Chapter Text
There was a story, the story of his arrival to the holy grounds— the only story that wasn’t a part of the holy books and yet, they were allowed to hear.
Two time had clung onto it as a child of misery, repeating the words on their stubborn head in a prayer.
It goes like this…
“In the woods there was a creature, small yet feared by the members of the Spawn religion. It was a small thing, feral in attitude, that was known for causing misfortune for the church during the night.
Few people had seen the skittish creature that sneaked into the gardens and destroyed the crops with ferocious hunger. It was said to be a ghost or a demon, corrupted and searching for vengeance due to its sins.
The leader of the religion had grown very concerned about these rumors yet was unable to catch the feared ghost. The thing continued wreaking havoc among the community, leaving muddy footprints on the kitchen, watching the children from a far or making items disappear into thin air.
A child of sin, some people murmured; a demon of misery, others claimed. A feral thing that had grown without the proper rituals, snatching their parents' sin and roaming around to cause chaos.
One night, the holy Spawn had enough of the chaos. The deity had contacted the leader in all of its merciful glory.
“Rise Amarah, for there is a lost soul to guide” The deity had spoken with clear certainty “Show it the path of light, guide it through the night”
With those words it had disappeared completely, leaving the leader standing alone in their small house. For once, the man decided to venture deep into the forest to search for the ghoul. How could he fret if he had his god by his side after all?
And so, Amarah had found them.
They had been a feral thing, matted hair weighing their scalp down, while a torn dirty purple dress had swamped their gangly limbs. Amarah said they had been covered in sin with eyes as dead as a corpse, a disgusting sight. Yet, the Spawn had taken mercy upon them and so, Amarah had taken them to the church.
They had bitten and screeched about it, bruises mixing with the blood and various cuts in an unsightly way. It contrasted with their porcelain skin in a way that would make any other human repulsed.
Amarah decided to do a cleansing ritual, trying to erase some of the sin of their soul before taking them in. The man had coated the child’s skin in symbols with the help of some lamb blood before bathing them.
The disciple had given them a name. Two time, the one who was given a second chance, Amarah would whisper softly while brushing their hair softly.
Two time, the one that carried too much sin for their lifetime.”
At nine years old, Two time had begged for the story even if they had grown past the age of bed time stories. After all, they knew nothing of their past.
Occasionally, they would hear a passing maid cooing about how cute they looked now. Sometimes a mother would recall that time back when they were a feral child, a five year old, as the women of the community claimed with a smile— and a “so glad to see your better sweetie”
Two time didn’t remember being sick, being that scary.
They think it makes sense why they are stuck inside the churches walls, unable to go outside. The thought makes something ugly curl on their chest, making their eyes well up with tears and something that hurts. It might be the sin Amarah tells them they are carrying.
Their days were boring, a cycle of lessons that never seemed to end. Two time had asked to leave sometimes, asked if they were pure enough to let the wind color their face pink while they ran with the other kids. It wouldn’t end well for them, as Amarah will remind them that those are sinful thoughts of them still running rampant or just punish them depending on how much they had annoyed the man.
“It’s your sinful soul asking you to corrupt the rest, my dear” Amarah would tell him while caressing their cheek. And then with an impossibly sad voice the disciple would say. “I thought you were getting better, Two time. Are you sure you aren’t slacking on your lessons?”
It would make them feel awful because they didn’t want to corrupt other kids. Two time hadn’t even thought of it.
Still they smiled as they spent all of their time in the libraries, occasionally reading or just watching the rest of the children play in the gardens. The whole thing made a bitter feeling rise up their throat, one that they would scold themselves on having— Jealousy was a sin after all.
A soft rasp came from their open lips as they continued reading the passage in front of them, his stomach cramping from the lack of food, while they took notes on a small notebook next to them. Distractions were a form of temptation— a mistake that Two time wasn’t willing to commit once more.
“Sin can be passed down by the mother to their babies” Their voices echoed softly, a rasp from the lack of use. “If during the beeirth-ing? process the mother dies, her soul would cleanse the child from carrying it to adulthood”
That seemed unfair, was Two time condemned to sin for the rest of their life?
