Of Mice and Men
I had a frog named Bubbles once.
I dissected him in Biology class. ^_^
Errr…. yeah. 'bout time I got off mah lazy posterior and finished this, neh? :D Thank you to all the lovely, wondrous people who reviewed! I LOVE YOU ALL! XDD
Warning: This chapter SUCKS beyond all comparable suckage. So bad in fact, I'm contacting my lawyer to prepare for the onslaught of people suing me 'cause they had to spork out their eyes.
Eight pages of SHIT! VITH I'll rewrite it at some point! *hides*
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"Mmnih vican?"
It came again, and this time Syuveil followed the roll of words and wracked his mind back to long-ago lessons to whisper aloud, "Is it clear?"
"Does it LOOK like it's clear?"
The scholar started, unaware that the thunder dragoon had remained so close in the gloom. In faint lighting, Kanzas' features dipped in shadows, impossibly gaunt.
"Them." The blond jabbed a finger at the entrance, wincing at how his voice hung loudly. Kanzas sneered and uncurled from his crouch.
"I got a plan."
"We're doomed." Came the plaintive moan. And then a frantic thought careened into his mind. "Wait!" he called loudly as he dared, fumbling after Kanzas. "What if they're from Ulara?"
"Then they should have used the front door."
Syuveil grimaced (as much from the smell of droppings and such) and dared to drop a pale hand on Kanzas' shoulder. "We should warn someone…"
The other snorted in disdain. Give up a fight? "Coward." He said offhand. Waiting for a reaction, if only to see if Blondie had actual BLOOD in his veins rather than ink.
Syuveil squared his shoulders (much as he could in the cramped quarters) and pushed his glasses on firmly. Kanzas chuckled, turning in the shadows to crawl closer to the opening hatch.
Hell, at least he knew never to fuck with librarians now…
"Follow my lead." He snapped over his shoulder.
'We're going to diiiiieeeee-!`
In truth, Kanzas didn't have much of a plan but rather a general idea. Better to let Syuveil think that he did, the poor sap looked ready to blow a vein at any minute.
Voices- and close, muffled from the buffeting wind outside. Behind him, the rat gave an angered trill from inside the burlap sack, and the forming of THE PLAN popped into mind.
Stealthily maneuvering just short of the light cast by the opening, Kanzas peered up- one, two… no three- and gave something close to a happy smile. Today just got better and better!
Wingly. Dressed in dark, unadorned clothing, and from what he had seen, each held a sword. Not the worst of the problems, considering the pixie flitter screwballs had magic.
Wellllll then, so did he.
Syuveil gave a rasping cough, gagging in effort to keep it silent.
Right…so did THEY…for what it was worth…
"Tahai?" From outside in the whipping wind, a sharply accented word snapped, and then a shadow leaned over the hatch, a silver thatched head peering down into the dusky hole.
'It's like giggin' frogs in a puddle…' the dark haired man thought in disappointment.
"Tahai vican?"
"Squeak!" Kanzas snarled, and like some maddened version of a child's jack-in-the-box, sprang from the open cellar door and seized the unsteadily perched Wingly by the throat. The silver-haired man toppled with a shriek and a heavy thump into the gaped opening. "One down!" the thunder dragoon roared and surged from the pit into the vague dawn light.
'Kanzas….' Syuveil seethed silently, yanking the sword from the downed Wingly's scabbard and stumbling after the object of his ire.
"Human!"
Like the raving madman he was, Kanzas was mowing through the second Wingly, actually LAUGHING as he did so. The jade dragoon paused, unsure, when another presented itself in attack.
Shiiiiiitttttttttt!
"Fool! It's a HUMAN!" The remaining Wingly shouted to his companion, began moving in.
The sword felt foreign in his hands, and he was by all means NO brawler. 'and DANDY if you didn't leave your dragon spirit in the tower…Noooooo- we're going RAT hunting! We won't need it!'
Behind the matched pair, Kanzas was flinging his opponent every which way, gleefully so.
"Uh…hi?" he ventured. Ducked swiftly under the vicious swing and near threw himself to the ground to dodge the swift chop thereafter. Feebly sticking at the silver haired man with the sword point earned him a slice that burned across his cheek.
"Hold STILL-!" The Wingly assassin- HAD to be an assassin!- cried. Frustrated, gritting his teeth, a hand was held up, pointed directly at the blond.
