Hey everyone. Please believe me when I say I AM SO FUCKING SORRY FOR LEAVING THE UPDATE THIS LONG ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT CLIFF HANGER! I honestly tried to write it as soon as possible but then I felt a bit stumped near the end of the chapter so I left it a bit and gaaaah.
I always feel pretty guilty when I leave it this long because I know some of you are really eager to know what happens next. I'm flattered by this and I appreciate all the love this fanfic has gotten :)
A big thankyou to those who have been with me since the very beginning you're awesome and very patient ;)
OoO.
The Talon squeezed the trigger, and with it Aerrow heard the satisfying click of an empty gun.
While waiting the redhead casually stood beside the Cyclonian with his hands behind his back and had taken out the ammo, figuring he needed it more than these survivor wannabees.
The soldier heatedly furrowed his brows, something else that Aerrow found missing in Dark Ace these days. That was all the Storm Hawk let him do, as his next move was to thrust his leg up in the air, booting the guy in the chin. He fell back out of range, so the young hero then grabbed a hold of the Talon behind him and barely managed to fling him over his shoulder thanks to the phoenix wound.
He had to escape. He had to escape now.
Can't leave through the door; too many rotting cadavers. And trying to slip away in the ceiling vent would take too much time, as the Cyclonians were already finding their feet.
OK time to be awesome, (dangerous was probably the correct word, but to Aerrow they both meant the same thing). He slung the bag on his back, made the quickest prayer in the history of religion, then charged for the window, bursting through it. Which was actually pretty awesome. But now for the risky part; what was he smashing into?
While there were no beings who drueled blood down below, which was a positive, the fall would be his undoing. Manouvering through vents on a Terra, you don't realise how many floors you're actually climbing.
He was falling through the air with smog from the wastelands below to greet him. There were spikes, pipes and other things sticking out of the black Terra. The Sky Knight reached out and clung to the next one that passed him by, ignoring the burn that the sudden hault in momentum gave his hands. His arms felt like they were going to be ripped from their sockets as his weight pulled him down. He gritted his teeth and shook away his weak will.
Aerrow tried to catch his breath, pulling in a large inhale before whistling as loudly as he could. His fingers felt numb from the tight grip by the time Rasvec finally found his rider dangling.
The teenage saviour couldn't wait to return, so while the dragon sailed smoothly, he tugged the duffle bag open and checked the supplies inside. Everything appeared usable, which was enough for his shoulders to finally sag with relief. His eyes drifted shut as he enjoyed the calm journey ride back home. His mouth curled upward as he realised the mission was accomplished, he had actually managed to save a life in this zombie apocalypse.
Terra Gale was blissfully dull as ever, the grass danced with the wind, and the manky windmill home was just how he left it. Rasvec was granted free flight time again, so the loyal creature dove off the tiny Terra and soared away left to it's own devices.
Aerrow pushed the wooden door open and advanced to the bedroom immediately.
Dark Ace was there, still breathing, but sweating with a pale face and shadowed eyes. He was panting heavily with an unhealthy weeze, but it was OK, he had survived Aerrow's absense and now his recovery was a definite certainty.
The Sky Knight modified a clothes hanger and attached the IV bag to it with the necessary liquid filled up. After making sure nothing was leaking, or would collapse, he stuck the needle into his ill friend's arm and finally sighed thankfully with the set up complete.
The sun was close to absent, just a small fraction still peering over from across the sky. He couldn't believe he'd actually managed to escape Cyclonia before nightfall, if not it would have been disaterous.
Aerrow trailed down the steps with feet so heavy it felt like he was lugging rocks in his boots. 'Operation: Save the traitor' was officially behind him, and because of this the boy now realised how exhausted all this saving business had made him feel. Sleeping on Dark Ace's king sized bed felt like a week ago, so as soon as he reached the lumpy couch he collapsed onto it.
The constant clutter of thoughts and worries were shrouded in a cloudy state of tiredness. His eyes slid shut and seconds later he was asleep.
Boredom glazed over emerald the next morning as Aerrow sat at the table, his hand propped up against his cheek. The Rebel Duck's radio was in front of him, filling his first hours of the day with a song of static. There wasn't really much else to do. He didn't want to find more crystals without back-up; that was why he recruited the fiendish man in the first place.