“If the mother lived, the child would have to go through an ee-man-ce-pation? Emancepaation? (What an odd word) ritual” Two time mumbles before shutting the book with a frown.
Their eyes sting with tears as they force themselves to see the gardens around them, eyes glancing over the clouds with a sad smile.
They turn their head to look at the librarian with a panicked glance, half expecting her to rat them out for not studying. After all, Two time has to memorize this passage by next sunrise or they’ll get in so much trouble. It makes them uneasy, but the book makes them feel worse.
They bite their lip, watching the tall oak bookshelves before deciding to look outside once more. Just a little break until the librarian is back, yes, then they can go back to studying once more.
They turn around once more to look at the window. There are children running around after a ball, free smiles on their dirt-caked faces, and they laugh loud and free. Two time wonders how they are allowed to do so? To speak freely as if they were an adult.
“Children are to be seen not heard, dear.” the disciple would murmur as he combed his hair. “A good child obeys orders without complaining” Amarah had told them every time they spoke outside their lessons. Once they had burst out laughing and Amarah had been annoyed about it. “You know better than to make that much noise inside of the holy grounds.”
Which is dumb since Two time is not allowed outside of the holy grounds. Their room is literally in the belfry of the church, and they are not allowed outside unless the building is burning down.
“You look sad” A gentle voice interrupts their thoughts, another kid just like them. Quieter than the rest, weeding a small part of the garden by the window instead of playing with the other kids.
The simple observation takes them by surprise, normally most children would avoid them— passing by without a single care.
Their eyes watch the boy with a frown, after all, Two time wasn’t meant to be sad. The boy doesn’t seem creeped out since he just waits patiently, silver eyes continuing to tend to the dirt.
“‘M not” Two time snaps with a rasp, watching the flowers littering the voice hat with curiosity. They had never seen flowers like that before, maybe those grew in another part of the garden.
“Okay” The boy hums with a warm smile, tilting his head almost as if he was confused by the denial.
Both of them spend time like that, Two time watching the boy garden while the book lays forgotten on the desk next to them.
Then there’s a shout in the wind, a woman calling to the boy with a sweet smile from across the garden. Two time watches as the boy stands up, cleaning his robes and grabbing his hat from the wet grass. He gives them the warmest smile someone had ever given them and a wave before running after his mother.
Two time watches him leave with a frown, as they expects this to be a one in a time thing. The book on their hands feels heavy as they open it once more, going back to studying his notes.
But the boy doesn’t leave.
He comes every time to the small window even when there’s nothing to garden, sometimes he asks questions; other times he just talks about whatever is going on with his life. And Two time knows they are not meant to have friends, to corrupt other children, but they can’t help it.
And after the second week, Two time finally spoke again.
It’s a sunny day, and the boy, Azure as he had told them, was rambling next to them with a calm smile. Questions that aren’t quite expected to be answered thrown into a mix of different stories or rambles about plants. Maybe it’s the calmness of the situation but the next time Azure throws a question at them, they find themself answering it.
“Elise tried to do some pirouette during class, ended up falling against the board and got tangled in one of the curtains” Azure eyes shine with amusement, as a chuckle falls from his lips. The whole thing makes Two time smile. The whole thing sounded funny. “Why don’t you join our classes? It could be fun”
“I can’t” Two time rasps, while grabbing a nearby book. Azure goes quiet, a surprise yet overjoyed smile lighting his face. Two time fiddles with their sleeves before continuing. “I’m not supposed to talk to anyone”
“Oh, mmm, why not?” Azure tilts his head while he waters the plants around them.
And Two time doesn’t want to answer that question, but more than anything they don’t want Azure to leave. They look into Azure’s calm patient eyes and the soft smile of his lips while they think.
Two time doesn’t want to lie.
“Well, I’m sick” Two time blurts out with a grimace, hands tangled together. “Like soul sick. And Amarah doesn’t want my sin to spread. It can corrupt others or like- I dunno, harm them?”
“Well mm…” Azure goes quiet for a second, searching for something in the garden with a frown. “So you are supposed to have bad energy?”