Syuveil braced, holding the sword up in guard for little good it could do. The fireball smacked into the metal in a spray of molten steel and with a yelp, the dragoon flung it to the side, face burned a bright red from heat.
"Tach VIE human!"
Hands splayed open, a feeble grin on a drawn face, Syu seemed to shrug. "You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses, would you?"
The Wingly came on, sword leading.
Apparently, he would.
Weaponless, Syuveil cast about as the Wingly charged. "Uh…HERE! Catch!" And HEAVED the sack containing Bubbles' stand-in. It hit the silver-haired man in the chest and out came the rodent, squalling to high heaven.
"Hiha VEANA!" He screamed and stalled, clawing at the rat, which was clawing at him with similar gusto. Syuveil acted, barreling into him, sending the pair and the rat to the cold ground in a flailing mass.
There was an elbow to his face and the glasses tumbled aside, leaving the world in a smeary BLUR. Grimly, the blond sought a think hank of silver hair and yanked-
'hair pulling! Not just for little girls anymore!'
-and felt the force of two hands being shoved against his chest, and another fireball erupt thereafter in a violent burst that flung both apart with seared screams.
Burning fur brought Syu from the gulf he teetered upon, a pitiful squeaking to his right, where a gray blob lay. 'Bubbles…' he gasped wordlessly. His stomach was heaving to his chest; his chest to his head and his head seemed to fly apart with every hissed breath.
Rough fingers gripped a handful of his shaggy hair, wrenching his head back to stare with teary eyes into the snarling face above.
More pointedly, the blade slated at his throat. The Wingly had recovered, faster than he expected…
"Mayfil take you, human!"
The scholar gasped, dreams of color and life not finished, but his vision of death was somewhat premature.
"BRING IT-!" Kanzas roared; a flash of violet trailing electric sparks as a fist hammered forward, bladed claws ripping eagerly into the base of the assassin's neck. Scarlet fountains screened the dying Wingly's visage, but not the gut-quivering gurgle he emitted upon sinking to the ground.
'Gods-! Why does he have to DO that! And why does he look so damn happy when he DOES?' Uneasily, the blond lay sprawled on the ground, sweeping around for his glasses rather than watch Kanzas tally his…kills.
…wait a sec…
BUBBLES!
"Kanzas! RAT!"
"Hey! I just saved your dumb ass and you're callin' me a rat?!" A sharp 'zap' of static crackled as he tossed his head imperiously.
Syuveil's hand grazed twisted wire, and his spectacles were shoved roughly back into place. "Idiot! Bubbles!"
"Bah!" The dragoon snorted, bent and retrieved the rodent by its naked tail. Syu shuddered visibly. More intent on regaining his footing, he hiccupped in surprise when the thrashing, mud stained sack was thrust at him.
"There, can we GO now?"
Torn between relief that 'Bubbles'
was alive, and disgusted that he was TOUCHING it, the scholar limped upright
and nodded. "What about…THEM." And gestured to the strewn, crimson slashed
bodies.
"Leave'um." Kanzas grated, oddly pleased. He ran a bloodied hand through his hair, and then rasped it over his face. Grim and blood seemed much his general appearance, it suited him well. "Guard'll get them."
Syuveil flinched. It did NOT suit him, and the smell was becoming intolerable. "Let's get cleaned up first…" His stomach lurched, bile thick in his throat. "Wait a se-" And flung a supporting hand to the stone foundations of Vellweb- the unmistakable sound of someone tossing it drifting upward.
"Right o' boss!" The other snickered.
TOO damn fun…
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Shirley's expression spoke volumes as the unlikely pair dropped onto the pale divan, smudging the fabric with…well…. she'd rather not know…but the two looked like they'd been in a tavern brawl, with Kanzas with a overly pleased smirk considering the rips and rents gashed into flesh that foamed blood and Syuveil muttering over the twisted remains of his glasses.
"Are…what…" Her hands fluttered to the pearly orb that hung around her neck, mouth a frowning curve. "What happened?"
Kanzas shrugged, but answered with a nonchalant, "Oh, traversing basements, trapping rats, fighting off murderous Winglies…" A crooked leer followed. " How was your morning?"
Shirley looked helplessly to Syu for a clear response, but the lanky man was shaking a muddied sack vehemently, responding only to her second attempt to question him. Blinked rapidly.
"It's sort of a…long story."
She sat down, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her palms. "It's not even mid-morning yet!"
