Chapter Text
Dying was slower than Derek thought.
He expected to merge with Hastur and die instantly after he looked away from the screen, the weight of the universe finally catching up to him, killing both Derek and the King in the process. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
He could see his immune system was trying to expel the King In Yellow, treating it as a foreign invader or illness. That meant engaging a major immune reaction, raising his internal body temperature to its limits. Sweat dripped down his face, his breathing shallow as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
Derek dug his fingers into the carpet beneath him, biting back a scream as a wave of pain smashed into his skull. It felt like a million knives were being jammed into his head, trying to cut away space for the knowledge that overwhelmed his senses.
So this was how it ended. Lying on the floor of his room, awaiting his inevitable demise.
Derek guessed it was fitting. It was his own fault his story ended this way. Curiosity killed the cat and all. He let out a humourless laugh. All the knowledge in the universe and he couldn’t bring anything to mind aside from cliche idioms. Maybe that was how it was supposed to be.
A grinding voice filled his consciousness, amplifying the roaring of blood in his ears.
You f̵̱͆͆̚ͅo̸̧̭̞͆̋̏o̷̤̖͕͛̐l̵̯̈́́i̵̡͙̲͋̔͠ś̴͓̣͌h̴̢̳͍̐ mortal. S̷̡̖̼͛õ̵̭̻̝ ̵̫̒ĕ̶͎m̶̡̥̣͗͛ö̴̩́ͅt̵̠̥̂ͅỉ̷̬͊ő̸̖̟͑̚ǹ̵̼̩͓ă̷͖̅́l̷̛͎̹͓͌, so blinde̴̱̕d̴̦͙͌̒̚ by your hum̴̦̅ạ̷̱͐ͅn̸̎̋ͅ nature that all the knowledge in the universe couldn’t save you. You should’ve let that i̷̦͇̓̍̇d̷̫̓̇ǐ̶͈͇͘o̷̙̔̃̿t̸̰̳̓͒͒ take the fall, afterall ẖ̵̟͂͑e̷̢̨̠̚’̷͈̗̞̈́s̷̪̄̔̈́ ̶̩̩̔w̷̯̩͎̓̓͂o̷̲̓̓̿ṟ̵̠̙̌ẗ̷̲̖h̶̯͎͠ ̴͚̍̌ṋ̵̨̧̲̓̈ó̶͔͚͉̩̞̞͐̌̕t̷̡͉͎̱͙̭͉̍́̋̿͗͜͠h̶̛̰̎̽̿͊́̓ï̷̙̳͓̝̬͗̒̊̚͘n̶̘͎͇͕̟͋g̶̨͉̺̔̔͛̈́̕-
Derek brought his fist against his jaw, hard. His nose streamed but he couldn’t help but let out a small smirk. A final act of rebellion to throw the whole thing in Hestur’s face.
He almost regretted that decision, his body convulsing as a burning sensation swept through him. Derek retched, a violent cough wracking his frame, the taste of metal coating his lips.
Shit.
Hot tears mixed with the sweat that covered his face. This was the end. Truly the end.
Derek was afraid. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to be forgotten, to fade away as the world continued spinning without him.
But he would rather go to hell than let Avery take his place.
Hopefully someone would find his corpse. There were several timelines he could see where the neighbourhood hosted a small funeral, grieved and moved on with their lives. Some people would miss him, his family would mourn his loss dearly. So would his sister. She would feel guilty for being across the other side of the world when it happened. But they would be cared for. They’d move on eventually. Even if they still grieved.
Avery would take the loss the hardest. Derek could only imagine how upset he would be, finding that final message. He knew Avery would blame himself over and over, replaying the moment in his head, trying to think of a way he could have saved them both. He wished he could say a proper goodbye, telling Avery how brave he was, how selfless. How far he would go. Derek wished he could hold him close, whispering reassurances until the world was okay again.
What a nice future that would be.
