Ode to the Mighty
By: Angelus Erreare
A/N: This is dedicated to my special and super cute friend Blaquediamond Princess. I'm sooo happy that you're giving SMT:DDS a chance even if you've never played this.
This wasn't as funny as I had originally planned it to be…but I did my best with this idea. So, I hope that you won't be too disappointed.
Besides, this is to show you how clean my fics can be! Soft and cleeeaaannn!
Well, all that aside, I wanted to say thank you for being a wonderful writer and an even more wonderful friend!! Kudos to you!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING. ALL BELONGS TO ATLUS USA.
WARNING: SEMI-AU, OOC, LANGUAGE, ANGST, WAFF
NOTE:
Sera is a member of Embryon.
There is no Cyber Shaman/no Purgatory
No ATMA monsters although there are the ATMA mark
Chapter 1: Chicken or Egg Situation
Sera sighed as she peered into Heat's eyes. They were burning with such a fierce intensity that she feared she would melt if she continued to be within its trajectory for much longer. But she knew that she couldn't really look away…
Not really.
There was just something elusive in his eyes that always managed to catch and hold her attention. And whatever it was, it was there again, working its dark magic on her.
They had had the same conversation; again. She sighed. Conversation? It wasn't even a conversation. A conversation involved the interchanging of words, concepts or ideas from one person to another with one person being a receiver of a message from the other person, and thus respond to that message.
But that wasn't the case with her and Heat.
It had just been him who did all the talking. She sweat-dropped. It wasn't even a lot of words. Not really.
He had just proclaimed to her his strength. He had even dared her to dare him to prove it to her. She sighed once more. She had humored him before in these sorts of "dares" and was even amused with it at one point or another…
But that phase of immaturity in her life had passed…
Ever since they had been little, Heat had always claimed to her that he would be the strongest man that she would ever come to know of; the strongest man that she would ever get to meet. The strongest man whom she would get to admire…and perhaps…shower with affection.
She remembered snorting at that last sentence.
He had claimed that last one when they were in their early teens.
It wasn't a secret that he had harbored strong romantic feelings for her although he had never admitted this to her openly. She didn't mind it and so said nothing of it either. She, herself, was quite fond of him…
That was why she had decided to give him a chance…
She wanted him to prove his love for her; not to demonstrate his strength. She smiled though; he had done both. She was glad even then because he never ceased to amaze her. He would always be true to his word. When they were younger, he would always show her the truthfulness of his claims.
He claimed that he was strong. That was why he did all of those things…Just for her.
That memory brought a smile to her face…
*Flashback*
She looked on helplessly, gripping the bars of a tall steel fence tightly as she peered behind its bars with a sad look on her face. Her ball had gone over that fence…
The yard behind the fence was not something that she would ever dare to play in or even dare to venture into. The yard was arid with sand and dirt…Old furniture and metallic junk littered the place, making it appear as a junkyard rather than as personal property of a suburban family. She let her eyes travel further and she saw the quaint little house that the ferocious dog protected.
It was an old house…colored in the same fashion as its yard; a dusty dull brown. Sera frowned at what she saw. Everything within was just…
'Not nice…' she thought.
She then wondered. Were there people living in there? She had never seen a person ever walk into that house. Not once. Well, perhaps the postman…But that was rare. It was the fact that the house was getting and receiving letters and the existence of that rabid dog that had confirmed to Sera that people or a person, per se, had been living within its ghastly confines.
She shivered again, 'Who'd want to live there…?'
She released an easy breath as she shook herself off the contemplations about the house. Why was she there again?
Oh yea!
It was because of her darn ball.
She had considered going over there to retrieve it…but there was a rabid dog in there. She froze and then shivered at that thought. That dog was said to have had bitten countless of children…and in some cases, even mauled them.
She gulped at that thought.
'I…I don't want to get mauled…' she thought weakly. The second option would be for her to walk onto the front yard and ring the doorbell. If she did that, the person living within would give her, her ball back. Right?
Wrong.
'That place…is creepy…' she thought weakly, letting her hands leave the steel bars of the tall fence that she held onto in order for her embrace herself.
"Hey Sera." a voice said from behind her.
She turned and smiled weakly, "Oh…Hey Heat."
The boy with short red hair in front of her looked at her quizzically. She knew that he was curious as to what she was doing staring at a broken down, dilapidated house.
