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His trial was scheduled for midday the following day at The Conquesodors, and Saps visited him this afternoon.
In his isolated and empty cell in Luminara prison, Thomas had never had any visitors since he had left the bunker where he had been hiding and turned himself in so as not to prolong the inevitable. It wasn't as if there was anyone who would visit him; his friends were dead, and in the eyes of the world, he was nothing more than a vile traitor. So he spent most of the day just lying down.
But on that orange-hued afternoon, he heard footsteps slowly approaching and stopping in front of his door, along with audible murmurs that Thomas had no trouble recognizing as belonging to certain individuals.
“Saps... Are you sure?” Legacy inquired. Thomas couldn't see him, but he knew there was a deep sense of unease on the face of Luminara's new president just from the tone of his voice.
“Yes, yes…it will be quick” Saps's reply was short and to the point, and just a couple of seconds after he spoke, the door opened with a metallic creak that echoed off the stone walls of the cell. Saparata was there, standing in front of him after a couple of weeks that could easily be considered an eternity. It was not a proper meeting, but it was more dignified than previous occasions (clear images of a secret meeting by the seashore and the fateful duel in the coliseum that ended the war flashed through his mind). Different clothes, different demeanor, short hair framing his face twisted in a grimace of pure hatred directed at Thomas (was it strange that his heart was beating like this?).
Legacy was behind Saps, his gaze vaguely scanning the cell before turning to Saps's back. “I'll be outside, call me and I'll be there in a second” he said, the jingle of keys being put in his pocket. Legacy left, but not before giving Saps a worried look and Thomas a frown that could be translated as “don't you dare do anything you'll regret” It wasn't something he had planned to do anyway, but Thomas just responded with a small smile.
The door closed, leaving them alone in the silence of the four walls and the distant rays of light that deigned to enter through the bars of the window.
It had been so long since the two of them had been alone. They used to spend time together, usually accompanied by the others, joking, laughing, enjoying quality time. And when it was just the two of them, on mornings with warm breezes and cool sea water up to their knees, on afternoons with clear skies before a discouraged farewell, they allowed themselves the calm of each other's presence, a calm that was only present between the two of them and that they shared with no one else.
Hatred, now there was hatred.
Thomas had come to terms with his own hatred, but Saps' hatred still boiled inside him.
“You look awful. Saps moved a little closer, his hand never leaving the hilt of the diamond sword inside the leather sheath hanging from his hip. The questions that formed in his head vanished when he recognized those words, the same ones he had said to him long ago.
“Hello, Saps. How thoughtful of you to visit an old friend.”
“Friend?” Saparata muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening and his grip on the sword hilt shaking, but the sharp blade remained in its sheath and never pierced Thomas' skin. Saps' breathing was deep, in an effort to be calm, but his eyes exuded the deepest hatred.
In the distance, from the golden coast of Luminara, there was a melody that flowed between the bars and filled the tight room. It was melancholic, long, and distant, possibly coming from a band entertaining a party on the beach. Both were oblivious to the joy being shared outside, but they couldn't ignore the music, at least Thomas couldn't. It was mesmerizing in an indescribable way.
He looked into Saps' eyes. The blackness continued to burn within those pupils fixed on his. Thomas had an idea.
“Let's dance,” he said, approaching the other figure. Such a phrase took Saps by surprise, whose eyelids recoiled in a sudden movement and whose lips separated from the thin, tight line they had formed.
“Are you crazy?” he said.
“It's a good song, I like it. Come on, haven't you ever danced before?” It was a peculiar question; they had never danced before. The closest they had come was a spin, their hands clasped together raised to the sky, and Saparata spun, lifting the folds of his new tunic to show the others. A round of applause and laughter echoed off the sandstone pillars of the half-finished meeting room. It wasn't dancing, but it was one of those common dance steps. But now that he thought about it, the melody that entered the cell was calm, worthy of a slow dance.
“It's such a stupid idea”
“Grant me this, will you? Grant this humble wish to this dying man” They both knew the outcome of tomorrow's trial, they both knew the fate that awaited Thomas.
Saparata snorted bitterly, but did not object to the approach. “What do you want me to do?”
Thomas ran his hands over Saps' waist, his fingers clinging to the loose fabric of his white shirt. Saps froze at the intrusive touch for a moment before realizing what he had to do next. He slid his hands over Thomas's shoulders in a tight grip, and then his feet began to slide over the stone bricks on the floor at a slow pace, trying to follow the rhythm of the music.
Both were silent, lost in their own thoughts about it. It wasn't perfect, it was somewhat awkward, they weren't in sync, and the stiff movements with which they moved around the small square space of the cell could hardly be called “dancing.” But Thomas found calm in that moment, a last moment of tranquility before the hectic day that would be tomorrow, before his predicted death. It had been a stupid proposal, a mere joke, but Thomas found himself enjoying the moment. His grip tightened, bringing their bodies closer together. Saps had never been one to avoid eye contact, but this time his eyes were fixed on some desolate space, fleeing from Thomas's gaze, which had not left his face since he had entered the cell.
The melody continued outside, but it was a couple of knocks on the door that made them separate from each other as if the touch burned. “It's been a while, so I came to check” Legacy peeked through the opening “You should go, it’s getting dark and tomorrow will be a long day”
“A-ah right, I was just about to leave” Saps turned, walking toward the exit while shaking the wrinkles out of his shirt that Thomas had grabbed. His eyes landed on Thomas for a mere second before Legacy closed the door for the last time.
Saps left, and with him went the last rays of sunset. Leaving Thomas in the dark.