Chapter Text
Apollo and Graves sprinted down Broadway together. They were perfect partners after their time at Blackmore, which was slowly coming to an end. That became even more literal after prom, where the two confessed their feelings for one another, becoming as closer than they'd ever been with another person. As Apollo surged forward, his heirloom saber cutting through the Hidden King’s minions with terrifying precision, Graves commanded legions of skulls and ghouls to protect him. As Graves and her mentor drained the life out of the enemy guardian, Apollo was right by her side, defending her from the attacks coming their way.
The two were almost unstoppable
Almost
It was Apollo who first heard the sickening crackle of electricity racing towards them. He pulled his partner down, narrowly avoiding what could have been a fatal blow
“You could’ve warned me,” Graves teased.
“No time, Apollo stood, facing the man who emerged from the darkness. He was scary looking, wearing a prison jumpsuit and what looked like a tesla coil as a hat. His voice crackled and sparked as he spoke.
“Ah, young love, how fragile”
“I assure you,” Apollo declared, his voice dripping with measured confidence, “I am far from fragile.”
The man laughed a hollow, gravelly laugh as he sauntered forwards. Graves stood behind Apollo, summoning more Skulls to aid them both. A ball of lightning appeared in the enemy’s hand, before he let out a blast that separated the pair, Apollo and Graves each dodging in different directions.
“Dont start the party without me, seven” a woman’s voice, venomous, came from behind Apollo. Graves instinctually summoned grasping hands, trapping the woman in place, as she realised who she was looking at. Vyper, a career criminal and 14 time prison escapee, lurking in the shadows as the 3 fought.
Graves watched as the snake launched a dagger at her partner, aimed right for his spine. She dove without thinking, the dagger implanting itself in her shoulder, as Apollo whipped around, thrusting the tip of his saber directly through the woman's mouth, before swiftly slashing her throat. Apollo bent down, as graves struggled to breathe on the ground. The dagger had been poisoned, and Graves began to hyperventilate on the ground.
Apollo didn't notice as the ghostly figure behind him began to float, arcs of electricity streaking off of him. She felt her hair stand on end, as a storm cloud gathered above her.
“Apollo, help” she choked, barely able to speak. And just as she had dove for him, her lover shielded her, a blast of lightning implanting itself into his back. Graves reached out from under him with her mentor, draining the life out of the laughing ghost as Apollo took bolt after bolt of lightning. It was only the lich’s power, and her own will, that kept her conscious enough to watch their assailant fall from the sky, Apollo panting heavily above her as she faded into unconsciousness.
She didn't expect to wake up, less so in the archmother’s base, surrounded by her teammates. Most were unconscious, though she noticed Apollo next to her pale and wrapped in bandages himself.
“Darcy…” he said, almost a whisper, like he couldn't believe she’d woken up either. She tried to say something back, her words distorted into a strange choking noise, like they'd gotten stuck in her closing throat. She held out a hand to him, every muscle movement difficult and pained, resting it on his cheek.
“We did it, Darcy,” he choked, tears in his eyes, “we did it. And I was so scared.”
“I- I made my wish. For peace in ixia, for the wars to end. The archmother is waiting for you to recover before you make yours.”
Graves looked up at the ceiling. Her mentor’s voice was absent in her mind, and she had no idea what to wish for herself. She let her head roll back towards Apollo, tears welling in her own eyes. She managed to choke out three words.
“You- saved me”
“And you saved me, my love.”