Work Text:
The wind was wild and the sky was trying to break.
That was what Adonis noticed, through the fog of his mind, as rough hands dragged him outside for the first time in weeks. No longer was there dull stones to stare at above his head, ones that he had memorized every single small imperfection, chip, and discoloration upon them.
There was a sky, dark and moody, threatening to break apart and pour down water from the heaven, Water, which would nourish the lands. Water that would provide the grain to make bread that he wouldn’t be around to taste.
His head tipped upward to marvel at this sky, and he couldn’t describe the joy it filled him with.
Not that anyone would listen to it.
But that joy, it was childish, and happy. A prayer graced his lips, mumbling a thanks to the gods that it would rain today. He would not beg, but he would thank. There was no use in begging, what would they care for a sinner begging?
But a sinner thanking, rejoicing, was a sight to behold.
He rejoiced while he was guided to the wooden structure, the buzzing of the crowd and noise not enough to knock him out of his dull state. His feet stumbled over each other, the rough hands guiding and yanking and pushing him up the steps.
His mouth moved even as tears started to fill his eyes, his jaw trembling and air being pulled out of his lungs. He prayed that the gods would use that air to guide these storm clouds. He prayed that his body would not taint the lands, that this world could at least make him unharmful, if not useful.
His eyes blurred out the crowd as he was pulled into place. He would not look. He would not hear.
The tears escaped as he looked up to the darkened sky, falling through the crease of his eyes. They chased his jawline, and he thanked for their caress, the last he would feel.
He thanked for the feeling of wood bumps against his feet, he curled his toes to feel its embrace. He thanked that he could still feel it, as the rope scratched and tightened around his neck. He closed his eyes, and he simply thanked.
The wind was wild, and the sky was trying to break.