Death and Pestilence

Chapter 9: Fluff and Fluffed up Feathers

A/N: I'm shortly decreasing the intervals between my update times, yay! So I'm expecting chapter 10 to be out within this month, but if that doesn't happen then I'm deathly sorry (puns, of course), but if I've learned anything about writing it's that making deadlines for yourself is the dumbest thing ever. But no, seriously, Ch.10 will probably be a Thanksgiving gift or something.

Also, if any of you guys were confused by what happened at the end of the last chapter (because I sort of reread it, shook my head, and mumbled to myself "this is what happens when I write while listening to Phoenix and Starbomb."), Specter Knight was jerking off to a fantasy of him jerking off Plague Knight. Consider it a circle jerk that didn't quite go full circle. And with only two people. I'm sorry, it's late.

AAAANYWAYS…enjoy this chapter! I really enjoyed writing it, so I hope you guys like it just as much!

I wiped the oozing sweat off my brow that threatened to melt off my sickly skin. I watched it crash to the floor, where it probably sizzled or behaved like an acid upon contact. Probably. I blinked my eyes shut furiously and looked back down. I-I mean, I wasn't looking around absentmindedly at nothing while there was work to be done! No, no, I was entirely, wholeheartedly, and with every aspect of my senses involved in my new project!

I stared at the messy papers on my desk with a hollow stare. My neck then relinquished control and my heavy head collided with the desk. Oh well. Those papers looked like better pillows anyhow.

Just a few morns ago I was hired by the Enchantress (via a minion messenger) to enhance the explosive potential of Propeller Knight's cannon balls. She, being an infamous perfectionist, was concerned simple gunpowder and gravity would not be enough to, and I quote, 'eviscerate and dismember the unwitting Shovel Knight.' Thus, she requested me to implant a reactor core into his cannonballs so they would not only utilize force and momentum transferred upon impact to devastate a foe, but they would also explode upon impact (so in case they found ground instead, chemicals and shrapnel would take their aim at Shovel Knight in the aftermath.)

Deliberating on what chemical reaction would initiate within the core and ensuring the reaction doesn't occur prematurely upon launch was rather difficult, though finally assembling everything within a compact cannonball and testing it surprisingly proved to be a quick task. Thus, on the...sixth afternoon, I believe (cue my head rising and turning in the direction of my desk calendar. I mean, not that I was distracted or anything. Or trying to ease my way out of work for ulterior purposes. Cue me clearing my throat), I sat at my desk developing blueprints for the improved cannonball models. The schematics would be used for semi-mass production, which would take place part in the Explodatorium (as far as the development of nuclear cores go) and part in the Clockwork Tower. Tinker Knight assured me he'd create the shells of the new cannonballs, while Propeller Knight himself would deal with the transportation of the cores and chemicals after they had been produced. The plan having been set, all was up to me to finish the model-

"Uh, sir, we've got a problem." Droned a voice from behind. I turned to glare at the annoying disturbance. It was one of my factory workers/guards, a bird-masked man in magenta and green robes.

"And WHAT would that possibly be?"

Having the audacity to bounce towards me, he replied. "You've been holed up in your room for hours. Your persistence is stinking up the place, and you know we already have a rat problem, so we don't want this hellhole getting any worse than it already is." He said casually in run-on sentences, hopping about like a skittish parrot. "Take a break."

"Hold on, I'm coming closer to the visual I require...and..." I scribbled a few more lines.

"Um...sir-?"

"No, no, no, hush, little bird man. I'm thinking, and your boisterous color palette is distracting me."

"Little? I-...screw it." He cursed under his breath. "Sir, you said that the last time I walked in here. Which was an hour ago."

"What?" I turned toward him faster than a heartbeat. "Last time you walked in here? What the hell- when did you...?"

