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Itrapped had told him they were taking a shortcut and Chance didn't question it. He trusted Itrapped with all his heart. Recently, he even gave him a spare key to his parents vault in case he lost his own. He didn't even question how long of a 'shortcut' this was becoming, it wasn't clear if it was love or the drinks he had tonight blinding him, probably both.
They were deep into a forest by now where the trees stood bare and cold, their branches weighted down by snow. It was so cold outside that Chance's breath came in shaky gasps which formed clouds in the freezing air. He grabbed his coat tighter around him but it did little to help, he would hold Itrapped's hand if he wasn't so far away..
..
..coming to think of it, he hasn't spoken a word in a long time. Though, he often zooned out so Chance didn't question his silence too much.
Itrapped's footsteps were slow and steady, never looking back. He was so fed up with Chance and lady luck being on his side every time they played Russian roulette. He would feel his control slipping each time the gun clicked and Chance would laugh manically at the unexpected win. God.. why couldn't he just die already.. now he had to get his hands dirty.
"Are you sure this is a shortcut Trap...- it's freezing out here.."
Itrapped was snapped out of his thoughts once again. He took a deep breath, before responding in a calm manner.
"Positive."
They reached a small clearing in the forest, the pale moonlight spilling on the snow. It was quiet..
"Feels..quiet.. trap are you sur-"
Itrapped's expression changed and for a mere second, Chance saw a stranger. Darkheart manifested in his hand and was swung his way with both hands.
"Just stop talking- I'm sick of it.
Before he could talk back, the sword swung at him in one clear motion. Well- at least it was supposed to be clean. Itrapped aimed for the heart, a quick, painless death. He didn't want to hear him struggle.. (he couldn't.) Chance staggered sideways, the steel wounding him at a bad angle, just below his ribs, piercing instead of killing instantly as a sharp cry tore from his throat.
"Ack-! I.. I- tr.. trap?"
His voice cracked as Itrapped redrew his blade with a disappointed expression.
"Idiot. You should've stayed still... I wanted it quick-"
He spoke with such bitterness, he convinced himself that he felt nothing. That the betrayal in his lover's eyes didn't affect him. He watched blood drip from his mouth before his knees gave out on him. He almost cringed at the sight he thought he'd enjoy. He turned around swiftly, preparing to leave before a hand gripped the base of his coat and tugged weakly.
"T..rap..w-why.. please- don't..don't leave me- I-i'm"
Itrapped paused.
"I..m scared-.. stay- I don't want to die alone.."
Chance begged and Itrapped couldn't stand another word. And so, with a sigh and a heavy heart he *swore he didn't have, he knelt on the blood stained floor next to his 'beloved'.
Chance, seeing he gave in, clutched desperately at the newfound support in Itrapped's clothes.
"Please..talk to me-..t-tell me why-.. tell me something real!"
Itrapped struggled to keep his detachment, he let Chance lean on him, noticing how his blood stained his favorite shirt, not knowing it would sit in his closet and he'd refuse to wash Chance's blood off of it. He convinced himself this was an act of kindness for someone who was in their final moments. He felt nothing as he looked into his eyes, right? He'd die anyway. The least he could offer is an explanation.
"I needed that vault.. you don't need to know any more."
Itrapped's mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. He had spent the last two years weaving a lie, pretending, manipulating, hiding the truth beneath a mask of care. Now, a strange numbness settled over him. Looking down at Chance.. so vulnerable, so broken. Itrapped felt something in his chest, he couldn't name it and honestly he didn't want to, but it weighted heavily.
Chance laughed through the pain, he was so foolish.. so stupid. To think someone would love him selflessly, for him and not for his wealth. To think he deserved someone as perfect as him. He scolded himself mentally as he battled his body to stay awake just a minute longer. It hurt tho. He wasn't the type of person that cried under pressure, especially not in front of someone else. He carried the confident smirk on his face as if it was sewn on him. Itrapped was the only person who had seen him cry, twice even. The first time was when Chance broke down in front of him from the overwhelming pressure his parents put on him to care more for the casino. The second was, well now. The pain came in waves, radiating through his entire body. Whoever told him that dying is quick and painful lied to him. He felt his life slipping away. His muscles twitched involuntary, he was sweating despite the freezing cold. Every heartbeat sent fresh torment ripping through his chest, a sick rhythm, a clock that ticked his way into darkness.
Tears began overflowing as his fingers trembled against Itrapped, weaker by the second.
"It hurts..so much-"
"..stubborn to let go.. as always."
Itrapped scolded, even now. He wanted this to be over. He swore he heard Chance mutter a silent 'sorry' when he noticed he got blood over him. Why was he being so weak. Itrapped hated it, he hated how soft his weakness made him.
The biting cold wrapped around them like a cold blanket, the snowflakes falling in heavy, silent flakes that dusted Chance's bloodied skin. Itrapped kept track of his breaths, which grew fainter by the minute. His eyes were locked onto Itrapped, wide with pain and hope that someone would magically turn time
.
"I'm sorry..trap- was I-"
Chance's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
"No."
Itrapped interrupted him, he really had nothing personal against him and it would be cruel to make him think that in his final moments. He forced himself to maintain eye contact, his eyes, he usually hid them behind his sunshades. But Itrapped knew the way they lit up when he won a game of poker, when he'd laugh, when he'd look at him. Now they dimmed. He knew Chance had so much more to say, but his body wasn't letting him. This world truly was cruel.
"I love you..itrapped- please..pretend one last time..say it back"
Itrapped's lips parted just enough to speak, there wasn't warmth in that faint smile. Not like Chance could notice it now.
"I love you."
He said softly, followed by a sigh. It was truly over now.
"Close your eyes, Chance.."
No tears broke through the stillness. The life quietly surrendered beneath the falling snow. Itrapped had won, but he'd carry a silence heavier than words with him for the rest of his life.
"Perhaps we shall meet again properly."