^ yes... this is a "little" bonus follow-up to that follow-up hahahaha
Caelestis slowly, but unhesitantly approached NV. It seemed they had calmed somewhat for now, thankfully, and he only stopped when standing right before them. He had so many things to say, so many feelings to voice. To apologize for everything and tell them how much he loved them once more. Even still, his voice might as well have been lost entirely when their tears began falling. Like a waterfall across a river, they seemed endless, and looking up at them, his breath would have caught if it could. What could he do…?
He welcomed the enclosing hands, uncertain as to what to expect, but willing to accept anything. Slowly, he let his eyes close, resting his head lightly against the embrace. Anything at all they wanted of him, he would give. It was comforting, in a way. While there was still an undeniable lurking fear, unable to be pushed aside entirely, he wasn't about to turn back either. After all, if he were to disappear for their sake, it would be an end more worthy than he ever could have asked for. Even then, though, as much as he reasoned, there was still the slightest, faintest tremble that could be felt from the tips of his fingers.
As Caelestis accepted his fate, even without certainty for what NV was actually going to do—if anything at all—something suddenly rushed past, causing them to back away in distress. Once the sudden change in events sunk in, he turned around, shocked, towards the source of the smog. Two men he hadn't seen before had approached the scene at some point, and attention so thoroughly focused on NV, he hadn't noticed them in the slightest until now. Caelestis' gaze whipped back and forth between the monster and the duo with panic—NV didn't seem to be reacting well to whatever the one man had done, and he hadn't a clue as to what their intentions towards NV were. Was this good…? Seeing them struggling so desperately made it difficult to feel good about any of it even if so.
He watched as they finally hit the ground, followed the gaze of those few heads with his own, heard that quiet call of his name, saw the reach of their hand… It was a feeling barely fathomable within this disembodied form. He froze and trembled, desperately wishing for tears but seemingly still unable. Before he could even rush over to their limp figure, the one who had quelled them began speaking to him, and somehow or another... he turned to him instead with great reluctance. Nikolai, he introduced himself as. Can't allow either to be dead? Did that truly mean that NV was only put to sleep…? There were so many questions, he could barely think of anything to actually ask. His eyes widened slightly at what came next, but any attempt to reply was interrupted by the movement of En not far away. With his eyes as much of an illusion as anything else, there was no need to turn his head to sense the other's approach.
Regardless, he turned to acknowledge En's presence, and unsurprisingly, he wasn't looking all too happy. Caelestis wanted to chuckle lightheartedly, tease him a bit about how attractive that expression looked, but found… it wasn't quite something he could manage at the moment. Turns out, it must have reflected on his face as well, because he never would have expected what came next otherwise.
Caelestis blinked a few times with widened eyes at the caress. Although… the surprise itself couldn't remain prevalent for long as the gentle notion loosened his mind's hold on the already leaking dam. In a matter of only seconds, it broke apart bit by bit, unable to contain the multitude of emotions any moment longer, until collapsing entirely. His eyes narrowed, vision seemingly blurring with the first semblance of tears, and he buried his face into En's shoulder as his own trembled just slightly. Gripping the other's jacket, he broke into silent, weak sobs. The fact that he even could cry in this form was a surprise, but he could barely bring himself to acknowledge the discovery. It was all just too much. The conflict, the peril, the concern for both En and NV at the same time, NV's overwhelming sorrow, the guilt at it all. NV had been in pain, En had gotten injured. If he hadn't been here at all, neither would have happened. A part of him even felt frustration at his failure to repent for it all, despite also knowing that NV wouldn't have gained any happiness from what he had been prepared for.
Even still, was NV truly fine now at all? Would they ever be back to how they were before? He couldn't feel confident in anything, and it all hurt. There was no heart to ache, no true body to process the emotions as it would. Like a million stabs, it manifested instead, through every particle of his being. It twisted and reshaped, remaining the same appearance, but feeling as if a different shape every moment. Flickering like a flame, melting and solidifying, twisting, knotting, and undoing. He breathed in and out, as if that would make a difference. Was it really all fine now...? Could it be? Would that be allowed to be so?
He wasn't sure how long it had been when he finally lifted his face from En's shoulder, reluctantly parting from the hug. "...Thank you," he uttered softly. "I… have to leave now, and… it might be a bit before I can return." He looked over to his body. "There's no obligation, but... take care of me in the meantime if you'd like. Or rather, just somewhere safe would be good enough. I'm not needy." After a weak attempt at a chuckle, he took a step back, reaching forward to pat En's head affectionately. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again. I hope… that you could tell me your name then, if you would consider it." He lifted his hand away, and let out a reluctant sigh. The departure wasn't exactly something he was looking forward to, and he wanted to leave neither En nor NV—especially not now—but the longer he waited, the worse it would only be. And so, soon enough, the figure that had never appeared quite physical to begin with, was as if it had never been there at all. Dissipated into nothingness.
yeah, spoilered for length, whoops (starting from a bit earlier as continuation from the follow-up to this too)
As if he truly had jinxed it, a multitude of ear-piercing screams suddenly resounded, and even through the pain in his ears, the ache of Caelestis' heart at the sound somehow hurt more. Something was changing. This… didn't seem to be Envy any longer… And it was a gruesome sight that proceeded, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to care. Standing motionless, he watched, eyes widened, as the gaze of the eye landed on him. As if that still was not enough, then came his name, and he might as well have stopped breathing entirely. Just what had he done to them…? To be in so much pain...
