Chapter Text
"Delight yourself in the Spawn, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Little to nothing would be exchanged from their mouths beneath the old willow tree; besides the sweet sighing between kisses or the soft yawns after a long day spent in pleasure. Azure would shuffle even closer across the grass, seemingly desperate to split the molecules dividing the space between them. They felt the same way. Pressing ever tightly, Two Time would wrap their arms around his shoulders. The other would laugh, pressing their lips to their skin.
Truly, the pair had preferred to just simply bask in each other's company. When it was like this, just the two of them, separate from everything else, it was as if the rest of the world was uninhabitable.
And of course, Two Time wouldn't have it any other way. However, something else was on their mind today.
"Often I think if I had not followed the Spawn, I would've never gone down the path that led me to you," Two Time murmured.
"Hm?"
"I am just grateful," they laugh. "But sometimes, I worry it's all a bit, well, too good to be true..."
Azure's head tilts, a slight frown stretching across his lips. "Why wouldn’t it be?" He asks.
One of their favorite parts of Azure was how caring he was, but that meant watching what you said around him, for even the smallest comment could send off a flare of worry.
"Sometimes I -you know, it was just an offhand comment, Azure."
The high disciple shakes his head. "No, no. Please continue, Two. All I want is to assure you."
Two Time bites into their lower lip, to which Azure leans in, his thumb pressing to their mouth to smooth away that aching pressure. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm worthy," they begin, voice small and hesitant. "Your glory -You have a purpose here. The Spawn's intent for you is clear, and well, I have been nothing but a burden thus far. I feel as if my debt to the Spawn will never be repaid."
"You have purpose Two Time, and you are not a burden on me." He replies gently, his hands cupping their face as if they're precious, to be held in esteem and not to look away in shame.
They turn their head regardless. "I've known for a while now. It is sinful of me to pursue you when I am not worthy of you.."
"There's not a sin in the world you could commit that would have me stand against you," said Azure.
"If I were to dishonor you-"
"Love keeps no record of wrongs." His voice, velvety and light, had hardened in an instant. Though it doesn't last, that intensity is smothered the moment Two Time's palm brushes back to his cheek. "And, I do... I do love you." He adds, a bit shyly.
Azure always knew the way to comfort them. No matter how trivial the issue was or incomprehensible the worry, he always took Two Time's thoughts seriously. For a person like them, who wasn't well versed in expressing themselves in a way others could understand, someone like Azure made them feel seen. It was a difficult choice, but in a fierce debate they might say this was one of his many innumerable qualities that they adored the most.
"Well... if you would have me." Two Time smirks.
"I put my trust in you." He laughs.
...It didn't help that this fellow disciple was also very cute.
Breath is stolen between them as they press together.
They slump against the grime-coated wall, exhaustion slowly pulling them to the floor. Two Time is not foreign to arduous, unrelenting work. If anything, it is so engrained in their soul that if one day they woke up without a task to do, they would sooner find themselves anxiously lost rather than relieved.
The work, however, is a bit stressful; they must admit that. It's busy work, shirking behind crumbling walls and waiting desperately for any opportunity to lash back out at the corrupt creatures that seem to pop up at the worst of times, but it is work nonetheless. If the Spawn did not wish for Two Time to be put through such a trial, then He would not have brought them here to this rotting, infested wasteland. It is in their best interest that they merely accept such a trial. They are more than willing to do anything for Him. They feel fulfillment just from reminding themselves of that.
The one beside them is not as enthused.
Elliot rocks himself back and forth, his head tucked tightly between his knees as his hands pull at his hair in an attempt at soothing himself. The day -or night -had been particularly stressful for that one. Two Time can't help but pity him. For the faithless coming face to face with horror, and with no light to look towards, everything must seem devastatingly hopeless.
