Somber ventured downstairs a few hours later, towards late evening time. Discord settled him on the couch, made him some hot soup. Somber managed a grateful smile, but it soon faded, and he became as withdrawn as before. Discord longed to do something, anything, to clear that sadness from Somber's eyes. But the poor man needed time and space to grieve, not romantic advances.

So he just did what he could, telling silly anecdotes to make Somber smile for a moment. Making him coffee, and when Somber fell asleep on the couch, wrapping him in blankets so as not to disturb him.

He called in sick the next day, saying he had an emergency, and Celestia was very understanding. He didn’t say this to Somber, worried it’d give him something to fuss over.

Somber seemed as lost as he'd been the previous day, but he at least responded to Discord's jokes. Discord wondered if he should get Somber to talk about what happened, Somber hadn’t said a word about the fire.

He wondered if Somber blamed him for this. He would not stop him, he realised. This felt worse then when he'd upset Fluttershy, seen her cry.

But when he tried the next day, as they stood in the kitchen clearing up the dishes from lunch, Somber looked stricken at the idea. He shook his head, voice strained as he declined, begging Discord not to bring it up.

Somber closed his eyes, feeling sick as what’d happened threatened to overwhelm his head. He just couldn't cope right now, he didn’t have the strength.

Discord gently brushed Somber's nose with his, making him open his eyes.

"Its alright." Was all Discord said "I wont force you Somber, know that..."

Somber nodded gratefully. Discord gently pressed a light kiss on Somber's lips before letting him go, insisting he go watch TV, and leave the dishes to him.

Somber curled up on the couch. Just thinking about the loss of his home, his collection, made him feel sick. Part of him suggested this was all Discord's fault. Why did he have to come here, tear Somber's world apart?

But when he tried to graft the blame onto Discord, his guilt made him back away. Yes, there was no denying that one action, unleashing the occupants of that box had been foolish. But like Pandora herself, Discord had not foresaw what his meddling would do, it’d been random chance he'd come here.

He could’ve just walked away, let those things run rampant. For all his ego, Discord did have a conscience, even if it was buried under a landslide of perverted thoughts and sexual innuendos. And in the end, this was what blunted Somber anger, deep down...

For dinner, Discord made the same pasta dish he recalled Somber loving that first time. This seemed to catch Somber's attention, made his eyes brighten just a fraction. He had a good enough appetite to Discord's relief. But he seemed so lost, so quiet, it worried Discord. As they sat watching TV after dinner, Somber inched a little closer, perhaps seeking comfort. Discord went one further, wrapping him in his arms and lying back so Somber was resting on his chest. He wrapped his arms around him, rubbing his back in small, subtle movements. Somber smiled wanly, and Discord got the impression it was hard for him to muster much emotion right now.

After about an hour, he realised Somber had fallen asleep, and decided to wait as long as he could before inevitably needing the bathroom, before disturbing his sleeping Somber.

Sombra winced, making a frightened sound in his sleep.

"No- get away.." he moaned unhappily. Discord ran a hand through that soft raven black hair.

"It's OK Somber," he whispered, rubbing his back again "I'm here..."

Somber's scared words trailed off into faint mumblings, and he relaxed a little.

In the end, Discord dozed off still cradling the sleeping Somber.

----------

Somber woke up, confused and disorientated. The standby timer on the TV said it was 9:00pm.

He noticed how warm and secure his bed felt, and realised his bed was Discord's embrace. He flushed a little, but didn’t have the heart to deny how safe he felt right now...

So he studied Discord while he was sleeping. His flyaway crazy hair, even tied back still stuck out everywhere, how totally carefree he managed to look even while sleeping. The heartache of the previous days faded a little as Somber looked at Discord for a few moments more, then to the window behind the couch. It was full dark, with the windows reflecting the well lit room around him.

"Mhh? Oh, hello~" Discord's voice startled him back to attention, and he turned his head back, coming nose to nose with Discord.

