As y'all may know, I'm a HUGE fan of Marianas Trench. While I was listening to some of their music, I couldn't help but think that their beautiful song One Love kinda resonates to Henri and Octavian.

And so, I felt like writing a bit of an angsty oneshot for them. It's only gonna be quite short with no dialogue (mainly focusing on description and such), and me trying to connect it to some of the lyrics.

I just REALLY needed to express myself LMAO xD This ship is just so sweet but sad, and honestly deserved so much better 😭😭😭

The song's above if you wanna give it a listen (which I highly recommend), and here we go! *Grabs a bunch of tissues that are not enough for my issues*

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The first night after Octavian's funeral, Henri wakes up in a sweat.

He was trembling all over, pale as paper. Memories of Octavian's corpse drifted back and forth in his mind--cruel images taunting him, something he so desperately wishes he could just forget.

Suddenly, however, two large hands grabbed a hold of his shoulders. Startled, Henri turned to see none other than his husband.

Just come back to bed, Octavian said quietly. Henri wasn't scared; a great feeling of ease engulfed him. His heart was racing a mile a minute, slightly disoriented as he slowly sidled back down.

But why is it that Octavian's greyish sapphire eyes reflect loneliness? A prolonging sad gaze that matched his own, and strange eyes that used to be so bright and full of life.

Henri soon forgot his worries, though. Curling up close to Octavian's taller frame, the other man wrapping his arms tightly around him.

He felt so safe, wanted, and loved. Yet there was something...different about Octavian's embrace. A certain coldness to it, and the nagging itch of melancholy deep down.

As he was lulled to sleep, he faintly registered Octavian whispering a broken I love you.

The next morning, Octavian was gone. Not a single trace left behind, not even a rumple in the bedsheets from where he once laid.

Henri locked himself inside all day, and with the burning tears he's been crying he swore he could fill an ocean.

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Henri did everything he could. He went to every possible witch, fanatically pored through seemingly every spell, and even attempted to harness the immense magic of the Bloody Crown.

But to no avail.

He yearned to bring Octavian back to life, to be reunited with his soulmate. He'd more than happily go through incredible lengths even if it means just spending one more day with him. Even if the world were to be destroyed, even if he were to die, as long as he sees Octavian again then Henri would be complete.

All he could do, though, was to communicate with him from beyond the grave. Stepping over the forbidden boundaries of life and death, which was the best the damned Bloody Crown could do. Phantom pain, as Henri calls it; Octavian was there, but also...not there.

The presence of his ghost, and Octavian's soft voice as he speaks and tries to comfort Henri. He did it almost everyday for hours on end, just spending time with Octavian's spirit in the eerie darkness of their formerly shared room.

And with each passing second, Henri knows that he is withering away to nothing more than an empty shell of who once existed.

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Octavian was the world to Henri. He was his first love, first kiss, first everything.

Unfortunately, he was also his last.

Henri saw no point after Octavian's tragic death. He was only alive right now because of his daughter, Harlow. He didn't care about anything or anyone else. His kingdom could crumble to ruins and he could lose all the respect he's worked so hard for, and absolutely nothing would compare to the harsh blow of Octavian's suicide.

He was being selfish, he knows. But it's the only thing he's good at, isn't he? So many wasted years, and nothing but wasted gain. And for what? To instill fear and possess a crown that can't even return his lover?

The crown wasn't even for power anymore. It was merely a constant reminder for Henri, stabbing him straight to the heart at the loss of his one true love.

Harlow deserved a better father. Someone strong, and someone who didn't wallow in self pity. He was a pathetic waste of air, and over and over again he thinks of how his lungs should just give out.

Maybe one day, everything will change. Maybe there's hope. Maybe one day, Henri will get right back up and become the ferocious king he once was.

But forever, he will always be a king's king until his final breath.

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OOF... Well, I'm not a great writer, but I hope you liked it! That was so depressing for me--

NOW EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO CRY MY GODDAMN EYES OUT CUZ OF OCTAVI

kakathotslayer

Eleuthero-mania

PainfullyAlex

JayThePlayer

SUFFER WITH MEEEH