One last kiss. One last embrace. 

Or well — of course it wouldn't be the last one ever, for Aaron would wait for him. But during the remaining months of his captivity, Rick would have to do without. He was overjoyed that his boyfriend would finally be free from his tormentor, but Rick would still miss him. Next Friday, he would have to change the bedding with someone else. He was sure it would be less fun. It wasn't exactly paradise within these prison walls, so the prospect to spend a few hours with his boyfriend had always pulled him through. 

Soon, however, he would have other things to look forward to. Aaron's letters, for instance. And he would have more time to get to know his cellmate. Every day, he noticed something was bothering him; maybe he would finally succeed in getting him to talk. He was sure it would make Mateo feel better. He believed it was someone who found it hard to talk about his problems. It would be amazing if Rick could help him a little bit, right? After all, Mateo was also helping him by protecting him. He didn't expect sexual payment in return — and now that Rick had a boyfriend, he was glad about that for otherwise, his protection probably would have been withdrawn — but he would be happy if he could do something in return. Mateo was quite a gloomy and gruff person. Seeing him laugh — and not while making fun of someone — sounded like a nice goal for the weeks to come. 

Elated, Rick went to the mess hall to get breakfast. However, his boyfriend wasn't there. Nor was Moloch. 

The smile was almost swept off his lips as he went to the restroom after breakfast, just like they planned. This was the place where they would say their goodbyes. 

But Aaron didn't come. 

There was a pit in his stomach which Rick tried to ignore. It was a pity, but neither of them could have done something about it. Aaron had been earlier released than expected, but that was a good thing. And Moloch probably hated his departure, because of which he hadn't shown up for breakfast. 

But his boyfriend was free, that was all that counted. 

. . .

During dinner, Mateo suddenly took an empty seat at their table. Surprised, Rick looked at him — he'd never done that before. 

"You heard what happened last night?"

Rick shook his head. 

"Thought so." Mateo took a bite of a roast chicken. "He's in solitary," he added, his mouth full. 

"Who?" Rick asked. 

"Your boy."

"Aaron?" He gave him a puzzled look. 

 "Yeah — unless you got more?" Mateo looked him briefly in the eye. "He stabbed Moloch last night."

Rick dropped his fork. "W-what?"

Mateo glanced coldly at him, clearly not planning to repeat his words. 

"I — I don't get it. He would never do that. They — they were going to release him."

On the other side of the table, Tommy shook his head in disbelief as well. "How could he be so stupid?"

"I guess his hatred was stronger than his longing to be free," Ace said with a sad face. 

"No — no way. There must be some misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Ace repeated, raising his eyebrows. "One does not accidentally stab someone in their sleep. And I get him, y'know? That bastard terrorized him for months and he's gettin' away with it. I would rather kill him too than lettin' him get away with it."

"But Aaron wouldn't do that!" In despair, Rick grabbed Mateo's hand. "I swear! He wanted to be free so badly — he would wait for me and prepare nice things to do together!"

Mateo stared at his hand. Then, he shot him a dark look before snatching his fingers from under Rick's hand. "Then what do you think happened, huh?"

"I — I dunno," Rick stammered. "Somebody else must have done it, blaming Aaron for it."

"As far as I know, they don't share their cell with a third person."

Rick bent his head, biting his lip. "Where — where is he now?"

"I told you — he's in solitary. And Moloch is in the infirmary."

"Will he die?" Rick asked hopefully. 

"I doubt it," Mateo grunted. Heaving a deep sigh, he studied Rick's face. 

"What will happen when Aaron is released from solitary? They — they still send him home, right?"

Mateo shook his head. 

Then, he stood up and headed to the table he usually sat at. 

. . .

Rick couldn't get rid of the image of his boyfriend, sitting all alone in a dark cell. He should have been home now. Back with his mom and little sister. 

And now...

Now he was still in prison. All alone.

How could this have happened? 

He knew for sure Aaron hadn't attacked Moloch. He'd want to be free so badly... All these times they had spoken about their freedom, he'd never shared any vengeful thoughts. 

He just wanted to leave this place and put all this behind him. 

Rick crawled against the wall next to his bed and wrapped his arms around his legs. During dinner he'd pushed his tears far away, knowing they would only cause trouble. Now, however, only Mateo was around and he didn't care if he saw his tears. 

They itched down his cheeks, faster and faster. Rick pushed his face against his knees. Everything should have been so different now! His shoulders started to shake. 

The bed creaked. 

Vaguely, he was aware of Mateo who sat down next to him. 

Rick covered his ears with his hands. "I don't want to hear your sneers."

Fingers glided around his wrist, pulling his hand away from his face. "Whining ain't gonna help you."

"It does," Rick shouted. "It feels good."

Which was a lie. But it wasn't like he could do anything about it. He was sad. People cried when they were sad. 

Mateo sighed. He didn't say another word, although he kept sitting on the bed. Cynically, Rick wondered if the man would have comforted him if he'd known how to do that. 

"Aaron didn't do it," Rick said, sobbing. "Moloch must have bribed a guard to tell that lie."

"Yeah," Mateo said to his surprise. "I don't think he did it either."

Surprised, Rick looked to the side. "You don't?"

"Nah. That kid is no more capable of killing someone than you. Moreover, he had — contrary to all days before — finally hope for something better. Moloch, however... was about to lose his property."

His property. 

The words caused a chill down his spine. 

"So Moloch paid someone to lie?"

"Guess it's even sicker. For people to believe him he needs actual stab wounds. So he forced Aaron to do it... Or he did it himself and blamed Aaron for it. And there's nothing Aaron can do to prove he hasn't done it."

Rick's stomach twisted. Would that sick guy really go that far to keep his cellmate? 

"What should I do, Mateo?" Rick whispered. "He — he's my boyfriend. I feel like I'm such a worthless boyfriend... I'm supposed to protect him, right? He — He needs to die, Mateo." Rick looked at him, both desperate and determined. "Moloch needs to die. And I — I want to be the one doing it."

He'd expected the man to roar with laughter or to make a mocking comment. 

Instead, he just nodded.

 "Yeah, he does."