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“No.”
Lyney didn’t know what he was expecting when he was summoned to Dragonspine, but it wasn’t this. His skin that was previousy flushed pink from the cold of the mountain had now been drained of all color by his boyfriend’s request.
“Lyney, please. Before it’s too late.”
Albedo pleaded, balling up his trembling hands into fists. He had been mulling over this for some time now, and he wasn’t going to back down now that he’d come to this decision.
“I can’t do this by myself. I need you to.”
He took a step forward, placing his hands on the magician’s icy shoulders. One look at his face made it clear that what Albedo was asking of Lyney was no joke, but it was impossible.
“Albedo, please…”
The magician placed his hands atop the other’s, interlocking their fingers. How could he possibly do what Albedo was asking of him? How could he possibly do that and just continue living? He hung his head, his gaze directed at the snow piling atop his heels.
“I don’t care what you say. I can’t do this…! I just can’t!”
He couldn’t possibly, no matter how much Albedo wanted him to. He couldn’t kill him. No matter how much Albedo pleaded, he just couldn’t. How could he even ask that of him? How could he ask for Lyney to take his life and then continue living?
Albedo removed his hands from Lyney’s shoulders, wrapping the other in a hug. Possibly the last hug they’d ever have. He knew it was a difficult request, but it was one that only Lyney could fulfill. He couldn’t ask this of anyone else.
As he was wrapped into a hug, Lyney desperately clung to the hem of Albedo’s coat. His legs threatened to give out underneath him, both from the cold and the weight of the responsibility his boyfriend had just thrust upon him.
“Why…? Why are you asking this of me? Why not someone else?” He asked as his voice wavered, tears threatening to spill out from his eyes. Albedo frowned at seeing how distressed the magician really was about this. Of course, he knew he couldn’t expect him to agree right away. He held Lyney close, for as long as he could. This was the last time he’d be able to, after all.
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry to ask this of you, but you’re the only one I can count on for this.”
If anyone were to kill him, he’d want it to be the love of his life, as much as he knew it would hurt the other. With one hand, the alchemist prepared to summon a sword, releasing the magician from his embrace. The last thing Lyney wanted to do was to kill the one he loved most, but as much as he wanted to, he knew he couldn’t talk his way out of this. He hated the thought of living without Albedo. How was he supposed to do this? How was he supposed to go on without him?
The idea that suddenly popped into Lyney’s head was awful. Dark and gruesome, but it would ensure that he wouldn’t have to live a life of guilt. He steeled his resolve, taking a deep breath. He gave Albedo a nod, watching as Albedo summoned a sword to his side and handed it over. Without warning, Lyney wrapped his arms around Albedo, gripping the sword’s hilt.
Then he plunged it into Albedo’s back, through his solar plexus and straight into his own. He coughed, blood splattering onto the shoulder of Albedo’s coat. Albedo’s legs gave out first, then Lyney’s. As they fell, the sword hit the ground and pushed through even deeper, leaving only the hilt sticking out of the alchemist’s back. It wouldn’t be long before they both bled out, the snow underneath them growing redder. The magician let out a weak laugh, shakily reaching for the alchemist’s hand.
Within minutes, the life had faded from Lyney, and Albedo would soon follow. Unable to move, his hand remained interlocked with the other. He could feel the life leaving him, his eyelids growing heavy and falling shut. With his last ounce of strength, he could only mutter.
“‘Til death do us part.”