"An hour ago, sir. Do you seriously not remember? I walked in, told you to take a break from approximately five days of straight work and go to sleep or something, and you told me to 'make like a bomb and fly' but then I told you I wasn't really a bird so I can't fly and that your analogy was horrible and uncreative, so you should get some rest to brainstorm better analogies, to which you responded you were almost done with the blueprints and would finish them within the hour, so I went downstairs to the lounge, and I waited with my coworkers for about an hour and we played strip poke-, erm, I mean bingo, yea, until the hour was up, then Nash dared me to go back up to your 'nerd cave' (not because he was drunk or half-naked or anything silly like that) and tell you to take a damn break, but here we are now, just in a stalemate, and neither of us wins, because you refuse to take a break, and I won't win this dare and get Nash to bang me- I mean get Nash to give me the aces he has up his sleeves (I mean if he had sleeves; he's pretty much half-naked right now- I mean he would be if we were playing strip poker, which we aren't, we're just playing bingo, you know), so I mean the bingo chips he has up his sleeves, which he totally has on along with a cloak right now at this moment because we are one hundred percent without a doubt the most responsible employees you've ever employed, and as a responsible employee I'm just informing my boss that he may have a problem which involves working overtime voluntarily, because who in the world would do that, you know?"

I filtered out most of his nonsense, but sweet gods, can this knave speak in anything BESIDES run-on sentences? "...Me." I replied with a sigh.

"Oh. Well in that case, pay yourself extra with some sleep."

"I refuse. I need to complete these blueprints, and I need them done now."

"A man of your intellectual caliber can have them completed in minutes."

"Oh can he? Well, that hasn't happened, so get over yourself, cock-crow."

"See, even now you're speaking snappily; you're not usually like this. You're tired, get some sleep."

"Leave my chambers, bird-man."

"You're more of a-...screw it! There must be something wrong with this situation."

"Nothing's amiss."

"What ever could it be?" He tapped a finger to the chin of his mask. "Hmm…it's...as if you don't want to finish the schematic. Why would that be, when your allies are waiting patiently for you to set things in motion?"

"Things will be set in motion once you leave my study, and leave. Me. BE."

"Are you afraid to finish it and mess up, possibly complicating the operation? No, no, never have we known you to consider the consequences of an action. Maybe you...don't want to be out of work? No, you could always find work in your boredom or get another commission. So what could it be?"

"It's nothing. You're overcomplicating things. Just leave, it's not your place to disobey my orders." I growled.

"What- oh? Playing that card on me, huh, Mr. Boss? Well, at least I don't have to take off my clothes because of it- erm, I mean, uh...screw it, I'm out." My underling grumbled, but on his way toward the door he was met head on with a booming voice.

"YO GARRETT, YOU GET BOSS-MAN TO HIT THE SACK?"

"Ugh, dammit, Nash, will you quiet down?! Even if I did manage to make him stop working and rest, don't you think yelling in his vicinity would be counterproductive to the goal?"

"Oh, what? Sorry man, I just got a little impatient. Is boss-man..." He peeked over Garrett's (or whoever run-on-sentence-boy was) shoulder, noticing that I was hunched over my desk, rapping my pen against the metal, trying desperately to ignore these two buffoons. I failed. "Oh. Damn. Welp, I guess you didn't win this dare."

Garrett sighed. "Yes, I know, Nash-"

"And you know what happens when you don't win a dare?" I could hear shuffling footsteps threaten Garrett's space.

"Nash, can we take this downstairs?"

This Nash's response, whispered though it was, sounded a bit like "I'm going to be on top tonight." I shook my head and grumbled a curse. Despite that, curiosity burned within me. It took a lot of my energy not to look back at them.

"No Nash, not in front of- he can't know we're gay-, I mean that you're drunk-, I-I mean..." He whispered back.

"But I'm all of those things simultaneously, Garry~."

"STOP IT I DON'T WANT TO GET FIRED!"

Dammit, these two! First they won't let me work, now they're making me think of...Specter Knight...

I shuddered, letting the quill pen slide out of my fingers. It twirled daintily onto the desk. No, no, I can't let thoughts of him distract me. I had undertaken this project for a reason! So I can...so I wouldn't have to see him...

"KRAAAWW!" I squawked in fury, turning to the two. My burning, slitted eyes were not deterred, though one (assumedly Nash) was sporting only magenta boxers and trying to come onto the other with puckered lips. When they noticed my attention was diverted, Garrett scrambled to get his friend off of him.

