TW- self-harm and death

Scar POV-

"Cub... I am so sorry. I can't feel the same way. I'm in a relationship with someone else."

"I understand Scar. I am sorry. I'll go now."

"No wait Cub! You know you can't leave right now! It's a full moon and you're in distress. The vex could easily take control of your mind."

"I'll be fine Scar."

I awoke with a start, tears streaming down my face. I felt Grian shift and roll towards me, "are you okay babe?"

I nod and slip out of bed to go get ready for the day in the bathroom. It's earlier than usual but my dream had peaked my adrenaline and I doubted I would be able to fall asleep again.

A pair of strong arms wrap around me as I open my eyes. I'm leaning over the sink, hot tears falling off my nose. I turn and hug a still sleepy Grian, "I'm sorry for waking you up. I just had that dream again."

"The last time you saw Cub?"

I nod. It had plagued me even since he disappeared. It had been almost a month now and I was increasingly worried. I shoved my face into their shoulder, trying to slow my racing heart.

"Scar..." Grian pulls away, to look at me in the eyes, "I want you to be honest with me. How do you feel towards Cub?"

I thought for a second. Cub was my best friend. He had been since we started Hermitcraft together and I worried every day that he had finally succumbed to the vex. I'd say I loved him, but I truly didn't know if it was romantically or platonically, "I-" I look don't, "I don't know."

Grian nods, and pulls me into another hug, "You should go find him and figure it out. Don't hesitate to follow your heart because of me." They pause and sigh, "I love you more than the universe Scar which is why I want to you to be happy, whether it's with me or with someone else."

They are crying as I clutch to them as we both sob, "I love you too Grian. And thank you."

-Time Skip-

I glided over the dark oak forest. I had my inventory filled to the max with food, potions, spell books, and weapons as I was flying to a nearby Woodland Mansion. It was the first place I had thought to look since Cub and I had always felt drawn towards it during full moons.

Isn't the next full moon tonight? That's not good because if Cub has given into the voices he will be twice as powerful as I will have to fend them off. I really should have thought about that ahead of time, but I'm here now.

I land lightly at the entrance to the mansion and I feel chills run down my spine. I breathed in once and exhaled, calming my nerves as I step into the dark building. I know that Cub will be in the upper rooms, if he was here, so I pull an invisibility potion out of my inventory and take a sip. I watch as the potion takes effect and I quickly chug the rest of it, sputtering slightly at the bitter taste.

It doesn't take long before I reach the top floor. I'd luckily only had one close call when I had stepped on a squeaky plank just behind an evoker, but once he had turned around and looked straight at me, he shrugged and returned to organizing a bookcase. I had felt, and still feel, extremely exposed without my armour but as I round a corner to the main hallway of the upper floor, I forget all about it.

Cub is there. Right there. On the other end of the hallway. He's sitting on a simple wooden chair, reading a large leather-bound book, utilizing the sunlight streaming into the large stained-glass window. I creep towards him, stepping carefully until I can see what book he's reading. It's the book we had used to first gain vex magic.

I can' stop myself from drawing in a sharp breath. Cub looks up from the book, slightly confused until his eyes land on me. I glance down to see I am still invisible but I can sense Cub still looking at me.

"Hello Scar."

I breath in heavily as Cub begins to walk towards me. As he gets closer, I can see sparks of blue shooting within the whites of his eye. He had given into the vex completely.

"No need to hide. I know you're there."

I sigh, and pull out a pitcher of milk. I take a couple gulps and watch my hands reappear as I slide the milk back into my inventory. I'm looking at my feet as I feel Cub stand right in front of me. He was uncomfortably close and I could see his boots in my field of vision.

"What are you doing here Scar?" Cub's voice was harsh and sounded unused. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet before glancing slightly upward to see him glowering at me, his arms cross uninvitingly.

I glance slightly to the side, staring out the window before responding quietly, "I missed you Cub. And- and I want you to come home..."

I saw his face change slightly out of the corner of my eye. He eyebrows furrowed, his lips rising into a sneer as he glares at me, "how dare you..."

This caught me off guard and I could feel the anger rising in my throat as he takes another step towards me. The sun was setting and I knew that my anger was a prerequisite to the battle that would take place in my mind between the vex and I. I need to control it but as I force myself to stare into his eyes, terrified of the magic sparking in them, it increases exponentially. I close the gap between us, "how dare I what?" I could feel the anger drip off of my tongue and I knew that the vex would be appearing soon in my mind.

"How dare you come to me after what you did and tell me that you miss me. How long has it been Scar? A month?" his voice hissed with building rage as his hand grabbed my wrist roughly, "if you really cared you would have come earlier."

Earlier. That one word was enough to break through my gathering anger and shatter my heart. I had wanted to come before, but I thought Cub would want to be alone. I thought he wouldn't want to see me. I can feel hot tears streaming down my face as I crumple to the floor, Cub's grip on my wrist forcing my hand to stay where it was.

Cub just looks at me with disgust, "you are weak but luckily the vex will take you and they will make your life worse than you could ever imagine. Even now they tell me of what they hope to do to you. To make you pay for hurting me."

My body is shaking as I sob harder. Cub grabs my hair and forces it back to look in my eyes, "they are coming."

Just on cue, I feel my mind split, a migraine forming just behind my eyes. I'm too emotionally distraught to fight and the pain diminishes as I am forced to simply watch my body stand up. I can feel a voice talking to me so I try to focus on it.

"You and Cub must suffer. You have avoided and controlled us for so long so now. We know Cub's weakness and he will break. You, we know not, but trust us when I say, our testing will not be pleasant."

I forced the voice away from me, and focused on what was happening outside of my mind. Pain had begun shooting through my body as blood pooled off of my arms. The vex had taken my sword, and had begun to injure myself. If I could have controlled my body, I would have scream. I would have dropped the sword and tried to stop the bleeding, but all I could do was feel the blood drip off my finger tips and stare at Cub. His smirk clear as day, but pain was hidden behind is eyes.

He must be experiencing the same thing as me. He has no control over his own body and can only watch as the person he is in love with hurt themselves. This was the voice's way of torturing us.

I felt the blade draw another line in my blood covered arm, as I gain enough control of my body to scream. The sound ripped at my throat, and I saw Cub's smirk falter. He moved towards me, his movements jerky and uncoordinated, and knees in front of me. He grasps my face, tears streaming down his cheeks and I can see, in his eyes, no magic.

He had gained control. For now.

His eyes, so full of pain looked into mine and the blue magic in my eyes reflected off of the pupils of his, "please forgive me Scar. There was a time I would have died for you, but now, I must kill for you. I cannot let you live like this. I love you."

He pulls a small diamond dagger from his inventory and, with shaking hands, drives it into my heart as my hands desperately try to stop him. His eyes regain the blue sparks and he glances at the dagger in my chest, clearly confused. My body is shutting down but I know it will be okay. The voices are gone. I will see Cub again. I will see the man that loves me so perfectly again. I will be with the man I love again. And I sink into darkness.