Thorns Of Death (Eric X Alan Fanfic)

The Attack

It was early Monday morning at the dispatch, and Alan was in his office writing reports. It bothered him. Ever since he found out he had contracted the disease, he was given simple tasks to do.

Why couldn't they just treat him normally? Like an equal? He didn't want to be held back. He wanted to be out reaping souls with Eric.

Right now, however, Eric was also writing reports in the office next to his. He was behind on his paperwork, and offered to do some to keep Alan company in the offices and check up on him, and by some miracle, Mr Spears agreed to it.

Alan never knew when an attack was going to strike. That was the worst, there were no warnings. The thorns would come when they wanted to... and when they did... they did not mess around.

Some days, it would just be a short but sharp attack. It would startle Alan at first, and after a few minutes it would subside and Alan could get back to work. However, other days, the attack would last more than just a couple of minutes, they could last much longer than that. This was one of those days.

Alan reached over for a new report when he felt the familiar tightening in his chest. He wanted to get Eric, to call out, to do something, but the thorns would never allow that.

They wanted their victims to suffer, to be alone.

Soon, Alan's chest was unbearably tight and he managed to let out a choked cry. It went unheard and Alan began to panic. He didn't want to be alone! Not now! He wanted Eric. He wanted Eric to hug him and hold him close and tell him everything was going to be alright. But he was alone. Alan was alone. He was born alone and he knew he was going to die alone.

The tightening kept increasing and Alan could no longer sit straight and he fell off his chair and onto the floor with a soft thud. He let out a groan as he clutched the fabric of his shirt, willing the pain to stop. It didn't and instead the pain only increased, his heart clenching harshly, and Alan saw black spots in his vision.

His breathing was heavy, his lungs were burning. He could feel the thorns moving inside him, closer and closer to stopping his heart.

~*~

Eric had finished his twentieth report when he decided he was going to check up on Alan. He looked at the clock to see it was almost evening. He knew Alan hadn't eaten in a couple of hours, and decided it was time they went to get some food before going back to work.

He rose from his desk, stretching his back and waiting for the satisfying crack. He put his jacket back on and headed for the door. Stepping out into the hallway, he went to Alan's office and knocked lightly on the door.

"Alan?" He called. No response. "Alan, are you in there?" Nothing. Maybe he had gone to the toilet? No... Alan would have turned his office light off.

Then he heard something. It was faint, barely audible, but it made Eric's blood run cold. A sob.

Without needing to think twice, Eric stormed into Alan's office. Alan was in the corner of the room in the fetal position, gasping and grabbing his chest.

"Alan!" Eric cried as he rushed to his lover's side. Alan didn't reply, he only curled in tighter and let out a pained groan. Eric picked Alan up carefully and lay him on his lap. He began stroking his hair and whispering in his ear.

"It's going to be okay. You're okay. I'm here."

Alan just lay there, eyes tightly shut, teeth clenched together. His hair was sticking up in different directions and there was a lining of sweat down his face. How long had he been like this? A few minutes? A few HOURS? Eric didn't know.

Alan let out a strangled cry one again and clawed at his chest.

"Eric!" He cried.

"It's alright Alan. I'm right here. I won't leave you. Not ever. Stay with me Alan, okay?" Eric soothed. "You're okay... you're okay..."

Alan grabbed hold of Eric's jacket, pulling Eric closer to him. Eric held Alan's small body on his, playing with his hair and making soothing circles on his back.

After several minutes of Alan's harsh breathing, he began to calm down. Alan opened his eyes to be met by Eric's emerald ones.

"E-eric?" He whispered.

"It's alright Alan, I'm here."

"E-eric! I'm s-so s-sorry!"

Eric furrowed his brow. "Why are you sorry, Alan?"

"I thought you'd left m-me! I thought I was alone and I don't want t-to die alone! I wanted you there with me."

"Alan, I'll never, ever leave you alone. You'll always have me, I promise." Eric replied, his eyes glassy.

"The thorns... they tell me you aren't there, Eric... that I was born alone... and I'll die alone... forgotten... lonely..."

Alan let out another sharp cry.

"Alan! Alan! What's wrong?!" Eric asked, alarmed.

Alan clumsily grabbed at his sleeve and pulled it up, revealing the black marks on his veins. They were moving. They were MOVING. This is what is killing Alan. This is what is taking Alan away from him. The thorns. The master of the attack.

Eric could only hold Alan whilst his lover was in complete agony. It had been over an hour since he had found him on the office floor and Eric just wanted it all to stop. No more attacks. He just wanted Alan, his little ray of light.

It was in that moment he decided, he would not let his light be extinguished. He would fight for it. Whatever the cost.

Whatever the cost.