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Assistant: Title: a lie in the shade of aventurine
        Author: rinedee rinedee 
        Chapter: 1/4 
        Summary: He couldn't avoid the doctor forever. These past couple of weeks, Aventurine had been living in the fantasy that even if everything else had become grey, Ratio would stay normal; the only light source in his life. That even when everything else was as grim as death, those eyes of dawn would still shine. No matter what emotion adorned them, they had always been the lighthouse guiding Aventurine on these uncharted waters.
  They would always be his home. The dawn after a long, hopeless night.
  And now, there was Veritas Ratio, in all his handsomeness. Except, he was grey.
  And his eyes—
Or: Nihility steals all colors from Aventurine's life
        Contents: Chapter 1: black night
    

    


      
        
          Ooops my finger slipped and now there's a packet of Aventurine angst, but not to worry: Ratio's here to save the day. Well, eventually. maybe. hopefully.Before you read: Heavy themes such as past slavery and s@xual trauma mentioned in this story + descriptions of violence, nightmares and the like. I'll put additional warnings on the chapter notes when the need arises!Trigger warning for this chapter: implied suicide attempt, drugging (but aventurine is also aware of it), tiny mentions of self-harm, implied sm@t but also just slightly mentioned. You know, just the Aventurine-typical warnings.Enjoy! or dive into depression:)
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
    Aventurine was a man of many layers. Gold and silver, laughs and attempts at a laugh, truths and… half-truths. Not many dared to look behind the glittering outer layer called Aventurine of Stratagems, one of the Ten Stonehearts. He was the unbreakable senior manager of the Strategic Investment Department with a heart of stone, ready to offer himself in any manner to achieve his objectives. But beneath the surface? Not many dared — or cared — to find out.The sole exception to that unspoken rule was none other than Veritas Ratio. And that, if anything, made Aventurine terrified.With a coin circling between his fingers to hide the shakiness of his hand, he peered up at the esteemed doctor standing on the other side of his desk. The shiny golden laurel and wavy hair framed his sharp features in a way that had left many people flabbergasted; an event Aventurine had witnessed countless times. Not to mention those muscles peeking from under those quite revealing clothes — and somehow, Ratio still dared to call himself modest regarding his body.But the most distracting part of him was those damned eyes. Many showed interest in Aventurine’s rare Avgin eyes, but he considered Ratio’s eyes far more attractive. Even on the darkest days, they were like the loveliest of skies; the break of dawn, colored with shades varying from gold to the sweetest of plums.“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of having the great Doctor visit me?”If only the doctor smiled more, though — somehow, there was always a scowl on his face when he looked at Aventurine. Ratio’s eyes sharpened, on the brink of a glare, but not quite.“What is your plan for Penacony?” Always with the efficiency, too. Not a fan of dwindling, as expected.“My plan?” Aventurine smiled, leaning forward with his elbow propped against the desk. “That’s what you came here for?”He waited, and eventually, Ratio crossed his arms. “There is no need to repeat myself.”Aventurine leaned back against his chair, humming in thought. “Don’t worry about it, doc! You already know everything you need to know. Just trust me.”“With your track record?” Ratio grumbled, expression more and more annoyed. “You’ve hardly proven trustworthy in any matter.”“I’ve kept us alive, haven’t I?”As long as he had his luck, everything would fall into place just as he’d expected. No matter how many times he called  the heads, the coin would always land that way.The doctor’s expression turned sour, but no words left his mouth. He knew Aventurine was right — despite the gambler’s provocative words driving them into many tough situations in the past, his shields had protected Ratio every time.Aventurine flicked the coin into the air, watching with bated breath as it landed on the table before him. The jingling echoed in the room before it came to a halt. Aventurine smiled; it was the heads. “The Charmony Festival is about to become the greatest banquet of all time. With so many different factions gathering in Penacony, it’s bound to end in  quite  a spectacle.”“Let me guess… You are planning on becoming the center of it?”“Aw, you know me so well, doctor.” Aventurine smiled, but Ratio didn’t look happy at all. “I’ll admit, it’s a risky gamble, but that’s what makes it all the more thrilling.”“So even you are able to acknowledge how reckless it will be.” It was no question; it was an observation — not a satisfied one.“Of course, Ratio. That won’t stop me from going.” The lucky coin slipped into his pocket; a trinket he always kept with him. If nothing more, it was a comforting weight in his pocket. “I trust my luck.”