aetherialslumber | twitter drabble - the star and the leylines

How long had Urianger spent burning in the First? He had lost track of time. Years, he imagined. Not longer. This land did not have long left, it felt like. His mind could not be lost, though.

Torture. This was torture, the screams of his own voice now buried deep within his flesh. But he could not let himself lose his wits. The fair folk would not waste such a chance.

But then, Urianger felt a familiar hold. He did not react externally - well, he did. Urianger stopped moving, as he felt familiar arms around him.

"How long has it been for thee?"

His question was quiet. His voice did not tremble. For a moment, Urianger calmed, a cooling touch matching his burning skin. White robes curled around his chest, gripping to his new robes.

"One day. As we agreed on."

The other voice tried to muster sorrow, but couldn't. Urianger didn't mind, though. Neither of them were good at emoting - or good at asking for what they needed. Still, some way to track time was what Urianger asked for. Not the comforting touch.

Still, he closed his eyes. Listening to the breath of the other - of Elidibus, breathing slowly. In rhythm. One of them was calm now, and that was what Urianger needed.

"...It took less time. The time for a Rejoining approaches, then?"

Urianger was curious. He knew what the Exarch planned. And what he theorised he had failed before. But they both promised each other that they wouldn't say too much.

Still, he heard the hesitation in Elidibus' voice.

"Not as long as your Warrior breathes. I must break our truce, Urianger."

Urianger gently held Elidibus' arms, before giving his own sigh.

"Thee forget the details. It is not them I asked thee not to fight - but the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."

Something seemed to make Elidibus grip Urianger a little tighter, huff a little, tremble a little. But then, he nodded - head resting in the crook of Uriangers' neck. (Was he hovering?)

"I shall not forget it again."

Back then, of course, Elidibus had been in control. But now, Urianger was in control - if not truly. He sat in Mor Dhona, Elidibus in more casual wear. But he had found a way for him to keep his face hidden - of course he had. For the comfort of both of them. Urianger looked to Elidibus, and without thinking, gripped him tight - in the chest, around him, squeezing him and holding him close.

Elidibus relaxed at the touch, but from his slight grunt, he didn't remember why. Urianger lied to himself. It didn't matter. He carried what Elidibus remembered, and he took his role for now. Even as his own mind trembled and hurt and screamed at him. At one point, he had been a mortal seduced by an unknown Primal. (When did he figure it out? Who knew. Who knew...)

And now, they were two Primals cuddling into each other. Feeding off of a wellspring of aether, one sustaining the other. Elidibus had no more whispers to listen to, he would no longer be tortured by his desires.

One could choose, and one continued down a pre-determined path. Urianger had so much he wished to ask, but he didn't want to make Elidibus uncomfortable. He didn't want him to remember his trauma. No - he only needed to live now, to find a new passion. (Alongside music, of course.)

But-- Urianger was surprised, as Elidibus leaned back into the hug. Letting out a little sigh, looking over the colony. And he spoke, quietly:

"How long has it been, Urianger?"

Urianger bit his lip. And spoke, gently. A few months, he said, since everything happened. If the stars were right, something else was going to happen again. Elidibus listened, before he spoke again.

"It is your calling. Your duty, as Urianger."

To fight for the Star. Urianger nodded again.

"I cannot stay behind, Elidibus. But you can.

...If I do not come back correctly, please. Do not think badly of me. My duty is dangerous. But I will continue to be Urianger."

Or so Urianger hoped. Even if he had almost discarded one title and taken Elidibus'. But it was for Elidibus' sake, Urianger whispered.

It was always for other peoples' sake. For that is what Urianger is.