#captain's arc

Persian would have been lying if he said that the shadow didn't scare him. However what scared him more, was Vela and Kibidi plunging their way more into his plans. So as soon as the shadow had left, he left as well, walking across the sand, making the full half circle to be able to get back to the tower. He flew up and then went over to Flynt. He looked at him. "Neither Vela or Kibidi here?"

Flynt looked over to Persian now as he entered into the tower. "Persian! No, they both left a bit ago. Just us again." He had the softest smile under his mask. He was so sweet. Persian moved, going over to Flynt and hugging him closely. Persian's hands moved, slowly going over Flynt's mask, feeling the texture, it almost felt like stone, but the mask was lighter than stone.

"I didn't want to bother you while you were with them." He shrugged softly. "You seemed like you needed to see them, and I respect that, I respect you, always, my love." If Flynt's face was visible he would be blushing so deeply at that moment.

"Thank you, Pers." He hugged closer to Persian now. Staying close to him. Persian put his hand onto the back of Flynt's head, lightly caressing his hair, feeling the softness of Flynt's hair. His hand traveled down to the band that kept Flynt's hair out of his face, down to the curve of his mask and then to the eyepatch where Flynt had his missing eye.

"Y'know, sweetheart. You never told me about your eye. Do you think you'd be willing to explain?" Persian now asked. Flynt paused now. He.. He hated rethinking the memory, it hurt him. Every time he thought of it, it hurt him.

"Sure. I'll tell you." He didn't want to. Was this an invasion of his privacy? No. It couldn't be. He was willingly telling Persian. He really needed to stop making this more about himself than it was.

"I don't exactly remember who did it. I can't remember her face at all. But I remember she cared for me. She taught me how to swim, she taught me how to cook my salmon, she treated me as he son. She loved me, she really did. But sometime, I don't remember when, she just. She changed. She kept talking about how the light was too much, how it was hurting her head, how much she had a headache. She. She looked at me, she told me I was glowing, I thought that she meant it as a compliment, but instead, she moved to me, said I was glowing too much, that I needed to be turned down. She. She slammed my head into the wall next to us, cracking my mask, before realizing she could take off my mask. So she took it off. Then she dug her two fingers into my eye, ripping it out, harshly. It. It really hurt. And." Flynt stopped talking now.

Persian hugged him close. "It's okay sweetheart, you don't need to say anymore. Thank you for telling me." It was a perfect story, one Persian could easily copy.

He looked around the small area now, he paused. "Flynt..? What's that?" Flynt turned around now, to be able to see exactly what Persian was looking at.

"Oh! That's the vial Kibidi gave me. It a small potion, supposed to make me glow." He laughed softly. "She had told me that she thought I'd be the one to like those kinds of spells." Flynt was lying. That was a first. He had never lied before. Especially not to Persian. Why would he lie? He trusted Persian deeply, Persian wouldn't do anything about it anyways. There was no danger, there never was.

Persian nodded softly. He walked towards the vial, letting go of Flynt. "A glow spell?" He looked at it, holding it in his hand now. Then it slipped, shattering onto the ground. "Oh shoot! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-!"

Flynt raised his hands, his palms facing towards Persian. "It's okay! It's okay! Truly! It was just a glow spell! I can get another from her some other time! It's okay." Persian turned to Flynt now, he moved, walking towards Flynt and holding his hands. "Are you sure? Truly sure? I'm so sorry, my love." He pressed his mask to Flynt's.

"I'm sure it's okay, I can always get another, I swear." Flynt confirmed, Persian then smiled and pulled away. "Okay, good. Again, I'm sorry."

Persian seemed to think for a moment. "Do you wanna go for a walk, through the realms real quickly, I dunno. We haven't gone for a while, I thought it would be nice." Flynt now brightened up at Persian's idea.

"I'd love that!" Flynt hugged onto Persian again. He knew he didn't need to use that spell. He trusted Kibidi's word, he truly did. But he knew Persian wasn't isolating him! Right now there was clearly proof! They were gonna leave! They were gonna head somewhere! And Flynt was more than happy with that, he was so happy. He didn't realize how happy he was to leave until just now. Maybe that was something he needed to talk about to someone, but currently? Not right now! He was getting to go on an adventure with his boyfriend!

Flynt let go of Persian, he got a small bag and packed his things, Persian looked at Flynt as he did that. "You don't need to pack much, sweetheart. We're not gonna be gone long. Not even more than a day, I just wanted us to leave for a while." Flynt now turned to Persian. He put his stuff away.

