He had nothing to lose. Nothing to gain, either, if you thought about it. Nothing to lose…not even his own sanity. Nothing to gain…he'd lost it all, that day of many hundreds of years ago…and he was dangerous. He was the eldest, a feared one, and he knew it. That's what he used against the others. They feared him. Even Pride feared him. The only one that was called a "friend" was the youngest. The boy had attached himself to the elder, practically followed him everywhere. The other had told him many times to knock it off, but the boy didn't listen.
It was a mistake, he had told himself. When they finally had gotten it…well…he had gotten too close, and gotten a burden.
A soul.
Not that he cared. But soon he grew to forgive, very unlike him, and he had become almost human. But something still slept, something still lived inside him, something monstrous and horrible. He had contained it for a few years, but nothing could warn him of what happened the next day.
He stared down at his hands. His eyes wide, he squeezed his eyes shut and his fists clenched. He mumbled something incoherent and held the body close.
He didn't want it to go this far.
Maybe they should have left him alone. Maybe they should have listened to him. He did know best, after all.
He felt something wet on his face. Tch. Crying, was he? Silly. He didn't cry. No, not him, who killed without regrets, who didn't care.
Except, he had changed. He wasn't who he was.
And he let the tears fall, shining and salty, over the boy's body.
He felt a hand and he looked up. His eyes narrowed the smallest bit. Go, he said quietly.
Why?
I don't want to hurt anyone…
You won't.
How do you know that? I can't contain this thing… his hand wrapped around his shirt, above where his heart was. It's inside me. You have to leave.
I'm not leaving. Not without you.
Too bad, because I'm not leaving with you, he said in a cold voice.
Don't distance yourself from us.
You can't control me.
I'm trying to help y-
Leave.
We're going to help, whether you like it or-
LEAVE. NOW! he yelled, and the boy stepped back, alarmed. He turned without another word, and left, head hung low.
Funny…even after he had become human, he still was alone.
And he couldn't change that. Not one bit.