"LEAVE MY STUDY AT ONCE YOU DAMNED HOOLIGANS!" I exclaimed, and Garret quickly flew out of the room (though he allegedly 'couldn't fly'), taking the scantily clad, inebriated fellow with him.

I sighed, gladdened by their dispersion, though the weight of my procrastination nonetheless remained stacked upon my shoulders. The thought of the reaper remained fresh in my mind, and perforated my being. Although my brain knew what model cannonball and reactor core to draw on the blueprints, my fingers etched billowing red robes and icy blue eyes into the paper.

I stared at the drawing of the knight which tainted my paper. I huffed, seizing the sheet and crushing it into a wad, tossing it with the rest of the wadded doodles of my crush.

No. No, I could not keep denying my feelings for him. I could not delay the event any longer.

I stood up from my desk chair, sliding on my robe, leg armor, and doctor's mask. My cane was nabbed just as quickly. I peered out the window. Waves of orange and purple illuminated the dying afternoon sky.

No matter. In spite of evening's approach, this had gone on for far too long. Unlocking the window, I jumped out of the Explodatorium.

Time for me to take a break.

~~~

Dead grass and leaves broke under the onslaught of firm footsteps. I was now approaching the margin of terrain were lush forest morphed into infertile earth. Thunder clouds threatened the arid Lich Yard from above, and skeletons hissed and swung their deadly cutlasses at this intruder. Swift bombs found their mark and scorched bones filled the air like confetti. I would not be deterred.

I went on like that for a while, prodding frogs and ghosts with my cane, launching explosives at the bloodthirsty, uncouth undead. After minutes of aimless wandering and slaying, I found myself under the shade of a tall, crooked, and thunderstruck birch, whose shadow grew even taller as the sun fell beneath the earth.

Scanning my immediate surroundings and learning I was free of assault, I plopped down under the tree and took my wait. The stringy yet scarce grass below proved to be a decent cushion, and I almost dozed off under the tranquil silence.

That is, until-

"AHAHAHAHAHA!" Boomed a voice louder than thunder. My eyes shot open and I jerked awake. I would've lost my balance had my arms not supported me. Slightly shaken, I slowly rose to my feet, supported by my cane and the trunk of the tree behind me. I didn't bother looking around, however, because I knew that ridiculing, void-like laugh belonged to no one other than Specter Knight.

"Calm down." I growled.

High-and-mighty didn't seem to hear me, looking down at me from his vantage point of the air. "Hmm." He hummed to himself, then began. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A little urchin, it seems. A little urchin has appeared at my doorstep-"

"Oh gods." I spat, glaring at him through bored, hooded eyes. "Allow me to educate you. This," I motioned to the tree. "Is a tree. More specifically, a birch. It is in no way a door, and thus I am not waiting at your 'doorstep.' Furthermore, as evidenced by the goings on of no more than two seconds ago, you appeared before me."

The glow of his eyes flickered, as if he were blinking away his disbelief. "I…um...you sound quite cross."

"You're damned right I'm cross!" I shrieked.

"Well...if your problems lie with the skeletons and ghosts, then I'm dreadfully sorry. The ghosts are bored, and the skeletons are of little intelligence so I can't command them to make exceptions for any one intruder."

"That's NOT my point!"

"I beg...your pardon?" He asked, pensive at first, then icy gray eyes dilating with realization. Through the darkness of his hood I could see a smirk creep onto his pallid face, an obvious sign that the reaper was ready to play his cryptic little mind games with me. "Oh? Do tell the true reasoning behind your anger, then." He requested, though his devious voice betrayed his true intent.

"Why?!" I squawked, balling my hands into shaking fists. "Why waste my breath when you already have a damned idea as to why I'm so peeved?!" All the while he was floating towards me.

His smart mouth opened with a ready reply, though I shut him up by shoving a finger against it. "And don't even say you have no clue what I'm talking about or some garbage of the sort," I growled, my face so close the beak of my mask was jabbing his visor. "Because you and I both know that would be a lie. So, Specter Knight, why don't YOU tell me why I'm so infuriated?" I spat.

