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Scott enjoyed being with Jimmy. Times with him were the few moments where he could forget everything regarding his destiny; forget about Alinar’s reincarnation, who he was, and the Eternal Winter he was to be the harbinger of. Who would have thought he’d fall in love with a swamp boy? Certainly not himself.
He had known him when Jimmy was younger, but the two of them didn’t get time to really become friends as Jimmy had to move away early on in life. It wasn’t until recently that Scott saw him again, and as a ruler no less!
Sure he had found enjoyment in having the shadowed copy of himself torment and tease the swamp king, but it was all in good fun, especially after he realized he had an attraction to him. Plus, if he didn’t torment everyone then they’d start to get suspicious.
It’d also taken countless meetings and attempts at friendship on the Codfather’s end to make them admit they loved each other, but he honestly couldn’t think of anyone else he’d want to spend the rest of his life with.
Like the winter he was to bring, their love would be eternal.
Why? Why must destiny be cruel?
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Jimmy had come to him with tears in his eyes, “Scott...is...is it true? That you’re Exor’s champion? The harbinger of Eternal Winter? The demon that has been terrorizing everyone?”
When those words had been recited to him, Scott had been speechless. He…he hadn’t told anyone this information! How could Jimmy possibly have found out?!
“You don’t understand, Jimmy. It is my destiny, the prophecy must be fulfilled; I cannot let Alinar win.” he paused and met Jimmy’s gaze, “Believe me, Jimmy, when the time of reckoning comes, you will be spared and we will live together in the beauty of winter, forever.”
Scott’s reply felt like someone had just thrust a stake through Jimmy’s heart, “Screw the prophecy! You aren’t a monster like the stories say! Please...Scott, don’t do it...it’ll hurt too much. I can’t face you!”
Hurt? How would it hurt? Its not like Jimmy was going to get involved unless he...
...the last sentence made a theory form in his head.
At first he had refused to believe it. Jimmy? Alinar’s reincarnation? The thought was almost laughable. No, surely the swamp king meant facing him in the sense of seeing who he really was.
“You won’t get hurt as long as you stay out of the crossfire, Jimmy. When I find Alinar’s reincarnation, the battle will be between the two of us, so long as you don’t get involved I promise no harm will come to you.”
“...what if you loose to him, Scott?”
Loose? The idea never crossed his mind if he was honest. He was so bent on being the victor that his reckless mind hadn’t even considered the possibility of failure.
Scott...really didn’t want to think about it. He couldn’t fail, Exor made him their champion for a reason; to fulfill the prophecy. “I won’t fail, Jimmy. I can’t fail.”
“But what if you do, Scott?! You don’t know what powers Aeor gave him, what if you DIE?! Scott, please, I...I don’t want to be the cause of your death...because I didn’t try to stop you from engaging in a battle you couldn’t win.”
The slight stutter in Jimmy’s response shattered all denial Scott may have had.
“Enough.”
Jimmy recoiled at the command, and noticed the pain in Scott’s eyes...the realization brought on by the words he’d just spoken to him.
”...you’re him, aren’t you? You’re Alinar’s reincarnation.”
“I am. But we don’t have to be enemies, Scott. Forget Exor, forget destiny. We can live together forever just as we are.”
Forget?! He couldn’t simply forget! Maybe Jimmy...no, Alinar could, but not him.
“Funny, I vaguely recall you saying something similar before you and Aeor imprisoned me. Something about life returning to how it was back when we were children.”
The temperature in the room dropped with the darkening of Scott’s tone, blue eyes flickering to red, the shadows slithering around his feet like charmed serpents. The Rivendell emperor looked crazed, a twisted grin on his face as he strode towards Jimmy.
He let out a pained, psychotic chuckle, his eyes now glowing as crimson as the corruption that had begun to appear with every step he took. “Never did I think that the man I cared about, the man I loved would be my destined enemy. Never did I think Alinar would be but a swamp boy with a bleeding heart.”
“Scott please! You don’t have to go down this path!”
Scott’s eyes narrowed as he drew his sword, “Its too late, Alinar, it’s been too late for years.” he paused, shadows now beginning to swirl around his body, crimson vines snaking across the floor, "And my name isn’t ‘Scott’. My name...is Conell!”