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(this was kinda rushed btw)
A soft murmur of trees rustling and the quiet sound of the lush jungle was somewhat psithurismic in a way. Something that just barely filled the silence minus the soft sounds of feathers being combed through, though in a way it was unsettled. Not rough, but it was clear that it wasn't meant to be loving.
It was hardly allaying though, as the needle-like claws would nick him at least once every 2 or so minutes. If he were lucky there would be a faint murmur of an apology, but otherwise they would say nothing at all.
And he couldn't bring himself to break the silence that was so forcefully constructed, as if it was made by pure obsidian and all he had was a wooden pickaxe. It would be difficult to break it down without wasting the little time he had with them.
So he would just sit in the moment and just let it pass, though it seemed like the breeze from before had come to a halt. Leaving the silence to swallow them whole again once more. As if even thinking about it was enough for even the wind would like him to break down those walls.
But even an emperor can be a coward, it just seemed like every word he had wanted to say had been burned to ashes in his throat. Leaving it dry and bare.
The demon that so many despised in this land, the one that all those years ago ripped out his heart for the world to see while it bled out just for them. Was sat right behind him, silence spoke like a language that could cut the deepest wounds. Was still just running their hand though his wings, as they were drooped down from his back. The colors were faded, the top part once a wine red was more muted, and the shades of blue had been polluted, even the once lush green at the tips had looked off.
Their little black razors had nicked him again after a particularly rough run through. He could feel the little cut under the feather that they had missed, the light sting and it was barely deep enough to draw blood. And the thick cool liquid was slowly streaming down in which it only made an ich or so down before it halted by xornoth hardly wiping at it.
Another murmured apology, as they had paused for a moment as if hesitating for a moment. Before returning to card their hand in his faded feathers. They had scootched a little closer causing the light jingle of metal clinking, and the hushed sound of rough fabric sliding up a little bit.
A light pluck of a wedged feather stuck between joints had anchored them back into reality as he forgot why they were even doing this. He couldn't help himself and looked back to xor as they once again removed their hand.
A breath was stuck in his throat, between two charcoal colored claws was the feather they had just fished out. But that wasn't the important thing, it was a rare moment when Joey was able to just look at xor when they weren't barking orders for either him or sausage to fulfill. That muted purple hair that was tinged of dark magenta, spiky and clearly not in the best condition. With uneven layers with some being almost at the roots and others being a bit past shoulder length and the single choppy braid, though the layers would start sticking up when it was parted at the large horns that crowned Xornoth's head. A staple of who they are now with the cracks that littered those horns had glimpses of those bright pinks, purples, and reds.
And their face, they could look at for hours with the large areas of black cracked skin fading down into the neck with the signature bright colors peaking through, and the patches of white skin that was clearly unhealthy like the life was sucked out of it making them look almost ghost-like. The black sclera which held those ruby gemstones with the small slit for the pupil.A face not even a mother would love, but here they were.
Oh how he remembered how he looked in the past, so beautiful.
Long dark magenta hair always in a loose braid down their back loosely tossed around, and warm pale skin with a faint blush that would never leave their face. Always smiling when he would see them, small dimples appearing as a result.
It was difficult to imagine the two as the same person, as the differences were uncanny to look at side by side. He liked to pretend that the now demon in back of him was that boy all those years ago. His staring did not go unnoticed, though it was replied to with an eyeroll and a scoff.
“You need to actually clean your wings, I don't want to be bothered with doing it for you” they said in a mumbled rough voice, like speaking normally was a foreign thing to them. Joey wasn't prepared for any words xornoth had spoken as it was another rare instance. But looking back at his wings he couldn't help but feel guilty. Like he was the reason xornoth had to slave away on him.
“I- sorry… I can get sausage to help me-” he says pausing a little and speaking kinda in a hushed voice also trying to partially stand in the process. Layers of jewelry metallic ringing from the abruptness of it, while looking away. Mini head wings drooping down a bit.
As abruptly as he got himself up he was dragged back down again by the middle of his wings, those sharp daggered claws actually digging in this time. Like jagged knives ripping into the flesh, it stung and would probably take a month to heal. As being yanked back back to the concrete floor where he just was a moment ago.
