*Music at top if you want to play it with the chapter to make it feel emntional*
Spider stood with the Sullys in waist-high water, well waist-high for him, but only knee-deep for them. He watched the Metkayina death ceremony as various families arrived with their deceased loved ones who had died during the fight against the Seadragon.
Each person has their moment to say goodbye before lowering the deceased and offering it to the golden sea anemone field down below, where it gets pulled in and they become one with Eywa.
Spider takes a deep breath, calming himself as he glances to the left. Looking at each of the Sullys, they seem as okay as they could be after the fight they've all been through in more ways than one.
For a moment, he glanced at Tuk, who was standing beside Neytiri, who had been missing for the past few days. He noticed the young Na'vi girl staring ahead before she stole a glance at him. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away, dodging him. He didn't give it much thought.
He let out a sigh before turning his attention back to the funeral. Feeling grateful that they were never able to recover Y/n's body after what happened inside the ship. He could almost feel himself smirking at that thought, but quickly shook it off, remembering where he was.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, but quickly snapped them open when he felt an intense stare on him. His gaze swept the area until it landed on his left, where Kiri stood. She was staring at him with a blank, lifeless expression.
He quickly glanced away to avoid her stare. She just needs some space, that's all. To move on from that asshole, she doesn't realize it now, but he actually did her a huge favor by getting rid of him, so he can't corrupt her anymore.
He was certain that she would eventually forget about him, and things could return to the way they were before he arrived.
Maybe… Maybe he could even ask her out again, just like he did a long time ago, and this time, instead of running into the forest, she will actually give him an answer.
* Past: moments after Y/n jumped into the water following Tuk.
Y/n was carried along by the water current, hitting various obstacles, but despite all the thrashing, he kept his eyes fixed on where Tuk was headed.
Tuk: Y-Y/n!
Y/n could see that Tuk was panicking, her hands flailing as she fought to keep her head above water.
Y/n: I'm coming, Tuk. Just hang on to something!
They were being drawn deeper into the Seadrogn's center, moving along the ship's walls. Y/n watched as Tuk tried to grasp the wall, whether by pipes or handles, but she just couldn't hold on long enough for him to reach her, as the current was too strong for her.
Y/n's eyes widen as he finally realizes that the source of the current was caused by a door on the side of the wall, which was wide open and letting water continuously flood into the ship compartments.
Y/n quickly moves his arms faster, trying to reach Tuk to stop her from getting pulled in. However, as he does, a loud metal screeching noise comes from his right, and before he knows it, something slams against him, pinning him to the wall.
Y/N cried out in pain as he felt the metal object pressing harshly against his torso and pelvis. When he looked closer, he realized it was the rocket holder for the Seawasp. Because of the angle he was trapped in, he couldn't fully turn his body to push the heavy tray off, no matter how hard he tried.
His eyes snapped back to Tuk just as the water current yanked her into the doorway, her screams echoing from the open door before silence. Y/N's heart skipped a beat, his breath quickened as panic took over him, his mind racing with terrifying thoughts of what might happen to her.
Y/n: No, no, no, no, please no, God.
With no time to waste, he spun his torso towards the wall, putting his hands against it. If he couldn't turn his body to push off the rocket holders, he'd just have to force himself off the wall while still having it on him instead.
Taking a deep breath, he braced himself before pushing as hard as he could, even though his body was screaming for him to stop from the throbbing pain in his arm to the bullet in his abdomen, he continued to push his body past its limits.
Still, despite his best efforts to keep pushing himself, he hit a limit. He could only force himself away by about 5 inches, but it wasn't enough... He wasn't good enough, and he was going to fail Tuk just like he failed Tonowari.
He was too weak back then, and Tonowari paid the price for his vulnerability. Now, Tuk is going to die because of him, too.
He reassured Neytiri again and again. He swore to her that her children would be safe and that nothing terrible would happen to them. But what would she think of him now, after losing her baby?
