Flower... Festival?

Corvus sat across from Night in their shared office space for a change, preferably the pale Aphex liked to be in his own study, it was neater and had less broken furniture thanks to his destructive husband but Corvus decided he’d sit with his husband for a change of scenery. Their desks sat opposite each other so that conversing was easier and they wouldn’t have to crane their necks to look at the other. Nights desk wasn’t so much of a desk then it was a metal table that had been repurposed, he’d smashed too many wooden ones for Corvus to allow him to have another, wood splinters were a bitch to remove. Corvus’s on the other hand was black stained oak, solid and professional, each item on the desk had its place and you could tell he hardly used it by the lack of ink quills that sat to the right is his writing hand. They’d both been working individually on their own matters for a while now, neither speaking to the other or even attempting to look up, they didn’t really care all that much about each other in the same ways which a normal couple would, so sitting in completely silence pretending the other didn’t exist was what they were doing. 

Yet, Corvus’s eyes did flick up to Night before he looked back to his ink stained diary, he needed to go to the flower festival that was currently taking place just near to the Harrow and according to his diary it would be in full swing by now. It wasn’t that he cared to attend the event for its pathetic reasons, no he wanted to go for the benefits of the event. The whales in which swim through the skies seemed to give off a magic essence that embedded itself in the vast fields of flowers around the Harrow, he didn’t care for their display of beauty but the magic that they brought and the powers that could be gained from them. 

Of course he’d go by himself, he’d prefer to do so honestly since taking Night anywhere was a struggle in itself, the powerful Aphex did anything Corvus asked, within reason of course, but with he and Night’s reputation, well many don’t particularly like the two and would prefer they’d be shot on sight and he didn’t really want that just about now, especially since Night would just cause a masicor instead. Corvus didn’t fear death in all honesty and knew his husband would protect him if anything were to happen, or course Corvus had his own abilities too but nothing like Nights. No he’d almost died once before, what he feared was his husbands response to him dying again, the bastard just kept bringing him back from the peace of the overside and Corvus would rather remain in the present than have Night drag him back from the other side again, the Aphex already had enough on him as it was and it was truly infuriating. 

“I can hear you overthinking” Nights deep voice broke the silence in the room causing Corvus’s eyes to snap up to his husbands, he wasn’t sure when Night had stopped doing whatever he was doing but it must’ve been a few moments ago at least. 

“Yes well that’s what happens when you need to plan” Corvus almost scoffed as he flicked his eyes back down to his diary. Night didn’t plan, he murdered and beat, Corvus needed to think with his head rather than his fists. 

“What troubles you husband” Nught said simply, it wasn’t a question more a statement, his eyes still on Corvus even if the pale Aphex refused to look up and meet his gaze. “Do I need to put someone in the ground for you”

“You most certainly do not at this moment in time” Corvus looked up to meet Nights eyes and inhaled deeply. “If you must know it’s because I need to attend the flower festival that is currently taking place near the Harrow, I have business that needs attending too” 

Night, although almost always void of any emotions, was silent but their eye contact remained, a simple thing which Corvus knew was a sign that he was processing the information carefully. “You have flowers here, in your garden” He said after a moment.

“Yes but the festival is different, it holds a certain power in its lands that can only be acquired within a certain time frame” Corvus explained and waiting for Night to simply blink once before continuing. “It is more difficult to acquire this power when there will be a plentiful amount of Aphex’s and Elyxium beings whom may want our heads on spikes occupying the daylight and dusk hours” 

Another pause. “Why not send someone?” Night said simply.

Corvus would’ve scoffed at that but remained as emotionless as his counterpart. “Because this is a more personal matter and I’d rather it not be carried out by anyone else considering the effort I’ve put in to make this work” 

“What work” 

“Within my garden there is a black rose bush, if you recall that is the bush that I grew from the corpses and remains of some of our former employees and enemies” Night just stared blankly at Corvus as he explained. “I have been nurturing that flora differently from the rest under specific conditions in order to embed the power I want to bestow upon it” Corvus continued as he stood, taking his diary and flipping to a page where he’d sketched out a black rose, there was words scrolled across the page though Night hardly glanced at it enough to read it. “With the conditioning of the flora and the magic provided by the festival's lands I should be able to create two enchanted black roses, embedded with darker powers than what of the norm for this festival. It would grant the user the ability to leech the life of off others, it may not kill the victim but leaves them weakened, I believe by gaining this power it would be most beneficial for us both with our work”

