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The blade travelled through his body, smooth like slicing up a cake, funnily enough, he never did that one, but always imagined it would be quiet easy to do so.
His blood run out, he felt it leaving from it's place. It wasn't the first time he was bleeding but never that much, makes sense, he was dying after all.
Trying to make up a pointless joke while dying was also very much on brand for him. It's actually better that he kept it to himself, just fell on the ground, his vision becoming a bit blurry, but saw good enough to see her. The only one who ever truly mattered anyway. Dying was good, right next to her. If he had to go, at least he is able to see her face, her eyes.
The ones he fell in love with when they were just kids, living day to day on the streets because life was better without a roof over their head compared to the life they had when they had a "home". They never needed that anyway. He never needed that anyway.
His true home was always Thalia. And he wanted to return to home.
"Luke"
She was sitting right next to him, holding his face, gently caressing it. Maybe even crying, he hoped his mind was playing a trick at him. She shouldn't cry, not her. She deserves to laugh and all the good things in the world. It wasn't right that he was causing her pain, he deserved his faith, just for that sin alone.
"Thals"
The nickname slipped out, uncontrollably, as if it broke through his chest, maybe even breaking his lungs in the process, just to make him feel the pain he caused. He thought this is how it should be, he deserves to feel it after all. If she is in pain, if her heart is breaking, so should be him. It's only fair.
"I'm here, it's okay... You'll be fine... You'll be..."
She chocked on her words, because they both knew it's not true. She can't pretend that it's not happening, when reality spins itself around just to twist their faith even more cruelly than it already was. Just to play a game.
Was it always the game and was he always the pawn? Probably. He had never any control over his life.
Just as much as they never stood a chance after all.
She was always the daughter of Zeus, almost the child of the prophecy and his faith was decided as a small baby. It was written in stone, carved into an unchangeable future. Either way, they were doomed. Not here or in any universe did they stood a chance.
Probably not even in the afterlife.
" You'll be fine Thals, and that's the only thing that matters."
Always had been, always will be.
"No, don't say that, don't you dare trying to say goodbye to me Luke Castellan or I swear I won't forgive you!"
Her tears were full of anger, maybe for the better.
"You shouldn't. Don't do it. I'm not deserving of it."
"Luke..."
Her voice become softer, hesitant.
Thalia never hesitates.
Would that be that serious? Does it look that bad?
His vision gets blurry, he doesn't feel anything, he doesn't feel his body. It might be that bad then.
"I didn't earn your forgiveness, so you shouldn't give it to me."
"That's not true. You're a hero..."
"I'm nobodies hero. One good thing doesn't erase many bad. It's a starter point, that's all. It might earn me a chance at resurrection but it shouldn't. It was too little too late."
"Always too hard on yourself, huh?"
She laughed through her tears and he swore that he burns the memory of her face into his mind. Wherever he goes, he won't forget her.
"Somebody should be."
The words came out bubbly, intermittently, it was getting harder to speak.
She laid her forehead down on his, he could smell her scent, the jasmine and honey, and all of those memories they hold. Her scent was all he felt and he figured this will be the best memory to have as his last, although he thought of himself as undeserving to such kindness.
She caressed his hair, his face, lifted her head off from his temple and looked down at his lips. His entire being wished for her to do what he thought she was planning to do so, wanting nothing more than one last kiss, just one, like they used to have when they were only two child alone in the world? loving each other...
but then he remembered the last one cosmic thing between them: her vow.
Her vow to Artemis, the promise of a huntress.
The irony of being doomed. The one last thing that separates them.
But he can't let her break that vow, it would be too selfish, and if he actually wants this last action of putting the blade through himself to truly matter, if he actually wants to take better actions at last, he can't just make one then throw it all away.
He has to follow through and continue.
She was there, almost there. Dangerously, deliciously close.
"No."
He breathed it out, his chest was lifting heavily, the end was close and he knew it. So he has to give them that closer.
She looked shocked, as if she doesn't understand, did she forget it?
This shouldn't make him feel hopeful and yet..
He still has to stop her.
"Your vow."
The pain was piercing through her eyes into his soul.
It's unfair. But what's right isn't always what's fair. He had to learn that in the hard way.
So he lifted his hand up pulling hers close, kissing her index finger with all the love he had for her. Trying to show it to her how much she meant for him, that she was everything that was sacred and good. She is his lifeline. He lifted his finger up, offering it, watching how she placed a kiss on his fingertip. Sweetly, as if he was rocked to sleep by an angelic lullaby, the blood was drumming in his ears, the world was collapsing in his mind. He then touched her finger with his, the place where their lips brushed the other's skin, feeling warmth. In his chest, in his hands...
The world was getting warmer and warmer, his finger on hers, their very last kiss...
He closed his eyes...
"I love you Thals..."
Then world become pitch black, the darkness embraced him. He was gone, just like how he was always meant to be.
And Thalia was left all alone with his lifeless body, still touching fingers, sobbing in unbearable amount of pain.
They were doomed from the start. What else could they have done anyway?