Phantasm
By: Angelus Erreare
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters except Thor belong to ATLUS USA.
WARNING: SEMI-AU, LANGUAGE, OOC, SUGGESTIVE NARRATIVE
A/N: This is dedicated to Untainted Mind who is the number one die-hard fan of the Serph x Argilla ship! And my number one supporter! This is for you! I've been too wrapped up in the whole Heat x Argilla pairing…I almost forgot about poor Serph! Tasha, I hope you enjoy this!
Chapter 1: Vision
Serph blinked his eyes as he sat up from his bed. He narrowed his eyes. He had the most enigmatic experience in his life. He didn't know what it was…
Before, when he would retire for the night, his mind would calm down…and when he would awoke in the morning, he would feel invigorated. He could remember nothing during his sleep…
But now…all that had changed.
Serph felt a trickle of sweat trail on the side of his face. Oh yes, he remembered alright. He sighed. Whilst he slept, he saw his pink-haired comrade. He stiffened. He saw her…heard her, smelled her…and felt her.
He clutched the bed sheets beside him tightly and his breathing quickened.
He closed his eyes and reminisced.
Flashback
They were on a vast battlefield…It was an opened war between them and the Vanguards. His troops had been outflanked and were going to be surrounded.
Many had been killed…
Blood ran through the ground and mixed with the rain…
His body felt weak and weary from all the fighting…He didn't know how much he could endure…And then, in the midst of all the shooting, the fighting and the screams of pain and death, he heard her.
"Serph…help me…" he heard his comrade beg.
He panted as he crouched behind some debris…His hands tightly clutched the handgun and looked for the enemy…But now, as he heard her, he turned his head, scanning left and right and there, a few feet from him lay his comrade…
She was wounded; her rifle a few meters away from her. His heart stopped and his eyes widened as he regarded her.
For some reason, it horrified him to see her this way…
Uncaring about enemy snipers, he dove and rolled over to her side and hastily dragged her body from the open field and behind the cover of the debris with him.
He pulled her against him and inspected her wounds. She had been struck in her side and was bleeding profusely.
He pressed his palm on it, attempting to suppress the bleeding when her hand draped over his.
His eyes immediately flew to her pink eyes and there, he saw her smile.
"Serph…thank you…" she said weakly.
He opened his mouth to speak but found no words leave his lips…
What was he to say? Dying was a fact of life…and it was most especially true for people like she and he. They were soldiers; the battlefield was their backyard; death was their constant friend.
Why did he feel different about this woman? Her touch was warm on his hand…It felt good.
"Hold on…You…you won't die…" he said slowly, silver eyes meeting pink orbs. He suddenly smelled something different…It wasn't the rain or the smell of blood…It was something else; and it was pleasant to his nose.
She continued to smile at him as she lightly touched his face…He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning in to her touch…
He moaned lightly. It was her…the smell…It was her.
"Oh Serph…I…I have to tell you…"
He looked at her again and then…
It all went black.
End Flashback
He ran a hand through his silver disheveled hair. He got up from his bed and proceeded to the lavatory. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked like a mess. He looked quite exhausted as he regarded the dark rings around his eyes and his slump posture.
He sighed. And then, as he remembered his strange experience, he felt slightly annoyed. Within his sleep, Argilla was supposed to tell him something…But she never got to finish her sentence as he found himself awake.
He raised an eyebrow as curiosity began to climb within his mentality. Would he encounter such an experience again? And if so, would he see that particular vision once more? And if he did, would she then, tell him what she wanted to say?
He frowned as millions of questions floated through his head…
But still, it would have to wait. Today was another day in the Junkland and he had more responsibilities to worry about rather than just his personal woes.
xxxxx
The briefing had just ended and he looked at Argilla from the corner of his eyes. He knew that what he had experienced was something in his sleep…It had nothing to do with reality as he stood there in their strategy room.
But he couldn't help but wonder…Was there something that Argilla wanted to tell him?
He gazed at her…But she was preoccupied bickering with Heat to notice him. He frowned again. Maybe he should try a different approach?
Mentally nodding, he decided to take the easiest and crudest approach.
He walked up to her.
