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@flamefragments
just win bro
Mod stuff under cut

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Valerie had seemingly appeared out of thin air behind Flame, looking as any good as she was any other day. The sun shined perfectly on her, making her look exactly out of a dream.
"Hello, love. I missed you." Her voice was soft, almost a hush. The wind, as if perfectly set, started blowing heavily, her voice nearly getting lost before it reached his ears.
"I'd... Like to talk. Just for a moment."
— @iwishwecouldbereal
flame startles when he hears a voice, spinning around immediately. he had been crouched down, looking through the rummage of capital city for any gear he could scavenge. now he stared up at val, standing up immediately. he didn't even process her words as he tackled her in a hug, ears pinned back against his head as tears pricked his eyes. he had missed her so much...
"I missed you too, love. I just need to talk with you." She pressed a kiss to his head, her arms wrapping around him as well.
"did he hurt you?? are you okay?? do you need to sit down??" flame launches question after question, beggining to examine her to make sure she didn't get injured by that.. monster that had kidnapped her. his tail tucked in between his legs, now just worried about val.
"No, no, they did nothing wrong. I was treated perfectly fine there. Besides the isolation, everything was fine. Sweetheart, I just need to talk to you."
"i'm going to kill them anyways...." flame growls, now mad about the whole situation. that showtime had taken his lover from him... he wanted to track them down and put a sword through their skull. "what is it ?"
"You work with Cindercrest, correct? I'm unable to help, due to me being here on their terms, but I need you to assure me something. Just one thing, my love. I need you to keep working with Cindercrest. It could keep Aster safe. If you continue to work for Saps, there's no way Cindercrest will hurt her if she's the child of the kings strongest solider. Please, love, do this for Aster."
"abbout that..... uh.." flame winces at the mention of cindercrest, clicking his tongue. "i uh, i kind of, uh, betrayed them?? yeah. i don't think they would even take me back bro....."
femboy wemmbu or dom mommy tomboy/goth mommy val
Decisions... Decisions..
"can i pick both,"
fin ish ?? the. rblog chain??
// which one did i forget to finish again
Valerie had seemingly appeared out of thin air behind Flame, looking as any good as she was any other day. The sun shined perfectly on her, making her look exactly out of a dream.
"Hello, love. I missed you." Her voice was soft, almost a hush. The wind, as if perfectly set, started blowing heavily, her voice nearly getting lost before it reached his ears.
"I'd... Like to talk. Just for a moment."
— @iwishwecouldbereal
flame startles when he hears a voice, spinning around immediately. he had been crouched down, looking through the rummage of capital city for any gear he could scavenge. now he stared up at val, standing up immediately. he didn't even process her words as he tackled her in a hug, ears pinned back against his head as tears pricked his eyes. he had missed her so much...
"I missed you too, love. I just need to talk with you." She pressed a kiss to his head, her arms wrapping around him as well.
"did he hurt you?? are you okay?? do you need to sit down??" flame launches question after question, beggining to examine her to make sure she didn't get injured by that.. monster that had kidnapped her. his tail tucked in between his legs, now just worried about val.
"No, no, they did nothing wrong. I was treated perfectly fine there. Besides the isolation, everything was fine. Sweetheart, I just need to talk to you."
"i'm going to kill them anyways...." flame growls, now mad about the whole situation. that showtime had taken his lover from him... he wanted to track them down and put a sword through their skull. "what is it ?"

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Valerie had seemingly appeared out of thin air behind Flame, looking as any good as she was any other day. The sun shined perfectly on her, making her look exactly out of a dream.
"Hello, love. I missed you." Her voice was soft, almost a hush. The wind, as if perfectly set, started blowing heavily, her voice nearly getting lost before it reached his ears.
"I'd... Like to talk. Just for a moment."
— @iwishwecouldbereal
flame startles when he hears a voice, spinning around immediately. he had been crouched down, looking through the rummage of capital city for any gear he could scavenge. now he stared up at val, standing up immediately. he didn't even process her words as he tackled her in a hug, ears pinned back against his head as tears pricked his eyes. he had missed her so much...
"I missed you too, love. I just need to talk with you." She pressed a kiss to his head, her arms wrapping around him as well.
"did he hurt you?? are you okay?? do you need to sit down??" flame launches question after question, beggining to examine her to make sure she didn't get injured by that.. monster that had kidnapped her. his tail tucked in between his legs, now just worried about val.
Valerie had seemingly appeared out of thin air behind Flame, looking as any good as she was any other day. The sun shined perfectly on her, making her look exactly out of a dream.
"Hello, love. I missed you." Her voice was soft, almost a hush. The wind, as if perfectly set, started blowing heavily, her voice nearly getting lost before it reached his ears.
"I'd... Like to talk. Just for a moment."
— @iwishwecouldbereal
flame startles when he hears a voice, spinning around immediately. he had been crouched down, looking through the rummage of capital city for any gear he could scavenge. now he stared up at val, standing up immediately. he didn't even process her words as he tackled her in a hug, ears pinned back against his head as tears pricked his eyes. he had missed her so much...
they are so odd
@wemmbies @iwishwecouldbereal
thinking abt big boobed val so hard rn... sigh...
-val mod
@iwishwecouldbereal
// me too now......... heh..
"Hey so when the fuck did you get a kid..."
- @manepear-the-spear-master
".a bit ago i guess." flames answer is cold, tail slightly tucking inbetween his legs at the mention of asterion.
"Damn I never knew,,,"
But then Mane noticed Flame looking ans acting so...different..
"Hey you good bro?"
Mane asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
flame rolls his shoulders, clenching and unclenching his hands. he had to stay strong, stay strong, stay strong. don't show weakness. "yeah. i'm 'kay. " flame says, turning his head away even though the blindfold already covered his eyes.
The concern in Mane's eyes only grew.
"Flame." he called out, his voice firm, no more playfulness laced in his tone.
"Talk to me. Please."
"uhm. yeah like she uhm." flames tail flicked, eyes glancing away. "the kids okay it's just uhm. val is like......." flame trails off, not sure how to word it. his voice was caught in his throat.
"Hey just sit down first... calm down..."
He said, pointing to a chair nearby.
Flame hesitates before sitting down heavily, still silent. he was missing val an was feeling guiltly about trying to kill parrot and cindercrest was keeping him too busy to see wemmbu. "it's ok bro i promise. it's like whatever"
"Don't play dumb with Flame, I've seen you acting way different these past days"
Mane said as he took a seat opposite to FlameFrags.
"Now.." He started off,
"Tell me. What has been bothering you?"
flame brought his knees to his chest, hugging them there. his ears flatten against his head as he lets out a long shakey breath. "i uhm, like-" flame swallows. "val ? yeah she's um. she got like, kidnapped. and and i can't i just can't find her no matter how hard i look ive tried so many things- i even tried killing parrot and now i only feel even more worse and i cant see wemmbu because arachnid is holding him back and cindercrest me and i just. i just can't, mane..." flame burys his head down, tail curling around himself.
ManePear looked at him with empathy.
He wasn't really the best at comforting, but right now, his brother needs him.
"Listen everything is going to be alright.." he said, trying to word it out carefully.
"You can't lose hope so quickly, just..keep on fighting.." he tried to reassure him, placing a comforting hand on Flame's shoulder.