Everything hurt so much. Derek closed his eyes, trying to make his last moments a little less torturous. His breathing slowed, becoming shallow gasps he could barely account for. Maybe he could just let go, succumbing to oblivion. He could feel his consciousness slipping as the King consumed his mind.
Derek let out a final sigh as the world faded away.
Something pulled him back.
It was almost unnoticeable among the sensory overload and the darkness that pulled at the recesses of his mind, but to Derek it was everything. Warmth flooded his arm, chasing away the pain. A hand met his own, squeezing it softly. A single touch that was only there for a moment.
He was reminded of the soft warmth of the sun, the gentle petals of a sunflower growing in a field, a tender laugh that made his heart swell with affection. It felt comforting, like he was going to be okay.
Like love.
Some part of him whispered that he had to hold on. If only for a moment longer.
Just a little longer.
Avery sped down the highway, tires scraping along the road. Fireworks scattered across the sky, luminescent explosions lighting up the darkness in bright bursts. He tried not to look, each flash sending a current of pain careening behind his eyes. The blast from each firework felt like a bullet going through his skull, his ears ringing from the sound.
Gosh, his head hurt. How did Derek stand this for so long?
Few people were on the road, most at home spending time with their loved ones or out on the town. What else would someone be doing on New Year's Eve? Not trying to save the one person who gave up their life so you could live.
Please, please say I’m not too late.
A small neighbourhood came into view as Avery pulled onto the street. He screeched to a halt, seat belt digging into his shoulder as he was thrown forward.
Avery scrambled out of his seat, wildly throwing his head to the side as he tried to spot any indication he was in the right place. A metal sign stood out like a beacon, reflecting the light from the lamps standing along the road.
Carcosa Circuit. This was the right place alright.
Avery frantically searched the street, running along the footpath. He scanned every house, looking for the house number he had seen outside Derek’s place.
15, 17, 19. The numbers began to blur together. Even just looking at the houses already told Avery too much about the people who inhabited them. David had just moved in after breaking up with his boyfriend, Mary was struggling with an alcohol addiction, Sarah was barely scraping by paying rent. Avery tried to phase out what he learned, pushing aside the voices and trying to ignore anything they said.
29, 31, 33! That was it. It was right there.
Avery didn't push it aside as knowledge flooded his mind. He embraced it like an old friend.
Derek loved tinkering with whatever bits were left lying around. His father forced him to attend college, and he would have passed the course easily. But his heart wasn't in it. It just wasn't fulfilling. His sister taught him programming before she left for Australia. He enjoyed doing random side projects, whatever really came to mind. Derek just enjoyed seeing how parts came together and how he could use his skills. Sometimes he’d do commissions for his neighbours to fund his ventures. It had made him quite popular among them, despite not getting out much.
He was quite lonely. Sometimes he’d spend days at a time locked inside his house without any contact from the outside world. The only person Derek really stayed in touch with was his sister. Often, she’d be too busy to chat, times when they used to talk filled by research or work. He hadn’t seen her in months. Avery’s heart clenched with sympathy. He knew what that was like. To have no one to talk to. To feel so alone. But now was not the time to dwell on things.
Derek kept a spare key under a fake pile of mulch in his front yard. A contingency to stop randoms from searching under his doormat for a key so they could steal parts from his garage. Avery opened the trapdoor and retrieved the key, running to the front door. His hands shook with adrenaline and the key wouldn't go in.
“C’mon, c’mon, c’mon. Please!”
The key finally slid into the lock and Avery shoved the door open, running into the house towards Derek’s room. The door was ajar, blue-light filtering through the crack.
Derek sat slumped against the base of his chair, head lolling to the side. The only thing that distinguished him from a dead man was the subtle rise and fall of his chest. With the King in Yellow merging with his mind, he wouldn't be around much longer.
Hastur’s presence lingered around Derek’s frame like a poisonous aura, choking the surrounding air. It sensed Avery’s mind as soon as he arrived.
