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Summer nights were the greatest. Lying down on the hill, hand in hand with the person he loved most, on the grass as the sun set. Graduation gown still on and caps discarded somewhere by the old radio tower a few feet away, 007n7 looked up at the clouds that went by above him. He closed his eyes before squeezing Noli’s hand, letting out a breath. He usually found comfort in the heated palms of his partner- it grounded him, in a way.
It was a habit he had acquired a long while ago- holding onto Noli’s hand. Even when the two weren’t together, he’d still done it. Since Noli never reprimanded him or told him not to, so 007n7 never quit holding onto his hand, and him as a whole. He had never really been a person to enjoy physical touch, but Noli was an exception- he always was.
Noli sat up, arms over his head as he stretched, looking at the entire city that was visible from where they were. The jagged edges of the buildings against the pink-yellow sky, and the slow progression of every light seemingly being turned on was a stark contrast to the run-down radio station behind the two. Said radio station had been a meeting point for the two for years now- the rickety tower and disheveled broadcasting building being a place of comfort for the two. 007n7 could recall a manifold of memories where they just lounged around there, doing god-knows-what instead of going to classes or being productive.
The view of the college’s immense main building was nebulous to where they were, as it was just beyond the central area of the metropolis. 007n7 felt the sudden loss of heat and pressure on his palm before opening his eyes, seeing Noli sitting up. He promptly followed before looking at his partner. He looked at him long and hard before he realized something. He realized then that he had never really sat down and taken the time to admire him.
Noli had long, cascading dreads that usually ran down his back, but were currently held up in a ponytail. His face was defined- jaw sharp and angled, and in 007n7’s own opinion, his cleft lip looked adorable on him. He had sparkling eyes- easy to get lost in. Dark skin that was rough to the touch, but oh so soothing to 007n7’s own hand and mind. It was a moment before the man in question noticed 007n7’s staring. Noli gave a small laugh and tilted his head, smiling. He tucked a lock behind his ear before speaking.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” He chuckled before looking back at the view.
007n7 followed where he was looking, tracing his eyes along where he assumed Noli was staring as well. He looked at the twinkling lights that had begun to shine as the sun set further- he knew Noli loved them. He knew the man liked shining stars and he liked making his vision blurry at stoplights so that the red light looked like a sparkling little ruby. He loved all the little lights he could find in his life. He kept looking for a moment before noticing an arm around his waist, and a scarred hand pointing to the city.
“Sooner or later, me and you are going to ditch this place, ‘kay Sev?” Noli said, moving his hand to point over one of the mountains that surrounded the area, “We’re bigger than this- we’re bigger than all of it. You and me-“
He grabbed 007n7’s hands, turning to him. His hands were cold.
“- we could run the world if we wanted to.”
007n7 nodded before a pang of… something hit in his chest. He couldn’t place it, but something about everything almost felt like it was too good to be true. Usually, in these type of situations, he’d have a rug pulled from under him- he’d have someone that came along just to ruin everything. Nothing good could happen to him without life and the universe making a sort of clandestine agreement- one that dictated that he, 007n7 may not be truly happy. Usually though, it usually felt like Noli relieved that looming dread. It was normally one of the ways he scampered away from the invisible claws that seemed to always be dragging him towards the abyss. However, he didn’t feel that usual security, and Noli seemed to notice.
“Sev?” He asked, tilting his head.
007n7 looked down at their conjoined hands. Noli’s hands were never cold.
“…nothing’s wrong, if you were wondering.” 007n7 said, tensing without even noticing, “I just feel… off.”
Before Noli could say anything, 007n7 looked down, sighing as he did.
“It’s not your fault- and it’s not something you need to worry about,” He looked up at Noli, “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Noli looked down at him before giving him a small, reassuring smile and a squeeze.
“It isn’t my fault.” He said, “It’s yours.”
007n7 tensed fully at that, heart dropping. His face subconsciously quirked up into a smile, an automatic reaction whenever he didn’t understand something immediately.
“…what?” He asked, head turning upwards again, now looking at Noli, who still wore that warm smile.
“I said it’s your fault.”
007n7 froze completely, the hand on his waist now suddenly feeling like it had a death grip on him. He looked around, trying to get up as Noli’s warm smile persisted.
“Noli- Noli let me go-“
“It’s your fault, Seven,” Noli said, interrupting whatever 007n7 was going to stammer out, his outstretched hand now going to grab 007n7’s chin, turning his head to look directly at him.
Suddenly, he wasn’t the gorgeous man 007n7 knew- but a man enveloped in amethyst flames- eyes wide and terrified. There was a sudden pulsing sound as 007n7 shut his eyes tight, almost as if he were wishing and praying that maybe if he closed his eyes, it would all go away.
In an instant, the icy hands of a winter wind seemed to have him in their grasp. He opened his eyes and he was no longer sitting near the radio tower. Dark, spinning clouds loomed overhead, and a large, dark temple loomed before him. It had sharp middle- spiral towers everywhere as black and purple stained glass windows adorned almost every wall. Black bricks stacked high, almost looking like they pierced the very stormy sky they sat under. Rain crashed down in an echoing crescendo- the sky seemingly opening up to drop the weight of the world on top of him. Mist loomed all around him, and everything more than ten feet in front of him was a blur. He spun around, hands grabbing at himself as a sort of grounding technique before seeing Noli walking up the massive temple’s marble steps, his back to 007n7.
