Chapter Text
This stubborn fool...
Nephis opened her eyes and looked at Sunny, his stupid, stubborn expression meeting her solemn one with unyielding obstinance.
Why? Why couldn’t he just go? Why did he have to make this so difficult?
For the entire journey his sole goal was going back to the Waking World, and yet, when the Gateway presents itself to him a no more than few steps away, he refuses, for what? His sister awaits him in the Waking World, he has family to go back to, and yet he’s willing to throw that away for her? For the woman who just led hundreds of sleepers to their death for her own goals?
She could not let him stay. She refused to.
"Leave me, Sunny. Please. Go."
Once again, he shook his head stubbornly.
"I don't want to."
For a moment—as brief at it might’ve been—Nephis felt a smidgen of warmth enter her from his words—his adamant refusals to leave her behind. She burned that warmth away not even a heartbeat later. Such feelings would only cause her to falter, a risk she would only regret letting blossom.
The Gateway wouldn’t last long, the runes that sustained it threatened to break at any moment. Even knowing this, Sunny stayed in his spot and continued wasting his time arguing about staying with her like an idiot.
Nephis clamped down on her heart and steeled herself with unwavering, and heavy resolve. Planning to speak his true name and force him to leave, even if it has to be against his will.
She opened her mouth, words primed on her tongue and—
She hesitated.
Nephis, Changing Star of the Immortal Flame clan, hesitated.
Could she really do it? Could she really enslave Sunny—her best friend, one of the only two people she could ever say she trusts—without a second thought? Just like that?
She knew that, for Sunny, freedom was one of the things he truly valued in his life.
Growing up in the outskirts, fighting every day for a smidgen of food and painstakingly saving money just to find out his one reason to live in life had supposedly long forgotten him. Then to immediately get infected with the Nightmare Spell, and thrown into a Death Zone with only four weeks of preparation, arduously surviving against abominations no sleeper should ever see for an entire year. Sunny has lived a life filled with more trials and tribulations than maybe even Nephis herself.
For him to live through all that, to triumph over impossible odds time and time again, to go through those hells one after another and still be able to care for others in the way he does—only for her to look him in the eyes and chain him down like a pet.
The thought struck her in a way her flaw never had. Disgusting, who gave her the right—no, the audacity to even consider that thought.
For the one he tried so persistently to help to betray him in the most violating way... not even Nephis would forgive herself.
Even if using it now would bring him to safety, could he really live as he wanted when the threat of her holding chains above his head was ever present? No, Sunny would rather die than live like that.
She grimaced in repulsion, ashamed at what she was about to have done.
Glancing at Sunny she noted that he was still looking at her, unrelenting fire burning in his gaze, wholly unaware of what almost transpired, of the collar she was about to force on him—the cage she almost stuffed him in.
Nevertheless, she had to stay strong—sure, having him here would lessen her burden and increase her odds of survival, but having him here also meant that he might never go back, never see his sister again, or never open that memory shop and get rich.
But when she spoke next, her voice held less conviction than before.
“Sunny... please... just g—”
He cut her off, “I don’t want to. I’ll say it until this damn Gateway disappears.”
She tried again. “Sunn—”
“I’m not leaving you alone, Neph.” There was such a certainty in his tone that made her heart buckle and flutter.
Her spirit wavered once more, Sunny could be even more stubborn than her if he wanted, she knew this was a losing battle... but—
Just then, a loud crack stole their attention as the cracks of the tower began to reach the platform on which they were on. Time was running out.
“Sunny please—there’s no time left!” She pleaded, words scratching her throat as they came out.
For a forgettable instant—one she would’ve missed if she weren’t staring at him—Sunny’s eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, before that flicker immediately got snuffed out by something far deeper.
She ignored the sharp pang—of disappointment? Hurt? Fear?—that had stabbed her in that short moment his eyes faltered—his eyes that seemed to be shaped from the darkest shadows themselves, yet held so much ferocity it felt tantalizing enough to get lost—
Nephis chastised herself mentally again, her thoughts and emotions were getting out of hand. Any more and she wouldn’t be able to keep her act up for much longer.
Sunny turned away from her, and moved towards the portal, steps slow and unhurried, yet there was no hesitation in his stride.
Her breath stopped at the sudden change in demeanor, heart and mind waging war against each other in a battle she was right in the middle of. Feelings of joy and relief clashed against those of hidden fear and disappointment. But her feelings didn’t matter, all that she needed to confirm was Sunny passing through the Gateway and making it back home.
Sunny stopped a step before the portal, eyes hidden from view. However, the feeling that emanated from him was not one of relief, or even one of joy—no, all Nephis saw in that moment, was conviction so strong—so unshakable and resolute that she instantly understood his intentions.
“Sunny stop!—”
But it was too late—an instant of realization couldn’t change what Sunny had decided ages ago.
