Minecraft - Legend of the End

by SilentHillKitty

Steve is a young man with a dark past. Waking up on a large island so different from his home, he learns the ways to survive the nights and creatures lurking within the darkness. Fascinated by the many myths the people speak of, one in particular catches his interest; The End. Delving too deep, he uncovers a secret that links him with the same legend-Full Summary In First Chapter

17. Chapter 17 - An Earned Night Off

A/N - This will be the only time I post a note in the beginning like this... but I just wanted to point out that this chapter marks the official beginning for this story now being M rated for sexual situations/themes.

Enjoy!

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[Chapter XVII]

[An Earned Night Off]

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Herobrine had come up with some elaborate story as to why they were checking out early, despite his deepest desire to tell them the truth. After having gathered their things up within Steve's bag, the two of them threw on heavy cloaks before going out into the rain as it continued its downwards onslaught against the earth.

Steve hadn't even thought about packing any form of cloak for the journey, and gratefully accepted the offered gift as Herobrine held out a dark blue one for him while keeping the black on for himself.

As they had walked throughout the town during the day, they had been given multiple suggestions to a tavern owned by a man named Joehl, which also turned out to be the name of the tavern as well. Steve had asked the demon if the tavern sounded familiar to him with which he replied saying it did not.

After managing to find Joehl's Tavern tucked away in the far West corner of the town, the two approached the double wooden doors. The sounds coming from within indicated that the tavern was a rather busy business as laughter and talking could be heard from over the heavy downpour and thunder still booming overhead.

"Shall we?" Herobrine asked with a grin, anxious to get a taste of the beer served here upon the reputation. Pushing one of the doors open, he held it open for Steve to enter first.

Thanking the demon under his breath, Steve walked in and lowered the hood to his cloak. Violet eyes skimmed the decent sized tavern, trying to avoid making direct eye contact with any of the patrons as all eyes turned to the door. Clearing his throat while walking off to the right to avoid the rows of tables set up in front of them, Steve made his way towards the bar where he saw two open chairs, closely being followed by Herobrine.

Tables and booths of all sizes lined the walls while single tables filled up the remaining spaces spread throughout the floor, making walking slightly difficult as the closeness of the furniture gave very little space to maneuver.

Hanging from the ceiling in the center was a large chandelier constructed of fine oak wood, brightly burning candles from it and hanging from the walls illuminated the large room enough to allow possible site, but kept the atmosphere dim enough to be relaxing.

What caught Steve's attention however was the large painting that was hanging between two candles in the center on the wall behind the bar they were approaching.

A green field contrasting a blood red sky filled the painting while in the middle showed what appeared to be two large blocks carved from a strange sand stacked on top of each other while a single block of the same material hung from the sides of the top one, giving the odd structure the appearance of a body. What was eerie about the blocks was it looked like the faces of damned souls were mixed in with the dark colored sand, screaming in pain for all eternity.

Steve couldn't take his eyes away from the painting, almost beginning to feel like he was becoming lost the instant he stared into the empty white eyes of the black skull placed in the middle of the sand made structure and the two on opposite sides of the center one. He was curious if it meant to be some form of creature or Mob. His eyes kept flickering between the eyes that seemed to be staring back at him, startling slightly when he felt an almost tender touch to his shoulder that caused him to look over it to see Herobrine giving him a curious look despite his eyes still covered by the blindfold.

Taking a seat at the bar with Herobrine sitting to his left, Steve gave a quick glance around him until the large painting once again caught his attention. Herobrine at last took notice of Steve's growing interest in the painting, causing him to not only feel a small spark of something starting inside him that only led to anger, but also had him sneering slightly before ordering two beers.

"What is that thing?" Steve at last asked Herobrine, but Joehl-the barkeeper-heard him as well and assumed the question was just in general.

Looking up from the two glasses of beer he was pouring for them, he saw the painting of the strange three headed creature and answered him instead, "Ahh, that's one of the few remaining portraits in existence about the legendary Mob called The Wither."

Steve blinked and looked in front of him when Joehl was directly before the two of them, gently setting the two glasses of beer down in front of each man. "The Wither?" He had never heard of it.

"A nasty bastard they say. Legends say that it was more lethal than the mythical Enderdragon! In fact, some people even say that it was The Wither who created The End and trapped the dragon within! And is keeping it locked away until the day comes for its return." Joehl spoke in a soft tone, leaning over the counter on one elbow while busying himself with drying a freshly cleaned glass.

"Bullshit!"

Both Steve and Joehl blinked and turned to face Herobrine upon his angered outburst. "He has no connection with the Enderdragon or The End!" Herobrine continued without thinking.

"Oh really?" Joehl smirked with a raised brow, already liking the younger(or so he thought) man, "And just how do you know that?" he teased.

Herobrine jerked, only now realizing he had said way too much. And all this time he was worried about Steve blowing his cover. Oops. "It's just… well you see… stories that I've heard." He quickly covered up.

"Ahh yes well… everyone's got their own versions of the legends and myths that this island is plagued with. No one really knows the truth. Though I'm sure out of the hundreds of variations out there, one of them is bound to be true." He nodded his head in self agreement while walking towards the other end of the bar to serve a young couple that had just come in from the storm.

Steve in the meantime focused his attention on Herobrine. The way he acted just then had caused the young miner to think that maybe Herobrine knew something about this Wither Mob. "Say Brine?"

"Hmm?" he hummed into his cup while taking a large swig of the slightly bitter tasting liquid.

"Do you know something about this Wither?" he whispered.

Herobrine slowly lowered his mug, turning to have blindfolded eyes staring at Steve. Remaining silent for only a few short seconds, the demon quickly scoffed before returning to his drink; "Don't worry about him, Steve. He can't get out. Not where I have him locked him away…"

Violet eyes grew wide. "So it's real then? That creature actually exists?"

"Drop it, Steve." he warned in a low tone. "This isn't the time nor the place."

Taking the hint, but also hearing a glimmer of hope that Herobrine would actually tell him more about The Wither once they were in a private place, Steve dropped the subject and took a swallow of his beer, finding the taste actually enjoyable. "Wow, for beer this isn't bad."

Herobrine found himself agreeing with the human. "You're right. They were saying this place had good beer but damn!" He then grinned upon watching Steve finish his first one rather quickly; "Slow down, Steve! We have all night!" he chuckled, surprising not only the miner; but himself as well. Seeing how quickly the human had downed his beer, Herobrine had decided to place an order for some food to help prevent the young man from becoming totally shitfaced too quickly.

Shaking his head and trying to ignore just how genuine that felt to him, Herobrine caught Joehl's attention and order two more fresh beers for them, finishing his first one just as the barkeeper placed the new cups down.

Looking over to see Steve just staring dumbly at the glass, Herobrine couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face nor the laugh that came from him upon the human's expression, earning an embarrassed glare from the miner.

"And just what hell's so funny?" Steve snapped.

Herobrine shook his head while slamming his hand against the bar. "Oh fuck! Your face just now! Did you seriously expect we'd come all the way out here in this storm for just one drink?"

Steve blinked before clearing his throat, "Well… y-yeah? I don't exactly have the money to be spending on—!"

"Oh just shut up. This is all on me. Besides, when was the last time you took a night off and just enjoyed yourself, Steve?" he grinned. "You're always about pleasing everyone around you! When was the last time you were selfish and simply did what you wanted? You need some Steve time! Honestly, you're doing a fucking amazing job already. It's only been like what… five weeks? And we already have eight Ender Pearls! Don't know about you, but I find that quite impressive." He smiled what almost looked… fondly at the human.

Steve just stared at him before turning to face the new beer sitting before him. He didn't want to admit it but… Herobrine was actually right! It had actually been a really long time since he's spent a night just relaxing and enjoying the time to himself… And how could it really hurt? Herobrine was also correct about them being unable to go out and hunt more Endermen to obtain their Ender Pearls since the storm was hitting at its worst and the creatures will be nowhere in sight.

Giving the Nether ruler a sideways glance of uncertainty for just a moment, a shy smile soon crawled across Steve's face. "You know what? You're right, Brine. It has been a long time…"

His own grin growing into a devious smirk, Herobrine wrapped his right arm around Steve's shoulders and pulled the miner into a tight hug despite the man weakly resisting, "See? Now that's what I'm talking about, Stevie!"

Steve stopped dead in his motions as he had moved in an attempt to reach for his cup despite the other holding him close, turning instead to have wide violet eyes staring at Herobrine. "What did you just call me?"

Blinking despite the blindfold securely in place, it took but only a second for it to register what Steve was talking about. Laughing with a shrug of his shoulders, Herobrine responded innocently enough; "What? Can't I give you a nickname?"

