Chapter Text
Saparata wasn’t new to the Unstable SMP, not at all. He had been one of the first people to begin his life on it and was carrying that out to this day. He had worked hard to get where he is now. Leading a large group of people, Cindercrest, all people who had lived most of their lives here and wanted to continue that way.
He had learned to grow strong, as it wasn’t a forgiving and peaceful place. He worked hard to mine ores and gain good armor, to set up a nice place for him and the rest of Cindercrest to settle down. He had tailored their territory to aid their needs and assigned specific roles so that the group would function smoothly together.
Of course, he hadn’t done this alone. By his side, every step of the way was his best friend, Fluixon. Flux wasn’t particularly strong and relied quite a lot on Saparata for survival. However, the man was crafty, smart and extremely cunning, not to mention meticulous planner. He worked out the logistics behind it all while Saparata was the cog that put it into motion.
Saparata was widely recognised as the sole leader of Cindercrest and thought to be the man behind the whole operation. It was untrue, but Fluixon didn’t like socialising, going outside or working hard physically. So, those responsibilities fell to Saparata while the other man remained unnoticed and hidden behind closed doors.
He did go out, to an extent. Saparata wasn’t a monster, but he did set some boundaries to ensure the safety of the other. Leaving Cindercrest territory without him or protection was simply out of the question. He couldn’t afford to lose the other man in any aspect of the word, he was simply too useful.
Oh, and they had gotten married at some point. It wasn’t out of a grand, romantic gesture, it was convenient. At least, that is what he told Flux to get him to agree to it. They had already shared everything by the point he first brought up the idea.
They had shared their wealth, they shared the leadership position, they shared a house and on the occasions where one of them struggled to sleep, a bed. Saparata had to bring up the idea and pitch it to Flux a total of seven times before all the persistent hints and begging worked.
“A handsome man like me? You see, I’m getting proposed to left and right when I’m simply walking down the street! It’s becoming a real hassle, you know. I’m far too busy to be dealing with this, help me out..” Saparata declared one night over dinner, tucking his hair behind his ear and angling his face to where he knew looked most appealing. Of course, he had never been proposed to before or asked out. But Flux didn’t need to know that.
He could tell the other man was considering it as he stared right at Saparata for a long moment, his chewing paused with some chicken in his mouth while he weighed his options. Saparata got hopeful after this amount of hesitation which Fluixon had never presented in previous attempts. He had taken 17 seconds to respond so far, but who was counting? Usually it was an outright “no”, but now, two violet eyes were squinting at him while their owner made a decision.
And finally, his sneak tactics and purposeful brushes when they were standing near each other had worked. “Fine. Only because you’re annoying me with your pleading.” It was a simple answer, but more than enough for Saparata.
The very next day he dove straight into preparing all of it. Nothing big, it was barely a wedding, just a few confirming vows and some of their closest friends sharing drinks and food with them. To Saparata, it was similar to how couples described their weddings. A day filled with joy and laughter, a day they will never forget. To him, this was that day.
Later that night, they both stumbled home together. They only made it there because they were heavily leaning on each other and working together to not trip and faceplant on the uneven streets of Cindercrest. They didn’t even make it to their beds, simply dropping onto the couch together, Flux’s head against his chest and his head atop the others’, joined by their arms around each other.
He was lucky Flux was here at all, to be perfectly honest. The man became an escape artist when he was under the influence of alcohol. He caught him trying to leave a couple times and dragged him back to his seat. He had to watch him carefully for the rest of the night in case he decided now was the time to let the wind carry him away in its breeze.
“Hm.. Flux, yo, Flux.” Sparta slurred his words a bit and poked the other man’s waist, making him jolt and glare at him. But he ignored it in favor of handing over a small, sleek leather box which greatly confused Fluixon as he blinked several times in quick succession. He was usually sober enough to hide the habit but Saps had still discovered it after watching Flux indulge in the occasional drink, usually when they were out with their friends.
The dark haired man slowly opened it and shied away from it as if expecting it to explode. Only to find a ring. It wasn’t elaborate, he knew Flux would hate that, so he kept it simple. A dark band with two thin redstone stripes. It matched the armor Saparata always wore.
He wanted to give it to the other man in private, making a scene would be far too humiliating for the both of them. So he waited and a moment where it was him and Flux alone, away from curious and teasing gazes.
