So I'm having a bit more fun planning this than I should, so I'm going through my ideas pretty fast. Do you want to see anything more in particular in the future? Let me know in the comments!
The sounds of something shuffling towards him roused Adlet from his fitful sleep. Normally the Brave would be awake by now, planning the next route for the day and checking for any signs of fiends, but given the events of the past few days Adlet allowed himself the luxury of allowing his head to return back into a foggy morning state. Besides, he felt unusually comfortable this morning, pressed into a warm mass next to him. He hadn't slept this well in years after all.
Suddenly, Adlet felt a shiver course through the warmth next to him. He frowned slightly, pulling it closer to him into a more protective hug. When the heat next to him smuggled back into him he smiled appreciatively feeling a sense of pride wash through him. Adlet sighed as he felt himself being pulled back into unconsciousness, but not before he heard a quiet cat-like cackle fill the air as he drifted off.
Flamie couldn't remember ever feeling this safe sleeping in the open before. After all, fiends were always taught to sleep with one eye (or possibly more if you had them) open. However feeling a protective mass around her as she slept she couldn't help but fall into a complete drowsy state of sleep.
As she pressed herself happily into the warmth she felt a light breeze flutter over her, causing her to shiver violently. Flamie had no doubt that this was caused by her half fiend blood, normally used to the chills earlier morning brought. However, she was surprised as the warmth next to her pulled her closer, cradling her head gently. Reflexibly, she pulled herself closer to the heat, feeling its warmth encircle her further as she found herself falling back into a dreamless sleep.
The sun was now crawling over the skyline and Hans was growing bored watching the couple sleep, when he was approached from behind.
"Hans, shouldn't you be watching over the campsite?" A tight voice sounded out behind him. Ah. It appeared that Mora had awoken.
"Nya- I watched over you alright, slept like babies the lot of you," Hans chuckled to himself "Some more than others it seems," He quipped, pushing away from the tree
He spun on the ball of his foot to face Mora, who looked like her usual self, apart from her slightly wilder bedhead. She raised an eyebrow at him, clearly not impressed.
"Meaning?" She said bluntly. Obviously the Saint of the Mountain was not a morning person.
Hans stepped to the side to reveal where Adlet and Flamie lay next to each other on the grass, clearly enjoying each others company.
He grinned as he watched Mora's face contort into shock, confusion and finally, worry.
"W-wha," She managed to splutter out, her face becoming more of an amusement every second for Hans.
"Yes, it is rather strange indeed, I assumed Adlet and Flamie both rolled off of there beds, and, Nya well," He swept a hand over the scene after finishing his musing, "That happened,"
Mora had seemed to have unfroze as she began to nod to herself. Suddenly Hans found himself being held up by the scruff of his apron as he protested, struggling slightly against her. Mora's eyes blazed with silent fury.
"Separate. Them. Now." She spat a few inches away from his face
"Mora? What's happening?" questioned a sleepy voice as Rolonia approached from the other end of the field.
"Ah, good morning Rolonia!" Hans said with unusual cheer, "Just enjoying the view," He finished slyly, gesturing behind them at the sleepy pair.
Hans watched her scan the field, seeing her face contort in a similar way that Mora's just had as she spotted Adlet and Flamie.
"Is that?" She said, peering closer as if she didn't believe what she saw
Suddenly a cry rang out across the field
"MORA! CHAMOT IS HUNGRY!" She wailed, causing Hans to grimace at her antics. It seemed that when she wanted to, Chamot could take on Mora in a shouting match.
Everyone's eyes flicked to the couple lying on the grass who had seemed to have finally noticed something unusual. They're eyes snapped open in unison, making confused mumbles before they locked sights on each other.
The pair froze as they laid eyes on the other, neither daring to move. Hans could see both there face light up a crimson shade which could challenge the colour of Adlets' hair.
Suddenly Adlet was sent flying over the clearing as a large blast of smoke filled the very little space that was in between them, sending him sprawling against a tree.
The redhead groaned in pain from where he landed roughly on the ground, stumbling to sit up, still upset from being pulled away from his good nights sleep. As the smoke cleared, he spotted Flamie sitting next to her bed sheets in a similar state to him, face filled with embarrassment and shock. The pair could only stare at each other as they pieced together what had happened, silence filling the clearing.
Flamie moved first, reaching for her shotgun, loading it with impressive speeds before aiming it straight at Adlet.
"FLAMIE! STOP!" Mora shouted at the pair before Adlet scrambled as Flamie fired her first shot, busily beginning to reload. Ducking for cover behind a tree trunk, Adlet mind was reeling at the very strange turn of events.
Hans' laughter could be heard echoing over the valley as he lent against a tree for support, before leaping backwards as another shot rang through the air aimed at his head.
"NYA- Flamie! Don't get me involved in your lovers quarrels!" He cried, ducking for cover under a tree as well.
Mora and Rolonia it seemed had also retreated somewhat, Mora going to supervise Chamot in not antagonising the Half fiend any further or joining in on the battle.
Adlet poked his head out from behind the tree, only to yank it back as another steel ball embedded itself into a tree behind him. Peering around much more cautiously this time, Adlet could see Flamie stood, red-faced in the middle of the clearing. When she caught Adlet staring at her, her face flushed further before haughtily turning on the ball of her foot and marching into the forest.