"Sleep well?" Discord chuckled. Somber felt a bit guilty as he spoke.

"You should've woken me, this cant be good for your back."

"Ridiculous!" Discord declared, smiling softly "you’re very comfortable to hold, you know that. I didn’t want to let you go!"

"Now who's being ridiculous!" Somber muttered, flushing. How could Discord be so blunt about how he felt? It was as if he didn't have a filter about how his mind worked.

"You and me." Was Discord's answer, before an amused kiss sent Somber's heart rate soaring. The thrill of a kiss pushed aside the impending grief he knew he'd have to face about all he'd lost, the terrifying encounter that night...

So he returned the kiss with a need almost equal to the one kissing him.

They were already as close as could be, but nonetheless Discord could swear Somber found a way to press ever closer.

--Sweet Tia on a pogo-stick, does he know how tempting he is?!-- Discord moaned softly, tracing patterns up Somber's back with his fingers, before letting them roam back down, toying with the edge of Somber's shirt...

Somber felt a fresh shock to his nerves when he felt fingers brush bare skin, slipping under his rumpled shirt. It felt strange, but wonderful.

At last Discord broke the kiss, taking in Somber's flushed face, the way his hair fell so sexily over his shoulders. Idly he reached up and tucked it back behind the man's ears.

"It looks good that way." he said firmly.

Sombra smiled softly, but Discord could see the sadness behind his eyes. While he wanted to carry Somber upstairs and not let him go until he'd demonstrated every way he could make him feel good, a part of him felt guilty about the idea. Somber had been through so much, Discord didn’t want to hurt him...

Somber's stomach gurgled at that point, and he blushed furiously.

"Somebody’s hungry," Discord kissed him lightly as he sat up, "how about I heat up some more of that pasta?"

A silent nod.

But as Somber sat back on the couch to allow Discord to stand, his back twinged stiffly, and he cursed.

"Hmm...food, then a bath?" Discord suggested.

Somber nodded again.

He seemed to go back to his listless self once Discord let him go, staring into the distance barely responding. Discord monitored him while he ate, and wondered if there was anything he could do?

He shepherded Somber upstairs once he was done eating, making sure he had towels, clean nightwear and whatever he needed, and kissing him one more time before leaving him to it.

He tried to watch TV but his guilt, suppressed in favour of trying to coax Somber back to happiness, came slithering back.

This was HIS fault. If he hadn’t torn the opening in reality to escape, used that box, Somber's life would be the same. He'd have his home, his health. Things Discord had put in jeopardy.

--I have to find a way to give him back what my folly took. I owe him that and so much more.--

So he brought one of his laptops into the room, running simulations on what it'd take to get the money to buy a new house. Also a method of getting more out of his magic, so that Somber need not fight-

"What are you doing?"

So caught up was he in his calculations and self recrimination, Discord hadn't heard Somber come downstairs. he looked up, and his heart nearly stopped at how cute the man looked.

Discord had found him a baggy black shirt and clean shorts to serve as bedclothes. And sweet Celestia they looked cute on him. This, combined with his loose, freshly dried hair falling in loose waves over his shoulders, he looked tempting...

"N-nothing.." Discord blurted, attempting to hide how upset he felt. But Somber wasn’t a fool, and leant down to grab the top of the laptop, stopping it from shutting the screen He quickly absorbed the stats Discord was running, and his expression went cold.

"What are you doing?" he repeated, looking at Discord.

"Sit down..." Discord patted the couch. Somber stared a moment longer, then sat stiffly, expression blank.

"I'm the one who caused this problem, my foolish pride in seeking out a world I’d like better than my own. Because of this, evil spirit shave been set loose, and I’ve repeatedly put your life in danger."

"So you're trying to get rid of me?" Somber asked coldly. Discord shook his head, feeling closing to miserable now he'd finally acknowledged what he'd done, in regards to this man.

