A/N: Here's your treat – or your trick. You decide.
CANDY.
It is very, very cold by the time night sets in, and yet he continues on. He feels only occasional bits of frost and simply shakes it off, focusing himself once again on his mission – altering it. He has altered his mission to fit the current situation.
He doesn't know why his mind is racing with thoughts of revenge and death; he doesn't know why he sees red. All he knows is that he is following, tracking old footprints and old scents that will take him to the girl who stayed with him and offered him help.
He knows that the humans will waste too much time and the hope that she will still be alive will have disappeared. He knows that humans are easily swayed by lower instincts – not that he isn't – and he knows that the more time they waste on their own the less time they will spend searching for others.
He feels rage – rage that his master isn't dead. He feels as if his whole body is trembling, trying to contain thunder that will surely destroy his master – Kuja – who had told him he didn't want him and didn't want to be his master.
He hunts, tracks, and waits for the proper moment to let his thunder roll. If only in the name of vengeance for a stupid little girl who didn't know how to scream when she was in trouble.
Amarant realizes with trepidation that he is feeling nothing short of pure anger. It's been a very long time since he's ever felt something this strongly – especially over something as petty as a person.
But then again, from the very first time he had learned of him, Kuja had never been a petty thing. He had been a vicious, useless killer – a broken doll – a stupid monkey – a person – a ... he wants badly to call Kuja a lover, but Amarant Coral never has lovers. He has groupies, one-night-stands, steady fucks and Lani.
Lani, who he really should just get back together with. At least she didn't have issues with Amarant having issues. At least she knew what she would be getting into.
Amarant growls lowly when he hears an impatient knock on the door. "Are you a fucking woman or something?" the bounty huntress on the other side calls, "What the hell are you doing in there?"
He stalks to the door and, with a firm twist, jerks it open. The two girls stare at him in mild awe.
"Wow," Ruby breathes, "And here I was, thinkin' your version of cleaning up was washing your face."
"People tend to think that," he drawls, leaning against the doorframe. "Now, then, am I dragging you two with me?"
"Oh, no, we're dragging you," Lani grins, then shakes her head. "You never go the entire way."
"What the hell are you talking about? I spent ten minutes worming into these goddamned things," Amarant exclaims, obviously referring to the black pants Kuja gave him so long ago.
"Oh, for god's sake – here," she grumbles, reaching up and untying her hair, "I was trying to go for a new look," she sighs, "But since I'm not the one who's actually trying to impress someone-"
"I'm not trying to impress anyone!"
"Shut up," Lani rolls her eyes, moving behind the other, "Tilt your damned head back, you great big ass. There we go." She ties the black strip of cloth around his hair, tucking the knot beneath. "Well, at least we can see your eyes. I'm wondering if we should, though, since you look so angry."
"I am not angry. I'm going, follow if you're going to." Amarant pushes past the two and heads downstairs.
The air is cold and he frowns, looking behind him – the two girls leave arm-in-arm and goddamn Lani better not be planning on seducing the actress – that would mean awkwardness, especially if he can't solve this issue with Blank.
His heart thumps a little bit faster and he growls, feeling hostile. The fucking actor better not...
"Be careful, Ama'," Lani calls from behind, Ruby giggling idiotically, "Don't want to seem jealous, do you?"
"Shut up, woman."
Honestly, what crazed god went and made men and women so different? Why couldn't they have made people less complicated and layered, and then why'd they have to create people like Amarant, who aren't complicated and don't know how to figure out those who are?
Why does he feel like a bug in the hand of one overly sadistic child?
Why is his heart thundering?
The cave is easy enough to find. They don't bother hiding themselves – they don't think anyone will find them or want to find them.
Or maybe they think that little, one-eyed hunter would come for his damsel in distress? For his princess?
He snarls and can see the light of a fire.
He hears a low groan of pain.
"I'm sorry," the girl's voice apologizes – he hides in the corner and watches the scene. The girl – something starting with a J – is sitting in the corner, looking at a man who looks incredibly irate, holding his head. "I didn't mean to scream so loud."
"For god's sake, it was a spider! This is a cave, it echoes."
"I wasn't thinking – it was a big spider!"
The man sighs and pokes the fire idly – he looks hardly older than she must be. "I'm supposed to be a kidnapper, not a babysitter."
