▬▬ 𝕿he once cool azure skies started brightening the 40th floor. The clusters of white wisps danced along with the wind whilst the sun's rays pierced the residents of the 40th floor with the cursed heat.

Regardless of how much change the sky went through in a matter of hours, the residents won't be able to notice it because they're too busy with their tasks but, Hockney will surely notice the change.

Based on how bright it was and how the temperature was increasing, it's 8 am and it must be 8 minutes until Hockney's departure. Which meant there was not enough time for Y/N to convince him, but she might as well try instead of idly standing by, than letting go of him.

"You know, I wasn't expecting to be so attached to you." The horned girl admitted; Thus letting the moment that Hockney was waiting for begin, she's finally letting her walls down.

"When I took you under my roof, I promised I'd keep my distance but my dumbass warmed up to you without realizing it."

"The more we hung out, the more I started caring for you."

"And I hate you for it." She paused as her eyes were being clouded by her sadness, followed by a small sniffle, which made the painter frown.

"I'm sorry-" His already soft expression softened further at the thought of his friend's grudge against him.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" Her features twisted into anger.

Hockney wasn't surprised that she was insulting him. He's always overheard how harsh she was towards her coworkers, so her brashness wasn't even surprising at this point.

"If I hated you, then I wouldn't be nice to you like right now. I literally can take advantage of you right now, yet I'm not. So I don't hate you, okay?" She reassured, her angered expression softening as each word of admission came out of her mouth.

"If you leave right now, then all the warm feelings I had within me will dissipate the more you distance yourself from me." Her selfishness was becoming more apparent that it tore Hockney's mind into two parts; to leave or not to leave, that is the question that he needs an answer to.

"So please, I beg of you to not leave me." The blacksmith begged once more. Her tears stained her face with misery.

A sad smile settled on Hockney's face. As much as he would love to say yes, he couldn't do it. He cares for her well-being, but he cares for himself as much. He just wants to be whole again and he can't be whole if he stayed for her.

"Y/N I have to leave so I can complete my soul." He said, which unknowingly turned the tides in Y/N's persuasion attempt.

"I know I'm being selfish and all but, I have a good reason for not wanting you to leave the 40th floor."

For a moment, the girl hesitated, her voice refusing to admit what reality did to her brother, but she's gonna have to say it to save Hockney. "I don't want you to end up like my teammates and Hoh. I don't want you to die, so please stay with me."

"We'll be safe here, and we don't have to worry about dying in a battle. We just have to worry about money and paying on time, doesn't that sound better than assuming it might be your last day breathing?"

As of now, she's desperate. Y/N didn't want to lose someone she cared for again.

She yearns to taste the warm feelings that affection has always spoiled her with, she's been so spoiled of affection that feeling a smidge of misery just disgust her.

The girl doesn't want to get drunk with misery again. So she needs him to stay so the misery she's felt for centuries will stay at bay. The blacksmith isn't doing this just for herself but for them.

"Y/N, you know that we'll die at some point, right?" The painter questioned her mentality, not noticing that he landed a huge chunk of damage on her ego.

"Do I look stupid to you? Of course I know that, but I don't want to lose you to a cruel system of having to give up something for what you desire." The horned girl reasoned, her desperation becoming more clear with each word coming out of her mouth.

"You really are a child." He softly chuckled.

"That's how life has always been, Y/N. Giving up something so you can become the person you desire to be. Change is bound to happen, so it doesn't matter if you welcome it with open arms or not." He stated whilst wearing a smile to reassure her, but to reassure her from what, exactly?

"If you don't bother trying to change, then you'll remain the person you are. Lost and scared."

He made a solid point, though. She's been lost and scared for centuries but not knowing what the exact reason was. Plus, she'd rather live this type of life instead of engaging to let change happen in her life. Did she want Hockney to stay because she's relying on him to change her life?

"So you're saying I should give up on you?" Y/N questioned while shock took over her because of the revelation she made. The arms that once kept Hockney in place were now weakening from the thought of her realization.

"Do you want to?" The painter asked to which, Y/N shook her head no. "Then don't."

"I'm not saying you have to give up on me. I'm saying you have to let me let go of the 40th floor so I can finally complete my soul." The pale man reassured, his soft hands softly caressing the girl's cheek to wake her up from her dazed state.

"Is it really worth it?"

"I don't know yet but, I want to be complete so I can reciprocate your love for me." His words froze your body. You weren't expecting to hear those words, especially not right now. Since when the hell did you love him?

"I can't love you the way I am right now but I know one thing, I want to come back to the place where we call home." He said with a warm smile, which made you reciprocate the smile.

"How the hell would you know I love you?" Y/N asked with pure confusion on her face. Her confusion made him giggle because the girl obviously didn't realize that her admission from earlier sounded a lot like a confession than persuasion.

"Well, that emotion you refer to as "selfishness" isn't what you think it is. It's love telling you to not let go of me. You love me so much that you aren't willing to let go of me." He explained to you, which awoke not only your realization but your embarrassment.

Embarrassment filled every inch of your body. You weren't expecting to get called out without even realizing what you meant with your words. Maybe you've gone too soft... QUICK DO SOMETHING BEFORE HOCKNEY STARTS TEASING YOU!

"Tsk, you sound so full of yourself right now." The girl turned her head in embarrassment whilst trying to act as though she was stoic.

"How am I full of myself when you've admitted it seconds ago? Plus, you aren't technically denying me right now." The artist teased her, which worsened the embarrassment that was flaming her from the inside.

"You know what, leave before I change my mind." The blacksmith insisted as she removed herself from the male's lanky form, then acted as though she didn't care for his departure.

Hockney still wore the same smile he wore from earlier. He knew it conflicted you about the idea of watching him leave, so he won't force you to stay. Hell, he didn't even want to see you crying, so maybe this was for the best. This wasn't technically the best farewell he's had in years, but it was worth more than nothing.

He turned his back on his roommate. The smile he wore from earlier was becoming smaller and smaller with each step he took. Doubt overwhelming his whole body that even his body is purposely taking small steps to give the painter more time to consider his situation.

Truth be told, Y/N wanted to climb the tower with him. But the fear of dying held her back from doing so, along with the fear of meeting White and the AKA team.

The blacksmith intended to get over her fear of heights, yet after all these years, she still fears them. Her fears are measly compared to the tower's challenges. So how was she going to keep climbing when she's clearly incapable of facing her own fears?

As much as she'd love to be by Hockney's side, she'd rather not be a burden or be baggage to him.

For a moment, she thought about watching him leave, but then she realized it would hurt more to watch him leave instead of letting go of him.

Since she didn't want to get hurt anymore, she took one more step, but an observer blocked her path. Which caused her to freeze in an instant.

The horned girl was about to summon her spears, but a pair of arms stopped her from doing so.

"I'll come back, I swear." He promised. Hell, Y/N could even hear him smiling genuinely.

"You better promise, you sweet asshole." She muttered as she tried her best from breaking down right in front of him.

"Please..." Her breath hitched, followed by her hesitant yet emotional words exiting her mouth. "Please don't forget me and all the things we did."

"Don't worry, I won't because unlike you, my memory isn't bad." He teased again. Hockney is really talented at breaking very tense atmospheres like these.

"Oh, fuck off." You said with a smile whilst you cherished the taste of warmth and the sweet sensation of love. 

▬▬ 𝕱𝐢𝐧. 𝕮𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗
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♡ㅤㅤ ≡ ㅤ➭ㅤ ㅤ⌂
ᴸⁱᵏᵉ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵗ ˢʰᵃʳᵉ ˢᵃᵛᵉ