He was worthless, that's what she'd say - and he knew it. How could he have ever thought about starting a life for himself here? He didn't belong anywhere, didn't deserve a life; all he did was ruin others' lives for his own.
He should have died back at the bridge or when Spider first shot him. Now, he was going to die, just as pointless, without ever being able to help anyone in a meaningful way.
He won't even be mourned; he'll be forgotten within a week. After all, that shared feline DNA never let him down when it came to predicting results.
Y/n's eyes slowly closed as the tiny gap he'd created between himself and the wall began to narrow. Tears started to well up around his eyes as his dark thoughts took over his mind, getting louder with each passing second.
Y/n: You're just a waste of air, fading into nothing, you pathetic piece of shit.
It felt like he was being consumed by a darkness that drained all the light from him, leaving him with nothing to defend himself against the disturbing thoughts flooding his mind. His outstretched fingers started forming together to turn into fists as his head pressed against the cold metal.
His heart began racing as he removed one hand from the wall and placed it on his chest, which felt like it was constricting. His breathing quickened, yet no matter how much air he took in, it wasn't enough. It was as if he were choking not only from within, but also from all sides.
He was drowning in his thoughts, gradually feeling himself sink further and further into darkness.
???: You're not a waste of air to me... Y/n. You're my most beloved creature... maybe in more ways than even I intended.
Not only did those words penetrate his mind through all the dark thoughts, but it also felt like someone was wrapping their arms around him from behind, trying to comfort him. Y/n's breathing also began to return to a normal rhythm gradually, and his heartbeat gradually slowed to a steadier beat.
Y/n's eyes widened, taken aback for a moment by the voice he'd just heard. As it sounded, the voice reminded him of Kiri, but there was also a hint of a second voice, like a subtle undertone that Kiri was echoing back in a louder voice.
Whatever it was, it seemed to work, as the troubling thoughts fell silent, allowing him to think clearly again. It wasn't just that Y/n felt revitalized in some way; all the pain in his body began to slowly fade away, perhaps due to adrenaline.
Y/n knew what he had to do, so he pushed his hands against the wall again, this time with all his strength. As he pushed, it felt easier than before, as the pain wasn't weighing him down this time, which let him create more space between himself and the wall.
With a foot and 5 inches of space between the wall and him, Y/n took a deep breath and used all his strength to quickly move out of the way as the rocket holder slammed back into the wall, this time without him in the way.
Y/n glanced at it for a second, but then he didn't waste any more time as he rushed towards the open doorway. The current wasn't as strong now that the water level had risen halfway up the doorway.
One thing was on his mind as he approached the doorway. No matter what, he had to make sure Tuk got out safely. Even if it meant risking his own life, after all, fate can't be changed – if he was going to go out, let it be for doing something good in his life.
He gripped the doorway frame at an angle due to the ship's tilt, looking for any signs of where Tuk may have been taken. He had to move quickly, as the boat slid deeper into the water, causing the water level to rise.
Y/n: T-Tuk! Tuk, are you there?!
He waited a second, his head turned to the side as he tried to listen for a response, but all he could hear was the sound of moving water, fires, and explosions.
He paused, biting his lip as he considered his next move. Then, without hesitation, his eyes widened with a determined look in them, knowing there was no other option. He stepped forward into the flooding ship.
Every step was a struggle against the ship's uneven tilt and the rising water. The lights flickered on and off in quick bursts, just enough to see where he was heading.
As he walked further in, the sounds from outside eventually became quieter, with the only sound he could hear being the water moving around his legs.
As he pushed deeper inside, the noise from outside slowly died down until all that was left was the sound of the water sloshing around his legs.
Y/n: Tuk, if you're there, please say something!
The metal creaked under the intense pressure that was being applied, the sound made Y/N uneasy. Although the risk of implosion was slim, the thought still pressed at the back of his mind.
He forced slow breaths, but they only came out shaky. No matter how hard he tried, his thoughts dragged him back to Tuk and what might already have happened to her.
