Fatal-fame here with a new chapter.
Fatal-fame does not own Tales of the Abyss, Dishonored or any other referenced media. This is for entertainment only.
Ch. 4 Accommodations.
It had been an interesting week, to say the least.
Between his jobs, learning about the event Dist was going to be at, improving his powers and weapons. It had been hectic.
But the most surprising thing had been Tear, or Mystic as they called her.
And while he had no problems with her smiling more, it certainly made her look better. But sometimes her personality was… jarring to him.
For one, she pouted.
Whenever he told her she couldn't have something or that he had to do something without her. She pouted.
Her cheeks puffed up and her lips pursed as she glared at him lightly. Then she would turn her head away from him until he broke.
Which was a problem, because he felt like he was spoiling her.
And the next problem was, he wanted to spoil her.
He wanted her to be as comfortable as possible, considering how far out of her comfort zone she must be.
That and the fact that this might just be the only chance she might have to simply relax until she was done fighting her brother.
No reason to make her condition worse by worrying about Van when she couldn't do anything about it.
Although, he hadn't seen her send out that letter she had promised too. Then again, the doc had wanted her to stay until his tests were complete.
After all, pesky legal and ethical issues weren't really a problem here when it came to medicine.
Or anything for that matter.
Tear had also made herself very comfortable in his room. And his work. And his routine in general.
He supposed she had wanted to at least be doing something, which he couldn't fault her for.
But some of the things she did were a bit over stepping.
Luke knew he never ate that healthy. Nor was he taking care of himself as much as he should.
And he figured she decided that wasn't happening anymore, which is why she made sure he had at least one full meal a day. While also making sure he wasn't eating anything too unhealthy.
Okay, so he had a minor addiction to pizza, so what?
Then she started doing his laundry, making sure his room was clean and started buying him more clothes, which she usually wore when she went to sleep.
Except for the jacket, which she hadn't got one for herself, the only time it wasn't being worn was when they were asleep.
Which was an event all by itself.
It always started the same, with both of them being a fair distance apart from each other.
When they woke up, they were in a way more intimate position.
He would think it was an accident, if he hadn't been awake when he had his back to her.
When Tear seemed to think he was asleep. She would then maneuver both of them around until she was firmly in his arms.
And usually that meant her rear was placed right at his groin or her chest was flat against him.
Luke wanted to believe that it was just the way she felt the most comfortable. But that thought had died, or at least became an alternate reason, when she seemed to notice his morning "predicament."
Like now, for instance, where she had her butt planted directly on his crotch, with one of his arms under and wrapped around her.
"Hey, Tear, I gotta get up." Well, actually it was his day off again, but he still needed to make sure he was ready to go after Dist.
She simply flung her hand out and started patting around until she found his face. Where the blue eyed soldier then lightly tapped his nose and pulled his arm tighter to her.
"Tear, seriously, I need to get up." He pulled away as much as he could, only for her to quickly follow. After making sure there was no space between both of them, she spoke.
"Alarm clocks don't speak unless spoken to, pal." She was spending too much time around people who she probably shouldn't.
But he did find it hilarious when she called Rivera a "miserable jackass" to his face after he tried flirting with her again. Then she casually dismissed him with a wave of her hand as she went back to her conversation with Sales.
"Is that permission?" The redhead asked in return as he once again tried to get his arm out from under her. Feeling her let his arm go, he was about to pull free when she turned herself around.
"No." She replied and immediately wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her face into his chest as she did so.
"Look, I have to go check out that thing Dist is doing." This time she let out a sigh and let him go. Sitting up, she did a wide stretch that did very interesting things to her…
'No, Luke, come one.' The replica told himself as he looked away. It was a struggle not to devour the eye candy before him, but his morals always won out in the end.
While she hadn't done anything as drastic as the first day, that didn't mean there weren't any attempts.
And honestly, he couldn't figure out why. He had expected her to be far more conservative about her body.
Instead she used it every chance she could get.
Although, it was only with him, which he was both grateful and exasperated.
He was grateful because it made it easier to keep track of her. Exasperated because…
His eyes went to her as she stripped out of her sleep wear and started to look through their closet.
More specifically, her rear.
He wasn't sure how long he was gonna last until he did something he'd regret.
Shaking his head clear, he also got up to get dressed. Grabbing his stuff, he went into the bathroom to begin his morning routine.
