Secret Santa

[fleshpetaler]

Hi!

Thanks so much for doing this; feel free to ask any and all questions. Also I love you.

Nico Robin/Ema Skye

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I.

There’s a funeral in session, and everyone in Athlum murmurs in hushed tones as they head toward the event. Everyone says that this one is earlier than the last, and Rush pushes past them, confused. What funeral? What’s going on? Isn’t everything supposed to be better now? Even if he’s seen it a number of times by now, there are many in funeral garb, and it reminds him of the treatment after Emma died. A sinking feeling enters his stomach, and he looks around, taking in the faces:

He doesn’t recognize any of them. It’s not like he’s been gone from Athlum for too long.

Rush rubs at the back of his head as he steps toward everyone together, and he breathes out a sigh. “Just what’s going on?” he asks someone, and they look at him bewildered—and then their eyes widen, and he realizes despite the lines on his face and the hints of pepper in his hair, this is the bartender he used to speak to. This guy used to tell him about Dave.

“Hey,” Rush says, but he chokes the words out. “I’m back.”

But he realizes it’s too late.

II.

It’s a miracle, but Rush arrives at the wedding of two unlikely suitors, with the implication that there must be a future for Athlum. While Rush himself understands that this is only for the sake of necessity—even the people of Athlum don’t believe this to be a true arrangement—he finds himself flabbergastered seeing Irina as the bride, and Dave—well, Dave’s not really the groom type.

Rush walks in with a dumb grin and the music, Athlum’s anthem, stops playing as David turns toward him. “You’ve … returned,” David observes, and Rush stops cold when he notices Irina grab his hand. She’s older now, they both are, and the way David stands unsteady makes it clear just how long it’s been.

“Congratulations.” It’s all Rush can muster up.

III.

There are, as it turns out, ways for remnants to return the left expended for them to continue going about their lives. Rush returns to these possibilities twice—and then a third and a fourth, until he decides that he doesn’t like these options, these chances. He decides to reason with those who are like him, to explain why humans needed them, and why they aren’t that different. It takes a while (David dies another five times, always younger, and only one time with a child, a girl, who will take the throne eventually), but he reasons, and says: “Isn’t that what we wanted? Wouldn’t you wanna protect that’s important? That’s all—and it’s gonna be different now, I promise.”

It’s not easy to speak with them, to communicate these understandings, but Rush steps through to an Athlum that is just two days later, signs of reconstruction going around. He rubs at his cheek as he heads to the palace, and though they mean to stop him, he jogs past the guards waving.

(Their faces are dumbfounded.)

Finding Dave is the hardest part, but he does before long—in a chamber alone, where he sits looking out upon a garden that looks like it’s seen better days.

“You didn’t burn it, did you?”

“It … needs treatment, yes,” David replies, without realizing the sound of the voice. Rush shrugs when he finally glances toward him, and David rises, closing off the distance between them. “You were gone.”

“Yeah,” Rush replies, and he steps closer to hug his friend. The hug itself isn’t careful in the least, but he grips David, tightly, and buries his face into his shoulder. “Hey, look—I’ve got a request for you.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“You’ve gotta stop using the Gae Bolg.”

“That won’t be—”

“Look,” Rush insists, pointing at himself. “You’ve got me, right?”

“But one day, you’ll … be unable to serve Athlum, Rush. You’ve aged.”

“Don’t sweat it, Dave. Trust me: I’m gonna be around for a long time.”

Rush finally pulls back and smiles at David. “Then, Rush, I believe that I will be the one who grows older.”

“And Athlum will be safe, no problem.”

“And you’ve come back for this? Only this?”

Rush shakes his head. “You all were waiting. There’s a lot I’ve gotta talk to Irina about, but I had to get to you first.”

“And why’s that?”

There’s a surprising pause, where Rush hesitates, but he embraces David again—this time, with more ferocity, his arms wrapping tight around the other man’s body.

“I just had to,” he says after a long time.

“I believe you did.”

[fleshpetaler]

ahhhh

ahhhhhhhh

AHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm sorry I'm replying so late, but I wanted to save this for Christmas and only just now got a chance to read it. IT'S GORGEOUS. DAVE. AND RUSH. RUSH. RUUUUUUUUUUSH. These all made my heart hurt in a really good way, then the end just. warm fuzzies everywhere. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[(Anonymous)]

Annnnnnnnnnd you should have some tokens coming your way, too! I'll try to do something else before Christmas! ♥