Corvus could almost hear the cogs ticking in Nights head as the Aphex tried to comprehend what he’d just been told. “So I’ll come with you” Again it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. “We can go at nightfall, less Aphex less bodies” His shoulder shrugged ever so slightly. “Then we can do the magic and you’ll have what you want” 

Corvus signed lightly, pinching the bridge of his snout. “It won’t be that easy Night, I’m unaware of who will be present at night and don’t wish to cause any trouble for a change” 

“Then we won’t” Corvus could only watch in stunned silence as Night stood from his chair and looked down slightly at Corvus. “We will do it discreetly if you do not want a scene, if anything was to happen then we will sort it. You need the flowers, we’re going” He spoke emotionlessly but it seemed more stern than usual, only Corvus would really be able to tell. 

“But-“ Corvus tried but Night cast him a look which shut him up. 

“You want the flowers, we will get you the flowers” His husband said simply before walking around Corvus. “Find me when you want to leave” He said simply before walking out of the room.

Corvus could only stand there as he tried to process what had just happened, both he and Night weren’t the most emotional, if not the most emotionless beings he knew of but, why did that feel like Night was simply doing it to please him? Corvus exhaled and straightened his jacket before he too left the room. Neither he or his husband was capable of that kind of though, Night must simply want the power Corvus could obtain, right?

It didn’t take long for Corvus to plan what they’d needed to bring and start to obtain them, no one questioned him as he strode through the manner and no one dared ask him what he was doing either, especially with the path he was taking. His garden was thankfully the one place no other being was allowed to venture in, apart from Night although the brute would never come in here anyways. He took in the flora that he’d had a hand in raising, rose bushes of a variety of colours and Ivy plants dominated the garden, there were others of course but Corvus simply enjoyed cross pollination experiments to acquire new and different colours of the beautiful yet deadly plants. Flora could be controlled in every aspect of their growth and yet still could turn out unique, Corvus had squashed that genetic composition and grew only the best, if it wasn't up to his standard he’d burn the plant, simple as and what he was left with was in his eyes perfection. 

Going straight to the far side of the garden he carefully plucked a black rose that was starting to wilt from the bush he had spoken about earlier. The ground in which this specific rose bush was planted was dug deep, probably 8ft or so and filled with the corpses and remains of those Night had dealt with and simply left around the manor. Corvus made sure that when this bush was growing that I received the utmost care so that the roses could grow under such circumstances, he’d feed the ground both blood and water to keep up with nutrients and embed what he hoped was negative energy into the plant for what was to come. Crushing the wilting rose in his hand and dropping it to the ground so it could decay with the rest of it’s kin Corvus began to inspect the roses. Each was a deep black, their petals hardly even catching the light and differing for each other, they truly were beautiful. He carefully selected to twin roses from the same branch, they were the largest and looked the most promising for what was to come, he carefully used his claws to cut them off the main bush and placed them inside of a sealed black box, that was no air or light could hit them and they’d stay as fresh as they could for longer. Of course before he left he’d made sure all the plants were prosperous, if they weren’t then well, his barbed wire like vines that dripped from his arms made quick work of shredding the disappointments ready to be burned later. 

Quickly making his way out of the garden he’d have to check on Voltaire next to make sure she was fit enough to fly and on that note her mate too who happened to be the unlucky Vikari to have Night as his rider. Sure Abyss was large Vikari much like Voltaire but he wasn’t as well put together then Voltaire which probably had everything to do with his rider but still. Corvus knew that Night didn’t intentionally mean to harm the creatures, his strength was beyond what even he probably knew, the simplest of kicks could lead to an accidental broken rib, Voltaire hadn’t been happy with Corvus when her mate sustained that. It didn’t take him too long to make his way to the stables to check on the two but once he got their he stopped in his tracks. 

“Have you been here this whole time?” Corvus said simply as he looked at Night who was currently having a staring match with Voltaire, Abyss was behind his mate, not cowering but certainly not trying to be out in the open. Night simple turned to Corvus and blinked.

“Yes, I didn’t know when you wanted to leave so I waited here” He said as if it was obvious.

“Okay, have you made any preparations for our trip?” Corvus replied As he made his way over to them, giving Voltaire a stern look that made the Vikari snort and turn back to her mate, she wasn’t in the mood today it seemed and he couldn’t blame her honestly. 

“No” Corvus looked up at Night and narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at his response.

“Well have you made any preparations with these two and gotten them ready?” He asked again even though he knew the answer.

