‘Beauty’ [Inner Thought]: *Verge of Tears* Idiot! Moron! If I had known…. Hue, where are you! If you felt that way then why…? If you told me earlier…shown me this earlier. I was impatient, I know, but… Hue….we can’t end it like this, right? I still have a chance, right? Right? You’re not done yet! Let me hear the last part from you. Please, my love.
*Heedless to the burning in her lungs, Rodessa raced through the corridors, frantically searching for her lover, her blood pounding in her ears and her mind constantly flashing to the words he had left in that letter. She had to find him. She had to.
Perhaps it was her own frenzied search that distracted her, but the hallways seemed to change in blips like a stuttering vinyl record, as if someone was skipping her through space unknowingly. She ran, panting, even as the halls twisted in a kaleidoscope of colour, blinding her before the light seemed to condense before her eyes. An indiscriminate form of holy light twisted ahead of her, leading her on, solidifying into a golden dragon. It looked back at her, staring her in the eye before shooting ahead and somehow, somehow she knew that it was trying to lead her. Lead her to Huxian.
With energy she didn’t know she had left, she picked up speed. As if wings were her feet she raced the dragon as it guided her through an empty hallway before seemingly shooting through a closed door at the end, phasing through it like a ghost.
Stumbling to a halt before she could crash straight into the wood, she held a hand to her aching chest as she panted, eyeing where the dragon had vanished. There was nothing special about the door, but there was a crack of light shining through a crack. It was occupied. Was Huxian there…? No, he had to be. She was sure of it. If she tried, she could feel him just beyond the wooden barrier.
Taking a final steadying breath, Rodessa reached out and pushed the door open, silently stepping inside.
Uncaring about the room itself, her eyes zeroed in on the man that was sitting slumped at the edge of a bed. His elbows rested on his knees and his head was bowed so that she could only just see a glint of his darkened amber eyes in the lamplight which were staring down at an elegant ring which lay in the palm of his hand. It was a sight that Rodessa didn’t think she would see in him again, as if all the burning life in the man had somehow got snuffed out. He seemed diminished, as if the weight of the world had been pressing down on his spine and he no longer hand the strength to stand.
Tired, desolate eyes closed as he sighed, curling in on himself just that little more as he raised the ring to his lips, fingers weakly curling over it as his head sunk, forehead thumping lightly against his knuckles*
Huxian: *Bleakly* Roza…
*He pulled back, uncurling his fingers once again to give it one last look, before a sigh broke from his lips and he clenched his fingers over the metal once more, tucking it away in his breast pocket before dropping his hand limply back in his lap.
Just seeing him like this broke her heart*
‘Beauty’: Hue...I...
*She paused, an odd sinking sensation in her chest. He hadn’t reacted. Not when she stepped toward him, not when her voice broke the solemn silence. Nothing. Trying to ignore the horrible chill at seeing him so unresponsive, she reached out her hand to touch him, to break him out of the grip of his melancholy, to entice some kind of reaction, but it was as if he didn’t even know she was there.
The sudden feel of something brushing against her leg broke her from the dread that had began to sink its icy talons into her heart and she jumped, her eyes shooting down to find that the golden dragon was there, brushing against her as it stepped away from Huxian, attention on something on the opposite side of the room, even as it inclined its long neck in an oddly graceful bow. Lifting her gaze, she found that they weren’t alone in the room as she had first thought. There, by the window stood a figure. A familiar figure, she realised as she looked closer.
The figure in question, noticing the attention on her, simply raised a finger to her lips, as if to ask her to remain quiet for now. Which just seemed even more strange and far more concerning that Huxian hadn’t even moved at her presence when the figure had.
‘Beauty’ [Inner Thought]: So why isn’t he responding…?
*She could only bite her tongue, however, and follow the instruction as the figure stepped forwards, attention focused on the man on the bed*
Parame: You’re home early?
Huxian: *Distantly* Hm.
Parame: Is there something wrong? Come, tell mama.
*Huxian snorted, a note bitterly, not even bothering to look up at the goddess*
Huxian: *Scoff* Why even ask? Venus and yourself are watching everything. Between the two of you, I’m sure you can figure it out.
