Chapter Text
It was just a normal night like any other. Yet another day of long and tireless adventures has passed by, and some of the family members were turning in for the night. Readying themselves up for another day of exploring and adventure.
However, that was different for some others, namely those who had a habit of not sleeping until they couldn’t stand much longer. One of those being Vyomi.
Vyomi skipped around the living room in circles, she had a long day but still practically begged for more to continue. However, nobody seemed up for it, which was fine. Tonight could be a chill night!! But she just had no clue what to do that very second. So, in the meantime, until a new idea sprouted in her head or she was fatefully dragged away by something or someone else, she’d skip in circles until her head got so dizzy that she’d lose her dinner. With a skip and a hop, it wasn’t too long until something called her name.
Knock knock
Vyomi slid to a halt, nearly tripping on the rug below her as she kicked it up with her socked feet. She turned and looked ahead at the front door, she heard that correctly right? A knock at the door? But the next round of repeating knocks told her she wasn’t dreaming it. She hopped on her feet again, all the way to the front door, before swinging it open. It was…
“Oh hiya Miko!! What’s up??” Vyomi waved with a bright grin. She couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous, as usually personal visits from Miko this dead in the night must’ve meant trouble, but judging by her carefree demeanor, it was all good. Miko uncrossed her arms, sliding Vyomi a note with a smile, albeit with a glimmer of confusion in her eyes. Vyomi’s smile brightened as she snapped the note from her, looking down at it. She went to unravel it, but Miko flicked her finger at Vyomi’s hand with a few disapproving clicks of her tongue.
“Ah ah ah, I hate to disappoint you child, but this note is actually for your father. It showed up by the tree… I assumed it was some visitor that dropped something, so I took it upon myself to peek… why not be a dear and deliver it to him for me hmm??” Miko grinned. Vyomi’s shoulders and smile slouched with a small disappointing humph from her. Really?? Here she thought she got a letter from some random penpal, or even a police notice for all those people she killed. Something to keep her busy and entertained… Vyomi rolled her eyes but gave a new smile to Miko.
“Finnnneeeee. Have a good night Miko!!” She chimed, the kitsune opened her mouth to reply, but Vyomi spun and carelessly slammed the door on her using her foot as support. A note for her dad huh?? Usually when he had a note from somebody, it was just delivered straight to the workshop, or came in the morning mail. Seems like somebody actually had some common decency not to break in. How odd. Vyomi examined the folded piece of paper… a mischievous grin crawling on her face. To peek or not to peek?
Within the shrine’s dubbed basement, another soul stirred as they toiled away at a workbench, pawing over papers with one hand and idly fiddling with a wrench with the other. The room had been dimly lit for the sake of Noroi’s and Zorro’s comforts, because Caeli wasn’t about to receive another earful for keeping the space lit up like the middle of the day. So instead, he kept small lamps on to just make the bench in front of him sufficiently lit.
Pushing his glasses farther up his nose, he quickly jotted down notes of an odd contraption in front of him with no obvious purpose other than the one sitting in his own head. Ever since he set on the goal of figuring out how to get over this whole Vox situation, he tried every option to get around it from the top of his head.
This was turning into another failed venture, though he had to document his time and experience by the minute if he didn’t want to repeat those mistakes again. He eyed the contraption somewhat sourly as if it had committed some kind of great offense. If he wasn’t going to get any satisfaction from this anytime soon, then he’d start another train of thought.
Vyomi stood there for a moment, fighting the decision to peek or not to peek. Well of course, it was really an easy question for the most troublemaker of all (arguably second troublemaker by Ayumu’s words as they must always be first above their twin.) Vyomi decided she wanted to be nice today, and also she had the slight worry she’d accidentally expose herself to something disturbing that was meant for Caeli’s eyes only…. Well, more of Caeli and his lovers eyes only. However, Vyomi was slowly becoming numb to that sort of thing, but she’d like to have her moments of peace.
“You’re lucky only tonight father…” she murmured with a snicker. She skipped down the hall, whistling some random made up tune before swinging open the door to her destination. Kicking down another, she made her way down into the workshop as noisily as she possibly could. Even if she wasn’t being an eavesdropper, she still needed to fulfill her quota of being a problem for others.
“Oooooh daddddyyy o’ mine you got mailll!!” She called. As she did, she heard a sharp howl from the bedroom, ordering her to keep it down. It was clearly from Noroi, and whilst sometimes you had to take those yells of it’s seriously, Vyomi chose to ignore it today.
At first, he had been so absolved in his own work that he didn’t even care to register the bumps and thumps issuing down the stairs until Vyomi was almost to the door. Snapping up to attention with his pen and wrench jumping out of his grip, Caeli finally caught onto the disturbance. Though that wasn’t without him silently cursing to himself as he tried to catch the two runaway appliances.
When he just managed to snag the wrench off the floor, he swiveled around in the chair to see Vyomi cheerfully make her way into the room, which was much more energetic for anyone awake at… at… one in the morning? Or was it earlier?
Ignoring the annoyed growl from the bedroom, Caeli raised up his hand— which held the wrench— and waved it. He rose out of his seat and took a few steps forward to meet his daughter half way, questions as to why she was paying him such an odd visit filling his mind. Of course, the mail thing registered in his head, but he wasn’t sure what kind of mail it was. Had it been some kind of new bounty?
“Voi, why are you still up?” he asked in greeting, “And ah, thank you! What kind of mail is it?”
Vyomi gleamed up at her father as he made his way over to her. She held up the note and smacked it lightly on his forehead before handing it to him politely after. She paid a small glance down to the wrench still in his hand and tried to hold back mocking laughter.
“Looking for stuff to do!! I don’t wanna sleep!! And uhhhhh dunno, Miko gave it to me!! She said it was near the tree in the shrine. She thought it was something somebody dropped but uhhh apparently it’s for you!!”
“Ah!” he gasped, as if her slapping the note actually hurt him. Which, of course, obviously wasn’t the case and he still had no idea where that instinct came from. His free hand, which instinctively slapped up to his head to catch the note, also quickly lowered when he belatedly realized that he couldn’t grab it up there.
Finally, he got the chance to take it and he carefully slipped it out from between her fingers. As he did, he nodded along to his daughter’s story.
