Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The air was heavy in the banquet hall of the church of Spawn. The room echoed of cutlery scraping against plates, the irksome sounds along with the chatters and conversations others resonating throughout the tall dining hall. Two Time sat leaning on the shoulder of their dearest Azurewrath, their chairs pushed together. Two Time sipped on their wine deliberately, their plate untouched.

“Are you going to touch your dinner, my darling?” Azure asked, rubbing Two Time’s back through the cutout in the back of their chair.

“Mhm.” Two time replied, indulging themself in their final sip of wine before reaching for the bottle centred in the middle of the table.

Azure quickly grabbed Two Time’s hand, pulling it away from the bottle and into his lap with a gentle touch.

“I know how overwhelming these dinners are for you…” Azure hesitated, rubbing their thumb against Two Time’s palm softly.

“…but I won’t let you drown it out with wine, my nightshade.” Azure finished, releasing Two Time’s hand.

Two Time perked their aching head up towards Azure, feeling guilty for consistently having such terrible coping mechanisms.

“Just let me know if you need a break, alright..?” Azure insisted.

“I don’t know what I would do without you, love…” Two Time expressed, smiling ever so softly before finally reaching for their spoon.

Two Time quickly glanced around, holding their soup in their hand before sipping on a spoonful of it.

“I love you, my nightshade. I’m proud of you.” Azure assured, wrapping their arm around Two Time’s shoulders.

Two Time felt as the arms of their dearest Azurewrath wrapped tightly around their cold shoulders, his cloak smearing the raindrops sprinkled down their arms. Their breath was hot down Two Time’s neck, his tight embrace warming Two Time’s body in the frigid weather.

Two Time folded one trembling arm around Azure in return, holding them closer than ever.

You’ve really done it, Two Time.

There’s no going back now. The mighty Spawn would never forgive you for opting out so disloyally.

Glory to the Spawn.

Two Time reached another quivering arm down towards their belt, which was equipped with both a Polaroid of them and Azure labeled “BƎST FRIENDS!” along with their sacrificial dagger.

Their dagger was gifted to them long ago by their great mentor, Amarah. Now was finally the time for their sacrificial dagger to fulfill its purpose.

Two Time carefully gripped on to their dagger, sweat soaking the black handle. With their body trembling head-to-toe but a soft smile remaining on their face, Two Time slowly raised their dagger towards their unsuspecting partner’s back.

“Damn, it’s cold out. You’re shaking like a leaf.” Azure pointed out, wrapping his cloak even tighter around Two Time’s back

“Mhm.” Two Time managed to force out in response, their dagger still unknowingly quivering just above Azure’s back.

The Spawn is waiting for you, Two Time.

The great Spawn will be more than pleased with your offering.

You’ll receive what you’ve always desired so terribly in return. You’ll finally escape the mind fuck and live a second life at peace.

Praise the Spawn.

“Azure..?” Two Time cried, gripping the handle of their dagger tighter.

“What’s bothering you, my nightshade?” Azure whispered, rubbing Two Time’s back in gentle motions.

The pet name instantly made Two Time sick to their stomach. The nightshade, deadly but beautiful, was no other than Azure’s favourite flower. Two Time was all too familiar with the plant.

“I… just want you to know that I’ll never stop loving you. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, darling…” Two Time hesitated, their smile fading.

“The Spawn will help me though.” Two Time insisted.

Azure’s hand against Two Time’s back came to a stop.

“What do you mean, my love..? I’ll always be by your side.” Azure expressed, their face filling with concern.

A single tear rushed Two Time’s face as a light smile returned to their face. They were finally going to receive the praise and gift they’ve desired their whole life.

“Thank you for your sacrifice, my sweet Azure.”

Before Azure could make any type of response, Two Time quickly grasped their dagger tighter than ever in their violently trembling hand before positioning it straight to Azure’s heart.

You’re really doing it, Two Time.

Two Time squeezed their eyes tight as they impaled the sliver blades of their dagger straight through their partner’s heart. As blood spewed up on to their face and mixed with their tears, Two Time struggled to open their eyes as they felt the weight of the whole world crushing upon them.

The couple’s favourite nightshade field for making sacred memories was silent. Nothing could be heard but the damp breeze, cold raindrops bouncing off leaves and the indecipherable moans and cries coming out of Azure’s mouth.

Nothing could be said.

Azure strived to escape his own partner, struggling to crawl away as he groaned helplessly with Two Time’s dagger pierced through their heart, skewered through his back to their chest. Azure left a waterfall of blood behind wherever he turned to.

Two Time quickly fought back as soon as they saw the small amount of life hanging on inside their partner. Tears dripping down to the ground, they threw a pulsing hand to the handle of their dagger, grasping it right before ripping it out of Azure’s back. When Azure cried louder, Two Time only went in for another stab, shutting their eyes tight once more as they plunged their dagger deep into Azure’s chest. As they gave their dagger a sharp twist, Azure’s cries were silenced at last.

