Chapter 19: Fuckin' Hate Me Already!!
If there was a day for it to rain, it would definitely be this one. With the events that had transpired not even a few days ago, everyone was feeling nothing but confusion and anxiety.With not only I.M.P. being destroyed, but also Stolas's house being attacked and broken into, the sensation of hopelessness was evident. It was as if there was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. Luckily, however, after everything had happened, Charlie was kind enough to let them all stay at her hotel. Maybe they could get some time to relax and recover a bit of their stamina. After all, with the many things that had happened at a non-stop speed, some breathing room was exactly what they needed. The day had just hit noon, and everyone was off doing their own thing, whether it was having a few drinks, provided by Husker, or simply talking things over with Charlie and the her cohorts.
"I see... So that's the whole story, huh? And you're saying that this group, the Akuma-Ningen, is who's causing the mess?" Charlie asked Blitzo, who were both sitting in the lounge, along with Moxxie, Millie, Stolas, and Vaggie, who was on the couch beside her significant other. Blitzo nodded, his face holding a thoughtfulness to it.
"Yeah, that's right. Bastards have been doing everything in there power to fuck with me and my business. Apparently, they want a specific book that we use to get to the living world, and they haven't been to nice about their methods of persuasion."
Vaggie tilted her head, the corner of her lips curling into a frown, "Uh-huh. I'm not even gonna ask how you got something like that, but if what you're saying is true, then these guys have eyes everywhere, right? If that's the case, why haven't they just taken the book and be done with it?"
"My guess is that they're toying with them. If it where any other individual, they would have struck by now, but the only thing that I can come up with is that they mean to break their spirits, before inevitably making the final blow..." Stolas answered, his eyes looking down towards the ground. When it all came down to it, that would be the only reason. Why else would they be letting them get so much closer with each encounter that they had? It wouldn't make sense otherwise.
"And what about Zack? Why is he even here, anyway?"
The room went silent for a second, as if the hitmen employees were contemplating on whether or not they should answer. Moxxie, would be the first to answer, "Well, you see, Zack was someone that we were hired to kill before, presumably from the guy who's behind all of this. He, however, was instead saved by Loona, the hellhound. After some events and such, Blitzo hired him to find out who was the mastermind. Now, with Zack's powers and such...you already know the rest on that..."
Once again, the room went silent, as they recollected what was said a four days prior. Even though they knew what he was and what he would have to go through, the memory of his face was enough to make them all worried. There was nothing but fear and an uncertainty in his eyes. To make matters worse, the moment that he and the others arrived at the hotel, he completely distanced himself from everyone. For the past four days, he didn't leave the his room, instead choosing to lock himself in. Presumably, he was still working on finding out what was going on with the individual now known as Kokichi Nagasaki. If that was the case, that threw everyone for a loop. Any normal human would have ran off and said "fuck you" to the ones that harmed them. Yet, here he was, doing everything that he could to find the scumbag who was after them. Still, there were still problems with him. Not only did he not leave his room, but he didn't let anyone else in, not even when room service was there to deliver food for him. He had even shunned himself from his friends, even Loona. It irked Blitzo to no end. He was supposed to be someone who cared about her adoptive daughter, but here he was, completely shunning himself from everyone. Though he wanted to just shoot the lock off and give him a piece of his mind, he also knew that he needed some space. Truth be told, he cared about him like family, though he wouldn't admit it. He hoped that he would find his way back to him, back to his friends, back to Loona.
With a shake of his head, Stolas looked towards the staircase up to the many rooms, his thoughts flooded with the worry of Zack's well-being, "He still hasn't left his room, has he? Poor boy, he must be so confused right now..."
"He's not the only one who's down..." Millie interjected, her eyes looking towards the bar in the back. Just as she said, another poor soul was drowning in sorrow. Loona had been sitting there ever since they had arrived, her hand always holding some sort of alcoholic beverage. It was almost like she was just drowning and wallowing in guilt, so much so that she wouldn't even throw an insult at whatever unsuspecting soul that went to poke fun at her. She looked completely broken, hating even meeting the one that she cared for immensely. It was painful to watch, for everyone. Charlie, did everything she could to console her, but it proved frugal. In fact, everyone did their best to, at least those who thought they could, but nothing seemed to work. Hopelessness; the one feeling that just wouldn't go away.
Stolas sighed, fixing his hat slightly, "Yes, it would seem so. This is possibly the worst thing to have happened... If we would have told him sooner, perhaps things could have been different. Now I'm not sure if any of them will be able to recover..."
