Chapter 16
Shenanigans with the Underworld God
The Overworld player's bright, beautiful purple eyes slowly blinked open, a loud yawn escaping his throat. He had rested well, his dreams warm and comforting. His body was still very sore but for the most part relaxed.
Steve looked around his dark, obsidian bedroom with lazy eyes, smiling. He still couldn't believe that he had talked to Herobrine...let alone see him. He had actually talked to him. He had touched his hand...and then Herobrine picked him up!
Steve squeaked in his pillow, gripping his blankets in joy. Wow... What else will we do together? Will...will he stick around for some time? Will we get to know each other better? Will we eat together and build together sometime? Oh...will we actually become friends?
The human knew that he was WAY too excited about finally getting to talk to the real Herobrine, but he just couldn't help fantasizing about their relationship and how it could grow.
What did Herobrine think about seeing me? Was he nervous? Was he disappointed? Did he expect something more from me? Did...did he feel happy that he finally got to talk to me? He's been watching over me all my life...especially when I first spawned in...but he has never presented himself to me until now. That must have felt good for him, right?
The human's glassy, purple eyes scanned the protective obsidian room he lay in. It was nice and dark, only a dim redstone torch softly glowing in the corner. Steve felt happy and relaxed, not stressed in the slightest...although he still needed to ask what exactly went down between Herobrine and the hacker. He suspected that Herobrine killed him, but he didn't really know anything else about the event. The fact that the hacker could still be lurking around on the World made Steve feel very uncomfortable. But, why would Herobrine allow him to stay here any longer? Herobrine hates hackers. He must have erased his access to this World. He must have...
Steve cleared his thoughts, focusing on the good instead of the bad. For one, Herobrine didn't kill him and now he's actually taking care of Steve.
Herobrine?
The miner remembered that Herobrine told him to say when he was awake. Steve had no clue how this was going to work considering Herobrine was probably a million blocks away and had no clue what Steve was doing. The younger miner sighed and pulled his red blankets above his nose, sniffing them adorably in comfort.
Suddenly an extremely loud teleportation sound came from seemingly nowhere and Steve screamed, flinging his blankets off of his body and twisting his already broken leg. A large, cold hand wrapped around Steve's torso and he yelped in surprise as purple swirls took over his vision, causing him to black out for a moment. Herobrine grit his teeth inside his mouth, watching Steve's head fall back and go limp for a second as he teleported them to the room he had prepared for his counterpart in the cave system.
After a few seconds Steve regained consciousness, his head pulsing and leg on fire. The god slowly laid the human's weak body down on the bed in his stone room, biting his cheek nervously. He didn't know exactly how to respond to the situation or the current state Steve was in. The god could sense his pain, but didn't know how to approach it. Perhaps he entered Steve's room too abruptly and teleported him away too quickly. He must have given the human a heart attack.
Steve groaned in pain, starting to sweat as an uncomfortable heatwave spread through his body. Herobrine became nervous as he watched Steve's face grow pale and lips turn purple, the younger miner's eyelids shutting.
The god quickly walked out of the dim room, pacing around the separate stone room next to Steve's that he had placed his brewing stand in. After only a few seconds of frantically running around the room, the demigod found the healing potions he had made for Steve and clutched them to his chest, bolting out of the room with his eyes blazing.
Steve's ears rang and he didn't have the strength to open his eyes, for his head felt like it was going to explode. He could hear a few echoey footsteps but they were very distorted in his head.
Herobrine's heavy feet seemed to crack the stone beneath him as he rushed to Steve's bedside, his luminous eyes burning intensely. The god didn't want Steve to die. That was all he wanted. The thought of Steve dying made him freak out for a reason he was terrible at explaining.
The god cautiously placed a hand underneath Steve's chin, squinting at the feeling of touching the adventurer's hot skin. He pulled Steve's jaw down while keeping his head tipped upwards, earning a small noise from the human. He wasted no time in shoving the healing potion in his mouth, filling it with the sour concoction. Steve flinched and gurgled a bit but after a few seconds his muscles relaxed again and he started swallowing the liquid instinctively, still only half-conscious.
