Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, but here's the continuation.
Was he crying? Had he caused the kid to cry? Why would he cry? It was just…
Dean looked down and noticed the bracer. He picked it up and took a better look at it. Yeah, he had made those carvings on it. Because… because. The same reason why he had flicked the peacorns. He felt like it. Just because.
But now he was sitting here feeling… bad? He felt bad about the kid leaving? At least he didn't feel glad… not even relieved. He should be. He didn't have to share space with him, not having to see his face.
Why was it so complicated?
The kid didn't know him. Never would. No one could know him. So why did he have a feeling the kid was right? A little. Dean kinda was loyal. But only to Roman. Anyone coming in between would be soo sorry. But he wasn't honest; he lied and cheated. Honestly.
His gaze wandered to the bracers again. How he had made the marks. Maybe it wasn't nice… The kid had been very upset. And he wasn't cool with seeing him like that; that made him feel awkward.
He took out his knife and started to carve some more in it. He made some fangy design. That was the only thing he could do except the doodling-type of carvings. It wouldn't cover the X's but it gave it character. He repeated the fangy pattern on the other one as well, making them look alike. It didn't look that bad now.
Maybe he should look for the kid? It was his fault he left. Why wasn't he mad at him? He usually would have been sent through the roof for this kind of thing. The kid had said some horrible stuff. Calling him names and… telling some truth…
He had made him upset… he really hadn't given him a chance, and thinking about it… the kid had been nice to him… He had Healed him, and he had done it better than previous Healers… He was awkward but… he had been nice to Dean. Damn kid making him feel this way, thinking so much. He shouldn't care. And… no… he didn't care… He… He… just wondered where he went. Yeah. That's it. So yeah… maybe he should just take these Roman germs and at least see if the kid was okay.
He grabbed the armour and left the room. Where had he gone? He had been talking about the transfer? Had he gone to Triple H already? He scanned the corridors but no one was to be seen. Thinking of the possibility of the kid wanting to see Triple H he headed towards the main areas. The facilities were lonely. Seemed like people were on missions or slept in. He went to the courtyard, looking around. No one was there either. Or…?
He thought he saw something behind one of the benches. He looked closer and saw wavy dark hair and a naked back. A naked back with Runes on it.
He heard a soft sniffle. He was still crying?
Something ached inside him at the sound. His instinct told him to flee, escape that sound that made him feel like that, make that ache go away. But at the same time, he was drawn in by it.
He went closer and got up to the bench. Should he stay here or should he go around…? His heart started pounding fiercely. Another small sob. Another ache. Damn kid. He got around, standing on the same side as him, but some distance apart.
"Uh… hey…?" he said, scratching his head.
The kid looked up in a quick manner, as if he'd been startled.
"Go away…" he said, looking away.
Dean just looked at him. "I… I just wanted to see where you went…" he said.
"You don't care, don't pretend you do", the kid hid his face on his raised knees. "Go away…!"
"…" This was a lot harder than he anticipated. "Hey… dude."
"I have a name. It's Seth." He still wouldn't look at him.
"Yeah, well… I uh… didn't mean to… you know, make you upset…"
"Oh really? You sure did everything to do so!" the kid spat from his knee position.
Dean wasn't good at this. What was he supposed to do or say? The kid obviously still was in some kind of state. He crouched down to be at his level.
"Hey…"
"What part of 'go away' didn't you get…!?" the kid said, looking up. His eyes were all red and puffy from the crying. The sparkle wasn't there.
But Dean couldn't resist a helpless smile. "Probably the same part of 'don't you ever shut up' that you don't get."
The kid sniffled again and looked at him. Nervously? But then he looked away again. "Asshole…"
Dean deserved that. Why would he even think that? He just did. For some weird reason. He still felt like he should be mad but seeing the kid's state, knowing he was the reason for it… He saw the lost boy again… seeing himself, being all alone…
"But yeah… just wanted to check on you… and uh…" He had no idea what to say. "Really… and uh… You know you're stuck with us right? Trips isn't going to make changes. Not when he's able to mess with me." Shit. "I mean… yeah… you're stuck with us.." Just because he said that didn't mean he accepted him in The Shield. He was just saying.
He fiddled with the bracers a little before handing them over. "I uh… fixed them…" When the kid didn't take them he just placed them on the ground and backed off a little.
"The X's are still there", the kid accused him.
"Well… yeah… couldn't do anything about them but I, you know, enhanced the design instead." He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah…" Maybe he should just go? Or…? No, maybe it was good.
"It's…" Their eyes met. The kid's expression was… he couldn't describe it. Surprised? No, it was something else, more deep. Dean was confused. "It's the same marks as on your shirt…" The kid traced the finger over the fang design and looked from them to him.
"Well… uh… it's not like that means anything. It's just the only design I can do okay? Except doodling." He became all flustered all of a sudden. Or at least awkward. "Wasn't happy with the X's, alright?" There. That's it.