"At least you aren't rude like that other kidnapper."
"I'm not supposed to be polite, woman! We're holding you captive for that bounty hunter, remember?"
"Yes, I do." The girl shrugs, back to the wall, "Arok won't come alone, you know. And that's if he even comes at all."
"Of course he's going to come!" the man snaps.
"Why are you so sure? He just works with me. I'm surprised you didn't try to take Byrd, he would come for him..."
"So I've heard. Well, he's going to come for you – you're a pretty girl. That's how it works!"
"You know, you're a very idealist kidnapper," the girl says, blushing slightly, "But thank you for the compliment."
"What comp... I wasn't complimenting you!" He's blushing too – the Waltz feels a growl rising. That stupid child – doesn't she realize the severity of her situation? Don't they realize where they are?
What is making his blood race?
The warehouse is loud with already drunken people getting even drunker. The air is thick with what smells like sage and other natural scents – "That better not be the incense from the play," Ruby growls – and the music is so much more different from the two girls that were last here. Instead of resembling Lindblum or Alexandrian music, the beat is steady and the percussion outweighs most of the other instruments. It sounds vaguely violent and the man "singing" is shouting slightly hidden innuendoes about loose women and sex. Some of the songs actually sound vaguely familiar, and he can feel the beat drumming in his veins.
"It's a lot louder than the last time I was here," Lani grumbles, before smirking, "Ruby and I are going to go drink ourselves stupid, you go find your monkey boy."
Amarant doesn't listen to her, and shoves through the jumbled, slightly in-unison dancing of drunk, happy people. His blood races and he feels himself looking around for silver hair.
He finds them dancing near the wall, and stays a fair distance away, observing the severity of the situation. Blank has his arms on Kuja's hips and they're swaying rather frantically – in time to the music but still, it makes Amarant angry. They're laughing and Blank ducks his head in for a kiss – Kuja accepts and they stop in the middle of the goddamned floor – no way in hell –
He's behind Kuja in a moment and loops an arm around his waist, pulling him out of Blank's arms and into the middle of the room.
"What are you – Amarant?"
Kuja looks surprised, confused – angry. No, not angry...
"What are you doing?"
"Not drinking, that's for sure," Amarant grumbles, as the drums pound against his ears. "How's your date?"
"How was your nap?"
"Oh, claws," Amarant snorts, and even though he knows they're fighting, they're dancing at the same time – it's rough and not at all graceful like it was with the two girls singing.
"It's going fine – it was until you came in."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something?" Amarant spins Kuja out at "one two three" and brings him back at "four five six."
"Yes," the Genome hisses.
"I have a question. It's been eating at me for the last few days."
"Well, spit it out, I want to get back to my date."
Amarant feels his hand clench on Kuja's hip and forces it to relax.
"Why are we fighting, exactly?" He dips the other, "I've got an idea but it's always been easier to hear it from someone else."
"So you realized we were fighting. Interesting, I thought you were too simple for that."
Amarant lets his hand clench again, doesn't loosen the grip when Kuja shoots it a glance, "Is that why? Am I too simple for you, monkey-boy?"
"You're more than simple, you're complicated," Kuja growls, "I can't tell where you're going, when you're going to get there, and if you're even going to get there in one piece! You don't talk, you respond; you don't listen, and, did I mention that you playing games with me doesn't exactly make me a happy person?"
"Games? I hardly play games," Amarant responds, seeing Blank shifting through the crowd and consequently moving them in the opposite direction. "And it should be obvious where I'm going – I'm going anywhere you are. That's how it's been working, and it was working fine."
"Past tense," Kuja growls, and nails bite his skin, "Tell me, how much money does it take to get you to follow someone around for five months? I see how it could be convenient, losing your bounty by dying with me-"
"Are you saying I slept in the same bed as you and put up with your insanity and your goddamned nightmares because of money or convenience? Do you think I'm that petty?"
"Well, considering I don't know anything about you, yes, it was a safe assumption. I don't know anything about you, and you're not willing to talk. Blank, on the other hand, has so far treated me with this... open demeanor that rather suits me better than your cold, silent one. And I can tell, just by looking at him, what he's thinking."
"So, what you're saying is that you like people who are easy, then? No hidden pasts or shady occupations?"
