Broken bones (Felix x locus)

--spoiler alert--

Felix's mangled body lay in a pool of sticky crimson blood, the scent of iron drifting in the wind. Locus didn't think about the scent, all he focused on was the corpse of his former partner. Bones protruded from the places where they snapped, making felix's body look like a human pin cushion. If you could even call him human anymore. Locus had given felix the title of monster causing his own nightmares to be projected on felix, in which the man snapped. Locus had made the right choice, it was plain simple. But that didn't stop him from going to find felix's body, a slim sliver of hope that he had survived the fall. But the sword activated for him, undeniable proof that he was dead. Even so, he ended up looking down on his partners corpse. Revelling in the grief of what his actions had caused.

He knelt down next to the body and slid his arms under the body, pulling felix into his arms. Felix deserved nothing more than to have his body rot and fester until all that was left would be bones and his timeless armour. He had used locus for his own personal gain, an action that locus could never forgive. But felix had been human once, he had been alive and kicking. He would greet locus in the morning with an intolerant comment and make snarky remarks on locus's choice of breakfast. Yes felix was a dick, but he was all locus had. He was locus's normality, a guiding light in the shadows of grief and depression. He had made locus get up and keep fighting every day, not succumb to his mental instability after the war. He gave locus a reason to wake up in the morning and keep living. Even if his life was just a haze of death. He hadn't questioned felix until the very end when he was exposed to the idea of changing his ways and stopping the blood shed.

Locus stood with felix's body limp and hanging in his arms. He decided to keep his active camo deactivated, not only would felix hinder it to the point of it being useless but it was useless. A thick fog had rolled in so it was practically idiocy to waste his reminding suit energy on cloaking himself from nothing. So he merely started walking. He only had one place in mind, the hill where felix would meet up with him before the simulation troopers messed things up. They would talk about their mission status and contact command. But it was the only time they could really talk to each other, even if felix made snide comments at every chance. Locus sighed at his old memories with his partner, he felt anxiety bubbling up inside him. It finally hit him that he would never have one of those conversations with felix ever again, would never have felix bombarding him with irritating insults. A warm and scratching sensation made its way up the mans throat and his eyes started to burn. He pushed his emotions down for the time being, he only wanted to succumb to his emotions somewhere safe, no, somewhere where he feels safe.

The hill came into view, locus didn't know how much time had passed but he must have walked for hours. The darkening of the sky only confirmed his suspicion and the smell of blood started to turn sour. Insects even started to gather on felix's corpse and locus tried swatting them away in a fit of rage, a deranged scream leaving his lips. Felix fell from his arms and he started hitting the air, letting out strangles cries. His knees give way and he rests his head on felix's stomach, panting heavily. No, not yet. Just a little longer and he could submit to the human emotions he has been hiding away for so long.

Locus mustered his strength and pulled felix back into his embrace. His knees shuddered as he stood, adjusting Felix's weight so it was evenly distributed. Each step from there on felt like his last, his body ached and his eyelids threatened to wilt from all the sleepless nights spending hiding from his nightmares, although this day would soon be one of them, and he would learn to regret his decision. But locus pushed aside his fatigue for now, he had started the climb up the hill, using the small, slightly worn down path the partners had used before. The hill wasn't necessarily steep so locus took it slow, every fibre of his body screamed for him to move faster but his years of military training had taught him to be logical, he shouldn't burn himself out. Locus knew where his limits were and he knew that the top of this hill would beat him eventually. The sun was starting to set when he got to the top. The hill top was covered with trees and littered with supply crates. Locus sat looking out at the view of chorus's forests. Felix lay in locus's lap, unmoving.

Locus reached up and took his helmet off, taking a deep breath before gently taking felix's off. The normally cold and calculating man let out a sob as his eyes met felix's dead, void ones. A look of fear and betrayal plastered on the dead mans face.

"I am so sorry felix..." Locus's voice trembled as tears started to stain his cheeks. A huge wave of regret washed over him and his sobs became more violent and heart wrenching. He hauled felix into a hug, sobbing into his armour, willing him to come back to life.

"Wake up... Please, just wake up... Don't leave me on my own...I need you" shaking felix's shoulder seemed futile, he still found himself doing it though. His loss weighed heavy on his heart, he knew he couldn't keep going like this, he had to pull himself together. He would never have felix back, neither of them deserved it.

Locus got up off of the ground, tears still falling down his cheeks. This is the place, the place where he would bury felix. On a planet far from home, he would make home. He found a patch of ground and began digging with a discarded piece of scrap metal. The digging process would likely take all night, but locus didn't care. He wanted to do one last thing for his partner. He dug until his hands went numb, It took all night, as suspected. Locus could barely keep his eyelids from fluttering shut. He looked over to felix and pulled him over. He would bury him before the sun came up, so they could enjoy one last sunrise.

"Sleep well" Gently lifting felix's head, he pressed a short chaste kiss to his forehead. He placed felix into the grave, he wished he could have a coffin to place him in. Locus carefully pulled the dog tags off from around felix's neck and held them tight.

"I won't forget you" he murmured into the dog tags. Locus climbed up, out of the hole. The sun was beginning to rise off in the distance, sending hues of orange out into the dark sky. A small smile made its way onto the mans lips. The sunrise reminded him of felix.

The placement of soil over felix's body was agony. With each mound added, locus lost sight of his partner. He really didn't want to bury him, but inevitably over time felix's corpse would rot away. The thought of seeing that happen shook locus to his core. He had seen rotting bodies before, imagining felix as one of them made him unbearably nauseas. Burying him was hard enough, watching him rot away would be a thousand times worse.

By the time the sun was peeking into view locus had managed to cover the grave in dirt. A small mound signifying that there even was a grave at all. Locus sat with one hand on the mound, watching the sunrise in silence. Apart from the occasional bird tweet the hilltop was tranquil and solitary. Locus put felix's dog tags around his neck. The metal clinking again his own dog tags. It was soothing to have a part of felix with him, even though it was just a thin piece of metal. The sun rose in the sky, signalling the beginning of a new day. A fresh start. And locus would take that fresh start and attempt to make things right. To make up for all the life he had stolen away. He would even strive to take on Felix's burden and repay those who now rest easy.

And years later, when the chorus civil war was over and almost forgotten. Locus would return to his partners grave, to see the flowers that had sprouted from felix's grave. A new life created from that which took many...

Felix would live on in his heart. He was sure of it.