Flame slowly dragged his eyes up, ears flicking from where they were pinned against the back of his head. "mane," he said shakily, as if he could be blown away in the wind. it was odd, seeing someone who always was so strong so... destroyed. "what if im tired of fighting..?"

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"Hey so when the fuck did you get a kid..."
- @manepear-the-spear-master
".a bit ago i guess." flames answer is cold, tail slightly tucking inbetween his legs at the mention of asterion.
"Damn I never knew,,,"
But then Mane noticed Flame looking ans acting so...different..
"Hey you good bro?"
Mane asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
flame rolls his shoulders, clenching and unclenching his hands. he had to stay strong, stay strong, stay strong. don't show weakness. "yeah. i'm 'kay. " flame says, turning his head away even though the blindfold already covered his eyes.
The concern in Mane's eyes only grew.
"Flame." he called out, his voice firm, no more playfulness laced in his tone.
"Talk to me. Please."
"uhm. yeah like she uhm." flames tail flicked, eyes glancing away. "the kids okay it's just uhm. val is like......." flame trails off, not sure how to word it. his voice was caught in his throat.
"Hey just sit down first... calm down..."
He said, pointing to a chair nearby.
Flame hesitates before sitting down heavily, still silent. he was missing val an was feeling guiltly about trying to kill parrot and cindercrest was keeping him too busy to see wemmbu. "it's ok bro i promise. it's like whatever"
"Don't play dumb with Flame, I've seen you acting way different these past days"
Mane said as he took a seat opposite to FlameFrags.
"Now.." He started off,
"Tell me. What has been bothering you?"
flame brought his knees to his chest, hugging them there. his ears flatten against his head as he lets out a long shakey breath. "i uhm, like-" flame swallows. "val ? yeah she's um. she got like, kidnapped. and and i can't i just can't find her no matter how hard i look ive tried so many things- i even tried killing parrot and now i only feel even more worse and i cant see wemmbu because arachnid is holding him back and cindercrest me and i just. i just can't, mane..." flame burys his head down, tail curling around himself.
"Hey so when the fuck did you get a kid..."
- @manepear-the-spear-master
".a bit ago i guess." flames answer is cold, tail slightly tucking inbetween his legs at the mention of asterion.
"Damn I never knew,,,"
But then Mane noticed Flame looking ans acting so...different..
"Hey you good bro?"
Mane asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
flame rolls his shoulders, clenching and unclenching his hands. he had to stay strong, stay strong, stay strong. don't show weakness. "yeah. i'm 'kay. " flame says, turning his head away even though the blindfold already covered his eyes.
The concern in Mane's eyes only grew.
"Flame." he called out, his voice firm, no more playfulness laced in his tone.
"Talk to me. Please."
"uhm. yeah like she uhm." flames tail flicked, eyes glancing away. "the kids okay it's just uhm. val is like......." flame trails off, not sure how to word it. his voice was caught in his throat.
"Hey just sit down first... calm down..."
He said, pointing to a chair nearby.
Flame hesitates before sitting down heavily, still silent. he was missing val an was feeling guiltly about trying to kill parrot and cindercrest was keeping him too busy to see wemmbu. "it's ok bro i promise. it's like whatever"
"Hey so when the fuck did you get a kid..."
- @manepear-the-spear-master
".a bit ago i guess." flames answer is cold, tail slightly tucking inbetween his legs at the mention of asterion.
"Damn I never knew,,,"
But then Mane noticed Flame looking ans acting so...different..
"Hey you good bro?"
Mane asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
flame rolls his shoulders, clenching and unclenching his hands. he had to stay strong, stay strong, stay strong. don't show weakness. "yeah. i'm 'kay. " flame says, turning his head away even though the blindfold already covered his eyes.
The concern in Mane's eyes only grew.
"Flame." he called out, his voice firm, no more playfulness laced in his tone.
"Talk to me. Please."
"uhm. yeah like she uhm." flames tail flicked, eyes glancing away. "the kids okay it's just uhm. val is like......." flame trails off, not sure how to word it. his voice was caught in his throat.
a magpie lands on the window sill, a not attached to its leg. it digs its beak into its feathers, gently preening. a ribbon around its neck was red.
inside of the note it read:
" dear parrot ,
i am not speaking on behalf of cindercrest, i am speaking for me . i wish to meet up sometime again. i've missed when it was just... us. us two against whatever the world threw at us i suppose. we had some times like those, and ive been.. reflecting.
i apologize for not being able to say this in person, for i suppose i am too scared. meet me at [coords] ? thanks. please give crook a treat by the way it's a long flight.
-@flamefragments "
the bird chirps, now known as crook.
Parrot hummed curiously at the bird that landed at his window, taking the note and giving it grateful head scritches. How cute... he loved magpies... and its little neck ribbon immediately intrigued him.
He carefully read over the note, feeling a little smile tug on his lips. He'd really missed Flame... especially after that talk he had with Wemmbu a while ago... Flame must have been going through a lot as well... and hearing that he wanted to talk was nice.
Maybe he should've questioned the suddenness of Flame reaching out more... but the idea of reconciling and being able to put their differences aside once more felt too good to pass up...
So instead, he gave Crook some berries as the note requested and took off to the coordinates Flame left him.
flame was awaiting parrot on a hill, flowers scattered across it in some places. the was a lone tree, giving shade. flame was not standing in the shade though, instead at the edge of the hill staring at the setting sun. flame tried not to let the weight of the scythe weigh down in his inventory and on his soul, it was what he had to do. he had to do this. he had to. flame was so sure that this was the right option, he hadn't even thought to think to defy showtime. just chose.
"Flame."
Parrot smiled as he landed in front of the other, visibly relaxing at the calm scenery and the fact that Flame appeared to be alone. At least this wasn't some immediate ambush...
Maybe they really would be okay... maybe things could go back to the way they used to be.
"I got your letter. Crook is adorable, by the way... so, did you... have anything else to say, aside from what you put in that letter?"
"ah. hi parrot. no, not much i suppose. come sit with me?" flame gently sits down, continuing to watch the sky. he was trying to build up the courage in his heart to attack someone like parrot. he had to do it. he had to. it was his only option. "yes; i do think she is just a sweetheart. do you know what a magpie represents, parrot?" flame sighs, tail flicking. each flick was a second, and he was counting down the seconds of time until he would spring.
"Yeah, of course."
Parrot quietly took a seat next to Flame, his wings drooping slightly as he relaxed and watched the clouds pass. He tilted his head, fidgeting with the feather from Theo he always wore.
"Magpies? Well, it depends on the culture... some see them as spiritual guides, a bridge between the earthly and the divine... some view them as symbols of change... and usually, a lone magpie is seen as a bad omen. Why do you ask?"
" a bad omen..." flame slowly lowers onto his back, arms coming up behind his head. 20 seconds, 20 more flicks. he had it planned out nicely, even if the act wasn't nice at all. flame drags his eyes to look at parrot, admiring the feathers. it would be... sad to see those feathers on someone so motionless. he wouldn't like seeing parrot dead, not at all. that's why he wore the blindfold he guessed, although it didn't do much to help. "i was lying, parrot. i'm not here on behalf of myself. not that i'm with cindercrest but, i'm with.. someone else." flame slowly stands, shuffling anxiously. 10 more flicks, back and forth.
"...Wh-What? Flame, bro... y-you... who? W-Why???"