Awkward silence.
"I'm… gonna go back", Dean finally said. The kid didn't look at him again so maybe Dean should just have him like that. He was about to step back.
"You really hurt me, you know…" the kid's voice was just barely audible, but Dean still heard him clearly. Even though the kid had said similar things before, this time it hit him in the gut. Just because his voice was so small…
"I know…" he admitted. "But I fixed your bracers." He tried to make it sound a little cheerful. He wasn't apologetic.
"It was never about the bracers… That was just the trigger…"
Oh…
"With all the stuff you said, and you hating me."
"I… don't hate you… I may not like you, but I don't hate you." He surprised himself there. Again. But he wasn't angry with the kid, so that must mean he didn't hate him. Right? He'd said it, so why'd he doubt himself? He looked at the kid, as if he could find his answers in him.
"Why'd you do it?"
No answers. Just questions. He should have known. He didn't know why he'd done it. Which of it specifically though? He'd been mad with the team build decisions so that triggered a lot of his previous behaviour. And because the kid was an intruder.
"What of it?"
"The bracers… yesterday… with the flying food and you just being an asshole. I get you think I intrude. But it's not my fault. I didn't decide to be on your team. Don't blame me. I… I just wanted it to work out but you make it really hard." He wiped his nose with the back of his hand.
"Why are you trying so hard then?" Felt like the situation was still very delicate so Dean avoided an accusing tone the best he could. Self preservation. Nothing else.
"You didn't answer my question." The kid seemingly ignored his counter question.
"You answered it yourself. I'm an asshole and you're an intruder. You didn't answer my question."
The kid shrugged. "You seemed nice, and I thought…" He made another sniffle and let his thought trail off. "But… you're here now. Proves me right."
He left to see if Dean was going after him? "It was a test?" he asked suspiciously. Was the kid so devious and cunning?
The kid gave him a look as if Dean just sprouted another head. "What? No! I left because you were an ass!" he suddenly snapped. "You really think I would have relied on you in the state you put me in?" He calmed down and became shyer again. "I just said so… You have some human qualities. It wasn't just something back then… you have it in you."
Dean just shifted his weight from foot to foot where he stood. He had checked on him and stayed for him before… It was just a little embarrassing with the kid being the one pointing it out. "Shut up…!" he said, more abashed than heated, and looked away.
The kid responded with a sound what was like a mix between a sniffle and a chuckle. "Say what you want but you do have a heart."
"Shut up…!" he just repeated, feeling even more awkward as he gave himself some distance. "Just returning the freaking armour." He hastily added. "Uh… gotta go see if Roman's up. I'm starving and he promised he'd buy me breakfast." The kid could probably see through his lie, but he needed something; an exit line. He'd done what he came here to do, right? And the kid didn't seem as upset, so maybe he'd just give him some privacy. He should leave. Yeah. He took some steps backwards. When the kid didn't say anything more or looked his way, he decided to go back to their room.
Roman was back from a shower when Dean returned. He had his hair wrapped up in a linen towel.
"Where have you been?" he asked, without greeting.
"Out."
"Where's Seth?"
"Out."
"What did you do?"
"What?" Dean gave him a serious incredulous look.
"Seth's not here, so what did you do?"
"You're assuming I did something because he's not here? What if he does morning walks? Or beat up old ladies having morning walks?"
Roman just gave him a look asking if he seriously believed he'd buy that. "It's not like you've been nice to him." He said, being very big brother serious about it. "And with you saying he's out, you really think I'm not assuming you did something to him? Like, throwing him out or something?"
"I didn't throw him out. He left all by himself. And he's fine."
"What did you do to have him leave?"
"Nothing. He woke me up and left." Technically.
"So he told you he was going out?"
"Kinda."
Roman held one of his analyzing looks, making Dean squirm a little. He didn't like that, it was like Roman had some super powers to look right through him.
"Look, he had like a bad morning or something so he needed some space okay", Dean managed out.
Roman nodded. Good, seems like it was something he could relate to. "Maybe I'll just ask him myself later, wanna make sure he's okay."
Dean was on the verge of saying that he didn't have to but he just put on some whatever mode instead.
Roman took down the towel, releasing his long mess of hair. "I figured we'd go down to the bakery and have some breakfast. All of us."
"Yeah, sure", Dean just said and plopped down on his bed again. His eyes focused on the floor and makeshift bed. He didn't manage to process any closer thought about it as it was a soft knock and the door was opened. The kid had returned. He seemed like he had cooled down now and you couldn't really see the state he'd been in. Or Dean could see his unsparkly tired look. He realized he missed his bright, brown eyes…
"Hey", Roman said, smiling welcomingly.
"Hey."
"Where've you been?"
"Just out, just… needed some space. Had a lot on my mind this morning. Don't worry though, I'm fine", he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Roman evaluated the kid. "You sure?"
The kid nodded. "Yeah, thank you. It has just been… a lot lately."