"I want to protect you, my dear Somber. You're the one who's been hurt the most because of all this. This isn't your fight-"

“The hell it isn’t!!" Somber said sharply. Discord stopped, looking over at him.

"That thing, Elpis, it had to go somewhere. That there is hope at all is what kept Pandora going in that story. it's what keeps humans going at all. There is always hope. Yes in this case its a literal weapon, but at least we have hope..." he trailed off, grasping for words.

"I said it before, I’m sorry." Discord murmured, taking in the flushed, dishevelled Somber currently glaring at him, hands clenched in his lap.

"What are you apologising for you...moron?!" Somber didn’t sound too certain of his insult, he sounded upset.

"How about bringing that darkness here? Destroying your life?!" Discord shot back, why wasn't Somber seeing this "don’t pretend this hasn’t hurt, you've been through hell-"

"Don’t make assumptions!" Somber shot back, voice raising a little, eyes blazing.

"You're not alright with this, you and I both know this. Your books, your memories, you shouldn’t have had to lose them. Nobody deserves that..."

"The things that matter aren’t held in photographs," Somber said, trying to keep his voice level "we hold them in our memories. If something is that special, you're not going to forget. Yes, faces fade, time goes by, but how you feel about it will be the same! Many philosophers have said as such throughout history, and I believe them."

Discord was impressed by Somber's mind, his conviction.

"You really are amazing." he said out loud before he could help himself. Somber faltered, blushing slightly at the utter truth of Discord's voice.

"Says the one who's changed into an entirely new species!" Somber shot back "but that's not the point. What is THIS?!" He gestured to the laptop screen.

"I wanted to find a way to keep you away from the fighting, try and protect you-" Discord glanced guiltily at the rows of numbers and data.

"I appreciate the thought, but BULLSHIT." Somber snarled.

"Somber?" Discord blinked, looking back at him. Somber was standing up, looming over him and the laptop. The light caught his eyes, and Discord was surprised to see furious tears gathering there.

"Don’t you dare patronize me. Yes, I was pissed at you at first, barging into my life and dragging me on this batshit crazy adventure. But I’ve been thinking about it since that first night when you stopped that thing from killing me and healed my collarbone. And everything else you’ve told me.

Yes, it was downright foolish of you to open that box without seeing what all that power was guarding, but all the guilt in the world wont fight those things. I respect you more for you’re determination to FIX your cock-up rather then avoid it than anything else. This isn’t the real you talking. You accused me of sheltering behind the façade I erected, now look who's doing the same thing?!"

"What?" Discord stood, looking him in the eye "are you seriously saying you’re hunky dory with your life being turned into that of a monster hunter, like that show about those two guys hunting ghosts and looking for their father? You've seen the crap they run into, this is practically the same, only its real!"

"Are you even paying attention? Yes, I was mad. WAS. Aren’t you listening?!" Somber yelled, shutting Discord up.

"I was stuck in a rut, commiserating over losing my old school position, hating that woman for destroying my career. I avoided the other teachers at CHS, not wanting to make friends if I could help it. Then you show up, badger me relentlessly at lunch, force me to talk, then save me from a maniacal shadow. Yes, it was a shock, but I’ll tell you this: I’ve never felt more alive since the Crystal Prep disaster!"

"Somber.." Discord blinked.

Somber shook his head, rubbing at his face with one hand before letting it fall to his side, head buzzing.

"After it attacked the classroom and nearly hurt my students, I realised just how serious this was. Monsters exist in this world, but by default they wear human skin. There's a way to stop human machinations, and I swore I’d find a way to stop this thing's plans. I finally feel like I can do something, instead of just fleeing a fight. Yes, yes, a millions times YES, how it came to be is a grave error, but we can stop it!

