Chapter Text
Veritas was simply walking around the Golden Hour, trying to ease his mind. Trying to not worry about Aventurine. But that’s when he saw a familiar figure lying on the pavement.
“…Vasha…?”
He never would’ve used that nickname in Penacony. Especially considering that anyone could be listening. But that didn’t matter to him. He ran over to Aventurine. Only to then see the dull, dead look in his eyes.
“Vasha! No, no, no! I swore I still had time!”
He tried to cradle Aventurine’s body, only to then notice already it was beginning to fade. The curse that Sunday has put on him was already consuming what was left.
Speaking of the devil…
“Is this little one yours, Doctor?”
Veritas looked up to see Sunday walking towards him, a child in his arms. He felt his heart drop into his stomach. The child he was holding was Helia.
“Unhand him, you bastard!”
He charged at Sunday, wanting to tear him apart. To get Helia away from him. But he was simply side stepped, a calm, smug smile on Sunday’s face. Veritas then felt his feet become stuck in place. Leaving him only able to shout.
“Give him back! You’ve already taken the man I love! You can’t take my son as well!”
Sunday only smiled at him as he held Helia in his arms. A glimmer flashed behind his eyes. Veritas could feel himself sinking. He tried to make his way to Helia.
“You can’t…!” he shouted.
Further and further he sunk.
“…Please…!…Give…him…back…!”
Veritas startled awake. Frantically he looked around him, quickly realizing Aventurine wasn’t next to him. The fear from the nightmare still filling him, he shot up from the bed and practically ran to Helia’s room. Only to then feel himself relax as he saw Aventurine sitting in a chair, leaning on Helia’s crib. Hearing him come in, Aventurine looked up, not even trying to give a fake smile.
“You too?” he asked.
Veritas knew exactly what he was asking. He nodded before pulling up a chair of his own. He let out a deep sigh before explaining.
“It was one…where I had lost you…and I was powerless to stop Helia from being taken…”
Aventurine nodded. He looked away before telling of his own nightmare.
“I was…running away with him…then the IPC found us, and they took him from me, and they were planning to sell him. They were going to send me back to Diamond then sell Helia-”
He stopped himself and choked back a sob.
“Aeons, look at us, Ver. We’re both so scared.”
“We…we are, aren’t we?”
“I’d never trade him for the world. But are we really ready for this?”
Veritas gave it some thought. He then smiled at Aventurine before reaching out for him.
“May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Veritas pulled Aventurine in close, kissing him on the forehead as he nestled in.
“We’re going to have these nightmares for a long time. Nothing will change the fact that we’re both going to worry, probably forever. But I assure you, we’re ready.”
He looked towards Helia.
“He’ll live a better life than both of ours, Vasha. We’ll make sure of it.”