Work Text:
Rock had known hardships. Had known them in the broken promises of friendship bracelets that had meant more to than anything that Rock had known in existence.
She was the whole reason for his existence, how the universe had narrowed to a pin point where she had been concerned.
And now it was over, fuck you, forever, the only thought on Rock’s mind where she was concerned.
Until Rock met Cactus.
And everything has changed.
Cactus knew betrayal, just like Rock had.
Knew abandonment.
Knew love.
And Rock’s world had shifted on it’s axis as Cactus became the new focal point of everything.
Neither one of them felt the urge to bolt like they did. No black dogs to bring a bad omen. Instead it felt like they had crowns. That they could do anything with the other by their side.
Their marriage had been inevitable, ineffable. Despite the indelible scars that had been left behind on both of them. The invisible string that intertwined them had turned golden where once was the burning red that clouded Rock’s thoughts.
Golden like daylight.
No longer were they sleepless in their onyx nights, now they had each other. Where once they cursed Opalite’s very existence, now they were thankful for the life it had given them.
Thankful for the life they had now been able to build. Neither one of them cursed to suffer the fate of Ophelia, to suffer in basements of other people’s affections when all they wanted was the penthouse of someone’s heart. Someone they no longer could have.
Maybe someone they were never meant to be with in the beginning.
No longer did they feel their castle crumbling, or fighting dragons alone, now they had each other. Their lonely midnights seemingly transformed, for they had each other.
And that was the only thing that truly mattered.
Not the way she left or the way he left. But the new heights they reached together because of what they had transpired through. What they survived.
No longer will they weep over the manuscript of their past, or be afraid of being left behind.
No longer were they tortured like the poets of old.
Now they were who they came straight home to.
Now they had found their end game, the one to spend new years day with.
A lover to call their own.
Now they had the future, and they were ready for it.