Ardyn lay on his bed, awake and gazing at the ceiling above him. He turned his head to the side to see his brother resting peacefully on the far side of their shared bed. The younger slept with the covers mostly off of his bare chest. He felt himself smirk at the sight.
What would Somnus say about this? He thought to himself. It was time to find out. Though this little fantasy had been fun, it was about time to end it.
Ardyn let his magic to fade, allowing the Starscourge in his brother's body to retreat from the depths of his mind. Freeing him from the illusions and manipulations it was tasked with bestowing upon him and freeing thousands of years of locked away memories.
Somnus's eyes snapped open, the feeling of such a disturbance forcing him awake. He looked around wildly until he caught sight of his older sibling. For several long moments, his face held an expression of such confusion as his mind tried to cope.
The Accursed said nothing as he saw the clarity finally return. Everything would have no doubt changed for Somnus. The illusion broken, he would realize he was not in their former home, thousands of years past. He was no longer the naive, young man he was at that time. He would remember everything now.
"Really?" Was all the Founder King muttered as he pulled the covers off the bed to wrap around himself. He received a chuckle in response.
Somnus scrambled out of their shared bed, after giving his brother a harsh glare. He narrowed his eyes and he searched the room for the clothes he had left on a nearby dresser. There was a bit of light streaming out of the door, it being halfway open. The man frowned as he looked around.
Everything was different. No longer did this place feel like home. The ancient mahogany furniture, painstakingly engraved and crafted from the finest trees in the kingdom was replaced with modern counterparts that held none of the same character. The familiar soft light of candles and braziers outside the room was replaced with the harsher glare of artificial lights. The man found that he did not like it.
The Founder glimpsed his clothes and felt a bit of relief. Though he wasn't naked, his chest was bare. It had felt quite hot in whatever fantasy Ardyn created. In the situation he found himself in, the younger brother was much more comfortable being as clothed as possible around Ardyn. All of this still felt unreal. The memories of the illusory life continued to conflict with Somnus's own. He tried to sort them out as he snatched his shirt of the dresser and hastily began to pull it on.
Had he really ended up like this? In his brother's bed?
Again?
"As much as I would have liked to, I took things no farther than what we have already done." Ardyn remarked as he watched his brother, smiling in amusement.
What had been done being a few not-so innocent touches and some kisses throughout Somnus's time here. All of it unwanted, but sometimes barely tolerated or manipulated into being accepted, at least on one side. Somnus was thankful Ardyn truly never tried anything more than that.
"Oh, my thanks. That makes this so much better." Somnus's voice dripped with sarcasm. He tried to purge the memories of the things Ardyn had said to him in the depths of the night. Of what they had done together. Nothing explicit but it did not mean he was alright with whatever this was. He was more tolerant however, as this was not the first time he had ended up like this. "You should not want this."
"Perhaps not. But the desire is there all the same." Ardyn responded. "And you did consent to this."
"I suppose." Somnus sighed. He really had agreed to allow Ardyn the chance to put him under such manipulations. But there hadn't really been much of a choice to begin with. He was Ardyn's captive here. He had been for well over a year since being pulled away from the embrace of the Crystal and being infected by the Starscourge. He wasn't sure how long passed in reality in this recent game so it was likely even longer.
Being his brother's captive had been a rather painful, both physically and emotionally, and humiliating experience all in all. But Somnus hoped it would not last much longer. The Chosen King would return and defeat the Accursed one and for all… He was just not sure when.
One thing Somnus hadn't expected was for things to turn out in Ardyn's favor every time he created those illusions. But even so, Somnus realized his brother being rather preoccupied by tormenting or manipulating him for his own amusement was a good thing. He was less likely to be going around infecting more humans.
"It is not as if you gave me any other option. Did you think I would allow you to run rampant across what is left of Eos?" Somnus finished, once he reflected on his time here.
"I don't think I could have blamed you, had you done so." Ardyn mused, stretching out on the bed. "But, is it really all that bad? You seem to enjoy my company, as your brother at least. I wonder… Over all these years, have you missed me?"
Somnus paused at that question. He had. And still did. He had missed his brother all the years he had reigned as the first King of Lucis. He had missed him as he waited for the Chosen to finally arise. He had missed him because he felt the real Ardyn was gone. That a monster had taken his place because he had been too blind, too naive, too weak to stop his older brother before it was far too late. That Ardyn could never return until that cursed sickness was expunged from the face of Eos.
The ache lessened over the years but these illusions had brought up that pain and guilt once more. Somnus and Ardyn had been so close during their childhood. They had done everything together, never staying far apart. There had been no other children in the castle, and with the Starscourge about, the boys had rarely been allowed to leave or have other children visit them. Their parents were mostly absent as well. But even so, both Caelum brothers had never been lonely as they had one another growing up.
"Don't you find it a little interesting?" Ardyn continued, breaking Somnus out of his thoughts. "Look at where you ended up in this scenario. Even though I did so little. I just spurned you for a time and you became so desperate for my company."
