Just wanted to let you know how MUCH I love love love "From the wild". The story has got me hooked! What's the magic like? What adventures will they go on? Just how much trouble will they get into (this is not a question of "if", it's a question of "when" and "how bad"?). What. Is. That. Familiar. That's following. Bdubs? Who does it belong to? Why did that merchant asked for interest rates, what did he see of Bdubs? So many things got me in.
Again
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
-MYLA 💜
Ayyyy, thank you so much! There's a ton of world building I've got planned here, and I'm pretty excited about it! I really appreciate the support!
And yes, they will get into a lot of trouble. A lot. You can't expect anything less from these guys.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Grace taught me this word, particularly when describing to me what his body was experiencing after the tailspin above Adrian. It was an expression of pain, something dull and festering.
I am aching. I ache. But not in the way Grace had been referencing in regard to himself. My aching is inside, a dull, expanding, throbbing pain that grows every time I look at Grace and know that I cannot touch him. The reminder is burned into his skin, raised in the form of my claws on his forearm.
But I want to. I want to be able to return his hugs, to know what that feels like. I want to wrap all my arms around him, to assure him that even though his own planet abandoned him, I never will. I want to hold him. I want to hold him so badly it aches.
And maybe it's selfish of me, but I want Grace to hold me. I want to break through the walls separating us and crawl into his arms, listen to his heart beat, his lungs expand and detract, his blood flow through his body. I want to know he's alive, and while I can hear him no matter where he is on the Hail Mary, it's just not enough.
I never want to make him feel like he isn't good enough. Knowing Grace is good enough. It has to be, because the universe has doomed us to never touch. I have to settle for his awkward hugs around the xenonite ball, for when he rests his hand against the wall and I pretend to lean into his touch.
But I still ache. I don't know if I'll ever stop. Even after we get back to Erid, when I am back with others like me, when I am in my own atmosphere and touch will become familiar again, I will never be able to touch Grace. No matter the plans for a xenonite suit to replace the ball. No matter how close we get, we will never truly touch.
I love Grace. I will never regret meeting him, never, never, never, but I will always mourn what we can never have.
Bdubs' breaths were steady and slow, his exhales gently ruffling the fur on Etho's head.
Bdubs currently lay on his side, Etho stretched out beside him, pressed along the length of Bdubs' torso. The latter had one hand resting lightly over Etho's ribs, something he'd made a habit of ever since the day he'd rescued Etho, almost as if to assure himself, even in sleep, that has familiar was breathing.
Etho often wondered what Bdubs had been doing in the dungeon that day — what had compelled him to rescue Etho. Perhaps it was Bdubs' natural love of animals — Etho had seen plenty of evidence in regards to that in the way he treated the farm animals, and in the way he cared for Etho.
The tendernes with which he regarded his familiar made Etho's heart ache in a way he was unfamiliar with. From the moment he'd seen Etho in the dungeon, to this very moment, Etho had rarely felt so safe, secure, and wanted.
Bdubs seemed to know next to nothing about magic, yet he hadn't hesitated to bond with Etho in the name of saving his life. Without that mercy, Etho was sure he'd be long dead by now.
He shifted, rolling upright and pushing into a sitting position. He shook his head to settle the fur there back into place, then turned to look at Bdubs.
Etho knew there was a stark difference in their appearances, other than the obvious. Familiars in their bipedal forms were easy to pick out of a crowd, both due to their hybrid features but also the strong magic that practically bled out of them.
Bdubs possessed no magic, no hybrid features that would define him as anything other than human, but to Etho, he was extraordinary, inside and out.
Etho wanted to return the care that Bdubs had shown him. It was his purpose as a familiar to care for his master, to protect them no matter what. He was striving for that goal, but it seemed Bdubs was more set on protecting Etho than himself.
Etho huffed a breath through his nose, warmth rushing through his body as he shifted from his fox to his bipedal form. He carefully reached his hand towards Bdubs, ghosting his fingers along the latter's arm and over his shoulder. He slowed at Bdubs' neck, at the raised skin of an ugly wound long healed, his hand itching to touch, to soothe, to do anything that might make the reminder of the pain go away.
Heart aching, Etho lifted his hand towards Bdubs' face, tracing the curve of his jawline, the arch of his cheekbone, the line of his brow, softened by sleep.
Finally, Etho allowed himself to touch, smoothing dark curls back from Bdubs' forehead while he pulled his mask down beneath his chin with his free hand. He leaned down, brushing his lips in a fleeting kiss against his temple.
"I'd do anything for you," he breathed, his eyes falling shut. "Anything, if only you would let me."
Bdubs sighed gently in his sleep, Etho allowing himself one more moment to linger before pulling back and shifting back into his fox form. He snuggled up against Bdubs' chest, tucking his face into the crook of his human's neck and listening to the soft sound of his heart beating.
Bdubs loved the rain. He loved the calm before the storm, the stillness of the trees and the scent of the oncoming rain. He loved the rain itself, and more than anything, he loved the after, when the world smelled of petrichor and the fog rose in the forest.
The only thing he didn't like was the cold. The rains in his region tended to be frigid, and more often than not, he'd be caught outdoors in the downpour.
Like now. Bdubs and Etho had been out working the fields just beyond his house; Etho had warned of the oncoming storm, but Bdubs had insisted on finishing their work. Predictably, it had taken longer than anticipated, and now both were soaked to the bone as they fumbled their way back to the house.
"It's fine!" Bdubs insisted, shucking his coat off. It hit the floor with a wet slap, followed by his boots. "Now we don't have to worry about it later! We can just enjoy the storm, now."
"Mhm," Etho hummed skeptically. He peeled his coat from his shoulders and hung it on the hook next to the door, pulling his boots off. He ducked his head and proceeded to shake himself like a dog, showering Bdubs with droplets of water.
"Hey!" He shoved his familiar away from him, Etho barking an amused laugh. Bdubs made his way further into the house, shuffling into his bedroom and pulling dry clothes from his closet.
"You need to properly dry off," Etho said. "And I can hear your teeth chattering."
"Shut up," Bdubs huffed. "You and your stupid hearing."
Etho's ears twitched, eyes lifting at the corners. Bdubs waved him off. "Go get the fire going," he said. Etho hesitated, then nodded and ducked out of the room.
By the time Bdubs had changed and dried off as best he could, Etho had started the fire and had created a nest of blankets and quilts in front of the hearth. He was currently sitting beside the nest in his fox form, his tail flicking as Bdubs approached.
"Aw," Bdubs cooed. "Did you make this for me?"
Etho let out a small chirp, jogging a circle around the nest and peering expectantly up at Bdubs. The latter smiled fondly, stepping over the edge of the nest and settling in. As soon as he was settled, Etho hopped into his lap, stretching his paws up Bdubs' chest and resting the length of his little body across his torso. Bdubs dropped his head back against the rim of the nest, lifting both hands to stroke along Etho's flanks.
"Thank you, Etho," he murmured, pressing his thumbs lightly into his familiar's shoulders. Etho let out a low, deep purr in response, kneading his paws lightly against Bdubs' collarbone before settling his chin on the latter's chest and closing his eyes. Bdubs' chest squeezed with a rush of affection, fingers burying in the thick fur of the ruff of Etho's neck. "I'm really glad you're here."
This earned him a lick to the chin; he laughed, nuzzling his familiar before shifting to get more comfortable and letting sleep take him away.
Bdubs held the arrow loosely between his fingers against the string of his bow, his shoes tapping lightly on the damp stone of the dungeon as he crept down the corridor.
Tango and Skizz had already cleared the rest of the dungeon, and it was likely they were already long gone. The three of them were a strong team, but they knew better than to be caught together. Bdubs likely wouldn't see either of them for several weeks.
All the cells in this bottom level of the dungeon were empty, and Bdubs was reaching the end when he heard a scrape against the stone. He instantly raised his bow and whirled around, but the hall was still deserted.
Then, a quiet whine. Bdubs lowered his bow, pulling the arrow from the string and slipping it back into his quiver as he peered into the cell at the very end of the hall.
Curled in the darkest corner of the cell was an arctic fox, though its white fur was matted and darkened with dirt and blood. An iron muzzle was clamped around its muzzle, chains attached to all four paws.
"Oh — what have they done to you?" Bdubs breathed. He looked down at the cell door, fishing in his pocket for his lock picks. "Don't worry, little guy; I'll get you out of there."
A few moments later and the lock clicked, the door swinging outwards. Bdubs stepped back, then into the cell, kneeling next to the fox. The creature shied away from him, curling its tail around its face as best it could and peering nervously up at him.
"It's okay," Bdubs soothed, slowly extending his hand towards the fox. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
The fox's ears flattened as his hand drew closer; Bdubs paused just before his fingers would make contact with the top of the creature's head. "Yeah?" he murmured. "I gotcha."
His fingers slipped into the fur atop the fox's head. The instant he made contact, the fox's body jolted, its head pressing firmly into his hand as it let out a low, broken whine. "Oh," Bdubs murmured, slipping his picks between his teeth in order to use both hands to scratch behind the fox's ears. It pushed itself up on its front paws, pushing its head into his palms. "Alright, hold on. Lemme get the muzzle off."
He kept one hand on the fox, rubbing circles behind one ear while he grabbed his picks with the other hand and felt around the muzzle for the lock. "Okay," he muttered once he found the lock, nudging the fox's chin upwards to properly reach it. He leaned closer, brow furrowing in focus.
A minute of struggle later, the lock clicked, the muzzle splitting up the middle. Bdubs let out a short, triumphant exclamation, pulling the muzzle off the fox. It yipped, licking his palms and wrists as he reached for it. "Yeah, yeah!" he laughed, smoothing both thumbs under the fox's jaw. "Now let's get those chains off and beat it, whaddya say?"
Another eager yip. Bdubs grinned, and a couple minutes later, all four cuffs lay open on the floor as he scooped the fox into his arms. It nudged its head up under his chin, its breaths puffing lightly against his collarbone.
"Right," Bdubs murmured, adjusting the fox in his grip as he stood and backed out of the cell. "And we're off!"
The journey out of the dungeon was fairly uneventful aside from ducking around corners to avoid the occasional patrol. Bdubs made a break for it as soon as they were clear of the dungeon walls, holding the fox close to his chest.
He slowed when he reached the tree line beyond the dungeon, glancing down at the fox in his arms. It had tucked its face into the crook of his neck, its chest rising and falling shallowly. "Easy," Bdubs muttered to himself. "Just hang in there."
The fox only leaned further into him.
~
Bdubs kicked his front door open, his key clamped between his teeth. "Okay, okay," he huffed, stumbling over to the ratty couch and gently laying the fox on the cushions. It didn't stir, puffing out shallow breaths. Bdubs smoothed his hand over its flank before pushing to his feet and hurrying into the kitchen.
He grabbed his medical supplies, hesitating as he looked at the bundle in his hands. He had no idea how to medically treat an animal, as much as he loved them. Not to mention, he didn't know exactly what was wrong with the fox.
