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Riz is down.
In spite of everything else, that much Fabian is sure of. It's damn near impossible to keep track of anything in the absolute chaos unfolding around him. That doesn't stop him from glancing around frantically every chance he gets, trying to get just a glimpse of one of his friends. Just to know they're alright. That they were still together in all this.
Still, he can't see them. He'd lost Adaine and Aelwyn ages ago. He thinks he can hear Kristen and Tracker shouting somewhere and he can see the smoldering crater where Riz had fallen down. Right, down. But not dead. Fabian wouldn't permit the thought. Even if he was he'd be fine, Kristen or Fig could bring him back-
Wherever they were.
He swallows hard, hands slick with sweat as he grips his sword, moving quickly into combat. He could see Gorgug in his peripheral, mouth moving in rushed words that Fabian can't quite make out. It's loud, the thunder roaring from the storm above and Fabians own heart pounding in his ears was drowning everything else out. The effort of fighting this fucking tree bitch was wearing him down, but he catches Gorgugs eyes, just as wide and terrified as his own. He doesn't miss the mouthed words on his lips, even if he can't hear them.
Spring break, I believe in you.
Fabian huffs, chest growing warm with determination as he readjusts his grip on his grandfather's blade. Spring Break motherfucker. He lunges forward, brushing elbows with Gorgug as they fight in synchrony against the Treant. They'd fought together long enough now to know how to move around each other, to know how to strike with lethality.
Spring break, I believe in you. Spring break, I believe in you.
He ducks as a gnarled tree limb swings his way, laughing as Gorgug tears into it with his axe- splinters flying. This is good, the faster they finish this guy the faster they can help the others. The faster they can help Riz. He can sense a shift in the commotion behind him. Fabian can barely restrain a sound of relief as he sees Fig and Ayda bounding down the stairs in a beeline towards Riz.
Thank God. (God's? There's a bunch of them right? He'd have to ask Kristen-)
There's another thunk as Gorgugs axe meets wood. Fabian turns back to help him, but he spots a black form moving down the steps towards Fig-
"Fig!" He shouts, but his voice is lost in the roar of the storm. Riz is back, Fabian watches him rise in a bright flash of magic from Fig. But almost as soon as he's brought back Kalina is there- striking Ayda to the ground and kicking Riz in an arc towards the edge of the stairs. An ice cold terror grips Fabian like a vice as he watches Riz plummet towards the endless pit.
He doesn't scream, he doesn't think,, he doesn't even breathe as he summons the Hangman, hopping on. With thundering hellish paws against the stone, the Hangman bounds across the staircase towards Riz, Fabian clinging on for dear life. As he bridges the gap it's as if the entire battlefield falls away, a single narrow path leading him towards the edge.
Don't be too late, don't be too late-
He leaps off the Hangman, rushes to the edge with an arm outstretched to catch Riz. The world slows, Fabians foot teetering dangerously on the precipice of the stairs as he tries to grab Riz's hand.
Please, please-
His fingers graze the edge of Riz's palm, then grab at nothing but air as Riz falls just *
barely out of reach. All of the breath in Fabians lungs leaves him in a rush. No-
He's too late.
He sees Riz's face as his falls. His eyes are closed. But his brow is still furrowed as if stuck in deep thought. Maybe it's a trick of Fabians eyes but even in death it seemed that he couldn't seem to turn that brilliant (Stupid, paranoid-) mind off.
He's too late.
He doesn't have that stupid hat on. He realizes with a pang. He should have his hat- He realizes something else then, something much more startling.
I love him.
I love him and I'm still too late.
He bites back a scream, reaching again with desperation unlike any he's ever felt. It lights his veins on fire, a fiery pulse of magic pushing through his very being. He feels his sheet on his shoulder grow hot with power. Fire pulses within him, from his veins to his heart and glowing between his ribs as light explodes from his chest in a burst of flame. The fire elemental emerges, flying from Fabians heart and reaching out with its glowing hand. It bridges the gap, grabbing Riz with a gentle grip that Fabian can feel reverberating in his very skin.
I got you. The fire hums, low and affirming. Now and always.
The elemental wraps around Riz, kissing him gently on the cheek as it retracts. Fabian reaches out, taking Riz in his arms as the elemental returns, seeping back into his skin like an old friend. Riz is there, unconscious but here in his arms. He breathes a shuddering breath of relief as he pulls the sheet tightly around them both, stumbling away from the edge.
I love you.
He falls to his knees against the stone. He pulls Riz close to his chest, his grip like iron as he holds him there. Fabians eyes and cheeks are damp, he doesn't know when he'd started crying, but he can't stop the sob that tears from his throat.
I love you-
He isn't moving. He isn't breathing-.
With a low whine Fabian leans down and presses his trembling lips to the spot where the fire elemental had kissed Riz just moments ago. The skin of his cheek was still strikingly warm, just barely burning Fabians lips as he squeezes his eyes shut- tugging Riz close.
I love you I love you I love you-
It's a mantra, a steady beat that thunders in his ribs; scorching and *hot*. He's seen people die before- hell he's seen Riz die before. (Leviathan was the worse. He can still hear the gunshot-)
But this is different. He knows it is. He knew it from the moment Killian closed his hands around his throat, from the moment Kalina sent him plummeting towards the endless pit. This time was not like others.
This time he could lose him. And he couldn't. Not now. Not like this.
Fabian grips Riz like a vice, the sound of the battle behind him nothing but static in his ears.
He's going to be okay. He has to be okay.
He grips those words like a prayer. Begging any god he can think of (unnamed or otherwise.) Suddenly, as if she could hear him, Fabian feels *it*, the warm pulse of Kristen's magic. It floods his body with magic that glimmers in his veins like stardust. A healing spell takes hold, stitching up some of the wounds across Fabians body. He sees it in Riz too, glimmering just beneath his skin like a swirling green galaxy. Fabian grabs him by the side of the head, shaking him with probably more force then what's necessary.
"Riz?"
Riz makes a pained sound. Fabians stomach twists in guilt.
"Hey man- you're okay. You're okay." Fabian breathes, voice still shaking as he tugs at the sheet. He watches as one slitted eye opens, squinting painfully up at him.
"Did...did we die?...Why am I swaddled?"
Fabian can't help but bark out a laugh.
"You wish. We still got a nightmare king to fuck up."
Riz smiles, flashing sharp incisors in a manic grin. Fabian feels his heart swell with relief.
"Lets fuckin do it then." Riz hisses. His eyes meet Fabians, yellow and and glinting with the barely restrained feral energy that Fabian loves.
"Hell yeah." Fabian exhales, his own gaze going uncharacteristically soft. If Riz notices (which of course he does. It's Riz.) he doesn't mention it, just widens his smile.
"Spring break?" Riz asks.
I love you. Is how Fabian wants to reply.
"I believe in you." Is what he settles on instead, the lingering burn of fire still simmering in his chest.