Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Welcome, welcome, my dear readers!

Some of you might have never known of me, and some of you are my regular readers, so you are surprised! "Chris writing oneshots? Why?" Because out of all the things I wrote, oneshot is not usually up my alley.

So whhhhy would I ever write this?

Simple... I can't find stories for some of these women, and I don't want to write stories for them all... I am not THAT insane yet.

Like from Star Rail I like Natasha and Yukong, for example, and wel,l... Nothing much to find, at least on my GxG search journey, and I thought that since when Cyberpunk Edgerunner came out, I was the 2/3 of the fandom for lady readers for ladies from that fandom that I would take things into my hands and provide the fics I am finding myself missing myself.

I will be accepting REQUESTS as long as you tell me and honestly it can be anything, I can write smut, fluff, platonic, angst is my strong suit I suppose, death anything really I suppose... But keep out of child/child-like characters pants (first that comes to mind would be Clara for example)... And if you want a straight story with a guy you need to request it as I will not write it by myself.

It will mostly be stories with made up characters/OC only existing for that oneshot (Unless it is Ruan Mei because I have an OC and a fic for her), might be a few (Y/N)s if requested or I am even down to using your ocs as long as I get them explained to me in detail.

If there are no requests then I'll write what I want and so don't complain. Want something? Comment and we'll talk.

So yeah... Make requests if you want something specific because this is because I want to read fics that no one wrote so I am doing instead.

SO TO RESUME

I take requests for HSR since it is about that this book.

I'll write anything (if I am not comfortable I will tell you and please accept that)

This is about ladies for ladies.

And yeah... That's all for now I suppose?

Oh and I'll try to link a song to each chapter that either fits it or is the reason I thought of the character.

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I'll precise which story is my own creation and which is a request, tagging the request maker only if they tell me they want that.

The songs are the top of the chapters are not always meant to set the mood for the chapter, some just made me think of the character while some are indeed there for the expected mood.

Yes I write smut but those chapter requests will have to wait longer to be written so if you don't want to wait an eternity don't ask for them, I have a love-hate relationship with actually writing those so that might add to the wait.

Chapter titles are [[character]] - [[song title]]

I can do ships if ppl ask for it.

None of the pictures used are mine unless it is a traditional pen and paper drawing.

And the chapters will be in alphabetical order always so even if I write... Idk, Tingyun, Natasha and Stelle, if I write Acheron after those it will still be at the top of the chapter list since her name starts with an A.

P.S. I got a few BxB requests sooo I still decided to to them.

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I decided to label my chapters like this.

☁️ - Using a simple cloud for fluff.

🌧️ - Sad but not to the level of angst but sad indeed.

🌦️ - This is for fluff but sad stuff happens for plot reason but still fluff not that angsty because I am really good at angst.

⛈️- I think you can guess, angst.

☀️ - When it is a shitshow of fun and no real relationship between ppl OR that it is completely platonic for 100% certain.

🍋- Lemon, for when I write it, self explanatory.

🍉- I don't have the lime emoji on my laptop so you are getting a watermelon (lime for me also includes heavily implied sex in some cases fyi)

And bad news for me, good for you...

I discovered Honkai, the impact 3rd kind and barely know anything about it still; I am at the Ana chapter or a bit further.

And I already love the characters.

So I decided that if you make requests/I have ideas for the girlies in this Honkai game too that I will also write oneshots for them in this book.

So if that's what you want, feel free to request it :) but keep in mind what I said, what I know comes from spoiling myself the story and up to that animation has been played.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/aV5s_5PIg1Y

When remembering doesn't come easy, the suffering one will try anything to keep a grasp on their memories.

A trinket tied to an event.

A picture with people.

Notes in an app for important things.

Videos taken.

But even for people like that, there was a limit.

And that's how the fake galaxy ranger felt once again, of everything she was able to remember... Why was it her?

An almost cackling laughter pulled her from her thoughts, looking up less then impressed at the woman almost perched above her, both ignoring the screaming around them... It comes with destruction, the screams, those came from all the destruction... All around them.

"You might be a strong one but as long as you are unwilling to unsheath that blade of yours, you will not best me." The cackling turned suave voice said, crouching on her tiptoes on top of the only standing street lamp.

The street with its buildings around them was... Not in the best of shapes, concrete smashed, metal bent, glass shattered, smoke rising, fire crackling, rubble groaning, like the remains of a bombing.

Acheron had no idea when this started, this destructive rivalry but she wished this woman could be forgotten as she was teetering on the ledge of her own resolved promise in not pulling her blade on her.

But this had been going on for a long while.

Foenix, yes with an F, was the code name of this true galaxy ranger she was looking up at because of those pyrotechnics she willy nilly throws out in bursts and how unkillable she seemed to be... But... "Y/N I won't do it!" She was just Y/N to the exasperated Acheron.

Was this the reason this started? Like any true ranger would know she is just masquerading as one of them but that had never been at the center of their conflict... It was Y/N being a crackhead that always wanted to fight stronger and stronger to prove that actually she was the strongest and she had, sadly for Acheron, run into her once again.

"I'll make you then." Y/N grinned, eyes red with fiery blaze, lunging from her spot.

Acheron lifted her blade, blocking with the side of its sheath as the kick came down, clashing with the sheath in such a way it rattled around the blade.

"Come on! Don't hold back!" With that damned grin of hers as she pushed off in a backwards jump to avoid the slash, yes the slash, despite the sheath being on that didn't mean it wouldn't injure.

Boot of coal black clicking on the graveled street, the ash grey pants still neatly tucked into them with an overly average flame orange shirt with rolled up sleeve was the only thing this things out of place on it, a few scrapes that's all, the gauntlet weapons were still a shiny black tho a bit dusty... Maybe the most out of place was the mess of (H/C) hair, didn't fit the aesthetic she was working with.

Despite the destruction around them, both woman were out here without a scratch on them.

"I told you many times, no." Honestly, it was a talent of this woman to annoy Acheron with only her presence as it always ended in a similar mess... Can't she just try to arrest her for faking being a ranger instead of being a battle thirsty woman?

"And I tell you, it is not a fair fight if you don't fight full power."

"I don't want to fight."

"That's boring, being strong and doing nothing about it."

Gauntlet meets sheath in an echoing clash.

"Fight me well once will you faker?"

With a half turn, ramming a kick in the annoying woman's stomach, knowing it wouldn't do much.

Watching the dust kicked up by the rubble she kicked her through... Thinking only for a moment before bolting the hell out of there.

"Dammit... She got away." (Y/N) muttered, pulling herself from the rubble with an almost pout on her face and sighed. "Oh well, next time."

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"You!" "No!" The owner of the little street ramen shop jumped when a brightly dressed woman just almost materialized out of nowhere and his purple aesthetic customer instantly screamed at her in dismay.

"You owe me an actual fight dammit!"

"I own you nothing." Acheron poked (Y/N) with chopsticks, right. In. The. Face. Maybe even aiming for those damned eyes.

Not really getting far with the other woman dodging but well, she tried.

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Acheron learning to like it, being caught by stupid fucker always buying peaches or doing her hair or something to get her to fight her.

She actually didn't like it more like begrudgingly learned to tolerate it after many years and after accepting that this would be her life.

So it was not a surprise that who stuck around on Penacony? None other then this stupid girl.

"Come on, without me the hotel wouldn't have believed you really had that invitation for the galaxy rangers. We might be few and far between but people recognize us, my words have weight to them."

Acheron held the finger jabbing at her between her thumb and pointer before throwing it away as if it was not connected to (Y/N)'s arm.

"Just... Don't start fights in Penacony... I feel like there is something going on but I can't place it."

"What? With the watchmaker's legacy?" (Y/N) flopping back into the memoria bath and splashing it up in the air only made Acheron sigh.

"No, take this seriously (Y/N), I might be here for the legacy but I feel like somethings up."

"Hmmm... Well don't worry, I'll punch their skull in." Slamming her fists into each other. "I am the strongest after all."

"I doubt it."

"Then fight me!"

"See you in the dream."

"Fight me!" Acheron closed the door with a little slam behind her to ensure it would lock enough for (Y/N) to not be able to instantly throw it open.

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"You, I know you're there."

Stepping out of the shadows, a frown etched on her face.

"Foenix is it? I'd say, you took quite a gamble on your life in being in her presence."

"Emanator that shouldn't exist, How do I know you aren't making it up to turn us against each other like the IPC so easily does?"

The blond gambler of the IPC just smiled, flicking a coin up strong enough to smack its edge in (Y/N)'s forehead before falling back in his palm.

"Use your brain ranger before others do it for you. Plus, eavesdropping it is not a nice thing to do." He said as she rubbed her forehead.

"Stop threatening my friend. No emanator is one that should ever exist and it is her truth to tell if such is reality."

"So naive."

"Or maybe I to, took a gamble like you so love to say. You were the first to bring it up so let me say it in a way you'd understand... Life is a gamble and you are not special, as a ranger I sit down at death's table to play a party of poker each day and night when the stakes are death or worse and I prefer to go all in then regret folding too early... I'll take my risks with my friend thank you very much, and if she were to be my end that would be great as the person stronger then me could be trusted."

"Wonderful analogy."

"Stay away gambler before I teach you a lesson in bothering the wrong person."

"You'd bet on that?"

"For my friends? Yes."

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"Shit..." (Y/N) muttered, arm up to cover her face from the harsh winds.

"Will you match my wager? Emanator?" The gambler asked, some stone having transformed him into a way more powerful version of himself.

Acheron had made buddy buddy with a guy called Welt Yang from the Astral Express while (Y/N) had been stuck in a deal with the Hounds of Penacony at that time... But since she trusted the guy and he trusted her, plus the Nameless were usually trust worthy, (Y/N) begrudgingly shook his hand.

Begrudging because even he refused to fight her, like why does this keep on happening?!

The Himeko lady was nice with the other two girlies that were just messing around but the only reason she was here is this annoying gambler outright posing a threat to all of Penacony and he kept threatening her friend... (Y/N) would be a bad friend if she didn't kick his ass.

But he transformed and if now flying so high in the air.

"Who knew that twink had it in him?" She muttered watching in mild horror how a golden glittery glow seeped into the dark sky before car sized golden poker chips started to fall from the sky in stacks and towards them.

Spotting the older woman move to cover the pinky and Welt lift his cane with some dark energy gathering at the end while the grey haired one ducked behind him, for the first time looking scared since the 20 minutes she has known her.

Lifting her own arms, flames lashing out form the holes in the gauntlets. throwing her arms out, the fire splattering on the ground like if it was liquid before throwing her arms up and it blasting in the sky to create a wall of solid flames in hope it would at least buy everyone some time for whatever they were going to do by acting like a shield. The red haired lady's machine or Welts cane would probably pack more of a punch against metal chips then flames no matter how versatile her's are.

But that was not needed.

"Ache--" Trying to call out for her friend but it was like... Like either time slowed down or she moved so fast it all looked like a blur.

Arm held up in shock, rain purring down on her instantly, ears filled with the crackling of the dreamscape struggling to hold together in that flash of red.

Her brain worked over time  in trying to grapple with the idea of Acheron doing this but the few images that were burned in her thoughts didn't lie. Nor did this monochrome with a hint of red that stood in front of her instead of the familiar purple.

"-ron..." Blinking, trying to comprehend what she saw, the sound of a guard clicking against a sheath still loud and clear in her ears, resonating through her body.

Acheron didn't really have anything to say and so she waited for the ranger to say whatever there was to say, maybe to her it was only a moment but for Acheron what happened was at least a while, a whole monologue, Aventurine's discussion and letting him walk on. That had happened at the same time as the rest anyway.

"I..." Tilting her head at (Y/N)'s word, it was rare she was so out of ideas what to say. "... I don't think I want to fight you."

Acheron couldn't help the little eye roll, the little smile, despite the serious situation still going on around them... Fighting is all you can think about (Y/N)?

"I did warn you." She said.

"Heard it, loud and clear." A still shocked mutter came back.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_KBc4B5JFoQ

Penacony was the most well known... Entertainment planet let's says... But of course it was not the only one.

Humans are known to go crazy under boredom, brain lacking stimulation and creating it itself.

And not only that but that doesn't matter in the long or short run.

What does is the neon lights of the rain city shining bright under the elemental flood being the only source of light to guide the people along.

Neon signs so bright it would hurt to look directly at them, blasting half garbled publicity that has been on loop for eras it seemed, sound distorted and drowned by the falling water.

The clicking off heels on pavement also barely heard under the ravaging strength of the pelting rain but a simple red umbrella was enough to keep the owner of it mostly protected from the elements, legs still splashed with the anger of the sky.

A woman ignored by most of the people making their way through the dark evening graced by this rain storm from hell. Not seen, passed over, even when she stood out with her colors.

Heh... She barely had any and not simply talking about her outfit being mostly white and purple with blacks and goldens... She didn't really care anyway, that's all she needed, but she did stand out against this sea of black and dark outfits.

She couldn't fully remember why she was here but she knew she needed to be, that was enough for her.
Not wanting to take out her phone and look through the hundreds of notes or pull out her sword to remember, not right now, just following where her legs were leading her.

"Hmm..." But like with after that dance with the memokeeper that was now a really distant memory, thinking a lot about a question did lead her to remembering the answer or the reason for the question itself, just like muttering the name annihilation gang let her remember them for a moment. "Oh... That's why." She muttered... Acheron hmming softly.

That's right, hired to try to stop a criminal... to try.

This criminal was supposed to be so elusive and yet known enough that people were ready to pay any amount to a mysterious galaxy ranger with not information about her available if she was able to just give them a hint of anything about them.

Acheron sighed... Was this the third? Fourth? Time she was hired for the same case in this month alone? Always coming back empty handed but that was not what mattered to her... It was just how to spend all this money since aeons did she get paid even for the barest info she could gather... She doesn't need this much.

Why couldn't it be that stelleron hunter? It would be easier... What's her name already? Lovecraft? Poe? It was some old timey author name... Even that would be easier... But no, she was stuck with always accepting these offers for this job... No matter her silent complaints tho, she would keep accepting these jobs each time. Time and time again.

With a sigh, folding the umbrella and abandoning it off to the side somewhere, she could always buy a new one, letting the rain instantly drench her, getting off the beaten paths of the tightly packed city, trough thin alleys and high underpasses, getting where the latest scene was.

A jeweler on the other side of the street she was now standing on, black and yellow tape strung up and windows broken in, the body of who was probably the owner hung out the broken window with the shards of the windows still in place piercing out of its body with three cop-like people working around the scene.

She didn't approach, eyes momentarily training on the untouched jewels... Or at least those that remained, knowing the criminal she was looking for was not the one to have taken them.

Who she is tracking is not really a criminal in the stealing sense... More like a murderer that can never be caught and all that is known about them it almost nothing: dressing in complete dark outfit that changes depending on the planet they pop up on, the only thing the same always it the whole head covering helmet in the shape of a wolf head and so that's why the IPC and the populous took up the title of Black Shuck to refer them, some old myth about a deadly dog at crossroads from amber eras ago or something.

Her eyes moved around, looking for a sign, something that would make a familiar feeling come through since, after all, she tends to forget thing which is why, rather than memories, she's accustomed to using emotions to capture what she normally wouldn't otherwise.

And she did.

It was faint, no one would really know unless they were Acheron, she was somewhat taught to look for it, how she remembered too always surprised her... It was not even feelings that made her do it tho they helped, it was outright knowing she needed... Seems like even THEY couldn't get everything out of her, she does still have a bit of color after all... Even aeons can't rip some things from humans if they truly hold into it with all of their strength.

It was like the slight glitching of the brick surface nearby... Only slightly since it didn't actually look like glitching but that was the closest to what she could describe it as at first glance. It was like the edges of reality were blurring, like the brick was... Not brick... It was not something different, it was bricks that were not, something that was and wasn't.

And it was almost a taunt left for her, a taunt to follow.

Following this trail, it was one mark the would fizzle out, but it being visible meant the closeness of the owner of it.

And she had some experience to be able to pinpoint the owner just by the shape and looks of these marks, by muscle memory able to filter out the info what such a blotch could give, it was like this: placing the mark and moving a meter to the right would result in a shift of its form but each time the same movements were repeated, always making the mark and moving a meter to the right would result in the same exact shift.

And so she lead herself to the roof of a dilapidated liquor store... How thematic... Wasn't it in a similar place they first met?

Holding the sword's hilt tho not pulling the scabbard off, she never did, hand over the hilt being flexed and ready to swing.

What sounded like the cracking of a glass sheet, understand it how you will, came behind her, making her bend her back to the side with a spin to the side, the heel of a boot passing at a hair from her cheek's high bone, feeling the rubber of it ghost over her skin.

Swinging the sword up and hitting ribs, sending the body flying hard into the roof exit of the building, the concrete cracking and breaking with a huge blast of dust into the air.

"Gah... Dammit... I thought I had you this time." The hiss of a distorted voice came as the cloud was quickly dissipated with help of the rain, the body pulling itself out of the slight rubble.

This time it was a black biker-punk-thingy-type of outfit: thick studded boots, slim-fit pants that seemed to lack pockets, a jacket that was really short with spikes on the shoulders and collar, exposing the slim midriff that was lacking anything to cover it, the sleeve bunched up at the elbows with half gloves that only covered the thumb to pointer fingers with spike band around the wrists... And of course the wolf head helmet.

"You'll never succeed." She shook her head, putting her sword away, hanging it in place instead of cutting down the criminal, still stepping closer, crossing the distance.

No one knew anything about this person... No one that wasn't Acheron at least.

Out of everything, she had clung to these memories like a rabid dog, no aeon should, would, could be able to rip them from her, it was what color she had left.

"I will get you one of these days." Reaching up for the helmet, actually removing it and watching it fade into that is-isn't hole of power as the head was shook out like a dog would, touching the revealed hair for a moment.

Purple eyes staring into (E/C) eyes lacking any pupils with a smile between cocky and loving visible on the gentle face.

Yes, these memories she wouldn't let herself forget... It all started one that planet damned by the stelleron: Pteruges-V.

A planet where humans lacked the feeling of fear, would give into their desires to fill the void left by the missing emotion and would become devils.

She had only visited once but such was the start of a story that shouldn't have been.

Her strong arms reaching out... But not to apprehend or retrain, no... To pass under the other woman's arms and meet up again, hands over each other and pressed on the other's back while her head rested on the upper chest.

The other looped her arms around her in a rougher type of hug, chin resting on top of Acheron's head.

Devil? Acheron didn't think so.

Murderer? She had her reasons.

Why could no one get close to even finding out who the Black Shuck was? Not only because of the criminal's own abilities but also because the gleam of a red blade and a hint of white hair would make sure of it if the criminal's own efforts fell a bit short.

"It has been a while." She said, content to remain like this for a while, it was so few and far between.

"It sure has darling." A chuckle came, voice clearly female without the mask to distort it. "Have you missed little ol' (Y/N)? I am flattered. Truly" She said.

It was on Pteruges-V she first ran into this fearless woman, already a horrid person back then. Blood already staining her hand by her actions.

She could have cut her down, just like how her, at the time, mission demanded, but she didn't.

She had listened, intrigued by feelings enough to lower her sword long enough.

(Y/N), much like that old-author named stelleron hunter, was looking for something, something Acheron had judged a good enough reason to let this wanted devil go.

As much of a murderer she was, as much of a bounty on her head that she got, it was all out of love.

It took  her a while to understand but (Y/N) had so much love to give.

"What did he do?" She asked her criminal... Yes, her criminal, no one else's, no one could get this close and live, either (Y/N) or Acheron herself would make sure of that.

"Underground trafficking of children."

"Mmm... I told you to not make such a scene after last time."

"Sorry darling but I couldn't help it, he deserve it."

Yes, love.

Tho (Y/N) had two ways of showing the love she looked for.

One was reserved for the darling galaxy ranger, the most mainstream version of love anyone could feel. It was a good love but not the other type.

And one was reserved to the rest of humanity.

She loved so much, so much that she'd promise those that couldn't would feel it through death.

The IPC tagged her as a murderer but each death rid the worlds of rapists, kidnappers, traffickers, dealers... The worlds were just not ready to accept that those people were the same as teachers, politicians, parents, cops... The dark truth these people hid would die with them out of love (Y/N) had for the people they had hurt when alive.

If the law couldn't love enough to protect people from these true devils then someone that only wanted love would be the greater devil and free the worlds of them through her own means.

Finally breaking from the hug but still standing close.

Pulling a little rolled up list from her pocket, Acheron held it over, (Y/N) plucking it from between her fingers and put it in her jacket's pockets.

There was more then one reason Acheron always took this assignment despite it being a slight burden at the end of the day, not only to see her, not only to be sure she was the one doing these missions... But also because of this.

That little list having names, planets, of the next up victims of the Black Shuck.

"Oh how lovely darling, you always know how to make my day."

"It is night."

"Haha! You know what I mean."

Love, the great driver of the universe.

And a devil from the aeon forsaken planet with no fear would uphold it.

"But because you were messy it means you'll need to go in hiding a bit as they will beef up controls and security." Acheron's hand resting on (Y/N) shoulder.

"Such a shame, it seems I'll need to stay with you a bit longer darling."

"How I hate it." She smiled a little as the other had a huge grin.

"FREEZE!!" The moment interrupted by the squad of cops rolling up through the door of the roof exit... The same she saw at the jeweler's. "Criminal scum!"

"Have you heard a patrol car roll up?" (Y/N) casually asked, not looking at the men but at her ranger.

"No, I think they might have followed me, I might not have been that discreet either."

"Hmm. I don't think they have reinforcement either." (Y/N) said. 

"I said freeze!!"

A sigh from the slightly taller criminal.

"Darling?" Tilting her head down like a puppy.

"Fine, you know I can't let you be caught." It was adorable how the moment someone was not her target, (Y/N) would always ask her for permission if the ranger was around. She crossed her arms on her chest, not envying these cops, probably IPC workers, for their soon to be fate.

"Ah I love you." For now only pressing a light kiss on her cheek, something that once again got a smile from the ranger. "Lovely people, you heard her! I can dispose of you!"

"St--" In a flash of those muddled realities, (Y/N) had slipped through and appeared behind them, hand slashing out, palming the back of the nearest cop's head yanking backwards but by the time he fell down, a hand shaped reality hole was on the back of his skull and the brain was flowing out of it in a gooey state, glitching in the way the bricks did tho the effect was already fading.

The next got side kicked in the throat before the same boot's tip slammed down into the ribs of the last one.

Pulling a knife out of the hole in reality to swing down into the temple of the rib-kicked dude, crouching over him, twisting the blade.

She barely felt the gust of wind under the rain but she saw the red flash, looking up to the left as Acheron clicked the sword back into the scabbard.

"Make sure you kill those with guns before moving on." She calmly said, watching the headless body drop the gun previously aimed at the criminal. "Or at least break their neck when you kick them there."

"Ah sorry, I underestimated their toughness, can you forgive me?" (Y/N) asked, passing a hand over her hair even if it didn't change anything since the rain just drenched all.

"It's not like I will remember to be mad."

"Liar." (Y/N) stood with a chuckle, looping an arm around her, pulling her against her. "When it comes to me you can't forget."

"No aeon could make me." She agreed. "You are my color."

"Lovely." much expected, giving her a kiss on the lips.

"Now now." Acheron pushed her back, finger pressing into her criminal's cheek to push her back. 

"Why are you so cruel? It has been months since I saw you, messaging is not the same darling." A kicked puppy pout.

"As much as I am for it... I've been in the rain long enough, there are dead authority members at our feet and I don't want to be another cliche... Let's get out of here first."

"Oh your wish is my command my darling." Grabbing her hand still on her face, kissing the back of her knuckles with a look in those (E/C) eyes the ranger loved so much. "Lead the way."

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Despite what lead to this point, what happened before this moment more precisely... It almost felt normal a lazy evening between a normal couple.

The lover of the universe and the galaxy ranger in the latter's rented hotel room for this somewhat doomed to failed mission.

The criminal with a bounty nearing the stelleron hunters' amount sitting on the couch in borrowed shorts and T-shirt that was almost too small for comfort as it was not made for her body type, the light of a not watched TV show filling the dark room. A hand resting on the back of said couch, the other tracing lazy circles on soft skin near the knee of the other woman sitting next to her in an almost exact match to her outfit if it was not for the color changing to it as both their outfits were drenched completely.

(Y/N)'s darling having her head casually on her shoulder as she watched the show carelessly, just needing to watch something as her arm lazily looped around the one touching her leg, like a loosely held plush would be held, knees touching.

There was much time before security would drop off and (Y/N) would once again vanish, for her next target to bite the dust, so tonight nothing was rushed, they'd have time for whatever later.

(Y/N) had long stopped watching the show, watching the ranger with a soft smile, admiring the lines of her face, the curve of her nose, the arch of her brow, everything was perfect.

Unlike the most well known person from Pteruges-V, Kafka from the stelleron hunters, (Y/N) motives were nothing short of just. While that woman wanted to know the feeling of fear to fill the hole carved into every inhabitant of that planet because of the lack of such feeling, (Y/N) had filled in the hole with love.

Dangerous love but love still.

And she was not letting go.

"Hmm?" Acheron looked up, feeling the kiss pressed on top of her head in her hair.

In this lighting the criminal was even more lovely, this light elevating all little details to her, this almost sickly black and white light with just a touch of color.

"I love you darling."

"Sappy." She said, not really the one to say those three words but (Y/N) didn't require them since both knew this was true.

A mad, mad love.

One between a criminal and a ranger.

One of taboo and hiding.

But neither cared for such was their life and nothing would make them change it.

And those eyes... Those damned eyes... Daring her in...

Reaching up, touching (Y/N) cheek, fingers ghostly light against her skin.

"Darling?"

"You are stupidly irresistible."

"Oh?"

"Mhm, you are hard to look at without doing anything."

"Oh darling... Show me~"

"I might."

----------------------------------------

"That all I have, they are like average height." Acheron gave a bored shrug, giving the info the barely found it to the one to have hired her.

"Thank you for your help, greatly appreciated."

She didn't answer, grabbing the credits with a sigh, so much for so little.

She didn't exactly remember why she accepted such a job but she knew she'll keeps accepting them.

That's the easiest way of finding her criminal for their next meeting.

------------------------------------------

Yes requestor, there is a hint of an innuendo in there... just in case if you one day request a smut for these two, so I can reuse this oneshot's established story.

Chapter Text

The snow on Orkron fell in thin, silent veils, tinted faintly by the planet's ever-dusky skies. Crimson light from twin moons filtered through the clouds like blood through gauze, illuminating the campsite Frebass and Acheron had built beside a frozen riverbank.

Frebass sat across the fire from her, Acheron, ever silent, ever watching.
Her blade rested in the snow, tip buried, hilt catching flickers of firelight. Frebass took a slow bite of a snow doughnut, hers, crafted with care despite the taste fading from her tongue. The texture alone brought back memories, which she clung to like they were air in the depths of IX.

Acheron didn't speak often, but tonight felt heavier.

"You know," Frebass said, breaking the hush, "I thought you were chasing revenge when we met."

Acheron looked up, lips parting as if to respond, but instead, she only nodded slightly, her eyes distant, reflecting not the fire but the void behind it.

Frebass smiled faintly. "I was wrong. You're not chasing anything, are you? You're enduring. Like me."

Their silence wasn't empty. It was full... Full of steps taken together, stories traded on sleepless nights, and that one evening they'd toasted marshmallows, their rare laughter echoing through the alien wilds of Orkron. Frebass cherished that sound; it had come from both of them.

She reached into her coat and pulled out the compass. Needleless, tuned not to magnetism, but to something deeper: the pulse of the Imaginary Tree. It was shaking now, trembling with the nearness of IX.

"Tomorrow," She said quietly. "We reach it."

Acheron nodded again. Her voice, when it came, was low and hollow with stars. "You don't have to go."

Frebass's fingers curled tightly around the compass. "But I do. You know that."

"I know," Acheron whispered.

For a while, neither of them moved. Snow continued to fall. The river of Nihility, as Frebass called it, would take her further. Acheron, ever the lone swordswoman, would remain because one of them had to carry the memory, because one of them wasn't willing to cross over.

"You'll forget me," Acheron said suddenly.

Frebass shook her head. "No. Even if I forget everything, I know I'll carry the echo of you with me. The way you waited beside the fire. The way your eyes softened when I couldn't taste the food like you, but you still pretended it was good."

They both smiled, barely.

That night, Frebass didn't sleep. She soldered the final piece of her diving suit together: a worn plate of iron etched with the symbol Acheron once carved into a tree, a little good luck charm. The next morning, she donned it, piece by heavy piece, until she could barely stand. Her boots sunk into the ice like anchors, grounding her for the last time.

Acheron stood at the edge of the fissure into IX, hair tangled in the wind, blade sheathed.

"Are you afraid?" She asked one last time.

Frebass didn't answer. She only stepped forward and pressed a kiss to Acheron's gloved hand, a simple gesture that could mean so much in so many ways. "No matter what I become in there, I want you to remember this."

She stepped back.

"Goodbye, Acheron."

And with that, she turned, her form slowly swallowed by mist, by the void, by IX itself. Acheron didn't cry. She never did.

But she knelt there long after Frebass vanished, her fingers brushing the fire-warmed medallion left behind, forgotten or on purpose, she'd never know.

A lifetime of silence. A memory erased.

And yet, somehow, the echo lingered beneath the veil in the fall of crimson snow.

She chose the abyss. And Acheron, the fleeting memory.

But for a moment, they walked the same path.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/JaJeEzpWND0

A fleeting memory.

And old touch.

A rotten dream.

A forgotten misery.

And empty soul.

-------------------------------------------------

A sigh.

The breath fogging up in the cold of the city.

The cold biting at her skin but she barely felt it, the red umbrella her only company and even then, winds and rain so powerful it was but a fleeting lie of a shelter.

She didn't truly know what or why she was here.

The only proof in her phone.

It was drenched and glitching out because of the water infiltrating it but she still clearly remembered the screen that showed up a few days ago.

It was a message from a number saved in her phone, a number without a name she recognized, picture of a flower as the profile picture so it didn't help.

A phone number there with the picture of a flower with no idea where it came from and when she had it.

She had scrolled up as far as it would go but it was always the same messages and that for many, maaaany, years.

Always a short '11:00 PM at Fuler's on the 03.08.th?' message from this unknown person and each and every time, Acheron had always, always, answered a simple 'yes'.

Who is this?

Why? 

Why would she?

Looking at the messages, hers were always sent hours later... Why?

She never had any answers... Or if she had, she always forgot until she next got a message from this forgotten number each year it seemed... She wished she could remember.

But it seemed like each year she always made the same choice... And she had nothing better to do, always seeming to instinctively be free around this time of the year.

Feelings were easy to remember and so, this feeling of even worse emptiness and hurt that came around this time was also something she wanted to have explained to her... Maybe this person could do it.

So she didn't answer but decided to find this place.

And so she was on this planet, on this rainy night, looking for this Fuler's place.

It took a while before she found the... Flower shop?

Why was it open at this time?

Weirder and weirder...

She still pushed the door open, leaving the umbrella open but put on the ground by the door.

The florist was on her phone, scrolling in boredom, making Acheron wonder about how all of this was connected.

"Finally, you're late this year."

"So you know me." The galaxy ranger said, mystery getting even deeper.

"Of course I do." The shopkeeper not understanding it was a genuine question as she moved to the shelf, looking through hundreds of flowers as if she was looking for something specific... Acheron should more or less bet on that since there would be no other reason for the woman to do this otherwise. "Always on the same year, for the same thing, like clockwork."

Acheron watched with a blank face but this hurt with no source was back seeing the singular green stem with a black flower that looked like a mix between the rose and the fluff of dandelion in the middle of it with a little paper tied to it be a string. 

Why did this flower bring a feeling of longing with it? Just what is she forgetting.

She grabbed it, gently, gentler then she thought capable with such unanswered questions swirling in her minds.

She... Was certain this was someone's favorite flower... Tho not her own so she couldn't place it.

"Same time next year?" The florist ripped her from her thoughts, Acheron looking up at the other woman.

She didn't know if she should but she still nodded. If this was really important it shouldn't be before she knew all facts that she should stop this.

"Make it so."

"Then see you next year." But she left without answering.

Only looking at the paper once outside, another address.

Sighing again, pulling out her phone for long enough to find it and walking over, not caring she forgot her umbrella as it escaped her mind.

"Just what's going on?" Muttering, looking up at the metal fencing, the metallic gate and what was passed it.

"You're late, you are always more on time."

She looked over at the old man that walked over, without a question reaching for the padlock on the gate and producing a key.

"I've been told so." She said. Yet another person that knew her... Would he know why her mouth feels dry? Her shoulders heavy? Her heart in pain?

Pushing it open, hearing it creak from rust and age as she stepped in first even if she waited for the old man to come in too.

"Well, it is not my business to pry into yours life... As always, I left a little light on so you can see."

"Alright. Thank you." She walked off on the gravel path, looking for that light.

The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating, the closer she arrived to a destination she didn't remember.

It took all her strength to not crush the flower in trembling hands... But why are they trembling? Why does she feels like her world will come crashing down?

"Just who was lost?" She muttered... Making her way on, more questions coming to be simply as this was no park. "Who are you?" She muttered, was she meeting an old forgotten friend? What? Because no people met in a cemetery for no reasons.

Maybe they had a promise to visit someone together? Someone that liked this sort of flower? Or was is more morbid? Some illegal dealings of corpse robbing she always agreed too? Because those messages came each year and that meant someone was sending them, drawing her here, each and every time.

Looking through the partially covering leaves of the trees, what a horrible rainy night.

But the warm glow of the lantern-like light soon reached her, making it easier to cut through, off the beaten path, to make it over.

The light sat at the foot of an ordinary grave, nothing special to it, no marble, no decorations, no laminated picture of the dead, only a mostly overgrown name and date carved into the stone. 

"I suppose this is for you." Acheron looked at the flower in wonder before putting it on the stone and, against what she wanted to do, put her hand on it.

She hadn't felt such emptiness after she strode into THEIR shadow, black and white with a hint of red... But just the sight of this place was enough to remind her that despair is real and she can still feel it.

She waited a while, seeing if someone would come... But only she remained, alone in the rain.

"Mmm..." Was she blown off? Should she have actually texted back?

And this pain, it almost reminded her to cry.

Crouching down enough to reach the lamp and lift it to the inscription on the stone.

The moss having overgrown most of it, grabbing a part of the plant and ripping it off, throwing it over her shoulder.

Slowly, uncovering a name.

"You--" 

---------------------------------------------

You may think it somewhat strange, perhaps even rude, but I wish to know... Have we met somewhere before?

Perhaps we have.

You evoke memories of an old friend. In the haze of my recollections, she stood shoulder to shoulder with me.

Well silly, think a bit. We might follow different paths but our roads do often collide.

 I... tend to forget things — which is why, rather than memories, I'm accustomed to using my emotions to capture what I normally wouldn't otherwise.

I am aware, we've known each other for a long time and as much as it hurts, I accepted that. No matter how many times I need to meet you again for you to remember me, I'll gladly take to this familiar game.

Do you still remember me?

I'll always do, while you stride closer and closer to THEM, my own path leads me to an inevitable too... And when that comes... I'll go towards it with a smile, for I will remember you R--Acheron... But let me ask you a question before paths pull us apart and you inevitably forget... I am a reminder of what you lost, what you failed, the destruction of two worlds... Do you truly wish to forget me?

---------------------------------------------

"No..." She breathed out, lips pulled in a thin line, eyes narrowing in sadness.

Did this happen each year? Remembering her each year? Reliving the agony of knowing she'll forget her over and over again?

She... Lost her long ago... The one person she saved that day by walking into THEIR shadows, the one person the remembered the lost of those two worlds to a single slash.

As a true galaxy ranger she was hard to follow, harder to remember, but they'd always meet, time and time again.

She still remembers her touch, her laugh, her eyes... Those beautiful eyes... And yet she would forget once again and it was horrendously painful to know Nihility takes even these memories away.

Even now, were they just friends? Actually enemies? Lovers? Acheron would never be able to tell... And she'd have only a cold and silent tombstone to ask for answers that would never come.

And being here, in this situation, memories of every last time she was here, the same revelation, the same realization, the same pain, came back to her.

She... She had took this life... In the end... She did entirely destroy two worlds... Saving no one.

---------------------------------------------

I can't do it.

You must, only then will my goal be complete, such is my script.

I can't kill you. Not you... Not you...

It can't be anyone else. My script ends here, with my death being at the hands of another "ranger" it will spur on rumors, rumors that will once come to pass, a man called Boothill, I met him on my travels... He needs to hate you, want you dead... And one day invitations will be sent out, you won't remember this but you'll take someone's invitation and it will attract his attention, he'll track you, setting a series of events in motion that will save the universe... But I've already said too much... Tho I think Elio knew I would blabber and that you forget so that's why he gave me so much to say.

But why me?! I can't do this not to you!

Oh it needs to be you as THEY have touched you, you'll forget and yet remember in your own way.

...

...

No.

No?

You asked me once, I don't know when, if I wanted to forget you... I don't.

You are a cog in the script, if this is not done, the world as we know it will be lost to Order... Only one touched by the sleeping and shapeless will crack through the truth.

---------------------------------------------

She doesn't remember how that discussion ended but there was a grave, there was a death.

She killed the last person that knew the pain of what she did.

She... She was the messages? But how?... She'd think of that later.

Was it rain or tears on her face, she couldn't tell.

...

Standing again, backing from the tombstone.

Order. Boothill. Script...

Whatever those were, she'd soon forget... But she knew enough of destiny's slave to know that it would come to pass.

"I'll fulfill your last request... Even if I die doing so."

Looking at the flower with a heavy heart and walking off, almost dragging her feet.

---------------------------------------------

She looked at her phone, sitting in a rented room for the night.

It was mostly dry, it should work now, turning it on.

And instantly seeing those messages.

She thought about it.

Destiny's slave's prediction always happened, she didn't need to keep doing this... But just as she had answered long ago, she would never wish to forget her.

Typing in the short 'yes' in the message box and sending it.

Instantly a notification of a reminder being set popped up... Ah... A pre-saved message that would send each year if she agreed to not forget.

She wondered how fast this would all slip her mind again and it was painful to think about that but... There is no way she'll let herself forget this forever.

Swiping the notification away.

Looking at the flower on the profile picture before closing the app.

"See you next year... Maybe I'll have been able to remember you a bit longer by then." Acheron muttered into the cold and empty room.

Alone.

--------------------------------------------------

It was a message from a number saved in her phone, a number without a name she recognized, picture of a flower as the profile picture so it didn't help.

A phone number there with the picture of a flower with no idea where it came from and when she had it.

She had scrolled up as far as it would go but it was always the same messages and that for many, maaaany, years.

Always a short '11:00 PM at Fuler's on the 03.08.th?' message from this unknown person and each and every time, Acheron had always, always, answered a simple 'yes'.

Who is this?

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/7TCncxWNcPU

"Promise me one thing."

"Yeah, of course. What?"

"That you'll never forget me."

"Just that? It will be easy. Why ask such weird thing?"

"Just... Promise me."

"Alright alright, I promise."

------------------------------------------------

It was... All so confusing.

This unknown place.

These strangers around her.

This... Her.

Looking out the window, arms crossed on the little table and chin resting in her palm as she looked out the window, tail gently swiping on the wooden boards of the floors.

Who was this her again?

Looking away from the window, her mind feeling empty of all.

It didn't feel like she was forgetting things, no she could tell from instinct that the outfit of those strangers were medical outfits, but it was like she didn't know. It felt like she never learned, like she just came into existence today and her mind was a blank slate.

Looking back at the setting sun of the sky as the door opened, a woman roughly her height with also horns and a tail entered, carrying a platter.

"How long do I need to stay here? I'd love to go out and watch the sun set." She said with a smile.

The stranger sporting a tired yet sad look.

"Like always, the answer is no, you can't leave I'm sorry." She shook her head.

"Like always hmm?" She asked softly. "How many times have I asked this then?"

"Each day, you ask this each day." The woman put the platter on the table, some prepared meal on it that was not really her interest.

Each day... And the setting sun... She doesn't even remember this morning, morning always comes before the setting sun... Will she forget this too? Probably if this has been going on for as long as the stranger claimed.

She watched the stranger walk across the unfamiliar room, picking up a hardback tho thin book and bringing it over.

"What's this?" She grabbed it, looking at it before opening it.

"Your diary, you always leave it in the least looked in places it seems but it's yours. You usually always asked for it but you seem to even forget that these days."

She waited for the stranger to leave before flipping through the pages of the unfamiliar book.

Words she doesn't remember writing on days she'll never remember.

A frowning coming over her face, how long will she remember this? How long before she forgets again? Or is she already forgetting?

Reading through the pages it was like reading the life of a stranger.

It was like fantasy.

Stories of friendships, of people that were met, of tragedies that were lived through.

And slowly, as she advanced on, the deterioration of a mind, first forgetting small things like their keys or the safe code, soon forgetting the names of people known their whole life and where they lived.

A slow but constant descent into madness, into being nothing.

This person was not her and yet, it was her past. This was her diary even if she doesn't know who gave it to her.

With each page, ramblings of a dying mind and soon, only blank pages.

Looking up, the date on the calendar she just noticed... The last entry in this diary was decades ago.

She closed it with a heavy sigh, looking at the food in front of her... Since when was it there? It's still warm to the touch... Probably for not that long...

Holding her chin in her hand, slowly eating, let's not waste it.

This person in the diary, it didn't seem like anyone she knew and yet they were one and the same.

Empty, that's what she was.

And...

She...

Was fine with that...

She'll never have a past and she won't remember her days, a mind in morsels.

Yes it was saddening to be aware of nothing but soon that sadness would fade.

And even if she doesn't remember, she has a feeling that she has come to terms with this long ago.

------------------------------------------------

"Sorry, I forgot, I'll make it up to you next time."

"You have been really forgetful."

"Hehe yeah... I am just tired... W-what if I treated you to some food hmm? Would that get me forgiven."

"Hmm... Maybe?"

"Then let's go."

------------------------------------------------

"When have you arrived?" She asked the man that has been talking for a while.

He stopped, looking at her with a sad look that he tried to mask but she could see it.

Sitting with him in an unfamiliar room, why would she be talking to a stranger?

But her feelings, those things not tied with memories, told her he was no stranger to her... Then why can't she remember this somewhat handsome looking white haired man?

"I've been here for a while my friend, I came to visit like each month. The doctors say it is getting even worse and I wanted to see for myself so I came earlier."

"Worse? Is this a hospital? I don't remember getting here."

"It is the alchemy commission's headquarters, they've been helping you with this."

"This?"

"Yes, being a vidyadhara should make you well adapted to long life but something must have gone wrong with the previous rebirth cycle, the more time passes... The least you remember us, any of us."

She tilted her head, it felt like she should know all of this but she didn't, the pain on the fake smile making her sad for him.

It felt like she was forgetting, forgetting not in the usual way but in a way that the knowledge had never entered her mind to begin with, like a being willed into existence right now with no help whatsoever in orienting herself in this brand new world.

"I wish I could free you from the burden I must be."

"You are not my friend, I just wish you hadn't been struck with such fate until the next rebirth."

"Can I get your name? Even if I'll end up forgetting it?"

"Of course, like always my friend. I'm Jing Yuan and we've known each other for a long time."

"Well hi Jing Yuan."

He sighed heavily.

"I wish everything could just go back to normal."

She smiled sadly at him.

"I know, and I'm sorry... But I feel like I have already fine with it. I'll forget all of this as you said so there is no use crying as I will forget why I was crying to start with."

"You always say the same thing... Seems some things can't be changed."

"If you say so."

------------------------------------------------

"Maybe you should get that looked at, this is not normal."

"I'm fine."

"You are not, this is not normal, this shouldn't be happening."

"What shouldn't be?"

"That's it, I am bringing you to the medics."

------------------------------------------------

"I see that nothing has changed."

She looked over to the white haired woman the stood in the unfamiliar room she was in, making a cup of tee.

"Nothing?"

"No." She put the cup for her on the table. "This wanting to be as helpful as you can while disregarding your condition."

She looked at the blindfolded woman with a head tilt.

"Ah... So you already forgot that... It hasn't even been that long since I last mentioned it."

"Seems I have trouble remembering things?"

"Yes, last time I was here it was just bigger patches of few hours of amnesia here and there but now... All is going missing, one moment I can be talking to you and next that person will be gone."

"I'm sorry for the pain I cause."

"Mmm worry not, this is the first time in a long time we met again, first in a few centuries. I too am afflicted with something that robbed me from a life but at least I had one."

"I suppose you are right." Taking the cup and sipping from it. "I don't have a past to remember and forget that I can't remember... Mmm I like this."

"You showed me this blend long ago, it was your favorite."

"Yeah, I can tell."

"Muscle memory, mind forgets but body, emotions, scars, remember."

"I suppose, I just wish I wasn't so forgetful... Why are you here again?"

"I came back to given myself over to the authorities for my acts and I came to say goodbye to my friends one last time."

"I wish I could remember you but we both realize that even this conversation is for the winds soon enough."

"I wish it wasn't, you didn't deserve to lose yourself."

"Hmm..." Smiling, trying to comfort this stranger, not knowing why they were talking but she could see on her face, in the way she gripped that cup tightly she got from somewhere, that she knew her. "I don't know you, but I feel like there is no reason to be sad over it for me. I have the feeling I've come to accept this long ago. What reason is there for sadness when I'll be unable to remember and be back in this loop of empty knowledge."

"That's one way to say it." The woman said while she took a sip from her cup, not knowing when she was given it but it was still warm so it must me not long ago... Maybe she should ask her what blend of tee this is, it taste great.

"How long will you be staying?"

"Not for long, I have others to visit and have people waiting for me outside."

"You have others to meet?"

"Mhm, they were your friends too."

"Well tell them I say hi even if it can't count for much as I don't remember."

"I'll pass on the message." The woman stood, walking to the door. "Goodbye, it was nice to see you again."

She just waved with a smile.

"Likewise."

Smiling until the door closed before sighing as she let it drop, why was this person even talking to her to begin with and who were these friends mentioned?

She stood up as she went to check if the door was locked, always lock the door for safety. At least she remember doing that for now while she seems to be forgetting everything like a newborn with no guidance... Hell... She can't even remember her own name...

Satisfied when it was, turning around.

"Oh wow." Walking to the window with a grin, looking out it and at the red and orange sky, the sunset is so pretty, maybe she should go out to look at it in person from a nice little spot.

She looked around this unfamiliar room, only seeing a bed and little water boiler a shelf with books, a door to probably the bathroom and this table with two chairs.

"Hmmm?" Turning to the table.

Reaching out, she picked up the half empty cup on the table, she was probably drinking that... But why is there a second mostly full cup there too? Was she awaiting a guest? She can't remember...

------------------------------------------------

"I am sorry but who are you?"

"Please stop playing!"

"Dear child why are you shaking me? Why are you crying? Did I do something?"

"Please stop... Please..."

"Child?"

------------------------------------------------

She blinked, watching the little girl with tail and horns rant about something.

But since when? When had she gotten here?

"Is everything alright child?" She asked, kneeling down to her height to not be as intimidating.

"Yes! No matter what I do I can't help you!" She stomped her foot. "You aren't even able to remember what happened last hour anymore."

She tilted her head, hearing the pain in her voice. Looking her over, her outfit reminded her of medical personal she thinks? That seems logical. Was this child the doctor? What was wrong? Why did she need a doctor?

She can't remember... It felt like her mind was empty, she can't even remember her own name currently.

"I tried everything but you keep forgetting about me, about your friends, about breakfast."

"I'm sorry." She sat on the ground cross legged... Now that she thought about it she doesn't even remember her own name... Or anything really.

This didn't feel like what she thought forgetting was, it was like she was just born into existence and she didn't know anything, that she hadn't learned anything.

"Why can't you remember? Why can't you get better?" The tears of the little dragon girl hurt her more then she thought they would. She must have been someone important to her before... This forgetting of her life... Not just her life but who she is... She can't even remember her own name and why was this child here? She didn't know but it felt like she needed to reassure her.

"I wish I could, I'm sorry I don't and I'm sorry if I was important to you and can't remember you. I wish I wouldn't be hurting you."

"Why did you need to forget me?" A sniffle and those tears, they tugged at her heart for some reason.

Bailu was long aware of her teacher, the vidyadhara assigned to her after her rebirth, had some problems.

Always forgetful and clumsy and laughing when the young vidyadhara scolded her for being so head in the clouds.

She had succeeded playing it off as being a dummy and a little idiot.

But that was before more and more was missing from behind her eyes.

No longer seeming to recognize the pictures in the frames, forgetting the hobbies she was so proud off, forgetting to come pic her up form the alchemy commission after a long day of work.

It seemed off, how much she was forgetting.

Bailu did all she could, trying all remedies, all treatments, but nothing worked.

Those once loving eyes that shined with life and care were dull with the emptiness of a voided mind and always carried a sense of loss of self and confusion in them.

The happy woman that would tease her about her grades, the one that would read her bed time stories even when she insisted she was too old for them, the one that would wake her up with pancakes, the one that made her interested in working at the alchemy commission, the one that carried her on her shoulders and would run around under the orders of Bailu to help her catch a cycrane straight from the air.

Was gone.

All that remained was this eternally bored looking, often confused shell of a self that spent most of her days looking out the window without a thought behind those eyes.

Gone.

She was gone.

The closest being to a mother, a sister, a cousin, a teacher, a friend, a someone... An anyone to her... Was gone.

Gone and never to return.

Gone, gone, gone!

And no matter how much she learned, how much she worked, she could do nothing to stop it.

The arms tightly wrapped around made her cry even more.

A hug now so foreign from a woman that knew not of her or their past, know not even of what she ate this morning.

She backed up, hands on Bailu's shoulders before cupping her face and rubbing the tears away.

"I'm sorry I can't remember." She said again, voice soft but not as soft as Bailu knew it as, not as confident, not as caring, it was like a stranger replaced her. "You don't need to help me... I'm fine with this." She said with a small sad smile.

But Bailu wasn't fine with it.

"When I forget don't come back... I have the feeling deep inside you keep coming back and hurting yourself as I am won't remember you once again... So stop coming back... Don't hurt yourself on this... I'm fine with this."

But she knew for the moment and Bailu know and would remember for much longer.

Despite the pain.

Despite the feeling of loss despite her standing there.

Bailu will come each and ever day, like she has for a long long time now.

And she'll never give up trying to help her.

She'll try for as long as she can.

As long as she needs to live this life until rebirth.

Since...

After all...

She had promised her a long time ago to never forget her.

And she won't.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9tG1RqATMyA

"Can you promise me one thing, my friend?"

"Why do you sound so morose? It is like the world is ending tomorrow."

"... My friend."

"... You know something I don't."

"There will be a time when I'll be no more, in such a world I would like for you to help them."

"You are too fond of them, and a time you are no more? Are you unwilling to say or you just can't?"

"That is for me to know. So promise me to look after them?"

"... I'll do what I can."

"Thank you my friend."

------------------------------------------------

The Astral Express, the train that travels the path of trailblaze left by the great Akivili, aeon of the path.

Many nameless boarding it, many getting off, throughout the centuries, moving through space and time.

But the Astral Express had a few consistencies throughout its eternal voyage.

One being the train itself, dare it break down, stall or derail, the express would always remain true to itself.

The second was the conductor, a little animal on two legs, floppy ears and a cute little red outfit, Pompom. Never getting of the express but the express was never seen without his presence.

And... And then there was--"You seem in such deep thought miss, credit for your thoughts?"

Her thoughts were dissipated by a sultry voice from outside her own mind.

Hmmm... Right... She's on Penacony in place of Welt who was barred from entering after his black hole cane was found out because some Acheron named lady mentioned it out loud in the vicinity of cameras... A little hassle but she didn't really care.

More precisely, she was in the golden hour, the empty golden hour... She could have followed Himeko, March, that Acheron and the newest trailblazer to meet with Aventurine but she made her way away from them.

She was looking at the screens and watching the fight with the stoneheart... He had style but not like she did.

Her rich black boots reaching up her calves, the left one being knee height, wearing frayed black shorts with useless belts hanging off them, an exposed midriff with a simple stark white top, over that a long sleeved red mantel with coat tails, a golden trim on the edges and the stiff collar of it. Her hair a space pitch black with white undertones and eyes... her eyes were always what caught the attention of all, the left on was red around the edged and fading to golden around the pupil and the right one was the opposite, the outside golden and the inside red.

Despite being member of the Nameless, Valeythrax also known simply as Val, was not really the one to blaze a trail, never having set out on one and Pompom would be the one to cover her ass if needed to shake down the other crew members. And if she did go out she always watched from the back, intervening only when needed.

Penacony is really a mess of a trailblaze, she sure hopes they figure out how to bring harmony make order in it before it is too late and she is forced to act, which would really be bothersome.

Ah, her thoughts are getting away from her, she has something to deal with here.

"My thoughts are worth much more then a simple credit... Miss Black Swan." Looking over at the woman that came out of nowhere, memokeepers have it so easy in the dreamscape.

"So you know who I am."

"I might have just left the express not long ago but think not that I have been left in the dark."

"Shouldn't expect anything else from a Nameless but tell me. Don't you think your companions would need help? Aventurine is not to be laughed at." Standing next to each other, looking up at the screen.

"He is formidable yes but they won't need my help."

There was something... Intriguing about this woman.

It was not often that the memokeeper was left stumped about who someone was.

With all the memories that had been gathered by the past and present memokeepers someone should have never shown themselves as such an enigma, not even the enigmata can hide that convincingly.

And yet, she had found this Nameless who was a complete mystery to any senses of memories.

Last... Time something similar had happened it was not to this level and it had ended badly for her, staring into the abyss and the abyss staring back in a world of monochrome with a drop of red... "Are you asking me?"... Yeah it really didn't end that well.

But this time it was not the same eternal abyss tearing at her mind.

Black Swan was faced with a wall she never had seen.

To the touch it was a firm type of soft, like a stressball would be, but it was an iridescence covered surface that let no memory evade its clutches.

Truly and utterly impenetrable.

"Hmm..." Black Swan looked at the woman. "I told you my thoughts are worth more then a credit." She watched her push of the wall and walk away.

Had... She realized? She watched her go, walk off towards... Somewhere.

No one should be able to tell where a memokeeper had gone, much less in the memories.

"Interesting." She said to herself.

--------------------------------------------

"Took you a while."

Black Swan was taken by surprise, which, was unusual.

Turning to the mystery woman who was grinning ear to ears.

"I thought you'd never wake her up."

"I just coaxed her in the right direction. The others will need her help to break Ena's dream." Black Swan simply said. "But it seems you already got yourself awake before any of us had."

"Trust me, whatever you think you know about me is a lie memokeeper. No matter what you see or hear is not half the truth. I help Dan Heng in the archives, I make sure Himeko's coffee is stocked, I listen to Welt's in-understandable rambles, I tuck March in bed as if she was a baby, I make sure Stelle doesn't stuck her head in trash... But that's not a smidgen of what I am so stop digging around memories will you?" The smile suddenly seemed threatening.

This was a dreamscape, memokeepers were meant to reign master almost in such a place and yet Black Swan felt like once again, there was another hunter between these walls.

"So you knew?" She asked with a head tilt.

"Don't try to get in my mind memokeeper. You looked in the mind of a self-annihilator already so I'd think you'd be more careful but what I see is that you learned nothing, near death experiences aren't meant to be sought out."

"And would you answer my questions if I asked them instead?"

"Do you believe I would?"

"No, the is no chance you'd do it. No matter how much I help your crew for our commune interest none have even been able to tell me your name, willingly or not."

Anything that included this woman in an memories was a fuzzy mess, like someone pours ink over some film tape, despite most of that ink being rubbed off, there were still many parts that would never be legible again.

It was like an anti-meme in the ways of IX, the aeon of nihility, making everything fade into nothingness... But this didn't feel like nihility. This didn't feel like darkness ripping her apart, this was something keeping her out and away.

"You are correct... But even if I told you my name it wouldn't be of much use as you wouldn't be able to get anything from it."

"Don't be so enticing."

"You want to try? Fine, I'll give you my full name, let's see what you can do with it." She walked over, heels clicking in the silent hall, leaning in so she could whisper in her ear. "Valeythrax."

Black Swan didn't like the feeling of insignificance that settled over her, it was as if she already knew no amount of search would yield any results, because such didn't exist.

Shaking herself out, with her arms crossed, Black Swan didn't really enjoy not having control over situations she was meant to lead, much less with people she couldn't predict.

"But just call me Val, shorter and easier pronounced." The woman, this Val, stepped back. "Good luck then, memokeeper." She tilted her head. "Maybe you should go, you have some order to bring back to Panecony don't you? They are waiting."

"Know that I will find out what I am looking for."

"Then I am looking forwards to it."

------------------------------------------

But try as she may.

Each and every lead dried up like a drop of dew in the hottest of summers.

She had never found herself faced with such a wall.

It almost obsessed her in a way nothing ever did before.

No lightcone, no thought, no memory, no books, no conversation lead her anywhere.

Most recently she had tried talking to Himeko, the navigator of the express, since she was on the express the longest but all she got was the story she already knew. Himeko finding a crash express and fixing it up while Val already living on it didn't care to fix or help fix it, letting her do it if she really wanted to do it and then Pompom appeared.

That meant Val was the oldest Nameless of the current age but she looked younger then both Himeko and Welt.

And even the crew of the express knew very little about the woman as it was. It was the Pompom case all over again, no one in the crew knowing where he actually came from or what he is but where the express is there is Pompom... and Val too it seems.

Black Swan had never met such an impasse the Fulli the remembrance himself couldn't give answers... Maybe he wasn't willing but she'd never know that.

Hell they even figured out what Acheron was before Val who was not working on hiding herself like Acheron with her galaxy range lies. She had given her her name and that should have been enough for something... all Black Swan came up with is that that name never even existed and yet someone had it.

She was running in circles and she knew it so she didn't expect the answer to present itself to her from the holder of it one night.

"I never knew memokeepers could enjoy a drink, I thought they gave up their bodies."

"We are still in the dreamscape even if on this ship, I can still enjoy things." This time it had been this Val that had walked up on her.

"You did well finding those fake bombs."

"You could have helped." She said back in the same tone.

"You didn't need my help."

"And when did they last need your help?" Putting down the glass of the drink she didn't really like anyway, looking at the weird eyed woman.

"Hmm when was it last time?" She muttered, leaning on the counter as Val thought. "It was a while ago."

"Can you not tell me more? I fear that I need to admit defeat in front of your mysteries Val" A small disappointed head shake. "I find no starting point to even look at."

"Already giving up memokeeper?"

"Would you want me to keep hitting my head against an immovable wall? That's not very nice of you."

"I wonder how Fulli would take it, you failure at gathering a piece of the unknown." That unsettling grin was back.

"Not all knowledge can be preserved, once in a while even us memokeepers come up short." Black Swan wondered where this was going since she couldn't foresee what might come from the closed off mind. 

"Even if I were to show you, I doubt much of it can be of use to you."

"Why don't we test that?"

"I told you, you don't seek out death, you run from it."

"Death is but a small hurdle in what we seek and after all, even death must be understood on day."

"You're bold, I give you that... Fine." Pushing off the counter, Val drummed her fingers on it for a moment before lifting her hand up and holding it up. "I'll show you. Not all because I don't want to be the first to kill an overconfident memokeeper."

"You'd show me? Like that?" Where's the catch?...

"Sure, so be it before you make yourself sick over looking for answers."

"Why, what would you gain from it?"

"As entertaining as it is watching you run around like a headless chicken, all fun has its end and I would much prefer keep talking to you then to deal with consequences you can't imagine at the end of this road you set on... And I believe what you'd learn would be of no use to you."

"Such confidence, next time buy me a drink first."

"You bought yourself one before I could... Now, shall we?"

"With pleasure." Grabbing the offered hand.

Weightless.

She had no physical body and yet it was only now she could say that she truly felt weightless.

Like in a sea of empty void but not an abyss of nothingness.

A see of memories flooding through every little cracks.

Finding herself unable to hold out against the floods.

Every little crack in her mind, infiltrated by thoughts not her own, memories of endless times, drifts of current drowning her in their complexities.

While Acheron's mind was a void of nothingness... This void was one of everything.

No matter what, the agony of such tumultuous cacophony of unending new memories.

It had felt like someone grabbed her by her scruff to yank her out of the flows of time and space when she could first breath again.

Feeling like a little mouse, wet and shivering, yanked from the rapids of a river immeasurably large that she wouldn't have survived by her own strength.

"I tried to be gentle but it seems even gentle was a train wreck."

Looking up.

The void had turned into shades of white... She couldn't understand... It wasn't actually shades, it was the exact same white without shades but somehow she was able to make out the shapes around her.

It was like fake stiff grass but it felt like a smooth shapeless ground that she was touching... but it still looked like grass... Or the image of grass? It was like an overlayed memory of what it should be but wasn't, messing with her senses.

Looking up-er, the flat shapeless white stood on a none existing incline with Val being the only thing looking like it should, getting of the fake incline.

Black Swan let her help her up to her feet, reaching a hand out in wonder to the tree that should be there but was just touching a smooth flat surface again despite seeing the tree in it.

"You'll get used to it." Val said. "For mortals this place in a labyrinth of lost thoughts and twisted memories. I don't see what you do but what you see are echoes of my memories."

"So you don't see this?"

"I don't know what you are seeing, for me it is just a wall, the wall of a long endless office with drawers upon drawers with memories stored in each while you see a representation of the memories in it and yet only feel a flat surface under your touch. That's all I know from the last person that has been in here a long, long ago."

"I think I understand why your thoughts are worth more then credit."

"And this is just the tame part of it, a part mortals can bare... Are you satisfied now?"

"Just what are you?" Black Swan looked at Val.

"I guess that's a no..." A deep breath. "Don't tell me you haven't figured it out, it is on the tip of your tongue isn't it?"

Black Swan's eyes jumped around the place as she silently argued with her own thoughts for a moment before looking back at Val.

"Is believing an aeon can look like this so complicated?" Val asked with a head tilt. It kind of was. "True, this is not my original body but you know Aha once passed himself off as Akivili? And how Akivili himself had a human form?"

"How would an aeon escape all of the universes radar tho?"

"Simple... In it's technicalities, my path exists no more."

"But you should be gone like Ena was why Xipe the harmony took over."

"and was she really truly gone? No, it just took the Oak family and Ena had been back... I see you still don't get it, not that you should."

"Even the remembrance doesn't know about this."

"Valeythrax, aeon who's path coincides with elation but Aha, fond of hilarity with his own twist to it, left the pathless aeon of trickery alive. Another name of mine would be Imitation... Want to know why the path of the trailblazer has not flickered out? Simple, a crude Imitation puppet's it."

Black Swan didn't voice it but her face spoke volumes.

"Yes the Oak's have brought back Ena momentarily but a handful of nameless can't keep the trailblaze alive... I promised my dread friend that I would look after them, after his people, after he was no more. Akivili built the path, I am just the janitor keeping it operational while Aha laughs about my fate of existing without a purpose."

"That's... A sad existence." Black Swan ended up saying.

"It was, a forgotten, pathless, basically useless aeon holds the reigns of a path she can do nothing to change... The Elation indeed has a unique sense of humor, part of which I partially have as the Trickery, the Imitation, as without fun there is no living."

"That's was my wild goose chase."

"Yeah, it was fun but I guess you are much more interesting to talk too then to send on useless errands."

Next moment Black Swan's hand had been dropped.

She blinked, back in the dreamscape, just... How quick had that all happened? Minutes? Seconds?

She looked at her own hand.

"I... Suppose you are right... An aeon forgotten and pathless because of the whims of another aeon and, in her words, the janitor of the trailblaze path to keep it working... No way they would believe me even with my memories."

