A/N: Alrighty, gonna get this going and hopefully finish up before my friends and I sit down to watch Inception together over the interwebs. I hope eveyone's staying safe and healthy!

Disclaimer: I don't even own Inception, the movie I'm about to watch with friends…

Do the Gods Love Their Creations

Katherine felt another rush as she tensed, seeing the shadow of the Orphan standing off to the side, hovering over the dead body of Kos. She was still rather riled up after that fight but when the shadow didn't move, didn't even twitch, she started to approach. Nero's gaze was rather heavy with concern as he watched her but she paid him no mind, if the thing turned out to be hostile, he'd step in. The hunter stepped right up to the shadow, it had more substance than the shadows cast upon the ground but it made no reaction when she stood directly before it; it simply continued to stare off into the pale sun. Katherine took a deep breath, adjusted her grip on the saw cleaver and swung hard. It's form crumpled, fading away like the shadows it appeared to be made of. As soon as it was gone the Hunter felt as though a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders, like there was some form of hope left in this gloomy pessimistic world. She knelt down and placed a bloody, gloved hand on the corpse on the ground

"You're finally freed from this nightmare." she whispered before standing and turning to face the devil hunter. He was lighting the lantern that had somehow appeared in the shallow water and looked at her expectantly.

"Where to next?" he asked and she shrugged, joining him at the lantern.

"I feel that returning to the Dream may be in our best interest. I have a feeling that this Nightmare… that it has ended somehow. The curse is no longer hanging heavy over those who join the hunt." she said, pondering the absence of the heavy feeling. The blood-drunkeness was still going to haunt them, it came from the Old Blood, not the curse, but they would no longer spend eternity trapped in a hell of their own making.

"Well that's good isn't it?" Nero asked as she knelt down before the lantern, ready to return and no longer have water soaking into her pant legs.

"I believe so, yes." they both closed their eyes as the messengers reached up around their boots. "But this was only one nightmare, there is still something horrible hanging over the waking world, we have yet to find the 'paleblood'." she continued as they stood from the gravestone in the Dream. Nero was shaking slightly, though he clearly was trying to hide it, what did he see between the dreamlands?

"Yeah, what is meant by that anyway?" he mumbled, appearing distracted.

"I must speak with the doll." Katherine told him and he made no motion to come after her, still shaken up by that which he experienced. She approached the doll after having slung her coat and weapons in the workshop, having no need to haul them around for now.

"Oh, good hunter." the doll greeted as she approached "I can hear Gehrman sleeping. On any other night, he'd be restless. But on this night, he sounds so very calm. ...perhaps something has eased his suffering…" Katherine smiled at her words, she didn't know how Gehrman was linked to the Nightmare but it reassured the Hunter that they'd accomplished something if it was putting the old hunter at ease. She knelt before the doll, holding out a hand to begin the ritual to channel the power of those she'd killed into her own blood.

Feeling stronger and more refreshed she stood, bowing slightly at the doll, who returned the motion, she went inside to seek out Nero, finding him sitting at the workbench, his own firearm disassembled upon the surface. She watched him work, the firearm was far more complicated than any of the ones that she'd found or worked on herself but his fingers worked with quick efficiency that spoke of muscle memory and many, many hours performing these very actions. She wasn't sure if he'd noticed her presence until he spoke without looking up at her.

"Do you believe in gods Katherine?" he asked suddenly. His voice was soft but the Hunter had no problem making out his question.

"I do not know, the Great Ones seem to be as powerful as any god. As for before this waking nightmare began, I cannot answer that." she said "Do you believe in gods?" she returned and he paused, snapping a few more pieces back into place on his firearm before answering.

"I didn't before. The place I grew up worshipped a demon as a god, I thought it was a load of shit, but now… Everything here just seems all sorts of upside down. The idea that there are gods here feels like it should be comforting but… do the gods love their creations, if that's what we are? I'm not sure I like the idea of their love, on the flip side, if they're apathetic to the insignificant things that wander the surface of the world… that's just as concerning." he sighed frustratedly, abandoning the half assembled gun and ran his hands through his short hair. Katherine put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her, worry etched heavily onto his face.

"Some things are beyond what we can comprehend, thinking about it will get us nowhere and lead only to frustration, let us take back to the streets, the beasts aren't going to kill themselves." Nero nodded, turning back to his gun and snapping it back together before gathering his things.

"Where to next?"

A/N: Not sure how I feel about this chapter but… eh, it is what it is. I'm going to practice some Saxophone and then watch a movie! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Till next time,

-Winged Element