"Well… okay yeah sure, whatever but—Stevie? Really? What the fuck kind of nickname is that?"

Herobrine couldn't stop himself from busting out in a loud laugh at the miner's expression yet again, unable to remember the last time he had this much fun. Shaking his head while regaining control of himself, Herobrine wiped away an imaginary tear from just beneath the blindfold. "Oh, fuck… your expressions are the best! Seriously. Kinda pisses me off I didn't escape the Nether sooner to come and hang out with you! Anyways, there's no harm in wanting to take a night or two off, Steve. Life is too short to be wasting it away by working all the time. Well… for some people anyways."

After a few seconds of glaring hard at the demon, a small chuckle was Steve's only response while he gently pulled himself away from the surprisingly strong hug, unable to explain why he was feeling so warm all of a sudden as his mind continued to swim in the seemingly endless sea of confusion the friendlier Herobrine acted towards him. He was beginning to feel more and more drawn to him.

The Nether ruler has yet to display any sort of hostility like he had been warned by the Elder. That or the demon was doing a fantastic job of keeping it a secret from him. So far… he literally has been acting just like he had been saying to him in his dreams before his freedom.

Like a friend.

Deciding to not allow his overly active brain ruin his most likely one night of care free enjoyment for a very long time, Steve took his beer in hand before holding his cup out at Herobrine.

The demon stared at the glass cup for a moment before realizing Steve apparently wanted to toast him to something. So picking up his own glass, he too held his up high. Steve smiled with a chuckle, "To successful hunts tomorrow night!"

Herobrine blinked, though no one could see due to the blindfold still securely in place, lips slightly parted as he was taken aback by Steve's sudden cheerfulness. A small, surprisingly genuine smile crept onto his face while giving a single nod of his head, "To successful hunts…" he whispered with a slight chuckle just before the two clanked their beer glasses together in a toast.

Neither Steve nor Herobrine bothered to keep track of just how many beers they consumed, each simply enjoying the alcohol and each other's company as the storm continued to rage on outside with no signs of letting up.

Herobrine set his empty glass down and immediately picked up the newest one that Joehl had placed upon seeing him nearing the end of his last, surprising Steve with how fast he was consuming the alcohol. "Brine, aren't you going to get really drunk if you keep downing them like that?" he asked while watching Herobrine already finish half the glass.

Setting it down and alerting Joehl he will go ahead and take another round, he turned to Steve; "I used to drink a lot back before my banishment. And with how I am… now, I've got too high of a tolerance. I honestly don't think I could get drunk. Not even if I drank this whole tavern's inventory."

"Which we won't be seein' if that's the case." Joehl smirked while setting two full glasses down, looking over to see Steve still working on his current one.

Herobrine laughed until the barkeeper left, his laughter dying down as he frowned suddenly. Remaining silent for a few moments, the Nether ruler turned his head to look at Steve, keeping his voice down; "Steve." Getting a hum for a response and seeing the human looking at him, he continued. "Have you… had any weird dreams lately?"

Steve set his now empty glass down and blinked upon seeing a third filled to the brim with the foamy liquid sitting in front of him before turning to cock a brow at the demon's random question. Thinking it over, he shook his head before laughing; "Not sense you escaped, no. Why do you ask?"

Chuckling at the other's sense of humor, Herobrine continued; "So… nothing out of the ordinary? You haven't seen anything like… angels or something? No voices?"

Now Steve gave him a serious expression. "No, Brine. Nothing. Why? What's wrong? What are you not telling me?"

"Nothing. I was just curious if Notch has tried talking to you is all. You know, to warn you about me or something." he chuckled. "Just forget it. I'm paranoid. Let's just keep enjoying our drinks and each other's company, Stevie." he grinned, ignoring the look he received for yet again using the nickname he had given the miner who still seemed highly unamused by it.

Pleased to see Steve doing just that as he began working on his next beer, Herobrine turned to the front again and stared at his already empty glass. 'So… she hasn't tried communicating with Steve? I thought Notch would have tried to interfere by now… Maybe… does this mean Notch actually believes me?'

He shook his head and pushed all thoughts to the back of his mind upon seeing a new glass sitting before him.

---

The minutes turned to hours, people coming and going all night but both Steve and Herobrine remained at the bar, and by now becoming very talkative with the bartender.

Well… mainly just Steve.

Herobrine continued chuckling for a moment while listening to Steve's completely random tale he was telling to both he and the barkeep, just watching the body language coming from the young male and being amused upon the discovery of his drunken personality.

Taking another large swallow from his newest beer, he began admitting to himself just how much he was enjoying himself and was actually surprised to see how happy Steve was.

That was all until something suddenly caught his attention, silencing his chuckling laughter and mental thoughts instantly.

Covered eyes narrowed slightly while tilting his head towards the hushed voices he suddenly picked up on about three tables behind them, concentrating until he was able to drown out the sounds all around him save for the conversation he was now eavesdropping on.

Two men were speaking to each other quietly, trying to determine if they're suspicions were correct or not. They had been apparently watching for a little while now, their eyes focusing on the same target while speaking over different possible ways to obtain it should they be right about who it was; Steve.

Herobrine continued to listen in on their conversation that no one else was able to pick up, anger filling him at hearing what they had planned for the miner once they got their hands on him.

Just as Herobrine had feared, word apparently traveled fast about Steve being the newly chosen legendary Great Hero. The two men were now sitting in their little corner booth discussing over the description they had of him while trying to get a good look at him to see if he matched. What really hit a bad nerve in the Nether ruler was hearing enough to realize the two of them were 'trappers' in a sense, going around different towns and villages to kidnap potential "merchandize" to sell in the black trade, and their shared idea of selling Steve after they had their own fill of him, knowing that the Great Hero could fetch a pretty amount.

Upon hearing them coming to an agreement that he fit the description close enough, they began putting together a plan. They would wait outside in the shadows until Steve left the bar and then approach him casually. They would begin having idle chitchat until they managed to lure him far enough away from any witnesses and then make their move. One of the men even went so boldly as to take out the pocketed drug they intended to use on Steve to render him unconscious and held it out for the other to see, both men having disgusting grins spreading across their faces.

Hands balled into tight fists that trembled as he grew more and more furious, having to use all of his strength to keep himself under control as he listened to them finish up their conversation.

Suddenly, both men stood simultaneously and headed towards the door, not raising suspicion to any of the drunkards within the bar save for Herobrine.

Narrowing his eyes further, he then looked over to Steve, seeing the alcohol beginning to really settle in as he laughed, face flushed with a deep red hue across his cheeks as he told the barkeep a joke himself, earning an even louder laugh from the man behind the counter.

He sneered with a low growl under his breath.

There was no way Steve would be able to defend himself in his current state. Especially against two men who were considerably more sober than he was and nearly twice his size. They would be easily able to overpower him and carry out what ill intentions they had.

He had to protect him and make sure those two never get a chance to even see Steve again!

So he leaned against Steve, vaguely tickled that he was able to catch his attention almost instantly despite how drunk he had become, "Hey, it's getting a little too stuffy in here for me. I'm going to go step outside and get some fresh air real quick. Stay here with the barkeeper, Steve." he whispered to the miner, who simply nodded his head with a big grin on his face.

"Sure thing! But beee very careful though… i-it's still rrraining outside jus' so yooou know." Steve then chuckled randomly, his voice heavy and words badly slurred as he swayed.

Giving the man a nod that went completely unnoticed, Herobrine stood to his feet, alerting Joehl he would return shortly and to not allow Steve another drink until he returned before heading towards the door and going outside; seeking out the two bastards that planned to bring harm to Steve.

The barkeeper watched Herobrine with a curious gaze, wondering if he were alright before looking towards Steve who was tapping his fingertip against the rim of his empty glass, his violet eyes wide and pleading for more of the frothy beer. With a deep chuckle, the barkeep took the glass; "He said to wait until he returns. Sorry, mate."

"Aww. Come on!" Steve whined, earning another round of laughter from the heavyset man.

Being too focused on the two men that had just left, Herobrine completely missed the two women who had been sitting off to the side eying Steve most of the night moving in to take the demon's place.

---

The air was chilled as the rain continued to poor down upon the dry earth with no remorse in site, making the natural stone the town was built on and cobblestone pathways dangerously slippery. Lifting his head towards the left, he was able to catch the shadows and hear the lingering laughter of the men he sought out. Growling lowly under his breath, he followed; keeping to the darkness to prevent them from seeing him.

"S-so I said, 'Well, what the hell did you expect from me, lady?'" one of them bellowed while doubling over in laughter.