Parrot's feathers ruffled, the avian immediately scrambling to his feet as his eyes frantically scanned the area. If anyone else came, he'd be screwed.
Maybe he could just fly off while he had the time... but Flame was fast... Flame could easily grab him. He'd keep that idea in mind just in case, through...
"Y-You're kidding... you've gotta be messing around... I-I thought- you- I-I trusted you, dude!!"
"i need her back, bro, im sorry." flame says, trying to make his voice deadpan. don't show emotion, he had to do this. flame slowly slides out his scythe, black material glinting in the evening light. the lava inside swishes, orange matching the sun as it rests low in the sky. "if showtime says that this is what i must do to get her back, i'll do it." flame glances at the glowing blade, before rushing forward while swinging at parrot.
Parrot heart sank at the sight of the weapon Flame pulled out. A scythe. A fucking scythe!? Where on earth did he get that damn thing!?
Well, he didn't have time to dwell on that. Focusing on dodging and staying alive was way more important than some damn weapon.
"Showtime!? This is about them!?"
Parrot spread his wings, taking to the air to put more space between the two of them. He didn't fly off, though... Flame would just bring the fight to wherever he ran off to...and Parrot wasn't putting anyone else in danger like that.
"There's no way they'll just... kill her, y'know!? She's more useful alive than dead! Besides, Showtime said before that there was a way they'd surrender!!"
"why would she be better alive? if im not willing to play his games for her than what is she good for to him?" flame growls, reaching up and grabbing at parrot. he tries to pull him back down. he hated flying in the air. flames tail lashes back and forth, teeth bared. "get back down here and give me an actual fight!"
"I'm not giving you a fight!! I don't want to fight you, Flame, but I'm not just letting you kill me either!!"
Parrot startled when Flame reached for him, defensively curling in on himself.
"Showtime wants us to fight each other!! Can't you see that!? They want all four of us out of the picture and this is how they're doing it! If they realize this won't work, they'll find some other way to use her against you! She can't be a bargaining chip if she's dead, and there's no way they're gonna just get rid of that opportunity over one failed attempt if they have any sense!"
"just come down here and die, parrot!" flame crouches before springing up easily, almost like a cat, and using his claws to grasp onto parrot, scyth strapped to his back so it won't get in the way. flame scrabbles to hang on before finding a grip. "it's much easier to kill you then take risks- i'm not going to put her life of the line because of your fucking theory!"
"Let me go!!"
Parrot squawked, flailing and attempting to shake Flame off. He knew he wouldn't be able to succeed, but... well, he'd at least try...
"I get where you're coming from, okay!? I'm scared of them too, but fighting each other is just playing into their hands!"
Parrot's voice started shaking, clearly terrified and emotional.
"They have my kid, Phoenix... we've both lost people important to us because of them! We have a common enemy here!"
flame swallows the lump in his throat. focus on the mission. don't empathize, that's the one thing he was taught in the mafia. never empathize with your target. was that really all parrot was to him now? a target? flame reaches up and slices at parrots wing, hoping to take him down. not enough to permanently damage, just enough to hurt.
Parrot winced, immediately bringing his wings in to shield from any further harm. This, of course, caused him to fall onto his back rather harshly... and at just the wrong angle. His uninjured wing just happened to get pinned under the wrong way... causing an audible snap and for Parrot to cry out in pain.
Parrot immediately started tearing up, his hand cradling the wing as he scrambled back and continued trying to bargain.
"W-We- we can save them both! You understand that, r-right...? Come on... y-you have to understand... a-and my kids- god, my kids... y-you're a father too, you understand... i-if anything happens to me-"
God, it hurt so bad... it was so hard to think straight...
"...You... y-you're my friend, Flame... you're still my friend... you know that, right? Even now...?"
flame slowly stands, dragging out his sword. in the crash his blindfold had came loose, hanging off his face. his eyes were dull, the flat red pupils tracking parrots moved like a predator hunting prey. don't emphasize with the target, they don't mean it. ash's words echoed in his head as he slowly walked forward, sword dragging against the floor. "if i had to pick between my kids or yours, i think we both know who id pick." flame tilts his head up, trying not to tear up at parrot calling him his friend, even now. flame drags his sword to point at parrots throat, tail silently curling around his leg.
"...Flame... F-Flame, please..."
Parrot whimpered, his free arm carefully draping around the other in a... rather pathetic attempt at an embrace. His breaths came out in strangled huffs, blinking rapidly as he fought back tears and looked Flame in the eyes.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry about everything... I-I just... god... I wish things were better... I wish we could've met in better circumstances... I think we could've really been close if it weren't for... everything..."
flames jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. his hand shakes a little. one blow, one swipe and parrot would be dead. that would be one out of two. it would be so easy to get spoke, he just had to get parrot first. flame swallows at parrots pleading, trying to still his shaking hand. don't how emotion, don't empathize with the target. don't don't don't.
...Parrot really couldn't fight any more. He already knew how much weaker he was than Flame... and the pain shooting through both of his wings wasn't making him any stronger...
He just let out a shaky breath, smiling at Flame a little despite everything.
"...Can you tell Wifies and Theo that I'm sorry...? And... I-I don't know... tell my kids that I'll watch over them? Something dumb and cheesy like that... they're too young to understand much else..."
tears prick flames eyes. was he just.. accepting it? flame would've gone down fighting, even if he knew he could win. why was parrot so okay with this? why was he asking flame for favors, even though flame was about to kill him?
did he really still consider flame his friend.
flame chokes on his words, more of a distraught sob coming out more than anything. he throws his sword to the side and then crouches, burying his face in his hands. his ears are pinned tight against his head, tail tucked in between his legs. he was murmuring 'im sorry' repeatedly under his breath.
Parrot let out a little laugh of disbelief when Flame tossed the sword aside and curled in on himself, shifting his hand to rest on the other's head as he mumbled back.
"It's alright... shhh... it's okay..."
flame shifted away, scrambling to try and out the blindfold up so it could hide his teary eyes. he had almost killed his friend. "i. it's not okay. y, you need to to get home so you can heal im sorry i can help get you there," flame says, tail twitching as he rambles off. he had hurt his friend because of what, a threat ? parrot had been right, that val was better left alive. like always, flame was being a fucking brash idiot. like always, flames in his feelings and he can't get out of it.
Parrot nodded, slowly sitting up and hissing at the sharp pain that shot through his wing the moment it moved.
"Fuck... my wing's definitely broken..."
Parrot attempted to get a better look at the injury, but any attempt to move his wing or get a look at it only made it hurt more...
"Y-Yeah... I could use the help... th-thanks..."
flame hauled parrot up, careful of the others wings. " i am so , so so so so sorry parrot. please i really am i just wanted her back," flame starts up again tail still tucked in between his legs.
"I know, Flame... I know..."
Parrot smiled weakly, allowing Flame to lead the way back home. He couldn't really focus on much in the state he was in... so having someone to rely on took a lot of weight off his shoulders.
"...I wouldn't done the same thing if I were in your shoes... you just wanna protect your partner... there's nothing wrong with that."
"there's a lot wrong with the way i went about it.." flame murmurs, eyes dropping to the floor again. he would hug parrot and apologize all over again if it wouldn't hurt the avians wings. "and i hurt your wings!" flame growls to himself, tail batting himself.
"My point still stands... you're under a ton of stress and you're desperate... no shit you acted irrationally."
