"You know, you look much more approachable without some of those piercings." She said, running a finger gently over his ear, feeling the tips were definitely natural, the cartilage just curving sharply.
He hummed, turning his head only for her to giggle and use a hand to push it back. "Why can't I turn my head?" He asked, it turning to a whine. "I like my piercings. Do you? Like them, I mean."
She smiled softly at his blush before getting a rotten idea, her smile turning into a mischievous smirk.
Placing one hand against his chest to keep him still, the other caressing his cheek, she leaned so close to his ear she could feel the heat from his blush. "They're a little distracting, but I do. It makes me curious as to what the cold metal would feel against my tongue with the added taste of you."
He blushed hard, eyes wide and covering his face. "You! My-my Dear, y-y-you can't SAY things like that!" He tried sitting up, his head having been in her lap.
She had been on the hammock and he was sitting in front of her with his head in her lap, they were watching more 80's movies, but then began talking, his head having leaned back between her thighs so he could look up at her.
But as he went to move his head, she clamped her thighs against his head, the blush on his face darkening. She grinned rottenly, her snickering to hide the blush of her own. "Don't leave me now, Di~ssy."
She asked breathlessly, on purpose.
She swore his eyes grew darker but the blush became hotter, and he bent his knees to his chest, letting out a deep, long whine. "Whyyy? My Dear, you'll be the death of me. You do realize most of the things I'd get in trouble for is YOUR fault?"
She stuck her tongue out at him, giggling. "Yes. But I can't help it, it's fun. It's your fault for being so sweet to me."
He covered his face with one hand, since he couldn't move his head.
She calmed, getting an impulse. She ran her fingers up his chest, feeling the heart hammering away like beating to music, and once her fingers reached his face, she took a nail and ran it along his bottom lip, causing him to peek at her from between his fingers.
"Maybe I should stop being sweet then."
She smiled fondly. "You won't."
He scoffed, about to defend himself when she cut him off, running her thumb against his cheekbone. "You won't...because you never meant to in the first place."
He made a choked noise, but didn't say more, knowing she was right.
Fluttershy wasn't sure where they were and Discord hadn't woken up. She could only guess he'd need a transfusion. The wound had been large, making him lose a large amount of blood and fast.
Feeling for her phone while she rested his head on her lap, she was glad to see she had it.
The battery was low and she had no service. She'd forgotten to charge it when she got home earlier.
She shook, only because now she was afraid. The room was dark, everything was too quiet. Discord hadn't woken or shown any signs except for the rise and fall of his chest, he was breathing.
Why?
Was it because she allowed herself to be consumed by anger? Problem was, under her grief, she was fueled with unbridled fury, knowing they ganged up on him. He could've killed them.
She could only assume he left them alive because they were close to Fluttershy.
"You...you sweet dumbass."
She heard footsteps getting louder and she froze still. Her grip on Discord tightened, her hunching over the top half of his body. Her eyes didn't leave in front of her, her nerves tight like guitar strings. Only when she moved her leg, did she feel the gun in her pocket, her having put it there when she decided to use the knife.
As quietly as she could, since she heard the steps slow, she checked to make sure there was bullets and the safety was off.
She tried keeping her breathing normal, but because of her anxiety, it came out shuddered.
The steps stopped. She held her breath, eyes wide. Upon hearing the knob (apparently they were in a room) turn, she held the gun up, deciding to shoot once she saw who it was.
She fought the urge to clench her eyes shut when the click of a switch was turned on, bathing the room in light.
On automatic, she shot the gun, the bullet landing next to the person's head. She let out her breath and began panting. "Y-you! W-w-why are we here? Where's here?"
"I thought I felt that wretch's presence. Don't ask me "why" you're here. Hm...lose a lot of blood, did he? Reckless fool, is what that defect is." Accord straightened his glove, looking unamused.
She began calming, but only a fraction. She really hated how they looked so similar but also not similar. "Why did he bring us here and not a hospital then? I-I know he-" her throat choked up, "I know he lost a lot of blood, but he had to know-know where he was sending us."
Accord seemed to think for a moment. "Hospitals wouldn't have his blood type there anyway, so he would've died soon after. Move." Accord walked over, unafraid of the gun.
She stayed hunched over Discord, protectingly, searching Accord's eyes for any sign. "You're not going to kill him?"
Accord rolled his eyes. "As I told you, it's not entertaining if he's invalid. I know you won't be able to lift him, so move. He needs blood, right?"
Fluttershy still shook, but decided Discord's life meant more to her than not taking the risk. She moved, standing up, her knees still a mess.
Accord bent down, not handling Discord gently at all. But he could lift him, of which she was grateful. She followed, almost on Accord's heels.