He turned the dial every two seconds like he was on a timer, every channel spat the same crackling sound throught the speakers. His eyes closed, yet his hand kept twisting the dial round and round on schedual.
"Those foo-"
The teen's head shot up. Was that a voice!? He twisted the dial back hastily to track it down.
"Suspect a thing." Yes! That was a voice! But the radio was having trouble processing all the words, as that notorious static never eased up for the conversation.
"Are you sure...mean...with all these zom...survivors will...hostile!"
"Trust me...can take em...I seriously doubt the Rex Guardi...match our weapons, besides with all the crystals hauled th...wor...it."
There was that We're-going-on-a-dangerous-mission look in Aerrow's eyes as he stared utterly bewildered at the radio. Not only were there people still out there surviving, but there was apparantly a large collection of crystals stationed out there for the taking.
They had to go. If the Rex Guardians have what little crystals were left needed, the mission would be complete within one more trip.
Meanwhile, a light breeze continued to roll in through the bedroom. Dark Ace's nose wrinkled as the cool air tickled him. He rapidly became aware that breathing was difficult.
It didn't feel like he was still on the sandy ground, was more like damp comfort. His body uncontrollably twitched again, with discomfort he rolled on his side. His face pressed against something softer than the pillow, it was fluffy and he was not sure how to react to it, so he returned to lying on his back.
Dreary crimson finally peeled open, but not all of the way. He was...he was in the bedroom? Ah fuck must be a dream, because there was no logical reasoning behind him being back on Gale.
His head felt fuzzy, his limbs sunk into the matress like a ragdoll and that feeling in his stomach needed to go away immediately. Regardless of it all, he forced his eyes to widen, and ignored the fact that his arms were trembeling as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
He gritted his teeth and couldn't prevent a moan from escaping his lips as the pain didn't ease.
Suddenly something caught in the corner of his eye, he turned his head with a crank in his neck to see Aerrow standing there staring back at him in the doorway.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Not good! Dark Ace fought to stand up, he heard the Storm Hawk approach him, and words began to spill out "Aerrow! Back off! I had nothing to do with-"
"You're not strong enough Dark Ace, lie down!"
"If I did I wouldn't have...wait what?" Aerrow was by his side now looking at him with gentle concern, he guided him down with two hands on his shoulders so his head met the pillow again.
"I said you're not strong enough, just try to relax, although I know how hard that is for you," he said with a weak smile.
The only answer the older man could muster was befuddled silence. His dark eyebrows were furrowed with deep confusion. His dry lips parted a bit as if he was trying to make words come out, but his eyes couldn't steer away from the boy's. Dark Ace was studying him, trying to decipher his intentions, trying to decode the truth behind this sudden kindness.
Was`he...a prisoner maybe? Was he just being cared for because Aerrow had certain Sky Knight standards?
Aerrow stood beside him and finally words came out. "What am I doing here?" He finally managed to ask.
"I found you unconscious in the desert so I-"
"You know what I mean!" He snapped, unintentionally, but it did give a sense of nostalgia. It did not phase Aerrow though, it never had and it probably never would.
He huffed, "Do you think I was planning on letting it end there, to let you run off?"
So this was a prisoner thing, in that case he needed to move. The Talon began to shuffle out of bed, despite the teeth clenching pain. Away from the redhead, who's scowl had turned into worry and a bit of befuddlement.
"Fuck you Storm Hawk! How dare you pity me! You nursed me back to health just so you could enjoy the look on my face when you finished me off?" He conjured a quick plan but brilliant plan; to get out of bed and grab a weapon of some kind, something, anything so they were evenly matched.
But his body was having none of that. The second he edged past the rim of the bed his legs gave away and he crashed to the floor backside first. "Well," he grumbled and winced, "you're crazy if you think I'm going down without a fight!" He finished pitifully, as he forced himself up with the beds aid.
"I think you missed the part where I said relax." Aerrow finally said rather dryly.
"Making it easier for youself?" He gloated, although his raspy ill voice didn't make it sound very good.
