#voidtouched

Script was originally written in 22nd Dec 2022, but I couldn't work on it until September due to work and life events. 2023's tennocon really got me motivated to start and it has been a very slow process to get it completed as I rely on commissions and work (I LOVE YOU CUSTOMERS)

I am extremely thankful for those of you who have been patient to see it completed! Thanks again to my patrons and commissioners who have allowed me to still work on this on my free time with less financial concerns!!!!

I have much more planned for this story, but for now I hope you liked this short episode!! I've been spinning for the last week because I've been so anxious to post this 😵‍💫

The words lingered in Cygnus’ mind for just a moment. They observed Azrael’s face just for a little longer. Their body instinctively getting closer, but keeping space between the two, placing one foot behind the other in a sidetracked dance as they kept their flanks in check.

“Take that light of yours away from us”

His head turned ever so slightly at the movement, slowly, but steady. Cygnus wasn’t being silent on purpose, and was not pretending to be stealthy, but they wondered. Made calculations in their mind. “How long have the Holdfasts been alive?”, “How long does someone need to get used to living in darkness?”.

Azrael stood still. Body unmoving, only by the muscles of his neck, tracking their movements like a silent sphynx.

They went back to the times of the silence of corridors broken by the flash of flickering lights and plicks of water, coolant and condensation. When their eyes were those of an infant and their hands could easily reach for scrapes and abandoned leftovers in childmade barricades.

They were not their best friends back then. So Cygnus would sometimes walk around the Zariman covering their face and pressing them with the tips of their fingers and would scream in fear when their feet stepped over rubble, thinking it was the shadow of their parents who were back to punish them for what they did. The colorful patterns they would see when opening their eyelids would then mix with the traces of Void energy that lingered in the ship. They would see those later in the better skies of Duviri.

“You are going to get yourself hurt” he almost whispered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cygnus inquired, trying to get more of him, and more time for themselves to think.

The tension that clawed its way on Azrael didn’t go unnoticed to the Drifter. They opened their hands in conciliation, hoping that this gesture could somehow reach him through the darkness.

As if the man had read their thoughts, he pursed his lips and replied:

“You have one minute before my sister returns. Leave, now.”

“I’m just here to help” Cygnus said “Let me hel-”

The silhouette of the Man towered over them for an instant, instinctively making them take one step back. Azrael’s body flowed through the short distance that separated them in a slightly uncanny way. Like silk that falls on itself. The scent of blood and spice filled Cygnus nostrils, making them quickly return to Cornucopia and reminding them once more of the danger that was pouring out of what was left of Azrael’s index finger.

Tongues of Void energy licked their chin and jaw as he pointed at them. The trembling, furious grab of his left hand keeping them in place and fighting over the weight that Drifter was putting on their upper body to lean backwards.

Their heart skipped a beat. Imagination is a dangerous thing when you’re so close to the Wall, and for Cygnus, it was very easy to imagine the Man observing them behind Azrael’s eyelids. His lips split as he showed them his teeth, but it was not a smile this time.