Parrot shuffled a little closer to Flame, gently butting his head against the other as an alternative to hugging him.
"It's fine... nothing happened that won't heal eventually."
"theo is going to kill me," flame murmurs once more, tail curling around parrots leg tightly for comfort. flame pointed the blaze at the end away from parrot so he didn't get burnt.
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
Parrot laughed a little, leaning against Flame as the two walked and letting out a little chirp.
"...you can't blame him, though... you'd kill me if I hurt Wemmbu or Valerie..."
"yeah.. i would...... guess i just gotta accept my fate at this point bro," flames ears slowly came back to standing up, swiveling at any noises that caught his attention. flame kept his eyes straight ahead, making sure he could be aware of anything.
"Yeah... I'll try to keep him from attacking you on sight, though."
Parrot looked around as the two walked, humming to himself.
"...actually, you could just... drop me off near the castle or something? That way you can be long gone by the time Theo learns what happened."
"yeah yeah, we aren't all that far now, aren't we ?" flame asks, and watching parrot carefully.
"...Yeah... I can walk the rest of the way. Thanks for escorting me, man."
Parrot pulled away and offered Flame the warmest smile he could manage, still cradling his broken wing.
flame winces at the sight of the wing. "i really am sorry," flames apologizes once more, tail tucking inbetween his legs
"You're fine... I'll see you around, man."
Parrot turned away, continuing the trek towards the castle.
flame watched his back for a long while before turning around himself
a magpie lands on the window sill, a not attached to its leg. it digs its beak into its feathers, gently preening. a ribbon around its neck was red.
inside of the note it read:
" dear parrot ,
i am not speaking on behalf of cindercrest, i am speaking for me . i wish to meet up sometime again. i've missed when it was just... us. us two against whatever the world threw at us i suppose. we had some times like those, and ive been.. reflecting.
i apologize for not being able to say this in person, for i suppose i am too scared. meet me at [coords] ? thanks. please give crook a treat by the way it's a long flight.
-@flamefragments "
the bird chirps, now known as crook.
Parrot hummed curiously at the bird that landed at his window, taking the note and giving it grateful head scritches. How cute... he loved magpies... and its little neck ribbon immediately intrigued him.
He carefully read over the note, feeling a little smile tug on his lips. He'd really missed Flame... especially after that talk he had with Wemmbu a while ago... Flame must have been going through a lot as well... and hearing that he wanted to talk was nice.
Maybe he should've questioned the suddenness of Flame reaching out more... but the idea of reconciling and being able to put their differences aside once more felt too good to pass up...
So instead, he gave Crook some berries as the note requested and took off to the coordinates Flame left him.
flame was awaiting parrot on a hill, flowers scattered across it in some places. the was a lone tree, giving shade. flame was not standing in the shade though, instead at the edge of the hill staring at the setting sun. flame tried not to let the weight of the scythe weigh down in his inventory and on his soul, it was what he had to do. he had to do this. he had to. flame was so sure that this was the right option, he hadn't even thought to think to defy showtime. just chose.
"Flame."
Parrot smiled as he landed in front of the other, visibly relaxing at the calm scenery and the fact that Flame appeared to be alone. At least this wasn't some immediate ambush...
Maybe they really would be okay... maybe things could go back to the way they used to be.
"I got your letter. Crook is adorable, by the way... so, did you... have anything else to say, aside from what you put in that letter?"
"ah. hi parrot. no, not much i suppose. come sit with me?" flame gently sits down, continuing to watch the sky. he was trying to build up the courage in his heart to attack someone like parrot. he had to do it. he had to. it was his only option. "yes; i do think she is just a sweetheart. do you know what a magpie represents, parrot?" flame sighs, tail flicking. each flick was a second, and he was counting down the seconds of time until he would spring.
"Yeah, of course."
Parrot quietly took a seat next to Flame, his wings drooping slightly as he relaxed and watched the clouds pass. He tilted his head, fidgeting with the feather from Theo he always wore.
"Magpies? Well, it depends on the culture... some see them as spiritual guides, a bridge between the earthly and the divine... some view them as symbols of change... and usually, a lone magpie is seen as a bad omen. Why do you ask?"
" a bad omen..." flame slowly lowers onto his back, arms coming up behind his head. 20 seconds, 20 more flicks. he had it planned out nicely, even if the act wasn't nice at all. flame drags his eyes to look at parrot, admiring the feathers. it would be... sad to see those feathers on someone so motionless. he wouldn't like seeing parrot dead, not at all. that's why he wore the blindfold he guessed, although it didn't do much to help. "i was lying, parrot. i'm not here on behalf of myself. not that i'm with cindercrest but, i'm with.. someone else." flame slowly stands, shuffling anxiously. 10 more flicks, back and forth.
"...Wh-What? Flame, bro... y-you... who? W-Why???"
Parrot's feathers ruffled, the avian immediately scrambling to his feet as his eyes frantically scanned the area. If anyone else came, he'd be screwed.
Maybe he could just fly off while he had the time... but Flame was fast... Flame could easily grab him. He'd keep that idea in mind just in case, through...
"Y-You're kidding... you've gotta be messing around... I-I thought- you- I-I trusted you, dude!!"
"i need her back, bro, im sorry." flame says, trying to make his voice deadpan. don't show emotion, he had to do this. flame slowly slides out his scythe, black material glinting in the evening light. the lava inside swishes, orange matching the sun as it rests low in the sky. "if showtime says that this is what i must do to get her back, i'll do it." flame glances at the glowing blade, before rushing forward while swinging at parrot.
Parrot heart sank at the sight of the weapon Flame pulled out. A scythe. A fucking scythe!? Where on earth did he get that damn thing!?
Well, he didn't have time to dwell on that. Focusing on dodging and staying alive was way more important than some damn weapon.
"Showtime!? This is about them!?"
Parrot spread his wings, taking to the air to put more space between the two of them. He didn't fly off, though... Flame would just bring the fight to wherever he ran off to...and Parrot wasn't putting anyone else in danger like that.
"There's no way they'll just... kill her, y'know!? She's more useful alive than dead! Besides, Showtime said before that there was a way they'd surrender!!"
"why would she be better alive? if im not willing to play his games for her than what is she good for to him?" flame growls, reaching up and grabbing at parrot. he tries to pull him back down. he hated flying in the air. flames tail lashes back and forth, teeth bared. "get back down here and give me an actual fight!"
"I'm not giving you a fight!! I don't want to fight you, Flame, but I'm not just letting you kill me either!!"
Parrot startled when Flame reached for him, defensively curling in on himself.
"Showtime wants us to fight each other!! Can't you see that!? They want all four of us out of the picture and this is how they're doing it! If they realize this won't work, they'll find some other way to use her against you! She can't be a bargaining chip if she's dead, and there's no way they're gonna just get rid of that opportunity over one failed attempt if they have any sense!"
"just come down here and die, parrot!" flame crouches before springing up easily, almost like a cat, and using his claws to grasp onto parrot, scyth strapped to his back so it won't get in the way. flame scrabbles to hang on before finding a grip. "it's much easier to kill you then take risks- i'm not going to put her life of the line because of your fucking theory!"
"Let me go!!"
Parrot squawked, flailing and attempting to shake Flame off. He knew he wouldn't be able to succeed, but... well, he'd at least try...
"I get where you're coming from, okay!? I'm scared of them too, but fighting each other is just playing into their hands!"