After some silence, the sound of their shoes the only noise, she looked around. They were quite a few stories up, the building they were in, tall. They passed numbered rooms, though the hall looked old and abandoned, through lower windows, she saw those were nicer. "Where are we?"
Accord sighed. "You both are here, at SCALE."
He didn't say more, so instead of pushing her luck, since they were at his mercy, she took it for whatever it was. "You lied to me that night. I don't mean when you tricked me." She brought up, figuring now would be appropriate.
He looked down to her. "What thing did I lie about?"
She glared. "About the medication. It just-just...fucks with his head more."
He snorted, her surprised at his proper demeanor dropping slightly, he looked like Discord when he snorts. "No, I did not. The brief time where he becomes...apathetic, I suppose is a word you could use. He becomes sane for awhile after, doesn't he?"
She went to argue, but stopped to think. He WAS sane, for those 2 weeks they were home after, though she wasn't sure what he was like at work, so time frame between, she wasn't sure about. She didn't even think about it. "Then why does he hate taking it?"
Accord rolled his eyes. "Don't ask me that. I'm unfortunately his twin but that doesn't mean I know everything."
A thought occurred to her. "Is that why you can't kill him easily?"
He sent her a cold glare. "No, it is not. Fighting, we are similar. But I have orders and unlike the defect, I plan to follow them."
She scrunched her brow, but when she heard others, she glanced, seeing some people dressed like doctors.
"Doctor," Accord addressed, "gather me the mutant's blood type. He needs it if he is to fulfill his place."
The doctor nodded, running off. Accord entered the room, Fluttershy following still close behind.
Inside, it looked like an infirmary, but a lot more advanced than the one at Discord's work. Accord went to a operating bed and not so gently let Discord fall on the bed. He straightened his clothes, rolling his shoulders. Fluttershy wasn't going to complain about Accord's handling of Discord, mainly because she was grateful he was even helping.
He roughly pulled her out of the way when the doctor came back, giving them space.
After she saw they indeed hooked blood bags to an I.V. and began the transfusion, he gripped her arm harshly, pulling her out. She fought it, until he spoke. "There is someone who would like to see you. Now would be best while that clown is passed out."
She glared, pulling her arm from his grip. She knew she'd have bruises. He crinkled his nose at her. "How do I know this isn't to kill me? Who wants to see me?"
He sighed, obviously not liking her questions. "You will have to see, so shut your blabbering yap before I staple it shut."
She went quiet.
It was quiet as they went down an elevator to a middle floor. He pushed her forward, walking behind her, back straight.
It was a beautiful area. The carpet was red velvet. Gold accented around. Almost Rococo in style.
They walked for a long time, until she saw large wood doors with small detailed carvings of gold in the wood. Two burly looking bodyguards stood outside it.
Upon seeing Accord, they immediately moved. She was getting nervous. This was a nice area. There were bodyguards with giant guns just outside the doors. Who was Accord taking her to?
Her heart was leaping with nerves. But, she was surprised to see a garden, with an outside patio on the other side of the room. Inside was a large table with chairs, looking like a meeting table, and the patio had beautiful plants, herbs, even some vegetation. From outside, a large brimmed sun hat in her hand, a woman entered. Her hair was up, but the coloring was familiar.
She was also tall, lanky, wide hips with small breasts and a black dress. She looked behind herself, not realizing they were there, a large, clear quartz, identical to Accord's and Discord's, moving about. It was on the left.
"Good job with my hair, Sweetie. Mind watering those for me?"
She didn't startle when she looked forward, though.
Fluttershy's breath caught, a sliver of fear settling in her spine.
The woman walked to a plush lounge chair, taking a drink from her cup before addressing them. Accord stayed silent, so she would too.
"So...you're the child causing Hell around here?" The woman's voice was smooth and soft, but loud. She didn't sound angry.
Fluttershy cleared her throat, realizing she was being addressed. "I'm afraid I'm unsure of what you mean."
Accord snorted, obviously not believing her. The woman side glanced Accord, then took out a smoke. "You beat up Rutherford and have been giving Rich a Hell of a time. Don't worry, I'll have Starlight work upstairs to make sure you won't get in trouble for assaulting a soldier in broad daylight and threatening his wife."
Fluttershy froze. "How did-"
The woman puffed out smoke. "I have eyes everywhere. Now...care to tell me the reason for your blatant disregard for how things are run?" She spoke evenly.
Fluttershy took a deep breath and straightened, not quite able to look The Madame in the eye. "M-Madame. I can't allow things to run how they are."
