Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scar wasn’t sure what happened. One second he was running towards Circuit. The sounds of battle surrounding him. The next, he was waking up in a crater in the ground. The first thing he realized was that his entire body hurt. His throat felt dry and his limbs were as heavy as netherite. He opened his eyes and saw the leaves of the trees swaying above him. He turned his head to his left and groaned as his neck protested the movement. He saw a mob with bright, green hair and covered in ash and dirt.

“Shit.” Scar’s voice was raspy and his throat felt dry as he forced himself up onto his elbows despite the burning pain coursing through him. His vision swam at the fast movement and black spots blotted out most of it. He quickly shifted his weight to one arm as he covered his mouth with the other hand, fighting back the sudden wave of nausea. Pain throbbed behind his eyes and he curled forward to press his forehead on the ground. The cool dirt relieved some of the pain, but every minute movement caused a sharp jab of pain. He moved his hand away from his mouth to take in deep breaths of air. With every breath, his nausea subsided and his vision slowly returned to normal. He waited for a while longer before trying to move again.

Taking greater care while getting up this time, he slowly pushed himself away from the ground. The nausea came back for a second and Scar had to freeze before moving again. When he finally managed to get his legs under him, he sat still, catching his breath and rebalancing himself.

He soon managed to lift his head up and watch the mob he was trying to get to before. Circuit had laid unmoving a few feet away, in the center of the crater, while Scar struggled to get up.

“Circuit?” Scar’s voice sounded weak, even to himself. He almost thought he didn’t say anything at all. When Circuit didn’t stir, Scar trained his gaze onto his chest, praying to see the rise and fall of his breathing.

Panic started to set in when Scar didn’t see any movement. In a rush, Scar climbed to his feet and ran over to him, ignoring the wave of nausea and pain that shot through him. He collapsed beside Circuit and cupped his face in his hands, scanning his face for any sign of life.

“No, no, no,” Scar started mumbling to the concerningly cool mob in his hands, “Circuit, please, please, no,”

Scar curled forward slightly and rested his forehead against Circuit’s. He felt tears fall down his face and barely paid attention when they dropped onto Circuit’s. A sob tore itself out of his throat and his hands moved to hold the back of Circuit’s head. Scar’s head fell to Circuit’s shoulder, and he hugged Circuit as close to him as he could. Praying, begging, that Circuit was still with him.

Chapter Text

Kelly leaned against a nearby tree heavily. She looked at her fellow guards and the few advisors that joined them. They’ve been looking for Scar and Circuit for five days now. The two of them disappeared at some point during the battle.

After the Players had retreated and everyone calmed down from the fighting, they realized the two advisors were missing. Princesses Luna and Allium joked they had snuck off for some private time after the fight.

A full day had passed before Nila voiced her concerns about them still missing to Luna and Kelly. Even if they had snuck off to do as Princess Luna and Allium suggested, they wouldn’t stay away for this long. Luna told Kelly and Nila to ask the other royals, advisors and guards if they had seen them. They ran into West and Lin who were also concerned about the whereabouts of their advisor. Between the four of them, they decided to split up to ask around.

Most of the others didn’t know where they could’ve gone off to. Some didn’t even know they were missing. Kelly soon started to feel dread sink in with each new negative response. It wasn’t until they all met up again that some of the dread eased up. Lin had found out that Abdur and Celia saw them chasing after the two leaders that were fleeing.

And now they were trekking through the forest trying to find them.

“Honestly, they couldn’t have gone that far from the battle.” Paige groaned out as she sat down on the ground, falling back to lay down.

“Yeah, how far could they have ran?” Rach appeared next to the other end guards, startling Jessie and Ember. Ember glared at him as Jessie rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself.

Other mobs started murmuring in agreement. This was getting more and more concerning.

After a quick break, they continued to search this section of the forest. It was almost sunrise by the time they had resigned to coming back later. Luna and Allium stood silent next to each other as they watched Kelly and West return with the other guards and advisors. The two guards shook their heads. Another day without finding the missing advisors. The princesses let their heads drop in acceptance. Tomorrow would be the last day they have the personal guards and advisors searching for Scar and Circuit. They still had a war to fight, and, as much as it pained them, not everyone was guaranteed to come back.