Parrot's voice started shaking, clearly terrified and emotional.
"They have my kid, Phoenix... we've both lost people important to us because of them! We have a common enemy here!"
flame swallows the lump in his throat. focus on the mission. don't empathize, that's the one thing he was taught in the mafia. never empathize with your target. was that really all parrot was to him now? a target? flame reaches up and slices at parrots wing, hoping to take him down. not enough to permanently damage, just enough to hurt.
Parrot winced, immediately bringing his wings in to shield from any further harm. This, of course, caused him to fall onto his back rather harshly... and at just the wrong angle. His uninjured wing just happened to get pinned under the wrong way... causing an audible snap and for Parrot to cry out in pain.
Parrot immediately started tearing up, his hand cradling the wing as he scrambled back and continued trying to bargain.
"W-We- we can save them both! You understand that, r-right...? Come on... y-you have to understand... a-and my kids- god, my kids... y-you're a father too, you understand... i-if anything happens to me-"
God, it hurt so bad... it was so hard to think straight...
"...You... y-you're my friend, Flame... you're still my friend... you know that, right? Even now...?"
flame slowly stands, dragging out his sword. in the crash his blindfold had came loose, hanging off his face. his eyes were dull, the flat red pupils tracking parrots moved like a predator hunting prey. don't emphasize with the target, they don't mean it. ash's words echoed in his head as he slowly walked forward, sword dragging against the floor. "if i had to pick between my kids or yours, i think we both know who id pick." flame tilts his head up, trying not to tear up at parrot calling him his friend, even now. flame drags his sword to point at parrots throat, tail silently curling around his leg.
"...Flame... F-Flame, please..."
Parrot whimpered, his free arm carefully draping around the other in a... rather pathetic attempt at an embrace. His breaths came out in strangled huffs, blinking rapidly as he fought back tears and looked Flame in the eyes.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry about everything... I-I just... god... I wish things were better... I wish we could've met in better circumstances... I think we could've really been close if it weren't for... everything..."
flames jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. his hand shakes a little. one blow, one swipe and parrot would be dead. that would be one out of two. it would be so easy to get spoke, he just had to get parrot first. flame swallows at parrots pleading, trying to still his shaking hand. don't how emotion, don't empathize with the target. don't don't don't.
...Parrot really couldn't fight any more. He already knew how much weaker he was than Flame... and the pain shooting through both of his wings wasn't making him any stronger...
He just let out a shaky breath, smiling at Flame a little despite everything.
"...Can you tell Wifies and Theo that I'm sorry...? And... I-I don't know... tell my kids that I'll watch over them? Something dumb and cheesy like that... they're too young to understand much else..."
tears prick flames eyes. was he just.. accepting it? flame would've gone down fighting, even if he knew he could win. why was parrot so okay with this? why was he asking flame for favors, even though flame was about to kill him?
did he really still consider flame his friend.
flame chokes on his words, more of a distraught sob coming out more than anything. he throws his sword to the side and then crouches, burying his face in his hands. his ears are pinned tight against his head, tail tucked in between his legs. he was murmuring 'im sorry' repeatedly under his breath.
Parrot let out a little laugh of disbelief when Flame tossed the sword aside and curled in on himself, shifting his hand to rest on the other's head as he mumbled back.
"It's alright... shhh... it's okay..."
flame shifted away, scrambling to try and out the blindfold up so it could hide his teary eyes. he had almost killed his friend. "i. it's not okay. y, you need to to get home so you can heal im sorry i can help get you there," flame says, tail twitching as he rambles off. he had hurt his friend because of what, a threat ? parrot had been right, that val was better left alive. like always, flame was being a fucking brash idiot. like always, flames in his feelings and he can't get out of it.
Parrot nodded, slowly sitting up and hissing at the sharp pain that shot through his wing the moment it moved.
"Fuck... my wing's definitely broken..."
Parrot attempted to get a better look at the injury, but any attempt to move his wing or get a look at it only made it hurt more...
"Y-Yeah... I could use the help... th-thanks..."
flame hauled parrot up, careful of the others wings. " i am so , so so so so sorry parrot. please i really am i just wanted her back," flame starts up again tail still tucked in between his legs.
"I know, Flame... I know..."
Parrot smiled weakly, allowing Flame to lead the way back home. He couldn't really focus on much in the state he was in... so having someone to rely on took a lot of weight off his shoulders.
"...I wouldn't done the same thing if I were in your shoes... you just wanna protect your partner... there's nothing wrong with that."
"there's a lot wrong with the way i went about it.." flame murmurs, eyes dropping to the floor again. he would hug parrot and apologize all over again if it wouldn't hurt the avians wings. "and i hurt your wings!" flame growls to himself, tail batting himself.
"My point still stands... you're under a ton of stress and you're desperate... no shit you acted irrationally."
Parrot shuffled a little closer to Flame, gently butting his head against the other as an alternative to hugging him.
"It's fine... nothing happened that won't heal eventually."
"theo is going to kill me," flame murmurs once more, tail curling around parrots leg tightly for comfort. flame pointed the blaze at the end away from parrot so he didn't get burnt.
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
Parrot laughed a little, leaning against Flame as the two walked and letting out a little chirp.
"...you can't blame him, though... you'd kill me if I hurt Wemmbu or Valerie..."
"yeah.. i would...... guess i just gotta accept my fate at this point bro," flames ears slowly came back to standing up, swiveling at any noises that caught his attention. flame kept his eyes straight ahead, making sure he could be aware of anything.
"Yeah... I'll try to keep him from attacking you on sight, though."
Parrot looked around as the two walked, humming to himself.
"...actually, you could just... drop me off near the castle or something? That way you can be long gone by the time Theo learns what happened."
"yeah yeah, we aren't all that far now, aren't we ?" flame asks, and watching parrot carefully.
"...Yeah... I can walk the rest of the way. Thanks for escorting me, man."
Parrot pulled away and offered Flame the warmest smile he could manage, still cradling his broken wing.
flame winces at the sight of the wing. "i really am sorry," flames apologizes once more, tail tucking inbetween his legs

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a magpie lands on the window sill, a not attached to its leg. it digs its beak into its feathers, gently preening. a ribbon around its neck was red.
inside of the note it read:
" dear parrot ,
i am not speaking on behalf of cindercrest, i am speaking for me . i wish to meet up sometime again. i've missed when it was just... us. us two against whatever the world threw at us i suppose. we had some times like those, and ive been.. reflecting.
i apologize for not being able to say this in person, for i suppose i am too scared. meet me at [coords] ? thanks. please give crook a treat by the way it's a long flight.
-@flamefragments "
the bird chirps, now known as crook.
Parrot hummed curiously at the bird that landed at his window, taking the note and giving it grateful head scritches. How cute... he loved magpies... and its little neck ribbon immediately intrigued him.
He carefully read over the note, feeling a little smile tug on his lips. He'd really missed Flame... especially after that talk he had with Wemmbu a while ago... Flame must have been going through a lot as well... and hearing that he wanted to talk was nice.
Maybe he should've questioned the suddenness of Flame reaching out more... but the idea of reconciling and being able to put their differences aside once more felt too good to pass up...
