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People said black cats are bad omen. That’s why in the dry and hot afternoon of Arcadia Oaks where people slowly gathered at one place, there was no black cat in sight.
There is a unified pace that people found fitting as they walked towards the Tarron’s house. The mothership is still stuck to the ground and keeping the appearance of a humble home the King and Queen-in-waiting along with their few aides once occupied. There were a small number of people already sitting at the tidied garden at the back of the house. The chairs are clad in white, so were the tables and the tent they put up to shelter them from the scorching sun.
Hisirdoux stepped at the completely dry soil, his forehead creasing, laughing at the irony of it all. Everything there is white while the people were adorned in black. Everyone was dressed to be formal, to pay their respects. To see their friend one last time.
Aja Tarron stood at the front, beside a glossy funerary box that glowed. She has her back to the audience, eyes not leaving her brother. Hisirdoux wondered if she could see Krel. If she can see his illuminated face resting peacefully, and not the pale blue core that’s presented to everyone.
Moments, or sektons as the siblings like to call it, were spent in silence. Hisirdoux could hear muffled sobs from Señior Uhl and a not so muffled sob from Coach Lawrence as Miss Lenora stood between them. Eli and Steve are inside the house, getting looked after by Toby before they both get into a panicking fit. Claire and Jim were seated at the front, supporting Aja and giving her company. At the more vacated spot in the garden lay the blanks, shut down and out of power because they wouldn’t stop crying, or what they can do that’s closest to it.
The familiar blue of Varvatos crowded Hisirdoux’s vision as the commander tapped Aja’s shoulder and stood firmly behind her, supporting the queen. People slowly followed him as the coffin was lifted from the stands and brought to the hole Zadra and her men dug. Hisirdoux didn’t move from where he was. He clenched the blue rose he’s holding, not wanting to let go even when the others already threw theirs. Burying the coffin along with the flowers didn’t feel right. Tossing the flower there felt like letting Krel go, and Hisirdoux wasn’t ready for that.
Even with his reluctance, Zadra and the others covered the coffin slowly with dirt, burying their King-in-waiting back to the Earth. Hisirdoux remembered how Aja made it clear why they held the funeral on Earth and not back at their planet. “My brother loved this mudball planet, and thus he shall lie where his heart resides. He shall lie, and be remembered, in his home.”
Hisirdoux smiled when she said that. He liked the idea of Krel loving Earth, the place where he met the guardians and spent time with them. He liked to think Krel loved them. But at the same time, Hisirdoux wished Aja just went and buried Krel in Akiridion through Akiridion customs and sealed the boundary between their planets. That way, he didn’t have to carry the pain of seeing his lover be encased in a stupid coffin in a stupid funeral.
If she just took him away, Hisirdoux could pretend Krel just went on a business trip back home and wait for him to come back. Krel will not be dead, and most certainly not six feet under him. The weather’s hot and the air is thick, yet Hisirdoux shivered, feeling completely drained and alone for the first time in a long while.
Hisirdoux turned his back from the grave, flower still clenched tight, and took a deep breath. He looked up and cursed. I wish it was raining.
The funeral of Douxie’s partner is happening today. Archie paced back and forth at the bookstore where him and his wizard familiar is currently staying. As much as he liked to worry about Douxie’s wellbeing, his concern for the boy’s feelings did not go unnoticed.
For the past days, Douxie wailed. When the news of his lover’s death reached the two of them, Archie did not understand how bad it was for Douxie to take it. Archie loved Krel too. The days they spent together, be it in the midst of battle or their everyday banter when Douxie finally had the guts to ask the Akiridion out.
Douxie is strong, Archie knows that. But Archie has been with him long before Merlin took them in. He was the one who can see the boy’s disheveled grunts when Merlin died, and his pained face when they broke his master’s staff. Archie was the one to see him wince when they used Morgana’s hand to make the amulet, the one to see Douxie arrange and organize and clean Morgana’s things in her chamber like she will still be using them. He was the one to witness how Douxie talked to the leaves and trees at the forest as if Nari could hear him.
Yes, Douxie is strong. He escaped death, and is probably wondering why Krel can’t.
The door of the bookstore clicked and slowly opened. Archie immediately noticed Douxie’s hoodie and how crooked it is, probably used to wipe his tears, making Archie wonder if it was truly the best to leave Douxie to attend the funeral alone. Another click and the door closed firmly behind the wizard, a cue for Archie to feign sleep. He could feel Douxie stare at him, walking close to pet him. Archie curled and purred at the touch. If a silent and asleep company is what Douxie needs to be able to cry his heart out, then he should have it.
Douxie made way to the grey couch, a shabby ottoman they got instead of a bed because they couldn’t afford one. It’s small enough to fit in the bookstore, which says a lot considering that’s where Douxie slept and the boy isn’t exactly short.
A small puff of the cushion was all Archie heard. He snuck a peek at his wizard, Douxie was hugging his knees, his chin up and staring at space. He’s been crying for weeks, Archie guessed there’s no tears to shed anymore. He wanted to go there, to snuggle close and tell him it will be fine because he won’t ever leave. For a millennium that’s what Archie did. When Douxie lost people around him because he never aged as fast as them, when fellow wizards fell to Camelot’s hate and law, when Douxie’s family, Morgana and Merlin left the world, Archie snuggled up close because there was nothing else he can do.
Archie looked at the clock and sighed. It’ll be midnight soon, and it’ll be different this time. If Archie hears pained cries while he sleeps, it’s the neighbors.
The blinds of the bookstore weren’t really keeping the sun out and Douxie struggled to open his eyes. It was sticky with dried tears from last night. His eyes hurt but he managed to get a good look of his surroundings. Right, it’s morning and he has to wake up to work or else both him and Archie might go follow Merlin and the others a bit too soon.
There’s no such thing as ‘no appetite’ when cat food prices suddenly skyrocket in the market. Douxie huffed, he never minded these things before, Krel did the shopping and Archie didn’t mind what brand the cans Douxie brings him before. He really should get used to it... No one’s gonna shop for him. No one’s gonna scold him. No one’s gonna banter with him. No one’s gonna press him for a magic trick. No one’s gonna clatter tools and serrators around and ask him to fetch things they forgot to bring. No one’s left.
The door clicked and Douxie’s eyes fell on a teenage boy. He realized he hadn’t moved an inch and scrambled to look presentable at least. Wouldn’t want Merlin’s reputation to go downhill with an apprentice that looked more like a ghost than Merlin himself. “Sorry, we’re not open yet,” he said.
“That’s fine, just wanted to ask if you’ve seen something like a Daxial Array?”
Douxie stopped. He shook his head, he didn’t want to look. It can’t be.
“K-krel?”
“Hey, Douxie.” Douxie jumped to embrace him. “It’s you! Gods I knew you wouldn’t leave me!” Tears gushed as he held him, savoring the way he was exactly like the last he saw him. His height and the way he fit right to Douxie’s chest every time he hugged him, the dark brown hair and dark skin, and his eyes… the eyes.
Krel hugged him back. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.
Douxie smiled. “Just let me stay like this, and thank you.”
Krel nodded as he rested peacefully in Douxie’s embrace, closing his eyes, hiding the bright blue Q etched in it. Douxie’s whimpers were present, but he didn’t mind. It will take time for his wizard familiar to accept the truth, but he will. And Archie will be with him when he do.