Work Text:
Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.
With one fell swoop, Goncharov was spiked to the boat floor. His death, guaranteed.
Over him, the dark outline of Joseph Morelli was hunched, taking slow deep breaths as he readied his hands for another swing of his ice pick.
For a moment, it was as though time had stopped.
There was silence across the dark lake, illuminated only by the gentle moonlight. Under different circumstances, Goncharov would have deemed the tranquility almost romantic.
Even the trees were still. Over Josephs' shoulder, Goncharov could see the stars, their light slowly dimming into an eternal black.
He coughed and gurgled, breaking the silence as blood poured from his mouth.
"Joseph...please...."
"Please, don't leave me..."
Joseph bent down, encompassing Goncharov's view. A hand loosened from the ice pick to stroke his bloodied cheek.
Blood spluttered out his mouth, as Josephs thumb came to rest on his lower lip, still as kissable as the day he'd first laid eyes on him.
"Vita Mia, it is time for you to go."
Joseph moved back, regaining hold of the ice pick. He yanked, pulling it free of Goncharov's torso, blood quick to fill and spill from the ice picks' hole.
As blood splashed onto the boat floor, a second splash accompanied it as the ice pick was thrown into the lake.
Joseph looped an arm around Goncharov's waist, lifting him off the inner hull. Face to face once again, he looked into Goncharov's face. Funny how someone who could famously light a room with his smile, now didn't even have light behind his eyes.
And with a small twist, Joseph let go.
He watched Goncharov, and his love, sink beneath the lakes' shadowy depths, until all was serene.
~*~*~*~