“Mmm… I guess?” Two time mumbles, suddenly nervous but unwilling to look at their friend. There’s an awkward silence falling over both of them as Two time tries to swallow any negative feeling.
“Give me your hand please” Azure mumbles with a calm voice, carefully grabbing their pale hand and taking it into his tan skin.
There’s some sort of plant on their hand, a closer look to them reveals a piece of rue, and Two time can’t help but watch with a confused frown on their lips.
“My mama said that rue absorbs bad energy and becomes really yellow when someone with evil intentions is near” Azure proclaims with a toothy grin, hand pressing the rue against Two time’s hands.
The whole thing makes something warm settle into their body, as they wait with bated breath for the plant to reveal whatever it’s supposed to be doing.
“Oh would you look at that?” Azure teases, prying Two time’s hands open after a few minutes.
Two time looks at the plant, expecting it to be wilting. Amarah had been sure that Two time had a negative influence, it was the reason they were inside the church in the first place.
Yet instead, the plant is green. Completely intact against their porcelain skin.
“I knew it, you aren’t evil” Azure says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
And Two time looks into Azure’s pure trusting eyes, watching the giddy smile and the gentle hands. They wonder if maybe Azure is just too pure to be corrupted. There’s warmth spreading through their ribcage, making their eyes sting at the edges.
For the first time in years, they cry. Silent tears staining their face, blotching it, mixing the redness with the deep eyebags they already carry.
Azure looks confused before humming a soft tune through the air, hands wanting to reach through the window and hug them, yet too small to do so. Two time’s already ghostlike appearance must look worse with the ugly mess of emotions on their face.
Yet, Azure stays until sunset next to them, refusing to move even when his mom comes to pick him up. There’s a rising panic coming through their throat as the woman watches through the window, one that makes Two time hide from view.
The woman frowns at the motion, but she doesn’t look mad.
Slowly, Two time peeks through the window once more, watching the woman hand Azure some sort of food while scolding him softly about missing lunch.
“Hello sweetheart, are you hungry?” Her voice is full of warmth as she reaches a hand into her basket. “I imagine neither of you kids, have moved from this spot in a while”
Two time doesn’t respond, just blinking at her with wide distrusting eyes. The expression on the woman’s face goes impossibly sad as she passes them a wrapped sandwich. The food smells delicious, the scent making their mouth water, as they turn to look at the librarian.
There’s nobody watching Two time eat and they can’t refuse an adult, right? That would be rude. Their eyes turn to look at the woman once more, titling their head in the direction of the food.
“It’s for you sweetness, I already ate.” She replies with a warm smile.
Oh, now it made sense why Azure was immune to their sickness.
It was hereditary.
In a few blinks the place turns fuzzy, edges softening and colors mixing together in a kaleidoscopic illusion.
…
Oh, It’s a memory.
Silly Two time.
Azure isn’t down there with them.
Azure is alive, alive at the temple and far away from the clutches of Two time’s corruption.
They wake up from the memory with sorrow filling their entire body, it’s been way too long since they have dreamt of the man. Two time stands up from the bed, almost sprinting to the bathroom in the process, desperate to start their routine. They have to pray before the rounds after all.
A numbness falls over their body as they watch their body, lean limbs and sharp jawline. A contrast from the almost delicate profile of their childish body, baby fat disappearing and they wonder why they feel so out of place. Of course it was a dream. Two time wasn’t a mere child anymore, they were nineteen and stuck inside of this purgatory.
They look into the mirror with a lopsided almost hysterical grin, features twisting into something ugly and predatory. The fact that Two time had managed to corrupt someone like Azure, someone pure, with something as intoxicating as love.
By the Spawn aren’t they unsurprised they had ended up in this purgatory as a punishment for such an ugly devotion.
Slightly manic, they stumble out of the bathroom and into the open bedroom. Watching the discarded items scatter across their feet in a messy choir, oh, they ought to clean this place. Two time eyes scan the cabin before grabbing a bowl and their dagger for any prayers.
The tick tack of the imposed clock of the realm is silent for the first time since their arrival, a truly interesting development, yet they find their mind oddly serene in its fractured nature.
