Blood Of My Blood

[Nicolás Cormond]

Starved, exhausted, uncertain. The men situated behind the walls of Ergo Cormond’s fortress were made desperate after weeks of isolation and bombardment. The siege left every man thirsty for an escape and hungry for salvation, and at dawn, that long desired salvation came. As streaks of daylight broke through the night, so did the outside mercenaries through the surrounding encampment. Real explosions and real gunfire accompanied their unexpected arrival, and in the wake of the attack, Nicolás and his men were cast back into the dunes of Brentaal. Or so the men of Ergo saw and believed.

A picture was painted, a trojan horse was fashioned, and the citadel’s weary defenders fell for everything. When blinded with hope, so far from the field and so high on their barricades, none had realized Nicolás was neither killed, captured or had even fled the scene of the battle. Rather, he was right in front of them, right under their noses, as he hid under a Mandalorian helm and behind an Imperial rifle. As for the many men around him, they too were his own, disguised and designed to trick the defending force. Along with Numenius’ persuasive skills as a diplomat, in addition the wagons of food they hauled behind them, the gates of the citadel were opened in moments.

And so the doom of Ergo Cormond was sealed.

By the time his father realized what happened, it had already happened. Nicolás and his forces quickly overwhelmed that of the citadel, and within minutes, it was the clear the battle could not be won for those defending. Many surrendered, again, thanks to Numenius’ quick thinking. Not purely as a diplomat, though. His skill as a fighter was no less effective as he knocked aside and dispatched well over a dozen sentries. Again, Nicolás was left to wonder: how could I have been so lucky to have a man like Senator Pax? That same thought, that same man, was what fueled him too. It’s why he fought even harder, and straight into the heart of the citadel halls where his father remained.

Once there, then at last, he could set his vengeance to rest.

Winding corridors and lingering guards was nothing to him. It only delayed the inevitable, because it wasn’t long before he reached the doors to Ergo’s chambers. Those who once guarded it were either killed, imprisoned or fled knowing full well the state of the attack. All that was left to do was for Nicolás to open those doors and confront his father. But, even with no other enemies at his back and Numenius by his side, could he do it? His fingers pressed against the wood but hesitated. His eyes wandered over to the other man, and his voice uncertain, he asked him. “Are you ready?”

Although, the real question was— was he?

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Here they were.

Numenius wasn't sure what had come over him if he was honest. He had come up with a valid battle plan and he had thrown himself into the meat grinder and had come away rather well, all things considered. Sure, he was hot and he was sweaty and he had some sentient's blood on his boots but... but his heart would simply not stop pounding a beat against his rib cage. It felt like he was floating, the adrenaline lighting his blood on fire or something.

It was amazing and terrifying and the damn physical response to the whole thing made him want to drag Nicolas off to one side for a bit of R&R but damn they couldn't.

He fought and he led and he did it all by Nicolas' side.

Just as he was now.

Standing there, with his blaster pistol in hand and some borrowed grenades at his waist, Numenius took a nervous drink from a water canteen before shaking his head.

"No."

Reaching out with his free hand, he wrapped it around the back of Nicolas' head and pulled the other man in for a deep kiss. He wasn't about to let them walk into this without this. Breaking the kiss after a long moment, he kept the two of them close for a moment longer, just staring into Nicolas' eyes.

"I love you, Nicolás Cormond."

His cheeks reddened as he released Nicolas and stepped back, coughing lightly as he added,

"I just... you know... wanted to say that before we went in." he shrugged sheepishly, "But I'm ready now."

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

Nicolás turned, surprised by his answer. Did he have something to say before he confronted the head of his family name? Before he did something the other man might not feel was right? He knew Senator Pax was a clever strategist, but he was also a forgiving man. A man of peace. What would he think if he realized the dark intentions that festered in Nicolás? For his father, for the rest of Brentaal and the galaxy? So many questions Numenius could ask, all of which could bring down a relationship built over the past several years. However, out of everything he expected, it wasn’t a kiss.

His head was pulled forward and his lips crashed into another. Caught off guard, his eyes were wide, but as he sank deeper into the kiss, they slipped to a close. He wanted to relish in this moment. In fact, he wanted to stay in it forever. Ambition, desire, revenge: he ignored it all when he was this close to Numenius. His love for power was nothing compared to that intangible power of love. But at the same time, it wasn’t intangible. It was real. Nicolás could see it in the sparks in the air, feel it in the warmth in his cheeks, hold it as his fingers hooked around his shoulder. It was real and it was everything.