"I am sure you didn't manipulate things in your favor just a little." Somnus retorted. His brother shrugged, not denying anything. He controlled everything when he created that fantasy, from the illusions of every person to Somnus's own mind, memories and perceptions of the world. Ardyn's power as the Accursed was great, rivaling even the Gods. A hazy recollection made it seem as if a year had passed, but no doubt only a fraction of that time had actually passed in the real world.
"For Astral's sake can you put some clothes on?" Somnus demanded, refusing to look at his brother in the same state of undress as he had been. Knowing what he wanted made it uncomfortable. And it wasn't even hot. That had just been a manipulation that only Somnus felt.
"I won't for their sake, but for yours I will." Ardyn relented. He sat himself up and grabbed his own shirt, which was neatly folded on a smaller dresser beside him. "Though, with that attitude, I think I preferred the old you. The one that held so much devotion towards me."
"I know I preferred the old you." Somnus snapped, crossing his arms as he finally looked at him once he was properly clothed.
"Pity. I wasn't serious. You've gone and hurt my feelings." Ardyn's voice belied what he said, full of playfulness. Somnus could say almost anything and it would not matter. Ardyn controlled everything here. He could do whatever he wished. And it was Somnus that he wished for, and did have. At least as a captive. For now that seemed good enough for him.
Somnus rolled his eyes as he sat down on the bed.
"As much as I enjoyed that experience, that Somnus is not who you are now. I still truly desire the one before me. The one that should have stayed by my side instead of turning away from me. The one I wish to love me again. As something more than a brother." Ardyn stated. "Even after seeing where you ended up again, you are not swayed in the slightest?"
"I didn't love you like that." At least not quite yet, the Founder thought to himself. Ardyn's own desires would cloud the world and Somnus's mind. He felt that it was his brother who was making him feel the start of something more than a little uncomfortable to think about. Back in his right mind, Somnus no longer held anything more than brotherly love for Ardyn.
"You also killed our parents." Somnus knew it wasn't really them but the pain he had felt at their loss felt real. He had thought himself over it many years ago but it seemed this illusory life reawakened those feelings as well.
"They were in the way of what needed to happen." Ardyn waved it off.
"You killed Gilgamesh." The younger brother accused. Even though it was just an illusion, it had hurt to see him like that. Gil had been one of his first friends, after having been assigned to him as a mentor on Somnus's fifteenth birthday. His friend was still around in reality, residing now in the Tempering Grounds.
"Also in the way. You needed to be in a certain state of mind to be more receptive. Loneliness really does make you do some strange things. Feel some strange things." Ardyn replied, his eyes locking with Somnus's own and showing the intensity of his emotions for a moment. Somnus could see the desire, the desperation, the loneliness.
The younger brother looked away, unable to continue looking into Ardyn's eyes. He felt a wave of guilt crash over him. He had once believed this man unable to feel such things. He believed all the Accursed was capable of was hate, anger and violence. Maybe Somnus had hoped for that so fervently that he deluded himself into believing it. That belief had made it easier to continue with his life, building the foundation of and protecting a kingdom that would last over a hundred generations.
Somnus wasn't quite sure what happened to Ardyn over the years. He did not understand from where this sudden interest for his younger brother came. Was it the Starscourge twisting the brotherly love he once held? The thousands of years of seclusion that warped his memories and feelings into some type of obsession? Had he always felt this way? Was is a mixture of all or was it something else completely?
Only Ardyn would be able to reveal the truth. But when asked about it, his brother's response had always been that it did not matter and would not change things. Maybe even Ardyn himself did not understand.
"Ardyn I'm-" Somnus began, attempting to speak.
"Silence, brother." Ardyn interrupted, his voice no longer amused. He knew what his younger brother would try to say next. Anger coated his words as he spoke nest. "I do not care for your apologies. They change nothing of what has happened. I have no wish to hear what regrets you carry with you."
Both brothers were silent after that. The quiet felt rather uncomfortable for Somnus.
"How long will you continue this? I will never feel the way you want me to feel for you." The younger brother finally asked as the silence stretched onward.
"Then it shall be for however long it takes for your dear Chosen to finally return and defeat me. I might as well have some enjoyment with what's left of this cursed existence…" There was a pause before Ardyn spoke next. "It may surprise you, but your company keeps me… Placated, in some ways at least."
Somnus was in fact, a little surprised at that. It was strange to him how Ardyn both seemed to hate and love, or at least desire, him at the same time. He would have never believed that anything of his brother remained up until Ardyn brought him here. The rage and hate that festered as Ardyn continued to absorb the sickness into his body seemed too powerful. He had been under completely under its thrall so many years ago.
But now it seemed, hints of his brother had returned.
A thought came to Somnus, one that had plagued him since Ardyn had been rejected by the Crystal. If he had tried harder to reach his brother from the Starscourge's clutches years back, could things have been different today? Could his fate have been avoided, in this way at least? Or was it that there really had been no other option? The Founder was unsure.
"The boy is taking quite a while isn't he? Almost two years have passed already." Ardyn was speaking again, once again laying back down on the bed. "Do you truly think that clumsy, naive child will defeat me?"
