Chapter Text
Part One: A New Valhalla.
I live, I die, I live again.
He does indeed live again. How, he does not know. The flames surrounding him, the charred flesh, the roar of the Rig and Rictus, bones splintering -
Her eyes on his, watching, witnessing -
He does not know, but the red he wakes to is not fire, though he is burned, burned bad. The glow he sees is not from the halls of Valhalla, the warmth he feels not its fires. He feels…he feels, and so lives…?
The red of her hair, the glow of her eyes, the warmth of her touch, skin soft and shine and chrome and -
His voice, like gravel and pain and sand, so rough. “…C…Capable?”
“Nux? NUX! Nux, oh God - FURIOSA! FURIOSA, HE’S ALIVE, HE SURVIVED, HE LIVES -!”
I live. I die. Nux’s thoughts are slow and drip through his mind like tar. But Capable, soft and sweet and cool, is near, and her hands cradle his skull. I live again.
Glory be, I live again.
His eyes are weak, can only squint against the harsh burning blue of the sky, but he finds a sweeter shade in her gaze. Her eyes are full of tears, full of water, precious and salty and flowing down her face. Water for him…why waste anything so precious on him?
Before he would have howled in anguish, once again denied a glorious death, the flame of Valhalla closed behind cold doors, barring him to a wasteland of sand and destruction and mediocrity.
But now…
There is more than one way to Valhalla.
It is not a hall, nor any place. It is red hair that glows scarlet in the sun, blue eyes that make him think of the same sweet comfort and bliss of Aqua Cola, lips that speak his name - “Nux, Nux, stay with me, we’ll get you back, the Citadel has medicine now that can - oh Nux, please, stay with me!” - as though it is a precious thing, as though he is wanted and brilliant and shine and chrome. Skin soft on his, he remembers how his scarred lips pressed against a cheek as soft as this…
Soft. Scarlet. Shiny and Sweet and Chrome and -
“Capable?” Stronger now, though still ragged.
“Yes, Nux, it’s me, I’m here -”
His fingers twine into soft scarlet. Mediocre, his mind screams at him, sounding so very much like Slit. Profane. How dare you?
Nux is able to ignore it. He licks his lips -they feel so raw- and lets himself look at her, drink her in, witness the balm of her glory.
His Valhalla has a new name.
“Capable. Take me…?” If you find me worthy.
Her hands twine about his, strong and steady. “Nux, I won’t leave without you.”
His eyes close at that, and his half-life heart makes a vow right then and there.
I’ll live again for you.