He approached a room on his left and, taking a quick look inside, was greeted by a chaotic scene. The floor was submerged in knee-high water, with magazines floating around and some stuck to the wall. There were also a lot of baby oil and jars scattered about, each containing a small pony figure.
He couldn't figure out what the room was used for, but at least there were no signs of Tuk inside, and hopefully, she never set foot inside either. He pressed on and passed a tilted sign that read "Gooning Corner."
Y/n: Tuk, we need to leave now. Where are you?!
Y/n kept calling out for Tuk each time with more desperation in his voice than the last, and still not a single word was said back to him, causing Y/n to become more worried than he already was.
Y/n suddenly glanced over his shoulder as the loud sounds of a metal door either opening or closing from behind echoed through the hallway. His eyes squinted, trying to peer into the dark hall. However, as much as he tried to look, the flickering light couldn't stay on long enough for anything to be revealed.
He spun around, took a few steps, but then froze in place. He quickly looked down at the "floor," but something felt off. His eyes widened as he realized, but it was too late for him to react in time, as the ship started tilting again.
He lost his balance and began sliding farther into the ship. His eyes quickly looked down the hallway for anything he could do before landing on an open door.
At the last second, he grabbed onto the open doorframe and held on with both hands, desperately. Y/n watched as the water rushed past him and flowed down the hallway, but it seemed to slow down before stopping. Yet, he was still hanging, gravity pulling him downward, which meant the door he came from had closed… but how?
After a few seconds, he realized his feet were being pulled towards the ceiling, and there was only one explanation, the ship must have flipped completely over during the titling.
Although he could stand again, he was still gripping the doorway tightly, waiting. His eyes narrowed as he looked down the hallway; his ear twitched slightly to signal that it was time. He took a step back into the room just as the pulled water started dispersing through the floor again.
Y/n let out a soft chuckle, relieved to avoid the rushing water. However, his laughter was cut short when the flickering lights suddenly went out, leaving him in complete darkness.
He was frozen in place, unsure of what to do next, as the darkness blinded him and heightened his other senses, including his ears, which twitched slightly as something caught him off guard.
Gradually, he turned his head toward the sound's direction. Holding his breath, he listened carefully, trying to focus on his surroundings.
His body tensed as the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hallway, each step faintly splashing in the water. He was certain that someone was moving, not just an echo of his own footsteps, as their feet dragged through the flood floor with each step.
Y/n: Tuk, there you are.
Y/n extended his hand, using his fingers to feel along the wall as a guide, following the footsteps. But as he got closer, a sense of unease crept over him and intensified with each step. He wondered why Tuk wasn't responding to him, but there was another factor: the footsteps ahead of him suddenly stopped.
He came to a gradual stop. Since this feeling wouldn't fade away, he decided it was best to be cautious rather than sorry.
Y/n: You're not Tuk, are you?
Once again, no response.
Y/n: I have no idea who you are, but you've got to be a real little bitch if you think you can sneak up on me in the dark.
But if this was actually Tuk, then what he just said was some incredibly horrible stuff to a kid… wait a minute… how was this person sneaking up on him if they also couldn't see?
He should be just as clueless… He glanced down at himself, recalling Kiri's comments about their bodies. The spots on his body, from his lower abdomen to his chest, were glowing. But if he was glowing, then that should mean Tuk was too.
Not seeing a glow from the person standing somewhere in front of him, he turned back to try to spot any kind of glow from where he came.
Suddenly, the emergency backup lights kicked on, casting a red wavet glow on everything due to the water covering the embedded lights in the roof, which, for the moment, was actually the floor where he was standing.
Y/n slowly turned his head to face the person he mistook for Tuk, and to his surprise, they were standing much closer than Y/n thought. However, Y/n couldn't help but roll his eyes in frustration, as he was already dealing with a lot, and him showing up only added more to his plate.
Y/n: "under his breath" God… you've got to be fucking kidding me. "louder" What the hell do you think you're doing here, Spider?!
Spider: What do you think I'm doing here, huh?
