Øverturning the lies (a twenty one pilots fanfiction)

~Unnamed~

Soon he collapses on the floor, exhausted.

"Too weak to continue?" A voice asks, out of nowhere.

It catches him off guard.

It shouldn't, but it does.

But he stares at those eyes in the darkness. 

"Stop it..." 

"What? I'm simply stating the truth and you know it."

"Go away. I've already...I've already fought you enough. You've already taken everything!"

"And that's where you're wrong," the voice says, cold and hard. "Just you wait. I'll take even more."

"No. You won't."

But his confidence is thin and fragile. 

"We've already established this," the voice sounds almost sympathetic. "You don't decide what I do and what I don't."

"But I can fight you," he says, determined. 

"Until you get tired. Then I'll be here, waiting for you."

"But-"

"I'm almost sorry. But this is the way of things."

"I won't accept it."

"Yes, you will. I'll make sure of it, mark my words."

He grits his teeth. 

"I won't."

"Brave words, child. But can you truly prove them?"

"I-"

"Just admit it," the outline of a hooded figure is suddenly obvious in the darkness. "You're beyond simply tired, aren't you? You're exhausted, mind and soul."

A pause.

"Can you even deny it?" 

No. No, I can't.

He doesn't say it aloud.

But.

"I thought so," the voice says. "I thought so." 

"I-"

"If you're so tired, what's to stop you from-"

"Stop it..."

"Did my presence...does it bother you still?"

"What do you think?" The anger and bitterness that's been festering inside for who knows how long comes out in his voice and he can't even stop it.

"I think...I know you hate me."

"Can you blame me?" he asks, frustrated, irritated beyond belief.

"No. I truly can't."

"Then why don't you just-"

"You know I can't," this time, the voice sounds almost regretful. "You try to avoid me, but you still know exactly who I am. And you know I've been with you the whole time."

"Yes," he admits, feeling the resistance  inside of him start to crumble, soon giving way to desperation. "You have."

In the darkness he hears a terrible, terrible laugh.
"Why?" 

He doesn't even know why he asks it.

"Why...?" The voice repeats, evidently trying to understand what he's trying to say. "Why what? I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific than that."

"Why do you do this? Why does seeing me like this make you so happy?"

"It doesn't."

Now he laughs, though there really is nothing even vaguely funny about the situation. "Stop lying."

"Very well, then. Tell me who I am. Stop hiding from reality and I'll tell you."

"I-"

"You see? You can't even do that. You're weak."

"No, I'm not..."

"You don't even believe it. You're weak, child. And you always will be."

"Shut up," he says suddenly,  angry and hurting, and certainly none the better after hearing those words. "Just...just stop it!"

"I-you're..." He doesn't want to say it. Even though he knows. 

"Who. Am. I?

When did he start crying? And why can't he stop? 

"Stop crying and just tell me. Unless you're too scared."

Everything is suddenly too much and so wrong...

And he doesn't say a word. 

"So we've come to this again," the voice says. "I expected more of you..."

Somehow now he has enough confidence to say, "I'm finished listening to your expectations. Nico."

"So you do remember..."

"As if I'd ever forget what you did to me."

"Very well..."

He can't even explain it but suddenly the presence he's felt so strongly seeme to disappear, just a little. 

He finds himself sighing.

Right now, he can't even think of his own name.

But he can't care enough to try to remember. 

Doesn't remember where he is or why. 

But he accepts it because he can't summon the energy to find out...or care.