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The flash of lighting is only accompanied by the sound of a deafening thunder a few seconds after.
In the dark room, a bright light flashed for a split second illuminating the room before going dark again. Of course, the loud sound came after it.
Joseph clutched the handle of his camera when he heard the sound. He did not expect a thunderstorm tonight, no one predicted it. As he took a deep breath in, then out, he put the camera down on the floor where he sat. The man scooted back slightly, accidentally hitting his back against the edge of his bed. He gasped lightly when the wood hit his back, checking if he had knocked on anything valuable. Thankfully it isn't. Another flash of lighting made him turn his head towards the window. Even if he knew the thunder would come, he winced when he heard it.
It just had to thunder today at this moment, didn’t it?
His hand reached to dig out a photo from his pocket. It was one of two very similar looking young boys. Twins. He held the picture closed to his chest. His room lit up again, faint light revealing the camera parts and photo films scattered all over the room. What a mess really.
Everything he did, for his whole life, even up to this point, was to bring someone back. A fool he was. It was so pointless. His effort would never be rewarded with what he so desperately wanted. Was he asking for too much? Asking to bring back a dead person, maybe be was. But it wasn’t like that. His dear brother shouldn't have been ripped away from the gaps between his fingers so easily. There was so much potential for that little boy that coughed non stop in his bed.
Life is too precious. Death was not simply an unfortunate part of nature, it was a curse. A curse Joseph had worked so hard to get rid of.
It was not far for life to be so vulnerable to the aspects of nature. Even the photos that were supposed to represent his immortality aren’t invincible to a flame or wear and tear.
Flash. Joseph clutched the picture impossibly hard, bringing his knees up to his chest. His other hand tugged unreasonably hard at his own hair.
A warning, the sound of struggle, and then a softer sound would come after.
The silence in Claude's room was eerie. When it was once filled with the painful sound of his brother coughing, it turned into him crying uncontrollably next to his younger sibling before eventually being pried away from his sight.
Fate made its decision that day, but why not Joseph? People if Joseph was in his twin's place, and Claude in his- Claude would be leading a better life than him. His life wouldn’t be surrounded by failure.
A knock on the door made him jump. When he realized it was just someone outside he chose to ignore it, letting the person knock repeatedly. It was better to keep these emotions to himself anyways, there was no point in sharing.
“ Joseph.”
The person on the other side of the dook knocked harder on the wood. The voice was filled with concern. Lifting his sleeve to wipe his tears, he continued to ignore the repetitive knocking.
“One of the hunters requested me to check on you. Are you hurt?”
Joseph turned his back on the door. He didn’t want to talk to anyone, let alone let someone see him this sad and miserable. A pathetic man who couldn’t even achieve the one thing he swore to do.
Eventually the door unlocked on its own, and Joseph swore to lend the spare key out. The door creaked open before it was gently closed again. The person who let themself in locked it back, then footsteps go closer. From the corner of his eyes, though blurred with tears, he could tell a man with gray pants and black shoes was squatting next to him. The other man reached out his hand to tuck away the stray pieces of hair covering Joseph's face, to which Joseph shooed away.
“I do not need your pity, Carl. Leave me be.” Though he did his best to sound stern, his voice cracked instead. If could get any more pathetic looking, the sound of his voice definitely helped. He kept his eyes on the floor. At least he wouldn’t be able to see his disgusting crying face. Claude would not want to see that.
“I know.” Was all the other man replied with. He sat down in front with Joseph without saying another word.
A sudden irritation filled Joseph. Why must this man be so stubborn? He was clearly telling him to get out. There was no reason to stay. “Then go. Leave my room.”
Joseph could almost hear disappointment from the sigh he let out. Another person he failed and let himself get vulnerable around. It was a relief that the stubborn man was finally listening. But instead of hearing the sound of the lock clicking, there was rustling. Worried about whatever that sound might be, he looked up from the very interesting floor to see Aesop picking up the pieces from the floor.
“What do you think you’re doing?” In a hurry he got up from where he was seated, stroming over to the gray hair man. Almost violently, he snatched back whatever Carl had picked up before yelling at him. “These are breakable! Don’t touch anything else.”
“You are lying to me.” The man blankly stared at him. “If they're as fragile as you make them out to be, you would have been more gentle when you took them out of my hands.”
“I do not have time for you right now.” He snarled at him. More tears had poured out of his eyes, he could taste the saltiness in his own mouth. Disturbing. “It is time to leave, Aesop.”