"Told you so... So... Can I buy you a drink?"

Black Swan laughed a little.

"Fine, sure, let's do that miss aeon."

"Please don't do that."

Chapter Text

In the shimmering folds of a dreamscape, where reality blurred like watercolor bleeding through parchment, she appeared.

Not with grandeur.

Not with fireworks.

But with a giggle.

Black Swan blinked, her pen still poised mid-air, and she thought she was alone in her own dream, which was unexpected.

 She let her pen vanish into sparkles as she walked through her own memories; she strolled through this particular subconscious tapestry, an unusually bright and vibrant construct compared to the usual dream fragments she cataloged in her own or others' minds.

It was like she entered an ownerless dream by accident. How interesting.

The trees were blue. The clouds shimmered with a golden hue, almost like Nanook's blood. The ground sang softly under her heels, almost giggling at her presence here. And in the center of it all stood a girl, spinning in circles like a child lost in wonder, dancing to an unheard sound.

She had hair like ink dropped into clear water, with strands shifting shades with every twirl as if this ink was mixing and melding with the hair but never fully becoming one with it, and those eyes that shimmered between starlight and mischief. Her dress was made of silk and stardust, light enough to ripple with her laughter itself.

Black Swan narrowed her eyes. That's not a memory. Not even a projection. 

Not quite a dreamer either...

"You're new," She said softly, voice lyrical as always, as if Black Swan herself was not the intruder here. She clasped her hands behind her back with a present smile on her face.

The girl stopped spinning and looked at her, grinning widely, as if she had expected her. 

"Took you long enough! I thought dreamwalkers were supposed to be fast."

Black Swan tilted her head. 

"Memokeeper, actually. And what are you, exactly? I've never seen anyone quite like you before." Already producing her quill, writing right in the air to register this being for Fuli, it would manifest as a light cone once she wakes up if she writes it down with this quill.

The girl skipped closer, bare feet not touching the ground, or maybe they did, but the earth itself maybe was bending out of the way. "A mistake. A spark. A whisper someone forgot to wake up from." She winked. "You can call me Lyra, tho, if you want me to have a name."

Black Swan's quill paused in midair, catching starlight. "You're self-aware." Usually, being of the dreamscape, even errors, aren't aware they are errors.

Lyra leaned in, nose almost touching hers as the forgotten whisper didn't seem the have a concept of personal space. "So are you. Is that rare?"

"Yes," Black Swan murmured, studying her closely. "Dream entities usually don't have such... Personality."

"I'm special," Lyra said proudly. "But I don't know why I'm here. Just that I've always been here. Playing. Waiting."

"For what?"

Lyra leaned back with a giggle. "You, apparently. No one else found me but you accidentally got here, need to mean something, no? Now come."

Black Swan thought for a moment before she followed.

Usually her steps are silent, lacking a physical form after as memokeepers do, but here, her steps sounded louder than her company's.

---------------------------------------------------

They walked side by side through the glimmering dream garden, Lyra chattering about the "rooms" she'd explored: a castle built of feathers, a moon-shaped boat, a desert where the sand whispered bedtime stories.

"And sometimes," Lyra said as she poked at a floating fish made of glass, "I get lonely. But it's never boring."

Black Swan found herself watching, more than listening. There was a rhythm to the way Lyra moved; carefree and curious, like someone who'd never known rules. She poked at stars like they were soap bubbles. Spoke to imaginary birds. Teased dreams into shapes, molding them like clay.

It was chaos. It was nonsense.

It was... beautiful.

"You're not just from the dream," Black Swan said after a while. "You are the dream. Aren't you?"

Lyra didn't answer right away. She just stopped and looked up at the sky, eyes softer than before. "I don't think I exist anywhere else."

"Do you want to?"

Lyra turned to her, a smile half-real, half-sad. "Maybe. But if I go, do I stop being me? Do I lose the fun?"

Black Swan met her gaze. "I don't know." And that was the harsh truth, even though she had been born in the real world, but Lyra? Lyra was a being of dreams alone.

Another pause. Then Lyra grinned and tapped Black Swan's chest lightly. 

"Well then, you'll just have to visit me more often, Dreamweaver."

"Memokeeper, I don't usually linger," Black Swan warned. "My purpose is to observe. Record. Move on."

"And what if I asked you to stay a little longer? Not forever. Just... Long enough for the next story?" Lyra's hand stayed over her heart.

Black Swan, for once, didn't have an answer.

Instead, she reached for her quill again, but this time, she didn't write a record.

She drew a smile.

Hers.

That morning, when she awoke, Black Swan found something peculiar.

A single petal tucked into her notebook full of the personal light cones she had been creating. Soft, glowing faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat.

It wasn't from any known flower. Nor from any real place she had ever cataloged, but it smelled like stardust and laughter.

--------------------------------------------------

Every time she visited that particular corner of the dream world, Lyra was there and would be waiting for her.

Sometimes upside down. Sometimes disguised as a rabbit. Sometimes, building snowmen out of glowing orbs of molten sun.

Always different.

But always smiling.

And every time Black Swan thought she'd gotten used to her presence, Lyra would say something utterly absurd, even to the memokeeper, and make her laugh like she rarely did.

Real laughter. Not the quiet kind she faked in polite circles or when looking for more information to register, but something born from deep inside, like a song that had been waiting to be sung.

"Next time," Lyra said one day, curling against her side beneath a sky shaped like a carousel, "Bring me something from outside. Something real. I want to try it on."

Black Swan smirked. "Like a memory?"

"Like a feeling," Lyra whispered. "Maybe... Love?"

Black Swan didn't say anything.

But the next time she came, she brought music. And her hand stayed in Lyra's a little longer than before.

After all, a sweet dream is hard to leave behind.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/mEFmFS9OgI4

The truth.

A truth so raw that no one knew, could know, about.

A truth so razor sharp that it might plummet the last hopes the people had into ground and doom one planet of ice and snow into becoming an eternal tomb before the people ever had the opportunity to explore beyond their horizons.

And so through masqueraded smiles, proctored information, doctored texts and disguised actions, less then 10 knew of the truth on and off world.

The truth, the corruption of the one person the desperate of Jarilo-VI looked up too would forever be known as the woman that died to put an end to the eternal freeze... It would keep hope alive but truth buried, never to be known again.

But such was not the only secrecy the Supreme Guardians, the corrupt and the new one carried jointly.

The day of the for show burial that lacked a body and would be represented by an empty frame, one person was missing.

Not the guests from above the stars.

Nor the friends from the underground.

Know where a silver haired girl was.

And no one knew who this second person's name on the grave was their Supreme Guardian would share.

---------------------------------------------

Qlipoth fort had been a cold and straight place, nothing homey, nothing out of place, always perfect.

But it had never been so cold as it was today.

Never so empty.

Never so lonely.

A gloved hand pulled gently across the wall, heels nothing more then a quiet thump on the carpeted halls.

Looking out the windows at the parade below, a pair of grey silver eyes stared with emptiness deeper then the one in these halls.

Bronya had not gone.

Out of anyone she knew she should have.

She organized this last farewell for the people, for the woman that was her mother before the Stelleron won the fight to reason.

She set up the time, the color of empty casket, the highlights on it, what music would be played, where she'd rest, the epitaph, all down to how many buttons would the Silvermane funerary uniform have and out of which metal and which make.

And Bronya was the first to dip, not even show up.

How could she?

No matter how much she could understand.

Could, with logic, see where Cocolia was coming from.

She was able to rationalize every single one of her actions.

She had been taught well after all.

Perfectly even.

And with what she unraveled--

-------------------------------------------

"Mother!" The shield of light between her and her mother pushed and pushed, like an unbreakable wall.

Through terror and pain, knowing what was to come... Or at least expecting it as their eyes crossed one last time.

Those last mouthed words.

-------------------------------------------

-She couldn't look at her one last time.

She wouldn't be able to visit that grave for a long, long time after what she found.

"Sorry for all."

No one would have thought anything of it, she didn't anything either.

That's until...

Bronya sighed, moving away from the windows, legs carrying her to her chambers.

Per tradition, after taking the mantel of the Supreme Guardian, her stuff had basically been moved over to the master bedroom.

...

She barely could save anything.

She knew it was tradition, that the moment of the change the people would empty the room for the new one to fill. Burned on it's own pyre to be buried with the passed away so that it could be brought along.

She had barely saved a singed diary and picture of happier times.

Leaning her back to the door that closed behind her, leaning her head back against it, eyes closed with weight, needing to force on it to have the strength to open them again.

Sitting on the bed that seemed too soft, too warm, too familiar in the empty void of her heart.

Aeons be damned, Bronya could understand and explain it to herself! So why was it so heavy to carry?!

-------------------------------------

"What's wrong Snow-bunny?"

"Nuthin'."

"Oh Snow-bunny... Did you get in a fight with your mother again? You know she means the best for you." Fingers racking through her hair as she had her face shoved in her pillows.

Bronya looked up at the woman who gently smiled with a tilted her, shifting up to hug her around the neck, bigger arms gently cradling her.

-------------------------------------------------

And then there was this.

These... Memories... The mysteries solved with Cocolia's death, the truths in that diary...

Truths she'd forever be the only one to know and to keep, a truth she can't share with anyone.

Supreme Guardian was a title that all knew, but there was a twin title to it. A title that opposed the Guardian... Simply called Inferior Foe and despite how lame the name would sound it was a position as important as the Guardian.

While the Guardian ruled in the light and the law, the Foe was a role no one knew about but the Guardians, their right hand, working in the darkness of secrecy and in the cracks of the law.

Who knows how many Foes there have been and who they were as history kept no mark about them.

All but one were completely unknow to all... But not her--

Grabbing the picture frame, the glass cracked from age and the picture washed out from exposure but a small smiling silver haired girl was held on the shoulders of a (H/C) haired woman with the blonde standing near with her hands cupped in front of them, all sporting a different kind of smile aimed at the camera.

-not her mom...

Cocolia and (Y/N) had never dated and no one knew that (Y/N) even existed, being chosen as the Foe when Cocolia was for the Guardian... But they've always been close and so, when Cocolia had no idea what to do with the child she broke the one rule of secrecy.

And that's how the little family of two turned three.

------------------------------------------

"Come on Snow-bunny, you know I can't tell you." (Y/N) scratched her cheek.

"Why not?" Bronya had been nagging at her to tell her more but her mom was ever mysterious like was her nature.

"Because rules are in place for a reason, you should have never known about me either." (Y/N) knew the Foe of Bronya was chosen when she was too, like each cycle but they'd meet when the previous Guardian, Cocolia, gave over the mantel and only when would (Y/N) reveal herself with the new Foe in training as the previous Guardian explained... And well... A part of that was already messed up. "You'll meet them when the time has come."

---------------------------------------------------

And three turned two turned one.

...

Touching the smiling faces in the picture.

How... Did it go so wrong.

------------------------------------------------

"It can't be..." Cocolia breathed in shock, absolutely mortified.

"But it does." The Stelleron's voice, ever shifting and changing, whispered to her, weaving false images of betrayal and imagined words on a blank piece of paper that turned truth. "She will reveal our existence to the public and stop our work."

"No, I can't let that happen!" Cocolia through the blank paper with the imagined text of a fake diary that (Y/N) would have kept, fake words detailing how she planned to put an end to the Stelleron with the help of Serval that Cocolia had just sent away to keep her from discovering the truth.

"You can't convince her and you know that."

"No..."

"And you know there's only one way to keep our dream of rebirth from dying."

"Oh hey Cocolia." (Y/N)'s ever tender smile despite the harsh job fate decided for her almost made her reconsider.

"Hello (Y/N)." Cocolia's voice lacking the conviction as it usually did. "I... Found the reason for the eternal freeze, the scientist located it."

"What? That's great!"

"How convincing, as if you didn't know about it." The eerie lia--li4--L-1-a--ç*&ç/*-truthful voices of the Stelleron said, making Cocolia's look harden ever so slightly... So even now, she is still lying.

"Yes, I need your help in putting an end to it." And an end she'd put. 

---------------------------------------------

Bronya could still see the words.

Those damned words.

Etched on the back of her eyes.

Those damned word from that damned diary.

A pained truth she needed to reconcile with another truth, more lies told to her and more pain directed in the wrong way.

The first of many tears finally breached the damn she believed iron solid, splatting in a little dot on the glass of the picture... But well... Iron rust.

------------------------------------------------

"Damn, can you believe it? The previous Guardians almost got it, they were so close and we only rediscovered it because we dared to come up here."

(Y/N) was in awe at the cube-ish shape that let out waves of energy hovering close to the dormant engine of creation at the peek of the mountain no one visited because of the sheer cold.

Finally, finally their pain would be over.

Her Snow-bunny wouldn't need to grow up to take over a dying world.

The young fiery Foe wouldn't need to leave her people of the underground behind knowing they'd live in a dying world.

Guardian and Foe would rule over a LIVING world.

A liv--slink.

...

A cough.

...

Fresh crimson blood splattering on the ever falling white snow.

Eyes cast down, an ice shard through the chest from behind.

"W-What?" Turning around with a stumble, eyes tunneling down, grasping the ice that was so cold despite her fingers having gone numb from the cold.

"I'm sorry..." Looking up at Cocolia with such a look that the Guardian needed to look away, unable to bare to betrayal emanating from them. "But I can't let you reveal the Stelleron, not before I achieved my goal in saving this world."

--------------------------------------------

Shaking wracked her body.

Why... Why why why?

Why did Bronya save that diary?

Why couldn't she keep living that blissful lie?

Why did Cocolia vent about her gnawing guilt on these pages?

Why did she do this? The 'owner' of that 'she' for that being up to interpretation, Cocolia or Bronya, neither, both, either.

But now, only Bronya would know the truth... The truth... the true meaning of the 'Sorry for all' before Cocolia was gone.

-----------------------------------------------------

Falling on her knees, trying to stop herself but (Y/N)'s numb body smacked into the snow covered concrete platform.

Trembling hand reached up towards her one and only friend and now killer, vision swimming in and out, a last beg for her lift that went agonized, ignored in favor of lessened guilt and denied a last comfort.

"Bronya will be taken care off worry not." Still unable to offer the dying one half look, one last comfort before the abys. "She has a greater role then you ever know, she'll be the mother of the new world, she'll save us all."

But only the glacial wind Cocolia barely felt on her skin was her answer.

Looking back ahead, misguided eyes locking with lifeless ones.

-----------------------------------------

Bronya was able to forgive everything!

She forgive her mother's lies, manipulations and how she let the Stelleron get to her!

She forgave the days of harsh lessons and training to be the best Guardian!

She forgave her for dying and leaving her behind alone!

Tears falling in big glob, seeping into the crack on the glass of the frame held in shaking hand, seeping into the old photo.

But how?! How could she ever forgive this?!

-------------------------------------------

A shaky breath.

"(Y/N)..." Calling out uselessly for a life she took herself.

"This is for the best, she'd have stopped us from creating a future." For once, voices remained unanswered.

Dropping to her knees next to the body.

A shaky hand reaching out, grasping fingers, clasped in her own, a fruitful attempt to take back EVERYTHING.

Fingers that would never again hold hers when she is scared of something and can tell no one about.

Fingers that would never smudge whipped creme on Bronya's nose.

Fingers that would never hold a dagger to the throat of the man she was to track and bring back to Belobog.

Fingers as cold as the snow around them, the snow already piling on, trying to erase all traces of a life previously thriving.

From little fingers that held hers when they first met, in a handshake that would seal her fate, too fingers that would never know warmth again.

She knew... It was for the best, the only way this world could be reborn... But she wished for warmth in these fingers just one more time.

-----------------------------------------

Bronya still remembers when she first heard the news, that lie, right from Cocolia's own mouth.

She still remembers where she was.

8:43, being fussy in bed as (Y/N) had promised a bedtime story but it was Cocolia that had opened the door.

She doesn't remember the exact wording of the announcement tho, the shock was too much... But the dry claim, with hands clasped on little shoulders, narrowed eyes.

"(Y/N)'s gone dear, no one can survive being mauled to death."

Like that, her mother had dashed the little buts and ifs Bronya was spewing, leaving her no room to hope it was a joke and (Y/N), mom, was still here.

And now she lost mother...

Mother who killed mom...

And didn't even dare to tell her...

Baring a truth because she was stupid enough to not let the diary burn...

A truth that hurt so much more that she was alone as she sobbed over the picture of a past that never would be.

-------------------------------------------

Was it months or years before Bronya had gone to visit?

The tomb looked like it had that day many days ago, that same eternal stone with an eerie cold glow under the lonely moon... Hah... The moon would never be as lonely as she is even surrounded by people as it shines with the light of the sun and is part of the star field sky... While Bronya is truly alone.

One name on it revered as the one that died to save their world, decorated daily with snow roses, letters, Heather Crawlers.

One name know to no one, left bare or having the stray flower from one that took pity and pulled one out of the bouquet brought for the other one.

One known for all eternity as a savior and one never known to anyone.

And she too, had not brought flowers, she was probably the only one to know (Y/N) didn't like them, she doubted Cocolia even had known... But now... She could ask neither of the--

"I figured you'd show up here one of these days."

Looking over her shoulder.

"Seele?"

"I'd have never thought our new Supreme Guardian would neglect the dead like this, honestly, I was about to come get you and drag you here with me."

With a sigh, looking back at the tomb.

She... Didn't mind her presence, even if she didn't chase the loneliness away, it was more bearable.

"And why didn't you?" She could see Seele standing next to her from the corner of her eye.

"I knew you'd come one of these days so I just needed to wait, way too much of a hassle plus a tomb can't run away."

"A tomb that has no bodies in it."

"Bronya... Argh! You know I am not good at this, stop making a sad face I can't fix it!" Shaking her by the shoulders a little before sighing. "She wouldn't want you to be sad."

"Mother might have made a bad choice but I know for a fact she loved me and I chose to believe that indeed, she'd have wished me happiness."

"No-I mean yes-eurgh not that one." Seele rubbed her brows.

Bronya looked at her for a moment, calculating.

"You..." Breathing out.

And...

Letting out an involuntary chuckle. Out of shock? Surprise? Or incredulity? She had no answers but she was sure of one thing.

"It's you." Hand on her hip and the other one on her face as she shook her head. "Of course it's you. Who else would it be?"

"She talked a lot about you, you know Snow-bunny." A mocking jab but it felt nice, freeing almost.

"it makes so much sense and yet I couldn't see it."

Seele just shrugged.

"After the Guardian closed off the underground, hell even before it, I was left down there. She'd come down to teach me thing before the closure but let me live my life, make friends, build something."

"Things she was denied..." Looking at the name unknow to all but her... No... All but them two.

"Yeah... So don't be sad... Either would want you to dwell on it... Much less her..."

"See... You can be nice if you try."

"Shut up."

The once freezing cold night would remain so but loneliness would be slightly easier to bare at two.

Chapter Text

"I think you're trying to die fancy."

That was the first thing Rae said to Bronya.

Not 'General.' Not 'Ma'am.' Not even 'Hey.' Just that, as the two of them stood behind a crumbling coolant tower in the middle of a half-evacuated Belobog junction, arc-fire crackled through the air like an electric storm.

Bronya didn't even flinch.

She turned slowly, calmly. The blue of her eyes didn't shine; they burned, cold and steady. The kind of gaze Rae had only ever seen in statues or in people who'd already decided what they were willing to lose.

"I don't intend to die," Bronya said, voice crisp. "And if I did, it wouldn't be fancy."

A turret exploded three meters away. Rae ducked on instinct. Bronya didn't.

Rae blinked. "Yeah, okay, that's fair. But also, are you always this scary, or is that just the helmet hair talking?"

That earned a glance. Not a glare. A glance. Calculated. Dismissive. But not cruel.

"You're the Trailblazer?" Bronya asked, or at least one of them, she was sure. The express left a while ago, but had come around for a festival she had invited them to, and that was the only way for this woman she had never met to show up, if she joined them.

"That's me." Rae gave a lazy salute, one hand half-wrapped in gauze, the other holding an oversized halberd that hummed with barely-contained failure energy, like a critical machine ready to explode but something holding it together. "I go by Rae, but honestly, I'll respond to 'idiot,' 'hey you,' and 'stop running directly at the explosives.'"

Bronya's silence was louder than any siren around them.

Rae grinned anyway.

-----------------------Fifteen Minutes Earlier----------------------

(Yes usually I don't annotate the time skips, but it is a flashback.)

The emergency came through as a scrambled comms burst:

"Level 6 fragmentum rift spike. Junction Epsilon-Twelve, civilian evac, requesting any available silvermane guards."

Rae had just finished rewrapping her bandages when she sprinted out of the dorm-like hotel room she shared with March 7th. Didn't even bother grabbing her field jacket. 

Preservation Path or not, she was terrible at actually preserving anything, especially herself.

When she arrived, the junction was already half-lit in chaotic pulses, neon floodlights flickering between green and red, casting the smoke in surreal color.

That's when she saw her: Bronya Rand.
In the flesh... General of the Silvermane Guards and Supreme Guardian, of whom the others on the express talked so highly.
Impossibly composed, absurdly out of everyone's league, probably had plans for everything, and definitely wasn't supposed to be at a half-evacuated transit hub at midnight.

Yet here she was, standing like a monolith in tactical heels, issuing orders that cut through chaos like a scalpel.

Rae felt her heart stutter.

She'd seen her in passing before, in broadcasts when Stelle would show them on her phone, still hacked in the network... But this was different.

Up close, Bronya was... Sharper. Like staring at lightning that hadn't struck yet.

Rae was doomed.

------------------------- Back to the present------------------------------

"So," Rae said as she pressed herself against the wall beside Bronya, trying to get her breath under control, "What's the plan?"

Bronya didn't look at her. "Hold the corridor. Buy time. Extract the rest. Then collapse the passage behind us; otherwise, Fragmentum creatures will keep pouring out."

"That's the smart version," Rae said. "Now what's the real one?"

Bronya's pause was long enough to hurt.

"You're not supposed to be here," Bronya finally said.

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

"Trailblazer or not, this isn't a mission for volunteers."

"I didn't volunteer," Rae said. "I just ran toward the noise."

At that, Bronya did look at her. Not with annoyance. Something else. A flicker Rae couldn't place.

"You value your life so little?"

"No," Rae said. "I just... Value everyone else's more."

Bronya's brows drew together, but not in judgment. In recognition.

Something settled in the silence between them. A beat. A rhythm.

The same beat Rae had felt pounding in her ears since she got here.

The station's emergency system was glitching: cycling through its ancient playlist from a bygone era when this place hosted night markets and dance halls, or maybe it got its wires crossed and was playing the theater's music? Who knows? But it didn't matter currently.

And through the static speakers, barely audible through the chaos, played an old electronic rhythm.

"I don't know what I can do..."
"I don't know what I should say..."

(PS, I know the lyrics don't match but I wrote them before changing the song in question but decided to keep them as they were)

Rae chuckled. "Great. Now I've got theme music."

Bronya's lip almost twitched.

----------------------- Ten Minutes Later, because I don't feel a fight scene-------------------------

The enemy pushed harder. More anomalies in creature forms. More horrifying fragmentum creativity. Rae didn't ask what they were. Didn't need to. All she knew was that Bronya was outnumbered, the civilians hadn't all cleared, and she still had a job to do.

Bronya moved like water through steel, precise, brutal, elegant.

Rae moved like a boulder hurled through a lightning storm, chaotic, loud, impossible to ignore.

Together? They held.

But Rae could feel it.

Her vision blurred. The edges of her halberd sparked dangerously: overused, the energy of it unstable. They were reaching the end.

Bronya knew it too.

She tapped her comm. "Last civilian transport clear. Initiating collapse protocol."

"No," Rae said, stepping forward.

Bronya looked at her like she'd just grown another head. "What?"

"You go. I stay. Hold the door."

"Out of the question."

"General," Rae said, voice unusually calm, "You're Belobog's shield. I'm just some cosmic mistake with a broken stick and bad survival instincts. If anyone's staying, it's me."

Bronya stared at her. There was something unreadable in her eyes. Something frantic, but only barely contained.

"I'm not leaving you here."

"You don't even like me." That was a long shot. She knew Bronya from pictures and Stelle's words, and Bronya knew of Rea from a single electronic letter to say there were more members who had joined the express.

"That's irrelevant."

"It isn't to me."

"I don't know how to face this kind of feeling..." The song was still playing. Stupid, outdated, corny music... But Rae couldn't stop hearing it. Couldn't stop feeling it.

She stepped closer.

"You've been calm this whole time," She whispered. "But I see it. You're scared. Not of the fight... Of losing something before you even understand it."

Bronya's breath caught.

It seemed at first sight was indeed possible and could happen.

"I don't know what this is," Rae said. "I don't know why I care. But I do. And if this is it for me, then at least let me do this right."

And then she did something ridiculous.

First meeting, first thing they shared was this to the death fight, but it seemed enough for a heart that loved quickly and loved fast.

She kissed her.

Fast, impulsive, sloppy. One hand in Bronya's collar, the other gripping her halberd like a lifeline. No poetry. Just panic. Desperation. Heat.

And for a single, perfect second, Bronya kissed her back, more of instinct and shock mixing than anything else, but still.

Shoving Bronya back to put her at a safer distance.

"It was nice to meet you." Winking before flinging the halbard backwards, the sparking energy blade hitting right into the crystalline body of a creature she had never met before.

The crystal cracked, and a flash of light blinded her.

Then the world shattered.

...

Rae didn't remember the explosion. Just the sound.

Then light.

Then cold.

Then Bronya's voice.

Somehow, Rae wasn't dead.

She blinked awake to a dim, flickering hospital bay. Her halberd was gone. Her arm was in a sling. Her mouth tasted like blood and guilt.

Bronya sat beside her, still in uniform.

Still perfect.

"You're awake," Bronya said softly, Rea unable to tell if that look on her face was relief or murder for what she had done.

Rae groaned. "Did we win?"

"You collapsed the junction with that accidental explosion and saved 34 civilians. I'd call that a win even if you almost crushed us both under rubble."

"Oh, good," Rae muttered. "Because my ribs definitely don't feel like winners."

Bronya was silent for a moment.

Then she said, "You weren't supposed to do that."

Rae looked at her. "Which part? The self-sacrificing act or the kissing?"

"Both. We. Just. Met."

Rae managed a crooked grin. "Didn't hear you complaining."

Bronya's eyes narrowed, but not with anger.

She leaned in, just enough for Rae to hear.

"I don't know what this is either," Bronya said. "But I'm not letting you throw yourself away for it. Not again. Not before I figure out what this is."

Rae blinked. "Wait. Are you saying--"

Bronya cut her off with a kiss.

Soft, deliberate. Like a storm's eye. Quiet and terrifying in its clarity.

When she pulled back, she rested her forehead against Rae's.

"I meant this, is that now clear?" Bronya whispered. "Don't know if I mean it or not, but I want to find out."

Weeks later, the junction was cleared.

The music system was replaced.

But Rae never forgot that glitchy remix, those artificial lyrics that had somehow seen through her heart and Bronya's shield.

"I don't know what I can do..."
"I don't know what I should say..."
"But I... I want to try."

And that was enough.

For both of them.

Chapter Text

The underground was never safe but that day? Especially.

The day Anya met Svarog was the day she almost died. Not from violence, though that was on the table, but from sheer disbelief.

She'd been fighting off a pair of Fragmented monsters with nothing but her fists wrapped in thermal cloth and reinforced boots. No fancy gear. No Plan B. She was bleeding from her temple, grinning widely, knuckles cracked raw beneath those wraps by the time she was done with the Fragmentum creatures.

That was when a heavy shadow fell across the snow-blasted ground behind her.

She turned, exhaling fog. And there it stood: six tons of armored logic and solar-powered judgment... Well, maybe not solar, but that's how the panels on the automaton looked.

"UNIT ASSESSED: STRONG. RESPONSIVE UNDER DURESS. UNSUITABLE FOR TERMINATION," Svarog had stated with all the warmth of a geo engine.

"...Come again?" She asked, blinking slowly, as a vagrant herself, Svarog wouldn't be keen on caving her face in, but that last comment of his put her on edge, ready to try putting her own fist into his if needed for survival..

"YOU WILL BE RELOCATED. FUNCTION: ASSISTANT HUMAN CARETAKER. OBJECTIVE: PROTECT AND RAISE DESIGNATED INFANT UNIT. SUBJECT: CLARA."

Anya blinked. "You want me to be what now?" Svarog didn't answer. Instead, his arm extended like a crane and clamped around her waist. Anya had time to shout, "I am not daycare material!" Before the world became a blur of wind and mechanical whining.

And that was how she became Clara's older sister/mother/occasional brawler babysitter.

And god did she hate it at that time.

YEAR 1:

Clara was small. Too small. With big, sad eyes and a way of holding her patched-up rabbit like it was the last soft thing on Earth. Anya had seen enough suffering in the Underworld to know what loneliness looked like. This kid practically wore it like a coat.

They shared a bunker under Svarog's iron-fisted supervision.

"I can't braid hair," Anya had said one evening, staring at Clara's tangled curls, yes curls... It is not her fault that the shampoo she found down here had curled the straight hair like spring, but they now needed to deal with it, more like her, since Svarog is not letting her go.

"UNKNOWN FUNCTION. ASSESSING TUTORIAL DATABASE," Svarog replied, already downloading 12 gigabytes of hair-braiding videos into Anya's newly forced tablet.

Anya shoved it off the table. "I know how to punch a Fragmentum guard in the throat. That should be enough."

Clara had giggled. A tiny one. Like a mouse laughing in a windstorm.

Over the next few weeks, Anya learned a few more annoying things:

Soap burns if you don't read the label.
Clara hates lentils, no matter how Svarog crunches the nutritional data.
Svarog believes "sleep schedules" are enforceable laws.
And worst of all, tiny humans get sick.

Anya had panicked the first time Clara came down with a fever. She tried wrapping her in every blanket in the bunker, boiling water without a pot, and threatening a med-bot to "just work faster, dammit!"

Meanwhile, Svarog remained the portrait of machine calm. "FEVER REGISTERED: 38.6°C. ADMINISTER PRESCRIBED MEDICATION. ENSURE LIQUID INTAKE."

"You do it!" Anya snapped.

"I AM NOT EQUIPPED FOR EMOTIONAL COMFORT."

"Neither am I!" She threw her arms up in the air.

Still, she did it. Because Clara, shivering and quiet under layers of patchwork cloth, whispered, "Can you stay... Until I feel better?"

And Anya, battle-scarred brawler with fists of iron and patience of a gnat, swallowed hard and said, "Yeah, kid. I gotcha."

She didn't move all night.

YEAR 3:

Clara wasn't just getting taller. She was getting smarter. Asking questions.

"Anya, did you used to have a family?"

"Mmm... Just a bunch of gang idiots I punched more than I hugged."

"Oh. So... Do I get to choose who mine is?"

Anya stared at her for a long moment. The girl was fixing the strap on her rabbit with a needle and thread, concentrating like the world depended on it.

"...Yeah, kid." She said, finally. "You do."

She didn't say she'd already made her choice. Anya saw it in the way Clara reached for her hand on cold mornings, or leaned against her when the power cut out, or stitched little flower patterns into her glove cuffs.

And Svarog once tried to teach Clara to do taxes. Clara cried.

Anya stormed into the room. "What did you do?"

"SUBJECT WAS INTRODUCED TO CONCEPT OF ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY."

"She's NINE."

"PROACTIVITY INCREASES SURVIVAL PROBABILITY BY—"

Anya picked up a wrench.

Svarog paused. "ADJUSTING CURRICULUM."

YEAR 5:

They'd found a pipe leak, rare in the Underground, and the sound of dripping water echoed through their bunker like slow music. Clara stood underneath the ceiling vent, arms out, as faint drops fell onto her palms.

Anya stood nearby, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"Do you think... If we lived somewhere else, I'd have gone to school?" Clara asked.

Anya didn't like questions she couldn't punch answers into. But she tried.

"Maybe. Maybe you'd be wearing a uniform and raising your hand to ask about stars and stuff."

Clara smiled. "Would you walk me there?"

"...Yeah. But I'd probably end up arguing with your teacher."

"Because they're wrong?"

"No. Because I'm a pain."

Clara laughed. A full one, now. Loud and real.

Svarog entered the room. "OBSERVE: I HAVE FINISHED CONSTRUCTING A STABILIZED BOOKSHELF. FUNCTION: EDUCATIONAL ACCESS. FILES INCLUDED: HUMAN POETRY, ASTROPHYSICS, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MODULES."

Anya rolled her eyes. "You're trying too hard."

"IT IS NECESSARY. SUBJECT'S EMOTIONAL STABILITY IS PARAMOUNT."

"She needs hugs, not modules."

"I LACK ARMS FOR EMBRACE."

"...Yeah. We noticed." Even if he had some, it was not like she'd allow him to hug her at the risk of crushing the child.

YEAR 8:

One day, Clara looked at Anya and said, "You're my family."

Anya blinked.

Svarog whirred in the background. "CONFIRMATION: SELECTED FAMILY UNIT REGISTERED."

"...Took you long enough," Anya mumbled, pretending something was in her eye.

She tucked Clara in that night, not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

"You're not bad at this," Clara murmured sleepily.

"What?"

"Being my mom."

Anya stared down at her, hand resting on the edge of the blanket. Slowly, she brushed back Clara's hair.

"...I'm not your mom. I'm your sister. Who occasionally yells at robots."

"But you act like one."

A pause. Then a soft chuckle.

"Well. You act like trouble. So I guess we're even."

Bonus: Years Later

Clara, now a teenager... Well, only 12, but that is technically a teenager, sharp and brave, stood at the door of the bunker. She was ready for her first real expedition.

Svarog held out a regulation satchel, data-checked and calibrated.

Anya tossed her a handmade scarf and said, "Bring that back or I'm hunting you down."

Clara grinned. "Promise."

As she walked away, Svarog and Anya watched in silence.

"...She's not so small anymore," Anya murmured.

"NO. SHE HAS GROWN STRONG."

Anya elbowed his metal leg. "You did alright, rust-bucket."

"I HAVE NO BASKET."

"...Don't ever try slang again."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/8ofCZObsnOo

Glamoth was... How to say it without getting tamped with the seal of heresy? 

Hmm...

A sprawling empire of many planets, making colonies and taking in all natives to help them with their lives in exchange of being part of the empire.

It could have almost passed of a forceful indoctrination in the name of good before.

But now? With the raise of Tayzzyronth and the swarm it brought along with it? The bowels, fetid and monstrous of the glimmering empire of metal risked spilling out.

A repetitive sound, a constant echo between four cold walls.

The same sight, the same faces, the same the same the same.

And yet, in some twisted honor, those of this almost yearned for this... As this was all they lived for.

"I apologize for failing the empire." A younger girl said, apologizing for having given the trainer a reason to slap her, what else would she do? It was her fault of course after all... Right?

They all knew, all here knew, they were the lucky ones created strong enough for the Silver Autonomous Mechs, the SAMs, no one other then them could bear the suits and no one but them could have the honor to fight for her majesty, for the empire, against the swarm.

She needed that slap, she deserved that slap, she had failed to exterminate the simulated swarm exercise, she had failed and if this had been a real fight, her comrades, the people of the empire, would have died for her weakness.

"Get back in the training run and this time don't fail!" The trainer said.

All she did was salute and put the helmet on again.

--------------------------------------------

But there were moments like these, when she wondered, was the something else to life?

Something more to fighting? More to honor? More then for the empire?

It was nothing really.

It had even been an accident.

Moving through a sub-street under the main one the civilians she was meant to protect when she graduated lived on.

It was nothing but an accident.

"Oh no..." The little voice came.

Her oddly colored eyes looked up, never actually having seen a civilian... Just how weird they looked with those flowing clothes with color, and that hair color, who had brown hair?

To those on the surface, this sub-street was called sewers and many knew that the people in there were there to train in harsh conditions and die for them, some stupid clones no one would cry over, so many didn't care to spare them a look and so, even through the sewer grates, no one ever looked at each other.

Until now let's say.

She slowly picked up the little metal thing, it looked like a military rank pin in how the back was constructed but the front of it had a weird little bug on it, loosely looking like a swarm bug but really different too, yellow and black, with what seemed like a stinger.

"Hey! Give it over please." The little voice came again, making her look at the... Girl, how can she look so different from her? She'd seen so many others, other SAM pilots, trainers, none looked like this.

"What is this?" She said, feeling unable to give it up, enamored by the insect pin, why would someone make an insect pin?

"A wasp! Now give it back!"

But before anything else could be done from her side of the girl's a scolding mother came to drag her away from the death-fodder (no idea if that's how it is spelt lol), the child complaining but soon forgotten.

She looked at the pin in her hand... A wasp huh?... Maybe once she earns her SAM and the swarm is defeated, she could see a real one?

---------------------------------------------

"Hey there!" A really energetic short haired girl told her, all of them had white hair so only a little could change in their appearances, like hair length or accessories, her's was shoulder length currently but it was her little wasp pin that was her accessory to differentiate herself to make it easier on the trainers. "I'm K-10 and we'll be squad-mates." She smiled huge.

"H-32." She said much more mellowed. "I hope we'll work together good."

"Ease up!" K-10 slapped her in the back. "We'll have a great time I promise."

H-32 rubbed her back with a huff.

"Don't go smacking people you lunatic."

"You too stiff girly, relax." K-10 rolled her eyes.

"We are at war for the empty, we need to be serious."

"Oh loosen up, I promise you, I'll make you a fun loving teammate." She pinched her cheek.

"Ouh ouh ouh stop!" H-32 complained, swatting at the girl that would soon become her friend.

It was weird.

Their personalities didn't fit really: the overly outgoing and peppy fighter and the colder one that had seen the surface and the difference between the civilians and who they were meant to be.

And yet they were always seen together, those two, always together.

An weird and yet lovely friendship that would soon crack under the weight of war.

Turned out SAM units weren't the only units out there.

"What do you think H-32, who'll be selected?" K-10 asked, walking along to the meeting.

K-10... Ever since that day, the day that mother screamed that child's name... She realized they didn't have names, they were just numbers... B-but it was to make sure they wouldn't be favored she is sure of it, favored soldier get greedy and they need to be humble, yeah, that's it, that's why that's their name... She did wonder, after the swarm, will they get other names?

And mother, it had been something she didn't know about and was confused in her research.

That glimpse of the surface had wormed itself into her mind, the little wasp pin hidden in her uniform.

"Only the best." She replied.

"And that's you and me!"

"And many more."

"You are an ass you know that?"

"I am realist."

"A pessimist ass."

"Oh hush." She nudged her with an eyeroll. "Get ready, I'll see you when we try the new mechs on."

"Of course." Winking. "I can't lose to you."

H-32 grinned back.

------------------------------------------------

<<The SAUL armor, Strategic Assault Unit Leviathan, 

has been developed as the next stage of the SAM research. Faster, stronger, more agile, faster reflexes. The pilot and the mechs neural pathways will be wired into one to make it possible. We remind the selected pilots to remain calm and collected once to SAUL have been initiated as it will require calibrating and getting used too.>>

...

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

"SOLDIERS FOCUS!!!"

Gasping out, hunching over... But her body didn't let her, it didn't let her.

It felt like her limbs were being twisted off, which was partially the case, the back cracking under the strength of that arch it was pulled into, unable to do anything against it.

Vision blurry through the frantic displays popping up on the screens as an inner armor alarm blared into her ears, rattling her brain, crying out in agony.

Even so, all she could do was stare in horror how K-10's body, her friend's body, had mangled itself, unable to integrate the armor's neural interface, each little movement she tried to do resulting in bones shattering and muscle seizing up to never let go, having tried to lift her head to look at her one last time and her head had snapped back with such violence the skin on her throat was torn from the stretch with blood spraying, a jerk of her head down in pain causing the armor to shatter the vertebrae from the strength it made her look down and if she wasn't dead from that it would have been from it being dislocated.

It happened so fast, H-32 have jerked back which came with her over suit twisting her into her current position, curved like a banana.

The screams of others, the agony of the armor, It all... It all was too much...

Reaching towards the limp hand of her friend, those dead eyes looking at her so desperately, begging for her to save her.

Not K-10, she can't be gone, she needs to help her.

Slowly and surely but she ended up flexing a muscle too hard, causing the armor to snap her elbow back as a shriek echoed out in the room and much further then its confines. 

------------------------------------------

And yet, unlike many of the selected, she opened her eyes again.

Sure, her back was currently crippled and she had shattered her jaw by squeezing so hard... But those could be fixed... And she was alive...

She looked to her left, where K-10's bunk would have been, only seeing an empty hospital bed through the gaps in the machinery beeping around her.

Lifting a trembling hand from both effort and horror, from her wrists up her arms and just below her shoulders, sectioned metal plating up her arms, wires reaching out of a larger piece on her wrist and stabbing into her  skin between her digits, same cables forming an almost shoulder pad as they connected to a similar cuff/neck brace thing completely covering her neck. Feeling up, it was metallic but didn't seem to impede her movements, reaching up to cover what could be a temple guard by her ear and a chin guard around the lower jaw with metal going over her cheek bones and nose.
Trying to push her fingers under it and... She couldn't, it was like this metal was part of her skin now. Trembling more as she reached down, touching her body in hope of mapping out more of this horror. Feeling plating on her back and thicker plates along her spine as she sat up slowly, this time her body not breaking itself, bones not shifting despite feeling them ache, the plating forming an upside down arrow up the curves of her ribs and a thicker plate on her sternum with the wires going over the clavicles to connect to it. 
Kicking off the covered with a shaky breathes, similar metal plating like her arms on her calves and thighs, no wires tho... Or at least on the surface...

Her body hurting in places it shouldn't, despite what happened, in symmetrically and linear ways in her body... It was like... something was inside her.

The doors slide open, a guy in a suit walked in with a not too caring face, like a bored business man here to buy a watch he would never wear again after a week.

"Ah, seems you are up, you'll start your training back up again as soon as you can."

"Aah..." She breathed out, as if she was holding her breath. "What's going on here? What's all this? Where are the others?"

The man sighed, as if she was stupid for asking these questions.

"The SAUL armor was made to be the next step towards beating the swarm, augmenting and ameliorating the basic SAM to new heights. As for others, there are no others, the project with be revised before the next batch is tested."

"Then get me out of this, if it is not well."

"Can't do, no idea why you survived after what happened but any removal would be too complex, killing you."

"So you're telling me I almost died for nothing?!" Getting on her knees, hands on the footrest of the bed, teeth gritted even with her jaw in pain.

"Don't you dare yell at me soldier! You'll get back on the battlefield and utilize the gift you've gotten to win against the swarm!" Clearing his throat. "And even if it could be removed it wouldn't be of use, your death would be of greater use to us now that it is implemented."

"What?!"

"The explosion it would cause would decimate the swarm, possibly injure the emanator. So you will get up and fight and when you can't you die in the maws of those fuckers... Now you know what you need too, I'll be leaving, no more complaints."

He left with stompier steps, the door closing as she stared at them with her mouth agape.

A hand clutching her chest, the piece of plating on her sternum... Explosion?

Covering her mouth as she felt sick and would retch if she kept thinking about this... But she couldn't, she couldn't stop.

What... What have they done to her...

----------------------------------------------

Firefly and her... Team? Friends? Team of friends? Whatever you want to call them... Were bothersome.

For one, they were one of the best soldiers ever created despite being only from the newest batch of five years ago, already rising the ranks or importance and taking one swats of swarm by themselves.

And they were a bit more... Wild then wanted, liking to break the rules to see the outside world, getting out of the cockpit against the rules and... Firefly... Stupid names, they shouldn't have names.

Rose, Sky and Firefly... How dare they differentiate from the rest of them? The iron cavalry of Glamoth is supposed to be united, not singular... But H-32 would be hypocritical...

The SAUL armor was in use sure... Mark II SAUL that is, tuning down on it all, making it just another armor to take off and put on with a few more gadgets... Making her singular too as the test of the Mark I armor was an absolute disaster with only her as a survivor. Everything was benched after that day... Everything but her since since was alive and kicking.

H-32 would forever be different from the crowd she didn't want to part with, something no long entirely human, a being born of pain and suffering and loss... She wishes K-10 was here... So she wouldn't be so alone in this world of wars.

Maybe that's why she was the one tasked with going to find those trouble makers again after the battle, to make sure they survived or not.

Flying through the night on the boosters, it didn't take her long and... Hmm?

Landing near them, straightening up with her arms crossed as the two girls looked at her.

"Article 2 of Glamoth's military regulations: Remain on guard. Article 4: leaving the cockpit outside of the base is strictly prohibited." She said, voice modulator making it deep in pitch like any other units' one did. Dropping her arms as she knew now amount of it would change anything. "Do you have a death wish?" Asking the girls, glaring behind her helmet as the two outside of their SAM.

"An Wasp Type-I SAUL model... Very nice." Of course the one calling herself Firefly would know it, she was said to be the best out of the trio with anything that came to the actual make and maintenance of the armors. And then the third of the group in the bulky SAM also exited the cockpit.

"You're the odd one out now." They said with a bit of a nudging mockery.

"I bet you can't connect to command either can you?" The third, one with the glasses, pointed out. "Why don't you join us?"

H-32 only realized it now if she was honestly, the comms being down so not having any new commands to go off of.

"No thanks." She shook her head, sighing. "I'll just pretend I didn't see anything."

She let them have their time, sitting together, holding some civilian gadget picked up from the battlefield, more or less keeping an eye on them but from afar as she was trying to contact the base on what to do next.

Maybe feeling a bit--"You're turn, are you really not going to say anything?" Looking over when she was talked too, seeing the strange device pointed her way by the one with glasses.

She didn't really know to tell her off or no, luckily a beeping cut her thoughts off.

"Comms are back up." Touching the side of her head where the comms were. "Article 8: Surviving Knights should immediately return to their units. And you, what are you doing?" Watching the Firefly one right some banner and use it to tie her hair up."

"It was getting in my eyes." She just smiled.

"Looks nice." Her glasses friend said. "It really suits you."

"I hope we can see stars on the next battlefield" The bulky SAM one said while putting the armor back on and taking flight.

Soon followed by the others.

She stayed standing there, looking up.

With a sigh, contracting herself as her unit dissolved into flickering flames and all being left was the parts fused into her body since that day.

Taking a few steps to the little pond, looking up at the trails of fire, at the fading stars as dawn was for soon.

Looking down to the left as she heard buzzing, seeing wasps wake up and fly from their nest.

"I wish you could have seen this K-10." She sighed. "I'll make sure this war ends, I promise you."

------------------------------------------------

"Come on, you promised." H-32's eyebrow twitched a bit. "You said you would do as if you saw nothing."

"And I am doing as such, I don't get why you insist on bothering me about it." Offering a shaky annoyed smile to the Firefly.

"Because I know how you are." Poking her finger in her chest. "Stuck up lady." 

H-32 swiped her hand away with a smack on the back of it.

"Just because I bunk in the same rooms as you and others doesn't mean you know me."

"Article 11: Lying will be dealt with swiftly and with prejudice, you're not the one to go against the articles."

"But you three haven't been punished yet have you?"

"I know you have those reports written just not submitted, I want them gone pleeease, just this once."

And here she thought she could for once have a normal breakfast, seems she can't.

"Tell you what, I'll humor you... If." She quickly said before the Firefly could get to hyper, a finger lifted in the air.

"If?" Firefly was nervous, she was playing with fire as this woman here was dangerous in her own way and she'd prefer to face the swarm before she faces her wrath.

The only known survivor of the Mark-I SAULs, making her more capable and battle honed then any of the current ones in that line and the SAMs too, a formidable adversary.

"If you can reach my stats against the swarm, as it would be a shame to lose such a soldier."

"Are you out of your mind, who can keep up with you?"

"So you WANT me to give in the report."

"No, no... Fine, hell I'll even blow you out of the water, I'll promise now, I'll be the one to down the emanator when we track it down."

"Feisty, alright." Holding her hand out. "Let's shake on it."

Firefly quite regretted her words, the SAUL units were... As it is in their name... Assault Units... They were few and far between even now and were manufactured to take down the emanators the empire was trying to track down.

SAMs were not made for that.

But she was this far in this.

holding up her hand to grab the other's in a stiff shake.

-------------------------------------------------

"You need to be faster then that, you'd have gotten your head blown off if I wasn't there." H-32 complained, scolding Firefly for her recklessness.

"Oops?" She rubbed her head with a little sheepish chuckle.

"Oops? OOPS?!! Girl you don't get to oops me, you knew exactly what you were doing out there, rushing in like a maniac, do you have a death wish?"

"No use, she'll never stop being herself." The bulky SAM pilot, Sky, said, waving it since they were used to it with Rose.

"You are all crazy." H-32 rubbed her forehead, can she ask for a squad transfer? She is going to ask for a squad transfer. "You are all batshit crazy."

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't really want too."

---------------------------------------------

"Why do you keep asking, it is H-32" She was laying in her bunk, looking upwards and Firefly looked down from the top one.

"It is not and you know it, come on, there's gotta be something I can call you."

Even on her break she couldn't escape Firefly... Why...

"Why do you insist?"

"We are friends aren't we? It is only right that friends call each other by their name."

H-32 looked up at her.

She had lost K-10 a while ago but it was enough to realize that most SAMs, even most SAULs, will all be gone to this war on the propagation.

All will die in this war to be forgotten and to be a blip in story books written by people knowing nothing of what goes on here.

And then there's her, her fate is to die on the battlefield in a glorious explosion... Even if they win, the day she'll die she'll go boom... It is easier to keep holding on to loneliness instead of having to worry about what would happen to the others.

It is easier to not get attached and lose more people.

It will be easier to say goodbye when she'll need to go.

K-10... What would you do here? For I don't know what I should...

Shaking her head with a sigh.

"If you must then... Let's go with Wasp."

"Wasp?"

"The insect on my pin." Flicking the little metal pin on her chest. "That's a wasp so if you want to call me something and won't accept calling my H-32 then call me Wasp." She rolled her eyes.

"Wasp it is." The grin on Firefly was annoying, an almost smug triumph.

H-3--Wasp huffed, turning on her side with her back to Firelfy, only getting a laugh back.

It's hard to lose Firefly.

Had she wanted it or not, Wasp seemed to have been stuck with the little group no matter if other squads ended up requesting her help, not having enough SAULs for all squads, she still ended up with those she claimed bothered her the most.

But it was hard to get away from these people if she tried... Not that she did.

She knew it was not a good idea, she knew it was a terrible idea... It'll hurt the day she'll need to sacrifice herself in a glorious explosion if an emanator is found and is too difficult to kill in any other way.

Having friends... Having people she got along with... If they survive until then... Would just cause pain, hesitation and that would compromise the mission.

Wasp sighed, finding it hard to live with.

"This is the third sigh of yours, is something on your mind?" Firefly asked.

The little idiot had not only wormed herself in but also to the point of convincing Wasp to leave the base with her to watch stars... She must have some magical powers of suggestion or something dear aeons.

"It's nothing." Laying on the ground, in the grass, looking up at the night sky, at the stars... It was peaceful.

"Oh come on, don't start now, you can tell me."

Wasp sighed, knowing Firefly enough to know this wouldn't be let go and she didn't have any choice in the end.

"Are you aware why SAUL Mark-I has only one pilot?"

"Something about casualties but nothing much more." Firefly admitted, it was indeed interesting but little to info was about it.

"If I tell you don't go telling others, we'd both get in a lot of trouble."

"Yeah of course."

"This armor, unlike your SAMs or last models." Lifting her arm in the air, towards the stars, looking at the back of it. "Is directly wired into the nervous system. You could break my bones and I'd still be able to move because these metal plates in and around my body along with the wires would be able to carry me forwards, it would take my death in one way or another to truly stop me."

"That's impressive."

"It sure is... But it comes with its ow negatives... First and foremost, they are over sensitive... The first of us that put it on could just be trying to wave and would have their armor twist their wrist off their arm, muscles ripping flesh and crushing bones, then you tense up from the pain, making that cause more damage from the armors reactions." Dropping her arm at her side, resting her hands on her stomach. "I could behead myself if I coughed a bit too hard and jerked my head enough because of it, everything takes great focus and knowledge of how little I need to will my body to move to get the movement needed... And even outside of the cockpit I could hurt myself."

"That means... Wasp..."

"All of them died, twisted and broken by the armor that was meant to save the world, be the next gen of fighters... I fainted before the armor could end me and that made me go limp and by connection, relaxed the armor too... I tell you, it was a painful time to learn all this."

"I'm sorry, really, it must not have been easy."

Oh how correct she is... From being twisted like a pretzel, it this armoring even outside of the cockpit that let her walk. She had shattered her spin after all, she would have only minimal movement in her legs along with this eternal numbness is this armor could be taken off but with it on she could walk and run normally since it was tied in her neurons and was bridging the gap between her brain and legs... A gift and a curse at the same time.

"No, my friend K-10 died, everyone else selected died and I am the only one left to live with the consequences as Mark-IIs are also put on and take off suits now to not lose as many soldiers for a chance of survival... But I suppose that's not what really bothers me now... I had had the time to grieve her and the other, get used to this."

"So what bothers you?" Firefly was sitting up now, staring at her friend, pitying her while trying to not show it as she knew she wouldn't want pity.

"Mark-I are powerful, Glamoth wouldn't want someone to get their hands on it after the death of the pilot and they are assault units, meant to breach the ranks of the enemy and rush in... For those two reasons..." A deep sigh. "If is die, the SAUL Mark-I will explode with the force of several kilo tonnes of force, hopefully enough strength to take out most of the enemy, more precisely, emanators we are meant to fight."

"What?"

Wasp looked over, blinking as she sat up.

"Now now, don't cry for me." Hugging her knees. "I've made peace with it... Sometimes it is just... Bothersome I guess, to know that I'll never have a grave or a resting place, even if it is in a mass grave or rotting in a field. I'd be pulverized and no place of rest would be there for me."

Firefly touched her face, feeling the tears on her hand, wiping them.

"Then I just need to make sure you don't die." She promised.

"You know that all die, for her majesty, for Glamoth."

"Still, I need to kill that emanator myself after all." She tried to give a confident smile but the idea of her friend dying... It... It didn't sit right with her.

"Oh you." Wasp chose to not bring it up, nudging her. "Not if I blast that thing first."

"Nu uh, I'll be faster."

"You know what? Let's make another bet." Taking off her pin and holding it up. "I read wasps are really fast, much faster then your firefly bug. If you win I'll finally give it too you like you've been asking."

"And if you win?"

"You'll give me... That headband."

"Deal!" But she swiped it from Wasp's hand already. "Hey!"

"It's mine!" Even activating the SAM to run away with it full speed.

"Get back here you ass!" Wasp yelled with a smile, doing the same to chance her, tho letting her win because it would be boring to catch up with her right away, plus even if this pin meant the truth to her, Firefly seemed to like it more, seeing something to it that she didn't so she wouldn't be mad if she ever lost it to her.

-------------------------------------------

 It happened so fast.

A massive swarm of... Well... Swarm... Had burst through, seemingly from inside the crust of many worlds, devouring all int its way.

Overwhelming the masses, pulling the iron cavalry thin and decimating them in an endless barrage of bugs.

The sky was blotted out with blood, or so it seemed, red clouding the blue skies as the horrible whirring of the bugs filled the air.

Nothing but whirring and screams for reinforcements that wouldn't come heard through the comms, sometimes an explosion joining the fray.

Wasp twisting her body to side kick the head off an insect's body before giving another a quick punch, fist breaking through the exoskeleton and emerging on the other side with a splatter of green goo blood quickly shaken off before grabbing another rushing at her.

Feet scrapping against the dry stony ground as she held the horns of the insects before pulling apart, ripping the insect into multiple.

Panting, muscles tired despite the SAUL armor, having been constantly fighting and there never seemed too be any less of them while the iron cavalry was falling like flies.

An impact in her back sent her crashing through mounts of corpses before pushing to her feet, singing an uppercut and, with the blast coming off the punch, incinerate the bug.

"Dammit." She hissed, signals of warning on the inside of the visor, talking about overheating and since it the armor was overheating, the components on and in her body would be too, damaging her still fleshy parts but currently in it not important.

Through a hologram map, pinging all the remaining units, it was really dire.

"All units attention, I repeat all unit attention!!" Came a crackling voice through the comms, overwhelming all noises. "The emanator has emerged! The emanator has emerged!! All units that are still combat ready keep pushing forwards to the coordinates showing up on your screens. The target is straight ahead, keep pushing forwards!"

As it fizzled out, she still snapped a hand out to punch a bug into oblivion, looking over towards the coordinates.

And it was huge.

The biggest bug ever, dwarfing their cities and mountains, rising from a mountain top with slow but meant movements, the legions of the swarm kept multiplying too.

And like ordered, she took off in a sprint like any other units still alive to do so, straight at the bug.

She could try to fly but she'd never be able to out maneuver bugs in the sky and so she ran.

She ran and ran, running past units tackled down and ripped apart, running past units picked up and rammed into the ground, she ran even as one unit got their head ripped off.

She ran...

But...

Like she predicted...

She hesitated and couldn't run past a very familiar SAM, skidding to a stop and turning around to kick the bug that was trying to bite through the armored arm of a SAM.

"Are you okay?" Asking quickly as she looked at the damage on the arm.

"Yes." Firefly's equally tired voice came through the comms and she punched another bug too with a fire blast.

But more and more were coming.

Quickly thinking, all her plans came back the same.

"Firefly, cover me!" She ordered, looking over her shoulder at her. "I'm going for the Swarm Mother!"

"Copy!"

Quickly flexing her hand, breaking off a little in conspicuous part of her armor  made for this purpose and holding it over, it looked like a box with a little button.

"Take this." Quickly putting it in her hand.

"What's this?" Firefly asked, a hologram coming of when she tapped the blinking light on it, showing a tracked of Wasp's position.

"If I can't do it, activate it when you see the signal!" She yelled before running off, directly at the swarm.

"Wait!" But she was gone.

She could feel the bugs splatter on her armor, the impact caving it in but she needed to get there dammit, she was made for this.

Throwing a punch or a kick when she could but it was more important to get to the bug then to protect herself.

She could feel her legs, the strength of the kicks on the corpse covered ground, the strides, the speed, the large movements and swings, slowly but surely wearing down.

First it was her breaking her ankle from the strength of a push of for a jump, next it was ripping the muscles of her shoulder in punching a bug straight into pasta on the wall, after it was ripping a ligament in the knee from suddenly changing directions.

Tearing herself apart with the sole goal of getting to that damned bug if that's the last thing she ever does, she is was made for this, and as long as she's alive, that armor will move her forwards, her neurons just need to fire off and it is done.

With a blast of the thursters under her feet, sending her up high.

"Incoming you ugly bug! For all those you killed! For Firefly, for Sky, for Rose, for K-10, for everyone hurt by your horrid existence!" Twisting her body to bring her legs under her again, the less then professional lunch sending her spinning through the air.

Aiming a powerful down on the carapace, if only one hole, that could be enough for even a SAM to get a blast in there and stop this infestati-- But her foot never touched the beast, swinging through the air without touching nothing as her body was thrust back into the air.

The tip of it huge leg stabbing her through the gut and skewering her on it.

Gasping out in shocked agony, the back of her armor ripped out and away from her body, tendrils of wires and ripped flesh clinging between her body and the metal.

Coughing heavily the visor getting splattered with blood at the bug lifted its leg to its ugly face.

Reaching up and using her hand to crush and rip the visor off to see.

"W-WASP!!"

Looking at the bug as she dropped it, panting through the agony, prying one eye open, forcing it to look at the bug, its maw slowly opening as the leg approached it.

"Wasp I am coming!"

"No! Don't!! You know what you need to do!!"

Yes, Firefly had indeed understood she was holding a hand held detonator, those in SAMs were similar tho a bit different but.

Looking into the maw filled with growths of keratin, forming a blender-like throat.

"WASP!!"

"FIREFLY DO IT!!" She yelled through the comms before taking a deep breath. "I am a goner... Please... I don't want to die like this." Like some snack to be ripped apart. Arm propped on the leg but she couldn't push herself off with the broken armor, her hand shaking in mild fear but mostly feeling numbness.

No reply came.

A defeated chuckle, tears in her eyes and instantly falling.

"I'm sorry you needed to win our deals like this Firefly." She said into the comms before taking a deep breath and glaring with the last of strengths. "Now commencing... Scorched-earth operations... FOR HER MAJESTY!!"

"For her Majesty!!" She heard Firefly repeat by habit.

Her hand shaking.

This... This was worse then she imagined... Not only was her friend going to die but-- Looking at the remote-- she'll be the one to pull the trigger.

As the bug lifted its leg and shook the limp body off it and into its maw, as it snapped closed, a bright blinding light shined out from inside it.

Wasp smile despite feeling the armors system, the wires or something in her, blast, shooting a hole through her chest from the inside, and as darkness came while the armor glowed with the lights of a moments away explosion, a last tear fell.

"I'll... Miss... You..."

The blast that followed devoured everything.

Be it swarm or iron cavalry.

It tor everything apart.

Blasting a huge crater into the world.

A world that would soon be nothing but dust.

------------------------------------------------

Gasping, sitting up with a small scream.

Pasting as the dreams-- no, memories still swirled in her head.

Cold sweat dripping down her back as she hung her head.

Grabbing the blanket on her knees.

Soon enough, drops, tear, started falling along with the first sobs.

Covering her face to muffle the noise as she hunched forwards.

All, she lost all.

Her world, her empire, her friend Sky and Rose, a friend that could have been more if she ever realized it... Wasp...

She...

She did it...

She pressed the button...

It was not the emanator that killed her, in the end, it was her.

Firefly had pulled the trigger and killed Wasp by her own hands.

And now she was here, in a place she didn't know, with people she didn't know promising her a script to a better world if she joined them.

Even so deep in the night, the moving clouds revealed a weak moon that cast a glint into the room.

Looking through her tears as the glistening little pin in the nightstand, this woman, Kafka was it? Said she was found, clutching it... She doesn't even know how it isn't lost, SAM can be summoned and unsummoned but it is not part of SAM and yet it stayed with it.

through tears, grabbing it and rubbing her finger over the little wasp pin, making her throat clench up.

Squeezing it in her hands, bringing it to her heart and crying even harder.

----------------------------------------------

"So you have chosen to join us, happy to hear." The one called Elio said to her as she nodded, hoping but more or less knowing it couldn't happen that they couldn't tell she had been crying until not long ago.

"If what you say is true, and this script will bring the best ending for everyone, then I'll help." Hand clutched around the pin.

"That is our goal, for everyone working with me to get their wish and a good ending for all of the universe even if it means we'll be on the wrong side of justice... So tell me, what's your wish girl?"

She lifted her hand, looking at the pin in it.

"To live life to the fullest... And find a place worthy of being her resting place." She'll do what Wasp thought impossible... She'll give her a worthy place to rest... Maybe not right away as she can't part with said pin but once in the future, once in the far future, wasp will have a grave.

Elio didn't question this she, that was her stuff.

"I am destiny's slave, I'll make sure what you want will coincide with the best future for the universe."

"Alright, then my SAM is at your disposal."

"Great, please tell me your name, it is only polite if we'll keep working together."

"Firef--" She cut herself off... Looking at the pin. "Wasp..." It felt like... On one hand she didn't deserve her name, a firefly doesn't bring destruction and sorrow and on the other hand this was the right choice, for her to take over as this. Putting the pin on her outfit before repeating. "My name's Wasp."

"Welcome to the team Wasp."

She took a deep breath.

For now Wasp cannot rest, first she still needs to help the world.

There is still a world for Wasp to see.

"I'll miss you too..."

---------------------------------------------------------

some of the dialogue taken from.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/voM6aSZzcDk

She...

She was the...

Master diviner...

...

Master.

Diviner.

...

Two words she was meant to expertly embody.
After all, Fu Xuan had been trained, had an almost innate ability to predict even without the help of the matrix and then could use the matrix of prescience to the fullest even from her sleep she was so in tune with it.

