Arin's future visions have always been more of a curse than a gift, their ominous glimpses looming over every action and choice. These visions now loom closer and closer, gnawing at their minds with a terrifying inevitability as the days become darker and their struggles more brutal. Like ghosts, the pictures of themselves in dire circumstances, giving up all to prevent the end of the world, haunt them. Additionally, those views of death become heavier and more intimate with every day they battle beside Cassiel, every stolen gaze, and every whispered vow.
Even though they have grown to trust Cassiel as their best friend, Arin is hesitant to totally open up to him. The fear of losing what may be if they give in to the love Arin is kept at a distance by the relationship that is developing between them—the tie that would make leaving him intolerable. It's getting more difficult to disguise, though. Arin is aware that Cassiel can see the fight raging in their eyes and that every battle leaves them scarred and every win brings a momentary feeling of comfort.
A Fireside Evening
It's one of those few precarious evenings when they can relax. The only light in the wide blackness surrounding them is the faint crackle of the fire. Arin sits still and silent, staring at the flames with a mind that is far off from the here and now. From the other side of the fire, Cassiel observes them, noticing the turbulence in their distant gaze. At last, he is unable to hold back.
He breaks the stillness by softly calling, "Arin." His tone is soft, cautious, as if trying to touch them would break them. "What's bothering you?"
Startled out of their trance, Arin's countenance is reserved. However, Arin's determination disintegrates when Cassiel's eyes meet theirs; they are kind and compassionate, but they are also tinted with a profound awareness that penetrates the barriers Arin has so meticulously constructed.
They take a deep breath and start talking, their words quiet and deliberate, as though they are confiding in the night itself. They tell him about their haunting visions and the unrelenting weight of a fate they feel unable to alter. Every thought of their own demise has left a mark on their psyche that they have attempted to ignore but are now unable to ignore. With just a murmur, they acknowledge that the idea of departing they are continually tormented by the thought of him one day having to face a world in which they are unable to support him.
The Past and Fears of Cassiel
Silently Cassiel listens, his own eyes focused on the fire, its light creating shadows on a face etched with unsaid grief. As Arin's voice wanes, he starts talking in a ghostly, low tone.
He shares with them his own history, a period when he was unable to save people who were dependent on him, and how his blunders caused everything he held dear to fall apart. He talks of the weight he bears, the guilt that consumes him, and the dread that he cannot alter the future even now. His voice cracks as he acknowledges that occasionally he questions whether this is his penalty—a test that he could be bound to fail again.
Arin's fingers automatically clasp around Cassiel's, anchoring them both as Cassiel reaches for his hand, which is steady yet delicate. With profound significance, he whispers, "You're not alone in this." "No matter what, we're stronger together."
Arin can see the glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes, but she also feels the strength in his hold and the promise in the warmth of his hand. Even while Cassiel wants to comfort them, Arin can sense his hesitancy—his own dread that they could be waging a struggle they can't win—because Cassiel's own scars are deep, his wounds still raw under the surface.
A Developing, Vulnerable Trust
However, at these vulnerable times, something changes between them. For the first time, both of them let themselves be seen and share the burdens they had long carried alone. They both realize it's something unique and valuable, yet it's a quiet, fleeting moment of understanding that seems as brittle as a flame.
Silently, they sit with their hands clasped together, the warmth of their contact an unsaid comfort against the encroaching darkness. There are no more words, guarantees, or promises—just a silent understanding that they are no longer alone in confronting whatever lies ahead.
Their relationship becomes stronger in the days that follow, eventually turning into an unwritten vow. They keep fighting to stay alive, but every touch and every glance has a significance that wasn't there before. Additionally, even if Even while Arin still gets glimpses of that bleak future, there is now a glimmer of hope—a thin thread that could allow them to change their destiny if they band together.