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Here, hours outside the farthest border of Belobog, he doesn’t bother to fake being cold. He thinks that even if there were people around, be it his soldiers or civilians—those who trusted and those he barely knew—he wouldn’t fake it. Not when matters are dire.
The need to maintain a human facade has long since ceased. It ceased the second he found the other man collapsed deep in the Restricted Zone, bleeding heavily from multiple wounds.
A wet intake of air has him looking down. Unfocused green eyes turn from staring at the darkening sky to staring at him, the man’s lips attempting to quirk up but unable to. Gloved fingers struggle to grasp the coat that covers him and after a few seconds of struggling, they give up and just lay weakly against the pure white.
Gepard continues to press on.
They are almost there after all. They will make it.
He doesn’t know what will happen if they don’t make it.
(In the distance, a Guardian Shadow races towards them. They don’t make it much farther before a wall of solid quantum energy descends from the heavens, destroying them in an instant. Perhaps that is what will happen if they don’t make it. Unfettered walls falling ceaselessly from the sky, falling falling falling until nothing remains of Belobog, of Jarilo-VI.
What stands after would be a monument of Qlipoth’s anguish.)
“H-heh. Things sure are weird out h-here.” The voice, usually full of laughter and mirth, is now seeped with pain. “Y-you don’t even have your c-c-cas—”
A wet cough from the man has him tightening his hold.
“Little t-tight t-there, Gep-p—” Another cough and the earth shakes.
“Don’t speak.” He doesn’t want to hear that voice in pain, not now or ever again. He’s aware his own voice is no longer that of Gepard Landau, but that of the Aeon Qlipoth.
(“A blond! Hehee! A blond, a blond!”
“I will change it then.”
“No! I really really really like it! It suits your Amber Lordness very much, hehee! Ahaha!”)
“B-but I d-don’t want you t-to miss my v-voi—” Another wet cough finally has the man stop talking.
—when I’m gone is left unsaid.
He used to think that falling in love with this man was a mistake, a bad omen. An Emanator of IX, a man without fear, a conman, a crook, a shady businessman.
A concerned man, a prankster, a comedian. A man with many talents and many friends. A man who wears half his heart on his sleeve and half in a locked vault.
A man who is his partner, his lover, half of himself he didn’t know he needed.
But at the end of the day, Sampo Koski was a man.
And Gepard Landau was not.
He continues to walk, the snowfall lessening but the walls of ice increasing in amount. As he treks, the walls become thicker and taller, each swirling with different elements.
It won’t be long now. The house is in the distance.
It won’t be long now, not with how fast he’s losing blood. The cold has only slowed so much.
Sampo tries to talk a few more times, but Gepard just shoots him a glare that has him stopping each time. When the house is finally within sight, Sampo lets out a laugh.
(Sampo always laughed, regardless of the situation. Whether it be asking about the weather or attempting to get out of an arrest. He often mentioned The Tavern and his Fools of friends. Even mentioned knowing a few bad Actors. Yet when he showed Gepard the mark of IX, Gepard—Qlipoth—was confused.
This man…how could he not receive Aha’s love? There was no one more perfect.
How could this man not be—)
“A h-house?” Weak laughter has the man shaking in his arms.
“A home.” They rumble back.
-
They have always towered over the other. Qlipoth did not often take any sort of humanoid form, while the other loved them. Loved changing their features from one meeting to the next, yet they rarely changed their clothes so Qlipoth would always know it was them. Qlipoth cannot remember the last time they saw the others' true form.
It’s an awe-inspiring form. They’ve had the pleasure of holding it only once, however.
Qlipoth rumbles for a moment, before waving their hands. Within seconds, the shape of a human man appears. While Qlipoth has no need for this form, it’s easier to get it across to the other that they are mad at them.
“Ah! Don’t look at me like that!” There’s a giggle as the other Aeon slinks closer, side-stepping the human body and resting their full body weight—something Qlipoth doesn’t even register—against one of the Amber Lord’s stone fingers. “I came back, as promised!”
Giggles fill the dead space as the other Aeon makes themself comfortable on Qlipoth’s stone finger. Without much thought, Qlipoth puppets the human body towards the other, making sure that his expression is set to anger.
“Qlipoth, don’t be mad at me! I know it’s been so so long, but I finally have your answer!” More giggles as the other Aeon reaches out to touch the blond strands of the human male. “Hmm, I didn’t take you for wanting to be blond! How funny!”
Qlipoth ignores them. When they speak, it rumbles the space around them, distorting the stars.
“What?”
“A home! All I want is a home! I think that’s a perfect place for a pause!”