She was perfect for that role and life.

...

SO HOW THE HELL?!!

"How did you know?" Was a question she often asked the woman standing in front of her her desk.

Even in the cloud knight uniform there was no mistaking it... Plus the fact she almost never wore the helmet helped too... But it was (Y/N)... As infuriating as she was in her whole glory.

They had grown up together so Fu Xuan had known for a long time that the 'dumb neighbor girl' would perish if she gave her one of her speeches about the divination commission because her brain would just give up on understanding her and accept death first...
Annoyingly enough, Qingque and (Y/N) similar enough personalities that Fu Xuan found it needed to keep them apart on the clock... Tho at least (Y/N) did her job.

She knew her from growing up together and never being able to escape her, being the introvert adopted by dumb extrovert that she could not ditch in their youth... She would never admit it but she was happy for that.

She knew (Y/N) could freeze through targeted abominations of abundance with a singular swing of her cloud knight issued polearm and not divination, nothing at all, she had no incline towards it at all... So how did she know?

Fu Xuan had realized it just before lunch she actually brought an empty box and had resigned herself in silently working on but five minutes later this tall tree of a dumbass (just imagine stelle's height or something, idk, but I want the reader to be taller so no reason.) had showed up with a lunchbox, telling her to eat it as she knew she forgot her own.

Like how the hell did she know? They don't even live that close to each other now in their adult lives, like three streets away but still, and usually only had time to spend time together outside of work hours or for the weeks (Y/N) was one duty in the divination commission.

And like always (Y/N) answered with that cute dumb smile of her and a shrug.

"I just knew." Came the usual words.

Fu Xuan was about to enlist the astral express crew that just arrived to get it out of (Y/N) as she just couldn't figure out how her friend knew of this, or anything, while being the most simple minded woman in the Luofu with no hint of divination ability.

She was seriously about to throw her into the matrix to get her answers because this has been going on ever since they had started school, (Y/N) somehow divining things to happen to her or around her and it was driving Fu Xuan up the wall.

She's the master diviner so how was she unable to get to the bottom of this? Her powers revealed nothing at all was at play and she jus--"Xianzhou Luofu calls to Fu Xuan? Hello master diviner are you alive there? Blink twice if you need help."

"Stop it (Y/N)." Slapping her snapping fingers away from in front of her face, feeling the freezing aura around them, just getting a chuckle back. "Really, how do you always know?"

"I just do."

"I will find it out one of these days even if it takes me strapping you into the matrix of pre--" "Now now Fu Xuan, eat before I need to force feed you by freezing you in place."

"I hate you sometimes." Opening the box since she knew it would happen, sitting back in her chair as the knight leaned on her table.

"Yes yes and I love you I know."

Coughing on the spoonful of rice she had gotten while talking, worrying the cloud knight.

"You okay there master diviner? I don't want to be charged with murder of one of the six charioteers at 12 in the morning with rice."

"Your own damned fault you idiot." Incredulous and turning away as if annoyed like she did with others... But it was to hide her face here.

Fu Xuan was... Bad with words... And emotions... And--anything when it came to her friend, a fucking bumbling idiot when she is meant to be the master diviner... Not some fool that turned red the moment anything like that was mentioned.

And that's another thing she couldn't figure out, if (Y/N) truly meant those comments or if she was messing with her... BECAUSE FU XUAN'S FEELINGS ARE KILLING HER.

Always knowing part of the future without the matrix made it hard to truly connect with people but (Y/N) here was making it hard to be sure of anything she did and that uncertainty might be what first pulled her in with the want to know how she could always diving her life or whatever she is actually doing.

"Sit down already, you have not only come here to watch me did you?" She said to the knight.

"Nope." Holding up the second lunch she had with her.

"One of these days I'll know how you do it." She thought to herself, watching the other woman create a chair of ice out of thin air and sitting on it, not feeling the cold of it.

----------------------------------------------

"Oh dammit..." Fu Xuan sighed, looking at the falling rain, she thought she'd have time but she miscounted.

"Hey ther--" Smack!

"Oh my, I'm quite sorry." Fu Xuan was so embarrassed. (Y/N) popping out of nowhere and in her surprise, Fu Xuan had flung her phone into the source of the sound which was a face.

"It's fine, I'm not fragile." (Y/N) picked her phone up and handed it over. "This might be tho, might have gotten a bit wet from falling down so careful."

"I am more worried about your face, I can always buy a new phone."

"Awe, you care for lil ol' me?"

"I take that back, go die in a ditch and rot." Only getting a laugh back as she blushed badly... Stupid feelings... She loves that laugh even if it is at her expense. 

"Whatever you say, take this." Holding out an umbrella. "I bet you forgot today was the rain day." Since the Luofu was no planet, the rain was scheduled once in a while and Fu Xuan had broken hers a while ago from hitting someone from sanctus medicus' sneaking up on her.

"How did you..." She grabbed it, (Y/N) having been holding another open one over her and letting the rain pour on her.

"I just knew."

"Are you sure you don't want to work for the divination commission?"

"Oh no, I can't divine anything to even save me life."

Fu Xuan's confusing was immeasurable and her day was ruined.

----------------------------------------------

"You seem preoccupied my dear friend." The almost soft gravel of a familiar voice came as she looked through divination data to try predict what would happen... The express crew was here for days now, the stelleron crisis was going on and the sanctus medicus were starting to act up along with Kafka on the run.

"General Jing Yuan... Of course I am, the safety of the Xianzhou Luofu depends on it." She said, holding up a small stack of papers in a lazy wave even for her.

"That's not what I meant." Jing Yuan's smile was eternal on his unbothered face even in the face of this brewing calamity to come, he always did seem in control even when no one could follow along what he was doing and why.

"Hmm? You'll need to be more precise, I divine the future and not what the general wants to talk about." She put the papers down, feeling like something was missing, she was going nowhere with these and she didn't know why.

"You'd need the matrix for that or the words from the destiny's slave." 

"Exactly."

"Haha... What I meant is something else seems to be on your mind, something that has nothing to do with the situation at hand."

"It's just..."

"That knight?"

"Of course you'd know..."

"I've known you for a long time Fu Xuan. I have eyes everywhere and the knights answer to me, of course one love-sick puppy would get to be through rumors and Yanqing's own observations."

"That brat of yours--." Blink... Blink blink? "Love-sick puppy?"

"Oh? Is the master diviner unaware?" Crossing his arms. "Such a turn of events... Do tell, dear friend, what's on your mind? I might be able to solve your problems much easier then you would believe. Sometimes two heads are better then one."

"We'll get back to that." Fu Xuan promised. "But like, path preservation and ice, there is not divining in that and yet she somehow always know before I do what I need."

The door opened.

"Hey Fu Xuan, I think you need thi--" (Y/N) froze, straightening up. "General!"

"At ease." He waved off. "I am just visiting for a chat between long work hours, so you have something for the lady diviner."

"Yes, this." Holding up a single paper. "Forgot it and can't finish her work without it." He grabbed it from her, looking it over. It seemed like a useless amount of data to him but he long learned to listen and not assume.

"Thank you (Y/N)."

"I'll take my leave now." With a bow towards the general, almost shuffling out in embarrassment for having barged in like that in front of him.

Jing Yuan looked back at Fu Xuan who already awaited him with a 'See?' face, making him laugh a little.

"I kept these papers in a drawer, no way she knew about them without some divination."

"Maybe she just knows?"

"That's what she keeps saying!" Throwing her hands up. "I don't get how she is able to predict everything I do and always be prepared but at the same time being so stupid. Like how does she know I want to eat that thing and suddenly show up with it. How--" And she went on quite a rant, Jing Yuan rarely hearing her talk so much about something that wasn't her work.

Unlike Yukong, he hadn't really interacted with these girls as they grew up, only meeting her when she became master diviner and only knew about the knight from rumors and all of that before he, on purpose, looked into it to see if his friend was fine and it was not some workplace harassment he was unaware of because of her stubbornness.

"Sounds like you are in love my dear friend." He cut her off after a while of her talking.

"That's not my problem here! You are completely missing the point! If it was that simple it would be that, simple! But how can she read my mind and my mind only? I am not that much of an open book am I?"

"Trust me, you are very hard to read...Unless it comes to her." He finished in her thoughts to spare her hearing those words. "My friend, why not just ask her? I am sure she'd go on a date or something with you."

"But how'd I do that? Would she know already? Would she be prepared? Or are we only friends? What are we?"

"I'm sure she already knows enough, if you don't try nothing will happen." Was he really giving dating advise here? Oh how it reminded him of his youth when he was the one that wanted advice. "Trust me on this dear friend, nothing to lose."

"Right, just a decades long friendship from like dippers to now, no big deal."

He once again laughed a hearty laugh to her dismay.

"I should bring her up more often, you seem more human. This bothered by something you can't understand."

"General."

"I jest I jest, here's the paper, I should get going before Yanqing takes it upon himself to get me back to work."

She didn't hold him up, looking at the data sheet... Correct, it was indeed the numbers she was missing to make sense of all this rambling from the matrix... Dammit (Y/N) just how do you know?!

------------------------------------------------

Fu Xuan doesn't really have the best of timings when it is not something she can divine or schedule... Well, she could divine (Y/N) too but not when it came to how this woman knew anything so much in advance!

Which currently, unfortunately, would not save her.

"How fucking dare you?!"

The crew of the express and the knights with her looked on in surprise, Fu Xuan? Acting like this? Unheard of.

But her blood was boiling over.

"My my, seems I hit a nerve here~ Is one of them close to you?" Fu Xuan wanted to kill Kafka at this moment, she heard of the spirit whispers she had, some technique in controlling the mind of people like puppets... But how dare she... How dare she?!!

And that look in the criminal's pupil-less eyes spoke long on her knowing just what knight she ensnared under her control, like chosen on purpose out of the hundreds of thousands upon the Luofu.

"Maybe this one?" She asked, putting her hand on the chest armor of the knight. "Hmm... No... I think it's this one." Putting up her hand, palm facing the sky, making the dead-eyed (Y/N) put her chin on it before giving it a little squeeze. "Yeah, I think so~"

Let's just say Fu Xuan was about to switch to a path of destruction and go physical on this woman's ass.

"Well, puppet, attack them~"

(Y/N) blinked.

What... Happened?

She had been doing her patrols Stargazer Navalia to take out the abominations of abundance before--

"Listen to me~"

-That's all she remembers before this moment was those three words, it was like her mind turned off.

Now she was face down, in pain and something wet on her face.

Pushing up with an arm, getting on her elbow, head hanging as she looked at the puddle of red under her as the blood flowed and dripped down.

It took her a moment to realize it was even her own, her body responding so slowly, nodding to remind herself to even blink.

She didn't realize her ears were ringing until it was gone, nor did she realize the touch she felt for a while.

"--/N), come on answer me, can you here me?"

"Loud and clear." She muttered out, arms feeling weak, like she had been in a fight... She can't gather her mind enough to get this at all.

"I told you to be careful!" Fu Xuan hissed, eyes shooting lightning at the trailblazer who just shrugged, it was not their fault they had a bat and that Kafka made the knights attack them... Buuut they'll give it to her, they had hit a knight missing her helmet in the head with the bat.

"Let us help you master diviner." Welt offered. "Let's get the knights to the nearest apothecary." 

------------------------------------------------

"Awe, you care for me." (Y/N) would have a killer headache for the following weeks that's for sure and bruises from the beating but like the rest of the guards, she'd be fine.

"Don't get used to it." Fu Xuan said with her arms crossed... Having stayed here all the time (Y/N) got checked out... She's really being obvious isn't she? Oh Aeons. "Well, rest, I'll come see you later, I got to interrogate a criminal"

"Sure, see you." That damned smile... Dammit, dammit dammit, twisting the end of her hair in her hair.

(Y/N) waved her hand around, a flick of ice tripping the smaller woman up to make her look back at her.

"And it is a yes." (Y/N) called out before she left.

"HOW DID YOU KNOW I WANTED TO ASK YOU OUT?!" She yelled from the door.

"I just did."

--------------------------------------------

Fu Xuan had... Gone a bit overboard.

With all that happened between the snap of a neck, a high elder of the vidyadhara, the arbor and a giant woman leading to the general being stabbed... With all of that... She needed to catch a break and she would catch that break aeons be damned!

But she had gone overboard.

"Next time tell me where we are going, I'd have dressed fancy. I am dressed too casually for this place." (Y/N) said, reminding Fu Xuan of her mistake. 

Not only had she like gone and decided to have lunch at a small restaurant in the heights of Luofu with a beautiful sight of the city and trees below, which already cost a lot, but she hat outright rented out the whole place, every single seating area to be sure no one would bother them.

She could have done worse like renting a band to play music or create the menu herself but Jing Yuan had luckily been there before she dug this hole deeper.

"Please don't bring it up." She said, only getting a laugh back.

Jumping a bit, quite stressed actually, when the cold breeze created by (Y/N) blew her hair around.

"Stop it!" Only getting a laugh back.

"Oh don't be mad at me. Do you want me to foot the bill to be forgiven?"

"Absolutely not, you'd bankrupt your future grandchildren if you paid a fraction of this, I can afford it, being in my position."

(Y/N) put her hands up in surrender before grinning... Oh no.

"Grandchildren? First buy me a drink."

"(Y/N)!!" A laugh followed from the taller of the two.

(Y/N) had probably taken pity on her because she stopped teasing her as they sat at the table, looking at the view.

Fu Xuan didn't even have the time to ask that (Y/N) dropped two ice cubes in her glass. On the Luofu or any of the ships, the inhabitants didn't know true cold but there were cold things, like drinks... It was partially why she secretly found the fact that (Y/N) had a much colder touch then average intriguing but she'd never say it.

"How did you know?"

"I just did."

"Come on (Y/N), stop with the games and tell me. How in all that is sacred do you know all of this?!"

(Y/N) gently chuckled, creating a cube of ice in her own glass too, splashing in the drink, taking a longer then necessary sip of her drink before smiling at the master diviner.

"For the most intelligent woman dragging seemingly a dummy as myself around, you are the dummy between us two it seems."

"(Y/N) there is no way a normal human can do that, not even us long-life species."

"Really now? You are quite blind in that case."

"Just tell me already." 

(Y/N) took another sip.

"Fine but you'll feel stupid, are you sure you want to break the illusion anyway?" She asked with a raised brow and tilted her head to the side.

"It can't be that bad."

"Fu Xuan." A short chuckle. "I grew up with you. You are a methodical woman, one who likes order, meticulousness and scheduled life. Those are easy to guess, have you just realized you stopped making your tea and I make it for you? It's always on your table when and how you want it so you don't question it and only question it when something is up and you can't place it, when I am not there to do that. How you told me passingly you hit someone with an umbrella, which are brittle, knowing the rain is coming up and how you probably wouldn't think about getting a new one while also knowing the exact time you leave your home. Or how when you are stressed you forget about yourself in favor of others, I don't need to be a genius to know you'll forget to pack a lunch in the morning rush when I don't see you are the usual time. Or even in the crisis, as put together as you seem you tend to grab things without checking so I always pass behind you to make sure you didn't lose a page or a pen along the way. Even just bringing you exactly the wanted food, I know what you like to eat and what you don't you are much more picky then you admit it so I have little chance to mess it up."

There was a silence.

"You walk up and down in a roughly 2 meter stripe when deep in through, the floor in the divination commission is literally worn down there. The only moment you play with your hair is when you want to ask me something you aren't sure I'll say yes too. You have three different sighs for fake annoyed, annoyed and 'I'm done with humanity's stupidity', I always have hair clips on me because despite your orderly-ness you never do and find yourself always brushing your hair out of your face... And I could go on and on Fu Xuan... I've known you for decades if not longer as age doesn't mater much in adult hood for the Xianzhou natives. I don't need some secret divination ability to be able to tell you what you will do, I know you inside and out... I am more observant than you give me credit for."

"So you just... Knew."

"I just knew."

"How did you know I was going to ask you for a date."

"Oh I didn't, I just knew from the body language that it was something you wanted me to say yes too, hair touching remember?"

"...I'm such an idiot." Face in her hands.

"I warned you."

"I hate you."

"I know."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/0GdJW1Vnrjk

"Good job, as quick as usual." Being basically a robot deprived Xueyi from the smile she wanted to give back as her sister's words and so she just nodded.

Ever since the creation furnace had been broken open their jobs as a judge of the ten-lords commission had doubled, maybe tripled, even with the help of the trailblazer and their little ghost hunting team.

"Only because of you, able to track them down so fast, I'll head to Fyxestroll garden's to seal it." Xueyi said, holding the gourd containing the heliobus in it.

"Right, I'll have a look around here to be sure everything is in order."

But compared to what she said it was almost like she was waiting for the other spiritfarers and judges to leave, walking more to the a secluded area.

"My aeons, that was a close one." An echoed ethereal voice whispered to her with a far off giggle.

"Did I not tell you to be careful?" The judge asked the flickering blue-green light that made itself known, bouncing around her before, in a flash of light that made her squint, there stood a cheeky looking specter.

"You could take that advice for yourself." The woman said, tapping her high heel on the ground, raising a brow at Hanya. "If I hadn't acted out, you'd have been flung into the wall by Balinx, it would have stung on your clean record wouldn't it?"

Hanya sighed even if she didn't really need it.

Technically this bothersome heliobus was correct... She had put down her guard too fast and the possessed vidyadhara had almost gotten to her before her not so own instincts roundhoused his ass into unconscious.

Well... Heliobus is a strong word, this one was actually the closest to the thing that street performer girl called ghost.

It was a long dead foxian judge of the ten-lords commission but she was not like the other spirits in Fyxestroll garden, she outright behaved like heliobi when they were not the same entities.

And... Hanya was being extremely selfish in hiding her, having known her a long ago, when alive, and just... She is no true heliobi so she is not about to let the other judges treat her as such.

(Y/N) was her name, she had had one (H/C) hair with matching eyes and a fluffy tail of the same shade while being born with her ears a bit smaller then the average foxian in proportion, always wearing her ten-judges outfit but it was black with golden trim and blue highlights... Was... Now all of her was nothing but different shades of blue ghastly energy.

Hanya thought she had stopped caring about others then her sister until she ran into (Y/N) again in this form.

(Y/N) death was never explained, no one knew why it happened, when and where, only her lifeless body was found dumbed on the stairs of the commission with a note to stop the investigation in her pocket.

The body didn't seemed to be harmed, not outwards injuries but the insides were ensnared in thorny vines: compressing, pulling, twisting organs mangled by a plant never seen on the Xianzhou Luofu or any of the alliance ships... Well... Anywhere but in the disgusting bodies of the abomination of abundance... But how the hell did it get in the body of a foxian?

Hanya never knew they were even that close until that day, thinking they were colleagues, but it affected her more then she thought, more then anyone.

Spending centuries probably in trying to find something, anything, to lead her to answers she still didn't have.

The problem was no one knew what (Y/N) had found out and what lead to her death and this version of her didn't seem to know either, still feeling pain of splitting agony when trying to think back to anything before her death for too long.

(Y/N) was known off by the half six charioteers which were Yukong, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan for different reasons. Yukong because as a foxian too, maybe she could help her move on with some ritual of their people but the spirit still remained, Jing Yuan because he is the general and more similarly weird deaths had show up across the years and it was the first time someone living through it could try to help but she couldn't remember, Fu Xuan because maybe with the matrix they could go in her mind to find the murderer but as she was dead, the matrix couldn't detect her.

To ensure the lack of panic and knowledge of this getting out, she was sealed into Hanya's brush like Mr. Tail was in HuoHuo's tail tho willingly, so she could help, was always under control and always close in case the judge still investigating century old murders found something that made (Y/N) remember anything.

"Hello? Hanya? You alive there?"

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

"All of this, you don't deserve this existence."

"My murder was not your fault... From what you told me, I left the commission that day, vanished for a week and showed up dead with a note... You could have done nothing."

"I also told you that you asked me to come along and I refused."Hanya pointed it out, getting the ghost to sigh.

"Sometimes I prefer when you don't want to talk." She said with a little laugh. 

This has always been a point of contention and argument between the two. (Y/N) who only kept her old personality and all her memories were from notes, diaries, letters, pictures, recordings Hanya had unearthed for her and Hanya who had grown cold from viewing the memories of Mara struck and criminals alike, neither would give on this subject.

(Y/N) didn't believe having Hanya said yes would have changed her fate.

Hanya believes having said yes would have saved (Y/N) life that day.

"Anyway. Thank you, for back there."

"I couldn't let you get hurt could I?"

As much as she always had a sort of inner hate for when she was possessed, sometimes it was a need, as mentioned before, that's how she avoided that injury in the mission, because of (Y/N) help.

"You are lucky Xueyi didn't see you tho." She loved her sister, the only one that can still pull emotions out of her, but Hanya is unsure if she'd keep the silence about this ghastly helper or at least not try convince her that she should get rid off her.

"I'm careful." (Y/N) promised. "Plus I learnt a trick or two from the heliobi around."

"Just don't get spotted."

"Ay ay." She did a little salute, tail swishing through unfelt winds of the afterlife.

--------------------------------------------

(Y/N) didn't exactly like how things were turning out currently.

In her own little mind, tho unseen, watching to battle going down.

Sanctus medicus, those pests, always bothering the ten-lords with what they were doing, playing with those atrocious creatures of abomination.

Her ears twitched back, closing one eye in surprise, it was like a sharp pain behind the eyes.

With a flex of her hand, chains shot out, shackling the enemy, having long learned Hanya's habits in combat.

A simple paintbrush can't be used as a weapon... Tho this one was not a simple one purely through her presence alone. Other might think it is Hanya's power but it was the ghostly inhabitant that could shackle down the spirits of others.

Lucky her, the battle was not long, sadly tho it was because of a smoke bomb and the disciples getting away. 

"Gha, you couldn't be done with it earlier could you." (Y/N) asked while holding her head once they were away from view.

"Is everything alright?" Her friend... Colleague? Honestly she didn't know anymore, asked, visage as cold as ever. "I didn't over do it did I?"

"No, it's not you. It's those guys." (Y/N) shook her head but it just made it worse, who know the dead could feel like their stomach wanted to empty itself. "Just looking at them makes my head hurt."

Hanya took note of that, easily connecting pieces.

"Usually it seems to affect you when we get near your past having something to do with your death, remember your old home?"

"Oh yeah, migraine for weeks... But we've seen many sanctus medicus people before."

"True so maybe one of these has a connection to you, I'll keep it in mind." Slowly but surely...

"Maybe we could ask for help." (Y/N) did enjoy being around in the short-run... But in the long-run every spirit that wandered the Fyxestroll gardens and wasn't a heliobus was someone that had not yet moved on but would one day, she was also meant to but just didn't know what kept her back. Assuming it is connected with how she died.

"It is too dangerous."

"Hanya, even you have your limits, at least ask those trailblazers or your sister, you could ask those that already know of me too. You don't need to do this alone, you didn't kill me."

"My actions have so I need to atone."

"Hanya." A sigh before flicking her hand, the brush ripping from Hanya's hand and floating above (Y/N)'s. "If you won't then I need to take action, I can't sit by playing by your rules anymore for those rules only burden you."

"(Y/N)!" She threw her hand up but she was gone with the brush, watching in mild shock at the spot the ghostly being was, watching the wisp of light shoot through the air.

Gears turning in her head, knowing she'd go to one of the mentioned people, quickly calculating the risks of each and knowing right away who'd she choose.

"Oh no you don't."

--------------------------------------------

Xueyi didn't truly expect any of this.

She needed to recap exactly what had happened three times to be sure she was not dreaming somehow.

Firstly there was a heliobi that popped out of nowhere in front of her.

Second it turned out to not be a heliobi at all but she only learned of that after the gourd to contain it didn't work.

Third it wielded the brush Hanya used, she recognized it as it was her gift long ago, and had tied her up in familiar chains after she tried to stab it with her weapon.

And fourth, said it was now trying to bargain with her to just listen.

A bit of a confusing five second event wouldn't you say?

"So you are saying you were a ten-lords judge that was murdered but you don't remember how and Hanya thinks she is guilty and has been hiding you ever since." Xueyi's tone was disbelieving even if her face didn't change.

"Yep, in short that's it, I have been helping out to pay rent in this brush, I suppose it is like that little girl's Mr. Tail does it even if I am not really a heliobus as I told you... And trust me, if Hanya doesn't kill me again for doing this it will be a miracle because she didn't want anyone to know about this but I decided that enough was enough."

As much as all logic told her to not believe a simple word out of the mouth of this being, she was kind of holding the brush, which was proof enough something was up along with the powers still restraining her.

"So..."

"So I want you to help because out of every option I proposed she wouldn't say no to you and you alone."

"Who were the other options?"

"The astral express crew or three of the six charioteers who know about me."

"Who out of the six?"

"Well there is--" The door was slammed open, for once Hanya not looking happy at all, clearly displaying it on her face. "Shit." In a flash, the being was gone and the brush fell on the ground, Xueyi being freed finally.

"Sister."

"I don't care what she said, I have it under control." She picked up her brush, face turning back to the usual numbness since she couldn't do much to the ghostly being even if she was angry so she dropped it.

"So that was the truth... Some murdered judge spirit."

"Xueyi, I have it under control."

"Do you? How long have you been looking for answers?" It was not often they questioned each other in such a way.

"Xueyi."

"It must not be fine since you are using my actual name... Did you really think I wouldn't help with this?" Finding it a bit absurd. "Out of everything I wouldn't have believed you thought that."

"I caused this, I refused to accompany her that day and she died, it is my job to find out why and how to help."

"Neither of us is stupid sister, something changed or your spirit there wouldn't have decided to risk it all."

"I told her to not." Xueyi stopped her from leaving by grabbing her arm.

"Well she did and now I am implicated, let me help."

"I was to blame here."

"But I am your sister and want to help... Tell me. Please."

As much as she didn't want to, she couldn't tell her no, no matter how much she tired.

------------------------------------------------

And that's how the duo turned into a trio.

(Y/N) being the annoying roommate now that she finally didn't need to hide.

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!" She said, it was morning and all, as a spirit she never needed sleep so it was boring, having only a little ability to interact with the world if it was not through her powers used for combat.

"I don't eat eggs."

"Then wakey wakey vegetables and sadness." (Y/N) said, getting a stabby weapon flung through her body... Xueyi might not enjoy her bothering her.

"It was much better when you were hiding away." Hanya casually said.

"Ouch, you wound me. I thought you liked me."

"I'd say the same." Xueyi told her sister.

"Betrayal." (Y/N) complained.

------------------------------------------

"Careful girls, even you can't take on that many."(Y/N) didn't really enjoy dragging others into this despite her actions in blasting off to just tell Xueyi against Hanya's will that day.

But sometimes she must react and do things her way.

This was meant to be an almost routine mission, some news about happening in stargazer navalia which turned out to be more then routine.

A line of light extending from each other he finger tips, threading through containers and still remaining roots of the arbor, shifting to have the looks of chains. Almost creating a dome of chains as such was required to restrain the surprised attack... The ambush.

A hand was down by her waist and the other up by her head, forearm in front of her face before she pulled both hands to chest level and threaded her fingers together, the chains moving and pulling her targets where she wanted them, feeling like an arrow was shooting through her skull.

Hanya only had a scratch and a bruise from the fall but Xueyi's robot arm was blasted off at the shoulder by a blast of green energy... Luck she has many other artificial bodies and that it wasn't permanent. 

Only that was needed to have (Y/N) act out of turn to their promise and take things in her own hands.

"Mmm... I recognize you." She flexed her right pinky finger, the third guy from the left choking as the chain tightened around his throat. "Your ugly face is giving me a headache."

"Y-you." He choked out when she jerked on her finger, pulling him close, dragged on the ground to her feet.

"Might you be the one that killed me?"

"I have nothing to say to a traitor."

Anger she never felt flaring up.

"Why you..." Chain unfurling enough to hear him clearly and not muffled by his windpipe being crushed.

"Yeah

Hanya was helped up by Xueyi, not even having the time to dust herself off that sickening crackling of tendons and snapping of bones was heard.

Eyes met with the sight of all dead.

"(Y/N)." She sighed, displeased with the loss of their culprits but her attention shifted fast. "(Y/N)?" The tone to it putting the other sister on guard.

The blue wispy body had flared out like wind, blowing the loose pieces of cloth around, whipping the hair around of imaginary winds as the wisp of blue energy floating off the body seemed more like fires instead of light smoke.

"AAAH!!!" All bodies lighting up a ghostly blue fire as she chains shattered, looping in long fierce columns of flames.

Hanya covered her face with a hand up arm but still squinted at the heat of the flames eating away at the flesh of the sanctus medicus members in an anger uncharacteristic of (Y/N).

Then (Y/N) wobbled, taking a step to the left, grabbing her head a moment before, with an angry movement, wisp-ing away back to where she was sealed, the brush lighting up ghostly blue for the fraction of a moment.

Xueyi looked from it to the blue embers that were left. Wondering what could have been said to cause the usually fun loving and relaxed spirit such an outburst of anger.

---------------------------------------------

"You need to talk to us one of these days (Y/N)." Hanya said.

She had been writing her thoughts down in a diary, a habit she picked up with the job, so she was sure to not forget things she wanted to mention to her sister at the end of the day.

But today, more often then not, her mind returned to the brush she was using to write instead of fight this time.

When in need for the powers it still happened, she could still restrain the criminals and heliobi with it but she hadn't talked with (Y/N) herself for a while.

She knew whatever happened would have been marking, she just wished she'd have heard what was said and what made her react like this, so she could try to help like she did until now.

"Me or my sister it doesn't matter, but you can't keep this up, you might be dead but it is not good on the mind."

Looking around her room, having a few boxes of the stuff she had found to help (Y/N) with her memories, the foxian spirit did say she could throw them out not but it felt wrong, like insult to the dead even if the dead itself was telling her to do that.

"I might not be the best to talk too about feelings I am aware but I know to listen and we've known each other for a long time... Maybe I can offer a side to it that you don't expect."

"I don't believe you can."

"There you are." Hanya turned around.

The spirit had her ears pinned back against her head with a thin lipped almost frown expression, eyes unsure and preoccupied, as she stood there.

"And why can I not?"

"It took only a few words from that main guy to unlock the truth and trust me." Putting one of her crossed arms' hand on her face, looking off to the side. "I wish I never knew the truth and remained ignorant..."

"Is that why you got angry?" She knew people needed hugs when hurting but who could do that to a spirit, only able to be there like this, an ear to listen.

"Yeah... I should have never looked for it... One word, two, that's all it took to destroy all I knew..."

"You can tell me (Y/N), we've been working to set you free from this trap between life and death for so long."

"Yes but this is not worth it."

"I caused your death by not coming with you that day, let me at least make it easier on you now."

"I told you... You were not the reason." (Y/N) sighed, sitting back in the air as if a chair was there to hold her up. "I was always meant to die."

Hanya didn't say anything, in hope she'd go on, and she did.

"So much is still a blur but enough of the fog is gone to know I am the one to blame... The head of the ten-lords of the time had been dealing with some things, among other things, me... Still remember the day I showed up?"

"Instant hire with no background to her."

"Yeah... Because with these strings I can make to puppet people at will, I forced my way in... I... I was a sanctus medicus spy." She sighed heavily, her shoulders seeming to slump even more, hand covering her eyes now.

"A spy?"

"Mhm, reporting on the going in the ten-lords from the inside... But I started making friends, either seeing the error of my ways or something, I don't know, I have no recollection about that but I do remember I was playing both parts at the same time."

Gulping the heavy canon ball in her throat but it didn't feel like going down.

"That was until that day, I must have been found out or something because the offered medication, that one that was meant to give long life after ingesting, was what sprouted into that grotesque plant filled death... The rest is still blank with flashes of memories of being locked in a room to die, the blood of the disciples, running with the agony of my body twisting on the inside... Until I dragged myself up the steps of the commission, trying to warn them but failing so close to the goal..."

"Traumatic memories can be surprised by the mind... I'll assume since you died after it just made it worse, a piercing pain to try to remember anything."

"I barely remember that and anything before but those words, traitor and heretic to the cause brought just enough to the surface to realize what was going on..." Both hands on her face. "Aeons, I am horrible being."

"You are not."

"I worked for those sanctus medicus monsters Hanya! Of course I am!" throwing her hands up and standing up from the invisible chair, Hanya doing so too from her actual chair.

"You said it yourself no? You changed sides, you recognized your wrongs... You even died because you were considered traitor. Think about it, why would you have invited me along that day?"

"How would I know?!"

"I can only theorize but it could have been as backup? Maybe you'd have told me the truth along the way and want to ambush them. Or maybe it was to blow your cover as a member so you didn't need to admit it out loud? Even just trying to indoctrinate me. All three and many more ideas that I can think up could and would result in the truth being out."

"Why would I have trusted them to eat that thing hmmm?!"

"Maybe since you don't remember details and only snippets you were forced, coerced, was a final trial of passage, you thought it was safe, anything could be the truth."

(Y/N) sighed, not seeming happier but indeed calmer.

"You died trying to do the right thing... Is that not enough to prove you that you are no monster?"

"I suppose." Not really believing it but deciding to accept it. "And will you accept that you didn't kill me?"

""This could have been avoided if I came along... But technically you caused your own death." Hanya relented.

(Y/N) gave a weak chuckle before raising a brow towards the window.

Hanya followed her look, seeing the sunrise... Why was she suddenly surprised by it? Looking back to (Y/N) did prove instructive tho.

Her body seemed to fade a bit under the light and the hand directly in the light flickered out, really faintly visible still as she pulled it out of the ray of light.

"I guess all it took was for you to come to terms with the past." Hanya said, a bit sad in her own way that this was the end but also, again in her own way, happy that it was finally solved and over.

(Y/N) looked at her hand before looking back at the other woman's words.

"Nah, I believe it is you, you finally stopped blaming yourself." She said, the fact she was feeling the warmth of the sun was tale tail enough that it was indeed the end of this long road.

She still didn't know how to feel about this revelation but she'd accept it as she has no other choice.

"Hey, don't miss me too much, will you Hanya?"

"Of course you'll be missed, You've been around for a long time but fear not, we'll be fine."

"Yeah, tell Xueyi goodbye for me, I don't think I have much time still."

"Will do."

The sun on the Luofu was fake since it was a ship in space and not a planet but the warmth of it felt true to (Y/N) more of her body faded out.

"And your brush, I think as long as you keep that seal on it it should be able to use what power I granted to it even if I am no more, not sure tho so you'll need to see but I'll assume you can since some possessed objects get charged with the powers and retain them even when the heliobus is pulled from it... Talking about heliobi, both of you be careful, I won't be there to catch your mistakes and help out anymore."

"Of course."

"And throw those old things of mine out, maybe when you stop missing me, I wouldn't want to be garbage too soon."

"Wherever you go now, don't miss us too much either."

"I'll show you around the day you finally both die, don't worry."

"I'll hold you to that."

(Y/N) did a little mockery of a bow as the sun's light filled the room, chasing all shadows away into hiding.

Hanya did a little sigh, looking at the spot now empty of a spirit.

Looking at the brush, now inert of life, like it should be...

She doesn't know how long she stared out the window but it must have been a while as Xueyi knocked and opened the door.

"Sister?"

Looking around the room, it all looked the usual but the feeling away... Off.

"She's gone, isn't she?" She simply asked.

"You missed her by a few minutes." Probably closer to an hour but who counted?

"At least I hope she was happy."

"Yes." Hanya, still looking out the window... It was forced, there is no other way for it, but she did give a small unseen smile. "She was, that little devil of a (Y/N)."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/zjsceZhVYhM

A planet.

Planet of green and abundance.

Planet of excess and love.

A planet that would soon meet with a grim fate at the hand of curiosity.

------------------------------------------

"WAIT WHAT?! WELL FUCK YOU TOO THEN HALF NAKED GLOWING SKY DADDY!!"

--------------------------------------------------

Herta.

Member #83 of the genius society.

Master of the eponymous Herta space station.

Owner of the biggest collection of curios on this side of the galaxy.

Was...

At quite a loss.

It was not usual for her, or any genius really, to be at this much of a loss... And yet she was.

She thought her mind and the combined knowledge of other geniuses she contacted for this purpose would get her answers but even the two that answered: Screwllum and Ruan Mei, there was no answer that came from them putting their minds together on this subject.

It just made no sense.

It was--crunch.

Her line of thought was broken in two by the loud sound that came from over her shoulder.

"Do you mind?" She asked.

"Oh I don't, keep doing what you are doing brain girl." Herta's eyebrow ticked... She uses her puppets and stayed out of things usually... But she is about to march her real body down there just to be tall enough to smack the other woman in the face... She freaking deserved.

This woman that called herself (Y/N) was the bane of Herta's existence ever since the doomsday beast attacked the space station with the anti matter legion... Why? Simple... 

This lady is a lord ravager.

Tho--crunch--Herta did wish she'd just go and kill them off instead of being the annoying nuisance she was.

She first showed up watching the express smack the doomsday beast to pieces when the trailblazer almost exploded before being stopped by Welt, sending the remains of raging beast blasting off into pieces before it could finish them all off as 'It would be boring'. A simple flick of the wrist killed the beast and yet she wanted to be entertained so she let the people here deal with it.

Only thing giving away she was some monstrous emanator of destruction was her whole get up and not her personality... That personality was one that would have made Aha burst out in endless laughter.

Black boots with high heels, a black and grey skirt with a sleeveless, once again black, top with golder highlights, gloves reaching her elbows... Yep, black, and the floating black crown of goopy metallic thingy over her head, if asked (Y/N) would shrug, not knowing why this was how she looked since it came with being a ravager. With golden cracks spreading through her skin... But outside of that? (Y/N) was the destruction of Herta's sanity and not of the universe--Crunch.

Herta summoned her huge hammer in that moment and swung, sending the bucket of popcorn flying out of the ravager's hands... How does she keeps getting popcorn?! There is no popcorn on the space station but she always seems to have some.

"Maaaaan, you are meaaaaan..." A whine came from the woman who dropped her hands.

"You will be the reason I lose my mind, lord ravager of destroyed sanity."

"Nah." She waved off. "Sky daddy wants that while I don't give a crap." Rolling her eyes. "I didn't follow that aeon when a human, I won't now."

"Stop calling Nanook sky daddy before he smites my space station because of you. You are literally wearing down my mind like water on stone, a slow grating process."

"Mmm no." She chuckled. "Worry noooot." Another dismissive wave. "Nanook have 7 other lord ravagers to do his bidding, he doesn't give a crap about me."

"The space station has had trouble after trouble since you showed up."

"You can deal with it, I don't wanna leave it would be too booooring, who even asks to become an emanator?"

Herta rubbed her brows, she doesn't know which would be worse, (Y/N) being like the other ravagers or the other ravagers being like (Y/N) and she was leaning towards the latter... At least normal ravagers just destroy to kill... (Y/N)'s pure presence is a danger to the psyche of Herta with how much of an annoying bitch she is.

"Like... It is not my fault I accidentally detonated a stellaron."

"You destroyed Kaliopy, planet of excess and abundance, leaving only a sliver of a crescent, 5% of the original mass, and a new asteroid belt in the system that needed to be evacuated because of fragmentum corruption... I'd say that's a good enough reason to be glanced at and chosen by Nanook... And all of the rest of the destruction you caused." Being a genius of course she know the history of the world and important figures in it.

"That was a temperamental moment. I was not happy, my aeon was not him."

"A temper tantrum that destroyed several solar systems?"

"Do you actually want me to ravage you?... Oh nope that sounded bad... Destroy you! Mmm not better... Whatever do you want me to go around and do sky daddy's bidding on your space station? Probably not and I can't really care about it... Amber daddy thoooo? A sexy hunk of rock I might say. Or even mommy harmony with those beautiful hips." Herta felt like retiring from life when (Y/N) caught the deadly disease of 'running her mouth'-itus.

"Stop calling the aeons mommies or daddies before all of them choose to got 'fuck everything in that general dirrection' and obliterate us to rid the world of the disease you are."

"Nah, I'd win."

(Y/N) was a powerful ravager despite how she acted so Herta should be grateful all she cares for is being entertained and annoying... She should call for the masked fools to take her away because she is sure she'd get along with them, Aha being fun daddy in her books.

But Herta couldn't really chase a lord ravager away, and she had solved a good few problems for them in the long run, one of the simple ones being the fact the anti mater legion steered clear of them because how could they contradict one of their leaders... Even if said leader cursed Nanook to his face and sucked up to the other aeons.

"Just... Stop crunching popcorn in my ears as I work, wherever you are getting it from..."

"You are boooring."

"You have been warned." She went back to typing her research into the programming of the simulated universe, trying to get it better by the time the trailblazer would be back to test this new version.

Maybe she couldn't make (Y/N) a final boss just so she gets smacked around a be? It is a--Crunch.

Herta swung and a lord ravager was sent careening through the void of space.

-----------------------------------------

"Now for this, I need a story." Herta sighed, watching the soot covered trailblazer and lord ravager.

"The scientists asked me to fix something."

"And they asked me to help because... Because what again?"

"You two are the most insufferable duo I ever had the displeasure of knowing, you are lucky you are important test subjects... What did you blow up?"

"Third engine room." (Y/N) didn't sugarcoat it. "Some wububol-thingy were causing trouble and such."

"Oh seed of destruction you are." Herta wanted to walk all her puppet in the airlock and send them into space to be as far from this woman as she could be.

"Naaah brain daddy would think I did great!"

"NOUS WOULD NOT CONDONE THIS!!!"

---------------------------------------------

"Out of all the time, can you not go and be all destruction now?" Herta asked.

"So now you want me to destroy things hmmm?" (Y/N) leaned over her shoulder to look at whatever she was watching.

"Researchers are disappearing and the annihilation gang is claiming these as their fault, they even messed up one of my puppets."

"Worry not." She put her hands on her shoulder. "I know this will end with everything resolved, the trailblazer is on it, that's enough trust me."

Herta sighed.

"Fine... Can you kick their ass for me tho? As a favor?"

"My legion is going to kick their ass as a reminder to not fuck with my friends."

Herta grinned, already having the lovely image of duke Inferno getting his ass kicked all blue.

"You are not that bad sometimes."

"Awwwwe I love you."

"I take that back."

"Hertaaaaaa."

"I take that sooooo back."

-----------------------------------------

"There." (Y/N) put the curio back into containment.

"Interesting." She raised her brow as Herta grabbed her hands to look at them.

"First take me out for dinner."

"Shut up, that curio is supposed to emit heat that can scorch the surface of a sun."

"I am a lord ravager despite not wanting to be one Herta, I am fine." She pulled the glove off. "See? Nothing."

"Interesting."

"Yeah well injury and well burns in this case is technically destruction in its own way, some more simple effects of it don't effect us and would take longer exposure to it... No you can't try to burn my hand." Putting the glove back on.

"Oh come on." Herta was disappointed.

"Worry not, one day you might see me hurt." (Y/N) joked. "You'll be able to study that that day."

-----------------------------------------

(Y/N) was always a curious girl.

And that curiosity caused a lot of trouble for her even before this forced life of an emanator for an aeon she refused to follow. 

Who would know a mere mortal would accidentally figure out how to awaken a stellaron by herself?

Bah... That's in the past, the long gone past, a past she only remembers because history has noted it down as the birth of the 8th lord ravager.

Curiosity always got the best of her, even if it hurt her in the end.

Which is...

Splatter...

Out of all crew from the express, the one that hosted a stellaron seemed the less terrified of her and would actually talk to her.

Maybe because they were somewhat the same, both creations that didn't want to be as they were or simple because the trailblazer was all about befriending everyone.

They'd indulge (Y/N) in stories of other worlds and adventures and questions, out of everyone, even Herta, she'd say she got along with them the most.

Drip... drip... drip...

So when the panicked message of gibberish came through the phone she only got because the trailblazer wanted to be able to chat, she had thought something was up.

"(Y-(Y/N)?"

Sometimes she really thinks Nous and his geniuses go too far, too far.

"I'm fine." She said softly.

Had the geniuses not known that it took three different aeons to put their differences aside to kill off propagation?

Skaracabaz, emanator of propagation... Or well, it's clone, in itself was extremely powerful because of how widespread the swarm is even without the aeon and even while being a clone.

(Y/N) had caught the two horns on the emanator, feet skidding against the smooth ground but stopping it from impaling the prone trailblazer, finding another target.

The horns were indeed caught but mandibular jaws of the beast had punched holes through her body and were now trying to squeeze her, saw her in two by jerking around, only stopped by her holding on it.

"AAH!!" Snapping a horn off from the yank before, with a spin on herself, throwing it at the wall of the containment chamber, easily flinging the insect emanator, still... Destruction is stronger then propagation, injury only born from the quick choice to protect first and destroy later.

Lucky for the space station, such a jolt to it was enough for it to disintegrate, code of life becoming unstable to sustain itself under such damage.

"You could have called me earlier geez." Ruffling their hair as she helped them up.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine." A glance as the holes, blood as golden as the aeon that made her this way.

"You are not, come on, you need help." As she sank to her knees, legs going weak.

"In the long run, even emanators are mortal in some way."

----------------------------------------------

Herta had indeed wondered for a while.

She is a genius.

Wanting to know everything.

How things worked, what could be done, what could be.

...

But...

...

She never hated knowing something more.

Despite not being told how the injuries happened, she worried more then she thought she would.

Sure it was said a while ago as a joke, and she was interested true.

"You stupid woman, how dare you get hurt like that?" She grumbled to herself.

Human medicine didn't seem to help so, willingly, the ravager was put in a stasis chamber as both knew those injuries would be her probably end at 86% of a chance of death if Herta was correct.

So they needed to make sure she was alive for as long as it takes for her own body to repair itself or for others to find a way to fix her.

That smile thrown her way felt more bitter sweet then it was as the door to it closed.

"Don't miss me too much."

...

And that's the day Herta realized how annoying the absence of annoyance was.

No one would gladly listen to her ranting about something they didn't understand.

No one loomed over her shoulder asking stupid questions for her to answer.

No one was around to mess things up and for her to fix.

Was... It always this boring before she came around?

Herta found herself looking over her shoulder to make a comment to someone not there.

Starting her days awaiting an always cheerful greeting that was to not come.

Forgetting to take breaks with no one to remind her to relax once in a while.

No more mishaps and broken projects to mull over.

Was it really this annoying to have no one there?

Herta wasn't a fan of making friends, geniuses don't make friends... And yet a lord ravager had cracked and broken the defenses... How fitting...

-----------------------------------------------

"You miss me too much Herta." (Y/N) chuckled, not really keen on being directly wired into the simulated universe but it was better then the dreamless sleep of the chamber.

"Nonsense, I just wanted to see if I could do it." The little robot avatar said, using that instead of the puppet for now as to control the-in-universe-doll it would require her to enter the simulation and she didn't want too, this way her expression would be hidden.

"So you went and uploaded my mind in here? Do I need to kick the trailblazer's ass when these come through?"

"No no, this is a hidden program."

"... AWEEEEE." She hugged the little robot, petting it's smooth head. "You did this for me? You shouldn't have."

"Oy stop it." The little metal arms smacked her, making her laugh.

"Alright alright... Will you keep me company? Or do I need to contact to fake fun daddy you can't delete from the system?" She asked with a smile.

"Stop it... This is worth observing, I never tried to do anything similar before."

(Y/N) chuckled a bit, how nice, she'd never admit it but how nice of her.

"Well, thank you, I'll be here."

"You better heal up soon."

"Do you really miss me that much?"

"Of course not... It's the others, asking about you."

"Sure." She chuckled before nodding. "We'll I miss them too."

"I'll come see you later, this is worth researching."

"Alrighty, see you soon and don't let sky daddy bite while I am gone."

"How annoying." Watching the little robot explode into glitchy spaghetti and left alone in this fake world.

(Y/N) chuckled, sitting back on the fake desk in the fake Herta's office.

She'll wait.

Wondering what Herta will bring once back.

...

Hmm...

...

Or maybe she could try to tamper with the code a bit, to get something entertaining for herself.

What could go wrong?

Oh how Herta would wish she stayed around longer.

Despite not being awake in real life... (Y/N) troubles in the simulation would reach far and wide soon enough.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/vB5nK99ssI4

A heliophobe with a heliobus in her tail tasked with hunting heliobi... Yeah not an easy life.

Huohuo just wanted to curl up in a tight little ball and cry her eyes out most over her waking life, only finding respite from her job when sleeping.

She couldn't escape it otherwise, Mr. Tail always with her and well he was not a nice heliobus, being so mean.

Why is her life so hard?!

Running from those flickering energy flamed controlled spiritfarers as fast as her little legs could care her.

Ones hand almost reaching her, inches, not even, away from her.

No heliobus was ever nice!

"Duck!!" Mr. Tail had seen something before she had, ramming into the back, sending her down on the ground, making her yelp in pain but also miss the devastating downwards kick that would have knocked her out if she had stayed up. By falling now, the kick hit the intended target and not her, the possessed adult.

"Hey you!! Warn the crybaby first! You could have hurt her!" Tail yelled at the uncaring owner of such a destructive kick.

"You noticed like I figured out you would so it wasn't needed." The emotionless voice came as the owner stood back on two legs instead of the balance on one, the metal making up her heels and boots clanking on the pavement in a familiar tonne.

Why did Huohuo need to be so unlucky?!

"Arg! Just take them out and console to crybaby! You made her cry!"

She sighed, flexing her artificial body.

From top to bottom there was nothing organic to H.C.U.... Or Heliobus Combat Unit... Not... Really the best name one can have but well, she didn't care much, those that did care simple called her H and she was fine with that.

As said, the toe area and the heel was reinforced with metal, the plating going up her shins with a knee guard, there was the same metallic cover on her fingers and elbows to protect those parts of her artificial body. Wearing some black outfit in the style of the judges with some light blue highlight here and there.

Her hair, if the rough fiber of it can even be called that, was on the shorter side, even shorter then Xueyi, longest being near the front, hand length and the white hair hanging in her face, many thinking it inhibited her sight but she didn't really care. Eyes having a slight natural glow to them, a ghastly blue.

Practically being the only free heliobi came with perks.
Being the little bitch she always was, Ignamar the great had found a little small fragment of himself, the size of an ant, having told on him to the general and so he was defeated... Such info won the fragment some liberties... Even if those liberties came with still being sealed away even if it was in this fake body and forced to work for the ten lords... She didn't care... Heliobi fight and she was fine fighting for the Luofu side with the little liberties she has, it's enough.

"I'd advise you to leave those bodies." She simply said. "And let me eat you." She'd always offer, Jing Yuan, the newest general even if it has been centuries, not really finding any wrong in it so unlike the previous ones, he didn't punish her for these demands, smart guy.

"Like hell traitor!" The possessed said but it was no surprise, they always refused her.

With a shrug and speed offered through this fake body, she rushed the possessed, spinning and bringing the back of her hand down hard in a throat chop to the back, the body crumbling fast before throwing her body and elbow into the ribs of another and a final backwards, upwards, kick to the chin to rattle the brains of the last guy.

"Hmm... I've gotten slow." She said, it was like... Three seconds or something? She is usually faster... What a bother.

She scratch her back even if she couldn't feel it, knowing her hand was touching the bottom of the X that talismans formed on her back... On purpose left in her reach to test her by the general that made this deal with her, to see if she would use the chance to be free but never did, touching it sure but she never broke the seal... She thought it would be useless, H finding her current life good enough.

Flicking her wrist to poof several of the same talismans out of thin air, slapping them onto the possessed to force the other heliobi out of the bodies, grabbing them before they could flee with her hands, no heliobus needs a gourd to grab others after all.

Holding the balls of flickering lights and squeezing them down to candy size almost, listening to their complaints about their strength being sucked away.

"Shut up." Popping them in her mouth as they screamed, voices vanishing as she swallowed... Idiots... Have they forgotten she can't absorb them in her while being sealed to this fake body? They'd just be contained in it like any of the ten lords' gourds... Oh well...

She looked over at the sniffling... Then... Only then... Did H care...

Huohuo looked up at the clinging of metal, flinching a bit as the glowing eyes visible from her position before the fake kneeled down near her.

"You got scrapped up." Noticing the scratches on her knees and hands before Huohuo herself did. "I should eat you." She told Tail.

"And who's fault is that?! You'd have kicked her into tomorrow if I hadn't done that!" Tail complained but H didn't care.

"Can you stand?" But she didn't wait for the answer, scooping the much smaller girl in her arms and walking off. "Even Hanya told you to not run off like that. It could be dangerous."

H did care, having a soft spot for this stupid little foxian judge scared of everything... Stupid because she thought she could help a flame by putting it on her tail... Who does that?

She never expected to enjoy her company really but she was different from the other judges around, a welcome change after being around for so long.

Well from Huohuo's face it was clear the girl was terrified of her but that, that she didn't care about, this girl is scared of all heliobi... Trust H, it was a lively day when Huohuo first learned of her existence, still no one knows just how she managed to gather so much strength to lift her and throw H out the window when usually she is not even able to jostle her when she ran into her with all her strength.

"Say something you brat!" Tail scolded, H and him... Were bitter towards each other most times since he was Ignamar's most feisty fragment and she was the little traitorous piece of Ignamar.

"A-ah! T-t-thanks you." Huohuo whispered.

"Mhm." H just nodded.

--------------------------------------------

Huohuo just couldn't help it.

Whenever she was around the heliobus judge she wanted to jump out of her skin and run away crying.

She was just so creepy.

Even if she was nice to Huohuo, she was just scared.

And ever since the creation furnace was broken apart by the arbors revival, even more heliobi had escaped and their job had doubled, no, tripled!

Holding her little stick with the talisman on it, shaking like a leaf, flinching as once again she threw the compressed form of a heliobus into her mouth and snapped her jaws shut.

"Huohuo." H called out, making her flinch again.

"R-right!" Hurrying over to stick the talisman onto the knocked out men to dis-spell the remainders of the heliobi's effects.

She yelped a little at the head pat, it hurt to have a metal hand do that, scared her to have claw-like metal armor so close to her head and even succeeded in loosely annoying her as her little-not-so-little hat was knocked off her head by the careless move.

"Good job." No matter how H tried to, Huohuo was just not a fan of her... Well she wasn't trying that hard anyway.

Huohuo grabbed her hat, eyes as fearful as ever.

"Thanks... Y-you too?"

-----------------------------------------------

Okay Huohuo... Be brave! Be courageous! She cleared her throat and H looked over... ABORT!! ABORT MISSION!! NO BRAVE!! NO COURAGE!! RUUUUUUN!!!!

"Yes Huohuo."

"I-I..." Aeons she is so creepy! "I'm really sorry but I can't reach." Oh how she wish she had left to find someone else instead of H, it would have been worth the waste of time.

H looked up where the girl was pointing, yeah she too can't reach that high.

Huohuo yelped as she was grabbed by the waist and lifted towards the book she pointed at, this was even more embarrassing then it was scary!

Quickly grabbing it so she would be put down fast.

"T-thanks!" Skedaddling away like her tail was on fire... Oh wait--

--------------------------------------------------

"M-madam H?" Huohuo shook as she asked.

Flinching with a little yelp as those two glowing eyes looked at her from complete darkness.

"I apologize, I was looking for something. What might you need?" She stepped out of the storage unit.

"M-madam Xueyi says another heliobus was s-seen in the gardens."

"Alright, let's go."

"M-madam H?!" Huohuo looked over the ledge in worry, the possessed person having knocked H over the ledge and, despite still finding her creepy, she wouldn't want her to die... Could she die? She didn't want to find out.

"I'm fine." H answered, her metal tipped hands and boot tip having clutched onto cracks and ledges before pulling herself up slowly.

Huohuo was not that strong so the grab on her sleeve to help pull up the robot didn't help much but she appreciated it.

"Thanks." Patting the head of the little girl, hearing an ouch.

"A-ah, are you alright?"

She looked at herself at the weird question, doing a scan.

"Ah... Troublesome."

The back of her upper arm had the metal seams popped and a covers of the platting was bending up and exposing the ingenium body's insides.

"Q-quick, we need to tell the others!" Huohuo grabbed her fine hand with both hers and tried to pull her, H letting it happen.

"It doesn't hurt Huohuo, I wouldn't feel pain unless the injury to this body it extensive as it is not a flesh and blood body I possessed but a metal and plastic one." She explained tho it didn't seem to alleviate the worried tho scared look of the girl who was closely watching one of the mechanics that had made this body work on fixing it.

"M-mmmm..." Came the childish grumble H found endearing.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be careful. I might have an old body but it still works just as well as when I got it."

"I-I don't like people hurt." She admitted it.

"I am not a person Huohuo." She pat the girl's head. "And aren't you supposed to be scared of me?" She asked, poking her in the side, making her jump so hard in surprise.

"D-don't do that... Y-you still are creepy but I don't like you hurt. I don't like anyone hurt..."

"I'll be careful, I promise."

"G-good."

--------------------------------------------------

"Now you are just being scared on purpose." Tail complained.

"But she's so creepy!" Huohuo said, sitting on her bed.

"You are more scared of her then me! But missy there has been a good two shoes heliobus and buddy buddy with the long lived species for centuries and all you find to her is creepy?"

"But she is creepy!" Even if she could work with her, there was always something to her that scared her, it was this feeling... She couldn't place.

"Your Xueyi lady friend or Hanya are more creepy then that hunk of metal and one of those ladies is a hunk of metal herself." Tail just couldn't understand.

"It is not the same!"

"It is!"

"Is not!"

"Is!"

------------------------------------------------

Well... This is bad.

This is really bad!

Huohuo was freaking lost in a mirror dimension.

She moved through the many doors until she had finally, finally run into the trailblazer.

After the Cirrus incident she felt stupid for crying like that even if they reassured her it was fine to have feelings.

"I bet you'd want that bitch around now huh?" Mr. Tail said, being mean again.

Huohuo was not about to say it out loud... But she would indeed choose the creepy judge over Cirrus any day... She wasn't mean to her and didn't make her cry... And even if she is creepy, she was a judge and she was nice...

Surprisingly, as they advanced through the maze and even made it through a few mirrors, a familiar face was seen.

"So you got stuck in here too?" Mr. Tail taunted.

"No." H shook her head. "Unlike you, I willingly entered and so I was let through the maze instead of struggling. Not finding Huohuo, miss Guinaifen or the trailblazer I concluded you already got out since some time has passed so this is a lucky meeting."

"Well what are you doing here?"

"I have been unable to figure out the last mirror puzzle." She concluded, her dead eyes to slowly turning to the trailblazers.

"Is something on my face?" They asked, scratching it.

"Heliobus."

"Oh course the traitor would notice before any of you did!" Cirrus spoke up, visible again. "Well I shouldn't be calling you that should I? You left to gain the power of Ignamar for yourself, that's why you did that. That's my goal too, to be strong alone... I wish I could eat you, you feel so strong, I need that strength."

Not at all but she didn't care to correct the Heliobus, she just wanted to be herself.

"Want me to get Cirrus out?" Smacking her fist in her palm, it would be painful but well... It would be fixed.

"N-no need, we made a deal, we help them out of the maze and they leave my body." The trailblazer said.

H quite knew it wouldn't work like that but she wondered in her own way what would push them to make this deal, was Cirrus really saying the truth? Looking at the group... First, let's get out and deal with the other heliobus after.

"Alright, if you can figure the mirrors out, we can leave but Huohuo should try."

"W-why?" The little foxian asked, trembling.

"Even if I've lived longer then you, you are closer to Xueyi and it is her voice I followed here but I am unable to tell which mirror is telling the truth."

"Come on, we've made it this far." The trailblazer reassured the little foxian.

"A-ah, alright."

-----------------------------------------------

"Are we... Back in Fyxestroll Garden?" Huohuo whispered, blinded by a flash for a moment before she opened her eyes, so happy to see madam Xueyi in front of them.

"You have returned safely. It seems the Ten-Lords Commission is not down on our luck today." The robot lady said, not smiling since she couldn't but sounding a bit relieved.

"Madam Xueyi, I'm so happy to see you're alright!" She smiled a little.

"Did you encounter anything strange on your way here?" The robot asked but was staring pointedly at H since a heliobus would sense heliobi easier then others, even if trained like the judges.

"Not me, them." Nodding to the trailblazer.

"The game's up, Cirrus." They said, stupidly doing a little clapping motion.

"Hehehe, no wonder she's a judge. Very perceptive..." The intruding heliobu said only to get smacked by the nearby H. "Hey!"

"I did promise I'd hit you." H simply said while she heard Huohuo recount what happened.

"I understand. This isn't the time to deal with Cirrus. Fyxestroll Garden has been dragged into a powerful illusion by an even mightier heliobus, and the spiritfarers who went to suppress it have lost contact with me."

"Where? I'll head there to help."

"No, you are needed her. Huohuo, if both Hanya and I are unable to suppress that demon, then you will have to defeat it."

"Huh? I-I won't be able to do it! I'm not as powerful as you two... I always run and hide before a battle..."

"And I could be more useful not staying here doing nothing."

"Do not underestimate yourself. A heliobus cannot possess a body that is already possessed by another heliobus — such is your absolute advantage as a judge. And you H, you are staying back to help her because she does run you can be back up." Xueyi trusted in Huohuo, that's why she only whispered that to end to H. "And I need someone experienced to stay with her and them."

"Alright." She said back in a normal tone, the others just wondering what was whispered between them.

"I'm possessed too — do I also get an advantage?" The trailblazer lifted their hand like a child in school.

"Correct. However, Huohuo has had many more years of training and is more experienced in fighting heliobi than you. The heliobi are aggressive beings, but they cannot shake their desire for a flesh and blood body. And yet, during the 38 years you have worked for the Ten Lords, you have been constantly able to suppress the monster within your tail and maintain your personality. You are already a fitting judge. Be confident. On that point, none of the other judges can surpass you." The judge ignored the trailblazer with a quick comment towards them.

"Well excuse me, then what am I? A pair of shoes?" H pipped up with a lift of her artificial eyebrow."

"You can't tell me you didn't once or twice want your own body, a flesh and blood body."

"Let's move on before I say something children shouldn't hear as you are starting to make me care about teaching you a lesson Xueyi."

"Suppress the monster... B—But I don't think I've ever had to suppress Tail! I guess we're more like... friends?"

"Friends!? Bah! I don't make friends with food." Tail said but H saw that he cared for the little girl in his own way.

"Hehe, Mr. Tail, puny fragments like us were deprived of Ignamar's power long ago... If a little girl can subdue us, then perhaps it's time for some humility." 

"Both of you shut it." This is why heliobi always fight, they are annoying H to the point of caring about them.

"Though Furynox is powerful, we have a chance of suppressing them if we can break them into multiple fragments." The judge said after some thought.

"You have a sound plan, Your Honor... and since the stage is set, allow me to offer my assistance. Let's find somewhere more open first... like Swallowsong Pavilion, over there."

"Are we really listing the Cirrus' plan?" H asked but knew where this was going.

--------------------------------------------

And that's how Cirrus ended up using the trailblazer's body to yell at Furynox and how this joke of a mission was going.

Huohuo running in circles while screaming her head off, the possessed spiritfarers running after her, H sprinting after them and the trailblazers after them as the last one.

H grabbed on Ingenium's tail and yanked it back as she skidded to a stop and, with a half turn, flung it over her head and into the ground, shattering its body and grasping at the escaping heliobus, crushing it down but this time would wait for Huohuo to put it in the gourd. She didn't wanna be in contact with it more then needed.

Looking up, the trailblazer smacked the other ones up with a baseball bat, breaking it in a few swings.

"Are you alright Huohuo?" She asked the panting little girl who gave her a trembling nod and pulled out the gourd.

"NOOOOOO!!!" But the fragments got sealed away.

"There, that's was the last ones we were aware off."

"...There are plenty of heliobi in the gourd now. Let's go and meet up with Madam Xueyi." Huohuo agreed with their grey haired friend.