His partner laughed as well, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye while shaking his head. "She was always such a stupid bitch! And to think she was your mother!"

"Yeah… was!" the first man added before once again becoming lost in a raging laugh, joined in by his friend.

Just as they turned a corner to the right and were far enough away from people and the crowded taverns, Herobrine growled upon seeing his window of opportunity, teleporting so that he was now directly in their path. "Hey!"

The two men's laughter trailed off as they paused and looked up to see Herobrine standing before them, unamused looks on their faces. Before either of them could speak, the demon went first; a calm and deceitful smile spreading along his face as he spoke while taking a few steps towards them. "Hi. Hope I'm not disturbing you two. But I couldn't help but overhear the rather detailed and disgusting plans you were making that involved my traveling companion back at the tavern."

This had the two men smirking with shared chuckles. Now able to get a good look at them, the one in the red coat spoke up while lowering his hood since they were underneath shelter made up by the roofs of the houses they were standing between being built so close together they touched, "And what are you? The god of exceptional hearing or something?" He then snorted. His eyes, like any of the other people on this island were green, his hair cut real short yet still had enough length that it stuck up in spikes and looked as if it had been dyed red.

Herobrine tched but remained silent, allowing them their fun. It was the least he could do after all…

Soon the second man spoke up while pushing the hood to his blue cloak down, revealing short black hair, his words causing them both to nearly collapse into a fit of raging laughter. "You know what they say. You lose one sense… your others heighten! All this time I thought it was a farce! But seeing as how the poor blind bastard can't see us, I guess it's true after all!" The two men clung to each other in an attempt to remain standing upright through their roaring laughter.

Herobrine merely smirked at them, slowly shaking his head while tsking them. "You humans are always so pathetic and insecure about your place in the Overworld. You not only start worthless fights with the creatures that were here long before you… but you also target your own kind. You prey on the weak in order to feel good about yourselves and make yourselves believe you are actually the stronger one."

That had them shutting up and growling at him. "The hell you just say?" the redhead barked.

"Oh, silly me! I didn't realize you were able to actually hear me over that obnoxious laughing coming from the two of you." he chuckled. "Anyways… I was just rambling so no need to trouble yourselves with that part. Back to the real reason why I'm out here…" He then took four more steps towards them, not surprised to see them backing away. "The things you were planning on doing to my friend? Yeah, I advise you to rethink about doing it." he at last warned.

The redhead glared at Herobrine while the other grinned and snorted, "What's he to you anyways, hunh? He your bitch or something? 'Cause if not, you have no right telling us what we can or can't do to someone who is free game—!"

"That's where I can stop you actually, because he is-in fact-not free game." he interrupted him, lifting his head up to have his covered eyes glaring at them despite their inability to see. "You see… for the time being, Steve is mine. And I don't share well with others. He may not know it yet… but he's a smart human. I'm sure he'll figure everything out soon enough."

"Well then how fortuitous on the not sharing matter! Because neither do we! So step aside freak and leave us alone! He could be coming outside any second now and your worthless ass can fuck everything up."

"I don't think you comprehend just what kind of situation you are putting both yourself and your little friend there in…" he began warning in a low tone, his words barely heard over the pouring rain and booming thunder. "And besides, unless I'm with him, Steve won't be going anywhere. He'll wait in there all night for me if I don't go back right away."

Just then, the one in the red cloak drew a sharp knife, grinning madly while holding the blade up, "And I don't think you're capable to see just what kind of shit hole you're digging for yourself there, buddy."

Seeing him draw the knife while both men held crazed looks on their faces made him realize just what kind of danger Steve was in. They didn't plan on just abducting and raping him before selling him off—

They were planning to go as far as killing him should their plans of selling him not work out. "Humans… such pathetic and disgusting creatures you really are. I will never understand why Notch favors you beings so much. If I didn't constantly keep reminding myself that Steve is a human himself, I would have already wiped you all out of existence during my first night of freedom." he spoke more to himself, not caring that the men could hear him.

"What's your deal man? Are you on something or what? You do realize you're talking shit about yourself, right? Or do you think you're above us or something?" the one with the knife hissed.

Herobrine growled at those words while whipping his head up, his patience reaching its limits leaving him no longer able to stand being in the presence of the two men, teleporting himself to be instantly before the one that spoke with his left hand tightly around his throat. "Do not dare lump me in with your worthless breed. I am far above your pathetic species."

The shorter man choked, lifting the small knife up before bringing it down hard and stabbing Herobrine's arm just below his elbow in an attempt at self-defense, gagging as his windpipe was slowly being crushed.

Herobrine chuckled darkly, not even flinching at the stinging the sharp blade caused. "That won't work." The man he was choking eyes grew wide in disbelief.

"Gasherail!" the other called out to his friend after recovering from his mild shock state upon the one attacking his partner having teleported, rearing a fist back and throwing a hard punch at Herobrine. "You son-of-a-bitch! Let him go!"

Herobrine, keeping his tight hold on the first man's neck, reached up with his free hand and caught the other's punch effortlessly, adding pressure to his fist and beginning to crush his knuckles, the man crying out in pain and falling to one knee. Just before he broke bones, he gave a harsh shove, knocking the second man down to the cobblestone.

The man looked up, eyes watering from pain. "J-just what the fuck are you…?"

Herobrine first lowered his free hand to his side, before slowly bringing it up to the blindfold that hid his blank glowing eyes from the world. "Let's see how well you two remember the old myths I'm sure your mommies told you as bedtime stories when you were little kids…" he began in a deep tone, an almost psychotic teeth bearing grin spreading across his face as he pulled at the black cloth covering his eyes.

With a single sharp tug, the material came free, revealing the empty paralyzing glow that were the Nether ruler's eyes, the two men crying out in pure fear as the whiteness hit recognition. The man on the ground scooted away, suddenly the safety of his friend not a top priority. "I-it can't be! H-H-Hero-Herobrine!" he stammered.

Herobrine chuckled, still to this day loving the fear his name, face and above all… his eyes drove into these mortals. Keeping a firm grip around the man's neck, he dragged his barely conscious body with him as he slowly approached the other man that was nearly pissing himself in fear as he backed himself up against a wall, releasing a terrified yelp the instant his back hit the brick.

"B-but how? T-this is impossible! You shouldn't be here! You… you should still be trapped in the N-Nether!" he continued stammering, the words having a sudden hard time forming as all of his cockiness instantly disappeared.

A deep chuckle came from Herobrine before he gave a nonchalant roll of his shoulder, "I escaped. I managed to trick a useless idiotic human into finding and activating the only remaining functional Nether portal."

"H-hey man, look! W-we're sorry! W-we had no idea he belonged t-to such a wonderful a-and all powerful being such as y-yourself. W-we won't touch that man! We promise! He's-he's all yours! F-fuck him or kill him o-or both yourself! W-we won't tell anyone!" the man begged while cowering, curling into a ball and using his arms to shield himself from Herobrine.

A snarl came from the demon as he was suddenly before the man, earning a cry of fear from him as he jumped upon the sound of his friend being slammed back first into the wall and was now sitting right next to him, still choking and struggling to breathe.

Just as he cracked open an eye to glance over and see if his companion were alright, he gagged out a gasp as Herobrine reached down and grabbed the trembling man by his neck, lifting him to his knees and bringing his face close to his own as he glared at him, his blank eyes boring into the green of the man. "How dare you. How fucking dare you! You think I share the same ill intentions for Steve as you do? You think I wish to just ravish his body and leave him cut up and bleeding out on the filthy streets in the unforgiving rain like you two intended if you couldn't control him? Unlike you vile pieces of shit, I do not have to rely on such tactics! Steve does not know it yet—but he is mine! And if I wanted to have my way with him in such a way, he will submit to me! Willingly!" His anger had temporarily clouded his mind, preventing him from actually hearing the choice wording in his last couple of sentences he yelled out.

Moving in to finish what he came out in the rain for, he grinned madly at the man as he continued begging the demon for forgiveness.

Their screams went unheard as thunder roared all around them.

---

The barkeeper narrowed his eyes, glaring hard into the violet of Steve's eyes, the miner glaring equally as hard back.

Nothing was said between the two men as Steve lifted his right hand up in the air, stretched his index finger out and lowered it to point at the up-side-down cup to his right, choosing it over the one in the middle and to his left.

The barkeeper raised a brow, "That one?"

"Yes."

"You sure?" Joehl pressed on.

"Oh yeah." Steve smirked, ignoring the two scantily dressed women that were standing on either side of him, their arms wrapped around his after they had managed to push his cloak over his shoulders while they pressed their barely covered bosoms against him. He wasn't even really sure when they showed up or where they came from.

