EDIT: I didn't want to upload a new chapter just for an update, so I'll discuss it here. Things have been stressful lately with moving back to my home state this summer, etc etc. But I'll finally be uploading a new chapter this weekend ^o^. Tbh I haven't had motivation for this story in awhile, but the most fucking ironic thing is that I landed myself on a PJO and TG panel? Anyway, thank you to all the reviewers that keep leaving encouraging comments!
Chapter 7: Man Behind the Mask
Leo smiled at him so brightly and so familiarly, he had to look away. They rose and surveyed the cistern together. The drops of blood grew more numerous as they walked, and eventually stopped at a split path up ahead. On the far right, hidden in a shroud of darkness at the cavern's corners was a thick, metal door pulsing with faint light. In order to break down the door he needed Leo out of the way. Without any protest, he pushed the demigod back against a pillar depicting a horrific snake woman, a gorgon if he remembered right. He breathed out and released his kagune from his back. Kaneki could feel the weight of the demigod's eyes on his back, but he ignored it in favor of striking against the door in full concentration. This metal wasn't quite as tough as the cell walls, so they bent much more easily under his swift strikes. When they crumpled inward after the seventh strike, Kaneki stepped forward and placed his palm flat against the metal. As it withered away, the underlying scent of death grew stronger as it wafted out from behind the door. The last of the metal crumbled, and he caught only a glimpse of gold and black before dodging a fist flying towards his face. He flipped backwards to avoid a set of kicks and punches meant to catch him off guard.
The sweet scent of death wafted out from the boy that had attacked him. This must be one of Leo's friends, a child of Hades. Nico, if he remembered right. He was thin, even more so than he, and had a sickly pallor to his white skin. His stance made it easy to tell he was a fighter, but his heavy breathing belied his fatigue. Something about the boy felt broken. Perhaps it was because of his eyes. Kaneki had seen the look in them many times before in a mirror. It was as if whatever had broken him had forced him to become that much stronger. Kaneki dodged another fist easily. Clearly, the boy wasn't a brawler considering how clumsily he swung. Only then, when Kaneki grabbed the boy's arm and pulled him forward to throw off his balance, did he notice the trail of blood coming from his temple. His quick action caused the boy to smack his face into the ground. It was kind of funny really. Kaneki grimaced at his own thought, absently popping a knuckle.
Ah, his blood smells so good. Maybe just a bite will do. . . The thought was quickly forgotten when something gold glinted in his peripheral vision. That something shattered against his bare back and clattered to the floor. It was the broken end of a golden dagger. A sharp intake of breath alerted him to the girl standing behind him and shaking with the hilt still clutched in her hand. He must look intimidating to her with his kakuhou and kagune still active. Kaneki let his kakuhou disappear and his kagune retreat back into his back and turned to face the girl.
She had an exotic look to her what with the golden eyes and dark skin. The scent of death surrounded her too, but there was something more to the scent than he had realized with the boy. The scent was also very earthy and reminded Kaneki of the time he'd let Yomo convince him to take the group out on a camping trip. It'd been almost creepy how excited the stoic man had been to stare at flower and fauna all day. Kaneki sighed. He'd almost be glad to share a tent with Tsukiyama again if he could go back to Anteiku.
The girl was staring openly at him now whereas before her eyes stayed glued to her hands. She was very pretty despite the fear masking her face. Kaneki watched as she swallowed and attempted to speak, "You- you're a ghoul, aren't you?"
"Yes."
She looked braver now, encouraged by the response.
"Are you going to hurt us?"
Her eyes kept flicking to her brother. Still lying prone on the floor, he didn't look as if he could move. Actually, he probably had an even worse head injury from hitting his head again (judging by the blood). Choosing not to reply to the question, he instead stood aside so that she could reach her brother. Gratitude flashed across her face, and she quickly knelt by her sibling's side.
As she cradled her brother's head he asked, "Are you Leo's friends?"
Her head snapped up at that, jostling Nico's head and eliciting a weak groan.
"You know Leo? Where is he?"
"He should be right over-"
Oh shit.
Sticking out of the gorgon's mouth where he'd left Leo were a pair of sneakers.
". . ."
Hazel's voice came out unsure, "L-Leo? Is that you?"
"Ifmph mmeeph."
"Excuse me, what?"
"IFMPH MMEEEEPH."
Nico piped up weakly, "I think he said 'it's meee."
"Fphank fyuuu."
"I think he said-"
Kaneki held up his hand, "I get it." Briskly, Kaneki walked over to the column, careful to keep an eye on the snakes twisting around Leo's ankles trying to push him further in. Oh dear. He couldn't destroy the column, lest the ceiling fall on them or he could end up injuring Leo. The one option he had was to pull him out by force. Bracing himself, he released his kagune once more and rooted two into the stone floor, leaving two more to deal with the snakes. The stone reptiles were easy to slice away, yet the mouth stayed firmly clamped onto its victim. Stone eyes bore holes into Kaneki's. Just to be safe, he avoided the stare and focused on pulling Leo out. Grabbing a hold of Leo's freed ankles, he squared his shoulders and drew a breath. Then he pulled hard. A tiny scream floated out from the stone mouth, but Kaneki ignored it. The demigod could be mad at him later. He exhaled and tried once more, straining his kagune to find the leverage he needed.
