Work Text:
Shen Wei POV
The metallic taste of blood and the throbbing pain overtaking his entire body should be overcoming his senses as he laid almost motionless on the cold floor of the palace. It really should be the only thing that his state would allow him to focus on, but he felt on overwhelming fear when he met the helpless gaze of Zhao Yun Lan still firmly tied to the marble column.
Time seemed to suspend itself, as if it knew that those were the last moment they were allowed to share together. He didn’t have to think about what he wanted to convey through his eyes. He just hoped that Zhao Yun Lan could read all the love and tenderness that he had failed to act upon when he still had the chance. He had been so scared back then. Scared of rejection and losing the one he had been longing for, for what felt an eternity. Now he just felt guilty and furious at himself for letting his insecurities waste the precious times that could have spent together as more than friends or colleagues.
All he wanted to do during his last moments was to lose himself in those eyes that seemed to mirror his inner turmoil. He couldn’t contain the tears that rolled down his cheeks, mixing with blood and dust. They were both silently crying, and he could see more then hear Zhao Yun Lan whisper as he mouthed the words his soul had been longing for.
I love you.
A broken and watery laugh escaped his palling lips. Destiny had never been crueler. Making him wait for a thousand centuries to hear those words that were now uttered as a farewell.
I love you. With all that I am, I love you.
Zhao Yun Lan POV
His knees gave out, his body only held upright by the ropes that were now digging more forcefully into his skin. He felt a dulling pain overcome him as his life source seemed to leave him and yet he couldn’t look away. He held onto Shen Wei’s gaze as his eyes lost focus but still battled to not leave his sight, as to imprint his image as his last memory of this life.
He watched as his fists loosened and his hands laid flat on the marble floor.
He watched as his breath became shallower and shallower.
He watched as his eyes blinked one final time before his irises stared into nothingness.
White noise filled his head. A gluteal scream echoed through the room as his body convulsed, straining against the ropes. He screamed in pain, screamed for death, begged for it. When one final blow hit him in the chest, the darkness welcomed him like on old friend.
Destiny is cruel.
Handling false hopes and scattering shards of broken dreams.
Feeding of remorse and dwelling in regrets.
But to some lucky souls, she can prove herself to be merciful.
And tonight, she allows the stars to align just one more time, allowing two halves to become whole again at last.