He looked down at the ground with a pained grimace. He couldn't fight them. How could he possibly fight them? It was all too much, and more than anything, he only dearly hoped he wouldn't have to. But no, even if so, he wouldn't. Absentmindedly, his eyes followed along the ground to where En stood. At least… with the attention seemingly just on him now, hopefully En wouldn't have to be in danger anymore. He hoped, at least. And as much as he wanted to believe that they wouldn't truly only harm him instead, even if it were to be so, he would only have to accept that as well. At this point, he deserved it either way.
Caelestis' gaze returned to the monster just as they began to slink closer, and the unbearable pain almost seemed reflected in even the movements themselves. Remaining in his spot, he only watched, feeling as his heart tossed and tumbled ceaselessly around inside, until they finally stopped before him. It wasn't even a feeling he felt as if he could describe. He watched, and watched, in what almost seemed a trance. His name was slowly uttered once more. So sadly, the sound stabbed at him from inside until his throat felt sore from merely the emotions alone. "NV," he whispered under his breath. Barely noticing the hand, but welcoming it either way, he didn't quite process at all what had happened in the next moment. Then came the scream, and the moment finally broke entirely. Oh.
In what felt only a split second to Caelestis' still sluggish mind, En had been picked up, then tossed back onto the ground, and not long later, pinned down by the hand that had been severed just a moment earlier. With the manner of which the foe appeared to now be closing in, it was clearly not at all a good situation to be in. Caelestis' thoughts were still swirling in a mix of guilt, distress, heartache, and who knows how many other emotions, but there was for once little doubt in the instinct that followed the realisation. If he'd truly lost NV to this, to lose En as well…
And so, while the attention was away from him, his body fell limply to the ground. Abandoned.
After a few moments of nothing, the ground suddenly shifted and indented underneath En, just enough to move him safely under and away. Not with movement, but instead simply being so. Any more than that would have been difficult, so it was fortunate that no more seemed to be needed for the moment. Feeling oddly, but also unsurprisingly calm—knowing the differences of this form—Caelestis simply walked over as his form shaped itself. One resembling the body he had left, but just slightly different, with ornate attire, gold leaves intricately spanning along the shoulders of his shirt, and a no longer ignorable, less physical otherworldly air. It was quite unlikely something he would look back on as a good idea, but there truly hadn't seemed to be many other options.
With a slight wistful smile, he turned towards En, crouching before him instead of waiting a moment for him to stand up entirely. "Thank you for protecting me just then. You're injured now, and…" The celestial sighed. "I've been somewhat useless this whole time, I'm sorry." Meanwhile, stems of gold leaves began quickly circling, intertwining, and twisting back and forth around the two of them, moving far more efficiently than before, until soon closing into a small dome-like shape. It wasn't likely wasn’t quite strong enough to manage as a shield, but would hopefully deter any attacks for at least a bit.
"There isn't time to explain this at the moment," he said, looking down at his hand, "but you do still at least know more about me than most, so perhaps it's not anything too surprising either way." He looked back towards En and paused, not quite finding anything else to say. A moment passed like this, but instead of leaving to face the monster—NV—he instead moved just a bit forward on a whim. Quickly, and without lingering hesitation, he closed any remaining distance to press his lips against En's. Before the other party could react, he pulled away as quickly as he had made the move to begin with. "Sorry about that," he uttered afterwards. "Feel free to punch me later, if you'd like. Just... just in case… I wanted to kiss you properly." Just in case this turned out to be his only chance at all. That accidental one had been something, but not enough so for his longing heart to be satisfied, and... self-indulgent and one-sided as this was, it had still successfully brought forth a slight sense of fulfillment, after all. "Because as little value as they may indeed hold, my feelings for you are real. I assure you of that."
As Caelestis stood up, averting his gaze all the while, the leaves parted just enough for his venture out, and closed back behind him right after. It had been an impulsive idea, and he couldn’t be entirely confident of the effectivity it would have, but he hoped it would still manage to keep En away long enough for him to finish here. Either way, it at least had made for some momentary privacy. With a brief look back towards where En had been trapped, he realised, ah, he never did learn the man's name either, did he? Such a sorry thought it was, and he wondered now whether he ever even would.