He moved back to the living room, kneeling beside the couch and carefully setting the supplies next to the fox. He reached up to stroke it's head and neck, frowning slightly. "I'm gonna do my best," he whispered, "but I'm gonna need your help, okay? Don't go dyin' on me."
He only got a small sigh in response. "Okay," he muttered, shuffling through the supplies until he found what he was looking for. "Let's do this."
~
It was well past midnight by the time Bdubs finished his work on the fox. It had several bruises and cuts littering its body, but nothing major that Bdubs could see other than a gash over its left eye. He doubted the little thing would be able to see out of it again, though he'd still cleaned it as best he could.
He'd done his best to clean up the fox, carefully running a brush through its fur once he'd cleaned most of the grime off, but he could hardly properly clean it when it was limp and unconscious.
Bdubs let out a long sigh, dropping his head on the couch. "I gotta shreep," he mumbled, resting his hand lightly on the fox's flank. "Whaddya say? Think you'll make it through the night? I don't know what else I can do for ya."
As usual, there was no response. Bdubs watched the fox for another moment, then stood up with a grunt. "Come on," he puffed, carefully lifting the fox into his arms and shuffling towards his bedroom. He carefully set the fox on his bed near the pillows, crawling onto the mattress soon after and curling up under the patchy quilt.
"Stay alive," Bdubs mumbled, slipping his fingers into the soft fur on the fox's side. He let his eyes slip closed, feeling its ribs shift beneath his hand as it continued to breathe. "I'll see you in the morning."
~
Bdubs woke slowly, as he often did, though he startled into wakefulness the moment he realized the fox was no longer beside him. He bolted upright, only to startle backwards at the sight of a stranger sitting at the base of his bed.
"What the—who are you? What are you doing in my house?!" Bdubs shouted. The stranger seemed at a loss, and only then did Bdubs notice the gash over his left eye, disappearing beneath the black mask covering his mouth and nose.
In Bdubs' stunned silence, two white fox ears nestled in equally white hair perked upright on the stranger's head, previously pinned backwards. "Oh," Bdubs breathed. "It's you, isn't it?"
The stranger ducked his head slightly; Bdubs peeled the quilt away from his body, crawling forward until he was kneeling before the stranger. Bdubs hesitated, then raised his hand and reached for his new companion. The stranger lifted his head, watching Bdubs' hand warily, but only until the latter's hand made contact with one soft fox ear.
For lack of a better word, the stranger melted. His eyes fell closed, pushing his head into Bdubs' hand, his fox ears flattening. "I'm sorry," he rasped, Bdubs blinking at the low sound of his voice. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't—" His breath caught in his throat as Bdubs' fingers rubbed at the base of one ear. "I shouldn't be here."
"What do you mean?" Bdubs asked quietly. "Who are you?"
The stranger opened his eyes, one dark as coal, the other stained red from the gash. His gaze lowered shamefully. "I...Etho," he murmured. "My name is Etho."
"Etho," Bdubs echoed, his fingers sliding through Etho's white hair down to his cheek. "I mean, unless I was hallucinating, last night, you were a fox. Are you...a shapeshifter?"
"A familiar," Etho corrected with a shake of his head. He leaned into Bdubs' touch seemingly subconsciously. "Or I was. The people who captured me and my master severed our bond. I don't know if he's alive." He let out a shaky breath. "Familiars are not meant to exist without a master. Our lives are intertwined with that of another, and without that..."
"You die," Bdubs finished. Etho looked away.
"I should go," he said softly, finally pulling away from Bdubs.
"Well—wait," Bdubs protested, reaching out to catch Etho's arm. "You said your bond with your last master was severed. Does that mean you are currently untethered?"
Etho didn't respond, but his silence was answer enough. Bdubs straightened slightly, shifting to swing his legs over the edge of the bed and jump to his feet. "Can you bond with anyone?" he asked before he could truly consider what he was about to offer.
Etho blinked, his good eye narrowing slightly. "I can," he said slowly. Bdubs smiled, opening his arms.
"Then bond with me!"
Etho stared at him, then tilted his head. "Bonding with a familiar is no light thing," he said. "I'll be your companion for the rest of your life — your life will be tethered to mine, and mine to yours."
"Sounds like having a dog," Bdubs said, Etho raising an unimpressed brow. "I mean...sounds cool?"
"You don't know me," Etho said. "You don't seem to know what having a familiar entails. You're human — having a familiar will open your mortal eyes to a world beyond your own. Do you want that?"
"I mean, I'd consider myself curious," Bdubs responded. "Look, bottom line: I don't want you to die. If you have to bond with me to stay alive, then I'm willing to do that."
Etho's ears lowered slightly, his expression shifting into something almost mournful. "I don't want to drag you down with me," he whispered. "You seem like a good person."
The brand on the side of Bdubs' neck throbbed, even though it had long healed. He smiled wryly. "Sure," he said. "How do we do this?"
In one swift movement, Etho drew a dagger from his belt, peeling one fingerless glove from his hand and holding the blade to his palm. Bdubs' eyes widened slightly. Etho seemed to notice his expression, pulling the dagger away from his hand.
"If you—"
"Nope." Bdubs grabbed the dagger from Etho, the latter protesting just before Bdubs slashed the blade across his palm. He winced, biting the inside of his lip as his blood dribbled over the heel of his hand. He awkwardly handed the dagger back to Etho. "Here. That's what I was supposed to do, right?"
"Well, yes," Etho said, accepting the dagger. He smoothly cut a line across his own palm, sheathing the dagger and holding his bleeding hand towards Bdubs. He hesitated, then reached his bloodied hand forward to clasp Etho's. He gasped as soon as their palms touched, his legs giving way beneath him. Etho caught him, pulling him to his chest as he lowered them both to the floor.
"Whoa," Bdubs said breathlessly, gritting his teeth as a wave of heat rushed through his body. "Is it...supposed to feel like this?"
"You're human," Etho murmured, nudging his nose lightly against Bdubs' temple as he squeezed the latter's hand. "Your body isn't accustomed to magic like this."
"Coulda warned me."
"I tried to."
Bdubs huffed a laugh, sighing as the sensations coursing through him finally seemed to ebb. As the blood rushing through his ears began to quiet, he could then make out Etho's soft voice humming ever so quietly.
"Is...that it?" he asked. "Are we bonded?" He blinked his eyes open, his breath stalling as he took in Etho's form. His white hair was very nearly glowing, his skin taking on a healthier hue, ears standing straight atop his head. "Oh..."
"Do you feel okay?" Etho asked softly, leaning forward to nudge his nose against Bdubs' temple again.
"I feel fine," Bdubs replied, struggling to sit up on his own. "You look great."
Etho's ear flicked; he looked down at their intertwined hands. "Yes," he murmured after a moment. "We're bonded." He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to the top of Bdubs' hand. "Thank you. As your familiar, I'm at your service."
"Oh. Well...you can do what you want," Bdubs replied. "I mean, if you don't want to stick around, you don't even have to do that."
Etho's brow furrowed in confusion. "That's...not exactly how it works," he said. "You're my master. I will accompany you wherever you go, enhance your abilities — though I'm not entirely sure how that will work with a human — and ultimately, my purpose is to protect you." His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners and Bdubs had the sneaking feeling he was smiling at him. "Maybe you should have thought this through a little longer?"
"Okay, maybe I rushed into it," Bdubs said hotly, "but you're gonna live, and that's what really matters. We'll figure this out. We're stuck together now, it sounds like."
"We are," Etho confirmed with a nod.
"Okay then." Bdubs hesitated. "Please don't ever refer to me as your master."
Etho's ears perked in confusion. "But...you are."
"Bdubs is fine." He offered a smile to his familiar. "I mean, B-double-O, but everyone just calls me Bdubs." He gave Etho's hand a squeeze. "So just Bdubs is fine."
"Alright then...Bdubs." Etho's eyes crinkled again, and Bdubs decided he could get used to seeing hints of Etho's smile. Maybe one day, he'd earn the privilege of seeing his whole face.
Oh, wow. He was stuck with Etho supposedly for the rest of his life. The reality was seemingly just beginning to set in as he took in his familiar. His familiar. That was a world so far beyond his own. Tango was a blazeborn, but he hardly ever used his powers and his appearance wasn't startling different from a human's.
Etho was beautiful, in an almost otherworldly kind of way. Maybe Bdubs should have thought more carefully about the whole thing. But on the other hand, he didn't necessarily regret it — didn't regret saving Etho.
You'll figure it out, he told himself, reaching out to scratch behind Etho's ears. His familiar made a soft sound in the back of his throat, leaning up into Bdubs' hand and shifting closer to him. His lips thinned slightly. It seemed there was more healing to be done with his new familiar than just the surface wounds.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
"Familiars?" Tango glanced at Bdubs briefly before returning his attention to the redstone in his hands. The market was busy around them, the merchant before them watching Tango with an eager glint in his eye. "Like, animal familiars?"
"Is...there more than one kind?"
Tango shrugged. "I guess not. I've heard a little about them, yeah, but that's not really part of my world." He pulled a pouch of coins from his belt and set it on the table next to his small pile of redstone components. "That should cover it."
The merchant grabbed the pouch and opened it, dumping the coins into his palm. He counted the change, then glanced up at Tango, eyes narrowing. "Thirty percent interest," he said, voice gravelly and greedy.
Tango's hand went to the high collar of his vest, though he quickly deflected by adjusting the front and dropping his hand. "Why?" he asked through his teeth.
"Thirty percent or no sale," the merchant said evasively, tilting his chin haughtily. Tango narrowed his eyes, the fiery orange of his hair brightening slightly. Bdubs nudged him aside, pulling the remaining sum from his own pouch.
"Sleep with one eye open," he said, sweeping the components off the counter before the merchant could respond. He offered a large grin, passing the components to Tango and steering his friend away from the booth.
"I thought—"
"He saw mine," Bdubs muttered. "He charged by association."
That only seemed to make Tango angrier, but Skizz burst through the crowd before the blazeborn could truly begin fuming.
"What's up, homie buddies!" Skizz declared, opening his arms and dragging the pair into a hug. Bdubs huffed as the air rushed out of him but he leaned into it nonetheless.
"Got your message," Skizz said with a wink in Tango's direction. He held up a sack with a grin. "And some presents!"
"Yes!" Tango exclaimed, reaching for the sack with grabby hands, apparently distracted from the previous interaction. Skizz handed the sack to Tango, squeezing Bdubs' shoulder.
"Glad you made it out okay," he said. "Only saw Top on the way out."
"Oh, yeah," Bdubs replied, reaching up to pat Skizz's hand. "That was a pretty simple run, I'd say."
"Yeah, but it's always good to see ya, even if only a glimpse." Skizz draped his arms over Tango and Bdubs' shoulders, pulling them down the street. "How about we go grab a bite and chat a little?"
"Mhm," Tango said absently, still rummaging through the sack. Skizz and Bdubs exchanged an amused glance.
"How about we chat," Skizz amended, giving Bdub's shoulders a squeeze.