"We're here for you, okay?" He put a hand on the kid's shoulder.
"Yeah… thank you", the kid repeated, with another of those faint smiles.
"I just talked to Dean about going out for breakfast", Roman said, combing his damp hair with his fingers.
The kid glanced at Dean. "Yeah… I heard that."
Roman furrowed his eyebrows in confusion but didn't question it. "Great", he smiled. "I'll just have to get myself ready and then we're off."
"Okay", the kid gave a short nod.
Roman disappeared into the bathroom again, leaving the two younger ones alone.
"I'm still mad at you", the kid informed after a moment of dead silence. He went over to get his coat.
"By all means", he said, sounding all nonchalant. He could be that way all he wanted. As if he cared. The kid gave him a quick glance but nothing more.
Dean noticed his back. It was something about the backless shirt. It had a hoodie. He liked hoodies. And he couldn't avoid seeing some of the Runes. Those markings going down his spine. But he still couldn't make out any details because it was soon covered by the coat. Not that he was interested anyway.
He put on the shin guards but hesitated when he looked at his bracers. But then he decided to put them on too.
When he was finished, Roman returned. All neat and his hair in a low bun. Man bun. He saw the kid adjusting his armour. "Looking good", he said. He lifted the kid's right arm, inspecting the arm piece more closely. "That's cool. I didn't remember it had these decorations on them."
"Well… they have", the kid said, forcing a smile.
"Dean has those too, and he gave me a similar design as well." He showed the kid his higher arm armour, where he had the same kind of fangy pattern. Dean had made that pattern on a piece of leather and at a time when Roman's armour was torn and had to be replaced… well, Dean had that piece just lying around so he just gave it to him.
"You made a great choice", Roman continued.
The kid gave Roman a reply as a smile. A real smile and that made Dean's insides skip a little. He looked away, but still stole some glances of him again, but the smile was already gone.
"You ready to go?" Roman asked.
A quick nod from the kid and Dean just jumped off the bed. As they went for the door, Dean couldn't help but 'accidentally' bump the kid's shoulder as he passed him. The kid gave him a glare but Dean just flashed him a prime grin. Maybe he could come and enjoy creating reactions out of him. But at the same time he wanted to make sure he didn't upset him… just because he didn't want the ache coming with that. But he didn't mind him a little annoyed. He knew he played with fire but that was kinda his thing.
They went to the bakery slash café where Dean quickly decided to get a nice baguette bread with some gooey meat filling. Roman had some rye bread, also with some filling. The kid took more time though, looking very indecisive. He glanced at the pancakes occasionally but forced himself to look at the bread choices again.
Roman seemed to notice it as well. "You know, you can have the pancake."
The kid stiffened and looked all busted. "But that's more like dessert…"
"Have what you want, it's my treat."
"Okay… then I'd like the pancake. The one with cinnamon syrup."
"Make it two", Roman added. "It will make you feel more full", he added to the kid, with a smile.
The kid thanked him so much. Dean had never tried those pancakes. It just sounded sticky. With their syrup. He had always preferred bread in the mornings anyway.
Roman ordered them some lohdrinks, the standard beverage that came with food, and they went with his and Dean's breakfast together with the drinks to a table in a corner. The pancakes would take a couple of minutes to prepare but they would come out with them.
The kid insisted on sharing sides with Roman, Dean placed himself straight across from him. He seemed to be actively avoiding eye contact but Dean still noticed some glances at times.
"Sorry about the floor bed, Seth", Roman said.
"No, it's okay. I still managed to sleep. I mean I slept for like more than 12 hours so it couldn't have been that bad."
"Totally out cold. Snoring", Dean said.
"I snored?" the kid said, obviously very self conscious.
"No, you didn't, Dean's just being a jerk", Roman cut in. "You probably needed the sleep then. I hope they will get the bed arrangements fixed today."
Another of the kid's nod replies.
"Can see if we'll get to introduce you to some of the Hunters later?" Roman suggested.
"Oh, okay", the kid said, a little nervously. Or he looked nervous because he was yet again tucking away his blonde hair. Funny how he usually treated the blonde side like so.
"Don't worry, it's not like it's gonna be some social gathering. Just saying hi if we happen to meet up with anyone."
The expression became more relieved after that.
Dean looked down at his bread, surprised that he hadn't started on it yet. He decided to dig in, enjoying the gooeyness of it. All cheesy, creamy and peppery. Some of the goo escaped but he just used his finger to wipe it up and put it in his mouth. Even if it fell on the table. Can't waste good goo.
Earlier, Roman would have told him to wait for everyone's food before eating. Because it was like rude to be eating before that. Dean couldn't care less, he would eat if he was hungry. That's it. And now Roman knew better than to get between Dean and his food. He had raised him quite well like that.
