[Co-Author: Butterfly123199]
Context: Brutter apparently has a piece of Mar's artifact, both Trinny and El finally obtained Okasan's works. Next stop was The Oracle...
By the time they stepped out to head to The Oracle's hut in the Water Slums, dusk had arrived. Trinity gave one look at the sky and the purple star blinked back, putting Okasan's belongings in the zoomer. He looked around and thankfully there weren't many patrols around.
They stopped right outside the hut, Trinity glanced over his shoulder. "Don't get too near." He stated, opening the decrepit door, creaking horribly as if it was about to snap off.
"Alright.." Elise carefully followed behind him. "So what's this thing Brutter wants us to get?" She asked.
"A piece of Mar's Seal, Onin had asked us to get them, and we technically want to get them before The Baron does anyway."
As the door closed behind, there was something strange compared to before for Elise. Then she realized as the mystical candles appeared before them as opposed to the dusty abandoned setting, Trinity was still here. The orange candlelights and blue aura of the Precursor statue stood before them in a mere instant, the colors dancing upon the glossy surface of his mask. Eyes still golden.
She soon realized that the shadows creeping at the masked man's heels leapt upon the walls, stretching higher. The two points of his head in the shadow appeared and before her stood the dark counterpart of him in the same place.
He stood stoically in front of the copper colored statue, which had eyes like gems with blue sheen. A long proboscis stretched all the way to the wooden floorboards which were no longer worn and ruined before the atmosphere and room had transformed.
Elise stepped back, to watch, wondering in her mind as the deep voice of the Oracle reverberated and shook their rib cages.
"Greetings, Wanderer."
Neither Nyx nor Trin said anything.
"Those who carry the darkness on their shoulders, they alone cannot save us. In the moment of truth, they must protect their souls. Remember, as we grant you guidance."
Within a split second-
TSHHHRK!
A violet arc ripped through the air!
"Ah!" Elise winced ya the sudden booming voice. She couldn't tell why it felt so familiar to her - why everything felt so familiar...
Trinity reached out, catching the lightning bolt as it curled around his entire left arm like magnetism! "HRAGH!" The eyes glowed as he stood his ground, unlike Jak or El, he took it head on. El flinched, looking away and shielding herself from the intense light, catching something peculiar of the shadows that danced along the walls. The wings of Trin gave odd shapes and she could've sworn they were...
'Hands?...'
The cape immediately ripped into the tendrils she recognized, the indigo electricity seeping into his arm made his veins glowed.
"Learn and they will listen. We grant you control, but this is not true balance."
The bolt from the statue's mouth receded, but Trinity stood there hunched over. The electricity dancing around his arm that trembled just like his wings, he breathed, eyes closed, and ears twitching as if he was hearing something.
Much to her surprise, she didn't hear anything except for the Dark Eco humming around him and Trinity breathing.
"Your true path may have been warped, but your heart is key."
Trinity gave a deep breath, heeding The Oracle's words. What worried Elise was that he was beginning to grumble as if they were growls starting to gurgle in his throat.
The small girl took a hesitant step back, not exactly out of fear for him, but for the statue. "Trinny..." She breathed out. She wasn't even sure if she was supposed to speak or just observe.
He straightened up his back, the growls still there as he gazed at his arm. It was worrying enough that the statue was aware of something when the Precursor regarded the masked man as multiple people. She wasn't sure what to expect as she stared at the back of him, noticing his arm, and even the metal plate on his glove for once.
Trinity turned around, Elise realizing his eyes once again.
...
One was gold, the other was blue. They seem so very different in contrast to each other, as one glowed with what looked like malice beneath that gash over the mask, the other one was the very same eyes that she knew and was familiar with.
The small girl let out a short breath, staring at them, then glancing down to the necklace. "It's black..." She mumbled, strangely calm once she had realized what was happening. She placed her hand on their 'face', and sighed through her nose. "It won't be black forever... I promise.. both of you.." She flinched when she felt a tinge of the lightning bolt sting her hand, but she kept it in place.
They looked to the side, looking reluctant on that response. But then took a step back and away from her touch. "I told ya not to get too near." Blinking, they both flashed back to blue as his horns and nails shrunk away. He sighed, "You sure you don't want to ask The Oracle about Beth and Dawn?"