"That sounds wonderful," Bdubs replied, reaching over to poke Tango. The blazeborn didn't dignify either of them with a response.
~
"You with us, Bubbles?"
Bdubs startled slightly, dropping his hand from where it had been supporting his head. "What?"
Tango raised an eyebrow, his pointer finger pressed to the map laid out on the table before the trio. Skizz tilted his head. "Where's your head at?" he asked, not condescendingly.
He could tell them the truth. But for some reason, Etho felt like a secret he wanted to keep to himself, at least for a little while. At least until he knew exactly what he was in for.
So far, Etho had spent more time in his fox form than his bipedal form. He slept curled in Bdubs' side, perched on Bdubs' shoulders when he was working, and generally stuck close to his side. He watched vigilantly at the window while Bdubs got ready for bed, always alert when he thought Bdubs was vulnerable.
One thing he'd learned about Etho was that his familiar would do whatever Bdubs asked, generally without hesitation. It had been the only way Bdubs had been able to slip away without his familiar following — there were parts of his own world he didn't quite feel ready to share with Etho.
Hopefully the fox wasn't panicking looking for him. Bdubs grimaced to himself at the thought.
"You think it's too risky?" Tango asked, pulling his hand away from the map.
"No! No, this isn't worse than anything we've done before," Bdubs said, shaking his head. "I just...it's been a weird couple of weeks." He shifted in his seat, offering a smile to his friends. "Good to be back in familiar territory."
"You still thinking about familiars?" Tango prodded. Bdubs blinked.
"What? Why do you...why do you say that?"
"You brought it up so randomly earlier," Tango responded with a shrug. "Figured you must've had a reason. What, did you pick one up in the last couple weeks?"
"Wha—" Bdubs choked, pounding a fist on his chest as he coughed, Skizz and Tango staring at him with wide eyes. "No! I just...might've seen one and I got curious."
"I'd steer clear," Tango said, looking back down at the map. "These days, familiars often belong to greedy mages and elementals. Seeing one can only be bad news."
"What about an untethered familiar?" Bdubs asked, somewhat defensively. Tango peered up at him.
"Don't think there's such a thing."
"How would you know?"
"Because that's the point of a familiar," Tango retorted. "They live to serve. Without a master, they don't have a purpose." He pointed at the map. "How about we stay out of that business and focus on this? We're going to have a limited opening and we gotta take it."
"Right." Bdubs let out a breath, reaching for his glass of water.
In the window behind Tango, he caught the flutter of red and blue feathers disappearing.
~
Bdubs slowly pushed his front door open, peering around the entryway. No sign of Etho. He stepped inside, nudging the door shut. Maybe he was worried over nothing. Maybe Etho didn't mind. His familiar seemed fairly unbothered by most things Bdubs did.
"Etho?"
No response.
Well, now Bdubs was concerned. He dropped his pack by the door and stepped into the house, poking his head around the corners and searching for white.
Only when he reached the bedroom did he finally spot his familiar, his heart sinking into his stomach. Etho stared at him from his spot on the bed, curled tightly in a ball with his tail draped over his nose.
"Hi," Bdubs said quietly, approaching the bed as he shrugged his jacket from his shoulders. Etho watched him, ears slowly lowering as Bdubs drew closer. "Did you...find the copper vein I told you about?"
The tip of Etho's tail flicked. Bdubs hesitated, then sat at the edge of the bed and reached one hand towards Etho. "You mad?"
Etho lifted his head as Bdubs' hand drew near. Bdubs paused, Etho leaning forward to sniff his palm before licking the freshly healed scar across Bdubs' hand. The fox pulled his head back, pushing himself up on his front paws as his body began to shift. In the next few moments, Etho sat before Bdubs, shuffling to drape his legs over the side of the bed.
"Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" he asked. "You told me to find the copper vein just so you could leave without me."
"It was just a couple errands," Bdubs said. "I didn't think you'd need to know."
"I would have gone with you."
"I needed you here."
"I wanted to go with you." Etho's ears flattened as soon as the words left his mouth and he looked away. Bdubs' lips parted slightly. Etho blew out a soft breath. "It's different between the master and the familiar, but as your familiar, my purpose is you. I will respect your wishes, but it's...an instinct to be near you. I was..." He glanced at Bdubs. "I was worried."
"I..." Bdubs shook his head, reaching for Etho. His familiar ducked his head, Bdubs' fingers slipping into his hair and scratching at the base of his ears. "I'm sorry. I'm still figuring this whole thing out. I know next to nothing about magic, let alone having a familiar. Creatures like you belong to...powerful mages and leaders, right? Not basic humans and th...people like me."
"You're not basic," Etho murmured.
"Well, I'm hardly exceptional," Bdubs retorted, rolling his eyes. "You got the short end of the stick with me."
Etho pulled away from Bdubs, brow furrowing. The latter leaned back on his hands, nodding towards his familiar. "I mean, look at you, and then look at me," he said. "Anyone I know would take one look at us and say...'really?'" He laughed. "If anything, they'd think I'm your familiar."
Etho huffed his own laugh, eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned towards Bdubs. "You'd make a terrible familiar," he said conspiratorially. Bdubs leaned forward and lightly knocked his forehead against Etho's.
"You see my point, then."
"Please, Bdubs," Etho sighed. "No one with a familiar is ordinary."
"But that's it," Bdubs countered, leaning back and pressing his finger to the center of Etho's forehead. "You are the thing making me extraordinary. And I don't really mind that, but it doesn't make sense. Our worlds were never meant to touch."
"Do you regret that they did?"
"No!" Bdubs shifted to fully face Etho, reaching forward to hold his familiar's face between his hands. "No. I will never. Ever. Regret this. I just don't understand it quite yet. I'm not the greatest with change, and it takes time for me to adjust, but you're a part of me now, and that I will never regret."
Etho closed his eyes, pressing his cheek into Bdubs' palm. A low, pleasant rumble resonated deep in his familiar's chest. "You are," Bdubs murmured, "unfortunately stuck with me. And even if I don't understand you, understand this, I'm going to figure it out. I'll never purposefully hurt you, okay?"
"I know." Etho opened his eyes, meeting Bdubs' gaze meaningfully. "I know."
"Good." He pulled his hands away as he stood, jabbing his thumb towards the bedroom door. "Wanna help me make dinner? Somebody in this room is famished."
"I wonder who," Etho said with a tilt of his head as he stood, stepping towards Bdubs and poking him lightly in the stomach. "I certainly haven't been listening to your stomach rumble for the last ten minutes."
"Okay," Bdubs said with faux irritation, shoving Etho's hand away. "My weak mortal body needs sustenance."
"And as your loyal familiar, I'm here to provide." Another hint of a smile as Etho bowed slightly and slipped out of the room. Bdubs watched him go, his heart squeezing in his chest. He shook his head, moving to follow Etho.
He turned to walk down the hall, and just out of the corner of his eye through the bedroom window, he saw a familiar flutter of red and blue.
Bdubs held the arrow loosely between his fingers against the string of his bow, his shoes tapping lightly on the damp stone of the dungeon as he crept down the corridor.
Tango and Skizz had already cleared the rest of the dungeon, and it was likely they were already long gone. The three of them were a strong team, but they knew better than to be caught together. Bdubs likely wouldn't see either of them for several weeks.
All the cells in this bottom level of the dungeon were empty, and Bdubs was reaching the end when he heard a scrape against the stone. He instantly raised his bow and whirled around, but the hall was still deserted.
Then, a quiet whine. Bdubs lowered his bow, pulling the arrow from the string and slipping it back into his quiver as he peered into the cell at the very end of the hall.
Curled in the darkest corner of the cell was an arctic fox, though its white fur was matted and darkened with dirt and blood. An iron muzzle was clamped around its muzzle, chains attached to all four paws.
"Oh — what have they done to you?" Bdubs breathed. He looked down at the cell door, fishing in his pocket for his lock picks. "Don't worry, little guy; I'll get you out of there."
A few moments later and the lock clicked, the door swinging outwards. Bdubs stepped back, then into the cell, kneeling next to the fox. The creature shied away from him, curling its tail around its face as best it could and peering nervously up at him.
"It's okay," Bdubs soothed, slowly extending his hand towards the fox. "I'm not gonna hurt you."
The fox's ears flattened as his hand drew closer; Bdubs paused just before his fingers would make contact with the top of the creature's head. "Yeah?" he murmured. "I gotcha."
His fingers slipped into the fur atop the fox's head. The instant he made contact, the fox's body jolted, its head pressing firmly into his hand as it let out a low, broken whine. "Oh," Bdubs murmured, slipping his picks between his teeth in order to use both hands to scratch behind the fox's ears. It pushed itself up on its front paws, pushing its head into his palms. "Alright, hold on. Lemme get the muzzle off."
He kept one hand on the fox, rubbing circles behind one ear while he grabbed his picks with the other hand and felt around the muzzle for the lock. "Okay," he muttered once he found the lock, nudging the fox's chin upwards to properly reach it. He leaned closer, brow furrowing in focus.
A minute of struggle later, the lock clicked, the muzzle splitting up the middle. Bdubs let out a short, triumphant exclamation, pulling the muzzle off the fox. It yipped, licking his palms and wrists as he reached for it. "Yeah, yeah!" he laughed, smoothing both thumbs under the fox's jaw. "Now let's get those chains off and beat it, whaddya say?"
Another eager yip. Bdubs grinned, and a couple minutes later, all four cuffs lay open on the floor as he scooped the fox into his arms. It nudged its head up under his chin, its breaths puffing lightly against his collarbone.
"Right," Bdubs murmured, adjusting the fox in his grip as he stood and backed out of the cell. "And we're off!"
The journey out of the dungeon was fairly uneventful aside from ducking around corners to avoid the occasional patrol. Bdubs made a break for it as soon as they were clear of the dungeon walls, holding the fox close to his chest.
He slowed when he reached the tree line beyond the dungeon, glancing down at the fox in his arms. It had tucked its face into the crook of his neck, its chest rising and falling shallowly. "Easy," Bdubs muttered to himself. "Just hang in there."
The fox only leaned further into him.
~
Bdubs kicked his front door open, his key clamped between his teeth. "Okay, okay," he huffed, stumbling over to the ratty couch and gently laying the fox on the cushions. It didn't stir, puffing out shallow breaths. Bdubs smoothed his hand over its flank before pushing to his feet and hurrying into the kitchen.
He grabbed his medical supplies, hesitating as he looked at the bundle in his hands. He had no idea how to medically treat an animal, as much as he loved them. Not to mention, he didn't know exactly what was wrong with the fox.
He moved back to the living room, kneeling beside the couch and carefully setting the supplies next to the fox. He reached up to stroke it's head and neck, frowning slightly. "I'm gonna do my best," he whispered, "but I'm gonna need your help, okay? Don't go dyin' on me."
He only got a small sigh in response. "Okay," he muttered, shuffling through the supplies until he found what he was looking for. "Let's do this."