The kid's food soon arrived anyway. And Dean had to admit that it smelled really good. That warm cinnamon and the pancakes. The kid looked very happily and excitedly on them. He put the fork in them, cutting out a nice bite, the syrup creating long sticky and messy threads between the piece and the rest of the pancakes, and put it in his mouth.
"Oh, goodness…" was his verdict; a mix between a sigh and a moan. Must have been some really good stuff. He put the fork back into his mouth, removing all the stickiness from it before taking another bite, wiping the piece around in the syrup to really coat it with goo before eating it, sighing contently again.
"Is it good?" Roman asked, having a knowing smile on his lips.
"Mhmm", the kid just managed out, smiling happily as he chewed. It made Dean involuntarily smile. Just watching him eat something he clearly loved had a… fuzzy effect on him. The kid had some boyish energies about him already, but seeing him like this, he really was like a boy.
The kid must have noticed him looking as he turned his way and another moment of locked eyes happened. Dean noticed the sparkle was back in those chocolate eyes. He was the one to break off first this time, just looking another way and seem very busy to be observing some marks on the walls.
The kid busied himself with the pancake again, eating slowly to savour every little bit. He was the complete opposite to Dean; whenever he ate something he loved he tended to eat it super fast to be able to eat the most he could before getting full. Though he always became over full, but he didn't care, he was full of what he loved. Could that really be so good though? He looked at the stickiness and smelled the cinnamon… it had a really appealing scent. So he just grabbed his own fork and helped himself with a pancake piece, and munched on it.
"Hey, what are-" the kid started, all surprised.
Yeah… it was tasty, sweet but not too sweet and full of flavour. It wasn't levelled with fried hen sticks though, but still really tasty.
"If you wanted to try it, you just could've asked", the kid continued, pouting a little.
Dean just grinned. It was more fun this way, sneaking his food.
The kid slowly returned to his food, preparing a new bite, keeping an eye on Dean as he did so. "You want some more or what is it?"
"If I want some", he leaned over and grabbed the kid's hand and flipped the fork towards himself, eating the pancake from it. "I'll just take it." He grinned again as he was chewing. The move made the kid stiff and his cheeks turned all red. Another thing that involuntarily made him smile, even though this time it was mostly on the inside because he was grinning so hard on the outside. He had managed another reaction from him. A blush. He grinned even more to the accomplishment.
"Dean…" Roman sighed, putting his hand on his forehead.
The kid really looked all flustered as he focused on finishing his breakfast.
Dean just made a small laugh at it all. This was just so amusing. He leaned back in his seat, bumping with a foot under the table. As the foot was quickly recoiled, he figured it was the kid's. Roman wouldn't have cared if Dean bumped his foot.
As Dean finished off his lohdrink, it was all sweet and dark in taste, he noticed that the kid really did avoid eye contact completely this time, other times he hadn't quite been able to keep his eyes off him totally. Dean still glanced at him occasionally though. But that was more or less only because his eyes happened to wander there.
The kid took the last piece of pancake and swirled it around the plate to get the last syrup on it. He ate it and put his fork down, looking really satisfied.
"You're good?" Roman asked, smiling when he saw the happiness on the kid's face.
"Yeah", he nodded and sat up to start putting the plate and utensils together.
"Just leave it; they will come and pick it up."
"But I just…" he trailed off as he still finished up what he had started; putting his utensils, napkin and bottle on the plate.
"You're ready?" Without a reply, they all got up from their table and left the bakery.
They walked back towards the Guild. Roman and the kid taking the lead and Dean just followed behind. It didn't take them long before they happened to come across some fellow Hunters. Sheamus and Barrett. Can't say Dean was happy to see them. Roman introduced the kid to them, but did he really expect to get some other kind of reaction from them than a cold uncaring one? Barrett held a dark look, even darker than he usually had on him, meeting them. Dean didn't like that look so he passed the kid and took a step closer to him, just making a statement that he really didn't tolerated his attitude. He could have attitude of his own.
Barrett just gave another mocking glare as he pushed at Dean's shoulder as he walked away.
"Good luck, lad, you're gonna need it", Sheamus said.
The kid was about to thank him but clearly changed his mind as the pale warrior added that last insult. He just had a defiant face instead, but he didn't say anything.
Roman just told him to not mind them. They just were like that but they weren't complete idiots, more like jerks when they wanted to.
They reached the courtyard. Several groups of Hunters were scattered across the area. No one of their closer ones though, just other people that Dean didn't even care to learn their names. He didn't have to though because they were approached by the half pints.
"Mr Helmsley's expecting you", the one talking said.
Dean wasn't happy. He didn't want to see that ugly mug. Just seeing his minions made him remember yesterday and making his emotions stir.
"I don't wanna see him", he said, crossing his arms.
"He said you'd say that. And he offered to just have Mr Reigns and Mr Rollins seeing him."
"What, I'm not worthy in his presence?" Dean said, turning it around, making it looking like an insult. Roman put a calming hand on his shoulder but Dean didn't want that, just shrugging him off.