*The woman, not phased by his tone, simply hummed, sinking down to sit beside the young man, her eyes flicking briefly towards Rodessa, almost pointedly, before she turned her attention back to Huxian once more. The silent message clear. Pay attention*
Parame: True. But I would like to hear it from my child’s own mouth.
*Huxian drew up his knees, pressing his lips against clasped hands, his eyes fixed at a distant point, as if to avoid looking the Elder in the eye*
Huxian: I...I wouldn’t ask for details about what you can see in the future...for her and I...but...may I...ask one thing?
Parame: *Eyes Flickering Excitedly* Of course, though it depends on your question as to what I can answer. Remember, there are as many futures as their are outcomes - and the outcomes depend on the choices made. The outcome here depends on your choices, my dear. Knowing that, ask.
*For a moment, Huxian was silent, eyes closed as if working up the courage. Finally, he spoke, voice quiet, almost a whisper*
Huxian: Will she...still want me, after all this? When this chapter of our lives is over, I-
Parame: Don’t you already know the answer?
Huxian: *Curling a little more* But, I-
Parame: If you are still uncertain, perhaps this might reassure you.
*The sharp snap of the goddess’ fingers was loud as a whip crack, and it was almost as if something had shattered. He flinched slightly at the sound, only to freeze. That scent...a subtle, but familiar scent teased his senses. He knew that scent. Heart in his throat, Huxian, stiltedly, turned to look, eyes widening. There, kneeling in front of him, her head resting against his thigh, sinking warmth into the chilled limb as her fingers clenched his pant leg, was Rodessa. Slowly, so slowly, she raised her head to look at him. Her mask was gone, leaving him staring into shimmering silver eyes, reddened by the tears welling within them. She was trembling. Why...why was she trembling…?
On instinct, he reached out to her, touching her face as if expecting for it to be an illusion that would shatter like light on a water’s surface if disturbed. But even as his hand brushed her cheek, she didn’t vanish. She was there. Her palm closed over his hand, pressing it against her cheek, nuzzling into the skin with a shuddering sigh as his thumb ran over the damp skin, brushing away the tears that leaked from her closed eyes. His palm felt hot against her skin, but she clng on tight, not wanting his touch to leave, to retract once again into that numb unresponsive self.
Swallowing, Huxian’s eyes shot back to Parame, but all he caught was her smile as the scattering light took her away, leaving the two alone. Mouth suddenly dry, his eyes trailed back to Rodessa once again. Seeing her looking up at him, he smiled weakly*
Huxian: *Voice cracking a little* You...you really have bad taste in men...you know that?
Rodessa: *Mumble* ...The worst…
*He couldn’t help but snort slightly at that*
Rodessa: ...Why didn’t you tell me before…?
Huxian: It’s not always easy to speak when it feels like the moment you do everything with crash and burn...Sometimes, the enemy in the mind is stronger than any on the battlefield. I said my reasons in the letter, but I think in the end, what stopped me from telling you was fear. Fear that if I said something, it would all be stolen away. I...I don’t think I’d survive another loss, Roza…
*He swallowed, unsur if he had ever voiced that crack in his consciousness before, that fragility. But somehow, staring into her eyes like this, he couldn’t bring himself to try to hide it*
Huxian: My feelings were a mess. I couldn’t see around what was right for you and what was just pure selfishness on my part.
Rodessa: *Angry* Dumbass! Will you stop blaming yourself for every little thing! *Gentle* You did nothing wrong.
Huxian: Heh…Feelings aren’t logical, I’m afraid. And it’s hard to break old habits. In the end, I thought that, if I said nothing, it would protect you from what seemed like a curse that took everything I cared for away from me...only to figure out that, in my own density, it was I who was hurting you, instead of protecting you. But then, I’ve always been the biggest of fools…
*His thumb brushed her skin once more, his own eyes bright with unshed tears*
Huxian: Knowing that...knowing that I was the cause of all of it, I couldn’t just say nothing. Even if….even if in the end you still walked away, at least you’d know that it was never your fault. And you would at least have the answers you were looking for, even if this stupid coward could never open his mouth and speak.
