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They say the first time you tie yourself to someone exhausts you not just physically but spiritually. Sadly for my predicament, it was more than that and the reason even surprises me. Especially since the one I was tethered to, had no idea of what I had done.
Not that I wanted him to know since he would probably take it the wrong way.
After all, no one likes to be pitied.
Hackles raises defensively as the trio stared at a giant spider with a long scorpion's tail resting in a web tied to two ruined buildings.
Eight eyes narrowed angrily as it stared at the tall but lanky white haired human, a small white fox and a blue avian who was hovering in the air beside the pair. Each felt a sense of unease from how they knew either it had to be subdued or put down. In the grand scheme of things. Neither sounded pleasant considering what with they had to work with but knew that the dark creature had to be dealt with accordingly.
"Alright you giant eight-eyed bastard! You ready to fight or are you coming with us quietly?" The avian asked loudly as electricity surrounded his wings. Preparing for the unsavoury response their foe would bring toward them. Especially since the spider demon was furious over how they disrupted his 'dinnertime' involving the black panther who had somehow disappeared into thin air.
A low chuckle soon entered their ears sending shivers down their spines thanks to his grating voice while his pincers clicked from moving.
"FOOLISH WEAKLINGS!" The large spider mocked in a haughty tone as its eight eyes narrowed at them coldly, disgusted that it had to deal with lowly creatures. The fox winced at the response knowing that this wouldn't end well for them specially since they had no cards in their arsenal to show nor trump over the nightmare demon.
The webs trembled as glints of fire flowed through each thread in semi rapid but in a pulsing manner, reminding the fox of a heartbeat the more the fire moved and left hollow crackling noises. Sensing the power within each flame left the fox almost shivering in response to the fires, feeling the fire within wishing to burn in reply. Wanting to warn the spider to back down or else there would be consequences for its indiscretions.
Only instead of allowing them to form, the fox willed the never-ending flames within to quell into a somewhat peaceful manner. Hoping avoid using them and risk exposure, to attract unwanted attention considering the fact it had a job to carry out. There had to be a way, there always would be one so why was it so hard to figure out how to solve the puzzle?
There was always a solution and the fox observed carefully, ignoring the avian's tone as it noticed the fox shivering.
"Don't tell me you're scared now Foxy" the bird asked from the corner of it's right eye despite the fact they were on either side of the human male. The male gripped his cane tightly knowing that this was going to be harder than he had anticipated. On the other hand, he stared at the fox from the corner of his eye, hoping that the fox would not leave them when things got too troublesome for them to handle.
Strange as that thought was, it left him perplexed as to why this thought would bother him so much since the fox had been with him since his unnatural birth. Odd as it is, the fox despite looking harmless, appeared to show signs of wanting to stay. Even now, the fox continued to show a sense of loyalty that created a stir in his chest. One that didn't feel unpleasant and yet, left him wondering why he felt mixed feelings towards such a simple animal of all things.
At times part of him even now wanted to send the fox away, knowing that would be the safer option. However, despite all the issues they faced so far, the fox continued to stay with him.
This in turn left him with more thoughts and questions. After all, he lived and survived so far by himself so why was it so hard to push a creature that wasn't tied to him in any way out of his life?
On the other hand, did he truly want to push it away?
Was it because he was worried about it? Impossible, he cared for no one.
No one cared for him during his years as a whole person, so why would that change now?
And yet… considering all the things he had done, what he had endured it left him more uneasy and swallowing what felt like large boulders down his throat. A sense of nausea plagued his chest leaving him more unwilling to send the fox away.
Why? Even now he was unsure. He barely knew anything about the fox let alone know what they are like. So why was this fox being so kind? Surely it wanted something in return right?
There was always someone who wanted something, so what was it's aim?
To his surprise however, the fox looked up at him with firm but determined ruby red eyes, even now they pierced his soul leaving him feeling vulnerable and naked within the depths of it's eyes from how they watched him carefully. Unmoving, unbending, unyielding that it left him unsettled from the power its eyes had over him.
Something so small and yet it braved against the danger alongside them, knowing it could die at any moment but refused to bow down and run.
I'm staying
A wry smile formed on his face at the thought of what the expression meant, almost as if he could imagine what the creature was trying to tell him. He released a short chuckle.
"The determined creature shows it's hidden claws" the male hummed softly before gripping his cane's head tightly.
Clicking noises caught their attention once more to see the spider glaring at them. It's power washing over them in waves that would leave one dizzy from the raw energy it was unleashing.
"Do you really think you can get me to obey you? You, a measly human? A creature that is a former shadow of himself?!" The spider mocked darkly causing the male's mouth to twitch in dislike.
"The mere thought is laughable. To think I who was once a powerful demon have now been reduced to being someone's nightmares. A foolish human indeed!" The spider quipped as his pincers clicked showing pure agitation.
