Bitter Place in a Broken Dream C1
A/N: The idea for this fic came from listening to a song (the usual), and was fleshed out during the constant boring work. Started writing this instead of the other fics because I was stuck with the others...
It is a 4 part story of one of my favourite pairing: Black triangle, Rusamechu.
"Welcome to my historical research class, please drill this into your head that this is counted towards your year end result, so do not take this lightly. I shall boldly assume that every single one of you have already found a partner of the opposite kind prior to this lesson. Anyone who does not have one, please let me know immediately. Anybody? No? Great. We shall start with the introduction; you can call me Miss Kay, and by the time you graduate from this class, you will learn how to evaluate the qualities of information sources, such as its validity, reliability, and its relevance to its subject. You will learn to interpret the facts and express skepticism, explaining the cause of the events and their effects in the present events. Today we will start with the history of winged people and the magic wielders, please turn to page 2."
Wang Yao was sitting at the top of the lecture hall, his hands prodding up his head as his eyes slowly blurring off to sleep. The lecturer's vigorous voice command attention but as she started droning on and on about things that he have already learnt last year, he finally couldn't stand it anymore. A massive pair of wings as white as snow that extend out from his shoulder blade started drooping lower and lower, until they are almost touching the floor. A hand reaches out and grab the tip of wings, pulling it up. The tug woke Yao up with a startle and he glance to his side, irritated.
"That hurts, what do you want Alfred." He whispered, annoyed.
"Your wings are touching the floor." The man beside him complain. His bright blue eyes behind the thin spectacles frame look up and down at Yao in disdain at his ungratefulness.
"Is it?" Yao mumbled in surprised, he turned around, spreading his wings a little, grab it upwards and tuck it into the seat instead. "These chairs are so not wing friendly." He commented.
"I'm bored." Alfred mumbled, looking over at Yao expectantly.
"Tell me about it." Yao replied. "What should we eat for lunch tomorrow?"
"Hmm… Burgers?"
"Again?"
"We did not eat them today."
"Yeah, but we ate them yesterday."
"I want to play basketball…."
"Stop changing the subject, Alfred…."
"Fine. Pizzas?"
"Again?"
"We did not eat them yesterday."
"But we ate them today."
"This is hard." Alfred concluded. "How can the two of us, top in our respective class, be stumped by a question like this. This is indeed life's hardest question."
Wang Yao let out a sigh, rolling his eyes till he swear he could see his brain. If Alfred is not his neighbor, childhood friend and the top of the magic wielder's class, he would definitely not have chosen him as his partner for this combined class. "Guess we can have noodles for tomorrow's lunch then."
"Fine. Noodles it is."
Turning the pages on the book as told, Yao points to a picture of magic wielder with a pair of thick eyebrows and spectacles and said: "Hey Alfred, doesn't this dude looks like you?"
Alfred spun around and glance at his book, then looking back at Yao, he quickly flip through his own book and quickly found a picture of winged people with torn out feathers and said: "Hey Yao, imagine this happening to your wings?"
The teasing made the lessons a bit more bearable and soon enough the bell rang.
"Yes!" Alfred let out, holding out his fists in a victorious pose. Then he quickly dump his stationaries and books into his sling bag.
"Finally!" Yao let out as well, quickly swiping everything on the table into his bag pack.
"Alfred, Wang Yao. Come down here." Miss Kay called out.
The two boys look at each other, eyes wide and then silently blaming each other for this. They went down, stood side by side facing her.
"I understand you are both top in your classes, but I do not appreciate that the two of you are talking and giggling like little children, it is disrupting the class, do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Kay. We won't do it next time." Yao replied apologetically, bowing, and rolling his eyes when she can't see his face. He straighten up with a smile on his face.
"Yeah. Sorry." Alfred mumbled, giving her his charming 100-megawatt toothy grin.
"Help me take these to my office." She instructed, directing their gaze to the 3 boxes fully filled with papers. Wang Yao's eyes almost pop out of his socket at this blatant demand, he went over and lifted one up.
Heavy… he thought.
