Song; Love In The Dark by Adele

(With some adjustments to they lyrics to better fit characters and avoid as much repeating in some spots)

Characters; Nico. Ingall, Revan, Akira, Garvin, Briar (Bri), Aries, and Bernard mentioned.

Context; This is basically just the bad ending for the polycule in T8P. The ending where Nico comes to the conclusion that he can't, or won't, get over everything that's happened. All the pain she's gone through and how little support they got from the people who were meant to love them the most. This would all be after the big ending war, when everyone is back together and recovering, the world's been saved, blah blah blah

Still, Nico continues to hold affection for his past partners, just in a very different way. This song is basically her just refusing to fall back into the patern of loving someone only to be taken advantage of or torn apart by them and, even though he still loves them, she won't be giving them anymore chances because they've already proved that they will hurt him when things go south.

Have fun watching GRAIN get compared to Adiar! :D

There's also an aspect of Nico completely giving up on themself.

TW; Suicide.

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(After the war, the polycule tries to reconnect, starting with a major apology from Akira. Everyone kinda goes around and apologizes to each other, with the exception of Nico, who's the only one who doesn't really have anyone to apologize to. They all talk and, after quite a long time, Ingall, Revan, Akira, and Garvin all agree that they should start over and try again, even if it does take a while. Nico stays quiet the entire time and just listens, only speaking up at the end when they come to this conclusion. His response is simple and shaky, but firm. "No." He refuses to try again, to start over, and while they accept the apologies, she cannot forgive any of them, at least, not right now.)

Nico, standing and turning to walk away from the rest of the polycule after giving her answer, tearing up as they start to walk away, feeling very guilty despite knowing this is for the best. The others watch in stunned silence, never expecting Nico, of all people, to be the one to reject them: "Take your eyes off of me so I can leave, I'm far too ashamed to do it with you watching me..."

Nico, taking a deep breath and retreating away to find Bernard, trying to convince himself this is the right decision as they go, making the connection between what happened with the polycule and what happened with River and Adiar, seeing the similarities and desperatly lying to himself about not loving any of them anymore: "This is never ending, I have been here before, but I can't stay this time, 'cause I don't love you anymore..."

(After a couple days of Nico staying away from everyone but Bernard, Bri, and Aries, Akira finally seeks her out, asking to talk, which Nico denies, staying firm in his decision and, rather sadly, speaking to Akira only in the presence of Bri or Bernard)

Nico, slightly shaky, watching a desperate Akira across from her, struggling to stay firm when Akira looks so broken, but knowing that backtracking is no longer an option, Bernard is by her side, keeping them steady: "Please, stay where you are, don't come any closer. Don't try to change my mind, I'm being cruel to be kind!"

Nico, sucking in a breath and offering a very basic explanation, the "dark" refers to the way Akira and the others distaced themselves when Nico needed them the most: "I can't love you in the dark, it feels like we're oceans apart! There is so much space between us, baby, we're already defeated!"

Nico, tearing up and leaning more into Bernard for support when remembering what happened during their kidnapping and the aftermath of it ("everything"): "Everything changed me..."

(Next, Revan and Ingall come to talk to Nico at the same time, both visably upset, but still less pressing than Akira, mostly just half-hoping they can mend things. Once again, Nico refuses to talk with them alone.)

Nico, slightly more upset than with Akira, having a harder time facing these two, first telling them directly that what they did for him when they were together in the beginning was something that he seriously needed and they are still grateful for that. This time, Briar is by her side, offering support: "You have given me something that I can't live without, you mustn't underestimate that when you are in doubt."

Nico, avoiding eye-contact as they point out that, while that was amazing, what happened after their kidnapping wasn't good, it hurt him, and that can't really be fixed now: "But I don't want to carry on like everything is fine, the longer we ignore it, all the more that we will fight..."

Nico, flinching and turning into Bri, trying not to cry as Ingall starts sobbing and Revan looks equally upset, though he hides it better: "Please, don't fall apart, I can't face your breaking heart! I'm trying to be brave, stop asking me to stay!"

Nico, still refusing to look at them, offering the same explination they gave Akira: "I can't love you in the dark, it feels like we're oceans apart! There is so much space between us, baby, we're already defeated..."

Nico, no longer able to keep from crying, turning into Bri's embrace: "Everything changed me..."

(Finally, Nico is actually the one to approach Garvin after realizing how much he's struggling, still with Bernard by their side, but much more on their own accord this time, wanting desperately to make sure Garvin doesn't do something vain because of all of this)

Nico, taking a deep breath before approaching Garvin, kneeling in front of him and gently lifting his face to look at eyes, eyes tearful as he speaks, promising that he doesn't regret loving Garvin, or the others, at all, even if it hurt like hell, and he meant every word they every said about loving and caring about him: "We're not the only ones, I don't regret a thing! Every word I've said, you know I'll always mean! It is the world to me that you are in my life!"

Nico, adding that, while the relationship was good while it lasted, they both need something more, and continuing it would only lead to more pain in the long run, which isn't something they want for anyone: "But I want you to live and not just survive!"

Nico, looking away as she starts to cry, finally telling Garvin the same thing he told all the others: "That's why I can't love you in the dark, it feels like we're oceans apart! There is so much space between us, baby, we're already defeated... Everything changed me..."

(Then, we see Nico all alone again, sinking to her knees in grief over everthing that he's been through and the fact that they had to let the relationship they cared the most about go. In truth, it was the last straw, rather than an attempt to better his own life. More a sign that she'd completely given up on ever feeling anything good again.)

Nico, alone, back in the same room that he was taken from, having come to the conclusion that nothing can possibly get better anymore, with seven neatly folded notes and a bottle of pills in hand, crying silently as they bring it to his lips: "And I don't think you can save me..."