I'ma be nice to y'all (if you're out there) and give you this chapter because of my broken promise. Every chapter that comes out unedited will most likely come out every other Sunday unless people are just so into it that they review saying they don't give a crap about editing (it's not like this story has that kind of numbers yet, but a person can dream, can't they?).
School is going to start, like, in a few days now, and I know for a fact that Amalspach is going to be even more busy than during summer when we started this. There's no rush for editing, but I've literally finished this entire story and am thinking about a sequel because I've still got so much I wanna do (and if anyone's read any of my content, you know that I kinda just keep going, and going, and going, and - hey look, a bird!)
(By the way, Amalspach, I've got a second doc with this chapter included so that the editing one doesn't get too crowded. I'll be sharing that once we've finish the first).
I should stop being stubborn and just tell you the names of the songs the chapter names are from. I'll go back for the other chapters. This one is from 'Wicked Ones' by Dorothy.
So yeah. Enjoy, review if you like it (criticism hurts, but constructive criticism is welcome) and here's a smiley face.
:)
Hunter thought he'd be prepared.
He was wrong.
He saw Fae standing patiently, just barely in the shadows of his tunnel, and stared. He looked even better than usual, or maybe Hunter was now just paying more attention. He soaked in the details of his face - his angular jaw and sharp faerie features, his maroon-colored hair sweeping down to his shoulders, pushed behind his elf ears, and his frame not muscular but leaving no doubt that he could kick your ass without blinking. His outfit was worn and battered, but it only added to his look.
Fae noticed his arrival and turned to face him, eager yet hesitant to speak. Every motion, however small, was filled with faerie grace. Hunter had to force himself to breathe - then actually walk over, or else Fae might think he was afraid of him or trying to avoid the elephant in the room.
"Hello," Fae greeted with a nod, his voice smooth yet firm.
"Hey," Hunter managed.
"I…hoped to address the…incident that occurred during our previous encounter."
Hunter tried not to let his heart sink. Fae was trying to be civil, and for him, that could mean he was either attempting to ask Hunter to forget about what happened, or to ask if it was okay. Fae had the pride of a hunter - of the Wild Hunt, not Shadowhunter - and he didn't seem to be very experienced talking about emotions. Either way, this would be awkward.
"Yes, that's…probably a good idea," Hunter said.
"Allow me to apologize."
Hunter swallowed. "For what?"
"You know very well what. I…I was not…I lost my control. It will not happen again."
"Oh," Was all Hunter could say.
"If it was something you did not desire, I will regret it deeply."
Hunter looked up at Fae, but he was looking down in shame. "A-And…what if…what happens now?"
Fae took a deep breath. "I ask for your forgiveness and hope for reconciliation."
Hunter pursed his lips, trying to will himself to speak the words he wanted to. "What if I…what if I did…desire it?"
Fae's eyes snapped up and Hunter instantly felt his mind tell him to hide. He never liked it when people looked at him when he played his instrument and/or sang, but now, Fae's gaze was infinitely more terrifying.
"You…truly?"
Hunter nodded, clearing his throat and avoiding Fae's eyes at all costs. "It…it was nice. I-If it was something you regret, I-I won't ask you to…"
Hunter was saved the trouble of finishing as Fae's mouth was suddenly on his and he was being shoved back against the tunnel wall. He suddenly remembered just how intense their last time had been and fell into the kiss with barely a second thought. The faerie sent electricity surging through his veins and took his breath away, having him panting within seconds. His arms wrapped around Fae as though to pull him closer than he already was, just wanting to feel the faerie in every way possible.
"I do not regret it," Fae declared. "I am sorry, but I shall not regret this either."
Fae kissed him deeply as though this was the only time he ever would again. Hunter had no protests, though, and hearing his statement only intensified things. He let Fae press him against the cool concrete behind him, contrasting the fire that was Fae's body at his front. He shivered not from the cold, but the heat. Hunter wasn't sure how long it lasted, and he didn't really care. At that moment, there were no nagging issues telling him to stop, there were no fears haunting him and thinking of future consequences. When he was kissing Fae, he was free. After a life of hiding, running, pushing away who he was, what insane, stupid part of him wouldn't want such a thing?
