Us at the End of The World, a skulduggery pleasant series fanfic

(Saracen's POV) (All the dead men are alive and Ravel didn't betray them)

We'd fought for centuries side-by-side. I find it ironic, now, that we are side-by-side in the end. The earth is burning up.

We always knew we wouldn't be able to stop it one day, but now that it's here, I'm trying to remember why we ever fought in the first place. We weren't fighting for our own benefit; we were fighting for the benefit of the mortals. I still believe in the cause I fought for, but was it really worth my life? Was it really worth it to lose all of my friends?

Dexter and I lay on a silent lifeless hill, watching apprehensively. There was no one I would rather be next to me.

All my weight was leaning against him, and our hands were clasped tightly together. His arm wrapped around my chest.

We weren't scared. We had resigned ourselves to the inevitability of death long ago. During most of our missions, death was always close by, watching and waiting. Despite this, there was still a sort of heaviness in my chest. Our situation wasn't sad, but bittersweet. The world may be ending, but at least I am with the person I love the most. At least we won't be alive to mourn for each other. I hate that I can imagine years into the future without Dexter, when the pain will be mild, and the memories will be dull and lacking in everything I once felt.

I may not be scared to die, but there is a small part of me that worries about what will happen afterwards. Will Dexter and I lose all our memories and feelings along with our bodies? Is this the end of us?

I turned my face up to Dexter. He was lost in thought, and his eyes were unfocused. He was staring at nothing in particular. I pulled his face down to face my own to grab his attention.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked. His eyes were locked onto mine.

"I wish," he whispered, "that we didn't spend so long fighting."

"I wish we had more time together," I agreed.

The heat was reaching us. It came mildly at first. The heat was hot enough to make me sweat, but it didn't hurt yet. We only had a few minutes left though.

"I love you," he breathed. And I told him I loved him back.

I am painfully aware of how small we are right now. There must be thousands of others spending these last moments with the love of their lives. Like I was. All of the sorcerers know about this, but we kindly kept the mortals out of it. They would spend their last few minutes confused and in pain, so maybe we should have let them be with their loved ones. I wasn't sure what I would have wanted.

The heat was beginning to hurt. There was a burning sensation on my skin. A searing pain shot into my skin, and I cried out. Dexter was holding me harder than he ever had before, and I was doing so to him. was burning hot, and the pressure of his body made it hard to breath. Still, I didn't let go. I couldn't.

It felt like time was slowing down. I was aware of every single sensation: the smell of sweat and burnt flesh, the feeling of warmth in Dexter's chest, and the scalding pain. Even though my eyes were closed, shades of red and orange blurred into my vision. I could hear Dexter and I's breathing. I could hear our heartbeats. I could hear sizzling. I could hear our cries of pain.

My skin was being burned off now. I couldn't see it, but I knew. I could feel it. I was holding onto Dexter for dear life. His body was on top of mine, taking in most of the heat.

I wanted to look at Dexter again, but the pain was so unbearable that I could.

"Dex-" I managed. He didn't answer me. "Dexter?" I choked. There was no answer. His arms had loosened around me.

He was probably dead, I realized.

Happyy endingggg

I was waiting for something more to come. I was waiting for more warmth to come, but it didn't. Hesitantly, I looked up from Dexter's chest. Dexter looked at me, "Saracen? What's happening?"

"It… stopped."

Both of our phones dinged at the same time. I took it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. A woman with dark hair and a prominent jawline speaking over a video of Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant. The video was being broadcasted to other sorcerers globally.

The world was fine. We weren't going to die.

Dexter and I looked at each other at the same time. His face was a mix of shock, confusion, and relief. I said, "We're okay." I laughed. He pulled me into a hug, and laughed.

We have had a lot of close calls in the past. Many times, one of us was on the brink of death, and were saved by the bell. Every time, we were greeted by relief. This time might be my favorite time.

"God, I love you," I grinned. Dexter pulled away from the hug until he had enough room grab my face and kiss me. It was slow at first, but it became fiercer and desperate. I was being pushed onto my back. His body was pressing against my own. His strong hands were gripped tightly on my waist. I hugged his neck. "I love you too," Dexter whispered in between kisses.

"Uh.. not to interrupt or anything, but we need you two at the sanctuary," a velvety voice called. Dexter and I looked up at the same time. The voice belonged to Ravel.

"Why?" I whined.

"Because," Ravel replied, "Valkyrie and Skulduggery shouldn't have to do everything around here."

"We're busy," Dexter claimed.

"I can see that," Ravel said.

"You guys don't need us," Dexter continued, "At least give us a few minutes."

Ravel eyed the two of us, "Fine, five minutes. No more." Dexter grinned and turned back to me. "Five minutes," he muttered as he pressed his lips against mine.