You can run all the simulations you like, but you’re missing one factor: how hard I will kick your ASS if you try to take this on by yourself. Elpis is here for you, that’s why it left that message and went off to find a suitable vessel. You can ignore me all you like, I’m not done kicking that thing back to whatever hell it spawned in. What are you going to say that!?"

His tirade finally came to an end, eyes blazing, flushed and breathing rapidly.

Discord stared, then blurted "you're so damn HOT when you’re angry-ack!" as Somber all but lunged at him, and they fell back onto the couch. Discord tried to sit up, but Somber shifted quickly, pinning him by the shoulders.

Looking up, Discord seen those gorgeous crimson eyes full of determination and anger as Somber glared down at him, soft black hair brushing his cheek. It took every bit of strength Discord had not to reach up and toy with it. No amount of amorous advances would stay Somber's fury, he knew that much!

"Stop making sexual innuendos to try and get out of this! You always do this, that first night with that tentacled thing, then when you first kissed me in the lab. Now this!" Somber shook his head, a look of anguish on his face "just be honest with me for pity’s sake!!"

Discord stared at him, wide-eyed. Somber had a hidden side, one of fire and fury. So much passion in a few sentences, it’d caught him off guard...

Plip.

Discord blinked as a single droplet splashed onto his cheek. He reached up, brushing away the frustrated tears threatening to fall.

"You ass," Somber snapped, shaking his head "you give me a reason to feel alive again after all this time, then you treat me like a fool! How DARE you-?"

“I know," Discord realised he'd been so, so wrong "And I’m sorry, Somber..."

Somber said nothing, just staring at him, not letting up on his position of bodily pinning the other to the couch until he got his answers. Discord's hand came to rest against his cheek, and he closed his eyes, nuzzling his head against it just slightly.

Discord swore his heart sped up another notch, uniquely caused by Somber's responses to him...

"I'm angry I lost my library, those books were old, but more than that, they were reminders of my old school. But, clinging onto the memory of them wont help me now. I can rebuild..." Somber opened his eyes, looking back at Discord.

"I will find a way to replace each and every one of them," Discord swore "I’ll build you a library here until we get you a new home. Its the least you deserve-"

Somber shook his head again, "I could have died. That’s what made me realise. Yes, I lost a lot of possessions, but other copies will exist, even if it takes ten years to get the rarer books. I'll be able to find them again. Maybe find new books. It's not the end of the world, even if it felt like it right now. You said it at the hospital: I'm still alive. I haven’t lost everything."

The shirt he was wearing was hanging loosely on his slender frame, Discord seen the spot where the fractured collarbone had been, and brushed the shirt aside, pressing his fingers to that place.

"That’s why it chose you. You’re resilient," he stated simply "many I have met in this world would have turned and run by now. But you’ve faced the worst in such a short time, yet here you are. Hating me for trying to mess with your life.."

"I never said I hated-" Somber calmed his voice down, blushing a little at the warmth of Discord's hands "I NEVER said that. Idiot."

Discord chuckled, only now tucking Somber's hair back behind his ears.

"Can you let me up for one second?" he asked. Sombra removed his hands from Discord's shoulder, sitting back. With his arms fully free, Discord pulled the laptop over, and wonkily managed to hit a few keys. A screen flashed up, and he hit "Yes".

"Data erased" flashed up in capital letters on the template left behind. Somber blinked, a spark of hope rising.

"It was crass of me to think you’d be so easily scared off, you’re so much more than that Somber," Discord murmured, lying back on the couch and looking up at the man holding him captive in more ways than one. "I just hope you can forgive me. I don't want to lose you..."

Somber still looked a little angry, but his expression was softening. He leaned forward, resting his hands either side of Discord's head on the couch.

"Yes, I CAN, you big idiot. But if you ever do this to me again, I’ll make you regret it!"

Discord felt light headed with relief "Alright, I’ll hold you to that, and hope I never have cause to witness it."

Somber smiled at last, a wry sort of smile "there, was that so hard?"