"Positive." She rubbed her hand softly. "I don't want to dwell on it too much anyway. They'll be back..."
Seeing that The Oracle has no other business, it's eyes dim, and Trin had left Okasan's works here to pick it up for later. When they stepped out, all the candles snuffed out the instant they opened the door it was as if a howling wind had swallowed the light into darkness. The last little spark of the gemstone eyes were all that remained until it faded away.
"I think the drop off point is way over there."
They didn't expect Brutter's voice to explode out of their Communicators.
Brutter (Communicator): ["That is it. Piece of seal, yes? Nice and shiny, huh? All yours!"]
They spoke up as they both decided to go on foot for a bit.
Trinny (Communicator): ["I... Wait, you left a seal piece hanging outside?"]
As Elise and Trinity made their way around a few turns, they eventually spotted the colorful spots around the corner. Jak was holding something in their hand that was embedded in the wall.
Unfortunately...
Trinny (Communicator): ["Jak get out of there, I see red troops!"]
Brutter (Communicator): ["Uh-oh!"]
Then the fight was on.
BANG!
A searing shot screamed through the air!
"Damn!" Trinny pulled out their Stradivarius, switching a setting on it! He gave a wicked and cocky little smirk, "It's party time." He made sure El followed close by, firing back at the KGs lurking around the buildings.
When he was too near to the water, he noticed blazing red beady dots lurking under the waters. He gritted his teeth and quickly reeled away. 'A Robot Guard- ' Jak and Dax wasted no time sending bright blue tracers ripping through the air with their Vulcan Fury, the seal piece in hand.
"This isn't exactly what I meant when I said I'd always have your back!" Elise yelled over all the gunfire, kicking back a guard into the water, there the canon took him out. "Robot guards in the WATER?!" She grunted and did her best to tail behind Trinny without losing him.
"Not what I had in mind either!" He shouted over as they made their way to Jak and Dax by fighting up a path to them. As Trin saw Dax pull out Jak's JET-Board, he yelled. "Don't even try that! They got turrets down here!"
Air Trains began coming into view, as if there was a whole army the Baron had initiated to a Metalhead Nest!
They could hear the ottsel yelling so clearly despite being a distance away, Trinny cursed about the uneven ground as they rushed past. Trinity didn't like it one bit, whenever the night's quiet like this time around: it's usually calm before the storm lately.
'Don't turn don't turn don't turn..'
She hissed violently at her inner thoughts, snagging one of the KG's weapons and bashing him with it, before kicking him off the dock. "How the hell are we gonna get outta here?!" She shot down a few more guards.
BANG!
"There's four of us and hundreds of them!"
'I can't do it, but he can!- '
"Jak?!" Trinity pulled out the Dark Dagger to slash and push away another, "Clear the way!" He nodded and holstered his gun, lashing out and showed no hesitation to turn!
They stayed some distance away as Jak ripped and tossed the guards aside! Trin gritted his teeth, 'Kinda in the same boat aren't we?' He kept the weapon close as it drained the eco away from his arm.
'Come on... if you turn things will get done easier.'
"No." Elise hissed at the thought, throwing the now empty weapon aside.
'Wouldn't you agree Nyxie?'
The voice was different from Elise's, almost sounding full of venom. It was as if three voices echoed over one another. The small girl almost stopped to put pressure on her pounding head.
"Ignore them, Nyx..." she growled, pulling a small dagger from a strap by her boot, courtesy of Torn.
They were almost out of their impending and almost-watery-grave, Trinity was fiercely fighting back the KGs harder. Bashing their helmets and visors with the stock of Moria's gun. Neither he nor Nyx replied back to the voice, but by the way he was grabbing the soldiers so the other KGs were shooting their own, and he was stomping on their heads even though they were on the floor - it was almost dirty.
Within the next moment, he swung his gun and aimed next to Elise's head!
BANG!
Another of their enemies from behind El dropped to the waters below. He didn't say anything as they continued to push forward-
The unfortunate team continued to fight their way through, the blood being shed more than they had seen in such a long time. (Well, for most of them.) The numbers were hardly dying out, the crew needed to keep fighting. More and more troops piled together, hellcats dropping dozens by the seconds.
"We can't keep this up!" Jak yelled, punching a KG and watching it tumble into the water.