When Steve started to gulp down the medicine, Herobrine watched his face slowly return to its natural color. Steve's cheeks flushed and his lips turned red, his tan skin fading through the pale color on his face. The god had never been so close to Steve, and it had been years since he's even seen him. But now, upon seeing Steve once more, Herobrine's chest filled with joy. He didn't realize how much he missed watching over Steve until now. He wanted to follow him around once more. He wanted to watch him overcome difficult tasks in the Overworld, just like how he used to. The Underworld god had been bored sitting in his Nether kingdom, building random structures, and killing anonymous players who happened to stumble across them. That was the main reason why he even came up to the Overworld in the first place. He wanted to mine to take his thoughts and attention elsewhere.
Of course, Steve couldn't know this.
Steve flickered his eyes open for a split second but quickly shut them, cringing at the taste of the acidic potion inside his mouth. Herobrine stared at Steve as the human squinted his eyes close. How does he do that? Did he spawn like that?
With the Overworld player's eyes closed, Steve's eyelashes caught the god's attention, oddly enough. They were thick and dark brown, curling upwards naturally on their own.
As if his eyes could not get any more beautiful...they might have just did. Incredible.
The hand the god had underneath Steve's chin started pulsing so he quickly drew it away, shaking it in the air a bit before taking out a healing splash potion and throwing it onto Steve's leg, making the human flinch once more and cry out in surprise.
You cannot touch him. You cannot make any contact with him. Keep your distance. If you do not follow these simple rules you have known all your pitiful life, disaster will strike. You cannot touch anybody. You cannot let him touch you anymore.
Herobrine glared at himself and cursed up a storm inside his head, his eyes burning furiously. Cursed devil. Piss on a wither, universe. Have fun making me look like even more of a lonely fool for blessing me with a human who does not want to kill me for sport, but wants to get to know me better as a Being. Have fun watching me watch your creation blossom into a strong warrior, leaving me behind in the dust only because I told him to. Piece of — thank you for making my miserable life even more hellish than it already is. I cannot have a single friend. I cannot do anything you —
"Herobrine?"
Steve's soft voice broke through the god's thoughts, making Herobrine whip his head to the side to stare at the human, clearly distraught.
Steve had opened his eyes a little while ago after the splash potion had been thrown on his leg. He felt much better, almost perfect. When he had opened his eyes, Herobrine was staring at the wall with his lips curled back in a disgusted way, his face scrunched up in anger. Steve didn't know what to do at the time so he just watched the god stand there, his eyes practically burning holes through the stone wall. He had looked terribly angry. It scared Steve. He hoped it wasn't something he did.
Herobrine prayed to god that Steve hadn't seen his face when he was arguing with himself and...others...inside his head but by the way Steve was staring him, it was clear that he had.
Herobrine regained his posture and sighed, asking, "are you feeling alright?"
Steve only stared at him in response. Notch was right. He is mysterious. He has so much conflict inside him. That's why it's almost impossible to know what he's feeling. He probably doesn't even know what he's feeling.
The god gave Steve a mini glare, not able to muster up the courage to give him one of his normal glares. Steve was just too...sweet and feeble for his impatience.
Steve saw Herobrine's glare and threw the blankets over his head, embarrassed.
"Are you feeling better?"
The adventurer replied through the blanket tersely, "Yah..."
"Nightfall will be here soon, Steven. I recommend you get out of bed and do something to make yourself tired so you can fall asleep tonight." The god spoke in a low tone, sighing as he plopped himself down at the end of Steve's bed, the whole thing creaking underneath his weight.
"You can't force me to...you're not my dad..." Steve mumbled jokingly through the blankets.
Herobrine did his very best to hold back a grin. "No, but I am in your nightmares."
"You're not in my nightmares, Herobrine." Steve said softly. "You're in my dreams."
Herobrine cursed mentally.
The Overworld adventurer was glad he kept the blankets over his head. The silence that followed after his response made him feel a little embarrassed for saying what he did. But it'd be worse if I didn't tell him the truth, right? I'm not scared of him, not in the way he thinks I am. He should know that...
"That is certainly...interesting...Steve." The Nether lord responded questionably.
Steve grumbled and rolled over in the bed, laying on his chest and pushing his face into the pillow. He wanted to talk to Herobrine but he didn't know how. Everything that comes out of his mouth just embarrasses him more.
"Steven." The demon stated the adventurer's name.
"What?"
"Get out of bed."
Steve blushed and hollered, "I don't want to! I'm comfortable and perfectly happy right here!"