“What’s so bad about some sleep? You should get some,” he said, ignoring how hypocritical he sounded, “But ah, that’s interesting. I wasn’t expecting anyone to leave mail. Unless it’s them.”
Caeli’s expression soured as a scarred face with flowing yellow eyes swam into his mind’s eye. He shook his head to get rid of it. “But if it was, it wouldn’t be. Sending mail’s inconvenient for them. But thanks Voi, I’ll take a look at it. Get some sleep, okay?”
Vyomi gave a small giggle at Caeli’s reaction, before playfully rolling her eyes at his suggestion for sleep. Really, sleep wasn’t as required for her kind as it was for people like Caeli. Really it should be Vyomi telling the other to sleep, but then it’d be hypocritical for the both of them.
“Fine finnneee… but hey if I don’t fall asleep don’t scold me okay!! I’m sure you won’t sleep at all either, so you aren’t allowed to talk!!” Vyomi huffed with a toothy smile. She blinked at the mention of “them.” And then rolled her eyes for real this time, crossing her arms and offering him a bit of a judgmental expression.
“Oh cmon, they seem more like the type to spam your phone until it starts lagging… then again they’re weird and can be out of character sometimes so who knows. But you’re being paranoid!! They haven’t shown their face in like what, a month? That’s a new record!!”
“Hey, don’t shove my bad habits back at me!” he said defensively, though the playful hint in his tone was unmistakable. Caeli reached out and gave her a pat on the head, letting his hand slide back to his side a moment after. “I’m just finishing this up before I get some sleep, it won’t be for much longer.”
What that really meant was that he was going to work on it until he collapsed, just like the more recent nights. All of that Vox, Noroi, and Zorro stuff refused to let him rest without a guilty conscious and if he did, it would eat him up until he got back up and went back to work.
He gave a little laugh at that, turning the letter over in his hands. “Yeah, it’s been a while, but that’s the scary part. Any second now, I’m going to expect them saying some random thing. I really don’t need that in my life anymore, especially right now.”
Vyomi let out a new round of giggles, grabbing at Caeli’s hand as it reached up to her head, as if to pat him back as well.
“Mmhmmmmmm sure I believe you!!” She spouted sarcastically. Giving another chuckle, she gave a reassuring but also lively pat or two to the side of Caeli’s arm. “Well all I’m saying is, try not to disturb Noroi too badly if Crazy Frog plays in your head again!! I’m gonna go up to my room now, have fun with the funky letter!! Love you dad!!”
And with that, Vyomi hopped up to peck Caeli’s cheek, before spinning on her heel and heading towards the stairs.
“Heh! I promise I won’t,” he replied with a good spirited laugh. In his mind, he imagined how that could go down and decided that the best thing he could do in that situation was to scream into his hands. “I’ll just try to ignore it and make sure Noroi gets the beauty sleep it needs so dearly!”
As Vyomi jumped up to kiss him on the cheek, he patted her head once more with a growing smile. It was always nice seeing her, no matter what hours of the day— or in this case, night— were. “Night, Voi! Love you too!” he called after her, waving with the wrench.
Once she disappeared up the stairs, Caeli’s smile faded slightly into a look of interest as he held up the letter again. This would be a fun read, no matter what the contents were inside. Letters from strangers were always little packets of mystery to go through. Either they were threats, or job offers, or anything in between.
Returning to his desk, he flipped it over, opened it, and took out the piece of paper inside. He sat down in his chair and began to read.
The letter was mostly neatly folded. The handwriting was a bit wobbly, seemingly as if someone who knew how to decently write hadn’t written something in ages, along with some spelling mistakes to follow. Halfway through, there was an attempt at cursive that slowly faded out. In the letter it read;
”Hello Caeli,
I can’t exactly recall the last time we had spoken. I’m not sure if you’re happy about that or not. I mean well by this letter… even if you don’t fully believe that. The point is, I’d like to see you again. Please meet me at the beach in the universe ########. It’s okay if you don’t come, it’s not urgent. But I think it’d be nice to spend. I want to try something different and take my mind off of my mission… as I’ve realized that’s all I ever talk about. I apologize for that, I know it’s draining. I can be a person too, even if my time in this life is limited.
-Namida Vox”
His eyes swept across the words, though Caeli did need to double back and reread the same passage to make sure he got it right. Whoever wrote this clearly hadn’t written in ages, though still, the handwriting looked familiar. Even the passages sounded as if someone familiar was writing them, though it couldn’t be him. Right?
At the end, his suspicions were confirmed with the signature at the end. After this long while, Vox was writing to him. And a good thing he did too, because both of them knew what would’ve happened if he tried talking at the shrine.
Finally, he set the wrench down on the table as he considered his options. The temptation to go sat strongly in his chest and his mind, weighing over all the reasons as to why he shouldn’t go. It didn’t sit right with him to completely ignore Vox, even after those warnings Noroi gave him. While he wanted to respect the other’s wishes, he still wanted to help. This had to be another stepping stone.
He folded up the letter, his mind made up faster than he would’ve expected. Caeli stepped forward, where a portal suddenly opened to meet him.
—
It was a quiet night. They had gotten used to it by now, the loneliness of not another stranger around was becoming almost comforting. In a sick kind of way. It was cold too, usually Vox didn’t mind the cold. It was just something for humans to worry about, but even so…
”Aren’t you cold my dear?”
“No… it’s not necessary… us dragons are used to the cold.” Vox quietly rehearsed under his breath to the gentle breeze of the night.
”Hm~ even so, I always find it better to be nice and warm with another. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Vox shut his eyes, brushing his scaled hands across the sand below that he sat on. He tried to tune out the memories and his hopeless thoughts with the sound of the ocean. The way the waves brushed over another, the way the stars and the moon sparkled against the sand and the water. The way the frigid water felt as it lapped against his legs. The salty breeze coupled with the icy smell of the night. It was all familiar, it almost tricked him into thinking he was home, and that everything was just as it was.
Finally though, he was stirred out of these thoughts and longings as he heard the sound of a portal nearby open. He turned his head a ways to see that of a yellow hourglass, and the one he was looking forward to come from the other end.
“Mmm. You made it… thank you… I didn’t think you’d come.”
Sea breeze hit his hair and made him squint from the sudden onslaught of salty air. He didn’t quite prepare for the beach, even with the letter being clear about the location. Perhaps he left a bit faster than he could think things through. Regardless, Caeli had to find Vox.