As Numenius retreated back, Nicolás bit his lip and smiled. In moments like these, he was hardly ever flustered. Before, a kiss was only a kiss, meaningless and only used as an introduction to sex. But this had meaning, and now, he couldn’t stop that rosy color from surfacing, or resist that smile, or find the words to respond. Rather, the words found him, and with the squeeze of his hand, he said. “And I love you, Numenius Pax.” It was the cheesiest response he might have ever given, but it was still the most worthwhile.

He bit back a chuckle and glanced back to the door. Now more than ever, he wanted to stay. Numenius showed him clean hands, but Nicolás was ready to dirty them. After what his father put him through, he deserved death. The Senator wanted to see it through, but what would he think of him when the deed was done? He pressed his hand to the door, closed his eyes and sighed. “Okay.” A blink later, he pushed.

For a stronghold tucked in a desert, the main hall was stunningly lavish. Then again, Nicolás didn’t expect otherwise. His father, besides being ruthless and cold, was terribly indulgent. Even with his assets frozen by the Trade Guild and most of Brentaal shaped against him, he hoped to maintain that extravagant lifestyle. Exotic plants, silk curtains, carpets and paintings from every corner of the galaxy. However, no guards. All of them had long since abandoned Ergo once the tide turned. Credits can only buy so much, and now, his father was out.

“The prodigal son returns.” His voice was well-mannered but his words vindictive and surgical. He knew why his son was here and what he would do. They both knew. “Welcome back, Nicolás.” His gaze flickered over to Numenius. “With company.” The older man traced his fingertips along the frame of a painting fixed upon the wall. He didn’t bother looking at the younger Senator, but he spoke directly to him. “You must be Senator Pax.” A long pause as he glanced over to him. “I have no quarrel with you. Why are you here?”

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Numenius had managed to surprise Nicolás and that was not something that happened very often during their time together. Sure, they hadn't spent as much time together as he would have liked but that was mainly because Numenius had come to realise something when thinking about his life and, specifically, his life with Nicolás Cormond.

Forever wouldn't have been long enough for him either.

His cheeks were already hotter than usual because of his own daring so they didn't colour as they usually did at the way Nicolás responded to the kiss. He did, however, colour more when it came to Nicolás' response to his declaration. It never failed to make him flush to know how Nicolás felt.

Standing by Nicolás' side with his weapons at the ready, Numenius nodded and they stepped into the hall.

It looked rather decadently decorated for a disgraced man who's funds had surely dwindled in recent times. He supposed it made sense to keep up appearances but they were the only ones here who weren't on the side of the elder Cormond - they were the only ones here who could potentially believe the lie and they had seen straight through it.

Oh?

He was to be addressed was he? Well, far be it from Numenius to refuse an opportunity to talk to someone - gave him excuse to not have to kill the man just yet. Although, he would admit that despite his usual pacifist leanings there was an urge to just shoot the man three times in the back and once in the head.

He refrained from doing so.

"Pleasantly surprised to see my reputation proceeds me."

He had always wanted to say that.

"But you are misinformed, sir, there is a quarrel between us. You see, I cannot stomach your continued existance." He declared bluntly, "Please step away from the painting and present yourself for arrest."

How long Ergo would live past arrest was a matter of debate.

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

“Stomach my continued existence? Present myself for arrest?” Ergo echoed the words of the Senator, his tone bathed in absolute scorn. He couldn’t believe what the young man was saying, and neither could Nicolás. He was glad, if not completely taken, by the devotion and defense Numenius displayed against a man he hardly knew and all for a man he knew well. But did he know the other Senator enough? Quarrel, arrest— the truth was, there would be no debate or imprisonment. For his father, because of that unquenchable thirst for vengeance, Ergo Cormond would die.

“You haven’t come here to arrest me. You’ve come to kill me.” He seemed delirious, but every word that slithered out of his mouth was evidently the truth. “Maybe not you, Senator Pax, but my dearest son…” The older man stepped from the painting and gestured to Nicolás. His gaze wandered down to the loaded blaster in his son’s hand. One finger was already settled against the trigger. All the young Senator needed to do was aim and fire. Then, he could savor that sweet taste of fulfilled revenge. Even if it would change nothing, even if it made things worse. Either way, Ergo continued, focus now on Nicolás: “…you’ve been waiting for this moment all your life, haven’t you?”