Exchanging rings was something they had never discussed, and he knew Fluixon would object so he did it in secret, traveling as far as the nether to get it made. The nether was far beyond where he allowed Flux to go, considering how dangerous the realm was.
He carefully slipped the ring onto the other’s finger and acted like he fell asleep directly after to avoid any arguments about to surface. He could feel Flux’s head shift as he inspected the new addition to his look before he leaned back and relaxed his muscles, his breathing evening out and slowing as he drifted off as well.
They never properly talked about it after that, however, about a week later Saparata came home to a small dark leather box sitting on the dining table. Inside was a similar band but in gold, much like his own eyes with amethyst strips instead.
Everything was going well for them after that, this arrangement was benefiting the both of them and if he was lucky he would teasingly sneak a quick kiss to the top of the other’s head when he got the chance. Mostly when Flux was distracted cooking while Saps came home after a long day. He usually got punched directly after but he considered the abuse to be worth the small moment they shared.
Not to mention that the other was a good cook. Ever the perfectionist, when he wasn’t drawing and crafting plans or meandering around Cindercrest, he had picked up cooking as a hobby. This was much to Saps’ benefit, he hardly ever had to cook for himself and the food he got given was delicious.
When he did cook for himself, it was mostly when Fluixon left to negotiate and trade. Sometimes the other man would go as far as merchant city to establish connections and be gone for days on end. Accompanied by Cindercrest’s finest and no less, of course. But it was never particularly comforting when they had no updates on the group throughout the expedition.
It worked out for a few months, he noticed the trips were slowly becoming longer and longer. Flux more time spent trading and negotiating to get resources which seemed to be quickly depleting. He had been suspicious at first, even if they were married, he wouldn’t put it past Flux to get up to something behind his back.
The man had a bit of an evil streak at times and once he had an opinion on something, that was finite. It was something he loved about Flux, he was able to form a thought and stick with it. However he also hated it when they had small arguments over stupid things because the other was simply being stubborn.
He pulled aside everyone who went with the man to merchant city, interrogating them carefully in hopes of understanding what was causing the delay. Thankfully their stories seemed to be checking out and were consistent.
An influx of new players joining and needing resources seemed to be the leading cause. There were limited resources floating around and it was taking them longer to find people who had items left and they needed to establish more and more connections to come home was a decent amount of loot. Since resources were limited, prices were being driven up and Fluixon was ever so stubborn, he refused to walk away until he was satisfied. Apparently that meant that sometimes Flux would argue until dusk.
This carried on for weeks without an end in sight, the group would leave for far too long of times and come back with less and less each time. It was impossible not to notice the thinning and weakness of his people the longer this drew on. It even got to the point of people dying of starvation.
It was unfair that they had to go through this, that people who were far too young were dying early because there was not enough food to go around. That people who had lived here for years and worked hard to build a life for themselves could lose it at any moment. Because of the fact newer players were taking up resources they did not have.
They shouldn’t have to be digging graves and etching rocks on behalf of the fallen players, and yet here they were. Hunched over with shovels honouring those who had been killed by the negligence of their so-called king.
On a couple occasions Saparata took over the duty instead of Fluixon. He saw how far they were traveling while rationing food and medical gear and the limited stock that met them when they arrived and started trading. Many traders had disappeared over time and only some of the richer community would be found trying to buy anything given how steep the prices were.
He was utterly exhausted after arguing for hours on end and journeying home for almost 3 days straight. It’s beyond him how Flux does this all the time. Well, the other man probably enjoys all the negotiating. They needed to rest more frequently given their weakened state and it was costing them the time that they did not have. The final stretch home was taking place, many of the group were relieved and he was anxious to get home and have a meal prepared for him by Flux at last.
Only this time, as he gazed at the sky to see the warm glow of Cindercrest lights, he saw plumes of smoke rising up into the air and his heart dropped. With much panicked shouting and splitting into two groups, they broke into a sprint and rushed toward the towering wooden gates that guarded their town only to see those alight.
He rushed straight in without hesitation, but it seemed like they had missed all the action by a long shot. Blood and resources were everywhere, objects smashed and strewn throughout the streets and evidence of battle and struggle was prominent in how the roads were stained red in dark red patches.
The returning group rushed to the aid of those who had survived and were calling for those who had managed to hide throughout the attack to put out the fires. It was an utter massacre, more than half of his people were dead and he found the bodies of his friends in the centre where they had no doubt defended Cindercrest to their last breaths.