Blitzo merely stared, his heart going out to the one he cared for as her father. Everything he tried proved to be useless. There was only one person that he could get to help her out of her stupor, and that person was stuck and held up in his room. He huffed, standing to his feet and heading towards the stairs, bringing everyone from their thoughts.
"And you're going where?" Vaggie asked, her hand resting on her hip. Without even looking at her, he continued up the stairs, answering her.
"To have a talk with my investigator."
With that being said, he began to continue his way into the halls, his hands slipped into his coat pockets. With how things were right now, there'd be no way for them to make any progress. Not to mention, that two of his employees would basically be out of commision. The moment that he stepped towards the oak door that blocked Zack from the outside world, he instantly began to feel the sting of nervousness. What would he even say? Could he even say anything at all? Needless to say, he was feeling helpless. With a soft sigh, he brought his hand up to the door and gently knock his knuckle against it. Whatever he was going tosay, he had to make sure that it was what he needed to hear and not what he wanted to hear.
"Hey, kid, you in there? It's me, Blitzo."
No answer, not even the sound of breathing. He knew he could hear him, however, so instead of giving up, he began to speak in the calmest voice that he could, "So uh, we noticed that you haven't come out in a while. You sure you don't wanna eat or something?" once again, nothing at all, "Look, I know you're feeling a bit, under the weather and such but... I need you right now, alright...?"
He sighed softly, his hand gently pressing against the door, "Could you like...please show me if you're listening, kid? I gotta know that things aren't too fucked..."
That's when he heard it. From the other side of the door, the sound of a hand pressing against the wooden oak was heard. In a way, it was Zack's way of telling him that he was listening; that he didn't give up on them, not yet. He sighed softly in relief, as he continued to speak, "...Truth is, we're worried about you. I'm worried about you... About you and Loona... She hasn't been the same since we came back. Not only that, but...I think she's scared that you hate her..."
He could hear the sound of breathing, it slightly hitching, as if he was surprised by his words.
"So... please, you gotta set her straight... take all the time you need to get your head and feelings in order...but you gotta help her. You just...gotta..."
His head hung low, as his eyes closed. That was all he had, all he could say, and all he wanted of him. Whether or not he'd do it; he wasn't sure. That's when he heard something. The soft click of the lock disengaging. His eyes caught the sight of the door cracking, exposing the eye of their resident investigator. The dullness in them before seemed to slowly fade, a sign that maybe he would be able to get through all of this.
"...I'm sorry for worrying you... I just... I really needed some time to think..." he said, his voice a slight bit hoarse, most likely from the lack of water, food, and sleep. It was easily apparent that he was in bad shape, even by just seeing a mere fraction of his person. He sighed, "I don't hate Loona... I understand she was under a lot of pressure, and there weren't many options. I don't blame her for that... I'm just scared..." he slightly trembled, as he forced himself to speak once again, "I mean, what if I can't stop whatever this thing is in my head? And if I do, what then? What'll happen to me...? It said that I'd reject my humanity... so does that mean that I'd end up losing my very self...? Will I turn against you guys, lose my sense of self...? I just can't fathom what would happen... "
Blitzo could only stare at him. He was, or course, relieved that he wasn't feeling any contempt towards him or anyone else, but at the same time, he still felt bad for him. His life was ultimately changed, all because he got a hit on him, and to make things worse, he still was doing what he could to protect them. It was just like Stolas said; he wasn't a normal human. He was their friend, and to him, he was family.
"Zack, you have nothing to worry about here. Whatever happens won't change anything. You can take this ass who's intruding in your body out easily, and just because it may seem like things are bad, doesn't mean that it's all hopeless. You can do this, I know you can... After all, you're a part of our family, Zack. Ever since you signed the dotted line on that contract."
He slowly slipped his hand through the small opening of the door and gently place his hand on Zack's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. Zack instantly felt more at ease, though still a bit unsure. He would need some time to relax, to get his mind back in order, but when he did, he'd be back at one hundred percent.
"...Thanks Blitzo...truly..."
--
Loona sighed softly, taking a sip from her booze-filled bottle. Her body felt so heavy; not just because of the drink and the alcoholic beverages, but also from the very feeling of loneliness and guilt. All she was trying to do was help him, to save him from dying, but here he was, feeling the very pain and suffering of a man waking up in his afterlife. She hated herself, hated everyone, hated the very people who caused this. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. It was hopeless. He was probably hating her. All she wanted was for him to be safe and happy, and right now, him being with her wasn't making him happy. All it was doing was attacking his very soul and mind. She wished she never met him, wished he didn't have to deal with her, and above all else, she wished she had never even went out on that hit job.