A quick shower, brushed his teeth and his civi clothes on. He came out as Tear went past him to do her early morning things he didn't ask about.
After she was done it was off to breakfast, a good meal of bacon and eggs that she ordered for him after he tried to skimp out with just toast.
For some reason Garret kept mentioning whips. Especially when he apologized to her when she glared.
"Have fun on your date." The older man said as he and Tear decided to head out, causing Luke to roll his eyes as they went up the stairs.
No matter what Garret said, he and she were not involved in any way that was more than friends.
He was just taking her with him in order to help her get over her fear of being without him by taking her to an event and maybe buy her some stuff she wants while he was at it.
It just happened to coincide with the fact that he liked to see her smile, which is normal for people to like to see others happy because of them.
Plus she knew what had happened and it made it easier to talk to her, even if they didn't see eye to eye sometimes.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that.
And she was holding his hand because it was easier for them to keep track of each other that way.
"Luke, I'm hungry." She brought him out of his thoughts as he looked around the exhibits, taking note of all the guards and entrances.
"Okay, see anything you want?" Might as well let her decide, he wasn't really feeling anything in particular. Getting a nod, he handed her some gald and she gave him a smile.
A light hug from her to him and she was off as he went to find somewhere to sit down.
Not paying attention, he didn't see who he was running into until it happened.
"Shit, sorry man." Luke automatically replied as he looked up at the taller man.
Only for his eyes to see blond hair and blue eyes.
"Luke?" Guy's eyes widened as he stared at the replica. "Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me." Green eyes turned away as he scratched the back of his head. "How have you been?"
"Great, good, all right." They both sat down on a nearby bench, neither making eye contact as the silence went on. "And you?"
"I've been doing good." He shrugged as he looked the other way. "Been working and trying to make something of my life."
"That's great." Guy seemed proud of him, if the grin was anything to go by. "What type of work?"
"I'm just a delivery boy." No need to lie or say anything about his illegal activities.
"Not a bad job." It was like he was trying to assure him of that fact, like he needed it. "It's something that needs to be done."
"Don't I know it." The replica shrugged as his hands slipped into his pockets. His face flipped onto a frown as he stood up and started to pat himself down.
"The hell?" He asked himself as he continued his search. "Where the hell are they?"
"You missing something, Luke?" Guy also got up from the bench, obviously concerned.
"My smokes." He continued to pat himself down as frustration started to leak out of him. "I know I had them on me."
"You smoke?" The blond was horrified by the prospect, hoping that he had simply misheard the replica.
"Yeah, it's not a rare hobby." This was not something he wanted to deal with without some nicotine, it would be like Tear all over again.
He stopped as a thought struck.
"Tear stole my smokes." He realized as his hands dropped, betrayal on his face.
When he had given her lessons on pickpocketing, he figured it'd be the best way to keep her stuff to herself, he didn't think she could pull a fast one on him.
"I'm sorry, what?" Guy could have sworn he heard Luke say that Tear, as in most likely Tear Grants, who he hadn't seen in some time, stole Luke's cigarettes.
Maybe all that time near fon machines damaged his hearing, he should get himself checked out.
"Yeah, she's been on my ass about quitting." Now that he thought about it, he probably should have seen it coming,
But he didn't, so that was a thousand and fifty gald he'd never see again.
"...What?" Guy repeated as he stared at the redhead in shock, because he was honestly hitting his mental capacity.
"Right, you don't know." Sucking in a breath through his teeth, Luke tried to figure out the words that would explain the situation with the least amount of damage.
"I can see why Tear would want that." Guy tried to get a train of thought moving. "It's a really bad habit."
"Plus, his smoke breath is always disgusting." The lady of the hour herself arrived, holding two hot dogs in her hands.
And wearing a rappig cap.
Luke took the offered snack as he turned back to Guy, who was obviously not comprehending anything that was happening.
"It's a long story." Luke told him as he sat back down on the bench. Taking a bite, he chewed for a bit as Tear wrapped her arm around him. The blond watched in confusion as his mouth opened.
"I have time."
Tales of the Void
"And that's pretty much the whole thing." Luke shrugged as Tear leaned her head on his shoulder, not that he was bothered by it that much.
"Jeez, Tear, I'm so sorry." They had given him the same story they had given Garret, which he seemed to be buying.
