#musing about goretober and whether i should art or fic

[ahkaraii]

"Do you think I take pleasure in this?"

Ardyn could only manage a wet gurgle.

"Because I don't." Somnus staked a fifth blade into his brother's body with a grunt. "If only you'd just die, then all this would be over."

Ardyn wheezed out what could have been a laugh. Or, more likely, a sob.

"A sixth one should do the trick," Somnus said, summoning an awfully familiar trident. "May the Gods allow your soul respite, brother. I truly mean it."

Ardyn couldn't reply even if he wanted to: Aera's weapon was now embedded deep into his throat.

"It shouldn't be long," Somnus said, and it sounded like a plea. "Just let go."

Then let me go, Ardyn wanted to say. Six be damned, let me go.

But, of course, it was not to be. He was soon whimpering again, sobbing from both pain and frustration as his body steadily but surely reformed around the royal weapons.

"You bring this upon yourself, Adagium," Somnus snarled, as if it was Ardyn's fault he was undying. "There's no use to this. Damn it! Crownsguard! Prepare the seal once more."

"N-no!" Ardyn moaned. "Som...don't--"

"It's only until I can find a way to end you," Somnus said, almost gently. "I swear it, I'll find a way to end you."

"Please..." Through black tears, Somnus' greying hair almost looked as dark as it used to. "Brother--"

"If not I, then someone down the line will," Somnus said grimly. "Until then...try to die a little harder, won't you?"

"No--" Ardyn was leaking black from every pore, his voice distorting. "Don't leave me here again--Somnus! Don't! Don't you dare! Somnus! Somnus!"

They could hear him screaming even through the closed door, though by the time they reached the boat, it was indistinguishable from the waves.