The dance had been going on for millennia. Each one holding the other in their dying breaths, whispered words to one another, smiles, and a hand slipping from the other’s.
It was nothing new to them; conflict, turmoil, anger and anguish. A never ending fight that would span the cosmos of time and space, always needed - always hunted.
And yet, even through it all, they stood strong beside one another, hands interlocked - hearts linked and love strong.
And as they took their first breaths once more, the other was always there, a saddened smile upon their lips, the same words leaving their lips each and every time.
“Hey there Starshine... Don’t you ever do that to me again...”
“Hey there Sunshine... Don’t you ever do that to me again...”
They were legends among those that new of the Wardens, about those that were between the nether and worlds, between time and space. But to each of them, they were just two simple fighters, cogs in the wheel of a great machine that needed to keep moving... Even if they sometimes just wished to fall to their hands and knees - to scream into the air about the unjustice of all of it.
And yet... they were never given a reprieve. Always a scream, always their name, always a new world or a new war. Always something they needed to fix, even if part of both of them just wished to let it drip away and reset.
Countless times enemies unknown would try to push them down, would try to outwit them, to make them cease to exist. And yet they were relentless, they survived, hand in hand, heart in heart. They suffered together and picked each other up to come out on the other side. Maybe more battered, maybe more bruised, maybe with more scars, but they still survived.
They had done this dance for millennia. They had traverse time and space to keep that fight strong and to keep one another going.
“Hey, hey... Starshine... you hush now... this ain’ the end,” whispered words as blood trickled down lips, small smile upon his lips as he placed his hand shakily up onto the other’s cheek. “Be there when I wake?”
“Always, Tibeau,” was the reply, lips being pressed very gently and delicately to his forehead.
“You’d t’ink we’d be used ta this dance by now,” it was full of pain, but that smile was still there... That snarky ass smile from all those years ago.
“You’re an idiot...”
“Yeah, but cher, ‘m your idjit,” Tibeau replied quietly, the chuckle that left him breathless and accompanied by blood. “No tears this time, a’ite Kyle? An’ ya better be there when I wake. Remember, I’ll always love you, Starshine.. An’ also... Don’ be late...”
“Never am, never will be...” As that hand fell from his face, he stood with such a deep and internal rage. Even though the dance continued on, it never ceased to ache, to throb, to burn. “Sorry boys... but it appears this will have to be short. I have a date and I can’t be late...”
How many times would the cycle go over and over? How many times would he have to watch Tibeau die and respawn? How many times would Tibeau have to watch him die and respawn?
One thing was certain...
Being a Warden wasn’t just a job... It was your life... your entire being. And the son of the First Warden and the First Oracle were Legends.
You wanted a job done, you sent them.
“Maybe one day we’ll get our peace, cher... Bu’ that day ain’ today. We never had the chance to pick an’ choose our battles. Maybe one day... bu’ not today...”
“I love you, Tibeau. I’ll be there soon, just wait for me...”