Alfred begrudgingly went over and carried the other two boxes each under his arms and started climbing up towards the exit, Yao followed after.
"How the hell can you carry so much?" Yao complain as they walk down the corridor.
"I go to the gym." Alfred replied.
"Ah, whatever."
"You know Yao, I learnt in biology that the winged peoples are defected magic wielders, that they are very powerful and unique magic wielders when they are still in the wombs, but when the magic becomes too much to be contained, and threaten to destabilize the mother and itself, it will trigger a circuit breaker where wings start to form instead of more magic. The magic within them can no longer be used by wing people when they are born after. However, they do form a naturally higher resistance towards magic.
"Shutdup. I studied physics, not biology."
"Yao. My point is… Maybe somewhere along the way, while you are still a baby, the magic inside kind of fried your brain."
"Do you believe me if I say I will smack you?"
Alfred slowly fasten his pace, and then suddenly, he started running along the corridor, swerving in between the crowd of students pouring out from classes to go home. Yao chased after him, slightly slower as his wings kept hitting other people.
They finally reached the office, but it was shut. They kept pressing the bell, but no teacher came out to let them in, Alfred and Yao took turns and peek through the tiny glass window on the door. There was no one in sight.
"What the hell? Where's that Miss Kay? Where are all the teachers?" Yao complains, groaning as he lean on the wall.
"Yeah…. I want to play basketball." Alfred whined. "Can I just leave them here while you wait instead?"
"No."
"But- "
"No. If you're gonna leave then you better pay me back the money you owed me last week."
Alfred scowled.
"I haven't added the ones you borrowed this week." Yao gave a good-natured smile with a hint of a poorly disguised taunt in it.
"Ahh, come on. You're my bro yo. Of course, I'm gonna stay here. And wait. What is basketball compared to the bro code?" Alfred declared.
Wang Yao roll his eyes and took out his phone, he is scrolling through his social media and looking through the news when his eyes caught one.
BREAKING NEWS: ANOTHER WINGED PEOPLE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR APARTMENT – A serial killer dubbed by the netizens as "The Arsonist" is suspected to be involved in this murder. Investigations is ongoing.
"Alfred. There's another dead from the arsonist." Yao commented, scrolling through his phone for more information. "What's the whole story? I know you follow these kinds of stuff."
"OH… The Arsonist? Yes of course! What do you want to know?"
"Uhh… Everything. I didn't really follow this arsonist's news."
"Okay, prep yourself because it's going to be a long story."
"Make it short, thanks."
"Tch…." Alfred replied, giving Yao a disgruntled look. "Long story short, I have read that this arsonist is a magic wielder and have started killing winged people around 3 to 4 years ago all around the world. The clairvoyants working for the police forces are only able to recognise that they are all strangely linked to one person's action, but they are unable to pinpoint the location and identity of this person. The internet dubbed this serial killer as the arsonist because he only kills winged people, and he only kill them in an extremely specific way: by burning them alive through an immensely powerful magic fire. The police cannot trace the magic signatures to anybody in the database. And do you know what's the most intriguing part?" Alfred explains with earnest enthusiasm.
"What?"
"I have read on the forums and somebody who studies the ancient texts have pointed out that burning winged people with magic fire is a way to create an entity called the phoenix."
"And that the hell is that?"
"The phoenix is an entity that will set everything ablaze and consume everything in this world. This arsonist is trying to bring about the destruction of this world."
"Right….. I see you haven't lost your appetite for all these conspiracy theories."
"Hey… You're the one who asked me." Alfred complained indignantly. "Besides, if you think about it, winged people have such high magic resistant so to kill a winged people through just magic fire alone, how much magic must a magic wielder have."
Yao shrugged.
The two boys stood outside waiting for an exceedingly long time, they did think of just leaving the stuff outside, but they can't risk their reputation in this school. Every single point count towards the year end result. It is an awfully long time before Miss Kay came rushing over.
"I am deeply sorry boys, something serious cropped up. You can leave now. No, No, wait. Just wait here. It's getting late, I better ask Mr. Smith to send you two home." Miss Kay panted out with worried expression.
