Work Text:
"Ruskin. Do you believe that our fate is written in the stars?"
They were sitting on the balcony of the Brighton Manor and watching the starry night above the deep blue ocean together when Mr. Milverton brought up this question. Ruskin, who until then, was mesmerized by the beauty of his employer's curly hair sparkling silver in the moonlight, got back to reality fast. Mr. Milverton's voice was strangely dreamy and what he said didn't fit his usual rational, doubtful nature. Mr. Milverton was not someone who believed in luck - he was a self-made man who got to the high position where he currently was through hard work and blackmail. Ruskin had no idea why he started to talk about the stars now, but there was something ominous in his tone that he definitely didn't like.
"I don't, sir." He answered quickly, hoping that his employer will change the topic after this. A smile appeared on Mr. Milverton's face, but it was distant - it was not the malicious, nor cheerful smile that Ruskin loved so much.
"Well, me neither." He noted and Ruskin, at least, could get relieved that if not until then, now Mr. Milverton will surely start to talk about something else. But it didn't happen. Instead, Mr. Milverton continued. "However, my mother believed. She once dragged me to a fortune teller to get to know my future."
"Really, sir?" Ruskin asked, but his surprise was rather because of the fact that Mr. Milverton started to talk about his young age all of a sudden which was another thing he never did before. Ruskin listened with curiosity. Even if he was still not fond of the way Mr. Milverton was speaking, he was interested to hear more about those years.
"Yes." Mr. Milverton nodded and his smile changed. "The fortune-teller told me that I will become one of the most powerful people of this country - and she turned out to be right. But she also told me something else that occasionally comes back to my mind... it... haunts me, I admit." He let out a sigh. Ruskin had a suspicion about what that could be and he didn't want to hear that. He wanted to scream to silence his employer, but that would have been disrespectful, so he just sat there frozen, preparing his soul for the terrifying sentence. "She told me that I will not live for long. That I will die a violent death."
Ruskin's heart started to beat faster from the fear. Of course he was unable to prepare for this - he loved Mr. Milverton from all his heart so even the thought of losing him broke him to tiny pieces. He could barely breathe from the feelings that flooded him. A tear appeared at the corner of his eye and ran down on his cheek when he cried out.
"No, sir! No! Please, don't talk about this!"
Mr. Milverton turned his head towards him. His eyes, which were shining like the stars a few minutes ago, were now glass-like. Ruskin didn't know if his terror made this change or it was a reflection of the future what his employer was talking about. The future that can never happen. Never!
"It causes you pain, doesn't it?" He asked in a tender voice. "I should have known. In that case, we should talk about something else. Don't you agree?"
Ruskin was shaking from his emotions and his tears continued flowing. Mr. Milverton probably saw it and he didn't like the sight. He grabbed Ruskin's hand to calm him down but in the light of their conversation, this intimate moment felt cold.
"I apologize." He said quietly. Ruskin shook his head and sniffed. He was clinging onto Mr. Milverton's hand like a drowning person to the end of the rope. Mr. Milverton meant his entire life. Ruskin knew that without him, he didn't want to live.
He can never let that vision ever come true.
"You will not die, sir." He started to talk, his voice was weak at first, but it gained its strength back at the end of the sentence. "I will never let you die. I promise. Without you..." he stopped to swallow. "There can't be such a thing as without you for me."
"I see." Mr. Milverton murmured like he truly understood. Ruskin didn't let his hand go, he tried to calm himself down by giving warmth to the other man. Mr. Milverton was still strangely quiet when he spoke again. "You will be on my side until I am alive."
Ruskin closed his eyes. He didn't care about his manners now - not like they mattered on a night like this. He leaned his head down on Mr. Milverton's shoulder and inhaled a deep scent from his skin.
"Forever." He whispered. Mr. Milverton didn't move, he let Ruskin remain like that. They continued watching the stars together - but after this discussion, it seemed that they didn't spark so bright.