The younger man only looked on, expressionless, but his eyes said enough. His father persisted, this time he meant to shed light on a subject that was best hidden in the darkness. “I know I have never been a good father to you. I know I’ve treated you wrong. But why destroy your own family name because of it?” His son twitched. “You tell half the story with half the truth. Don’t listen to him, Numenius. He’s a lying snake.” However, his words fell on deaf ears for his father, who only continued. “Oh please, Nicolás. I will admit, I am a liar. But you’re no different. After all, you are your father’s son.”

He kept his arms outstretched and hands open: he was unarmed. “I must also confess, it was a brilliant move on your part. Working with the Cartel to make it seem as if I was, and with falsified footage. Convincing them to attack a political gala, which you conveniently hosted and miraculously escaped from, to force a slow bureaucracy into action. Persuading the Senate, then the Trade Guild, of my supposed illicit activities. By the time I realized what happened, the galaxy was convinced. And now, you’re here to hammer the final nail in the coffin.”

His gaze drifted back to Senator Pax. “Did you know too?” He asked, then accused. “You must have, else he wouldn’t have invited you here in the first place.” The older man pored over Nicolás again. “Or… perhaps not?”

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

It should come as no surprise that Numenius, being a politician, had faced down at lot of people who hated him. A lot of people would get up in his face with visceral hatred and scorn and it was his job to just take it in stride and ignore it. So when Ergo decided that he was going to try and rant at him, that was probably the worst thing he could have done.

Simply because Numenius switched off and merely filed what was being said away for later as he idly fiddled with one of the controls on his blaster. Setting it for training mode, he knew that it's blasts would sting like hell but not actually damage as they would normally.

Honestly, he knew what was being said was going to have an effect on him as soon as he allowed himself to properly feel it. He took a deep breath and fired twice at Ergo's chest, the training bolts enough to stagger him and cause him a great deal of pain but not outright kill or harm him.

He turned the blaster back to full power but he couldn't help himself.

Just as Ergo had suggested... he had to know.

"Is any of it true, Nico?"

His voice was small and his focus was seemingly only on Ergo as he held the man at blaster-point... but his mind was with his fellow senator and the man he had come to love.

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

Nicolás turned to Numenius, shocked by the surprising turn of events. Had the other man just shot and killed his own father despite everything he heard? His eyes darted from him to Ergo before he realized what happened. The blaster was on stun, his father still alive, and now, Numenius had questions. In truth, the real surprise was with Senator Pax.

He had every right to ask, to know. Of course, he was destined to find out, whether at Nicolás’ eventual coronation or on his deathbed, the young Senator had only hoped it wouldn’t be so soon and so early into their relationship. Everything was still falling into place, but Numenius was the only piece out of his hands. Now more than ever, that was no different. In all of his schemes and plotting, he was the one variable Nicolás never expected.

There was no way he could lie to him. As easy as it was to argue that his father was desperate and spiteful, how could he look into Numenius’ eyes and tell him so? No— he was done lying. His days of scheming was over. Since meeting Senator Pax, he found everything he ever needed. He severed all of his connections to the Cartel and disavowed Nem’ro the Hutt. He had a change of heart. Still, there was no escaping his past. Acceptance was key to fulfillment.

“Yes.” He said with a sharp breath. Nicolás couldn’t bear to look at him. “All of it.” This same instance ran through his mind before a million times. A piece of him expected the other man to discover his terrible deeds, and that same piece rehearsed a hundred excuses and explanations to convince him to stay. But now, in the moment, what could he say or do now? He was at a loss for words, for hope. Deep down, he believed there was no forgiving what was done.

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Yes.

That damning word that made him want to crawl into a hole and just hide away from the rest of the Galaxy. Such a small, simple, word that was proof that the man he loved was... was more than he had ever known him to be and not in the best of ways. Nico, his Nico, was as corrupt as his father, the man they were here to take down for just such a thing.

It broke his heart to think that while he had shared all of himself with Nicolas, his beloved had not felt the need to do the same - hadn't felt comfortable enough to do it. Was it from fear? Fear that, perhaps, they would never be able to work past it? Fear that he would, Force forbid, turn Nico in for his crimes, for his connections?

His pistol felt heavy in his hand and it dipped.

"Why?"

It was a question he felt a desperate need to ask but it was directionless, weak and helpless, before he closed his eyes for a moment to centre himself before asking again.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He clarified, "Why do I have to learn about this from your scumbag of a father? Why... why couldn't you just... TELL me?"

