A/N: Thank you, thank you. The reviews were positively enough to make myself type up another chapter. However it's pretty bad 'cause I've neglected to finish/type of the chapters for my other story. Heh ehhh… :/ Anyway, do enjoy this chapter~ Seriously, I can't wait in chapters in several chapters later to get them to Altamira or Flanoir and other places like Asgard for the "side-quest." OH MAH GAWD. The things I have in store. Sqeeeee. ^w^ (I'm never satisfied; I don't like the writing in this chapter.)
Extra notes: Same thing as usual. Ha! This time this section took up quite a portion, not this time! It is so much shorter now~ convenient, ne? Um, real start with Richter and Emil in the next chapter? What Ratatosk bought is just the clothes Emil gets when he meets Tenebrae in the game, alright?
Disclaimer: Seeing more Richter/Emil fics would be awesome, make the fans happy and that jazz. You know the drill, I don't own anything~!
Luin had felt considerably peaceful for once, unless a moment would arrive where the children would try to deny Emil's existence by shunning him, it actually occurred quite often during his rough childhood. The only person there for him was his brother, even then it still felt lonesome when they fought or Ratatosk went hunting – back then Ratatosk handled all the responsibilities naturally as the older twin, nevertheless bickering between siblings could never be entirely avoided. Emil glimpsed down at his foot, feeling as if an object tapped him lightly: the children's ball. And being the kind-natured boy he is, the blond picked the ball and attempted to hand the toy back to the children who scorned at him with repulsion and apprehension.
Emil gave the faintest beam to cover up his dejection; he placed the ball down with a smile and departed hurriedly to locate the redhead. The kids might ultimately fetch their item, the children need to be wary of their own possessions and intend to keep them – Luin barely created children products. The blonde felt a tears form in the pit of his eyes, this time he had no twin to reassure him as always. Most likely Ratatosk would not even have to see the scene in the first place; people fear the older blond and would not attempt anything on him or Emil when accompanied. A wretched feeling churned Emil's stomach once again – is that all it is?
Am I really just useless?
He failed to acknowledge the statue of Lloyd once passing the water fountain with his head down and arms sagging in utter pessimism, also failing to observe the local teens who always felt like hounding Emil as form of entertainment. One of them spoke rather unexpectedly, shocking Emil from his disheartening thoughts. "How could you just ignore Lloyd the Great like that, Emil?"
Emil gave a standard blink before his legs quavered at the sight of the teens; there was no one else to support him. Emil's mouth opened several times but closed consistently when he attempted to say something and only to find out the words were failing to form. He absorbed their mockery, he took the insults, what he didn't take is when they switched to a new subject to slur: Emil's older twin brother. They first began prancing around in order to impersonate Emil's pusillanimous nature whilst the other one making his best impression of Ratatosk's belligerent behavior towards individuals other than Emil.
"S-stop it! D-don't m-make fun of Ra-Ratatosk!"
And it did stop, both the mimicking and mockery act to end short because their blond victim was standing up for himself – to some degree. Their arms dropped back in place, their face twisted by discontentment followed by pursing their lips. One of them nodded to each other, sending a subtle message. For the next few seconds Emil thought he "won" this time with his bullies, but only to gasp when one of them pushed him to the floor. The impact gave him such a painful pulsating sensation in his back running down to his legs, alarm struck the green-eyed blond when they advanced towards him with perverse cackles.
The brown-haired teen held an accusing finger very closely to Emil's chest, his face scrunched up in blistering fury as his hand slowly opened, finally pinning down Emil, his partner already had his fist primed and chuckling sardonically as Emil clenched his eyes shut. Emil could hear to venomous muttering, cautiously he fluttered his eyes open and questioned the helping hand residing near his shoulder. The blond felt so awe-struck and began rambling his astonishment in his head. It's him! It's his savior!
Emil took Richter's hand, effortlessly his panic dissipated and realized someone has come to save him not once, but twice already! Emil detected an odd gentleness in the redhead's eyes – it couldn't have been…pity?
Richter shot the two teens a death glare, as if the softness has quickly turned to an ominous detestation. Emil flinched by the cold emerald pools of his redheaded savior – so cold, so vacant but petrifying.
"Get lost."
The two teens held their tough frontage; unmistakably Richter could sense how intimidated they truly were. One of the boys tried to stand firm and unwavering to such a hostile scowl, daringly one of them spoke: "Who the hell are you?"