"No, because I almost died trying to save your life, it would be nice if you could return the favour and just do as I ask." The Sky Knight's words froze the Talon where he stood, his eyes were fixed the middle of the bed. Those words rung in his head, almost died trying to save your life. It did a lot with his emotions. Little brat. How dare he? How dare he make him feel something.
Silence was all Dark Ace offered him again, that and sheepishly crossing his gaze. So Aerrow continued, "Good and Evil have confused me a lot lately. I know now that when Bill said what he said, I should have looked at the facts...I should have listened to your side of the story. Dark Ace I know who's side your on. I believe you. I trust you."
The older man's mouth gaped, his shy stare abruptly twisted into an expression that involved those eyebrows of his turning angry again. "You fucking fool!" He spat back like a parent who disapproved of his son's actions.
"How could you do something so wreckless!? The fate of the Atmos rests on your shoulders, so you risk your life to help me? I mean come on Aerrow really!? Who the fuck would do that, this is me we're talking about!"
Aerrow raised his voice too, not because he was angry or felt unappreciated, but because he was soaking up the emotion in the room "The fate of the Atmos rests on our shoulders! You're my partner, my friend! So of course I felt compelled to try and save you!"
"I'm not saying that I don't want to be a part of this Aerrow. But if we both died who would carry this on? Or maybe I'm just crazy, because I could have sworn you were the one crying over your friends every bloody night."
"Well it doesn't matter. You're alive. I'm alive. It all worked out fine, so let's just move on now shall we?"
Dark Ace shook his head smirking, "People only come back with that sort of thing when they know the other guy is right."
"Screw you. Try showing a little gratitude you stupid Cyclonian!"
"Alright then thank you! Thank you for caring enough to actually deem my life worth saving." The heat of the conversation dropped down dead after that. Silence on both sides followed, because it put everything into pespective for the Sky Knight and the Cyclonian. Dark Ace was a man who didn't actually believe his own life was worth it, and that scared Aerrow, he had no idea people could even think like that.
"I'm glad you made it. I got scared for you."
"Why? It's only me."
"That's the thing. When you're a friend, you're more than only." Aerrow thought he would regret admitting that, but he didn't, once he'd said it, he realised how much he wanted Dark Ace to know that. He wanted him to understand that he was watching his back all the way through this. That he actually enjoyed his company. That he had befriended someone this grumpy and mean and he loved it.
Dark Ace cocked an eyebrow, "You didn't kiss me when I was asleep did you?"
"What the hell!? No!"
"Sorry, it's just this whole situation, you risking your life," he looked down at himself, "me waking up close to naked, and now that heart warming speech. Seriously I think I'm all flustered, or maybe thats just the illness." He teased, and bared a toothy grin when he successfully reddened the teen's cheeks.
"Shut the hell up you jerk off! And quit flattering yourself!" The Cyclonian just laughed, that taunting tone erupting from deep within. The redhead couldn't help but smile back, even giigle. What they were doing right now, it made saving him seem totally worth it. Saving Dark Ace had definitely been the right choice.
The laughter died down, and the patient finally decided to crawl back into bed. Mainly because he didn't want his partner to watch him fall to the floor as his weak legs gave away.
"Hungry?" Aerrow asked.
"Starving." The teen nodded then returned downstairs to fix them both a meal.
Dark Ace was sat up in bed, his eyes finally taking in the minor alterations that had made while he was sick. He shook his head when he glanced at the flowers, and wasn't really sure what to do with the bear. In the end he turned it's face away from him, it was kinda cringe worthy.
Crimson trailed over to the opposite side of the room, there was a shelf on the wall. Placed on it were the photos from his bedroom, all stood together the way he had previously arranged them.
Aerrow had noticed them. Aerrow had concluded that they meant something to him. They did mean something to him. Questions were going to be asked weren't they? Dammit.
The younster returned to the bedroom with sandwiches, making something quicker seemed better. Dark Ace couldn't take his eyes away from the faces behind glass, he wasn't really sure if he wanted them here. He technically had a roomate, it felt like everything was shared. If these photos were here, they were a part of their temporary alliance, so he felt like it meant an explaination was due.
