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Everything is dark. Peter can’t move.
Where is he?!
“You really think Thanatos and I would side with someone as weak as yourself, Peter?” Rumi’s voice echoes throughout Peters's head, repeating like a mantra. The iridescent-haired man comes into view. It feels like there’s a spotlight shining on the two - the void enveloping everything except the two.
Weak.
Weak.
WEAK.
“Rumi…?”
“Exandroth was correct, it seems,” Thanatos adds onto Rumi’s statement as he joins the illuminated spotlight, “You are just a pawn”
Rumi and Thanatos circle him, their heavy footsteps leaving impressions in this grass as they walked. Peter felt trapped. A sharp pain buries itself into his heart following Thanatos’ words - they were supposed to be friends…
The two stop in front of him, side by side. Thanatos unsheathes a sword with a sharp ‘SHING’ as Rumi draws his signature harp-like weapon.
“Weak,” Rumi repeats.
“Worthless.”
“Useless.”
Exandroth’s voice echoes in his head, “They’re right. You’re weak. A frail human puppet. Once my plan is complete, you are useless to me. Just a piece in the puzzle… a puppet on my strings. Don’t forget that.”
Peter tries to move away from the two, but he can’t - paralyzed with fear. Rumi gives a slight nod to Thanatos, who raises his blade in response.
And swings directly at Peter.
He squeezes his eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact. His life seems to flash in his brain. Lizard… rock sorting… the tavern…
But the impact never comes.
Peter opens his eyes.
He opens his eyes to the soft, warm, golden glow of fire. It’s not dark anymore. There’s no void surrounding him (aside from the sky, of course, Peter was used to that at this point), no spotlight shined on his insecurities. Just him and the sleeping Lizard on his chest. Peter’s breaths are frantic. He scoops Lizard into his hands, careful not to awake the reptilian. Peter knows how much he loves his sleep. He sits up, allowing his lungs to gulp down the frigid air. Thanatos is nowhere in sight, most likely powered down nearby. Rumi sits a few feet in front of Peter on a log Thanatos had pulled from the earth - Sunny, his fox companion, chatters with him softly. Silently, Peter stands up, but not before tucking Lizard into his empty covers. He smiles softly at the sight of Lizard in his sleeping bag and turns to glance in Rumi’s direction. Leaves and twigs crunch under the weight of his footsteps.
Silently, he sits on the log next to Rumi, resting his head on the palms of his hands as the warmth from the fire envelopes his body in a tight hug.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Rumi asks once Peter settles next to him.
“Nightmare.”
“Those pesky nightmares,” Rumi chuckles. Sunny rests his head on his lap, eyes slowly blinking closed as the two talk, “Care to elaborate?”
Peter shrugs, “It’s embarrassing…”
“Nonsense!” Rumi declares, smiling to him, “Dearest Peter, no nightmare is worth being embarrassed about.”
Peter sighs, “I uhm-”
“Come on…” Rumi encourages, nodding.
“It was about you and Thanatos, okay?” Peter replies, exasperated, “You said I was weak and that Exandroth was right and Thanatos killed me and-”
“Hey, Woah, Woah, slow down,” Rumi moves to kneel in front of his friend, the sudden movement startling Sunny awake. Rumi rests his hands on Peters shoulders, “I called you weak?”
“In my nightmare, yes.”
“And Thanatos-”
“Killed me? Yes.”
“Ah, I see,” Rumi nods, “Quite the nightmare indeed.” Peter hums an agreement looking down to the grass and dirt of the forest floor.
“Do you believe what I said in your nightmare?” Rumi asks, dragging Peters attention back to him, “That you’re weak?”
“Yes? Maybe?” Peter replies, “This power isn’t mine, it’s Exandroths…”
“What is your point, exactly?”
“I don’t… fit in,” Peter clarifies, “With you and Thanatos. The power you have is your own.. Not like me.”
“Hm..” Rumi hums, “I don’t think that makes you weak… I think it makes you unique.”
“Unique?” Peter tilts his head. Rumi’s eyes sparkle with enthusiasm.
“Yes!” Rumi smiles, “I’m not sure what Exandroth tells you in that head of yours, but whatever it may be, he’s wrong.”
“But he-”
“Nope!” Rumi cuts him off, “This power can be made your own. Exandroth chose you as a vessel. Not only is it his power, but it is yours as well now, correct?”
“I suppose..”
“I know that that’s hard to believe… but I’ll be here to remind you every day until you believe it, alright?” Rumi says. His hands move from his shoulders to cup around Peters face, “Peter, you are perfect. Don’t forget that.”
Peter lets out a sigh, “Okay. I won’t.”
“Good. Thank you,” Rumi nods and removes his hands from his face, “Are you feeling a bit better now?”
“I think so,” Peter smiles, “Thank you for listening to me, Rumi. You’re a good friend.”
Rumi beams at the compliment, “No, thank you, Peter, for trusting me.”
“Can I stay out here with you for a bit longer?”
“Of course,” Rumi replies, “Stay for as long as you’d like.”