Chapter Text
"Are you cold?"
The gentle voice reached Two Time's ear like a breeze. Honey and lavender was what it felt like. They looked up from the hand tugging at their own carefully, the most beautiful of sights to behold right before them.
"The spawn has blessed me with your warmth," they smiled, one that they couldn't bring to provide their eyes with.
Azure smiled back, albeit with some hesitance. Was he upset at them?
Their smile fell as they lost the gloved fingers that gently held his hand, and they felt it drop to their side limply. Azure was taking of their scarf. It took Two Time embarrassingly long to realize what he was doing.
"No- Azure, I'm quite alright!" Their hands were flapping around sideways, head shaking a bit.
He watched them for a moment, then their lips curled up in some kind of amusement. "There there, even saints get cold."
Fabric was draped around their neck by a scarf almost too big for them. His hands remained at their chest, hovering briefly before tugging their cloak tighter over their shoulders.
"I've always thought the colour blue suits you well," Azure hummed in that sweet way that made them feel like they could hover if they wanted to. His smile was familiar, one they'd seen many times. "It makes you all the more ethereal in my eyes."
They got up on their toes, hands coming up to Azure's face, as they tugged them down just a smidge so that they could kiss him. Chaste and sweet, something Azure was respectful enough not to chase after more of.
Two Time could see his eyes better, ones that were always covered by the shade that the large brim of their hat provided. Ever gentle and patient as always.
"My rainflower," Azure started, their voice honey. "Are you doing alright?"
How did he..?
"Why do you ask?"
His hand rose slowly, carefully grabbing at the one still on their face. As they tugged it to his mouth, kissing it quietly, Two Time noticed just how much they were shaking.
"Everything'll be okay, honeysuckle." He said it so reassuringly, yet Two Time doubted it.
".. yes, everything will be."
Their hands eventually dropped down, one still in the other's, being tugged forwards deeper into the outskirts of their village. It was dark and gloomy, and their presence was a quiet one, only every now and then interrupted by silent prayers they shared.
It reminded them of a time.
One where they stood at the large willow tree, just out of sight at the crest of the fields surrounding the houses. It was a dark night, yet one where the stars gleamed. A remarkable sight that left Azure stunned.
They had exchanged vows that night. Two Time's felt lackluster in comparison to Azure's, yet they could only laugh it off and collide into a tangle of arms.
That night had ended with them drifting off to sleep in Two Time's home, their's happening to be closer to the meadows, something Azure could only be ever so envious of. Yet it was enough of an excuse for him to stay at their side. A steady support when things felt rough.
That night, they'd been called his orchid. The mere thought locked their heart into an ever-beating cage.
Two Time's eye latched onto the sight of purple just up ahead. Flowers, of some kind. There was a path beneath his feet, one he carefully trailed behind Azure on.
"I wanted to show you this place because of the flowers," he mused, hand squeezing at theirs. "They may be poisonous, but they're undeniably beautiful."
"Yes," Two Time was in awe of the sheer size of the field, prickling purple and green upon every corner of the meadow, riddled with grass and weeds. "Much like you, if I do say so myself."
Azure slowed to a halt, smiling back at Two Time with that affection he spared for no other. His hand reached their own, and they stood there for a moment. It was something Two Time would have to relish forevermore, even if that were impossible.
"We shouldn't tread any deeper," Azure reasoned. "Spawn forbid the poison brings harm to you."
They couldn't help but chortle in response, something innherently hilarious with how he always joked around with their value in society. It put them at ease when around them, unlike the other villagers that'd make them out to be so much more than they were. If only they could see Azure at that very moment.
"I do believe I have something to tell you," they started, pausing to gather themselves and gauge their partner's reaction. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced with a lopsided tilt of their head. "You see, I spoke with the great priest."
"Oh, is this about you receiving your second life?" He practically glowed with excitement for the other.
Two Time hesitated. Would they really be able to go through with what they had been told to do? "I was asked to take your life for myself."
The harsh sincerity left the both of them stupefied, and Two Time berated themselves for even saying it out loud.
Seconds went by, not a thing exchanged. Something that had once been impossible for the two of them.
"Well, go on."
Azure's arms were wide open, the fabric of his poncho stretching far as it bridged the gap his arms formed. It almost made them look bigger, but in their eyes, he was smaller than the small birds that visited at the crack of dawn.
"No- Azurewrath-" Two Time stretched to reach both hands, only managing to grasp a hand and an upper arm. They haphazardly brought them together, clutching his hands like they were worth something. But what was that even in the eyes of the spawn? A second life?
Azure smiled bittersweetly, his voice unsteadier than usual. "Two Time, this is your fate, and you know it."
They stared deep into the dark of his eyes, their gut aching with something deeper than pain. Thoughts ran their head as though it were a station. Then one thing felt right, and suddenly it clicked.
"Not if I have anything to say about it."
With practised ease, something they had loathed having to train for, they swiped out their dagger. Sleek and elegant, one only a saint would be worthy of. Two Time shoved the handle of the dagger into Azure's hands. His eyes widened and he almost backed away, were it not for one of Two Time's hands resting on theirs. The one thing he wouldn't bear to be rid of.
"You know the opportunity for your second life is nigh," they reasoned. "If you take mine, you'll be cherished, yes?"
His eyes were only slightly wider than usual, a furrow in their brows. "Two Time, why do you think I'd want to kill you?"
Was it not obvious?
"You're much greater than I am."
"Yet you are a saint- an undeniably perfect one at that."
"But you could live much better than you already do," Two Time tightened their grasp on his hands, tilting them so that the blade would angle toward themselves. "You're ridiculous for not seeing that."
It went silent for a moment. Then a sniffle came.
"I could impossibly live happily without you."
Two Time watched on as they began tearing up and his breath trembled. "Why can't we both live?"
"The elders will sneer-"
"What if there weren't any elders?"
They provided a harsh glare before meeting his calm yet tear hazed eyes. It provided a light of realization. What if they weren't around the elders? What if no one could ridicule them?
"No, that's nonsense, why would the-"
"You're the one speaking nonsense, Two Time!" Azure's hands found their way onto their shoulders, dagger discared somewhere amidst the purple flowers. "We could leave."
His eyes were convincing. In that way when they knew something was right, but just didn't know how to explain it. The eyes they trusted blindly, because his gut was always right. ".. And abandon our life here?"
Azure bit their lip, staring into Two Time's eyes with reddened eyes, and nodded. Brief, hesitant, but enough.
They had to bite back their own tears as they threw an arm over Azure's shoulder, wrapping themselves around the larger body. Something chewed at their gut, yet that was fine. Azure was there. And that was all they needed, really.
"I'll leave with you, alright?"
Azure hesitated before hugging them back, voice light and shaky. "Thank you."