ｃｏｍｐｕｌｓｉｏｎｓ| a JSAB AU fanfic

To Wιɳ... - CH. 5

"Urania?"

"Yes Cytherea?"

"Can you promise me something?"

"Sure."

"Never let your pain consume you."
 "Forgive the world's cruelties."

Their parent's words echoed through Cyan's mind as they traversed the many halls of the tower with little issue. They took a wrong turn however, ending up at one of several balconies. 
It was nightfall by now, so they didn't have to worry too hard on staying hidden.
They thought of life back then when those words were spoken. They were just about to become a full-fledged hero. They went by their old name back then, Urania, but that didn't make those words any less impactful. They'd since written them down and kept them close, always holding  them in a pocket. Now was no different.
Somehow gazing at Paradise's night sky, even with Rosé's dark magenta skies, eased their pain and worries if even just for a moment. It reminded them of their childhood, blissfully ignorant of the pain that would befall them and their siblings...
Their siblings. 
Areia, who was now Lycan's hero...
Pandemos, who was now Barracuda's hero...
And Genetrix, who they didn't know who he went to, but feared the worst. Macabre was never a just ruler.
And those truths reminded them of Blixer.

They thought of those pink burning markings that cover any corrupt hero's skin. They wondered if they would ever have to feel the pain of their own on their skin. They wondered how it felt or look like, though in retrospect, what difference would it make? 

They'd only lose a fraction of their already dwindling free will.


They shake off the thought and carry on, taking off the coat they adorned and spreading their wings, having since recovered the energy to regrow the clipped shard.
Their wings open fully in a glittering display of wing-like hero shards, picking up the wind from so far up like a boat's sail. 

They hear footsteps and this gets them to speed up, climbing onto the rail of the balcony. They flap their wings in a solid papery "floosh", and lifted up into the air and into the clouds. 
Sooner than they'd realized the tower looked like just a pink stick, vanishing into the city's mist.

They stop at one of the other corrupt cities that was fortunately more kind to pure folk like themself. They hadn't realized just how far Rosé, Blixer's city, was from Pyua, their own; despite being neighbors. 

They land, walking into the town and stopping at a small park on the city's outskirts.
The park itself was a pond with well kept bubblegum pink koi-like fish and lots of dull lavender grass and off-white bell-shaped wildflowers native to just that city. 

The reflections on the water mirrored their glowing blue and pink eyes and stolen bloodied dagger.

Cyan would end up accidentally sleeping there.
When dawn risen, they felt a tap on their shoulder. They look up at the person who tapped them, their eyes adjusting to the light and coming off the drowsiness of sleep.

"P...Pandemos? Oh my god it's you!" Their eyes lit up, they couldn't believe who it was. 
They scrambled to their feet, hugging the corrupt orange hero without a second thought. 
"It's been forever!" A smile echoed through their voice.
"Aphelion... That isn't what-" Pandemos tried to say something, but they were cut off.
"Let's go home! Run away! Be free again! You're in danger if you stay here, trust me!" Aphelion begged.
"Atleast come visit me in Pyua!"

"Aphelion." Pandemos tugged Aphelion off. 
"I have a duty to do."
"Battle you. I heard you escaped from the tower." Pandemos held back tears.

"What?"  Aphelion stared at him as if they had seen a ghost.

They were too busy staring at their sibling to hear the swelling tune, melodies and harmonies forming a song. 

Goldfinch, it was called. Pandemos taught them it. It was a song of hope, now a battle's tune.
Because after all, to win is to acknowledge a fight lost. 

♥