"Fucking damn it... Of course this shit had to happen, right when things seemed to be going well..." she slurred, as she dropped the bottle on the ground. It didn't break, but it did let out a loud clang from the contact. Husker, who was the one providing her drinks, merely shook his head, a frown on his face.
"You know...maybe you should just go talk to him. I mean, instead of you just wallowing in your own filth and shit."
Loona merely answered with her actions, her hand reaching over the bar to grab another unmarked bottle of booze. She silently gulped the contents all down, tossing it behind her shoulder. Husker only blinked and slowly went back to reading his newspaper, finding it fruitless to even continue to speak to her. He huffed; things couldn't get any worse.
"Hello my friends!"
Of course, Alastor just had to show up. His never-ending grin was still present on his face, a constant reminder of his one character trait. He sat on one of the bar stools next to Loona, his eyes glancing over at Husker, "If you'd please, I'd like the usual! However, this time, just a small amount."
With a growl, he turned his back and began to prepare the radio demon's drink. Just what he needed, some alone time with the grieving. His eyes glanced towards her, his finger tapping at the counter.
"So here you are, hm? Feeling a bit under the weather, are we?"
She didn't reply. She only stared at the counter, her eyes closed tightly in hopes it would keep herself calm. Alastor, not taking the hint, continued his heckling.
"You know, this wouldn't have happened if you would have told him sooner, or rather, it wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to kill him the day you two met," Husk looked over his shoulder, listening to him, "It's a real shame, in my opinion. The very person he cared for the most is the same person who ruined his life. I would say it's such a terrible thing, but in my opinion, I think it's amazing! So interesting and full of twists and turns! I just love a story where the villian is the hero's closest friend."
Husker placed the filled glass on the counter in front of strawberry-colored demon, his eyes glaring daggers at him, "I think that's enough, Al. She's already beating herself up enough as it is without you making it worse."
"Oh? Making it worse? No no no no, I'mmerely stating the facts here. She knows just as much as I do that she is the one responsible. She brought him to a world that he didn't belong in, and he's suffering for it. Though...you can make it right, you know?"
Her eyes widened slightly, the first sign of emotion that she made at all this entire time. Was there really a way to fix this? To give him back his life? Alastor, catching her attention, continued to feed ideas deep into her physché.
"All you have to do is take him back home. You have the means, so go and send him back. Maybe then, he can actually live a good life."
Husker slammed his hands against the counter, seething with pure anger, "Shut up Al! What the fuck do you think you're-" before he could finish, Alastor snapped his fingers, causing a shadow tendril to wrap around his mouth, silencing the poor winged feline. His grin grew into a dark, menacing smile, as he leaned closer to the trembling, inebriated hellhound.
"You know he hates you. He hates all of you; despises you. The only reason why he's here and is still trying to help you is merely to spite you. Why not tell him that he has no reason to stay? Get him to leave. It's the only way."
Husker screamed and shouted out, though it was muffled. He could see just how torn Loona was. Within seconds, her face grew a dark, dangerous-looking expression, her eyes slowly growing duller and duller. Was it true? Did he hate her? Was that why he was holding himself up in his room? Well, no more. If he was suffering that much, then she was going to alleviate that, permanently.She slowly raised out of her chair and on to her feet, before stepping away from the bar, leaving a confused Husker and a snarky Alastor. He snapped his fingers, pulling the shadowy tendril away from the feline's mouth, pulling a gasp from him.
"What the fuck are you doing?! She's drunk, you don't know what she's capable of!"
Alastor merely smirked, his eyes imbuing the demonic evil that flower within them, "Oh, I know exactly what she's capable of, my friend. However, I as things were now, things were starting to get a little boring for me. This show is far from over, and it's too soon for anyone to be calling it wrap."
Husker growled angrily. This wasn't good, the way she was looking, her overall aura, it was that of a monster. Not only that, but thanks to her being drunk beyond her mind, she would definitely be more prone to causing some damage. After all, he knew just as much as the next guy how much a demon could lose their cool when they're wasted like that, and all he knew was that, as things were, Zack was fucked beyond relief! Without a moment to lose, he vaulted over the counter and sprinted towards the lounge in search for the hellhound. He could hear her heavy footsteps echoing throughout the room, a clear indication of here location. From the looks of it, she was already heading up the stairs, her clawed fingers slowly dragging against the wall, leaving a trail of marks down her path.
"Shit, this isn't good..."
"What's not good? Oh, Loona left the bar! That's...good, right?" Octavia asked, as she walked next to Husker, her eyes holding a look of confusion.
"Kid, get Charlie and the others, quick! Your friend is gonna do something stupid if we don't stop her!"
