REQUESTED: AGNST ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

「 *The fog slithered low across the broken altar stones, curling around Two Time’s boots like fingers trying to pull them down. Every step echoed hollowly in the ruins of the SPAWN chapel. The moon was hidden beneath layers of clouds, and the air was heavy with ash, wet stone, and the faint metallic tang of old blood. *」

「 Two Time’s scarf dragged behind them, snagging on jagged tiles. Their fingers twitched, gloved hands hovering over the ritual dagger. Cold metal, carved from ghostbone and smeared with something darker than blood, reflected the dim light of the symbols etched into the floor. Their breath came shallow, rapid, punctuated by nervous laughter. A smile that was too wide. Teeth too sharp. They were afraid. That was… normal, right? 」

「 TWO TIME 」: “Okay… okay… just—just a ritual. Just a little pact… just a tiny gamble with Azure. I can do this.” Their voice trembled, laughter bubbling up, breaking into something closer to sobbing.

「 The dagger hit the dirt with a wet, resonant thud. Pale runes unfurled outward, glowing faintly like veins of ice crawling over stone. The symbols pulsed with life. The temperature dropped. Two Time’s breath fogged in the air. And then… 」

「 The wall behind them shuddered violently. A jagged chunk tore free and hurtled toward them. Two Time barely had time to twist—and then something wrapped around their torso. Slick, strong, unyielding. Tentacles, smooth and cold, coiled tightly. The impact knocked the air from their lungs, their dagger skidding across the floor. The tendrils pulsed faintly with colorless light, and then—he stepped through the smoke. 」

「 Azure. Pale. Beautiful. Terrifying. His eyes glowed faintly beneath his dark fringe, flowers tangled in his hair half-withered, half-blooming. His hat’s brim curled at the edges, twitching as if it were alive. Two Time’s heartbeat spiked to something frantic. They grinned, wild and trembling, teeth flashing as their breathing turned shaky. 」

「 TWO TIME 」: “You—you really know how to make an entrance, huh? Could’ve just said hello instead of… throwing half the wall at me.”

「 Azure didn’t answer. He tilted his head. His grin was soft, wrong. The tentacles shifted, wrapping higher—around Two Time’s waist, ribs, throat—until they were pulled forward, face-to-face. The flowers in his hair brushed Two Time’s cheek. Their noses nearly touched. 」

「 AZURE 」: “You came back.”

「 His voice was low, vibrating like something submerged under water. The hat twitched—then laughed, a sound like glass grinding against metal. Two Time’s breath hitched, eyes darting between Azure’s face and the movement of the tendrils. Their grin cracked wider, laughter bubbling up sharp and broken. 」

「 TWO TIME 」: “Oh, this is new. Talking hat now, huh? You—” their voice faltered, a laugh escaping like a sob “—you’re not supposed to sound that real.”

「 Azure’s expression flickered—briefly human. His hand trembled. Then, with a slow exhale, he pressed his palm against Two Time’s chest. The tentacles tightened slightly, enough to make them shiver but not bleed. 」

「 AZURE 」: “Why are you here, Two Time?”

「 TWO TIME 」: “Because I—” their voice cracked; their grin twitched wider. “—Because I don’t know how to live without you, okay? Is that what you want to hear? That I’m pathetic? That I—”

「 Azure’s eyes softened—just slightly. His tentacles trembled, loosening as Azure stepped closer. Their foreheads almost touched now, breath mixing in the cold air. 」

「 AZURE 」: “…You shouldn’t have come back.”

「 TWO TIME 」: “Yeah, well,” they laughed weakly, “I’ve never been good at doing what I should. Especially when it comes to you.”

「 A silence hung between them, heavy and desperate. The fog swirled around their feet, the ritual symbols still pulsing faintly beneath them. Azure’s hand lingered at Two Time’s jaw, thumb brushing the scar that traced his cheek. 」

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