Richter pursed his lips, already his patience for the two to leave is wearing thin. Generally he would never raise his voice unless necessary, but he could only endure the presence of the pair for so long. "I said go!"
And so they did without further notice, the teens stumbled and one fell occasionally fleeing from the fear of staying there longer. Emil's verdant orbs widened - was this all it took to drive them away? He shook his head, almost afraid to actualize that his savior had his sight fixated on Emil for the past while. The words failed to form even now after deliberately making the decision to find his savior to thank him for saving him yet again, to this very moment he mumbled idiotically and begging his inner subconscious to rewind and let him stay in a corner to brood instead.
"You know," the abrupt voice verbalized nonchalantly, unlike a few moments ago when he raised his voice so callously, "you should really stand up for yourself."
And only then it struck Emil like a blade lunged in his chest with a terrible twist – for another to confess how spineless he is felt so…degraded. Next to his brother it didn't influence him much, but someone who he already owed his life to—nonetheless a total stranger—made the blond feel dismal at heart. The man walked away soon after, Emil not only made a fool of himself failing to express his gratitude but he was proven a true coward. He hung his head dejectedly with his arms swinging limply, hot tears forming at the pit of his eyes.
I'm so weak.
Something radiated in his heart that made Emil stand upright in startling confidence, he strode in hammering steps to catch up with his savior. He wanted strength – already the idea of being a pitiable weakling became such a loathing, enough to give him a burst of energy to have the will to improve. Emil concluded no matter how time-consuming he will be stronger, not the frail younger twin always hiding behind his sibling for protection! Emil beamed instead of a his normally pessimistic attitude of either unable to make friends or becoming a familiar enemy towards all the people in Luin, there was a sensation that turned the cogs in his head about the redhead.
Him! It has to be him! These positive vibes simply emitted from the redhead – he would be the one to help the blond overcome all his wavering indecisions.
Ratatosk stepped out from the bathroom with a sigh of relief; the first order of business was to eat the silly shaped rice balls Emil deserted on the table. He licked his lips, munching on every single scrap left – he did not feel full in the slightest. Groaning in aggravation to his grumbling stomach he called for Emil loudly and childish only to be found in a deep disappointment that his younger twin might have already left to find his savior. Ratatosk rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth.
Just because someone saved him doesn't mean anything!
Ratatosk growled in his own insincerity, if it was him to save Emil – no. Emil wouldn't be glowing as much as he did to the stranger. After an examination of the room he blinked in boredom and decided it was best to step out. The blond glared down at the children playing so loudly – so boisterous, so cheerful, so carefree. A bell chimed in the air that made several look over in curiosity and instantaneously be mindful to go back to their doings, nevertheless it was only just a wandering merchant exiting out Luin with a hefty carriage of merchandise.
The blond raised a brow until he spotted two matching outfits in the same style for traveling whilst a sword tipping on the ledge and close to falling. His lips twitched into a condescending grin as he titled his head back, never was it hard to pull a few strings to get what he wanted. Or rather what the wicked child wanted to keep the "monsters" at bay, he strode to the merchant with a facade of innocence. The terror rapidly struck the merchant as he tried to evade eye contact, mumbling one excuse after the other of leaving – this terror was divine enough to make Ratatosk's laugh inaudibly to himself.
His red eyes glittered by the sun's rays, making the eye color exquisitely haunting and absolutely spine-chilling. He felt like he already had this merchant wrapped around his finger, "I want those." Ratatosk simply demanded once he pointed towards the garments and sole equipment, "and there shouldn't be any problem with that."
The merchant shook his head violently, he yanked the demanded items and begged for Ratatosk to leave him alone soon after. Without saying a word of gratitude Ratatosk simply left and fully content with the new items in his possession – Emil would definitely bring his attention back to his older twin in a heartbeat. He could already picture Emil's reaction of delight, only now it was time to actualize the reaction and imprint it into his mind.
Ratatosk made a sudden halt at the corner of Luin's inn. Where is his younger sibling to begin with? Should he return home and wait?
A laugh escaped from his lips: patience is never the style.