Huh?
In his hands, Kaneki held a pair of torn-up jeans.
"Shemhtiphede?"
"Yes?"
"Wahhy izh mah butt kould?"
"Um, well you see-"
"Aamfph!"
In one thrust, Kaneki shoved the boy further into the gorgon's mouth, gagging it, then swiftly pulled Leo all the way out. Breathing hard, Leo laid there for a solid minute. As graceful as one can after almost being eaten alive, he rolled onto his hands and knees and started crawling towards Kaneki. The demigod refused to look him in the eye and instead held his hand out. A blush coloured the tips of his ears. Silently, Kaneki crouched down and handed him his pants.
". . . Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Jason felt uncomfortable. Scratch that. Extremely uncomfortable in this situation. Across from him sat a man whose eyes refused to leave his face. Despite the silver hair, he was probably somewhere in his thirties and hadn't uttered a single word to him since he woke up in this place. His back was positioned against the cell wall in a slouched position, yet at the same time he was strangely on guard. Well, he didn't attack me when I was unconscious and vulnerable, so that's a good sign, right? Jason wondered how it could be comfortable sitting like that with that metal contraption attached to his back. When the unnerving stare somehow grew in intensity, Jason began to sweat and finally he'd had enough.
"I'm Jason Grace."
The man grunted and shifted a bit, looking a bit tense when he'd said his name. That's a little odd. At the very least, the silence had been broken. Sort of.
"And you are?"
"Hm." A step forward. That was almost verbal communication.
"Do you know where we are?"
"No." Success. Hopefully, his smile seemed inviting enough to make the man open up more.
"Oh, so what do you know about this place? Is it some sort of prison?"
"No." Okay, maybe this guy only knows one word in English. How am I supposed to communicate with him? Pretty sure he doesn't know a dead language either. Come on, Jason, think. You're a praetor and your friends, and the camps' fates, are depending on you and this quest. How can I make the best of this situation? Unbidden came the thought: "What would Percy do?"
Probably something stupid. Can't believe I just asked myself that. But I'm running out of logical options, so I might as well try it out.
"Hey, old man." Really, Jason? That's your opening insult? Percy would be laughing his ass off at you. "Shut up, Inner Jason."
"Your momma's so fat that-uh- she doesn't fit through doorways?" Good job, Jason. The world can really depend on you when it's in a pickle. "Thanks, Inner Jason. Really enjoy these talks."
"I've never met my mother, so I wouldn't know if she could fit through doorways or not. Besides, don't you think it's rude to insult one's mother for her body shape?" So he can speak English. And you just brought up a touchy subject. And you're also kind of a dick. Can we just stop talking?
"Oh, yea sorry. I just wanted to get you talking, Mister-?"
"Just Raven is fine."
"Nice to meet you, Raven."
"Likewise."
"Sorry I insulted your mother, Raven."
The man shrugged and finally looked away.
"As I said, I never knew her, so it's fine."
Silence.
"I did have a sister." Jason perked up at that.
"Really? What was she like?"
After a brief moment where he looked as if he would answer, Raven rested his head against the wall, frowning.
"I'm not sure I. . . remember." Jason was confused. How could someone forget what their own sister was like? As if I knew I even had a sister.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know." The ensuing silence was less than comfortable. To heck with "comfort". In a way, I'm the one who brought up his family so I should take responsibi-
"She was very talkative, I think. And strong. She raised me all by herself."
"I can relate." Raven stared back at him again. Somehow, it felt more amiable this time, and he became encouraged by the attention.
"Your sister raised you too?"
"No, I didn't even remember I had a sister for a time. We were separated when I was two. My mother, the biological one, gave me away to someone I consider my real parent." Jason excluded the part mentioning that he was raised by wolves. "To be honest, I'm kind of glad. I've heard from my sister that she was a drunk and very unstable after my father left. The one emotion I feel for her is the regret that my sister had to deal with her all that time."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Your sister must be a strong person to have carried that burden."
Jason let out a fond smile, "Yeah, she is. We haven't talked much, but I admire her a lot."
"That's good to hear. I think I admire your sister as well."
"You do?" Raven nodded back.
"I do." A very comfortable silence filled the cell.
"What kind of things did you do with your sister, Raven?" Jason wasn't at all surprised to see the tiniest upturn of the stoic man's lips. It was as if a mask had been lifted from the man's face.
"Well, we'd often go hunting for beetles together. I would just watch. Then she'd sneak up behind me and drop it down the back of my shirt-"
For the first time in awhile, Jason let himself forget about saving the world and laughed.
Yomo (a.k.a 'Raven') and Ayato should totally bond over their phobia of bugs and insects. Wait, does that mean they have a phobia of Kanekipede? Kanekiphobia? Idek I'm tired. Hope you enjoyed!
