Author's Note: AU Gunvolt setting. I own nothin'. That's by Inti.
Motivation Music tracks used to write: Desperate Struggle (FFXIII), Sabre's Edge (FFXIII), Buried in the Snow (FF7) and Tenjian (GV Version)(GV2)
Chapter I
"So cold... best I get back home..."
Sure, he wasn't dressed for the weather. He only wore his vibrant QUILL uniform. Normally, he would bundle up for the cold weather, but he had to make post haste and back to home for the night. Snow lightly fell from the sky. The ground was already covered in snow, blanketing the concrete. The young Adept huffed a bit as he stopped and rubbed his arms.
"Just this scarf isn't warm enough for me... I gotta make it back. Maybe grab a warm drink and..."
He was cut off by his own stomach giving off a rumble. He hasn't had anything to eat for a while. Maybe getting some eats at a small shop and tea would be good. He needed to pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables as well, which was one of the main reasons why he was here in the first place. However, what could he munch on at this hour?
"Quinn needs some of those apples... and I was asked to get some sprouts..."
GV was talking to himself, wondering what else he needed, but his stomach was being more of a nuisance to him. Maybe mentioning the food he needed to get wasn't helping him being ever so hungry. He came to a stop as his eyes shifted around. He was looking for a stall where he could take his food on the go.
"I do wonder..." The young adept started to ask himself. "Should I make a pit stop?"
His eyes did come to a stop. There was a small food stall that was serving all kinds of food. From Yakitori to fresh made Okonomiyaki. Various sweets such as Taiyaki as well. There was tea as well. Fresh brewed tea. Oh how the young adept liked tea. He had time to grab a quick bite. Pulling himself to one of the seats that was near the stall, Gunvolt held his hand out in a friendly gesture.
"Mind if I order? I am kind of in a hurry..."
Of course he was in a hurry. Getting something to eat would be for the best and then finish his errands. Tapping his fingers, he hoped the man behind the curtains of the stall would notice him. It was late after all, and the young man poked his head out from behind the curtains. It was a human male, maybe around the age of twenty-five. His hair was long and pulled back in a pony tail. He wore an apron and a red shirt. He seemed friendly and rested his arm on the table, facing the spiky haired teenager. His smile was friendly, but made Gunvolt feel kind of uncomfortable.
"Y'need somethin', kid? I still have everythin' warm and will shut down shop in a few. I can take your order!"
Odd way of speaking, the again, GV wasn't one to judge. Pulling out his wallet he had stashed in his uniform, GV sighed softly.
"Yakitori and some tea to go. I like tea with honey, please."
A smile crept on the man's face. GV's tone sounded rather sleepy or that he was just annoyed. Who really knew. He gave the adept a smile, showing he wished for the other to stay a bit longer. Maybe to saviour the food once he receives it.
"Ah!" The man exclaimed in a rather happy and polite manner He clasped his hands together and bowed to the teen. "That is one of the most popular items on our menu! I shall double your order!"
"But I..."
He was cut off. A double order? Sounded really confusing, but pleasant. His growling tummy would agree as well. He didn't really want to stay and eat, but he did have time to kill. Giving a rather small sigh, G.V slumped in his chair. Eating would give him a boost. His expression perked up. Did something tickle his nose? A rather pleasant scent?
"Is that..."
The man who behind the curtain popped out again. This time, giving the adept his order. Eight sticks of yakitori and tea in a cup. The male gave a smile, a rather sly smile. Something was up. The adept boy did not know what was going on. He would shrug it off and pick up one of the sticks that had the meat skewered on it. Boy, did it smell good. Now, being the curious young adept, he took a bite.
"Ahh..."Gunvolt gave a rather blissful and content sigh. This was fresh and very tasty. Plucking up another stick and another and the one after that, he ate to his fill. Now, feeling full, he pulled out his wallet and placed the right amount of cash on the table. The man picked up the cash, feeling rather happy at what the boy paid him.
"Thank you, my kind sir!" The man chirped. "Do enjoy the tea. I added in extra honey for you!"
How strange that tone sounded. GV of course shrugged it off. With a full belly, he bid the man and his wonderful food a farewell. Holding his tea in one hand, the young Striker sipped his tea and sighed softly. It tasted warm and made his insides feel better against the coldness of the outside. Such good food, but something was up. With the young Striker gone, the man that served him snapped his fingers, calling two humans beside him. Both of the man's bodyguards were larger in size. One holding a crow bar and the other something on his knuckles. Something like a spiked brace of some sort.
"He took the bait. I laced his tea. He will soon feel the effects. That is when you two go out and show that filthy adept who is boss..." The male said in a rather delighted and sinister tone.
With his feet touching the snow, the young adept headed to where he needed to pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables to take back home. He took a sip of his tea again, this time feeling rather lighted headed. His eyes were growing heavy. His vision becoming blurry.
"Uhn..."
He mumbled. His body was rather weak. His body feeling rather like jelly. However, the young Striker couldn't progress any further. His vision. His body. He soon held his head in his hands. He was unaware what was going on. He could not sense it.
