Storm
Wasabii
130908

It had always been just the two of them. They were brothers, yet at the same time, they were not. Storm and Chase. The WingedNight family.
They were together before the whole 'New World' fiasco started. Fighting on the streets earned them certain notoriety in the underground. It was with this that they survived the streets, it was the same for many others. But still, there was something that separated them from the many others. For one, they didn't truly need it. All their acquaintances, allies, network, all the effort to ensure their place in the streets… In their eyes, these weren't necessary.

All they needed was each other.

Jade had joined them somewhere among the many fights. Heavens knew that they needed someone to take care of their reckless selves. Despite that, she had never truly been part of them. Chase sometimes wondered if she was aware. Jade just gave him a vague smile when he asked. He didn't press her.
So it was the three of them, Jade and himself shooting off all enemies, Chase behind healing. It wasn't the best team ever neither was it perfect, but then again, what is? They survived and that was enough. He had Chase with him, and that was enough.
Sometimes during sleepless nights when thoughts run astray, he would feel a twinge of guilt that despite all she did for them, they could never seem to include Jade in. But these feelings never lasted long. Chase was the one and only thing that mattered in his life, he wanted nothing beyond that.

Those were the days of ignorance and bliss.

It wouldn't last. The seemingly permanent but fragile relationship they had between them wouldn't last, he should have seen that. Yet such is the habit of fate to play with the hearts of those who loved. He tried to forget, he desperately tried, yet reality would always rear its ugly head, it was only a matter of time. He wanted to forget, but his memory refused to fail him, that in spite of the long time they've been together and in spite of his dependency on Chase, the need was not a mutual one. He knew deep within his soul that should the day come, Chase could just break away from him and he would not be able to do a single thing.
He buried that knowledge deep within himself, hidden in a corner of him mind, neglected, but ever present. But he knew that it wouldn't last. It had taken a simple pamphlet to break everything up.

Granado Espada – The New World

Chase had come running into their room clutching a pamphlet tightly in his hand, excited, bouncing around like a puppy. It was another crap by the Royal family attempting to gain the upper hand in some foreign land after they lost control over it. His first instinct was to tell Chase to burn the thing up and forget about it, but for some reason it didn't work. This New World had Chase completely smitten with it, clutching him tightly in its magical grasp.
He had tried asking Jade earlier about her stand on it in a last ditch attempt to find an excuse to say 'no'. She smiled serenely and told him it was his decision to make. Recognising his own cowardice, he laughed and steeled himself to face the inevitable. He never could deny his Chase anything and before long, it was decided that they would sail for the new world, just like the many before them. The Royal family tried to win them and many others over, calling them pioneers, making it sound as though they were the heroes of Osperia. Yet all he felt was as though they were sheep being sent for slaughter.

Their world had opened up, they were no longer alone.

Chase was absorbed by the sight and sounds of the foreign land, a kid on his trip to the market place for the first time in his life. Storm told himself the childish look of wonder was worth everything.
They started life anew. Days were spent clearing monsters, brainless mobs that just squawked whenever hit. Bitterness grew in him when he understood that their sole purpose as 'pioneers' were simply monster hunters. But there was a certain comforting rhythm to the monotony of killing monsters, gathering materials and sleeping repeating in a never-ending cycle. It was a good distraction.
Looking up, he realized that he could no longer see the other's shadow.
He didn't know when the rift grew between them. Or rather, he didn't want to know when they had started becoming more distant. He had notice, how could he not, that Chase was becoming more silent, more distant, that Chase no longer looked at him like he used to. That Chase no longer regarded him as the one thing in his life.
He had allowed himself to be absorbed by the monotony of their new life so as to not notice that he was slowly but surely losing the only thing in his life. He forced himself to focus only on their tasks, he and Jade shooting the mobs down, Chase behind healing. But Chase couldn't stay behind doing the healing forever. He knew that, and yet he didn't want to know that.
They had met many different people, it was only natural. With each new acquaintance they made, Storm flatly refused to term them friends, Chase took one step further from him. He knew it was only a matter of time before he lost sight of the scout forever. Yet still he clung onto whatever they had, living life by its second.

He was in denial, he admitted to that, and would wish to be so for the rest of his life.

He got a rude awakening when Chase took up a pair of daggers the next day. Chase ran in front dealing swift damages to the monsters. He stayed behind aiming and shooting, killing all those that threaten his.

As long as I can still see him…

Short drabble I did for my Granado Espada characters. Implied slash.