When Fae pulled back just slightly, Hunter was too breathless to protest, feeling Fae's breath as he spoke. "Hunter…are you sure?"
Fae's face aligned with his and he saw a lost gaze of uncertainty and reluctance. He was thinking of consequences, of going further than Hunter was willing, of taking advantage of Hunter when he didn't really know what he wanted. Worse, he believed that Hunter didn't want any of this at all and was simply lost in the moment.
"Stop over-thinking things, Fae."
He chuckled. "I could say the same thing to you. But it is my job to over-think, as you say. I must always consider my actions, and control my urges. With you, I have faltered. This does not often happen. I am ashamed and give my apologies, but I will not regret my actions."
"Oh, stop being dense and just kiss me again!"
Hunter didn't give him the chance to respond because he was already pulling Fae's lips to his, feeling the fire surge through him again and then double as Fae melted into it as well. He ran his hands along Fae's chest, sliding them up and feeling the faerie shudder beneath him. Hunter didn't know what he was doing, but he knew that he was breaking Fae out of his shell, and it seemed to be working as Far gave in and stopped holding himself back.
Hunter moved one hand to his soft hair, allowing Fae to explore his mouth thoroughly, ravaging Hunter with long strokes of his tongue. Fae's hands slid gently down Hunter's body with unhurried intensity that taunted Hunter, keeping him barely satisfied and needing more. Fae reacted to him by keeping just out of Hunter's threshold of desire - he was in control. Hunter felt himself slowly coming undone, pleasure swirling through him and yet still leaving him wanting.
Hunter realized the monster he'd just unleashed. Fae was far from inexperienced, though it would've been impossible to tell from his stoic demeanor that made love seem like a foreign concept to him. Now Hunter was the reluctant one - how could he, the guy who's afraid of everything, compare to Fae in any way?
Fae noticed Hunter's sudden reluctance and pulled back, but still kept their foreheads together, as though he was afraid the moment he left he'd never return again. "Have I done wrong?"
"No!" Hunter said frantically. "No, it's not that. I-It's just me. I've…I've never…you know…kissed anyone before…or anything like this, really…"
Hunter felt as Fae relaxed. "I most likely would not have guessed on my own. You were quite convincing, for improvisation."
Hunter remembered he was speaking with a faerie, someone who couldn't lie as well as had more experience than him, and had to swallow a protest.
"I…you're kinda…you're good too…"
Fae broke into laughter. "You are quite easy to become flustered. I find it very adorable."
Hunter's face burned and he struggled for words. "I-I don't…I'm not-"
"Must you always deny a compliment?" Fae ran his fingers through Hunter's hair, brushing it behind his ear. "You, my Hunter, are perfect, but you are unable to accept it. This goes beyond being humble, but you are kind to try."
"I-I'm not brave or strong or smart like you, though."
"What is it, love, that makes you feel so?"
"You're in the Wild Hunt. You have to survive everyday, risk everything just to come here. Yet I complain about being afraid of my music's discovery. I have a home, I have a loving sister, I have friends, I'm a respected Shadowhunter that's living a nice life, and yet I run away from my problems and give it all up - things you could probably only dream of having."
"Oh, my Hunter." Fae ran his hand gently across Hunter's jaw. Hunter noticed his hands had no calluses, despite his lifestyle, and shivered at the soft touch. "I have enough, I wouldn't ask for your life as you would not want mine. Coming to us is not running away, it is an act of bravery, a symbol of you taking your life into your own hands and making your own choices. My mother once told me I cannot be dragged through life, I must march forward of my own accord, no one else's. We may not realize when we are being dragged, but I know now, with certainty, that you are marching when you come to us. When you come to me. You are stronger than you believe, and if I must, I will spend the rest of my life trying to convince you."
Hunter frowned. "I'm sorry for burdening you like that. I know it gets annoying, but-"
"You are humble. It is annoying, yes, but it makes you who you are. You are the heart of the people in your life, a unique gift to the world that should stand as an example of how more should act. It also provides excuse for your flustered state when the others ask. I cannot lie, however I can withhold information."
Hunter chuckled. "Raziel knows how many times Lock will barge in unannounced. Better to be prepared. So…what now?"
Fae sighed. "That depends. It is in our best interest to cease this relationship of love before it becomes our downfall."
