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Outside, the wind was thrashing against the wall, rain slamming into the windows, But to Jay it was all quiet. He pulled the duvet closer around his ears and turned his head over on his tearstained pillow.
“Come on, Jay… You can't stay here forever.” Nya’s voice called out to him, but he was numb to it. Numb to everything except the growing rift in his chest, piercing through his skull until he couldn't think coherently. He just missed him too much to function, too much to even think about continuing life normally. Because life without him would just be so unbearable that he couldn’t take it. He would rather fall asleep, into a dark abyss claiming him swiftly with every shuddering breath he took, than awake and spend another day in the cruel world that gave jay the life of his dreams, only to tear it away and shatter him in the process.
On that day, that fateful day, the clouds caved in around them, trapping them, locking them in a murky prison. They were only supposed to patrol the city, looking for signs of danger. They were almost done, they had stopped on a rooftop and were planning the best way home.
‘Hello, ninja, it's been a while, hasn't it?’ A grinding voice called out cruelly from the dark.
“Nadakhan. Since when do you wanna face us again? Didn’t we kick your ass last time?” Kai challenged him, with that cocky tone he always carried when he was trying to seem braver than he was.
“Kai, be careful,” Jay warned, “don't forget what he’s capable of…”
“I would listen to your little friend, Red, he's surprisingly wise, despite all appearances.”
“Hey! You be nice to ‘my little friend’ only I get to bully him, prick.” Kai flared up, flames already bursting from his hands.
“Now, now, I don't want a fight… I only need one thing.” He drew his knife, sneering, “ You, little one, should learn not to mess with a god…” He threw the knife at Jay, And Kai jumped.
“KAI!” Jay ran over to his friend, in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, but Nadakhan had twisted the knife with a gruesome squelch and pulled it from his body.
He cackled, “Wrong one, but it's not an issue, all I wanted was blood.” He then disappeared in a great crash, leaving Jay to cling to Kai’s quickly worsening state.
“You idiot, Kai. That should’ve been me…” He muttered softly, his eyes prickling with tears.
“Yeah, but I love you, so it's sort of in my interest to protect you.” Kai said, his breath becoming shallower and shallower with every passing second.
“I love you too, please don't leave me, you prick.” Jay said. It was the first time he was admitting this, but now isn't the time for thoughts like those.
“I have to… Tell Nya I love her, make sure you feed my cat, and Make sure YOU don’t forget I love you.” Kai said bitterly, and took Jay's face roughly into his hands, before kissing him. It was a good kiss, considering the circumstances, but salty tears infected the joy of it.
“I love you…” Jay whispered.
Kai took a shuddering breath, and his eyes fluttered closed. The deep clutches of death claimed him.
Jay screamed. He screamed so hard into a dark abyss that he was certain his lungs would collapse in on themselves. All sense of what to do next was gone, all possible futures were destroyed with kai, and all that was left was the broken remains of a human soul, and a dead man.
Everything was wrong. Kai was like a candle, who’s light had been snuffed out far too soon. The lights were out, not just for Kai, but Jay as well. Kai had been his light, and now he had been cruelly thrown into darkness, alone. Nothing could ever be right in a world without Kai Smith in it.
Outside, the wind was thrashing against the wall, rain slamming into the windows, but Jay was empty. Silent, and empty.