"You went back to my apartment?" The raven haired man inquired, nodding towards the shelf. Aerrow followed his hard stare, then looked back at him.
"Yeah, I got in a tight spot and it was a good place to lay low."
"What on Atmos made you go back to that Terra of all places?"
"It seemed like the best chance to find you one of these," he tugged at the IV tube gently.
"You're an idiot."
"I'm a hero."
"Same thing."
"No it's not, pretty sure an idiot would have died."
"With zombies running around, anyone can die easily."
The redhead grimaced, this was turning into a lecture, the kind grown ups give when they insist that they know best. But after fighting beside him, Aerrow had learnt that Dark Ace acts just as irrationally and dangerously as he does. He has no right to lecture. So screw this, it was time to make a U turn on the conversation.
"So uh, who are they?" This could lead to more of those feet shifting silences, but he was too curious not to ask. Who were these people? What are they to him? What purposes did they lead in his life?
"It's funny, I don't actually think I owe you the answer to that question."
Aerrow muttered, "I did save your life."
"Yeah, after I saved your life...three times I'm counting now. So if anything, this was just your payback." His eyes were still held on the pictures, trying to decide whether he wanted them here or whether he would have to lie them face down.
Aerrow sighed and asked "Touchy subject?" The older man closed his eyes softly, then have one nod. Like the conversation had never happened the boy continued with, "Eat up and I'll tell you what you missed."
After a quick shower Aerrow sat downstairs at the table, staring at a sheet of paper with notes about the Rex Guardian crystal heist that was apparantly going to happen. Tactics, tactics, what was the best possible way to approach this?
OK he had no idea what time...or day for the matter, as to when the attack was planned. He had no idea which crystals were being held exactly, so in retrospect this may not even be worth it. He did know that these guys had good weapons, but were they like Oppinsaur weapons?
The best time to attack would be as soon as possible, but Dark Ace was still too weak. There was no way he was going to jump into the middle of some kind of feud without his team mate watching his back.
He had told Dark Ace about it, who was just as enthusiastic to go after the stuff as he was. He could always count on him to want to dive head first into danger and the chance to kill. It was probably a bad influence really, he kinda needed Piper to say 'no follow my plan it's safer and way less stupid.'
Piper would have a brilliant plan within ten minutes, five if Finn wasn't bothering her. Aerrow dragged the pen along the paper and wrote in thick capital letters; WHAT THE FUCK DO WE DO?
The next thing he knew, the sound of bare feet traipsing down the wooden stairs broke his weak thought process. He looked over to find Dark Ace coming down with a blanket wrapped around him, the IV had been pulled out again, but he did look a tad healthier.
"If you wanted something you could have just called down," Aerrow said.
"I'm feeling better and bored," was all he answered as he sat down at the table with him. Aerrow quickly flipped another page on the notebook so he couldn't see his the embarrassing struggle, but Dark Ace wasn't even looking. He was sat on the chair side ways, and his eyes were glued to the floor. He looked incredibly thoughtful, and his hand was fidgeting with the edge of the table.
"You OK?" The redhead asked, to which he snapped out of his trail of thought and caught his gaze. He nodded, but his eyes were elsewhere like he was still considering something.
"You really risk your life to save me?"
"Of course I did, and I know you don't seem to like it, but I would do it again for you."
Dark Ace's head craned down, he closed his eyes, and smiled with acceptance. "Then, I guess in actuality, I do owe you one...partner." Aerrow tilted his head, what the hell did he mean by that?
Now the older man couldn't bring himself to look at his teenage friend. This was as daunting a task as the time he gave up the Storm Hawk pendant.
"Head upstairs and get that photo, the one of the woman by herself."
"Huh?" Aerrow raised his eyebrows with surprise. That was unexpected.
"Just do it."
As requested, the Storm Hawk went to the bedroom and retrieved the photograph. The woman in it had a smile so heart warming it could be used for anger management. He brought it back down and offered it to the Dark Ace, however he didn't take it.
"I really didn't ever expect to have this conversation with you Aerrow. But, you have a right, and I'd be pretty pissed off if someone kept it from me."
Aerrow held the picture, holding it tightly without even knowing. "What are you talking about?"