Hesitating for only a second, the barkeeper quickly lifted the cup off the bar, revealing a small cube of sandstone.

"Yes! Whoo-hoo! Now pay up, Joehl." Steve grinned as the barkeeper groaned while throwing the cup, a few of the patrons who were watching their game laughing and cheering Steve on.

The two women who had welcomed themselves into Steve's company after Herobrine had left giggled while pressing themselves more against him, finally at last gaining his attention. He suddenly choked on his own tongue upon feeling their large breasts pressing firmly against his arms as his face instantly felt as if it had caught on fire.

However, it was the almost painful punch of arousal that surged through his entire body to collect hotly between his thighs that had him moaning softly before uttering words, "L-ladies…? Can I, uh… h-help you?"

The one to his right wore a dark purple nearly ankle long skirt that was split up the front and stopped just below her crotch, exposing her white laced underwear. Her top was a matching dark purple and barely covered her chest while the shoulder straps hung loosely around her biceps. Her black high heels clanked against the wooden floor of the tavern as she swayed her body weight from side to side provocatively.

Giggling while brushing her waist long brunette hair from her face in a flirtatious manor, she batted her long eyelashes while keeping her green gaze locked with his violet, moaning to herself while thinking about how beautiful they looked; "Oh my! I apologize but it's just… well you're just so good at this game, Steve! My best friend Seavania and I just couldn't help ourselves!" she spoke with a giggle while motioning over to the girl attached to Steve's left who wore a matching outfit only hers was a pale green. Her hair was a lighter shade of brown and was cut at shoulder length.

The courtesan dressed in purple then placed the tip of her finger to Steve's chin and forced him to turn his head back to face her, a seductive smirk spreading across her face as she whispered; "I'm Teskidiana by the way."

Steve gulped rather audibly while trying to keep himself in check, shifting uncomfortably in his chair while feeling himself growing more and more aroused by their presence and oddly enough, the scent of the perfume both women seemed to be coated in as he became more and more lightheaded by the smell.

The scent and strength of it however wasn't sickening…

"I, uh… thanks? A-and it's a… pleasure to meet you two." He tried to speak, having to pause to clear his throat.

Seavania then chuckled seductively while pulling on Steve's arm and forcing him to bend towards her, her lips gently touching his earlobe as she whispered hotly into it, "Believe us, Steve… the pleasure could soon be all of ours if you want it." Just as she breathed against him, her right hand slowly left his arm and traced his abs through his shirt.

Grinning against his ear upon feeling him not only shuddering at her touches, but was able to feel him groaning deep in the back of his throat, she pushed her advances further. With deliberate slowness, she dragged her hand down his chest and lower abdomen, crooking her fingers to allow her long nails to gently claw him through the material. With her hand now to his right thigh, she moaned into his ear while taking the lobe between her teeth and gently biting down while simultaneously sinking her nails into his inner thigh, dangerously close to his crotch.

At this, Steve jumped with a shout of surprise closely followed with a low moan as the woman's actions further fueled his blind arousal as he felt himself slowly hardening under her ministrations despite his best efforts to try and ignore them.

"That's enough from both of you. Leave the poor guy alone already, will you!?" Joehl snapped at the courtesans while taking one of the many emeralds that Herobrine had used to pay for their drinks out of his apron.

Both women delivered a harsh glare at the barkeeper, however reluctantly backed away enough that Steve was able to at least breathe. They knew the barkeeper was the one to call the shots within the tavern so they were wise enough to stay on his good side if they wanted to keep their chances high for a full nights worth of business. They remained attached to his arms however; both women determined to get Steve out of the tavern and into one of the local Inns and have him as their next client.

Holding the green, polished stone out to the miner, Steve leaned back while scrunching his nose up at the offered jewel, shaking his head. "Nah-uh. You know wha' I want…" he grinned, fingertip once again tapping against his still empty glass.

Joehl sighed heavily. "Steve… yer buddy said no more 'til he came back. Not sure if you've noticed, but he's kind of intimidating... So I think I'll play it safe and listen to him." he trailed off.

Steve simply scoffed. "Pfft! Brine's anythin' but scary! I mean… suuuure when I first m-et the guy… he was just a freaky bastard. But that's jus' his personality. Now gimme another!" he slurred.

The women giggled while nuzzling their cheeks against the soft material of his light blue shirt.

"Nope."

"Oh, come on Joehl. Just one more for him won't hurt? I'll even pay for it myself." Teskidiana chuckled as she began reaching into a small belt purse she held the emeralds from previous clients in.

Joehl narrowed his eyes at her; "I know why it is you two want him even drunker…"

Just then, the doors to the bar pushed open, heads of everyone in the tavern turning to see the man Steve was traveling with standing in the doorway, his hood over his head and cloak soaked. The blindfold also appeared to be wet.

Seeing everyone including Steve giving him strange looks, Herobrine chuckled while entering. "I guess it's safe to say it's just a little wet out there." he teased lamely.

A few people chuckled, while others shook their heads unamused and went back to their drinks. As he walked up to Steve, he smiled at the miner when the man waved him over.

However, he briefly paused in his steps upon seeing the two women clinging to him as if he were their life support. A burst of anger flared up within him at seeing the way they had their hands all over him, rubbing his body while nuzzling the sides of their faces against his arms and chest like Ozzy when he wanted your food, causing his body to grow hot while briskly approaching the younger male verses the slower pace he had been.

"Hey. You feelin'… better?" Steve asked with a grin, quietly sighing with relief upon the Nether ruler forcing his way between he and two women by darkly and rudely stating a 'Do you bitches mind?' at them while reclaiming his seat next to the human.

The two women at last huffed while reluctantly giving up on their pursuit for the man, pushing themselves up and away from Steve as both frowned and sadly said their goodbyes while walking over towards a table that had four rather drunk men whistling at them.

Herobrine sneered at their backs as he watched them display themselves provocatively before the men. "Disgusting. It's almost shameful to see how whorish the women have become since my banishment…" he growled under his breath, causing Steve to raise a brow as the man was unable to hear him.

Turning back to face the bar and ignore the rather explicit scene going on just a few tables behind them as the women climbed into the laps of two of the four men, giggling while allowing the men to bury their flushed faces within their breasts, Herobrine huffed; "Yeah. Just wet now." He then looked up to the barkeeper and with a nod, both he and Steve had two new beers sitting before them.

Despite the show he was displaying earlier, Steve took the beer with a quick thanks and only swallowed a few gulps worth of the cold alcohol before turning towards Herobrine, "Oh! That r-minds me. While yooou were out—side, did ya happen ta see those two guys that had left right before you did? They were… sittin' riiiight over there! Behind us." he slurred heavily while using his left hand to widely gesture out nearly each of his words.

Herobrine followed where Steve was pointing, already knowing the intoxicated man was pointing at the large square table those two loathsome garbage hounds had been sitting and plotting, anger still stirring inside him as he remembered the look in their eyes as they stared at Steve.

They were practically undressing him while thinking of ways to spend the emeralds they most likely would've gotten for him!

Hiding his anger with expertise, he simply turned back towards the bar with a loud scoff, hissing quietly while taking a firm hold of his beer and bringing it to his lips; "Yes. As a matter of fact, I did. While I was taking my walk I ran into them at a corner. They were begging me for money so I told them to piss off and went around them. I had to leave the safety of the awnings, which is why I'm soaked to the bone now." he lied professionally.

Steve frowned at hearing the other had been practically forced into the rain, too drunk to be able to catch on that the demon was lying. He then lifted a hand up to place it on Herobrine's shoulder but hesitated, unsure of himself suddenly. Taking a deep breath, he reached up and patted the Nether ruler on his back instead, shocked at feeling just how wet his cloak actually was. "W-why don't we f-ind a place to stay fer the night? You need ta get out of those clothes before you catch cold, Brine." he managed to actually speak out in a more sober tone.

Lifting a brow while staring at him with a blank expression, Herobrine spoke, the sentence being more of an unbelieving statement versus a question. "You seriously just said that."

Steve blinked, blushing brightly in embarrassment. What did he say wrong? "Wha'? Wha'd I say?"

Suddenly, Herobrine began laughing while shaking his head. "Nothing, Stevie. Anyways, why ask about those hooligans?"

Snorting at the fact he was laughed at, he turned away from Herobrine, but answered his question none-the-less. "Turns out they skipped out on their bill."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Those two punks had been sittin' at that large table all damn evening! Scoping out all my patrons that came in! They were up to no good, that's fer sure." Joehl growled while he hand dried a cup. "I tried keeping a close eye on them, but yer friend here made that hard…" he gave a playful glare at Steve, who snorted in response and hid his face in his glass of beer.