Octavia could only stare, her mind processing what was told to her, "What do you mean? What happened?!"
"I'll explain later, just go!!"
Though hesitant, she quickly went off to gather the rest of her companions, a hectic look on her face. If Husker of all people was reacting like this, then that meant things were nowhere near good. Husker quickly ran up the stairs, in hopes of stopping her before things got too far. He just hoped that things wouldn't get too bad when he finally caught up.
--
With each and every step that she took, the more she became consumed in her despair. The very thought of what she was about to do only destroyed her heart, shattering it to millions of pieces. The words Alastor spoke rang and echoed in their ears.
"It's all your fault. He doesn't belong here. You can fix this. Get him to leave."
She was so in here own thoughts, she didn't even notice Blitzo, who was walking down the hall from Zack's room. He grinned, feeling better than ever, after talking with the investigator. However, he could still tell that she wasn't all there. He shrugged, chalking it up to her just still being down. He wasn't worried though; after telling her the good news, she'd be back to normal instantly.
"Heya Loonie! Good news, I just talked to Zack, and he said that he-" he couldn't even finish. With a quick swipe of her left hand, she knocked him off of his feet and into the wall with a loud thud, dazing him. She wasn't in the mood for talking, thanks to the guilt and the booze that invaded her sense of thinking. He groaned, his hand rubbing at the bruise she left on his face. She hadn't hit him before, not even when she was angry or upset. This wasn't a good sign to him.
"Blitzo! What happened?!"
Out of nowhere, Husker was running towards him, panting slightly, before quickly pulling him up to his feet.
"I...I'm not sure. Loona just came down here and just bitch slapped me outta nowhere."
"Damn it! Follow me, we're gonna need you to talk her down!"
--
Zack silently sat on his bed, his eyes looking down at the ground. Ever since Blitzo had talked to him, he'd been thinking about everything that had happened to him. From the day that he was first being hunted, to the moment he understood what his powers were and they're downsides, it all just played in his mind. He just couldn't believe that this was all happening to him. He was in such destress, such mental strain that it felt too much. Above all else, he didn't even know what he was anymore. Was he human? Demon? Something in between? Nothing made sense anymore... except...
"...Loona..."
He slowly looked up towards the ceiling, his mind shifting to the moments he spent with his friends, the places he had seen, and the accomplishments that he made thanks to the bonds he forged. Thinking about it more, was this situation really all that bad? Even though he lost his human side, it didn't make him any different than what he was now. Not only that, but it was thanks to his powers that he could protect everyone. Sure, it was true that he was no longer a true human, but even so, he'd gladly give that up, as long as they were all safe.
"Heh...what am I doing? I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself... I'd should be taking out demon assholes and solving mysteries. That's what I was hired to do, and right now, I've just used up my vacation days... But... Loona-"
Suddenly, a crash sounded at the door, jolting Zack out of his thoughts. He looked towards the shaking slab of wood, before it finally was kicked off it's hinges and flung towards the far corner of the room, leaving a large dent in the drywall. With widened eyes, he slowly turned his head towards the doorway. To his surprise, it was the one who he was just thinking about; Loona.
"L-Loona! It you..." His eyes looked over her body. She looked awful, with split ends in her hair and bags under her dull eyes. It instantly made him feel bad for her, "You...look awful... Geez, you must have been-"
"Why are you still here?"
That took him for a loop. Why was she asking something like that?
"Why? What are you talking about? Its because-"
With little warning and hesitation, she reached forward and gripped his shirt, pulling him off of the bed and to his feet. She raised him up to her eye-level, his feet barely touching the ground. With every word she spoke, a low and dangerous growl leaked from her sneering lips.
"You... You need to leave. Now."
He stared at her, completely in awe of what she said. If he didn't know better, he thought he heard her tell him to leave, but why would she even say that? Why now? Whatever the reason, he wasn't going to go along with it.
"Loona, you know I can't do that."
"Bullshit! The fuck you mean you can't?!" She bellowed, her nose a mere inch from his own. He could smell the booze in her breath. Was she drunk? It would explain her outbursts and the slurring in her voice. He took a deep breath; he needed to defuse the situation quickly.
"Look, Loona, you're drunk. Let's just calm down here, okay? I'm not gonna go anywhere, I swear-"
"Why not?! You hate me, don't you?! It's my fault you're like this, after all! Why don't you just leave?!"
