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T Y R I S / P R I V A T E / R E S I D E N C E
J U N E / 2 0 6 2
Broken. Beaten. Damned.
Julia wanted her husband.
K2 needed... to stop running.
They both needed each other.
She stood on the luxurious beach house patio... Screaming. She was always screaming these days. At least, on the inside. But on the outside, Julia Tyris was a queen. She had returned to resume the life she'd lost all those years ago. And she'd returned to being the wife of the honourable first emperor -- mother of the honourable second emperor. And now she was the Honourable Grandmother. Queen Julia Tyris. Queens couldn't show weakness. But inside, oh, inside, Julia's heart was breaking into a million pieces, and she needed, she needed, she NEEDED to scream, to shout. She needed... Relief.
She didn't hear her husband approach from behind, and almost didn't recognize his touch when he wrapped his arms around her. K2323 leaned down, with one hand brushing hair back out of her face, as he whispered in her ear, softly, "I'm here, baby."
He felt distant to her, and that was scary... It had been so long since they had truly been together. In more ways than one.
"They're really gone. Aren't they?" she finally said.
K2323 was silent for a bit, letting her words sink in before finally replying, "Yeah..."
"How... How do we... stop this aching?"
He kissed the top of her head.
"We can't," he replied. "Believe me. I've tried."
He reached down to kiss her, leaning his head over her shoulder as he gently moved a strand of her hair away from her face. Her body stiffened. She was... tense. She moved K2323's hand away, taking a step forward, out of his reach, her eyes set on the ocean in the distance of the private residence they had called home once, if only briefly, eight years ago. K2323 looked down. They were broken. They were so broken. But they needed each other. They needed to hold each other, to share each other's secrets, to be there for each other... To love one another.
"Why did you have to leave?" she questioned after a moment, her voice cracking.
"It was the only way," he replied, "For our family to be safe... For us to have a home. A real home."
"Not then," she replied, "Not eight years ago. Why did you leave... then?"
Oh.
It was true. He had left her, all those years back. Kaleb was young, too young. K2323 was young too. So was Julia. They'd all been young, Kaleb a baby. He and Julia were newly weds, living in that house, the cabin in Era Valley. Her parents were a short trip away, in Eta City. Every day, they enjoyed the beautiful sun, the green grass, and each other's love. They had everything. But K2323 did leave... And both of them regretted it ever since.
He came back here. To the Opposing Kingdoms. To his kingdom. To his war. To his people.
Even if it meant sacrificing who he was.
But was it worth it? Those people -- the old K Empire -- was dead, gone. And the new K Empire? It had cost him his sons. Was... it really worth it? He... could have stayed, all those years back. And they could have had the life they deserved.
Could... they love again?
Walking up to Julia once more, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him.
"Julia," he spoke softly, "I... I've fucked up. I really have. And... we've lost everything. But that doesn't change how I feel about you. I... I put myself through hell, every single day, for what? To save an ally, or my sister, or whatever the case may be... But... I can't live without you. I can't," he explained, kneeling down on one knee as he took her hand, kissing it softly. "I know I've made a mess of things. And I'm ready to stop running. When we first met, I was a young, vibrant man, full of life. Now, I am broken, a former shell of what I was. But, baby, I swear to you, upon my very life... Whatever is left of me, is yours... Run away with me. Let's leave this behind."
"It's going to take a lot more than some time away to fix us," Julia replied hesitantly.
"Julia... I don't mean a vacation. This isn't your home. I know it isn't. You've only ever tried to fit in here for my sake... But this was my home... And now, it's time for me to say goodbye to this place. It's time... for us to spend the rest of our lives together, like I promised you we would all those years ago."
"I'll... I'll go with you."
"What?" K2323 asked, a bit dumbfounded.
A smile spread across her face, a bit of her teeth showing under her rosy red lips. "I'll go with you."
As their eyes met, K2323's hand met Julia's cheeks, gently pulling her in as their lips crashed under the sun.
A burning passion.
As they reunited in spirit once more, their bodies moved like a chorus, synchronised, the feel of each other's lips sending jolts of electricity through the other. They needed each other. It was a desire so strong. K2323 could feel Julia's skin, the heat and warmth of her body radiating off him as he held her closer. He... He remembered this feeling. He remembered what it felt like... To love. He remembered what he'd forgotten.
He remembered half of who he was.
As she wrapped her legs around K2's body, he tightly held her close to him. They continued to kiss as K2323 moved towards the door of the beach house patio. With one hand, he held her tight, and with the other, he somehow managed to get the door open. Stepping into the cool air that was the living room / kitchen area, K2323 closed the sliding door of the patio deck behind him, before turning his attention back to his love. As he made his way towards the bedroom, he could feel Julia's kisses getting more and more aggressive. Make me feel alive.
The bedroom door slams shut.
More than anything, I need you beside me. C R A S H ///// in a boy's dream.