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“Dorian! Dorian look-”
Dariax turns around. He's so excited to show his friend what he got– Dorian would be proud, right?
The coins clinking in the cup. His cup now– Dorian gave it to him. It's his now and he loves it already, because Dorian gave it to him.
“Dorian?” Dariax frowns. He looks around, confused. He couldn't have lost sight of his friend so easily, right? He knows he can get distracted very easily and he misses details all the time, but how hard is it to spot a blue skinned man with the looks of an angel in such a vibrant getup? Not very hard. Even for him.
But Dorian isn't there anymore.
He can't find Dorian.
“...Dorian?”
There is this emptiness in his chest. It's been there since they walked away from Opal and Fy’ra Rai, but he managed to push through because Dorian needed him. Dorian needs him. He needs to make sure Dorian is okay. He's not very good at many things but he's good at taking care of his friends… Right?
He's supposed to be good at that.
That emptiness, it's creeping back in. A weight on his chest, a coldness in his veins. He doesn't like it, it feels bad.
“Hey, Dorian? If this is like, a prank or something… good job! You got me,” Dariax laughs. It's strained, nervous . “You can come back now!” People are looking at him, he ignores them because they don't matter right now.
Dorian needs him. So he has to stay with Dorian.
Dariax makes another round, and keeps searching after that. He keeps looking, this stubborn desperation setting in once he realizes that emptiness, that fear , is right around the corner waiting for him. He feels it in his chest. He feels it in his stomach. His fingers are going numb.
It feels like spiders under his skin.
The sky grows dark. And Dariax sits alone.
He hasn't been alone in so long, and now he remembers why he hates it so much. He feels like he's frozen in place, there's just so much going on around him– it's too much, and he doesn't have anyone to distract him from it. He doesn't have anyone to shift his focus onto.
Dorian wouldn't just leave him like that. They're friends, and they've been getting even closer since all the Bard lessons and stuff! So Dorian wouldn't just leave him…
Dariax sits alone, and he repeats that to himself. Dorian wouldn't just leave him.
Over and over so that he doesn't have to pay attention to what's happening around him. So he can focus on something , even if that something is making him feel worse.
And slowly, Dariax begins to realize...
Dorian never really needed him. Not at all. No, it's the other way around– Dariax desperately needs Dorian.
And Dorian isn't here anymore.