Chapter Text
It was midsummer, the flowers were in full bloom, the sun shined down on them, giving them life and warmth they needed to survive. The trees shaded the ground, darkening certain parts of the yard.
It was around 8:30 in the morning, the sun hitting Two Time's skin, making them glow almost. Their eyes slowly open, blinking a few times before sitting up, their typical smile plastering on their face as it usually did when their first woke up. They swing their legs over the side of the bed, taking a deep breath before standing up. Two Time slips out of their pyjamas and into their daily clothes, making sure to wrap the scarf Azure gave them around their neck, it might be 70 degrees outside, but that certainly wouldn't stop them.
They slip their shoes on, opening the door and quickly leaving their cabin. Two Time continues on to walk down the pathway, noticing Azure's blinds were open, signalling they had already left for the greenhouse.
Azure carefully inspects his petunias making sure they don't damage the flowers, they hum a song to themselves interrupting the deafening silence around him. They take a deep breath feeling the peacefulness surrounding them.
Two Time eventually reaches the greenhouse, swinging the doors open, Azure hears the greenhouse door open, a smile creeps up onto their face knowing it was their partner Two Time entering. before smiling at him, they gave Azure a surprise hug from behind. They feel Two Times arms wrap around him, usually they were one who disliked physical touch but he didn't care if it was two time. They loved getting affection by them.
"Azure! Good morning! How was your slumber, love?" they speak, words muffled against Azure's shirt. They inhaled his scent, a mix of some sort of cologne and flowers. A scent they could never get enough of. Their hands cling onto his clothes, in absolute bliss from being so close to someone they loved. They loved them. Spawn, they loved him, so very much, that was undeniable. Everyone knew. It was hard to not with how affectionate they were with each other.
They left out a quiet chuckle and turned around so he could face his friend. They hugged back tighter.
"Oh Spawn, I've missed you! I dreamed about you as well!"
"It was quite pleasant! I was not awakened once during the night from those other vexatious spawnists making much ruckus during the hours of night."
Azure tilted his head at what Two Time said about having a dream about him, they pulled away and looked their friend in the eyes and smirked wondering what his fellow partner was dreaming about that included him. They thought about the many possibilities it could've been.
"I miss you too my dear! Explain to me what happened in the dream my nightshade!"
Two Time’s arms tightened just a little when Azure hugged back, a quiet breath leaving them as if they had been holding it the entire night. They rested their chin briefly against Azure’s shoulder before pulling back enough to look at them, eyes soft and fond.
Azure leaned against one of the garden beds with his long coat sagging back with the movement he made. They were quite enraptured to listen to Two Time rant about their dream. Looking at his fellow soulmate intently hearkens to the sound of their voice.
“It was strange,” they admitted, voice low and warm. “Not frightening. Not entirely pleasant either. Just vivid.”
Their fingers lingered at the edge of Azure’s sleeve, absentmindedly brushing the fabric as they spoke, gaze never quite leaving Azure’s face.
“We were somewhere quiet. No fog. No noise. Just rows and rows of flowers like this, only endless. You were there already, like you belonged to the place. You always do.”
A faint smile curved their lips.
“You told me everything was finally still. That nothing could reach us there.”
They tilted their head, expression turning thoughtful, almost reverent.
“I woke up before I could decide if it was a promise or a warning.”
Two Time’s thumb brushed against Azure’s wrist, grounding, familiar.
“But it stayed with me,” they added softly. “Dreams usually do not.”
Azure let out a soft chuckle and tilted their head. He intertwined his hand with Two Time’s feeling their cold slender fingers meeting their warm skin.
Azure pulled Two Time into another tight hug by the waist and felt their cold figure get embraced by his warmth.
“That is quite odd my nightshade.. do you think it means anything”
Azure says while nudging his face on the crook of Two Time’s neck, his breathing slowed and the quiet surrounded them in a peaceful bliss.
“Dreams usually do,” they murmured softly. “Especially when they feel that real. I do not think it was meaningless. It felt… deliberate. Like something trying to remind me of you. Of us.”
Two Time’s fingers tightened slightly where they were laced with Azure’s, their shoulders easing as they were pulled back into the warmth of the hug. They closed their eyes for a brief moment, leaning into the crook of Azure’s neck in return, breathing them in like it was something grounding.
Their voice lowered, almost fond, as if the thought alone was enough to steady them.
“I do not mind odd dreams if you are in them,” they added quietly, thumb brushing against Azure’s hand.
The silence quickly ended when Amarah suddenly entered the greenhouse with a serious look on his face.