Herobrine wrapped his arms around the younger miner's body, scooping him up, along with the blankets. A small huff escaped Steve's lips in surprise as the demigod pulled him onto his lap, turning Steve sideways so he could carry him in bridal style. Herobrine completely ignored his conscience. He pushed away all logic surrounding the situation. He rose to his feet, carrying Steve, who was still wrapped in his blankets, out the door. I am not touching him. I am making no physical contact with Steven. This is fine.
"W-What are you d-doing?" Steve stammered, a nervous wreck.
"Getting you out of bed." The god responded sternly, although his response made Steve giggle happily. Herobrine tipped his head downwards and inspected the human's joyful expression as he walked.
"I still feel like I'm in bed! I'm still wrapped in a blanket and I'm not moving." Steve responded, flashing a cute smile at the god.
"Oh really?" Herobrine's voice slurred mischievously. Steve nodded, now feeling a bit timid at Herobrine's dark voice change. He really enjoyed hearing the god's voice though. It was alluring.
The god came to a sudden halt, raising Steve closer to his handsome face. The human gazed at him wide-eyed as he whispered mysteriously, "I'm sure this'll wake you up."
Before Steve could part his lips, Herobrine dropped him, making Steve scream in terror as his body started to free-fall. Steve's scream was soon silenced though as his back plunged into cold water, his body stinking downwards. Steve's adrenaline spiked and he kicked his legs as hard as he could, zooming to the surface blindly.
When Steve surfaced he gasped, coughing a bit and spitting out the water that he had accidentally inhaled. His purple eyes raced in confusion and nervousness, his legs propelling him through the water until he reached the stone on the side of the dark, cave pool.
Herobrine watched over Steve in triumph. "Now that you are awake, you join me in the lava pool to help heal your joints."
"W-What was that for?" Steve stuttered weakly, shivering as cold water droplets rained down on the stone blocks beneath him. He hugged his arms in towards his body in discomfort at how cold he suddenly was.
"Just a little bit of a lesson, Steve." Herobrine smirked, causing the human to gulp at the sudden expression on the god's face. "Come now."
The younger miner whimpered and quickly shuffled over to Herobrine's side, soaking wet and a little startled. Herobrine hid his amused smile and walked them over to the large lava pool where he first met Steve in. He slowly sat down on the edge of the pool side, sticking his legs into the fiery liquid. The Underworld god sighed in satisfaction as the lava warmed his cold skin, immediately comforting and relaxing him.
"Drink this fire resistance potion so you will not be harmed by the lava." Herobrine told Steve and held out an orange potion bottle. Steve shakily bent down and took it out of Herobrine's grasp, shivering. Seeing Steve so cold made the god bite his inner cheek in slight regret for throwing him into the water.
Steve swallowed it quickly, grunting in disgust. After he had finished drinking it, he slowly shuffled closer to the pool and looked down at the lava with big eyes. He looked terrified. Steve's biggest fear was lava.
"H-Herobrine I... I don't think I can do this..." Steve shivered, giving Herobrine a pathetic look.
"Let me help?"
Steve swallowed and crossed his arms tighter to his chest. "Um..."
The god took a few strides over to Steve until he was able to reach out and touch him. Steve crouched down and looked at Herobrine nervously, his body still soaking wet and shivering. The god put both of his large hands underneath Steve's armpits, the younger miner gasping at the contact. Herobrine discretely clenched his teeth. Steve's skin was so hot. The god grew mad at himself for touching the Overworld player once more.
Steve was a little flustered about the whole situation but at the same time he needed it very badly. He didn't realize how much he trusted Herobrine. As soon as the god lifted him up, Steve's hands reached out frantically, trying to find the demon's shoulders. He wanted to be close to him. He felt safer when he was close to him.
"O-Oh god..." Steve murmured nervously as Herobrine slowly lowered him into the lava, the warm liquid rising up to his torso. Steve bit his lip in fear as he was almost fully submerged in the pool, his fingers digging into Herobrine's arms frantically.
The demigod eyed Steve's face the entire time while lowering him into the lava. The human trusted him. Herobrine couldn't believe him. The way Steve held onto Herobrine's arms so desperately made it clear that he wanted to be close to him. Who would have thought that Steve would trust him this easily? They only met a while ago. No player has ever acted so...different around Herobrine.
