#recordsstraight

Blue's heart had long since fallen from his chest, leaving him feel empty despite the intense ache that continued to grow with every passing moment. Both of them were lucky they had made it out of there alive... and quite frankly if it hadn't been for his brother being there, they'd have died. It had been brutal, intense, and a battle truly made of everything inhuman in a world not meant for them any longer. The destruction spread through multiple city blocks as both brothers had to be as serious as ever during the battle, a fact still shown on Blue's body as blood dripped down from both ruined skin and fresh wounds.

But what was worse ... was the fact that Todd, The Fox, had been there through it all. He was grateful for Zipp, there was no doubt about it ... but it was a glaring fact that Blue was no good for Todd. No matter how gently Todd spoke to him now, no matter how much Todd wanted to help...

Blue knew what he had to do. And it was crushing him already.

"What can you do?" a hollow laugh rose from his chest as he stood up suddenly, one hand sweeping Todd's touch away from him. He knew damn well that he'd not be able to do what he had to do if the smaller male was touching him. Substituting his sorrow for anger instead, Blue took a deep breath before turning to look down at Todd with cold, dead eyes. "You're human. What do you think you could possibly do?"

Todd was never one to count his blessings, probably because there were so little that the small number would depress him more than anything. But his powers, his suit, they’d at the very least kept his bones together in the chaos that ensued moments before. Out of the trio, The Fox was the only one with any ability to heal on the fly, and yet those abilities had been sucked dry now. He was bruised, cut, beat up, and had ash and soot covering his pale face as they trio all limped into an abandoned building The Fox had suggested as a safe place to hide. 

Illusion magic kept them hidden, but he knew his powers were waining and they had to make sure this rest they were taking was not wasted. Of course, the first thing he did, was ask Blue what he could do to help. Something told him asking his brother would only serve to piss the enraged demon off more. And besides, he knew Blue better anyway. 

The swat to his hand catches the Fox by surprise. He blinks down at the other, an arm around his waist as his breathe heaves in and out. Hurt pierces through him at Blue’s harshness –– something he’s never really experienced from the other. Small quips and insults here and there, but nothing that was so direct and hurtful like that. It struck a nerve, one that Todd hated more than anything –– an insecurity he always had but that was enflamed recently. He’d always wanted to be more than human, to fit in with a community that would accept him in a way the ordinary never would. And now Blue seemed to think the same thing Todd did. And the laugh only adds to the insult, making him feel about a foot tall.

“Ah, what a pretty scenery. The people, the background, the colours, the shadows... but that would be strange, wouldn’t it, to just take a photo of them right here?” Stefan’s favourite part, or one of them, was editing the ready photos after the excitement of shooting them. Depending on what his article focused on, he’d take smaller or bigger journeys and, very often, meet new people in the process. He specialised on articles about nature and animals, but this time he had the task to snatch a few sights from around town.

He took a few steps back, trying to judge how close or far he should be to take a good photo... and then stopped short. “Oh snap. Are you okay? I didn’t walk into you, right?”

@recordsstraight​ gets a one-line starter for mizuki

     Whether she knows it or not, a quiet shadow has been stalking that poor woman for most of the day. He knows because he, in turn, has been following as well. For two reasons: one, she is in danger and two, the shadow is a prime suspect in several murders. Attempting to go full-blown SERIAL KILLER as the local department believes. The suspect has been slippery until now. Flip-flopping between potential new victims. All with similar eyes, hair, et cetera. Allison can't stand by and watch any longer. When it looks like the suspect is going to approach his potential victim, in broad daylight in a convenience store, Allison beats him to it.      The detective walks over to her and throws an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, it's been a while!" he exclaims. Discreetly he pulls out his badge — so the suspect won't see it from where he lurks behind them — and mouths a quick 'go along with it.'

Nightmares weren't an uncommon thing when it came to Blue, though it certainly was the first time that he had ever had one sleeping in Todd's home. Whether it had been the sounds of Blue falling off the couch in the midst of his thrashing or the animalistic noise that was made that alerted Todd, the worst had happened in his attempt to get to Blue and wake him:

Blue had burned him.

Waking suddenly, plumes of smoke rose off his body as he sat up, looking around blindly until Todd's voice coaxed him back to reality. Closing his eyes tightly and entirely unaware of how his nightmare had caused Todd bodily harm, Blue curled up against Todd with a strangled sound born of a need to refrain from crying. Chest heaving with his efforts in calming down, one hand clung to Todd's thigh as the other wrapped around his torso, keeping Todd close to him as he fought back one of many horrible memories that had drudged up the dream in question.

"...I didn't mean to wake you up.." managing to choke out the words, Blue's breathing had steadily evened out, lips parted and lower lip plumper than usual from biting it as he had to stop from outright sobbing.

Todd was a light sleeper. The moment something shifted in the air, Todd’s body was awake and alert, leaving him with the horror of watching Blue struggle with his dream-stricken mind. He’d been on his feet and out of his bed in a flash, his hands moving to grab Blue’s shoulders to try and wake him. The moment his hand made contact, he’d felt searing pain slice through the palm of his hand. He hissed and backed up, and in the process watched in guilt as Blue fell to the floor. 

Taking a step back, Todd stood in uncertainty for a long few moments, clutching his hand as he looked at the burn. It wasn’t terrible. Nothing he couldn’t suffer with for a little bit. He shakes his head, dropping to his knees and waiting until Blue was awake and the heat turned to smoke as he cooled down to finally reach out with his good hand and push him into the waking world. 

Todd’s good arm loops around Blue’s form, bending at the waist to hover over him as his hand gently rubs along Blue’s undamaged skin. He keeps his wounded hand behind his back, hiding it as long as he could as he rubs Blue’s back and shoulders, his head tucked down to peak between the lines of Blue’s elbow he was using to hide his face. 

“Ey, ey,” Todd starts, voice hushed, moments away from shushing him like he might a fearful animal. He licks his lips, nuzzling his face a little closer so that Blue could see him if he opened his eyes, even curled around Todd like this. “Look at me, it’s alright.” Todd coos, gently and with a semi-smile.