SLASH-
Blood splattered over Elise's face, her expression grim and full of malice. "We can! Keep trying!" She yelled back.
"Break off, NOW!" He yelled as they reached the part of the city where the two sectors of The Slums meet. But not before the Masked Man turned on his heel, grabbing the oncoming Krimzon Guard from his six o'clock! He plunged the Dark Dagger deep into the guard's throat, ripping it out, and then bringing up his leg to kick him into the water.
Daxter was crouched low on Jak's shoulder, Jak's expression being one of surprise, but he couldn't just stand there. He pulled out his board and had to flee from the scene in the other direction.
"I know a place we can hide!" Elise yelled, more blood splattering across her pale skin.
'Dead town. Meet me in Dead town.'
Elise was quick enough to sneak a kiss onto their 'cheek', sliding underneath two KG and causing them to tumble back into other soldiers.
Trinny gritted his teeth, 'Even if I wanted to turn, it'll get worse if anyone gets word on this.' He noted.
Within a short span of time, the small girl had vanished. The words of hers rumbling in his mind.
'Meet me at deadtown...'
By the time they all separated, the horde was gone, but the street patrols were drastic. Even civilians were being stopped and checked to see if they were the criminals in disguise. There were even patrols flooding the forsaken town more than usual. As if the poor place wasn't already destroyed.
'Dead Town... Again, huh?' Trinity crept around buildings and carefully circumnavigated back, he didn't want to admit, but that voice he heard back there sent a chill through him. A dangerous type of chill that had silenced Nyx, because technically, Nyx was still a part of Trin anyhow.
Now that he gave it some thought without being in the middle of combat, he realized how dangerous this sounded... Was he being paranoid? The voices he had heard, was it his imagination?
'Nyx?...'
No response.
"Mm." He merely hummed.
Having to sneak around Haven solo reminded him of before he met Jak on that fateful day of the last prison break. It seemed so long now that he looked back at it. Now, it was only a matter of time before the war reached another climax. He eyed the waters, they were as black as the sky hanging overhead, but as the stars and moon sent light on its rippling surface - the liquid was stained a deep scarlet.
"Sweep the area! They might still be here."
Trinity heard, queuing him to duck into another corner of a worn down hut.
Hiding, something yellow caught his eye below, it made his heart jump slightly thinking it was some metalhead -
- but somehow, it was worse than he thought.
He holstered his dagger, cautiously checking his surroundings as the red clads of the KG disappeared into the darkness. Trin leaned closer into the source of the yellow glow.
'Not good.'
He tried to rub it away or anything, but his one eye was still gold. In the end he shook his head and continued onwards, going into the airlock gates.
KER-CLUNK!
"It's him!"
When the gates opened, there were two guards!
Trinity sent a punch to one of them, then ducked as the other tried to whack him with their electrical rod!
"You- argh!"
He tackled the other, back into the room where the two gates stood on opposite ends. As the gears behind them turned and closed, Trinity took control of their weapon and sent it into their visor!
There was a static sound as the other guard tried to tune into the radio, but Trin quickly stood up and kicked his head!
He held his throat, putting his knee on the KG's chest, and the enemy grunted. Trin proceeded to punch him to knock him out, each blow harder than the last one.
The guard struggled, his robotic voice being warped because of the head accessory getting heavily damaged over and over.
...
And over.
And over.
And over...
'It gets easier, huh?'
By the time he stood back up, Trin didn't realize the gate to Dead Town was already opened. He continued to sneak in, without even batting an eye to the corpses behind him.
The empty and hollow area was haunting for someone who went in alone. Silence filled the air, as did a torment of past memories. Rumors and nitpicking stories would obligate you to whisper, in respect for the dead. Gentle gusts of wind blew against them, brushing their braided hair back and even loosening some strands. It was dreadfully peaceful. Just as always.
He made his way through, ducking into every cranny, corner, and cover; he quietly expected for any voice to come into his mind. Whatever the case was, Nyx was hushed. Guess that's how Elise may have felt when Beth and Dawn stopped replying.
A gentle 'psst' was heard from one of the rooftops. And low and behold, it was the ravenette herself, in all her bloody glory. She looped her legs around an old flag pole and swung her way down, surprisingly landing on her feet.
"Come on, big guy.." She ushered softly.
'Slowly, he's breaking. And he will do what I've sought for years.'
