Work Text:
It's hot.
And it's cold.
Maybe this is how a corpse feels.
Because this is what you are: a corpse, a lifeless body. And this is Edom.
But you knew it. You have deliberately chosen to come here; it was the only way to save him, to save them all.
And now you are the one who needs to be saved.
Again.
This thought enters your head uninvited: you have to be saved again.
The first time you didn't even know you needed to be saved. And from what?
As a powerful immortal, you had everything. Or so you thought.
You didn't know back then how meaningless your life was. You didn't know before you met him... Before he got under your skin, into your bones, into your soul.
Blood of my blood.
The time together you have been given has been intense, wonderful... yet so short.
It hurts.
This reality that you have ended up in is empty, dull, flat.
And you are entirely alone... the memory of what has been being the only thing that keeps you alive. But your memories fade, blur...
There are days when you wonder if he ever existed... if that life ever existed.
Could it be all in your head?
How long have you been here?
You don't know anymore. Time flows differently here.
It could be days or years, and even centuries, who knows. And the days here are all the same, all equally empty.
The only thing you sense is the missing, an absence that feels like the only presence.
You miss him; you miss yourself with him.
Bone of my bone.
Your heart hopes he can find you. Your soul hopes you can go back. But how? Your mind knows that this is not possible.
There is no going back from hell. Not this time.
You wonder if you shouldn't do something. You can't just stand here and wait... for what? For whom?
"For him", your heart whispers. He who will not come. He who can't do it.
You should do something. You are a powerful creature; you are the strongest among them all. Yet you are no better than Tangled. Imprisoned... Without being able to go out. Without being able to go back. Just hoping someone will come and save you.
The monotonous passing of time confuses your mind; your memories and dreams overlap with reality.
Reality...
Are you still able to tell what's real and what's not?
Is there still someone who can do it?
You'll lose your wits down here, you know. But what does it matter? There are times when you don't even know who you are anymore.
You want him so badly...
And then your mind produces images, sensations. You start talking to him, you see him by your side.
And he hugs you.
And you kiss him.
And all around you... nothing.
It's hot.
And it's cold.
And you are alone.
Did you dream it? Or was it a memory?
How is a dream different from a memory?
There is a ring on your finger; he put it there.
Did it really happen?
Or maybe you have always lived in this hell, and this is your reality, your real life, while that other you have only imagined. A fantasy produced by your subconscious knowing that you are missing something. Knowing your soul is missing something.
Has this ever happened?
You are a powerful creature, the strongest among them all. And you don't even know what's true and what's not.
You don't care to know. You want him even if he's not real. And if to have him, you will have to live only in your head, so be it.
You don't care about time and space, not anymore.
You just want to stay in your head with your memories. Or your fantasies. Or both.
Sometimes you wonder if this all makes sense. Because after all, there must be a meaning somewhere.
You saved his life; by sacrificing yours.
So are you dead?
Yes, that's probably what death is like. After all, this is Edom.
And it's cold.
And it's hot.
—Magnus!—
You close your eyes. The sound of his voice catches you off guard.
How you longed for this hallucination... You prayed that your mind would finally give in to insanity and at least grant you this: his voice, his face.
—Magnus!— The tone is more urgent now; the voice is closer.
You silently thank the Universe, Fate or whoever had the power to finally drive you out of your mind and give you this wonderful moment.
He looks just like him. He talks like him, moves like him, smells like him...
—Magnus, I'm here.—
His arms are just as you remembered them: strong, warm; they're holding you.
—Magnus, talk to me.—
You look up at those eyes you love so much. —Alexander...—
—Yes, my love.—
His mouth is on yours. For a moment, everything stops. Your heart stops. This hallucination is just too... intense.
Breathless, you detach yourself from him. —How did you get here?—
—It's a long story...—
You don't know if you want to hear it.
And he knows it because he smiles.
—I told you, it's only Edom. We will make it back.— That's all he says.
It's only Edom.
Fin