“I said earlier I was going to do this, you're just making this more difficult.” Xornoth said irritated and noticeably angry, if it wasn't obvious enough by them ripping them back down. He could continue to hear mumbles from them, not kind ones. He could only make out some, and so far they were only talking about what he ever did wrong.
The pain in his wings felt like nothing compared to when xornoth would nitpick, it was like no matter what he would do it would never be enough. They would just continue to take, take and take and never get their fill. Maybe it was just his fault, I mean xornoth said it always was.
Letting the corruption go wild in his once lush empire, the only mercy xornoth had done in that instance was making some of it blue to match the water temple. Or when xornoth gave him that crown, with all the jagged metal edges piercing into his scalp, while the red jem perched on top lightly glowed that brilliant ruby color that he loved. He said he loved at least. He would see it everywhere now with that lens of red shrouding his vision, those cool pinks that remind him of that prince that would hold his heart gently that he could no longer see. Thanks to this gift they had been pretended to be enamored by.
These mercies surely meant that xornoth truly loved him, right?
The mumbling had stopped, and there were no claws to rake through the feathers. Who knows how long Joey was stuck in that trance, maybe xornoth had finished and disappeared into the shadows once again like they always did.
He let out the breath that he had unknowingly halted. Yet he still had that sinking feeling in his chest, though he should expect that now. Maybe, just maybe shrub was kinda right about xornoth. He wasn't that sweet person he once loved so dearly, and doing all of this was just doing more harm than good. At first he just wanted that power, or so he told his friends- friends? That would be beyond a stretch now, all the people trying to help him were pushed away. By him. So he is to blame for all of this I guess, maybe if he had just listened to them. Maybe he wouldn't have those little cuts and bruises for when he would fail, maybe he would be thriving with pride in his empire once again. Maybe he wouldn't be yanked by the hair or neck when he couldn't get information from Gem and Scott.
Maybe if he had seen the signs, maybe he could have saved Xornoth. But now he may not even be salvageable.
Still sitting there lost in thought, those familiar talons that he had learned to love and hate. Gripped his shoulders with enough pressure to semi break joey out of that trance. He could hear the shifting of them leaning forward, icy cold breath just behind his neck.
“You know I love you right?”
That single sentence had always lured him back in, spoken with an unusual tenderness that was exactly like how his love behind him used to speak freely.
Joey didn't say a word. For the first time ever Joey wasn't going to beg xornoth for forgiveness to prove that Joey loved them too and wont leave. The silence was deafening, as some part of him just wanted to continue pretending and to just prove his worth over and over again. Just to pretend that this thing behind him was still that prince of Rivendell.
The prince who used to sing him songs and would practice those cheesy pick up lines when he thought Joey wasn't listening. Or when that rosy blush would engulf their face anytime he would do it back, and that warmth even in the cold mountain top they would give.
However, that man is dead now. 6ft under, to even compare the two would be disgraceful.
He just sat there, much to the surprise of xornoth. The clawed hands went to rap around him into an embrace from the back while their head went into the crook of his neck. That coldness engulfing him, "I'm not lying, I love you” something in Joey broke at that. Exact same words from when that thing was that prince, same words that were directed at him years ago.
He let the silence stretch for a minute before replying “you don't act like it”.
He could feel Xornoth's glare from where they rested their head, their hands tightening to the point where it was crushing his wings slightly. “I'm protecting you.” they said emphasizing the word “protecting” not longer using that copied voice from earlier.
Joey almost fell for it, almost. Standing up abruptly and moving xornoths arms,also knocking xornoth’s head back as it was also pushed lightly away.
This time he looked back to where xornoth still was kneeling on the ground behind him. A flabbergasted look on that usually monotone face was a little surprising. Mouth still closed as if they were hesitating to say something.
“I wish you still were that prince, that weak one that you hate so much” it was a low blow as it was probably the only thing that Joey knew xornoth actively hated. Xornoth was no longer looking at Joey, they barely got up before whisking away into the shadows.
Looking forward as that same ping of guilt like earlier, was still there. The sunset had ended leaving the faintest grow of ruby red before fading into the night sky.