And when Aha looks at them with shining eyes full of love and mirth, Qlipoth is hit again with the realization they would do anything this Aeon desired.
They didn’t know how to make a home, but they had heard that it all started with four walls.
-
And four walls they started with. Then a roof, and windows, and doors. Then a garden, and an outer wall.
And then more walls.
When Aha would come back, they would have a home they wanted. A home that Qlipoth had provided.
-
“You travel so far, so fast. To so many places, and often making repeat ventures. What would make you stop?”
“Why would I stop? Where’s the fun in that? There are so many causes for joy and elation out there! Heheh!” Aha spins as they laugh, bouncing from one of his large stone fingers to the next, red hair flowing behind them as they do. This form is a new one, but Qlipoth likes it as they have liked every other form Aha has taken.
Qlipoth raises their hand so Aha is more in their sightline.
“I have no desire to stop, dearest Amber Lord! If I stop, where would the fun in that be? Who would turn Lan’s arrows to string or-or blow up Akivili’s train again? Who would see how well my Fools spread Elation or how my Actors curse my existence? If I stop, where I would find elation? How would I make it?”
Qlipoth is silent as Aha sits down, swinging their socked feet against their finger. A feminine hand holds up Aha’s chin as the Aeon looks at the core of the Amber Lord.
“Aha doesn’t want to stop. What will Aha be if Aha stops doing what they are doing? How can Aha find elation if Aha doesn’t move?” Aha curls in on themself, bringing their legs up to their chest and hiding their face in their knees.
Qlipoth doesn’t speak for a long time. It’s obvious they upset Aha.
“Then what about…a pause. What would make Aha pause for a moment?”
“Where would Aha pause?”
“Here. With me.”
The black of Aha’s eyes shines so brightly when they look up from their knees. Their eyes are so, so wide as they look upon Qlipoth with awe.
“Qlipoth wants Aha to…pause with them?”
Qlipoth doesn’t respond.
They are Aeons. Aeons don’t pause or stop for one another. They cause problems, they fight, they wage war. Aha has been known to target certain Aeons, while they leave others alone. They have always returned to Qlipoth over and over, sometimes to cause chaos, sometimes just for a chat.
“Aha will…I will think about this.” Aha’s grin is so wide, giggles slipping out of orange-painted lips.
-
They rest Sampo on the bed in the middle of the large room, what they remember to be called a master bedroom. They move toward the dresser, but Sampo’s weak grip stops them.
(They aren’t Gepard Landau anymore, they are Qlipoth. But this human doesn’t know that.)
“N-no…s-stay.”
“I will, in a moment.” They gently remove Sampo’s hand from their arm and move towards the dresser, where a red mask lies. It smiles up at them, but the dull gem in the centre reminds them that this mask is not meant to bring them joy. It’s a reminder that somehow, they have failed. They pick it up and carry it over to the bed, kneeling down on the floor to be at eye level with Sampo.
“Sampo.” The blue-haired man turns and attempts to smirk.
“T-that’s m-me—you’re g-good p-pal, S-sam—” More coughing. Qlipoth lets it pass, opening their mouth to speak. They don't get to. “Y-you’re b-beginning to f-freak me out, G-Geppie—”
“I am not Gepard. I am—”
“Q-qlipoth.”
The Aeon startles. How—
“I-I d-don’t often hear from IX b-but they mentioned y-your name in p-passing. Said that I s-should be c-careful. That Q-qlipoth is close. I t-thought t-they meant nearby in s-space but—“
So clever, this man.
“Yes. I am Qlipoth.”
“A-and Geppie?”
“And Gepard.”
“C-cool.” Sampo laughs and his body convulses. The mask is heavy in their hands.
-
When they finished the house, they reached out to Aha.
And reached out.
And reached out.
Over and over, they reached out to Aha.
And heard nothing back.
Qlipoth remembers anger, rage. For one known for being indifferent, there was no such thought as indifference in their mind.
How could—
IX was the one who had the answer.
“Hm. I was hoping to find Aha here.”
“Aha is not here.” There’s a loud rumble as IX’s voids crash against Qlipoth’s walls.
“Unfortunate.”
“What do you want?”
“Aha has recently taken it upon themselves to aid in my assassination. As you can see,” another clash of void and wall rattles the space around them, “that has failed. I am due repayment. I had planned on something, but with them absent, I have thought of a better repayment.”
Qlipoth says nothing, just rebuilds the walls surrounding them.
“Aha stopped for a brief chat after the failed assassination attempt. Apparently, the failure was what they claimed to be the best source of elation they had felt in the last century. They said the only thing better than that was your continued misery at attempting to build a house.”