That proved to be easy, as no sooner had he stepped foot onto the soft sand, he heard the other’s voice catch the wind and the waves, reaching his ears as if he too were part of the scenery around them. Caeli’s head snapped in his direction, and he made his way towards Vox on slightly unsteady legs. He always hated walking on ground like this, especially in heels.
“Well, it has been a while since we last talked,” he said, coming to a stop beside him and looking down. Caeli felt tempted to sit next to him, and decided to tease that idea for a moment longer. “Noroi almost scared me off but I’m more stubborn than it suspects. Plus, you look lonely.”
Vox turned his head to view Caeli, his gaze automatically turning to be more gentle as he saw him. However, as much as he wanted to smile, he could never find it in him to, not now at least. Vox glanced down and noticed how unsteady Caeli was on his feet, and gave a small thoughtful hum sound to it.
“I see… I don’t mean to get you in trouble. My loneliness is just a given for what I am anyways…” Vox murmured. After, he turned to his own feet and slipped off his boots.
“I find it nicer to walk along the sand and feel the water hit your feet rather than your shoes… feel free to join me if it makes it easier for you.”
“Don’t worry, I doubt Voi peeked,” he said with a mix of humor and reassurance. It felt odd with how easily words seemed to come to him. Caeli half expected for relations between the two to sour again into what they once were again. “Though you’re lucky that she found it and not Noroi. If it opened it and saw that signature, both of our necks would be on the block.”
He stopped for a second, considering the other’s words before nodding. While he did feel awkward to sit next to the other again, he wasn’t exactly going to oppose it. Caeli sank to the ground next to Vox, the sand comfortable underneath him. Mimicking the other, he took his own boots and placed them to the side, which was always a little awkward given his far from human feet.
“Huh, you’re right,” he admitted, “This your favorite place then?”
Vox gave a small nod, having to unfortunately agree with Caeli’s words on Noroi. Vox couldn’t share a lot of his thoughts with the kitsune, other than just agreeing with it on its opinions on himself. Vox had no room to argue with it, as Vox knew it was right about almost everything… the only thing Vox wanted to argue on was its belief that the prophecy was fake. But… with Zero doing the same thing, Vox had grown tired of arguing it.
Vox gave a thankful hum as Caeli sat beside him, and Vox continued to stare at him. Vox was always nervous to analyze the others, fearful of growing an attachment the more and more he looked… but…. He was starting to give up.
“Mmm… yes… I used to go to beaches like this often with… those of the past that I loved. It always helped take our mind off things, so I thought it’d do me some good.” Vox murmured, finally tearing his eyes off the other to look at the endless ocean ahead. “Though… I don’t know if it’s working anymore.”
Catching the other’s eye, Caeli met his gaze with his own. What was he staring at him for? At first, he figured it was because the two were just chatting, but the way that Vox stared at him, it was much like their last meeting. And that was embarrassing in of itself with Caeli still having no idea with where that urge had come from. Still, he wasn’t going to say he didn’t like the way Vox stared.
“Sometimes the spectacle wears off,” he agreed, leaning back and propping himself up with his hand. Despite it being cooler out, the sand felt somewhat warm beneath his fingertips. “Maybe it’s just because you don’t have those people with you anymore? You really lost a lot so maybe that’s it. Heh, despite our differences, I bet it’s helping having me here, huh?”
Vox’s ears twitched as he listened to Caeli’s words reach his ear. It was odd, his words became softer and softer the more the two got to know each other, what did that mean? Vox isn’t meant to connect with these people, especially Caeli after what he has to do… no, he was here to take his mind off things. He mentally shook himself and gave out a small sigh under his breath for it.
“I suppose you’re right…. Mmm… it does help, though I’m not sure what to make of that fact…” Vox replied. He continued to stare out at the glittering waves, the moon reflecting off each small shake of water in the vast ocean. All this just tugged at his heart with more nostalgia. He shut his eyes and lowered his head with a pained laugh under his breath. What a fool he was… he came out here to take his mind off things… when all it has done was bring him back to the place he longed to go back to so much. What else is he meant to do though?
“Just take it at face value,” he suggested. Caeli stared back at the water and moved his hooves through the gentle waves and sand. “You’ve got someone here with you right now, no need to look that far into it. Right now, we’re just here.”
Right now, they were. Caeli wasn’t at all sure of what to make of things either, especially considering the person he sat beside. While he did feel some resentment towards the other, it wasn’t as strong as before. And still, he had to take his own advice and just appreciate the moment here where they weren’t currently at odds.
He perked up slightly at the sigh and gave Vox a tiny pat on the back, as he really had no idea what else to do. Now that they were having these more intimate moments together, he felt a bit more connected with him. That never happened between him and his enemies.
“So lighten up, okay? You’re okay now, don’t worry about later.”
Vox gave some small nods at Caeli’s suggestions. He was right… he did just have to take it at face value, but how easy would that be for him? Vox found it impossible to live in the present, there was nothing here for him anyways with what he had to do. What mission he had to complete… how could—
Vox then froze up slightly at the pat on the back from the other. Vox’s eyes shot open as they landed back on Caeli’s face… he sure knew how to tear him out of his mind and place him back in reality… huh? But at the next comment, Vox curled in on himself, hugging his knees to his chest. He stared down at his feet.
“No… it’s not that really. I’m just… the nostalgia is hitting me badly is all… Caeli- you don’t have to answer but… do you ever get sad memories of the past? Like… something you miss that you’d never get back?”
A small crease formed between Caeli’s brows as he registered the question and mulled it over. His hand fell and returned to the sand with the other. Sad memories of the past? He did have sad moments, of course, and some memories that weren’t even memories, just moments he wish he remembered. Like Calytrix… he wished he could remember those. But those weren’t memories he had anymore.
“Ah… yeah, I do,” he admitted truthfully. Even without Calytrix, he thought back to his home universe and the fact that it was twisted and bent beyond repair. “My home, I guess. I miss it like everyone else, there’s parts of it where I really want to be a part of again. But I can’t anymore. There’s people I’ve known too, both from that place and not, and I miss them.”
His tone took on a more morose edge and the visions of the past resurfaced in his mind’s eye. Yeah, he really missed back then.