"Nah, no worries. We live near each other, so we will be going back together." Alfred reassure.
"No. You guys stay here. I'll be back soon."
"No, it's really okay. Uhh.. My parent's will be coming to bring us home. I mean, they called and asked." Yao quickly adds on.
"Really? I supposed that's okay. Alright, get back home quickly." Miss Kay said, before rushing off again. "And stay safe."
"Miss Kay! What about all these boxes!?"
"Just.. Just leave'em there!" she shouted back.
"What the hell?" Yao complained. "She made us wait here for 4 hours, only to tell us to leave it here."
"I'm famished." Alfred replied, a little worn out from the prolonged waiting.
"You only think of food, don't you?" Yao retorted, and then his stomach growled, slapping his own face from the irony.
"Right. I'm the only one." Alfred commented. "Let's go. Your parent's coming right? Can they stop us near the burger joint before we reach home?"
"Can't you see that I lied?"
"What? We could have gotten a free ride home!"
"What if she takes another 4 hours again, I don't have that much time to spare. I want to go home and play my games. It only take like 30mins for us to walk back home."
"You have a point, let's go to the burger joint. I really need food."
"Move it then." Yao urged Alfred to walk first. The two boys walked out, down the stairs and walk out of the school, turning right and walking down along the cobble path, they soon find themselves walking down the residential areas where rows and rows of alleyway surround their left and right that all lead down to a maze amongst the tall buildings.
"Francis live among these buildings. One of the blocks just down here if I recall, the one nearer to this main cobble path. I wonder how people living in the more inside area is going to navigate through. Imagine getting lost in here while going home." Alfred commented, looking in like a busybody down each alleyway they passed by.
"You're really nosy, don't you realise it?"
"Oh yeah… It almost slipped my mind. I have something for you." Alfred stuck in hands into his bag and started rummaging through, and he pulled out a round, transparent crystal ball attached securely to a bracelet and a clasp. "Here. I made this."
"What's this?" Yao knitted his brow, scrunching his face at Alfred's gift.
"This is a charm dude. I learnt how to do it in class, it is of healing nature. I even added the incantations of invoking the magic abilities that is lying dormant in winged people." Alfred said smugly.
"What kind of bullshit are you sprouting again this time?"
"Serious dude. I was reading it online that the incantations works." Alfred reassures.
"I don't trust you honestly." Yao squint his eyes at the blondie beside him.
"Even if the incantations don't work, the healing in this charm do work okay. I really learnt it in class. It's a legit thing. Just take it."
"Why are you being extra pushy today?"
Alfred kept quiet. Then after a while he said: "You should start listening to more news you know? That murder case you showed me earlier was the 4th one in the past 3 months. That serial killer is starting to kill people in our state, and…. You're a winged people, Yao. Whose gonna pay for my food if you're really gone."
"Awwww…." Yao let out teasingly, nudging at the Alfred with his face looking away from Yao. "Somebody cares about me. I'm so touched."
"Just wear it."
"Fine, fine." Yao tried the bracelet on. It fit just perfectly around his wrist, and the crystal reflected the evening sun rays into a beautiful rainbow. "This is pretty. But you do know that magic really doesn't have much effect on us."
Alfred suddenly stops as they are passing by another alleyway. He look into the way in, any expression slowly drained from his face, replaced with knitted brows of worrisome bewilderment. Wang Yao took a few steps backwards to line himself beside him, looking at Alfred's face then back into the alleyway he asked: "What's wrong?"
"I felt a faint burst of magic from inside. Somebody's screaming."
"Let's just go home, Alfred." Wang Yao muttered; lulling sense of foreboding tells him that something dangerous might happen.
"Somebody needs our help." Alfred said, and he start running into the alleyway.
"Hey! Alfred. No! Don't run in." Yao shouted, and run after him, worried. Alfred run, to the left, to the right and left again, and they are surrounded by walls and gates with doors shut and bolted tightly. Dried and barely alive potted plants placed sparsely along the way. He look all around him again, sweat started spotting across his forehead, sliding down his face. His spectacles slide down his high nose bridge as he slowly look around him again. This spot felt somewhat hotter than the other area, and he could feel the faint pulsing of magic energies in the air, but there is nothing his eyes could see.