"You love me?"
"Yes. I presume so. I would not have kissed you if I did not feel a modicum of love towards your being. It was not my intent, it took me time to understand what I felt meant in the first place, however I know now. You have become a part of my heart, whether you intended to or not."
"Well…I mean, I was the one that kissed you the first time. It could've been a heat-of-the-moment thing, so…"
"I thought the exact same thing of you. I wished to stop this relationship before we made mistakes we would regret. You are inexperienced - you may think this is love when it is merely your first encounter with such feelings."
"Maybe that's true," Hunter admitted. "But there's only one way to find out. Can we…can we try this? A relationship between us? If it doesn't last, we will know it wasn't meant to be. If it does…then we'll have our answer to this conundrum, won't we?"
Fae gave a gentle smile. "I suppose we will."
"So…how about a date?"
"A date of what kind?"
"One of the…in-love type?"
"I know not of human entertainment or courtship methods."
Hunter laughed. "We don't have to do mundane things. The point of a date - uh, a romantic date, I mean, not just a special occasion in general - is to do things that both parties involved will enjoy. We can do something we know that we'll both be happy doing in our situation. Once we've become more comfortable with each other, we can try things that the other knows they like and that the other is unfamiliar with. Doing new things together creates bonding experiences - or so I've been told."
"Well, what I would enjoy is hearing more of your melodies. Would that be satisfactory for you, or would that be out of your comfort zone for this early stage?"
Hunter hesitated for a moment, but smiled. "I would love to. You're helping me with my stagefright. I…for you, I'd be willing to try and get better. It'll also provide an excuse for us to be hanging out together, right?"
Fae nodded. "Then let us engage in a first…date, shall we?"
Hunter nodded. "Let's."
Fae was probably smiling too much.
He had slain many monsters in his attempt at forgetting Hunter even before he had gone to try and apologize for his actions, but now he was no longer angry or nervous, he was ecstatic. He was far too pleased at his new relationship, his judgement was most likely impaired, and if anyone in the Hunt, especially his brother, saw him that way, he would be very suspicious.
That is why he now found himself electrocuted by his horse.
"Zolt-t-tan! I told y-y-you to snap me b-b-back to my senses, n-n-not zap me!"
His horse gave a mental shrug, as though to give a sarcastic, 'Whoops, translation error.' Fionn knew from their connection that his steed had understood perfectly what he had wanted, and he knew a moment too late what pleasure his horse took from the opportunity to use its magic against him even in a fun way and not a deadly one. He and Zoltan had a passive-aggressive relationship, especially back when Fionn had first tamed the horse, but at this point, they had become good friends. But as Fionn had learned, friends tend to think it's okay to play jokes on him and embarrass him because they knew that he would be forgiving. Friends could be very tedious.
"You're l-l-lucky I love you," Fionn muttered. "Let us depart."
Well, at least his horse had successfully gotten him into a bad mood. He rode back to the Hunt and went through his rounds. He saw Kieran and Mark returning from their assignment not long after, this time upon Mark's steed with Kieran behind him. The two did mildly well in hiding their relationship - if they even had a relationship yet. They went about their duties as comrades, but Fionn noticed small details that no one else would look for if they didn't know what they were seeing between them. There were small wistful glances, excuses to speak to each other, smile at each other, even just brush each other in small ways. Fionn felt his own feelings flaring again. This time, however, he knew that it was the need to speak to someone of his luck with his own Shadowhunter, particularly his brother. He realized that he and Hunter had shared some of the same traits with each other - staring just a few moments too long, looking for small excuses to speak to each other, many to sit next to each other, and even touch in small ways. Perhaps he was doing this right with Hunter.
He noticed that Mark had an elf-bolt strung as a necklace at his neck. Those were extremely valuable, and there was little chance that Mark acquired one on his own. He had consulted Kieran, and his brother had admitted to being the source of Mark's new accessory as a present.
Fionn felt the urge to do the same thing, give one to Hunter. Would that be unoriginal if he got the idea from his brother? At the same time, an elf-bolt was a proper way to show his affections. He wanted something special, and an elf-bolt felt perfect. He could imagine Hunter's flustered state when he realized Fionn had gotten him something so precious. Now that the thought had entered his mind, his excitement grew and he knew what he wanted to do.