Heat raised an eyebrow at him, "What the hell do you want?"
Serph looked at him disinterestedly and then directed his gaze to Argilla, "I want a word with you." he said nonchalantly.
She looked at him questioningly, "Now?"
He was beginning to feel irritated. Why were his troops questioning him this way? Didn't his position as their leader mean anything anymore?
"Yes. Now."
Without waiting for her response, he walked away from the two, expecting her to follow. And she did, "Hey! Wait up!"
He ignored her; still quite offended that she questioned his authority and walked out of the building.
He heard her jog up to him and then, finally, felt her hand as she grabbed his arm, yanking him back.
"Hey. What's wrong Serph?" she asked as she carefully spun him around to face her.
Serph's breath got caught up in his throat as saw her face close to his…They had never stood this close before and for some reason, he felt scared. He read her eyes and saw the similar emotions that he had…Confusion…and uncertainty.
And so, she took a step back, "Sorry."
He couldn't speak.
She nodded, "Well, what did you want to talk about?"
He blinked; ah yes. He completely forgot.
He cleared his throat, "I was…I was wondering…"
"About…?"
"If…if there was something that…you would want to tell me." he finished.
She looked at him as if he grew two heads. What was he talking about? Didn't he say that it was he who wanted to speak to her? Why was he asking if she wanted to tell him something?
"What do you mean…? You were the one who called me out here…" she trailed off.
Oh. So she didn't want to tell him anything…
He sighed; okay. So his theory was wrong. There really wasn't any connection between this reality and what he had experienced during his sleep.
"Never mind." he said dismissively, walking away from her slowly.
Argilla looked on after him, tilting her head to the side, "What was that all about?"
There was a new feeling swelling within his chest…He didn't understand it…But as he stood there, with her, after the confirmation of his mistake…he suddenly felt unpleasant.
"I feel bad…because…I…"
Because he made a fool out of himself.
Did that make sense? Before, there was no such thing. Mistakes were made everyday…but today, with her, he was surprised to find that it did matter. It did matter to him that he made a mistake…in her eyes.
Why?
"I…I don't know…"
xxxxx
Serph watched her from the corner of his eyes as she conversed with fellow female members of the Embryon. She was…laughing and smiling.
He and Gale had just finished a strategy meeting…and they were planning to attack the Vanguards. Treaties were of no use as neither tribe wanted to concede to the other's demands. They weren't going to be converted or subjected to their rule and that was final…
And neither would they to them.
And so, it was settled. The only question was: when.
His head had been clear that time. There were no flashbacks of what had happened during his sleep. No. And he was happy.
But now, as he saw her…Feelings of uncertainty, fear and curiosity resurfaced and he found himself drawn to her.
He shook his head. What she did in her own time was none of his business. He shouldn't really concern himself in her affairs…
Besides, there was always tonight.
His silver eyes narrowed. Yes, tonight, when he would retire…he would test his theory…
xxxxx
Night couldn't have come to him any sooner and he found himself sweating in anticipation. He prepared for his nightly retirement. Seeing that he was sweating, he took off his shirt and just settled for his pajamas.
He then climbed in bed and closed his weary eyes…
"Would it come again…?"
He just had to find out…
He had to know what it was she was to say…
He didn't know why but there was a nagging voice in his head telling him that he just had to. And so…as the minutes ticked by, his breathing eventually slowed and his mind began to wander…
Serph opened his eyes and blinked…The air was chilly…and the rain continued to drizzle…He looked around him and found himself in the battlefield once more…He looked left and right…He didn't recognize the terrain; the air was foggy…but it had been the same as before…
He had been here before…
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the familiar voice.
"Serph…help me…"
He turned and saw Argilla again…He rushed to her and dragged her body and hid her behind the debris for cover…
'Damn it!' he thought. 'Where are the others?' he thought frantically.
He looked at the woman before him and she smiled at him, "Serph…thank you…"
Serph blinked; for some reason, he knew that she would say that. It didn't make sense, but he just knew…Just like as he recognized the terrain. Just like when he knew she would be there…Everything.
