AN: Thank you for tuning back in to more drama!
Btw, if you are interested into something less angst heavy, you should check out "Two Wrongs make it Right'", another cooperation with Foggy! It's pretty much just fluff and is a better world state for pretty much everyone

Garda III – Lukedonia, 12th December, 09:00

Shame. Shame was a predominant emotion for Garda in everything she did - Maduke had destroyed anything worthy in her and when Raizel had allowed her to kiss him, she had overstepped all boundaries. He was special and she did not deserve him and she knew that. Still, she could not avoid him forever, though she could barely bring herself to actually look Raizel in the eye. Quietly, she entered the room where he usually stood by the window, and sat on the edge of the couch, palms pressed against her knees. How was she supposed to express the storm of conflicting emotions?

"... I apologize." Would she have to explain why? Probably. Raizel.. did deserve to understand, she supposed. "... For... avoiding you."
"... You don't need to apologise." It was unnecessary. Raizel wasn't owed her time. Or her attention.

She blushed. He was ... so even-tempered. It was admirable, in a way. "I... I couldn't bring myself to even look you in the eye." There it was again, the shame

"Why?" What was wrong? Had he done something she'd disliked? Though he really couldn't think of anything.

... How was she supposed to put her torment into words? Could anyone? ".. I'm undeserving." Her words were mere whispers, spoken with a quivering lip. Not just undeserving,but also weak. Too weak to face the overwhelming weight of everything.

Raizel left his window, sitting on the couch beside her. "What makes you say that?"

"..." Garda lowered her gaze. She mustn't cry, though all she wanted to do was wail . Somehow, she resisted the urge. "I'm in shards. There's nothing of worth left, it's all been taken already."

He blinked at that. "You are of worth." Inherently. Just by being alive. Was that not obvious?

He was.. too kind. Too... too everything. She finally dared to look at him, and despite the tears in her eyes, they looked truly... dead. Numb. "My heart, my body, my soul, my mind, none of it is clean, and good, and whole."

"Why should they have to be?" Rai's own hands weren't clean. And he hadn't been whole for far longer than he'd been bonded to Frankenstein.
"Because this is what you deserve." Goodness. Love. Devotion. Not a broken heart and a used body.
"No. It's not." But still. "What about you? Don't you deserve better than a dying man?"
"No. I do not." She shook her head slowly. She did not really deserve anything at all, really, or so she thought.
"... Muzaka... my heart belonged to him, entirely, once."

And now he was gone. If Muzaka were still here... he'd still take her as she was, Raizel thought. "And your heart still belongs to him." He would do nothing to change it. Muzaka deserved it. To be loved even after he was gone.

"No all of it. Not anymore." She did not know whether it was the loneliness or a genuine emotion, and this nagging doubt troubled her.
"Not all of it?" One lonely kiss from her did not mean she was in love with him. He wasn't a fool.
"Even looking at you... I don't know if I... am lonely... or if I.. feel for you ." For him, and not for whatever idea she might have of him.

He blushed. She... might actually have feelings for him then? "I do not know either."

"I... am sorry." She turned away, swallowing hard. Once, she has been a proud warrior of her people - she must remember the strength she'd once had.

With a shake of his head, he spoke once more, "There is nothing to apologise for." Things were complicated.

"... Do you want me to leave?"
"... No." That question confused him. "Why would I want that?"
"... for.. wasting your time... being... difficult. Complicated. I don't know. why would you want me here?!"
"Because you want to be here." It was as simple as that.
"Do I?"

Her voice sounded dry, bitter. What did she want? She had not wanted anything in ages, other than vengeance. She wanted to see Maduke's blood dripping down her arms as she held his severed head up for everyone to see.

Raizel frowned. Did she not actually want to stay? "...My apologies." Assuming that she'd just leave if she didn't want to be there... That was foolish, wasn't it?

