Alvor’s kind words were like a rock in a rushing river—sturdy, strong, and supportive despite the raging chaos around it. So Rowan cried. And cried. And cried. She cried in Alvor’s shoulder, she cried into her hand, she cried into the open air. She cried for the loss of that bond she had with her mother, she cried for her disease that plagued her body, she cried for what little time she had with Alvor. So Rowan cried. That is, she cried until finally, the waterfalls from her eyes began to slow to a couple droplets. And the sobs turned into the occasional sniffle. Rowan cried until the tears finally dried up.
Alvor stayed quiet, only muttering words of comfort and assurance as she cried. He loved her deeply, letting her sob into the air, his shoulder, her hand. He wanted to offer her something strong and steady in her chaos. Something that she could hold onto and depend on. He hummed softly, letting her cry freely. As her tears slowly began to fade, Alvor kept quiet, letting her take her time. He knew she would be tired after all that crying, so he gently pulled her into his lap, cradling her lovingly and pulling the blankets around them.
Rowan was grateful for his gentle and comforting touch, leaning into him as he cradled her. She closed her eyes, breathing in Alvor’s scent and memorizing it’s comfort. This… it felt like peace. Calmness. Stability. That was what Alvor was to her—peace, calmness, stability, and so much more. Rowan knew that she could trust him with her life.
Alvor loved Rowan. He knew to the bottom of his heart and even further that he would do anything for his love. His beautiful, smart, kind Rowan. He loved her dearly. He kissed her forehead, rubbing her back and whispering sweet nothing's to her. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. She was his peace in the storm. His quiet in the chaos.
At last, Rowan’s raging storm inside her finally calmed. She took a couple deep breaths, opening her puffy red eyes again. She relaxed into Alvor, snuggling closer as she whispered, “She used to be okay with who I was. I had come out to her a couple months before this,” Rowan held up her left hand a little before letting it fall back into her lap. “She loved me. She respected me. Everything was okay. And then I got sick. It was like she changed into a different person. It was as if she blamed my-my gender for it, I-I dunno. She stopped visiting every day after the first month, then by the third she only came when they switched my treatments.”
Alvor listened, he knew the other needed to vent, needed to talk about something. He kissed her forehead, running a hand through her hair. He looked at her hand, looking at the other when she raised her hand. "I'm sure, angel, that she still loves you. She's just… processing it in her own way." He whispers as he assures her. He kissed her forehead. "And my love, your gender is what it is, whether fluid, nonexistent, or cis." He whispers as he rocks her gently. "But I will love you no matter what, and I'm sure your mother will too."
“What if…” Rowan bit her lip, brushing away the possibility before it could leave her lips. It was unlikely, anyways, there was no purpose to give it any weight despite how it constantly hovered in the back of her mind like a vulture waiting for prey. “I love you, Alvor,” She whispered and hugged him tightly, adding softly, “Thank you.” Thank you for holding me. For comforting me. For assuring me. Thank you for loving me.
Alvor pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, smiling gently. He held her tightly, knowing how thoughts liked to stay, haunting you, hating you. He kissed her sweetly, "Of course, Rowan." He whispers. "I'm always here for you." He runs a hand through her hair before turning his head away and coughing, hacking and spitting up a few petals onto the floor. He hissed and leaned back, holding onto Rowan for dear life.
Rowan’s grip tightened on him as he coughed, her hand going to brush Alvor’s cheek. It was her turn to kiss him, her lips pressing onto his forehead. She didn’t want him to die. The thought seemed more and more unbearable every second that passed by. She nestled her head in his neck, “Alvor…” She tightened her arms around him. She would give anything to stop the disease festering in his lungs. It was like they were on a small boat together in the middle of a raging storm, the only thing they had to hold onto was each other. Sometimes it felt like maybe they were waiting for the boat to capsize.
Alvor groaned softly, leaning back. He was definitely paler, weaker even. He didn't look too good. He relaxed when he felt Rowan kiss him. He sighed softly, shutting his eyes. He wanted nothing more then to spend a few more nights, waiting for his end, and spend his little time left with the love of his life. He rested his head on top of hers. When she called his name, it took all his strength to reply with a soft hum. God, he felt so weak. He felt as if the disease were spreading from his lungs to his heart and to his very soul. He kissed kissed the top of her head. "I love you…" He whispered slowly.
“I love you too,” She whispered, kissing his cheek. “I love you so, so much.” How many more chances will I have to tell him that? She knew the answer was too slim. “Alvor, I…” Rowan looked as his pale face, his weakened state, and kissed his cheek again. “You need sleep,” Rowan told him gently, showering his cheeks and forehead with gentle kisses of her own.
He leaned into her gentle touches, sighing softly. "I love you more." He chuckles softly, holding onto her for dear life. He didn't want to think of the slim chances, the hopeless situation. If his dads' didn't hurry back with the antidote then he would die. He could only pray that they got here in time. He nods slowly at the suggestion of sleep, trying to kiss back at times. "A-alright…" He whispers shakily.
“I love you most,” She countered softly, her eyes twinkling with joy despite everything. She tightened her grip around him, cuddling closer. “Do you want to rest in your bed… or with me?” Rowan asked softly, fine either way. In fact, she’d even feel better in Alvor slept with her, so she’d know that he was okay. If not, Rowan would be just as happy, their beds were only a couple feet apart if he, or Rowan herself, needed help.