It’s one of those days where the Spawn grants them the gift of being able to watch their beloved through illusions. Oh isn’t that grand? Their merciful god is allowing them a single reprieve from the hell where they are allowed to spend the rest of eternity.
They had died, they had died and paid for the sin of loving. The sin of creating life without permission. Two time is quite grateful the Spawn is kind enough to pardon Azure for Two time’s wrongdoings. Sure, the other man had sinned, but he had done so due Two time’s influence.
As they stare into one of the frail illusions of their flower, a very ungrateful wish fills their sinful mind— they wish they were able to see Azure’s eyes once more, to memorize the shade just like they spent many days in the past. They dismiss the thought as soon as possible, after all, they are grateful they can still admire the other man.
The day already felt slightly suffocating and the rounds of slaughter had yet to begin, which is really quite odd. A faint hum falls from their lips as they turn around in the direction of the main cabins, mumbling a few prayers on their way.
A man stops them, curly blonde hair held in a messy bun as a red visor adorned their face.
“Come on, Two. It’s time for breakfast” Elliot, the healer, starts guiding them to the communal cabin with a frown.
It was not unknown the distaste others held for Two time as a person. They had an aversion to the great Spawn, as the deity had pointed it out to them in one of the rounds. Whether it was mere ignorance or just cowardice the feeling that fueled the survivors was something Two time didn’t quite know.
As they ask for the Spawns' guidance once more, their feet enter the loud living room of the communal living space.
The rest of the sinners were all talking among themselves, probably anticipating the rounds before they started. Two time wondered what sin the rest had committed to end up in hell, was it heresy? Maybe. After all, heresy is a worse sin than the one they had carried in their womb.
Mm… It’s been a while since Two time had thought about it. They wonder why the Spawn is allowing these memories to flood their already tainted mind. The line of questioning is immediately shut down as they continue to traverse the space before arriving at their seat.
"May the Spawn bless you, healer. Fret not, I shall not eat to day. As it was demanded by the great Spawn.” Two time replies once they catch the healers eyes on them, an easy smile on their lips.
Elliot purses his lips before nodding silently, clearly unhappy with their decision yet respectful enough of their religion to not push.
“Okay, how about you drink something then?” Elliot offers them a smoothie of some sorts with some granola on it. “The rounds are exhausting already”
They supposed that held truth to it, after all, they would be nothing but a nuisance if they were to faint in front of the killers of the realm. Death might not be permanent due to their bodies already being dead, but it was still unwise to add time to the clock.
“That would be acceptable, may the Spawn bless you” Two time grabs the purple drink carefully.
They just have the worst possible feeling about today, almost as if the Spawn is trying to warn them of something that they do not understand. It was a hollow feeling residing on their stomach like a parasite, the sense that something was going to go wrong.
That there was something important going to happen.
With a grimace, they down the whole drink on one go before standing up.
A faint tick tack invaded the cabin as the teletransportation to their hell began.
Surely the Spawn would protect them, so there is no reason to worry.
The quiet uncertainty follows them through the rounds like a heavy cloud they can’t quite shake no matter how hard they try to. Only growing heavier by the second as the rounds passed around them without a single incident. There was no new addition to the killer's team and there was no new survivor past lady Jane who spent most of her time in the dusty basement.
Yet somehow the air around them felt like it was suffocating them.
The Spawn would protect them in this realm as it is a merciful deity yet the fear refused to vanish as it should. Maybe the Spawn had allowed that feeling to fester in their gut as a consequence of their sins once more, a small punishment.
The rounds continue, and they feel themself becoming distracted from their hunters— mind focused on praying for the feeling to disappear. It does not vanish like it should after the rounds are over, in fact, it sharpens. The danger must not be over then. Their deity must be warning them of something.
They focus on their prayers as they fall to their knees, a sharp sting on their cuts that they ignore. Two time begins their daily prayers with soft concentration, calmness pouring over every single rehearsed line.
Then a sharp cacophony of voices interrupt their concentration, a scandal from inside of the communal cabin, a scream that shatters any ounce of calm they had accumulated from their prayers. Perhaps a new danger had occurred inside of the lively place, if not the Spawn would be very displeased at the interruption.