"Why are you staring at Old McCrae's house?" he asked suspiciously, his red eyes piercing her silver pools.
At that moment, she felt her spirits uplifted. Heat was one of her close friends. Surely he could do something to get her ball back…
She smiled weakly at him before succumbing to the nagging tug of her frightful spirit to turn her smile into a frown, "My…My ball's in there…" she squeaked.
"What?" he blinked.
"My ball…My ball fell in there when I was playing with it." she said more firmly, louder this time.
He didn't say anything and just smirked.
What was he smirking about?
Before she could ponder over it, he began to walk passed her and climbed through the fence bravely while speaking offhandedly, "Wait here."
She blinked; was he going to…?
Fear gripped her heart painfully, "But…!"
Too late. He had already jumped over the fence, looking for her ball. She bit her lip in a pregnant anticipation. Where was the dog…? Where was her ball…? How was he ever going to find it?
What if the dog came out of bit him!? She gasped as she felt the wind knocked out of her as she heard the loud yet low growl of a mastiff. That, and then, the barking of some deranged dog.
"Heat! Run!" she screamed at him.
She watched with fearful eyes, gripping the steel bars intently as she watched her friend roll onto the dirt, dodging the dog's bites. Her Heart stopped and her mind screamed at her to shout or yell…or cry. But she stood there completely frozen. She couldn't move or speak. She was petrified with fear that her eyes remained fixed onto the redheaded boy and the black mastiff that was chasing him.
She stood there, amazed as Heat dodged and evaded the dog's bites, hiding and using the junk furniture as his mini labyrinth; a means of avoiding the dog. She was also amazed at the fact that he had managed to retrieve the ball.
She snapped out of her daze as she heard his carefree laugh.
He was…laughing? He was enjoying himself!? Was he crazy!? There was a huge, black Rottweiler on his tail, hungry, no!-starving for his blood, guts and entrails and he was…laughing!?
"Watch this Sera…!" he said convivially, his laugh echoing in the air like a feather on the wind.
Sera pressed herself tighter against the fence and watched as he climbed onto the piles of junk, clearly outrunning the dog and laughed at the enraged canine with twinkling red orbs. He stood triumphantly atop the debris of what seemed to be an old car with his hand on his hip, grinning, taunting the dog.
She bit her lip and a moment later, she watched him leap through the air, with the ball in his hand, tossing it to her from midair, which she caught with ease, and landed on the fence. He then agilely climbed down from it.
She looked at him with wide eyes, as she stared at his unscathed form. He did all that…and he wasn't even the least bit tired!
She was broken from her reverie as she heard him chuckle, "Did you see that Sera?" he asked brightly, "Did you see that dumb dog?"
"Why did you do that…?" she asked, her voice as low as a whisper.
He stopped his laughter and looked at her quizzically, "Why did I do what?"
"That…Why did you get my ball…?"
He smirked again, piercing her silver eyes with his ruby orbs, "Why wouldn't I? I told you Sera. I told you that I was the strongest!"
*End Flashback*
But that all came to pass now…No; it wasn't merely the hands of time that had banished such a moment from she and he…It was the thread of fate…the wheel of destiny. That life had been over and done with. It was a part of the past that was never meant to be relived ever again.
That was right. That wasn't a mere memory of what had transpired in their lives. No. That memory, that memory of her and Heat…was a thing of another life.
Another life.
Yes.
It had been a different life that they had lived; far different from the one that they were living now. She had been disturbed when she started having them…those dreams. Yes; before they were but dreams to her. Nothing but phantasmagoric images that sent her mind in a daze…and closer to the edge of bewilderment and bemusement.
She used to be confused about it; not knowing in the slightest of their meaning. But as the dreams had progressed and she saw more clearly the scenario that it was trying to portray, she instantly realized what it was…
It was a memory from her distant life…A life that had ended long ago…A life that she had lived back when their world was with blue skies and green grass…before living the life in the land of the perpetual yellow sky and the eternal rain…
She shook her head.
That wasn't what she wanted to think of.
The dream. Oh yes. That.
There, it all became clear when she saw his face…his handsome face, smiling arrogantly at her. She inwardly snorted at that. Even in their past lives, he had been the same. Nothing had changed.