"It's your choice, Mr Ambrose", the little one said, raising his hands, in a defensive way. "You can tag along, or you can stay here."
Dean didn't want to see him and Triple H didn't want to see him, which was the reason why he should see him. Just him being there would bug him enough and otherwise he could always stand in a corner, maybe mess with some of the documents on the shelves…
"I've got a mission for you", Triple H said. They had barely managed to enter the office and closed the door behind them.
The kid visibly froze hearing that. He looked from Triple H to Roman to try to get some confirmation of what he had heard.
"Don't sweat it, Seth", Triple H continued. He was so… fatherly all of a sudden. What was that with the kid when everybody seemed to have adopted him at first sight? Yeah, he was the pretty boy type, but otherwise… He just didn't get it.
"It's a low rank mission. You need to take care of some wargs", he gave Dean a specific look. Dean just ignored him though. He just walked up and placed himself on a chair, close enough to have his feet on Triple H's desk.
"Feet, Ambrose", he said, not even looking at him.
"Yes, I'm quite comfortable, thank you", Dean replied, settling in even more, just because.
Triple H sighed and made an effort to try to shove him down but Dean's feet just bounced back as if they had a rubber band attached in the desk. The old man didn't do anything more about it. Dean won.
"As I was saying", he started.
"You didn't say anything", Dean countered.
"As-"
"That's a good descriptive name for you, Trips."
"Dean Ambrose."
"That's my name, don't misuse it."
Triple H turned to him and gave him a very stern look, even more so than Roman's. Dean just offered a signature grin. He just loved messing with him. Especially when it was payback for previous behaviour.
"I need you to take care of a pack of wargs. At least 12 of them. You'll get a bonus if you collect some fangs as well."
"Wargs are weak…" Dean muttered.
"So is your team work. But this is a real thing and maybe some serious matter can make you be more serious about it."
"If you'd just give us some serious missions, I'd be more serious."
"It's still a mission and it determines your stay here", Triple H said, dead serious. "You have a responsibility as a Hunter and remember that even the monsters you call weak still injure and kill civilians. And we can't have that happen."
Dean had heard it all before and he knew that already. Dude.
"We'll take it, we appreciate it", Roman said. He looked at the kid, seeing his nervous state and put a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"You better. I expect a report this afternoon. Dismissed."
Roman led the kid towards the door but Dean was very comfortable where he sat, just picking at his fingernails. Their leader ignored him verbally but he did shoot a very annoyed glare at him. Dean just smiled back, focusing on his handiwork. As he inspected his hand, he felt a rough pull by his hoodie and was yanked off the chair.
"The hell!?" he exclaimed at Roman and pushed him away. How dared he pull at his precious hoodie? He nearly choked him.
"You've proved your point, we've got work to do." He turned and gave Triple H an apologetic smile but Dean saw he wasn't really; he was quietly amused by Dean's antics.
The kid joined them at the door and they could leave the office and the office wing behind.
"You survived your first briefing", Roman light-heartedly said to the kid.
"Is it always like that?"
"Always when Dean's present", Roman laughed.
The kid just replied with a polite smile.
"It's okay though", Dean's big brother continued. "We have a saying; 'get in, get the mission, bug Triple H, get out'."
Dean noticed the glance from the kid when Roman said that. He obviously figured it was Dean's saying, or something.
"Is it… is it really okay for us to get a mission this early?" the kid asked instead. "I mean, we have only had one training and well… can't say it went well."
"Sometimes we just have to be pushed into the deep water immediately to learn to swim. He's testing us in a real environment. Wargs are kinda low ranked monsters, still dangerous, especially in a pack, but it will give us enough action for you to get some real Hunter experience. You're a natural, we've seen you on the battlefield." Roman shot him one of his reassuring smiles. The kid just looked awkwardly on some random spot in front of him. As to comfort and reassure him again, Roman patted his shoulder. "We should just go out, take care of it. No reason to drag out on it."
They returned home to get ready. Dean picked up his light arm armour and wrapped himself up as the others prepared in any way they saw fit. Dean didn't bother. He had fixed his blade yesterday before going to bed and now he fixed his armour. He didn't need anything else. Wargs were common so they wouldn't need to travel far before they encountered some.
"Do I need anything in particular?" the kid asked. He held his bag and was turned to Roman specifically.
"Not really, you got your armour on, right? I have some medicinal ointments with me. But this is a basic mission and we won't be gone long. We better be prepared for some unexpected events though, that's why I always bring some curing items."
"Okay. I can take the medicinal items if you want? I have room in my bag."
"It's okay, I can take them."
"What kind of ointments do you have?"
"I have a poison antidote and several kinds of healing herbs."
"I should be able to Heal poisons and such as well", the kid said.
Dean quickly faced him. Was he dissing Roman's herb knowledge? "Who says your freaking Magic is better than our ointments?" he asked grumpily.