So instead, he gave Crook some berries as the note requested and took off to the coordinates Flame left him.
flame was awaiting parrot on a hill, flowers scattered across it in some places. the was a lone tree, giving shade. flame was not standing in the shade though, instead at the edge of the hill staring at the setting sun. flame tried not to let the weight of the scythe weigh down in his inventory and on his soul, it was what he had to do. he had to do this. he had to. flame was so sure that this was the right option, he hadn't even thought to think to defy showtime. just chose.
"Flame."
Parrot smiled as he landed in front of the other, visibly relaxing at the calm scenery and the fact that Flame appeared to be alone. At least this wasn't some immediate ambush...
Maybe they really would be okay... maybe things could go back to the way they used to be.
"I got your letter. Crook is adorable, by the way... so, did you... have anything else to say, aside from what you put in that letter?"
"ah. hi parrot. no, not much i suppose. come sit with me?" flame gently sits down, continuing to watch the sky. he was trying to build up the courage in his heart to attack someone like parrot. he had to do it. he had to. it was his only option. "yes; i do think she is just a sweetheart. do you know what a magpie represents, parrot?" flame sighs, tail flicking. each flick was a second, and he was counting down the seconds of time until he would spring.
"Yeah, of course."
Parrot quietly took a seat next to Flame, his wings drooping slightly as he relaxed and watched the clouds pass. He tilted his head, fidgeting with the feather from Theo he always wore.
"Magpies? Well, it depends on the culture... some see them as spiritual guides, a bridge between the earthly and the divine... some view them as symbols of change... and usually, a lone magpie is seen as a bad omen. Why do you ask?"
" a bad omen..." flame slowly lowers onto his back, arms coming up behind his head. 20 seconds, 20 more flicks. he had it planned out nicely, even if the act wasn't nice at all. flame drags his eyes to look at parrot, admiring the feathers. it would be... sad to see those feathers on someone so motionless. he wouldn't like seeing parrot dead, not at all. that's why he wore the blindfold he guessed, although it didn't do much to help. "i was lying, parrot. i'm not here on behalf of myself. not that i'm with cindercrest but, i'm with.. someone else." flame slowly stands, shuffling anxiously. 10 more flicks, back and forth.
"...Wh-What? Flame, bro... y-you... who? W-Why???"
Parrot's feathers ruffled, the avian immediately scrambling to his feet as his eyes frantically scanned the area. If anyone else came, he'd be screwed.
Maybe he could just fly off while he had the time... but Flame was fast... Flame could easily grab him. He'd keep that idea in mind just in case, through...
"Y-You're kidding... you've gotta be messing around... I-I thought- you- I-I trusted you, dude!!"
"i need her back, bro, im sorry." flame says, trying to make his voice deadpan. don't show emotion, he had to do this. flame slowly slides out his scythe, black material glinting in the evening light. the lava inside swishes, orange matching the sun as it rests low in the sky. "if showtime says that this is what i must do to get her back, i'll do it." flame glances at the glowing blade, before rushing forward while swinging at parrot.
Parrot heart sank at the sight of the weapon Flame pulled out. A scythe. A fucking scythe!? Where on earth did he get that damn thing!?
Well, he didn't have time to dwell on that. Focusing on dodging and staying alive was way more important than some damn weapon.
"Showtime!? This is about them!?"
Parrot spread his wings, taking to the air to put more space between the two of them. He didn't fly off, though... Flame would just bring the fight to wherever he ran off to...and Parrot wasn't putting anyone else in danger like that.
"There's no way they'll just... kill her, y'know!? She's more useful alive than dead! Besides, Showtime said before that there was a way they'd surrender!!"
"why would she be better alive? if im not willing to play his games for her than what is she good for to him?" flame growls, reaching up and grabbing at parrot. he tries to pull him back down. he hated flying in the air. flames tail lashes back and forth, teeth bared. "get back down here and give me an actual fight!"
"I'm not giving you a fight!! I don't want to fight you, Flame, but I'm not just letting you kill me either!!"
Parrot startled when Flame reached for him, defensively curling in on himself.
"Showtime wants us to fight each other!! Can't you see that!? They want all four of us out of the picture and this is how they're doing it! If they realize this won't work, they'll find some other way to use her against you! She can't be a bargaining chip if she's dead, and there's no way they're gonna just get rid of that opportunity over one failed attempt if they have any sense!"
"just come down here and die, parrot!" flame crouches before springing up easily, almost like a cat, and using his claws to grasp onto parrot, scyth strapped to his back so it won't get in the way. flame scrabbles to hang on before finding a grip. "it's much easier to kill you then take risks- i'm not going to put her life of the line because of your fucking theory!"
"Let me go!!"
Parrot squawked, flailing and attempting to shake Flame off. He knew he wouldn't be able to succeed, but... well, he'd at least try...
"I get where you're coming from, okay!? I'm scared of them too, but fighting each other is just playing into their hands!"
Parrot's voice started shaking, clearly terrified and emotional.
"They have my kid, Phoenix... we've both lost people important to us because of them! We have a common enemy here!"
flame swallows the lump in his throat. focus on the mission. don't empathize, that's the one thing he was taught in the mafia. never empathize with your target. was that really all parrot was to him now? a target? flame reaches up and slices at parrots wing, hoping to take him down. not enough to permanently damage, just enough to hurt.
Parrot winced, immediately bringing his wings in to shield from any further harm. This, of course, caused him to fall onto his back rather harshly... and at just the wrong angle. His uninjured wing just happened to get pinned under the wrong way... causing an audible snap and for Parrot to cry out in pain.
Parrot immediately started tearing up, his hand cradling the wing as he scrambled back and continued trying to bargain.
"W-We- we can save them both! You understand that, r-right...? Come on... y-you have to understand... a-and my kids- god, my kids... y-you're a father too, you understand... i-if anything happens to me-"
God, it hurt so bad... it was so hard to think straight...
"...You... y-you're my friend, Flame... you're still my friend... you know that, right? Even now...?"
flame slowly stands, dragging out his sword. in the crash his blindfold had came loose, hanging off his face. his eyes were dull, the flat red pupils tracking parrots moved like a predator hunting prey. don't emphasize with the target, they don't mean it. ash's words echoed in his head as he slowly walked forward, sword dragging against the floor. "if i had to pick between my kids or yours, i think we both know who id pick." flame tilts his head up, trying not to tear up at parrot calling him his friend, even now. flame drags his sword to point at parrots throat, tail silently curling around his leg.
"...Flame... F-Flame, please..."
Parrot whimpered, his free arm carefully draping around the other in a... rather pathetic attempt at an embrace. His breaths came out in strangled huffs, blinking rapidly as he fought back tears and looked Flame in the eyes.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry about everything... I-I just... god... I wish things were better... I wish we could've met in better circumstances... I think we could've really been close if it weren't for... everything..."
flames jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. his hand shakes a little. one blow, one swipe and parrot would be dead. that would be one out of two. it would be so easy to get spoke, he just had to get parrot first. flame swallows at parrots pleading, trying to still his shaking hand. don't how emotion, don't empathize with the target. don't don't don't.
...Parrot really couldn't fight any more. He already knew how much weaker he was than Flame... and the pain shooting through both of his wings wasn't making him any stronger...
He just let out a shaky breath, smiling at Flame a little despite everything.