He turned to Nicolas fully.

"Did you think so little of my love, of me, as to think I would care? That I would leave?"

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

Why?

“I have wasted so much of my life worried about my legacy. I was ambitious and manipulative. I wanted to fill this hole my father so willingly left.” He beat his chest, taking one step forward but not too close. “I wanted to kill him. A piece of me still does.”

“I wanted the world I couldn’t have: my home. I wanted everything.” He breathed deep and fought the cracks in his voice. For the first time in so long, he felt truly vulnerable. Exposed, and he hated it, but it was a weight from his shoulders. He was breathing for the first time. “But then you became everything. Since then, all I wanted was you. But what happened before still happened. I couldn’t escape from the plan I already set into motion. So, I let the wheel keeping rolling.”

Nicolás made another step forward but not too close to alarm him. He opened his arms, his hands, unarmed. Even if Numenius never planned to shoot him too, he left himself open to him. “But I changed. I sidelined all my pathetic schemes. Expanding my influence in the Senate, running for Chancellor. I let the Cartel go. I told Nem’ro he could shove it—“ He managed a thin smile through the pain. “—for you.” Every word was honest, but what was to say Numenius would believe him? Nothing. But still, he said it, because he wanted to. He needed to.

“I couldn’t tell you though. Because yes, I was afraid.” Another step. “I never, for a second, thought so little of your love. If anything, it was my everything. I wasn’t just afraid you would leave, I was afraid you’d think less of me. That you’d never trust me again. And now—“ A hopeless, broken sigh. “—I understand if you can’t. I messed up, and I’m willing to pay for it.”

His words came in tandem with the arrival of another threat. Not in the hall, but in the skies above, death came knocking. A debt was owed and a debt needed to be paid.

@Nefieslab @Malon

 

[Nem'ro the Hutt]

The Flying Dianoga emerged from hyperspace over Brentaal IV without much fanfare. With the recent conclusion of the Hutt-Republic War, the appearance of a Hutt flagship in Republic space would usually send starfighter scrambling, but Brentaal IV was still corrupted and the Hutt crime lord knew exactly who he needed to pay off to ensure his presence went entirely unnoticed by the Republic government.

The ship's captain, Kyber, appeared before Nem'ro shortly after the Orivah-class corvette began to enter the planet's upper atmosphere. The target they were hunting did not know they had arrived just yet; but Nem'ro imagined that he would be... most displeased when the ship was finally made known to him. Even considering the war, Nem'ro could not abide another betrayal. This senator had earned his scorn and the only way to let the galaxy know that he was still to be feared, despite the Hutt Clan's losses, was to remind them that no one was beyond a Hutt crime lord's retribution. Not even a famous Republic senator.

"We've arrived in Brentaal IV's lower atmosphere, Lord Nem'ro," Kyber said with a slightly lowered head. The grunt knew his place within the pecking order. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, sir? To kill a Senator so brazenly... and on his homeworld no less... Won't the Republic chase after us?"

Nem'ro sipped from a glass of swamp-colored liquid and laughed deeply. In Huttese, he replied, «The Republic is too busy licking the boots of their Sith masters to pay us any heed.» He gazed out the viewport at Brentaal V and thought about how, despite how close to the Core Worlds it was, it was still an ugly world not unlike his own Ryloth. «And, anyways, that Senator Cormond was becoming a bit too sure of his own power and connections. He forgot who it was that gave him the power and the funds he so desperately needed for his plot to work; I am simply reminding him... and then snuffing him out for good measure.»

"A shame," Kyber said as he turned back to his duties. "He showed such promise. He would have been a valuable pawn, especially now that the Sith are beginning to call the shots in the Core. We could have used his intel."

«Perhaps, but that is neither here nor there,» Nem'ro replied. «Notify me when we are in range and establish HoloNet communication with our dear senator. If I can't see his face, then I want to be able to at least hear him when it dawns on him that death has come.» He snorted to himself a bit and added, «Maybe we'll get lucky and his get his boy-toy as part of the deal.»

The ship continued its descent and, for the first time in many years, Nem'ro was satisfied with himself. The Republic might have won their little war, but Nem'ro would have the final laugh. He always did. @Nefieslab @Deviant

 

[Numenius Pax]

Numenius didn't want to be here anymore that much he knew for certain - he didn't know much else but he knew that. He was done with this and he wanted out. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and let Nico speak, let him explain himself. He listened intently because he needed to know that the man he loved hadn't just ignored his love.