"It's not your fault." She moved her head so it was on Luke's chest, causing him to wrap an arm around her. "I'm just glad he saved me before it went any further."
"Still, I can't just sit here and pretend it didn't happen." Guy stood up, sword hilt firmly grasped in his hand. "From here on out, I won't let anything happen to you, even if I have to cut down every scumbag we meet."
Judging by his body language, he meant every word. Something that brought sweet relief to the replica.
"Thanks, Guy." He gave his old servant a smile as he turned to Tear again. "Guess that means we'll probably say goodbye soon."
It was the moment the words left his mouth that Luke realized he messed up again.
Immediately she shifted from beside him to pretty much on top of his lap. Face pressed against his chest and arms tight around him.
"No, no leaving." Her grip got stronger as Luke tried to get some wiggle room. "Not safe."
He looked up at Guy, making some gestures to simply wait and see. When the blond nodded, Luke softly raised her head to look him in the eyes.
"Tear, I know I don't want that any more than you." He started to stroke her back. "But this is Guy, he would never hurt, or let anything hurt you. You know that."
"Not Tear." She shuddered again as her head went back to his chest. "Not Tear."
"C'mon Mystic." He tried again, still stroking her back. "It's not safe for you here, who knows what could happen if they found out about you."
"Don't care." He felt his jacket start getting wetter around her eyes, causing Luke to wrap his other arm around her waist. He started to stroke her hair. "Luke is safe, Luke won't hurt Mystic, Luke likes Mystic."
He had honestly never seen her like this before. Over the past week her fear was only really made apparent by her eyes widening and her holding onto him.
This was an entirely new side to her.
One that he would give anything to make sure it never bothered her again.
"I do like Mystic." Best to play by the rules she had created for now, until she calmed down at least. "But you can't be Mystic forever."
"Mystic doesn't like Tear." Luke wasn't sure what she meant by that, so he decided to go for a hopefully relaxing answer.
"I like Tear." His eyes darted around to see if anyone was staring, if only in case they were recognized.
"No you don't." Her head went left and right against his chest, until blue eyes looked up at him. "You never liked Tear, but you like Mystic."
"I liked Tear." He honestly did. Even when she had accused Van and defended Mohs, he liked her.
He may have thought of her as a blind moron who needed someone to tell her that if the words "we should have a war, cause yes" comes out of someone's mouth, that person was not to be trusted. But he still liked her.
He was still a little bitter about that.
"I'm sorry, I'm going to take her back to where we're staying." Standing up and maneuvering her into his arms, he turned to Guy. "I'll meet you near the bottom of the stairs of the cathedral tomorrow at four, if you have the time."
"No problem." Guy smiled at Luke, although it was obviously forced, a face he returned with relief.
"All right, see you tomorrow." It wasn't hard to carry her back, other than the few stares here and there.
It was when they finally arrived in his room that she let go.
Sitting her down on his bed, while he turned around the chair from his desk.
"We need to talk about this." He cut straight to the point, figuring that being direct would get through to her.
"I know it's going to be hard." Luke started as he tried to find the words. "But you can't stay here, it's not safe."
"And like out there is?" She gestured to the window as she spoke, her eyes narrowing at him.
"Sure as hell safer than here." He shrugged back at her, keeping his voice as level as he could. "Besides, the world is in danger and you might be the only one who can stop it."
"So?"
Out of all the responses he had expected, that was not one of them.
"So?!" He repeated as she sat there, obviously not seeing the problem. "So?! Do you not realize what's happening?!"
"I'm happy."
And just like that, Luke was stumped.
"I'm happy for the first time in who knows how long." Mystic looked him in the eye as she stood up from her spot. "And I would bet you're happy too."
He had no response to that.
"And I would also bet," she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to his feet. "That you're just scared of being forced to leave and go back to the manor."
"I uhhh well."
"Well guess what, buddy." The blue eyed soldier turned around and threw him onto his bed. "I found that I don't like being unhappy."
"I don't think anybody does."
"And I also know that you make me happy." She straddled him by the hips. "And Mystic doesn't like it when things that make her happy make her unhappy."
"You're...starting to scare me."
"So here's how this is going to work." She brought herself down on top of him, soft melons against his chest as her voice was going directly in his ear. "You're going to stay here and continue assassinating those who you've planned to get rid of."