So...now you know...My heart was laid bear for you to see, no matter how rotten it is. *Closing his eyes* I...I don’t know if the answers were what you wanted, but...for what it’s worth...I meant every word. The one who means more to me than anything, who I can never forget, is with me here, at this moment.
*Standing, Rodessa half crawled onto the bed, pushing the man back against the covers, concern shining in her eyes as she swallowed, nibbling her lip as she looked to the side, trying to figure out how to put the jumble of thoughts into words without it becoming another terrible misunderstanding*
Rodessa: ….
Huxian: ….
Rodessa: ...Those words...the ones you didn’t say in the letter. Can you say the to me now…? Please?
*For a moment, Huxian could only stare up at her, dumbfounded. Of all the reactions he had expected, he hadn’t been expecting this one. It felt as though his heart skipped a beat in his chest as the weight of what she was asking finally crashed into his mind.
Huxian [Inner Thought]: Is...it was that easy…? Is...is that all she desires…? Truely?
Huxian: I...I could say them….but I don’t know if they would put your mind...your heart at ease. Somehow, I think it might even...cheepen the feelings I have, make it sound contrived if I said them now. But...I hope that this will suffice
*He reached up to her, cupping her cheeks in his hands as he stared into her eyes, so she could see the sincerity of his words*
Huxian: Until the day I die and beyond...you are the one who will hold my heart.
*Before the girl could respond, she suddenly found herself flipped, her back pressing against the bed and Huxian hovering over her. Wordlessly, she reached up to him, intent on dragging him closer, only for Huxian to catch her hand first, pressing his lips against it before guiding it around his neck, pulling her up so that she was sitting in his lap, staring in to his amber eyes, warmed with the utmost sincerity.
Butterflies fluttering in her stomach, she nudged her forehead against his, rubbing her nose against his and felt her heart jump at his unconscious but heartfelt smile. He could see her eyes, glittering like stars, a sparkle that had seemed snuffed out for so long shimmering there as she gazed at him and Huxian hadn’t realised until that very moment how much he had missed it.*
Huxian [Inner Thought]: I’d forgotten...I’d forgotten that she has always been her most happiest when it was the two of us. As long as we were together, so long as I needed her as she did me, she had everything she wanted. She never cared about the things I did in the past, or how terrible I could be. She never cared that I thought I was cursed. All she cared about, right from the start, was me…
*His fingers traced over the soft skin of her cheeks, an almost helpless smile crossing his lips*
Huxian [Inner Thoughts]: So long as her desire is me...I’m her happiness, right? Her smile - this precious smile - is mine to treasure. I will. I promise, I-
Rodessa: Hue…
*Breaking from his thoughts, he took in Rodessa, who seemed oddly fidgety. For a moment, he wondered what was wrong - until that enticing scent, stronger than before, reached his nose and it clicked in his mind what the problem was. His smile widened, even as her cheeks seemed to darken, obviously realising he had clued into her predicament*
Huxian [Inner Thoughts]: Ah yes...that scent that was making those horny mutts turn rabbid. So faint around them, and yet, for me, it’s practically intoxicating...I...I want to...to...Wait! No. Behave. Still...such a beautiful mess beneath me...in that dress...it’s practically an open invitation...isn’t it?
Huxian: Are you trying to seduce me, Miss Kariudo?
Rodessa: N-no, well… maybe... um.. Eep! What are you-?
Huxian: I’m not hearing a no...Then again, that dress is practically screaming yes.
Rodessa: *Blush* P-Pervert!!!
Huxian: *Grin* Oh? You wound me, my lady. Well, if that really is the case, that scent of yours is terribly misleading. Still, if that is your wish, then I’ll do my gentlemanly duty and happily escort you back to the-
Rodessa: *Head down and cheeks burning* Leave me in this state, Fluffball, and I’ll kill you!
*Laughter springing to his lips, true and bright as he pulled her closer again, Huxian felt almost as though his shattered soul had somehow snapped back into place*
Huxian: *Eyes half lidded* As you wish, my lady.
[END]
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