"Hey, like it's MY fault you an' the damn giant are up all night-"
"Kanzas."
"-doing Soa knows what-"
"Kanzas…" The blond man beside him replaced bent glasses, where they perched on his nose at a haphazard angle.
"-while everybody else is TRYING to sleep-"
"Soa." Shirley muttered, a dark flush creeping to her cheeks, nearly matching her hair.
"Think of the CHILDREN Shirley! The CHILDREN!"
Both wind and light elements fixed him with a dull stare. "If I remember correctly," Shirley intoned with an arched eyebrow. "You're the one who tried fattening them up for Seethe."
An absolutely BEAMING smile lit up the rough edges of his face as he kicked his feet onto a small table and leaned back. "Dragons gotta eat."
"You're impossible." She accused. "Syuveil- you're the sensible one! What did he pull you into this time?"
"HEY!?"
Mustering a small smile, the scholar shook his head. "You're better off not knowing," waving aside any protest from his rat-hunting companion, he rose.
"Hey, make with the holy healin' crap." The wiry dragoon aside him ordered roughly. "God for friggin' BID we land up at the brat's doorstep lookin' like THIS."
"Aw, that's sweet." Syu cooed. "Didn't know you cared."
The sharp point of a tri-clawed weapon poked at the small of his back in warning. The taller stiffened at threw a sea-green glance at the other, who smiled grimly.
"Shut up." He said softly.
(TRIBUTE! Mwaha!)
Unfolding herself from the chair, Shirley stood with the white-silver orb cupped in her hands. "Put that down, Kanzas." The dark-haired man frowned, and hesitantly moved to her bidding (the hand claw clattering to the table) as the heat of the healing light flickered around them.
"Thank you, Shirley." Syuveil bobbed his head, and rattled the rat in the sack for good measure. The red-head smiled cheerfully, at least until-
"I've got another problem, if you'd like to take care of THAT one…" Kanzas stated maliciously.
"Kanzas!"
"We're going." The blond assured, and hauled the other towards the door.
"Hey! My cla-!" The thunder elemental protested.
Shirley slammed the door in his face.
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Syuveil hugged the gray-stone wall on the way down, so intent on keeping a steady eye on both the edge and Kanzas, he near screamed when a looming, broad shouldered figure stomped around the winding staircase.
"Mornin'!" Kanzas greeted brightly. Belzac gave him an appropriately frosty glare, leaving the violet clad fighter to press on. "When you get the time, there's a mess outside of the south wall that needs mopped up."
"What?" Despite his bulk, the earthen elemental navigated the steep incline with a grace that Syu envied. Sucking in a quick breath (and keeping the bag containing "Bubbles" safely hidden behind his back) the scholar outlined the general happening of the morning, omitting the reason behind skulking in the sub-basement.
"-so you were walking to the smithy when you heard voices?" Belzac might have been big, but he was far from stupid. Throughout Syuveil's recounting, he kept a muddied brown stare pinned on Kanzas. The Jade dragoon could have KICKED himself! No secret that the pair wasn't on the best of terms, and the thunder dragoon being seen coming down from Shirley's tower was HARDLY going to go over well.
"More like squeaking, really." Kanzas said with a twisted smirk. Syuveil indulged in a pleasant fantasy involving certain purple wearing men and a stint with the children at the schoolhouse. Story time seemed a fitting punishment…
Maybe he could play dress up with the girls…
"Huh?"
"Nothing." Syu said, forcing a smile. "Could you inform Diaz…"
"Since WE went through the trouble of killing them." Kanzas intoned, bored. The giant was only fun in small doses. The geek was fun near constantly.
"Yeah…" Belzac shifted a chocolate glare to Syu. "What's behind your back?"
"Uh…nothing."
A thin layer of his hair shifted in a sudden breeze as he drifted around to peer behind the other. Syuveil backed up, pressing against Kanzas. Bubbles' replacement shrilled.
"Hey, have you seen Damia's mouse? I think it escaped last night-"
'It's NOT a mouse it's a RAT! Carrier of PLAUGE Belzac!' "Gee I'm hungry? Are you hungry? Kanzas?" He was pleading, PRAYING that the coarse man didn't just blurt out whatever came to mind. He practically dragging the fighter away, quite a feat, considering he was shoving Kanzas forward while walking backward with the rat-in-the-bag pressed between them.
