“I’m The Gap Between A Comedy And Tradegy!”

“It’s okay if you cry, you know.” Griffin dragged their vision back to the girl standing right above them. Her face was empty, but her eyes still held emotion. Love, maybe. “I wouldn’t think of you any less. It’s just the way you are.”

“Gwen,” They whispered, heart pounding. “You don’t… we- we can find other ways to-…” The words died in their throat; Gwen tilted her head. They took in a shaky breath. “…Are you actually going to do this?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared down, unblinking. Like she was calculating a response that might hurt less- or more. Griffin didn’t know what was going on in her head anymore. It was terrifying.

“It’s what needs to happen, Griffin.” She replied, her voice eerily soft as she brushed a curl away from their face. They hoped she didn’t see how they flinched from the contact. “Don’t you want to be with me forever?”

“This is forever?” Gwen’s face dropped ever so slightly; Griffin felt themself panic ever so slightly. “This- no, fuck. Gwen, this isn’t forever!-“

“You still don’t understand.” The girl interrupted, leaning away from them, putting even more distance between the two of them. Griffin watched as she sighed and glanced to the dagger that was dangerously close to skin, then turned back at them. The softness from before washed over her face again almost instantly. “It’s okay, though.” She said reassuringly. “You don’t have to.”

Griffin couldn’t find the words to respond to that- how could they? They just stared up at her, as pathetic as it was. The sacrifice part of their curse was starting to really get to them- their bones felt numb, it felt like their lungs were closing in on themselves, and most importantly? There was no thought to fight back. The only thing that clouded their mind was give in, let her do this, fulfill their destiny or whatever- and God did they want her to sometimes. What would Vance think?

Right, Vance.

“I have a family.” They blurted. They’ve seen in newspapers and magazines and stuff that you should always talk about your life to someone about to kill you, let them see that you are a human being who loves and is loved so that they think twice about taking a life. But Gwen isn’t a killer. She’s a girl they thought they knew and loved- maybe they still did, who knows?

Gwen blinked, and they took the chance to continue. “I- um. I- I have a mom who’s finally being able to- to go to med school like she always wanted! She’s never been happier! And- and my dad- he- fuck, he loves us so much, Gwen, I can’t leave him, leave them,” They saw Gwen open her mouth to say something, but they kept going anyway, like family memories would do anything but make this whole situation worse.

“My sister- I’ve known her my whole life! You know Mustang! She- I- I can’t imagine life without her, and I’m pretty sure she can do the same for- for me! Gwen,” They took a shaky breath, finally catching her eyes. “Think about Vance.”

A tense silence passed between the two of them, Griffin’s chest heaving and tears threatening to fall but never quite getting there; Gwen stared with eyes Griffin didn’t recognize. After a beat, she leaned down and pressed her lips against theirs in a gentle, meaningful contact. She didn’t rush into it, keeping it slow and soft to savour the moment, it seemed. Her lips were cold, though, and Griffin didn’t stop staring after she pulled away.

That could have been romantic. They thought when she was far enough. Maybe if she wasn’t about to kill me.

A delicate finger traced their face, over freckles, flushed cheeks and brushed back tangled curls. Movements they recognized from late nights with her and the others, when everything was fine and no one was hurting this bad. With the look Gwen was giving them now, you would think she was about to ask Griffin to marry her. Would Griffin even say yes?

They let a breath leave their throat. “…You’re really going to do it.”

Gwen let herself smile, sweet and painfully Gwen. “Your ascension will be the best thing I’ll ever give to you.” She said softly, dabbing the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. Griffin felt their chest tighten as she fixed the dagger in her hand.

Then, she looked back at them. A beautiful, scrambled mess of devotion, worry, love, anticipation and insanity stared down at them. And that look alone brought Griffin to fully realize. She’s really going to do it. Right now, right in front of the others, too.

Unable to help themself, they stole a quick glance towards the others (they can’t do anything- why did they even bother?). The only one able to watch the sight was Ernesto, and even he was fumbling. They couldn’t blame any of them, though. They didn’t want to watch any of this, either.

“I’m going to be gentle with you.” Gwen said, Griffin’s head snapping back towards her at the sound of her voice. She traced the dagger across their shirt- Vance’s shirt. The coldness through the fabric made them shiver. “Show you how much I really care, Griffin.” She smiled sweetly.

Griffin watched helplessly as she pressed the blade against their skin, testing the waters. They were scared, so, so scared, but they couldn’t feel their body reacting to it anymore. Their heartbeat had slowed down, and their hands stopped shaking. Susannah mentioned how the curse has been building up for this moment, rendering them weak and useless just so they wouldn’t be trouble just for this ritual. They wondered if the curse would still make them feel the pain. Most likely.

“Can- can you make it quick?” They asked quickly, eyes going blurry as they tried to find the other’s eyes, panic seeping in. They were pleading, begging for the slightest hint of regret, that maybe they’d see the Gwen that used to sour at the thought of joining what her mother led. The Gwen that would never do this to them.

Nothing showed.

“Oh, Griff,” She cooed, like they were some child asking for extra cookies. “That’s not how the ritual works, you know that.” Another smile formed on her face as she brushed their hair back lovingly. “I love you.”