He pressed his palm on her wound to stop the bleeding…And then, just like before, he realized that he was already releasing words that he felt he would be saying at that particular moment…
"Hold on…You…you won't die…"
But then, there was something different…
She coughed…He didn't think she would cough…
Argilla coughed up blood and it trickled down her chin. Serph used his other hand and wiped it off, "Don't worry…I'll get help…"
She shook her head, "No…don't bother…"
She then touched his face and again, he leaned in, moaning as her hand made contact with his cheek. Her touch was soothing.
"Your eyes…" she whispered.
His heart thumped as she spoke her gentle words…waiting for the next line to leave her lips…
"They're so…beautiful…Oh…Serph…" she whispered.
He leaned in, closer to her face and she coughed again, "I…I have to tell you…Serph…"
"Tell me what…?"
Serph opened his eyes and sat up. He growled in frustration. It had been the same. She hadn't been able to finish whatever it was that she wanted to say.
He narrowed his eyes and looked at his clock. It was 0500 hours. He sighed. Well, he had the same experience…but this time, it had been a bit more intense than the last time…Intense and a bit more clearer.
'Some of the details had been changed though…' he thought knowingly. He swung his legs on the side of the bed and got up.
xxxxx
Another meeting had passed and now, again, he found himself deep in thought. Whatever it was…That experience during his sleep…It bothered him.
So, his suspicion was right. The same vision had appeared to him…But it had been changed. Some details had been added…
But, like the first one before it, it did not provide a logical conclusion. The vision had faded too soon.
But that wasn't what really bothered him. What bothered him was that…in that vision, everything that they had worked for was in ruins.
Before, he thought that it was a mere flight of fancy by his mind…but now that the vision had again showed itself to him, it was just persuading him that it was anything but a flight of fancy.
There just had to be some truth in it!
He closed his eyes as he remembered Argilla writhing in pain…She was going to die in his vision…She was…
"No. I won't let that happen!" he growled to himself.
She was his comrade…and one of his best officers…How could that had happened? His silver eyes burned with resolve. He wouldn't let her go…
'But it's just a vision…Why am I bothered?' he thought with stubbornness and skepticism.
He let out a breath of frustration. But still, there wasn't anything to do…until nightfall.
And so, he let himself walk the streets of Muladhara.
He raised an eyebrow as he found Argilla seated on a bench, alone.
He stood there, looking at her. She appeared to have not noticed his presence. Suddenly, he began to feel lightheaded. Just looking at her…gave him a strange sensation at the pit of his stomach…
Wanting to observe her a bit more, he hid himself at the side of the wall, behind her. He perked up his ears as he thought that he heard her saying something…
He raised an eyebrow…
She was…
She was humming?
'What was that?' he thought, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
She was humming a tone…and she spoke no words. He had heard it before. It was the same tune that Sera had sung for them…
He smiled as he remembered that…That "song" brought them back their sanity…And now that she hummed it, his body and spirit felt at ease…
"What is the spirit?" he suddenly asked himself, not knowing where such a word came from.
He grew impatient as he could not get a better look at her. All that he could see was her back and her hair. He looked around himself and smirked. And so, with the grace of a cat, he scaled the wall and sat atop the building, eyeing her from above.
He put on his eye piece and magnified what he saw. He blushed as he saw her cleavage, "Where am I looking?!" he asked himself in shame.
He turned away from her endowments and focused instead on the whole of her.
'I wonder what she is thinking of.'
He saw her close her eyes as she leaned back on the bench, her legs crossed while her elbows rested on the backrest of the bench. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he caught sight of her legs.
"She…really shouldn't be exposing them like that…" he told himself. A part of him felt ashamed at himself for looking at her body the way he was now…and at the same time, he couldn't look away.
He wanted to look…And that was the part of him that he wanted to kill at the moment. Then suddenly, she spoke, aloud.
"What did Serph really want to talk to me about…?" he heard her ask.
He felt blood travel up to his face as he realized that she was talking about him…He felt right to know that she was thinking of him…
"Just as I am thinking of her…"
He narrowed his eyes…This feeling was confusing. He had better ask someone who knew of these things…And so, he decided to let Argilla have her space…for now.
He jumped from building to building, looking for a spot to clear his head and organize his thoughts.