~
It was well past midnight by the time Bdubs finished his work on the fox. It had several bruises and cuts littering its body, but nothing major that Bdubs could see other than a gash over its left eye. He doubted the little thing would be able to see out of it again, though he'd still cleaned it as best he could.
He'd done his best to clean up the fox, carefully running a brush through its fur once he'd cleaned most of the grime off, but he could hardly properly clean it when it was limp and unconscious.
Bdubs let out a long sigh, dropping his head on the couch. "I gotta shreep," he mumbled, resting his hand lightly on the fox's flank. "Whaddya say? Think you'll make it through the night? I don't know what else I can do for ya."
As usual, there was no response. Bdubs watched the fox for another moment, then stood up with a grunt. "Come on," he puffed, carefully lifting the fox into his arms and shuffling towards his bedroom. He carefully set the fox on his bed near the pillows, crawling onto the mattress soon after and curling up under the patchy quilt.
"Stay alive," Bdubs mumbled, slipping his fingers into the soft fur on the fox's side. He let his eyes slip closed, feeling its ribs shift beneath his hand as it continued to breathe. "I'll see you in the morning."
~
Bdubs woke slowly, as he often did, though he startled into wakefulness the moment he realized the fox was no longer beside him. He bolted upright, only to startle backwards at the sight of a stranger sitting at the base of his bed.
"What the—who are you? What are you doing in my house?!" Bdubs shouted. The stranger seemed at a loss, and only then did Bdubs notice the gash over his left eye, disappearing beneath the black mask covering his mouth and nose.
In Bdubs' stunned silence, two white fox ears nestled in equally white hair perked upright on the stranger's head, previously pinned backwards. "Oh," Bdubs breathed. "It's you, isn't it?"
The stranger ducked his head slightly; Bdubs peeled the quilt away from his body, crawling forward until he was kneeling before the stranger. Bdubs hesitated, then raised his hand and reached for his new companion. The stranger lifted his head, watching Bdubs' hand warily, but only until the latter's hand made contact with one soft fox ear.
For lack of a better word, the stranger melted. His eyes fell closed, pushing his head into Bdubs' hand, his fox ears flattening. "I'm sorry," he rasped, Bdubs blinking at the low sound of his voice. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't—" His breath caught in his throat as Bdubs' fingers rubbed at the base of one ear. "I shouldn't be here."
"What do you mean?" Bdubs asked quietly. "Who are you?"
The stranger opened his eyes, one dark as coal, the other stained red from the gash. His gaze lowered shamefully. "I...Etho," he murmured. "My name is Etho."
"Etho," Bdubs echoed, his fingers sliding through Etho's white hair down to his cheek. "I mean, unless I was hallucinating, last night, you were a fox. Are you...a shapeshifter?"
"A familiar," Etho corrected with a shake of his head. He leaned into Bdubs' touch seemingly subconsciously. "Or I was. The people who captured me and my master severed our bond. I don't know if he's alive." He let out a shaky breath. "Familiars are not meant to exist without a master. Our lives are intertwined with that of another, and without that..."
"You die," Bdubs finished. Etho looked away.
"I should go," he said softly, finally pulling away from Bdubs.
"Well—wait," Bdubs protested, reaching out to catch Etho's arm. "You said your bond with your last master was severed. Does that mean you are currently untethered?"
Etho didn't respond, but his silence was answer enough. Bdubs straightened slightly, shifting to swing his legs over the edge of the bed and jump to his feet. "Can you bond with anyone?" he asked before he could truly consider what he was about to offer.
Etho blinked, his good eye narrowing slightly. "I can," he said slowly. Bdubs smiled, opening his arms.
"Then bond with me!"
Etho stared at him, then tilted his head. "Bonding with a familiar is no light thing," he said. "I'll be your companion for the rest of your life — your life will be tethered to mine, and mine to yours."
"Sounds like having a dog," Bdubs said, Etho raising an unimpressed brow. "I mean...sounds cool?"
"You don't know me," Etho said. "You don't seem to know what having a familiar entails. You're human — having a familiar will open your mortal eyes to a world beyond your own. Do you want that?"
"I mean, I'd consider myself curious," Bdubs responded. "Look, bottom line: I don't want you to die. If you have to bond with me to stay alive, then I'm willing to do that."
Etho's ears lowered slightly, his expression shifting into something almost mournful. "I don't want to drag you down with me," he whispered. "You seem like a good person."
The brand on the side of Bdubs' neck throbbed, even though it had long healed. He smiled wryly. "Sure," he said. "How do we do this?"
In one swift movement, Etho drew a dagger from his belt, peeling one fingerless glove from his hand and holding the blade to his palm. Bdubs' eyes widened slightly. Etho seemed to notice his expression, pulling the dagger away from his hand.
"If you—"
"Nope." Bdubs grabbed the dagger from Etho, the latter protesting just before Bdubs slashed the blade across his palm. He winced, biting the inside of his lip as his blood dribbled over the heel of his hand. He awkwardly handed the dagger back to Etho. "Here. That's what I was supposed to do, right?"
"Well, yes," Etho said, accepting the dagger. He smoothly cut a line across his own palm, sheathing the dagger and holding his bleeding hand towards Bdubs. He hesitated, then reached his bloodied hand forward to clasp Etho's. He gasped as soon as their palms touched, his legs giving way beneath him. Etho caught him, pulling him to his chest as he lowered them both to the floor.
"Whoa," Bdubs said breathlessly, gritting his teeth as a wave of heat rushed through his body. "Is it...supposed to feel like this?"
"You're human," Etho murmured, nudging his nose lightly against Bdubs' temple as he squeezed the latter's hand. "Your body isn't accustomed to magic like this."
"Coulda warned me."
"I tried to."
Bdubs huffed a laugh, sighing as the sensations coursing through him finally seemed to ebb. As the blood rushing through his ears began to quiet, he could then make out Etho's soft voice humming ever so quietly.
"Is...that it?" he asked. "Are we bonded?" He blinked his eyes open, his breath stalling as he took in Etho's form. His white hair was very nearly glowing, his skin taking on a healthier hue, ears standing straight atop his head. "Oh..."
"Do you feel okay?" Etho asked softly, leaning forward to nudge his nose against Bdubs' temple again.
"I feel fine," Bdubs replied, struggling to sit up on his own. "You look great."
Etho's ear flicked; he looked down at their intertwined hands. "Yes," he murmured after a moment. "We're bonded." He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to the top of Bdubs' hand. "Thank you. As your familiar, I'm at your service."
"Oh. Well...you can do what you want," Bdubs replied. "I mean, if you don't want to stick around, you don't even have to do that."
Etho's brow furrowed in confusion. "That's...not exactly how it works," he said. "You're my master. I will accompany you wherever you go, enhance your abilities — though I'm not entirely sure how that will work with a human — and ultimately, my purpose is to protect you." His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners and Bdubs had the sneaking feeling he was smiling at him. "Maybe you should have thought this through a little longer?"
"Okay, maybe I rushed into it," Bdubs said hotly, "but you're gonna live, and that's what really matters. We'll figure this out. We're stuck together now, it sounds like."
"We are," Etho confirmed with a nod.
"Okay then." Bdubs hesitated. "Please don't ever refer to me as your master."
Etho's ears perked in confusion. "But...you are."
"Bdubs is fine." He offered a smile to his familiar. "I mean, B-double-O, but everyone just calls me Bdubs." He gave Etho's hand a squeeze. "So just Bdubs is fine."
"Alright then...Bdubs." Etho's eyes crinkled again, and Bdubs decided he could get used to seeing hints of Etho's smile. Maybe one day, he'd earn the privilege of seeing his whole face.
Oh, wow. He was stuck with Etho supposedly for the rest of his life. The reality was seemingly just beginning to set in as he took in his familiar. His familiar. That was a world so far beyond his own. Tango was a blazeborn, but he hardly ever used his powers and his appearance wasn't startling different from a human's.
Etho was beautiful, in an almost otherworldly kind of way. Maybe Bdubs should have thought more carefully about the whole thing. But on the other hand, he didn't necessarily regret it — didn't regret saving Etho.
You'll figure it out, he told himself, reaching out to scratch behind Etho's ears. His familiar made a soft sound in the back of his throat, leaning up into Bdubs' hand and shifting closer to him. His lips thinned slightly. It seemed there was more healing to be done with his new familiar than just the surface wounds.
Grian was an early riser. Scar was not. Most mornings, he would find Grian perched on the roof, eyes scattered across his body as he observed the land surrounding the mountain the tower was situated on.
This particular morning, as Scar dragged himself down to the kitchen, Grian was nowhere to be found, even when Scar peeked outside and up at Grian's usual perch.
"Oh, would you look at that. Grian's picked up another stray."
Scar let out a rather undignified scream, whirling around and raising his hands in a pathetic imitation of a defensive stance. Stood in front of him were two men, though one had horns, and the other had two thin antennae and a green streak in his brown hair. Both men blinked, raising their hands placatingly.
"Whoa, easy," the man with horns said, an easy smile lifting his lips. "We're friendly."
"Sometimes," the man with the green streak added with a devious smirk. His companion elbowed him lightly.
"Would it be a stretch to say Grian rescued you?" the man with horns asked.
"Uh...no," Scar said finally, shaking his head and dropping his arms. "Yeah, he rescued me."
"Yep," the man with the green streak said. "Stray."
"Oh, lay off." The man with horns pressed his hand to his chest. "I'm Impulse, this is Joel. We're just stopping by to talk to Grian."
"Oh. Uh, he's not here right now," Scar said, reaching up to scratch behind his head.
"Of course," Joel huffed. He sidled over to the couch in the living room next to the kitchen, flopping down and propping his feet up on the armrest. "He'll be back eventually, probably with another stray like you."
"What do you mean by 'stray?'" Scar asked, frowning slightly.
"Other mythics like you," Impulse clarified. "He rescues mythics from hunters, nurses them back to health, and then 'releases' them."
"Oh." Right. Grian had alluded to something like that back when Scar had still been healing. "What did you guys...wanna talk to him about?"
"Invaders," Joel replied offhandedly, closing his eyes and folding his hands behind his head.
"Which, now that I think about it, might be what he's out looking for," Impulse mused. "Or another rescue, like Joel said."
"W-wait, invaders?" Scar said, gaze bouncing between the two newcomers.
"Ah, don't worry about it," Impulse said. "You'll probably be long gone before they're a real problem."
Scar hummed to himself, shuffling into the kitchen to find something to eat.
"What did Grian rescue you from?" Impulse asked, leaning against the wall and tilting his head curiously.
"Hunters," Scar responded. "I didn't think they'd recognize me as a mythic."
"You're a pretty obvious Vex," Joel said.
"But I don't have any Vex powers," Scar pointed out. "Just the markings, and even then, they just look like scars..."
"No, they look like Vex markings," Joel said dismissively. "Acting like you're human is the fastest way to get you killed."
Well, that was certainly something to think about.
~
"Hello, Scar."
Scar shrieked, whipping around and swinging his fist towards Grian. The latter's wings puffed in alarm and he leaped backwards, eyes popping open all across his body.
