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"Where are you Nyx?", you sighed annoyed, checking the time on your watch for the hundredth time. For thirty minutes, you were impatiently pacing up and down on the pavement in front of the Hammerhead diner. Sand was already covering your shoes and pants and small clouds of dust were wavering through the air from your stomping around while you were looking out for Nyx who wanted to meet you there.
Which was odd in the first place because none of you barely left Insomnia. It was odd to meet in the middle of nowhere in the sandy outskirts. And mostly, it was odd because the sun was almost setting. Once again, you checked the sky, the sun had almost disappeared behind a mountain chain and then you saw it - countless ships of Niflheim troops flying towards Insomnia in the light of the setting sun.
You knew something was more than wrong.
Something told you that Nyx wouldn't come.
Because Nyx was still there...in Insomnia.
*
"YN! What are you doing here?", Libertus called out, closing up on you followed by Luna as you tried to make your way back into the city.
"Where's Nyx?", you just asked, scanning the area to find him somewhere near even if you already knew the answer.
A loud bang echoed through the destroyed streets as a giant creature rammed its fist into a giant demon. You stepped forward with big eyes. You never had seen a demon before. You just knew them from the stories Nyx had told you from his battles at the wall. You had to admit, the sight was more than frightening. But the other creature, a giant knight, was scary as well until, on top of the shoulder, a figure with long, blue ribbons and encircled by magical aftermath appeared.
You knew who it was therefore you started to run.
Libertus tried to grab your shoulder or at least, your wrist to stop you but you wiggled out of his grip skillfully, "YN, no! It's too dangerous!", he called out but you were already on your way into the heart of the Crown's City.
While the demon and the last remaining fighter of the old wall left a swath of destruction, you tried to find a way to reach Nyx’ position. It wasn’t difficult to find him in the end, it was just not very easy to get on top of the skyscraper Nyx had to be. You climbed the endless stairs up as if the devil was chasing you. You dodged debris which was falling next to you in a hallway but finally, you reached the door that opened to the rooftop, "Nyx!", you called out half relieved and out of breath after the long way you had left behind.
"Y-YN? No...", Nyx breathed disbelievingly as he saw you running towards him.
With tears in your eyes, you slumped on your knees, kneeling next to Nyx - the man you loved so undyingly, "Wh-what happened?", you asked concerned as you saw his state. His skin looked burned, smouldering traces were drawing through his skin. He seemed to be ashen with small flakes falling apart from him carried by the soft wind.
"You shouldn't be here.", Nyx said softly. He should be mad, he should be furious but everything he felt was just love and happiness to see your beautiful eyes and face for the very last time.
Your eyes were flickering over his appearance, still trying to understand what was going on with him before you placed your hand on his chest very softly, "Why have you sent me away?", you whispered, your voice already hoarse with upcoming tears.
Nyx’ eyes softened, "I wanted you to be safe. But again, you didn't listen to me. I should have known that.", he scolded softly as he saw a few scratches on your neck before he smiled, "But I'm happy that you're here."
"I should have been by your side, Nyx! I should have been with you from the start!", you cried out helplessly, realizing that this was a farewell from him.
But Nyx smiled softly and shook his head, "No, you shouldn't and that was the plan. YN, I love you so damn much. To know that you were safe gave me the strength to do what I had to do.", he said and leant against your touch with closed eyes as you cupped his cheek carefully with a shaking hand.
"But... But what have you even done?", you asked confused. Shocked, you watched how Nyx slowly ashened even more as the sun rose up as if he was myserically connected with the dawn of the new day.
Nyx looked you back in the eyes. There were tears running down your cheeks and he knew, even if he would wipe them away more were about to come, "I fought for the future. A future I couldn't show my sister. But I wanted to make sure that you get the future you deserve."
Shaking by his words, you leant forward, resting your forehead against his just to notice that he already felt ice cold, "Nyx, I... I can't live without you. I can't have a future without you. You are my future.", you whispered with a voice thick with tears.
While cupping your face with his hand, he stroked over your soft skin with his thumb, saving this feeling for the afterlife as one of the endless memories he already had stored about you, "And I wanted to spend my life with you, believe me. Getting old with you. But things change. After all, I'm still the hero of the Glaive.", he joked with a wink to see you smile once again.
You cried even more violently by his bitter sweet words spoken by his soft voice you would never hear again in the future. Weakly, you tried to smile a bit more, "You did a great job, hero. On my way to you, I met Luna and Libertus. They have made it."
Nyx relaxed, "Good. Join them. Their journey is long and hard. They need all the support they can get on their way.", he asked you and you promised with a nod, "And I... I'm so looking forward to meeting my sister.", he said with a soft smile.
"Greet her from me.", you breathed, speaking wasn't possible anymore.
"I will! And together, we will watch over you and the others.", Nyx promised solemnly and with his hand, he guided your face closer to him, "I will always be with you, YN. I will always be with you no matter where you are.", he said with a smile before he kissed you so softly and so sweetly.
You didn't care for anything anymore because the love of your life was already dying. You flung your arms around his neck to kiss him even deeper. Nyx chuckled softly about your showing affection. He would miss getting kissed by you. He would miss your arms around his body. He would miss to feel your skin under his hands so much and so, he kissed you to tell you all this with just his lips. You melted against Nyx like you were used to until the sun was above the skyline and he was lying lifeless in your arms.
Softly, you laid him down on the ground, breaking down on him and crying against his chest for several more minutes before you remembered the promise you had given to him. With quivering lips, you pressed a last soft kiss on the hero's forehead, stroking softly over his hair for the very last time with a shaking hand, "Sleep tight, my love. We will see each other again. I love you, Nyx Ulric. I always will. And I promise, I will make you proud."
An upcoming breeze played with your hair, tickling your skin in a way only Nyx had done and you knew, he was with you like he had promised. Even if he wasn't there anymore, you knew he would never leave your side.
As you stood up, letting your eyes roam over the destroyed city, you already felt Nyx' presence around you and that he was watching over you. A cloud formation in the sky resembled Nyx, his sister and his mother. All three, they were standing side by side, smiling down at you with the most fondly expression you had ever seen on Nyx’ face.
Yes, Nyx might be gone but you would fight. You would fight for the future he started to create. You would fight for the future he wanted you to have. Because this was why the hero had died for: the future.