"The day has been long, hasn't it?" They soothe, shuffling towards Elliot. "I pray to Spawn that we are offered a chance at relaxation soon. I'm sure you would appreciate a chance as well." The shaking body noticeably stills from their words. Hollow eyes meet theirs, and while his mouth opens in an attempt at response, the young man remains silent. "...And with another blessing we might even get a chance to regroup without our own demise!" Two Time continues to chatter. Lately it seems like they're the one doing all the talking, with everyone -well, Elliot, -stuck in a seemingly never-ending gloom. "I believe once we reach the next-"
"-7n7 died," he interjects neurotically, "right... right out there. And I couldn't -nothing could have..."
They click their tongue anxiously. "It is unfortunate. I didn't see it coming that fast. Next time I'll be sure not to miss my strike." Two Time reassures.
"No -no!" Elliot cries, "You don't -you never get it!" A hand lashes out, gripping Two Time by their shirt, yanking them back and forth with increasing emotion. "Why don't you listen to me? Somebody died right in front of us, Two Time!" He heaves.
"Well, to say they died, Elliot, it's a bit dramatic, right? There is always another chance!" An extreme irritation washes across the pizza worker's face, and momentarily, Two Time assumes they might have to resort to self defense.
Luckily enough for Elliot, he releases his honestly non-threatening grip and slouches away in the opposite direction. "I don't get you." He mumbles defeatedly. "Well, no... I think I understand where you're coming from. But I don't understand how you can see all of this happen, over and over again, and still believe there is something to be gained from it."
"Eh?" They blink.
"7n7 had recognized that... kid ," He continues, gaze skittering out across the room as he borderline yanks out his hair, which he twists between his fingers in a state that could only be described as perturbation. "I saw that look in their eyes, just like with Noob. Even if we had found a way, Two Time, I think they already made their decision."
"Where I come from people believe that every sacrifice is prompted by purpose," they begin enthusiastically, seeing the state their fellow survivor is in and wishing to lessen their emotional load. "All the bad you believe is happening will, soon enough, come with resolution, for the Spawn has shown me that answer a long time ago."
"Purposeful sacrifice..." Elliot considers solemnly, "I have a feeling you're probably right about that."
"You do?" Two Time smiles.
Glaring at them from the corner of his eye, he shakes his head before laying back against an insulated delivery box. "I noticed it awhile ago; everyone here is running away from something. All of our mistakes are here to haunt us." He whispers grimly.
Miniscule memories edge the road to the forefront of their mind. Recollections of a person they can't afford to think of in moments like these. They push it down reflexively, smothering it with hope -hope that this is what it was all for anyways. "I have nothing to run from." They mumble, settling on that halfhearted sentiment.
"Maybe not right now," Elliot chuckles, "but whatever regret you have, you should get ready to confront it soon." Two Time didn't know how to respond to this line of his. The tone of conversation had suddenly turned far too confronting.
Silence descends between the pair. The only sound left remaining being the creaking of hollow wood from the wind beating against the shabby outpost. Two Time runs their fingers against the edges of the dagger, dried blood from earlier flaking under their nails. Elliot's gaze weakens. "I'm sorry... I don't think I meant it like that..." He winces.
When Two Time does not offer a response, the other can only sit and stare, marinating in the conversation's heaviness. "I don't..." he begins, the words heavy on his tongue. "I don't think it was your fault he died."
Shock must've written itself across Two Time's face, because Elliot rapidly waves his hands around in consoling erasure. "I -I really don't! I mean, it all happened so fast; you can only fight so much on your own Two-" he whimpers, "and if I had taken the time to tend to 7n7's injuries beforehand -maybe... maybe his legs wouldn't have given out like that..."
Oh. He was talking about him.
"I had the impression you didn't like him." They reply as simply and steadily as the beacon of stability, which they are.
Guilt lines Elliot's lips. "Well... I think... I don't know -it's best to set our differences aside, right? We all need to support each other. That's why I... I don't know," he repeats, unsure of his own thoughts. "I mean, just... just don't think too deeply about what I said earlier... I'm just freaked out, I guess." He mumbles, speaking mostly to himself. "Yeah, he didn't deserve that. No one does."
"You should rest now then, Spawn knows and has seen all you do. It is much deserved."
"Ah, I mean... I guess so."
