Team Tinies IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING

[weddingcupcake]

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[prebeard]

Perhaps if they'd had my experiences, they would.

[whoreofbabylon]

Perhaps it's a shame that is an honor limited to one, then.

[prebeard]

And one I cherish to the bottom of my heart.

[He is tired, but not so tired he can't pull Gil's head down for a brief kiss.]

[whoreofbabylon]

[Gilgamesh never objects to a kiss. It takes a stunning combination of worry and willpower to keep him from attempting more.]

And as a proper leader, you put actions to your words.

[Look at how pleased he is. Oddly pleased. Gosh Tokiomi you make him fucking weird sometimes.]

[prebeard]

Of course. When my health has improved, I'll be sure to show you proper gratitude for watching over me.

[whoreofbabylon]

I would expect nothing less. How fortunate that I did not have to ask...

[Hearing Tokiomi talk like he's going to be okay is an ease on Gil's mind - the fits of sudden illness are becoming scarier, and any reprieve from that is desperately welcomed.]

[prebeard]

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm still not very good at it.

[After all, they've only been fooling around for a few short months, and he knew nothing of sex before that. Right now it's just a topic to get both their minds off the curse, though. Even as he talks, Tokiomi's eyes close and his voice gets softer and more mumbled.]

Can I sleep now?

[whoreofbabylon]

If you require rest, then I'll allow it.

[He leans against Tokiomi a bit, a small sign of affection. Perhaps Tokiomi wasn't nearly as experienced as some of Gilgamesh's other partners, but there are some things you can't outclass a Sumerian prostitute in. Somehow, he can't say he's ever been dissatisfied - the lack of experience is a turn on in and of itself.]

[prebeard]

[Take your virgin fetish and get out of here Gilgamesh, I'm going to sleep.]

[whoreofbabylon]

[Fine! He'll just... save his game and fall asleep right there, too! Gosh.]

[prebeard]

[What a good Gilgamesh.

Unfortunately, that's the last happy moment they get to have. After that point, the illness takes a sharp downhill turn, and Tokiomi never really "wakes up". The fever has simply spiked too high, and any time he isn't asleep he's completely delirious, only able to whine about the pain, the heat, the chill, the nausea and any other thing. When he's able to focus enough to think about anything else, it's only to ask for Gil or, when he has him there, to reach for his hand and hold on tight.

Another three days and he's not strong enough to hold onto it anymore. It's about four am, and finally, finally his breathing calms while he's still conscious. For the first time in days, his eyes focus -- and immediately he tries to sit up, almost frantically looking around the room for his companion.]

...Gilgamesh?

[whoreofbabylon]

[Gilgamesh makes a habit of sparkling out when the rest of the household appears to care for Tokiomi. He has no interest in answering to them - not to Kiritsugu, not to Byakuya or Kariya's grouching, not to Illya's demands, and most certainly not to Shirou's "are you okay?"s. Now he cannot conveniently ignore them, though he makes sport of calling Shirou to his aid with a dagger or two from the Gate of Babylon.

But when they're alone and Tokiomi stirs, Gilgamesh is by his side instantly. He holds Tokiomi's hand and tries not to shiver himself - He refuses to lose this friend.

So when Tokiomi sits up, startlingly lucid, it takes mere moments for the King of Heroes to appear, his expression all faux amusement]

So you finally wake. You kept me waiting.

[prebeard]

How long...?

[His voice is hoarse, barely even a whisper. He's so tired -- everything hurts, everything's weak, and he's exhausted. It's too much to stay sitting for more than a moment, so he flops back as soon as Gil's in sight.]

[whoreofbabylon]

Three days. You aren't beyond for forgiveness, however.

[He'll forgive Tokiomi as long as he recovers, really. To ensure this happens, he takes his usual perch on the side of the bed and ruffles Tokiomi's hair fondly]

[prebeard]

You're not going to forgive me.