Azure was dead. The community of Spawn’s talented and passionate botanist would never tend to a flower again. The emotionally intelligent and devoted mentee would never have to be lectured by Amarah again.

The affectionate and caring partner would no longer be around to stop Two Time from drinking until they black out or remind them to take their medication ever again.

Two Time could finally think straight once again as they fell to their knees over Azure’s deceased body, their smile instantly fading. They watched their tears as they continued to drip down into Azure’s wound.

Two Time carefully put their trembling hands together, shutting their eyes tighter than ever once more at the sight. They wanted to mumble a prayer to the Spawn, but no words could come out. They fell back into the grass, lying close beside their partner’s actively bleeding corpse, their dagger still sunken into Azure’s chest. They rehearsed the same prayers to the Spawn in their busy head over and over again until they dozed off, the weight of the situation finally crushing them.

Chapter Text

Two Time woke up to just about the most beautiful sunrise they had ever witnessed. The sky was painted with pink, yellow and most significantly a gleaming bright purple. The colours in the sky swirled together as if they were made for each other.

Two Time found themself cuddled up next to Azure that morning as they typically did. Their shivering body was wrapped tight in Azure’s blood-soaked robes, their head resting in the crook of their partner’s neck.

Two Time carefully released the bloody robes they were clinging so tight to all night long, sitting up in the red-stained grass just to find their own body covered head-to-toe in their partner’s dried blood.

You’ve really done it, Two Time.

The horrific scene from the previous night clicked in Two Time’s head once more, sending their heart dropping. The air was no longer soft and damp, it was heavy, the scent of sliver and rotting filling the air. Two Time hesitantly turned their head, just to see their partner’s mutilated corpse.

The wound in Azure’s chest had grown significantly, claw marks tearing his flesh away exposing their bare ribs. His intestines were unraveled in a pile beside them, many small animal-like bites taken out of them. The more Two Time dreadfully examined their partners disfigured state, the more sickening the air felt.

This is your fault, Two Time.

You did this, Two Time.

Go fuck yourself.

“Dear great Spawn…” Two Time muttered, clasping their hands together in prayer over Azure’s rotting corpse.

“In exchange for my gift of the sacrifice of my dearest Azurewrath, may I receive the mighty blessing of a second life? I shall take it with gratitude and savoury… and continue my faith to the glorious Spawn.” Two Time continued.

Two Time desperately searched their surroundings for any sign from the mighty Spawn.

Nothing.

Surely you’ve received your second life, Two Time.

Look how gorgeous the great Spawn made the sky for you.

Two Time needed to cry, but they were wholeheartedly numb. Despite feeling like a crucial piece of them had been torn away for them, not a tear could fall from their eyes. They wanted so desperately to feel alive.

Two Time’s eyes slowly trailed over to their deceased partner once more. Their eyes were glued to their dagger, still plunged deep into Azure’s insides. They focused on the small part of the silver blade still exposed, watching the way it practically sparkled under the sunlight.

Two Time carefully approached their dagger, gripping the handle tight once more as they slowly drew the blade from Azure’s chest. They grasped their blood-stained dagger in their hands, quivering ever so slightly as they slipped off their fingerless gloves and positioned their dagger to their wrist.

Azure was dead. He wasn’t coming back and that was a tragedy too big for Two Time’s mind to possibly process yet. Two Time was overwhelmed by guilt. Their partner’s life was taken away from them against their will and it was all Two Time’s fault. But most importantly, how could Two Time possibly feel so much grief? They made a brave sacrifice to the glorious Spawn and should be beyond proud of that. If they finally got what they wanted, why did they suddenly feel so empty…?

You’re an unfaithful follower, Two Time.

The mighty Spawn is disappointed in you.

Two Time regained their tight grasp on the handle of their dagger before slicing through their wrist with a deep slash. They watched as their skin pulled apart, a fresh layer of white being revealed before the wound pooled with blood. A soft smile returned to their face as their grief and guilt was translated into a sting, making their entire wrist ache. Two Time couldn’t help but carve several more cuts into their wrists, splitting through many healed scars scattered across their arms.

Two Time watched as blood spewed out of their arms. They couldn’t possibly get any dirtier at this point, could they..?

As Two Time equipped their dagger back on their belt, they watched over Azure’s rotting corpse once more. They pulled themself into a stand, their legs trembling as they rose. They stood tall over their deceased partner, watching as little bugs explored Azure’s flesh.

What now, Two Time..?

Two Time slowly knelt down as they gently grabbed their partner’s hands, lifting them off the ground. They attempted to drag Azure’s body by the wrists, but ultimately failed.