The man pulled down his mask, folding and tucking it into his pocket. He looked at Joseph again. Joseph had always struggled to figure out what was on the embalmers mind, now was no difference. “This is not healthy.”
“You don’t know anything.” Joseph muttered as he threw his stuff back onto the bed before he stormed towards his bed. He threw the covers over himself. Anything to hide.
“I can not allow myself to leave you in such a state.” The man's voice got louder as he got close to the bed. Joseph felt the bed dip, meaning Aesop was sitting next to him. “You’ll drown yourself in your sorrow.”
Joseph didn’t reply. There was nothing to say, especially since the man refused to leave.
“I do not know what is wrong with you, however..” Carl paused mid sentence, as if he was hesitant. Joseph knew that Aesop couldn’t express or read any sort of emotion, so it was really pointless for him to be here. Perhaps it was terrible of him to doubt his lover. Nevertheless Joseph could not bring himself to card at the moment. “I’ll remain by your side, because it is the loneliness that is swallowing you whole.”
“You don’t know anything.” Joseph repeated angrily between sobs.
“I don’t.” He agreed. There was a few seconds of silence before he spoke again. “But I am not blind either. I know you.”
He let out a forced laugh. “Sure.”
Joseph heard another sigh leave him. Was Aesop upset? Good. He should have thought twice before disturbing him. “I.. I don't want to anger you or make it worse. However-“
“You’d keep quiet then.”
“Stop pushing me away.” He breathed shakily. “Please.”
Joseph hesitated “Fine..”
“It does hurt more than you think for me to watch you go on like this by yourself. I may not understand you at all but somehow I’ll….. I’ll…..” He kept quiet. If Joseph knew him, he was probably biting his lips or fidgeting with his gloves out of nervousness. “Before I came to this manor I believed my only purpose was to guide those who passed to the other side.”
Joseph kept quiet. Embalmers did a strangely good job at the art of preserving. When he saw Claude laying in that coffin it felt odd to see him lay so peacefully. Aesop always described it as letting the dead rest. But how could one rest if their life ended in suffering?
“Now I’ve found another purpose.” Joseph uncovered the sheets from his face to look at Aesop. It was rare for the man to talk this much, especially on touchy subjects. “Someone to take care of and cherish. Let me do whatever I can to aid you. Even if you do not wish to see me, I still wish to.. love .. you until death.”
With his mask off, Aesop was more vulnerable to emotion. Joseph could see him. He was being genuine, he never was not. Joseph felt more tears leave his face. If his life was pointless without Claude, maybe Aesops would be the same without Joseph. How strange- no complaints would come from him. Aesop was trying and he couldn’t ask for more. How could anyone love someone as pathetic as Joseph? It made him feel better to be thought about by someone in this way.
“Will you let me?” Aesop reached out his hand to sweep away the hair blocking Joseph’s face once more. Only this time, there was no hand to retaliate.
He considered it for a moment. With how hard Aesop was trying.. it would be terrible to shoo him around now. Especially with how sweet he was.
“..Fine. I will give you a chance.” Joseph let out a chuckle hearing Aesop's words, wiping away his tears with his sleeves. Aesop had got him to soften up by some miracle. “Since when did you get this way with your words?”
Slight panic arose inside the embalmer, making him quick to apologize. “Forgive me, did I say something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Do not worry.” Joseph tried to assure him there was nothing wrong. He sat up, leaning his back onto the bed. “It was quite cheesy if I were to be honest with you. However, it is a good improvement.”
“I am glad to hear that from you.” A faint smile. “I will not ask for you to share whatever is troubling you, but I will ask to stay the night.”
Without hesitation Joseph pulled him into the bed, hugging the man in a tight embrace.
“Should I change-? I would hate to dirty the sheets.” Aesop put his hand on the other's head, stroking his hair in between his fingers.
“I’ll need to wash out the tear stains anyways.” Joseph said, pulling the blanket over the two of them. “Hold me for now.”
“Mhm.” Aesop humbed, warping one arm around Joseph’s waist.
“I’m sorry if I was too harsh with you.” Joseph mumbled. “I.. just didn’t want you to see me this way. I feel horrible now.”
“I am sorry too, considering the fact I may have overstepped some boundaries tonight by refusing to leave.” He clicked his tongue. “I was worried.”
“I’m glad you did.” Joseph snuggled closer. “Goodnight.”
He felt Aesop kiss his forehead before pulling the man closer. Joseph was still crying a little, but the tears were slightly happier.
The storm doesn't clear immediately, it takes time. A very long time. Though eventually, sunny clouds will return once more.