“Are you really looking forward to winning that gamble?” Ratio muttered, and fell silent for a few seconds — for a dramatic effect, for sure. “Or losing?”With a chuckle, Aventurine stood up. A pile of reports swayed on his desk, waiting to be reviewed and approved, but that could wait for another time. The clock ticked, every second running toward the grand festival in the land of dreams.“I’m fine with either, to be honest.” He walked around the table, gave Ratio a pat on the shoulder, and grabbed the door handle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.”But before he could go, Ratio took hold of his wrist, effectively stopping him from fleeing. “When will you stop this acting?”Surprised, Aventurine blinked. “What do you mean?”“This.” Ratio signed vaguely around them. “Putting on a show, acting as if don’t care about anything.”“And how would you like me to act, hmm?”“Don’t act at all. Tell me the truth.”Don’t act? How was Aventurine supposed to do that? He didn’t even remember the time when he  wasn’t acting. There was nobody under this show he put on every day. Woke up, started the play, and let go only when it was time to slumber again.Ratio’s eyes were demanding, but Aventurine didn’t feel threatened by them. “Even now, I’m quite sure everything you just said was a lie.”Hand twitching, Aventurine let go of the door handle.So that was how Ratio wanted to play this, huh? Tomorrow, a ship would leave for Penacony, and there would not be a moment in which Aventurine and Ratio could talk without the risk of being overheard. This was their last meeting before Aventurine’s greatest gamble, and this was how Ratio wanted to end it?Fine, then.With a swift move, Aventurine’s hand found the tie of Ratio’s shirt and yanked him closer. “So rude. And here I was about to wish you a good rest of your life,  Veritas.”Surprise gleamed in Ratio’s eyes, but before he could do anything, Aventurine leaned close to his ear. Up so close, Ratio’s eyes looked magnificent. Perhaps in another universe, he’d have the chance to look at them for hours upon hours.“Only one of the things I said just now was a lie.” A honeyed smirk lifted the corners of Aventurine’s lips. “Can you guess which one?” ♠✯♠✯♠ For many, the land of dreams meant a new beginning. For Aventurine, it was the end.Parading around the streets of Golden Hour, he orchestrated the spectacle of the century. The Family, the Garden of Recollection, a Masked Fool of the Tavern, the IPC, an Emanator posing as a Galaxy Ranger, and even the Astral Express all gathered together to witness the beautiful nightmare lingering under the surface… Though it took some work and a few obstacles, this  doomed Sigonian thrall made it work.The first meeting with the Astral Express? Success.  “Going forward on this Penacony trip, I'll be counting on all my ‘Trailblazer’ friends here. Looking forward to a delightful time with you all.”  A few credits thrown here, a little more thrown there. Negotiations, sugary words, and relaxed smiles — all of which Aventurine was a master at.Penacony was full of colors and sounds. For some, it could offer amazement enough for a lifetime. For others, a headache caused by sensory overload. Running billboards, hidden origami birds, and pinball machines able to send anyone flying; it truly was a dream. Too good to be true without some hidden agenda.Aventurine knew this from the start, of course. Just the thought of this ‘beautiful dream’ being built on an old frontier prison smelled wrong. “My friend, let’s be honest. That woman named ‘Acheron’ isn’t as simple as you thought.”  A few deals with the guests of the Watchmaker, a few lies. A perfect web to tie it all together into the culmination of wills and regrets.Of course, Ratio was also there with him. What little Aventurine did share about his plan, the doctor followed his assigned role  perfectly.  Almost too perfectly. For a few heartbeats, Aventurine actually believed the foul words directed at him. Not to mention all the trouble on the way to meeting the Oak Family head.  “My friend, did you really make an appointment with him?”  Again, another obstacle on his way, but the curse of the Harmony ended up surprisingly assisting his plan.His grand finale, his final flick of the coin. The outcome? The coin landed on tails, but he would still win.  “Friends, the game has commenced.” He would create the third death in the dreamscape. Not ”Miss Stellaron’s”, or any of her companions’, but his own.Upon the curtain call, the once so-colorful world had faded. The dream turned into a nightmare. The white night turned black.And he ended up in the sea of Nihility. With none other than its Emanator. “My friend, you really leave me at a loss for words.”  The Emanator had so much to say, and Aventurine had so many questions to ask. Yet, he was left unsatisfied, and his only solace at the end was the familiar weight in his pocket; the doctor’s advice.In the end, he left the sea of Nihility, walked through the land of the exiles, and came back alive. He really couldn’t lose, could he? Aventurine did not get the  end, but  an ending.All or nothing, he thought, all or nothing . Seeing the Emanator’s blade swinging a second before it hit him felt like a victory. But everything that followed? He wasn’t sure he liked it.
