Fault Aurum || One (FIN)

XX

Hands tremble as he catches the limp form, laughing just a little arrogantly. "C'mon Celeste, I thought you were better than that- I totally caught you off guard. What the fuck?" His playful smile flashes, perfectly straight pearl teeth grinning widely down at the cute girl held just a little too close to his chest.

"Back off Fault. I'm fine." she snaps, pushing him away, throwing her blonde hair over her shoulder, a sheet of perfection Not that Fault notices the thin ring of brown around her scalp, the roots of her hair revealing their true colors. His fingers stretch, lightly stroking her shoulder. His pale green eyes follow her form, fingers savor the warmth of her flesh. She withdraws, turns, and slaps the male hard on the cheek.

He laughs at the sting, shaking his head back and forth as she grimaces at him. "That was a good one- I think the guys over there heard it." His heart hammers in his throat as he watches her and she throws her hands up and storms away.

"I can't even believe you. Can't you take a hint you creep?"

Creep? Okay that one hurts a little. His face contorts into a frown as she leaves, head tilting in confusion. "I thought we were flirting- do you really not like me?" As though it were the worst possible thing he could say, the girl storms up to him and gets right in his personal bubble, the knife she was sparring with earlier aimed right for his face.

"I told you, I don't fucking like you. You're so fucking cocky, how is it you have such high self esteem!? Get bullied or some shit! Leave me alone- stop sending me these weird notes okay? I DON'T LIKE YOU." With every enunciated word, the tip of the knife drew closer and closer to Fault's cheek, and his hands rose as if a gun were aimed between his eyes. A small dot of crimson pools on his skin, and his countenance fell as she turns and nearly struts away.

Fuck, I can take a hint I guess. Is it my eyebrows? It's gotta be my eyebrows. They're like two fucking caterpillars if I don't keep 'em trimmed I swear.

Instead of going back to training like would be normal, he drops the long sword and waits a few moments, slowly gathering his things to allow the pretty girl time to vacate. Carefully, he adjusts his coat, and wipes away the blood from his face, glaring at the dot below. Swiftly he sets out for home, just as the sun begins to set.

The rooftops glow with the last smudges of light, gold, pink, and orange against the magnificent sky. Fault picks his way slowly. While he doesn't quite want to be at the training center, he also doesn't want to be home just yet. Life is strained- ever since his cousin's accident, his parents pile more and more pressure to be the family's 'L E G A C Y.'

Do you know what we have to live for?

"No"

We live to be happy and make others happy. Do you know how you would make me happy?

"No"

The answer is always no.

By becoming my legacy son.

"Fuck that."

An angry foot lashes out at an abandoned can, sending it sprawling across the street, into an open alley. A thought strangles his brain, and he saunters in that direction, keeping an eye open for any who may follow. The street and connecting ways are completely abandoned, and he is utterly alone. Two and three story high walls box him in as he walks, his feet gathering speed until he rounds a soft corner, and pulls off his heavy overcoat.

He recalls climbing trees with his brothers and cousins, remembers the taste of the wind and the smell of the wilds high above the pollution of the city. He wants it again.

Each hand finds a good hold, both feet propel his thin body upwards. Eyebrows knit together in concentration as he drags himself closer and closer to the top, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He inches against the wall, hands finally grasping onto a rough edge. Fault pushes himself over the ledge, and stands atop a tall building, a hysterical laugh slipping from his body as he looks around. To the South, he sees the entire district splayed out, a mishmash of flashing lights and clubs straight down to the district edge. He's sure he can even see his own home this distance up.

Ahead, the earth begins to slowly swallow the sun, and lights flicker below, starting at a quiet dim before buzzing to life. Even though Fault is sixteen, his parents still want him home by sundown, but today is different.

"It doesn't matter, does it? Every one of us dies- some of us just die young... None of that matters anymore." His fingers stretch on either side of him while his face catches the last few rays of sunlight. "In the blink of an eye, everything can change... I want to write my destiny."

He remains, in that position long after the sun finally descends with the wind on his breath and the sounds of the city heavy in his ears. Fault eventually makes his way to the South side of the building from whence he came, and throws his legs over the edge while leaning heavily on his stomach. His feet search for the same holds that led him upwards in the first place, and he scrambles down- much faster than the way he came.

Scarred hands reach for his jacket, carefully pulling it over his shoulders as he continues on his path, head held high and confident as he walks, a bit of an arrogant swagger in his footsteps.

Everyone will die someday, that can't be changed. It's up to us to write our own stories, find our own destiny.

"I'm making my own legacy. And you're not part of it, Celeste."