... what if Rurik didn't turn around?
Chapter Warnings: Gun violence, character death, suicide, swearing
The recommended music is 'Who We Want To Be' by Tom Day
***
"You won't get away with this! You took my husband... justice will be done!" the woman screeched. Rurik wrapped his left arm around Lotus' shoulder as he attempted to ignore her.
I won't entertain her tantrum. I've already been proven innocent, she'll just have to get ov-
*BANG*
The gunshot stunned the courtroom into silence, only broken by a pained grunt from his hooded companion.
Time seemed to slow as Lotus crumpled forward. Rurik threw his right arm out to catch him, easing him to the floor. His starry eye lights wavered in disbelief as he took in the hole piercing the smaller skeleton's back, a dark stain spreading from the epicenter.
No... please, no...
*BANG*
Another shot rang out, followed by a thud and screaming, but Rurik had more pressing concerns.
Concerns like the coughing, trembling body in his arms.
"I need a healer over here!" He shouted at no one in particular, knowing how ridiculous the request sounded considering most fell monsters were incapable of healing.
Still, he felt he had to try.
Focusing on the monster in his arms, he shifted them carefully to rest against his left arm and shoulder, softly pleading, "Lotus... Lotus, talk to me, dammit... please..."
The hooded skeleton opened his sockets, his red eye light dilated and fuzzy around the edges, his features radiating discomfort. Tears formed as the small skeleton shakily gasped, "Ru... rik... I... I'm s... sorry..."
Pulling the trembling skeleton into a gentle hug, Rurik shook his skull, nuzzling into their hood and retorting softly, "No, don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. It's my job to protect you and I let you get hurt..."
He registered the words he'd spoken, his anger slowly overriding his grief. He growled, "She hurt you... I'll hurt her... I'll kill that bitch for daring to-!" A cool hand pressed against his right cheek, interrupting his rant.
"Don't...," Lotus choked out, "...d... don't let her... take away... wh... what you... worked s... so hard for..."
Enveloping his companion's hand with his own, Rurik glared at the shooter only for shock to take its place. The woman laid in a pool of blood... someone else had already done the job for him. His rage drained away, having nothing left to direct it towards.
No one but me...
"Rurik..." Lotus' expression was a mix of pain and anger as he softly admonished, "...that look... stop it... it's... not your f... fault... I... I don't blame you... so stop it..."
Rurik smiled dolefully down at his partner before nodding solemnly.
Leave it to Lotus to know just what to say...
Lotus' face relaxed a bit as he asked, "Rurik...? C... Can you... promise m... me something...?"
"What is it?" Rurik questioned, leaning in close so he could pick up the smaller's faint voice.
"I know it's s... selfish... but please... promise me... you won't... fall b... back into... old habits... when... I-" the injured monster flinched, coughing and gasping before he could finish the sentence.
Rurik gripped the skeleton's trembling hand tighter, shaking his skull in denial. He fought his own tears down as he rasped, "Lotus, no. Don't you dare talk like that! We'll get you fixed up and everything will be fine... you've always been a fighter, so you can't give up now!"
"M'sorry...," Lotus wheezed, his words slurring together, "... Idon'... think I... I c... can fightit... 'istime. M... My body... 's already... too late..."
Rurik looked down, only now noticing the small pile of dust where Lotus' legs once were... and the process was working its way up his body slowly but surely.
No... dammit, anything but this!
"P... Please... Rurik...," the smaller begged amid staggered breaths, "promise... don'let this... destroy you... stay... th'monster... I lo... love... always..."
Those words broke through Rurik's composure, allowing the tears to cascade freely down his cheeks as he leaned in to gently kiss his boyfriend.
The spectators didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered... nothing but Lotus.
Sniffling, he released the kiss and whispered in a froggy voice, "Alright... I'll try. I'll try for you... for my precious flower."
The small skeleton smiled faintly, his sockets crinkling as he nuzzled into the taller's chest and murmured, "T... Thank you... I... I love you... Ru... rik..."
Rurik curled around the small skeleton as he replied in a tight voice, "I love you too, Lotus. I love you so much... more than words could ever say..."
Lotus hummed tiredly, his sockets sliding shut as his hand went limp in Rurik's. The skeleton screamed out his pain and sorrow as what remained of his boyfriend dissolved into dust, leaving behind a pile of bloodied clothing and a black metal band.
---
Rurik sat on the edge of his bed, a small bottle of sleeping pills grasped in his right hand with Lotus' favorite scarf dangling loosely in the other. He stared sullenly at a picture frame holding the reminder of what he once loved and lost. A vase of wilted roses was set next to it on the nightstand. Deep bags lined his sockets from the many sleepless nights he had endured since his partner's passing.
I'm sorry, Lotus... I could only last a month by myself. You were my reason for trying... but now... I can't do it anymore... not without you. I can feel myself slipping more and more each day... but I won't break my promise. I won't go back... with my last breath, I'll go out as the monster you loved.
Please forgive me for not being stronger.
He popped the lid off the bottle, pouring the contents into his waiting hand, then into his mouth. He winced as they grated against his throat but continued regardless. It wouldn't matter much longer anyway.
Staring at the empty bottle, he carelessly tossed it to the floor and settled himself on the bed with Lotus' scarf clutched to his chest. Minutes ticked by as a thick heaviness gradually seeped into his body, his thoughts wandering to his boyfriend as he felt the end approach.
I wonder if I'll see Lotus after I die... probably not. He was a good monster, and I'm not. There's no way... I'm going to the same place as him.
The room began to sway, the white of the ceiling melding with the afternoon rays of light filtering in through the window. It was almost as if he were being rocked to sleep.
Stars... I wish I... I c... could see'im again... t'hold'im... n'kiss'im... n'tell'im... I love'im... one... m... more...... time.......
...... my...... precious...... flower........ Lotus.........
One last tear slid down his skull as he let his sockets fall, hugging the crimson fabric close as he took his last breath and drifted into eternal sleep.
***
This chapter was one of my harder ones to write.
On one hand, I don't like to romanticize suicide since I don't want to give people the idea that taking their life is the end-all solution because it's not. But at the same time, Lotus and Rurik's relationship is a very co-dependent one, only being somewhat healthy as long as they're both alive. If one dies, the other won't be far behind since they have no one else in the world to turn to for comfort or support.
For Rurik, Lotus is his grounding force and his reason to change. Without Lotus to encourage his progress or calm him down, he feels there's no reason to try being 'good' anymore... and the promise he made effectively doomed him to either kill himself to preserve his sanity or break his promise and descend into madness.
For Lotus, Rurik is his protector and his mental stability. Without Rurik there to watch his back or validate his existence, it would only be a matter of time before he's overwhelmed by a group of monsters and killed or he takes his own life. And unlike last time, Rurik wouldn't be there to stop it.
Word Count: 1,115