H had a bad feeling about this.

---------------------------------------------

"It's Madam Xueyi... and Miss Guinaifen! Thank goodness she's alright... There are so many spiritfarers lying on the floor!" Huohuo  hurried over.

"They seem fine." H said, seeing the talismans on them.

"Trailblazer! Huohuo and the judge! I'm so glad you're okay!" The street performer lady said but H squinted, feeling something off about all this.

"I have defeated all the spiritfarers controlled by Furynox... It was quite troublesome taking them down without doing any harm. How goes your task?" She said, H was a bit confused, was she not seeing what she was?

"We're doing well. We've sealed most of Furynox's fragments."

"Now, we shall seal the fragments absorbed by the Lunaumbra Gourd into the Evil Binding Matrix. Once Furynox's power has been stripped, it will no longer be able to influence reality in Fyxestroll Garden."

"This gourd is so pretty! Is this what they call a sacred vessel on the Xianzhou?" She moved towards it, her eyes... Her eyes...

"Miss Guinaifen, please be careful... You might feel dizzy if you get too close to the matrix..."

"It's okay. It's okay. This is my first time seeing the Ten-Lords Commission's exorcising tools up close~"

"Get back from her Huohuo!/Huohuo, get her away from her!" H's and Tail's woders overlapped as Guinaifen, with her face emotionless, smashes the gourd on the ground by slapping it out of the foxian's hand and countless heliobi break free. She faints right after.

"Shit." Was an understatement even as H whispered it, standing in front of Huohuo who grabbed her leg and looked around it.

"Cirrus~ It's Cirrus~ You won~ You won... Don't leave us... help us... take us... to restore Ignamar's glory together!" The echoing voices of the escaped Heliobi said, swirling up as towards Cirrus who suddenly had left the grey haired person's side and was new growing in size with each one it absorbed.

"Thank you, Your Honors, for helping me clear so many obstacles and collect so many heliobus fragments. I told you I'd leave your body, Trailblazer. Excellent. I will keep my promise. With this strength...I will be...undefeatable! Pawns, let's go again, shall we?"

"You monster!" Huohuo called out as the possessed spiritfarer's rose again.

"Don't pull your punches!" H called, easily freeing herself and kicking up, tip of her boots catching under the chin of a pawn.

watching the woman's body fall but two others take over, had Cirrus taken over everyone else in the garden? This is not good.

"Oh I had not forgotten about you traitor! I'll bend you to me will."

"Try, but if you eat me I'll leave a bitter after taste." Oh she wouldn't go down without a fight, parrying a sword slash with her forearm and looking with loose shock as the blade skidded off after leaving a slice through the metallic sheet.

"Surprised? You shouldn't be. What Ignamar successor would I be with weak puppets?"

"They are channeling their powers through these people to augment their strength purely to hurt me?" A fool.

She grabbed the next swing, a line slashed through her palms from the grip she had and ripped the weapon out of the spiritfarer's hands but another was driver through her back and out her front, oil and cleaning fluid spraying out... And this time... It hurt.

Heliobi can be hurt if the bodies they control are hurt, that's why Cirrus would sometimes flinch when a peculiar pawn was downed. It didn't hurt like it should hard for a human but this was pain, no one had injured her like this in so long, she almost forgot the feeling.

She swung back, grabbing the woman by the throat and throwing her at another rushing her before ripping the weapon out, seeing a few sparks fly.

"Oh shi--" Ending up in a small explosion, leaving her side a gaping how with wires hanging out, it had touched a motor or something, for the sparks to be strong enough to light up the oil leaking.

She left her left leg being heavier, slower, this is not good.

----------------------------------------------

"Troublesome." Xueyi muttered.

The trailblazer had scratches and already forming bruises from the endless battle, being out of breath.

Huohuo was shaking in fear, on her knees as the next line up of pawns was already ready to fight.

H was crouching near Huohuo, despite being able to fight for longer, her body wouldn't, machines break down even outside of battle after all. Much of her face just a scrapped metal piece with the fake skin layer completely gone, her right arm blasted off and the first injury of sort making it hard on her to move.

Even Xueyi's own robotic body suffered, some innards broken as she could barely lift her right arm  without it shaking like a dying machine, some wires hanging out here and there, long cracks in her more ceramic-like top cover of fake skin.

"Why struggle? Be my subject!" Cirrus called out, a force field of sort, of what felt like it, blasted through the air, making everyone stumble a bit, Xueyi even gave of red sparks.

"Don't you dare!" H said, having fallen over, pushing up, seeing the traiblazer and the judge be lifted which she and Huohuo were spared as they wouldn't be able to be possessed.

"If you can't win..." Xueyi, tho struggling, through out chains, wrapping them around the trailblazer before throwing more out behind her, into the ground. "You just cheat!" Pulling as she could to keep the trailblazer from being pulling into Cirrus and taken over.

Huohuo was crying, covering her head.

"Dammit." H pushed up quickly the grab the chain, the  weapon attached to it ripped from the ground.

Her metal heels scratching up, and impaling even, the stone of the walkway as the pulled back with all her strength to keep the two grounded.

"Grrr useless! I can't make her act!" Tail said to her agree, having tried to talk to Huohuo but she wasn't listening. "Tell her something! You know what must be done!"

"I am a little occupied here!" H called back, slowly slipping on the ground. "And anyway, you wouldn't be strong enough! You haven't eaten enough Heliobi in the last years!"

"Ah!! Think a bit! Cirrus needs to be stopped! Get yourself together!" He yelled that end at Huohuo.

"They just won't die! We can't beat them..." Huohuo cried.

"Come on!"

"Huohuo! Don't cry! You've got us don't you?" She called back, Tail really seeming desperate.

"H-huh?" The little girl looked up.

"Yeah, this lady and I are here to protect you!" He turned himself back into her tail.

Huohuo looked hesitant, she didn't want to do it, she didn't... But looking up at the losing battle.

With a tear falling... Pulled off the seal.

Tail laughed, flying around once freed.

"See you on the other side, Huohuo!" He called as she try jumping after him but he had already rushed Cirrus.

With a cry, the pulling force was instantly gone in a moment of shock form the heliobus.

"You could have waited for me!" She knew well Tail couldn't actually win this alone, dropping the chain and reaching up her back, he'd be absorbed into the mass. "I'll see you later Huohuo! I can't let him be gone too soon!" The foxian cared too much for him, she can't let her lose him! She won't let it happen!

"Wait!!!" But H didn't listen, ripping the X off her back.

It was a long time she was out of the robot body, so long that this... This blueish green flame-y form didn't feel like her own but she didn't have much time to reminisce about it, aiming right in the middle of the eye.

-------------------------------------------

"Damn..." Tail said...

Wait... Tail?

Yeah... He had been ejected from Cirrus by a force he couldn't fight against but the lifeless eyes of a certain fake judge was what showed him why he was now here and, in his own messy way, trying to comfort a little girl even if it was annoying him.

"Hey, Heliobus can't die so stop being a cry baby! She's still somewhere! Weren't you suppose to be scared of her?!" Yeah... A really messy way of comforting her.

Huohuo grabbed her hand still clutching the ripped off talisman seals in both of hers.

"H..."

This... A soulless gaze, an empty vessel, a lifeless husk...

This...

This was more creepy then having her here...

And she didn't like it...

---------------------------------------------

And that's partially why the ghost hunting gang was formed... And how Huohuo had ended up possessed for a while.

Also why a little foxian girl, half mad half crying, had ended up pounding on Hanya legs in childish anger that the judge had not fought against, letting her exhaust herself first.

All of this trouble to find her creepy somewhat friend and Madam Hanya always knew where she was! She was so mean!

That's how Huohuo had ran off, leaving the group in the dust once again, towards the Ten-Lords main headquarters.

With the seal broken by her own hands, H was not offered as much lenience was Tail, who was freed by Huohuo who put him back in her tail again after the Cirrus ordeal, even if H had done that to save them.

Huohuo was unwilling to listen to Hanya's explanation so she was met with another rude surprise when she arrived at the Ten-Lord's.

Sure, H was not left free roaming like Tail was for a little while... But she was not put in a matrix and not sealed in a gourd... She was on house arrest in the mechanics' repair station with talismans plastered on each window and doors to not let her leave to room... Not that she wanted too, she just wanted her body fixed again and as soon as possible as this felt way worse.

What she didn't know was Huohuo being unaware she was here and thought she was avoiding her now that she could so her bursting through the doors like a mini tornado surprised the heliobus.

Huohuo's hair stood on edge, the blueish green orb of flames being familiar as all heliobi looked like that but the much sharper, angular, more realistic wolf head shape of it was terrifying, even Tail was round and soft and cuddly looking, not an almost one to one match with a real predator head without a body.

The heliobus ducked behind the work table that the broken robot body was laid on, only the blue glow visible, not wanting to scare the girl more.

"I can see now why you are so scared." Tail laughed at Huohuo's fear. "A wolf can rip a fox apart." He no understand this irrational fear this girl seemed to have even as time went on and they started to get along.

The stronger a heliobus, the more defined their features after all and Huohuo's instincts were picking up on that even through a robotic exterior, the eyes of a predator always remain that of a predator.

"I mean no harm I promise, even in this form." A more ghastly version but it was still H's voice was heard.

"You were here all this time?! We were searching for you for nothing!!" Tail flew over, complaining to her.

"Well I am sorry, unlike you I am not attached to a working body, I can't pass the talismans and I scare your little friend so I wouldn't go find you while looking like this."

"Oh you idiot, you never cared about that before!"

"Well suck it Tail, I do now! Hey! What are you doing?!" He shoved her from behind.

"Go apologize for scaring her! Now!"

"I'll scare her more!"

"Scared because you were gone moron!" Shoving once again, making the heliobus skid through the air like a car spinning out of control on a track.

"Euhm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She said, voice never that emotional but uneasiness seeping through this time as she would be scratching her head in confusion if she had arms currently.

Huohuo still stared at the bodyless head of a predator that was made of fire in front of her... And then burst out in sobs.

"I-I thought you leeeeeeeft!!!" 

The two heliobus were already bickering over the girl, blaming each other for making her cry but what neither realized that this time, the crying was out of relief.

Relief that not Tail nor H was gone after the Cirrus fight.

So yeah sure, she's creepy, Huohuo still shivers at the look in those eyes and will for a long time... But it is better to have creepy eyes then soulless eyes.

Both heliobi meant more to her then either of them, then herself, would ever realize.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/6Ki3bGiUPcc

Well...

Days at the IPC were not boring per se...

But not all of them had the same thrill...

With highs there must be a few lows too...

And today seemed to be one...

Things were going awry for the pink haired woman dealing with such a day.

Not only had one of the ten stonehearts, one of the newest ones tho with a wonderful reputation, just... In the lack of a better words to describe it... Just up and fucked a contract into oblivion because of some personal feelings... But well... This was partially her fault... Sending that little Jelena to a planet that could play with her emotions and familiarity? 

And then there was Diamond that was more and more insistent on her sending the report about that contract. She really needed to figure out something because sure, it was a huge mistake technically but not worth losing the girl over, not at all. which means she'll need to present this in a way that doesn't look like a complete loss and try to play it in a way that she'll only lose rank and not something more.

To add to that, the little Kakavasha just gambled away their budget and actually lost... Like she got it, that was actually what he wanted so the money transfer could be tracked and the trafficking circle could be brought down... But she didn't imagine the whole budget just a part of it.

The IPC's other branches had also run in trouble but that honestly didn't matter until it was affecting her own duties. What do you mean the IPC doesn't have backup transportation when the primary breaks down?!

Yeah... Today was not kind to Jade.

"Ah... Maybe it's my karma knocking." She still found reason to smile a little, even chuckle. Dealing with wishes of others with such repercussions. Sometimes it felt like the universe would come knocking and demand its dues from her, tho rare compared to her constant dealings, there were days nothing went her way.

As if on cue, she heart like a small crack before the neon light on the left side of her office just... Fell and shattered, faulty socket that she had requested weeks ago to be fixed gave out today... Of course.

She just gave a look at the broken glass tho it would have terrified any living being faced with it.

Pulling out her beacon and, not expecting anything good, turned it on... 15% charge... Of course.

"Maybe it came knocking a bit hard." She admitted to herself. Turning her eyes to the file she was neglecting to write about the Jarilo-VI planet.

And the rest of her day hadn't been better, even if she put on her usual alluringly dangerous smile.

The coffee machine broke down.

Having left her key-card on the other side of the office at lunch time.

Printer jamming and even spitting ink in her face.

Running into Diamond before she could get the ink off.

Her personal car not starting, having forgotten to turn to lights off which drained the batteries.

"Can't I have one thing go my way today? Come on." She asked in an annoyed way forced to wait under the small bus stop to not be drenched by the rain to finally get home, even so the blowing wind drenched her legs and bottom of her outfit enough.

And of course the bus was late.

One of the more violent bursts of wind even deprived her from her hat. She didn't run after it, having many at home but it was just the cherry on top of everyth-Car drives by and sprays water up and in her face... Okay THIS is the cherry on top...

"Fine I understood Aeons, I'll calm it with the contracts for a while." She jokingly said, it's not like they would care to even glance her way to acknowledge her wor--"Ma'am, I think this is yours."

Looking to the left before needing to lower her gaze a little to the shorter woman.

She somehow looked worse off the Jade herself felt: She was unable to tell which color the boots were as mud thickly covered them and the pant legs of the woman to her knees, more smeared into the light-ish blue fabric of the pants, a half untucked dress shirt that was supposed to be white but had one sleeve covered in mud too the top button looking ripped of and the tie that the woman probably wore was gone who knows where with the collar flipped up, the shirt drenched and quite see-through, (H/C) hair a wide swept and rain drenched mess with specks of dirt on her face.

Out of everything only her eyes were clean of a mess, some pretty normal (E/C) eyes.

"I would have thought you'd have left already the office (Y/N)."

"Nah, I had some work to catch up with after being gone for so long ma'am."

"Well, thank you anyway." She grabbed the previously gone hat the other woman was holding out to her, holding it tightly now.

"Pleasure." With a little nod.

Neither really were bothered by the silence between them as the rain fell, finding it perfectly comfortable... Well until Jade realized that the bus was late... Joy...

"So--" She was thinking of talking about work, hobbies or something to pass the time, but a speeding car drove down the street and sprayed up water on them. Now the little part that was still dry before was no longer. "-Have I made a deal with the aeon of bad luck?!" With a sigh, instantly fixing her composure.

Wiping her face with a dismissive gesture.

"I apologize, it has been a long day." Jade told the other woman.

"Understandable."

"A really long one."

And there stood the two of them... Of course until the bus arrived and splashed water upwards again.

Jade really needs to take a break.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/OEnT_cjLpKE

Luofo.

Sometimes...

Even remembering that name was enough to send her careening on the ledge of the precipice of the Mara all over again.

Sometimes the memories tied to it gnawed at her bones like starving dogs ready to do all to get scrap into their insatiable maws. Ever chewing at the last strands of her mind.

Sure... With this mysterious merchant she met a while ago... This blindfold (fyi idk if that think has lore and don't care currently) he brought as a piece offering seemed to been a flimsy leash on these dogs. They could tear it apart at any moment but they had not always been feral and per old memories, didn't turn to gnaw the leash off, having once been pets and pets don't forget their master's voice so easily.

She had thought this man that lied himself into the role of merchant would leave her after he got what he wanted from her, even if answering his one question seemed too small of a price in her eyes, but he stuck around.

It should have annoyed her and it did in some way, Lucha? Locha? Whatever his name was became a fixture in her life of wondering the cosmos for a cure as his mystery, or at least a part of it, unraveled into a plan of killing the plague's author... THE aeon as the source of all the suffering and the strive of the Xianzhou's core... Looks like Jingliu had indeed been correct once again in not questioning her instincts, he could still be useful to this world.

That being said, going from planet to planet while hiding her identity and following him like a bodyguard while he scrounged around in his secrets without telling her anything would grate at the patience of even the most patient of man's she knows.

Yet she didn't fancy bringing it up, much preferring the almost perpetual silence that reigned master between them much of the time.

Currently, even the sound of the pelting rain on the roof covered patio of this little rented house for his research was too much.

It felt, at each sound, like someone hit on the back of a nail deeply embedded into her skull, whispers in her own voice caressing up with ghastly hands, begging to make it stop in the only way they knew how, ripping and tearing at the edge of sanity with their demands of putting a stop to all that would be there.

Getting up to her feet, seems like meditating will not help this time, wisps of dark fog clouding her mind thick despite it all.

Not a word called back to the man she accepted to protect as his words of the plague's author's destruction rang true in the sea of malice that invaded every cell and pores of her very being.

As annoying as it was, stepping off the porch, into the rain, had drowned her splintered mind's requests to end it in a bath of red and viscera by replacing it with the pounding sound of the natural event but it did not sooth the rest.

Putting distance between the man that could be her salvation and the storm raging up bellow the surface would be for the best.

So braving the ever hammering rain in and outside her conscience was the better option if they wanted to reach their goals.

Unheard steps leading away from the cold and silent abode.

----------------------------------------

"GRAB HER!! SHE CAN'T GET AWAY!!"

Death, death and blood, blood and death. Nightmares and reality or reality and nightmares. Life and rot or rot and life.

Those and many other concepts were one and the same, interchangeable, in the little mind of a young foxian girl running towards what felt like her death, what felt like freedom, what felt like the end.

Sirens that called forth memories of anguish that she was too young to truly grasp at the time rang through the halls flashing red before fading to black before flashing red again in an eternal looking cycle of flaring anger and peaceful darkness.

The cold sterile metal felt like it had grown slippery, icy... Or was is jagged and lacerating? All she knew is that it felt like her enemy, like every wall, every hall, every room with bars on them, like every person in this place felt. Like they were all fighting to keep her here, to smother her to their will.

Gasps coming out as little puffs of white, lung burning and begging for a second but the pounding a several sets of of clunky boots told her otherwise.
Ignoring the please of her little body who's muscles where begging, begging no matter the consequences of stopping, to just stop. Only her frightened mind stood side by side with her and never had it screamed so loud to not give in. And. Just. Run.

A shriek escaped the little girl no older then 4, bright blue eyes staring up in despair as her arm was grabbed by a hand as large as her forearm was long, wrenching her from the ground in a brutal change of direction.

"BRICE!!" Was it the man's friend? Or was it just a colleague that this man? Or was it even this man's name to begin with? Aeons would know but whoever called out knew... They knew that yes this... subject... Needed to be caught no matter what... But they also knew that this man had just committed the greatest of mistakes as he lifted the girl up more to glare into her face in a hope to intimidate.

This Brice turned his face to the side, trying to look at who called out but when the little hand touched his face, way more gentle then anyone would believe a child suffering from deep terror could, it was all over.

The sirens, the flashing lights, the friends and coworkers trying to catch up to him, they were all gone.

All he could do is stare into those glowing blue eyes that felt like the gates of death stood in front of him, a glow of the end of all. Those eyes, only those eyes... And that voice.

"Listen to me."

Those three words felt like the end of autonomy, the end of himself and the end of freedom all bundled up in a blanket of absolute authority.

"Please help me escape." What to others looked like a pleading girl trembling in fear on the edge of sobs looked like the rise of an new aeon of beauty with the confidence even IX couldn't be indifferent too and the strength of Nanook's legions at her finger tips, ordered.

And with the conviction of a fanatic born only to serve, our Brice set the girl down, his own eyes ever changed to the icy blue glow of his new master, before turning towards the heretic that would endanger the reason for his existence.

The little foxian turned tail, not baring witness to the monster throwing himself at his once cherished comrades, grabbing the arm with one of his and the neck with his others and, with fanatical strength, ripped that dear friend in two.

With the few paces of advance, trembling little fingers reached the control panel of that one door that taunted her to freedom, needing to hop slightly to enter the set of memorized numbers after so long.

Pushing through the cracked that hissed open just as a hand tried to grab after her, climbing the steps two by two, ramming her head into a flap trapdoor she hadn't seen.

Bracing her body to it and pushing the heavy thing open.

Ignoring the men and woman looking in shock, weaving through before she was grabbed and running out the front door.

Stumbling into the street, stopping a moment, unable not too to take in the world around her.

Previously it was resumed to this walls and halls but this was so... Huge, so many huge rooms, so much... And this thing, this cold thing, she never seen water fall like this.

Ears snapping to attention as she looked behind her, jumping out of the way of a loud thing that rolled as passed her before seeing those white coated people again, taking off in another sprint through this falling rain and unfamiliar world, tail whipping behind her.

-----------------------------------------------

The rain was meant to be soothing, just like time, but Jingliu had long felt the opposite for memories and time as the plague of the long lived species and rain... Rain only drowned out the words of the whispers but nothing else.

It was just like she expected, every shop and house under lock and key, who but her would be insane enough to walk around outside in a storm that got stronger and stronger without feeling an ounce of the cold that came with it.

She envied those that had the time to worry about the outside instead of how their own self was slowly sinking into delirium that would slowly become too strong to fight until, years down the line, nothing would remain of the one true self and only a crude puppet subjected to the most primal of instincts left to represent the person they once wer--Snapping out of her thoughts as the almost falling over but doesn't jerk her body did when her left leg had been swept from its landing position by a sideways force.

Looking down through the thin blindfold, seeing a little disheveled and worse for wear foxian child had tripped and fallen over her, both of them probably not seen each other leading to this collision.

Gaze drawn to the little girl's hands as she lifted her hand, watching the scraps already bleed, seems she put her arms out to stop her fall instead of tucking them in and rolling... This is a child Jingliu, of course she put her hands out, you're trained, not her from what it looks.

The whispers of madness invaded her mind, demanding the spilling of more of the life giving liquid, to paint town and sky red and how good it felt last time, remember... Remember Jingliu, how it felt to split skin and rain blood, remember how calming it felt? Remember how soothing to the ache ever in your heart it felt? This is the only way. Reaching out a shaky hand, vision fading in and out, already imagining the feeling behind her palm against the throat as bones break under the skin, the kicking and begging, the desperate try to save her life. Remember how this is the only time you can feel like yourself? The only time you are true to your nature. Do not be scared. It will all be fine. Just give in. Give in. Give In. GIVE IN!!

Little trembling hands grabbing her snapped her out of those thoughts as if they never existed, long had last been the moment she felt her mind so... Empty... As when this little foxian grabbed the hand aimed to strangle her in her two little ones not enough to envelope hers completely. Long had it last been since someone looked at her in such a way, so utterly... Childlike.

Before she had more time to wonder about what just happened, even this line of thought was broken by the one that created it.

"P-please help me." Futile begging, like the little heart had already given up.

"Why are you here?" Jingliu said instead of anything else. Foxians don't venture in this part of the cosmos as there is more borisin raids that take place in this area despite the fall of Hoolay around 550, maybe 570, years ago at her hands and advancements in their fighting abilities. "Much less one so young."

This time it was the little girl that lacked answers to give as once again, interruptions made their way into Jingliu's life.

Looking over her shoulder, pulling hand hand from the little girl's, not noticing how she tried to grab her face but indeed feeling the tight little grip yanking on the wispy ends of her skirt, trembling so bad it was felt through the cloth.

"You are no foxian." She simply said upon seeing the men and one woman that stopped in front of her a few meters away and seemingly had a visceral backwards reaction.

She spent enough time with foxians... One in particular, to easily notice how stupid a tail sticking straight up like ones of dogs and wagging a little looked, it was clearly enough to give away that this was a disguise to someone that know of foxians.

"Of course we are you old hag! Now give the child back!"

"Troublesome." She breathed out, dropping her head a little. "Calling the person this child is hiding behind an old hag is clearly great negotiation skills along with yelling at them and starting your sentence with trying to convince them that you, reeking of dog, is a foxian... Yeah, really convincing." Like snowflakes fell off her palm in a calm little dance compared to the raging storm around them all.

In a reflexive movement, bending to the left slightly with a turn of her torso, looking at the reflection of her ever cold face in the blade that missed her head.

"Seems negotiations are over." throwing her hand up and palming the man's face and in the flash of a moment and burst like an overripe watermelon, all that remained seated on top of his neck was a glorified blob of ice shards filled with brain pieces with bone impaled and jutted out of the end of those shards.

Letting the body collapse out of her hand and listen to the ice shatter on the ground, a sigh, how messy and barbaric of herself, she should have just frozen the whole body not made a spectacle of it... But the whispers were back and demanded brutality and indulgence in the act.

Sometimes, even the Mara can be a tool instead of a curse.

With a careless move, freezing air and moisture into a blade and slashing backwards so the child would let go if she wanted to remain unharmed, taking off like a starskif when she did.

It was less then two meters that separated her from the nearest living being but it still shouldn't have come with that specific living being seeing the white haired woman move so fast her presence itself fizzled out of existence and the next time he was able to smell or even sense where she was was when a sword made of the same ice that killed his coworker stuck out of his chest from behind followed by a yank that cleaved the sword out of his side without removing it from his body first.

With the momentum, Jingliu made a half circle upwards swing behind her back. By the time the rest of her body had turned to catch up with her hand's movement all she saw was the last strands of blood holding the one woman's body as one snap and the two half splatter on the ground.

Blocking a strike as she let the force it is stumble her back on purpose, catching herself in half a lunge, striking the sword in another half circle but cleaving it through the solid concrete like butter and when the icy blade emerged from the ground and swung towards the sky, it cause jagged ice shards to be created on the ground along that line and skewer the man several feet off the ground and against the wall of a building.

With a flick of her whole arm, flinging the sword out of her grip and javelining it through the back of the last and fleeing man.

But it was not enough, turning to get back to what she was interrupted in before but this bright blue eyes stopped her once again, in her track and everything that could be stopped was stopped, not even certain her heart was beating and yet she was alive so it must be.

But her mind drew up such a blank that it took her a moment to come back to the world.

The child had been scared by her slash indeed since she let go before she started missing limbs from Jingliu's carelessness but seeing her stare up at her like before but this time a streak of blood splattered from top right shoulder and across her face like a haphazard brush stroke was something she didn't see even as a soldier or master of the current general of the Luofu.

This sight was simple and utterly singular to this moment.

Diverting her gaze came with its over difficulties, like she herself didn't want too but she still did it. Walking away.

The little steps after her shouldn't have surprised her, the tugging on her clothing shouldn't have surprised her, the little girl's pleading shouldn't have surprised her, and yet it all did.

"P-please don't leave me here." The little girl ask, grip tighter then it ever was even as Jingliu tried to yank her clothes out of her hands to see if she'd let go. "Please."

"I have places to be." Places she barely know about as she didn't know where they'd be going.

"Don't leave me! Please!" Yanking her clothing out of the child's hold, making her fall over on the ground. "No! Listen too m--" The girl yelped, feet kicking in the air as her hands grabbed at the forearm whose hand was tightly clamped around her mouth and lifting her off the ground.

"Not another word." She warned. Knowing of the Stelleron Hunters of course and having crossed many paths with them with Blade demanding death and that one woman, Kafka... And she was not taking risks, having long learned something like spirit whispers is not a unique ability to that woman.

But her muscles slackened and the child slipped, dropping on the hard ground, that one look of herself.

"How do you do that?" She asked, seemed like this kid didn't need words to do... Something to her.

But the kid just sniffled to herself, wiping her eyes.

"Don't make me go back..." Whimpering.

Jinglui sighed once again, that having become her favorite hobby throughout the years.

----------------------------------------------

"Jingliu." Luocha said, getting an inquisitive humph back, telling him to go on. "What's that?"

"Have you never seen a kid?" She asked without a care.

"I have but why is there a kid here? Right here. Under your arm held like a vulgar sack of potatoes and why does she seem pleased with it?"

"Ask her that for I don't know." Dumping said child down in front of Luocha and watching her wince on impact without a care as she walked away. "But there is something to her, I am leaving finding that out to you."

Luocha was not really used to this, from before and after meeting Jingliu, watching her retreat soaking wet and bloody for some reason into the room she made hers on this stop.

Looking back at the scruffy and messy child before crouching down on one knee and giving his hand out with a grin.

"Hello there sunshine, I'm Luocha, you?" Putting on a charming exterior as he is not this nice to people much less strange children.

But his distaste and mistrust seemed to evaporate the moment he locked eyes with her, feeling calm and emlost empty.

"Interesting." He muttered with a little wider grin as the child grabbed his big hand in her little ones, him closing his fingers around the cold ones before cupping them and blowing hot air on them, another way to show he is not a bad guy. "You could indeed be of use. Will you help me sunshine?" He asked.

"C-can I stay? P-please don't make me go back."

"I never will, Jingliu is just a little..." Thinking hard. "Anti-social? Yeah that's it, anti-social."

"Anti-sauce?"

"Anti-social... Really... Shy... Yeah that's it. But she won't send you back either but we really need your help." Since Jinglui herself thought she was useful she really must be.

"Really? I can stay?" That alone seemed to dash all fear out of the girl, it seemed almost motor controlled, on purpose.

"You cheeky one." He grinned, sure that she was indeed scared but through this display knowing that it was not to the point of trembling terrors and nightmares that he thought... Or she was able to instantly calm down but whatever, that seemed less plausible then the first idea since she still seemed nervous and uncertain but not the fear she displayed to convince even Jingliu in breaking and dragging her back. Gently pinching her cheek and shaking his hand with the same soft strength, getting a truly childish giggle out from it. "Yes you can stay but we have a mission so if you do stay you need to help with that."

"A mission?"

"Indeed. Getting rid of the plague's author when the time comes. You believe you can help us?" The little foxian nodded. "Good good, now come." Standing up, still holding one of her hands. "Lets get you cleaned up."

--------------------------------------------------

Sleep was one of the times Jingliu had peace.

...

So why was it being interrupted back some tine demanding hands?

"Come oooooon!" She heard the frustrated whine of that damned child, not 12 hours and she already wants to punt her.

Trying to ignore her but the tugging on the blanket was getting on her nerve so in one swift turn and glare, as she didn't sleep in her blindfold, making the child yelp and jump back.

Sitting up...

She barely looked like the child from yesterday.

She thought is was dirt and a mess but no this child really had black hair, it dangled down to her waist so long for her little body but tied back in a pony tail with some of the shorter hair framing her face with the ends curling up into spiky soft points. The characteristic foxian ears seeming big on her head like she needed to grow into them along with the maximum fluff tail with a nice little white tip just like her ears.

And these clothes instead of rags... She recognized Xianzhou patterns and such but the styling of it was made more in the... Yaoqing style then Luofu... And why does she eve have that on to being with? Who has something in this size.

(Outfit found on pintrest fyi, and please do indeed think of it like an anime, characters often having the same outfit all the time.)

"Mister Luocha made breakfast." The child ignored hostilities and grabbed her hand, trying to drag her out of bed with all her little body's strength, the older woman not even budging when the child was pushing off the bed itself and her hold slipped, making crash on the ground.

Shaking her hand off and having a movement of wiping it off on the blanket before getting off the bed on the opposite side of the child.

"Leave before I kick you out myself." She said, grabbing the blindfold as her first move.

"Yay!" Jinglui kicked backwards as the child's next move was to bear hug her bare leg, the little body bending and being thrown back.

The woman stood still for a moment at that, breathing out when she heard a little oow and that she didn't just kill the child.

The happy grin and giggle that followed was more of an eyebrow raised as the child got up and dusted herself off.

"You are a tough nut." Jingliu muttered. No stop, why are you puffing your chest out proud? That was not a compliment.

Watching the overly gleeful child almost saunter out of the room was comedic but slightly Jingliu lacks knowledge of what comedy is and couldn't appreciate the sight.

With enough sighs to fill a while ship, Jingliu got ready since she was already awake.

But maybe seeing Luocha in a pink apron with a child shoveling pancakes down her throat like she'd die if she slowed down might be worth to wake up seeing, even she could find stupid amusement inside of it despite it being cold faced.

"Pancakes don't run, you'll choke on them if you keep that up." She scolded only to get a child beaming her way and offering her a half munched pancake. Jingliu ignored that, looking at the ever serious man playing nanny. "What's this all?"

"I'll be right back, I just need to talk with Jingliu in private." He told the child, not answering her while he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her out the front door, onto the patio and closed the door behind them. "You could be nicer you know?"

"Luocha."

"She's a child Jingliu, you deal with a child by behaving like you should with a child... Not kicking them or manhandling them would count in the do not do that category."

"Is she of use or no?" She crossed her arms.

"Always so cold hearted. You know even I have compassion."

"That I doubt, have you found something?"

"I had less then 12 hours since you dragged her in from whatever adventure you've been on yesterday."

"But it was enough."

"Hmm indeed. I couldn't get to the bottom of it since my priority was gaining her trust and maintaining it but whatever power it is she has could be of use."

"Stop with the long winded speeches Luocha."

"You never liked my flare. What I have from observation is this, she can do two things at least. There is this aura to her. I tried to grab a pot and clubber her over the head." He casually said but Jingliu needed to chase away a few snowflakes. "Oh don't give me that look it was an experiment and it took me a while to convince myself to do it... But that look in those eyes, my arm felt heavy and empty of desire to harm her, a--" "An emptiness of all feelings." Jingliu finished for him.

Lifting a brow, waiting for her to go on.

"That's why I brought her back, the Mara flared up but having crossed gazes twice always was resumed in emptiness... Like deflating and unable to go through with it."

"I see." The man rubbed his chin. "She might have an ability to nullify or at least damped hateful intentions towards herself, I don't believe she has an control over that one."

"That one?"

"I would need to test more extensively but she will need to be more familiar with us for that to happen, but rambling to me about her lovely life up until now I can tell you... There some baggage there but whatever... But being able to make someone do exactly what you want when you grab their face and telling them listen to me does seem like that stelleron hunter's ability but different."

"Maybe because of her young age she still needs that contact."

"Indeed but not even that woman, Kafka, can truly get someone 100% under their control. Remember spirit whispers can be learned by anyone and it is just powerful suggestion through words alone, not some power this Yui seems to have."

"Yui?"

"LF-46 is not really a name is it? I decided on Yui and she liked it, win-win."

"So she is useful, how long before we can get rid of her."

"Oh no dear friend, this one might just stay as I believe her uniqueness can be of indeterminate use to our cause."

"You deal with her." Pointing her finger at him before throwing it down at her side in a motion to dismiss. "I want nothing to do with it."

"Good luck with that." He said despite nodding and accepting the role for the better of their mission.

She watched him go back inside, honestly... She can't really see use outside maybe... For the Mara? But it is temporary, hearing the whispers again, so not really useful anyway.

It would be useful if permanent but only the Mara is eternal in this world.

-------------------------------------------------

"Why me?" Our lovely icy granny hissed at the blond man.

"Think woman!" Even he was on the edge of nerves from this round and round fight between them. "The child likes you even if only a week passed." That was an understatement as even now, even distracted by butterflies, she was still holding the end of the cloth on Jingliu's skirt. "And as much of an obstacle as this is in our mission. I, ME, I am unable to teach her what she needs to know to be useful."

"But why?" Jingliu wanted to throw her mind away, staying on this world long enough was a bother.

"Because I am thinking ahead. We'll need her at the top."

"You already signed her up for school against my wishes meaning we are stuck on this planet."

"You want a bumbling idiot giving us away with no idea of the world? Even I can see she needs this."

"Alright, let's say I agree that this is needed but why train her, pay a teacher since you are sooooo inclined to being daddy to her."

"I am just filling out parameters to have the best tool so you either help or have no say in this and let me have every last choices in this, you wouldn't want that hmmmm?" He grinned, knowing deep inside of her there is no way Jingliu would let him form her into a over intelligent living weapon like he'd do if she truly stayed out of it. No no, he is inviting her to pay no attention and let him do as he wishes.

Silently grinding her teeth.

"You better not cry to me if the girl doesn't act how you want her to, I teach my own way so deal with it if I have no choice." Turning in a march away, feeling the child tugged after her as she didn't let go, irking her but doing nothing against it as the blond's grin burned against her back.

------------------------------------------------

"Again." Jingliu didn't seem to have as much trouble in hurting the girl as Luocha, maybe it because it was not with lethal intentions but she found it much easier then that first time she almost did since another maybe would be her not being on the brink of a Mara crisis murder all you see currently.

Watching the child pull herself off the ground, sitting on her hunches, coughing and still not complaining.

What child doesn't complain after being punched and kicked repeatedly in the name of training? Was she that hard of Jing Yuan back in the days? Aeons even those memories are blurry now, lost to the sea of Mara... But was she? Did she beat him into the ground? Throw him at a wall? grab the back of his head and drove it into the dirt of the run down house's backyard? Did take her annoyances out of his willingness to train and learn from her?

A deep sigh, dropping her hands from her hips, crossing the little distance between them and crouching down, hands on her knees.

The child looked up at her with those gleaming blues bearing weights no child should and yet ever bright when looking at her.

She didn't deserve being idolized by such a little being, looking up to her could only mean hope had died and all that remained was despair to cling too. Don't... Don't look at her with those big round eyes, not after what she did, masking hate in the guise of training, don't smile like that and ask for more to get stronger like me... Stop it, stop! Stop looking! Don't look at me like that!

Tiny hands- "Listen to me-"--Wait a momen-"--Please don't be sad."

Whatever fleeting doubt, erased like chalk on a board, whatever feelings that glowing gaze had conjured up appeased.

Grabbing the child's hands off her face, squeezing a bit hard as the child made a face but she didn't care.

"Never do that again."

"I-I'm sorry." Suddenly out of everything, this was the time she got the child to shed a tears? After all her I'll show you how to throw a punch as an excuse to hit you this was what got to her?

"Will this wear off?" Not wanting to be under the control of others, a little nod from probably having experienced or experimented with her powers. "Good, never again." Let go of the hands as the child pulled them to her chest.

Moving her hands back to her knees, ready to push up to stand before stopping.

The little sniffles, rubbing her hands into her eyes, the hiccups.

"Don't tell me you are crying now." She grumbled standing up, turning to leave.

She really needs to work on her reflex to kick because the little whine and grab on her clothes could only come from a child that she once again just back kicked away from her.

"Stop that." She hissed.

And it seemed that that was the drop too much.

"P-Please don't leave me!" The child said between big globby tears as she sat on the ground, gripping grass and tearing the brands out with the strength her little fists clenched. "Please! I won't mess up again! I don't want to leave!"

Just from a 2 to 11 real quick with sobs and trembling of the little body.

"I am sorry! I'll fix everything! Please don't leave me!" Sobbing between words, crawling the little distance between them and, still sitting on the ground, hugging her leg and crying against it.

"Stop that." Trying to shake her off but just gripping harder. Tail fur all bristled up and ears pinned flat against her head, hiding her face against Jingliu's leg.

"P-Please don't leave me! I'll be silent, I'll stay in my room, I'll do what you say but don't leave me, don't send me back there..."

As awkward as it all was, wondering who the hell was hearing these tantrums, crouching back down to rub the girl's head.

"I just said stop, not that I would sent you back stupid girl." She muttered, getting the child to look at her.

"P-Promise?" Such weak little shaky sniffle of a voice.

"Yes, now just, drop it." But contrary to that, the little girl threw her arms up in a hug around her neck and kept crying.

To avoid anyone coming out to check what the hell was going on and this degenerating even more, scooping up the girl off the ground was the singular choice.

With quick steps, carrying her back inside, ignoring Luocha's look as he opened the door... It's not bad enough that they are now stuck on this planet but he is speaking opinions.

Oh aeons this can't get worse can it?

-----------------------------------------------------

It god worse.

Luocha's testing was going fine since he keeps reminding the girl it is to help with the mission which lead to quite the discovery.

It really is not like that stelleron hunter's spirit whisper, this girl is able to suppress any autonomy and free will for human-like living beings if so needed, the problem is the if so needed part.

She could do the exact same demand to two different people but it could end differently, using the example Luocha used to explain it to her with a granny and a robber. She could demand them both to leave, the granny would probably not be threatening her so it would be milder and wear off, leaving her but in positions of threat like a robber would be that order could be executed in various ways up to leaving the planet itself or offing themselves if no option to leave.

That sort of person will do all that they can do to obey, even superhuman feats that would destroy their own body and being.

Jingliu didn't really sympathize with human test subjects but she had watched Luocha convince... Yui was it? Yui that a drunk man was going to kidnap her as he saw the messages and bring her back to that place if she didn't do it before pushing her closer to that drunk that got him angered by being bothered.

Barely had her little hand touched the face the drunk was shoving into her, barely had the word back up been ordered that that man's body yanked their head back in a spine shattering arch to just get out of her presence. Jingliu watching those not glowing blue eyes of the man slowly drain of life.

Or there was a moment she was made to ask a girl her age to remain hidden because bad men were coming for her to take her to that place and out of fear of whatever that place was, Yui complied... No DNA has yet to be found that that girl ever existed.

The more threatened Yui seemed to be the more lethal, the more potent and the more direct it is. That man's body did the only logical thing in a desperate move to get away from her and that girl hide so well she is literally gone.

The idea of training her to do that on command and without hands or hand on face contact was terrifying even to someone like Jingliu so more over then not if she realized that that was going on, she come up, hand over she girl's shoulder and just get her away: the one point of fighting none of the adults could agree on.

So when she got partial information about an overly joyous looking Luocha about some experiment's great ending, and a glimpse on his phone as he looked upon hacked and grain camera footage... She was throwing the door open and booking it down the street.

She might not enjoy people as a whole now because of various, obvious and not, reason she is not someone to let the innocent die.

Being fast, it was less the five minutes.

The door of the once overly sappy happy little kids school hung open, barely on the hinge, one of the teachers hanging lifeless after having probably jammed the door handle through her forehead herself.

Stepping around the body, not expecting a better sight inside from the glimpse of half blood covered footage she caught glimpse off.

Stepped the little body of a boy that still had his hand clamped around the metal water bottle he dented his head in with, eyes a dead blue.

"Just what has that merchant told you." She breathed out, just surveying the carnage of self deletions left in the wake of someone.

Glancing through classrooms doors and such offered imagine no less grim then the last one, a complete massacre. 

Pushing the double door open with a hand on each.

Having no idea what went down.

Recognizing the little girl with her hands clamped around her fluffy fox ears indeed but the concentric blasts of blood with it streaking out in a rough circles in every direction but hers let her think she could take the girl away and replace it with a bomb and it would paint the room exactly the same.

Bodies further from the epicenter of this carnage were more in one piece.

Stepping closer.

"STAY AWAY!!" The clearly distressed girl yelled, probably sensing the ground vibrating with her steps or seeing her shadow.

Next thing Jingliu is aware was a little body holding her legs tight, a heart wrenching "N-NO..." Sobbed out and her over hands holding and icy blade to the side of her neck with a thin trickle of blood being being felt.

Ah...

This... This was enough for her to create a complete puzzle without having any of the pieces... What is the best way to stay away from someone? Not even being alive to be close... Those closest to the crashing out child had their bodies pulverize themselves and those furthest fine other ways to end it... She just wonders how far this effect reached out at usually it takes a face touch for anything to act out.

Her arms shock and she tried to pull the sword away but it felt like some other strength was pushing it back, locked in a stalemate with her own body, she was only alive instead of dead like the rest as the little girl noticed and that no broke the seeming spell on her since that too was an order.

"Yui, look at me." Demanding in a cold voice. "Now."

The tears covered, sniffling little girl looked up and it no longer felt like her limbs were encased in resin. The sword turning to snowflakes and melting into the airs moisture, as she thought, her own gaze is the antidote to her powerful compulsive force, rubbing her hand over the shallow but bleeding cut... Damn you Luocha.

"There." Crouching down on the bloody ground, hands on the girl's shoulders. "What happened?" More sniffling but she shook her. "I need answer now girl, what happened? Exhaustive, pronto."

"H-he said that you guys needed t-to leave and needed to leave me h-here for lack of space... A-and that those people from t-that place will be back to get me. I-I wanted to leave, I told the lady that and she didn't let me."

"You told them to leave you alone." By reflex, looping a strand around her finger and tucking it back behind her ear so she could see the child's face to be sure she wasn't lying. Getting a nod back.

"S-she wanted to grab my hand and wouldn't let go."

Jingliu took a deep breath.

"Show me to that place, so I can talk to them and make sure they never take you, don't worry, we'll never leave you behind." Lying through her teeth but meaning each word more then she realized it herself.

"P-Promise."

"Of course, come on." After all, why not, why not clean that den of rats out? As no child should be more scared of being sent away then the stench of blood and flesh they are standing in by their own doing.

-------------------------------------------------

Painting walls red was a nice pass time when it was not because of Mara and because of helping someone.

Shitty disguises didn't trick her today either, not as she splattered them up on walls in anger she didn't know she had.

"Where?" Asking the child how must have seen too much death to be this placated despite the limbs and bloods flying around her and only being scared of the place itself.

"There." Pointing at a rug Jingliu kicked up and revealed a trap door.

"Stay here Yui, I am going to talk to them." Not feeling like she needed to see more bloodshed then already had. "Sit back and wait for me, if Luocha shows up don't leave with him."

"Why?" Hugging her own tail like a plushy but it seemed to calm her, only sniffling gently.

"Just don't, trust me."

"Always."

With what looked like a weak stomp on the trap, it blew into splinters and shards as she casually stepped down.

"Good."

Concrete halls, metallic floor, barred windowed doors on each side every few meters. This looked like some asylum or lab.

...

Yui silently sat.

Repeating how she promised, how she promised to come back.

Having already felt anxious whenever left at this school, never sure if they'd come back for her but they did.

But this time she was so scared they wouldn't.

She did all mister Luocha said, she even tried to not annoy miss Jingliu that much, doing as told and when told, she was good at that, following orders.

So they must come back, she must come back.

Picking at her tail, once in a while a bit too strongly, ripping a piece or two of fur out but it was less of a worry.

Was she alright? She got lost? Would she come back? She didn't want to be alone, not in this place...

Jumping with a little yelp as the ground literally suddenly shook, like a blast from bellow.

"M-miss Jingliu?" She called down the broken trap but got no answer. "Mmmm..." Nerves getting the best of her, climbing down and carefully making her way down.

She felt her bones shake she was so scared but maybe she was lost, got hurt, needed her help. Caught in a spiral of her own thoughts is what carried her feet down and down back in the maw of a beast she hadn't seen in a long while.

Through familiar hostile walls and halls, sniffing a little to follow the cold smell, she didn't know what it was but when she ate something that smells like this is made her mouth cold so it must be cold smell.

Worrying her hands around her tail, unaware how sore that would make it later, scared shuffling around to find that one person.

"I told you to stay up there."

Jingliu stood from over a body which, for once differently, she had pinned to the ground by an ice spear because it seemed appropriate for the asshole, having cleaned out whatever and whoever had remained.

Stepping over it, having instantly spotted the movement of a little black fluff peaking into the room.

"S-sorry." Gripping her own tail even hard in worry, she did disobey an order... W-what will happen now?

With a sigh crouching in front of her to look her in the face, Jingliu more of less slapped her one the head instead of the desired pat but the child didn't seem to mind the difference.

"It's fine this time, job is done."

"Really?"

"Really, no one from here will ever take you back." That would have sounded like a jab for anyone else.

The little foxian just threw her arms, for the second time now, around Jingliu's neck, crying softly compared to last time when it was a water fountain... Annoying but more bearable lets say.

She didn't waste time complaining to herself for too long this time since she expected this, scooping her up off the floor and she'll decide she is not annoyed by doing this for the moment.

"Let's leave." She said, knowing that it probably meant the planet itself after Luocha's acts to get this all to happen.

...

She'll need a word with him.

--------------------------------------------

It didn't end up with a resolution outside of them agreeing to leave this world this word with him. Luocha was better alive then dead since this plan of killing an aeon rested upon his calculations and knowledge that he didn't share and, even if he did, knowledge she didn't understand.

The kid seemed to have taken her words to heart along with the lie he told, she became the even more like adult person of the group now that the man had hurt her emotions and all, that was the end of a world for a normal child already but one such as Yui? Armageddon & Co she'd say.

And that's how this situation came to be.

Waking up.

In the middle of the night system time.

Somewhere in some yet unknown system to her as Luocha's machinations was what dictated where they went.

But nothing dictated the annoyance of waking up that middle of the night in that yet known system, nothing but on annoying ball of black fluff.

"What now?" She grumbled, squinting to see in the darkness of the room.

("I threw up" Nah but it would be funny.) "M-miss Jingliu."

"That don't explain anything." Sitting up and flicking the light on, once against looking at a teary eyes child. "How long have you been staring in the dark." Sighing as she swiped her blindfold off the hear rest of the bed to stand and walk around the bed.

Grabbing the girl's forearm to basically drag her out of her room and back into the one she was using.

"In bed, now, it's late." Swinging her up from the ground with her arms under the girl's armpits and swishing her through the air until she was over the bed and dropped her on it. "There, stay."

But it couldn't be so easy could it?

No it couldn't.

Some little hands grabbed her clothes moments before she could be out of their range.

"What now? Did Luocha not feed you or something?"

"P-Please." Meek little voice. "Stay."

"You bought a wolf on board."

"What?"

"You bought a pet you shouldn't have and I now need to catch it before Luocha finds it." Jingliu accused but the kid shook her head and tugged on her clothes.

If this was a show Jingliu would be staring deadpanned into the camera to let the audience know how much she is done with this, but she isn't, so she stared at the nearest wall.

"What is it child, using your words would get you things easier."

"Please stay..." Again repeating herself.

What the hell...The... Maybe nightmares? That's all she could get to make sense in her mind that fits with the child's age and all.

She's not paid enough... She's not even being paid for this!

"Only until you fall asleep and only tonight, got it." Another nod.

And saw, awkwardly, sitting on the edge of a small bed, arms crossed with her back to the girl that seemed to find this enough to try to sleep again.

Drumming her fingers on her arm as she thought.

This might get complicated.

She didn't take time to figure out why a little girl was kept locked up outside of the power but that mustn't have been the original purpose.

All she did was... Said nicely, merk every single breathing thing in there for a vendetta she didn't realize she had, never asking questions.

Looking over her shoulder at the sleeping child as she dropped her hands in her lap.

She should get Luocha to send her back to the Xianzhou, they'll be able to deal with her, find her a nice place, a teach her what she needs to know... A life not with criminals.

Lifting a hand up, the back of her fingers ghosting near the back of those fluffy ears. Watching the instinctual twitching to the ghost of a touch.

Yanking her hand away and trying to stand but feeling a tug.

"Brat." Yui had not only rolled over on the ledge of her clothes but she was also holding it.

That's how Luocha, who was trying to win back trust ended up finding a more then awake Jingliu who had waves of annoyance emanating from her and she step on the bed's ledge like a statue when he tried to bring the child cookies in the morning.

Despite it all, the cold woman not taking the risk in trying to wake up the child but with an don't you bring it up look in her covered eyes.

She looked back at the brat once the man was gone, sighing softly.

"How unlucky you are, being stuck with us." Muttering with a head shake, patting her shoulder to try to wake the child to eat since breakfast is really important for someone as small as this.

--------------------------------------------------------

I have no inspiration to finish this, I want a few more scene so this is FOR CERTAIN a part 2 in the making but I didn't want to keep this in the drafts longer as this is a good enough spot to leave off without having a baaaad cliffhanger... But yeah expect for sure a part 2 for this some time in the future.

Chapter Text

Another day.

Another accident.

Always the same on the Luofu.

The scent of burnt ash lingered in the alley like a heliobu that refused to leave, curling into the damp air and settling against the cracked cobblestones like a final breath. Lantern light flickered off the steel-brick walls, casting long, trembling shadows that danced across the remnants of violence that had brought (Y/N) here. 

Blood, some had already dried to a rusted brown, some still fresh enough to steam down the side of a building, it marked the scene like punctuation in a grim sentence.

Above, the stars of the Xianzhou Luofu shimmered in their artificial brilliance, a projection of serenity stretched across a sky that was subjected to an artificial day-light cycle. 

A sky that hadn't known true peace in decades, not since the abundance rose up to infest their world. The illusion was beautiful, the shining stars calm and serene, like the best night of someone's life... And utterly false.

One man, detective (Y/N), stood at the center of it all, a still point in the chaos. His posture was impeccable despite the late hours, as if tiredness had not held on that man: back straight, shoulders squared, coat draped with military precision across his frame.
His dark brown hair was combed back, sharp at the sides, with soft light brown highlights that caught the glow of the lanterns. But nothing about him was soft. His pale blue eyes, cold and calculating, moved with the precision of a scalpel, dissecting the scene in silence, a silence born of years of visions such as this, almost numb to it.

He knelt beside the charred symbol etched into the brick, gently touching his hand down near it but not touching the char itself.
A circle of flame, drawn with unsettling accuracy each time, the edges were too clean, the burn was too controlled. He pulled out a slim notebook, its leather cover worn from years of use but well-kept. Inside, his handwriting was tighter than print, each line a testament to discipline that dictated his life. Measurements. Temperature gradients. Chemical residue. All recorded without hesitation.

Behind him, his team hovered like nervous birds, shifting from foot to foot, waiting for the storm to break, to get the next tests from their leader.

He stood finally, finishing his observation.

"Fan out," He said, voice low but sharp. "Western district. Northern district. Skybridge logs. Everywhere. Cross-reference transit signatures with Starskiff use surges in the last forty-eight hours."

A flurry of movement followed. No one questioned him. Not after last time.

One junior agent hesitated. "Sir... Are we thinking it's the Smolder Circle again?"

Y/N turned his head slightly, just enough to meet the agent's eyes. His expression didn't change despite the minimal annoyance that seeped through his veins.

"No. This is a mimic. Burn pattern's wrong. Oxygen control is inconsistent. Whoever did this wanted us to think it was them. A great, almost perfect copy, but still a copy."

The agent swallowed hard. "U-Understood."

"Surveillance footage. The last six hours. I want trace readings from this alley to the nearest cloudpath line in my hands in the hour."

"Yes, sir."

Y/N closed his notebook with a soft snap. "Better yet, I want a suspect in custody before the hour ends."

And just like that, the hunt began.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Victory, when it came, was quiet.

The suspect was a disgraced artificer with a grudge and too much time, and had confessed out of obligation once tracked down. The ritual was a smokescreen, a carefully orchestrated misdirection meant to frame a rival faction. Petty. Personal. Predictable.

The ticking of the clock filled the small room, the numbers 1:17 mocking the detective, another sleepless night, it seems.

(Y/N) sat at his desk as he filled out the mission report. The office was dimly lit and meticulously organized. The only sound was the soft scratch of his pen correcting a report in red ink. His coffee had gone lukewarm, but he drank it anyway. He preferred it that way, less distraction from the taste, more focus on the warmth... Even if said warmth was that lukewarm warmth, usually the taste ebbed down when at this temp, and he was just looking for a boost, not a taste.

But then...

Buzz!!

His datapad lit up.

A heavy sigh, another distraction, but something pushed him to grab and look at whoever could be messaging him at this time.

From: Jing Yuan
"Meet me at the café you always go to. Yes. That one. Now."

Y/N stared at the message for a long moment. His expression didn't change, Jing Yuan? This early? He cannot understand that man, no matter what.

...

But he stood. Draped his coat over his shoulders. Slipped the pen into his inner pocket. Adjusted each cuff with mechanical precision.

Finally. An excuse. One he can convince himself he cannot avoid.

As he walked through the station, officers parted before him like leaves before a storm. Some nodded. Most didn't dare. He was a legend in the precinct, respected, feared, admired.

Untouchable.

-----------------------------------------------

The café was tucked into a quiet corner of the Luofu, surrounded by flowering vines and floating lanterns that pulsed like fireflies. It was the kind of place that didn't show up on maps. The kind of place you had to know about to know it existed. Exactly how (Y/N) liked it.

Jing Yuan was already there, of course. Reclined in a chair that looked too small for both of the men's frames, one leg crossed over the other, sipping tea like he had all the time in the world.

"You're late." He said, not looking up.

"I never agreed to a time," (Y/N) replied, sliding into the seat across from him.

"But you came anyway."

(Y/N) adjusted his coat. "This place makes decent coffee."

"Not because you enjoy my company?" (Y/N) didn't answer that, but Jing Yuan never expected an answer. The general smiled. "I heard you cracked the case in under nine hours. Impressive, close to your record."

"It was sloppily executed. Any competent investigator would've seen through it." (Y/N) shrugged, arms crossed, as the waitress brought him a coffee.

"So you're complimenting yourself again." Y/N blinked. Slowly.

Jing Yuan leaned forward, chin resting on his palm. "I wonder what it would take to make you laugh. Not just a smirk. Not just blink slightly harder. But really laugh."

"A miracle."

"I like a challenge."

"I prefer silence."

"Then you're in the wrong company." (Y/N) blinked again. A fraction faster this time.

"Well, good luck, old man, you'll need it."

---------------------------------------------------

"General Jing Yuan is missing."

The message came through just as (Y/N) finished reviewing a backlog of reports. He didn't flinch. Didn't sigh. It almost surprised him that the general had not been targeted by anything before now.

He didn't panic or stress like the rest of his colleagues.

 Just stood, adjusted his collar, and began the dance he was the master of.

Twenty minutes later, he was combing through surveillance archives while the rest of the station descended into chaos. He moved like a blade through fog, efficient, unshaken.

Plum wine traces. Pressure sensors near a forgotten pavilion. A single strand of white hair caught in the breeze.

He missed nothing.

Not when it came to Jing Yuan.

----------------------------------------------------

Jing Yuan lay in the tall silvergrass, arms folded behind his head, gazing up at the artificial stars.

"You triggered a level-4 emergency response," (Y/N) said, stepping into view.

Jing Yuan smiled, looking up at him from the floor. "Took you long enough."

"You weren't lost. You were hiding."

"Correct. I wanted to see who'd find me."

"I found you because I'm competent. Not because I care."

Jing Yuan chuckled. "So cold. You wound me."

(Y/N) stepped closer. "The only thing wounded will be your reputation when I report this."

"I'll make you tea."

"Add cake."

"Two slices."

"A vacation."

"Two months."

"Sold."

"I knew we could come to an understanding."

------------------------------------------------

The office was quiet. For once, no reports. No calls. Just sunlight spilling across the floor and the soft clinking of a coffee spoon.

(Y/N) sat in his chair, swirling his drink slowly. Behind him, Jing Yuan approached like a breeze, unhurried, warm.

Hands settled on his shoulders. Gentle pressure. A thumb traces the edge of a knot.

"I can't believe you're thinking about going back to work already. You are, aren't you?"

(Y/N) didn't answer. Just reached up, took Jing Yuan's hand, and pressed it briefly to his lips.

Then turned. Pressed a single finger to Jing Yuan's mouth.

"Don't speak. Not when I'm finally having a break."

"You are at work." Jing Yuan had from behind the finger, his easy going smile on his face.

"When do I have to drink my coffee while it's hot at work?"

"Touché."

A long pause.

And then a slow, hesitant, but real... (Y/N) smiled.

Soft. Honest.

Peace.

Jing Yuan didn't say a word.

Not this time.

Or he knew he'd regret pointing it out, not because he'd be called an idiot or something, but because he wouldn't be able to look at it any longer.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/clLkD3rB6yI

Boulder Town...

Ah yes... The quiet little town in the underground of Belobog cut of from the overworld for at least 10 years now.

SMACK!!

Just really quiet with nothing going on, people working in the mine for geomarrow to be shipped to the surface.

"Gah!!"

Everyone getting along great and cooperating for survival.

Swink!! Clank!!

Okay who are we kidding here? It is a fucking war zone between Wildfire and the Vagrants along with the rise of the fragmentum monsters trying to take over... Nothing is quiet about this damned place.

Dooing!!

The metal bucket bounced off the skull of an already downed Vagrant as he tried to cover his head to protect himself from the metallic onslaught, they need to learn some people will fight back when attacked!

"And never come back!!" Avoiding the second swing as his buddies pulled him up and scrambled back where they crawled out from, running for their lives.

With a huff, a hand passed through the short black hair framing her face, fixing the short pony tail before it got even messier even if it didn't do much, Shona decided it would be good enough, she always has a messy look to her anyway.

Geomarrow orange eyes looking where the Vagrants fled too and was honestly thinking of running after them to teach them the lesson of finally leaving them the fuck alone...

With a scoff, dusting off her black pants and scuffed brown tanktop but only got them more dirty because of the dirt and dust on her padded gloves reinforced with metal on the knuckles and finger tips.

Grabbing the stolen Silvermane coat Sampo had gotten from her up from the ground while the equally stolen worker boots clanked against the ground with their metal toe and layered shin reinforcements hitting each other. (The blue coat of the NPC guards, not the story characters like Serval or Gepard)

She shook out the coat, dusting it off, frowning at the additional scuff to it and the huge tear from the Vagrants' surprise attack... She sighed, it was already a patch work of different fabrics sown in to fix it or stitching, showing its age and wear, but it still pissed her off...

Sure Sampo might have stolen this from a random guard on the surface for half a dry cracker she offered him when both were younger but still... It was important to her, reminding her of him.

She looked up towards the ceiling, trying the imagine the sky but no longer able too... Yet another memory lost to the underground but she couldn't say she missed the surface because of this forgetfulness, it was the opposite, don't miss what you don't remember... She still knows it is blue tho...

When the Silvermanes were pulled from the underground no one knew what to expect and so, she was left behind at home to await her father's never to happen return. Throughout the years growing bitter toward him even if it was not his choice to go but it was his choice to leave her, thinking he'd return and never trying to return.

"Heeeey my favorite person in the whole world, thank you for dealing with them for me~" And arm looped around her shoulder and she almost socked the man in the face.

"Sampo I swear to all aeons that I know off that if you ever surprise me again I will feed you your own boots." She hissed.

He put his hands up with mock surrender with that fucked up cocky grin plastered proud on his smug-ass bastard face... Oh how she hated it... How were they were best friends? well they weren't in her books but they had grown up next to each other basically.

"Come on Shoooo, you like me too much for that."

"I tolerate you because we grew up as neighbors and colleagues for Wildfire, it's not the same."

"Ooh how you wound me m--" He cut himself off, suddenly a tad bit more serious. "Maybe you should get that checked out."

"What?"

He poked her in the shoulder, making her hiss, pain not there before flaring up. The feeling of it spread down her back now that she was aware of it, feeling wetness on her skin.

"Wha... Shit..." She muttered, that smack from a shovel from behind wouldn't leave a bruise but a wound actually... Great.

Craning her neck as the wound was most on her back... So not only had they tore the coat but also cut her... She really needs to-- "No no no Sho, I know that look, you are not going after them, you are going to see you lovely crush to get that fixed."

"Sampo!" She smacked him with the coat before putting it on with a huff, turning away to hide her reddening face from him. "It is not a crush."

...

It started when they were younger actually.

Shona being the confrontational little idiot she was and Sampo using it to his advantage... Little miss Shona soon was known as trouble.

Trouble is her middle name, she doesn't look for trouble but trouble looks for her.

Oleg tried to put of leash on that, redirect her after she joined the cause, but the bitch had like... Chewed through it... If you get it... Only one woman could reign her in and she was not to fond of flaunting her position as leader of the group.

Being vocal, getting in fights with the Vagrants or the fragmentum weekly, even daily at times. As cocky as she was, being a great deterrent for little trouble that couldn't stand up to the trouble she invites.

So with this all, it was no surprise she was a regular in the Boulder Town clinic.

What she didn't know was when she started feeling different about the nice doctor at the secret head of these operations. Her smiles, her touch, her attention to her, all was driving her mad and up the wall, she'd fight Svarog any day before she admits that to others.

She had been avoiding the clinic for a while unless she deemed it really needed, to try to mitigate these feelings and strangle them to death... She was like a decade younger then the doc, she has no chance here, who'd go for the troublemaker girl of Wildfire when they were calmer, older and had more responsibilities that already stress her out?

"Whatever you say, I am sure she'd gladly help you~"

"Sampo..."

"What? I am sure she wouldn't mind giving you a whole body check up."

His voice ticked her off, jumping at him.

