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"Thank you for playing with me."
The sentence was reapeated over and over again as gunshots rang out in the room.
He was frozen, and from the corner of his eye, he could tell his partner had tensed up.
Shakily, the teal haired boy opened his palm.
He did not need to count to know that he had 19 marbles. And that meant the other-
Gulping, he realized tears were streaming down his face when he looked up to meet the golden haired boy's gaze.
He was smiling at him through his own tears, his eyes tender.
At his soft expression, the older lost it and broke down. His lower lip twitched, and his lungs emptied themselves, leaving him a gasping, shuddering mess. His vision darkened and his feelings started to mix up together. Disgust first. How could he possibly have accepted to play the fair way? He didn't deserve to get out alive. He should have given up all of his marbles. Fear, then. He was so close to winning. What if he did, and had to continue without Aether after witnessing his death?
Despair. One of them had to die, leaving the other forever wounded. There was no escape to this.
Before he knew it, he was a shaking, sobbing little ball, whimpering and mumbling "no" incoherently.
Seeing his beloved in such a state, his partner swallowed up his own fear and reached out. He gently took hold of those trembling hands, slowly pulling them towards him. Then he cupped the other's face, and attempted to wipe away the tears that kept flowing out. He embraced him in a warm hug, whispering soothing words and rubbing his back in circles. When it seemed to him that his dearest had calmed down enough, the golden haired one placed his last time remaining marble in the other's hand, smiling at the choked cry he let out.
Breathlessly, he whispered :
"I want you to give me a real smile before I go, so that I see you happy one last time. Can... Can you do that for me, Xiao-daren?"
His heart was in pieces, and tears were threatening to fall once again from his eyes. Not wanting to go back to his previous broken shape, Xiao did his best to stay calm. Unable to find it in him to smile, he leaned to capture his lover's lips in a kiss.
Then held him close to his chest.
He wasn't going to ask why he had given up. He respected that choice, and even though it hurt like hell, he knew it would only hurt the other more if he refused.
"Aether."
His raspy voice was barely audible.
"...kiss me goodbye."
Aether offered him a sad smile and leaned in, their noses touching. He first placed tender kisses on both his cheeks, then one on his forehead, before trapping his lips against his. Xiao opened his mouth, letting his partner's tongue in. It was a languid, passionate kiss, the last one they would ever share, and it left them both breathless.
The teal haired boy inhaled, and as they stood, he gave the best smile he could muster at the moment.
They walked side by side towards the pink guard, who raised his gun.
"Promise me you'll take care of yourself and get out alive."
Xiao's throat tightened painfully, the relief from the kiss vanishing.
"I love you."
He teared up again.
The gun clicked.
"Take care in the afterlife."
His voice did not tremble.
His beloved traveler fell to the ground, still smiling.
Heartbroken, he turned around, slowly made his way to the designated room.
Room that he never reached.
"Ah-!"
Panting heavily, sweaty and sobbing was the Xiao that shot up in his bed.
He was strangely not with the other players, and someone was calling his.name behind the door.
He stared at it, open mouthed, and as he wasn't answering, the voice warned they were coming in, and the door opened to reveal a tired-looking golden haired boy.
"Ae...Ae...ther..."
He whispered, head dropping and tears streaming down his face.
He had just seen him die.
His mind was probably torturing him with visions, and he couldn't stop the painful hope from growing in his chest.
"Aether" gasped, closed the door and walked towards the adeptus. Xiao wouldn't meet his eyes, looking away and trying to hide his tears. The Traveler climbed on the bed and sat on Xiao's lap, who didn't so much as move.
Gently, he craddled the adeptus' face and turned it towards him.
His face was tear-stricken and contracted with pain, which made the golden haired boy'd heart clench painfully. Xiao still refused to meet his gaze, looking to the side.
"Darling, look at me please." He whispered.
The teal haired boy finally lifted his eyes, and let out a shaky breath.
He suddenly pulled Aether into his chest, arms wrapped around the smaller one protectively. Though he was doing his best at hiding them, his muffled cries were still audible.
"Love, what's-"
"N-name..."
He rasped out, taking a few sharp breaths.
"Pl...ease...s-say my n-name..."
He begged quietly.
Aether teared up at that. He knew Xiao often had nightmares, but it was the first time he had seen him THIS affected...
"Xiao." He called hesitantly.
"Again."
"X-Xiao."
"Again..."
"Xiao. Xiao please tell me what happened, Xiao-"
He was cut off by a sob.
Xiao was shaking and his grip on Aether tightened enough for him to feel his tense muscles.
"I'm s-sorry...I'm acting...like a child...I-"
"Don't apologize. Just try to relax. There is no shame to have." The Traveler soothed.
He listened to the adeptus' breaths evening a little.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly.
"I... Had a dream in which we had to play children's games to win an obscene amount of money..."
Xiao paused to take in a few deep breaths.
"...a-and the losers... the losers were k-killed. We-... We were playing in pairs for that round... You and I... And one had to take all the other's marbles to win..."
Aether's eyes widened.
"And... What about the other?"
Xiao's only response was to tighten his grip and to bury his face in the crook of his lover's neck.
Aether embraced him, and started to rub circles in his back. Xiao gasped, and grabbed his wrists, fear clearly painted on his face.
"Xiao...?"
"Y-you... In the dream-"
Aether seemed to understand, as he changed tactics and pinned Xiao on the bed, hugging his waist and laying his head on his chest.
That way, his lover could feel his weight and warmth, proof that he was still alive and well. Aether felt his hair being played with, and chuckled.
They stayed like that for a while, and eventually fell asleep, comfortably bathing in eachother's warmth.
Sonewhere, a voice rang out.
"Players 067, 456, e l i m i n a t e d.
END