“No” 

“Night I know you aren’t the best with creatures but why are you just standing here staring at them then?” If Corvus was anyone else that probably would’ve come across as snappy but his monotone drawl just made it seem more like he was fed up. 

“She won’t let me in” Night said as if it was simple.

“Well that's understandable, you did harm her mate the last time you flew him and you are well aware Voltaire holds grudges far longer then what’s probably called for, for a creature of her status that is'' Corvus got a snort from the Vikari in question. “You are aware it is true” he simply said. 

“I didn’t mean too” Nights eyes flickered down to Corvus’s before he looked back to Abyss. Corvus knew that this was Nights was of seeming upset or sad, in his own inhuman way. 

“For allure sake come here” Corvus grabbed a hold of Nights wrist and led him over into the paddock where Voltaire and Abyss were, the larger female seemed a bit mithed that Corvus dare drag the beast who hurt her mate in but she trusted Corvus, even if she gave him a suspicious look. “Hold out your hand like this” Corvus forcefully moved Nights hand to how he wanted it, palm out and the back of his hand facing the ground, a show of submission on his half. Night of course went along with it, Corvus didn’t think the Aphex actually knew what was going on. “Abyss come here” He said sternly looking at the Vikari. Abyss tilted his head and looked to his mate before looking back at Corvus who hadn’t taken his eyes off him. The hesitation towards her master must’ve annoyed Voltaire as she snapped at him, hissing at him to do as he was told. Corvus’s grip on Nights wrist remained so he wouldn’t move as Abyss gingerly made his way forwards before sniffing Nights palm carefully. Night didn’t move a muscle as the Vikari slowly laid his head in Nights palm, putting his full weight down knowing Night wouldn’t even budge. “There, he can be gentle too” Corvus said simply before releasing Nights wrist and snapping his fingers so both Vikaris' heads snapped up. “We better get a move on before it gets too late and Voltaire decides she hates you again” Corvus hummed as he put his arm around Nights waist and led him towards their saddles and crops. 

It didn’t take long to get the Vikari saddled and ready to fly, considering Corvus had all he needed and Night needed nothing apparently they were all set to leave. He simply let a servant know they’d be back soon and to not fuck anything up essentially whilst they were gone. They wouldn’t be gone long, the flight there and back was what would take the most time but thankfully Voltaire and Abyss were built for fast flying and could get them back just before the sun rose. 

“Ready” Night said flatly as he hopped up onto Abyss, the Vikari grumbled slightly in protest until Night laid his palm flat out again like Corvus had shown him, causing the creature to snort then look away from his rider. 

“You’re learning” Corvus stated as he too hopped up onto Voltaire, the Vikari was a lot more accommodating then her mate and had leant down obediently to aid Corvus up more smoothly, he gave her a short pat before holding onto her reins and leading them out of the paddock where they’d be able to take flight easily. 

“You care for them I don’t want to ruin that” Night said but didn’t cast a glance over at Corvus as he did, too focused on controlling his Vikari.

“I don’t care for them as such, we have a mutual understanding and I appreciate creatures who respond correctly to orders” Corvus almost snapped back, he was incapable of care, just like Night, that wasn’t what this was, surely. He looked to his husband to see Night wasn’t looking at him still, tutting he kicked the side of Voltaire lightly to command her into the air and didn’t wait for Night to follow before she took flight, he’d catch up. 

The flight there was well, ultimately peaceful, Voltaire and Abyss were exceptional flyers and mounts, soaring through the sky with ease and keeping themselves as balanced as possible to aid their riders. Corvus always felt odd when he flew, there was no noise other than the wind passing and the sounds of beating wings and huffed breathes. This was that Corvus would call peace, not death, death was a means to and end but this? Watching the world go by on the back of a creature whose full trust was in you and yours was in its? He simply watched as valleys went by, villages, towns and even cities, forests and coastline, no other creature dared fly close to them as it was almost like a scenic backdrop, a perfect painting, this, this was peace. 

“I thought you’d fallen asleep back there” Is the first thing Nighg had said once they’d landed, given he’d been silent whilst they dismounted the Vikari and hadn’t even made a peep when Corvus had explained they needed to walk to the field the paler Aphex had assumed he was just bored. 

“Don’t be humorous Rose it doesn’t become of you” Corvus huffed, opting to call his husband by the pet name, it was a light endearment that Night didn’t seem to mind, honestly Corvus wasn’t sure if Night even understood the means behind it, or it’s value. 