"...Can you tell Wifies and Theo that I'm sorry...? And... I-I don't know... tell my kids that I'll watch over them? Something dumb and cheesy like that... they're too young to understand much else..."
tears prick flames eyes. was he just.. accepting it? flame would've gone down fighting, even if he knew he could win. why was parrot so okay with this? why was he asking flame for favors, even though flame was about to kill him?
did he really still consider flame his friend.
flame chokes on his words, more of a distraught sob coming out more than anything. he throws his sword to the side and then crouches, burying his face in his hands. his ears are pinned tight against his head, tail tucked in between his legs. he was murmuring 'im sorry' repeatedly under his breath.
Parrot let out a little laugh of disbelief when Flame tossed the sword aside and curled in on himself, shifting his hand to rest on the other's head as he mumbled back.
"It's alright... shhh... it's okay..."
flame shifted away, scrambling to try and out the blindfold up so it could hide his teary eyes. he had almost killed his friend. "i. it's not okay. y, you need to to get home so you can heal im sorry i can help get you there," flame says, tail twitching as he rambles off. he had hurt his friend because of what, a threat ? parrot had been right, that val was better left alive. like always, flame was being a fucking brash idiot. like always, flames in his feelings and he can't get out of it.
Parrot nodded, slowly sitting up and hissing at the sharp pain that shot through his wing the moment it moved.
"Fuck... my wing's definitely broken..."
Parrot attempted to get a better look at the injury, but any attempt to move his wing or get a look at it only made it hurt more...
"Y-Yeah... I could use the help... th-thanks..."
flame hauled parrot up, careful of the others wings. " i am so , so so so so sorry parrot. please i really am i just wanted her back," flame starts up again tail still tucked in between his legs.
"I know, Flame... I know..."
Parrot smiled weakly, allowing Flame to lead the way back home. He couldn't really focus on much in the state he was in... so having someone to rely on took a lot of weight off his shoulders.
"...I wouldn't done the same thing if I were in your shoes... you just wanna protect your partner... there's nothing wrong with that."
"there's a lot wrong with the way i went about it.." flame murmurs, eyes dropping to the floor again. he would hug parrot and apologize all over again if it wouldn't hurt the avians wings. "and i hurt your wings!" flame growls to himself, tail batting himself.
"My point still stands... you're under a ton of stress and you're desperate... no shit you acted irrationally."
Parrot shuffled a little closer to Flame, gently butting his head against the other as an alternative to hugging him.
"It's fine... nothing happened that won't heal eventually."
"theo is going to kill me," flame murmurs once more, tail curling around parrots leg tightly for comfort. flame pointed the blaze at the end away from parrot so he didn't get burnt.
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
Parrot laughed a little, leaning against Flame as the two walked and letting out a little chirp.
"...you can't blame him, though... you'd kill me if I hurt Wemmbu or Valerie..."
"yeah.. i would...... guess i just gotta accept my fate at this point bro," flames ears slowly came back to standing up, swiveling at any noises that caught his attention. flame kept his eyes straight ahead, making sure he could be aware of anything.
"Yeah... I'll try to keep him from attacking you on sight, though."
Parrot looked around as the two walked, humming to himself.
"...actually, you could just... drop me off near the castle or something? That way you can be long gone by the time Theo learns what happened."
"yeah yeah, we aren't all that far now, aren't we ?" flame asks, and watching parrot carefully.
a magpie lands on the window sill, a not attached to its leg. it digs its beak into its feathers, gently preening. a ribbon around its neck was red.
inside of the note it read:
" dear parrot ,
i am not speaking on behalf of cindercrest, i am speaking for me . i wish to meet up sometime again. i've missed when it was just... us. us two against whatever the world threw at us i suppose. we had some times like those, and ive been.. reflecting.
i apologize for not being able to say this in person, for i suppose i am too scared. meet me at [coords] ? thanks. please give crook a treat by the way it's a long flight.
-@flamefragments "
the bird chirps, now known as crook.
Parrot hummed curiously at the bird that landed at his window, taking the note and giving it grateful head scritches. How cute... he loved magpies... and its little neck ribbon immediately intrigued him.
He carefully read over the note, feeling a little smile tug on his lips. He'd really missed Flame... especially after that talk he had with Wemmbu a while ago... Flame must have been going through a lot as well... and hearing that he wanted to talk was nice.
Maybe he should've questioned the suddenness of Flame reaching out more... but the idea of reconciling and being able to put their differences aside once more felt too good to pass up...
So instead, he gave Crook some berries as the note requested and took off to the coordinates Flame left him.
flame was awaiting parrot on a hill, flowers scattered across it in some places. the was a lone tree, giving shade. flame was not standing in the shade though, instead at the edge of the hill staring at the setting sun. flame tried not to let the weight of the scythe weigh down in his inventory and on his soul, it was what he had to do. he had to do this. he had to. flame was so sure that this was the right option, he hadn't even thought to think to defy showtime. just chose.
"Flame."
Parrot smiled as he landed in front of the other, visibly relaxing at the calm scenery and the fact that Flame appeared to be alone. At least this wasn't some immediate ambush...
Maybe they really would be okay... maybe things could go back to the way they used to be.
"I got your letter. Crook is adorable, by the way... so, did you... have anything else to say, aside from what you put in that letter?"
"ah. hi parrot. no, not much i suppose. come sit with me?" flame gently sits down, continuing to watch the sky. he was trying to build up the courage in his heart to attack someone like parrot. he had to do it. he had to. it was his only option. "yes; i do think she is just a sweetheart. do you know what a magpie represents, parrot?" flame sighs, tail flicking. each flick was a second, and he was counting down the seconds of time until he would spring.
"Yeah, of course."
Parrot quietly took a seat next to Flame, his wings drooping slightly as he relaxed and watched the clouds pass. He tilted his head, fidgeting with the feather from Theo he always wore.
"Magpies? Well, it depends on the culture... some see them as spiritual guides, a bridge between the earthly and the divine... some view them as symbols of change... and usually, a lone magpie is seen as a bad omen. Why do you ask?"
" a bad omen..." flame slowly lowers onto his back, arms coming up behind his head. 20 seconds, 20 more flicks. he had it planned out nicely, even if the act wasn't nice at all. flame drags his eyes to look at parrot, admiring the feathers. it would be... sad to see those feathers on someone so motionless. he wouldn't like seeing parrot dead, not at all. that's why he wore the blindfold he guessed, although it didn't do much to help. "i was lying, parrot. i'm not here on behalf of myself. not that i'm with cindercrest but, i'm with.. someone else." flame slowly stands, shuffling anxiously. 10 more flicks, back and forth.
"...Wh-What? Flame, bro... y-you... who? W-Why???"
Parrot's feathers ruffled, the avian immediately scrambling to his feet as his eyes frantically scanned the area. If anyone else came, he'd be screwed.
Maybe he could just fly off while he had the time... but Flame was fast... Flame could easily grab him. He'd keep that idea in mind just in case, through...
"Y-You're kidding... you've gotta be messing around... I-I thought- you- I-I trusted you, dude!!"
"i need her back, bro, im sorry." flame says, trying to make his voice deadpan. don't show emotion, he had to do this. flame slowly slides out his scythe, black material glinting in the evening light. the lava inside swishes, orange matching the sun as it rests low in the sky. "if showtime says that this is what i must do to get her back, i'll do it." flame glances at the glowing blade, before rushing forward while swinging at parrot.
Parrot heart sank at the sight of the weapon Flame pulled out. A scythe. A fucking scythe!? Where on earth did he get that damn thing!?
