Chapter Text
The dagger still had blood on it.
Two Time sat cross-legged on the floor of their room, fingers twitching around the hilt. It had been three hours. Maybe more. The light outside hadn’t changed. Nothing felt real. The coloring pages were untouched. The Heartroot had withered completely, its leaves curled and blackened at the edges.
They stared at the blade like it might whisper again.
‘You don’t get to cry,’ they muttered to themselves. ‘You chose this.’
Still, the tears came. Silent. Bitter. They pressed the edge of the dagger against their arm, dragging it slowly until the sting bit through. Not deep. Just enough.
Again.
Again.
Again.
A knock at the door. No- wait. Not a knock. Just the handle turning.
They scrambled to hide the blade behind them, wiping their arm against their cloak. Blood smeared like ink.
And then the door opened.
Azure stepped inside.
Same soft eyes. Same uneven posture. Dirt still on their hands like always.
Two’s breath caught in their throat.
‘You… you’re not supposed to be here,’ they whispered.
Azure said nothing at first. Just walked over and knelt beside them, gently pulling the blade from their hand. They set it aside. Two didn’t stop them.
‘I’m sorry,’ Two said. ‘I didn’t mean- I didn’t want- I couldn’t stop. I thought it would bring you back. I thought maybe…’
Their voice cracked. They looked away.
‘I miss you. I miss you so much.’
Azure reached out. Carefully, gently, they took Two’s arm in their hands. They didn’t flinch at the cuts. They didn’t even speak. Just pulled them to their feet and led them out of the room.
The hallway blurred.
The bathroom was cold and quiet. Azure turned on the water. Found gauze in the cabinet. Sat Two down on the edge of the tub and began wrapping their arm with practiced, familiar care.
Two watched them.
‘I thought you hated me,’ they whispered.
Azure smiled faintly. ‘You were scared. I was too.’
Their hands were warm. The bandage tightened around the wound.
‘I forgive you.’
And then, just like that, they were gone.
One blink, and the gauze unraveled in midair.
The water still ran.
The door was still open.
But Azure had vanished.
Two Time sat alone again, bandages half-done, breath caught in their throat. The bathroom suddenly felt too bright. Too real.
The dagger still lay in the other room.
But this time, they didn’t go back for it.