"What is wrong with you, you blockhead." Yao panted as he finally caught up with Alfred, bending over catching his breath as his hands lean on his knee.
"Don't you feel that it's hot here?"
"Yeah? So?"
"Every magic is a code, and every code have a weakness even if they are everchanging. I just need to find the right timing, and the right key, and everything will falls apart." Alfred explains excitedly to Yao.
"What?"
"UNVEIL." Alfred shouted, releasing a film of magic on his palm, he lifted his arms and pull apart.
Much to their horror, like a thick sound-proof veil being lifted apart, a loud, distressing high pitch scream can be heard, increasing in volume as Alfred's arms pull apart the magic veil that was used to cover a crime scene. A tall figure in trench coat, white turtleneck clothes, winter boots, thick scarf and gloves stood with its back facing them, light turfs of silvery blond hair is seen on the head half hidden by the scarf. Ominous, icy mist creeps came off from his feet, crawling on the ground around the scene, its arms are outstretch facing another person on the ground, coiling like a fiery snake from its elbow to its fingers are thick energies of magical fire bursting forth, burning, and melting the person below.
"Help!" the voice cried out below screaming in agony. A child no more than 15 crawl her way upwards, trying to get away from the fire. The wings on her back, initially her only protection against the magic, slowly started to blacken and curl from the onslaught of fire; the flesh on her wings split open and as she scream from the pain.
"Take her and run!" Yao ordered, slapping Alfred out from the shock as he ran towards the figure.
"What about you!?"
"I can fly."
Alfred look at Wang Yao running pass and tackling the figure down onto the ground. Quickly, Alfred sprinted pass them wrestling on the ground and scoop up the girl on the floor.
Wang Yao met eyes with figure as it turns around facing him. He sees a pair of lilac eyes peeking out from scarf. "Call the police. He's the serial killer!" Yao shouted as he continued to cling on tightly onto the arsonist's thigh. The serial killer grab hold onto Yao's hair and tear him apart from himself, he kick again and again to be freed.
"Yao?" Alfred muttered as he held the girl looking back.
"Run Alfred, run please!" Yao shouted in desperation, annoyed that Alfred is not focusing on doing the right thing.
The serial killer turned his attention back to Alfred. Yao could see the change in expression underneath the scarf. The serial killer raise his other hand and aim at Alfred, a burst of blackish-pink energy gathered quickly and blasted off in his direction. Wang Yao let go of the thigh and reach out grabbing the outstretch arms. He is too late; the energy went off from the killer's arm before Yao managed to pin it down. It hit Alfred, Yao turned around and saw. It fizzled on the surface of Alfred and the girl; it was quickly absorbed into their body. Alfred continued running off with the kid in his arms.
He should be alright. He will be alright. He will be. Yao thought, his heart beating with fear, bating breath sniffling with agitation. He would bring help.
The killer pulled hid hair with another bout of strength, Yao quickly grab hold onto his waist and held on. The man pull out his other hands grab hold onto the arch on Yao's wings and press his thumb in between. A cold, dull and heavy pain shot through his wings, but Yao knew that letting go means death and he held onto the man even more tightly, grabbing hold onto his coat, or whatever, anything as long as it means the man doesn't have a chance to be free.
The messy struggle messed up both of their attire, and the scarf was pulled apart. The face looking back at Yao was young, and calm, with that eerie lilac eyes staring intently back at him. Wang Yao's hair, free from the ponytail, clump in knots and tangles onto the man's icy fingers.
"Why are you doing this? You're gonna get caught." Yao grunted as his head was forcibly held upwards.
The man's brow draws together, and as though he have been playing around with Yao, the arm grabbing hold onto his wings started coalescing energies again, Yao could start feeling the heat slowly creeping onto his feathers, layer by layer, slowly eating through until he could smell the burning feathers.