"I mean… I can."
"And I'm also going to stay here." The soldier started to remove his jacket from his shoulders. "And every night, whether you're working or killing people, I'll be right here in your bed."
That did sound appealing, as much as he hated to say it.
"I'll be there to make sure you've eaten, make sure your clothes are clean, make sure that everything you need to do is done." She moved from one of his ears to the other, her voice started taking on a flirty tone. "And make sure that the nightmares never bother you."
He did like not having nightmares, despite how he felt he deserved it.
"And in return, you're going to take care of my wants and needs." Husky tones made him shiver.
"And I want to feel appreciated right now." She pulled away, staring him right in the eyes.
"And you know how to make a girl feel appreciated, don't you Luke?"
He didn't answer her vocally, his actions spoke for him.
His arms wrapped around her, one on her back as the other went behind her head. Pulling her mouth onto his, she let out a happy hum as they swapped spit.
Her hands worked on his shirt, trying to get it over his head. But he wasn't having that.
Flipping them over, he let out a growl as he got between her legs. Hand trailing up her leg as it wrapped around him.
Mystic's arms found their way around his neck, pulling him as close as she could. While his hands found their way under her dress.
Moving up her legs, he was going directly to the hills above them.
Until a knock at the door separated them.
"Attono." They heard through the door, but from who they couldn't place. Muttering some curses under his breath, Luke got up and moved to the door.
Ripping it open, he aimed his gun at the interrupter's face.
"I was hoping you could...?" Smithy's face flipped into a frown as she noticed the firearm pointed at her face. "Is this a bad time?"
"No no." Putting the gun away, he tried to smooth out his shirt as he leaned against the door frame. "Just about to do something I know I shouldn't."
He could feel Mystic's glare burning a hole in the back of his skull.
"You're going after Dist, right?" Smithy was not the type of woman to beat around the bush. "I want you to keep him alive and bring him here."
"I'm sorry, pardon?" He was pretty sure she had not only guessed what he was doing, but managed to also figure out his next target.
"You're not the most subtle guy." She pulled out a wanted poster, which clearly showed the mask he wore last time he went out for the masquerade ball.
That she had built for him.
'Fuck.'
"And as long as you don't get caught, I don't care." She continued on, purple eyes piercing his soul. "But mama wants a little something in return, capiche?"
"And you want...Dist." He repeated to be sure.
He was one hundred percent sure that those words had never been uttered by another female before Smithy.
And, to be honest, he was sure he never wanted to hear them again.
"Can I ask why?"
"You can." She shrugged, pale hair being lifted as it fell on her shoulders. "But, I'm not saying jack."
"I'll grab him tonight." He honestly didn't care if he had to kill Dist or not.
But if she wanted him alive, then who was he to argue?
"Then we're in agreement." A large smile and large hug was given to him. "I'm glad we could work something out."
"...always a pleasure."
"Well, I'll leave you to your…fun." The smile turned teasing for a moment. "But before I forget."
"Doc wants to talk to you." She told him as she took a step back. "Said something about a cure, but he needed more time to do some tests."
"Okay, thank you." Closing the door, he placed his forehead against it.
"Something you know you shouldn't?" Mystic sounded angry, like really, really angry.
"I know that I need to get you to leave as soon as possible." Luke spoke into the door as she stood behind him. "But, on the other hand."
He spun to face her and, before she could react, had his arm around her waist.
He threw her into the bed before crawling on top of her.
"I'm a man who is weak to temptation." His teeth bit into her neck as he heard her moan, lighting his blood on fire. "And that makes the worst decisions."
"And right now, I want to hear you scream my name."
Tales of the Void
"Ahh, you two made it." Doc continued to mess with some of his equipment as Luke and Mystic walked into the office. Taking a moment to mumble to himself about calculations, he seemed to finish up and turned to the two teens.
"Now, the first order of business, I think I managed to recreate the medicine you need." Taking a bottle of pills off the lab counter, he tossed them to Luke. "Next, and this is only a theory."
"I might be able to get rid of the miasma."
"Really?!" It was hard to tell who seemed to be more excited by the news, but the doctor simply raised his hands.
"However, there is still a problem with the method." He gestured to the fon-machine behind him.
"The basic principle is that we simply take the miasma and transfer it here." He tapped a large glass sphere. "By, for lack of better terms, running it through a filter."