"Hmph." Though berated, the smile never left the undead man's face. "I've been on your mind, haven't I? These few days you've been tortured with thoughts of me-"

"Yes, that's exactly it, now shut up. I've been trying not to think of you so I could focus on work wholeheartedly, but to no avail. So be grateful you insensitive, manipulative bastard, because I came all the way here in the middle of the damned evening to tell you one thing."

The phantom tilted his head to one side, curiosity piqued. "Oh? Go on. I'm all ears."

"You are going to sleep with me, and I will not hear a thing to the contrary."

His eyes glowed brighter, and quicker than a wink he seized his robe, pulled it off fluidly, and tackled me to the ground. My hood flew off and my back collided with the birch's roots, though thankfully I was able to protect my head from smashing against the tree itself. My ears were drawn to the dull sound of the skulls on his robe crashing to the floor.

Damn, this man was an animal. In a frenzy, he fumbled to remove the fastenings of his under-armor while forcefully straddling me against the tree. I rolled my eyes and grabbed hold of his hands to stop him.

"S-Specter Knight, that isn't in the slightest bit what I actually meant-"

"Oh. OH. REALLY? You have GOT to be- NO!" He raged, and I was legitimately shocked by how frantic and desperate the reaper had become in a matter of seconds. It seemed...I've broken him, somehow. "PRAY tell me, little crow, WHAT ON EARTH could the phrase 'sleep with me' possibly mean besides you wanting to have sex with me?!"

Though surprised, I was unfazed by his demanding demeanor. I sighed, exasperated. "Calm down. Let's go for the obvious answer here, sweetheart. Don't think too hard, now."

He paused, shaking his head in disbelief. "Sweet Hades. It can't be that you just want to...sleep for the night with me?"

"No, that's exactly what I meant. I'm tired, cranky, peeved at you, and I've been working for six days straight without a break for rest. Granted it's no one's fault but my own that I've been working myself to exhaustion, but you know what, I don't even care for technicalities. You're here, and I need someone to yell at, so I'm going to yell at you. Got it?"

"Um...sure?"

"Now get into my arms and let me fall asleep." I hissed, opening my arms.

With an amused giggle, Specter Knight scooped me up in his own embrace and laid against the tree with me on his lap. "But the tree is so uncomfortable. I believe you'll find these accommodations to be much better." He whispered into my ear, undoing the strap of my mask.

"Fine. Do what you will." I grumbled. "At least I can't feel what's under your armor."

"What's under my armor? Whatever do you mean?"

"Your ERECTION, smartass."

"That's very presumptuous of you, Plague Knight. What if I wasn't aroused?"

"What if I didn't have eyes?"

"Touché."

"Put on those ratty robes of yours; your armor is getting cold."

He set my mask down onto the floor with a chuckle. Using his strange abilities (dare I say...magic?) he pulled his robe towards him. The skulls knocked my shoulder.

"Gah! Seriously?!"

"Heh. I didn't want to get up."

"Lazy bag of bones."

I could feel him twisting around to put on his robes. "Well. You're entirely not wrong on that note."

"Sure, sure. Now be quiet so I can sleep." I grumbled, resting my head against his chest.

"...Alright."

A few seconds of silence flowed by like a languid brook in a tranquil forest. Although the man who embraced me was indeed a manipulative and psychotic murderer, I felt at ease surrounded by him. It was bliss. Of course, until:

"Can I have a good-night kiss?"

"ARGGGHHH, YOU'RE SUCH A CHILD!"

Nevertheless, I indulged him for the moment (or let him indulge himself, rather) as he turned me around, lifting up his visor, and forced his lips against mine. I wasn't in the mood to grant him allowance into my mouth, however, so I pushed him off after some awkward bout of sucking (and him trying to pry my lips open). Nevertheless, it felt okay, and I hoped we could do it again sometime to heighten the feeling. Some time when he wasn't as horny or deprived as he had behaved. When we could take things slow and just enjoy the feeling of being together, perhaps. That sounded rather nice, right about now. Sleeping with him like this would be a great way to start-

