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Verso didn't know why Aline painted him with Verso's peanut allergy. Perhaps her pride as a Painter prevented her from creating anything other than a perfect replica of her deceased son. Still, it felt like a cruel joke that peanuts even existed within the canvas.
He had Verso's memories of a near-death experience from childhood. The way his throat had started to itch, then tighten, then close, as if invisible hands were squeezing it shut. He could remember the panic before everything went dark, and the blinding light when he opened his eyes once more. It was a miracle he had survived. Once the doctor figured out the cause, his parents became incredibly strict about what food he came in contact with.
What he couldn't remember was the taste. With the realisation of his immortality, he was able to try eating peanuts once more without fear of permanent death. Yet he was able to savour the flavour for only seconds before his body began to react. A sharp tingling spread across his tongue. His breath grew uneven, each inhale thinner than the last, while a swelling pressure crept through his throat.
After reviving, he was certain of two things. First, he hated the taste of peanuts. Second, anaphylaxis was an awful way to die, and not something he wanted to experience again.
Thus, he avoided peanuts. Though he never bothered to tell anyone of his allergy. If an expedition decided to bring the accursed snacks with them, he would find some excuse to keep his distance, and pretend the smell of them didn't make him want to vomit.
One time, an expedition put peanuts in the camp meal, so he went as far as telling them his immortality meant he didn't need to eat. As the hunger pains grew, he regretted his lie. And when the expedition perished, he felt guilty for finally enjoying a meal, wondering if he could have done better to keep them alive had he nourished his body.
Despite this, he still refused to talk about his allergy. It was a weakness he didn't want exposed. He didn't want people knowing that regardless of his strength and immortality, a single legume was all it took to take him out.
After assisting Expedition 33 in taking down the Paintress, he thought everything would be over. The canvas would be destroyed, and he could have his peace. A painless death for once, one where he would just fade out of existence.
He hadn't expected Maelle to put up so much of a fight. But she had realised her potential as a Paintress, of course she was stronger than before. Verso didn't stand a chance against her, and lost the opportunity to end everything himself.
He also hadn't expected to adapt so well to his new life in Lumière after Maelle rebuilt the city and repainted every resident. But he had Gustave to thank for that.
The man he let die on the cliffs couldn't stay mad at him for long on account of his attraction. It was a welcome surprise to discover Gustave's feelings for him, as Verso also found himself enamoured with the engineer.
Even though he was doing well, madly in love, and actually wanted to live a proper life for the first time in decades, Maelle still hadn't removed Verso's immortality. Topics of death, or leaving the canvas, were not things the girl was keen on discussing. Clearly, she still needed time to grieve, and to realise this canvas would only ever be a temporary escape from the life she needed to return to.
It would be a while before her prolonged stay in the canvas posed any risk to her life. Gustave had convinced him to be patient with her, assured him that Maelle would eventually make him mortal, and return to her family outside the canvas. With memories of two lives, Maelle wasn't exactly the same person Gustave had raised, but he trusted that Gustave was right about her. That they could hold on to a hope for a future, and would be able to grow old together.
But Verso wasn’t used to thinking that far ahead. The potential of Renoir's return, of the destruction of the canvas, always loomed. So he focused on what he could hold onto now.
Like how Gustave would pull him into a warm, steady embrace when the weight of it all became too much. The gentle pressure of their hands interlocking, a simple, grounding reminder that he didn’t have to face anything alone. The way Gustave always greeted him, not with words, but with a kiss that had long since become routine.
Today was no different. Verso had just finished teaching piano lessons to his own eager apprentices, and made his way to Gustave's house. He had permission to let himself in, so he did, and as usual, at the sound of the door opening, Gustave made his way over to greet him.
Caressing his cheek with his right hand, Gustave pulled Verso in close and closed the gap between them. Their lips gently pressed together, then parted slightly to deepen the kiss.
Verso could taste it on Gustave's breath, his lips, his tongue. Peanuts. He wasn't sure if his sudden breathlessness was a result of an allergic reaction, or his panic.