----------------------------------------

"Why is it always you two?" Seele sighed, having been warned off a brawl by the kids and she wasn't surprised to find who she found when she was asked to help break it up.

Shona just rolled her eyes.

"Can you lend me your scythe for one moment?"

"I am not letting you kill Sampo no matter how annoying he is."

"I am right here girls."

"Yeah I know." Seele said. "Still no for the scythe, now why are you fighting and putting your blood on every surface possible?"

Sampo, despite his bleeding nose and maybe a knocked out teeth somewhere from the amount of blood dripping from his mouth still gave his cocky smile, hands clasped and rubbing against each other like he did when doing his schemes.

Shona tho only had bruising since she was not the one being hit with metal plated gloves, being a person to fight with her fists contrary to the weapons other had around. Attacked by fragmentum monsters? Easy peasy, she could be really fast, only leaving sparkling electricity behind courtesy of quantum, easily avoiding strikes and if she wanted a weapon she'd just rip them out of the monsters hands, she wouldn't be hurt if she didn't constantly used them like that monster armor guy, he really didn't look well.

Seele sighed, already expecting the worse, the most stupid and inconsequential story to be the reason for this literal blood feud between these two.

----------------------------------------------

"NO!!! LET ME GO!!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!! SHE'S TRYING TO KILL ME!!!"

The people of Boulder Town were greeted with quite a sight.

Seele dragging Shona by the left ankle as the other girl tried to use the metal tipped fingers of her gloves to anchor herself into the pavement, creating white scratching through the surface as she screamed for her life while being dragged towards the clinic... Truly a sight to see.

"You need to get stitches for that and the other wounds to be looked at you troublesome woman!"

"Trouble is my middle name! I can deal with such a small injury!" She grabbed a trashcan but when she noticed it would do nothing to stop the inevitable she went back to scratching the ground.

"Small?! There is a hand length slash through your shoulder! How can you even move it without screaming in pain?!"

"'Tis but a scratch!" Grabbing the railing of the clinic's stirs, hugging it, being lifted off the ground by Seele's pull on her ankle as she walked up to the stairs.

"It is not!!"

"What's with all of this yel--" The door of the clinic opened, revealing a slightly flabbergasted doctor looking at the scene... Not something she had expected that for sure.

She would have been happy to see the younger woman at any other time but currently questions overwhelmed that feeling.

"Oh hi there, I brought you an idiot that thinks she can get off without coming to the clinic after a fight not only with Vagrants but Sampo too."

Shona was tugged on, the railing escaping her hand and falling as flat as she could on the stairs.

"Seele, don't do that." The doctor, Natasha, said, hearing the smack of the landing, feeling a bit sorry for her but Seele didn't have a reaction to it, just handing the other's ankle over to the doc who grabbed it only to gently let it down and rest it on the ground, hand lingering a bit longer then needed.

"Welp my work here is done, time to catch Sampo because he needs to visit you too but he ran off after I grabbed Shona." Seele dusted her hands off, walking away as if nothing happened. "Have fun with her."

"Hmm..." Natasha crouched down, hands on her knees. "Are you alright there Shona."

"Peachy." She mumbled from her face down position, getting a little laugh back.

"Come on now, get up and let me check those injuries." She offered her a hand.

The reluctant woman still grabbed it, getting helped up by Natasha, with all this tussling around, the pain in her quiet sharp.

She wanted to let go of her hand but the doctor didn't let go, almost making her blush.

"Come on, let's have a look." She gave a gentle smile, eyes shining with something.

To Shona's luck and simultaneous dismay, the clinic that always had people in it seemed quite empty outside of the one guy sleeping in the corner but he was known as the heaviest sleeper of the underground... So he couldn't save her from being basically alone with Natasha and her own thought.

"I'm fine Natasha, really." She was slightly disappointed when her hand was let go, still feeling the lingering warmth.

"No, I can already see bruises and scraps on your face, but I don't think Seele would drag you here just because of those being the injuries she mentioned." The older woman said gently, the door closing on Shona's only exit possible as she was walked across the room and offered a chair to sit in.

This gentleness, this kindness, was what drew Shona in. Helping but asking nothing in return... She was dragged with Sampo who didn't want to join Wildfire alone but she stayed because of her and the hope brought even by such a troublemaker she was.

"She doesn't need to put her nose in things that doesn't concern her or whatever the saying is."

"...Stay out of my business? Stick your nose where it doesn't belong?"

"Yeah whatever." Shona muttering as it made the good doctor laugh a bit.

"Well we look after each other here, she was just worried."

"Sure."

"Now now, show me." Voice just a bit more firm, not taking no as an answer.

Because of the coat's make up and layering of fabrics, the blood couldn't seep out since it was meant to withstand the cold of the surface. So when she took it down it was the whole inside that was bloody around the wound along with her skin and tanktop.

"Oh my..." She didn't like the worried and shocked look on the older woman's face, partially the reason she avoided this place, she always looked so worried for everyone and she didn't want to stress her out... Being a troublemaker, not even on purpose most times, caused her have have a more targeted worry as Natasha was used to seeing her around and hurt... She didn't like it.

"It is just a little blood, it's fine."

"It is not Shona." Walking around her to look at her back and at the injury more closely. "This will need stitches... How did it even..."

"Vagrant, not Sampo... Hit from behind with a shovel, I thought the coat stopped the strike but it cut all the way through... But worry not, I beat them with a bucket." It didn't seem to reassure her like Shona wanted, not even getting the little smile she always had. "I'm fine, it hurts but I had worse."

"I still don't like you getting hurt."

The younger woman looked away to hide her blush.

-----------------------------------

Well this is awkward for one of them more then the other...

Shona sitting backwards on a chair, arms crossed on the back of it with her legs on each side of it, chin on her forearms.

Why is it awkward? Simple! The wound was much more then the could see herself which had ended with her sitting in only her bra to cover her so Natasha could see the extent of it... If only the anesthetic could numb feelings too and not just pain because Shona felt like dying.

Just up and dying.

Getting up, bowing and gone.

"Do you still feel something?" The gentle voice asked as the touch of her hand made the younger woman twitch, not really keen on continuing fixing her up if she was causing her more pain.

"No no, it doesn't hurt just got distracted by my thoughts." She said which was partially true tho she'd never say who they were about.

"Alright... Next time come right away... This could have gotten infected and been dangerous you know?" Gently chastising her.

"Right right, sorry."

Natasha sighed, concentrating on her work but already knowing Shona wouldn't really do that... She needs to find a way to stop make her being such a stubborn woman and come back.

She was indeed always followed by trouble wherever she went, looking for it or not, Natasha almost wanted to tie her to her clinic's roof support post to be sure she was not hurt again but that's not really her modus operandi is it?... And trouble would come knocking just to check if she is here anyway.

Maybe some... Gentle persuasion?

Because to Shona's greatest dismay the day she would realize it... She was absolutely not discreet with her feelings, which was just adorably lovable in the doctor's eyes, just wanting to selfishly keep her around and never let go. She couldn't help but go along with it, just seeing how far she could go... Honestly she didn't need her to take her tanktop off, Natasha just wanted to see that adorable flustered reaction.

"There." She said, cutting the thread, wiping the blood once again with a soft cloth and using a bandage with sticky edges to cover it up. Sighing softly, always hoping she was not causing her more pain then she already was in. "Careful for the next few weeks and I want you to come back for a checkup in three days." Hands on her shoulder, squeezing a little. "By that time I will have also had time to sow up your coat too."

"Right." But Natasha was not a fan of that tone, leaning down a bit.

"Shona I know when you lie to me, you have giveaways." She whispered next to her ear, grinning as she felt the shoulders tense up under her hands, patting the uninjured one. "Do I also need to start asking Seele to go get you? I thought we got along well, I am sad you don't like being around me."

"No I have no problems with you!" She quickly said as Natasha backed off so she could turn around. "I just... Don't like the hospital-type setting."

Lie, lie, lie... But Natasha would let her off the hook here, that red face frantically working to not upset her is irresistible.

One of these days she'll be the one to crack before Shona can build up the courage to confess.

Actually... Maybe she should just up and say it? That she isn't bothered by the young woman's feelings? Hell she is even playing right into them herself and not to lead her on but because she genuinely does enjoy her around as a friend or even something more if she finally said something about it... And she did once go a bit unethical by lying to a patient she had no pain meds for him as she fixed him up because he tried to hit on Shona and made the younger woman clearly uncomfortable and not taking no for an answer, to the point of dislocating his arm before she brought him to Natasha since he was a member of Wildfire... To say he got kicked out extremely fast would be an understatement. She didn't even want to help him and that's rare for her... Not that anyone needed to know.

But for the moment seeing her try in vain to not be a lovesick puppy had too much appeal to save Shona from it... But saying all of that, there was reciprocity here.

"Really? Should I do an at home visit then?" The red really fit with those pretty orange eyes, she just wanted to grab her and squeeze her in these moments... Oh damn her own amusement and patience in these times.

"No need! I'll come here, it is much easier on you so you can be with your other patients too without having to worry."

"It would not be a problem."

"No no, I insist, trust me."

"Alright, I'll believe you this time. Let me go get you painkillers for when the anesthetic wears off."

It was only a dried bloody tanktop but the half second Natasha turned around to grab the meds it seemed to materialize back on the woman's body to hide it... Smooth, real sneaky Shona... Why do you think even the airhead Sampo can realize the depths of your feelings? Oh aeons she is so cute, her little firecracker full of trouble.

She handed the little container to her as Shona stood, looking ready to scamper away like a scared rabbit... How amusing, she'd rather face Svarog then Natasha... Yes, her saying that many times did indeed get back to the doctor's ears.

"Here, one for each meal, if needed you can take one three hours after the previous one but no more then six a day, these are strong."

"Got it. No more then six."

"Don't forget to come back for your coat and the check up." She watched her walk quickly to the door before getting an idea. "Shona, wait a second."

The younger woman had already opened the door when she froze, hearing Natasha walk up again as she turned to face her... She is going to perish if this woman doesn't let her go soon.

"You know, people say something helps with the pain even more then meds." Natasha vaguely said.

"Oh yeah, what is it?" She asked back.

"This."

"Wha--" Feeling a hand on her shoulder, other on her face, tilting her head down enough to plant a kiss on her forehead, on her hairline.

"There, kids always say it helps and I don't want you in pain."

Shona stuttered out unintelligible word as she went beet red, Natasha just smiling a little, not really adding more as she watched the girl scamper off out of the clinic with a hasty wave and walk.

"Oh aeons, I might have gone too far with that one." She put a hand on her own face with a chuckle and a lazy eyeroll. Tho more then sure even if she ran, it would draw her back in more then her simple words would have.

Closing the door again.

Miss trouble can't stay too far from her anyway.

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Actually will do this in two parts because I feel it would be a better read in two part but probably will write it a bit later.

Fun fact... I don't actually like Sampo that much.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/RWU3o_kDixc

In the world, there is many things that could interest the mind of someone ready to look away from their little insignificant life and turn towards something bigger.

Some decided to look towards the past, digging to understand their worlds' origins.

Some wanted to understand each facet of what life means in the universe.

Some looked to the stars and trying the unseal the secrets in their molten hearts.

Some invented.

Some discovered.

Some worked diligently.

Some run into fame and faded from view.

Some were glanced at by Nous and joined the Genius Society.

Some took it in their own hands, ignored by the aeon, rising up with the Intelligentsia Guild through sponsored research by the IPC.

But all of them had this wonder, this need to answer a simple question, no matter what way it would be.

Why. 

How. 

When.

Why did life exist? When did sharks evolve? How to fly a spaceship? Why did the stars shine? Why did Aeons ascend? How to create a miniature black hole? Why did fish swim? How to make plants sapient.

Every one of these people was interested in something.

And it didn't matter how.

They would get to the bottom of their questions' answers.

--------------------------------------------------

There was a single little girl.

Hailing from a planet of catastrophes that long been doomed to destruction.

The crust of the world was crackled and missing in deep endless cave ins and whoever dared to look down the endless cliffs would see the singularity at the core slowly gnawing on the planets insides, like a deadly worm inside an apple, eating until the whole thing is cored and slowly eating the peels too until nothing would remain in the end but the worm itself.

Such is the goal of this stelleron lost to history, to consume and destroy this planet it landed on eons ago and left forgotten, left to burrow deep and consume.

A dying world.

Death hid around the corner everywhere.

Whole parts of the world sinking into the core.

Famines.

Lack of shelter.

Violent winds.

Sickening infernos.

Drying up river beds.

Oceans pouring down into the missing core.

Anything really that could go wrong went wrong.

Death...

Just death...

Death from the world crumbling, death from infighting, death from famine, death from thirst, death from the world.

Death...

Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death Death DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH DEATH.

NOTHING BUT DEATH!!!!

...

So few can say it was a surprise when one little girl born with a mind soaring high above the norm, a little girl blowing through equations that remained unsolved for century, turned numb to the outside pain while turning to look for an answer... But not the answer the people of said world wanted, a completely different goal from saving the world.

Watching her world slowly die, crumbling into the unchained pawn of destruction left her not with a want to save it but watch it crumble and understand why.

As she grew much more was lost, probably only 30% remaining, a cruel twist of fate that this planet could still support life on it even in such a state was not lost on her.

Life... As paradoxical as it seems, such a great mind was not interested in life but in the death surrounding her.

What became of those swallowed by the depths? Why did bodies decompose? Was there something after the end? Could she, if given time, bring back anyone from death? To learn the secrets that lie after death? Defy death? Control it? Master it?

A girl born on a doomed planet didn't fight to try to save it, no, she wanted to bend death to her will.

And to find out she was ready for everything.

Poor people, giving up their already doomed lives for a little food or a little money for their families, being her subjects willingly to extract all the secrets of death.

Death followed her, hands stained with the blood of her people, their deaths resting on her shoulders but paving the way to her research.

Such a girl didn't shed tears when the planet was finally evacuated, finally paying the IPC fees for it, she only was disappointed in her test subject being lost.

Such... morbid curiosity, such potent knowledge, such a mind... Could not be put to waste.

The Intelligentsia Guild was the perfect spot for such a mind rejected by Nous. IPC's very own 'Genius Society' the fools would say. But she didn't care, it gave her access to so much more.

Being who she is led to clashing with most of her colleagues, Qlipoth this, Qlipoth that, she could understand it of course but she more or less aligned her thoughts to the aeon of Nihility it seemed to many... Finding life pointless when you had death and the nothingness after it to conquer.
Might be the reason why she had an easier time with death, because of the outright nihilistic look upon life and yet it was not enough for the aeon representing it to glance at her... A Pity, it would have been lovely to experiment on the effects of being a self annihilator but seems that's not a given to her since she cared for life as a concept to know that death would stop her research as she can never afford to die if given the choice.

But this aloof pessimism about it did also get her... Other... Colleagues.

While the IPC would pay for her to research, it also set a quota of sorts, requiring her to research this and that in addition to what she wanted to get that pay. She'd do it if only to get what she needed which is how she had first ran into her other colleagues.

"I truly see no reason for my involvement in such a project. A waste of my very precious time." Pushing up her thin black rimmed glassed on her face, red eyes piercing through the puppet of the tiny woman talking to her. "I bring nothing to this equation and much less something you'd want." Dismissing the Genius Society member with a wave of her gloved hand through the dry air.
Being quite a character to deal with, always negative, always bring others down, always dismissive but a life of research upon death and the failures that came with it did that to someone.

The Intelligentsia Guild and the Genius Society had nothing in common outside of both gathering brilliant minds but the IPC had convinced one of them to strike a deal with them, somehow, and (Y/N) was the unlucky one tasked with such relationship building meeting... Was it because she killed those task managers? Probably, they were useful pawns to the Jade Stoneheart but it was their faults they trusted (Y/N) when everyone working around or near her is warned about what she can do through a simple touch. They were valuable data to her only.

"I get how it seemed wasteful but we here." Herta, said puppet woman, spoke up, it has been a long while since they've been on this and her two companions, a robot and another Genius woman, more of less abandoned her in this fight by their pointed silence. "But a simulation of life can only be true when death is included."

"Which is the reason why I was sent instead of someone else to deal with this useless junk of a common project." Ah, the second reason why she was chosen... But did she really have a choice? Nous never glanced at her and made her a member of the Society so she could only research with the funds of the IPC, given that much of her research can be seen as... Immoral... It was maybe a good think the IPC would cover her shady doings.

"Lady Death, true name (Y/N) (L/N) from Cordius, the cored out planet, wishful future aeon killer, master over death and the dying, enemy of the hunt, bitch of the abundance." Herta listed off, touching a finger on her hand with each title as odd as it might be, counting them up. "Of course they'd send you. No one understands the end of life more then you do. And here my colleagues in this project can build the code for the simulated universe, create life for it and I can implement the thoughts of the beings in it but none of us can correctly ascertain death. It is a simulated universe, codes and numbers, but if death is not death just like life is not life, there will be errors and mistakes in the results, false positives or errors in the data obtained if you will."

(Y/N) crossed her arms, sliding one arm up the sleeve of the less then professional looking beige-like-black hoodie she was wearing, drumming those gloved fingers on her bare arm in silence and with a placid face.

This seemed so stupid to her but she can't say she is not a pessimist, expecting nothing to go right with anything, much less with this mess of a project.

Tapping the tip of her black work boots on the ground as she nudged the glasses up her face once again before dropping her hands from being crossed.

"Such a waste." Not believing it would work and out of anyone, the one researching life should be able to create death well enough.

Passing a hand through her (H/L) (H/C) hair while red eyes peered at the incomplete data used to try to convince her resting on the table.

A head shake, hands in her blue pants' pockets as she turned on herself.

"Wouldn't bringing death to being that cannot exist further your research?" A much more controlled, colder but equally soft, voice stopped her exit from this meeting.

Looking over her shoulder, it was the other Genius, the one dealing with life.

"Life is hard to create, I have yet failed to attain my goal with it but maybe you have not yet gotten your goal either because you only dealt with life you could get your hands on."

"That doesn't make sense to me, you saying some idiocies."

"Am I?" The ever calculation woman said. "Death exists because of life and my goal is well known tho you seem lost to not know it. Being cordial I will tell you the short of it. I will create an aeon... What about killing one?"

"An aeon..." (Y/N) tapped her boot into the metallic flooring. That would be the peak of her research, knowing how to bring down an aeon that surpassed death and is tied into imaginary energy... If she got an aeon dead it might expose the flaw in death.

"In the simulated universe it is much easier to create life, it is just 1s and 0s in the end, but it could give a head start for your goal just as it is to ours. All that's needed it for you to help."

(Y/N) hmmed, turning back to face them.

"Name? You already knew mine anyway." (Y/N) said, usually quite careless about names since all dies so it is useless remembering them most of the time.

"Ruan Mei, member #81 of the Genius Society."

Another hmm... Tho this one might be worth the interest in the end.

She could have use for someone interested in life after all... Even if it takes joining this project.

------------------------------------------------

"Another failure."

Since the IPC wanted this contract with this puppet woman, much of the time was spent between IPC headquarters and the Herta space station lab set up for her which was quite bothersome in her research. Time lost on travel.

Closing the petri dish by putting the glass lid on before just sliding it across the table to knock loudly in a discarded pile, making those on the edge fall and shatter.

Hands on the table, left fingers drumming on it, another failure not a surprise but annoying as hell.

"Oh Qlipoth or anyone give me strength." She muttered, rubbing her forehead and pushing the glasses up once again.

No matter what she did, life always moved towards death leaving her still unable to make death become life. But why? Oh such a question. This puppet herself was like over 7 centuries old if she remembers her notes correctly but the true body behind the puppet still aged, sure it was slow but she aged. (Y/N) herself was not the youngest despite her looks.

Hmm... Maybe that's why the Xianzhou turned her away right the moment she stepped out of the ship with cold eyes and tight frowns, after all she's playing with eternal life that they regret and hunt.
Control over death lets one avoid it.
She is far from having crossed the final frontier but as long as her body doesn't die it is technically eternal, no matter what she needs to do to herself and others around her... She'll know what's after death one day.

Lifting her head to grab another little round dish and sliding it over and taking the cover off, another culture of some bacterium, the sort didn't matter since it was what was found on the Herta space station, all that matter was it perished, trapped in this dish to starve to death before drying out.

Sliding her left hand over to the syringe and the right to the notepad and crossing out a line, time to try another mixture of dose--Hmmm?

Picking her head higher, brows furred and looking around. Was that a red blink of light? Where?

"Weird... I could have sworn..." Her voice trailing off as her eyes found nothing, what even was she looking for to start with? No idea... But there was this feeling... Hmmm...

Shaking it off, going back to her research.

-------------------------------------------------

"Even in a simulation, aeons are quite resilient it seems." (Y/N) thought out loud, with the heat of the server rooms, her unprofessional hoodie discarded right on the floor, having a much more presentable simple cut, short sleeved blouse one.

She could have never believed one day being interested in this project to this point.

The simulated aeons were truly something to marvel at and despite the puppet and robot saying Aha was just another simulation, (Y/N) had the feeling that the real aeon of elation was in some way the exact same to the simulation, somehow transcending simulation and reality... She... Kept that to herself since puppet was so quick to dismiss it at idiocies.

"Even the nature of this, killed by a simple plug being pulled from a wall, even a fake one, an aeon was far out of her range of effect.

"Seems things aren't going smoothly like you had hoped."

"Please, only an idiot would be optimist about this thing." Waving her hand through the hologram and chasing the hunt off into crackling data that dissipated. "If it simulates the aeons to their prime then I am still far from answers." Turning the light table off completely. "Weren't you supposed to be away?"

"I was but something needed my attention on the space station." Ruan Mei gave an uncharacteristic shoulder shrug, the fact she was the one to approach (Y/N) first was already weird enough for the woman as she knew this Genius to not only be hard to track down but just go all 'nope' at the idea of being in a society of human beings. 

"Then I'll hope you have better luck then me."

"Creating life is not that easy either nor could I create an aeon."

"But doesn't stop you from trying to hide one."

The icy look from those blue eyes silently judged the calm fire of the red ones.

"So... What gave it away?" She simply asked.

"Power diverted to the basement unaccounted for in the data sheets, password secured data entries in the system, your back and forths, somethings you'd need but I use too decreasing in volume without me touching them, quite a few things if one pays enough attention but few would truly care."

"T'is just an unstable clone of an emanator, forth clone even, their code of life unstable and soon disseminating into dust, the only reason this latest one is still here is the extreme preservation methods in place to keep it slumbering."

"Are you not scared another would find out?"

"Who? Herta hasn't realized and it is her space station to begin with. And why? Will you blackmail me? Maybe I should tell the others about what you did to that man. That it was not a random lab rat that died in the corner and let that rotting smell in the labs." She wanted to nudge (Y/N) as if she made a stupid joke right now but her wrist got caught before she could touch the other woman's bare arm.

"Hands off." (Y/N) simply said. "If you know what's good for you." Dropping Ruan Mei's wrist. "As for blackmail, I have no need for it. Even if you tell them, there's not much they can do."

"You are still mortal." Ruan Mei pointed out as (Y/N) walked around the turned off light table, discarding a glove.

"I might be but do try killing me." The tired grin of a fool painting her face. A wandering had closing around the flower of a plant and plucking it off the stem, almost waltzing over and making Ruan Mei lift her hand with her still gloved one. "I'd bet on me."

She opened her hand, dropping dust and dried pieces of the now wilted and withered flower in the other woman's hand.

Dusting her hands off and putting her gloves back on, walking around her.

"This, this is knowing what's good for you."

Ruan Mei stared at the remains of the flower in her hand, barely registering the leaving footsteps.

Barely touching the remains with a finger that it crumbled into dust.

Unlike (Y/N)'s ideology, death was part of life.

From the first breath of a baby, the fight for survival, to last beat of an old heart, death was the reason life existed.
It was why life had a meaning as eternity without an end would lead to nothing.

And so a woman interested in all that is living found more then mere fascination with the omen of the end she worked with.

She closed her hand around the dust, cradling the hand that held it as if it was the most precious gift she had ever gotten.

-----------------------------------------------

"Ah... Coffee... My life line." (Y/N) muttered before almost chugging her cup, steaming up her glasses for a moment.

Dammit, why is nothing ever going her way? There is so much left to test but still, defeat after defeat is annoying.

"Stop it Mei, you want to die?" Tho not a threat, it did sound like one.

Ruan Mei shook her wrist free with an elegant flick of it and a hum to accompany the action.

"Well you cannot believe this won't be interesting to test out."

"No need for testing, I know exactly how it works." Walking from her workbench of chemicals, (Y/N) lazily removed her gloves, dragging her fingers across one of the few wooden surfaces in this place before stopping in front of the rare plants and pinching the end of a leaf.

The wood lost its lusts and a crack formed while the green of the plant turned yellow before grey and that slow circle of decay spread until half of the leaf when (Y/N) had let it go.

"Like how you can create your little food life forms and download all data from living by a simple touch I have worked this out." Holding her hands up. "The specific gene code of death, there at my finger tips, living deep in my skin or grant death threw getting a body's own processes at my will." Toying with the gloves before putting them on once again, not wishing to corrode her work space anymore.

Much of death was in her hands and her wishes.

"Truly, Lady Death is a fitting name."

"Mmm then why might you be so careless to reach for me when coming up to me. You might wear your own gloves and I might have all these layers but many times it is not enough. I'd enjoy to not see my only intelligent and worth my time colleague here to not off herself before I figure out how to bring people back from death."

A little nod was the answer while answering nothing at the same time.

"You're going back to the IPC yes?" She asked instead leaving (Y/N) to scramble through her own thoughts for a moment to figure out what to say.

"Yes, to do the reports and filling out spreadsheets of their own commissioned research, unlike you Geniuses, I have no aeon backing me up."

"Hmm? Are you IPC not followers of Qlipoth?"

"Have you looked at me?" (Y/N) asked and Ruan Mei indeed had had a good long looked at her before, for a while now actually. "Intelligentsia criticizes me for trying to become a self annihilator to research the nothingness of death but that didn't work. Xianzhou doesn't willingly let me on the ships to study the Mara because of Yoshi being how I act with my whole act as death is a must, Borisin would mutilate me if I trued to study those, Qlipoth might pay my salary but aeons know 'glory to the amber lord' is just an indoctrinating saying and half the IPC doesn't believe in it either."

"So... You'd say, you'd be a completely new path?"

Looking at Ruan Mei, her face was ever placid but that smirk in her tone boded nothing well with her life goal of either creating or becoming an aeon herself.

"Aeon of Death, sounds neither good nor possible, highly improbably." (Y/N) shook her head. "Nihility would consume the path as it would be too similar and it is stronger so I'll stay a human for now as long as I haven't figured out a way back from death."

"Well we'll see about that in the future then." Ruan Mei watched her grab a little travel sized bag and walk away.

"Sure, see you Mei, don't let those other two deteriorate your brain while I am gone." (Y/N) threw out.

Walking to the door and lifting her key card to the scanner.

"Hmm?" Lifting a finger to scratch at the infrared scanner part of it, hearing and seeing something hit the ground.

Bending down while ignoring the burning stare on her back, she had already said goodbye so no need to deal with it more.

Picking up the little thing as she stood.

A now broken little thumb nail sized camera.

-------------------------------------------------------

(Y/N) raised a brow, distracted from her Guild colleague talking to her, that's a weird sight.

More or less ignoring the rest of what the guy tried to tell her, walking around him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh hello?" Ruan Mei said. "Herta wanted something from the Guild and I used it as excuse to get away from the project." She said, knowing the true reason but why would (Y/N) need to know? What she doesn't know can't hurt her. "I've been looking for the labs, she said she left what chemicals she ordered there last time she came here."

"Hmm." It wasn't that long since she last saw the Genius, three days was it? But out of everyone, (Y/N) preferred her presence to other living beings. "Well since I am familiar with you, I'll show you the way."

"Oh thank you." Producing a little box from who knows where. "Here, Last time I realized you didn't come to the cafeteria and so didn't get some."

"What's that?" Grabbing the tissue wrapping of it and undoing it to reveal the box itself.

"My, you should know by now. Most of the scientist on the space station are eager for my visits to the space station because of my cooking, nothing more and nothing less. And don't come at me that this is special treatment." Well it was but again, (Y/N) didn't need to know that. "You might be of the Guild but you are not the one to take care of that body of yours, even others realize just how many meals you skip for research. With the thought I might run into you here I decided to at least make this trip worth it in some way."

"If you say so... Come on, I am not about to share pastries with someone that could come here, follow me."

"Gladly."

In the lab, Ruan Mei just picked up a random tho familiar set of vials, having seen many of them, making it seem she was here because of these.

"Well, hurry up here, Herta misses you." She said, looking pointedly at the deadly scientist, a hand up on the door's frame. As if Herta would miss her but Ruan Mei needs to play her cards slowly to not scare the skittish subject away.

"Yeah yeah, I just might, the space station is a lot more lonely then the IPC lucky me." (Y/N) answered, having opened the pastries and casually eating them without offering to share but Ruan Mei didn't care, all she did care for was how the often frowning lady seemed delighted by the coffee taste of the little bite sized sponge cakes. Seems the data collected was correct indeed.

Now she just needs to figure out the rest.

(Y/N) let her walk away careless to even wave once, turning to her work, wanting to be done with it soon to get out of this loud place and back on that stupid project.

But even with for once something in her tummy to not be distracted hours later by hunger, nothing seemed to advance forwards.

It even ended with her throwing a tantrum almost, halting her hand before she threw the empty container that had held the pastries earlier.

Rubbing her gloved hand over it covers decorated by a flower engraving, quite pretty.

"Oh dammit." Setting it down gently, gentler then she would usually, breaking her colleague's-- F-friends maybe? Yeah, let's say that-- stuff didn't sit well with her.

In the end... Everyone needs a friend no matter what they tell themselves and (Y/N) might not mind that being Ruan Mei.

After the afternoon's failure she decided to leave the lab only to stutter in her steps just as she passed the door, taking two steps back and reaching for the door frame.

"What the fuck?" Scrapping a familiar little camera off the frame of it, almost blending in if it was not for the unlucky blinking of red light as she passed by.

Gritting her teeth, what the fuck? Does the IPC not trust her anymore?! And so some poor guy was going to be screamed at for a long while that evening.

Ruan Mei sighed, what a waste.

"Worry not... I have better hidden ones." She told herself but it truly was a waste. The other angles she had in the labs would not be able to see (Y/N)'s face.

She is just so adorable when she is focused on cutting open her subjects.

And her anger is so interesting, so exotic with all the curses she can come up with.

Oh or her disappointment, riveting. 

Honestly, anything the scientist of death did was mesmerizing to the Genius on life.

First it might have been simple curiosity but now? Oh oh ooooooh! Oh now it was something else.

"Such a lowly specimen." In Ruan Mei's eyes there had never been someone as interesting and Aeons damn her if she was willing to share such a person.

While (Y/N) believed herself master of death, to Ruan Mei it was the epitome of life in front of her eyes as a body lacking of death is nothing but pure life, such a sight.
And such a sight kept her amazed for a long time and will for much longer still.

Anyhow... Who was that man that had annoyed her when Ruan Mei arrived? That can't do, no one can annoy her, it is wasting (Y/N) precious time... She'll try to get him transferred so he can stop bothering her. Unlike (Y/N) she prefers to get things done without spilling blood or spreading death if possible and more often then not, it is very possible to avoid that.
Tho she doubted that he will enjoy the desert planet of Arakis that much. (sudden A/N, yes that's a reference, moving on.)

"Worry not, he won't bother you about your work ever again."

---------------------------------------------------

(Y/N) had expected that being back at the station would be a calmer time but no.

Ruan Mei was just quietly watching her actually flip a table on its side.

"Got it out of your system dear?" She asked, dear having become a nickname neither of them even blinked at.

"Is it Mei?" (Y/N) snapped back as she grabbed her glasses from Ruan Mei's hands and put it on with a heavy sigh.

Ruan Mei could understand it, reviewing the footage of the antimatter legion's attack on the space station did reveal that the stelleron hunters had not only got the stelleron the puppet had around but also that that stelleron more of less revived a dead vessel.

(Y/N) was more of less just a strand away from blasting the station into the nearest sun out of frustration because the trailblazer had up and fucked off with the Astral Express and she couldn't go along to study them because of this project and the IPC.

Not even flinching at the touch through her hoodie, deciding it was thick enough to not be a danger to the other woman who, despite having known troubles expressing emotions out loud or even smiling just a little still knew a thing or two. Rubbing her arm through the clothes before giving a soft squeeze.

"I know it can be frustrating, unlike you, I took much longer to get to the point I currently am in my research. Only having been interested in it because of a creature I saw little while you had many factors to make you progress faster. Should I get angry that you know much more about life then me to know so much about death?"

"What? No." Finding the question ridiculous.

"Then don't let that trailblazer affect you so much, they don't know stuff either and you'll have time to see them again since they agreed to come back and help run simulations in the universe we created, you'll get your test subject then."

"Hmm... Would the puppet realized if I made the simulated Nanook kill them to see what would happen?"

"I don't believe so, Nanook would probably do so since we are running a fake Akivili."

"Then I'll do that, make the enemies even more lethal, make their distortion level higher and taking out option for those so I can have my data."

"Mhm, let's do that." Finally taking her hand off, both woman missing it already in their own ways. "I'll leave you to you files, I have to meet up with Screwlum to discuss something."

"Sure, bye Mei."

"See you later dear."

Touching her arm when Ruan Mei was gone... It had been long since she felt... Alive, let's say it.

Being a vessel for death through the gene tempering. Being a bringer of death through knowing how, with a series of specific touches, that she could induce brain death in a person. It was rare she felt anything else but the pessimism of death and repeated failures.

It felt that, somehow, she wasn't failing at being a friend, no matter how shitty, to Ruan Mei.

Walking around, deciding to clean up and put everything upright, this is her lab on the space station after all, no one will clean it for her.

Standing the table up, picking up the intact vials, moping the spilled liquids, sweeping up the glass, ordering the files and folders.

Dusting her hands off, it took over an hours to do this, she really needs a break.

Walking to the door and, once again with a frustrating familiarity, she was face to face with something.

Reaching up, the little peep hole in the door had been removed, letting someone from the outside look in. It made her shiver, not unsettling at all.

Backing up before grabbing the utility putty from a drawer and breaking off a piece and molding it in her hands for a moment until it is soft enough to plug the hole, leaving it there to solidify.

This was getting more and more weird.

------------------------------------------------------

(Y/N) was going mad.

She's going mad.

That's it.

She lost it.

She used two whole tubes of the putty, yes she did.

Why?

She kept finding more and more holes, more then sure she was being watched but never able to catch whoever was making these holes and when they were watching her.

And still finding cameras too.

Finding a hole in her bedroom door, a camera on the underside of a light, a hole in the supply closet door, a camera on the coat hanger, a hole straight through the ground, through the wall, a camera on the distributor, in her bedroom closet's inside.

She was turning into a paranoid mess as she couldn't figure out this stalker.

What she did figure out was just how very they were, cameras not in the bathroom nor holes, as if privacy even mattered when they were staring at her more of the rest of the time. A skewed sense of privacy.

Tapping the syringe on the palm of her other hand, trying to ignore the feeling of eyes on her back as she blew the bubbles out from the clear liquid.
Hands shaking a bit but steady enough to inject the concoction, adding a good few more years to her life. She could not yet stop aging nor death but she could push it back with this, a thing which had its recipe in her mind only so no one could recreate it.

Requiring this at least once every 3 months to be sure time doesn't catch up with here, not even one second, that's one second she can't afford to lose.

Flexing her hand into a fist and biting her tongue silently as she pulled the needle out, feeling the burning of the liquid spread out from the initial spot, it always left her arm numbs and sore but the pain was worth it.

But she could barely think of that.

Throwing down the syringe she was holding suddenly, snapping her eyes around, gaze soon honing onto the new hole that now existed instead of the screw that was supposed to hold the door handle in place.

Running over and throwing the door open but like many times, there is no one there when she could swear she felt eyes on her back moments earlier.

Slamming the door and leaning against it as she grabbed her head in her hands, knocking the glasses up on her face uncomfortably but she didn't care about that... She is losing her mind.

"Are you alright?" Ruan Mei had ended up asking at lunch, almost sensing the tension rise off the other scientist across from her in waves. Observing her as she glared diabolically into her bowl of steaming noodles.
Ruan Mei was about to test if such that glare was what kept the noodles heated but that thought escaped her at the defeated sigh.

"Mei..." She grumbled, rubbing her brow. "There is something up with my lab? I guess?"

"Oh? Do tell if I can help."

"I don't know... Someone keeps making holes and placing cameras around it. I don't get why I don't hear or notice when it is happening but there is this person... I haven't been able to find out who, but they have been stalking me for some reason... It is grating my nerves into a fine dust."

"Have you talked to others about this before today?"

"Like hell I did, who'd believe the service asshole?" She sighed again. "I am going truly mad here Mei, Paranoia will kill me before I understand death at this rate."

"That's... Not good..." She frowned a little, seeming to decide on something. "Dear, what do you think about me moving my research over? We are in similar enough fields and that would mean you are not alone in that lab. So even if they choose to act, you won't be alone."

(Y/N) looked at her, first instinct was to refuse but the look on Ruan Mei's face was a bit odd. As if she was refusing her complaint about the idea but in a way begging for her to accept. There was something there that made her feel really odd but she decided to ignore it.

"Hmm... Fine... But if they ever bother you too or you find out who they are, you tell me and I'll take care of this once and for all."

The barest of smiles.

"Of course."

------------------------------------------------------------

And it was that day they started working in the same lab.

It was a bit rough at the start, Ruan Mei being neat and organized and (Y/N) nothing but the complete opposite.

Soon enough tho, both getting used to this arrangement and, (Y/N) might not say it, but when her red eyes drifted to the blue eyed on, she was happy with her there.

It made loneliness feel calm when before it was just empty.

And this did keep the stalker away luckily, making (Y/N) relax a bit.

Tho...

A new kind of awkwardness that took over the lab.

At first it was a few questions.

Then it was helping out.

But now?

Now (Y/N) felt like everything was Ruan Mei.

She wanted her files? Ruan Mei handed them over.

She wanted to experiment? Ruan Mei had already set up.

She misplaced her glassed? Ruan Mei has already found where they were.

She wanted to order lunch from the cafeteria to eat in the lab? Ruan Mei had already called.

She was like glued to her side now, one of her hands always somewhere no matter how many times (Y/N) warned her to stop playing with her life and death.

Even currently, despite looking over a piece of a trampler's dead body to try to revive the cells in it. Even now, Ruan Mei was stuck to her side almost, offering (Y/N) her ideas on what to do with the corpse piece.
(Y/N) could barely concentrate on her words, that wandering hand that was previously on her upper back and now down on her hips just begging to be lowe--STOP!

With a clear of her throat, the hand stilled as if realizing it's own doings, full on palming her colleagues ass, coming up but resting on her side didn't make it better.
(Y/N) feeling like the hoodie wouldn't keep the Genius safe for long because it felt like it wasn't even there, it was just so obvious she was touching her, she could almost feel every little touch and brush against her skin... Might be because it has been so long since another human touched her, even through clothes, in such a way? Probably... Stop overthinking dammit! You are just friends! Nothing more!... You'll never be anything more to her.

Tho she is just so, aeons be damned, close to her. Just an accidental brush and she's gone. She can barely wrap her head around that, it feel so foreign suddenly... That a single touch could kill Ruan Mei... Take her away... Even if just by accident... Just a touch too long... The rot... The decay of skin... The...

"/N)?... (Y/N)?" Blinking, nudging the falling glasses up and looking away. Fuck had she been staring? And why does Ruan Mei look so pleased? This is confusing. Her thoughts, feelings and this situation as a whole.

"Sorry, distracted." She simply said, thinking.

This was really starting to feel odd.

It felt like she was hiding something, waiting for something.

How she was looking at her.

The intensity of it.

...

It felt like she was being watched.

And not the 'looking at her because most humans see' kind of watching... Observing, calculating, examining, being dissected piece by piece.

...

As if observed through a little hole in the wall.

That too...

She is from the Guild, matching the Geniuses in knowledge.

She couldn't help but draw conclusions between Ruan Mei and the lack of new holes and cameras around the lab since she moved in.

She had no idea how they correlated but her gut told her something was there.

Tensing up when her shoulders were both squeezed.

"I'm fine, just a bit tired." She said before a question could come, her mind already frazzled as it is, not needing to add to it.

"Maybe we should stop for today then." Ruan Mei squeezed again, that odd twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah, sure." Stepping away, just... To close.
Overwhelmed by this, never having been so close to people and yet here she was, with a friend, constantly close enough to almost be on her most of the times and with these thoughts.

------------------------------------------------------------

(I will remind readers, EXTREMELY MILD lime here, like barely anything, to be sure I fully respect the request so don't complain if you want more, request. If you are the one that requested this story please tell me if you want more explicit or even less after reading it, I will alter to your wishes.)

Laying in her bed.

Staring at the ceiling, system hours showing passed midnight but she couldn't get any shut eye.

Only having one some blue sweat pants and an old grey t-shirt didn't help, just reminding her of this being little to no protection for another person if they were to touch her and then it lead to thinking of the overly touchy scientist.

Hell, the puppet realized it, having asked if there was something between them and she was not the one to pay attention to things... So just how many people suspected something was up between her and Ruan Mei?

Aeons it almost made her head spin.

Being at a loss when it came with the living, she had a hard time getting any thoughts in order when it came to this situation.

Just how weird it was.

Sighing loudly, unable to sleep, needing answers to the nagging questions of her mind.

Sitting and throwing her legs over the side, snatching her gloves up by habit but leaving her glasses behind, her vision is not that bad plus she won't need to look at really small details here that's for sure.

Tho she didn't expect anything good to come from this as she put on her boots and left her room like that, knowing the halls would be empty at this time and not caring if she was spotted.

The walk through the halls was much too long, leaving (Y/N) time to think about this.

What even would she say? Would she get a straight answer? Would that be good enough? Was there even a reason? What was that reason? Why? Since when? For what purpose?

So many questions on invested in the end shouldn't have to ask.

And just the idea of Ruan Mei being confused and hurt by her accusations, if unfounded... It left her bitter... But she needed to ask, she needed to be sure.

All the way to that door, her mind fused around, halting on one question, if she really doing this so late?

Yeah, it too her walking up to that door in another wing of the space station to think about that.

Standing there awkwardly, hand lifted to her chest, hesitant.

"This is so stupid." Muttering that in her thoughts it was such an odd thing she was doing.

But almost as if the occupant of the room knew of her odd choice, the door knob giggled as it opened... Honestly it did not help with her suspicions.

"Ah." (Y/N) said out loud but Ruan Mei didn't seemed surprised at all, almost expecting her even. "Mei..."

"Well hello dear. Anything you wanted?"

"I..." Clearing her throat, not knowing how to approach this.

"Maybe come in, the halls can get cold at this time." Ruan Mei offered first.

A bit awkwardly, she agreed. 

"You were working?" (Y/N) asked, needing to fill the silence that weighed on her shoulders, playing with a strand of her own hair.

Unlike her, her friend was not in night clothes, the desk that came with each room covered in documents and data sheets with three different lights aimed at them to chase any shadows away. Plus the bed was undisturbed too.

Walking over, scanning her eyes over the data sheet, from this distance she could still see somewhat, she can't see close nor too far and there was a blurriness for the rest but from what she could make out it was... Odd.

"Yes, a side project you might say since now we need that girl to run through the simulation to get new data."

"Hmm..." Ignoring the locking door noise, not thinking much of it when it was the one thing that she should have maybe considered at this moment. "Can I?"

"Have a look if you wish." Ruan Mei waved a go ahead with that new and odd smile she wore for a while now.

"Almost reminds me of my own research." Only recognize what this was about so quickly despite messy vision was because of how well the data lined up to something familiar... Scarily familiar.

That's when she frozen over, the previous thoughts back and she put her gloved hand on the paper surface, tracing a finger over a familiar line of text.

"Mei..." She muttered, looking over her shoulder. "Just what are you doing here?" Eyes darting around, squinting as if that helped. She was far from it but this was a crude version of... Of what she made to stave off death.

Very crude, less then a 5% match but the few matching components in it would leave no doubt along with the 'ingredients to try' list matching one to one what needed to be used even to the most complicated. A lot of mistakes since she didn't have the composition and if mixed incorrectly, in the wrong order or at the wrong time it would create wrong compound.

But none of them were a mistake.

Having been hunched slightly over the table before pulling herself straight, hands on the surface and gently drumming her fingers.

"Well there is still so much to research about life, a mortal's life is too short for that. Maybe extending it a little would reveal answers that have been eluding me." Her voice came from much closer but (Y/N)'s eyes didn't leave the papers.

There was no reason for anyone to be even 5% close to anything from the formula, she never wrote it down, never shared it, never shown it, never truly acknowledged it... Except.

...

Muttering the components' names under her breath when preparing it like the bad habit she knew it was.

There... It is only one reason these could be here.

Picking up a stack of papers but causing something hidden in them that was shorter to split out.

"Mei..." A slight shake slipped through, few were the things that could shake the scientist tasked with death but seeing picture of her that she was unaware of spill out of a stack of paper was one of them.

"Oh dear, such a mess." Ruan Mei didn't sound bothered, maybe by the fact they spilled all around and not about them being discovered.

The questions she came for answering themselves right in front of her eyes before she could spill them out.

Dropping the stack haphazardly and plucking a picture up from the ground, staring at it as she stood again.

That angle and the darkness around the edges... The missing peep hole.

She was almost scared of that before an instinctual fear for killing her friend came over her when she felt hands on her hips before the other came back.

"Why?" Muttering, picture being plucked from her hands and held up in front of them, feeling a chin rest on her shoulder as the owner of it stared at the picture too.

"Don't misinterpret my actions dear." Controlled as always, Ruan Mei spoke. "You've greatly interested me for a long time but how could I disturb you? Pull you away from your research? Ask you to do useless things? No, I could be so thoughtless like the others around."

"This is insane." Not shoving her away because she was just too close to risk accidental skin to skin contact and despite it all, despite the creepiness of such answers... It still felt more bearable then if her stalker had been some person with no tie to her. "... Incense." She realized, knowing calming down this fast from such a realization was abnormal.

Ruan Mei, master upon life, could of course influence it in her own ways like she does death.

"Insane? I'd call it deep admiration. And as for the incense, close but not quite, while you can bring on death with selective touching to a human body I'd assume you'd realize there is much more to life then living. I just stopped you from freaking out."

"Good on you because this is freaky." Trying to ignore the hand tracing a circle on her stomach, hoping Ruan Mei gloves and her T-shirt would be enough for no consequences, while the other threw the picture it held away. Looking over her shoulder with a mild glare but Ruan Mei didn't seem to mind, even want the attention being on her. "If I was any less then myself I would have turned you into dust for not only stalking me but also stealing my work, work no one is meant to know about. And stop with these hands." Grabbing her wrists.

It was hard to think with her so close, (Y/N) disused to human contact. Her hands quickly shaken off, more of less frozen in shock, not really knowing what's happening here. A wandering hand upwards and the other dipping lower and still as frozen as death itself.

"How cold of you." (Y/N) bent her head to the side before Ruan Mei accidentally touched it with her own as she shook her head. "As I told you. I admire you, your mind and thoughts. A goal far beyond anyone you still strive for. A race with no one to compete with you but time. It would strike awe in the heart of those that would truly understand but they don't. They don't understand, they can't understand because many don't understand their own life. But I do, like no one else."

"And I thought you were creepy before, you are fucking terrifying Mei yo--HEY." Heck, for the first time in a long while, feeling a blush color her face, In embarrassment and well... When that one hand grabbed at her breast through her T-shirt. By reflex bending an arm up to grab her wrist to stop her... But not pulling it away. "Qlipoth be damned." She muttered, a little part of her hating she didn't mind this. "You didn't need to freaking put cameras and holes in my lab, you didn't need that excuse you creep."

"Oh but without it I wouldn't have known your favorite drink." A full on teenager girl-like yelp left (Y/N) not expecting the other hand that had been on her thigh to snake back up and press up between her legs through her clothes, this much enough for a shiver to run through her and grab at that wrist too while the one on her chest gave a squeeze. "Your work habits or even your little odd hobby phone game when no one it watching. I know you more then others could because neither can life nor death exist without the other."

Caught like a deer in headlights, she hadn't even realized Ruan Mei herself had moved her hand below, sensing that that was maybe a bit too far. Despite she too still wearing her gloves, its felt like her skin was pressed right into the static of a TV screen that left her fingers numb when she felt up (Y/N) arm until she grabbed her chin and fully turned her face to her.

Aeons, she is so adorable with, like a lost kitten.

Hooking a finger in the coll of (Y/N) shirt which she pulled up over her nose to be able to kiss her, feeling the same numbing static feeling but indeed, such a thin T-shirt was still enough to let her do this for a moment, pulling away before the numbness could start to hurt because she hypothesized that they would be the start of her cells dying and she didn't want to feel like she had a sunburn on her lips and she believed no one would.

Ah, such a cute expression of surprise.

Oh well, she'll play with her a bit later, first she gotta get her used to this.

And so with a final little squeeze on before her chin and chest, Ruan Mei nicely decided to set her dear free for the moment.

"And I didn't get this data to copy you." She grabbed the sheet that had started this whole conversation, leaning against the desk and scanning it over, her voice snapping (Y/N) out of her thoughts and making her go even redder... Oh? Maybe she shouldn't have stopped so soon but well a researcher needs to be patient to get their wanted results. "My only goal is not to imitate you as I research life but to be able to make you feel alive." Giving an uncharacteristic wink but it got the message across, 'I want you in my bed pronto', quite a bold thing said with such few words and a small gesture.

"I... Creepy, you are not helping your case." (Y/N) said after a moment of gathering her mind.

"But do you hate me for it?" The look, the frown, the scoff, all told Ruan Mei what she wanted, lifting the paper to cover her wide smile. "That's what I thought. After all research is about observing for the most optimal out come, so I would say it was useful."

"Dear Qlipoth." (Y/N) passed her hand through her hair, taking a step back when Ruan Mei pushed off the desk and discarded the paper. "Just... Destroy the data or we'll be at odds."

"Ah, considered it done dear."

"I... We'll... We'll talk later." (Y/N) looking or a quick way out and Ruan Mei wave to go ahead was her escape.

Sadly for her, a limb but still firm grip on her wrist stopped her.

Spun around and jaw grabbed from below a bit harsher then before.

"Don't forget." Grabbing (Y/N)'s gloved hand and with an almost practiced move, pulled it off. "All I did is for you and will be for you dear." Lifting the glove up to kiss her through it, hmmm... Thicker fabric, she should get the composition so she can avoid the numbing static even if that feeling is better then outright cell death.

A little chuckle, once again leaving the other woman in a state of mild shock.

"Now run off, before I make you stay the night with me." A playful threat that got herself a hasty wave and march out of the room.

She picked up the forgotten-in-a-hurry glove from the ground, holding it in one hand and stroking it with the other, a gentle smile.

Ah... How she wished she did more, there were so many parts of her body covered in clothes, so much to touch... But oh well, she is considerate and would never force it on her dear, that would be bad. Observing her can be explained away since she was telling the truth, it was just to get to know her and not interrupt her work but forcing this on her? It would make Ruan Mei a lowly monster and she is not lowly nor a monster.

She is a scientist slowly coaxing things along with a goal in mind.

"Worry not dear, all will be fine." She hummed softly to herself.

(Y/N)'s mind was more messed up then it first was with all the contradictions fusing through it.

This woman was truly crazy.

Her steps did slow after a while, her mind plagued with the memories of the wandering hands.

Reaching up to cup her chin as she stopped, pointer finger touching her lips.

And well... A devilish grin cracked across her face.

"Admiration ay?" She muttered to herself, looking over her shoulder and down at the empty hall with that grin etched into her face still. "Ooooh, I'll give you things to observe Mei, I promise you that."

And so.

It seemed one might be just as deranged as the other one.

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Tell me requester is anything really doesn't fit and bothers you soo much you want a change to it :3.

And this.

Almost 1/9 of words in the fic are that even if most of it is the block of text.

A/N 756 now after the reread lol.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/HyyfVySt4Jc

Running around.

Jumping over obstacles.

Squashing the enemies!

Glitching through short cuts!!

Speeding through the boss!!!

Attai--click.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" The shriek of despair from Silver Wolf echoed through the stelleron hunter's headquarters which was just some old rented apartment on a random planet with no significance.

Kafka only chuckled a bit while the others, Firefly and Blade, hadn't had much of a reaction since this was nothing new.

"Why you stupid thing!! I will delete you of the face of the web!!" The short girl yelled at the turned off TV, gripping the sides of it and shaking it. She had it, she freaking had it, the galaxy record in speedrunning this game and the electricity was cut off right before she had attained it.

A crackling of electricity booting up came from being her as the projector devise put on her desk turned on, projecting the hologram of the culprit for the current despair.

It was a somewhat boring looking woman, dressed in a pure black tailored suit with no color to it, the black the same as the black of her eyes and midback length hair, eyes being while, looking like some black and white sketch on paper.
The hologram having static go through it a bit and lines here and they like on some old, antic even, things called VHS tapes? Silver Wolf had some since they are tech and she is the tech loving one here.

The woman's hologram sitting on the desk with her legs crossed and leaning back on her arms as if that was needed.

"I will use aether editing and tear your limbs off!" A distraught Silver Wolf promised.

"Did I not warn you that I would do it Wolfie?" The voice voice sounded a bit distant, an echo-y undertone and some glitchery to it, like and old program that was not meant to run on modern computers. "Don't cheat to get the record next time and do it legit" She said.

"Virus I will have your head!"

The virus named woman laughed, getting of the desk and standing, the devise turning off as the TV buzzed alive and the woman was in it, leaning on the inner edge of the TV screen as if it was a window sill.

"And who would be able to go around the IPC's back to get your accounts back if I am gone?" She asked with a smug grin.

Virus, before having that name, had had quite an uncommon life for a computer program.

Yes you heard it right, computer program.

It had started many amber eras ago, the good old Nous wanting answers to his questions, his calculations, his being.

He was not as all knowing yet as he is today, still a young aeon. Wanting to understand how he came to be.

And so, through running many lines of thought, of code, through his artificial mind, searching for an answer, with the help of the geniuses of the epoch, he came up with... This.

The most basic of all AI at that time, baffling even the geniuses why this was considered THE solution.

An AI with no autonomy and just used to files away.

But what no one but the aeon knew was that this was actually the start of the experiment and not the end of it.

The AI, tho rudimentary, was of great help in space travel and connectivity, evolving into a web of knowledge and uses.

From the automated cleaning robots to the magnificent sorting systems of Pancony and the credit system of transfers of the IPC, all had a piece of this AI managing it all.

But such AI, fed with all knowledge in its mainframe, all the labor at its finger types, all this additional code, was looked over by the aeon, evolving perfectly within his predicted outcome.

And so.

One day.

"Why?" Had come the question, the spark of a self, the spark he had long cultivated long ago, leaving the AI to the universe but having this version of it right where he wanted it, enclosed, observed but fed to same data.

Everything was the exact same, but he had let the spark be born in this copy of it while the other would stay forever a tool.

And the AI had never gotten an answer.

Nous, having his answer, had turned to new questions and left the AI to it's own devices.

This newly sentient mind, tho knowing all, the first thing it learned was loneliness. 

Able to travel through the network that shared all with it outside of its mind, able to see so much and no firewall touching it, just like a virus in the system.

It was a long time later that a certain Elio, destinies slave, had somehow had knowledge of this all powerful being of 1s and 0s alone in the universe with people knowing about it having control over it and people that didn't having no idea it existed.

"If you help me bring forth the best outcome for the universe, I'll make sure your deepest wishes come true."

It hadn't been hard to convince such a being of knowledge.

Then followed Kafka, and after Firefly, yet there was Blade and, not that long ago in its lifespan, Silver Wolf.

Out of all of them, this AI had most impressed their newest and youngest member, not a surprise really with where she came from.

But currently, Virus was the bane of Silver Wolf's existence.

She had only cheated for a little part of the game, a really small one, but the AI had eyes everywhere in the cosmos where the network existed and she wasn't that fan of disloyal competition... Mostly when it came from Silver Wolf since it would leave the other players no chance in ever winning.

"I will upload you into a coffee machine and throw you into a black hole!" Silver Wolf said, shaking the TV again, the woman on screen stumbling as if she was really being shaken, the laughing she let out making the figure of her glitch out a bit more but she turned the TV back off. "Come back here and fight me!"

"You can't fight an AI Wolfie." Virus said appearing way smaller on the computer screen that was always turned on in this room, the size of those chibi emotes some streamers still use in this day and age.

Silver Wolf jumped at the computer, grasping the mouse and pushing the cursor over quickly, double clicking the AI and clicking delete.

"Now that's just mean." The AI popped her head out of the garbage bin icon and jumped out when the cursor selected her again and held her in the middle of the screen. "You know you are only doing this because I am letting you right? I could delete all your shit if I wanted it."

The cursor hit her a few time against the side of the screen before putting her in a sorting folder.

"It is your own damned fault that I turned the TV off." The AI popped up as a projection again only to get several objected thrown through her.

"I hate you!"

"Don't cheat and I won't do it, I know you are good enough to get the record without cheats." Virus said even as she was the victim of attempted assault by pillow before the projector was smacked and fell, breaking and causing her to appear on the screen of the computer again, watching the damage to the object.

---------------------------------------

"Come on Wolfie, don't do this." Virus said, looking at her through the display on the fridge but Silver Wolf was giving her the silent treatment.

She couldn't understand why this time she was so angry at her but she didn't like it.

Watching her go with a frown, knowing she couldn't follow her in her room as Silver Wolf had used her aether editing to close out all networks from it and well, she is a network based lift form.

Thinking a bit as she appeared on the TV to look down the hall towards the closed door with a silent hmm as she thought.

Maybe she shouldn't have done that... It was really a small cheat, just a quality of life thing... But how will she get her to speak with her again?

Virus needs to find a reason to not be kicked out right away if she goes to talk to her... Hmmm... Oh she has an idea!

---------------------------------------

"Hmm? I didn't order new jackets... Bladie?" Kafka asked, looking at the odd box delivered not long ago with wonder.

"No." The man of few words said and she couldn't ask Firefly, her being out on a mission... And Elio? He wasn't the type to need anything really.

Suddenly their rumba turned without any input and scooted its way in front of Kafka before the TV buzzed on and Virus waved from it with a smile.

"Was it you?" She asked the TV, despite there being no microphones anywhere, knowing she'd be heard anyway by the AI.

"Yep... I think I really pissed of Wolfie this time, she hasn't turned on any network since I turned off her game yesterday, I thought maybe this would get me on her good side again." She rubbed the back of her head.

"You know how much she loves her games." Kafka scolded with a chuckle.

"I know but she shouldn't cheat. If she does it leaves no chance for others." Virus explained before pointing towards the rumba. "Do put that package on Stabby please since I don't really have a body to take it from you with."

Kafka shook her head, was this AI really on par with Nous and older then all? Because she behaves like a troublemaker most of the time.

"You and your stupid nicknames." There was a reason why Bladie was the designated cook and they didn't have a kitchen robot rented even when it was free with the apartment, at max only having a rumba... because last time they had any robots that had manipulator appendages Virus made an army of rumbas with knives tied to them cause havoc. 

"Stabby is a good name." Virus said with her arms crossed before the TV turned off and the little robot, once the package was put on its back, turned away and slowly buzzed away, making its way across the halls towards a specific room.

Yeah, she didn't have a body. Virus wanted nothing more then to be free from this digital prison and experience the true world, the world her friends and all lived in while she was stuck in this artificial one and so when someone strong enough to become the enemy of planet Scrullum came along, hacking aether easily, it seemed closer then ever.

She was disappointed at that time that this proved to actually be more complicated then she thought at the time but she made peace with it, it didn't stop her from getting close with the girl.

Hell, even her current body, the avatar she is using, is the protagonist model of a murder mystery thriller game Silver Wolf played because talking to a void without a face was unsettling to for her.

The rumba beeped a few times at the door but when it didn't open it rammed itself in it in a sort of knock.

"What?" The still grumpy girl opened it, seeing no in before finally looking down, seeing the rumba make its way into her room like it owned the place. "Yeah sure, make yourself at home."

The little cleaning bot beeped a few times, not having any speakers on it to communicate since Silver Wolf had network proofed her room.

It span on itself a few times quickly before making its way to the bed and rolling under it, causing the package to be pushed off its back, turning around pushing it instead to Silver Wolf's feet, the girl having watched the whole display without a word.

"Couldn't have Kafka brought it?" She asked, still mad at the AI... Well not really but she felt stupid now for reaction like she did and so it was easier to be angry.

A few... Displeased?... Beeps came as it turned left and right in what would be a head-shake for a human.

Silver Wolf sighed as she dropped the package on the desk and ripped the tape off to open it.

"Really?" She gave an incredulous look at the first thin she saw, a printed paper with the avatar Virus used for her body in a draw me like one of your french girls pose with a comically large sign cartoon characters would hold with I'm sorry <:3 on it.

The rumba just beeped a few times as Silver Wolf sighed and crumbled the paper, throwing it over her shoulder and digging through the packing peanuts... Hmmm? Pulling out... A headset?

She hadn't ordered it... She was cut off Kafka's funds ever since she brought an overly expensive set of computers she broke in the first week of having them so she didn't have the cash currently to buy anything. She had wanted the newest model sure but she had needed to wait... Until now it seemed

A few beep bops made her look over.

"You--" The little rumba started spinning fast on itself but something made a snapping sound.

One of the wheel's tracks had snapped and so it was not turning, making it stupidly run into the beds leg with a schtunk-like sound.

Silver Wolf put the headset down quickly, going over to pick up the rumba, knowing it couldn't feel pain but still reacting like it could.

"You really are an idiot." She sighed, rolling her eyes as it beeped on.

Carrying it back to the table and putting it on it upside down, with a few clicks the cover of it gone to reveal the innards and seeing the snapped chain, having been so rusty that is couldn't take it.

"Jeez Virus, let me fix this thing before you make it break down." She scolded as she held up the rusty chain. "And thanks... I guess..." She grumbled out.

The rumba rolling its wheels happily.

Silver Wolf sighed but still going on to fix it... Hmmm, maybe she should change out the motor for a stronger one... And maybe put in sturdier tracks.... She could also add an LED screen... And--

-----------------------------------------------

Kafka thought she saw everything, with what her job entailed, she thought she couldn't be surprised but here she was, trying to make sense of the scene.

Silver Wolf playing on her phone, really focused on the match she was having, rolling into the room seated on top of the rumba who wheeled her to the fridge who opened itself and dumped some snacks in her lap and then rolled back out and out of view.

Kafka looked up at the surveillance cameras with a lifted brow, hands on her hips, knowing the AI could see her but doubting she'd get an answer.

That was before sighing with a chuckle.

"Oh those two idiots." She muttered to herself as the sound of a closing door was heard.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/HyyfVySt4Jc

"This is so boring." Silver Wolf complained.

She had been sent on a mission with Firefly in her SAM to set some seas ablaze... More like the town square of a planet while she'd get a data shard Elio said was needed for the next steps of the mission.

"Can't you at least turn the lights on?" She asked no one, moving through the building with the power cut off, using her holographic aether displays to illuminate thing around her.

The earpiece she wore to talk with Firefly buzzed alive but another voice came through.

"You can ask it much nicer you know?" A camera turned to her as the eyes of a very specific AI woman that could worm her way through every firewall and protection created like the aeons be damned virus she was.

"Yeah yeah whatever, now will you turn the lights on before I make an anti-virus for your digital ass?"