Elise grimaced and shook her head. She hated that she knew exactly who it was. She hoped the Precursors he would ignore it.
"Mm? Oh." He merely just looked, and waved. There was a hidden feeling of dread he was expecting, probably because of the old familiar voice echoing between El and Trin. Though, he wouldn't be surprised that bubbly and chilling emotion was from Nyx.
With a gentle pat, she led him to a secluded area. It was a home where very few still lived. Only fellow criminals and those down on their luck would live there. She crouched and jumped up, grabbing the ledge of a home.
"You can take the stairs." She mumbled and hoisted herself into the home.
'Alright.' He rubbed the fingertips of the liquid that caked his hands and glove, what he hated was how it got under his fingernails. Other than that, he followed along, looking around.
Elise bumped her hip against a door, and it swung open. It revealed a messy living room, papers and weapons scattered everywhere. Maps of the city scattered about, resting on top of a large piano.
Granted, it was a pretty place. Just desperately needed some reorganizing and picking up. She motioned in, and picked up a few scattered items.
"Welcome home." She mumbled. "Haven't been here in almost a year.. sorry 'bout the mess."
He chuckled, "Cleaner than the messes I usually make."
"Sit." She hummed as she dug through some drawers and grabbed a small box that carried medical supplies.
As he sat there, he thought of something he found a little funny. 'How the spots switched, when we met I was the one with the medical stuff. Little amusing, mm?'
She smiled at the memory, and even chuckled a bit as she kneeled in front of him. "It's a little ironic, normally you're always telling me to be careful. Yet here you are.." She spoke softly.
He found himself occasionally looking at the piano as Elise took a gander at, well, most likely his hand since it's the bloodiest. It wasn't hard to notice after all. "Who knows?"
'Maybe it's Jak's recklessness rubbing off on me, even I told him to watch for his ass a couple of times.' Trin couldn't help but chuckle at that.
Elise managed to get him to take off his gloves (for once) and was cleaning up his bloody knuckles. She blew on the wounds as she patted alcohol on them. "No, not maybe. Definitely." She almost grumbled at the sight of his split open knuckles.
Once his hand was bandaged and cleaned any freelance wounds scattered along him, using a wet rag to clean his rugged mask. "Go shower. I should have some of Torn's clothes here. You two match sizes. You smell like a man." She joked and began attending to her own wounds.
Trin hummed in response as he went, he had worn those gloves so often it feels odd not to have them on honestly. 'Say that to Nyx and she'd be explosive.' He smirked.
When she patched them up, the scars that riddled his arms were easily noticeable, even the veins from his shoulder injury way back were hard to miss. He was mildly surprised she didn't bring up how pale or even gray it was.
When he was done and had gotten everything in order, he was wringing water out of his hair. Trin's soaked hair had more pigment than usual, in fact, it was more visible to notice both the green parts at the ends of his hair strands and at the roots. To no surprise, he still had his mask on.
Regardless, he could hear a distinct echoing of the piano singing.
He almost wanted to compliment on it mentally, but he didn't say anything - she would've caught it and why interrupt it anyhow? Nonetheless, Trinity was readjusting the leather straps on one of Torn's old outfits he was wearing at the moment.
The gentle melody stopped not much later, and she merely stared down at the old thing. She brushed her fingers over the keys.
"You know, your footsteps are pretty loud." She gave him a small side smile.
"I may be cunning, but excellent footwork is not my area of expertise like you." He grinned.
"I see you're not letting that go anytime soon." Elise groaned and rolled her eyes playfully. She shifted and patted the spot beside her.
He gladly took the spot, 'I find that a plus if I had a talent like that.'
A light pink color flushed on her cheeks for just a moment before she nudged him. "Shut up.." She mumbled and began pressing the keys again. "Follow m'lead on your side.."
'Oh Precursors, I'll just hit the wrong key...what are even the notes on this?' He just stared (having a little sweatdrop no less).
"Watch." She took his hand and placed them carefully on certain keys.
"Listen..."
She tapped a few keys with her right hand.
"Watch again..."
She repeated.
"Try it."
He tried to follow along with his right hand, a nervous little laugh erupted underneath the metal mask. Then missed one key and just went to say: "Tsk, tsk." Laughing at his pathetic attempt.