Impulse laughed, Joel snorting, both lounging in the living room. "Apparently, he's very easy to sneak up on," Joel commented. He sat up, folding his arms across the top of the couch. "So, Grian. Did you see the intruders?"
"Intruders?" Grian echoed, turning to face the pair.
"Yeah, over by the dark forest. They were just wandering, I think," Impulse said. "Figured you'd want to know about that."
Grian hummed quietly, his second pair of wings unfolding. "Mm," Joel murmured. "He's watching."
Scar tilted his head curiously, blinking as Grian's odd halo formed above his head.
"Dogwarts," Grian said after a moment, his voice distorted and sending a chill down Scar's spine. His halo faded and the eyes across his body closed and disappeared. His second pair of wings folded away, his first pair bleeding back to red. "If they stay by the forest, they're not our problem."
"Yeah, but you know they won't," Joel said. He pushed himself up, stretching his arms above his head. "Well, news delivered. I'm off. Gotta feed the pups."
"And I'll take that as my cue to leave," Impulse said, nodding to Grian. "Nice to meet you, Scar. Best of luck out there. Call if you need anything, G."
Scar watched Joel and Impulse until the front door closed, instantly turning to face Grian the second the pair was gone. "What's Dogwarts?"
"Don't worry about it." Grian stepped towards Scar, reaching up to press the back of his hand to the latter's forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Scar dismissed, grabbing Grian's wrist and pulling his hand away from his forehead. "What's Dogwarts? And what did Joel mean when he said you were 'watching?'"
Grian raised an eyebrow, tapping his thumb lightly against Scar's pointer finger. "I can see," he said evasively. Scar blinked. "I can see far."
"Oh. And Dog—"
Grian pressed a finger to Scar's lips, eyes narrowing. "Drop it."
"But—"
"No." Grian turned away, his wings lowering slightly. "You'll be long gone before it becomes an issue."
"Says who?"
"Scar, you were never meant to stay here." Grian turned back towards Scar, brow furrowing.
"But..." Scar looked around the space, empty but for the two of them. "Don't you get lonely?"
Grian's wings perked slightly before he quickly shook his head. "Of course not," he said, but Scar caught the lie immediately. He paused, then groaned quietly, pressing his hand to his forehead.
"Oh, no," he sighed dramatically, "I suddenly don't feel so good."
"Scar," Grian drawled irritably, wings lowering in annoyance. "Don't—"
"Catch me, G!" Scar let himself fall forward, Grian yelping and catching Scar under his arms as he pitched forward. Scar grinned, turning his head to rest against Grian's shoulder. "My hero."
"Right. Let's get you to bed if you're not feeling well," Grian grunted. He hefted Scar, surprisingly strong for his short stature, looping Scar's arm around his shoulders and starting for the stairs.
After an unnecessary struggle on the staircase, they made it back to Scar's bedroom, Grian pushing him towards the bed. Scar tightened his arm around Grian's shoulders, the latter yelping as he was dragged down with Scar.
"Scar," Grian huffed, wings flailing slightly as he struggled in Scar's embrace. "You're not—"
"Sh," Scar breathed, unwinding his arms from around Grian only to stroke one ever so lightly down one wing. His fingers itched to press, to feel the softness of the feathers, but it wasn't the time, so he settled his hand and closed his eyes. "Not feeling good. Can't talk 'bout it."
"But you will," Grian said firmly, even as his body slowly began to relax. "When you're feeling 'better.'"
"Sure." Scar waited a moment, then cracked one eye open. Grian was simply watching him, eyes half lidded. "Do you...sleep?"
Grian let out a long sigh, closing his eyes and snuggling into the pillows. His wings flared slightly, one tucking into his back, the other draping over himself and Scar.
"Sometimes."
He looked oddly cute, tucked into the pillow with his wing obscuring half his face. Scar smiled fondly, closing his own eyes.
He had no intention of dropping Dogwarts, and it seemed Grian had no intention of dropping Scar staying or going. Truth be told, Scar hadn't thought much about leaving, curiosity getting the better of him, but there were people back in his village that were likely wondering what had happened to him. He couldn't live in both worlds forever.
But that would be a later problem. For now, he was perfectly content where he was.
Scar was upset. Understandably so. That didn't mean it didn't hurt that he wouldn't even look at Grian.
Bdubs was chattering away to Etho where they trailed behind the pair, Gem and Joel leading the group as they trekked through the forest.
Grian hardly noticed when Bdubs went silent, the forest creature sidling up beside Grian and nudging the avian with his elbow. "So," Bdubs drawled, "how goes it?"
"Oh, we're peachy," Scar said with faux enthusiam. "All good over here!"
Bdubs blinked, awkwardly clearing his throat. "Right...Grian? Anything you want to...say?"
"What am I supposed to say?" Grian huffed, fighting back the lump growing in his throat. "You saw everything."
"Well, wouldn't you want us to hear it from you?"
"No," Scar snipped. "No, he doesn't, does he? Because, if he did, then he would have told us."
"And if he thought you would have reacted like this?" Etho pointed out quietly. Scar only squared his shoulders and quickened his pace.
"You should talk to him," Bdubs suggested quietly. Grian swallowed nervously, wings drooping.
"Yeah, probably."
~
"Scar...can we—"
"I want you to get it out of me."
"Sorry?" Grian glanced at Scar as he walked beside the human, trailing at the back of the group. Scar pressed his hand to his chest, slowing his pace until the pair drew to a halt.
"Whatever thing the Watchers mentioned that's inside me, I want it out," he said adamantly.
Grian raised his hands, taking a step back. "Scar, no, I can't — that could kill you! I won't risk it!"
"Does it really matter?" Scar pressed, voice breaking as he leaned into Grian's space. "Everything that ever made you care about me leads back to this stupid thing, so why don't you just get it out and be done with me?"
"Because it's not about that!" Grian exclaimed, wings flaring in distress. "It's about you! I won't remove it from you because it could kill you, and I'm not willing to risk your life just because — because you're upset with me! A-and I don't understand what you don't understand about that!"
"You lied to me, Grian!" Scar very nearly shouted, throwing his hands up, and Grian's heart shattered at the tears streaming down the human's face. "You—you used me, refused to tell me exactly what you were, and then lied about your intentions! Y-you told me—"
"I did not lie about that," Grian hissed, and now he was crying, too. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was a Watcher, but I don't want to be a Watcher! That's why I'm here, Scar. I want to be a part of your world, not theirs!"
"And what about that thing they were talking about?" Scar demanded, shoving his arms towards Grian and displaying the markings running up his forearms and under his sleeves. "What about these?"
"Look, i-it was about that at first, it was, but it's not, anymore! Scar, I couldn't care less about that! It's about you!"
"Grian, I want it gone!"
"No!"
The forest fell silent after Grian's desperate shout, and he realized then that the rest of their group was nowhere in sight.
"No," he whispered, curling his hands into fists to prevent himself from reaching out. Scar stared at him for a moment, then pressed both hands to his face. "Scar—"
"I'm sorry," Scar blurted, dropping his hands. Grian blinked, Scar letting out a slightly hysterical laugh. "This is stupid, isn't it? I-I-I'm just freaking out, 'cause these markings just started showing up after I met you, and I-I was trying to dismiss them, and then we got kidnapped by your supposed 'friends' and you're eldritch—"
"They're not my friends," Grian interrupted, though he was also laughing slightly hysterically now. "And...you have every right to be angry with me. I did lie to you, and I did accidentally imbue you with ancient power, but, Scar...please understand that what the Watchers said is not true. I—"
Grian wheezed as Scar wrapped him into a bone-crushing hug, still somehow minding his wings while squeezing the life out of the avian. Grian wasted no time returning the embrace, burying his face into Scar's neck.
"I'm sorry," the human breathed, fingers splaying between Grian's wings. "I'm so sorry, Grian. I—"
"Stop apologizing," Grian mumbled, fisting Scar's shirt in his hands. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry."
"I forgive you, Grian." Scar gave him a final squeeze before pulling back, keeping his arms around the avian. "It's hard to be mad at you, y'know?"
Grian let out a warbling laugh, rubbing at the tears on his cheek with the heel of his palm. "Really?"
"Yes!" Scar exclaimed emphatically. "I mean, I just figured out you're eldritch, basically a god, and you have eyes literally everywhere? Your true form was terrifying, by the way, but I'm so curious." He hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip. "Can I see it?"
Grian huffed, stepping back and attempting to smooth his feathers. "Maybe another time," he replied. "Getting ripped out of this form kind of...hurt."
Scar gasped, gripping Grian's shoulders. "Are you okay? Are you still in pain?"
"No, no, I'm alright," the avian promised, reaching up to smooth his thumb along Scar's damp cheek. "And you will be alright, too. The Watchers will not touch you. I promise."
"Huzzah! They made up!"
The rest of their entourage jumped out from the cover of the trees, Etho grabbing the back of Bdubs' cloak to keep him from charging Scar and Grian, though that did nothing to stop Joel and Gem.
"Thank goodness," Joel drawled, throwing his arms around Grian and Scar's shoulders. "Now that you two are lovey-dovey again, can we please get a move-on? The Watchers' sight is making my skin crawl."
"You do realize we're travelling with a Watcher now, right?" Gem pointed out, poking Grian in the side of the head.
"I've always been a Watcher," Grian said.
"Yes, but you're not that threatening," Joel replied dismissively. Grian was about to make an offended remark when Bdubs finally tackled them, Etho stumbling as the forest creature tore himself from the cryptid's grasp.
"I love you guys!" Bdubs cried, wrapping his small arms as far around the group as he could. Which wasn't far, but he tried.
"Okay, please, let's go," Joel huffed, struggling out of the awkward hug and dragging Gem and Bdubs along. Scar and Grian exchanged an amused glance before following, a new lightness in their steps.
Caving wasn't hard. Bdubs had gone caving so many times — placing torches and dodging mobs was just muscle memory at this point.
Unfortunately, mobs were often unpredictable, and no matter how well Bdubs thought he lit up the cave, there were always nooks and crannies where something would spawn.
Today was one of those doomed expeditions. Bdubs was busy jumping with joy over his first diamonds, unaware of the zombie squelching its way towards him. He felt the cold brush of the zombie's hand against his shoulder, but just as he whirled around, heart in his throat, the zombie was split from nose to navel, splattering Bdubs in undead gore.
Etho shoved the zombie's remains aside before it could fall back into Bdubs, diamond sword gripped tightly in his hand. "Are you okay?" Etho asked, sheathing his sword and reaching forward to grip Bdubs' upper arms.
"Well, yeah!" Bdubs laughed. "I mean, it was just a zombie; I can handle that!" He dragged both hands down his front side, grimacing as he scraped off a layer of gore. "Probably in a cleaner manner, too, but hey, I appreciate you watching my back." He tilted his head. "What are you doing down here, anyway?"
"Caving," Etho replied evasively. He dropped his hands to his sides, glancing away. His eyes caught on the diamond ore Bdubs had been focused on, drawing his pickaxe. "Found some goodies, huh?"
