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love's the only thing that can die twice by stardustandswimmingpools
Fandoms: Dimension 20 (Web Series)
09 Mar 2025
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Summary
Colin turns to the tunnel Amangeaux is gesturing at just as she starts to run. He turns back to Deli. Then back to the tunnel, his only shot at survival. This was the point. It was never that they wouldn't make it; it was that Deli wouldn't. If he insists on sacrificing himself, Colin should allow him the dignity of that decision. He should do as Deli says. He should save himself.
Of course he turns back. In every version of this story, he goes back for Deli.
“Stop telling me what to do,” he bites out. “I’m not fucking leaving you.”
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“Death doesn't just /happen/ to a warrior,” he'd once told Colin. “If a soldier falls, he was always to fall. The strong survive. And I intend to be the strongest.”
That moment plays in Colin’s head as he sees Deli, without poise or pride, tackle several Saprophians to the ground. A perfectly honed soldier, optimized to survive in combat — still the strongest warrior Colin knows. He’s stronger than one, even two, but three is pushing it. His assault creates a hole for Colin and Amangeaux to break through, but one of the Saprophians is now wrestling Deli as he tries to get up.
Some part of Colin reacts before the rest of him, and he thinks it's indignance. Deli has been unkillable up to this point. The idea that he would not only die here but do so by sacrificing himself is preposterous.
“Keep going,” he tells Amangeaux, “I’ll catch up.”
And he doubles back.
*
“I’m sorry,” Deli rasps.
“I am too,” Colin says.
In the distance, a horn blares victory. A hard-fought war comes to a bloody end. Nearby, Amangeaux silently mourns. The Bulb has risen on a new day. Too many did not make it past Bulbrise.
Colin leans his forehead against Deli’s. He shuts his eyes. There is no world. There is no war. The war is over. The world is this.
His lips find Deli’s, pressing gently against them, tasting blood. Deli exhales one last time.