'Well then… looks like they got more than what they deserved.' Herobrine grinned to himself before reaching into Steve's bag, ignoring the drunken "Hey!?" that came from the young human. "In that case, here… this should cover what they drank. It's the least I can do since my friend here made it hard to catch them." He spoke up while taking out one of the many pouches of emeralds he had put in the miner's bag, completely missing the rather shocked look he received from Steve upon the demon verbally referring to him as a friend. "There are about forty-five emeralds in this. That'll cover their bill and a few more drinks for us, right?"

The barkeeper's jaw dropped while he was going through the pouch, counting out exactly forty-five gorgeous emeralds. "H-hey pal, their tab was only about twenty-eight worth—!"

"Eh, keep the change then. I did after all unfairly leave you to watch over Stevie here." He grinned while elbowing the human in the ribs, earning a glare in return.

"I wasn' that bad!" he nearly pouted. He then gasped upon seeing the deep gash on the Nether ruler's arm, managing to catch a glimpse of the bleeding wound before Herobrine moved so that he was covering the injury. "Brine! You're hurt! What happened?" he hissed at him under his breath.

"Nothing, Steve. Don't worry about it." he sighed while taking his drink in hand and downing its contents after moving his injured arm so it was fully covered by his cloak.

"It needs to be cleaned." he sternly pressed on, impressively sober.

"It's fine, Steve." Herobrine nearly growled while slightly tilting his head to deliver a warning glare to the human, despite the blindfold hiding his white eyes from the world.

Steve opened his mouth to continue on, but instead found himself remaining silent. Herobrine had never spoken to him like that before. Taking the tone of voice as a very obvious hint to drop it, Steve's lips pressed together as he sighed through his noise, slowly turning away from the other and just staring at his beer.

Sensing the downhill change in the human, Herobrine sighed with annoyance while setting his cup down; "Look… when we find a place for the night, we'll clean it. Okay?"

Blinking upon hearing his words, Steve looked back over at the demon. Joehl had heard Herobrine and raised a brow; "You guys need a place to stay? Here. Go here and tell the girl who answers the door that I sent you. You won't have any problems." he grinned while sliding a piece of paper on the counter towards Herobrine, knowing he was the more sober of the two and by now well aware that the man wasn't blind.

Taking the piece of paper up in hand, he read it through the blindfold, further proving to the people around him that the man wasn't blind and was just hiding his eyes for reasons they couldn't figure out on their own. He saw that what was written down was a small map with simple directions, leading to a large Inn just a few blocks away from the tavern they were in.

Lifting his covered gaze from the paper and up to the barkeeper, Herobrine raised a brow; "Why help us? Do you hand this out to all your patrons?"

Joehl gave a deep belly laugh with a shake of his head. "No. Only to close friends or people I come to like. Your friend here certainly has been great company." They both looked over to Steve who just ginned at them. Joehl then turned back to Herobrine with a serious expression and lowered his tone, "I'll be honest with you… I'm familiar with many of the legends and stuff. Your friend Steve here…? He matches the description of our land's newest Great Hero."

Herobrine felt his body tense up, pushing down the urge to just lean over, grab Steve and teleport them both out of the town. Too many people were already being able to identify him. He knew word had gotten out fast. He just didn't want to admit how fast.

"I'm afraid others will be picking up on who he is soon enough." Joehl whispered. He was referring to the courtesans, but Herobrine already knew this to be a true fact because of the two men he had just taken care of.

"Thanks for the warning. I guess I was hoping people weren't smart enough to so quickly place the pieces together. Seems like I was under-crediting them." He frowned while folding the piece of paper up before pocketing it.

"No thanks need to be given to me. Just keep him safe." Joehl couldn't understand why, but he felt like the blindfolded man sitting before him was much more powerful than he was letting on.

Turning to face Steve, Herobrine frowned while deciding the miner had had enough to drink. "Steve? Come on. Let's go to this Inn Joehl suggested and get you in bed. I'm afraid you've had a little too much." He couldn't help but chuckle as Steve swatted weakly at his hand when he touched his shoulder, mumbling that he was fine but would leave for Herobrine's sake.

After genuinely thanking Joehl for everything, Herobrine managed to get Steve out of the bar and put his hood up. Half dragging, half carrying the drunken miner in the direction the drawn out map led, the two of them eventually reached the three story tall Inn.

Walking up the steps carefully to make sure Steve didn't trip over himself, they waited underneath the small shelter the lip of the roofing made while Herobrine knocked on the door continuously. He held Steve up until at last a young woman with waist long blonde hair pulled into braided pony-tails opened the door a crack. "I'm sorry sirs, but we have no vacancies." her gentle tone was barely heard over the pouring rain.

"Look, ma'am. My friend here had a little too much to drink and just needs to sleep it off. We have plenty of emeralds to pay with. Joehl from the tavern just around the corner told us to come here." Herobrine tried to sound pleading. He was also trying to keep from throwing up from the look of sadness the woman gave him. 'Pathetic…'

Suddenly, she blinked with an almost startled jump. "Oh! Joehl sent you here? In that case, one moment." she smiled before disappearing behind the door. A chained lock could be heard being undone before the door suddenly opened wide, the woman holding it open for them. "Please, come in. I have a room with two beds just upstairs."

"Thank you." Herobrine gave a curt nod while helping Steve inside and out of the rain.

The woman locked the door and hurried past them to take the lead while reaching over the counter for a key. "Please follow me. It's just right up the stairs and to the left. It'll be the first door you see. There is also a small steam closet just inside the community floor bathroom that is the last door to the right at the end of the hall with some towels and I believe at least one spare blanket you two can use to warm up with from the rain. It'll also dry your clothes rather quickly as well." She smiled warmly to them while leading them towards their room.

Herobrine thanked her while helping Steve walk, following the young woman down a hall that was lined with doors leading into rooms already booked. Taking the flight of stairs to the left, they came to the second floor and turned to the left, following her down the short hall and stopping before a wooden door directly in front of them.

"Here is your room." She smiled to them as she unlocked the door and pushed it open. After being told that their stay was on the house since they were friends of Joehl's, Herobrine thanked her once again before telling her good night, mentally gagging to himself afterwards.

Locking the door behind her, Herobrine helped Steve over to the table and booth, the miner mumbling beneath his breath the entire time. "Seems I let you have a little too much there, Stevie." he chuckled as the younger male simply plopped down on the wooden bench with a snort of laughter. "Least you'll get a good night's sleep. But first, we need to get you changed and dried off."

---

Once he managed to get them both more or less changed into dry clothes, Herobrine watched Steve with uncovered eyes sitting on the bed closest the door for a few moments until the miner stood up, his stance highly unbalance. "I'll… be back. I've gotta pee." He stated bluntly while walking out of the room and down the hall to the left until he reached the washroom at the end.

Taking a seat in a small wooden chair that was positioned right across from the bed Steve had claimed; Herobrine began cleaning and bandaging the knife wound he had received from the man earlier while waiting for the other to return from the restroom, blinking as about five minutes later the miner stumbled back into the room and moved towards his bed. Herobrine raised a brow as the human plopped himself down on the mattress but managed to stay sitting upright. "Feel better?"

"Acksually…? Yeah. Though I thought I had ta take a leak…? I jus' ended up throwin' up 'nstead." he explained.

"I see…" Herobrine eyed him closely, making sure he were alright.

Remaining quiet for a few long moments, Steve slowly lifted his gaze out the window to his left, ignoring the one directly above his bed behind the bookshelf that acted as a form of head board for their beds, watching large beads of rain beating against the glass of the window.

Herobrine saw the forlorn expression that overcame the human and immediately had his attention caught. "What's the matter with you? You were happy just a few minutes ago." he found himself asking before he could stop himself. Why should he care whatever was troubling the human? The guy was drunk. He was probably just beginning to really feel like shit considering this was the first time he's ever really been this intoxicated before or at least in a very long time according to the way he was acting!

"Those women t'night… at the tavern…" Steve began, instantly seizing Herobrine's full attention as well as sparking that same sharp flare of anger he felt when he saw those two clinging all over him.

"What about them?" he asked between clenched teeth.

"… they r'mind me of… Telzaah."

Herobrine felt the anger simmering down, allowing himself to calm a little and actually listen to Steve. "How so?"

For a few long seconds, it seemed as if Steve wasn't going to continue. However, seeming to collect his thoughts within his drunken state, he began explaining. Poorly—but understandably; "When you left… people started comin' up to me like 'Oh, I knows you!' and I was like; 'But I dunno you!' Then they started 'splaining tha' I matched what I guess peoples have of me… The Great Hero!" he suddenly shouted loudly.