His lips moved into a small smile despite himself.

"Sorry for being a spanner in the works of your carefully set up plans." he joked lightly, opening his eyes to look at Nico, searching his face, "I want to believe you so badly Nico... I have to make sure I'm not just giving in and believing you because I want to but because it's true."

Staring at Nico for a long moment, Numenius shook his head.

"You're a damn fool Nicolás Cormond. A fool to covet a planet, to get into bed with a slug and above all else?" He reached out with his free hand and placed his hand gently on Nicolás' cheek, "A fool to think that I would leave you over this. I love you, Nicolás Cormond, foolishness and all."

He fired his pistol twice into the chest of Nicolás' father, ending the man's life in two seconds. Blinking, he coughed a little bit, cheeks reddening slightly.

"Sorry... he was waking up... didn't mean to ruin the moment..."

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond @Malon @Nem'ro the Hutt

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

There it was: the man he loved. For all his life, Nicolás was neglected. He was a bastard, alienated by his own father, pushed into isolation. His only comfort was power, and the friends it brought. On Brentaal, in the Senate— power was all he wanted. Then, it brought him Senator Pax. His life was flipped upside down. The lens that blinded him was pulled away. For as little as they may have known one another, he was a palette of colors in a world of black and white. There was nothing or nobody Nicolás would exchange for a life with Numenius.

Already, for the hundredth time, he fell for him. He was about ready to sink right into his lips until two shots rang out and the body of his father collapsed before it even rose. For a moment, he was shocked, but that shock swung into a thin smile. Not only had he found the perfect man but one who knew him all too well. Great minds seemed to think alike. “Ruin the moment?” He answered, a brow raised. “Not for a second.” In the following instant, he pulled him in for a kiss. Strangely, the other man’s actions had only improved Nicolás’ view of him. Nothing like the death of an abusive father to get the blood boiling.

Unfortunately, no matter how long the kiss lasted, he was interrupted from a call by none other than Nem’ro the Hutt. How he reached his number, how he found it despite cutting the slug off, surprised him. Not that it mattered. With Senator Pax, after everything, he was not going to ruin the moment either. Not with the words or voice of that wretched ton of flesh. Instead, he flicked the device off like it was nothing. What was more important to him was Numenius. The act of ignoring the criminal lord was only another sign that he was done with the Cartel and ready for change.

“Ignore that.” Another grin tugged at his lips before he leaned in for another kiss, only again to be interrupted. This time via the radio from his fellow soldiers about news of an unknown ship entering the atmosphere and directly above the citadel. For a moment, it was nothing. But the call, the ship— everything quickly fell into place. The happiest moment in his life had taken a turn for the worst.

“No, no— no.” He shook his head, taking a sharp breath in. “It’s Nem’ro. He’s here.” Everything was a blur. Confusing, dreadful. It took him a second to collect himself. “You need to go. You need to go now.” His entire world was falling apart only moments after it pieced together. “There’s no way we can both make it out of here. But I can stall him.” His fingers grappled the small holographic device. “I’ve done so many terrible things. I’ve wasted so much of everything.” Much like Numenius had, Nicolás reached out his hand and held it to his cheek. “Let me do this. Let me make these wrongs right.”

His hand drifted down to the other man’s chest, ready to push. “Go. Please.”

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Numenius really had been worried that shooting the older man would have ruined the moment but, in hindsight, he probably shouldn't have been. He knew well enough that his love despised his father after all. Still, his cheeks flushed slightly and he tried to look away sheepishly before Nicolas pulled him in for a kiss that he gladly accepted.

Today had been seen enough death and violence to his mind... he was ready for the day to just end with some love and some comfort, the kind that lovers in love could provide.

Of course being interrupted was somewhat annoying. They were still, technically, in a bit of enemy territory but he didn't think for a moment that that would stay the case for very much longer. With the old man dead there was no longer any cause for anyone else to actually attack them. Still, something tugged at his mind, made him worry harder for a moment he he didn't know why. It was as though a tiny voice, an instinct, was screaming at him that something was wrong.

And then the truth came out.

The Hutt wasn't about to let Nicolás go and his lover was asking him to leave, to leave him to die. Swallowing thickly against the sudden lump in the middle of his throat, Numenius closed his eyes and placed his hand over Nicolás' own hand against his chest. He wrapped his hand around the other man's fingers.

"No."