“What do you miss about your past then? Your time with Zero?”
Vox listened more to Caeli’s words. Vox knew that like anybody, Caeli would also miss things… having sad memories of the past just like he did. But even so, Vox’s heart tugged for him… even though he was never present at his own home… the chords of sympathy struck painfully so.
When Vox was asked that, he felt his throat turn dry as his mouth opened to reply… but nothing came out. He hesitated for a while, only a few faint noises came from him. Yes… Zero and… and Horatius, and a few other friends and the universe they were once at. Vox was too terrified to revisit that place… knowing that it was either already destroyed… or it could be in the fruits of destruction. Vox couldn’t imagine that it’s held up after Horatius…. After that doomsday… Vox shivered.
Suddenly, Vox pushed himself to his feet, shaking his head.
“Let’s… change the topic. My apologies… I don’t want you to catch a cold from rain out here… would you like to walk with me instead?…”
Oh. Caeli gave a small jump at the strained noises that wormed themselves out from behind Vox’s lips. Oh. He shouldn’t have asked that. Though Vox asked him first and even with the grace of not answering, wasn’t this supposed to be a kind of heart to heart situation? It most likely was, and Vox didn’t have the strength to talk about his own heart. That… that was okay. Still, when he abruptly got to his feet, Caeli scrambled against the sand to join him.
It was a lot more awkward standing on the beach without his shoes, especially with the sand always shifting under him. Caeli tried his best to shrug it off and deal with it, but he found himself rocking back and forth.
“Heh,” he said lightly, trying to also get rid of the hollow ringing feeling that now echoed within his chest, “It’s okay, I can’t catch a cold! That’s a lie… but I’ve handled more than the rain. And ah— sure, walking is nice, it can always get the stress off your shoulders. Do we just walk here?”
If they were, then he was going to really have to watch where he was going.
Vox’s small ears flicked as Caeli got to his feet. There was an odd sensation within his chest, like a small echo of panic as he viewed Caeli’s expression and listened to his tone. He held his hand out slightly as if to calm a wild animal down.
“Ah— I’m sorry… if you’d like then, we can do something else or go somewhere else… I don’t mean to cause any more stress on your soldiers…” Vox mumbled awkwardly, his hand falling back to his side after speaking.
“No, I like the beach,” he said quickly, waving his hands in front of him to let Vox’s worries rest. It felt so strange, having him worry over him and his well being.
Was this just to keep things around them on the down low, just enjoying their moment of truce? Though wouldn’t this time be used to silently undermind the other, to carve out their fears and thoughts to be used later? While Caeli had assumed that would be the case with Vox, something told him that the line of questioning was more on the lines of seeking for validation, rather than malicious intent. And even though he knew he shouldn’t be fraternizing with him, here he still stood, doing his best to be a shoulder to cry on.
Why was he doing this for the person who would ultimately tear his life apart?
“Come on, we just going to stand here and wait until the tide takes us or the rain washes us out?” he asked, now holding out his own hand to his horror. What was he doing?
Vox’s shoulders relaxed at that. He was glad… the beach was nice, but Vox worried that Caeli wouldn’t have a good time when it was tricky to walk along the sand. Vox wanted the best experience for anybody… especially Caeli. Even with the cruel mission Vox had to uphold that went against Caeli… he didn’t want to rub any more salt into the wound that he didn’t need to. He wasn’t here to cause more issues than he was forced to.
When Caeli asked that, Vox’s eyes fell onto Caeli’s outstretched hand. Was it… just something he was doing…. Or….?
Despite Vox’s inner confusions, he stepped forward and took Caeli’s hand with a silent nod. He turned around before beginning to guide Caeli along the beach. He felt the cool sand below his feet crumble along with each step, small waves washing against his feet as they went along. The wind and the waves filling his ears to drown out the silence of their voices, but that didn’t last for long. Vox glanced over his shoulder to look back at Caeli behind him as he continued to guide him along with their chained hands.
“What’s your favorite part of the beach?”
Caeli walked alongside him, falling into a somewhat of a shaky step beside him. The sand caving beneath his hooves hardly did any favors, though as the waves came along to stiffen it up, he found himself on much more stable ground. It was nice being able to walk along it with someone else, listening to the breeze as it flowed through his ears and how soft the combination of water and sand felt underfoot. And it was nice having Vox’s hand in his. It felt like it fit, much like Zorro’s and Noroi’s did, though it was a different kind of fit. Well, he supposed he was like a puzzle with different sides for those who matched to latch onto.
“Hm… I never thought about my favorite part,” he said conversationally, glancing up at the other, “I like how open and secluded it is at times, it helps me think and feel at ease. Sometimes I like to collect shells too, though I don’t do it often. Then there’s times like these where I walk with someone else.”
Those were a lot of things, but he wasn’t trying to keep track, just trying to distract his own mind over the filthy betrayal he was enacting by just talking to Vox. Again, he looked over to him expectantly, a silent inquiry to go on about his. Small talk, especially now, was nice. He needed to learn more about him.
Vox felt…. More at peace now, which was odd. This was already a peaceful place, and he always had to keep his head as light as possible in order to exist. But this was different… his mind felt lighter in a different way, similar to the peace he felt so long ago. But only a little bit. He liked the small talk. His hands felt tingly… a good tingly.
“Those are all very nice…” Vox murmured. He turned his head to look ahead once more, the beach was endless… good for walking mindlessly until you decided to stop, not letting nature stop you instead. It was all up to you, it was nice. “Well… my favorite thing about the beach is how peaceful it is. The perfect place to dance.” Vox answered.
He nodded along, feeling something warm inside of his chest that he desperately wanted to ignore. The thought of actively falling for this person made him horrified to no end, especially when he had other priorities he had to put ahead of him. But to be in the moment with Vox now, it gave him a new aching sense, a feeling of what could have been. If Vox hadn’t been sent on this mission, if the prophecy had already been broken, then these moments would be abundant without any shred of guilt.
Then there was the mention of a dance, and Caeli’s impulsiveness began to take over again. The thought suddenly came to mind as if it had been fired by a gun, ramming into his thoughts and leaving his mouth before he even had a chance to think about what the thought actually was. It was just like the kiss they shared, and this was as consequential as that.
“Well, should we dance then?” Caeli asked.
