STABBED THROUGH THE HEART

[nikkernoodle]

[It's late Thursday night, and the school is far darker than normal. The Band Room is now lit by candle light; far dimmer than electricity, but something that Salieri is fairly used to.

He's there now, seated at the piano, a candle resting in a dish on the edge of the lid as he works, plunking out chords and tinkering with melody and harmony, making notes on the paper, going back, trying again.]

Comments

2/2

[violentenvies]

[Salieri pushes up on his toes, leaning into Discord, moving his hand to the other man's shoulder for balance as he shifts to rest his cheek against Discord's]

Je t'aime.

[it's murmured, quietly, for Discord alone to hear--]

Ti amo.

[--it's for him, for them, and that thrice-damned Wizard can't have it--]

Ich liebe dich.

[--in every language he knows.]

I love you.

[disharmonizes]

[Discord instinctively holds onto Salieri, almost clinging, afraid to let go right now. And then--

Then those words. Four different languages, but meaning and feeling in them so clear even if he wasn't able to understand them. And he can feel his breath halting for a second, then two, three... and he swallows, trying to compose himself. He can't go falling apart now--

(but if not now, then when?)

--this is difficult enough for the both of them without him feeling like he's being taken apart by the wave of emotion going through him, somehow both warm and icy at the same time, comforting and terrifying. Loving.

Oh.]

Four different ways. Overachiever.

[Muttered, quiet, joking, but he's still holding on a bit too tight.]

...I love you.

[It bears saying again and again right now. He's clinging to the words as much as he is to Salieri.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's arms shift as Discord holds him tightly, one going around his shoulders while his other hand slides into the hair at the nape of Discord's neck, combing through gently, cradling him close, chest tight with emotion, with the feeling of being held like this. Loved. Safe.]

You deserve to hear it in every way that I am able express, mon amour.

[somewhere, distantly, thunder rumbles. Ominous. Salieri squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, pressing closer, trying to remain here, now for just a moment longer. He's clinging now, too, as if that could keep them here, on the precipice, in this space where it's just them, together, before they tumble into that abyss]

[disharmonizes]

[He has half a mind to tell the thunder to shove off and give them a minute here, thanks, but. Well. Only so much time left.

But he'd really rather not be the one to end this, so, coward that he is, he... doesn't. Simply trying to forget what they're planning for a bit.]

[violentenvies]

[the thunder dies off...but a moment after, the lightning follows, brightening up the room temporarily in a flash of light.

For a moment, Salieri tucks his face against Discord's neck, allowing himself this as he breathes in, slow and deep, trying to memorize the feeling of Discord's arms around him, the scent, the safety.

And then he breathes out, and pulls back, slowly, reluctantly. Presses a kiss to Discord's cheek. Drops down off his toes and steps back, out of the circle of his arms]

...come on. [it's gentle, kind--taking Discord by the hand as Salieri leans down to retrieve that dagger, and guide him over to that cloth]

[disharmonizes]

[Suddenly, the moment's gone, and Salieri's leading him over. And Discord swallows, steeling himself for this as much as he can. Chaos, mayhem, all that is very much his domain, but... murder?

Murder has never been it, really. Even without the reason, the person he's killing, this would be too much. Add all that in and, well.

...He'll... reluctantly reach over to the dagger.]

So... the heart, then.

[violentenvies]

[he'll let him take it.]

That's right. Though my legs are likely to go out from under me, so...[he starts to kneel on that cloth, gently tugging on Discord's hand to get him to kneel as well]

[disharmonizes]

Oh. I... suppose that makes sense...

[He'll lower himself down to the floor, then, kneeling as well. The dagger feeling so heavy in his hand.]

...Alright.

[And he'll just slide an arm around Salieri, just... to steady him. Keep him in place and support him, as much as he can.]

You'll guide me?

[violentenvies]

[Discord's arm goes around him, and Salieri leans into him a little, taking that support]

Of course. [and he reaches out to take Discord's hand holding the dagger and adjust the angle, guiding it so the tip of the blade rests just to the lift of his breastbone, lifting his other hand to feel for a gap in his ribs--]

Just here.

[disharmonizes]

[He moves the dagger along as Salieri guides him, keeping it steady and in place once he's done. And he nods.]

...Alright.

Ready?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri takes a breath and lets it out, slow, steadying himself]

Ready.

[disharmonizes]

[He steadies himself as much as he can, gaze focused on Salieri. Feeling the weight of that dagger, the photo, these past several weeks... taking a deep breath, and...

...pushing that dagger in.]

[violentenvies]

[It hurts.

Really, he expected as much, but somehow even the expectation didn't prepare him for the shock of the way the dagger slides between his ribs. He can't help but instinctively take a gasping breath, going rigid in response to the sharp stab (ha) of pain that lights up his rib cage. Salieri's hand tightens on Discord's arm, trembling as he starts to go limp against him.

The breath he takes is ragged, the movement sending a jolt of pain through him, and he shudders. But...he told Discord, didn't he? He wouldn't feel any pain. So he swallows, hard, trying to gather himself. It's nothing, isn't it?]

[disharmonizes]

[Discord is wincing himself at that tightening on his arm, the shuddering, all of it. It's too late to turn back now, though. That knife is all the way in and that's not something you can just undo.

Not like he is now, anyway. And that's the whole crux of this.]

Are you-- [No, he's not alright, Discord, he's dying, what sort of stupid question--] ...I'm here, it's alright.

[It's not, it's not--

He just tightens his hold around Salieri, even with one hand still shaky on that dagger. He won't be letting go, not for a little while yet.]

[violentenvies]

[oh. Discord sounds upset.

Well, yes, that does make sense, he supposes. The situation does warrant it. And yet...he wants to do something, to make this easier--so, quietly, a little shakily, head resting on his shoulder]

Don't you fret, mon cher Discord,
I don't feel any pain...

[disharmonizes]

[You know what, it's time to just put his other arm around Salieri too and just... hold him. Because what else can he do, now?

"And just what can the Lord of Chaos do about that?"

Nothing. Nothing nothing nothing--

Nothing but stay here with him.]

[violentenvies]

You're here...that's all I need to know.

[Discord holds him, and Salieri tries to lean into him a bit further, trying to breathe in, but it hurts, it still hurts and he suppresses a wince. He's starting to feel cold a bit, and his hand grasps weakly at Discord's arm, curling closer to him. He doesn't dare close his eyes, not yet, not yet, just give him another moment in his arms--]

And you will keep me safe...

[disharmonizes]

[He swallows, hard, even now a part of him wanting to fight against such a show of affection directed at him. As if he isn't trying to remember every last bit of it, remember it forever.

He just keeps his arms around Salieri.

Safe... What a cruel joke that seems, now.]

[violentenvies]

And you will...keep me close...

[it feels quiet, now, the thunder seeming distant. It's cold, but Discord is warm. It's...nice.

Salieri closes his eyes.]

And rain...will make the flowers.....

[his voice trails off, having no more breath in his lungs. He can't seem to find the energy to breathe in again, but maybe that's alright. Maybe his music will be forgotten now; maybe he'll fade into obscurity. But right now he's resting in the arms of someone he loves very much, for people he loves very much, and somehow, for the first time...that is enough.

A moment passes...two...and if Discord cares to look, he will find that Antonio Salieri is dead.]