Time seemed to slow down, as a ghostly stiletto was plunged into the ring. The glowing circle of runes broke instantly under its tip, their mystical light dimming rapidly as the portal slowly faded away.
Nephis could only watch, horrified, as pure, unadulterated despair washed over her skin. The Gateway evaporating into mere sparks in front of her eyes; destroying any hope of either of them escaping.
She shot up, the sheer emotion compelling her to her feet in spite of her broken legs. “Sunny—you!—” The words died on her tongue, she couldn’t even think of a sentence to say.
Sunny laughed brightly in response, craning his head towards her with a stupid, boyish, grin like nothing she had ever seen from him.
“Guess we have no other choice now, Neph!”
Before Nephis could even react, Sunny rushed towards her and summoned a cloak resembling dragonfly wings; picking her up and hoisting her over his shoulders before leaping down side of the platform.
Am embarrassingly startled yelp came out her mouth at the sudden action, her rejuvenating flames instinctively coming out to. Sunny clicked his teeth at the sight of them, but stayed silent.
He glided down as fast as possible, laughing like the happiest he’s ever been all the while—a stark contrast to Nephis’s current mood. Which was only getting more complicated with each second.
Completely unaware—or did he know and simply didn’t acknowledge it?—to the storm raging inside her, he started to maneuver midair to avoid some chunks of rock and coral that started to fall dangerously close to them. Nephis, startled by the change in movement, summoned her sword and helped deflect the ones which Sunny couldn’t evade.
Landing safely on solid ground, Nephis tried to get off, only for another embarrassingly startled yelp to come out her mouth when Sunny immediately dashed away from the Spire, pumping his legs with all his strength to avoid the crumbling tower.
Running out of strength a safe distance away, Sunny fell to the ground—but not before twisting his body to prevent Nephis from getting hit at a bad angle—and sprawled out his limbs, wincing at the condition the siege and fight left his body in. Nephis was also on top of him, taking deep breaths as well, her flames had healed the worst of the their wounds, but it couldn’t heal them all.
Nephis groaned, and rolled off Sunny’s chest—much to his relief—then shot him a pointed sideways look whilst clutching her stomach.
“Ughh... Did you really have... to carry me like that?”
“H-hey... I saved... your life. Damn it…” Sunny responded in between laughs and huffs, before sending his shadow out to scout around for anything of note.
The two laid there for a while, catching their breaths, frozen as they watched the dreadful Crimson Spire collapsed under its own weight, its long reign of terror finally coming undone in a rain of red coral and bloodied stone.
They stayed quiet for a while, the entire ordeal taking everything and more out of them.
With the dissapearence of the Spire and sun, the land was soon covered in eternal darkness. Whilst Sunny thrived in such an environment; Nephis was left blind.
After a while of recovering, Nephis slowly got up, using her sword as a crutch to bring herself up.
Looking down next to her, she saw Sunny, looking absolutely pitiful. Gulping down air like no tomorrow, covered in dust, blood and bruises, and his Armor Memory in tatters. He had reached his limits far before the Spire crumbled.
A part of her wanted to strangle him, for being so stubborn and not leaving when he had the chance when she even insisted he do so. Another more treacherous part of her wanted to... thank him, for refusing to leave her alone, and to find joy his presence instead.
What a bothersome feeling—to want to punch and hug a person at the same time. Dealing with emotions was never one of Nephis’s strong suits, and she suspected it would only get more difficult the more time she spent with this annoying shadow.
Her brows furrowed imperceptibly, seeing him like this... she couldn’t find it in herself to berate this foolish boy, however much she wanted to.
In the end...
Nephis sat next to him, reached a hand out... and pinched his cheek, tugging at it ruthlessly.
“Owowow—hey! Stop!—What did I even do?!”
“What did I even do?!” The audacity!
She frowned and pulled harder, “Why didn’t you leave? Why did you have to be so stubbor—”
Sunny had enough, and swatted her hand away from his cheek, gently rubbing it from the pain caused by the malicious attack.
Sitting upright, he looked at Nephis in the eyes, confusion, anger, fatigue, relief and so much more burned in them. She looked haggard, her hair encrusted with blood, bruised and battered skin visible under her broken armor.
Yet, she looked gorgeous, her emotions did nothing to cover up her flaming resolve nested inside her stunning grey eyes. Her visage, framed by blood-soaked silver hair only made this sight more alluring in Sunny’s eyes.
Quickly catching himself from almost getting lost in her captivating looks, he responded with an eloquent “Are you stupid?"
Nephis stared at him, her face seemed to be of carved stone, not moving a muscle. But to Sunny—a master at deciphering Neph’s facial expressions—he saw the minute twitch on her brow everyone else would’ve missed.
He briefly panicked at that reaction before he wisely judged that his previous statement needed some more elaboration.
“Of course, I didn’t leave! Did you really think that I would leave you here all alone?! Look around you fool! This is a barren wasteland with nothing! Even you would have a hard time surviving here!”