Unable to entirely push back the additional tinge of sorrow that arose, Caelestis looked up at the heartrending monster nonetheless. Considering what he'd already resorted to just earlier, with the current state of his physical body that was a bit dangerously out in the open, it seemed he had little choice but to get reckless. Or, well, even more so than he had already been up until now. No matter, the most important fact of all, was that he was not going to give up on NV. Not in the slightest. Even if… even if this would be the end for him, he would not allow it to be so for them.
(this is so basic ik but all of my brain power is so thoroughly gone by now i can't think anymore skjgshkgjs so idec how closely it's followed really tbh. just so i have something here lol)
Ah yes, maybe he'd been a bit careless, but most thugs he wouldn't simply expect to go so far as to pull a gun out at so little provocation. The reaction was always a bit of a hit or miss, he supposed. "Well, a bit hot-tempered aren't we?" He commented with a chuckle, looking up at the man from the rough concrete he'd already been kicked down onto. Truthfully, it would have still been fairly manageable at least, until said thug's similarly armed and brawny friends arrived from just around the corner. Even despite the situation, Caelestis merely let out a tired sigh. So long as he didn't get hit anywhere too important, he could most likely manage, but he could barely find the energy to fight back even regardless. Considering how alcohol tended to do that for him more often than not, perhaps... it would be best to work on his habit of getting into these sorts of situations so shortly after leaving bars. Either way though, now was not exactly the time to worry about that anymore, though.(
(MY KOKORO CRIESS)
He really… didn't have the willpower to fight back. Was there even any point? He had nothing left here anyway. Killed by thugs, though, he thought to himself. What a way to go. Having closed his eyes in resignation, Caelestis didn't notice his savior's approach until the loud thuds of the few thugs that hit the ground reached his ears, and he sat up at the sudden commotion. It was… Marco? Or at least the wolf that he was confident was so. But why? As baffling as it was, it also wasn't all too surprising at the same time, to think that perhaps he truly was just that kind. To jump so heroically to the rescue of the very person he had just dumped—for good reason, at that. It seemed just like him, if anything. The thoughts couldn't last long, however, as the fight continued on. Grimacing, he covered his ears instinctively at the howl, although even that wasn't at all enough to block it out entirely. Impressive, he couldn't help but acknowledge, but the next thing still managed to be even more so.
Without much time to acknowledge the fact that Marco had just spoken to him so clearly in that form, Caelestis could do little but comply with his demand, settling uncertainly onto the his back. "Marco...!" He exclaimed in concern once realising the other had been hit with a bullet. It didn't seem the easiest flight for Marco from that point on, and with a grimace, Caelestis found himself looking about for an opportunity to simply jump off and ease the wolf of the burden. Unfortunately, though, there were few ledges close enough after the first one to reasonably land on, and he was left with no choice but to wait until his ride landed himself. "Marco, I..." He trailed off, pausing to consider the likelihood that it probably wasn't the best time for Marco to be listening or talking.
The rest of the flight was entirely silent, and Caelestis wasted no time in climbing off once the other reached the ground. Instead of vocalizing any of the thoughts so chaotically swirling around in his mind though, or retreating from the scene out of cowardice, he only stared, eyes widened, for several moments after Marco spoke. Not out of surprise at him talking in that form, but for the words themselves. What… what was he talking about...? He hated the faint sense of hope that found its way into his heart at the words. "Why would there be any reason to be sorry? It's only I that should be sorry," he somehow managed in reply. "I've given you all the reason to detest me. I don't wish to simply be pitied. That was right of you—you should break up with me. Or rather, haven't you already? It would be far too hasty to change your mind so soon." The prospect of continuing the previous topic had seemed so heart-wrenching to merely think about, but once he'd started, it all flowed out just as seamlessly and ceaselessly as it had before.
He stepped back slightly, desperately fighting the pangs in his heart at the sight of Marco's eyes. "...You seemed especially troubled by the prospect of me being unfaithful, and so, what if I were to tell you that if another I felt any attraction towards in the slightest were to appear before me, I would be unable to resist, no matter my feelings for you? I'm used to being rejected and cast aside. I have been for a long time, so… so… I will manage." Despite the words, he couldn't quite stop the few tears that gathered at the thought. The twisting, tangling feeling of his stomach. Could he manage…? Blinking them away, he looked aimlessly down at the ground. He had to. That was all there was to it.
Lowered as it was, his gaze soon met Marco's injured leg, and there it guiltily remained. "You shouldn't have saved me..." he muttered. This wasn't at all the time for his pointless ramblings, and yet he'd gone on for so long anyway. There wasn't even anything he had to bandage it with, and any attempts at ripping off a makeshift one from his clothing were unsurprisingly for naught. He was useless.
