sad fat: the squeakquel

Reuinited. (Caleb x Mollymauk) [FANFICTION FOR CRITICAL ROLE]

54 years.
54 years, 5 hours, 47 minutes and 13 seconds. That is how long Mollymauk Tealeaf has been dead.

Caleb could remember that awful day so clearly, the memory entering his mind daily almost daily. It was so hard to be rid of it when every night that's all he saw. The red, dull blank stare of his lover. The way his purple skin had gotten pals. His tail had slowly stopped its feisty squishing, and awkwardly laid across chest.
But most of all he saw the blood. Across Molly's coat, his skin, his mouth.
The terrible shade of red seeping in and staining everything it could.

Sleeping became a challenge. While he took comfort in knowing that he was able to hold Mollymauk in the tiefling's final moments, he couldn't move on. Maybe if he had been faster. Maybe if he had gotten in between his lover and Lorenzo, their enemy would have taken his life instead of Molly's. Maybe if he had been the one taken nobody would have sacrificed their own lives.
Maybe if he had just done better nobody would have suffered, especially Mollymauk.

There were so many "maybe's", so many "what-if's". They plagued Caleb's already wounded mind and taunted him every time he blinked. They stuck with him for days, weeks, months, YEARS even. And they all would dissolve and just leave the plain fact that Mollymauk Tealeaf was dead and he wasn't coming back.

He wasn't coming back.

Despite it being so long ago, every time it was brought up Caleb would relive it.
The fighting. The terror. The scream that had ripped from his throat when he saw the life leaving his Mollymauk's eyes.
There hadn't been any goodbye words. Not a single bit of love exchanged, no closure. Not even when The Mighty Nein managed to kill Lorenzo did Caleb feel like he could ever be at peace over what happened.

And now Caleb himself was dying.

It was expected. He was human, one without a long lifespan. And while he was a hero in legend, he was a quiet scholar at heart who needed a life of peace to make up for all the pain.
Funnily enough, he could barely recall his own life.

Laying on his comfy, cushioned ol' bed surrounded by family and what was left of The Mighty Nein, he realized he couldn't even remember some names and faces.

An older orc with a blue tiefling rested at the edge of his bedside, teenage children hidden within their mother's neck. Caleb took a moment, closing his dulling blue eyes for a second. And then he smiled, letting the names come to him.
Jester and Fjord. Yes, that was it. He pulled the specific memory of getting to hold their newborn twins. He had been so proud of Jester, for how she kicked pregnancy's A-S-S and managed to be such a wonderful mother. And Fjord still couldn't stop crying at the sight of his daughter, having to be comforted by Jester as he rambled about how beautiful they were. How she would laugh and call him adorable. How Caleb teased him for blubbering like a baby.
That had been such a wonderful day. One Caleb never wanted to end.

Caleb opened his eyes and let out a soft whisper to them.
"Such a big baby."
He chuckled, watching Fjord smile and try to stop the tears from running down his cheeks before he, too, needed to hide in Jester's shoulder along with his daughters. Jester nodded and sniffled, trying to hold in her own tears.

Who else was there....? Oh! Right.

Caleb looked down at the end of his bed, seeing a pink haired firbolg. It takes a minute, but Caleb nods. Knowing it's Caduceus.
They grew close after they met.
Caleb knows he's the one who helped him the most mentally to cope with the loss of his beloved Molly.

Caleb weakly gives a little loving nod, mumbling a quiet "ja, I liked you." Which of course, gets a sad little chuckle from from the group.

Next at the end of his bed was... two human looking people. They were old, only a little younger looking than him. He couldn't remember names. Gods above it killed him, but he just couldn't remember who they were. They seemed to understand though, the larger buff woman gently holding the smaller muscular lady. The smaller one unable to stop the hiccup sob from escaping her throat.

"Ah... don't cry...." Caleb murmured, trying to move his lips. His face barely cooperated, but he managed a soft small smile.

Finally were the three halflings next to him. An older woman, an older man, and another younger man.
The chubby, motherly woman gently put her hand to his cheek. Tears all over her face as she cries, the male next to her holding her up as if she's collapse.
"My boy- m- my- bo-y- C-Ca-Caleb!-"
She wails, heaving in breaths.

Caleb panics for a minute. He can't remember her. He doesn't know who she is.

And then he remembers his goblin companion, Nott. Where... where was she?

"N...Nott? Nott? Nott the-.... Nott the brave? Where? Where is she?"

The elderly Caleb tries to lift his head up, heaving and panicking as he widely looks around the room. Everyone staring at him in dismay.
Especially the older halfling woman. She takes his hand and lays him down again, crying still. Whispering to him.

"No. No more Nott, Caleb. Remember? I'm not Nott anymore. It's Veth. It's Veth. Veth."
She repeats over and over, her voice cracking in sadness.

Caleb looks at her and let's out a small gasp, before shuddering. Listening to her whisper "Veth" over and over again.
Before letting out a small
"I love you, Veth"
And slipping away.

Caleb passed quickly and peacefully, his eyes closed. Something Mollymauk never got to have.
He was surrounded by his loved ones who all kissed his forehead and held his hands and told him just how much they loved him. He was finally free.

It was like a blanket being laid over him and then being gently lifted off.
Caleb first felt himself drift peacefully and quickly, and then felt himself land. He felt soft grass and cool breeze. He didn't wanna open his eyes at first.
He didn't wanna know where he was, just in case it would freak him out.

And then he felt lightly calloused, cold fingers on his face and the presence of another.
Then a single, forgotten voice.

"Caleb? Darling?"

Oh gods. Oh... oh gods.
Caleb's eyes didn't even hesitate to shoot open, to confirm that it was him. That it was there man he loved for all his life, even when they were separated by life and death.

It was Mollymauk. Mollymauk Tealeaf in front of him, holding him, kissing his forehead gently, running his cold slender fingers over his face.
It was his Molly.

Caleb felt himself start to cry, no noises coming from his mouth. He waited. He waited so so so fucking long for this. He never moved on, never settled down to marry another.
He couldn't love anyone else. He loved Mollymauk too much. He refused to move on, no matter how happy it could have made him.

And now his Molly was here and they were together again. He gently took his lover's chin in his hands, examining the healthy glow about his purple skin. Not hesitating to plant a kiss to his lover's chin, trying not to cry happy loving tears when he notices Molly's little delighted shiver. One that makes the tiefling's tail go pin straight before sinking down and curling around Caleb's torso and arm lovingly.

"I missed you." Caleb whispered, his voice frail and full of relief and love.
"I promised I'd wait for you. I didn't get to say it but I uh... ha! I promised myself, darling."
Molly answers, gently planting a kiss to Caleb's nose.

It was then that Caleb realized all would be alright. He had an eternity in front of him, one where he and his lover could finally be safe and rest again.
Mollymauk Tealeaf was dead. But so was he.
And they were together.