This wasn't good. She was spiralling out of control, her eyes growing more feral than ever before. An angry drunk demon hellhound wasn't at all a good combination. However, he couldn't help but feel responsible for this. If he would have just talked to her instead of disappearing and hiding in his room, maybe things would be better. Yet, even so, there wasn't any time for him to be feeling regrets. Right now, he had to talk her down, before things got out of hand.
"Loona... I don't hate you... And I'm not going to leave. There's nothing that will make that happen."
Silence filled the room, her head slowly lowering, as if she was contemplating her next move. Was she finally going to relax, to listen to reason? He only watched her, staying silent, in hopes that would help her calm down. That's when, she said those words; words that he didn't think he'd hear.
"...If you won't hate me... Then I'll make you hate me."
With the ultimatum given, the next action was set. The ground that he could barely feel was now completely gone from his lower body. His body whizzed through the air, before inevitably crashing into the vanity. Glass covered his person, a few of the shards scratching at his skin. His eyes grew blurred, the world around him spinning slightly. Whether it was from the lack off food and water, or the impact of the crash was beyond him.
"Think you can keep that tough guy shit?! Huh?!"
Before he could even compose himself, she grabbed a hold of his collar once again and pulled him to his feet, before slamming his fist into his nose, knocking him back down to the ground. She heaved and panted, as if she were a wild animal. There wasn't any stopping her; thanks to her anger, drunkenness, and sorrow, she was beyond reasoning with. Zack stumbled to his feet, his hand holding his bleeding nose.
"Damn it Loona... What are you doing..?"
"I told you, didn't I?"
Zack growled, his head filled by the newly labeled Demon Essence.
"Shut up, I need to think here."
"I told you that she isn't your friend. None of them are your friends. And now here you are, getting you ass kicked by the one you're closest too. It doesn't matter, though. All you have to do is kill her."
Zack's eyes widened. Did he seriously just tell him to kill her? Zack wasn't having it. It was easily obvious that there was something wrong with her. She was drunk and not in her right mind. Plus, the last thing he was gonna do is listen to the bitch in his head. He glared, gripping his hands tightly.
"Leave me alone! I don't need any of your shit advice!"
While he was busy mentally shouting to the voice in his head, he quickly felt the sharp sting of a fist to the gut, leaving him winded. He gripped his stomach, keeling over in pain. Every fiber of his body was screaming at him to just pin her down, to keep her from hitting him again, but he couldn't do it. He just couldn't will himself to put his hands on her, especially with her being drunk. The only thing he could do is power through this, to show her that he wasn't going anywhere, no matter what was thrown at him!
As she went down to pick him up again, Blitzo and Husker were soon at the scene, their eyes wide with shock.
"Shit, this ain't good! We're too late!" Husker huffed, as he and Blitzo started into the room. Before they could enter, a net of shadow tendrils blocked their path, keeping them from entering the room. Blitzo gripped at the newly created barrier, shaking and pulling at it hectically.
"The fuck is this shit?! Loonie, stop! You don't know what you're doing!"
"Your words won't reach her. She's too far gone."
The two demons heads whipped to the familiar voice, glaring angrily at the radio demon. He merely smirked, as he stepped closer to the show before him.
"Let us in you fucker! Before I fill you full of goddamn holes!!" Blitzo shouted, as he pulled out his trusty pistol and pointed towards him. Alastor smirked, not even looking away from the massacre before him.
"Come now, don't you want to watch the show? After all, this is the only way for those two to get back to normal. A little bout should fix everything."
Husker gripped the demon's jacket, pulling him closer to his person, "A little bout?! That chicks gonna fuckin' kill him! You know what a drunk demon can do! What if she-"
"If she does, then that's the end. However, I have a good feeling as to what shall happen. Just watch, and let them fight this out." He interrupted, his head turning back to the scene before them. Husker and Blitzo frowned in worry, as they looked back towards the scene. It was fruitless to even try to stop them, what with him having such a wide range of power. They were both at the mercy of him, forced to watch the torture session before them. They could hear blow after blow, punch after punch, the tearing and bruising of his skin. It only got worse with every second. Soon, she stopped, panting heavily from the constant strikes she gave to him. Zack, however, was in even worse shape. His legs were wobbling and his entire person was covers and whelps and scratches, his body forcing himself to stand. She glared daggers at him, her anger only rising.
"You still not gonna give up yet?" She seethed, her fur standing on end. Zack couldn't take much more of this. Thanks to him being without food for a few days, he was already weak, but this was just adding fuel to the fire. His body ached and his heart pounded, as he leaned against the wall, keeping himself upright. He had to think of something, anything to calm her down.
"What are you doing?!"
His eyes widened and his face twisted into a look of anguish and anger, as the same voice he dreaded filled his head. His eyes looked down to one of the glass shards on the ground, spotting the reflection of the hooded demon.