"Tomorrow will be a new day." they add.
Elliot's eyes linger on them for a moment more. Sighing, he turns over, tucking his jacket to his chin. Two Time watches the sleeping form silently, and it's only when the dagger that presses against their lips draws fresh blood, do they realize that their hand had begun to shake. They clasp them together and hold them to their rapidly beating heart, nails cutting into their knuckles.
"Light my way in the darkness; show me the path to the next life. Give me guidance and uphold me, uphold me...
As the moonless night plunges the room into pitch darkness, Two Time can only sit idly and pray. They pray to not have to face retribution like the rest. It was their god's will that had led them here after all; it would only be fair. Right?
I cannot see the way forward, uphold me.... uphold me..."
Elliot had died.
Two Time had found his body, curled and stiff as rigor mortis settled into his lifeless bones. Of course, the Spawnist knew that his demise would not last for long. In this never-ending limbo, the cycle was inevitable. In due time it will be Two Time's turn. However, this reminder didn't help as much as they wished it could.
Tearing their eyes away from the scene was difficult. No matter the number of times it was witnessed, Two Time often struggled to tear their eyes away. Now that they were alone, there was no other survivor to notice their mental absence, to pull them away from the optical hell before them.
It wasn't exactly the death itself that shocked them, nor the gaping wounds, nor the sound of gurgling blood trapped in the man's throat. It was the idea that Elliot had died a slow and painful death. He had been afraid; for days he had been telling Two Time how afraid he was. There was nothing they could have done to prolong his fate, but it doesn't help the guilt that bears down on them.
Elliot's bloodshot eyes, foggy and unseeing, gaze back at them.
How long had they been standing here? When exactly will their suffering come to an end? Two Time cannot feel their face; they cannot move their body. The edges of their vision vignette, darkness encroaching on all sides until the only view remaining is the body of their friend. He must have been so scared. It is Two Time's fault and all of their cowardice.
"Stop-" he cried.
Crimson seeps from his gaping mouth, dripping down the side of his face and onto the ground.
As the blade sinks into his chest, a cough of blood splatters out his mouth. Frightened whines of pain followed along with each gash.
Two Time's breath stutters in their throat, air fighting to break through in uneven gasps.
Did Elliot also scream? Was he calling for help in his final moments? -The only thing they can hear is the ringing in their ears and the accelerating beat of their heart. -Or maybe he only pleaded quietly for the pain to be over quicker. "I'm sorry -I'm so sorry -Azure I'm so, so sorry-" Belatedly, they realize they've been talking. How long had they been doing that? Elliot's corpse offers no response.
"Two-" He pleads tearfully, a squeal of pain ripping his words in half.
"Oh Spawn- oh Spawn... Az-"
"Who do you think you're talking to?" A voice, which sends Two Time's heart dropping to their stomach, speaks.
Realization crashes into them before familiarity, like a rogue wave snuffing out the shore. A languor had crept upon them, and it was then that Two Time understood that the one they knew wasn't alive anymore. A figure, tall and imposing, looms over behind them. With him, he carries the overpowering stench of iron and nightshade. The hat on his head cackles quietly, its owner's face twisting in a disgusted scowl.
Azure stands before them, alive. The Spawn has brought him back to Two Time.
"Azure," they say, tears welling in their eyes. "You're here. You were reborn -oh Spawn -Spawn, thank you--"
A dark hand snatches Two Time's neck, his grip clenching down angrily. "Shut your mouth!" He spits. "Don't you dare invoke the name of the god you sacrificed me to!"
"Azure! You don't understand-" their hands scramble to the other's wrists, clawing at the threatening grip. "We're finally together agai-" Their breath is caught short as Azure's grip squeezes tight.
"There is no we. I am not yours," Azure seethes. "You... you don't even regret what you did." He laughs.
Two Time's legs flail as they are raised off the ground by their neck. "Did you ever have any consideration for me? Have you ever thought about what I felt in that moment?"
