( "We are warriors. We cannot remain sedentary." )
Theme: Shadow (#45) – theme taken from 101_Kisses
Genre: Drama/Angst-y
Rating: PG-13
Jadeite leaned against the tree bark, shifting until he was comfortable.
Nephrite plucked an apple from a nearby tree and rubbed it against his shirt.
"You know you don't have to do that," Jadeite said, closing his eyes.
"Habit." He took a crisp satisfying bite from the fruit. "I miss meat."
"I miss girls," Jadeite repleid, idly wondering where the maenads were. Nephrite had to pound his chest to dislodge the piece that had gotten stuck in his throat mid-laughter.
"I miss Kunzite," Zoisite said softly.
"And Endymion," Jadeite agreed, after a quick, brief silence.
"I feel so useless here!" Nephrite raged, in a mood again. "We can't do anything! We can't help Kunzite! We can't save Endymion! We don't even have our powers down here!"
"Your powers are not necessary." It infuriated Nephrite that the young man – and he would always be young as he looked it – remained calm when he himself was in a rage. His anger used to be terrifying and commanding; not it was met with placation and sardonic looks.
"It doesn't matter! I can't do anything! All we do is wait and I'm not even sure I know for what! I don't care for memories!" he prevented Helios from interrupting him when the latter was about to speak. "I want to do something!"
Helios let the other man rant.
"This is ridiculous! I used to be one of the most powerful beings in the universe, and I'm told that I'm stuck in paradise bubble? I want out, Helios. I want out now."
Helios let the tirade wash over him, knowing that this was nothing compared to what would come later.
"Are you listening to me?" Nephrite grabbed Helios arm, and reflexively, the smaller man simply reached an arm out as if pushing Nephrite, but it was more than a push, because the tall man ended up sprawled on the floor, trying to catch his breath.
Zoisite started, but Jadeite was watching Helios: he looked regretful and pained.
"Is there anything you can do, Helios? To help us speed along the process? To show us what's going on outside of here?"
Helios shook his head, that same remorseful look on his face.
"Helios," Jadeite said lowly. "We are warriors. We cannot remain sedentary." He gestured to the other two. "We need to do something. You take our powers and give us no memories in return. Everything is taken from us. We are barely shadows of what we are supposed to be."
Silently, Helios raised his head. "You have been for longer than you realize."
"You are killing us, Helios," Jadeite accused.
Softly, he replied, "You have been dying for far longer than you'll ever care to know."
end