24.
☆ ... 2.2k
☆ ... Cyrille, Lucielle.
☆ ... Attempted suicide, Alcohol.
☆ ... Cyrille birthday lore :) this one takes place in 2013
Darkness enveloped every corner of the street.
Arc city was known for its bright, neon signs. They were scattered across the city; specks of cyan and magenta lighting up every building and walkway, even late at night. The bustling metropolis didn’t know sleep.
Most would be unfamiliar with the darkness, and understandably so. Yet, Cyrille navigated the sidewalk expertly in the dim light. The only visible things were faint gleams at the edges of buildings, dumpsters, the cars parked at the curb. They were enough to guide xem.
Xe pulled up their scarf a little higher over xyr nose. Cold crept in between the fibres of xyr sweater. Almost pleasant, if not for the dampness that lingered in the air. It hasn’t rained in weeks.
Xyr hand returned to the strap of their tote bag. Inside were xyr necessities, plus a few games. Xe had bought them a console for their birthday last year, and xe’d take full advantage of it. And a bottle of vodka, to celebrate of course. Xe’d be celebrating with the prettiest guy this side of Heliopolis.
Xe turned the corner, from walking down a quiet street to an even quieter alleyway. At the end, a single white floodlight illuminated the ground in front of the building. Several stories tall, yet not all that big. Pretty shabby place, xe’d have to admit. But it’s what was available at the time. A shitty apartment is better than no apartment.
Rummaging around inside xyr bag, xe pulled out the keys to the stairwell situated awkwardly in the corner. Unfortunately, also poorly lit. Barely anything could be seen through the gate.
The lock turned easily in response to the silver key. Xe pulled it open, propping it with xyr foot while xe looked for xyr phone. It wasn’t needed, but the flashlight would help.
The door creaked close behind xem, audibly locking. The stairs were dry, thankfully. The wire grate walls weren’t much to keep the damp air out though. Xe stopped on the landing of the third floor.
Newly hatched butterflies made xyr stomach flutter. It was late, but they’d still be up. Most likely. They even suggested celebrating at their place instead of the bowling alley. A special occasion, not a rare one.
Xe knocked.
Twice.
Three times.
Xe frowned, calling.
“Luci? I’m here.” Xe knocked again, then switched tabs to text them. Xyr lithe fingers tapped on the screen, dimly illuminating xyr face.
Minutes passed. Whether the night itself were growing colder or it just being from standing there was beyond xem. Xe sighed, pulling out xyr keyring again.
Theirs stood out among the rest. The newest. The copy was only made a few months ago. It slid into the lock perfectly.
The apartment inside was dark. Notably warmer though. Xe reached over to the light switch, flicking it on before closing the door behind xem.
“Luci? I let myself in,” xe called. The apartment wasn’t large. They had to have heard xem.
Cyrille slid off xyr shoes, pulled off xyr scarf and hung it on the coat rack. Xe navigated the apartment, poking xyr head around the corner of the foyer.
The couch was empty, much to xyr discontent. The TV across from it was turned off too. Xe frowned at the blanket on one end of the couch, folded neatly. Lucielle tidying up? For xem? Something must really be wrong. The remote was even sitting neatly at the edge of the coffee table.
On the other side of the wall was the kitchen. Small, only enough for basic appliances and a little counter and storage space. Xe’d have to remind them to buy an island to separate it from the living room later. Unsettling to have it be so open, honestly.
Xe shook xyr head, stepping forward into the living room and turning on the lamp by the end table. Xe winced. The only sounds in the apartment were the shuffling of xyr socks on the hardwood floor and the deafening buzz from the fridge and the lamp. And the foyer ceiling light, which was arguably louder.
The hallway was only lit by the reflection of the foyer light though. Much darker, but nothing compared to outside. Xe shuffled around, avoiding the rug that’d bite xyr feet in front of the couch.
Maybe they fell asleep. It wasn’t unlike them to sleep longer than intended, especially since xe hadn’t messaged them since that morning to check up.
Their bedroom door was the same shade as the walls, only the trim giving it contrast. Xe slid xyr fingers over the faux wood before knocking, tentatively.
“Luci? Are you in here?” Xe asked, adjusting the tote bag hanging from xyr shoulder. “I’m coming in.”
And sure enough, they were. A mess of blankets and hair on the bed in the far corner, dimly lit by the light filtering through the cheap curtains on their window. Xe smiled to xemself, shuffling over to flick on the lamp resting on the nightstand.
There were a couple of empty glasses next to the lamp. Looking, xe found a few other dishes on their desk. As quietly as xe could, xe gathered and stacked all the dishes, leaving them on the edge of the desk to take back to the kitchen later.
“Morning time, sleepyhead,” xe said, just above a whisper. The bed dipped where xe sat, carefully avoiding loose strands of hair scattered on the sheets. They didn’t respond, still lying on their side holding a pillow.
“Luci?” Odd. Xe reached over, gently brushing their hair from their face. Their lips were a distinct shade of grey.
Xyr stomach dropped.
“Hey, Luci, babe.” This can’t be happening. Xyr hands fell to their shoulder, shaking them. Panic rose in xyr chest; xyr breath hitched. “Babe, please, wake up.” No, no this can’t be. They can’t. Quickly, xe pulled them onto their back and checked their pulse. Rapid. Weak.
“No, no, no, no, no, no you can’t. Don’t.” Xe cupped their cheek, pulling them closer. “Stay. Stay, please Lucielle, please don’t go.” They remained unresponsive, rapid shallow breaths escaping their lips being the only sign that they were still there.
Xe fumbled for their phone in their bag, hands shaking as they pulled up the dial screen. Tears blurred xyr vision.
