#linwritesif

Few events in my life signigicantly cut down the free time I have every day, and I'll be honest to say both my physical and mental health has not been the best lately.

I've had a switch in my ADHD medication and my allergy meds and that caused a bit of a mess (nothing dangerous, but let's just say i'm running on 10% battery 24/7). So, I get to have a joy of running after different doctors to do check ups and figure out what to do. It just so happened two other members of my family had to go to the hospital in the same month so that's fun.

To add to that, my work's been a little hectic (cause apparently adult people need babysitters to make sure they do their own work) and I'm just sort of 'dealing' with going back to the closet for the time I am at work.

So, I'll be taking a bit of a break to recharge and hopefully come back with something special for y'all.

Love you,

Xander: No. It was supposed to be him. If anyone deserved to go through this, it was him. Not you— never you.

He's devastated, but he tries to appear strong for you. He wants to be there and shoulder you when you go through one of the greatest losses of your lives, because of him.

It's his fault if you're crying and bleeding in his arms. It's his fault if you claw at your back, where the few remaining feathers drip crimson all over your skin. He feels sick to the stomach when the warm liquid stains his hands.

"I'm sorry," Xander says softly. "So, so sorry."

He really has to ruin it all, doesn't he?

Charlotte is horrified, reaching out for you with a trembling hand. You saved her. But the price you paid...

"You shouldn't have," she whispers with a heavy voice. "I don't deserve this."

You smile sadly, an easy shrug moving your shoulders.

"Of course you do. You're everything."

Charlotte's face falls, because why are you comforting her when you're the one hurt? A silence passes as she grabs your arm to guide you onto the nearest surface to sit on.

"I'll patch you up."

"As usual," you laugh, and it turns into a cough.

"It's not funny," Charlotte whines, tears in her voice threatening to spill. You know it's not funny, but she looks like she's about to break down and you have to distract her. She's too freaked out to notice.

"For Heaven's sake, Name, I love you! I can't bear to see you hurt because--" her voice breaks. "...because of me."

Dione: Her brain goes overdrive. Her body shuts down. Dione can not comprehend what you did. Truth is, she could have been fine. She could have avoided that blow, could have saved her own skin.

But you took it instead. She runs to you, slaying whichever enemy is in her way. Nothing, no one will ever harm you again. She swears it as she cradles you, her wings shielding you from the battlefield. Her sword lies, abandoned, on the ground.

She does not want to fight anymore. She wants to cry, to hurl insults at the world for being so cruel.

"I'm fine," you rasp.

"You filthy fucking liar," she answers right back, glaring tearfully at you.

You snort weakly, tucking back a strand of her hair. She clenches her jaw. She will be cruel, too. She'll find whoever threw the attack first. And she will make their body and soul suffer until every atom of theirs begs and cries for mercy. But they didn't show mercy to you, did they? She won't show it to them either.

Perceval: Once again, xe're too late. They hit the ground with force, catching your falling body before you crash. Their strong arms close around you to protect you from the flying debris.

Xe know xe're too late. Xe can feel it in the way your body tenses. Feathers float around the two of you and fall slowly to the ground. Your eyes meet xyrs and tears form in both of your eyes.

Perceval's chest heaves and xe bring you closer.

"I can heal you, we can bring you to Majid, he'll know how to..."

"Pierce," you plead. "It's done."

Perceval doesn't answer and rests xyr forehead against yours. Each breath one of you takes is felt by the other. You stay silent for a bit, mourning the loss of your wings. But Perceval is alive. Xe're alive.

Xe never break off eyes contact, and you can see all xyr emotions swirling around their golden eyes. Shame, fear, sadness. Gratitude, love.

"Let's get you safe," xe finally say.

They hit their foot on the ground to propel xemself in the air, their wings spreading wide open. Yours will never do that again.

Crescent: "NO!" the scream tears itself from their throat and they taste blood. In the next moment, they're next to you, kneeling next to your shaking form.

The blow should have hit them, not you, but you had to go and save them. Why did you have to save them?

Crescent's mouth is dry and they pant with bubbling panic. There is too much blood on you, but they can see the severed nerves and bones and their heart sinks. Your wings can't be healed.

They breathe through their nose, trying to keep their emotions under wrap. They pick you up gently from the ground, careful not to apply pressure on your back, and carry you away from the mess. Their jaw is clenched, eyes burning with fury.

Crescent's wings didn't matter to them— they were useless and they would have gladly traded them for your life. But someone took yours away from you, tore your body down, stole the pride of every Soul Trapper.

Crescent will raise Hell in your name. But for now, they'll stay by your side, taking care of the one person who risked their all for them.

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