded, glancing back at his son once more.

"Huh?-" He had no time to voice his confusion at the request, for his seat moved out from the floor with him still attached. You watched as the passenger seat guided its way to the back of the spacecraft, moving him into the turret.

From what you could see, two machines of some sort locked themselves next to Sam's arms, and as he slipped them inside, he exclaimed with a smile, "Man, I'm all over this." He was in charge of the ammunition of the craft, letting out a spray of them as he yelled out in victory, "One down, five to go!"

A battle in the sky ensued, with Quorra taking up the front-face ammunition. You could only watch from the backseat as they entered the Floating Pillars of the ocean, effectively dodging the flying columns and destroying the light jet one by one.

One fighter jet was more successful at remaining vigilant in his pursuit than his peers who had been destroyed prior. Above, the sentry turned dynamically over the craft as Kevin mumbled, "Tron... What have you become?"

In a twist of events, Tron suddenly turned on the other sentries, spinning out of control and forcing the other guard to go with him. They crashed together, the orange jets exploding in a burst of orange pixels.

"It's over! That's it!" Sam exclaimed with delight, letting out a shout of adrenaline.

"Whoo!" Quorra screamed brightly, and you let out a chuckle of nerve and disbelief.

You rose from the seat as Sam shot out of his own, the chair following him as he rushed towards the front of the ship. You went to speak, but were cut off by the wind getting practically knocked out of you as Sam swept you up in a rough embrace.

You couldn't stop the airy laugh, wrapping your arms around him as he exclaimed once more in elation. "Wasn't that awesome?" he questioned as he lowered you.

"Definitely, but you are not pulling any of that shit in the real world," you giggled, meeting his gaze.

"Always keeping me in check," he smiled warmly.

"Keeping you alive," you corrected.

He grinned, capturing your hand and moving towards the seats. "Let's get you home, dad."

The man smiled at him from the front, however when he caught your gaze, there was a spark there unbeknownst to Sam. You furrowed your eyebrows but he looked back to the front before you could speak.

"There it is. Take her down," he instructed.

"Hang on," Quorra sighed as she adjusted a few switches on the frame, "This could be rough."

From what you could see, in the distance and fast-approaching, a lone platform floated above the sea. Like the original flying packs that Sam had nabbed, the construction of it loosely resembled butterfly wings, light pouring from the centre of the station.

The landing was indeed rough, with all of you jostling in the seats and grasping onto anything that would stabilise you. Soon, you were rushing out of the ship and across the tarmac, where a flight of stairs awaited.

Excitement bubbled inside you, the joy of returning home to your world just withins arm reach. There were prospects, new and old on the horizon for you, as you glanced over at Sam.

But just at the last step of the staircase, did your happiness dwindle.

Clu stood on the bridge, the orange of his uniform a stark contrast to his vibrant white surroundings. Immediately, Kevin rose his arms as if to shield you all as he spoke, "This is mine."

This is what I created. This is my fight.

You and the others watched as he moved across the bridge slowly, his voice booming across the whirl of the portal. "I had a feeling you'd be here!"

"The cycles haven't been kind, have they?" Clu questioned in a laugh.

"Oh, you don't look so bad," he rebuked with a smile.

The grin faded from Clu's face, either taking on his notion like beforehand, or otherwise offended at the joke. "I did everything. Everything you ever asked."

"I know you did."

"I executed the plan!"

"As you saw it."

"You... You promised that we would change the world together," Clu exclaimed, his frustration at their original situation resurfacing. "You broke your promise."

"I know. I understand that now," Kevin spoke, sympathy in his tone as they both staggered towards one another.

"I took this system to its maximum potential. I created the perfect system!"

"The thing about perfection is that it's unknowable. It's impossible but it's also right in front of us all the time. You wouldn't know that because I didn't when I created you." They stared at one another for a moment, Kevin sighing out deeply. "... I'm sorry, Clu. I'm sorry."

There was conviction in both his gaze and voice as he slowly raised his arms in what looked to be an attempt at rejoice. Clu's face resembled that of a child, his eyes wide and a smile flickering across his lips in a static quirk.

He stepped forward, his arms too rising, before suddenly kicking Kevin in the chest, a scowl replacing his features once more. Sam screamed out, launching himself at Clu and punching him square in the jaw.

The pair fought, with them spinning and turning with Sam at the other side near the portal. You lowered yourself to the ground, tears blossoming in your eyes as Kevin glanced between you and Quorra.

"Go," he ordered the girl, and she sniffled with a nod, rising. You glanced at her, confused at how quickly she could just leave him, but as he grasped your hand, all emotion faded. "Keep him safe. In this world and the next."

"Kevin," you whispered.

"You've been doing good, kiddo."

He let go of your hand as you rose, movements shaky as Quorra grasped your arm. She held out a device that resembled a grappling hook, but obviously futuristic in its fashion. "Don't let go of me," she ordered, and tightened her hand viciously around yours, you nearly made a noise of complaint.

