don’t know what to call this, really. but on the advent of me rewatching the series with my best bud [who also plays thad and holt, bless him], figured i’d drag out something i had hiding somewhere in the annals of my slugterran fic folder
no idea when i wrote the damned thing and it’s far from being done [first draft as is stated], but i DO remember it was inspired by THIS SONG
maybe i’ll work on it more once i’ve rewatched the show…
“You know, it is strange.”
“I always thought you would live forever.”
Thaddius sounds almost forlorn with this admittance, refusing to meet her eyes. He concentrates on her hands in her lap, though he leans into her touch as she puts a hand on his cheek, closing his eyes and rumbling.
“I did tell you once that War is eternal, didn’t I.” Fae laughs. Even at this age, it has that musical chiming. The faerie bells, she called them, the laugh that named her before it was swallowed up by her existence. “In a way it is. Marius carries my title now. Although, it’s really hard some days to remember I have a new name and identity to build. That I have the autonomy to do so.”
“It never really left you, did it.” It’s more a statement than a question, and he once more files away how she’s aged with his lingering gaze.
The grey in her mane sharp against the remaining black, as little as it is. The creases in her face, growing deeper every year. She can’t even walk anymore, with or without the braces, her ankles will no longer accept her weight. It hasn’t stopped her wit, but it won’t be long before that too begins to fail.
“Of course not.” she tells him, the crackle in her voice reminding him even now that while he stopped aging after Bane’ing, she continues. “Most of my life was dedicated to War. I still am War on some level, it was so much a part of me for so long. It was necessary.”
She laughs, and it is dark and foreboding. Proof to herself that she is still a force. “I probably could still kill you, if I so wanted to. But the drive to do so left long ago.”
He reaches up and squeezes her hand before resting his forehead against hers, a small smile crossing the grotesque face. “You very likely could. To be honest, I would probably not stop you at this juncture.”
She stares him in the eye, not a very hard thing to accomplish. For a while, they are silent, though through his minute amounts of body language in such proximity, she recognizes the tick of him thinking. “The Thaddius Blakk I know wouldn’t resign himself to death so readily. You have a plan you’re pouring over, now out with it.”
He’s hesitant at first to start, his hands taking both hers to hold and squeeze and stroke carefully with his thumbs. It’s not like him and he can feel her own apprehension at it. They have been married at least forty years now, and even then, he very rarely shows this side. But this is important, she is important. As she said first, ‘This is necessary’.
“I have come up with a choice for you.” he tells her, raising his eyes back to hers. “The choice is yours, I will not dispute it, but given the fact that you are still very mortal and I am not, this is something that must be addressed.”
He pauses and looks to one side as she tries to drag him passed the formality, though for the dramatics of it or because he is honestly nervous to bring it up is unknown. Even to him, usually so sure about ultimatums. Only he knows how many times he’s delivered them over the course of his life.
“Do you want to die as a human?” He looks her in the eye again, maintaining the sincerity of the decision. “Or do you want me to … change you so you can stay next to me. I am almost positive there is at least one pool of Dark Water at this level we can use…”
“…Do you really not know me that well?” she asks back, her tone brash and bold with a scolding click of her tongue. “Good gods, Thaddius. If you have to ask me after forty-eight years, you really don’t know me at all.”
He offers her a half-smirk. “If you are looking for me to dump you into a pool of Dark Water without consulting you first…”
She snorts, amused. “Are you trying to tell me you wouldn’t?” She squeezes his hands back. “I do appreciate that you decided to give me a choice, though. No matter how obvious my decision is.”
“It is your life, how you want to end it or live it is always up to you.”
“And if I died, who would keep you in line, you walking disaster.”
It’s his turn to laugh, a rumbling chuckle. “You did not have to be so blunt about the truth, you know.”
He gives her a small peck of a kiss, knowing he’ll have to locate Dark Water deep enough to submerge a human being.