"Plague Knight."

"What?!" I shot back, unintentionally growling.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

He hummed. "For kissing me-,"

"It wasn't as though I had a say in-"

"And for putting up with me."

"Oh."

"I apologize for my lascivious behavior, earlier."

"Keh? No, no, it's fine, really. As long as you don't continue to act so explosively, we'll be on good terms."

Tightening his embrace, but in a tender manner, he nuzzled his face into my neck and mumbled. "Thank you."

The motion was so sweet and so heartfelt of him that I had to smile. This man could be so unpredictable, true, but I'd never imagine him to possess such a soft side. It was...gratifying. Nothing like how I had expected him to be in the past, though I enjoyed it all the same. "Hee, hee. You're welcome."

"...Can we be lovers, now?"

"Erm...hmmm. I don't know, let me think on it." I teased, cracking a smile while he wasn't looking.

He lifted his face from my neck and shot me a stern look of pure disbelief. "What?! Plague Knight, you had six days to-"

"Oh hush, you oaf. Of course I'll be your lover, calm down." I patted his cheek jokingly, and kissed it for good measure. It felt strange to initiate a kiss, even one so chaste. He huffed in response, flicking my ear.

It also felt so...odd to say that to him. Or to say that at all, rather. Never in my long life had I pined for someone so fervently, and with fruitful results, to boot. And although my feelings for him were diminished slightly, something within me still burned for him.

"You're such a tease. I ought to do something about that." He murmured into my ear. Though I didn't like his lewd tone.

"In your dreams, Specter, dear. Which you could conveniently have now if you'd just go to SLEEP."

"Oh bother, must you kill our joy so?"

I didn't reply. There was no need.

Folding my arms against my chest and nuzzling up closer to the reaper, I emptied my mind and tried to sleep. Though I just spiraled deeper and deeper into warmth and bliss with each crawling second, and jubilee, rather than slumber, possessed my subconscious. Dammit. He wasn't even talking and he wouldn't let me fall asleep! I knew of nothing more ironic, whether that or the fact that I, almost two centuries old, was acting like a love-struck teenager!

Dammit, I'm such a prude.

"Plague Knight? Are you still awake?" A hushed whisper reverberated through my ears.

"...Yes, unfortunately." I grumbled eventually. "What is it now? Yet more pillow talk?"

"So grouchy. I just wanted to say that I-"

"Love you? If so, save it for tomorrow. I'm sure I'll get enough of it then."

"…Yet again you've proved to be a presumptuous little creature."

"Well what else were you going to say?!" I hissed, using my snappiness to hide the fact that I secretly enjoyed our little back-and-forth.

"That I wanted to sleep with you, but not in terms of sex, or course." He sneered. I couldn't help but chuckle, which prompted him to roll his eyes. He continued. "What I was trying to say was...sappy, I suppose? That I will follow you." Upon uttering those words, he seemed to lack a certain vigor. Was he unsure of whether or not he could uphold his promise?

Nonetheless, I humored him. "Oh. You've already told me this."

He sighed, then with more conviction and a gentle grin, "Yes, that I will follow you. For as long as our immortality lasts, as intimately and naturally as death-"

"...Follows pestilence."

A smile adorned his pale cheeks. "Yes. You've got it."

"Mmhmm. Then let us live forever together as such, in infamy." I snickered. "Hee, hee. I shall sow the seeds of decay with my craft, and thou shalt reap the harvest which blooms."

It seems my smile was contagious, or he was entertained by such a notion. "How poetic." He replied simply. Content radiating on his placid visage, he sifted his nimble fingers through my dark, feathered hair. He gently ran his fingers along my burns and paused, and I was certain he would make an inquiry on their existence. Though the continuation of his threading conveyed his thoughts against it. He persisted in combing my hair.

Shortly after, he leaned in close to my ear, and with a soft tone, he added. "But really, I'd be sowing your fields."

"GOD-DAMMIT, SPECTER KNIGHT!"