Dark Ace swallowed hard then gave all of his attention to the boy. "That's your mother." Aerrow's expression dropped, his eyes widened and his mouth unhinged, his eyebrows came together as he tried to process the words and fully understand them.
His lips moved, but no words came out, emerald finally dropped down on the woman's face again, and after that he couldn't pull them away. "...Why?..." he whispered.
"Why do I have it?" Dark Ace guessed, his legs were jittering. "She was my mother too."
"Wait so we're-"
"Not brothers, not literally anyway." The older man swallowed again, as he tried to fish out the memories he'd thrown away so many years ago. "I was adopted, before you were born. Ahh fuck I can't believe I'm actually doing this," his face met his hand as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I just, I thought you ought to know OK? You deserve to know her. Fuck she deserves it as well."
The stone cold fact that he was staring at his actual mother right now was all he could think.
But soon he began to wonder, How could he?
The teenager pursed his lips and tried not to get too emotional. He finally looked over at his apparantly adopted brother and saw that he appeared just as sensitive. "Did you?...I mean she was a Storm Hawk right?"
The seriousness sparked back into Dark Ace, and he suddenly looked up at Aerrow with offense, "No Aerrow. I betrayed the Storm Hawks. But I never lay a hand on her."
"Then where is she?" After everything, the redhead trusted this man with his life, but the Cyclonian wasn't a saint, he could easily be lying.
The older man's tender side was beginning to show, as he progressed deeper into the past. "Gone. Before I did, what I did." Declaring that he was responsible for the old Storm Hawks deaths, suddenly didn't seem like such a trophy statement anymore. Not when the son of Lightning Strike was a like a friend to him now.
Aerrow's thumb brushed his mother's face like he had done with Piper's picture, "Then how did she die?"
"I'm not sure."
"How can you not know?" Aerrow snapped.
"She'd had an arguement with your father and ran off. The next thing we heard, she was gone. I don't even know if it was an accident or," his voice trailed off like he didn't want to consider the other possibilities.
"What were they arguing about?" The teen inquired.
Dark Ace looked away, "Does it matter?"
"They were my parents Dark Ace, so yeah I'd like to know."
The Cyclonian hesitated for a minute, his pupils shifting from side to side, "Me, I'd done something and your father wanted to punish me severly, because, I guess I deserved it."
Emerald were fixed sharply on the Dark Ace, he held a stern look, "Youre lying."
Surprised he retorted with "How can you say that? You dont even know me!"
"Youre lying," he said again.
Dark Ace really had no idea what to say or how to get out of this conversation. He shuffled on his seat and adjusted the blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
Aerrow sighed feeling exhausted, then asked "What was she like?"
Unaware, an innocent smile curled on Dark Ace's face, it was an expression he couldn't help but wear when he thought about his mother. "She..." he was dumbfounded, couldn't think where to begin. "She was exactly what a mother should be. She loved you. So much. So fucking much."
The teen felt a little ashamed to ask, as if the next question should be a universal factor that everyone should know. "What should a mother be like?"
The Talon's chest twinged like someone was jabbing needles into it, as he began to dwell on the sad truth. Aerrow had been too young to remember her warmth, her voice, he'd been too young to even know what having a mother felt like.
"A mother. Well your mother, was the one person who loved you better than anyone else." The joyful tingle that accompanied the memories of her came flooding back.
"If I was upset, the second she held me I felt better. That was the kind of power she had." He took a deep breath, which suddered as he exhaled. "She didn't scold, she guided. She was the kind of person who apologised for putting too much syrup on pancakes. And she had this smile which reminded you that the world isn't entirely fucked up." His eyes steered over to the frame, even though he couldn't see the picture, "I still look at her when I need that reminder. That's what she was like with me, and that's what she was like with you."
"This is...unbelievable."
"Look Aerrow we've been through a lot together, and I've come to realise that you're not some arrogant prick." Aerrow managed a snigger, you're one to talk. " You're alright. You saved my life for christ sake. But after all this is over we must return to our sides, and if I don't tell you now you'd never know. I guess I'd feel pretty guilty about that."
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Well there you go another chapter of new war! Please pretty please review if you're enjoying the fic.
