Blood Debt
Azureus must please his piglin brethren, and kill the Overlander imprisoned before him. Once upon a time he thought it would be easy. Now, being faced with his closest friend's tired and understanding expression, it's a lot harder than he would have ever thought.
They look into each other’s eyes, and they know. The broken blade in Fuego’s hands drops to the floor with a clatter. Whatever fight he had to try to save itself all melted away the moment he saw him.
“Kill it! Kill the Overlander!” The crowd cheers Azureus on. “Make it pay for what it’s kind has done!” With his back turned, no one can see his trembling hands and frozen expression. The gilded axe in his hands only makes him feel sick, now.
“Would you let me give my life if it’s to save yours?”
“Only if you’d let me do the same for you.”
“I… I couldn’t. If the damage isn’t too harsh, I might die but I’ll wake up in bed, safe and sound. If you take too much, you’ll…”
“I’m stronger than you think. I’ll be fine.”
“… If you’re so sure.”
“I am. I promise, I am.”
The conversation echoes in their heads. They both know what they must do. I’m sorry, the piglin mouths as he takes a step back, gripping the axe tightly as he begins to raise it above his head. Fuego simply smiles back in return, their eyes sad but accepting.
They trust him, and if they do then Azureus can trust himself.
With a downward swing, the axe flashes through the air with practiced but rusty accuracy, slashing through the Overlander’s chest. The crowd bursts, but congratulations fall on deaf ears as Fuego falls to the ground. Heartbeats pass, then his body dissolves into nothingness, finally letting Azureus breathe. He did it. He wasn’t dead. Neither of them were truly dead. They were safe.
But the image of killing one of those most closest to him would repeat in his mind for a long, long time.