When she knew what it was, her visions and dreams, she considered telling him about them. She had half the mind to divulge to him the details of their past lives…
She changed her mind when he told her that he was the strongest man that she would ever come to know. She stiffened then. It had been the same statement that he had claimed to her in that past life. And now, in this hell that they called home, he was saying it once more.
So, in her mind, did that mean that he felt towards her now, what he felt towards her, then? Did he…love her?
That was why she didn't want to tell him anything. If he was going to love her, it wasn't going to be because of suggestive thinking brought about by visions and past lives or whatnot. If he was indeed to love her, she wanted it to be because he truly did want to be with her…That and that reason alone would suffice.
And she? What about her? Did she love him?
'…'
She didn't want to answer that. She didn't want to admit anything to anyone; not even herself. She felt strongly for him, yes…But she didn't wish to give it names…Not yet; not until the right time had come to pass. But with names or not, she knew what it was…
'Maybe someday…When he remembered…Or when…I finally gain the courage to tell him…But not until then…' she told herself firmly.
She just felt sad though…that he did not remember…
He did not remember all of those things that he did for her…All of those crazy stunts that he did just to impress her. She wanted to chuckle at that…
And when he finally told her that he loved her…
Her knees buckled at that…
"Hey! Are you alright?" a voice suddenly roused her from her daydreaming.
She blinked and in that moment, she found herself in his arms, his eyes staring straight at her silver pools, "Yes, yes! I'm fine…Thank you…" she trailed off meekly, her eyes turning away.
Heat smirked, "I told you so."
She rolled her eyes and pushed him away from her lightly. Now, though, they were friends…He and she were very close to one another. They were each other's confidantes. And she was happy.
But still, the burden of keeping some things from him still irked and bothered her from time to time. Her mind had been probed and prodded for justifications to maintain her secrecy and she had dismissed all of her conscience's questionings by stating that it was for the best.
She thought of only one justification.
'If I can remember it…Surely, he can too. Now may not be the time or the place for it, but I am confident that he would remember it…in time.'
And so, she lived life with him. Life that was perilous. There, in Junkyard, they were fighting a war. Only then, when they had vanquished all of those who opposed their tribe, could their souls be liberated from their shackles; free of their original sin…whatever it may be.
But those were worries and woes that she needed not trifle with at the moment. Now, there was the pressing matter of her arrogant friend.
"So, what will it be?" Heat asked, his voice gruff, crossing his arms.
She tilted her head to the side, utter confusion written all over her features. What was he talking about again?
Heat seemed to have understood her silent query and rolled his eyes, "What do you want me to do?"
She sighed and touched his cheek. She then whispered, "Heat…There's nothing that you need to do for me…I already know you're strong…" she said with outmost sincerity.
Heat's body stiffened as she touched him but nonetheless, said nothing. What was he supposed to say anyway? Was he supposed to be going to ask for more? Was he going to giggle like some…schoolgirl?
'Of course not…' he told himself with a shiver.
Hm. But still. A schoolgirl? What was that? Sure he knew of the military academy and all females who went and trained there…But they weren't called schoolgirls. They were called cadets.
Oh well.
He shrugged off the thought; whatever it was, he just thought of it but didn't remember. Oh well, he had best leave it at that.
His thoughts then paid attention to what his friend had just spoken. Nothing? He needn't do anything?
He narrowed his eyes at her; reading her eyes intently. She was serious. He frowned at that. Why? Why didn't she want him to do anything for her? She already knew he was strong…Yes; that was evident in her. But…was he the strongest…?
He probed her eyes again.
He wasn't convinced.
She didn't want him to do anything for her any longer…Was it because that there wasn't a need since he would never really be able to surpass this person stronger than he? Although she had not said it, he had a pretty good idea who that other stronger man would be.
He made a sour face. Who else but their mute leader? Her twin brother?
"It's Serph isn't it?" he asked gravely, casting his face down.
Sera blinked her eyes rapidly. What? Serph? Where did that come from?! She hadn't even mentioned his name! What was Heat talking about?
"Serph…? What…?"
Heat met her eyes and looked at her, bored, "He's the guy eh?"
She continued to look at him with bemusement and he grinned, "Well, it doesn't matter. You'll see Sera. I'll beat that bastard to a bloody pulp. I'm a lot stronger than him you know?"
She cringed at that. Heat had always called Serph by that vulgar term and she never really got used to that. They had always competed for everything ever since they were little…She supposed that little had changed between them as well.