Vox’s eyes widened at Caeli’s question. He felt his heart skip several beats at… a similar feeling to back at that kiss… what even was this? Vox stopped in his tracks, turning his body halfway to look at Caeli. He was silent for a moment, staring at Caeli… the way his hair brushed gently against the wind, the offering smile in his eyes. Vox’s hand slipped away from Caeli’s, but only for a moment. He turned all the way to face him, and grabbed his hand again, only repositioning it for comfort.
“Yes… I’d love to.. but please forgive me, I’m not the best at dancing.”
The smile within Caeli’s eyes brightened once Vox took his hand again and agreed, his own heart doing flips in his chest. Never for the life of him could he explain this feeling other than love, which was something that couldn’t be explained in the first place. Caeli didn’t want to have this feeling for Vox, he never wanted it in the first place. But now, with how his blood hummed in his ears from the mere thought of being close to him, he couldn’t deny it. Though why, why did he love him?
He didn’t need to answer that.
“Then I’ll lead, how about that?” he suggested.
Caeli pulled slightly on Vox’s hand as he took a step back, his free hand coming forth to take the other. Again, he stepped back, this time, away from the water’s edge as he slowly roted, dragging Vox along with him. Strange, again how Vox’s hands fit so well in his own. They felt so warm, so inviting.
Vox’s hands tingled more, it almost felt like dipping them in and out of the seawater they stood against. But a warm welcoming feeling to it. Vox truly couldn’t explain it… Vox always felt the feeling before, but why for Caeli? He didn’t know. But he went along with it for now… as much as he felt the panic and guilt of doing so… he wanted to take this in stride. Just for tonight, just for right now.
Vox followed Caeli’s lead with each step, the waves and wind of the sea was their music… but Vox couldn’t help but feel a humming tune rise from his throat. One that he listened to a lot back in the past… one that’d be unfamiliar to most if not all people now. Vox turned along with Caeli, keeping his eyes locked within the golden yellow of the other’s. It was like he looked into a land full of riches, the sands created by golden leaves, the sky filled with a warm sun, clouds reflecting off it that they too, looked yellow. It felt very nice. It made him feel warm too, like he was there within that golden universe.
The humming filled Caeli’s ears, and he sunk into the sound. It didn’t drown out the ruffling of their hair of the breeze or the melodic crashes of waves against the shore. No, it only complimented them, and it was as if a huge chorus of beautiful music welled up around him. It was something that the dance felt perfected in, which each foot fall and turn hitting a specfic note, the swaying staying to the beat. Vox’s voice in this moment, the wordless hums were wonderful sounds, he had a beautiful voice. Caeli felt himself sinking farther and father, much like someone listening to the songs of the most beautiful siren.
His worries began to melt away one by one as he continued to lead their dance, dragging Vox along with him. This moment felt precious and sacred, like the one oyster that held a pearl that could never be replicated. Sand shifted and moved beneath their feet and Caeli felt as if he were in a different world altogether.
“You said you weren’t a good dancer,” Caeli teased lightly as he did a spin, carrying Vox along with him, “Then what’s this I’m seeing?”
With each spin and step, Vox felt a familiar warmth creep deeper and deeper into his very being. His humming continued, unfaltering. Caeli’s hands felt so soft against his skin, like the gentle feathers of a bird. His hand felt so familiar, matching that warm feeling he felt deep within his soul creep up again. Vox’s cheeks warmed, dusted with gold at Caeli’s tease.
Vox spun along with him, lowering his head as he gave a small cheerful sigh. However, despite all of this, a smile did not appear. As it was always hidden from view on his features.
“Thank you… you seem like a professional yourself… this is nice.” The dragon murmured. He then closed in on Caeli, wrapping his arms around him into a blanketing embrace. It felt like you were tucked in with a kiss on a cold winter night.
Vox’s arms closed in around Caeli before he even knew it and the two were suddenly enveloped with each other, so close now. It fet like the ocean waves themselves, albeit warmer and more comforting, had washed over him, calling him to the depths where everything felt close and comfortable. He was swallowed in Vox’s entire being now, enveloped in the most comforting of arms and softest of clothes.
He continued to move his feet, slowly shifting from side to side and making them move in little circles. Despite being so close, they continued to dance and he rested his head against the other’s chest. He could hear a beating heart and he wanted nothing more than to listen to that for the rest of time.
“It is nice,” he agreed quietly, spinning them in a lazy circle, “Heh, I never thought I would be here doing this with you of all people. I’m glad I can do it now, I’ll remember this.”
Vox gave a pleasant shiver at Caeli’s close touch. They swayed back and forth, like some object that bounced along the waves of the great sea. Not daring to sink, but at least if it did, the depths below were warm and safe. So oddly though.
When Caeli’s head fell on Vox’s chest, his heart picked up speed slightly, Vox then rested his chin on top of Caeli’s head. They continued to spin and sway in slow circles, and Vox continued to hum that homely tune. Caeli’s own words felt like music to his ears as well. Vox paused his humming to reply.
“Yes… I’ll remember this too… thank you…”
Existing in this moment with Vox felt as if Caeli found himself in his very own home, which felt so odd. Vox never was a part of his home, and shouldn’t be at all, yet here he was, acting as the center of Caeli’s solar system. While he didn’t want to revolve around him, he still found himself obeying gravity just this once.
“Yeah,” Caeli said, albeit a bit lamely as the guilt slowly began to catch up with him. Again, he shook it away and sucked in a deep sigh, melting more into Vox’s embrace. “You’re really sweet, I didn’t think we’d have a moment like this. But hey, look at us now.”
He pulled the other with him as he did a slow waltz in a circle, continuing to sway with him back and forth.
“I wonder if we’re going to do something like this again.”
Vox gave Caeli a small squeeze at his words. It was so funny, last Vox remembered Caeli wanted nothing to do with him, the only thing he wanted was him gone… and now here they are, Caeli saying such kind words to him. He still didn’t understand… did humans move on just as fast like this? Caeli wasn’t exactly human though… so maybe it made sense.
Vox went along with Caeli, opening his eyes to stare ahead past him, looking along the sparkling grains of sand ahead.
“Mmmm…. I don’t know… I really don’t know….” Vox’s voice cracked slightly.