"I didn't say that", the kid said. "I just mentioned I could, I don't think it's lesser okay?" He sounded offended. Why was he offended? He was the one who started it.
"Hey, guys", Roman said. "We're just well prepared, alright, with both ways of healing. Healing Magic is convenient but we have to think defensively. Seth can be low on Magic so we better have some healing items as well."
Dean got that, and when it came to healing, the kid's Healing beat the herbs; he cured him faster. But he would never admit that. He kinda hated it a little that he just realized that and had that thought. Just to make that statement clear he just had to pass the kid and take his hoodie and pull it over his head.
"Dean…!" the kid whined, pulling the hoodie back down, his hair suddenly very fluffy.
Dean laughed at him; he looked like an angry puppy. The kid combed through his hair with his fingers to try to flatten it. He clearly wasn't happy with him, but not upset.
Dean went for the door. "You coming or I'll have to beat all those worgs myself?"
"Wargs. Try to tell them apart", Roman said.
Dean just playfully flipped Roman off as he left the room.
They left Authority and walked into the woods. It didn't take them long until Dean spotted some animal leftovers; meaning possibly monsters in the area. Hopefully wargs. He brought out his sword already as they continued on.
The monsters had disappeared farther than he'd expected. Half an hour later and they still hadn't encountered any. They soon reached the thicker woods and bushes grew all closer together with a lot of the vegetation more wild.
Dean stopped the other two. He thought he heard something. Silently, he got himself beyond some bushes and he could hear the rustling again. Then a howl and he quickly backed out.
"We've got company", he said as he put his hand on the Rune stone, activating it. He hissed at the sensation; the hated that shock.
Roman brought out his spear and activated his own weapon. The kid just stood focused.
They barely managed to get back to back when they were ambushed from several sides but a small horde of wargs. And worgs. Seems like they were more organized this time around.
One of the bigger wargs launched itself towards Dean and he quickly engaged the attack. The warg deflected his sword by closing its jaws on his blade. It surprised Dean, he'd never seen that before. He wiggled his blade but the jaws of the monster were strong.
"Tch…" he muttered and kicked it on the nose to have it release the blade. It growled furiously at him and jumped at him again. Dean slashed at it, causing a gash on the shoulder of the beast. The big one retreated and sent in two smaller ones instead. Dean skilfully swung his sword, felling the two wargs. He turned his attention to the bigger one again. It still kept its distance, communicating with its smaller kin.
Dean wouldn't let them have the upper hand, so he lunged himself forward and cut at the monsters. Another warg down. Another howl. One of the smaller ones called for reinforcements. The howl was abruptly cut off and it started bleeding heavily from the neck. What the hell? Then he realized. Wind blades.
Dean slayed the stunned beast and was tackled from behind by the big one. He was thrown forward and hit the ground hard. His face found a root and he momentarily lost his bearings.
"Dean…!" he heard a voice. He wasn't sure if it was Roman or the kid.
He sensed a shadow pass him and he heard a shrieking from the monster. "Take him outta here!" it was the same voice as before. He thought it was Roman.
A hand grabbed his arm and pulled him up. The hit on the head made him feel a little stunned and wobbly. The kid dragged him off, sending a slicing Wind towards the opponents as he did so.
"You okay?" he asked as they got some distance. He didn't get a reply. He pushed Dean's hair out of his face. "You have a forehead cut", he informed.
"Don't touch me", Dean said, swatting his hand away. He was feeling kinda recovered from the tackle and he didn't need the kid's help.
"Watch out!" the kid shouted and quickly made a barrier that the worg ran straight into with a whine. It was greatly angered by it and growled at them, showing its fangs. Bloodied foam had formed around the jaws and was dripping down on the ground.
Dean got up and realized his sword was still on the ground where he'd been attacked. He cursed and looked at the monsters surrounding it. There was the worg on the other side of the barrier, and at least four more between him and the sword.
"Just go", the kid said, seeing the same scene as him. "You get the sword, I'll cover you."
Dean hesitated. The kid was a mind reader. He really wouldn't be able to get back to his sword himself. But could he really trust him? He was a freaking Rune Bearer.
The kid stood up and formed two tornadoes. Dean didn't have time for hesitating, this was his chance. He saw what the kid was going for and with just the look of the other; the kid released the barrier and Dean started running to his sword. The tornadoes followed him on each side, hurting the attacking wargs and worgs in the process. He reached his weapon and felled the damaged monsters.
Roman stabbed the big warg and retrieved his spear.
Two monsters left. The one closest to him got an invisible slash before Dean could finish it off. The other one was slayed by Roman.
The woods fell silent.
"Y'all okay?" Roman was the first to speak.
"Don't worry, I'm fine", Dean said, waving him off.
"How's the cut?" the kid asked, approaching. "Here, just let me check real quick, okay?" He grabbed a piece of fabric, pouring some water on it to gently clean his face. Dean just let him. He had kinda warm hands. "The cut's closed up", he said.