Well, aside from the fact that Serph had been designated as their tribe's leader while Heat wasn't…
But still that was beside the point. She was completely dumbfounded. He was taking it the wrong way. Heck, he had taken everything that she had said in the wrong way.
"Heat. I never said that-" She didn't get to finish her statement as her fiery-tempered friend had already begun to walk away from her, waving his hand dismissively. "I'll show you Sera! I'm the strongest man in the Junkyard!" he called on as he continued to walk away from her.
"Leaders aren't necessarily the strongest you know!" he said loudly as he continued to walk.
She opened her mouth to respond but held back her words and instead, sighed.
He'd never change.
She frowned though; what did he mean? What did he mean that he was going to prove to her that he was the strongest man in the Junkyard…?
A part of her wanted to feel excited; what kind of stunt was he planning now? But at the same time, she felt feelings of apprehension rise within her chest, making its way to the forefront of her torso and up to her throat.
'Don't do anything drastic…'
xxxxx
"What did I tell you?" she heard him ask.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and reply to him with a most sarcastic remark. Instead, she sighed hopelessly at him, just letting him boast.
They had been sent on a mission that day. It wasn't a big one; just a routine reconnaissance mission…But what got them on red alert was that they had encountered an entire platoon of Solids.
Well, it was those times that she had been glad that Heat had been her partner. It wasn't a secret that he was one of Embryon's finest. He had been completely immersed in the battle in which they had found themselves. He was completely into it, his whole attention in it, in killing his opponents effectively, efficiently…without remorse…
His eyes shone with outmost determination…His blood-red eyes conveyed nothing but the desire to win…to be the victor…to come out as the best of the contenders in this contest that they seemed to be competing in.
Yes…she saw the valiant and proud gleam of a warrior in his eyes; dignified and brave…But at the same time, she saw the malice and malevolence of a cold-blooded murderer in them; merciless and deranged.
She shivered at that.
But still, she had been right…and apparently, so had he.
He had the most kills that day. No. Kills wasn't the word that he used. He used the word "frags" more often than not. In that, in these sorts of topics, she did not question him. The Solids platoon contained thirty-five people. And their recon team? Five people.
It would look impossible from one angle; it looked totally impossible for their team to have won in such a situation…against such odds. But still, the mentality of common sense had been overridden. It had been mistaken, as their team, no matter how small, had overpowered and overwhelmed the seemingly victorious and overly large group.
Why?
What made the difference?
The people.
The heart.
The desire to win…
It was then that Heat's words rung in her ears, 'The prize will go not always to the strongest or fastest man, but to the man who wants it the most…'
Yes. It was him who wanted victory the most. His resolve and his strength had overpowered theirs at such intensity that none of his contenders stood a chance. He had practically slaughtered them.
Thirty-five versus five eh? The ratio was seven is to one. Seven opponents per person. She sweat-dropped. She hadn't even filled that quota. She had killed the least…
Heat had killed more than his share and had saved her numerous of times. She was grateful; she really was. Without him, she would not have lasted this long.
And so, going back to his number of kills…? Well, he had a staggering count of twenty-two kills out of the thirty-five.
It wasn't bad. Not at all…
"Yes Heat. Congratulations." she told him as they continued to walk. Heat furrowed his eyebrows as he allowed the two of them to be engulfed in silence. He frowned, hurt by her words…Or rather, the lack thereof. Her response was…disappointing to say the least.
She uttered her sentence as if she didn't care; as if she wasn't interested.
Did that mean that she still wasn't impressed…? That she still refused to believe that he was as strong as he claimed to be?
How much did she want him to prove his strength to her? What did she want from him? But then again, he had to ask; why did he want her to know of his strength anyway? Why her? Why prove it to her?
He already knew he was strong; so did a lot of people. Correction; countless of people knew his strength and did not dare question that notion or even dare to cross his path. So then, knowing that, he should be satisfied.
But he frowned at himself to realize that he was, indeed, unsatisfied.
Why?
It was simple.
He simply didn't care.
He cared not for the opinions of those other people. He cared not for the thoughts and sentiments of those who belonged to the other tribes; those supposed maggots who supposedly feared him. No. He cared nothing for those faceless individuals.
Individuals?
Were they even individuals to him?
No. They weren't.
They were nothing but a lump; a huge lump of flesh and blood that held no value. That was right. They held no value to him. They could think all they wanted and say what they wanted but he would not care.