"This bitch is way too far gone! If you don't do something now, you will die!"
"Damn it, not the time, M!"
"Don't fuck with me! I will not have you die when I'm this close to achieving my goal! Kill her now! You know that she deserves it, for the shit that she and her cohorts put you through! Let her know just how much you hate her!"
Zack gripped his head, doing his best to shut out the invader's voice, "Shut up! It's not true!"
"To hell it isn't! She's just some bitch that has done nothing but screw with your life! Murder her, kill her! One little death won't change you, it's just one!"
"SHUT UP!! GET LOST!! GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HEAD!! THIS IS MY BODY, AND I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT!!!"
He had enough. His voice, her attacks, everything! Nothing was going right for him, and it was all because he was being weak. He wasn't putting himself out there, not letting himself be confident. Constantly, he was being thrown into situations, forced to play another person's game. Not anymore; he was choosing for himself, and right now, he was choosing her. With a soft growl, he pushed off of the wall, his legs holding himself up the best he could.
"No way... I'm not gonna give up...on you..."
Her eyes widened. She had just gotten done beating him to a pulp, rendering him to a mess of bruises, yet he still wasn't going to give up. Her eyes softened for a split second, but soon returned to her origin glare. Her claws slowly extended, as she trudged closer to him. Closer and closer, she grew more bloodthirsty, her ears pressing against her head. She didn't want to do this, but to her, she had to.
As the situation escalated, the sounds of quick footsteps rang down the hall, as the rest of the demonic crew found their way to the hellish scene. Charlie looked into the room, the little bit of color in her face draining.
"What's happening?! What's going on with those two?!"
Husker pointed a thumb towards Alastor, who didn't once look away from the events transpiring, "Al thought it'd be a good idea to start spewing out shit to the hellhound! Now, he's going fuckin' ballistic and he won't let us through to stop her!"
Stolas stepped forward, his eyes glaring daggers at the instigating radio demon. His hand gripped Alastor's shoulder and squeezing it tightly.
"I don't know what your plan is, but I would advise you this. Let. Us. Through." He commanded, his voice dripping with a venomous anger. Alastor merely glanced at him, the sound of static filling the entire hallway.
"Just watch. You'll see just what's going to happen. Trust me, this will be exactly what the both of them need."
Stolas huffed. Was it really a good idea to trust this man? After all, if things went too far, then there was definitely going to be a chance that Zack would get hurt even further, or worse, killed. With a sigh, he looked into the room, staring at the murderous hellhound, who was slowly stepping towards the battered investor.
With a quick overhead swipe downward, Loona's claws tore into Zack's forehead, just above his right eye. Blood poured down his wound, blinding his eye and dripping down his cheek. He didn't falter, not for a second. He continued to stare at her, a look of determination peeking through his exhaustion. For her, it threw her for a complete loop.
"...Why...?" She bit her lip, as she swiped down at him, this time tearing threw his undershirt and piercing his chest, forcing blood to spill out, "Why...?!" Another swipe, this one hitting the side of his neck, "WHY?!"
She reeled her hand back, her claws dripping with the investigator's blood. The world around them slowed, as she lunged her deadly weapon toward his eyes. If this didn't get him, nothing would. Closer and closer her hand gotten; she wasn't meaning to maim or injury, she was meaning to destroy, to erase, to kill.
"WHY WON'T YOU JUST HATE ME?!"
"Loona, stop!!" Millie bellowed.
Her hand slammed against the wall, her nails piercing the drywall before her. Her hand, mere inches away from hitting her target, instead grazed his cheek, giving it a deep enough gash for blood to leak. Zack's eyes wouldn't stop staring, as if he were telling her everything he wanted, just from a stare. Her eyes softened once again, her resolve slowly leaving her. Nothing she did was working. He just wouldn't back down. He wouldn't even fight back. Just that alone was tearing her up inside. Hurting him was killing her inside enough, but this...this was just too much.
"... Please...just go..." She forced out, her head hanging low in defeat. She leaned against him, her forehead pressing against the wall, just above Zack. He could tell she was broken, hurting from the events and from him shunning her for so long, "I don't... Want you here anymore... I don't want you in hell, I don't want you near me! Just go already, please..!"
It all started to make sense. She wasn't saying this because she wanted to, that much he could tell. Her eyes were the clue he needed. So there was only one reason why she'd go this far.
