Chapter Text
There’s a mole beneath Azu’s left ear that Hamid’s never noticed before. He lies staring at it, enveloped by her warmth, studying every detail of her sleeping face. The rise and fall of her chest. Her hand resting gently on him, her fingers still in splints. The colour of the fuzz on her head, growing back. The soft, sweet scent of her skin. Behind him, he can hear Cel and Zolf’s slow, steady breathing as they sleep.
Maybe he should wake them up before — before Oscar comes down, give them time to prepare, but something keeps him lying there. He could stay forever like this, he thinks, surrounded by the ones he loves. So he remains quiet, listening to their soft sounds. This moment is for him.
But he cannot create eternity, and the click of the lock turning in the door eventually announces that his time’s up. As he shakes the others awake, Hamid feels no panic rising in his chest. He knows it may be the end, just as well as he knows it may be the beginning.
There’s nothing left for him to do now.
None of them speak during the inspection, not a single word betraying fear. Hamid watches Oscar’s face, hoping to find an answer in his fixed expression, but it’s like trying to discern the future in a rock. The moment passes in fearless, blank infinity, and it’s not until the inspection’s finished that the veil lifts as a crooked smile slowly pulls at Oscar’s scar. Hope blossoms into joy within Hamid’s chest. It’s over.
Oscar steps forward, unlocking the door of the cell. “I’ll be upstairs,” he says, his voice quiet and unsteady; he offers one nod and quickly turns back up to the inn.
The cell is filled with warm, stunned silence and the spell is only broken when Azu picks up her bag. They all pack up their things, waiting for Zolf to reattach his legs before Cel helps him out of the anti-magic area and starts up the stairs. The others follow but Hamid trails behind, glancing back into the cage as he leaves. He barely remembers being carried in, half-unconscious in Azu’s arms. His heart races at the thought of climbing out on his own two feet. He never thought he’d see the sun again.
The brightness at the top of the stairs makes Hamid’s eyes water; sunrise pours into the hallway, illuminating everything in gold. He blinks, his sight adjusting to the dawn, before noticing the open door leading onto the porch. Without thinking, he’s drawn towards the new day, following his feet outside.
Beyond the portal, the world is alight and full of life. Overwhelming. Cool, fresh air fills his lungs, flooding his senses as much as the vivid colours of the sky. He stands there for a moment before he sees Oscar leaning against the porch rail beside him. Hamid meets his gaze, and in one moment a dozen emotions overcome Oscar’s face. Guilt. Embarrassment. Grief.
Oscar hesitates, as if trying to find the words to speak, and Hamid instinctively extends a hand towards him. Before he can think, though, Oscar’s crouching, arms enveloping him, pulling him into a silent hug.
It’s warm, sincere, reciprocated, nothing like the last time Hamid reached out to him. When they finally pull apart, Oscar’s face has returned to a half-grin, though unshed tears glint in his eyes.
“Go, then,” he says, giving him a gentle push towards the maple tree, where Hamid now sees Azu waiting.
He descends the stairs and looks back at Oscar, sitting down on the steps, paperwork in one hand. With a faint smile, Oscar picks up the teacup beside him and takes a sip. The porcelain’s colouring is uneven, the mended cracks across its surface glinting golden in the morning light. A thing of beauty.
At the maple tree, Azu is smiling softly, reaching out with her broken hand as Hamid approaches. He takes it gently, beaming up at her, and instantly restorative warmth diffuses through his arms and legs and a soft pink glow surrounds Azu, haloed by the sunlight like Aphrodite's personal blessing. Hamid squeezes her newly-healed hand.
Together, they walk down the dirt path, across the dunes filled with swaying reeds, heading towards the shore. Hamid delights in the calls of the gulls above him as the ocean finally comes into view, the rays of a dazzling sunrise glittering across its surface. At the water’s edge, Cel and Zolf stand side by side, looking out over the lapping waves. A gust of wind rolls across the beach, billowing through Zolf’s jacket, and Hamid can see the unbridled joy on his face.
Their shoes are already off by the time they reach their friends, the wet sand cold between Hamid’s toes as the sun warms his face. They stand together in silence, transfixed by the sunrise. Beside him, Azu stretches her arms out towards the heavens, standing tall once more, contentment written across every line of her face. Zolf closes his eyes and breathes in the salty air, listening to the crashing of the waves, interrupted only when Cel spots a blue-shelled crab scuttling across the sand; they dash after it with a delighted shout.
Hamid laughs, bright and exuberant, and his voice bounces across the water like a skipping stone.
They’re okay. They’re all okay. He’s okay.
His laughter dissipates into the cool morning breeze and he once again takes Azu’s hand, their eyes meeting before they look back out across the ocean. The sunrise, still painting the sky in vivid pink, feels like a promise.
There will be no more self-sacrifices. No more guilt.
Just endless mornings to come, each one a choice to be better, to stay with the ones he loves.
To live.