"Flamie! Wait for!-" Adlet cried, before noting a small firecracker whizzing through the air towards him, covering his sight with yet more smoke. He spluttered as he stumbled away, looking up to see a retreating black cloak run into the forest.
He stared before groaning, placing his head into his hands.
"Ah, congratulations are in order Adlet!" Hans cried, approaching the boy with mock enthusiasm, "A boy becomes a man, eh?" He cackled at his comment, clapping him on the back before yelping as Adlet leapt up, his sword now pressed against Han's throat.
Hans was still chuckling as he raised his hands in mock defeat as he was faced with Adlet expression which could only be described as mutinous at his accusation.
Adlet slowly sheathed his sword, growling at the Brave, before heading over to where he had spent the night. The clearing had oddly quietened as he looked over an array of objects Flamie had left behind, namely her pouch of steel bullets she carried around with her, which lay at the foot of her bed. At least they knew that she had to come back soon. He sighed exasperatedly, rubbing his eyes as he felt someone approach.
"So Adlet," Mora said curtly, releasing a squirming Chamot who ran over to a rather smug looking Hans, "Care to tell us what that was about."
Adlet watched her stormy face carefully, before finally throwing up his hands in surrender to the less than pleased Head Saint.
"I don't know!" He cried out, voice still gravely, "I went to sleep there," He pointed at his pile of sheets
"And I woke up-," His face reddened as he spotted the flattened patch of grass, embarrassment filling his voice "there," He muttered.
Mora squinted at him as Hans and Chamot wandered over
"I would believe him Mora," Hans chimed, eyes filled with glee, "I saw him fall asleep myself, if he had gotten up I would have seen," He shook his head
"I doubt Flamie will believe that though," Adlet said quietly, eyes still locked on the grass.
"So you deny any," Mora said, her tone still disbelieving, "Ulterior motives?"
Adlet looked up at her, horror filling his eyes at the insinuation Mora was giving
"No! Of course not!" He protested, hands raising in defence.
Mora seemed stated at his answer, asking no further questions of him causing Chamot to chime in
"What happened? Kitty-san! No one is telling me anything!" She moaned to him, foxtail pointing at Hans to explain
As Hans face lit up at the prospect of explaining his and Flamie's nightly activities, Adlet was already marching determinedly towards the forest, leaving Rolonia protesting behind him
"Adlet! Where are you going?" She shouted after him who cried back
"The strongest man in the world only backs down from an unbeatable fight!" He shouted, charging into the forest where he had last seen Flamie run.
Hans watched the last piece of red hair to flicker out of view as he saw Mora sigh quietly before pronouncing that she and Goldov were soon to be leaving to find some breakfast, before marching over to the teens bed and roused him awake.
Rolonia found herself tagging along with the foraging party, unwilling to remain with the grinning Hans and the morally challenged Chamot.
And so, the pair were left alone. Again.
Hans sighed as he flopped down onto the grass, joining Chamot who had become interested in a oddly shaped twig.
"Nya, I feel like we might be here for a while," Leaning back watching the sky, feeling sleep tug at him as he was bathed in the sunlight.
Chamot didn't reply, twirling her twig as Hans fell into a fitful cat-nap.
Hans grunted as he felt a large weight scoop him up and dangle him by his apron. He struggled in alarm, reaching for his swords before he spotted the unmistakable colour of Chamot's tamed fiends. He sighed in surrender as he was dangled eye level in front of the girl that was perched on the creatures back. She smiled toothily at him as he pouted at her.
"Kitty-san! Chamot is bored!" She cried, poking him in the chest with her foxtail.
Looking up, Hans could see it was coming closer to midday. He grunted. If Adlet and Flamie kept up dancing around each other for any longer he doubted he would even have to face the demon king before Chamot would end up killing him in her boredom.
His eyes widened slightly, before a slick smile covered his face
"Hey Chamot, how would you feel about messing with Adlet and Flamie, as well as getting to kill the Majin a bit quicker, Nya?" He questioned slyly.
Chamots' eyes narrowed in suspicion
"Chamot is listening," She said slowly, allowing the tamed fiend to place him back onto the ground. Hans brushed himself off, glaring half heartedly at the swamp saint, but failing as his face returned to a lopsided grin.
"This pair will be like this all the way to the Demon God," Hans said tiredly, "Nya- They're going to keep avoiding each other and slowing us down for weeks!" He threw his arms up theatrically
"Unless..." He finished sneakily, flashing her with his luminescent yellow eyes, "We give them a little, how should I say this... push?"
Chamot sat in thought, before suddenly brightening
"You want Chamot to push Flamie of the cliff?" Her voice was laced with anticipation as she raised her foxtail to her mouth.
"Nya- A metaphorical push Chamot," He sighed, causing the girl to grumble, lowering the piece of feathered grass. He shook his head lightly, before smiling again
"However," Chamot's eyes retook a shiny glimmer to as Hans rubbed his chin
"I don't think we should make this too comfortable, Nya- look at all the trouble they caused," Hans said in an exasperated tone, gesturing around the now empty clearing. He could see Chamot nodding thoughtfully to herself.
"Does Kitty-san have an idea?" She said slipping of her fiend and landing softly next to him
Hans gave her a toothy grin
"I think he does."
So, what do you think? Please leave a review in the comments and any possible ideas for this could go!
Thanks!
FD
Next Time: Adlet and Flamie return and Hans and Chamot put their plan into action.