Good Things Never Last

Chapter 79

My cloak flew behind me as I pushed past the lower tree branches, taking odd twists and turns to avoid being struck in the face by leaves. I'd thrown away the ruined mask a while ago, relishing the sensation of the wind on my bloody face.

I was so confused. I was so torn about what was going on around me. Something wasn't quite right, and I couldn't figure out what it was. I couldn't see why someone would keep something from me. Was it Ranboo? Maybe Dream. Could've been Punz. I wouldn't have been surprised if it was Punz honestly. Or this Technoblade guy was trying to get into my head.

I was scared.
Scared of myself and everyone around me. I just wanted a warm blanket to shelter me from the cold day. I wanted to feel safe and secure. I wanted to go home.

But I didn't know where that was.

My brain was a jumbled mess.
Thoughts crashed against one another as I ran. The only thing I knew was that I shouldn't trust anyone, no matter who they supposedly were to me before I lost every memory I'd ever had. The world around me was slowly becoming colder as I ran from my confusion. The trees began to disappear as the snow started to trickle down from above.

Soon I found myself stepping into a clearance, already ankle-deep in snow. Trees were sprinkled around me like little specs of dust, enclosing the lake that had been painted white. I stepped cautiously onto the slick ice sheets, my gaze fixed on the specks of white descending from the sky. I felt like a kid playing in the snow, as if I'd never see it again, as if it'd vanish as soon as I blinked.

It was tough at first to maintain my balance, but I eventually got the hang of it as I slid over the sheet, feeling like I was in a movie. It felt almost as if I were dancing in a winter wonderland to an imaginary tune, the only noise being the birds overhead and the trees swaying in the afternoon wind.

And the rustling that came from the bushes to my left.

I came sliding to a halt. My head snapped towards the new noise that was steadily becoming louder, closing in on where I stood.
"Hello..."
My voice was filled with uncertainty as I peered through the bushes. All I could see was green. The leaves, the moss, and the canopy above reflected off the ice. The rustling came once again as I
manoeuvred myself to find its source a little too quickly, completely forgetting that I was standing on a thick layer of ice.

I braced myself for the impact and reached out with my arms to shield my face. But in the end I didn't need to. Two strong arms quickly made their way around my chest and dragged me back to my feet, allowing me to steady myself on the ice as they did so.
"Aren't you clumsy princess"
"ArEnT yOu ClUmSy PrInCeSs, shut the fuck up..."
I was suddenly twisted around to face the masked man, leaving me only a few inches from the prosthetic.

"Someone's feisty today, aren't they?"
I just shoved him off of me, ending up with him slipping away on the ice, chuckling slightly.
"Oh so that's how you want to play?"
I just scoffed and turned away, not in the mood for his obnoxious antics at the moment, especially since he was the source of all my issues. However, my movement made me unaware of the snowball that was hurling itself at an alarming rate at my head.

Next thing I knew, I had my face buried in the freezing cold snow that had previously been beneath my feet. I leapt back up, instantly regretting turning my back on him as a shudder ran down my spine.
"Oh it's fucking on homeless man"
With that, I bolted for a nearby tree, preparing for the war that was about to take place.

I'd been slouched in my hiding spot for god knows how long, trying to listen for any indication that would tell me where the enemy lay. My lips began to tinge blue and my fingers were almost immobile with cold. I felt as if I was turning into a smurf. But if I gave up, Mr. Masked Arsehole wouldn't shut up about it till the day I died, and I just didn't think I could let that happen. At my feet are perhaps fifteen snowballs. Their sizing is somewhat chaotic, but if I picked the right moment, they would get the job done. A win would be so sweet, it'd make the pain of de-thawing my fingers seem worth it.

After a minute or so, one that felt like an eon, I heard the tell-tale crunch of a boot in the snow somewhere near where I crouched behind a large oak tree, seemingly invisible to the rest of the world. I moved gently around the log, trying to assess the situation and determine where my opponent was hiding. Before I could even think of reacting, I found myself being forced back against the bark, a wince escaping my lips as a result of the unexpected impact.

Frantically looking around, I quickly found myself locking eyes with the dead ones drawn onto the mask, a slight wheeze coming from its owner.
"You should see your face"
I just shifted my gaze away from him, evidently annoyed by his presence. One of his arms lay just above my head, supporting himself while he brought his other hand to my chin, gently turning me around to face him once again.

"I want to see those pretty eyes of yours"
I just let out a nervous giggle as a crimson colour quickly makes its way to my face, my eyes never leaving his masked ones. I slowly found myself leaning into his touch, savouring the warmth it provided.

"You can take it off you know"
I backed away just a little in shock, but stayed close enough to feel his warmth radiate against me.
"Excuse you?"
I looked him up and down, disgust quickly taking over my features.
"The mask idiot"
"Ohhhh"

That's when everything finally set in.
Our bodies flush against one another.
Our faces, masked and not, only a mere inch apart.
His hand wrapped so gently around my chin like he was afraid I'd break at his touch.
His mask being his only boundary to keep our lips apart.

I found myself subconsciously raising both hands and allowing them to brush through his fluffy hair before coming to a halt at the mask's clasp.

"Bruhhhhhh"
Both of our heads snap in the direction of the new monotonous voice, and my eyes lock with the scarlet red eyes of the man that had been saved earlier. Only now he wasn't alone. A man slightly shorter than him stood next to him, his blond hair almost reaching his shoulders. A green and white striped bucket hat lay atop his head, and it seemed to fit him well. He was dressed in a black cloak, forest green slacks, and a matching shirt, as well as a pair of sandals.
A strange sight to see in the snow.

Sitting snuggly on either side of his body however, were two giant feathered wings. They were both black in colour and completely encompassed his physique, making him appear far more scary than he was.

He was a bird hybrid after all.
Known for being well-natured and caring, but deadly if someone laid a finger on something they cared for.

I could feel his eyes scanning every inch of me as a firm hand wrapped around my wrist, the owner's thumb gently rubbing it.
"We gotta go. Now"
And once again I found myself running, only this time I wasn't alone. This time I felt at home.

Technoblade's POV

I just stood there, staring at where the pair once stood. The girl who'd been my first friend. The man who ultimately drove my brother to his untimely death. Yet she didn't know who I was. The confusion seeped through her features when she looked at me. She was lost. Lost in her own head.

And he knew.

His posture showed it.
He stood tall, proud, too proud.
Like he knew exactly what was going on.
And he was happy about it.
I wasn't surprised in any way. It was Dream after all. But it definitely struck a nerve, a nerve that hadn't been hit before.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when a hand curled around my forearm and spun me in the direction of the owner.
"Come on Techno, we gotta go before we freeze to death"

"Yeah, you're right Phil, let's go"