Y/n: You're seriously trying to do this now, of all times?!
Spider: The faster you're gone, the better it is for everyone!
Y/n: "laughing to himself" Oh my god… you've got to be fucking bullshit stupid if you are projecting your own shit onto everyone else. News flash, buddy, people actually like me here.
Spider: Not for much longer.
Y/n: Oh, do tell me.
Spider: I know your secret.
Y/n raised an eyebrow, curious about what Spider was talking about.
Y/n: And which secret might this be?
Spider: I know the real reason you showed up in the forest that day, Y/n. I've seen the files with your mission.
Y/n: Oh, now that's a surprise. Hm, though, I'm pretty sure you shouldn't be able to access that information.
Spider: News flash, dip shit, I have a father who is high up in the RDA command structure.
Y/n: "shrugged his shoulders." I guess the saying is true, like father, like son. I must say, though, I'm impressed you have the nerve to call the man who hurt Kiri your father.
Spider: Tsk... Hmm, what would Kiri think if she found out you've been using her to get to her father?
Y/n shrugged his shoulder while grinning, then suddenly turned and started walking away from Spider.
Spider: Where do you think you're going!
Y/n: I'm not going to fight you, Spider. There are bigger things at stake than your ego and your feelings for Kiri.
Spider: Yeah, like what!
Y/n: Oh, I'm not sure, maybe something like finding Tuk?
Spider: You don't care about anyone her, or anyone for that matter; you only care about yourself, and that's it!
Y/n glanced over his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the spider, and then let out a sigh before turning to face forward again and starting to walk away.
Spider: Don't you walk away from me!
Spider face looked twisted with frustration as he clenched his fist tightly before charging at Y/n.
Y/n didn't turn to face Spider instead, he kept his back toward him. His ears, however, listened to the sound of Spider's footsteps, each splashing in the water with every step.
Waiting for the perfect moment, just as Spider was about to throw his fist at him, Y/n sidestepped out of the way, causing Spider to fall face-first to the ground.
Y/n: Man, you still suck at fighting, I see.
Y/n stared down at him, almost feeling sorry, as it seemed unfair that y/n got to use his avatar body while Spider had to use his normal human body.
For a moment, y/n felt dizzy and stumbled, taking a chance. The spider quickly kicked its foot into y/n's leg, causing him to fall to one knee. Off guard, y/n quickly tried to stand up, only to see the spider doing the same.
Y/N: You're really not going to give this up, are you?
Spider: Not until you're dead.
Y/n and Spider locked eyes, then charged at each other. Just as they were about to throw fists at each other, Spider quickly got low to the ground, slid on his knees, and passed between Y/n's legs.
Y/n spun around to throw a punch while Spider was getting back on his feet, but to his surprise, Spider stayed low to the ground, barely missing the punch. Y/n couldn't recover in time as Spider struck him in the lower abdomen, hitting his bullet wound.
Pain shot through his body, causing him to stumble back a few feet and cough up blood from his mouth.
Spider: Did you really think I wouldn't notice you checking that spot on your body?
Y/n wiped his fist across his mouth, removing the blood from the corner of his mouth, and then spit out the rest that was built up in his mouth.
Y/n: You were a lot dumber back then, if I'm being honest.
Spider: Just wait, soon your normal body won't be the only one you have!
Y/n: You want to hear the truth, huh, spider? Kiri loves every inch of this body, or as much as she can take, and she craves me more than anything you can offer her. I guess I should thank you in a way, since you're the reason this body is my main one.
Spider tackled Y/n to the ground, then threw two punches, one of which hit Y/n in the face, while Y/n's arm blocked the other.
Y/n: You ugh, you know this was me and Kiri's first ever position when we started fucking back at my little tent in the cave.
Spider: Keep her damn name out of your mouth!
Spider landed another punch, but Y/n blocked it again. This time, Y/n countered with his own punch, hitting Spider in the jaw, then pushed him back slightly, giving him a chance to pull his legs out from beneath Spider, place them on his chest, and with all his strength, push him away.