The younger miner loosened his grip on Herobrine's arms and started to relax as the cold water evaporated from clothes and skin, making his body temperature steadily rise once again. He panted and swallowed nervously, softly asking the god, "Will it hurt me soon? Do I have to get out now?"
"No. Not for awhile." Herobrine replied, the glow in his eyes dying down as Steve's fingers held onto his muscular arms fearfully. The Nether lord knew that he should be pushing Steve's hand away from him, but it has been years since another player had touched him. Herobrine had forgotten what it felt like to have another player put their hand on his skin. It seemed to fill him with life once more.
"Herobrine?" Steve said the god's name softly. Herobrine stared at him as soon as he said his name. He kept his face deadpan, not showing any emotion whatsoever. Steve tugged on Herobrine's arm a little bit in the lava, giving the god a look he couldn't read. "Why does it feel so...weird when I touch you?"
Herobrine continued staring at Steve, not blinking once. Steve cowered a bit under his intense gaze, fearing that he had asked a question that Herobrine didn't like.
Fortunately, the god opened his mouth and calmly replied, "It is because you and I are complete opposites, Steve. My body is cold and dead. You are warm and alive. I rule the Underworld and you rule the Overworld with that friend of yours...Alex, I believe she is."
"But you are alive, Herobrine. You are standing right here in front of me." Steve responded, tipping his head in confusion.
"Yes, but not really. My body is dead while my soul is alive. My body must be cold to control the supernatural burning in my eyes." Herobrine said, feeling Steve poke at his arm as he spoke.
Steve frowned and stopped poking Herobrine's arm when he finished. "No...your body is alive. You are an alive Being. You might have special, unnatural abilities, but those things just make you even more alive."
Herobrine pursed his lips and closed his eyes for a few seconds. "Why don't you just agree with me, Steve? Why must you challenge my words?"
"I'm not challenging you. I'm telling you the truth. I won't agree with something I don't believe in or something that isn't true... I don't like to fake my thoughts around players. I don't want to lie to you or keep any of my feelings or opinions a secret, Herobrine."
The god closed his eyes again, zoning out in Steve's words. Oh, how nice they were. Herobrine had not heard such nice words spoken to him in a decade. Steve must be a fallen angel. Why hadn't he tried to talk to him earlier? He shouldn't have been so nervous about approaching the young miner in Alpha. Steve has always been the gentlest and most intelligent of players.
Steve watched Herobrine shut his eyes and he smiled. He reckoned the god liked what he had said. It made Steve happy to see the god finally look somewhat comfortable around him in conversation. Of course, the human still couldn't read any of the demon's emotions because his face was so expressionless, but Steve could tell that he was relaxed. Herobrine deserved to be told nice things. All Steve's life players have referred to him as being "a monster," "a heartless murderer," or "a nightmare." Those nicknames are truly horrible. Steve guessed that this type of name calling has really messed the god up inside. Who could blame him? His death in Alpha wasn't even his fault.
The adventurer gently pressed his palm into the older miner's arm, eyes widening at the feeling that resulted from their skin coming into contact. It felt like Steve's hand had melted into Herobrine's arm. It felt like fire and ice. The simple touch had left his hand warm and melty feeling. It was hypnotizing. It was unlike anything Steve had ever experienced before in Minecraftia.
Steve quickly snook a peak at Herobrine's face. The god was looking down at Steve's hand on his arm with half-closed eyes. He almost looked sad. His face was quite solemn looking. The human gently pushed his hand into Herobrine's arm again, the fire and ice effect taking place once more.
"You should not do that, Steve. You should know this." Herobrine spoke quietly in a dark tone, still gazing down at their arms with half-closed eyes.
Steve looked at Herobrine and replied, "you can't say that to me when you're looking down at my hand like that."
Herobrine didn't respond. Steve gulped and cautiously moved closer to the god in the lava, dropping his right arm in the lava and picking up his left. The god wasn't even trying to fight it. His arms were limp. He seemed as if he was in a trance. It made Steve feel a little sad.
"Why, Steve."
Steve clutched his arm and looked up at him worryingly. "Why what?"
"Why don't you run away from me?"