".. I don't know what I want. I don't know whether I want anything at all."
He rose, going back to his window. "That is fine."
"...what about you?" She watched him closely. "What do you want?"
"... What do I want?" What a strange question. If only because of how rare it was. His face flushed a bit.
"Yes. What is it that you want? In this moment?"
"... Another kiss." It had felt nice. He'd liked it.

Garda blushed. So that was what he wanted? She... She probably could provide that. Slowly, she stood up and approached him. Carefully, almost as if she feared he'd be searing hot, she placed a hand against his chest.

His heart sped a bit as his light blush deepened. He stood perfectly still, like a predator before pouncing... or what was likely more apt, like a prey that was frozen where it was.

His tension could be felt easily. Maduke was often tense too before he... Garda clenched her eyes shut for a second. To think of him now would be letting him keep winning. A deep breath. She opened her eyes again. She stood before Raizel, whose cheeks were reddened, and whose eyes were soft. Everything would be alright. With him by her side, she was safe. Garda placed a tender kiss on his mouth.

Raizel leaned in a bit to the kiss, and stepped back when she'd finished. "Thank you."
Garda smiled awkwardly and reached for his hand. "come what may... I'll stand by your side."
"I appreciate that." Heartfelt. His gratitude was greater than she would ever know.

She was not alone. After centuries of darkness in which she'd prayed for the sweet release of death, she finally saw light again. "You make me feel like I can still live. Or die being myself."

Maduke V – Werewolf Island, 12th December, 11:30

The new throne room was beautiful. A large stained glass window occupied the space behind the throne - the past Lords around him, in the middle, the alpha and the omega. The artist had outdone himself, even though he wasn't there when his Lord had defeated the noble invader. Countless artistic details that made the glass window a delight to behold. Maduke didn't look away from the masterpiece in front of him when he sensed Ignes approaching. "Do you like art?"

"I do." It was an honest answer. One of very few she gave him.

"I always liked stained glass and mosaics. It puts order in chaos. Set the pieces together better than they'd be on their own."

Like Titan, she supposed. She ran her finger along the metal that held the window in place. Like the Union was supposed to improve the humans. From what she'd sometimes heard, anyway. The lot of them were just as hypocritical as Maduke himself.

"Look at them. Those who made it. Those who sat on this throne. Out of many more who bled dry before they could even reach these steps. No one even remembers their names."

The throne. She turned and ran her fingers along that as well. It was remarkably clean, for how blood-soaked it was. Only seven. Seven had sat here.

He observed her, watched her delicate fingers run over ancient stone. The throne of the dead wolf Fenrir. The throne of his grandmother, Neith. The throne of his mentor, Faellan. The throne of his rival, Muzaka. Now it was his throne and after him... No one would sit on it. "Millions died to make it mine." The crusades alone had shed enough blood to flood a hundred castles. "It's not even comfortable to sit on."

She moved to the front, briefly looking to him for permission to sit. A bold move, in his opinion. Amused, he gave a benevolent nod.

Ignes sat. It wasn't comfortable, but it was better than the itchy furs of his bed. He'd taken millions of lives. Just to sit here. She didn't know what to make of that.

Maduke fell silent, allowing her to take in the feeling of sitting here. Was she full of reverence? He remembered feeling a quiet sense of awe the first time he'd sat on here as adult. Yes, he might have sat on it before, but a child allowed to sit on grandmother's throne could never fully grasp what it meant. He missed that feeling.

"An old, uncomfortable thing,isn't it?"
"Yes." It was just fine to her.

Maduke stepped closer and reached out, tilting up her chin to make her look at him.

Oh. Oh no. What had she done this time? She looked him in the eyes defiantly. She was his best shot at a second Titan. He would do nothing. Not here.

He liked the way her pupils dilated slightly when she was taken by surprise. "Are you nervous?"

"No." She lied, rising from the throne to try and make herself taller. Less vulnerable. "Why should I be?"

He let go of her chin and his hand dropped back to his side as he sat on his throne. "Apart from still being a murder suspect?"