“H̶̖͚̓e̶̲̜͠l̴͉͉̖̋̀̚l̸͕̤̹͐̐ȯ̷̞̑͝ vess̸̢̬̰̄̎̍ę̸̡͍́ĺ̸̻̤͜.”
The King sounded weak. He was killing Derek along with himself. Without another host, both of them would die.
“Here to beg for your ş̸̀a̸̺̎v̶̻͐į̸̕our’s life?” Hastur crowed.
Avery knew there was an incantation the vessel had to speak to merge with the King. He could see it clearly in his mind’s eye as Derek spoke those words. That terrible spell.
He steeled his gaze. Hastur didn't seem to know what had happened. His scope of the world must be inhibited by the merge. Avery couldn't screw this up. Not again.
“I'm here to make a deal.”
Avery could see the King smirk. He thought Avery had fallen directly into his web.
“So you’ll finally become my vessel?” Hastur was trying to play innocent, luring Avery in with honey dipped words.
“As long as you let Derek live.”
Hastur smiled, a wolf that had coerced a lamb into its jaws. Avery knew Derek wouldn’t live, regardless of what the King said. Not until Hastur was destroyed.
“I'm happy to hear you’ve made the right decision.”
Avery felt a presence brush his cheek and he flinched.
“What do I need to do?” Determination filled his voice. He was so close.
“Just say the words. Shall I repeat…”
Avery could see them so clearly. He could feel those who had seen them before him at his back. This ended now.
He took a deep breath.
I STAND AND GIVE MY EYES TO YOU
ONE BY ONE
SHADOWED SHORE FAR UNDONE
Something tried to push him away, a barely functioning body attempting to save Avery from his fate, even after everything that came before. The person was weak, barely holding together at the seams. He pushed Derek away, almost losing concentration on the spell. He just had to hold on a moment longer.
TO YOU I POUR CORRODED SUN
WAKE ME
AS ONE
Avery felt Hastur rush into his mind, satisfaction radiating off the being. Although he couldn’t leave Derek’s mind without him reciting the spell, the King now had a new vessel to split its consciousness to. He thought he had won.
The feeling was incredibly invasive, like no corner of his mind was free from its tendrils. Avery collapsed to the ground, his sight disappearing until there was only darkness. A wave of nausea overtook him and he struggled not to faint.
Emotions tore through his head. Sadness, fear, content, greed, jealousy. He couldn’t even tell which were his own anymore. Everything that made him real was being stripped away, becoming part of an amalgamate of an infinite whole.
Avery saw another figure in the darkness. A golden knight wrapped in chains, face shrouded in darkness. He looked resigned, the light extinguished from his eyes. He stared sightlessly ahead, seemingly unaware of the man behind him.
Two faint golden eyes materialized from the darkness, piercing Avery’s very soul.
“Ẃ̴̢e̵̖͂l̴̻̒c̸̘̈́o̶͙͊m̵̝̽e ̷̢̌v̵͎̽e̷̻͘ssę̴͂l̵̕ͅ.̶͇̽”.
A shiver went down his spine but he refused to look away. He wasn’t a coward and he wasn’t going to back down now.
“Release him.” Avery’s voice was cold.
The King laughed, a terrible screeching noise that grinded against his senses.
“Y̴̜̑ô̶͍u̸͕͆ know as well as Ì̸͕ do that f̵̝̎ṟ̵͘e̵̋ͅe̴͉͂ing your knig̶̼͊h̸̦͗t̷̢͌ is impossible. He’s already too far ģ̸͂o̵͉̊ǹ̵̮e̸̯͘.” A smirk coated the false god’s lips and Avery repressed a feeling of disgust.
He couldn’t give the game away now, not when he was so close.
“Now, let’s see what’s i̶͖͆ñ̶̩š̶̯i̶̮͝d̸̮̚e̶͙͐ the min̵͇̕ḍ̶̐ of the fool I was c̷̙͗ḧ̴͕́á̴̺s̶̝͐ing this whole time.”