"It is ordained. He will have the Divine power of the Crystal with him. I for one, believe in him." Somnus stated firmly.
"He reminds me of someone else who was just the same. I wonder... Did you ever fix that statue of the Archaean you so gracelessly destroyed? You had been meaning to for years. The artist was quite heartbroken, remember?" His brother changed the topic rather suddenly. Somnus was a little startled but went along with it. He also did remember that awful thing. He wasn't surprised Ardyn did too. It had been there again, in that illusion, whole and unbroken.
"I'll have you know that it was the chocobo that did that…" It was what both Ardyn and he agreed on saying anyway, back before this tragedy. "And no. I did not fix the damned thing."
"Of course you didn't… And oh yes, the chocobo." Ardyn laughed. And it sounded so heartrendingly familiar. There was no madness in it. No hateful glee or sadism. It was just pure Ardyn. The Ardyn he remembered. Somnus was reminded of his brother all those years ago. His carefree laughter when he was amused at one thing or another. It hurt to hear it from him now. Knowing what he had gone through, knowing how things must be.
"Tell me Somnus, did that overgrown bird miscalculate a warp strike and embed its sword straight through the statue's skull? And then trip over its feet and knock the entire thing over in an attempt to pull it out?"
"Quiet." Somnus felt his face color. "It was ugly anyway. The artist only had his piece placed there because he was father's friend and no one had the heart to tell him how horrendous it actually was." Though Somnus had never been revealed as the one to have destroyed it, he had felt guilty. He had meant to try and repair the sculpture and present it back to the artist.
It had been in so many pieces though. So instead, it had become a joke amongst the brothers over the years that followed.
"Oh very true. I was surprised the Archaean himself didn't come down to smite the thing when it was presented." Ardyn agreed. He then yawned, seemingly tired. "Now come here. As much as I like to reminisce, I feel rather exhausted from that illusion."
"... As you wish." Somnus had been tempted to say no. But he would rather not see his brother's ire tonight... He had been much more himself than ever before. There had been no cruel mocking, no sadistic glee in how well the manipulations had worked, nothing to put Somnus down, no violence. Today, things had been… Almost like they used to be.
Somnus maybe wanted it to continue.
"However you-" The younger brother began to speak his requests but he was cut off.
"Yes, of course. Hands off for anything you would consider untoward… " Ardyn sighed. "Even if I hold all the power here, see how my desire for you allows you to make such demands of me?"
Somnus ignored the last part and eventually did as his brother bade. Even if he was uncomfortable, he had grown used to this, at least somewhat. He felt such pity for his brother. What was left of him, anyway. What seemed to be more than what he had originally thought possible. And if Ardyn was in a good mood, it was better for everyone. It was less likely he would need to take his anger out on whatever remnants of humanity tried to survive in this darkened world.
The Founder lay back down on the bed, not moving away when his brother shifted closer. It felt strange to do this, but familiar. He could almost imagine them both as children once more, sleeping in the same bed when nightmares got the best of one of them. Ardyn's presence had always soothed his younger brother with their parents so busy. They had at least had each other at that time to keep the loneliness at bay.
Ardyn had no such thing while imprisoned.
His older brother was correct too. Loneliness really did make you feel some strange things, Somnus thought to himself as he closed his eyes. Even if it had been a manipulation, he had been so willing to do anything to have Ardyn's company again. And even as a Lucii, Somnus had been waiting, hoping for the Prophecy to finally come to fruition. Then he could finally pass into the afterlife, and whatever it held. He had hoped to see his family once more. His wife. His sons. His friends.
And Ardyn. Free of the Starscourge.
The two thousand years of isolation and corruption by the Scourge likely turned the love Ardyn once held for Somnus into something else, something much darker. And even despite the corruption, it seemed hints of the brother Somnus once knew was still there buried inside. Somnus could see them sometimes. Not often, so rare, but they were there. Maybe that was why Somnus had slowly become more complacent from when he was first brought here by Ardyn. Or maybe it was because of the guilt he had carried with him throughout his long life.
Other times though, his brother was as vicious as the daemons he harbored. Seemingly unable to control his anger or vindictiveness. He would venture out into the darkened world and take his anger out on humans and daemons alike. His younger brother would follow along when he was able. He could sometimes calm his brother, but not often. Most of the time he would end up being the victim of his brother's rage, but that was better than some hapless human. Somnus would survive, the human would not.
Somnus had tried often to convince Ardyn to give up his plans for revenge but he would hear none of it. The Gods would pay, he would snarl in response. His eyes would glow with unrestrained rage and hatred. Many times, his younger brother's pleas had resulted in violence inflicted upon him. But the Founder King would continue his endeavor.
But it seemed just like the Prophecy showed, it would have to be the Chosen King that would end his brother's cursed existence once and for all and free the Lucii from their long wait... And free Somnus from Ardyn's advances. With his brother now pressing close enough that Somnus could feel his warm breath on his skin, the first King found himself hoping Noctis would hurry up, at least a little.