Peacekeepers

Chapter 32: Eclipse

(Art by @yoshi_tsuno on tiktok!)

June 27th, 1893

A week had never felt so long in William's entire life. Everything seemed a blur to him, the world feeling dull and lifeless without Connor to brighten things around him. He'd never known how important Connor was in his life until now... sure he loved him, and he never wanted to be apart from him, but without him around it felt like he was only half a person.

Connor had been the one to help him see how twisted his family was. Connor had been the one to show him how to live his life on his own terms instead of just obeying his father. He helped him learn who he was, what he liked, what he disliked, how he wanted to view the world. Connor was the one who helped him understand himself.

Who was he without Connor? What was the world without Connor? Did he want to even be in a world without that bright smile and happy laugh? those terrible jokes and flirting that he'd gotten used to... what was life without those smiles?

He held Connor tight with the thought, feeling numb and listless. He'd taken him for granted, always being there this whole time. He didn't want to lose him... he didn't know what he'd even do without Connor. His violent happy little man he loved so much, what would he do without him?

He looked up as Garreth came in, a normal occurrence these past few days. He appreciated Garreth not bothering trying to cheer him up at all, or trying to force him to eat when he didn't want to. He understood why Diane did it, but... it really didn't help. If anything it reminded him more of Connor and made his heart twist further in his chest.

Garreth set down a glass of water at the table beside the bed, setting a muffin beside it without insisting he eat it.

"The grand wiggenwelds will be ready in a few hours, okay?" He said softly, meeting William's gaze with his own.

William felt his insides churn in anxiety and anticipation, his grip around Connor going tight again. Would it work? Would it wake him up? He hadn't moved with the essence of dittany, but Garreth had said a grand wiggenweld was significantly stronger... not to mention he'd added extra ingredients to the one he intended for Connor in the hopes it would awaken him.

He hoped it would work... he'd pray to whatever higher entity would help him out that it would work... he didn't even care at this point. He just wanted Connor back. Without him everything was just darkness and gloom.

"Thank you, Garreth." He said weakly, his voice raspy from lack of use over the week.

Garreth smiled a bit, looking relieved that he'd said something. "Not a problem, William. We'll do everything we can."

It was really all they could do at this point. Whatever dosage Connor had gotten was potent... and it was enough that even Garreth was having a hard time dealing with it. If he couldn't wake him up, then who could? Garreth had even surpassed St Mungo's with his potion expertise, so there wasn't much point in going there.

He looked over to Connor beside him and ran a hand through his golden hair lovingly, his eyes filling with tears at the silent, peaceful look he had. He'd found the look to be quite cute while Connor was sleeping before, but now it just filled him with dread and anxiety.

Minutes turned to hours... hours felt like days... and finally William looked up as the door opened, his heart leaping into his throat when Garreth and Anne both walked in, Garreth holding a small vial of a dark green glowing liquid.

Garreth walked over to the bed quietly, kneeling down next to the bed and holding out the vial with a small smile, his other hand holding up crossed fingers in a good luck sign.