#{william drabble

[arcxnumvitae]

Part 4

Dazed eyes opened when his hand left her cheek, the struggle for consciousness heightening her confusion. The blue eyes that stared down at her now, they were so warm and nostalgic, familiar. “...Will...?”

“Hello, a chroi.” His hand returned to her cheek, a thumb softly brushing against her skin. “I should have known that if there was anyone stubborn enough to survive Thanatos it would be you.”

She struggled to sit up but slumped back into his arms as weakness overtook her. “I don’t get it, how are you...? Thanatos...?”

William shushed her soothingly. “Don’t push yourself. He gave me a few moments to say goodbye to you before I have to go.”

“You...?” Her gaze was uncomprehending but it was in that moment that she realized the encroaching ice throughout her body had stopped and-- and was fading away. A hand clutched William’s sleeve and panic entered her voice. “Will-- Will, what did you do? What do you mean ‘go’?”

“You only got dragged into this mess because of me.” Still with that gentle smile on his lips, he smoothed back her hair. “I am deeply sorry, Dawn. Because of my selfish interference on that day you survived but you had to suffer an untold amount of pain afterwards. Please, I hope you find it in your heart one day to forgive me for what I caused you.”

A hot press of tears stung her eyes, the following warmth on her cheeks making her realize that she was crying. William’s cool thumb brushed them away but still she cried, “There’s nothing to forgive, but you can’t--! It’s not fair...! All those years, you deserve more. You deserve peace.”

“And I will have it. I’ve wanted nothing more than to be at rest for decades now and now I’ll have it.” He smiled gently, “Don’t cry for me, Dawn, I’m happy. And I got to see you one last time before I left, it’s more than I could ever wish for. Please, live. I don’t know what these years have been like for you but I know you. You’re strong, far stronger than me, and I know you still have so much more life to enjoy. It’s not in you to give up forever, it’s not.” Leaning forward, cool lips brushed against her forehead in one last soft kiss. “You will find happiness. Goodbye, a chroi.”

At last, he was leaving to join his mother and sister as he should have all that time ago. A final sigh slipped past his lips, one finally free of the suffering and torment he had endured for years on end. A gentle breeze passed through, and with that he was gone.

[arcxnumvitae]

Part 3

At this point, it was only a matter of waiting until the last of the life left the girl. Aphrodite mentioned her having stayed with the lycanthrope pack, he supposed afterward he could bring her there...

Before his thoughts could linger much longer, his hand pulled away from the girl without warning.

“What...?” It had moved on its own, without any input from him. How could it have--?

Thanatos. The voice was urgent, insistent, the soft lilt of an Irish accent in it. And it only took an instant for the deity to realize what was happening. You’ve made deals before, make a deal with me.

Never before had William been able to speak with him when he was in control, and certainly never had he been able to wrest control of his body back. Te deity pushed past the surprise. I do not make deals anymore, William.

A life for a life. He persisted. You want full control of my body, correct? Take me instead then. Let me pass on and let her live.

You realize the full gravity of what you offer, correct? You saw her eyes, can you even be so certain that she wishes to continue living? You could be dooming her to an existence filled with nothing but more pain.

I know Dawn. She’s strong enough. No matter what you or me or life throws at her, she finds a way to keep on living. I have faith in her.

A heavy silence passed, time seeming to pause as Thanatos considered. A sigh finally left him. You humans. Fine, I accept your offer, William O’Connor. Your life in exchange for Dawn Edwards, the deal has been made and sealed. ...Would you like a few last moments to say goodbye?

Yes.

[arcxnumvitae]

Part 2

I truly did enjoy our time together. ...Goodbye, Dawn.

She could feel the moment Aphrodite had left, the moment that her presence no longer held back the curse Thanatos had put on her all those years ago. The sudden slam of cold stole her breath and sent her to her knees on the soft grass below, a hand clutching at her chest. The icy chill started in her fingertips and just as it did last time Dawn knew it would travel until it reached her heart. Then it would be all over. There wasn’t any other way this could have gone she knew, but she found herself wishing not for the first time to have at least gotten to spend more time with the pack. And with Damian. 

Her breaths came in short pants and she gasped out, “’No pain’, but it sure isn’t fucking pleasant, asshole.”

Thanatos knelt down to her level, his eyes unreadable. “...My apologies.” But his face and his voice, those were still William’s, the same as she remembered all those years ago.

“Keep your damn apologies.” 

 Blue eyes studied her. Though the words were as harsh as expected from one like her, they lacked their usual fire behind them. She had been nothing but a fiery one from what he remembered and yet, the image of the relief in her eyes flashed through his head, something had extinguished that fire. “This is why gods do not meddle in others’ affairs, Aphrodite,” he murmured even though the goddess was no longer around to hear, “it brings nothing but suffering.” 

Finally, a question left Dawn, a single name. “Will?”

“William lives, though he wishes otherwise. He thinks of you still.”

“No thanks to you.”

“Yes,” Thanatos sighed, “no thanks to me.”

