Work Text:
“I’m back, Three,” Four opened the door to the cell. He abhorred Three dwelling in such a numbing and damp space, it seemed inhuman. He had constructed an entire castle for her, additionally to that, he had crafted a schoolhouse in hopes Three would continue her interests. Unfortunately, it could not be used, as he had been teaching the exitors algebra in one of the math classrooms. Three had some knowledge of the existence, some names, some pictures. Four enjoyed to tell her about his day, he found comfort in holding her when she was hurting. Four crotched down to Three’s level. She was shivering while gripping onto her blanket. Small tears pecked the corner of her eyes, while painful whines escaped her mouth. Four frowned, moving Threes hair out of her eyes, “Oh, sweetheart, come here..” She shifted, placing her head on Fours lap. The pain in her back didn’t allow her to move more. Therefore, to soothe Three, Four started petting her head, as well as butterfly kissing her ear and cheek. Three weakly smiled, almost giggling. Four saw her amusement, and pulled away slightly, whispering, “Oh, sunshine.. I brought you a few things.."
He withdrew a gift bag, it had the same design as the restaurants that him and X owned. Partially because he had stole it from the hotel gift shop. Within the bag was a few tea bags, an unused notebook, and a diminutive box. The box was designed with a velvet cover, it sported a golden trimming running on the sides. Three’s eyes widened when she saw it, she elevated her chin as much as she could. Three wasn’t one for material possessions, furthermore she valued quality time with Four more. In spite of that, she could tell this meant something. Notwithstanding, her head dropped back down to Four's lap, her face digging into his thigh. Her nose hurt immediately after she impacted Four's leg. He smiled slightly, his eyes still half lidded, leaning down to kiss the back of her head, "My silly girl♡̣ One day, you'll be healthy again, and I'll never let One even look at you... I'll never let her even think of your beautiful eye..."
The eye was important. It was proof that, while One had hurt Three extremely, the notion that her eye was ripped out of her face, because of One. Three still had her right eye. Her face scrunched up as Four kissed the empty space in which her eye used to be. He lingered, his lips hovered over that space as Three gazed into his eyes. Subsequently, Three weakly lifted up her finger, and as it shook in pain and weakness, she tapped it on Four’s lips, indicating that she wanted to kiss him. While her lips could no longer pucker, yet Four attempted to make it as comfortable as he could for her. He had hurt so many people, yet Three would never be one of them.Her breathing softened caressed her cheek. Her body shook for the strength of keeping herself alive. Four could see her struggle, his desire to hoist her up, having her be fully healed, was his dream. He imagined a world where she didn’t need to live in a castle in his mind for her own safety. Where Three could be her old self, before One took that from her. Four caught a glimpse of Three’s tired eye before she plummeted down back into his lap, her eyebags were vast, albeit, they were wondrous shades of purple and blue, which contrasted nicely on her pale, red, skin. It was almost like watercolors, each paint carefully picked out, kissing underneath her eye. It was beautiful. Nevertheless, with beauty comes great pain. And Four knew he would prefer a hideous, healthy Three, compared to the one laying in his lap, slowly dying. Her breath slowed down, additionally her body relaxed itself. Three had fallen asleep on Four. This was quite typical most days, in spite of that, Four had wished for Three to stay up longer. He knew she needed it for her health, nonetheless he looked down at the velvet box again, and gently opened it, revealing a ring. It was a simple golden band. He had saved up money for a few months so he could buy it. Today was the day we would ask Three. He knew that they realistically would never be married, that realistically, Three would die before Four would be able to call her 'wife'. But the small hope he carried got him through each day, it allowed him to think of a future for Three.
Four grazed Three's cheek. There was some form of devotion in the way he cradled her face. Devotion to make her better, and if he couldn't, to stand near her death bed and comfort her as she took her final breaths. Every brush of their lips was an oath to love each other for as long as Three had left on this universe. Four couldn't bear the notion of losing Three, yet he understood it was her kismet. He understood that Three was on borrowed time, that sooner or later she would die like the leaves in the fall. He must treasure her beautiful flowers before the snow covers the petals, killing them, and in hand her.
Four couldn't blame anyone but himself though. If he had taken the proper precaution, stopped One sooner, loved Three more.. maybe none of this would've happened.
And so, he continued to hurt others, because in his sick and twisted mind.. one day that would fix Three.