"Yep! No touching!" Bdubs swung his pickaxe, though he could still hear Etho's laughter past the clang of iron on diamond.
Bdubs collected his diamonds, glancing over his shoulder to see Etho still standing alert, pickaxe resting on his shoulder. "Wanna tag along and see if we can find any more pretty rocks?" He looked down at the mess on his front side. "And maybe a waterfall?"
Another rich laugh from Etho, who turned on his heel to start walking. "Sure, Bdubs. I think I saw a waterfall just over here."
Etho slowed his pace until Bdubs was ahead of him, scanning the cave for mobs as his companion placed torches along the way. Bdubs chattered away, pausing occasionally to pick up a stray iron ore or redstone, which he passed the majority of back to Etho.
They ran into the waterfall Etho had mentioned, Bdubs instantly diving into the pool at the base with a relieved shout. Etho watched in amusement as his companion scrubbed at his hair and peeled his jacket off, attempting to wash the grime from the fabric. Bdubs glanced up, glaring slightly at Etho.
"Hey, how come you came out of that squeaky clean?" the shorter man whined.
"Physics, probably," Etho replied through a smile.
"That is not how those work. With the force you stabbed that thing, you should definitely be covered in this stuff, too."
"Lucky me, I guess."
Bdubs shook his head as he climbed out of the pond, shaking himself off. He flicked water towards Etho, who flinched backwards with an indignant, "hey!" Bdubs only laughed, wringing out his jacket.
"Alright, you," the shorter man said, draping his jacket over one arm and pointing towards the still dark cave beyond the waterfall. "Shall we?"
The pair continued lighting up the cave, picking up ores and celebrating the occasional diamond, though only a few minutes into their continued adventure, Bdubs huffed, rubbing at his chilled arms.
"Cold?" Etho guessed.
"No," Bdubs drawled, glancing over his shoulder at his companion. "What makes you say that?"
Etho chuckled low in his throat, and before Bdubs could protest, the taller man was draping his coat over Bdubs' shoulders.
"Just until the movement warms you up," Etho said easily before Bdubs could protest. "I was getting a little hot, anyway."
"Chivalrous," Bdubs said, Etho's eyes crinkling as he smiled. "Well then, come, my knight in shining armor, and let us forge onwards to diamonds and other shiny things!"
"After you," Etho said with a bow. Bdubs snorted, shoving his shoulder as he passed and tugging the coat tighter around his shoulders, already warmer.
~
Bdubs wanted to yell. Or cry. Maybe both.
Etho was quiet, almost worryingly so, as he sat with his back facing Bdubs, coat pooled around his waist. His dark undershirt was soaked in blood around his right shoulder from an ugly arrow wound, the arrow itself laying in two broken pieces on the floor beside the bed Etho was currently sitting on.
There were so many things Bdubs wanted to say, but he eventually settled on a simple, "Etho."
Etho's head dipped forward, tucking his chin towards his chest at the sound. "I'm not going to apologize for it," he muttered, fingers curling into the comforter as Bdubs prodded gently at the wound.
"Etho, that could have killed you," Bdubs snapped.
"It would have been fine even if it did."
"That's not—Etho!"
"Rather me than you." He said it so quietly, so surely, and Bdubs chest tightened with a mix of emotions.
"That's not how this works," he said sharply. "It's not. I don't want you to take arrows for me, nor do I need you to. Watching you die hurts me more than an arrow ever could!"
"And how do you think I feel?" Etho finally snapped, twisting around to glare at Bdubs. "Why do you think I did it, Bdubs? What am I supposed to do? Just let it happen?" He shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. "Not if I can help it."
Budbs blinked, then leaned forward to wrap his arms around Etho, minding the hole in his shoulder as he buried his face in his neck. "I deeply appreciate how much you care about me, but I also care about you. So...can we reach an agreement? A happy medium?"
Etho's arms lifted to wrap around Bdubs' middle, his cheek pressing into the latter's temple. "No more jumping in front of me to take damage," Bdubs continued when Etho said nothing. "Please. I can take care of myself, y'know?"
"I know," Etho mumbled. "I just...I don't want to...lose you." His grip tightened on Bdubs as he let out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, sweetheart," Bdubs murmured. "I don't want to lose you, either."
They held each other for another moment before Etho shifted with a soft grunt. "My shoulder hurts," he said quietly. Bdubs snorted, pulling back and pushing lightly at Etho's good shoulder to prompt him to turn around.
"I wonder why," he said, nudging Etho until the taller man shifted forward on the bed. Bdubs settled on the bed behind him, getting back to work on cleaning the wound.
And maybe they hadn't reached a real solution — Bdubs had a feeling the topic was going to come up again — but they were both alive and in one piece, more or less.
He supposed, for now, that would have to be enough.
~
I'd die for you.
I'd kill for you.
Unfortunately, the skirmish had ended with both Etho and Bdubs laying in bed with various regen potions, though, as per the usual, Etho had taken the brunt of the attacks.
He was on the mend; Bdubs was already up and about, though he currently found himself sitting at the edge of Etho's bed, rambling aimlessly to his friend. Etho had dozed off a while ago, maskless face squished into his pillow.
"You," Bdubs murmured after a moment, reaching over to brush his fingers lightly through Etho's hair. His companion hummed slightly in his sleep, leaning ever so slightly into the touch. "You can be the absolute worst, you know that?"
Fondness wrapped itself around his heart, his hand sliding to cup Etho's cheek as Bdubs leaned down to press a featherlight kiss to his friend's temple.
"Rude."
Bdubs jerked upright, laughing as Etho cracked one eye open to glare at him. "Oh, you," he huffed, Etho's lips tilting upwards. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long." Etho closed his eye again, letting out a long breath. "You can be the worst, too. Always letting people pick on you."
Bdubs laughed again, flopping back to lay on the bed next to his companion. "Does that bother you?"
"Maybe."
"You don't have to protect me all the time, Etho. Aren't I always telling you that I can handle myself?"
"It's a habit, BdoubleO," Etho replied, pressing his forehead into Bdubs' shoulder. "Can't help it."
Bdubs simply sighed, leaning his head into Etho's. "When's it gonna be my turn?" he muttered.
"Never, if I can help it," Etho said, turning and snuggling into his friend's side.
"Oh, it'll happen!" Bdubs said confidently. "One day, I'll be the one protecting you!"
Etho only hummed in response, his breathing evening out not long after. Bdubs lifted his arm, his fingers brushing the side of his friend's face. "And after that," he whispered, "it'll become a habit."
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Scar knew he wasn't entirely human. His parents had disclosed his mythic heritage to him as soon as he was old enough to properly understand what that meant, but he wasn't in possession of any extraordinary abilities.
Apparently, to the hunters, that didn't matter.
Scar could usually pass off the markings on his skin as his namesake — scars — but experienced hunters could easily tell the difference. Scar had hardly ever encountered hunters, let alone those that could see through his lie.
Until today.
Yes, Scar had seen a fairy. Yes, Scar had followed that fairy. Maybe a bit too far into the forest bordering the village. No, he hadn't considered the fact that hunters frequented the forest, especially at that time of night. He simply didn't think they'd be concerned with him.
In all fairness, the hunters did notice the fairy first. Then they noticed Scar, and for a moment, they dismissed him. Then the apparent leader of the troupe had studied Scar a little too hard, noticed the marks on his face and arms, and pointed his crossbow at him.
Next thing Scar knew, he was laying on his back with a poison arrow protruding from his shoulder, three hunters looming over him. His consciousness was quickly fleeing from him, but he was still lucid enough to watch as the senior hunter raised his crossbow again and pointed the arrow straight at the center Scar's face.
Whoops, he thought eloquently. Sorry, Cub.
The hunter pulled the trigger.
The arrow dissolved midair, accompanied by a deafening shriek. All three hunters collapsed, clapping their hands over their ears. Scar couldn't force his limbs to move, even as blood poured from his ears at the awful sound.
His vision was swimming and darkening at the same time, but he could still make out the purple glow of...something...as it leaped into view, claws slashing at the hunters. Blood sprayed across the clearing, the hunters' screams cutting off abruptly.
In the next few moments, there was silence. Scar struggled for breath, the poison burning in his veins.
Perhaps he should have been afraid of the entity leaning over him, bloodied claws ghosting over his face. Maybe it was the poison, but the thing hovering over him had far too many eyes on its face. And arms. And chest. And everywhere.
Scar dropped his head back to the grass and let the darkness swallow him.
~
Scar startled awake, instantly groaning as pain radiated through his entire body.
"Easy," a distorted voice said quietly. Scar's head snapped to the left, gaze instantly locking onto the figure perched on a chair next to the bed he was currently laying on. "The poison is still working its way out of your system."
Scar blinked once, twice, but the figure didn't become any more human. It was bipedal at the very least, but that paled in the face of...everything else going on. It had eyes everywhere, glowing purple and fixated on Scar. Four wings were curled against its back, also covered in eyes, and to top it all off, above its head was a sort of halo in the shape of a broken rectangle.
Scar swallowed a terrified squeak. Think. He was still alive. If this thing had wanted him dead, it could have left him with the hunters. It was keeping him alive, as it had pointed out that the poison was working its way out of his system.
Why?
"Why?" he voiced aloud. The thing tilted its head, several eyes blinking across its body.
"So that you don't die," it replied.
"No," Scar said, shaking his head as he forced himself into a sitting position. His stomach turned and he doubled over, taking deep breaths to negate the nausea. The entity was suddenly kneeling in front of him, clawed hands hovering at Scar's elbows. He startled backwards, the thing jumping away from him at the same time.
With a flap of its wings, the entity hopped back into its seat, still staring intently at Scar. He leaned back on the pillows, his stomach settling slightly as soon as he was horizontal. He turned his head towards the entity, blinking blearily.
"Why'd you save me?" he rasped.
The eyes blinked as one. Its wings ruffled slightly, chin dipping towards its chest. "Because that's my job," it murmured. It hopped off the chair, shuffling over to Scar's side. He fought the urge to lean away, the back of his neck prickling at its proximity as it lifted a hand. Gently, so softly it almost tickled, it traced a claw down the bridge of his nose, and then its touch was gone. "Rest now. You'll feel better in the morning."
"Who are you?" Scar whispered as the entity turned away.
"Sleep," it replied evasively.
And then it was gone.
~
Scar slept like a log. When he woke next, the entity was nowhere to be found, light filtering through sheer curtains at the single window on the far wall.
He felt remarkably better than the last time he'd been awake as he pushed himself into a sitting position, rubbing the remaining sleep out of his eyes. His thoughts were clear, and the soreness in his limbs had faded into the background.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Scar pushed to his feet, stumbling slightly as he made his way to the door. He carefully pushed it open, peering into the hallway beyond.
Cautiously, Scar padded down the hall, brushing his hand along the pale wall as he did. He ended up walking down a spiral staircase, emerging on what appeared to be the ground floor, lined with walls of windows.
Slightly overwhelmed, Scar turned in a slow circle, pausing when he noticed the figure sitting just outside the back door. Or maybe the front door. Scar had no clue where exactly he was.
