Once Rejected Twice desired
He rested his chin gently against the side of Noah's neck, his steady heartbeat a grounding rhythm against Noah's spine.
"And do you?" Vance asked softly, his hands anchoring Noah securely against him.
"No," Noah said, turning his head slightly to meet Vance's dark, unwavering gaze. A small, genuine smile touched his lips. "It’s completely gone. The machine is ours, Vance. There are no ghosts left."
They stood together at the absolute edge of the sky, watching the city wake up under a vast, uninterrupted horizon. Noah realized then that their reality had fundamentally changed, and the final loophole had been closed for good.