Steve's eyes raced around Herobrine's face a bit before he started stammering, "Umm...I d-don't—"
"Why don't you try to kill me? Why don't you try to claim my head as your trophy to feed your fame and greed? Why don't you call me dehumanizing words? Why don't you scream every time you see me?"
Steve quickly replied, "well, why didn't you kill me? Why didn't you hurt me? Why did you save me?"
Herobrine raised his head slightly and locked eyes with Steve, not responding. Steve returned his look and murmured, "see? We're stereotyping each other. I don't want to do that any longer. I don't want to make assumptions about you. I've been making them all my life like every other stupid person...but now I see that you're so much more complex in real life. I have no right to judge or assume something about you. That's not right."
"For the sake of..." Herobrine sighed and trailed off, shaking his head side to side in dismay.
"W-What's so wrong with that?" Steve stammered defensively, giving the god a disappointed look.
"Nothing is wrong with that, Steve..." the god murmured through his hands in which he started to rub his forehead with.
"Then I—"
Why are you so perfect?
Steve blushed furiously at Herobrine's mental message and pinched the god's arm. "Y-You just haven't been around the right players! I am not perfect! I-I am just being a nice, considerate player like everyone should be!"
Herobrine chuckled darkly in his hand. "Well, you got that right, Steven. I have NOT been around the right players."
Steve nodded, nipping his lip.
"But you. You are a 'right' player."
"Well I—!"
"You are special, Steve. You must know that," Herobrine interrupted.
"N-No I'm not! I'm normal and just like everyone—"
"Nonsense, Steve. You are much different than the rest of the players who inhabit this universe."
Steve huffed and stammered, "W-Well! You're special too then!"
Herobrine chuckled in amusement, giving Steve a playful smirk. "Better hush now Steve before I blush."
Steve gave the god a hard nudge, only intensifying Herobrine's laughter. "S-Stop it I'm being serious! I hope you are too!..."
"My replies are all very serious, Steve. Don't you remember? I'm 'Mr. Serious.'" Herobrine responded in a sarcastic voice, giving Steve an attractive grin.
"W-What has gotten into you?! One moment you act as if you're incapable of producing a smile and...n-now look at you! Playful as a filly!" Steve cried, his face on fire.
Herobrine snorted and chuckled, "Filly? I can assure you that I am no...filly, Steve. Baby horses are weak and clumsy, tripping over their own feet. They are barely able to tell their right from their left."
"T-Then what are you!?" Steve asked playfully, tugging at the demigod's arm.
"Much, much worse." Herobrine replied, giving Steve an evil looking smile.
Steve blushed, secretly adoring the expressions he had managed to get out of the god. "Will I ever see this...part of you?"
Herobrine hummed, his low voice sending chills throughout the younger miner's body. Steve held onto his arm with a happy expression on his face, waiting for the god's response eagerly. Herobrine studied the human's terribly innocent looking face before slowly telling him, "Perhaps in time... I am not the type to release my wrath on a joyful, pristine player such as yourself."
Steve giggled and said, "Alright. I'm not so sure I want your 'wrath' anyway."
Herobrine gazed at Steve's cheerful face for a few moments, seeing how unbelievably sweet and light-hearted the human really was. He must have a hard time killing animals. He must have a hard time watching players fight. He must feel uncomfortable around anything mean-spirited or dark. But, if this is true then why is he holding onto my arm like that? Why is he attracted to me, the ruler of the Underworld? The most infamous cold-blooded torturer and murderer in Minecraft's history? There must be a side of him that he is deliberately hiding from me. Steve is more secretive than he appears to be. I must find out what he is hiding from me. He could be hiding so many emotions behind that perfect smile of his. He could be hiding a dark desire behind a laugh. I know how it is.
"Why don't we get out of the lava soon and eat? You need some meat to replenish your lost blood and overall soreness." The god suggested, Steve nodding quickly with no second thoughts at the demon's offer.
"I would really enjoy that.. I haven't been eating the best lately... All I've eaten for the past couple days is raw meat and cookies." Steve told Herobrine shyly and laughed under his breath.
The god chuckled and mumbled, "I am sure this dinner of ours is needed then."
Steve's face grew hot and he gave the god a small smile, lost in the thought of the Nether lord preparing a meal for him.
He is so kind to me. Sure he has his moments, but...he is gentle. Herobrine acts nothing like how he acts around other players with me. I truly am...special.