Caeli couldn’t exactly explain his change in demeanor either and he was as just as shocked as Vox was about his turnaround. Yes, he was an incredibly impulsive person, always thinking with his heart or the first thought that popped into his mind, rather than thinking in depth about it. If he ever did think, then he would’ve never let his guard down around Vox in that cave, or agreed to come along so easily. But now that he was there in the moment, he had no intentions of leaving it so soon.
“That’s okay,” Caeli said, expecting the answer. He wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted Vox to say, but it still made his heart sink slightly. “Well, I guess we should appreciate this! Maybe use it to blackmail each other if we get too hostile next time. Still, I can’t help but hope.”
Vox continued to stare at the sand as they danced along it. Vox’s humming came to a slow stop, his mind slowly began to get drowned out by everything else. What was he doing?
“Aha… no… I could never blackmail anybody… so please don’t worry about that. But….” Vox paused. They couldn’t help but hope, huh? Vox felt similarly… however… “mmh.” Was all that came out of his mouth in reply to them. Why was it that now, the once salty breeze, smelt more earthy?
When the humming and Vox’s own dancing slowed to a stop, Caeli stopped the movement of his shoes as well. He stayed pressed up against the other, continuing to listen to the thumps of his heart against his chest, how it picked up with something. Anxiety?
“But?” Caeli prompted, finally removing his head from the other’s chest to look up at him. Though after a second, he shook his head. “Never mind, heh. Your secrets are yours, I suppose. Let’s just enjoy this now, worry about now later. I was just talking for the sake of it. Unless you’d like to talk about it.”
Vox had fallen completely silent and still. He continued to stare past Caeli at the sand… but the details of all of it became more blurry. Vox blinked, feeling the corners of his eyes sting…. A familiar feeling. Oh. It was tears coming on. Vox shut his eyes as tightly as he could, not wanting to let go of Caeli to rid them with his hands. He gave a shaky breath in reply to Caeli’s words.
Finally, he opened his eyes again, sensing that the tears had seeped away and never fallen…. But his vision only blurred more as a result. He looked looked back down at Caeli… only seeing a small silhouette full of colors… he blinked. Was Caeli’s hair and clothes always laced with orange?… no…. Of course not. Vox felt tears escape his lids, rolling down his cheeks as he stared at Caeli. Struck with dazed silence still.
Something wasn’t right. The way Vox had suddenly become so stiff, how his chest creaked from something within and how his heart hammered faster and faster. Caeli could feel the other’s arms tighten around him, as if they were suddenly latched and locked into place.
Looking up, he saw as the other came to his senses, blinking away rolling tears. They dripped down Vox’s face, framing his eyelashes, creating a shadow of torment over his face. It hurt to see, which was so much different than when he had seen the other so distraught before.
Though today was different, they could care for each other now. Relinquishing his hold on Vox, he reached up and his fingers touched Vox’s cheek, his thumb catching and wiping away a tear over scales.
“Vox?” he asked, “You okay?”
Vox felt his very soul crumble at Caeli’s hand. His fingers reaching up and his thumb gingerly wiping away his tears. It nearly made Vox’s legs give out there and then, his hold on Caeli tightening just a bit more. Caeli’s words rang in his ears… like an endless echo, the longer it echoed… the more it sounded familiar. Painfully familiar. But it had been so long, the familiarity was becoming more ambiguous the more he forgot. But even so… he still felt it so painfully so. It felt just the same. All of this…. Was just the same, the dance, his worries, the way his voice slid off his tongue and from his lips. The way he even kissed him back then. It all just felt the same. Vox’s mouth twitched upward for the first time in so long. He couldn’t remember when it last was either.
“You’re so much like him….-“ Vox finally gave out. His voice trembled like a branch prepared to snap off during a hurricane. Vox felt himself curl in on Caeli more, his voice dying in his throat as he spoke. He wrapped his hands around the back of Caeli’s head, sliding his fingers through his locks of hair. It felt all the same… but it wasn’t the same. They weren’t the same person. This was all just some cruel reminder, wasn’t it?
It was time to stop….
Vox finally pulled away from Caeli, taking a few steps back as he turned, his side facing the other. He covered his mouth and uttered several apologies under his shaking breath.
Despite the distress from the other, Caeli couldn’t help but sink into the tightened hold. He felt as if he were some lifeline of Vox’s, the last rock for the other to hold onto in the midst of a horrifying storm. Then the other spoke, making him pause.
So much like him? Who was him? Zero? Caeli stayed in the embrace, his arms once more snaking around the other and hold him too. He needed to give comfort, especially now when the other was so open and vulnerable, like he was speaking from the heart. Perhaps Vox was— no— he actually was. He could hear the raw emotion behind those words, like Vox’s soul opened to that memory he wished so much to be real.
Then the moment was over. Vox’s hands unthreaded from his hair and the warmth he had once been wrapped in suddenly vanished into cold and chills. Caeli let his arms fall to his side, his heart suddenly aching and longing to be back in that comforting embrace again. But that rift opened again, and he and Vox were once more standing on the different sides of history.
Still, Caeli had to try finding that bridge while he still stood there. He wandered forward, putting his hand on the other’s shoulder. “Vox, it’ll be okay, alright? Nothing bad’s happened.”
There was soft droplets that began to fall from the sky. Just as Vox tried to avoid… the more he cried, would it get worse?? Usually it didn’t… but Vox felt so unstable lately… so what if… Caeli should go home, or Vox should leave again… this was horrible. Why couldn’t anything go right anymore…. Ever since that day…. Vox shivered at Caeli’s touch, but allowed it to stay.
“N-no… I invited you out here for a peaceful night but—… my foolish emotions are getting ahold of me again… and I shouldn’t compare you to others. I’m so sorry….”
The frist few droplets hit Caeli on the head and he only thought to look up at the sky to see the starry night now clouded over with something foreboding. The promise of rain now here to stay as Vox’s own storm raged within his mind and leaked through his eyes.
He slowly made his way to the front of Vox, facing him head on and trying to catch him in the eye again. Caeli knew next to nothing about the other’s past and now it had come to bite him. He had no idea what to say at all.
“Hey, let’s not worry about emotions right now,” he tried to soothe, “This is just a nice night, we’re allowed to be like this. Just let them be and let them do their thing, a little rain hasn’t hurt anyone. And ah, don’t worry about that, I’m not that sensitive. Why don’t we try chasing these thoughts away?”
