Chapter Text
It’s now the night after that night that was more than a night.
Faust does not understand Yi Sang.
It must be why I am so enamored by him.
Faust expects you to hold up to your promise with the First Sinner, known as Yi Sang.
You need not tell me, I will be there.
We expect further progress with your relationship to improve performance and effectiveness with the talented sinner known as Yi Sang.
You need not tell me. I wish to be there.
Faust expects you to make him fawn over you like how the other Fausts have.
I wish I could turn off Gesellschaft, for but a moment tonight.
You offend us! We are trying to guide you on how to truly make him yours.
He’s already mine.
You’re quite late in the first place, the other Fausts had already been with him for at least more than a year, and some have already-
You can stop. You hinder me. He is here.
…
The Gesellschaft reluctantly complied and left me alone with my thoughts. My mind hasn’t been this clear since our last talk, earlier this morning. I had told Gesellschaft to leave me alone that time, too. They normally wouldn’t do what I say in other instances, but when it came to Yi Sang, it seemed they were always on the same page as me.
Yes, me. The bumbling fool, who knows nothing of anything. And yet, that talented researcher prefers me over the omniscience of Faust? Is it because he looks down on me, that he finds me pleasant? That my weakness and my shame is a pleasant surprise for him to enjoy? Does he simply wish to look down on me, because I know nothing…? And yet, I come to him now, without Faust, and only myself, as I am. I… trust him to know that he would never think of me like that, and I am left without answers once again.
He changed his glance to me as I climbed the side of the bus to meet him. As soon as he saw me, he quickly rushed to help me up.
“Miss-… Faust! Let me help you up.”
He laid his hand in front of me to hold. I put my hand over his as he gently lifted me up the ladder and to the roof of the Mephistopheles.
“I appreciate it, Yi Sang.”
I didn’t need any help, and he knows that. He smiled back at me slightly, his hand forgetting to let go of mine. It’s fine, I wanted to hold it a little longer as well…
He led me to the spot where we sat the other night. We sat next to each other, giving a shy space between us, but it was quite apparent to me that he wanted to be closer. His hand was still on top of mine as we looked up at the starry night sky.
“The stars are as beautiful as ever, shining as bright as the flames of passion they sought.” Yi Sang uttered so gently.
“Yes… they’re as pleasant as Faust remembers.” I respond appropriately.
This awkward silence was comfortable, but I felt the need to impart at least the little knowledge I do have. I pointed at a constellation I still quite recall.
“There, when you match the stars and draw lines between them, you may notice it to be a constellation. That one specifically, is Andromeda.”
“Andromeda? It’s no coincidence to be named after the chained maiden from the legend of Perseus, no?”
“Yes, Faust can recall this familiar story.” I wait in anticipation for him to clarify the story for me.
“The chained maiden, who was the daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus. She was chained and sacrificed for Cetus to eat and appease the Gods. She was sacrificed due to the sins of her mother, who had foolishly claimed that she was more beautiful than the nymphs, which the gods did not take kindly to, as Poseidon released Cetus to ravage the city.” Yi Sang paused.
“She’s known for her beauty and resilience. Despite the impending doom of the grotesque punishment of the gods for a deed she had never dared to commit, she stayed as graceful as she could to accept the fate she was dealt. No amount of pressure moved her. Her beauty remained, in spite of everything…” Yi Sang uttered.
He looked at me as he uttered those last words, looking at me with his eyes, so full of yearning. I stared back into the abyss of beauty and intelligence that emanated from his eyes. He puzzles me. How could someone as talented and beautiful as him find her so pleasant?
“You’re her right now, aren’t you?”
“…Yes”
The muscles of his mouth lifted the edges to provide a smile. That smile gave me warmth, a comfort I could never find elsewhere.
“Your eyes are as beautiful as the stars you so admire.”
I froze. How could he, my most trusted admirer, my coworker, my dear partner, make such a mockery of me. My walls crumbled, how could he? I simply couldn’t function when such an enigma like him said something as worthless as a compliment for my emotionless eyes. My body moved without thinking as I pulled him in, resting my palm on his cheek as I leaned in for a kiss. My eyes were closed shut, but I assumed that he himself was surprised. His lips were cold, but it felt as though our breath mixed together to give warmth to the cold distance we once shared. For a moment, I tried to pull away to reassess, but he gently grabbed the side of my face and pulled me back in, full of passion and burning love.
He eventually pulled back, gently breathing back that cold distance, thawed by our amateur embrace. His face ridden with a smile, and his eyes opened wider than I’d ever seen before. His cheeks flush bright red, as if I had painted some colour back into his wings. How ironic, seeing as he was the one with the artist identity, although, I myself would say he had painted color on me too.
“Faust… I… hope I didn’t hurt you when I-“
“Yi Sang…”
I collapsed into his arms, longing for his embrace, I could no longer stand without him, to be out of reach. Just this once, I wanted to put everything on him, like I did that time. I laid down on his lap.
“Faust…”
“Yi Sang. Faust… I’m not the kind of person you think-“
“I know.”
“Then… Then why-?”
“Faust, if I may be so bold…”
So bold? He just kissed me… I am certain we’re both beyond ‘bold’ by now. I look back at his longing eyes as he thinks of the words he desperately wishes to utter to me.
“You’ve helped me mend my broken wings.”
He paused.
“Now, it’s my turn to help you mend yours.”
I laid there, taken by his selflessness. I lifted my hand to rest it upon his cold cheek.
“Hold me close, Yi Sang.”
“That would be ideal, Faust.”
“Don’t let me go.”
“I’ve never held anything tighter.”
I let out a chuckle. He gently brushed my hair as he took care of me, as if he had wrapped his wings around me to cover me from the cold storm of the duties I put first. For once, I could forget about my duties. For once, I could be free from everything, for but a moment, for one night.
Faust approves!
Shut up.