   Do stay alive. I wish you the best of luck. 
That cursed doctor, hurling such words at his face just when he’d decided to let it all go. So why was the doctor’s voice still nagging at him at a time like this, when he surely didn’t care about the gambler? Aventurine wished for the end, but when he opened his eyes at last, it was to the familiar walls of his room in the Reverie Hotel. The fireplace crackled in the corner. His suitcase sat on the couch as it had been before. It was quiet.Far too quiet.He barely had the time to freshen up before that Galaxy Ranger barged into his room, demanding answers to his questions. Though his senses were hazy, Aventurine remained on guard and kept his invisible shields up. Only once the Ranger was gone did he allow himself a moment of respite. He sat down, hands gripping his hair.Why?Why was he not dead?Was this a victory, or failure?And finally: why could he see only in black and white? ♠✯♠✯♠ The blinding lights of the slot machines twinkled all around the bar. The roulette wheel clicked as it spun around, eventually grinding to a halt. Poker chips moved between the gamblers, earning self-satisfied chuckles and heated grunts.The most promising pile of chips? It was Aventurine’s, of course.He stared blankly at the spinning wheel. The black slots were easy to distinguish. The red ones — or what  usually would be red — were a whole different thing. Differentiating them from the green ones proved nearly impossible. His only tell was the numbers.Everything was grey.When the irritated grumbles grew, Aventurine took his wins and left the table. He was supposed to lay low, and clearly, sitting at the poker table wouldn’t bring him any joy. Instead, he found himself at the bar, sipping on a glass of something colorless. The Penacony mission was over. The IPC got what they wanted, The Astral Express was considered heroes once again, and the land of dreams was back to normal. Everyone was happy.And Aventurine’s cornerstone was gone.So, until the IPC held a meeting to decide his fate, Jade told Aventurine to stay out of the picture — hide in his apartment, and not show up to any meetings. Essentially, it was like a little vacation.To Aventurine, it felt like a prison sentence. The world around him was devoid of colors. His glittering accessories were grey. The turquoise of his shirt was grey. When he stared into the mirror, his eyes were grey. The liquid in his glass? Grey. The usually colorful casino? All different shades of grey.Aventurine’s outfit was full of gold; multiple rings, a watch, earrings, and glasses. Yet, none of those had any shine anymore. They might have as well just been some garbage abandoned on the streets. Not all that glittered was gold, but all gold was supposed to glitter. And if not, why would he wear it anymore?Ever since waking up from the nightmare that was Penacony, he hadn’t been able to see any colors. As if the world hadn’t been dull before. But now? It went to a whole other level. Even the nightmares haunting him every night were colorless.“There you are.” Aventurine jumped on his seat as a familiar voice invaded the haze he had fallen into.Ratio.“You have no idea how many bars I have searched—”Aventurine caught a glimpse of the doctor’s clothes and his dark hair, and slipped away from his seat. “Sorry, doc. Gotta go!”Ratio’s hand fumbled for his, but failed to grasp it. “Wait, Aventurine—”The cold air hit the gambler’s face as soon as the doors opened to the outside world. Aventurine shivered, but it was little compared to the storm wreaking havoc inside him.He couldn’t see Ratio. He couldn’t  look at him. The thought of even him being as grey as everything else sent a heart-wrenching sting through Aventurine, sharper than the cold air. And Ratio… Ratio wasn’t supposed to be like that. He was supposed to shine brighter than any gem. Brighter than Aventurine, who was nothing but filth, a branded slave forever weighted down by his shackles.He strode forward in long strides and took multiple sharp turns through shady alleyways to make sure Ratio wouldn’t find him. Clearly, he couldn’t hide from the doctor forever, but he might as well try. Until this affliction of his was gone, at least.Little did he know finding his colors again wouldn’t be so simple. The Doctors of Chaos weren’t of any help. All they did was tell Aventurine he was on his way to becoming a Self-Annihilator. Essentially, he was slowly deteriorating, both mentally and physically. That explained the lack of colors, but they had no cure.The nightmares remained as strong as before. His sight stayed dull. What helpful guys they were.So he tried every trick in the book.Gambling with all of his money, only to end up with more than necessary. The games he played were too easy. Staring as the roulette wheel spun, waiting as three identical symbols clicked into place in the slot machine, allowing his opponents to cheat in a game of blackjack to seek the thrill it had one day given him. Drinking himself stupid, letting himself be swept away by the flow of the dance floor. Standing on a high ledge, turning the