Aggrieved, indignant, and fearful tears creep around Yao's eyes as he continue looking back at this man he is holding on. Words of anger slipped out of his trembling lips: "How could you do this to me!? How could you…. It's not fair."
The man look back coldly.
The pain from the burn finally got through, a sudden weakness from the strain and the pain finally allow the man to pull Yao apart from him. The man stood up, looking his two fists left to right, a layer of frost creeps through his coat and upwards, covering it. Then with another burst of energy even a winged people like Yao could feel, it burst into a brilliant flame.
Wang Yao sat up and look up at the man and his flames. He could feel his body trembling as he stare at him. Unwittingly, he moved slowly, in fear, backwards. His fight instincts was exhausted and taken over by his flight.
I can't just die here, it's not fair. he thought, looking at the flames.
One.
Two.
Three.
Wang Yao counted, and he tried to sprint. But the man caught hold onto the tip of his wing, he pulled him back, his fingers burning with every touch on Yao's skin. He grab hold onto his arms, and it burns his skin. He pulled his hair, and they dissolve at his fingers.
I'm sorry. Yao vaguely heard. He feel the magical fire burning through his entire being, the shock of the crippling affliction sends him reeling in indignant anger, why should he die in a dirty, back alley to a disgusting serial killer. The charm around his wrist restore his skin and flesh as much as a charm could, the only relief Yao could depend on to keep his conscious.
Just a little more and you'll be fine. Yao kept lying to himself, over and over as each second passes by.
Blindness ensues, and his world plunged into darkness. A wave of relief suddenly awash his body, Wang Yao felt afraid, he is afraid that this relief is a liar, trying to cheat him out of this world. Then he started feeling a pain from the pit of his being that he have never felt before, as though it's a punishment for him not believing in the relief. This painful energy surge out, out of his mouth, his nose, ears, and eyes, he felt stretch out, like he could burst any second now. There's a creeping itch, that slowly stretch all over his skin, it felt like he is shedding. He took a deep breath and as the air fill his lungs and slowly slip out of his mouth, the last of his unwavering consciousness slip together too.
The fire stopped as the man let down his arms.
He pulled the scarf down and a small smile tug the corner of his lips, the pair of lilac eyes brighten at the sight before him. He look up at the darkening skies above them, the clouds layered up against each other is reflecting a soft pink from the setting sun, it was never warm before even when the sun was up for him.
The streetlights is not yet opened, and the alleyway is quiet and dark. The man lowered his body and he kneel down before Yao, "Your name is Yao?" he asked at the unconscious body, gingerly, he reaches out and lightly brushes his fingers against the skin glowing a beautiful soft pink underneath. Wang Yao's body look as good as new, as though the burning did not take place at all. His once snow white wings have shed into a brilliant shade of golden and red that radiate warmth. The man is smitten at the sight, he picked Wang Yao up and coddled him on his lap, placing him against his chest, he embraced this stranger, feeling warmth for the first time for many years.
He pulled apart and wrapping his scarf around Yao's neck. He picked him up bridal style and walked down the alleyway with his creation in his arms. The man continued walking, loud sirens blaring from police car parked themselves in a distant as people gathered all around to see the commotion. He saw in the distant crowded by police and medics is the same boy called Alfred from before, he is in a dazed. Suddenly, he lifted his eyes up and met eyes with him. Then Alfred's worried expression moved elsewhere.
"Ah, what a beautiful pair of wings." A magic wielder old lady beside the man commented as she look at Yao's wing just hanging slightly outside of his arms.
"Thank you." The man smiled, moving his arms to hold Yao closer to himself.
"Is this beautiful dearie okay?" the old lady asked, peeking into the scarf trying to see Yao's face.
"Of course, Mam, he's just tired. I don't want to wake him up." the man replied, looking back, waiting for the old lady to look up into his eyes. When she did, the pair of lilac eyes flashed into soot black. "And mam, you will be going home soon won't you?"
"Of course." The old lady replied, hypnotized, she turned around and walked down the road.
The man look down at the Yao again, smiling, he rub his cheek against contently against his forehead and continue his way in the opposite direction.