It would take some time, but for Hunter, it would be worth it.
Hunter fell face-first into his pillow.
He was in deep shit now, wasn't he?
But he didn't really want to care.
Fae was very gentle when it came to pushing Hunter's abilities, and Hunter was grateful. Though Fae had warned him he would be harder on him when the others were present, Hunter didn't mind. The fact that Fae cared enough to be kind and worry over Hunter's opinion at all was more than enough to have Hunter ready to collapse from embarrassment. Or maybe it was just flattery. Hunter had grown up all his life begging for approval, and though his sister and Selina tried their best, he could never shake the feeling that they stuck with him out of obligation. With Fae, however, the faerie had finally broken Hunter's stubborn self doubt and got him to actually accept compliments.
The days had gone by in a blur. Finn had sat through lectures at the Shadowhunter Academy, and though he was interested in it, he wasn't sure if it was for him. He had to go back to the Institute during most of his evenings to go on missions, so he knew that accepting a place as a student at the Academy would result in practically no time to go to the meeting grounds.
Even if the others were present, he was always looking forward to seeing Fae. It was like each time they parted, he started to forget his face, his voice, his personality - he started to worry if that was the last time he'd ever see Fae again. Finn started realizing how fragile their relationship really was. He started thinking about Faerie, how every day Fae must be fighting for his life. Gwyn believed that the Hunt needed to learn to survive on the edge of death, and so he pushed them to their limits. They hunted for their food and were seldom allowed to share, so those who couldn't hunt couldn't eat. It was only when they were on the verge of passing out were they allowed to search for water. Hunter had started noticing small scars and stitches that appeared on Fae, the occasional stiffness from pain, but Fae had assured him that faeries healed faster than humans - like they had their own built in Iratze. Hunter wanted to believe that, but the healing process was much slower than an Iratze, even if it was faster than a human.
Lock had known Fae longer than any of the others, and when Hunter had asked, Lock had informed him that he shouldn't argue with Fae.
"Let the faerie be a faerie," Lock had advised. "If you worry about him, he resists even more. Think about it. In Fae's world, offering help is saying that he's too weak to handle himself on his own. I've tried healing his wounds before, but he has physically fought me to keep his scars. Ever since I've met him, he's been fighting for respect and approval from a world that refused to acknowledge his strength. It's taken him years to build up the reputation he has now, so questioning his methods will only enrage him."
"How could anyone refuse to see Fae's level of dedication to being a faerie?" Hunter had wondered.
"There are stubborn goats out there, higher powers than him who like to see the great and powerful fall or just don't want to admit one's successes. I'd think a Shadowhunter would understand."
Hunter sighed. "More than you know."
Lock straightened in realization. "Oh, I'm sorry…I forgot about…"
"It's okay, Lock. I'm dealing with it. You've done nothing but help me since then." He gave a weak encouraging smile. "I'm not as fragile as I was before."
Lock smirked. "Well, not gonna stop us from coddling you like our little boy. Like it or not, you're the baby of our group."
"Am not!"
"Well, let's see. I'm 300, Pyre's around 100, Wolf's in his late 20's, early 30's, if I had to guess, and Fae…well, I'm not sure if he wants me to disclose his age. Let's just say that I've known him for a while now."
Hunter felt a small pang of dread, realizing that faeries could live to be hundreds of years old before they actually started aging beyond their twenties. Hunter didn't really know how it worked specifically, but he knew that faeries rarely ever died of old age. Maybe they could control how old they looked. Hunter could be dating a guy that was anywhere between 20 and in his maybe late 200's, depending on when Fae met Lock. Sure, it wasn't like people didn't date warlocks or vampires, but those relationships were…shaky. Hunter didn't want to think about Fae outliving him, but then again, both of their lives were constantly at risk.
And Lock could always be playing with him. It was hard to tell when he was being serious or not. Unlike Fae, who gave candid answers, Lock spoke in a way that implied his statements could be both true and sarcastic, depending on how you interpreted it. Of course, Fae managed to dance around topics as well, being a faerie, but he was more subtle about it. Sometimes Fae managed to change the conversation topic so smoothly that Hunter forgot what he had been trying to talk about and when Fae had directed the subject away. Usually it happened when Fae started talking about his past struggles, so Hunter couldn't really bring himself to demand answers or be angry about it.