"It's not like I wanted this either you eight legged moron! We were all cast away and left to die. Now make a contract with him or else you'll end up disappearing" the avian snapped as he flapped his wings sharply. Both eyes narrowed in disgust from having to stare at the spider anymore than he needed to.
"Look who's talking!" The spider bellowed as flames licked through some of the threads. "One who has now been reduced being controlled to a mere powerless human, being made to submit to his whims of all things"
"I would rather die than serve such a weak husk that has no demonic power! What kind of demon would I be to submit to a loser? I would be reduced into being a laughing stock!" the spider added as it narrowed its eyes at them. The fox stared at the spider and then the male with a withered look, it's ears pinned themselves to its skull now feeling frustrated for the male.
"It has a point… as much as I hate to admit it" the fox mused wearily but made no effort to respond.
"Let me at him Vergil! I swear he deserves what's coming to him! That arrogant prick!" The avian scowled as it released a few stray bolts of electricity. Bits of web got singed while some parts of the building nearby were reduced to rubble. Unfortunately as a result the fox and Vergil were forced to dodge the stray bolts before they could get hit.
Screeching angrily, the fox glared darkly at the avian who was met with a look disapproval from the male who pursed his lips.
"Try not to get us hit, if you please" Vergil spoke sternly, the bird hearing this winced from his blunder.
"Yeah, my bad Shakespeare" the avian muttered weakly glancing at the angry fox, the bird cringed knowing it was furious at him. Releasing a few noises that sounded like scolding the bird yelped in shock.
"O-Oi! It wasn't intentional Whitey!" the avian defended as before they dodged fire from the spider. The fox's eyes went wide from the comment.
"Whitey?! What the hell man?!" the fox hissed sharply while it resisted the urge to take a bite out of the bird. "Flippin idiot and I love birds!" it mentally cussed before shaking its head in disgust.
"Do not forget I still exist! I will eat you all slowly so I can relish in your screams and make you pay for trying to make me your slave of all things!" the spider yelled as it shot more fire at them. Sensing a flame heading it's way the fox turned sharply on it's paws and clawed lightly onto the man's leather jacket before resting on his shoulders, meanwhile using it's tail as an anchor in order to keep itself steady. Startled the man looked at the fox while feeling it's erratic heartbeats from his shoulders only to duck as another flame flew inches above his head.
To the male's relief they were able to hide behind some debris in order for them regain some oxygen from having to move quickly, feeling his chest grow heavy the male placed his hand above it before his fingers slowly traced the side of the fox's face. to his surprise the fox nuzzled him slightly, almost as if it was assuring him it was there for him.
Blinking sharply, Vergil's eyes softened softly before ducking as soon as he heard a whoosh of flames slam onto the debris they were hiding behind. Fingers tightly gripping the scruff of the fox's neck the male's frame shook before releasing a huge breath of air as unwanted emotions began to well up from within leaving him unsettled.
"Hey Shakespeare! Stop standing and help me!" the bird yelled as it fired electricity at the spider who cursed at them angrily. Turning to look the fox watched from the shoulders as the male gripped the cane tightly.
"Time to end this it seems, a shame since it could have been useful" Vergil sighed now inhaling air before making his move.
Taking his cane he rushed towards the spider who was now on the ground instead of either the webs or ruined buildings, using the distraction caused by the avian the male slammed his cane into the spider causing a loud scream to filled their ears. As a result it left violently shivers running down theirs spines.
Gritting his teeth Vergil pushed the cane deeper into the chest of the spider until he felt the cane go through the body.
"To think… I was bested" the spider grunted weakly as it narrowed it's eyes at the male.
"By a weak… pathetic shell of a husk" the spider rasped heavily, watching it with sad eyes the fox hopped off the male's shoulders taking him and the avian by surprise. They watched the fox as it approached the spider's weakened form.
Coughing weakly the spider felt it's life ending, only instead of allowing itself to die easily the spider growled at the fox who stared at it after coming closer.
"Come to mock me…?" the spider asked darkly as the fox placed it's right paw on the spider's maw.
"Do you not want to live?" the fox asked with conflicted eyes, startled the spider's eyes widened before a cough left it's mouth.
"Pitying the damned?" the spider groaned "I refuse to bow down to such a weak and pathetic host" it added before feeling it's life slip faster. Gritting it's teeth the fox frowned.
"What if… I can provide you with a contract? One that doesn't involve him?" perplexed the spider's eyes which had become weakened to the point they were only slits stared at the fox.
"You? A weak… useless animal?" the spider muttered before laughing weakly, not caring that the male and avian were watching him with narrowed eyes. The male frowned not understanding what was going on nor knowing what the fox was up to. Meanwhile the avian blinked as it could not hear what was being said between the pair.
