Chapter Text
"Three demogorgons, easy," William hummed, twirling a gentle wave of light magic around his sun-kissed fingertips, "With my powers & your sword, we shall slaughter these beasts with ease."
The Sorcerer & his Paladin were wandering down a dirt path towards the walls surrounding the castle, having been sent on a simple mission to remove the three fleshy demons from the boarders of the Castle of Blooms, by any means necessary. Knowing they could both disassemble said beasts with a flick of a wrist & a swoosh of a sword, the Cleric & Paladin were at ease on their short trip.
"Oh, of course it shall be easy for you, my love," Michael purred, leaning down with his hands clasped behind his back to press a gentle kiss to William's flushed cheek, "Your powers are growing stronger by the day- nay, stronger by the hour!" His hands flew up as he began to ramble, puppy-like excitement shaking his body, always jumping to praise his cleric, "Your innate magic is one to be witnessed by only the worthy! Truly, it is a sight to g-"
William clamped a soft palm against Michael's lips, giggling & blushing as he attempted to shush the Paladin's compliments, "Oh, Michael, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦.." He swooned, brushing his free hand against his lips to cover up his giggles.
Michael grinned so hard his cheeks began to hurt, his eyes glistening with hearts from just the sound of William's laughter alone. He sighed, loud & heavy, as he took William's hand away from his mouth & pressed a soft kiss to the mole against his knuckle.
Days like this were of utmost peace, noone to interrupt them on their walks, noone to catch sight of their romances & spew hate in the churches, noone to gawk at William's powers unapproved.. Michael was always tense outside of William's golden light, always frustrated at the lack of his Cleric's voice, touch, taste.. it might as well drive him insane- which only motivated his possessiveness for the beautiful wizard. Nevertheless, the Paladin presses on with his daily tasks & training, itching to caress his secret lover under the moonlight near midnight.
Along the soothingly quiet trail, various wildflowers poked up over the untamed grass, mixing together blues & yellows with chicory, coreopsis, & goldenrods, admist other pinks & purples. Scattered & abandoned bricks & rocks laid within piles, dispersed across the flowing fields. Squirrels, songbirds, butterflies, & other wild creatures busied themselves in their territory, making their own oblivious lives in the peaceful land of the Castle of Blooms.
"Surely, our destination isn't far, yes?" Michael nearly whined, his feet aching in his silver boots, a bead of sweat gliding down his neck.
William sighed softly, reaching up to brush some of the knight's black curls behind his ear, "Oh, Michael, do not fret.." He muttered softly, gazing lovingly at his Paladin, before facing ahead & frowning, fingers glowing & pointed ears twitching, "I sense the shift within the magic near us, the putrid darkness overtaking the lands surrounding those wretched beasts." He huffed, his dusty pink lips now pursed in a concentrated pout, his thick brows furrowed in frustration.
William never quite severed his.. emotional connection to his magic- which, yes, bonding with one's innate power is necessary- but William grew almost attached to his magic & the air surrounding him, his emotions swaying irregulated when his magic was interrupted. Michael found it adorable, at times, when William would become cranky or bratty after a rough battle, his golden light turning sour with frustration. Usually, he would sooth his Cleric by kissing each of his unclothed moles like stars, or sing to him softly, or simply pet his chestnut brown hair.
As of current, Michael did none of those things, instead focusing on the trail ahead, keeping William within his peripheral. His rough hands itched to calm his lover, but he knew better than to relax the Sorcerer right before battle, than to break his focus far too early & worsen the outcome.
"I will bloody those undead sins with my sword & protect you, my sunshine," Michael cooed softly, resting his left hand upon William's robed shoulder, feeling the wizard's stance relax a tad, "We will walk away unscathed & glorious, my word." He hummed, hand gliding behind William's neck & rubbing gentle circles with his thumb- which earned him a quiet sigh of contentment. Anything to please his light, of course.
After a few extra miles & playful banter, the powerful duo slid behind mossy rubble abandoned by the demogorgons, plotting their attack. The demogorgons were busy ripping trees out of the ground & ravishing their roots, almost playfully, if they weren't so vicious.
William's pointed ears twitched each time the monsters roared in their search for either astray human meals or ancient enchantments buried with time. The mutant devils were most likely sent by their unnamed & unseen Lord Vecna, the greedy bastard searching & corrupting the land with the goal of harvesting all the light magic for his own rotten needs. It made Michael sick, knowing William's soul of light had once been one of the Lord's victims.
He shook his head, regaining his focus on the quiet words of his darling. "I can summon a burst of light across the field, gain their filthy attention while you spring out from behind more rubble & slice off their heads.." William muttered, brow furrowed & fingers swirling around a tiny ball of golden light. The Sorcerer's hazel eyes locked onto Michael's deep brown pearls, his lashes batting slightly as his frown softened at his lover's attention.
"Hm.." Michael hummed, focus shattered momentarily as he stared at William's soft pink lips. 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, he tells himself. "Yes, that plan seems simple & foolproof, my princess," He nodded slightly, his lips quirking up in a lopsided smile to gift William with comfort.
The powerful wizard smiled back, bunny-like teeth poking out from behind his painting-worthy lips. "Of course you agree with me, my knight," He teased back, giggling behind his palm, "However, I'm requesting genuine criticism." His brows raised, bowing his head slightly to strip Michael's gaze away from his lips.
Michael's cheeks grew a cherry red, his eyebrows raising & his eyes snapping to lock with William's. "W-well, of course, my love.." He muttered, raising his shoulders & bowing his head to mimic William's, giving the sweet boy his best lost-puppy-dog eyes, "𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, I truly do not see any faults within your marvelous plan," He smirked, almost wolfish as William responded with a snort under his laughter, his rosy cheeks now matching Michael's.