"I rather spend my time worrying about concealing my own problems, rather than trying to figure out someone else's." Kuja finally sees Blank and pulls away, "So, yes, I like the easy people. I like knowing the motives. And, quite frankly, I think that is perfectly suited to me, wouldn't you?" The Genome's eyes flash, "After all, it wouldn't do for me to mistake your purpose, and end up trusting you too much, would it?"
"...Am I, uh, interrupting?" Blank asks, cautiously coming up to Kuja.
"Yes," Amarant snarls.
"No," Kuja responds, eyes narrowed, "No, I was just about to come find you. Do you want to go for a walk?"
"Uh, sure." Blank brightens when Kuja starts to pull him away, and Amarant feels something in his stomach twist. "I know this really nice place near the Inn..."
Amarant makes a move and suddenly a hand grabs his arm. He snarls, turning, and growls at Lani, who shakes her head in response. "Don't bother. I think you've..." She frowns, "I think you just lost."
He skulks in the shadows and hears footsteps approaching. He watches another man, with a chunk of his nose missing and face scarred, stalk past him and into the cave.
"What the hell, you idiot! I told you not to untie her!"
The younger of the two kidnappers shakes his head, "It's not like she's gonna run away, with her ankle twisted."
"It doesn't make any difference! I don't give a shit if her fucking back's broken, you don't untie the hostage! Good goddamn, the boss had no idea what he was doing when he hired you!"
"Considering I could kill you where you stand," the boy growls, turning hostile, "In less than five seconds, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. She isn't going anywhere."
"Fuckin' kid," the older one growls, turning around and heading back out into the forest. The Waltz can smell blood in the air – he must act soon.
"Sorry about that," the boy mutters.
The girl giggles, "I thought kidnappers weren't supposed to be polite?"
"I'm not bein' polite!" he exclaims, "It's just a habit."
Crack.
"Hey, did you hear that?"
"...Yes...?"
The boy stands, stretching, "I guess your knight in shining armor came. Sorry, but he'll probably get killed."
"Isn't there a way we could work this out without violence?" the girl asks, "I don't want people to get killed-"
There it is, the Waltz thinks just as a scream pierces the air.
"Oh my god!" the older kidnapper shrieks, and then is silent. The smell of hot blood drifts through the air – his wings fan slightly.
"W-W-What is that!" the boy shouts, drawing back into the cave as the huge, woolly beast paces towards them. "Oh my god, is that-"
"The beast..." the girl murmurs, "He said there was a beast here..."
"You're in it's den," the Waltz finally snarls, stepping into the light. The boy draws his knife, and thunder rolls. "Don't bother, I'm not here for you." He looks to the girl, "I hate having meaning."
"I... I didn't..."
"You did!" Why does his head hurt? "You gave me meaning – you gave me something to do – now I have to..."
The beast roars and snaps its jaws. He turns, and growls, "Now I have to complete my mission."
"I'm not..."
"What mission?" the boy asks, confused, "Are you one of the bounty hunter's friends!"
The Waltz looks at the boy. "I do not care about the girl." He looks at the beast, stares at it – he can see himself in the two huge, black eyes. "I only want this."
"Please don't!" the girl shouts.
His head hurts so much. The beast snarls and then leaps –
Amarant feels Lani's hands on his shoulders, but he isn't listening. She's saying things about next time, next time they'll be better, you win some you lose some, other fish in the goddamned sea...
There might be plenty of fucking fish, but there's only a few goddamned cats that can catch them. Only a few and damn it, he didn't lose anything!
She pushes a mug of something bitter tasting into his hands and he downs it all easily – next time, next time it'll be better – and Ruby's watching them with eyes that look like a scorned lover's. There's always next time, Lani says, there's always next time.
Or, there's right now. He suddenly gets it. Ultimatum, bluff, last chance...
"Shut up," he rasps.
"...What...?"
He looks at Lani – Lani, who lived around him for two years before his entire race was practically destroyed; Lani, who helped him get settled in Treno and then helped him get out again; Lani, who tried to do a lot she just couldn't do.
"Shut up." He stands, pulls his hair loose and gives her the tie. "Damn it, Lani, there isn't a next time."
"What are you talking about, are you going to become a fucking celibate now?"
"No," he draws, shaking his head, "I think, for once in this goddamned life, I actually get something." He smirks, "No time to be enigmatic on my part. That fucking cat wants me to be direct, so help me I'll give him fucking direct."
