'You aren't the only one with scars, you know?' Screwssius goodness ples 💖
This became much longer than I anticipated. 😭❤️ I took some liberties in how the series might end, but I hope it’s still okay!
A heavy fog had set over the horizon, the world covering up the mistakes of man as it laid to rest; sun just about to fall over the edge and drench it in darkness. It was over. The revolution had come and gone, the Solar system gone to war and the Rim now writing their peace treaty. Darrow had worked hard, the dream of Persephone - No. Eo, Cassius reminded himself - finally come true. Yet he wandered off into the night, not sure where to turn.
Cassius had seen his mentee grow up, rebel, and now die. His blood still dry on the rocks, his last breath taken merely hours ago. It had hit him like a train, the years together in their ship never to be forgotten, never to be forgiven. He had failed to make the Lune a better man, a man he himself dreamed he could have been. Somehow, he couldn’t feel anger towards the young man. Only sorrow. Had he grown up in another time, another world, then perhaps he would have been alive now.
Taken aback from his deep thought, Cassius felt a strong hand wrap around his arm, sliding down to grab at his wrist. He glanced to where the skin met, not turning around to face the other. Instead he stilled, his feet glued to the pavement underneath. Everything to be heard was the short breaths from the man behind him, the struggle to catch some air after a long sprint.
“Wait...” Cassius knew that voice, could tell it apart in any crowd. He had come to cherish his former classmates, the ones that stuck around for longer than anyone else. The ones he had bullied into silly nicknames and stripped of their pride once so long ago.
Without shifting his gaze from where their bodies met, Cassius turned around slowly. Had he been in any mood but the one he had right now, he would have straightened his back, rolled his shoulders and faced Screwface like the man he used to be. Now, he just slumped further while staring at his wrist.
“Where are you going, Brother?” The endearment struck him right through the heart, the devotion to his cause always so strong. After all these years, he had not fallen to hate the man before him, not chosen to condemn Cassius for the things he had done. He called him Brother, saw him as one of his own. Any other day, such attempt to put them on the same pedestal would have angered Cassius. Right now he could feel nothing but gratitude for the lowDraft in front of him.
“I don’t know yet.” His deep voice was rough and flat, the fiery spirit all burned out. “Home.”
Silence fell over them and Cassius could feel eyes studying him, the husk of a man he used to be. He felt tiny, like a small creature found in a dark alleyway of Yorkton.
“You can stay. It’s over.” The hand trailed down to grab at his, their fingers interlacing. His eyes searched upwards the stretch of the arm, taking in the sight of Screwface standing in front of him.
Even with the difference in their height, Cassius couldn’t find himself to look him in his eyes, settling his gaze at the scar across his cheekbone. The one he earned without Cassius.
“I can’t stay, goodman. I have much to think about.” He sighed, not wanting to lay it all on Screwface. His lips twitched up in a sad smile, a reminder of how things used to be.
But the other shifted his body, moving his face to lock his eyes into where Cassius was watching. Their eyes met, dusty gold against his own sun glowing ones. He lifted his chin, maintaining the eye contact as good as he could. There was a gentle smile inside those eyes, a reminder of the caring nature of humanity. A reminder of the what the world was to become.
“You aren’t the only one with scars, you know?” Screwface said with a humorous tone, his voice as tender as that of a mother. More fingers grasped at Cassius other hand, asking for it’s attention. Accepting the gesture, he took the hand in his, finally nodding to answer the question hanging in the air.
“You are a good man, Cassius, and I would love if you stayed. We all would.” The heat once again bloomed inside of his chest at the words, the sight of the other’s lips forming such words warming him up. Again, he nodded; unsure if his voice would bear any answer more worthwhile. The smile that had faded once again spread over his face, slight but present.
“Thank you, Horatius.” Cassius felt his body grow weak again, all the emotions suddenly floating up to his brain again. Strong arms enveloped his body as he slumped against the form in front of him, a gentle hand brushing the hair out of his face as tears started to fall.
“I’m here. We are all here, Brother.” His voice was down to a whisper, as if he wanted no one else on the empty street to hear them. As if not even the world should be part of this exchange. “Our scars will heal, even if the marks stays. We will heal, Cassius.”
And for the first time since he landed on this planet to fight the last battle, he believed the words he heard.
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