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Fluixon had failed. He has lied through his teeth countlessly, schemed against people and murdered multiple leaders but when it comes to Saparata, all his plans seems to derail.
Saparata has escaped to island 1 after managing to escape yet another tragedy.
————————————————————————
“Fluixon.” Snowbird said, pressing his fingers into his temple as he sighed, expression unreadable, “Saparata has been spotted at the outskirts of island 1, towards the north of the land.”
Saps.
Fluixon snapped himself out of his dazed state at the sound of the familiar name. Thanks to how unforgivingly arduous life has been since the assassinations, adequate sleep has been a luxury for him.
Fluixon straightens his slumped shoulders and looks towards Snowbird, catching him slamming a piece of paper down onto the bunker’s table.
“Where did you get that information from?” Fluixon asked, raising a suspicious eyebrow, “No one has seen Saparata ever since he’s ran anyway from Island 2,”
A sense of hope filled Fluixon as quickly as it died down.
He couldn’t afford to keep Saparata alive, the conspiracy had dug themselves too deep into their plan to get caught now.
They had to go all in.
“A citizen of infernus had reported his sighting.” Hvyrotation said, adding on to the current list of growing information on Saparata’s whereabouts, “I’d wouldn’t ignore it if I were you.”
Curiosity in Fluixon burned intensely, he needed to know his location and he needed to know it fast. Time was ticking and racing against the clock was no easy feat— the longer Saparata lived, the longer they had to keep up their convoluted facade.
Despite all that, a small part of Fluixon wished for Saparata to be alright.
“I’ll go out and search for him then, I’ll need you guys to stay behind and make the other nation’s investigation of Saps as difficult as possible. We need this situation to be under wraps” Fluixon scowled, snatching his coat off his chair and slipping it onto himself before leaving.
He ignored the confused looks everyone in the bunker gave him.
————————————————————————
The tundra was cold, far too unforgiving towards all life that stepped foot into its territory.
Flux trudged through the blinding white snow, distressingly digging and searching around for any sign of Saparata. It didn’t help how his vision was constantly obstructed by the falling snowflakes or how the occasional rock always caused him to trip and fall.
Fluixon couldn’t think of a single reason anyone would drag themselves through terrain like this.
Minutes seemed to blend into hours as Fluixon continued to travel further into the land, clothes soaked from the cold all while the harsh winds bit into his skin, his scarf being the only thing between him and hypothermia.
Just a little further.
In the middle of the tundra stood a lone tower, standing steady against the relentless gales. Torches were scattered everywhere across the structure, the base, the walls — you name it. Every piece of its architecture screamed Saparata in its essence.
The harsh climate seemed to calm around it.
Fluixon knew he’d found Saparata.
.
All fatigue up at that moment had disappeared as he picked up his pace and trudged towards the tower.
————————————————————————
A spiral of staircases greeted him when he stepped foot into the tower. The air was cool and stale, carrying the faint scent of Saparata’s prior presence.
Some things never do change, do they?
A subtle grin formed at the thought.
Fluixon’s footsteps imprinted themselves on the footsteps as he climbed up. Light filtered from above, casting warped shadows of Fluixon among the tower’s walls.
Step by cursed step, he made it to the top. Up ahead he saw a familiar figure, his clothes tattered and torn, his hair flowing unbridled with the wind.
“Saps!”
The figure turned around.
Fluixon’s heart sank.
The once bright eyes had turned dull and tired, shaped by the months of running and hiding. His skin filled with countless scars from surviving the attempts on his life.
Between the months of running and the long periods of malnutrition, Saparata only looked like a shell of what he used to be.
However — despite everything he’s been through, Saparata looked… peaceful?
Saparata finally spoke up.
“Wow, you actually showed up”
“What are you doing here, Saps.” Fluixon bit back, taking a step forward.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’ll let you take a guess.” Saparata snapped, taking a step back towards the edge.
Fluixon held his breath.
“Why?”
A forced laughter rang through the air while Saparata’s expression said otherwise, “I trusted you, Fluixon. I even convinced myself you wouldn’t have done such things because my Fluixon wasn’t the type of person to enjoy cruelty.”
A beat passed.
“Congrats, Fluixon. You’ve managed to unite both islands against a common enemy.” Saparata mocked as he applauded.
Fluixon clenched his fists, he hated how he always managed to be at the centre of Saparata’s problems.
“I had to betray you, we couldn’t afford a war between islands.”
A scowl formed on Saparata’s face, a barbaric look reflected in his eyes.
“You’re an asshole, you know that? We could’ve had a nice life together. You threw it all away. All for some suspicion.” he chastised.
Saparata took another step back. He was getting dangerously close to the edge.
Shit.
“Saps don’t—”
“Saparata.”
“Don’t do this, Saparata. I can fix this, just please… trust me.” Fluixon raised his hand for Saparata to take, mirroring more of an invitation than a capture. “I’m sorry.”