Two time dusts their robes with gentle hands before standing up with an annoyed huff, and walking to the communal cabin.
The first thing they notice is the basement door closed with a small note on the front which is odd. Lady Jane is often too caught up on her investigations to leave the makeshift office, and because of that she leaves the basement door always open. It’s a way of keeping the healer from worrying about her health.
The second is the almost still silence radiating from the cabin. That’s perhaps the most alarming detail of the whole ordeal. After all, the cabin was always bursting with noise at these hours— sounds of complaints and gambles coming from within it.
Oh Spawn, what have these fools done?
They pry the door open with a heavy frown as they walk inside of the cabin.
Almost every eye turns to look at them with wary expressions, a pair of baskets lay on the coffee table next to a few boxes of supplies.
Huh, why would that cause such a reaction?
Chance blocks their view with a nervous smile, sunglasses shielding his eyes as the man fidgets in one place. Two time raises an eyebrow at the man’s actions, after all, it was clear that Chance was wary of them on a good day.
“Ey time, watcha doing?” Chance whispered.
“All of you have caused quite the ruckus, I grew curious I must admit” Two time hums while watching the other man. While Chance was a decent liar, he also was known for his loud tone of voice— the fact that he’s whispering gives the man away.
The Spawn is displeased by the intrusion, clearly wishing for them to look at the basket for some reason.
“Any chance you just turn around and go to sleep?”
“No, I’m afraid not. The Spawn is displeased by your behaviour, we are teammates are we not?” Two time finds themself growing more annoyed by each passing second.
They know the rest do not trust them, yet hiding something clearly important was going to end up poorly for everyone.
“Mhm… you cuties are okay now, aren’t you?” Lady Jane’s voice interrupts the argument as she coos over the baskets. It’s the happiest Two time had ever seen her, sure there’s still some sort of sorrow on her short body.
Oh huh, is it some sort of animal? Maybe the rest were worried they might use the creature for the rituals. Which Two time would never do, especially if the innocent creature was brought here as company.
“Jane!” Chance whispers frustrated, clearly upset at the fact that Two time had heard the woman’s rambling.
“Well, this is not something we are going to be able to hide from them, is it?” The woman replies with a frown. “Might as well rip the bandage off.”
Thank the Spawn for the woman’s intervention, since the rest of survivors clearly lack common sense.
“She’s right.” The soldier steps in with a calm smile. “Alright, you can see them but give me the dagger first”
“Must I? The Spawn does not harm innocents, soldier” Two time finds themself growing annoyed at the notion. The implication that they would harm something that’s clearly fragile offends them.
“My nightshade, please. Now it’s not a time to argue” Azure’s faint voice echoes their ears, calming them. It seems the Spawn had sent their beloved to reassure them.
“Yes, none of the sentinels are wearing their weapons either.” The soldier raises a hand to a far shelf where Chance’s gun, Shedletsky’s sword and Lady Jane’s axe are visible. “It’s a safety thing”
Well, Two time supposes it would be unfair for them to retain their dagger in that case, and the Spawn does not take kindly to selfish behaviours. So, finding themself calmer— they give the dagger to the soldier.
They take a step next to the woman, eyes peering into the basket before going completely still.
Their permanent smile drops as their hands shake violently— their blood feels icy against their veins as the haze of their mind seems to shatter violently.
By all accounts, what’s in front of them makes no sense.
Two time had done everything right, they had died to purify their small souls— why were they here?
Why were their babies stuck here?
There’s an animalistic sound falling through their lips as they pinch their skin to try and shatter whatever sick illusion was in front of them. The Spawn was supposed to keep them safe. It feels like their mind is deforming under the pressure as voices surround them with quiet questions.
How can they begin to articulate the fact that they had failed? Either their soul was too corrupted for the sacrifice or the Spawn had decided to punish both of them too.
Oh and they were so very small,
With calm content expression, inside the basket and covered snuggly with blankets, lay a pair of twins that Two time had been only able to hold once.