He dropped to their sides and sobbed, checking all of them for a pulse which had dissipated long ago. Sobs rose from his throat and he took in ragged and uneven breaths, his tears mingling with their blood.
When his gaze shifted over their bodies and he reached out with trembling hands, he noticed someone missing. Flux wasn’t here, nor had he seen him in the streets prior to finding his friends. He would like to find his husband’s body, even if it was as still and lifeless as all the others’.
He stumbled through the streets with bleary eyes and toward their home which had a gaping hole in the side of it. He pushed his way into their ravaged house and found a trail of thick red liquid leading to where he assumed Flux was slain. Their items were scattered everywhere and Flux’s bookshelves were toppled and smashed.
Following the trail of crimson led to a small corner tucked out of sight from the hallway and he found the other slumped against the wall. He had expected this but it still hurt to see all the same. A pained gasp forced its way out his throat at the sight and he covered his mouth with his hand briefly.
He lowered himself to be beside Flux and pulled the other into his arms, tucking his face into the crook of the other’s still warm neck. He could feel his usually pristine clothes getting warm and sticky from a large wound implying a sword pierced through Flux’s abdomen.
He cradled the other very gently as he cried onto his shoulder. He regretted ever leaving his side. Maybe if he hadn’t taken their best fighters with him, Cindercrest would still be standing. He would still have more time with Fluixon and his friends and they could have found a solution to the resource problem together.
But now, that would never prove to be true. It was just him, his tired cries of sorrow, the faint crackling of fire and Flux’s raspy breathing. Saparata froze completely and had to check again. But it continued, the dry and painful in and out of breaths. He was alive, Flux was still alive.
He has never been more panicked than he was in that moment. He swiftly scooped the other up into his arms and rushed him out the house, calling desperately for the attention and help of the few remaining members of Cindercrest.
The remaining hours were painful, they tried to save as many people as they could but there were only 13 members of Cindercrest still breathing. 5 of them were severely injured and unconscious. It was a sleepless night as they gathered what little possessions they had left and buried the dead with a much shorter ceremony than they would have liked. Afterward dragged the members along away from their home and toward somewhere safer. Staying in their old territory was simply not an option.
They set up camp a couple thousand blocks away and worked on getting food and a farm going so the rest of them might be able to survive. Remaining in the king’s territory proved to be far too dangerous and they were not able to rely on anyone after the most recent attack.
It pained Saparata as he watched his people hover around and slowly, very slowly nurture the wounded. He himself had only let go of Fluixon maybe twice and only when he needed to before rushing right back to his side. He kept the other man settled against his chest and tried to give him a bit of food when he was semi-lucid.
“What happened?” He asked the other gently after watching him swallow a bit of water. Flux’s stubborn nature had saved him even from death and the thought managed to bring a faint smile to Saps’ face, despite everything.
“Bandits… lots of them. They were robbing us of all our resources, the bastards...” Fluixon said slowly, carefully and only through taking slow and shallow breaths. He was trying hard not to disturb his wound and it showed through his small winces.
“You’re an idiot for fighting them.” Saparata said with a soft sigh and pressed a kiss to Flux’s cheek given he was trying not to jostle the man. He had done the right thing, however. He had helped defend his people and fight for their home, which no one could ever fault him for.
No, instead, an ugly emotion bloomed in Saparata’s heart. Something he had never felt before. It was anger, frustration and hatred all squashed into a beating heart which was far too small and kind to hold it. He felt as if it may explode at any moment.
All this emotion was directed toward the “king” of Unstable. ParrotX2, who had failed them. Cindercrest had been a part of his kingdom and because of his negligence, his people had starved and been slain by a group of lowly bandits who had no right to lay filthy, thieving hands on them.
Fluixon was in his arms bleeding and his warriors were exhausted and wounded without a cent to their names. It was unfair that the newer players were allowed to destroy what they had spent years building together.
From this point onwards, Cindercrest would represent something else. Something more than the gentle civilisation they were known as. They would fight for a cause, they would fight for the right that old players are guaranteed a safe home. He would drive out the new players to grant people who had suffered in the same way they had safety, and make sure this would never happen again.
If Parrot would not help them, if he was willing to turn a blind eye then Saparata would step up. He would be the hand of justice on behalf of the old players and he would become the eyes that viewed their suffering and liberated them.
Change started with him. Change was Cindercrest.