But to be more cryptic than a faerie was saying something about Lock, for sure. Hunter suspected it was because Lock had faced his fair share of people that he misinterpreted, so when he didn't know how someone would react to a topic, he made it sound like he could swing either way. Once he got a confirmation on someone's point of view, he could easily play it off like he had been on their side the whole time. With his business as a High Warlock, it was understandable - even if Hunter didn't know where he was the High Warlock of.
"Considering I can still call you a teenager and you were the one that brought us all together, you are the baby of the group and nothing you can say can change that," Lock smirked.
"Shut up."
Lock had burst out into laughter, getting the others' attention and making Hunter shove him to avoid his embarrassment.
But overall, things had been great. Fae had played off their meetings and weaved his way around a conversation so well that Hunter could almost convince himself that Fae had completely forgotten their relationship existed in the first place. Fae seemed to even get a kick out of utilizing his skills and showing off to Hunter. Ugh, now there was no chance he was gonna get over this whole 'I'm in love with the one guy that's a faerie' problem. He had agreed to date Fae, and he didn't regret it at all. He wanted to regret it, he wanted to regret all of his life choices, but he couldn't. Because Fae was perfect, and funny, and kind, and perfect, and not bad looking, and smart, and perfect, and a great listener (and kisser), and perfect.
"Uh, are you okay, Finn?"
"Nope," he said into his muffled pillow. "I'm in deep shit now."
"Speak without the pillow please."
He turned his head to see Merida standing at his bedside. "Nevermind."
"Did something bad happen with your DW friends?"
"No. Nothing like that. I'm just an idiot."
"Yeah, well we all knew that already, it's nothing new."
"Shut up."
"Well, come on. We've got a late-night mission and some butt-kicking to do!"
Finn simply grumbled and put his face into the pillow again. "What is it this time?"
"We've investigating some murders. Could be a DW, could be a mundane, could be a Shadowhunter. Who knows? Pictures from victims suggest a mundane, but the vics have been Downworlders and SHs alike."
"Mundane with the sight?"
"Maybe. Only one way to find out. Seels gets to come too, but the three of us have to go to the general area of the murders and find out who it is."
"We get to try and get murdered. Joy."
"Life of a Shadowhunter. Get ready, meet up in 15."
Finn grumbled, dragging himself out of bed to get dressed and arm himself. Well, a nice mission would get his mind off things. He grabbed his Seraph blade and bow and quiver, cloaking the weapons and then going to the briefing between the three of them.
"Check it out," Selina said, passing Finn some of the folders with pictures. "All Shadowhunters had their runes cut off."
"Like, with their flesh?" Finn exclaimed.
"Yup. Vampires had their fangs removed, werewolves had any traits that were showing at the time removed, and if none were showing they had their hearts carved out - probably a reference to the classic myth that werewolves eat hearts. Warlocks had their Warlock Marks removed."
"What about if their marks were their skin color?"
"Like I said, Warlock Marks were removed."
"Blech," Merida summarized.
Finn swallowed. "Seelies?"
"Depending on the type. The basic pattern is anything that made them inhuman in appearance. Ears, jaw, sometimes just completely mutilated all over."
"This sounds like a great mission to send three teenagers on," Finn muttered, pulling up his shirt to draw a Block rune.
"Obviously," Merida agreed, putting an Agility rune onto her chest just below her clavicle before pulling her shirt up to cover it. "No runes in visible places. 'Cept Seels. She gets to be the bait."
"See, this is why we're friends," Selina quipped, though Finn was unsure if she was being sarcastic or not.
She put an Endurance rune on her arm in plain sight, and had Finn put her Block rune onto her neck so there was no way that it could be missed. She added an Awareness rune too on her right arm with Heightened Speed too.
"You think Persuade will work?" Merida asked.
"Seems like this person isn't open to persuasion," Finn admitted. "Just based on the victims, I'd guess a mundane jealous or afraid of the Shadow World."
"These are skilled operations," Selina said. "Whoever this is, they can't be someone new to surgery - or someone who just knows how to remove the Downworld anatomy and slice meat for the runes."