Herobrine jumped as Steve had suddenly raised his voice with that random outburst. Despite this, he was quickly seeing where Steve was going with this and understood exactly what he meant.

Steve continued on, appearing to sober up enough to allow the heartache he was feeling to leak into his tone despite the state he was in however succeeded in at least containing the tears that began lining his eyes as he whispered so softly that Herobrine nearly missed it over the rain and thunder, and would have if he hadn't been focusing; "Nobody wants to be with me for just me… Anyone on this fucking island only wants to be with me for status… nothing more. Certainly not for love." He sighed while equally as softly added; "I'm just not good enough for anybody I guess."

Herobrine parted his lips to say something, but a twinge at Steve's last words stung his chest so sharply it had him closing his mouth in confusion instead. 'The fuck was that?'

"But ya know what? WHO CARES!" Steve suddenly began laughing while turning too quickly around to face Herobrine, holding his arms out for balance as the room tilted violently beneath the bed he was sitting up in. "Whoa… everthin' s-tarted spinnin'…"

After making sure the bed wasn't about to slip out from beneath him as the room slowly stilled in rotation, Steve lifted his glazed over violet eyes up, locking them with the empty glow of Herobrine's. He then chuckled with a shake of his head, "Ya know wha' I don' under…stand?" he asked in a heavily slurred tone once more, more than enough evidence that the alcohol was settling in and was making the human more and more intoxicated.

Herobrine, at this point making the unintentional discovery that Steve was apparently a talkative drunk, sighed while pushing himself to his feet to move over and take a seat at the table, wanting to get out of the line of lightning flashing in from the window about Steve's bed and throwing his right leg over his left while crossing his arms over his chest, "And what's that?"

Steve swayed slightly from side to side, trying to catch his balance from where he was simply sitting on the bed before answering; "Since the fffirs' day, tha' I heard 'bout you!" He paused as he pointed directly at Herobrine accusingly, causing the demon to raise a brow at him. "People… have been sayin' a whole LOT of bad things! Like killin' peoples fer fun and stealin' wha-ever stuffs you wanted!"

Herobrine actually relaxed his tense body the more Steve went on in his drunken state, becoming more and more surprised with each horribly slurred out and mispronounced word that fell from his lips.

"But I—? I don' think 'yer that bad acksually." Despite the level of drunkenness he has reached, Steve smiled sincerely with that short and simple sentence. "You'd make a reeeally good f-riend."

Herobrine's eyes opened wide. "What?"

"Well, I mean—! C'mon! If 'yer this… big, bad evil demon," he sloppily flexed both the index and middle fingers on both hands to help punctuate the word demon. "… then 'ya… you know, wouldn't have s-aved me and stuff, Brine. Is tha' simple."

Herobrine just stared at Steve, unable to think of anything to say in response. He wasn't expecting that, and it honestly left him shocked and speechless.

So Steve continued; "People will pro-ly think I'm stupid and even crazy… but I don' really give a damn! I…? I didn' have a lot of friends you can say. I wassa kid w-when they came and forced us away, so I don' remember much. And then? We were forced onto the boat-er-ship… ALL of us, jus' sailin' away like NOTHING was happenin'. Everyone. We were all happy. And then they came at n-ight and—!" Steve paused; hesitating as nausea began rising up in his throat again.

Herobrine leaned forward in the chair, his expression urging the human to continue. He was talking about his past! Willingly!

After waiting for the nausea to settle back down, Steve shrugged his shoulder with a chuckle.

Herobrine stared Steve down, awaiting patiently for the human to continue with his story. White eyes opened wide as he jumped to his feet upon the miner settling down against the mattress; "What the hell? You're done?" he snapped while standing over the other.

Steve cracked an eye open and lazily gazed up at the demon, a look of confusion flashing across his face before his alcohol riddled mind was able to catch up with him and remind him he was in fact talking. However much he wanted to continue, the room suddenly began spinning and tilting, causing him to grip the blanket beneath him in what he felt was a great attempt to halt the rotation.

As the beer fully settled in, Steve groaned while rolling slowly onto his left side in the hopes to ease the abdominal pain that was next to come.

"Steve, what happened?" He knew he shouldn't push the human while he was in his current condition, but his curiosity and greed of wanting to know pushed that thought to the back as he leaned over him.

Taking a deep breath before sighing shakily as he struggled to keep his stomach contents down, "Man I don' f-eel good…" he mumbled under his breath. "We were attacked." He breathed heavily out at last, curling tighter into himself.

Fists tightening to the point of trembling, Herobrine pushed on. He was getting more info about Steve's past out of the man. Clearly being under the influence of alcohol was causing the human to be more willingly corporative in talking about his past; "Who attacked you, Steve? Tell me!" Why did he want to know the identities so strongly? And why was it making him angrier and angrier with each passing second?

Steve struggled to maintain awake as his consciousness was slowly fading in and out. He heard Herobrine's question, and fought to tell him the answer. The four heavily slurred, barely formed words that came from the miner's lips just as he lost the battle and passed out only intensified the demon's anxiety to know more as well as stirring something deep within him; "By the b-black skele-mmms…"

White eyes opened wide in pure shock at the human's response. "What? Black what!?" Steve did not respond. "Steve!?"

The steady rhythm of the human's breathing had the demon fuming. "Dammit!" Turning his back to the man, he walked up to the window with a scowl, watching the rain continue pouring down and beating against the glass.

He soon engrossed himself deeply within thought as he stared out the window, not really seeing anything such as a few people quickly trying to escape the cold rain as he focused on trying to piece together what Steve had said. 'What was Steve trying to say? Black skele—what? Skeleton?' Suddenly, the demon gasped to himself while whipping around to stare wide eyed at the human.

After a few seconds of collecting his thoughts, white eyes narrowed; 'Black Skeletons… If that's truly what he was trying to say then—!" He sneered while subconsciously wrapping his arms around himself as the coldness of the rain seeped in through the glass. 'It's impossible…' he mentally growled while glancing out the window once again.

He sighed softly to himself before turning enough to allow a sideways glance at the human. 'If he were really trying to say skeleton… then the only thing he could have been referring to are the Wither Skeletons.' He paused his thoughts for a moment as he watched Steve sleeping.

Turning away after shaking his head, Herobrine returned his white gaze outside once more. 'Something's just not right here. Steve doesn't know about The Wither or his fucking Skeletons. Proof of that came tonight at the bar with that painting. It's too coincidental though to just simply rule it out as he's just drunk and making shit up.'

Herobrine allowed his mind to relax and remain void of thoughts for a few long moments, allowing the steady roll of thunder to help lull his mind into a more at ease state. 'If it really were Wither Skeletons, that still doesn't make any sense. He's locked away. And I made damn sure of that! Maybe that bastard's able to communicate with his skeletons without my knowing? For his sake that better not be the case!'

A bright flash of lightning caused him to blink, surprised by the proximity of the bolt as the ground trembled as the strike caused the earth to shake. The thunder followed loud and nearly instantly, causing the demon to turn away from the window and face the human with raised brows.

Steve was still curled in on himself. Sleeping soundly as the alcohol caused him to be deaf to the world around him. The longer Herobrine kept his gaze on the young miner, the calmer he began feeling. He couldn't understand exactly what was happening or even what he was experiencing.

One thing was for sure; before he would have crushed the unfamiliar feeling the instant he began to feel it. But now… he found himself extremely curious by it and had actually begun to think about seeing where it went. The feeling of calmness however burned away and left him feeling hot as his fists trembled by his sides upon thinking more about what the human had said just before passing out on him. 'But if it's actually true… What could it mean? Can that bastard communicate with them despite how I have him locked up and separated from everyone? Or are the Wither Skeletons acting out on their own accord without my knowledge? That can't be good should that be the case. But- it still doesn't make sense! Steve had said they were attacked. How could that be when the Nether was still blocked off during that point?' He growled as he forced himself to turn away from the human, white eyes narrowed as he stared at his reflection.

He tried to calm down, but his anger just kept mounting the more he was thinking about it; 'It can't be that they knew of an active portal out of the Nether… could it?!' His jaw tightened painfully, causing his teeth to grind together. "I'll have to have a little chat with that bastard… won't I?" he asked in a low growl to himself.

Steve stirred slightly upon hearing the demon's voice, rolling over onto his right side with his back now facing the window and Herobrine. Caught by the sounds of the human shifting on the bed, Herobrine turned to fully face the miner again, managing to catch him just as he moved yet again.

