this is post-Seven route
please listen up Epilogue by The Antlers before or while reading this
(they had to let me go.)
His tears leak even from closed eyes, fists and teeth clenching as he turns his head away. It's too much, the pain gathering in his chest.
He can't bear to watch them lower his reflection into the ground.
-/-
"Even with Mint Eye disbanded, it seems their claim on me is permanent, hm? I figured those drugs would do a number on my body at some point or another." It's a classic Saeran maneuver, using dark humor to try and make light of an otherwise tragic situation.
"No... no. I won't let them keep you anymore, Saeran. You're free now. No more shackles." Saeyoung forces a smile despite the flurry of emotions he feels inside, wondering why the hell they had to come back to where they'd started, the hospital.
He won't lose him a second time.
-/-
The sun is shining brightly overhead, as if mocking him, making light of today's occasion. Can't the sky take pity on him, just this once?
Saeran's being buried right before his eyes.
-/-
"Saeyoung, please! You don't have to go this far! We can just keep trying medications. I'm sure one will start working soon enough..." Saeran's brow creases in concern as his brother mulls over the stack of papers in his lap, filled with information about organ transplants and their risks.
"What are you worried about? Money? Jumin will fund everything, and even if he wasn't, I could have done the same without any worry." Saeyoung looks up from his papers, his twin's expression a mirror. "I'm not giving up on you, Saeran. I've fought for you for too long to do such a thing."
He'll tear down the sky if it means saving him.
-/-
Birds chirp as the minister begins a speech, a song for his recently departed. His body shakes with silent sobs now, falling to the ground on his hands and knees.
He screams to the God above to bring his brother back.
-/-
"It's funny, you know. All the things I did to you the last time we were here. Screaming and cursing at you, full of rage and saying anything I could to hurt you. I hated you for so long, and now that we're finally fixing what went wrong..." The head on Saeran's frail, paling body turns to stare at his reflection of a healthier state of being beside him. "I wanted us to watch each other grow old and nurture our families... but I guess this pair of twins were never really meant to stay together."
"Saeran... why... I'm trying so hard, and you know I'm doing everything I can to help you, and yet you would still say something like that to me? Does... does nothing I do matter to you anymore!? Saeran, please! Why are you so ready to give up!? ... Is it wrong of me to want my twin brother to live on with me...?" His voice quivers and breaks with his last question, lip trembling and feet fleeing when his younger self no longer looks his way, focused on the falling leaves of autumn outside.
He knows just as well that it's almost time.
-/-
Long after everyone else has left, he stands in front of the new tombstone. A heavy sigh escapes through his nose as tears prick his eyes once more, rendering him unable to read the inscription.
But maybe that's better for him anyway.
author's note
still wish ff had a right align option
part 2 will be uploaded later today at latest tomorrow.