"Don't waste your Magic", Dean muttered. If it was already closed up, it couldn't be that bad.
"I use it as I deem fit", he plainly said, raising his hand and quickly Healed his wound. "How are you, Roman?"
"I'm okay. No injures", he said. "I'm gonna collect some fangs."
Dean watched the kid nod towards Roman as he finished him up. He thought back on the fight. How he'd let the kid cover him. That didn't mean he trusted him, because he didn't. He trusted no one. Well Roman… but he doesn't count. He didn't do it because he trusted the kid. He did it… because the kid conveniently used that frigging Wind Magic, that was probably kinda chasing him if he hadn't outrun them. That was it. It had nothing to do with a cover or trust.
"How many did you get?" he heard the kid ask. He must have given him a very confused look as he added: "The wargs? How many did you get? Roman said he got like five."
"Yeah… same here…" Dean said absent-mindedly. He had no idea. He hadn't counted, and it had been both wargs and worgs. Who knew how many he'd gotten of each.
"I'm not sure I got any, think you had the finishers. So… I guess we'll have to find another pack?"
"To be on the safe side", Roman confirmed. "How's your Magic?"
"Don't worry, I still have a decent level", the kid assured him.
"That's good." Roman continued retrieving the fangs, the kid picked up some knocked-out ones.
Dean looked around the battlefield. There were indeed 10 wargs among the dead ones. The rest were worgs. It was rare seeing them cooperate between the species. But at the same time it was more common nowadays than a couple of years ago. Maybe it was like an evolution thing.
"I think there are more of them out there", Roman said, standing up. "Seth, can you take care of these?" He handed him the fangs which the kid stuffed down in his bag.
They headed deeper into the woods, and it didn't take them long until they encountered a smaller pack of wargs. They instantly attacked the Hunters but Dean and Roman efficiently took care of them.
And it was a loud roar.
The kid froze at the sound. And Dean couldn't blame him. It was cold and dual sounding, like a high pitched shriek being grinded with a hollow sound. That roar belonged to the raupnir, a kind of demon beast.
"Stay focused!", Roman shouted as he killed off the last of the wargs.
Dean knew that. He barely managed to regroup himself when the heard a loud crash in the forest as the raupnir approached through the trees. If they had wanted to flee, the chance was lost. A raupnir that had sensed its prey hunted it down to the death.
Seconds later, a huge grizzly bodied monster crashed through the trees. It had a hideous face, almost all mouth and teeth, and two sets of spiky arms.
Dean swallowed hard at the sight. Raupnirs were formidable foes, and while he wasn't one to turn down a challenge, this was no ordinary monster. They were hard to kill and unpredictable. They were less animal than normal monsters. Animals had normal instincts. Demons hadn't.
The kid just stared at it, stunned at the sight. "It has Runes…!" he exclaimed. Dean saw it too; a Rune on its lower leg. He'd heard of them; over-raupnirs that had evolved Magic.
"It's casting…!" the kid shouted and quickly raised his barrier just in time before a great inferno was surrounding them. The Magic around them was like a globe so they were completely protected.
Dean could still feel the heat around them. "Shit…" he breathed. If it hadn't been for the kid's Magic…
Roman seemed to have the same word on his lips.
The Fire soon extinguished itself but the kid didn't drop the barriers. "It's gonna need time for it to be able to re-fire any Magic", he said, not taking his eyes off the monster. "That inferno was a powerful but not efficient Magic, a sign that it's not good at controlling its Runes."
"We have to take it out fast then, that inferno was devastating, and if it's able to do another of those attacks…" Roman agreed.
"Take it on from both sides, I'll be keeping the barriers up around you", the kid said.
Dean didn't like taking orders from him, but it made sense. It was a little too planned for his taste, but for this enemy he couldn't just go with the hack and slash. Even he realized that.
Roman took the right side, Dean the left. Dean managed to wound one of the arms with his first strike, making it hanging limp at its side. Scary thing was; the raupnir barely twitched at that.
It swung its arms at the attackers but both Dean and Roman managed to avoid them and got out of their way.
"Roman! The leg!" the kid shouted. Dean had already seen what he was going for and slashed at its stomach to make him the focus instead. Roman aimed for the leg with his spear but the raupnir ignored Dean and swung its arms towards Roman. The impact was so big it went through the kid's barrier and he was hit with a bone crushing blow to the side. Roman groaned hard as he was thrown backwards. The kid quickly used his Wind behind Roman, catching his fall.
Dean yelled his brother's name in terror.
"I'm sorry Roman…!" the kid panicked as he knelt before him, examining him. "My barrier wasn't strong enough for physical attacks…!" He had an alarming look on his face.
"Just focus…!" Roman groaned, grabbing at his side as he forced himself to stand up.
"But you're hurt…!"
"We don't have time for it", he said, picking up his spear.
Dean felt relief as he saw Roman getting up again. That blow had been brutal. But he was a tough one.