He crept over to the door, tilting his head. The figure seemed familiar, but it couldn't have been the entity from before. The newcomer only had two wings and a sandy mop of hair, idly swinging his legs over the edge of the deck.
Scar hesitated, then reached for the doorknob, pulling the door open. He opened his mouth, only to scream as the stranger whirled around, a second pair of wings sprouting from his back and eyes opening all across its body.
Oh. It was the entity.
Said entity jumped to its feet, raising its hands placatingly as Scar scrambled away, tripping over the rug by the door and landing flat on his backside.
"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. "I-I didn't mean to startle you—I just—"
"It's alright," the entity interrupted, folding its wings tightly against its back. "You just surprised me." It crouched before him, resting its arms on its knees. "How are you feeling?"
Scar swallowed, attempting to relax slightly. "Better," he said. "I'm better. Uh..." He leaned forward, shifting to cross his legs. "I suppose I should say thank you, right? For saving me?"
The entity tilted its head, wings fluttering slightly. "You're welcome," it replied.
There was a moment of awkward silence, the pair simply staring at each other. Scar blinked, taking a moment to finally absorb the entirety of the creature before him. At first glance, yes, it was terrifying. But Scar had never been in the business of being scared of things he didn't understand. Clearly, the entity wasn't hostile, at least not towards him, which nullified most of the fear he may have felt.
Scar shifted onto his knees, leaning towards the entity. It watched him curiously, several eyes flicking towards his hand as he lifted it towards its face.
Scar's fingers brushed the entity's cheek, just behind one of the eyes placed high on its cheekbone. The eyes close to Scar's hand fluttered shut, and seemingly without thinking, the entity leaned into his touch, its jaw brushing the base of his palm.
In the next few moments, the eyes across the entity's body began to close, fading into its skin. One pair of wings folded into its back, disappearing as the second pair bled from white to a vibrant red, highlighted with blue and yellow.
Scar blinked as the man before him pressed his cheek into Scar's hand, his now singular pair of eyes closed contentedly.
"Who are you?" Scar asked, so softly he barely heard himself. The man cracked his eyes open, Scar's breath catching at the sight of the darkest eyes he'd ever seen.
The man seemed to think for a moment, then reached up to grip Scar's wrist, blowing out a breath. "My friends call me Grian," he murmured, blinking slowly at Scar.
His touch was cold. Scar smiled.
"Grian," he said, the entity's eyes fluttering slightly at the sound. Scar pressed his free hand to his chest. "Scar. Good to meet you."
Grian watched Scar for several seconds longer, then closed his eyes, squeezing Scar's wrist slightly.
Fascinated. Enraptured. Scar wanted to know everything about the being in front of him.
What are you?
He supposed he'd have to find out, and he couldn't wait.
Scar knew he wasn't entirely human. His parents had disclosed his mythic heritage to him as soon as he was old enough to properly understand what that meant, but he wasn't in possession of any extraordinary abilities.
Apparently, to the hunters, that didn't matter.
Scar could usually pass off the markings on his skin as his namesake — scars — but experienced hunters could easily tell the difference. Scar had hardly ever encountered hunters, let alone those that could see through his lie.
Until today.
Yes, Scar had seen a fairy. Yes, Scar had followed that fairy. Maybe a bit too far into the forest bordering the village. No, he hadn't considered the fact that hunters frequented the forest, especially at that time of night. He simply didn't think they'd be concerned with him.
In all fairness, the hunters did notice the fairy first. Then they noticed Scar, and for a moment, they dismissed him. Then the apparent leader of the troupe had studied Scar a little too hard, noticed the marks on his face and arms, and pointed his crossbow at him.
Next thing Scar knew, he was laying on his back with a poison arrow protruding from his shoulder, three hunters looming over him. His consciousness was quickly fleeing from him, but he was still lucid enough to watch as the senior hunter raised his crossbow again and pointed the arrow straight at the center Scar's face.
Whoops, he thought eloquently. Sorry, Cub.
The hunter pulled the trigger.
The arrow dissolved midair, accompanied by a deafening shriek. All three hunters collapsed, clapping their hands over their ears. Scar couldn't force his limbs to move, even as blood poured from his ears at the awful sound.
His vision was swimming and darkening at the same time, but he could still make out the purple glow of...something...as it leaped into view, claws slashing at the hunters. Blood sprayed across the clearing, the hunters' screams cutting off abruptly.
In the next few moments, there was silence. Scar struggled for breath, the poison burning in his veins.
Perhaps he should have been afraid of the entity leaning over him, bloodied claws ghosting over his face. Maybe it was the poison, but the thing hovering over him had far too many eyes on its face. And arms. And chest. And everywhere.
Scar dropped his head back to the grass and let the darkness swallow him.
~
Scar startled awake, instantly groaning as pain radiated through his entire body.
"Easy," a distorted voice said quietly. Scar's head snapped to the left, gaze instantly locking onto the figure perched on a chair next to the bed he was currently laying on. "The poison is still working its way out of your system."
Scar blinked once, twice, but the figure didn't become any more human. It was bipedal at the very least, but that paled in the face of...everything else going on. It had eyes everywhere, glowing purple and fixated on Scar. Four wings were curled against its back, also covered in eyes, and to top it all off, above its head was a sort of halo in the shape of a broken rectangle.
Scar swallowed a terrified squeak. Think. He was still alive. If this thing had wanted him dead, it could have left him with the hunters. It was keeping him alive, as it had pointed out that the poison was working its way out of his system.
Why?
"Why?" he voiced aloud. The thing tilted its head, several eyes blinking across its body.
"So that you don't die," it replied.
"No," Scar said, shaking his head as he forced himself into a sitting position. His stomach turned and he doubled over, taking deep breaths to negate the nausea. The entity was suddenly kneeling in front of him, clawed hands hovering at Scar's elbows. He startled backwards, the thing jumping away from him at the same time.
With a flap of its wings, the entity hopped back into its seat, still staring intently at Scar. He leaned back on the pillows, his stomach settling slightly as soon as he was horizontal. He turned his head towards the entity, blinking blearily.
"Why'd you save me?" he rasped.
The eyes blinked as one. Its wings ruffled slightly, chin dipping towards its chest. "Because that's my job," it murmured. It hopped off the chair, shuffling over to Scar's side. He fought the urge to lean away, the back of his neck prickling at its proximity as it lifted a hand. Gently, so softly it almost tickled, it traced a claw down the bridge of his nose, and then its touch was gone. "Rest now. You'll feel better in the morning."
"Who are you?" Scar whispered as the entity turned away.
"Sleep," it replied evasively.
And then it was gone.
~
Scar slept like a log. When he woke next, the entity was nowhere to be found, light filtering through sheer curtains at the single window on the far wall.
He felt remarkably better than the last time he'd been awake as he pushed himself into a sitting position, rubbing the remaining sleep out of his eyes. His thoughts were clear, and the soreness in his limbs had faded into the background.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Scar pushed to his feet, stumbling slightly as he made his way to the door. He carefully pushed it open, peering into the hallway beyond.
Cautiously, Scar padded down the hall, brushing his hand along the pale wall as he did. He ended up walking down a spiral staircase, emerging on what appeared to be the ground floor, lined with walls of windows.
Slightly overwhelmed, Scar turned in a slow circle, pausing when he noticed the figure sitting just outside the back door. Or maybe the front door. Scar had no clue where exactly he was.
He crept over to the door, tilting his head. The figure seemed familiar, but it couldn't have been the entity from before. The newcomer only had two wings and a sandy mop of hair, idly swinging his legs over the edge of the deck.
Scar hesitated, then reached for the doorknob, pulling the door open. He opened his mouth, only to scream as the stranger whirled around, a second pair of wings sprouting from his back and eyes opening all across its body.
Oh. It was the entity.
Said entity jumped to its feet, raising its hands placatingly as Scar scrambled away, tripping over the rug by the door and landing flat on his backside.
"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. "I-I didn't mean to startle you—I just—"
"It's alright," the entity interrupted, folding its wings tightly against its back. "You just surprised me." It crouched before him, resting its arms on its knees. "How are you feeling?"
Scar swallowed, attempting to relax slightly. "Better," he said. "I'm better. Uh..." He leaned forward, shifting to cross his legs. "I suppose I should say thank you, right? For saving me?"
The entity tilted its head, wings fluttering slightly. "You're welcome," it replied.
There was a moment of awkward silence, the pair simply staring at each other. Scar blinked, taking a moment to finally absorb the entirety of the creature before him. At first glance, yes, it was terrifying. But Scar had never been in the business of being scared of things he didn't understand. Clearly, the entity wasn't hostile, at least not towards him, which nullified most of the fear he may have felt.
Scar shifted onto his knees, leaning towards the entity. It watched him curiously, several eyes flicking towards his hand as he lifted it towards its face.
Scar's fingers brushed the entity's cheek, just behind one of the eyes placed high on its cheekbone. The eyes close to Scar's hand fluttered shut, and seemingly without thinking, the entity leaned into his touch, its jaw brushing the base of his palm.
In the next few moments, the eyes across the entity's body began to close, fading into its skin. One pair of wings folded into its back, disappearing as the second pair bled from white to a vibrant red, highlighted with blue and yellow.
Scar blinked as the man before him pressed his cheek into Scar's hand, his now singular pair of eyes closed contentedly.
"Who are you?" Scar asked, so softly he barely heard himself. The man cracked his eyes open, Scar's breath catching at the sight of the darkest eyes he'd ever seen.
The man seemed to think for a moment, then reached up to grip Scar's wrist, blowing out a breath. "My friends call me Grian," he murmured, blinking slowly at Scar.
His touch was cold. Scar smiled.
"Grian," he said, the entity's eyes fluttering slightly at the sound. Scar pressed his free hand to his chest. "Scar. Good to meet you."
Grian watched Scar for several seconds longer, then closed his eyes, squeezing Scar's wrist slightly.
Fascinated. Enraptured. Scar wanted to know everything about the being in front of him.
What are you?
He supposed he'd have to find out, and he couldn't wait.
Twilight was always a pleasant time of night. The city was sleepy, though there were the few couples that had decided to take a romantic walk in the cool evening air. Other than their occasional murmurs, the world was quiet.
The whistle of the canary shattered the peace. Perhaps this wouldn't have been noticeable, if only the arrow hadn't cut through the air and buried itself in a woman's chest. She collapsed instantly, her companion screaming as he dropped to his knees at her side.
Eyes were directed to the sky as a shadow darted across the sky, momentarily blotting out the stars under brilliant golden wings.
And then it was over. The Canary was gone, and the woman was laid to rest in a puddle of her own blood.
~
"Did you hear about the murder last night?"
"Who hasn't?"
Jimmy dropped into the armchair across from Joel, holding his cup of tea between both hands.
"I always think it a fun challenge to guess who paid the Canary to kill a random civilian," Joel said, eyes locked on the TV as he slouched into his chair.
"How do you know someone paid him?" Jimmy asked skeptically.