Y/n sprang to his feet and began walking away from Spider, heading down the hall. As he passed each room, he glanced inside, searching for any sign of Tuk. This fight wasn't going to stop him from looking for her, no matter what; he'd promised Neytiri he'd protect her children, and that was what he was going to do.
Finally, he caught sight of the end of the hallway thanks to the emergency lights. There, he found a sealed door just like all the others on the ship, but at least it gave him one clue. If this door was sealed, then Tuk had to be in one of the rooms, since he was pretty sure she couldn't open a tightly sealed door.
Without warning, Y/n was yanked back by his tail, causing him to stumble backward onto the ground. He looked up just in time to see Spider landing some kicks to his stomach. A grunt noise escaped him before Y/n caught Spider's foot and quickly used his own foot to kick out Spider's other foot from beneath him, sending him falling to the floor.
Y/n let out a groan as he forced himself to get on his knees and wrap his hand around Spider's neck, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth before he spat some blood out onto Spider's mask, blocking his vision.
Spider tried to rip Y/n's hand off, but it didn't succeed. His breath hitched as Y/n suddenly tore off the mask covering his face and threw it a few feet away. Spider could feel himself choking on Pandora's air by the second.
Y/n pulled his arms back, forming a fist, then threw it to land a punch on Spider Face. His cheek turned red from the impact as pain set in.
Y/n: Is this what you want, huh, spider? To risk Tuk's life just to satisfy your stupid Vendetta against me?
Y/n landed another blow to Spider Face, this time causing blood to flow from the wound that started to show.
Y/n: Don't you get it? She'll never love you, Spider. There's nothing you can do that me and her haven't already done.
Another hit struck his face, Spider began to lose consciousness gradually. As he did, one hand slid down his side, while the other reached for Y/n's bullet wound and dug his finger inside, prompting Y/n to cry out in pain.
Then, without warning, Spider slashed Y/n across the abdomen with a knife that Spider had kept secretly to his side.
Y/n loosened his hold on Spider's neck as he clutched his fresh wound. Although the wound wasn't severe enough to expose his organs, it was still significant enough to cause blood to ooze from the cut.
Y/n was bleeding at an alarming rate, and he was pretty sure that wasn't a good sign.
Meanwhile, Spider hurried over and grabbed his mask, putting it back on to breathe again. He took a deep breath, trying to catch his breath. He used the water to wipe off the blood that was blocking his vision.
Spider: It doesn't matter as long as you're out of the way. As for Tuk, I couldn't care less.
Y/n: H-How could you say that? You both grew up together.
Spider: So what? She's just a whiny brat who's always getting us into trouble.
They stood up, their eyes locked on each other, waiting for the other to make their next move. Spider charged at him again, but this time, Y/n braced himself for impact.
As Spider drew closer, he pulled the knife out again and went to strike at Y/n's stomach. Luckily, Y/n caught his wrist in time, causing the two to struggle over the knife. However, as they fought, Y/n started to feel weaker and lightheaded. His grip on the knife weakened, giving Spider the upper hand, which Spider used to his advantage, making Y/n fall to one knee.
Every part of his body was in agony. The adrenaline must have started to wear off.
As the knife inches closer to Y/n's chest, he takes a deep breath and changes his plan. He quickly switches his grip from the knife handle to his hands and uses his strength to fling Spider over his body into the last room in the corridor.
Y/n was panting and wheezing, his shoulder in agony from the wound. He struggled to stand up and walked into the room, his eyes fixed on Spider.
He was extremely exhausted, but he continued to push his body, which was sweating heavily.
Y/n: Come on, Spider, let's finish this feud once and for all, just like you want.
Y/n took in her surroundings, noticing that the room appeared to be a kitchen with a stove, tables, and cabinets that were all upside down due to the ship's unusual position.
Spider: Exactly what I was thinking!