Two Time glanced behind them, staring off at the small pond in the distance. They watched the way the wind made small ripples in the body of water. They stared down at Azure’s body for one final time before trailing their way down to the pond.

As Two Time’s feet shuffled through the grass, they carried their gloves and bandages in their hands. They wrapped their bandages tight around their severed wrists as they walked, sliding their gloves over top. The healed over scars scattered up their upper arms were exposed for all to see, but they couldn’t care less in such a moment.

Two Time reached the small body of water and kneeled down along the edge of the pond, getting their knees dirty and dipping their hands in the cold water. They carefully cupped their hands together, filling them up with pond water and splashing their face, rinsing their partner’s dried blood off of them.

Blood was still stained into Two Time’s clothes, but they couldn’t do shit about it. Some things stain, they will stay with you forever no matter how hard you try to wash them away and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.

Two Time quickly glimpsed behind them, staring off at the patch of red in the distance one final time before sneaking away from the nightshade field.

Two Time walked down a slim path, hidden and shadowed by a plentiful of trees, tall and short. They didn’t need to take such a route very often, but the trail would take them past the church of Spawn and back to Azure and them’s small shared cabin.

Two Time’s feet crunched through the leaves on the ground with every step they took. The air was still thick, weighing them down almost like someone was right there with them, watching every move.

Nightshade..?

Two Time quickly threw their head back, glancing behind them after Azure called out to them.

Not a soul was there.

Two Time struggled to brush it off, growing paranoid as they continued to walk alone. They made sure to check their surroundings, throwing their head around every now and then to make sure they were truly alone.

Two Time..?

Two Time only walked faster, throwing a glimpse behind them before booking it to the church. They kept a consistent pace and soon reached the stone front steps of the church, nearly tripping right over them.

The church appeared dead empty at such a time of day. Two Time was quick to cut down the side of the church, when a young fellow follower of the Spawn sprinted out from around the corner.

“Sister Two Time!” The young subject exclaimed with a smile across their face before quickly running off.

Two Time instantly flinched as they hesitantly waved back to the child. They weren’t anyone’s sister, or brother. But most of the community of Spawn thought otherwise.

Before Two Time could continue their lonely journey home—the only place they wanted to be, another figure approached from around the corner of the church.

“Sister Two Time.” Amarah announced, standing tall above Two Time with a stern look across his face.

Amarah’s eyes trailed down Two Time’s outfit, taking in the fact that their clothes were soaked in blood. His gaze locked with Two Time’s, a light smile forming on his face as Two Time stood nervously.

“Did you receive your second life..?” Amarah asked, genuine shock laced in his typically stern smile.

Two Time carefully nodded their head. They could finally feel some of the pride they were meant to feel.

But that didn’t change the fact that Two Time still knew they were more hurt than proud of their ways deep down.

“I’ve taught you well, sister. I’m beyond proud of you, Two Time.” Amarah took a deep breath.

“We’ll hold a banquet in your honour tomorrow, be back here six pm sharp.” Amarah continued.

“You are very brave, sister Two Time.”

Two Time couldn’t help but cringe once more at the excessive use of the term “sister.” But they felt the slightest feeling of relief hearing their mentor so proud of them.

“Thank you.” Two Time replied softly, a smile appearing on their face.

The idea of a feast celebrating them made Two Time feel sick inside. As grateful as they were for their community celebrating them, the idea of sitting at the head of the table and being the centre of attention during a meal filled them with dread.

“You should be off now, Two Time. Don’t go around looking like that.” Amarah insisted, gesturing to their blood-soaked outfit.

“Mhm!” Two Time agreed, nodding their head ever so softly.

“Goodbye, sister.” Amarah exclaimed.

Two Time waved lightly in response, vanishing off into the nearby forest.

It didn’t take Two Time very long to reach Azure and them’s cabin after their interaction with Amarah. The sound of autumn leaves crunching under their feet filled the air as they approached their front door.

Two Time gripped their doorknob tight, twisting it and pulling the wooden door open with a creaking sound. They stepped inside, feeling emotionally numb. They leaned against their door, putting their body weight into it and slamming it shut.

Two Time took a deep breath before carefully pulling one of Azure’s coats down from their coat rack. They held the brown jacket tight before pressing their face straight into it, taking in Azure’s scent without a thought.

Two Time dropped the coat to the floor when their throat suddenly grew tight. They could barely breathe as they began violently coughing. They quickly spat up nightshade petals, purple drooling from their mouth.

Two Time collapsed into a sit against the wall as they caught their breath. They used their already dirtied gloves to wipe away the purple splattered across their face. Their stomach turned as they counted the nightshade petals on the floor—the petals of no other than Azure’s favourite flower.