The Flames of Roses
Ao3 Link
756 words
Moonlight’s boots crunched against the thin layer of frost settled over the leaves, and if he were any other ghoul he might have whined at the cold biting his fingers. But he was a quint, and this weather wound tightly to his element. Besides, he had found his usual spot, just a few meters away from the edge of the tallest cliff overlooking the lake. “Can you feel me?” he asked the silence, sitting on his knees and slipping the bag from his back. It was heavy with firewood and a small box.
Moonlight set the bouquet of red roses he held gently on a patch of frosty grass. The cold would soon be melted away. The zip of the bag slid open, and the ghoul began assembling a fire. Balancing the wood against itself and sliding little pieces of paper in between to help it catch, Moonlight began to hum Scorch’s song. He wrote a lot of songs in his time Topside, but this was always Moonlight’s favourite.
He withdrew a box of matches from his pocket, most of them already used, and struck a flame. Tossing it into the wood, lighting it slowly ablaze, Moonlight shifted back so as not to get burnt by stray embers.
“It’s Valentine’s Day. I spent some of it with my pack, but I left early to be with you, my love,” he spoke into the fire. “I wrote you a poem, and some cake. You always loved carrot cake most, didn’t you? I do too. We still have a lot in common, don’t we? I guess we still have a lot of differences, though, too. You’d probably have hosted the party. Swiss had to convince me to go. I enjoyed it, though.” He paused to laugh and take out a small, folded piece of paper.
“I wrote you a poem. Cumulus convinced me to try it out with her. I figured I might as well try it out, since I like reading books and poetry so much.” Moonlight began to unfold the paper and read from it.
You slipped through my fingers
Like water off a duck,
I see your face in strangers
And try out my luck,
If you were coming back
I’d wait on the doorstep,
So cut me some slack
If you make me misstep,
Moonlight had to stop to wipe his tears as he began to choke up.
That look in your eyes,
The sound of their screams,
Their soul crushing cries
Haunt me in my dreams
If you can even hear this
I want you to know
I still feel your kiss
Like decades ago
Moonlight sighed, wrists dropping to his thighs. The fire grew stronger, and Moonlight knew it meant only to comfort him. Tossing the poem into the flames, he began to elaborate. “It’s a bit pessimistic, I know. I just miss you. I see you in strangers in the corner of my eye every time I go out. I see you when I close my eyes, I hear them all when it’s too quiet. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.”
With a sigh, he picked up the bouquet. “I got these for you, too. Aether called it romantic. I hope you think so, too.” He placed the flowers into the fire, watching solemnly as the petals curled and wilted. The thorns which survived the trimming dulled and the leaves dehydrated and crimpled in on themselves as they blackened.
Moonlight then took the small box out of the bag, settling it in front of him before taking out a small plate, knife and fork. With precision, Moonlight unlocked the box with a hook and lifted the lid. From inside, he produced a small carrot cake, complete with an even layer of white icing blanketing the top. “I made it myself,” he declared proudly. “I’m not too good at baking with dough but batter I can handle. I think I've been spending too much time with Cumulus,” he joked. He hoped Scorch would like hearing him joke, and deep down he knew he would. With the knife, he cut the small cake in half.
One half, he laid on the fire, watching it burn and icing bubble. The shreds of carrot curled and blackened, stinking the small area surrounding the fire with the bitter smell. Thinking poetically, Moonlight supposed this could be a mockery of how bitter his memories were. The sun was seeping down under the horizon now, and Moonlight picked up his fork and began to eat his share.
( @geastherat @imperabug @dolly-macabre )