Out of nowhere, she began running and you could all but follow, matching her pace. Fear gripped you in a vice as she suddenly jumped off the platform, and you let out a shout of terror as you followed.

You gasped as you swung underneath the platform, however the adrenaline coursing through your veins allowed you to move with concentration. You swung your legs upwards just as you reached the peek of the ascension, landing on the platform with your hands and feet skidding across the ground.

Immediately, you removed the disk from your back as Quorra landed beside you, removing the stick spear from her side. You both stood in front of Sam, gaze locked onto Clu, who looked between you both with a smirk.

"Clu!" Kevin shouted, and the program immediately turned - a piece of him forever interlocked with the man who created him. "Remember what you came here for."

Clu took one last glance at you before turning around and walking towards Kevin. As he passed the middle-point of the bridge, it started closing itself off from the centre, disappearing into its own labyrinth and cutting off.

You gasped as the bridge's fast-pace removal approached, and you had to force Sam away before you fell away into the oceans below.

Clu delivered a swift kick to Kevin's face, with Sam fighting against you and Quorra with a yell, "DAD!"

"You knew I'd beat you," Clu hissed out as he made work of the disk latched to the man's back. "And still you all this? For him?"

With a victorious smile, the program raised the disk, awaiting the familiar visualised face of the foe beneath. However, his eyes widened upon seeing-

He spun around, eyes latching on Quorra. She met his gaze, eyebrows furrowed in fear for he figured out the small plan Kevin had hatched beforehand. Clu then looked towards you and Sam, letting out a yell of frustration upon seeing you both wrapped up together and about to step through the portal.

"No... No, no!" Clu exclaimed, spinning around to pin a venomous glare onto Kevin beneath him. "Why?!"

"He's my son."

It was chuckled out in disbelief that the program could ask such a question, and Clu hissed out, slamming the disk into the ground just by his head before taking off in a sprint.

"GO!" Kevin shouted, his voice carrying through the high winds.

You watched as Clu leaped across the broken bridge, grasping onto the edge in the knick of time, fingers curling over to secure himself. "DAD!" Sam screamed from behind you, anguish coating his entire face.

Kevin rose from the ground, casting a look over his shoulder. The trains were approaching quickly, aimed directly for the portal. He turned back, staring at his son with saddened eyes, "SAM! It's time!"

Sam screamed his denial, and Quorra stepped forward with a whisper, "Sam, it's what he wants."

"I'm not leaving you!"

Kevin sighed, glancing between you and Quorra, "Take them. Take her home!"

Sam met your eyes, finding them lined with tears whilst Quorra reached for the disk - Kevin's disk - and placed it in his hand. Immediately, you all stepped into the portal, and Sam wrapped his arm around your shoulder as you stepped in last.

Sam released you for just a moment, his arms raising high into the sky with the disk in his hands. The disk lit up before floating out of his hold and into the portal.

In doing so, the portal warped with a burst of light, completely sectioning it off from the outside. However, the excitement and thrill of returning home dwindled as you followed Sam's gaze. Kevin stood at the edge of the bridge, tears visible in his light eyes. Anguish enveloped you in a cold embrace as you realised he wouldn't be returning home like he promised he would.

Suddenly, Clu swung himself over the platform, rising with a dark glare pinned on the three of you in the portal. Just as he stepped forward, a thrust of white energy surged out in a circle, completely capturing the program.

From behind him, you could see Clu down on one knee, his fingers stretched and thrumming with power as they touched base with the ground.

Clu floated in air, hands outstretching in a final attempt to reach for Sam or the disk. You grasped Sam's hand in a spin of emotion, wondering if perhaps you still wouldn't win.

However, when Clu was ripped away by the power surge of Kevin, and was thrust into his Creator, you knew you were safe. The portal warped just as you saw the pair collide, before a burst of pixels in a ray of blinding light filled your vision.

You curled into Sam's chest just as the world went silent.

You gasped loudly, hand flying to your chest as if it would ease your racing heart. Rapid breaths escaped your lips as you gathered full consciousness. You nearly squeezed your eyes shut, but stopped when you took note of your surroundings.

The office. Kevin's office.

And it was normal.

The brown brick walls, dusty atmosphere combined with the smell of faint must. The bright yellow light of the streetlamp had faded, and instead the searing orange warmth of the sun filled the gutter-opening instead.

Had it truly been a single night? Kevin did say time was completely different - days in Tron were hours in the real world.

You weren't in the same position and stance as you were prior, and it was only now that you realised who was with you.

Pressed up, with his arm wrapped around you, Sam watched you from above, and you could feel his heart racing beneath his chest from where your head rested. He too was breathing heavily, but other then your collective breathing, silence stretched between you both as the reality of the situation settled with a low tensity.

Quietly, you placed your hand over his beating heart, feeling it slow after a moment, and hearing Sam let out a quiet sigh. His hand rose to cover yours, and you met his eyes.