Steve had uncurled himself in his sleep, and was now lying sprawled out on his back. Once again, that calming sensation was overcoming the demon the instant his empty eyes fell upon the human.

Watching him sleep, Herobrine couldn't help the chuckle that caused his shoulders to bounce as he shook his head; "So you managed to sleep through that loud crash of thunder-and yet you stir ever so slightly at my voice?" he asked the seemingly otherwise unresponsive man.

Not expecting to actually receive a response, it was needless to say the Nether ruler was left in shock upon Steve mumbling something completely incoherent under his breath at the words spoken to him as if trying to answer his question.

Staring wide-eyed at the man, Herobrine forced himself to shake his head clear of the random thoughts that tried creeping into his mind as he focused his gaze out the window once more.

However hard he tried, he couldn't keep his thoughts from circling around the other and the new string of conclusions that wouldn't leave his mind in peace; 'The Wither couldn't have been responsible for the attack on Steve's ship, could he? What could he have possibly gained from it if it were him? The Skeleton's must've just been acting out on their own accord. But again, that can't be the case. Because how could they have escaped? I've searched the entire Nether all six hundred years I was stuck there and found many portals but none would activate! Hmm, maybe… maybe Steve was mistaken? Hadn't he said it was at night? Perhaps Steve just thought they were black while in actuality they were just normal white skeletons? If it were a traumatic atmosphere of being under attacked, it would make sense that Steve wasn't in the right state of mind and simply mistook the Mob's colors.' He blinked while physically feeling himself beginning to calm down.

That hypothesis made so much more sense! Because as it stood, the supposed night of the attack, neither The Wither nor the Wither Skeletons were able to escape. And as it was currently, Herobrine knew for a fact there was no chance of escaping for The Wither.

This alone helped bring Herobrine into a deep sense of ease. Sighing rather heavily to himself, he turned away from his reflection and gazed down at Steve. "Lucky you… being able to sleep soundly and all." he huffed.

Steve moaned softly in what Herobrine guessed was supposed to be a response before he gave one last glance out the window to see a small group of patrons that had left one of the nearby taverns discovering the beaten up bodies of the two men from Joehl's tavern he had left in the dark alley, struggling to help the unconscious men out of the rain.

Sighing in boredom while turning his back to the window, the dark room lit up with the bright flashes of lightning that continued to crawl across the dark sky as the thunder that followed shook the glass of the windows. The storm was certainly not showing any signs of letting up anytime soon.

'I hate storms…' he sighed mentally.

Stretching his arms over his head with a deep groan while walking around the beds, he shut his eyes for only a few seconds before one white blank eye cracked open to glance down at Steve yet again. Herobrine paused at the foot of the bed the miner was currently passed out in.

He hadn't moved from where he settled down on his back. His violet eyes were gently closed and lips were slightly parted, the sounds of his deep breathing slipping past as his head was tilted to the side.

Lowering his arms to his sides and staring at Steve now with both eyes open, Herobrine sighed through his nose before moving over to sit in the chair right across from Steve's bed. He leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs, resting his chin on his hands that were folded together, just watching Steve sleep while listening to the thunder and rain.

He didn't want to admit it… but he couldn't seem to keep his eyes and mind off the human for a long period of time. 'How much longer will it be until we collect enough pearls? We've been traveling together now for five weeks! I didn't think it would take this long.' he sighed mentally to himself, relaxing more into the chair. 'I know I told him not to worry… and honestly, I wasn't lying when I said he was doing a damn good job. Those fuckers are hard to fight against.' He paused his mental rant for a brief moment before continuing on again down a different path; 'He's so… different from the other humans that are on this large island. Is it because he's not originally from here? Dammit I wish I knew more about his past! It's royally pissing me off that I can't figure him out! And now I'm further pissed because he actually started telling me about it!'

He then sneered while feeling his body temperature rising up from the anger that was slowly building up within him brought on by the annoyance of the situation.

'It's strange… Why do I feel sort of drawn to him? Physically his strength compared to those of others is really no different. His spirit and determination on the other hand…?' He continued having a heated conversation with himself within the safe confines of his mind, unaware that the more he focused his thoughts around the human, the temperature gradually continued rising not only in the room; but within his own being as well.

Shaking his head, he tried thinking of something else he hoped would have calmed him down. Instead it did the exact opposite and only further worked him up. 'Those two fuckers tonight… If I hadn't caught on to what they were talking about, not only would Steve have been put into unnecessary danger, but I most likely would have been exposed to everyone within this damn city. And I can't have it going around that I'm back. Not yet at least…' His eyes narrowed at the thought.

Sighing to himself, he took a few moments to relax his mind, resting his eyes while listening to the pouring rain beating down against the sturdy building they were in and the almost steady roll of thunder that trailed almost instantly behind the bright flashes of lightning that lit up the room and Steve's features.

Slowly opening his eyes again, Steve was the first thing his site saw, strangely stirring something deeply inside Herobrine's chest as this made him realize that even with his eyes closed; he had been staring at Steve.

He narrowed his eyes even further, a look of determination coming over him suddenly. 'I need to really start being more careful from this point on. Not only are the risks slowly rising of my return being prematurely exposed. But apparently word of Steve being the new Great Hero and what he looks like has spread much further and faster than I could have predicted. People are already able to identify him and know his name! I'll need to keep a better eye on him too. I can't lose him! Those two fuckers made me realize his apparent worth to pieces of shit like them…'

A strange and sudden growl vibrated his throat at the next thought that crossed his mind, his body temperature still steadily rising but at a slow rate the deeper he delved into the newest thought;

'Those guys weren't the only ones having their eyes set on him. Those two damn bitches were all over him too! I thought my time was dark. It's disgusting seeing women not only selling themselves cheaply for a night of fun, but will also take advantage of an intoxicated man. Then again… think about the status they would've gained. Fucking the Great Hero would have put them at the top of the list and most likely would have made they themselves more valuable.' His expression softened minutely as he lowered his gaze to Steve's chest, watching the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

'He'll have so many more people throwing themselves at his feet the more word gets out of his identity. Fuck, I couldn't walk more than two steps into villages without men offering me tools and weapons crafted of the finest materials and women offering themselves to me…'

He sighed quietly. "That was so long ago. Things really have changed… haven't they?" he softly asked the sleeping human. "It's going to only get harder for you, Steve." he then warned the man.

Once again, Steve moaned in response to hearing Herobrine's voice, causing the demon to chuckle with a small shake of his head.

Thinking back to the two women that were hanging themselves all over Steve, Herobrine shifted slightly in the chair as he felt his body heating up. Remembering the way they were touching him slowly brought about his anger again. But when he remembered how Steve looked so hot and bothered at the touches...

A sharp sting of arousal began stabbing him, causing him to becoming slightly uncomfortable. Shifting around a little in the chair to try and get into a more comfortable position, Herobrine let out a frustrated growl the more aroused his thoughts were making him. 'Okay. Clearly being in that tavern with that many scantily dressed whores has reminded my body of just how long it's been for me.' he automatically assumed.

Sighing deeply before groaning in the back of his throat, Herobrine glanced down to the front of his pants, frowning upon seeing the small tent beginning to form. "Great."

Feeling there was not much left to do since the storm was still at its heaviest and Steve was completely past out, there was really only one thing he could do. Giving the human in front of him a quick glance, Herobrine reached for the front of his jeans, quickly undoing his belt and pants before pushing the rough material to the side.

Sighing upon feeling the pressure restraining his slowly growing erection, he quickly gave the miner one last look before closing his eyes and relaxing into the chair, shuddering the instant his hand wrapped around his heated length.

Slowly at first, before gradually increasing his pace, Herobrine kept his mouth shut to prevent any sounds of pleasure to slip out. It had been a long time since he last felt this good… and he remembered it was only going to get better.

Tilting his head back against the chair, he continued his motions while allowing his mind to vividly think back to those women. He imagined how soft their breasts felt in his palms as he groped them, hearing them giggling as they began laying their hands on his being.

Nothing.

Growling in growing sexual frustration, Herobrine began wracking through his brain trying to figure out exactly what could have gotten him so turned on!

At first, he simply thought being around those women and watching them make out with the men they managed to seduce for a night of paid fun was what started it. Topping it off with the amount of alcohol he had consumed.

But seeing that he wasn't getting off as he imagined himself surrounded by all of them, touching him and pleasuring him as they took turns fucking themselves on his hard on was actually beginning to kill his erection, then clearly they were not the cause.

"What could it be then…?" he mumbled while releasing himself. Lost completely in his thoughts, he was startled out of them when Steve suddenly let out a rather childish sounding snore.

