Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Nomad & the World Eaters

Dream Snippet 9

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What to expect: Gig's POV. Takes place during the night they spent at Endorph's Camp.

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'This place is packed with depraved cutthroats. Sleep with one eye open.'

Hooollyyy hell.

That Endorph guy wasn't kidding.

Now, it wasn't like Gig wasn't used to attention. He got it from everyone—though the kind of attention he attracted was mostly in the form of terrified screams and ear-shattering cries, but still… this was just ridiculous! Could men get any more desperate? He could feel their eyes slink across hi—the kid's—skin. They weren't even being subtle about it for Haephnes' sake. It was just constant staring, lip licking, and eye fucking, and he was damn tired of it!

"Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out!" Gig yelled, startling the group of bandits all around Endorph's camp.

The kid's cheeks turned as red as her hair, as she clamped her hands across her lips in a futile attempt to quiet him. As if that would work. The only way she'd ever silence him was if she bit off her own tongue—no way would she do that. Kid was chicken shit. Damn stubborn chicken shit. But hell, why wasn't she saying anything? He knew she didn't like their stalking eyes. Gig could feel her emotions after all. They were crystal clear. She didn't exactly have the best… mind mask or whatever it was people called it—and who did anyway?—but she didn't have to go on and hide it under her physical mask… thing.

"What?" Gig questioned, still able to talk despite her hands over their shared lips. "Just cause you're gonna stand back and take this doesn't mean I wi—motherfu—did you just—OWW—STOP BITING ME!"

"I'm not biting you!" The kid argued.

"Like hell you aren't! This is my body, too, you damn brat. Stop abusing my goddamn tongue!"

She only bit harder.

And he cursed her out, shouting even more when he was assaulted by the bitter taste of copper and iron. Oh, he'd show this kid blood. As soon as he got a little more control he'd friggin bathe in it just for the sake of making her cringe.

By then, the entire camp was staring at them with wide eyes. Concerned and confused and frightened all at once. Some were backing off, while others were staring in vivid fascination at the girl with the split personality of a guy. A very pissed, foul-mouthed, absolutely murderous guy that, who, at the moment, was shouting obscenities at everyone and everything.

From the corner of his eye, Gig saw a few bandits rush away in search of Endorph—or who he sorely hoped was Endorph. Cause hell, if they called that damn stupid cow or that sister-loving Sepp shit he was going to let the kid bite their tongue clean off. Gig couldn't handle another minute around those two idiots, and the kid's patience with their antics certainly didn't help things. His thought seemed to register in her head as well because the kid suddenly stopped, straightening and looking in the direction the others had run off to. Her face was an unreadable mask, but he could feel her mind whirring, trying to process just what was going on.

"They're going to complain about us," she said, sighing. The kid massaged her tongue against her cheek, as she continued walking back to their tent. Embarrassed, but clearly not angry at him.

"Heh," he grinned manically, "let the bitches bark."

"Then why didn't you just let them talk?"

"That was different," he said, thinking of all those disgusting leers. "Waaaay different."

"Maybe they wanted to meet you," she offered. A sorry attempt to lighten the mood, but still one that made his grin widen.

"Who wouldn't wanna meet the Indestructible Gig?" he boasted, before shaking his head. "But it's those melons you keep out on display that they wanted to stuff their noses into. No way are you becoming anyone's squeeze. You are not putting me through that."

She rolled her eyes, the retort on her tongue, but never quite making it past her lips. Always the goody two shoes. At least she knew when to stop talking. He had to give her points for that. If he was stuck in the stupid cow's body, he probably would have opted to dive right back into the sword.

The other bandits, put off by what they thought was a problem with the kid's mental stability, finally stopped ogling her.

Seemed crazy could stop all kinds of heads.

Gig smirked.

Yawning along with the kid as they finally pushed their way inside their tent. Small, but clean and very private. He had to hand it to that shitty bandit, he certainly knew how to accommodate guests. Or maybe he was just so used to sleeping on dirt every night—yea, that was probably it. It helped that the kid was soft and squishy, but not by much. And he sure as hell wasn't going to tell her that. She was waaay too out of shape.

"I know," she suddenly said, closing her eyes as she unstrapped the top of her armor.

"Know what, kid?" he asked, sighing in content when the shoulder guards came off and she stretched her arms high above her head, popping the joints. Damn, she was sore. "Talking to yourself now?"

"That I'm out of shape. You told me already back in the forest. 'Man, you should exercise. Ten minutes a day really helps,'" she repeated in a poor copy of his voice.

"Stop peering in my head!" he chastised. "And it's true, so get your ass in gear. Hell, you don't even deserve this bed. You're a sack of fat, you can cushion yourself."

"Should I sleep on the floor then?"

"Oh nononononoooo," he stressed. "Fortunately for you, we're sharing your pudgy ass right now. So lie down already!"

She fell back without complaint, kicking off her shoes in the process.

"Sweet hotpods of heaven, that's what I'm talking about!" he cheered, already half-asleep, moaning in luxury when her back hit a mound of what must've been pure fluff. A cool draft danced along her chest in a way that reminded him of a time when he'd dip his head under ice cold water to get rid of the scent of blood. The sensation made him sleepy, relaxing him enough to actually make him forget about the discomforts of being in a woman's body for a few blissful moments. But then she turned on her side, arms outstretched in front of her, grasping and squishing up against air, and Gig just… sighed.

"Damnit, kid," he complained. "Turn."

She ignored him, snuggling her face deeper into the mattress. Damn, if she wasn't getting used to not paying attention to him.

"C'mooon," he urged, really wishing he had his own body. Because right now, he swore his voice was making her sleepier. He used what little control he had over her body to make her fingers twitch. The sensation was startling enough for her to force her eyes open. She looked around for a moment, disoriented by her surroundings, before he spoke again, "On your back, kid. Let's go."

Realization seemed to dawn on her, and she fell back against the bed, unconcerned. "I can't sleep like that, Gig."

"Tough luck."

"Gig."

"Kid."

Already knowing she would never win with him, she acquiesced, turning on her back with a grunt and trying to position her hands in a comfortable way. Did these bandits just not sleep with blankets or what? What did they do when it was cold? Huddle up and freeze to death? She needed to hug something.

"Stop moving," Gig muttered after her fifth futile attempt at a less awkward position.

"I can't sleep like this, Gig."

'Stop thinking so much,' he said in her head, effectively silencing her thoughts. 'Jeez, you'd think someone died with all your stupid turning.'

'I can't help i—'

'Yea, yea,' he interrupted. 'Go on, turn on your stupid side. But I'm gonna turn you back as soon as you fall asleep.'

The kid grinned, happily turning over and resting her arms one over the other. 'Thanks, Gig.'

'You're going to die old and alone if you don't break that stupid hugging habit now.'

'Don't you feel lonely when you're sleeping by yourself, Gig?'

'Where the hell did that sappy shit come from?' he asked, raising an eyebrow in their shared conscience. He was glad they could see each other here. 'You're the one feeling lonely. You'd be lost without someone to talk to.'

'I'm never lonely, as long as you're here.'

"That's just creepy," he said out loud, but it was lost to her as she finally fell asleep.

Gig sighed, letting his eyes slip closed and abandoning all attempts to make her move.

God, this kid was a handful.

A/N: The last three dialogue lines… they were hands down one of my favorite parts of the Redemption Path. Makes me cheer for Revya every damn time, so I couldn't help but include it. :D I love all these little holes I can fill up in the Redemption Path—and damn, is there a LOT. Next chapter will be Revya's POV. Strictly Revya. I'll try to do a dual release next time, so everyone can have some more Gig and/or Vigilance, too.

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