[He says it with a defeated tone, not even bothering to reach for Gil's hand this time. There's a certainty down to his very bones that he's dying. It hits him with a sudden clarity, and in that moment the stubborn struggle that's been there even at the worst of it is gone. All at once, the spark of his will is visibly snuffed. There's nothing left but letting go.]

[whoreofbabylon]

[The sad part is, Tokiomi is probably right.

Gilgamesh can't forgive being left alone. He can't forgive Tokiomi for giving up. He can't forgive the world for taking someone else precious away. He is a harsh king, but he forgives far too many things about this era.

He cannot imagine he could forgive this.]

I would not if you betray my expectations.

[prebeard]

You know it isn't my choice. I don't want to--

[He doesn't want to make Gil hate him. He doesn't want to give up his future. He doesn't want to hurt this much, but he doesn't want to stop feeling anything. He's scared. He's not ready to die yet. Not remotely. But he doesn't think he can hang on much longer, and he doesn't know how to make it stop.

He's crying before he can stop himself, bringing his hands up to cover it and shaking uncontrollably. His tone of voice can only be described as desperate, searching for something to keep him afloat when all he can see is drowning.]

What am I supposed to do? I don't want to die. I don't!

[whoreofbabylon]

Then do not die. Refuse to kneel and instead plant your feet firmly until there is a cure. If you do not want to, there is no reason to assent.

[prebeard]

I can't just tell death to go away, you idiot! You of all people should know that, shouldn't you?

[whoreofbabylon]

[Oh bitch you did not. He prefers to not even think about this shit, more or less confront it, and yet that's what Tokiomi is forcing him to do.

Gilgamesh is undeniably angry -- those words and the surrender in Tokiomi's voice all count as grave betrayals. He's all emotion now, too wrapped up in his own troubles to abide by his promise to not leave Tokiomi's side. Slamming his fist into the headboard, he gets to his feet and starts towards the door]

I know that gods are cruel and men in their vanity are foolish. I have learned nothing of surrender, not even to death, and if you believe I should, then you're unworthy of my presence.

[prebeard]

Even you have died!

[It doesn't matter if Gil is angry at this point. He'll die either way. Being killed by Gilgamesh would be a faster death than this, and one less painful. Who is he to say no to that?

But it still hurts to be walked away from, and he can't really help if his breath comes faster and more ragged because of it.]

If you would rather leave me to die alone than face the fact that I will, you're just being a coward! I didn't learn to live properly from someone who runs away!

[whoreofbabylon]

And I did not acknowledge a weakling as my master! Do not accuse me of cowardice when you are simply undeserving, Tokiomi! Without knowing better, I had pledged to stay by your side.

[Ah, but they'll only go in circles with this, won't they? Even Gilgamesh realizes this, and he gives Tokiomi a cruel glare]

So what shall we do with this situation? It would be quick to disavow one another and part as strangers, wouldn't it?

[prebeard]

Was Enkidu a weakling, too? Are all who die really just fools?!

[Raising his voice makes him cough, but that doesn't stop him. If he's going to go, he's not going to go moping. He'll snap back, even if it means signing over his life faster. Even when his coughs come with blood.]

Go on! Leave! [a pause, to wipe the blood from his chin]

If I live I'll remember that the great King of Heroes is nothing but a spoiled, frightened brat!

[whoreofbabylon]

[Seeing that determination again keeps Gilgamesh in the room. It makes him want to fight back for fighting's sake, because when one is wrong and unyielding, they deserve to be beaten down.]

You are not worth measuring against Enkidu -- know this, if you live, you wasted a decade pining for a brat too great for you. What will you do then?

[prebeard]

Then I will--

[What he will do isn't really relevant, is it? It certainly isn't when he can hardly get the words out past the coughs and the tears of pain that come with them. He claps his hands over his mouth, just trying to avoid making a mess.]

I will... Mourn the loss.. of the you who wasn't too s-spineless to love someone.