Qlipoth’s walls rattle in threat. IX’s voids spin and spin, not in aggression but in their natural pattern that made up the Aeon’s body.
“I am not here to poke fun, that is not who I am. I am here to run Aha’s fun, as repayment for their fool’s errand.” Another crash, but quieter this time. IX has already begun to move away. “The home that Aha wants? It is not material. You think they wanted a physical home due to their continued interaction with humanoids and other sentient beings, but that is not the case. They simply want a way to be with you, that is beyond this resting place you have chosen. A humanoid's life is but a passing second to us, after all.”
-
“Sampo.”
It takes a moment to get a response.
“Y-yes…” The man’s breathing is getting shallower and shallower. There is not much time.
They loved this man, as they have always loved Aha. They wonder if perhaps Aha made this human for Qlipoth to find. It certainly seems like something Aha would do.
They simply want a way to be with you, that is beyond this resting place you have chosen.
Qlipoth landed on Jarilo-VI because their Architects had done so. They were not one to care for the exploits of their followers, but the sound of faint laughter in the air when they turned their gaze to the planet had driven them to stay.
“I cannot heal you. Not as Gepard, not as Qlipoth.” Sampo smiles weakly at that. He’s struggling to keep his eyes open but he makes sure to keep eye contact with Qlipoth. “But I can offer your body to someone, someone who will make sure you live.”
Sampo laughs. Laughs and laughs and laughs. No other words are exchanged as Qlipoth gently places the mask on Sampo’s pale, laughing face.
-
Qlipoth hadn’t realized they had fallen into a meditative state until they feel fingers tug at their hair. They look up to see green eyes staring at them.
“Heya, handsome. Come here often?” Sampo laughs and though it sounds the same, there’s an echo that lies underneath it. Qlipoth lets a smile come to their lips.
“I do.”
“Heheh!” Aha reaches out with both hands and holds Qlipoth’s face. “Blond really does suit you!”
Aha’s laughter fills their bedroom. They laugh for a long time until they stop to look at Qlipoth.
Except it’s not Aha looking at Qlipoth, but Sampo looking for Gepard.
“Worry not, I am Gepard just as I am Qlipoth. Just as you are Sampo as much as you are now Aha.”
Because that’s how Aha created you. You have always been as much of Aha as you have been Sampo.
It was in front of their face the entire time. A being created by Aha, shrouded by the winds of the voids of IX.
“So…am I still likely to be arrested for my totally legit business ventures?”
“Yes.”
“Boo! No fun! They are legit, I swear! Just cause my customers are bad people doesn’t make me a bad person! Geppie, give me some leeway!”
I don’t want to apologize to Akivili, Qlipoth! It’s not my fault they didn’t realize sooner!
“Sampo Koski is a totally legit businessman!”
It’s not Aha’s fault!
Shifting back into the mindset of Gepard Landau he leans forward. Sampo’s eyes lighten up and he slips from the bed to land in Gepard’s lap. The kiss is sweet, soft.
Gepard kisses with worry and anguish on his tongue, kisses with happiness that Sampo is alive and warm in his arms.
Sampo kisses without fear of what just happened, kisses with surprise on his tongue and laughter on his breath. Perhaps a plea to let his next indiscretion against the law slide in there as well.
Qlipoth kisses with the knowledge that after so long, Aha is in their arms, in their home. A home that they now understand was never a building with walls, but a body that could house Qlipoth’s spirit for a few moments in their long lives to experience a pause with Aha.
Aha kisses with laughter and with glee, with elation. Kisses with elated joy that Qlipoth finally found them a home that they wanted to pause with Aha in.
Gepard pulls back first, resting his forehead against Sampo’s for a brief moment. Sampo just smiles and tangles their fingers together. It’s quiet for a moment before the blond breaks the spell.
“So do you want to explain to me why you were in the Restricted Zone?” The hold on Sampo’s gloved fingers tightens and he knows he can’t escape.
“Geppie! Geppie, ow! Be nice to me! I’m injured after all!”
The man’s cries are filled with laughter that echoes off the walls of the house, of their home. It’s a lovely sound, no matter how manic the laughter may be. It’s a lovely sound that delights both Gepard and Qlipoth.
Sampo renews his struggles for freedom when he notices Gepard’s attention waver. The blond simply holds onto his partner tighter, not daring to let go.
As Sampo starts to bargain with intel that the Silvermane Guards can use, Gepard laughs.
As the mask on the bed glows, Qlipoth laughs as well.
In the walls Qlipoth built for them, Aha laughs and laughs and laughs.