Vox finally caught Caeli’s eyes again. But that only made it worse. They had the same eyes— that was it, wasn’t it? How could Vox forget?? Their eyes were the exact same… the color… the pupils shape…. But why was that?? He didn’t understand. Was there some real connection, or was it all some sick coincidence?? The rain began to pour harder, just as Vox huffed out more tears.
“Your….” Vox mumbled out, he gave a small hiccup as he reached his hand out to Caeli. He brushed the bangs that were just above his eyes away with the most gentle touch, as if he could break something if he wasn’t careful enough. Caeli’s words were appreciated… but it only got drowned in Vox’s sorrow.
“Your eyes are the same…. The same as his— why?….”
The touch felt soft and comforting, and Caeli’s eyes fluttered at it, thought but they remained open and continuing to stare. Despite how terrible his eyes were, he could still see the recognition flash behind the eyes of the other. The sound of the falling rain around them barely registered to him as he tried to read the other and figure out what was so different.
He didn’t understand when Vox told him the similarity of his eyes to another. Who? Who was this person? For all Caeli knew, his eyes were the same as they always were, which meant completely different. Or that could also mean…
Again, that thing he kept trying to ignore. As if called upon, it arrived in the corner of his vision, staring straight at him with blue eyes. The silhouette didn’t say anything this time around, as if daring him to continue on with that comparison. Or making him doubt that his eyes were the yellow he knew they were.
“I…” he started, taking his attention off the black mass, “Heh… who is this we’re talking about?”
Vox lowered his hand after, continuing to stare into Caeli’s gaze. He felt his heart ram against his chest, as if it wanted to explode and shrivel out like a pressured balloon. Vox felt clueless to Caeli’s own panic on his face, as Vox drowned in his own sorrows. How did he never notice before? This couldn’t be some coincidence… the time powers… his weapons… him being with Zero… but why? Why was it…. Vox’s heart twisted more. Vox made a total mistake here. Vox already felt so scared getting so close to Caeli simply because of the more hurt that would bring for everyone…. But now…
Vox stumbled away from Caeli, slowly shaking his head. But he had to keep himself composed… he couldn’t allow any thunder to come. He took a shaky breath and had to push himself to look away from Caeli.
“I… I wasn’t with just Zero….” He finally began to answer.
Wasn’t just with Zero? That didn’t exactly come as a surprise, given Caeli’s own romantic life. Caeli stood there, allowing Vox to drift away as he tried to wrack his brains on what the other meant. Not just with Zero… Caeli being just like someone else… the same eyes…
He didn’t like this thought path. The silhouette continued to stand there, still completely quiet as it too knew that this wasn’t something that neither it or Caeli could conjure up. As he continued to think Caeli managed to put the pieces together and something cold sent shivers down his back.
What? Did this mean that he was really someone else? The moment he wanted to be different and when he finally obtained it, he’s just like someone else? And with his eyes?! Was this some sick trick that The Narrator played on him? Then who was he created to look like? Why wasn’t he him?
“Then who was it?” he asked, trying to get some kind of answer out. He didn’t want to be just another version of someone else, he worked this hard to not be. Who was it?
Vox gave a small gasp as he tried to calm himself further. Caeli’s pressing voice had come back… albeit not strong as it used to be. Vox didn’t know if he felt right or wrong about it… it wasn’t a sting anymore to his heart, it was something that hurt. Hurt badly… they shouldn’t have gotten so close. Vox should’ve been smarter… but he can’t just leave Caeli in the dust without an answer now, as much as he wanted to leave and stay far away from Caeli after this horrid realization.
Vox finally turned back to the other, his mouth open. He hesitated, before finally speaking. Though he couldn’t find it in himself to look at his face now.
“His… his name was Hor—“
Slash. Puut.
Vox’s eyes widened as a long black object, glowing with a red light flung in front of his chest. Vox spun around to look at the source, just for another to come and hit his arm. Vox flinched his eyes closed, a spear that burnt with the tastes of hell melted off his arm as it dug into the sand behind him. Above was someone expected floating with eyes glaring daggers at the two below.
“Come.” Hissed the floating one. And the two spears dug their ways out from the sand, dug deeper than what met the eye. Like a strong magnetic pull, the both flew back to the others side. It reached it’s hand up, aiming at the dragon below again.
“You must be silenced NOW!!”
Caeli hung on to each and every syllable, using each one to hoist himself onto the next ring. Who? Who was this person he was like? Who was he? Why wasn’t he Caeli and why was he someone else? Why couldn’t he be him? Who was he? But then all of that abruptly stopped.
With a shout of shock and surprise, Caeli stumbled back and nearly tripped over his feet, his eyes blown wide as something pierced Vox’s chest. In the moment, with him so clouded with doubt and anxiety, it didn’t register what was happening with him. What was going on? All that he knew was that something was attack Vox.
Then it clicked. He spun around on his heel, looking up at the sky as the new arrival finally spoke. Oh. Oh no. What was it doing here?! Its warning inched back to Caeli and his blood became ice. He took a few steps forward, albeit hesitant ones. This wasn’t a fight to win going up against Noroi like that.
He still had to try dissuading it, especially now.
“Noroi! Hey, wait! Stop!”
Vox gave a grunt as he looked down at the melting arm that fell beside him. Vox already wanted to leave… but he knew it would be the best decision to go now. Right now. Though, Vox turned to look at Caeli… he still couldn’t leave him hanging.
“His na—“ though when Vox tried again, Noroi swung once more. This time Noroi’s aim was perfect, and hit a horrifying mark. The spear struck right through Vox’s cheek and out the other end, doing perfect by silencing him. Vox’s eyes struck wide, while he’s had his fair share of horrifying hits… this was surprising. He reached up frantically with his remaining arm to try pulling out the spear lodged through his mouth, golden blood and melting skin trickling down the sides.
Noroi finally landed on the ground, ignoring Caeli’s pleas. Noroi stalked its way over to Vox, now holding its sword in hand.
“I said to be quiet. But I was foolish in thinking you’d listen.” It seethed.