Visions flickered before Avery’s eyes. Everything that had ever happened to him, everything he remembered seeing. The King could see his hopes, his fears, his aspirations, his thoughts. All were laid bare before him.
Which meant Hastur knew of his plan.
The King knew of his mistake as soon as he burrowed deeper into Avery’s mind.
Screeching radio static filled his ears and Avery clutched his head, trying to block out the noise with his hands. Pain ricocheted across his skull, a presence fighting to break free. But it was far too late for that. Without his other half, Hastur was weakened, split between two minds that had far more knowledge than a human mind can comprehend. That, on top of The King's own knowledge was enough to shatter his consciousness.
There was nowhere left for him to hide.
“No, this can’t be. I am i̶̘͒m̸̹͊m̸͎̃o̶̧͊ȓ̶ͅt̷̬́a̷̺̐ĺ̷̡, I a̵̭̽m̷͍̒ ̴̗͛i̶̯͝n̴̍ͅf̶̺̉ȉ̴̹n̶͉̔î̵̗t̸̑͜ě̶̺.̶̘̕ N̵̆ͅO̸̢͘T̸̠̅Ḧ̴̹́I̴͇͑N̴̖̈́G̷̢͐ é̷͍s̴̺̿c̶̥͆a̶̫̍p̴̦̈́e̸̜͠s̴̫̈ my notice.”
“̵W̸h̴a̴t̴ ̴c̵a̴n̴ ̷o̵n̶e̴ ̷m̴o̴r̵t̸a̴l̸ ̴d̸o̶ ̸i̵n̵ ̵t̴h̷e̷ ̶f̶a̷c̶e̸ ̸o̴f̸ ̵t̶h̵e̴ ̵a̴b̶y̶s̴s̷?̴ There is nowhere you can go where I will not find you. Your time is l̶̞̚ì̶̬ṁ̶̙i̶͈̿t̴̹́e̷̙̋d̸̩͌,̵͍̀ ̸̮̑f̶̻͐ȉ̷̗n̵͍̕i̸̮̾t̴̯͗e̶͖͠.̶͓͆ The King’s voice began to corrupt beyond recognition.
YOU WILL BE F̴͕̏O̵̰̕R̶̹̉G̷̬̓O̸̭͝Ṭ̸̕T̷̢͂E̸̩̊N̵͕̉ LIKE È̶͓V̸̦͝Ḙ̵̌R̷̮̓Y̸̢̒O̶̮̎N̴̤͐E̷̒ͅ ̶̞̈́Ë̸̟́L̵̹̎S̸̜̉E̴͈͝.̶̜̓
N̷͙̻̆̏̏Ö̸̲́̍Ṭ̸̟̪̇H̶͈̺̄̄̓I̴̬̭̾͊̈́N̷̦̲̖͑̚G̶̣̽ͅ ̴͉̰͋̏͘͜Ÿ̷̠́̂͗O̶̟̻͠U̶̼͛ ̶̢̦̗̈́̄D̷̢͚̪̐O̵̼͈̿̋ ̵̼͔͎͂̄̒W̷̙̽I̵̲͍̩̽L̸̥̦̓̄L̶̗̆ ̸͕̖͇̚͘Ȇ̸̝͋V̸̤̬̋͛Ë̸̟͛̐Ŕ̷͜ M̴̼̮͔͈̦̅͒Ä̸̱͇̖͔̺͕Ṱ̵̃̕T̵̡̼̮̳̈́͒͊̏̽E̸͕̲͔͓͋̍̊̓̕͜Ṟ̴̤͎̹̤̇̀̀́̀͘
A deafening crack split the air and the King’s golden eyes wept, spiderweb cracks encircling the void. Hastur’s mind was crumbling, taking everything in its domain down with it. Avery had to get out of here.
He ran over to Derek, desperately pulling at the chains that left him trapped. He shook the knight forcefully, trying to elicit a response.
“Derek, I know you’re tired but we have to go, now.” Avery said hurriedly.