“I was stating a fact, you looked calm” Night said simply as he pulled Corvus as gently as he could to the side by his waist to avoid a dip in the ground the pale Aphex hadn’t seen. 

“Funny how I can look calm when I have a fake painted look on my face and expressional eyes you could not make out from that distance” Corvus retorted as he slapped Nights hands away off of him.

“I was only trying to say-“ He paused, which in turn caused Corvus to stop and look at him, surprised to find that Night was actually looking straight at him. “It does you well to be calm, you’re less of a hassle than usual” He continued after a beat which caused Corvus to break for a second and snort at his husbands remark. 

“Humour really doesn’t become of you dear, now come on we’re wasting time” Corvus said as he made sure to look where he was going properly this time, no need to give the brute more inner satisfaction Corvus knew he was getting by helping him. 

“You are the one not avoiding traps” Night once again grabbed Corvus’s waist and pulled him away from a thin rope laying on the floor. 

“Someone’s been here recently then, perhaps they know we’re here” Corvus hummed, not particularly bothered by the development, he’d planned for some mishaps and knew what he’d do, by himself he was strong enough sure but one short whistle and Voltaire would come to kill who he couldn’t, yet with Night here he guessed it would be a lot easier. “We’ll have to keep our guard up once the ritual starts, I don’t wish to be interrupted” He said simply and watched as Night didn’t even shrug at his comment. 

They didn’t talk much after that, thanks to the possible threat Corvus led them in what was probably a bit of an over exaggerated goose hunt of footprints and fake broken twigs, honestly anything to confuse anyone thinking of following them. It was odd how Night didn’t seem to bat an eye, sure the Aphex tended to follow what Corvus told him but he also got bored quickly, hence the reason Corvus never really counted him in his plans, he was unpredictable but right now, he was being placid, it felt odd and out of place but who was Corvus to question his husbands strange behaviour today honestly, after all this was probably the most time they'd spent alone in weeks. 

After Corvus decided they’d had enough of walking around to confuse anyone daring to follow, he grabbed Nights wrist and led him straight into the open field, throwing a hand out as if to see ‘well here it is’. In all honesty it was a beautiful sight, this small opening didn’t house any of the whales Corvus knew flew through the sky and danced amongst the flowers but he could hear their faint songs from here. This field was mostly tulips and daffodils, bulb based plants Corvus didn’t really care much for, sure they were hardy and could survive and regrow each year but they were rather plain and couldn’t be experimented with as easily as roses. 

Kneeling down he extended a hand, his inky coloured arm began to drip literal ink that morphed and shifted into barbed wire like vines that swept the ground in front of him of any plant life, pulling their bulbs up as he did, only to flatten the ground afterwards as he began to draw the runeshe needed to cast the spell they’d come here for. 

“I prefer your garden” 

“What?” Corvus looked up at Night, had he misheard or imagined that? Did the Aphex who could massacre hundreds just-

“I said I prefer your garden” Night was looking down at Corvus, making direct eye contact for a change which caused Corvus to falter in his task for only a moment. 

“You’ve never been in my garden” Corvus said with narrow eyes before continuing drawing the runes into the ground. Sure that was a lie actually, they both knew Night had gone into his garden when somebody had almost killed him to retrieve the damn plant he’d been saving to bring him back to life, but Night wouldn’t have cared to look around when he went to find it, he probably felt it’s power signature, took it and left.

“I have, it-” Night paused as he tried to think of the correct word. “It is peaceful and different, I like the red roses” He said simply which caused Corvus to look up at him in surprise. “Don’t think I hadn’t noticed the coincidence” He almost hummed as he tapped one of the red scales on his chest.

If Corvus could feel, no scratch that he could feel he just didn’t feel like how others could but right now? This stupidly warm and tight feeling in his chest that made him feel sickly and warm was not something he wanted to feel. 

“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about” Corvus spluttered as he looked away from Night and towards the forest, the ground, the sky, anything but his stupid husband. Allure above he could throw up right now what was this feeling?

Corvus just heard Night let out a light chuckle, well what Corvus had grown to know was a chuckle from the Aphex at least, god knows it didn’t really sound like one. “You seem so sweet like this” Night hummed as he took Corvus’s chin and lifted it so he had to look at his husband. “Red is a lovely colour on you, pet” 

“I hate to break up this fuck fest but, god this is gross” A voice broke out from behind the two as multiple Aphex crawled out of the darkness of the forest. “Looks like you two are a long way from home” The Aphex at the front spoke, he wielded some kind of pole arm, this goons simply displayed a varying degree of magical abilities. “No one thought you were stupid enough to go so far from your mannor, you have no backup here, only eachother and when one of you falls? Well the other-“

“God Night could you just deal with them already” Corvus snapped as he slapped his husbands hand away from him and pointed towards the group of Aphex that were now starting to surround them, there was possible 12, 15 at most? 