Emil frantically scouted the area to be washed in relief that the man was still in the town, the redhead looked heavily concentrated with his stern frown gazing up at the translucent statue of the commemorable Raine Sage from the regeneration group. He felt tense to approach said stranger with such a hollow expression, but this was certainly not the time to quaver at the mere sight of his savior for the third time straight. Emil balled his fist and prepared to say something only to be cut short when the tall redhead turns his eyes into slits, his tone kept a monotone pace when he asked Emil, "What is it?"
Then Emil's mind traced back to his recent notion, suggesting this might have been a horrible idea to begin with. Somehow it only made him feel more dejected, the high spirits he yet again experienced has already vanished. He wanted dearly to reply in gratitude only with exception a lump formed in his throat and prevented him from verbalizing, his own eyes have already grown petrified to look at the man straight in the eyes. As if the redhead has already read the blonde's thought his stern voice attempted to reach Emil's ears, "If you've got nothing to say, then I've got something to ask you."
Without saying a word the blond nodded in response, a gesticulation for Richter to continue.
"Your brother said your name is Emil," Richter first stated, his voice laced with a strong sense of impassiveness. "Well, Emil, has there been any sightings of a girl entering Lake Sinoa's cave?"
Ever since the sudden disappearance of the body of water in Lake Sinoa, no one has dared draw near the area overruled with monsters or the occasional bandits. Emil has never felt the presence of another person on the moments he went, the lingering feeling still stirred his mind—as if he heard someone mention a foreigner. The trifling conflict his mind gave him only resulted in a headache and disappointment, to this moment he couldn't assist the man that saved him, nevertheless twice so far.
"N-no s-sir."
Richter's treacherous gleam gave the boy a shudder, his eyes felt like it was suppressing the mild exasperation apparent enough to be heard from angered noise in the back of his throat, "What are you so nervous about?"
Emil fidgeted, vaguely startled by his tone, "I…"
There was a momentary silence until Richter used the moment to state what a deceased friend once mentioned.
"Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality," the redhead said without much of his unsolicited anger and immediately his molded expression faltered as if the man were reminiscing on a good memory. Emil felt the colorant pink creeping on his face, there is a noticeable gentleness in his facial features…but pained, too. "They're words a human with a few screws loose said long ago."
"You should've said something to your brother when he spoke to you like that," Richter casually stated, his green orbs dangerously narrowing into slits, "those who runaway at the sight of another's anger are dogs, maybe even worse. Are you a dog?" He shifted his attention from Emil to the statue, "Or are you really a man?"
As if not expecting a response his redheaded savior adverted his eyes towards to congenial shop a few paces away. He took off in slow and even steps, "Just try your best to be a man, Emil."
Emil paced around the room, anxiously waiting Ratatosk's return for two reasons: one, he is safe. Two, there needs to be food to dine with, both have already grown a vast distaste to gratin – once anyone has it for a week straight enough is surely enough. The blond hummed to calm down his nerves, whirling around when a string of loud curses and raging stomps interrupted his melodious humming. The front door slammed wide open revealing a very fiery blond haired red-eyed teen, his frown was certainly deep and in his hand held only dead fishes. Before his younger twin could impose on the lowly catch the older blond decided it was best to tend to his wounds whilst maintaining his never-ending rage.
Ratatosk sluggishly made his way across the room, pelting the fishes on the unstable counter top. His body collapsed on his bed, his legs hanging aimlessly on the opposite end, eyes moodily closing before giving one last glare at the ceiling. Emil hesitated to go inside the room for the heavy atmosphere his twin subtly vented out, he approached his brother with vigilance and brought his hand closer to Ratatosk's face to stroke the blond locks of hair stuck messily around his cheeks but withdrew his hand proposing it was best not to.
Ratatosk slit his eyes open, one of them strongly glaring at Emil restraining his own actions. The older teen forcibly—if not abruptly—grabbed onto Emil's wrist and tugged the surprised boy right beside him on the bed. The younger twin blinked in shock, he felt awkward to be huddled so closely in such a position that his brother had his arm around Emil's waist. Ratatosk kept him close and lolled his head to the side, he tried to keep his moody drawl lowered to some amount, "I'll fetch something tomorrow. Today I got wrapped up in an idiotic situation."
Emil shyly peered up, "What do you mean?"