"I don't think it matters what happened. I'd still be a suspect no matter the crime." He was looking for a reason to punish her. "You think Lagus was right about me, after all." Her heart fluttered in her chest. This was a risk, she knew.

He'd wondered if she'd bring that up or not. In a way, he'd even hoped she would. "That doesn't mean you can't be a murderous criminal too."

Ignes could have snorted. That was the point she was trying to make. Albeit that it was actually that he'd blame for everything no matter what. "Science is all I'm good at. Maybe he died helping me restrain the prisoner again." A hypothetical. One far too close to the truth to make her comfortable, but it might throw off the trail even more.

"You had issues with the prisoner?" He quirked a brow. "The one you could not keep your hands off?"
"It was just an example! No. I handled him with ease."
"If you're innocent, you have nothing to worry about."

But they both knew that the truth was whatever he wanted to be true.

Frankenstein VI – Werewolf Island, 12th December, 14:30

Frankenstein would make good time to the coast. Or so he'd thought. Now a patrol was hot on his trail as he continued to try and evade him. Should he turn and fight before more showed up? Or should he just keep evading and pray he made it to the coast in time? He spun. Fight. It was never even a question.

Gotaru has been doubting about a strange presence for a while already - and finally, his team tracked down the stranger. He didn't feel werewolf at all. And not noble either. But... Could this be a human? "Identify yourself!", He called out

"You first." He shot a hand out, only for nothing to happen. Right. No Dark Spear. "I'm a Union Elder. Here to speak with the werewolf Lord." That might work, right? Lunark was the Fifth.

Gotaru frowned. Could this really be a union elder? He was dressed in some old, traditional clothing like they'd make centuries ago. Something was off. "I am Gotaru. A warrior. Do you have any proof you're a union elder?"

"Proof? Fifth would know. Isn't she here? She's one of you."

"Lunark? A sentenced traitor." Surely an Elder of the union would know that.

"Since when!? I just got back from vacation, and First sends me here and he doesn't even bother to tell me something that important?!" He shook his head. "I'll be having words with him when I get back."

The warriors glanced at each other. That was... Usually, Lunark and the Lord dealt with the Union. "alright. We're taking you to the Lord."

"Thank you. Third, by the way." He was a human, according to Karias.

"Gotaru." He turned to lead the way. The two squad mates followed them, putting the blond stranger in the middle. "The union didn't send anyone in centuries."

"You haven't beaten Lukedonia soundly in centuries."

"Oh that we have!" He sounded absolutely proud . "The Lord sure is amazing. The other Lord didn't stand a chance." Not quite accurate but who cared about that.

"It's reason enough to come congratulate him in person. Keep your allies close, right?" Frankenstein wished he could snap his neck here and now. But no. Wait for a better opportunity. A better target.

"Ah. Yes." Gotaru nodded. They had quite a long, Awkward march as the castle was pretty much the opposite direction. The sun was setting when they reached it, passing through the high gates. "You look tired." Weak.

"Do you have any idea how far the base was from here? I could use a nap."

"Well, the Lord decides that." Except the throne was empty. Gotaru frowned. "Guess you'll have to wait."

"Yeah. Guess so." He frowned.

The werewolf warrior looked him over critically, but was distracted by the sound of steps - ah. Just Ignes. She was carrying a stack of papers- and seeing them, she froze, almost dropping her files. "Hey. You've been in the union, right? This guy says he's the Third Elder." Gotaru gestured at Frankenstein.

Shit. Ignes. His fist clenched at his side. The bitch who tried to kill him. Well, he supposed maybe he'd get an opportunity to take her down at least then.

"Ah. Goodness of course! You were a wee lad when we last met!" A laugh that didn't quite mask her nervousness. Why the hell was Frankenstein alive?! She was there when he was defeated!
"I almost didn't recognize you!" She smiled widely, as though she was greeting an old friend. Well. Circumstances changed.

AN2: Before anyone asks: yes, Maduke references the bible, not the fanfiction trope.