Azure was slightly irritated by the interruption, he was having an intimate moment with their partner but whatever.. do what you want
When Amarah entered, Two Time did not pull away immediately. Instead, they lingered for a heartbeat longer than necessary, eyes opening slowly. The peaceful expression on their face cooled into something more neutral, more guarded.
They turned their head just enough to acknowledge the interruption, but their arm remained securely around Azure’s waist.
“Is this urgent,” Two Time asked calmly, “or can it wait?”
There was no hostility in their tone, just an unmistakable edge. A clear message that this moment mattered.
Amarah’s gaze lingered on the way Two Time held Azure, just a second too long. Then, with a calm decisiveness, he stepped forward and placed a firm, controlled hand on Two Time’s wrist. “Come with me,” he said quietly, not asking. He guided them out of the greenhouse, away from Azure. His grip loosened slightly once they were both out of earshot, but he did not release them entirely, keeping a tether both literal and figurative. His voice dropped, steady and deliberate, carrying the weight of authority and concern, the same tone he used when lessons truly mattered.
“You feel it, don’t you,” Amarah began, eyes steady on Two Time, voice low and controlled. “The way your world narrows when you are close to him. The way everything else dulls. That is dangerous. Not because you care, but because you care too much. The Spawn does not reward attachment. It tests it.”
He tilted his head slightly, assessing their expression, then continued, his tone sharpening just enough to underline the gravity of his words. “You have been given something precious. Something pure. And things like that are never meant to last unless they are proven. The lessons of devotion are not learned without challenge.”
Amarah’s eyes flicked briefly toward Azure through the glass doors of the greenhouse, then returned to Two Time, holding them with a look that was both unwavering and instructive. “Sacrifice is not cruelty. It is devotion made visible. If you were asked, if the moment came when you had to choose between him and your purpose, you would need to be ready to choose correctly. Love alone does not protect him. Only your choices do.”
He leaned in slightly, thumb pressing against Two Time’s wrist, grounding them. “Think about it,” he continued evenly, letting each word settle. “I am not commanding you. I am preparing you. You will face trials that will test your limits, your desires, and the depth of what you feel for him. Love is only meaningful when you are willing to lose it. Do not mistake comfort or affection for immunity. Everything precious demands a price.”
Amarah finally released Two Time, stepping back just enough to give space, though his presence still carried weight. “Remember this,” he said softly, almost regretfully, “The Spawn does not forgive the unready. And those who cling too tightly may find themselves paying more than they ever expected.”
And with that, he walked away, leaving Two Time alone with nothing but the overwhelming dread that they would indeed have to sacrifice the one and only person they had ever loved.
Azure felt quite disquiet when the cult leader dragged Two Time away from him. He uneasily watched as they left the green house leaving the florist by themselves. Azure fidgeted with his fingers and took a long breath out.
He kept peering upwards through the green house windows to see Two Time and Amarah conversating, Amarah's facial expression were quite blank. He saw the hand gestures the cult leader was making and they started to get more rough and demanding. It made Azure extremely anxious.
The florist watched as Two Time nodded their head and the cult leader slowly strode back to the entrance of the church, watching over everyone in the courtyard with piercing eyes. He knew something was up but he never wanted to question the spawn, doing that would get him executed for sure.
Azure thought about what Two Time said about the dream he had before. 'Nothing could reach them for there..' They had no idea what it meant but the thought started to creep up into his mind. 'What if this cult is just a hoax?' his head spun to think about it.
Azure's thoughts were interrupted when Two Time stepped back into the greenhouse, their shoulders slightly straighter, but their usual calm composure held. Their eyes immediately found Azure, softening the sharp edge that had lingered in them moments ago. They allowed themselves a small, almost imperceptible exhale, as if releasing the tension that had clung to their form outside.
"Ah! my nightshade! How was your conversation with Amarah."
“It… was necessary,” they said quietly, voice low and even, though it carried a subtle warmth just for Azure. “Amarah has his concerns. Concerns I… cannot ignore. It was not pleasant, but it had to be done.”
They stepped closer, closing the space between them without hesitation, letting their hand brush lightly against Azure’s as if to reassure him. Their gaze flicked up, locking onto his with a soft intensity, a mixture of devotion and something almost protective.
“But enough of that now,” Two Time continued, voice smoothing further, almost playful, though the seriousness of their earlier conversation still lingered beneath the surface. “You were worried, weren’t you? I could feel it. I… do not like seeing you anxious.”
Their fingers laced gently with his, warm despite their own cold touch, and they leaned slightly closer, resting just a fraction of their weight against him. The small closeness was deliberate, grounding, a silent promise that they had returned, and they were here for him alone.
