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Firebrand found himself standing in a vast field, a faint breeze slightly ruffling his hair. Looking around, he could see black roses covering nearly every inch of the grass. He'd never seen a black rose field before, but the scenery felt… somewhat familiar.
Unsure what else to do, he began walking, being careful not to crush any of the delicate flowers. After wandering for a short while, he saw a colossal oak tree in the distance, its thick branches swaying in the wind. He paused, analysing the shape it had grown.
He recognised this place now; it was where he and his dearest Umbrella shared their first kiss.
That memory still makes his cheeks flush, even though it was over four years ago.
Clear as ever, he could remember sitting with them under that tree. The moment was calm and tender, just two hopelessly smitten inphernals spending time together.
Oh, how he loved them.
And yet, something seemed… off. He could've sworn it was a field of red carnations. Oh well, he must've just remembered wrong.
As he got closer and closer to the tree, a purple-horned figure came into view. They were slumped against the trunk, one arm loosely clutching their abdomen and covering a red stain on their tailcoat.
“Umbrella?!”
The king quickened his pace almost immediately, rushing towards his partner. The sound of their laboured breathing and the sight of their pained expression broke his heart. He knelt in front of them, cupping their face in his gloved hands.
They smiled weakly at his presence, reaching up to put a trembling hand on his. “Greetings, my dear…” they rasped.
He could feel molten tears begin to gather in his eyes, blurring his vision slightly. “My love, what happened to you?!”
“I am not entirely sure,” they replied. A rattling cough shook their wounded frame, which they covered with their palm. Taking it away from their mouth, they saw a crimson splatter that sharply contrasted with their dark skin.
Firebrand's eyes widened as he saw the blood trickling from their lips. Before he knew it, tears were streaming down his cheeks. Were they…
…dying?
The advisor soon broke into a fit of violent coughs, the expelled blood spilling onto their usually pristine trench coat. Their vision began to swim as their eyes lost focus.
He pulled them into a tight, desperate embrace, burying his face in their shoulders. “Please… don't leave me…” he sobbed.
Umbrella faintly returned the act, smiling despite the agony they were experiencing. They started rubbing slow circles on his back in a futile attempt to give comfort. “You needn't worry, my Lord… I'll always be by your side, even if you cannot see me.”
The two held each other close.
…Until Firebrand felt their grip loosen, then go limp as their arms fell. They dangled lifelessly by their side.
He pulled back sharply, breath hitching as he saw his lover's gaze - vacant, unmoving, devoid of life.
A heartbroken, grief-stricken yell escaped him.
“UMBRELLA—”
~~~~~~~~
Firebrand jolted awake, sitting upright whilst he panted heavily. His head whipped to this side, eye wide as he looked down.
Umbrella was there, peacefully sleeping beside him. Safe. Alive.
Squeezing his eye shut, he tightened his grip on the orange duvet. “Just a dream… just a dream…” he muttered, trying to calm his breathing. He curled in on himself, his wings wrapping around him.
Soon after, quiet sobs made his towering frame quiver pathetically. The dream wasn't real, after all - not yet, at least - so why was he getting himself so worked up over it? A pulsing yet subtle wave of heat began to radiate from him as a result of his emotions.
The sudden, albeit slight, increase in temperature made the advisor start to rouse. They rolled over, groaning tiredly as their eyes fluttered open. “Mmm…?”
Rubbing an eye, they propped themselves up on one arm as they looked around the room, concern etching onto their features when they saw the weeping deity next to them. “Firebrand..?”
The king swiped at the tears, trying to regain at least a little bit of his dignity. He straightened his posture marginally, turning to face them. “Apologies, Umbrella. I did not intend to wake you,” he said, his hands nervously fiddling with the bedsheets.
“What troubles you, my Lord?” they asked gently, sitting up and holding his hand in theirs. He squeezed it tightly, as if trying to convince himself that they were here with him.
“I'm fine.”
“You are trembling.”
“It was nothing, my love. Just a mere dream.”
“Dreams do not leave you shaken like this.”
“...”
Not sure how to respond, or if he even wanted to, Firebrand looked down into his lap. He felt Umbrella start rubbing the back of his hand with their thumb. They didn't say anything, but the message was clear. “I am here if I am needed.”
Slowly, he began opening up about his recent nightmare; describing the field, the black roses, the blood, everything he could recall. As tears began to dwell once more, he chuckled bitterly. “Rather childish, isn't it? A king, a deity crying over a nightmare like a newspawn.”
“And I know I shouldn't get so worked up over this, but… one day, it won't be a dream. I'll— I'll see you dead.” His voice broke slightly on the last word, another pitiful sob making his form tremble. “Because, after all—” A sniffle cut him off. “you're mortal, and I'm not.”
Umbrella reached up and cupped his cheek, brushing away a tear. The deity leaned into their touch instinctively. “I know you fear losing me, my darling,” the advisor stated. They gently guided his hand to their chest, letting him feel their steady heartbeat. “But I am here now, and I will stay for as long as I am able.”
He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the rhythmic thumping beneath their chest. It reminded him of a clock, ticking down until the day they would eventually die. The thought got him even more emotional, but he tried to push it down.
Then, they pulled him into a hug - they must have noticed he was getting upset again. That simple act of comfort made the emotional dam burst; he buried his face in the crook of their neck, no longer holding back his cries.
Even though it slightly bruised his pride, it felt good to finally let his emotions out.
*
The two were now laying now, Firebrand holding his dear advisor close. One of their hands loosely rested on his head, nestled in his hair.
“I love you…” the former mumbled sleepily.
“I love you too, Firebrand.”
~~~~~~~~ < [ END ] > ~~~~~~~~