"Since it's the seventh fonon that's contaminated, it's running through your body." He then gestured to a human body chart on the wall, his finger running up and down the body as he did so. "The filter will take the miasma and leave the fonons, leaving you no worse for wear."
"I'm sensing a but here." Luke adjusted his collar as he rolled his neck, while Mystic had a bit of trouble standing up.
"The problem is, I need something to draw the seventh fonon from her body." He tapped the other side machine with a knuckle. "And that is where I've hit a roadblock."
"So, you need a seventh fonist?"
"Technically, yes."
"I'm a seventh fonist." Luke stood up from the wall he was leaning against and walked up to Mystic, who took his hand as she sat on the doctor table.
"And that's where the technically part comes in." Doc quickly spoke up as he held out a hand.
"Seventh fonons are attracted to each other, you know that, right?" Getting a nod from both, he once again gestured to the machine. "The main thing about this is that it isn't so much a seventh fonist to seventh fonist, but we would need more seventh fonons in the receiver than Miss Mystic."
Silence permeated through the room as the two teenagers looked at each other.
"So, you'd need a replica?" The redhead's tone was subdued as his gaze hit the ground. Doc seemed a bit surprised that they knew about it, but continued anyway.
"In essence, yes."
Blue met green as they spoke in silent conversation.
She shook her head, eyes narrowing as he shrugged back. When he looked to talk to the doc, her hands immediately went to her chest.
She lightly groped herself, bringing her breasts up, then letting them go.
His face scrunched up, considering the pros and cons of what he was about to do.
"I'm a replica." He decided to say, much to his companion's anger. "So, if this works out."
"I have no doubt that it will work." Doc was nonchalant about what he had just seen, whether because of professionalism or simple numbness to such displays didn't matter. "All you have to do is place your hand on the other side of this sphere here. Miss Mystic do the same on the other side."
"Now that both of you are in position, I'll activate the device. Mr. Attono, I need you to feel out the infected fonons and pull them towards you."
"Is this dangerous?" The female demanded to know, to which the doctor held out a hand flat and tilted it both ways.
"Luke will absorb some, not a lot." He quickly reassured her when she made to leave. "It'll be as much as if he spent roughly an hour in mild miasma conditions, it will clear in a few hours. Tomorrow morning at most."
"Should I…strip?"
"Oh no." He laughed her off, his eyes going to the large marks in the wall where Luke made his displeasure when she had to strip last time known. "Just need skin contact, your palm will suffice."
Both teens took up positions on either side, palms flat against the orb as the doc grabbed the switch.
"Ready?" He asked and got a nod from both, flipping it the fon machine let out a hum as it started up. The glass in the middle filling with a purple mist.
"And done." The doc flipped the switch again, causing the fon machine to power down. While the two subjects looked on in confusion.
"That's it?" Mystic asked as she pulled her hand away.
"That's it." The man in the white coat turned away and started to look at the results on the screen. "Why, were you expecting something more?"
"Well, yeah." Luke replied as he went around and brought his arm around the brunette. "I mean, if it was that easy."
"Make no mistake, this process could have very well killed you, Luke."
"I'm sorry, the hell you just say!?"
"There was a possibility that your seventh fonons would absorb more and, since you would be getting a far more concentrated dose, cause your body to cease functioning." He explained, much to the growing horror of the other two. "It's most likely why they didn't try it before, didn't want to risk someone's life."
"And they couldn't find a replica."
"That too." Turning to them both, he gave them a smile as he grabbed something. "Now, you should be good, come back if you feel anything unusual, take the medicine if so, and come back in a couple days for a check up."
"Lollipops?" He held out two of the treats to them.
Taking them, Mystic unwrapped her's and put it in her mouth, glaring at the doctor.
"And the reason you decided that my possible death wasn't important enough for me to know is?"
"I figured you'd go through with it either way, also," grabbing a box, he tossed it to Luke. "Keep it wrapped, kids are cute, just not when you're sixteen."
"Yeah, yeah." Grabbing the redhead by the arm, Mystic started to drag him away. "C'mon, might as well use these."
As the doctor watched the replica be dragged off, a look of both surprise and excitement on the redhead's face, he decided it was time for a dinner break.
And then he'd make sure he had the equipment for an infant, just in case.