Spider drew his knife and prepared to charge Y/n again, but just as they were about to fight, the pair was suddenly flung upward, with Y/n hitting the table on the roof and Spider hitting the ceiling, before they slammed back into the ground.
Y/n rolled onto his stomach in pain from breaking his back, something he should've been used to because of Tuk, but no, it still hurt a lot.
Y/n stared ahead at Spider, who sat up, the pair staring at each other before they noticed the knife had landed between them.
They quickly moved, trying to grab the knife, but before Spider could get it, y/n slammed his shoulder into the spider's body, knocking him back down into the ground.
Y/n landed several punches to Spider's face, but the mask took most of the impact. Despite this, Spider could still feel the pain from each strike. As the fight continued, the mask began to crack under the pressure.
Y/n: You label me a terrible person, but you're the hypocrite! How can you judge me when I care more about them than you do? Unlike you, I went after Tuk to find her, but you only came not to look for her but to kill me instead. You're no better than the insult you hurled at me.
Y/n was panting and puffing before finally raising his hand one last time and punching the mask, breaking it.
His punch sent the shard flying, leaving only the suction part still stuck to Spider's face, and he was left gasping for air again.
He now had a decision to make; he glanced back at the knife, leaned over, and picked it up before looking back at him.
He had the opportunity to put an end to it once and for all by stabbing him right here and now, and no one would know, but… should he?
He wasn't a threat to Kiri or the others anymore; he'd already ensured that by giving her the thing, and there was nothing he could do to repair their friendship, nothing that could make them friends again.
Spider also mentioned several points earlier. He's aware of Y/n's mission and knows he used Jake's kids to get close to him, but would that really make a difference?
...he has already lost a lot of blood and isn't even sure how much he has left to keep going. But if that vision is correct, then it wouldn't matter if Spider told them. It's not like he's even going to be around for that.
Finally, Y/n knows he's no saint, but if he kills Spider here, he won't be any better than the monster he makes him out to be.
He gradually stood up on his own feet, still staring down at him.
Y/n: Unlike you, Spider, I'm not the monster you think I am.
He lifted his hand with the knife, staring for a moment before throwing it aside.
Y/n kept his eyes fixed on Spider, watching as he struggled for air before Y/n closed his eyes and turned to leave. But as he did, he noticed something that caused him to stop dead in his tracks.
Walking past Spider, his eyes narrowed as he looked at an upside-down cabinet.
"Clink, clink"
Y/n: huh? AGH!
He felt a sharp pain rip through his body, blood pouring from his mouth as he gasped for air. Slowly, he turned his head to glance over his shoulder, and there stood Spider, pressed up against his back, a knife in hand, driven deep into his flesh.
Y/n fell to his knees, his eyes fixed on Spider. Spider's lips curved into a smirk as he held his breath, twisting the knife deeper into Y/n's flesh before pulling it out of his body.
Spider walked over to the wall, where a container for an emergency mask was located, and took one, swapping it for the broken one.
He took a deep breath of the new, fresh air before turning to look back at Y/n, watching as he struggled to stand up but only managed to stagger before collapsing hard onto the ground.
Despite Y/n's best efforts, his body refused to obey him and get up. He was just so damn tired; everything hurts. The water around him started to turn red as his blood tainted it.
Finally, Spider walked over and crouched down, while playing with the knife in his hand.
Spider: There's one thing you're wrong about, dipshit.
Y/n: Oh… yeah? And what… what might that be?
His voice came out in a garbled mess from the blood building up in his mouth.
Spider: There's one thing I can do that you can't do for her.
Spider: I'll always be there for her, no matter what, while you're gone.
Spider stood up again, looked at the doorway, and then glanced back at Y/n.
Spider: Have fun dying from either blood loss or drowning - your choice, I guess. Heh, what would you know? You had an extra life, but you still ended up dying in my hands for both of them. Enjoy being with Eywa, dipshit.
Spider began to walk away, leaving Y/n all alone on the floor, bleeding out, as he stared at the ceiling. His breathing was strained, and the only sounds he could hear were his own heartbeat and the echoing footsteps of Spider.
