They stay in a group.
This has been the case since they landed here. Of course, staying with the team is common, but almost everyone is in reach at a moment’s notice.
And that’s where he finds himself now. Duffy–it’s Duffy sitting next to him, his back to the ever burning massive campfire that has sustained all of them. They stare at the starless sky, and Peanut Bong finds himself staring too.
It feels weird. Being this close, he hasn’t seen him since shit–season 10? Not since the falling, not since the shadowing, not since the–
Fuck.
“Did you feel it?” He breaks the silence, Duffy’s eyes meet theirs and it almost stings.
“Feel–” Duffy pauses, closing their eyes.
“No one else knew, they didn’t remember him by the time he went.”
That wasn’t the answer he wanted.
“It hurt. It fucking stung.”
“Ruthless didn’t understand why I crumbled to my knees.”
Bong balls his fists and starts to shake.
“I don’t fucking get it!”
Duffy starts tries to talk but the fire in Bong’s eyes makes it clear to stop.
“Why did you two get to stay together?”
“I don’t know D-” Duffy’s voice cracks, a familiar swell and itch starts to scrape at his vocal cords.
Bong deflates, “I know you don’t know D.”
“Do you miss him?” Duffy asks.
“I don’t know…it feels like losing a limb. It felt different than Quitter. Aly hurt too, but fuck man.”
Duffy nods.
“He didn’t want to put down roots, like I did.”
Bong turns to him, “Yeah?”
Duffy shakes his head, “They wanted to recover, to put it to rest. They found a lot of joy in Chicago…”
Bong laughs,”and then he went to Philly.”
Duffy sighs, “And then he went to Philly.”
The two stare off into the endless distance, the fire behind them feels almost closer.
Bong leans into him, Duffy relaxes into his warmth.
“Fuck you for leaving me, both of you.”
“I missed you too.”
“I’m glad you remember him.”
“I’m glad you remember him too.”
Bong raises an imaginary glass, “To Holloway “
“To Holloway”