Title: We All Fall Down
(part 2 of 2)
Genre: Angst. So much angst.
Characters: Mika Ver Leth. Arrow. Paris Skyle. Mentions of Kurda.
Pairings: Mika & Arrow's beautiful bromance as always
Warnings: Mentions of character death, spoilers for book 6
Summary: The princes question themselves and try to comfort each other during a trying time, but nobody really feels any better about the whole situation. Basically a whole lot of drabbley angsty nothing. Lyrics are property of Toy Soldiers by Eminem. Part 2, this is the last one.
I need to be the leader, my crew looks to me to guide 'em / If some shit ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em / That shit I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it / There's a certain line you just don't cross and he crossed it
He longed for his fellow princes to return and discharge him from this solitary vigil. He hadn't slept or eaten since before the start of the investiture. Even prior to the formalities rest had been hard to come by and he couldn't recall the last time he'd enjoyed a good day's sleep. Adrenaline had kept him going strong because he'd needed it to, but even the most formidable of vampires had to run out of strength sooner or later. He'd genuinely considered abandoning his post when the doors finally whooshed open and weary colleagues rejoined him. The exhaustion on their faces was clearly visible and Mika knew the past hour hadn't been any easier on them.
"It is done." Paris exhaled, taking a seat in his throne to Mika's left. "And I pray to the gods I do not live to see so many of my clan burning at once ever again."
"Sorry, Paris." Mika replied stiffly. "I should've gone in your place."
"Don't be foolish, young Ver Leth. You will see many more funerals before your life is over. Far too many." Paris murmured.
"They died fighting, like they wanted." Arrow sighed heavily. "And they were sent to Paradise honourably, like they wanted. But something feels wrong and I can't place it."
"You feel like it could have been prevented." Mika contributed dully, not taking his eyes off the floor. The silence that followed was the only confirmation he needed.
"What else could we have done?" Arrow eventually croaked. There was a hitch in his voice.
There was another long silence.
What else could we have done?
"I don't know." Mika whispered finally.
Both looked unconsciously to Paris. Somehow, he always had an answer, an explanation, or at least a word of inspiration. But the desolation in his ancient blue eyes shook Mika to the core and he knew in that moment their wise mentor felt just as lost as they did.
"My head hurts." Arrow mumbled, covering his eyes with a wide palm.
"Return to your cells and rest, my sons." said Paris gently but firmly. "I shall guard the dome for the remainder of the night. Everything will be alright when you awake."
All three of them knew nothing would be alright anytime soon, but nevertheless the younger princes did as they were told.
"I swear that old bat still sees us as cubs." Mika commented gruffly once they were out of the hall, with nothing but fondness for the elderly prince.
"He always will." Arrow snorted, hiding a thin smile.
A comfortable silence fell between the two as they made their way back to their chambers. Theirs was a brotherhood forged by years of bloodshed, sweat, tears, broken bones, and camaraderie. Never before had their been a more deadly duo upon the thrones of Vampire Mountain.
"We killed our friend yesterday." Mika noted abruptly, not liking the husky edge to his voice.
"It's not about friends or enemies." Arrow sighed. "It's about right and wrong and he betrayed us."
The tattooed prince's voice never wavered, but the confusion his eyes that suggested he was trying to convince himself rather than Mika.
"What Kurda did was wrong. Our sentencing was just." Arrow continued doggedly. "He brought Vampaneze into our mountain. He plotted to assassinate us! He lied, he schemed, he manipulated, he murdered, and he…" his voice finally broke. " …he thought he was acting in the clan's best interests. And…it hurts me to admit it but he was our friend, once."
"Was our sentencing just?" Mika questioned.
"I don't know." Arrow gulped. His mouth opened and closed for a moment as he searched for something else to say but he gave up and whispered again; "I don't know."
"Arra's dead because of him. Gavner's dead. Vanez is blind." Mika mumbled, reaching out and running his hand over the rough stone wall, allowing himself to be momentarily distracted by the sharp sensation.
"That, I do know." Arrow replied darkly.
"I don't want any more blood shed over this. It has to end."
"It'll never end."
The pair meandered on, falling silent once again. They came to a halt at the door to Mika's cell.
"Sleep well, then." said Mika dully, opening the door.
"You as well. Remember what Paris said; everything will be better when we wake up." Arrow answered with a grim smile.
The dark prince nodded gruffly, and the two parted ways. Leaving all thoughts of death and treachery at the door, Mika made for his coffin. It had never felt so welcoming; he revelled in warmth and relief as he carefully pulled the lid down to encompass himself completely. In the few minutes it took for him to drift off into sweet slumber, he was a cub again. Content, naive, and almost innocent. He knew when he woke up there'd be turmoil and questions and anger and grief but could do nothing in this moment except resolve to take it as it came and deal with it like the noble leader he was. The next nights would test everything he had in him. But for the rest of this particular one, he would allow himself to be at peace.
And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it / I spent too much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted / And I'm so caught in it I almost feel I'm the one who caused it / This ain't what I'm in this for, it's not why I got in it / That was never my object for someone to get killed / Why would I wanna destroy something I help build / It wasn't my intentions, my intentions were good.
Done. I don't really know where I was planning on going with this. Please review.
rxx