Y/N wasn't even a little bit afraid of what Spider said. Y/n had already planted the seeds long ago in Kiri, and not just her, but also Neteyam. He was sure Neteyam would keep him away from her, especially since he had told Neteyam the most about the thing Spider had done, while Kiri, on the other hand, had his own handbook.
Y/n managed a slight smile. At least he was going out on his own terms, though his heart still ached, not from pain but from the sadness of knowing he'd never see his friends and loved ones again.
He lived a fun and good life, and he wouldn't trade it for anything else.
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"Creaking"
One of the larger cabinets opens a bit, then widens as a pair of feet appear from inside. The blue figure slowly steps down and drops to the floor, their feet making only a small, quiet splash that's barely audible from anywhere in the room.
They crept toward Y/N's body, each step slow and shaking, their breath catching in their throat. Their body trembled with fear. They knelt down, trying to shake him, their voice quivering with fear.
???: Y-Y/N? P-Please… wake up… Y/N?
He weakly forced his eyes open, looking at the person before him, and with a trembling hand, he reached for her cheek. But just as he was about to touch her, his hand gave out and slipped. She quickly grabbed it and gently placed it where he had intended to put it.
Y/n: H-hey, I finally found you, Tuk. I've bee-en s-searching everywhere for you.
Tuk: "Quietly," I…I'm sorry.
Y/n: H-hey… what's there to be sorry about?
Tuk: "sobbing" Because you're always getting hurt for me… and this time… you look really hurt.
Y/n: T-This isn't your fault, Tuk. Don't… don't blame yourself. Don't let this eat at you.
Tuk: W-Why did Spider hurt you?
Y/n: That's… not for you to worry about. "Coughing"
Tuk: Y/n!
Y/N's eyesight started to blur, and his hand began to slip weakly from Tuk's cheek.
Tuk: Y/n, please stay with me! W-We can get out of here together.
Y/n: I'm sorry, Tuk, but this is as far as I can go. I can't even get up, let alone feel my legs.
Her face was streaked with tears as she listened to Y/n's words. He was the only friend she had, the only one from the people she knew who actually made time for her. The only one who truly wanted her around for things. Her own family didn't even want to spend time with her, but at least he did, and now…
Tuk: B-but I need you. I can't get out of here by myself.
Y/n: Tuk: B-but I need you. I can't get out of here by myself.
Y/n: Y-you don't mean that.
Tuk: Yes, I do…
Y/n: "Breathing slower." Tuk, do you remember what I mentioned earlier about your mother?
Tuk: N-no
Y/n: I said that you… Your mother is a badass warrior. Do you know what that means?
She just shook her head.
Y/n: You…
He removes his hand from her cheek and brings it down, stopping just at her chest.
Y/n: Just like… your mom is an absolute badass warrior, you've… got her spark too. You've inherited her amazing warrior qualities, which is why… I know you don't need me.
Y/n's hand, which had been pointing at her chest, suddenly fell to the floor as he struggled to breathe.
Tuk: Y/n!
Y/n: Tuk… you… Can give her the photo album now.
Tuk: "sobbing" I'll… don't worry, I'll give it to her.
Y/n: G-good... and T-Tuk....
Before he could finish his sentence, Y/N exhaled the last of the air from his lungs and fell completely silent.
Tuk: Y-Y/n?
Tuk's eyes widened in fear as she nervously lowered her head close to his mouth, trying to listen for any hint of breathing… but there was nothing.
She leaned back, her breath quickening as she reached out with trembling hands, pressing against his body and attempting to shake him awake.
As she tried to wake him up, more tears began streaming down her face as the reality she dreaded set in: he was… dead.
She wasn't given any time to mourn as her ears perked up at the sound of rushing water, drawing her attention to the doorway.
Word count: 6120
Epilogue out on Tuesday
PS I actually did cry a little while writing the end, which had me sad as fuck