Who do they call? Would emergency services really be the best idea? This can’t happen again. Xe can’t lose them. Instead, they pull up xyr contacts. He picks up on the first ring.
“Help, Arcene, please.” Xe chokes, mindlessly running xyr hand to find theirs. Xe explains the situation, barely coherent between sobs. The rustling in the background on the other end barely registered.
“Alright, alright, calm down.” He spoke as kindly as his voice would allow. “I’m still at the office. I’ll be there in five, ten at the latest, alright?” Xe nodded, not that it’d be audible. “First, I need you to strip their shirt. On their back, clear the area as much as you can. Then head downstairs to let me in. Alright?” A car door closed on his end.
“Please…”
“Look, Cy, I know it’s hard.” His engine started. “But they need you to do this. They have you. It won’t end up like that again.” Xe nodded, taking a deep breath.
“Thanks…” Xe hung up, tossing their phone to the nightstand and turning to Lucielle. Xe bit xyr lip, roughly wiping the wetness from xyr cheeks. Pulling down the blanket, xe pulled up their black hoodie, several sizes too large, tossing it to the side. Xe roughly braided their long hair, tying it off with a hair tie from xyr wrist.
“Please don’t… Promise you won’t, alright?” Xe presses their lips to their forehead. “I’m sorry.” Xe held their face, delicately, as if they might shatter at the slightest mistreatment. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I’m sorry I didn’t…” Xe swallowed back tears.
Seconds seemed to take minutes, yet passed in the blink of an eye. Xe waved to the taller man once he was in sight, holding the door open. He carried a large bag with him. They ran up the floors in silence, but it was anything but quiet. It felt like xyr body itself was screaming.
The third-floor door was left open, at which he beelined to and down the hall. By the time Cyrille caught up to him, he was already kneeling beside the bed with a blood pressure cuff around their upper arm.
“How much do they weigh?” Xe rambled off a number. “How are you holding up?” He took notes on a pad, removing the cuff.
“Horribly.” He snorted.
“I bet. Do you want to wait in the other room? I can give you a task if not.” He took out a wipe, cleaning down their forearm.
“Anything to occupy me, please…”
“Get them their favourite snack. And water. By the looks of it, the kid doesn’t have much of either.”
Xe nodded, leaving the room to the kitchen. To be honest, xe didn’t know what was their favourite. Xe couldn’t cook either.
Their pantry had crackers. Cookies. Snacks. Those gross protein bars they’d always offer xem. Xe took a glass and a plate from the cupboard, filling the former with water from the tap.
Xyr head swirled, too many thoughts and none at all at the same time. Maybe that bottle of vodka would be useful after all. Xe left their bag beside the bed though. And xe didn’t know if xe could face them. What if xe was too late? What if it didn’t work? Who knows what happened?
“Cy—” they turned back to the hall— “They’re fine. Don’t overthink it. I know you are.” Arcene took off their shoes, walking them over to the door. “I’ll be here for a little while, just in case. You’re fine to see them though.”
Xe nodded, silent. The various snacks were arranged on the plate to look nice. As nice as xe could make them now. Xe wedged another empty glass in their elbow, carrying it along with the plate and the glass of water to their room.
Lucielle didn’t acknowledge xyr presence as xe entered the room. Their eyes were open though; the only indication that they were awake. Colour returned to their face, looking almost as if it had never left. Xe set the glass and the plate on the nightstand and pulled up the chair from their desk.
Lucielle’s eyes remained trained on the ceiling, unmoving. Unblinking. The blanket was now pulled up to their neck. Their sweater was still draped at the edge of the bed, in a different location from where xe tossed it earlier.
Xe rummaged through their bag, pulling out the bottle of vodka. It wasn’t the optimal way to drink it, at least in xyr opinion, but xe really couldn’t care less.
“Sorry,” they spoke, barely a whisper.
Xe looked up at them. They still haven’t moved from the spot.
“Shouldn’t’ve…”
Cyrille swirled xyr drink, watching it flow in the glass before taking a sip. The familiar burn was comforting, almost.
“Don’t sweat it, Luci. We can celebrate properly next week, alright?” Xe didn’t want to make them feel worse. They were already beating themself up over it; they didn’t need xem too. “I’m happy you’re alright, though.” Xe forced a slight smile.
“... Stay?”
“Tonight? Yeah, of course. The next few days too. Thought you’d like the company.” Xe was still worried. The prospect of xyr best friend dying right in front of xem was… terrifying, honestly.
“Hold…”
Xe laughed weakly, smile turning just a smidge genuine. “Just as needy as ever, huh Luci?” They huffed. “So cute…”
Xe set xyr glass down on the nightstand, lifting the covers to slide into bed next to them. They turned onto their side, resting their head on xyr chest. They sighed against xem, nuzzling xem as they allowed tense muscles to relax. Xyr heart skipped a beat, xe swears.
“Red?”
“Hm? Oh, you mean Arcene? I’ve told you about him, right?”
They shook their head ‘no’.
“He’s my half-brother. On my father’s side. Never really got along well. And my mother got custody of me when I was a kid. He’s what… 11 years older than me? Or 10, now. I didn’t know who else to call… He’s a nurse at the East district hospital. Lucky for us. He’ll leave sometime tomorrow morning.” They hummed in response.
Xyr eyes fell on their ears, watching them twitch contentedly. Their silver hair remained in its messy, loose braid. Cyrille reached up, running xyr hand over their hair. Xe could fix the braid in the morning.
Within a few minutes, they fell asleep. Soft, regular breathing now slowed to a comfortable rhythm. Xe continued petting them, running xyr fingers through their soft hair. Xe pressed a kiss to the top of their head, right between the ears as xe drifted off to sleep. They were alive. They were safe. That was all that mattered now.
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