Had been able to hold through the feverish haze of blood loss and sharp scent of medical herbs while Amarah’s prayers invaded their mind. Yet somehow had memorized every single feature of those furrowed brows, of those small lips. As the Spawn reclaimed their life in exchange for the cleansing of the twins' souls.
As if in a trace, they uncover the babies faces.
On the first one there’s a puny fist wrapped around a purple blanket, a cat plushie resting next to her, and chubby porcelain cheeks that are slightly reddened from the heat. “Bella” the name fell naturally through their lips, named after Azure’s favorite nightshade. A hand carefully caressed the baby’s cheek, curls of reddish brown hair framing her face— the same one her father used to have.
They force their gaze to switch to the other sleeping infant.
Her twin was almost the complete opposite of her, with a slight tan and wild black curls adorning his face. Aiden, a name that meant sun, one of the only things Two time could give him. The yellow blanket that frames his chubby face as he slumbers the day away.
They looked older, probably three months old now.
And they were stuck, here, with Two time’s corrupted soul.
In a never ending purgatory.
There’s a pressure, tugging at the edge of their mind, heart threatening to burst out of their ribcage and stain the floorboards deep crimson. There’s someone talking, a mix of annoyance and soft concern that they can’t even begin to understand. They plead to the Spawn for answers, for the soft voice on their mind, yet it remains silent.
Everything makes Two time dizzy with desperation that feels foreign in their aching body, as they try to grab the baskets closer to them. The twins feel too far away in the fog and Two time needs them near.
They had lost three months of their lives-
A sudden thought crept through their mind almost parasitic in nature, a reminder of the round of slaughter— would their children be submitted to them? Would they have to feel their lives slipping away before they could even comprehend what death was supposed to be?
Oh Two time had damned them.
The spiralling thought is enough to send adrenaline through their body.
A hand, blue skin that should be familiar, grips their arm as it begins to drag them away while scolding them for something. Something they can’t understand. Two time can barely register anything but the fact that they are being taken away from their babies— babies they hadn’t seen and wouldn’t be able to protect.
The last thing that they had from Azure apart from the Spawn’s illusions.
Something snaps on the back of their mind, as they bite, scratch and screech about it.
That doesn’t do anything but add the hands around their body, and in their dishonorable state they plead. They plead even when that’s heresy against of the Spawn’s wishes, and they plead for anyone to hear them.
Two time doesn’t think they can’t handle leaving their babies alone once more.
For a second, they don’t care that they are making the Spawn mad.
They could repent later, they would, they swear.
They swear, they swear, just let them have their babies please…
Please they know they are far too young, they’ll do better.
Amarah please-
The hands let them go almost immediately after that, and Two time falls to their knees roughly. There’s a pair of gentle hands helping them sit down before carefully leaving the two baskets next to them, their babies.
A soft haze descends over their mind, and they wonder if the Spawn had taken control over their thoughts or if their mind had simply shattered next to their heart. There’s a numbness spreading through their body as a pair of strong arms carefully start adjusting their arms.
There’s someone humming at them, carefully wiping their sweaty hair from their forehead before laying one of the babies on their arms gently. The smell of thick floral perfume surrounds them while the voices around them argue in a cacophony of confusing sounds. The arms don’t go away, even as there’s some stomping around the place— the thick floral perfume remains there.
“Bella” They hum rocking the child on their arms with a hazy smile.
“That’s her name?” A deep voice speaks, a soldier, as he gives them a kind smile. The man is familiar but their mind can’t quite recognize him. Had the Spawn sent him to check on them. Two time nods, carefully adjusting the blanket so the baby’s face is clear for the man.
“It fits her, a cute name for a cute little face” A sweet voice coos with a smile, carefully reaching to adjust the plushie on the baby's arm.
A woman reaches to sit next to them, carefully holding the other basket in her hands. Slowly, she scoots until she’s sitting right next to Two time— near enough that they can see the slumbering baby on her lap but far enough that she’s not touching their skin.
“What’s his name?” The soldier interrupts kneeling in front of both of them with a patient voice.
Two time turns to look at the woman next to them, before growing calm. The woman is familiar, she’s safe and if she’s okay with the soldier… then the soldier's good too. Hmmm… what was the question again? Their eyes scan the place before settling on the basket on the woman’s arms.