Maybe Fluixon still cared after all these months. He couldn’t erase Saparata from his life even if he tried, he always came back to him. Perhaps he still loved him.
A sharp pain travelled through Fluixon’s hand as Saparata had slapped it away.
“Fix it?” Saparata let out a scoff, “You were the one who wanted me dead! You held rigged trials, put bounties on my head and now you want to help?!”
Another step. Saparata was now at the tower’s edge.
Fluixon was now growing desperate.
“We can work something out,” Fluixon replied as he shot Saparata a look, trying to hide the fact that his heart felt like a flame that was about to go out.
.
.
.
Thank you for helping me build my vacation home, Flux.” Saparata imparted with a soft grin on his face, “What will I ever do without you?”
Fluixon chuckled, turning his head away as he tried to hide how red his cheeks were becoming.
“You looked so helpless when you asked me, I was just taking pity on you” Fluixon joked,although he knew full well that he’d jump off a cliff if Saparata asked.
Fluixon and Saparata sat in silence for a moment, watching the sun set into the horizon. All that was left between them was a few inches of space and unspoken feelings.
It wouldn’t be like this forever.
“If you had to betray one person to save a thousand, would you?” Fluixon asked, putting a hand onto Saparata’s as he broke the silence.
Fluixon needed reassurance for what he was about to do to Saparata.
Saparata cheeks flushed at the sudden gesture before quickly clearing his throat to answer the question, “Depends on the one.”
Maybe it was because of how close they were, maybe it was because of the tension between them, but Fluixon couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sorrow.
They continued to sit in silence after that, hand in hand, admiring how the sun chased the horizon as it painted the seas with iridescent strokes.
Fluixon felt a sudden thud in his shoulder.
Saparata had fallen asleep with a smug smile sat on his face.
‘You’d understand, right?’
.
.
.
“I’m tired of being angry, Fluixon. I’m tired of living in a world where everyone wants me dead.” Saparata’s voice began to choke, he looked vulnerable. “I’m tired of living in a world where you and I are apart.”
Saparata began to lean. He no longer looked angry, as a matter of fact, he didn’t look like anything. His body started to relax, his shoulders were no longer tense, maybe this was the first time in months he’d been able to let his guard down.
“We could’ve learned to love.” A tear made its way down Saparata’s face, “I’m sorry, Flux.”
No.
Fluixon blinked. He couldn’t think. He could barely breathe.
He lunged towards him, trying to grasp any piece of Saparata he could get his hands on. His sleeve, his hand, his hair— anything would do.
“Saps!”
Fingers slammed against cold snow, then closed around skin.
A painful jolt traveled down Saparata’s shoulder, their hands meeting as Fluixon tightened his grip.
He’s got him.
For a moment, hope flared.
Saparata dangled down, eyes wide, wind ripping at his clothes. The white void below looked endless, threatening to swallowing anything that dares to fall in.
“Don’t let go,” Fluixon gasped, “Please.”
Fluixon boots dug themselves into the floor, grit crumbling beneath them as he used every bit of strength he had to pull Saparata up.
We’re almost there.
.
Fluixon felt himself losing balance.
The snow in the crevasses of his boots began to melt as sunrise inched closer. Fluixon stumbled as he adjusted his footing.
Saparata noticed this, his eyebrows furrowed like inverted crescents, stars for eyes shooting him a knowing look.
“Let go of me, Flux.”
Fluixon shook his head, tightening his grip in response, “I’m not betraying you again.”
The snow shifted under Fluixon’s weight, almost as if it was groaning, the soft blanket become indented whilst he continued to pull. The wind smacked him in the face violently, as if resisting, pushing him further into the mouth of the snow, wanting to devour him. Yet, Fluixon remained equally as resilient, as he pushed forward, arms shaking and muscles taut as he pulled yet again.
.
The snow in his boots had fully melted and Fluixon lost his footing, stumbling forward as he desperately held on to Saparata.
“I’ve got you.” Fluixon spluttered, words sounding more like a plea than a statement.
It’s a lie, they both know it.
Fluixon’s boots scraped against the floor one last time before falling over.
.
There was nothing for them to brace against, no trees, no water. Just air and wind and the distant snow floor beneath them that looked far too unwelcoming from such a distance.
Saparata suddenly grabs Fluixon by the waist, unwilling to let go. He hugs him tightly as he pulls him closer, forcing his body to remember how Fluixon feels in his arms one last time.
An unsaid feeling between them lies.
Saparata looks at Fluixon, eyes filled with bittersweet tears. It’s different this time, Saparata’s expression was soft, reminiscent to the times before the wars, before the betrayals— when it was just him and Fluixon against the world.
Oh, how Fluixon wished to turn back time.
“Maybe in another life.” Saparata uttered.
.
The two hit the ground with immense impact. Blood pooled around the intertwined bodies, painting a crimson portrait.
However, Fluixon couldn’t be happier.
He was happy to die in the arms of Saparata.