To him, the opinions, thoughts and sentiments of people that did matter to him were from people whom he cared about; people who held his interest. People like her.
He sighed at that.
He cared for her; he cared for her deeply. It was beyond words. The word "care" was an understatement of what he felt for the girl. He had an overwhelming feeling of blind loyalty towards her and was ready to fight the fiercest of battles just for a chance for her to acknowledge him.
Sure, she had told him in the past countless of times how she knew him to be strong but for some reason, he simply didn't believe it…
He didn't believe her. There was just something in her eyes, in those silver pools of hers that had him doubting.
It was as if he wanted her to say something…something else. And as to what that was, he didn't know. And so, he was showering her with the only thing that he did know how to express; his strength.
That was the only thing that mattered in the Junkyard anyway.
Strength; power.
"You're unconvinced." he stated nonchalantly, halting his walk. She stopped soon after and looked back at him with a confused look on her face, "Heat. What are you talking about? You had the most kills today. Why would I doubt your strength?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "You tell me."
She wanted to say something, to scold his misplaced suspicions but she found herself unable as he had already walked too far ahead for him to hear her. That was fast.
Heat felt his heart sting as he walked faster, leaving her behind. He knew now, for certain, that her opinion about his strength did matter.
But still, he wouldn't give up.
One day, soon, she would not just say 'Yeah sure Heat. I believe you. You're strong. I know.' No. She would say it with passion. She would believe it.
He just had to think of a way how…
xxxxx
It had been a week now. Sera giggled at his antics. He was as superb a soldier as ever. He had the highest scores at their training facilities; never missing a target. They were all bull's-eyes. And at the flight simulator? He was topnotch.
His hand to hand combat technique had been admired by many…and revered by all.
Hm…
He really was the strongest in the Junkyard…
But still, that really didn't matter to her. Not really. She just wanted one thing from him…And that was his heart. She didn't need him to prove that he was a juggernaut or was an unstoppable soldier or was the perfect killing machine.
No. That didn't matter to her.
All she wanted was for him to…open up to her.
Sure, they were close friends…but she knew that there was a large piece of him, a large piece of his heart that he had hidden from her. He had always had that part of him concealed from her; especially from her, never to be known, divulged or revealed.
That was what got her sad…
Even to her, his closest friend, he was secretive.
That only meant one thing; he didn't trust her.
She then narrowed her eyes; no. She would prove to him that she was worthy of his trust. How? Simple; imitate him.
He had said so himself that one needed only power to be recognized. Well, she was through being on the sidelines. She wanted to be at the forefront as well; so that he would be able to notice her.
He had been attempting for her to notice him. Now, it was time that he took to noticing her.
xxxxx
It had been another fortnight now as she began to take her training more seriously. She had dedicated her days and nights to pure discipline. She had risen above what her instructors had previously expected of her. And for that, she was glad.
Heat too had been surprised at the change. That, she deemed, was the most rewarding fruit that she had reaped from her hard labor.
But still, it wasn't enough.
He still deemed her as weak. They had been sent on another mission; to sabotage the bunker that the Maribel were constructing. And if they had already finished it? To destroy it.
There, in that mission, Heat had not even allowed her to get her feet dirtied. She didn't even get the chance to test her skills as her dark savior had taken it upon himself to protect his "damsel".
She was no damsel; why couldn't he see that?
Why?
Because he still saw her as that pathetic and weak girl. She was still that vulnerable girl that he needed to protect; the girl he needed his strength to protect and acknowledge. Sera wanted to laugh at what they were both doing.
They were both acting like children…
Just like a dog chasing his tail, it was an unending cycle…This game, or whatever it was they were doing was nothing but a monotonous unending spiral…towards insanity.
There he was trying his best to get her to notice him and there she was trying her best to get him to notice her. But the funny thing was that neither wanted to capitulate to the other. Heat didn't want to acknowledge her strength while she did not care for his infallible dedication to the pursuit of power.
Why…?
Because it would nullify their efforts.
If Heat acknowledged her strength, it would nullify his efforts of being the strongest. Of what need had he to become the strongest anyway…? To please and serve her. That was what he had claimed to her long ago…in this life and the last…
His sense of reasoning for gaining power would be devoid of logic, and hence, become futile and ultimately, become fruitless. That was why he would ignore the changes in her strength and treat her as if she hadn't grown at all…
And she…?