The red-eyed teen situated his chin on Emil's head, rolling his eyes and sighing heavily in annoyance, "I was planning to bring some rabbits or a bear for us to eat. I was getting ready for the kill until a girl suddenly pops out of nowhere in a mid-air jump and forces a weird white jewel on me, apologizing and then running off. I couldn't care so much that she was injured, but more why she gave it to me. And so it seems…" Ratatosk voice becomes weary as if drifting off to sleep, "that some bandits were after her and the prized jewel of Lake Sinoa. Eight against one is beyond infuriating, mainly having the burden of getting that jewel back in far end of that musky cave—I definitely didn't plan on keeping it for once."
Emil's mouth open then closed, and then open again only to close it once more. What could he possibly say?
"I'll eat later, I'm exhausted." Ratatosk yawned, he pulled Emil closer—despite the younger blond's protest—and fell asleep just like that in an instant.
Green eyes widened – maybe that girl is the one he's looking for! Emil's lip twitched upwards in a sheepish smile; already he felt a jolt of eagerness to report his findings. Judging from the direction the man strode off to and also searching for a girl—that might possibly end in failure which such a vague description—the best solution would be to go to the mayor. The blond strode in anticipation, the jittering feeling made his body feel lighter than usual. He ignored the awful grimace the shop owner gave him, as well as several of the inhabitants of Luin just shopping sending out a dangerous vibe, regardless they distanced themselves away from Emil for him to pass.
His first steps made a loud creak in the chocking silent atmosphere, he made a further dash up the stairs and his eyes confronted the mayor and Richter concentrated in a serious matter. It took Richter to advert his eyes toward the staircase to realize the young boy's presence, his crossed expression was speedy to wane.
"Emil." Richter said idly.
The mayor craned his neck, giving a standard blink in surprise. "Oh. Do you already know Richter?"
"Um, well…" Emil responded timidly, highly uncomfortable by the set of stares. The teen glanced further up to see the mayor and his savior, Richter, already back into discussion. Emil brought his hands together, fiddling with his fingers with a strange uneasiness, "Richter?"
"What is it?"
He contemplated how should he even begin. Was the jewel she forced on his twin a necessary element to mention? He shrugged off his thoughts and took a step forward, "Ratatosk went to the lake bed to… um…bring food. H-he mentioned a girl swooping down in front of him," Emil explained, almost frighten by the dark glower the redhead gave him after mentioning the female. "She wasn't alone, though. It seems several goons were after this thing she had with her – I-I'm not sure if it matters but it was some sort of white jewel they were after. Ratatosk said he put it back."
The blond teen failed to notice Richter's imperceptible motion once he grasped Emil's thin shoulders, shaking him aggressively, creating an uproar for further information. The blonde's legs quavered to the fierce flare in the man's green eyes, he was unable to respond to Richter's demand for his voice long died out. The mayor held one hand out to restrain Richter and ushering the man to calm down, however the green-eyed blond felt relieved for the mayor's intervention. Emil's vision felt blurred and his head felt as if was pulsating due to pain.
"T-that is all I-I know. Sor-"
"Enough!" Richter yelled, and then faced the mayor with a vacant expression. "Mayor, I'd like to take him with me." He shifted his attention back towards Emil, "Can I count on you to lead me to the jewel?"
Emil nodded in response, taking a quick sidestep for the redhead to stride imperiously down the stairs and towards the exit. With an approving gesture from the mayor the blond dashed down to meet with Richter outside.
Ratatosk strapped on the royal blue garment, buckling the black and yellow straps around his torso as they made a 'clunk' sound against his sword and his own straps. He clenched his hands and quite satisfied with the shoulder-length gloves that partially could advert the attention of his exposed collarbones; the red-eyed blond stuffed the matching set of clothing for Emil in a plastic bag, descending down the stairs and listening to the whispers between the men and watchmen. It took him no longer to dash from his current spot to the outskirts of Luin to reach the secluded area: the lakebed.
He frantically looked around; all was just a blur capturing sight of Emil with his Richter. He bit his bottom lip, knitting his eyebrows to find his sibling—especially uneasy at the exterior—trailing close behind the redheaded man. Ratatosk's mind fell into torrential storm to grasp the fact Emil was following his savior into the cave – the cave filled with monsters.
"Dammit, Emil!" he muttered under his breath, sneakily catching up with the pair.
A/N: Do you think Emil would ever get Richter to dance to caramelldansen if he gave puppy eyes? x3 LOL. I would actually like to see that happening. :B (Do excuse the mistakes, I was in a rush.)