Chapter Text
Vax had been weird ever since we got to Whitestone. He stayed closer to Keyleth, but didn’t really talk with her. He even evaded Vex’s attempts to start a conversation. Which is when I started noticing, Vex couldn’t help but complain to me later on.
“And the truth thing worked on us too! Ugh! It was just so annoying.” Vex threw off her jacket.
“I’m sure it was fine dear.” I undid her braid, careful not to pull to hard.
“Percy, I told him we got married! He looked crushed! That’s not even the worst thing. He’s dying. Remember when we brought you back to life, something happened between him and The Matron and she cursed him. It was all along his arm, Percy!” I brushed out her hair. Vax must be in unbearable pain, both physically and emotionally.
“And Keyleth knew! That bitch didn’t tell me a thing. She’s getting a talking to in the morning.” Vex yanked the brush from my hand, throwing it at the wall. She fell onto the bed and wrapped herself under the blankets. There wasn’t much more I could do tonight. Unless I confronted Vax right now, but I can wait, just like Vex.
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The next morning Vex took Keyleth drinking to get her talking. I’ll ask her when she gets back. I need to get to the orb and keep working on it.
“Hey Percival, where are you headed?” Tary came from around the corner followed by Doty.
“I’m still trying to figure out how to disable the orb, it’s a grave danger to Whitestone.” I tried walking by him, but before I made it to the connecting hall he spoke again.
“Do you think I would be any help? We’re both scientists.” He said with a hopeful look in his eye, like he wanted to be invited, to be someone more.
“Sure, having a second opinion would be great.”
“Doty, take this down. Tary and his friend go attempt to destroy the deadly orb. Tary had the bright idea of working together, and so they are on their way-” Tary keep talking as we walk to the stairs.
“We’re going to save the world! All thanks to Taryon Darrington and his friends Vox Machina. Oh hi Little Boy Elf.” I look up. Tary had run into Vax. He was holding on to the wall, and almost looked scared.
He pushed off the wall and brushed of his armour, that he hasn’t taken off since my resurrection.
“Hey Vax, are you doing alright?” He looked away from me, instead he watched Doty write.
“Never been better. Where are you guys going?” His voice falters a little. Now that Vex mentions, He’s doing a lot worse.
“We’re going to check on the orb. We need to disable it. You’re welcome to come along with us. Would greatly help with keeping everything in place. I find it moves closer to the orb if it gets to powerful.”
“I’ll come with you guys. Keyleth and Vex aren’t here.” Vax follows behind us, but much further behind. I turn back every so often to make sure he’s still there. It seems like he gets further every time.
These stairs lead deep into the ground.
A blessing and a curse.
I let tary and Doty go ahead of me before trying to talk to him, He’s not one to talk openly.
“Are you certain you’re doing alright? You aren’t obligated to come along.”
“I’m great, I told you the others are gone. There isn’t anything else to do.” He sped past me talking with– well, listening to Tary instead. Now that I could see him he lost his footing frequently, and he held his left arm close to his chest. I could only hope that Vex was wrong, or that maybe I’m looking to far into it. I knew I was wrong, nothing ever goes right for us.
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“Oh, Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III please open the door.” Tary spins and bows to me. I use the only key I made to open the door leading to the Ziggurat orb. My machines still there, all the wires still not doing exactly what they need to, and that orb is still spinning.
“Okay so Tary try and raise that. I think that we can use the orbs no magic area to try and turn it off.” I direct Tary to on of the machines I built to try and understand this thing plaguing my home.
We spent a long time trying to understand the orb, but only when Tary moved closer, and Doty followed did something change. Tary’s crystals made the orb react differently. I finally felt like we were moving along with this project. We connected Doty to the machine, and turned it on.
It worked.
The orb stopped.
“Tary we did it! We actually did it!” He spun around then squeezed me in a hug.
“Yes we’re so close good friend! Doty take this down– Oh yeah.” Realizing what this meant for Doty Tary went back to his robotic friend.
I wanted to write this down, but when i turned to grab my notebook vax was still standing watching us.
“Vax did you see that? We’re so close” I grabbed my notebook.
“Yeah, great.” His voice was quiet almost a whisper.
“We did it. We’re about to seal the wound festering under my home, and you’ve got nothing to say!”
“Well, you’ll have to forgive me for not clicking my heels I’ve got things on my mind” He turned around. Avoiding me. What can’t he just be happy for us?
Percy, I told him we got married! He looked crushed!
Vex’allia’s word rung in my mind.
“For fuck’s sake Vax, I’m sorry all right? Sorry that saving my life cost you yours, sorry that the man responsible for your blight turned around and wed your sister!” I yelled. Everything Vex had told me, every word I kept from him till, everything just blead out of my mouth like I was dying all over again. Through everything I said he never faced me, kept his back to me. His hidden wings tensed like they knew how he felt.
“You dense prat.” He finally turned and looked me dead in the eye. He got closer to me, right in my face like someone looking to fight.
“I’d save you again in a heartbeat” He grabbed my collar. Wanting a fight. His words held so much. Risking his own life for mine a second time, even through his curse.
“I’m not mad cause you married Vex’allia, I’m crushed because I wasn’t there. I missed it.” His voice cracks. I’m frozen, listening to him speak. He steps back finally. Looking anywhere but my eyes.
“Soon I’ll miss every good moment, I’m saving a world I won’t get to see,” I could tell this was a comment topic between him and Keyleth.
I watch him as he stares at the ground.
“I’m just not ready to go Percy.” He looks at me, tear pooling in his eyes. Looking back at the wall tears flow down his cheeks. His eye open wide, looking for something in the room that would distract him.
Without a second thought I walk up and put my arms around him. Squeezing him tight, as Tary had done to me. He rests his head on my shoulder, I feel my shirt get wet with tears. He pulls me closer, crying into my shoulder. I feel unprepared. Tary is still here and we’re in the ziggurat.