She had really no interest in his strength. Not really. She was doing what she was doing so that he may see her as an equal; as a partner. A woman. She wanted him to see that she was worthy, of not just his protection and strength…but worthy of his trust and perhaps…his affections…
She blinked at that.
Affections…?
She shook her head. Now was not the time. What she felt for him could wait…
And now, the same issue was plaguing her; plaguing him.
Up to how long would they play this game…? Well, until someone, one of them won…
"Sera, you okay?" a sing-song voice gently passed through the breeze.
She turned her head and saw another friend of hers, Argilla, walking towards her. Sera stood from the bench that she was sitting on and smiled at her, "Hey there."
She gestured for the older woman to sit and sit she did.
"So, um, what's up?" Sera asked cheerfully, albeit meekly, as she sat back down.
Argilla leaned back on the bench with a smug look on her face, "You tell me."
Sera raised a curious eyebrow, "Huh? What do you mean?" she asked bemusedly, gently.
Argilla chuckled, the back of her hand on her lips, "Oh Sera. You had been distracted the last few minutes. I've been calling you from a few feet away for the last five minutes and there you were, just daydreaming."
At that notion, Sera's face flushed red. Argilla had been…calling out to her…? And she had not heard it…? For five whole minutes…?
Oh my…
Sera, who had her face cast down, slowly raised her head so that she may take a shy peek at the older woman's eyes. She stiffened as she saw the grin on Argilla's face. Why was she grinning?
"Daydreaming…?" she repeated. "O-of course not Argilla…Not at all…"
"It's alright Sera. I can keep a secret."
"Secret?" Here, Sera straightened and looked at Argilla with incredulous eyes. She had nothing to hide! Nothing! Well…not entirely nothing…but nothing that would affect her relationship with her or her performance as a soldier.
Argilla leaned in and grinned wider, "It's a guy isn't it?"
"A…a what?" Sera asked, leaning back, not liking where the conversation was heading.
Argilla leaned back and laughed; her little friend was too easy. She was too easy to read. She knew that Sera had been thinking of the male species. Poor girl…She was probably having guy problems…
"A man." she deadpanned.
At this, Sera could not deny…and so, she clasped her hands together on her lap and there cast her face down again, her cheeks drooping, her eyes glazed with sadness and disappointment as she once more found herself contemplating on her redheaded friend.
Argilla saw the impact of her words and her inquisition to the younger female and there momentarily felt bad. Perhaps she shouldn't have intruded. But she just wanted to aid her…That was all.
But then, Argilla snapped alert and grinned.
Well, the situation wasn't a complete loss. Granted, that Sera's silence meant that she wanted to tackle the problem by herself, it didn't mean that she could not give the younger girl advice.
So, she stood up. Sera immediately looked up, "Where are you going?" she asked, her silver pools boring into her pink orbs.
Argilla shrugged her shoulders, "I'm going to the strategy room. Serph and I have a mission in an hour. I just came to say goodbye."
Sera blinked, "For how long?"
Argilla shrugged her shoulders again, "A week."
"Oh."
Argilla nodded and began to walk away. Sera watched her and raised an eyebrow as she saw the older woman halt her steps. She turned back to look at her and there grinned once more, "Oh and Sera…The best and fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." and with that enigmatic sentence, she resumed her walk.
Sera blinked. What?
'Through his…stomach…?' Sera thought, trailing off mentally. She allowed herself to slump back on the bench and thought more about it.
Through his stomach eh…?
After a few minutes of pure thought, Sera suddenly had a revelation. She grinned. She understood now. Well, she thought she understood. But whatever; there was no harm in trying it.
Perhaps she had been trying to gain Heat's respect in the wrong way. Now that she thought more about it, the more it made sense. Of course Heat wouldn't yield to her and acknowledge her strength. It would destroy him if he did. She was there in his arena, in his turf. That was why he was ignoring her; it was because he was being territorial.
Well, now Sera had found a niche. She had found her own arena. This time, it would be him within it and not her in his.
Sweet.
Now, for sure, he would know of her and her capabilities.
xxxxx
Sera frowned as she looked at him from afar. She raised an eyebrow clearly admiring the view of him…and simultaneously scoffing at his visage. He had been there, atop that tower for almost a week now. Five days and six nights straight.
Why?