“Aiden” They mumble.
The baby on their arms starts fussing, small whimpers escaping her little lips as she smacks them together with a frown. It made Two time confused, are they holding her wrong? Their mind is horribly hazy and they can’t comprehend what’s the thing she’s asking for. Two time tries to force themself to think a little harder, they don’t want to fail-
But they still don’t understand.
“Two, it’s fine dear” The sweet voice hums as the woman’s perfume soothes their mind. “Breathe, c’mon, you're okay”
They hadn’t even noticed that their breaths had gotten ragged, sounding like a rusty whistle against their contorted ribcage.
“It’s okay, she’s just hungry” The soldier mumbles before turning around to talk with a nearby person, his expression turning into a frown. “There’s no formula, can you feed her?”
“Hungry” They mouth before nodding with glazed eyes, reaching to take their top off and the binder without much thought.
“Wait-” The soldier doesn’t get to finish before the woman gently throws a black jacket over their naked breasts, covering the baby's nursing face with a sigh.
Two time tilts their head confused before continuing to nurse the baby on their arms with a hazy mind. They alternate with a soft hum, the action barely registering on their hazy brain as the soldier helps them hold the children with something similar to grief on the man’s face.
A faint illusion forms in the corner of their eyes, tracking the almost warm colors of the field that is slowly bleeding into the cabin. It’s blurry on the edges, as a familiar silhouette appears to be gardening.
Azure.
Two time smiles, mumbling the name before showing the little girl on their arms to the faint discolored person. It’s warm as the man approaches, his eyes are covered by the hat, and a piece of shiny hair is falling in front of his face while purple flowers adorn his hat. Bittersweet nightshades, their beloved’s favorite flowers, contrasting over the brown of his outfit.
A faint voice is talking, a noise that they can’t quite comprehend through the haze of their mind. The man steps in front of the basket, smiling warmly before continuing his gardening.
“-hey, hear me?” There’s a hand over their forehead, taking their temperature while the woman’s eyes focus on the spot where Azure is.
“Jane— could be a fever hallucination?” A deep voice echoes.
“No— they have their normal cold temperature” The woman, Jane, says scooting closer to them with furrowed brows. "Dear, what is there? what do you see"
“Azure” Two time replies almost mesmerized, a hazy smile on their lips.
“Azure? Hey—- are these hallucinations common?” Jane whispers to someone next to her, a concerned face before it becomes a frown. “No– they are not being their usual creepy self nor a personality quirk— this is serious. No one took note of it? What if they happen during rounds—”
Two time lets the feeling of her perfume calm the argument around them while they continue watching his beloved garden with that same serene smile he always wore.
"Okay, it doesn't matter— please, focus dear." Jane sounds uncomfortable, her smile wavering. "What's Azure doing?"
“Gardening” Two time states like it’s something obvious.
“Alright— ‘m not equipped to deal with this– let’s go to your room hm?” Jane says with shaky hands, while another man helps them to their feet.
There are gentle hands pulling Two time to their feet, it's confusing. They can't manage anything else but a soft puzzled hum, trying to understand why they did that. Azure is here, distant.
The person is taking them away from Azure, which they don’t want. Why can’t they stay here? Two time doesn’t want to go to their room. They want to stay here.
"Azure?" Two Time asks softly, eyes trailing on the corner of the room. "No, no, please Azure." Tears falling slowly through their cheeks.
The man stops, standing next to Jane with a familiar hard hat on his head.
"Do ya' hear me? Kid, it's fine. Azure is welcome to follow ya' once…they finish gardening" The man mutters gruffly, resuming their job as a guide once Two time is calmer. "Ain't no way ya aint tired after today. I'm sure those babies are too. Ya need to sleep."
Yeah okay, that made sense.
Two time gives the man a wary smile before handing one of the baskets to Jane and letting themself be guided out of the room. It’ll be bad for the babies to not sleep, yeah, Azure will understand.
There’s a serene smile on their lips as they continue down the path.
Yeah, maybe tomorrow things will make sense.