Disclaimer- I own the plot, nothing else.
Warnings- Same as before.
Damns. This did not come out as early as I wanted it to. It has been just sitting here and waiting for me. -shakes head- Well here it is now, the next chapter! Sorry for such a long wait.
Chapter 12
Joachim scanned what seemed like the hundredth cell sector. So far all the two had come across were small clusters of skeletal warriors and reapers. After Leon's second breakdown the being kept the hunter on a short leash, concerned for his well being. The other seemed out of it.
"I have a feeling that we're almost there." Leon blurted out. The past few hours had left him content. The silence in his head was nice. The hunter had also felt the concerned stare of the other lingering on him all day and he admitted it felt nice. Sighing, he stopped feeling his boot squish down in a pile of soggy hay. "Do you want to stop and rest?" Carefully, he leaned against the wall, making a noise of relief when the weight was taken off his aching feet.
The noise made Joachim freeze. Swallowing hard, he ignored the little voice in his mind telling him that he should just take what was his. Clapping his hands together, he plopped onto the ground, feeling a toothy grin appear on his face.
Leon opened a pool, when he no one answered. He chuckled lightly, taking in the others posture and attitude. When Joachim looked up he closed his hues once again.
'This is stupid.' Standing up, the being glided over to the hunter. Breathing deeply, he repeated a encouraging mantra through his head. Leaning forward, he closed the small gap between them.
Leon was startled by the sudden pressure. Icy pools wide, he stared at his crush in shock. When he felt a tongue run along his lower lip, he granted the man access, letting his roaming hands settle in the other's silky strands.
Joachim smiled as he felt the blonde battle for dominance. His pools were sliding shut, when the image of a reaper halted him. Pulling away, he ignored the moan of displeasure from his companion. "We have company."
The answer, halted all the questions threatening to spill from Leon's lips. Slowly turning his head, he ducked a flying scythe. "Ruin the moment why don't you?"
Joachim sprang into action, quickly disposing of the monster. He felt Leon look at him curiously. "Uhm… That was unexpected."
For once in his life, Leon was lost for words. As much as he wanted to spill his heart to the other, he didn't know how. It was like a cat had his tongue. Looking up to the other, he hoped to convey his feelings.
"Which part?" Joachim heard himself say softly. His mind was blank, the hole that was his heart ready to fill. All he needed was a conformation of the hunter's love. Although, he reasoned to himself that the other had already shown it, when he responded to the kiss.
"The part with the reaper…." Leon braced the wall, with his hands. "Joachim…" Joachim looked up, surprised at the breathless tone. "I don't how to say this." Leon looked down, ignoring the small part of his brain that was telling to stop the nonsense. "I love you." He looked away, feeling tears blur his vision.
Letting out a small whoop, Joachim grinned like an idiot. Bringing a hand to wrap around his blonde hunter, he pulled the other's head up. "And I love you too." Without saying anymore, he brought his face forward, enveloping Leon in a kiss.
--
"Update me Ian." Walter smiled, from his desk. Letting his head rest on his curved hand, he watched with interest as the other fidgeted. The watchful gaze of Mathias weighed heavily on his back.
The servant bowed. "Sir, they made it past Alastor and now are at Iris."
The red-head chuckled, lightly. "May she prevail."
Ian nodded from his spot on the floor, before leaving.
A young woman scanned the horizon with her orange pools, her teeth bared in a snarl. Rocking her head back and forth, her midnight black hair flew over her shoulder, landing at her bosom. Raising a hand, she held large oak staff in the air, watching the two clear gems at the top glow red. "Someone has come." She spoke to herself, frantically trying to straighten the white cloth that surrounded her body in waves. Behind her blood stained wings beat heavily. Heavy thudding footsteps, alerted her. Taking to the air, she snarled down, resting in the large dome at the top. She listened with rapt attention as the two intruders spoke to themselves.
"We should be careful here."
"Yeah." Both Leon and Joachim stepped into the room, after having rested fully they were ready to get through anything, together. The thought of their relationship brought a blush to Leon's cheeks. Looking around the room, the first thing Leon noticed was another crumbed statue. Lowering his voice dramatically he spoke to the other, while scanning for any signs of danger. "We have another large visitor." Joachim nodded, leaning in to the his hunter's body heat. "But where?"