Ruby brightens a little, smile growing, "So you're gonna go give love and peace another chance?"
"There isn't going to be any peace," he growls, grinning despite the tone, "Relax, Lani. For all that's good in the world, have another drink and chat up a pretty girl or boy or whatever you're feeling tonight. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
He passes through the crowd, listening to the hard beats and feeling his blood beating with it. The air outside is cold but he simply hums, and crosses his arms behind his head. The stars are bright and he feels...
Well, what do you know, he snorts, I feel nearly happy.
Crack.
His head – he can't breathe – thunder rolls above and then dies in a spark. The beast screams at him and he feels teeth against his side – is that him screaming or is that her? Is he even here?
His back hits a tree, crack, and he feels something rushing from him, he feels so...
"G'ddamn, wh'd y' get us int', Janelle?"
"What the hell is that thing?"
"G...g..."
Thunder and another snap of lightning, and he feels it trace along himself. The beast snarls and jumps away, turning to face newcomers – he hates them for stopping the fight.
"Go help him, I'll take care of this thing!"
"Careful, Byrd, it c'n take yer head off!"
Screaming and then a heavy thud, and he can feel hands – "Get off me!"
"Wh..."
"Don't touch him!" the girl cries, "He's hurt! I think his back is broken!"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just help him!"
He feels hands and god help him, he feels people moving him. His back aches – crack – and he snarls, "Touch me and die!"
The hands retreat. "Go 'n get m'sister, Byrd. She knows how t'heal."
"Right." Footsteps retreating, double time.
Soft limping, a sigh, and then, "Mr. Waltz, are you okay?"
He doesn't want to respond, he doesn't want to tell her – "...my head..."
"It's okay, we're getting a healer right now. She'll be here soon."
"Oye, did y' kidnap Janelle?"
"I... I... Is he dead?"
He has to tell them... "...dead, in forest..."
He hears the girl shifting, "I think he means your friend," she says quietly to the boy who he can't see anymore.
"...I... This was his idea," the boy mutters, "I didn't..."
"I don't care!" the one-eyed hunter snaps, "'m gonna kill y' all th' same-"
"Don't! Arok, stop it!"
"Wh..."
"He didn't do anything – he was nice! Don't hurt him."
"Janelle, this isn't th' time f'y' t' get all sypath'tic! 'e was gonna kill y'!"
"What are you talking about!" the kidnapper shouts, "I wasn't going to kill anyone! I just got hired because the guy who was organizing this whole plot against you was a total idiot!"
"Well, tha' id'ot's dead in th' forest 'cos o' y'! An' 'sides, th' letter said-"
"I didn't write the damned letter, that guy did!"
"Stop it!" she shouts and the two go silent. "I don't care, Arok! He was nice to me. I'm not a child – I'm older than you. I understand the seriousness of my situation, but I also understand that there are people hurt here, more injured than your pride or whatever possessed you to come after me, and I would rather worry over them, than over whether or not I could have been killed."
"Wha're y' talkin' 'bout! Pride? I came after y' 'cos y'r my friend!"
His head hurts...
"I... Well, then, he's my friend, so you better be civil to him!"
There's a shocked silence and his head suddenly doesn't hurt anymore. Neither does his side, but it feels cold... numb.
He can't breathe.
"When is Marie getting here?" the girl asks, "He doesn't look good – there's a lot of blood!"
"I dunno... Don't y' have s'mmin' t' help bandage him up?"
"I... I might have something... We used most of our bandages on her..."
"What 'appened t' her!"
"She twisted her ankle while walking back here! And then she burnt herself making food for us..."
"Y' made her cook!"
"I wanted to!"
"...I..." Silence. "...is it dead...?"
"The beast?" Her voice is soft and hoarse and doesn't sound right at all.
"...mm..."
"It's dead. Byrd killed it."
He can hear his heart beat. He didn't know he had one.
"...mm."
Something touches his forehead.
"Is she going to get here soon?"
"Dunno... it took us 'bout 'n hour t' get here first..."
"Just hold on, Mr. Waltz..."
He feels like there's something caught in his throat. A moment later and he realizes it's blood.
Something doesn't work.
Everything is dark; everything is night.
Happy Halloween.