She didn't know. Well, she knew but not really. He had told her that he was stationed there for sentry duty. That was what he told her. She believed him of course, but not until she had seen that he had been there continuously, never being dismissed from day to night.
She wasn't stupid and she wasn't green either. She knew the standard protocols for sentry duty. The said person on duty would be relieved by another person after their shift was over, which was…usually from six to ten hours.
And judging from the time he had been there, she knew that he had been there for more than a lousy six-hour shift.
That was why she was doubting. What was he doing there and for what purpose?
She blinked as she felt a raindrop on her cheek, hitting her Varnani atma. She frowned, displeased. It was chilly today…and the previous days as well…And him…? Did he even feel that? In the land of endless rain, it wasn't a secret that the wind would pick up every now and then, causing icy breezes to prick one's skin…and in some rare but true occasions, cause frostbite or hypothermia.
Suddenly, her heart leapt up in pure worry and at the same time, astonishment.
'Heat…! You've been there too long!' she screamed to herself mentally. She forced her legs to move.
Now she knew what he was doing.
It was probably another of his stunts to impress her. She shook her head; one of these days, she would be asking Serph for a change in weaponry. She had had it with handguns. She would probably ask for a steel pipe. That way, she would be sure to hit Heat's head as hard as she could.
'That…that bonehead!' she thought with anger and worry, 'Doesn't he know…that he could get sick!?' she thought frantically, hastening her steps towards the tower. Within a minute, she reached the tower and climbed it.
"Heat!" she yelled in her small and meek voice. She stopped for a moment; she didn't just sound like that did she? 'Like a mouse shouting…' she thought, drawling.
She shook her head; that could wait. Now, there was Heat whom she should be concerned about.
She found him, sitting by the ledge of the tower, gazing at the desert, his eyes fixed onto the horizon, his body straightened and alert. His eyes, his blood-red eyes were steadfast and shone with exuberance; his countenance was rigid and strong, unchanged by the fatigue that should have been brought on by staying there for the last week.
No; he showed none of those signs fatigue and exhaustion. He was as strong as ever. His body was unmoving, unflinching.
She felt proud then; he really was…as strong as he claimed, wasn't he?
But then, she frowned; he didn't even hear her.
"Heat." she called out but there was no response. She walked over to him and touched his shoulder, "Heat? Are you alright?" she asked gently, her irritation beginning to ebb away.
He refused to look at her and continued to look at the vast unending terrain of sand and dirt, "What is it Sera?"
She bit her lip, "Why are you still here? The standard shift for sentry duty is over."
He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm fine."
Sera frowned; he was lying. She could feel it. From afar, everything looked alright with him. There was nothing amiss, but now that she was close to him, her skin touching his, she knew that it was all a farce.
'He is trying to keep this up…' she told herself. She looked at him intently, watching his movements, his minute movements and his involuntary bodily movements.
There.
She saw that.
She saw how his muscles tightened and how he suppressed something in his throat. She raised an eyebrow; she needed to make sure.
"Heat?" she asked again.
"Yea?"
Aha!
There it was.
She giggled at her own discovery.
This caught Heat's attention and he looked back at her with cold red eyes, "What the hell do you want woman?"
Sera couldn't help but laugh at that as she heard him clearer and a bit louder. There it was staring her in the face. His voice had been altered. No longer the firm and deep voice, his voice was now lighter and it sounded as if his words were being spoken through his nose.
Well, that was simple.
His nose was blocked…
'Poor baby…'
"What did you say!?" he thundered.
She sweat-dropped; had she said that out loud? She pressed herself against him and put her arms around him, "Oh Heat! You're freezing cold! Come on, let's go! Let's get you nice and warm…"
He glared at her, "I'm still on duty."
She giggled, "No you're not. There's another sentry a few feet away. You're just here for a different reason." she told him smugly.
Heat could feel his chest plummet. Great. So she knew of his plan. What plan? To test himself of course! To see how far he could keep this up; being out in the cold day in and day out without rest…or food.
It was great endurance training. All that he had was water. That was it. He was doing that to make her see how tough he was but now, she was there, distracting him. And now that she had mentioned the benefits of being nice and warm…It was then after hearing those words that his body's resolution and strength began to waver, foregoing this "ludicrous" endurance training for the chance of warmth and comfort.
'Damn body!' he screamed at himself.