Caeli wasn’t staring at Vox anymore, his eyes now completely fixed on Noroi. He was scared, he couldn’t deny that. Noroi was a scary person, and to see it this angry, so much more angry than he had ever seen it, he was scared. Very scared. Even when Vox tried talking to him, he wouldn’t dare turn his head.
Then the spell was broken as the spear whipped through the air again and Caeli followed it, only to lurch back as it embedded itself into Vox’s head. Caeli had seen much worse things before, he had done things that were worse than this. But to see it happen to Vox… His head spun, he felt nauseous. No, this couldn’t be happening. It was horrible to see it.
“Wait—” he tried again, following after Noroi with a half hearted shaky step. He didn’t try pursuing the other any further. “Wait please, Noroi, please stop, don’t do anything else. Please, he wasn’t doing anything!”
Vox finally managed to tear the spear out some, but his other hand began to melt from how hot it was. Vox groaned, letting go and trying to summon some of his power to cool it down. His dying fingers sparked with gold, but nothing came of it.
Noroi continued to ignore Caeli, but with its teetering anger, it snapped. It stopped and spun around to Caeli, shoving him away with one of its hands.
“Stay the fuck out of this!! Neither of you listen to me!” spat Noroi.
The sudden push made Caeli stumble back, his organs leaping into his throat. He didn’t expect that, and with how disoriented he was, he almost tripped on the sand and had fallen down. Though with adrenaline spiking, he managed to catch himself and wheel around again. Though he regretted that he looked back.
It turned again and dragged its heavy sword across the sand, before finally reaching Vox and swinging it at his head. Vox reacted fast, but still nearly missed the hit. Vox bent backwards and tried to slip away, mumbling something from his dying mouth that was now sealing shut from his dissolving skin. Noroi turned to face Vox again, letting out another growl.
“Why can’t you just give up and die huh? You’re sad enough as it is. Didn’t I overhear you wanted to end it all?? Why not save me the trouble.”
He didn’t want to see the fight, he felt sick to his stomach. He knew full well about how much Noroi despised Vox, but now, this was too much, this was overkill. It didn’t understand, not for any sentimental reasons at all, but because of what the future had in store. If Caeli couldn’t find a fix, if Vox had to do it, Caeli didn’t want to be the one who would kill them instead.
It was difficult trying to tear his eyes away from Vox. The dragon disintegrated before his very eyes, making his stomach roil and turn, withering away in disgust. This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of it was. He tried to make another attempt forward, furthering Noroi’s point of no one listening to it.
“Noroi, we need him alive!” He tried a different mode of attack— or diplomacy— for this, “Please! We can’t have him dead, not right now!”
Noroi stopped in its tracks again, letting out a hiss as Caeli pleaded behind it. Noroi turned and swung its sword in warning torwards the ground as it glared at Caeli.
“You tell me you believe his babbling about that fucking prophecy over me?! You practically met him yesterday. You’ve known me for how long?!”
It shook its head. No, there was no point bringing this up now. Noroi had something to do. Something to prove here and now. After, is when Noroi would yell down at Caeli. It turned once again and picked up the speed. It swung its sword at Vox again, missing, swinging, missing, swinging, and it hit. It dug its sword into the side of Vox, his waist. Vox let out another mumbled sound, before trying to summon his staff to fight back. He swung the lantern towards Noroi’s head, but Noroi instead headbutted into Vox’s chest, knocking him over onto the sand. The waves crashed against the back of his head, and he stared up at the giant heavy sword pointed at his neck. He couldn’t plead for any mercy.
“I don’t trust you any less!” Caeli continued, trying to keep his eyes trained on the raging kitsune. It had to understand! It needed to know that this wasn’t a fake! All the signs were pointing to the prophecy being real. Vox had been telling the truth. “I’m not going to let him kill you, anyway! I’d never let him lay a finger on you! I’m not throwing you away, I need him so I can find a way around this!”
It was no use and he knew as much, though he had to try knocking sense into Noroi. Yes, it didn’t want him around Vox, but this was life or death. Caeli didn’t want to cope with the fact that Noroi and Zero dying would be the only way to save existence.
He winced as the attack began and he rushed up again. No! He needed Vox alive! For so many reasons but right now, he needed Vox to figure out how to save everyone. Caeli reached up and took Noroi by the shoulder, giving it a tug back.
“Let him go, I need him to live! Just know I’m not taking his side here!”
Noroi ignored the words from Caeli, but when they tried tugging it back, it had enough. It turned with its other hand and shoved Caeli once more, just enough to not hurt them but push them to the ground.
“For the last fucking time— stay out of this!!” It howled. It turned back to Vox and swung its sword up, eyes wide and crazed. This would be it, this would finally be it!! Noroi swung down, but Vox grabbed his staff and held it in front his chest. He then vanished into a group of bubbles, and Noroi’s sword dug deep into the sand below, that the wet sand cracked like it was nothing but thick ice.
Noroi stared down in angered disbelief. No, no. It was so close! Noroi grabbed its sword again and swung and swung at the ground, knowing it was no use. It then let out another howl, tossing its sword to the ocean. The sword spun in circles before splashing somewhere far off. Noroi huffed as it watched it go.
That attempt didn’t last and Caeli found the ground rushing up fast to meet him. While he couldn’t feel the impact of the fall in terms of pain, it certainly took the air out of his lungs. Stunned, he stayed flat on the ground, trying to get the starts from popping in his eyes. He had no idea what else to do, send a portal Vox’s way and hope he gets swallowed up by it?
But just as he tried to get back up to his feet, he watched as the disintegrating dragon suddenly exploded into a cascade of bubbles. Nothing remained after they vanished, and Caeli couldn’t help but feel relief flood through him, only for it to be quickly replaced by dread.
He finally got up, watching as the sword vanished into the night. Now judgment day awaited and he tried to stand up straight. He wasn’t looking forward to this conversation. He didn’t want it. But he did warrant it.
Noroi finally made movement after a few moments of still silence. It turned its head halfway to look back at Caeli.
“Workshop now,” was all it uttered from its sour breath. It vanished in a few black and red particles after.
Those were two words he didn’t want to hear. Why not there on the beach where no one would be able to interupt them? Though that also meant that no one would be able to hear them if Noroi got too upset. Caeli stood there, his blood becoming colder and colder as he nodded along, not daring to talk back to it now, especially since it vanished right after.
Once it left, he quickly followed after with his own portal.