Title: Still Frame
Author: Catherine Grissom
Warnings: Nothing really. Spoilers for episode 23.
Rating: T, just to be safe.
Summary: Lest you fear the dark, first become aware of it, then decide...
A/N (Or Cat tries to explain it all): One of my favorite professors brought up the idea of the universe completely ceasing to move. She meant in relation to Karma. My brain took that and ran down the rabbit hole. I've completely revamped the scene it comes from, but meh. I'm me. I do that. I was experimenting with imagery and a lack of dialogue here.
Disclaimer: Y'know the drill. Bandai and Sunrise own the show. Epica owns the song that has the lyric that makes up the summary.
Info: An In paradisum is an optional part of the requiem mass that speaks directly to the deceased, wishing that they be lead by angels and granted rest. Mea culpa/Mea maxima culpa is part of a prayer and translates to 'My fault/My most grievous fault'. Carissima is an Italian endearment, meaning roughly 'dearest'.
The door slid open. He slipped in, gun drawn and at the ready, eyes set, mask in place.
The after-prayer whisper of his name escaped her lips, loud enough to echo in his mind. Her eyes flicked to the metal in his hand.
He braced himself for searing heat and blinding pain. Instead, the cool water of her innocent confusion flowed over him.
He was talking then, admitting a disobedience, a weakness that he couldn't have borne telling any other.
The letter found his hand: an old priest's last In paradisum wrapped in purity sorrow and blood.
She took it cautiously, devoured its words greedily.
The world froze. His heartbeat crawled to a stop and he watched her gorge on the words.
Her grip on the paper tightened: blue patchwork and white bone under translucent skin.
His own hand clenched in response, trigger finger awaiting a verdict.
Her eyes stilled.
'Mea culpa,' the weathered hand had written. 'Mea maxima culpa. Carissima, forgive me.'
Verdant eyes slipped closed. Slender hands pulled the writing's spectral author close. Cradling? Or crushing? A head swathed in gold bent towards a cloth of black. Slightly flared nostrils tasted the scent of stained paper.
Agonizingly slowly, her neck straightened: red blood pounding in blue veins behind white skin.
Her eyes opened, impossible emeralds.
He didn't see them, his own eyes fixed on the crystal drop trembling at the very tip of her chin.
Liquid salt lost its hold and fell.
Verdict reached.
The universe breathed again.