shower temperature up until it scalded his skin.In the cracks, he did his best to avoid Ratio. Though he yearned to see the man, he just couldn’t bear to look at him.Once he was on his way to sneaking into his office, but turned around immediately when he saw the doctor knocking on his door. Once, Topaz sent him a message telling him Ratio had asked for him. And there were a few calls and texts from Ratio asking to meet him, all of which were rejected. At least Aventurine’s list of excuses remained colorful.This was for the best, wasn’t it? Despite their few nightly escapades in bed together, Ratio only seemed to abhor him. Every time the two of them were together, he only seemed to glare at him, and though Aventurine liked aggravating him, those looks had started to wear him down. The doctor would never consider him anything other than a gaudy peacock with few good uses.Soon, Ratio would forget about him anyway, and Aventurine would only be a stain on his picture-perfect life. One afternoon, he found himself at a different bar. To keep a low profile, he kept changing the bars and casinos he visited. This one was at the bottom of the bucket; a place full of suspicious dealers and good-for-nothings. Still, it was nothing he hadn’t dealt with before.The whiskey was bland as hell, but then again, pretty much everything tasted like nothing these days. Downing a cup after another and wallowing in self-pity started to feel tiring, so when a burly man took a seat beside him and offered him a drink, he gladly took it.“You look way too pretty to wear that kind face,” the man said, and Aventurine didn’t really see his eyes, didn’t bother to take in the details of his face. The gambler flashed him a carefully constructed smile, immediately earning a bright smirk from the guy. It wasn’t threatening, in a way many men had looked at Aventurine, but playful. Not a predator and a prey, but simply two strangers with perhaps some ulterior motives.“Just deep in thought, sorry. It happens when you sit alone here for a bit too long.”“Need some company?” The man sipped at his own drink.Aventurine swirled the glass given to him, noticing some white substance at the bottom of it. The man must have been an amateur; the dregs had been poorly mixed into the drink.He took a sip.It was a small movement, barely noticeable, but Aventurine still saw how the man’s smile widened just the slightest bit. His eye twitched, knuckles tightening around his glass. He must have been nervous. Not to worry, though; this wasn’t Aventurine’s first rodeo. Maybe if the man lost his sh@t, Aventurine could show him the ropes.“So, what has brought a beauty like you here on a Wednesday evening?” His companion asked. “Most would have work tomorrow, and you’ve been here for quite a while.”So he’d been observing Aventurine, then? Perhaps waiting for him to drink enough to become easier to approach? Easier to manipulate? Aventurine leaned against the bar counter, rolling his eyes with that same smile still plastered onto his face. “The evening is still young, my friend. And sadly, I’m on forced vacation.”“Most would rejoice at an opportunity like that.” Slowly, the man’s hand slid toward him.“But I’m quite bored, you see.” Aventurine chuckled and took another sip of his drink. It was better than the whiskey, at least.“Should we come up with something to do, then? I have a room at the hotel on the third floor.”“You read my mind.” And Aventurine downed the rest of his drink, took the hand he was offered, and followed his unknown companion.Goodness gracious, the man didn’t need to drug him to have his way with him.Still, he acted like a stringless puppet, following the faceless man’s whims. He must have really been quite new to this whole shady business; he failed to mix the drink well, seemed a bit clumsy in bed, and didn’t even notice that Aventurine was sober enough to kick him off at any point. Whatever he had put into that drink took long to have any kind of effect on him.But truth be told, he needed this. He hadn’t slept with anyone since Ratio a few weeks before Penacony.Yet, the exhilarating stinging that usually followed these bedtime stories was nowhere to be found when the man finally left. Instead, there was only the steady rhythm of pain thrumming on his body. The colors didn’t return.After lying on the filthy bedsheets for what felt like hours and looking at the dull light of the setting sun pushing through the curtains, he dragged himself to the bathroom with his clothes. His nameless companion had taken his things and left, probably not intending to return. Perhaps he got embarrassed. Or shy.Suddenly, his legs swayed, and Aventurine grasped onto the bathroom door to keep himself standing. The drug was finally starting to take effect, huh? For now, he had to return to his apartment, and then he could just sleep it off. The side effects wouldn’t matter. The bathroom mirror revealed the familiar grey image of his face, his hair ruffled and face littered with all kinds of liquids. Lifeless eyes stared back.And then his legs gave out underneath him.His head met the bathroom