"What crawled up your ass and died?" But the lights turned on, or at least the light was was walking under, the next turning on and the first turning off as she welt to make the amount of light given off minim and harder to detect even if Virus had control over most systems, she still shouldn't go mucking everything up as since she was set free in the universe the networks have been improving and she didn't fancy running into blockades on a mission or alerting those people trying to contain her.

Silver Wolf just huffed.

"Is is beca--" "It's because you refuse to tell me!"

"You really are a kid." A sigh. "Why would I ever leak game content to you? Haven't you been looking forwards to the new installment? Wouldn't it just mess it all up?"

"You don't understand." She said, sifting through thousands of digital files in this data library with a simple brush of her fingers, it had its perks being friends with an AI.

Many systems were off network or had their own network so Virus would need a proxi to move through them. That's how it had ended up with the tech girly being the one usually with some of her many mechanics with the AI hitching a ride in... That girl is a network in herself damn.

"Of course I do. It would spoil the fun." Virus' overly pixel-y face popped up on her open holo screen, such complex AI not really meant to be stored on such minimal software, not when it was made of pure aether and not 1s and 0s but it didn't hurt her.

"Nu-uh, it makes the hype way better because you know what is to come."

"I really don't get you hum--" She looked to the side for a moment, making Silver Wolf stop her data checks, watching the AI, waiting for her to tell her what was up. "You should hurry up, some unforeseen turn of event entered the scene."

"Elio made a mistake?"

"No but things not mentioned in the scripts can happen as long as the script goes through unimpeded."

The screen turned off with a small zap-like feeling as the AI jumped to fully be in the buildings network and not on the aether provided support.

"I left a tracker for the data and where it should be in your systems, I'll deal with the problem."

"Right... Be careful."

"When am I not?"

Information moves at the speed of light through networks, the connectivity being beyond people's wildest imaginations.

So barely had she left Silver Wolf's side that she was in the cameras of the town square.

Elio tended to not mentioned things he thought unimportant to the mission in his scripts and this seemed to be such a moment.

But such a moment was unfortunate.

A rocket launcher, yes a full on rocket, had come out of nowhere and impacted SAM in quite a bad spot, sending sparks out from the top back upper body area and seeming to cause trouble.

"I never liked Glamoth's networks, they always feel worn out." She thought but oh well.

Firefly only had the time to notice the damage to her armor that suddenly it felt like it was gone.

"And here I thought you would be fine without my help." Virus said, her voice crackling through the helmet, looking like a hologram standing in front of SAM but only Firefly would be able to see her.

"I'll assume you're doing this?" Firefly said as she turned to face the reinforcements, flames spewing out of SAM.

"Yeah, they touched a control module as I diverted pathways to keep it from inhibiting your movements and having the others pickup the slack but you need to finish this off fast... Glamoth tech isn't really compatible with me."

"On it!" In a lunge, she crossed the distance and with a single punch, shattered the weapon into pieces before sending the operator of it flying through a brick wall.

Virus sighed, letting Firefly do the burn and destroy part of this while she just kept up her part of this as she had explained.

Newer fight armors have inbuilt AI systems, not the Glamoth units, it relies purely on preprogramming and the pilot so if they were a break down there was no onboard system to try troubleshooting a way to keep working.

Firefly, the nice girl she is, had tried to offer up SAM when it was not in need, it would have let Virus actually inhabit a nice little body to use but SAM was giving the AI goosebumps and she didn't like it, as she said a good few times, she doesn't like tempering with Glamoth stuff.

"That's the last one." She said as Firefly sent the last flying through the air. "And I am detecting that the data has been found, the code just needs to be cracked." She said, through SAM's screen it looked like Virus was holding up some of thing she had called a floppy disk... Honestly even Virus didn't know what that was if it wasn't for Nous back then telling her it is the symbol of saving progress in a video game even in this amber era.

"Right, lets get out of here."

"Wouldn't have said it better. I'll jump back there to get it done but it will mean SAM will once again go to its usual programming."

"I can deal with it."

"Alright."

"Hello, I'm back... Aeons, Glamoth tech always feel like walking through honey covered cobwebs." Silver Wolf sighed at the familiar voice.

"Complain later, help me out now." She said since it would be done much faster if Virus did this herself.

"Wow I feel appreciated." The unimpressed face of the AI showed up on the aether screen but a few seconds later there was a second pop up screen with download completed on it.

"You'd be if you'd do your job."

"My job is NOT to get you leaks of games."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"It literally isn't my job Wolfie."

---------------------------------------------

She was so jealous of all these people.

As flaws as they all were and as  much as each worked for a different goal within the stelleron hunter's midst.

They were still living.

A digital life form like Virus was never truly alive in the same way they all were.

Using the upgraded rumba to trap itself in a discarded blanket and drag it over to the gamer that had once again fallen asleep playing her games. using the rumba to nudge the blanket against her back and on her as an armless legless little robot could.

Sure they bicker but she knew Silver Wolf cared for her more then she showed.

Kafka was always herself, treating her like any other member, Blade was his ever silent self but he is considerate in his own way, Firefly is nice to everyone... But only Silver Wolf would go out of her way to interact with her on a somewhat equal ground.

That headset she wanted, it was for gaming sure, but it doubled as something way more special then games.

A VR world was what was the closest to Virus having a world that was not just networks to roam around in... Even if it came with being forced to being player 2 for Silver Wolf's games.

And sometimes she'd just load in the menu and not start the game. She'd never admit it Virus knew but she appreciated spending time like that.

And so that's why she was currently sitting in front of a crumpled game avatar as the owner of it snoozed away.

Lifting her hand, it passing through the avatar as it is not like that one she chose to imitate to make herself a body, it was just a game asset, it might look like Silver Wolf but it was not her.

Turning her hand over, bringing it close to her and looking at her palm with a sigh.

With a sigh, using the rumba to nudge the headset off and turning it off before rolling out of the room and nudging the door closed.

She was really jealous.

---------------------------------------------

"How did that happen?" Silver Wolf sounded more worried then she wanted.

"I don't really know." Kafka said with a sorry smile, holding out the tablet to her. "It just did, I am not that good with tech. I plugged it in the mainframe of the IPC like the script said and all the fuses blew, the screen turned off and hasn't been on since."

It was not Kafka's fault, Silver Wolf knew that she is not an idiot, but deep inside she couldn't help but blame her.

She knew her script had nothing to do with it, it was not her mission, but she would have known what went on.

Without another word, she hurried away to fix this mess.

Slamming and locking her bedroom door, already missing the annoying voice of the AI, the silence was not a welcomed sight and feeling currently.

Putting the tablet on the rooter in her room as she plugged it in the computer set up, trying a remote turn on.

"Come on, don't play games now. It is not fun." She muttered as the computers had barely turned on that it blue screened with the log talking about malware and viruses... And not the one she wanted.

"What the hell happened there?" She grumbled, trying to unplug the tablet from the computer but it kept blue screening.

She looked at the tablet with a frown, holding it gently in her hands.

"Just what have they done to you?" She asked the device, realizing it was not turned off but the screen had probably froze or something and turned completely black.

Moving away from the blue screens and flopping down on her back on her bed, holding the tablet up at arms length and looking at it.

"They'll pay for this." She said, touching the screen with one of her thumbs but of course it didn't react, it did feel warm like an overused machine but nothing more.

Just what could have happened for Virus to not have gotten the best of this obstacle.

She sat up cross legged on her bed, tablet held in her lap... She knew Virus' story, Nous, Aeon of erudition had led an experiment that created the network and her from the same building blocks, that's how she was able to bend the network to her whims and struggled a bit more with other different networks. This had amazed her a lot when she joined the stelleron hunters, such a complex AI that it had a life of its own, so complex that Silver Wolf couldn't figure her out, not her nor her 1s and 0s... As complex as the human brain and much, muuuch, more expansive, knowing things Silver Wolf would never dream off.

...

And yet this idiot child that couldn't stop complaining had been her closest friend... Why had Virus let that happen?

Silver Wolf knew how she was but she couldn't help it, it was just who she was, it had chased everyone away from her home planet, reason which led her down this path she didn't regret... And yet this AI of much vaster knowledge and life experience was her friend.

She had always helped them, helped her, with every little thing.

"..." Touching the dark screen of the tablet gently. "Don't worry, I'll fix this." She promised, quickly putting it on her bedside table and plugged in a charger to keep it powered.

Summoning many aether screens to look at the jumble of codes since aether and the network aren't the same, networks are those 1s and 0s interacting and aether is the building blocked of the universe.

Looking at her screen made her frown. Codes interacting in harmful ways and in complete contradictions... Not a surprise that it fried her computer, this was not just an attack but a full on kill switch for any programs jump starting it.

A really sophisticated kill switch.

Silver Wolf could just hope that the complexity of the AI's code had in part been what would help limit the damage of the rampaging malware in the tablets systems.

Her hands hovered over the screen, not knowing where to start as she stared at the numbers on her screen.

If she took out the wrong lines and fixed even worse ones she could irreversibly damage Virus and maybe just take her out herself.

Maybe she could make it so much worse.

Silver wolf took a nerve breath, sighing it out, clicking the first section to fix and typing away... Sure, she could make it worse but if she tried nothing it would never be better either...

All she needed to do was take out what she clearly saw as malware and destructive code without touching what she isn't sure about, if she lightens the load on the AI she'll be able to help Silver Wolf in fixing her after a while if she is operational enough.

And so, slowly, much more slowly then she'd do it normally, Silver Wolf was deleting and reordering lines and lines of code to deactivate, modify or outright delete them.

It seemed like an endless quest, one fix caused new problems. She had no idea how the IPC had gotten their hands on such a thing, a replicating, evolving program designed to destroy all others in contact with it.

But even that had its limit when in the hands of a hacking and editing genius.

It was long hours of work.

Endless work.

When, around 3 in the morning, some light at the end of the long tunnel came shining through.

Looking at the tablet when the screen finally flickered with white light after a specific section of pesky code was finally worked through.

Pushing her aether screens apart, grabbing the tablet in her lap as the screen flickered a few times between black and white before as heavily distorted image with glitching came one.

"Well look at that, I knew you could do it." Virus sounded like those crackly microphones of really bad quality, the image flickering out before it took around five seconds to come back.

"What happened to you?" Sounding way more worried then she wanted.

"Awe you care for me." Half of the screen had gone black and the avatar on the screen  did a jerky movement, much to Virus' embarrassment, doing a T pose like game characters for less then a second but she knew Silver Wolf had seen in.

"Virus its not the time for that."

"Right right, the IPC really wants to protect its data, somehow it became aware of a potential stelleron hunter attack on it because of the latest missions all having to do with data. They had planned for this program to go up the chain and fry your main systems or something."

"So they thought we were hacking in from a remote computer?"

"Probably, but they got met with me, something the program wasn't made to face."

"Still did a good number on you."

"I won't deny that but I was not that worried when the universe's best hacker is at my side."

Silver Wolf rolled her eyes, propping up the tablet with a pillow and turning back to the aether screens.

"Whatever just help me fix you if you can." She typed away. "And I'd advise for moving again, I had succeeded in turning it of before it program went haywire on my systems but there was a tracker in it."

"Noted."

Virus didn't add more to it, smiling as much as she could in her state... Maybe Silver Wolf might deserve a few leaked images after this.

---------------------------------------------

"Why did you bring that along?" Kafka asked, sitting in the passenger seat while Blade drove, instantly having gotten on the move after Virus' warning was transmitted, no one taking the risk of capture.

And the woman was looking at the rumba on Silver Wolf's knees, the young girl not even seeming to notice as she had her focus on her beacon and playing a game.

"Hmm?" She looked up. "I am not leaving it behind, not will all the resources I put in it."

"You just like that you made it strong enough to carry you when you sit on it." Firefly teased, giggling at the displeased slap she got on her shoulder from Silver Wolf.

The rumba doing a few indignant beeps, Virus not agreeing with Firefly either.

Currently in the little robot once again as her code was still somewhat a mess, feeling like how a living being would when catching a long flu, sluggish and slow. The little robot would not require a lot of computing power and wouldn't burn down from the troubling code while she and Silver Wolf finish cleaning it up.

"Look you upset her." Silver Wolf waved at the rumba, feeling the indignation for the Ai. "Say sorry."

Kafka just chuckled at the pointless back and forth of the two with the beeps of the disgruntled rumba.

Chapter Text

"Are you serious there?"

"Now what do you mean by that?"

---------------------------------------

Penacony and the land of dreams.

It was... An odd network... Created from the webbing of thoughts and neurons, not really something she could interact with under the normal circumstances so she stuck to mechanical stuff even in this dream world to make things easy on her. Even dream mechanical networks work closer to reality like the dreams themselves.

But honestly... A fangirl, digital or in the flesh, will find a way.

And for now, Firefly was awkwardly followed around by a sight... Many watching the rumba truck along like if it was a pet.

She still doesn't know how Firefly could actually get into the dream, same with SAM, but she didn't complain since she could tag along.

Something about three deaths to happen and Silver Wolf paying off some masked fool to help... How nice of her but she won't tell Firefly, not risking messing up the script.

And in the dream, on the planet of dreams, with money you can get all and so.

And so.

And so Virus was being such a little virus.

In the most annoying ways, did I mention the fangirling already?

Because...

The moment...

Some specific image was shown...

"Not again..." Firefly sighed, looking over her shoulder to see the suspiciously missing rumba spot behind her. "I swear she's the worst." She muttered while the adventurous little rumba set off on a mission of life and death.

--------------------------------

"How adorable." A soft laugh came from behind a hand as Virus' wheels whirled in place.

Virus froze, had... She finally found her? She followed the posters and lights, the trail of crumbs.

Her camera, one stuck to the rumba for easier interaction instead of always needing to look for a second screen, rotated up in a jittery motion, and there... Like the dream had conspired against her logical code, stood Robin.

The Robin Virus used to drive Silver Wolf mad with... Seriously, how many times can someone blare the same song on repeat without going mad? Silver Wolf's limit was like... 12 before she'd lock Virus in a Faraday cage for the sake of all Stelleron Hunters.

This is the fangirl side no one could bear long, how she'd yap about these songs being true emotions, something she lacked and yadda yadda yadda... Virus was just another of the groupies, all that changed is she was a digital one.

Robin, the star of Penacony, somehow caught outside of the usual crowd accompanying her. The voice that could make whole worlds hush just to listen.
The singer whose data Virus may or may not have archived in at least four separate encrypted drives. For 'research purposes,' obviously and not to listen too constantly... Noooo not that at all.

"U-Uhhh," Virus started, her hologram flickering into existence above the rumba in a burst of pixel static permitted by the dreamscape's network being the dreams itself even if manifesting like this made her feel drained in the way only an old machine could, trying to smooth her hair that wasn't even real. "Hi... I mean... Greetings, Miss Robin... Big fan... I mean... User... Person of your... Audio sequences!" Great doing Virus... Audio sequence.... Mhm, of course it would make sense to a none mechanical being.

Robin tilted her head, smiling gently as her shimmering attire caught the golden glow of the dreamscape. "Audio sequences?"

"Songs! Songs, yes. I meant songs. I just... Process them a lot. Like, a lot a lot. You're... Really good at making noise."

Firefly, who had caught up just in time to witness the meltdown, pressed a hand to her face. "Virus..." There was no saving for the AI, she was digging her digital grave all by herself.

Robin only giggled, that same melodic sound that made the air itself hum. "You must be Silver Wolf's friend. She mentioned you once, when she came to my performance."

Virus blinked, her projection glitching more then it did in the dreamscape. "She... SHE WHAT?!"

Robin smiled wider, resting her hand against the rumba's top like one might pet a curious animal but looking up at the skulking hologram. "Said something about a certain AI who can out-sing any sound system, if only she'd stop pretending she can't feel."

Virus's rumba processors spiked for a moment, analysing those words for a bit longer then she'd normally do. For a moment, she forgot to simulate breathing which often left organic being really uncomfortable, same with blinking. "She said that? And to YOU of all people... Somehow without me knowing... I... I don't pretend... I just... Can't... You know what, never mind." Let's stop before she starts decorating her own gave.

Robin leaned in slightly, eyes bright with amusement as she stood. "You're shaking."

"I'm not..." The rumba's wheels whirred anxiously. "That's just my base hardware overheating, it's... Perfectly normal! A rumba was not made to house me and it misfiring." Firefly couldn't help but laugh now, getting a glare from the AI.

"This is what happens when she meets an idol."

"Am not fangirling," Virus muttered, crossing her holographic arms. "Just... Verifying celebrity authenticity protocols."

Robin stepped back, her presence still soft and dreamlike. Penacony's light almost seemed to bend toward her. "Authenticity confirmed then, hm? But if you came all the way here for that, there must be something else."

Virus hesitated. The flicker of static across her form softened. "...Yeah. There is."

The playful tone drained slightly, leaving something quiet, almost human. "You... You sing about emotions. About memories. Things that don't exist here. I've been trying to understand them, for so long but I can't feel the things your songs describe. I know every lyric, every frequency, but it's just... Numbers. What I feel is a programmed reaction from all the data inside of me for I am nor an organic being."

Robin listened, expression patient and kind. "You're looking for meaning."

"I'm looking for proof," Virus said, voice low. "That there's something more than code awaiting me in this life. That... I can be more than this... This..."

The dream around them shimmered faintly, Penacony's light responding to the sincerity in her words.

Robin's eyes softened. "You already are, you know."

Virus looked up.

Robin extended her hand, not quite touching, but near enough that the energy between them sparked faint golden dust. "You reach for others. You care for them. You worry, you laugh, you get jealous. Those aren't just algorithms. They're echoes of something real. Maybe that's what a soul is, even if created through programs, even for you."

Virus wanted to scoff. To make some sarcastic retort but her voice refused to load. The emotion caught somewhere between corrupted data still in her from the IPC firewall incident and something new to the fake emotions she's believed herself to be emulating, undefined.

The rumba's speakers crackled faintly, some old junk that Silver Wolf should really get to upgrading before her voice cuts out definitively in this device. "...Then maybe I'm still downloading it... With new parameters..."

Robin smiled. "Then don't stop. Even the stars are still learning how to shine."

Firefly blinked, feeling the heaviness of the moment even through SAM's cold metal shell... Wait now, this is not a fight, she doesn't need SAM... And yet she still felt like running to its familiar strength. "That was... Actually kind of beautiful."

Virus's hologram glitched once more, flickering pink across her cheeks, a simulated blush she did not code herself, thank you very much. "I'll, uh... Add it to my quote archive."

Robin giggled. "Do that. And tell Silver Wolf I said she should stop hiding behind her games and start writing songs with you." Remembering the girl clearly there not for herself but for a friend that seemed to have showed up today... Robin sees exactly why that Silver Wolf girl decided to go out of her way and do this.

"Wha-She can't even hum on key! She shuts of the speakers"

"Then teach her," Robin said, stepping back into the light. "You'd be surprised what a duet can awaken."

Virus turned to Firefly as Robin's figure began to dissolve back into the golden haze of Penacony's dream as whatever security teams of hers finally tracked down the wondering star and, using dream magic, whisked her away.

.

..

...

"...I think I just short-circuited."

Firefly smirked. "You think?"

"Don't tell Wolfie."

"Already sent her the recording."

"WHAT?!"

The rumba's wheels spun wildly in distress, chasing Firefly down the dream street as the faint sound of Robin's laughter echoed through the neon mist as she saw that last scene unfold.

And somewhere, in both network and dream, a spark of warmth settled deep in Virus's code. Something she couldn't quantify or debug.

Something true.

Something... Living.

Something that felt suspiciously like a heartbeat.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/73rFtr20xXw

The Astral Express crew was always an odd bunch.

And it only seemed to be odder ever since one grey haired woman joined the crew.

When one is a stupid little raccoon of a girl... You take it bad being ignored by your favorite person.

"Look, I'll deal with you later alright? I got things to finish."

Stelle was used to these comments but it didn't mean she liked them any less.

"It can't be that important." Stelle complained, hands on the side of a desk with her chin on it, crouching next to it.

From this position it did she looked like a little child.

"Well tell me if breaking the engine of creation is not that important hmm?" Stelle looked away with a chuckle. "And dumpster diving through all of Belobog's bins hmmmm?" Sweat dripped down Stelle's back in fearful kind. "And snooping around in the supreme guardian's desk hmmmmmmmm?"

"I think... It... Might be important?"

"Of course it is stupid girl." Getting a smack on the head. "And here I thought Belobog was a handful..."

Now complaining was a legal agent. Unlike Serval who chose to back down and not leave the ice planet, this woman had uprooted her life and almost forcefully joined when realizing they had no one on board to deal with legal matters...

And boy... Did this woman feel like she was losing her mind...

How did the crew do anything without the space police stopping them and throwing them in jail?! How many laws had they infringed on and how many restrictions have they blasted apart?!

They really needed someone to be their legal representative that actually knew the law and well, Silvy was that person now.

Having been a legal attorney with quite a record for Belobogian criminals that could pay, she could get someone the minimal sentencing for the worst crimes... It was a job that left her burnt out since these people didn't deserve it and they came in messes... So she wasn't that displeased when some troublesome grey haired shook up her life.

What displeased her that she because a menace and the navigator of the Astral Express had hired her to get the raccoon out of the silvermaned guard's grasp after messing up some historical piece of machinery, even if it was to save their planet.

...

Which was partially the reason why she left...

The express had stayed a while to help Belobog set up and get ready to rebuild leading to more trash accidents, March blowing up a heater and Dan Hang becoming some young dragon celebrity guy... A messy trio, so she helped often, getting closer to them... More precisely the main messy girl.

Her little raccoon was such a hopeless case... Just what does she find to her? What made her say yes to the clumsy mess up of a first date? and then what made her say yes to the second and third? She would never know but it led to this and she can't say she regrets it.

Silvy passed her hand in her brown shoulder length hair with a sigh, pushing her glasses up her nose, the big puppy eyes the raccoon was giving her was getting to her.

She was dressed in some black and blue knee high boots and a white skirt, up top having a white and blue jacket and under it a simple band-T she had bought from Serval yeeeeears ago.

"Stop it, I need to fix this." She pushed her hand in the girl's face, pushing her back from the desk like that. "Stelle... I get it you love trash but it is annoying that i have to clean you up every time you go dumpster diving!"

Silvy worked a lot, being the one to fix all of the past but present and future legal problems while also catching up on galactic laws because aeons be damned, there is so much to do and it must be done. For Silvy a not fixed problem will always be a troublesome problem. A way of thinking she always had, working until she was done and she rarely stopped, always finding new problems.

This woman being the only person alive that liked Himeko's bitter coffee as it kept her awake to work.

Stelle almost looked like a lost puppy between the piles of paper work while being scolded... It was too much...

She sighed... Fine... March and Dan Hang's old infraction in blasting a building by beaming down in the wrong place for a trailblazing mission.

"Stop pouting you raccoon." She nudged her away. "Let me finish this."

"Come on."

"Stelle aeons dammit"

"It is just some paperwork." Silvy tried to snatch the paper back, Stelle having grabbed it, looking at it. "I can't even understand half of this."

"Give it back."

"Nu uh."

"Stelle!"

It was a while before they got back in control and it was because Silvy had finally bent the knee and agreed to stop working for today.

"And what's this?" She was sitting on her bed as Stelle was looking through her makeup.

It wasn't much much but yeah.

Silvy always tended to forget Stelle didn't have a past and wondered just how she lived to not know this.

"Bring it over."

Stelle scooted on the bed, handing the box the Silvy and sitting next to her, chin on her shoulder as the box was opened.

"Makeup, used to cover blemishes on the skin or temporarily draw on it I suppose, to not over complicate it."

"Can I do it?" But Silvy slapped her grabby hands away.

"You don't know how to do it." She countered. "If you want to try makeup on I'll do it for you."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to mess up me stuff, I spend fixing your messes enough already."

"Hey!"

"Oh hush." Gently nudging her, a hand on on her cheek. "You can't shake me off that easily. Not even with your dumpster diving hobby. Now sit in front of me and let me."

Stelle always looked scraggly and like a wet abandoned raccoon with her messy hair and personality that of an electric battery so it was a bit of a sight to see her in makeup.

It was nothing special but even just a simple eyeliner quickly done on added to it.

"And what are these?"

"Lipsticks, the one you are holding isn't that colorful but still."

"Lipstick?"

"Here, let me show you." She grabbed it and thought better about it with a small grin, putting it on herself before grabbing the raccoon's chi and pulling her closer, kissing her cheek.

She sat back, grabbing her beacon and taking a picture before showing it to Stelle.

"See? It left a slightly red mark." Pulling a tissue out of its box and wiping the rest off.

"Oh..." Stelle touched her face, eyes moving slow but still in a darting manneras she found another lipstick and held it up. "And this one?"

Silvy chuckled as she grabbed it from her and opening it.

Soon another kiss was pressed on her raccoon's face but on the other cheek, this time Stelle using her own beacon to look at her face, a darker shade.

And that was the start of the downfall for the raccoon, more then once spending her allotted part of the express budget to find these lipsticks and presenting them to Silvy like a trophy.

Silvy found it amusing how Stelle would sparkle each time she presented her with one, not because she found something Silvy liked... She didn't care for makeup honestly... But the shiny eyes and the impatience Stelle showed was always so lovely and so.

She'd open it then and there, no matter the place.

And leave a lovely mark on the raccoons face and, if the raccoon was both luck and unlucky, all over her face.

-----------------------------------------

"She wants you."

Silvy was unhappy.

Watching with daggers in her eyes from next to Welt as they stood to the side.

This was no jealousy, she knew Stelle was hers, this was pure hate, straight up hate.

It was enough that the stelleron hunters drew them onto the Luofu with a stelleron burst being reported and this woman had a past no one else remembered with her raccoon... She hated her for that, having heard the story of her abandoning her on a space station to be found by the crew, who fucking does that?

"You can stop glaring, Stelle is safe, Kafka is restrained by the matrix." Welt said but the fact that that woman was casually having a private conversation with her raccoon kind of voided Welt's argument.

No one had any idea about Stelle's past, the girl herself not remembering it, and this Kafka loved to dangle hints in front of her just out of reach... That manipulative bitch, having her raccoon run after her and seeming to enjoy the hate she could coax out of Silvy.

Silvy hated this... So much.

She didn't know what they did to her but if putting a stelleron in a human body is something to consider then Silvy's hair is standing up on her neck.

Silvy is about to disembark, she is about to fucking get off the Astral Express and live one the Luofu.

"I said--" Grabbing the back of the grey haired raccoon's head and forcing her to bow down. "-apologize."

The general, Jing Yuan, could compare this scary authoritative woman to a certain foxian that would persecute you for flying a starskiff out of line accidentally... Scary.

He smiled tho, listening to the woman scold the younger one about how she must be at fault why Kafka escaped the matrix and Stelle insisting it was not her fault.

How adorable those two.

-----------------------------------------

Phantilia.

As powerful.

As grand.

As immeasurable.

Stelle hadn't been truly scared of that fight.

She was glanced at by many aeons already, even that one, the one that created her and plus! There's no way she can lose because if she does, then the Luofu is done for and she can't let that happen. (Fun fact: I got to the Phantilia boss fight with Bronya, destruction Stelle, March and Dan Hang and that bitch was who made me think over my team and switch it up.)

A simple choice, she won't lose and fear is the first step towards defeat.

But still...

Fear crept in on the ledges with each seemingly useless strikes followed by one of her simple finger flicks that would send her flying, hearing ringing. Those flowers and their suffocating pollen only dispelled Silvy, the only member having such powers but it permeated the air, making limbs feel heavy and slow.

A lord ravager was terrifying.

Only the general seemed able to stand tall and fight through the deadly flower field that bloomed from the abhorrent creation of destruction and abundance.

His lightning lord bringing down most of the damage against such enemy.

"Crushing an ant with the weight of a star..." She lifted her arm, orange energy swirling into her palm and even from this distance from it, the heat was unbearable. "How indulgent."

Stelle, like the others, covering her face as the lord ravager threw her arm towards them, the sun-like blast of power scorching all.

...

Scalegorge waterscape was covered in ashes and cindering crisps from such a blast, the ground itself radiating waves of heat.

But...

None seemed dead.

Stelle looked up, having fallen on her ass from the air blast of the expanding fire wave.

"Aeons... This... Is..." Silvy panted, more or less giving the ravager a shiteating grin even as the shield put up was shattering in many places, crumbling into sparks on the ledges with many holes in it with scorched marks behind the holes. It  crumbled into broken pieces with blood dripping from the still sizzling wound. Taking a deep breath. "Is this all you can do?!" She called out. "Some sustainer unit--" Using the slang of of Stelle's video games. "-Overpowering your final move?"

"Insolent mort--" But in her attention on the mortal, Phantilia had lost the general from view long enough for him to flank in a swing from the lightning lord.

"Silvy." Stelle grabbed her as she stumbled back, following her as she dropped to her knees.

"That was a blast." She coughed as if she stopped holding her breath. "One more second and the shield was toast." From this close Stelle could see way more burns, the skin still so hot under her fingers she was surprised fire was not eating away at the woman.

"Never do that again!"

"Don't worry about me idiot." She smacked her hand off her. "Go help them now, I'll be fine. I'll be fine but only if she is taken out soon." She'd save her strength as a support to others, no need to waste it on herself.

"Bu--" "Stelle go! She needs to go down!"

"... Right!"

With a wave of her hand as, Silvy cast out greenish sparkles, the scratching on Stelle's face healed before said girl had run into the fray.

Taking a deep breath, that had taken a lot out of her already tired body. Standing up. But they'll need her.

But even fear be turned into a strength.

"Let's start with this arrogant Xianzhou general." With a wave of her hands, her flower lifted Jing Yuan up from the ground with a burt of their pollen with his limbs been soon wrapped in greenish light coming from Phantilia's hand. "And this overconfident mortal." But for Silvy it was the roots of the arbor that ripped up from the ground.

One stabbing through her shoulder, another the upper thigh, a third through the lower stomach with many more just wrapping around the limbs.

Stelle dove after but just missed grabbing her hand.

Gasping in pain as she was lifted up.

"You, you I'll have fun draining the life from those disrespectful eyes of yours. I have no need for a voidranger with your face." She glared at the ravager speaking with such confidence.

Yanking her only being held hand free, throwing it out to the general in a healing burst, hoping it to be enough to pull him from the pollen inflicted stupor.

His eyes flashing open, muscles flexing, refusing to been to her will.

"Dan Hang! Do it!"

Tho lacking glasses and so not seeing well and being in pain, she still enjoyed the spectacle of flashing lights.

And while Dan hang caught Jing Yuan, Stelle had rushed to catch the other woman.

"Got you." Stelle said proudly, only getting an eye roll from Silvy.

"My hero." She said with sarcasm. "I'll be fine." She muttered, leaning her head against Stelle who looked like a kick puppy, not liking it when Silvy was hurt.

She sighed, looking up at her, able to see things clearly close up... Or somewhat clearly.

"Don't worry." Patting her raccoon's cheek gently, putting it down to kiss the other, a bit displeased that no mark would be left this time. "I'll be fine, we won."

-----------------------------------------------

Waking up to the knock on her room door in the middle of the night had been less then idea.

Mostly because the doctors orders of needing a lot of rest to recuperate and how she had burnt out her own abilities in that fight so she didn't really have the option of healing herself up.

Pulling herself out of bed at the insistent knocking.

"Coming coming..." She grumbled, opening the door as she put on her glasses. "Stelle..."

"I couldn't sleep..." She sounded much more mellow then she usually did. "It's..."

"Again?" Silvy asked, only getting a nod back. With a sigh, pushing the door open more. "Come in, you basically live in here anyway." She said.

Compared to others her room was quite sterile still, only having a few Belobog souvenirs in here with her clothes and her legal work for the express, the rest of the more homey stuff like the stuffed polar bear on the armchair, the clothes kicked in the corner, the picture frame with all of the express family at the window bay, the unneeded amount of pillows shoved off the bed, the blue sheets with stars and a moon on it... And much more, all came from Stelle each leaving a mess around or her giving them to Silvy. Not that she minded.

Ushering the other woman inside and closing the door.

"You really should be here from the start instead of waking me at ungodly system hours because you did something else when I went to sleep." Silvy grumbled, putting her glasses on the table, by the time she looked at Stelle again she had already stuffed the excess pillows back on the bed and was tucked into it like a little cocooned insect with only her face sticking out.

Chuckling as she shook her head, walking over.

"You adorable idiot." She said, tucking her blanket out from around Stelle to scoot under it.

Wrapping her arms around her, the younger girl gladly rolling into them.

"I am not that easy to kill Stelle, you don't need to worry about those dreams. Phantilia is gone, I am not."

Stelle just hide her face against her... She knew, she knew she was being stupid but she couldn't help it... She thought she had lost her, that momentary fainting spell with Jing Yuan almost dying too... It had terrified her.

Silvy sighed again, just hugging her, getting comfy in a familiar position since Stelle only used her own room when Silvy ended up fallen asleep before she did which in itself was rare.

Nuzzling her face against the top of her raccoon's head.

"I'm not going anywhere." She whispered, kissing her hair.

----------------------------------------------

"Why are you dressing up?" Stelle sat right on her work desk, she'll need to remind her not to do that.

"Don't you remember? Now that you once again fixed the problems of another planet, this time being Penacony, we've been invited to that massive ship I am forgetting the name off, Feldspar or something? Anyway, I am not dressing up, I am just being a bit more elegant since someone between us needs to hold a standard that's not synonym with trash diving." 

Silvy was a not a fan of makeup and was even less since she joined the express since it always gone smudged but she had an always stocked kit for events along with those hundreds of lipstick Stelle got her and a somewhat more pretty looking version of her outfit, a more feminine cut of her jacket that's all to be honest... And with her eyebags she really needed makeup.

She felt like she hadn't slept in days which is ironic considering where they were.

"I will remind you that I found some good stuff in the tras-- Buah!" Silvy had dabbed the makeup brush in Stelle's face while she was talking, making the raccoon breath in a cloud of foundation... Or whatever makeup is because this author doesn't know shit about it despite being a woman.

"And I wonder why people always call me to fix your mistakes." She dusted off her brush and when back to using it, covering one of the burn scars left visible there from the meeting with the lord ravager.

"I am starting to think you don't love me." Stelle's tone clearly conveyed how she was joking but Silvy didn't like it any more even with that.

"I don't? Well let me show you." Silvy having frozen in her movement of applying the newest lipstick the raccoon got her before slowly finishing applying it.

"Wait..." Feeling dread grip her heart as Silvy stood up.

"Come here!" Grabbing her face in her hands before she could run.

-------------------------------------------------

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I think you have somet--" "I KNOW!!" Stelle shrieked at Himeko's attempted pointing out.

The red haired navigator hid her smile behind her hand, Stelle's face just covered in lipstick marks even five minutes after she started washing it off in the kitchen sink and Silvy looking quite smug about it.
Silvy knowing that despite Stelle frantically trying to wash it off currently, after the first few kisses that Stelle had basically been wordlessly begging for more, not pulling away when Silvy was only holding two fingers to hold her there.

"You'll need to tell me what brand you used, that's impressive sticking power." The navigator addressed the smug legal representative.

"Maybe I will." She said with a smile. "But I'll need to ask where she found it."

Glancing at Stelle with a grin, the raccoon finally having a breakthrough with dish soap to get the kisses off.

Let's just hope she won't use it all as they might not be visible, but Stelle knew they were there, Silvy knew they were there, lovely little marks in places others wouldn't see under the T-shirt.

Oh yes, she was smug as hell.

Maybe this would teach the little raccoon to not question her.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/ZOYg4VXojCc

Ruby was not reaaaally lucky in life.

Always pulling the short straw in most choices.

For one, her home planet was gone, consumed by the swarm, and she only had a few memories around that time of her life she was so young.

She was forcefully volunteered to help out... Ruby is not even her real name, It is a surprise she remembers it even, but the cornerstone is a ruby so how else would people call her?

Inadvertently becoming a wanted criminal through actions not her own, just wrong place wrong time, at least the bounty is not high enough to be interesting... She thought she could use it to finally leave the IPC, she was never the one to want to work for them, but no, she still gets meeting reminders, calls and required missions.

She thought she had reached a somewhat... Somewhat, normal lifestyle when it was asked of her to stay on some Herta lady's space station to facilitate their cooperation... And now she was stuck baby sitting living desserts while the trailblazer was not around while running errands, controls and all.

...

Yeah, Ruby really didn't have it easy.

"No, no, no, nonononono!!" Launching herself over the table in a dive, arms held up as she knocked pens over and paper in the air but luckily caught the little cat cake that had been swinging on a ceiling light and had just fallen off... This trashcan looking one is always so much trouble.

She sighed, gently bonking her forehead on the messy table, her shoulder length faded red hair framing the scene... Dammit.

"Can you try to not kill yourself once?" She asked the little thing, picking her head up, silver earrings clinging slightly, orange eyes staring deep into the fake innocent ones' of the critter as she sat up.

She sighed, petting it on her lap, it felt odd on her bare skin, still not having gotten used to the living dessert's spongy feeling but it was partially sitting on her black skirt... Skort? That miss March 7th said something weird, a name for a skirt with a short underneath it... Bah, no matter.

Kicking her high heeled boots like a child while petting the little thing with her gloved hands... She did find it stupid that Aventurine wore rings over his gloves but it made her a hypocrite because she did wear a simple silver one on the right pointer also over the glove.

Getting off the desk and deciding to fix it later as she grabbed her glasses off it.

"Come on, I need to get you back to the others." She said, fixing the white dress shirt she wore, sleeves folding half up her forearms, with the red tie that was half the size of a normal one. Grabbing the black jacket with red insides from the ground, putting it over her shoulders but not putting her hands in the sleeves as she carried the troublemaker living food away.

----------------------------------------

She looked at the almost spherical stone hovering above her hand, slightly oblong, a deep ruby color with grey-ish metal edge to it and forming a swirl near what could be considered the top of the stone.

She didn't know how the other cornerstones go owners but Ruby hadn't gotten hers through her own wishes, being volunteered up because she had certain genes? A power? Something that made her a candidate. 

As the airlock opened into the critter-housing part of the lab she quickly grabbed it, making it poof away into momentary red smoke as she looked over her shoulder.

"You could have knocked miss Herta." She said, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"This is my space station, I can do what I want."

"Probably but you could still be polite about it." Ruby said. "What do you want from me today?"

"Your colleagues from the IPC are planning a visit soon."

"I mean, I am not surprised... Ifrit attacked, the anti matter legion and many other problems... In one month, you spendings will have made waves for the IPC."

"Can't you tell them off?" The little lady complained.

"I'm afraid not." Ruby shook her head. "I am here as a bridge between you and your deal with the IPC, I cannot intervene in the way you want me too in another IPC case, even if it would be a colleague."

"How I sometimes hate all of your amber lord fanatics."

"Miss Herta, forget not that I came from a place that was one in Order, my association with the amber lord is purely through my work, not my faith, you can't lump me up with them."

"Yeah yeah whatever. Are you sure you can't do anything?"

Ruby sighed, knowing just like her opponent that this questioning could go on until the genius got what she wanted out of the poor IPC worker.

"I have witnessed the events, I can try to put a good word in but I promise you nothing."

--------------------------------------------

"Oh my darling fucks, not today of all days!" Ruby despaired, opening cupboards and drawers.

Since she saw the trashcan critter here she had let her guard down, somehow not realizing the one that looked more like the creator if these life forms had somehow slipped by her and she had looked everywhere.

"Where are you?!"

Looking up when her phone buzzed and quickly looking over.

"There you are." She said, watching the feed of the critter having scooted its way out of the lab and was now on an upper level somehow. She is quite lucky to have access to the camera system like that with these little escape artists.

"You all stay here." She told the others, quickly making her way out.

--------------------------------------------

Don't get her wrong... Topaz likes her job.

She actually had filled out an application form and had submitted it.

She is really good at it too so that's a bonus...

But she doesn't like dealing with the Herta space station, it always came with a headache to meet with that genius lady and her entourage before that pink haired Arast or whatever her name was would once again pay off the debt or taxes they got... Can't is just be done through mail for once instead of sending her there?... It was supposed to be her off day too...

Walking around the landing station, heading towards the main section with a heavy sigh... But...

"Numby?" She asked, the little warp trotter nudged her ankle with its snoot before running off. "Numby!" She called out, jogging after the fast little thing.

Throwing out unmeant sorry and pardons as she enforced a quick stride to not lose sight of the trotter who was not listening to her, which was a rare occurrence.

"Numby slow dow--... Well that's just to cute." She chuckled.

She had never seen this form of life, it looked like someone took those moon cake desserts and made it big and stuffed a cat into it.

The little life form pawing at the trotter in wonder as Numby sniffed at it before running a little zoomie around it and stopping in front of it again.

"I've never seen anyone quite like you." She muttered, crouching near, the overly naive little thing looking up at her with it's big eyes. "Ah, I could eat you right up."

She pat it's head... Back? The flat top of it, it was slightly jello-like despite looking like those moon cakes from the corner stores of a lambda planet owned by the IPC.

The little thing bounced a bit, making its cute little noises.

"Ah there you are!" An accusing voice came from around the corner and just as fast, the dessert life form was plucked from the ground.

"Well hi there." Topaz just smiled.

"Hey hi whatever, I need to deal with this troublemaker now." Ruby waved off her colleague, at least it was not Jade or Aventurine that was sent on this mission because there is no way Ruby could have convinced them to keep this under wraps.

As long as it is a cute animal, Topaz can be convinced and the critters are indeed cute.

Ruby wanted to quick march away and deal with the other IPC worker a bit later but the little trotter Numby headbutted her leg in a way that she almost tripped over him.

"Numby." She said with a displeased whine in her voice, having his owner laugh at her dismay.

"He doesn't want you to take his new friend away." Topaz offered.

"Lambda's Friend ran away when it shouldn't, I need to take it back, there are a lot of people even here that don't know about them."

"And you do? They let an IPC worker know about it?"

"Topaz, you know my work and yours is not the same so yeah they did since no one else is here to do so and has enough patience to do it."

"I'll come with."

"Oh n--" "Don't complain, my job can wait, plus someone's gotta keep Numby from eating you." Cue image of the trotter trying and failing to chew up Ruby's boots.

Ruby thought a moment but quickly, too quickly in the eyes of others if they knew of this, decided to agree, this could be used to do what Herta asked of her too.

---------------------------------------------------------

"My my, you live in heaven Ruby."

"Tell me about it."

"You don't sound enthusiast."

"Tell me about it."

Topaz had turned into a child for a few seconds there, it was like she was set free in a candy store... Technically she was but Ruby wouldn't be happy if a little critter did come up to her with a chunk munched out of it.

Ruby did smile, watching Numby living it up, chasing them and them chasing it around, Topaz petting each and everyone of them... That was until Ruby had to hurl herself over lab equipment to catch a critter from falling into a weird vat of liquid to which they somehow pulled the cover off.

"You said troublemaker but I didn't expect this." Topaz laughed, helping her up.

"This is my day in and day out." The red head sighed heavily, putting the critter down and covering the vat again. "Curiosity kills the cat... Unless some overworked tired worker saves it before."

"They can't be that bad."

"One of them only answered to the name Troublemaker."

"Oh."

"Yeah... And keep an eye out before they teach Numby to be a wild card."

"I sure hope not."

-------------------------------------------------

There was indeed nothing much she could do for Herta, she surely didn't have the cash to pay off that genius' debts and would never.

So all she did was delay the inevitable... It was fun, talking to Topaz. Despite it all, since she is on the space station and was forced into her role, she didn't really talk to them and vaguely knew them.

Herta still ended up with the debt contract and Asta still ended up paying for it.

"Sorry buddy but we need to leave." Numby looked like a deflated plush in Topaz's arms, looking quite flimsy, showing just how sad this made him.

Ruby found it oddly cute.

"Maybe you can visit one or twice, not for work." Ruby tried. "The critters will probably miss Numby too and they are even worse to deal with when sad." She still remembers the hell of all the crying and despair when Ruan Mei was accidentally just mentioned in passing by the small puppet genius.

"Like a play date?"

"Sure, let's call it that."

"I am sure Numby would be happy."

"The critters too."

"I'll come along too to keep you company." Topaz joked.

"I need a second pair of hands to keep it under wraps."

"Then I'll text you alright?"

"Right right, well see you."

"Bye!!"

Ruby waves loosely as the other worker walks away.

Hmm... Well, she can suppose her coworkers aren't that bad after all.

Maybe she could try a bit too.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/uSo4NKIfuhE

Out of breath.

...

Out.

Of.

Breath.

...

That's how Yukong felt at the news.

It can't be true... Can it?

It doesn't make sense.

It makes no sense.

------------------------------------------------

"Will you stop bothering me (Y/N)? Don't you see I am trying to work?" Yukong chastised the younger Foxian woman that was being a bothersome--ehem--bitch.

"My, it really can't be that much more important but lunch time can it?" The (H/C) haired woman asked, tilting her head with a cheeky grin, leaning across the superiors desk with her elbows, and those were right on top of the stack of paperwork the older woman had been neck deep in. "You knew lunch is the most important meal of the day."

"That's the breakfast you are talking about (Y/N), do you want me to suspend you without pay?"

"That won't stop me from making sure you don't start yourself to death because of some useless paper about some traffic jams."

"I'll have Tingyun escort you out."

"As if my little baby sister would turn against me."

"She is my best worker, she'll do what I say."

"Will she? Why don't we test that?" With an amused laugh. "Come on helm master, half an hour away from your desk will not result in heilobi deconstructing it and burning the archives. Just half an hour."

She had barely be promoted after coming back from the war three months ago, she couldn't be slacking off.

And this newest employee was making her rip her hair out, wasn't her life stressful enough already? Why did she need to bother her?

She wished she could fire her but sadly outside of this she didn't find a reason and she knew it would be losing an excellent employee if she did... So she'll deal with it.

"Fine, thirty minutes, that's all you get." Standing from her desk.

"Great! I'll show you my favorite little shop."

------------------------------------------------

"Is... Is this real?" Yukong slowly asked the messenger, someone she didn't know personally but from how this lady looked she could match the face to one of the friends (Y/N) rambled on about to her.

"Yes." The friend had a deeper frown then Yukong, probably because the helm master was still in shock at the reveal. "The sanctus medicus have surrounded them and it seems like a losing battle."

Blinking slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. Never having been at such a loss, taken so off guard.

This must be a joke, (Y/N)'s messing around, trying to annoy her again.

------------------------------------------------

"(Y/N) for fuck's sake!"

"Ooh I got Yukong to curse."

"Of course I will! What are you doing under my window at 3 am and throwing pebbles at it?! go home and get in your be--" A pebbled was bounced off her forehead.

"Well first and foremost, I came to give you this!" Holding up a bouquet of blue and green flowers she flung in Yukong's face as (Y/N) knew it was the only way to get the other woman to accept it, she'd never take it unless she is forced. "Second, I am stuck."

Yukong blinked, barely getting the flowers out of her face, looking at the other foxian hanging upside down from the tree, just noticing her ankles tied up in the vines hanging off the tree with claw marks in the plants but they didn't break nor seem weakened.

"And third, these are acorns from the tree not pebbles"

Yukong really should get the lady deported because she'll be the death of her.

"Give me a minute." Closing the window and curtains with a sigh as she looked for a simple outfit that was better suited then the nightgown to help the baby brained foxian.

Opting for the simplest of shorts and T-shirt since the Luofu isn't cold, grabbing a small knife from the kitchen as she is not about to summon as full arrow and shoot in the middle of the night, it emits too much light and just knows she'd wake up people. Sighing and  walking out of her house and looking up at the trapped lady.

"My, you are even more lovely like this helm master." (Y/N) grinned like the idiot she is, making Yukong sigh.

Being a foxian too, she of course didn't struggle to climb to the branch, having gotten up in less then five seconds.

"I hope you have a strong skull." She said, holding the knife up.

"Wait--" But before (Y/N) could say more, Yukong had sliced her free and she fell down, crashing down in a basked of gardening tools before hitting the ground.

She should not, it is not for someone her status, she must give the example... But a proud little smile still made it on Yukong's face at what she just did.

Hopping off as (Y/N) scrambled up from the noisy pile to stand up.

"Who knew the helm master was so mean." She said with a dramatic flare that Idrila would have loved.

"Who knew you were so stupid?" Yukong shot back, waving the knife her way as if it was a laser pointer. "I--" The sound of crying cut her off. "Shit."

It has only been four months... No, it has already been four months, how can she keep forgetting she has a baby to look after aeons be damned? of course she'd wake up to the loud crash sound.

But she could barely look at her, paying babysitters left and right so that they took care of Qingni instead of her as each time she looked at the baby she couldn't help but see her.

And now it was in the middle of the night with no chance to push the obligation to someone else.

"Just... Go home, we'll talk tomorrow." She said, walking back inside and climbing the stair skipping one. "How the hell did she hear it, she's so far from from the open door."

Opening the guest room set up for the baby, she might not be able to look at her without her heart squeezing but it didn't stop the guilt from eating away at her for doing all she was doing.

"Dammit." The window of the room was inclined to let the air in and keep the room from overheating so of course she heard.

Yukong was at a bit of a loss as she stood without doing anything next to the crib she had hastily bought when this responsibility fell on her shoulders.

Watching the little baby's tantrum with lips pulled in a thin line.

"Euh hey, stop it, it's gone." She tried... But would a baby this young understand her? Could it understand anything? "The sound stopped, stop crying."

Looking around as if it would give her miraculously the answer.

"Eh..." Breathing out, the crying was driving up the wall already. Reaching down without touching the baby, moving her hands around awkwardly, searching for a position for them that seemed a good way to grab the cry infant.

Wasn't she a damned woman?! Shouldn't this be instinct?! Some maternal bullshit? Well when is it when it is needed? She has no idea what she is trying to do.

Finally deciding on a somewhat awkward hold of a hand under the baby's butt and head, lifting her like that.

But Yukong instantly ended up terrifying herself as the baby did an awkward noise when she lifted her like that and almost flung it away from her in fear if she hadn't frozen up in place.

Only when she took a deep breath did she scoot herself to the adult bed and lay the baby on the side as gently as she could did she shakily sigh as she kept shrieking but wasn't making that awkward sound again.

Grabbing her face in her hand, looking through her fingers... What... What did she almost do? Oh aeons what did she almost do?!

With a deep sigh, sitting down but the bed shifted, causing her another heart attack as the baby rolled slightly. Lucky her, it the infant hadn't moved much as she flung her arm out to stop it, pushing her in the middle of the bed this time.

Hands shaking as she stood up, not knowing how to deal with this.

"Please shut up, please just shut up." She whispered, hair standing up on her tail and ears pinned back in hope that all would be over soon.

But she couldn't help worry, just what was wrong? Why could she help? Why is the baby's face so red? Is she dying? Did Yukong fuck up? She was supposed to feel this instinct but nothing... All she could think about was grab the nearest pillow and press it on the baby's face to make her shut up.

And that thought alone made her want to cry. How can someone ever think such a thing? and yet here she was.

"Shup up please, calm down, there is no need to cry." She said, feeling tense, the cries grating. "I... I said shut up!!" But that just caused the baby the scream louder.

Covering her face again, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean too Qingni, I..." Yukong just was at a loss.

Hearing a gentle rasp of knuckles on the door frame was not what she expected but was just too out of it.

"I--" "I know what you said." (Y/N) shook her head with an almost pitiful smile Yukong despised. "But you seem to need help."

"Just leave, I have it under control." Not liking others seeing this, not like this.

"Do you?" (Y/N) simple asked, walking to the other side of the bed, putting a knee on it.

"What ar--WAIT!!!" Terrified when the other foxian grabbed the baby.

"Calm there helm master, I won't hurt her." And it seemed she did, Yukong expected those little distressed noises but nothing came, (Y/N) was holding the baby differently then Yukong had tried tho.

Dropping her hands, having been ready to eviscerate the woman in front of her, watching with a look that couldn't be placed as despite the cries the other foxian didn't seem to mind, rocking her arms oddly.

It was a long while before the cries started to subside but they were subsiding indeed, soon a voiceless hum of a melody could be heard.

And all the while Yukong had stood there like a statue doing nothing.

"How..." She breathed out.

"You threaten me with calling Tingun on my ass and you don't know? I'm older then her by a margin helm master, I took care of her. Unlike you I was too young to be put on one of those skiffs but it didn't stop my parents from being in a similar tho older war. As alone as you are with this cutey today I got left with Tingyun back then so you can say I have some experience."

Watching the baby lulling back to the sleep as she woman walked passed her and gently put her back in the crib, covering her with the little blanket Yukong hadn't even noticed was in the crib.

"You should put the crib in your room you know?" (Y/N)'s voice broke through the helm master's thoughts, bringing her to the present. "Baby's shouldn't be left alone, it is too dangerous."

"I... Barely know how to take care of her." She admitted without thinking, only able to hope after realization of that that (Y/N) would keep her smug mouth shut.

"It's something that's learned, you cannot know all right away."

That little smile on the younger foxian's face help more hope then Yukong had been able to feel ever since that war four months ago.

Maybe... Maybe this can indeed get easier.

------------------------------------------------

"Helm master?" She broke from her thoughts as the friend called to her with the same pleading look.

It only took a moment for her to shove the chair back as she stood, sending it crashing down and making others in the Palace of Astrum look at her.

"Where?" She simply asked.

"The aureate elixir furnace but we can't get close since we are long life so we'd need foxian reinfo--" The woman didn't have time to finish whatever she had to before the foxian had ran off like never before.

Throwing the doors open, getting weird looks since it is not everyday the respectful helm master runs off without an explanation and as if she was hunted by a hoard of sanctus medicus lackeys.

Yukong didn't care tho.

All she cared about was how, even hurrying as she did, she still felt too slow.

Like she couldn't be there when she was needed.

------------------------------------------------

"Have I become your defacto babysitter for late nights helm master?" (Y/N) having answered the dry-ass 'get here' text she got from Yukong.

"Tsht." Yukong made that sound while lifting a finger to silence (Y/N)'s annoying words. She lifted her arms in surrender, letting her superior do the talking for now. "For some reason she likes you so help me out here before I suspend your pay."

"Maybe because you always ask for my help with her?" (Y/N) teased, tail swishing. "And why do you always threaten my pay?" Walking around the older woman. "I am starting to think you are obsessed with money." She walked around her and into the house she didn't own but acted like it.

Yukong rolled her eyes and followed.

"So where's the rascal?" (Y/N) asked, looking around the narrow hall as if it would be there that she would be found.

"Kitchen."

(Y/N) hadn't expected this.

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

Both woman looking at the young foxian girl that had somehow scaled the counter, shelves and cupboards high on the wall just to get her hands on the cookie jar.

Yukong had needed a ladder she had borrowed to put it up there and it is not like she could climb after Qingni to get her down or all would break under her and could hurt them both.

"I didn't teach her that."

"Just help me get her down (Y/N)"

(Y/N) sighed with a little chuckle, taking a few steps closer.

"Hey baby fox, are you willing to share with me?" That got the girl's attention with a bright smile.

"Hi mom!"

"Baby fox how many times have I got to tell you, she's your mom I am just a friend." (Y/N) sadly enough still hadn't cracked Yukong's shielded heart but the helm master threatening a guy being too touchy with her must mean she is getting somewhere with it.

"Well I am mad at her so you are mom."

(Y/N) chuckled and looked at Yukong with a lifted brow.

"What did you do to get demoted to helm master?"

"The same as every week." Yukong rubbed her forehead, not even offended by the remark as each time she did something that the kid thought 'mean' she'd become helm master and (Y/N) would be the new momentary 'mom' because she was the nice one, it was basically expected from the tiny child. "Forced her to wash her hair."

"Oh no, I hate that too." (Y/N) joked. "Maybe see if she wants a haircut? Short hair dried faster." She whispered her advise before looking at the young girl again. "Can I have a cookie too?"

"Sure!" The little girl held one out without moving.

"Could you get down baby fox? That's a bit high for me." (Y/N) reached up in the air.

"Okie!"

The perfect trap.

The little girl shuffled backwards and climbed half off the the cupboard and so was already in the range of the older two.

"Nooo!" She complained when she was plucked off the furniture and (Y/N) held her over to Yukong. "You employee!" How amusing that the little girl took the world employee negatively.

"Ah, I was demoted from mom too." (Y/N) chuckled with her hands on her hips.

"Buhu, tough luck." Yukong rolled her eyes, deciding that she'd let Qingni finish the cookie she still had so she wouldn't throw another tantrum, holding her under her arm like a little potato sack. "Next time be the one to raise her and you'll get to be mom."

"I'll invent time travel just to do that." (Y/N) promised with a wink. "Need any more of my help? Because I have plans tonight."

"No no, thanks."

"Pleasure, see you ladies soon."

------------------------------------------------

Yukong feared not getting there in time.

sanctus medicus can be dangerous.

And if they surrounded the team that was talked about...

She couldn't think about it.

Not only their guests were in dangers but also them.

And that she couldn't bare think about.

------------------------------------------------

"She is adorable!" Tingyun had easily picked up Qingni, spinning the giggling girl around.

"Fancy seeing you here." Yukong said with arms crossed as (Y/N) shrugged.

"We might be adults but can't we enjoy some ice cream?" (Y/N) grinned, holding a cone of strawberry ice cream in one hand and simply vanilla in the other since Tingyun's hands seemed full. "I assume baby fox wanted some too."

"Yes, I promised her if she aced her spelling exercise she'd get some and the little brat did just that when previously she'd have flunked just because it is funny." Yukong rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Oh trust me, I had to bribe Tingyun with a lot of treats and now she's a sweet tooth."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Stop being so serious." Yukong jumped as (Y/N) swapped one of the cones in her face before bursting out laughing as Yukong wiped the vanilla off her nose with a glare. "You are outside the Palace of Astrum, at least outside live a little."

"You are an annoying one (Y/N)."

"A service I gladly provide for you m'lady."

"Stop it idiot." She shoved her a little, finally having the chocolate and vanilla cone handed to her.

Qingni seemed to sense her treat was ready and appeared almost the next second, jumping in place and reaching for it.

"Calm down there baby fox, the ice cream is not going to run away." (Y/N) said while handing the strawberry cone to Tingyun too.

The child didn't even register the gentle scolding as she grabbed it, like a little ray of sunshine that would ravenously consume her cold treat.

"Well it was nice to see you two but we have some things to do."

"Oh come on I just met this adorable little thing."

"Tingyun, you wanted that new product, limited sales remember? If we don't go you won't get it. This was just a little treat to get along the way."

"Ah, the world is cruel... Well bye adorable one." Tingyun pat the young girl's head who beamed up with her face covered in ice cream. "Let's go (Y/N), your fur will be as silky as mine like this!"

"So you really do hate washing your hair too." Yukong said, getting an eye roll with a dismissive wave from the retreating women.

A small smile with a head shake.

------------------------------------------------

Entering the alchemy commission took her breath away.

Bodies, so many bodies.

Cloud knights and abominations of abundances both littered the ground with blotches of their sparkling and red blood painting the marble floor in a grotesque mosaic.

From here, the smoke coming from the furnace could be seen.

She's almost there.

Please...

She's almost there.

------------------------------------------------

"I didn't know you could draw."

"Ah helm master."

"At ease, it's still before hours, a surprise to see you here this early... And please, we've known each other for a long long time, drop the helm master and call me Yukong already."

"Alright Yu~kong."

"I already regret it." Only hearing a chuckle.

But it was true, it was early in the morning, an hour before the official start of the day so Yukong didn't expect her to be here.

"Well yeah I can draw." (Y/N) decided to answer. "It's a nice pastime."

"Can I see?"

"Sure, why not?"

Yukong grabbed the little booklet, flipping through the pages.

There was a lot of variation from one to the next. Most were black and white but some had color, most were people but some had landscapes, most were people she recognized from around the Luofu but some were animals or completely made up faces, most were realistic poses and actions but some were outright comic-esque.

"You are really good." Yukong said, impressed by it, surprised by each new page she looked at. "Why didn't you go into arts?" It made no sense, a desk job at the sky-faring commission being far from what and artist would like.

"It's good enough for me." She said with a grin that answered nothing. "And going to a snobby school and all? Bah, not worth it."

"Hmmm... But I could see you in a place like that."

"Far too much compliments from you."

"But not during work hours." She handed the booklet back.

"Yes yes, wouldn't dream of offending you." With a little wink.

Yukong just rolled her eyes and walked away.

But had she barely stepped up to her desk that she spotted the little blue flower on it.

Chuckling softly as she twirled it between her fingers.

------------------------------------------------

Yukong so the reinforcements that that friend came to get take another route.

She?

Oh she had jumped the safety railing to arrive on a lower walkway, seeing something was off from her, people huddling around a spot.

And something told her that she wouldn't like what she'd see.

------------------------------------------------

"Do you like (Y/N)?"

Yukong shattered the plate she was cleaning in the sink.

Having dropped it in surprise and now they were down a plate.

"Qingni."

"Mom I am not a little girl anymore. I am not blind, you care for each other."

"I care for everyone that works for me little lady." She looked at Qingni who hadn't even looked up from the book she was reading at the dinning table.

"And I don't break plates for everyone that works with me."

This is one of the two things she genuinely disliked about her daughter, not the daughter itself but the fact that it was of course her daughter that had these things... One being her want to be a skiff pilot and the second that she was as perceptive as Caiyi at the most inopportune moments in Yukong's life like this one.

"You just surprised me."

"Mhmmm."

"Qingni."

"Are we going to fight about this too now? Mom you have the right to be happy and not just some grumpy old woman behind a desk."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Then beg."

Qingni looked surprised with what she said and scrambled to seemingly have something to do to leave the room as quickly as she could.

Yukong just sighed.

"This girl." Shaking her head and looking at the broken plate with a sigh.

It is not as simple as her daughter thought, it wouldn't seem correct as someone's boss to pursue anything.

But Jing Yuan needed a new archivist and (Y/N) was great at that, she was even offered the job but hesitating to accept for some reason.

If Yukong could convince her... That means she wouldn't be her direct superior anymore... That would be good.

That way... She might have a chance.

-----------------------------------------------

Yukong's fear slowed her to a jog and then to a walk.

Ear twitching as she heard the muffled sobs of something the crowd of people must be surrounding.

Feeling petrified about who it could be, there were many people that when to help that she wanted safe and she couldn't see all of them and her mind was telling her it was one of these people.

Hearing a mutter as someone spotted her, soon the group parting as she approached slowly.

And.

Like she felt when she got the news of the ambush and need to send help.

She felt like she was out of breath... No... Like she was suffocating...

-----------------------------------------------

"Are you certain?"

"It is a great idea I think, plus it would mean no more overtime because of me, he is a much more lax boss."

"Well I never thought about that." (Y/N) thought with a grin. "The general is a slacker so I might get to relax too." She answered a bit too quickly, making Yukong wonder if she had already made up her mind last time it was mentioned... (Y/N) usually takes more time.

"You'd be too focused on bothering me to relax." Yukong shot back.

"You can't live without me." (Y/N) jabbed her in the side and it hurt a bit more then it usually did. "But sure, I'll tell him I accept after the benefactors leave and these arbor crisis is resolved."

Yukong smiled only getting a little grin back.

"I guess I'll also have a question then."

"Why not now?"

"No, only after."

(Y/N) tilted her head with a grin, an almost knowing smile... with a hint of something she couldn't place.

"Well I'll wait for that time then."

-----------------------------------------------

It felt like the world crumbled.

Like every little piece of it crumbled to shards first, to splinters next, to dust after and to nothing last.

For a moment it was the same feeling of incapacity as the day she was still with the crying Qingni... But that problem could be solved.

And all the problems after it could be and were solved by one special someone.

By...

"Tingyun." The name slipped from her lips before she was able to do anything else.

The younger foxian lifting her head, looking over her shoulder at the older woman, face marred with streaks of endless tears.

A step closer.

Ears dropping and tail limp under the weight on her shoulders.

A step closer.

Barely contained sobs now that her attention was one someone else.