Slowly, you pulled away from one another, and you turned away from him with a rush in your step. Sam watched you go for a moment, before moving towards the desk.

"What are you going to do?" you asked softly, and Sam looked at you from over his shoulder.

"I can't destroy it," he murmured his response, and you nodded in understanding. "But I can preserve it."

You waited for him as he made work of the transfer. He relocated the entire data sequence of Tron onto a small hard drive, before wrapping it through a small chainlink.

You watched as he stared at the small device in his hand - how could an entire world fit on something that tiny? It made it feel all so insignificant, like you hadn't fought for your lives and lost loved ones?

You could hear him sniffling slightly, and nearly chose to evade it, knowing from previous encounters he was never one to openly showcase his tears.

However, you still moved towards him, placing a hand over his shoulder. He stilled at your touch, but as you placed your hands around his waist and slowly turned him to fully face you, you couldn't help the sadness creeping onto your face at his expression.

The tears in his gaze made his face slightly red, and the light of the room made his eyes so incredibly blue and bright. "I nearly got him back," he whispered with a deep breath.

You didn't know what to say, your lips parting as if to speak, but decided words wouldn't really do any good. Hesitantly, you pulled the hard drive from his hand, the chain sliding off his palm delicately.

You raised it over his head, clipping it together at the back of his neck before sliding your hands down his collarbone. You rested them at the centre of his chest, just below the hard drive turned pendant.

"Now you can carry a piece of him," you whispered, tilting your head to look at him. "You'll forever the memory of what you went through with him. Doesn't that give you peace of mind? You know what happened now. What he did."

Sam stared at you, his hands hovering over your upper arms before he nodded slowly. "You're right." He sighed, pasting on a slight smile as he finally graced his touch over your arms. "Hey, I kept my promise though."

"And what promise was that?" you cocked an eyebrow, catching on the way he was trying to lighten the mood.

"To get you home safe," he answered.

You couldn't help your smirk as you stepped away from him, casting a look over your shoulder. "You also made another promise."

"Oh, did I?" he matched your smile, following behind you.

"That you'd never let me out of your sight," you stated as you turned once more, tilting your head at him. "Does it apply in the real world?"

The question was so clear in the silence between you both. Sam was just surprised you had asked first. His neck inclined, chin dipping as he barely suppressed a smile. It quirked to the side, a boyish charm to it, like he was giddy about the whole thing.

He took a step towards you, his hands flying to your waist and pulling you flush against his chest in a quick movement. You let out a meek gasp, conscious of how quiet the room was as your hands settled at his chest.

"Are you telling me I get another chance at this?" he whispered, his warm breath, minty and fresh, fanning over your lips.

"And if I say yes?"

Sam grinned, a hand raising to your face. His finger threaded through the strands of hair surrounding your cheeks, flicking them to the side before sweeping his hand over your face.

"I'm not gonna screw it up." Your eyebrows furrowed and your eyes dipped with the conviction of promise in his voice. He meant each word, and his gaze was nothing short of sincere. "I'm gonna be here for you, every step of the way. You're my life."

"Sam..." you whispered, the weight of his words crushing your restraint.

You surged forward and Sam reached for your face once more like you were made of glass, his hands warm against your skin. His thumbs brushed away a tear you didn't even know had fallen.

Eyes were searching yours, so full of wonder, of fear, of something deeper. When he kissed you, it wasn't gentle—it was desperate, almost aching. Like he was pouring every silent wish, every lonely night, every unspoken "I love you" into that one moment. Your hands found his chest, clutching his shirt like you needed to hold on to something real, something grounding, because it felt like your heart might float away.

Neither of you wanted to come up for air right away. Time had folded in on itself, completing wrapping you up in a solid embrace. But when you finally did part, with his forehead pressed to your own, your breaths mingling.

Neither of you spoke for a moment, but you didn't need to. The kiss had said everything. It represented all the things he hadn't said to you, but had felt ten fold.

"Finally," he whispered, and you couldn't stop yourself from chuckling, the sound breathy and windswept as you leaned back slightly. "I've missed you. Missed everything about you."

You smiled, biting your lip and Sam was all but drawn to them like always. "You know what I missed the most?"

"Yeah?" he grinned, leaning closer to you once more.

Your lips brushed over his, the promise of another aching kiss, before you whispered, "Marv."

Sam's eyes widened as you pulled away from him, a giggle escaping your flushed lips. He watched you with an open smile, shaking his head lightly. You grinned in response as you walked towards the door of the study.

He watched you for a moment, before casting a small glance around the office. With a sigh, he patted his hand gently against the disk now dangling from his chest.

"You comin'?"

He looked up at you once more, finding your hip docked to the side and a hand resting against it as you opened the door. The light from outside bathed you in gold and specks of alight dust.

You were like an angel.

"Yeah, I'm comin', sweetheart."