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"I suppose this is it, Hades…"
Emet-Selch didn't realize that a few simple words could have such a painful finality to them. Oh, he knew that they could in theory, of course. He had read enough novels and attended enough plays in his free time that he knew that everything could hinge and come crashing down on one singular word, much less several of them.
But those were works of fiction that he oh-so decadently consumed in the past, vicariously feeling the characters' emotions before coldly filing them away like so much paperwork.
This… this was no mere story with a happy ending. This was a tragedy that he was experiencing with every fiber of his being, unable to find the cord that would close the curtains on this most twisted production.
No, the lavender eyes that looked at him with a sad, but determined sort of resignation were all too real… as was the soot marring his lover's face, unwelcome reminders of the fires that still raged through Amaurot. Slowly, hesitantly, he reached out to try to brush it off, only succeeding in smearing it further across his cheek.
Still, Hythlodaeus never looked more beautiful.
"Don't go…" It was a hoarse whisper in a voice that didn't sound like his own. It was so quiet that he wasn't even certain if it would be audible or not, but the roaring of the flames and the ominous creaking of failing infrastructure seemed to die down just for them, just for this one moment. "Please, don't go…"
"Hades…" All he could think about was how he would never hear that voice speak his name—his true name—again, whether in its usual teasing lilt or in rarer loving aggravation. "I have to. If this will set things right—and by all means, it should—then I have to do this."
Every civilized part of him thought that Hythlodaeus was correct, that this was the right thing to do, that the good of the many outweighed the sacrifices of a few. His upbringing in Amaurot taught him that, and his time spent as a Convocation member cemented it, forming a rock-solid foundation of who he was.
So then, why was that foundation now crumbling when he needed its support the most? Why was his every instinct screaming at him to deny this act of sacrifice?
"But why you ? Why does it have to be you who sacrifices himself?" He licked his lips, the action doing nothing to resolve the lump in his throat. "We… we could find someone else to take your place! If someone else was to sacrifice themself, then you wouldn't have to!"
Desperation and denial. Childish traits that he would have denounced were it anyone else, were it any other circumstance. Such emotions were exhibited by a few oddballs here and there, but mostly by inexperienced youths unaccustomed to the idea that returning to the star was an honor , was a reward for making the most of one's life… But here he was, the member of the Convocation in charge of the Underworld itself bargaining with someone who was ready to put his life down for the greater good. If anyone was acclimated to the process of death, it would have been him.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Hythlodaeus tilted his head, pressing a kiss to his palm oh-so gently, as if he were made of porcelain and would shatter at the slightest movement.
It hurt as much as a slap.
"You know we can't do that, Hades… If we were to do that, then everyone else would be clamoring for a way to save their loved ones… by sacrificing others in their stead." Hythlodaeus shook his head slightly before pressing his cheek more firmly against his hand with a sigh. "No, that wouldn't end well. Besides, I'm more than happy to be one of the ones to sacrifice myself. I might be good at seeing souls, but my aetherial manipulation is utterly abysmal and I imagine that you'd need people good at that to help clean up after this. Oh, and speaking of cleaning up, I doubt I could manage the heavy lifting or anything of the sort. Simply not built for it, you know-"
"Hyth." Emet-Selch could tell when he was trying to deflect from a situation with humor or idle rambling or anything else he might try and this was definitely one of those times. "It might be your job to judge the usefulness of creations, but we do not hold people to those same standards, something that you should know by now." He lifted his free hand to cup Hythlodaeus' other cheek, forcing him to give him his full attention.
"Why are you so determined to go through with this?"
His lover's eyes darted about and he gave a nervous little flutter of his hands before he sighed and sagged into his touch, finally relenting. "...If it makes it so that both you and Azem are spared from being sacrificed, and if it makes the world a safer place for the both of you, then the truth is that I would sacrifice myself a thousand, thousand times over. For you. For them. For both of your sakes."
Emet-Selch gasped at that, the shock and surprise that those words brought about causing all further thoughts to leave his mind. Instead, he just stared at his lover, his hands growing slack against his face.
And, with it, Hythlodaeus took the opportunity to lean in and press his lips to his own still slightly open ones.
Even the smoke and soot from the destruction around themselves couldn't fully mask the sweet, floral taste that he associated with him and he groaned softly as he melted into the kiss… one that ended all-too soon. Pulling away from him, Hythlodaeus now looked as mischievous as always, though that was quickly ruined by the sad smile and the lethargic wave he gave him.
"Goodbye, Hades… And remember; I love you."
He could have stopped him, reached out and grabbed him and crushed him tight against his body while cursing and screaming how he wouldn't allow him to do this.
But he didn't.
After all, he was at least part of the reason why Hythlodaeus wanted to sacrifice himself to begin with.
So, as his lover left for the last time, Emet-Selch balled a hand into a fist and cast his gaze to the ground. Both so he didn't have to witness the surge of souls that would be sacrificed—and risk seeing one purple soul in particular dancing among their number.
And so he could look upon the fetid, rotting corpse of a star that they were causing all of this sorrow to save and wonder.
Was it worth it?