He opened his eyes and took a step closer to Nicolás, resting his forehead against his lover's to bring himself closer to him, to just... to just have another fleeting moment of connection again.

"No... don't ask me that." he suddenly hit Nicolás on the shoulder, suddenly angry, "Don't you dare ask me to live without you!"

As quick as it had come, the anger evaporated away and he just held Nicolás' hand, entwining his fingers with his. He squeezed his hand gently and shook his head, a small, soft, smile managing to make it's way to his face, heedless of the situation they were now in.

"I was happy to think that I would be with you until I died, Nicolás Cormond... be that in sixty years or sixty seconds, I would rather that than to leave you here and live forever as half a person. Half of a whole." he rubbed the back of Nicolás' hand with his thumb, swallowing thickly against the damn lump in his throat, "That being said... I..."

Numenius looked Nicolás in the eyes and, without hesitation or a hint of shame, spoke softly to him.

"... I wanted more time."

@Deviant @Nicolás Cormond @Malon @Nem'ro the Hutt

 

[Nem'ro the Hutt]

«My dear senator,» Nem'ro's booming voice came across the transmission, followed by a loud, rumbling laughter. «This all could have been avoided. I did not want this fate for you, but you left me with little choice. I commend what you have been able to accomplish, but, alas, I do despise loose ends. And so now, I'm afraid, you and everyone who is in that building with you, will have to pay the price for your mistakes. I am truly sorry.»

He wasn't sorry. Both of them knew that. This senator was a traitor who had spat in his face one too many times. If Nem'ro allowed that to stand, his power and the respect his name carried in the Outer Rim would drastically diminish. Therefore, he felt no remorse as he watched from his viewport as the ship's cannons began to take aim at the citadel. And he would feel no remorse when he gave the order to obliterate it.

"Targets locked," Kyber called out. "We are within range, my lord. We simply await your gracious command."

Nem'ro finished his drink and drank in the sight of his victory one last time before he gave the order. «Delay no further,» he said. «Wipe this building off the face of this planet.»

Outside, cannons began to launch powerful laser blasts down on the citadel. The building withstood the first few impacts, and the explosions caused only minor ground tremors. However, as the bombardment continued, smoke and flames filled the sky and debris the streets. Bystanders screamed as they watched the citadel be reduced to a fine paste.

The bombardment lasted until the building was entirely smoldering rubble, and, even then, Nem'ro had the rubble shot at some more just to ensure his enemies were dead. He only lamented the fact that he could not see the senator's face when the end came. He glanced at Kyber. «And so another loose end is tied up. How anticlimactic,» he mused. «Come, Kyber. Let us return home. Our business in the Core—» He gave the smoldering ruins one last glance. «—is concluded.» @Deviant @Nefieslab

 

[Nicolás Cormond]

Theme.​

“My dear sena—“ The transmission died the moment Nicolás crushed it in his hand. His last few moments of life would not be accompanied by the spiteful words of some overweight manure. He was done with Nem’ro the Hutt as much as he was with him. What Nicolás wanted to hear was Numenius, his voice, breath, heartbeat.

Their fingers intertwined. Nicolás squeezed. He wanted him to go and leave for a better life, but it was clear neither man wanted to let go. What they built and found in each other was too much to abandon. If the ground would swallow the foundation, the pair would follow suit. Like captains, they would go down in this ship together. Still, it hurt. With all his energy, he wanted to hurl Senator Pax out of the citadel and to the safety of the outskirts. But there was no convincing him. He knew him long enough to know that. He was stubborn, relentless— one of the many reasons why he loved him so much.

Everything was his fault. The overarching plot to destroy his father and take House Cormond, making a promise he could never keep with a criminal, lying to the one person he could trust. His heart ached knowing that both men would die because of one. “I’m sorry.” He said, hardly a whisper, as he leaned in close. He fought back tears. “For everything… I’m so sorry.” The man looked deep into the eyes of the other, copper to sapphire, soil to the sea. Again, he squeezed his hand. “I wish things were different. I wish we had more time too.”

Forehead to forehead, Nicolás breathed deep. That was when the first barrage hit, completely demolishing the great hall around them. The ceiling fell apart, rocks shattered against the floor. Their world was chaos, but in the square meter each man stood in, there was peace. Unknowingly, or otherwise, the two connected through the Force. An inseparable, transcendent bond. The young man stiffened, raised his eyes and smiled. As the citadel was destroyed, they both became one with each other and with the Force.

@Nefieslab