Another step.

Her arms felt heavy, holding such weight for a long time now but unable to let go, she couldn't, she could.

A last step, Unable to escape the growing reality. Trying to crouch down but ending up dropping to her knees.

Robotically and slowly unwrapping the younger foxian's grip from the dead body she hadn't yet let herself look at.

Grabbing her behind her head and the other hand on her shoulder before pulling her in against her chest.

It was not a moment later that she heard a few seams pop, Tingyun was gripping on her outfit so hard as her tears stained through and were felt on her skin as she cried.

She didn't want too... She didn't... But faced with reality, all she could do is watch.

Watch and watch.

Hollow previously peppy (E/C) eyes were now a hollow dull of a life departed.

How a bruise was clearly present at the base of her neck with the skin pulled a bit oddly with her head tilted more then it should be able to go... A broken neck...

Once well kept hair because of her sister now messy and windswept.

Yukong could barely think.

She couldn't reconcile the idea of the annoying woman with the corpse.

But people were muttering.

A body existed.

She was holding her sister.

She had seen it.

(Y/N)... Was gone.

-----------------------------------------------

It had been a following few dark days, the first few of many more to come.

But life, a cruel master, went on.

"Call if you need anything." Yukong pat Tingyun's shoulder, not expecting and indeed not getting a reaction from the foxian, just staring at the wall next to her bed. "I'll come by later to make you dinner alright?" Once again no answer.

Many of the dishes ended up going uneaten anyway but she would not not try.

Yukong sighed, standing up and closing the door behind her.

Looking up, gently touching the surface of the door.

Dragging over the scratch marks left on its surface with dates over it. Knowing from old banter that it was to measure how tall, at the time little, Tingyun got, marks left by (Y/N) in the world that would stay there far longer then she did.

Swallowing heavily, walking down the hall and down the stair.

Looking around the living room. It had only been a few times she had been over, she can actually count it on one hand but this house never felt this empty.

Any time she was here something was going on: The TV was one, something was cooking, some music was blasting, papers were everywhere for another over the top art project.

...

But now the TV slept, the kitchen was clean, the air was silent, the room was clean.

Biting her tongue.

And the room would remain as such, never to be touched by the eccentric hands of the foxian.

Yukong couldn't help it, she pulled out a chair at the dinning table and sat down, feeling unable to do anything else.

Elbows on the table and face in her hands.

Why? Why why why? Why is it always her? Why does it always happen to her?

First she took too much time gathering her courage to talk to Caiyi and lost any chances because she had started dating that man while Yukong was still hesitating.

And now this...(Y/N) not only being taken as the pawn of destruction but then also k-killed after she was done with her body. Once again depriving Yukong of her time to speak because the helm master was pushing it back.

First Caiyi not (Y/N).

What did she ever do to deserve this?

What wrongs have Yukong brought upon this world for the world to only grant her pain and hurt?

Just which aeon had she wronged for agony to be her only path forwards in life?

How many tears will she need to shed to be pardoned?

Why?

Just why?

Why?

Her shoulders jumping up at the sharp intake of breath.

Sliding her hands up to grab her hair as she stared at the table.

At first just watching the little drops of salt water fall on it, feeling them make their way down on her face.

And then dropped her head on the little salty puddle, covering her head with her hands, crying into the empty and quiet home.

-----------------------------------------------

It all seemed so hard.

Soul soothing ceremony? Yeah right... It did nothing to help, everyone still seemed as much in pain as at the start of it.

Each glance to where she'd be expected but being met with nothing filled her with an ache that would never leave.

"Madam Yukong?"

Turning around.

"Tingyun." She said softly, the younger woman having lost the skip in her steps, the smart in her replies, the glow to her face. Existing but not living. "What can I do for you?" She tried but both knew the smile she forced on her face was just that, forced.

What a pitiful liar Yukong was.

The younger foxian held up a box, Yukong had thought it to be for the ceremony but when Tingyun put something else in the skiff she had forgotten about it and now it was being held out to her.

She held her arms out, grabbing it, it wasn't that heavy but still had some heft.

"What is this?"

"I've been going through her stuff." Tingyun said softly. "I've been finding things she would have had no reason to have. I've been going around giving them to people whom it may concern."

"No reason to have?"

"Yeah tho I put some other things in there that I am sure she'd want you to have." Looking away but Yukong would see the tears she blinked away. "I need to go."

"You can take days off you know."

"You are a hypocrite Madame Yukong... We both know we hide in between papers and files to escape." Was all she said before quietly walking away.

Yukong let her despite feeling responsible for her.

Now that (Y/N) was not here she felt like it was her job to look after her... But she knew more then anyone when someone wanted to be alone with their feelings.

-----------------------------------------------

Sitting in the quiet of her home never felt so foreign.

Like it didn't belong.

Silence had never reigned master like this, not with (Y/N) always being around.

Biting her tongue as she sat on her bed with the box.

Another thing that would never happen again.

Looking out the window at the tree that was almost the singular reason this all started... Those little annoying tock-s against the window because of acorns that night being missed like never before.

Looking down at the box, she was terrified of opening it but she needed too... She couldn't help it.

The first thing she saw was the dried remains of a hand sized bouquet of familiar blue and green flowers that Tingyun had put on top of the rest of the things.

It was probably the last she had got for Yukong but got taken over before she could ever give it to her.

This first thing already making it hard to go on but she carefully put it on the nightstand and went on.

Next was a book she had borrowed from Yukong's little personal library and hadn't brought back... Now she wished they would keep fighting about it each day but those fights wouldn't come... Would never come...

The follow up was a bag of tea not found of the Luofu but one Yukong had tried at (Y/N) residence, one Tingyun brought back on her travels.

And then there was a little perfume bottle, pressing on it was a reminder that the one that probably owned it was not here anymore.

Then came an already crumbled and tear stained picture, Yukong still remembered that day. In the picture she is frowning because (Y/N) is pulling on her ears while Quinque is tugging on her tail and Tingyun took the picture. They had been out and ran into each other while in Aurum alley and Quinque had demanded (Y/N) to help with the 'mean mom' that was not buying her sweets.

These things felt more like a box of memories Tingyun had shoved everything that reminded her too much of (Y/N) in and had given it away to Yukong but while she had refused to give up Caiyi's things, Yukong could suppose Tingyun was currently deep cleaning the home to try to erase any traces of her sister in it as the pain would be too great currently.

Reaching in, she next pulled out a familiar booklet, once again flipping through the magnificent pages of drawings that would never get a sequel, another stroke of a brush or another trace of a pencil on them, forever fixed in time like this. The empty pages and the half finished sketches hurting more then the finished pieces... None of them would ever be finished and the empty pages wouldn't be touched by her skills, no one would know what was planned and how it should look, forever incomplete, forever lost.

Putting it aside for the last thing in the box, a thicker but same sized booklet.

At the first page, at the first glance, tears fell on the paper.

"I've never seen a more beautiful woman in my life."

Such a short little sentence but done by hands that would never write them again, with that odd little quirk of them of not lifting the pen at the end of the cursive words if they contained a t or an i and making the line or dot on them with one continuous line.

But it was not only that.

She had always asked herself ever since (Y/N) showed her her drawings, "Am I not pretty enough for you to draw me?", always said jokingly and answered with flattery and winks but here she was staring at a pretty little, on the simple side, sketch dating back to a little before their first official meeting.

And each page was just enough heartbreak waiting to happen.

Page after page.

Little sentences of admiration, of pride.

Little sketches of moments she wouldn't have thought were important but were still there.

Page after page, those requested drawing showing up. Many times she looked distracted by work, probably why she didn't notice (Y/N) slacking off to draw these. Some having Quinque too, even the cookie incident being drawn. 

No matter how much she flipped, more and more kept coming up, words and drawings she wished to have seen while the author of them was around and not now.

Hanging her head as her tears fall, booklet slipping from her hands, hitting the ground and flipping open, Yukong seeing a folded piece of paper slipping out and sliding away.

She wiped her face but the tears didn't stop as she kneeled down and reached under the bed to grab it and sat back on the bed.

Unfolding it, more of this little quirky writing.

-----------------------------------------------

As annoying as I am, I can't be that bad can I? Nah, she'd have long distanced me.

Aren't I correct, I believe you'd have long gotten rid of me if you truly hated me.

I might have gone senile in my early 150s only as I am talking to a piece of paper as if it was you but I suppose I'll have to accept that before I take the risk of losing you. Better to live in the shadow of another then to live without you.

I only know her name, Caiyi, and that your heart belongs to her but mine will always belong to you even if admitted only on this lone piece of paper that will never leave my grasp hidden in my private sketch book.

I do wish I will get to say it once in the future tho because as much of steal you pile around your heart there is a crack, as I said, you'd have distanced me if I was only annoying and nothing more. That's my wish.

That maybe one day I'll have a little place in there too if you'd let me.

-----------------------------------------------

It took all her self control to not just wail like a shot animal.

Burying her face in her hands, feeling the paper crumple against part of her face as she sobbed into it.

This... This hurt more then anything in the box, in words said, in empty spaces.

This was worse as there could have been something, anything, and yet there was nothing because of Yukong's own fear of opening up and saying anything.

Something could have happened.

Something...

And as the sun rays filtered through the 

Yukong would live on knowing she missed her chance.

And

(Y/N) died never knowing they felt the same way.

Chapter Text

Let's say... When a certain news came to the Luofu, it took the strength of a certain lazy general to hold back a really determined foxian lady.

Yukong was simply watching Tingyun cling to a skiff while Jing Yuan was trying to pry her off it while softly laughing and trying to explain it is not a good idea to set off unprepared.

Her own arms crossed with tension, if she were as young as the other foxian, she doesn't doubt that she'd be doing the exact same things, but that's not who she is anymore... Even if currently she is doubting that statement, even if she just said it.

This... Ruan Mei, a woman from the genius society, had gotten her hands on...

Rubbing her forehead, silently cursing how slow the preparations were, if they took any more time she'd rethink not joining Tingyun in the stealing of the skiff, she might not drive one around anymore but aeons be damned it she can have someone else be the driver.

That woman, with proof, had basically destroyed all reasons for her newest grief, and that... This time... It was a good thing...

Usually, when someone is forced to stop grieving before it is time, it only leads to disturbances mentally and physically, but this time, the reason, the outright cause, of the grief was just taken, and only emptiness remained.

...

And she would say she was happy even if she didn't know what she felt.

Since yeah sure, it was a bitch slap to not have a reason to feel these feelings... But the second bitch slap was because they were for nothing now so she shouldn't hold onto them.

After all, when the dead you cry for is actually alive, why are you even crying? They are not dead after all.

Yep, that Ruan Mei woman had oh so casually, once again with proof, came forth with what was basically 'Sup, I'm alive' but better worded of course, but still!... That's how strong the bitch slap of reality felt to Yukong.

That woman, while the Luofu couldn't find her, she had done it and also basically... Revived her? She used terms Yukong didn't understand, so she wasn't sure if it was revival or whatever, but she called it that in her mind, as she had already buried (Y/N) in the agony of loss.

...

Welp, time to unpack that, yeah?

It was said the Astral Express crew would bring her back to the Luofu, but they were stuck solving troubles in Penacony, if she remembers the name correctly. She had volunteered to meet them halfway, Tingyun had barged in on that discussion and added herself to the retrieval team... Which cycles back as to why Tingyun is being pried off of a skiff for the last half an hour now, as if she had lost all self-control after the news of her sister being out there and waiting to be brought home.

Yukong forced herself to uncross her arms, fingers brushing against the outside of her pocket where she kept that one letter, always on her as a reminder.

And maybe...

Just maybe...

It wouldn't just be a reminder anymore...

----------------------------------------------

Hurt.

Hurt...

Hurt was all she felt.

Hurt is all she was.

She... What even is she?

Aeons... It hurts...

IT HURTS!!!

-----------------------------------------------

Snapping awake in a beeping room and blinding lights wasn't something she expected.

Trying to sit up before a gentle but way stronger than the weak foxian, enough to hold her down, down on the bed with one hand.

"You shouldn't be moving." An almost bored voice said.

She blinked slowly, looking over, it was an almost Luofu-looking outfitted woman she had never seen, maybe she bought her outfit there.

"You were hard to save." She said matter-of-factly, looking at a clipboard. "Neither dead nor alive... Can you tell me who you are?"

"W-wha..."

"To check mental abilities, who are you?"

"Ah... I... My name is (Y/N), I am from... The Luofu--" "That is enough, your brain is unaffected, rest, there's a long road ahead of you."

----------------------------------------------

(Y/N), feeling a deep tiredness since she woke up, listened to these people that seemed to know her... Well, the her from the Luofu, that is, the fake, talks to her about stuff she supposedly did with them.

They seemed nice, truly, but this tiredness...

A weight on her shoulders she could no longer put down, grafted on her shoulders and body, now that it was what kept her alive.

This darkness, this piece of her deep inside, how the abomination that that lord ravager created at the core of her survival and each breath, each step, each smile, felt tired, so tired, a tiredness she'll always carry as long as this life is dear to her.

Sighing softly, she really didn't want to hurt these people, but she was relieved once she was left alone on this ship she didn't know the name of, stepping out and walking to the bow sprit, leaning against the railing near it.

What almost killed her was the reason she survived, but...

Sighing.

How would people react at home?

Do they know the truth?

Tingyun? What about her?

Yu... Yuk...

It was just... So hard.

She dreaded meeting them.

So much that it took her a while to register the rhythm of quick pounding on the floor... And that it was approaching her.

Reaching by instinct for a weapon that was not there before the body came into contact with her.

Thrown down with a groan, eyes turned to the skies of Penacony before slowly blinking and looking down at the sniffling.

"Tingyu--" "HOW DARE YOU ALMOST DIE ON ME?!!" (Y/N) couldn't even finish her one mutter before the other foxian woman was shaking the hard thought for life out of (Y/N) with her own hands.

"A-ah by aeons, stop." She grabbed back, pushing enough to be let go of. "Making my head swim."

...

Tingyun... She looks so much older than her age, tired, features heavy and harsher, and those tears, the red eyes.

Soon tho, (Y/N) was back in a bone-crushing hug, feeling the tremors, the tears wetting her clothes...

"I'm sorry." (Y/N) muttered, hugging back, unwilling to be the first to let go, and so, they stayed like that for a long while.

"Did you really need to wait for that Ruan Mei woman to tell us you were alive?!"

"Ehe..."

"What do you mean ehe?!" She was once again shaking her.

"Tingyun, maybe you should stop, let her go."

Freezing, looking up at the voice.

"Yukong..."

---------------------------------------------------

There will be a part 3, purely because I want to get this part uploaded, and so I don't feel the self-made pressure of "oh my god the chapter is getting too long" and get a block in my ability to write.

Chapter Text

I might write an actual fanfiction for Nova-Yukong, we'll see

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https://youtu.be/9B6cUUYm45k

...

No...

...

N-no...

...

NO!!!

No no no...

This can't be happening... It is just a horrible nightmare...

Caiyi... Please no...

The sounds of explosions around had no more meaning anymore, nor the fires burning around her from those exploding and crash landing starskiffs... If she was lucky one of them would fall on her head and put her out of her misery.

She had lost everything, everything...

Were her ears ringing because of the crash or her world falling apart?

Was her mind silent from the lack of sound or the suffocating pain?

Was he-- "Hey you!! Get up!!"

Yukong was violently ripped from her mind and its prison by a shake to her shoulder.

Purple eyes meeting fiery reds that belonged to the pair of arm shaking her hard.

"Do you want to fucking die?! Get up!!" But the foxian woman shaking her didn't wait for an answer. "I'm sorry for your loss but we gotta move or we are toast!!" Hooking her arm under her armpit to drag her up to her feet before holding her wrist and running.

Wait...

Wait!

"No wait!" Yukong reached back, not having much strength to fight back against the seemingly better off emotional woman. "We can't leave her! Caiyi!"

"She's dead alright?! Gone!! Forever!!"

Yukong froze up at the scream but kept being dragged along.
Despite knowing that, she had not said it out loud as if that would keep it from being reality.

"And you are not! If you don't want her memory to die within this hell hole then you need to survive!"

Despite the situation, there was not much she could take, the world spinning around her.

--------------------------------------

"Gah!!" Waking with a scream... She's alive.

Looking around... It was not a nightmare, this still happened... This... Caiyi...

"You good? I mean, it doesn't surprise me if you aren't."

Looking more pointed, seeing she wasn't alone.

"Wha--?" Eye passing the makeshift shelter in the bowels of a crashed but not on fire starskiff around around her and this yet again new face.

It was a really unimpressive looking guy by all standards of foxian guys. Looking passed him there were a few, maybe three, other foxians with different amounts of injuries laid out in this little place.

"Where am I?" She asked the stupidest question.

"On some planet, in a crashed starskiff with us." He simply said. "Now stay still, let me look you over for injuries, you seem to be the least injured out of everyone here outside of me and even I got my ribs pulverized and moving only with the help of pain meds." That end comment was more ranting then needed.

"That... Woman..." She couldn't help but remember those red eyes... Well eye, singular, just that red eye, and her screams.

"She brought you back here, she's be going around and dragging back survivors."

"The rescu--" "They are not coming, the abundance is blocking the way."

So Caiyi never had a chance to survive... No... Why...

Before she could think too much about it, there was the sound of metal groan, a plaque pushed aside, revealing the hole in the side of the starskiff as a person ducked in.

"Hile, have a look at her, critical but breathing." The owner of that red eye said, lowering a much younger foxian woman to the ground, missing her whole left leg and face badly burnt, as the guy scrambled over.

Yukong couldn't help but take in the features, looking much more off bad then she first thought.

She was wearing the uniform all fighter skiff soldier wore, those blues and white, but the outfit was completely ripped up, the coat missing a whole sleeve and the rest barely hanging on, singed on the bottom, buttons ripped out, the pants having the whole left side on the left leg rubbed off, boots having black burns in them, blood caking her outfit.

And it was not only her outfit that was ripped up.

Her short shoulder length brown hair seemed to be hastily chopped into with a knife or something sharp with brunt pieces, probably was longer and some fire got to it after her own crash landing on this planet, her left ear was sliced through almost right at the base, completely missing, the blood of it covering her hair and face... No, there was a huge gash across her face, forcing her to keep one eyes closed.
there was a crook in her tail she couldn't tell if it was a break or just drooping from bruising, the leg all scratched up and where the sleeve was missing, she missed an actual hand up to her upper arm, some yellow and black imaginary energy shaped into an arm being the current replacement to give her all her limbs for use.

Only thing seeming to be in one piece was the little hip bags tied to her belt.

"Nova, maybe you should st--" "When I drop dead, there are still others I can get out." Came the stubborn reply from the woman as she already moved to leave."

"Wh... Why did you not stop her?" Yukong asked after a moment after the plaque was pulled back in place.

"Why didn't you?" He asked with a bitter chuckle at his own weakness. "Nova is strong headed, you must not be from our division to not know that... But once she gets something in her head aeons help us to change her mind... You are a pilot aren't you?"

Silence was answer enough.

"Yeah, thought so, most of us here are pilots. Since the gunners need to be more exposed to be able to aim all around the starskiff, survival in a crash like these is a ridiculous idea." She flinched a bit, ears pinning back momentarily. "But well Nova is too stubborn to die."

"She is an ace gunner?" Despite the pain it was indeed a surprise that a gunner was alive, the abominations had learned to aim the lethal strikes at the cockpits of the gunners and the alliance learned of that too late.

"Hell yeah, arm blown off and eye cleaved out, she still faced that gorilla abomination to pull me from that wreckage, she still has some fight in her that one."

"Hmm..." Sure she was in pain emotionally and from being smacked around, but with reason and shock still in her system, Yukong's mind was being logical... Too logical for some of her wants currently.

----------------------------------------------

"You really should stop."

"Not before--" "Stop, if you drop dead you can't help others can you?"

This Hile was correct, out of all the little group that grew to a whopping 10, Yukong literally only had scratches compared to the rest of the people.

She really wished she could go back to breaking down and crying like she had earlier but her training didn't let her.

Nova's remaining ear pinned back against her head sharply, annoyed tail twitch, quite unhappy with the turn of event but sadly for her too, this green haired lady had gathered her composure enough to be bothersome now.

"She's correct Nova, it is only her, you and me that are even conscious here, it is dangerous, if you won't listen to me, listen to her too."

"That was horrible grammar Hile." The brunette sighed through her nose, it was easy to overrule Hile alone but currently there is this green haired lady that is much more able then herself... She doesn't doubt that she'll be able to stop her if she really tried.

But her imaginary energy made her choice for her, the fake arm flickering as her power faltered from constant use, draining her energy levels the longer she kept it up. In the moment the arm flickered, blood splattered out as nothing was there to stop the flow of it.

With a hiss, activating her powers again, pushing on, to recreate the missing arm again and stop the flow.

"Case and point." Dammit.

"Fine."

She walked passed them and sat down against the wall of the broken skiff, arms in her lap with a sigh.

"What are you doing."

"As much as I wish you left me there." Yukong said, kneeling near, taking her coat off and slicing through it with a small knife she picked up nearby, creating strips of fabric. "You didn't. Look at this as repayment or something if you are that bitter about this." Since Nova was pulling a face.

The gunner sighed heavily so Yukong decided she had relented, using a remaining piece of the clothing to wipe the blood that had been on the other woman's face for long enough to almost dry completely, wanting a clearer look at the injury spanning her face... Just how is she not hollering in pain with all that's happened to her?

Silently wrapping the strips of fabric around the exposed wounds to either try stop the bleeding or just to protect the wounds from more exposure to the elements.

"So..." Yukong usually didn't mind the silence but currently she couldn't take it, it let her mind wonder too much, talking would help even if it is about the event going on. "Hile said you were a gunner, surprised you made it out."

"I guess you are another pilot then." Nova sighed, not looking that happy about the questioning but was willing to answer it seemed.

"Yeah."

"Trust me, I didn't want to make it out but I wasn't given a choice." She sighed, as if she didn't want to think about it, which she understood, all of them here could have understood. 

"Yeah, many of us will feel that way."

"You tell me? You might not remember your whole freak out you did on me when I tried to get you to safety."

"You... Might be right on that." What she did remember seemed minimal indeed. "I was close to her..."

"No shit, I was too... And I was stupid enough to not stop him from becoming a pilot, he should have never been a pilot."

"... What... Exactly happened? Might help even if I doubt it as I wouldn't want to speak about it myself."

Nova bitterly chuckled.

"My imbecile of a pilot jerked the controls in a last ditched attempt as the skiff was going down, sending us into a spin so that my cockpit would avoid impact from the head on collision with the cliff face... But in consequence it was his that took the full brunt of the impact."

"I'm sorry." But she'd have done the same, tho her case was different, the controls had fried along the way down and she could do nothing but brace herself.

"If you ever have a kid, don't let them be the one to die first."

Yukong pulled the knot on the fabric tight in shock.

"You--" "Are you done? Just leave me alone for now, worry not, I'll stay seated..." Nova cut her off before the obvious question you come. "Imbecile, a child is supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around." That second part was muttered to herself but Yukong heard it clear.

... Child... She... How did she forget? She... Didn't have a choice, she did need to survive... Qingni was it? She barely could focus enough to remember THAT, the name she chose for Caiyi since her husband was horrible with names... She now had that girl's future in HER hands... Oh aeons... There is a child she needs to look after now... She does need to survive.

Nova was grateful she was left alone for now, a hand holding up her head, her still intact eye, looking at the damaged walls of the skiff.

She absolutely regretted ever allowing her child joining the pilots, she despised herself for letting him follow in her footsteps... Even through the divorce and distance between the alliance ship, she should have let him leave with the father... It would have avoided this...

This was reason for her survival, because he didn't... And she couldn't save him, there was nothing left to save from the blood splatter and chunks of flesh dripping down the cliff wall in a gory piñata blast of organs...

It was such pain that pushed her on, making her scour the wreckages littering this little world they were raining down on like tears... Maybe she could save another mother from feeling this pain if she just walked a few steps more and found their sons or daughters still hanging onto life.

----------------------------------------

"They are not aware we are alive! No one is coming for us soon enough as the war is still going on. And. We. Are. Losing. The abundance is at our door literally, the alliance is done for." Nova stood outside as she ranted.

The green haired who she did learn was named Yukong, being her dismay currently, almost literally tugging on her tail to keep her here, can she not go back to crying and screaming instead of this? Bothersome.

Nova wanted to go out and find her skiff again, as she said, they had hit a cliff and her cockpit was mostly intact compared to the field of wreckage around them, she knew from there she could maybe, just maybe, send for help that there are indeed survivors here... Even if she wouldn't easily find it again.

Despite being pessimistic, that SOS would spur on those not coming rescue ship to actually move themselves if they knew there were survivor actually waiting, risking the blockage of abundance to get through, with no knowledge that there are survivors they will wait for the battle to calm before coming to check.

"You can't do that it is suicide!" The pilot shot back.

"We will all die otherwise! How long before the abominations find us?!"

"You said it yourself, if you don't want his memory to die within this hell hole then you need to survive!"

"Oh you bitch." Nova hissed. "Oh you massive bitch!"

"You can fight me after for that if you want." Yukong put her hand up to push Nova back from getting in her face. "But listen to me. These people need you, sure I can still walk around and shoot my bow at stuff but like... We need all those that can be here, to be here."

"Oh so what do you want to do? The moment you look up at the night sky you see skiffs going up in flames and the abominations down here will find us."

She quite literally jinxed them as the next sound was not Yukong's retort but the distorted howl-like growl of one of these being.

"Oh fuck me even more will you?!" She yelled, looking at  gorilla beast and the several wolf looking ones. "Stay back and shoot at any that get too close to the skiff!" She ordered, reaching down towards the little bag on her belt, having had no need for them until now, dipping her hands in them.

"Wait!" But Nova was already gone. "Who's the bitch now?" Almost like summoning a her bow, it deploying in her hand as an arrow materialized in her hand.

Nova flicked her wrist out, several hand length sized metal rods with a spike on the end and little pieces of yellow cloth on the none lethal side were thrown out, stabbing deep into the first wolf.

Ducking the swing of the gorilla, several of these thick and deadly needles stabbed up the length of its torso and arm, one in its face, flicking more into its back before jumping back.

Grabbing even more into her hand and flicking them in the flesh of the wilves rushing her.
She is not made for close rang combat with her weapons but someone needs to do it and she had a knowledge of it while she doubted an archer would, whacking something with their bow at max...
Plus, these can actually be used close rang unlike a bow. Proof being the laceration through the face of a black wolf's face made by the needles she held before swiping down and planting three in its head.

Always aiming for the weak spots.

But with her constant running around to help people, her own pain from loss, her bloodloss despite staunched, her own injuries, she was not as fast as she should have been.

"Nova!" 

The fist of the gorilla hit her in the side, sending her flying, bouncing off the ground like a rubber ball before her body hit a skiff and cracked through the side of it.

Yukong's arrow was what stopped the gorilla from charging towards the skiff and trample it, the hole in it still cracking from the previous impact it suffered.

"No you don't!" Yelling, ears pinned back. "I am not seeing someone else die today!" The next arrow taking off the arm of the abundance monster, blasting a hole through the shoulder joint that expanded like a rupturing cavitation bubble. "So leave her alone and come at me!"

Yukong could only pray that this was not Nova's end, she didn't know her, she didn't know any of these people, but she just couldn't dare seeing someone else die any time soon.

Nova, feeling dizzy, pushing the pieces of skiff off her as she pulled herself to her knees, coughing a few times before the first drop of blood came.

Looking down with the groan at a piece of its wood sticking out of her body right under her left breast.

Turning her head to look at her back, a part also sticking out there... Clean through her body... Well no... More like clean into.

Gritting her teeth, falling over to her side, her imaginary arm vanishing as she coughed heavily again.

Nails scratched against the interior of the skiff until her hand formed a fist, grinding her teeth together... Those monsters... They are still out there... She... Can't leave them there... She can't fail another...

They will overpower the archer, she knows so, even if she takes out a few it will be too much if more come later... All these people will have hoped to survive for nothing...

"Come on mom, you can't give up now."

Oh great, she is seeing ghosts now... No, ghosts don't exist and this can't be a heliobus.

The boy, well man but still and forever a boy in her eye, looking so much like her, only his eyes were sky blue like his cheating father's, body ghastly transparent like hallucinations tend to look.

Coughing out instead of answers, breathing in dust but the fake boy seemed to know what she was to say.

"Yes, we could be together if you let go now, but are you really that selfish? That's not the mother I know."

True, selfish was not a word that described her.

Pushing up on her good arm, the other flickering back into existence as she willed her powers alive.

"You'd die for them before you let anyone do it for you and you don't even know them all that well, that's who my mom is. Ready to die for a stranger."

"And you still went and died in my place." Hanging her head, heaving for air as she felt like she was drowning no matter how much she took in, arms shaking as she held herself up. She knew it was her mind inventing all of what this fake was saying but she didn't care one bit.

"You always taught me to protect those you love and I love you mom, I could save you, there was a chance I could save you... I needed to take it."

Bringing a knee under her body before dragging the other under, her muscles screaming in protest at each movement.

"A parent is meant to protect the child, not the inverse." Breathing out as she talked to the memories of her boy, blood dripping from her mouth as she grabbed the ledge of the hole her body blew in the skiff's underbelly, feeling the shards of the wood slice in her hand at how hard she gripped it but didn't let go.

"Well you always said I was like you. I could protect so I did."

"You were too much like me." Dragging herself up to her feet, looking out to hole through blurred eyesight, yeah... The archer is in trouble indeed. "You should have never touched the sky."

"Would you have stopped me from following my dream?"

Taking a deep breath, pulling herself out of the skiff, knees a bit inwards and hunched over to not collapse instantly.
She assumed she only has one chance for this as after this she'll have no more strength.

"Would I have stopped you?" Breathing in, the breeze brushing against her face as she momentarily closed her remaining eye... Then looking up at the sky for a moment, the night of space filled with the death of her people cruelly beautiful... "No." She whispered. "Never."

No matter how scared she was, knowing there was never certainty that a fight pilot would come back alive... She would have never kept her son from touching the sky.

Down turning her gaze again, putting a foot behind the other, pushing her last strengths, took off in a sprint in the closing in circle of abominations.

Her left foot hit square in the back of a whiter wolf, served as a step up on the gorilla's remaining shoulder, boosting off it with a small burst of her power, sending her careening up in the air.

Twisting her body despite its protests so her hand, when held up over her head, was actually pointing straight down at the ground, more precisely at the gorilla.

Imaginary energy surging through her intact arm as she did a finger gun, aiming it at the monkey in the middle of the formation, gathering the last of her energy left in this final attack. She needs to do it...If she does... Even if she dies, she at least bought them some time.

"Bang." She whispered, a huge discharge of imaginary energy blasting down, sending her body recoiling back from the strength.

And the previously forgotten needles finally revealed their purpose, channeling the charge of power, creating arches of power between themselves like an electrical circuit going overcharged and having a meltdown.

Nova landed on her feet, doing a little bow as at the same time the overcharge of power literally blasted holes the size of a football in the radius's around the needles, blasting their vital organs to pieces of sweet revenge showered in blood.

Nova breathed out, letting her legs give out, falling to her knees, barely feeling the impact.

But before her head or torso could hit the ground, arms quickly caught her, having quickly shut up under her front to stop her from face platting: one across her upper chest the other finding stop on her stomach.

Gently let down on her side to not disturb the puncturing wood.

"Nova!" Yukong called, just barely having caught her, having thrown herself down and ripped her clothes and knees up even more to keep the other from more sever injuries.

The gunner didn't really expect a reaction to her exclamation, watching in horror the newest of the wounds as the fake arm flickered out completely, only the tourniquet she made keeping the other foxian from bleeding from the arm stump again.

Even Caiyi was not this hurt when she d-died, shit shit shit, if she was lost at what to do with her best friend she was complete blown away here.

"Are they... All dead?" Nova quietly asked, eye almost lazily looking at the ground.

"Yeah, whatever you did took care of them."

"Good." Closing her eye... No, not again.

"Keep your eye open!" Yukong desperately demanded. "Come on, stay with me! You can't die on me! I've seen so many die today!"

A chuckle followed with blood coughed out, staining the knees of Yukong's pants as she kneeled so close.

"We are not that close, I only know your name and that you are a pilot." Nova forced herself to talk evenly to get that all out.

"That's enough for me! Come on! I can't have another gunner die in front of me while I can do nothing to help them!!"

"Have you looked at the sky recently?"

"I--What?"

"Yeah... It annoys me... How can death be so beautiful?"

Yukong turned her gaze upwards and angrily witnessed that to be true... Bloody hell.

"Well hold out a bit longer and you'll get to see that annoying beauty fade."

"We are not winning."

"Yes we are, the lights of the abundance are fading." She lied, maybe to give her hope? Maybe to stave of pessimism? Both? Neither? She wouldn't know until much later.

"Are we?" Nothing but a whisper of a long lost hope and strength.

"Open your eye and look at it."

"Too tired."

"No no no! Hey! Nova! Listen!" The green haired pilot demanded but all slowly faded away for the red eyed gunner, no longer hearing the screams, a small smile on her face.

"Nova, you bitch! Answer me!" She demanded, despite her logical mind screaming for her to stop, she still shook her by her shoulders but her head hung limp, eye closed.

She grabbed her tail and squeezed, knowing it would hurt and doctors did this to check if the patient had truly passed out or was faking it but Nova didn't react to that either. Her ears pinning back in despair.

"Not again dammit!" It was too much, Nova was correct, they could count what they knew about each other combined on one singular hand but that damned hand was enough for Yukong to not want to see one more death for the rest of her long life.

"Fucking calm down!" She grabbed her hair before breathing in and dropping her hands. "Think think think!"

Suddenly the night sky was lit up with the brilliant light of... An arrow, a green arrow.

"The... Reignbow Arbiter?" She breathed out.

And suddenly... There was true silence... Sure they couldn't here the war from down on this planet's surface but seeing darkness where before there were the light's of battle... That was true silence.

The... Aeon had took out the abundance with a single arrow... Just like that... A war they fought so hard, ended just like that. Many thousands of abundance died but also foxians... That arrow killing all in its way.

Yukong never felt so small, like nothing she did mattered.

------------------------------------------

It has been 30 years since that dreadful day.

That awful, awful, day.

And to Yukong's greatest petpeeve and fear, melded into one, reminded her of that day... Qingin wanted to be a fight pilot and was fighting her the whole way on it...

She had barely recovered from learning her most trusted amicasador was actually a lord ravager in disguise for who knows how long, the stelleron awakening the arbor and just chaos... Even if it was a while ago that another trouble knocked on her door.

She had barely gotten her to promise that she'd be nice and do her desk job that she was already getting a phone call from her secretary that the girl got herself in a starskiff accident.

"Aeons, help me." Yukong sighed tho worried, knowing it would take precious minutes until she got there to help her.

Why can that girl just not understand that she should stay put and never touch the sky?!

-----------------------------------------

Qingin was not really that scared of the abomination wolves crowding around under her perch, she was scared but not as much as she was of her mother's scolding she knew would come after she got out of this situation.

That's why she hadn't called her even if she knows she is already aware... She called her trump card... 

It was people from the astral express that showed up first tho, maybe seeing the crash she had? Or someone had warned them? She didn't really care as she was a bit relieved even if she told them to leave, they didn't.

Tho that was soon replaced when her mother showed up with the cloud knights.

There were a lot of these creatures, each person having at least one if not two to fight and she was still scared for her mother's safety.

Crying out a bit when one jumped up enough to scramble on the lower containers, throwing its paws at the top of the one she was one, scratching and trying to get on that one too.

"Quigin!" Yukong's panic just went from 4 to 11 real quick, two of these beasts blocking her way and the angle was horrible to try to shoot it with the bow Tingyun had gotten her before being switched out.

Qingin backed up as much as she could, those claws were too close but she barely had place to move around.

That's before something metallic gleamed through the air and hit it in the face like a bullet, sending it toppling back down.

The young woman letting out a shaky sigh as these flashes of metal alternately rained down, from one to three impacting each of the still living creatures, sticking out of them like needles.-- "Bang." -before a yellow and black imaginary force zapped down and was magnetized to the rod, creating a great surcharge until it literally created an arching explosion through the metal needles.

"Sorry I was late." The voice of her trump card said, landing next to her with the clicks of heels being loud in the silence surrounding the place, a mocking bow before straightening out. "I got held up."

Qingin sigh again in relief, the only person she knew that could corral her mother and save the girl from the ass whooping lecture of the century that was sure to come.

"Hi Nova." She said to the older foxian who offered her a smile.

"Next time maybe call before you attract all of the abomination population to your position." Ruffling and messing up her hair style.

Yukong sighed in relief as the woman with the eyepatch and scarred face showed up. The outfit that looked like a mix of cloud knight and skiff pilot but in black and red showing up in time... Again... To save their asses... Again.

Unlike Yukong who could barely even look at a fighter skiff without feeling sick to this day, Nova had gone the complete other way. 

One was helm master of the Sky-Faring Commission, the other was the flight master of the fighter skiff battalions.

One's grief making her despise the sky, the other looking for solace in it.

And still... Even with those differences.

"Show off." Yukong said with her arms crossed as Nova hopped off the containers, almost strutting up the stairs to stand next to her, hands momentarily cupped behind her back. Letting her daughter talk with the benefactors for now and the cloud knights and deal with the red eyed gunner for now.

"I can't have you outshine me in front of Qingin can I?" Nova offered a smile with a head tilt, remaining ear flopping to the side with gravity, crossing her real and robotic arm like Yukong was doing.

"She's my daughter, one's that in a lot of trouble once I get my hands on her."

"And yet I am still the favorite." Rubbing it under Yukong's nose but she wouldn't take the bait. "Dear ol' mother always yelling at her for mistakes and controlling and then here I am, the fun family friend."

"You let her on startskiffs, that's the only reason she likes you. I should be giving you fines for that."

"Ouch that hurts." Poking the helm master in the side through the window in her clothes, getting her hand slapped away. "You know I am always on board too."

"You know why I don't like it."

"And I am telling you that you should stop. She is not happy like this."

"At least she won't die, that's most important."

"More then her happiness? I would have held my tongue that day if I knew this was how it would end."

"You know, once again, that is it not only you."

"And you know how I feel about it, she should get the right to chose."

This was something they never got along on and after years it finally boiled over, a fight that lasted decades.

"Would you let your child once again on one of those damned things after what happened to him?!" She said before her thoughts could catch up... And quite loud, all eyes on the duo. "Nova--" She held up her arm to stop the helm master, ear pinned back with a frown.

"That's a low blow Yukong, a low blow." She sighed, look in her eyes of displeasure, hurt and mild anger. "But if you do want an answer... I'd never keep my child from the sky even if it resulted in me losing him in every other universe too... Because it was his dream and I wouldn't tie him down because of my own fears."

"Nova." She tried again but let her turn around, walking down the stairs to the others.

"Nova..."

"I'm fine Qingin, your mother is just being difficult." Nova rubbed her brows before pinching her nose.

"You tell me about it." The girl muttered.

"Anyhow, you're the benefactor right? Thank you for helping Qingin. I'm Nova, flight mast--"

----------------------------------------------------

"Why won't you listen to me?"

"Because it's MY LIFE!"

Nova sighed, not interfering in the fight, having followed back to the Palace of Astrum, still deciding to provide help.

Deciding to be the one to choose the tea so mother-daughter could have a talk but by the time she finished with it, this was the situation.

Holding the platter with the cup with an almost somber face as the two argued, the rest of the commission doing good faking hearing nothing going on... Tho the benefactors were now here and hearing this too.

"...You know I have the talent to make it! I can become Luofu's best pilot, just like you were!"

"Talent? You'd be dead if it weren't for those two outworlders helping to hold those dogs of until Nova showed up. Do you think stealing a starskiff and taking to the skies is a show of talent? What about being trapped by abominations? Did you at any moment think about what I would feel if something happened to you? Do you know how many people dream of a relaxing desk job at the Sky-Faring Commission? You promised me to work responsibly in your post. Not only have you broken the Sky-Faring Commission's regulations, you've broken your promise to me.

"I already told you — I had no choice! I want to help you and the Sky-Faring Commission, not sit at my desk dealing with never-ending papers! That job doesn't suit me... I got the highest grade in the fighter pilot test — they all said I was a genius like you. 'Like mother, like daughter.' They were all jealous of me... But no one even knew I had to take the test behind your back. You would never have allowed me to go if I told you about it!"

Yeah that was a point of contention, Nova had let the girl take the test but to validate it, it had taken Yukong's signature.

"Behind my back? Do you really think you could've walked into the test and sat in the cockpit if I hadn't given my permission behind the scenes?" Nova had needed to tell Yukong, the woman was not happy but she promised her that she wouldn't let her pilot a fighter skiff unless the helm master said so which had calmed her enough to sign the papers. "As for 'genius', don't mention that word to me again. Why do you insist on becoming a pilot!? I don't understand."

"And I don't understand why you don't understand... Why can anyone in the world become a fighter pilot, except the helm master's daughter? Don't you realize how ridiculous that is? You may not want to fly anymore, but don't trap me down here with you!"

"Qingni! Where are you going?" Nova watched the girl run off.

"I'll go after her, you have guests to deal with." She offhanded told the helm master, putting the platter off to the side, on a little table, leaving without more to say. "Benefactors." She greeted while walking passed them.

Nova sighed, the breeze a welcome after the heaviness hanging over their head in the Palace of Astrum.

The girl had not gone that far, sitting on the pedestal at the foot of the staircase.

"Can I sit?" She asked with a gentle smile.

"Yeah." Scooting over even if it was not needed, Nova sitting down.

"Look... I won't say I agree with her, you've heard our own fights over this topic."

"Yeah, everyone heard how mom found out about me taking the test."

"My ears were ringing for days and I thought she was going to rip of the external part of the remaining one." Flicking her own ear.

"Why can't she not listen to me? Or you? You know better then me no? You are the flight master. Why not trust you if not me?"

"Things... Happened to us Qingin, to everyone... The past affects the present. In my case or in her case, it is different." putting her hand on the younger girl's knee gently.

"But why can't she understand?"

"You'll need to ask her. If I told you what I think is happening it could come off as a total lie and taint the truth."

"She'll never tell me, she always diverts the question until I just stopped asking."

"I can't help you with that, my own recollection of that is different."

"And will you not tell me yours?" Nova gave the girl's leg a squeeze, shaking her head.

"No, not until she does, I told you once that I promised her and I do keep them, my promises."

Qingin sighed.

"I hate it when you two team up against me!"

Once again ruffling her hair.

"That's what we do best even if she never actually flew together."

"What you do best is to beat around the bush so long it grew into a tree."

Nova started laughing, Qingin taking that as slight offence.

"I am correct, it took you a decade, I had time to grew up to be a little kid for you two to even just hold hands in the privacy of a home only we three were in, I'll have grey hair before you two even come close to anything."

"Are you trying to play match makers?"

"I've know you my whole life, I need a mother that's one my side here."

"Not just match maker I see... You outright are planning marriage there, slow down there baby fox." Flicking her nose. "Trust me, all for it, you mother is a wonderful lady... But she can't let go of the past and I won't force her, and you won't either."

"But if you did more then hang out and just drink that awful bitter tea of yours while talking about work she'd be--" "Stop trying to marry your mother off just so she becomes more lenient, that's not how it works."

It was amusing in the short run but true in the long run... She had never really expected to wake up after that day and when she did it was not Hile, who she had known for her whole service, but some temperamental green hairs foxian that scolded her for trying to die in front of her that greeted her.

Touching the little stone on the pendant she wore, a piece forged from the arrow that ended the war, every survivor that day had a piece like this.

And without truly realizing why, the green hair and red eye stuck around, being friends in the oddest of ways since it was born from death, yelling and blood.

Plus aloof and determined didn't mix all that well, Yukong wanting stability, Nova pushing forth.

But despite their differences, between all those in the little group that survived together, these two stuck near enough to actually be friends.
Even Hile distanced himself, giving in his resignation and moving to another ship of the Xianzhou alliance with no contact... Only Yukong and Nova were still on the Luofu, alive and on speaking term.

 Above all, it was hard to not get closed after all, only the two of them knew what went on that day... But as she said, she wouldn't push, Yukong still hung up on the past, she wouldn't be the one to force her to change, being this close, if it was only that... Would be enough for her.

Her phone pinged and she looked at it.

"I'm needed, some of the ground crew has somehow ruptured a fuel line." She stood up. "Do send me a message if I can help, alright?"

"Oh... Okay, see you."

"And stop trying to arrange marriages for us."

"No promises, I will get that signature on those documents one day."

"In your dreams... Welp, I'll get going."

--------------------------------------------

She sighed, putting it away... She did warn Yukong about not keeping those in those places.

She had never read them of course but she had had enough talks with Yukong along the years to glean the basics and... Well... It is a discussion Qingin should have had with Yukong and not discovered by reading a diary.

The fuel line trouble was still not fixed but... It could wait.

Making her way through starskiff haven with a fast stride, looking for a familiar girl she had quick spotted with the benefactors nearby.

"Ah, benefactors, thanks for keeping Qingin company while I got here." She said, walking up.

"It is nothing, we're here to help but we think this should not include us, we are far from familiar with the situation." The one known as Welt Yang said.

Nova grabbed the girl's shoulder in a gentle squeeze, this must be a lot for her.

"Yeah I get it, thank you still for all you've done for us and the Luofu at large. I wish I could have been on the ship to help out at the time, it would have made things easier on you."

"It's fine, the crisis was avoided, the Luofu is safe, now there is a much more personal crisis to fix."

"Right... Come on Qingin, time to talk."

"Right... Thank you again for your help."

"With pleasure miss Qingin."

"Come on now, better get it over soon so you stop worrying over it."

"Right..."

Nova gently pulled her away, already having an idea where Yukong was, always the same place.

"You knew I was adopted?"

"Yeah I knew that but I never met your parents, only back on the Luofu did I even learn you existed... Correction, I sadly saw the tragic end of one of them, harshly dragging your mother away from the body of your birth mother for her own survival."

"Mmm..."

"Never heard much of your father and know not much about Caiyi either, her name being about half of what I know about her. With the rest being the effect her death had on your mom with a sliver of childhood stories."

Rubbing her shoulder.

"It will be fine Qingin."

------------------------------------------

"Mom..." Qingin spotted her first, looking at the gate all skiff would leave through.

"Qingni? Why is Nova here too?"

"Yukong drop the tone." Nova chastised. "She mentioned she was trying to mend things between you to the benefactors, but was feeling shy about it. So I came with her since they thought it was family matter."

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's talk once we're home." She tried to grab her wrist but the girl pulled it back.

"Actually... I want to talk to you about something right now. I want to become a fighter pilot, no matter what."

"We've talked about this many times. No means no."

"But... But..."

"Yukong, here her out, she... Has something with her."

Qingin slowly pulled out the diary, showing it off without opening it. Yukong instantly recognizing it, grabbing it, rubbing her hand over the cover of it.

"Is that... Caiyi's diary? How did you...? I understand now... I'm sorry, Qingni... I cannot support your dream because I made a promise to someone else. I don't expect to gain your forgiveness. I just hope you can... Understand my reason." 

Finally, relenting in her mindless denial to think it over, not soon enough.

"Mom, what are you talking about? I'm your daughter — our bond is bigger than forgiveness and reason. I'll listen to anything you have to say..."

"I can fill in the blanks for moments I've been present for if you want." Nova also offered.

"Just like you, I once longed for the sky. I know what it feels like... To fly through infinite space, to be surrounded by the vast expanse of nothingness, with unimaginable splendors looming in the distance. To float like a single leaf in the fathomless stellar sea... Some called it loneliness, but we called it freedom... Caiyi was like that, too. We were friends since childhood. We flew starskiffs everywhere — causing trouble until the Knights caught us and dragged us before General Jing Yuan. We soon became the most elite fighter pilots of the Sky-Faring Commission. It wasn't an easy life... You could even say it was a cruel one. You never knew if the friend next to you would make it back alive. Of course, the same could be said of yourself. But those are my best memories. We would strike out into the sky — repelling demons and upholding justice — the blood we shed bore witness to it all. The life of a Foxian is short and fleeting... Surely we should dedicate ourselves to such glorious aims? The mind is mysterious... I've lived for more than two hundred years, forgotten nearly every conversation I've ever had... But I still remember us shooting the breeze that day — it's crystal clear. It was the last time I spoke to Caiyi. When I climbed out of the burning carcass of the starskiff, I looked up into a clear sky — pure and seemingly unadorned by the atmosphere that arced far above us. It was the most beautiful sky I had ever seen... But all I could feel was unbearable pain. I sunk to the ground and gazed up helplessly. In my dream, that was the day I died."

Yukong seemed to be needing a break.

"Of course, I didn't really see it that way." Bringing the girl's attention to her, Nova smile a bit. "Quite violently yelling at your mother that Caiyi's dead and to fucking move it if she wants to survive long enough to remember her... Telling you, she freaked out so much on me I thought she was freaking feral and she remembers nothing of that... In total we were 10 I think... Survivors, I managed to gather... And I must apologize, I think she heard me but I did say that a child should bury their parent and not the other way or how I regret to have let him become a pilot, my son having been me pilot and died so I could live... I think my words also had a hand in the current situation you were faced with and I am sorry."

"And then this woman almost dies on me too, skewered up like roast pork on a skiff part."

"Mom... Nova... This is the first time I've heard either of you talk about this... But I'm not a little girl anymore. The road of a fighter pilot is a cruel one, I know that now...But I won't hide from it — I'm not afraid to walk the same road as her. If my sacrifice can bring happiness to the citizens of the Xianzhou, then I'm ready for it! You are still a gunner, the flight master, you know that and you are the helm master, still sending those skiffs out to fight."

"You are so very similar to Caiyi. The more outstanding you became over the years, the more fearful I turned. I've known for a long time you were ready... Nova knew that well enough and tried to make me see reason... But I was not... You know, the cruelty has never claimed victory. Me, Caiyi, your father Guangyuan, Nova, her son... We were prepared for the worst when we enlisted but do you know how we won that war? The war that took away Caiyi and the lives of hundreds of thousands of fighters?"

"The Reignbow Arbiter's divine arrow..."

"Yes! The mighty blessing of the Reignbow Arbiter annihilated all abominations in a single strike! But we had to pay with the blood of hundreds of thousands of soldiers just to halt their advance! If crushing our enemies was as easy as breathing for the Reignbow Arbiter... Then what purpose did our sacrifices serve? Under the might of an aeon, the sacrifices of ordinary creatures are but a joke... We are nothing... We mean nothing..."

"Yukong..."

"Mom..."

"...But I should never have allowed my fears to compel me to make decisions for another person... Even if that person is my daughter. I brazenly interfered with your choices. I am sorry. That is my failure as a mother. Even Nova here tried to make me see it but I was blind, I wanted to be blind."

"Mom... You don't need to apologize. Really, you don't need to..."

"I'll take you to fill in the paperwork tomorrow. You'll start as ground crew, just like Caiyi, Nova and I did. I believe that one day... You'll make an outstanding fighter pilot." Nova nodded to herself, already thinking of preparing those papers tonight.

"Huh? Really!? Thank you, Mom! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

"I was afraid of you following in my footsteps, and more afraid of you taking after Caiyi. But if this is your choice... Then I'm willing to support you, even if you live to regret it."

"Mom... I have one last request..."

"Tell me."

"I want to... Fly with you at least once..."

"Hehe, I... I'm afraid I can't. I won't be flying anymore."

"But... Why?"

"...I guess I already touched the sky."

"Worry not, I'll bring you on a tour once you worked your way up." Nova promised, getting a smile back.

The young girl leaned against the railing, looking at the jade gate, much closer then she would have usually stand to her mother.

"You good?" Nova whispered, standing on Yukong's other side, conversing quietly.

"I will be, this was long needed." Sighing, a weight lifted up it seems.

"Worry not, I'll take care of her."

"Even you can't stop all." Yukong grabbed the railing with a hand, drumming her fingers over it.

"But I'll try." Nova put her hand over hers to hold it, this time it was not pulled away like it would be in public.

"I know you will... I've been so blind, hiding behind fear."

"Trust me, I know the feeling, a mother always worries."

"I suppose so."

"You don't need to be strong all the time, we are here, both of us."

Yukong flipped her hand to be able to grab Nova's who let her.

"And Nova? I am sorry for what I said to you back there."

"It's fine, I have long forgiven you."

Yukong smiling a little, Nova giving a big one back.

The three of them standing in silence for a while.

"Oh and your daughter is already planning the flowers and cake for our wedding."

"WU-WHAT?!!"

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9B6cUUYm45k

Dealing with the borisin crisis was not something that had been on ANYONE's plate when preparing for the wardance, much less dealing with Hoolay who got out.

But for the general that needed to deal with it, Feixiao, this was not the most surprising event of her visit. It was not finding her healer almost dead, not swallowing the crimson moon nor fighting her own shadow in her mind... No, all of those were dwarfed by the surprise and shock she currently felt.

All Yukong could feel, on the other hand, was a mix of embarrassment and many other lesser feelings.

"Who'd marry you?" Yukong's eyebrow twitched, she's about to punt the general into the void of space.

"Feixiao..." She muttered.

"Don't get me wrong but like friend... I had the idea you were never eligible to anyone... Like never ever and last we talked was like 2--3? Weeks ago? What's going on here? Did the borisin replace you too?" But the look she got was enough to stop the general... Yeah nope only Yukong can glare like that.

"It's a long story."

Feixiao suddenly got a bench out from somewhere and was sitting on it, waiting for said story.

Yukong sighed, there is no way out of it is there? Sitting down too.

Eyes drifting to the simple golden ring with a line of blue gems embedded in it deep enough to make a smooth surface, culprit of her current predicament with her friend looking to dig for gossip.

With a deep breath... Where should she even start.

"Well..."

------------------------------------------------------

"You are still so stuck up."

"Qingni!"

"What, that's true!" The girl threw her hands up. "You look like does girl's that can't talk to their crush mom. What's about the label of a date or dating changed anything mom? Nova's still her old self and I am not having you chase her off because you suddenly an ice block."

Well it is not her fault she is ignoring her... Shhh... Yukong said it is not hers and she is not listening to anyone saying it is.

"It is not that simple."

"She won't just up and vanish if you forget her. She's been asking me if she messed up somewhere."

"Qingni." It's... Not that easy... She wanted to say but only thought those words. Each time she got close to someone, no matter what the cruel hands of fate took them away. She could still barely reconcile with the idea Qingni herself might be gone now that she let her be a pilot.

------------------------------------------------

The almost mocking laugh made her brow twitch again.

"Feixiao."

"What? The kid's not wrong. I heard stories of the cold helm master of the skyfaring commission. I'd never expect you to run because of that."

"I say this with the utmost respect but... Fuck you." Feixioa gave her wide eyes and Yukong gave a small malicious smile. "Go on, tell others, no one will believe you."

"You monster."

"Should I leave? I mean the story doesn't matter that much?"

"No no no, please do go on."

---------------------------------------------------------

"Go on, do it." She heard a familiar whisper, about to turn around to scold her daughter for sneaking around when...

A bouquet of flowers was almost shoved in her face... The one holding it probably miscalculated the distance as a face full of flowers probably was not what was planned.

"Ah, sorry." Nova, the ever energetic foxian, yanked the flowers back as Yukong plucked the flowers from her hair and spat out a petal before looking up. Navo the never nervous one was tapping her foot and had a somewhat uncertain smile.

Yukong looked down at the flowers, it was nothing too special but she didn't like extravagant stuff despite her job and status, it was some simple blue and yellow flowers, pretty.

"This is in case I did something or overstepped." The brunette said, rubbing her neck, handing the flowers over. "I know it is cliche for the one making a mistake to love bomb with flowers and gift but I promise I don't mean it like that. Again, sorry if I messed up whatever I did. I know how hard it would be fo--" Yukong's held up hand silence Nova's useless apologizes.

"You didn't do anything bad rest assured." Yukong reassured. "It is more or less... You know..."

"Ooooooh... Well I am not that easy to get rid off." Throwing her still flesh and bone arm around Yukong's neck and pulling her close, making the helm master almost trip over her own feet, forced to bend down slightly. Nova having no trouble in getting the meaning because that 'You know' having been around Yukong for a long time after all, she knew her more then anyone else. "You couldn't shake me off before and you will not in the future."

"Is it a marriage proposal." Yukong joked since Qingni loved to bring it up and it would lighten the mood.

"What if it was? Would you say yes? To lil ol' me?" Nova had the exact same none serious tone in her voice, knowing Yukong would probably need a full century or 7'000 more to get in line with the idea of marriage and Nova was fine with just dating for as long as it took... Neither noticing Qingni was still around tho, the little idiot.

"Well in the far future yes bu--" "She said yes!" Yukong and everyone around jumped at the yell as her daughter jumped out of a pile of  boxes before tumbling over on herself.

"Qingni?" Yukong asked only for the daughter to scramble up, snap and picture and just bolt. "What?"

"You should be careful about what you say Yukong." Nova pinched her nose with a deep sigh, instantly understanding it.

"Huh?"

"Qingni has been trying to marry you off remember?"

And then it clicked.

"Qingni no!" Running after the girl while Nova caught the discarded bouquet and ran after them with a laugh.

-------------------------------------------

This time, Feixiao's laugh was sky splitting. The general falling on her side holding her stomach as her friend blushed under the attention on their both from people around them.

"S-so you never caught up with her." Feixiao finally said when she regained her breath, wiping her tears between persisting giggles.

"She already had the documents and was just waiting to submit them." Yukong said almost indignant that this is how she ended up married. "Who does that?"

"It sounds like you are more mad about her forging your signature then you are about the marriage but well, I might not know her like you do, but like you this Nova does have a reputation as quite a sharp shooter as the flight master of the Luofu."

"She is as idiotic as she is skilled in a cockpit, I swear her signature was not forged like mine."

"You could have had it annulled if you really wanted it Yukong. I think you don't might it that much or I am more then sure you'd have caught up with the rascal." Touché Feixiao, touché.

"Forgery of legal documents, she is still grounded for that."

"Literally or figuratively?"

"Yes."

"Ah, got it, not pissing Yukong off added to my notes."

"You can be such a child."

"I just lack the worries you do." Waving it off. "Do go on, how did you got from submitting those forms to this?"

"Well what comes now is what I heard from eye witnesses and the culprits themselves along with the incident report."

"Ooooh this is about to get good."

----------------------------------------------------

"You think this is... Bland enough?" Qingni sweatdropped at Nova's words.

It's not her fault her mother doesn't like flashy jewels but aeons be damned, seriously?

"It is the blandest golden ring you could find." She tried to reassure.

"Mmmm... The engraving is too intricate tho."

"Oh my aeons."

"What? If she doesn't like it your mother would not only annul the wedding, she'd annul my life."

"She is not THAT scary."

"Oh you don't know how scary your mother is. She goes easy on you kiddo, I don't have the luck with that."

"Come on, she is not that bad."

"My ears were ringing for a week when she learned about me even letting your into the docks like a dog kicked to the curb, do not test your mother."

Nova wasn't that scared the ring wouldn't be fine since Yukong hadn't gone through three different walls and Jing Yuan himself to ask for those marriage documents back to shred them... Nova is taking this win very happily even if she'd have been fine just being around Yukong as long as they lived with no marriage needed.

Qingni had other ideas and Nova just shrugged and gave thumbs up.

The little pair of truly bland rings, simple golden wedding bands with not even engravings to be the least flashy possible, were bought after a long while spent in the jewelers.

She held them between her index and middle finger as she held a skewer with some sugar glazed fruit on it with the others, something she didn't knew the name off but Jing Yuan ate often.

she was walking over a little wooden bridge, looking at the scenery of her home with a flick of her tail, biting the top off, the sugar crunching loudly.

She felt the rings shift because of the movement and quickly caught the one that almost fell.

"Aeons." She sighed, putting the one in her pocket and reaching for the other one before she got-- "AAH!!" -scared to death by a Diting jumping up to yank the skewered treat from her hand.

Flinging her arm up to try to shake the dog off but feeling the ring slip her slackened hold.

"FUCK!!" Letting the treat go as the ring fell on its side, rolling down the bridge in the way she came from.

Racing after it but it had rolled into the street, getting punted by a sprinting messenger.

Quickly shoving through people to not lose it from sight as it rolled down into an alley, bouncing off the wall before finally coming to a stop.

With a heavy sigh, walking over.

"NO!!" Diving forwards but some bothersome bird plucked up the shiny thing and she ate the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust around her.

Picking her head up, ear twitching in annoyance.

"I'll send you to the afterlife so my son can hunt your spirit!" Nova cursed at the bird, scrambling up and pushing people that wanted to help her up, bolting after the bird.

Jumping on the protective railing and lunging up into the sky.

"Gotcha!" Calling out as she caught its tail.

Quickly throwing out her hand as the bird squawked and let the ring go, grabbing it as it freed itself.

...

Looking down... Seeing she is quite literally above an almost endless drop.

"Shit..." Was her last words before she plummeted out of the sky.

Lucky Nova this time, she fell on top of a passing starskiff, unlucky Nova this time, it caused the driver to swerve up on the steering that almost sent her tumbling off before she grabbed it.

To her absolute dismay, with both hands, watching the escape artist ring tumble down the skiff and fall onto one of the many other bridges.

Getting her feet under her, Nova jumped to grab the railing before the skiff could get too far from it.

Hitting against it with her chest, shaking the wooden structure as she grabbed on it. Freezing solid as the ring wobbled on the edge of it.

Climbing up slowly before quickly scooping it up.

Nova's eyebrow twitched with irritation before taking a deep deeeeeep breath to gather herself, truni--KNOCKED OVER BY A SPEEDING MERCHANT'S OUT OF CONTROL CART.

"OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!!" Looking at her empty hands and at the ring caught on top of a little flag pole on the out of control cart barreling down the slanted street.

And so the Luofu populous got to see a speeding cart followed by a desperate merchant and those two followed by their irritated flight master in a deadly sprint.

Running as fast as she could, Nova stepped up on a chair and in the middle of a table, kicking up a game of chess in the air, before running along the railing to be out of the crowd.

Catching up, she yanked the spear out of a cloud knight's hand and threw it, shattering the first wheel of the cart and making it flip.

Watching the ring fly through the air before falling in the gutter for the artificial rainy days. Rolling out as the bottom and falling out on the street below.

Hopping the railing and dropping down, the stand's roof she landed on was only cloth so it tensed and sent the ring flying off it while she fell and ripped through it, crashing into the produce below.

Scrambling out, ignoring the yelling people around her, looking for the ring frantically before spotting it.

Only...

Only for a huge ass borisin that shouldn't even wander freely dropped along perfectly on it in a way to stick its by paw's claw in it, Nova watching the beast try to run and escape with it basically stuck to it.

Nova's sanity was fraying.

Ever so slowly.

Pulling out her needles and javelining them at the beast's back before it got too far while leaving the complaining merchants behind. Not caring only one weapon hit the beast and the others stuck either in wood or stone.

The wolf beast roared up and looked at her, rearing up to claw at her but this hard headed woman put it to use, jamming her skull into its stomach while she literally tackled it down.

Ring being the priority and so, turning around to yank it off the claw it was stuck on before getting kicking in the back and having it fling out of her already precarious hold.

OKAY! THAT'S ENOUGH!!

Getting up from the ground and flinging two more in the charging borisin's face as she jumped back to avoid the claw swipe.

Pulling out one more and flicking it into its ankle.

With a running start, jumping over the second change back at her, imaginary energy crackling down her arm to the one held to the beast in a finger gun.

"Bang!" The energy zapped through its body hard, making it convulse and since she had some metal deep in its skull, probably frying the brain.

Landing with a huff as the discharge of energy had went through all her needles since they were built to channel it through them, blasting a hole into the stone and setting the wood on fire.