"Loona..." He started, startling her slightly. Before she could move away, he wrapped his arms around her person, hugging her gently and pressing his forehead against her chest. She was completely shocked, awestruck even. She didn't know whether she wanted to hug him or to slug him again. She never met anyone who'd do this, embracing her after getting their ass beat by her. Hell, she was confused as to why he didn't fight back. That's the only question she had; why?
"...Why? Why... won't you hate me...? I hurt you, I took away your chance at living a normal life. Hell, I fucking killed you! So why aren't you angry at me?! Why are you still here?! Why won't you fight back?!"
Silence filled the room, her screams filling the room and echoing down the halls. That's when he spoke, letting her know his reason, "...Why would I do any of that...to someone I love...?"
Her eyes widened and her body stiffened. Did he just say love? As in, he loved her as a woman? That couldn't be right! Why would he love her?! That had to be a lie! No man would love a woman who just got done beating the shit out of them, especially after they ruined their life! She wanted to believe it, but she just couldn't.
"That's... That's a fuckin' lie... I know that for a fact... Why would you love me? I...I hurt you..." Her eyes went half-lidded, tears welling in her dull eyes. She had never cried before, or at least not for years, but right now, she couldn't help it. She was feeling nothing but sadness and...hope? Was she actually hoping that this was the truth? Just the thought, the very image made her swoon, but as the situation stood, it seemed almost impossible.
"It's not. I'm being one hundred percent truthful with you. The last thing that I want is to leave you; I never want to leave you. I...care about you too much for that..."
Her hands trembled, her body screaming and begging for her to embrace him. She couldn't though, she had to get him to leave, lest he get hurt more.
"But if you stay here, there's no telling what other shit will happen to you. What if I hurt you again...?"
He slowly placed a hand on her cheek, only answering with the best line he could muster, "Loona, all of this, it wasn't your fault. You were just trying to help me... And the last thing that I want, is for you to feel guilty for something you didn't do."
Before she could make a rebuttal, her lips were graced by Zack's in a deep and hungry kiss. Her eyes widened further, her body tensing more. She couldn't believe this, couldn't believe what she was hearing, what she was doing! She was acting so stupid, so pathetic...yet she didn't have an issue with that. She truly wanted him, just as much as he wanted her. That's when she couldn't hold in anymore. For the first time in a long time, she started to cry. She sobbed against his lips, as she held him close, her legs buckling from underneath her. Zack, noticing this, let her fall to her knees, following her as well. He rested his forehead against hers, as he stroked her hair, comforting her.
"I-Im sorry... I'm sorry... Fucking shit, I'm sorry..." She huffed out in between sobs. Zack, smiled softly, as he continued to hold her.
"It's okay. It's all okay... We're in this together, remember? You and I are always gonna have one another, even when times are tough."
His words only made her cry harder, as she gripped on to his body, holding him as close as she could. Even if her claws dug into his skin, he didn't care. He was right where he wanted to be.
Throughout the events, they didn't even notice the audience that they had. The group all heaved a sigh of relief, even more so when the shadowy net dispersed. Without a second thought, Blitzo, Millie, Moxxie, Octavia and Stolas ran into the room, all of them crouching down to help the two. They grimaced from the sight of Zack's injured body, a direct representation of what he went through. In a way, however, they were grateful to him, especially Blitzo. Any other normal human or demon would just beat the shit out of someone who was attacking them at that level, but here he was, taking every single blow and still keeping himself standing, all for her. It was a harsh thing to overcome, but it was like Stolas said. Zack wasn't just any human, he was their friend; their Zack.
--
"Ow, goddamn that hurts..." Zack gritted out, as Stolas, Blitzo, and Niffty helped him with his wounds in the bathroom.
"I can see why. She really did a number on you, though knowing my Loonie, she was doing her best to hold back." Blitzo said through a grin. Zack, with a raised eyebrow, could not believe that. It seemed as if she was going full throttle on him, as if she were fighting another hellhound. Still, he had to understand that she was under the influence, both from the booze and the shit Alastor said. With a groan, he looked towards a nearby mirror, the reflection showing just how badly he was ripped into.
"Geez, I look like shit... Hope this doesn't mess with my movements and such."
Stolas giggled, as he finished applying ointment to the wound on his cheek and bandaged it, "You'll be okay. It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious. I must say though, you did fairly well back there. I was starting to think that you would have fought back."
"For a second, I think I was going too, especially with...you know..."
Blitzo frowned, as he placed a bandage on Zack's shoulder, "Let me guess, that pussy in your head, right? The demon essence?"
