Until your last breath (Matt x Reader) ☆ Magical AU ☆

Cave of Mirrors

You faced the cave for a few ticks. After the disaster that was the raid on the Fallridge prison, you withdrew from the rebellion. Not that you didn't agree with the importance of that war, you just couldn't keep losing anymore. The truth was that you couldn't let the galras keep tearing away the shards that remained of your sanity. And yet, there you were, ready to keep making sacrifices for the cause. 12 quintants have gone by since you started working with the paladins, during which time everything was calm and you could concentrate on the search for Matt. But this now, this was real, a true mission. You gulped getting ready to enter the cave.

"(y/n)," Shiro placed his hand on your shoulder to stop you, "I was going to wait until your birthday, but I can't let you in unarmed," he put his hand in his pocket, grabbing a dagger. The metal of the weapon is a blend of what you have identified as metal and gold, following a braided pattern on the handle. The blade is long and wide, with a slightly curved tip, and an amethyst decorated the underside of the handle. You were anxious about touching it, knives were a reminder of the arena, but also the weapon you're most proficient at. "The gem is a soul tracker, this way we can find each other if ever we separate," you closed your eyes and took the dagger, releasing a big relief sigh when nothing happened. So emotion jumped into your heart, you were really grateful to have something from Shiro.

"Thanks!" you jumped to hug him, he was alarmed for a few ticks, but soon reciprocated the hug.

"OOO that's so sweet!" Hunk hugged you both " I love you guys," you giggled and Shiro chuckled. After a few minutes of sweetness and hugs, you were all feeling renewed to begin the mission. 

The more you explored the cave, the clearer was why it had that name. The cave had crystal-covered walls that reflected and distorted your images, the light that the gas in the forest emitted made them glow, resembling a combination of stars and mirrors. There was nothing dreadful about this place, on the contrary, it was dazzling, and that worried you. Nothing is as harmless as it might seem. You proceeded with caution, moving in the lead as inspected the area, Shiro was very attentive too, but Hunk was beginning to feel increasingly reassured.

" I guess this place isn't so bad," Hunk said. You turned your gaze towards him, but all that remained was his scream as he fell into a hole.

"Hun---," You and Shiro spoke at the same time until both were sucked into their own holes. 

When you landed you could feel that there was water, you became desperate and fought with all your might to get out of the wet. " HELP!," you shouted, "HELP! Somebody get me out of here!" You were in an imaginary battle with the water, trying to get as far away from it as possible, but your random and desperate movements helped nothing. You felt someone grab you from behind and you started to struggle, the person dragged you to the edge and pulled you out of the water. When you finally got out, managed to cough up the water that had entered your lungs. You looked at your reflection in the water, seeking your savior, but they had no reflex.
"(y/n), is everything okay?" You looked at the voice's direction, and Matt's sweet eyes found yours. You gasped and covered your ears, disbelieved. Your mind continued to play tricks on you in the last few quintants, and that shattered your heart, you couldn't stand it anymore. It was unbelievable how a heartbreak managed to turn one of the toughest warriors of the rebellion into a crying mess.

"No, no, not again," You shouted, "Please tell me you're not an illusion," were the words that emerged from your desperate mind.

"You know I can't lie to you, babe," he said, "I can't tell you that."

"What are you then?!" 

"Cognition," he said, "I'm your perception of the real Matt," he approached leaning you against his chest, "I'm not alone," he guided your gaze to a shadow in the corner.