The ravenette laughed softly and placed her hand on top of his. "Follow this pattern."
She pressed the keys whilst her hand rested on his.
"Meet me on the battlefield... even on the darkest night..." She sang softly to the pattern she made him play.
She patted his shoulder lightly. "Nice job, dunce." She grinned widely.
"Wow, you callin' me a dunce?" He shook his head, as embarrassing as it was, it was admittedly a little fun.
"Yes, or would you prefer dumbass?" Elise's smirk turned devious. "Either it works, old man."
"Alright, I'm not playing this game. Dumbass." He smiled, but it slightly faltered when Trin's left hand glided over the keys of the piano. Only to pull away when he realized it wouldn't be as nice as his right.
Elise's smile was quick to falter when she had watched his hand. "Hey..." She took his hand in her own. "It's alright..."
"It's..."
Trinity's voice was caught in his throat and he gave another shaky, soft laugh.
'Ah, it's - not...' Trin accidentally blurted in his mind.
He wanted to pull it away, but it seemed rather rude of him too. He could feel it, his left was not only having lost its coloration (as if his entire skin hadn't already), but a little of its feel ever since the Pumping Station and Dark Elise. Even more so was that it was quivering; nothing like having nerve damage from Dark Eco. Without the gloves Trin usually wears that's similar to Jak's, it wasn't difficult for El to see. The purple veins from that old injury never left anyway.
"..." She let his hand go and stood up, "You must be hungry... I'll see if I have anything to cook." She left without another word. Usually, she was quick to comfort him, or even hold him for just a moment. But looking at his pale hand changed that.
She didn't feel as if she had that privilege anymore. Even so, she didn't want to.
'It will never be okay...'
"N- no wait!" Trin stood up and went after her, he was reluctant to say anything but there was no going back on that one. Besides, there was no damn way he was going to turn that down. "How 'bout I cook with ya?" His ears turned pink, he knew it, he didn't need to look at some mirror, and he thought he looked stupid for a moment.
She sighed softly through her nose at his attempt to make up for his words and leaned her hands against the counter. Should she let him stay? Push him away?...for good?
"Sure.."
'You're gonna regret this. If it stings now, it'll be excruciating in a few minutes, El.'
His eye darted at something else, but back to the counter, his mind quiet. Trin hummed, "Want...like Cinnamon Toast or somethin'?" Then he mumbled the last part, "Wonder what we have here..."
"Anything's alright." She hopped up and sat on the counter. "Look through everything... Tess stood here a few days ago, there should be some stuff in the fridge." She shrugged. Honestly, Tess was the gal to stock up her home on food since El never bothered.
"Guessin' pancakes wouldn't hurt then." He rummaged around for the necessities, unaware of a tiny smirk growing at the corner of his lip. "Here's hoping no KG or something smells the food, eh?"
"Pancakes for dinner?" Elise finally managed to crack somewhat of a smile. "Wow, so romantic, you dunce." She joked and laid back on the counter. "Hey, maybe the KG would wanna join us for Breakfast dinner."
He rolled his eyes as he checked and brought out the food, "I don't think you'd wanna have me cook for hours while we both starve, staring at it - and there's not much in here."
He then brought out the bowl and pan, began juggling the eggs a bit to Elise's unexpected surprise, cracking them with one hand, and was making the mixture in it.
"I bet Jak and Dax would've found this place faster than the KG for food." He commented, less deadpan in tone than usual (only a tad bit).
"Oh definitely." She chuckled softly and laid on the counter. "I hope they're alright.." She watched him closely as he 'worked his magic'. "Sooo... when'd ya learn to cook?"
"Wh-? OH, uh, at first it was just a useful thing to have..." He began putting it in on the pan to turn the goopy pancake batter into a fluffy golden splat with a brown ring. It didn't take long as he was starting to flip it with just the pan too. "Got bored, did this more, and... after a LOT of embarrassing failures - it started out to be okay."
One lone, old memory snuck into his brain and he still hated how the pancake wasn't what it was supposed to be. He quickly pushed that away, then soon started stacking a few on a plate for El.
"I can cook... just not as good as you." She closed her eyes for a moment. "Never really needed to, I guess..? I would only eat the days I'd gone without food for so long..." She purses her lips at the memory. She peered her eyes open.
Just for a moment...
