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There had been a lot of times that the world seemed to dim. Whether it was the feeling of hopelessness or the sting of betrayal it didn't matter. He had seen the worlds' cruelty and evil up close, bearing it like a man and doing everything in his earthly power to end it. Like stone. Unmovable object meeting unstoppable force each and every time. Only the unstoppable force became stoppable. Through blood and tears him and the other monks had stopped the end of the world like they were born to do it, because they were born to do it. Only now he would have let the world end a million times over to stop the blood that did not belong to him from staining him hands.
It was easy to take on the mind of a martyr when dealing with a life that was yours alone. He happily acted the human shield every day of his life if it meant someone would be spared from a bad fate. So it made sense that right now, kneeling on the seared earth of a battlefield, his heart was tearing into shreds and his head hurt from trying to think of a way to save this boy he was holding.
Snežan and the other Heylin had joined them in trying to stop a malevolent entity from causing total annihilation to the population of half-breeds and humans everywhere. Some sick type o' supernatural Hitler bullshit. Whatever it was, it was powerful and old. Enough of both of those things to be considered a threat by Chase Young and Hannibal R. Bean themselves. So many joined during the course of a few weeks once they heard the news. The Black Vipers being a pleasant surprise as well as a handful of old friends and family alike. It had taken months of planning, prep and a back-breaking training regime, but eventually the day came when they would go to battle.
Things had been going about as smooth as they could be with only a few light injuries sustained among them and some people getting knocked out, but towards the end things took a turn for the worst. That evil thing figured it may not make it out, so it decided to take as many out with it. God only knows what happened, but before anyone could register, it let out the most terrifying noise Clay had ever been privy to. Like it had multiple voices at once, a low growl and an ear-splitting screech you could feel in your bones. It made everyone black out on their feet for just a second. Whatever it did killed it, but it sent a fair few folks flying. Blood began spilling. He could see one of the bikers now sans the rest of her leg from about the knee down being dragged off by Omi, who was already trying to stop the blood pouring out. Alasdair had a gash on his back but got up along with his brother, Maon, who had a similar injury on his arm. Everyone seemed
Then he saw him. He who Clay had loved so begrudgingly. He, who despite his affiliation with Heylin and Chase Young, was the brightest soul Clay had ever had the pleasure of experiencing. He, who was now lying limp in a growing pool of blood. Before either of them knew it, Clay was cradling him with a reverence you couldn't find in the fucking Vatican.
What was the most disturbing was how ethereal Snežan still looked in his arm. He was half curled in the fetal position, his pale fingers twitching as they grasped Clay's shirt with a growing weakness. Damn fool was smiling up at him as though his skin wasn't split from his eye to his upper lip and he didn't have a still-bleeding wound on his abdomen. There was blood dripping everywhere, staining every surface it could and grime from being tossed around like a doll caked his skin and clothes, but it made no difference to Clay. The one he loved still looked as delicate and as divine as the day they had met. He would want to stop crying if the tears weren't washing away the blood on Snežan's face.
'H-hey now... don't you go smilin' at me like you're sayin' goodbye. Don't you do that, par-hic-partner... gotta let that heart keep on... keep on...' Clay could barely get the words out let alone think of what next to say. He was shushed when that same pale hand that was holding onto him came up to cover his mouth. Without thought nor care he pressed it closer, the coolness of the skin making his heart break further. 'I'm not... making it out this time... Clay, Clay. Ey, listen to a... ngh... a dying man's last words, won't you?' The ask only made his tears pour out faster. He started shaking his head, desperately trying to tug the hand off of his mouth to no avail.
'I always knew I would have a slow end.. but the view is a pretty nice one. Hehe, I guess God must be real.' How he was joking at a time like this Clay would never stop asking himself. He prayed that Snežan would be there to never answer him. 'Thank you... for... for you. It has been an honou-'
Before he could utter anything else that sounded too much like he was prepping to take his final breath Clay ripped away his hand and kissed him. It wasn't really a kiss, per se, more like an attempt to shut Snežan up by mashing his mouth against his in some desperate act to keep him fighting. Clay was still sobbing even as he pressed his mouth against the other's. After a beat he couldn't find the strength to keep himself in that position so he pulled back slightly, hiccuping as he shook from exertion and terror. '
'No... no, please... don't go. Don't take him from me. Don't you go where you think I won't follow.' The implication of his words made Snežan's eyes widen. His face got serious. Then those whiter-than-white eyes softened when Clay spoke once more, using up the last of his energy.'I love you too much n-not to, darlin'. Don't care if I gotta knock on Death's door to stay with ya.'
Even with the tears blurring his vision Clay could see the love and understanding and relief in Snežan's eyes. It made his heart soar when the boy in his arms grinned up at him. Then it plummeted like a faulty aircraft when the slovak went limp, his eyes closing. No, no, no, he thought, mind racing.
A few shakes was all he could manage before exhaustion and heartbreak caught up to him. The texan fought harder than he had in his life to stay awake if only for a moment. 'Damn you... if you gotta go hic... know that I-I was only alive when I was alive around you. My sunshine... hic light of my life.' With that, everything went black. All he could feel as he slipped into unconsciousness was the feeling of warm blood pumped by the heart he loved.