“Noli!” 007n7 screamed, but his voice was kept from the other by the rain and tumultuous thunder. He took a step forward, shoe making an imprint on the small puddle of mud below him. The grass here was black, and every time he took a step it dipped and bowed with a hint of resistance, almost. It felt like fake grass- but too real and widespread around the temple to be deemed synthetic. It was as if something tried to make grass, but missed the mark by only a small bit.
Noli proceeded forwards, steps laced with determination as he continued upwards. 007n7’s body filled with dread as he realized where they were. The panic and confusion from the sudden change had worn off- and his mind cleared. The daunting building in front of him suddenly had a name; The Void Temple- the house that gave the Void Crown- and subsequent Void Star- their homes. Suddenly every hour of research and every encouraging word to Noli came rushing to his mind. A hand flew up to his chest, again desperately grasping at himself as wind blustered against him and rain seemed to endlessly sting him.
He began to sprint, going against the wind as he tried catching up to Noli. It felt as if the elements themselves were pushing him back- a hurricane forming only to keep him away from his beloved. He persevered, still, forearm in front of his face as he managed to step onto the frigid marble staircase.
The wind had suddenly stopped as he looked up, now deep inside the temple already. It took him another moment to register that yet again, his surroundings had changed, and that the only wind that he could feel was a chill crawling its way down his spine. He looked behind him, seeing the only way out being the daunting, sharp, and thin spiral staircase at the forefront of the room. Looking back to where he originally faced, he saw Noli proudly pointing at a pedestal in the center of the room, surrounded by a spiral of water and flowers. A line of florals with a stretching line of water to accommodate the plants. However, the water was dark, and the nightshades closer to the pedestal had wilted, with their petals floating in the water. Through all of this was a path cutting through everything that led directly to the pedestal which upon it sat a crown. The crown was jagged, with nothing but sharp angles and distorted reflections adorning its surface. The Void Crown was gorgeous in its own malevolent way- enrapturing in the same way that a black hole was to an astronomer. Noli was already on the laid path, but paused to look back at 007n7. He gave him a smile. 007n7’s heart raced- he wanted to scream at him- to tell him to get away from it and come back into his arms, but for some reason all he could do was stand there helplessly and mutter a pathetic ‘please’ under his breath. Noli continued forward before his hands finally found the crown and held it up for 007n7 to see. 007n7’s eyes widened, tears already welling up.
“Sev! Look! I’ve got it,” Noli said, like a child showing their parents a drawing they had made, “We have it!”
The crown looked heavy in his hands, and 007n7 finally choked out something as he took a shaky step forward.
“Noli… put it down,” He took another step forward, voice breathless and body rattling with fear, “...put it down. Please.”
He knew what came next.
He knew what would happen now- he didn’t at the time.
How could he have?
“You said it’s harmless as long as I'm not an admin, right?” He said, lifting it up.
“No!” 007n7 finally shrieked, words tumbling out like an overdue avalanche as he took another step, “No, Noli I- I misunderstood! That’s not how it works- please- please, Noli I can’t lose you!”
Tears fell down his face as Noli’s face never lost that smile, almost as if he didn’t register the sheer desperation in 007n7’s voice. He slowly brought the crown higher. 007n7 finally broke out into a run, feet slamming against the stone floor of the large, imposing room.
He went as fast as he could, going and going as the room around him seemed to stretch and push Noli farther and farther away. 007n7 kept going, a hand reaching out for Noli before he tripped over his own feet, landing right before Noli. As he looked up, Noli was looking straight down at him, expression unreadable and almost cold.
007n7 couldn’t find words, he couldn’t find anything as he looked up into Noli’s eyes. He couldn’t get up- every nerve in his being screamed with pain and guilt- it felt like the cosmos themselves were weighing down on him as he silently pleaded. He hoped that something- anything could get across.
Noli simply gazed down at him before looking up. He stared forward as placed the crown upon his head.
007n7 finally let out a guttural wail, agony lacing every fiber of his being as he watched Noli writhe, a bright light piercing through his chest as his body convulsed. 007n7 unwillingly pushed himself backwards, hands scraping against granite and dirt as he put distance between himself and Noli. All he heard was that miserable, tortured cry that rang in his ears every time he had to think about Noli. He put his face in his hands, clawing at his skin as he did. As his palms began to feel more and more damp, he could hear Noli’s cries for help. All he could repeat were pleas and 007n7’s own name as rot infested every muscle and tendon. The flames ate away at the insides of him as 007n7 choked on his own tears and saliva. He couldn’t bear to see it again- he couldn’t fathom seeing him die again. He could smell the burning of Noli’s body– he could hear the pulsing of the star. His nails dug into his scalp as he imagined himself idly standing there- too stunned to help, and too terrified to run away.
After what felt like forever, 007n7 finally dared to look up. Yet, when he did, he couldn’t smell burning anymore, and he didn’t see Noli. He looked around, vision blurry and body damp with sweat. It took him a moment to notice where exactly he was, the realization finally dawning upon him when his hands met the sheets of the cabin bed below him. Chest heaving, he reached over to his bedside table to shakily grab his glasses and put them on. He put his head in his hands, exhaling. Through the window, the lights from the other cabins could be seen, and he could hear other survivors talking in the distance. He looked up again before begrudgingly swinging his legs off of his bed and again looking at his bedside table, where an old photo sat. A photo of a very handsome looking man, sitting in the grass with a gorgeous sunset behind him.