Finn shuddered. "This is so sick."
"But since it's most likely a mundane, we're expected to handle it," Merida said. "So, this is where most of the murders have taken place." She pointed to a map that had been brought up on the monitor. "Seels wanders 'round with Finn acting like a mundane date. I be the eagle-eye watching you guys as the guardian for when hell breaks loose and we go from there."
"Love this plan," Selina declared, and she didn't seem to be kidding. "So, where you taking me on our date, boyfriend?"
Finn rolled his eyes. "The movies. We can sit in the dark doing nothing but waiting for the plot to unfold for a straight two hours."
"But Finn! You know I hate movies for that exact reason! I can't sit still for two whole hours! You are a lousy boyfriend!"
"And you are a needy girlfriend, so we're perfect for each other."
"You guys go to this party here," Merida said, pointing to a building. "The High Warlock of San Francisco holds raves here with no rules on the guests. Mundanes who go think the Downworlders are just dressing up and magic is a part of the special effects, and Shadowhunters and Downworlders have to get along or their instantly kicked out. It seems like all the victims were going to this place before their…untimely demise."
"So we look for…what?" Finn asked.
"You guys do what you can to stick out," Merida advised. "The murderer hates the Shadow World, so if you guys act like arrogant jerks, that'll be sure to get their rage burning."
"No problem," Selina smiled. "I've got the perfect plan."
"I have a feeling this isn't going to go well for me, is it?" Finn muttered.
"Nope. Let's go."
-TFOT-
"How are we supposed to do anything in this crowd?!" Finn shouted.
"Follow my lead!" Selina ordered, and Finn wasn't sure if she had heard him or not.
Selina dragged him around, mingling with people effortlessly. The crowds were thick with dancing people of all species, and Finn realized it might've been a good idea to put on a Dance/Grace rune. He quickly put the Choreo rune onto his shoulder as Selina pulled him into the dancing crowd. She pulled him into a dance and he felt his rune tingle as it helped him try and keep up with her. She was being purposefully extravagant to draw attention, sure, but Finn was not a dancer at all.
Selina started moving towards the band that was playing before hopping on stage and taking the mic to start singing the song they were playing beside the actual lead singer. Finn was suddenly mortified as he realized that she was acting drunk. Selina definitely drew attention, and it didn't seem like this was an odd event to anyone. The band players didn't look twice, and the lead singer seemed only encouraged by her.
Selina did gather up a crowd, though, coming back to Finn bragging about the experience. She was everything an entitled Shadowhunter jerk would be. After the longest night Finn had ever experienced trying to mingle with party-goers, Selina dragged him out in a loud way, causing him to feel even more embarrassed, but he was sure they were targets now.
"Have a good time, love?" Selina asked.
"Yeah. This 'Shadow Word' is cool! Like fantasy characters in my books have all come to life!"
"Well there's more to time later, darling!"
"How much longer do we have to do this?" Finn hissed quietly.
"As long as it takes."
"Step away from the mundane, you fiend!"
Finn nearly jumped out of his skin, but turned with Selina to see a hooded woman. She looked nothing more than a woman going out on a nightly jog, or maybe just a mundane mugger, but it was definitely a female.
"Run, mundane. This monster will bring you only harm. I'll handle her."
"Selina?" Finn whispered.
"I'll handle this. Jump in only if you need to."
Finn turned and started running down the alley, rushing out of sight before climbing a building to look for Merida. He found her ducking down and watching the fight with her bow in one hand, her other hand at the quiver, and a knife sitting ready beside her at a moment's notice. Finn quietly joined her, before kneeling and drawing a couple knives and his sword ready to pounce at any moment. He had his Stealth and Soundless runes active, along with his Awareness to watch every moment of the encounter.
"You Shadowhunters, punishing us for being trapped in a situation that you caused," the hooded woman was saying. "All the Shadow World does for the world is cause pain and suffering! So I'll take you all down, rid the world of you accursed monsters - even you so-called angels!"
"What makes you think you can destroy the Shadow World all on your own?!" Selina demanded.
"Oh, I'm not alone. There are more than enough enemies that hate your Shadowhunter guts, and how many faeries do you think want revenge for the Cold Peace?"