"What is the fox up to?" the avian muttered mentally as it continued to remain airborne.
Sighing mutely the fox opened it's eyes and stared at the spider deeply, startling the large creature to a point that it felt like it was being stared into it's soul. Which in itself was strange given that it had none thanks to being a nightmare.
"I can offer you redemption Phantom, like you- they were thrown away. Surely someone as prideful as yourself feels offended to be tossed away without a second thought. To be reduced as a means to an end when you can be so much more" the fox said firmly as it kept it's paw on the spider who released a broken laugh.
"If you weren't so weak, I would have probably respected you for being so bold… or should I be more offended for you kicking me when I am already now down" Phantom replied dully. To it's surprise the fox stood straighter leaving it perplexed by the sudden change in demeanour.
"Who says I am weak? Were you never taught to not underestimate appearances?" the fox said as it allowed a flare of energy to be sensed only by the spider. Startled the spider's body jumped despite being severely damaged leaving the pair who were watching confused.
"YOU-?!" Phantom screamed weakly now wishing to either end the fox or flee. Now that it had an idea of how strong the fox was but could not gage on what it truly was.
"My offer still stands, I do not wish to see a life end if I can help it. I don't pity, just merely see a new opportunity for someone like you. Surely it would work out in your favour-only you have a stronger host and you'll live to see another day" the fox added with a glint in it's ruby red eyes, however at that moment a flash of sapphire blue entered it's eyes stunning the spider to silence.
"I won't beg and I know you are very prideful, so I will let you chose for your own path willingly" Trembling violently the spider laughed as loud as it could shocking the pair who were watching them.
"To allow myself to leave one prison only to allow myself to be enslaved another…" Phantom coughed weakly once more before it started to dissolve into ink.
"Very well… I yield" the fox nodded sharply before allowing the energy of the spider to course through it's small form. Started the avian shrieked in surprise not knowing what was going on. Why had Phantom- the stubbornness one of the group chose to form a contract with the fox of all things?
Just who was this creature to have such an effect on the spider?
Sighing the fox turned to the look at Vergil with sad yet tired eyes before making a slow trot towards him.
"That was very reckless" Vergil spoke in a semi stern voice as he knelt down to stroke the fox, pushing away the uncomfortable feelings that swarmed his heart like angry locusts. To his surprise there were no markings visible on the fox leaving him perplexed as to where the spider had truly gone if there were no markings on the fox's body.
"I don't know what you said to Phantom but that was impressive for a tiny fox" the avian said earning him a sharp glare from the fox.
"I'm a female you ass!" the fox screamed at the avian who jumped slightly into the air. "And another thing Griffon! Don't think that just because I'm small I won't bite your head off!"
"Yeeesh, so feisty for a tiny thing… women am I right?" Griffon shivered weakly in the air. Vergil blinked in surprise as he stared at the fox who continued to glare at the avian carefully.
"It's a girl?" the male asked not believing his ears as he stared at the fox more.
"Well yeah… although, should have made that obvious since I could hear her voice since the moment we met" Griffon admitted weakly earning him a sour look from the annoyed male.
"Thanks" Vergil said dryly before noticing that they were missing something. "Where's the other nightmare- the panther?" hearing this the bird blinked and looked around sharply.
"Now that you mentioned it" Griffon without wasting time began to scour the area in hopes of locating the missing nightmare. Smirking to herself the fox sat up regally and squeaked at the male causing him to look at her.
"I take it you have an idea of where it is then?" Vergil asked with a wry smile, his eyes widened as he almost thought he saw the fox winking at him briefly before moving to the right side of the area. Following cautiously the male soon spotted a large black cat watching them from between two buildings.
"How did you manage to not get seen?!" Griffon yelled as it approached the group. Huffing smugly the fox smirked at the bird earning her a glare.
"Never underestimate illusions" she replied earning her a groan from the bird.
"Why do I have the feeling you are going to be a handful Whitey?" Griffon asked weakly earning it a growl from the large cat.
"Stop calling me Whitey! Even Shadow hates it!" the fox snapped before shaking her head. "Besides, if you had just asked, I would have told you my name… although not my true name" the fox added sternly as she allowed Shadow to nuzzle her head.
"Oh? And pray tell princess, what's your name?" Griffon asked as she eyed him sideways.
"If you must know, you can call me Hara… for now" the fox replied. Hearing the name Griffon narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of name is Hara?" the bird muttered darkly before yelping as he was hit on the beak by the cane.
"Do be nice to our ally" Vergil said slowly "she may not be a familiar, but she is willing to help us for now" smiling Hara approached the male once more and nuzzled the palm of his hand lightly.
"Thank you… Hara" Vergil said softly, feeling a mixture of emotions that left him unsure of whether they were a good thing or not.
"Thank you for being there at my lowest"