The two Hunters engaged the battle again. The kid changed to offence and stunned the arms with his Wind blades, making it easier for the warriors to wound them and make them useless. It wasn't an easy task, Roman was already injured and Dean got his share of hits and cuts.
The raupnir changed strategies after that, with its arms taken out, it engulfed itself in Fire. The arms were revitalized and were now deadly Fire whips.
"Shit…" Dean said, retreating. Just when they had taken down its weapons, it changed form? That was just shitty.
Both he and Roman joined the kid, that had once again put up his barriers around them.
"We're gonna get burned if we try to engage it now", Dean said, gritting his teeth.
"We gonna have to cancel its Magic", the kid said. "If we can take out its Rune, then it won't have the Magic for that thing. Cut off its leg and you'll destroy its Magic."
Did it work like that? You could disarm the Magic users like so? But yeah, Runes were the source of the Magic…
"But what if it has more than that Rune?" Roman quickly asked.
"I have only seen that one on it", the kid said, reinforcing the barrier as they were hit by Fire. "Shit…!" He panted. "I should be able to take care of those arms, but I don't have enough Magic for it."
"You crazy? It's dangerous Re-Setting mid-battle, you're gonna be unstable", Roman said.
"I know, but I have to", the kid said, sounding even more like he was losing his strength. "I'm gonna be Exhausted if I use the spell without Re-Setting. I have no choice. And my Magic will be cancelled during the Re-Set so you have to be careful."
Roman had a look that clearly said he really disliked the idea. But he gave his approval. "I'll cover you. Dean, you Re-Set him."
"But you're hurt…!" Dean shouted after him but Roman had already approached the raupnir. At a safety distance, but still approached it. Dean was conflicted. He didn't want to do it. He didn't want to ever Re-Set anyone again. But he couldn't let Roman be out there with that flaming raupnir. He looked at the kid. He had an uncertain look as well. Or did he just mirror his own feeling?
"Fuck…!" he spat straight from the heart, before he ripped the back piece aside and put his hand flat on the kid's back. No hug, no nothing. He Re-Set him. An energy surge pulsed in his hand, like a fluttering connecting his skin with the kid's. It tickled, momentarily taking his breath away; the pure energy flowing in his hand, filling him. He felt…
He realized he had closed his eyes as he opened them when the sensation faded.
The kid turned to him, having just as a confused look on his face as he searched Dean's eyes. "That…" he trailed off but quickly snapped out of it and focused his Magic. The Runes glowed again. It could even be seen through the fabric. He found himself mesmerized by both the Re-Set and seeing that glow again. Never would have imagined feeling something like that after that kind of thing.
He watched the kid's graceful moves as he cast his Magic towards the raupnir; a huge whirlwind that trapped the monster. He made another hand move and made the Wind close in on its victim; forcing the flame arms up. And it got stunned in the process.
"Now!" the kid shouted, panting again and even wobbling a little now.
Dean forced himself back to reality and quickly realized what he meant; Roman pierced the Rune, making the beast shriek out in agony and the flames extinguished themselves. The Magic was broken. Dean pushed forward, launching himself at it and actually felt a push in his jump as he rendered his sword into the face of the beast.
A gurgle and the raupnir fell to its back, lying lifelessly in the bushes. Dean jumped off it, panting heavily. They had made it.
Roman groaned as he tried to gather himself. "Everybody alright?" he asked.
Dean was okay. A little torn and bruised but okay. It could have been much much worse.
The kid made it up to Roman.
"I'll survive, you shouldn't use your unstable Runes", stoic big brother said before the kid could say anything.
"It's okay, I'm freshly Re-Set and I've only used one spell. It won't Exhaust me", he reassured him, hovering his hands over the side of Roman. "You have a couple of broken ribs but it doesn't seem to have damaged anything else on the inside." He released his Healing, the glow illuminating them both. The back Runes still glowed as well.
It took him longer than usual to Heal up Roman, but then again, it was broken bones involved. It's still much faster than the body's usual rate, obviously…
"There. Done", he said when he was finally done, smiling.
"Thank you", Roman said.
The kid got up to Dean and patched him up too. Dean just looked at the pretty glow again. The Magic tickled his skin. He glanced up at the kid's face, seeing his eyes. It was something cautious about them but there still wasn't any comment about it.
Dean realized he was lost again and just recoiled his arm. "Don't need your help…" he mumbled, but it was less hostility than he used to have. "Freaking Magic…" he added, to try to make up for it. He left him and once again made sure to bump his shoulder as he passed. This was over with. Their mission was done so they could just go back now. He went up to the raupnir and cut off a couple of the spikes as battle trophies. Maybe they could some in handy sometime. And he picked up a couple of more fangs for the mission at hand.
He deactivated his stone and concluded the mission.
Author's Note: A lot of thinking for poor Dean, and a successful first mission C: Again, will try to get the next chapter up as soon as I'm possible to.
Thank you~