He sighted a slight downward pull on her lips, but continued barreling on anyways.
“No one survives in the dream realm alone—well, maybe you could, but it’s better to be safe than to be sorry.”
His voice gained a softer undertone.
“And also... You’re my best friend, Neph, leaving you here would... let’s just say, leave a bad taste in my mouth.”
"But I—" she tried to retort but retracted her words.
For a moment, Sunny thought he saw a pained look on wash over her face, before It smoothed back into her usual look as she struggled to find words.
Already anticipating her response though, Sunny moved in for checkmate.
“My sister has her family to take care of her, I’m sure she wouldn’t miss her unknown outskirts brother anytime soon.” He added a self-deprecating laugh at the end.
Neph’s eyes glinted with an unfamiliar emotion, in the end, all she managed was a gentle murmur, “...It’s getting late, we should find shelter soon.”
Despite her words, she sat down beside him, her hand resting a breath away from his. Looking at the crumbled wreckage that was once the home of a fallen terror, she took a deep breath and turned her focus to Sunny.
“I—no we are going to have a talk after this, understand?”
Sunny casually waved his hand, swatting away her words as if it was of no concern to him.
“Yeah yeah, I know I know, I should’ve gone back and left you alone.”
Her jaw clenched at his response, this... this brat! Doesn’t he understand what he just did?! Doesn’t he realise the severity of this situation?!
Fine, have it his way, she’ll have some strong words for him once their situation gets better. She’ll also have to tell him about some other things... he deserves that much at least.
Sighing, Nephis looked around, carcasses and skeletons as far as the eye could see—well, not that her range of vision was encompassing much.
“...Come on, we have to go, we don’t know if staying here is safe or not.”
Sunny rolled to his side and groaned in response.
“Let a man rest, Neph. Give me a few more minutes.”
She rolled her eyes at his antics, though a small smile tugged at the ends of her lips.
“Has your shadow spotted anything? If there are left over creatures we’ll need to harvest the soul shards quickly before they arrive—if there are soul shards left.”
Of course, they didn’t know if the Crimson Terror destroyed the Soul Shards as it did souls.
Sunny shook his head, “No, all the alive ones got evaporated by the sun, maybe there’s some further away. I’m only searching for anything near us right now.”
She raised a palm and prepared to summon a small flame, the lack of sight was getting to her.
Sunny hurriedly shot up and grabbed her arm, lowering it. Causing her to raise a silver brow at him.
“I can guide us, theres a cave a few minutes away from here, we can rest there tonight.” He swiftly explained. The words “You don’t need to suffer, I’m here” were left unsaid, but his soft, purposeful gaze showed enough.
Nephis nodded, a mysterious warmth bloomed in her gut, the sides of her lips tugging upwards.
“Then we’ll recuperate tonight and start gathering supplies tomorrow, there should be some left at the Bright Castle”
Sunny slowly got up, complaining all the while. Nephis rolled her eyes and yanked him up with the arm he was still holding onto.
"Hey! Be careful with that, I only have two you know."
He looked around in the darkness, before spotting what he was looking for.
“We’ll make you a torch, there still some wood lying around over where the archers were.”
She nodded in appreciation and let Sunny guide her way.
The pair of sleepers walked side by side, with Sunny’s hand still holding her arm—purely to serve as a way to guide her, of course.
Nephis hadn’t been shown any signs of being opposed to it, so neither had he.
Though...
“Neph...”
She tilted her head towards him response, “hm?”
“Aren’t you a bit... close?”
Indeed, their shoulders brushed with each step, each time making Sunny tense up slightly from the contact.
Nephis turned her head away, speaking in a quiet tone.
“We are the only humans left in this dark, harrowing land, can I not take comfort in my only other companion?”
She coughed, “B-besides, we’ll have to get acquainted with sharing personal space, seeing as we’ll only be together for the foreseeable future.”
“Alright... I guess.”
A comfortable silence rested between them despite the unnaturally close proximity, with only the sound of footsteps being any sort of noise in hundred of meters.
Being in each other’s presence was comforting, they both understood each other well, and trusted each other more than anyone. Sunny’s days in the Dark City weren’t unbearable, but he found that he much preferred the presence of Nephis than that of being alone.
“...Sunny?” Nephis tentatively asked.
Sunny looked beside him to see Nephis, wearing an emotion he had never seen on her before.
“Mhm?”
“...Thank you.”
Sunny smiled, genuine, without the sarcastic and sly elements that he loved to cover up his emotions with.
Hesitantly, his hand slipped downwards towards her own, then slowly interlaced his fingers around hers.
She let out a barely audible breath, before gently squeezing her own fingers in return.
In the darkness unseen by Nephis, Sunny was secretly glad that she couldn't see in the dark, lest she discover his blush. Though, in his daze, he missed the faint tint of pink on the tip of Nephis's ears.
Sunny broke into a small, goofy grin; he never knew walking could be so enjoyable.