Work Text:
"Marshal," the Crownsguard lieutenant said. "It's time."
Cor waved him off. He had already told his team he wasn't going to evacuate until he had found as many Crownsguard dog tags as he could find in the vicinity of the Citadel. He wasn't done looking.
The truth was, he was looking for one specific tag. Every Crownsguard soldier had one, to be picked up and returned to their loved ones after their passing. There was no body to return, so the dog tag was all there was to keep. Soldiers knew never to take it off, for that reason.
And when he couldn't find Titus' tag anywhere, he knew there was only one explanation:
He didn't wear his Crownsguard tag on the day of the invasion.
Not finding it was a blow to the heart that kept landing. Cor had his suspicions about Titus' allegiances, of course he did - but he had hoped that what they had between them overcame any anger Titus might have had for the Crown. For Lucis. For his lot in life.
But more than that, finding the tag was going to be his way of saying goodbye to Titus. For the very last time.
***
Tired and defeated, Cor returned to what remained of the officers’ quarters to get his few possessions and join his team, the last of the Crownsguard, in evacuating Insomnia.
That was where he found the tag.
It was on the table in the sitting room, where it could not be missed. The chain was neatly coiled, so Cor could tell it was left there deliberately.
He wrapped the chain around his hand lightly and it felt heavy, like a hand that wouldn't let go just yet.
Cor picked up the tag and touched it to his lips.
And said goodbye.