Narrowing his white eyes into a glare at the miner, Herobrine slumped his shoulders. 'Of course… maybe it could have something to do with the fact that I'm sharing a room with another man? Passed out or not! It's hard to enjoy myself knowing HE'S right THERE.'

He continued to stare at Steve, his glare slowly lightening up as he watched the steady rise and fall of the man's chest. Trailing his gaze up towards his face, Herobrine felt a strange knot form in his lower stomach that bloomed into a stinging heat that went straight towards his cock the instant his eyes landed on Steve's slightly parted lips.

'W-what?' he gasped to himself upon the sharp surge of renewed arousal that left him nearly breathless. 'Oh. Oh HELL no!' He glared with a snarl as both his hands tightly gripped the armrests of the chair, staring down at his exposed erection as it stood proudly despite the anger overpowering his excitement. 'No. Fucking. Way! There is NO fucking way I am turned on by him! He's… he's a MAN for fuck's sake!?' He continued arguing with himself mentally while giving his hard on a deadly stare down, suddenly hissing under his breath and directing it towards his 'problem'. "Stop it!"

Frustration steadily rising, Herobrine let out a loud sigh before flinching slightly as Steve began stirring a little with a low groan. Staring at the miner intently, he soon let out a softer sigh as the human settled back down with a hum. After a few long seconds, he slowly gave his throbbing cock an annoyed glance.

Nibbling on his lower lip, Herobrine lifted his blank gaze up towards Steve once again. He then began mentally screaming at himself, knowing that as long as he kept his voice within his own mind and not verbally spoken, then Notch would remain unaware of just what was truly going on at that moment…

'This… this can't be happening to me! H-how am I seriously—? This has GOT to be some kind of mistake! Okay! So apparently, I'm not turned on by those damn whores back at the tavern. Let me just… see if this works… no harm in that, right? Of course not! If it doesn't, then I'll just teleport outside and douse myself in the fucking cold ass rain! But… what if it does work…? Well then I'll just have to spend the rest of the night trying to figure out just what the fuck is wrong with me!' After coming to a conclusive plan, Herobrine took a deep breath and forced himself to relax against the chair once more, gently closing both his eyes for a few long moments before his left one slowly cracked open to stare at Steve's sleeping face, instantly feeling another sickening splurge of arousal slamming into him.

Slowly, he snaked his right hand back into the opening of his jeans, fingers trailing up along the entire length of his hot shaft before taking a firm hold on himself and pulling a strangled gasp from his throat. "Ngh! T-that's right baby… mmm just like that, g-girl." he vocalized in case Notch was aware, wanting to make the god believe he was just wanking off to one of those whores after all. 'F-fuck that's it, S-Steve…' he however gasped within his mind as he envisioned Steve kneeling on the floor before him, his hand being the one stroking his cock firmly while smirking up at him seductively, earning himself a powerful wave of arousal that had him groaning almost too loudly. "Oh fuuuck…"

Although he figured by this point, he would be safe from Notch's nosy bullshit as he knew the god would no longer be willing to watch him pleasuring himself, he kept to his plan however since he was still in Steve's presence. The human may be sleeping… but who's to say he wouldn't wake up upon hearing his name being moaned out breathlessly?

Herobrine slowly closed his peeking eye once again and tilted his head back against the chair as the pleasure began a slow but steady incline, sighing contently before moaning lowly as his hips soon began twitching from the building ecstasy that continued to flood his system in powerful bursts. "Ahh-shit! Right there…"

He then bit his lip while picking up his pace, his hips now bucking into his feverishly pumping hand as his mind started flashing perfectly detailed images of having Steve on his stomach and pinned beneath him on the very hotel bed the passed out miner was currently sleeping in, vividly hearing the human cry out with each and every single deeply penetrating thrust into him.

"Fuck! Ste—ahh!" he gasped before catching himself and stopping just before he fully said the human's name. His hand tightened its hold on himself as he imagined Steve's body to be extremely tight, pulling a sharp intake of air from himself as his back arched while lurching forward, causing him to nearly double over from both the pain and pleasure the squeeze inflicted.

"Hng! O-oh… shit…" He soon began panting, head hanging low while his left hand gripped at the edge of the armrest almost too tightly, his hold on the furniture beginning to cause the wood to crack and splinter. "Oh fuck, this is—!?" he hissed.

It had been a very long time since he had last felt that burning pool of arousal filling his insides. His mind may have forgotten the electrical shock that the building climax created… but his body was remembering and was quickly reminding him how much it has missed the stimulation and longed for pure euphoria.

Though the push over the edge of ecstasy his body was craving for at that moment in time wouldn't be reached with him merely pleasuring himself as his body continued remembering the feel of another hot and slick body pressed flush against his while writhing against him as well and was yearning for the presence of another; the pleasure he got out of this would just have to suffice.

'Fuck, Steve… Your body is…hng!'

Another deep moan past his lips as yet another image flashed across his closed eyes. He still had Steve on his stomach, hovering over the writhing human while taking him from behind deeply and at a quick pace the younger male was just begging him for.

"Oh, fuck…" he gasped as his hand picked up its pace, pumping himself quickly and firmly even as his body began shuddering from the waves of pleasure he was becoming lost in. "So close already…!" He could feel sweat beginning to line his hairline and brows, before slowly trailing down his temples the hotter his body grew.

Albeit vaguely, he was now newly aware that apparently when he gets this excited… his control over his own body temperature seemed to become completely lost to him as he started to feel faint from the rising heat. And he was completely unaware of his body heat increasing the temperature of the room as Steve's brows furrowed together while a weak whimper vibrated his throat as the human began feeling uncomfortable.

He could hear Steve's voice moaning his name; begging him breathlessly to take him harder and faster as he envisioned having Steve on his back now with his head resting against the pillow while his hands reached behind himself and up, gripping tightly at the edge of the bookshelf that acted as a headboard to the bed. He pictured his own hands grasping at Steve's thin waist; holding him up as he took him over and over again while standing up on his knees, Steve's toes pushing himself up while his trembling thighs tightened around Herobrine's hips as he used the combined forces of their thrusts to keep himself propped up on his shoulders and upper back.

The heat from his arousal had already begun to collect in his lower stomach as his climax continued to build the closer he neared the edge of pure euphoric pleasure he hadn't felt in well over six hundred years. All the time he was locked away within the Nether was spent in anger and rage. He had never once calmed down enough to even pleasure himself while locked away in that hell.

It was pointless to say he had some pent up frustration.

"Fuck… fuck… fuck… fuck… fuck!" he began chanting while feeling the beads of precum at the head of his throbbing erection, his palm gliding over the sensitive head and smearing the milky-white substance before spreading it along the entire length of his member, the motion sending an electrical shrill of pleasure throughout his body.

"Ahh! Oh, shit…!" he gasped as he dragged his thumb through the slit at the tip of his cock, a violent shudder passing through him with a deep throated groan.

And then all too suddenly- white light burst behind his tightly closed lids as his body shook from the intense orgasmic wave that quickly wracked throughout his entire being upon his climax at last being reached as he was mercilessly thrown over the edge, groaning deeply in the back of his throat as his jaw ached to remain tightly shut to avoid slippage of the human's name he had just pleasured himself to thoughts of.

Once his climax subsided and exhaustion heavily set in, Herobrine collapsed against the back of the chair while panting deeply as he waited for his overheated body to cool off, faintly aware of the mess coating his hand and staining the wooden floor between his spread legs.

'I just…?' he mentally began, his eyes cracking open to stare straight over at Steve who was oblivious to what had just taken place. '… To thoughts of a man…?' His breathing slowly evened out as feeling began returning back to his body as the numbing euphoria ebbed away.

Taking a deep breath in through his nose, he licked his dry lips before closing his mouth as a look of pure yet at the same time serious confusion flashed across his face. 'To thoughts of… Steve…?' He slowly released himself and brought his dirty hand up so he could see the proof coating his hand.

Resting his eyes with a deep sigh while dropping his hand to hang over the side of the chair, Herobrine tilted his head back against the chair before opening them once again, his blank gaze staring up at the wooden ceiling, whispering a single question to the air that would not be answered.

Not for a very long time and would come with dire consequences;

"What the fuck is happening to me?"

To Be Continued...

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A/N - I do apologize for this chapter being so long. But I hope everyone enjoyed it! Aw... poor Herobrine can't seem to understand that the "anger" he keeps feeling is simple jealousy! :) Also, I'm sorry if there are any errors. I've beta read this like five times and I'm sure there are still mistakes here and there.

*Again a huge special thanks to slingading for the fantastic cover art for this story! Thank you so much and much love to you!*