Desperately they want to tell Azure that they had never abandoned him, that they had followed him in death because the Spawn had chosen Two Time to guide their bodies to rebirth. That by giving up their mortal bodies that had been bathed in sin, was to be respawned together forever-
"Even now they look through you." The hat grins wildly. "Look at them squirm! They are afraid to meet their deliverance." It flames Azure's instinctual violence, his fist clenching around the column of Two Time's neck with a sickening snap as they feel their muscles begin to give out under the force. "Go on. Take what they owe you." It whispers.
"You are foolish if you think I would ever forgive you." He grits, hatred smothering any other discernable emotion in their expression.
At first, Two Time only feels the impact through the haze of their oxygen-deprived mind, but as their eyes wander down, the pain connects in searing hot waves. Azure's other hand is plunged into their chest, and with a force only fueled by the memories between them does he wrap his hand around their heart, squeezing it possessively before ripping it from their body.
Two Time watches as their blood spurts out onto Azure's chest, tainting the Spawn in their carnage.
The log walls of the lobby greet them when they reopen their eyes. Their knees immediately hit the floor, hunching over as they clutch the space below their collar. They feel the distinct thump of their heart, alive and beating, and not a pile of mush in the murderous grip of the only person they've ever risked loving. Their ragged breaths are what bring the other survivors to their attention.
"-I dunno what to do I-I think they need help!"
"Hey pal... you're alright now, okay?"
"Someone go get Elliot-"
Shaking hands land on their shoulders as faceless peers try to return Two Time to focus, but they can only cry out in despair as they realize what they've truly done.
They try again.
The blossom's tentacle lashes out, knocking Two Time to their feet and twisting their dagger out of their grasp. Their skin scrapes against the toughness of the ground as they're dragged further into the snare. Tentacles wrapping and tightening around their struggling limbs.
Azure watches indignantly as they pant in terror.
"Please- please Azure listen- Amarah told me that if I-" A tentacle catches Two Time's neck, strangling them into silence.
"Not once did you ever have their heart; even now it belongs to another man." The hat crows in delight.
"My mistake was trusting you." He whispers.
With that, a heel is brought to the space above their head, caving down into their skull and spewing their brains across the rock.
One more time.
"You have been reborn by the Spawn's grace-" They babble fearfully, legs shaking as Azure rounds them slowly into a corner. "The old has passed... has passed away. T- the new has come..." They whimper, clutching their dagger defensively in front of them, though their hands tremble and their grip is uncertain.
A flower blossoms on the ceiling, and a tentacle slings out, snatching them off of their feet.
Azure watches them hang wordlessly. His upper lip curling in what could only be described as pure satisfaction
Again.
"Please..." Two Time cries. "Azure... please... please..." they sputter.
Azure takes a single step towards them, and it's enough for them to double over, their stomach succumbing as they retch out onto the floor.
"Good. Now the mere sight of you brings them to spill."
"You disgust me." Azure says, the hat laughing in response.
...
It is eerily silent. Only the sound of Two Time's cautious steps and the whistling of leaves through the trees can be heard. Miniscule amounts of sunlight flitted through layer upon layer of the intense blanket of leaves, revealing a small pathway overtaken by growth ahead. They did not dare to walk directly on the path, deciding to follow along from the safety of the trees.
Eventually the road reaches its end, leading Two Time to an old desolate cathedral. The old oaks themselves even seemed intimidated by the worn stone, as not a single branch had contact with the building. This effect left an aura of light that surrounded the structure like a halo. Two Time felt a bit of ease at the sight. Nostalgic feelings of their commune drove them forward as they inched out of the thicket and cautiously pushed their way inside.
Dust visibly floated in the stagnant air, twisting and spiraling through the streams of light emanating from the large stained glass windows. Newborn energy stirring the building from its rest. Running a gloved hand against the smoothness of the pews, they thought, 'Though the outside had suffered damage, the inside is immaculate.' Against their weary judgement, a smile ascends upon their lips as a giddiness settles deep inside. The aesthetic of it gave them a great sense of ease.