"Go away woman." he told her, turning back to the horizon.
Sera smiled; he was so cute. He was still trying to resist!
She touched his arm again and tugged at him playfully, "Come on Heat. Let's get you to your room."
She widened her silver eyes as she saw him snatch his arm from her, "Go away." he told her again.
She frowned; he was playing hard to get again. Well, before when she was kind, meek and gentle, now she was firm and ferocious.
She grabbed him suddenly by the cape and pulled at him roughly, making him lose his balance and altogether fall on the floor behind him, landing on his rear uncouthly. She couldn't help at chuckle at his embarrassing and unbecoming state.
He immediately stood up, straightening himself, "What the hell is the matter with you!? I told you to leave me alone! Can't you understand that!?" he bellowed, anger written in his eyes.
At other times, she would've taken a "no" for an answer. She would've been afraid of him. But not now. Now, feelings of anger had overwhelmed her feelings of fear and insecurity. She didn't give a damn of what he was doing up there or how seemingly important this stupid endurance training was to him. No, to her, he was important.
He was getting ill and she wasn't going to stand idly by and do nothing.
And so, she matched his glare head on and leaned in closer to him, their faces almost touching, "Come with me Heat. You are getting ill. Who do you think you're trying to fool? You wouldn't last out here for more than a few more hours before you collapse here and probably die." she told him with a deadly low tone.
Heat was taken aback. Never had Sera spoken to him in this way.
He looked into her eyes and saw nothing but a firm spirit. Her words rung with truth; she was right of course. He was nearing the end…But…
Well, it looked like she had more to say…
"You're shaking. I can see it Heat. You can't hide anything from me. You're cold, tired and sick. You have a sore throat and a blocked nasal cavity. Your spine is in pain. I can see how your backbones are strained. And your lips; they are chapped and almost blue. You can't fool anyone Heat. Now come with me before I drag your ass down to your room."
Heat wanted to laugh at that. Her? Drag him to his room? Was she crazy?
He wanted to laugh.
And laugh he did.
"You can't do that Sera. You'd have to knock me out to do that." he stated, drawling.
Sera had had enough. She saw his blood-red orbs and saw within what irked her the most. There, within those alluring pools of his were the silent dare for her to tackle him. He was mentally teasing her, taunting her to put her money where were mouth was.
Well, he wasn't going to be disappointed.
'You won't know what hit you…' she promised darkly while grinning like an evil she-elf within.
And so, she listened while he continued to laugh and there, quickly slipped past him and got behind him, hitting him on the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
She looked down on his wet and tired body on the floor, shaking her head with a smug grin on her face, "I told you so."
She poked him at his shoulder and on his side with her dainty foot, ascertaining that he was unconscious. When she was convinced that he was out cold, she proceeded to gather him in her arms and dragged him down the tower.
She walked the streets of Muladhara while receiving funny stares from the other soldiers. After all, it wasn't everyday that they saw a man being draped onto a woman's back.
Sera smirked in triumph. If only Heat was awake to see this; he'd probably never show his face in public again.
Ever.
She wasn't afraid of being questioned about what she was doing either. No. She supposed that being Serph's sister, being the leader's sister had its perks. No one would dare question her, lest they wanted to hear from her dear brother.
Heh.
She continued to walk along the streets, unbothered by the stares and equally unbothered by Heat's bodyweight. Nope. She didn't find him difficult to carry. She supposed that it was another thing that she should be thankful for.
She and her brother Serph were twins after all and had identical genes…Even the genes for strength. And everyone in the Junkyard knew that Serph was their strongest warrior. He wouldn't be the leader if he weren't.
She sweat-dropped at that. That was something that she would never tell Heat though.
She supposed that her strength, her hidden strength, was a part of her that was never…exposed.
'Until now…' she thought with a blink.
Soon, she reached his room. She dropped him on the floor like a hot potato and stared at him with a smirk on her face. Poor baby…He was so exhausted that a little girl like her was able to knock him out so easily…?
Aww…
Oh well, she had better get to work. If she didn't do something fast, he might get a fever. She then grinned as she remembered her sister-figure's advice.
"The fastest and best way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
Aa yes.
Well, this was an opportunity for Sera to test her new skills…What skills? The skill that she had been perfecting the past week.
What else?
Her culinary skills.
She grinned. This time it would be Heat within her arena and not the other way around.
xxxxx