“Is that what you want?” Night said with a slight tilt of his head before he looked at the group too.

“You fuckers are outnumbered! We have the high ground here not you!” One of the Aphex’s spat. 

“Yeah! The bounty on you twos heads will give us all a cushy life!”

There was a collective “yeah!” From the group.

“Neither of you will make it out of here, what makes you think-“

“For fucks sake Night just kill the lot” Corvus snapped again as he glared at his husband. Night blinked slowly then started to chuckle again before looking to the group. 

“If that is what my pet wishes”

It wasn’t the most pleasant of sights of Corvus was being honest, sure he’d watched Night at work before but never in such a close proximity to this. He simply went about setting up the ritual as the bloodied screams of these idiotic Aphex’s drowned out the lullaby of whale songs. Night was merciless, of course he was, the Aphex didn’t have feelings, but when it came to combat and using his powers? That was another matter altogether. Smoke bomb manipulation wasn’t something to be taken lightly and honestly Corvus didn’t know why this group thought numbers would help, Night was overpowered, with one extended hand and a wave of red and black smoke five of the Aphex’s heads blew up like balloons. He was also ungodly when it came to strength, grabbing one of the swords that was swung at him and bending the metal in half so it penetrated its wielder instead.  Corvus wasn’t paying any attention to the fight in all honesty apart from the small glimpses he caught when moving the ritual materials into the correct spot, it was honestly slightly amusing how he’d lay out some black petals precisely where they’d need to be, only for someone to almost step too close to him before they were brutally murdered in some way shape or fashion, it seemed as though his husband didn’t want anyone to disturb him which was oddly amusing to Corvus for some reason. He’d almost finished, setting down the two black roses in the center before a thick splash of blood splattered across the ritual itself and Corvus’s side, then all was silent, that seemed to have been the last of them.

“Corvus I- I apologise-“ Night started to speak as the horrifically bloodied Aphex, yet not with his own blood mind you, knelt beside Corvus, wiping the blood on his cheek. 

Corvus only snorted and gave a roll of his eyes before looking to his husband. “You idiot, blood was the last catalyst I required, you did my job for me, look” Corvus said as both Aphex turned their attention towards the two roses. It was honestly a small magical feat, these two roses would become small afflictions yet they held more meaning then anyone would probably know. The runes glew a deep red, almost mimicking the blood that had been shed on it as the roses started to decay slowly.

“They’re dying” Night said simply, almost sadly.

“Just wait a moment” Corvus huffed. 

They watched as the roses almost melted away into the ground, their remains melting into one with each other, the blood and the ground that was saturated with the magic the whales had provided but before the roses could vanish for good they reformed slowly using the blood and dirt that surrounded them as they morphed back into an uglier version of themselves, darkness literally rolling off them in small waves as the ritual was completed. 

“Is it done?” Night said as he went to reach for one of the roses, Corvus didn’t bat his hand away but only nodded before he watched Night grasp one the roses with more cars then he’d ever seen the Aphex use before as he turned the flower over in his hand. “How unique” He hummed lightly, staring down at the rose. “How do you use it?” 

“You put it on, just tuck it behind your ear and- Night what on earth are you-“ Corvus spluttered as Night placed the rose in the exact position he’d just been told to do on himself, but instead he slotted it behind Corvus’s ear and watched as the rose’s dark energy molded with Corvus’s own before it morphed into an inky black halo. 

“Perfect” Night hummed again as he sat back and looked at Corvus for a moment, seemingly enjoying watching as Corvus tried to process what the fuck just happened between them before Night picked up his own rose and put it on before it too morphed into his own halo that looked more like a crown of darkness then anything else. “Come, it is not often I render you speechless, your Vikari- Voltaire, she will be worried” Night said simply as he stood and offered a hand out for Corvus to take. 

It was true, for one in his life Corvus couldn’t think of anything to say as he just stared up at Night in shock, for the first time in his and possibly Nights life too, neither of them let each others hands go as they made their way back to their Vikari together, walking through the small sea of scattered corpses as if they were nothing because honestly, the two were more focused on eachother to care.