"Got it!" He grabbed his torch. Then headed back to Persian, there they held hands, going to the edge of the tower, then pushing off and heading towards the boat to leave treasure reef. Flynt loved his home, he truly did. He loved it so dearly. But he guessed that being cooped up in it all the time made him a bit restless, and now that he was leaving, he felt nicer.

The trip through the wasteland was almost nice. Flynt liked the small memories he had here in the wasteland. It was beautiful, even as a wasteland. There was beauty in everything. You just needed to look in the right place. Like the ark, the ark was beautiful, and he had met Kibidi there. He missed her already, even though he had just seen her. He made a mental note to visit her more often, he'd like to see her more. Truly he wanted to see her more. She meant a lot to him after all.

Their small travels through Triumph were good too, it was short, but the wind in Flynt's hair was nice, it was perfect. Relaxing, the soft cold of the snow, it always made Flynt happy. He actually really liked the cold.

Then they got to the vault. They traveled up the elevator together, Flynt also loved it here too. It was pretty, very pretty. Always pretty. He smiled softly, then they made it up to the entrance of Eden.

Flynt paused. "Are we going in there?" Persian looked back to Flynt now, "Yeah, just for a little bit. It won't be that bad, I swear."

Flynt stayed put, "are you.. Are you sure? I mean, why are we going in there?"

Persian kept his hold on Flynt's hand. "The butterflies. Duh." Flynt nodded, yeah like that made everything make sense. He took a small breath. Then nodded. "Okay, we can keep going." Persian now smiled and then took Flynt into Eden.

"Good. I knew you'd come around."

They traveled through, up more and more towards the Eye. It.. It frightened Flynt. "Can we not go all the way up there? This is already terrifying." Flynt has let go of Persian's hand, he was slightly in front of Persian too.

Persian moved, pushing Flynt's head into the ground. It knocked Flynt out instantly. Persian smiled when he stood back up, nearby he had hidden a spear. So he grabbed it, then he walked back to Flynt. "I care for you, I'll always care for you."

Persian moved down, pressing their masks together, "I'll put it in your hands for you to take. I'll grip you even tighter every day."

"Flynt? Sweetheart?" He paused, waiting almost. Flynt made a noise, a soft one, but he wasn't awake yet, but somehow, he seemed to be listening. Persian took a small breath, a sigh almost. "You'll never leave me, right?"

Flynt made another movement, this time it seemed to be of worry. Persian laughed softly. "Of course you wouldn't. You never would leave me. You care too much about me, don't you?"

Flynt lifted his head off the ground, but obviously, while unconscious, he couldn't hold his head up that much, so it hit back onto the rock. "Stop it. You're going to hurt yourself." Persian now said.

Flynt made a small noise, it sounded like Persian's name almost.

Persian was getting impatient now. "Flynt." The boy below made more movement. "Focus, Flynt."

Flynt started to wake up now, he moved, trying to sit up. Persian grabbed Flynt's mask and pushed him back into the ground.

"Pers—"

"No! Shut up!" Flynt did. He shut up.

"You know how fucking annoying you are? Every single word that falls out of your mouth is so painful to hear." Flynt seemed to pause at those words. Almost like he was in denial. Persian laughed softly.

"Fuck." Persian let go of Flynt's mask, he stood above him. "Get out of your damn head, Flynt!"

Flynt refocused in onto Persian. He took in a breath.

Persian smiled. "I can't believe it actually worked. You willingly went with me to Eden. You are so fucking stupid." Persian started to raise the spear. Looking at it with awe. "Just like everyone else."

Persian looked back down towards Flynt. "Oh sweetheart, you know I love you, right?" He smiled under his mask. Flynt has fear on his face. It was so clear. Persian loved it so much.

Persian stood straight. "I your death shall be glory, cherished to me. It allowed me to learn more. And I thank you deeply for that."

He stabbed the spear through Flynt's chest, "I love you, sweetheart." Persian finally said. He moved down, removing his own mask, pressing a kiss to Flynt's mask.

That was their first kiss. Their first and last.

Persian got up, looking at the dark dragons above, and moved out of the way. And on the dark dragon's natural path, spotted Flynt. The beautiful blue turning red, clicking, then charging down, making the final kill on Flynt.

Persian watched, his mask had been fully removed. Tossed aside. He walked, towards Flynt's dead body. Picked up his mask that no longer had a glowing eye, showing Flynt was alive. It was darkened. Flynt was gone.