Zack merely nodded his head, as he closed his eyes, letting himself relax and calm down. It was still a whole lot to swallow, but as of now, he knew what he had to do. If that thing was able to roam free in his head, it'd only cause him and his friends trouble. This wasn't a moment to fail nor hesitate. The first chance he got, he was going to take him out. Niffty, who was dabbing his knee with a alcohol soaked cotton ball, smiled up at him.
"It's okay, Mr. Zack! I know that it'll be easy for you to beat that weird guy in your head. That way, we don't have to worry about you making an even bigger mess in the hotel."
Zack smiled awkwardly, "Oooh, right, sorry about that..."
The four shared a chuckle, as they finished up their patch job. Even with Zack looking like he just got done get beat in a fight, which he did, he was still looking much better than before. After getting all of that off his chest with Blitzo, and handling things with Loona, it made him feel like he was in control of his own life. Nothing could keep him down, and nothing could make him feel better than ever. Well, except for a warm bath...
--
"Ah...fuck..." Zack huffed, as he leaned back in the filled bathtub. His arms hung off the side of it, as he closed his eyes and let his body relax as best as possible. As he relaxed, his mind slowly started to replay the moments that had just happened. Never in his life did he think that he would just let himself get hurt, let alone by someone who he proclaimed his love too. His cheeks turned a deep shade of red. That's right, he had proclaimed his love, and in front of everyone. Not only that, but she didn't say that she loved him back. That's when he started to grow nervous. Did she actually like he that way? Was she just saying that before because she had guilt about what she did? He shook his head of those thoughts. Even if that was the case, nothing would change. All he wanted was to see her smile, after all. That's when he heard it; the sound of a knock to the bathroom door pulled him from his thoughts. He blinked and shrugged it off. It must have been Moxxie or Blitzo wanting to check on him.
"Yeah, it open. Come on in." He called out, as he leaned back and closed his eyes once again. The sound of the door opening invaded his hearing, as well as the sound of footsteps. Silence filled the bathroom, before the door closed. He huffed, before he began to whistle to himself. It, of course, was Verosika Mayday's "Vacay To Bonetown".
"Still got that song stuck in your head, huh?"
His eyes shot open, his body frozen in place. That voice, it was sent electric waves down his spine and made his body feel hot. There was only one person that could make him feel this way. His head slowly turned to one of the most alluring, addictive, beautiful sights that he could ever see. It was Loona, her body completely bare, with only a towel hiding the most private spots of her body. His was left in awe, completely speechless by the woman before him.
"L-Loona... G-Guh..." he quickly composed himself, his body sitting back up quickly. He could instantly tell what was going on just from her appearance. Now, the Zack before would go completely flustered and start screaming in surprise, but this time, the Zack here and now, wasn't going to do that, "...Y-You...wanna get it...?"
She looked surprise for a quick second, but would soon have a soft smile on her face. She nodded her head and slipped into the tub, a small amount of the water spilling over the edge. She sat on the other side of the tub, her arms resting on the tub's edge. To say that Zack was a complete jumble of nervousness and fluster would be an understatement. The two remained silent for a bit, as they relaxed in the warm water, before suddenly, Loona had something to say.
"...I'm sorry..." His brows raised in surprise, as he listened to her, "For messing with you, for kicking your ass for no reason at all...and for the blood ritual thing... I just, I truly wanted to save you after you saved me, and... I guess I wasn't thinking... So for that, I'm sorry..."
Zack couldn't believe what he was hearing. She actually apologized, even though a lot of what she listed she wasn't at fault for. Even so, it made him feel as if the two were much closer than what they were in the pass. Before, Loona wouldn't even want to hold a conversation with him, let alone open up to him, but now, here she was, sitting in the bath with him. If this was a Social Link level, he'd be way past level 10. More like level 100! With a nod of his head, he smiled softly and happily.
"It's alright, Loona. I'm not mad at you, nor was I before. I just needed some time to myself for a bit; just to get my thoughts in order. It doesn't change the way I feel about you, believe me."
She blushed a deep red, as she slowly looked up at him. With a soft huff, she raised herself into her knees and leaned closer to him. Her body glistened from the soapy water, her silver and white fur shining. His eyes widened, as she sat herself on his lap, facing him. Her hands rested on his shoulders, her lips now mere inches from his ear. As of things couldn't get more intimate, her sweet, somber voice graced his hearing, as she whispered softly.
"And by the way... I love you too..."
Before he could say anything, her lips came crashing down against his, her tongue invading his mouth. With widened eyes, he gripped at her waist, as her grip on his shoulders tightened. Without a single bit of hesitation, he welcomed her kiss, her tongue instantly dominating his own. This would only be the beginning of a long night for the two. A long night of passion, love, and a whole lot of messes.
To Be Continued...