Alvor was already curved around her. He felt to weak to move much. He looked exhausted. He scattered slow and gentle kisses long her face. "I'll stay here…" He whispers, his eyes shutting. He was so scared. He didn't want to leave her. And yet, he was practically o. Deaths door. His hand played with her hair, just memorizing everything he could about her. She's was his safety in the storm. He loved her. "Thank you…" He whispers. "I love you…"
Rowan breathed him in, wrapping her arms around him a little more and savoring those gentle kisses. Just as she was Alvor’s safety, he was hers. They needed each other, Rowan supposed. “You don’t have to thank me for anything,” Rowan replied softly, murmuring, “I love you too…” She closed her eyes and snuggled up against him, savoring the warmth they shared.
(Hmmm, should we go next day, or maybe a couple days? Or we could even go to the day before or day of Alvor’s death?)
We could do the day of Alvors death.//
(Sounds good with me, do we want to bring in Halo and John?)
(Do you want to start it up or do you want me to?)
I can do it.//
Alvor was pale,looking as if a ghost took over his body,and he was so frail now. His breathing was shaky, his lips chapped, he looked like he was standing on death's door. And he is. He coughed hoarsely, whimpering softly. He felt so tired, so weak. He knew he was going to die any moment now. He wished his dad's were here… "Rowan…?" he called weakly. "I'm…I'm scared…" He whispers to her, his voice shaky.
Rowan was instantly at alert, shifting so she could could get a little closer to Alvor without hurting him. She told herself she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t cry in front of Alvor, she’d stay strong until the very, very end. “Alvor…” She placed her right hand on his chest, willing her magic into him to help what was inevitably going to happen go smoothly. Rowan didn’t want to see him in pain. “Alvor, I love you. I love you til the ends of the earth.” She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, then moved her lips down to his chapped ones, but only kiss him for a second as to not stunt his breathing. “You’re my world,” She whispered, “You’re my universe. I love you.”
John was flapping his wings violently in the wind, getting back to the hospital too damn slowly. Please be okay please be okay pleasebeokay. He needed to get back to his son, if they were too late… John would never forgive himself.
Alvor was shaking and trembling. He wanted to cry. Wanted to do something. But he had no strength left in him. He held onto Rowan gently. He leaned into her, feeling her magic flow through him. He let out a little sigh. He leaned into her kisses, savoring them. He knew that those kisses were going to be his last. He was so scared. He was terrified. "You are my world, I love you. Please… Please… I'm scared…" he whispers.
Halo was keeping pace with John, hurrying. He wanted to cry. Please… Please let my son live… He begged quietly, the potion in his hands. "John! There! The hospital!" he cried, diving for it. He lands before breaking into a run into the hospital.
“I’m right here, love, I’m right here,” Rowan whispered, blinking her eyes to stop the tears. And she lifted her left hand, the crippled and pain-filled one, above his heart. And slowly, too damn slowly, she uncurled the fingers that hadn’t moved in many, many months. Gosh, it hurt, but she didn’t care. She wanted to hold both his hands over his heart, to feel the faint beat of it for just a little bit longer. “I-I love you, Alvor,” Rowan repeated over and over again, gazing into those eyes. Don’t die, please, I’d give anything, just don’t die… not here, not like this…
John dove for the hospital with Halo, stumbling when he hit the ground -his knees cracking a little at the impact- but he didn’t miss a beat as he sprinted into the hospital. “Where’s Alvor? Where’s my son?” He demanded to any nurse who listens and could lead them there. They were so close…. Alvor, please just hang on.
Alvor could feel it. He could feel the life, the energy drifting from his body. He cried, letting his fears and his sorrow out. He desperately wanted his father's. To see them one last time. He wanted to be with Rowan. He wanted to stay with her. Be with her. He shook and shivered and sobbed. "I'm sorry…" He choked out. "I'm sorry…" He slowly raised a hand to hold her own two hands."I love you so much…" he whispers, slowly struggling to open his eyes. He wanted to see her face before he died. But he felt everything leave him, and all went black.
Halo burst through the door his eyes wild as he loosened the lid. He hurried to Alvors side and checked his pulse, not minding Rowan at all. He gently pried Alvors mouth,draining the potion into his lips."Please…" he whispers.
Rowan knew it was happening, that these were Alvor’s last few seconds with her. “You don’t have to apologize, love, I love you, I love you,” Rowan whispered back, clasping her hands around Alvor’s tightly even though it hurt like hell. She wasn’t going to let her crippled body get in the way of Alvor’s last moments. And suddenly… the heart beat that Rowan had felt moments ago… diminished into nothing, and Rowan cried. “N-No…” It can’t be. We didn’t have enough time together. I still need to do so many things with him, I still need him to hold me in the middle on the night, I still need to hear his voice one last time…
John sprinted in the room not even a second after Halo, darting to the bedside and hardly noticing Rowan. His hands went to his son’s shoulders and immediately pushed his magic into him, praying that it could keep him alive as Halo put the potion to his lips. Gosh my son…. no, not my son, anyone but my son….
Halo pulled away once the last drop felt through Alvors lips. His breathing was unsteady, his eyes wide with fear. He stood in fear. Not my baby boy… Please … He could do nothing more. He was not an angel anymore.
Alvor felt like he was floating. He had the distinct impression that someone was calling for him. But he felt safe here. It was warm. Like he was wrapped in a protective grasp that would never let go. He sighed with relief. He felt no pain in his body. But then he could feel a tug, like someone was crying for him. He opened his eyes slowly, before bolting up in the real world, gasping for breath, coughing harshly. He almost threw Rowan off. He looked around wildly and saw his dad's, Halo was sobbing, and John was with him, and Rowan. He held onto her, feeling himself begin to cry. Theses weren't tears of sadness. These tears were happy, relieved. He held onto her like his life depended on it.
