Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was over.

They waited forty years for this moment and it was all for nothing in the end.

Krux and Acronix lay in the Iron Doom, watching time speed up before their eyes.

It had been days, and Wu had already disappeared after turning into a baby. Fuck him anyways.

But it took the twins a while to realise that they had no food besides a couple snacks that they took no more than a nibble from everyday. No water either.

"Maybe it would have been best if the girl had stayed here," Acronix admitted.

"Who, the water ninja? She'd drown us instantly."

"Still better than our inevitable doom. How much time do you think we have left?"

"...not long."

It had definitely been a week before Krux was turning skeletal, his eye sockets beginning to show even through his tattoo. Not long after, Acronix ran his fingers through his brother's hair as he lay in his lap, suffering in his final moments.

"I'm much older than you, brother," Krux said sadly. "Unfortunately you'll have to be here without me for a couple of days. Hopefully it won't be painful for either of us."

Acronix wanted to yell, to tell Krux not to say that because things would be okay, but it was no use getting him excited over something that would never happen.

"You should have planned something else instead of waiting forty years for me," Acronix sighed. "You're much smarter than I am. In a world filled with ignorant people hypnotised by technology. I see what you mean now, Krux. Only after my phone ran out of battery did it come to me that we were dying."

"I think it's about time I told you I had a socket built in here for charging your phone," Krux smiled weakly, his body shaking in pain. "I knew you couldn't survive without it."

Acronix's eyes widened. "Krux, you idiot--"

"At least you'll have something to distract you from my rotting body tomorrow."

Tears pooled in Acronix's eyes. "Wait." With that, he stood up and took out his phone and its charger. "If you're actually gonna leave me, I don't want you to be distracted by the pain."

"What are you talking about..."

"I installed a game on my phone. It was called something like, "Mario Bros Emulated." It's about twin brothers who have to save a princess--"

"Sounds lame," Krux interrupted. "But if it's what you want, we can play together, one last time."

They spent the next couple hours huddled around the phone screen, with Krux commenting on how unrealistic the game was and Acronix just being happy that they weren't focusing on their impending doom. That is, until, Krux let out a groan midway.

Acronix let go of the phone instantly, and looked into his brother's lifeless eyes and pale skin. He held on to his hand tightly. "Don't leave me, brother."

For the final time, Krux turned his head to see his brother. "Forty years," he said. "Forty years without you, brother. I thought I could never find happiness again, but your return proved me wrong." He took one last shaky breath. "I love you, Acronix." And then he never said anything again.

For once, Acronix let himself cry, still holding his brother's freezing cold hand. "I love you too, Krux."

Acronix spent hours there, not letting Krux's hand go, like he was still alive, like he was going to return. With his other hand, he picked up the phone again to see a "GAME OVER" sign. That was it. He threw his phone on the other side of the Iron Doom, and it smashed into pieces.

He was so lost in his grief he didn't even realise he was dying too.