Breaking away from the kiss sharply, he gasped out, "Gustave, did you... eat peanuts?"
The foul smell on his breath alone was enough of an answer. Already, a familiar tingling heat crept across his tongue as it swelled.
"Verso?" Gustave's confusion shifted into concern. "Verso, what's wrong?"
"A-allergic," Verso barely managed to choke out as his airway began to block.
He wheezed, dragging in shallow, useless breaths. Gustave was speaking. He could hear the distress in this voice, but the words sounded too distorted to make out.
Hands gripped his shoulders, steadying him, but all Verso could feel was his own heart pounding in his chest, as if searching frantically for a single molecule of oxygen in his bloodstream.
Darkness crept in at the edges of his vision, then swallowed him whole.
When he woke, he took a deep breath and felt his lungs fill with air. He could feel gentle fingers combing through his hair, and a drop of something wet landing on his cheek.
Opening his eyes, he realised he was lying on the sofa with his head resting on Gustave's thigh. His beloved was gazing down at him, tears dripping from his eyelashes.
Verso reached up and wiped Gustave's tears away with his thumb. "Hey, it's okay. I'm okay," he said with a reassuring smile.
Gustave pressed his own hand against Verso's, keeping it pressed firmly against his face. "You died, Verso. You died. I'm so sorry, because of me you-"
"Don't. Don't blame yourself." Verso spoke with a stern tone before letting it soften. "I never told you about my allergy. It's not your fault. I'm okay. Understand?"
Gustave only nodded, as if unwilling to verbally acknowledge that he wasn't to blame for what happened.
"I won't eat them again. Not ever," Gustave declared.
“That's not necessary.”
“It is,” Gustave said immediately. “I don’t want to risk it happening again.”
“I appreciate it, really." Verso furrowed his brow. "But I don’t want you giving things up because of me.”
“There might be another way,” Gustave said after a moment. “We could ask Maelle,” he continued, “if she could remove it. Your allergy.”
Verso wasn't fond of the idea of Maelle making changes to him except for his mortality, which he had a feeling she would not reconsider given that he died so quickly from a simple kiss. But he hated his allergy, and wouldn't be sad to see it gone.
Gustave spoke again before Verso could decide on his answer. "If you don't want to ask her, I could always burn down the peanut farm."
That option caught Verso off guard. "You'd do that?" He asked, unbelieving.
"I could find a way to make it look like an accident." Gustave sounded like he was seriously considering it. "No one would know we were involved."
"We? This is your plan."
"I'd be doing it for you."
Taking his hand back from Gustave, Verso pulled himself up to sit beside him. "I'll ask Maelle. I don't see a reason for her to refuse."
He leant his head against Gustave's shoulder, and Gustave wrapped an arm around his waist, holding him close.
"Only if you're okay with that," Gustave breathed out with a distinct lack of peanut smell on his breath. The terrible odour had been replaced with the fresh scent of mint.
"Did you brush your teeth while I was...?" Verso asked.
"And threw out the peanuts, had a quick wash, changed my clothes," he replied. "Didn't want to take any chances."
"You're too good to me, mon cœur." Verso tilted his face closer to Gustave's. "I love you."
He pressed his lips against Gustave's without hesitation, but Gustave pulled away after only a brief touch.
"I love you, too," Gustave said, "but shouldn't we wait a while longer, just to be sure?"
"If the cost of kissing you is dying, I'd pay it every time."
"I know you mean that in a romantic sort of way, but I'd prefer if you didn't die so casually."
"Oh? Then I'll make it more dramatic next time," he joked.
"Verso," Gustave groaned and rolled his eyes, "you know that's not what I mean."
"I know," he spoke with more sincerity. "I'm sorry. I must have really scared you. I won't make you go through that again. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he replied with a smile. "I'm glad you're okay."
Gustave placed a careful kiss to his cheek.
"Is that all I'm getting?"
"Just for today."
Gustave was going to be extra cautious with Verso until Maelle removed his allergy, but he supposed he could live with that.