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A deep midnight sky barren of any starlight. A normal sight for Kohlrabi, who stood on the handrail of one of the many balconies lining Sugarland's castle. Just beneath him was a rift that hadn't yet closed. While close enough to feel its warping effects, he was far enough away so that he wouldn't get sucked in automatically.
In his head, this would be his only way out. The only way he could get away from his hopefully soon-to-be ex-boss. Even if she found out and started coming after him, he was betting on relying on the rifts until he could evade her entirely. Not the smartest gambit, he realized, but there wasn't anything else he could do without getting a near-fatal injury or suckered into staying longer at best.
He looked towards the sky once again. Firework sparks took the place of starlight. He breathed in and moved to jump into the rift.
But, before he was able to, a familiar soft tone graced his ears. "There you are," Buttermilk began, "I've been looking for you everywhere in this damn floor."
For once when making a decision that had to do with his boss, Kohlrabi hesitated, reeling his leg back so he was balanced on the handrail again. While he didn't have anything to say back, he moved his head slightly to indicate his acknowledgement. Subtly, but it was noticed.
Buttermilk stepped closer to where he was standing, just close enough to catch the cyan glow of the rift. His expression darkened. "You're leaving without at least telling me again?" His voice went from soft to sour.
Though normally not one to care about anything unrelated to his own objectives, Kohlrabi looked down at the man standing next to him properly. Of course, he looked bitter — that was something that was practically always present on his face, even on a good day. But bitterness could only do so much to hide what seemed to be sadness clouding his eyes.
His stoic glare softened. "I thought you'd already fallen asleep. That's why I didn't tell you." Both of them knew he was lying. Hence why his words were met with a sharp eye roll, but no acknowledgement of the blatant lie.
"At least tell me where you think you're going. It's the least you could do." His tone became sharp and laced with sourness.
Though there was a moment of hesitation, Kohlrabi turned to properly face him and knelt to be closer to his eye level. His expression had softened completely in an instant. "I don't know where I'm going," He gestured towards the amusement park ahead of them, "I just hope it's far away from here."
Surprise betrayed Buttermilk's previous sourness. "So you don't plan on returning?" He questioned solemnly. Somberness had replaced the barely disguised annoyance present just seconds ago. He was met with a deep sigh as Kohlrabi slipped off of the handrail.
"No, I don't," He answered, "I wasn't hoping for you to confront me about it, but here we are."
Though he hadn't realized it, Buttermilk's eyes had widened slightly. He felt like he could hardly believe what had just clicked for him.
Someone he managed to trust and actually value had decided to just... leave? Without telling a soul, let alone the one they would most likely hurt the most in the process?
It felt like someone had just stabbed him, or some equivalent. Kohlrabi had left without telling anyone countless times, and it never hurt. Just caused a headache for everyone else and occasionally an argument.
But knowing it would be a permanent departure got to him. He'd managed to convince himself that their relationship hardly amounted to anything in the end. But even then, he knew that that was a complete lie.
The temporary silence was stiff and awkward. Until Buttermilk cut in with a quiet, "You didn't want me to find out, did you?"
More stiff silence followed. The lack of an answer confirmed it for him — he already knew it was true anyway. As much as he wanted to be furious, he couldn't find any anger in him at the moment. Whether it was the lasting shock or raw dejection, he didn't know.
Regret cut into Kohlrabi's eyes. He'd already made his decision to turn from this chapter of his life and onto the next, however that chapter would go. But it was clear he knew he should have done at least a few things differently.
Still, he could only muster up a solemn "I wish you never found out like this." Before turning away and moving to go back onto the handrail.
Out of instinct, Buttermilk grabbed onto his shoulder. Firmly, like he did when he was silently demanding someone's immediate attention.
"Before you leave," He blurted out, immediately feeling the regret of doing so.
When Kohlrabi turned to see what he wanted, he hesitated a moment before taking the cross necklace that hung below his robes. Silently, he removed it before clipping it around Kohlrabi's neck and tucking it beneath his scarf. A memento.
But his hand lingered on the side of his neck. Like he didn't really want to let go just yet. His hand hesitated with pulling away.
They were unable to say anything more to each other, just standing together beneath a deep violet sky. Right across from each other, but they still felt worlds apart.
Buttermilk hesitated a moment longer, before leaning in close enough to capture Kohlrabi's lips in a final kiss. He wanted to make their last moments together count in any way he could. His hands slid up to the sides of his neck as he closed his eyes.
Though momentarily thrown off, Kohlrabi reciprocated, pulling him in further to wrap his arm around the small of his back. He already felt melancholic, knowing this was a goodbye, so he kept him as close as he could.
They remained together for a few moments longer, before Buttermilk pulled away from him first, his hands lingering over his shoulders. Opening his eyes again, what seemed like the beginning of grief had struck his gaze.
But Kohlrabi couldn't say anything more before he was told, "You can leave now." Buttermilk pulled his hands away. For another moment, they looked each other in the eyes. Like the former was genuinely considering staying before he actually moved onto the handrail.
The rift hadn't yet closed, by whatever miracle, so he took a deep breath and jumped down. Though it took a few seconds, it closed behind him, leaving Buttermilk standing there, alone with the night sky.
Like the stars he once obsessed over as a child, the fireworks increased in frequency, colouring the horizon in vibrant pinks and yellows. Though appearing from far away, they cast flittering light in his eyes, hiding the faint misty sheen appearing in them.
He stepped closer to the handrail, leaning onto it to stare intently at the fireworks. They were like countless flowers blooming and wilting in a repeated pattern. Similar to a broken record, but visually.
He clasped his hands together like he was offering a prayer to the Guardians. But there was no use praying to anything or anyone right now.
After a few moments standing there, just staring towards the sky, he left the balcony. There wasn't anything left for him that night anyway.