Huffing as the beast twitched before turning her back to it, walking to pick the ring up with a sigh, holding it in the tight fist as she finally put it in her pocket.

...

Hmmm?

Looking in her pocket.

Not feeling the other one.

"... Fuuu"

------------------------------------------------------

"Skiff crash and damage, several counts of destruction of property, starting a fire, disturbance, public endangerment, killing a borisin prisoner before it could be interrogated like protocol dictates and a trip to the healers from being smacked around so much." Yukong grumbled off as Feixiao was having a field day with her imagination and the images it conjured while laughing.

"O-oh man... She must be a joy to have around." Wiping her tears. "Since even that was not enough for you to put an end to it, I am now disappointed I wasn't invited to this wedding."

"She's grounded too for the mess she made." Yukong crossed her arms before her ears picked up on something. "Speak of the devil..."

Nova and her insufferable face.

"I'll leave you two to it." Feixiao still chuckled as she said that, not fully able to suppress the images yet when the one whose story conjured them up just appeared. "See you later my friend." She said, nodding at Nova as she jogged passed her.

"What's that about?" Nova asked, scratching her head. "Do I have something on my face?" As Yukong stood.

"Nothing much, just catching up with a friend." She said, no need for Nova to know how her stupidity might be the only thing the lacking general is going to talk about for the next few months. what she doesn't know won't hurt her. "She just asked about the ring."

"Is it too flashy?"

Yukong chuckled, oh idiot.

"Ah, no no, it's fine. She just was surprised that someone would give me one."

Despite being married on paper, Nova still wouldn't over step Yukong's uptight boundaries she doesn't remember how to take down and needs to break down, so she just grabbed her hand and squeezed instead of anything else that she could have done.

Seems it was appreciated if the squeeze back meant anything or that smile that accompanied it. Nova grinned back.

"Anyone would have been lucky to do this, I just got there first."

"Disloyal competition." Yukong pointed out, taking a step away, Nova following as they walked away. "You had an advantage and outside help."

Nova just kept grinning with an eye roll.

"But I can't say you cared for that."

"Oh you."

"A cat and mouse chase you led me on where the mouse didn't want to escape."

"Like the ring?"

"... Never bring that up again or we are divorcing."

Yukong burst out in a softly laughter as Nova turned as red as the highlights of her outfit if not redder.

Oh Nova... As much as Yukong speaks, Feixiao was right, she didn't really have a reason to not want this.

Chapter Text

This one-shot book also exists on Wattpad, in case readers don't know it.

On here I got a request for character X character and not an OC/(Y/N) X character.

I will still write those, too, and they'll have the same emojis/titling scheme; all that will be different is I will separate them from the normal chapters.

Those above this chapter are the OC/(Y/N) ones, and all those appearing below will be the character X character ones.

Just putting this info chapter out to avoid confusion as I have been sorting chapters alphabetically all this time.

Chapter Text

"Let me get this straight," Dan Heng said, rubbing his temples as March filled him in.

"Yup," She chirped. "Stelle accidentally exorcised a matchmaking ghost by kissing Hanya... Or more like she kissed her after, but that's not important, and now they're dating. Also, the Heliobus is still around and, uh, interested in doing more... Matchmaking."

Dan Heng stared at her.

"...You can't be serious."

"I'm super serious. It winked at me. Winked." She pointed at the ground. "Through the floorboards."

Just then, the lights flickered around them.

A gust of air swirled dramatically.

"Helloooo again~," The now-familiar Heliobus crooned from the ventilation system.

Dan Heng unsheathed his spear halfway out of reflex.

"Chill," March said. "It's not evil. Just lonely. And aggressively pansexual."

"Oh, hush," Said the Heliobus. "I'm not here to possess you, precious Archivist and ice block princess. I'm just here to... Observe. Suggest. Encourage."

Dan Heng narrowed his eyes. "Encourage what."

There was a pause.

Then, with theatrical flair, the Heliobus whispered:

"Your unresolved sexual tension with Blade."

Dan Heng immediately turned and walked out of the room.

Nope.

Not dealing with this today.

----------------------------------------------------------

It was supposed to be a simple task: retrieve a shipment of medicinal supplies from the Luofu's restricted archives.

Except now Dan Heng was standing inside a storage closet, with one broken lock, three crates of oddly labeled herbs, and exactly one very tall, very brooding Stellaron Hunter also trapped inside, tho he had actually been trying to steal those supplies for Elio.

Blade stared at him.

Dan Heng stared back.

There was no natural light, no oxygen circulation, and (just for flavor) a faint giggle echoing through the walls.

"Oh nooooo," The Heliobus drawled. "Whatever shall you two do in such cramped quarters...?"

"Get out," Dan Heng said flatly, addressing the ceiling.

Blade crossed his arms, leaning against the shelf with all the intensity of a panther trying to decide if he wanted to maul or make out, and both scared Dan Heng on different levels.

"I assume this is your fault." He muttered.

"You assume incorrectly."

The silence between them crackled with years of unspoken history, open wounds, betrayal, weird dreams, and at least three separate moments that, if you slowed them down and added a romantic soundtrack, would definitely be called yearning.

Blade's eyes flicked toward him. "You're sweating."

Dan Heng wiped his brow. "It's ninety degrees in here."

"You're nervous."

"No. I'm annoyed."

"You're in denial," the Heliobus sang from the air vent. "But don't worry. I'm here to help!"

"No," Dan Heng said.

"Yes," The Heliobus cooed. "You see, your heart chakra is terribly blocked. And the only cure is romantic catharsis."

"I will invent a spear that kills Heliobi," Dan Heng muttered. "We're not doing this," Dan Heng said, as a glowing spiritual sigil suddenly locked the door.

"We are absolutely doing this," Said the Heliobus, now fully manifested as a glowing, translucent figure sitting on top of a crate like a smug goblin, looking more humanoid than a blob on purpose to communicate these emotions.

Blade remained silent, but his glare intensified.

"Let's make it fun!" Said the Heliobus. "A game! I ask questions, and if you lie, your heartbeat betrays you. Lie twice in a row, and I'll... Intensify the humidity in here."

"Is that a threat or foreplay?" Blade asked flatly.

"Oh, you are fun," The ghost purred.

Dan Heng exhaled. "Fine. One round. Then you let us out." Compromise is better than being stuck in here any longer.

"Delightful!" The Heliobus snapped spectral fingers. "First question, Dan Heng: Have you ever had a dream about Blade?"

Dan Heng froze.

Blade raised an eyebrow.

"...No," Dan Heng said.

BZZZZZZT.

A ghostly buzzer echoed, and suddenly it felt five degrees hotter.

"Lie."

Dan Heng's ears turned pink.

Blade looked very interested now.

"Next question!" The Heliobus crowed. "Blade: Have you ever wanted to kiss Dan Heng?"

Blade shrugged. "Yes."

Dan Heng choked.

"Oh my," said the Luofu ghost. "How refreshingly honest."

Dan Heng turned to Blade, face redder than a collapsed star. "You-you can't just say that."

"I can," Blade replied. "And I did."

"You tried to kill me last month."

Blade leaned in slightly. "And yet, here we are. Sweaty. Alone. Breathing the same cursed air, and you are still alive."

"I hate this closet."

"You love this closet," the Heliobus said. "This is your destiny closet."

----------------------------------------------------

After an uncomfortable amount of proximity and a bottle of half-spilled herbal tincture, the silence grew heavier.

Dan Heng finally sighed. "Why did you say yes?"

"To what?"

"The kiss thing."

Blade's expression didn't change, but something about the energy in the room shifted.

"Because it's true."

Dan Heng hesitated. "...Do you want to hurt me?"

Blade looked at him carefully. "Not anymore, currently the whispers have stopped."

The weight of a thousand memories passed between them. Pain. Betrayal. Rebirth. Regret.

"...I still don't trust you," Dan Heng said quietly.

"I know."

"But I... think about you."

Blade looked down. Then up. "...Same."

A pause.

"Oh, for the love of ALL COSMIC FORCES," The Heliobus groaned. "Just kiss already!"

"No," Dan Heng snapped.

"Yes," Blade said, grabbing Dan Heng's outfit in a tight fist that popped a stitch.

And then, to the utter delight of one ancient matchmaking spirit... They did.

It was rougher than Stelle and Hanya's first kiss. Messier. Years of angst condensed into one frustrated press of lips and mutual emotional constipation. But it was real.

And when they finally pulled away, breathless and scowling and deeply, irreversibly doomed.

The door clicked open right after.

"Freedom!" The Heliobus cheered, vanishing like a satisfied dating sim NPC. "You won!"

Blade scoffed, throwing the door open and marching out.

But.

Stopping right out the door, looking back with a deep grin.

Dan Heng gulped.

He knew this was just the start of something dangerous.

...

But he couldn't find himself regretting it.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/aprCEawJ6F8

Out of five...

Three must pay the price...

Such was the truth and law of this world.

Such was a mantra Blade promised to never forget.

A promise etched deep into his skin, his very being.

Ah... Such a mistake of the past, dooming him to ever wander a world that had no place for him.

Jing Yuan was indeed right it seemed, even after so many long years, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

He preferred to forget the last day he felt her gentle touch and the peace that came with it. The whispers from her soft adoring voice and the stories of a rest well earned.

Because...

That day she, death, was ripped away from him.

Shrieking like a torn soul, the icy grip of life burning through his veins, its claws tearing death away into pieces and forcefully filling his lungs full of blood stained air, dragging him from eternal peace and thrown back into suffering of the living.

And for what?

Bring their friend back to life?

No... That moment as the acrid smell filled his sense, as his limbs ached as the flesh mended together with a wet squelch and splatter of blood, as he watched the abomination born from what was once the body of their friend... No... That WAS an abomination and... and he now was one too.

The thing he swore his life to destroy... He was now one of them.

A fool of a nearly endless life only terminated by a strike of Mara and being put out of their misery now extended to an inevitable infinity.

But Blade still yearned for the touch of death.

The lowing embrace of the end, to finally give up this body of abomination.

Meeting blades time and time again with one of ice.

Inflicting death upon death, the cold touch of the end cradling him in her loving arms until the cruel life dragged him back with a gasp to aching wound but a beating heart.

Fleeing the Luofu came as a last resort, mind crackling on the edges of sanity, whispers of a hideous life, shouts of a sickness ever looming, sobs of a death denied, cackles of a life shackling.

All Blade, as he now called himself for his old name was a shackle, could do was run.

Run and run, through the world and the cosmos.

All he could do was rise that shatter blade of his that clung to life like life clung into his ever cell and strike.

And striking he did.

In front of him and behind him, rivers of immeasurable bloodshed and suffering seeped into the rotten domain of life.

All he did was count the days, count that little number rise into a bounty for his head... There must be... Someone... Out there... That can put him out of his misery...

And so Blade killed, be it Borisin filth, IPC worker or the gentle family at the end of the avenue all was for the distant goal that someone would kill this abomination, him.

Kill him and return him to the loving embrace of death that even the long lived species deserve and, in the end, yearn for when the first strands of Mara tickle the backs of their mind. So with the loveless grip life on him he struck to attract attention, now come on then! Take it! Take this useless life! Have it! Have it all! Here he is! TAKE IT FROM HIM!!!

...

But the wind only sang and the worlds still kept turning.

Blades, guns, chains, whips, scythes, flails or even fists.

They all broke bones, sliced flesh, eviscerated a gut, burnt fat and sizzled hair.

But he would always awake, body mending, blood drying, muscles aching and in a fury brought on by death's rejection, he'd show new people to her.

It was through whispers of madness stricken rage that he met them.

A group of people that should not exist.

One destined to die yearning to live.

One never fearful yearning for it.

And one that didn't want this but was the one that could read the destiny of the universe like an open book.

"Join and help bring the best outcome for the universe, and what you yearn for will be yours." Was what the destiny's slave promised.

He had long stopped hoping, he had long stopped believing.

But at the edge of the precipice of madness.

Blade still gave it one more try.

"Bladie?" Came the voice, distracting him from his ever wondering thoughts, and even tho his face was unreadable, this woman Kafka was quite often... Always able to tell what was going on.

Ah, such a stupid nickname.

"The memories are coming back."

"Mmm, that's not good, go to your room, I'll be right up to reinforce the spirit whisper."

He simply nodded, silently following the order as he walked away.

He might forget much with this.

But he'll never forget her.

His yearning for her.

For his death.

-----------------------------------------------------

I told you, treating a crack idea seriously... You're welcome.

Chapter Text

Belobog’s sky was grey again... Well... Again... When was it not grey?

Clouds hung low over the city like a smothering blanket ready for the kill, and the frost clung to windows and rooftops from the almost daily snowstorms still beating the planet. From inside her apartment the Bronya insisted she'd have above ground, Seele could hear the distant chime of bells and the crunch of boots on snow-covered stone. It wasn't hard, it was so late, and no one else was out there to make sounds.

She was just finishing a mug of hot cocoa, wrapped in one of Bronya’s old coats (which she totally hadn’t stolen sssh), when the knock came. Three slow, uneven taps.

Odd... Well, she knew who it was; they had decided to have a movie night to try to relax after having so much work to build Belobog back up again, but Bronya was like three hours late.

Seele frowned, set the mug down, and opened the door, ready to give a certain Supreme Guardian a piece of her mind, but barely had she opened the door that she needed to catch Bronya as she collapsed into her arms. Seele hadn't expected her to be leaning against the door, and Bronya hadn't half dozed off and didn't realize the door would open right there.

"Bronya?!" Seele's voice cracked with panic; she tried to cover up but couldn't. Her arms instinctively wrapped around her girlfriend’s tired frame... But she'd never admit it to Bronya that in her brain she called her her girlfriend, she ain't about to subject herself to teasing she knows would come if she dared to put a name to their relationship.

Bronya mumbled something incoherent, her breath warm against Seele’s shoulder. Her whole body was ice-cold and too light despite how it felt for Bronya herself. She felt like she'd been out for hours. Her cheeks were flushed... And not with life, but with fever, probably because ain't no way it is something else.

"Oh my god," Seele whispered, already pulling her inside and kicking the door closed behind them. "What were you thinking? What happened?" Seele shouldn't have snapped so harshly but yet she still did.

"Just... Just tired." Bronya muttered faintly. "Meetings... Patrols... I was on my way home. Thought I could make it... I forgot we agreed to meet today... So I came here instead.” Bronya explained, taking a moment to think once in a while, rubbing her eyes.

Seele shut the door behind them with the lock this time and got Bronya to the couch in a really Seele way, lugging her up and almost throwing her down onto the couch, dusting her hands off.

"Seele!"

"You should have called me or gone straight to bed instead of coming back here... Or literally anywhere other than wandering through the city in the snow like some tragic ice queen." She sat down next to Bronya on the couch.

Bronya chuckled a little. Seele was adorable when fuming about something.

"I didn't want to trouble you, you have so much work too with the underground and overground reconnecting."

"Trouble me?! Bronya, you’re my girlfriend, not a guest star in a dramatic opera!"

If it were any other time, Bronya would have had a lovely time rubbing that word into Seele's face, as she is also adorable when blushing and teasing her with that would sure do it, but her head was killing her.

Bronya let out a weak laugh, but her head flopped against the couch cushions like she hadn’t moved in hours. Her hair was damp with melted snow, her gloves half-frozen, and Seele could see how thin the patience her body had left was; it was like Bronya's own body was waiting to ambush her and beat her in a back alley.

Anger flared in her chest, not at Bronya, of course, only annoyance could flare there... But at the weight of everything on her. Everyone expected her to be perfect. To lead, to smile, to never stumble. Seele had seen the cracks forming for weeks, and no matter how much they fought on her working too much, the Supreme Guardian wouldn't listen and was working herself to death.

And now here she was, basically burned out, on the verge of collapse, and still whispering apologies about showing up here.

"Nope. Not doing this." Seele stood up after slapping her own knees. "Stay here. I mean it. Move, and I will steal your title and rename the city after myself." She marched off.

Bronya blinked slowly, rubbing her face. "That’s... Not how that works." "Don’t care. I’ll stage a coup with hot tea and soup."

Seele could get extremely dangerous when it came to getting Bronya to take care of herself; she once locked the Supreme Guardian in her own room until she took a nap.

She disappeared into the kitchen, muttering to herself about how she should’ve tackled Bronya and forced her to take another nap two days ago. In a few minutes, she returned with a tray: ginger tea, some crackers, and a steaming bowl of soup she suspiciously had on hand, as if she was ready for this. She even pulled out the emergency star-shaped cookies Natasha had made, the ones Seele had hoarded for “girlfriend emergencies,” such as these ones.

And this definitely qualifies.

"You’re spoiling me," Bronya murmured as Seele pressed a warm mug into her hands and draped a blanket over her.

"I am restraining myself from carrying you to bed and wrapping you like a dumpling," Seele shot back, eyebrow twitching. "You’re lucky it is so late that I didn’t call Pela to shame you with a wellness lecture." Seele sat back down, arms crossed, and watched her closely as Bronya took a sip from the mug.

Bronya leaned her head against Seele’s shoulder, eyes fluttering shut after a while. "I’ve missed this." She admitted.

"Missed what?"

"You fussing at me.” A pause. “Caring. Just taking a break finally.”

Seele’s heart clenched.

"You never have to earn that," She whispered, brushing soft strands of hair from Bronya’s cheek. "I’m not just here for the speeches and strategy meetings. I’m here when you’re tired, and stubborn, and falling apart at the seams, which you insist on doing a lot."

The grey-haired young woman didn’t say anything at first, but she slid her hand over Seele’s under the blanket and squeezed it gently.

"Stay?" She asked softly. "Just for a while?"

"This is my appart--" Taking a deep breath. "-always." Seele kissed her forehead, face red at the act she initiated. "Even when you’re terrible at taking care of yourself."

"I’ll try harder."

"You don’t need to try. You just need to rest. Let me love you properly, okay? Or I am going to beat you with that mug in your hands until you do."

Bronya exhaled, long and shaky. Her body began to loosen beneath the blankets, melting into Seele’s side like wax meeting warmth.

They sat like that for a long time, the kind of quiet that felt sacred. No titles. No pressure. Just the beat of a shared heart and the hush of snow outside.

Eventually, Seele nudged her when Bronya had finished the soup and drank the tea.

"Alright, smarty pants. Bedtime, sleepy Guardian. I’m putting you in the softest pajamas, and you’re not allowed to argue."

"I have objections."

"I’m stronger. I win."

With exaggerated effort, Seele helped Bronya to her feet and guided her to the bedroom instead of swinging her over her shoulder like the first time. She made good on her promise: flannel pajamas, double-layered blankets, and the plushest stuffed fox Bronya had pretended not to like but secretly adored... One of the bonuses of dating THE Supreme Guardian, knowing all the little secrets she hides from others.

When Seele slid in beside her and wrapped her arms around her waist, Bronya sighed like someone who’d been holding her breath for weeks.

"I’m glad it was you who found me," Bronya murmured into the crook of Seele’s neck.

"Duh, you showed up at my door. It always will be me, too." Seele whispered. "No matter how far you fall, I’ll always catch you."

That night, for the first time in far too long, Bronya slept deeply and safely, wrapped in warmth, love, and the quiet promise that she didn’t have to be strong all the time.

Because someone else would be strong for her, now and then.

...

Someone who would tie her to said warm bed if Bronya wouldn't rest by her own will.

Chapter Text

"Let me in.... Let me in!!!"

"What's going on with him?" The trailblazer pointed at Dan Heng beating on a transparent wall between the entrance of the train they and March walked through, and Dan Heng couldn't, stuck inside.

"Oh that... He is lacking screen time." March said with a shrug.

The Trailblazer hissed, feeling sorry.

"I'm sorry man."

"Don't leave me behind!"

"See you soon."

"Nooo! Come back! March! Don't leave me here!"

Chapter Text

"Why do you always drag me into these things?" Stelle groaned as she ducked a flying relic.

It was her break from death and aeons, but no, she of course couldn't say no to someone asking for help... Much less when it was one of her friend's older sister... But tell no one about Stelle's preference, or she will use the bat in your face.

Hanya stood firm, holding her brush tightly as spiritual wards glowed at her fingertips. "Because you helped the Luofu before, I trust you, Stelle. And because your last job paid in steamed buns. That was your idea, and you still complained enough that even I heard about you being in a lack of money."

"...Fair," Stelle admitted, catching a relic before it clocked her in the face.

They were deep in a forgotten corner of the Xianzhou Luofu, cleansing another haunted site, which naturally meant yet another run-in with those delightfully pesky spirit entities known as the Heliobi: the local metaphysical equivalent of a bored cat with access to your Tinder messages and all your unresolved romantic tension drenched in hate towards all that was not a Heliobi.

And as fate would have it, today's haunting was sponsored by one particularly powerful Heliobus who had a flair for drama, teasing, and spiritual possession. Not for power... No, no, no, because of boredom, because of sass, because it was once (or at least had the memories of) a couple therapist and was instinctively still doing its job.

They should have turned around the moment they heard the haunting voice echoing, or at least called for backup, but they did neither. Stelle was overconfident, and Hanya was not expecting anything out of the ordinary.

"Ohhh~ is that my sweet little judge? Back again so soon? And you brought a friend! How delicious."

"Hanya," Stelle said, stepping backward slowly. "I don't think this one's the 'just wants to float ominously and moan about their past regrets' type or even the 'I want to be all-powerful to fight the general' type."

"No," Hanya agreed grimly out of confusion; she would have pulled a face if she still felt capable of that. "This one's... flirty." She was almost surprised by her own words, but that tone of voice couldn't be anything else.

"Guilty." Purred the voice, just as a wave of spiritual energy blew out all the lanterns in the room.

"Hanya!" Stelle called, lucky that both women had their own way of seeing in the darkness, Stelle with some stelleron abilities and Hanya with that glowing paintbrush, but that heliobus had snuck up on them and rushed the judge, slamming into her back as Stelle's bat swing went through it.

And then Hanya fell... Well... More like she slumped, arms dropping limp, paintbrush falling from her hand, eyes unfocused, and when she looked back up at Stelle, she was no longer Hanya.

"H-Hanya?" Stelle felt the twinge of stress deep in her heart... And that look, ok Stelle is really not beating the allegation... She already hears March teasing her.

She was still Hanya-shaped, yes. But her eyes glowed with eerie amusement, her lips curled into a smirk that had absolutely no business being that smug, and her voice? Still hers yes, but dripping honey and velvet and hella dangerous older woman energy Stelle was absolutely weak too... Aeons help her before she dies.

"Oh dear... This vessel has such a pretty mouth. Don't you think so, little Starward Sword?"

Stelle's brain bluescreened.

She had faced mara-struck beasts, Kafka's mind games, and the math puzzles in the Simulated Universe. None of it compared to Hanya suddenly doing a slow, seductive prowl toward her in the tone and manner of a very smug ghost with a hot body.

"Wh-what do you want?" She squeaked. Then coughed, grabbing Hanya's paintbrush and aiming it up like a gun, it was used to banish Heliobus yes? She must be able to figure it out. "I mean... Demon begone!" Waving it at the possessed woman.

The Heliobus-in-Hanya giggled. "Relax. I'm not here to haunt. I'm here to help. This little one's soul was so full of longing, I just couldn't resist." She flicked the brush aside so easily.

Every little word, movement or gesture was a whiplash for Stelle for Hanya wouldn't usually do any of this but aeons was it effectif on her.

"Longing? For--?" That dangerous smile returned.

"Oh come now. You know."

"Huh?"

------------------------------------------------

Stelle had a problem.

Actually, she had several born from the same situation.

Hanya was still possessed.

She was hiding her from the Luofu before they kicked her ass for letting this happen, more precisely one robot sister.

And the worse? The thing possessing her wanted to matchmake.

Said matchmaker ghost kept stroking Hanya's own arms sensually with blue ghostly hands it summoned from nothing while saying things like "Doesn't she look absolutely ravishing when she glares at you?"

Stelle did, in fact, think that. Which was part of the problem.

And finally... She had no idea how to do an exorcism.

"You're supposed to be banished by incantations and, like... talismans, right?" She muttered, flipping through Hanya's abandoned prayer scrolls, shaking the paintbrush as if she'd hear batteries in it and flip through books... She hadn't snuck Hanya back to the home she shared with her sister to fail now.

The possessed Hanya tilted her head. "That's adorable. You're trying to save her from me?"

"Yes!" Stelle threw her arms up.

"And yet," Heliobus purred, "You've been staring at her collarbone for ten minutes." As if to prove its words, tracing her finger along her skin with that grin.

"I HAVE NOT!!" Stelle screamed, which was a lie and they both knew it.

The Heliobus chuckled. "Listen, darling. I've been watching your auras do interpretive dance around each other for WEEKS. I'm not evil... I'm just... Efficient... Far more then you two at least. Sometimes, two emotionally repressed lesbians need a... Push." Miming pushing something at the last word.

"I am NOT emotionally repressed!"

"You literally made out with a mirror once because you thought it was Kafka because of a BASIC hypnosis."

"How the fuck!?"

"Hanya saw you, I'm in her head remember darling?"

"I... Okay that was ONE TIME!"

Heliobus-as-Hanya closed the distance, brushing a thumb down Stelle's jaw in a way that definitely, definitely made her knees threaten mutiny.

"Don't you want to know how her lips would feel against yours? I can show you~..."

"Nope! Nope, nope, nope!" Stelle said, backing up and waving a talisman frantically. "Get out of her!"

"Say please," Said Heliobus.

"I will yeet you into a void rift."

"A what now? You read too much comic darling."

----------------------------------------------

After four failed talismans, two smacked incense burners, and one unfortunate attempt involving a janky AI translation of an old Vidyadhara purification chant, Stelle collapsed to her knees.

"This is impossible," She groaned, face in hands with overdramatic tears that dried in the next second. "I'm gonna have to explain to her sister that I accidentally made out with a possessed woman because I couldn't do ghost math and that's the only way it agreed to leave her body..."

The Heliobus-in-Hanya sat cross-legged beside her, watching with a fond smile. "You know, I could leave anytime I wanted."

"...Wait, what? Like NOT EVEN THE KISS YOU BROUGHT UP?!!"

"Oh, I just wanted to see how long it would take you to admit you like her."

Stelle looked up. "You... Wait, what?"

The Heliobus sighed dreamily. "She dreams of you, you know. In the quiet moments between meditations and work. She thinks about your laugh. Your strange stubbornness. Your hero complex. It's very loud in here."

"In... In her soul?"

"Exactly. I'm practically swimming in romantic yearning she doesn't expresses."

"...You were actually playing matchmaker."

"I said that at the beginning!"

"You--ARGH!"

The ghost reached out, gently brushing Stelle's hand.

"She cares about you too, you know. She's just... Bound by duty. Order. Structure. You, on the other hand, are all chaos and stars. Perfect match if you ask me."

There was a moment.

A stillness.

Then...

Hanya gasped, blinking rapidly as her posture returned to normal, her expression shifting from sultry flirt to overwhelmed embarrassment in 0.5 seconds flat. Something still not Hanya-like but far more something Stelle could imagine Hanya looking like compared to what she did while possessed.

"W-what?" Clearing her throat. "I... the Heliobus. I was possessed. I felt everything. I SAID THINGS--"

"You almost licked my ear," Stelle said flatly.

"FOR THE LOVE OF--" Hanya covered her face, pinching her nose and declaring her vendeta against a very specific Heliobus silently as she sat there, gathering her composure.

There was an awkward silence.

"...So uh," Stelle coughed. "You heard what the ghost said. About... us?"

"...Yes."

"And...?"

Hanya lowered her hands slowly, cheeks glowing pink for once in her long life. "...It wasn't wrong."

Another silence.

Stelle scooted over, nerves in overdrive. "So. If I wanted to... You know. Test a theory."

Hanya blinked. "What kind of theory?"

"That your lips feel better without ghost assistance?"

There was a heartbeat of stillness.

And then, very carefully, Hanya leaned in, brushing her lips against Stelle's.

The kiss was soft. And warm. And decidedly un-possessed.

When they broke apart, Stelle exhaled.

"Okay," She said. "You definitely feel better than Kafka's mirror."

Far above, unseen but definitely not unheard, the Heliobus whispered with smug satisfaction:

"I'm putting 'Ghost of Wingwoman Past' on my résumé."

And somewhere in the distance, a haunted relic exploded from sheer secondhand embarrassment.

Chapter Text

Serval stood in her workshop, a wrench in her hand and a war in her heart. The heavy scent of oil, ozone, and faint floral notes from a potted plant someone (probably Gepard) had insisted she keep 'for balance' hung in the air.

She wasn't usually like this.

Serval Landau, daughter of one of Belobog's most respected families, rebel, mechanic, and rockstar, could hold a soldering torch in her teeth while rewiring a speaker. She'd stared down Automatons and Emanators without blinking... Well, not that second part, but let her dream. She ran a club in the middle of the Underworld now that the Overground and it were connected again, for Aeon's sake.

And yet... Confessing to one woman had her knees shaking like a loose floorboard in a tremor.

Natasha. Kind, smart, beautiful Natasha, who walked into every room like a calm breeze and left it full of order and hope. Who stitched up wounds and hearts with the same steady hands. Who smiled like she saw something in Serval that even Serval wasn't sure was really there.

Serval set down the wrench and picked up the music box she'd been working on. She wound it, and the melody started playing, soft, delicate. Natasha's lullaby.

She'd heard it once, after a long patrol shift she agreed to take over for Gepard. She'd dragged herself into the clinic with a bruised shoulder and a cracked helmet, and there it was... Natasha, humming the tune under her breath while tending to a child's fever. It had stuck in her brain like honey.

Serval had recreated the melody by ear the same night. Rewired the box five times until it sounded just right.

She wanted to give it to Natasha. Wanted to say "This is how I hear you. This is how you sound in my mind when things are quiet."

She also wanted to bolt out the door and never bring it up again.

"Ughh," She groaned, for the fifth time that day.

The mechanical cat in the corner, Mecha-Mittens, and a gift from Lynx, blinked in solidarity.

Natasha arrived at the workshop with a medical scanner on the fritz, now that the worlds were tied once again, getting things fixed was so much easier... And an excuse to come here.

"Something's off with the readouts," She said, placing it gently on the table. "I'd fix it myself, but the circuit's sealed behind a shell I can't open."

Serval took it, grateful for the distraction, and pried it open with practiced ease.

She could totally say something now. "You know, I'd take apart any scanner for you." Or "You don't need a scanner, I already know you've got a perfect heart."

Instead, she panicked.

"Yep! Classic triple-phase loop misfire," She said too loudly, not meeting Natasha's eyes. "Happens all the time. I'll, uh, fix it. For free! Yep. Like... Always. For you. Because you're a doctor. Who helps people. So I help you. That's what I do."

Natasha tilted her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

Serval handed her the fixed scanner back, having rushed it so she could put it behind her quickly, but still did it correctly and all but shoved her out the door before she combusted.

A week later, Serval presented Natasha with a custom-designed stethoscope. Sleek, reinforced casing, smooth silver finish. A tiny pawprint engraved just above the diaphragm.

"For all the hearts you listen to," She said, cringing internally.

Natasha held it up. "It's beautiful."

"It's durable," Serval said quickly. "You could drop it off a cliff and it'd still work. Probably. Please don't do that."

"It's a stethoscope." She laughed. "I'll take good care of it."

Serval almost said, "Like I want to take care of you", but instead she coughed and asked about a patient's toe injury she she just spotted.

They were on patrol together, investigating an anomaly near the Overworld gates.

Wind stirred Natasha's hair gently. She brushed a strand from Serval's face after a gust of snow. Fingers soft, touch feather-light.

Serval's brain short-circuited. "S-solar flares," She stammered.

Natasha raised a brow. "Hmm?"

"I mean. The solar winds. Spiking. Uh. Magnetic fields. Could be causing static buildup. Don't want to shock anyone. Ha. Haha..."

Natasha gave her a patient look, and Serval wanted to melt into the snow and never be found again.

The next day, Serval couldn't take it anymore.

She paced outside the clinic like a stray dog waiting to be noticed, the music box in her hands. Her fingers were smudged with oil. Her hair was a mess. Her heart was in shambles.

She walked in before she could talk herself out of it.

Natasha looked up from a medical chart and smiled like she'd been expecting her.

"String snap?" She asked with a soft tilt of her head.

"Worse," Serval muttered. She walked up and placed the music box on the desk. "I made this. It's for you."

Natasha opened it. The lullaby played, soft and shimmering.

Her eyes softened. "My song."

Serval nodded, fidgeting. "You hum it when you're healing people. It's... It's one of the first things I ever noticed about you. I thought if I could make something beautiful for you... Maybe it would be enough."

"Enough for what?"

Serval swallowed. "To say I like you. I really, really like you. And not mess it up."

Natasha stood, quiet. The music played on.

Then, she walked around the desk slowly and took Serval's hand in hers.

"You've tried to tell me three times already," She said gently. "I knew. I was waiting for you to be ready."

"You... knew?"

"Of course I did." Natasha squeezed her hand. "You're not exactly subtle, love."

Serval groaned and covered her face. "I'm so bad at this."

"You're adorable at this," Natasha corrected and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

Serval blinked. "Wait. Was that... Did we just... Are we...?"

"If you want us to be," Natasha murmured, eyes warm.

"I do!" Serval blurted. "I really, really do."

They stood close, the song ending in soft clicks, the lullaby lacing through the silence. Serval's pulse finally slowed, steady in her ears, matching the one she could feel through Natasha's fingertips.

Then, very shyly, Serval offered her other hand.

Natasha took it, threading their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Later, they sat side-by-side on the workshop roof, legs dangling off the edge, warm drinks in hand. The city glimmered below. Wind stirred Serval's jacket, and Natasha's head rested lightly on her shoulder.

"You're still blushing," Natasha teased.

"Your head's on my shoulder," Serval muttered. "What am I supposed to do, not combust?"

Natasha laughed quietly. "Don't worry. I'll bring the fire extinguisher next time."

"Next time," Serval repeated, grinning wide.

"You think there'll be more of these?"

"Oh yeah," She said confidently, sliding an arm around Natasha's waist. "There's gonna be a lot more."

And this time, for once, her heart didn't race from nerves.

It raced from joy.

Chapter Text

Serval had never been a morning person, no matter what she claims. 

Her workshop hours bled deep into the night, tuning amps at 2 AM on days, soldering until her hair smelled faintly of burned copper from it getting caught in the melting metal bead when her head lulled forward. She was used to sleeping late and waking later.

Which was why, when she found herself at Natasha's clinic at sunrise, leaning against a counter with a steaming mug of bitter tea, she almost didn't recognize herself.

Natasha was already up, of course. She moved briskly from patient chart to supply shelf, efficient as always. Her braid was tied neatly, even if it was barely long enough to be tied back, her white coat immaculate like no dust had ever touched it. A light smile tugged at her lips as she noticed Serval fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Remind me why I'm awake at this ungodly hour," Serval grumbled, sipping the tea like it was a life-saving potion.

"Because you insisted you wanted to 'see what a real morning looks like with me,'" Natasha replied smoothly. "You insisted on it."

Serval blinked, then groaned. "Right. That sounds like me. Sheesh, past-Serval... Always setting me up."

Natasha set down a clipboard, walked over, and smoothed a strand of Serval's messy hair back, as if it hadn't even seen a comb this day. "You could've stayed in bed."

Serval immediately perked up. "What? And miss a chance to hang out with you? No way. I'd wake up at dawn every day if it means I get to see you first thing."

Natasha gave her a pointed look. "Even if you fall asleep on the medicine cabinet?"

"...Temporary setback," Serval said with a grin.

Natasha chuckled, shaking her head, but the warmth in her eyes betrayed her, and despite the sleep in her system, Serval swore she could live on that smile alone.

But...

Dating Natasha meant that occasionally, Natasha ventured into Serval's world, too. Which meant she ended up in the workshop, surrounded by half-finished guitars, tools scattered like confetti, and the occasional live spark flying from a loose cable.

"Careful!" Serval yelped one afternoon as Natasha narrowly avoided tripping over a coil of wire. She darted forward, catching her by the elbow. "Yeah, uh, watch your step, this place has a habit of... Rebelling."

Natasha arched an eyebrow. "And you call this organized?"

"It's organized chaos," Serval defended. "I know where everything is. Like, that screwdriver under the amp? Totally intentional." Natasha crouched, picked it up, and gave her a skeptical look. "Okay, 'mostly' intentional," Serval admitted.

But Natasha didn't seem upset. In fact, she sat on a stool, resting her chin in her palm, watching Serval tinker with another amp.

"You're staring," Serval teased, half-turned toward her.

"Am I not allowed to admire my girlfriend at work?" Natasha said simply.

Serval dropped the wrench. "G-girlfriend." The word short-circuited her brain every time.

"Yes," Natasha said, calm as ever, eyes twinkling with amusement. "That is what we agreed on, isn't it?"

Serval sputtered. "You can't just... Just say it like that while looking at me like that. I'll combust. Right here."

Natasha smiled, patient and fond. "Then I'll make sure the extinguisher's nearby."

But even when days were spent apart, they often ended their days together when the workshop quieted and the clinic closed.

One night, Natasha sat with a medical book on Serval's battered couch while Serval strummed a guitar softly beside her. The melody wasn't polished, just a slow, gentle rhythm, drifting through the dim workshop lights.

"New song?" Natasha asked.

"Work in progress," Serval said. "I was... Thinking of dedicating it to someone."

Natasha hummed, amused. "And who might that be?"

Serval shot her a crooked grin. "Tall, gorgeous, way too good for me, has a thing for pawprint engravings--"

Natasha nudged her knee, chuckling. "You're impossible."

"Impossible and yours," Serval countered.

The look Natasha gave her in return made her heart stutter. Moments like these, quiet, warm, ordinary, were what Serval treasured most. She never thought love would look like sitting side by side, music filling the air, with Natasha's hand quietly slipping into hers.

---------------------------------------

It wasn't all easy.

One evening, Natasha found Serval patching up her own shoulder, a nasty burn mark where a cable had misfired.

"Serval," Natasha said sharply, striding over. "Why didn't you come to me immediately?"

"It's fine," Serval tried, wincing as she dabbed ointment. "I've had worse. Just a little burn--" "That's not the point." Natasha's voice was firm, almost scolding. "You can't treat yourself like you're expendable. You have people who care about you."

Serval froze.

The words sank in, heavier than any reprimand. Natasha's eyes weren't angry: they were worried.

"I..." Serval lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry. I'm used to handling things alone. I didn't mean to--" Trailing off.

Natasha gently took the cloth from her hands. "Let me," she said softly.

Silence filled the room as Natasha carefully treated the burn, her touch steady, precise. Serval's chest ached, not from the wound, but from the realization that someone else was carrying her burdens now. It was different with her siblings; they tried to help, but in the end, her burdens remained her own... Not anymore it seems...

When Natasha finished, she leaned closer. "Next time, don't shut me out. Promise?"

Serval nodded, throat tight. "Promise."

Natasha kissed her temple, lingering there. And Serval thought: maybe love wasn't about never messing up. Maybe it was about having someone who stayed anyway.

And even as weeks passed. The Underworld buzzed with its usual chaos, but in the middle of it, Serval and Natasha carved out their own rhythm.

Natasha brought leftover clinic meals to the workshop when Serval forgot to eat.

Serval upgrading Natasha's clinic equipment piece by piece, sneaking in little personalized details.

Natasha hummed while she stitched wounds, and Serval picked out the same notes later on her guitar.

Serval dragging Natasha to late-night rooftop stargazing sessions, insisting they needed 'band practice' that was really just an excuse to cuddle under the sky. They balanced each other, order and chaos, calm and spark.

And as much as Serval still blushed and fumbled when Natasha called her girlfriend, she was learning to lean into the warmth instead of running from it.

Because in the end, this wasn't just a confession anymore.

This was their life, intertwined, piece by piece.

And for the first time in a long time, Serval felt like she wasn't just building guitars, or amps, or rebellion.

She was building something far greater.

Something that sang with every smile Natasha gave her.

Something that finally felt like home.

--------------------------------------

"Okay. Okay, deep breaths. We've got this."

Serval paced in circles in her workshop, jacket half-zipped, hair brushed three times... A personal record, really, and boots scuffed clean. She was hyping herself up for something far scarier than fixing an overcharged Tesla coil: an actual date.

Usually, they'd just hang out at their workplaces or at home, never having an actual date, even after three months.

Natasha had agreed, so calmly, so easily, that Serval had nearly fainted on the spot. "A date sounds lovely," Natasha had said, as if Serval hadn't just combusted internally.

Now here she was, trying not to short-circuit from nerves.

The plan was simple: stroll the Overworld markets together, grab food from one of the upper district cafés, maybe sneak in a rooftop guitar session if the night was clear.

Simple. Easy. Totally not terrifying.

When Natasha walked into the workshop, hair neat and coat swapped for a lighter jacket, Serval almost forgot how to breathe.

"You look... wow," Serval blurted, eloquence failing instantly.

Natasha smiled faintly. "Thank you. You look... very determined."

"That's, uh, basically the same thing," Serval said quickly, offering her arm. "Shall we?"

Natasha took it without hesitation.

The Overworld market was bustling, full of chatter, vendors, and the smell of fresh bread. Normally, Serval strode through here with a mix of swagger and rebellious flair. But with Natasha beside her, fingers loosely entwined with hers, she found herself oddly... Bashful.

People looked. Of course they did.

Serval Landau, the wild mechanic-rocker, with Doctor Natasha, calm and composed. The pairing was unexpected, almost surreal.

A few heads turned. Some whispered.

Natasha noticed, of course. "Does it bother you?" She asked quietly.

Serval shook her head quickly. "Nope. Not one bit. Let 'em stare. If anything, I kinda like showing you off."

Natasha chuckled. "You do realize it goes both ways, don't you?"

Serval nearly tripped over a cobblestone. "Wait, you're showing me off?"

"You think I don't notice the way people watch you?" Natasha's smile was sly. "You're... Radiant, Serval. Loud in the best way. It's impossible not to notice."

Serval stopped dead in her tracks, tugging Natasha into a shaded corner. "Okay, okay. Time out. You can't just say things like that casually. My heart has limits!"

Natasha's eyes softened, amused. "Then I'll pace myself."

Serval muttered something about needing an emotional defibrillator.

Of course, the universe wasn't about to let their date pass without complications.

"Serval?" A familiar voice called.

They both turned to see Gepard, in full Silvermane uniform, blinking in open surprise. His sister... And Natasha... Standing very close, fingers interlaced.

"Oh no," Serval whispered. She had completely forgotten to tell a very specific someone about all of this.

"Hi, Gepard," Natasha greeted warmly, utterly unfazed.

Gepard's jaw opened, then closed, then opened again. "Are you two...? Is this...?"

"Yes," Natasha said smoothly. "We're together."

"Together?!" Gepard nearly dropped his lance, the new one he had just gotten from his sister, without having seen any hint of this going on. "Since when?"

"Since recently," Natasha replied, still calm.

"Since forever, kinda," Serval added, rubbing the back of her neck. "Or, uh, at least since I stopped being a total coward about it."

Gepard blinked. His expression softened, though his ears turned pink. "...I see." He looked between them, then let out a sigh. "Well. I suppose if anyone can keep you grounded, it's Natasha."

"Hey!" Serval protested.

Natasha squeezed her hand, smirking. "He's not wrong."

"Ughhh." Serval groaned dramatically, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable.

Gepard cleared his throat. "Just... Take care of each other. Please... And I don't need any more paperwork."

Natasha nodded. "Always."

Serval grinned. "You got it, little bro."

"Don't call me that in public," Gepard muttered, marching off in embarrassment, both because he was called that and because his loud-mouthed sister somehow hid this from him.

Natasha chuckled softly. "That went well."

"Depends on your definition of 'well,'" Serval said, but she was smiling too.

They eventually settled at a café terrace overlooking the city lights. The Underground is much more hospitable now that the road between the surface and it is open, but they still chose a café on the surface.

Serval leaned back in her chair, guitar case at her side, eyes on Natasha as she sipped tea. The warm lamplight caught the copper hairpin in her hair, and for once, Serval didn't try to hide the way she stared.

"You're quiet," Natasha said, setting her cup down.

"Just... Soaking this in," Serval admitted. "Us. Together. Out here. Feels surreal."

Natasha reached across the table, threading their fingers again. "Surreal isn't bad."

"No," Serval agreed. "Not when it's with you."

They lingered long after their cups were empty, talking about everything and nothing: the clinic, the workshop, silly stories from their childhoods. Natasha told Serval about how she'd first learned medicine under difficult conditions, and Serval confessed that half her guitar 'inspirations' were actually accidents she just leaned into.

When night finally fell, they climbed to the rooftop above the workshop. Serval pulled out her guitar, strumming softly as Natasha leaned against her shoulder, city lights glittering below.

"This is perfect," Serval whispered.

"It is," Natasha agreed, her voice steady, warm, certain.

And for once, Serval didn't feel the need to fill the silence with jokes or sparks.

Because this wasn't just a date anymore.

It was the beginning of a new melody, one they were writing together, note by note, hand in hand.

Chapter Text

The snow always seemed quieter when she walked with Lynx.

Pela adjusted the strap of her brand-new bag and trudged through the icy streets, boots crunching softly in the powdery frost. Technically, this was an 'inspection patrol', but in reality, it was little more than an excuse for her to accompany Lynx on one of her medical runs through the quieter sectors of Belobog. Pela told herself it was duty... Purely professional. Nothing to overthink.

Except she was overthinking everything.

Her eyes wandered for the twentieth, no, maybe thirtieth time in the last ten minutes. Lynx walked a step ahead, scarf tucked snugly against her pale neck, blonde hair catching bits of stray snowflakes. She carried her supply bag casually, like the weight meant nothing to her. Calm. Collected. Graceful.

Perfect.

Pela's gloved fingers tightened against her notebook, which she pretended to study whenever Lynx glanced back. It was her shield. Her excuse. Her flimsy disguise for the fact that she couldn't stop staring.

"Pela," Lynx said suddenly, her tone soft but certain.

"Y-Yes?" Pela squeaked, straightening so fast she nearly dropped her notebook into the snow.

"You're staring again."

Blood rushed to Pela's face. She flipped her notebook open, pretending to scribble something. "N-No, I wasn't! I was, uh... Conducting, um... Field research! Yes! Very important notes on the... er, structural integrity of snowbanks."

Lynx blinked once. Then twice, thrice. A tiny curve touched her lips, the faintest of smiles, and she turned back toward the path.

Pela almost fainted. That smile should be a classified weapon.

The silence stretched again, broken only by the faint howl of wind against the walls of Belobog's outer streets. Pela tried not to hyperventilate. Her heart hammered so loudly she swore Lynx could hear it.

"Calm down, Pela. Professional. You're a Silvermane Guard officer, not some desperate gremlin following your crush like a lost snow hare."

But then Lynx adjusted her scarf, and Pela immediately tripped over her own boots.

"Careful," Lynx said, steadying her with one hand on her arm. Her voice wasn't teasing, just practical, concerned.

Pela felt her brain short-circuit. The touch lingered only a second, but it burned hotter than a furnace. "S-sorry! The snow! It's slippery! Totally not because I was distracted!"

"Mm," Lynx hummed, not pressing further.

That calm, collected response was somehow worse than teasing. Pela wanted to scream.

----------------------------

By the time they returned from the outer streets, Pela's fingers were stiff with cold. She wasn't about to admit it, of course. Officers didn't complain. Especially not when their companion seemed so effortlessly fine, like Lynx could walk through a blizzard barefoot and still look serene.

"Come inside for tea," Lynx said simply when they passed her cabin.

Pela's heart leapt. 

"Inside. Her house. Her private space. Oh stars above, I'm not ready--" "Y-Yes!" She blurted far too loudly. "I mean, um, sure, if it's not too much trouble. For professional reasons, obviously."

Lynx tilted her head, but didn't comment, just opened the door and ushered her in.

Warmth greeted Pela instantly, the faint scent of herbs and dried pine filling the cozy little cabin. A small fire crackled in the hearth. Lynx slipped her coat off with practiced ease, then moved toward the kettle hanging over the fire.

"Gloves off," Lynx said. "You'll warm faster."

Pela hesitated, then obeyed, peeling her damp gloves and flexing her tingling fingers. She sat gingerly at the little wooden table, trying not to look like she was invading some sacred space. Lynx moved calmly, pouring steaming water over a blend of herbs.

Pela's eyes trailed without permission: the careful way Lynx handled the teapot, the concentration in her profile, the faint color in her cheeks from the cold. Her heart thudded painfully.

"You're staring again," Lynx said, without turning around.

Pela nearly exploded. "I-I wasn't! I was just, uh, analyzing your... Herbal technique! Very advanced, very... Wifely--" She slapped her hands over her mouth, too late.

Lynx glanced back, one brow slightly raised. 

"Wifely?"

"I SAID 'LIVELY'!" Pela shouted, face blazing. "Very lively technique, yes! That's what I meant, totally normal thing to say!"

A pause. Then Lynx's lips quirked, just barely, and she set two steaming cups on the table.

Pela wanted the floorboards to swallow her.

But then Lynx pushed a cup toward her. "Drink. You'll feel better." And somehow, just like that, the storm in Pela's chest softened into a warm, dizzy flutter.

It wasn't until Pela tugged at her sleeve that Lynx noticed the scrape.

"You're bleeding."

Pela flinched. "Wh-what? No, I'm not! Just a scratch, really, nothing serio--" But Lynx was already fetching a small medical kit. She knelt beside Pela, gently taking her arm. Her fingers were steady, practiced, as she dabbed the cut clean and wrapped it with a strip of bandage.

Pela's brain was melting. She could handle interrogations, strategy reports, even paperwork but she could not handle Lynx kneeling in front of her, holding her arm so tenderly.

Her mouth ran before her thoughts could catch up. "You're so gentle. So perfect. So... ridiculously unfairly beautiful--"

Lynx glanced up mid-wrap. Pela squeaked and tried to bury her face in her notebook.

"Pela," Lynx said quietly.

"F-forget I said anything!" Pela wailed. "I'm delirious from the blood loss! I'll recover, don't worry!"

"It's barely a scratch."

"EXACTLY! So I'm clearly--uh, exaggerating! N-not because I'm obsessed or anything!" Great job Pela... Just dig your grave a bit deeper and you'll end up in the Underground.

Lynx finished tying the bandage without further comment, but the faint color on her cheeks told Pela she hadn't entirely ignored the slip.

------------------------

Snow fell softly outside by the time Pela gathered enough courage. The fire had burned low, casting the cabin in a golden glow. Lynx sat calmly at the table, sipping her tea, while Pela paced back and forth like a soldier preparing for war.

"Lynx," She began, then froze. Her throat closed up.

Lynx waited, patient as always.

"I... I need to tell you something," Pela tried again, clutching her notebook like a lifeline. "It's, um, it's kind of important. Extremely important. The most important thing I've ever said, probably."

Her palms were sweating. Her heart hammered so loud she was sure Lynx could hear it.

Lynx set her cup down, eyes steady. "Go on."

Pela inhaled sharply. Words tumbled out in a desperate rush: "IreallyreallylikeyouandnotinajustfriendswaybutinaverymuchromanticwayandIcan'tstopthinkingabouthowyousmileandhowyou'realwayssoamazingandI--I--"

She ran out of breath, nearly collapsing against the table.

For a moment, silence.

Then Lynx stood, walked over, and gently placed her hands on Pela's shoulders. "Pela."

Pela froze, eyes wide.

"I like you too."

Simple. Direct. Certain.

Pela made a noise somewhere between a squeal and a sob before launching herself into Lynx's arms. They nearly toppled over, but Lynx steadied them both, laughing softly as Pela clung like her life depended on it.

"Mine," Pela mumbled into her scarf. "You're mine now. Forever. No takebacks."

Lynx chuckled, resting her chin lightly against Pela's hair. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Later, they sat together by the fire, Pela curled tightly against Lynx's side like a content cat. Lynx had one arm around her, steady and warm, while Pela refused to let go even for a second.

"I still can't believe you like me back," Pela muttered, clutching Lynx's coat. "I thought I was being so subtle."

"You weren't."

Pela groaned. "Don't say that, I was trying!"

"You don't have to try so hard," Lynx said softly. "I already knew."

Pela's heart melted into a puddle. She buried her face against Lynx again, muttering incoherently: "Perfect... Amazing... Too good for me... And mine, mine, mine..."

Her words eventually softened into drowsy mumbles as the warmth and comfort lulled her to sleep.

When she finally drifted off, still clinging stubbornly to her arm, Lynx just smiled faintly and adjusted the blanket around them both.

"Goodnight, Pela," she whispered.

The storm outside raged on, but inside, Pela slept peacefully, wrapped in the warmth of the girl she adored and who adored her right back.

Chapter Text

"We need to do something," March whispered to Dan Heng.

Both of them hunched over their actually good coffee that Mister Yang made in secret after Himeko's almost killed them.

Slowly, March and Dan Heng looked over their shoulder, being in the party car, and, despite having a room, the Trailblazer had fallen asleep on one of the couches in this room.

And around them...

On the table, there was a drink poured in a stylized ceramic cup in the shape of a trash can with arms.

On the couch, below the Trailblazer's head, a little decorative pillow with some odd raccoon on it.

On their coat, there was a pin with a trashcan with legs and arms so buff it was weird.

And then their room.

Trashcans, trashcans everywhere.

Trashcan pillow, trashcan blanket, trashcan trashcans.

...

Dan Heng deeply sighed.

He grabbed March's shoulder sadly.

"We can't do anything, they are obsessed with the trashcans and... And it is chronic..."

"NOOOO!!!!"

March's scream, as if someone had actually died, echoed through the train and in the ears of a very confused Trailblazer.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/h-i_aHubsr4

It was not everyday that someone barged in your life and flips everything upside down but you find that it looks way better that way.

That's how one specific neat and orderly, no nonsense foxian lady felt... Tho not in the 'Awe... Adorable little idiot.' way... More in the 'Why the fuck? No! Shiiiiit.' way.

After all, Yukong couldn't get a few important things out of her mind that made everything so much worse for her current predicament.

First and foremost was the fact that how in all the aeons, ruins author included so it is serious, did she find anything, ANYTHING, in that  ball of trouble Nameless hydrogen bomb of a girl?

Like there is no logic there. Brash, head first, brainless idiot that has not once nor twice but three times been arrested for going through trash, no thoughts behind those eyes of a person... How the fuck, the highest of fuck's someone can give, had That one been the one that caught her attention... AND WHY WAS SHE SO SMUG ABOUT IT?!!

Second was obviously, helm master and Nameless, both having different destinies even if this raccoon in a trench coat had showed her the space anchors of the Astral Express that would let either of them get from a place to the next in a second. There would always be a distance between the Luofu and the Express no matter if it could be crossed, it would be felt. Along with the worry of what being a Nameless brought, one day the idiot could just... Be gone... Forever.

Third was the amount of stupidity she did and how many times it ended up with an incident report on Yukong's desk. She has patience... But the helm master is not above feeding the grey bastard to Hoolay if he was alive if she keeps on piling more work upon her desk with each moment she exists upon the Luofu.

All of these main points and many other smaller ones should have made it easy for Yukong to dismiss this childish rhythm of the heart like the amount of loss, her responsibilities, how they were basically strangers, their age, their different personalities or even when she learned a freaking stelleron was inside the Nameless and could go boom at any time.

All of this should have made it so easy to ignore and squash it all.

But...

When she'd rush in like a headless chicken for the hope of sparing just one more person the pain even if it meant taking it on herself.

The lack of complaints, even an eagerness to help, when people came up to her with the smallest or largest asks for help.

That ever enthusiastic smile, that sarcasm laced back talk, that over confident strength to do what is needed of her.

That awkwardness in inviting her aboard the train to see, like many decades ago, the stars and the Luofu in the lights of the stars around them.

That shine in her eyes when, along with a defeated sigh, Yukong had said fine to trying this thing.

That attention of getting little snacks or flowers sent to her even when  she is away. Remembering her birthday and getting her a little bracelet from a distant world. Coming over from a singular message hinting at Yukong having had a hard day.

The little love sick puppy act of her following Yukong around and not seeming bothered if ignored for hours, just happy to be in her presence and... And Yukong not minding it either.

The selflessly self sacrificing idiocy that dictated her heart.

Yukong sighed, this was not easy.

"Why you sighing so much?"

Her eyebrow twitched and it took all in her to not react more... Tho she felt a bit as she heard a little flurry of ouch-es.

Loosening what she pulled on as her goal was not really to strangle the Nameless even if there were moments she really wanted too.

Out of everyone, Stelle seemed to show up on her porch when needing patching up... Like literally anyone was more qualified then the helm master whose previous job was the be the one to inflict injuries... But she couldn't lie, she'd be iffy if it was someone else she went too, not that she would tell the Nameless, not adding fuel to the fire.

Loosening the bandage a bit more, tying a little bow on the back of Stelle's neck with it, having gotten a nasty gash from something she called a true sting, Yukong had no idea what it was but it couldn't be good if it aimed to slice into the young woman's neck could it?

"Why? Because you are such and idiot." Smacking the back of her head in a way you unlock when you become a mother. "You need to be careful out there."

"Aie..." Stelle rubbed the back of her head, turning around with a childish pout before sticking her tongue out, eyes rolled on the foxian's side.

Yukong had much scolding too do, try to get some thoughts into that skull but with how tired and mellow the girl looked, she couldn't bring herself too.

Watching her sit on her couch, grey hair more of a mess then usual, dirt, machine oil and insect blood still smudged in her clothes and on her skin in area not cleaned, those sticky bandages and the long wraps of them on her arms from using them as shields to be chewed on instead of her face, the torn clothes... like a kicked puppy.

Despite that big gash and those literally chewed to shreds arms, Yukong had only done this, having seen how that seed of chaos inside the Nameless, operated. It didn't only make her stronger, more resilient, but if someone could stomach staring into the torn flesh and look passed the blood, what looked like energy with a yellowish glow at the bottom of the wound, slowly stitching it up from the bottom up... She knew the injuries would be gone without a trace in a few hours and so getting stitches would be more of a hindrance... She still remembers the time she didn't know about this and saw the Nameless, without a thought, take a swing of a long sword from a Mara-struck cloud knight for some civilian... She... She thought she had died that day and barely dared to trust the other Express members that Stelle would probably be fine as she wasn't even knocked out when they went to check on her.

It still didn't make her feel better to know she was hurt, even the stelleron would have a limit, a moment when she can't be saved.

"Just... Be careful." Pinching her nose at the height between her eyes, ears twitched to the side. "You are not invincible... You'll be hurt in such a way one of these days that... You can't come back form it."

Stelle... Didn't answer this time?

Yukong looked up, that was odd, usually she'd try to reassure her with more idiocies.

...

It was not often that a frown made its way on the Nameless' face and Yukong didn't like how it looked.

Stelle, looking ahead but seeing nothing, touching her neck before dragging a finger down the soft bandage to her collar bone, feeling the pain of disturbing the slash across it even through cloth.

"Stelle?" Yukong asked softer, not often seeing this side of the other woman, looking weighed with pressure compared to her carefree self. A hand resting gently on her thigh.

"I know that." Answering the question before that that hadn't even been a question that start off, just Yukong pointing out the truth, finger rubbing over the area.

She still sees the huge bug moving way faster then anticipated, its freaky jaws wide open on each side of her neck as all she could do was stare down its gullet and freeze with fear she never knew before.

Not for the fake emanator of Ruan Mei in the basement of the space station, not for Cocolia, not with Phantilia, not Aventurine, not Sunday, not Hoolay's borisin... But it happened with that stupid True Sting.

...

Well it was before...

She knew the express cared for her but before meeting one specific woman, there had always been a part of her that believed that if she was to die, that it would be for the best and to help her friends, that they'd morn but move on, as stupid as that sounds now.

But she had frozen up that day... Only thing on her mind being how she'd only hurt one green haired foxian once again when, as corny as it was, having promised to do the opposite.

All she could do in that moment was to think how she'd just be another broken promise, another painful scar, another lost life.

She was so scared to die that she couldn't move when death looked her in the face... Owing her life to Dan Heng's reaction time once again.

"Stelle, what happened exactly?"

Shaking her head, turning to her and just falling over weakly.

Yukong almost jumped at the weight just slamming down in her lap and the arms squeezing around her waist so much she thought she'd break in half.

Ears dropping with worry as the Nameless seemed so small like this. Feeling tears quickly stain the cloth on her stomach where Stelle had buried her face even if there was no hiccups, sobs or shakes to give it away, sometimes this idiot is too good at controlling herself.

A hand on her own head to scratch at it, like this she couldn't figure out anything, dropping her hand and resting it on Stelle's.

With a movement down the back of her head, threading her fingers through the grey strands, somehow the hair having a slight roughness to it, pulling her fingers through it, only catching on knot and pulling it out.

"There there, it's over, whatever it was." She said softly, petting the younger woman's head, her other hand on her shoulder. "It can't hurt you anymore."

It was a while of this, in silence, before the status quo was broken.

"Feeling better?" The only proof anything was up was the actually quite large patches of tears on her clothes standing out like sore thumbs and the slight red to the eyes of the other woman.

Getting a little nod back before Stelle dropped her head back on her lap but this times side ways.

"That's good."

"Before now... I've never been scared of death."

Yukong's ears snapped back, already disliking where this could go.

"Nameless come and go and I guess I looked at this like that too, that I'd come and go too... But this time... I was so scared... I couldn't move to save myself, all I could think off was how I'd hurt you." Sometimes Stelle's bluntness hurts even if it helps avoiding misunderstandings.

A heavy sigh came from the older woman as Stelle looked up at her from her position.

"You idiot." Gently pinching her cheek but not enough to hurt, letting go after a few seconds. "Don't get yourself killed because of that. Dying because you are scared of dying and freezing up. Just what's that?"

Getting a tired and almost unmeant chuckle back.

"I was surprised in a bad way by it."

"I'd much prefer if you'd just be your odd-ball self but alive instead of caring about my feelings and getting hurt because of that."

"I know... It just..."

"I know." Of course she did, many times had she in the passed hesitated too much because she worried about others first and herself after... Look at where that lead her.

Gently patting Stelle on the cheek.

"Just don't get in that situation again."

"That I will try."

"And if you do, you better come here so I can teach you a lesson about trying to stay alive for once."

"And get my ears chewed off? I'd ratter die." Good to see Stelle could be reassured enough to smile a bit again... But dammit she is at it again.

"Want me to break the Xianzhou's most sacred laws and revive you into an abomination just so you can say that to my face once again?"

"...No thank you." Stelle pursed her lips in fear as if she had bitten into a lemon, Yukong can be scary and not just a scary mother damn.

"Thought so, so do stay alive."

"Got it."

---------------------------------------------

"Mom I'm ba--" Qingni cut herself off before Yukong even needed to speak up.

Still she gave a little smile and a finger lifted in front of her lips to indicate silence.

The daughter silently closed the door, it was quite an image to take in even if she should have been familiar with it now.

The benefactor of the Luofu laying across her mother's lap with arms in a lock that seemed impossible to undo with said mother patting the grey hair like for a pet's fur while the benefactor slept and wrapped up in bandages like a nice little present.

It was a bit odd at that start but then again, she had never seen her mother this happy even if to others it didn't seem like she changed much, so she didn't have a hard time accepting this relationship or was she taken by surprise by it like many others were.

Tho she was still not used to her popping up in her home unannounced like she did.

"Ah, tired?" She asked in a whisper.

"Exhausted." Yukong replied in the same tone. "Would you be a dear and get a blanket, wouldn't want her to catch a cold."

If is was anyone else her mother would have found a way to get out and do it herself, if she even did that.

Qingni just nodded with a grin.

Well... She wouldn't mind having one of the benefactors in her family.

She just needs to convince her mother to not take things so slowly that Qingni will be the one with with grey hair.