"Uhh...poor choice of words." Discord chuckled, going slightly red. Somber frowned, what was he on about?

"You’re uh- the way you’re sitting..?" Discord grinned. Somber blinked, tilted his head slightly, and went bright red.

When he'd pounced Discord, he'd been too furious to think beyond doing whatever it took to stop Discord dodging the issue and HIM. He now realised his knees were straddling the others hips. It looked suggestive at best. He felt somewhat mortified.

"Now who's being weirdly sexual?" Discord teased.

"Argh!" Sombra groaned "shut up. This is YOUR fault!"

Discord pulled Somber's hands towards him, causing him to lose balance fall further on top of him, using his elbows for balance. Their faces were inches apart, and Discord took full advantage. He kissed Somber hotly, feeling a shiver race through Somber's body.

When Somber uttered a bewildered moan, Discord knew he'd gone beyond the point of ever being without this stubborn, wilful man. He wanted him, more than ever before.

They broke apart for a moment, then it was Somber's turn to kiss Discord, all the fire and fury that’d laced his words now in a simple kiss.

Unable to quash his desires, Discord let his hands roam up and over Somber's hips, settling them on his back. A small push and the shirt slid down, bunching up around its wearers shoulders. And he was free to trace his fingers over bare skin.

Somber blushed even brighter as they pulled apart.

"I wasn't kidding,” Discord said breathlessly “you really are cute when you're mad. I don’t even want to BEGIN tainting your innocent mind with what I’m fantasizing right now-"

“So I’m going to take second place to a fantasy am I?" Somber shot back, half angry, half teasing. It was hard to say which.

"All jokes aside Somber," Discord said seriously "I don't think now is a good time to be proposing I ravish you senseless. You’ve been through enough, I don’t want to take advantage of you-"

"I said shut up about that!" Somber glared again, flushed and a little out of breath from the kissing "you think I don’t know what you’re getting at? You want SEX. There, I’m not stupid!!"

That he was not, Discord realised. So he had read the hints, the innuendo...

"You’re right," he said at last "I want to indulge in every perverse thought I’ve had since I kissed you. But my question is, my dear Somber.." he reached up and ran a hand all the way down Somber's back until he reached the waistband of his shorts "is it what you want?"

Somber heart was threatening to make him pass out, it was running so fast. But the thought would not leave his head. To have somebody want you that much, it was an unknown thing for him. But he was tired of always being cautious, playing it safe. He wanted more...

He felt Discord's fingers slip subtly under the waist of the shorts, and he liked how it felt. It sent his already sensitive body into overdrive.

Discord was kissed sternly the next second, and when his eyes met Somber's, the others were filled with a blatant longing.

"You need an invitation?" Somber said, in a sultry growl.

That was what did it. Discord kissed him, then sat up, angling himself so he was able to throw Somber across his shoulder.

"Uwah!" Somber yelped "what are you doing?"

"What do you think?" Discord purred "a bed is far more suitable an arena for this occasion! I want to do you right, my precious Somber."

Somber felt the blood go rushing to his head as this perpendicular view of the floor whooshed by, his pulse like a drum in his ears.

Thus, when the familiar carpet on the bedroom came into view, and he was gently set back down on his feet, everything was spinning.

"Whoa there!" Discord chuckled, wrapping his arms around Somber's middle, pulling him to rest against his chest. Somber hands came to rest on Discord's back, they felt so warm through the linen shirt fabric. He was breathing rapidly, and Discord swore he could feel the others heartbeat. Somber blinked up at him, and Discord couldn't resist kissing him again, sliding his hands under Somber's shirt and pressing the kiss even deeper.

--How much more irresistible is he going to look?-- Discord mused, before scooping Somber up so the other had to wrap his arms around Discord's neck to avoid falling, then carried him over to the bed. He brushed the covers aside and gently set Somber down…

Author's Notes:

That burp gave me hiccups. Not many more chapters left....i think.