"Alright, if you insist.." The wizard sighed softly, still smiling as he stood & brushed off his purple robe, dotted with stars & moons, adjusting his matching hat atop his adorable bowl-cut. Michael followed in suit, as he always did much like a well-trained mutt, fixing his silver armor & grasping the handle of his sword in his calloused hand. His expression hardened in preparation, soothing his anxiety by simply gazing at his beautiful partner.
William's own attention was pursed, golden light balling up & tensing beneath his fingers & palms, which were glowing with markings matching his clothes. By the Gods, he was gorgeous.. sadly, now isn't the time for yearning. Michael placed a kiss to William's cheek, the same spot as before, against the same beauty mark. "Be safe, my love.." He whispered, caressing the side of William's face tenderly before dropping his hand to his sword.
After an approving nod from the magician, Michael began snaking behind piles of rocks & bricks against the castle wall, preparing for battle. If all things go well, it should only take a good five minutes.
Out in the field, Michael could see William's purple & golden robe flowing in the wind, his hat's brim waving along. His shining hands raised into the air, a burst of light tumbling past the ravishing demogorgons & catching their attentions. William's eyes glistened white as he controlled & manipulated the magic of his bright soul, even from several feet away from the ball of glaring light.
Rising to his feet & wielding his weapon, Michael snaked past each mound of hazardous materials & fallen trees, chasing after the stomping beasts following the strictly guilded mass of light. He controlled his breathing, occasionally allowing his gaze to snap onto his partner's shrinking form. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦, his mind muttered, yet the anxiety zapping down his spine & pooling in his stomach told him otherwise.
Something was wrong.
William groaned, the sphere of stars waning & weakening.
The demogorgons stilled in their chase towards the useless light, all three heads cracking as their attention zeroed in on the sorcerer atop the hill.
William was struggling, for reasons he couldn't grasp. It was a mere light source he was guiding, nothing a young magician couldn't accomplish.. yet his muscles strained to wield the power beneath his skin. He groaned loudly, voice cracking in his throat as his golden markings turned a sour purple.
His agonizing shrill caught the attention of the demogorgons quickly, the sickly embodyments of sin immediately charging towards the suffering wizard.
No..
Michael's body lurched before his mind could catch up, boots pounding mercilessly against the dirt, sword clenched tightly in his large hands, his dark eyes locked on his pained partner. He couldn't miss a single step, a single gasp for air, a single whine from William. There was no time to spare- not with demons scrambling towards his sole reason for living.
The golden magic swirling William's hands began to burn a crimson red, slicing into his skin like string & drawing droplets of blood. His gasps of pain quickly shifted into screams of agony as the magic of his very soul was hijacked & twisted, the veins carrying his blood turning a violent purple. Blood seeped from his nostrils, eyes, & ears, dripping off his once unscathed skin & onto his clothes.
The demogorgons howled as they slowed to circle around William, practically hunting him as an evil energy assulted his very soul, keeping him paralyzed in place. The fleshy beasts snarled & spat, rotten skin twitching as the corrupted magic of their beings was manipulated & forced under William's skin.
Michael began to scream as he bolted towards the heartbreaking scene, tears building up & blown away by the wind. He couldn't lose William- he would take his own life immediately. There was no Paladin without his Cleric, no Knight without his Prince, no Michael without his William. Not in any universe.
The Paladin's sword sliced through rotten skin with white-hot rage, moldy blood splattering over Michael's armor & pale skin, mixing with his fallen tears & spit as he screamed. Each demogorgon fell to the ground with a sickening crack, the corrupted magic abandoning the corpses & joining to violate the weakened Sorcerer.
"William! William, my love, I'm here!" Michael scrambled to William's side, dropping his wrecked sword to grasp his lover's bloody face. His rough fingertips caressed the once-tanned skin, attempting to rub away the ever-growning violet vines off from under William's skin.
William whimpered, head tilted back, mouth agape, eyes still pearly white. His muscles twitched as he fought the internal battle with the dark forces of the Lord Vecna, trying so desperately to protect his golden soul from the rotted power of the sins of the enemy. His skin crawled with nasty purple vines under his skin mixing with his veins, branching out from his chest from his heart & across his limbs. His face was drenched with his own blood from the energy he was wielding to protect his pure magic- all on his own.
All Michael could do was whisper soothing words into William's ear, his hands grabbing his lover wherever he sought right to ground him. He can't lose him, not like this, not ever.
"Y-you'll make it, William, you always will," He begged, tears flowing freely down his grief-stricken face, "I can't lose you, my love, please.. You're stronger than that bastard, don't fall for his lies! I-I'm right here, I'm right here.." The knight now sobbed, gripping the Cleric's shoulders tightly as he prayed.
The Sorcerer battled the cruel Lord to the best of his ability, practically taking physical blows at each lie spewed from the devil's lips- 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘏𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴- all ringing in his blood-filled ears, ripping agonizing screams from his torn throat. He can't lose, Michael needs him.. right?
"M-Michael.." William whispered, almost swept away with the wind. Michael's neck cracked with how fast he locked his eyes with his Cleric's rolled back ones.
"Yes, William?!" He gasped, body tense & grip tight on his biceps.
"F-.. Forgive me.. My love.." William mumbled, his arms shaking while his palms pressed against the Paladin's chest, once golden markings glowing a hideous violet.
"Wh-what..?" Was all Michael was able to force out before a blunt energy slammed into his chest from William's palms, sending him stumbling back into the castle wall. He gasped harshly, armor denting from the aggressiveness of the blow, groaning breathlessly. The knight just barely managed to peek through his messy curls to see his Sorcerer, wailing in agony to use the last of his light magic to expel the evil from his bones, before he tipped back against & through the castle walls into pure darkness.