they start to melt backwards, slowly, and standing just in front of four is lu bixing.
he's alive. there is blood absolutely gushing down the left side of his face, from the hollow where something used to be, but he's alive, breathing heavily, but standing. the shadow hands pull back from him like a curtain.
You have to live.
(because he wants to. lu bixing wants to live. he wants to live, he has to, because once, he didn't.)
the voices of the people even out to a hum, and it's replaced with that of a single child. a voice that sounds like lu bixing, as he takes the steps forward to close the distance. one, two. three.
“Who are you?”
“I’m your dad.” a gruffer voice replies. the one from before. soft, though, with realization, holding back something.
“.... Dad?” the child repeats.
“A dad is someone who will take care of you and protect you until you grow up.”
“What about after I grow up?”
he drops to his knees in front of four. ]
I'm so sorry for how cruel the world has been to you, Four.
[ the shadowy hands holding four in place shiver. they're warm, now, a little feverishly so, but they're warm. welcoming. holding. the shadow vibrates against lu bixing's will, but it doesn't tighten or harm. and when lu bixing leans forward, staggering, he wraps his arms around four, tightly, pulling her into his shoulder in an embrace.
he remembers, how monoeye hawk held him when he hated the world. how monoeye hawk helped him stand. he remembers every awkward gesture, every way he tried. he desperately, desperately, desperately - desperately wants to give it back.
his voice softens. ]
All that I want for you is a chance to rest in peace.
[ and when the shadows finally pull away from his hand, they recoalesce into the shape of a syringe, and lu bixing doesn't hesitate.
he injects the syringe into the side of four's neck with a soft click.
“Your dad will love you forever, above all else in the world, even more than he loves himself.” ]
no subject
they start to melt backwards, slowly, and standing just in front of four is lu bixing.
he's alive. there is blood absolutely gushing down the left side of his face, from the hollow where something used to be, but he's alive, breathing heavily, but standing. the shadow hands pull back from him like a curtain.
You have to live.
(because he wants to. lu bixing wants to live. he wants to live, he has to, because once, he didn't.)
the voices of the people even out to a hum, and it's replaced with that of a single child. a voice that sounds like lu bixing, as he takes the steps forward to close the distance. one, two. three.
he drops to his knees in front of four. ]
I'm so sorry for how cruel the world has been to you, Four.
[ the shadowy hands holding four in place shiver. they're warm, now, a little feverishly so, but they're warm. welcoming. holding. the shadow vibrates against lu bixing's will, but it doesn't tighten or harm. and when lu bixing leans forward, staggering, he wraps his arms around four, tightly, pulling her into his shoulder in an embrace.
he remembers, how monoeye hawk held him when he hated the world. how monoeye hawk helped him stand. he remembers every awkward gesture, every way he tried. he desperately, desperately, desperately - desperately wants to give it back.
his voice softens. ]
All that I want for you is a chance to rest in peace.
[ and when the shadows finally pull away from his hand, they recoalesce into the shape of a syringe, and lu bixing doesn't hesitate.
he injects the syringe into the side of four's neck with a soft click.