Another sharp gasp left her and her hand clutched tightly at her shirt. It was the same feeling she had felt in her nightmares all those years, the way the cold seemed to steal her breath from her lungs, the strength from her limbs, but this time there was no denying that it was real. Dawn watched dully as the god’s ungloved hand rose and couldn’t even find it in herself anymore to feel surprise, or gather the strength to respond, when it gently cradled her cheek. His skin was as cold as ever, and though the eyes were different, the touch brought her back to simpler times. Back when she was younger and barely aware of the incredible and otherworldly things that existed around her. No sound was made when Thanatos began to use his power, sapping her life away with his touch and stealing the last bit of strength from her as she felt herself falling over. An arm caught her before she hit the ground, still with his hand against her cheek, and her eyes slipped shut.

[arcxnumvitae]

Part 1

His steps came to a halt, blue eyes landing on a lone figure sitting on the park bench. Her head was tilted up to the night sky watching the stars, and when Thanatos approached slowly, her eyes pulled away to glance at him, an indescribable look of relief within them. A cold breeze blew through the area and even the noises of the wildlife around them fell silent, quiet in the presence of death. A face he remembered, familiar warm brown eyes. That girl...but how? He had seen to it that she’d--

“Thanatos,” the girl said, but the way she said it and the sad smile that now rested on her lips had the pieces falling into place. That explained the feeling of the goddess he sensed as well. He closed the distance between them and stopped front of her, his frame looming over hers and blocking the stars from above from he view.

Ice radiated from his gaze. “Aphrodite,” the deity growled, “what is the meaning of this?”

She shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the anger that flowed from him. “You know I cannot resist a good love story, Thanatos. Especially not one involving your vessel and a mortal girl. Even moreso when the great Thanatos himself deigns to get his own hands dirty.” A hand rested over her heart where his mark lay, the ever-present cold lodged in Dawn’s heart. “Besides, you know I have an awful habit of sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“This involves matters of death and souls that should have long since left this world. You infringed upon my domain, you have no right.”

“I know.” Slowly, she rose to her feet. “This arrangement was meant to last only as long as it remained undetected by you. The game is up, our home is no longer available to us, and I will not stand in the way of your work.”

He watched her carefully. “’Home’?”

A humorless laugh left her and her eyes shifted upwards to the stars above. “The lycan pack in Switzerland, Zeus did not take kindly to the attention I was drawing there and sent me away. Think nothing of it, it is in the past now.”

A moment more of observation passed and then a sigh was passing through his lips. “Either way, you know what comes next.” Fingers moved to pull the glove from one of his hands. “Leave the girl’s body. ...Do not worry, she will feel no pain.” Only cold, and then peace.

Aphrodite gave a mock curtsy, the same bitter smile still resting on her lips. “Whatever Death commands.”

“We will discuss this later.”

“I know.”

[arcxnumvitae]

Dawn.

“...”

Aphrodite’s voice was resigned. Dawn. I can sense him.

She finally stirred, the barest flicker of hope lighting her eyes. “Damian...?” It was hoping against hope, she knew that. Zeus’ orders were absolute to the pack and to Aphrodite, but still--  still, couldn’t she have even just a little bit of hope that she could see him one last time...

There was a quiet sigh, one filled with regret for what she was about to say. No, Thanatos.

The brief light instantly faded, not even enough left in her to be crushed at her dashed wishes, and she sighed listlessly. “Oh. How long.”

He is only about a day away.

No response came from the girl, but through her thoughts the goddess sensed one single sentiment. ‘Good’.

[arcxnumvitae]

Something felt...weird. Off? Like it was familiar, and yet not, but William couldn’t put a finger on why exactly that was. Or even what he was feeling. As his mind began to whir in confusion over the odd sensation, his body suddenly stilled.

Thanatos frowned. That was definitely his own aura that he sensed, along with...Aphrodite’s of all people? In a mortal too...? “The world grows ever stranger,” he murmured as his brows furrowed. Strange or not though, it was a cause for concern. There should be no way his aura would exist in another unless he had interacted with them personally in some way. A sigh passed his lips, it looks like this was a matter that he needed to look into.

[arcxnumvitae]

“The bee shall honey taste no more, the dove become a ranger The falling waters cease to roar, ere I shall seek to change her The vows we made to heav'n above shall ever cheer and bind me In constancy to her I love, the girl I left behind me.

“...What the hell, Will, why are all these songs so sad? Your mom went around singing these? And how do you expect me to come anywhere close to your mom’s authentic Irish singing, accent and all? I’m sure she sang them better.”

“You don’t really stop to think about the lyrics when you’re younger,” William laughed as his arms tightened around Dawn’s waist. “But how can I help asking you to sing them when your voice is so beautiful?” He paused to think, his smile growing as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Your voice is different from my ma’s, yeah, but that doesn’t mean it’s worse. Your voice is amazing, a stór mo chroí. Like a warm glass of milk and honey on a cold night.”

“You...” Her cheeks darkened and she playfully swatted at his shoulder, pulling a laugh from the male. “You’re not allowed to be that smooth! I’ve got a reputation to keep up, you can’t go around making me blush!”

“Again, how can I resist? You don’t blush often, if shameless compliments are what it takes then I’ll gladly shower you with them.”

“S-stop it! Or I’m getting up and I’m not sitting back down again! Your lap’s gonna end up freezing.” She huffed and glanced away from the warm glint in William’s eyes. “Anyways, we’re updating your music tastes, you old sack of dirt, you ever heard of New Edition?”

[arcxnumvitae]

Will’s tag dump