“Do not trouble yourself with what is beyond us,” they murmured softly, voice almost a purr. “I am here now. That is what matters, my nightshade.”
Azure’s lips curved into a soft, almost shy smile as They slowly and deliberately leaned into Two Times’ touch, closing the small distance between them before pressing a brief, tender peck to Their lips. They pulled back and locking back into his lovers gaze. They lifted their hand and let it rest against Two Time’s cheek, their touch slow and delicate as their thumb traced small, soothing strokes along the skin, the gesture quiet, affectionate, and full of unspoken warmth.
‘Oh, Timey…’ Azure whispered softly, the words barely more than a breath, before he leaned in and let his face rest against the cultist’s collarbone. He settled there comfortably, the contact unhurried and intimate, as if seeking reassurance in the familiar warmth and closeness.
Two Time’s eyes softened the instant Azure leaned into them, their usual composure melting into something tender and almost fragile. They tilted their head slightly, letting him press against their collarbone, feeling the warmth radiate into their own chest. Every subtle movement, every brush of skin, grounded them in a way nothing else could.
They lifted a hand, letting it rest gently against Azure’s back, fingertips brushing in quiet reassurance. Their breath slowed, syncing with his, and a faint, almost inaudible smile tugged at their lips.*
“You have no idea how much I… needed this,” they murmured softly, voice low, reverent, almost reverential. Their other hand moved to cup the side of his face, thumb brushing along his jaw in the gentlest way, as if to memorize the moment.
“Do not worry, my dear,” Two Time continued, their voice a soothing whisper against the quiet of the greenhouse. “Nothing will touch you while I am here. I… will not let anything take you from me.”
They held him close, lingering in the embrace, every part of their being focused on the warmth and safety of Azure, allowing themselves to be present in a rare, unguarded moment of devotion.
(woah!!!!! Timeskip!!!!!!!!!)
Azure kneels slowly in the quiet flower garden he built just beyond the edge of the cultist village he calls home. The soil is dark and cool beneath his fingers as he carefully parts the earth, making room for each fragile nightshade sprout. As he works, they hum a soft, wordless tune—low and steady, like a memory carried on the wind—letting the rhythm guide their movements. The garden is peaceful, the night made the environment peaceful the moonlight shone down the trees and made dancing shadows against the wind, the air is filled with the faint scent of herbs and damp earth.*
His long black hair spills freely from their shoulders, catching the light as it sways with every motion, strands brushing against his sleeves and the petals nearby. Azure pauses now and then to press the soil gently around a plant, ensuring its roots are secure before moving on to the next. The nightshade leaves glisten faintly, promising growth and resilience, and for a moment, the world feels still—just the quiet hum, the soft rustle of plants, and the calm focus of creation in a place once defined by something far darker.
Azure draws in a short, measured breath, the quiet hum catching in his throat. The moment of calm fractures as a faint rustling sound reaches him from behind—soft at first, like leaves brushing together, then just distinct enough to raise the hairs along his neck. The garden seems to hold its breath with him. He stills his hands in the soil, fingers half-curled, listening as the sound repeats, closer now, carrying the subtle scrape of fabric or a foot shifting against the ground. Whatever made the noise lingers just out of sight, unseen but unmistakably present.
They perk up and quickly snap their head behind him to see what's creeping behind.
Two Time does not answer him.
The moment Azure turns fully, recognition barely has time to settle before Two Time closes the distance in a single, abrupt movement. There is no warning, no hesitation, no softness left to hide behind. Their hands grab him hard, shoving him down into the damp soil with enough force to knock the breath from his lungs.
“Stay down,” they snap, voice sharp and fractured, nothing like the warmth they wore so easily before.
Their knee comes down beside him, pinning him in place as their grip tightens at his shoulder and collar. Nightshade leaves crumple beneath Azure’s weight, soil smearing against his clothes and skin. Two Time looms over him, eyes wild and unfocused, devotion twisted into something feral.
“You were not supposed to turn around,” they mutter, more to themself than to him. “You were supposed to trust me.”
Their breathing is uneven now, chest rising too fast, hands shaking even as they hold him there. For a split second, their gaze flickers across his face, lingering, aching. Then it hardens again.
“I loved you too much,” Two Time says quietly, almost resentful. “That is what ruined this.”
They press him down harder, fingers digging in as if afraid letting go would undo everything.
“Do not fight,” they whisper, voice low and unstable. “You will only make it worse.”
Azure's eyes widen in confusion as his head hits the ground hard. Azure looked at Two Time utterly bewildered, he felt their nails beginning to dig into his skin and they let out a pained sound as tears pricked at his eyes.