There was a sickening purple tint to them.
She closed them again.
"But, Daddy did teach me some stuff. I can make one hell of a yakow stew." She smirked whilst her eyes remained closed.
"That's IF we could find a healthy Yakow around here these days." He turned on his heel and served it, a neat little square of melting butter sat on top of the slightly steaming stack of pancakes. Trinny seemed a little preoccupied as he continued to clean up the kitchen, washing and his mind wandering off a bit.
'You're awfully quiet, Nyx.' His words echoed into his mind.
Elise stopped in sudden realization. "Trin.. are you serious?" She raised an eyebrow and opened her eyes.
"Wh- what?..."
She stared right at him in surprise. "Do me a favor and look in that mirror over the sink."
"Sure, I guess."
...
'This isn't how it's supposed be- '
"Uh- " He stared only to notice the malicious gold iris eyeing him back, Trinny began darting his eyes to his left hand that trembled and then his other. "Wait, this isn't right..."
"What..?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "You... didn't know..." She breathed out and jumped off the counter. "Are you alright..? Is she alright..?"
Trinny put a hand on his mask, closing their eyes to focus. He tried to pry his mind away from the prickliness of his arm that never left him, but was scatterbrained. "Me?" He said a little shakily, "I, ah, dunno." He tried to give a little chuckle to lighten the mood but it died off halfway. 'How do I hide this? Oh Precursors, if anyone else finds out, I don't know, we don't know-' Unlike before, the voice was consistently the same in Trinny's situation.
"No one will find out."
Elise's only response was to widen her eyes.
"..."
She grinned almost childishly, her cheeks flushing pink and a few tears beginning to show.
"Beth..."
"I've missed you sweetheart... all of you.."
Trinny was twiddling and fiddling with the pendant, wanting to rip their eyes away from their own reflection. But upon hearing an unexpected voice, his ears perked up. It wasn't the other one and it wasn't Nyx.
The masked and troubled man turned around, left hand still on the black crystal of the neck accessory. He didn't know whether it was the Dead Town atmosphere, his own damaged arm, or whatever was happening but the crystal always seemed cold to him. Under the metal visage of the scarlet facade, was his blue eye glistening and shiny.
Elise froze up for a moment, shivering and sitting up completely.
"You're strong, Trinity. Nyx. Believe me, you'll be okay."
The ravenette looked down and picked at her nails slightly.
"You remember our promise, don't you, sweetheart?"
Trinny looked off to the side, his pale hand having slightly purple veins. 'Yes...' He felt all over the place, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Yet he was somehow keeping it together, especially since he did have a lot of commitments to keep for all of them.
"So you know I'm going to keep my end of the promise..."
Elise wanted to question, but didn't. She felt what they spoke about wasn't for her to know.
"Things will be okay..."
Seeing El's expression, he deduced one thing: "So... You really didn't know what happened?"
Now that he said it, he realized there was no going back on that one. He accidentally intruded into Elise's mind and got heavily punished for that matter soon after. Though, he didn't want to admit that part.
"What happened?" She questioned and picked at the food he made her. Admittedly, it was pretty good for cold pancakes.
"D- Did you know this pendant could bring people into...other one's mind?"
Elise felt her ears drop and her face pale.
. . .
"What?"
If it was possible, he became even paler, or felt like it. Trinny then became conflicted, was it his Nyx side telling him to lie and Trin retaliating and telling him to say the truth? It gave him a monsterous headache, he even had to utter out a small sigh and rub his eyes for a moment.
All she could manage to do anymore is stare at him in silence. She couldn't help but wonder how long he could do that, or why he didn't tell her? She didn't have it in her to argue, or even blame anyone. How could she blame him?
She couldn't.
She merely jumped down from the counter and silently walked off. He couldn't even hear her footsteps as she walked away. She hadn't been that quiet in years...
He didn't say or thought of anything as he went back to staring at the eye in the mirror. Some sort of sour stinging feeling bit at his soul, he didn't like this, but it doesn't mean his promise ended there. Even if Elise may have hated him now.
JV007 A/N: Some things are better kept as secrets… But in this situation- would you really have kept it from her?
Butterfly A/N: I wouldn't. Hoes mad smh.
JV007 A/N: In due time… In due time Butterfly, there will be things and secrets to uncover-