Everyone started settling down. Weapons were unstrapped, mobs retreated into tents, mobs on watch swapped with the next group, and a meal was getting cooked. Kelly opened Luna’s tent flap to let her in when they heard shouting. Looking up, they saw the wolf advisor, Ash, and his guard running to the camp.

“We found them!”

Both Luna and Kelly stood up straighter.

“We need healers!”

They tugged their hoods up again as they ran over to Ash. West and Allium not too far behind them. Their maids Nila and Lin followed as well.

“Where?” Allium and Luna crowded Ash, “Ash, where are they?”

“Luna-” Kelly tried calming her princess down so that Ash could speak.

“I can show you when we have some healers to follow.” Ash looked back at his guard, “We think Circuit did something stupid.”

Hearing that, Luna and Allium pushed West and Kelly to find some willing to follow. The two of them made quick work of getting three witches and two evokers together. And soon, Ash and his guard were leading them all into the forest.

The first thing they saw when approaching Scar and Circuit’s location was the large hole in the ground. The air smelled of sulfur and rotting flesh. The princesses picked up their pace despite their guards telling them to wait.

Reaching the edge of the hole, Allium almost immediately shouted in relief. Luna did.

“Eternal Goddess! Scar!” At the disdain of their guards, they made their way down to the center. There, the wolf prince, Tagin, and his butler were sitting next to Scar who was still holding onto an unmoving Circuit. They looked lost as they looked up at Luna and Allium. As the princesses got closer, they started slowing down. They started to look just as lost since they weren't sure how to approach Scar. The witches and evokers had no trouble though. They moved past the royals and surrounded the pair.

They slowed their movements, trying to get Scar to let go of Circuit. They had succeeded in getting Scar to look at them, but it didn’t appear that he was seeing them. He looked scared. And out of it as well. One of the witches called out to Kelly,

“Guard Kelly? Do you think you can pull him away?”

Luna jumped a bit when Kelly moved from behind her to get to Scar. She at first tried talking him into willingly parting from Circuit, but Scar still wasn’t listening. So, she just uncurled his arms from the creeper and pulled him away. It was concerningly easy. Scar did fight her, but there was no strength behind it and he slumped almost immediately when a witch came over to check on him. The other four healers crowded around Circuit, pulling out a stretcher and moving him onto it. The other guards offered to carry him, but the healers refused.

“He’s not dead. You carrying him would make it look like he is though. And we don’t need you all stressing more than you already have been.” The witch looked over at Scar, her eyes softening, “You can help him though, I think he needs it the most.”

Allium, West, and Lin stayed by Circuit’s side during the solemn trek back. The others surrounded Scar who ended up getting carried by Ash. The distance back seemed longer than before. The only conversation happening was between the healers. That was until Kelly spoke up,

“So, Scar,” She paused, wondering if he would answer her in some way. When he didn’t, she continued, “What exactly happened?”

A prominent smack sound was heard as Nila hit Kelly on the side of the head. And a not so quiet scolding followed immediately after.

“Why the fuck would you ask that? Who asks that to someone who is clearly not okay right now?”

Kelly tried defending herself but Nila was having none of it. The two of them went back and forth for a while until Luna hissed at them to shut up. In the following silence, Scar mumbled something. Luna looked at her advisor with sympathy in her eyes.

“You don’t have to answer her, Scar.”

Scar shook his head lightly and mumbled something again.

“Scar, you’re so quiet even I can’t hear you.” Ash spoke quietly, a little wary because of the glare Luna is staring at him with.

Scar groaned before taking a deep breath and raising his voice, “Circuit blew up.”

Chapter Text

“Any news?” Allium laid her hand on top of Circuit’s forehead. His temperature was still low, it had dropped when they reached the castle in Iris. It scared everyone. Scar was the only one allowed near him as he was treated. It probably helped that Scar just sat unmoving in one place while holding Circuit’s hand.

