Promise

The bunker wasn’t a large place, so sooner or later River and Finn were bound to cross paths. It happened in the cold, almost sinister bathroom, where their faint smiles at each other carried both awkwardness and familiarity.

River leaned over a sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed water onto his face in a careless rush. A few faucets down, Finn stood tying up his rebellious golden-brown hair, the long row of sinks and cracked mirrors giving the bathroom the bleak feel of an abandoned mall restroom.

River shut off the tap and rubbed his face dry with the hem of his shirt. He opened his mouth, eyes lowered, ready to speak, when Finn cut him off before he managed a word.

“I spoke to Han again, River. He told me more about the bunkers.”

River’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing as he met Finn’s gaze in the mirror. “What?!”

Finn nodded, exhaling slowly. “We already knew there were other bunkers… but it turns out they’re set in rows. And our row, apparently, is closer to the surface.”

The idea exploded in River’s mind, thoughts racing faster than he could process them. If their bunker was near ground level, then maybe, just maybe, Ravish was closer than he had dared hope. He already knew other bunkers existed, and now he also knew that hallways linked them to the rest of their “floor.” And if his bunker held six eighteen-year-old boys, then logic suggested the others were filled with other boys his age, from the same place, which raised the chances of Ravish being among them. The entire chain of reasoning unravelled in just a couple of heartbeats; River’s instinct had always been to speak before he thought too deeply.

“Holy SHIT!” he blurted out. “I need to get out. Like, now. I’m LOSING MY MIND in here. How are we gonna do this? Do the others know already?”

Finn shook his head slowly, his expression one of gentle disapproval. “I won’t lie, I’ve been thinking the same. Leaving might be better than rotting in here. If things are truly this bad, I’d rather find my family and spend whatever time we have with them.” He hesitated, then added with quiet firmness, “But we must be smart. Careful. If Han’s around, that means there are more guards. And even if we make it out… we don’t know what waits for us out there.”

His voice was soft, almost subdued, but his reasoning stood solid. River let it sink in, then gave a reluctant nod.

Finn studied him for a moment. “You’re hoping to find your friend, aren’t you? The one you told me about.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed River’s face, but he nodded. “His name is Ravish.”

Finn didn’t press, just nodded in understanding. “Let’s talk to the others. The main room, tonight. We might be stronger as a team than we think.” His lips curved into a faint, teasing smile.

River let out a small laugh, the sound strained but real, and nodded again.

As they turned to leave, River hesitated. “Finn?” His voice was uncharacteristically small.

“Yes, River?”

He took a breath, speaking timidly and cautiously - strange for him. “I want to be honest. I always play stupid, joke about you having a crush on me, because… well, you know. Do I really have to spell it out?” His tone was almost offended.

Finn tilted his head, confused.

“I like you, for God’s sake! You already knew that. And I’m pretty sure you like me back,” he added with a crooked grin, half-teasing, half-defensive.

Finn laughed, a blush tinting his cheeks, though he kept his composure.

River’s smile faded. “You probably already know what happened with Raven. I don’t know why I did it. I don’t even know why he did it, I’m pretty sure he’d enjoy seeing me dead.” His words slipped out as if he were talking more to himself than to Finn. “But it happened. And… that’s it.”

Finn met his eyes, calm and steady. “I’ll ask you the same thing I asked before: why do you think you owe me an explanation?”

River froze, panic bubbling like before. But before he could unravel into senseless words, Finn added gently, “You’re right. I like you. I like being around you, even with your completely manic ways.” He laughed, and River couldn’t help but laugh too. “I like your spontaneity. Whatever happened with Raven is part of that. Maybe he wasn’t the best choice, I’ll give you that. But River,” he reached out, hesitantly taking River’s hands and drawing a deep breath, “I’d never want you to chain yourself, or force yourself to go against your nature. You’re brave, explosive, hungry for life. Don’t ever feel you have to shrink for me. I don’t own you, and whatever we have between us, I don’t want it to hold you back.”

River was struck silent, his throat tight, eyes stinging with tears he hadn’t meant to shed.

“But I really like you,” he whispered at last, after the silence grew heavy.

“I really like you too.” Finn’s smile was soft, his own tears betraying him. “I want you to be happy. If there’s space for me in your heart, then I’m happy too. But your heart is big, River. I know there’s space for more than just me.”

River’s lips twitched into a smile. “We’re not talking about Raven anymore, are we?” He stepped closer.

“I’ll help you find your friend, River.”

Finn pulled him into a sudden, firm embrace, and then kissed him - sweetly, naturally, as if it had always been meant to happen that way.