Elliot would probably beg to differ. He frequently stated that the things that sparked joy in Two Time often incited fear in most, but it was difficult to resist happiness when even the soothing scent of nightshade reminded them of home.
Fear douses their mind into panic in an instant as they belatedly realize the wrongness of that conception.
Their body slams against doors that they had not shut behind them. Dark branches blooming with violet flowers hold the handles firmly in place as Two Time yanks desperately, crying out in despair.
It was their fault for coming alone. For deigning to exist peacefully in a place which was set up to punish them.
The door slamming back and forth on its hinges and the crooked branches crackling under the pressure echo throughout the solid stone hall. Their body is propelled back onto the floor as the branches give out at last. Momentarily left reeling, they blink away the pain. Swiftly rolling over, dagger clutched in their hand as they force themselves up.
That dark figure materializes ahead, its body leaning against a stone lectern. Two Time wretches as the sickening taste of nightshades fills their lungs. Swinging around, they rush towards the promise of open air and escape.
A new growth of vines overtakes the exit in a blink of an eye, and their ankle is swiftly ensnared. Shrill noises of terror fall from their mouth as they're knocked down once more. Undulating tentacles tighten around beating limbs. The edge of their dagger slices easily through an appendage that threatens to lunge for their throat.
"Are you done yet?" A low voice ridicules.
Jagged fingers claw into their scalp, and they are yanked back onto their knees. A punch against their spine from behind has them gasping in agony, vision blurring from the sheer force. Their grip falters, and the dagger slips from their fingers, clattering to the ground.
A tentacle takes its place solidly around Two Time's neck, squeezing in punishment at every involuntary whimper. "Why is it that you are the one always trying to run? Or can you only fight back when your opponent is turned the other way?" Azure spits, punctuated with a jab to their side, which leaves Two Time writhing in his grasp. "Your cowardice sickens me."
"Az-" they attempt, but their speech is immediately choked.
"Keep your mouth shut." The man's face is twisted in a permanent scowl, hatred burning in his eyes as they look down upon them. "This second life of yours," he takes Two Time's face into his hand, scratching a thin line beneath his eye as he reels them in close, "this is where it's led you. Are you still proud? Was it all still worth it?"
If Two Time could line up every inch of their grief, not even the length of that regret could begin to stitch back together the remains of their heart. At times even the swaddle of their faith could not contain that pain, but to verbally denounce that decision would be to turn their back on the faith that led them down that path in the first place.
Was it all still worth it?
Azure is saying something, but Two Time cannot understand. They understand though, that they were wrong for what they did; they knew this from the instant that horrid dagger had sunk into his chest.
A second life intertwined with the one that you love, in a land of countless opportunities where time stands ever still, at a cost. Two Time comes face to face with that cost again and again, the promise far from what they had anticipated. It's written out in clear view in hatred and disdain. Flesh rotting and corroded, dripping with poisonous danger.
The thought itself is blasphemous without doubt, but even the Spawn mocks Two Time at this moment. He, Himself, is carved into Azure's chest, glowing faintly, as if saying:
'Here it is, your reward for your duty. I've led him here before you.'
The edges of their vision blur, and while they try their best to focus, the static and ringing in their ears makes it difficult to remember to even breathe.
The tentacle that was cast around their neck is now plunged deep into their stomach; they know this because Azure is now holding them up in the air by their arm. The muscle from it burns as if it's been severed, leaving their head to dangle downwards uselessly.
In a moment of rage, Azure throws them across the room. They slam into the wall, crumbling down in a heap onto the floor. Their vision degrades into streaks of color until only the view of the ceiling returns to them. He is carved into it. The Spawn. Two Time hadn't realized before.
Purple seeps into sight.
If their mouth could move, perhaps they would apologize. Though, you cannot apologize for completing a duty in the Spawn's name, and Azure wouldn't accept it regardless. For as long as they are trapped, this punishment will linger with them.
But now, in the back of their mind, as they feel their pulse slow and the heat of their blood spill once again onto holy ground, they feel a bit content.
For the air and their veins are filled with fragrance, and the Spawn is good.