Sew Up My Mouth (Chapter 2)

Perfect.

A strange word, really, because what did it mean? Nothing could ever be perfect. Something would always go wrong, and it couldn't always be fixed.

It was eerily silent as they ate, Azure's gaze resting on Two Time as always and flicking away before they looked back. That wasn't usual, never happened before. His sandwich was burnt too much, too little jelly, the pieces scratching his throat when he swallowed. He made a few comments on the sunset, but Two Time seemed more lost every moment.

Their bag sat crumpled beside them, clearly no books or surprises inside. That was unusual too. Azure felt fear, worry, rising in his chest. He'd ignored it all night long, replaced it with his anticipation about the proposal. But was it even a good night to do it? Had Two Time brought him here as a final goodbye, a way to end things without tears?

No, of course they hadn't. Their love had been nothing but strong the past few months, and while influenced greatly by the Spawn (which Azure was growing less confident with each day), it was real. Genuine. Not something either of them wanted to end.

"Two Time?" He asked after a long moment of debate, his voice cracking just the slightest bit. Their eyes flicked up to look at his, their face missing a smile. But that was just their resting face. It was, wasn't it? Had Azure forgotten that? No, he wouldn't have forgotten. 

"Yes?" They replied dully, tearing their crust into little pieces before tossing it into the grass for the birds. At least that restored some sense of normalcy - they always insisted on feeding the birds correctly, with small bits so they wouldn't choke.

"I love you a lot, you know. I have for years." He hoped it came across as a simple reminder, didn't want Two Time to suspect anything until he had gotten on one knee and pulled out the ring box. Two Time's shoulders seemed to sink at Azure's words, or maybe he was over analyzing. Hopefully the latter.

"Mhm, I know. Look at the sunset," they said suddenly, pointing with a thin finger to the dipping sun. They stood, pulling their bag up with them, unbuttoning it. Azure did as well, leaning against Two Time. He forced a smile that they didn't return. They stepped back the tiniest bit.

Azure ignored it, trying to think of something to say. "You know, I think that sunsets are-"

A sharp pain in his back cut him off, an agonized gasp escaping his throat as he stared down, the tip of a dagger peeking out of his skin. He screamed, his shaking hands soaked with violet blood. He dropped to his knees, but not the way he had planned to this evening. His head fell onto the ground, howling in pain again as Two Time pulled it out of his body. "Two Time!" 

Their boots moving to crouch in front of him were loud and slow, his mind shutting down, 

everything

fading

out.

***

Two Time felt like they were dying with him, somehow. They closed his eyelids, wishing they could do the same to themself to stop the flow of tears. His last words, their name, haunted them already. The Spawn whispered words of comfort and praise in their ear, but they shivered, horror at what they’d done pulling at their mind.

Their breath came sharp and sudden, bile rising in their throat as they handled Azure’s body. His purple blood stained their hands, his forever shocked expression bore into their skull. They swallowed the lump in their throat, reaching into their bag for the last thing they needed that evening. A way to make sure no one would ever find out.

A needle and a thread.

Two Time’s heart pounded against their ribs as they poked the needle through Azure’s flesh, droplets of blood peeking out of every stitch, staining the white thread violet. One hand held his jaw up while the other performed the horrid action, Azure’s mouth becoming a bloody, thin line as they continued.

“For the Spawn, so this sacrifice can never object to them.” The words felt sick and hot on their tongue. They snapped the thread and threw the needle as far away as they could, finally throwing up. They turned Azure over, placed his hat over his face.

And then, without saying goodbye, they left.