+ Fallacy, a 100themes Challenge +
Sarehptar
Theme: 2, Love
Characters: Rath, Kharl
Pairing: None
Warnings: None
Need to Know Info: Volume nine, "Meeting on Emphaza" scene.
Title Provider: The Unforgiven Two (Metallica)
Never Free, Never Me, Because You're Unforgiven Too…
He feels the cold before he feels the blade, and for a moment, everything inside him runs and cracks like melting ice. Everything seems suddenly overly clear, sharp and shadowed. Though it is not, he can almost see the glow of the Light Dragon sword where it has ripped through his white cloak and everything below it. Even the curve of Rath's clenched jaw is too vibrant—that face and that gaze look crueler than they really are. That must be it, a trick of the pain, because he does not, desperately does not want to believe that the coldness in those eyes is not part of his imagination.
For a moment, it seems as if he will be able to continue to stand, to function, but the ice melts fully until it is running, running from him like his conscious. The blade pulls free, the Light fades, the emptiness gasps where his heart used to be. Beneath him the grass is slick with dew and something that is darker, and it flashes black in the corners of his eyes as he tries, fails, continues to try to focus, to find the warmth behind the bloodied snow that Rath sees him with. He fists his hand into the younger man's shirt, just to say that he has touched him, just to say that for a moment they were connected.
"Why…" And he cannot hear his own words anymore, cannot feel his lips moving--but something in Rath changes, and for a moment, just a moment, he can see something soft in the boy's eyes. Blood blooms like crimson carnations over his cloak. Rath kneels beside him, knees soaking up the watery darkness and pressing into his father's side, just to say they have touched. Those scarlet eyes water like melting snow, confused and desperate for more words than they will ever get.
The Alchemist cannot help but think that even in pain, love can be infinitely sweet.