"Give my regards to Shirley." Kanzas called cheerfully, leaving Belzac staring at them with the ODDEST expression on his face.
"Never figured THAT pair…" he muttered, and suppressed a quiet shudder.
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The sapphire capped tower cut the sky above with a cold contrast to the ember hued abode of the dragoon of fire, of whom laired farther to the right. Syuveil breathed out a frosty puff as they neared the top, and chanced a look at the rising sun.
Nearing noon. Damn it all to MAYFIL! He had things to DO today!
Kanzas seemed to read his annoyance. "Aww, some poor little critter needs dissecting already? We shoulda dragged back one of them Wingly screwheads for you to-"
"Shut up and knock."
"-maybe coulda found out a weakness or something-" the red-head went on cheerfully, hammering on the water-swelled door.
"Please…just…STOP talking!"
"-or just hacked the sons a' bitches up for the fun of it and-"
"Damia!" The Jade Dragoon called desperately.
"Make a violin outta some Wingly gut. Hey! You ever used intestines as an offensive weapon? Hell! Scatters people like you wouldn't BELIEVE-"
"One more word," Syu stated fiercely, "And I WILL puke on you."
"Now that's just gross Syuveil, I swear. I can't hold a conversation with you anymore with you bringing up vomit or bile."
Syu's head hit the door with a solid 'thump' and let out a sudden, "Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!"
And the door abruptly opened, sending Syuveil flailing about until Kanzas' hand clamped down on the back of his shirt and hauled him upright.
"Goddamn, where'd you learn to walk?"
"…hi?" Damia greeted uncertainly, flushing indigo. The half-mermaid youth shuffled shy glances between Syuveil and Kanzas, and only then seemed to notice the sack (still squeaking viciously) clenched tightly in the blond mans fist. "Uhm…"
Kanzas waved childishly. Syu wanted to strangle him, preferably with his own intestines.
"We found your rat." He informed her, gleefully prodding Syuveil.
Damia blinked, and shifted her curious eyes from wind to thunder elemental. "Bubbles…?"
"Escaped. Here. Take it." Syuveil thrust out the jouncing sack and waited for the girl to take it…until it was apparent that Damia was NOT going to accept it. "What?"
"Oh." The child peered up through aquamarine strands of hair sheepishly. "I didn't want Belzac to know…but I…sort of let him go last night."
Syu STARED. Kanzas kicked up a dark brow. "Say what?"
The half-mermaid gestured at the interior of her watery tower, and to the small cage that adorned a shelf, the small, empty cage. Her reddish eyes reflected sunlight as she gestured with her hands, "It felt…I dunno, wrong to keep him in a cage."
"...Oh…"
"…Really…" Syuveil narrowed sea-green eyes, now darkened like storm tossed waters, at the wiry man beside him. "That's fascinating." And Kanzas, that insufferable ass, grinned.
Damia nodded solemnly, and then at last accepted the sack with its squalling occupant. "Thanks anyway…" And crouched as she shook the rodent from the bag and watched it hiss madly at the three dragoons until Kanzas swept it to the stairs with a foot. "See, he wanted to be free."
Syuveil GLARED. Kanzas ignored him, at least until Damia excused herself with a pleased grin and left the pair on the ledge outside, whereupon the dragoon of wind dropped an arm heavily on Kanzas' shoulder.
"What?" And tried to shrug off Syu's arm. The blond clenched tighter, his smile dangerously bright, Kanzas edged back, patting for the bladed claws only to remember he'd left them in Shirley's tower. "Hey, technically, this isn't my fault…"
"Technically, from MY point of view, it is."
"I saved your life…"
"Thank you." The thin arm, however, didn't budge an inch.
Kanzas eyed the distance from where he stood to Shirley's tower. It, he assured himself, wasn't that he was worried that Syuveil could kick his ass, not in this lifetime…sure. He looked again to the blond man, and his grin faltered.
The jade dragoon bared his teeth grimly in return.
Mmmm… okay. Who knew he'd go all to pieces over some dinky little rat? "I get a head start."
"The hell you do-! Kanzas!!"
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^_^ Done. Finished. It was odd. I am happy. Out of character rampant. @_@ Maim, smite, bludgeon. Fun words. Incoherent is I. Must…play…KOTOR….X_x *dreamy smile* Mmmmm…Carth's voice…
Random Person: *pries Xbox controller from Freefall's hands* *runs away laughing*