Joel hesitated, then shrugged. "Why else would he kill her? I don't think the Canary is the type to randomly kill for the fun of it." Another shrug. "Beans might be, though."
Jimmy couldn't suppress his snort. Joel smirked, finally glancing away from the TV where a censored version of the crime scene from the night before was displayed. Jimmy's stomach turned slightly and he looked away, lifting his cup to his lips.
He could still feel the pull of the bowstring, the wind of the release on his exhale. The Canary may not have been affected by the thunk of the arrow in flesh, the overpowering scent of blood on enhanced senses, the terrified screams, but it put a foul taste in Jimmy's mouth.
"Oh, cheer up, lad," Joel said, reaching for the remote to turn the TV off. "You didn't know her, and your chances of running into the Canary yourself are slim to none."
Jimmy could almost laugh at the irony, but he choked it down and finished his tea instead. "Right," he said, setting his cup on the table beside him and fishing his phone out of his pocket. "Slim."
Joel grinned, canines a little too sharp. "Slim indeed."
~
Jimmy stared at his reflection in his bathroom mirror, hands gripping the edge of the counter. His phone lay face up on the vanity, a message from Beans glaring up at him.
"Got ourselves a prospect. Meeting with client at midnight."
He'd let the Canary play last night. He hadn't thought someone would solicit his services so soon after the last client; he needed to rest. Jimmy needed to stay in his own head for a few days.
But the message from Beans prickled at the back of his mind. As much as Jimmy wanted to rest, he knew he wouldn't be able to with the temptation at his fingertips.
So he blew out a breath, reaching for the mask propped against the mirror and lifting it to his face. His skin itched just below his shoulder blades, feathers blossoming high on his cheekbones.
"Shall we strike a little deal?" he murmured. A cold smile lifted his lips. "I think we shall."
~
"Bit late, aren't you, mate?"
"Sorry, mate," the Canary responded, brushing past Beans and rounding his desk. He settled in his seat, kicking his feet up on the desk and smiling at his companion. "Right. I'm ready. Send 'em in."
Beans grinned, canines elongated and almost too big for his mouth. He ducked out of the office, only to return a moment later with a boy no older than twenty-one in tow. The Canary raised a brow beneath his mask.
They sat in silence for a moment, Beans kicking the door shut with a slam. The boy jumped, glancing nervously over his shoulder at the Canary's companion.
"What are you doing here?" the Canary asked wearily. "A boy like you has no business here."
"I want you to kill someone for me," the boy said, clearly making an attempt to keep his voice even, though there was still a faint tremble in his tone.
"I doubt you could afford it," the Canary replied dismissively.
"Name your price," the boy countered. "I can pay it."
"With daddy's money?" Beans sneered.
The boy blushed; the Canary sighed and named his price. The boy frantically dug around in his pockets and deposited several roles of cash on the desk. Beans instantly snatched them up and began counting while the Canary sized up the boy before him.
He wasn't in the business of asking questions. The boy had paid, no matter if it was his money or not; it belonged to the Canary, now.
Beans nodded after a moment, rolling the money back into tight, neat bundles. The Canary dipped his head in response, turning his attention back to his client.
"Alright, kid," he said, lowering his feet to the floor and lacing his fingers atop the desk. "Who, exactly, do you want dead?" He grinned, letting the eagerness for the kill finally slip through. "The Canary is at your service."
The prison guard shoved Joel into his cell, muttering irritably under his breath as he slammed the door shut behind Joel. The prisoner spun on his heel, slowly approaching the bars and gripping them as he watched the guard stalk away.
Joel sighed, pressing his forehead miserably against the bars. His sentence wasn't long, only a few months, but he had still ended up in prison again. Lizzie had told him that the next time he was behind bars, he would serve his sentence. In other words, she wasn't going to bail him out again.
A tap on the bars pulled him out of his thoughts. Joel glanced up from where he'd been intently studying a stain on the floor just beyond his cell, spotting the book being offered to him from the cell to the right of his. He could already tell who exactly was offering him the book from the pale, slender fingers, marked with faded scars.
"Come on, Joel. Take it before the guards do."
Joel huffed, snatching the book and tossing it back onto his bed. He reached over to swat the offending hand, though his companion retreated before he could.
"Can't believe you're still here, Etho," Joel muttered, but he couldn't deny the relief warming his chest.
"I've been here the other three times you've served time," Etho replied easily. "I don't know why you were expecting anything different this time."
"Well, your sentence has to end at some point," Joel pointed out. "Unless it's a life sentence. You know, you still refuse to tell me what exactly you're in for."
"Let me guess," Etho said evasively, "more minor felonious larceny?"
"That was a lot of big words, Eefo. Did you just hand me a dictionary?"
"No, Bdubs brought me Robin Hood. That's what that is."
"That feels like you're trying to make a point."
Etho draped his arms through the bars of his cell. "Bdubs is the one who chose it — is he making a point?"
"Why can't you ever answer directly?" Joel sighed, stepping away from the bars and trudging over to his bed.
"What'd you steal?" There was a creak, presumably Etho sitting on his own bed.
"I'll tell you when you tell me what your sentence is."
Etho had the gall to laugh, a low chuckle that made Joel's eye twitch.
"That's a story for another time," Etho murmured after a moment.
Joel huffed, turning on his side and sliding the book towards him, tracing a finger lazily over the letters on the cover. "You say that every time."
~
Etho settled next to Joel, close and warm as he pressed against the latter's side.
"Clingy, as always," Joel mumbled around his mouthful of food, even as he leaned into Etho. "So obsessed with me. You were just waiting for me to end up back in here, weren't you? Counting down the days?"
Etho huffed a laugh, pulling his tray towards himself, his shoulders curling inwards. He tucked his chin towards his chest as he pulled the medical mask over his mouth and nose down. Joel averted his eyes, pushing the bland food around his tray.
"Is that Joel?"
He barely suppressed a groan as Scott settled across from him, delicately setting his tray on the table. Joel smiled thinly at the man, Etho pressing his shoulder harder into Joel's.
"I suppose it was too much to hope for that you'd be long gone," Joel sighed, resting his chin on his hand and dropping his fork unceremoniously. Scott laughed, lacing his fingers and placing his head atop them.
"Oh, Joel, you know I'm in here for murder — I'm not leaving for a long while."
"Parole is a thing."
Scott's smile only grew. "Not for me, it isn't."
"First degree, Joel," Etho said quietly, still focused on his food. "'Life without chance of parole' is his sentence."
"Shame," Joel said, still glaring at Scott. "Lucky for me, though, I won't be back after this."
"You said that last time," Scott sang, finally turning his attention to his tray. "And here you are."
Joel's free hand curled into a fist, Etho's eyes flicking over at the motion. Scott clocked the movement, his lips quirking upwards. "Ah, right," he said. "Your boyfriend will protect you."
He knew better. But Scott had a special way of getting under his skin. Joel shoved to his feet, Scott leaning back as Joel slammed his hands on the table and leaned towards him.
"Watch it, Smajor," Joel spat. "I don't need anyone to protect me, and if you doubt it, I'll shove your precious ego so far up your—"
"Joel," Etho warned, grabbing Joel's arm and squeezing. Scott grinned and blew a kiss towards the pair.
Joel could take Scott. He could. But that was just what Scott wanted, the antagonist. Reluctantly, Joel sat back on the bench, folding his arms atop the table.
He listened to the idle chatter of the cafeteria for several minutes until Etho pulled his mask back onto his face and leaned fully into Joel. Scott finished his own food and pushed his tray back, resting his elbows on the table.
"How long's your sentence this time around?" he prompted Joel.
He thought about saying something smart but ultimately decided against it, tapping his fingers against the table. "Three months," he grumbled.
"Pretty short, don't you think?"
"I didn't choose the sentence, did I, lad?"
Scott shrugged. "Always wondered why they stuck you in here with us with your misdemeanors."
"They're not misdemeanors," Joel muttered petulantly, though he was unsure why he was defending his felonies, as if thievery could compete with first degree murder.
"It's grand larceny," Etho supplied cheekily.
"Oh yeah?" Scott snickered.
"Yeah," Joel snarked. "At least you can commit grand larceny more than once. Get caught doing your bloomin' murder and you can never do it again."
"Never say never," Scott retorted, wagging a finger at Joel. He only rolled his eyes in response.
~
Joel hissed through his teeth, Etho's hand firm on his jaw while his other dabbed at Joel's tender nose.
He couldn't help it, okay? Joel knew he was quick to anger, and he'd been in prison with many of the same inmates several times now; he knew them and they knew him, and antagonizing each other was just part of the game.
And breaking each other's noses. That was part of it, too.
Unfortunately, Joel's nose had taken the brunt of the damage, though Martyn hadn't escaped the scuffle unscathed. Etho and Ren had pulled the pair apart before any real damage could occur. The other inmates had already been distracting the guards to keep severe punishment from Joel and Martyn, something they only did because they all feared or respected Ren and Etho.
A thank you was stuck in the back of Joel's throat as Etho braced his thumbs against the base of Joel's nose, the words dissolving in a shriek as Etho snapped his nose back into place. Etho's hands cradled Joel's face, waiting until the latter stopped squirming to begin cleaning up the blood smeared on his upper lip.
"Way to make a statement," Etho finally said.
"Martyn has a very punchable face."
"A lot of people say the same thing about you."
"Why?! I'm very handsome and loveable! No one wants to punch me!"
Etho's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled beneath the medical mask. "Yes," he agreed with a nod. "Very handsome. Very loveable."
"Don't patronize me, Eefo."
"I'm being serious." Etho tucked the cloth he'd been using into the collar of his jumpsuit, leaning back on his bed. Joel frowned down at the man, then puffed out a breath and flopped back to lay down next to his companion.
The bed was hardly made for two people, but Etho turned to lay on his side, pressing his back against the wall and making room for Joel to stretch out on the bed beside him.
"Three months, you said?" Etho murmured, lowering his head to the pillow, knuckles brushing Joel's side.
"That's what the judge said," Joel replied quietly, turning his head towards his companion. Etho shifted his head to nestle deeper into the pillow, blinking slowly at Joel.
"Did you talk to Lizzie?"
"I called her yesterday, yeah."
"And?"
"I'm in for an earful at the end of May."
They sat in silence for the next few minutes, Etho closing his eyes and pulling his mask just below his nose. Joel dropped his hand to rest over his companion's.
"You think very loudly," Etho mumbled without opening his eyes. Joel scowled.
"Come on, Etho! This may be our last sentence together."
"If you can keep your hands off people's valuables."
"I can."
"Mhm."
Joel gave Etho's hand a punishing squeeze. "Come now," he urged. "Tell me your sentence. What are you in for, Eefo?"
Etho cracked one eye open, then promptly shut it again, shifting to tuck Joel's head under his chin. "Just trust that the next time you're in here," Etho murmured, draping one arm over Joel's middle, "I'll be here."
And perhaps that was the best Joel was ever going to get. He sighed, butted his forehead against Etho's chest, and closed his eyes.