“He’s not getting worse…” Allium’s royal witch, Aruva, glanced at the creeper sympathetically before refocusing on her princess.

“But he’s not getting better?” Allium looked away from Aruva and back to Circuit.

“Yes,” Aruva walked closer to Circuit’s bedside, “While the totem had healed him back together, however that was possible, there is no guarantee it saved him in time.

“You creepers explode three different times. But we only have the grace period of fewer than a second after the first explosion for you to be saved. That’s typically why when one of you explode, we-”

“You just praise the goddesses for a body to return to the family.” Allium heard as her voice sounded more dejected than yesterday, “I know that…”

The room fell silent. There wasn’t much to talk about. Scar would be here shortly. Luna told Allium that she’s afraid they both lost their advisors. If Scar continued like he was now, when Circuit would be confirmed dead, he’d have to leave the position. Luna knows that losing a lover hurts, but they’re in a war, she needs an advisor that can think clearly.

Allium heard light footsteps approach her and she turned to see Lin walking towards her.

“Princess, Scar is here.” Lin whispered to her when she got close enough. Allium looked past Lin to see Scar closing the door behind him when he walked in. He stood off to the side, hands clasped behind his back as he looked down at the floor, leaning against the wall for support.

He honestly looked better than before, despite the trouble he still has with getting around. His hair was nicely braided and he seemed to not be slouching constantly. While the bags under his eyes suggest he still isn’t sleeping okay, he doesn’t look like the world is going to collapse on him at any second. That didn’t mean it couldn’t if Circuit’s condition was any indicator.

Allium stood up, brushed Circuit’s bangs one last time, and motioned for her guard and maid to follow her as she started leaving.

“Aruva, keep me updated on any changes, yes?” Allium paused at the door briefly.

“Of course, your highness.” Aruva bowed to Allium as West opened the door for her. The three creepers left, leaving Scar and Aruva alone with a possibly dying Circuit.

“Advisor Barrett-”

Scar held up a hand and shook his head, “Not today…” He walked over to the chair Princess Allium was sitting in, turning it to face Circuit more before sitting down. A box Aruva didn’t see before was placed next to Circuit’s pillow. He then crossed his arms on top of the mattress and laid his head on them.

“Of course.” Aruva couldn’t help the sympathetic look she gave the skeleton. It reminded her of how Advisor Grey acted when Guard Marlton went missing. They were not in the same situation though, and she was worried Advisor Barrett would wring himself dry with despair.

Scar uncrossed his arms to reach for Circuit’s hand. He loosely held it, stroking his thumb over the back of his hand. Aruva stood silently nearby.

This was how Scar usually spent his visits here, quietly sitting or laying next to Circuit for an hour or so, and then leaving. This was the first time he actually brought something with him though. Aruva wanted to know what was in the box. She normally doesn’t work with skeletons, or any of the undead mobs, but she knows that they refuse to bring gifts, like flowers, to someone dying or sick.

As Princess Luna explained it,

“Gifts are for memories. When given to someone healthy, you recall the reason you’re giving it to them. A congratulations; out of love; for forgiveness; a display of admiration. When put on a grave, you’re recalling every moment you’ll never have with them again. No more conversations; No more hugs; No more laughter; No more life. Giving them to someone who is sickly is almost like you’ve resigned to the fact that they will not live. That you have given up.”

Prince Rubert tried to argue with her,

“So what? You just give them everything after they’re dead and can’t see or appreciate it? Luna, Kallin, I really don’t understand your culture sometimes.”

“That’s what the graves are for, to give gifts to the deceased. But the idea is to save the gifts for after they get better. To show that you believed they were strong enough to live past their weakness.”

“And how would they know you actually care for them?” Princess Lilliana had chimed in.

“We weren’t aware your cultures were so materialistic.” Prince Kallin tried to stay out of the conversation and let Luna talk, since it was her advisor involved in the whole situation, but he just had to say something with almost everyone ganging up on her.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!”

“These gifts are not seen as secrets. You can tell them you had gotten them something, but giving it to them is saying that you won’t be able to at a later date. That you’re saying goodbye.”