floor tile, and a loud yelp escaped his lips. A dull ache radiated through his head and mixed with the haze his mind was already in, he felt like he could vomit. His arms refused to work, and every part of his body felt frozen to the floor. Pathetic, really.Sluggishly, he pulled his phone out of the pocket of his pants. He should… really call for someone to pick him up, right? It was an early evening, so he wouldn’t even feel bad for bothering someone during a time like this.First, he called Topaz. He liked to think of them as close friends. Aventurine had gifted Topaz all kinds of trinkets from different planets from his missions. And Topaz would always complain about Aventurine talking her ear off. They were constantly at odds with each other, but they were friends.The line beeped a few times until it suddenly stopped. Aventurine was about to call again, but then he saw that Topaz was writing something in the chat. The stinging spasmed in his head at the same beat as his heartbeat. His sight went cloudy as he waited for the message. Topaz: I don’t have time for your games now. Considering how long it took her to write that, the reply was quite short. Aventurine deflated, but he still sent her a cheerful Pom-Pom sticker.Back onto his list of contacts… Jade wasn’t even an option. That woman was a snake, and she’d never help Aventurine without gaining something the gambler would greatly regret. It was the same with all the other Stonehearts.There was the Trailblazer girl, who had gladly accepted the credits he’d sent her, and a few luxury items he’d come across. But she could be anywhere around the galaxy right now, so asking her to pick up poor little Aventurine would be too much to ask.He had a few other friends from the IPC, but considering how poorly they answered his texts unless they were made of credits instead of letters, he threw that option out the window.And there was, of course, Ratio. He didn’t want to see him, but was there any other option?With shaky hands, he pressed the call button and lifted the phone to his ear. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. Against the feverish haze in his head, the cold tile floor felt like a blessing.Even quicker than with Topaz, the line cut off. Puzzled, Aventurine stared at his phone. Had the call not gone through? He called again.This time it cut off almost immediately. So he tried again, and not even two seconds before it stopped. Had Ratio declined his call? Stubborn, Aventurine called again. And this time, the call didn’t immediately end. Instead, there was some shuffling from the other end of the line.The doctor answered. Finally. A wave of relief washed over Aventurine, and an automatic smile rose onto his face, even though no one was there to see it.“Hello, Ratio!” He had no idea how he managed such a cheerful tone anymore, but thankfully, he wasn’t entirely gone.Ratio’s voice came in a low whisper. “Gambler, as relieved as I am to finally hear from you, I am in the middle of a meeting. So unless it is an emergency, please stop wasting my time.”Aventurine stared at the bathroom wall, happy to hear the familiar voice after such a long time. Then, slowly, the words registered in his head, and the smile on his face cracked.An emergency? He was unable to move, yes, but it wouldn’t last too long. Probably. His limbs would work again in a few hours, and he’d be out of this place. Calling someone was just a matter of convenience, a way to get out of this situation more quickly. He wasn’t on the brink of death, bleeding out god knows where. The bathroom floor was way cozier than the cells he’d been in during his life. So no, it was not an emergency.“Sorry for bothering you,” Aventurine mumbled. Immediately, the line went dead.The phone slid to the floor. After a few seconds of silence, he let out a chuckle.Who was he kidding? Most people in his life were there only for his money. Some for sex. The “friends” he’d made in Penacony were just conveniently used pawns, who, in turn, used him for their own gains. And Topaz? Their arguments were fulfilling, but had she ever looked at him with anything other than disdain? Aventurine always called her his friend, but had Topaz ever used that word about him?Ratio was no different. At first, Aventurine had thought he was. Ratio had not judged him for his past or accepted his money. They worked well together — one of the few people who could deal with Aventurine at all. And most of all, Ratio didn’t seem one bit interested in Aventurine’s moves on him. Until a few weeks ago.In the end, even Ratio was a human, and would fall under the same carnal desires as all other humans. It was a no-strings-attached deal, and their working relationship stayed the same. But that didn’t make them friends.After taking a step off the high ledge, who was there to catch him? When the IPC tightened the shackles around his neck, who was there to soothe the sore skin? Was there anyone who smiled upon seeing him?No. Aventurine had tested that all before. In his search for death in Penacony, he’d thrown himself off from the roof of some skyscraper. There