Board Thread:Fan Fictions/@comment-29206018-20170115151827

Inspired by Tairais's Artemis's Waltz https://clyp.it/qtk4ubjx This AU is based in the idea that after The End of an Era, Arty doesn't know about Oliver and Elias being the same person. Elias wants to keep it this way too. The picture was drawn by Doodle.

Artemis's Waltz

“I DON’T KNOW ARTY!! I JUST DON’T KNOW!!!” Elias screamed.

Artemis’s face paled as the anger drained out replaced by confusion and fear.

“Elias…?”

“WELL, I DON’T!” The rage and frustration bubbled in his blood.

“T-that’s not it--” Arty stuttered out.

“THEN WHAT IS IT?!”

“...y-your eyes...they’re...blue…” He stared hard at Elias’s eyes. Normally a warm gold they were now an icy blue. This couldn’t be good. Was something in the air? Did a foul magic begin to possess him again? Or maybe it was a trick of the light?

The blood rushed from his face, making the coldness of his eyes even more prevalent--Elias snapped them shut.

Breath. One. Two. Three. Four. Breath.

Not here. Not now. Not in front of him.

Elias tried to slow his breathing. He tried to calm his thoughts. He tried to stop it.

Breath. One. Two. Thr--

A cough racked his body violently and he covered his mouth. He could taste it. Iron, sweetness, and something bitter. Something unnatural.

“...Elias?” Arty stepped forward to check on his brother but Elias stepped back opening his eyes and gazing down to the contents that stained his gloves. Elias was...terrified. Something Artemis had never seen before. “What’s wrong? Tell me!”  But Elias wouldn’t speak. He began to stagger back from his brother’s comforting arms, shaking with fear at the substance in his hand. Whatever coated Elias’s white gloves it shone red and green in his blue eyes. Yes, they were blue, Artemis was sure of it. “Elias! Talk to me!” Artemis was scared now--scared for Elias and terrified because Elias was scared.

“I-I-I…” Elias’s voice trailed off. It was too late. It was too late. He couldn’t stop what was coming. He could-- Doubling over, he cried out in pain. He tried to hold himself together, wrapping his arms around his torso, as his body began to tear itself apart.

“Elias!” Artemis rushed over to him try to comfort his brother, try to find the source of this pain, trying to find what was wrong and make it all better.

The wave passed quick enough and Elias threw Artemis off him, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” he shouted as Artemis fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

“...Elias?” Artemis sat there with tears in his eyes; stunned, scared, and worried.

Those pained eye’s of Artemis hurt worse than the gut wrenching turmoil that was to come soon, “I’m sorry...I’m so sorry…” It wasn’t enough. “Just...please...stay away from me…” Tears began to underline the concern that was written on Artemis’s face...he was so worried...so worried about someone who didn’t deserve it. What had Elias done to merit such a carrying and kind brother as Artemis? Nothing. He had done nothing. “I’m so sorry…”

It would never be enough.

Elias bolted down the halls, running to a safe place--running away from Artemis. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Those words echoed in his mind until they blurred together as one image. Artemis, sitting on the floor crying, terrified and hurt--yet, yet the worry in his big brown eyes was for his brother--the one who hurt him. You deserve better so much better than a monster like me.

Artemis watched his brother disappear down the halls. He heard the screams echo and dance off the ceiling. He felt the coldness of the floor through his clothes and the remembered that same coldness in Elias’s eyes. What was wrong with his brother? Why were his eyes blue? Why was he hurting? Why did he run? But one question screamed louder than all the others in his head--louder than his brother’s cries--

Why hadn’t he followed?

Why hadn’t he chased after Elias? Why was he still on the cold ground? Why hadn’t he helped more? Why wasn’t he helping more? His brother needed him and he just sat on the floor stunned. Damn be Elias’s requests! Artemis knew better than to trust his brother’s judgment! He knew to go after him! He knew! So why hadn’t he followed?

The questions slowly and painfully transformed into guilt in the form of an image--an image of Elias, eyes blue as a cold winter sky, hurting and scared. That image then blurred and simmered compressing down in on itself until it was dark--until it was nothing. And in that nothing, on that cold floor, only three words remained:

I’m so sorry.  