"I feel awful... I.. F-feel.. so..."
Everything was blurry. His legs feeling as if they were becoming stone like. Placing his hands to his head and holding it, the young Striker's vision was getting rather fuzzy. He closed his eyes. However, he was unaware what was going on and what was going to happen behind him.
"There he is... good. He did not go far. You know what to do..!"
The same man that served him that meal sent his two bodyguards out to the woozy adept. One held a crowbar and slowly walked behind Gunvolt. With a good thwack on the back of Gunvolt's head; the young Striker fell face first onto the snowy ground. The food stall over walked over to Gunvolt's body. A smile that turned into a rather twisted grimace came on his face. Taking his foot, he would kick the male's torso over and over. He was laughing. He was enjoying torturing the adept. Of course Gunvolt did not move. He didn't even react. Between drinking that tea and being hit hard on the head.
"Fuckin' adepts. You are all monsters. Die. Just die already!"
That man's voice had a rather harsh tone to it, along with a hint of craziness. One could tell with the male's expression. His bodyguards just watched. They enjoyed this beat down. After a while, the man pulled himself away from the adept and turned his back to him. He looked over at his bodyguards and waved his hand.
"I think he is done for. C'mon. Les' go back and close up shop. We got 'im and got 'im good!"
He soon left, along with his lackeys. Their laughter drifted off into the streets and soon vanished. As for Gunvolt? He laid on the snow, face first and bleeding. Flesh wounds and gashes were all over his body. From his back, neck and every other place you can think of. Blood ran from his wounds, staining the snow.
His once braided hair was all undone and his hair plug that held it was shattered and in pieces. One could say he was dead and one could say he was in coma. It then started to snow. Not hard, but lightly. The snow covered his body as if it was preserving his body.
Time passed and it was somewhat after Midnight. The sounds of snow crunching under one's foot could be heard. No, two people's feet. More humans? More to torment his limp body?
"Winter is a peaceful season. When it snows at night, I find it purely comforting."
That voice was rather calm, soothing and angelic sounding. Almost as gentle as the snow that fell onto the ground. The young male was around fourteen, same age of Gunvolt. His hair was a dark violet colour. Two white strands of hair stuck out around his bangs. His eyes were a crimson red and his face was rather soft and gentle looking. At his side was an older male with cyan coloured hair. His eyes were an emerald colour and his expression had a serious look it. Glancing at the younger male, a sigh escaped his lips.
"Dangerous as well, Nova. Sure, it is quiet, but this one area is not safe..."
The violet haired young male glanced at the other. He brushed his bangs away from his face and keeping a gentle smile on his face. A soft laugh escaped his lips.
"Oh Jota. Most of these humans only hurt each other over the most pettiest things. Shame, why use violence?" Nova's voice was soft spoken as he huffed. He closed his crimson eyes. "To the point they start harming nature's creatures for pleasure."
Jota followed behind him. Nova did have a point. Humans were the monsters. The snow was falling lighting. He seemed to like the snow fall. It was rather peaceful. However, that peace and bliss would soon come to an end. Jota would remain at Nova's side, silently following him. However, his eyes widened as if he saw something horrifying. No, he did see something that was purely horrible.
"N-Nova!"
Jota pointed towards something on the ground. The snow was already covering up a body. Fresh blood was still on the ground and staining the snow. The cyan haired male ran over to the body. What happened? His stoic expression turned to horrified. He would close his eyes and knelt down onto the ground.
"Either those damned humans were at each other again or..."
Taking his gloved hand, he lightly brushed away the snow covering the other's body. To his surprise, Jota jerked has hand back. His expression was horrified still.
"Nova! NOVA!" He would call out. "Nova! Over here!"
"Hm? What is it Jota?" His gentle voice asked. He would walk over to older male, kneeling down as well. Nova would take his hand and brush more of the snow off the body. His expression was just as horrified. Did someone already take down his foe? Would he simply grimace at the site? Or would he be jealous? He closed his eyes and placed a hand on the other's arm.
"It is Gunvolt..." He softly huffed. He went silent. Some memories flooded through his mind. Something from the past when they first met when they were children. Pulling his hand back, he clenched his hand into a fist. His body trembled.
"Jota. Please pick him up. We shall take him back to Sumeragi. I sense he is not dead. However, we shall keep him before a human finds his body and does horrible things..."
Jota lifted up Gunvolt's limp, injured body and looked down at the injured boy. His face had open wounds, gashes and scars all over it. Blood stained his face and body. If he was not rushed in for medical attention, he would for sure. Holding the other in a bridal carry style, he closed his eyes. A tinge of sadness was in his eyes. Enemy or not, Gunvolt needed help.
"What if QUILL goes and searches out for him?"
"Don't worry, Jota. I have it under control. My men can handle such gnats that pester us..."
The older man gave a nod. He held GV's body and followed the other. Surely, QUILL would know or find out. The first thing was to get Gunvolt proper medical treatment. That was the first priority. Both Jota and Nova left the city area and travelled back to Sumeragi with Gunvolt.
~TBC
