Love

It would be pointless to deny that a nice bit of elitism was ingrained in Cove's mind.

Spending time in an old underground bunker with five strangers was far from his usual activities. Hell, he wasn't even allowed to associate with his middle-class peers. His parents believed mingling with them would tarnish his image in front of their wealthy friends, who, ironically, had no interest in him anyway.

Consequently, Cove grew up in isolation, his social skills and awareness stunted by years of enforced solitude. The grandeur of his family's estate had been a gilded cage, offering material comfort but little in the way of genuine human connection.

The fact that he wasn't effortlessly brilliant at everything his parents demanded only made things worse. Every evening, he was forced to study with a private tutor, followed by piano lessons every other day. He loathed the relentless routine and genuinely believed he was stupid for not excelling, despite pouring every waking hour into these pursuits.

Now, thrust into a situation that demanded cooperation and empathy, Cove found himself grappling with a world he had never truly been part of.

The sense of camaraderie that the others seemed to share was completely beyond his grasp. Despite his upbringing in a world of luxury, or perhaps because of it, he was unprepared for the raw, unfiltered reality of this situation.

He felt like an outcast once again.

Sage, on the other hand, was different. Talking to him, laughing with him, even just being around him felt like a trip to paradise. Cove still worried about looking like a fool, but the difference was that even if he did, he was sure Sage wouldn't judge or mock him.

Sage's presence made the harsh realities of the bunker more bearable, and even gave Cove a glimpse of the genuine human connection he had always yearned for.

The huge problem with Sage, however, was that Cove felt a bit too drawn to him.

He had never questioned his sexuality before. Sure, girls weren't on his priority list, but he had always assumed it was because he was too busy with all his other obligations. He figured that maybe one day, when he was older, he would feel some kind of attraction. But from what he had learned reading about love stories, watching classic romance movies, and listening to songs about love, what he felt for Sage sure did feel exactly like that.

That was a gigantic problem; the world was ending above them, and here Cove was, confined with strangers in a cement prison. An introspection on his sexuality really wasn't necessary at the moment.

But he found himself thinking about it over and over while staring at the ceiling in the cold bedroom, next to the bed where Sage had slept before. The sheets still held Sage's lingering scent.

Cove felt like a fool for screaming at Sage; emotional control wasn't his strong suit, especially in such desperate circumstances. He knew what he had to do, even if it was difficult. Apologizing to Sage was not only necessary, but also an excuse to connect with him.

Cove took a deep breath, stood up, and began to search for Sage around the bunker.

As he passed by a sleeping Raven, Nima engrossed in his book, and Finn rocking on the floor by the fireplace, his heart raced with urgency.

Finally reaching the locker room, Cove's heart sank at the sight before him. His blood froze in his veins as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

There, on the floor, lay Sage-motionless and pale, his face turned downward.