Azure forces himself to focus on Two Time’s words, they were quite afraid of the person Infront of them. He was confused. Two Time was completely fine a few hours ago?
Azure trusted Two time and and tried to melt into the aggressive touch they were being given. He rested his hand on Two Time's cheek trying to show him it'll be ok. They felt tears dripping onto his brown shirt the cult gave him it was getting soaked and the tears started dripping on their soil stained coat. Azure rested his eyes for a second to try and listen to Two Times breathing to see what state they were in.
They felt a sudden stab into their chest. They screamed out in pure agony. His eyes shot open and Azure tried to move, but his body was paralyzed. He watched as Two Time pull the dagger out and stab him again. The pain shot through his whole body and he finally lost consciousness
Two Time barely recognized themself anymore.
The garden did not feel real. The moonlight was too bright, the soil too dark, the night too quiet. All of it felt staged, like a shrine prepared just for this moment. When they pushed Azure down, it was not anger that moved them. It was certainty. A terrible, radiant certainty that hummed through their bones and drowned out every other thought.
This was what the Spawn wanted.
This was what had been promised.
Azure’s confusion barely registered. His pain barely registered. Two Time’s hands were steady as they held him there, their grip unyielding, eyes unfocused and shining with something feverish. Their breath came fast, shallow, lips parted as if they were listening to something only they could hear.
A whisper. A pull. A command.
Their hand closed around the dagger like it had always belonged there.
“This is for you,” Two Time murmured, not to Azure, not really. Their voice trembled with devotion, with awe. “You said I could have it. You said I could come back.”
When the blade went in, they felt it everywhere. Not guilt. Not horror. Relief. Ecstasy. Like a lock clicking open inside their chest. Azure’s scream cut through the night, sharp and desperate, but it only made Two Time press harder, faster, desperate to finish before the feeling faded.
They stabbed again because they had to be sure.
Because the Spawn demanded certainty.
As Azure’s body went slack beneath them, as the last of his resistance drained away into the soil he had so carefully tended, Two Time sagged forward, breath hitching. Blood soaked into the earth, into their hands, warm and real and undeniable.
For a moment, the world held its breath.
Then they laughed.
It was quiet at first. Broken. Almost reverent. They pressed their forehead to Azure’s chest, as if waiting to feel something return, something awaken. Their fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, shaking now, not with fear but with anticipation.
“I did it,” they whispered, eyes wide, unfocused. “You promised. You promised me a second life.”
They lifted their head slowly, staring down at him with something almost tender, almost grateful.
“This was worth it,” Two Time said softly, smiling through the madness. “You will see. When I come back, you will see.”
Two Time waits.
They wait for the rush, for the rewind, for the tearing pull of reality snapping backward and stitching them whole again. They wait for the spawn to take them by the throat and drag them into the promised second breath.
Nothing happens.
The night remains still, far too still. Azure does not move. The soil does not glow. The air does not bend. Two Time’s smile freezes on their face, then fractures.
“No,” they whisper, their breath hitching. “No, no, no. You said you would. I did everything.”
Their hands begin to shake. They stare down at the blood smeared across their palms, at Azure’s unmoving body, and suddenly everything feels wrong. Too heavy. Too quiet. The certainty drains out of them all at once, replaced by raw, suffocating panic.
“I did it for you,” Two Time says, louder now, their voice breaking as they look around wildly, as if the spawn might be lurking just beyond the edge of sight. “You promised me. You promised.”
Nothing answers.
Their chest tightens. Their breathing turns sharp and uneven. They stumble back a step, then another, dragging a hand through their hair, eyes wide and unfocused.
“Come on,” they plead, a brittle laugh teetering on the edge of hysteria. “This is the part where I come back. This is the part where it works.”
It does not work.
The realization hits all at once. Not only that the second life is not coming, but that they are still here. Trapped in this body. Trapped in this moment. Trapped with what they have done.
Two Time’s gaze drops to the dagger.
Their thoughts spiral, fast and fractured. Maybe it needs more. Maybe it needs equal devotion. Maybe they misunderstood. Maybe the spawn demands proof, undeniable proof, that they would give everything.
Their grip tightens.
“If I follow him,” they whisper, tears finally spilling down their face. “If I give you everything, you will have to take me then.”
Their hands still. Not because they are calm, but because the decision locks into place with the same terrible certainty as before. Two Time presses the blade to themself, their breath shuddering.
“I believe in you,” they murmur, their voice cracked and desperate. “Please.”
They drive the blade in and collapse beside Azure in the blood-soaked garden, eyes wide and searching even as the world begins to blur.
The moonlight watches.
The Spawn does not answer.
"I'll see you soon, my nightshade."