Well, he didn't have time to dwell on that. Focusing on dodging and staying alive was way more important than some damn weapon.
"Showtime!? This is about them!?"
Parrot spread his wings, taking to the air to put more space between the two of them. He didn't fly off, though... Flame would just bring the fight to wherever he ran off to...and Parrot wasn't putting anyone else in danger like that.
"There's no way they'll just... kill her, y'know!? She's more useful alive than dead! Besides, Showtime said before that there was a way they'd surrender!!"
"why would she be better alive? if im not willing to play his games for her than what is she good for to him?" flame growls, reaching up and grabbing at parrot. he tries to pull him back down. he hated flying in the air. flames tail lashes back and forth, teeth bared. "get back down here and give me an actual fight!"
"I'm not giving you a fight!! I don't want to fight you, Flame, but I'm not just letting you kill me either!!"
Parrot startled when Flame reached for him, defensively curling in on himself.
"Showtime wants us to fight each other!! Can't you see that!? They want all four of us out of the picture and this is how they're doing it! If they realize this won't work, they'll find some other way to use her against you! She can't be a bargaining chip if she's dead, and there's no way they're gonna just get rid of that opportunity over one failed attempt if they have any sense!"
"just come down here and die, parrot!" flame crouches before springing up easily, almost like a cat, and using his claws to grasp onto parrot, scyth strapped to his back so it won't get in the way. flame scrabbles to hang on before finding a grip. "it's much easier to kill you then take risks- i'm not going to put her life of the line because of your fucking theory!"
"Let me go!!"
Parrot squawked, flailing and attempting to shake Flame off. He knew he wouldn't be able to succeed, but... well, he'd at least try...
"I get where you're coming from, okay!? I'm scared of them too, but fighting each other is just playing into their hands!"
Parrot's voice started shaking, clearly terrified and emotional.
"They have my kid, Phoenix... we've both lost people important to us because of them! We have a common enemy here!"
flame swallows the lump in his throat. focus on the mission. don't empathize, that's the one thing he was taught in the mafia. never empathize with your target. was that really all parrot was to him now? a target? flame reaches up and slices at parrots wing, hoping to take him down. not enough to permanently damage, just enough to hurt.
Parrot winced, immediately bringing his wings in to shield from any further harm. This, of course, caused him to fall onto his back rather harshly... and at just the wrong angle. His uninjured wing just happened to get pinned under the wrong way... causing an audible snap and for Parrot to cry out in pain.
Parrot immediately started tearing up, his hand cradling the wing as he scrambled back and continued trying to bargain.
"W-We- we can save them both! You understand that, r-right...? Come on... y-you have to understand... a-and my kids- god, my kids... y-you're a father too, you understand... i-if anything happens to me-"
God, it hurt so bad... it was so hard to think straight...
"...You... y-you're my friend, Flame... you're still my friend... you know that, right? Even now...?"
flame slowly stands, dragging out his sword. in the crash his blindfold had came loose, hanging off his face. his eyes were dull, the flat red pupils tracking parrots moved like a predator hunting prey. don't emphasize with the target, they don't mean it. ash's words echoed in his head as he slowly walked forward, sword dragging against the floor. "if i had to pick between my kids or yours, i think we both know who id pick." flame tilts his head up, trying not to tear up at parrot calling him his friend, even now. flame drags his sword to point at parrots throat, tail silently curling around his leg.
"...Flame... F-Flame, please..."
Parrot whimpered, his free arm carefully draping around the other in a... rather pathetic attempt at an embrace. His breaths came out in strangled huffs, blinking rapidly as he fought back tears and looked Flame in the eyes.
"...I'm sorry... I'm so sorry about everything... I-I just... god... I wish things were better... I wish we could've met in better circumstances... I think we could've really been close if it weren't for... everything..."
flames jaw tightens, eyes narrowing. his hand shakes a little. one blow, one swipe and parrot would be dead. that would be one out of two. it would be so easy to get spoke, he just had to get parrot first. flame swallows at parrots pleading, trying to still his shaking hand. don't how emotion, don't empathize with the target. don't don't don't.
...Parrot really couldn't fight any more. He already knew how much weaker he was than Flame... and the pain shooting through both of his wings wasn't making him any stronger...
He just let out a shaky breath, smiling at Flame a little despite everything.
"...Can you tell Wifies and Theo that I'm sorry...? And... I-I don't know... tell my kids that I'll watch over them? Something dumb and cheesy like that... they're too young to understand much else..."
tears prick flames eyes. was he just.. accepting it? flame would've gone down fighting, even if he knew he could win. why was parrot so okay with this? why was he asking flame for favors, even though flame was about to kill him?
did he really still consider flame his friend.
flame chokes on his words, more of a distraught sob coming out more than anything. he throws his sword to the side and then crouches, burying his face in his hands. his ears are pinned tight against his head, tail tucked in between his legs. he was murmuring 'im sorry' repeatedly under his breath.
Parrot let out a little laugh of disbelief when Flame tossed the sword aside and curled in on himself, shifting his hand to rest on the other's head as he mumbled back.
"It's alright... shhh... it's okay..."
flame shifted away, scrambling to try and out the blindfold up so it could hide his teary eyes. he had almost killed his friend. "i. it's not okay. y, you need to to get home so you can heal im sorry i can help get you there," flame says, tail twitching as he rambles off. he had hurt his friend because of what, a threat ? parrot had been right, that val was better left alive. like always, flame was being a fucking brash idiot. like always, flames in his feelings and he can't get out of it.
Parrot nodded, slowly sitting up and hissing at the sharp pain that shot through his wing the moment it moved.
"Fuck... my wing's definitely broken..."
Parrot attempted to get a better look at the injury, but any attempt to move his wing or get a look at it only made it hurt more...
"Y-Yeah... I could use the help... th-thanks..."
flame hauled parrot up, careful of the others wings. " i am so , so so so so sorry parrot. please i really am i just wanted her back," flame starts up again tail still tucked in between his legs.
"I know, Flame... I know..."
Parrot smiled weakly, allowing Flame to lead the way back home. He couldn't really focus on much in the state he was in... so having someone to rely on took a lot of weight off his shoulders.
"...I wouldn't done the same thing if I were in your shoes... you just wanna protect your partner... there's nothing wrong with that."
"there's a lot wrong with the way i went about it.." flame murmurs, eyes dropping to the floor again. he would hug parrot and apologize all over again if it wouldn't hurt the avians wings. "and i hurt your wings!" flame growls to himself, tail batting himself.
"My point still stands... you're under a ton of stress and you're desperate... no shit you acted irrationally."
Parrot shuffled a little closer to Flame, gently butting his head against the other as an alternative to hugging him.
"It's fine... nothing happened that won't heal eventually."
"theo is going to kill me," flame murmurs once more, tail curling around parrots leg tightly for comfort. flame pointed the blaze at the end away from parrot so he didn't get burnt.
"Y-Yeah, probably..."
Parrot laughed a little, leaning against Flame as the two walked and letting out a little chirp.
"...you can't blame him, though... you'd kill me if I hurt Wemmbu or Valerie..."
"yeah.. i would...... guess i just gotta accept my fate at this point bro," flames ears slowly came back to standing up, swiveling at any noises that caught his attention. flame kept his eyes straight ahead, making sure he could be aware of anything.