had been no one to ease his fall, and after feeling the brunt of it, he’d woken up in his dreampool.Dazed, confused. Alone.Reality was bitter, and despite his smiles and confident declarations, there was no one to help him stand up at this moment. He would have to do it by himself, like he always had. The edges of his vision started to darken, and he sighed. What a joke.Aventurine had no friends. ♠✯♠✯♠ Aventurine was told to stay out of sight for the unprecedented future — meaning missions and grand gambles — but no one denied him office work. Of course they wouldn’t. Had they done so, that would only mean more work for them, less for Aventurine.Although office work was so very boring, Aventurine didn’t mind it for once. Just being in the solitude of his own soundproof office, with no disturbances or even the sound of traffic disturbing him, was a somewhat relaxing difference from the hectic of casinos. He loved the thrill of risky gambles and the hammering of his heart after a swift getaway from a building planted with bombs — those situations were not so rare, believe it or not. However, right now, the quiet was a welcome companion on this cloudy afternoon.An apple of unknown color sat between his fingers, and after smelling it and making sure it was fresh, he took a bite. Under the sour skin of it, the savory taste filled his mouth. Not only was it good, but also his only form of lunch for the day. It was also practical: an apple a day keeps—At that moment, his beloved silence came to an end.A rapid knocking echoed through the door, and Aventurine lifted his head, fingers tightening around the apple in his hand. He recognized that knock because nobody else ever knocked on his door with such vigor.“I know you’re there, gambler.” Soundproof walls, my ass. The doctor’s voice was loud and clear; he must have been speaking very close to the door, or yelling in the hallway outside. So loud, in fact, that Aventurine couldn’t even pretend he didn’t hear it.Another set of knocks. “You cannot hide forever. For whatever reason you have been avoiding me, I am sure we can figure it out.”Aventurine stayed quiet. The door remained closed only for one reason. He wanted to see Ratio, and he didn’t. The doctor had done nothing wrong — a conclusion Aventurine was sure Ratio had arrived at as well — but it was merely the gambler’s stubborn mind keeping that door locked. He was a coward.
   “Gambler.” 
Surely the doctor would give up at some point? Grow annoyed with Aventurine’s stubbornness, and decide to forget him altogether?But Veritas Ratio was also known for his stubbornness, his will never to give up. He would stand outside that door so long that Aventurine would eventually have to exit the room. Thus, he gathered his most carefree voice and put together another farce. The apple got a new place on his desk.“Sorry, doc, but I’m on a call with a client. Come back another time, will you?”There was a moment of silence, but before Aventurine could celebrate his victory, Ratio said: “You are to stay out of the public’s eye for the unprecedented future, so there is no possibility that you are on a meeting with some client of yours.”So he came prepared. Then again, it wasn’t exactly secret information among the Strategic Investment Department and its close collaborators that Aventurine would stay out of the spotlight for some time.Before he could come up with another sweet lie, the lock clicked as a key slid into it. Oh, right. Aventurine might have given him the spare key to his office once. Don’t ask him why; he had no idea.As the door cracked open, Aventurine’s hands flew in front of his eyes to block his view. This was precisely why he’d been avoiding Ratio; he couldn’t bear the thought of even him, of all people, being as colorless as the rest of the world.These past couple of weeks, Aventurine had been living in the fantasy that even if everything else had become grey, the doctor would stay normal; the only light source in his life. That even when everything else was as grim as death, those eyes of dawn would still shine as bright as the sun. He’d lulled himself into a sweet dream in the middle of this nightmare. Perhaps it would play like a scene from some romance novel; even when everything else looked dull, there would be a light at the end of the tunnel; a sliver of hope in those eyes he so adored.Sometimes, he would stare into Ratio’s eyes and think  maybe this world isn’t as ruthless as it seems. They had pulled him out of the depths countless times. No matter what emotion — anger, surprise, frustration, satisfaction — adorned them, they had always been the lighthouse guiding Aventurine on these uncharted waters.They would always be his home. The dawn after a long, hopeless night.His hands would not shield him forever: there was Veritas Ratio, in all his handsomeness. Except, he was grey.And his eyes—
  
  
—had no color.
  
  

    
      
        
        
          I made everyone colder than they are for the sake of angst and now I feel bad..Let me know what you thought!'
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