Finding a favorable spot at the rooftop of one of their tall buildings, Serph allowed himself to sit on its edge, letting the rain hit his face…
When had all this begun anyway?
Right. It began just two days prior…That was roughly the same time that they had found Sera…
He arched an eyebrow; Sera. She was the answer…
Before her, their irises were dull and grey…and now, they were designated with their own color. They felt things that they never felt before…He blushed once more as he remembered the uncomfortable feeling he suddenly began to harbor towards his cherry blossomed-haired comrade.
Sera was also the one who brought the concept of the word "song" to be part of their repertoire. Surely, she would know the answer.
Nodding his head and making up his mind, he rushed to find his black-haired friend.
xxxxx
Argilla furrowed her eyebrows in concentration. She was still thinking of Serph. The day before, he had been displeased…She knew that. But what really caught her attention was that…he asked her if she wanted to tell him something…
What was that something that she was supposed to tell him anyway?
Suddenly, her train of thought began to wander from his behavior to his features…
"His eyes…they…they seem to sparkle." she told herself, giggling a bit.
"And his hair…it seems so soft…"
And then, finally, her thoughts wandered over to…
"And his body…" she chuckled, "I wonder what he looks like without the uniform…"
She suddenly mentally slapped herself. What were these disgusting thoughts?! And the fact that she was thinking about Serph too!
"Ack! This is crazy!" she said as she stood up, walking away from the bench and towards the barracks, "I'm tired…I think I'll take a nap…"
xxxxx
"I've…been having them…every night…I…I don't know what they mean…" Serph said, his silver eyes searching hers.
Sera smiled…she chuckled.
Serph looked at her questioningly, "Why are you doing that?"
Sera had a hand over her lips as she gently laughed, "Oh Serph…"
"What are those visions Sera? And why do they keep coming back?"
"Serph…" Sera trailed off, "Those visions are called…dreams."
"Dreams…?" Serph repeated, puzzled.
"Yes…dreams."
"What are those?" he asked, even more confused.
Sera chuckled, "Well, they say that dreams tell you what you really want in life…It could be an object, a situation…or a person."
"What I want…" he trailed off, thinking. It had been Argilla that he had been "dreaming" of for the last two days…Did that mean that it was she that he wanted? He blushed; well, he really was enjoying the view of her body…
He reprimanded himself for thinking such thoughts and immediately snapped back in attention as he heard Sera continue.
"Yes…sometimes, you see in your dreams what you want to have…And others say that dreams are…visions of the future."
Whereas before he was having a pleasant feeling dancing within his chest, now, his breathing stopped. Visions of the future?
"What do you mean?"
Sera looked at him with concerned eyes. She draped her smooth and small hand over his, "Serph…? Is there something wrong?"
Serph sighed, "Sera, what do you mean that dreams are visions of the future?"
Sera nodded, "Well, some people say that dreams are actually telling you of what may happen in the near or long-term future…Others also say that you see the future…in order to change it."
'To change it?' Serph narrowed his eyes; yes. So that was why he kept having the same dream. In that moment, his blood ran cold. It would mean that the destruction of his tribe was at hand…
'And her death…' he choked.
"Serph?" Sera's voice roused him, "Are you having bad dreams? A nightmare?"
Serph's confused face told her, her answer.
"Nightmares are bad dreams…Dreams that aren't nice…Dreams that are scary…Those are called nightmares." she explained carefully.
"I…I had a…nightmare." he admitted slowly.
Sera smiled lightly, "Don't worry Serph…dreams aren't real…They're just dreams…And nightmares too. They can't hurt you…"
She slowly stood and pecked him on the cheek, "Don't worry about it Serph. Well, I'll see you later."
And with that, she was gone.
Serph took a deep breath. Not real eh? He didn't believe that…There was something else within that dream. He was sure of it.
And if what Sera had said was true about dreams hinting at the future, he will do whatever it took to make sure that his vision did not materialize.
His tribe would not be defeated. Harley will not win. He would not lose his comrades…He won't lose this war…
And…
He won't lose her…
He won't lose his cherry-blossom.
"You won't die…" he promised Argilla, speaking to no one in particular.
xxxxx