She hummed. "So instead of going back to your mundane life, you decide to cause a mutiny? Revenge does not become a sweet thing like yourself. Though...you're NOT so sweet anymore, are you? Hmm... I wonder." She looked to Accord, him seeming to know what she wanted and walked to the garden, coming back a moment later with a tall lanky blonde dressed nice with a dirty apron.
The woman looked to the boy and pointed to Fluttershy.
Cerise eyes locked to her's and her heart stopped, his own face looking shocked.
Fluttershy shook with tears clouding her vision as she ran forward, wrapping him in a hug. "Zephyr...I'm so sorry. I-I thought you were gone. If-if I would've-"
She could hear the tears more so than see them, Zephyr cutting her off. "It's-its alright now. I...Rich said he-he did terrible stuff to you before killing you, so I should behave better than you did. Then-then The Madame came by and took me! I...I've done so bad, Shy. Please forgive me." He began to cry.
Fluttershy nodded. "Me too, Zephyr. Me too."
Zephyr pulled away at the woman snapping her fingers. Fluttershy held tight to his hand, but Zephyr just smiled. "It's okay, Shy. I'll be right there." He pointed to next to Accord.
She got up as well, both siblings wiping their tears away. Something still sat weird in her stomach. "Why're you helping me without knowing me?"
The Madame thought briefly. "Amusement, maybe? Curiosity? Understanding?"
Fluttershy furrowed her brows. "What do you mean, 'understanding'?"
Another puff of smoke. "I was a lot like you once. Discordant should be waking soon. Accordant. Go see and fetch him."
Accord nodded, walking out.
Fluttershy still felt on edge. "So you think it's okay how this World is? Not just the Underground."
Blazing yellow eyes locked to her's. "It evens out, so yes. Unfortunately...you've shown up. So, move on. Graduate, find work, all the fun, mundane things a young woman wants."
There was something strange about her and Fluttershy couldn't pin it. She seemed helpful and reasonable, but something was off. Zephyr didn't seem frightened but he stood still, straight, like Accord. "I'd like my brother back, please."
The Madame looked slightly taken aback. "No."
Fluttershy bristled. "Why not?"
Another puff of smoke. "It's stable and I'm pretty sure he's safer here. So, once Discordant wakes, both of you leave."
Panic washed over her. "No. Zephyr is my brother and I want him back."
The Madame rose a brow. "No? I'm giving you a warning. And besides, Zephyr likes it here. Don't you?" She looked to Zephyr.
He seemed unsure how to answer. He looked apologetic to Fluttershy. "I'm sorry, Shy. I...I'm safe here. And The Madame has a remedy to help with the addiction problem I have after-after all-all THAT."
Fluttershy felt conflicted, her throat clenching. She understood, but she didn't want to abandon him.
"You wouldn't be abandoning me." He added, like he read her mind.
"See? Since you know your brother is safe and well, leave. Live your life. Become normal again. Leave my World be." The Madame said.
Fluttershy glared, but her eyes caught something from above. 'Snipers?'
She ground her teeth.
Hiking her shoulders, she stormed over, The Madame not moving a muscle.
She knew why when Zephyr got in front of Fluttershy, arms out. "Shy. Please. Just go."
Zephyr was safe, supposedly. He was healthy. So why did the thought of leaving him, frighten her?
The doors opened and in came Discord and Accord. Discord's arms were wrapped.
He walked over, only to lift Fluttershy from her waist.
"Discord! Let go. Let...go..."
When she looked to Zephyr again, his head was turned away, brows furrowed.
Her throat clenched more. She went silent as Discord carried her out. Carried her home. The moment the heavy doors to the SCALES mansion closed, she broke into sobs, clenching onto Discord, her feelings too much to process.
He stayed quiet, though he did rub her back, humming a tune.
"We have a lot to tell Chrissy and Sombra."
She let out watery chuckles. "They're gonna separate us since we're always getting into something."
He chuckled deeply. "Maybe. Though, I would like to sleep like I was planning, with you pinned under my arm."
She laughed breathlessly, tears still running but slowing. She sniffled. "You sure you don't mean pinned under your body?"
He stumbled, all the new blood flooding to his face as he blushed deeply. "Quit that talk, my Dear."
She chuckled into his shoulder, him having moved how she was held. "Only when it stops working."
He hummed. "Very well. Then I guess I should start building an immunity or...it's going to be quite a few long years."
She smiled against his shoulder.
Zephyr was safe. She knew where he was. Discord was alive, joking about. He was there with her. Zephyr said he was happy there. She understood, because she could only guess it was similar to how she felt with her housemates. Almost.
She frowned.
Then what was this still burning rage she still was feeling? She still...she still wanted this World to be eradicated. She was still angry.
Where did all this rage in her heart come from?