The golden knight’s eyes were glazed over, trapped in a memory he couldn’t escape from. He was muttering under his breath, a mantra that repeated over and over again.
“At the crossroads, at the crossroads, at the crossroads…”
Avery tried to take the man’s hand but it was tied behind his back, sitting awkwardly beneath the chains. His gaze was unfocused, directed towards the ground. Derek needed to see that he wasn’t alone.
Not anymore.
He cupped Derek’s cheek, allowing his eyes to meet his own.
Avery pressed his forehead against his helmet, not minding the cold of the metal. He finally let his tears fall freely, tasting salt on cheek. He looked Derek in the face, golden rings illuminating the dark of his helmet.
Avery saw his determination, his stubbornness, his creativity, his bravery, his intelligence. He saw the fear that crossed Derek’s face when the King appeared before them in the library. He saw his unshakable dedication to keeping Avery safe, no matter the cost to himself.
Derek was afraid of death, afraid of being forgotten. Afraid of being swallowed by history, having achieved nothing in his lifetime. He didn’t want to know what was beyond the mortal plain just yet. Even all the knowledge in existence couldn’t tell him that.
“It’s okay to be afraid, Derek." Avery whispered.
"I don’t care if you’re the bravest of knights or the most selfless of people. You’re allowed to feel things. You deserve the love you receive more than anything, okay?”
“It’s just important that we keep moving forward. That's what you told me.” Avery smiled, tears running down his face.
“Keep moving forwards.”
The chains surrounding Derek’s frame dissolved and his sightless eyes focused on the boy in front of him. The darkness that hid his face seemed to recede, golden rings fading slightly to reveal a deep brown peeking through the haze. He came back to life, a statue removed from the marble they were cast in.
“It’s you,” he whispered.
“Me.” Avery cracked a grin, his voice choked.
He slung Derek’s arms across his shoulder and they hobbled through the darkness, desperately searching for a way out. Another thunderous clap pierced the silence and Avery winced, his shoulders rising to cover his ears. They didn’t have much time left.
“There.” Derek lifted his arm faintly, pointing towards a small opening, blue light filtering into the dark.
The pair rushed towards the exit, the golden cracks cutting through the shadows, biting at their ankles. Avery met Derek’s gaze and they nodded, taking a flying leap through the crack, into the light that waited beyond.
Avery gasped, coughing as air filled his lungs. He sat up too quickly, a dizzying feeling sweeping through his body as blood rushed to his head. Every part of him ached, protesting any movement that involved him leaving the carpet.
Derek lay beside him, fallen from the base of his chair onto the floor. Avery’s breath hitched.
“Derek?” He crawled over to the man, lightly shaking his shoulder.
He slowly cracked his eyes open and Avery let out a cry of relief. He helped the man into a sitting position, finally getting a decent look at his face. Sweat gleamed on his forehead and dark shadows hung underneath his eyes. Smile lines indented his lips, his face kind. Derek’s dreads were tied up in a loose ponytail, a singular red streak running through his hair. His eyes bore that same golden ring he had seen before, although a little darker. Flecks of yellow intertwined with the deep brown of his irises.
Derek finally took a deep breath, bringing a hand to his chest. It was like he had forgotten that was a thing he could do.
“I can look away from the screen. I’m not dead on the floor. Is this real? Are you really here?” Derek turned to face him, his voice hoarse after so long without using it.
Avery nodded.
Derek brought a hand to his ear, searching for a noise he could no longer perceive.
“I don’t hear his voice anymore.”
A quiet sob escaped his lips and he collapsed into Avery’s arms, trembling softly. His cries were almost inaudible, like he had forgotten how. Derek buried his face into Avery’s shoulder, clinging on for dear life. Avery held him close, rubbing soothing circles into his back, grounding him in the moment.
They were reunited, for real this time. And nothing was going to tear them apart.
“It’s okay Derek.” He whispered.
“You’re safe now.”