They didn't have to wait long, for at that moment the woman decided to try an aerial attack. Folding her wings forward, she held her arms out, staff ready to bash her opponents heads in. Grinning wickedly, she smelt their fear. Foaming at the mouth, she readied her arm.
"Duck!" Leon as he looked up. Rolling out of the way, he felt a searing in his leg. Looking at it he noticed that the bone broke the skin at a old angle. Hissing in pain, he dragged himself over to the far wall. Sitting as still as he could, he readied himself for resetting the bone.
With the man with the whip preoccupied, Iris set her sights on the floating being. Running forward, she attacked.
At the sight of the crazed woman rushing him, Joachim did the only that came to mind, stopping the staff.
Commanding his swords, he sent one after another to hit the stick. It did nothing. With the woman closing in fast, he raised his arms in self defense, well a blade floated in front of it, blade pointed outward. All he heard was a screech of annoyance. He watched as the woman pulled out the embedded knife out of her stomach. The bleeding wound closed fast, as if nothing happened. It gave Leon an idea. Pulling a empty potion bottle out of his coat, he uncorked the top. Grinning he baited the woman. "Come on you big hag."
The woman saw red. Her orange pools flashed dangerously. Hissing, she tried to rush annoying pest without thinking. She paid no heed to the knife making it's home in her breast, all the blood that rushed into the bottle. Anger was clouding her judgment. Raising her staff above her head, she brought it down on the spot where her attacker was last.
Joachim dodged it smoothly, corking the bottle in the process. Calling the blade back, he heard the unmistakable sound of ripped clothing. He watched in fascination as a tattoo on his attacker's breast was revealed. Unlike the other's this one was a black gem, with an even darker rainbow behind it. Looking at the gem, he looked up at the staff and the clear reflecting crystals, glowing red. An idea formed in his head. Rushing forward, he ducked another of the woman's wicked attacks. Commanding his swords, he willed them to attack both her and the gems.
The first thing the woman felt was pain, before she heard the sound of one of her precious gems breaking. Stopping short, she hissed at her prey. "What are you doing?"
Joachim smirked, evilly. "Just breaking things." He called a sword to his side, before rushing forward in a flurry of robes. Dodging another wild blow, he shot a well aimed sword the second gem. It's aim was true, shattering the rock on impact.
With the last of her gems, Iris felt herself crumbling. As her body began to stiffen, she felt an intense pain, before exploding into a flurry of stone.
Joachim and Leon both shielded themselves from the debris and the intense orange light. Clanking to the ground was an orange stone. Joachim walked over to it like before. "I wonder…" Looking into the clear orange stone, he saw the black tattoo reflecting inside of it. Pocketing it, he made his way back to Leon's side, pulling out the blood he retrieved. Noticing out of the corner of his eye, the small warp pad. "Take this."
Leon looked at the potion bottle wearily. He had watched the fight, and knew that blood was in it. He didn't know what good it would do him though. Opening his mouth to protest, he was met with the lip of the bottle, slowly the liquid poured into his mouth.
"Swallow." Joachim cooed, disgusted at himself. 'Why am I acting like this?' He asked himself, before shaping back to his normal ways.
Leon obeyed, gulping the metallic tasting liquid. Instantly he the pain he felt disappeared. Looking down at his broken leg, he saw it mend itself. "Wow."
Holding out a hand, Joachim praised himself. "Yeah well I noticed she could heal, so I figured hey it should work for us insects." He pulled the other to the warp pad, ready to get out of the dungeons.
Walking over to the pedestal he placed the stone in the slot next to the red one. Watching as it glowed. Walking over to Leon he wrapped his arms around his waist. "Where to next oh great one?"
Leon leaned into the man's chest, humming happily. His gut told him to take the path to the right of them, but he felt it could wait a little while. "I say we stay here for a little while."
Joachim nodded his agreement, settling his head on top of the blonde's.
A/N: Okay, so I don't know when the next chapter will be out. I have been working on this story for a really long time now... -ducks- Review?
