they go out as they came in.
blue and black bruised up, stuck in police lineups, fizzled out and fizzled up, popping like fireworks with alcohol and adrenaline still running through their veins. burnt out like matches in an ashtray, smoking hot embers and shallow cuts from shattered glasses. blue flames licking at the walls as the building goes down in rubble and prideful laughter echoes from every crumbling wall. the thud of music heavy in their eardrums and strobe lights flashing in their eyes, all bared fangs and bated breath, sharp smiles stretching over scarred skin and cackles crackling through the air, seamlessly blending in with the beat. bones cracking under iron grips, alarms like music to their ears as sirens roar along with the screams. slashing and slicing at all challengers, with storms in their eyes and lighting in their veins. shoes screaming down the sidewalk, running for the lives they still have left. blades flashing under ripped jeans, blue and teal blood swirling together on the sizzling cement, split lips and scraped knees sticky with lipstick and broken scabs. cuts burning, ears ringing and bruises blooming like flowers on grey skin.
lighters clicking to burn the next body, skin singed on roaring flames that lick high enough for them to burn the sky, the clouds melting down into pouring rain. tangled hair twisting into knotted braids and lion's manes around candy corn horns, spiking and hooking out of the fray. tear streaks on flushed cheeks, screaming and crying and laughing all at once. "i love you"s rolling off tongues and through kiss-bruised lips, "i hate you"s coming just as quick through bloodied mouths and grinning fangs.
they came in like firecrackers, exploding in stunned faces, blue flashes sparkling and blinding onlookers of the flaming sky. crazed cackles sparking the beginning of a long run of madness, the aftermath flashing like police lights.
they go out like firecrackers, sizzling out and crashing down in a hailstorm of embers. landing on the ground in a spark-filled flare, burning grass and burning all their worn-down bridges in one fell swoop of faded glory.
they go out wild-eyed, bleeding blue and teal. bruised and battered, bones broken and elbows bloodied along with the rest of them, their horns cracked and their sparks faded. bodies littered with gunshot stitches and reused bandages, eyes bloodshot and minds still reliving the glory days.
they go out still scheming, with terezi still grinning like she knows something you don't and vriska rubbing a scraped-up coin between her fingers, fangs poking out from a tight-lipped smirk.
they go out like a phoenix, with the ominous guarantee of return certain in their wild eyes. blood dripping on the ground marking their territory, the wall dripping with their initials written in still-warm blood.
they go out in flames.
but they burn their enemies, too.