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The moon was rising as Ash returned to The Regime, he could hear the mobs grumbling as they started spawning. Usually he would go off to kill them but for some reason he couldn’t find himself to care tonight.
He had killed his own daughter. Not the stupid federation. Not that dumb white bear. No one it himself and his paranoia. Son was dead now and it was all his fault. As much as he wanted to blame someone else for it, so he could average his innocent daughter's life, he couldn’t.
Too lost in thought, too lost in suffocating guilt, Ash didn’t hear the sound of the waystone. Couldn’t hear the soft footsteps of someone trained in stealth or hear that lovely accent in that soft voice call out to him. He did however feel the gentle hand on his shoulder, carefully turning Ash to face him. To face Ewron. His Blade.
The soft look in his eyes was unfamiliar to Ash. Such kindness spared towards a man who has done nothing to deserve it, has done nothing but distrust his own Blade. More guilt crept up his spine for no reason. Why does he feel guilty for distrusting Ewron? It’s reasonable! He has no reason to, but what reason does he have not to? Snapping back to reality and away from these thoughts he fixed his face and stared at Ewron with a serious expression as he stepped away from the warmth his hand provided. He never realized how cold he was.
“What do you need, Ewron?” He made sure his tone was cold. Trying to not let any indication that he wasn’t okay seep through. He’s The Regime’s supreme leader. He has to be okay, to be strong.
Ewron’s eyes searched him for a second. His tail swishing calmly behind him as he studied the glitch before him. “Just came to see you,” he eventually replied in a soft tone like Ash was fragile. He is, isn't he? Letting himself get so upset over his daughter's death. Gosh he was pathetic.
His train of thought was broken by Ewron. That sweet voice filling his ears, “Are you doing okay my Assassin?”
‘My Assassin’. Ash doesn’t know why that has such an effect on him. Maybe it’s because he hasn't ever belonged to anyone or the way this polish man says it. He knew though. It was simply because it was Ewron. For some reason this man has managed to make Ash stop thinking and simply breathe, and for him to willingly call Ash his without a second thought. God he’s fucked.
Ash let out a small sigh glancing out towards the ocean as he debated telling Ewron what had happened. He knew the panda would understand. He himself lost a son.
Looking at their surroundings, keeping his eye out for a certain white bear. Even if he couldn’t spot that stupid ‘AI’ he didn’t feel safe. That present feeling that it was always lurking gnawing at him. It wasn’t safe here to talk, let alone open up about his stupid fears.
Ash leans in close to Ewron to whisper in his ear, “It’s not safe to talk here, let’s go somewhere else. Follow.”
Ewron’s face shifts as he starts to glance around clearly trying to understand what Ash means but is unable to find anything. Simply following Ash towards the waypoint, hopping in a boat, and letting Ash take them somewhere else.
They landed in a field of lavender flowers. A white bench sits at the edge of a cliff with a boat sitting a little ways away. A small ghost child rests inside of the boat.
Ash exits the boat and walks over to the bench without waiting for Ewron to get up. He simply sits there staring off into the distance. Ewron eventually joins him, not sitting too close to give the man his space if needed.
“I’ve… been very paranoid lately. I can’t stop thinking that someone is spying on me,” he was trying to keep his tone serious, even if he was opening up (yuck) he still didn’t want to be seen as weak. “There’s not much I can tell you Ewron, it’s very complicated.”
Ewron did not reply to him, simply letting Ash fill the silence and talk. It was very clear the man had needed it and Ewron’s replies felt unnecessary at the moment.
“Due to my own paranoia I had killed my own daughter,” there was a long pause after that sentence. Ash didn’t know how Ewron would react. I mean what kind of father kills their own kid? Ewron understands the feeling of grief all too well, so what would he think knowing Ash is the cause of his own grief?
“I heard some stories about the first island, and it scared me honestly. So, by my own foolishness I kept going to check on her. She died because I was weak, because I let a dumb creeper explode and slaughter her,” Ash stated with a shaky breath. He didn’t look at Ewron, too scared to see whatever expression was on his face.
“That’s not your fault. You simply cared about her and were trying your best to keep her safe. Simply an accident, a tragic one, but an accident at the end of the day. It’s not your fault.”
Ash turned his head towards Ewron. He was already looking at Ash with a soft expression on his face. He simply sat there staring at Ewron as he let those words sink in. No words were forming. Nothing was coming out of his mouth. He didn’t know what to say in reply. To either believe those words or keep doubting them.
As if Ewron could sense his internal battle, the panda scooched closer to him now sitting shoulder to shoulder. Ash usually wouldn’t let people be so close to him, but the warmth Ewron brought felt nice and Ash didn’t want to let it go just yet.
The night breeze blew against the two of them as they sat. For once Ash wasn’t tense. Sitting with his Blade against his side in a calm lavender field. His daughter not far away safe and sound. His thoughts were calming down and no longer racing and for once he felt at peace. It was weird to say given everything that’s been happening but it’s true. He is at peace for once on this server.