... what if Rurik didn't turn around?

The recommended music is Who We Want To Be by Tom Day

Chapter Warnings: Gun violence, character death, drug use, suicide, swearing

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"You won't get away with this! You took my husband... justice will be done!" the woman screeched. Rurik wrapped his left arm around Lotus's shoulder as he attempted to ignore her. He had already been proven innocent, so there was no point to entertaining her tantrum; she would just have to get ov-

*BANG*

The gunshot stunned the courtroom into silence, only broken by a pained grunt from Lotus; time seemed to slow as he crumpled forward. Rurik threw his right arm out to catch his boyfriend, easing them to the floor. His starry eye lights wavered in disbelief as he took in the hole piercing their back; a dark stain was spreading from the epicenter... it could be real...

*BANG*

Another shot rang out, followed by a thud and screaming, but Rurik had more pressing concerns; concerns such as the coughing, trembling body in his arms.

"I need a healer over here!" He shouted at no one in particular, knowing how ridiculous the request sounded considering most fell monsters were incapable of healing... still, he felt he had to try. Focusing on the monster in his arms, he shifted them carefully to rest against his left arm and shoulder, softly pleading, "Lotus... Lotus, talk to me, dammit... please..."

The hooded skeleton opened his sockets; his red eye light was dilated and fuzzy around the edges and his features radiated discomfort. Tears formed as Lotus shakily gasped, "Ru... rik... I... I'm s-sorry..."

Pulling the trembling monster into a gentle hug, Rurik shook his skull, nuzzling into their hood and retorting softly, "No, don't apologize; you did nothing wrong. It's my job to protect you and I let you get hurt-" He registered the words he had spoken, his anger slowly overriding his grief; he growled, "She hurt you... I'll hurt her... I'll kill that bitch for daring to-!"

A cool hand pressed against his right cheek, interrupting his rant. "Don't...," Lotus choked out, "... d-don't let her... take away... wh-what you... worked s-so hard for..."

Enveloping his companion's hand with his own, Rurik glared at the shooter only for shock to take its place. The woman laid in a pool of blood; someone else had already done the job for him. His rage drained away, having nothing left to direct it towards... no one but himself.

"Rurik..." Lotus's expression was a mix of pain and anger as he softly admonished, "... that look... s-stop it... it's... not your f-fault... I... I don't blame you... s-so stop it..."

Rurik smiled dolefully down at his partner before nodding solemnly; leave it to Lotus to know exactly what to say to calm him down. The smaller's face relaxed a bit as he asked, "Rurik...? C-Can you... promise m-me something...?"

"What is it?" Rurik questioned, leaning in close so he could pick up his companion's faint voice.

"I know it's s-selfish... but please... promise me... you won't... fall b-back into... old habits... when I-" the injured monster flinched, coughing and gasping before he could finish the sentence.

Gripping the skeleton's trembling hand tighter, Rurik shook his skull in denial; he fought his own tears down as he rasped, "No, don't you dare talk like that! We'll get you fixed up and everything will be fine... you've always been a fighter, so you can't give up now!"

"M'sorry...," Lotus wheezed, his words slurring together, "... Idon'... think I... I c-can fightit... 'istime. M-My body... 's already... too late..."

Rurik looked down, only now noticing the small pile of dust where Lotus's legs once were... and the process was working its way up his body slowly but surely. No... please no, anything but this!

"P-Please... Rurik...," the smaller begged amid staggered breaths, "promise... don'let this... destroy you... find happiness... w'thout me... 'n stay... th'monster... I lo... love... always..."

Those words broke through Rurik's composure, allowing the tears to cascade freely down his cheeks as he leaned in to gently kiss his boyfriend. The spectators didn't matter, his pride didn't matter; nothing mattered anymore... nothing but Lotus. Sniffling, he released the kiss and whispered in a froggy voice, "Alright... I'll try; I'll try for you... for my precious flower."

Lotus smiled faintly, his sockets crinkling as he nuzzled into the taller's chest and murmured, "Th-Thank you... I... I love you... Ru... rik..."

The distraught monster curled around his partner as he replied in a tight voice, "I love you too, Lotus. I love you so much; more than words could ever say..."

Lotus hummed tiredly, his sockets sliding shut as his hand went limp in Rurik's. The skeleton screamed out his pain and sorrow as what remained of his boyfriend dissolved into dust, leaving behind a pile of bloodied clothing and a black metal band.

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Sitting on the edge of his bed, Rurik grasped a small bottle of sleeping pills in his right hand with Lotus's favorite scarf dangling loosely in the other. Deep bags lined his sockets from the many sleepless nights he had endured since his partner's passing as he stared sullenly at a picture frame holding the reminder of what he once loved and lost; a vase of wilted roses was set next to it on the nightstand.

There were no words he could say to apologize for what he was about to do... he had only been able to last a mere month by himself. Lotus had been his reason for trying...but now... he couldn't do it anymore; not without his partner. He could feel himself slipping more and more each day, slowly being driven insane with grief... but he wouldn't break the promise they made; he wouldn't go back... with his last breath, he would go out as the monster they loved.

"Please forgive me for not being stronger," he whispered, popping the lid off the bottle. Pouring the contents into his waiting hand, he took a breath, shoved them into his mouth, and swallowed; he winced as the pills grated against his throat, but he continued loading another handful of pills into his hand... it wouldn't matter much longer anyway.

Staring at the empty bottle, he carelessly tossed it to the floor and settled himself on the bed with his Lotus's scarf clutched to his chest. Minutes ticked by as a thick heaviness gradually seeped into his body; his thoughts wandered to his boyfriend as he felt the end approach... would he see them after he died? Probably not; he wasn't a good monster... there was no way he was going to the same place as them...

The room began to sway; the white of the ceiling melded with the afternoon rays of light filtering in through the window... it was almost as if he were being rocked to sleep. Tears welled in his sockets as he mumbled, "Stars... I wish I... I c-could seeya again... t'hold... n'kiss... n'tellya... I loveya... one... m-more...... time...... m-my...... precious...... f-flower......... Lotus........."

One last tear slid down Rurik's skull as he let his sockets fall; he hugged the crimson fabric close as he took his last breath and drifted into eternal sleep.

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Word Count: 1,179