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Icarus stepped through the portal into the frigid air of the End. Feathers rustled on their back, simultaneously familiar and foreign. It's been so long since they've felt the weight of wings on their back. So long since they've felt the weight of food and rockets in their pockets. So long since they bore the weight of armor, proper armor, on their body. Years they spent in the World Port, but now they're home.
Taking a deep breath, Icarus spread his wings and took off with a quick pop of a rocket. Soaring over the void, they smiled and waved as they briefly saw the eyes of Epros watching them. It felt odd being the one watched instead of the one watching, but it was also nice. They didn't have the weight of countless worlds on their shoulders.
Shaking themselves out of their thoughts, Icarus checked his com for the coordinates Rae sent him. He didn't entirely need them, they had watching the others fly to and from Soulstice hundreds of times over the years, but it didn't hurt to check and make sure. Their thoughts slipped to the man they were flying to meet. What would they say? What would he say? Their thoughts were cut short as they saw their destination.
Landing at the edge of Soulstice, Icarus looked around. The village was beautiful and well maintained, decorated with care where ever you looked. Icarus caught the shadow and faded forms of souls moving in their peripherals, always gone if they turned to look directly. If he listened closely they could still pick up on the faint whispers from the Souls. Though that focus on the Souls and the Soulstice was broken as they saw him.
Violet stood now at the center of Soulstice, looking down the main path straight to the person he only so recently remembered. Icarus stood there, almost glowing in their golds against black and purple end sky. "Ic..." His voice failed him after the first syllable, leaving only the silly nickname he gave them to fill the quiet air between them. Yet that one syllable managed to carry the weight of the years lost to them.
Icarus's breath caught as they heard the nickname spoken aloud by the God of Balance. Their eyes burned with tears, and they fought their tightening throat to speak, "Cen-Centross...." Their voice cracked, but they fought the tears to say his full name, the name they knew him best by. No sooner had the name left their mouth that both were moving. Running without thought, the two collided, arms wrapping tightly around each other.
Icarus clung to Violet's neck, their legs giving out beneath them from the combined exertion of standing and running for so long after floating and flying from decades, and the emotional release of finally, *finally* being reunited with Centross.
Violet held Icarus's weight as their legs gave out and the two slowly slid to the ground, clinging to one another like the other would disappear if they let go. "You dick. How dare you make me forget my best friend? That's such an asshole move." Violet's voice was filled with his usual sarcasm and teasing, even as it cracked as tears flowed faster from them both, as both clung tighter to each other.
Icarus laughed, the sound mixing with a small sob as they sniffled a bit. "Sorry. Had to make sure the world didn't implode." They tried to inject humor into their tone, but it fell flat as his voice cracked, remorse taking most of the tone rather than the humor. "Just make sure you don't ever do it again. You do I'll hunt you down my self and kick your ass. You're lucky it was Rae who went after you this time." Violet's tone kept part of the humor, but much of it was also serious. "I promise I won't. I'm here to stay." Icarus tangled their hands into Centross's cloak, voice surprisingly steady as they made the promise.
"Good. I'm holding you to that promise. I'm not going to lose you again, Icarus." Violet's voice was steadier now, less watery. The God pulled away just enough to meet Icarus's golden eyes, both still having watery eyes, though Icarus is the only one who remained crying for the moment.
It was now that Violet was really able to take in Icarus's changed appearance in earnest. Eyes trailed over the now almost totally yellow and gold color scheme of their outfit, lacking now the purples they had before. His eyes trailed up back to their face, their golden eyes and the new white in their hair.
Icarus saw Centross's eyes trail to their face and their hair, and they turned their face away, suddenly self conscious as they remembered how much more they looked like their father. "Hey," Icarus was surprised to feel a warm, scarred hand on their cheek, turning their head to once again face Centross."You don't have to hide from me. You aren't Fable. You won't ever be him."
Icarus's breath caught in their throat, eyes burning anew with new tears. So many thoughts swirled in their head. So many words sat frozen on the tip of their tongue. So many things they wanted to say, to apologize for, to confess. None of the words would come as they sat their, staring into the deep purple eyes they've longed to see for years now. Shaky hands untangled from Centross's cloak and moved to his cheeks, as they acted without thinking and leaned forward, kissing Centross.
The kiss was broken only seconds after as Icarus stuttered over words and apologies, before being cut off by another brief kiss that took their breath away. "Shut up. You don't need to apologize. You don't know how long I've been waiting for you to pull your head out of your ass and do that." Violet said with a small chuckle in his voice. "Wha-huh?" Icarus asked, breathless and confused, and overwhelmed in all the best ways. "I mean, granted, I've only remembered how long for a couple weeks now, but still. Don't worry, Kai and Fenris know and are ok with this." Violet's voice was full of confidence and a bit of humor, before faltering slightly as he asked, "Well, that is, if you want this, us, to be a thing?" Icarus laughed in disbelief before nodding, slowly at first, then with increasing enthusiasm. "Yes! Yes I want us to be a thing! I've wanted it for so long!"
Icarus smiled as more tears fell, as Centross leaned in and kissed them again, more fully this time. Icarus melted into the his, arms wrapping around Centross's shoulders and hands tanging again into the cloak around his shoulders. Violet held Icarus tightly, feeling whole once more as the final piece of his family was finally safely back in his grasp, especially as that piece now slotted so perfectly in his arms.
The two pulled apart once more and caught their breaths, Violet wiping away the stray tears clinging to Icarus's cheeks. "Come on. Why don't we go home?" Violet asked, and Icarus nodded as they rested their head on his shoulder. "Yeah. Home sounds great. So does a nap." Icarus said as a yawn followed their reply, exhaustion settling deep in their bones in a way it hasn't in decades.
Violet chuckled fondly and scooped up Icarus is his arms. Icarus didn't resist, instead melting into the hold as Violet spread his wings and took off for the nearest End Portal. Once in the Overworld, the two quickly went home, where they were greeted by dogs, cats, and a flock of birds that mysteriously showed up. All though were only briefly acknowledged as the two instead went straight to the bedroom, and settled in to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms. The two had so much to catch up on. Sounds like the perfect way to spend time and have a few drinks later.