Give me the burden, give me the blame (I’ll shoulder the load, and I′ll swallow the shame) - Chapter 4
Fandom: Tavern Talk (Visual Novel)
Pairing: Quasar Duskbringer/Innkeeper
Chapter title: Will they still let me over If I cross the line?
AO3 link
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You are Rune. You stand upon a field of death and nightmares, surrounded by the bodies of your friends, and you are desperate.
Delphi got mind-controlled and took down Cain, brutally, before she also fell. Kya was struck by a dark wave of magic as she was trying to heal Aegeus, before either you or Quasar could reach her to help. Your paladin has his axe drawn, the blood of your friends splattered all over his armor. Said armor is broken; he is bleeding heavily. You know he will not last very long, and neither will you, with your broken arm, bent wings and almost fully depleted mana.
You cannot watch him die. You will not watch him die. You make your choice. You run.
You hear him call out after you, as you scoop Andu up and rush out of there. You hear his despair as he shouts, and Kerebosia’s laughter chases after you, echoing in your ears like it will for years. From a distance you hear him start an incantation, the one you both agreed was too dangerous to even try. As you grow more and more distant, you hear the BOOM, feel the burst of energy, making your hair stand on end. There are tears running down your cheeks, but you don’t look back. You can’t look back. You cannot look at his corpse.
You just run. Like you always do.
You are the Innkeeper. You stand in your tavern across from a broken, lonely man, one who you failed terribly, one who somehow still cares enough to ask that you join him. And he won't tell you that he loves you, but he loves you. And you feel like you've done something terrible, like robbed a liquor store, or swallowed pills, or shoveled yourself a grave in the dirt, and you're tired. You are so tired of running.
He is asking you a question. He is asking you to choose. He is giving you one last chance to do what is right. You have to choose.