She pulled down her hood and revealed that she was a faerie with her pointed ears, unnaturally silver hair flowing down her shoulders like silk, and her sharpened features that reminded Finn too much of Fae. Finn wanted to be sick, his gut twisting at the thought that this girl was the same species as Fae - killing Downworlders and Shadowhunters alike in such gruesome ways. He wondered if Fae knew such surgical procedures - how to remove a vampire's fangs, Warlock Marks of all kinds, a werewolf's traits, and to cut the runes right off of a Shadowhunter without so much as blinking. Then again, Fae was in the hunt - a place where he would most likely deal with such procedures on his kills like it was nothing…
Finn shook his head out of those thoughts, now realizing that Selina and the faerie were fighting. Finn instantly noticed that the faerie girl was fighting to kill with little caution. She didn't care about what happened to herself, but if Selina was the one to fall, that would be good enough for her. The faerie charged in with no hesitation, moving to strike Selina with a knife and taking no time to formulate an actual plan. Selina back out of the way to dodge, but her attacker gave no room for recovery, striking in a rage and out for blood. Selina had underestimated her opponent's drive, and now she was only avoiding attacks because of her Nephilim speed. She pulled out her dagger and called its name as the angel blade blazed to life. Selina had superior speed and strength, but this girl had the dangerous power of nothing to lose. Her life meant nothing to her, self-preservation had been thrown out the window. If she won, she won, but if she didn't, her life didn't mean anything. There were still more out there to do the job.
Merida had her bow drawn and ready to fire, watching Selina cross blades with the faerie woman. Despite Selina's best attempts at putting some distance between her and her enemy, every time she jumped back, the faerie always sprinted to close the distance. Selina swiped her dagger, drawing her second and fending off the attacks.
Finn just barely caught the steps as they approached from behind at speed. He grabbed one of the daggers sitting at the ready and threw it behind them to strike the faerie in the shoulder. Merida exclaimed in surprise, while Finn drew his sword and muttered "Mael," before running up and stabbing the faerie man that had attempted to sneak up on them. He had been so quiet that even Finn's Awareness rune didn't help him because he had been focusing on the battle. It was only because the faerie had gotten eager and had sprinted up to them, allowing Finn to hear his footsteps, that Finn had managed to react in time.
He dug his weapon into the faerie's chest and twisted it before pulling out and stepping back, prepared for any more fight left in him. When the faerie collapsed back, bleeding out on the ground, Finn saw Selina had been distracted by the noise and had lost her daggers, now falling back with the faerie woman looming over her. Merida took aim and shot her straight through the neck. Selina kicked her opponent away as she tumbled to the ground, gasping and spitting up blood as she flailed to strike Selina one last time. Selina, understandably disgusted, kept her distance until the faerie stopped moving.
Finn carefully walked over to the faerie man that had been ready to ambush him and Merida, pushing the hood off his head. Finn instantly backed up, falling off his feet and holding his hand over his mouth. He knew he shouldn't have reacted so intensely, but he couldn't help it. For one sickening moment, the faerie had looked like Fae - blazing red hair coupled with the sharp faerie features, accompanied by blood spurting and streaming out of his mouth and nose. Finn had killed before, he wasn't new to death by any means, but now that he was dating a faerie, he became nauseous seeing this dead Fair Folk that just slightly resembled Fae. It hurt for him to realize that there were Fair Folk out there that were bitter and hateful of Nephilim, even the rest of the Downworld. Fae was the exception, not the other way around.
When Finn, Selina, and Merida returned, having the mess cleaned up, Finn wrote up his report, trying to swallow the disgust surging through him the entire time. He had a bad feeling that refused to go away. What would happen if something went wrong between Finn and Fae? Would he go on such a rampage if Hunter broke his heart or even died because of someone finding out about the two of them? Finn could just imagine the havoc that Fae would wreak for Finn's sake. Finn was unsure if protecting his brother would mean much in that scenario. If anything, Fae would finally snap and take drastic measure to keep his brother safe - damn the rules, damn the consequences.
Finn sighed, trying to shake the thoughts from his mind, but the pain refused to go away. His head hurt from the dark thoughts running through them. He grabbed his guitar and went to the meeting grounds, playing until he fell asleep. He still couldn't shake his bad feeling.
